Take It Or Leave It – February 13, 2013

So I’ve been buying this series because I have a few of the Ame-Comi statues (not to be confused with the Kotobukiya Bishoujo statues, which happens all the time). However, this is the first one I’ve sat down and read, as I’m a huge Supergirl fan (I’m only missing like 5 issues and I have every issue from Volume 3 onwards, and they are currently on Volume 6). Now I think it’s fairly obvious why this series exists. If you like pretty anime styled girls with big bright eyes and huge boobs and lots of fan service, this is the book for you (There’s even a page where Power Girls boobs take up nearly the whole page). There isn’t much story in this issue. Mostly it’s just a big fight involving all the other Ame-Comi girls introduced throughout the mini series so far in the style of a Dragonball Z Manga. But all through the fight all the girls contort their bodies so as to jut out their chest and show off their boobs.

It doesn’t strive to be much, and it may be a little juvenile, but what it does it does well. It captures the look and feel of a Japanese Bishoujo book perfectly, just with DC characters. If that’s your thing, you’ll like the book, otherwise you can safely pass and not miss much. However, the mini series has proved popular enough (I guess enough people like boobs, because really, who doesn’t?) that this transitions into a new ongoing series next week. Overall, I liked it, but wouldn’t recommend jumping on here. It would be better to wait a week when the new ongoing series picks up and jump on there instead.

Verdict: Probably Leave It, but Get the Trade, or Start with the Ongoing

Score: 8/10

Last week I complained how Hickman’s Avengers books don’t really feel like Avengers books. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you do an Avengers book. Maybe I’m a little hypocritical, but I don’t really care about the how or why Nick Fury is now a young black man, or Agent Coulson is now part of mainstream Earth-616 (I understand that both are explained in the Battle Scars mini-series, but I haven’t read it.) Those details don’t really matter, the story just works. The book was a great read, even if it feels more like a continuation of the movie than part of the comic universe, especially since it tells the story of the infamous ‘Budapest’ op that Hawkeye and Black Widow remember so differently. That is not a bad thing at all. The book is very funny, and I particularly enjoyed the digs at Hawkeye’s old mask and how he tries to compare Nick Fury to James Bond. The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and a twist (not nearly as large as the one in this week’s Uncanny, see below). I’m certainly intrigued, and will be picking this up when it comes around next. This is a great place to hop on, and is definitely the best of all the Avengers branded books out right now.

Verdict: Definitely Take It

Score: 9/10

Well, that was entirely unexpected. I did not have much of a high expectation for this book, picking it up only because it was a #1. However, I gotta say, I was really blown away. I certainly did not see the swerve coming at the end. I can’t say it’s wholly surprising, as the antagonist in the issue does have a history of switching sides often in the history of the X-books. And the way the story is written, his reasoning for betraying Cyclops totally makes sense (and the fact that he’s become a giant douche notwithstanding). I particularly liked all the misdirection with the artwork, leading you away from the obvious choices for who this betrayer is until the last panel. Frankly, I thought it was a black guy, maybe Bishop or something.

Art wise, I’m really digging the new redesigned costumes. I also particularly liked the image of Cyclop’s head as a revolutionary in the style of Che Guevara. The only thing I didn’t like about the book is that Bachalo made the odd decision to draw Emma Frost as if shes a 17 year old girl (she’s the blonde to the left of Cyclops on the cover, I know, Right?). In fact, when they had the splash panel of the new team and mention she was in it, I had to go over the page like 5 times before I realized which character was supposed to be her.

Other than the odd stylistic choice for the character design of Emma Frost, I was really thrilled with the book. It was a non stop action romp, and looks to be setting up a fun little adventure. Highly recommend this as a great jumping on point.

Verdict: Definitely Take It

Score: 9.5/10