What I Bought 6/2/2010

Wasn't sure I'd get to do reviews today after all, as the power went out about 11 last night. It kicked on a bit after midnight, so here we are, just as I planned. Not very many books, but May was kind of a slow month, and Jack forgot a few things, so maybe in the next set of reviews.

Atlas #1 - Well, I can't say Marvel hasn't given Atlas opportunities. Also, it may be a stretch to call any of Triathlon's costumes "good", but I vastly prefer the one he had as an Avenger to the 3-D Man costume he's rocking on the cover.

Delroy's trying to figure out what to do with his life after apparently being ostracized by the other heroes for stuff he did during Secret Invasion. Except he's being attacked by people who have some strange red aura around them (Gabrial Hardman's art makes it look like a windblown toga, or torn up cape, maybe). Oh, and he's having dreams of being on missions with the Atlas crew back in their FBI days. So he tracks them down, and the issue ends when he finds them. There's a backup story which seems to detail the case Delroy's having dreams of, though 3-D Man doesn't made an appearance in it. Yet.

The mystery of why Delroy's having these dreams has got my attention. I don't know whether it's a good idea or not to play it so close to the vest with the stars. The recap page sums them up quickly, but within the story, they're mysterious figures, which could intrigue a new reader, or annoy them. I already know about them, so it's no skin off my nose. Hardman's art is expressive, and his layouts are pretty good. Not spectacular, but there's some nice bits in there. The design on these whoevers coming after Delroy is suitably creepy, though the coloring helps there.

Deadpool #23 - After the previous issue, I thought perhaps Deadpool was really making progress at this hero thing. So much for that. He travels to Vegas because some loudmouth on TV trashed him, tricks the guy into blowing up his club, starts winning at roulette, fights Vegas' newest protector, "the House", who always wins. Groan. So Deadpool loses, then makes a deal with the House. As it stands right now, the deal looks a lot like fraud, faking crimes for them to stop (r not stop) so they'll make big bucks.

Damn it Deadpool, this is not how being a hero is supposed to work! Or perhaps I'm being too hasty, but this is Deadpool we're talking about, so assuming he'll opt for the sleazy, easy route isn't exactly a longshot. General plot recap aside, at least Way was able to get the necessary recapping in story done quickly. He covered Wade knowing Weasel and the "Box" relatively fast, and without being too hard to follow, I think. Carlos Barberi's art is OK, but there were a couple of panels with one person speaking directly to us, even though it appeared they were facing the House, who we see in the panel behind them. I think it's meant to be either a perspective shot from House's p.o.v., or it's like that particular person has been singled out for particular focus. Either way, it's all taking place in one panel, so the perspective is allover the place. Seems unnecessary.

Power Girl #12 - Power Girl meets Terra's family, and we have fan-service emotional bonding between them, which was sweet. Satanna suffers some ill fortune. Ha, ha. Once again, Power Girl can't make it to work without trouble, in this case Vartox fending off an angry husband, who is as much of a sleaze as Vartox. At least Peej kicks both their butts. There are a few other developments at her job, the plot with the blackmailing kid wraps up easily, so at least Power Girl doesn't have to scare the crap out of bullies, as that seems overkill.

So that's it for the Palmiotti/Gray/Conner team on the book. As a wrap-up of their run, it worked pretty well. Alex' leaving the company didn't work for me, but that was mostly because I was having a hard time remembering when I'd seen her in the comic. Once I sit down a reread issues 1-12, it'll work better. Hopefully. Still, I like checking in on all the disparate threads, from Terra, to the Vega crew, Satanna, and Vartox, naturally. He's best served to us in small doses, but those doses are hilarious. I especially like Power Girl's reaction to his suggestion they surf the stars together. The look is so serious, with no give in it whatsoever, that's it's hilarious. As for Winick, well, I'm willing to give him at least 3 issues to demonstrate I shouldn't join the others already running screaming. I really haven't read much by him, so I'll see how it goes.

Secret Six #21 - That's a cool cover. What's the little medallion around the pin in his right arm? A St. Christopher medal? I have no reason for thinking that's it, I'm just guessing and I remember hearing about those from an episode of M*A*S*H.

Thomas Blake's father was a domineering jackass who liked to kill things and humiliate his wife, and make his son kill things. I imagine he'd be proud of the job his son's done on that fella last issue, and this Loki meathead this issue. Heck, Blake is even threatening to torture people who want to help him, so congratulations Thomas, you're an asshole now. Anyway, he finds and kills the next guy, and this is all some plan by the rich old man from the start of this story. I have my suspicions. Bane and Jeanette have their new team, and jeez Dwarfstar? Nice to know King Shark doesn't hold a grudge for Jeanette tearing his arm off and breaking his jaw. Or was that a different talking shark-man the Six contended with during the whole "Get out of Hell free card" fiasco? Also, Alice thinks Scandal's after her boyfriend Ragdoll.That'd be interesting if true, just for the question of what Scandal sees in him versus what Alice sees. I think Alice is just lashing out to hide her fear, though.

Calafiore's art is as usual. If you didn't like it before, you won't change your mind with this issue. He can draw some creepy stuff, and I actually think his style is best served with a darker book, where shadows are present and people look mean or hard-bitten. Also, it's kind of neat his young Thomas Blake looks a little chubby. I wouldn't be surprised if Thomas' dad would chastise him for that, see it as another sign of coddling by his mother.

That's the well, the month, really. Except for the stuff that'll hopefully be along later. Let's see, awards. Every book gets an award, like youth sports. Black Alice wins Stupidly Running Your Mouth Off, and Power Girl wins Best Cat Cameo. Yes, it beats Blake and his lions in Secret Six. I've seen him use lions as a murder weapon before, but I haven't seen a cat chase low-intensity heat vision around a floor. Deadpool wins Quickest Continuity Recap (In-Story), and Plan Most Likely to Go Horribly Awry (an award Deadpool could win almost every month). Atlas wins Best Recap Page, and Best Use of Existing Radio Show. Finally, Secret Six ('Arise the demon Estrogan') and Deadpool ('the House always wins.') will have to split Worst Name Pun.