Avengers Undercover 10, Avengers 34.1

Avengers Undercover 10

Plenty of the world's superheroes are trapped underground in Bagalia while the various crime organizations wreak havoc on the surface world, exactly as masterminded by Baron Zemo and his new Masters of Evil. Unfortunately for him, Cammi managed to stowaway with her unlikely partner Arcade and hack into Zemo's network, which Arcade's former partner Miss Corriander had designed to hack SHIELD. Unfortunately for Zemo, Corriander's system worked off of her initial Murder World designs, allowing Cammi to reinstitute Arcade's "god-mode," but for herself. She easily defeats the Masters of Evil and uses Zemo's SHIELD broadcast (typical super villain) to explain the actions of her and her friends to the world, chiding people for their excitement in the Murder World footage and reminding everyone that she and her friends are still teenagers doing their best to navigate an impossible world. She drops the mic and flies away as the kids and heroes start to repair things. So ends the current saga of these kids and their good vs. evil struggle.

I'm on record as having really liked AVENGERS ARENA despite initial low expectations. I came into this book still on an ARENA high and found myself immediately enjoying this new entry, though aware that it could have just been residual good feelings from ARENA. With the series now ended, I think there is no fear of that. This certainly served a different purpose than ARENA and was maybe a little less engaging because of that and because it moved on a much different timeline, but it definitely still holds up. Strong dialogue and tone and a nice speech by Cammi seals the deal on this one, though I can't help feeling that the issue was rushed a little bit. I kind of like that Cammi solves it all so quickly entirely by herself but it means that the giant plot that led to this moment took only one issue to resolve, which screams of a rushed deadline to me. Still strong work and this final issue ends with a total score that matches what I'd rate the series.

Total Score: 4/5


Avengers 34.1

A child has been kidnapped by the supervillain Mauler, who claims the boy is his real son. Hyperion startles the adopted parents of the missing boy when he appears in their home (he heard them sounding sad from god knows how far away). He examines the area and begins his investigation, eventually leading him straight to Mauler, who has already killed a cop in his attempt to escape with the boy. Hyperion, remembering back to his own father and planet and the lessons instilled in him about being a superhero, allows Mauler to attack him repeatedly (and unsuccessfully because Hyperion has unbelievable strength) while he attempts to talk things out with the villain. Eventually Mauler reveals that his actual biological son died in an accident recently, a fate Mauler had tried to avoid by putting the boy up for adoption in the first place. He took this kid because he looked like the villain's own son and now he's killed a cop and has to answer for his crimes with the police, but not with Hyperion's crazy power. Hyperion returns the boy to his parents and vows to protect Earth the same way.

As with most point ones, this issue has very little to do with the current storylines and more to do with giving readers an in to a book and to a character. Hyperion remains something of a mystery (though he essentially boils down to "Superman") but Ewing does what he can to showcase both Hyperion's attitude and his near limitless power. It ends up feeling a bit out of place in AVENGERS, which has been heady, somewhat dark, and often confusing in Hickman's run to this point. By contrast, this book couldn't be more direct in getting its point across, and purposefully so. It has strong moments but can't help feeling cheesy in the same way that earnest Superman stories tend to exclusively come off cheesy. So I guess mission accomplished?

Total Score: 3/5

Comics this week

Hello my pals! I have a sneaking suspicion I didn't copy down the names of every new release this week so we may be surprised to find some more added on Wednesday but for right now, my count for new books is a surprisingly slim (and welcome) 16. On top of that, the top five jump out pretty easily so this should be an easy if predictable post! Also, why is ALL-NEW ULTIMATES coming out so often? Is anyone asking for it to come out that often? If you are, feel free to stop asking for it to come out that often.

Avengers Undercover 10
Dennis Hopeless' newest look at the survivors of AVENGERS ARENA comes to a close this week after a pretty exciting and similarly well-crafted run. I'm admittedly a little bummed to see it go as it provided a welcome return to that world and an interesting story to boot, though I think I've enjoyed it less than I enjoyed AVENGERS ARENA (though ARENA certainly had more time and more characters to build, which tends to be my favorite part of a comic). Still, tune in (do you tune in to a comic? Look, I'm not going to act like you do) for the undoubtedly exciting conclusion of AVENGERS UNDERCOVER.

Edge of Spider-Verse 1
How long has it been since Peter Parker has seen a spider-centric event again? I mean, his death was almost a full TWO YEARS AGO now. Well, hop back into the saddle Tiger (ugh, changed my mind, never saying that again) because you just hit the jackpot (I'm so sorry, look, I'm just as mad about it as you are). What will this event bring? How will all of the Spider-Mans from all the universes work together? Will the event be any good? This and more in EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE 1.

Hawkeye 20
On the heels of the extraordinary HAWKEYE 19, we take a look back over at the LA-based Hawkeye, the amazing and ineffable wonder of Kate Bishop as drawn by Annie Wu. I believe that Katie-Kate's time in California is coming to a close, which also means, sadly, that Annie Wu's time on the series is winding down as well, so check this one out while it's still here and fresh. Always great stuff from HAWKEYE and Annie Wu has made a name for herself with her phenomenal expression work and solid action. Great stuff.

Ms. Marvel 8
Ahhhhh, sorry NEW WARRIORS (and CAPTAIN MARVEL for that matter, I note with some surprise), you've been edged out once more by the increasingly enjoyable adventures of Kamala Khan who this week teams up with everyone's favorite field-goal-head dog Lockjaw. If you think I'm not giddy with anticipation for the wisdom Lockjaw will impart on the ever-growing hero (PUN) then you don't read enough of my friendly fanfic (just kidding you guys, I'd never write fanfic. You guys can do it to your hearts' content and you won't get a judgment from me but that's not my bag. My bag, instead, is writing for TOO LONG about why I like or didn't like a book or why, perhaps, I'm excited about it. Also: writing to stress just how clever I am).

X-Force 9
Did you guys know I like this book and I like Si Spurrier's other work? No? Well that seems improbable since I won't shut up about it. Guess you're new here! Welcome! Follow this blog and leave a comment and do whatever you would do on other sites, I'm sure you've been to the internet before, you can't fool me crafty new reader. Maybe follow me on Twitter (@starboy23) to be redirected back to this blog or follow me on Tumblr (timodactyl.tumblr.com) to see VERY LITTLE ACTION but a SOLID list of favorited posts or maybe see how my fantasy football teams are doing at Kalos4Eva (I'm Fletchling) or at Yahoo Public 1426278 (I'm Havok) or on my blog Marvels (readmarvel.blogspot.com) where you can

Leftovers 8-13-14

Hey all my buddies, we've reached the end of another long week and I've reached the end of another string of longer reviews. You know what that means: focusing up to whip out this review dump in under an hour (tricky business, that, considering how many I left for myself. Did you guys realize I hadn't actually reviewed AMAZING SPIDER-MAN or SPIDER-MAN 2099 yet? Because I sure didn't). LET'S HIT IT.

Amazing Spider-Man 5
Slott (w) and Ramos (p) and Olazaba (i) and Delgado (c) and Eliopoulos (l)

Spider-Man and Silk make out for a while until she reveals that she knows he's Peter Parker, which jolts him back into his regular state of mind. Disturbed by both of their actions, he brings her home to try to figure out what should happen next, but they quickly end up making out again until Anna Maria comes home. She tells him that Sajani hasn't appeared to any press events as scheduled and he must do it himself, so he goes on J. Jonah Jameson's new talking heads show and begins to talk about his desire to capture and cure Electro and other villains only to be interrupted by Black Cat and Electro busting on to the set to hold Peter hostage. Silk emerges and fights the pair while Peter changes but Electro manages a hit on Peter that renders him immobile while Cat prepares to unmask him on live television. I still really don't like this Black Cat-Electro team-up and I really hate the crazed Black Cat that's emerged from it. Also, her luck powers seem to be working overtime, as do her luck-based mantras and BOY that never gets annoying. Total Score: 2/5


Avengers Undercover 8
Hopeless (w) and T. Walker (a) and Beaulieu (c) and Caramagna (l)

