2010-06-02 - ODDS AND ENDS AND ENDS AND ODDS

It's time once more for our "variety-pack" of topics here in COMICS 101, things we wanna talk about that just aren't meaty enough to warrant a column on their own. Let's get right to it.

SO GOOD IT'S UNCANNY

All right, granted, I'm late to the party on this one, but I have to say: Marvel's recent animated series WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN is pretty damned impressive.



When I first heard about it, I assumed by the title that it was conceived to take advantage of the then-upcoming WOLVERINE movie, and that it would give short shrift to the rest of the team. Instead, the series cleverly combines aspects of both the comic books and the films, and creates a whole new narrative that explains why Wolverine is forced to lead the team and why characters like Xavier, Jean Grey and Cyclops are sidelined. This is really clever, as it gets around the temptation to just retell classic X-Men stories, like the '90s series did, which keeps longtime fans like myself interested.

And the series isn't afraid to veer off from Wolverine, either, with very well done spotlight episodes on characters like Nightcrawler and the Scarlet Witch. The scripts are smart and funny, and the voice acting is solid too. As for the animation, it's just about as good as you can get on a TV budget. Maybe not quite up to BATMAN or JUSTICE LEAGUE standards, but certainly nothing to be ashamed of.

WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN is currently airing in repeats on Nicktoons, and is also available on DVD. Highly recommended. Sadly, it was recently announced that a second season of the series would not be forthcoming, but since many of the creative personnel are working on the upcoming AVENGERS animated series, it does raise expectations for that project.


EMIT TUOBA S'TI

Well, it only took four decades, but DC's Mistress of Magic, Zatanna, finally has her own ongoing monthly series, courtesy of writer Paul Dini and artist Stephane Roux, and with their first issue, the series is off to a confident, steady beginning.

Dini's affection for the character is well known, having written Zatanna-centric episodes of several of the DC Universe animated series, as well as more than a few comics. Here he sets up Zatanna's world as both a performer and sorceress, giving us a hint of her personal life, and establishing her magical credentials through a run-in with an old enemy of her father's. The story is satisfying if a little low-key, but serves as a more than adequate taste of what's to come. As for the art, Stephane Roux brings Zatanna to life beautifully, rendering her realistically but with just a touch of cheesecake sex appeal (although the jury's still out on the addition of a cape to her costume. Maybe it'll grow on me.)


SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

Do you just not have enough comics featuring super-heroes sitting around a table voting?

Then I AM AN AVENGER is for you. Released to tie in with Brian Bendis' relaunch of the AVENGERS franchise, I AM AN AVENGER is a trade paperback collection of a few the most notable "roster" issues of AVENGERS, stories in which the membership changes radically or new team lineups are decided upon. I have to admit, I've always had a real affection for these Avengers issues, and seeing them all collected together under a single cover is a real kick. It's also interesting to see the structure of the stories change as the series progresses, comparing the first roster reshuffle in AVENGERS #16, in which Captain America is pretty much left with whoever's in the room...

...to one from AVENGERS #329, in which there's practically a whole mob of prospective Avengers trying to figure out who gets a seat at the table.

Not every story in here is a winner, admittedly, but for any Avengers fan who hasn't been around for the long haul, this is a must-have. And besides, you get to see Hawkeye frying the electrical system on She-Hulk's pink Caddy...


A (BAT)MAN OUT OF TIME

Okay, I love batshit-crazy Grant Morrison stories as much as the next guy. Honest I do.

But I just read THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1, and damned if I know what the hell is going on. Seriously. Bruce Wayne wakes up in a cave in prehistoric times, and there's a rocket ship there for some reason, and then Vandal Savage shows up, and Bruce Wayne gets crucified, and for some reason a caveboy shows up wearing a Robin mask, and then Batman jumps in a lake and wakes up in 15th century England and I got nothin'.

Looks real pretty, though.

Scott Tipton is still catching up on WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN. Got questions about comics? Send 'em here.

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