New Comic Day

[angelophile]

New comics day today so I had six on my list.

Runaways Vol.2 #1, Wolverine #25, Astonishing X-men 8, Academy X 10, Daredevil 70 and Daredevil: Redemption 2

Opinions follow:



I was gonna wait until I got my hands on the third digest reprint of the original Runaways series but I couldn't resist sneaking a peak and ended up reading the whole issue. I already had the identity of the "mole" in the first volume pegged and this volume is otherwise being treated as a new chapter, so there weren't any references to what went before to spoil it for me. From the sounds of things the relaunch has successfully set out to do what marvel hoped, sending sales rocketing, so this title looks pretty safe for now.

And a good job too, because it's up there with the very best Marvel titles. If not possible THE best.

Anyway, this issue wasn't the greatest issue of Runaways ever, but it had some brilliant moments, some beautifully defined art. Nice to see the Shoveller from Mystery Men gets a cameo this issue (okay, it's not him, but it's the same idea). The characters are wonderfully well defined as always, with the bickering between the teens being the highlight. This book is the only one about teenage superheroes that ever manages to capture the feel of real teens, rather than slightly short, but just as busty, adults. Except maybe for the lamented, late NYX.

It's one of those issues that actually makes use of the page count. A lot happens. Most notable is the fight with the Wrecking Crew that sets up a re-introduction of the characters. Unfortunately, this ties into the book's weakness as far as I'm concerned as well. I don't have a clue who half the characters are. I've heard of the Wrecking Crew, but never seen them in action, so I felt like I was struggling to keep up during those pages. It didn't help that immediately following that we were introduced to the members of Excelsior, none of whom, with one exception, I was familiar with either.

Excelsior do seem like a lot of fun though, a group of former teen heroes themselves who seem to be setting up some kind of support group for failed heroes. It probably doesn't help that the team, consisting of the New Warrior's Turbo, Darkhawk, Julie Power (coming on like Britney), the Slinger's Ricochet and Phil Urich ("There was a GOOD Green Goblin? That's the absolute stupidest thing I've ever heard!) all seem to be suffering from various forms is disillusionment, depression or are in therapy. Thankfully, one member's there to bring some sense to the group. Yep, that's right, Jono makes a welcome return to comics and I'm delighted to say he's still his sarcastic, negative self. ("I'm just enduring this sob-fest for the free pizza I read about in the e-mail.")

The plot twist at the end of the book sets up the upcoming story-arc and has potential to be great. Judging by the previous volume I'm sure it will be.

Astonishing X-men, on the other hand, disappoints this issue. I haven't been quite so sold into the title as a lot of people seem to be, last issue's "I like beer" gag topping my list of most cringeworthy moments of recent times. It's not often Whedon falls flat on his face but a few moments of last issue, and a large chunk of this issue certainly fail to rank above bad. The main villain of the arc is revealed and hell, if Chuck Austen had tried it, I hope he would have been kicked into touch. In addition to that we conveniently have Sentinels crawling out of the woodwork, the mansion blown up once again, for about the second time in a week and probably about the sixth in a month.

There's none of the snappy dialogue that helps plaster over the cracks this week either. What a come down after the superlative issue 4. Even Cassady's art seems lackluster this issue, surprising given the longer period he had to work on it.

I can't see how this arc will resolve itself in anything but a train wreck but I hope I'll be proved wrong.

Over in Wolverine the mansion gets destroyed again. Actually, this wouldn't be a bad issue, were it not for the much publicized death. I doubt I'm spoiling it for anyone when I reveal it's Northstar that buys the farm. Up until that point, however, we don't have a bad issue. The brainwashed Wolverine's inner voice, particularly when talking about the things he wants to do to Rachel, is effectively creepy. Rachel's characterization pretty good. You have to wonder the effectiveness of Wolverine's "do as I say or I let off a bomb" plan, but since it was supposed to be dreadful anyway, it doesn't hamper the plot. There's a fair it of action and we do see some of the X-men in action against their corrupted teammate. But then the whole issue is flushed down the pan. Northstar's death is, sadly, pathetic. He's whining about being frightened to Kitty when Wolverine leaps out at them. Kitty phases and Wolverine goes through her and stabs Northstar in the heart. He promptly dies, in time for Captain America to turn up and save the day, defeating Wolverine for good with his stunning plan of hitting `Wolverine on the head with his shield.

And so, Northstar dies, not with a bang, but a whimper. Given how great he was in Austen's last issues I want to cry that he got such a pathetic ending.

In Daredevil another storyline comes to an end. My feeling for the arc has been different to newnumber6's, who disliked the various art styles used to depict the passing of time. I loved that and was saddened that the issue was pretty much entirely devoid of flashbacks. It wasn't a bad end to an arc that's probably been Bendis' best for the past 6 months at least, but the villain simply keeling over didn't really do it for me. Instead I was more concerned with the fate of Melvin Potter, the Gladiator, whose characterization as a man caught in a situation that forces him to do things he hates, has been one of the highlights.

Another fill-in artist takes the reigns on New X-men: Academy X. What is it with this title that they can't hold a steady artist for more than about 3 issues at a time? Still, since this is a new story arc, the change isn't too jarring. At least, for example, Dani looks Native American. Although Emma looks like she's been at the pies and the lip implants. The manga stylings are kinda fun, but unfortunately they seem unsuitable for what is quite a dark storyline. However, after the high of the last story, things continue apace and we have another interesting story with some good character moments. However, the premise of this storyline is the most crippling thing when it comes to enjoyment. Unless the team have the courage to have killed off one of their leading members and turned another evil, it's obvious the whole thing is an illusion implanted by Emma. The narrative equivalent of "it was all a dream!" Perhaps this story could have been done better without slipping into the realm of make-believe. Still, not a bad issue and Julian manages to steal the show again, making me eager for May's Hellions spin-off.

Finally we have Daredevil: Redemption. Another solid, even great,, issue as a story from Matt's past is told as he visits Alabama to try and clear a young man accused of ritualistic child killing. The close, disturbing character of a small town is nicely picked up on, making the book feel rather like Matt has stumbled into Twin Peeks, but with a little less surreal.

As is always the case with these sort of books, there's the moment that makes you grind your teeth. The whole town knows that a New York lawyer is in own, but no-one makes the connection between that and the sudden appearance of a New York superhero in a devil costume in their small town. I guess it's traditional stupid, but still.

The whole book is creepy, atmospheric and plays on both the vigilante and legal sides of Daredevil's character and for me, it's a crowd pleaser in both respects.

That's it for this week. Carry on.