Wednesday 12/24/08

I flat out forgot to buy Gigantic #2, because I'm an idiot.

Batman #683: I'm not quite as exhausted with this as last month, and at least now the story makes sense. I'm still irritated by RIP - yes, I know he wasn't really going to die there, but what was the point of the title? Just to mess with fans? It just seems like a goofy title, given that there really wasn't even a thematic connection other than villains trying to kill Batman, which is pretty much every story, isn't it? At any rate, this two-parter ends up being a vague sort of bridge between RIP and Batman's role in FC - which still just ignores the ending of RIP by having Batman strolling around saying "Oh yeah, nothing really happened to me. Why?" - and another story about how Morrison's Batman is an unstoppable uberman. I have no problem with that, technically, but it's two stories in a row with that same basic idea. I think we got it the first time, you know? Not really essential stuff, here, I'm sorry to say.

Unknown Soldier #3: Still teetering on the edges of "interesting". I like what Dysart's doing with the main character, basically using the character as a vehicle to literalise the tension between pacifism and a basic human instinct for bloody retribution. It's a really good idea with a lot of potential, but the story is taking a little too long with setting up the conflict and not moving ahead - this probably would be a good book to be buying in trade. I'll stick through at least the first story, though.

Top Ten Season 2 #3: Is that Seaguy and Death I see? Nice. Also, Jim Shooter. Ha. I'm enjoying this series, it's taking the high concepts of the original and putting them in a more "everyday" sort of context, if you know what I mean. Instead of huge, sweeping high concepts, we get little, personal high concepts like the premise keepers and an old wizard selling magical words to kids to transform into superheroes. The art is just ridiculously good as well. Gene Ha is not human, he is an art-robot built to produce comic books beyond mortal ken. I'm a big dork.

New Avengers #48: I'll fess up that I didn't actually buy it, I just read it. It was actually pretty decent, and for some reason I have a soft spot for Billy Tan's art, when he's having a good day. It just appeals to me for whatever reason. I've read some reviews that have a problem with Luke Cage's betrayal, but I buy it. The guy's a desperate father. Makes sense. Also, Bendis' creepy fascination with Clint Barton's sexual prowess and love life finally makes sense, as he was etting up tension for the return of Mockingbird, who can find out now about all the ass her husband's been getting. Other than that conflcit, her return is totally pointless and unnecessary. But hey, his man-love for Cage & crush on Spiderwoman seemed goofy at first and now they're practically A-listers, so I assume he's got a plan. I'm actually shocked by how kind I'm being to a Bendis comic. His Cap doesn't talk right, though. He talks like a Bendis character.