This week's picks

Short week for comics this week and kind of a weird one. I'd say most of these books were fine and good reads, but I don't know how many totally stand out. PLUS SIDE, at least three of them do and that's all I need!

Captain America 7

I kind of can't get over how good this book is. I love the perspective on Cap and I love the humanity of Cap, which is something I feel like I haven't talked about enough. On top of the fact that we're seeing Steve as a father and dealing with the issues his own father left him with, we're seeing Steve in pain and struggling. Granted, he's in pain a fair amount in comics, as are most superheroes, but he's noting his pain so frequently. Constantly he'll get hit or take a fall or something and he'll instantly diagnose himself (it's been happening since issue one too) with what's wrong and he'll keep pushing through. That's kind of a difference from most other hero books, where you'll see a hero take a big hit, then just get up or struggle to his or her feet or something and keep on fighting. After a few big ones, the drama of "oh he/she must be really hurt" sets in, but here it's amplified by the fact we know EXACTLY how hurt Cap is ninety percent of the time and we see him continue to stand back up. It's absolutely perfect for his character in every aspect; he falls but he never succumbs, he bends but he never breaks, he's not the same level of power as Hulk or Thor or something but he never seems weaker, and, to a less defining but equally understandable extent, he can self-diagnose in a heartbeat. It's a near perfectly written Steve and, as if the story wasn't compelling enough to keep tuning in for (it is), it's worth reading just for that.

Fury MAX 12

It's sometimes hard to do a "this week's picks" because saying that implies that my subjective way of viewing books is worth listening to and is similar enough to what everyone's view is or what everyone's view SHOULD be. Usually I can get over that because I know, in my heart of hearts, that the books I've chosen are phenomenal and no one should be disappointed by them, in the very least. Of course, people still will be because that's how humanity functions, but I'm over that. However, this is a strange pick because it's probably the one of the more polarizing books I've chosen for this segment throughout the last six months. For action fans, there's not a lot of action. For fans of quick and snappy dialogue driven books, there's almost none of that. For fans of happy endings or beginnings or middles, there's nothing much to choose from here. For people who don't like swears or violence or a touch of nudity, this book won't really land. For people who don't want discussions of America's shady involvement in Nicaragua and similar areas of possible communist aggression or discussions about politics and Congress, this book is not a fun one. However, the weight this book puts on Nick Fury and the hopelessness Fury feels, a feeling he is not used to, is so palpable and so heavy that it would have been hard for me not to pick this book. Fury's very well characterized and his struggle is so hard to look on and to deal with that it adds such a layer to his character and to this world that I wouldn't have been able to look away from it. The art, which I wasn't sure about at the start of this series, has proven so perfect for the subject and the tone that it's a near perfect book, if you're looking for strange things in a book and none of the things I mentioned above. So I recommend this book knowing full well that many people would not like this book. Still, I'd be remiss if I didn't recommend it anyway and I'd sure hate to be remiss.

New Avengers 6

Have I mentioned that I adore this book? It turns out I have, almost non-stop. There's such a weight to this series and to these characters and it all ties back in, in a great way, to Captain America, which is why Hickman so adeptly utilized him for the first few issues. These are characters who are abnormally strong in different ways, whether it's with their powers or their intellects or their convictions, and they're being tested in all of those ways in what is essentially a no-win scenario. The problem that this team had with Cap being there is that Cap bends but doesn't break, the same characteristic that makes his solo book (and almost all of his other appearances) so compelling. In a lot of situations, he won't even really bend. The problem this team is facing (they're never referred to as the New Avengers so I'd almost rather call them the Illuminati still but the BOOK is the New Avengers so it seems like I SHOULD still call them New Avengers but that also seems like a marketing ploy since there's almost no reason for them to be called the New Avengers and they're seemingly more secret than even the Secret Avengers and...you know what, this doesn't matter. Let's just get back to what I was saying) is one that requires them to make horrible and inhuman choices to save their world and there's no way around that, at least not yet. Namor constantly points out that these heroes want a way to have everything, a safe two planets, but that there isn't any way to have that. They have to bend and break. Cap wouldn't have been able to, as they all well knew, so he had to be removed from the team. What a devastating book this is that the first order of business was removing the conscience of the team. By the same token, though, what a phenomenal book to read where they know that's exactly what they've done.

