What I Bought 5/10/06

Light pull this week only two books. Ken did put 52 in my pull (I think he did that for everyone), but Len had correctly surmised that it isn't my liter of cola. I did glance through it, was glad to see the Ray, lukewarm to the rest. I also glanced through Civil War #1. More on my reactions to that tomorrow. On to books I actually exchanged the currency that only has worth because the public believes it does for. Spoiler warnings.

Annihilation: Super Skrull #2 - Hot damn! Calvin pleased! This issue is told from the perspective of R'Kin, the wide-eyed mechanic "child" that helped Super Skrull last issue. This means we see his wide-eyed hero worship lost the first time he sees what conflict can really be like. When it isn't so easy to justify the deaths of people as "Them or us" it becomes harder to think of it as adventure.

Anyway, SS is looking for information on the Harvester of Sorrows, and he's not concerned with whether he plays a little dirty to get that info. In fact, he enjoys playing dirty. Though the kid is horrified by the actions, I think it does a good job of showing the Super Skrull as a pragmatist. Having gained information on where to find the creator of the weapon, SS heads there and proceeds to open a can of whup ass on security. We also get to see Super Skrull uses his powers in a couple of nifty ways.

When it's all said and done, not only have they got a possible method of destroying the Harvester, they've got some new allies as well. One problem: this issue goes a long way towards answering whether the "child" is what he appears to be. I think he really is a kid, and that takes a little of the mystery out of it. Still, 4.95 out of 5.

Spider-Girl #98 - I have been waiting at least 15 issues for Peter Parker to find out that two of his least favorite life forms, Normie Osborn and the Venom symbiote are working together. Of course, it wasn't from May fessing up, but from Kristy nonchalantly mentioning that working for Normie is nice, but geez, that "Venom thingie" (exact quote) is creepy. Classic. So Peter grounds May, takes away the costume and the webshooters. Except she gave up the red costume, not the black-and-white. Clever girl.

In other news, May finally finds out that Courtney believes May is seeing Moose behind Courtney's back. Hmm, this sounds like a job for May Parker, also known as Courtney's Best Friend! Too bad she's got no time for it.

'Cause the original Hobgoblin is in town, and he's after May's friends. Now it seems kind of silly that the Scriers told him to do this, all because May defeated one of their guys. He shouldn't have been stalking her. But damn, did he ever justify my faith in his coolness. Tom DeFalco writes a !#$%in' awesome Hobgoblin! Next issue: Venom and Spider-Girl versus the Hobgoblin, and I'm betting Phil Urich and Peter will show up too! Beautiful. 5 out of 5.