Category Archives: Reviews
Review: X-Factor #241
The action in X-Factor is knocked up a notch with this issue, which kicks off the new Breaking Points storyline. Marvel Comics is rocketing towards their new Marvel NOW! relaunch this fall, and even though X-Factor is going to be relatively untouched, writer Peter David appears to want to use this as a chance to streamline his title. I’m grateful for that. I’ve long complained about too many cast members. David has also had several long running storylines that he’s going to wrap up as well. Basically it seems like Breaking Points is going to be a big wrap up of the past year or so of stories.
X-Factor #241
So it’s a good thing that the first part of the story is an entertaining comic, with some great moments and some fun characterization. All those filler stories are in the past, now we’re back to the good stuff!
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
I’d complained in some of the most recent reviews that PAD seemed to have lost his touch when it came to his usually clever and fun characters. I think the problem was that he really was just spinning his wheels until he could get to this storyline. I had no idea what he has planned for Marvel NOW!, but this is the story that’s going to get us there. And like I said, it’s a good read. PAD expertly juggles his extended cast, mixing both superhero fun and down-to-Earth normal interactions, which I love. When the cast shrinks in the fall, hopefully he’ll have it even easier.
The true appeal of X-Factor has always been that these characters are people first and superheroes second. Sure they’ll fight the bad guys and save the day, but they’ll also get on each others nerves, bicker, bust chops and basically act like human beings. We get a really good taste of that in this issue.
So join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
Review: Avengers vs. X-Men #9
Avengers vs. X-Men slows down to once again get inside its characters’ heads, and I am grateful for that. The series is also much better for it. We get a good look into the mindsets of all the remaining PhoeniX-Men, and it’s definitely not as frustrating as last issue. They actually come out and acknowledge that the dark influence of the Phoenix is effecting their minds, instead of just everybody assuming that they’re bad guys despite all the good they’re doing. We also get some quality character moments for some of the supporting characters, like Storm and Spider-Man.
Avengers vs. X-Men #9
Because all the best Marvel stories come down to Spider-Man. Though I will say that he feels totally out of place in a story like this.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
If you remember my review of last issue, I was apoplectic about Avengers vs. X-Men. The story has been frustrating the hell out of me, with the X-Men being painted as monsters when the comic has done little to actually show them being monsters. The PhoeniX-Men have been ending hunger, stopping earthquakes, halting war and all other manner of great things. But everybody reacts to them as demonic evil that needs to be killed. It annoyed me to no end. So with this issue, the series finally underlines the idea that the Phoenix Force is influencing them to be evil. Not straight up evil, and they’re all kind of aware that it’s happening, but at least it nicely, finally defines the PhoeniX-Men as proper antagonists. I understand them now.
And I really like it. I’ll reveal more in the full review after the jump, but this issue really nails down exactly what the conflict has become and where it might be going. The PhoeniX-Men make another evolution, one I am eager to read. The Avengers are a little stale this issue, but at least they’re not the hosebags they’ve been for the past couple issues.
Join me after the jump as I reveal how Avengers vs. X-Men is back in my good graces!
Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise, Part 2
I am terrible at keeping up with this series. Part 2 came out all the way at the end of May, and only now did I think to look into it and get myself a copy for review. Someone remind me to look for Part 3 in September. Though after reading The Promise, Part 2, I can’t say as how I’m too disappointed with missing out. This series – an in-canon continuation of the Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon – takes a noticeable step down in both quality and excitement with the second chapter, much to my displeasure.
The Promise, Part 2
Roughly about 90% of this comic is just filler material, and bad filler material at that. Nickelodeon and writer Gene Luen Yang clearly knew where they wanted the story to be at the end of Part 2, but it seems like they ran out of interesting stuff to do following the cliffhanger for Part 1.
Comic rating: 3/5: Alright.
I don’t even know if I can call this an entertaining comic. It’s not funny, the action is boring, it’s painfully predictable, and nothing of note happens to any of the main characters. The only thing Part 2 has going for it is that it looks and feels like an Avatar cartoon. Most of our favorite characters are back, and they talk and act like we remember them. The art is also exactly like the old cartoon. Plus the spirit of Avatar: The Last Airbender is in this comic. It feels like I could be watching a real episode. So I guess that’s a plus, and it should make fans happy. But if you were looking for a real, interesting look at life after the cartoon, Part 2 does not deliver.
Still, the overall story has me interested enough to return for Part 3 in September. As long as someone reminds me to pick it up.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review.
Review: Teen Titans #11
Who could have guessed what a big difference it would be to not have the Teen Titans talking about N.O.W.H.E.R.E. all the time. Nine freakin’ issues, and we’re finally almost completely out of the woods from that horrendous opening storyline. N.O.W.H.E.R.E. gets a single mention in this issue, but it’s easily overlooked. Instead, the next story seems to be about the rebooted origin of Wonder Girl, and it looks promising. We even get a teensy bit of the Teen Titans being teens…but there’s still one major problem with the series.
Teen Titans #11
Teen Titans is suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.
Comic rating: 3/5: Alright.
Both the writing and art come together to tell a story that literally has the Titans bouncing off the walls, and sometimes smashing through them. It’s like this series can’t sit still. Last issue saw the Teens relaxing after the epic battle that was the Culling…but they did so on a mysterious island populated by living dinosaurs! Things can’t just be normal for the Teen Titans. They can’t be people. They have to be cartoon characters. It’s frustrating. Whereas I want to read character depth, Scott Lobdell and Brett Booth are giving me zany, off-the-wall wackiness in the form of superheroics.
And I guess, in the end, that just means this comic isn’t for me. It’s a shame too, since Tim Drake remains one of my all-time favorite comic book characters. He’s treated pretty well in Teen Titans, but he’s still barely separated from the wackiness.
Plus there are the rumors about him no longer being Robin…but we won’t speak of those. Not until we absolutely must. Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review.
Review: The Dark Knight Rises
Everybody who knows me will know that The Dark Knight Rises truly came together in that one short scene at the very end. It didn’t have to be there, but in doing so, director Christopher Nolan has totally redeemed himself in my eyes, and I left the theater a giddy fanboy. I’ll spoil that scene after the jump, along with the rest of the movie, but it’s enough now to say it was my favorite part of an already awesome film. The Dark Knight Rises is a very good flick, and a satisfying conclusion to Nolan’s trilogy. It ends with an absolutely spectacular climax that is both exciting and larger than life. A fitting end to this Batman story.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a perfect film, and it’s not the best of the trilogy. The first 2/3rds of the film are rather slow and dull, in my opinion, throwing a lot of ideas and plot at the audience, which I don’t think come together all that well in the end.
Movie rating: 4/5: Good!
But the pacing, along with a few odd plot choices, are the only negative things I can say about The Dark Knight Rises. I loved all of the characters, I loved Batman’s personal story and I loved the ending. It’s a very good film. I especially liked the new antagonists, Bane and Catwoman. They’re no Heath Ledger’s Joker, but they’re still fantastic. Especially Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. I expected great things from her, and I was not disappointed. She’s witty, wicked and very badass. Tom Hardy’s Bane, likewise, kicks a lot of ass, often literally. He’s as physically imposing and oddly charismatic as one might hope.
But not all of the movie works. The new love interest, Miranda Tate, is kind of confusing at many parts of the film, not to mention painfully predictable. Alfred is a bit of a disappointment. And the overall threat kind of comes out of nowhere. I don’t remember it from the two previous films, but everyone seems to act like it’s been a big deal all along.
Still, despite is flaws, The Dark Knight Rises adds up to an awesome film. I highly enjoyed it. Join me after the jump for a full review and definitely some SPOILERS!
