Comic Book Reviews: Week of 04/22/2009
Amazing Spider-man #592
Written by: Mark Waid
Art by: Mike Mckone
Last issue, upon returning from another dimension with the Fantastic Four, Spidey came home to realize his long time enemy, his constant detractor and the one person who wants to be rid of Spider-man the most just got elected as Mayor. No it isn’t Norman Osborn.
J. Jonah Jameson!
Yes, this Hatfield/McCoy feud between Spidey and Jameson has had its share of ups and downs, but nothing has ever had the impact on ol’ Webhead like this one. And his first order of business as the new mayor? Enacting a 24/7 “Anti Spider Squad” with the goal of finally elimating Spider-man from the city and possibly elimating him all together. The squad storms into the offices after Spider-man attempts to make ammends but fails. Jameson hit the silent alarm and has them kicking in the door and opening fire on Spider-man.
So now that he knows that he is JJJ’s main political platform, Spidey takes some shots of his own. Getting in Jonah’s face non-stop. Sacrificing Peter Parker’s “life” in order to stay in costume and just piss off Jonah.
So while this issue is mostly about fun and games and childish behavior between the two, Peter seems to forget that the Hit Squad will be following him 24/7, with their gun’s “safeties” off.
But something that is even more shocking awaits Peter in the last panel. Unaware that Aunt May has been dating for the past 2 months since he left. Side Note: Although time has passed in our world, around 2 months, when Peter and the FF were in the alternate dimension, every hour there was equivalent to about a week back on Earth. So Peter ends up finding out that Aunt May has been dating, the most awkward way he could ever find out, mind you.
It’s been a while since Peter made that infamous deal with Mephisto in order to turn back time and make the world forget that he ever unmasked back in Civil War. He also had to sacrifice his marriage to MJ, but he decided that he must. Leading up to the controversial Brand New Day, readers shared their thoughts about the whole ordeal, with loud outcry. I for one hated the idea, but soon came to like some of the stories post BND. Getting back to the good old days where Peter had to deal with getting to work and paying rent, instead of having cloned kids and Iron Spider Suits. It all felt real Golden Age to me, and I liked it.
But my point of this rant is this. In the last couple of issues, I’ve started to notice that characters are seeming to recall that something happened to Peter a long time ago, but they just can’t quite recall what. So this leads me to believe that soon we will see an end to this new continuity of Spidey and it will go back to the world knowing who he is under the mask.
I’m not to sure how I feel about this. For one, I thought that MJ and Pete’s marriage was essential to the book. Without MJ, Pete was just not the same. Marvel really gave up a good thing going, all because some writers didn’t know what to do with the two anymore. Before being cancelled and turned into the tri-weekly release as Amazing Spider-man, Sensational Spider-man had an Annual come out a while back just focusing on what was so great about the relationship Pete and MJ shared. It is one of my favorite issues of Spider-man ever. I plan on getting into it in more detail when I finally get around to posting up some of my fav comic books of all time, but that is just due to my extreme laziness.
I do really enjoy the current ASM stories. Utilizing some lesser known villains to tell some great stories, and really just getting back to the roots of what makes Spider-man my favorite and millions of other people’s favorite super-hero of all time. But it can’t be perfect. Essentially writing MJ out of the Marvel Universe all together, but in the mean time, having some really great Spider-man issues. So hopefully, this post Brand New Day world can finally reunite Mj and Peter and still maintain the Golden Age style stories.
I really think that Spider-man has been the best it’s ever been in recent times, but there are still some things I really want need in my Spider-man comics.
So huge rant aside, I do really like that Mark Waid is back on ASM. He is a big proponent of super-heros being good and bad guys being bad. He manages to get in some really funny moments between Jameson and Parker. The two argue like an old married couple, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
And Mike Mckone’s art is just amazing. Sorry for the pun. Some really great scenes of Spidey swinging around doing his flips and shit, to the looks on JJJ’s face when he finally thinks he has Spidey trapped. Good stuff.
