• Categories

  • Writers

Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #1 – Review

Posted on July 6, 2009 by pozzyfreak

By Victor Gischler (Writer), Bong Dazo (Artist), and Jose Pimentel (Inks), and Matt Milla (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Did they really need another Deadpool series? I like the character as much as most people (probably more), but Deadpool is going to turn into the next Spider-Man or Wolverine at the current pace.

The Story: Deadpool gets hired by A.I.M. to recover a package located in the Savage Land. The merc runs into Ka-Zar and Zabu, some natives, and the contact that is supposed to have secured the package.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: The art is easily the highlight of the new Deadpool series. Bong Dazo is a great artist for a character like Deadpool, and simply put, his manic, lively, exaggerated style is a perfect fit for a series like Merc With A Mouth. Dazo’s work saves a script from being baf all around.

Victor Gischler writes a solid Deadpool (I like the Fallout reference) and puts the character in a fun situation, but there’s nothing about Merc With A Mouth #1 that makes it a must read. That said, the debut of this new series proves that there is actually room for two Deadpool comics. The Daniel Way series is Deadpool doing his thing in relation to the current Marvel status quo. On the other hand, the Victor Gischler series is, from the looks of it, all about telling entertaining stories about an entertaining character. That’s something I can get behind.

Conclusion: Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #1 is worth checking out if you are either A) a fan of the character or B) someone that would rather read a Deadpool book that doesn’t pay much attention to the current Marvel U. situation.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

The Astounding Wolf-Man #17 – Review

Posted on July 6, 2009 by paladinking

by Robert Kirkman (writer), Jason Howard (pencils & inks), FCO & Ivan Plascencia (colors), and Rus Wooton (letters)

The Story: Father and daughter make up, father and daughter team up, and father goes undercover.

What’s Good: Yes! I can finally start liking Chloe again! For many issues now, Chloe, has been a poorly written character. She hasn’t sounded her age and almost every line was too painful to hear. I sincerely wanted her to die a painful death.  To me she felt power-hungry, ignorant, and generally nasty, which isn’t good considering that Kirkman was aiming for her to be a sympathy-garnering character lost in emotional pain. Yet, despite all of my Chloe hatred, I couldn’t help but give a little “awww” when she finally spoke to her father this month. While she still isn’t the best written character, she’s not gratingly off this issue.

Meanwhile, Kursk’s broken English is always fun. I loved the dude in Invincible, so it was great seeing him here. What was daring though was Kirkman’s portrayal of him and Thrill Kill as possible rapists. A possible hint of Walking Dead in Wolf-Man? Shocking.

I also enjoyed the depiction of Cecil in this comic, though I’ll admit that Wolf-Man readers may not fully appreciate it if they’re not familiar with the Invincible. This issue again shows a nicer, more human Cecil, a Cecil that Invincible readers have probably forgotten about by now; but through Wolf-Man, Kirkman shows how multi-faceted a character Cecil really is. I also liked that Mecha Maid looks poised to become a major player in the comic; I’ve always thought she was a great character with a lot of potential.

Jason Howard’s art continues to be an enthralling visual treat, as he delivers another faultless issue here.  As is the case over on Invincible, Plascencia’s colouring has taken the art to a whole new level.

What’s Not-So-Good: There’s nothing particularly wrong with Wolf-Man, though I’m still not certain I buy “Chloe, Vampire Girl superhero.” Somehow it just doesn’t feel as substantial as it should.

Perhaps it’s due to how fast and fleeting Chloe and Gary’s reunion was. I suppose that was the point, but given the build-up, it’s still disappointing. Their quick, “barely there” interaction just feels like a missed opportunity that ends up feeling a little vague, and at times cliche. Kirkman finds time to throw in the old “I’m grown up now” line.

The problem is that this was by far the biggest development/moment of the issue and it should’ve been one of the best of the whole series. The rest of the book, while not bad, is really just a case of Kirkman moving the plot along, or moving the pieces across the board in necessary but expected fashion.

Conclusion: Wolf-Man #17 is by no means a bad book, but it could’ve been better. It just does’t feel as important as it should be.

