Past Due Reviews [6]

 

Have you ever read a book and then forgotten to review it? Yeah? Well, that happens to me all the time! That's how I got the idea for Past Due Reviews. They won't be long posts, they'll likely contain a lot of comics, and my memories of the books themselves probably won't be great (some of them were read months ago, and I didn't sit down and review them for this or that reason). Hopefully the content is still relevant and helpful! 

Wicked Things #5-6 by John Allison, Max Sarin

Review for #5: That. Was. Terrible. I really liked the last issue and thought the story was finally going somewhere, but then #5 did NOT pick up where #4 left off. Why would the writer do this? What about continuity and consistency? Instead of a smooth and seamless transition from one issue to the next, we get a very confusing story that left me feeling lost and like I'd missed something. I even went back and re-read the ending for #4, but my memory wasn't the problem. The story simply took off in a completely different direction without even referencing the big stuff that had happened previously! WHYYY?

The inconsistencies were annoying, but I also hated that the misogynistic comments and views still weren't addressed this far into the series. (★★☆☆☆)

Review for #6: WHAT? THAT DIDN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE! AAARRGH - this series was a huge waste of my time. Additionally, the story started off with an attempted murder, jumped to robbery, and then ended with a shooting. Why am I mentioning this? Because only the last one had any sort of resolution. There were only six issues, so I'm not entirely sure how it managed to go from bad to worse in such a short amount of time. (★★☆☆☆)

Spider-Man: Noir (2020) #1-3 by Margaret Stohl, Juan E. Ferreyra, Dave Rapoza

Synopsis (via Goodreads): MURDER AND MYSTERY IN THE MIGHTY MARVEL MANNER! DATELINE, 1939! As the specter of war looms on the horizon, SPIDER-MAN: NOIR fights the good fight at home, stopping the injustices of a more friendly-neighborhood variety. But after a dame is murdered at The Black Cat nightclub and all clues point overseas, Spidey will have no choice but to board the next flight to Europe and kick off a globetrotting adventure through yesteryear of the Marvel Universe!

Review for #1-3: OMGGG - SO BORING. I honestly don't even know what this story was supposed to be about. A necklace? A murder? A terrible detective? What were they even trying to do??? I thought the time period would be fun to read about, but I was WRONG. The writing was dense, the story was snooze-worthy, and the characters themselves left a lot to be desired. I actually DNF'd the third issue! I couldn't make myself read another page of a comic book, which is really saying something since they have so few pages to begin with. (★★⋆☆☆)

We Only Find Them When They're Dead #1-3 by Al Ewing, Simone Di Meo

Synopsis (via Goodreads): For fans of Decorum and Something is Killing the Children comes a new sci-fi epic from Al Ewing (Immortal Hulk) and Simone Di Meo (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers). Captain Malik and the crew of the Vihaan II harvest resources from the giant corpses of alien gods found on the edge of human space. While other autopsy ships race to salvage the meat, minerals, and metals that sustain the human race, Malik sees an opportunity to finally break free from this system by being the first to find a living god. But Malik's obsession with the gods will push his crew into danger at the darkest reaches of space and face -- unless the rogue agent on their trail can stop them first...

Review for #1-3: I went into this series knowing very little about it, but I was pleasantly surprised by the story! It's a little hard to get into at first, but that's because it takes place in the future and the characters use terminology I'm not familiar with. I'm still not 100% sure what the bells mean, or what they're used for, but I think it has something to do with when they're allowed to start slicing and dicing in space. I wish we'd been given more background information on the world and how it had changed over time, and more character development would've been appreciated. We only get glimpses into their personal lives (sadly there were no flashbacks to the distant past), which made it hard to connect with them in the present.

The illustrations were phenomenal. I am obsessed with Simone Di Meo and cannot wait to see how she portrays people and places in future issues. Seriously, the artwork was stunning. Gorgeous coloring, breathtaking details, and even the morbid parts were beautifully conveyed. I just wish the characters had been written as well as they'd been drawn.

I'm always willing to give stories a few issues to find their rhythm, but I was super invested in this one from the start. However, the most recent issue (that I've read) really bummed me out. This one character's need for vengeance was fierce, but we don't really know why she's so obsessed with blowing this other character to smithereens. It seemed to be her sole purpose in life - innocent bystanders be damned - and it just wasn't believable with what little information we did have.

I was disappointed by the turn of events and felt like Ewing rushed the characters from point A to point B without much explanation. I get that they need to do the thing, but I'm still unsure about the why. A lot happened really quickly, and I wish the author had taken their time getting there. All in all, I'm happy with the series so far and looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here, but really hope Ewing explains more while doing less. (★★★★☆)

Mini Reviews [34]

Once & Future (#1-2) by Kieron Gillen, 

Dan Mora & Tamra Bonvillain (Illustrators)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): When a group of Nationalists use an ancient artifact to bring a villain from Arthurian myth back from the dead to gain power, ex-monster hunter Bridgette McGuire escapes her retirement home and pulls her unsuspecting grandson Duncan, a museum curator, into a world of magic and mysticism to defeat a legendary threat.