It's been three months since the kids joined up with the villains and some are ready to join up officially while the others are on the cusp of being in deep enough to turn the tables on their "allies." When the now-together Hazmat and Anachronism decide they've gained enough trust, they escape momentarily to contact Hank Pym and tell him what's been happening. He's not thrilled but he agrees to help them when the moment comes. Unfortunately, Zemo seems wise to their game and brings down each one of the kids not already under his sway (Death Locket seems pretty entrenched already and Cullen is being controlled by Daimon Hellstrom). It's a really nice bit of sleight of hand by Hopeless as he keeps the reader focused on the changes that have occurred over the last three months and on which of the kids will follow through on their original plan before revealing that Zemo already has the drop on them because, you know, in retrospect, of course he does, he's Zemo and this plan isn't foolproof, let alone Zemo-proof. Good issue. Total Score: 5/5


Avengers World 11
Spencer (w) and Ienco (a) and Mossa (c) and Caramagna (l)

The Avengers kids are on hand and they prove themselves by taking down a flock of SHIELD agents before Maria agrees to their help. They go to AIM Island and, with the help of Manifold, take down plenty of AIM agents and use a device to gather the intelligence AIM has gathered and block its transmission. They manage to stick it to one of the bio-networked AIM agents and then distract Forson long enough to escape while the present Avengers head to the White House to defend it from AIM, who have more or less declared war on America after Iron Man's "attack" on Forson on live TV. Mostly interesting stuff here though the re-emergence of the Next Avengers mostly just serves to confuse me as to why they're back and, you know, timeline stuff and the like. Whatever, still doing alright. Total Score: 4/5


Deadpool 33
Posehn and Duggan (w) and Lucas (a) and Staples (c) and Sabino (l)

Deadpool fights off wave after wave of Ultimatum soldiers before their boss Flag-Smasher appears and Deadpool gets incapacitated enough for Flag-Smasher to throw Ellie out the window. Deadpool struggles to his feet and begins his attacks anew, furious and sad, until Genesis shows up to help his ol' pal Deadpool with own pal Quentin Quire in tow. Evan caught Ellie going out the window and the girl is unharmed, which doesn't keep Deadpool from annihilating Flag-Smasher, ensuring he stays alive so no one else picks up the mantle and comes after him and threatening him with horrible consequences should he ever come near Deadpool or Ellie again. Deadpool convinces Preston to take Ellie in and he himself buys a house across the street from Preston to be in constant view of his daughter. Meanwhile, Adsit reveals to Preston that Deadpool killed his own family. Pretty good issue, plenty of fun and interesting stuff here. I don't love Lucas' art, which makes anyone unmasked look fairly grotesque and kind of distracts from the situation at hand. Not bad otherwise though. Total Score: 4/5


Fantastic Four 8
J. Robinson (w) and L. Kirk (p) and Hanna (i) and Aburtov (c) and Cowles (l)

Thing is accused of murder, Sue attacked the Avengers after losing her kids, and Johnny's been booted from his live tour in favor of Robinson's ALL-NEW INVADERS creation Radiance. Thing is moved to a high-power prison facility and Sue and Reed are brought to Eden, a community hovering above Lake Michigan led by a man named John Eden because creativity isn't worth anything, I suppose. This is a book I legitimately finished, planning to read a few more comics upon its completion, and I found I couldn't continue because sometimes books are just too bad. It seems telling that the blurb they took from a Newsarama article for the cover simply says "Marvel's premier dysfunctional family" and not anything lauding this actual series. It seems like something is pulling the strings here on the F4 and you can almost be assured that's true because Robinson basically has Reed say it a couple times without actually saying it because Reed apparently hasn't figured it out yet but is taking liberty to simply dance around it. Maybe they didn't have any space to say it outright because they had already used up all of their real estate on exposition. I really don't like this book. Total Score: 1/5


Hulk 5
Duggan (w) and Bagley (p) and Hennessy (i) and Keith (c) and Petit (l)

Hulk has been injected with Extremis and it's made him incredibly smart, though it made him also shave his hair into a mohawk and start calling himself "Doc Green" so maybe we're meant to question exactly how smart he really is. He's smart enough, though, to have formulated a way to cure gamma-enhanced beings, though the serum won't work on himself. He's realized that gamma-enhancements are too dangerous to have around and he's made enough of the serum and fashioned enough adamantium nanites for delivery to the other gamma-enhanced beings, starting with Rick Jones, who isn't so crazy about the idea. Very interesting new direction for the series as Gerry Duggan takes over the book (a little sad that it's not Mark Waid because I was going to talk about how I met Mark Waid last week and he was delightful and very kind but now I have no idea when I'll be able to mention it). I'm distracted, still, by the mohawk and the name Doc Green but I like a lot of the other stuff. Total Score: 4/5


Inhuman 3
Soule (w) and Madureira (a) and Gracia (c) and Cowles (l)

Lash has taken a few more Inhumans to Orollan, though no one really knows what to make of his cultish ways. Meanwhile, Lineage has sought council with Medusa to tell him what he knows about Black Bolt's plan, gleaned from the information he's received from the voices in his body. Allegedly, something worse is coming for the Inhumans and Black Bolt unleashed the Terrigen Mists because they'd need all the help they can get. Medusa brings a handful of combatants to Orollan to tell Lash about the threats and to warn him off killing any more Inhumans, which he very reluctantly agrees to. Lots of good stuff here and a lot of interesting new places to go but you do have to get through a lot of exposition in this issue to get to the meat of the series. Total Score: 4/5






GUYS, maybe there will be more later but I am burned out and APPARENTLY I really left a ton for myself for today/tomorrow so I'm takin' a break. Love you all, spoilers for the future post: THUNDERBOLTS and X-FORCE are both worth reading. Can't say much else.

Leftovers 7/9/14

100th Anniversary Special: Amazing Spider-Man 1
S. Ryan (w) and I. Lee (a and c) and Cowles (l)

Another glimpse into the future as we see where Peter Parker might be in another few decades, battling Kingpin over a techno-symbiote, a Venom that grants him access to the world's electrical data. In a city where even the cars are connected to a giant grid, it gives him unparalleled control and the ability to hunt Peter at any turn. Peter manages to escape into the technology-less Central Park and make himself a torch, which he wields as Venom approaches. He dives at Kingpin with it and manages to burn off the suit, taking Kingpin down. He returns home and we learn that he's recently lost Aunt May (hard to feel too bad, she lived to maybe 700 years old, given the way she looks in early SPIDER-MAN) but he's ready to keep fighting. It's not a bad in medias res book (though it claims to be 8 of 8 and it's the first time Kingpin is revealed as the villain, so it's indicative of a pacing problem in the arc) and Sean Ryan's writing doesn't over-explain too much (as would be the temptation as you jump into a whole new world and the end of an arc) while In-Hyuk Lee's art is very impressive. Strong stuff, certainly entertaining enough to read, though it seems a little heavy-handed about the role of electronics and the pace of technology and so forth. 4/5

All-New Invaders 7
J. Robinson (w) and Laming (a) and Guru eFX (c) and Petit (l)

Torch continues to explain to SHIELD agent Malloy what happened with Radiance, which leads to a story within a story within a story and ALL OF THEM ARE BORING. The original Invaders were set to cause a tsunami in Japan that would likely end the war but Golden Girl, Radiance's grandmother, could not abide the loss of innocent lives the tsunami would cause. She and the Kid Commandoes fight against the Invaders and eventually cause them to see the innocent people and they all refuse to go through with the plan, prompting the army to drop the bombs. Radiance backs off, ashamed that she took such steps to nearly really hurt some people, and Torch takes the fall for her and he explains it to Malloy and Malloy is apparently an alien AI and I DO NOT CARE. This book has SO MUCH over-exposition, kicking off with Malloy literally saying "let me list what you've said" at one point and it's just stuff like that that make this one of the most poorly written and therefore boring books I've seen. 1/5

Amazing Spider-Man 1.3
Slott (w) and R. Pérez (a) and Herring (c) and Caramagna (l)

