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Den · 11-14-2009, 09:24 AM

There's a whole thread on why you should be reading the Shield that already mentions some things about issue #3 in the series, but I thought the issue deserved a review and discussion area all its own.

Issue #3 is part 3 and the ending of the "knocking down the door" storyline. When last we left our heroes, that is Shield and his unwelcome (By the Shield anyway, fans' views will be mixed) guest star Magog, they were in the middle of a rescue mission gone ape.

That is, Grodd has made his appearance. That's right, two mind controllers for the price of one. The warsuit continues to prove a marvelous device as it helps Joe lock onto a small implanted device in the back of what passes for the odd tendril brained non-ape mind controller. The Shield's done his homework on 'Villains 101' and realizes that Grodd's using this guy to control groups for him. Scratch one device.

In the air, Joe's support team is flying nearly blind, they know where Joe is, but not what is going on and they can't get in communication with him. At this point, I should say I'm liking the Shield's support team. It's clear they worry about him and not just the mission.

Still, request for gunship support is denied.

Magog gets a good head shot in on Grodd, but also gets mind controlled by the offended primate "I'm an APE, you cretin". And suddenly the Shield has to deal with Magog AND Grodd.
Not fun.
Or as our hero puts it "Lt. Joe Higgins: welcome to the suck"

The suit goes down to 77% efficiency faster than you can say 'Guest stars carry big badda boom' and Grodd wants a piece of him too.

The Shield has a line here too, claiming that Grodd has made a big mistake, that he's not a superhero, he's a soldier, and soldiers know that the only fair fight is the one you win. To me, this would indicate that Joe really hasn't met that many superheroes...which actually fits his style. Quite a few of them can and do fight 'dirty' when lives are on the line.

But not only does that FIT the Shield (He's not exactly having a beer with other heroes regularly yet), the question of if his fighting methods are really that different from other hand to hand heroes doesn't detract one bit from the utterly beautiful Krav Manga move followed by throwing mind controller into mind controllee complete with glass breaking and a fall below.

It would appear, as a general rule, apes don't fly well

Of course the first mind controller, now freed from Grodd's control, wants to thank the Shield for his help by getting some brain to brain contact...what with the tendrils, it's almost a literal connection. The guy who tries to enslave our hero dubs himself "Malik Al Thaka" or "Brain Emperor" (I liked it up, old Red Circle villain brought in. Yay. It's not just the heroes being tapped for this)

Bad move on Malik's part, as the suit protects its wearer from brain hacks with an electric charge that knocks him on his noodle headed rear.

Outside, Shuja is as cranky as ever, and decides to check out what's going on.

Magog wakes up to find Joe performing the Vulcan mind meld with him, okay, it's just a neural shock to help clear up the mind control. Grodd wakes up, only to get a kick to the face.

At this point, I begin to suspect that the Shield shouldn't ever work at a bed and breakfast. :)

Unfortunately, the mission is NOT accomplished. Both the American Soldiers, and the Bialyan Insurgents snap out of their mind control, confused, armed, and next to each other.

The soldiers tell the insurgents to drop their weapons, the insurgents yell "Kill the Americans" and it all goes to hell.

Shield tells them to hold their fire, and the Americans stand down. Shuja has arrived, and informs the insurgents that they need to stand down too, not because it is right, but rather hinting the Shield could rip them apart.

I'm not sure how realistic it was that the firefight could stop so quickly once it started, but this is the comic books, after all And did we really want two more pages of the Shield standing between folks negotiating?

Shield thanks Shuja, and Shuja essentially chews him out. Tells him that his people died because of men like the Shield deciding they needed to 'do what's right'. He lays a lot on Joe's shoulders neverminding the fact that JOE himself only came to retrieve soldiers that were missing.

But that, it seems, is the price you pay when you wear a flagsuit.

As the insurgents are taken by the soldiers alive, it is Magog who gives the brutal rebuttal to Shuja's complaint when he finds out Shuja has gone back to his village. Magog believes Shuja is not going to thank the Shield ever, never going to forgive let alone like America, and likely will be killing American soldiers with explosives sooner rather than later.

