Comic Book Reviews for the Week of 3/26/08: Green Lantern, Daredevil, Avengers, Star Wars and more!
Written by: The CinCitizens
Week after week, every Wednesday, there is a sudden influx of content in the comic book world. It’s CC2K’s job to sift through the garbage to find the gold. Every week we’ll be bringing you reviews on the widest range of books possible. This week: New Avengers, All-Star Superman, Daredevil, Green Lantern, Legion of Super-heroes and more!
All Star Superman #10 Review by Erik Norris
Writer – Grant Morrison
Pencils – Frank Quitely
Inks/ Colors – Jamie Grant
Letters – Travis Lanham
Cover – Frank Quitely
All Star Superman is a tricky conundrum. As a book with no clear release date, it should be shunned by the thousands of comic geeks as a slap in the face to the industry. However, whenever an issue ships, fans forget about the insane shipping delays and flock to their local shops to dig into the continual adventures of a Superman coping with the fact his life is coming to a close. The dynamic-duo of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely have captured something special with this series, harnessing the raw essence of the Man of Steel. So between all the talk of underverses, raging chronovores, and a "Doomsday" Jimmy Olsen, Morrison has been able to tell the most "human" Superman tale possible. It really shouldn’t be surprising given Morrison’s talent as a writer. Though his ideas can get far out there (check out The Filth), the beats Morrison is able to hit with minimalistic dialogue captures a Superman, along with his supporting cast, that couldn’t come across anymore realistically.
In the style established throughout the first nine issues of the series, issue #10 gives readers its own self contained story while progressing the overarching plot of Superman’s death. Therefore, every issue of All Star Superman is pretty accessible to casual comic store visitors. With issue #10 we get Leo Quantum and Superman figuring out a solution to the Bottle City of Kandor’s living situation, while also having Superman detail his "Last Will and Testament". However, one of the cooler ideas presented in the issue is when Superman creates an artificial earth to supervise the evolution of humans progressing without a "Superman". Its a pretty bizarre concept but the payoff in the issue’s final moments is worth every second of it. It’s also a nice twist to show how inspirational Superman can be, whether real or fictional. I’m interested to see where Morrison takes this over the course of his last two issues, and how it ties into what is going on involving Superman’s demise.
While I have felt the series has not reached the level of quality it was at for the first six issues, issue #10 is a good indicator that things are on the up and up heading towards the finale. However, no matter which way you look at it, with Morrison writing and the insanely detailed Frank Quitely penciling, even the worst issues are still some of the best comics hitting shelves, a testament to the creativity being poured into All Star Superman.
4.0 out of 5.
Batman Confidential #15 Review by Erik Norris
Writer – Tony Bedard
Pencils – Rags Morales
Inks – Mark Farmer
Colors – I.L.L.
Letters – Sal Cipriano
Cover – Rags Morales
Holy exposition Batman!
I think I have found this story’s main crutch. Looking back over the course of the first three issue, I have noticed a lot of flashback exposition segments. Whether it be talking heads, or Batman and Wrath talking face to face, this four issue arc seems stuck telling past events as much as moving the plot in the present forward. Its with issue three that the camel’s back finally broke for me, pulling me out of the story. Now don’t get me wrong, its still an interesting arc, and a good sequel to the "Player On The Other Side", from Batman Special #1, but I feel Tony Bedard should have come up with a more creative way of catching readers up with the past. He is far too talented of a writer to be resorting to this cheap tactic.
Wrath’s monologue boxes are also a problem area for this story. Last issue I commented on how annoying and distracting they were as he battled Batman, and unfortunately they continue here. I just wish he was talking out loud with these comments in a snarky attitude, directly them towards Batman to mock and taunt him. But for all the crappy monologue boxes, and flashback exposition, there is still an interesting plot here, along with some strong dialogue between Batman, Nightwing, and Gordon. It seems Tony Bedard really grasps these characters and their dynamic, making these segments, something Confidential #15 gives in surplus, a great joy to read.
On the art front, Rags is still firing on all cylinders. I sound like a broken record, but the man can draw Batman, and the world he inhabits. Rags’ only weakness seems to be haircuts. I have noticed it before reading Identity Crisis, but he loves to hand out bowl cuts, something that should have died a long time ago. However, this is but a small fault for a talent as good as Morales. The three dollar price tag is pretty much justified for Rag Morales’ art alone.
