This week's picks!

Man, really good week for comics. There were some weaker entries out there but the strong entries were really strong. As soon as I read them, I knew pretty much all three that I wanted on my pull-list but that left one particularly strong book out, with four books vying for three spots. Good news though, it turns out I govern this blog as well as write it so HERE IT IS, a very special FOUR BOOK PULL-LIST.

Avengers Arena 10

This book just keeps getting better and better. The stakes have been upped, Hopeless has introduced a villain on the island in one of the combatants and made her a real force, and he continues to be unafraid of killing off big characters. Every piece of this book has been interesting and compelling and has made it just as worthwhile to pick up as the last one. Obviously I'm still suspicious, seeing how this is comics, that everyone who has died could just come back later, which would make their deaths a little weaker in a way, but I think this book will still hold up even if that is revealed to be true. Everyone here legitimately believes they're on the brink of death or dying and that makes it hard to watch them die, as if it wouldn't have been anyway. For added intrigue, Nico has dumped our ever-shrinking anti-Apex force somewhere on the island and, in her dying breath, called for help (but all magic-like). Great art all through this issue, really showcasing Nico's struggle. Really exceptional issue.

Iron Man 11

I can't stop thinking about the implications of this book. I've never seen a book so effortlessly turn the entire Marvel Universe to view it from a new angle. Does it actually change anything except in Tony Stark's life? No, not really. And that's what's so remarkable about it. It's a shift of massive proportions, with the conceit that Tony is the reason the world still exists and that Tony was designed specifically to save the world, without actually rewriting a single moment of Marvel history, only the way Tony perceives it. That makes it a big deal to the Marvel Universe in that there's a new way to view all of the events and attacks and everything on Earth and it's a big deal to Tony in how he processes and reacts to this news (will he become even more full of himself, knowing he alone could have ever saved the Earth? Or will this put the typical superhero angst on him? No one knows for sure). Iron Man 11 is a near perfect book in that it changes the game ever so slightly for the Marvel Universe as a whole while really and truly impacting Iron Man without needing a big event for it or anything. Everything and nothing has changed.


Red She-Hulk 66

I'm a sucker for this book and, especially after this last issue, I can't believe it's ending after the next issue. Its leads in Red She-Hulk and Machine Man have become such strong characters and have been developed so nicely throughout this shortened run (for those just tuning in, Red She-Hulk hasn't been the feature for all 67 issues; she took the book over in issue 58, I believe, so we'll only really have had ten issues with her when this is all sad and done). Every bit of dialogue has been important in explaining plot or in building these characters or both. Whether it's the relationship that's built up between Betty and Aaron or the flaws in both of them or the plot that's driven this whole thing, everything has seemed really well-constructed. This issue focuses on an alternate dimension where Red She-Hulk is, in fact, the only Hulk and Bruce Banner is just a scientist and it's executed wonderfully. It's not easy to do alternate universe books but Jeff Parker really knocks them out of the park and makes them meaningful and logical. In the end, it ties back to X-51's (yes, I like to use all his names in every review I write) "just a machine" background that he's always had to deal with and that he has had to deal with more recently with the Yologarch specifically. It's a really wonderful and thought-provoking book with good art and fresh writing. Pick this book up then come back next month for 67.

Winter Soldier 19

It would be impossible to leave this book off the list. It's the conclusion of the Winter Soldier series that has been so good. From his humble beginnings as a brainwashed Soviet killing machine way back in Captain America volume five, issue one to this conclusion of his very first solo series as a recovering brainwashed Soviet killing machine, Winter Soldier has seen it it all. He really is a wonderful character and hopefully the movie will inspire new media with him (and also be absolutely great because if it's not I might have to quit everything forever). This final issue ties in very nicely to the roots of Winter Soldier and the emotions that he's had to cope with while giving him permission to abandon those roots or use them to move on as a fully-formed person. Bucky is coming to terms with his life and his past and it'll only strengthen the character going forward. Great art by Klein and Latour's compelling story and understanding of Bucky drive this final arc but the series as a whole is really worth catching up on. Don't be surprised if you see Bucky again soon, even in this very review.


Best cover

These covers have been wonderful throughout. Declan Shalvey is a really talented artist, as his work on Venom and those covers, as well as these ones, have proven time and time again. Jordie Bellaire's colors are perfect on this "explosive final issue" cover. The explosion is mighty impressive, the projectile Bucky and the chaotic "Winter Soldier" title add to the turmoil of this, the final issue. You see this book on the shelf and you're interested because none of us can look away from an explosion (except Bucky but that's really only because he's been propelled from it forcibly for trying to look too closely).

