Author: Ed Brubaker
Penciler: Paco Medina
Inker: Juan Vlasco
Colors: Nathan Faibairn
There are two things I would like to mention before we jump into the review. One: I am such a sucker for covers where new characters are jumping out of old pictures or After pictures. Always have been and always will be. It all goes back to Giant Size X-men 1. This simple, yet complex cover by Jimmy Cheung is no exception. With a little borrowed from Jack Kirby, Mike Zeck, John Byrne, and John Romita for the images in the back it makes this a wonderful looking cover. Oh yeah, there was a second point I was going to make…..right. I miss the Young Avengers so damn much. I really wish Marvel would go ahead and give the green light to do a YA without Allen Heinberg.
Brubaker is the first writer of this six issue limited series that will focus on one member of the team in each issue. The first issue is of course Patriot, the grandson of Isaiah Bradley (the original Cap in Truth). After the death of Captain America Eli doesn’t know what his place in the world is and what the codename Patriot means to a black kid living in a country he really doesn’t like. So, yes race is the central theme in this issue, but it doesn’t come off tasteless, because Bru manages to tell an intelligent story without going to overboard on the black vs. white theme. Eli makes a special trip to talk to Bucky Barnes aka Winter Soldier and has a talk with him about why he fights and what made Steve keep fighting for a country he didn’t believe in all the time.
I am impressed with Paco Medina’s pencils, because for some reason it seems more polished than his work on New Warriors and certainly tighter than his run on New X-men. I expect great things from such a talented artist and the guy has still to find that style he is most comfortable with. While his young characters look great, he still seems to draw everyone with a young take such as Eli’s grandmother and grandfather, hell even Bucky looks like he is in his early 20s. This is an impressive story about legacy, loss, and the search for one’s motives and while it’s only a one-shot it really moves the character of Eli in a great direction. B+
Author: Kevin Grevioux
Penciler: Jon Malin
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Cover: Nic Klein
I’m still recovering from the fact that Night Thrasher is not Dwayne Taylor, but instead his brother Donyell Taylor (the original Bandit). This issue picks up where we last left the new Night Thrasher; at the grave site of his brother Dwayne Taylor an about to get his ass handed to him by Midnight’s Fire.
While talking to Silhouette, Night Thrasher is interrupted by Midnight’s Fire (which some of you know is Sil’s brother from the original New Warriors series). Midnight’s Fire thinks that Dwayne is still under the Night Thrasher mask and a fight takes place. Meanwhile the rest of the Warriors are debating whether they are terrorist or not during dinner. By the end they all hug and give each other kisses ala Full House (okay it is written 10 times better than any episode of Full House….and I’ve seen them all!)
Malin is the guest artist again for this issue and although some of his poses are static and sometimes it’s hard to tell the women apart, I really am starting to dig his work. It reminds me of Chap Yaep, Rob Liefeld, Stephen Platt, and Ron Lim….those artist that made the 90s stand out. I really wish the guy would go on to do the Cable book or he would work great for the Punisher!
The mix between Kevin Grevioux’s story that draws from the classic NW continuity and Malin’s art makes it seem as if I’m visiting the characters that I remembered from years ago. With the invitation to join the New Warriors I really want to know what MF decides to do and what it will mean for the future of the team. This has been a fantastic book and damn, do I miss Dwayne, but thank you Mr. Grevioux for taking a little time to do something most writers don’t do….read past issues! And I can't wait to see Justice and Rage join the team! B
Script: Fabian Nicieza
Writer & Penciler: Reilly Brown
Inker: Jeremy Freeman
Colors: Gotham with Sotocolor
I have to come to terms with the fact that my favorite Marvel title is about to meet it’s premature ending. This issue is the penultimate issue and as you can see Fabian has stepped down as writer and is only doing the script.
Deadpool, Weasel, and Bob: Agent of Hydra head to the Savage Land to retrieve one of Magneto’s Electro-Polarity Reconfiguration Engine for the country of Rumekistan. While in the Savage they run into Kazar and Sabu that are being controlled by Brainchild. So of course there is a big fight between Kazar and Deadpool that ends up with Deadpool with a knife through his head. By the end of the issue you can tell that Deadpool and friends are about to join the Venom Attack crossover!
