X-Men Schism #2: This s*** though? No bueno.
Almost the entire issue I was like "wait wat". All the contrived bullcrap with Logan, the kids trying way too hard to be creepy and "badass", Cyclops reaction about keeping Quire on the island and hiding him from Steve Rogers(yeah, that won't backfire on you) so he can be judged by his peers(ya know, the peers that all hate him), all the wacky Frank Cho faces...it all just felt very bizarre and silly, and not X-men like at all. Meh. I mean, EH.
Secret Avengers #15 I remember the original concept for Secret Avengers, a mix of action and intrigue, with moody visuals to provide the atmosphere. Well, that has all went to s*** recently, and this issue is just the cheery on the giant s*** pile that is this series.
Right from the start I knew this issue wasn't gonna have anything resembling an interesting plot. First three pages of this $3.99, 22-page comic are wordless pictures of Black Widow standing on a building, then swinging through a building window in broad daylight for a splash page of her standing there with a gun. SECRET AVENGERS, indeed. What transpires after that is page of page of tedium talking heads, trite commentary on the nature of death in superhero comics, and preachy author sockpuppets complaining about the world and its cynicalness. And I hope you like starring at Black Widow's stupidly large breasts the whole issue, because its on full f***ing display on every panel, even the flashbacks where they WEREN'T unzipped in the actual event.
There is, quite literally, nothing good about this issue. There is no entertainment value. There is no action, no intrigue, and definitely no moody visuals. Just contrived conversations and speeches from nowhere, and Spencer's poor grasps on phrases like "I could care less"(twice, even!). CRAP of the highest magnitude.
Captain America and Bucky #620: Last time around I was harsh on Brubaker for his formulaic storytelling and lazy usage of WW2 flashbacks, and this issue just re-enforced that. You CAN tell a compelling story with the umpteenth flashback with the right ideas and artists. Captain America and Bucky is an examination of Bucky Barnes' pre-Cap America sidekick days. It delves into the psyche of a boy who had to grow up around violence and death, who had to bottle up his emotions even after all his family was taken away from him. He learned at a young age had life can be unfair, and how you have to preserve anyway. He also can kick the ass of men twice his age, so that always helps!
It helps that he has some real inspiration in Captain America. The first time he sees him is the first time the reader sees Steve Rogers as well, on a big movie reel, charging into banner in full uniform. You can really see just how special Captain America was in the midst of all this chaos; a true red-white-and-blue icon for the Greatest Generation. Bucky's uses that inspiration of his hero and all the sorrow in his life, and he channels it into success in the army. We know the story beats coming, with Steve Rogers taking him on as a partner, but its a satisfying read to see him grow into the role over time, and what he had to go through to attain it.
This is all drawn by Chris Samnee, who is like some magical combination of Dawyrn Cooke and Matt Wagner. His storytelling is excellent, capturing the 1930s era with the right mix of sophistication and comic book exaggeration. The man can draw anything, and a great pick up by Brubaker for his Bucky story.
Bucky IS talking to somebody in this issue...so he can't be dead, right? Either way, its a GOOD start to what should be an entertaining trip down memory lane.
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