Roger’s Comic Ramblings: Short Reviews

Roger Ash

Roger Ash


by Roger Ash

I’ve been reading a bunch of comics recently and thought I’d share my opinions on them. Here they are, in no particular order.

Ragnarok #1

Ragnarok #1


Ragnarok (IDW) – I always look forward to new projects by Walter Simonson, but this one piqued my interest even more than usual as it features his return to Norse Mythology and the world of Thor. Adding in frequent collaborator John Workman on letters and the wonderful color art of Laura Martin only added to my anticipation. The first issue did not disappoint, though it is very different than I expected. If you’re expecting a redux of Simonson’s work on Thor at Marvel, that’s not what you’ll get in the first issue. For me, that’s a good thing. I loved his work on Thor, but I wanted something new and that’s what I got. In the first issue, we meet the dark elf Brynja and follow her on a quest for the mysterious Myrkr. I won’t say more about the story as part of the fun is finding out exactly what’s going on and there are plenty of mysteries left by the issue’s end. But I’m intrigued by the set up and the art, as always, is gorgeous.

Original Sin #4

Original Sin #4


Original Sin (Marvel) – This is a really good mystery and is keeping me on my toes. Events started out as something special, but in the last few years, they’ve become pretty standard and don’t seem so special anymore. Jason Aaron and Mike Deodato have made an event miniseries that has sparked my interest, and I’m pleasantly surprised by that.


Super Secret Crisis War! (IDW) – Louise Simonson and Derek Charm have created a wonderfully fun crossover of some of Cartoon Network’s classic characters (Samurai Jack, the Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, Dexter, and Ed, Edd, and Eddy) facing off against a team-up of their greatest villains. The story’s fast paced and fun and the characters look and behave like their animated counterparts. The villains are especially fun (Aku cracks me up) and I keep waiting for Mojo Jojo and Mandark to stage a mutiny. If you aren’t reading this, you’re missing one of the most fun comics of the summer. And the Johnny Bravo tie-in issue was lots of fun, too.

Guardians of the Galaxy #17

Guardians of the Galaxy #17


Guardians of the Galaxy (Marvel) – I was (and am) a huge fan of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning’s run on the book, so I was curious how Brian Micheal Bendis would handle it. I thought it started off great, but then it became involved in a bunch of event crossovers and things changed. The book was well-written and the art was nice, but nothing much was happening. It felt to me like it had lost its direction and was just marking time. Happily, that has changed. The crossover with All-New X-Men, The Trial of Jean Grey, was good and the storyline that just ended in #17 was the best since the early issues. The art by Nick Bradshaw and others has been quite nice, too. I also wasn’t sure how the addition of Venom to the book would work, but Bendis has used him in a way that I did not expect. So far, I think he’s a better fit for the team than Iron Man was.

I’m really looking forward to the story that begins in #18. Some backstory about it for those who may not have read Abnett and Lanning’s run. At the end of The Thanos Imperative, Drax was dead and Starlord, Thanos, and Nova Richard Rider were trapped in another dimension called the Cancerverse. Drax, Starlord, and Thanos are back. Where’s Rider? The answer to that will finally be revealed in a storyline beginning in issue #18. I’ve waited for this story since the new series began. The future is definitely looking up for the Guardians.

Grayson #2

Grayson #2


Grayson (DC) – I’m not the target audience for DC’s New 52, and that’s OK. Not everything has to be aimed at me. I do very much enjoy Harley Quinn, though. Recently, Tim Seeley did a signing at our east side location and I decided to pick up the first issue of Grayson and I’m glad I did because it’s really good. It’s basically a superhero/spy mashup starring Dick Grayson and Helena Bertinelli who work for the mysterious Mr. Minos and the organization, Spyral. As with most spy stories, everything is not as it seems and the Midnighter is mixed up in the story as well. Tim Seeley, Tom King, and Mikel Janin have crafted an fun opening to the series and I look forward to seeing where it goes.

Savage Hulk #2

Savage Hulk #2


Savage Hulk (Marvel) – Nothing fancy here, just a good, solid story starring the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Abomination by Alan Davis. The story takes place in Marvel history, so the X-Men involved are the original team. In the story, Professor X want to help cure Banner of the Hulk, but the Hulk is being targeted by the military, and the Abomination gets caught in the middle. When they all collide, things don’t exactly go as planned. This is the type of story that hooked me on superhero comics; there’s lots of action, beautiful art, fun dialog and character interaction, and some quiet moments that help develop the characters. This comic makes me feel like a kid again, and that’s a good thing. This is an anthology series so a new creative team takes over when this story concludes in issue #4, but it’s really good and I highly recommend searching it out. Next up are Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman who’ve done some fantastic work in the past, so I’m looking forward to what the bring to the Hulk.

That’s what I’ve been reading. How about you? What comics are you enjoying?

Now, go read a comic!

 

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