Not much in the way of purchases this week, so I thought I’d do a quick run-down:
Adam Strange #1: This book was great fun. I’ve never been crazy about Adam Strange for his own sake, but I’ve always found him to be a welcome guest in other titles. Writer Andy Diggle takes various aspects of the character in some interesting new directions, and the results are alternately funny, moving, and intriguing. Pascal Ferry’s art is gorgeous, too, from grungy city streets to the planet Rann. It’s a really promising beginning for this mini-series.
Daredevil #65: This anniversary issue looks at a fair stretch of recent issues through the eyes of other characters in the Marvel Universe — Spider-Man, the Punisher, Nick Fury, etc. — with varying degrees of success. It’s an awfully nice idea, though, and it gives some interesting dimension to what’s been going on in the title. Some of the art works for me (Phil Hester in particular), some of it doesn’t (the Greg Horn sequence). But did Matt actually say “This I will do” at one point? Um… you go right ahead, Yoda.
Losers #16: Y’know, I’m starting to see why the Losers are in their current circumstances. For a black-ops unit, they’re kind of dewey-eyed. That’s not an inherently bad thing, since they’re the protagonists and there are plenty of titles out there about totally ruthless bastards. Anyway, if you haven’t been reading this book, this is a perfectly good jumping-on point. It’s a flashback to the events that helped put the Losers on the run and looking to clear themselves. The regular artist is back, too. More nice work from Diggle.
Outsiders #16: The last issue didn’t work for me at all, what with the cheap yuks all around, but Winnick actually gets down to business here. He directly addresses a lot of the questions raised by his central premise, shows his characters responding logically to those questions, and even throws in a very welcome addition to the cast. I still wonder about Winnick’s characterization of Nightwing, but now at least I’m convinced he might be going somewhere interesting with it. Not bad at all, really, even with the testoster-off thrown in. And the humor was more character-based. I’m still not on board with the sight gags from Shift, and I’m pretty sure Plastic Man wants his shtick back. (The kids sure love those Dennis Franz jokes! Har!)
Wonder Woman #208: It’s a solid issue, and a great relief to see Veronica “I can’t believe they picked Wonder Woman to be class treasurer instead of me!” Cale take a back seat to some actually menacing, well-motivated adversaries. The political complications were interesting, and there was a nice balance between character moments and action. (Quibble: Veronica doesn’t want the President turned to stone because she’s a patriot, but she’s okay with soldiers and secret service agents being slaughtered? And the Silver Swan stuff makes me wonder how she hoped to prove Diana is a fraud by torturing and brainwashing an emotionally disturbed young woman. Veronica, seriously, you suck at this. You wish you were WW’s Luthor.)
And, from the “David’s Secret Shame” category, I must admit that, no, I haven’t been reading New Frontier. And, yes, as with Superman: Secret Identity, I now realize the errors of my ways, and, yes, I will buy the trade. (Not the half-trade. I’ll wait for the whole trade. If there is one.) Secret Shame Item 2: Why do I periodically buy issues of Wizard expecting a different outcome? It’s nothing but heartache.