Hawkeye #9: The Avengers movie is probably the best thing to ever happen to Clint Barton. He's in most of the team lineups in the comics as well as the most recent cartoon series and now his solo series is, appropriately, one of the best things to happen to comics right now. This book is a nigh-perfectly crafted tutorial on how an evenly paced superhero character study should be done. In this installment of "what Hawkeye does when he's not being an Avenger," we get a hilarious look into his relationship with the women in his life while he has what is easily one of the worst days ever. Seriously, I would have called this issue "It Sucks to Be Me." I laughed and cringed all at the same time watching him reap what his facepalm-inducing, bad opposite sex decisions sow. Matt Fraction seems to have this character almost down to a science, balancing fun, witty dialogue and kinetic action on a proverbial tightrope. One of the best gems this book has to offer is Clint Barton's bond with Kate Bishop (aka Hawkeye with Boobs). It's hard not to fall in nerd love with the sailor mouthed, Vespa riding, comic heroine version of Ellen Page. The mod look of the art David Aja lends to this title makes this one of the strongest projects Marvel has to offer.Bottom Line: Funny dialogue, lively artwork and tight pacing.....if comics can't be done this well, they shouldn't be done at all. 9.5 out of 10.
Saga #12: You know, I'll never understand the logic behind what constitutes as a "controversy" in comics. You have a comic that's been going strong for a year now that's featured a giant ogre's herniated nuts and at least two sex scenes in it by now (all comics should have at least one panel of TV-headed robot sex so I can make a collage and send it to Rick Santorum). Yet, when we get a small flash of gay sex, everyone throws their hands in the air. Grow up, people.
Anyway, with Hawkeye and Daredevil: End of Days running a close second and third, Saga is probably THE BEST thing happening in comics as we know them. The fact that something that didn't even take up an entire panel on a page could piss people off so throughly (albeit for about ten minutes) is proof of how visually arresting Fiona Staples gets throughout this title. This issue of the critically acclaimed unconventional space opera focuses mainly on Prince Robot IV, the royal foil pursuing Alana and Marko across the stars as he engages in a verbal tug o' war with an incendiary author we could grow to love if he lives long enough. The first pages of this issue, after all, serve as a warning from Vaughn not to get too attached to any one character too soon. It's surprising how easy it is to connect with this faceless villain. One would think trying to relate to a guy with a television for a face would be more difficult a prospect, but it's a testament to Brian K. Vaughn's characterizations married with Staples' visuals. Together, it makes for a book that throws vulgar, bizarre images and platitudes in your lap and nonchalantly says, "Deal with it, motherfucker."
Bottom Line: Another solid entry to a fantastic series unlike any other in comics right now. 8.5 out of 10.
Uncanny Avengers #6: I'm not going to try and wax poetic about this title simply because, going from the last issue to this issue, I now have no idea where this book is going anymore. Rick Remender seems to have caught Damon Lindelof's "Lost" disease and decided to either hold or abandon his Unity Squad infighting/Red Skull/Onslaught storyline and go into some time traveling mayhem. Apparently, Apocalypse has a bone to pick with Thor....for some reason. The resulting romp is pretty entertaining, but the book's sudden shift in tone and focus leaves us scratching our heads. It literally feels like Remender was in a rut and said to himself...."You know what this book needs? A Thor/Apocalypse fight." Forturnately, Daniel Acuna's pencils are dazzling enough for nobody to mind this new plotline. His face off between Thor and the Four Horsemen is worth its weight in gold. If you didn't like the story as it was before this issue, you'll probably like where it seems to be going now. If you like coherence....I don't know....learn to let go.
Bottom Line: This was a decent issue. It would just be nicer if I know what was happening or why. 7.5 out of 10.
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