Comics Reviews (April 20th, 2016)
James Bond: Vargr #6
This really fell apart for me in the denouement. It’s hard to be surprised by how many times Ellis did “and now for a long action sequence” in this book; it’s one of his preferred tricks, and the subject is suited to it. But as a conclusion to a six-issue arc an action-heavy ramp-up to a mournfully ambivalent conclusion is, to say the least, unsatisfying. Always a pleasure to watch Ellis at work, and he’s right to say that Jason Masters is visibly improving over the course of the series, but this is unquestionably a minor work.
Cry Havoc #4
Starting to have some trouble keeping everything straight here, though it’s firmly in “reread the first arc when it’s done” territory and not “annoyed at this” territory. Or perhaps just to obey the still-brilliant “for more information reread comic” edict and better parse out exactly what happens in Afghanistan this issue, as it all gets a bit odd and dependent on a firmer knowledge of how the supernatural is meant to work in this story than I have. Interesting, but definitely a comic in a lull for me.
Karnak #3
Ellis in full-out “my reading list, let me share it with you” mode, the basic perversity of Ellis being that this is generally preferable to Ellis writing action sequences. This time we have an issue based heavily on the work of Eugene Thacker (a significant figure in Neoreaction a Basilisk) and also on Karnak literally screaming at people until their heads explode. This is a ridiculous comic in all the best ways, and the new artist is a strong choice as well.
April 21, 2016 @ 12:46 am
Phil, may I ask you why you don’t do DC?
April 21, 2016 @ 1:10 am
I bought every #1 of the New 52, and dropped them as I stopped enjoying them, and now here we are.
April 21, 2016 @ 2:04 am
So how were you able to stay on with Batgirl for so long?
April 21, 2016 @ 2:47 am
I picked up the first issue of the Stewart/Fletcher/Tarr run on a lark, as I’m fond of the character.
Will probably try both it and Wonder Woman of the Rebirth titles.
April 21, 2016 @ 5:37 am
No Howard the Duck?
April 21, 2016 @ 5:52 am
Weren’t any rack copies that I saw. Must have sold out – I’ll grab it digitally some time.
April 21, 2016 @ 8:41 am
I recommend doing the same for the New Avengers issues which were part of the Avengers: Standoff crossover. Not only does it stand apart and can be read ignoring everything else (as has been the case every time Ewing had to do a crossover event tie-in), but those three issues are a turning point for the team and just jumping back into the series next month will be very confusing.