Rob Helmerichs
06-27-2005, 06:36 AM
Book of the Week: Phoenix: Endsong. It was hoped that Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men would pick up the mantle of Grant Morrison, but while (unlike most of Marvel) Whedon acknowledged and respected Morrison's run, he really seems more interested in recapturing and revitalizing the Claremont-Byrne X-Men of his youth. Surprisingly, the real Morrison sequel came from last year's next big thing, Greg Pak, whose Phoenix: Endsong picked up and built on some of Morrison's themes. In a sense, he mainstreams Morrison's somewhat out-there take on the nature of the Phoenix, with a nifty tale that incorporates many elements of the Morrison New X-Men with the deeper appreciation of characterization that is Pak's (and not Morrison's) forte. And the art by Greg Land is unexpectedly good; I'm usually not impressed when painterly cover artists go inside, but Land is a better storyteller than I realized—and of course his rendering is stunning. Perhaps Pak should be given one of the big X-books...
Old Book of the Week: The Further Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix. Cyclops and Phoenix time travel to participate in the origin of Mr. Sinister. OK, it sounds high-concept in the worst 90s way, but this is an early work by the often brilliant Peter Milligan and the godlike John Paul Leon (from back when he still seemed to be channeling Walt Simonson). And sure enough, the story is deeper and more intelligent than you would expect from its description. Or hell, just from the fact that it has Mr. Sinister! Milligan and Leon would both go on to do much better and more important work, but this one still pleases, and shows sparks of what they would later become.
Also of note in a very good week: The latest volume in the brilliant Lucifer saga; the second volume of Absolute League of Extraordinary Gentlemen; and what appears to be an intriguing Superman OGN, Infinite City.
Old Book of the Week: The Further Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix. Cyclops and Phoenix time travel to participate in the origin of Mr. Sinister. OK, it sounds high-concept in the worst 90s way, but this is an early work by the often brilliant Peter Milligan and the godlike John Paul Leon (from back when he still seemed to be channeling Walt Simonson). And sure enough, the story is deeper and more intelligent than you would expect from its description. Or hell, just from the fact that it has Mr. Sinister! Milligan and Leon would both go on to do much better and more important work, but this one still pleases, and shows sparks of what they would later become.
Also of note in a very good week: The latest volume in the brilliant Lucifer saga; the second volume of Absolute League of Extraordinary Gentlemen; and what appears to be an intriguing Superman OGN, Infinite City.