Running Commentary Reviews for 2-23-05

Amazing Spider-Man 517 – “Skin Deep, part 3”
By J. Michael Straczynski, Mike Deodato, Jr., and Mark Brooks
I dunno if it’s the metal effect or intentional distortion, but Charlie’s fingers look creepy.
It’s a bit chilling how Charlie’s words here echo stuff I’ve said or thought in my worst moments. I guess it’s fortunate I don’t have them as often as he does.
Now there’s an image I’ll never be able to scour from my mind.
I think I’ve seen this bit somewhere before…
… Yeah, Pete’s got a cool marriage.
Todd Nauck, that’s who this Brooks guy reminds me of.
Yeah, there’s no way that was gonna end good.
“For the collection?” Did not need to know that bit of info.
Well, there goes the last ounce of pity I had for old Chuckles here.
Ewwwwwwwww. Creative, but ewwwwwwwww.
Okay, I know New Yorkers are self-abosrbed, but I think they’d still notice a guy with metal skin wearing a half-open trenchcoat walking around in broad daylight.
Well, that was a gratuitous plug.
Saved by the villain’s inability to put 2 and 2 together.
Well, that’s why he’s pissed off. No genitals.
Yeah, the whole “get Aunt May and take her to a hotel” thing kinda took the punch out of this cliffhanger.
Grade: B+

Fantastic Four 523 – “Rising Storm”
By Mark Waid and Mike Weiringo
Well, that’s one way to start a comic.
This is almost as weird as the time the Beyonder asked to use Spider-Man’s bathroom.
Ba-dum-ching.
She’s a long way from Springfield.
Johnny has a good point, and you know how that drives me crazy.
Whoa! Tonight, the part of Sue will be played by an anime character.
Galactus craves corn dogs.
Fitting that they’d come up with the idea.
She knows the Guggenheim by heart. That’s pretty cool.
Oh my God. Joe Rice is Galactus.
Speech, speech!
I think my comics are trying to tell me something this week.
Ah. That answers that question. The entire Internet may now shut up.
Yay! Letters page!
Hee. Now that’s what I call funny.
Grade: B+

Legion of Super-Heroes 3
By Mark Waid and Barry Kitson
OK, I’m not entirely sure what she just did.
Like the word balloon effect.
No title again. Meh.
OK, hwo the hell do you pronounce Phantom Girl’s homeworld?
Ha. Research. I dig it.
OK, Triplicate Girl looks a lot like a girl I lusted after in high school. (Not you, someone else.)
Nice icebreaker, EL. Smooth.
That’s… an interesting origin.
She managed to find a tube top, but the rest are all naked. Go fig.
I guess this more or less negates the need for photo ids.
This guy is just no good around women. I can relate.
Someone should tell Lightning Lad and Sun Boy that they have the same hairstyle.
Yeah, it was about time for a mysterious guy in the shadows.
*Snicker* OK, that’s funny. Amazing what a pair of glasses can do.
Hm. Again, not quite sure what she did there.
Poor Chameleon. He and Boromir should form a support group.
The UP was fledgling two years ago? Boy, they’ve built an infrastructure fast.
Now that’s just sad.
“Micro Lad.” I still dig it.
Sadly, this is more based in reality than one would imagine.
I’m surprised it doesn’t have chrome “wings.”
Oh, the Internet will go ape over this scene.
I think we’ve all been there.
That’s a nice image.
This story really does a nice job of playing with the format and TG’s powers.
Hopefully, it’s not like Starbucks’ stage two.
Grade: A-