Category Archives: Marvel
Review: Scarlet Spider #8
The epic battle between the Scarlet Spider and the Rangers was not as epic as I would have liked, but it was still entertaining. I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting, but this issue gave us a nice take on Scarlet Spider’s reaction to other superheroes, as well as a look at a hero team that doesn’t get much attention. Everything was a little cliche in the whole ‘heroes fight and then team up’ angle, but to be fair, Scarlet Spider is kind of breaking the law through a lot of this issue. So it only makes sense that the Rangers would be looking to stop him. And I prefer it when stories make sense.
Scarlet Spider #8
But basically this issue is straight forward and simple, with an emphasis on the action over characterization.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
I guess I was hoping that the Rangers would be more than just set dressing, or a cameo for cameo’s sake. I appreciate that writer Chris Yost didn’t force the Avengers into making an appearance, relying instead on realism over marketing, but the Rangers don’t really make a strong connection with our hero in this issue. It’s almost entirely fight scene with little depth to any of the characters. There’s some running, a little humor and banter, but mostly it’s just fisticuffs. Seeing as how this is a superhero comic, fighting is expected. But I would have liked a little more interaction. At least the art holds up, though it’s not as good as departed artist Ryan Stegman.
What we do get is another look into Kaine’s head as he tries to sort out all these shenanigans. He’s still rather entertaining as a reluctant hero who isn’t entirely sure if he’s doing this right, or even what he’s supposed to do. But Kaine is a competent hero, in a way that I think is working against Yost’s ideas. It’s like when an R-rated movie is softened to get the more marketable PG-13 rating. Yost could really push some boundaries with an uncouth, anti-hero Kaine; but it feels like he’s hemmed in by the idea that Scarlet Spider needs to be more ‘family friendly’ as part of the Spider-Man line of comics. So there’s a struggle between Kaine as competent superhero and Kaine as rough anti-hero. I don’t think the book should strike a balance between the two, I think Yost should go full-on anti-hero.
But at least Scarlet Spider remains an entertaining comic. Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review.
Holy Cow, Marvel NOW! Just Got Awesome!
Behold, the new Fantastic Four!
I’m speechless at how awesome that picture is. Ant-Man!? She-Hulk? Medusa? Miss Thing!? Drawn in the amazing pop art style of Mike and Laural Allred? I am sold! Marvel NOW! finally has something really far out and fascinating to offer, instead of just the same old same old with Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and the bunch.
Don’t be too alarmed though. That’s actually the cover of FF#1, the Fantastic Four’s sister title. The actual comic Fantastic Four will still star the usual team of Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing.
Both titles will be written by Matt Fraction, who gave an interview to USA Today that you can read here. Basically his plans for the normal Fantastic Four comic, drawn by Mark Bagley, are the usual family-based stuff. The two kids, Franklin and Val, will be with them. So that’s cool, I suppose. At least they’re keeping the white costumes. I love those. I don’t have much interest in Fraction’s take on the traditional Fantastic Four.
It’s his wacky take on the Future Foundation that I can’t wait to read!
Whereas the Fantastic Four is about the Richards family having all-new adventures, FFis about an all-new Fantastic Four getting to meet the team’s greatest hits, Fraction teases. “Suddenly, there are imposters to the throne and they come out of the woodwork for these guys.”
Ant-Man has an agenda of his own, too, in addition to protecting the world. He blames Doctor Doom for the death of his daughter and, with the power of the Fantastic Four and the Future Foundation, wonders what would happen if they declared war on Latveria and devoted all their time and resources to eliminating Doom once and for all.
“It’s a dark twist on what the Fantastic Four is about — it’s the other side of the coin,” Fraction says. “We have this Fantastic Four with a specific mission in FF and how can he direct and bring these people along with him?”
Basically the premise is that in the main title, Reed is going to take his family on this giant vacation through time and space, which will lead to some awesome adventures. They’ll be gone for exactly 4 minutes. And should something go wrong, Reed has everyone pick a replacement. Reed picks Scott Lang, Ant-Man, Sue picks Medusa, Ben picks She-Hulk, and Johnny…well Johnny forgot, and so he just randomly picks the babe he slept with the night before they leave. That’s Miss Thing, a brand new character who’s wearing Thing armor.
And I guess beyond that, something does go wrong during those 4 minutes, and this is the new Fantastic Four.
I’m very, very excited about this one, folks.
Comedian to Write Deadpool
This has to be the coolest news of Marvel NOW! so far: actual stand-up comedian Brian Posehn is going to write Deadpool.
Posehn will be joined by fellow funnyman Gerry Duggan, with art by Tony Moore. I think that’s just fantastic. I’m all for finding new, unique writers to tackle some of Marvel’s comics, and who better to write Deadpool than someone who is actually funny? And better yet, Posehn is a huge comic book geek. So much so that he played the priest in the Fantastic Four sequel who married Reed and Sue. The guy has geek cred coming out the wazzo.
Warlord of the chess club
Will he write a good Deadpool? I don’t know, but I’ve got my hopes up, and am definitely interested in the possibilities. I’ve never been as big a Deadpool fan as the rest of the Internet, but I’m tempted to now pick up issue #1 just to see what Posehn can offer. Will he be as funny on the page as he is on the stage?
