Category Archives: Marvel
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 6/7/14
Happy Birthday, mom! If it wasn’t for you, mom, none of us would be here today reading a bunch of comic book reviews. So I think we can all thank her for that. I’ll probably give her a phone call later, just to make it official. But the great thing about having a blog is using it to talk to family members! I have more conversations with my brother via the comments section of my blog than I do through any other means. Good times.
And good comics – mostly! A random smattering of books came out this week, and I read an even more random smattering of that random smattering. Of import is the fact that I finally got back to reading Black Widow and Moon Knight, two new books I didn’t want to lose track of if I could help it. On top of those classics, we’ve got new issues of All-New X-Factor, Batman Eternal and Original Sin…which is turning out to be pretty much garbage. Hopefully this will mark the death knell of the Big Event at Marvel.
Comic Book of the Week goes to newcomer Cyclops #2! I never had much intention of reading the new series starring Young Cyclops, but after the first issue got such stellar reviews, I just had to take a look, and the book is as good as everyone says!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Cyclops is the most dynamic character at Marvel right now.
Comic Reviews: All-New X-Factor #9, Batman Eternal #9, Black Widow #7, Cyclops #2, Moon Knight #4 and Original Sin #3.
Review: Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man #2
It’s like we never left. Sure, Galactus the Devourer of Worlds tried to eat the Ultimate Universe in one sitting, leaving New Jersey a wasteland. But that’s not going to stop Spider-Man from worrying about his girlfriend or struggling with clones. That’s just the way of the world. And the new issue of Ultimate Spider-Man continues the way of the world as if that Galactus storyline never even happened – I’ve already forgotten what it was called. The event still gets a little bit of lip service in the new issue, but more than anything, the adventures of Miles Morales continue unabated this issue, and I’m more than happy for that.
Ultimate Spider-Man #2
Marvel may have gone to all the trouble of relaunching Ultimate Spider-Man with a new title and a new #1, but writer Brian Michael Bendis clearly didn’t care, to our benefit.
Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.
The big surprise at the end of last issue was that Peter Parker had mysteriously returned! So Miles has definitely got his hands full with this issue, because resurrections are not part of the normal course of business in the Ultimate Universe. Where did he come from? What does he want? How many more issues before we find out? Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man #2 is very much just a chapter in an ongoing story. All the the various plot threads that Bendis is currently playing with move forward, but without any real twists or revelations, at least not yet.
Still, not every issue needs to be read on the edge of your seat. We don’t always need a big surprise or a mind-blowing moment to make an issue good. Bendis instead delivers another solid outing easily supported on the shoulders of Miles Morales and his entertaining supporting cast. As always, the new Ultimate Spider-Man is a quality comic, and while bigger, more interesting events are surely around the corner, this is still a solid issue.
Fantastic Foul: Why I Believe the F4 Comic Controversy
If you haven’t heard, the latest rumor circulating the comic book blogosphere is that Marvel plans to put their Fantastic Four comics on hiatus while FOX Studios limps into making their new Fantastic Four reboot. The idea is that Marvel and Disney executives don’t want to give the rival studio any help whatsoever in building a new franchise off of one of Marvel’s properties. The website Bleeding Cool kicked off the rumor mill last week, claiming inside sources at Marvel gave them the tip, and citing evidence from sketch card artists who had been told to steer clear of any F4 related characters.
Marvel Big Wig Editor Tom Brevoort has so far been the only Marvel guy to respond to the controversy, giving it a firm denial.
But here’s the thing: I totally believe Bleeding Cool’s story. I don’t have any special insight, I don’t know any more than anybody else about this whole shebang, I just really think it’s possible that some Marvel/Disney executive might be petty enough to cut off the company’s nose to spite its face.
Executives are the true super-villains
I know I’m just another Internet idiot with a blog, and you’ve got no reason to believe anything I say. But this is turning out to be a pretty big deal, and I figured I had some time to spare to write up my own thoughts. A lot of people seem to be siding against Bleeding Cool and their scoop, and that’s fine. Everybody’s free to their opinion.
But I think Bleeding Cool might be on to something here.
Join me after the jump to find out why. And please feel free to share your own thoughts in the comments!
Josh Brolin to Fulfill Lifelong Goal of Obtaining the Infinity Gauntlet
Actor Josh Brolin’s lifelong goal of commanding the forces of time and space are about to come to fruition now that he will be playing Thanos the Mad Titan in both Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers 2: Age of Ultron. There’s an extremely good chance that both appearances will be little more than cameos, especially the one in Avengers 2, but hopefully the all-mighty, all-knowing Death will accept both as tribute.
He is become Thanos, destroying of worlds
Many assumed Brolin’s role in The Goonies was his first attempt at gathering the legendary Infinity Gauntlet – what with the Soul Gem hidden among One-Eyed Willie’s treasure – but that attempt proved fruitless.
Maybe some big budget, Marvel blockbusters will finally see his grand scheme succeed.
Personally, I hope to see him conquer all. Brolin seems like a fine guy. Does anybody know if this will be voice acting or motion capture? Or…a lot of purple makeup?
Though how this will effect Jonah Hex 2 is anyone’s guess…
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 5/31/14
Whether it’s to make up for the massive pile of reviews last week, or maybe just plain old laziness, my stack was a bit shorter this week. Less work for me, right gang? Who doesn’t love to slack off a little bit during the week. Maybe kick up the heels and watch that new Axe Cop cartoon? I know I do!
Though I was apparently hard at work elsewhere on the Internet. You can check out my reviews for Inhuman #2 and Deadpool #29 by clicking those links. Both comics were pretty bad. I just can’t get into Deadpool‘s humor, and Inhuman continues to be a spectacularly worthless comic. If all of Marvel’s hopes and dreams depend on turning Inhumans into the new mutants, they are pretty screwed – or maybe we’re pretty screwed, because there’s probably nothing stopping Marvel from just bulldozing over what we want in favor of what they want. Did you hear about the Fantastic Four?
Bad comics continue over at DC this week, with the worst issue of Batman Eternal yet. If there’s anyone else out there in comic book land who also can’t stand what they’re doing with the Gotham Police in Batman Eternal, please let me know. I hope I’m not the only one pulling their hair out.
Fortunately, this week also saw a new issue of Ms. Marvel, and that fills me with overwhelming joy. Kamala Khan is just too awesome. Ms. Marvel #4 easily wins Comic Book of the Week for its humor, its heart and, finally, its superheroics. Our little Kamala is growing up!
The look on her face brings me nothing but joy
Comic Reviews: Avengers #30, Batman #31, Batman Eternal #8, Ms. Marvel #4 and Nightwing #30.
