Showing posts with label Steve Rogers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Rogers. Show all posts
Monday, October 13, 2014
Marvel Cinematic Universe preparing for CIVIL WAR
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Captain America 25, Thor 1
Captain America 25
The gathered heroes and villains wait below while Falcon brings the bomb into the sky, detonating away from everyone else. Iron Man catches Falcon's falling body before he hits the ground and, while Cap lauds him for his bravery and calls him more than just a hero, he opens his eyes again, saying that he got Tony to whip him up some vibranium wings that took the brunt of the blast. All isn't entirely well though, as Zola tells Jet that these people don't see her as a hero and that she won't change their minds only to be almost instantly proven right as Sharon begins to accuse her of teaming up with her father to enact this plan. Furious that even Steve won't stand up for her, Jet leaves with her father back to Dimension Z (why is no one stopping him??). One week later, Steve calls together all past and present Avengers to Avengers Mansion to announce he's taking on a leadership/behind-the-scenes position and handing off the Captain America mantle to Falcon. An epilogue also shows that one of those Avengers is a double-agent for Hydra and the Unknown Council. The traitor reveals that Falcon is taking over the position and Madam Worm and the Drain, from Remender's WINTER SOLDIER: BITTER MARCH series, believe they're ready to break the new Captain.
Sam says it himself in this one as he's introduced: "You guys all knew it was me, didn't you? There's literally no drama left in this reveal." I recognize that that's something of a tongue-in-cheek (or perhaps just blatant announcement) bit of dialogue from Remender, who voices what the audience is thinking. As I said last issue, Falcon's heroic sacrifice isn't made meaningless by the fact we, as the audience, all know he's going to survive (though the vibranium wings take something of the heart of it, even if it makes more sense that he survived because of them, though ostensibly less sense because where did Tony get vibranium and...you know what, tangent, whatever). Falcon didn't know he was going to when he chose to sacrifice himself, so it's still just as meaningful. It's the argument for characters dying in stories even if we know they'll come back: these keeps some level of stakes on the table and the hero's death is still meaningful because they still sacrificed their life without the intention of being reborn. ANYWAY, all that isn't to say that this issue isn't still predictable and a bit slow for it. As a special size issue (and primarily as a big, undoubtedly high-selling book), it costs $4.99 and, for the first time in this series, I can't say it's particularly worth it. We know what's going to happen, the Zemo storyline wraps up so anticlimactically (the climax was really last issue when Falcon took the bomb up, then things just kind of peter out this issue as Zola straight up just leaves the area with Jet), and there's an extended scene at Avengers Mansion that's played for laughs but doesn't quite hit (a little baffling since Remender certainly can be funny, I've seen it plenty). Pick it up if you're interested in owning a big moment in Cap/Marvel history, but if you're looking for an entertaining and compelling story, there are other places to look.
Total Score: 3/5
Thor 1
Thor has been sitting on the moon with an inert Mjolnir for some time now, not sleeping, not eating, and not talking to anyone but his beloved hammer. All the Asgardians have come out to see and learned that not only can Thor not lift the hammer any longer, no one can. The Warriors Three have all tried to no avail and even Odin himself cannot lift the hammer he once enchanted. Thor is only coaxed from the hammer when he learns that Midgard is under attack by awoken Frost Giants in the sea. He gets Jarnbjorn out of the armory and heads back to Earth, where he runs afoul of Malekith, who relishes in the unworthiness, defeating Thor handily and cutting off one of his arms. Meanwhile, back on the moon, a shadowy figure prompts the writing on the hammer to change to say "Whomsoever holds this hammer, if she be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor." As the inscription changes, the mysterious woman picks up the hammer and is instantly imbued with just such power. It is hinted that the figure is Freyja, or at least that it is she who is behind changing the inscription, but no firm details are given.
I think the story is an interesting one; something out there has changed Mjolnir's enchantment in some way and now Thor isn't the only one who can't pick up the hammer (woulda been weird if an elderly Steve Rogers went up there and grabbed it, imbuing himself with Thor powers now that his super soldier serum is gone). The mystery around the new Thor could remain interesting for some time but it'll have to be played right (or just revealed quickly, which would be the easier path to take). Still, it does feel like something is missing in this book and, like with the new CAPTAIN AMERICA reveal, I think that this massive and interesting twist is underhanded by the solicits and the press junket for the whole thing. In today's day and age, perhaps it's impossible to keep this a secret, particularly for a market that is, inexplicably, dependent on pre-orders, but this issue (and CAPTAIN AMERICA) certainly suffer for the lack of a twist in what would have once been a huge, huge shock. Though I do rather like the new THOR logo design.
Total Score: 3/5
Sam says it himself in this one as he's introduced: "You guys all knew it was me, didn't you? There's literally no drama left in this reveal." I recognize that that's something of a tongue-in-cheek (or perhaps just blatant announcement) bit of dialogue from Remender, who voices what the audience is thinking. As I said last issue, Falcon's heroic sacrifice isn't made meaningless by the fact we, as the audience, all know he's going to survive (though the vibranium wings take something of the heart of it, even if it makes more sense that he survived because of them, though ostensibly less sense because where did Tony get vibranium and...you know what, tangent, whatever). Falcon didn't know he was going to when he chose to sacrifice himself, so it's still just as meaningful. It's the argument for characters dying in stories even if we know they'll come back: these keeps some level of stakes on the table and the hero's death is still meaningful because they still sacrificed their life without the intention of being reborn. ANYWAY, all that isn't to say that this issue isn't still predictable and a bit slow for it. As a special size issue (and primarily as a big, undoubtedly high-selling book), it costs $4.99 and, for the first time in this series, I can't say it's particularly worth it. We know what's going to happen, the Zemo storyline wraps up so anticlimactically (the climax was really last issue when Falcon took the bomb up, then things just kind of peter out this issue as Zola straight up just leaves the area with Jet), and there's an extended scene at Avengers Mansion that's played for laughs but doesn't quite hit (a little baffling since Remender certainly can be funny, I've seen it plenty). Pick it up if you're interested in owning a big moment in Cap/Marvel history, but if you're looking for an entertaining and compelling story, there are other places to look.
Total Score: 3/5
Thor 1
I think the story is an interesting one; something out there has changed Mjolnir's enchantment in some way and now Thor isn't the only one who can't pick up the hammer (woulda been weird if an elderly Steve Rogers went up there and grabbed it, imbuing himself with Thor powers now that his super soldier serum is gone). The mystery around the new Thor could remain interesting for some time but it'll have to be played right (or just revealed quickly, which would be the easier path to take). Still, it does feel like something is missing in this book and, like with the new CAPTAIN AMERICA reveal, I think that this massive and interesting twist is underhanded by the solicits and the press junket for the whole thing. In today's day and age, perhaps it's impossible to keep this a secret, particularly for a market that is, inexplicably, dependent on pre-orders, but this issue (and CAPTAIN AMERICA) certainly suffer for the lack of a twist in what would have once been a huge, huge shock. Though I do rather like the new THOR logo design.
Total Score: 3/5
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Captain America 24, Black Widow 10
Captain America 24
As the Avengers fight Zola's mutates on the ground, Ian makes his way up to Sharon and Falcon and Jet confront Zola himself. Zola tells Jet that all of her actions, her revolt, her betrayal, etc., were by his will and offers her a place once more by his side as he conquers the world. She still fights him, getting help from Falcon as Ian and Sharon, who not only survived her time in Dimension Z but actually ended up raising Ian the rest of the way (so Sharon and Steve are his mom and dad), discover that Zola has a bomb meant to raze New York, civilians and superheroes alike. Zola has the bomb, as well as the mutates, telepathically controlled through his antennae (oh Zola, you're so silly!) so he can detonate it at a moment's notice. He hasn't done so only because he wants his daughter to join him once more. Falcon distracts Zola while Redwing clips Zola's antennae, hoping to disrupt the signal, but in classic villain mode the bomb sets to a 30-second timer when the signal is lost, leaving New York seemingly doomed. Falcon rushes to the bomb and grabs it, flying it far over the city and telling Steve to marry Sharon and raise Ian and have a good life as the bomb explodes.
You guys ever get the feeling that comic solicits and news and everything kind of ruin suspense to a point? This is a really great comic, complete with everything you could want from a superhero comic: a classic pure evil villain, an attempt to destroy all the superheroes and millions of civilians on the path to taking over the world, heroes working together towards a common goal, the monumental sacrifice of a terrific and long-standing superhero. And yet, we know that Falcon's meant to pick up the Captain America mantle in the next issue so we have a pretty good feeling that he'll live. To Remender's credit, that doesn't take all of the tension out or make the sacrifice meaningless; instead, it still stands strong and shines a great light on Sam. Overall, I can't fault the book for the flaws of the information age and this is still a really good issue.
Total Score: 5/5
Black Widow 10
We see a flashback of Black Widow's time on the other side of the law, specifically the period when Hawkeye had become an Avenger but his beloved Black Widow was still a criminal. The two find themselves on opposite sides of an escort mission as Natasha attempts to smuggle Rashid, an accountant with all manner of secrets in his head about terrorist money dealings, out of Pakistan to Russian operatives and Clint tries to capture Rashid. The two spar across Islamabad but Natasha eventually wins out, long-distance snapping Hawkeye's bow before he can successfully derail the car Rashid managed to get in. In the present, though, Rashid is the one who kidnapped Isaiah, who holds firm, unwilling to give up any information and sure that Natasha won't come for him. On the other hand, though, Natasha realizes she may need a hand on this one.
Though the cover and the hype are something of a fake-out as Hawkeye only appears in flashback form and we don't see much of their working one-on-one relationship now, the issue still holds up to the rest of the series nicely, with plenty of action and phenomenal Phil Noto art doing most of the storytelling with Edmondson's often terse dialogue filling in many of the specifics. In that way, it's very much a comic (and has been through its run) that uses the advantages of an illustrated medium to really flesh out a story. Comics drag when they rely too much on the narration or the dialogue to push the story forward or to build up characters too much. Not to say that all comics with a lot of writing are slow or uninteresting, just that it's a risk you run when you write an issue and leave little room for the art to tell the story. This series continues its excellent run unabated and I advise you check it out if you, for some inane reason, haven't already.
Total Score: 5/5
You guys ever get the feeling that comic solicits and news and everything kind of ruin suspense to a point? This is a really great comic, complete with everything you could want from a superhero comic: a classic pure evil villain, an attempt to destroy all the superheroes and millions of civilians on the path to taking over the world, heroes working together towards a common goal, the monumental sacrifice of a terrific and long-standing superhero. And yet, we know that Falcon's meant to pick up the Captain America mantle in the next issue so we have a pretty good feeling that he'll live. To Remender's credit, that doesn't take all of the tension out or make the sacrifice meaningless; instead, it still stands strong and shines a great light on Sam. Overall, I can't fault the book for the flaws of the information age and this is still a really good issue.
Total Score: 5/5
Black Widow 10
Though the cover and the hype are something of a fake-out as Hawkeye only appears in flashback form and we don't see much of their working one-on-one relationship now, the issue still holds up to the rest of the series nicely, with plenty of action and phenomenal Phil Noto art doing most of the storytelling with Edmondson's often terse dialogue filling in many of the specifics. In that way, it's very much a comic (and has been through its run) that uses the advantages of an illustrated medium to really flesh out a story. Comics drag when they rely too much on the narration or the dialogue to push the story forward or to build up characters too much. Not to say that all comics with a lot of writing are slow or uninteresting, just that it's a risk you run when you write an issue and leave little room for the art to tell the story. This series continues its excellent run unabated and I advise you check it out if you, for some inane reason, haven't already.
Total Score: 5/5
Friday, August 15, 2014
Captain America 23, Captain Marvel 6
Captain America 23
Remender (w) and Pacheco (p) and Taibo (i) and White (c) and Caramagna (l)
The mysterious armored figure who emerged from Dimension Z sets out for Avengers Mansion and quickly makes his way in, hacking and evading security before managing to dodge Iron Man, Thor, and Hulk on his way to the elderly Cap, who manages to pin the figure despite his sudden age. Of course, the figure removes his helmet to reveal that he is, in fact, Steve's adopted son Ian, returned from the dead (he fell into the same biomass in which he was created so, you know, no harm done) and a couple decades older and wiser. Steve is beyond happy to see him and embraces his son while Ian tells the Avengers how dire the situation is already getting. Meanwhile, Falcon and Jet attempt to break into the main tower of Dimension Z while the Avengers provide a distraction, though it seems bound to fail as Zola already seems aware of their presence. However, not all is lost as Falcon and Jet happen to stumble upon an older and long-imprisoned Sharon Carter.
