Doomed 2099 #1
The future is doomed in this epic new one-shot. Doom reigns supreme over all and no hero can stand against him, but maybe Doom 2099 can. This issue works as a standalone story, but it’s also a fun tie-in to the ongoing One World Under Doom series. Doom 2099 assembles a patchwork team of heroes from across the multiverse to stop Doom (2025?) from bringing about a disastrous future.
The lineup is fun, with heroes Old Man Logan, Rachel Summers Phoenix, Bishop, Cosmic Ghost Rider, The Maestro and Deathlok rising to oppose Doom. Cosmic Ghost Rider shines in this issue, providing some comic relief to a rather serious grimdark future tale.
Writer Frank Tieri does an excellent job writing both Dooms. He captures the unabashed arrogance of Doom 2025 and contrasts it with a regretful and tempered Doom 2099. They feel like two men at different points in life, and that’s exactly how it should be.
Artists Delio Diaz and Frank Alpizar deliver some fantastic visuals. Doom 2099’s design is peak. It’s just enough of a tweak to capture the 2099 aesthetic while retaining the iconic look of comics’ most iconic villain. The mask’s glowing red eyes in particular make Doom’s gaze even more menacing. Diaz and Alpizar handle the book's massive action scenes with ease — the panels flow well and the action is easy to follow. There are also splash pages stunning enough to leave Wade Wilson speechless.
All in all, this is a fun read and a must-have for Doom fans.
Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man #1
Oh, the mortifying ordeal of being known. Do you ever wish you could stop being perceived? At least for a moment? Well, have I got a serum for you! No more being the subject of an unwanted gaze, no more being judged by your appearance — in fact, no appearance at all! Just think of the money you’ll save on haircuts. And sure, maybe it’s a permanent fix, too permanent for some yellow-bellied folk’s taste, but if you’re a committed, strong-willed individual, you (probably) won’t become a murderous psychopath haunted by a reflection you’ll never see again.
This is a superb story about a timid, brilliant man with a great darkness inside him. Jack Griffin is a promising young man, a chemist with a knack for the job, who’s on the verge of a great discovery. He’s a bit quiet, though always stuck in his head pondering his greatness and the mediocrity of those around him. That’s a volatile combination, and James Tynion IV handles each ingredient with care, perfectly laying out the blueprint for Jack’s descent into madness.
You’ll quickly get the impression that Jack is not someone sympathetic, and he’s certainly not a person to root for. Instead, he is a reflection of the darkness that lies in all humans’ hearts. He’s what happens when people indulge in their darkest, cruelest impulses and stop aspiring to a better nature.
Speaking of dark, the art in this book is perfectly suited to the story. Dark and foreboding, with splashes of rich bloody reds and cool blues capturing terror and the steely cold of a London winter effortlessly. Artist DaNi and colorist Brad Simpson did incredible work on this issue.
I look forward to seeing where this series goes. It’s the most impressive No. 1 I’ve read in a while and a great addition to the Universal Monsters universe.
Suggested Reading:
- Universal Monsters: Frankenstein
- Universal Monsters: Dracula
Thor #1
The God of Thunder walks among us — he just doesn’t know it. Al Ewing spins a tale worthy of the legendary figure Thor in this new No. 1. It’s a perfect jumping-on point for new readers and still calls back to Immortal Thor.
Stripped of his powers and memory, Ewing explores the core values of Thor. What makes him a hero and a legend across the ages? The answer is kindness, a willingness to do the right thing and never harm others.
Ewing is a writer who employs grandeur to great effect. His Immortal Hulk series took Hulk's mythos to new heights, making for a story that often felt like a parable. Ewing does that to an even greater effect on Thor. This feels like the beginning of another legendary run by Ewing.
The action is visceral and spontaneously brutal. The high-flying epic battles of Asgard that inspired the ballads sung in the halls of Valhalla have been replaced by desperate street fights in dirty alleyways. Pasqual Ferry’s art brings it all to life in a surprisingly gory fashion.
It’s not all dark, though. Thor is at peak golden retriever levels here — one could call him a cutie if he wasn’t 6-foot-6 and 640 pounds (sounds fake, but it’s true). It’s humanizing to see Thor as a regular person. His interactions with his neighbor are a lot of fun and play on Thor’s position as a fish out of water.
This is still a Thor book, and while a day in the life of a freelance construction worker is entertaining, I can’t wait to see how Sigurd Jarlson discovers that he is, in reality, the god of legend.
Immortal Legend Batman #1
New Elseworlds story alert! This is probably the weirdest Batman story I’ve ever read.
First, the Batsuit is growing on me. It’s clearly anime-inspired. Batman looks like a mini mecha and the kung fu themes are clear as well. Also, Batman is in space. There’s a lot going on here.
This issue drops you right into the action with the Cosmic Caped Crusader on the trail of a space criminal (they’re just like regular criminals, but in space). After a thrilling spaceship chase, Batman catches up to the space perp and quickly confirms that he’s even more terrifying than Earth’s Batman.
