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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 12, 2020 9:58:44 GMT -5
OFF THE RACKSNew Comics+Real Readers=Real Reviews  |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 12, 2020 11:42:39 GMT -5
Darth Vader #4Written by Greg Pak Art by Raffaele Ienco Summary: Vader squares off against Padme's surviving bodyguards as he continues his quest to her tomb.
Plot: Man, and here I thought the pacing in the last issue was bad but this was far more criminal. The concept is great, Darth Vader sets out to investigate his wife's death after the destruction of the Death Star with the assumption being it's to see if she gave birth before her death as he felt something familiar when he tracked the Rebel pilot along the Death Star's trench. One would think it was a plot ripe for intrigue and character development...but instead we get pointless fight scenes that don't add anything to the plot and easter egg after easter egg about characters that had only had a few seconds of screen time. It's frustrating because you can see the bones of a really great Star Wars story...but it just isn't being executed well.
Art: I was a little confused in some of the action scenes but I think some of that may be due to the plot not wanting or caring to actually deal with the issues it creates. At the start of the issue we pick right up where the last ended with the giant Sea Monster from Episode One approaching the underwater sanctuary Vader and Padme's former associates were stuck in; when last we saw it the creature looked large enough to eat the whole sanctuary and yet now it fits inside well enough to maneuver around blasts and Vader's attacks. Sure, that intro could have been exaggerated simply to instill a sense of danger...but it doesn't remain consistent after this either as once again it goes from having jaws just large enough to swallow Vader to dwarfing his Imperial Transport (which conveniently just happened to be just above the sanctuary) and looking like he could swallow that ship whole if given the chance. I know classic films have had issues with scale in the past, like King Kong, but I think specifically because the plot was so weak here it seemed all the more flagrant.
Grade: 3/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 12, 2020 14:35:24 GMT -5
Immortal Hulk #36Written by Al Ewing Art by Joe Bennett Summary: The Hulk squares off against Gamma Flight.
Plot: If the above summary makes you think this issue that this issue is fairly flat and uninspired, well that would be because...it is. That short sentence really is all that went on here, in the last issue the Leader(using the body of Rick Jones) manipulated the Hulk into blowing up part of a small town and in this issue Gamma Flight shows up to lay the smack down while the once interesting McGee pleads with them not to make the Hulk angry but he does and the fight begins and lasts the whole issue. This run began as one of my favorites for the Hulk, and although there were some inconsistencies in pacing early on I had previously felt that the highs out numbered the lows but of late those once infrequent lows are growing in number and if the trend continues my feeling on the matter will soon become closer to 50/50 when it comes measuring out the highs and lows on this run.
Art: In somewhat sunnier news Bennett was atleast back on art duties with this issue and he did have some fun scenes. I loved seeing the Absorbing Man become a giant gamma cloud monster and the scene at the end had his signature body horror gross out quality to it.
Grade:5/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 12, 2020 16:49:22 GMT -5
Adventureman #3Written by Matt Fraction Art by Terry and Rachel Dodson Summary: After storming Adventureman's headquarters Claire goes through some very BIG changes.
Plot: After the harrowing adventure in the previous issue I had expected a little it of a breather but this installment tough less action packed still went full thrust forward with it's info dump. As the world building continues at break neck speed, this time focusing more on the villain. As much as I'd like more of a pause to really get to know Claire better I really enjoyed the way Fraction blended together the "fantasy" of Adventureman's pulp adventures and the reality Claire is facing. The interaction between the two fluxs from clearly defined flashbacks, to subtle intrusions down to the fantasy actually influencing reality. I'm not sure where things are going with Claire growing taller and more muscle bound, is she becoming Adventureman? I'm certainly willing to find out.
Art: While the figures and their coloring are absolutely stunning I think we begin to see here why the Dodson's are so often featured mainly on covers rather than interiors as the back grounds seem vacant and decidedly undefined.
Grade:7/10 |
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