What’s great about the current tri-weekly release of ASM is that if you don’t like a writer/artist team, you just have to wait a month and a new team comes in. And the stories don’t have too much continuity between the two. Basically just piggybacking off whatever happened the last arc and creating a new story. Plus the DB! style recaps in the front pages really help newbie readers catch up on what’s happening in the Wallcrawler’s world.
I have to give it to Marvel. They really take ASM seriously right now. Devoting alot of man power into making sure that ASM is accessible. And they should. It’s one of if not their biggest flag ship title. So if you haven’t been reading ASM lately, you should. I personally love the classic Webslinger feeling stories. Nothing too high brow and nothing that makes you feel too old to read it. Just good old fashioned Spider-man tales.
Daredevil #118
Written by: Ed Brubaker
Art by: Michael Lark
Another month, another issue of Daredevil. Right now, the newest threat the Hell’s Kitchen Devil has to contend with is the Hand…and the Kingpin…and Lady Bullseye…and now the Owl. Yeah, he’s got his hands full right now.
So after striking a deal with the returning Kingpin in order to form an alliance to stop Lady Bullseye and her clan of ninjas, the Hand, Daredevil NOW has to deal with the Owl being busted outta custody and set free by some mysterious armed soldiers.
But that is the life of Daredevil, in Matt Murdock’s life, he has to deal with the crushing pressure of being sued by his former girlfriend’s family. Not to mention that the best investigator they had ended up quitting because of Matt, and now Foggy, his best friend and partner has had his share of Matt neglecting his real life. All Foggy’s pent up anger with Matt finally exploded out and left Matt standing ashamed of himself…not to mention the fact that Foggy just fired him, too.
So it seems that the world is crushing Daredevil under its weight, and things don’t look too great, considering that he just made a deal with one of his most storied arch villains. In the closing pages, we learn that now it seems that the bad guys are also forming some alliances of their own.
Things are leading towards a huge smackdown in the coming issues of Daredevil.
Brubaker still has his teeth sunk into Daredevil, even if his run on it is coming to and end. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Michael Lark does a fine job on the art this issue. While not action packed, the scenes with Foggy and Matt have their fair share of verbal fisticuffs, and Lark really showcases this. Also, the scenes with Kingpin talking to the ghosts he sees are very nicely done, too. It just seems like Brubaker likes his gritty crime/ noir style of art to accompany his writting. And I couldn’t be happier.
New Avengers #52
Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Billy Tan & Chris Bachalo
If you have been reading my reviews for a while now, you should have at least made notice of my opinions on Bendis’ “Secret Invasion”. While it started off all hyped up and fairly enjoyable, it quickly deteriorated into a literary form of taffy, while still pretty tasty, it was just stretched out and only gave you little bites of that tasty taffy only to find out that the end was of that taffy was a piece of a dirty, black jelly bean. Everyone hates black jelly beans, I mean, why do they even make them anymore? I just throw them out and eat all the other colors. And dirt. Its gross, too.
Ok, so lame metaphors aside, Bendis DOES have one thing going for him: New Avengers. It has had its share of hits more than misses. If anything, the art was my biggest gripes with this series. I’ll get to that in a sec.
So, while the title says, “NEW AVENGERS” on it, it really should say, “DOCTOR STRANGE VS. THE HOOD”, because they own this book. While the rest of the New Avengers are in the book, it is the arcane, mystical clash between Doctor Strange and the Hood. Both characters are searching for the newly appointed “Sorcerer Supreme”. But what is interesting about the two is that they are connected in the past. The Hood, as we have known for a time now, has been possessed by a demon, and not just any demon, but DORMAMMU! OOOHHH!
Dormammu has long been a villain to the former Sorcerer Supreme and now that Doc Strange is no longer the Supreme, Dormammu thinks that he has been weakened, and he couldn’t be more wrong. The good Doctor can still hold his own, but if he does have one downfall, it is his concern for his friends who might be in harms way that could lead to his downfall. So this issue focuses on the two going at it, Harry Potter style, and while enjoyable, I really did want more Avengers face time in this book. Don’t get me wrong. This Strange vs. Hood battle is great, but it is a New Avengers book and in all honesty, with something of this caliber AND the fact that it is Marvel putting this book into our hands, you would have thought that they would have just made this into its own book and made us buy both. While I am GLAD that they didn’t do this, I am just saying that this conjurous duel seems a little out of place in a book based on non-magic practicing super heroes. But then again, this current arc probably won’t take a billion issues to complete, so I’m cool with that.
