Oh, and don't feed the spoilers.
Amazing Spider-Girl #1 - Be honest, you knew I would buy this, right? There's no way I couldn't. DeFalco does a nice job of setting the scene for new readers, letting them know the who's and why's, as well as moving things along for the returning fans. We learn what May's been up to since hanging up the webs, and it's quite a lot. She's reconnecting with friends, having a positive imapct on the community, and gasp! actually has a romantic relationship. We get to see someone who appears to be a future rival for May at school and the Hobgoblin is still around and looking for something, and he's built an organization to help him. The Original Hobgoblin, folks. Accept no substitutes. And, in typical Parker fashion, the vow to stop crime-fighting can't last forever, as May once again finds herself donning spandex (that's a little joke for those who read it).Ron Frenz' art was good. My only real problem with his work has always been faces, especially May's when she's not masked, and that seems to have improved. Maybe he was suffering burnout when the last series wrapped up, but May's face doesn't seem to change in shape nearly as much as it used to. Or maybe May's filled out, since she's not burning so many calories rooftop-hopping? Also, I find it interesting that among the parents, Mary Jane gets more use than Peter, possibly symbolic of May's embracing of everyday life, as opposed to the webslinging. I'm totally good to go with this. 4.9 out of 5.
Annihilation #3 - And now, the real fun begins. After last issue, I was left wondering who would appear to turn the tide for Nova's forces. We get an answer, but it's not really one I was expecting. We also get to see Annihilis' concept of "discipline", and Thanos unlock the secrets of the Power Cosmic. And what he's done with that knowledge, uh well, he's using Galactus as an unwilling weapon of planetary destruction. He has essentially rebuilt the Harvester of Sorrows.Holy crap.
Moving on. Ronan's giving it a good shot against Ravenous, but doesn't quite seem to have it. But wait, Firelord's back on his feet! And someone's back from the dead. No, not Quasar. Try again. Oh yeah, and Drax decides to play Billy from Predator. You remember Billy, Native American guy, got bad feelings about being watched, tried to fight the Perdator on a tree bridge with a machete. Well, replace "Predator" with "hundreds of giant insects with razor teeth" and that's what you got. Freaking awesome.
Even so, it's now a whole new war, and Nova's coming to grips with that. And Ronan totally dissed those stupid infighting heroes on Earth. That's always a good thing. And Andrea DiVito, I love the art. Keep it coming. 5.0 out of 5.
Cable/Deadpool #33 - We've escaped the dangerous Civil War Valley, only to enter the deadly Liefeld Cover Forest. Beware! Cable also needs to beware, because the Powers That Be aren't to happy with him. Damn time-traveling techno-hippy, how dare he try to introduce peace and stability to the world?!Anyhoo, Providence's waste fusion facilities blow up, which gets Askani-son's attention. Which leaves Rumekistan nicely unguarded for a SHIELD covert ops. Unfortunately for them, Cable's smart enough to figure that out (once he wakes up), and so he's off to Rumekistan - with one Wade Wilson in tow. That leaves his trusted advisors to solve the mystery of "Who destroyed our poo-burning factories?" My guess is that it was Ole Mr. Jenkins at the amusement park. Damn waste fusion plant, driving away all my customers!
One word of advice to Cable: If you know that a friend of yours is not happy with you, then perhaps it would be good to deal with their problems before trusting them to cover your back. Just a suggestion. 4.3 out of 5.
Ms. Marvel #8 - And this book too, has almost reached the edge of Civil War Valley. Can it escape unscathed? Uhhhhh, no. Carol has nicely descended into the "Don't ask questions, smack who you're told to smack" camp. Congrats, Ms. Danvers. OK, not entirely, but close enough for government work, which works nicely, since that's what she's doing.True congrats be to The Shroud. Not only did you help Julia Carpenter regain use of her legs, you remined Carol that what's "best", isn't automatically what's "right". Go Shroud! Maka Arana see that this registration stuff is crap! And Carol, Julia put those two dozen SHIELD agents in the hospital because they were trying to arrest her and The Shroud. Ever heard of "live and let live"? Apparently not, because they go to stake out Julia's parents house, and await her arrival.
