Unwinnable

Hawkeye #1

(Marvel – writer: Matt Fraction; art: David Aja)

Most of my Hawkeye knowledge is pieced together from a few random appearances he’s had in other books I’ve read, so I went into this issue without any clue of what to expect. I think this helped me appreciate Hawkeye #1 more than I would have if I were a big fan of the character. Why? Because very little of this issue has Hawkeye being Hawkeye. Most of it is centered around Clint Barton, the man behind the mask, and the character nuances expressed by writer Matt Fraction make for a strong introduction to Marvel’s greatest archer. (more…)

Astonishing X-Men #51

(Marvel – writer: Marjorie Liu; art: Mike Perkins)

I wanted to read Astonishing X-Men #51 to see just how Marvel would approach same-sex marriage. And given my recent foray into the world of homosexuality and comic books, I wanted to make sure to review it as well. So how does it fare? I think Marjorie Liu does a great job of capturing the realities – as heartbreaking as they can be – about homosexuals and their quest for equality. (more…)

Avengers vs. X-Men #4

(Marvel – writer: Jonathan Hickman; art: John Romita Jr.)

Of the four issues published, Avengers vs. X-Men #4 is by far the best. John Romita does some of his best work of the series, and Jonathan Hickman finds a humor to his storytelling that humanizes the characters and creates a bit of needed levity. While we’re still waiting for Hope to engage with the Phoenix force, having a few quiet moments between characters really helped me getter a better appreciation for this story. (more…)

Aquaman #7

(DC – writer: Geoff Johns; art: Ivan Reis)

Beyond the first issue, I haven’t really enjoyed Aquaman. It’s been a mixture of tired plots and poor character development (especially that issue focused on Mera). But issue #7 feels like a step in the right direction. Geoff Johns is trying to add depth to a character whose only recent exposure was being a punching bag for writers of Family Guy, and in doing so he’s weaving a rich history for a character who, in the right hands, has the potential to be a great hero. (more…)