Albert Avilla Reviews: Captain America and the Black Widow #637

Captain America and the Black Widow #637
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist/Cover: Francesco Francavilla

Captain America and the Black Widow are two great characters with great histories. Let’s hope that this story won’t become a memorable part of those histories.

Vennema Multiversal is a criminal corporation made up of the same person from different universes, Kashmir Vennema. Who’s the leader of the corporation? How can the same person tell herself what she needs to do? I know a corporation of me would have a few problems. I would expect me to give me a well-paid cushy job. I couldn’t go to me and tell me that I was going to be the janitor. I would have to tell me that I was wasting my talent in such a low-level job. Once boss wouldn’t be around I would take my place and go around giving orders and enjoying all of my executive perks, because I would know that I was just as intelligent and capable as me. All of the other me’s would be doing the same thing. Eventually, I would say f…. me, and all of me would end up reading comics all day long. I think a corporation needs more than one skill-set and type of personality.

Cap and Widow discover that Vennema is selling heroes from across the multiverse as slaves. Once this is discovered, Vennema abandons the mission. Cap, Widow, and the slaves are transported to some random universe. They land on Garbage World; that’s the best description that I have for the place. Cap leaves to recon the area and finds that Garbage world is controlled by Hydra Tripods, yes tripods.

The art in the advertisements was fantastic. Look at the cover; the interior doesn’t get better.

I rate Captain America and the Black Widow # 637 Don’t Waste Your Time and Cash.

Albert Avilla Reviews: Wolverine and the X-Men #17

Wolverine and the X-Men #17
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Michael Allred
Colors: Laura Allred
Cover: Michael and Laura Allred

Just the other day I was thinking, “Hey, the X-Books have not done a good humor issue in a while.” I like Wolverine, and I like the X-Men. Logic dictates that I should like Wolverine and the X-Men. I start reading: Deathlok is giving Wolverine an evaluation of the school. Tongue in cheek stuff is going on. I turn the page, and I have my first encounter with Doop. That page alone lets me know that I may have stumbled across a goldmine. Let the hilarity begin.

There was not a page that didn't make me laugh; some pages, every panel. Who can defeat the devil and a nun and every other menace in between in one issue? My boy Doop can. Doop is a pimp. I don't have enough words and time to describe every comic scene. Trust me, it is some good material. I'm not going to separate the art from the story, because everything works together in this riotous romp.

I rate Wolverine and the X-Men #17 Buy Your Own Copy.

Albert Avilla Reviews: Hit-Girl Issue 3

Hit-Girl Issue 3
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Mark Millar Writer
Breakdowns: John Romita Jr.
Finishes/Ink Washes: Tom Palmer

You would expect the second miniseries to drop off like a second album or the second year of an NFL quarterback, but hell no. Hit Girl is bringing it. This series has the same style and tone of the first series. Merciless, vicious street violence remains the calling card of the series. The blood and gore are not spared; the timid need not read. The realism of the book is uncanny. I'll throw this oxymoron at you; it’s the best example of realistic heroic fantasy that I've read in years.

The Red Mist scene illustrates how Millar reminds us how unfeasible superheroes and supervillians are in the real world. No matter the outcome, Red Mist continues to embrace evil. That kind of evil requires determination. Mindy is blossoming socially; giving a new definition to hanging with your friend. The mob is leaning on Mindy's parents.

A furious finale is in the making; it’s going to hit the fan when the mob kills her mom or step-dad. The ruthless criminals are back; predators waiting for prey to slaughter. Millar continues to leave us with endings that make the months between issues that much longer. Waiting for the next issue is unbearable. Hit Girl falls down a chimney into the criminals' lair. We are left with Hit Girl lying on the floor at the mercy of the drug dealers. It’s on to the next issue.

If anything, I would say that the art is better than in Kick-Ass. It looks cleaner; the lines are smoother. The coloring is visually astounding. The facial expressions reflect what’s going on emotionally with the characters. Time was taken to make the art facilitate the story.

I rate Hit Girl Issue 3 Recommend It to a Friend.