There's a ton happening here as we march towards the upcoming event AXIS and the emergence of a new Captain America. Dimension Z has put down roots and both Ian and Sharon have re-appeared alive, to the chagrin, undoubtedly, of all those people shouting that Remender had fridged a character who has been around for more decades than most of those readers have been alive (LOOK, I am still a bit peeved about ANXM, even a day later). Even despite the sheer amount of ground Remender has to cover, the issue moves pretty well and manages to keep the pace and the tension up, crucial to the developing storyline. Also, it's really nice to see, after twenty-two extremely tough issues for him, Steve having a nice day. Sure one of his arch-nemeses is invading the Earth looking to unleash his consciousness on the people, but Steve's son is alive and soon he'll likely find out his girlfriend is too. Nice to see him so happy.
Total Score: 5/5
Captain Marvel 6
DeConnick (w) and D. Lopez (a) and Loughridge (c) and Caramagna (l)
Refusing to leave the peaceful Torfans to their almost assured death at the hands of the brutal J-Son, Captain Marvel becomes a one-woman army to defend the refugees, taking down ships one-by-one while not allowing any to reach the planet. Meanwhile, the Torfans enact a peaceful protest, seating themselves and refusing to move at the hands of the attacking Spartoi. The leader of the Torfans sends Jackie and Gil to take Carol's place holding off the ships and sends Carol to destroy the vibranium mines, which she does with ease. J-Son is furious and promises revenge but, as seems to be his defining characteristic of late, he swears revenge on a peaceful people he admits to having poisoned all on a live broadcast to plenty of people, courtesy of Tic aboard a Haffensye ship. J-Son has no recourse but to leave, which he does swearing revenge and just swearing while Captain Marvel intimidates and Jackie and Gil taunt. With her ship repaired and the gratitude of the Torfans, Carol sets off again for a new adventure.
I like this issue and I like a lot of single moments in it, but overall it's hard for the issue not to feel a little preachy and a little like it's trying too hard to find those single moments. CAPTAIN MARVEL, both this new volume and the last, has defined itself by big and wonderful speeches and lines (like the oft-quoted/printed/tattooed/whatever else'd "We will be the stars we were always meant to be") and it's hard not to see a couple times in this issue where dramatic lines not dissimilar to the tone and weight of that keep coming up. That's probably just the cynic in me. It's also hard to point specifically to the peaceful protest as "a little preachy" because I tend to agree with peaceful protests and it's hard PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOW to wonder about the efficiency of them or chastise them or whatever it was I hoped to accomplish when I started this paragraph (WHO KNOWS). Look, let's not get into it here. It just occasionally felt that way to me and it might be equal parts because I was reading too much into it and because I don't super love the supporting cast of this arc. WHATEVER. It's still a good issue, as evidenced by the following strong score and ALSO I'm sorry if I just made it sound like it's not a very good issue because, you guys, it still really is. OH, final point, I don't like J-Son as a villain, I find him very boring.
Total Score: 4/5
Remender (w) and Pacheco (p) and Taibo (i) and White (c) and Caramagna (l)
There's a ton happening here as we march towards the upcoming event AXIS and the emergence of a new Captain America. Dimension Z has put down roots and both Ian and Sharon have re-appeared alive, to the chagrin, undoubtedly, of all those people shouting that Remender had fridged a character who has been around for more decades than most of those readers have been alive (LOOK, I am still a bit peeved about ANXM, even a day later). Even despite the sheer amount of ground Remender has to cover, the issue moves pretty well and manages to keep the pace and the tension up, crucial to the developing storyline. Also, it's really nice to see, after twenty-two extremely tough issues for him, Steve having a nice day. Sure one of his arch-nemeses is invading the Earth looking to unleash his consciousness on the people, but Steve's son is alive and soon he'll likely find out his girlfriend is too. Nice to see him so happy.
Total Score: 5/5
Captain Marvel 6
DeConnick (w) and D. Lopez (a) and Loughridge (c) and Caramagna (l)
I like this issue and I like a lot of single moments in it, but overall it's hard for the issue not to feel a little preachy and a little like it's trying too hard to find those single moments. CAPTAIN MARVEL, both this new volume and the last, has defined itself by big and wonderful speeches and lines (like the oft-quoted/printed/tattooed/whatever else'd "We will be the stars we were always meant to be") and it's hard not to see a couple times in this issue where dramatic lines not dissimilar to the tone and weight of that keep coming up. That's probably just the cynic in me. It's also hard to point specifically to the peaceful protest as "a little preachy" because I tend to agree with peaceful protests and it's hard PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOW to wonder about the efficiency of them or chastise them or whatever it was I hoped to accomplish when I started this paragraph (WHO KNOWS). Look, let's not get into it here. It just occasionally felt that way to me and it might be equal parts because I was reading too much into it and because I don't super love the supporting cast of this arc. WHATEVER. It's still a good issue, as evidenced by the following strong score and ALSO I'm sorry if I just made it sound like it's not a very good issue because, you guys, it still really is. OH, final point, I don't like J-Son as a villain, I find him very boring.
Total Score: 4/5
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Comics this week
Who releases 22 comics in a week??
Captain America 23
The countdown is on for a number of things happening, including Steve seeing Ian again and Falcon becoming Captain America.
Captain Marvel 6
Space war!
Original Sin 7
Is this thing really still going? I'm going quick here today (but really YESTERDAY, thanks to the magic of the internet) but I saw a poll on CBR asking which OS revelation has been the most interesting and literally NONE OF THEM WERE. The series isn't falling as flat as some others in the recent past (FEAR ITSELF comes to mind, as does AVX) but it's certainly not hitting me in any meaningful way. A NOTE: Cap finding out about the Illuminati was on the list and that one's interesting but I'm going to say I think that all happens with or WITHOUT OS so NO DICE.
Thunderbolts 29
I just like this book, okay? Edges out AVENGERS UNDERCOVER and AVENGERS WORLD in that respect. Also, ending soon, sad face.
X-Force 8
This book is great, expect some big plot movement this time out and GET ON BOARD THIS BOOK.
Captain America 23
The countdown is on for a number of things happening, including Steve seeing Ian again and Falcon becoming Captain America.
Captain Marvel 6
Space war!
Original Sin 7
Is this thing really still going? I'm going quick here today (but really YESTERDAY, thanks to the magic of the internet) but I saw a poll on CBR asking which OS revelation has been the most interesting and literally NONE OF THEM WERE. The series isn't falling as flat as some others in the recent past (FEAR ITSELF comes to mind, as does AVX) but it's certainly not hitting me in any meaningful way. A NOTE: Cap finding out about the Illuminati was on the list and that one's interesting but I'm going to say I think that all happens with or WITHOUT OS so NO DICE.
Thunderbolts 29
I just like this book, okay? Edges out AVENGERS UNDERCOVER and AVENGERS WORLD in that respect. Also, ending soon, sad face.
X-Force 8
This book is great, expect some big plot movement this time out and GET ON BOARD THIS BOOK.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Sam Wilson to pick up the shield in ALL-NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA
After revealing recently that Steve Rogers, now serum-less, will be hanging up his spangly boots and beautiful shield, it's just been announced that Sam Wilson, currently the Falcon, will be taking over the role in Rick Remender and Stuart Immonen's ALL-NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA. It's a pretty straightforward switch, perhaps to be expected, but still a massive one and well-deserved. Now, between this and the THOR reveal, we are set to have at least two thirds of Marvel's "big three," Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man, be a black man and a woman, respectively. Pretty big deal, you guys.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=54124 (sorry, can't embed links from my phone)
Friday, July 4, 2014
Captain America 22, Black Widow 8
Captain America 22
Remender (w) and Pacheco (p) and Taibo (i) and White w/Loughridge (c) and Caramagna (l)
Everyone needs a rest once in a while and I can't think of anyone in the Marvel Universe after the past few months who needs one as badly as Captain America. The serum-less and frail Steve Rogers spends a day in his big bed at Avengers Mansion watching his reputation be tarnished and his ethics questioned by a number of SHIELD critics in the wake of Nrosvekistan and watching Louie while Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and (kind of) Thor try to find some trace of the serum in his blood and to restore him to Cap status. Steve is roused from his bed at last, though, when a portal to Dimension Z opens and Zola's minions come pouring out with Zola himself discussing his plans with the Red Skull.
I've said it before and I'll no doubt say it again: every book needs a sort of rest issue now and again to slow things down and to keep the intensity of the action-based issues high by giving something to compare against. That's what this is for CAPTAIN AMERICA, a solid rest issue that establishes where we stand right now and what we should be thinking about as the series continues (mostly Zola, Red Skull, the serum-less Cap, and the fact that Jet and Falcon have, against Falcon's better impulses, started up some sort of a relationship following a wine-fueled night). It's a very good book and one that manages to reset the pace and tone, exactly what Remender set out to do, while still not resting on its laurels, preferring to still push the plot forward.
Total Score: 5/5
Black Widow 8
Edmondson (w) and Noto (a and c) and Cowles (l)
While Isaiah tries to secure some funds for their operation, Black Widow has a new job: stealing back some key data for a client from a courier on a train in Prague, or a reverse train heist, as she calls it. She easily makes it on to the train and recovers the package but she's surprised when Winter Soldier turns up, hired to stop an international gang from robbing the train. They work together well to get off the train and evade the attacking gang but Natasha is shot in the leg in the process and the two make their way to an empty house for Bucky to patch her up and for them to plan the next move. Bucky insists that she leaves before the gang catches up to them, arguing that her job was to secure the briefcase and that his was to handle the gang. She accepts reluctantly and begins to leave before Bucky calls out to her again. Unable to say anything to her about their one-time relationship (thanks to Natasha's complete amnesia of it), he wishes her luck and she leaves. She returns home to find a new lead waiting for her from Maria Hill while Isaiah has been taken by some anonymous party.
It's no surprise for me to say that I absolutely adore this book and that this issue, one that teased a Winter Soldier appearance that would team the two for the first time since Natasha's memory wipe at the hands of Leo Novokov, had a particular draw for me. Edmondson and Noto deliver as the book is appropriately exciting and fast while also being layered and heart-breaking. Edmondson handles the team-up extraordinarily well, not letting on (save for a few quick lines that could go either way) until the very end that something is on Bucky's mind while making their interaction feel like two spies who are really good at their jobs and who have an obvious chemistry together. Noto continues to amaze as both Natasha and Winter Soldier look incredible (my girlfriend pointed out how consistent Noto is in Natasha's appearance, something that you can't always expect from this medium) and setting their fight against some gorgeous backgrounds and colors. Another month, another great BLACK WIDOW issue.
Total Score: 5/5
Remender (w) and Pacheco (p) and Taibo (i) and White w/Loughridge (c) and Caramagna (l)
Everyone needs a rest once in a while and I can't think of anyone in the Marvel Universe after the past few months who needs one as badly as Captain America. The serum-less and frail Steve Rogers spends a day in his big bed at Avengers Mansion watching his reputation be tarnished and his ethics questioned by a number of SHIELD critics in the wake of Nrosvekistan and watching Louie while Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and (kind of) Thor try to find some trace of the serum in his blood and to restore him to Cap status. Steve is roused from his bed at last, though, when a portal to Dimension Z opens and Zola's minions come pouring out with Zola himself discussing his plans with the Red Skull.I've said it before and I'll no doubt say it again: every book needs a sort of rest issue now and again to slow things down and to keep the intensity of the action-based issues high by giving something to compare against. That's what this is for CAPTAIN AMERICA, a solid rest issue that establishes where we stand right now and what we should be thinking about as the series continues (mostly Zola, Red Skull, the serum-less Cap, and the fact that Jet and Falcon have, against Falcon's better impulses, started up some sort of a relationship following a wine-fueled night). It's a very good book and one that manages to reset the pace and tone, exactly what Remender set out to do, while still not resting on its laurels, preferring to still push the plot forward.
