Last Week’s Comics 8/31/2011

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X-Men #16

(Marvel – writer: Victor Gischler; art: Jorge Molina)

Fresh on the heels of Chris Yost’s X-Men run, Victor Gischler seems to want to make this X-Men a more lighthearted book. Whereas Yost’s arc centered on Cyclops keeping secrets from his mutant brothers and sisters, Gischler’s seems more apt to turn the X-Men into a buddy comedy starring Wolverine and The Thing. Make no mistake – I’m not lampooning this issue. I enjoyed the humor and the dialogue, and while the art can be a bit clunky at times, the story – about the X-Men and the FF teaming up to investigate a mysterious beacon in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle – has more than enough to keep readers engaged.

The only drawback to this issue is its awkward transitions – a plague that seems to be affecting a lot of comics lately. The issue starts with Spider-Man (wearing his FF costume no less and showing no signs of being affected by the events of “Spider-Island”) and the children of Sue and Reed Richards exploring the Bermuda Triangle. This is easily some of the funniest dialogue I have ever read, and at times I laughed out loud. For example:

Spider-Man: For this morning’s fun: behold the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle.

Franklin: Boooooooo!

Spider-Man: That’s an entire triangle you’re booing, Franklin, or do you just hate the sea in general?

Franklin: You said mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, but you brought us here specifically to debunk all the awesome stories.

Spider-Man: A good debunking puts hair on your chest.

This is the kind of banter that makes me laugh, so I found it entertaining as hell. The rest of the issue is playful, but not this playful. Instead, we get an odd interlude where Doctor Doom travels with the FF to meet with the X-Men in order to discuss the whereabouts of Lee Forrester.

I admit that I had to look up both Lee Forrester and Skull the Slayer (another character who is referenced in this issue). Forrester had a brief affair with Scott Summers (after Jean Grey died), and Skull the Slayer is an adventurer marooned in the Bermuda Triangle. Both characters play important roles in the story, but for readers (like me) who have no knowledge of their importance, we’re forced to find out their relationship to the X-Men and then guess as to their possible role in the story. I’m not complaining about this; I’m just pointing out an obvious disadvantage to having this kind of esoteric knowledge, which is then foisted upon readers.

What’s most impressive about the issue is the mythos depth that Gischler presents. It’s as if he’s trying show off how much X-Men knowledge he has. The story really takes a backseat to the characters, and where I was dismissive of Gischler’s #1 issue, this is a great improvement, both in pacing and character interactions. The cover is a bit misleading as Victor von Doom and Erik Lehnsherr never really appear together. I thought there would be a team-up of some kind, but instead we’re treated to a disjointed introduction that blends humor and story well.

The cover, however, is a lie.

I loved this issue. It made me laugh, it kept me intrigued and it has me looking forward to issue #17. I’m glad I got back into the world of the X-Men, and I’m surprised by the turnaround in story between issue 15.1 and 16. I think mocking Gischler for the previous issue may have been a little hasty. Here he has room to breathe, space to let the characters grow and a bigger world in which to flex his chops.

So far, I’m sold. And you should be too.

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 Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates #1

(Marvel – writer: Jonathan Hickman; art: Esad Ribic)

Bannen’s Book of the Week: This issue feels a lot like the first Mission: Impossible movie. There are political scandals, spy games and a mysterious villain who is trying to create his own society in the middle of Greece, hidden under a mushroom-shaped dome.

I am completely hooked.

[pullquote]It feels like a grand story, one that will have the same epic appeal as Millar’s Ultimates. [/pullquote]

I loved the first two Ultimates series. Mark Millar’s “Super-Human,” “Homeland Security,” “Gods and Monsters” and “Grand Theft America” left an indelible mark on the comic book industry. They reimagined the Avengers as a flawed group – from Hank Pym’s physical abuse, to Captain America’s racist tendencies, to Hawkeye’s growing insanity – a group of engaging characters placed in an extraordinary situation. But then Ultimates 3 came out and everything went to shit. Jeph Loeb’s story was dull and lacked any of the excitement Millar had created. Millar tried to rekindle the magic with Ultimate Comics: Avengers and Avengers vs. New Ultimates, but both series lacked the thrill of the original.

So I was extremely surprised by how captivating Jonathan Hickman’s The Ultimates is. In this issue, we’re given a brief introduction into Nick Fury’s world – one where every second is spent solving a new global crisis. This time, however, Stark Industries is involved, as are the Asgardians (who don’t take kindly to having their friendly welcoming rejected) and the Ultimate version of Chris Claremont’s Excalibur.

The issue is dialogue-heavy, but it’s quick and fun to read (similar to Bendis’ free-flowing style) and beautifully illustrated by Esad Ribic. It feels like a grand story, one that will have the same epic appeal as Millar’s Ultimates. While the ending is a bit weak for such a strong opening, the rest of the issue carries it well so that when you get to the final (feeble) panel, you’re too impressed with the previous pages to focus on a single line of dialogue that feels like a whimper at the end of an explosion. Hickman and Co. probably should have worked on a stronger final page, but I’m not going to focus on this tiny aspect as if it ruins the entire issue.

It doesn’t. The Ultimates is a nearly flawless book, both in its illustrations and its storytelling. It’s worth the polybagged exterior, as the story feels like a satisfying gulp of water – the kind you have when your throat is dry to the point of scratchiness.

I’m wholly impressed by The Ultimates, and I recommend you buy yourself a copy (or two if you want to read the issue without destroying its value). Jonathan Hickman has started something good here, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out with the new Spider-Man and the new X-Men. The Ultimate Universe consistently impresses me, and The Ultimates is no different. Such fine storytelling needs to be shared among comic lovers, so I urge you to read this and then tell your friends about it. People need to know that there are comics this good on the shelves.

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