Category Archives: Reviews
Review: X-Factor #233
Madrox the Multiple Man is alive again and all is right with the world – except for this far from spectacular issue of X-Factor. Don’t get me wrong, it was a fun read, but it did not accomplish anything particularly noteworthy or interesting. This is mostly just a solid story with a few funny gags, some nice characterization, but a pretty bland conflict. And then the teasers for the next big storyline leave me in a big pile of yawns.
X-Factor #233
Still, Multiple Man is back from the dead! I’m definitely more excited than Pip the Troll…I’ll explain in a bit.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
X-Factor #233 basically features a straight forward and simple tale of the good guys vs. some generic bad guys, while supporting two subplots that move along certain storylines while setting up others. From a purely storytelling standpoint, writer Peter David probably should have held off for longer before bringing Multiple Man back (blasphemy, I know!). But the primary conflict that arises in this book, the idea that Havok and Polaris took over as leaders of the team in Madrox’s absence, has not had any time to play out. The last time we saw the entire team of X-Factor in this book, they were introduced to Havok and Polaris becoming the new team leaders. This issue features one superhero adventure with Havok and Polaris as leaders. But next issue, most likely, is going to be about who gets the Matrix of Leadership, Madrox or Havok/Polaris?
Yet we haven’t gotten to know Havok and Polaris as leaders. This issue indicates that some time has passed since Madrox died, but we, as readers, have not experience this time. This conflict of leadership isn’t really the kind of conflict David wants it to be if we have no reason to support Havok and Polaris’ claims to the title.
They have no legitimate claim to leadership now that Madrox is back. But something tells me they’re not just going to step aside. I guess we’ll find out next issue. For now, let’s check out this issue after the jump!
Review: Punisher #9
Holy crap this is a terrible comic book. What a difference an artist makes. And what a difference crappy storytelling makes. Sheesh. All of the mood, all the badassery, all the sensible storytelling goes right out the window with this lackluster and downright pathetic issue of Punisher. What the hell happened? I remember last issue ending on a very cool cliffhanger. But this issue just drops that cliffhanger flat. I half expected a sad trombone to play. The rest of the issue does not make up for it. We have a dull fight scene, a downright bizarre interruption and when we finally get to the moment the entire series has been buildings towards, it lacks energy and excitement because writer Greg Rucka has created a Punisher that just doesn’t interact well with people.
Punisher #9
And he looks freakin’ ridiculous!
Comic rating: 1/5: Terrible.
Rucka’s Punisher build up has come home to roost as we finally reach several confrontations that have been building all series. Punisher faces off against one of the leaders of the Exchange, and Punisher has a conversation with the Bride. But both encounters are absolutely botched. Punisher comes off as a pathetic lightweight against a villain who has not earned even an ounce of villainous cred, and then the fight ends in a ludicrously convoluted way that just flies in the face of the entire series up to this point. I could barely believe what I was reading. I know it all has to do with the crossover coming up with Daredevil next month, but couldn’t they have found a better way to introduce this idea?
Then when we finally get to the momentous meet-up between the Punisher and the Bride, it falls completely flat because Greg Rucka’s Punisher is very short on words, thoughts, emotions or anything else. There’s no chemistry between these two characters, but frankly that’s not surprising.
Join me for a full synopsis, with spoilers, and more analysis after the jump.
Review: Scarlet Spider #3
Scarlet Spider continues to make me happy. I was worried about a third issue slump of some kind, but I’m pleased to say it did not happen. The quick introduction is over, and Scarlet Spider does not disappointed now that we’re into the meat of the series. It looks like it will stand on its own two legs now. After this issue, I have a lot more faith in writer Christopher Yost to give us a great series.