Total Score: 5/5
Black Widow 8
Edmondson (w) and Noto (a and c) and Cowles (l)
It's no surprise for me to say that I absolutely adore this book and that this issue, one that teased a Winter Soldier appearance that would team the two for the first time since Natasha's memory wipe at the hands of Leo Novokov, had a particular draw for me. Edmondson and Noto deliver as the book is appropriately exciting and fast while also being layered and heart-breaking. Edmondson handles the team-up extraordinarily well, not letting on (save for a few quick lines that could go either way) until the very end that something is on Bucky's mind while making their interaction feel like two spies who are really good at their jobs and who have an obvious chemistry together. Noto continues to amaze as both Natasha and Winter Soldier look incredible (my girlfriend pointed out how consistent Noto is in Natasha's appearance, something that you can't always expect from this medium) and setting their fight against some gorgeous backgrounds and colors. Another month, another great BLACK WIDOW issue.
Total Score: 5/5
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Iron Man 25, Captain America 20, Captain Marvel 3
Iron Man 25
Gillen (w) and Ross (a) and Guru eFX (c) and Caramagna (l)
Tony Stark is not happy. However, he's now not happy and also armed in actual iron, ready to tear through some dark elves. Though the elves put on quite a tough front, Tony slaughters them pretty ably. He manages to take back the Lightning ring (he's already taken Incandescence) and then gets to Malekith himself, eventually besting him and taking back the Remaker ring. Malekith flees but Tony isn't satisfied, following him back to his throne. However, there are surprises for everyone when the other Mandarins are revealed, all united to teach Mandarin a thing or two (they are Alec Eiffel, Thomas Wilkins, Colin Anderson Sixty, Unknown [he wields the liar ring], Victor Kohl, and, of course, Mole Man).
Story
Tony wastes no time in taking it to Malekith in a book that really shows off the sort of power that an enraged Tony Stark can have. Of course, Gillen's setting us up for the bigger fight, wherein Tony fights a more organized and more dangerous and less weak-to-iron force, so it's great to see him so strong in this issue, beating up pretty much every dark elf in the realm and taking back three of the four rings Mandarin has (Mandarin reclaims the Spectral ring when he returns to his throne but it needs full recharge time, don't think that we've seen the last of it). And now, perhaps most impressively, all the rings are in the same place for what promises to be an impressive final fight. 5/5
Character
The biggest character stuff comes out of Tony's anger and out of Shevaun's frustration with him as she tries to advise him at every turn to find his way back home and he declines at every turn. There's character in all of that and character in the way Tony fights and the fight intelligence he has even when he's been driven to anger (typically when strong characters are prone to mistakes). It's also a bit of a strange character issue for Malekith, who gets thoroughly beaten but turns to fear a little faster than I'd've expected (unless, of course, this is some weird situation where Malekith wanted to lure the other rings here in which case his plan is tenuous). 4/5
Writing
Gillen clearly relishes writing the dark elves, with their menacing and old-timey threats and their disregard for human emotion. The tone of the book works pretty well as it never really feels, once the fighting starts, like Tony's not in control. He very much dominates the fight, which is, I think, exactly what Gillen needs right now. Still, some of the writing feels a little cut down, which I think is partly done for humor (the abruptness of cutting down some of the Svatalfheimian dialogue) but some of it still comes off as choppy. 4/5
Art
Luke Ross continues to do impressive work with the art here and Guru's colors continue to really shape the tone and the feel of the book. Ross draws excellent people and elves and still manages to make a menacing Iron Man, which is always an impressive thing. 5/5
Miscellaneous
Another Del Mundo cover as Marvel clearly understands what they have in him.
Total Score: 4/5
Captain America 20
Remender (w) and Klein (a) and White (c) and Caramagna (l)
Cap's been mindbubbled and BOY is it depressing. He "wakes up" (guys, I could put quotation marks throughout this whole section and frankly, I'm not above doing that, but I WON'T) in a SHIELD hospital wondering whether or not his ongoing fight is worth it only to find his "family" all around him. This includes Fury and Hill but also Bucky, Falcon, and Jet. Banner and Pym also enter the room to say they went to Dimension Z to make sure there was nothing else that could trigger the virus in Cap and found instead that Ian alive and well and brought him out and that the Sharon who died had been an LMD while the real one went deep undercover. As a parade for Cap rages outside, Cap realizes what's happening and throws himself off the balcony, waking him from the Mindbubble (this was the suicide Jet told him he needed to break out) and putting him directly up against Iron Nail and Mindbubble himself. As Jet arrives and begins to fight Iron Nail, bounces his shield into Mindbubble's dumb, jerk face and makes him freak out, sprinting off the helicarrier and presumably to his death. However, Steve soon learns he may be too late as Nail reveals that he's pinned the attack on SHIELD on Nrosvekistan and that now the world will watch in horror as SHIELD retaliates with the transformer-like Gungnir, a huge overreaction to any perceived attacks. The world will see SHIELD as the overstepping, incredibly dangerous and unregulated army it is.
Story
Guys, I'm not sure I can do this justice. Poor Steve has the absolute worst life. It's super depressing and you know it's happening the whole time and you can only watch as poor Steve slowly figures it out. Iron Nail's plan is an intriguing one as it involves just doing what SHIELD is already so good at doing: overreacting. Iron Nail continues to be an interesting villain as he more or less raises a lot of questions that Steve himself has had over the years but does it in such a way that obviously Steve can't help but fight him. It's a really compelling story and one that perfectly works to Captain America. 5/5
Character
Poor Steve. 5/5
Writing
I'm not sure why Remender enjoys being so mean to Captain America but it's pretty effective. As I said, everyone reading should know that Cap's in his mindbubble but that doesn't make it any less heartbreaking. I got a little nervous that maybe Remender would spend the whole time in the mindbubble and nothing else would happen in the issue until the last second reveal that he was there but Remender gave the audience the benefit of the doubt and let us get right back into the story after what seemed like the perfect amount of time. 5/5
Art
Really strong art from Nic Klein here and Dean White's colors are perfect, really relaxing in the mindbubble and then jarringly dark back on the Gungnir. Klein's art really highlights just how sad Steve is. 5/5
Miscellaneous
I DON'T LIKE SEEING STEVE SO SAD, OKAY? That sentiment, though, may perhaps be interpreted differently considering the overall score of this one.
Total Score: 5/5
Captain Marvel 3
DeConnick (w) and D. Lopez (a) and Loughridge (c) and Caramagna (l)
Tic has stolen Captain Marvel's ship (and her cat along with it) and Carol is now worried about where she'll go with it, concerned both for Tic's safety and for her ship's (and her cat's, inexplicably). Fortunately for her, Tic is really concerned with attacking the son of J-Son, so she comes right on back, dropping in and out of hyperdrive (which shows pretty good strategy) and attacking quickly. Carol's pretty sick of it though and stops her as she attacks one of the times. She gets back into the ship, using her helmet to override the ship's commands and let her back in. She and Star-Lord convince Tic that J-Son wouldn't care about the capture of his son and that, likely, the Spartax didn't try to poison her new home planet. Carol returns her to her people and offers her assistance, though quickly realizes that maybe she's out of her depth a bit.
Story
Carol's out in space and, though I worried last issue about her involvement with the Guardians of the Galaxy because I feared it would take the focus too much off of the amazing work DeConnick has done to establish Carol as a great character (particularly now that she's lost her memories), it's shaping up to be a fairly personal story. Obviously we'll get more of Tic and her people but there's a lot happening to let us see more about Carol. She's offered herself to Tic's people in the hopes that she'll be able to assist them but has quickly learned that she's a bit out of her element which will help to establish who she is and how she deals with the sorts of problems she can't punch away. 5/5
Character
Carol's concern for Tic, the girl she hadn't even spoken to until she stole her ship, says a lot about her character, as does her willingness to throw herself into a ship that keeps going in and out of hyperdrive to get her ship back and to help the girl. She also very quickly realizes that the leader of Tic's people sees her as more a hindrance than a help but she's determined to prove her worth and save these people, no matter what it takes. It's about proving worth but it's also very clearly just about wanting to help and that speaks volumes. 5/5
Writing
I think the move to get Carol away from the Guardians, despite the good fit for the team and for her, is a strong move for DeConnick and one she knew she had to make, just as Gillen knew he had to separate Tony from the Guardians in IRON MAN when they teamed up. There's a lot happening in this book and we're getting a sense of some interstellar politics and alien cultures but it never feels overwhelming, which is definitely to the book's credit. 5/5
Art
I still really like David Lopez's art on the interiors of this book and I think that it's particularly well-suited to the kind of calm in this issue after the initial action (the action was pretty strong too but he does emotions and stillness really well too, which is impressive for a comic book artist who knows he'll have to draw so much action. 5/5
Miscellaneous
After really disliking the last cover, I really love this one. What a turnaround!
Total Score: 5/5
Gillen (w) and Ross (a) and Guru eFX (c) and Caramagna (l)
Story
Tony wastes no time in taking it to Malekith in a book that really shows off the sort of power that an enraged Tony Stark can have. Of course, Gillen's setting us up for the bigger fight, wherein Tony fights a more organized and more dangerous and less weak-to-iron force, so it's great to see him so strong in this issue, beating up pretty much every dark elf in the realm and taking back three of the four rings Mandarin has (Mandarin reclaims the Spectral ring when he returns to his throne but it needs full recharge time, don't think that we've seen the last of it). And now, perhaps most impressively, all the rings are in the same place for what promises to be an impressive final fight. 5/5
Character
The biggest character stuff comes out of Tony's anger and out of Shevaun's frustration with him as she tries to advise him at every turn to find his way back home and he declines at every turn. There's character in all of that and character in the way Tony fights and the fight intelligence he has even when he's been driven to anger (typically when strong characters are prone to mistakes). It's also a bit of a strange character issue for Malekith, who gets thoroughly beaten but turns to fear a little faster than I'd've expected (unless, of course, this is some weird situation where Malekith wanted to lure the other rings here in which case his plan is tenuous). 4/5
Writing
Gillen clearly relishes writing the dark elves, with their menacing and old-timey threats and their disregard for human emotion. The tone of the book works pretty well as it never really feels, once the fighting starts, like Tony's not in control. He very much dominates the fight, which is, I think, exactly what Gillen needs right now. Still, some of the writing feels a little cut down, which I think is partly done for humor (the abruptness of cutting down some of the Svatalfheimian dialogue) but some of it still comes off as choppy. 4/5
Art
Luke Ross continues to do impressive work with the art here and Guru's colors continue to really shape the tone and the feel of the book. Ross draws excellent people and elves and still manages to make a menacing Iron Man, which is always an impressive thing. 5/5
Miscellaneous
Another Del Mundo cover as Marvel clearly understands what they have in him.
Total Score: 4/5
Captain America 20
Remender (w) and Klein (a) and White (c) and Caramagna (l)
Story
Guys, I'm not sure I can do this justice. Poor Steve has the absolute worst life. It's super depressing and you know it's happening the whole time and you can only watch as poor Steve slowly figures it out. Iron Nail's plan is an intriguing one as it involves just doing what SHIELD is already so good at doing: overreacting. Iron Nail continues to be an interesting villain as he more or less raises a lot of questions that Steve himself has had over the years but does it in such a way that obviously Steve can't help but fight him. It's a really compelling story and one that perfectly works to Captain America. 5/5
Character
Poor Steve. 5/5
Writing
I'm not sure why Remender enjoys being so mean to Captain America but it's pretty effective. As I said, everyone reading should know that Cap's in his mindbubble but that doesn't make it any less heartbreaking. I got a little nervous that maybe Remender would spend the whole time in the mindbubble and nothing else would happen in the issue until the last second reveal that he was there but Remender gave the audience the benefit of the doubt and let us get right back into the story after what seemed like the perfect amount of time. 5/5
Art
Really strong art from Nic Klein here and Dean White's colors are perfect, really relaxing in the mindbubble and then jarringly dark back on the Gungnir. Klein's art really highlights just how sad Steve is. 5/5
Miscellaneous
I DON'T LIKE SEEING STEVE SO SAD, OKAY? That sentiment, though, may perhaps be interpreted differently considering the overall score of this one.