Best Panel:

I don't necessarily love picking the best cover or panel from one of the books that I chose as a "best" book, even though that kind of logic follows to a certain extent. However, this panel from New Avengers took a tone that was already dark and shifted it to be just a bit darker and to really focus on the people under the masks in such a simple and elegant way that I felt like I needed to highlight it. Of course, I'm also a big fan of Epting's art and I love the way that D'Armata colors this book. From issue one this book has felt like, in all departments, it knows what it wants to be and what it needs to be to be successful. This panel is just another example of that, as Hickman manipulates the characters and Epting manipulates the view of the characters and D'Armata manipulates the tone of the scene all aimed at making us see the book they want us to see. Brilliantly done.

This week's picks!

Twenty books makes it a little trickier to narrow the field down to three. However, this week was also interesting as I was on such a high after the first day of reviews that I knew right off the bat all three picks would come from that day. I was excited about the state of comics for days after reading my Avengers day comics on Wednesday, which certainly helps the reviewing process. So what three shall I pick?

Avengers 10

I really liked the feel of this issue. As I've been saying in my reviews about this series, there's not a super huge entry point to this series as a new reader, which can make it difficult to get onboard, but the story is really paying off if you are there. I've also said that I'm not sure that we're going to get as much character interaction in this book as in the other Avenger titles (or other books in general) because the team is huge and rotates people in and out. Still, there were nice little character pieces sprinkled throughout, particularly between Captain America and the Falcon. I love those two and I love their relationship so I might be a little more biased than others, but the point remains the same. It's a good interaction and it feels natural and helps build a sense of the team without feeling like a stretch. The story remains solid and the book feels like an Avengers book, like it should be leading Marvel right now. Pretty exciting.

New Avengers 5

It's going to be hard for me to not pick this book every time it's released solely on the art and the colors if this keeps up. The book looks perfect. Everything Hickman's doing with the writing and the story is perfectly reflected in the characters and the surroundings and the palette. It's a truly gorgeous book. I love the art in a lot of books throughout Marvel right now, but this one feels more epic, grander in scale, which is fitting as we're watching some of the heaviest weights the Universe has fighting a foe that can't just be punched away. On top of the art, I absolutely adore the story and I think that this book is doing a lot to characterize its players. Like with Avengers, the plot is decidedly taking the focus but it totally fits. All of these characters know each other well and have all worked well together (barring Namor and most of them). There's no need to learn about how they interact with one another but there's definitely a need to learn how they act in general and how they react to this problem. It's a great book in every sense of the word. It's also adding a new element with Black Swan. Can she be trusted? Is she going to look out for Earth's best interests or will she jump ship for another, better Earth at the first turn? Lots of questions, great plot, exciting character, top three book every time.

Young Avengers 4

I think this comic book is going to do things mainstream comics/superhero books simply don't do. I think that Gillen and McKelvie are just getting their feet wet right now. This book was the last one I read on review day and I'm really glad it was. I don't know how I could have kept reading after this one on the same day. In truth, and this is cliche obviously, it kind of blew my mind. They're doing things with panels and to superhero conventional wisdom that feels completely original while also perfectly capturing the tone of the book. It was a beautifully drawn issue (that's always going to be true, thanks McKelvie) and the story is perfect. It's an interesting parents/kids storyline that has so many moving parts underneath it. To underscore it, we start really seeing Loki be Loki this issue, as he challenges Teddy in ways Teddy's never thought to consider before. It's a perfect set-up and a brilliant question that Loki poses, but it's also Loki posing it so how trustworthy can we expect him to be? Fantastic pieces all bound to come together. Next issue we'll find out if Loki will stick it out with this team or if he's going to simply disappear when they need him most. What a book. I'm excited just talking about it again.


