New Avengers

So, those of you who read my last New Avengers review better be ready for a change of pace, because this book certainly was.

This issue is the first disappointing issue for me. Usually the pacing on this book is great, but pretty much nothing happens in this issue. There is a lot of discussion (that goes no where), a fight that isn't really explained, and a frankly boring origin story for a character I haven't been made to care about quite yet.

I mean, I know Jonathan Hickman can't knock it out of the park every issue of everything he writes. That would be a totally unreasonable expectation. I just feel like I expect more from out of Marvel's rising star.

Oddly enough, this issue is practically the polar opposite of how the last issue was. The pacing is remarkably slow and it doesn't feel like the best the kind of writing that's best for writing a long story in the single-issue format.

If it weren't for the fact that I've seen Hickman juggle large casts before, I'd say maybe they've gotten away from him. It doesn't feel like every character gets a fair shake, but that could be too much to expect with such a large cast.

Not every member of the Illuminati deserves a monologue, I guess. Although, a Shakespearean version of the Avengers could be pretty entertaining. Or am I the only one who thinks that?

The art, however, has been totally fixed. Epting got rid of the silly little needless flourishes that really just detracted from the art last issue, and no one looks like a recovering alcoholic with burst blood vessels in their nose anymore, so that's nice.

Epting's art is technically good, but some of it feels a little hollow to me. Maybe it's just because so much of it focuses on a character that hasn't found a spot in my heart yet, but none of the emotions were driven home for me.

While he can certainly draw with the best of them, Epting didn't make me feel anything this issue. Although, that could be because there is nothing to feel. This whole issue is a little empty.

Now, anyone who has been reading this book, or almost anything Jonathan Hickman was written, knows it'll be better in the trade format. That's what makes books like this difficult to review. This issue might not be the best, but it doesn't detract from the run as a whole.

You also can't criticize something too much when nothing really happens. As Hickman gears up for Marvel's next big event, it seems like he's written the biggest non-event here.

The problem is, every novel has chapters that aren't the most exciting, but they're important. That's exactly what New Avengers #5 is.

This is the chapter that's kind of boring, but you'll be confused if you skip it. You can't make the story without the narrative equivalent of vegetables. So chomp on the Brussells sprouts, dear readers. Hopefully we get some dessert next issue.

http://comicsthegathering.com/review/tylerm/2139/new-avengers-5

Jupiter's Legacy might actually have a legacy of its own

When this book was announced, it was a real mixed bag of emotions for me. I was excited to see Frank Quitely on a book again but at the same time, the book was written by Mark Millar: one of the most hit and miss writers for me.

Would Jupiter’s Legacy be on the level of Superman: Red Son? Or would it be another The Unfunnies? As I opened the book, all I could do was hope that it was at least somewhere in between. I was not disappointed.

Millar is at his best when he’s trying to actually make a point, not when he’s trying to be outright shocking (or in some cases just plain offensive.) Jupiter’s Legacy isn’t exactly subtle about it’s point, but anyone who has read any Millar knows that subtlety isn’t his strong suit.

Surprisingly, it looks like Millar and I actually agree on something: people that are famous purely for being famous really just shouldn’t be. The main characters of Jupiter’s Legacy are exactly this kind of celebrity.

When your parents are the first superheroes in the world, it certainly goes to your head and it apparently makes you pretty unlikable. After one issue, there is a lack of any really likable protagonist. I certainly hope that’s the point or Millar makes one of the kids a protagonist I can get behind real soon.

Quitely’s art is as wonderful as usual. It’s definitely great to see him on interiors for the first time in about two years (unless you count the Playboy article on Grant Morrison, which you shouldn’t) but something is missing from his art this book.

Usually Quitely has a pretty wonderful page layout, but his design on Jupiter’s Legacy is kind of boring. Like Watchmen, each page is set up in a grid. Some panels might take up more than one spot on the grid, but it never breaks the grid.

I’m not sure if it was Millar or Quitely who wanted it that way, but I feel it detracts from the art. With Quitely’s unique style, seeing it constrained that way feels a bit hollow. The line work doesn’t feel any different than his work on WE3 or All-Star Superman, but the layout to me makes it feel a bit flat.

With the exception of one panel where a hero creates a “psychic painting,” where you get to take what is possibly a sneak peek at Quitely’s process, there isn’t anything in this book that gives me the same feelings when I see other art by him.

Don’t get me wrong, the art is still what I’d prefer over a lot of other artists working in the industry, it’s just a
shame that I know the art isn’t living up to its full potential.

I get the feeling that Jupiter’s Legacy is the kind of book where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Each issue might not be the best thing on the shelves when it releases, but I’m sure the collection will find itself on a lot of best-of lists at the end of the year. Unless this book takes a turn for the Unfunnies side of Millar.

http://comicsthegathering.com/review/tylerm/2138/jupiters-legacy-1

Fallen by the wayside

As much as I love trying to blog regularly, I'm bad at it. I don't always have time to write whatever I want, especially since I started writing comic reviews for a website. I'll at least start linking those reviews here. Hopefully I'll have time to actually write some opinions.