Weekly Review Power Rankings 03/25/09

[Ye Olde Iowa]

Welcome to another edition of the Weekly Review Power Rankings—counting down the week’s best releases (or at least the ones that I picked up).

For this unfamiliar with the format, I preRank all of the week’s books that I plan to pick up based upon Diamond’s weekly shipping list, taking into consideration the creative team, previous issues, preview pages, and solicitations. Once I’ve read all of the books, I create the final Rankings based upon how they actually turned out.

Below are this week’s Power Rankings. The numbers in parentheses represent where the book was pre-ranked. Let me know what you all think and feel free to post your own list. I attempt to keep everything as spoiler free as possible, but keep in mind that there may be the occasional minor spoiler that I overlook.

As always, I can be reached via email at ryanreviews@gmail.com. I do accept review copies and I’m not opposed to criticism, so feel free to drop me a line if you’ve got something to say!

-Ryan the Iowan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before we get to this week’s Rankings, I just have a few notes.
1) I was able to pick up AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #588 and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EXTRA #2 this week after missing out on them last week. They were both a lot of fun, especially #588. “Character Assassination” ended on a strong note and is definitely a contender for Storyline of the Year in the Yearly Review Power Rankings.
2) I was really tempted to pick up CABLE/X-FORCE: MESSIAH WAR PROLOGUE after a quick flip-through. I’m not reading either book right now, but I loved “Messiah CompleX” and the hype behind this story seemed promising. If anyone did pick this up, let me know what you thought. I may go back and check it out.
3) Thanks to the guys at The Outhouse for the warm welcome last week as I debuted the Weekly Review Power Rankings on that message board. You can now check out the Rankings every week on Newsarama, ComicBloc, and the Outhouse.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Amazing Spider-Man #589 (07)
Written by Fred Van Lente
Art by Paulo Siqueira (pencils), Amilton Santos (inks), and Jeromy Cox (colors)
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover by Chris Eliopolous, Klaus Janson, and Dean White
• Following up “Character Assassination” is a tough gig, so I feel like I should cut Fred Van Lente and Paulo Siqueira some slack on this week’s issue of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN featuring the return of The Spot, a character I didn’t realize anyone cared that was gone.
• I suppose I would find myself more interesting if I read Van Lente’s MODOK’S 11, which this apparently follows-up, but as it stands this one is mostly mindless action with a flimsy “crook with a heart” ending that blindsides the reader thanks to Van Lente’s lack of build-up.
• Some of the quipping is good, though, which isn’t surprising considering Van Lente’s strength in humor writing. I especially enjoyed the Batman riffs towards the end of the issue.
• This one is a mixed-bag for Siqueira. His action scenes work well thanks to his fluid art and his strong sense of anatomical consistency. However, his expressions are really rough with everyone either looking tight-lipped and frumpy or being more surprised than they have ever been. Seriously, I’ve never seen so many gaping mouths in my life (wow, I really left myself open for a dirty joke there…but I’ll take the high road this week).
• In the end, unless you are a huge spot fan (so, ya know, unless you are Fred Van Lente), you can pass up this stinker and buy yourself a burrito. Or you could buy any one of the considerably better books below. It’s really up to you.

11. Captain America #48 (09)
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Butch Guice (art), Luke Ross (art), Steve Epting (art), and Frank D’Armata (colors)
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover by Steve Epting
• As good as CAPTAIN AMERICA has been since this volume’s inception, I had never so anxiously awaited the end of a storyline like I have this one. This is the first major misstep that Ed Brubaker has made on this table, so I’m pretty happy that we will be able to move on after this issue.
• This issue quickly and mercifully wraps up the storyline by pulling together loose ends, showcasing a bit of action, and quickly brushing the story under the rug. In that sense, I’m pleased that Brubaker kept to a brisk pace and avoided dragging this out any further.
• That’s not to say it was all bad. Brubaker is a good enough character writer that most of the interaction is solid, even when the story falters. Not surprisingly given how well he has been working these characters in the past, I was especially impressed with the brief scenes between Black Widow and Bucky.
• While this issue has an impressive cadre of artists on board (I mean come on, Guice, Ross, and Epting?!), its fairly mediocre in its execution. The styles blend well together so its hard to tell where one artist ends and the other begins; I’ll give them kudos for that.
• However, no one really lives up to their own standard, making this one fairly lifeless and uninspired. It really doesn’t help that Frank D’Armata’s colors are ridiculously dark here. He simply drowns out the art with his oppressive color choices.
• In the end, this issue could probably also be traded in for a burrito, but I still really like how well Brubaker writes Black Widow and Bucky together, which is really the saving grace here. Read this one with extreme caution.

