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Thor Issue 617

I’m sick of this damn scientist. I put up with him in Issue 615, got sick of him in Issue 616, and now I just hope he’s the first person killed when the World Eaters attack. This time, after failing with Volstagg, Thor and Balder, Dr. Solvang pleads his case to Iron Man. At least Iron Man is able to get through to Balder, who finally explains why the Asgardians don’t seem to care. Since Matt Fraction is also the writer for Invincible Iron Man, he has a good handle of the character and it’s a solid scene between the two. The bulk of this issue, however, deals with Thor’s quest to find his newly-resurrected half-brother, Loki. At the end of the last issue, Thor used the Odinforce to return Loki to the world of the living, for good or ill. He finds Loki in the body of a young street hustler in France; it’s another one of those great character-driven scenes Fraction’s been giving us. Loki has been reborn, but has no memories of his past deeds, merely nightmares of the wrongs he’s done. Thor gives him a second chance, restoring his memories. It doesn’t go exactly right, and Loki is back as a child. It’s almost as if Thor subconsciously brought back the ideal vision of Loki from his fond childhood memories, and not the jealous trickster that boy grew into. With Thor once again in good spirits, maybe he can get to smiting something with Mjolnir in the next issue. Of course, we have another interlude with Thoth and the World Eaters, this time invading Nidavellir, the realm occupied by the Dwarves. They’re met with no resistance, as almost all the dwarves have fled to Earth, in an attempt to reach the safety of Asgard. With inhabitants of another realm now in Midgard, things are finally starting to come together. On its own, this is a fantastic issue. The art is as fantastic as ever, perhaps even better, and the scenes with Thor and Loki are definitely some of the best writing Fraction’s done in years. We get just enough of the other aspects of the story to move things along, and it finally looks like some action is on the way. The only problem is with the overall picture is still the pacing. We’re now what I would assume is halfway through Fraction’s first “volume” of Thor, and as good as the writing has been, we still haven’t gotten anywhere. If the first two issues had been combined, leaving this installment intact as the second chapter, I’d be a lot more confident. Still, I can’t complain about the quality here, and I don’t know what Fraction’s plans for Thor are, so maybe the flow of the story thus far fits his overall vision for the title. Thor Issue 617 Marvel Comics Story: Matt Fraction Art: Pasqual Ferry, Matt Hollingsworth...

Captain America Issue 611: “The Trial of Captain America, Part 1”

During the previous story arc, Baron Zemo, a longtime Captain America villain, revealed to the world that the new Captain America was none other than Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers’s long-thought-dead sidekick and the former Soviet assassin known as the Winter Soldier. Obviously, the public did not take this news well and a media storm is brewing around Bucky, Steve and the other Avengers. The issue begins with an assembly of Avengers trying to decide the best course of action, before Steve takes his arguments to the President. Neither group knows just how to approach the situation. On one hand, Bucky had no control over his actions; he didn’t even know who he was. On the other, he’s still responsible for the deaths of Americans. Many of the Avengers at the meeting know better than anyone else that a person deserves a second chance, but times have changed. Bucky knows what has to be done and makes the right decision; he turns himself in. This is why Ed Brubaker is one of Marvel’s best writers right now. He continues to come up with new and interesting ways to use his characters. Not every obstacle can be overcome by punching it in the face, and Brubaker writes real-world dialog better than anyone else in the industry. The story is well-paced and sets up the rest of the story arc; it draws on the last several years of Captain America stories while still being accessible to new readers. The art, unfortunately, isn’t quite up to par. Captain America has featured several artists over the past couple years, and this is the first issue penciled by Acuña. The entire issue just lacks detail; faces have minimal expression, some characters are just vague outlines instead of being fully-drawn and it’s hard to tell what’s even going on in Bucky’s fight scene. The art isn’t bad, but only because there’s not enough of it to even be considered “bad.” It’s just incomplete and very disappointing. That said, I still loved every page of this comic. Brubaker’s work on Captain America has been leading to this point for years, and we’re about to get the payoff. I can’t wait to read the rest of this story. Captain America Issue 611: “The Trial of Captain America, Part 1” Marvel Comics Story: Ed Brubaker Art: Daniel Acuña...

