Home The Order Forums Stats/Leader Comic News Login FAQs Podcasts Register
CMRO Menu Header
Marvel reading order menue bottom

Wolverine and the X-Men #29 2nd Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  No Responses »
Jun 182013
 

by Dylan Duarte, CMRO Contributing Writer

Wolverine and the X-Men

Issue #29

Written by Jason Aaron, Art by Ramon Perez

Published: July 2013

Eye-boy is and will always be disgusting to look out. Eye-man is not much of an improvement.

I feel like Wolverine and the X-Men 29 is a test from Jason Aaron. He wants to see if his readers will enjoy an issue without one, single exciting moment. He’ll take Wolverine, a character famous for his temper and his razor sharp adamantium claws and have him give a big speech. Then he’ll bury a time capsule. Then we’ll fast-forward twenty-five years to old man Wolverine, who will dig up that time capsule and then he’ll talk some more. Doesn’t this all sound very compelling?

The crazy thing is Aaron’s experiment is more or less a success. He’s a very capable writer and he’s nailed Wolverine’s voice so perfectly, that it actually is fairly compelling watching him spill his guts about what Charles Xavier and the school meant to him. It’s a much more vulnerable Wolverine than we’re used to seeing.

While he’s doing all of this, he’s planting a lot of seeds that are expanding his little universe in a myriad of ways. More and more mutants are joining the Hellfire Club. Last issue saw the defection of Glob, though I don’t think he’s much of a catch. At the end of this issue we see Idie say goodbye to Broo and switch sides, which was a little heartbreaking.

Then there’s Dog, Wolverine’s half-brother, who seems to be a mixed bag. He seems to be pretty ruthless, but what Wolverine finds after opening that box suggests that Dog is like his half-brother: a thick, tough exterior wrapped around a pretty big heart. Then there’s the prospect of Dog joining the Hellfire Club, which he’s clearly not too keen on, but I don’t see Kade Kilgore giving up any time soon.

Amazing Spider-Man #682 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  No Responses »
Jun 172013
 

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Amazing Spider-Man

Issue #682

Written by Dan Slott, Art by Stefano Caselli

Published: May 2012

At this point in the Amazing Spider-man timeline, Peter Parker is working for Horizon Labs, and as a result his crimefighting techniques seem to have gotten a budget upgrade. This Spider-man isn’t exactly what I’m used to—he has gadgets upon gadgets, including a flying spider-shaped disc that he zoom around on. It’s interesting to see Spidey trying out some new moves, though I do miss the traditional webslinging and flipping about. Still, I like the gadget-y Spider-man, because even though he’s upped his game, a whole new host of problems swarms in to keep him just as beleaguered and troubled as ever.

It’s a lot of fun to be able to see Peter as an actual working scientist—in this issue, he gets to see many of his inventions and gadgets being put to practical use in the outside world. In many ways, his inventions seem to be doing even more good than his Spider-man gig, albeit on a smaller and less dramatic scale. When Mayor Jonah Jameson threatens to close down the lab—just as Doc Ock and his gaggle of supervillain partners—unveils a truly sinister plot to threaten half the planet. This, coupled with cameos from the avengers and a pretty cool new redesigned suit (even if I’m sure—and I hope—it’s only temporary) make this one a really great issue over.

It doesn’t hurt that the art is fantastic—great musculature and convincing, dynamic poses that never feel overdramatized. Character designs are detailed, but not busy—an important distinction, I think. Overall, Amazing Spider-man #682 is pretty much everything I could ever want out a Spider-man story.

Ultimate Spider-Man Infinite #1 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  No Responses »
Jun 172013
 

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Ultimate Spider-Man Infinite

Issue #1

Written by Yves Bigerel, Art by Ramon Bachs

Published: October 2012

A giant alien monolith touches down in New York while Spidey is running late one morning, and before he can do anything about it, he suddenly finds himself zapped inside! What’s inside the monolith, and what is it doing in New York in the first place? Read on to find out!

