Another week, another batch of comics.
Let’s press on, but be aware that spoilers may lie ahead!
Crossing Midnight #3
Writer Mike Carey’s understated thriller gains more momentum as the twins pay a terrible price for the Faustian bargain their parents struck years before.
Carey - aided by Jim Fern’s clean, but never simplistic, art - does an exceptional job depicting the uneasy coexistence of the mystic and the commonplace in modern society, as the protagonists encounter impossibly powerful beings able to alter one’s life with the sweep of a hand.
For most of the issue, Carey and Fern convey a growing sense of terror without relying on outright gore - a strategy that gives the final scenes’ violence even more power.
We’ve heard this comic has yet to find its audience. Hopefully, Vertigo will allow Caret and Co. a little time to fully develop this series. As it stands, Crossing Midnight is one of the more unique comic books offered by a major publisher. Grade: A-
DMZ # 15
Speaking of unique, DMZ is one of those comics that defines description. Political thriller? Dystopic science fiction? Media satire? This book encompasses each of those genres and adds a few more to boot.
Matty’s position with the terrorists is blown sky high after he is forced to choose between his assignment and the life of a mysterious woman. You can probably guess the embedded journalist’s decision, but the result is anything but predictable as the source of the terrorist plot is revealed.
Brian Wood has created a world where moral certainty is impossible, yet the book contains no trace of bitterness or cynicism. Instead, it is portrayed with a cold journalistic eye that Matty himself would no doubt admire.
Riccardo Burchielli’s art is striking and Wood’s covers are among the best in the industry. After just a few issues, DMZ has become one of our favorite comic books. Readers looking for an alternative to angst-filled super-heroes should definitely give this title a try. Grade: A
Doctor Strange: The Oath #4
We’ve said it before, but the sentiment bears repeating: The good doctor hasn’t enjoyed a story this good since the heady days of Steve Englehart and Gene Colan.
The most remarkable part of this mini-series, however, is the creators’ ability to draw upon past glories and chart a new path for the Sorcerer Supreme.
Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin’s depiction of Stephen Strange as a paranormal detective (and the character’s rather harsh sense of justice) is reminiscent of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s earliest stories. However, this longtime fan never thought he would see Stephen use a cursed handgun to literally blow a demon away.
The obligatory master villain soliloquy also holds a few surprises, one of which casts the mini-series title in an interesting light. Coupled with a great cliff-hanger, the Keeper can’t wait for next month’s conclusion. Grade: A
X-Factor #15
Jamie Madrox’s defeat of HYDRA is humorous and disturbing - a neat trick that Peter David accomplishes without producing hamsters out of a dead super-hero’s posterior.
Meanwhile, Siryn and Monet visit a Paris, France that isn’t quite as benign as the City of Lights recently seen in Fantastic Four. While Siryn tries to deal with mutant persecution in a diplomatic fashion, Monet’s reaction is sure to cause even more trouble for X-Factor.
As in the Madrox sequence, David inserts an undercurrent of humor in the Paris storyline. However, in both instances the Keeper is left with a feeling of dread as both plots are about to take a turn for the worse.
The shift in mood is subtle, yet unmistakable - a testament to David’s ability as a writer. Pablo Raimondi’s art is just icing on the cake. All in all, another great issue. Grade: A
Honorable Mentions
Avengers Next #5 (M2’s mightiest heroes get their act together and stomp Loki’s daughter. ‘Nuff said.); Checkmate #10 (Kobra, Shadowpact and spies - what’s not to like?); Connor Hawke: Dragon’s Blood #3 (OK, OK, we get it! The guy likes girls!!); The Damned #4 (A great plot twist adds further intrique to this unique combination of Miller’s Crossing and Hellboy. ); Dave Stewart’s Walk In #2 (Not quite sure what’s going on here, but Jeff Parker’s presence at least ensures it’s fun!) John Woo’s 7 Brothers (Dismemberment-Fu!); Supergirl And The Legion Of Super-Heroes #26 (Giant Dominator robots are go!).
Pick Of The Week
Criminal #4
Of course, things get worse for our heroes…er, protagonists. This is a noir book, after all.
Criminal, however, transcends the genre’s cliches through its humanity. You actually care about the characters enough to fear for their lives - even though it’s apparent that this particular plot will probably end in tragedy.
Ed Brubaker has been on a tear the past year, but this book represents his best work yet. Unlike many comics out there, Criminal is no quick and easy read. What this issue lacks in all-out action is more than compensated by the characters’ emotional highs and lows as they try - and fail - to avoid a blood bath.
Sean Phillips expertly illustrates the story, bringing out every nuance of Brubaker’s writing. There’s a lot more to this guy than Marvel Zombies.
Highly recommended, especially for Batman and Daredevil fans who are seeking something a little different. Grade: A+
Dud Of The Week
Punisher War Journal #3
For the past two months, Matt Fraction and Ariel Olivetti have done a great job integrating Frank Castle into the mainstream Marvel universe. With wicked wit and sharp storytelling, the two have even made Castle’s involvement in Civil War palatable.
Unfortunately, Fraction and Olivetti push their luck a little two far this issue. The Captain America/Punisher confrontation just isn’t interesting enough to warrant this much attention. Neither the dialogue nor the action adds much to what we’ve already seen last issue, leading the Keeper to believe that this particular storyline was dragged out solely to grab as much cash from the Civil War juggernaut as possible.
Capitalism is lovely, eh?
The action picks up when the Punisher takes out the Rhino (this guy loses even more fights than the Taskmaster … ) with some cool Marvel tech. By then, however, it’s too little too late. Hopefully the book will be back on track next month, when the creative team will presumably be free to pursue their own storylines. Grade: C
