Secret Invasion #1

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils: Leinil Yu

Inks: Mark Morales

Color: Laura Martin

Letters: Chris Eliopoulos

Assoc. Editor: Molly Lazer

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada

Covers by: Steve McNiven, Leinil Yu, and Gabriele Dell’Otto

June 2008

SYNOPSIS:

 SECRET INVASION IS HERE!!

Years in the making, months in the teasing…and it all STARTS HERE!

The shape-shifting alien race known as the Skrulls has secretly infiltrated every super-powered organization on Earth with one goal…full-scale invasion! In this DOUBLE-SIZED first issue, page after page unveils reveal after reveal and shocking moment after shocking moment! Brian Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu leap off the pages of mega-hit New Avengers and deliver a story that will change the Marvel Universe forever.
THE MARVEL UNIVERSE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!!

PRO:

At the height of my comic collecting back in the 80’s one of the great things to look forward to was the big crossover events. It all started with Secret Wars and Crisis and went downhill from there. What can be described as the “Pro” on Secret Invasion is that it is nothing but 32 pages of fun reading. Look beyond the facts that there is a lot of continuity issues and the fact most readers are tired of the same old retreaded spectacle you have a few interesting ideas. Namely one being Elektra is a Skrull. Thanks GOD! She died ages ago and inexplicably reappeared back in the late 90’s. It always was a “WTF?” issue for me and a lot of Marvel readers and I’m glad that has been wrapped up nicely in a black body bag.

Yu’s artwork really benefits from Morales’ inking compared to his previous work on New Avengers. Laura Martin’s colors have moments of goodness.

CON:

Beyond being a lot of fun fluff, not much really happens in the story. Some big revelations that just leave questions. That would be fine had I not known better from every other big Marvel event. I know it’s not going to mean anything a year from now and that’s what I have a problem with. Yes, its about sales but its nothing more than fanboy comic book masturbation without the climax, which we keep falling for. Plus there is the overused marketing driven crossover into just about ever Marvel title, so you have to buy it all to get the full story. Then there’s the alternate covers – sheesh!! BUT, that’s only a concern if you really care, which I don’t, so I got the first issue of Secret Invasion and won’t worry to much about the other crossovers and alternate covers.

The cover I got was (apparently) by Gabriele Dell’Otto, although there is no physical credit in the book, the solicitation reveals the artist name. I have no doubt they have talent but the cover is just horrible. It’s a blurry drawing of the Heroes in Skrull faces all standing around. I say it’s blurry maybe not because of the production but the artwork has very soft edges. I’m not a fan of the work and the cover doesn’t work at all for me.

The coloring on the book was, again, done by the masterful Laura Martin and there are some panels that are just stunning. Sadly, for me, I think she was a miss-match for Yu’s style. There are times where the color just bleeds on the page and you feel as if you’d go blind looking at it for more than a few seconds. Yu’s style is very wiry and scribbled and Martin’s color pallet really takes a lot away and overpowers the drawings. Someone more muted would have suited this book better.

High Point:

Your yearly dose of fluff.

Low Point:

Terrible cover. Mismatched colorist. Marketing controlled crossovers.

Will I Acquire the Next issue

Yes, because questions need to be answered – though it may take months.

Review © 2008 Mark Robert Bourne

Art ©) Marvel Entertainment

Avengers Invaders #1

AI1

Scrpit: Jim Krueger

Pencils: Steven Sadowski

Color: inLight Studios

Letters: Todd Klein

Asst. Editor: Tom Brenan

Editor: Stephen Wacker

Executive Editor: Tom Brevoort

Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada

Covers by: Alex Ross, David Finch & Jason Keith

July 2008

SYNOPSIS:

Legends Live Again.

The original Invaders (Captain America , Bucky , Human Torch , Toro , and the Sub-Mariner) return in a twelve issue maxi-series by the award winning team behind EARTH X, Justice and Project Superpowers .The greatest super-team of World War II finds themselves transported from the battlefields of the Second World War to a future they never imagined! Now, the Invaders find themselves confronted by two teams of Avengers who want desperately to believe these heroes are who they say they are, while Tony Stark faces his greatest challenge since the Civil War as he must deal with the “return” of Steve Rogers. Confronted by a world they barely recognize, the Invaders will have to show two teams of the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes just what kind of power, courage and sheer determination it took to defeat the forces of unrelenting evil in the Twentieth century. In fact…they may just have to do it again in the Twenty-First.

PRO:

I’ve always liked the Invaders and I’m glad to see them using the ideas behind them again. Surely it’s a way to expand the ideas put forth in Civil War and it fits.