This is an issue full of hits or misses. The humour occasionally lags, but there are enough good visual gags and moments of awkward Peter Parker charm that make up for the few that do fall flat. The backgrounds look great before Spidey enters the monolith, after which the panels become gray and empty (perhaps purposefully). The art is very clean with strong poses, but occasionally it adopts a chibiesque style, usually during moments of humour, that feel a bit off at times. On the other hand, the chibijokes are usually funny, so this point may fall under the ‘your mileage may vary’ umbrella.

The story itself is intriguing, but not especially thrilling, and it lacks a truly satisfying payoff. The content of the monolith—namely, various empty components of several Spiderman villains—is pretty cool, and it feels a bit like a level from a videogame. There are so many elements running rampant that the issue moves like a shot, and to that effect the pacing is good. However, while I found the villain cameos a bit too short to be satisfying, the mystery of what lies at the top of the monolith did keep me reading on. The ending is cute, but in the end I felt this one had some neat ideas that could have been spread out and developed a bit more.

Overall, it’s a fun issue that didn’t totally grab me, but was still pretty enjoyable.

Captain America #7 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  No Responses »
Jun 142013
 

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Captain America

Issue #7

Written by Rick Remender, Art by John Romita Jr.

Published: July 2013


I picked this one up one day when I was in a Captain America frame of mind, so I’m coming into this one pretty blind. I know Captain America and all, but this particular run I haven’t caught up on yet. Still, as a jumping-on point, I think it works pretty well. I certainly seemed to have jumped on board at an exciting chapter!

This issue, Captain America rushes home with his adopted son, Ian, as an alien virus threatens to take over his mind. What follows is a rapid-paced chase to safety, with panels choked with rain and mud and alien monsters dying for a chance it get at Cap’s throat. The art is distinguished by tough, thick lines and muted tones that produce a cold, rainy atmosphere warmed just a touch by the mud-like colours. It gives the issue a really cool look, even if the human characters look a little off at times.

Still, the body language and action in this one is a ton of fun, and it makes the fight scenes feel difficult and weighty. When someone throws a punch, it looks like it hits, and hits hard. It actually feels like it hurts. That it manages to make me wince without resorting to excessive blood and gore is, I think, testament to the issue’s artistic talents.

There are some elements of goofiness, but overall I like this one. It looks unique, moves quick, and I can engage with Cap’s relationship to Ian even without having read the previous issues. I might just have to go back and siphon up what I’ve missed thus far.

Bloodhound #1 Review

 Posted by  Indie Reviews, Issue Review  No Responses »
Jun 132013
 

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Bloodhound

Issue #1

Written by Dan Jolly, Art by Leonard Kirk

Published: April 2013

“Bloodhound” centers around a bounty hunter who goes after superhuman targets in exchanged for a reduced prison sentence—a sentence he earned by allegedly killing his partner.

Whether or not any of this appeals to you depends on a couple of variables. The most important being whether or not you like the main character. Clevenger is a mountain of muscles and scars with a collection of personality disorders and a little problem with violence. For me, personally, he sounds more interesting on paper than he ends up being in execution, but I can see the appeal of him. He’s an unapologetic badass, and if you can get over the ‘constructedness’ of that (I was never unaware that they WANTED me to think he was a badass), then he’s a competent lead.

What follows after the initial setup—which is intriguing but somewhat dependent on the cliché of the old disgraced cop coming back for one more job for which he is uniquely suited—is a full-out prison brawl, which is bloody and violent and glorious about it. Again, how much you get into this kind of violent revelry depends on your level of tolerance for violence in general. Me, I get bored with it after a while, and the ease with which Clev dispenses the prisoners only serves to robs the scene of some needed tension.

Still, overall, Bloodhound isn’t a bad read. The art is clean and attractive, and the narrative progresses at a nice pace. It’s just not the sort of thing I would recommend to everyone. If you like badass muscle men who favour violence in a big way, Bloodhound might just appeal to you.