With only an issue left in Tony Bedard and Rag Morales’ "Wrath Child" and a bit to wrap up, Batman Confidential #16 looks to be a humdinger of a finale. I hope that my complaints with this issue are resolved a tad to make the arc conclude nicely, leaving a good lasting impression on the overall piece. So while part three of "Wrath Child" has its missteps, its still a recommendable comic if you’re a Batman fan.
3.0 out of 5.
Countdown to Final Crisis #5 Review by Joey Esposito
Writer(s) – Paul Dini with Adam Beechen
Pencils – Jim Starlin
Inks – Rodney Ramos
Colors – Pete Pantazis
Letters – Travis Lanham
Cover – Scott Kolins
I really was giving the benefit of the doubt to DC. That maybe, just maybe, they had a master plan up their sleeve. I really think I’m wrong. Yet again, we are treated to the ultimate disaster in the history of the DCU as seen through the eyes of Buddy Blank, chock full of monologue and ridiculous man-beast monsters. This is the biggest disaster ever, including genocide, nuclear war, and the complete and utter annihilation of Earth. This is also the same book that promised to be the "backbone" of the DCU, yet there are no references to this disaster anywhere but Countdown itself.
Since there’s not really any story to be told here, the art is what gets most of your attention, and it’s adequate; Jim Starlin does what he can when he’s forced to draw a canine/human hybrid attacking someone with a butcher knife. Yes, that’s what you are signing up for when you blow the three dollars on this stack of garbage.
I’m an avid hater of cop-out endings, but I’ll settle for one of it means that this whole story is going to make sense by issue #1. Where the hell have all the other characters gone in this book? Remember when Dan Didio revealed the teaser ads for Countdown at last years New York Comic-Con? Remember how freaking exciting it was? Well, they threw excitement out the window and opted for complete and utter trash. Once again, the only thing saving this book from an absolute zero score, is Scott Beatty’s Mr. Freeze backup origin story. Hooray for Freeze!
0.5 out of 5.
Daredevil #106 Review by Joey Esposito
Writer – Ed Brubaker
Artist – Paul Azaceta
Colors – Matt Hollingsworth
Letters – VC’s Chris Eliopoulos
Cover – Marko Djurdjevic
Hooray! Ben Ulrich is back! Daredevil’s reporter friend Ben Ulrich has been sorely missing from Brubaker’s Daredevil, in my opinion. Issue #106 sees him back in full force out of his concern for Matt, who, after the events of the previous arc, has apparently gone off the deep end. He’s severely punishing run of the mill thugs, not going into work, and getting into bar fights just because. Right now, Ed Brubaker’s Matt Murdock is extremely damaged, and I’m not ashamed to say that I’m loving every second of it.
At this point, Brubaker has me convinced that Matt could take it too far and murder somebody at any moment, and that’s a very scary place to be, especially in superhero comics. We all know that pretty much every hero has their ethics code of no killing. And usually, even when narration or dialogue tells us they are contemplating capital punishment, in our hearts we know it’s just a ruse. In this case though, I’m not so sure, and that’s exciting. Matt is genuinely out of his mind, and insanity plus superhuman abilities usually only equal one thing: super-villain.
Filling in on art duties in this issue is Paul Azaceta, who is a welcome addition that fits right in with Daredevil’s noir world. His lines are gritty and extremely thick, and when combined with the glossy coloring of Matt Hollingsworth, many panels ultimately result in looking like a stained glass window. A strange comparison to be sure, but it’s amazing to look at. That said, it looks best in high contrast areas, but this being Daredevil, those are rare – however even scenes on the streets look menacing, and that’s something that is key in this book. There is a scene in a diner with a florescent light green hue to it, and something like that should not be overlooked in regards to Hollingsworth’s great talent.
If the history of this character is any indication, I’d say things are only going to get worse for Matt Murdock. And I plan on being there every step of the way.
4.5 out of 5.
