Comics Review By Jair!
Absolute Martian Manhunter #5
Is it only in the dark where our true selves come to light?
Like Britney Spears in 2007, it’s a blackout in Martian Manhunter’s city. Jon’s doing his best to keep the peace, but things are escalating fast. The city is a fever dream cloaked in shadow, full of dog murderers, looters and one mysterious white Martian who may be behind it all.
First things first: I can’t praise Javier Rodriguez’s art enough. This issue brilliantly uses shadows and negative space to give the story a palpable sense of dread and danger. It’s still the most colorful book on the shelves, though, full of bloody reds, midnight blues and that iconic Martian green. The story is non-stop in its pace, giving the reader little time to breathe before a new shocking discovery. An appropriate tone for a story that sees everyday people descend into chaos as the city around them comes undone. I won’t spoil it here, but this issue is a must read for any Absolute Universe fan. Big things are coming down the road, and Middleton’s resident Martian is on the frontier of it all.
Mr. Terrific Year One #3
Mr. Terrific is stepping into the fray for the first time, and he’s learning quickly just how fast superheroing can go awry. Al Letson writes this character with a lot of love, taking the time to peel back the T-Mask and get to the core of the man who calls Gateway City his home.
The art in the bulk of the story features a lot of heavy line work and muted colors, which is a nice contrast to the polished, vibrant look of the present-day story. Artist Valentine De Landro does a terrific (hah!) job with the action here. As this is an origin story, the stakes feel real and every fight feels like it could be Terrific’s last. Michael Holt is new to this, not true to this after all, and he’s a far cry from the Mr. Terrific we see in the present. He’s a survivor, though, not to mention the smartest person in the world — though how he’ll get out of this issue’s cliffhanger ending, I have no idea.
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra: Chaos Agent #2
Doctor Aphra and Luke Skywalker continue their search for the origin of a mysterious force-powered gauntlet. Artist Gabriel Guzman and colorist Mike Atiyeh breathe life into the galactic underworld. The planet Aargau is dingy in the way a shady deal in a back alley is supposed to be dingy.
This issue has Luke and the good Doctor doing their best good-cop, bad-cop routine. Writer Cherish Chen does a fantastic job capturing Luke Skywalker’s boy-scout brand of goodness (between him and Clark Kent, are all farmers nice?). Aphra and Luke are always a fun team, and their dynamic of cynical pirate and noble Jedi is both funny and sheds light on how war-hero Luke is viewed throughout the galaxy post–Rebel victory.
Aphra is mostly annoyed throughout this issue — and for good reason, they took her tattoos after all. Working for the feds … sorry, New Republic, is no doubt an adjustment for the galaxy’s most cunning outlaw, though she seems to be softening up to the idea. Is this series the beginning of Aphra’s turn toward the light, or will she always be a double crossing scoundrel?
Uncanny X-Men #18
It’s New Orleans’ first friendship festival, and the Uncanny X-Men are the unofficial guests of honor. This issue is a lighthearted affair that harkens back to classic X-Men heroics. In the aftermath of “Murder Me, Mutina,” tensions are high, and the X-Men are worried about their place in the new world taking shape around them.
The festival is a rare moment of rest for the mutants, and artist Luciano Vecchio does a phenomenal job capturing the fun fair atmosphere. Rachelle Rosenberg’s colors bring a spark to this book. Fair rides light up the page, and action scenes are elevated to new levels. Gail Simone does a great job balancing the relationship between the team, with Rogue and Gambit standing out as highlights in this run. I look forward to the next issue in what seems to be a more relaxed arc for Marvel’s mutants.
I've worked at Dr No's for about less than a year and I've been patronizing them for half my life. I like comics, video games, music and sometimes sports.
I’m a GSU graduate, veteran sandwich artist, and aspiring writer. Ask me about the X-Men or my anime car sometime.
I think all comics are good they're human expression, dreams put to a page through days, months and years of dedication. They're windows into other worlds, aspirations of all we can be, warnings of what we may become and everything in between. Above all I think comics can help us understand the things we often don't consider.
That's what I want these reviews to do, help folks understand maybe even appreciate something they haven't seen before, but yea lemme wrap this up I got books to file. Happy reading!
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