Black Widow #5

You know those kinds of movies, the entire plot seems to be about how everything is going wrong for the main character.  Ass kickings are abundant, resources are lost and friends are going missing (see where I’m going with this..), but at the end, the tables are turned and the playing field even again.  Those movies, so well crafted, are a piece of cinematic gold.

Black Widow #5 is trying to do that, trying really hard, and almost gets there.  Almost.  Just a little missing around the edges to perfectly tie everything up.  Were this just a 5 issue series, it’d be a fair and just end, but as this is an ongoing periodical, the expectation is higher.  There are things in there that could come back, continuity wise.

The artwork is in the same half-rendered format which gives the action sequences a nice zip but overall appears unfinished.  It’s personal taste but I like harder edges to the things I’m trying to discern.

Issue 5 brings to an end the ‘origins’ story it was trying to craft quite nicely.  Now it’s down to the meat and potatoes of this title.  With so much knowledge locked underneath those scarlet tresses, one wonders who will be the next target.  Please not Cap or Iron Man, they just got back from long bouts on the side lines. -Bretzke

Black Widow #4

Wait, what happened?

As far as I remember, issue 3 ended with an a$$ kicking, then this one picks up with everything tranquil and careful, planned captures of high profile individuals like Lady Bullseye.  Did I miss something critical?  I fear that something may have been deeply lost in translation.

Widow is seeking her assailant, the one who is hitting her friends and making life generally unpleasant.  Like any comic book hero, she takes down bigger and bigger bad guys, applying sufficient pressure until a name is given or at least a direction.  But as with all things, it’s all about that place where you hang your hat.  Your home.

That, and a certain past involving a series of escapes from Germans, quick romances and broken hearts.  This is a fast paced book, but I fear it’s losing step and now tumbling down towards an end.  Will that end make sense?  All signs point to penguins. -Bretzke

With the fame associated with the new Iron Man film, it is understandable and somewhat business aware of Marvel to offer up Natalia in her own series.  The thing about this character however is that throughout her history, there have been multiple attempts at making a go of this, to step out beyond the B list and become a hero in her own right.  Can that jump be made?

The series starts strong with typical spy stuff, setting the scene and letting you know this isn’t typical superhero fare.  Awesome as Black Widow is, she’s human, not Meta-human.  That means limitations.  Limitations mean drama.  Towards the end of the first book things take a dramatic turn and some stellar imagery allows the reader to know exactly what horrid thing is being done to Natalia without actually showing, allowing for the T+ rating to remain intact no doubt.  Implicit horror at it’s best.

That’s where issue 1 lets you hang.  I was fortunate enough to read 1 and 2 back to back.  I would recommend this approach as the instant continuity allows you to digest the finer things of the narrative.  Up until the end of the first book Black Widow had stood on her own two feet, but now the limitations that the character presents are made real.  In steps the majority of the Avengers.  Yes, with the capitalized A.  All pandering by her bedside and offering up their deeds and names to find who has perpetrated this.

While this brings cred to the title, this makes me worry for the lead character.  Having spent most of her time ‘off-page’ in book two, what trend is this for book three?  I enjoy super’s sitting around talking about their friends as much as the next person but if this becomes “Marvel’s heroes talk about Black Widow” then I’m going to take this one off my pull list.

Espionage in comics can work, here’s hoping our Scarlet (Zing!) headed beauty can work it out before too long.  The sidelines are for chumps, not heroes. -Bretzke

Ignoring the shamefully cliche cover that is presented, this reads more like a comic of European origin;  you almost expect Tintin to walk in from the right at any time.  A complex and well woven story unfolds around a murder mystery.  The depth and intricacy is ruined in the end by a stupidic piece of ‘Superhero writing’.  Where’s the bat-shark-repellant.  That lame. -Bretzke

Uncanny X-Men: First Class #8

The Knights of Hykon have bitten off more than they can chew, taking on a Phoenix laden Jean Grey.  Professor X makes some interesting (and somewhat philosophical) observations which level the playing field.  While some may comment that this is trite I disagree; this is X-Men at their fighting best.  Enjoy this guilty pleasure, I won’t tell. -Bretzke

Uncanny X-Men: First Class #7

I admit, when this story arc started it seemed to be well, somewhat rubbish.  But with additional time spent it appears that this is turning into some quality production.  The art is well rendered and the whole issue comes across with a strong sense of ‘X’.  What more could you want? -Bretzke

Uncanny X-Men: First Class #6

Iron Fist and its associated franchises deliver something the rest can’t match: Believable and entertaining martial arts.  This issue does not disappoint.  The Kung Fu is beautiful to watch, like a physical form of poetry.  While this series has been patchy, its ending on a high note.  They’ve got to kill a dragon you see – that’s always going to be entertaining! -Bretzke

Immortal Weapons #5

Style, no substance.  What starts as flashy pretty things, stays there.  Heroes act like heroes and essentially achieve nothing while they have the living snot beaten out of them by, wait for it..”Sky Song and Cloud Runner”.  Yep.  That bad. -Bretzke

Uncanny X-Men: First Class #5

Seems to be a running theme with this weeks title’s – Great art!  This is rendered with something closer to what we’ve seen from later issues of ‘Spirit’ or ‘Mysterius the Unfathomable’.  Its a pleasure to read, light hearted and at times, whimsical.  The cover says “Eisner award Winner”, its plain to see why.  P.S. Robots!  - Bretzke

Sugarshock - One Shot

…I heard a rumor that there’s going to be an Umbrella Academy film. This book reads like the best works of Wes Anderson–captivating art direction and environments, a powerful blend of humor and deep sadness, and a smart amount of character interplay. Sad to see it go, if only for the moment.

The Umbrella Academy - Dallas #6