Angel & Faith #4: I really liked that Angel knew that Faith was going to stop him if he crossed a line–Angel has been portrayed a little too oblivious? for my taste so far in this title. But then, he is apparently going insane or possessed by Giles, which is a plot point that the creative team should be very careful with. Also, the creative team should steer away from super-powered vampires–I had my fill when Angel was Twilight.
Daredevil #6: Mark Waid certainly knows how to up the stakes. How will ol’ Hornhead get out of having A.I.M., Hydra, Agencé Byzantine, Black Spectre, and the Secret Empire after him all at the same time (and I have never heard of those last three agencies)? Although, considering that the world at large thinks that Matt Murdoch is Daredevil, why would Matt put that data disk on his desk? Shouldn’t it be put somewhere perhaps more secure? Still a wonderfully fun superhero comic, and it’s no surprise that it’s landing on some folks’ Top lists. It’s certainly one of my favorite comics of 2011.
FF #12: I heard some buzz online that FF is becoming the Power Pack of the Fantastic Four “universe” and this issue seems to herald this since the focus of the (so far) year-long storyline shifts to the kids. But is this a sea-change for the title, or just a brief interlude? If it’s the former, then I’m dropping the title because, as much as I like the kids thus far, I want to read about the adults and their relationships (and yes, see more of Sue). Also, if the current art team stay, then that will only make my decision easier–that style is just not to my liking.
Star Trek #3: I don’t normally comment on this title because it’s essentially “reprint” material, but I do want to say that that whole “Spock never had a command of his own” comment from McCoy in the Original Series episode “The Galileo Seven” makes perfect sense in this retelling where it never did in the television series. McCoy’s crack always bugged me since how could anyone achieve the rank of Commander in any quasi-military branch (even a fictional one) without having commanded a certain group of subordinates? I just thought that was lazy storytelling on the part of the writer and producers of that episode serving only to create a false sense of tension. In this comic, and given the events of the last Star Trek movie, McCoy points out that Spock has his chance at command again, since that opportunity was taken from him by Kirk.
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1: My exposure to the THUNDER Agents (the periods are hereby banished!) came from the 1984 comic Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 by Deluxe Comics, so when I heard that DC was putting out another version of the THUNDER Agents by Nick Spencer, I was intrigued until I read the premise, specifically, the bit about their powers killing them. I’m not sure why that take turned me off, but it did. Then my friend Oddfellow kept talking about how good the series was, so when DC stopped the series and announced it would return after the New 52 launched, I decided to try it out. After all, it would only be six issues. Plus, it would give me a chance to assess Nick Spencer’s writing. Like Scott Snyder’s work, I haven’t been overly wowed by Spencer’s comic writing, but I have recently come around to Snyder’s work on Batman, so maybe this title will cement how I feel about Spencer. With that, how was this return issue? Mmm, ok. I got enough back story to fill me in on the previous 10 issues of the title and make me curious to perhaps buy the trade if I can find it cheap (or maybe ask Oddfellow if I can borrow his copies :) ). The two agents in suits, Henston and Franklin, are the most intriguing of any character in this issue, with NoMan coming in second so far. And while the whole powers killing the agents bit turned me off before, I can see where this could lead to some interesting storytelling, sort of like how new actors come in to play James Bond or more appropriately Doctor Who. I like the Wes Craig art, though it reminds me of someone else’s work that I’ve seen recently, but I can’t quite put my finger on who yet. This title I think will be an interesting distraction for six issues.
Longbox Review 