Last Week's Comics Reviewed 09.25.2019

               Hey y’all. Only two comics this week. I considered reviewing Flash Forward, but I didn’t have anything to say. It was fine. It made me a bit angry about how Wally’s mental health issues. But its just a continuation of the bullshit in Heroes in Crisis. And you can see my thoughts here. The rest of the week was fine. Enjoyable, but not above average.

Comics Reviewed: Spider-Man #1, Superman #15

Spider-Man #1

Writers: J.J. Abrams and Henry Abrams

Artist: Sara Pichelli

Colors: Dave Stewart

Inking Assistant: Elisabetta D’Amico

Letters: VC’s Joe Carmagna

Cover: Olivier Coipel

               J.J. Abrams and his son are writing a comic book and I barely care. J.J. has never been a master writer and either Henry is constrained by his father here or he isn’t currently at a level to outshine J.J. And in true J.J. Abrams fashion, the entire premise of Spider-Man is completely different than advertised. This is not a comic about Peter Parker, but his teenage son Ben. Ben just wants his father to show him love. So, he’s going to become Spider-Man 2.

               You see, Peter Parker is a world traveling journalist that barely sees Ben or Aunt May. This stems from the guilt Peter has from not being able to save MJ. He also lost a hand that day. My biggest problem here is that this doesn’t seem like Peter. Sure, maybe the guilt of MJ’s death has affected Peter in such a way that he just gives up. Would he give up on his family? No, I don’t believe so. It does however allow the Abrams(es?) to provide the only exceptional scene in the comic: Peter tries to parent and fails miserably. It has some emotion and excellent dialogue. If only the rest of the issue was that way.

 

Couldn't my guy build a better hand?

               The real reason to buy this comic is Sara Pichelli and the art team. While different from her typical style, Pichelli remains one of the best artists in the business. The large, bold panels in this comic create a cinematic style unlike any I can remember in comics. Typically, when someone describes a comic as cinematic, they refer to something like Bryan Hitch’s work on Ultimates: Widescreen action panels. This comic is more like an indie family drama. It works very well. I can’t wait to see more.

Verdict: Borrow

Superman #15

Writer:  Brian Michael Bendis

Artists: Ivan Reis, Brandon Peterson (pg. 17), and Evan “Doc” Shaner (pg. 18)

Colors: Alex Sinclair

Inks: Joe Prado and Oclair Albert, Brandon Peterson (pg. 17), and Evan “Doc” Shaner (pg. 18)

Letters: Dave Sharpe

Cover: Reis, Prado, and Sinclair

               So, the Unity Saga is over. The last 14 issues of story are quickly brushed aside in this issue: Rogol Zar is captured, Jor-El is killed by the new United Planets, the United Planets is founded, the Legion of Super-Heroes offers Jon a job, Zod and his family start New Krypton. That’s a lot for one issue and nothing is allowed to breathe here. Is this a bad comic? No, but it’s not amazing either.

 

Did he?! Did we know this?

               Let’s ignore the Legion, they don’t do anything of note. The United Planets is formed without any debate. No negotiations. They just all vote yes. Cool, whatever. Zod convinces the UP to give him resources to start New Krypton. Why would they do this? Also, why would Zod do this? Wasn’t that his status quo at the beginning of this story? And Jor-El. Sent back in time to Krypton’s destruction to die. Seems like a worthy punishment. But where is the trial? Superman doesn’t even shed a tear when he discovers his father has been executed! This issue is just rushed.

               At least the art looks good. Ivan Reis, Brandon Peterson, and Doc Shaner are all excellent. The only reason this issue flows at all is because they keep it all flowing. I don’t know who is drawing the next story, but it will be tough to follow this group.

Verdict: Borrow