Bestselling writer Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine, Star Wars) and Russ Manning Award-winning artist Dan Mora (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Klaus) explore the mysteries of the past, the complicated truths of our history and the power of family to save the day…especially if that family has secret bunkers of ancient weapons and decades of experience hunting the greatest monsters in Britain’s history!

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I am loving this series -- hooked from the very first page! The first issue sold out waaaay before it's release date, and they ended up doing three or four additional printings (which also sold out). This all happened before the first issue was actually published! I was fortunate enough to snag a first printing, but only because I pre-ordered this one in advance (yay newsletters!). After reading the synopsis, how could I not? However, all of the other covers are amazing, and I was tempted to buy one of each!

If you like fantasy or retellings, Once & Future is definitely worth reading! There's also a badass grandma barely blinking at monsters, which I thought was a wonderful addition to the story. Her grandson, Duncan, has no idea what's happening, or who his grandmother really is. Their relationship is realistic and also hilarious. She has no problem tossing a spear at him, or telling him to run and run fast, while she looks for something. I really like this duo, and I'm so happy they decided to make this an ongoing series instead of a mini. I cannot wait to see what adventures they go on!

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New Mutants: War Children (#1)

by Chris Claremont, 

Bill Sienkiewicz (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Don’t miss this momentous event as legendary creators CHRIS CLAREMONT and BILL SIENKIEWICZ reunite with Magik, Wolfsbane, Cannonball, Cypher, Mirage, Karma, and Sunspot to share this never before told story of the New Mutants’ past! When Warlock experiences a nightmare, he begins going haywire, and it’s up to his friends to save him! But as Warlock grows more frenzied, they should be worrying about being able to save themselves…and doubly so when Magik’s inner demon, Darkchylde, threatens to break free! Also, a special guest appearance by none other than Kitty Pryde!

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I hate to say it, but The New Mutants: War Children was bad. The author assumed a lot of the reader, so the circumstances of the story were poorly explained. Additionally, the characters were familiar but also unrecognizable. If I hadn't read a similar series previously, I wouldn't have known who they were or what they were doing. A new reader will likely have a difficult time with this one, and it's not fair to assume everyone will have a base knowledge of the world being written about. There has to be some context and background information.

The story was all over the place and I felt like it went on forever. They're trying to find their friend and prevent him from doing something bad (needed more details), but there was nothing leading up to that moment. We go from one thing to the next with very little explanation, and then the story ends. I wish I could say the illustrations saved this one for me, because I typically enjoy Sienkiewicz's style, but this was just terrible. Everything was blurred and out of focus, or scratchy and unidentifiable, and there was a lot going on. If The New Mutants: War Children hadn't been a comic, I probably wouldn't have finished it.

⳼

Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Age of 

Resistance (#1) by Nicole Andelfinger, 

Mona Finden, Matias Basla, &

Miquel Muerto (Illustrators)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Return to another world, another time…in the age of wonder. The Skeksis reign over Thra, but there are distant echoes of rebellion in the air. Gelfling and unlikely heroes emerge to champion what is good and just, but their stories started long ago. Epic tales of adventure, magic, and mystery send us back in time to witness the untold histories that forged these protectors of Thra. 

Based on a story by Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance series writers, Will Matthews & Jeffery Addiss, Nicole Andelfinger (Lumberjanes) and Matias Basla (Sparrowhawk) present an official prequel to the next chapter of the pop culture phenomenon, streaming on Netflix this August.

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I thought this was a wonderful first issue for Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. I haven't watched the new Netflix series yet, but The Dark Crystal is one of my favorite childhood movies. I recently watched it with my son and realized I'd forgotten about some of the darker aspects of the story -- whoops! He said it wasn't too scary, but that he didn't want to watch it again, haha.

New Gelflings are introduced, familiar creatures make an appearance, and we see a world that existed before the destruction that led to The Dark Crystal. Skeksis are portrayed as protectors, although I suspect they have ulterior motives based on what I already know about them. Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance was a solid first issue that has me looking forward to the next one!

⳼

Spider-Man (#1) by J.J. Abrams,

Henry Adams, Olivier Coipel

 & Sara Pichelli (Illustrators)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): The most shocking and incredible comic of 2019 is here as J.J. ABRAMS (STAR WARS, STAR TREK, SUPER 8) and his son HENRY ABRAMS are joined by superstar artist SARA PICHELLI (MILES MORALES, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY) team up for SPIDER-MAN! What do they have planned for Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson?! Who is Cadaverous?! The Modern Master of Mystery Makes His Marvel this September!

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First of all, WHAT THE FUCK J.J. ABRAMS? HOW COULD YOU? Second, that was one hell of a first issue! I was definitely not expecting that particular twist, but I can see how it impacts the rest of the story. That doesn't mean I have to like it!

This new Spider-Man is likely going to be about Peter and MJ's son, Ben. I love it when we see what our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is like with kids, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed Amazing Spider-Man Renew Your Vows so much (they had a daughter in that one). Ben is an emotional teenager that doesn't get a long with his father, which is plenty interesting on its own since Peter Parker is the father in this scenario. Aunt May is also alive and kicking, and she's one of my all-time favorite comic book characters!

I'm not sure how this story is going to play out, since things have already happened very differently from what I was expecting, so this should be interesting! If you like Spider-Man, be sure check this one out!