Category Archives: Marvel
My 6 Most Anticipated Comic Book Movies of 2013
Every year, it seems like more and more superhero movies are coming out. Can anyone even remember the cold, bitter years of the 90s, when we didn’t have this glorious glut of comic book films? Those were dark days indeed. But are we reaching some kind of superhero movie zenith? When are we going to reach the peak and then start coming down again? It’s going to happen someday, could it be 2013? Because there are enough superhero and comic book movies coming out this year that I was able to make a list! And can any of them even possibly live up to The Avengers or The Dark Knight trilogy?
Especially considering at least three of the films are almost direct sequels or pseudo-continuations?
Avengers vs. JLA? Maybe someday…
When researching this list, I didn’t even know or remember that half of these films are even coming out this year. I try to stay abreast of such developments, but there are so many superhero movies being made or expected to be made that I just lose track. I can still remember when we marked our calendars to expect the next big comic book movie. Now I’m just going to relax and let them come as they will. I mean, we’re pretty set for new films and sequels for the next two to three years at least. For good or ill. But this year looks like it might have more winners than losers.
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #19
What a disappointing issue. Not that Ultimate Spider#19 is a bad book, it’s just that nothing happens. The big crossover is gone and we’re back to business at hand, but writer Brian Michael Bendis doesn’t do anything with this moment. Instead, we get a lot of teases of stuff that could be happening. This is the first part of a new Venom story, but the villain barely even appears until the final page. So really, this is just a dull comic promising us better stuff down the line.
Ultimate Spider-Man #19
Even the art of returning artist Sara Pichelli is lackluster, and actually bad in some places. She draws a weird J. Jonah Jameson.
Comic rating: 3/5: Alright.
Speaking of JJJ, he has a nice scene in this issue, but it’s not as powerful as I was hoping it might be. Towards the end of the Peter Parker series, Bendis was doing some amazing things with Jameson. I have always preferred the respectable newsman version of Jameson as opposed to the raving lunatic Jameson. Like in the first Spider-Man movie, when he refused to tell Green Goblin who sells him the pictures of Spider-Man. And that version of Jameson has always been around in the Ultimate Universe. Towards the end, Jameson had come over on Peter Parker’s side, knowing the truth about the young hero’s identity and doing everything in his power to help him. It was a great storyline…
…abruptly cut short when Peter was killed. So I’m hoping Bendis has some good plans for Jameson and Miles Morales. They’ll probably never share the same connection that Jameson and Peter did, but perhaps there could be some great stories to tell. The scene in this issue points towards something greater, but like everything else in the issue, it still only points towards something else. That’s what’s so weird about this issue. Everything is just a tease.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 1/5/13
The first week of 2013 gives us a nice smattering of new comics from Marvel and DC. We’ve got some big titles like All-New X-Men and the launch of the new New Avengers, along with some smaller books like Talon and Red Lanterns. It’s also a bit easier on my wallet after the holidays. Not that I wouldn’t put off crucial fixes to my car in order to buy my weekly comic stack or anything. Though if I’m being honest, there were a lot of things that really annoyed me about this week’s comics. Everything from the treatment of Cyclops in All-New X-Men to the introduction of Alfred the cat in Batman Incorporated. I think Grant Morrison is picking on us.
But I was most definitely not annoyed with the new issue of Talon, which earns Comic Book of the Week with a delightful issue!
Oh, that Talon
Not bad for the fledgling series. Though there was not much competition, if I’m still being honest.
Comic Reviews: All-New X-Men #5, Batman Incorporated #6, New Avengers #1, Red Lanterns #15, Talon #3.
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 12/29/12
After last week’s tsunami of comics, both Marvel and DC decided to take it easy during Christmas. Marvel has only delivered The Amazing Spider-Man #700 (and a side issue that I didn’t read), while DC only put out Justice League and Aquaman, kicking off their big Throne of Atlantis storyline. So I’m definitely excited to say that this week’s comics were all pretty damn awesome. I’ve already written at length about my reaction to the big revelation in The Amazing Spider-Man #700, so now I’m just going to review the comic itself – which earns the coveted Comic Book of the Week!
Not that Aquaman and the gang over at DC Comics don’t have some fun this week too.
Comic Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #700, Justice League #15, and Aquaman #15.
WARNING: Full SPOILERS to follow!
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #18
Miles Morales doesn’t usually have a lot of inner narration, but this issue is chock full of it, and it definitely makes for a more engaging story. Not a lot happens plot-wise, and Miles being lost in the fields of Wisconsin is fixed rather easily, but it’s still a very fun and fulfilling story. It’s fun to read Miles working out his problems in his head. He’s a smart kid with a strong personality, and his inner commentary elevated a somewhat simple story. Throw in a few emotional moments with Spider-Woman and Miles’ parents and you’ve got a real winner.
Ultimate Spider-Man #18
When ‘Divided We Fall/United We Stand’ started, I didn’t think Brian Michael Bendis had any interest in crossing over. But now that the story is finally done, I’m happy with what Bendis did to help flesh out Miles and his family.
Comic rating: 5/5: Great.
Ultimate Spider-Woman has always been a very fascinating character, and I wish I was reading Ultimates so that I could see more of her in action. She’s a great foil for Miles Morales, and their scenes together in this issue – especially in light of her attitude last issue – were fantastic. We, the reader, know exactly why Jessica Drew is so awkward around Miles Morales, but he’s clueless, and it leads to a really nice scene between the two. Likewise, Miles’ parents get a standout scene as Jefferson fills us in on what happened with the HYDRA terrorists. I was definitely surprised by the reveal, and I’m excited to see what it does for his character. I’ve always felt Bendis has been a little lacking when it comes to Miles’ relationship with his parents and how they impact his life. I hope this is the start of some good stories.
And it’s Miles Morales himself who carries the comic, with a running internal commentary like Peter Parker used to do. Miles is definitely a different person than Peter, but he’s still got that desire to be heroic, and that’s always relatable. I also like that Miles isn’t quip-a-minute, but still kind of funny. And Bendis finds a lot of humor and cool action in Miles’ fight this issue – with artist David Marquez drawing the hell out of this issue! The art is absolutely perfect, making for an even better comic.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review.
Henchman-4-Hire 