Green Lantern #29 Review by Erik Norris
Writer – Geoff Johns
Pencils – Ivan Reis
Inks – Oclair Albert
Colors – Ranoy Mayor
Letters – Rob Leigh
Cover – Ivan Reis & Dave McCaig
The king has returned! Issue #29 sees Ivan Reis pick back up the art duties of Green Lantern to join Geoff Johns for Hal Jordan’s "Secret Origin". As the layers continue to be peeled back in regards to the prophecy of the "Blackest Night", Johns and company have decided to return to Hal Jordan’s origin and detail exactly how he, along with everyone else in the rotating Green Lantern cast, fit into this cosmic revelation. This produces a mixed bag of emotions for me as a past fan of Hal. On one hand I want to see how the "Blackest Night" stems all the way back to Hal’s introduction to Sinestro and the Corps, which is the purpose of revisiting this particular time period of Hal’s life. But on the flip side of the coin, it creates a first issue that seems like a retread of things I already know. Don’t get me wrong, Geoff John’s knows how to write a strong script, no doubt about it. And though I already know Hal Jordan’s childhood living situation, his introduction to the Armed Forces, his mother’s cancer, and of course, his father’s death, Johns always finds a new way to write it that makes it deceivingly interesting again. If you have been a reader of Green Lantern since the series’ relaunch, then a lot of the story in part 1 of "Secret Origin" is going to be old news to you as well. Who really benefits from part one of this arc are the readers that jumped into the title with the "Sinestro Corps War", due to its word of mouth and exposure, because now you are getting all the back story to Hal that wasn’t present during the war. I guess I was just hoping for more "Blackest Night" revelations in this issue than were presented. I realized shortly after that its a six part arc, of course the first issue is going to be 100% setup.
Now lets talk art. I obviously kicked off this review by declaring my love for Ivan Reis, so let me tell you why. This guy competes with Bryan Hitch. For everyone not in the know, Hitch is responsible for the pencils on such hits as Ultimates, vol. 1 and 2, and JLA: Heaven’s Ladder, some of the most detailed superhero art imaginable. Now I say this with without stuttering, Ivan Reis stands next to Bryan Hitch, without a shadow of a doubt. Then factor in that Reis produces on a monthly basis, something Hitch couldn’t do to save the life of his family, and you have the best superhero artist in the industry. So its obviously a godsend that Reis is attached to my favorite monthly DC book for the foreseeable future. And let me say this, issue #29 doesn’t disappoint. We have some fantastically drawn smaller moments and an amazing double page spread of Hal "highball" Jordan exiting a crashed test jet that is simply breathtaking.
Though the introductory issue of "Secret Origin" isn’t anything mind numbing for Green Lantern regulars, it’s a great start. We see a very human Hal Jordan struggle with everyday issues which will make the introduction of Abin Sur and the Green Lantern mythos in Hal’s life all the more rewarding. The issue also wraps with a great cliffhanger surrounding Abin Sur and two characters introduced last issue that should have Green Lantern junkies salivating for next month’s part two.
4.5 out of 5.
Gunplay #0 Review by Joey Esposito
Writer – Jorge Vega
Artist – Dominic Vivona
Colors – Nei Ruffino
Letters – Shawn DePasquale
Cover – Dominic Vivona
First of all, there’s no reason to ever not pick up a 99 cent preview issue of an upcoming series or graphic novel. Ever. It’s a dollar. Second, there is even less of a reason to do so when it’s oversized and a western. Gunplay #0 is a preview for a graphic novel of the same name being released next month, and I guarantee that I’ll be picking it up.
The story, thus far, follows a stranded Buffalo Soldier in the 1860’s, who barely says a word. There isn’t much of an idea of what is going on, but that’s the point of a preview. To hook you in. And boy, am I. Writer Jorge Vega clearly has a whole lot planned for these characters, and has set them up in a way that actually leaves readers clamoring for more. Not only that, but this issue also features a backup narrative feature that is ALSO going to be continued in the GN next month! The solicit for the book promises the paranormal, including a demonic gun. Awesome.
The book is ultimately a western, and the art reflects that. The gutters are yellowed like century old parchment, and many of the panels have a "torn" border, as though they are clippings ripped out of a book. The color palette is largely limited to browns and tans, reflecting the desert surrounding the characters. Characters are drawn realistically and precise, which makes the demonic dream sequence in this issue all the more haunting.
I think the main draw of curiosity comes from the relationship of the characters. The narrative is such in this issue that it jumps around in time, in a period of a couple months. We get to see the characters at different points, but ultimately the solicit for the book reads that this nameless soldier is paired with the boy he has tied to a tree at the beginning. My excitement is finding out how all these characters fit together. The graphic novel is 88 pages, so it looks like I’ll only have to wait a month for my answers.
4.0 out of 5.
