Category Archives: Comics
Review: Scarlet Spider #5
The latest issue of Kaine’s ongoing series (still weird to say it) is an entertaining one-off story that gets a little too big for its own good. Our hero saves the day in glorious fashion, but brief cameos by Iron Man, President Obama and the new SHIELD (featuring Fury Jr. and Coulson!) create a magnitude that is more jarring than exciting. If writer Chris Yost wanted to go this big this soon with his fledgling series, he should have given more time for the story to grow. Perhaps a two-parter.
Scarlet Spider #5
While this done-in-one story doesn’t feel rushed, it definitely feels like we’ve jumped into the middle of the action-packed story and are expected to catch up. And the flashbacks don’t provide nearly enough material to help in that regard.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
There’s also a new artist, Neil Edwards, who while not as good as regular artist Ryan Stegman, easily holds his own in the action department, and looks similar enough to Stegman that the change isn’t a problem. Although he’ll have to do, since Stegman got the bump up to the Fantastic Four. We won’t have him around much longer.
If nothing else, this issue is a fantastic look into Kaine’s mindset when it comes to being a superhero. He’s got a lot of great character moments throughout that show he’s not a goody two shoes like Spider-Man. He’s definitely an anti-hero, though the series hasn’t pushed him over the edge just yet. I’m sure it wants to maintain some level of decency in its protagonist. Still, he’s a lot of fun to read when he really lets the bad guys have it. And while I suppose I’d like to see Kaine interact with the rest of the Marvel Universe in time, this issue just gets too big too fast, but doesn’t do anything interesting with those high stakes – unless next issue follows up on some of these story ideas.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and review.
Review: Mimic and the X-Men #3
How freakin’ awesome is it that the Mimic is now a regular character in an ongoing comic book series? We haven’t enjoyed this since back in the 1960s for about three issues of X-Men – that is if you don’t count Exiles, which I don’t, since it was a very different Mimic. We’re truly living in a Golden Age of being a fan of the obscure comic book character the Mimic! But sadly, as awesome as this is, it’s also a double-edged sword. Because in the first issue following Mimic’s grand return to the X-Men, he’s reduced to just a side character with very little panel-time.
One very Mimic-less issue
This is Rogue’s comic, after all. But I may keep up these reviews since I know I’m not the only Mimic fan in the world.
Comic rating: 3/5: Alright.
As a Mimic comic, this issue sucks. He barely appears. It’s great that he’s in the cast now, but it’s sad to see him doing nothing. As a tie-in to Avengers vs. X-Men, the comic isn’t any good either. It’s been less than a year since Regenesis, when Wolverine split the X-Men in half in order to go off and re-open the school in Westchester. Yet one giant crossover later and everything he set up is being thrown under the bus, all in the name of yet another punch-fest between superheroes.
This issue pushes the whole school idea just a little too far, revealing it to be the sham that it is. The students don’t want to learn, they want to join in the fight against the Avengers. If they wanted to fight so badly, why didn’t they stay on Utopia? And the ‘teachers’ spend all their time worrying about making sure they stick to the class schedule – yet they all still dress in superhero costumes.
But who cares about all of that? Bring on the Mimic!
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #10
For an issue that’s almost entirely talking heads, writer Brian Michael Bendis knocks it out of the park. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Bendis is a master of dialogue, and of crafting characters and conflicts through that dialogue. He does more for Ultimate Prowler in this one issue than he’s done in the entire series so far. And star Miles Morales has some fantastic moments as well, making decisions that will define him as a superhero and provide fascinating stories for us readers.
Ultimate Spider-Man #10
Bendis is basically writing a Masters Course on superhero comics with this series.
Comic rating: 5/5: Great.
Seriously, this issue is almost entirely talking. It’s a chat between Miles and his Uncle Aaron, only now they are both dressed in their respective superhero/villain costumes, and standing on a rooftop. The oddness of such an exchange is not lost on the characters either. But rather than let the 13-year-old Miles get bowled over by his adult uncle, Miles holds his own in the exchange, revealing true growth for the kid. He’s finally no longer beating up losers like Omega Red or the Ringer. It’s time for Miles to get a dose of the real world, courtesy of someone he thought he respected and idolized.
Uncle Aaron, meanwhile, reveals several new layers to his character during this rooftop chat. He’s not just some scumbag super-villain. He’s a thief, and he’s a smart thief. And he also, to some extent, has an eye out for his nephew. So even though he wants Miles’ help with nefarious things, and even threatens to blackmail the kid, Aaron still wants the best for the boy.
That’s some fascinating character work in what is another great issue of the Miles Morales saga.
Review: X-Factor #235
Now this is the kind of character-based drama I love to see in my comics, especially X-Factor! Peter David finally gives us some real tension between series star Jamie Madrox and his beleaguered usurper Alex Summers, otherwise known as Multiple Man and Havok. I’ve been waiting for this tension to hit for several issues now, and it feels good to finally have something meaty to sink our teeth into at X-Factor Investigations. That coupled with a new and possible entertaining case leads to a damn good issue of X-Factor.
X-Factor #235
This is exactly the kind of comic I want X-Factor to be – minus the blue-skinned, big gun-wielding space maniac.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
For the first time in a long while, X-Factor is finally dealing with something on their level again. No interdimensional journeys, no time-traveling duplicates and no evil Reed Richardses. Yes, I realize the Isolationist and his hot demon girlfriend are behind it all, but they thankfully don’t appear in this issue. I also realize that this is an entirely biased sentiment, that I shouldn’t judge a comic book based on what I want it to be, as opposed to what it actually is. And I’m not. The ‘good’ rating isn’t based on my being pleased with the plot. It’s based on the quality of the comic. Trust me.
We have here some Grade A character-based drama, some great scenes with the team, and a fairly unique and compelling mystery to solve. Not to mention the promise of uncovering a mystery that has been around in the X-franchise for decades: just who or what are Shatterstar and Longshot?
And solving those kinds of mysteries involving B and C-list comic book characters is exactly what X-Factor is for!
Review: Avengers vs. X-Men #3
Now that the big brawl is over, it seems like the real fun is going to begin. I really enjoyed this issue of Avengers vs. X-Men, as the story moves from the rather sudden, impromptu fight of last issue to some downtime that raises the pacing of the series even higher. I’m glad that this series isn’t just going to be a big brawl to end it all, because that would have become real boring real fast. Instead it seems there’s going to be more to Avengers vs. X-Men than just fight scenes. This issue contains strong dialogue, some excellent character moments and what I consider to be a real exciting shift forward.
AvX #3
And with Captain America’s actions this issue, I’m confident that siding with the X-Men is the right call. Cap kind of crosses a few lines here. He almost seems out of character.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
This issue starts with some great dialogue between Captain America and Iron Man as they try to assess the consequences of their actions. I really liked how it felt, especially coming from Iron Man. Then the X-Men pull a fantastic twist, and the story jumps into a whole new gear. This series is 12 issues long and now I have no idea what to expect. Avengers vs. X-Men is definitely keeping my attention, though the issue doesn’t end as strongly as it started. Still, I like what I’m seeing. The story is told very clearly, the events are ramping up and getting more exciting and I don’t feel lost when it comes to the central conflict. This event feels as important as it should feel.
Even though some of the individual players are a little off, it still makes sense for these two heroic teams to come to blows. And best yet: I don’t have any complaints about the art this issue! So we’re looking at another solid chapter of Avengers vs. X-Men. Nothing to blow me out of the water with excitement yet, but maybe we’re getting there.
Henchman-4-Hire 