NOT a full CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER review

SOOOO I promised everyone Thursday night that I'd have a Captain America: Winter Soldier review up today but I have had all sorts of trouble today putting my thoughts into words and those words into coherent sentences and those coherent sentences into a blog post. I have lots of feelings about this movie and they're almost entirely really good feelings. I really enjoyed the movie, you guys. This is one of the best Marvel has so far put out and it's one that only gets better on repeated viewings, which I think they've lacked since Avengers. It's edgy and dark and gritty without having to be edgy or dark or gritty because Captain America has no time for dark or gritty. He's not Batman, toeing the line between "one bad day" vigilante and the only justice in a town corrupted. The movie has plenty of great themes including security vs. freedom, trust, and friendship and manages to really explore those themes in interesting ways. The action is great, the writing is solid, the performances are incredibly impressive. It's everything I liked about the first film but with an entirely new feel to it at the same time. It's a sequel that really adds to the franchise and improves on the mythos, the first movie I think that's really true for from Marvel. I still have lots to say on this and I'll likely post it eventually (I have a long blog post that's not even like, a fifth done yet sitting in my queue right now but I've come to the realization that that one isn't getting posted today) but for now, suffice it to say that Marvel has absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one. Sorry for throwing a sports metaphor into a comics blog.

What I'm Reading (non-Marvel edition)

Pretty much every post of this blog is, in truth, "what I'm reading." However, it's pretty much always on the Marvel side of things and there are, despite my unending affinity for Marvel, plenty of really great books out there that aren't Marvel. Clever readers that you are, you'll likely recognize some of the creators, as I tend to follow creators more these days and they never seem to disappoint. Let's just name a few.

Batman
The most well-known book on my what-I'm-reading list, though I haven't read it in a couple issues (got a little thrown by some of the recent events in that universe, which I'm not so up-to-date on at current). Scott Snyder writes a really fine book and it's a fascinating take on the character. Some good stuff. I didn't hate Batman Incorporated either and I'd like to read Batman '66 but I haven't really had the time (I love Jeff Parker though and I've heard good things so maybe at some point).

Pretty Deadly
Kelly Sue DeConnick, Emma Rios, Jordie Bellaire, Clayton Cowles, goodness, it's a list of truly wonderful people. The first issue just came out this week to resounding numbers and I highly encourage you to read it. Not a superhero book, though it certainly already has supernatural elements. It also has a real Western feel to it. Very cool first issue, gorgeous book with really pretty writing and an intriguing story. Looking forward to issue two. Pick up book one, though, if you haven't already.

Velvet
I fell a little behind on Ed Brubaker's Fatale (though I have every intention of catching up at some point), though I heard wonderful things about it and Brubaker has just about never disappointed before. Velvet is his newest creator-owned book and it's pretty neat already. It's a spy book, still in Brubaker's noir-obsessed tone, and with an already interesting protagonist in Velvet Templeton. Art by Steve Epting (who Brubaker worked with back in their prime Captain America days) and gorgeous Bettie Breitweiser colors to make it all come together. Really looking forward to this book as it continues.

Sex Criminals and Satellite Sam
Two different Matt Fraction books that are, perhaps, a little less family-friendly than I tend to recommend. Sex Criminals, as you might imagine, is proving itself the less family-friendly of the two but it's still pretty clever writing with some quirky ideas and mostly likable main characters. Chip Zdarsky's art is clean and pretty and fits the tone well. Satellite Sam is a bit more intensive, following the mystery around the death of the lead actor in a 1950s space television show. There's a huge cast of characters (which makes it a little head-spinning from issue to issue) but the writing is tight and Howard Chaykin's art is my absolute favorite from him that I've ever seen. This one is a little risqué but, even if it didn't revolve a bit around sex, I wouldn't recommend it for a particularly young audience because I think it requires a little more patience and enthusiasm for characters, period pieces, and/or writing. Really good book though.

Lazarus
Greg Rucka and Michael Lark have created a fascinating dystopia predicated on the idea that pretty much all of the wealth in the world is held by a few families. They have so much wealth, in fact, that they were able to bioengineer one of their own children to be the family's protector. For the Carlyle family, their youngest daughter Forever is her family's Lazarus, capable of fighting and strategizing and, you know, coming back from the dead for her family. It's left her feeling a little unsure of her humanity, which comes at a bad time for the Carlyles as they're embroiled in a bit of an internal struggle for power. There's a lot to really like here. The ideas are pretty fantastic, the world is very well-created, and the characters are interesting. Michael Lark's art is fantastic, perfectly matching the tone of the writing and the seriousness of the characters.