Grade: C+

-Alex Evans

Filed under: Image Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Destroyer #4 – Review

Posted on July 6, 2009 by pozzyfreak
By Robert Kirkman (Writer), Cory Walker (Art), and Val Staples (Colors)

The Story: Destroyer and Turret attack a Horde base where they fight Krakoom. Blood is shed and Destroyer dwells on what might be his greatest mistake.

What’s Good: Robert Kirkman tosses in some effective character moments, but there’s no denying that Destroyer #4 is the art team’s show. Cory Walker and Val Staples craft a brutal fight scene that is colorful, clever, and just the right kind of over the top.

What’s Not So Good: Destroyer #4 is over far too fast and lacks the urgency that made the last issue such an intense read.

Conclusion: If you like seeing Destroyer living up to his name, then be sure to check out the latest issue of Robert Kirkman’s MAX mini-series.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Filed under: MAX, Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Justice League: Cry for Justice #1 – Review

Posted on July 3, 2009 by DS Arsenault

By James Robinson (writer), Mauro Cascioli (artist)

The Story: Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern of Sector 2814, tells the assembled JLA that he’s had enough and that it’s time to put the justice back into the Justice League and to take the fight to those who make the evil in the world. However, not many are willing to follow where he’s headed. At the same time, Ray Palmer (the Atom), Mikaal Tomas and Congo Bill come to views very similar to Green Lantern’s.

What’s Good: Almost everything. Robinson starts us off with a very strong concept: that some heroes are taking the initiative. They’re not going to act like police respecting Miranda rights; they’re going to take the informal war between good and evil on the offensive. This is a very “mature reader” perspective to bring to such an iconic series. which has been long overdue. It’s similar to the switch that detective fiction took in the 1920’s when American writers found the British cozy mysteries too contrived and artificial and instead introduced the gritty, realistic American detective that had to confront brutal criminals in violent ways. This is the can of whoop-ass that is going to put the JLA at the center stage of the comic book industry for months.

The concept of justice itself is very emotional and it allows Robinson and Cascioli to shine some powerful lights into the inner worlds of Green Lantern, Green Arrow, the Atom, Congorilla, and Mikaal. The emotions they uncover are raw and visceral, making the storytelling powerful both in words and pictures.

Speaking of pictures, where has Mauro Cascioli been all my life? He’s freaking awesome! The lighting is brilliant and he’s got some tricks of shadowing and light that put such texture onto the page that you have to see to believe. And if you really need convincing (as if the cover doesn’t convince you), look at the flashbacks of Batman and Martian Manhunter tragedies. Look at the billowing clouds of fire and smoke bursting out of a car. Look at Congorilla’s face! The art is just unbelievable!

I also loved Robinson’s message to the readers at the end. He tells us what JLA: Cry for Justice is about, what he thinks it will do and where the characters are coming from. And to top it off, we got a punchy little Len Wein/ Ardian Syaf/ John Dell two-pager at the end on the origin of Congorilla.

What’s Not So Good: My only compaint, other than some slightly over-developed biceps in places, were two pieces of clunky dialogue. My pet peeve is when dialogue is used to tell readers something that the other characters on the page already know. It’s just not genuine. Superman indulges in some (”We all know exactly who and what we’ve lost”) and so does a mortician (”I guess you know the details. He was visiting….”). These are tiny notes in an otherwise flawless symphony.

Conclusion: JLA: Cry for Justice is expected to do big things for the DCU and set up conditions for Robinson when he takes over the main JLA title. This is big stuff and it shows. Buy this book!

Grade: A-

-DS Arsenault

A Second Opinion

Justice League: Cry for Justice #1 is a lot like the majority of comic books throughout the 90s; the art shines, and the story/ writing tanks. Each subplot reeks of a lack of originality, inconvenience, camp, and unimportance.

In the part where Hal Jordan calls out the Justice League, and decides to serve his own brand of justice, the dialogue is made up corny and cliche banter. With phrases like, “You and me. Old times, new times, all the time.” and “I’m saying this will not stand. I’m saying they hurt us, we hurt them back,” Robinson is unforgiving in shoving stock moments down our throats.