Indestructible Hulk 6, Red She-Hulk 64

Indestructible Hulk 6
Waid (w) and Simonson (a) and Mossa (c)

The seeds that were planted a couple issues ago are starting to blossom as we get an issue dedicated to Banner's work in his SHIELD funded lab with his somewhat sketchy lab crew, all hand-picked by Banner because they had something hiding inside of them (LIKE HULK, GET IT?). We can't dive too deep into the various psyches of the team, though, because there's plot to be had. Banner has a sliver of Uru metal, donated to SHIELD from Thor, and he suspects that, with the right science-ing, he can use it to open a portal to a different realm. He is correct and it sends them straight to Jotunheim, home of the frost giants. Three members of his team suit up in SHIELD provided armor (leaving one member of the team behind to keep the portal ready) and Banner gets into his new Hulk armor as they make the trip through the portal. Meanwhile, Mjolnir has detected the portal and wakes Thor up to go find out what's happening. Banner explains to his team that they're in Jotunheim to try to find a legendary liquid called Eiderdurm, which Banner speculates could jump them ten years in eliminating fossil fuels. They find a whole mountain of the stuff as Thor shows up, warning them that they should go home before the frost giants arrive. However, it looks like the portal might not have just sent the team through space but also through time as Thor is wearing an old costume and has no knowledge of Banner or SHIELD. Thor is still kind enough to the team and defends them as best he can when the frost giants do inevitably show up. The team runs for the portal and Banner is frozen in solid ice. Eventually Hulk breaks out of the ice and begins taking the giants down. Finally, he sees Thor's hammer resting on the ground. He jumps for it and, after a bit of effort, lifts it, shouting that he is worthy.
So that's a new development. One of the great things about Thor's hammer Mjolnir, for those who don't know, is that it is enchanted by a spell (more or less) that says only those who are worthy may lift the hammer, but whosever can lift it will be blessed with the power of Thor. There are very, very few people in the Marvel Universe who have ever lifted Thor's hammer. Captain America can do it and I believe Beta Ray Bill can do it. This is the first time that Hulk has been able to do it and it might actually make him more formidable than he already is. So that right there is something to look forward to. Add to that the fact that Thor saw Banner, a stranger, frozen in ice and didn't see his transformation into Hulk. I think we're going to have a misunderstanding fight on our hands next issue, and it's one of the always top-billed Thor and Hulk fights. This is one of those ones that people in comic book stores argue over the outcome. And now Hulk has Mjolnir? Weird.

Red She-Hulk 64
Parker (w) and Pagulayan and Alves (a) and Staples (c)

Red She-Hulk continues to be one of my all-around favorite surprise books of the last few months. The plot is equal parts sci-fi and action thriller complete with a corrupt military complex that threatens to devastate the world in the wrong hands. The characters, as they've grown more comfortable with one another, have blossomed into compelling and delightful protagonists, with a steady back and forth that stays fresh without the need to constantly talk over one another. It's banter done right and it's absolutely a joy to read. It's also happened pretty naturally, especially X-51's transition from colder/more task-oriented to softer and funnier companion for Red She-Hulk. It didn't feel like he just became something that he wasn't to fit the plot, it felt like he began to trust Red She-Hulk more and understand her motives better so he let his guard down a bit. I had little to no knowledge of X-51 before this series but he has really developed into a character I want to hear more about. My girlfriend, who is not reading this series, read a review I wrote about this story and remembered X-51 from an older Ms. Marvel comic and remembered him as being pretty funny. I'm glad to hear that the humor that's so evident in his character in this series is within his normal character parameters.
Anyway, Red She-Hulk and X-51 have been forced literally underground by the pressure from SHIELD and General Fortean. After going deeper and deeper in search of another old SHIELD base, they run into the Mole Monster, a horrible hybrid son of Mole Man and some other underground dweller. Mole Monster rules a bunch of monsters in his underground lair (as well as the typical moloids) and eventually welcomes Red She-Hulk and X-51 as being different from humans as well. They tell him what they're looking for and he directs them to another SHIELD pyramid. When they get inside, they find that, despite its pyramid shape outside, it houses a sphere on the inside, with all the continents displayed like a globe, as if they were looking at them from the inside out. Tesla shows up again and recognizes the two heroes and tells them that Eleanor is safe but she had to be moved because Red She-Hulk's plan (which had been to bring the general to Eleanor to see what his machinations would cause) would have been extremely dangerous. No military, he says, should ever know the future nor have access to someone like Eleanor. He attempts to kick them out of the pyramid but X-51 toys with a few controls in the sphere and alters where they land at random. As the issue ends, they find themselves in front of a version of Mt. Rushmore that features the heads of Dr. Doom, Loki, Red Skull, and Ultron. Though it seems like we might be in for a bit of a delay on the plot we've been working on, this is certainly a good place to leave us and I have pretty good faith in Parker's ability to write weird and horrible alternate dimensions, given his current run on Dark Avengers. Another solid entry into the series and this book just keeps doing things right by my standards.