Total Score: 5/5
Captain Marvel 3
DeConnick (w) and D. Lopez (a) and Loughridge (c) and Caramagna (l)
Story
Carol's out in space and, though I worried last issue about her involvement with the Guardians of the Galaxy because I feared it would take the focus too much off of the amazing work DeConnick has done to establish Carol as a great character (particularly now that she's lost her memories), it's shaping up to be a fairly personal story. Obviously we'll get more of Tic and her people but there's a lot happening to let us see more about Carol. She's offered herself to Tic's people in the hopes that she'll be able to assist them but has quickly learned that she's a bit out of her element which will help to establish who she is and how she deals with the sorts of problems she can't punch away. 5/5
Character
Carol's concern for Tic, the girl she hadn't even spoken to until she stole her ship, says a lot about her character, as does her willingness to throw herself into a ship that keeps going in and out of hyperdrive to get her ship back and to help the girl. She also very quickly realizes that the leader of Tic's people sees her as more a hindrance than a help but she's determined to prove her worth and save these people, no matter what it takes. It's about proving worth but it's also very clearly just about wanting to help and that speaks volumes. 5/5
Writing
I think the move to get Carol away from the Guardians, despite the good fit for the team and for her, is a strong move for DeConnick and one she knew she had to make, just as Gillen knew he had to separate Tony from the Guardians in IRON MAN when they teamed up. There's a lot happening in this book and we're getting a sense of some interstellar politics and alien cultures but it never feels overwhelming, which is definitely to the book's credit. 5/5
Art
I still really like David Lopez's art on the interiors of this book and I think that it's particularly well-suited to the kind of calm in this issue after the initial action (the action was pretty strong too but he does emotions and stillness really well too, which is impressive for a comic book artist who knows he'll have to draw so much action. 5/5
Miscellaneous
After really disliking the last cover, I really love this one. What a turnaround!
Total Score: 5/5
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Captain America 19, Black Widow 5
Captain America 19
Remender (w) and Klein (a) and White (c)
Steve is aboard the Gungnir as it fires on the two helicarriers in pursuit of it, two helicarriers the combined power of which couldn't so much as scratch it. The Gungnir's response is far more powerful, destroying the helicarriers immediately and showcasing the power of SHIELD's new devastating weapon. Steve allows himself no time to mourn just as he's been left no time to deal with the losses of Ian and Sharon. He pushes his way through the SHIELD agents guarding Mindbubble and Ran Shen and lashes out at them, quickly taking the upper hand in the fight. However, Shen sees he won't convince Steve and begins to transform into the Iron Nail as Mindbubble reappears and bubbles up Cap's head.
We knew this showdown was coming and we knew, as much as we maybe didn't want it to happen, that Cap would be mindbubbled sooner or later. For as much of a buildup as we've had waiting for these villains and our hero to meet, the key here is in the way all of the characters are presented. For Shen and Mindbubble, it's two old friends who believe in what they're doing even if they're aware it goes against the people they used to be. Though their methods and maybe even their philosophies are debatable, this issue humanizes them more than they've gotten throughout their runs in the series and it's a nice touch. On top of that, we see Cap pushing past everything he's been feeling lately and kind of taking control of his life again, even if it's maybe not that encouraging at this point and if it's not fully realized because, you know, now he's bubbled. Of course, Cap is always one of those characters who seems less susceptible to psychic attacks because his will is so strong, though we've seen him cave in the last year or so to Red Skull's psychic attacks and the likes. ANYWAY, what I was getting to is that there's a solid Cap scene here where he recognizes for the first time since Dimension Z that he's Captain America and, though this would break other men, he can't afford to act like other men. There's even a nice characterization bit for Jet here, who only has one line this issue, when we see her feet propped up on the coffee table as she watches the news. Welcome to Earth, Jet; we're pretty chill here.
Black Widow 5
Edmondson (w) and Noto (a and c)
Natasha, in a bind for information about the Hammer of God and who he's working for, turns to and old acquaintance (though new to this universe, as near as I can tell) named Tori Raven. Raven tells her that the monk is Molot Boga and that he's a former Russian Orthodox monk who was kicked out for his violent mood swings and now he works for some one putting his faith to murderous action. Raven wasn't able to figure out for whom he works but knows that he's going to blow up a plane within two hours. Natasha rushes off to the airport indicated and finds that she's just too late as she tries to shoot Boga while he fires a rocket launcher. She doesn't stop him in time and he hits the plane. The two battle while the plane goes down and Natasha finally gets the upper hand as she pushes him back just far enough to get sucked into the 747's turbine. She hurries on to the plane to try to help the passengers but discovers, as things get weirder and weirder, that there's only one passenger aboard. SHIELD questions him but he won't say who his attacker is or who bought out the entire plane for him. Raven calls Natasha and tells her that she can find answers to some of her questions on a boat just off the coast of Montenegro. Natasha heads that way but discovers that she's been sold out as she's surrounded by boats and brought on to the main boat she was after only to learn that her captor is Damon Dran, the indestructible man, who is off-site and seemingly in hiding from whatever it is she's after.
There's so much happening here as this book continues to build its first full storyline. Edmondson has done something incredible with this book already and he's going, it seems, in all the right directions with it. After spending the first few issues establishing Natasha's character and showing her in action, he's now building up the world around her, a world that heavily includes informants, Maria Hill, Isaiah, and presumably others as we push forward. The other thing that Edmondson is doing well, particularly so early into this run, is really illustrating Natasha as a character who takes what she does very seriously and who is very good at what she does but who certainly isn't perfect. This issue's narration focuses heavily on the importance of intel and Edmondson makes sure we know that Natasha feels naked without the intelligence she needs, which is why she dives so readily into the water to chase down the boat at the end; it has all the makings of a trap but she's so desperate for sound intelligence that she's willing to chase down any lead. It's a good issue, maybe not the best so far of the run (taking into account how amazing the run has been), but it's certainly setting some things up for the future and, of course, Phil Noto's art remains incredible. I can't articulate any better, I feel like, how good this run is.
Remender (w) and Klein (a) and White (c)
We knew this showdown was coming and we knew, as much as we maybe didn't want it to happen, that Cap would be mindbubbled sooner or later. For as much of a buildup as we've had waiting for these villains and our hero to meet, the key here is in the way all of the characters are presented. For Shen and Mindbubble, it's two old friends who believe in what they're doing even if they're aware it goes against the people they used to be. Though their methods and maybe even their philosophies are debatable, this issue humanizes them more than they've gotten throughout their runs in the series and it's a nice touch. On top of that, we see Cap pushing past everything he's been feeling lately and kind of taking control of his life again, even if it's maybe not that encouraging at this point and if it's not fully realized because, you know, now he's bubbled. Of course, Cap is always one of those characters who seems less susceptible to psychic attacks because his will is so strong, though we've seen him cave in the last year or so to Red Skull's psychic attacks and the likes. ANYWAY, what I was getting to is that there's a solid Cap scene here where he recognizes for the first time since Dimension Z that he's Captain America and, though this would break other men, he can't afford to act like other men. There's even a nice characterization bit for Jet here, who only has one line this issue, when we see her feet propped up on the coffee table as she watches the news. Welcome to Earth, Jet; we're pretty chill here.
Black Widow 5
Edmondson (w) and Noto (a and c)
There's so much happening here as this book continues to build its first full storyline. Edmondson has done something incredible with this book already and he's going, it seems, in all the right directions with it. After spending the first few issues establishing Natasha's character and showing her in action, he's now building up the world around her, a world that heavily includes informants, Maria Hill, Isaiah, and presumably others as we push forward. The other thing that Edmondson is doing well, particularly so early into this run, is really illustrating Natasha as a character who takes what she does very seriously and who is very good at what she does but who certainly isn't perfect. This issue's narration focuses heavily on the importance of intel and Edmondson makes sure we know that Natasha feels naked without the intelligence she needs, which is why she dives so readily into the water to chase down the boat at the end; it has all the makings of a trap but she's so desperate for sound intelligence that she's willing to chase down any lead. It's a good issue, maybe not the best so far of the run (taking into account how amazing the run has been), but it's certainly setting some things up for the future and, of course, Phil Noto's art remains incredible. I can't articulate any better, I feel like, how good this run is.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Avengers Annual 1, Iron Man 19
Avengers Annual 1
K. Immonen (w) and Lafuente (a) and Beredo w/ Loughridge (c)
Shang-Chi is taking some kids who may or may not have powers and who may or may not be delinquents of some kind (different Avengers seem to have different perspectives on the issue) on a tour of Avengers Tower. It's just before Christmas and most of the Avengers have gone elsewhere for the holidays, leaving only Shang-Chi, Captain America, Black Widow, Bruce Banner, and Tony Stark behind. Shang-Chi's tour is something of a failure, as all of the Avengers present a not so clean look at what it is to be super powered. Manifold turns up to help Shang bring all of the kids away but one, unbeknownst to the Avengers and the other kids, sneaks away and stays at the tower. Everyone sets off to their own holiday plans except Cap, who has volunteered to stay behind and keep an eye on the tower. He locks up and goes to help at a local kitchen, where he spends a good amount of time chatting with another vet about days gone by. He returns to the Tower later and is alerted to a break-in in Tony's lab. The girl who stayed behind, an eager and excited girl named Zamira, has the power to manifest voices with alarming accuracy, meaning that she creates versions of herself that have the voices of the people they're meant to represent. FOR EXAMPLE, she manifests a Tony Stark who can access his lab with voice recognition and who speaks not dissimilarly to someone's perception of Tony Stark. Apparently she tends to lose control and create these voices when she gets anxious and she's super anxious now. Her voices run amok, issuing voice commands throughout Avengers Tower from Tony's lab. Cap goes to check it out and is quickly joined by Natasha and Hulk, both of whom ended up staying behind in the Tower after all. They try to calm Zamira down and, particularly Widow, try to get her to use her perceived liability as an asset. Tony, who also apparently stayed behind, joins in the action and things start to go crazy as too many voices start issuing commands and one of them accidentally sets off the self-destruct command. Zamira pulls herself together just in time to help set everything right, issuing other commands with other voices to stop the countdown. All of them clean things up and decide to spend the evening together, eating and talking.
It's a goofy issue, breaking very much from the current feel of Hickman's AVENGERS, but it's well-placed and extremely well-executed. I was excited to see Kathryn Immonen's name on the cover for this one, knowing we'd get a good dose of character and some solid dialogue. Between her fast-paced and chaotic story and David Lafuente's art, this Annual stands up on its own as a perfectly pleasant and easily read standalone story. I'm a big fan of showing off character and this one is pretty much just a showcase of that, giving us a really nice look at some of our core Avengers in their downtime. It's a little like DeConnick's AVENGERS ASSEMBLE in the way that it focuses on the more familial feel of the Avengers but manages to let itself be a little goofier and a little less story-driven. The story is still clearly important but one of the nice things about an Annual is that it doesn't require a story that's going to keep going beyond its one issue; sometimes you'll get one that sets up the future of a book but by and large Annuals tend to be a chance to let someone else take the characters for a spin and see what comes out of it. It was really nice to see a break from the super-serious feel of the current line of Avengers books and I hope, if it leads to anything, it leads to Kathryn Immonen on another book.
Iron Man 19
Gillen (w) and Bennett and Hanna (a) and Guru eFX (c)
Tony has a surprise for Pepper. Well, a couple of them. He introduces her to Arno and gives the briefest of explanations of what's happening. He also inadvertently introduces her to his newest suit operating system, PEPPER, which is a bit awkward (he quickly promotes PEPPER to running the new city and renames her HELEN, giving her a Troy to look after). He also tells her of his plan to take over and rebuild Mandarin City, feral since the death of Mandarin over a year ago (back at the end of Fraction's run on IRON MAN). She's worried about him and about this whole plan, which seems entirely like an overreaction to something deeper. He admits that she's probably right but isn't too bothered by it, preferring to overreact and do something good with it than to overreact and become an alcoholic again. She convinces him to hire her new fiancee as PR person for the whole undertaking, which would probably go relatively well if not for an attack by Mandarin Ring 1 (in the presence of Mandarin Ring 7 and Abigail Burns, who we met last time) at the time of his press conference.
