dvandom | First Look comics for this week

Marvel and DC have, for some time now, let shops buy advance copies of the next week's comics to help them decide about last minute ordering, and most shops let the customers read 'em. Reviewing these First Look comics used to be a regular part of my column for a while, back when my job didn't really give me anything to do on Fridays. But then I got a job where I actually had to work for my pay, and I stopped. :) But this was a long weekend, so I decided to go back to taking my PDA and its folding keyboard along to the comic shop and do some reviewin'.

     Helios#1: Dakuwaka - A promo copy of this got sent to my shop, so I
decided to give it a look. I'll start by saying the cover is awful,  Murky,
wooden, and while it does represent a scene from the issue, it utterly fails
to show the mood of that scene.  Also, if this issue explains who or what
"Helios" is, I missed it.  As far as I can tell, the high concept of this 30
issue maxiseries is "What if the Suicide Squad was created via less than
straightforward means?"  The art by Gabe Pena is okay (although faces tend to
go weird a lot), the layouts are often experimental without being unclear,
and the scripting by Jason Rand is decent.  The plotting and pacing could use
work, though, and the pretention level of the blurb in the back is a turnoff
(although it will presumably not be present in the non-preview copy).  Might
be worth checking into, but I probably won't, mainly due to a general dislike
for Government Conspiracy stuff.  $2.99/$4.60Cn
     X-Force #2: Marvel - First things first: hell no, I'm not buying this.
But it's one of those trainwreck things, I gotta look.  Anyway, let's just
take the lame, talky plot and weirdly proportioned figures in overly detailed
yet still boring outfits as read.  The one notable thing here is that Liefeld
seems to be experimenting with a painted style for his future flashback
sequences.  It's a bit different, but not really better.  More like a
mediocre fan artist discovering all the things Photoshop can do, and
producing slick crap.  Do I even need to say "avoid"?  $2.99/$4.25Cn
     Warlock #1: Marvel - I like the character.  I've bought his previous two
series.  But the previews for this version didn't inspire me to order this
book.  Well, this version has an interesting conceit...it SEEMS to be set in
a sort of Earth Prime deal, a few years down the road, with Adam Warlock
being created in this issue.  Pak's writing is okay, and Adlard's stylistic
choices don't thrill me (although he shows he can do other stuff).  Probably
won't be picking this series up.  $2.99/$4.25Cn
     Pulse #5: Marvel - Okay, in the interest of disclosure, I'm dropping
this series at the end of this arc, mostly because of Avengers Disassembled.
And since this is the end of the arc, it's my last issue.  I must say I'm
pleasantly surprised...Bendis fails to live up to his reputation of petering
out on a storyline.  It's a strong ending, both internally (it's dramatic and
puts a solid emotional climax on things) and externally (it *matters* in
what's laughingly called the Marvel Universe).  I may read #6 if it's in the
First Looks next month, but for now I'm going to drop this book on a high
note.  Recommended.  $2.99/$4.25Cn
     Captain America #31: Marvel - Meanwhile, this title's ending so that it
can be rebooted post-Zero Survivors.  And I think it's showing in the
writing, stuff getting wrapped up overly quickly, a lot of almost breaking
the fourth wall, etc.  Mildly recommended.  $2.99/$4.25
    She-Hulk #7: Marvel - Hey, a cover that's not just generic She-Hulk on a
blank background!  Of course, it has at least one dead character on it, but
since it also has Forbush-Man, I wouldn't worry too much about the continuity
issues.  Bobillo is back, and MAN he stinks on toast at drawing aliens.  And
since this story has a lot of aliens, this is a problem.  Storywise, it's
something of a derailment, but since the main loose end got dragged along for
the ride, it's okay.  Recommended.  $2.99/$4.25Cn

No awards or endquote on the First Looks. Oh, and I won't be able to get my regular comics until Friday, due to the holiday and scheduling issues for the guys who run the shop.

First Look comics for this week

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