Crossed: Wish You Were Here
This is the only book I'm reading that's free to read online. Si Spurrier's take on Garth Ennis' original series (I never read that so you can definitely pick this one up just from Spurrier's take, though I'm sure Ennis' work is phenomenal) which focuses on a group of survivors of some sort of horrible epidemic that makes people worse than zombies. I used to have fears of zombies but, after reading this series, that all changed. It can definitely get worse. This is another one definitely not meant for kids. Very good writing, very good characters, extremely compelling story, it's all here. Like I said, it's free to read but definitely not for everyone. Looking forward to Spurrier's next free-to-read series, Disenchanted, which should actually be live by the time this posts so maybe click that link and check in? This one is supposed to be, after a fashion, about fairies and other similar fantasy tropes, but in a very, very dark and bleak world. It goes live today (10/28) so I trust it's there now (I'm writing this Sunday night, okay?).

The Walking Dead
Robert Kirkman's most well-known series is certainly still as intense and good as ever. This is typically just about the fastest read I have, one that constantly surprises me when it ends. Well-written, well-developed characters, always interesting plot, plenty happening to keep it fresh. I've heard from a reliable source that Kirkman's superhero comic Invincible is actually better, but I've not read that yet so you'll have to deal with this pretty stock suggestion.

Uncanny
It's hard not to draw comparisons to X-Men with Andy Diggle's new Uncanny series, particularly with a name like "Uncanny." Of course, it's less like X-Men and more like "criminals with mutant powers," or even like "questionably good people caught in a bad situation or, perhaps, bad situations with questionably bad people and all of them may or may not have mutant powers." Okay, it's maybe a little bit long for a tagline but that doesn't make it any less apt. Good writing, questionably likable characters, a plot involving criminals and double-crosses and regular crosses and just so much. Good stuff.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Okay, don't just rule me out now, alright? TMNT creator Kevin Eastman has returned to the Turtles and is delivering a heckuva story for us. The characters are largely the ones you remember, though, depending on what iteration you've seen, they may be a little more intense than you remember. Really broad, sweeping story that involves most of the Turts universe at any given time and that constantly draws you in. The art fits really well with the tone and it's a pretty mature story for a property that has had something of an identity crisis over the last couple of decades, trying to decide who it's for. For the record, I also really love the new Turtles cartoon on Nickelodeon.

Sandman
Guys, if you haven't read Sandman, you should really do that. Obviously this is a bit of an older series but I've never actually read it all the way through. I had read the first few arcs several times over in the last few years but hadn't ever kept going; not for lack of interest, just from lack of ability. I'm working my way through the whole series now and GEEZ, it's just really good all the way through. Beautiful and thought-provoking story with amazing characters and a full history and world all its own. Neil Gaiman's writing is as strong as ever and the art, despite the revolving door of artists, stays consistently wonderful throughout. One of the most timeless and meaningful comics available.


I'm sure there are more I'm not thinking about right now but these are the biggest ones I can come up with off the top of my head. This blog's intent, of course, is to review Marvel comics but that doesn't mean that's where my interests stop. These are my favorite non-Marvel titles at the moment though I'm willing to read just about anything so there could always be more that come up from time to time. I'd recommend all of these to just about anyone. Support indie comics and all that, a message I never really have time to give in a blog about the biggest comic company around.

Avenging Spider-Man 21, Venom 35, Morbius the Living Vampire 5

Avenging Spider-Man 21
Yost (w) and Checchetto (a) and Rosenberg (c)

The two-parter Chameleon story continues as the Saints wreak havoc on the Helicarrier in an attempt to get to Chameleon. They send Hulk out of the Helicarrier and are prepared to put Spidey down before a suspicious Nick Fury appears to save him. Meanwhile the Helicarrier is getting torn apart, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Coulson are fighting back a horde of Russian henchmen the Saints brought with them, and Chameleon is loose somewhere, wearing the face of his doctor. Literally wearing his face, not like Chameleon'd into it. It's creepy and weird and no one appreciates it. Spider-Man eventually tracks him down at the same time as one of the Saints and, after another battle between them, Spider-Man puts him down and spies a teleport device on him. With Chameleon and the Saint incapacitated, Spider-Man teleports them away and into his lab (the one in which he's collecting the other Sinister Six members). Fury sees the teleport as it's happening and Spider-Man tells him that the Saint got Chameleon before he could but oh, look at that, they've teleported to that pesky ship nearby! The Helicarrier blows up the ship and everyone feels pretty good about what happened, particularly Spider-Man, who has triumphed again.