Marvel Adventures: Iron Man #1 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  No Responses »
Jun 122013
 

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Marvel Adventures: Iron Man

Issue #1

Written by Fred Van Lente, Art by James Cordeiro

Published: June 2007

This week we have yet another Iron Man origin story.

If you’re familiar at all with the Iron Man canon—even if it’s just through the cinematic universe—then you’ll have some idea of the basic character arc going on here. Tony Stark’s transformation into Iron Man is predicated on a near-death hostage experience that forces him to come face-to-face the realities of his weapons-making business. It’s a familiar storyline, but the ensuing crisis of faith he undergoes is nonetheless compelling stuff, even if it’s relatively brief. The brevity I can forgive because it allows the issue to move along at a brisk pace without feeling particularly rushed, which is always a delicate art. Marvel Adventures: Iron Man #1 succeeds in telling what feels like a very full story in a relatively short amount of pages, which to my mind is an accomplishment. Space isn’t wasted in this issue.

Tony Stark’s character development and personality are handled well, and the culture of tech fandom surrounding him is fun. The art itself is also attractive—not particularly distinctive, but colourful and clear with poses that look convincing. In terms of attracting new audiences to the Iron Man franchise, I can’t see why this issue wouldn’t be appealing. It seems to hit all the relevant notes that a newbie needs to know.

While there’s much to like about this issue, I did find that at times, it was forced to rely on the stupidity of the A.I.M terrorist characters. This is a small nitpick, however, because the emotional payoff of Tony Stark’s escape from captivity is ultimately rewarding, and the issue, overall, is a competent and enjoyable retelling of the Iron Man origin story. Worth checking out if you`re looking for a jumping off point.

Winter Soldier #1 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  No Responses »
May 252013
 

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Winter Soldier

Issue #1

Written by Ed Brubaker, Art by Jackson Guice

Published: April 2012

For a first issue, Winter Soldier #1 is somewhat bleak. That on its own isn’t a problem, but for whatever reason, this one didn’t grab me much at all.

The plot revolves around ex-KGB agents and the team-up of Black Widow and Winter Soldier (Captain America’s Bucky) that operates to take them down. It’s not a bad set-up for a comic. The teaming of Black Widow and Winter Soldier is fun in theory, but Bucky himself just sort of falls flat as a narrator. His narration is utilitarian and to the point, but not in any particularly characterizing way. He seems to be a vessel for the plot rather than a fully fleshed character. He’s got angst, of course, but no real personality to make that angst compelling.

Natasha is a bit more fun, and she ends up saving this one. She’s tough and snappy, and even though the bleak tone of the issue forces her into a serious role, she still manages to get a bit of personality through despite it all.

In addition, there’s a loooot of text box reminiscing about things that have happened to Bucky in the past, and after a while I felt like I was getting tons of information, but none of it was particularly interesting. Exposition in comics is really difficult to do effectively, so I hesitate to slam the writing, but I almost wonder if all of Bucky’s inner narration was really necessary.

The artwork in this one is shadowy and appealing, with a somewhat painted look. The colour—what colour there is, that is—almost seems to overtake the lines, and it often produces the effect of seeing the characters as half-finished, always lurking in and out of some ominous shadow. It gives the issue a dark and artful atmosphere, and it really is a gorgeous-looking issue overall.

My final verdict: It’s not bad, it’s just not anything that gets me excited.

Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite Comic #4 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  No Responses »
May 232013
 

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite

Issue #4

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Michael Del Mundo

Published: July 2013

I have been shamelessly enjoying this series recently, and jumping at the chance to read each issue that Marvel releases online for free. There’s just something about the sweeping sci-fi world that’s endlessly engaging, and each character introduced thus far has been full of personality, or at the very least, come packaged with enough hints and foreshadowing to their own unique and interesting backstories.

