Powers #27
Wow, Bendis and Oeming have done a great job the last few months getting this book back on track, both in making sure it comes out on time, but also bringing the story back to it’s former greatness. This issue has a great speech from the police captain, as well as some really interesting scenes with Deena, and two parts with some old favorite characters. What I really enjoyed about this issue was the way it tied back into the very first arc of the series. This title is officially back to being one of the best on the stands. —5 out of 5

PULL LIST 11-21-07 Powers #27 Loners #6 Grendel: Behold the Devil #1 Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite #3 Ultimate Vision #5

Loners #6
This mini following the lives of former teenage superheroes comes to an end, kind of. While closing out this particular arc, it sets up a lot of further stories, which I hope are eventually explored. How can you not enjoy a story with two Darkhawks going at each other? Phil Urich does what comes naturally to all Green Goblins, which means he goes crazy and tries to kill a bunch of people. The team comes together though and defeats him, but not before he causes some emotional damage. The new character who was introduced a few issues ago, Namie, has her true nature revealed, and I can pretty much guarantee it’s not who you expect. This has been a fun series for the most part; I really enjoyed it because it’s a different kind of team book than I usually read. Here’s hoping Marvel makes some more. —3 out of 5

Grendel: Behold the Devil #1
Kind of a slow paced first issue, but really saved by Matt Wagner‘s impeccable art style. Were back in the story of the original Grendel, Hunter Rose, and I can’t really go into the plot, because not much happens. There’s a lot of set up and recap here and the pacing is kind of slow, although some may call it deliberate. The art is really the high light though, and is classic Wagner. The black, white and red color palette works here to establish the mood. I enjoyed it, but the pacing and price may change this into a wait for the trade title. —4 out of 5

Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite #3
If you’re not reading this series, you should do yourself a favor and find all three issues. This story has been a blast so far, and a lot better than I originally thought it would be. That said, this may be the weakest issue, mostly because it doesn’t advance the story as much as the first two issues did. The first two moved at manic speed and this one kind of slows it down some. This is not to say it’s bad, as Gabriel Ba‘s pencils under Dave Stewart‘s colors are totally worth the price of admission. It’s just a necessary middle chapter in the story, so it bogs down. Highly recommended though. —4 out of 5

Ultimate Vision #5
Well that sure did end, didn’t it? Kind of a weak ending, although the whole series was really nothing special to begin with. The trio of Vision, Falcon and cyborg George Tarleton put their final plan in motion to destroy the Gah Lak Tus module that was left behind. There’s a lot of pseudo-scientific gobeldy-gook involved in the plan, but they manage to get through in the end. The problem with this series is not that it’s been particularly bad, it’s just spectacularly average. Brandon Peterson does a good job on the art, but it’s wasted on a boring inconsequential story. The delays on the book certainly didn’t help my enjoyment. Really only recommended for Ultimate completists. —2 out of 5