Shield wants to know how the heck to prevent that, besides killing them all.
Magog response "Why not? They want US to die"

Shield admits that Magog has a point, but laments that "We should stand for something better."

Perhaps it is because Magog actually says less, and what he says is pretty simplsitic, but in this case the balance Trautmann has been writing so far slips... just a little, but as it is a nigh impossible balancing act to keep up forever, I think that's he did a pretty good job even in this. The personal views of the reader are going to color things no matter what, and in the end, the Shield ends up being an idealistic guy who recognizes he's in an unidealistic world.

As for the writing over all, Eric T. continues to impress. Some great banter and lines were laced through out the story, a 'new' villain was introduced, and the hero continues to be a guy we can admire.

Much as I liked the writing, the book would have probably been worth the money it thanks to Marco Rudy's utterly AMAZING art alone (and Eduardo's?). I don't think I've seen any artist quite capture big action scenes one moment, then switch to so much emotion in expressions so smoothly like this in quite awhile.

I can't be sure if Rudy is really just that good, or if he has an amazing inker and colorist support, or both.

Mission accomplished all around by the creative team.
I'd give this an 8 out of 10

The Inferno back up continues to improve. Going from 'find the flaming man' to something increasingly..weirder as we see just who, or WHAT is pursuing 'Frank'.

It is still not my style of storyline, I guess I'm just not into 'mystery on the run' scenarios, but it is getting better, and either I'm getting used to the art, or it is honestly just a bit less muddled. I'd give this one a 6 out of 10, and that beats the 5 I've been handing out to past issues.

That said, no offense to the Inferno Crew, I'm wondering if maybe another character as a back up would have been a better match for the Shield.

HaroldAllnut · 11-14-2009, 03:51 PM

I liked this issue a lot. Especially when Shuja made some pretty accurate and realistic commentary about American foreign policy. That was quite nice to see.

This was my first issue of The Shield, and I definitely plan on coming back for more, and possibly even tracking down the back issues. This is a pretty great series.

General Grievous · 11-15-2009, 07:14 AM

This should make a nice trade papperback for me when it comes out. I love Grodd and Magog. I also enjoy eric's writing skills.

Melfice · 11-24-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaroldAllnut

I liked this issue a lot. Especially when Shuja made some pretty accurate and realistic commentary about American foreign policy. That was quite nice to see.

This was my first issue of The Shield, and I definitely plan on coming back for more, and possibly even tracking down the back issues. This is a pretty great series.

Pick up #1 and 2 and you won't be sorry I tell ya! This is one of the better books out there from DC. Great stuff awaits it's fans I believe

Xero · 11-25-2009, 06:44 PM

Shuja isn't talking about American foreign policy, he hates all foreign metahumans. The country the story is set in is Bialya, which why why Shuja mentioned the fact that his people are almost extinct.

Bialya is the country that Black Adam "killed", he flew through there slaughtering every man, woman, child and animal, murdered about 2.5 million Bialyans because their leaders helped to kill his wife, his adopted son, and a lot of the citizens of Kahndaq.

So yeah, I'd hate Metas too if I was that kid.

Xero · 11-25-2009, 06:44 PM

Double post.

lonewolf23k · 11-25-2009, 08:22 PM

I like this Shield series so far, if only because it manages to remain positive about US armed forces members, while not coming off as a piece of jingoistic Right-Wing propaganda.

Melfice · 11-28-2009, 07:50 PM

I thought the ending for the first arc was very well done, and I enjoyed #3 a lot

Next issue should be interesting, and the second feature is getting better each month as well!

