All right, let’s go ahead and dish out The Revolution’s weekly awards.
The nominees for the Che for the best read of the week:
Action Comics #872
Final Crisis #5
Nightwing #151
The Winner: Nightwing #151
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Pete Woods
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Action Comics #872 was an entertaining read that supplied the reader with plenty of action. And, for a Johns penned comic book, it actually moved along at a fairly quick pace. I like the fact that Allura is unapologetic about the fact that she authorized the Kryptonians to engage in lethal force if necessary in order to round up the various Superman villains. I also like the fact that Allura is looking out for her people first. And that is a logical and understandable position to take. The fact that Superman disagrees with Allura’s approach only highlights that deep down inside he views himself as more human than Kryptonian.
I loved the sneak attack that the army unleashed on the Kryptonians. The reader saw it coming from a mile away, but that is what made it so much fun. The reader practically wanted to shout at the Kryptonians to look out.
However, what prevents Action Comics #872 from winning the Che is the ending. Zor-El getting killed was a bit predictable. And it sets up the terribly unoriginal and well worn theme of a hero wanting to avenge their slain father and willing to do anything to achieve that goal.
This was a heavy handed way to artificially create indecision inside of Supergirl. Before, Zor-El’s death, Supergirl agreed with Superman on how to deal with the humans. However, after losing her father she is sure to side with her mother, Allura, on how to deal with the humans.
It would have been more interesting if Allura had been the one who got killed. She already is all right with using lethal force against humans so Zor-El’s death has no impact on her character’s outlook or beliefs. However, if Allura had died, then Johns could have had fun morphing the reserved and rational scientist in Zor-El who has distaste for killing into a man conflicted with rage at the death of his wife. And Supergirl would also be naturally inclined to follow her father in his rage against the humans. I think Johns missed an opportunity to get more bang for his buck by killing Allura instead of Zor-El.
Final Crisis #5 was a great read and established a version of Darkseid of the likes that we have never seen before. I have already praised this issue in my review. And I really thought that Final Crisis #5 was going to win the Che this week. However, that was until I read Nightwing #151.
And after reading Nightwing #151, I had to give this issue the Che for the best read of the week. No this issue is not about godly villains and cosmic threats and multiple universes hanging in the balance. But, this issue was just as powerful in its own way. I already gave a glowing review to this issue. Suffice it to say that I was so impressed with how Tomasi is able to craft an issue that is incredibly emotional and that has a strong impact on the reader.
And now the nominees for the Sequential Methadone Award for the worst read of the week:
Detective Comics #851
Secret Invasion: Dark Reign #1
Titans #8
The Winner: Titans #8
I already reviewed Secret Invasion: Dark Reign #1. This was a rambling and boring read. However, there were just enough entertaining elements to this story that prevented it from winning the Sequential Methadone Award for this week.
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Artist: Guillem March
Art Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 5 Night Girls out of 10
I know that Denny O’Neil is a classic Batman writer. And I respect him and the work that he has done in the past on Batman’s character. Having said that, Detective Comics #851 was an intensely boring and dull issue. I had no interest at all in the female actress who took the spotlight in this issue. Her story was completely uninteresting. This issue also failed to deal with the fall-out from RIP. This was a “Last Rites” story in name only.
Writer: Judd Winick
Pencils: Howard Porter
Inks: Wayne Faucher & Prentis Rollins
Art Rating: 5 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 2 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 3.5 Night Girls out of 10
What? Jericho has turned traitor again? What? Jericho is attacking the Titans again? Wow, so fresh. So original. Where does Winick get these original ideas? I think that Fraction and Winick are having a contest to see who can recycle more old themes and stories. Titans #8 rightfully deserved to win the Sequential Methadone Award for the worst read of the week.
So congrats to Nightwing #151 for winning The Che Award of the week and “congrats” to Titans #8 for winning the Sequential Methadone Award for the week.
1 thought on “Weekly Awards For The Comic Books From December 10, 2008”
Comments are closed.
“However, after losing her father she is sure to side with her mother, Allura, on how to deal with the humans. It would have been more interesting if Allura had been the one who got killed.”
I so disagree. I believe that Allura is going to be Superwoman. Correct me if there are hints to the otherwise, but the solicitations say Superwoman is of the House of El and will come into conflict with Supergirl. Who better for Supergirl to fight than her own mother who a) “already is all right with using lethal force against humans” and b) wants revenge for her husband’s death? Supergirl, on the other hand, subscribe’s to Clark’s values (and her father’s) on lethal force. Which would bring her into conflict with Allura/Superwoman. Sheer poetry (if its true) and more interesting than the scientist-father schtick.