DCU Comic Book Reviews

WEDNESDAY COMICS #4

July 29, 2009

Written by Various

Pencils by Various

Inks by Various

Cover by Various

A Brief Introduction by Binkley (e-mail)

When this weekly series was first introduced, I immediately started to brainstorm how I would review these issues.  There were 15 stories per comic, so it seemed to make some sense to write reviews for each of the 15 stories.  I came up with a variety of different ways to present the text, but ultimately I decided to wait until I actually read the first issue before making a decision.  After reading it, what struck me the most is that a single page of a story is not enough to write a review.  There just isn’t enough to critique the plot, structure, or character.  And then it hit me.  I can provide my impression of the stories, my thoughts and ideas of what struck me as I was reading.  So, that is what you’ll get each week.  However, when the weekly series is done, I will go back and review the entire story, much as I do for a single issue of a comic.     

Impressions by Binkley (e-mail)

This week, Metamorpho, The Elemental Man takes the big spot on the cover.  In a strange decision, the picture is of Metamorpho Girl rather than the title character.  Last week’s cover boy, Deadman, returns to the place it originally occupied in the first couple of issues.  Meanwhile, Hawkman, which had been in the Deadman spot, movies into the old Metamorpho spot.  All of the other circle pictures and logos are in the same spot.  It should be interesting to see what happens next week.  Will Metamorpho return to its old spot?  Will Hawkman continually shift around, always taking the spot of whatever is the big circle of the week.  

At the 1/3 spot of the series, there are some strips are able to maintain continuity from week to week so that you know what is happening and you can easily remember what occurred the week before or the week before that.  However, there are others that you have to think hard to recall what is going on and it is easy to get confused or lost while reading the strip. 

Batman falls in to the former category.  Azzarello is doing a good job building a decent mystery, but also keeping track of the various characters.  The moment I start reading, I know what is going on.  After a slow start, Sgt. Rock is the same and given the dual plot lines, it is amazing Kubert is able to keep the story progressing while not losing the reader.  On the flip side, I get lost with Teen Titans each week.  It lacks flow and the art is not the clearest or easiest to follow.  The nurse/doctor/medical personnel with a axe against heroes is a little off-putting and (for the moment) doesn’t seem to belong in the story. 

Once more, Superman has some beautiful, detail art, but somewhere along the way, the story is missing.  For the first time I noticed that Supergirl suffers from the same problem.  It  has gorgeous art and I still am enjoying the humorous tone and art, but I think this is the first week where I am wondering what the hell is supposed to be going on. 

This week, I think the number of panels of Metamorpho exceeds the number of panels for the first three weeks combined.  I still am digging this strip and the plot kicking in helps a ton. 

In Strange Adventures, the title character is completely missing from the story, but it still works.  Alanna definitely holds her own.

What I said last week about Metal Men is still accurate this week.  These are fun strips in a format that recalls reading the comics that come with the Sunday paper, to see child endangerment or a potential suicide bomber is not the right tone for the strip. 

Hawkman takes a literal global view of the situation, which makes sense given the threat.  The ships in outer space look they belong in Star Trek.  However, I like the fact that strip makes sure ot re-focus the story back onto Hawkman at the end. 

There really is not much I can say about Kamandi or Deadman other to note that the strips are visually exciting and each story makes sense from week to week.  Both of these strips maintain a good level of quality week in and week out. 

While reading Demon and Catwoman, I kept reading Ertigan’s dialogue in a sing-song manner, somehow expecting the words to rhyme, but when it didn’t (or I was using the wrong “melody”) it made for some awkward reading.  Regardless, it is a little strange to spend the entire strip with Ertigan essentially talking to himself. 

With Flash/Iris West, I am not sure what is going on.  Last week, the two flashes were in the future.  But now they are not.  I am sooo confused.  I feel like I missed a week or something. 

The Green Lantern strip is not bad, but nor does it excite me or pull me into the story.  I kinda read it and move, forgetting it rather quickly. 

And, once again, I didn’t bother to read Wonder Woman.  Yeah, I know.  I am starting to get guilty, but each time I look at the page, my eyes get buggy and I have to put the issue down.

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