Legion of Super-Heroes #40 Review by Joey Davidson
Writer – Jim Shooter
Pencils – Francis Manapul
Inks – Livesay
Colors – JD Smith
Letters – Steve Wands
Cover – Francis Manapul, Livesay and Brain Buccelato
Issue #40 marks my first stint with The Legion of Super-Heroes, as strange as that is. A team that has been around since the early ages of comics has never graced my fingertips or pullsheet. In fact, to date, the only thing that I knew about Legion was that it involved a group of powered-ups from the future. That’s it.
Where does that leave me 32 pages later? Well, to be honest, in pretty good shape. Okay, hear me out. I went into this book expecting to walk away pissed off. I looked at the roster online before I made the purchase; names like Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Karate Kid and Triplicate Girl (the list can go on) managed to send images of horribly clad superheroes with their terrible dialogue swirling in my mind. Needless to say, this book wasn’t exactly something I had high hopes for. I know, I know, it had its time as one of DC’s best… but that was then.
I was surprised, however, to be delighted by the cast. Sure, their names were ridiculous, but I think that’s the single point that managed to keep the book from getting ahead of itself. I never was put off by the corny character handles, but they did serve as a constant grounding force throughout the issue. Every time one was mentioned, the story grounded itself as I was reminded that this was a comic book, something to be enjoyed and taken lightly. This made for an incredibly entertaining read.
That’s not to say that the book is without its faults. The issue does well to bring non-readers up to speed through standard caption-sized introductions over every character’s first appearance in the issue. Although robust with faces and personalities, the story never seems weighed down by its absurdly large cast. But where the issue stumbles is over the dialogue. A bit overzealous at times, the dialogue seems to come off as too literary. That may seem bizarre, but when two teammates are talking, their dialogue should be overtly colloquial. Nitpicky or not, for me, when reading a conversation between two supposed friends it really sends me into a violent rage when words like ‘yes’ are used. Crazy? How about not using contractions? Contractions are the spice of everyday conversation. Like I said, nitpicky, but without this one fault the book would be exceedingly palatable.
As far as the story goes, it’s the first issue of an arc. Pick it up if you want to get into yet another team book. This one seems to be jam-packed with personality which always makes for a more pleasurable read.
3.5 out of 5.
Mighty Avengers #11 Review by Tom Lynch
Writer – Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils – Mark Bagley, Marko Djurdjevic
Inks – Danny Miki w/ Allen Martinez
Colors – Justin Ponsor
Letters – Dave Lanphear
I’m so sad to see Mark Bagley leave Marvel. I’m not sure if this is his last book, but it’s darn near close to it. I’ll follow his work at DC, but man, he sure can pump these things out quick. The only thing is, even though they come quick, it looks great. Every so often you’ll find a panel when a character’s face isn’t as detailed as it could be, but nothing that could detract from the book. While we’re on the art, Marko Djurdjevic does a great job with his few pages. These parts spun out of the Mystic Arcana miniseries from last year with Morgan Le Fay as a key player.
She makes quite the splash in this issue and we learn where Dr. Doom got most of his magic skills from. Also, there’s a show down(finally) between the Avengers and Doom. They’ve only been trying to get there for a few issues now. All the thought balloons in this issue really make up for the few pages with no dialogue from the last issue. I found myself getting tired of reading Doom’s inner monologue. If you’re a super villian, spit it out already!
The result of this story is sure to have some ramifications in the near future. Especially towards the end of the book when some possibly Skrully things are going on. Nothing is spelled out, but people have their suspicions. It’s clear that Bendis is using this as a vehicle to start the train charging towards Secret Invasion. Even so, this is a decent story with some great Bagley art.
4 out of 5
New Avengers #39 Review by Joey Esposito
Writer – Brian Michael Bendis
Artist – David Mack
Colors – Jose Villarrubia
Letters – RS & Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne
Cover – David Mack
I love Brian Bendis because he’s a visual writer. He knows when to cut out dialogue and let the images do the storytelling. Comics is a visual medium, similar to film, and he knows it. This Echo-centric issue of New Avengers is a prime example. Usually, an issue of a team book that singles out one character would have a narration box that would be pasted into every panel where there the dialogue was scarce, providing us with some likely well written – but unnecessary – monologues. I’m happy to say this issue features no such thing. There are pages of no text whatsoever, with Bendis allowing artist David Mack to tell the story.
