June 12 Comic Week in Review

This week for our written comic book reviews we cover comics that weren’t talked about on Comicast #85. Enjoy our reviews of Wolverine #4, Uncanny X-Force #6, Ultimate Comics X-Men #27, Green Lantern Corps #21, and Batgirl #21.

DC Comics 

Cover of The Week

BATGIRL #21 $2.99

Writer: Gail Simone, Artist: Fernando Pasarin, Jonathan Glapion

This is the second part in a two issue story arc. This issue started with Dick and Babs having a chat about James Junior. Barbara talks about not deserving to be Batgirl and then spends the rest of the book in the suit soon after that. Despite that the story was actually pretty good and really weird and creepy. Babs is pretty much forced to suit up as she is the one that is hottest on the trail of finding the ventriloquist that is holding one of the pop singer hosts of one of those talent shows. It's still questionable as to what or how the girl was controlling the dead bodies of her parents as puppets but it doesn't take away how demented it was. Batgirl may not seem as unbeatable as Batman but her drive is indomitable and that's what makes her so interesting to read. I just couldn't bring myself to purchase this book because the art was so awful. From the get-go I thought "uh who drew this." Even with the interesting story I just couldn't fully get into because of the art.
Verdict: STRONG SKIM

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #21 $2.99

Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov, Artist: Bernard Chang

So here I was thinking that this was the Simon Baz Green Lantern book but I couldn't have been more wrong. I was really confused at first because the book jumped into territory unknown to me. It started with John Stewart talking to some Sapphire Lantern confessing her love to him. Of course he blew her off the whole issue as she followed him around. By the end he finally gives in and says it without saying it. Mind you they just got out of a tight spot. The whole issue was Green Lantern John Stewart chasing down a couple of shape shifting aliens that stole some radioactive material. The female that was following him around all issue was annoyingly clingy and he seemed like a generic Green Lantern unwilling to commit to a woman. The story was weak and the art was subpar if that. Despite this book being about John Stewart instead of Simon Baz it actually felt more like the Green Lantern title than a Green Lantern Corps book. That being said it's sad to see these books continue to be done at such a low quality level.
Verdict: PASS

Marvel Comics

AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #22 $3.99

Writer: Christopher Yost, Artist David Lopez

As the cover depicts the superior Spiderman meets up with the punisher. The punisher gives Spiderman some good advice on the dark path he's going down. In response he proves to the punisher that he's not the man he thinks he is. Frank Castle accepts and realizes what the superior Spiderman is doing but also promises him that as soon as he crosses that line he will be there. Yost continues to show us that he's the superior writer when it comes to writing the character of superior Spiderman. The art wasn't nearly as good as it has been in the last few issues but that's for a good reason because it's a different artist that's obviously not as talented but at the same time does a pretty solid job of his own.
Verdict: weak BUY

ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #27 $3.99

Writer: Brian Wood, Artist: Mahmud A. Asrar

Despite going into part four of a story arc and being a little confused I enjoyed this book quite a bit. For this reason I always appreciate the Marvel intro page. The story sucked me in quick. There weren't many characters I recognized but the main characters I did so I was instantly interested. One of the things I don't like about this title is that they make up characters when they already have such a great roster of mutants to choose from to use. The mutants are quarantined to an area or territory by General Thunderbolt Ross in this issue with Kitty Pryde as the leader. There is a traitor amongst the mutant ranks that appears to be someone else. Tensions are high as each side just waits for the other to make a move. It's just a matter of time before someone on either side slips up and starts the battle for Utopia. Kitty Pryde has to make a decision to fight to the death for Utopia or give up and live to fight another day as the traitor is revealed. Something I also don't like that the Ultimate universe does is use more recent Marvel 616 events instead of reinventing old stories especially ones that have need for improvement and aren't that fresh. This title has been doing that with the inclusion of Utopia and Kitty Pryde as a leader of her people which I consider her at the time since she's the headmistress at the Jean Grey school. Bryan Woods great writing has me interested for next issue. The art wasn't bad but definitely not good enough for me buy this issue for the art alone.
Verdict: STRONG SKIM

UNCANNY X-FORCE #6 $3.99

Writer: Sam Humphries, Artist: Dexter Soy, Adrian Alphona

The art continues to be too weird and abstract for me whereas the writing impressed me almost enough to overlook the art. Unfortunately for me I didn't read the recap page so I was a little lost throughout this issue. Most of this issue consists of Wolverine talking to Psylocke about quitting all this skulduggery with Spiral and Bishop because its making things more difficult and stressful for him, the school, and other mutants all the while on Psylocke's mental plane. Psylocke puts her foot down and draws a line in the sand explaining that its not all black n white, Cyclops or Logan. It's also revealed that Bishop is now in the clear as he's in a coma. Other parts of the book were about Spiral and Fantomex but I honestly can't recall what they all about. The most memorable parts were with Wolverine & Psylocke wandering around in her head surrounded by a flock of fluffy sheep.
Verdict: STRONG SKIM

WOLVERINE #4 $3.99

Writer: Paul Cornell, Artist: Alan Davis

The best advice I can give you for this title is that you're better off not reading any of it at all. The writing seems amateur. This was easily one of the worst Wolverine stories and ends of a story arc I have ever read. The art has become more lackluster with each issue as has the writing though the art is more apparent. This creative team has just become more lazy with each issue. If you can't tell this issue and the ending to this story arc has really left a bad taste in my mouth. The story could not be less forgettable. All I recall is that somebody told Logan that when he physically overexerts himself it will be very painful. Then he later does exactly that while chasing a plane on foot and complains about the pain he's in in reference to that moment which was insignificant hence the amateur writing. Oh and he saves the day and all is well.
Verdict: PASS

You can pick up these comics at Kaboom Test Labs or Twin Suns Comics & Games.