Steven Sadowski has always been an artist I admired and he does a fine job here as does Alex Ross on the covers.

CON:

Though its nice to see the Invaders again, I can tell this is just going to be a lot of the same retreaded territory we’ve seen in other mini-series of this sort. Big revelations and someone get’s captured and then the “good guys” rush in to save everyone. Very A typical and that’s disappointing.

Also, someone hire and Inker. I think Sadowski’s work is excellent but there are moments of artwork where it cries out for some sort of completeness and solidarity that an Inker provides.

It was neat to see them use the original Kirby Captain America Design but it’s fairly inconsistent throughout the book – particularly with the coloring. From what I recall, the 40’s Cap had the triangular shield and the flag on his costume only went to the sides with a large star in the back – his belt was red. In Avengers/ Invaders we have the circle shield and the flag going to his sides. In the old Invaders series from the 70’s he had his round shield and had the flag on his costume go all the way around. WTH? So, is the Invaders Cap a Skrull? If one publishes a crossover with “old school” versions shouldn’t they do some research and be correct? Why is this so obvious to me? Check out the 3^rd story page, 2^nd panel.

What’s Dynamite Entertainment have to with this? Alex Ross maybe?

High Point:

Nice Alex Ross covers. Always good to see the Invaders again.

Low Point:

Bad continuity with established characters. Inker is needed badly.

Will I Acquire the Next Issue:

Yes.

Review © 2008 Mark Robert Bourne

Art ©) Marvel Entertainment

Star Trek: Alien Spotlight – The Borg

Written By: Andrew Steven Harris

Art by: Sean Murphy

Color by: Leonard O’Grady

Lettered by: Chris Mowry

Edited by: Chris Ryall

Covers by: Sean Murphy and Zach Howard

January 2008

SYNOPSIS:

In the vast Star Trek universe, many diverse alien races abound, and now they finally get their due! Continuing a series of one-shots, each by a different creative team and featuring a different Star Trek alien race. Now, the spotlight shines on the Borg. The Enterprise must face its most deadly confrontation with the Borg—drones from the future, when the Collective believes it has achieved perfection! Sean Murphy handles art and cover chores, while his Outer Orbit cohort Zach Howard provides a second cover for the issue.

PRO:

At first glance I was taken by the artwork. Previously I had seen the first Star Trek series produced by IDW and was taken by how horrible the likenesses were. Knowing how strict Paramount and the actors are about making sure they were “on model” so-to-speak, it really surprised me that they got away with really terrible likenesses. So going into Star Trek: Alien Spotlight – Borg, at first glance, I thought I was in for another repeat performance. Though there were some panels where it was borderline, I was extremely impressed with the almost “Mort Druker influenced” artwork by Sean Murphy. It really infused a lot of action and emotion and really helped the personalities we all know come thru. Very nice.

Regarding the story, it was extremely well written, which in someways leads to the “con.”

CON:

Having worked on other Star Trek comics I am aware of the what goes along with producing a Star Trek book in regards to maintaining the likeness’s and such. I picked up this book in the .25 cent bin at a local comic show. I go the “photo” cover of the Borg Queen that appeared in Star Trek: First Contact. Much to my surprise because she only appears in a 2 panel flashback sequence, so it’s a bit out of place – I’m sure they could have found a better picture to represent the BORG. Another note, I should add was the lack of the price. I wonder how that was handled in book stores?

Disappointing was the advertised 32page where 22 where story and 10 were ads. Of which were excellent, but too much was stuffed into 22 pages; this deserved a mini-series because it felt as there was more to do and say as it ends pretty abruptly. Another issue was the production of the book in which pages looked like the printer ran out of ink. I know it’s a new “fad” to do digital inking but it looks like only parts were DI and some inked. It looks really bad in several panels. I don’t think it’s the coloring, which though muted, works very well.

High Point:

Well drawn, intriguing Star Trek: TNG story.

Low Point:

Story is crammed into 22pages. Bad production.

Review ©) 2008 Mark Robert Bourne

Art ©) IDW Publishing.

Star Trek: Alien Spotlight – Romulans

Star Trek AS - Romulans

Written and Drawn by: John Byrne

Colors by: Leonard O’Grady

Letters by: Neil Uyetake

Edited by: Chris Ryall

Covers by John Byrne and Zach Howard

February 2008

SYNOPSIS:

Legendary writer/artist John Byrne, in his first-ever full Star Trek work, concludes this special series of one-shots in which the many alien races of the Star Trek universe get their due. The Romulan Empire has a new “ghost ship” that can’t be detected by normal means. Will the Praetor use it as a weapon to thrust his people into full-blown war with the Federation—or are his motives even more sinister? A tale of loyalty, betrayal and intrigue, with scripting, pencils, and inks handled by Byrne.