Chaos War Issue 2 of 5

Okay, first of all, what he hell is up with that cover? Every character looks like crap; it’s definitely not something that would entice me to pick this comic up off the shelf. Just… no. I’m actually going to stay on the art, as it’s been an ongoing point of discussion with this series. It’s apparent that Khoi Pham spent more time and effort on the first issue than here. While issue 1 had some impressive visuals with only a few awkward panels, every character here seems off, with too many lines where they’re not needed. There are still some high points, but overall, it just doesn’t look right most of the time. The heavy-handed light and shadow effects only make it worse. Maybe I had rose-tinted glasses on with the first issue, but Chaos War 2 just looks worse to me. The story is more of the same; cosmic and divine entities are waging war on all existence. Hercules’s big assault at the end of the first issue failed miserably, leaving all of Earth’s mortal heroes down for the count. The issue mostly revolves around Hercules building up a force that can withstand the Chaos King, a new incarnation of the God Squad. Thor and Venus are already at his side and he quickly adds Sersi (from The Eternals), as well as Galactus and the Silver Surfer to his ranks. It also seems you simply can’t tell a story these days without Daimon Hellstrom making an appearance. The team works, and each character actually has their own motivations for fighting at Herc’s side; the table is set for big action in the next few issues. A side story in this issue focuses on the chaos King attacking the various realms of the dead, and fallen heroes being called forth to fight back. It’s actually a solid setup for the various Chaos War tie-ins; X-Men, Dead Avengers and Alpha Flight. Besides, any time Ares is leading the charge to battle, your comic grows in awesomeness. The whole story is told in the usual straight-forward, Incredible Hercules style. The dialog isn’t very deep, but it keeps the pace up, constantly driving the story forward. In an odd twist, there isn’t even much humor to be found here; it fits the story, but there’s definitely more Pak here than Van Lente. Chaos War may not be the greatest miniseries I’ve ever read, but I’m still enjoying it. The art’s making it difficult, and while the quality of the writing may not be on par with the likes of Shadowland, the content is solid. It’s big and fun and, when the story and art click into place, I can still see the potential here. Chaos War Issue 2 of 5 Marvel Comics Story: Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente Art: Khoi Pham, Tom Palmer...

Stan Lee’s Soldier Zero Issue 1: “One Small Step for Man, Part 1”

Soldier Zero is the first of three new comics from BOOM! Studios and Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment. Just looking at the names of the companies, it seems like a good match. Stan Lee is not handling the actual writing of the new titles, but rather providing the story and character concepts. So, with that setup, I’m not sure who to blame for this disaster. On the surface, Soldier Zero is a solid concept. A disabled war veteran gains an alien suit of armor, enabling him not only to walk, but to be a hero again. It starts off with a bang, with the “Soldier Zero” suit flying through space, single-handedly taking down an enemy warship. Sadly, less than two pages in, it all comes to a crashing halt when we’re introduced to the comic’s main character. Stewart Trautmann is a war veteran who lost the use of his legs in Afghanistan and is now in a wheelchair. That wheelchair and the way Stewart’s disability is handled completely ruins this comic for me. The first time we see Stewart, he’s arguing with a local business owner who has banned wheelchairs from his store because it’s a fire risk. Are you freaking kidding me? Have Lee and Cornell never heard of the Amercians with Disabilities Act? This entire scene is so unbelievably STUPID I almost wanted to stop reading right there, as it gives an accurate indication of how Stewart’s handicap is being handled in this story and it certainly doesn’t end there. Stewart is still coming to terms with his new life, and at least his part of the story is decent, but there is something seriously wrong with the rest of the world. I thought society had reached a point where someone in a wheelchair, not to mention a war veteran who was put there fighting for his country, would be treated with a little respect. According to Soldier Zero, I obviously give society far too much credit, as even Stewart’s friends treat him like some kind of mutant. Again, Stewart’s not a bad character, but the rest of the world Lee and Cornell have created here is so fundamentally broken that, by the time the Soldier Zero suit shows up, I couldn’t care less. The comic looks amazing, the art truly is fantastic, but it’s also irrelevant. It doesn’t matter how cool your superhero is, if the human element is unbelievable, then the heroics have no point of reference. Maybe I’ve been spoiled; the way the writers of Amazing Spider-Man have been handling Flash Thompson in a similar situation has been one of that title’s many high marks. As it stands, Soldier Zero has completely soured me on its prospects after only one issue. Stan Lee’s Soldier Zero Issue 1: “One Small Step for Man, Part 1” BOOM! Studios Story: Stan Lee, Paul Cornell Art: Javier Pina...

