Dominic Guglieme
06-07-2006, 06:19 PM
Transformers/GIJoe #3
Intelligent, if a bit heavy, advancing of the main leadership premise of the series. The flashback sequence at the begining does a good job of setting the tone, and foreshadowing the plot, but the framing could have been a bit more clear. (Not everyone is likely to know Hawk's civilian name after all.)
The main problems with this issue are actually problems with the series, and are functions of a failed editorial policy. While these flaws are not unique to this issue (or series, or even the seperate franchises), they became apparent in this issue, as the writers engage in some character development that accentuates the lack of continuity in this series. For example, one panel indicates that Stormshadow is a member of the Joe team (as eventually happened in the old comics), despite this series not actually allowing for the Snakeeyes/Stormshadow dynamic from the old comics. This, along with basic continuity problems in the last series, (characters being in two places at once), and a mislabelled character in this issue, serve to muddy what should still be a clean enough continuity.
Grade: B/C Like more than one modern comic, this is an objectively well-written arc functioning as part of a disasterous editorial policy. What could have been great will be forever hindered by a lack of editorial oversight.
Transformers: Infiltration #5
The decompressed relaunch continues. There are some legitimately good points thos this issue, not the least of which being Furman's handling of Megatron. (Furman is not just rehashing the old "crazy" Megatron.) But, the payoff would be more appropriate to a 2 or 3 issue arc, rather than a 6 issue (plus a zero issue) arc.
Why IDW did not run this as a shorter arc, and then run several 1 issue stories (to allow for a neat collection of 6 issues later) is a mystery. The first few issues could have served as an over-all intro, with several character focused stories providing more explication before the next big arc.
Grade: B/C By the standards of the industry, this comic is better than average. But, those standards are hardly high by any objective standard.
JSA #86
The "one year later" imprint has vanished from the cover, as has the "Ghost Story" header. In any case, the arc continues. The "past v/s present" theme is being played out, and I spotted a few "post Crisis status quo" cues (about Wonder Woman and Hawkman). It seems that older characters can physically attack Craddock, while newer/younger characters (like Stargirl) cannot. Whether or not I am reading this correctly, and if this relates to Crisis, will likely be determined next issue.
Grade: B/C A good book, with a competant editorial team, laboring under a disasterous editorial policy foisted upon them.
Over in "52" (DCs weekly, "Post Crisis" extens*, erm, I mean wrap-up,), things are decompressed as ever. A few more shallow McGuffins are explained, and for whatever reason, a few more pages are being devoted to summarizing Crisis on Infinite Earths, for whatever reason.
Star Wars: Legacy 25c special
This is a combination art book and vague sourcebook. The "100 years later" setting looks promising, and has a few good ideas. But, there are some truly lackluster ideas and characters to balance it off. If "Legacy" manages to catch on with fans, there will likely be some great peripheral stories. But, the core arcs (focusing on a Skywalker clan that can be best described as fan-hackery), are likely to be lack-luster. Grade: Promising, but spotty.
Intelligent, if a bit heavy, advancing of the main leadership premise of the series. The flashback sequence at the begining does a good job of setting the tone, and foreshadowing the plot, but the framing could have been a bit more clear. (Not everyone is likely to know Hawk's civilian name after all.)
The main problems with this issue are actually problems with the series, and are functions of a failed editorial policy. While these flaws are not unique to this issue (or series, or even the seperate franchises), they became apparent in this issue, as the writers engage in some character development that accentuates the lack of continuity in this series. For example, one panel indicates that Stormshadow is a member of the Joe team (as eventually happened in the old comics), despite this series not actually allowing for the Snakeeyes/Stormshadow dynamic from the old comics. This, along with basic continuity problems in the last series, (characters being in two places at once), and a mislabelled character in this issue, serve to muddy what should still be a clean enough continuity.
Grade: B/C Like more than one modern comic, this is an objectively well-written arc functioning as part of a disasterous editorial policy. What could have been great will be forever hindered by a lack of editorial oversight.
Transformers: Infiltration #5
The decompressed relaunch continues. There are some legitimately good points thos this issue, not the least of which being Furman's handling of Megatron. (Furman is not just rehashing the old "crazy" Megatron.) But, the payoff would be more appropriate to a 2 or 3 issue arc, rather than a 6 issue (plus a zero issue) arc.
Why IDW did not run this as a shorter arc, and then run several 1 issue stories (to allow for a neat collection of 6 issues later) is a mystery. The first few issues could have served as an over-all intro, with several character focused stories providing more explication before the next big arc.
Grade: B/C By the standards of the industry, this comic is better than average. But, those standards are hardly high by any objective standard.
JSA #86
The "one year later" imprint has vanished from the cover, as has the "Ghost Story" header. In any case, the arc continues. The "past v/s present" theme is being played out, and I spotted a few "post Crisis status quo" cues (about Wonder Woman and Hawkman). It seems that older characters can physically attack Craddock, while newer/younger characters (like Stargirl) cannot. Whether or not I am reading this correctly, and if this relates to Crisis, will likely be determined next issue.
Grade: B/C A good book, with a competant editorial team, laboring under a disasterous editorial policy foisted upon them.
Over in "52" (DCs weekly, "Post Crisis" extens*, erm, I mean wrap-up,), things are decompressed as ever. A few more shallow McGuffins are explained, and for whatever reason, a few more pages are being devoted to summarizing Crisis on Infinite Earths, for whatever reason.
Star Wars: Legacy 25c special
This is a combination art book and vague sourcebook. The "100 years later" setting looks promising, and has a few good ideas. But, there are some truly lackluster ideas and characters to balance it off. If "Legacy" manages to catch on with fans, there will likely be some great peripheral stories. But, the core arcs (focusing on a Skywalker clan that can be best described as fan-hackery), are likely to be lack-luster. Grade: Promising, but spotty.