Category Archives: Marvel Comics

Nova #2 Review

Marvel Comics, , ,

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In the debut issue of this Marvel NOW! title, we were introduced to Sam Alexander.  In my review of Nova #1, I mentioned that not only is Sam a typical teenager with a bad attitude, he is also the kid in the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon.  This issue picks up where that issue ended; Sam waking up in a hospital room with Gamora and Rocket Raccoon standing in front of him.

Without spoiling the story, I’ll tell you that Sam discovers he is now a Nova, and that all the stories his dad told him and his sister are true.

I’m liking this story so far and I plan to read more issues to see where it’s going.  In addition to his attitude problem, Sam is also impulsive.  So I’m looking forward to reading how Sam will take to his newfound powers.  Will he mature overnight?  How will he learn or who will teach him about his powers and its’ limitations?  What will his mother say (I can tell by her expression that she knows)?  Will Gamora and Rocket Raccoon return?  I hope so because I really like them.  Especially Rocket Raccoon.  He is definitely not one to mess with.  I learned that within the first couple of pages.

Jeph Loeb is the writer.  Dialogue is well written.  It’s reader friendly for all ages.  Great pacing.

I love the artwork.  The art team consists of Ed McGuinness (penciler), Dexter Vines (inker) and Marte Gracia (colorist).  I’m liking Nova’s costume (I wish I had a helmet with powers).  I find some of the panels to be life-like, emotion sparking.  Like that scary Rocket Raccoon.  Or the hologram of Jesse, Sam’s dad.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I recommend Nova.  Reader friendly at the perfect pace for all ages.

Deadpool #6 Review

Marvel Comics, , , ,

deadpool6

Dead presidents. All of them. And I’m not talking about American currency. A necromancer raised ALL of the dead presidents from their graves, in hopes of them restoring order to the country. All of them returned evil, and with an intent to destroy the country and create a new America. Agent Preston, of S.H.I.E.L.D., has requested Deadpool to re-kill all the dead presidents.

Every dead president is in this story arc. Washington, Garfield, Nixon, Lincoln, Reagan, Truman. The story is a good history lesson because there were presidents I forgot all about. Actually there are names I don’t even remember at all. Thank goodness Agent Preston knows them all.

Deadpool #6 is the final issue of this arc. And Deadpool is himself as always. But remember, he’s the Merc With a Mouth. Witty, talkative, sociopath, violent. But he always gets the job done. I always laugh while reading Deadpool, but there’s one panel that brought tears to my eyes. The panel where he told Washington, “No more jokes.” I won’t spoil it. You’ll just have to read it. I’ll just say that it touched me because it shows the sensitive side of Deadpool.

PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN BEWARE: Wherever Deadpool goes, violence follows. This is one series young children should not be reading. There’s constant slicing and dicing. Blood and guts everywhere.

So far I am really liking this Marvel NOW! title. Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan are the writers. Dialogue is well-written and full of jokes. It’s Deadpool, so that’s a given. The presidents are both scary and funny. I laughed from the beginning to the end.

Tony Moore is the penciler, and Val Staples is the colorist. These two are great visual storytellers. Staples did an excellent job on the colors, especially with the presidents and all the explosions.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I recommend this Marvel NOW! series. But only for the mature audience.

Thor God of Thunder Review

Marvel Comics, , , , , ,

thor

A fierce creature, known only as Gorr the God Butcher, has vowed to kill every God.  And Thor plans to put an end to this savage beast and his servants.  Although Thor God of Thunder is currently on issue #6, the first story arc of this Marvel NOW! title spans the first 5 issues.

Jason Aaron is the writer.  The art team consists of Esad Ribic, Dean White, and Ive Svorcina.

In case you don’t already know, the series consists of a younger Thor, present Thor, and the future King Thor.  That’s right, 3!  And no, the story is not hard to follow in this format.

This story is dark.  Very dark.  Extremely dark.  The God Butcher has been traveling for centuries, murdering Gods across the realms, for unknown reasons.  He subjects the Gods to torture, bathing in glory at their slow and agonizing deaths.  From infants to warriors, Gorr’s mission is to destroy them all.  Thor fights with Gorr the God Butcher several times over centuries, however Gorr feels he is indebted to Thor and claims he will spare Thor’s life until after he’s killed the rest of the Gods.

I have been a fan of mythology since childhood, so I was more than happy to jump on this series.  Compelling characters.  The younger Thor is funny.  He loves boasting of his travels, ale, and women.  Present Thor has greatly matured.  Future King Thor is elderly, but ready to fight to his death.

The dialogue is well written, and moves at a fast pace.  It takes a talented writer to write a script like Thor God of Thunder.  And Aaron is that talented writer.

I didn’t care much for the art at the beginning of the series.  I looked at the cover of  the first issue, flipped through the pages, and said, “Ugh.”  However I was crying within the first few pages!  It takes dialogue AND art for that to happen.  I haven’t complained about the artwork since!

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If you’re not reading Thor God of Thunder, by Marvel Comics, now is the time to start.  Read the first story arc (first 5 issues) then grab issue 6.  Jason Aaron is the writer.  The art team consists of Butch Guice, Tom Palmer, and Ive Svorcina.  This issue is the origin of Gorr the God Butcher.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

If you’re a fan of mythology, then this Marvel NOW! title is definitely one you will want to jump on.  I highly recommend this series.

