Weekly Comic review for 9/10/2009

Avengers The List: : The List is the start of a series of one shots that show Osborne's plans for the future of the Marvel universe. First let me say that I'm really happy that Marvel is finally causing some ripples in the placid lake known as Dark Reign. I love that the ethics of heroes is being brought into question through spiderman's notions that killing no matter what is wrong and hawkeye looking at the current state of things and thinking about killing for the benefit of society. Djurdjevic's pencils are adequate, nothing spectacular but still good for the story. I love the panels of Hawkeye and Mockingbird talking with Avengers tower looming in the background. Also I love Ronin's sequence of gear up for his fight. And Bucky Cap steals the book with an awesome line. I'll rate this book

5 out of 10 stars. It's a great jump on point for those looking to update themselves with marvels Dark Reign story line. The dialogue between Ares and Osborne is a nice little recap for the events going on in all the major DR tie ins. The Reason the book isn't ranked higher is because there really is no new territory covered here that couldn't be covered in The New Avengers. Same teams , same characters and the same conversations have happened in the pages of that book.



The Marvels Project #2 : First let me say that Ed Brubaker is one of the best current writers today. His body of work is almost completely flawless and this is book is no exception. Brubaker handles multiple story lines perfectly, each story converging into each other at such a pace that even the most basic of conversations between characters is thrilling. I love the story of all the masked vigilantes on the prow mixed in with the rise of super- humans. The way Brubaker has managed to take The Human Torch and write him in such a way that it makes him seem like he is really seeing everything for the first time is great.
Epting's art, where to begin, I think he is bringing this book to a new level. His montage of the Masked vigilantes was great. I love the way he is doing the human torch in this book, he seems to almost jump of the pages. I think he handled the barn seen perfectly where torch is trying to control his powers staring at his flame engulfed had like a child or a dog not sure of what they are seeing.

I rate this book.....

9 out of 10. Brubakers moody noir influenced writing style and Epting's art are a perfect combination or this story of war time America in the 1940's. This is a great retelling of the roots of Marvel comics, as soon as i finished this book I was wishing next months issue was in my hands



Thunderbolts #135: The last few issues of this book have been really great. The only thing I would change would be that there is really no dialogue between the team in between missions like previous issues. Overall this book is good and suspenseful I just wish there was more character development.
On the art front the book is solid. I love the use of pink is Songbirds sonic scream and I wish they would do a big splash page of it. I think the fight between Mister X and Black Widow was handled really well. I'll give this issue a

5 out of 10. Nothing ground breaking here as far as thunderbolts goes, solid art and good story telling but the constant cliff hanger endings are really no actual pay off is starting to get under my skin.



War of Kings: Who Will Rule one shot: First I would like to say that I love what Abnett and Lanning are doing with the cosmic side of the marvel universe. Both writers are great at handling a large cast of characters. I love seeing Gladiator finally being used as more than a puppet or muscle. I thought the funeral procession was written very well and I love how Maximus is written here, his interactions between Gorgon and himself are great.
As far as art goes this book was solid. I loved how Pelletier did the funeral scene. One of the most striking moments in this book was Attilan floating over the Shi'ar throne world.

I rate this issue

6 out of 10 I love the depth of Abnett and Lanning are giving Gladiator and the book works as a good social commentary about our current state as a country and war in general. I can't wait to see where they go with Realm of Kings



Blackest Night Batman #2 : Let me first say how much I really love the concept of Blackest Night. My only real problem with the story thus far is that I'm sick of Zombie lanterns who can't die. The whole thing about zombies being scary is that you can kill them easily but their numbers overwhelm you. That being said I loved the exchanges between Dick and Damien about childhoods some laughs where had . I think the character interactions between the two tie in perfectly with the ongoing Batman and Robin book. I loved the montage of Barbra Gordon's past when deadman possessed her. Also I loved seeing batman and robin wielding flamethrowers.

overall I rate this 5 out of 10. It's a good and well done story with fine art, but I'm getting really tired of indestructible zombies. Every tie in and major book feels like the same thing with different characters to me at this point but i know it will turn around so I will stick with it.



