9.26.12 Reviews (Part 1)

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X-Men #36 (Marvel): Yes! David Lopez is back. Brian Wood and David Lopez make a good pairing and just click in a way that’s evident in the way the artist seems to intuitively interpret the writer’s scripts. For example, it’s there in the speed with which Sabra draws her weapon literally in the face of a threat, or in Pixie’s mannerisms, like the way she slouches in a chair in the cockpit talking to Domino. This issue continues to be about those interesting pairings. Wood will probably hate me calling this a “post-9/11” thing and throwing that label around in his vicinity, but you can see that this issue in particular is a debate over security vs. personal freedom. It’s a debate over the way Cyclops wants to handle things in his autocratic rear-echelon style vs. Storm wanting some trust and discretion in her management of the strike team and the judgment calls she has to make in the field, differing opinions on how Scott and Ororo interpret what’s in the best interest of mutantkind. The opening scene with Sabra is a lot of fun, showing off some security in the modern age, something close to my own profession, and I love how the terse dialogue flows effortlessly without feeling staged. I also still think it’s remarkable how each character has such a distinct voice, be it Domino’s flirtation or Gabriel Shepherd’s calm in the interrogation. Lopez continues to kill it visually, varying the ethnicities of the team and grappling with action or talking heads with equal gusto. I think there might be one small little coloring glitch; on the bottom of the page where Shepherd goes ape shit on the plane, Psylocke is making a fist and there are some wavy lines around it, but her psi-knife doesn’t appear to be colored. No big. I’m also not sure if Wood fully addresses the fact that the cabin of the plane is depressurized. I mean, yes, they’re superheroes who can hold on physically and the powers of more than one of them could easily shield the hole, but it’s never dealt with outright. But again, no big. It’s not like I’m going to cry and boycott the book like that one dude who complained about The Massive because a rifle shot was fired and the art accidentally showed the bullet casing still around the slug. Is it perfect? No. But it doesn't affect the narrative thrust of the story and overall seems a fairly petty thing to hang an argument on or a decision to stop a title. Anyway. Thus endeth the rant and digression. When the team grabs Shepherd and begins their pseudo-interrogation, this is a good example of why I love this book and will miss it in my monthly pull. It’s a car load of smart people talking to each other and not sounding like clichés. It’s pretty fucking refreshing. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. Wood and Lopez are delivering the thinking man’s X-Men, and that’s not something you can say every day. You’re missing out on a great run if you’re not buying this. Grade A.

Mind MGMT #5 (Dark Horse): I guess I don’t have a ton to say about this book other than it being really really great. Kindt’s art is absolutely fantastic and there’s nobody else doing what he’s doing, bringing this level of artistic craftsmanship to a monthly comic. This issue is largely Agent Henry Lyme’s story, about his rise to being the star Mind MGMT agent, with a history of pacification in global hot spots and being one of the most dangerous men on the planet, to recuperating from stress and almost retiring out of the lifestyle, to re-immersion, and an ultimate mental collapse. It’s heartbreaking; the basic premise being how can you trust those around you if you’re a mind control expert? What’s genuine? What’s real? What happens when you discover you have the ability to surprise yourself? What happens when you hit the realization that products of a corrupt system can no longer exist? If you’re one of the book’s fans who prefers ostensible main character Meru over Henry Lyme, then don’t fret, a strange personal connection is revealed. Mind MGMT continues to be one of the most unexpected and unique delights currently hitting the stands. Grade A.