Adam Graham's Blog: Christians and Superheroes - Posts Tagged "the-masks"

Despite what most of the online sources say, the Annual of this series was written by Jeff Parker, not Mark Waid who wrote the main series. The story was not bad per se but it was a tad repetitive. Iron Man is the key guest star and he appeared back in Indestructible Hulk #2, only a year previously. The big opportunity of the issue would be exploration of the relationship between Bruce Banner and Tony Star, but compared to what Waid did back in Issue 2, this doesn't add much.

The book begins with four pages of a man speaking to a college seminar where both Tony Stark and Banner attended. If the book has a big point it's that there's not enough spending on non-defense related science. Whatever the merits, the argument is pounded in with a sledgehammer, so it's just annoying. The interactions between Hulk and Stark are okay, but it really feels like Parker didn't read the main title as he trode over a lot of familiar ground. The art is good and some of the traps were clever, but not so the resolution.

Annuals used to be huge stories worthy of reader's attentions but this story just doesn't do it. It features too much pointless talking, a retread of themes explored less than a year ago, and a villain who makes one and only one appearances. You may enjoy this book more if you haven't been following the series, but given the price of annuals, if you haven't been following the series, why bother?

Review: 2.25 out of 5.0

Silver Surfer, Vol. 7, Issue 1:

My curiosity was peaked about the Silver Surfer when I read the preview in Superior Spider-man. I have very limited experience with the Surfer beyond his Silver Age Fantastic Four appearances, and cartoons and found this pretty easy to follow as it established his backstory as a herald of Galactus and also introduced Dawn Greenwood who, based on the preview, will end up travelling the galaxy with the Surfer. (Doctor Surfer, perhaps.)

Dawn and the Surfer are apart until the last page. Dawn lives at a family run New England Bed and Breakfast in Anchor Baby and her sister decides to become a world traveler while Dawn is a homebody who only shows any regrets about the path she's chosen towards the end of the book.

The Surfer meanwhile has found a species that hidden itself from him seeking his assistance on their very big and crowded homeworld. This one point in the book where the art kind of failed as the Planet just looked very crowded and busy and it really should have been more breathtaking based on the dialogue.

The story was okay throughout but some of the changes towards the end really peaked my interest Nothing breathtaking happens, but for a first issue, I think it does it's job. It introduces the characters and some interesting concepts, and personally I'm looking forward to more from the Surfer and Dawn.

Rating 3.75 out of 5.0

Masks, Issue 7:

At this point, the story has gotten to the point where it's not moving a whole lot. Our heroes have finally gotten to their location. We have the introduction of a very convenient army and we finally learn who's behind the Justice Party. The book is competently done and sets up Issue 8

Rating: 3.25 out of 5.0