 |
"These reviews are based on the Sneak Peek
titles sent out by Marvel & DC. It's not everything that's shipping for
the week, but it is a real good cross-section of this weeks releases. Check the
bottom of the page (after you read my reviews) for a link to some SNEAKY PEEKIES
of future titles" |
|
 BOOK
OF THE WEEK:
MS.MARVEL #1
Comic Review by:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
Writer: Brian Reed, Artist: Roberto De La
Torre
Carol Danvers returns after her appearance in House of M
with this 1st issue that begins the move to make her into a
major player in the Marvel Universe. The character was
introduced as a supporting character way back in the first
appearance of Captain Marvel. She gained powers in the 70's
leading to her own series of adventures. She became an
Avenger, a drunk and changed her name to Warbird (in almost
that order). Here we see Carol Danvers and Jessica Drew
having lunch at chatting about a recent adventure that had
Stilt-Man insult her as she stopped him because honestly she
never really made that much of an impression or had a major
foe. In an attempt to change all that we see her get an
agent/publicist as well as see her follow some flying light
that gets her face to face with the Brood in Georgia. And
from there we are left to see what she can do about being
outnumbered and not passing out over the tightness of her
costume. The story is engaging and suggests that the tone
will be more serious than in She-Hulk but not Daredevil
serious. The cover is from Frank Cho but the interiors are
from newcomer De La Torre who shows here that he could be a
real big deal for Marvel in 2006.
MSRP: $2.99,
Alternate Reality Price: $2.54 (That's 15% OFF, All
This Week!) |
|
 BATMAN
SECRETS #1(of 5)
Comic Review by:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
Writer/Artist:
Sam Keith
The first project of his DC exclusive is a limited series pitting Batman and the
Joker against each other for about the 20,000th time. This time around the Joker
has a book out and a new sidekick in the form of Deborah Parisi, of the parole
board and she is doing the Harley Quinn deal. Now we don’t actually know what
the secrets are but it seems to have something to do with Bruce Wayne as a child
and I hope he isn’t going where I think he is. Of course, the art is
hyper-exaggerated and Kieth’s Joker seems to have a head the size of the big
sign outside the new ABC newsroom downtown. His Batman has a small head but
massive body and unless you are a fan of his work you aren’t buying this anyway.
With the upcoming OYL stuff at DC it probably wasn’t a great idea to start a
Paul Pope Batman limited series and a Kieth mini a week apart so when the sales
figures come in DC may have figured out they made a mistake here.
MSRP: $2.99,
1st DAY SALE Price: $1.79 (That's 40% OFF,
Wednesday Only!)
Alternate Reality Price: $2.54 (That's 15% OFF, All
This Week!) |
|
 the
PORTENT #1
Comic Review by:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
Writer/Artist:
Peter Bergting
The latest new Image title is a mystical sword and sorcery one with a strange
visitor (Milo) arriving to a wooded town that happens to be populated by the
spirits of long dead people. It seems that there had been a happy coexistence
between the spirits and the living but nor any more. Milo is watched as he
wanders thru the town and basically told to get his business done and then beat
it. The hooded, shadowy Milo has been summoned to the realm by a coven (or at
least they think so) to defeat an ancient monster who has risen from the depths.
He thinks they are full of crap and doesn’t believe that he is the Portent but
they are pretty sure he’s the one even though he sure doesn’t act like it. The
head of the coven has a daughter named Lin and she has a chat with Milo then
decides to come with him on his monster hunt even though it is quite clear he
wants nothing to do with her. At issue’s end we see the start of his task right
before the bridge he is on gets blown up with him already a half length across
it. We assume that when next issue ships he will have saved himself but since
this is a new book and we know nothing about Bergting we don’t know what he is
going to do with him. For that reason alone a certain number of fans should
return. His art isn’t that shiny, flashy stuff that made Image the perpetually
late shipping wonders that they are but you can easily follow his story.
MSRP: $2.99
Alternate Reality Price:
$2.54 (That's 15% OFF, All This Week!) |
|
 STAR
BRAND: UNTOLD TALES OF THE NEW UNIVERSE
Comic Review by:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
Writer:
Jeff Parker, Artist:
Javier Pulido
Let’s get this out of the way right now-the New Universe (NU) generally sucked.
Most of the concepts were lame (football players fighting crime?) but there were
gems in the pile of rocks that EIC Jim Shooter came up with. Star Brand was one,
Justice and DP7 were the others. For those that forgot the heroes of the NU were
created by something called the White Event and the results gave their world the
first super heroes and villains they had ever seen. Star Brand eventually blew
up Pittsburg and here we get a hint that maybe he may have not been the right
choice for the brand and sometimes you need to keep some things secret. The man
with the brand was mechanic Ken Connell (and his origin was a Green Lantern rip
off) but he wasn’t really thrilled to get it. Our story is told by an observer
who has been assigned his Earth and investigates when she encounters the
Gladiator. Gladiator was also given powers and was using them to destroy
communism before he went too far and was tossed out into space by Connell. Our
observer thinks she is invisible but it seems that Connell can sense her so he
grabs her and gets her to spill about what she does and how many Earths there
are. Writer Parker tells the story in a light manner that makes fun of the
styles of the NU era (such as Ken’s haircut) and comic conventions in general
(such as sidekicks). Our tale ends with discovery and a prediction that came
true in the Pitt. I wonder if anyone will ever get Gladiator back from space or
will he just float there forever? The cover is from someone who drew the title
in its heyday (okay, there was no such thing with the NU), John Romita Jr. None
of this will have anything to do with the Warren Ellis "nuuniversal" book but
think of these stories are like reconnecting with someone you knew in grade
school; you kind of remember them but not why you lost contact with them in the
first place.
MSRP: $2.99,
1st DAY SALE Price: $1.79 (That's 40% OFF,
Wednesday Only!)
Alternate Reality Price: $2.54 (That's 15% OFF, All
This Week!) |
|
|
"See, I told you I'd be
down here. We've got a bunch of SNEAKY PEEKIES of future
MARVEL, DC and IMAGE titles right
HERE" |
 |
|
|
All
Books/Characters pictured herein are © Copyright 2006
by their respective owners. No rights given or implied
by Alternate Reality, Incorporated.
Reviews © 2006 Alternate Reality, Inc. |
|
|