It doesn’t hurt that the art is just painfully beautiful. The sandy textures, the colours, the movement and poses! It’s just a gorgeous-looking series thus far, and I would recommend the great character designs alone. So many unique-looking aliens and creatures! Thankfully, the story continues to be pretty engaging on its own terms, and I like the fact that each issue comes complete with its own small storylines and narratives and characters. I never feel dissatisfied when I finish one, like I’m just waiting for some greater story to start. The build-up is compelling on its own, and while it still very much reads as build-up, the slow introduction to the world is thoroughly enjoyable—and what a vast world it seems to be! Quirky and gritty and diverse all at once.

While I’m really enjoying the very self-contained narratives of each issue, however, I’m also starting to get a bit antsy to see how everything is going to tie together, and how these characters are going to relate to one another. This is maybe my disadvantage as a new fan, but I think it’s testament to how enjoyable this series is that I’m so eager for more.

Thor #364 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  1 Response »
May 232013
 

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Thor

Issue #364

Written by Walt Simonson, Art by Walt Simonson

Published: February 1986

The opening page proudly titles this story “The Mighty Thor… Croaks!” Oftentimes with older comics like this there’s a certain sense of irony that goes along with one’s enjoyment of it. It’s fun to read comics that conform to campy storytelling standards that would seem ridiculous today (well…maybe). Still, you can usually tell a silver age comic from a modern-day comic through tone alone, for example. This one’s from the late 80s, so it’s not quite as campy as some of the older fare, but it still indulges in pure silliness. Happily, there’s nothing ironic about my enjoyment of this one—this is a funny issue, and the funny is absolutely intended.

There’s just something endlessly charming and riotously hilarious about frog!Thor, with his very serious ‘thinking’ closeups and his old timey dialogue. The flippant tone of the narration—which kindly informs us that they will be translating frog!Thor’s ribbits for those of us who cannot speak ‘the language of the beasts’—also adds to the general hilarity.

Inevitably, with a concept like this, it’s a bit gimmicky. Much of the plotline is taken up by the predictable efforts of frog!Thor to get his friends to realize it’s him. Still, this one is pure goofy fun, and it’s hard to criticize it too much for being predictable. It’s still charming and funny, and that’s what matters.

This kind of comic is such a ‘your mileage may vary’ sort of thing. If you’re the type of person who likes their heroes dark and gritty and angsty, stay away from this one. If you just want to have fun, check it out.

The Umbrella Academy #0 Review

 Posted by  Indie Reviews, Issue Review  No Responses »
May 212013
 

by Linsay Young, CMRO User

The Umbrella Academy

Issue #0

Written by Gerard Way, Art by Gabriel Ba

Published: April 2011

What attracted me to this one was the weird cover that combines a gothic aesthetic with the superhero imagery. It’s no surprise, then, that one of the chief creative minds is Gerald Way of My Chemical Romance fame. That cover that drew me in, though, was the work of James Jean, who might be better known as one of the artists on Fable. Well, now I know why the cover was so effective!

The interior art is very stylized, favouring a more cartoonish look rather than realism. I like it. It’s characterized by thick and jagged lines, but it’s expressive and fun to look at.

As for the actual book, it’s not so much an issue as a teaser, clocking in at about twelve pages of actual story. Naturally it’s a quick read. If you don’t mind the shortness, Issue #0 manages to give us a pretty fun romp through its campy, pseudo-sci fi universe (with maybe a pinch of steampunk aesthetic). Despite the gothic cover and the opening scene of a body being found in a shadowed alley, it’s a whole lot sillier than one might be led to believe. The villain we’re introduced to is gleefully and ridiculously evil, easily the best part of the issue. The team itself, while possessive creative powers and some cool designs, aren’t quite as energetic as the Murder Magician, and there’s no real emergent personality except for the Monocle, who appears near the end. This character is intriguing; he only features in a few pages, but his harshness, in addition to the mystery of what role he’s meant to play, is certainly engaging.

