New Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters # 1 Review

Authors: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
Art: Renato Arlem
Colors: Rob Schawger
Cover: Dave Johnson

No it's not really call New Uncle Sam, but it's the new series with the same name. I guess I could have called it volume 2, but New just sounds so Marvelous! Anyway, because you demanded it! That's right you! I guess I kind of demanded it too by buying the trade. It's the return of Uncle Sam and his band of Freedom Fighters, but it's a return that comes a little too late. Why you ask? Well they missed out on all the action of Amazons Attack! Lucky them I say.

While the Amazons were on the rag and destroyed the White House we find out that the Freedom Fighters were fighting a swarm of intelligent bugs in space. Red Bee was captured by these bugs and put into some kind of cocoon. When she finally gets out her skin is darker and she's sporting some hot antennas. She communicates with the queen of these bugs and tricks her into letting her and her team mates go. Uncle Sam senses that there is a bigger storm coming and tips his hat. That one panel reminded of Fatal Fury the motion picture with Terry's inner monologue. The president decides to make the Freedom Fighters the frontline against domestic threats just in case a bunch of crazy women decide to take Washington DC again. It seems that there will be more of a change to come for Red Bee with that last page and some dark times for the rest of the group.

I think that Arlem's style fits this book better than Acuna's and it his heavy inks definitely flatter the story more than his work on Silver Surfer. The only thing he really needs to tighten up is his facial features, but that would be my only gripe about the art. Speaking of art, I am fond of that simplistic yet catchy cover by Johnson. I really enjoyed the previous miniseries it was a fun way of mixing politics and old characters and putting them in a modern era. Overall it was a fun issue that dragged a bit in the middle, but kept my interest from beginning to end. I'm curious to see where this story takes us and see who makes it out alive. B+

Quick Reviews for 9-26-07

Wonder Woman Annual #1

Writer: Alan Heinburg
Artists: Terry Dodson & Gary Frank

Alan Heinburg's "Who is Wonder Woman" story from last June finally ends and leaves a wierd taste in your mouth.  There are things to like, but most of the issue falls flat from the 8 months in between issues.  From what I remember, in issue 3 or 4 of the regular Wonder Woman series, Diana had her powers stolen by Circe, only to do the Wonder-Spin and get them back, only to be ambushed by a ton of villains.  So most of this issue is a fight with all of Wonder Woman's villains, all 14 of them, 4 of which I'd heard of before.  So we've waited 8 months for a big fight, a big confrontation with Circe, and all Wonder Woman has with Circe is a conversation.  After some magical voodoo, Diana is glowing pink, and Circe disaapears, presumably to start Amazon's Attack.  Gee, thanks DC for that lack-luster conclusion to what had been a pretty-good arc.  Following Dodson's part is Gary Franks who goes through the motions and gives us a quick backstory of all the characters in Wonder Woman's world, Diana, Donna, Cassie, Sarge Steel, and Nemesis.  It's kind of informative, but all of this would have been more helpful in the back of Wonder Woman #1 when I was asking these questions.  Gah.  This issue is not worth it's $3.99, so read it in the shop if you want to read the conclusion of a story that started more than a year ago.   D- 

All Star Batman & Robin #7

Writer: Frank Miller
Artists: Jim Lee & Scott Williams

Holy Flying Feces Batman! We got 3 issues of All Star Batman in one summer!  Unfortunately, while they have been interesting, they have not been great.  Isssue seven hits and finally moves the story forward.  Over the summer we saw Batman beat up a rapist, go to the docks, and meet Black Canary.   Oh and Batgirl took up a lot of space.  Robin? Oh, he's still starving in the batcave, but he appears for more than one page in this issue.  Batman kicks the crap out of the goons who were attacking Black Canary, and then proceeds to have sex with her, with their masks on, because according to Black Canary, "it's better that way."  Right.  Batman's not that much of a jerk to leave a girl in the cold rain after a stand, so he gives her a lift home in the Goddamn Batmobile.  Batman brings a good home to the Batcave, tells Robin that this is the jerk who killed his parents, and that he must make a choice.  Robin makes his choice and the issue ends.  So, after 3 issues in the Batmobile, and 3 in the Batcave, I give it another 10 issue before Robin puts on the costume, but I could be wrong because the last page of this book appears to say that this book is finally going to get moving along. 

