Comic Book Reviews: Late Edition
Walking Dead #61
PICK OF THE WEEK!
Written by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Charlie Adlard
Just judging by the cover of this issue, you can tell that things are beginning to change for the characters in Walking Dead.
Flip open this issue and sure enough, things are changing, big time. At first, things seem optimistic, and sweet Jesus, this book needs optimism. The group come across an abandoned car that still functions, and even has some matresses inside, which in the zombie infested and constantly on the run world of the Walking Dead seems to be a luxury.
Two pages later, we see Rick going back to his old insane ways. Picking up the phone he carries around with him and hearing his dead wife’s voice say that they need to talk about their son, Carl. A page later, and Andrea is searching for the twins, Ben and Billy, only to find that one of them, Ben, is not so right in the head. After locking the boy away, the group argues about what needs to happen to the boy, for the sake of the rest of the group’s wellbeing. Also, a new character arrives that brings a eerie calm to the book. This newcomer, a preacher, claims to just walk across the country with only a Bible and God’s love to help him fend off evil. More noticeably, the group doesn’t encounter any zombies while the preacher is in their presence.
The most significant portion of the book deals with Rick and Abraham actually agreeing on something, but little do they realize, they are forming an impression on Rick’s son, Carl. So while the majority of the group agrees that something needs to be done about Ben, during the night, someone takes it upon themselves to correct the problem.
The last page gives away the upcoming plot that will soon be in full light. The group are being followed, but not by the dead.
Once again, Kirkman and Co. deliver an astounding issue of the Walking Dead. The last time something this horrific and depressing happened, it was back in issue 48, where many long time and much loved characters met their ends through various means. I’m gonna say that this issue, without killing off multiple characters, still manages to bring about the fact that absolutley NO ONE is safe in this book. Not even children.
Charlie Adlard again draws us a beautiful issue. It is just amazing how he can draw emotions for the characters. Little nuanced detail give this book the written AND visual feel that when both combined, give the reader the EXACT emotion that someone in the characters situation would have.
I really can’t stress this enough, YOU MUST BE READING WALKING DEAD! If you haven’t been, start from the beginning. It is paramount that you experience this series. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Walking Dead WILL go down as one of the greatest comic book series of all time when it finally ends. But in the meantime, with issues like these, I almost don’t want it to.
G.I. Joe Cobra #3
PICK OF THE WEEK – RUNNER UP!
Written by: Mike Costa and Christos Gage
Art by: Antonio Fuso
For a while, I wasn’t sure which of IDW’s G.I. Joe books were the best of the group. They are all fantastic, and even with their downfalls, they all were on the same level. The main series continues to be great, the Origins series hit a lull last issue but feels like it will kick back into gear next issue, hell, even the movie prequel books are great, but G.I. Joe Cobra, and more importantly, this issue, has changed my view on the Joe books.
This issue of Cobra has pushed G.I. Joe Cobra to the top of the pack. Inside is one of the most compelling stories out of all.
The main premise of Cobra is that Chuckles, a G.I. Joe member, is kicked out of the Joe’s and turned loose. His goal is to infiltrate Cobra and find out what they are up to and put a stop to it. But in order to maintain the idea that he is truly one of the bad guys, he must do bad guy things. In a very ‘Departed’ fashion, Chuckles must maintain his cover, even if it means killing innocents. While undercover, Chuckles still has help and various ways to contact the Joes secretly. He also meets a contact that is also undercover, Jinx. So while at times, he is alone, but he does have support standing by. Until now.
Three issues in, Cobra, has proven itself as the best of the Joe books.
Chuckles, through a comical yet still very scary scenario finds himself without the support of the Joes. Forced to destroy a train carrying weapons and innocent lives, Chuckles is knee deep in Cobra. There is no going back for him.
During a hijacking of a transport, Chuckles and other members of Cobra, were given intel on a scientist being routed to a gulag. During the comical search for the scientist, Chuckles realizes that someone else knew about the scientist and wanted him dead. The assassin’s bomb blasts Chuckles back and destroys his internal communicator that is linked to G.I. Joe headquarters. Once he awakens in the hospital, Chuckles finds himself up shit creek.