10. Runaways #8 (10)
Written by Terry Moore
Art by Takeshi Miyazawa (pencils and inks) and Christina Strain (colors)
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover by Humberto Ramos and Christina Strain
• I think I’m finally figuring out what it is that bothers me about Terry Moore’s take on RUNAWAYS. He clearly understands the character’s voices and roles, but it doesn’t seem like he wants to take them seriously. BKV’s original runs were fun and often times funny, but they always had an undeniable gravitas to them that was a major part of what made the book so addictive. That is simply missing from Moore’s run.
• That being said, the highlight of this issue again is the interaction between the characters. Moore knows their voices and writes them well enough to keep longtime fans comfortable so long as they don’t expect much beyond a surface presentation.
• For the most part, I really dig Takeshi Miyazawa’s art here as it is fun and energetic, with a good design sense and a great amount of expression. However, I was really put off by his take on Nico. She looked out of place and unfinished compared to the other characters. Anyone else notice that?
• On an unrelated note, is anyone else excited about Kathryn Immonen stepping in to write the book next? I was hoping for CB Cebulski or Chris Yost, but I think that she can bring the goods.
• While I wasn’t exactly offended by this week’s RUNAWAYS, it’s certainly not the book that I want it to be. A few strong character moments and a lot of artistic energy kept this one from being the burrito book, but it was certainly leaning that way. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

09. Oracle: The Cure #1 (11)
Written by Kevin Van Hook
Art by Julian Lopez (pencils), Fernando Pasarin (pencils), Bit (inks), David Bryant (inks), and Hi-Fi (colors)
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover by Guillem March
• The good news is that the Rankings taking a decided upswing with this issue and everything from this point on is considerably better than everything that comes before it. The bad news is that the solicited art team of Don Kramer and Jay Leisten are not on this book. They were a major draw for me, so this one starts off on a disappointing note.
• Thankfully Kevin Van Hook doesn’t let that bother him as he writes this fun and intriguing character-focused issue that has Oracle looking for the Anti-Life Equation. I would have liked a bit more explanation for the reasons behind her search, but the subtext (and the parallel of Calculator hoping to save his daughter Wendy (of Wendy and Marvin)) making it fairly clear as to what her reasons are.
• The dialogue is strong and the narration works well to keep pace, which certainly goes a long way to keeping this one interesting. I was a bit put off by Oracle’s use of low-level hackers to her job done, though, as I felt that was pretty out of character for her (even if it is meant to be a parallel for her work with the Birds).
• Julian Lopez and Fernando Pasarin’s work blends surprisingly well together as they do a serviceable job on the art. It’s not the best outing for either men and certainly isn’t the Don Kramer goodness I hoped for, but it gets the job done and does so without being offensive.
• Overall, this one is a bit forgettable and isn’t what I would consider required reading…yet. If the implications on this one come to fruition, there is a possibility that Oracle could get back on her feet (literally). As a fan of Babs as Oracle and as someone who recognizes how important she is in that role, I can honestly say that if DC decides to put her back in the role of a non-wheelchair bound Batgirl, my patience may reach its breaking point. However, I can only judge this issue by its own merits and in that sense, if you are a fan of Barbara Gordon, I recommend that you check this one out. Everyone else, however, should probably pass.

