Unlimited Alpha Flight?

Very interesting post courtesy of a news tidbit submitted me by The Daily P.O.P.'s own Jameson Lee. Did anyone else catch this comment on Formspring? Should we take the question asker's observation with a grain of salt? Will there be more to Marvel's "Pint O' CB" panel at this weekend's FanExpo Canada than an announcement regarding the recent "Destroy" promo that has the #FVL hashtag attached?

Stay tuned...

~G.

ASAP Reviews: Hulk, Defenders, Alpha Flight, Ghost Rider & More

Yes friends, I've been remiss in reviewing! At the same time, I want to move upward and onward to bigger things (and yes, that includes starting to expand my sphere once more beyond comics!), so herewith is a whole mess of reviews of recent comics, dubbed my "ASAP Reviews"! They're not ASAP because of their timing--cruel joke, that--rather, they'll go against my usual verbosity by being As Short As Possible. Same rules as my previous "Quick Reviews" apply, as on top of a sentence or three about each book, you'll know whether I recommend you Buy It, Read It, Skip It or Burn It.

ALPHA FLIGHT #2 (By Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, Dale Eaglesham, Andrew Hennessy & Sonia Oback) - Pak & Van Lente's super saga continues, with Fear Itself only a tertiary part of the story being told. Still solid art by Eaglesham & co., and the story comes into clearer focus with further developments involving the "Unity" party and historical elements involving all characters that may leave newbies lost. More familiar faces pop up in interesting ways, but overall, this one's of more interest to longtime Flight fans. Read It.

 DEFENDERS: FROM THE MARVEL VAULT #1 (By Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza, Mark Bagley, Andrew Hennessy & Chris Sotomayor) - With a storyline that just might rival the original 2001 Busiek/Larsen Defenders series for sheer, unbridled lunacy, this one-shot is just what the doctors (Banner & Strange) ordered. I'm a sucker for tales of the original four Defenders, and well, this is certainly one of those. With a plot that likely has nothing to do with its goofy script, file this one under "must be read to be believed." Even if it doesn't deserve a buy, the least you can do is Read It.

GHOST RIDER #1 (By Rob Williams, Matthew Clark, Sean Parsons & Rob Schwager) - Oh, look! It's another series where the protagonist is radically changed, his powers given to another, leaving said protagonist on a trek to regain his powers, or something like that. Matthew Clark's art is ssssssmokin', but I still can't get past the premise. Although not with this character, it's been done to death. Unusual that Zarathos is shown among the gallery of baddies at the beginning if Ghost Rider's supposed to be he, and incredible that nobody in editorial caught the snafu of including the wrong Lilith among the rogues on the same spread. Not giving up altogether, but for now I'll be nice and say just Skip It.

HULK #37 (By Jeff Parker, Elena Casagrande & Bettie Breitweiser) - Fear Itself has struck the Red Hulk's book at long last, and surprise surprise, it's not as intrusive to the overall storyline as one would have imagined. M.O.D.O.K., Zero/One and Black Fog join Tron Thing, I mean Angrir, Breaker of Souls in tormenting the red rampager. It would seem we already know the ending of the story from last month's Avengers #14, but who really knows? Casagrande's art is an unobtrusive change from Hardman's, and Parker's script is capable enough for the package to make me recommend you Read It.

"Identity Wars" in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #38, DEADPOOL ANNUAL #1 & INCREDIBLE HULKS ANNUAL #1 (By John Layman, Lee Garbett, Juan Doe, Al Barrionuevo & more) - Chew's very own John Layman embarks three of Marvel's most popular characters on an adventure into an unusual alternate reality, with suitably disastrous consequences for all concerned. Delightfully Silver-Agey in feel, the storyline opens strong with the Spidey chapter, softens in the middle with Deadpool (whom I've never really enjoyed anyway), and finishes with some interesting variations on the Hulk. So I'm a sucker for a horny Hulk. (And that is SO not to be taken the way you think!) Just plain fun, but Deadpool prevents me from having you do more than Read It.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK & THE HUMAN TORCH: FROM THE MARVEL VAULT #1 (By Jack C. Harris, Karl Kesel & Steve Ditko) - None of these one-shots featuring old inventory stories has been more fun than this one, and it's almost exclusively due to two words: Steve Ditko. Kesel scripts adequately from Harris' original plot in a tale that teams the heroes against the Wingless Wizard. Ditko's art is a joy to behold and Kesel's inks are delicious. Kesel needs to remember that the Hulk has no problem conjugating verbs, but really, that's a small quibble. Everyone should rush out and Buy It already!

