DC Retroactive: Wonder Woman – The ’80s 1 (October 2011)

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For three pages, Wonder Woman has good art. In their all-knowing wisdom, DC only had Carlos Rodriguez do three pages. The first part is by Rich Buckler, who’s not terrible, just not even mediocre. But the last part, by Tim Smith III, is absolutely hideous. I wonder if they were willy-nilly hiring artists, trying to make the issue a mess, since Roy Thomas’s script doesn’t deserve good art, much less publication.

Thomas’s script, full of casual sexism and atrocious expository dialogue, is one of the worst things I’ve read in a while. My favorite moment is when Silver Swan calls herself something 2.0. Now, since the story’s set in 1983, is just a dumb anarchism or is Thomas giving Swan credit for that catchphrase (based, presumably, on DOS releases).

Oh, I forgot how he kills her because she’s ugly.

It’s crap. Thomas probably can’t write grocery lists.

CREDITS

Double, Double…; writer, Roy Thomas; pencillers, Rich Buckler, Tim Smith III and Carlos Rodriguez; inkers, Joe Rubinstein, Jack Purcell, Norman Lee and Rodriguez; colorists, Kevin Colden and Matthew Petz; letterer, Travis Lanham; editors, Chynna Clugston Flores and Kwanza Johnson; publisher, DC Comics.

X-Men vs. Agents of Atlas (2009) #2

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Wait, what?

Okay, I get it. Agents of Atlas can’t make the grade sales-wise so there need to be team-ups–Parker’s the best writer Marvel has working on their mainstream stuff right now (sorry, Ed, but I can’t forgive some of the Daredevil and X-Men lows)–someone realizes it and doesn’t want him to jump ship to DC, who wouldn’t appreciate him, but he more jibes with their stuff anyway.

This issue reveals the whole series just to be an Atlas comic. It’s got nothing to do with X-Men other than as a McGuffin. I mean, whatever, I get it… but still, it’s shameful Atlas can’t get a solid reading audience.

What am I saying? I should be grateful for any good comic books at all, given the depths of idiocy pop culture has descended to in the last fifteen years.

Oh, yeah. Great comic book.