Weekly Comic Book Reviews for October 15, 2008

Final Crisis: Rogues Revenge #3
Creative Team
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Scott Kollins
Colorist: Dave McCaig

Issue Rating
Story: 9/10
Art: 7.2/10
Overall: 8.1/10

Review: Even though I found the past two issues to be average reads Johns was able to make Final Crisis: Rogues Revenge #3 a great ending to this mini-series focusing on Flash's Rogue Gallery. This issue shows that Flash's Rogues aren't the some joke villains, except for the new Trickster who was just annoying, and are actual bad ass villains when written correctly. With all the villains in the DC Universe joining Darkseid and Libra it was great to see that the Rogues aren't buying Libra's crap. And after being hunted for the past year, DCU time, it was nice to see the Rogues finally get their revenge on the person that caused their misery Inertia/Kid Zoom.

What really made this issue great was the last page showing Barry Allen the original Flash's return. I just can't wait for Flash: Rebirth mini-series next year. The only problem I had with this series is Scott Kollins art. I just never been a big fan of Kollin's art but I will say that the fight between the Rogues and Inertia/Kid Zoom was some of Kollin's best work.

Titans #6
Creative Team
Writer: Judd Winnick
Artist: Julian Lopez
Inkers: Prentis Rollins and Bit
Colorist: Edgar Delgado

Issue Rating
Story: 3/10
Art: 6/10
Overall: 4.5/10

Review: If this was another writer I would be talking about how suprised I am that a writer can take one of the greatest teams in comics and write such a make the title feel so unreadable . But because this is Judd Winnick I am not suprised that he has taken the Wolfman/Perez Titans made the title so unberable to read. This issue was just the final nail in the coffin for this title. This whole Trigon son's story line was unoriginal and ill-concived from the very. Also Winnick's charatarization of each of the Titans is no were near how each member has been currently portrayed in other titles. What this issue and title shows is that as much as DC and fans want to relive the Wolfman/Perez era Titans that it is time to just admire how great that run was and allow these characters to move on from the Titans and take their perspective roles in the DCU. And since I don't have time or money to waste on a title this bad this is the last issue of Titans that I am picking up.

Ultimate Origins #5
Creative Team
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Butch Guice
Colorist: Justin Ponsor

Issue Rating
Story: 8/10
Art: 8/10
Overall: 8/10

Review: Outside of the issue were this mini-series focused on the origins of the Ultimate versions of Magneto and Professor X and their relationship Ultimate Origins has been mostly a disappointing mini-series. With Ultimate Origins #5 Bendis was able to not only write a good ending but actually build up my anticipation for Ultimatum, even if Loed is writing it. While a lot of people may be annoyed that Bendis has tied in almost every character in the Ultimate Universe origins together in some way I actually think that this is an interesting development. Even though Ultimate X-Men already showed the falling out of Magneto and Prof. X it was interesting to seethe real reason behind Magneto paralyzing Prof. X. Making the reason Magneto did that to his best friend out of defense because of Prof. X attempt to force Magneto to follow Prof X's belief system made the scene much more powerful. The only problem I had with this issue, and story, is that Bendis introduced the idea of humans being the actual creaters of the mutant gene and didn't really give much more of an explanation than that.

The other interesting thing about this issue was the "apperance" of the Watcher and what it told the Fantastic Four about the upcoming disaster that is to hit the Ultimate Universe. The mystery of how the Ultimate version of the Watcher actually looks like since the Watcher used Sue's boy, with her permision, to relay it's message is interesting since they can either have an organic body, be a collective conscious or something else. Also it seems that this version of the Watcher is much more hands on the the 616 version with it assigning its on herald that will either record or bring about the upcoming disaster. And credit to be Butch Guice for providing some nice artwork to go along with Bendis's story.

Uncanny X-Men #503
Creative Team
Writer: Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker
Artist: Greg Land
Inker: Jay Leisten
Colorist: Justin Ponsor

Issue Rating
Story: 3/10
Art: 5/10
Overall: 4/10

Review: Just like with my comments with Titans it is hard to believe how bad Uncanny X-Men has become since Fraction has taken over the writing chores. It is clear that Fraction is the one that has been writing the past few issues and that Brubaker may only be helping with the plotting of the story. All the characters are acting like Messiah Complex never even happend. It is clear that Fraction is ignoring all of Emma Frost previous charactarization and has turned her into Jean Grey-lite. This is not the Emma that I have been reading and Emma is at her best when she masks her kindness with the bitchy side she shows to everyone. And the rest of the X-Men are no better and this issue was nothing but a dumb action filled issue. Also the appearance of Madeline Prior, in BSDM fetish outfit, did nothing but prove how stupid this issue and story is. It doesn't help that we also get some stiff artwork from Greg Land. All of the character's basically look like they are all pornstars. And just like with Titans I don't have either the time or money to waste money on this title and their are other titles that I have been looking to pick up that I can now get with dropping both this title and Titans.

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Brave and the Bold #15

Creative Team

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Scott Kolins

Colorist: Rob Schwager

Issue Rating

Story: 9/10

Art: 6/10

Overall: 7.5/10

Issue Developments

With the help of Nightwing and Hawkman, Deadman is able to rescue Green Arrow and defeat Siva Anuttara and his Ghost Assassins at Narda Parbat.

Review

Unlike the last issue, which was nothing more than average, this issue was a well told team. This was a tight and fast paced issue that nicely wraps up this two-part story.