Damn, I’m going to miss this book. I have to keep wiping the keyboard from the tears that keep rolling down my face. I laughed so damn hard, I can’t think of another book that makes me laugh so much. Deadpool bringing up the fact that both Cable and Magneto will be back in some sort of crossover and Weasel mesmerized by Lorelei’s rack just reminds me why this book stands above the rest. So many pop culture references and funny moments will keep these 50 issues in my heart always. I have heard a rumor of a Deadpool series and got excited, but then I read “this”: http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/007103801.cfm just shrivels my nuts! Reilly Brown’s art really does a really nice job with his clean pencils and his story, while not the best in the series, is still pretty solid. If you’ve never check out this series, do yourself a favor and pick up some back issues, which I’m sure you can find for less than a buck or pick up the trades. If you happen to enjoy them, you might want to let Marvel know. A
Author: Marc Guggenheim
Artist: Howard Chaykin
Colors: Edgar Delgado
Cover: Arthur Suydam
It’s been a few months since I reviewed a Wolverine book, but you know what they say if you can’t say anything nice….fuck it, I was just being lazy. The five part story Logan Dies wraps up with this issue and how does it make me feel as a Wolverine fan of 20+ years? But before we get on that, I would like to point out that all five part covers were drawn by Marvel Zombies cover artist Suydam. Can the guy draw normal people without looking like they are dying or coming back from the dead? I would love to see him do a self portrait.
Alright let’s do a quick recap of all the crap that’s been happening in this story arc. Since World War I Wolverine has defeated a being called Lazaer, every time he is faced with he is on the brink of death, he must battle Lazaer on a spiritual plane. Wolverine died again, this time he was blowup by Shogun and found out he couldn’t come back from the dead, because his heart was broken. After spending time in Purgatory he escapes and is out to question Shogun and Phaedra (the lady that brought him back from the dead with the Hand), but finds them in collusion with Lord Shingen Yashida (who has been dead since Wolverine 4 mini-series).
While this isn’t the most horrible of Wolverine stories, it’s up there among the worst. It turns out that Wolverine’s soul has been inside of Shogun’s all of this time. I fucking kid you not! The whole book is a fight between Wolverine and Lazaer…or rather Azrael (the angel of death). Wolverine finally makes a deal with Azrael to put his soul back in his body, if he kills Phaedra. Bam soul is back in Wolverine, but he can no longer heal as well as he has been since he came back from the dead….err why do I even bother with this character sometimes? Anyways, Wolverine not having the same kind of healing factor just means he can’t come back from a single cell anymore. But, I’m assuming he still has to fight Lazaer if he dies again. There were some good things about the issue. I like the idea of putting Wolverine where he was 15 years ago well at least with his healing factor and Guggenheim went back and filled some lose ends that Millar left open in his story arc. But the execution was horrible and at times I really couldn’t make head or tails of the story without going back and re-reading the issue. Ohh yeah, and now Lord Shingen is back, I guess the only way to truly him truly back is to sing Bruce Springsteen.
I think I was blinded by the love that I have for American Flagg, because I almost made myself believe that Chaykin was capable of drawing a decent Wolverine story. Hell, at times it even looked like Miller’s work on Wolverine, but the dull fight scenes, obscure angles on swords that just seem to be made of rubber, Wolverine’s claws looking like popsicles at times, and odd looking chins that keep changing shape and size; I just can’t do it anymore. I think Chaykin is still a great artist and if it didn’t look so rushed or if it was printed in black & white I’m sure I would be happy, but his recent work has been unbearable. This is Guggenheim’s last issue and next month we have a whole new creative team that will probably try to destroy my favorite character, but who knows. I hope to eat my words one day. D+
Author: Jeph Loeb
Penciler: Ed McGuinnes
Inker: Dexter Vines
Colors: Comicraft
Judging from the reviews of Jeph Loeb’s Marvel work and listening to our podcast you can probably tell I am not his biggest fan. While I appreciated his wonderful stories such as Long Halloween, Hush, and his run on Superman; his work on Marvel has always left me wandering why he just doesn’t stay at DC. Anything from his run on X-force, Cable, Gambit & Wolverine to the recent Ultimates, Wolverine, and Onslaught Reborn were nothing short of craptacular. Be that as it may, I always like to judge a new book base on the story it manages to tell, not the creative team’s past works. That may all change when Daniel Way starts his Deadpool book though.
