Comics from 06/09/2007 : Part 1

Now, let's get back into the rhythm...

Incredible Hulk #110 (WWH) : End of the Mastermind Excello WWH tie-in arc, on a relatively satisfyingly note. Pak walks on a fine line on the question whereas Cho has a big master plan from the beginning or is just making it all up on the fly, and he pulls it off. Not really a complete story by any standard, but a Very Good WWH tie-in which succeeds in setting up a new supporting cast for the Hulk (which does not bode well for those aliens).

Outsiders #50 : This is more like it. The five preceding one shot had the redeeming value of disposing of the worst plot-hammered elements of the new setup, helping this issue feel less contrived. I'm not sure I buy the "vaguely help criminals once, become outlaws immediatly" idea (it would have been nice to see references to the previous storyarcs, which did establish the Outsiders' poor PR), but it is merely a transition bug : the overall direction of the new series remains promising. There's a few continuity glitches (why would Batman think that Catwoman would not recognize Matches Malone ? It was a plot point in War Games that she knew about him and clued Spoiler in to her mistake...), but I remain cautiously optimistic. A high Okay.

She Hulk #21 : And thus ends Slott's run on the title. It's a fun little issue : the solution to "continuity glitches" works well as a joke, and offers lots of good characterization. Slott can be a bit mean-spirited at times, but it stays bearable here. And there's enough closure for most of the cast here for me to give a Very Good.

Ms. Marvel #19 : After a very promising first arc issue, this one slows down a lot, resulting in a slightly less enjoyable issue. Very predictable, too. The Puppet Master is less creepy, and even Machine Man felt a bit subdued. Still fun, but down to Good after the riot of last issue.

Uncanny X-Men #490 : After the superlatively good plot twist of last issue, this one is back to more of the same : not really bad, but not very interesting either. This does not feel like a team book at all, just random cast members thrown together. Rise and Fall of the Shi'Ar Empire had a bit of this problem, but the removal of half the cast cinched it. I hope whatever recomposition of the teams after Messiah Complex will correct this problem (Adjectiveless fares better thanks to its momentum, but its cast IS down to three members...). Pending some serious changes, Eh.

Black Canary Wedding Planer : A cute filler story, but not charming enough to go beyond Okay. This marriage still isn't very compelling, which is not good news after three full months of buildup...

Amazing Spider-Man #544 (OMD) : Finally, after six months of time-filling, the May plot looks like it will finally be resolved. Well, there isn't any progress yet in this very Eh opening issue, and the art rubs me in the wrong way. Still, silver lining : in three issues, this will at last be resolved.

New Warriors #4 : The plot progresses incrementally, and a few more members are identified (most already guessed). Not the one who (supposedly) dies, though, which is a bit of a shame. Still, there are nice moments, and I like the direction a lot (though the Night Thrasher mistery is getting a bit annoying). Good.