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More later in the week, with reviews of Ed Brubaker & Steve McNiven's brand new Captain America #1 and Greg Pak & Mirco Colak's Red Skull: Incarnate #1 accompanying a review of Marvel Studios' newest summer blockbuster, Captain America: The First Avenger!

~G.

Better-Late-Than-Never Reviews: Alpha Flight #1, Skaar #4

While I'm prepping some new articles of real industry relevance--a review of one of Gene Colan's seldom-seen works and an essay about the perils of too much continuity--I thought I'd shoot you a few quick reviews of books that came out last month. You'll also see a full review of the Spider-Man/Deadpool/Hulk crossover "Identity Wars" this week!

As previously indicated with my "Quick Reviews" segments, expect the below books to be rated Buy It, Read It, Skip It and Burn It.

Alpha Flight (Vol. 4) #1 - Marvel Comics, $3.99
By Fred Van Lente, Greg Pak, Dale Eaglesham, Andrew Hennessy & Sonia Oback

Last month,we saw the first effort of Herc co-writers Fred Van Lente and Greg Pak on Canada's premier super-team in Alpha Flight #0.1. That story (reviewed here) ably demonstrated their mastery of the team's history and powers. This story, "Pride of a Nation," wastes no time in upsetting the applecart, using an important foe from Alpha's past to bring forward a change in the status quo while at the same time making the saga fall in line with Marvel's summer "Fear Itself" event.

Attuma of Atlantis, who thanks to the aforementioned event has become Nerkkod, Breaker of Oceans, attacks Canada and Alpha Flight is there to fight him back. While it appears Attuma is everywhere during the event (he also is the main villain in Fear Itself: The Deep), his presence here makes sense to longtime Alpha Flight fans as he figured into a major storyline involving Marrina, a member that appears here. At the same time, the continuity is not so obtrusive as to take away from the story's momentum. Pak and Van Lente keep the pace brisk, using Attuma's attack to both further demonstrate the team's dynamics and set up the major conflict that will last through the remainder of the series, namely Prime Minister Cody's enaction of the Emergencies Act.

While the story is well told, building to a quite unforeseen conclusion that will require some explanation, it's in the art that the book shines. I've long enjoyed Dale Eaglesham's artwork, and he's in fine form here, right at home drawing characters from his native land of Canada. His depictions of all the main characters are spot-on, and I particularly enjoyed seeing his takes on Sasquatch and Marrina (the latter of whom has been gone far, far too long).

Overall, Alpha Flight is off to a fine start, and I can't wait for next month. I'm trying not to be overly enthusiastic, but the team really is hitting all the right notes from the start, and as a result, I strongly suggest you Buy It.

Skaar: King of the Savage Land #4 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Rob Williams, Brian Ching, Rick Ketcham & Guru-eFX

If I didn't know any better, I'd swear we were getting a Ka-Zar miniseries and not one featuring the son of the incredible Hulk here. In virtually every issue of the series so far, I've been of this opinion, and that hasn't changed here. In fact, the entire introduction here--the first six pages--are wholly devoted to Kevin Plunder the jungle lord, and much of the issue's ending involves his possessed wife, Shanna, and Ka-Zar himself, with Skaar only playing a bit part in the middle, when he discovers a secret, heretofore lost society alongside Ka-Zar's son Matthew, who often acts more maturely than the titular character. The other guest stars, including Devil Dinosaur, Moon Boy, Phantom Eagle and an older Kid Colt, are similarly relegated to bit-part status, sticking around only long enough for us to be reminded they're in the story at all. And with other guest-stars peppering the story and more apparently involved in next month's conclusion, I'm afraid Skaar will be crammed out of that tale as well.

Try as he might, writer Rob Williams can't write Skaar as anything more than a bit player in a drama that is all about Ka-Zar and the newfound problems in the Savage Land, and that's the series' biggest problem. The script is capable, but as stated before, this series has really been a Savage Land story guest starring numerous unrelated characters for shock value. The tale's sole saving grace has been Brian Ching's inspiring figure artwork, as he loves, and I do mean loves, to draw dinosaurs. Unfortunately, that means he skimps on backgrounds, with page after page having computer-colored/Photoshopped vistas that easily distract from the story being told.

