Thief of Thieves #1

- Robert Kirkman, Nick Spencer & Shawn Martinbrough

The solicits’ for this book had already conveyed the key themes – a master thief leads a double life from which he wants out – and what’s presented in this issue is fairly insubstantial. It’s a brief glimpse at the ‘hero’, his apprentice, his crew and their big score, with a few obligatory plot twists.  In fact, there’s little here that wasn’t covered by the reboot of Ocean’s 11 (and subsequent sequels), which is awkward given Kirkman’s statement in the back of the book. He does, however, make excellent use of the talents of Martinbrough and Serrano, whose work I’ll now chase.

Rating ** (bust)

The Secret Service #1

- Mark Millar & Dave Gibbons

Millar, whose work on The Authority, The Ultimates and creator-owned projects such as Wanted and Chosen was godly. However in my hiatus from comics he appears to have ‘jumped the shark’. This is derivative, trite and conceited (despite Millar’s protestations that these are “the best characters I’ve ever written”). The plot is a poor imitation of Futurama episode ‘Where No Fan Has Gone Before’ and Grant Morrisons’ The Invisibles (fortunately there are those of us who remember Dane, his origin and exploits). Such comparisons may confuse as this comic is numbingly tedious. The only positive is Dave Gibbons' glorious art.

Rating * (bust)

The Amazing Spider-Man

- Marc Webb

None of the expected heart, given Webb’s directorial debut, (500) Days of Summer, save for scenes involving Charlie Sheen, and to a lesser extent, Sally Field.  With poor CGI - if anything a step backwards from 10 years past - and a tone not dissimilar from the Twilight franchise (this was a studio’s vision, rather than a creative one), The Amazing Spider-Man feels needless and second-hand, given the re-treading of old ground, covered better by Raimi. A significant departure was required, similar to Nolan’s Batman from Burton’s. Neither Garfield nor Rhys Ifans seemed a good fit for their respective roles.

Rating **

The Dark Knight Rises

- Christopher Nolan

To paraphrase Bane, it is hope that hurts us most. However, despite high expectations and its length, I thoroughly enjoyed the third instalment of Nolan’s Batman trilogy, whilst acknowledging that it doesn’t exceed the high watermark of The Dark Knight. The anti-capitalist sentiment was of particular note, given that it was dichotomic – comment, mainly by Selina Kyle, is permitted but action will only result in anarchy. Somewhat more problematic, however, was the multiple false endings. Credit to all involved, except Caine, whose dramatics should have curtailed. Perhaps Joseph Gordon-Levitt said it best - “I’m still a believer in the Batman”.

Rating ***

The Massive #1

- Brian Wood & Kristian Donaldson

The premise of The Massive, the end of the world brought about through natural disasters as a result of environmental change, and Wood’s back catalogue, Channel Zero and DMZ had drawn my eye long before its release. The strength was the recounting of the collapse and how this hostile new world was formed. Here Wood has created a possible, and not so distant, dystopian future. However, the events aboard The Kapital, for example the faux-philosophical debate about the use of force, were underwhelming. Ill-defined characters didn’t help the cause. Perhaps this will change with the introduction of the titular vessel.

Rating *** (twist)

Mind MGMT #2

- Matt Kindt

This series, so far, is a completely novel reading experience - it's as if Miss Marple was being written by Philip K Dick (whose A Scanner Darkly is near perfect) - with layers of mystery only adding to the disorientation suffered by the main characters, as well as the reader. Although at some point in the near future some of the questions will have to be answered. Kindt's art is well suited to this, the combination of pen and watercolour is stunning.  And once again, the History of Mind MGMT story contained on the inside back page cover is phenomenal.

Rating **** (stick)

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1

- Len Wein & Jae Lee

What I expected from Before Watchmen has so far met, in the case of Nite Owl, and exceeded, in the case of Minutemen, my expectations. Wein's in-depth character study of Veidt is hackneyed; protagonist is motivated initially by injustices suffered during childhood and subsequently, in adulthood, the death of a loved one (who is distinctly unlikeable), to don a cape. All of which is disappointing - Ozymandias is the least developed originally and therefore the least constrained. The strength here is Lee's artwork; entirely in keeping with the theme of a mortal who thinks he's a god. I'm in (just).

