Pull-O-Rama: September '09

[Stephanie]

It’s time for another comic book Pull-O-Rama, where we present an assortment of recent comics and let you know how much they rock, whether they’re not quite up to par ... or if you should skip them altogether. This time we'll flip through the legend of gods and men in The Sword #19, swing from rooftops in the new premiere of Spider-Woman #1, fight dragons of red and white in Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #6, and serve up hamburgers good n' rare in Giant-Size Wolverine: Old Man Logan #1.

The Sword #19

The Luna Brothers' current project continues as the third volume of the series verges on its end, preparing for the next chapter in Dara Brighton's quest to enact vengeance against the three earth-bound gods who murdered her father. Previously, Malia—the only female sibling of the three, and whose powers control and manipulate the air—showed up unexpectedly during Dara's battle with Knossos, the earth god, on the Mexican grounds of San Juan Del Rio. The issue before concluded with Malia flying through the air, exposing the secret she's long hid from the world through what she views as a mundane career as a psychologist.

Now, it's clear that where Dara's match against both the water god, Zakros, and Knossos were based mostly on brute force and speed, as well as quick thinking, the game with Malia will prove much more trying. Instead of brawn, she's going for brains—and turning the tables against Dara and her friends. Spinning her own story to better suit her needs, Malia strives to appear as a kind of savior in people's eyes. All of Times Square and the rest of America—and quite possibly the world—have a better understanding of the recent, bizarre events surrounding the mysterious sword that freed Dara from paralysis and equipped her with superhuman, unreal powers and a deadly advantage over the three she's sworn to hunt down and kill. Of course, the truth becomes something that can be manipulated as easily as Zakros did water, or Knossos, earth; even the reality of Dara's situation falls into question when certain memories from her father's past are revealed to the reader. Was Dara's father, Alex—otherwise known as Demetrios—as true of a hero as Dara and her friends have been led to believe, or has his own involvement been corrupted into what is now Dara's new-found purpose in life?

Things begin to look even more grim as another major problem crops up—and it's not pretty, either. The face of The Sword is forever changed after this issue, and things promise to heat up even more in the coming installments. The Luna Brothers continue to master cliff hangers and stunning art sequences—they do their job so well, in fact, that some might say they wield powers of their own.

Spider-Woman #1

Detective Comics' art by J.H. Williams is rocking the DC scene right now, but get ready to add another gorgeously illustrated book to your pull list: Spider-Woman. With creative and moody art and colors by Alex Maleev, you'll definitely be pleased to hold this first issue in your hands after putting down your hard-earned cash. If only every comic looked this good.

But let's not forget that Brian Michael Bendis is holding the pen on this one—and he doesn't disappoint story-wise. Jessica Drew returns, and she's more than a little lost with where she wants to go with her life and the person she's become. Of course, who's to blame her? She's presently loathed by the public ever since a shape-shifting alien queen stole her identity, leading a full-scale religious invasion against all of humanity. Even her friends still can't see past the face. But now S.W.O.R.D. is offering her a chance at a fresh start, and though she has her doubts, she finally accepts. Things turn ugly, however, when her first assignment takes her to the vile and seedy Madripoor. The Skrull she's tasked with taking out manages to find her before she even truly begins the hunt. This could be exactly what she's looking for to break the self-destructive cycle, but then again, it just might be fuel her rage.

The book—while gloriously dark and sometimes eerie visually—somehow comes across as a dazzling explosion of color and straight-up beauty. Some might not like the strange art style, but chances are it'll do wonders for sales as long as Maleev holds up his end. At any rate, fingers crossed that this winning creative force keeps at it.

Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #6

Hellboy is back again after last month marked the return from his several-month long hiatus, and this time he's brought a new piece of the puzzle with him. The secret's out, and it's a juicy one.

In Part 6 of "The Wild Hunt," Hellboy and his companion, Alice, take shelter in a castle where the sorceress Morgan Le Fay waits to greet them. Alice is still recovering from their recent brush with danger, but the solace Le Fay offers them doesn't come without her own agenda attached in payment for the momentary protection. She recounts the story of her half-brother, King Arthur, and his only son, Mordred; from there she reveals the heirs Mordred left behind after he was killed, and those born after that. But the retelling of the Pendragon line, seeming cut long ago, also comes with a secret that ties to Hellboy himself. Now Le Fay plans to reclaim what's lost by revealing to Hellboy a truth he never bargained for—and one that could mean salvation against an arisen evil or a whole new level of destruction. Whatever he decides, the means to either end now lie within able reach.

The main part of the issue, though containing a fantastic twist, feels too short for comfort. And although the artwork succeeds at being particularly captivating, it often clashes with the storyline, which leaves gaps here and there that could easily leave readers scratching their heads. In addition, the secondary feature concludes Gary Gianni's two-part "O Sinner Beneath Us"; not only do the illustrations leave much to be desired—especially after witnessing Duncan Fegredo and Dave Stewart's wonderful combination in prior pages—but the story doesn't exactly hook you, and oftentimes it just feels silly. Some might argue that it's meant to be so lighthearted, and that finding it unappealing is defeating the point; perhaps the feature tries too hard in too little pages to win over the crowd.

Giant-Size Wolverine: Old Man Logan #1

The over-sized conclusion to "Old Man Logan" is here, and it's unloading the blood and gore by the truckload. There's good, there's bad, but one thing's for sure: Those looking for a quick and clean ending are going to have to think again, bub.

For those who need a recap, the storyline unfolds in a future America fifty years after most heroes died and fell out of existence. The super villains have ganged together and split up the territory, carving the land into a merciless, lawless society. Last issue, Logan—who hasn't popped his claws since one fateful day those same fifty years ago—and the blind former Avenger, Hawkeye, were set up by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who gunned down Logan's companion and left his family for dead at the hands of the notorious Hulk Gang, led by an insane and senile Bruce Banner. Having lost everything of worth to him, Logan unleashed his claws and started on a rampage against his tormentors. Will it be justice ... or vengeance? Or is there anyone living who would even know how to judge?

The majority of the issue consists of Wolverine's revenge against the green-skinned Gang, and it's not long before he infiltrates their base and comes face-to-face with their leader—a man he once knew. If you wanted a disgusting bloody massacre, you got it—from cows to bad digestion, Giant-Size Wolverine: Old Man Logan #1 doesn't hold back. The art by penciller Steve McNiven continues to be stellar, but Mark Millar lets an otherwise engaging run fall to waste. The ending is less than interesting, for it ends up feeling too forced, preachy, and even cheesy in some parts—and the extra artwork in the back probably won't make you feel better. The bloodbath lives up to its hype, but does anyone actually care about getting to know the main members of the Hulk Gang before the real throwdown? Yeah, I didn't think so.

Good or bad, you can check out all of these comics in the Impulse Creations shop. Want to pick next month’s Pull-O-Rama comics? Email your suggestions and why to wita.gen@gmail.com.