more comic reviews by Justin G

I literally winced in pain when I saw the damage that had been inflicted to Tony's hand and leg underneath the Iron Man armor. I'm really eating up the way Ellis is portraying Iron man as being quite vulnerable here and still working out some problems with the different iterations of the suit. It really makes the super-soldier-biological-compiler-as-villain concept that much more menacing. Adi Granov's art is also "beautifully dirty" for lack of a better term. Beautifully smooth and soft lines with a very used and worn in feel that seems just right in capturing the dichotomy of high technology ideas with very base motivations and altercations. I'm afraid that with all of the tomfoolery going on in the Marvel U right now, not to mention this title's lackluster publishing schedule, this book will be overlooked as a real hidden gem. Perhaps the smartest superhero comic around. Grade A.

Supergirl #1
DC

Gosh, I don't know. My confusion started when I saw a #0 issue right beside #1 on the rack. Why would DC release both on the same day, I asked myself? Why wouldn't they price a #0 issue cheaper? Oh, it's a reprint of the Superman/Batman ish that intoduced the new Kara Zor-El. Then why didn't they clearly label it as a reprint? Then, just when I think I'm sold on Ian Churchill's art, he goes and adds these wacky bell-bottom wings to Power Girl's boots and makes her look like an over-muscled man in some panels. Just when I think Jeph Loeb has mastered the voice of Supergirl, she says that the whole "Girl of Steel" thing prevents her from getting a piercing. Really? Why? How does she cut her hair or her nails then? Doesn't make sense. Assumably she does it herself with super-strength or a power, which would be the same way she could inflict a piercing. On top of that, there just seems to be too much crammed in here, JSA, Lex Luthor, Superboy, etc. Also seems that Power Girl and Superboy aren't terribly helpful (which is out of character) and serves only to create conflict to advance the plot. I guess I can buy the "suspended animation" while-stuck-in-a-clump-of-exploding-planet line explaining why Supergirl has just now shown up on Earth when her ship was launched from Krypton at the same time as Kal-El's, but couldn't quite swallow the explanation of "two positives" offered by Mister Terrific - and how the heck would he of all people know this anyway? My guess is that Power Girl may not make it out of Infinite Crisis alive, but I doubt I'll stick around with this title that long to find out. Grade B-.

Ultimate Fantastic Four #22
Marvel

Lots of jibba-jabba here about alternate universes and infected vampire-like hero dudes that wasn't terribly interesting. It all just felt like a bunch of white noise that is inconsequential. And once I figured out that they lured Reed into their world only to open a portal to the Ultimate U, it got even more boring waiting for that to play out. Will probably read better in collected format. Based solely on Greg Land's luscious art, Grade B.
(Dan's note: They're not vampires, they're Marvel Zombies!)

Zatanna #3
DC

Though I can kind of see the overarching Seven Soldiers story beginning to coalesce here with the Sheeda appearances and Castle Revolving references, this is still pretty obtuse and non-linear. In other words, typical Morrison. I dig some of this concepts, like "obsolete thoughtforms," but the rest feels a little inaccessible. Breathtaking cover and interior art from Ryan Sook. Grade B.

Hero@Large
Speakeasy

Pretty insightful commentary on the industry embedded in the narrative and sort of mildly entertaining in random spots, but not particularly funny, which is what I think the creators were going for. Grade C+.

The Winter Men #1(of 8)
DC, Wildstorm

I was really enjoying the high concept of this book and the regretful tone of the first few pages, then it turned all dialogue heavy and became really dense. The who's who and what are their motivations foothold became a bit convoluted in spots, but overall I'm intrigued as to where this is going. Really enjoyed the representational art of John Paul Leon that seemed to intentionally lack detail off in the distance. Grade B.

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