The Sinister Six collection storyline continues as Chameleon ends up in Doc Ock's lab for reasons still yet unknown. Will this resolve itself before the title switches over to Superior Spider-Man Team-Up? Will this be the inciting incident that causes the switch? Will the reunion of the Sinister Six be the kickoff for Superior Spider-Man Team-Up? I can't know any of these things. I do like the way this issue treats SHIELD, though, as a sort of fun-loving bunch. That's probably inaccurate. However, my mind is on The Venture Brothers this week as the long awaited fifth season kicks off Sunday night, so I can't help drawing comparisons to this version of SHIELD feeling like the OSI or SPHINX at their tamest. Yost continues to characterize the Doc Ock Spidey with aplomb and makes the story and characters worth reading. Fun book.

Venom 35
Bunn (w) and Shalvey (a) and Loughridge (c)

Hot off his fight with Toxin and the Figure, Flash heads into school with a black eye and a worry about how things in Philly are working out so far. Those worries are amplified when he sees Eddie Brock enter the school and approach him. The two talk out their problems and decide where they want to fight (Brock doesn't want any children harmed either, but that's part of why he's so mad at Flash, who has brought his symbiote into a school) before a crowd of Figures appear, set on destroying the two symbiotes. Flash rushes the kids into safety while Brock approaches the Figures. Flash toys with the idea of letting Toxin and the Figures finish each other off, leaving him to just cleanup after and taking out some of his own enemies at the same time, but eventually jumps into the fight to protect Toxin. They eventually fight back the Figures and turn back to face one another. Toxin is still set on killing Venom, convinced that Flash won't be able to control it forever and it's silly to keep it if it's just going to go crazy on him. However, Flash convinces Toxin that he's keeping it in control because he's fighting for something worth controlling it. He argues that Brock never had anything to live for before the symbiote so he let the symbiote take control of him. Flash, on the other hand, has a family and friends and is trying to make a new life for himself so he's going to work to keep Venom under control. Toxin reluctantly agrees to allow him to try to make his life, but warns that he'll kill him once the symbiote takes charge.

Watching symbiotes fight is always going to be entertaining in comics and it's good to see that Eddie Brock's transformation from Antitoxin to Toxin hasn't changed his feeling on symbiotes as a whole. I've really liked Shalvey's art throughout his whole run here. I don't know if there's anything else to add to that or any reason it sticks out particularly here, just occurred to me that I hadn't really said it and I don't have a ton to analyze about this book for some reason. But yeah, Shalvey's art has been pretty great all the way through. I've commented on his covers but his art is really holding this book together in some ways. Not that I don't think the story is fine or the characters are good, but it's been moving a little slowly as of late. I think he made it to Philadelphia in, I want to say, issue 27 or something like that and it feels like he hasn't been there for eight issues. That's a weird thing to feel at this point. Still, pretty good book, really good art, interesting enough, which is sometimes all you need.

Morbius the Living Vampire 5
Keatinge (w) and Elson with C. Rodriguez (a) and Fabela (c)

I'm still not sold on this series. Granted, today I have something of a headache so my reviews have been a bit off and my reading skills may be down a peg or two, but by and large this series feels like it's trying to be something but it's not sure what it's trying to be. There are hints of Batman in here, with a sole-protector vibe mixed with an I'm-no-hero vibe. There are bits of crime books, trying to weave a complex tale of drug running and gang warfare and "who's playing who" about all of Brownsville. The art style is weirdly reminiscent of The Walking Dead in some places, though I'd say far less detailed and often less realistic. Morbius is so over the top anti-hero that it makes it kind of difficult to read at times (though that might also be the headache). All the while, it seems like the book wants to toe the line between cheeky and quirky and sinister and dark, which is an odd line to toe and is not typically done particularly well. It's a tricky book in general because it's really still hard to figure out who this book is for. Is Morbius this popular of a character? What age group is enjoying this book?

Anyway, Morbius cleans up some of the gangs in the city following the death of Noah St. Germain and receives the blessing of the normal neighborhood people, who wish to take back the town. However, he's quickly pulled away by the Rose, who explains that he's been the one positioning Morbius for all of this, from his arrival in Brownsville to his fight with Noah to this defeat of the gangs. He also warns Morbius that he has Morbius' mother captive so Morbius should probably do what he says. What he says is that he's going to continue to allow Morbius to do whatever work he wants to do but, in eight weeks, everything's going to go belly-up and Morbius will take the fall for it and the Rose will profit, because that's what the Rose does. Who is pulling the Rose's strings, though? At the end of the issue, we find out that this goes one level even deeper and he's being funded by Morbius' own father, who, had you asked me, I would have guessed was dead, based on absolutely no evidence. I don't know, something about the book comes off as trying too hard and not giving enough of a reward. I guess we'll see as this series moves into its next arc.