Sunday Reading 2-19-12

Welcome one and all to another fabulous addition of Sunday Reading. For better or worse starting this week I’m reading all my comics digitally. After one official reading I have to say I like it. I like the panel to panel reading you can do and it almost gives it a movie kind of effect. Browsing the pages afterward gives me the scope of what the artist and writer want and makes for a very enjoyable read.  Now will that affect what I enjoy each week? probably not, but let’s take a look anyways, this week was a small week for me so I only got one title: X-Factor #232.

Top Recommendation: X-Factor #232

Peter David knows how to write the Multiple Man and this title always shines when Jamie Madox takes the center stage. With this issue we come to the end of a story line envolving Jamie dyeing again and again and with each death he is transported into a new universe. Yeah, it sounds crazy and the mechanics of it are not really explained, but the tale has so many twists and turns and character insights you quickly loose sight of those issue.

With Jamie’s sarcastic attitude, each new world gives Peter David ample chance to put Jamie’s through the wringer. As the Multiple Man has to adjust not only each world but also to the fact that his powers work differently each time also. Sometimes his dupes have powers, sometimes they don’t, sometimes they last and sometime they don’t, sometimes you feel like a nut… well you get the idea. As he fights his way home and finally gets a solution, one that blows up in his face, Peter David keeps you enthralled for the whole ride. His home-coming and the reaction Layla to finding him alive really rings true with everything that has come before and makes for a very satisfying ending. Also the little twist at the end with some very unexpected characters showing up really added to the impact of the story, letting you know their is something bigger going on.

Emanuela Lupacchino delivers a strong showing as the artist this issue with clean lines and a strong sense of story telling. His designs for the other universe characters have been spot on, in most cases just some small twists on designs we have seen before and in other cases taking some tradition marvel ideas and going a whole new way with them. I don’t recall every seeing Emanuela’s work before he came onto X-Factor, but hope he stays around for a long time to come.

Well that’s it for my break down of my best of the best this week. While a small week for me it’s always nice to have a shining gem in the e-stack. Yes, I did pick up some other titles this week and while I enjoyed them they just weren’t the complete package that I look for when I sit down for some Sunday Reading.

Remember if you think I missed out on something, please take a moment and let me, and the rest of the Comic Bloc, what you thought got top grade this week. Till next time enjoy your Sunday.

Skip Scherer

Sunday Reading 2-19-12