Cut To The Chase Reviews!

No mucking about with purple prose and over-analysis.  A couple of lines on a handful of titles beginning with:


Osborn # 2 - Marvel Comics.  It might be unfair to call Kelly Sue DeConnick a star in the making, because I think she's already there.  Tightly plotted and speckled with memorable character moments, Osborn is strikingly good stuff, and DeConnick should be on your map....now.  $4 is a problem, though.



 Next Men # 1 - IDW.  John Byrne is back, and if you're a die-hard Byrne Victim, you're getting exactly what you love.  There's an intriguing story in there somewhere, but when your foundation is built upon a never-ending series of "Bobby Ewing comes out of the shower" reveals, where is the reader supposed to find footing?  Irritatingly entertaining, and extra irritating at $4.








Nemesis # 4 - Icon/Marvel.  Is it completely out of control?  Yes.  Did last issue threaten to not only jump the shark, but leave said shark a few star systems behind?  Yes.  Did the unstoppable Scottish beast find a way to make the series pay off any way?  Fuck yeah, he did.  Note to self: Mark Millar = mad genius.

 Red Robin # 18 - DC.  This is some of the best superhero comics on the racks today, I kid you not.  When Fabian Nicieza can avoid proselytizing his politics, (BOO! to the preachy and LAME old Nomad ongoing and JLA/The 99) he puts out exceptional character-driven stories.

 THUNDER Agents # 2 - DC.  The first issue had me iffy at the staple, sold at the end.  The second issue of Thunder Agents is second only to Brave & The Bold # 32 as my favorite comic of 2010.  The research, the lengths that this organization will go to in order to achieve objectives, and the art on those running scenes...sublime.

 Deadpool MAX # 3 - Marvel.  If you're avoiding this because it's a "Deadpool" book....stop it, and get over yourself.  This comic is adult, dark, funny, and challenging.  David Lapham will challenge you, and the book is challenging what mainstream comics do, which is supposed to be the point of Max, no?  $4 is a problem, though.






- Ryan

Chronic Review: Red Robin # 16!

Red Robin # 16
DC Comics
Script: Fabian Nicieza
Pencils: Marcus To
22 pages for $2.99

To me, this is how superhero comics should be done. Where to start?

Red Robin is Tim Wayne, formerly the artist known as Tim Drake, also formerly known as just plain Robin before Damien took that over. In DC Universe terms, he's a sidekick, a B-lister at best.

In pure storytelling terms, he's a bright emerging adult with a really unique history and a rich Gothamy backdrop to draw upon. Where most people screw this up is they continue to define the "B-list" character through an "A list" lens, thereby constantly reminding the audience that they are reading something less. The most common error is the "wounded ego striving to separate/evolve from the shadow of The Elite", which in this case would be Batman.

People, even professional people, forget that the magic is really as simple as this - have the character say and do his/her own interesting shit. That's it.

Fabian Nicieza has loaded this Red Robin book with great big truckloads of interesting shit. You cannot possibly read this and think you got cheated because Batman wasn't in it. The driving hook is that there is a new Anarky in town, and he is a giant, murderous dick. He's got it in for Robin, and he intends to erase any and all likely candidates until he finally scores the real deal. That's worth reading about right there.

But aside from the A plot, there is Tim's developing relationship with the previous Anarky, now helping him electronically while in a coma. I'm a huge Lonnie Machin fan, so that's a nice bonus. That's a complex relationship, and it might get even more complex, because there's a possibility that Lonnie's condition might be reversed. What then? Fun, that's what!

There's a scene dealing with Tim's relationship with the press and his expanding role with the Wayne corporate machine. He's got his own causes, his own goals. He's got a little "non date" that's actually a date with Tamara, a big fight with Anarky, and a prison visit with the man who killed his father.

This was packed into one issue, folks. An issue populated with two splash pages and a double splash page. In 2010, that's revolutionary.

By the way, I picked this up at part 4 of the arc. Everything was spelled out perfectly and organically so I could immediately start swimming. Granted, I had a little advantage because I've read most everything that Lonnie appeared in, so I knew some of the relevant history going in. But I'm not up on current Bat events, and that was all addressed in such a manner that I could jump in fairly seamlessly, and the exposition didn't shove a literary screwdriver underneath a fingernail as many comics are wont to do.

Fabian Nicieza is one of those guys who doesn't get as much credit or as much work as he should. Honestly, Red Robin should be taught at Comics U for how superhero comics ought be done. Set the scenes in a way that pulls new readers in without insulting your regular audience. Have the character do interesting shit. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Too many blockbuster comics are overpriced, overdull, and decompression leaves you feeling like the portions were miniscule. Nicieza and Red Robin may not be marquee names, but don't let the label fool you - this is 24 ounces of prime rib action superhero comics at a great price.

- Ryan