Rating *** (twist) 

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1

- J. Michael Straczynski & The Kuberts

Tis somewhat unfortunate, and disappointing, that the most interesting and deserving aspects of the Nite Owl character are overlooked – for example, Dreiberg’s discovery of Mason’s secret life and his subsequent relationship with Rorschach – in favour of the first meeting of the Crimebusters; a scene lifted rather than retold from the original Watchmen. Although many a panel could be transposed into any modern Batman issue, the Kuberts’ work is first class. Sadly the story isn’t even worthy of note. Until I’ve located a copy of Silk Spectre #1 I can’t say this is the weakest – for now, I can only hope.

Rating ** (bust)

Mind MGMT #1

- Matt Kindt

In which a writer investigates a mysterious event involving a passenger plane and collective amnesia (except for a young child and a missing traveller) and uncovers a spy organisation training people with ‘mind powers’. I think. Designed, by Kindt’s own admission as a monthly, Mind MGMT is a uniquely enjoyable, if unfathomable, reading experience. It’s incredibly dense with an inside back cover mini-story providing back history, hidden messages and fake ads. And the two page back-up story, The Futurist, is astonishing. Kindt reveals his process here and free Mind MGMT Secret Files here. Return to the comic shop and buy.

Rating **** (stick)  

Fatale #1

- Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips

Brubaker in recent times has done no wrong – his run on Captain America and subsequently Daredevil were personal highlights and his projects with Phillips are noteworthy. However, Brubaker revealed that Fatale was “a new kind of book for him” and although readers of Sleeper et al will feel instantly at home, there’s a twist in the tale. And this is where the books falls down; he relies on the reader making assumptions, as there is scant plot and no ‘hook’ to end upon. And therefore (for me) there is no reason to return. Phillips, however, knocks it out the park.

Rating ** (bust)

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #2

- Darwyn Cooke

Cooke’s imitation of Moore continues, as he adds details only suggested in the original graphic novel - details which are entirely in-keeping, which don’t compromise the mythology. Mason’s tale is a sad one and Cooke manages to convey it, as well as the nostalgia, expertly, as well as the fragile dynamics within the Minutemen. Phil Noto’s colour palette reminded me of the excellent Human Target: Final Cut and the truly amazing Oscar nominated Chico & Rita. Had it not been for Cooke, I’d have happily passed on this whole series – c’est la vie – as it stands, I’ve bought the lot.

Rating **** (stick)

The Manhattan Projects #1

- Jonathan Hickman & Nick Pitarra

Here Hickman has fictionalised and re-imagined The Manhattan Project with added pseudo-science and created the strongest first issue since Y: The Last Man. Such was its strength I ran out and picked up The Red Wing at the first available opportunity. Pitarra’s work, which has a real talent for capturing facial emotion, has a style akin to a relaxed Frank Quitely. A particular highlight is the pairs' imagining of Enrico Fermi, which is amusing, given his paradox, as is the straight-man routine of Feynman, given his well known fondness for the bongos. Incredibly inventive with the potential to be epic.

Rating ****(stick)

The Walking Dead #100

- Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard

In Letter Hacks Kirkman states “The Walking Dead, although I love it, is far from the best comic being published today” and I’m inclined to agree. This issue is par for the course. Kirkman established a pattern in The Walking Dead long ago – characters achieve some form of catharsis, which he then destroys violently, only for it to repeat; it borders on formulaic. Kirkman is fortunate that it is an intriguing one. This issue suffers from unconvincing dialogue, mainly by Negan (is he little more than the Governor resurrected?), whilst Adlard’s strength, the close-up, is played to in visceral glory.