08. Guardians of the Galaxy #12 (06)
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Art by Wes Craig (art) and Wil Quintana (colors)
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover by Paul Renaud
• Remember how last issue of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY was a major disappointment because nothing really happened and Drax was acting fairly out of character? Well this one is a bit of an improvement, but only incrementally so.
• On the bright side, I thought that this issue really opened up the door for the return of Quasar pretty well. Abnett and Lanning really ran with that in this week’s NOVA (which you can read about below). I also actually really like Phyla-Vell’s new costume and I hope that even when she starts being good again she uses some sort of a variation on it.
• On the not so bright side, Drax is still acting pretty weird, the return of Moondragon is fairly deus ex machina in its execution, and the art isn’t really all that great.
• I do really dig Paul Renaud’s cover for this issue though. It gives away a bit about the issue, but it also looks pretty awesome in doing so.
• Overall, things are improving over last issue and the good outweighs the bad just slightly thanks to the great cover. I’m hoping that next issue will be a return to form for GUARDIANS, as it has been one of my favorite books over the last year.

07. Umbrella Academy: Dallas #5 (04)
Written by Gerard Way
Art by Gabriel Ba (art) and Dave Stewart (colors)
Letters by Nate Piekos
Cover by Gabriel Ba and Dave Stewart
• This week’s UMBRELLA ACADEMY: DALLAS #5 is another example of how this follow-up miniseries is good, but lacks the charm and subtlety that made the first miniseries so addictive.
• This issue feels like a bit of a tangent as we catch up with various members of the team after their time traveling trip goes awry, with Gerard Way only filling in sparse details and bouncing from plot point to plot point. Much of the issue focuses on an excessive war scene, which I felt did more to detract from the important story points than anything else.
• That being said, the important parts are enjoyable and its interesting to see the characters forced out of their element. Way stays true to their cores, but by being so “out there” with the situation, we get to see a different side of them.
• The art by Gabriel Ba is good as per usual, though I felt that there were times in this issue where the tone of character’s facial expressions didn’t quite fit the tone of the script. I’m not sure whose error this is, but in the last half of the issue its rather distracting.
• If the original UMBRELLA ACADEMY miniseries is Gerard Way’s version of Grant Morrison in his prime (DOOM PATROL era), then this issue is more akin to Morrison’s recent years where he simply throws a multitude of ideas against the page and hopes that everything sticks. When things are great, they are brilliant, but when they aren’t, it’ll make you miss the better times.

06. Battle for the Cowl: Commissioner Gordon (12)
Written by Royal McGraw
Art by Tom Mandrake (art) and Guy Major (colors)
Letters by Sal Cipriano
Cover by Ladronn
• This week’s biggest surprise was the COMMISSIONER GORDON special spinning out of the BATTLE FOR THE COWL event, which was a simple, but effective character-focused done-in-one focusing on the ineffectiveness of the Gotham PD in dealing with major threats in Batman’s absence.
• Royal McGraw keeps things simple with this issue, dealing pretty directly with Gordon’s confrontation with Mr. Freeze, using the latter’s taunts to highlight the impotence of the GCPD because of their reliance on Batman, but then turning the tables and building some credibility in Gordon’s resourcefulness.
• What I liked most about this issue is how by the end of it, McGraw starts writing Gordon as if he were Batman. The dialogue and the approach to problem solving that comes from the titular character is a nice parallel to Batman’s own methods and mannerisms. It’s subtle, but again, very effective.
• Tom Mandrake’s art is moody and atmospheric, highlighted well by the bold colors of Guy Major. I’m used to Major using a lighter palette, but he really pulls off the darker look here and it’s a perfect fit for Mandrake’s art.
• This one is a bit predictable and the final page is a bit hokey, but McGraw has the chops for writing gritty and he pulls no punches with that here. I’m giving this one a reasonable recommendation, but noting that isn’t exactly required reading.

