Weekly Comic Reviews - 9 Sept 2015

Ratings out of 5 stars. Comics courtesy of Absolute Comics (Plaza Singapura).

Phonogram: The Immaterial Girl #2

Story: Kieron Gillen

Art: Jamie McKelvie

Colourist: Matthew Wilson

Image Comics

Comic of the week. It’s almost meaningless to summarize what Phonogram is about. Like that 3-minute pop song that has changed your life, to provide a synopsis of the first two volumes of Phonogram is to miss the whole bloody point. All you need to know is that this is the series to broke Gillen and McKelvie to the mainstream, paving the way for their Marvel work. They have continued to work their mojo in The Wicked + The Divine (also Image Comics) while Gillen has turned in pretty nasty stuff for Avatar Comics in Uber, the WWII superhero comic. The release of this third volume of Phonogram has gotten notices from The Guardian, Pitch Fork and Paste magazine. Music is magic – ‘enuff said. And AHA!

(4.5 stars)

Star Wars: Shattered Empire #1

Story: Greg Rucka

Art: Marco Checchetto

Marvel Comics

This is the big one. Fans are waiting for this - a continuation of what happen after Episode VI, after the Battle of Endor and the rebels partied a bit too hard with the Ewoks. (what happens on Endor stays on Endor...) Now Disney/Marvel is saying Luke and company have gotten it wrong. The second Death Star is fully operationally and the energy shield protecting it still stands. And since this is Disney, you know this is canon and could give us some hints of what's to come for Episode VII at the end of this year. The writing by novelist Greg Rucka is spot on - you know with him onboard, you get solid female characters like Renee Montoya (The Question) and Tara Chace (Queen and Country). New X-Wing fighter pilot Shara (‘Green Four’) is as tough as they come, with a touch of vulnerability to make her identifiable. Artist Marco Checchetto rivals John Cassaday in capturing the likeness of Han, Lando and Chewie. Cover by Phil Noto completes the package.

(4 stars)

Action Comics #44

Story: Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder

Art: Aaron Kuder and Howard Porter

DC Comics

I had wanted to review the new Superman series by Gene Yang and John Romita, Jr. but this would have to do. Post-Convergence, Superman is powered down and everyone knows he is Clark Kent. He returns to Metropolis with his pal, Jimmy Olsen but all is not well. He is no longer celebrated by the denizens of Metropolis. The only welcome he gets are ‘Aliens go home!’ posters and protesters. (how did the writer know this week is GE in Singapore?) The initial premise reminds me of JMS’ run of Superman from a few years ago, which has Supes ‘walked the earth’ to discover America. (which itself is taken from the famed Denny O’Neil/ Neal Adams’ Green Lantern and Green Arrow series from the 1970s) Superman is rediscovering his neighbourhood and the people he is supposed to protect. But the ‘Truth’ storyline (which intertwines with the main Superman title as well as Batman/ Superman and Superman/ Wonder Woman comics) soon becomes another fistfight. This issue wraps up the battle between Superman and new villain Wrath. Greg Pak does a competent job in turning in an action-packed script which is handled ably by the art team of Aaron Kuder and Howard Porter.

(3 stars)

Quake #1 (50 Years of SHIELD)

Story: Matthew Rosenberg and Patrick Kindlon

Art: Daniel Warren Johnson

Marvel Comics

This is not a SG50 comic despite what you might think.

Anything SHIELD is hot property these days because of the TV show. So a series like this is to be expected. Daisy Johnson first appeared in Secret War #2 (2004) and that issue is red hot. Over time, it has been revealed that Daisy aka Quake is the daughter of a super villain with modified DNA and an Inhuman. (with Disney/Marvel sidelining the X-Men, the Inhumans are hot property now too) This issue, which takes place before Avengers #20 (2010), shows Quake’s first assignment with Captain America and team to take down a HAMMER base. The dialogue by Matthew Rosenberg and Patrick Kindlon is snappy in the vein of Brian Michael Bendis. But why do you need two writers to do the job? The best characterization of Quake is still by Jonathan Hickman in Secret Warriors.

(3 stars)