The Fearless Defenders #2 Review

Marvel Comics, , , ,

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The Fearless Defenders #2 is a page turner from page one.  By page one I mean THE page one.  The page with the credits.  Valkyrie and Misty Knight gives a re-cap of issue #1, and Misty is mouthy as ever.

This review will be brief as I gave a detailed review of why I’m liking this series in my review of Fearless Defenders #1.

Dialogue remains sharp in this issue, thanks to Cullen Bunn, writer.  I don’t know how he does it, but he is able to take characters from different worlds and put them in a story together.  Flawlessly.  The dialogue and interactions between a demi-Goddess and a feisty bionic private investigator is captivating.  Bunn’s dialogue for Misty Knight is astonishing.  As an African-American female, I can honestly relate to her character.  I am just so amazed with Bunn’s work on this series, and can’t wait to see what he has in store for us in future issues.  I’m sure any new characters will be just as compelling as the ones we’ve already been introduced to.

Dani Moonstar is introduced in this issue, but her role with the Defenders is not yet known.

Great artwork.  Will Sliney is the penciller and Veronica Gandini is the colorist.  Excellent visual storytelling.  I ESPECIALLY LIKE, I MEAN LOVE, THE COVER!  Key selling point.  There was no way I could have left a book with a cover like that on the shelf at the comic shop. 

It takes both script and art to make a good story and The Fearless Defenders definitely has both.  I can still see this Marvel NOW! title going a long way, and I definitely plan to continue reading the series.  And not just because of the last page!

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I highly recommend reading this series, especially if you like mythology.

Red She-Hulk Review

Marvel Comics, , ,

redshehulk2

Red She-Hulk is a Marvel NOW! title by Marvel Comics.  Taking over from a previous Hulk series, Red She-Hulk starts at issue #58.  I would have preferred if this series would have started at issue #1 to keep confusion at a minimum.

On a side note, Elizabeth “Betty” Ross, aka Red She-Hulk is the ex-wife of Bruce Banner (Incredible Hulk) and the daughter of General Thaddeus Ross (Red Hulk) for those who don’t already know.

Red She-Hulk is attempting to destroy Project Echelon, the military’s secret Super-Soldier Program.  Android X-51 (Aaron Stack) was requested to track her, but after learning her motive for wanting to put an end to Echelon, he decided to help Red She-Hulk instead of turning her in.

So far I am enjoying the story.  There is action on nearly every page.  I have to admit, the girl is bad.  But she’s a hulk so that’s a given.  I especially like the fact that she remains pretty and feminine while she’s in hulk form.  When I first learned she would have her own series, I immediately pictured a big red monster like her father.  I noticed that Red She-Hulk displays emotions while in hulk form.  She is compassionate.  There was an incident where she destroyed a bridge, but stuck around (on the down low) to make sure no one was injured.  There was also another incident where she unintentionally killed a participant in the Echelon Super-Soldier Program.  This caused her to become enraged, thus hulking out.

Well-written script with great character interactions.  Jeff Parker did a great job setting up the story.  He even included a backdrop on Betty Ross.  It will help readers with little or no knowledge of Ross learn and understand her character.

The art team did a fantastic job as well.  Well defined details and amazing action scenes.  Carlo Pagulayan and Wellinton Alves are the pencilers, and Val Staples is the colorist.

I’m going to read a few more issues of Red She-Hulk to see where the story leads and take it from there.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I recommend this Marvel NOW! title, especially if you’re a hulk fan.

Age of Ultron #1 Review

Marvel Comics, ,

ultron1

Ultron has arrived in the Marvel NOW! Universe.  If you don’t believe me, take a look at the nice Age of Ultron #1 foil cover.  Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Age of Ultron #1 is the first of a 10-issue limited series.

For those who may not know, Ultron is one of the baddest super-villains in the Marvel Universe.  Dr. Hank Pym created this criminally minded artificial intelligence.  Ultron’s goal has always been to destroy humanity.

The story begins with the destruction of humanity already taken place.  The Marvel Universe has been destroyed by Ultron.  New York City, where this issue takes place, is covered under what appears to be a blue dome-shaped structure.  It’s obvious that survival and trust are themes in this series.  After Hawkeye rescued Spider-Man, they received a cold welcome by some of the surviving superheroes.  The cold welcome stems from Hawkeye being told not to return if he left to search for surviving heroes.  The way Hawkeye and Spider-Man were rough-housed by Luke Cage and She-Hulk, I’d say the policy is strictly enforced.

This is one Marvel NOW! title that I’m sure I’ll enjoy throughout the entire series.  It’s gripping and eye-popping from page one.  The dialogue is well written.  The interactions among the characters are realistic.  Bendis did a great job with the set-up for this story.  He dived right in and started after Ultron’s destruction of humanity.  I laughed at a couple of panels at the beginning, but I cried on the last page.

The artwork is great.  Bryan Hitch (penciler), Paul Neary (inker) and Paul Mounts (colors).  Well detailed.  There’s a few earth-shaking panels.  Literally.  You can actually see it in the panels.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before.  I really like that technique.  The colors are outstanding, thanks to Mounts.  I especially like the explosive panels.  One of the blasts is so bright, I felt as if I was in that panel!  The art team did a superb job with visual storytelling.

I enjoyed the first issue and I definitely plan to read the entire series, especially with Bendis being the writer.  I want to know who’s going to survive this apocalypse.  Iron Man?  Wolverine?  Emma Frost?  WHO is going to survive?  And HOW?

VERDICT

If you like action then you will definitely want to read Age of Ultron.  I have a feeling the creative team will not let us down.