The book does have some great, spooky moments, like when the Hood is all demon-ed out while fighting Strange, and when Hood later reveals himself to Madame Masque only to be re-raised with even more creepiness.
And here we go on the art. This issue is Leinil Yu free. While this isn’t the time to go on a Yu rant, I am glad to see someone else pitch in with the art here. Billy Tan really creates some cool pages and has some interesting reveals. Some cool cinematic battles and very suspensful scenes with Madame Masque contribute to my highly recommended grade.
While I don’t think that this will have the media appeal that Secret Invasion did, this arc I have dubbed “Sorcerer Supreme Showdown” is very fun, and it doesn’t even get all M.C Esher on you like Doctor Strange issues tends to get.
Thor #601
Written by: J. Michael Straczynski
Art by: Marko Djurdjevic
I’ll be honest. I picked up JMS’ re-launch of the Thor series when it came out a good while ago, but I was just basically picking them up and for whatever reason, I kept burying them under other comics all the while telling myself I will go back and read them, but I have never gotten around to doing so. I think I stopped reading around issue 7, but I have been buying them. I don’t know why. Thor was phenomenal but I don’t exactly know why I stopped reading. I guess I had to read other pieces of dog shit books instead, I am a self – masochist or something.
But when I saw that Thor would be re-numbered at #600, I began reading Thor again, and it was like re-uniting with a long lost love. This book had everything. Outstanding writing, drop dead gorgeous art, sword play, aspects of magic and mysticism, towering Norse Gods, snow capped mountains, Viking like morals and a very World of Warcraft feel to it. Everything a growing and self- respecting nerd loves and craves.
At issue 600, Thor was cast out of Asgard and forced to find refuge wherever he could. All the while, only reduced to watching as Loki and others relocated Asgard’s Gods to new digs. Issue 601 focuses on Loki and Balder try to sign a deal with their new “landlord”, Doctor Doom. Escuse me while I just rub this book all over myself. Doctor Doom is my favorite villain of all time and this book makes me love him even more. The meeting between Loki, Balder and Doom is just the greatest evil gathering I’ve ever read. The three of them are like a group of snakes, each just telling lies and trying to get the best deal out of each other while just stepping on that line that separates them from talking and leaping over the table and killing each other. Loki is just brilliantly written in this book. Never before have I seen someone so devious and fork tongued than in this book. If anything, I would say buy this book for this scene alone. The three of them all seem like they are just waiting for the other to avert their gaze for a second so that one of them can stab the rest of the group. It’s like a group of cut throat pirates who are stranded on an island and are fighting over the last leg of chicken. I seriously read this issue twice over. It was that good.
Man. And Marko Djurdjevic’s visuals are just saintly. Back when he was doing covers to issues, I always hoped that he would be given access to do interiors on future projects and my god, what was Marvel waiting for? Djurdjevic is one of my favorite artists and he shines like a golden Norse god in this issue. The scene with Loki, Balder and Doom (are you picking up on how good this scene is yet?) is just comic brilliance. Doom looks like some kind of green robed Satan just sitting there and giggling with evil glee over trying to get evil gods to enter his realm. Loki is a female personification of the Garden of Eden’s snake in the tree, and Balder is a little confused but still viciously vile politician of sorts.
I’m just gonna say this right now. This issue is gonna rank REALLY high in my end of the year BEST OF LIST. As soon as I am done writing this, I am going back to the previous issues of Thor that I stopped reading, and just shutting myself in and journeying back into Asgard. Right after I slap myself for putting it off for so long.
If there is a higher grade that highly recommended, I can’t think of it. Let it be said, don’t do what I did and quit reading this book. It is just everything that is wonderful and great about the world of comics. I’m reduced to just fanboy gushing right now, so I have to stop….. Oh, Victor Von Doom, how I love you.
