A Week in Ink: Issue No. 26 NICOLAS PINO Arts Editor
Superman Beyond: Zero Issue
Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates No. 1
Gears of War Issue No. 19
Courtesy of Capitol Records
An Uplifting Party Plan
NICOLAS PINO Arts Editor
Between the constant retelling of his birth, world-renowned deaths every few hundred issues and some serious time spent in his twilight years, Superman’s aging is as shoddy as Lex Luthor’s latest plot. Mortality of a super-hero is an issue covered by writers far and wide, and while ex-Marvel Editor-inChief Tom DeFalco does nothing to further the medium, his take on the aged Man of Steel has a few peaking moments of greatness. Picking up a year after Supes left Earth on a journey of self-discovery, the world he once defended is an altered beast, reeking of crime, filth and abundant gang warfare. With the once-greatest defender of the planet on a year long vacation, using “all-out-warfare” to describe the place is an understatement. DeFalco writes a slightly better than average tale and for every few rays of hope, he casts an inescapable shadow of dull-witted banter to accompany the rather serious undertones. Backed by artist Sal Buscema, the comic is intelligently drawn and inked but by no means noteworthy on its own. To catch a brief glimpse of a time where Terry McGinnis dons the cape and cowl of Batman and Supes needs to be home before Matlock, “Superman Beyond” is well worth its $3.99 price tag.
In an industry rife with reboots, Jonathan Hickman’s early entry into a post-Spidey world is competing with some of the heavyweights in its division and, when all the pages are down, “The Ultimates No. 1” is holding its own. Told through the eyes of the heavyhanded General Fury, the plot resembles everything seen before in the Marvel Universe. During global calamity, the call goes out for Earth’s mightiest, only for them to meet a foe unlike anything they’ve fought before. Although the flow of the issue is not trend setting in its own right, Esad Ribic’s artwork is. From a redesigned Captain Britain to the outlandish Asgardians getting hammered in a bar, each panel goes above and beyond the call of duty. Strangely absent from the fray is Cap himself. Though pictured on the cover, America’s Super Soldier is MIA, a real letdown for any of those coming off the hype of this summer’s blockbuster hit. Besides a few relatively tiny snafus the issue as a whole is a sincerely solid attempt to reconstruct the former champion. Hickman lays the groundwork for an incredible comic series, but this stand-alone presents only a slice of the literary pie.
Even in ink and panel form, the crew of Delta Squad can never catch a break. Following Marcus Fenix and his troops near the recently demolished Jacinto, the melancholic series moves forward by sketching out the final moments of Gears of War 2. While the canon is represented in partial accuracy, the true issues with this ink and panel transformation is that nothing can replace EPIC’s gun-toting brotastic shooter — even itself. To the team’s credit, the panels are composed from gritty, sanguine palettes and mostly represent the heart and soul of the beloved franchise. Unfortunately, between the dialogue and lack of substance it seems as though the Gears team could use a little more time in basic training. While Cole spouts iconic phrases, the team banter stays to a minimum, a harsh contrast from the consistent team morale the EPIC writers work so hard to perpetuate. Even with Gears of War 3 head writer Karen Traviss pumping out issues, the fantastic feats of Delta Squad are probably best left on screen. While it offers some serious fan service for those waiting in the wings for the trilogy’s triumphant conclusion, tepid fans will find no solace here.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers Album: The Uplift Mofo Party Plan Label: EMI, Capitol Release Date: Sept. 29, 1987 Grade: B+ One band encapsulated the entire culmination of LA’s funky, alternative stylings and ingrained itself forever in the alt-rock pantheon. This band was Red Hot Chili Peppers. Before John Frusciante’s melodic composing and Hillel Slovak’s death threatened to break up the funk, RHCP was one of the most original bands to ever hit SoCal. Now, years later, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan is a testament to a time in music history long past. The album’s flagship track, “Fight Like a Brave,” sets the musical scene for the entire CD. This song would go on to be a rock anthem for all who suffer from addiction — even though lead singer Anthony Kiedis would relapse only a few years later. Its infectious bass riff and stellar chorus secure it as one of the best songs the band has ever produced. As the album progresses RHCP break out their signature funkadelicrock sounds, only rivaled by the likes of George Clinton and his eclectic collective Parliament Funkadelic. Of note, “Me and My Friends” has the instrumentals and triumphant force that the band has worked feverishly to revisit ever since. Flea’s legendary slap bass stylings reverberate through the next few tracks, thrusting forceful funk into the listener’s mind and solidifying the iconic revelry of a band on the edge of society. Like any well-remembered CD, the musical landscape is drastically altered just when the listener settles into the band’s comfort zone. This hallowed feature comes in the form of “Behind the Sun.” The combination of Hillel Slovak’s stunning sitar and Flea’s funk riff expertly blend together to produce a sound unlike anything the Chili Peppers have ever tried. The band derives much of its current style from this time period, making The Uplift Mofo Party Plan the launching point for their recent work.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
must have that
STASH
Visit your bookstore for a chance to win one of thousands of prizes
University Bookstore | Lee Entrance www.buffalo.bkstr.com
Find us o facebook
405FBTS11
ARTS & LIFE WEDNESDAY, AUgUSt 31, 2011 v THE SPECTRUM
9