Green Lantern Corps #40 : Here i am again writing a review for a Blackest Night tie in. I love the entire Green Lantern universe, and i think that this is the best book out of the entire story line as of now. I loved the conversations between Jade and Kyle, the new direction of the corps and a black lanteren Bzzd! As far as art goes some of the best moments in blackest night. The entire Jade/Kyle part of this story was great. The battle scenes were clear and intense. My own real problem with this book was my same gripe with Batman: Blackest Night. I'm bored with invincible zombies, once this changes I will be so much more satisfied with the story arc. Overall I rate this book a...

5 out of 10 I loved the art and the story line is good great but as above I'm just tired of nothing seeing a single Black Lantern actually get hurt.


That's the reviews for books this week folks you can find all of these issues at
Friendly Neighborhood Comics 191 Mechanic St. in Bellingham MA 02019!

Cursed Pirate Girl: A Review

Cursed Pirate Girl By Jeremy Bastian might be one of the most unusual and unique books I've had the pleasure of reading in years. from solid writing to some of the most striking visuals I've ever seen. The story is centered around Cursed Pirate Girl the daughter of a spectral pirate who is the most feared pirate on the Omerta Seas. Cursed Pirate girl dooms everyone around her until she can find her father on the seven seas. The art on the last two pages featuring Sharky is absolutely stunning. In Issue #2 the use of knights as swordfish and the way they are designed is fantastic. The use of words hidden in the scenery is amazing, This might be one of the best hidden treasures in the last few years. Everyone who reads comics or appreciates art should give this book a try. I rate this book a.....

10 OUT OF 10! one of the most unique Comics I've ever had the pleasure of reading. From the heavy card stock covers to the writing to the breathtaking interiors that show a level of detail that I wish would grace us more often. Each part of this book gets better and better. I am eagerly awaiting issue #3

Just so you can see how detailed the art is I chose a blown up copy of a panel from issue one.





As always you can pick Cursed Pirate Girl #1 and #2 at Friendly Neighborhood comics!

The Collected Essex County: A Review

Today I bought Jeff Lemire's Collected Essex County and let me tell you, he has managed to do something remarkable. Lemire has written and drawn a story that makes it's readers nostalgic for a place they have never been. It's easy to see why comics are being taken seriously these days with creators like Jeff Lemire. Essex county is a trilogy, each story sharing characters and weaving seamlessly together. The dialogue and relationships between every character is perfectly realistic. The stories center around a young child named Les who is obsessed with super heroes, an old man named Lou who is loosing his grip on reality and reliving his life and a middle aged nurse named Anne who is dealing with being a widower and trying to always do the best for her patients . Each character is dealing with the past and their own failures and hardships and trying to make a life for themselves in the wake of their own personal shortcomings and tragedies.
On the art front, the book is done in black and white and leaves the reader with the perfect sense of a small community. Sometimes starkly realistic and isolated and other times leaving you with a feeling of wonder and amazement. Lemire has truly captured the feeling of a small rural town.





I rate this book a......


10 out of 10, A perfectly told story showing the frailty of life and love and the hardships people go through.

P.S. Make sure to come down to Friendly Neighborhood Comics 191 mechanic street in Bellingham MA and pick up Jeff Lemire's The Nobody hardcover released by Vertigo and his new ongoing series Sweet tooth! Issue #1 is only one dollar!

Spin Angels #1: A Review

I just finished reading Spin Angels number 1 by J-L Sala and P-M Chan. Although the Interiors of the book are crisp and clear the story is muddled and convoluted. I'm not saying that this is a terrible book or anything but the first issue of a new series even a miniseries should leave you with an overall understanding of where the book is going or a feel for the characters, this does neither. In issue number one we see flashes of several different time periods starting In roughly 1307 the age of the Knights Templar to Modern day Rome. There are flashes between various characters nuns, priests, agents of the "black ops" section of the Vatican and a brash hitman who shares a name with this guy


But there is no depth or any form of suspense built around them at all, just that these characters exist and that they are going to be doing things. Spin Angels tries to encompass the characteristics of excitement of an adventure , the thrills of a espionage story, and the myticsism of a fantasy tale but without actually committing to any of them. My overall rating for this book is......
4 out of 10 stars 0n account of the clean artwork and that it could get better by issue two.