For The Love of Reviews - Badasses Don’t Need Grammar Edition
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I’ve warned you all that a day would come wherein I would review some issues that I disliked. It would appear that day has come.
In the interest of full disclosure, I had a low opinion of all of these books before I even saw these issues, so they may have all come into this at a disadvantage. That said, even with my already low opinions and expectations, all three of these books disappointed me. Two of them disappointed me right away; one almost surprised me until the end.
I belong to the - apparently small - group of comic fans who actually enjoy most of Mark Millar’s work, but Fantastic Four 554 annoyed me as soon as I saw the cover. What is up with those fingerless gloves? Are they supposed to make Reed look more “extreme” and “hardcore”? Because they look more “ridiculous” and “trying too hard”. And why does Sue have fingers on her gloves on the cover but not in the actual inside panels? Seriously, she’s partially transparent on the cover, but you can still see the folds in her gloves, where the gloves and and her costume begins, and the fact that her gloves have fingers.
But that’s enough about that, because it also seems that Ben and Johnny have regressed back to the first year of Fantastic Four as far as character development. Johnny’s back to being a totally brainless kid (In Sue’s words, he’s Paris Hilton) and Ben is back to laying guilt trips on Reed about the accident. I’ll admit that I’m not a big fan of the Fantastic Four and thus not overly familiar with the character arcs, but I thought they’d both moved past that shit. It really annoys me that Millar has to set back both characters decades to tell his story. That’s some Mephisto shit right there, kids.
There’s not much else to say, because not much really happened in this issue.
I have always loved the concept of the Ghost Rider character, but the execution has quite often been… lacking.That hasn’t really changed with new writer Jason Aaron. Ghost Rider is still an angel, but now he’s an angel with an edge, out for vengeance and not caring who he has to go through to get it! He needs a few more r’s at the end of his name - he is now Ghost Riderrrr!!
This edge appears to include Johnny Blaze forgetting all of the grammar and speaking skills he’s had over the years, since he now speaks in cliche’s and, as mentioned, horrible grammar that feels very forced. The Ghost Rider doesn’t need to talk tough, because he IS tough - nothing to prove. Aaron may try to blame this on Blaze’s circus past, but I know circus folk - they don’t speak like that and, to my knowledge, Johnny Blaze has never spoken like that. It’s LAME, Aaron!
Other than Blaze’s apparent brain damage in the language center of his brain, this issue isn’t really any worse than the last few; it’s just a continuation of what I think is a ridiculous direction for the character. I’ll try for a few more issues in case they actually pull something good out of this, but my hopes are very low.
I really wanted to hate Hulk 2. I really really really wanted to hate it. I haven’t really liked anything Jeph Loeb has done in awhile and I’ve been thinking the entire concept of this series is… something not good, but I didn’t hate this issue.I actually thought the majority of this issue was kind of fun. The fear and near-panic of everyone on board the carrier was palpable during their cat-and-mouse game with the Hulk and the few battle scenes were very cool and slightly amusing. Joe Maduiera’s (I mean) Ed McGuiness’s art is made for this type of book and Loeb’s writing was even decent.
In short, I enjoyed this issue… until the end. I was pretty sure that Rick Jones wasn’t the Red Hulk, but a blue Abomination knock-off called “A-Bomb”? LAAAAAAME!!!
I still think Banner is the Red Hulk, but I could be wrong. If Loeb doesn’t step up his game, I won’t find out.
Technorati Tags: Reviews, Marvel, Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider, Hulk, Red Hulk, A-Bomb, Mark Millar, Jason Aaron, Jeph Loeb, Ed McGuinness
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Comments
…except the Hulk in the movie is green and Bruce Banner. *shrug*
I’m not really a fan of constant revamping. The FF is, by definition, kinda G-rated. They have more to do with something like General Hospital than they do the WWE. If you make them WWE-esque, then they are no longer the FF. If you want something more extreme, create a new character. Otherwise, you have characters like Ghost Rider and Wonder Woman who are messed with all the time and noone really understands anymore.
Not to nitpick, but Joe Maduiera actually doesn’t do art on Hulk #2, it’s Ed McGuinness.
I skipped out on this issue because I was so turned off by the first issue. I might actually grab this comic anyway just because you somewhat enjoyed it.
If CrackerBob likes it, I have to give it a chance.
Gah, you’re right. Joe Mad is doing the art that I’m hating on Ultimates 3. Stupid brainfarts!
Fixing that now, thanks for calling me on it.
I wasn’t fond of the first issue and I’m still not crazy about the concept or the end of this one, but… it could be alright, I suppose.
Personally, I really like Maduiera’s art in Ultimates but I just think the horrifying story is really holding a lot of people back from seeing some of the better points of the comic.
I think if he were given a different title, with a better writer, he’d be one of the top artists at Marvel.
I have a bad habit of blaming any problems that I have with the visuals in a comic on the penciler when the problem could easily be with the inking or coloring. I think Ultimates 3 is a good example of this because my biggest issue is that everything is too dark and I can’t really make out what’s going on. That could easily be a problem with the colorer, you know?
I’m trying to get out of that habit, which is why you’ll often see me include the caveat of my problems with the art not necessarily being the penciler’s fault, like in my review of the Messiah Complex finale. I just don’t know enough about art to be able to tell exactly where the problem is.
Back to your point, I’ve seen art by Maduiera that I loved, so you may be right.
I’ve never been a huge F4 or Hulk fan. I read that Rick Jones had become Abomination-like, but “A-Bomb”? For real? *sigh*
To be fair, we’ve yet to see Hulk in possession of said gun; the only evidence we have that he ever used the gun is Leonard Samson’s hypothesis.
Wow, was Millar and Hitch combo this time screwed up FF? I stopped reading comics actively after Joe Mad left Marvel, but I like Millar and Hitch works on Ultimates, in fact I only read Ultimates now, and now waiting for Ultimates 3 TPB 
Ultimates and Ultimates 2 were both good, but Jeph Loeb and Joe Mad are doing Ultimates 3 and - in case you couldn’t tell from the comments made - it’s a bit of a disappointment. You may want to think long and hard about whether or not you really want to pick up the trade.
If you like Ultimates, though, consider giving the original Authority a try. It was started by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch and then eventually taken over by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely.
I also always recommend The Boys to anyone who likes that kind of in-your-face storytelling style. Ok, I recommend The Boys to anyone who will listen. Or won’t listen.
Let’s face it, I kidnap people off the street and force them to read The Boys. I may have a few issues.
Or subscriptions, for that matter.
“A-Bomb”. *snicker* interesting to see where this leads to.
F4… meh. It was interesting when they shook up F4 by bringing in Black Panther and Storm, but now… meh. Not a big fan of F4 either, except for the Thing. Now that guy rocks (sorry, couldn’t resist).
As for Ghost Rider… based on the image you posted, it *seeeeeeeems* believable (or rather, forgivable?). The only GR-related books I have is the “Johnny Blaze” 4-part special (back when Danny Ketch was still GR). Johnny didn’t talk like that then. I was half-expecting him to say “bub” somewhere now. Shame though. The art is pretty cool, at least.
Wouldn’t it be cool if GR and Spidey had a crossover now? The Mephisto connection, and all. Heck, I’d buy a “What if…” wherein Spidey sold his soul but instead of asking for his marriage, Mephisto would make him a Rider instead! Yeah. Ghost Spider - Spider of Vengeance. Now that’s bad ass.
Its great what they’re doing with The Hulk my guess they’re trying to create a new following plus the new film coming out. I do hope they adapt some of the stories from the comics.
A darker F4 is welcome they always have been kinda rated G most of the time.
very impressive site I might say!