Esco

This user has not updated recently.

41 238 7 0
Forum Posts Wiki Points Following Followers

IGN's Comic Book Reviews for 01/04 Summary

By Esco 0 Comments

52 Week Thirty-Five: 2 Must Reads and 1 Pass It

All-Star Superman #6: 2 Must Haves

The Boys #6 (Last Week): Must Read

Midnighter #3: Pass It

Scalped #1: 1 Must Have and 1 Must Read

Superman #658 : Check it

Superman Confidential #3: Check it

Amazing Spider-Man #537 : 2 Check Its

Bullet Points #3 : Check It

Civil War #6 : 3 Check Its and 1 Pass It

Civil War: Front Line #10 : 2 Check Its and 1 Pass It

Incredible Hulk #102: 2 Pass Its

Newuniversal #2: Must Read

Powers #22: Must Read

Punisher War Journal #2: Check It

Ultimate Vision #2: Check It

Uncanny X-Men #482: 1 Burn It and 1 Check It

X-23: Target X #2: 2 Must Reads

Fear Agent #10: Must Read

Battlestar Galactica: Zarek #1: Check It

G.I. Joe v. Transformers Vol. 4 #1: Burn It

Start the Conversation

<a href="http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/Esco/&amp;blogId=665"></a><a href="http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/Esco/&amp;bl

By Esco 0 Comments

Best Cover:

============

52 #1 by J.G. Jones

No image perfectly captures the impact of Infinite Crisis on the DC Universe like the first cover of 52. The capes, cowls and weaponry immediately convey to any reader that the DCU is changing both in content and spirit. As the DC tagline goes, it's a world without Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman - but not a world without heroes. Though 52 may vary in terms of story quality, none can deny that many smaller heroes have had a chance to shine. As was the case last year, this cover blew us away back in May. Many covers came close, but nothing could really stand up to the emotional and aesthetic qualities that this one has.

Best New Book:

===============

Nextwave

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer: Warren Ellis

Artist: Stuart Immonen

If there was one word to describe Nextwave, it would be "insane". We can't think of a comic book series that defies more stereotypes and mocks the very institution around it; best of all it does this using legit characters from the Marvel Universe. Parody and satire runs rampant. Writer Warren Ellis has described this 12-issue series as the "purest" form of the superhero genre (all action, no brains). In the past year we've seen battles with Fin Fang Foom, Forbush Man, Broccoli Men and Ultra Samurai. As if any further proof of the mayhem was needed, the cover featured here is the actual cover for the eleventh issue. Mocking Marvel's Civil War is proof that Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen have achieved something very rare in this industry - a comedic comic book that exists within continuity while blatantly ridiculing everything around it.

Best Single Issue:

===================

Daredevil #86

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer: Ed Brubaker

Artist: Michael Lark

In case you haven't heard, Daredevil is superb. For the past seven years creative teams have continually raised the bar on what is arguably Marvel Comics' greatest ongoing series. After having his identity revealed to the public (and subsequently trying to cover it up) and becoming the Kingpin of Hell's Kitchen, many fans wondered what could be next for Matt Murdock. At the end of his run, Brian Bendis gave us that answer: Daredevil was going to jail. Ed Brubaker was given the job of carrying out that sentence. Daredevil #86 is the culmination of Murdock's incarceration. Locked up with Bullseye, Hammerhead, the Owl, and the Kingpin (to name a few), Matt must use his wits to stay alive and perhaps escape - if he survives. The pacing of this issue is fantastic and we've never seen the phrase "all hell breaks loose" apply better. This is the superhero genre at its finest.

Best Miniseries

=================

Infinite Crisis

Publisher: DC Comics

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Phil Jimenez (lead)

Could there really be any other choice? Love it or hate it, the epic Infinite Crisis swept across the DCU and altered its course significantly. We now have better Superman and Batman books than we have had in quite some time. 52 is boldly traversing territory that hasn't been walked in some time and is also boosting many heroes that never had a chance prior to this revamp. The Justice League and Justice Society finally have books that live up to their legacy. While we can't use Crisis' impact as the sole determinant of our award, it is an important part. As far as the series was concerned, we loved it (except for some of the editorial art decisions - don't rush Phil Jimenez). Featuring a Luthor and Superboy from different Earths trying to "perfect" reality, it's rare to see the stakes this high outside of Elseworlds. Important characters died. Lives were changed forever. No series deserves this award more.

Best Story Arc

===============

"Devil in Cell Block D"

Featured In: Daredevil

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer: Ed Brubaker

Artist: Michael Lark

The penultimate issue of this arc snagged one of our awards and now the entire arc wins another. It's rare that heroes are sentenced to jail time and it's even rarer when a writer forces the character to struggle to get out. This arc saw Matt Murdock's world crumble. He's in jail. When Foggy Nelson comes to visit Matt he's murdered. Bullseye joins a roster of Daredevil's worst enemies, creating an environment that could explode any moment (and it does). Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark built the tension so high we figured there was no way the conclusion could satisfy what we envisioned. We were wrong. The result is both breathtaking and full of energy, and it doesn't stop until...we'll let you find out. This arc nearly eclipses anything else in Daredevil's history.

