This Week’s Comics – 8/10/11
Spider Island begins! In addition to the big Spidey crossover kicking off (as he doesn’t really fit in with Fear Itself) the other big, and disappointing, Marvel event this summer continues and the final issue of Detective Comics hits stores.
Marvel
Amazing Spider-Man #667
Written by: Dan Slott
Art by: Humberto Ramos
The Good
Dan Slott has been building the Spidey-verse up to Spider Island for the last few months and this week it officially kicks off. Was it worth the build up? Judging by Amazing Spidey #667, it was. Slott’s writing makes every page interesting, and you’re glued to the developing story throughout the entire book. Ramos is on the art, and his unique style again works well for Spidey.
The first part of Spider Island sets up an interesting predicament for the Web Slinger, and with so many fake Spider-Man causing chaos in Manhattan, and Spidey being mistaken for one even by his allies; one wonders if we won’t be seeing a new Spidey costume if only for the duration of Spider Island.
The Bad
Really no complaints here this week. It’s a great Spidey book and a good start to his big event this year.
The Ugly
Sometimes Ramos’ art works, and sometimes it really doesn’t…
Fear Itself #5
Written by: Matt Fraction
Art by: Stuart Immonen
The Good
I’d be lying if I said that this issue of Fear Itself wasn’t one of the stronger ones, if only because you get a fight between Thor, Hulk, and The Thing that literally knocks one of them into orbit. While that’s going on, Tony Stark is begging Odin for weapons to fight off Sin, and Cap is just holding things together.
Immonen’s art continues to be a strong point for the series, so if you want a nice looking Marvel book to read; Fear Itself continues to be one.
The Bad
Where do I begin? It’s now obvious that Fear Itself was meant to be a double-movie tie-in for both Thor and Captain America. Earlier in the series, Thor was banished from Asgard (again) and Bucky was killed to pave the way for Steve Rogers to become Cap. Now he is Captain America and he’s even wearing a helmet. I’m not kidding you. Captain America, in the comics, is wearing a helmet so he can look like the version in theaters right now.
Joe Quesada is a pox on the comic industry and bull crap like this is what will kill Marvel as it becomes more homogenized and compliant to matching whatever movie is currently in theaters that summer.
And for an example of how this whole story won’t mean anything in the end, there’s a big hint given in this issue that they may be hitting the magical Franklin Richards reset button.
The Ugly
Captain America’s helmet. It’s not cool, and everyone knows why they did it. C’mon Marvel. What happened to your balls?
DC
Detective Comics #881
Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Jock & Francesco Francavilla
The Good
Scott Snyder’s amazing run on Detective Comics comes to a close before he moves on to Batman next month, and the Gordon family saga comes to a satisfying conclusion. Through James Gordon’s long monologue a lot is revealed, and the book really does highlight how Dick is a different type of Batman from Bruce. I won’t spoil anything for you, but it’s a must read and a collector’s item as this is the final issue of Detective Comics.
The Bad
Once again I’m not the biggest fan of Jock’s art, but aside from that the only bad thing about this issue is that it ends one of the longest running comic book series in history.
The Ugly
It’s a toss-up between the second page and what Barbara does towards the end.