11-14-2009, 03:51 PM	#2
HaroldAllnut Son of Blighted Albion Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: UC Berkeley Posts: 2,049	I liked this issue a lot. Especially when Shuja made some pretty accurate and realistic commentary about American foreign policy. That was quite nice to see. This was my first issue of The Shield, and I definitely plan on coming back for more, and possibly even tracking down the back issues. This is a pretty great series. __________________ Batman, Batman and Robin, Blackest Night, The Brave and the Bold, Daredevil, Doom Patrol, Invincible, Invincible Iron Man, Jonah Hex, JSA, Magog, Punisher, The Unwritten.

11-25-2009, 06:44 PM	#5
Xero Lurker Join Date: May 2004 Location: teh Intarweb Posts: 705	Shuja isn't talking about American foreign policy, he hates all foreign metahumans. The country the story is set in is Bialya, which why why Shuja mentioned the fact that his people are almost extinct. Bialya is the country that Black Adam "killed", he flew through there slaughtering every man, woman, child and animal, murdered about 2.5 million Bialyans because their leaders helped to kill his wife, his adopted son, and a lot of the citizens of Kahndaq. So yeah, I'd hate Metas too if I was that kid. __________________ Cape shall not kill cape. Kometa!

11-25-2009, 06:44 PM	#6
Xero Lurker Join Date: May 2004 Location: teh Intarweb Posts: 705	Double post. __________________ Cape shall not kill cape. Kometa!

11-25-2009, 08:22 PM	#7
lonewolf23k Veteran Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 6,640	I like this Shield series so far, if only because it manages to remain positive about US armed forces members, while not coming off as a piece of jingoistic Right-Wing propaganda. __________________ -Exit the LoneWolf Founder of the Latverian Resistance: "Down with Doom!" EXTERMINATE! -Any Dalek

