It's been a while since I updated this thing and even longer since I did so with a string of short "reviews" so that is what I'm going to do. I grabbed a small stack of issues I felt I could blab about, flipped through 'em again and thought not-so-hard about what the experience was like. Read on...
NEW AVENGERS #51: I don't buy New Avengers every month. Not since the first story arc anyway. I discovered it's more of a wait-for-the-trade sort of series for me, but my brother does buy it monthly and since he is currently in Egypt I pick it up every month for him and post-Secret Invasion I just can't stop reading it.
This issue was sort of good. I like the fallout from Clint Barton's little anti Norman Osborn hissy fit, and I love the Chris Bachalo art who I've enjoyed since his days on X-Men. This story is kind of dull though. I'm not sure if its my general dislike for magic themed stories or just the fact that I'm reading it issue by issue with a month in between rather than my usual read-thru of the entire story in a single sitting. I think this is still a solid book but I also think I'll stick to waiting for the trade. Bendis stuff is just built that way for some reason.
MIGHTY AVENGERS #23: Again, another magic themed story and again another near miss. Is anyone else picking up on the distinct Kurt Busiek vibes that Dan Slott is giving off with this series? It's like he picked up where Busiek left off back in the early 00's. I like that but at the same time it just reads a bit hokey which is a trap I've noticed Slott falls into quite often when NOT poking fun at the hokiness he is invoking.
Pham's art just isn't as well suited for this book as it was Incredible Hercules either which adds yet another point against Mighty Avengers. Its sad, this series has seemed slightly misguided since the very start. I always enjoy it when I pick it up but it just never seems to strike all the right notes for me.
WOLVERINE #71: Finally the ideas bandied about in this story arc do something for me. I absolutely loved the imagery involved in the Pym Falls splash. Man that blew me away. And the Venom dinosaur was amusing. Still Millar is not Grant Morrison and he should stick to what he's good at which is ridiculous action sequences. Thankfully we get one of those near the beginning involving said Venom dino.
McNiven continues to turn in solid work. I don't think any where near the level of quality he brought to Civil War but still this is a very snappy looking book. I gotta say, considering the lack of truly good alternate future stories out there this one is a welcome relief. It will most likely take its place alongside Days of Future Past as one of the great X-Men related stories of this kind out there. Top marks across the board.
WONDER WOMAN #30: Y'know I just gotta give credit where it is due. Gail Simone has transformed this book from utter crap into pure gold. Diana as a character is more interesting than she has been since the Perez days, the stories she's telling are wonderful and full of adventure and her handle on the mythos of the character is top notch.
I'm especially pleased with this Rise of the Olympian story. For one thing Aaron Lopresti's art is looking the best it ever has, and for another this is an epic story worthy of the Wonder Woman title. I love the main plot, the character plots and all the little shenanigans going on behind the scenes. I hope Ms. Simone never leaves this title.
INVINCIBLE #60: Praise to Mr. Kirkman for trying something different is due. However, the results just aren't up to snuff. This book is way too full of action to advance any sort of story and therefore it reads like a deranged five year old (who is a really big Image comics fan) through it together on an etch a sketch.
Ottley's art was fine, though somewhat... jumbled, and I continue to be impressed by this new colorist though. Even when it fails Invincible does so with honor and dignity. Well maybe not dignity but there's some honor in here some where.
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