Stuff I Read This Week 4/30/14

Avengers #28: Avengers came off of having a really good run during and after Infinity. Jonathan Hickman's penchant for world building gave rise to some goddamn good superheroing in the past year. The latest story from the past few issues involving alternate universe Avengers coming into the 616 dimension has had some potential, but has also some weird pacing, making for a strange read. 

Fortunately, business starts to pick up again in this issue that mainly centers on Bruce Banner in an awkward sitdown with Tony Stark. This leads to some hard truths about the manner of the Avengers' new format as well as some of the threats the Illuminati has kept at bay from the shadows in Hickman's New Avengers series (which, by the way, has gotten so slow, I'm not sure it's actually moving anymore). This is awesome because a). it gets back to displaying the world building elements that Hickman does so well and b). because we get to see more of the cunning Bruce Banner that fans have really wanted to see over the years from Hulk lore. It's nice to see that his place in the Marvel Cineverse has inspired a more fleshed out presence from Green Goliath's more enlightened side. Salvador Larroca's pencils are as strong as they've ever been. He gives off a very clean, almost cinematic storyboard style that pulls off some truly engaging scenes. The look of Banner keeping his anger in check, holding back "the other guy" is compelling and ominous.

Bottom Line: Delightful art, coherent, nicely paced tie in to New Avengers....it's nice to see Hickman getting back on track. 8.5 out of 10

Silver Surfer #2: Dan Slott and Michael Allred got the new Silver Surfer off to a strong start. Slott borrows a lot from Doctor Who, but as any Whovian can tell you, there are certainly worse places to draw inspiration from. After all, while comics have the capacity to act as gospel and lead in parts of pop culture, they also have a history of, to their benefit, being very derivative as well. 

This issue picks up with the Surfer flying off under duress to combat the mysterious Never Queen that threatens the people of the Impericon. We gain some insight into exactly what makes our hero's foe such a threatening one. Meanwhile, Slott also gives us ample time with his accidental partner, Dawn Greenwood, displaying what makes her such an appropriate companion (see what I did there, Whovians?) for the Surfer. In many ways, she's reminiscent of Clara, the Doctor's latest traveling buddy. It's great to see a female character take herself out of the damsel in distress box for a change (looking at you, Laurel Lance from Arrow) and take charge of a situation. There's a page in particular where Slott teases readers with a few possibilities of things to come for this unconventional team-up of sorts. There is simply NOTHING complain about art-wise in this book. Some fans have complained about the more visually lighthearted it takes, but honestly, Marvel could use a little more of that. Dawn is portrayed in a way that's stylish but isn't oversexualized and the Surfer has very dynamic poses that jumps right out at you. 

Bottom Line: Another great installment that makes future adventures out to be very promising. Thus far, this is one of the best relaunches of the Marvel NOW initiative. 9.5 out of 10.

Stuff I Read This Week 3/26

Silver Surfer #1: Whereas the Fantastic Four have always, for the most part, focused more on the scientific exploration aspect of Marvel superheroics, the Silver Surfer has commonly branched off into a more philosophical aspect of space discovery. Rather than seeking out conventional bad guys, Norrin Radd has always seen fit to explore the endless spaceways, pondering his metallic navel to solve the mysteries of the universe. The only trouble with that sort of formula is that eventually, it gets to be sort of somber. Fortunately Dan Slott and THE Michael Allred come together this week to add a new dimension to the Surfer mythology that slightly diverts from the norm.

Slott takes the Silver Surfer in a lighthearted, more whimsical direction reminiscent of Doctor Who. Here we see a good natured cosmic journeyman wading on his board throughout the uncharted shores of space, atoning for his time serving under planet eating Galactus. Slott clearly has a good, seemingly effortless time ushering the Surfer through miniature worlds and planets with neverending cityscapes that look like those mazes on the back of Highlights magazines. The former herald's intention always comes across clear without feeling like a downer. Despite his perpetual quest for redemption and guilt always lurking in the corner, the primary focus is always the bottomless well of inquisitiveness and joy for the universe's eclectic lifeforms that drove him away from his previous profession. The Doctor Who similarities continue with the introduction of small town dreamer Dawn Greenwood, who is somehow connected to our hero's journey. Allred is the perfect talent for Slott's vision that comes across less like Star Trek and more like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Going to from panel to panel feels like an laid back theme park ride, displaying one oddity after another.

Bottom Line: Dan Slott takes the Silver Surfer from brooding space hero to fun loving space wanderer with the same ease it takes Bruce Jenner to change faces. 9 out of 10.

All New Ghost Rider #1: Now, if ever there were a hero that needed a fresh start, it's Ghost Rider. Marvel has been desperate over the years to a). slap a new coat of paint on him that readers will actually go for and b). wash away the stink of the Nicolas Cage wasteland of suck that was the Ghost Rider films (when Idris Elba can't save your movies, it's time to reevaluate goals). They seem to keep rebooting this guy, but despite quality, nothing seems to stick. Now, it's a little early with this particular series for me to determine whether or not this one's going to go anywhere, but at least it's off to a good start.

In this issue, we meet our new protagonist Robbie Reyes, a hotheaded (see what I did there), working poor grease monkey who struggles to take care of his disabled little brother in a bad neighborhood. Apparently, he also moonlights as a street racer which leads to this new incarnation of the Rider rolling in what looks like Vin Diesel's trademark car from Fast and Furious. This origin offers up some semi-formulaic hero elements, but Felipe Smith manages to not hit us over the head with the usual exposition that would normally remind us that we've seen some of this before. Smith takes a very "show, don't tell" approach that is more than welcome here thanks to Tradd Moore's visuals. Here we see a striking anime style that wastes no time in coming across as refreshingly kinetic. Even when there's no action beats in place, every panel conveys a sense of motion and speed which feels appropriate for a book about a street racing Ghost Rider. The figures all have very clear, deliberate expressions that deliver intention, at times, without needing a word of dialogue. The highlight of this book, visually, was the Akira-esque drag race in the third act that left me reading it over again for details I might have missed.

Bottom Line: This book is definitely indicative of Marvel's drive towards new blood offering fresh takes on problematic titles. 8 out of 10.