As the science fair approaches, Peter decides to enter a magnetic device he used against the Vulture. It fails to impress but it works well when Clayton Cole shows up at the fair in his Clash get-up and Peter assumes the worst, changing to Spider-Man and attacking before Clash can hurt anyone. Of course, it makes matters worse and Clash is more powerful than he was before. Spider-Man forces him to flee with the magnetic device but has earned the ire of everyone around and his turned Clash even more against Spider-Man. This is a fairly slow issue with equal time given to the new storyline as to the old ones (like the Vulture fight) so you already know a lot of the stuff that's happening. More than that, though, it reverts Spidey to his original personality maybe a little too well, making him far less likable and more reactionary. He is rather the cause of all of these troubles (with a generous helping of Clayton Cole's insanity). 2/5

Avengers Undercover 7
Hopeless (w) and Walker (p) and Gorder (i) and Beaulieu (c) and Caramagna (l)

Chase is in neurosurgery even after Nico uses her power to heal his chest and it rather sends her off the deep end. She's been training with Alex, her evil, one-time, thought dead boyfriend, who has determined that her power is legendary but her willingness to use it is holding her back. When Chase returns near death, she flips and decides to give up, letting in to her more wrong desires and kissing Alex. Meanwhile, Maria Hill, Hank Pym, and Steve Rogers lament the loss of AIM's prisoner, a SHIELD agent named Crenshaw who pretty much built their entire communications security and who is now in Zemo's grasp and Cammi, kept quietly in a cell, creates a peephole to see where she's being kept only to find out that it's right above Zemo's living room. She sees them celebrating, Zemo's hand around the waist of a woman with her back to the cell, and can't figure out what the celebration is for, leading her cellmate, the still alive Arcade, to offer some theories. Really interesting book as these kids only get more interesting and as their situation seems to get more dire. Lot of fun with a couple of good twists and turns and the promise of the next issue zooming us three months into the future. 5/5

Deadly Hands of Kung Fu 3
M. Benson (w) and Huat (p) and Yeung (i) and Aburtov (c) and Sabino (l)

Shang-Chi, with the help of the Daughters of the Dragon and MI6, follows after White Dragon and a mysterious friend, learning that they've taken hold of a book of powerful dark magic. Shang is joined by sometimes adversary Skull Crusher, also believing White Dragon is up to something too sinister to continue. They sneak into the White Dragon's lair and come upon him, managing to subdue him but ultimately succumbing to the magic in the room. Then Dragon's friend appears, revealing himself to be Midnight Sun, brother to Shang-Chi, who is set on taking his father's place and running the crime world of England. They've already killed most of the Triads' leaders, using their heads for their enchantments, and White Dragon offers up his own to Midnight Sun, who takes it and then proceeds to take Skull Crusher's. Things look as bad as they have for Shang-Chi, who is facing quite an adversary in his own brother. The book moves well and doesn't over-explain, though still gives enough of a sense of things for unfamiliar readers to get a foothold in the story. I'm also particularly partial to Huat's art after X-MEN LEGACY so this book is doing pretty well in my book, though it does get a little too deep into Shang-Chi's story for the casual reader. 4/5


Deadpool 31
Posehn and Duggan (w) and J. Lucas (a) and Staples (c) and Sabino (l)

While Deadpool and Dazzler keep pulling apart the vampire nests, Preston meets with Butler's brother in Chicago. She meets Ellie, who has something of a fondness for violence and gore, but she's asked to leave by Utler before anything really happens. However, a separate task force appears to capture Ellie and Preston manages to all but fight them off. When she's shot and taken out in the process, though, she manages to spend a text to Deadpool to tell him what's happening, which sends him looking for any help to get him to Chicago quickly. After exhausting all his likely allies, he happens upon Thor at Avenger's Mansion, who allows him to hang on to Mjolnir while he throws it for Chicago. The book moves pretty well and advances the plot nicely, though the vampire hunt seems to be taking something of a backseat to the Ellie situation, which feels a little strange. The art is maybe a little more disconcerting than I'd like but otherwise, pretty strong showing. 4/5

Fantastic Four 7
J. Robinson (w) and Kirk and Haspiel (p) and Haspiel and Kesel w/Magyar (i) and Aburtov and Woodard (c)

Johnny ruined Reed's chance to help Ben in the past and now Thing remembers it all and demands Johnny not speak to him again. He leaves Johnny's apartment and heads to the bar, where he gets a call from Alicia saying she's been kidnapped by her step-father, the Puppet Master. He rushes to her, calling Reed to come help on the way. When Reed arrives, he finds Thing standing over the body of Puppet Master, swearing that he didn't do it. Much of the first half of the issue is dedicated to the ORIGINAL SIN flashback, which is rather unnecessary as we pretty much got the gist of it last time. There's still plenty going on with Puppet Master and it feels like this is the sort of crime/trial/mystery that could go on for a while and maybe have an easy wrap-up. Still, the book reads alright, though a little over expository, and the differing art styles (Haspiel for the OS flashback and Kirk for the rest) work for their parts. 3/5

Nightcrawler 4
Claremont (w) and Nauck (a) and Rosenberg (c) and Sabino (l)

The Trimegas attack the school and Wolverine and Nightcrawler find that Margali has escaped after dismantling Storm and Beast to just their memories. Amanda sets to work repairing them but finds that they have memories missing, specifically the ones about Kurt's return. Her plan seems to be to go to Heaven and conquer that world with her Trimegas and her magic but Kurt and Amanda find and stop her out on the lawn, though not before she opens a portal between the two. Amanda dives into it to help close it from that side but Kurt is barred access, already having chosen to leave Heaven. She refuses to let him try, fearing he'll erase himself from eternity of he tries (??) but promises she'll be waiting for him and the portal closes. The adventure is a fairly strong one and it intends in classic Claremont fashion but the issue is bogged down a little by unnecessary dialogue and explanation, such as Nightcrawler's inner monologue that runs through his list of everyone fighting, something that has come up in just about every issue so far and which wasn't even necessary the first time. There are things here that are interesting but they'll have to get past the bogged down presentation to really unleash them. 3/5

Original Sins 3
Inhuman: Soule (w) and Browne (a) and Delgado (c) and Cowles (l)
Young Avengers: North (w) and Villalobos (a) and Gibson (c) and Cowles (l)
J. Jonah Jameson: Slott (w) and Bagley (p) and Rubinstein (i) and Mounts (c) and Cowles (l)

An Inhuman named Lineage learns that Black Bolt started a war with the Kree, the Young Avengers are convinced to make a mini-Cerebro for the Hood to learn everything they can from the drug addicts who took too many secrets, and J. Jonah Jameson fires a young reporter who digs a little too deep into Spider-Man's past only to learn that Jameson had once reviewed Spidey's one-man show positively. The INHUMAN story, written by INHUMAN writer Charles Soule, seems to indicate more coming, the YOUNG AVENGERS story continues to be well-written with a lot of fun moments but ultimately a little slow, and the Jameson story is a fast enough read that it's just a cute little one-off. Can't complain too much on this one. 4/5

Spider-Man 2099 1
David (w) and Sliney (a) and Fabela (c) and Caramagna (l)

Miguel O'Hara, posing as Mike O'Mara in the present, is the Spider-Man of 2099 but he's trapped in 2014 and trying to make ends meet. He works for Alchemax, the company that will go on to ruin the world by his time and he rents a pretty crappy apartment in the city. He's chased by something of a timecop, sent back to destroy him before he changes anything, but he manages to outmaneuver it, causing it to blow its own head off instead of his or Alchemax owner Liz Allan. As Spidey 2099 leaves her office, Liz has her assistant verify that no windows have been broken, believing that this Spider-Man is on her payroll somewhere. There are interesting things happening as this series kicks off, particularly with the added twist of an intelligent Liz Allan immediately taking steps that seemingly no one else has ever taken for Spider-Man, but the issue starts to get a little too cute as banter slows things down and makes the timecop (from future agency TOTEM) almost comical at times while being threatening and cold at others. Still, strong first entry and only a couple times with Miguel saying future-swear "shock." 4/5

Superior Foes of Spider-Man 13
Spencer (w) and Lieber (a) and Rosenberg (c) and Cowles (l)