Overall, I’m not totally won over yet, but this issue was fun and short, well worth checking out.

Star Wars: Legacy #1 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  2 Responses »
May 082013
 

by Linsay Young, CMRO User

Star Wars: Legacy

Issue #1

Written by John Ostrander, Art by Jan Duursema

Published: June 2006

The cover for this one claims “125 years after Vader… new Sith!” Man, we just can’t get rid of these guys! This little burb effectively tells you everything you want to know about the plot—new, improved Sith going up against the weakened Jedi in all-new space battles. There’s quite a bit of history explained in the opening, but this is the essence of the conflict.

Part of the reason the original trilogy was so much fun was because you were off saving the galaxy with a bunch of characters you genuinely liked. Here, we have Cade, a descendant of Luke Skywalker. The issue works really hard to get you into Cade right away—he goes back and forth between joining battle and following his father’s orders to flee (TWICE), unleashes massive power in his angst after witnessing his father’s murder, and has ‘too much anger’ in him. We’ve seen this kind of setup before (most notably in the prequels) and as a result, Cade falls fairly flat as a protagonist. He’s boring. We’ve seen a hundred heroes like him before—the hot-headed, supremely powerful kid with a prestigious lineage and angst over a murdered parent. He’s rebellious… until his father tells him to stop being a selfish idiot, and he follows orders sulkily. There’s just not a lot to him that feels new or engaging.

Not liking the protagonist really kills the appeal of this book. If you can get into Cade, or if you’re just a big Star Wars fan, you might be able to get into this issue as well, but overall I found it a bit of a snoozefest. Legacy recycles old tropes without bringing anything much new to the table, which is a shame when you have the expansive Star Wars universe at your disposal.

Orchid #1 Review

 Posted by  Indie Reviews, Issue Review  No Responses »
May 052013
 

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Orchid

Issue #1

Written by Tom Morello, Art by Scott Hepburn

Published: October 2011

Orchid is a post-apocalyptic story, one that imagines society locked in a fierce slave-and-master dynamic between the rich and the poor. The rich can afford to live on high ground and largely avoid the perils of the ever-encroaching ‘wild’, while the poor are doomed to suffer as their slaves, ensuring a strict world order that privileges one group over the other. Naturally, in any good story that involves these elements, there is a resistance. Complicating things is the presence of a mask with rumoured magical abilities, a relic of a failed rebellion that can only be worn by a saint.

This is the first issue of what promises to be a much larger story, but already there’s plenty of interesting conflict. Some of the dialogue is a bit cheesy in an action-movie sort of way, but I prefer cheese over flat characters who speak blandly. The backstory unfolds like a myth being told around a campfire, introducing ecological disaster, the disintegration of society, and the rise and fall of a pseudo-religious rebellion. After the exposition concludes and a brief scuffle ensues, we finally get to meet Orchid, our titular hero, who comes across as a tough, complicated chick.

The art in this one really sells the premise, too. It has a somewhat sketchy quality, but the colours are stark and arresting, and the shadows well-placed to evoke a desolate, devastated landscape where cruelty reigns supreme.

All of this is good stuff, though there are a few head-scratching moments. For example, the opening text suggests that humans no longer remember how to read, but Orchid and the other prostitutes are all tattooed with phrases they can explicitly read. Still, the story is compelling enough that you can shrug away those details (unless you’re detail-oriented that way).

Overall, Orchid is a somewhat familiar but thoroughly intriguing first issue.

Gravity #1 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  No Responses »
Apr 182013
 

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Gravity

Issue #1

Written by Sean McKeever, Art by Mike Norton

Published: August 2005

The protagonist of this one is somewhat boring. He’s the typical everyman archetype, defined entirely by his lack of ambition until one day some fortuitous accident simply hands him superpowers and defines his destiny and desires for him. His bumbling attempts at superhero-dom are about as predictable as you expect, especially since our lead doesn’t have much of a personality to colour the scenes or liven them up. They even do the “whoops, someone asked me to unlock their car and it turns out IT WASN’T THEIR CAR!” gag I’ve seen literally beat for beat before. Story-wise, this isn’t anything new or particularly engaging. At best it’s competent, but it really suffers from a lack of personality and distinctive style. I could forgive the predictable nature of it and overlook the lack of originality if the main character was less bland, or had a stronger sense of self or purpose. He seems to want to be a superhero just because he has the power to do it, and what else is he gonna do with superpowers?

