Gigantic is Mixed Bag

I really wanted to like Gigantic, a new offering from Dark Horse Comics created by writer Rick Remender (Fear Agent, End League) and artist Eric Nguyen (Strange Girl) and maybe I will eventually, but the first issue didn't grab me. The premise is similar to the film, "The Truman Show," but with a giant, Japanese-movie-style robot guy and Godzilla-like bad guys tossed in. Many aspects of Remender's script work well, particularly the stuff about Aliens creating the earth as an enormous reality TV show and the realistic dialogue between the two main Earth characters in the beginning. Additionally, the art is fine, albeit a bit sketchy in places. But the result is less a marriage of diverse influences in which the whole becomes greater than the parts, and more a hodge-podge of discordant elements that don't quite mesh. I think I'll check out issue two before passing judgment on the series but right now I'm on the fence.—RFM
2/5 for now

Loeb really f*#ks things up

Hulk #7 Review
DOC SMASH!!!!

What the hell is this book about now?

Bruce Banner is the Hulk again in addition to Rulk?

There are two different stories in one issue which seem to have no connection to each other. I mean Banner-Hilk is in Vegas and fights WENDIGOS?! Serioulsy, c'mon.

Rulk fights a bunch of minor female characters and the girls think they can take him?

The only thing good about this book was the art of Ed McGuiness but fortunately for him, he knows a bad thing when he sees it and bailed.

I think I'll give until the end of this arc to get good than it'll probably be over between me and the stupid green/red/purple/orange/lavender hulks.

2/5 stars

Bucky kicks in a new era of Cap

Captain America #43 Review
It's hard to see where Brubaker is going to take his awesomely awesome series now that the Red Skull is dead and Bucky is now Captain America. This issue marks the beginning of a 3-part arc which seems almost pointless when compared to the 40+ arc readers just went through, but if there's one thing about Brubaker's story is that seeds are sown long before they are harvested.

The biggest change is the introduction of artist Luke Ross who replaces the loss of Steve Epting this issue. Ross' style is similar to Eptings in that the colors are muddled and always seem to have a blueish hue to them. That being said, it's also the problem with his art. When someone takes the helm of something big, it's best to add your own style to whatever you're presenting. That just isn't evident in this issue. It's like editor said "Find me someone who can most closely draw like Epting G#dd#mn$t!"

It'll be interesting to see where the series goes now that the biggest event in comics is over. I wonder how long Brubaker can keep it up.

4/5 stars

"No Hero" #2 Continues Ellis' Rollercoaster Ride

A short shot: Warren Ellis' "No Hero" #2 hit the stands this past week and it continues the same high octane adventure ride only hinted at in the previous two issues (#0 and #1). Ellis' latest take on the super-hero genre shows there are still ways to craft a super-human tale in a fresh, new direction. Good stuff that is done well. Can't wait for issue #3.—RFM

4/5 stars