Arthur Cooke Comic Reviews

The reprint story is first rate. I don't recall ever having read it, so it was a fresh read. It co-stars the Angel and the Ice-Man from their Champions days. They enlist the Hulk's aid against a Sentinel, go into space, and generally sit back while the Hulk gets in his licks. This is a fun read if you like action packed, self-contained stories. It's also a chance to enjoy John Byrne on a character with whom he's not ordinarily associated.

I think a few words are in order about the reading interface. I found it very user friendly and easy to navigate. One comic page fills the viewer and controls for zooming and turning pages are located on the bottom. Use of the full screen mode, my preferred method of reading, renders the pages much easier to read. In full screen mode, the controls disappear from view but when the mouse is rolled over the bottom of the screen they return. Also in full screen mode you can still zoom in on the page to the point to where it fills the screen. When this is done an icon appears that allows the reader to use the mouse to pan around the different parts of the page. I like to do this when there's a certain panel or piece or art gets my attention. I found the Zuda viewer a pleasure to use and fun to play around with, and High Moon is a story worth looking into. It's free - what do you have to lose?

There's enough good action here to satisfy any reader. We get a big revelation about an 8th City of Heaven which most likely insures a return in the future. This issue nicely ties up various loose ends from the story while pointing the way to the immediate future for Danny Rand and associates. If the next story line is anything like this last one, then it should be a blast.

Gripes aside, I really enjoyed this issue. I think it has a lot going for it and I look forward to reading the rest of this arc. Highly recommended.

All told, a very enjoyable issue and I look forward to the conclusion of this arc.

I really like what Peter David has been doing here. She-Hulk has questioned and come to terms with her role as a heroine. She has been operating outside the normal confines of the law as a bounty hunter posing as an FBI agent while still standing for and upholding justice. With She-Hulk traveling as a bounty hunter the book does not have a permanent locale and this gives this gives the book a vibe somewhat reminiscent of the old Hulk TV series. The constant banter between She-Hulk and her Skrull partner Jazinda is always enjoyable and a highlight of the book. In this issue we are treated to a look into Skrull sexual mores, unless Jaz is exceptional among her people in her practices. The book promises a story arc that will reveal the reasons behind Jennifer Walters' disbarment and a Hercules guest shot to follow that. I find plenty to like about this book at the moment and I am looking forward to continuing with it.

While I come to this book for the story and scripting Val Semeik's art has been growing on me. He does a solid job. The story is well paced and She-Hulk looks decent. The scenes at the beginning and end of the book featuring the villain, Moore, are among the highlights of the book. The fight scene is convincing, too, as we are treated to a She-Hulk with all her savagery unleashed. This has been a consistently good book, one I look forward to reading every month. Recommended.

I did find the ending compelling. I want to find out what happens so I will be reading and reviewing the second issue. There is enough of interest here to bring me back and see where it goes. Best of all is that you can download the book for yourself for free to check it out. Head on over to Alterna Comics' website and look for the downloads, you've got nothing to lose. There is definitely some real potential here.

The artwork is spectacular and fits the story well. The frost giants are very cool looking and the Asgardian setting looks suitably ancient. So if you insist on an old style Thor comic, you might be disappointed. But if you'd like to read a more "blood and guts" Thor, then this book is definitely for you. It won me over and I'm looking forward to the next chapter, Thor: Reign of Blood in June.

In sum, the issue did a fine job of informing me, essentially a new reader, about a new version of an old favorite. This new version is less robotic and more human than the old. While I still prefer the old vision, I wouldn't rule out reading more about this one.