This leads to more of that "hero versus hero" conflict Marvel is convinced we all want. Memo to Marvel: No, I want heroes to punch villains, not each other! Get it through your expletive-deleted skulls, you stupid tossers! The issue ends with a surprise guest, but not before the really sad stuff preceeding it. I gotta tell you, I haven't hated the main character of a book I bought this much since Tim Drake at the end of Robin's first One Year Later arc (the little bastard). So congrats Ms. Marvel, you've joined rare company! No, there are no gifts or snacks. Bummer, but still surprisingly good, in it's own way. 3.6 out of 5.
X-Factor #12 - I love how these last three covers have been part of one big pitcure, especially the little dots going across all three. Kinda cute, definitely clever. We find out what's up with the Elder Tryp, why there are so damn many of him, and why he wants to stop X-Factor from undoing Decimation. He doesn't make a bad case, except for the part where he could easily be lying. How would they know? All Monet is sure of is Tryp believes what he told them; doesn't mean it's true.While M, Jamie, and Rahne are busy with Elder Tryp, Ric and Siryn are digging some dirt on Singularity. I don't know what Singularity needs all those weapons for, but there sure are a lot. But then they run into some trouble, and at the end, when it seems like X-Factor has been stymied by laws and the power of their enemies, that crazy part of Jamie rears his head again, and boo-yah.
Combined with Layla's typical behind the scenes maneuvers, Old Man Tryp would seem nicely thwarted, but he's gained one major advantage. Now he knows who's been working against him, and he really hasn't got much to lose now. I can't wait for year 2. 4.7 out of 5.
8 comments:
I guess the Ms.Marvel writer agrees with you, since he said in the letters page that Carol screwed up and there will be consequences.
Hopefully, one of those consequences is Rogue beating some sense into yet another Marvel character bent out of shape by Civil War mandate.
On Cable/Deadpool, I think Cable had Wade watch his back to make Six Pack think they'd won. I say think because Cable's old girlfriend, Domino, will get his back when the chips are down.
On X-Factor... damn, that was trippy (no pun intended). Good issue. I love how it tied together a lot of what had been going on up to this point--including the dupe from the first issue.
Calvin: yet again, you and I are on the same page. My reviews are up tomorrow, and they nicely dovetail with yours.
Well done.
And now, the real fun begins. After last issue, I was left wondering who would appear to turn the tide for Nova's forces. We get an answer, but it's not really one I was expecting.
Huh? Did anyone turn the tide? Haven't Nova's guys lost? or are you talking about Bad-Ass-Drax's heroic scrifice?
And someone's back from the dead.
Oh, you mean that. Oh yes.
Yeaah, Annihilation goes up to eleven. And Rom's Spacknights are still to come!
fortress: Yeah, I saw that on the second read through. That'll teach me to ignore the letters page. And truthfully, that issue leaves me really conflicted. I'm not sure that Carol could have handled it better.
len!: Good point. Cable does always seem to be 17 steps ahead.
chris: Great minds think alike. 'Nuff said.
kelvin: Actually what I meant about not getting the answer I expected was, that NOBODY turned the tide. Like you said they lost. There was no surprise guest who showed up and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. That's what surprised me.
And I'm waiting for the Spaceknights. Damn that ought to be awesome!
I worry that "consequences" means, "I'm going to fucking humiliate the hell out of her like Bendis does to Jessica Drew, Because I love her so much."
I kind of had to drop the book issues ago when Reed first ominously mentioned "consequences".
Way to go, Carol! You've just traumaticed that little girl for life! But, hey, you were justified because Spiderwoman while fighting for her life, took out a few government thugs. You rock! Now, go and drown some kittens while you're at it.
Ah, I see. It'd be too early to turn the tide yet, but yeah, they're doing a great job of making things seem grim.
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