The Pull List #68 - August 10 2016

A weekly column in which Jake gives short blurbs about the comics he’s picked up that week. Reviewed in the order read, which varies but generally by increasing anticipation.   Disclaimer: he knows very little about art, at least not enough to considerably honor such tremendous undertakings, so…yeh, there’s that.






Black Panther #5

Writer: Ta-Nehisi Coates
Penciler: Chris Sprouse
Inker: Karl Story
Color Artist: Laura Martin
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Marvel
After a brief hiatus, Black Panther returns to the PL and, spoilers, something is still rotten in the state of Wakanda.  Learning that the rebel group The People are now using repulsor-powered suicide bombers, T’Challa brings former-Avenger Manifold, as well as some…less than savory types to root out the rebellion.  Coates’s dialogue is top-notch and T’Challa’s guiding narration is pitch perfect.  Guest artists Spouse and Story really hammer home the sparse action sequences of the issue, and utilize excellent framing to keep the chatty bits lively.  Maybe it’s because I’ve been reading Christopher Priest’s old run recently, but I feel like I’ve got a better grasp of what’s going on in BP.  And I want to see more.  


Detective Comics #983

Script: James Tynion IV
Pencils: Alvaro Martinez w/ Al Barrionuevo
Inks: Raul Fernandez
Colors: Brad Anderson w/ Adriano Lucas
Letters: Marilyn Patrizio
DC
The team has successfully broken into the Colony and found Batman.  Now, the only problem is getting out.  Tynion’s script is packed with heart-wrenching drama and legitimately fun and cool moments and ably dances from one to the other.  And, unlike last issue, everyone gets a turn in the spotlight to maximum effect.  An old Red Robin enemy is even reintroduced (though I suppose he was actually introduced in the last issue, but full introductions are made in this).  The art team manages to track the chaos inherent in the script and manages to turn it into something that not only looks great, but feel good as well.  Real palpable stuff.  Detective Comics gets better with every issue.  


BOOK OF THE WEEK
The Vision #10

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Gabriel Hernandez Walta
Color Artist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Marvel
Best book continues to be best book.  Surprising?  It shouldn’t be, because you really, Really, REALLY should be picking this up already.  Only two issues left.  I’m scared.



But wait, there’s more!

CharlieDanger82 is helping out this week to cover some the new titles for DC Rebirth. Think of it like a backup story in your favorite book, just with less talented writing.






 Deathstoke: Rebirth #1

Writer: Christopher Priest
Art: Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz
Colors: Jeromy Cox
Letterer: Willie Schubert
DC Comics

Last week, Jake had very little good to say about Harley Quinn: Rebirth #1. I wish my review of Deathstroke: Rebirth #1 was half as kind.

I have nothing good to say about this book. Nothing. I guess they wanted to make Slade less of the "antihero" he'd become over the years and more of the child abusing sociopath type. The story flashes back, forward and sideways, causing a completely disjointed narrative. Some of the "jargon" said in an attempt to make the book seem "real" and "factual" comes off as "shock value" and "racist." He's working for a dictator and that leads to an assassination attempt on the Clock King? Say that sentence in a run on manner and say "question mark" at the end to get the time I was looking for. It's part of the problems I have with the "real" take on superhero comics. If you're going to put a character in a real life environment, in the real world with real themes and current events, you can't have the superhero world shoehorned in. You can't have Slade standing at a mass grave being bulldozed over one minute and then share the next scene with a guy in a cape with clocks all over his unitard and his underwear on the outside of his pants. IT DOES NOT WORK. Anywho, sorry for the Deathstroke fans out there, but this book is terrible.

So what did you pick up this week? 
Agree or disagree with anything said here? 
Let us know in the comments.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,