In the second part where the Atoms are raising hell in a dive bar, it’s text box galore, where Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi take turns jocking one another, just like Superman and Batman in Public Enemies. It’s unoriginal, and it’s annoying to read the same words from each character… Robinson fails to give Ryan Choi a memorable voice, while the faux-badass attitude he has tagged on Ray Palmer is laughable. “He’s a hero. I’m Ray Palmer. Welcome to pain.” WTF?!

As for Congo Bill/ Congorilla, who gives a shit? It’s obvious that DC and Robinson knew he is/ was going to be the least cared about character in this book; which is why they had to throw in a last minute origin wiki at the end.  Are we really going to be seeing origin tales for characters that we should already know and care about?

It’s unfortunate that this book didn’t live up to my expectations. I was duped into thinking that this was going to be one serious story with “Identity Crisis like” themes and situations. Instead, I got a book that features a poorly written tale and an article in the end  from the writer in which he tries to assure me that what I’m reading is going to matter.

Grade: C+

-Ray Hilario

Filed under: DC Comics | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Greek Street #1 – Review

Posted on July 3, 2009 by paladinking

by Peter Milligan (writer), Davide Gianfelice (art), Patricia Mulvihill (colors), and Clem Robins (letters)

The Story: Milligan introduces us to the world of Greek Street and its various characters.  A mother dies, a body washes up, and two killers are on the loose, one a man and one a monster.

What’s Good: The concept actually doesn’t hit you as hard in the face as you think it would. Rather, this comic just comes across as a gritty new crime comic from Vertigo with a bizarre, almost Morrison-esque surrealism to spice things up. Make no mistake, this isn’t meat and potatoes stuff; it is a smart book, it’s just not overly boastful of its classical base nor is it hopelessly lost in academia.  It’s a balance that I quite enjoy and it makes the book a lot more approachable than one might expect. That said, the mythological element definitely makes it an interesting book, as it bends reality, constantly giving you the feeling that there’s something lurking behind the curtain of realism, something monstrous, magical, or both beneath the hard-boiled surface of strippers and gangsters.

Milligan quickly establishes his Greek Street as a savage, nasty world. Simply put, this book is all about the recurring nature of human brutality.  For this reason, modern crime blends seamlessly with myths that are thousands of years old. It is when the book is at its most brutal that it mostly draws upon its mythological base. In his first issue, Milligan is well on his way to proving his point, with father/mob boss carving up the face of his son, calling forth the very primitivism and ancient pantheism one would think to be long gone.

Art-wise, readers of Northlanders know what to expect here. Gianfelice has an inviting, almost carefree style that carries a grotesque, dark, and ugly tone. It’s solid work all around and a good fit for this book. I especially like his character design of the “insane/ visionary” Sandra. His work on her has me looking forward to seeing what other character designs he has in store.

What’s Not-So-Good: This is a really strange issue in that the first third of it is actually pretty underwhelming. Thankfully, this issue is 30 pages, so I still had another standard comic’s worth of material to go through. That said, for those first ten pages, it’s as though Milligan actually struggles to get this unique book started, as if he isn’t quite comfortable with his own series yet. The textbox narration is scattershot and hard to follow. These first pages also see the death of a character’s mother after he sleeps with her. It’s a hard sequence to pull off and Milligan doesn’t really manage it. Oedipus didn’t KNOW he was sleeping with his mother, but this character does, and Milligan isn’t able to provide a believable explanation. In fact, between this and the aimless textboxes (which are in this character’s voice), I started to wonder if the guy was mentally handicapped.

What’s particularly awful though is the manner in which the mother’s death is depicted. The cause and the sequence are both so ludicrous and so unlikely that it borders on slapstick comedy. Furthermore, the son’s painful reaction is more laughable than excruciating.

Conclusion: A first issue that sees its writer getting comfortable with his new book, this is a worthy addition to the Vertigo crime lineage.

Grade: B-

-Alex Evans

Filed under: DC Comics, Reviews, Vertigo | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Marvel Divas #1 – Review

Posted on July 3, 2009 by pozzyfreak

By Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Writer), Tonci Zonjic (Art), and Jelena Kevic Djurdjevic & June Chung (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: It will be interesting to see how Marvel’s Divas stack up against Gotham’s Sirens…

The Story: Patsy Walker (Hellcat), Monica Rambeau (Captain Marvel/leader of Nextwave), Felicia Hardy (Black Cat), and Angelica Jones (Firestar) are superhero “gal-pals” trying to navigate the social scene of the Marvel Universe. In Marvel Divas #1, we learn how they became friends, see three of them attend a party for Patsy Walker’s latest book, and talk about, well, girl stuff (guys, the social scene, sex, relationships, etc.).