Rating *** (twist)  

100 Bullets: First Shot, Last Call

- Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso

Gritty in substance and as well as style, with incredible covers by Dave Johnson, 100 Bullets is an unrivalled page-turner, with a tone similar to The Wire, which it predates by 3 or so years. Risso’s artwork is evocative of Sin City, whilst Agent Graves is so perfectly imagined and captured, he is a testament to this pairing’s synergy. The entire volume is sublime, including the 8 page ‘police station at Christmas’ scene – never has so much been conveyed by so little. The only disappointment is that I arrived late to this party, but I’m glad that I did. Read.

Rating **** (stick)

Rampage

- Uwe Boll

Disappointingly, Uwe Boll has made another film and it has all the creativity of ‘paint by numbers’. After the career high of Darfur, which is entirely legitimate, Rampage is undoubtedly little more than a tax haven for the wealthy, a side-project for a limited mind financed by a trustfund. Predictable, lacking in insight (I wonder if he or anyone involved had seen Falling Down), Boll has plumbed the depths of dull - the second half of the film is similar to watching someone play a computer game from the 90s. However, if you've not seen Raging Boll; check it http://goo.gl/FcJFS

Rating * (bust)

The Thing (2011)

- Matthijs van Heijningen Jr

An oddity, as The Thing is neither a prequel nor a remake.  ‘The Thing’ itself is an analogy for this films’ shortcomings – it assumes the originals’ form via replication and refuses to reveal its true self. However atmospheric and tense the sequences may be (there are undoubtedly recreations with CGI replacing the delightful animatronics of the 1982 version), the lack of ingenuity impedes genuine praise. Mary Elizabeth Winstead gives a solid impression of Kurt Russell but supporting cast, including Eric Christian Olsen (plus shirt, minus hacky sack), are underdeveloped. However, van Heijningen Jr manages to fulfil The Thing’s limited potential.

Rating ** (twist)

North 40 #1-6

- Aaron Williams & Fiona Staples

Williams attempts to modernise Lovecraft with little to no success in North 40. The wretched deconstructed storytelling often left me bewildered, which was only compounded by a larger cast than Williams could cope with - a zombie princess, hulking hillbilly, vampiric freshmen and old world speak from a Sheriff with a southern lilt to name but a few. The saving grace of this series is Staples’ inventive art - thankfully she has moved onto better things (Saga) – which was rewarded with an Eisner nomination (must have been a close second to J.H. Williams for his outstanding work on ‘Tec Comics).

Rating * (bust)

15 covers of The Walking Dead #100? Happy Hunting

- spotted this over at Bleeding Cool earlier, the back 8 appear to be the regular covers   (left to right, 1st row) by Adlard, Silvestri, Quitely, McFarlane, (2nd row) Phillips, Hitch, Ottley and Adlard (wraparound). I'll speculate the two covers behind chromium are blank. The black and white cover on the left (3rd row) is the retailer variant, to the right the 1:200 sketch variant. Front right appears to be a sketch variant of the Ottley cover, whilst on the left, is the Roberts' variant available to those who got tickets for The Walking Dead Escape event at San Diego.

Hawkeye #1 Advanced Preview

- David Aja has added an advanced and unlettered preview of Hawkeye #1 to his blog and it's all sorts of awesome (as was his work on Daredevil) with art which is reminiscent of David Mazzucchelli's Batman: Year One. Fraction announced recently the series will be "what he does when he's not an Avenger" and will feature both classic and new Marvel villians', along with Clint Barton "weaponising anything around him". Due to hit the shelves in August, with a proven creative team (Fraction & Aja combined on The Immortal Iron Fist), here's hoping for a long and successful run.

Saga #1

Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

Lacking the immediacy of Y and suffering from jarring narration, BKV is a masterful storyteller and this is an incredibly strong first issue. It blends science fiction and fantasy in a way which is often attempted yet seldom mastered. Staples’ artwork is worthy of the high praise it has attracted. I was fortunate to find North 40 in the UK equivalent of the ‘dollar bin’ recently and although the plot is akin to a B-movie horror, each page is a visual delight. BKV described Saga as ‘paracosm’ and it’s one I’d love to step into. Fortunately, with Saga, I can.

Rating **** (stick)