Plenty going on in this series still but it's rather underlined by the somewhat sweet moments of this issue. There's a relief to Tony and Arno both knowing that they're overreaching a bit and that they're trying something so big, meaning that if they have a fall during this, it won't come with full issues of "oh my hubris!" but rather with something like "well, it would have been pretty cool if it had worked!" There are also sweet and very human moments between Tony and Pepper as he explains why it's maybe not as creepy as she thinks it is that he built and named his AI after her, something that we kind of already knew but that she deserves to hear as well. He, of course, does try to hide it from her, but it's sweet and creepy nonetheless. The idea, for those who missed it in the beginning of Gillen's run, is that Pepper is Tony's best friend and that he wasn't trying to replace her or obsess over her or anything like that, but that he needed something to remind him of her and to keep him balanced as he traversed the infinite space he was going to enter. Look, I think it's sweet, okay? There's also a moment in here where Tony's narration kind of apologizes for leaving Mandarin City in shambles and justifies it by saying "I was in space, guys." Anyone who's read even, like, one post from this blog will note my love of talking to an audience and referring to it as "guys" so WHAT AN EASY WAY TO WIN ME OVER.
K. Immonen (w) and Lafuente (a) and Beredo w/ Loughridge (c)
It's a goofy issue, breaking very much from the current feel of Hickman's AVENGERS, but it's well-placed and extremely well-executed. I was excited to see Kathryn Immonen's name on the cover for this one, knowing we'd get a good dose of character and some solid dialogue. Between her fast-paced and chaotic story and David Lafuente's art, this Annual stands up on its own as a perfectly pleasant and easily read standalone story. I'm a big fan of showing off character and this one is pretty much just a showcase of that, giving us a really nice look at some of our core Avengers in their downtime. It's a little like DeConnick's AVENGERS ASSEMBLE in the way that it focuses on the more familial feel of the Avengers but manages to let itself be a little goofier and a little less story-driven. The story is still clearly important but one of the nice things about an Annual is that it doesn't require a story that's going to keep going beyond its one issue; sometimes you'll get one that sets up the future of a book but by and large Annuals tend to be a chance to let someone else take the characters for a spin and see what comes out of it. It was really nice to see a break from the super-serious feel of the current line of Avengers books and I hope, if it leads to anything, it leads to Kathryn Immonen on another book.
Iron Man 19
Gillen (w) and Bennett and Hanna (a) and Guru eFX (c)
Plenty going on in this series still but it's rather underlined by the somewhat sweet moments of this issue. There's a relief to Tony and Arno both knowing that they're overreaching a bit and that they're trying something so big, meaning that if they have a fall during this, it won't come with full issues of "oh my hubris!" but rather with something like "well, it would have been pretty cool if it had worked!" There are also sweet and very human moments between Tony and Pepper as he explains why it's maybe not as creepy as she thinks it is that he built and named his AI after her, something that we kind of already knew but that she deserves to hear as well. He, of course, does try to hide it from her, but it's sweet and creepy nonetheless. The idea, for those who missed it in the beginning of Gillen's run, is that Pepper is Tony's best friend and that he wasn't trying to replace her or obsess over her or anything like that, but that he needed something to remind him of her and to keep him balanced as he traversed the infinite space he was going to enter. Look, I think it's sweet, okay? There's also a moment in here where Tony's narration kind of apologizes for leaving Mandarin City in shambles and justifies it by saying "I was in space, guys." Anyone who's read even, like, one post from this blog will note my love of talking to an audience and referring to it as "guys" so WHAT AN EASY WAY TO WIN ME OVER.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Captain America 13, Captain Marvel 17, Iron Man 18
Captain America 13
Remender (w) and Klein (a) and White (c)
Back in the late '60s, Nick Fury calls in undercover operative Ran Shen, meant to be infiltrating the Communist party in China to question him on why he hasn't reported back in two years. Of course, Fury doesn't really ask questions he doesn't already know the answers to and the interrogation pretty quickly turns south as he accuses Shen of creating his own party to rival Mao's, a claim Shen doesn't back down from. He then reveals his own enhancements and attacks Fury and Dum Dum Dugan, breaking out of his containment and rushing, with a scan of Fury's eye, to a high security location at the SHIELD hub. He's not the only one, though, as the Russian spy/assassin the Winter Soldier has watched the whole thing go down and attacks Shen once Shen gets inside the secure location. After a quick fight, both are attacked by a Dum Dum and Fury-led SHIELD team and both escape, though we see what Shen was after: a giant wing labeled "Weapon Minus." Lot of information here for the first ten pages of the book. Back in the present, Maria Hill calls Steve and a protesting Falcon (protesting on Steve's behalf) to take down Nuke in Nrosvekistan, claiming that it has to be Steve who does that, it has to be the icon of America to show that America doesn't support Nuke's actions. The two arrive and pretty quickly have some trouble taking the broken super-soldier down. It's a fight that will continue into the next issue.
Geez but there was a lot happening in those first ten pages. Sometimes you'll read a book and it will flow or, perhaps, even slow down (I think this book had a little of both) to such an extent that it covers the fact that we've just gotten so much information. I'm fortunate because I write a comics blog and so I end up delving in to help clarify some things but, if I didn't, I imagine I would forget a lot of key plot points (I still kind of do but that's more poor-memory related than anything else). The beginning of the book, with Ran Shen's interrogation and the Winter Soldier's involvement, are particularly interesting, though it starts to slow a little bit when we get into Shen's point of view, which almost entirely consists of a page or so of Shen hating America. I think it serves a purpose here, really giving us a depth of vitriol and catching readers up with the Iron Nail's beliefs, but it does feel a bit like it drags the story out. Winter Soldier's involvement is neat and it's cool to know that there's a deeper story there (perhaps one set to be explored more in WINTER SOLDIER: BITTER MARCH), expressed as Shen recognizes Winter Soldier and Winter Soldier reveals that Shen's target isn't his target; his target is Shen. Plenty happening here and that's BEFORE we get to Captain America himself, my thoughts on whom have been pretty regular of late. I find it really interesting to see Cap this despondent and Remender does a great job to, despite that, still show Cap as the force he was from the start of this book, someone fighting through anything and everything in his way (physical, internal and external, and mental) though there is an added sense of desperation and hopelessness there that didn't feel as present at the onset of this series. Stellar writing for Cap again. Great book. It would take something pretty impressive to follow this one up in a review. SEGUE.
Captain Marvel 17
DeConnick (w) and Andrade (a) and Bellaire (c)
Carol Danvers has returned to New York for the first time since the Enemy Within storyline's conclusion and it's a bit of a different world now. She's very open with her friends (hard not to be with this) about the state of her memories, though it doesn't impact her personality. Ultimately it means that she has no memories of people in her life like self-proclaimed sidekick Kit, personal assistant Wendy, and friends Tracy and Frank. On the flip-side, a ceremony is being held in her honor by the city of New York, appreciative of her efforts in Enemy Within. One individual, though, is not happy with her (really not happy with the world, but taking it out on her), new villain Grace Valentine, a self-made business success and genius computer engineer who wants more and finds herself overshadowed by the superhero events of recent days. She attacks the award ceremony (where Carol is given a key to the city and, perhaps more importantly, a new apartment in the CROWN OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY whaaaaat) and Carol springs into action. Valentine has hijacked several drones and uses them swoop down on Carol, stunning her momentarily. As Carol recovers, Valentine sends a message to the world about who she is and who Carol is and why people should overlook Carol's perceived "achievements" for her own before revealing that she's targeting Carol by her star insignia. The crowd then jumps into the action, revealing their own insignias and shouting "I am Captain Marvel" and confusing the drones while inspiring Carol back into the fight. Valentine decides that she has no problem attacking Carol's supporters and sets her drones to the task when Carol leaps back in and saves the day. The day ends with Kit settling in to the CROWN OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY apartment and showing Carol a comic book she wrote and drew to help re-educate Carol on who Captain Marvel is and what she's done, including inspiring (unbeknownst to even Kit) a young New Jersey teen with superpowers of her own.
A truly phenomenal issue and one that someone with less emotional restraint than I may have even teared up at a bit. Not me, that's not the point, you guys. It's just...it's not the point, okay? Anyway, it's a great issue that pulls on everything DeConnick has built for Carol through the course of this series. I talked about it at length during Enemy Within, which built a nightmare around Carol and enveloped all of her friends, a weight that doesn't feeling weighty if DeConnick doesn't put in the time to create a world around Carol. She did create that world, though, and so the involvement of Carol's friends continued to have resonance throughout the story and it's coming around again here, as Carol suddenly doesn't even remember who her friends are. The characters, though, are so real and so fleshed out that you can feel the love and care from them as they try to work around Carol's recent losses and find a way to get her involved again. What's more is that you're actively rooting for them and for Carol on their behalf. I can't think of another superhero comic populated by non-superheroes where this is more true. Even in Spider-Man, which has one of the most expansive casts of non-superhero characters (though that tends to change pretty frequently as different writers power up different characters in his life, geez), there are a few duds I can point to at anyone time that I can honestly say "yeah, I don't care about that guy/lady." Here, I actively care about everyone in Carol's life and this book doesn't work if you, as a reader, don't. Phenomenal job and a truly wonderful issue.
Iron Man 18
Gillen (w) and Bennett and Hanna (a) and Guru eFX (c)
We get a simulated look at the world of 30 years from now as Tony and Arno Stark immediately get to work on trying to better the world, trying to help the people and protect them. After that simulated 30 years, Tony and Arno have created a self-sufficient and self-protecting city that they can manage from above. As wonderful and idyllic as it is and despite how much it matches their dreams, it's inevitably immediately destroyed as the AI they've had around and based on 451's designs has covertly worked to undermine them, even when it was unaware of doing it. The two are wrenched out of the simulation and Arno emphasizes to Tony, back in the present day, that they cannot trust AI, a fact that Tony keeps glazing over because, as much as he knows he can't trust anything to do with 451, he can't help but be fascinated at the technology. Arno suspects that he's actually just avoiding talking about the adoption. Tony is saved by the bell on that one as an Avengers distress call comes in and he dispatches his Iron Man suit, complete with PEPPER, to handle it. Arno frowns on it but understands Tony's decision to be more proactive in building this new way of life than reactive in trying to stop supervillains as they pop up. Meanwhile, they seem to have a doozy of a supervillain primed to pop up as some sort of possible AI or enchanted ring-dispenser is targeting individuals around the world and making them Mandarins, presumably 1-10 (we see the creation of Mandarin Seven here).
Still a lot happening in this book, though plenty of this issue is dedicated to a simulation of a possible future. That feels like it should slow the book but I didn't even notice how much of the book it had taken up until I flipped through again to look something up for my summary. It moves well and it serves a distinct purpose, showing us what Arno and Tony are set to do. Tony has always been the engineer of the Marvel Universe; it's on his back that the technology and wonders (and sometimes also threats) of the Marvel Universe appear so it's important that we see what his aims are moving forward, as well as what his concerns are. In this case, his aims are perhaps greater than they've ever been, a self-sufficient city that can protect its inhabitants from both natural and alien threats in a particularly threatening new world. We also see some of the newest concerns as Arno warns Tony repeatedly that he can't trust AI, which Tony has more and more begun to trust with time. The addition of a new Mandarin-based threat at the end of the issue is just icing on the cake as we already have more than enough here to talk about and think about moving forward. It would have been relatively easy to take this issue as a sort of break issue, to reorient and keep away from supervillains and the like while Gillen establishes Tony's new life with Arno but, instead, we get plenty of new threats and new promises for Tony. Pretty neat stuff.
Remender (w) and Klein (a) and White (c)
Geez but there was a lot happening in those first ten pages. Sometimes you'll read a book and it will flow or, perhaps, even slow down (I think this book had a little of both) to such an extent that it covers the fact that we've just gotten so much information. I'm fortunate because I write a comics blog and so I end up delving in to help clarify some things but, if I didn't, I imagine I would forget a lot of key plot points (I still kind of do but that's more poor-memory related than anything else). The beginning of the book, with Ran Shen's interrogation and the Winter Soldier's involvement, are particularly interesting, though it starts to slow a little bit when we get into Shen's point of view, which almost entirely consists of a page or so of Shen hating America. I think it serves a purpose here, really giving us a depth of vitriol and catching readers up with the Iron Nail's beliefs, but it does feel a bit like it drags the story out. Winter Soldier's involvement is neat and it's cool to know that there's a deeper story there (perhaps one set to be explored more in WINTER SOLDIER: BITTER MARCH), expressed as Shen recognizes Winter Soldier and Winter Soldier reveals that Shen's target isn't his target; his target is Shen. Plenty happening here and that's BEFORE we get to Captain America himself, my thoughts on whom have been pretty regular of late. I find it really interesting to see Cap this despondent and Remender does a great job to, despite that, still show Cap as the force he was from the start of this book, someone fighting through anything and everything in his way (physical, internal and external, and mental) though there is an added sense of desperation and hopelessness there that didn't feel as present at the onset of this series. Stellar writing for Cap again. Great book. It would take something pretty impressive to follow this one up in a review. SEGUE.