Frank is keeping his goddamn mantra, with the word being as present in this issue as it was in five and six.  I'm now starting to think that Frank is lampooning us for making a big deal of it back when issue two came out years ago.  Or he could really like the word, but it's just getting tired.  This issue shows why we had the Black Canary origin in issue three, so we would know she kicks ass, loves Batman, and wants to screw him so bad that she doesn't care about splinters in awkward places.  Just give me Batman in each issue from now on, please.  Jim Lee continues to deliever phenominal work, and Batman scares me more in this series than he does in any of his other books.  Lee draws Batman like a maniac, smiling and laughing, clearly enjoying all the pain he's dishing out.  I've never seen Batman grin as much as he has in this series, it's almost refreshing.  A lot of people may not like the way this series is being written, it's too cartoony, too rough-edged, too different from their takes before.  I like rather like it, as Batman has never been more interesting, whether it's the new Playboy in Morrison's Batman or the insane one in this book.  It's these refreshing takes that make me realize why I love the character, it's because the concept of Batman is just so cool that it doesn't matter how he's written, he's just badass, all the time, and this issue definately helps that case.  B- / C+

Countdown to Mystery #1

Writer(s) Steve Gerber, Matthew Sturges
Artist(s): Justiniano, Stephen Jorge Segovia

This title just goes to show ya that you CAN have two great stories in one book. Steve Gerber writes the first half of this book, as the Helmet of Fate finally falls into the hands of a bum that ironically enough is thrown out with the garbage. The helmet is put on by this homeless doctor for shelter from the rain. Yeah...whoops. From this point, the helmet takes Dr. Kent on a journey of it's past, from being thrown by Captain Marvel into the darkness of space, to it's journey back to Earth searching for a wearer. Along the journey the helmet delves into the doctors' own past, and of ultimately how this doctor came to be a bum. Just shooting from first impressions here, I really REALLY dig this Gerber guys' writing, it just flows so well, certain parts like this: "and the pitiless, pounding rain that stings like needles driven deep into his wounds", it...I don't know... it somehow just struck me. The aforementioned dialogue and other pieces of it, show something great in comic writing that I didn't know was missing. I know, I am being vague but, the writing just seemed eloquent and well...it was just good, I don't know anyway other way to put it. Justinianos' art fit this story to a T as well. The lines were tight and smooth, just enough, to where it kept a feeling of finite reality, even during some scenes that were meant to be somewhat metaphysical. The story ends on a cliffhanger as Dr. Kent V Nelson transforms into Doctor Fate, facing off against a monster of some sort. Gerber really seems to get the character of Doctor Fate and his paring with Justiniano on art makes me very interested to see where this story ends up going.

The second part of this story was just as good as the first part, believe it or not. Matthew Sturges writes a scene wherein a man by the name of William Hanson is essentially punished for murdering someone via some justice doled out by the Spirit of Vengeance, the Spectre, per usual the punishment is somewhat ironic. The funny thing? After Hanson dies his spirit is up and about following the Spectre and his host Crispus Allen....this is weird enough but, then the Spectre senses Eclipso has returned. As the Spectre and Crispus start to teleport/fade to elsewhere Hanson tags along. Next part of the story focuses on Eclipso seemingly trying to corrupt Plastic Man, after returning to Earth apparently through the help of Darkseid. It's a bizarre but engaging story to say the least. Segovia's art throughout this story is well...good. Facial details are pretty good and...well Segovia gave Eclipso a general evil but hot vibe...without even using large breasts...come on...you gotta give points to the guy for being able to do that.

Sooo, if you haven't be able to tell already, I LOOVED this title...the only bad thing about it is the title name, I mean, Countdown to Mystery? I understand it's sorta a Countdown tie-in but, is the "Countdown to" part really needed. ANYWAY, in short, check this title out, it's weird, different, and well...GOOD!, A+

Justice League of America: Wedding Special #1

Superman #667