Sunday, July 06, 2008

My Comics: Observations


My current favorite book is Huntress: Year One. Yes, really. It surprises me greatly, considering that the book is a mini-series and was released without much fanfare. Ivory Madison's scripts have been fantastic, and Cliff Richards' art has finally gotten a chance to shine without being relegated to "Fill-in" status. For the first time ever, I like the Helena Bertanelli Huntress. Filled with amazing nuggets of information, and jam-packed with action, this is my vote for most likely to be overlooked.

Trinity is still growing on me. I have a love-hate relationship with Kurt Busiek's writing. Astro City has always been topnotch for me, but there have been other books that just don't gel for me. So far this is one of them. The story is all over the place, and I haven't gotten a feel for where things are going. Since I ordered the books already through DCBS, this month's weekly installments are a make or break for me.

Shockingly, I am really interested in the Secret Invasion. Considering I never dug the skrull storylines in the past, I am a bit flummoxed. I am going to chalk it up to the fact that the storytelling is really well done. Bendis made me want to know who the skrulls are, and books like New Avengers and Mighty Avengers fuel the fire. I am as surprised as you are about this.

I am very disappointed with Birds of Prey. Issue #119 (which guest starred Black Canary) didn't make sense to me. There are too many characters and too much crap going on. Nicola Scott's art saves it for me, but just barely. Attention DC: put Ivory Madison on this book ASAP.

I just can't take Titans. The story is flat out bad. The art is awful. The characters I love are being desecrated. I have hated every minute of it. There aren't many books I detest, but this is one of them.

Daredevil is at the other end of the spectrum. Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka have teamed up to tell a clever story that is beautifully illustrated by Michael Lark and Stefano Gaudiano. This book is excellent. Along with Captain America, this is my other favorite Marvel title at this time.

That is it for now. There are other books I am following, but those have evoked the greatest reaction in me these last couple of weeks. Final Crisis is still in my "fascinated but not locked in" category, so I am saving that for later.

4 comments:

Saranga said...

I have decided I am very unimpressed with Trinity. But I'll probably buy the next 5 issues anyway to see if it gets any better..
Huntress is pretty damn fantatsic though isn't it?!

Heidi Meeley said...

Saranga, that was pretty much my deal too. Because of the way I order books, it is an "in for a penny, in for a pound" scenario. This month's weekly installments will be the test for me on Trinity!

You have it right- Huntress kicks major ass! I have enjoyed it so much! You have good taste!

Unknown said...

Heidi,
Because of you, I've decided I'm going to go check out Huntress Year One! I quite liked her in Phil Jimenez's excellent 'Gods of Gotham' storyarc in Wonder Woman and would love to see her and Artemis paired up again sometime.

Secret Invasion: I'm so not liking what's happened to Spider-Woman! Jessica better be ok when all this wraps up in November. I'm tempted to think yes based on Bendis's love of the character (and the new Spider-Woman series he's starting next spring), but at the same time I hate that all these previous Avengers storylines featuring her have turned out not to be her... :( Hopefully Jessica can kick the Skrull Queen's ass and take back her rightful identity.

And Happy 8th Anniversary to you and your husband!

Heidi Meeley said...

Deirdre, I am so excited to hear that! You will really like it (I hope!). Ivory Madison is such a great writer, and the book flows beautifully. You will have to let me know what you think!

I am betting my money on Spider-Woman kicking major ass before Secret Invasion is done. I am hoping for all good for her as well. I think you are right that Bendis has a soft spot for her. I figure that every character he put into the Marvel Max title Alias is a favorite. He got to play in the sandbox, and he picked his favorites.

Thank you for the kind words!

I am anxious to hear what you think!