Mack’s work here is superb, particularly in the panel layout. Often times he leaves a vast amount of gutter space, using black background in the gutter with white outlines on the panels. Rarely in this issue do we see a standard 6-8 panel page layout, so the clever design is really refreshing. The blackness of the gutters and isolation of most panels really plays into the Echo centricity of the issue, as she is the outsider on the team, and is also deaf. It’s sort of a visually interesting way to play on these concepts, and Mack should be commended for it.
And while the design is interesting, the story unfortunately falls a bit short of the excellence that we’ve grown accustomed to with this series. Ultimately, this issue is another lead-in to Bendis’ Secret Invasion, starting in April. Nothing is revealed here in regards to the Skrull scenario that we don’t already know, but Bendis uses the paranoia and fear of the invasion as a backdrop to enhance Echo’s character in regards of personality and relationships. Issue #39 is successful in its mission to garner familiarity with Echo, but sacrifices the opportunity for the last big push from the series that kick started the whole invasion before the event hits next week.
4.0 out of 5
The Spirit #15 Review by Joey Esposito
Writer(s) – Sergio Aragones & Mark Evanier
Artist – Paul Smith
Colors – Lee Loughrudge
Letters – Rob Leigh
Cover – Bruce Timm with Dave Stewart
Darwyn Cooke is severely missed on this book. All of the elements are still there, as the cover reads: "action, mystery, adventure". But, there’s something missing, it’s as though it’s all forced. I admit I’m a Cooke fanboy, but there’s something about his run on The Spirit that came naturally. The story in this issue is entertaining, providing some (small) amount of mystery and plenty of jokes that work. The artwork is great, and Paul Smith’s cartooning does the character justice in keeping with this title’s overall style. The problem is that Aragones and Evanier make Denny Colt more of a platform for jokes and goofiness, rather than attributing actual characteristics to him.
Cooke gave us a Spirit that was deeply rooted in his surrounding characters, and although he maintained a cool exterior, often times he was overrun by the events taking place around him. Here, he seems aloof and uncaring of what is happening. Granted, the plot itself – diamond theft with a cover of a beauty pageant – isn’t the most gripping dramatic centerpiece, but this issue still could have had benefit from better characterization.
With this issue, my future with this book is definitely in question. I like the done-in-one nature of the series, and don’t want that to change. But I also don’t want the new creative team to try and emulate what Cooke had done with his run, simply because they’ll just never match up. They need to approach this series in a new way, give it a fresh start from their own perspective. Otherwise, I fear we’ll only be treated to a degenerated retread of what was already done.
2.0 out of 5
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #26 Review by Joey Esposito
Writer – John Jackson Miller
Pencils – Scott Hepburn
Inks – Joe Pimentel & Dan Parsons
Colors – Michael Atiyeh
Letters – Michael Heisler
Cover – Dustin Weaver
Knights of the Old Republic #26 is the second installment in the yearlong "Vector" story line, crossing all of Dark Horse’s Star Wars books and I still have (generally) no idea what they plan on using to tie this whole thing together.
The main thread of this issue seems to be "artifacts" being hunted by the Mandalorians, which as far as I can tell, would be the through point for this generational crossover. Obvious enough, I suppose, but the downside is that the artifact featured in this issue seems to either give or advance a virus that transforms any species it touches into vile rakghoul monsters. I swear, if another virus is what is responsible for a cataclysmic event that transcends generations, I’m dropping this book immediately. Why can’t we have stories with no viruses to be found?
That said, the overall writing of the issue is very much in keeping with the classic Star Wars formula: crazy names, intense action, comic relief, and feisty women-heroes. It’s amusing enough, but as with any of the SW books, it’s hard not to see most of the main characters as a cheap replacement body for the same personality of the familiar characters we all know and love.
I’ve got to say, the art in this issue is really deceptive. At first glance, it looks perfectly fine. It’s a bit cartoony, the colors are bright and the layout is simple. But upon further examination, there are numerous inconsistencies that it’s hard to believe Dark Horse let this one out of the gates, especially considering that the company has basically committed an entire year of publication to this story. The problem occurs mostly in faces that sometimes all of a sudden turn rubbery, the result being a case of Elephant Man-itis. There are other times where certain accessories on a characters body will change or disappear entirely. There is also an instance when the characters are hiding inside a vent, and the strips of light that pour through seem only to affect the shading on their faces when it is dramatically relevant.
I’ll admit that there would be no way I’d return to this book next month if it were not for the fact that it was required reading for "Vector". But, if you’re a super geek like me, it’s not going to matter what I say. The Star Wars logo on the cover is probably a selling point in and of itself.
