Comic Reviews for 9/12

Here are my reviews of this week's comics:

Marvel Comics:

Avengers vs. X-Men #11 - Wow.  This was huge.  Big comic book death which makes more head lines with casual fans and people who are somewhat familiar with the X-Men.  To fans, the character has 'died' before and really hasn't been a huge part of the X Universe for a while.  However, the character's death will most likely set the X Universe on a direct course of integration with the rest of the Marvel Universe and the killer will most likely have a huge redemption arc in Marvel Now!  Great art and pretty well written, however like many cross overs (especially Marvel) this is a 12 issue series that could have been 5-6 issues. A-.

The New Avengers #30 - I've said before that I have been disappointed with most of the Avengers side AvsX tie ins.  This comic, however, was good in that I enjoy this team of Avengers and the action juxtaposed one's characters decision (which frankly has been a sub plot in NA for what feels like the last 5 years).  However, the fact that this subplot has taken so long, and that this issue seems to take place after Avengers vs. X-Men is somewhat confusing.  B-.

Uncanny X-Men #18 - Pretty good.  Great art and shows the behind the scenes action of Cyclops and White Queen during the fight in AvsX #11.  It certainly gives a very different view of what seemed to be one of the two big betrayals in AvsX.  B.

Wolverine and the X-Men #16 - First, I love this series.  However, I am sick to death of the Hellfire club.  It is so unbelievable that these kids are like this.  I can believe Damian Wayne is deadly cause he was trained since birth, or Val Richards is super-smart cause she is a mutant.  But these kids annoy me like that Loeb had Tommy Elliot arrange the death of his parents when he was like 9.  If they were teenagers, it might be more believable.  I just find them annoying.  C.

Uncanny X-Force #31 - I enjoy that Remender is going out with a huge bang, in what feels like the satisfying conclusion of all he has done in this book.  I love that it opens with what seems to be the death of one character and the transformation of another.  Great issue, glad to see the book is back on track.  A.

Winter Soldier #10 - Great issue.  The death of a long time Marvel character by an mind controlled reformed villain.  I see this as what will become the Winter Soldier being by himself by the end of the arc.  Unlike Captain America, Brubaker is going out with a bang and some huge stuff on this title. A+.

Fantastic Four #610 - Great issue.  Unlike most of the recent issue, this is the first part of two parter that deals with subplots that Hickman has been setting up, but does a good job of introducing it to new readers.  A.

Captain America #17 - Wow.  This book has taken such a huge nose-dive its really too bad.  It just seems that all the life has been sucked out of the book - trying to close out his run but with no creativity or passion.  D-.

DC Comics:

Shade #12 - Amazing.  Great writing, great art.  Shade's origin.  Loved it.  A+.

Batman # 0  - I liked this a lot.  I felt the main story was cut short and didn't like that is was to be continued in 2013.  I did like the revision of Bruce's history away and return to Gotham in the New52.  All the classic elements are still there but just revised enough to have a younger Bruce in the present day and also show Bruce operating in a more modern way even when he came back.  I loved the back-up and also gives fan a good idea of the ages of major Bat characters. A.

Batgirl #0 - Again, this is a revision of Bab's New 52 history.  Again, big changes from before, but I liked it a lot. Benes' art is at times awkward but I did enjoy maintaing the core of who Bab's is and sets up James Jr. as what I expect to be Bab's Moriarty in the 2nd year of the book.  B+.

Demon Knights #0 - I really enjoyed this issue.  I know it is a retconning of what was established in the #1st issue but done so well I really don't care.  I'm very interested to see how the sub plot of Merline, Lucifer, Etrigan and Morgaine plays out. A.

Team 7 #0 - This is a classic introduction story.  While I enjoyed the characters and their introduction, I wish that there was a something of a specific threat that sets up where the book is going in the first year. B-.