Chameleon managed to get away from the crime scene as the cops and Mach VII showed up, but most of the other guys were taken away. Boomerang and his team, though, successfully snuck out with the portrait, planning to head to a safehouse. Meanwhile, Shocker and the head of Silvermane make it out of their predicament when Shocker realizes he can use his gauntlets to fly away from Hammerhead and his goons. He lands at the safehouse before Boomerang, setting Shocker and his old team for a reunion. The book drags a little bit when it focuses on Shocker and Silvermane but overall it's an incredibly fun book with a lot of truly funny moments. Many books that go for funny fall a little flat because they seem to come out of left field or the situation doesn't really call for funny or something like that but this book reliably manages to hit just the right tone and to keep the book fun. Strong showing for this one. 4/5


Wolverine 10
Cornell (w) and P. Woods (a) and Curiel (c) and Petit (l)

Sabretooth has access to the weapon now and is ready to transform New York entirely, making it truly Darwinian world, one where his strengths should set him up to be the ruler of all (which seems to work in counterpoint to his new CEO Sabretooth appearance). Meanwhile, Wolverine tracks him with help from the X-Men, to whom he apologizes, and prepares to attack with the help of his Guerica Bar pals, to whom he apologizes, Thor, to whom he apologizes, and SHIELD, to whom he apologizes. Wolverine has decided to accept help finally and now it'll be a matter of timing about whether Wolverine's forces can stop Sabretooth before he unleashes his weapon. Things are shaping up here for a big final showdown but it's still slowed by the stupid Guernica Bar stuff, the maudlin Wolverine, some weird art, and CEO Sabretooth. 3/5

Comics this week

Plenty of comics this week but I'm not sure anyone will be surprised by the ones I'm highlighting here. Doesn't make them the wrong ones to highlight.

Avengers Undercover 7
Fairly certain that I've read recently that this series is actually more of a miniseries, one that I want to say is ending with issue ten. It's a shame as this series already is showing that it has some legs. By the same token, it's a shame that I'm so tired and don't feel like looking up if that's true or not. I mean, I'm pretty sure. Ah well. Let's take it issue-by-issue and enjoy it while we can because, even if number ten isn't the final issue, we're all dying, Melissa.

Captain Marvel 5
We're creeping towards the end of the first arc of this new series, one that has found Carol Danvers in space and making new friends and some new enemies, as well as new people (aliens) who regard her with indifference. So a little of everything. That said, I think one of the strengths of the last series was DeConnick's insistence on shining a light on Carol's life outside of her work so that she was a fully fleshed out person and her allies were fully fleshed out people. I think she's doing a rush job with that here and I don't think it will have the weight when the time does finally come. Still, it beats out AVENGERS 32 because they're still time-traveling, which is more interesting out of Hickman but still is only so interesting.

Daredevil 5
After somewhat middling praise for the first two books on this list that seem to highlight perhaps a slower release week this week, our last three books come with full and unwavering recommendation. DAREDEVIL continues to be fun and fresh and to feel new, even though it was the same creative team who took the man without fear out of New York and brought him to California to start a new book. Go take a look, pals.

Winter Soldier: Bitter March 5
The conclusion of the pretty fantastic WINTER SOLDIER: BITTER MARCH limited series from Rick Remender comes out on a week when Remender himself is facing some controversy for a scene in the most recent CAPTAIN AMERICA, one that I didn't even realize was a controversy and the controversy of which seems largely to stem out of unhappy fans annoyed with the breadth of Remender's run. The controversy seems to come from Jet and Falcon's newfound affair with some (wrong) people calling it "statutory rape," which seems ignorant at best and offensive and hateful at worst. Talking about the reaction, not the scene, because, as you may have gathered, I don't buy it. It feels very much like looking for problems and drama and spewing hate and un-researched opinions (complete with its own Fire Rick Remender hashtag on social media). Instead of listening to me, listen to Marvel editor Tom Brennan and writer Kieron Gillen, both of whom are better at this sort of thing than me and who aren't supposed to be writing about WINTER SOLDIER: BITTER MARCH right this very instant. Look, just read this one, okay? And support Rick Remender. He's done great work the last few years at Marvel.

X-Force 7
Geez, that last post went on SO LONG and didn't even talk about WINTER SOLDIER! Let's do half of the opposite here and write a post that's SO SHORT while still not talking about the book at hand. Go buy it Wednesday, this series is great.

And the rest

Sorry for all of those days off this week. Sadly, I think it's probably set to be more the norm than the exception here. I'm likely going to change from a "Reviews all major Marvel releases" to a "Reads all major Marvel releases and tells you which ones to read" sort of thing.  So here's where the rest of this week's books landed themselves. Search out the pictures for the quick hits of the (admittedly predictable) top-rated in this group!

All-New Doop 3
Milligan (w) and Lafuente and Camagni (a) and L. Allred (c) and Cowles (l)

Doop keeps trying to help out in the Battle of the Atom but things aren't working so well. He can't out future Kitty as Raze because he fears Raze knows something about Doop's mother, who Doop fears. His only real help is temporarily taking Kitty and Bobby out of the fight so they can break up in peace. He then confronts his mother with the help of a couple X-Statix members. It continues to be hard to rate this book because I continue to not know exactly what it's hoping to accomplish so I can't rightly say if it's done so or not. 3/5


All-New Ghost Rider 4
F. Smith (w) and T. Moore (a) and Staples (c) and Caramagna (l)

Robbie, the new Ghost Rider, encounters and fights a Hyde-serum boosted Grumpy but has to flee the fight, promising to get stronger. Meanwhile, Dr. Zabu has decided Grumpy needs to be dealt with and, with a new and more powerful pill, begins recruiting an army, including Robbie's daytime nemesis Guero. This book continues to have a pretty strong through line and Tradd Moore's art continues to really fit the tone and action. Strong stuff. 5/5











All-New Ultimates
Fiffe (w) and Pinna (a) and Woodard (c) and Cowles (l)

It's beach day for the girls of the All-New Ultimates and they play in the arcade, tan, and gossip while Cloak works on his powers and Spider-Man asks Ganke about what his kiss with a villain means for his relationship with Kate Bishop. Also, Jessica Drew comes out as a lesbian and Bombshell's boyfriend is killed by Diamondback and her crew, luring Bombshell back to his place, where she's captured and drugged into subservience. It's too bad the reveal of a possibly strong gay character is buried by a book that's so boring and eye-rollingly uninteresting. 2/5


Amazing Spider-Man 3
Slott (w) and Ramos (p) and Olazaba (i) and Delgado (c) and Eliopoulos (l)

Peter is trying to get his workers to like him, now that he's removed from Doc Ock, but it doesn't quite work out. Still, his new aim to safely capture Electro and bid for a new prison contract is met with lukewarm response at best, even when he takes a few of his key scientists out to view a fire started by Electro. As Spider-Man has to scurry away to help deal with the fire, he determines that MJ's new boyfriend is a pretty good guy and runs afoul of a very angry Black Cat, who he confuses and evades for the moment by pretending he's still Doc Ock. She flees and finds Electro, with whom she teams. It's not a bad issue, per se, but if you read the entirety of the extra-long AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 1, you probably could skip this one. It's good for building more on these characters but it's not really enough to separate from the bones of that first issue. 3/5


Avengers Undercover 6
Hopeless (w) and Green II (p) and Gorder (i) and Beaulieu (c) and Caramagna (l)

It's time, after a few weeks settling in, for a couple of the Murderworld Bunch (I'll come up with a better name eventually) to go on an actual mission and earn their keep. Chase and Death Locket, accompanied by Death Locket's new romantic interest Excavator and others, jump into a battle on AIM Island in an attempt to steal some tech only to suddenly see Captain America entering the scene. Excavator encourages Death Locket to take the shot on Cap and to take him out, which she very slowly comes around to doing but Chase tackles her as she's shooting, sending the shot elsewhere. He tells her their plan of blending in for now while they find a way to restore hero creed, which leaves her confused when Excavator attacks Chase and the two fight, leaving Death Locket with a choice. She shoots Chase. Strong issue, plenty happening and a nice jump forward in time to let us see what's been going on. Good development for Death Locket too, who was too much a naive pawn in the last series to get a ton of characterization. 5/5


Deadpool vs. Carnage 4
Bunn (w) and Espin (a) and Gandini (c) and Sabino (l)

