CD Giveaway - 33Miles, "One Life"
Ends Aug 4, 2010
The country-pop sound established in their eponymous debut is a mainstay for this album as well, and even adds a little more southern flavor. |
CD Giveaway - Phil Wickham, "Cannons"
Ends Aug 3, 2010
With an opening shot that hits the sonic pinnacle, this collection of spiritual Brit pop/rock is heavily influenced by Keane, Travis, Coldplay, and U2. |
DVD Giveaway: Kick-Ass
Ends Aug 1, 2010
Get ready to have your ass kicked when this DVD of awesomeness releases to the home entertainment market. |
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Comic Book Review: Human Torch #1
by R.J. Carter
Published: April 11, 2003
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Human Torch #1 |
Burn part 1 |
Karl Kesel
Skottie Young
Joe Seung / Pierre-Andre Dery |
Marvel |
$2.50 US, $4.00 CAN |
B |
For more information: Marvel Comics |
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The newest of the Marvel Tsunami line (something you'd have to be an insider to know about, since nowhere on the book does it actually identify this title as such) takes us back to the early days of Johnny Storm, the hot-headed member of the Fantastic Four known as the Human Torch. We begin at the end of Johnny's sophomore year and, in the turn of a page, summer vacation is over and we're starting up junior year.
And what did Johnny do on his summer vacation? He flew into space in his sister's boyfriend's experimental rocket and gained super powers.
But the powers are tangential to the story, which is largely about the rivalry between Johnny and Mike "Snowman" Snow, Olympic bound wrestler. Johnny's a hotheaded matchstick and Mike's a silent giant, and they're put into direct conflict over the same girl (hey, what else do high school boys fight over.)
What Karl Kesel presents the readers with is a completely unlikable Johnny Storm, one who--once he gets powers--becomes an even more unbearable antagonist, and someone whom you would dearly love to see beaten to a pulp. But who's going to do such a thing to a famous member of the Fantastic Four?
Artist Skottie Young does some interesting things with panel layouts to draw attention to story elements, but the pencils themselves too often come across as just slightly more cartoony than a Zits strip. This, like the other Tsunami books, is not true Manga but an attempt by Marvel to cash in on a growing fad by mimicking the look of the popular Japanese comics. It's saved by the storytelling (although, truth to tell, I'd love to see a writer have the guts to foil Johnny with someone who isn't in some way directly opposite his nature--readers got enough of the whole "fire and water" thing with all the Human Torch vs. Namor stories--do we really need the character to be named "Snow?")
 Human Torch is eminently readable and possibly even stick-withable as a mini-series. However, I would need to see some changes in the title before I could foresee it sticking it out for the long haul.
Where's the comic shop in your area? Dial the Comic Shop Locator toll free at: 1-888-COMIC BOOK (1-888-266-4226).
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