Check out what I checked out this week.
Whether the comics are inspiring or disappointing, I read them all.
Welcome to The Pull List.
And, as always…Spoilers ahead!
Terminal Hero #2
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: Piotr Kowalski
Cover: Jae Lee
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Price: $2.99
Things have gone from bad to worse for Dr. Rory Fletcher as Treatment Q saved his life from an inoperable brain tumor.
However, it came at the cost of terrible side effects that has given him horrifying powers. Now he is being blackmailed into using his “gifts” to murder people. One of the things that stands out about Terminal Hero is how it conveys the unique emotion of an individual who has been trained to prevent death, but is now being forced to administer it.
If that wasn’t enough, being made to use his medical knowledge to execute someone in a precise manner pains Rory because it’s a perversion of a science he dedicated his life to.
Piotr Kowalski illustrated these moments with an feeling of “Why am I doing this?”, which added a delicate sense of uncertainty for the character.
At one end, Rory might find solace in his new found occupation; on the other end, consolation might be outside the realm of possibility. The character development was a lot better this time around with more motivation and consequence brought to the forefront. Everyone would have a different reaction to being stuck in this particular predicament and as a reader, experiencing how Rory answers everything makes you either agree with or question his choices. Do you use your illness to get laid or abstain from natural urges?
Make no mistake about it though, Rory isn’t a role model by any means. He is a drug addict who often looks for the easy way out. None of the characters are particularly likable, or interesting for that matter. That sounds like a real downer, but it’s the no-nonsense narrative that ultimately shines above most in this book, making the reader vested in an abnormal situation.
Sometimes, it is the state of affairs that is more interesting than the players involved.
Score: 3 out of 5
Superman Unchained #8
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Dustin Nguyen
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99
Scott Snyder has done a fantastic job of giving Superman some opposition in Wraith that has taken him to his physical and mental limits.
Their give and take with one another over the course of events in Unchained has shown Wraith big brothering Superman, to a degree. You knew that their ideologies were going to create a rift in their “relationship” and that they would eventually come to blows.
Now we all know that Superman always finds a way to win, however, Superman being put into check at every turn by Wraith made me scratch my head and wonder how he would obtain victory.
Everything has led to this issue where two super powers come to blows in a grueling showdown that spans the globe and beyond.
This wasn’t just a slugfest for the sake of Jim Lee’s amazing splash pages. It was a methodical, but fierce, attack that had Superman coming up with idea after idea, only for his plans to be turned around on him tenfold. Snyder’s inner dialog presented opportunity and displayed concern as thinking “What would Batman do” when trading blows was kind of surreal.
Superman is kind of a one trick pony when it comes to fist fighting, he is the king of the overhand right. That wasn’t going to cut it this time around, and he needed to feel out Wraith in order to find his range and get in his comfort zone. Jim Lee should always draw a Superman book. He perfectly captures the sense of wonder and despair when illustrating the Man of Steel’s exploits. There is one scene where Wraith spins Superman around, by his cape, like a helicopter blade, and throws him from the Gobi Desert to the Arctic. I thought I was looking at a 3D image it was drawn so well. It’s a bummer that this is the second to last issue.
The Synder/Lee dream team have done what no one else has done since the genesis of the New 52, and that’s make Superman compelling. I know he is a hard character to write for because he is virtually indestructible, along with a whole laundry list of other reasons. The trick isn’t simply giving him a foe that is stronger, but putting him in a situation that tests his limits while highlighting the core essential elements of what makes Superman, well, Superman.
Scott Snyder and Jim Lee get it, and they did a wonderful job giving us a fight, one year in the making, that exceeded expectations across the board.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Death of Wolverine #2
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Steve McNiven, Jay Leisten
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $4.99
The final days of Wolverine are shaping up to be one for the history books. Now, this issue isn’t as good as the first one, but that’s not a strike against it. The opening chapter was an 11 on a scale from 1-10.
The second chapter rocks for a whole new set of reasons.
Charles Soule beautifully set the stage by making the reader genuinely care about Logan’s impending demise. Now he is on the hunt and plans on meeting his maker head on.
A little humor opens up our story as the curtain is pulled back to reveal a suit wearing, pony tail styling Logan. His get up wasn’t fooling anybody.
However, he was dealing with the one member of Viper’s gang who has never head of Wolverine. This makes me concerned for the future of supervillain underlings.
I mean, come on!
You’d figure that knowing who your bosses arch nemesis is would be first day stuff. Of course, Sabertooth makes an appearance which is apropos considering he should be playing a part in Logan’s final days. Charles Soule made their short encounter a sweet one by having Wolverine think back to all the wars he and Sabertooth have had. Steve McNiven illustrated these moments with a sense of nostalgia. We saw Wolverine wearing his signature yellow costume, and thinking back to all the times he “SNIKT” Sabertooth with various fatal blows.
Making this series a weekly event was the right call. Having to wait a month with such an emotionally charged and action filled story would dilute the gravity that the creators are trying to convey. Two down, two to go, and it looks like we are witnessing a classic in progress.
Score: 5 out of 5
The Bunker #6
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Joe Infurnari
Colorist: Joe Infurnari
Publisher: Oni Press
Price: $3.99
When it comes to time travel stories, less is more seems to be the correct approach because too many moving pieces can result in a convoluted mess.
One the strengths of this series is how Joshua Hale Fialkov makes the reader focus on the here and now, which is the antithesis of how these things are examined. We are desperate to know how it all came to be.
This issue takes a turn in the why and how direction as we see the strained relationship between future Grady and Natasha, 30 days before the finding of the bunker. Their presence alone is a startling revelation.
Add to the mix that Grady’s moral compass is shattered beyond repair and Natasha finds him abhorrently disgusting, makes things even more complicated, especially when present day Grady is showing signs of his future self. Speaking of the future, it all goes to hell. We know that now.
Fialkov makes the hope of fixing it a roller-coaster ride that keep the reader engrossed due to the complexity of the characters. Joe Infurnari’s illustrations work wonders for this series. Muted colors and rough around the edges character work brings a dark vibe to the story because no one has defined role. It’s shades of gray all around and it’s infuriating and engaging at the same time when someone does something to ensure a destiny of despair.
Overall, this book is a must read. The drama and suspense coupled with realistic characters and a dash of science fiction makes The Bunker one of the best comic books on the market today.
Score: 4 out of 5
Prometheus: Fire and Stone #1
Writer: Paul Tobin
Artist: Juan Ferreyra
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50
The film Prometheus garnered mixed reactions from moviegoers. I thought it was a great idea that ultimately ran from its pedigree.
Paul Tobin doesn’t make that mistake. In fact, he embraces it.
Our story starts off with a new team exploring LV-233 after the events of the film.
We get to know the characters a little bit before they land which opens things up for all sorts of possibilities if you think about the original crew’s fate.
Once they land, Tobin throws in a few curve balls that makes you question everything, but in a good way.
Juan Ferreyra is exactly the kind of artist you want to work on a book where creeping you out goes hand in hand with telling a suspenseful story. He kind of pulled back a little with his work on the ship, which makes sense. Once on LV-233, his work shines and garners the desired result. The scene where the Xenemorphs are behind a closed door, unbeknownst to the crew, was extremely well done almost made me want to say a prayer for them.
Prometheus: Fire and Stone is a solid first installment. A little bit of this and a little bit of that goes a long way towards setting up a story that could add all sorts of elements to the Alien mythos while answering some long outstanding questions.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
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