A newly en-symbioted Deadpool attacks Carnage, still trying to convince him that he's predictable, at least to Deadpool. The two fight and fight with Carnage refusing to believe Deadpool's claims, still believing himself to be his own man. However, when Deadpool tricks him into killing Shriek by understanding the way he thinks, Carnage has to reassess. He delivers himself to the police office in the hopes that his imprisonment will give him a chance to think some things over. Deadpool wins another one though this one really felt like it had lost its focus from the start. But maybe, given these two characters, that was the aim. 3/5


Fantastic Four 6
J. Robinson (w) and Kirk and Haspiel (p) and Kesel and Haspiel (i) and Aburtov, Gandini, and Woodard (c) and Cowles (l)

The kids have been taken away from the F4 and they return home to find that the courts have also refused them access to the Baxter Building. The Avengers are onsite to keep them out because this book just keeps getting more ridiculous. The kids have learned from a SHIELD agent that Dragon Man is to be deactivated and they appeal to fellow android Human Torch to help their friend. Meanwhile, as ORIGINAL SIN hits, Ben learns that Johnny may be responsible for sabotaging a device that would have reverted Thing back into human form for good. This book has shown again and again that it has a goal and it's willing to walk all over any logic that might stop it from getting to said goal. On top of the insane court case that the F4 and Jen Walters somehow lost, now the Avengers are hired security to ensure a smooth transition because apparently the whole hero community would INSTANTLY turn on the F4 (though, you know, they are pretty boring). 1/5


Guardians of the Galaxy 16
Bendis (w) and Bradshaw, Marquez, and Masters (a) and Ponsor, Delgado, and Villarrubia (c) and Petit (l)

Angela swoops in to save Gamora from the Badoon as Captain Marvel swoops in to save Star-Lord from leaping out of a building to his death. J-Son and Star-Lord have a verbal fight in front of all the cameras J-Son insisted on having to show his son's punishment and it turns many against J-Son as Star-Lord gives an impassioned speech about the role of the Guardians. It even convinces the Supreme Intelligence to release Rocket. Meanwhile, Skrulls try to use the Venom symbiote and fail, which results in their deaths as it reattaches to Flash and Drax is sentenced to death by Gladiator and given the chance to choose his means. He chooses a battle to the death with Gladiator, who accepts. Plenty still happening but I think that the slow issue 15 hurts this one a bit as this one feels very much like the last one but, you know, the opposite? It's kind of hard to explain, but it's a situation where everything is happening so exactly the way they'd want it to happen that it kind of negates any drama from last issue. 3/5


Ms. Marvel 5
G.W. Wilson (w) and Alphona (a) and Herring (c) and Caramagna (l)

Kamala is quickly overwhelmed by The Inventor's henchmen, led by punk scientist Doyle, and forced to flee. She manages it but gets in some trouble with her parents when she returns home less-than-stealthily. She enlists Bruno to help her up her game with training and a new costume. After a montage, she returns to Doyle's place and takes them apart, rescuing Bruno's brother Vick without too much trouble. However, now The Inventor and Doyle's gang are out for blood. Solid issue, complete with some good training for Kamala (and some training that makes a bit of sense, not just a leap to "I'm a superhero now!" status) and good characterization for everyone involved, including Bruno and Kamala's parents. Strong work continues and just look at that McKelvie cover. 5/5





New Warriors 6
Yost (w) and Roche and Baldeon (p) and Roche and Tarragona (i) and Redmond (c) and Caramagna (l)

Wundagore Mountain, thanks to a bit of confusion out of the dog and cat priests (Jake Waffles and Mr. Whiskers), has been transported right to the center of New York City. Fortunately, it's phased a bit out of place and therefore it doesn't actually affect anything around it, just confuses plenty of people, Avengers included. Captain America and Iron Man meet with Justice and Speedball while Thor sits in with the rest of the team (minus Nova, the only one with a connection to Thor, thanks to a previous engagement). While Justice argues with Cap over the meaning of the New Warriors, Water Snake starts to see more visions, eventually attacking Thor because of them. While a big fight breaks out in the middle of Wundagore Mountain, Hummingbird reveals the demon bothering Water Snake and settles everything down, the misunderstanding cleared up. Justice quits the Avengers and dedicates himself to the New Warriors in the face of scrutiny, mistrust, and condescension from Cap. Another strong issue for the young book as fun and energetic voices mix with dark memories and weighty issues. 5/5


Savage Hulk 1
A. Davis (w and p) and Farmer (i) and Hollingsworth (c) and Cowles (l)

In the midst of X-MEN 66, Bruce Banner and the X-Men try to find a way to help Xavier out of his coma. Though Banner's device helps them to do it, it opens up Xavier to realizing he needs to do what he can to help Hulk. He sends his team of X-Men to try and find Hulk and help him find a cure for his situation but Hulk has encountered problems of his own, as the army and the Leader descend on him and as Abomination descends on the X-Men. It's hard to know if a lack of familiarity with the source material is keeping this one confusing for me but it's hard to point to the source material for why this one is so slow. For all of the crossed paths and all the excitement this one feels it should have, it seems to actually carry none of that. It also may have to do with my own distaste for Davis' art. 2/5

This week's picks* and apologies

Hey everyone, sorry the last few days have been a little busy and found me far from a computer or from some new comic releases. Though it's rare that this is the case, I actually couldn't get my hands on a few new books in time for my release schedule (SHE-HULK, DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU, and ALL-NEW ULTIMATES) so I ended up not reviewing them (or ALL-NEW INVADERS, because I didn't want to just have a standalone review for that one because I'm a little OCD). I'll get to them in the coming days. Therefore, this week's "this week's picks" is a little lackluster because we may have some additions once I've actually read them all and, you know, also because it's a gorgeous day outside and you should all go celebrate Father's Day or simply gorgeous days. Hopefully it's gorgeous where you are and you weren't banking on this being a giant post to really gorge yourself on (though it's certainly shaping up that way despite my intentions). ALSO, what's the deal with the page boost spike yesterday? I didn't post anything yesterday, you guys! I'm *this* close to being a little hurt by that.


Avengers Undercover 5

There are some GOOD Madam Masque's
being written these days.

I'm really liking the vibe of this book right now and I think Hopeless is setting it up well to really kill as we move forward.


















New Avengers 19

Why does my shortest post have full
page screen grabs? Because I'm GREAT

Just another classic NEW AVENGERS hard-to-read-because-who-is-really-in-the-right-in-this-book kind of issue. My love for this book has slowed somewhat from its crazy and cinematic start but it's still certainly a consistently fantastic book.
















Hawkeye 1-18

From my own collection!

AH HA, GOTCHA, in lieu of a third book (it probably would have just been CAPTAIN MARVEL anyway) I'm fully recommending you go out and read or re-read all of the current HAWKEYE series again. I did it over the last day and BOY it's well worth it. All of the praise you've read for this book is well-deserved.

Mighty Avengers 11, Secret Avengers 4, Avengers Undercover 5

Mighty Avengers 11
Ewing (w) and Land (p) and Leisten (i) and D'Armata (c) and Petit (l)

Luke Cage (formerly Carl Lucas) has just found out from the Watcher that his dad, James Geary (formerly James Lucas), was part of some sort of super team back in 1972, a team he'd never told his son about, even going so far as to completely excuse himself from Luke's new life because he didn't want to be involved in anything super heroic. Cage interrogates his dad about the team and what they did. James tells his son about a time when a bat-man (but not that one) was found dead on the streets of his homicide beat and, in trying to learn more about it, James ended up working alongside reporter Constance Molina, dark sorcerer Kaluu, Blade, Blue Marvel, and the Bear (from Howard Stark's little super team back in Gillen's SECRET ORIGIN OF TONY STARK storyline for IRON MAN), who reveals that the bat-man is actually a Deathwalker. His dad is reluctant to tell the whole story but Luke informs him that Blade is part of their team now but is missing, seemingly taken by Deathwalkers, and now Constance Molina and Kaluu are apparently prepared to go up against the current Mighty Avengers.

