I'm covering several Marvel events in one review, so pay close attention, cause it's gonna be a wild ride/review thing.  Maybe.

First off, we have the thrilling conclusion to Iron Man: Legacy of Doom, by writer David Michelinie and Rom Lin's classic pencil stylings.  It also includes like a dozen other people's work, but time, space, and attention span are all limiting factors when I'm writing.  This is classic Iron Man, people.  Introducing a suit altered by the scabbard of Excalibur itself and a colossal demonic entity from beyond, this issue takes us through the full superhero spectrum.  Hero vs. villain, hero and villain vs. giant monster, Merlin, self-sacrifice, self-doubt and noble intent all have their moments.  Man, I miss the simplicity of those pre-Civil War days. 

Seriously, if you're hankerin’ for an old school world savin’, this is right up your alley. 

Next is the Eternals, written by Knauf and drawn by Acuna.  Featuring the invincible Iron Man and with a guest appearance by one of my new favorite super teams, San Fran's own the Order?!  All sorts of interesting ideas crop up here.  Can an immortal become addicted to something?  Can the addiction eventually kill him?  What happens when they develop mortal ties, like children or pets?  Can they be trusted with such fragile creatures?  Druig plays the villain as always, and heroism seems strangely absent from the landscape as Makkari spends his time enraptured by the dreaming Celestial and Ajak is consumed by jealousy.  All the while, the Horde, the dark counterpart to the Celestials, draws inexorably closer to Earth.  I'm giddy with anticipation. 

Talking quadrupeds!  Faith powered space zealots!  The scientific equivalent of D&D's caller in darkness!  Vance Astro vs. Starhawk! And a dog that says 'deep doo-doo?!'  All this and more in the upcoming issue of Guardians of the Galaxy!

Man, if you haven't picked up Annihilation or Annihilation: Conquest yet, please do.  You'll thank me.  Outside of all the intrigue and retcons and hero vs. hero storylines, we have the familiar Marvel cosmic event setup going strong.  Main characters die.  Galactic forces marshal to subjugate or destroy the universe.  Galactus himself puts in an appearance or two.  Thanos meets his maker yet again. 

The action is nonstop, and it takes place light years from where continuity might get in the way.  The Annihilation storylines are continued in the oddly dysfunctional storyline of Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as the Nova title.  Some of the funniest and most heartbreaking moments of the last two years take place in the cosmic Marvel happenings.  Oh, and just cause I can't resist mentioning it, Annihilation has lesbian space dragons.

So, all in all, Marvel's kicking it up a notch.  Don't miss out on any of these books, or on the years big event, Secret Invasion!  Who can you trust?  Marvel to keep bringing you the books that you love, and me to steer you towards the best of em.

Until next time... Excelsior!

~ David Fisher, Dlair Austin

Brawn #1

So, you'd think that super-strength and nigh invulnerability would be a blessing?  Not so for Sam Ross, the protagonist of Brawn by Brandon Church. Ross is a working class man with a beer belly and a receding hairline. The story (and his problems) begin at his job as a dockworker, which lasts him all of two pages before he's fired for what amounts to just being a nice guy. As if this wasn't bad enough, Sam wakes the next day to find he can crush wood like paper, survive being hit by a car, and is now in possession of a freakishly obvious cybernetic arm and leg.

So first, the good. My initial reaction to the writing was curious interest. The first narrator's inset reminded me of a paragraph form a novel, well written, elaborate, and engaging. Church immediately evokes pathos for his hero, who comes across as more real and accessible than the usual spandex-clad, perfectly formed icons we're used to. The artwork is detailed in an old school eighties sort of way, with particular attention to certain scenes and clothing, courtesy of artist Artula Siriwardane.

And then, the not so good. After the first page the writing stumbles. It seems to hasten, as though Church was writing too quickly, or attempting to fill the first issue with too much information. The editing is definitely lacking, with several obvious typos and the repetition of words needlessly (one paragraph involving the word "hand" is especially illustrative of this). This alone would be distracting, but combined with the fact that on more than one occasion the action doesn't fully synch up with the narrative, I quickly found my enjoyment ebbing. The coloring is pretty drab, consisting of a palette of primarily grays and browns. Male characters' features all have a strange similarity. On top of all this, the story lacks a full range of emotion, without humor or irony to contrast the tedious unhappiness that Sam Ross is feeling.

This book has potential to be good, if the writers follow through on the possibilities in their main character and storyline. It's definitely worth keeping an eye on, but I recommend a little patience with the series, as it may not have hit its stride quite yet. Even so, a cyborg with a beer gut? How awesome is that?

-- David Fisher, Dlair Austin

Dead, She Said #1

Joe Coogan, private eye and alcoholic, has a problem. As the main character in Steve Niles' Dead, She Said, he has several problems. These include giant ants, suspicion for a brutal murder, and a killer hangover. In true noir fashion, I will leave the details of these events undisclosed.

Oh mystery, how you tease. This book has very little character development, you're dropped into the middle of the plot, and the elements and clues given seem completely separate and nonsensical. These may seem to be negative marks, but no. Together, they create the age old question, "whodunnit?"

From the beginning the artwork by artist Bernie Wrightson and colorist Grant Goleash is superb. The opening scene gives the impression of a man lying in a bed soaked with his own blood. Disturbing, but absolutely gorgeous in a technical sense. Subdued colors heighten the overall noir mystique.

Through the book's entirety, I found only two typos. Those are the only details I can point to as being wrong with the book. Oh, and the F-bomb gets dropped a few time. Not a book for the kiddos. Otherwise, A+. Believable dialogue, acceptably baroque internal monologue, and a minimalist approach to plot details come together exceptionally well to make this one of the first PI comics I've enjoyed since Sandman Mystery Theatre. Dead, She Said would be a great addition to any collection.

 -- David Fisher, Dlair Austin

So, what happens when you cross Kevin Smith's Clerks with vampires?  If your response is "total super coolness," then Life Sucks, written by Jessica Abel and Gabe Soria, illustrated by Warren Pleece, is the book you've been waiting for.  If not, bear with me.

Life Sucks follows the ups and downs of Dave Miller, average kid, gas station clerk at the Last Stop convenience store - and newly made vampire.  The writing is superb and surprisingly realistic and the characters are fully realized and believable.  From the beginning you get a low chuckle in your throat that, at times, becomes an out-and-out laugh.  You can't help but feel for poor Dave as he deals with teen angst and love as a creature of darkness. 

 The art is a bit cartoonish, but rather than hindering the look, it allows for greater freedom of expression and individuality among the players in the story.  All-in-all, I can't think of anything this book is truly lacking.  It could even become a classic (cult or otherwise), but hey - what better way to find out than to read it and love it for yourself?

-- David Fisher, DLair Austin