PRO:

Definitely John Byrne. Though his “internet reputation” seems to be in flux, I am a big fan of his work and am glad to see him on a Star Trek book. Though sometimes I find his layouts and panels to be a-typical, meaning it’s a standard shot that he seems to use a lot, its still all Byrne.  The coloring was very vivid and worked well with Byrne’s style.

CON:

Thought the story is good, I feel as though I am left out of “something.” I’m not sure if it has anything to do with the fact that, though knowledgeable, I’m not a Trek Encyclopedia. I’m curious if this story has anything to do with what happens in the Original series or not – that might be the reason.

Another, and this happens a lot in books I review, is the whole 22pages of story advertised as 32pages for $3.99. But, lucky for me it was .25 cents at a local comic show, so that’s more in my budget.

Additionally, there is a cool “making of the cover” page in the back of the book, that although always impresses me to see Byrne’s pencils and the process, it gives a blaring production/ editorial error on the front cover. The right claw of the “Bird of Prey” is missing on the final cover. If you look at the “Making of” page you’ll see that Byrne drew half of the bird design and in production, the artwork was just going to be mirrored. It was but the claw was somehow missed. Not worth doing prison time, but obviously an error.

High Point:

Wonderful art by Byrne.

Low Point:

Blatant cover production error. Did I miss a reference to an OS Star Trek episode?

Will I Aquire the Next Issue:

Seeing as this is a one-shot, nope!

Review (c) 2008 Mark Robert Bourne

Art (c) IDW Publishing

Skaar: Son of Hulk #1

Cover by: Ron Garney

Writer: Greg Pak

Artist: Ron Garney

Variant Covers: Carlos Pagulayan and Julie Bell

Colors: Paul Mounts

Lettering: Joe Carmagna

Asst. Editor: Jordan White

Editor: Mark Paniccia

Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada

August 2008

SYNOPSIS:

Born in fire. Raised by monsters. Destined to destroy. On an alien planet shattered by war, no one is stronger than Skaar, the savage Son of Hulk. But as a Fillian warlord, an Imperial princess, and a mysterious Earthman spread chaos through the wastelands, will Skaar save the puny survivors — or smash them? Another epic fever dream from Greg Pak, writer of “Planet Hulk” and World War Hulk” — featuring the return of legendary Hulk artist Ron Garney!

PRO:

Greg Pak is a fantastic writer. I have no idea why he was removed from the regular Hulk series and it’s really a shame. I enjoyed his story here and really look forward to where he’s going with that. The art by Ron Garney is great as always. It is reminiscent of some of the Sal Buscema Hulk issues from the 70’s and 80’s.

CON:

Though Garney’s artwork is excellent, this is sorely missing an Inker. There is a lot of scribbles that, although interesting, really distracts and seems very amateurish and inconsistent throughout the book. Also very inconsistent throughout was the coloring. I think it had a lot to do with the lack of inker. There are many pages that are vivid and bright, while others are very dull, muddy and washed out, particularly where there is a lot of black that should be there but is nothing but some pencil scribbles. The blacks are very inconsistent also, though this might be a printer or production problem but it’s very striking where some lines are bold and others are very dull grey.

High point:

Great storytelling.

Low point:

Inconsistent production. Need an Inker! Inker Inker Inker!

Will I Aquire the Next Issue:

Yes.  I will eagerly await issue #2

Review (c) 2008 by Mark Robert Bourne

Art (c) Marvel Entertainment

 

Welcome

Welcome to First Issue Review!

The purpose of this blog is to review all the number one issues of both new and old comics. That’s pretty simple right?

Our reviews are broken down into a couple of sections to make it simple and straight to the point. First is the Synopsis of the book – most likely this is the solicitation or description given by the publishers or what is the book about. Next is the PRO. What was good about the book, from the production to writing, editing, coloring, lettering, and art. CON, naturally will be what we didn’t like about the book, covering all the areas in the PRO section. We will end each review with the brief High and Low Points of the publication.

I will add that we will strive to be both critical and constructive with our reviews, so there’s no where to hide for the creative members of the publications we’ll review.

Again, welcome. I hope you enjoy the site and I look forward to the comments and participation I hope to see here.

Mark Robert Bourne