Best panel/page:

When I decided to add in a random "best" element to each week-in-review post last week, I thought "best panel/page" would be a good addition but I couldn't remember every panel from that week, as I hadn't been planning ahead. This week, I did realize I could plan ahead and figure out while I read some good panels. I read Avengers 10 first and picked out a couple panels that were good. By the end of the day, I'd read Young Avengers and simply deleted my whole list. Obviously this was the best page.
A two-page spread which McKelvie himself breaks down on his blog, this is the perfect synchronization of Noh-Varr's developing character and a wonderful action sequence. It helps that we know Noh-Varr is doing this because he knows how awesome it looks. Around the edges we get looks at how certain sequences look up close, magnified for our benefit, while in the center we get a full map with key of Noh-Varr's movements. On top of being mixed with Noh-Varr's action-based plan, we also get a couple quick looks at how he feels about Kate. This page doesn't waste any space and gives us something to marvel at as we enter the book (this appears on pages two and three). It sets the tone better than just about anything could have. Brilliantly done.

Avengers 10, New Avengers 5, Uncanny Avengers 7

Avengers 10
Hickman (w) and Deodato (a) and Martin (c)

One of the things that's been most impressive about this Avengers series so far is the fact that it's a long term story. It's not just a few arcs here and there and maybe an underlying story revealing itself over time. It makes no attempt to hide its main story, the new system that is spreading across Earth, and prefers to keep that in the open while building character bits around that. The last few issues have revolved around the creation of systems and what the systems mean and the Avengers, like the audience, are simply trying to gather information at this point. When you take away the fact that godlike beings on Mars are repurposing the Earth, the story feels more realistic than most comic stories. It's a realism in a major superhero comic that isn't often focused on because it's potentially less exciting. The Avengers are in fact-gathering mode. Maybe my assertions aren't fair to other comics (and don't mistake what I'm saying as a slam for other comics, I'm clearly a big fan of most, it just feels different), which do typically have at least a few issues now and then of set-up or decompression or other things that aren't really big action. That said, there are usually big reveals, showing a villain who's working his way to the hero or plotting against the hero. Maybe that's still happening here, we're just not recognizing the villain. Regardless, it gives the Avengers a different feel. I've talked about how I think the Avengers knows what its doing and doesn't really care if you know just yet; you'll either figure it out or you won't and neither option particularly matters to the book (obviously it matters because Marvel would prefer you keep buying it, but that's beside the point). I'd add to that sentiment that Avengers isn't really making a huge effort to let you in. It's not falling back on normal superhero book standards, throwing the obvious villain in to lure you into the book or giving you familiar faces for fan service. Everyone is there for a reason and Avengers doesn't particularly care if you know what that reason is. I think it's really incredible and it's exactly what a book like Avengers should be doing right now. The Avengers and Marvel have never been so popular. This is your flagship book in a lot of ways. Test the waters a bit. Very exciting.
The issue revolves around the suicide of a SHIELD agent who had accompanied the Avengers (under permission of Canada's Department H) to the new system in Regina, Canada. That system is the one Ex Nihilo deemed the "evolution" system. Heroes under Department H's jurisdiction had already gone in to see what was happening and had largely been killed. The Avengers are sent in, along with the SHIELD agent Michaud, and find a forest area instead of the city they'd expected. While in there, something happens that startles them enough to not tell SHIELD about it. Validator, who'd led the mission for the Canadian heroes, is still kind of alive, but has evolved beyond what she was into something new. She whispers something into Michaud's ear (we find out later that Michaud was her father), everything goes black, and the Avengers get out. Upon leaving, Michaud shoots himself in the head. Wolverine later explains to Manifold and Smasher that Michaud had decided that whatever he'd seen or heard in there was worth more as a secret than his life was. We find out that they had seen evolution in there, with everyone watching themselves evolve into something new (in many cases, this means everyone sees themselves aging or getting new uniforms down the line, but some things are more drastic, like Falcon seeing himself transforming into something far more bird-like). Validator told Michaud that the system was online. Another interesting issue that shows the power Ex Nihilo has used on the Earth. There are also some great little character pieces (like Falcon telling Captain America that he's going to feel really bad flying away when the little aliens inside the system lure them all into a trap and kill them, to which Cap requests Falcon say nice things at the funeral) and a great definition of SHIELD's relationship with the Avengers (SHIELD lies, the Avengers withhold, there's little trust and no reason for it). Very neat little issue on a neat little book. As always, this review has come in far longer than I expected it to and it's just one of three. Bad formatting, Tim.