Spider-Man versus Wolverine Issue 1

Unless you were in diapers at the time, you remember how much of an impact the Cold War had on culture in the 80’s; it was in movies, on television, in books… hell, Sting even sang about it. It was also in comic books. In 1987, Marvel published the one-shot, “Spider-man versus Wolverine”. This issue was important for several reasons. As intriguing as the Cold War setting was at the time, the issue’s true strength came from its characters and their development. First, it gave us a glimpse into Wolverine’s past. Now you have to remember that we’d not yet been bombarded with the character’s origins, and so every morsel was appreciated… and devoured. Secondly, it introduced us to one of the best duos of all time; Peter Parker and Logan. Many people are reading the current “Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine” series, wondering where all of the animosity between the characters stems from. Well, look no further. “Spider-Man versus Wolverine” opens with Wolverine and a wounded friend named Charlie, in East Berlin surrounded by fifty Soviet operatives. Though writer James C. Owsley and penciler Mark Bright try not to give too much away, the foreshadowing is fairly evident from that very first frame. Regardless of the fact that Charlie’s girls are obviously strapped down, you can still tell that he’s a she… which leads us to wonder why Logan would go through all this trouble unless she’s a love interest. And that’s how a good writer/artist team can hook you in with a single panel. From there, you find out that Charlie’d taken a job for the KGB and that they’d decided to end her contract… permanently. (Insert groan here.) While Wolverine goes into a berzerker rage, slaughtering all of the Soviet agents, Charlie disappears and doesn’t resurface until years later. Without spoiling too much, Charlie’s out for revenge. You may be wondering how Spider-Man factors into all of this. Well, Ned Leeds from the Daily Bugle has uncovered some leads regarding Charlie, whose become a hot news item. He convinces Johah to send him and a photographer to Germany to investigate some recent murders of former KGB agents. As it would happen, Wolverine’s also been tracking Charlie. He wants to help her, in so much as he can, knowing that her time is very limited. Seems damn near every agency in the world wants her dead since she’s gone rogue. While walking the streets of West Berlin, Logan passes Peter Parker on the street, and recognizes him by his scent. Before you know it, the two are wreaking havoc in west and east Berlin. Tensions continue to rise throughout the entire issue, first with the death of Ned Leeds, right through till the thrilling conclusion with Charlie. The fight scenes in the issue, whether Spider-Man and Wolverine are working together, or against one another, are spectacular. And the dialogue between the two is equally engaging. Owsley also manages to insert a lot of quirky humor, without taking away from the seriousness of the actual story. The scenes of Peter trying to rent a costume are certain to make you chuckle… and they provide some insight into the similar costume joke in the new “Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine”. The art is solid, and very indicative of the time in which it was created. An interesting thing to note about the art however, is that by this time, they’d not yet settled on Wolverine’s claws; whether they sprung out through exit points on his hands, or whether they just sliced through his skin. I’ve attached a screenshot which shows the metal exit points on his bare hands. This is a classic issue that deserves a spot on any collector’s Wolverine shelf. I remember purchasing this issue when it was first released, and was saddened to sell it when I’d stopped reading comic books. One day, I’ll get my hands on a copy and be able to move on with my life. For those who read and enjoy this issue, I would strongly recommend you check out the “Spider-Man versus Wolverine What If?” one-shot that was released in March of 2008. I won’t go into too much details regarding that issue in this review, but to say that it is very, very good. It offers writers Jeff Parker and Paul Tobin a fantastic opportunity to have a lot of fun with these two characters. Expect a review for that issue soon. Spider-Man versus Wolverine Issue 1 Marvel Comics Story: James C. Owsley Art: Mark Bright, Al Williamson, Petra Scotese...