One really interesting element of the book, though, is the ‘plugged in’ element of it. As superheroes continue to evolve, technology inevitably becomes a factor in storytelling, and it’s fun to see hero-themed blogs and superhero ‘experts’ popping up as though they’re commenting on a sports team’s stats or something like that. The issue doesn’t quite center its focus on that, unfortunately, but whenever those elements pop up, it makes the story feel a bit more modern, a bit more stylish. Watching a hero’s rise in popularity through the lens of social media and an ever-connected world? That’s interesting stuff! It’s too bad there’s not more of it.

Otherwise, though, there’s simply not much going on here.

Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite Comic #3 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  No Responses »
Apr 142013
 

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite

Issue #3

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Michael Del Mundo

Published: April 2013

I’ve been having a blast with this series so far, and issue three hasn’t put a stop to that. So far the series has been one introduction after another, each with a distinctive feel and tone, and as a relative newcomer to the series (I imagine just the sort of reader they’re hoping to attract), I get more and more curious each week to see how these characters are all going to come together and interact. Veterans of the title might have a different experience, but I’m having tons of fun with this.

This issue introduces Gamora, a pretty badass chick with awesome green hair and a great design. Marvel’s been releasing this series in the form of digital comics, and the format really, really works for a series like this. It gives each issue a cinematic feel, which serves the action well in particular. Much of this issue is comprised of an action scene, and it just flows so well.

Not to mention it looks great—the colour palate is sandy golds and pale greens, which makes for a gorgeous—though still gritty—atmosphere. Character movement is fluid and elegant and expressive, which is essential for an issue that’s scant on dialogue. What it does well is get me interested in the character in the same way that issues 1 and 2 did. It teases just enough to intrigue, to make you want to keep reading to find out more. I’d say that’s an effective opener.

Plus, it’s free! I’d definitely encourage anyone who enjoys a good sci-fi adventure to check them out over at Marvel’s digital comic store—after all, what have you got to lose except time?

Wolverine #300 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  No Responses »
Apr 112013
 

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Wolverine

Issue #300

Written by Jason Aaron, Art by Adam Kubert

Published: March 2012

Tension is building between the yakuza and Red Right Hand is building, and Wolverine returns to Japan to get involved! Well, what did you expect him to do? He’s Wolverine.

The story itself starts out engaging in a bit of silliness—Wolverine defeats a plane full of ninjas only for the plane to land safely, filled with the corpses of the fallen, as he saunters off, unaffected by the pressure of the atmosphere and, apparently, having landed the plane himself—but it’s the sort of silliness I’m inclined to forgive, because it lends itself to some fun action and imagery. When the plot proper kicks in, however, it’s good stuff—turf wars, power struggles, and tons of crazy action in unique settings! Yukio and Wolverine are a fun team-up, too, and I like their gruff back-and-forth a lot.

In terms of the dialogue, however, there’s some really clunky exposition bogging down what are otherwise really likable characters (“What are we doing here again?” seems to be an old favorite for comic books). It’s not enough to ruin their likability, but it does make the issue flow less like a well-oiled machine.

The art is gritty and colorful and varied. Some scenes look lit up by the neon lights of Tokyo, others are cold and metallic. It’s an appealing book to look at, and the setting of Japan doesn’t hurt in terms of taking advantage of some unique backgrounds.

Overall, this is a fun adventure that gestures to a more complex plot on the way. Great characters, pretty art, and some bombastic action!

 Older Entries
/* ]]> */