A Few Thoughts on Comics from This Week

Brian Bendis often talks in interviews about having different styles of writing when approaching comics but he's known for, stereotyped as, being the guy that takes six issues to tell two issues worth of story while filling the rest of the time with somewhat realistic dialogue that reminds one of Kevin Smith without the sexual and bodily function references. Going into issue #3, Siege has not been like that. The story has been focused on the key elements of the tale with tie-in books filling in some of the details that aren't necessary to know in order to enjoy the main book. Siege #3 moves along at a fast paced, action packed clip, that manages to take enough time to provide detail so that the story continues to make sense. Combined with the detailed art and the Big Moments that are paying off as truly game changing makes this a book to get. I am very impressed with this mini-series. I mean, I did really enjoy Secret Invasion but the last few issues just felt like one big fight scene that was drawn in a 'lets get everyone in there somewhere'. While a lot of that is happening here, the art works with the story, so that the battle 'feels' right, not just like a two page splash panel with a bunch of characters on it. Just... Wow.

Groo - The Hogs of Horder #4 completes this mini-series where the story has surrounded some familiar sounding economic troubles. You wouldn't think it would be funny but it is. It manages to sound like newspaper headlines without being depressing. Uplifting even. The moral of the story is a good one if a bit 'easier said than done' - the best person to work for is yourself.

Hercules - Fall of an Avenger #1 of 2 features Herc's funeral. Friends get together to tell stories of the fallen. Amusing but not essential.

Dark Avengers #15 builds into Siege. It exists for really one moment, one event that clearly has an impact on what will later happen in Siege. Beyond that moment, there's nothing really to see here.

Muppet King Arthur #3 still doesn't feel... right. It's amusing, the art is decent, the story is acceptable, there's a Monty Python reference, but it still doesn't have the impact that Muppet Peter Pan had, or even Muppet Robin Hood. Perfectly acceptable Muppetry but nothing exciting.

Nova #35 completes the Sphinx story with a twist at the end. I continue to enjoy Nova but this feels more like Perfectly Acceptable 1990s Comics more than the 'Wow!' I expect from Nova. Next issue begins the tie-in with the next big cosmic storyline so maybe that'll kickstart things again. It's not that there's anything wrong with this issue or this storyline, it's just B instead of A+.

Simpsons Comics #164 is entertaining. The storyline is about 'Cash for Clunkers' and therefore feels like it should have come out last year. That's a problem the show seems to have of late as well, topical references that aren't topical by the time the episode airs. Then again, you can be too topical as well and then you're not funny a year later. I should read this again in a year.

Amazing Spider-Man #625 is very sad. It's clear that a happy story from a month or two ago existed solely to have this follow-up story occur and have a greater impact. Bad Things happen to a Spidey villain and he will be worse for it in the future. Depressing in a well written sort of way.

Thankfully I read The Muppet Show Comic Book #3 after Spidey. All better! I had expected the gang to be on the road away from the being repaired Muppet Theatre for another issue or two but they return home at the beginning of this issue. Gonzo takes the 'slow' way home in order to raise money for charity and Fozzie is still missing. The twist around Fozzie's absence is no real twist but everything works out as it should. Statler and Waldorf being lost without Fozzie to heckle is a great insight into the characters. It's as if it's their job in life to push Fozzie onwards. There's a fondness there that doesn't need to be fondness at the same time. There's also a Muppet Labs experiment that leads to multiple Beakers. Ah, Good Stuff.