In the aftermath of World War Hulk we partake in a crime scene investigation with She-Hulk, Iron-Man, Thunderbolt Ross (who still has the fucking coolest non-superhero name), and Doc Samson. It seems the victim was none other than the Hulk’s old nemesis Emil Blonsky aka Abomination. However, it seems that the Winter Guard (with a new Red Guardian and Dark Star) want the body to stay in mother Russia…..so there is a pointless fight and a revelation that it was a “red” Hulk that killed Annihilation and destroyed a town. So who do Samson and Ross turn to for help? Well, none other than Bruce Banner….so who is the red Hulk?
Since this is the first issue I was not surprise there was no mention of the events that followed WW Hulk and to be honest I really don’t know if we are going to get any. It seems that the great minds of She Hulk and Doc Samson believe that Hulk killed Abomination with a big gun. I repeat a gun. Loeb writes a bratty She-Hulk and a not-so-bright Doc Samson that for no reason starts a fight with the Russian super-team. The identity of the red Hulk seems to be Rick Jones, or at least that is what we are led to believe. Rick Jones appears in an Alaskan frontier about 100 miles from anything…funny thing was he takes two steps and there are about 20 people trying to put out a fire. Good catch editors!
While I’ve never been the biggest McGuinness fan his pencils are good enough to see what is happening panel to panel. His oversized characters could work on a book whose character happens to be one of the bulkiest characters in comics. However, the art doesn’t save the book from just being a mediocre title. The dialogue seems out of character and the revelation that Bruce Banner is already out of his comma and back at the end of the first issue kind of kills the momentum built in WW Hulk…and I really don’t see Ross going to Banner for help so early. It’s a first issue and as all first issues they are hard to judge, but I hope Jeph at least answers all the questions left open from the last pages of WW Hulk to the beginning of this book. C+
Amazing Spider-Man #546
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Steve McNiven
Cover: Steve McNiven
Last issue saw the conclusion of “One More Day” and I dubbed that issue the worst Spider-Man comic I ever read. Now realize I’ve read the Clone Saga, I’ve read Spider-Man Chapter one, I’ve read the Howard Mackie and John Byrne Spider-man reboot from 1999. I’ve read some shitty Spidey stories, but One More Day was the worst. Now the Brand New Day begins and it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I like Dan Slott, I have wanted him to write Spidey for years. But man, not even Stan Lee can make this new status quo work. The issue opens with Peter kissing some girl in a club. Things get worse as we learn Peter doesn’t have a job and is living with Aunt May. He went from a successful teacher and scientist to a bum. Peter hasn’t been Spider-Man in 100 days and the Daily Bugle is struggling to make it without Spider-Man photos. A random mugger is going around with a Spider-Man mask on wanting money. Peter goes out with Harry and his new girlfriend. Harry gives Peter money and a woman named Mia kisses Peter so she can work her way into the Harry Osborn crowd. Peter whines about how he is too young to marry someone and MJ is hardly mentioned. Aunt May is working in a soup kitchen and apparently interested in politics. Another new girl named Carlie is introduced, she is friends with Harry’s girl Lily. Peter runs away from Mia and jumps outside to find Carlie. The spider-mugger robs them and instead of suiting up, Peter follows the guy and chases him into the soup kitchen Aunt May is working at. Peter can’t find the mugger and Aunt May thinks he is a poor dear since he is missing his shoes (his excuse? He was mugged) and the founder of the soup kitchen takes pity on Peter. Later, Peter goes to the Daily Bugle, Peter bitches with Jonah and Jonah has a heart attack. Next we have three back up stories featuring Jackpot, Aunt May, and Harry. There is also a two-page spread explaining the new status quo.