Fantastic Four Issue 584: “Three, Part 2: Congratulations, Mister Grimm. You’re handsome again!”

I’ll admit, I don’t know a lot of the backstory here; I’m just sort of going with the flow. Prior to Issue 583, I hadn’t ever read Fantastic Four regularly. So, everything I know leading up to this issue is from the recap page at the front. Apparently, The Thing has some sort of potion that can make him human again for a week; Sue Storm is joining Namor for a diplomatic meeting; and the corpse of Galactus that showed up at the end of the previous issue is from an alternate future. Okay, then. The focus of this issue is the newly-human Ben Grimm. He has a week to live as a normal person again, and Johnny Storm is helping him make the most of it. I absolutely loved this entire sequence; there are some fantastic character moments and Epting captures the mood perfectly. The best panel in this comic has to be their dinner with “old friends,” none other than Stan Lee and Jack Kirby making cameo appearances in the comic they created. It all ends with a very touching scene with his long-time love interest Alicia Masters. It looks like the Human Torch is a pretty nice guy, setting all this up for his best friend. The issue ends on an awesome, though confusing note. The version of Galactus that Silver Surfer discovered was from the future, yet died in the present. I may have to look into some back issues to figure this whole thing out, though maybe Reed Richards will be offering up an explanation in the next issue. All in all, I absolutely loved this issue in every way, though I’m a little unsure how far it advances the overall plot. Hickman’s writing on this and other titles has been near-universally praised, and there’s nothing here that makes me think he doesn’t have a plan, so I’m sure it will all come together soon. Also, the heavy character development of The Thing may lead many to believe he’s the character being killed off, but don’t be surprised if it’s a red herring. Fantastic Four Issue 584: “Three, Part 2: Congratulations, Mister Grimm. You’re handsome again!” Marvel Comics Story: Jonathan Hickman Art: Steve Epting, Paul Mounts...

X-Men Issue 4: “Curse of the Mutants, Part 4”

Things just keep getting worse for the X-Men; Wolverine is now a vampire and the bloodsuckers are running rampant over San Francisco. Historically, the X-Men work best when their backs are against the wall, so the second half of this first story arc for the new title should be entertaining. The comic starts out with the X-Men finally going on the offensive, with the focus being on the team of Blade and Angel. At first, it seems like an awkward pairing and, functionally, it is. However, the banter between the two and the way their personalities go together make for a fun read. Blade gets to kick some vampire ass, so it’s all good in the end. Paco Medina’s artwork is always solid, but really shines when the action starts. A solid amount of time is spent with the vampires this issue. Xarus’s plans are starting to come together, though some of his subordinates are growing impatient. We start to believe that he truly does want as many mutants left alive as possible in the coming battle, though not for any humanitarian reasons; he wants them to grow his ranks. I’ve enjoyed these scenes so far, though the vampire rhetoric from Jubilee and Wolverine is getting a bit tiring. The highlight of this issue is the conversation between Xarus and Cyclops. Xarus tries to sway Cyclops over to his side; again, it’s a fairly convincing argument and I really like the parallel between the mutants and vampires. Whether Xarus is sincere in his statements remains to be seen, but I like the concept. On the other hand, Scott Summers is in full alpha male mode and I love it every time. When Cyclops speaks, you damn well better listen. He never loses his poker face, even when Wolverine is revealed to the X-Men; I think it’s the visor. Anyway, we get some great dialog between Wolverine and Cyclops, bringing back a lot of the old animosity between the two over the years. Just like the previous three, Issue 4 of X-Men is more build-up for the inevitable clash between the mutants and the vampires. There’s been a lot of dialog and story development with only small tastes of action up to this point. I’m all for story development, especially when it’s as interesting as X-Men has been, but eventually you need to get to some action. I think Gischler understands this, which is why we’ve gotten the small bits of action mixed in to hold us over. If the next two issues deliver the big, fun action the X-Men franchise is known for, it will be worth all the build-up. If they don’t, X-Men could go from “promising” to “disappointing” real quick. Personally, I can’t wait to see Medina unleashed on a huge brawl and I’ll be heartbroken if I don’t get it. X-Men Issue 4: “Curse of the Mutants, Part 4” Marvel Comics Story: Victor Gischler Art: Paco Medina, Juan Vlasco, Marte Gracia...