If this series proves one thing, it's that Greg Pak's special touch allowed Skaar to prosper during the last two years, first in his own series and recently in Incredible Hulks. Without his vision, and surrounded by the overwhelming character of the Savage Land, he's just one more generic character in Marvel's tapestry of wild men. While this series started off on solid footing, it headed at increasing speed for a cliff, and now it's jumped off. Proceed at your own risk. Or, in words I thought I'd never have to say during a review, Burn It.

~G.

Quick Reviews: Alpha Flight #0.1, Incredible Hulks #629, Skaar #3

A round of much-delayed, eagerly-awaited reviews, mes amis!

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Alpha Flight #0.1 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Fred Van Lente, Greg Pak, Ben Oliver & Frank Martin

The eight-issue miniseries begins in earnest in a few weeks, but Alpha Flight #0.1, which shipped May 18, serves as a terrific introduction to the characters and concepts for the uninitiated. The twenty-page story, behind a cover by Phil Jiminez that shows nearly all the original Alpha Flight cast from their 1980s heyday, introduces the ensemble, as well as some other peripheral cast from the "good old days." It's true what writer Fred Van Lente said: this series marks the first time since the early days of John Byrne and Bill Mantlo that virtually the entire group has been the focus. Guardian, Vindicator, Sasquatch, Shaman, Marrina, Northstar and Aurora are all here, and purely from a nostalgic point of view, seeing them together just feels good.

Van Lente and Pak don't let nostalgia carry the story, however, wisely involving the Alphans in a plot to interrupt Canadian elections, ostensibly planned by someone very familiar to the title's middle years. Both that villainess and the specter of the elections themselves are portents of bigger things sure to erupt in the series proper. The only drawback in the book is in the artistic layouts by Ben Oliver. While the figures themselves look great, Oliver's panel shape--always jagged, seldom having 90 degree angles--are a distraction at best and a source of vertigo at worst. I must say I'm glad the miniseries itself will be illustrated by another artist (Dale Eaglesham).

I'm definitely expecting the storyline to ramp up with the actual first issue in June, but this is still a solid introduction with an accessible story, on-point characterization, and above-average artwork. Do yourself a favor and Buy It.

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The Incredible Hulks #629 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Greg Pak, Tom Grummett, Cory Hamscher, Rick Magyar & Edgar Delgado

For the conclusion of Greg Pak's penultimate arc, "The Spy Who Smashed Me," which had been a surprisingly off-beat and humorous arc in its previous three sections, this story takes a decidedly standard superheroic slant. Behind another generic cover, this time by fan-favorite Frank Cho, "License to Smash" nonetheless provides an emotional finale that serves as setup for "Heart of the Monster," beginning next issue.

When you're talking about emotional Hulk stories, it seems the powers-that-be can seldom do one without involving Betty Ross. It's her eyes through which we're supposed to see Banner and the Hulk this issue. However, Betty here bears little, if any, resemblance to the same strong character of Peter David's tenure on the book. Becoming Red She-Hulk appears to have split the character into her strong and weak personality halves, with neither one of them showing exactly why Bruce carries such a torch for her. And maybe that's the point, right?

Arch-foe Tyrannus descends into his traditional mad brand of villainy for this final chapter, leaving the real emotional arc to be solved between Bruce/Hulk and Betty/Red She-Hulk. True, we do finally see what's in the urn and that particular conclusion is perplexing (and may provide a hint to next issue's story). If nothing else, Greg Pak has provided an excellent emotional underpinning for his final arc with this issue's soft conclusion. Tom Grummett finishes the storyline in his same standard superheroic style, which is still far above most else out there. While still not as strong as the previous three parts, you should still definitely Read It.

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Skaar: King of the Savage Land #3 - Marvel Comics, $2.99
By Rob Williams, Brian Ching, Rick Ketcham & Guru eFX

The Savage Land adventure of Skaar, Son of Hulk, continues as he teams with Ka-Zar and delves deeper into the Designer's mysteries while encountering more of the area's unusual inhabitants. Rob Williams continues the story which seems to have less and less to do with the titular character and more to do with facets of Marvel continuity the writer wants to play with "just because." You can see one of the characters in question--Kid Colt--on the issue's cover, and while he looks a little different inside, he's still symptomatic of the "anything that will stick"-ness of the narrative.

