Matt Fraction and Ariel Olivetti's Punisher War Journal #8. This book is just absurd and embraces the absurdity. It works pretty well. Case in point: this is a book where the Punisher -- gigantic killer Frank Castle -- can doodle a complex costume design on a note-pad like an FIT student and five pages later, be wearing it. You just don't ask how it got made, and you don't question the fact that he designed it himself. Cause he will shoot you if you do.
Greg Pak and John Romita Jr's World War Hulk #1. I am reading Marvel's Next Big Event -- just the core book -- because I like John Romita Jr and I like the Hulk. I did not pick up Planet Hulk, but this thing fills in new readers. It is not the most elegant exposition, but it is there, at least. Might have been handled better by a text box page in front of the issue. I do not have a strong opinion on this book, because my expectations are low. All I want is the Hulk smashing stuff and John Romita Jr drawing that so I guess I am satisfied.
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I picked up the Punisher comic and having not read any punisher in quite some time, I was satisfied. It was a fun read and I kind of liek the idea of the Captain America and Punisher costumes combined into one.
ReplyDeleteMy local shop had some delivery issues so the Hulk book won't get to the store until tomorrow.
I also picked up the new Sub Mariner book, but only because the first comic I ever read was an issue of Sub Mariner so I kind of have a soft spot for it. I wasn't impressed much, but since it is only supposed to be 6 issues I may pick them all up anyway.
You really ought to try out Planet Hulk. It's easily one of the best comic stories I've ever read...ever. I don't know how much WWH will suffer without having read it, but I don't see how it could have the same emotional resonance.
ReplyDeleteLooking through WWH #1, I actually found some of the art lacking, by Romita Jr's normally excellent standards. For instance, the too page spread of Hulk punching something on the moon just felt awkward.
ReplyDeleteEnnis' Punisher is fantastic, excessive and grotesque in all the right places. The subtlety of a socket wrench to the brow.
ReplyDeleteA bunch of stores are getting new shipments of The Goon: Satan's Sodomy Baby. That's worth reading just to say you have.
WWH is off to a decent start, all things considered.