Off The Rack
Recent comic thoughts
I’ve been a comic book reader for much of my life, in off-and-on bursts. I’ve also managed to grow a small collection of books that I am sure my wife is looking at, going, “Do we need more books, really?” At any rate, since comics seem to be a bit of a hot thing around here, we’re gonna do another edition of off-the-rack.
We will be altering the stats a little for this one, which is more because while I will price the comic per issue, I will assume that it will be eventually read in trade paperback (or as you cool kids call them, graphic novels.) So the price is not the total price but per individual issue that is bought. Keep in mind also as of now I am going to be talking about a lot of ongoing books. So, if you are reading this in say a year. This review might be a bit dated unless you are reading said story arc.
We may before the big move do a little Off The Rack exclusively about the Energon Universe as that is gonna get a significant edition in a few weeks. So keep your eyes peeled for that one. Also, I will disclose this here instead of in each spot: I bought all these via a subscription service at my local comic shop. So if you don’t know where one is, google it. Or simply follow this link and put your zip code in. With that in mind, let’s get off and running…
First Issues
These are currently books right now that have only A issue, so we will be focusing on that issue, also plot points will be spoiled here so if you want to go in without any plot points disclosed circle back.
1. Absolute Batman #1
Price: 4.99
Publisher: DC Comics
TL:DR: Absolute Batman opens with a strong promise, but the big to-do well-paced of being stripped away of his stuff falls apart almost before the first issue ends.
This was a good and very well paced book, the art is great and a lot of interesting ideas are proposed. This is what you want in a first issue, the problem I have with it is the big thing about the Absolute comics was to strip them down to the core of character without defining marks. In this case, they have stripped Bruce Wayne of his wealth and resources. So, on paper that is kind of interesting. If they already kind of did not do that a few years ago in the mainline books. The big thing here however is, that Martha Wayne is alive and well, Thomas not so much. Bruce also works for the city as an engineer and clearly, has not missed any days in the gym due to his size. So we got a big hulking tank of a bat on our hands. Not the first time but it is an interesting counter to the dark knight gadget we’ve all become accustomed to.
However, as the book moves on we see just how many tools he still kind of has, aside from a surprisingly portable ax. He also has a cape that functions like bat wings which hey I’ll admit is cool and this is also where the concept starts to lose its luster. We see just how smart Bruce is, and yeah that is a core of his character. It also instantly shows us that he’s got little bases around town in buildings he’s worked in that looked very high-tech. So clearly, when it comes to resources it looks rather muted.
Beyond that, there is a lot of setup and Alfred is also very different here in a way I won’t spoil, the concepts beyond what I mentioned are good and set a lot of stage for an interesting new take on something we know. While it does succeed in changing things up, I just don’t feel it is exactly what was promised. I imagined a little more of a back in the early days Bruce without the tech and thus his mind is his best weapon in deduction and learning. But it becomes clear he has a lot more gadgets than a guy who is supposed to be stripped of resources. It’s a minor but I feel a disrespectful issue that makes the promise lose some of its luster.
2. Absolute Wonder Woman #1
Paid: 4.99
Publisher: DC Comics
TL:DR: Another setup issue that unlike the one above does create some interesting ideas and concepts with the striping away given.
Absolute Wonder Woman is almost like the other side of the coin to Batman. Where everything felt handed to him, here with the plot and set up Diana feels more earned and interesting as a result. In this universe, she was raised in hell by Cerci. While not her biological mother she took her in and well Diana will Diana. It does play still with the Greek influence of the mainline DC Comics character but in a different way. If Absolute Batman was meant to be a street-fighting badass. Absolute Wonder Woman comes out swinging like she’s leaving the cover of a Judas Preist Album called “The Princess of Hell.” The fish out of water trope is deployed here but not heavy-handed-handed as the first issue introduces us to her life before what happens in the present.
