Randy's Reviews for 11/5/2003 - SPOILERS

Alias #28
Detective #788
Hawkman #21
JSA All-Stars #7 (of 8)
Spider-Girl #66











Alias #28

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Michael Gaydos
Publisher: MAX

Synopsis: Jessica wakes up with the Purple Man inside her apartment. He 
uses his powers on her and Scott Lang, making her first believe that Lang 
is dead, then making her think that he's in bed with her best friend and 
the two men she has strong feelings for. 

Killgrave makes Scott sleep, then takes Jessica with him to commit 
mayhem. While she is entranced, she receives a mental visit from Jean 
Grey who tells her that she can overcome the mental domination of 
Killgrave if she wants to. When Killgrave orders her to fly up and kill 
the Avengers, she turns on him and knocks him out with one punch.

Afterwards, she meets up with a couple of special people in her life. 
When she meets up with Clay Quartermain, she tells him that she is 
pregnant, but that the baby isn't his. Later, she meets with Luke Cage. 
Luke confesses that he has stronger feelings for her than he thought, and 
she tells him about the pregnancy, and that he is the father. He asks her 
if she wants to keep the baby, and she tells him that she does.

Good Stuff: I wasn't the slightest bit surprised to find out that Lang 
was actually alive, but it wouldn't have surprised me if Bendis had 
killed him off either. He's done a great job of transforming Killgrave 
from a third-rate villain to someone truly creepy and scary, and I really 
enjoyed it when Jessica took him out.

Even better were her discussions with Quartermain and Cage, both of which 
were very real, and somewhat surprising in their outcome. I don't know if 
anyone expected that Quartermain would run and Cage own up to his 
responsibility, especially given recent portrayals, but I really 
appreciate that Luke is being a man about this-in fact, I'd say he's 
looking forward to the challenge.

Not so Good Stuff: Two problems here. One, I felt this ended a little too 
quickly with too many questions unanswered, although I suppose some of 
them will be addressed in The Pulse, Bendis' upcoming title.

The other problem is that this series is ending. It's been a great ride; 
it's just too bad it's over this quickly.

I give this book 9/10. 











Detective #788

Written by Paul Bolles, Rick Spears, Art by Mike Lilly, Sean Parsons, Dan 
Davis, Rob G.
Publisher: DC Comics

Synopsis: In the opening story, Batman tracks down an enraged man who was 
unfairly convicted of a crime that he was innocent of. The problem is 
that somehow, this man has gained superhuman strength. Batman manages to 
defeat him before he's killed too many of the people who helped to 
convict him, and discovers the man was under the influence of a 
mysterious stone. When Batman picks up the stone, he also gains 
superhuman strength, and a violent anger towards the criminal element in 
Gotham City.

In The Dogcatcher, the Joker catches up with our civil servant, kills 
everyone in the animal control center, shoots the dog catcher and 
escapes. As it turns out, the dog catcher had been given a bullet proof 
vest by Batman, and he tells Batman where to find the Joker.

Good Stuff: I though Lilly's pencils were a nice fit for this story. They 
have a nice expressiveness.

Not so Good Stuff: It's tremendously obvious that new writer Paul Bolles 
is a novelist, as the story is filled with descriptive prose. 
Unfortunately, such prose is wasted in the comics medium, where "show, 
don't tell" is the rule of the day. Also, it seems to me that this story 
has been told before, notably in Batman: Venom.

The less said about The Dogcatcher, the better. We are supposed to 
believe that Batman would give one man in the Animal Control Shelter a 
bullet proof vest, allow the Joker to kill everyone else, then chase 
after him? Give me a break. Just a bad story. Not a bad idea, just a bad 
story. I'm amazed the editors allowed this.

I give this book 3/10. 











Hawkman #21

Written by Geoff Johns, Art by Rags Morales, Michael Bair
Publisher: DC Comics

Synopsis: Kendra comes home from her date to find Carter and the 
Headhunter battling in her apartment. She manages to drive the Headhunter 
away, but she's furious at Carter, not so much for fighting in her 
apartment, but for not trusting her.

After some analysis from the Atom, Hawkman manages to track down the 
Headhunter at a local graveyard. They begin to fight, then the Headhunter 
conjures up spirits of dead men to fight Hawkman.

Good Stuff: Rags Morales' art is pretty decent. Also, I like seeing the 
Atom sticking around for a bit.

Not so Good Stuff: I'm already tired of this story, and it's only been 
two issues. Every move that Johns makes here seems telegraphed, forced 
and cliched. It's just not fun to read. The tension between Carter and 
Kendra seems silly, the villain is about as interesting as a turnip, and 
the other little moments just plain don't work

I give this book 3/10. 











JSA All-Stars #7 (of 8)

Written by Geoff Johns, David S. Goyer, Michael Chabon, Art by Dave Ross, 
Anibal Rodriguez, Michael Lark
Publisher: DC Comics

Synopsis: In the opening story, Mr. Terrific discovers that the DEO is 
tailing him. When he confronts them as to why, he finds out that when his 
wife died, she was carrying his unborn child.

In the backup story, the brother of the original Mr. Terrific pulls 
himself out of a bottomless pit of despair long enough to keep another 
soul from making similar mistakes.

Good Stuff: Throw away the opening story. The best part of this comic is 
Chabon's Mr. Terrific story, which doesn't feature Terrific in costume 
once. Instead, it's a character study of the black sheep of the family, 
and it's quite telling. It's a very nice commentary on the ability of 
certain people to reach for the stars despite the hardships they've 
experienced themselves-and for that matter of fact, done to themselves. 
Michael Lark's art is an excellent fit for this story, and it's a joy to 
read.

Not so Good Stuff: The first story, featuring the current Mr. Terrific, 
isn't worth the paper it's printed on. It's trite, cheap, simple, and 
makes very little sense. It's easy to understand why the DEO is following 
him, but the rest of the story doesn't make much sense at all, 
particularly Terrific's motivations. 

I give this book 7/10. 











Spider-Girl #66

Written by Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, Art by Pat Olliffe, Al Williamson, Sal 
Buscema
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Synopsis: May figures out that the real mastermind behind the killings 
was Canis, and she goes to meet with him before the Black Tarantula kills 
him. Meanwhile, she has to make a tough decision about her friend Linda 
and her participation on the basketball team, as well as her friendship 
with Davida.

While her friends and family celebrate her birthday, she helps Sandra 
face up to her own demons and enter an abused women's shelter.

Good Stuff: I like the fact that May has to make some very difficult 
decisions that affect her personal life in this issue. I'm surprised that 
her extra-normal abilities and their effect upon her basketball skills 
haven't come up before, but I'm glad this issue addressed them.

Not so Good Stuff: The fight between Canis, Black Tarantula and Spider-
Girl in this issue was fairly so-so, although I do appreciate her 
negotiating skills keeping Canis alive. Also, one of my long laments is 
the inability or unwillingness of many of today's comics writers to 
properly introduce their characters. There are a ton of characters in 
Spider-Girl, and it's a tremendously daunting task for a new reader to 
jump on.

I give this book 7/10.




-- 
Randy Jackson
http://fourcolorexplosion.com