Against My Better Judgement

I gave this book the benefit of the doubt mainly because I was excited for the movie which somehow got amazing reviews which I don't really understand. I guess because all comicbook movies always get amazing reviews. I don't know. I can't really call it a bad movie. I liked it more than most comicbook movies, but I generally don't like comicbook movies. I do love the original Iron Man. Perhaps I should really do an Against My Better Judgement column on Iron Man 3 alone, but I couldn't call it a waste of time or money. It was a movie. and I'll leave it at that.

I was also intrigued by this Stark Seven story arc that Marvel's been promoting. I felt maybe because the movie was coming out last week that Marvel might try to release some A material to coincide.

Buying this went against my better judgement for several reasons. Most obviously, there's a baby on the cover. While this is obviously a metaphor and not in the comic. I should have also viewed the diaper as a metaphor on what this issue was filled with. I'm being unfair to make a poo joke. Much like the movie, I really can't call this comic good or bad. 

Another reason I shouldn't have picked this up is because I decided I didn't like this book eight issues ago. I've since cut my Marvel list down to three, so I figured I'd give it another chance. Where this issue seems to start The Secret Origin of Tony Stark, the entire issue is really more of a segue than a prologue. Stark walks around space cities and talks to Death's Head and robots which is kind of cool, but ultimately feels like decompressed filler.

The last few pages start a film reel of Howard Stark explaining some sordid secret history, but there's not a not a lot to get me hooked and pick up the next issue. They really needed to tease a little more for me to at least get interested. For example, instead of ending the issue with Stark saying into the camera, "It's time for you to know the truth. Son, you may need to have a drink." Maybe end the issue with something that leaves the audience a little more confused or horrified. Something like, "Let me tell you about the time I raped Galactus." I don't know. There's a reason a don't write for Marvel.

What you should get instead is Ten Grand by J Michael Straczynski and Ben Templesmith, published by Image. I haven't really ever been too impressed by Straczynski, but I also haven't read a lot of his work. I picked this up because of Templesmith's art, and it turned out to be a really cool book. Without giving too much of the story, it's part horror and part noir. I loved it. You should really check it out.

A Whole Nother New World

So now we're really in the thick of the Marvel Now relaunch, and this is the comic that really made me give these new Marvel books a second thought. I'm a pretty big fan of Brian Posehn's standup, and was actually a huge fan of Joe Kelley's run on the original Deadpool series. That being said, the only Deadpool issue I have read in the 13 years since he's left the series was the first issue of Daniel Way's run.

This is a pretty good start. Not hysterical, but I did laugh a few times. Like I mentioned, I haven't read any Deadpool in a while, but the premise and humor seems a little different: SHIELD is using Deadpool as an agent for the messy jobs that would garner bad publicity (which does exist) for the Avengers.

Although the script is good, what really sells it for me is Tony Moore's art. His facial expressions really bring it home. The most memorable part is a detailed two-page splash consisting of partying zombie presidents. My biggest concern with this title is that Moore cannot keep a monthly schedule let alone the twice monthly schedule that Marvel's pushing. I hope the book can sustain quality for the issues he's not drawing. On the optimistic side, Walking Dead has continued to be great throughout the 97 since he left.

Next is Iron Man which I enjoyed. The plot was solid. The characterization was spot on. The art looked great. The only thing this book was lacking is a uniqueness. It's a perfect book in the post Iron Man film Marvel universe, but really didn't seem all that different from what I've read of Fraction's or Ellis's runs. The only thing that really seems all that new is the armor's color. There is room for plenty of interesting directions to play out in the arc, but after a single issue, it seems to be a bit generic.