After earning a promotion through Cobra, Chuckles finds himself on the frontlines, training Cobra soldiers, training the very people who want to kill his friends.
But the real twist in the book comes when Chuckles finds out that Cobra has figured out that there is a spy amongst the group. Fearing for his life, Chuckles is led to an interogation chamber only to find his contact, Jinx. Apparently, Jinx received Chuckles alternate means of transmissions and came to snoop around. With ideas of how he can possibly get away with Jinx alive, he ultimately figures out that he is screwed. The only option is to again try to prove that he is a Cobra member…by killing Jinx.
But the real heart stopper comes when he admits that the first thing he though of when he opened the interogation room was “Thank God it’s not me.”
After all this, Chuckles is ready to finally take down the terrorists, no matter what it takes.
Everything in this issue is great. The writing, the art, everything. The writing is very good. The art is sort of washed out, yet very nice. The two combine to make a great book. One that is definitely worth your money.
As I said before, Cobra is now the king of the hill of Joe books. Forgo whatever idea you have about G.I. Joe, either from the old school cartoons or the upcoming movie, and check out IDW’s line of G.I. Joe books, especially Cobra.
Wolverine #73
Written by: Jason Aaron & Daniel Way
Art by: Adam Kubert & Tommy Lee Edwards
So it comes to no surprise that a Millar/McNiven book gets delayed. Their “Old Man Logan” story will return in about 2 months or after the next issue, hopefully.
In the meantime, we get a two parter by Daniel Way, accompanied by a short from Jason Aaron. Daniel Way’s part one of two called “One Percenter”, a story about Logan reuniting with a old friend, Henry “Horrorshow” McLaury, a member of a biker gang. The two catch up and find out that they both have the same problem: their sons. Both men have sons who have strayed from the path that their fathers intended. Logan, takes it upon himself to help out Horrorshow, as a way to cleanse his soul about his failings on his own son, Daken. While Wolverine is in the story, this tale is mostly about Horrorshow.
While not the best Wolverine tale ever told, Way’s “One Percenter” is readable. Tommy Lee Edwards art is the real star. The art gives this story a real grimey, and “Lost and the Damned” feel to it. It fits the story very well.
While Daniel Way’s story was good, I ultimately felt that Jason Aaron’s story is the most fun. In a very comical way of stating “How is Wolverine everywhere at once?”, Aaron gives a day by day breakdown on what exactly a few weeks of Wolverine’s life is like. “A Mile In My Moccasins” part one shows that Wolverine purposefully stresses himself out in order to cope with all the bad things in his life.
So with the coping aside, this part one of two really has some funny moments. On some days Wolverine is fighting zombies, the next he is fighting some Purifiers, the next it is Mystique, and the next is a team up with Spider-man against Hydra. The humorous parts are with who Wolverine is teamed up with, one day he gets a motor mouthed Spider-man who won’t shut up, and the next team up is with Deadpool who also won’t shut up. One day Wolverine is playing poker (which features Spider-man betting one of his web shooters) and the next, he finds out that he is replaced in the Dark Avengers.
You get the idea. The man is constantly moving and doing something different everyday. While at first, this story seems phoned in, but it does bring up the fact that Wolverine truly is EVERYWHERE. I really think that the simple story and comical settings make this the perfect way to make people forget about the delay of “Old Man Logan”. I think that if this story would happen more than once, I would be pissed, but for some reason, I really enjoyed this story. It’s light and makes you laugh. While it does come during the insanely awesome “Old Man Logan” story, I really don’t want something that will be a heavy read. This quick, enjoyable tale is the perfect way to make me forget about the adventures of a geriatric Wolverine in an apocalyptic, heroless land…….almost.
Next Week’s Pull List
Marvel
Amazing Spider-man #594
Captain America #50
Punisher #5
Thunderbolts #132
Uncanny X-Men #510
Wolverine Weapon X #2
DC
Batman Battle For the Cowl #3
Others
G.I.Joe #5
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Tags: gi joe, walking dead, wolverine
