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Top and Bottom 5 Comics, Week of July 4th, 2018: From Hulk to Inhumans
It's a bit late again, and I didn't get around to doing it last week. However, the Top and Bottom 5 Comics is back again this week. What soared? What fell on its face? Let's find out together now!
Best Comics of the Week
Immortal Hulk kicked off with a hell of a first issue, and the second installment topped even that. With a tight, smartly written, and shockingly dark story, Immortal Hulk #2 weaves a tragedy of a father willing to do anything to keep his son alive and dooming both his son and his town in the process. That's where the Hulk comes in like a massive green angel of vengeance.
Despite my love of the work of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Leinil Francis Yu, I was still worried about this new start to Captain America. Those fears were abated by this comic. Coates presents a self-conscious yet hopeful Steve Rogers trying to keep the land he loves together despite the challenges that assail it. Plus, the Winter Soldier is back in Cap's comic, and I will always be happy about that.
The first Brian Michael Bendis Superman arc came to a close this week, and I thoroughly adored it. We get the whereabouts of Lois Lane and Jonathan, Superman and Supergirl take on Rogul Zaar in one last showdown, and Jason Fabok makes it all look gorgeous. I can't wait for this week's Superman #1.
Vagrant Queen #1 was a promising and charming delight. Vagrant Queen #2 pushes the comic further with a fast and action-packed rogue's tale with two compelling leads and a deep story behind it all. Magdalene Visaggio and Jason Smith killed it with this book.
Sword Daughter is one of the most atmospheric and moody comics I've read in recent months. I love when a comic knows to rely on art instead of over-explaining a scene, and Brian Wood clearly knows when to let Mack Chater and Jose Villarrubia tell the story with visuals. Plus, it's a revenge narrative that is curious about it's own violence, and that makes it all the more interesting.
Not-So-Best Comics of the Week
5. Batman #50
There were more lacking comics than Batman #50 this week (see X-Men Gold #31 and Cosmic Ghost Rider #1), but neither disappointed me as much as Batman #50. This comic could have been something interesting and special, but it instead foreshadows another grand Batman arc while telling very little story on its own. The splash pages were pretty at least.
4. Unnatural #1
Many of the ideas and premises behind Unnatural #1 are clever and could lead to an interesting tale. The artwork is quite pretty too. The main flaw in Unnatural is the dialogue, and it is really bad. This comic may be able to course-correct over time, but the first issue was a misfire.
3. Orphan Black: Crazy Science #1
Similar to Unnatural #1, a lot of the core components of Orphan Black: Crazy Science #1 are good. The chemistry between the two leads is nice, and I can easily invest myself in their relationship. It's just very slow and barely has a conflict or tension. This one is incredibly boring, and that is one of the worst crimes a story can commit.
2. Weapon X #20
On the other end of the spectrum, there is almost nothing redeeming about Weapon X #20. The dialogue is bad, the art is unappealing, and the characters come off as thin archetypes instead of their usually compelling selves.
Nothing says Marvel like a miniseries to kill off a series of characters deemed to no longer be financially viable. That could still make for a good series, but this book is almost offensive in how rapidly, callously, and almost gleefully it starts putting name characters in the ground. It's not dramatic, intense, or compelling. It's just shallow and frustrating.
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That's it for another week of releases. Check out Bleeding Cool later today and tomorrow for Comics for Your Pull Box and a couple of reviews for smaller titles. See you then!
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