Scarlet Spider #3
It helps that Scarlet Spider is pretty damn badass in this issue.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
Oddly though, he still doesn’t have his ‘name’. Nobody calls him Scarlet Spider, especially not himself. That’s not a problem, just a little weird. But then ‘Scarlet Spider’ is definitely a more marketable comic book title than ‘Kaine’. Yost has a lot of fun building up the supporting cast this issue, and giving Kaine a new sort of spin on being a superhero – he’s not hiding his identity. All the friends he’s made so far know where he lives, know his name and know that he’s the Scarlet Spider. It’s kind of neat, actually, and used to great effect.
How exciting is it that the Scarlet Spider comic book is actually really good?
Food Review: Doritos Locos Tacos!
Lordy praise, my eyes have been opened! Biting into the Doritos Locos Tacos is like eating at the cafeteria of God on Taco Mondays. Prometheus once upon a time gave us fire, but it seems he’s returned to this mortal plain to give us tacos wrapped in a Doritos shell as well. It’s the most ludicrously brilliant idea of man. Simple in its genius and devastating in its ingeniousness.
I can only hope the person who created the Doritos Locos Tacos is currently picking out what color cushions he wants for his throne on Mount Olympus.
Zeus, Jesus and Superman can all call it a day, their work in this world is complete
I have been waiting for this day like the coming Apocalypse, ever since I first learned that such a thing existed as the Doritos Locos Tacos. I thought to myself, ‘when Lord, when will my local Taco Bell be graced with your most divine creation?’ And then earlier this week, God (or the guy at my Taco Bell drive through) told me that the answer was soon! Thursday, in fact. But it wasn’t until today that I revisted that most bun-less of all fast food restaurants to order me some tacos.
Put aside your hatred of their ‘meat’-based products, or your fears that Taco Bell mostly served mulched newspaper. This is not a day to rehash those old fears. This is a day to fall to your knees and praise Taco Bell as the greatest of all food sources.
The movie Demolition Man was right: Taco Bell will win the fast food wars. Somehow Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes knew that this day would come.
The Doritos Locos Tacos is the hydrogen bomb of food.
But how does it taste, you ask? Like a dream wrapped in a tickle smothered in joy sauce and delivered by 12 beautiful, bikini-clad women! Crunchy, yet cheesey. The meat softens the underside of the shell, but in a deliciously glorious sort of way. The cheese of the taco combines with the cheese of the nacho shell to create a cheese-splosion of intensity that hasn’t been seen since combining Pop Tarts with s’mores.
Even the name is fun to say. Why else add the word ‘locos’ unless you knew that the mere existence of this marvelous meal would rend sanity asunder. It’s like the window of human creativity has been opened. Taco Bell has revealed to us a new universe of possibilities, and we as human beings have just to climb through that window to discover where else our minds can reach.
Believe my words, dear readers, this is one damn fine taco.
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #8
Sara Pichelli is back and ain’t life grand! This is it folks, the first perfect grade Ultimate Spider-Man comic since I started reviewing the Miles Morales saga. This issue has everything! Some serious drama for Miles, a fun and funny fight with a super-villain, growing storylines, fantastic art and a random visit with Aunt May and Gwen Stacy! Even the cliffhanger is kind of exciting, even though it’s almost identical to last issue’s cliffhanger.
Ultimate Spider-Man #8
Still, this book is riding high on a plateau of pure awesome!
Comic rating: 5/5: Great!
Last issue’s cliffhanger with the sudden appearance of Uncle Aaron at Miles’ school does not disappoint, and writer Brian Michael Bendis gives us a wonderfully wicked wrinkle in Miles’ new life as a superhero. Not only does Uncle Aaron threaten Spider-Man, but he provides a double whammy with the possibility of shattering Miles’ personal life as well. These are serious stakes facing our hero, which are long overdue in this series. As I said in my last review, so far Miles has mostly just had a few easy fights with a couple of lame super-villains. Kangaroo? Omega Red? Please. Well now the Prowler is going to prove to be a real thorn in our hero’s side.
But that’s just one part of this stellar issue. Miles’ may have a lot on his mind when it comes to Uncle Aaron, but the whole rest of the world seems to be conspiring against him too. Bendis is playing quite the game of chess with this comic. Spoilers and synopsis after the jump!
