The Unreachable Star

[ghostly1]

This is our 80th edition overall, but our 5th with the new title. Only two books this week, so I've got some breathing room.

The Canadian National Expo last weekend was rather fun, and on the Unreachable Star website you can find full coverage of the 'Cup of Joe' panel with Joe Quesada, where he talks everything from She-Hulk and Runaways to the latest developments in Astonishing X-Men. Also, sometime this week, the next 'Armchair Editor' column will be posted.

Anyway, on to the reviews...

This week we've got...

Birds of Prey #73 - 3.5 Stars
Uncanny X-Men #448 - 3.25 Stars

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
-

Birds of Prey #73 - "Between Dark And Dawn, Part Five: Blood and Circuits" (Writer: Gail Simone, Pencilers: Ron Adrian & Eric Battle, Inkers: Rob Lea & Rodney Ramos)

The bi-weekly storyline 'Between Dark and Dawn' comes to an end with this issue, as Huntress and Vixen face off against a group of mind-controlled superheroes, while Dinah tries to help Barbara fend off Braniac.

I enjoyed the fight with the superheroes... I'm not sure their particular disadvantage was set up in previous issues, but I was able to just go with it and enjoy how that changed the dynamics of the situation. I also appreciated the ambiguities given with Huntress. She was cut off from Batman's side for not playing 'nice', and it's good to see some of that bite here.

The Braniac fight, on the other hand, I wasn't quite so thrilled with. It seems to be hard in a comic (or really, in most media) to pull off a 'battle of wills' in an entertaining way anymore. When you get right down to it, it almost always comes down to "I'm not strong enough ... oh, wait, I am," and when you have an ally on the outside, you tend to go into well-trod territory once more. I suppose I was hoping for a little more direct menace from Braniac, perhaps some different tactics when a straight battle of wills doesn't seem to be going so well. The ending of the issue counters the problem somewhat, but not entirely.

Overall, the conclusion is a little disappointing, but I still consider the arc to be well worth reading. This winds up being my Pick of the Week.

Review: 3.5 stars

-

Uncanny X-Men #448 - "Guess Who's Back in Town?" (By: Chris Claremont & Olivier Coipel)

After the nearly fatal fight with the Fury, the X-Men return to Braddock manor, which has been miraculously restored, and find Brian and Meggan there already. After a nice chat, since they now have time (except for Wolverine who's needed on another team, apparently), they decide to visit the Queen. Unfortunately, an old enemy uses the opportunity to shanghai the X-Men into a Murderworld.

Yeah, so, apparently Murderworld is back. I don't mind it, but it's never been one of my favorite parts of the Marvel Universe. Still, since this seems like a two-part story, I'm more than willing to suspend my disbelief and just go along with it.

The issue flows together well, and Claremont makes good use of past continuity (even though I'm unfamiliar with the events in question, I recognize and appreciate it when I see it), although the villain's preoccupation with Sage confuses me. I thought, if anyone, Storm would be the target. I've seen some rail (after the issue was posted online) at more mistakes in what happened with the Fury, but I think from what follows it's clear we're not meant to take everything happening there at face value. If it's not eventually addressed, then it's fair to call it a mistake, but for now I'm holding my judgement.

Olivier Coipel is filling in pencilling duties for Alan Davis. While the styles are different, I enjoy Coipel's work here. He reminds me a little of the Kuberts work on early Ultimate X-Men, although without the 'dotted eyes' that sometimes creeps into them. I believe Coipel's been named as one of Marvel's new 'Young Guns' of art, and I can see why.

All in all, once you get past the inherent sillyness of Murderworld (and if you tend towards nostalgia like me, it's pretty easy), we're left with a pretty fun romp. Nothing terribly substantial, but nothing cringe-worthy either.

Review: 3.25 stars

-

X-Books not being reviewed (and why):
Exiles #52 (now will only be buying this if an individual arc looks good), Gambit #1 (no interest in the character solo), Jubilee #1 (Same)

-

That's it for this week folks. Next week, because of Labour Day, the review will come out Thursday. According to the shipping list, from the X-books we get Ultimate X-Men #51, X-Men The End #3, and District X #5. X-Force #2 also comes out, but I'll only get that in the unlikely event it doesn't make my soul bleed in the store. From DC, we also get Gotham Central #23, and from Image, Wanted #5 (of 6).

See you next week...
_________________
Peter Dimitriadis
Webmaster, The Unreachable Star
http://www.unreachablestar.net