[Ye Olde Iowa]

05. Wonder Woman #30 (05)
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopresti (pencils), Matt Ryan (inks), and Brad Anderson (colors)
Letters by Travis Lanham
Cover by Aaron Lopresti and Hi-Fi
• This week’s WONDER WOMAN is all about desperation as we finally see the debut of the Olympian (Achilles), Hippolyta attempts to reunite the Amazons, and Wonder Woman makes some tough choices about her battle against Genocide.
• As per usual with Gail Simone, when things are looking grimmest, she is at her best. I absolutely love the vileness of the villains in this issue, especially Simone’s handling of Cheetah. She does a wonderful job of capturing the inner-slime and bringing it to light here, which makes some of Wonder Woman’s more shocking actions all the more powerful when placed side-by-side with what the villains are up to.
• I would have liked a bit more background on what Hippolyta was doing here, but I do like that Simone synched this up a bit with AMAZONS ATTACK by including the Bana (then again, I may also be the only person on the internet who actually liked that miniseries).
• I’m glad to see that Aaron Lopresti is continuing to be inventive with his layouts, panel borders, and perspective choices. He is at his best when he goes bold, though I will admit that a jagged panel looks really awkward when all of the others are perfectly square. I’d like to see him really commit to the concept rather than only partially use it highlight a panel or two.
• Overall, this series continues to improve by leaps and bounds with every issue as we get deeper into this storyline. The shocking cliffhanger promise from the titular character has me anxiously awaiting the next issue and when combined with the strength of the issue’s craft overall, it earns this one a strong recommendation.

04. Immortal Iron Fist #24 (02)
Written by Duane Swierczynski
Art by Kano
Letters by Natie Piekos
Cover by Patrick Zircher
• This week’s IMMORTAL IRON FIST is a narrative heavy exploration of yet another Iron Fist of the past, something that was always a welcome surprise during the Brubaker/Fraction era on this title. While Duane Swierczynski doesn’t quite hit their levels on this issue, it is a very strong read and something longtime readers should certainly enjoy.
• I really like the structure of this issue, as it builds up the Iron Fist from being a reluctant combatant, to a surprising savior, and eventually to a failed hero, all for the same reasons. It’s a nice way to emphasize balance and to show that sometimes you do have to face up to your own fears—a recurring theme in the series.
• I am a bit disappointed at the timing of this issue, however, as the main story in the title was getting really, really good. Couldn’t we have done this issue at a later date? Of course, I’m hoping that Swierczynski will touch back up on this issue in the main story at some point (and I’ve got a few theories on how he plans to do so).
• I really dig Kano’s work here. His style is a perfect fit for this era, as his bold lines remind of a woodblock print at times, but are still fluid enough to keep the action fresh and expressive enough to help carry the tone of the story.
• In the end, my biggest problem with this issue is probably that the narrative gets a bit taxing at times, but the story itself is still very enjoyable and the art is fantastic. You really can’t go wrong with this one.
• On a semi-related note, can I just say that I’m super bummed that this title is being canceled? Is there seriously any mainstream series that I really dig that isn’t on the chopping block? So help me, dear friends, if NOVA gets cancelled next, that might be the last straw!

03. Star Wars: Legacy #34 (08)
Written by John Ostrander
Art by Jan Duursema (pencils), Dan Parsons (inks), and Brad Anderson (colors)
Letters by Michael Heisler
Cover by Daniel Dos Santos
• I think STAR WARS: LEGACY’s biggest strength might also be its biggest handicap when it comes to the Rankings. The book is so consistent in its excellence and rarely has a bad issue; so much so that at times it’s hard to really take notice and appreciate how good the book is. This is the type of issue that will remind you.
• First of all, I’m glad to see that Azlyn Rae is getting some back story and taking center stage. She’s been a really interesting character and it is about time that her history with Cade Skywalker is coming to light. Kudos to John Ostrander for making it so interesting with strong dialogue and exploring it in bits in between focusing on her struggle to live. That really goes a long way for building sympathy and interest in the character.
• Also, I though the Sith scenes were handled extremely well. I love the perverted sense of honor that pervades them and is central to this issue. Again, Ostrander does a wonderful job of upending expectations here and it pays off in a big way.
• Jan Duursema’s art is all quality all the time. She has very few off panels here and her expressiveness keeps getting better. In fact, it’s almost so good that I’m really starting to overlook how much I dislike the design of Cade. There are some odd moments of perspective in the action scenes, but they are fairly minor and do little to really hinder her work.
• In the end, this is one of the best issues this book has seen in some time, which says something considering how solidly enjoyable this book is. I can’t recommend it for everyone, but if you dig Star Wars in general, this issue is a perfect example of why you really should be reading this book.