There's a lot of exposition to get through here as Ewing has limited time to explain James Lucas' history in a book not about James Lucas. Of course, it ties to some of the prior events already in MIGHTY AVENGERS and seems like it will drive the series further, which is a benefit not always seen in tie-in books, but it's also hard to feel like this isn't a little bit slow. There's a lot of exposition and rather a lack of subtext in favor of simply text in the hopes of pushing the story forward. Still, it's a very nearly engaging story but I think the true story lies in the story of why the Bear's dogs are so big here and not, as I believe they originally were, corgis. Boy, that's a weird word and somehow looks weirder pluralized.

Total Score: 3/5


Secret Avengers 4
Kot (w) and Walsh (a) and Wilson (c) and Cowles (l)

While Coulson, Black Widow, and Spider-Woman are off disabling a poetry bomb, Fury and Hawkeye have been sent to Kowloon Walled City in China to capture The Fury, although the Kowloon Walled City no longer exists. MODOK speculates that the city was brought back in to China from another dimension, possibly as a place to trap The Fury. It's a bit of a crazy story but it's the best they can come up with for why a thought-gone city has reappeared and, frankly, it doesn't really matter because they just need to capture The Fury. Thanks to the help of a MODOK-made gun and a little theory about the way The Fury's brains work, Hawkeye and Fury are able to take the alien down and SHIELD is able to extract him. Meanwhile, though, MODOK starts to get under Hill's skin and the assassin who had tried to kill Hill winds up dead in his containment.

With a little less happening and a little less quipping and bantering, this issue leaps out as probably my favorite so far of the new series. It's not without its issues (most of which are convoluted-plot based) but it's certainly a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned. The characters acted in a way that felt more within themselves and some of the interesting layout choices and unconventional pages worked in a way that I thought some of the attempts in previous issues hadn't (namely the weird text-adventure game that ran through Natasha's head at one point, which was kind of fun as an idea but didn't work for me because there's little doubt in my head that Natasha has never played nor thought about a text-adventure game so framing her thoughts as such seems like it's only there as a fun idea and not anything more substantial). Still, this issue largely works (though I still can't get a great read from a couple of characters, but that may be thanks to the nature of this team) and I think toning it down works to the advantage of the book (though, in this case, toning it down is a secret strike team capturing a deadly space alien in a city that shouldn't exist).

Total Score: 4/5


Avengers Undercover 5
Hopeless (w) and Walker (p) and Gorder (i) and Beaulieu (c) and Caramagna (l)

The group of kids (they really need a better collective name) are given the night to think over Zemo's offer of a place in his organization (which is pretty much the whole of Bagalia) or to return to their homes and likely go to jail for killing Arcade. Their split into three groups to tour the area with Nico and Cullen going with Daimon Hellstrom to see the magic part of town, Constrictor showing Chase and Death Locket the more group-themed entertainment (basketball court!), and Madam Masque quickly leaving the perceived remaining leaders of the group, Hazmat, Cammi, and Anachronism, behind as she goes to her own business, saying that she's told them they can have the world on a platter and that there's nothing more she can do to convince them than that. There are surprises all around as Hellstrom continues to sympathize with and help teach Nico before revealing none other than her thought-dead ex Alex Wilder (of RUNAWAYS fame), as Death Locket continues to hit it off with Excavator, and as Hazmat forms the idea of infiltrating Zemo's group to gain leverage in eventually becoming heroes again. When the group reconvenes, she and Anachronism reveal the plan and give everyone the chance to join, telling them they don't know where it will lead or when they'll back out, but it's a chance to eventually return to being heroes and to disconnecting themselves from Murder World. The next morning, everyone but Cammi tells Zemo they'll join with him while Cammi, flying away from the city to return home, is dragged out of the sky by Constrictor.

My official mantra should be "there's plenty happening in this book" and probably something to do with the word "interesting" but it's hard not to say here again, as overused as it is on this blog, that there's plenty happening in this book and it's already, even before we start moving towards the bulk of the plot, plenty interesting. Of course, Hopeless was lucky enough to take hold of all of these compelling characters with mostly rich personalities and backgrounds before he absolutely helped himself by writing a spectacular book in the form of AVENGERS ARENA and really helping to cement where those characters are at. Now he gets to take that experience and those well-developed characters and drop them into an all-new story with plenty of exciting roads to go down. For as great a character piece as AVENGERS ARENA was, it was a decidedly contained story, one that literally couldn't go outside the bounds of the island on which Arcade had trapped everyone. Here Hopeless expands the playground with even more fleshed out characters. It's exciting to see and I'm really looking forward to where it's going.

Total Score: 5/5

Comics this week 6-11-14

Where last week was one of the weeks I categorized as an embarrassment of riches, something that could snap someone out of a comic-reading funk, this may go somewhat the opposite direction. Here's hoping it's not. Even if it is, though, here are my picks for what to look for to pull you back out again.

Avengers Undercover 5
We seem primed to get into the meat of the story as our heroes, fresh off an annihilation of Arcade, have been brought back to Baron Zemo and his new Masters of Evil (relative term, he swears). Who will embrace this new life? Who will turn away? How will each of those parties do such a thing? We're ready to find out.

Captain Marvel 4
Things are starting to come together in this new volume as Carol goes up against a problem she can't punch away, a problem she'll have to solve with her mind and her diplomacy and her patience (something she maybe doesn't have enough of). Should be an interesting look at a superhero trying to be heroic without a clear villain to smite.

New Avengers 19
Okay, the last one was maybe a bit of a fake out, even if it was pretty swell. THIS TIME OUT we should see their fight against another world, one that's just as virtuous if not more virtuous than they are, firmly casting these would-be heroes into a shady and dark role, one that Captain America envisioned back when he was sent off the team.

Original Sins 1
This limited run tie-in book to ORIGINAL SIN promises to be an of the anthology sort of book, one that will catalogue several stories, none really running throughout the series, aside from the Marvel debut of writer Ryan North telling a story with Ramon Villalobos about the Young Avengers which will run the course of the series in small chunks. I'm very interested in this story and almost more interested in how I'm going to review an anthology sort of book.

She-Hulk 5
Charles Soule and Javier Pulido have, in their short time together, crafted a really nice world for Jen Walters and have made this book feel fresh and fun, different from anything else out there. Now Ron Wemberly steps in on art as She-Hulk investigates the mysterious blue file that has something to do with her specifically, along with a few pals and enemies.

SUPER QUICK REVIEWS: All-New Ghost Rider 3, Avengers Undercover 4

All-New Ghost Rider 3
F. Smith (w) and T. Moore (a) and Staples (c) and Caramagna (l)

Robbie has a chat with the spirit of vengeance that jumped in to save him when he was dying. The spirit's name is Eli and he promises that he can help Robbie take care of his loved ones and get vengeance on those who attacked him and his. This now includes the superpower-drug dealers who killed everyone at his auto shop looking for the missing pills and the car. He agrees to Eli's terms (becoming the spirit of vengeance) and the two find his missing car and the dealers, killing two henchmen and coming up against the head dealer, Grumpy, as he's just taken a bunch of those drugs.

The book continues to look unlike anything else on Marvel's market, which is both a startlingly good thing and a thoroughly confusing thing. It's still hard not to see this as looking somewhat cartoony (not necessarily helped by the high school protagonist) but it seems like it's getting pretty dark for that tone to hold up. Still, the book looks good when you set that strange tone aside and the story is compelling enough, as is Robbie as a character.

Total Score: 4/5

Avengers Undercover 4

Hopeless (w) and Walker (p) and Gorder (i) and Beaulieu (c) and Caramagna (l)

Arcade's newest Murder World stuff is, of course, streaming live so pretty much anyone who wanted to could see the young would-be heroes talk about killing and then kill Arcade and a SHIELD team shows up pretty quickly, armed to the teeth. They bring the kids in where we get a brief and fun little look at some of the people in the kids' lives (with a particular focus on Cammi and her recovering alcoholic mother) before their stolen away by Daimon Hellstrom and brought back to Bagalia where Baron Zemo espouses on how unfair it is that people with powers are forced into hero roles or called the villain. He offers them a chance for the alternative and asks them to join him.

Like with its predecessor (and really all the books that came together to form these two series, like RUNAWAYS, AVENGERS ACADEMY, and the various books in which Cammi showed up), this book's strength is in its humanity. These are real kids facing real decisions even as they deal with it on perhaps a greater and more dangerous scale. We care about what decisions they make and what happens to them. On top of that, it's a well-written and well-drawn book. Hard to ask for more out of this series.

