Human Target #6:
After I turned the last page of this issue, I said aloud, "This is a really well-done book." Milligan and Chiang seem to have such a natural chemistry. The action moments, where a "costumed" Christopher Chance leaps into action (often literally), always maintain the visual vocabulary of the character. The story -- a topical one about priests with sins -- is carefully crafted and smartly depicted. I like Chiang's sketchy art, which makes "crime" books look really interesting, despite what some might consider a whole lot of talking. The ending isn't exactly "heroic," but this is Vertigo, and it's satisfying in every way to this reader. Another Buy Pile all-star.

Elektra #32:
Elektra gets sick. This seemingly innocuous premise plays out a lot more interestingly than your average sitcom when your title character is one of the world's finest assassins and a ninja to boot. She tries to jam in a quick contract killing over the weekend, unaware that she's brought back an infectious agent from her mission in Naou. "Feverish" is probably not the way to approach an assassination, and it may not be hilarity, but hijinks will certainly ensue. Entertaining stuff.

Transformers/G.I. Joe #5:
There's all kinds of madness going on in this issue, with Snake Eyes making himself out to be the baddest man in the forties, Scarlett having many of the problems she's known for, and Flint getting tortured. The Autobots decide to fully leap into the war when Cobra uses human shields (you know Optimus can't stand horrors and atrocities -- wussy that he is), and some of the subtexts of that time are played into the fantastic backdrop of cybernetic life forms and code-named soldiers quite deftly. Again kudos to the coloring, Jae Lee's sketchy art and Reiber's writing.

Lucifer #46:
Once again the Morningstar wields the women around him like playthings, with Elaine Belloc getting tapped for serving evictions on every non-sanctioned immortal in Lucifer's creation, with swordwoman Mazikeen riding shotgun. Alas, this "main thrust" of the story is a sideline for a spider-like demon who weaves emotions and comes to care for a precocious and neglected Earth boy who stumbles on a doorway into Lucifer's realm. That part was played vaguely, with idiosyncratic syntax for the demon (think Yoda hooked on phonics) and I found only "okay."

Stay Puffed:
The writer John Layman actually mailed me a copy of this a few weeks ago, after I'd loved Puffed and Buy Piled the lot of it. This follows the nasty janitor in Iraq ... and it's just as sick and wrong as everything in Puffed, but in a much more concentrated fashion. A comedy classic.

Daredevil #56:
Smart. Very, very smart. Matt Murdock takes a combined approach -- cash for bettering the neighborhood and fists to "evict" the reluctant -- and virtually clears Hell's Kitchen of crime. When Luke Cage, Stephen Strange, Peter Parker and Reed Richards come to dress him down, he responds by criticizing their levels of involvement. Brilliant (if talky) dialogue, nicely done plot, and real smarts. A jump from the Read Pile.

Rex Mundi #8:
The mystery comes closer and closer, with revelations about John the Baptist as a focal point for the Knights Templar and more tension between the good doctor Julian and Genevieve Tournon. One of the most involved and intelligent reads on the stands, this issue propels the "mythology" of the mystery along at a good clip. The slowness of the early running is gone -- Eric and Arvid show with this issue that they are ticking along like a finely tuned Bavarian driving machine, and we're all along for the ride.

Transformers: War Within 2 #4:
Grimlock has become a real star under the guidance of Simon Furman, with hilarious rejoinders and powerful action. Jetfire and Shockwave have a bad experience, Trypticon smashes the hell out of every Autobot he can find (with some of the best giant robot dialogue I've ever seen), and the pre-unified factions continue their inexorable push towards one another. I really like this book, but wish that they'd take a little less of a cue from the other Dreamwave TF book out now, and lighten up the coloring just a smidge. Otherwise fine, fine work.

Birds of Prey #63:
Ed Benes has got your cheesecake right here, pal. A wet, lingerie-clad Cheshire being chased by Dinah and Lady Shiva -- it's practically a Skinemax movie. The plot -- revenge for the slaying of Shiva and Dinah's master -- hits a snag when it becomes more mystery than vendetta. Simone really has found the best book for her ability to balance action, drama and smart quips and dialogue. Another great issue, despite the clear cut ... appeal to a certain demographic (which is no slight on Benes' talent, which is immense).

Buy Pile Breakdown: A jump, smart reads from Vertigo, smart nostalgia books -- very happy so far ...

Then there's the stuff on the "read pile" that I don't bring home ...

Runaways #10:
The "new guy" storyline concludes with smoking consequences, and the Pride is proud of their progeny, despite the inability to control them. Vaughn is making this a very consistently solid book, but the cast of characters still doesn't entice, nor does the action, largely removed from any context that would likewise invite involvement. Through some continuity wrangling, Cloak & Dagger are expected next issue, and as noted, this is a "good" read.

