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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Quickie Reviews: Goon #21, X-Force #1, Salvation Run #4, Dead of Night #1, Fantastic Four #554


The Goon #21:
This issue is a change of pace, possessing a more somber, apocalyptic tone to it than the book usually has (the quiet, moody cover perhaps a tip-off). That does not mean there are is not sheep-shaving, however. Oh yes -- there is sheep-shaving.
Rating: A
Buy another issue? Yes



X-Force #1: An unusually gory affair that places Logan in the role of whiny tight-assed party-pooper. When Scott Summers is more adventurous than you, you're in trouble. A serviceable story brought to life by the unique and surrealistically realistic art of Clayton Crain.
Rating: B
Buy another issue? I'll try the arc.



Salvation Run #4: The book is starting to miss Bill Willingham, this issue's biggest selling point being a long-drawn out fight between Monsieur Mallah & Gorilla Grodd. Intelligent gorillas beating each other senseless sells. And how did Joker kick Grodd off the cliff?
Rating: B
Buy another issue? Well, I've got this far haven't I?



Dead of Night #1: This Marvel Max horror series is framed like Tales of The Crypt but has more in common with Warren's old Creepy series. Kano's art is amazing and gives the book a far more "indy" feel.
Rating: A-
Buy another issue? Yes



Fantastic Four #554: I wasn't going to buy this but was swayed by Comics Are Expensive's review. Bryan Hitch presents a cinematic tableau that just draws me in and surrounds me. Mark Millar's Fantastic Four seems to combine the best qualities of Lee/Kirby, the movie version, and Millar's own style.
Rating: A
Buy another issue? Part of me wants to just wait for the hardcover.

8 comments:

  1. I enjoyed X-Force mostly just cause I also really enjoyed Operation Zero Tolerance.

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  2. Ps> It's fun to read X-Force AFTER you read X-Factor, especially after Jamie takes the crazy nutjobs on by himself.

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  3. Dead of Night was good fun (although I'm not sure if a cardstock cover is worth an extra dollar.)!!

    If I had enough for Fantastic number 554, I bet I'd be praising it to no end.

    sigh.

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  4. "Salvation Run #4: The book is starting to miss Bill Willingham"

    Really? It's not as if Willingham was doing such a bang-up job either. The man just can't seem to write established characters and his dialogue is atrocious.

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  5. I have to agree with Paul here. Willingham's mainstream work has been really hit & miss.

    That being said, may I never be so jaded that two gorillas beating the hell out of each other fails to excite me.

    Gorillas = Comics.

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  6. Re: Fantastic Four #554.
    Hitch's art is a tiny bit lazy.
    Page 2, panel 2: Bullets don't look like that after being fired. They shouldn't have the shell casing.
    Page 8, panel 1: Check out the proportion of Johnny Storm's legs. He's a dwarf!
    Page 21-22, panel 7: What on earth is Alyssa Moy doing? Is she trying to sit on Sue? Her right leg appears to be resting on Sue's right shoulder. WTH?
    That's it.

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  7. Millar's Fantastic Four seems to combine the best qualities of Lee/Kirby, the movie version...

    What was the best quality of the movie? The catering?

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  8. "What was the best quality of the movie? The catering?"

    it was likeable. certainly not deep. but likeable.

    Also, Fantastic Four was a kids movie if I ever saw one, a throwback to those action-adventure kids movies I enjoyed growing up. I'd sooner have an eight-year-old watch Fantastic Four than Spider-Man 3 or Batman Begins

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