New Avengers 5
Hickman (w) and Epting and Magyar (a) and D'Armata (c)

This book continues to be stunning. The story, the art, the characters, it's all a nearly perfect book in my mind. We learn a bit about the Black Swan in this issue as Panther allows her out of the cage he's kept her in. She has only stayed in it because of a high yield bomb she discovered underneath it, though Panther gives another to her on a necklace as he frees her from the cage. She explains that the incursions of worlds has always been happening and will always happen, as they are a sacrifice to the great destroyer Rabum Alal. Her world was destroyed long ago, but she was able to escape through a passage in her world to a sort of way station to the multiverse (since destroyed). There she was raised by the Black Swans (now scattered) and taught about Rabum Alal. She has destroyed worlds to escape her death. Her goal at this point, and why she's chosen willingly to help the Illuminati, is simply to stay alive. She says that one of the ways to avoid everyone on the planet dying is called "Shading the Apocalypse." It's the "eighth way" and involves evacuating the world and destroying it completely. She says it's the cowardly way, but chosen often and, in fact, often orchestrated by other Henry McCoys. More on that in a second. The team wants to hear more of the ways to avoid the incursions but before they can continue, she senses another incursion and their infinity gems light up. The cliffhanger for the next issue? The newest incursion site is Latveria.
The tension builds after the team allows Galactus to destroy another world, though capturing Terrax in the process. He remains an option for them, they think, in terms of getting information. A showdown with Doctor Doom leaves the book open to go in many different directions, all of them pretty interesting. More interesting is the characterization of so many of these characters, particularly given how much plot is going on around them. Every character is written very specifically, to the point where Panther interrupted Reed from off-panel just saying "no" and you knew it was Panther talking. The timing, saying 'no' at the point in the discussion he did, and the brevity he speaks with all play a role in characterizations of all the characters. Perhaps most compelling so far (other than, I'd say, Panther simply because he's always the most compelling character whenever he's around) is Beast. Beast has been remarkably quiet since his introduction to the team only a few issues ago. Beast is often written as very talkative, though clearly brilliant. He certainly comes across as more lighthearted than most of these characters (save maybe Tony) in almost every other appearance. However, it doesn't feel like a poorly written Beast. On the contrary, it's a seemingly perfect fit for the character, one who has seen the mutant race decimated and reborn at the cost of one of his best childhood friends killing his mentor and losing control of himself. One of his first lines in the series was telling Captain America that Cap was asking the man who had seen his race decimated if he would make the morally right choice no matter the cost. It was very defining dialogue for him and the fact that he's keeping so quiet is even more defining. When Black Swan tells him that the name "Beast" is famous in the "great game of worlds," he isn't struck by the horror of his other selves destroying worlds to save his own, nor is he impressed by them. He only asks if it would save his universe. It's brilliant characterization to keep him quiet except when he's needed to speak, not launching into the sorts of jargon-filled speeches he normally goes into. Just another example of a wonderful book.

