March 21st, 2007 Reviews
     
Wolverine #52 Advanced Review

   After the last issue of this series, I was frustrated. I swore to myself that if I saw one more cliche filled caption, I might go on a rampage. Well, I lied. I saw some more cliche ridden dialogue in this issue, but this time, it actually worked a little better. 
   Loeb does his usual here. There are lots of captions and some cheesy dialogue. However, in this issue, it felt more like a fun, popcorn, summer blockbuster, than a badly written story. The story starts off with another vision that Wolverine can’t explain. The only thing that makes this not redundant, is the fact that the scene is obviously more contemporary when compared to the previous two. Then we jump to the present. Wolverine, and Storm have subdued Sabretooth, and are talking. Then, Sabretooth breaks free from his shackles, murders two security guards in cold blood, and runs. So, since Storm is in the mix of this story already, then the Black Panther should be too. So the Panther chases Sabretooth, and they start pounding the snot out of each other. Then, right around the time that it looks like Black Panther might be toast, Wolverine pounces, and puts his claws to good use. Then, we get another scene where we learn some more about Wolverine and Sabretooth’s past. It’s one of the better parts of this issue, partly because it details the very first meeting between the two. Then, we come right back to the present, where Wolverine gets a bit of a shocker, as he realizes that his visions he’s been having might be pretty important...... 
   Simone Bianchi’s art is superb once again. The guy draws awesome action sequences, and even though his panel arrangements can be kind of hard to decipher sometimes, he has a real knack for storytelling. 
   This issue definitely is a step up from the previous one. The captions are still there, and the dialogue is kind of cheesy, but it all adds up to a pretty fun story. I’m kind of curious as to what the cliffhanger to this issue means as well. So, all in all, this is a pretty fun read with absolutely stellar art.

Grade: 8.5/10
Review by Christopher Hoerdemann

   

Justice Society Of America #4

   The Best book on the shelves today. That’s really all you need to know. However, I wouldn’t be much of a reviewer if I didn’t give you some more info. The only thing you really have to know though is that JSA is the best book out there right now. 
   The hardest part of writing is coming up with a good ending. Well, Geoff Johns absolutely nailed the ending of this arc. Even though the first three issues of this series were stellar, a bad ending to the arc could have negated those. Johns does a great job of giving us some action scenes, some character moments, and giving us an ending, yet still teasing us with the next arc. Things pick right up from where the last issue ended. Wildcat and his son battle Vandal Savage, and the some other factions of the Society battle other foes. The action scenes are really the least important part of the issue. They were necessary, and well done, but the best part is after the fight scenes. All of these characters, many of whom I’d never heard of prior to this arc, are now some of my favorites. As previously mentioned in this series, the JSA is a family, and the JLA is more like a strike team. I think that explains why JSA has been better compared to JLA thus far. The JSA is more about the characters, mostly because it has to be. A JSA title can’t just be an action book, because it can’t bank on the fact that people will even care about the characters. A JLA book can bank on the fact you have the big guns, and therefore, there is a built in audience who cares. I guess the overall point is that JSA has to build an audience who care about the characters, and that can only be done by writing a book focused on them, and not action. Geoff Johns gets that, and that’s exactly why this first arc works. The end of this issue gives us an ending that works as both an ending, and a springboard. I really can’t wait for the next issue, because readers will finally get the best of both worlds with the big gun JLA, and the built up characters of the JSA. 
   Dale Eaglesham does a great job. His art never seems to be trying too hard. Everything flows, and is crisp. Plus, Eaglesham’s art can be awesome without there having to be a ton of splash pages. He’s just that good with his storytelling skills. 
   The best of the best. JSA fits that slot in the comics industry. This might be hard to believe, but it looks like things are just going to get better.

Grade: 10/10
Review by Christopher Hoerdemann   

     

52 #46

   Okay.........I get it. Black Adam is very angry. He is like the angriest man that has ever lived. I’ve been aware of this since issue #44. I really don’t need another issue explaining that to me. This issue was pretty much not necessary, because that’s all we get here. Black Adam was angry, is angry, and will continue to be angry! Whoop dee doo! Plus, a good ending that was given to the Lex Luthor arc awhile back was seemingly dismantled here. So, besides the fact that this issue was redundant, it also messed up a good ending to one of the main stories of this series. Pat Oliffe’s art is solid, and the one plus to this issue. Last issue was pretty mediocre, and this issue was a let down. I really hope that this series doesn’t end with a whimper, because all of this build up has been way too good for everything to go bad now.

