Blog Archives
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 5/21/16
This was a good week for comics. My pile was lighter than I anticipated, and I thought things would be pretty calm. But then several issues really stood out to me as winners. We’ve got Silver Surfer, Harley Quinn, Astonishing Ant-Man, Power Man and Iron Fist; this is a damn fine week for the funny books. And almost any of these could have won Comic Book of the Week. I was really tempted to give Harley Quinn major props this week.
But Comic Book of the Week goes to All-New Wolverine #8! Writer Tom Taylor is really pushing Laura as a new hero in her own right, while doubling down on comic book awesomeness. I really love seeing where he takes the legacy of Wolverine, and how he uses it to empower Laura.
It’s a complicated legacy
Although Harley Quinn has something Wolverine doesn’t: romance! At least I think so…
Comic Reviews: All-New Wolverine #8, Astonishing Ant-Man #8, Harley Quinn #28, Power Man and Iron Fist #4, Silver Surfer #4 and Spider-Man #4.
Review: Captain America: Civil War
It doesn’t get much better than this. And I say that fully believing that Marvel can go even bigger, better and more exciting. If after more than ten movies deep into their film slate, Marvel can still produce something as amazing as Captain America: Civil War, then the future remains as bright as ever. This is the epic, spectacular, big bombast superhero movie that Marvel has been building towards all these years.
Movie Rating: 9/10 – Great.
Captain America: Civil War is a glorious mix of spectacle and drama, combining some of the most touching and important character work in the entire franchise with quite possibly the greatest bout of superhero action to ever grace the silver screen. The centerpiece ‘war’ between heroes at the abandoned airport is worth the price of admission alone. It’s worth of price of admission to every Marvel movie we’ve seen so far, building on almost each and every film to instill real emotional heft to these characters and their punches.
When Captain American, Iron Man and their allies face off in Civil War, there is real history behind it. We’ve seen the previous movies. We’ve seen the friendships and rivalries grow and build and strain. We’ve seen Steve Rogers and Tony Stark get testy in The Avengers. We’ve watched Black Widow’s character arc from the sidelines of other movies. We’ve seen Ant-Man consider calling the Avengers for help. This has been a journey.
Civil War is a movie for Marvel fans, for the people who have seen all their movies and probably held mini-marathons to gear up for this new one. It’s not ashamed of that focus, and it shouldn’t be. Marvel is producing a masterpiece on a scale never before imagined, and they’re pulling it off with such skill and excitement that I almost feel bad for other movies.
Like, do any of the previous Spider-Man movies even matter anymore? Batman v. Superman surely doesn’t.
Join me after the jump for the full review. There will be SPOILERS for Captain America: Civil War.
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 4/23/16
Welcome to another thrilling installment of Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews! We’ve got a plate of wonderful comics today, including some of my current favorites, like Astonishing Ant-Man. Some of my review columns have been a little light over the past month, and if you’ve been wondering why, it’s because I’m nearing the end of a Kickstarter campaign for my own comic, Gamer Girl & Vixen!
This week is the final week of the campaign. We’re so close to hitting our goal that I can taste it! But the nerves have kind of dulled me to every other awesome thing in the world right now. So if you’d like to order a copy of my own comic, head on over and pick one up. Every little bit counts at this point!
Comic Book of the Week goes to Power Man and Iron Fist #3, which continues to be a wonderfully entertaining comic. Hopefully my own comic book work can be this good someday.
Not every problem can be solved with mystical kung fu
Comic Reviews: Astonishing Ant-Man #7, Captain Marvel #4, Power Man and Iron Fist #3, and Totally Awesome Hulk #5.
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 3/19/16
This was another great week for comics! I am loving so many books these days. Most of them are Marvel, but I’m really trying to branch out into other comics. But those other comics are going to have to wait, because this week it’s all about great Marvel Comics!
For the first time ever, I’m splitting Comic Book of the Week between two issues: Power Man and Iron Fist #2 and Spider-Woman #5. Both were amazing comics, and both offered a new revelation to me: a lived in, casual Marvel Universe. Both comics tell a very down-to-Earth story about their characters and the hero and villain-populated city they live in, with gossip, friendships, dance clubs and more. Both issues were a true joy to read.
I’m loving the reasonable collars
David Walker and Sanford Greene’s Power Man and Iron Fist is already shaping up as the Comic Book of the Year, and we’re only two issues in.
Comic Reviews: Astonishing Ant-Man #6, Captain Marvel #3, Power Man and Iron Fist #2, Silk #6 and Spider-Woman #5.
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 2/27/16
Tough week! I don’t know if somebody dumped my Cheerios or what, but I wasn’t as thrilled about this week’s comics as I was last week. Last week was great! Last week was hilarious. This week…not so much. Why can’t you be more like last week, this week?
We’ve got a ton of comics though, from Astonishing Ant-Man to Saga to Silk to We Are Robin! This week even sees the long-awaited return of Karnak by Warren Ellis! Unfortunately, it does not live up to the excitement of the first issue.
Fortunately, the new issue of Hellcat is as great as all the rest have been!
Totally justifies the random Doctor Strange cameo. I think this makes at least three at Marvel.
Comic Reviews: Angela: Queen of Hel #5, Astonishing Ant-Man #5, Karnak #2, Patsy Walker a.k.a. Hellcat #3, Saga #34, Silk #5 and We Are Robin #9.
Henchman-4-Hire 