It’s hard to pin down what this book’s tone is, but I came away with the impression that nothing is off the table. Every Elseworlds story is simply a remix of the familiar origin. Immortal Legend Batman feels like it’s thrown the funnest parts of the Batman mythos in a blender. The result is an everything milkshake: sickly sweet, slightly overwhelming, but nevertheless extremely interesting.
The world they’ve set up in just this first issue is remarkable and a fun alternative to DC’s darker Absolute line of books.
X-Men: Tooth and Claw #1
Magneto has had many names. The Master of Magnetism is not what he once was, and Max must contend with the reality of being powerless.
This issue is all about identity: what makes us who we are, if our fates are set in stone or if we write our destinies as we go. Magneto has seen his world shattered perhaps more than any other mutant. From Nazi Germany to Genosha to Krakoa, Magneto’s life has been shaped by countless atrocities — and he’s dished out a few in kind. Mutant supremacist to some, freedom fighter to others, Magneto is a man of the people however you slice it. But is he willing to play the long game? Can Max bear the idea that he may never live to see the fruits of the X-Men’s labor? How long should he wait for change before more dramatic action is required?
These are the questions at the heart of Magneto's story in this gripping one-shot. It’s a character study that cuts away at Magneto’s grandeur, revealing a man doing the best he can for his people.
Henry McCoy has always been a walking paradox — the body of a beast and the mind of a scholar. A terrifying appearance tempered by the manners of a classic gentleman. He’s also been capable of monstrous things over the years, actions so vile that it begs the question: Is Beast destined to betray Xavier’s dream and become the mutant that plagues the nightmares of prejudiced humans? He’ll have to face himself to find out.
Death of the Silver Surfer #3
It’s Major Kelly Koh vs. the Fantastic Four in an all-out brawl in the vastness of space. With the Surfer captured by evil CEO Davis Harmon, it’s up to the FF to save him — if they can get past Kelly, that is.
This book is as much Kelly Koh's story as it is the Surfer’s. Love or hate her, she’s a compelling character, and Greg Pak does a great job making her position understandable if not sympathetic. There are some great moments between Silver Surfer and Koh in this issue. Without a way out of Harmon’s trap, the Surfer must appeal to Koh’s better nature.
It’s a monumental task to convince someone that their whole philosophy and way of life are fundamentally wrong, though. The conversation underscores Norrin Radd’s optimism and belief that there is good in all people. Conversely, it further cements Kelly as a true believer in her mission, and it doesn’t seem like she’ll shake the anti-alien rhetoric anytime soon.
This issue is pretty slow plot-wise, but it makes up for it with plenty of action. Pak establishes Major Koh as a bona fide powerhouse as she takes on the FF. Though the world’s greatest superteam doesn’t take her seriously at first, she gives them a lot more fight than they bargained for. It’s a well-written, well-drawn scene that doesn’t leave the FF looking like rubes.
Things are looking dire for the Surfer, and with the blood of Galactus in a madman’s hands, things are sure to get worse. Definitely pick this issue up if you’re in need of a grand space adventure.
Absolute Martian Manhunter #6
The trippiest of DC's Absolute books completes its first arc, and the finale is thrilling. The city has gone mad, and John Jones and the Martian have to work together to save what they love most.
The most harrowing installment in the series yet, this issue will have you on the edge of your seat as the Manhunter contends with psychopaths under the influence of the mysterious white Martian. The action is claustrophobic and gives the book a horror feel.
The panel design is great. There's a lot of layering and multi-panel pans that add to the feeling of chaos in the story. Javier Rodriguez might be my favorite DC artist right now (sorry, Hayden Sherman, you’re still a GOAT!). The emotions of characters are palpable, and you can see the fear and determination in John’s face as he narrowly avoids death again and again.
The colors are spectacular as well, turning a detective story into a psychedelic fever dream. This was an amazing end to the first arc, with six more issues on the way. I have no doubt that more incredible things are in store.
Absolute Wonder Woman #11
Wonder Woman continues her descent into the labyrinth in this electrifying new issue. There are major revelations for Diana as her powers and compassion continue to grow in unexpected ways.
It’s time to escape the maze, but before that can be done Wonder Woman will have to face Clea, the megalomaniacal self-appointed ruler of the labyrinth.
I think one of the most compelling things about this book is how Wonder Woman solves problems. She has all the brute strength to crush almost any opponent, but she’ll only use violence as a last resort — a big contrast to Bruce “punt a baby” Wayne.
Beyond that, it’s fun to see a Wonder Woman who’s a true sorceress. She has an incantation or a spell for every situation, which offers a lot more variety than simply punching her problems away (though there’s plenty of that as well). Diana does Circe proud, though, always using her magic to create new pathways to victory.
The art is standout in this series, and Hayden Sherman delivers as always. From warm sunsets on the coast of the underworld to epic battle scenes in the heart of the maze, everything here looks appropriately awe-inspiring.
As Absolute Wonder Woman proves again and again why she’s the last Amazon, I can’t help but anticipate her and Batman’s first meeting, set to happen in Absolute Wonder Woman No. 15. For now, we’ll have to wait and see how Diana will defeat Clea and escape the maze. However she does it, I'm sure it’ll look effortless.
I've worked at Dr No's for just 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!
No comments:
Post a Comment