About That Cover: Ignore the rather obnoxious J. Scott Campbell cover… Actually, scratch that…Take a good look at the J. Scott Campbell cover because it’s really the only thing about Marvel Divas #1 that deserves to fall into the “Not So Good” category. That’s not to say that the cover looks bad (cheesecake certainly has its place), but it couldn’t possibly be a worse fit for a book that succeeds almost entirely because it avoids all the baggage that comes with a cover that says “Marvel Divas” and features four ladies in skintight outfits posing in a way that accentuates their… uh… assets. Now, with that out of the way…

What’s Good And What’s Not So Good: As far as story and tone is concerned, Marvel Divas truly is Sex and the City meets the Marvel Universe. Is it really my type of thing? Absolutely not. But that doesn’t mean that the mini-series should be dismissed in any way. And that’s because, on a creative level, Marvel Divas is as strong as some of the best books on the stands.

Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa does an excellent job of giving Marvel Divas a distinct flavor for a Marvel comic. In other words, there’s very little superhero stuff and a whole lot of girl talk, girl power, and clever banter. The four main characters are written in a way that makes it easy for readers to quickly understand the important personalities (though one or two come across as a bit stereotypical) and where they fit in the Marvel universe. Aguirre-Sacasa also does a nice job of humorously breaking the fourth wall at appropriate times (”Company wide crossover”) to keep the interest of those that are picking the book up out of curiosity.

My only real complaint about the writing in Marvel Divas is actually not really a complaint and more of an observation: Aguirre-Sacasa clearly isn’t aiming for that “all inclusive” feel (though the writer certainly doesn’t have to) . What I mean is that it will quickly become clear whether Marvel Divas is for you or not. I am clearly not a part of the intended audience, yet I can certainly appreciate the mini-series for what it is.

The artwork by Tonci Zonjic for Marvel Divas is perfectly suited to the tone that Aguirre-Sacasa amazingly establishes. Stylish, expressive, and subtle, Zonjic’s work effortlessly brings out the personality and high points of the script. The only negative thing about Zonjic’s style is that character faces all tend to look similar. Skin tones and hairstyles keep faces distinct, but some more facial detail would definitely be welcome.

Conclusion: Even though Marvel Divas isn’t a series for your average fanboys, it’s definitely one unique and creative piece.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Batman and Robin #2 – Review

Posted on July 2, 2009 by rsg8101

By Grant Morrison (writer), Frank Quitly (pencils, inks) and Alex Sinclair (colors)

The Story: The saga of the Circus of the Strange continues. Batman and Robin protect the police precinct as the Pyg’s henchmen go for their man behind bars, the Toad. After some intense battles that reveal some interesting dynamics between Gordon and the new dynamic duo, Dick and Damian have a falling out that could result in deadly repercussions as the Pyg makes his bloody move against Gotham.

What’s Good: All the things that clicked beautifully last issue click here. The execution of the writing and art is tremendous and you can’t help but become absorbed into this pocket of the Batman universe. If you thought there wan’t enough “true” action last issue, you won’t be disappointed here as Morrison and Quitely craft some great fight scenes with some weird and amazing foes. Seriously, Batman and Robin battle a conjoined triplet with skills.

Morrison flushes out Dick’s psyche very nicely in this issue and I found myself actually liking him, which is a novelty because I always thought he was a really bland character. It was engaging to hear how he feels about wearing a cape and his personal deficiencies. He quickly became a character anyone can relate to. Similarly, though Damian is a typical brat, but through the eyes of Dick and Alfred, the reader gets a sense of the depth of his persona. One thing is for sure: there hasn’t been a Robin like him before, with the exception of Miller’s All Star Robin, but as we all know, that didn’t work out well at all. But this one does.

My favorite aspect of this issue was seeing Gordon’s ambiguity and weariness towards the new Batman and Robin. It was natural and convincing and is sure to bring a very interesting dynamic to this series.

