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.
Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #6
Writer: Ryan North
Artist: Erica Henderson
Color Artist: Rico Renzi
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Marvel Comics
It’s new arc for Squirrel Girl which brings new friends and a
new enemy to face. This issue, much like
the last one, is a perfect jumping on point for new readers as it delivers the
same laugh-a-minute humor that this series has come to be known for. North comes in heavy with the jokes this
issue as well as some surprising tension and drama in the closing moments,
which is simultaneously disturbing and hilarious. The art, while delivering some very good
expressions and action, suffers in certain panels with the effect of feeling a
bit rushed. A special mention should go
to Cowles, whose choice of panel and lettering color as well as style in the
issues closing pages does most of the heavy lifting drama-wise for the
scene. Much as always Squirrel Girl is a
superb read, particularly considering how apocalypse-ridden many books appear
to be nowadays.
The Woods #13
Writer: James Tynion IV
Illustrator: Michael Dialynas
Colors: Jose Gonzalez
Letters: Ed Dukeshire
Boom! Studios
So begins year two for the residents of
Bay Point thrust into the alien world. Or rather, year three since there’s a timeskip, which is a bit
frustrating given that it brings more questions into a series that’s chock full of them. There’s
a whole lot of “Huh, what?” going on in the issue as
several complications have arisen in the skipped year, which, though doing
wonders for the setting and logistical plot factors, has left most of the cast
is a somewhat unfamiliar place development-wise. Still, Tynion knows what he’s doing as the writing and
dialogue is crisp and natural and what information we are given is tell. Dialynas and Gonzalez are again in fine form
and, while they certainly have less action and weirdness to deal with compared
to the previous issue, they do some great character work, particularly in the
case of new Hunter Karen. The Woods is
in full season two mode from the get go.
A new enemy arises as the protagonists deal with the emotional fallout
of the last issue and the skipped year.
Hopefully, some questions will be answered next issue.
Darth Vader #6
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Salvador Larocca
Colorist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Marvel Comics
Vader’s showdown with his would-be replacements goes down and sets
a new status quo for the apprentice Lord of the Sith. Also, we get that revelation that happens
between New Hope and Empire Strikes Back regarding a certain nerfherder that
was never really explained in the movies.
Gillen’s handling
of Vader’s reaction is
perfect in it’s quiet
intensity, with Vader’s
body language and words to express what his impassive mask cannot. Larocca does a good job executing this,
although the aforementioned showdown leaves a bit to be desired as it feels
stilted, and not just because of the rigid cyborgian (cyborgic?)
protagonist. Still, things are shaping
up nicely in this in-between series, with new paths for the masked protagonist
to follow and a fresh set of enemies to overcome.
Spider-Woman #8
Writer: Denis Hopeless
Penciler: Javier Rodriguez
Inker: Alvaro Lopez
Colorist: Munsta Vicente
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Marvel Comics
Jessica Drew is in the fight of her
life against…some kind of…construction equipment mech
suit. Regardless of the ridiculousness
of the opponent, the battle is intense as is the emotional origin of the town
revealed in this issue. Hopeless
splendidly navigates from intense drama to Spider-Woman’s own brand of wry humor without losing pace or step. The art team works wonders with excellent
choreography and attention to detail.
Spider-Woman an incredibly enjoyable book and one that definitely
deserves to continue with all hands on deck after Secret Wars.
The Autumnlands: Tooth and Claw #6
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Benjamin Dewey
Color Art: Jordie Bellaire
Lettering: John G. Roshell &
Jimmy Betancourt of Comicraft
Image Comics
The end of the first arc of The
Autumnlands ends with a climatic showdown between Learoyd, Hero of Legend, and
Seven-Scars’s Bison Tribe,
and epic it is. Busiek manages to take
several fantasy tropes and makes them feel fresh, thanks to great dialogue and
interesting character development. There’s a bridge of Khazad-dum
sequence (as evidenced by the cover) that Busiek manages to make his own. Dewey and Bellaire make the clash palpable
and even manage to work in some more humorous expressions amid the drama.
Sadly, The Autumnlands will be going off radar for awhile in order to get a
head start on the next arc, and will be eagerly anticipated until its
return.
The Wicked and the Divine #11
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Jamie McKelvie
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Image Comics
Goddammit.
Secret Wars #3
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Esad Ribic
Color Artist: Ive Svorcina
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Marvel Comics
Sheriff Strange investigates the
survival and invasion of Doom’s
world by the villainous cabal as God Doom and Susan Storm have a talk. This issue is in fact very talk-y but it is
neither boring nor lacking in drama by any means. Hickman takes some time to drop some more
knowledge of Battleworld through these conversations and some new heroes are
revealed. Honestly, the relationships
between these characters might be some of the most interesting parts of the
book. Ribic and Svorcina craft a
masterpiece, and, while there’s
little action for them to display, each panel carries such weight as to feel
like a living epic. There’s no plan plot-wise for this
event as we’re still in
the “look how strange
everything is” mode, but
with such an interesting and captivating world such as Battleworld, there isn’t a pressing need for such
movement as we’re all
still taking in the lovely scenery.
Labels: Boom Studios, Comics, Darth Vader, Image Comics, Marvel Comics, Secret Wars, Spider-Woman, Squirrel Girl, the Autumnlands, the Autumnlands: Tooth and Claw, the Wicked + the Divine, the Woods
