Archive for September, 2005
September 26, 2005 | Comics
Justice #1 (of 12)
Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, Doug Braithwaite
DC Comics
$4/$2.99 US
*** 1/2 (out of five)
It’s the end of the world — and not even the world’s greatest super-team can stop it.
But can the most sinister villains?
As nuclear bombs rain down upon every major city on earth, Superman soars to save all he can, as do The Flash, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Martian Manhunter and Aquaman. None can stop the horror from unfolding as eventually the whole world tears itself apart and … they all wake up?
Justice #1 kicks off a two-year odyssey (the book ships bimonthly) that pits the classic members of the JLA against an assemblage of their arch-nemeses — Black Manta, Cheetah, Captain Cold, The Riddler and Lex Luthor to name a handful — with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.
Comic painter extraordinaire Alex Ross chips in on the story, along with Jim Krueger, and on the art, with Doug Braithwaite to create a debut issue that is both engrossing and spectacular to see.
It’s going to be a long two years of watching this beauty unfold.
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September 26, 2005 | Comics
Wildsiderz #1
J. Scott Campbell, Andy Hartnell
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$4.75/$3.50 US
*** 1/2 (out of five)
Every teenage boy in the world should be able to attend a high school like Jeff Campbell’s draws one.
Kicking off his first regular (well, bimonthly) series in years, Campbell, along with regular co-writer Andy Hartnell, go back to school to bring together the foundation of Wildsiderz.
With tongue planted slightly in cheek, readers are introduced to the future teen team: Styler (the Sk8er), Kat (the Hottie), Bam (the Meathead), Zak (the Hunk) and Jess (the Brains).
When Styler, also a computer-engineering prodigy, develops a technology that creates solid holograms of animal traits over humans, he decides to take it for a spin — by whipping Zak in an obstacle course race (with a little help from hologram insect parts).
The look of this book is classic Jeff (J. Scott to the unwashed masses) Campbell, but the special effects by Edgar Delgado are what makes it really stand out. There is a depth to this book that simply could not have been achieved until recently with the use of computers.
Wildsiderz is simply over the top fun. So come on and (please forgive the immense cliché) take a walk on the wild side.
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September 26, 2005 | Comics
Grounded #2
Mark Sable, Paul Azaceta
Image Comics
$3.65/2.99 US
*** 1/2 (out of five)
Have you ever had that dream that you show up for school with no clothes on?
When Jonathan Shepherd finds himself enrolled in a new high school, one solely for those with superpowers, he feels as naked as the day he was born.
But that’s not enough to diminish his excitement.
After the startling revelation in issue #1 that his father is the real-life superhero Apollo, Jonathan, a lifelong comic book junkie, finds himself stuck in The High, a private academy for super-teens.
But without powers of his own, will he be able to survive in the hallways (where a jealous boyfriend can send you flying through a brick wall), gym class (where a friendly game of dodge ball is anything but) or in the classroom (where the professor can create some vivid, gun-wielding lessons).
The premise of Grounded is so simple that it should have been done ages ago. But since it hasn’t, writer Mark Sable and artist Paul Azaceta are to be commended for something so damned good.
There are likely high grades to come for this high school story.
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