The art is impressive and little touches here and there truly do show the promise of an ultimate style DC Comics if allowed to try new things. I had my wife read it as well, as it seemed like it was up her alley. She instantly finished it and asked me if I was getting the next issue. Unlike Batman here it felt like everything was earned in the story and not handed to her. I had a feeling that this would be the book to watch, and so far it has proven to be so. But we got more issues coming for both so we’ll see what happens. For now though if you are on a budget and only can pick one, this is the one I’d recommend more of the two. It is trying new concepts but also keeping the promise of a stripped-down-to-basics Wonder Woman as a result.
Ongoing Series:
This section will focus mainly on ongoing books, all the books here have launched this year and currently are publishing.
1. Redcoat
Price: 3.99
Publisher: Ghost Machine (under Image comics)
TL:DR: While it is a slow start, the twists and world-building are excellent and Simon is a loveable douche who you will find yourself rooting for as the book continues.
Ghost Machine is comprised of various creators who own the books they publish, it is a pretty heavy list of creators who have probably contributed much to comic books in the last fifteen years. They have launched three books this year. I am covering this one as I did not expect myself to enjoy it as much as I have.
Redcoat follows the immortal Simon Pure, he was an infantryman during the revolution for the British side (hence the title of the book). How he got his powers just comes off funny, and the fallout from it is also interesting. The thing is, this book doesn’t kick into gear until about the latter half of issue 3 or maybe even issue 4. When it does hit, the ideas and concepts are rather interesting though if you have a view of the founding fathers you may not like what the results are. The art is done by Bryan Hitch, so there is not much room left to say there. Being immortal he also rubs elbows with several interesting people. One of whom plays a major role in world history but you don’t meet him at that point, I won’t spoil who it is. Though they add a nice sort of “what the hell is going on here” that Simon simply just shrugs to adding a nice sort of reader pov character.
This book hits mystical things hard here, it is set in the past though if you read another book you’ll find there is a slow collision course going onto a crossover. If you like a little bit of Constantine-style adventures (without the hell, for now) give this one a go, I think you’ll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the story presented.
2. Ultimate Spider-Man (2024)
Price: 4.99
Publisher: Marvel
TL:DR: Hickman starts the ultimate reboot line with a strong on-the-street style presentation that bounces between characters and plots deftly and also adds layers in the process.
Marvel did something in the early 2000s in unleashing the ultimate line on the world, a new original continuity that had the Marvel universe develop in a modern setting with no cannon and starting from scratch. The one book that led most of that line was Ultimate Spider-Man. High-school-aged Peter Parker gets bitten by a spider and you know that. What changed, was what happened after in this new continuity things were not as they were in the regular comics. The line went well for a while until it was shuddered during secret wars and important characters like Miles Morales and The Maker were brought over to the main comic universe…
...for a bit...Then the Maker went and made his universe, this time without any heroes at all, except for maybe those he corrupted. This led to the line reboot last year with a mini-series and one shot which set the stage for the universe without heroes, but slowly beginning to come together and wait for The Maker to make his next move. Peter Parker at this point is in his mid-thirties, married, and has two kids, and he just got his powers in the first issue.
The book is very much a part of that universe, but not also, it is very grounded aside from the superheroics that slowly begin. There are some twists with two characters one you have never seen like this before and another taking the place of another Spider-Man anchor who focuses on journalism and almost comes off like a Woodward and Bernstein-like adventure of two old people trying to adjust to the modern world and how information is given. Peter also has to balance doing Spider-Man without anyone knowing, which goes exactly as you expect it to.
While other books in the line are dealing with a larger story or establishing other parts of this world, Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman (of Secret Wars, X-Men Krakoan era among others) finds his voice quickly and also the side beats that are laid out almost become more fascinating than Parker getting his powers at a later age. It does feel like a lot of moving chess pieces into position on a board but it is fun learning about these characters and the universe as a whole. Every month even if it’s just moving things around is fun to read. The dialog is sharp and in all honesty, I could care less about the rest of the universe and just enjoying this new take on a favorite hero. Easily a top-five book of the year for me, if you haven’t read it yet do so.
Those are just some of my thoughts, I may have more soon, but for now thanks for reading!
-The Chaos Director
.