What’s Not So Good: What this issue features is great, but it was a very quick read and I think more could have transpired as far as settings and backstory. In line with this is that Damian’s fate in this issue is rather predictable. If there was more story, then it would have compensated. The issue ends very abruptly. I had to keep checking that I didn’t miss any pages. Compared to the smooth closure of the last issue, this ends in a mildly rushed smash cut.

Conclusion: This is simply the best Batman book on the stands. Really novel and crazy characters infuse this issue with an odd sense of fun that can’t be found anywhere else. Morrison shows the necessary action scenes and the memorable human moments where Dick resembles Bruce’s demeanor and power. Quitely, as always, tears it up– from the emotional opening splash page to the final explosive panels… The art alone can garner an A+.

Grade: B+ (This book would’ve received an A, if it wasn’t so rushed.)

-Rob G.

Filed under: Batman, DC Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Captain America: Reborn #1- Review

Posted on July 2, 2009 by rsg8101

By Ed Brubaker (writer)Bryan Hitch (pencils) Butch Guice (inks) Paul Mounts (colors)

The Story: Bucky and Widow raid a H.A.M.M.E.R. carrier searching for the remains of Zola and the Red Skull’s lab to find evidence that will shed light on Steve Roger’s status. Is he alive or not? Meanwhile, Sharon Carter, the Vision, and the Falcon meet Hank Pym so that he can analyze the “murder weapon” Sharon used to “kill” Steve. Do you “get” what I’m “saying” with the “scare-quotes”?

What’s Good: Did you love Bryan Hitch on Ultimates– especially his WW2 scenes featuring Cap? Well, here you get to see a lot more of that. As usual, his outing here is stupendous and this book is complete eye-candy, especially if you’re a Hitch fan.

As for the writing, Ed Brubaker tells a complete story. All the dynamics that make a comic book high quality are in place here. You have great action, pacing, and dialogue. The mechanics are good. Also, this whole mini is about the return of Steve Rogers and for that I am a bit beholden to this series. That being said, there is a ton to be upset about here, so let me get to that.

What’s Not So Good: Trust me, I hate to say this, but as it stands now, Steve’s return is a major, major disappointment. I am stunned with the shoddiness and lack of creativity on the mechanics and back story to Steve’s “death” and how his return will be orchestrated. I am completely under-whelmed.

We have a no spoiler policy here at WCBR and we won’t betray that, especially for an event this big, but let me say this: Marvel has “Captain America Reborn” going on now while DC is currently running “Batman Reborn.” BOTH of these A-list characters’ “death” involves some type of temporal distortion or conundrum. Let me ask: How is that possible and what does it say about the industry as a whole?

Marvel couldn’t find a bigger cheerleader for this endeavor to bring Steve back than me. But it is impossible for me to gloss over the flaws here. First of all, what happened to all the mystery and the detective story Brubaker spun in CA #600? Inexplicably, we went from having a hard-boiled mystery to Zola spilling out all the details to Norman Osborn about what really happened to Steve and where he is. What’s the point in watching the good guys figure out what happened to Steve when we already know?

I read in an interview that Brubaker originally had in mind that Steve’s absence would only be an issue, but the editors decided to let it play out longer. Well, Brubaker was right. If this is the story of Steve’s apparent death and return, then there was no point in keeping it going this long. The story is not compelling enough to hold together the fake magnitude created by the Death of Character America.

Conclusion: I realize that there are still five more issues in this mini, but as it stands now, this tank is empty. It’s like the reverse plot of Invaders/ Avengers. I can’t fathom why everything is spelled out and if it was done differently it might just work. Might.

I have to give the creative team here that something big will happen later on this series, something of actual importance. Because right now it looks like the cards are shown and it is a losing hand. The only thing that saves this issue from a D or lower is the fantastic art.

Grade: C-

-Rob G.

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Green Lantern Corps #38 – Review

Posted on July 2, 2009 by paladinking

by Peter J. Tomasi (writer), Patrick Gleason (pencils), Rebecca Buchman & Tom Nugyen (inks), and Randy Mayor & Gabe Eltaeb (colors)

The Story: Things settle post-riot, and the Guardians reaffirm that they’re biggest little assholes in the DC Universe.

