by Aaron Lightfoot, Comic Columnist
Superman #48:
Written by: Gene Luen Yang
Art by: Howard Porter, Ardian Syaf, and HI-FI
In my last review, I criticized the Batman/Superman series for taking a weird twist and practically reset both of the titular superheroes. The next week in the Batman series it explains how Bruce becomes Batman again, so I was looking forward to see how Clark would get his powers back. Suffice it to say that the end result was less than impressive.
Besides the ludicrous “treatment” at the end, this issue suffers from several problems in storytelling and art. The story includes Clark awkwardly talking to Steve Trevor about dating Wonder Woman, diminishing the desire to keep reading with each panel. Having Porter do half of the art and Syaf the other makes it end up looking rushed and unbalanced. It seems like that once again Batman gets the better of Superman by having, by far, the better transitional story.
Rating: 4/10
Old Man Logan #1:
Written by: Jeff Lemire
Art by: Andrea Sorrentino
I wasn’t into comics yet when the revolutionary first run of this story was in print. Even though I have read it since I have become interested in comics, I still wanted to see more. Here it is. I would mention the fact that a short series of this was made during the Secret Wars, but due to the weak display it had, I could not continue it.
With Logan becoming part of the Prime Marvel Universe, it makes this series one to look out for. The art keeps things gritty enough to maintain a darker tone, yet still gives its own distinct feel, rather than being another dark Batman rip-off. This series has a lot of potential and seems that it may be able to erase the fact that a Secret Wars spinoff was ever made.
Rating: 8.5/10
Ghostbusters International #1:
Written by: Erik Burnham
Art by: Dan Schoening
Following the Dark Horse idea bringing attention to Hellboy, IDW is making the Ghostbusters series by creating several short series and connecting them into one story. I reviewed the first of the Ghostbusters: Get Real series and I still remember it being fairly enjoyable to read. This series, although starting off slow, keeps a lot of the things that I enjoyed in Ghostbusters: Get Real and improving on it.
The witty dialogue between the characters pairs well with the cartoon-like approach that is taken by Schoening. The art is able to make each character feel and look unique and really makes the comic feel very light, which is how the Ghostbusters are to be taken anyway. Fans of the Ghostbusters will also appreciate the closer look that they get at Egon, and depending on how the series goes the readers may get an even deeper look into his mind. Even with its slow start, this series displays a lot of positive features and will be a good read for anyone who has seen Ghostbusters.
Rating: 8/10
Faith #1:
Written by: Jody Houser
Art by: Francis Portela and Marguerite Sauvage
Upon seeing the cover, someone I know remarked out loud, “Wow! A Fat Superhero?” Although not particularly sensitive, they have a fair point. Most superheroes have a physique rivaling Greek gods. I believe that rebooting this series about Faith Herbert is definitely tied to such sentiments as self-confidence and being comfortable in one’s own body.
Leaving behind her past life Faith (or “Zephyr”) moves out to Los Angeles and begins to live her life as she sees fit. Although this is a nice turn away from the rinse and repeat of betting up criminals, it makes the comic lack an actual story. Houser’s portrayal of Faith really makes the reader want to have a conversation with her. She is very well rounded and has a very nice down-to-Earth feel. The art pairs well with the writing by making the colors pop where they need to and blend smoothly elsewhere. The weak narrative in the first issue may simply be a byproduct of story set that will hopefully further develop soon.
Rating: 7.5/10