Category Archives: Comics
Review: All-New X-Factor #1
Sometimes you’ve just got to be careful what you wish for. The comic I was most looking forward to in the All-New Marvel NOW! has arrived in the form of All-New X-Factor #1, writer Peter David’s latest revival of his long-standing, moderately popular superhero team. Free of past continuity and characters, PAD has been given free reign to re-invent X-Factor as he sees fit, with a new cast, a new purpose and new momentum. So it really is a shame that this issue fails on every conceivable level.
X-Factor #1
All-New X-Factor #1 is as generic and mediocre a superhero comic as you could get in this day and age. From a boring plot to random characters to a premise that reeks of missed opportunities, every aspect of this comic is uninspired.
Comic Rating: 4/10 – Pretty Bad.
The last time PAD relaunched X-Factor – whether you count the MadroX mini-series or X-Factor #1 – the writer clearly had purpose. Built around the reinvention of the wildly underused Jamie Madrox, PAD’s vision included noir sensibilities, the mysteries of Layla Miller, shadowy villains and a cast of characters with rich histories together. Back then, PAD clearly had ideas. And he had heart.
But all of that is missing in All-New X-Factor #1.
The new relaunch falls victim to Marvel’s recent trend of just piling a bunch of random superheroes together and calling them a team. Again and again, Marvel has done this, whether it’s some new Avengers spin-off or multiple versions of X-Force. And maybe if one of your favorite characters is on that team, you’ll love the comic. But most of these books are just generic superhero stories starring random superheroes, and that’s exactly how the new X-Factor reads. Even the interesting new premise, that X-Factor is now the first corporately-owned superhero team in the Marvel Universe, is painfully generic.
The potential for some interesting ideas or styles is present, but time and again, PAD either skips right over them or doesn’t play them up nearly enough. He could get so much about of All-New X-Factor, but PAD and Marvel seem fine with settling for mediocrity.
I don’t give this comic a year.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review.
Peter Parker the Amazing Spider-Man is Coming Back!
Some way, some how, Peter Parker is on his way back to comics in the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man, possibly as early as March! Behold, this image of Marvel Previews that has started circulating around the web!
Marvel haven’t released anything about what this means or implies, only that Dan Slott, the chief Spider-Man writer for years and years, is still going to be on the book. There’s no word on whether or not Superior Spider-Man will be cancelled or continue telling its own story, but this is pretty substantial proof that not only is Amazing Spider-Man coming back, but Slott is bringing Peter back as well. There’s no way Doc Ock would look so cheerful.
We all knew it was going to happen eventually.
Next Marvel Big Event Comic Kills the Watcher!
The next Big Event comic from Marvel has been revealed as Original Sin, a story where the Watcher is killed and all of the dirt he’s been gathering on the heroes of the Marvel Universe leaks out.
Because of course the Watcher can be killed by a gun to the head
Sounds like a neat idea to me, I suppose.
Original Sin will be 8 issues long over the course of four months, starting in May. It will be written by Jason Aaron and drawn by Mike Deodato, and I’m a fan of both of those guys.
According to the article on USA Today, the story will be about Nick Fury putting together a team to solve the murder mystery, consisting of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and a few others. Meanwhile, another group will conduct their own investigation (for some reason), and that group will consist of Punisher, Doctor Strange, Emma Frost, Ant-Man and Black Panther. I like the second group more already.
Here’s what Tom Brevoort has to say about the whole thing:
“It’s all the skeletons, all the dark things that you never know, all the interesting and intriguing information — not all of it even bad. And it will all expand out into dozens of stories that will cut to the core of who these characters are.”
So yeah, that’s the next Big Event comic. Sounds like a solid story, I suppose. And they say it’s going to be more personal than Infinity, so that’s good. Plus now I’m dying to see the team of Punisher, Doc Strange, Emma Frost, Ant-Man and Black Panther. That’s going to be the bee’s knees!
Unless, of course, it’s just an excuse to retcon a bunch of stupid, ‘controversial’ secrets into some of these characters’ lives. That just sounds terrible.
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 1/4/14
Welcome to the new year, Henchmen and Henchwomen! I can officially say I’ve been doing these weekly reviews for more than a year. I probably should have gone back through all the reviews and picked out the best issues of the 2013, but I’ve been sick all week, and have better things to do (coughing and video games). So we’re stuck just reviewing this week’s titles, which, thanks to New Year’s Day, were short once again.
Fortunately for us, Marvel and DC put out some good titles. Hey…there’s a good New Year’s Resolution! I should start adding at least one non-Big Two comic to the pile each week. Stuff from Image, Dark Horse and all the rest. Sounds like a plan. If any of you have any suggestions, let me know in the comments. It doesn’t have to be a superhero comic either. I want to expand my horizons.
But for now, I’m more than happy for another delightful issue of Superior Foes of Spider-Man, the Comic Book of the Week! Behold, the secret origin of the new Beetle!
Comic Reviews: Aquaman #26, Batwoman #26, New Avengers #13, Superior Foes of Spider-Man #7 and Talon #14.
Oh, It’s Deadpool. Deadpool is Getting Married
The full teaser wedding picture has been revealed, and it looks like Deadpool is the lucky groom! But personally, I am far more interested in the big picture itself. I definitely want this as a poster. Just look at all the characters!
Click to enlarge
You’ve got Forbrush Man, Beta Ray Bill, Stringray, Gargoyle, Multiple Man and so many more! It’s a brilliant picture by artist Scott Koblish. That is an achievement, let me tell you. As for Deadpool getting married? Meh, I couldn’t care less. Is anybody reading Deadpool? Is it part of some gag? Or has he seriously fallen in love with somebody? I don’t read Deadpool because he’s just not my kind of humor, but getting married just for the silliness of it sounds like something Marvel would do with the character.
You can see an even bigger version here.
Henchman-4-Hire 