Uncanny Avengers
Remender (w) and Acuña (a and c)

Three different Avengers books reviewed today (and released today, though my next review today will have the two other Avengers-related books, not including A+X so holy crap, there are a lot of books out today) and three completely different feels to all of them. Even between Hickman's two books, no tone feels exactly the same (I wouldn't have said that about the last volumes of Avengers and New Avengers) and each, instead, represents a very different team facing a very different threat. Now Uncanny Avengers (I consider these three the main Avengers books, with Young Avengers and Avengers Arena sitting in the backseat; not because they're lesser books because I love them both, but because none of them feature anyone who you'd consider a main Avenger, nor do they claim to) comes in and continues to feel a little like an older style story in the telling. There is a bit more exposition and it comes largely in the form of narrative captions. It's a completely different feel from the other two Avengers books but still totally fits its story and art. It's, truth told, a little jarring to switch from one Avengers book to the next to the next, but it's all totally worthwhile. Also, what's the deal with the Celestials popping up everywhere?
As the Horsemen of Apocalypse accompany Genocide (Apocalypse's son) to be deemed the new Apocalypse by a Celestial, they are shocked to learn that the twin children of Pestilence and Archangel (from his time in Remender's Uncanny X-Force as the new Apocalypse) have indeed survived and are coming to claim their birthright (they would be next in line for Apocalypse-dom, as Archangel was the most recent Apocalypse. This terminology is getting very confusing and I apologize for that. I guess you should probably just read Remender's X-Force). They attack and kill the Celestial (not an easy thing to do, despite what the X-Termination event opened with) and attack the horsemen who resist them (War and Famine). They offer Genocide the chance to serve them as their new Death, but he is mad about them stealing his spotlight and about how they just killed a Celestial. Valid concerns. Anyway, they head towards the Peak, headquarters of SWORD. Meanwhile, Alex tries to bench Rogue, keeping her out of the spotlight and on the hunt for Magneto while her killing of Grim Reaper (the charges were cleared as she acted in self-defense) fades away but does so with very little success. Scarlet Witch and Rogue continue to fight before Scarlet Witch meets privately with Wonder Man, who is in love with her. She pushes off his advances after he opens his all-red eyes. I don't think that's being shallow; if I had to guess it has to do more with the look of Vision or maybe it's her being scared by Wonder Man, WHO KNOWS. Remender, probably. Anyway, they get called by Cap and Sunfire, who are meeting with SWORD about the Celestial death and the oncoming ship. The Unity division is called to aid them but will arrive too late, as the ship crashes into the Peak. Sunfire pushes Cap into an escape pod before regretting his decision to stay behind. Thor, who saw footage of the Apocalypse twins wielding Jarnbjorn, has a whole bundle of regrets himself and takes off away from the UA to go on ahead. It honestly feels like too much happened here to really dive in (as this post is already absurdly long) but the character relationships here are some of the focuses. As I said, it feels like an older story and that relationship aspect definitely comes straight from that feel. The other two Avengers books cares about the way the characters interact but treat them very differently. Avengers has too many moving parts to see the team living together and bonding every day or something and New Avengers has stuck together characters who already have a rapport and are major players in the Universe while also putting them up against a plot too big to leave them with much opportunity to hang out. UA feels like an older Avengers title in the way its told but also in the sense that they're all living together (more or less; it at least feels that way) and in the way their relationships are so far at the forefront. Three very different Avengers titles, all knocking it out of the park at every moment.

This week's picks!

New Avengers 4

I get the sense already that it's going to be impossible for this book not to land in my top three every time it comes out. I love the story, I love the characters, I love the questions it's asking, I love the understanding of superheroes in this world, I love the art, I love the colors, I love the interactions. This is pretty much a perfect book in my eyes. It occurs to me that this book ended with the first real fight scene this team will have, after fighting against something far more intangible the rest of the series. Somehow I'm even MORE interested in this book as we get to the point where we'll see the team work together. None of this even begins to talk about the underlying dynamics of the team, particularly Black Panther and Namor (though, really, anyone and Namor) and the way Beast feels about everything that's happening. Just an all around phenomenal title right now and issue four was no less fantastic than the other three issues.