Arrowsmith #5:
The issue is called "Atrocity," and it really digs into some of the uglier aspects of warfare. An experimental weapon goes amazingly better than planned, which is a lot harder for the men of Arrowsmith's unit to handle than they've expected. Busiek's tale of a young man coming-of-age in a time of great conflict is a very textured read that -- I've said before -- is crippled by the monthly format, as much as its obscure modus operandi (historical speculative fiction). It's a novel waiting to happen, but I don't see it as a comic book at all, despite improving with each issue.

Thanos #5:
Thanos is back in the form his fans will enjoy -- taking it to Galactus with no pause nor prevarication, finally ordering the Devourer around. The goofy villain, simply called "Hunger," is incredibly cliche, but Thanos makes up for it by stonefacing his way through it all. Good enough to read, but not good enough to buy, especially with a new creator and direction due in two issues, which means the slobberknocker is coming next month.

Robin #122:
Willingham handles Robin with a deft hand, giving him a combination of amazing skill and youthful arrogance. Johnny Warren has a bad experience and still evades the young hero, leading to a very Bat talk between Robin and his mentor. The art is solid throughout, and Willingham is accomplishing the Sisyphian task of making this title good enough to ... buy. Mercy.

Crimson Dynamo #5:
Enter ... Tony Stark! Via radio anyway. The misadventures of the runaway armor take a whole new twist, with goals and ideas changing left and right, and this title continues to entertain massively. Only its impending doom keeps it from being a Buy Pile title -- rough economics in a Bush era. Gennady talks to the world's most dangerous alcoholic, who gives him some ideas and works as an interesting cameo, while everybody and their mom plots for ways to grab Anton Vanko's unfinished masterpiece. Fun stuff, and it's a shame to see it going.

Sojourn #31:
Beyonce shows up (sort of) when Mordath hires an ambitious bounty hunter to bring down the elusive Arwyn. Meanwhile, our heroes fall in with some ice ogres to fight ... something unpleasant. If you don't know the alarmingly solid work Greg Land is doing, month in and month out, in terms of visual composition and storytelling ... well, you're missing out. This book is a consistently good read -- so why is it not on the Buy Pile? It's too decompressed for its own good, honestly. That's all that keeps my money away from this dazzling book.

X-Men #152:
"Here Comes Tomorrow" indeed -- Marc Silvestri illustrates Grant Morrison's dystopian mutant future, with Hank McCoy's armies of genetic aberrations hunting down the last warriors of Xavier's dream. Honestly, the art was supposed to be the draw, but unless the inker wholly phoned it in, Silvestri has lost a step -- the two page splash with all the "heroes" looked rushed and amateurish, like his earliest work, not his finer, later ones. Plus, the idea of this dystopian future -- who cares? From Age of Apocalypse to Days of Future Past, X-books do alternate futures every other year. Why should I care about this one, knowing it'll all get dialed back to "normalcy" before the next movie? Disappointing, which is amazing given how little I expect from this title.

G.I. Joe #26:
Narrowly missed the buy pile, because Brando Jerwa is still a 50% shooter, judging from his Frontline issues. Much of the issue is a solid, if somewhat contrived, recap of the entire continuity.

Outsiders #8
Better when you first read it than after a few minutes, Huntress gets some seriously good lines at the expense of a Bat-like, uptight Nightwing. The supposes sexual tension -- given, especially, that the two characters have danced the horozontal mambo already -- is less believable, and there's solid super hero smashing through most of the book. An old villain is coming back, and he's got a great new makeover. The art is better than the writing here, but whaddaya gonna do, you know?

Iron Man #76:
The only logical conclusion to Tony Stark's confirmation hearing occurs, and this title continues its renaissance, balancing action all the way around, from center to periphery. I've not enjoyed Iron Man this much in a long number of years. If this storyline keeps it up, I'll be buying this book on the next go-round.

JSA #57:
Black Adam triumphant. The JSA having a bad experience. Kahndaq free. The moral complications of this storyline are sidelined for some good old fashioned yelling and beating of people. Fine action, fine art, but really just a long fight scene with a bit of tension along the way. I'm stunned Captain Marvel didn't do more here.

Fantastic Four #509:
The mad ideas continue to mount, as Waid digs deep for a crazy idea in continuity to make shiny and new. Questions of theology and metaphysics leap to the fore, as Reed has surely gone mad, but in a cuddly Absentminded Professor way, not a homicidal Genis-Vell way. Interesting reading, even though I know, deep down, long time FF fans find this whole approach abhorrent.

Read Pile Roundup: Good stuff all the way around. No real clunkers.

Yay! Good week for comics, which we needed after last week's stink-fest.

Originally published at UGO.com