Wednesday Number Ones is a weekly feature here at Comic Pants. We take the books that are premiering a first issue from that week and give a quick opinion on them. From time to time we may also include more than issue number ones in this feature. If a noteworthy one-shot or the first issue of a new story arc is released, we may talk about it in this feature.This week, we will cover Caped #1, Incredibles Family Matters #1 of 4, Muppet Show #1, Oracle #1 and X-Force Cable Messiah War Prologue One Shot.
Nick Budd Read and Thought:
X-Force Cable Messiah War Prologue One Shot
Writer: Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost
Artist: Mike Choi & Sonia Oback
Company: Marvel Comics
Well...Damn. I figured this was going to be a mediocre issue plagued with awful (not to mention Chandelier-Heads), but Yost and Kyle turn in a decent, rather interesting script that blows past every expectation. There are some choppy moments here and there, wonky-ness with time travel, but the complaints are made moot with the reader friendly story that re-introduces all of the different X-Men characters and their current motivations in a non-bland way. The larger story at play here works as well, and carries with it tinges of past X stories that call to my inner X-Fan, which is something that we all have, you know. Choi and Oback's artwork is sharp looking. It's almost too shiny in spots, but compared to Crain's stuff where everything looks so dark and morose and blahness, it looks gorgeous. They even sell the new drab looking X-Force costumes, which I didn't think was possible. Overall, if you liked Messiah Complex, be sure to check this one out.
The Incredibles: Family Matters #1 of 4
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Marcio Takara
Company: Boom! Studios
For that minute one percent of the population that didn't find something in The Incredibles movie to like, I might suggest that you don't buy this comic. For everyone else though, shell out your cash. Waid on an Incredibles title is a no-brainer, and he picks up where the movie leaves off, gets the characters and their voices instantaneously and sells the family dynamic with such perfection that it makes me wonder why this comic didn't come sooner. The story itself, which sees the likable family take on a new foe is certainly lighter fare, but it also has a very classic comic type vibe to it that gets under your skin. Takara's art is beautiful. It faithfully adapts the clean lined feel of the movie and doesn't sacrifice the animated style, as it simply bristles with energy. A great read.
Oracle #1
Writer: Kevin Van Hook
Artist: Julian Lopez & Fernando Pasarin
Company: DC Comics
Essentially a "epilogue" story for the crossover Final Crisis, this book tells the tale of Barbara Gordon trying to pick up the pieces of her life and make something new. That is until she stumbles upon a piece of the Anti-Life Equation that still remains on the internet. To be honest, Hook's story is a little on the boring side. You'd think that since Oracle is a pretty bad ass character, you might have her being...I don't know? Badass? Sadly, that never happens. Lopez and Pasarin's art is nice though. It's realistic, easy to read and has a good flow to it. Really, I was hoping for something more from this book, something to catapult this character to being even more important. It didn't deliver that sort of thing.
Muppet Show #1
Writer/Artist: Roger Langridge
Company: Boom! Studios
Being under the age of 30 and having watched countless episodes of the exploits of these characters, to say that I was apprehensive about a Muppet comic might be a bit of an understatement. Turns out, I had no cause to be alarmed. Langridge does a fantastic job on both the writing and artistic fronts, offering up what feels like the closest adaptation of the show that you can get. The comedy of the book is the biggest selling point, and Langridge gets that and offers up joke after joke. What's even better is that the jokes work tremendously. The Swedish Chef stuff absolutely had me rolling, by the way. All in all, if you have any Muppet love in you, seek this one out. I dare you not to laugh.
Caped #1
Writer: Josh Lobis & Darin Moiselle
Artist: Yair Hererra
Company: Boom! Studios
While a part of me thinks that the realistic, yet dark and super edgy comics have seen their heyday, Caped is a pretty strong opener. Chock that up to it having a good sense or humor and a fresh wrapper that you don't normally see, what with the majority of the book focusing on the notion that all superheroes have personal assistants that help them survive in the hustle and bustle of the modern day world. The novel notion brings forth some fun moments that are delivered well, but to counterbalance, there are a lot of your typical comic book-isms to the issue too. Hererra's art is fine. There's a Gaydos-like quality to its darkness and shadow prevalent look, which helps add another layer to it, which is nice. It's not perfect, but Caped has enough to it that I'll be back for more.
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