Review Type Things

First, let me say, I was skimming through my blog and found an old formula I used one time for my "reviews", so, this will be new to most of you, but it's a fun return to my old ways for me, and I added a few things to the formula as well.

WE3 #1 $2.95

Creative Team: Grant Morrison, Frank Quietly, with coloring and inking by Jamie Grant, lettering by Todd Klien

What's it about? Simply put, WE3 is the storyof three household pets (a dog, a cat, and a rabbit) that have been trained as intelligent Killing machines by the government. Unfortunately the project has just been decomissioned, and the fuzzy little animals are to be killed.

This issue: Considering this is the first issue, that's pretty much what happens. We get to see the pets in action for the first few pages, and it's a creepy-cool feeling seeing them work. We also get to see them vocally communicate, which is very creepy. When Senator Washington meets the trio for the first time he experiences something akin to what we should.

Why you should be reading it: Well, it's a Morrison/Quietly book, and if you need more reason than that, I can't help you. However, the dynamic duo inject the animals with a stunning sense of reality. They move and act like the pets we expect them too, and because of that the fact that the assassinate and primitavely communicate makes it that much creepier. Quitley manages to translate everything you need to know by way of pictures in the first few pages, and you really feel as if you're in there with these creatures. With Morrison it's always the little touches that I love. The rats building a jet engine, brilliant. This is looking to pass Seaguy with leaps and bounds, which means it will be one of the years best books.

X-Men: The End-Book 1: Dreamers and Deamons #2 $2.99

Creative Team: Chris Claremont, Sean Chen, with ink by Sandu florea, color by Ian hannin, and lettering by Dave Sharpe

What's it about? The Last Days of the X-Men.

This issue: Primarily, it deals with everyones reaction to the Phoenix's return. One interesting thing was Claremont's usage of alot of Grant Morrison's ideas, and just the fact that they were brought up shows that he doesn't want to destroy everything the man did. We get to see alot of the things Grant put in place (especially Scott and Emma) as they would be maybe fifteen years down the road, realistically. We get to see a different side to Logan, and the Stepford Cuckoos show up, along with Martha. Honestly there's so much happening in the book it's hard to tell what's going on.

Why you should be reading it: Well, this one's only for hardcore, long-time X-fans. Which i'm not. I've found it hard to follow a few things because I haven't read every x-book ever written, but, Claremont does a damn fine job overall. Gone is his overexplaination of everything, and instead we get great characters who don't speak like they're reading a novel, and who interact with eachother in a very real way. Fans of old-school Claremont should quite enjoy this, if they can follow it. So far that's been one of my only problems. Another is Sean chen's art. While it looks good, it doesn't reflect any real change in the characters, it looks as though he's drawing current versions, and not future versions. That should make sense to the uber-geeks out there, the rest of you may have to for yourself. heh.

Venom/Carnage #2 $2.99

Creative Team: Peter Milligan, Clayton Crain, with letters by Cory Petit

What's it about? Well, seems Carnage has given birth, and his "son" will be born inside of a police officer, Pat. Carnage is determined to kill the thing, and its host, while Venom is out to stop him.

This issue: Black Cat rescues Officer Pat From Carnage's wrath, and it seems Spidey has gotten his wife to the hospital without a hitch (it was a cliffhanger last issue). When Pat goes after Cat for a robbery he ends up running into Carnage (who's been tracking him, of course) and all hell breaks loose. Wich leads to a new symbiote.

Why you should be reading it: You shouldn't. I was mildly entertained by the last issue, but this issue made my head hurt. The art is weird, and the story reads like it was written by a fifteen year old. I know Milligan can do better, so this book is officially out of my reading list.

That's it for now, but I've got a few more books I'm getting to tonight, along with a movie, so look for another update late this evening.

-L