Category Archives: Marvel
Review: Punisher #8
Finally picking back up with the Punisher and the Bride facing off at the fireplace, the latest issue of The Punisher moves the plot forward in several ways. But it does so without fixing any of the frequent problems I’ve had with this series. Perhaps, like Teen Titans, I should just accept certain problems as part of the story and move on. Because if you overlook those issues, there really is a decent Punisher story here. And the twist ending is very exciting.
Punisher #8
We might finally get to see the Punisher doing some punishing next issue!
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
The Punisher himself remains a quiet phantom, there’s no changing that. But at least we get appearances from all the other major players, we even learn a bit more about a lot of them. Not that this ‘bit more’ really adds anything, especially to the villains. As far as I’m concerned, The Exchange has fallen flat on their faces as bad guys. Adding a bit of tension between them means zilch at this point. But it’s better than nothing, I suppose. I enjoy plot progression at least.
But when is he going to lose that stupid eye patch? Did Punisher lose his eye or what?
Synopsis and spoilers after the jump!
Review: X-Factor #231
Only more questions arise in the latest chapter of Madrox’s ‘afterlife’ adventure. I want the conclusion already! This issue dips in quality because it devotes far too much time to a bunch of alternate reality characters that just don’t matter. Or maybe they’re going to matter in future stories? I rather hope not, because there was nothing very interesting about this reality. When Madrox isn’t the focus, the book issue is incredibly boring. But when Madrox has the time to shine, the book is a gem.
X-Factor #231
Clear answer: give us more Madrox!
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
Basically this issue feels a bit like padding. The entire issue is spent with Madrox, but we don’t learn anything new about his predicament, don’t get any revelations about the ‘truth’ of his duplicating powers and we don’t get any closer to Madrox returning home. It’s basically just Madrox hanging out in an alternate reality, but rather than one filled with character like the one with the wedding, this reality feels mostly cliche. Not to mention the fact that it drops a lot of random references to ‘House of M’ and ‘Civil War’, plus features a character who hasn’t been seen in so long that new readers won’t have any clue why he is important.
But all this worry is only temporary, as next issue is the conclusion to ‘They Keep Killing Madrox’! I’m on pins and needles!
Synopsis and spoilers after the jump.
This Could Be the Movie S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier
I am oddly fascinated by the strange turn of events when toys and other promotional material give away the big secret of upcoming movies. Take, for example, The Amazing Spider-Man that comes out later this year. The villain is the Lizard, but the producers have been keeping him under wraps, not wanting to spoil the surprise. The Lizard didn’t even appear in the first trailer. So nobody was supposed to know what the Lizard looked like.
Until some company somewhere released pictures of the Spider-Man and Lizard spinning lollipop toys. That’s how everybody learned what the new Lizard would look like! Heck, it didn’t stop there. Several toy advertisements have given away the look of the Lizard without any sign of an official reveal.
Well now the same thing has possibly happened for The Avengers! A toy ad from Hasbro has revealed the potential look of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. I think it looks badass! It’s exactly what it sounds, a flying aircraft carrier. If this makes it into the film, I will be quite pleased.
Better than the Ultimate Helicarrier, which was just a normal aircraft carrier with a bunch of propellers on it
Yeah Baby! Avengers Halloween Costumes!
I knew these were coming! We’re still 10 months away from Halloween, but I knew that Avengers movie-brand Halloween costumes were coming! Marvel and, frankly, all superhero movies have jumped on the Halloween bandwagon in recent years. Does anybody remember the millions of Joker costumes following The Dark Knight?
Well I knew we’d definitely be getting costumes for The Avengers movie, and they do not disappoint! If only I was thinner, I would probably buy them all. Not only would they be fun for Halloween, but they’re a great starting point for a cosplay costume. They’d probably even be great for kinky bedroom role-playing too! I’m just saying. Laaaaadies.
You can check out all the costumes here, or check out the few I’m posting.
First up, check out this sweet Captain America costume!
It damn well better come with the shield
Personally, I hate, hate, HATE those costumes that don’t have real boots, just the visual of boots. It looks ridiculous! But that’s easily solved by a kickass pair of red boots. Likewise, red gloves. I just find it weird that these licensed costumes always stop there. Though apparently the gloves are sold separately. The puffiness looks kind of cool, as does the iffy helmet. If the actual shield looks that badass, this costume is a winner.
Obviously they have costumes for Captain America, Thor and Iron Man, the Big 3 when it comes to Avengers. Hulk costumes are on the way, as are Loki. But this costume company doesn’t stop with the big names.
Check out Hawkeye!
What, no bow?
At least this costume looks to have better boots. But I almost feel bad for it. Hawkeye’s movie costume is cool, in the movie, but as a Halloween costume it looks so boring! Nobody will have any idea who you are! Even if they see the movie in May, I bet most people who aren’t absolute comic book geeks won’t remember Hawkeye by October.
Unless he’s somehow the breakout star of the movie. Hey! It could happen.
Otherwise, we all know Thor is going to be really popular. Why else would people need to buy…this!
Those look like some gnarly waves, dude
What? No fake beard? Thor has always kind of looked ridiculous without the beard.