Captain Marvel 17
DeConnick (w) and Andrade (a) and Bellaire (c)
Carol Danvers has returned to New York for the first time since the Enemy Within storyline's conclusion and it's a bit of a different world now. She's very open with her friends (hard not to be with this) about the state of her memories, though it doesn't impact her personality. Ultimately it means that she has no memories of people in her life like self-proclaimed sidekick Kit, personal assistant Wendy, and friends Tracy and Frank. On the flip-side, a ceremony is being held in her honor by the city of New York, appreciative of her efforts in Enemy Within. One individual, though, is not happy with her (really not happy with the world, but taking it out on her), new villain Grace Valentine, a self-made business success and genius computer engineer who wants more and finds herself overshadowed by the superhero events of recent days. She attacks the award ceremony (where Carol is given a key to the city and, perhaps more importantly, a new apartment in the CROWN OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY whaaaaat) and Carol springs into action. Valentine has hijacked several drones and uses them swoop down on Carol, stunning her momentarily. As Carol recovers, Valentine sends a message to the world about who she is and who Carol is and why people should overlook Carol's perceived "achievements" for her own before revealing that she's targeting Carol by her star insignia. The crowd then jumps into the action, revealing their own insignias and shouting "I am Captain Marvel" and confusing the drones while inspiring Carol back into the fight. Valentine decides that she has no problem attacking Carol's supporters and sets her drones to the task when Carol leaps back in and saves the day. The day ends with Kit settling in to the CROWN OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY apartment and showing Carol a comic book she wrote and drew to help re-educate Carol on who Captain Marvel is and what she's done, including inspiring (unbeknownst to even Kit) a young New Jersey teen with superpowers of her own.A truly phenomenal issue and one that someone with less emotional restraint than I may have even teared up at a bit. Not me, that's not the point, you guys. It's just...it's not the point, okay? Anyway, it's a great issue that pulls on everything DeConnick has built for Carol through the course of this series. I talked about it at length during Enemy Within, which built a nightmare around Carol and enveloped all of her friends, a weight that doesn't feeling weighty if DeConnick doesn't put in the time to create a world around Carol. She did create that world, though, and so the involvement of Carol's friends continued to have resonance throughout the story and it's coming around again here, as Carol suddenly doesn't even remember who her friends are. The characters, though, are so real and so fleshed out that you can feel the love and care from them as they try to work around Carol's recent losses and find a way to get her involved again. What's more is that you're actively rooting for them and for Carol on their behalf. I can't think of another superhero comic populated by non-superheroes where this is more true. Even in Spider-Man, which has one of the most expansive casts of non-superhero characters (though that tends to change pretty frequently as different writers power up different characters in his life, geez), there are a few duds I can point to at anyone time that I can honestly say "yeah, I don't care about that guy/lady." Here, I actively care about everyone in Carol's life and this book doesn't work if you, as a reader, don't. Phenomenal job and a truly wonderful issue.
Iron Man 18
Gillen (w) and Bennett and Hanna (a) and Guru eFX (c)
Still a lot happening in this book, though plenty of this issue is dedicated to a simulation of a possible future. That feels like it should slow the book but I didn't even notice how much of the book it had taken up until I flipped through again to look something up for my summary. It moves well and it serves a distinct purpose, showing us what Arno and Tony are set to do. Tony has always been the engineer of the Marvel Universe; it's on his back that the technology and wonders (and sometimes also threats) of the Marvel Universe appear so it's important that we see what his aims are moving forward, as well as what his concerns are. In this case, his aims are perhaps greater than they've ever been, a self-sufficient city that can protect its inhabitants from both natural and alien threats in a particularly threatening new world. We also see some of the newest concerns as Arno warns Tony repeatedly that he can't trust AI, which Tony has more and more begun to trust with time. The addition of a new Mandarin-based threat at the end of the issue is just icing on the cake as we already have more than enough here to talk about and think about moving forward. It would have been relatively easy to take this issue as a sort of break issue, to reorient and keep away from supervillains and the like while Gillen establishes Tony's new life with Arno but, instead, we get plenty of new threats and new promises for Tony. Pretty neat stuff.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Captain America 9, Hawkeye Annual 1
Captain America 9
Remender (w) and Romita Jr. and Janson w/ Hanna and Palmer (a) and White (c)
Sharon has arrived in Dimension Z, telling Cap that everything that's happened must be false memories or some other manner of brain manipulation; he can't have been here ten years because she followed right behind him through the portal. Everything, this now included, sends Cap a little off the deep end. He's dealt with a lot already this series and now, bruised and beaten with his adopted son apparently dead, shot by the woman he loves, while she tells him that it was all a dream seems too much to bear. Still, he's Captain America so even at his lowest he stands and, instead of leaving with Sharon immediately, demands they go save Jet, who is still working to free the Phrox.
Plenty happens in this issue, no less the idea, planted into Cap's head, that this may have all been a dream. He will not believe it but Sharon is adamant. Whether she truly believes it or if she thinks this is the fastest way to get Steve standing is debatable (though the first instinct, if she did follow just moments behind Steve, is obviously to believe that this isn't real, Sharon's certainly seen enough in her time to accept it as real), but the revelation that it could have been a dream really floors Steve. Still, his mantra of "always stand up" kicks back in and he manages to revive himself enough to keep moving and to attack Zola on Jet's behalf. There's more interesting stuff with Jet that rings up more questions about her character and what she's working for but one of the most interesting parts to me is the way that Remender has played this whole arc nicely into Uncanny Avengers. We were told in that book that Cap has just returned from Dimension Z, which no one else knows, and that plays into why he's so on edge. At first, there's a real sense that his anger at Logan is driven by what Logan's done, then the first instinct after you learn this is post-Dimension Z is that Steve's just been through a lot and he takes it out on Logan. However, knowing what we know about this series and about what made him so mad at Logan, we can really start to see deeper into what's happened with Steve. He's mad at logan because Logan killed a child who was bred to be evil but was still only a child. Remind you of anyone? It certainly should and it gives us pause as to how he's going to react to Sharon with this attitude. Another solid issue. The conclusion of this first arc comes next issue and the fallout will probably come with it.
Hawkeye Annual 1
Fraction (w) and Pulido (a) and Hollingsworth (c)
Annuals, for those unaware, tend to be given to popular books at Marvel and are generally a double-size issue that may or may not be pertinent to the story at hand. You don't want to assume that everyone buying the series will buy the annual so you don't want to load it with too much giant stuff but you also want to give everyone a good read and a read that falls within the scope of the book that spawned the annual, especially since annuals tend to be more expensive. This one is 4.99 instead of Hawkeye's typical 2.99 (I believe it's still one of the 2.99 books; it might be 3.99 and I'm too far away to look at old issues right now. Well I could. But I won't. Could I look it up on the internet? Yup. But we're really already taking too much time from the review). With that in mind, you should buy this book despite its cost and its possibility to be skipped (I'm not sure it is really possible to be skipped at this point but I think you could gain just about everything you need to gain for the future out of past issues and future issues. Hard to say as I, too, am not in the future). This annual focuses on Kate Bishop, the Lady Hawkguy, the Hawkeye, the Young Avenger, and so on, and her travel westward. She's done with Clint and his desire to push everyone away when he needs them most and she refuses to be dragged down by him. With Lucky in tow, she drives out to California, happy to get away for at least a little bit and desperate to figure out who she wants to be in this world. However, she's not the only person interested in her identity (perfect segue); Madame Masque, who Kate royally pissed off back in Hawkeyes 4 and 5, has had her ear to the ground all this time, waiting for Katie Kate to resurface. Now Kate has to get away from a solid Marvel villain as well as the people she actually cares about, though frankly Madame Masque is the more threatening in that situation.
This is a phenomenal issue with a lot of fun energy from Kate, some good twists and turns, and a great emotional core to it that gives us a lot of background into Kate's life as well as her motivations for doing what she does. Kate's been around in the Marvel Universe for a while now but she's still something of a mystery, in truth. I think, because she's been here so long and she's so personable, it's easy to forget that we don't know all that much about her. Maybe it's because there's not much to know; she doesn't have a hugely tragic background like Spider-Man or Iron Fist (guys, his mom was eaten by wolves practically in front of him). Her mother died and her father is a powerful business man who remarried someone not much older than Kate. He seems to be a good enough guy (he had been, if I'm remembering right, more overprotective in the original Young Avengers books than he seems to be in this one) but he's not a terribly interesting character nor a terribly interesting backdrop for the drama we crave from our superheroes. So where does the mystery come in? It's the question of why for Kate, and a little bit the question of how. They're, of course, interconnected and well explained here. The truth is, beyond this explanation, you don't necessarily need much. Heroes don't need to have a harrowing story behind them; they need to be heroes. Still, it's nice to have Fraction know that and, instead of trying to spice up Kate's past with darkness that she had to overcome, highlight the aspects of Kate that make her who she is. Great issue. Pulido's art is decidedly a switch from Aja's and gives the book a completely different feel. I can't quite put my finger on what I'm thinking of when I see it but it reminds me of an older time in comics. It's pretty gorgeous and there are some really great moments with it. Spend the five dollars, dudes. It's worth it.
Remender (w) and Romita Jr. and Janson w/ Hanna and Palmer (a) and White (c)
Plenty happens in this issue, no less the idea, planted into Cap's head, that this may have all been a dream. He will not believe it but Sharon is adamant. Whether she truly believes it or if she thinks this is the fastest way to get Steve standing is debatable (though the first instinct, if she did follow just moments behind Steve, is obviously to believe that this isn't real, Sharon's certainly seen enough in her time to accept it as real), but the revelation that it could have been a dream really floors Steve. Still, his mantra of "always stand up" kicks back in and he manages to revive himself enough to keep moving and to attack Zola on Jet's behalf. There's more interesting stuff with Jet that rings up more questions about her character and what she's working for but one of the most interesting parts to me is the way that Remender has played this whole arc nicely into Uncanny Avengers. We were told in that book that Cap has just returned from Dimension Z, which no one else knows, and that plays into why he's so on edge. At first, there's a real sense that his anger at Logan is driven by what Logan's done, then the first instinct after you learn this is post-Dimension Z is that Steve's just been through a lot and he takes it out on Logan. However, knowing what we know about this series and about what made him so mad at Logan, we can really start to see deeper into what's happened with Steve. He's mad at logan because Logan killed a child who was bred to be evil but was still only a child. Remind you of anyone? It certainly should and it gives us pause as to how he's going to react to Sharon with this attitude. Another solid issue. The conclusion of this first arc comes next issue and the fallout will probably come with it.
