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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 10/24/15
Apparently Marvel Comics is quite keen on us enjoying their new Iron Man and Spider-Man comics, because the second issues are already here! And they’re both still pretty great! Marvel also delivers the return of Ant-Man this week, and drops a Karnak bomb in our laps! Writer Warren Ellis has got to be sitting on a pretty awesome throne these days. The guy is like one of those mafia ‘fixers’ who can just come in and kick ass no matter what assignment he gets.
Not that DC are slouching! Batman and Robin Eternal remains pretty solid and entertaining so far, and the latest issue of Gotham Academy is a ton of fun.
But Comic Book of the Week has to go to Amazing Spider-Man #2 for one of the funniest Spidey comics I’ve read in awhile!
‘Some guy’? C’mon!
Dan Slott is on a role! Also, the Prowler is pretty amazing in this issue too.
Comic Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #2, Astonishing Ant-Man #1, Batman and Robin Eternal #3, Gotham Academy #11, Invincible Iron Man #2, Karnak #1 and Titans Hunt #1.
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 10/10/15
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! The long national nightmare of Secret Wars is over, and the All-New, All-Different Marvel is upon us! Though, that isn’t exactly accurate. Secret Wars is not yet over, and will actually continue all the way into December. And it’s not a nightmare, I’m actually enjoying it. But the All-New, All-Different Marvel is definitely here in force this week! No longer do we have to rely on tie-ins or Star Wars comics to get our Marvel fix! We’ve got brand new first issues of Amazing Spider-Man, Invincible Iron Man and Doctor Strange, who, I guess, doesn’t deserve an adjective.
Comic Book of the Week goes to the first issue of the new Amazing Spider-Man, which only barely inches past the new Invincible Iron Man. Possibly because it includes the greatest cameo by the Prowler in a decade! Among other goodies.
It gets really good, people
Though this week isn’t all wine and roses. DC has launched their sequel to the henchly-reviled Batman Eternal! And like a pig to the slaughter, I picked that up too…
Comic Reviews: Action Comics #45, Amazing Spider-Man #1, Batman and Robin Eternal #1, Doctor Strange #1 and Invincible Iron Man #1.
Some Minor Prowler News to Salvage Today
I was supposed to have something really exciting to share with everybody today! I waited all day for it to show up, but nope, it didn’t. I guess I’ll have to share it tomorrow. Still, man, how disappointing? Have you ever checked and rechecked a website all day waiting for something awesome to get posted, only for the mysterious forces of the Internet to fail you? Alas.
Anyway, rather than wallow in disappointment, I thought I’d share a tidbit of news that came over the Internet this week: the Prowler is going to be a supporting character in the new Amazing Spider-Man comic!
Complete with costume redesign!
I love the Prowler! He’s one of my all-time favorite comic book characters, especially in the Spider-Man books. I love that Peter has a legit superhero friend out there who isn’t a love interest and isn’t just a different A-list hero. He’s just a good guy who pals around with Spidey sometimes. So finding out that he’s going to be a player in the new, relaunched Amazing Spider-Man series was some welcome, geeky news.
Hopefully stay tuned tomorrow for my really exciting news!
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Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #11
Ultimate Spider-Man is firing on all cylinders, baby! Last issue was absolutely perfect in its tense dialogue and character study, and this issue is absolutely perfect with its fantastic action and excitement. If I haven’t declared it already, this is the issue where Miles Morales is cemented in my mind as a new and exciting Spider-Man. The pain of Peter Parker’s young, unnecessary death still hurts, but writer Brian Michael Bendis is at the top of his game telling a decidedly Spider-Man story with a new, fascinating protagonist.
Ultimate Spider-Man #11
Not that I’m saying Miles should replace Peter everywhere, but for a comic in the Ultimate Universe, this is an absolutely fantastic story.
Comic rating: 5/5: Great!
Everything works in this issue. The dialogue, the art, the action, the energy. This is Miles Morales finally getting into a fight that actually lasts more than a single punch. This is Miles being unable to come up with a good quip in the middle of a brawl. This is Miles actually getting smashed around – though he shrugs it all off fairly well. This kid seems untouchable so far. I suppose that’s one complaint I would have: Miles still hasn’t had any trouble being a superhero. I realize it would be horrible to put a kid so young into a good scrape, but not even his costume gets torn. Peter Parker was put through the ringer. Miles seems almost impervious.
And the teaser cliffhanger at the end is absolutely fantastic! Can’t wait for the next issue! Too bad the Ultimate Universe will be starting another stupid crossover soon. Poor Miles.
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #10
For an issue that’s almost entirely talking heads, writer Brian Michael Bendis knocks it out of the park. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Bendis is a master of dialogue, and of crafting characters and conflicts through that dialogue. He does more for Ultimate Prowler in this one issue than he’s done in the entire series so far. And star Miles Morales has some fantastic moments as well, making decisions that will define him as a superhero and provide fascinating stories for us readers.
Ultimate Spider-Man #10
Bendis is basically writing a Masters Course on superhero comics with this series.
Comic rating: 5/5: Great.
Seriously, this issue is almost entirely talking. It’s a chat between Miles and his Uncle Aaron, only now they are both dressed in their respective superhero/villain costumes, and standing on a rooftop. The oddness of such an exchange is not lost on the characters either. But rather than let the 13-year-old Miles get bowled over by his adult uncle, Miles holds his own in the exchange, revealing true growth for the kid. He’s finally no longer beating up losers like Omega Red or the Ringer. It’s time for Miles to get a dose of the real world, courtesy of someone he thought he respected and idolized.
Uncle Aaron, meanwhile, reveals several new layers to his character during this rooftop chat. He’s not just some scumbag super-villain. He’s a thief, and he’s a smart thief. And he also, to some extent, has an eye out for his nephew. So even though he wants Miles’ help with nefarious things, and even threatens to blackmail the kid, Aaron still wants the best for the boy.
That’s some fascinating character work in what is another great issue of the Miles Morales saga.
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