Total Score: 5/5

Comics this week

Hey there everybody, pretty standard release week this week as, by my possibly inaccurate count, fifteen new titles will be released. Let's get right into it.

Avengers Undercover 4
I think this series is headed for some interesting places considering the sorts of things Hopeless is setting up and the sorts of things he already did in AVENGERS ARENA. It's been exciting so far to come back to that little corner of the world with the memories of it not so faded and to see where our characters are primed to go next.

Captain Marvel 3
The new start to this series has given some opportunity for some really intriguing changes and to explore a whole different side of Carol (not to mention for her to explore a whole different side as she continues to work around her lost memories). I don't think the series has been at its strongest yet but we all know what it's capable of.

Iron Man 25
I've liked what Gillen has done on IRON MAN over the past two years and I think this Mandarin's rings storyline that has pitted him against Malekith, of all characters, is intriguing in its own right, let alone all of the surrounding story. I also feel I maybe haven't shined enough of a spotlight on this one for being just a really interesting and often fun book for a solid 24 issues. Also, I didn't want to pick AVENGERS because it's 4.99 this week and I'm getting more and more critical of that as it keeps happening.

New Avengers 18
The Illuminati, likely moving very soon into an ORIGINAL SIN tie-in, is currently set to face an incursion-defeating world as two teams with solid incursion records square off for the first time in this book. See, who says that sports and comics can't be simpatico?

X-Force 5
After last issue's crazy narrative and the whole series' real dedication to developing its extremely interesting characters, everyone should be interested to see where X-FORCE plans to go next. There's nothing stronger than a book where we have such a personal view of the characters yet don't know the story nor the actual decisions a character might make. We have a good sense of who these guys are and what they think about and what this team means to them (some more than others at this point) but that certainly doesn't mean we know what they're capable of. Really excited about this book.

This week's picks

Slower week of releases this week and some pretty clear picks jump to mind. Then why are we wasting time when we could just be getting to it?

Daredevil 2

Things stay interesting in issue two of Matt Murdock's new stay in San Francisco. Waid, Samnee, and Rodriguez introduce him to some new friends and new foes and to people maybe somewhere in between. It's a lot of fun without ever forgetting its plot or its goals. On top of it, as has been true with this book from day one, even back in the Paolo Rivera days because of course even in the Paolo Rivera days, the book is gorgeous and conveys everything it needs to artistically while remaining one of the top books out there for interior art (and cover art, hence why Samnee was nominated this year for best cover artist at this year's Eisner's after a win for best penciller/inker last year). The spirit of this book persists and the tone that Waid and his various art teams worked so hard to establish still permeates through the series even after all of the tense events at the end of the last volume and the move to San Francisco to kick this one off. Really great overall comic book and I can't recommend it enough, you guys.

Elektra 1

Really great first issue for this new series, one that writer W. Haden Blackman will have to work hard to make relevant in a day and age where so many books are coming out and a seemingly B-list character will have to really stun to stand out. So far, so good. As I talked about in my review this week, Elektra is a tricky character to write over a long term but Blackman very clearly has plans for her and very clearly know what he wants to do with the character. On top of it, Mike Del Mundo, phenomenal, Eisner nominated cover artist for my beloved X-MEN LEGACY, is already crushing it on the art for this series. There's a lot happening in this first issue and a story that looks interesting, though it looks like it may have the ability to trump any sort of character developments. We'll have to hold out on any of those judgments and just really focus on how neat this first issue was.

Iron Patriot 2
This one gets the nod over AVENGERS UNDERCOVER, THUNDERBOLTS, and UNCANNY AVENGERS because it was a very good book but also because it surprised me with how good it was. There are certainly still nits to be picked here but it's a series I didn't expect much out of; I've had some troubles with writer Ales Kot in the recent past and I don't know how much I trust an Iron Patriot series to really shine but if Kot and artist Garry Brown can keep the book going like this then I think there's a real opportunity for an impressive series. It's another in a long list (one that also includes ELEKTRA) of recent risky series for Marvel to take a chance on and hopefully another one that will pay off. I love how many risks Marvel is taking but I do worry a little bit about flooding the market with books and how expensive those books have become (Robert Kirkman was in the news recently talking about Marvel's business plan of exclusively 3.99 titles) and what that will mean for books with smaller general followings. Still, hopefully the cream rises to the top and the books that deserve to be kept are kept when the numbers start getting crunched.

Avengers Undercover 3, Iron Patriot 2

Avengers Undercover 3
Hopeless (w) and Green II (a) and Beaulieu (c) and Caramagna (l)

Cammi is furious with Cullen that he brought them to Arcade without asking any of them, saying that it should be their choice if they want to go seek revenge. The team is divided on the issue but doesn't have much time to fight it out because any sort of plan needs to happen now, as Arcade has opened a new "Murder World," which is essentially just crazy old billionaires paying to fight to the death. The team splits up with one group going to shut down Arcade's power and the other, along with a near-comatose Hazmat, distracting Arcade. Arcade is thrilled to see them, talking to them about how high they'd all risen and how they'd never get that high again, himself included. Just as they're nearly defeated, Death Locket manages to fry the high processing computer near Miss Coriander that powers Arcade and suddenly he's back to just being a guy. They pound on him but don't quite go to killing until Hazmat wakes out of her stupor and recites the words Arcade said to the group when he killed Mettle: "Whatever you say, kid. Welcome to Murder World." She fries him as video is relayed to Baron Zemo, Madam Masque, Hellstrom, and Constrictor.

Story
Things continue to heat up in AVENGERS UNDERCOVER as these would-have-been heroes turn to murdering Arcade amidst the least debate about revenge maybe ever. Even Cammi, who believes they should have all been asked prior to being sent to Arcade, relishes in the revenge part. The turn, of course, is that Hazmat goes the extra step and destroys their enemy (we, I suppose, don't necessarily know he's dead, but that seems hard to come back from) without any sort of debate, though her teammates have varying degrees of shock and horror on their faces (important and well done by Timothy Green II, which, I think, may be the name of a Disney movie?). Between this and the video sent to Zemo and the others, who excitedly watch the outcome, there are plenty of great places for this series to go and it's off to a strong start. 5/5

Characters
There's a lot happening in this issue and much of it is plot-based but that doesn't mean Hopeless doesn't have time to establish some character in here. There's a slight look at everyone if just in their willingness to fight or the way the others regard their willingness to fight (there's a fun moment where Death Locket eagerly volunteers to help fight her way through the billionaires to reach the control panel and she's met with surprise by her teammates). It's rare that a story so plot-heavy and so revenge motivated, particularly surrounding a team, manages to bring out its characters so well but that's what we have here. Hopeless, of course, helped himself enormously in AVENGERS ARENA by making all of these living and breathing characters but dropping them into a new series would only require a new reader to know the most basic of facts about them to really become invested quickly. Solid work. 5/5

Writing
The tone of the book is what it needs to be, nothing particularly outstanding about what's created here as the key to this issue is all in the story and the characters. The dialogue flows pretty well and each character has a unique voice and attitude. I don't know that there's a lot more that Hopeless needed to do here to improve on his story or characters through the writing or the tone or what have you but he does solid work nonetheless. 5/5

Art
The art is appropriately chaotic as the kids rush through the new Murder World on something of a time-sensitive mission. The emotions of these characters are what drive the art here as everyone brings a different level of reluctance or of anger to this journey and it all comes out in their faces, leading up to the important reaction shot of Hazmat's attack on Arcade. Great work by Timothy Green II who, as I stated before, may be the same Timothy Green who had an odd life in a Disney film that I find myself disappointed to discover I know so much about. 5/5

Miscellaneous
Not a ton to add. Really like this book so far just as I really ended up liking ARENA. I also think the team that Zemo has pulled to be his new Masters of Evil is an interesting team-up. Should be fun to watch as things unravel.

