Monday, May 2, 2011

Rant Reviews--Action Comics, Detective Comics, Osborn, and A Comic Named Rasl.

We've got the Action Comics #900 where all kinds of things happen--some controversial if you've been following the news, Detective Comics #876 which is snazzy as always, the final issue of the stellar Osborn mini-series, and the independent comic Rasl.



Action Comics #900
This is odd. Paul Cornell brings his storyline about Lex Luthor gathering the black-ring energy to a conclusion, but also mixes in the story that has been building up in various comics about a new Doomsday monster all into one tale, making a strange mish-mash of a story. Pete Woods illustrates the Luthor parts where he finally has his big confrontation with Superman and he learns a shocking secret that will probably be ret-conned away, but it just seemed to be a bit of a disappointment after all the great issues of build-up. Sort of how the first Matrix movie was great and the others were pretty mediocre. The storyline was still interesting, but just not utterly amazing as some other parts of the run have been. Then the story strangely segues into the whole Doomsday-monster plot I have not been following at all and could pretty much care less about. I will still read Action Comics anyway because I bet Paul Cornell can make this otherwise lame-sounding story somewhat interesting, but I wasn't too impressed.

This issue has some other stories too, with one taking place with Superman's father working on the machine that sent his son into space, Superman talking with a space-alien about life in the universe, a really short strip about Lois Lane wanting Superman to have some fun with friends, and the story that has been getting all that media attention where Superman says how he will stop being an American citizen so people quit thinking everything he does is U.S. policy-related. I don't see what the big deal is because I don't know if ol' Supes will even follow through on this claim, plus his identity as Clark Kent will still be an American and that is the identity that pays taxes and has a social security number. Eh, people just like to get all upset for no reason. With the main story and these back-up tales this is a pretty good chunk of a comic, but clocking in at six bucks makes it a bit intimidating even if you are getting a whole lot of story. Still, pretty good.
3.5 out of 5 stars (for everything overall, the main story with Lex and Superman is 3 out of 5).

Detective Comics #876
Spoiler alert, but Scott Snyder is so crazy he writes a story about a whale turning up in a bank, and then having a dead girl plop out of the whale when it is cut open, with artist Jock illustrating the whole thing in his wonderfully twisted way. Yeah, this comic is deranged in the most delightful way possible for a Batman comic to be. It also has actual detective work which makes the title of the comic fitting. In this issue, besides the girl in the whale, you have the Jim Gordon storyline about his son starting to intersect with this one, and our Dick Grayson version of Batman possibly getting in over his head with this case. It's a good crime yarn, with the right mixture of bizarre and down-to-earth stuff that it works out just right.
4 out of 5 stars.

Osborn #5
The conclusion to what may have been the best mini-series I've read in some time does not disappoint--even if it goes in an unexpected direction. Kelly Sue Deconnick has done an amazing job writing the dialogue between character's over this series, and really getting into the psyche of a man like Norman Osborn, creating a fascinating and disturbing psychological piece. Emma Rios turns in some crazy-good art and everything wraps up pretty nicely leaving plenty of room for further stories with Norman Osborn and the new characters we met in his prison that escaped with him. While reading this last issue I actually had butterflies in my stomach in excitement for what was going to happen, how often does something like that occur for you unless the comic you are enjoying is really good? If you didn't read this series definitely snatch up the trade when it comes out.
4.5 out of 5 stars.

Rasl #10
The comic by Jeff Smith (of "Bone" fame) that ships at random times and is about all sorts of stuff ranging from alternate realities to love, physics, and looking pretty snazzy the whole time thanks to Jeff Smith's nice art style. My complaint is that this issue is sort of a, "down-time" issue where everyone catches a breath and not much happens, so this will read great in his large trade collections but as an individual comic it sort of underwhelms compared to his more exciting issues. It's still quite the good series though and the end of this issue hints that things are going to get plenty interesting next issue so I'm not too worried.
3 out of 5 stars.

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