Thoughts/Comments:
Man, what a letdown. This issue felt nothing like the Peter Parker I’ve known and loved all these years. Peter comes off as this irresponsible child instead of the proud man and hero I’ve known all these years. Every scene with Harry Osborne was naseuating, and the fact the issue opens with some random drunk girl kissing Peter makes fans of the Peter/MJ marriage feel like they are kicked in the nuts once more. Jonah and Peter bickering was also weird. Jonah always had some respect for Peter even if he wouldn’t admit it. Remember the Trial of Peter Parker during the clone saga? Jonah totally footed the bill to help Peter out with his lawyers. Remember the issue of Amazing after Peter unmasked? Jonah told Robbie that Peter was the one man who was always honest with him, the last honest guy alive. None of the respect these two have had over the years was shown. Peter having to bum money off Harry was weak and I hate that Carlie was introduced so Peter can have some fling with her. Plus, I know it isn’t confirmed MJ is Jackpot but it looks like that is coming. MJ as a disco looking hero is a terrible idea. I also find it weird that Peter didn’t suit up to stop the mugger, he just came off looking more sad and pathetic. The back up stories weren’t all that great and I could have done without them if it saved me a dollar. Like I said before, I like Dan Slott and Steve Mcniven but even they can’t make this work. I give this issue and new direction a D, the art alone saved it from an F.
Mighty Avengers #7
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Aritst: Mark Bagley
Cover: Frank Cho
Mark Bagley is back baby! Sure, he’s about to head to DC but he is back with Bendis once again! What’s even better, Mighty Avengers is shipping on time once more! Plus, many symbiotes show up in this issue and Bagley can totally nail drawing the nasty alien parasites!
The issue starts off with Spider-Woman bringing Skrull-Lectra to Tony Stark. Yes, we have known this was going to happen for some time now (Since New Avengers is so far ahead) but this is finally happening and Bagley is drawing it. Tony and Jessica talk about this secret invasion happening around them, and Tony tells Jesssica to join his Avengers team. This will surprise the Skrulls and maybe flush out the Skrull who is on Tony’s team (I still think Carol Danvers is a Skrull, but who knows what will be revealed) and this will also help Tony orchestrate a game plan about this global invasion taking place. The next day Simon Williams makes a speech about how much he enjoys being an Avenger, and Tony tells his team Jessica Drew is joining. Jessica comes out (looking smoking hot, way to go Bagley!) and Carol and her team are shocked and pissed. Natasha doesn’t buy this at all and Ares totally wants to nail Jessica (who can blame him) while Carol dwells on why she wasn’t told before hand. See, isn’t she acting all Skrull like? Her friend just joined her team and she is all sad and mad about it! Jessica states she wants to do something right and if it doesn’t work out, Sentry can throw her in the sun. Sentry doesn’t find this funny, but I did! Meanwhile, in space some astronauts repair some Stark satellites damaged in the last arc. A small metallic orb falls to earth and lands in New York City. A woman walks her child and the baby turns into Venom Jr! The mom screams for help but everyone around her are turning into symbiote. The woman turns into a symbiote as well and all hell breaks loose. Bagley totally nails this double page spread of everyone getting their symbiote on. At Avengers tower, Tony still doesn’t trust his team and everyone is all jittery. Lindy, Sentry’s wife, tells Tony to de-power or kill Sentry since he is too powerful. Just as the team tries to figure out what is happening, Maria Hill alerts the team with a new mission. The Avengers assemble in a beautiful splash page by Bagley with Spider-Woman now a member.
Thoughts/Comments:
By far the best comic I read this week. Man this issue was fun. Bendis and Bagley bring all the fun and love the put into Ultimate Spidey and make me care about Tony Stark and his Avengers team. I love that Jessica Drew joins in this issue, and man does Bagley draw her (and the entire Mighty Avengers team) beautifully. I still think Carol Danvers is a Skrull, and maybe Lindy as well. I mean she just out of the blue wants to kill Bob. I understand she is scared of his power, but that’s her freaking husband! There was some great humor in this issue. I loved Tony telling Jessica “Fuck the Registration Act” when discussing the Skrulls, and the part with Ares thinking “I will have you fair creature” when looking at Jessica Drew was great. The art was top notch and I’m glad this book is back on schedule! If you want a fun super hero comic with great art and humor, but this issue. Solid A+!
