This week in comics, we have a few new number 1 issues, including the 4-color debut of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The DCNu keeps maarching on. We also get a bunch of Marvel NOW #2’s. Can they keep up the hype from last month? Well, we’ll see. It’s time for gut reactions!
Masks #1: Even though a pulp crossover sounds like a book tailor-made for my tastes, it could easily fall flat. This thankfully does not. The fascist police thing is a bit on the nose, but the rest of the book is so spectacular, I’ll give it a pass. Also, the way they’re going to integrate Zorro, who isn’t of the same time period, is going to be genius, if they do it the way I think they are. PICK OF THE WEEK!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #16: The turtles vs. slash makes for a good fight issue. I wasn’t expecting the fallout from the battle though. Slash is much more sympathetic than I would have thought, kind of like a tragic King Kong. Also, Leo’s characterization is very well done in the aftermath.
Superman #14: I don’t know. This H’el on Earth storyline is really hit-or-miss. I did kind of like the Lois/Clark interaction, but in the new 52, I can’t buy Lois and Clark being best friends, because they’ve had maybe 20 panels together. This book is on the chopping block.
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #1: I’m not a brony, although I occasionally watch the show with my niece. This was pretty continuity-heavy for the first issue of a new book, in my opinion. I also thought the art was pretty off-model as well. I’m not the target audience for sure.
Superman Family Adventures #7: Hey, what do you know? This issue had ponies as well! These were controlled by the villainous Toyman, however! Also: The super-pets meet the bat-pets! That Bat-Cow is amazing! I still really enjoy this title.
All New X-Men #2: This issue continues with the original X-Men is the present, and it’s still pretty great. Most of the introductions finish in this issue, so I expect there to be a lot of action next time. My favorite Marvel Now book so far.
FF #1: This ties directly into Fantastic Four #1, which I wasn’t overly fond of. This issue is much more enjoyable. A lot of that is due to Allred’s fantastic (get it) art. Assembling a team to cover for four minutes sounds silly, but this is the FF, you know something is going to happen to expand that timeframe. This issue kind of fails to introduce Thing-Girl, or whoever that is.
Thor – God of Thunder #2: While I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first issue, but it’s still a good read. The god killer has a weird visual though. He kind of looks like naked V9ldemort with a cloak. The split timeline approach to storytelling is great, but I’m not sure if it can be sustained long.
A+X #2: The solicited cover had a Beat/Spider-Man team-up. We got a Rouge/Black Widow one instead. It was cute and fun, however. I preferred the Iron Man and Kitty Pryde story, though. If the book stays as fun as it is, I’ll happily continue to pick it up.
Uncanny Avengers #2: You’d think the Red Skull couldn’t be any more evil, but gives him Professor X’s psychic abilities, and there you go. While I’m kind of annoyed about reading humans vs. mutants (again), the Red Skull is a great villain that may make this whole shindig worthwhile.
Fury of Firestorm #14: This book is still full of old-school fun. The stuff that ties into the cancelled Captain Atom book (which I didn’t read) isn’t obtrusive and is pretty interesting. The fact that this went from one of my least favorite New 52 books to one of my most favorite gives me hope for other books in the line.
The Flash #14: Hehehe. Solovar is the Monkey Messiah! I know technically he’s a gorilla, but that’s not alliterative! Also, we learn the answer to the age old question “Where does an 800-lb gorilla with super speed go?” Answer:; anywhere it wants at Mach 5. The art on this book continues to be amazing.
Chew #30: This book man. You wouldn’t think that a book where people have freaky food-based powers could be this great, but it really is. I’m still reeling over the *spoiler* that happens this issue. I totally wasn’t expecting it, and it knocks you for a loop.
Batman Incorporated #5: Is Damien Wayne a bad Batman, or the worst Batman ever? Looks like it’s both. Also, if you thought Doctor Hurt was gone from Morrison’s bat books, well, you’re wrong. A book that really pays off if you’ve followed it for a while.
Godzilla #7: While Godzilla is normally the main draw of a Godzilla story, I really think I would enjoy a book revolving around Boxer and his rag-tag bunch of roughnecks. I’m curious as to what the new status quo for them is going to be after this issue though. They did technically save a major city, after all.
Witch Doctor: Mal Practice #1: I am so happy to see Witch Doctor on the shelves again. It’s such a crazy, over the top book, what with its magical maladies and equipment (diablosuction, anyone?), but the characters are charming too. If you like weird, otherworldly stuff, that is hidden from most of the world, this is a good book to pick up.
Teen Titans #14: It seems like this book is really trying to be as much like the old 52 version as possible. That’s probably going to be derailed with the inevitable tie-in with the Joker storyline. I don’t mean to sound jaded, but this book is on the chopping block, too.
Aquaman #14: Is it possible the New 52’s Ocean Master is a good guy? Probably not, but he sure talks a good game. It’d be an interesting change of pace, as well. There’s also a few lines telling us how awesome Aquaman is. Dude can swim underwater without going up for air, and can ride a giant seahorse. I don’t need to be told that’s awesome, show me.
Venom #27.1: Marvel’s .1 books are meant to be jumping on points for new readers. However, this issue for me did the exact opposite for me. It tied things up in a nice bow, reminded of why I used to like it, and packed up and is leaving for fresh waters. Well, I am too. Dropped. PICK OF THE WEAK!