Total score: 5/5


Iron Patriot 2
Kot (w) and G. Brown (a) and Charalampidis (c) and Cowles (l)

Iron Patriot is underwater, the suit malfunctioning with Rhodey still in it. His last hope is to eject out of it, though the eject is pretty specific in that it will launch the suit like a rocket while ejecting its operator. Rhodey points it out at the monster stomping around the water, effectively taking it down, as he makes a last push to swim to the surface. He barely makes it but passes out as he gets there. Meanwhile, his father Terrence has been captured by terrorists (though he put up a fight) and his niece Lila, who evaded the first round of captors, gets picked up as well. Things go from bad to worse as Rhodey is picked up in a helicopter by two men claiming to be journalists but working for whoever is behind the attacks that have struck all over the country. They drop him off in New Orleans where he nearly passes out from compression sickness before being approached by an armored individual, the apparent mastermind behind all of this.

Story
IRON PATRIOT is off to a hot start as a full-on attack on America has been the driving force behind the start of the series. There's so much happening story wise but Kot does a good job making it manageable to understand while also making it chaotic enough to see how rampant it is. It's a tough line to walk, one where Kot needs not to overwhelm the audience with information right at the start of a new series but does need to show just how serious the problems are, particularly in a book for a non-A-list character. So far, so good. 5/5

Character
Most of the characterization in this issue comes from the actions that these characters take. Rhodey acts to take down the monster while trying to save himself as a second priority, Terrence chooses his moment and takes down one of his kidnappers (until the second one gets the drop on him), and Lila cleverly evades capture and learns as much as she can about her grandfather's abduction before being fooled by more terrorists acting as police. There's nothing particularly outstanding about any of the character developments here, nothing that would shock to the core or anything, but everyone acts in a very specific way and it gives a great sense of our players in this book so early on. Every book doesn't need to have a shocking revelation for a character, it just has to make sure the characters acts in an appropriate way for that character and Kot is doing a good job maintaining status quo as the plot drives things forward. 5/5

Writing
The tone here, one of desperation and chaos, shines through and carries the writing of this one. There's some narrative and some dialogue that helps put things in perspective and establish our characters but the key here is the tone, one that shows us just how bad things are. The book reads extremely quickly with so much action and so little dialogue and narrative but it's not an insubstantial read for that. It's just the sort of book that will surprise you when the end comes because you assumed you had only read maybe half an issue only to find, nope, plenty happened and they just covered a whole issue. Well done. 5/5

Art
I had some opinions on Garry Brown's faces last time out but they don't really persist into this new issue as everything Brown does, with the assistance of Charalampidis' colors, adds to the tone and the desperation of every situation. The faces, the emotion, the action, it's all well drawn here and it adds to the story rather than taking away from or simply maintaining. For now, it seems Brown is perhaps the perfect guy to draw this book. 5/5

Miscellaneous
I don't have a lot of experience with Ales Kot, having only seen him on books like SECRET AVENGERS recently but the experience I had had given me pause. I'm surprised and delighted to say that this issue stepped right over that pause and turned out to be a pretty great read. Of course, the series will still hinge on the reveal of the bad guy (got some suspicions on that front, as I'm sure anyone reading this book does) and the purpose of these attacks, but as a stand-alone couple of issues, these have really worked.

Total score: 5/5

Comics this week

Another relatively short list for comics this week, this one going EVEN SHORTER than last (usually that means we're prepping for a couple heavy weeks in a row, which fits with the upcoming ORIGINAL SIN). Still easy to highlight the five to look out for most.

Avengers Undercover 3
Writer Dennis Hopeless won me over so completely with AVENGERS ARENA that this book has been on my radar since its announcement. Now that we're a couple issues in, it seems like it's living up to the standard set by its precursor. Obviously it'ss  till early and this is very clearly a different form than the other one took (this book placing our characters far more in the larger universe), but I'm happy to keep pointing to this one and recommending it.

Daredevil 2
Daredevil continues to make his way around San Francisco as this new series kicks off. Within one and a half issues, Waid has already established a bit of our new status quo. Still plenty left to learn plus the tease of Daredevil running afoul of another hero. Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, and Javier Rodriguez have done such a stupendous job with Daredevil over the last couple years and I expect this new volume won't be any different. Well, I mean, it'll be different but like, you know, it'll still be...you know what, I don't need to explain myself to you, you get it.

Elektra 1
I'm interested to see how an ELEKTRA solo title will work but I'm more interested in specifically how this ELEKTRA solo title will work, considering the phenomenal art that's shown up in the previews for this series. I don't have many expectations for this series so I'm ready to be pleasantly surprised or mildly annoyed! Ready for anything!

Iron Patriot 2
I'm being a grown-up by picking this one because it is certainly the more compelling pick. Like with ELEKTRA, I'm not sure how a full IRON PATRIOT solo title will work, though I think Ales Kot has made some interesting decisions to start out. So, though I am more eagerly anticipating the new THUNDERBOLTS, I'm being a grown-up and choosing IRON PATRIOT because it's the more interesting pick and I'm an adult and you should all, each and every one of you, be proud of me.

Uncanny Avengers 19
We're back to Planet X as reinforcements come to assist Havok and Beast in their attempt to stop the Apocalypse Twins from ever having done everything they've already done. This puts the audience in the dubious position of rooting for Kang and a bunch of other maybe-heroes because we totally want to see the Earth restored and everyone we like in comics brought back to life. It's another issue of UNCANNY AVENGERS so here I go, recommending it again.

This week's picks

Lotta books out this week. Several good books, several okay books, a couple of not so great books, and only a few great books. So which ones are they? LET'S FIND 'EM TOGETHER.

Avengers Undercover 2
I think there are really interesting ideas coming out of this book right now and that those ideas are really driving this book. Dennis Hopeless has done something very cool with this batch of characters and looks to continue it here. They're characters we can't help but care about because we saw what they went through and he did such a good job characterizing them the first time out. Now we can dive right into the brand new story and bring our feelings about these characters with us. It's almost a perfect situation as we're already guaranteed to care if we made the leap with this team already and now Hopeless just needs to find a good story to keep us here. I think he has, which is a great thing to be able to say on just issue two. There's plenty here and there's a lot to keep us onboard not to mention the interesting plot Hopeless has already established here. Gonna be another fun ride on this one.




Iron Fist: The Living Weapon 1

Kaare Andrews is off to a really strong start with this book. I was ready for the art to be fantastic and to care about the character because I love Iron Fist but I wasn't sure what to expect out of the story or the characters or the writing or anything. I hadn't read anything big by Andrews and it's not super easy to write a good Iron Fist story; Iron Fist fans are lucky because his most recent ongoing series was written by Duane Swierczynski...and also by Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker just before that. So yeah, not a bad team-up. ANYWAY, I wasn't sure what to expect out of IRON FIST: THE LIVING WEAPON but almost immediately Andrews has shown that he has some interesting ideas and that he's ready to take this character and this book to cool new places. He's already taken a look at the origin and put his own completely believable twist on it (assuming you bought into his origin anyway). The art, of course, is also amazing, but I'm really impressed by the story and the character that Andrews has already begun developing. I'm looking forward to this series as it keeps going.

Iron Man 24

Okay, this is where things kind of break down for me on this list. It was between IRON MAN, CAPTAIN MARVEL, THUNDERBOLTS, DEADPOOL, and ALL-NEW X-FACTOR. Frankly, that's too many books to have to choose from. There are upsides to each but I didn't think any were necessarily at the top of their respective games. Of them all then, I thought IRON MAN had the strongest outing. CAPTAIN MARVEL got maybe a little too caught up in the introduction of the Guardians of the Galaxy for my liking (and that cover really did put me off). T-BOLTS has really built up too much of a great book for its own good so a good issue still doesn't really measure. DEADPOOL was strong and a worthwhile look for the content inside but it's hard to fully recommend it for anyone but big ol' Deadpool fans. ALL-NEW X-FACTOR is taking good steps but doesn't quite feel there yet, you know? Also, kinda annoyed still with the ALL-NEW titles. Anyway, IRON MAN was a pretty strong book as Tony directly interacts with Malekith and dives headfirst into his war with the rings. There's a lot happening here and I think Gillen's right on the edge of throwing us some juicy Tony Stark character development. It's a fun read, it's a good story, and it's a strong character showing. I think IRON MAN is still kind of on the rebound for me after the amazing SECRET ORIGIN OF TONY STARK storyline but I am liking this story anyway. Look, it's hard to explain feelings, you guys.