The Twelve #1
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Chris Weston
Cover: Kaare Andrews
I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t going to buy this series. I know nothing about the characters and already have a large number of comics I buy every month anyway. My friend Nate at my comic store told me that if I reviewed this book he would buy me both issues 0 and 1. I can’t pass up a deal like that and I’m actually surprised at how good this comic was.
The first issue basically brings the twelve heroes into the current marvel universe. The story begins in the year 1945; Captain America and the Invaders are fighting in the war going on in Berlin, Germany. The twelve heroes are there as well, charging into battle and kicking nazi ass. The twelve heroes don’t really know one another, but they work together while investigating the headquarters of nazi spies. Dick Jones, the Phantom Reporter, narrates the comic. He gives readers a quick run down of who these twelve heroes are and what reveals what powers they might possess. Along with the Phantom Reporter, the other heroes are: Mister E, Master Mind Excello, Rockman, Black Widow (Not Natasha, some blonde haired hottie) Captain Wonder, Dynamic Man, Blue Blade, Laughing Mask, The Fiery Mask, The Witness, and Electro (A big robot, not Max Dillon). The heroes fall into a trap and are knocked unconscious by some gas filtered into the chamber. The two nazi scientists put the heroes into freezing tubes except for Electro. Electro has a signal that controls him, yet the heroes are so far underground the signal can’t reach him. So basically the eleven heroes are frozen and Electro just kind of goes offline. The two nazis feel powerful with the heroes as their captives, yet the Russians invade Berlin and the nazi’s are killed, captured, or sent to work camps. So the location of the twelve remains a mystery and the heroes slumber the years away. This has a Captain America vibe with the heroes staying in stasis for many years.
Now the story cuts to Germany in 2008. Construction workers are building new apartment complexes and the world has pretty much forgotten about the twelve. Suddenly, a bulldozer falls into a crevasse and the secret lab containing the twelve is unearthed. The authorities show up and recognize the twelve. The heroes are still young and alive and slumbering (like I said, this is just like what happened to Captain America in Avengers #4) and the government wants to take advantage of having these heroes back on their side. The Civil War is brought up and the Russians realize that these heroes only served their government, thus they are still enlisted to serve their country. The heroes are taken to a hospital and the government tries to keep the heroes from realizing they have been asleep for 60 years. The really cool thing is that the Phantom Reporter automatically finds out he isn’t in the same time era. His nurse has three ear piercings in one ear and she is wearing stockings with no garters to hold them. The Reporter and Captain Wonder make it outside and find out the world has drastically changed. Later the twelve heroes are given the truth by the government and the heroes decide to serve their country and continue to fight the good fight. The last page shows the Phantom Reporter standing over the body of the Blue Blade. I didn’t see that coming, this was a great cliffhanger ending!
Thoughts/Comments:
WOW! I am actually shocked how good this comic was. For a comic I had no interest in it really delivered. The art was beautiful, get Chris Weston over on Ultimate Spider-Man ASAP! JMS did a great job bringing these forgotten heroes into the current day Marvel Universe. I’m interested in seeing where these lost heroes go from here, and the Black Widow is a total hottie! Apparently her touch can kill, but as JMS states “many GI’s and men were willing to take that chance.” I still think I’m going to wait for the trade due to money issues, but this was a great start to a great mini-series. Check it out, I think it will surprise many comic fans. It sure surprised me! I give issue one a solid A!