On the plus side, Brian Ching's artwork continues to impress. He's really right at home in the jungle landscapes, drawing monsters of all shapes and sizes, from Skaar himself to dinosaurs. Guru-eFX similarly brings the pages to life with their colors. Still, I'm severely losing interest in the narrative as Skaar continues to be moved around like a pawn on a chessboard. I don't have much hope the remaining two issues will turn things around. Unless you have nothing better to read, I'm firmly of the opinion you should Skip It.

~G.

Alpha Flight: They're Ba-ack!

One of the first teams whose stories I followed on the newsstand back in 1985 wasn't the X-Men, it wasn't the Justice League, and it wasn't even the Micronauts. I distinctly remember walking into Triangle News in downtown Beaver Falls (which long ago went out of business) and buying the above book, Alpha Flight #24. And from then on, I was hooked on the Canadian super-team. It was hopeless.

The characters were interesting--Sasquatch was my favorite, in part because he was in the first comic I'd ever bought (Incredible Hulk #272), but also I liked the idea of the Great Beasts, whose mega-arc really was a backdrop for the series under writer/artist John Byrne. I liked the self-made-man James MacDonald Hudson as Guardian, his sexy wife Heather, and their relationship with the then-enigmatic Wolverine. I liked Puck (who wouldn't, eh?) and Shaman, a sort of Native American Dr. Strange (before I really got into Dr. Strange). Snowbird also really appealed to me as a goddess who was trying to live life as a normal woman. I even found Marrina an intensely fascinating character in spite of her complicated backstory and the out-of-control thing she became near the end. And Aurora and Northstar were...well, Aurora (n'est-ce pas?) and Northstar. Beta Flight, Gamma Flight, Omega Flight...wow! And add in the wild story of Guardian's "return" from death. It was thrilling stuff and a great time to be a fan.

I've followed the team's exploits since then--buying the last few issues of John Byrne's two-plus-year run, then enjoying a mail subscription to Bill Mantlo's issues, which were turbulent and really upset the original team dynamic. (Not to mention the editorial interference I've heard about since!). I left shortly after the book went direct-sale only with #52 and upgraded formats with #61. I remember seeing various artistic talents on the book, from Mike Mignola, to Dave Ross, to Jon Bogdanove, to future superstar Jim Lee. I remember the introduction of the Purple Girl, Pestilence, Goblyn, Manikin, Scramble and the Dreamqueen. I remember when they brought back Sasquatch in Snowbird's body. (Anyone else wanna forget they ever heard the name 'Wanda Langkowski'?)

So yes, eventually I fell off the Alpha Flight bandwagon, but years later I'd return, and even amass a collection of every issue I'd missed. That included the return of James MacDonald Hudson as Guardian for just over a year in Fabian Nicieza and Michael Bair's "Building Blocks" series-within-a-series, a few crossovers with the Infinity War and Infinity Crusade that ran rampant in the early 1990s, and the series finale by Simon Furman. Fortunately it also included the remainder of John Byrne's tenure. I also bought the second and third volumes of the series, but many years later, the only issues I still own are Byrne's, and a small handful of the rest.

It's interesting that John Byrne's series is so highly regarded, and yet precious few have actually used the same group as he did for those two years and change. Both the second and third volumes used very different lineups, as did Omega Flight which didn't attract me beyond the second issue. It's also worth mentioning that for much of his series, the team wasn't united, but off having adventures in certain contingents. Sasquatch would go off by himself, Northstar and Aurora would do their own thing, Puck flew solo, etc. Only for a few issues in the middle and toward the end did they really form a cohesive team, and those moments were fleeting until Mantlo took control, steering the team toward a more conventional feel.

A few short months ago, Marvel Comics released word that they were bringing back Alpha Flight in an eight issue limited series (which has since added one issue). And for the first time since the original Byrne series, some...things...are happening. I've got the feeling this is going to be great, and to prove it, I recently interviewed co-writer Fred Van Lente, who with Greg Pak (Incredible Hulks, Herc, Silver Surfer) is bringing Alpha back. Take a look, why don't you?

Click here to read my interview with Fred Van Lente at Jameson Lee's The Daily P.O.P.!

~G.