My biggest problem with Deadpool is that I don’t like it when he stars in a wacky comedy book. Deadpool himself is already overly wacky and comedic, and it just isn’t all that funny when he’s on wacky and comedic adventures, when everything around him is just like him. Deadpool’s brand of humor works best when he’s the only wacky and comedic element in an otherwise serious story. That’s why I think he works so well in Uncanny X-Force. That way Deadpool’s attitude and personality stand out as something unique and special.
Because if everyone is wacky, then no one is.
Hulk Trades ‘Incredible’ for ‘Indestructible’
I guess there’s going to be a difference?
Even though “The Indestructible Hulk” doesn’t have the same ring to it, the Marvel NOW! relaunch of the Jade Giant is going to be written by Mark Waid and drawn by Leinil Yu. He’s also going to be wearing armor from now on, for reasons that will apparently be explained in the comic.
This one I think I’m actually going to pick up. Just like with Iron Man and Thor the past two days, Waid gave an interview with Marvel.com that you can read here. I like the ideas he has for the character because they fit what my ideal Hulk is about: a focus on Bruce Banner. I like my Hulk a certain way, and if it doesn’t match those criteria, I simply won’t buy the Hulk. It’s been that way for awhile now in the comics, and I haven’t bought Hulk regularly in years.
My ideal Hulk is the one we’re seeing in the movies. There’s a focus on Bruce Banner and his burden of the Hulk, and everyone appreciates his power. I simply like Banner more than I like Hulk. And for the longest time, Hulk was the main character in the comics. Then there were several years when there were a dozen or more Hulks, including the Red Hulk, She-Hulk, Red She-Hulk, several different She-Hulks, several different Sons of Hulk; it was ridiculous. I prefer it when Bruce Banner is the only Hulk (with an exception for She-Hulk). It dilutes his brand and his power if there’s a whole bunch of Hulks running around. And then the current Hulk series by Jason Aaron switches the dynamic, and has Banner as the evil monster with a normal Hulk who is trying to stay angry and not turn into Banner. No thanks, not for me.
So I like Waid’s approach of putting the focus back on Banner. And I like what he has in mind for Banner:
Different than we’ve seen in a long time, maybe ever. Again, we don’t want to give away too much, but our Bruce Banner is…evolved. Enlightened. He’s had an epiphany about his condition, and it affects everything. All I can say is that once upon a time, The Hulk was unique in comics because he viewed his condition as a curse, not a blessing; but now, 50 years later, a lot of super heroes feel that way. When I was most recently at DC that was the whole philosophy handed down editorially: that heroes should carry a great burden. Now, personally, I feel like if you can fly, then I don’t want to hear you whine about your problems, but I get it—that’s the “New Mindset.” So with Marvel’s permission, we’re taking The Hulk down a road that’s as unique for him as his persecution complex was in 1962.
The series is also going to star Maria Hill, because Banner is going to start working with SHIELD. That sounds pretty cool. I’m definitely looking forward to Mark Waid’s Hulk!
Somewhere a Marvel Marketing Exec is Giggling
I told you guys yesterday about the new Iron Man series, well now it’s Thor’s turn, complete with cover image and interview with writer Jason Aaron. Why is someone in Marvel marketing giggling? Because they’ve been drip feeding us these reveals over the past two weeks.
So that’s Thor: God of Thunder #1, written by Jason Aaron (who knows I exist) and drawn by Esad Ribic. You can read their full interview here, if you’re interested. Personally, I’m not a big fan of Thor, so I doubt I’ll be picking up this new series. I just feel like telling you guys all about this stuff in case you’re interested.
And because I’m now finding it all very giggly.
Marvel has this big Marvel NOW! initiative coming out in the fall. It’s nothing too fancy. Basically they’re just putting out a bunch of new #1 issues, with some new creative teams on the popular characters. They do this every couple of years, but each time they want to make it sound super fancy so that people will buy it. That’s fine. People gotta buy comics. But now Marvel marketing has the task of letting everybody know about the new series coming out. How do they do that? By flooding the comic news sites day after day after day.
Every day last week, Marvel released a little teaser image that gave a hint about the new series as well as the new creative team. They looked like this:
Why yes, I am very worthy, thank you
And every major comic book news site – except for me – put those banners on their front page. They were also able to figure out what comic it would be. Worthy = Thor. And Marvel released one a day until Friday, where it just dumped the remaining four.
Flash forward to this week, and it seems that Marvel is once again releasing this stuff one day at a time. Yesterday was Iron Man, today is Thor, and tomorrow will probably be Deadpool.
So I’m just picturing some Marvel marketing exec who decided that rather than reveal all the comics in one big announcement, they’d instead drip them out one day at a time, thereby ensuring they would have major placement on all the news sites each day. That guy is probably giggling and slapping himself on the back. He may even ask for a raise. There isn’t really a point I’m trying to make, I just think that guy is silly.
And yes, I recognize the irony of posting this stuff every day it comes out. No need to point that out.
Henchman-4-Hire