Winter Soldier 15, Red She-Hulk 62

Winter Soldier 15
Latour (w) and Klein (a and c)

I've hyped this book up a lot without actually hyping it up. I've talked about it a ton on this blog without, hopefully, saying positive or negative thoughts. One of the worst things to read in reviews is a review of something that hasn't even been released. You get it through user comments and reviews and stuff on Amazon and the like, where people will give a game a five star review and say "It looks awesome!" Guys, that's not a review. I do my pre-game picks of the week, but that's with the inherent disclaimer of "this book is what I'm most looking forward to, hopefully it's good."

Okay, so I'm pretty clearly stalling here until I have enough said that I don't have to talk about this comic. Don't read into that the wrong way. It wasn't a bad comic. It was a totally fine comic with an interesting premise and pretty clearly defined and intriguing new directions for Bucky to go. I think my hyping it, though, had made it so that this book was either going to be absolutely stunning or a complete flop. Instead, it landed where most comics do: certainly good with a lot of potential. I don't think it went too far in either direction but it set us up nicely.

This is my fault, beyond just hyping the book up. In my mind, Winter Soldier has been such an incredible book. It's been raised to elite-status, frankly, since before it started. I'm a sucker for the character, for the idea, for the noir style, and for Brubaker. Unless this book had beaten all odds and blown everything out of the water, I would see it as a downgrade. Frankly, I'm not sure it is. It's a change, most definitely. The thing I noticed most, honestly, was the lack of captions. Brubaker used captions all the time to convey Bucky's thoughts and, at least in this issue, Latour has Bucky say what he's thinking, either to no one or to Fury.

Okay, look, interruption real quick. I apologize in advance (and in last sentence) for comparing this so often to Brubaker's run, but it's going to happen. As I've said before, one of the more fascinating things to me about comics is the evolution of a character as seen through different writers. As Brubaker is really the only person who's written Winter Soldier, there are bound to be plenty of comparisons. LET'S GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE THOUGH, OKAY?

At the end of the day, I like where Latour is going with this. He has some very clear ideas about Bucky's character and about the look of this book (it's neat to see someone with artistic talents taking over as a writer because you know that's what he'll be focused on). Some of the cool ideas that we've seen already include his take on Bucky and Black Widow's relationship (which was kind of established in Brubaker's stuff but more through the closed door of "we already have this relationship because of our past so we don't need to talk about it," whereas Latour had Bucky outright explain it) and his take on Bucky and Cap's relationship, on top of the new look into Bucky's past. It's bound to lead us to exciting places. If you're interested in jumping on to this book to learn more about Bucky, this issue is a brand new start. There isn't TOO much Winter Soldier history out there so it's not hard to catch up, but for a quick definition of him, this is a useful book.

Red She-Hulk 62
Parker (w) and Pagulayan and Alves (a) and Staples (c)

This was a good set-up issue. We already more or less know the story that's going on in Red She-Hulk involving a new sort of super serum the military is working on to create super powered soldiers. Though that never really works well, it seems to be on a path to working as Red She-Hulk has found a near-ancient SHIELD (or its predecessor) base and has subsequently found out that these tests will provide the military with super soldiers who will eventually crush civilians. It's a compelling story, even if this is just a recap sort of an issue, and it finds a Hulk opposing the army, as they are so wont to do.

What was more intriguing about this issue is the antagonist, General Fortean. We don't have a real sense what side of this he's on. Is he doing this knowing a possible outcome? Is he doing this because it's his job and it will certainly aid America if it works the way it should? Is he doing this for his soldiers? Is he doing this for power? Is he doing this because he hates Hulks? All valid questions and all questions that we'll keep having. He's not monologuing his evil villain speech and a lot of his requests, outside of the things Red She-Hulk knows, seem totally valid. He's trying to protect people. Even when, in this issue, he asks a visiting Captain America to reveal to him the identity of Red She-Hulk and the location of Machine Man, it could go either in the direction of "SO I MIGHT KILL THEM FOR INTERFERING!" or in the direction of "so I can make sure they don't attack my soldiers again and set back our progress!" Subtle differences, but pretty important ones.

It's another solid entry into this series and again I find myself recommending this book. The art is typically very good, the story is solid and the stakes are raised and, frankly, it's a little off the main radar. Yes the Avengers have shown up in recent issues to try to stop Red She-Hulk but they're still kind of on the perimeter. The end of the issue brings regular-type She-Hulk into the mix but even she's not a huge commodity right now in the Marvel Universe (aside from her new presence in the FF). As ex-cousins-in-law, who knows what their relationship will be? Interesting times abound, you guys. Interesting times indeed.