Thor Issue 616

What is where Asgard should be? Well, we’re no closer to answering that question now than we were last issue, but things are slowly moving in the right direction. This issue is divided up into three separate stories. First is a small interlude back to Broxton, Oklahoma, where the local women are trying to cheer the goddess Kelda up after the death of her mortal love, Bill. Unlike some, I don’t mind these scenes with the townspeople. Thor has always had a strong human element, with the focus of so many stories being the bridge between the mortal world and Asgard; the human element keeps the sometimes outrageous stories grounded and relevant to the rest of the Marvel U. That said, I’m sick of this subplot. Bill died over a dozen issues ago and, while that may only be a couple of weeks in comic time, that’s entirely too long in real world time. Kelda is no closer to getting over it now than before; in fact, she seems to be falling further into depression. I understand this is something that got lost in the writing shuffle from Straczynski to Gillen to Fraction, but wrap it up already. Next we have Thor and Balder cleaning up their father Odin’s belongings as part of the rebuilding of Asgard. Volstagg and the scientist interrupt the brothers with the warning about dimensional imbalances that was explained at length last issue. In my review of Issue 615, I defended the lengthy scenes with the scientist; I felt it got a great deal of necessary exposition out of the way in a humorous manner. I would stand by that statement if Fraction hadn’t felt the need to repeat the entire explanation to Thor. The readers really don’t need to go through this again, especially when we’d rather see more interaction between Thor and Balder, because that’s where the most interesting story is. Finally, there’s the “world eaters,” as the recap page names them. If their leader, Thoth, is powerful enough to keep his universe from imploding through sheer force of will, then it’s going to be a damn spectacle when he inevitably clashes with Thor. Over two issues, Fraction has given us small tastes of these new enemies, giving just enough information to keep readers interested, but not so much that the allure is gone. In my last review, I praised Pasqual Ferry’s art, and that remains true for this issue. One thing I didn’t give enough credit to is Matt Hollingsworth’s color work. I think I’m noticing it more now after reading Chaos War. Both titles use watercolor paint-style coloring, but in Chaos War, the colors are marred by the finishing effect used to show lighting. In Thor, the colors are left intact, with a more subtle and realistic flow from light to dark. While I don’t usually enjoy the watercolor style in superhero comics, I find it actually fits Thor, giving the art an almost ethereal quality that works for a story featuring characters from other realms of existence. Every page in this comic is beautiful to look at. I have to admit, Thor is starting to worry me. Character development and story setup is important, but eventually the story has to go somewhere, and I don’t feel this issue did much of anything to move it forward. I’m not saying it’s a lost cause, but judging by Fraction’s other current work, Thor is trending closer to Uncanny X-Men than it is to Invincible Iron Man. Fraction’s a good storyteller, he just has trouble fitting those stories into 22 pages, sometimes. Thor Issue 616 Marvel Comics Story: Matt Fraction Art: Pasqual Ferry, Matt Hollingsworth...