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11-14-2009, 09:24 AM	#1
Den Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,058	*Review: The Shield #3 Spoilers* discussion** There's a whole thread on why you should be reading the Shield that already mentions some things about issue #3 in the series, but I thought the issue deserved a review and discussion area all its own. Issue #3 is part 3 and the ending of the "knocking down the door" storyline. When last we left our heroes, that is Shield and his unwelcome (By the Shield anyway, fans' views will be mixed) guest star Magog, they were in the middle of a rescue mission gone ape. That is, Grodd has made his appearance. That's right, two mind controllers for the price of one. The warsuit continues to prove a marvelous device as it helps Joe lock onto a small implanted device in the back of what passes for the odd tendril brained non-ape mind controller. The Shield's done his homework on 'Villains 101' and realizes that Grodd's using this guy to control groups for him. Scratch one device. In the air, Joe's support team is flying nearly blind, they know where Joe is, but not what is going on and they can't get in communication with him. At this point, I should say I'm liking the Shield's support team. It's clear they worry about him and not just the mission. Still, request for gunship support is denied. Magog gets a good head shot in on Grodd, but also gets mind controlled by the offended primate "I'm an APE, you cretin". And suddenly the Shield has to deal with Magog AND Grodd. Not fun. Or as our hero puts it "Lt. Joe Higgins: welcome to the suck" The suit goes down to 77% efficiency faster than you can say 'Guest stars carry big badda boom' and Grodd wants a piece of him too. The Shield has a line here too, claiming that Grodd has made a big mistake, that he's not a superhero, he's a soldier, and soldiers know that the only fair fight is the one you win. To me, this would indicate that Joe really hasn't met that many superheroes...which actually fits his style. Quite a few of them can and do fight 'dirty' when lives are on the line. But not only does that FIT the Shield (He's not exactly having a beer with other heroes regularly yet), the question of if his fighting methods are really that different from other hand to hand heroes doesn't detract one bit from the utterly beautiful Krav Manga move followed by throwing mind controller into mind controllee complete with glass breaking and a fall below. It would appear, as a general rule, apes don't fly well Of course the first mind controller, now freed from Grodd's control, wants to thank the Shield for his help by getting some brain to brain contact...what with the tendrils, it's almost a literal connection. The guy who tries to enslave our hero dubs himself "Malik Al Thaka" or "Brain Emperor" (I liked it up, old Red Circle villain brought in. Yay. It's not just the heroes being tapped for this) Bad move on Malik's part, as the suit protects its wearer from brain hacks with an electric charge that knocks him on his noodle headed rear. Outside, Shuja is as cranky as ever, and decides to check out what's going on. Magog wakes up to find Joe performing the Vulcan mind meld with him, okay, it's just a neural shock to help clear up the mind control. Grodd wakes up, only to get a kick to the face. At this point, I begin to suspect that the Shield shouldn't ever work at a bed and breakfast. :) Unfortunately, the mission is NOT accomplished. Both the American Soldiers, and the Bialyan Insurgents snap out of their mind control, confused, armed, and next to each other. The soldiers tell the insurgents to drop their weapons, the insurgents yell "Kill the Americans" and it all goes to hell. Shield tells them to hold their fire, and the Americans stand down. Shuja has arrived, and informs the insurgents that they need to stand down too, not because it is right, but rather hinting the Shield could rip them apart. I'm not sure how realistic it was that the firefight could stop so quickly once it started, but this is the comic books, after all And did we really want two more pages of the Shield standing between folks negotiating? Shield thanks Shuja, and Shuja essentially chews him out. Tells him that his people died because of men like the Shield deciding they needed to 'do what's right'. He lays a lot on Joe's shoulders neverminding the fact that JOE himself only came to retrieve soldiers that were missing. But that, it seems, is the price you pay when you wear a flagsuit. As the insurgents are taken by the soldiers alive, it is Magog who gives the brutal rebuttal to Shuja's complaint when he finds out Shuja has gone back to his village. Magog believes Shuja is not going to thank the Shield ever, never going to forgive let alone like America, and likely will be killing American soldiers with explosives sooner rather than later. Shield wants to know how the heck to prevent that, besides killing them all. Magog response "Why not? They want US to die" Shield admits that Magog has a point, but laments that "We should stand for something better." Perhaps it is because Magog actually says less, and what he says is pretty simplsitic, but in this case the balance Trautmann has been writing so far slips... just a little, but as it is a nigh impossible balancing act to keep up forever, I think that's he did a pretty good job even in this. The personal views of the reader are going to color things no matter what, and in the end, the Shield ends up being an idealistic guy who recognizes he's in an unidealistic world. As for the writing over all, Eric T. continues to impress. Some great banter and lines were laced through out the story, a 'new' villain was introduced, and the hero continues to be a guy we can admire. Much as I liked the writing, the book would have probably been worth the money it thanks to Marco Rudy's utterly AMAZING art alone (and Eduardo's?). I don't think I've seen any artist quite capture big action scenes one moment, then switch to so much emotion in expressions so smoothly like this in quite awhile. I can't be sure if Rudy is really just that good, or if he has an amazing inker and colorist support, or both. Mission accomplished all around by the creative team. I'd give this an 8 out of 10 The Inferno back up continues to improve. Going from 'find the flaming man' to something increasingly..weirder as we see just who, or WHAT is pursuing 'Frank'. It is still not my style of storyline, I guess I'm just not into 'mystery on the run' scenarios, but it is getting better, and either I'm getting used to the art, or it is honestly just a bit less muddled. I'd give this one a 6 out of 10, and that beats the 5 I've been handing out to past issues. That said, no offense to the Inferno Crew, I'm wondering if maybe another character as a back up would have been a better match for the Shield. __________________ Reading: Blackest Night, Booster Gold, Doom Patrol, Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, The Shield, The Web Last edited by Den; 11-21-2009 at 12:05 PM. Reason: Mispelled a name doh

11-15-2009, 07:14 AM	#3
General Grievous Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 8,594	This should make a nice trade papperback for me when it comes out. I love Grodd and Magog. I also enjoy eric's writing skills. __________________ "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." "There is a Morrison, Grant be thy name!"

11-28-2009, 07:50 PM	#8
Melfice Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 432	I thought the ending for the first arc was very well done, and I enjoyed #3 a lot Next issue should be interesting, and the second feature is getting better each month as well!