Grade: 5.5/10
Review by Christopher Hoerdemann

The Brave and the Bold #2

   This book is just so much fun. I am usually a person who likes the books with bigger meaning, like Civil War and Infinite Crisis. However, I recently have been broken of this. This is one of those books that has helped me with that. 
   First of all, I was pretty intrigued with the fact that Supergirl was teaming up with Green Lantern. It’s not something you see everyday. I guess that’s the whole premise of the book, but it’s really employed well here, and in the first issue. The story in this issue is pretty dense, meaning you get a lot for your money. Green Lantern, and Supergirl head to a far off planet to retrieve a book with great powers. They do various things in order to try and find the culprit. Then, they end up in a big arena, where some gladiatorial battles are occurring, and Supergirl joins the fights. That’s basically the meat of the story. Even though the plot seems sparse from how I described it, there is so much more that occurs. However, I would be here all day if I wanted to relay every great detail to you. The plot is nothing new, and inventive, but the way that Mark Waid writes it makes it great. There are even a few laugh out loud moments, including a point where Green Lantern has to talk himself out of his attraction to Supergirl. The main thing with this story though is that it’s just really fun, and I feel like I got my moneys worth. 
   George Perez is a legend for a reason. The guy can pack more detail into a page of a comic than some artists can pack into an entire issue. Waid’s writing is great, but Perez’s art is the glue of this series. 
   This series is refreshingly fun, and not “earth shattering.” I hope it stays that way, because right now it’s one of my favorite books next to JSA.

Grade: 9.5/10
Review by Christopher Hoerdemann

   

Batman Confidential #4  
 
   Well, this series continues to teeter on the edge of good, and mediocre. Nothing really cool happens in this issue, but it there are no real problems with the story either. 
   Batman has a new toy in the form of the batplane. However, the plane isn’t all that it seems, and it turns on the Batman, and his loyal butler. Plus, Lex Luthor is......GASP.....EVIL, and wants to rule the world! That’s the plot in a very constricted nutshell. Andy Diggle executes the story well enough, but nothing really jumps out at me as being spectacular. I guess the best way to describe the story is color by numbers. I have the vague feeling that I’ve seen all of the story elements before. However, Diggle has made the book just good enough, buy the skin of his teeth, to keep it on my pull list. 
   Whilce Portacio’s art is where things start to go downhill. I have no doubt that his style works on other books, but Batman and Whilce Portacio just don’t fit together. There are still well drawn portions to this issue, but more often than not, the art is just a distraction. 
   This book thrives on being just good enough to keep people coming back. There is no real standout quality of this series. I’m one of those people who will be coming back, because I am just waiting for that one breakout issue.

Grade: 7/10
Review by Christopher Hoerdemann

Ultimate Power #4

   Ultimate Power #4 This issue gives me hope, but still discourages me at the same time. Decompression continues to plague this series, yet there are still some redeeming qualities to this issue. 
   The Ultimate Universe proceeds to embark on a journey that will take them to the Supreme Power Universe. That’s it for this issue......that’s what happens. I never said that this issue packs a lot of story. However, even with the very limited plot of this issue, there were still entertaining portions. JMS writes a hilarious Spider-Man. That’s really the saving grace of this issue, because without Spidey’s interaction with the rest of the characters, this issue would have been another disappointment. On the last page of the issue, the Ultimate Universe characters finally reach the Supreme Power Universe, and Thor is on a collision course with Hyperion (now that might be interesting). 
   Greg Land’s art was pretty good here. His art has been iffy at times in this series, but this is one of the times where it fits really well. The one specific thing I do have to say is that he draws really good “Thor flying with the SHIELD Helicarrier” splash pages (he had to draw like 4 of them in this issue alone). 
   If this story wasn’t so decompressed, I think it would work much better. Since that isn’t the case though, I’m just going to go with the flow, and see how things turn out. We’re not even half way through the mini series yet, so there is still time to turn this boat around.

Grade: 7/10
Review by Christopher Hoerdemann