As for our African-American friends, there’s no reason to feel left out. There’s also, apparently, no reason to do something as ‘controversial’ as a black Thor or a black Hawkeye. These costumes have you covered!
You can be a black Nick Fury instead!
Though now I’m curious. Considering white Nick Fury looks the same as black Nick Fury, could that costume double as a white Nick Fury? All you’d need is some hair.
These costumes look hilariously awesome. Any true cosplayer probably wouldn’t bother with them, but for something cheap to buy and wear to a party or the bar on Halloween, these are fantastic!
But these are just for adults. The real people who need to benefit from these costumes are the little children who will actually be going trick-or-treating. Well don’t worry, because the little kids are covered!
He doesn't even need that crappy wig!
And the little girls are covered too!
Finally, a sexualized costume for little girls that I can support!
Fun Notes from April Comic Book Solicitations
For lack of anything better to write about today, let’s take a look at the recently released Marvel and DC comic book solicitations for April. Comic book companies release cover pictures and brief blurbs about upcoming comics months in advance so that retailers can know what they want to order. It also gives us comic book fans a chance to see what’s coming down the pike. I rather enjoy looking at all the colorful titles and read about upcoming stories, especially in my favorite titles.
There will be some spoilers, so watch out!
Marvel Comics
First up, let’s take a look at the potentially exciting summary of X-Factor #234.
X-Factor #234
X-Factor #234
Peter David 
Leonard Kirk (A)
Covers by David Yardin
• Catfight! Monet Calls Layla Out…And It’s Gonna Get Ugly.
• A Departed Member Of X-Factor Returns.
• And Introducing Seattle’s Newest Heroes: The Insignia And Shutterbug! (One Of Whom May Not Make It Through The Issue.)
A departed cast member returning!? Could that be the highly anticipated return of Jamie Madrox the Multiple Man to the land of the living? Madrox’s ‘death’ is supposed to play out over the next few months, will he be ready to return to the team in April? The cover is clearly more interested in the Monet vs. Layla fight, but I’m definitely curious who the blurb is talking about. I know that Peter David and Marvel marketing are protective of their secrets, so they wouldn’t spoil the end of the current Madrox ‘death’ storyline in a solicitation. But it’s enough to hope.
The only other character it could be is Darwin, who left the series many issues ago for parts unknown. It could very well be Darwin and I’m just getting my hopes up. But they will stay up until proven otherwise that Multiple Man isn’t coming back for good.
Next is X-Men Legacy #265 and the fabled appearance of Mimic!
X-Men Legacy #265
X-Men Legacy #265
Christos Gage (W)Rafa Sandoval (A)
Cover by Mark Brooks
• Time Is Running Out For Weapon Omega, The Mutant Time Bomb. How Will The X-Men Disarm Him Before He Implodes And Takes The School With Him?
• A Recently-Returned Mutant Becomes A Full-Fledged Member Of Wolverine’s X-Men.
I’ve known for months now that Mimic would be making a cameo appearance in this title, and it’s exciting to see him there on the cover. It’s rumored that either Mimic or Omega will join the cast, and I hope it’s Mimic…but it’ll probably be Omega. He has much more story potential as a student at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. The blurb there mentions someone joining, and I’m just going to assume that it’s going to be Omega.
But I can dream, can’t I?
Mentioned by one of the commenters in my last Ultimate Spider-Man review, when is regular artist Sarah Pichelli coming back? Well according to the solicitation for Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #9, she’s not coming back in April.
Ultimate Spider-Man #9
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #9
Brian Michael Bendis • David Marquez (A)
• The Police Have Miles Squarely In Their Sights!
• Prowler Versus The Scorpion!
• Is The Secret Of The New Spider-Man Out?!
So I guess we will continue to be denied Pichelli’s stellar art from the first 6 issues of the series. Shame. It’s cool to see more Ultimate Prowler action, but is that not a hideous cover? It looks computer rendered and it looks like colorforms plastered on a cardboard backdrop.
You can read the rest of the Marvel Comics solicitations for April here.
DC Comics
There’s only one comic in April from DC that I think has something worth note, and that’s Red Hood and the Outlaws #8.
Red Hood and the Outlaws #8
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL; Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
Suzie Su is back, and she’s betting a hospital full of hostages will get Red Hood’s attention! If that isn’t enough to keep him and the Outlaws busy, there’s someone waiting in the wings! It’s Tim Drake knocking on Red Hood’s door with a very special package for his estranged “brother.” Don’t miss Red Robin’s cameo this issue, as it ties directly into next month’s “Night of the Owls” Batman event!
A guess appearance by Red Robin!? Sweet! Tim Drake appears to be crossing back into the Bat-family of books in preparation for Night of the Owls. I only wish it was a more Batman-oriented book instead of the red-headed step-child of the family. Night of the Owls is going to encompass all of the Bat-books, including Red Hood, but Tim Drake and the Teen Titans are considered part of the teen-family of DC Comics. So he wasn’t guaranteed to appear in the crossover.
This solicitation is a good sign that Tim has not been forgotten.
You can read the rest of DC Comics solicitations for April here.