And don't let the title fool you because while this is a team up between Nightwing and Hawkman the real star of this issue is Nightwing. Mark Waid really had a great handle of what makes Nightwing a great character. From Nightwing lie to the JLA, JSA, Titans, and Outsiders at the to get them away from harm to him grabbing Hawkman's anti-gravaty device all showed how competent he can really be when written correctly. It seems that many writers forget that Nightwing is only slightly behind to Batman when it terms of overall skill. I am glad that Waid highlights this and the fact Nightwing is the most trusted leader and strategist in the DC Universe.

I also liked the relationship that Deadman and Nightwing share in this issue since they both come from circus backgrounds. And Deadman punching out Green Arrow in this issue was histerical.

Scott Kolins artwork was nothing spectacular but got the job done. Kolins is a good artist but his art is just not my style.

Overall: This is a must have issue for Nightwing fans and a nice way for Waid to end his run on Brave and the Bold.

Robin #175

Creative Team

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Artist: Joe Bennett

Inker: Jack Jadson

Colorist: Guy Major

Issue Rating

Story: 8/10

Art: 7/10

Overall: 7.5/10

Issue Developments

Robin continues to go over Bruce's black casebook to find clues of were Bruce may be and if Bruce has become crazy with his mission as Batman. With some help from Spoiler and training that he received from Nightwing during their year long trip (read "52" for more info) Robin tries to find Batman with some of his contacts (Sgt. Harper from GPD and Penguin). Robin tells Spoiler he is doing all to not only find Bruce but take him down if he has to.

Review

Typically I do not like tie-in issue, especially when they happen in an ongoing title, Robin #175 was actually a good read. Outside of Civil War: Confessions and the recent Final Crisis: Requiem tie-ins usually only a way for comic companies to make a quick buck and don't really add anything to an ongoing storyline. While Robin #175 wasn't anything spectacular I found that it actually added a bit of depth to Morrison's somewhat complex, if not convaluted, Batman RIP.

What is interesting of this issue is how far Tim is willing to go to find Bruce and find out if Bruce has actually crazy. It has become obvious that Tim does not trust Bruce anymore and feels that he is on his own. I think that Spoiler is correct when she said that Tim is acting out of character but by giving some pages of the black casebook to Sgt Harper and bribing Penguin shows how desperate Tim is to find Bruce and that what Bruce is going through is deeper than we thought.

Also anytime a writer can have Dick and Tim together in an issue is a win in my book. I have always thought that Dick and Tim work much better as a team than Bruce and Tim because they have a brotherly bond even before they were both adopted by Bruce. So it was nice to see Fabian knows how close these two are and are able joke around with one another and that Dick is a big brother to Tim willing to always give him advice

Joe Bennett did good had some nice artwork in this issue. While there wasn't anything spectacular Bennett art was consitent.

Overall: This isn't an issue you have to get if your readin Batman RIP but it does add some depth to the role Tim is playing in that storyline.

Uncanny X-men #500

Creative Team

Writers: Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction

Artists: Greg Land and Terry Dodson

Inkers: Jay Leisten and Rachel Dodson

Colorist: Justin Ponsor

Issue Rating

Story: 5/10

Art: 5/10

Overall: 5/10

Issue Development

With the X-men now relocating to San Francisco we see them set up their new base and showing the mayor, Angel's new girlfriend, around there nearly completed base. That night the X-men go to a party were the people dress up as one of the X-men from various incarnations when they are attacked by Magneto and his controlled Sentinal. After a big brawl the X-men find out that Magneto does not have his powers back but is using some sort of suit to make people think he has his powers back. Right when the X-men defeat Magneto he makes his escape with the X-men wondering were he is. The next day Scott decides its time to gather all the mutants together by sending a psychic message to all mutants were the new X-base is located.

In a side story we see Pixie and a friend coming out of a Dazzler concert when they are about to be attacked by some gangsters with bats.

Review

I was very disappointed with this issue and found that there really wasn't anything special in this issue especially with this being the 500 issue of Uncanny X-men. This was nothing more than set up for what Brubaker and Fraction future stories.

While Brubaker and Fraction were able to find the right voices for each character in the X-men I thought all the characters were a bit to relax for everything that has happend especially coming of the events of Messiah Complex. Also I would think that Scott would have more common sense than to invite all the mutants to come live at there base like they've done many times before. The X-men have been stabbed in the back enough times that I would think Scoot would act more cautionsly than how he did here.

The battle with Magneto was came out of nowhere and felt to forced. I know that the X-writers have been slowly building up to the return of Magneto but the way Brubaker and Fraction didn't make much sense since it seems that he has return to his "homosuperior" outlook even though he does not have his powers. It is hard for me to believe that Magneto was able to build a suit that was strong enough to take on the whole X-men team. I also found it annoying that Storm used a thunderbolt on Magneto again when they have proven to be useless against him. I would think Storm would use some sort of other attack that would be more affective.

Also I really could care less for Pixie since we only had three pages to see her character. But that does not mean I don't hate her but I just have not been exposed to the character to know were Brubaker and Fraction are taking her character.

Now while I am a fan of Greg Land and Terry Dodson as individual artist I just don't think that there artwork is to different and they do not transition well with one another.

Overall: This issue was nothing more than set up for Brubaker and Fraction's run and I would not recommend getting this issue unless you are an X-men fan.