Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Rating: 4.5/5
Filed under: cxPulp.com, Deadpool, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: cable, Cable-Pool, Cable/Deadpool, Comic Reviews, Dave Wilkins, Dead-Nate, Deadpool, Deadpool/Cable, Duane Swierczynski, How Mourns a Mercenary, Jeff Eckleberry, Leandro Fernandez, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Second Coming, Steve Buccellato, x-men | Leave a comment »
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Meeting of the Minds
The Leader and his group of intellectual villains work behind the scenes through Marvel’s history to assemble the lost knowledge of the Library of Alexandria.
Writer: Jeff Parker
Penciler: Paul Pelletier
Inker: Vicente Cifuentes
Colorists: Guru eFX
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Cover: Ed McGuinness, Mark Farmer, Dave Stewart
Production: Irene Y. Lee
Assistant Editor: Jordan D. White
Associate Editor: Nathan Cosby
Senior Editor: Mark Paniccia
Published by: Marvel Comics
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this issue, except perhaps a jumping-on point in preparation for the coming Fall of the Hulks "event." What I did not expect was what seems to essentially be an "Illuminati" of intellectual Marvel villains and their "backstory" throughout Marvel’s past.
This issue basically follows The Leader, M.O.D.O.K., Egghead, The Wizard, The Mad Thinker, The Red Ghost, and Dr. Doom as they assemble the contents of the formerly-believed-lost contents of the Library of Alexandria through the years. Their first mission is an incursion into the home of the Eternals. Here the protagonists discover there are other locations around the planet with further Alexandrian contents, including Wakanda and Atlantis. Bucking the silver Age trend of simplicity, here we see that it takes months and years for the protagonists to prepare to actually launch a mission to gain the knowledge they’re after, as well as the explanation that allows for what we’ve already seen in the last half-decade of continuity regarding these characters. As the issue closes out, we get some info regarding the Red Hulk, which actually intrigues me after never before this having any interest in even the concept of that character.
The story is pretty good in and of itself. It’s not spectacular, and I’m not a huge fan of retcons…but for my understanding of things, the backstory that is here inserted into existing continuity seems to work. Additionally, I feel like I have a better understanding of who The Leader and The Red Ghost are now than I ever did before.
The art is also quite solid…while keeping its own feel, it also evokes some of the feeling of the different eras the story touches upon.
Though I came to the issue familiar with little more than the characters’ names and visual representations (excepting Dr. Doom), everyone was quite recognizable, and I really enjoyed the visuals.
Even though I’ve not followed the Hulk side of the Marvel Universe since World War Hulk ended, I still really enjoyed this issue and found that I didn’t need to know recent events. I’ve often enjoyed stories that flesh out villain characters and give them depth and motivation, and true explanation for why they would door act as they do, and this is one such issue.
I expect this is little more than set-up in the grand scheme of things, but if you want a Leader story involving a teaming-up of supervillains (including death and betrayal) reminiscent of 1980s stories but with a modern feel, this is a great issue for that.
Ratings:
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Filed under: Classic Reviews, Fall of the Hulks, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: Comic Reviews, comics, Dave Stewart, Dr. Doom, Ed McGuinness, Guru eFX, hulk, Irene Y. Lee, Jeff Parker, Jordan D. White, Leader, M.O.D.O.K., Mad Thinker, Mark Farmer, Mark Paniccia, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Meeting of the Minds, MODOK, Nathan Cosby, Paul Pelletier, Red Ghost, Red Hulk, Simon Bowland, VIcente Cifuentes, Wizard | 1 Comment »
“What it was like, What happened, and What it’s like now”
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Salvador Larroca
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Editor: Alejandro Arbona
Senior Editor: Stephen Wacker
Cover: Salvador Larroca
Published by: Marvel Comics
Tony Stark attends an AA meeting, and shares his story, recounting in the vaguest of terms his history as an alcoholic and how it’s affected him throughout his career. After the meeting, we see how actually talking about things affects Tony.
The story of this issue is really that simple. I had my doubts about the accessibility of this issue, of what would make it such a good jumping-on point. And really, for this character…I can’t think of anything better. Telling his story at an AA meeting is a perfect vehicle for touching on some of the major points of the character’s history and if not exactly explaining everything to new readers, it provides a glimpse of what’s come before, as well as insight into the character–stuff that provides a bit of foundation for new readers, or reminds longer-time readers of where things have come in recent years in particular.
This sort of issue–a “breather” of sorts, a “slice of life” or whatever–where characters have a chance to reflect, to have “down time” and just be themselves without an actively-moving high-action story–this is the sort of issue I am extremely fond of. And yet, while do enjoy this type of issue, it’s not terribly deep nor overly insightful…and really is pretty formulaic.