X-Force #14
Written by: Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost
Art by: Clayton Crain
3 issues into the newest X-Men uber event, Messiah War, X-Force 14 furthers the plot by tossing in some big ideas.
The future. It’s so bleak and barren. And full of robots and bad guys. So now that Stryfe has begun to clash heads with the rag tag team of mutants intent on saving Hope, the first mutant to be born since the disastrous results of House of M, we finally got some interesting action going on.
With Cable and Co. sensing that they need to get the fuck out of Dodge, Stryfe enters the scene. Unleashing his group of robot-y amalgams that each have parts of the powers of the X-Force. So it’s like a thousand to 10. Wolverine dishes out orders that basically say that their lives MUST be sacrificed to save Hope’s, and no matter what, she has to be kept alive. On the other hand, some characters are making alliances with some of the worst enemies in order to prevent Hope from escaping.
Bishop is one such character. By aligning himself with Stryfe and hopefully ingiting some kind of planet melting battle between Stryfe and a slumbering Apocalypse, he will kill everyone on the planet, including Hope, and doing so, rectifying the past for what he thinks is the correct solution. Figuring that no matter what happens in the future and whatever befalls the planet in the future will just mean that the past will be saved.
But awaking the sleeping Apocalypse has more effects than he might have planned. A certain X-Force member hears the siren call and returns to his former master. A former Horsemen of Death has come home.
Interesting paths have been made in this issue and things are already hitting on all cylinders in Messiah War, but with Apocalypse entering the fray, things are sure to get out of control.
Clayton Crain’s art MUST be mentioned. It is just soooooooo good. I don’t know if it is painted or what, but man is it pretty. Battles are huge and fucking crazy. With upwards of dozens of characters on panel, the detail is just astounding. Although there were some weird couple of panels where the characters off in the distance are just reduced to a single color gradient while the foreground characters are in full detail. It was obviously to save effort, but it really stands out and actually made me stop reading and wonder why that effect was chosen in a book that is just obscenely detailed everywhere else. But with that aside, the visuals are phenomenal.
After reading this, I actually said out loud “That kicked ass.” The rest of the college students in the room looked at me with weird faces.
Messiah War is just begging for your hard earned cash, and wouldn’t you like to help adopt your own issue? With rates starting at only $2.99, you can help support this already kick ass event. Remember, every $2.99 you spend on Messiah War, goes directly to the starving artists and writers who are locked in a small room filled with pens and paper and no fans. So please, think of the writers and artists of the world, and do your civic duty in this time of crisis.
Next Week’s Pull List
Marvel
Thunderbolts #131
Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk #5
Uncanny X-Men #509
DC
Green Lantern #40
Superman #687
OTHERS
G.I. Joe Origins #3
Wrap Up
So a reminder to everyone that this weekend, Saturday May 2 is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY. If you just stop into any comic book store, you get a free bundle of comics. And some really good ones are coming out this year, especially Atomic Robo and Friends. So make sure to check that out!
Also, X-Men: Wolverine Origins the movie AND game release this week. I’m looking forward to both immensly. This summer has lots of big budget movies dropping and hopefully Wolverine can set the trend and kick things off. SNIKT!
For more X-Men fanatics, the original cartoon series is FINALLY being released on DVD this Tuesday. Being boxed off in two sets, you can relive your childhood and see one of the most influential and most popular shows of the 90′s. Looking back at some of the episodes, the show still holds up nicely and those sets are relatively cheap. Clocking in at around $20 each. Although, there are NO special features. Kinda dissapointing.
So here is to a great summer, and I say summer because it is the time when school ends that summer officially starts for me, and with one more week left, I believe this summer is gonna be a kickass summer for comic book fans.
See ya next week!
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Tags: 90's cartoons, daredevil, Doctor Doom, FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!, Messiah War, New Avengers, spider-man, Thor, X-Force, X-Men: Wolverine Origins
April 29th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
The early-mid-90s X-Men cartoon was killer! About damn time they release these on DVD! I snatched up my copies already.