CC2K Comics Weekly Pull List For August 23, 2011
Written by: Gary M. Kenny, CC2K Comics Editor
Each week we build up our comic book pile. Some of us save our favorite titles for last while others cannot wait to get their fix. Now that gas prices are at an all time high, our comic collections suffer. Let CC2K save you a few dollars, here is August 23rd, 2011’s “under $20 dollars week in review.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
IDW is constantly bringing back 80’s superstars and their revamped new take on the turtles is one of their best. Kevin Eastman (co-creator) teams up with Tom Waltz with a spin on the original. Yes they are still eating pizza but “cowabunga” has been retired. April O’Neil isn’t a reporter anymore, now she’s tied into the gang’s origin. She’s a lab research assistant, helping to bio-engineer livestock in order to create food for 3rd world countries. That’s where she meets the turtles and Splinter. Splinter is an animal experiment where a psychotropic drug is “splintering” his animal nature in two (rat/human). Sounds like too much change, read the comic it works.
The book goes back in forth from past to present day. The book starts with a vicious fight scene between the Turtles and Splinter against Old Hob (a mutant alley cat). Dan Ducan’s artwork is a great tribute to the original comics. The images are poppy and dark, they are action packed and make the story flow quite nicely. When the comic travels to the past, the artwork becomes brighter and resembles Scottie Young’s OZ comics. Holding this issue in your hands and just flipping through it is almost like time traveling, it’s a great read and visually it’s wonderful. Ducan’s artwork balances the book perfectly.
All in all IDW really surprised the hell out me with this book. Without a doubt it’s the best thing to come out this week. I wish this book was longer, it is way too enjoyable not to be.
4.5 out of 5.0
Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates #1
By no means is Ultimates #1 new reader friendly, however Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic gives us the ultimate experience us Ultimates fans have been asking for. Why is it not new reader friendly, well, every character is thrown at you, tons of action from the start, and questions,questions, and more questions. However, that’s what makes this book so wild. It’s unlike anything Miller or Loebs have written for this series. Nick Fury is losing control, everyone is getting attacked, and Cap is nowhere to be found. The villain MARVEL finally didn’t spoil: (highlight to see) REED RICHARDS! The book is sold sealed in a poly bag, the reason: It’s so awesome it needs to be contained.
Ribic’s artwork splashes across this book like a museum painting. Alex Ross has nothing on him. Nuclear bomb blast at Iron Man, yeah Ribic astonishes you. It’s probably his best work since Secret Wars. There are literally pages without dialogue, it’s not needed because of Ribic’s use of flow. His artwork makes this comic.
The ultimate villain, various attacks, no hope, no Cap, and Ribic and Hickman. What are you waiting for?
4.0 out of 5.0
F.F. #8
Marvel’s Future Foundation for the most part has been a blast to read, though the last two issues “Black Bolt” story wasn’t my cup of tea. Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting have been pushing Marvel’s first family into new territories, fighting parallel world Reed Richards’, recruiting villains such as Dr. Doom and Diablo to the fray, and making Sue Storm a queen. This series is better then most Marvel books, it’s pop corn with Ben and Spidey, intellectual with Reed and Sue, and charming with the kids. Having Dr. Doom join the mix makes this series so unique; he’s the black sheep, evil uncle/cousin all families seem to have.
This issue has the FF teaming up with all the past Fantastic Four baddies and the Inhumans in order to stop two rogue (different dimension) Reed Richards from destroying our world. This is definitely a comic Marvel hasn’t produced before. Epting’s artwork is big, the faces he draws are full of life; you can sense the sarcastic smiles and the warrior screams. Hickman’s script just jumps out. Images of the rogues battling it out against the evil Reeds, having Dr. Doom pick up a hill of land, the intensiveness of it all is amazing. With all the Fear Itself, Flashpoints, and other big events it’s great to know there are comics out there just in it to tell great stories.
3.5 out of 5.0