So, I'm already 7 days behind, I'll begin.
My first pick is Scarlet Spider #7, written by Chris Yost, pencilled by Khoi Pham, inked by Tom Palmer, colored by Edgar Delgado, and lettered by Joe Caramagna. Not the most current issue, I know, but I think this issue really cements the Scarlet Spider character as a fixture of Houston and, more deeply, a heroic character, if not a hero with a degree of moral ambiguity. Honestly, when I first came upon the character, I was expecting a Spider-Man that would mess people up, essentially a masked Punisher, if you will. And I was disappointed, even frustrated, to see Kaine continuously decline to become that kind of vengeful character.
But the stories that Chris Yost have been writing for the character have made me see past that and gain an appreciation for Kaine as a troubled character, awkwardly squeezing into these new shoes of responsibility. Especially now, in this issue, we see Kaine starting to show he has a handle on the "process" of super hero'ing as it were, even breaking some of his own expectations as well as another inclusion of the shadowy, but decidedly foreboding corporate entity of Roxxon, as well as an appearance by a team IIIII didn't even know existed! The Rangers! The only thing I kindof find weird, not really annoying, yet, but just weird is Kaine's "charge" Aracely, a woman he found in a slave trafficking ring, who, for whatever reason, has psychic powers. I love that in this issue, you see her react to Kaine's internal turmoil in a humorous way that also pushes the story, but it just feels weird to me why she couldn't just be a normal girl, you know? Guess I'm just used to that sort of thing in Spider titles.
Coupled with great pencils, colors and inks, this book has such a great look to it, much in the way a Humberto Ramos book would look usually, really nicely shaped characters, that aren't so uber realistic as other styles. Though really, I think what makes this book pop is Edgar Delgado's coloring, where even the shades of Scarlet Spider's costume vary from scarlet red, to almost orangish hues, giving the reader a real sense of environmental influence. One thing I didn't really get in the book was during a confrontation between Kaine and Roxxon's security guards, Kaine comes crashing through a door with an INORDINATE amount of smoke billowing out...what are we supposed to expect has happened in the room he was in previously? Did someone drop a smoke grenade? We don't know and because of that, this panel seems a little unneccesary, or rather, the smoke in this panel.
The lettering of Joe Caramagna is kindof cool, kindof typical though, but what shone to me was in a scene where off-screen, someone is knocking on the door, the "nok" effects are placed more towards the edges of the panel, which, again, lends to a sense of environmental immersion for the reader. The sound plays in their head off to one side, just as it would if someone were actually knocking on their door to their periphery.
Overall, I'm pleased with the work that has been done on Scarlet Spider and I would recommend this title to anyone who hasn't read it but wants a title that's fun and not so entrenched in messy lore and a wide cast of characters. This book has the advantage of being almost entirely new, which affords it more of a smaller scope, so if you want smaller storylines with interesting, developing characters, give it a shot!
And that has been the first of many comic reviews of my private endeavor, was it as good for you as it was for me? I doubt that, because it was AAAAMAZING for me, but if you think you can match or beat my enthusiasm, feel free to comment or if you hated it, comment as well, though, I have to be honest, I PROBABLY won't listen, because FREEDOM. :D
No comments:
Post a Comment