Tag Archives: comics

Avenging Spider-Man #18 Review

Marvel Comics, , , , ,

avenspidey18

In the Avenging Spider-Man series, by Marvel Comics, Superior Spider-Man teams up with a character or team in every issue.  In this issue he teams up with The Mighty Thor, God of Thunder, in a battle against Electro.

Electro has found a way to return to Earth, after being shot into space by Thor.  Superior Spider-Man warns Thor of Electro’s return, and that he may be returning to seek vengeance against Thor.  An arrogant Thor laughs and takes the warning lightheartedly.

An angered Spider-Man sought out Electro and learned of his plans to destroy Thor.  He tried to warn Thor a second time, but Thor brushed him off again.  But not for long.  Electro appears and the battle begins.

I started reading this series at issue #16 because of the debut of Superior Spider-Man.  And he is no different from the way he is in the  Superior Spider-Man series.  His true identity (Otto Octavius) is not known.  There is a panel where Superior Spider-Man told Thor to remove his hand from his shoulder, and Thor was astonished.

Avenging Spider-Man is written by Christopher Yost.  Well-written script and I especially like the interactions between Superior Spider-Man and Thor.  They’re both funny, but Spider-Man is funny AND serious at the same time.

I like the artwork.  Marco Checchetto is the artist, and Rachelle Rosenberg is the colorist.  I really like the colors in the fight scenes.  There’s a panel where the lighting is so bright, I almost had to squint to look at it.  I especially like that one!

So far I am liking what I’m reading so I plan to continue to read this Marvel title.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I recommend this series.  If you’re a reader of Superior Spider-Man, hopefully you are already reading Avenging Spider-Man.

Justice League of America #2 Review

DC Comics, , ,

jla2

In the debut issue we saw how Amanda Waller, director of A.R.G.U.S., and Col. Steve Trevor formed the Justice League of America.  I listed the members in my review of issue #1, so all I’ll say here is that this team consists of the big guns.  Hawkman, Martian Manhunter, Katana.  Everyone on the team is a bad ass, so don’t let Stargirl fool you.

Without proper training, not to mention never fighting alongside one another, Director Waller has given Col. Trevor 15 minutes to assemble the team for a press conference, and another 15 to prepare them for their first mission.  MISSION:  find and take out the Secret Society.

Justice League of America, DC Comics New 52, is an interesting, yet complex series.  The team members believe they are protecting their country, but they’re really in training to take down the Justice League, if needed.  Each member has been secretly paired with the member of the Justice League that he/she will fight.  Again, if needed.

I am enjoying this New 52 title so far.  The series is dark which is a major selling point for me, as I love dark stories.  It also has compelling characters.  I am liking Col. Trevor but I don’t trust Director Waller at all.  She is aggressive and manipulative.  Stargirl is a pretty, braces-wearing teenage Hollywood celebrity, but I’m pretty sure she can kick ass in battle.  Vibe is a friendly teen who, at times, have second thoughts about joining the team.  Hawkman.  Well let’s just say I wouldn’t want to be on the same planet with him.

This well-written story is written by Geoff Johns.  Great interactions among the characters.

David Finch is the artist.  Sonia Oback is the colorist.  Great visual storytellers.

This is one DC Comics New 52 title I definitely plan to continue reading.  I am more than certain this series will be around for a long time.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I highly recommend Justice League of America.

Nova #2 Review

Marvel Comics, , ,

nova2

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!

thor6

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, , , ,

feardefend2

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.