Captain Marvel 11

Every time I read a new issue of this series I come away feeling floored by the amount of detail each book manages to cram in. I've appreciated from the very first how many non-super powered characters have made their way into this book and how well each one has been crafted just with a line or two every now and then. For DeConnick to then take those people (who, because of the work she's done, are truly people and not just set pieces) and make them integral to the plot and, more importantly, to Carol's life and Carol's sense of her own life is beautiful. In mainstream comics, you don't get a lot of examination of a character's life outside of superheroing and maybe one or two dramas here and there that are almost exclusively related to family or to dating. Captain Marvel has quietly built a life for Carol Danvers, from when she wakes up to when she goes to bed so now, when that life is in jeopardy, the stakes are much higher and it's a far greater payoff for the reader. Terrifically done and rewarding in every sense.

Captain America 5

This beating out Avengers or Hulk is almost entirely based on my own bias. I think it absolutely merits being up in the top three, but the reason that I picked it over the other deserving titles without much of a second thought is totally because of my own love for the character (fun fact: it's also why Avengers would have been my fourth pick; the characterization of Cap in that book, alongside everything else in the book, puts it a little ahead). I should stop being excited, probably, by how well I think Remender's characterizing Captain America. I've said plenty of times that there are easy ways to screw up writing Captain America (in fact, I think there are Marvel writers working today who don't write him very well) and, though I trusted and loved Remender hot off of Uncanny X-Force, I was admittedly nervous when I heard he was writing Cap. Not because of him, because I would have been nervous for anyone to write Cap. Nothing is worse than a poorly written Captain America heading up his own book. But Remender has blown me away with the look he's given this new series. On top of just going back into Steve's childhood, we're getting so much added to Steve without going against everything that's come before. It's really delightful, as a big Captain America fan, to not only watch the character done right, but to see him expanded on so much. Someone nervous about writing Cap could easily have just taken the Brubaker Cap and put him into more plots, focusing on story rather than on expanding character. Remender's doing both and it's working out extremely well.

This week's picks

This week is maybe a little tiny bit boring for picks simply because they're all coming from my pre-game picks Tuesday. I would say it's a shame because there weren't necessarily surprises this week, but that's not true. It's just that, with the slate of books that came out this week, the strongest three were stronger than even I anticipated.

New Avengers 2

I'm going to keep talking about how excited I am about this book, okay? I'm really excited about this book. I think the personalities here are just brimming. I can keep feeling Panther's rage and Namor's arrogance. The art is beautiful and the faces are expressive. The coloring is perfect. It's good all the way around, guys. My girlfriend thought that Cap overreacted a little in this book, a little uncharacteristically. Even that, though, seemed rational to me. The guy's been against the Illuminati from the start and is only really willing to partake because he wants to represent the people and the people shouldn't be forced into "necessary evil." Still, this book asks questions like that and it doesn't have any signs of stopping. Off-topic, you can check out my girlfriend's representation of Cap and Wolverine over at her blog.

Captain America 3

So my bias might still be coming out here, picking Cap over other positive entries this week such as (but not exclusive to) Dark Avengers, Punisher: Nightmare, and Venom. I really do like what's happening in this book though. There's probably not another hero on Earth that's so associated with a place as Captain America is to, well, America. As I've said, he hasn't been written as an over-the-top patriot in a long while but the guy still wears a flag on his chest. He still recognizes that he's the symbol of America and Remender has taken him and put him in a place that isn't America and that has no knowledge of America. Remender's also stuck him with a kid and put him up against enemies he doesn't understand. A lot of things to love about all of this. Add to it that we're seeing lil Steve Rogers' background and this book is going places no other Cap run has. You should read it even if you're not a Cap fan (it legitimately might make you one, especially if you've passed him over as just an America nut) and you should definitely be reading it if you are a Cap fan.

Captain Marvel 9

On top of being another great issue of a very good book, I recommend this one over others this week because it is a perfect place to jump in. You get a good sense of who Carol is and who she hangs out with without needing to understand a big story around her. I think there were great character moments in issues prior to this but, aside from the first of either of the previous arcs, they require some knowledge of the ongoing plot. With this, knowledge of that plot doesn't hurt but it certainly isn't necessary. Also, Andrade's art is different than you'll see in almost all other comics and the pacing of the book keeps you wanting to read it but never wanting it to end. It's a pretty near perfect standalone issue and this book is definitely worth getting into. Like I said, this issue is the time to get onboard.