Hawkeye Annual 1
Fraction (w) and Pulido (a) and Hollingsworth (c)
This is a phenomenal issue with a lot of fun energy from Kate, some good twists and turns, and a great emotional core to it that gives us a lot of background into Kate's life as well as her motivations for doing what she does. Kate's been around in the Marvel Universe for a while now but she's still something of a mystery, in truth. I think, because she's been here so long and she's so personable, it's easy to forget that we don't know all that much about her. Maybe it's because there's not much to know; she doesn't have a hugely tragic background like Spider-Man or Iron Fist (guys, his mom was eaten by wolves practically in front of him). Her mother died and her father is a powerful business man who remarried someone not much older than Kate. He seems to be a good enough guy (he had been, if I'm remembering right, more overprotective in the original Young Avengers books than he seems to be in this one) but he's not a terribly interesting character nor a terribly interesting backdrop for the drama we crave from our superheroes. So where does the mystery come in? It's the question of why for Kate, and a little bit the question of how. They're, of course, interconnected and well explained here. The truth is, beyond this explanation, you don't necessarily need much. Heroes don't need to have a harrowing story behind them; they need to be heroes. Still, it's nice to have Fraction know that and, instead of trying to spice up Kate's past with darkness that she had to overcome, highlight the aspects of Kate that make her who she is. Great issue. Pulido's art is decidedly a switch from Aja's and gives the book a completely different feel. I can't quite put my finger on what I'm thinking of when I see it but it reminds me of an older time in comics. It's pretty gorgeous and there are some really great moments with it. Spend the five dollars, dudes. It's worth it.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Captain America 8, Daredevil 27, Hawkeye 11
Captain America 8
Remender (w) and Romita Jr. and Janson with Hanna (a) and White (c)
God that's a hard one to read. Hey guys, I normally don't mention that there are spoilers in these reviews because it's pretty obvious. There were two ways to go with this blog, writing brief and vague analysis of certain issues and suggesting books to read or writing longer reviews that summarize issues and point out the strengths and flaws while working from a point where you and I both know how books end. Obviously I've chosen the latter and I don't regret it. However, if you're reading this book or plan to, do not read this review until you've read the issue. I suspected the ending that was coming and it still came as a shock to me. Spoilers start....now. Zola is rallying his troops as he prepares to head back to Earth to Zolafy it. He's made them ready to keep serving him in Dimension Z and to serve the new king and queen of the land, his two children. His children are quite busy themselves at the moment, as Ian/Leopold fights Steve and Jet finds a conscience. She betrays her father by leading captured Phrox away from their captivity and back to their children waiting in the caves, who she had secretly been smuggling against her father's orders. Just as she gets them close to safety, Zola descends on her, enraged that she's found compassion. The two begin to fight as we cut back away to Steve and Leopold. Steve is getting himself pretty good and killed throughout the issue. We've seen through the series a level of violence against Steve that is unprecedented for him and quite possibly for any comic and it's continued here. He's fought off and killed Captain Zolandia, the mutate who shares his genes but it cost him a lot to do it and it's not like he went into the fight in the best shape he's ever been. Now Leopold attacks him, screaming about how he was kidnapped and how strength is virtue and might makes right and so forth. He question the hypocrisy of representing and protecting one nation, particularly one so fraught with problems as America and prepares to kill the already near-dead Steve. Steve tries again to convince the boy that he did everything he could only to help him and that it doesn't matter if he's Leopold or Ian, as long as Steve knows that the child made his own choice. He explains that he chose who he became, he chose to be someone different than his father. The rage in the boy's face falters and, though he's still holding a gun to Steve's head, he chooses the name Ian. Steve comforts him and says that it'll all be okay as (SERIOUSLY GUYS, SPOILERS) a bullet fires and speeds through Ian's neck, who tumbles over and off the bridge he and Steve had been on. Steve turns to see the shooter, Sharon Carter, eager to get Steve out.
Look, I'm not going to pretend like I didn't notice the fact that I've read two really traumatic murders of a child in Marvel books in the last three years and both have come from the pen of Rick Remender. I'm sure there are others out there who have noticed that and who, more skeptical than I, are saying it's a rather weak trick to elicit a certain response from the audience. I hugely disagree here. First off, I don't think killing a child in any medium is ever an easy decision, less so when you've spent seven issues building and protecting him. It's a particularly devastating move, sure, to any reader and it's obvious the effect it could have on a reader and on a book. Still, I think Remender's proven time and again that he's not doing anything for cheap reactions or cheap thrills. Instead, everything has always been perfectly choreographed and everything has a purpose. Even still, as recently as the last Uncanny Avengers, people are debating Wolverine's X-Force team's actions with the child Apocalypse. I think this is a similarly complicated situation and I'd be very surprised if there weren't serious repercussions and still possibly some salvation for Ian (here's hoping). Still, really and truly devastating issue here all around. Even if you take the probable death of Ian out, you have Steve in a level of emotional and physical pain that has never been seen and Romita's art and White's colors certainly bring that to life. There are a lot of bigger panels to show exactly how violent Zolandia has become against Steve and the Ian shot, as well as the Sharon reveal, both get a full page. Wow, that's going to be a hard one to get past. That's kind of why I scheduled it to be reviewed before two other absurdly great books.
Daredevil 27
Waid (w) and Samnee (a) and Rodriguez (c)
Holy crap. Okay, that thing I said before about Captain America, it stands here too. Read this issue. Don't let my writing, which cannot compare to the feeling this comic can give, ruin the surprises in this book. Daredevil has discovered who is behind everything in his life going crazy recently. Bullseye has been resurrected by the Hand but, though he lives again, his body will never be the same. His spine is too badly damaged from Daredevil's attack on him at the onset of Shadowland and it's left him paralyzed and devoid of his senses except sight. In the time that he's been alive since his resurrection, he's done nothing but focus on revenge on Daredevil. He has learned everything about him, about his life and it's left him with every detail of his intricate plan. Now Daredevil has figured him out and he's approaching the concrete-like container that holds Bullseye, seemingly unaware that Ikari is behind him. Daredevil leaps into action, jumping on to the top of Bullseye's container and threatening to send his club straight into Bullseye's brain. Bullseye tells him how stupid that would be. As the audience, we get a look into where Matt's friends are. The people in his office have been summoned back to work by someone claiming to be Matt, though he's not in his office and someone else is lurking in the shadows. A grinning doctor has just excused one of Foggy's nurses, leaving the two alone. Someone watches A.D.A. McDuffie from out the window. Milla has a smiling visitor at her hospital. We see all this as Bullseye reveals what happened with the Hand and how foolish it would be to attack him. With only his sight left, Bullseye demands that Daredevil fight Ikari, where Daredevil will lose and die in front of him. If he doesn't, everyone Matt cares about will die to the agents Bullseye has sent. SPOILERS YOU DUDES AND LADYDUDES. Matt reveals to Bullseye that he's not so concerned about Bullseye's agents because Bullseye wasn't the only one to send people to Matt's friends. Foggy's doctor is Hank Pym, the shadowy man in the office is Iron Fist, the man outside McDuffie's window is Spider-Man and Black Widow pushes Milla's wheelchair across the grounds. Daredevil attacks Ikari but quickly realizes that he'll lose anyway, tired as he is. He smells chemicals and rightly figures out that the chemicals Bullseye used to try to create more Daredevils are nearby. Matt races to them, knowing it will throw Ikari off, low-level radiation filling the air. He's right but as he falls to attack Ikari, Lady Bullseye appears and enters the fray. Knowing it's a fight he can't really win, he collapses the floor (or the roof, it's a little tricky to tell) with his club, sending Bullseye crashing down with them. Ikari and Lady Bullseye are trapped under floorboards as Daredevil pries Bullseye out of the metal tank, though not quickly enough to save his eyesight from the chemicals seeping in. The three villains are arrested and this chapter comes to a close with Matt astoundingly victorious.
I'm not sure I can say a whole lot about analysis here. I'm pretty blown away. The twist in the middle wherein Matt has planned for Bullseye's agents with his own totally blew me away. It somehow didn't even occur to me. That's how well Waid and Samnee have been planting the seeds throughout this arc. It's just a beautifully done story and it's a perfect reconnection between Daredevil and Bullseye. Fittingly, it ends with Matt and Foggy talking again. That's been a nice touch for this series, the strength of their relationship prevailing again. It's been a wonderful series, deserving of all the praise it gets. Speaking of comics that deserve all the praise they get...
Hawkeye 11
Fraction (w) and Aja (a) and Hollingsworth (c)
Well this has been an unsuccessful post for reviewing comics but a really phenomenal post on a personal level for reading comics. Each and every one of these comics so beautifully represents another reason I love comics. Of course, I've been waiting for this one eagerly since it was announced. Lucky, a.k.a. Pizza Dog, investigates the murder of Grills. Yes, for those who haven't seen already, this comic comes from the perspective of Clint's dog. And it is just gorgeous. There's not much that I can summarize here because I really really don't want to ruin this one for you which is just such a wonderful example of storytelling and such a beautiful mix of words and pictures. In Marvel, two books regularly refuse to make the distinction between writer and artist, instead preferring to label the writer and artist as "storyteller." Those two books are Hawkeye and Daredevil and they're about as perfect as they can be. I do like what the decision to cast themselves as storytellers represents and I think that these books, more than any other, probably require that distinction. I love the art and the writing of plenty of Marvel books but few are so dependent on one another as these two books. So what will I say about this book, other than you need to read it because it's a marvel of storytelling and heart? Lucky, the hardboiled almost noir dogtective (nailed it) investigates the case and runs afoul of former owners/enemies while getting further than Clint probably will in quite some time on this case. Also, he again makes Clint as likable as he's been in this book before kind of breaking everyone's heart. I'm not even going to give this one two paragraphs because I'm not really doing a full-blown summary. I can't stress this enough you guys. Read this book. Read all three of these ones, okay? It's all well worth it.
Remender (w) and Romita Jr. and Janson with Hanna (a) and White (c)
Look, I'm not going to pretend like I didn't notice the fact that I've read two really traumatic murders of a child in Marvel books in the last three years and both have come from the pen of Rick Remender. I'm sure there are others out there who have noticed that and who, more skeptical than I, are saying it's a rather weak trick to elicit a certain response from the audience. I hugely disagree here. First off, I don't think killing a child in any medium is ever an easy decision, less so when you've spent seven issues building and protecting him. It's a particularly devastating move, sure, to any reader and it's obvious the effect it could have on a reader and on a book. Still, I think Remender's proven time and again that he's not doing anything for cheap reactions or cheap thrills. Instead, everything has always been perfectly choreographed and everything has a purpose. Even still, as recently as the last Uncanny Avengers, people are debating Wolverine's X-Force team's actions with the child Apocalypse. I think this is a similarly complicated situation and I'd be very surprised if there weren't serious repercussions and still possibly some salvation for Ian (here's hoping). Still, really and truly devastating issue here all around. Even if you take the probable death of Ian out, you have Steve in a level of emotional and physical pain that has never been seen and Romita's art and White's colors certainly bring that to life. There are a lot of bigger panels to show exactly how violent Zolandia has become against Steve and the Ian shot, as well as the Sharon reveal, both get a full page. Wow, that's going to be a hard one to get past. That's kind of why I scheduled it to be reviewed before two other absurdly great books.
Daredevil 27
Waid (w) and Samnee (a) and Rodriguez (c)
I'm not sure I can say a whole lot about analysis here. I'm pretty blown away. The twist in the middle wherein Matt has planned for Bullseye's agents with his own totally blew me away. It somehow didn't even occur to me. That's how well Waid and Samnee have been planting the seeds throughout this arc. It's just a beautifully done story and it's a perfect reconnection between Daredevil and Bullseye. Fittingly, it ends with Matt and Foggy talking again. That's been a nice touch for this series, the strength of their relationship prevailing again. It's been a wonderful series, deserving of all the praise it gets. Speaking of comics that deserve all the praise they get...
Hawkeye 11
Fraction (w) and Aja (a) and Hollingsworth (c)
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Indestructible Hulk 5, Nova 2
Indestructible Hulk 5
Waid (w) and Yu and Alanguilan (a) and Gho (c)
Even though it's something I write about every time I write a review for an issue of Indestructible Hulk, I find myself surprised by the focus of this series with every new release. Like I talked about yesterday with Captain America's Steve Rogers-centric book, Waid is writing a Bruce Banner-centric Hulk book and it's working. Frankly, no one writes a successful Steve Rogers or Bruce Banner book because we're not reading these comics to hear about morally unambiguous people and genius scientists. We're typically here for super-soldiers and unstoppable monsters. However, when we're given books about Steve Rogers and about Bruce Banner by good writers with good artists, I'm one hundred percent sold. Bruce Banner, for possibly the first time in my experience with the character, is an interesting person. Sure you still can't really help but wait until Hulk shows up to punch whatever he's aimed at, but it never feels like wading through (WAIDING through, more like, haaaaaaa) interminable grounds to get there. I've felt genuinely interested in what Banner has been up to this whole series and that's a place I'm not sure I ever expected to end up but it's a place I'm glad to be. As I've said time and time again, I'm a guy who likes character. Sure I like plenty of the stories but, at the end of the day, a good character can compel me to read a bad story in a way a good story can't compel me care about a bad character.
Waid is making Banner a good character. I'm not just rooting for Hulk to punch something in this book or for Hulk to go sulk somewhere about how he's never left alone; I'm rooting for Banner to make something good come out of his relationship with Hulk. I'm rooting for Hulk to work alongside Banner. There's also something going on in the background. Banner has forced this team up with the Hulk so that he can get SHIELD support with his scientific aspirations. He has recruited several suspicious characters to assist him in his lab. He came away from this issue with a Lemurian scroll that contains the formula Attuma's magicians used to create a universal solvent, a liquid that can eat anything. Banner's up to something and the pieces seem to still be a ways off from fitting into place. Next issue sees a team-up of Waid and Walt Simonson for a Hulk and Thor arc. Bound to be exciting.