The art is the usual style and quality–which is a very strong positive in my book. No real complaints from me on the visuals.
The issue ends with a double-page series of panels “previewing” what is to come in the next year in this title…reminding me very much of Booster Gold #1, an issue (or issues?) of JSA, and generally the way DC‘s done things. So it’s nothing fresh or new…and unfortunately, it does all of nothing for me. I don’t even know what it is we’re seeing, and it doesn’t do a thing to hook me or have me particularly interested/excited to see context/details of how the situation(s) come about.
Though this issue–as part of the Marvel.1 “initiative”–is designed to be a jumping-on point, and I’d intended to bail after #500, this also serves as a bit of an epilogue to Fraction‘s run on the character thus far…and if there’s a 2nd omnibus-style hardcover for his run, I would be quite satisfied if it ended with this issue.
Whether looking for a jumping-on or jumping-off point, if you’ve enjoyed any of Fraction/Larroca‘s run or have been curious about the title, I definitely recommend this issue.
Story: 7/10
Art: 8/10
Whole: 7.5/10
Filed under: Invincible Iron Man, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: alejandro arbona, Frank D'Armata, Invincible Iron Man, Iron Man, Joe Caramagna, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Marvel Point One, Marvel.1, Matt Fraction, salvador larroca, Stephen Wacker, VC | Leave a comment »
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Universe, X-Men | Tagged: and Terry Dodson, Chris Bachalo, Comic Reviews, Joe Caramagna, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, mini-reviews, Rachel Dodson, Tim Townsend, to serve and protect, Victor Gischler, x-men | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Filed under: Age of X (event), cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: Age of X, Antonio Fabela, Brian Reber, Carlo Barberi, Chris Bachalo, Daniel Ketchum, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Irene Y. Lee, Jake Thomas, Jared Fletcher, Joe Caramagna, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Matt Milla, Nick Lowe, Paco Diaz, Paul Davidson, Tim Townsend, Walden Wong, x-men | Leave a comment »
I was home in this apartment tonight when it occurred to me: I didn’t even LOOK for the “death issue” of Fantastic Four. All this hype and such about it…and it wasn’t even—in the actuality of standing in the comic shop—worth my attention, apparently.
I ranted a bit about the issue from an ad a few weeks back in my post Fantastic Four, death and the return of the polybag. I would add to that list of complaints the way the publisher spoiled the story/leaked it to media on Tuesday, when ostensibly they were encouraging (“allowing?”) comic shops to sell the issue on Tuesday to allow fans and readers to get and read the issue withOUT having the story spoiled for them. Also the supposed “bonus” of random signed copies that seem to be cropping up—with a certain limited number of copies inside the polybags being signed by the writer. As if to add a further level to falsely inflate the “collectibility” of the issue.
On a much more positive side, my local comic shop was having an incredible sale on hardbacks (mainly Marvel). $10/pop. I wound up picking up Magneto: Testament (been interested in that for ages) as well as Marvels: Eye of the Camera, which I’d read the first issue back when it came out, but opted to wait for the collected volume. What better time than now? And, after going the library route to catch up on nearly HALF of the original Ultimate Spider-Man series, I’ve been morbidly interested in Ultimatum, but the libraries I frequent haven’t had it. Saw it here, figured what the hey?
So…$75 in books for only $30. And I have friends who’d be interested in reading these volumes as well, so they get increased value for multiple readers…
Sales like this are why I love my comic shop. For lack of better phrasing…they often have “convention-level sales” at least once a month—whether it’s freshly-stocked 25-cent bins (yeah, 25…not 50!), random bargain runs ($10 for 45 of 50+ issues of the original X-Force or $15 for 60 issues of JLA, and other such deals), 50-90% off collected volumes. Sometimes these sales seem ongoing…to the point that on the “deals” side of things…I never seem to get a chance to miss going to conventions.
Also, a TMNT book I ordered from Mirage a couple weeks back came in today. Disappointed there’s no text on the spine, but it’s otherwise a great collection of the Archie Adventure Series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #s 5-10 from Tundra, from 1991.
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: comic shop, death, death of the fantastic four, Eye of the Camera, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 587, fantastic four death, gimmicks, LCS, local comic shop, magneto, Magneto: Testament, MARVEL, Marvels, Marvels: Eye of the Camera, sales, Testament, Ultimate Comics, ultimate spider-man, Ultimatum | 3 Comments »
Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 2/5
Art: 3/5
Overall: 2.5/5
Filed under: cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Universe, Wolverine and Jubilee | Tagged: Clayton Cowles, Comic Reviews, Curse of the Mutants, Cursed, Jared K. Fletcher, Jeanine Schaefer, Jody Leheup, Jubilee, Kathryn Immonen, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Morry Hollowell, Olivier Coipel, Phil Noto, Vampires, VC, Wolverine, Wolverine and Jubilee, Xarus | Leave a comment »
Though I don’t get to go to many conventions, my local comic shop treats me remarkably well…and I’m quite spoiled, I think, when it comes to regular access to great stuff in a bargain bin.
