Another First-In-A-Long-Time for me: first time in a year and a half that I walked into The Great Escape and said, "I think you have something in my hold box for me."
And there it was: Icon and Rocket #2. I added the first issue of Checkmate (2021) from the back issue box...and was disappointed to see that they had sold out of issue #3...but I put in a request for it if they re-order. Also a new issue of Previews, which I always enjoy looking at, even if I'm not buying much. It's a way of keeping up with what's going on, you know?
Anyway....
Checkmate #1 was good. It made a lot more sense than the first issue I read, which was #2. Even though I still don't know much of anything about Leviathan. (Good news: I see that Hoopla has some comics in the Leviathan story line. I've already burnt through my six loans for this month, but in a couple of days I can start hitting it again.) Once again (as in that second issue) the Brian Michael Bendis writing isn't irritating the hell out of me...which is a rarity. There's not a whole lot in terms of character development, and I don't get the impression that Bendis really understands all of these characters very well, but to be honest, that's kind of secondary here. After all, it's a six issue limited series about conflict between various spy groups. That doesn't leave much room for anything that doesn't push the plot forward at high velocity. Speaking of which...so far as I can discern, Leviathan is a spy group which has usurped the functions (and equipment) of pretty much every other spy group, and is doing a Benevolent Big Brother thing. And Mark Shaw (Manhunter) is the head of the group. Which is puzzling, since he was the character who put a spoke in Kobra's wheel way back when in the Spy War that was The Janus Directive. * Anyway...in response, the Checkmate group has re-formed, and consists of Green Arrow, The Question, Steve Trevor, Lois Lane, Talia al Ghul (what?) and her son, Damian Wayne (one of the many Robins), and some other people who didn't look familiar. There's a little bit of ha ha here, which was a nice surprise. Nothing approaching the belly, more like a slight inhalation of breath and the words, "That's funny" running through the thought. Now I'm going to have to re-read issue #2, though, because I've completely forgotten what happened there. And then maybe I'll be able to pick up #3 next week. (And if I make it back next week, that will be another First-In-A-Long-Times...visits to the comic book store on two consecutive weeks.
Oh, lest I forget...the Alex Maleev artwork is excellent. Seems to me that it has a slightly different look than the work I remember from way back when...maybe a slightly softer edge to it? But Maleev is a great comic book artist, for sure, and I've missed seeing his work on a regular basis. (Of course, if I hadn't been avoiding Brian Michael Bendis, I'd have seen more of it.)
Icon and Rocket #2 was a vast improvement on the first issue. So far as I can tell (since I didn't read the complete run of the first series), this is all new territory--not a re-tread like the first issue. And one of the things that I am pretty sure was new was that they actually went back to Icon's time on the plantation back in the 19th century South. It was definitely time for some of that...and I hope that there's more to come. The rest of the story had some interesting stuff, too, though, including Rocket handling a wife abuser...though I kind of wonder if throwing him out the window is going to solve the problem in a long-term kind of way, you know? I also wonder if we're going to see any more of this sub-plot or if that's that. It really cries out for more, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's done. Disappointed, but not surprised. It's hard for comic books to deal with things that their heroes actually can't handle.
So two enjoyable comic books. And I believe that issue #2 of Hardware is due out next week, so I'm pumped for that. The Milestone Return continues!
* Speaking of Hoopla...I just re-read The Janus Directive courtesy of Hoopla. It was my third time through (at least...maybe more)...and though I'm keenly aware of its shortcomings, I have to say that it is a fun arc. This collection also included a "prequel" bit from Suicide Squad #26, which I'd never read before. Woo-hoo.
No comments:
Post a Comment