One Piece: 100,000 vs. 10

I read One Piece, Vol. 64

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

Albert Avilla Reviews: Justice League #0

Justice League #0
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Gary Frank

The Shazam back-up story has been introducing us to the character of Billy Batson. We know that he is no goody two-shoes. He is a tough street kid who has a good heart, but the world he lives in has made him compromise his true nature to survive. Finally, the moment we have been anticipating: Billy meets the wizard. Through the conversation Billy has with the wizard, we learn Billy's philosophy on life. The duality of human nature is exposed in Billy. The wizard is at the end of his time and out of options, and he sees enough good in Billy to grant him the power of Shazam.

Of course, Billy gets the warnings and life advice, which he ignores. We get to see a kid on a joyride in a super human body. With great power comes great irresponsibility. When the moment that a hero is needed arrives, Billy naturally rises to the occasion. The story alludes to the magical nature of Shazam; this should not be glossed over because it signals that what we have is not a Superman clone. Magic should be the cornerstone of the character, giving him a uniqueness all his own – the powerhouse wizard. Give Shazam his own book. Johns is taking the character in an electric direction.

The art was good comic book art; it was not the strong point of the book. The cover and the Shazam splash page were great; the electricity and the Jack Kirby-like energy flowing from the lightning bolt on Shazam's chest gave Shazam a magical appearance. I liked the hoodie, too.

I rate Justice League #0 Buy Your Own Copy.

Albert Avilla Reviews: Justice League #12

Justice League #12
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Jim Lee, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, David Finch
Inks: Scott Williams, Sandra Hope, Jonathan Glapion, Mark Irwin, Matthew Banning, Rob Hunter, Joe Weems, Alex Garner, Trevor Scott

The Graves storyline comes to a conclusion. We learn that the spirits of the League's loved ones are really spiritual parasites called Pretas, and with their help, Graves starts to take the League down. Steve Trevor frees himself despite being on the edge of death to help the most powerful heroes on Earth. Once Trevor shows up the League realizes that they are not fighting the spirits of their loved ones. The League uses teamwork to defeat Graves; they are becoming the team that we expected.

This is a very eventful story. Green Lantern decides to quit the team as a sacrifice to protect the team's image. It is a sign of the times when you risk your life to save the world, and you have to consider how you are perceived by others while doing it. Green Lantern plays it off like it’s not a major concern, but we know how important the League is to him.

The major bombshell dropped on us is The Kiss. I glad the cover wasn't just sales hype. Superman kisses Wonder Woman in a moment of shared loneliness and understanding of how much they have in common. There will be debate about who kissed whom, but that is not the purpose of this review. Is it a moment of weakness or the beginning of the affair that will rock comicdom? I hope it is not a hook up; I couldn't live with the drama of Wonder Woman being Superman's baby mama. They are both young people, and everyone should have that passionate relationship that burns hot and quickly. It would be shocking if this actually leads to something meaningful. There is definitely story potential here. The New 52, what are you going to do? Blow the roof off the mother or shoot blanks?

All that needs to be said about the art is Jim Lee.

I rate Justice League #12 Buy Your Own Copy.

Albert Avilla Reviews: Green Lantern #0

Green Lantern #0
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Doug Mahnke
Inks: Christian Alamy, Keith Champagne, Mark Irwin
Cover: Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy, and Alex Sinclair

Simon Baz, the new Green Lantern, is the boldest move of The New 52. This is a cosmic shift in the comic paradigm. Let's create a hero from the most despised ethnic group in American Society. I can feel the shock waves reverberating through the comic book universe as I write. The haters are gorging themselves on haterade in preparation for their unfounded attacks on Johns for this visionary move. I don't know if this is the first Arabic superhero, but I do know it is the first to be the lead in a major title from an industry leader.

Ultimately, comic's highest aspiration is to inspire readers to live as heroes. Let's live the American creed. My question is why a car thief? I don't know what the ring's protocols are for choosing Lanterns, but why a criminal? The ring had an error in its functioning. All elements that could lead to interesting storylines in the future did, and that is what this story is about; foreshadowing things to come. I would have preferred to have the complete origin told here, but I'm sure this is going to tie into the events of the “Rise of the Third Army” crossover. The story itself does not live up to the social significance of the event. It was slow moving with action that reminded me of the average car chase in any police drama. It’s about what I’d expect from a story that is basically the prelude to a story.

The art was solid comic art. The first page told volumes in five panels; it invokes an emotional response in the reader. The rest was just good art.

On social significance alone I rate Green Lantern #0 Recommend It to a Friend.