2.0 out of 5.
Teen Titans #57 Review by Tom Lynch
Writer – Sean McKeever
Pencils – Eddy Barrows
Inks – Jimmy Palmiotti, Ruy Jose, Eddy Barrows
Colors – Rod Reis
Letters – Travis Lanham
Finally, we get some darn Clock King. While the villain is a little out of place in a Teen Titans book, it’s still good to see he’s kicking around. As you can see from the cover, this is really a story about Ravager and the Terror Titans.
In terms of the plot, basically Ravager is attacked in the Titans Tower by two of the Terror Titans and they fight. There is a nice effect when Robin and Wonder Girl are talking over the fight scene, but it doesn’t really save the story. It is fun to watch the fight and see how things play out, but as with most fight issues, not much really happens.
The art is very pretty, but there’s a problem with it. While everyone is drawn clearly, they’re not drawn as teens. I realize that this book has been around a while, but would it really hurt if they had an artist that didn’t have to draw everyone looking like an adult? This is really a step back for the McKeever run which had such character development before, now really has none.
3.5 out of 5
Transhuman #1 Review by Joey Davidson
Writer – Jonathan Hickman
Artist – JM Ringuet
The one book coming out this week that garnered an unusual amount of anticipation from me was the first in a 4 issue mini; Transhuman. Why did this seemingly obscure title catch my eye? Two reasons: Jonathan Hickman and the weird-ass description from Image.
“From JONATHAN HICKMAN, creator of THE NIGHTLY NEWS, PAX ROMANA and RED MASS FOR MARS, comes TRANSHUMAN, a story that covers the discovery of superhuman genetic engineering, the companies built on the back of that discovery and the marketing war to bring it into each and every one of our homes…Illustrated by JM RINGUET, TRANSHUMAN is a mockumentary told in the same vein as the great Christopher Guest movies Spinal Tap and Best in Show.” – ImageComics.com
A mockumentary comic promised one of two outcomes… it was either going to be devilishly entertaining or downright intolerable. The first issue of Transhuman leans towards the former.
Reading the book did start off a little rockier than normal, I found myself setting it down to mill about my apartment after every couple pages. This decision, however, did turn out to be a wise one as when the time came to return to the work I felt a desire to keep going. Why was it so hard at first? Just so wordy. It’s a mockumentary, it’s going to be wordy, and I didn’t expect anything less. In fact, if it wasn’t wordy I think part of me would have been a little upset and disappointed. So the wordiness isn’t really a flaw for me, it’s more like a necessary evil. The story has to be wordy, if it wasn’t it wouldn’t make much sense.
The art in the book is great. Ringuet does fine work when it comes time to being gritty and realistic, and he executes well here. The art is minimalistic enough to the point where it’s attractive, check the cover for more insight on this one.
What really makes the book excellent in my opinion is a little two-page spread dedicated to relating the horrors of some genetic experiments. Monkey test-subjects are described by three separate analysts, each exhibiting an obvious bias or standpoint. The pages are pulled off handedly, and the humorous moments (as with the rest of the book) are sparse but exceptional.
If you’re up for something different and intelligent, give Transhuman a go… I enjoyed it.
4.5 out of 5.
Wolverine: First Class #1 Review by Tom Lynch
Writer – Fred Van Lente
Artist – Andrea Di Vito
Colors – Laura Villari
Letters – Simon Bowland
Cover -Salva Espin & Brad Anderson
A second book in the First Class line has sprung up in Wolverine: First Class. Thankfully, it’s just as fun to read as X-Men: First Class. This book follows Wolverine and the New X-Men shortly after they all joined the team. In the comics’ timeline, about when Chris Claremont began writing Uncanny X-Men.
This is Kitty’s first mission in the field and she gets teamed with Wolverine. In all, a very fun story that is well written and seen from Kitty’s point of view. There are even a few moments where I found myself laughing out loud because the writing and the art fit so well together to craft a joke. As is the usual with First Class, this is a one-shot. No need to come back next month for the rest of the story.
The art suits the story well. While most of the faces look a bit odd on people, there are a few close-up shots throughout the book that really show the acting on the characters’ faces and push the point home. The coloring is superb with nothing looking out of place and the panel layout is dynamic enough to really feel inside the story. This book is a great package of fun and definitely worth a read.
4.5 out of 5