Best Moment

==============

Iron vs. Captain America

Featured In: Civil War #3

Writer: Mark Millar

Artist: Steve McNiven

Civil War might be barred from our Best Mini-Series award because it hasn't concluded, but there's been no shortage of incredible moments in Marvel's epic. Thor returned. Spider-Man revealed his identity to the world. The Thunderbolts, now featuring Bullseye and Venom among others, have been set loose on the heroes. Despite all of these events, one other was by far the most amazing. To see Iron Man and Captain America throw down was simply the end of an era. Mark Millar and, in particular, Steve McNiven made that first punch seem more important than anything that had come before. No matter how many times the two had argued or disagreed, this was the final straw. As we've seen in the subsequent issues, both men have chosen their paths and will use any means necessary to secure their vision of the world. Whatever the outcome of Civil War, it was this first face-off that marked the beginning of that end.

Best Original Graphic Novel

=============================

Price of Baghdad

Publisher: DC Comics

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan

Artist: Niko Henrichon

Occasionally a concept screams "classic" before it even sees the light of a comic book shop. Pride of Baghdad is one of those ideas and its execution exceeded our highest expectations. The story, about a group of lions that escape during a bombing run in the second Iraq War can be enjoyed on several levels. Those wanting a "simple" tale of survival and family will find that. Those wanting a powerful, gripping analogy of war will find that as well. Writer Brian K. Vaughan was also careful to avoid pinpointing any one particular viewpoint - each lion represents a different attitude, which is refreshing since many books do not allow that choice. Featuring stunning artwork by Niko Henrichon, there is no way any comic book reader should pass up this graphic novel. It is a modern classic.

Best Collection

===================

Absolute Sandman

Publisher: DC Comics

Writer: Neil Gaiman

Artist: Various

Marvel might be more timely and thorough with its collections, but DC has trumped all others with its Absolute editions. These prestige-format hard covers feature production values becoming of their legendary tales. Each comes with a beautiful slipcover, an oversized format and (typically) many extras. There's a price to be paid for all of this of course, but fans of these series are definitely advised to pick these accurately-named Absolute editions. Neil Gaiman's Sandman received this excellent treatment in late 2006 and the result is a stellar set that any comic book fan should have. If you're not familiar with the story then be sure to check this out - the investment is well worth it.

Best Movie (DVD or Film)

===========================

Superman II: The Donner Cut

Several major comic books were translated into movies this year. Unfortunately not all of them lived up to their source material. Despite the presence of a more modern Superman film by Bryan Singer, the original vision by Richard Donner still proves to be the best. Donner's cut of Superman II manages to make a good movie even better. It is incredible to see Christopher Reeve in previously unreleased footage. It is even more incredible to see some of the scenes that were cut from (and added to) the theatrical release. This version clearly isn't perfect, but it's the best interpretation of Superman that we've seen. What's even better is that Donner is effectively giving us a sequel in Action Comics. Make sure you watch this film and then shift to the monthly adventures of Kal-El.

Best Collectible

===================

Dr. Doom Throne Room Statue

Released By: Sideshow Collectibles

This collectible makes us bow down before it. We're not worthy. We love our Owly plush toys, and the Magneto statue is incredible, but there's something absolutely mesmerizing about the Dr. Doom Throne figure. Seeing is believing - trust us when we say a mere photo and couple hundred words do not do Doom justice. Weighing in at about 30 pounds and taking up over a cubic foot of space, Sideshow Collectibles certainly didn't take the cheap route with this one. As far as statues go, this is simply one of the best we've ever seen. Unfortunately that excellence comes at a bit of a cost - Sideshow is sold out. You're only going to find these suckers on eBay.

Best Indie Book

===================

Mouse Guard

Publisher: Archaia Press

Writer: David Petersen

Artist: David Petersen

Mouse Guard has captured our imagination. With five issues down and only one to go, the only thing we can think about is why we haven't heard of a sequel yet. David Petersen's series keeps itself grounded in reality (for the most part - we've never met talking mice) but seems more fantastic than just about anything else out there. Three mice must trek cross country to foil a sinister plot that threatens the lives of mice everywhere. Facing snakes, crabs and armies of evildoers, there is peril at every turn. You will fall in love with this adventure. Mouse Guard is one of the best books on the shelf, independent and major publisher alike.

Best Publisher

==================

Marvel Comics

Although DC has been working magic with 52 and has revitalized a number of its titles, Marvel simply had the magic this year. DC had it last year when Infinite Crisis roared into town, but Civil War has since upped the ante. Daredevil, Spider-Man and some of the X-books (First Class in particular) had a great year. Marvel surprised everyone with some risky titles like Nextwave and expanded its offerings through an alliance with the Dabel Brothers production studio. In the end it comes down to Civil War. We're all for amazing intergalactic battles between realities, but when all else is removed, we really just care about the characters. Seeing our favorites take sides and square off meant more than planet-smashing, and that gives Marvel the edge for this award.

