Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Here are this week’s comics ranked prior to reading them, based upon past performance and advance information released on each issue:

6. Invincible Iron Man #1
5. Transformers Movie Sequel Reign Of Starscream #1
4. Cable #3
3. Action Comics Annual #11
2. Secret Invasion #2
1. Star Wars Legacy #23

After going to my LCS and looking through Invincible Iron Man I opted not to purchase it. Here are the rankings after the first read through with a mini-review:

5. Transformers Movie Sequel Reign Of Starscream #1:

This issue is mostly a prequel and covers what transpired during the movie from Starscream’s point of view. I’m not sure 19 of 22 pages is needed to be devoted to this. It seemed like it was just so drawn out. Also, the artwork or the direction of the artwork made it very difficult to tell ‘bot from ‘bot. I had to stare way too long to figure out what I was looking at. Hopefully issue two will pick up in pace.

4. Cable #3:

This issue was good. It was presented in such a way that I felt myself actually rooting for Bishop to free himself from his captures and kill them in a bad way. We are given a new character for Cable to interact with, which was desperately needed. There is a surprise entrance at the end. The problem is: I have no idea who this is. One glaring problem is that this comic doesn’t exactly explain how Cable survives a rig landing on him. I want to like this series. Yet, I feel I am on the verge of dropping it.

3. Star Wars Legacy #23:

You know this week has some good stuff when this title slips to third. Another excellent issue. This one has Cade tie up some loose ends. Both in his personal life and in his pirate life. A side thread opens as we get back to life with the Fel family. All this and R2 finally has a minor role. Oh and Cade displays that his weapon of choice is now his lightsaber. I never get tired of the color usage in Cade’s eyes to determine what side of the force he is dangling over. This comic is great issue after issue.

2. Secret Invasion #2:

This issue boils down to a fight between the heroes of today and their counterparts from 30 years ago. I liked this issue a lot, mostly because I like the mystery of not knowing who is a Skrull. I also liked the idea that some of the heroes that come off the ship are Skrulls while others are not. Now the first issue started multiple threads and yet this issue really only visits one of them. I would have liked to have seen something to remind me that the others were out there. If you like a battle then this is the issue you’ll find it.

1. Action Comics Annual #11:

I know this issue took forever to come out, but in reviewing just the issue in my hands, it was great. The use of the villains was fabulous. The interaction between Superman and Luthor was outstanding. This issue has excellent battles and a real sense of desperation to it all. It has some great dialogue between Supes and Zod, Luthor and Lane and even villain to villain. It is not without its flaws, though. There are 20 some Kryptonians in this issue and most of them have no identity or distinguishable faces. Bizarro and Non could have had a great battle but it happens off screen. Also, the continuity problems with the Chris Kent character is a headache all to its own. Zod mentions the next time he escapes he will unleash “X”. I find myself wanting a sequel to this. This issue is really a great story.