3 Short Reviews- Li'l Depressed Boy #2, Captain America and the First Thirteen, Fear Itself: Prologue - Book of the Skull

Li'l Depressed Boy #2 by S. Steven Struble and Sina Grace

Having been slightly intrigued by LDB #1 I returned for a second helping hoping for something to keep me interested, but alas...

Having met a girl in the in issue #1, issue #2 deals with the major point of finding out what her name is. Well, we're moving into Seinfeld territory here (and her name's not Mulva if you're wondering but it certainly would've been better if it was or the story at least made some reference to it). It's also quite clear that Li'l Depressed Boy isn't a boy, he's at least a late teens teenager. If he is an actual boy then the relationship between him and the girl, whose equipped with suitably "alternative" tattoos and nose ring, is a bit creepy because all that suggests she's definitely in her 20s. Which still makes it a bit creepy if LDB is only a teenager... but then he also seems to be living in his own place.. okay so he's definitely not a boy... so... that definitely makes... me confused...

From other reviews this seems to be hitting a chord with other readers, but it's just not doing it for me.

This: Still no conflict.
Forthcoming: Sorry, I'm done.

Read the short review of LDB #1

Captain America and the First Thirteen by Kathryn Immonen and Ramon Perez

With the Captain America movie due in theatres soon, Marvel's taking the opportunity to milk the character for all he's worth. Captain America and the First Thirteen is set during World War 2 recounting an episode with one of Cap's love interests, Margaret "Peggy" Carter, an American agent working with the French resistance. Peggy enlists Cap's help to retrieve a vital piece of equipment from the Nazis.

Confession: This is the first Captain America story I've ever read (or at least can remember reading) so the little 'dossier' giving me a bcakground (which in part I've just  recounted to you) was very helpful.
Cap doesn't really do much here, or isn't shown doing too much. What the story is more interested is Cap's portrayal as a bit of a "ladies man". Immonen generates a nice, playful, sexual tension in the dialogue between Peggy and Cap which Perez's art adds to nicely with some well produced facial gestures. It's a "small" story in the fact that it provides no massive fights between villains or wild superheroics. It's a minor footnote in Captain America's career but no less an important and, indeed, even slightly touching.

This: For diehard Captain America fans or if you're got some lazy spare change.
Forthcoming: N/A. It's a one shot

Fear Itself - Prologue: Book of the Skull by Ed Brubaker, Scot Eaton, and Mark Morales

The latest Marvel Event starts here with Ed Brubaker giving a nice taster of the major story to come. The Red Skull's daughter, Sin is delving into her father's past to complete his greatest failure. Back during World War  2 and working for the Nazis (more nazis!) the Red Skull's occult ministrations calls down a weapon 'from beyond' only to find that he can't actually use it! Ain't it always the way? Those occult caveats... But apparently Sin has found a way where her father couldn't. Captain America, Bucky, and Namor also feature to throw a spanner into the Red Skull's works.

Comic writer heavyweight Ed Brubaker provides this Prologue to Matt Fraction's full-blown Fear Itself story arc, which going on this "teaser" should be a rollicking good time. While the book doesn't provide anything major, Brubaker deftly places a number of plot points that will no doubt develop into full blown conflicts as the story progresses. Eaton's pencils are sharp and ably abet the narrative.

This: Worth it to get a taste.
Forthcoming: Yes, I'll certainly have a look.

3 Short Reviews: Li'l Depressed Boy #1, Wolverine/Hercules #1, The Intrepids #1

The Li'l Depressed Boy #1 by S. Steven Struble (writer) and Sina Grace (pencils/inks)

Rag-doll looking young fellow Li'l Depressed Boy (yes that's actually his name) decides being depressed and alone isn't his gig anymore. He meets a friend for coffee and talks about video games. Red-headed tattoo girl interjects how video games aren't social anymore. LDB goes to friend's house and plays video games. Goes home. Does laundry at laundromat. Red-headed girl also happens to be doing laundry. Guess what? She's likes comics and cool bands too. For no good reason that I can fathom she asks LDB out to a concert. They go to the concert and dance. Then milk and cookies afterwards. She kisses him goodnight. LDB isn't so depressed now.

Well, I didn't know kicking the blues could be so easy. Hmm? There's more to the story? Like what? Hopefully a little thing called "conflict". This story is missing a whole load of it. I don't know why you'd want to keep reading. All LDB's problems are solved in this first issue.

Still there is something strangely intriguing here. Does he bleed fluffy innards? How come he's the only rag-doll person around? On the upside Sina Grace's minimal comic-cartoon style and confident linework suit well the mood of the story.

This: Scratching head...
Forthcoming: Scratching chin...

The Intrepids #1 by Kurtis J. Wiebe (writer) and Scott Kowalchuk (illustrator)

Former mechanical engineering genius Dante has taken it upon himself to give 'forgotten children' a chance to live with purpose. Part of this is providing them with 'augmentations' which heighten their natural physical and mental skills. Thus The Intrepids are born. They are Crystal (leader and most experienced), Doyle (the "muscle"), Rose (the feisty fighter), and Chester (the tech-guy), though Chester looks rather a bit older than the other three young 'uns.

Their mission is to stop the oncoming blight of Mad Scientists. In this first issue The Intrepids are after scientist's who are experimenting on animals, implanting technology into them to create violent fighting hybrids. And unlike another comic reviewed (see above) this has the conflict necessary to build good story and  relationships. Dante and Crystal's 'surrogate father/daughter' is just one of these.

While the characters are certainly archetypal each comes across as having an individual personality and there's no overblown 'superhero' statements (if sometimes a little bit of exposition). The pace is steady with good use of flashback sequences and the overall style has a 1950s feel- clothes, hairstyles, jetpacks.

The Intrepids has a sort of Doom Patrol-ish feel - a weird group of four heroes with a benevolent mentor-about it albeit without Morrison's weirdness. Still, heading into that territory certainly wouldn't do it any harm. This looks the goods.

This: Outstanding.

Forthcoming: Hanging out.

Wolverine/Hercules: Myths, Monsters and Mutants #1 (of 4) by Frank Tieri (writer) and Juan Roman Cano Santacruz (art)

Apparently Wolverine and Hercules are good ol' friends. Who'd have thunk they'd have so much in common!? They like a-good a-drink, a-good a-woman, and a-beating up the nasty bad guy.

Now that's established, it's time for a fight scene. Lucky Herc and Wolvey like fighting! Yes... good... innocuous and faceless goons dispatched!

So basically one bad guy -Achelous who's got a vendetta against Hercules- decides to team up with Matsu'o Tsurayaba -the guy who killed Wolverine's lover, Mariko. Achelous reckons if they can bring back to life 'the world's most fearsome myths' they can destroy Wolvey and Herc. Hey presto! World domination... or something. Oh, and there's Nazis too. Can't go past a Nazi when you need a quality villain... or at least a villain.

This first issue is basically laying groundwork and rehashing some info to get readers familiar with Wolverine's backstory. That the story is set 'years ago' means it's one of those lost/untold tales. For all the generic-ness of this comic there are at least a few moments and ideas that raise the narrative slightly - Wolverine's lamenting his immortality and outliving all his friends; and acknowledging that the superhero mythology has usurped the pantheon of gods of ancient times. Unfortunately these ideas, for me just don't raise the interest level enough to indulge the next three issues.

This: Strictly for Wolverine fans... and Hercules fans... wherever you are.
Forthcoming: See above.