Superior Issue 1

Mark Millar makes a great point. At the end of this issue, he describes a discussion he had with Stan Lee, where Lee asked, “why I was always playing with his characters when I had a chance to do what he did and create my own?” It’s a great point; many of today’s big writers don’t create anything new. Mark Millar’s done some great work with core Marvel characters in the past, such as the Civil War miniseries and the “Old Man Logan” arc in Wolverine, even creating a new spin on established characters in The Ultimates. In recent years, Millar has been focusing on his own creations like Wanted and Kick-Ass and now Superior. Immediately we’re introduced to the character Superior, in a way. In this world, Superior is a character in a series of movies. Parallels are made between Superior and Superman, portraying him as a relic of a bygone era, a hero too good-natured to succeed in today’s modern world. At the theater, we meet the true main character of the comic, teenager Simon Pooni, a former basketball standout now living with Multiple Sclerosis. His life is a constant struggle, but he makes the most out of it; other kids mock and tease him, but he has a loving mother and the best friend he could ask for. In a couple pages, I feel Millar did a great job relating life with MS to the reader; it’s the little thing that really changed Simon’s life. Then a monkey appears. Yep, a monkey. One night, Simon is visited by… something… in the form of a monkey, saying he has been selected as the most appropriate person on Earth to receive the Magic Wish. It’s an incredibly goofy premise, and we’ll have to wait and see how it plays out. The wish itself, however, is pulled off pretty spectacularly. One minute, Simon’s standing there with his crutches, the next he’s Superior. He’s told he has one week to show the monkey what he’s capable of and sent home. It’s the way Simon reacts to the whole ordeal that makes Superior so interesting. He doesn’t fly around and test his strength out, marveling over how amazing this is. No, he freaks the hell out. When he gets home, he finds out he’s been gone for a whole day and his mom called the police. What does a normal kid do in a situation like this? He bails. This is what makes Millar’s writing so fresh; even in crazy circumstances, his characters act the way we expect them to. Lenil Yu’s art is almost a little too sketchy for my tastes. It’s most noticeable in his faces and that poor cop looks like Clayface from Batman. The opening “movie” scene show that Yu is much more accustomed to drawing superheroes and action than normal people standing around talking, so my appreciation of the art will weigh heavily on the direction the story takes. While this first issue may be nothing more than setup, I think Millar may have done it again. Superior walks the fine line between whimsical and realistic, and the end result is something relatable, yet still full of potential for a good superhero story. Superior Issue 1 ICON Comics (Marvel) Story: Mark Millar Art: Lenil Yu...

Shadowland Issue 4 of 5

Hell’s Kitchen is coming apart and the gloves are off. Luke Cage and his allies have realized Matt Murdock is likely beyond their help and the only thing remaining is to take down the Daredevil. At the end of the last issue, it was revealed that Murdock is possessed by the Beast of the Hand, a powerful demon. The Punisher joined the heroes’ side, while Elektra showed up to help her former love resurrect Bullseye, further increasing Daredevil’s ranks. Issue 4 brings Shadowland to its breaking point. Elektra’s true intentions are revealed and Wolverine even shows up. While it’s not uncommon for Wolverine to show up EVERYWHERE, he fits this story nicely; he has a long-running history with the Hand and has worked with Cage many times as a member of the New Avengers. Additionally, he serves as a solid indication that the heroes are serious about taking Daredevil down by any means necessary. Once the fireworks start, it’s quite the spectacle. Cage and crew go in with a battle plan, and it’s a treat watching it play out. Of course, in comics, nothing ever goes according to plan and everything quickly breaks down into an all-out melee. These fight scenes are where Shadowland really shines; the art is a amazing and, more importantly, detailed. The environment, the debris, the fights going on in the background; there’s very little filler to be seen in the fight scenes. The details are where Tann and the rest of the art team really step up. I absolutely love the panels from Daredevil’s perspective, drawn and colored the way he “sees” things. The bottom half of page 6 really caught my eye; it’s a scene with Luke Cage, Master Izo and Iron Fist talking to Wolverine. It’s laid out as a single panel of art, broken up into three separate panels, one for each character and their dialog, with Wolverine in the foreground, overlapping the other panels. It’s a very minor detail, but things like that are what take a good comic and make it a great one. I’ve read other comics with Tann’s art, such as New Avengers and Uncanny X-Men, but his work here will definitely have me looking for his name in the future. Traditionally, the next-to-last issue of an event comic is the weakest, plot-wise. It’s purpose is just to set everything up for the climax, and that holds true for Shadowland. That being said, the “weakest” issue of this miniseries is still better than most anything else I’m reading. For an event that I was initially hardly interested in, I’m eagerly anticipating the finale. Shadowland Issue 4 of 5 Marvel Comics Story: Andy Diggle Art: Billy Tann, Victor Olazaba, Guru eFx...