Best Hero

=============

Captain America

We've never been more amazed with Captain America. If you had told us five years ago that Steve Rogers would be this incredible, we would have laughed at you. On the surface he appears quite boring - in many ways a mortal version of Superman (and without the Clark Kent disguise). Ed Brubaker and Mark Millar have managed to make the Sentinel of Liberty incredibly complex while still retaining his charisma and core character. Cap has always been his best when his ideals differ from those of his country. By standing against the Registration Act, Cap not only stands for heroes everywhere, but symbolically represents every struggle against tyranny. He fights against overwhelming odds and is likely to fail, but he never stops. Defeat isn't even an option for Rogers. That is not only admirable, but clearly places this hero above all the rest.

Best Villain

==============

Iron Man

We never thought Captain America would be interesting. We never thought Marvel heroes would draw lines in the sand and resort to extreme tactics to defeat each other. We never thought Tony Stark would unwittingly and obsessively become Marvel Comics' biggest bad guy and our villain of the year. To be sure, some will disagree that Tony is evil. We wouldn't group him with the Dooms and Skulls of the world; nonetheless, Stark has definitely crossed a line. He's cloning heroes to help defeat his enemies. He has created a fortress-like prison where he keeps his former friends without trial. He hires mercenaries and deranged criminals to enforce his will. Without a doubt, Iron Man has become the greatest threat to Marvel heroes.

Best Babe

============

Emma Frost

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of babes in comics, but it takes something special to get our award. In this case we'd like to honor a woman who is not only gorgeous, but certifiably insane. We don't even know where to start with Emma Frost. Maybe we'll mention that she took out her entire team, eliminating Cyclops's powers and reducing Wolverine's mentality to a child-like state. Maybe we'll mention that she appears to have some sort of multiple personality disorder and imagines people to be present when they aren't. Maybe we'll mention that she's obsessed with something looks like a maggot. Yup, she's crazy. She's also in charge of the X-Men (semi-officially) and has her hands in everything related to mutants. She's also absolutely gorgeous, which is clearly important to win this award. The White Queen is definitely the Babe of the Year.

Best Artist

===============

Steve McNiven

Some of us waver on the quality of Civil War's story, but so far we've been amazed by Steve McNiven's artwork. We had seen his work on 4 and New Avengers, but McNiven completely blew us away with this mini-series. Combined with Mark Millar's cinematic style, McNiven has put a movie into a comic book page. Just look at the punch Iron Man delivers to Captain America or the destruction of Stamford. His layouts are superb and his sense of action and movement is brilliant as well. One of the biggest reasons we're enjoying Civil War so much is because of the artwork. Despite the delays, Steve McNiven deserves far more recognition than the already sizable amount he is receiving.

Best Writer

=============

Ed Brubaker

Of all the categories we considered this year, Best Writer was the most difficult. When considering Mark Millar, Brian K. Vaughan and Ed Brubaker, the first thing that comes to mind is that all of these writers have some incredible projects on the shelves today. Ultimately we chose Brubaker, not only for the consistency of his work, but because he manages to take relatively small characters and crafts ingenious stories around them. Captain America, Daredevil and Iron Fist are extraordinary and make super hero comics feel like something else entirely. That's no small feat. Vaughan might have his Pride and Millar has his War, but the combined quality of Brubaker's work elevates him above any of the others' achievements.

Best Ongoing Series

=====================

Fable

Publisher: DC Comics

Writer: Bill Willingham

Artist: Mark Buckingham (lead)

For those unfamiliar with Fables (and sadly that's far too many of you), here's the premise: legendary characters, like Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, are real. They exist in their own realm, brought to life by the humans who believe in them. But all is not well in the land of these fables. A dreadful menace, known only as "The Adversary" is moving throughout these fantasy lands, conquering and pillaging them one by one. To escape certain doom, a group of these characters escape to the realm of Earth.

Fables deserves every accolade it can receive and more. If the premise of the book sounds incredible, the execution of said premise is even better. Consider this: with 56 issues and an anthology under its belt, the series has not seen one bad issue published. The plot, involving the internal politics of Fabletown and the struggle against the Adversary, is fantastic, but it's the characters that truly shine. The artwork, routinely provided by the superb Mark Buckingham, is immaculate and virtually flawless in execution. The cover art, by James Jean, draws the reader in through its dream-like interpretation of the story inside. Fables has something for everyone - romance, politics, drama, betrayal, fantasy and action. Bill Willingham's Vertigo masterpiece cannot be missed. Stop reading comics if you won't give Fables a shot.

FIN.

Start the Conversation
  • 15 results
  • 1
  • 2