Take this, for example.
This week, for less than the price of any one of many of Marvel’s current books…I scored Silver Surfer #s 1-12, 15, and Annual #1.
Not bad at all, I must say.
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: bargain bin, comics, MARVEL, Silver Surfer | Leave a comment »
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Chapter 4: Depression
Spider-Man mourns the loss of Cap, but still has to deal with stuff that life throws at him…
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Pencils: David Finch
Inks: Danny Miki
Colors: Frank D’Armata
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
From an Idea by: J. Michael Straczynski
Assistant Editor: Alejandro Arbona
Editor: Bill Rosemann
Cover Art: David Finch | Variant by: Michael Turner
Publisher: Marvel Comics
This story has certainly lost much of its impact–on me–by being stretched out so much. That’s not to say it’s entirely devoid of impact…but going through these "stages of grief" or "loss" or whatever the official phrasing is would work much better had this series been more immediate and timely. After all, I have had what? A quarter year (or more) now to get used to the idea of Captain America being "dead," and to partake in the online culture of communication that has really lessened the character’s death–as I have come to really agree that within a couple years or so, we’ll have Steve Rogers alive and well, having "got better" after this ordeal…or worse, turn out that THIS Steve Rogers was a certain alien poser.
That meta-textual stuff aside…this was a good issue. This issue’s focus is on a "depressed" Spider-Man as he deals with the loss of a man he’d looked up to as a hero–not just a "fellow" super-hero or colleague, but as an actual hero far above his own "level," by whom it was an honor to even be so much as acknowledged. And while spending time in a cemetary, Spidey/Peter realizes that he’s got an audience…and when his spider-sense goes off, he leaps into action, lashing out at the clear and present threat. The issue winds down with Spidey and Wolverine (which helps hold this series together, not merely "jumping" from one character to another, but maintaining some continuity as the characters interact).
There’s a lot that could be said and analyzed and "read into" the text, based on knowledge that’s been made public about events the writer has faced, and I’d like to acknowledge that fact without getting into it beyond this statement.
The story seems to fit Spidey…I haven’t followed the character all that much for a number of years, so I might be getting something that’s not there, depending on the nuances one pulls out. For me, though, this seemed to be a solid reflection of Spidey acting in context of having just lost a mentor/father-figure/inspiration…and that he’s in the black suit lends yet further loss based on what he’s apparently been dealing with in his own book(s). The threat faced in the cemetery elicits the expected reaction from the character, while simultaneously providing a nice twist, breaking just a bit from a clichéd sort of formula.
I liked the art here. Finch isn’t an artist I’m terribly familiar with of late, only dipping into Marvel here and there the last several years…but the art is definitely recognizable, and carries a certain realism to it that (while allowing one to still subconsciously recognize it as "just" 2-d comic book art) adds a lot to the visual enjoyment of the story. And I think that is the best-looking version of the "villain" I can ever remember seeing.
As a whole, this issue (to me) is an example of how enjoyable story arcs can be as a series of stories that CAN be taken alone, but are also part of a larger arc, rather than a series of chapters that FEEL like they are 1/6th segments of a single story…and that makes it certainly worth its cover price.
If you’re following the series already, this isn’t an issue to skip on; and if you’re just interested in Spidey…you’ve got a good dose of him dealing with another loss in his life, mixed with some action here, and I think it’s fair to say you probably don’t NEED to have read the earlier issues to get/follow/enjoy this issue. I do think these may read better in a collected volume in one sitting, though. Of course, you can do much worse by way of single issues.
Ratings:
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: Captain America, Classic Reviews, Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: alejandro arbona, Bill Rosemann, Captain America, Comicraft, Danny Miki, David Finch, Death of Captain America, depression, Fallen Son, Frank D'Armata, J. Michael Straczynski, Jeph Loeb, MARVEL, Richard Starkngs, Spider-Man | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 2/5
Art: 2/5
Overall: 2.5/5
Filed under: cxPulp.com, Invincible Iron Man, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: alejandro arbona, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Comic Reviews, Danny Miki, Dean White, Frank D'Armata, Invincible Iron Man, Invincible Iron Man 500, Iron Man, Iron Man 500, Javier Rodriguez, Joe Caramagna, Joe Quesada, John Romita Jr., Kano, Klaus Janson, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Matt Fraction, Matthew Wilson, Nathan Fox, New Iron Age, Peter Parker, Richard Isanove, salvador larroca, Spider-Man, Stephen Wacker, tony stark, VC | Leave a comment »
Comic Reviews by Walt 