Nova 2
Loeb (w) and McGuinness and Vines (a) and Gracia (c)
Okay, so maybe a little more boilerplate than I would have hoped but I suppose I'd be complaining if Nova 2 had done anything different too so we appear to be at a stalemate here. Sam, last issue, awoke in a hospital bed faced with Gamora, Rocket Raccoon and the idea that maybe all of his father's stories were true. At the start of this issue, they present him with the Nova helmet before he freaks out and provokes Rocket to attack and Sam runs out of the room to get help and when they go back to the room, Gamora and Rocket are gone. Sam eventually puts the Nova helmet on and gets the full armor and flies a bit after hearing a short message from his father. The message is of the "if you're hearing this message..." variety. Sam panics again and goes home, but eventually puts the armor on again and flies to the moon, where he runs into the Watcher as the issue ends.
Like I said, I probably would have been annoyed if this book hadn't gone through the whole "you are the Chosen One, meet your destiny" kind of steps. They feel worn and tired but they're there because they work. In theory, it's what everyone would go through upon learning that they were the one meant for this life, that the armor was coded to their specific DNA and no one else could use it. You can't typically skip that part because you have to see our reluctant hero realize that he's in this position and begin to embrace this fate. Likely he'll push it away again at some point, citing that he never asked for it, but we'll get to that when we get to it. So yes, you know this story already. Hopefully whatever comes next is a bit more of a surprise.
Waid (w) and Yu and Alanguilan (a) and Gho (c)
Even though it's something I write about every time I write a review for an issue of Indestructible Hulk, I find myself surprised by the focus of this series with every new release. Like I talked about yesterday with Captain America's Steve Rogers-centric book, Waid is writing a Bruce Banner-centric Hulk book and it's working. Frankly, no one writes a successful Steve Rogers or Bruce Banner book because we're not reading these comics to hear about morally unambiguous people and genius scientists. We're typically here for super-soldiers and unstoppable monsters. However, when we're given books about Steve Rogers and about Bruce Banner by good writers with good artists, I'm one hundred percent sold. Bruce Banner, for possibly the first time in my experience with the character, is an interesting person. Sure you still can't really help but wait until Hulk shows up to punch whatever he's aimed at, but it never feels like wading through (WAIDING through, more like, haaaaaaa) interminable grounds to get there. I've felt genuinely interested in what Banner has been up to this whole series and that's a place I'm not sure I ever expected to end up but it's a place I'm glad to be. As I've said time and time again, I'm a guy who likes character. Sure I like plenty of the stories but, at the end of the day, a good character can compel me to read a bad story in a way a good story can't compel me care about a bad character.Waid is making Banner a good character. I'm not just rooting for Hulk to punch something in this book or for Hulk to go sulk somewhere about how he's never left alone; I'm rooting for Banner to make something good come out of his relationship with Hulk. I'm rooting for Hulk to work alongside Banner. There's also something going on in the background. Banner has forced this team up with the Hulk so that he can get SHIELD support with his scientific aspirations. He has recruited several suspicious characters to assist him in his lab. He came away from this issue with a Lemurian scroll that contains the formula Attuma's magicians used to create a universal solvent, a liquid that can eat anything. Banner's up to something and the pieces seem to still be a ways off from fitting into place. Next issue sees a team-up of Waid and Walt Simonson for a Hulk and Thor arc. Bound to be exciting.
Nova 2
Loeb (w) and McGuinness and Vines (a) and Gracia (c)
Okay, so maybe a little more boilerplate than I would have hoped but I suppose I'd be complaining if Nova 2 had done anything different too so we appear to be at a stalemate here. Sam, last issue, awoke in a hospital bed faced with Gamora, Rocket Raccoon and the idea that maybe all of his father's stories were true. At the start of this issue, they present him with the Nova helmet before he freaks out and provokes Rocket to attack and Sam runs out of the room to get help and when they go back to the room, Gamora and Rocket are gone. Sam eventually puts the Nova helmet on and gets the full armor and flies a bit after hearing a short message from his father. The message is of the "if you're hearing this message..." variety. Sam panics again and goes home, but eventually puts the armor on again and flies to the moon, where he runs into the Watcher as the issue ends.
Like I said, I probably would have been annoyed if this book hadn't gone through the whole "you are the Chosen One, meet your destiny" kind of steps. They feel worn and tired but they're there because they work. In theory, it's what everyone would go through upon learning that they were the one meant for this life, that the armor was coded to their specific DNA and no one else could use it. You can't typically skip that part because you have to see our reluctant hero realize that he's in this position and begin to embrace this fate. Likely he'll push it away again at some point, citing that he never asked for it, but we'll get to that when we get to it. So yes, you know this story already. Hopefully whatever comes next is a bit more of a surprise.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Captain America 5, Captain Marvel 11
Captain America 5
Remender (w) and Romita Jr., Palmer and Hanna (a) and White and Loughridge (c)
One of the things I've really enjoyed about this series is how much it's shown Cap's childhood, a hitherto unseen portion of Steve Rogers' life. It's tied just about every step of this book to childhood and to raising a child and family, from Sharon wanting Steve to marry her in the first issue of this series to Steve learning to be a good man from his dying mother to Steve watching a good man turned bad in his father to Steve raising a son of his own in Ian. It's starting to all come full circle now, as Ian is discovered by his real father Zola and his sister Jet. Cap and Ian, being the great guys they are, elect to turn back from their chance to return to Earth when they see that the Phrox's home is being attacked. The two jump into the battle against Zola's mutates only for Zola to release his Zolandian Captain squad (all cloned from Cap's blood) and for Jet and Zola himself to enter the fight. Cap spares Jet's life when Ian knocks her down, leading her to spare his when Zola knocks him down. Zola blasts Cap away, claiming the resistant Ian for his own. Steve cuts the Zola in his chest out and vows to save his son.
For all the plot that's happened in this book, the thing I've been most impressed with is character-building Remender's done. He's created his story around Steve Rogers, not Captain America, which is a gutsy thing to do for a new Cap writer. Between the importance of Steve's childhood and the removal of the character from America, Remender has taken Captain America all but out of the book. He's still wearing the flag and Zola still hates him for who he is, but by and large this is Steve Rogers fighting for his son in Dimension Z. To tie that together, we're not seeing moments in Captain America's history where he fights alongside people younger than him, we're seeing moments from Steve Rogers' history that define him as a person. Steve even says in this issue that he's fighting harder for Ian than he ever could have for Bucky or Nomad. There's something stronger attached to this book than any connection Captain America might have; it's a connection that Steve Rogers has. Not only is that a pretty revolutionary idea for a Captain America book, it's a heck of a feat for a new Cap writer to pull off. I'd love to know the thoughts of former Cap writers on this idea, to know whether they would have ever considered or if they feel like they could do it. The truth is Steve has always been Captain America; the two have forever been the same character with and without a mask. Steve doesn't make different decisions when he's not wearing the flag (usually). He's a great guy in any situation. But to tilt the book and remove that Captain America onus from him and focus on a different aspect of Steve is a brilliant idea and Remender is making it work beautifully. Fantastic book.
Captain Marvel 11
DeConnick and Sebela (w) and Andrade (a) and Bellaire (c)
Above, I said that I liked that every step of the new Captain America series has pushed us towards character and towards plot. Captain Marvel has been equally firm on that, introducing a solid cast of supporting characters for Carol in every issue to bring her down to Earth. Instead of the Avengers powerhouse living in Avengers mansion with all her Avengers pals, Captain Marvel lives in an apartment building around normal people she cares about and has a daily routine that puts her in contact with more normal people she cares about. It's really a great social element that most mainstream comics push to the side, but it can work extremely effectively. In every little meeting she's had with someone, we've learned something new about Carol and the way she interacts with the world. Altogether, they combine to give us several lessons about the character. She's among the most human of the Avengers, though her powers raise her above many of them skill-wise. She takes her human life very seriously, not wanting to get so swept up in superheroing that she doesn't have time to enjoy what she's fighting for. And, like so much Peter Parker, she would do whatever it took to protect the people that give her that normal human life.
Though these ideas were largely introduced last issue, DeConnick has sprinkled the characters in so subtly and so wonderfully that you care about Carol's supporting cast about as much as you care about her, at this point. You care about them more because Carol cares about them. When Deathbird attacked Carol last issue and forced Carol to fly to move Deathbird away from her home, we saw an awful lot about how Carol operates. All those little interactions from every issue are woven together to build a tapestry of normalcy for Carol. She's not frightened by Deathbird attacking her or by any villain putting her in harm's way, she's frightened when they make a move on Carol's friends. She'll fight to defend that normalcy. Frightened is almost definitely the wrong word. She is worried about it, for sure, and she clearly cares about all the people in her life. But Carol doesn't have fear. She has anger. It's that anger that prompts her to seek out this new Deathbird (it's revealed this issue that the old Deathbird is definitely not the one who's attacking Captain Marvel) and bring the fight to her, even without being able to fly. There's also another major player on the board here, someone pulling the new Deathbird's strings and who has some amount of contact with Carol's life, up to sitting and feeding pigeons with Rose, Captain Marvel's elderly lady friend. Next issue will reveal who's driving the villains right now and likely an extended fight between Newbird (as Carol calls her) and Captain Marvel. Can't wait. Phenomenal book. Everyone should be reading this book.
Remender (w) and Romita Jr., Palmer and Hanna (a) and White and Loughridge (c)
For all the plot that's happened in this book, the thing I've been most impressed with is character-building Remender's done. He's created his story around Steve Rogers, not Captain America, which is a gutsy thing to do for a new Cap writer. Between the importance of Steve's childhood and the removal of the character from America, Remender has taken Captain America all but out of the book. He's still wearing the flag and Zola still hates him for who he is, but by and large this is Steve Rogers fighting for his son in Dimension Z. To tie that together, we're not seeing moments in Captain America's history where he fights alongside people younger than him, we're seeing moments from Steve Rogers' history that define him as a person. Steve even says in this issue that he's fighting harder for Ian than he ever could have for Bucky or Nomad. There's something stronger attached to this book than any connection Captain America might have; it's a connection that Steve Rogers has. Not only is that a pretty revolutionary idea for a Captain America book, it's a heck of a feat for a new Cap writer to pull off. I'd love to know the thoughts of former Cap writers on this idea, to know whether they would have ever considered or if they feel like they could do it. The truth is Steve has always been Captain America; the two have forever been the same character with and without a mask. Steve doesn't make different decisions when he's not wearing the flag (usually). He's a great guy in any situation. But to tilt the book and remove that Captain America onus from him and focus on a different aspect of Steve is a brilliant idea and Remender is making it work beautifully. Fantastic book.
Captain Marvel 11
DeConnick and Sebela (w) and Andrade (a) and Bellaire (c)
Though these ideas were largely introduced last issue, DeConnick has sprinkled the characters in so subtly and so wonderfully that you care about Carol's supporting cast about as much as you care about her, at this point. You care about them more because Carol cares about them. When Deathbird attacked Carol last issue and forced Carol to fly to move Deathbird away from her home, we saw an awful lot about how Carol operates. All those little interactions from every issue are woven together to build a tapestry of normalcy for Carol. She's not frightened by Deathbird attacking her or by any villain putting her in harm's way, she's frightened when they make a move on Carol's friends. She'll fight to defend that normalcy. Frightened is almost definitely the wrong word. She is worried about it, for sure, and she clearly cares about all the people in her life. But Carol doesn't have fear. She has anger. It's that anger that prompts her to seek out this new Deathbird (it's revealed this issue that the old Deathbird is definitely not the one who's attacking Captain Marvel) and bring the fight to her, even without being able to fly. There's also another major player on the board here, someone pulling the new Deathbird's strings and who has some amount of contact with Carol's life, up to sitting and feeding pigeons with Rose, Captain Marvel's elderly lady friend. Next issue will reveal who's driving the villains right now and likely an extended fight between Newbird (as Carol calls her) and Captain Marvel. Can't wait. Phenomenal book. Everyone should be reading this book.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)