Well, that's interesting. All three of these chosen books were reviewed on the same day, along with Daredevil which I'd put somewhere in a recommendation pile, slightly below these ones. Look, I hope you're reading (and enjoying) all of my reviews but BOY they are long sometimes. Just, I guess, read Wednesday's if you're short on time. That's where all my picks came from ANYWAY.

Wait, just kidding, read all of them. They're all good?

Whatever. I'll see you tomorrow. Or you'll see me, I suppose. I don't see any of you, you're all just numbers. But I do love you. That is one hundred percent true.

New Avengers 1 and Daredevil: End of Days 4

New Avengers 1
Hickman (w) and Epting (a)

Wow. Yes. That's the way I'm starting this review. Because I'm a professional. I've been looking forward to this book since they teased it as the Illuminati's return. I have been pretty vocal on here already as to my distaste for Bendis' run on Avengers and New Avengers. Still, he did some things well and the guy's smart and clearly can be a good writer. One of the things I liked from his run, perhaps the thing I liked most, was the Illuminati. I like it because it's exactly what those characters would do; each one of them would consider himself worthy of making decisions for the world's behalf. Some might even be right in that assumption, not that they necessarily should do it. Black Panther walking out on the team upon his invitation was ALSO within character. It doesn't hurt that I'm particularly fond of Black Panther, and I like the rest of the team very much (Reed Richards not withstanding). So when Marvel showed that New Avengers would focus, at least to start, on the Illuminati returning, I was very excited. Excited enough that this could have been a big disappointment to me.

It's not. I mentioned the book in my top ten anticipated series list for 2013. One thing I didn't mention because I kept forgetting and I get a new wave of delight every time I remember is that Steve Epting is drawing the series. His run on Captain America was incredible and I have nothing but compliments to give. He does not disappoint here. Frank D'Armata does a great job as colorist, great enough that I noticed it instantly. There are only a handful of colorists that I really notice (I'm sorry, I'm usually focused on writing more than art and that makes me a bad fan for plenty of artists), like Bettie Breitweiser and Jordie Bellaire. So it really speaks to how gorgeous it is when I mention it here.

Now the story. I love seeing Wakanda. I love being a part of Wakanda. We get a good taste of a sort of ritual in Wakanda to lead the story, along with a view of T'Challa's new role as King of the Necropolis of Wakanda (instituted in Hickman's run on Fantastic Four), including a mention of feeling the pride of a former Wakandan king whose spirit he carries. More of that is bound to appear in this comic, hints at Wakanda's past and at its line of royalty. I'm onboard. Anyway, the story progresses and a portal opens in front of Panther and three young Wakandans from what appears to be an alternate reality or dimension. When they enter the portal, they find themselves facing a group of people, soldiers of a sort, and a lead woman. There is a version of Manifold, the former Secret Warrior who Hickman has re-introduced in his Avengers book, that is clearly not the 616's version (tip-off, he's white) with the head villain. She makes some ominous threats, her people kill the three Wakandans (who were shown as the strongest of the future generation of Wakanda after the short ritual to start the book) and she kills her Manifold before using a device he delivered to her to set the world floating above them on fire. Panther stops her a moment too late. He returns to his Wakanda, his earth, asking who answers the call of desperate men.

After a very movie-like two page spread, all black (spare a dark gray symbol), with white lettering that reads "New Avengers: Illuminati," the comic continues. We see Panther's feelings about each member of the Illuminati. Righteous men (Tony Stark), thinkers (Reed Richards), summoners (Dr. Strange), midnight kings (Black Bolt), and the devil himself (Namor). The comic ends with his plea for the goddess to save him "from what we are about to do." Surprise team-shot, Captain America leads the procession. I don't expect him to stay on this team, eventually he'll likely be replaced by Beast (who appears silhouetted on Jock's cover), but he became a part of it in Bendis' Avengers run.

