After watching the Austrian Grand Prix yesterday morning, and then doing some laundry, I didn’t have anything to do. I could have watched a DVD or searched for something on Netflix and Amazon like the wifey wanted. But being a good little comic book nerd, I decided a trip to the comic store would be better.
After browsing the shop for a while, I ended up picking up a small stack of newer comics, and although I haven’t finished reading them all, here are a few thoughts on some of the comics I bought:
X-Men Gold #7
Written by: Marc Guggenheim
Art by: Ken Lashley
Published by: Marvel Comics
In this day and age it can be difficult to keep up with your favorite comic books when a major crossover event that you care nothing about comes along and puts everything on hold.
But unlike the recent The Mighty Captain Marvel #6 which got lost in the sea of Secret Empire, X-Men: Gold #7 managed to put together a SE tie-in issue that actually moved the main story forward. This is how tie-in issues should work.
The events in X-Men Gold #7 take place at the beginning of Secret Empire, but the team doesn’t just deal with the mega event. The main plot of this issue is filled with tension as a serial killer is loose inside the mansion. One student has already fallen to the new villain, who may or may not be a new version of the X-Cutioner.
My only complaint about this issue is the way Rachel Summers keeps getting portrayed. Suddenly she’s making out with Nightcrawler, even though this has never shown up in any comic that I know of. I miss the Rachel from the Excalibur days, but it was nice to see her, Kitty, and Nightcrawler drawn by Ken Lashley again.
X-Men Gold score: B
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Green Arrow #26
Written by: Benjamin Percy
Art by: Stephen Byrne, Nate Piekos
Published by: DC Comics
I haven’t bought a Green Arrow comic in about a decade. The last one I remember buying was a Green Arrow/Black Canary wedding special that had Superman jumping out of a cake for some reason. So why did I buy Green Arrow #26? That’s easy: because the Flash guest stars in this issue.
Green Arrow #26 was a chore to read. The Flash in this comic didn’t feel like the same character I’m reading in his own book. For whatever reason, there is real animosity between Green Arrow and the Flash, too much in fact. By the time Barry starts name calling and insulting Ollie’s abilities, the animosity had reached uncomfortable levels.
Meanwhile, the art by Stephen Byrne is clean and crisp. But it’s not a style I’m particularly fond of. But some of the problems may be due to the colors, which are too dark for this book.
Green Arrow #26 score: D
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Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1
Written by: Chip Zdarsky
Art by: Adam Kubert
Published by: Marvel Comics
Oh look, another Spider-Man title! Just what the comic market needed, thanks Marvel. All joking aside, I was actually looking forward to the new Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man. I didn’t recognize the writer’s name, but what attracted me to the book was the art of Adam Kubert.
The man may not have the greatest track record at drawing a monthly book, but there’s no doubt the man can draw. Unfortunately, Kubert’s art is the only good thing about Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1
The story in Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1 is basically a day in the life of Spider-Man. And that’s about it, the rest of the issue is just a bunch of events that all happen one after the other, but without much of a link. On the plus side, the Human Torch, makes an appearance, so there is that.
Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1 score: C
