A Bank Holiday weekend meant a delay to the arrival of this week’s comic books, and nice weather meant a delay to my sitting my lazy arse down and writing a few words about them. Seems appropriate, and it was also needed because it meant I could try and come up with some thoughts about a book that has come to an end after a very long time.
100 Bullets #100
The final bullet is here and it’s still hard to digest – after so long, following it from the beginning, seeing it evolve from a great concept into something more complex and labyrinth, it’s a shame to see it end. However, it goes out in style, with twists and turns, gunplay, surprises, power plays, and and ending. It’s an amazing feat, the same writer and artist on a book for the entire run, and it’s an amazing end. I know that I’ve missed all the connections to all the characters throughout the story in the final issue but that will just mean that I’ll enjoy re-reading the entire series again, knowing that it ends well. A fantastic final issue (only spoiled by having the preview of The Unwritten at the end – I thought there was more 100 Bullets story). Well done, Messrs Azzarello and Risso, and thank you.
Fables #83
The crossover begins. I shall probably succumb and buy the whole thing as it comes out (although I won’t be buying Jack of Fables afterwards, which is the entire raison d’etre for this crossover) but at least it has started out okay: a new religion seems to be starting around Blue, Bigby and Beast get it on (and Snow White is even more fearsome in her own way), Jack phones in a warning to kick off the crossover, and Mister Dark is affecting more than just Manhattan … That’s a whole lot of story and indication of more good things, the usual sterling job from Willingham and Buckingham; let’s hope the next part doesn’t mess it up.
Incognito #3
It’s a confirmed fact that Brubaker and Phillips produce great comic books, but the extra dimension they bring to Incognito is humour. This is hilarious. The deadpan narration (‘I was having trouble figuring out how to kill my best friend.’), the dealing with Farmer’s landlord, the names (Ava Destruction, Zoe Zeppelin) – it’s great. The story is excellent – that goes without saying – and I can’t wait to see what happens next, especially after the way things kicked off at the end when Zack’s old friends showed up, but both writing and art have a lighter touch and sensibility than the more serious Criminal, which can only be a good thing.
X-Factor #42
Beneath the pages for a very nondescript cover is another great issue of X-Factor: Peter David mixes up the story strands (sending off Guido and Rictor after the priest dupe of Madrox, Longshot trying to protect a woman who finds herself uncontrollably attracted to him, Madrox in the future with Layla, Siryn and Monet get a visit from Val Cooper, Longshot seems to display a power I’ve never seen before, and a surprise for the last page) and displays his humour more prominently than normal (jokes about protection, sentinels, vomiting, Buffy, Madrox insulting Cyclops, and some great banter between Siryn and Monet). But we still can’t get a decent artist to do an entire issue on a consistent basis – please sort that out?
