Post by goldenfist on Aug 28, 2008 9:48:15 GMT -5
Here's a review of Thunderbolts #123 from Ign.com
The method to Thunderbolts's tie-in to Secret Invasion eludes me. The team has been featured more than once in the core series, setting up the Mar-Vell Skrull's inclusion and ostensibly placing some importance on the book's satellite events. According to Thunderbolts #123, however, that's not really the case, as Christos Gage sort of sidesteps it all in favor of a by-the-numbers tie-in that doesn't do much for the book.
By this point, most SI tie-ins have fallen into a formula involving the titular hero/team coming across some Skrulls and a large-scale battle ensuing. True to form, Thunderbolts follows that pattern and now that we're in month five of Skrully goodness, it's past the point where such a flimsy setup carries much sense of wonder.
To be fair, the Thunderbolts have more excuse than most to be embroiled in a metropolitan skirmish considering they're the premiere Initiative team (if you don't count the Mighty Avengers). And there are a couple core ideas that are working for the book. Gage wisely touches on the idea that the T-Bolts are uniquely immune to the Skrull hysteria since nobody on the team trusts each other anyway. There's also the sudden appearance of Andrea von Strucker that has a big question mark hanging over it, and is manipulated by Osborne into an intriguing plot point.
But surrounding the useable pieces of the script is unfortunately just ho-hum material. If this is the only SI tie-in you're reading, you might like seeing the heroes fight Skrulls, or watch ships blow up, but it's well-trodden territory. Fernando Blanco's art still suffers the same as it did last issue, with unattractive facial structures and odd artistic choices. Songbird's spaghetti noodle wings don't resemble the manifestation she's been using, and his Venom is over-the-top and absurd, especially compared to John Romita, Jr.'s rendering in this week's Amazing Spider-Man.
There are a couple interesting things going down in this issue of Thunderbolts if you're willing to look hard enough. But with enough fatty material and mediocre art surrounding it, I don't think anyone would blame you if you didn't bother.
Review Score: 6.1 Passable
The method to Thunderbolts's tie-in to Secret Invasion eludes me. The team has been featured more than once in the core series, setting up the Mar-Vell Skrull's inclusion and ostensibly placing some importance on the book's satellite events. According to Thunderbolts #123, however, that's not really the case, as Christos Gage sort of sidesteps it all in favor of a by-the-numbers tie-in that doesn't do much for the book.
By this point, most SI tie-ins have fallen into a formula involving the titular hero/team coming across some Skrulls and a large-scale battle ensuing. True to form, Thunderbolts follows that pattern and now that we're in month five of Skrully goodness, it's past the point where such a flimsy setup carries much sense of wonder.
To be fair, the Thunderbolts have more excuse than most to be embroiled in a metropolitan skirmish considering they're the premiere Initiative team (if you don't count the Mighty Avengers). And there are a couple core ideas that are working for the book. Gage wisely touches on the idea that the T-Bolts are uniquely immune to the Skrull hysteria since nobody on the team trusts each other anyway. There's also the sudden appearance of Andrea von Strucker that has a big question mark hanging over it, and is manipulated by Osborne into an intriguing plot point.
But surrounding the useable pieces of the script is unfortunately just ho-hum material. If this is the only SI tie-in you're reading, you might like seeing the heroes fight Skrulls, or watch ships blow up, but it's well-trodden territory. Fernando Blanco's art still suffers the same as it did last issue, with unattractive facial structures and odd artistic choices. Songbird's spaghetti noodle wings don't resemble the manifestation she's been using, and his Venom is over-the-top and absurd, especially compared to John Romita, Jr.'s rendering in this week's Amazing Spider-Man.
There are a couple interesting things going down in this issue of Thunderbolts if you're willing to look hard enough. But with enough fatty material and mediocre art surrounding it, I don't think anyone would blame you if you didn't bother.
Review Score: 6.1 Passable