What’s Good: This is a really solid issue of Green Lantern Corps.  Clearly the core issue this month is the philosophical differences that Guy and Kyle see, opposing the Guardians.  On the surface, the disagreement seems to be merely a situation of yet another comic lamenting capital punishment.  However, what makes the conflict so engaging is not the topic itself, but rather how it defines the characters.  Kyle and Guy take the stance that we’d expect them to, but the Guardians once again show the failings of the emotional spectrum.

I really enjoyed this depiction of the Guardians’ rigid and single-minded dedication to Will and found it especially effective due to its sublety. In other words, Tomasi has the Guardians personify Will and carry the failings of single-minded dedication to one emotion without having them stomp about screaming asinine catch-phrases (Geoff Johns, take note).

The more this arc goes on, the more I truly begin to fear the Guardians. What they order in this comic is pretty damned brutal and their increased rendering of the Corps as an authoritarian construct is disturbing.  This is just one of those moments where you KNOW the bubble will burst.

As for Gleason and things down in his end, his work continues to serve the book well.  It balances a whimsical, Saturday Morning feel with the realism of a mainstream, modern blockbuster comic.  I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever regarding his work this month, as his storytelling feels fluid and effective.

What’s Not-So-Good: Aside from the philosophical conflict with the Guardians, this issue is more of a denouement and thus isn’t particularly action or development heavy, for the most part.  Oa is on clean-up duty, Soranik tries to remove Sinestro’s mark, Voz is rushed to sick-bay… It’s really just a lot of consolidation and tidying up before Blackest Night.  It’s necessary and it’s not bad, but it’s also not particularly edge-of-your-seat gripping, either.

Also, the last page of the comic really seems to come out of nowhere.  With most of the issue spent dealing with clean-up and the Guardians, the final page really felt a bit like Tomasi suddenly remembering that an event was coming up, and yelled “WHAM! BLACKEST NIGHT!” just before sending his script off.  It just felt pretty random.

Conclusion: A solid book that works well as a denouement for the last arc at the expense of leading into the next one.  That said, I’m sure this menacing portrayal of the Guardians will pay dividends during Blackest Night.

Grade: B

-Alex Evans

Filed under: DC Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Witchblade #128 (War of the Witchblades Chapter 4) – Review

Posted on July 2, 2009 by pozzyfreak

By Ron Marz (Writer) and Stjepan Sejic (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: “The War of the Witchblades” event got quite a jolt from the last issue, thanks in part to the (possible) deaths of not one, but two main characters. While I’m sure that at least one of the Witchblade bearers will turn out to be at least somewhat ok, it all made for a very nice cliffhanger.

The Story: The Angelus warrior Sabine sees an opportunity to make the Witchblade whole again, but needs to manipulate Dani in order for the plan to work…

What’s Good: Let me just say this this section is going to look a bit misleading because I actually like Witchblade #128 quite a bit… Anyways, “The War of the Witchblades” continues to intrigue, thanks to the mystery surrounding some of the elements of the mythology that the story has introduced. Ron Marz is doing a nice job of crafting a memorable event and handling the characters; the latest chapter of the story reads rather well. And thanks to Stjepan Sejic’s unique painted style (the artist’s work is as strong as ever in Witchblade #128), the event is as compelling to look at as it is to read.

What’s Not So Good: The problem with the latest issue of Witchblade is that it doesn’t do a whole lot to move the Witchblade war forward. See the story summary above? That’s pretty much all that happens in the issue outside of the (now standard) mysterious old shop owner appearance. Sure it sets the stage for what looks to be a classic battle, but that doesn’t feel like enough when it seems like more could be happening. It’s always frustrating when a good event is bogged down by pacing issues.

Conclusion: I know that’s not much of a review written above, but there just isn’t a whole lot that needs to be said about Witchblade #128. On a technical level, it’s a pretty standard issue of a good series. What that means is that the book reads well and looks absolutely spectacular at times (the “to be continued” page is poster-worthy for sure). As part of an event though, the latest chapter of “The War of the Witchblades” is a bit weak because not enough happens to make Witchblade #128 as satisfying as it could be.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Filed under: Image Comics, Reviews, Top Cow | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Next Page »