It's an intriguing story with plenty of places to go and lots to say going forward. Because I'm dumb, I honestly hadn't even connected the fact that Namor would be coming to Wakanda, his first appearance there since the Phoenix-possessed Sub-Mariner destroyed the nation. Boy did that "and the devil himself" bit change that. The first entry in this series is majestic and huge. It's foreboding, it's a bit confusing (it is a Hickman book, after all), but in a good way. It makes you want to understand more and to read more. I really want to read more. And frankly, I want to see more. I cannot overstate how great the art was. Definitely worth buying and, even though it's been one issue, subscribing.


Daredevil: End of Days 4
Bendis and Mack (w) and Janson and Sienkiewicz with one page by Maleev (a)

I had a chat with the guy at the comic store about this series as I bought it. We talked about Marvel's attempts at doing these kinds of series every once in a while, these "the end" or "a character dies in the future that might could possibly happen" kind of things. They usually fall flat. We also talked about Bendis, agreeing that he's a good writer, but that his team books recently had started to sound the same. He said "I just don't see the Sentry quipping like Spider-Man, but there it was." It's entirely how I feel about Bendis. This review is not going in that direction.

This book has been startlingly good. I'm a Daredevil fan and I'm really a David Mack fan. His stories in Daredevil were some of my favorite, I adore Echo, and his art is unbelievable. That's not me trying to take away from Bendis to give this book a good review. I like Bendis. I often want to like Bendis more, but I agree with my comic book retailer's perception; with free reign and a team, he tends to quip more than write. Daredevil was a good book for him when he was the writer on it and his run there is the one I cite most frequently when arguing in his defense. I think he understands the darkness in Daredevil and I think he's better with a small cast. Avengers books tend now to feature a huge roster to bring as many fans in as possible. Smaller books don't have to do that. They can, but they don't have to. Daredevil is a prime example. Daredevil: End of Days is a sort of examination of that smaller cast. We see everyone. Well, we haven't seen Foggy, but we must at some point. We've seen Echo, Elektra, Typhoid Mary, Milla, and few others from Daredevil's past, as led by Ben Urich. This issue shows us Bullseye and Punisher, with a quick glance at one-time comic relief/low-level hood Turk. That probably makes the book sound more fun than it really is, but there is that level of fun to it. There's something going on just under the conspiracy of Daredevil's murder at the hands of the now suicidal Bullseye that's worth waiting around for. People are losing their grips. The word "Mapone" is floating around and making people extraordinarily tight-lipped. Every female from Matt's past has a red-headed child. To make matters more interesting/confusing, someone in a Daredevil suit is following Urich's investigation, just out of sight, and still catching criminals. There are things afoot.

Klaus Janson and Bill Sienkiewicz are doing a fine job in illustrating the book. It honestly feels like a mix of Daredevil's past just within the styles. There are hints of Frank Miller in the facial expressions, the broody shadows and rain of Alex Maleev, the sometimes painted look of Mack, and the occasional big and hectic scene shots inherent to the book overall. Maleev has one page in this book, a full page look at Bullseye tossing aces at the camera and looking crazy. It's kind of amazing.

If I had a complaint, it was that things are moving a little slowly. I like seeing this many people and I like the time they're given, but this is book four of eight. I'm not sure what the final payoff will be here, as excited about it as I am, but at current I'm having trouble justifying the eight issues. That could change as the series goes on and as more is revealed. However, right now it feels like we built up to the things we needed to build up to a couple issues ago and now we're kind of simmering, adding more to it, sure, but nothing we couldn't have guessed. Still, the art is worth checking out and the story is at a good point, it's just been there for a little bit now. I don't know if this will strike home with a lot of non-Daredevil fans, but why would you be reading about Daredevil's death if you didn't care about Daredevil anyway? Very fun, though, for a Daredevil fan.




Come back tomorrow for Morbius 1, All New X-Men 5, and Iron Man 5