After weeks of empty pull lists and a hurricane that delayed books, it’s time once again to sit down with an important part of your complete breakfast and review the comic books.
Hypernaturals #3 written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning; art by Tom Derenick and Andres Guinaldo; published by BOOM Studios. In spite of having the feel of a middle parts story, this issue is pretty solid. The middle parts are happening quickly enough and feel engaging rather than stalling. Add to this a heaping helping of enjoyable character interaction, including a scene in an isolation cell in prison at the heart of gas giant’s storm, and you’ve got yourself a good solid read. Hypernaturals is easily my favorite book right now because DnA know how to tell a story in both long form and short form. They’ve also created an interesting and rich world in which their stories take place. To help in fleshing out this world, Abnett and Lanning include a short supplemental text piece at the end. These have been interviews with the characters or other “in world” documents. They’re short and interesting reading. It’s still early days for you to jump on. This is a book you should be reading.
Transformers Regeneration One #83story by Simon Furman; art by Andrew Wildman (p) and Stephen Baskerville (i); published by IDW. When the solicits for this new series came out, I was apprehensive. I don’t like IDW’s Marvel Continuity GI JOE book, so I was worried that the TF book would suffer from similar problems (namely feeling too silly and cartoony). So far it hasn’t. For the last three issues I’ve thorough enjoyed everything about the series except Optimus Prime. The art is fantastic. There’s always something to punch or shoot. Soundwave is sneaky, Megatron is frightening, Kupp is cranky, and the Wreckers are wrecking. But Prime has been sitting on his robo-ass whining and pontificating like he’s about to take a walk across America with JMS. This issue changed things. Furman gives Prime a reason to move again; he does everything except write the line, “Megatron must be stopped. No matter the cost.” Hells yeah!
The Boys #70 written by Garth Ennis; art by Russ Braun. This penultimate issue was a nice breather from violent explosions of the last several issues. Ennis ties up some loose ends that didn’t need tying, but they were enjoyable none the less. We also have a nearly literal cliff-hanger set up for the next and final issue of this series that both Jesse and I have been following and mostly enjoying since the beginning.
Also this week:
Action Comics (vol. 2) #0 was okay. There’s a nice moment in Perry White’s office that reminded me of the time John Byrne taught Jesse and I how to draw a Superman symbol, and there’s a purple derby.
Earth 2 #0 was slightly better. I’m still not 100% convinced that the red headed man purporting to be Terry Sloane isn’t actually Lex Luthor. This issue is a flashback to the war with Steppenwolf.
The problem for me with both of these books is that they feel like generic brand soda. I enjoy Dr. Pepper, and Dr. Thunder is close, but it’s missing something. I pick up a DC book and I see slightly unfamiliar and dull/ flat versions of characters I know well. It’s missing something. I feel a grumpy post about the New 52 coming on.
Muppets #3 maintains the high quality of the last issue, telling a story focusing on Pops. I’m going to miss this when it’s gone.
From Last Week
The Goon #41 by Eric Powell; published by Dark Horse Comics. With this issue we’re given a look at where things are headed and indications that Powell wasn’t floundering in those last three (enjoyable but fluffy) issues. Everyone’s favorite top hat sporting witch doctor takes the spotlight. I suspect that it’ll be knife to the face time before too long. Yay!
This week’s covers
Should just stay in bed,
Legend of the Exciting, Mighty Uncanny, Raging Comics Blog 