02. Nova #23 (01)
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Art by Andrea Divito (art) and Bruno Hand (colors)
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover by Daniel Acuna
• First of all, I am going to take points off for Daniel Acuna’s cove spoiling the surprise ending. Yes, it looks cool, but you really can’t give away the ending like that when the building is so stellar otherwise.
• That being said, its another day at the office for NOVA, which means you shouldn’t miss this, as its yet another fine example of why I chose the book as my Best Ongoing Series in the Yearly Review Power Rankings for 2008.
• Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning do a great job of conveying the mixed emotions that Nova feels as he tries dealing with his impending death and the lack of his powers. He’s clearly confused and his interaction with other characters—especially Dr. Necker—does a great job of conveying that.
• I honestly did not see Necker’s surprise coming, but I think that it adds some interesting layers to the character that I really hope Abnett and Lanning come back to. She is a great foil and love interest already, but this shocker opens up some awesome storytelling possibilities.
• Art wise, Andera Divito has a very classic approach to anatomy and presentation, which makes the art a good fit for the old-school sci-fi adventurism of the book. There are some moments of stiffness in facial expressions and what looks to be repeated panels—neither of which thrill me, but the tone is perfect and Divito’s art has great chemistry with the script.
• Overall, despite having some flaws, this is another intensely enjoyable and interesting issue of NOVA, easily one of the best books on the stands. I’ve been begging y’all to buy this book for almost two years now and this issue is no exception.

01. Elephantmen #17 (03)
Written by Richard Starkings
Art by Rob Steen (art), Moritat (art), and Gregory Wright (colors)
Letters by Comicraft
Cover by Rob Steen
• The strong end of this week’s Rankings was rife with fantastic issues, but only would come make it to the top and, I must say, it took an exceptional issue of ELEPHANTMEN to do so.
• This week’s issue revisits Tusk, the insane warthog hybrid, as he is hunted by Trench and his men following his recent escape from institutionalization.
• Writer Richard Starkings plays with some fairly standard conventions here, particularly his use of a “blind old woman” as foil to his “misunderstood monster” during the main sequence of this issue. It’s not tremendously inventive on the surface, but the shocking events of the conclusion, combined with the strength of the dialogue and narration more than makes up for it.
• I was really blown away by how great the opening and closing narration of the story was. Normally narration in this series is fairly attached, but the direct, accusatory tone and the shocking message was almost as jarring as the intensity of the story itself. It’s a great time for Starkings to break formula and is incredibly effective at highlighting the horror of the situation.
• As great as the writing is, it is Rob Steen’s artwork that really carries this issue to the Top Spot. It appears that he is working with two styles here. The first is a gritty realism that focuses on Trench and his men as they hunt down Tusk; its full of shadows, heavy details, and claustrophobic delivery. The other is a rounder, warmer, and almost cartoonish style during the scenes with Tusk and the old woman. The two contrast starkly, but not in an off-putting way. Instead, it reinforces the tone and helps direct the reader towards the shocking conclusion.
• Of course, you can’t talk ELEPHANTMEN without mentioning Moritat, who offers up an incredibly expressive framing sequence that is a nice blend of the two styles presented by Steen. It is a great way to bring everything together and, as per usual with Moritat, looks incredible.
• I’m honestly running out of ways to praise this series and yet well-crafted issues like this keep demanding that I do so. With this issue, ELEPHANTMENT earns its second Book of the Week honor for 2009 and does so by simply blowing every other issue out of the water.

[digitalsouljah36]

Great reviews as always. I noticed that Superman wasn't on the list. I thought it was one of the strongest issues of the week that I've read so far.