Writer: Daniel and Charles Knauf
Artist: Butch Guice
After a few issues of wondering what the Mandarin was up to, it's now finally clear, and I am so looking forward to Iron Man, more than I ever was before. The Knaufs have had Mandarin working on the Extremis virus, posing as a businessman, and with this issue we learn that he plans on releasing it into the world, with with a 97% fatality rate, that would be one badass Iron Man story, which is what Iron Man needs. I like that we're not getting six issue arcs but shorter stories that lead to a longer arc. It shows that the Knaufs plan to be on the book and that there is a longer plan. This book is not like the Flash where a writer comes on, says he's in it for awhile, and then takes off after his first arc. I really feel like this is where Iron Man gets to be himself, away from the rest of the Mavel U, aside from his appearances in Captain America recently. The Knaufs have a handle on Tony and that's what keeps me coming back to this book month after month. Let's hope that this Mandarin stuff ratchets up within the next issue or two, now that Tony has realized what's going on. Butch Guice does the art here, and does a really good job. He's using a similar style to Roberto de la Torre, who the previous penciller on the book, so there is no jarring change between styles, unlike Ramos to Bianchi to Chaykin over on Wolverine, which has no overall direction anymore. More people need to be reading the Knauf's Iron Man book because aside of Blue Beetle, Captain America, and Booster Gold, it's one of the solid books month in and month out. B+
Writers: Mike Carey & Macon Bair
Artists: Scott Kolins & Vasilis Lolos
So I haven't read or reviewes comics in a month, so it's catch up time. This one-shot was released some time in December and if you have an extra 3.99 to spend, you might want to check out this book for it's main story by Mike Carey and Scott Kolins. Like most of the one-shots in the regular Wolverine series, this one is pretty good, and it told from someone else's point of view. Somewhere in North America there is a wildfire, and a husband and wife are arguing and having marital problems when their little girl spots the fire. They flee, only to find a rabid bear and a blind Wolverine outside their home. Wolverine has to lead them to safety but must rely on them to describe the world around him. They stumble across a Hydra cell, some explosives and madness insues in what is a pretty good story. Scott Kolins does a good job on the art and his Wolverine is rough and rugged, as well as injured.
The second story is kind of a throw away, it deals with Wolverine having to save some kid from some group. The fight is good, and the art by Vasilis Lolos is cool, if you like that scratchy Paul Pope style. So all in all, this was not a bad book to pick up, whether you had the extra money or not. You might not love it, but you won't hate it like you did One More Day. B-
Author: Warren Ellis
Art: Mike Deodato Jr.
Colors: Rain Bareo
Cover: Marko Djurdjevic
Been so long since I’ve reviewed comics, I almost forgot what I used to review. Besides manga, I think my reviews have all but disappeared, but hell new year/new beginning that kind of thing. So why not review a book I haven’t reviewed in a long time. Thunderbolts! These aren’t your big brother’s Thunderbolts!!!
So much happens within these pages and while some are great; some are just right down weird. Leave it to Ellis to bring a mix feeling out of me.
We find that Norman Osborn is confronted with his past, as he has a mental breakdown, whether that is caused by the prisoners messing with his mind or Moonstone messing with his meds we really don’t know yet. Venom devours some guards…fuck, they not only want to eat your brain anymore. We also find out that Swordsman is power hungry and pulls a Britney Spears and starts calling himself Baron Strucker. That’s right good old Andreas seems to be trying to take over his daddy’s shoes.
This whole time, I’m not sure if the prisoners are doing telepathic attack on the team and making them act weird or if Warren Ellis is pulling a disassembled act here. While three characters are taken to the limit, I think that the portrayal of Venom and Swordsman are a bit off. The symbiote whether under Peter Parker or Eddie Brock never showed any signs of devouring human flesh….hell, even Carnage didn’t get that sick. So I find this Venom literally eating bodies hard to believe. Swordsman’s devotion has always been to his sister, and for him to become his father just makes me think I’m reading about another character. But, then again I find this team hard to believe to exist in the 616 universe. If it’s meant to be taken like Next Wave….well count me in, but to be taken seriously it just doesn’t make any sense.
While I haven’t been the biggest fan of Deodato’s new art style, I really think that he added the mood to this book with his heavy dark inks. He makes the scenes with Venom much harder to read and it really did leave an imprint in my head for the rest of the day. Of course the colors by Bareo really make his characters stand out. The book is still a damn fun book to read, while yeah the continuity doesn’t make sense anymore, but hey they could blame all of this on One More Day!!!! B+
