Marvel Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Comic Book Informer

Guide to Marvel Cosmic, Part 1: The Characters

With the completion of The Thanos Imperative and the coming release of the one-shot epilogue, The Thanos Imperative: Devastation, Marvel is bringing a close to several years of epic storytelling in their Marvel Cosmic line of comics. Envisioned and given life by Marvel heavyweights like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Jim Shooter and Jim Starlin, the Marvel Cosmic setting reached its height of popularity in the 70s and 80s. While the characters would continue their grand adventures over the years, the setting wouldn’t see major success again until it was revitalized in 2005’s “Annihilation” event. Since then, the Cosmic comics have been delivering some of Marvel’s best writing and its most consistently high-quality stories. For the last few years, and especially since the start of The Thanos Imperative, I’ve been recommending these comics to everyone. However, due to the relative obscurity of many of these characters as opposed to Spider-Man or Captain America, it’s hard for many to get into these stories. So, I present to you my Guide to Marvel Cosmic, beginning with the Characters. When first examining the Marvel Cosmic setting, the first thing to look at is the three empires constantly at war over territory; the Kree, the Skrulls and the Shi’ar. The Kree The Kree are a human-like race, known for their incredible intelligence and advanced technology. Initially discovered by the Skrulls, the Kree were deemed unworthy and lashed out, killing many and stealing their technology. Before long, the Kree had reverse-engineered interstellar travel and started an all-out war between the two races, lasting hundreds of thousands of years, never reaching a resolution. During this war, Earth would be a major factor, as our solar system lies directly between the two empires. The driving force of Kree culture is their attempts at advancing genetically, as their own evolution had halted, even conducting genetic experiments on early humans. They attempted cross-breeding with other races, leading the traditionally blue-skinned species to turn pink, making them essentially indistinguishable from humans. Supreme Intelligence: An organic computer created from the Kree’s greatest minds, the Supreme Intelligence was originally created to advise the Kree and help them in their war with the Skrulls. Eventually, the Supreme Intelligence would gain its own personality and become the ruler of the Kree, even worshipped as a god by many. Seemingly killed by a group of Avengers, the Supreme Intelligence has managed to survive in one form or another for years, but never regain its power. Ronan the Accuser: As a member of the Kree’s blue-skinned nobility and one of their most powerful warriors, Ronan quickly rose through the ranks of the Kree Public Accuser Corps, becoming Supreme Accuser. As Supreme Accuser, Ronan was responsible for upholding the law across the breadth of the Kree Empire, second in power only to the Supreme Intelligence. Recently, Ronan has been central to the reformation of Kree society, acting as their leader for a time. Captain Marvel: Mar-Vell was a young Kree hero, selected for a mission to Earth, though he was an unwitting pawn of both Ronan and the Supreme Intelligence. Mar-Vell became one of Earth’s greatest heroes, even forming a bond with long-time Avengers sidekick Rick Jones. Time and time again, Mar-Vell would defy orders, fighting the Kree on behalf of Earth, thwarting their plans. Mar-Vell died of cancer, surrounded by his friends and allies, as one of the greatest heroes the universe has ever known. The Inhumans: Thousands of years ago, in one of their many genetic experiments, the Kree created the Inhumans on Earth by exposing early humans to a substance known as the Terrigen Mists. The Mists caused genetic abnormalities, leading to extraordinary powers. Though the Inhumans would interact with many Earth heroes, most notably the Fantastic Four, they spent most of their existence in seclusion from the rest of the world. The Inhumans are led by their king, Black Bolt, whose voice is so powerful merely uttering a single word can destroy an entire city. After the Secret Invasion tore their society apart, the Inhumans left Earth to return to the Kree, even managing to take control of the empire. The Skrulls The Skrulls’ defining traits are their green skin, pointy ears and their ability to shapeshift. A race of warriors, the Skrulls rapidly increased the size of their influence, building one of the largest empires in the galaxy. While the Kree saw Earth as a way to enhance their genetics, to the Skrulls it was just another planet to conquer. The fact that it was valued by the Kree only increased the Skrulls desire to conquer it. When one of their early invasion attempts ended with Reed Richards convincing the Skrulls to shapeshift into cows and then hypnotizing them to believe they actually were cows, the Skrulls’ desire to conquer the planet grew exponentially. For years to come, the Skrulls would replace key members of Earth’s governments and superhero teams, waiting for the perfect time to strike. With the Skrull empire almost completely destroyed, they launched their “Secret Invasion,” attempting to claim Earth as their new homeworld. The Skrulls were defeated, leaving only small remnants of their race spread across the galaxy. Super-Skrull: Kl’rt was a Skrull warrior selected for a special project; he was imbued with the powers of each member of the Fantastic Four. Over the years, Super-Skrull would repeatedly clash with the Fantastic Four and later, as an agent of Thanos, Captain Marvel. More recently, Kl’rt sacrificed himself in an attempt to save the Skrull empire from the Annihilation Wave. He was later resurrected with a new outlook on life, helping Ronan liberate the Kree and even fighting against the Skrulls in the Secret Invasion. Paibok: Paibok the Power Skrull was another frequent enemy of the Fantasic Four, though never gaining the notoriety Super-Skrull did. During the Annihilation Wave, Paibok was mind controlled and forced to fight for the destruction of the galaxy, even against his fellow Skrulls. Queen Veranke: With the Skrull empire devastated, Veranke rose to power over the remnants of her race. A religious extremist, Veranke was convinced that it was the Skrulls’ divine right to claim Earth as their new homeworld. She knew of the plan to replace Earth’s heroes with Skrulls and led the Secret Invasion. At the end of the battle, she was killed by Norman Osborn. The Shi’ar The Shi’ar are a bird-like race of humanoids with the largest known empire in the galaxy. The Shi’ar are most known for their interactions with the X-Men, both as enemies and allies. They serve more as a force of order in the galaxy, attempting to contain the likes of the Phoenix Force and even Galactus. Much conflict for the Shi’ar is not with other races, but rather within; there are constant power struggles and civil wars, frequently drawing in the X-Men and other heroes. The largest of these struggles was when Vulcan, Gabriel Summers, attacked the Shi’ar, wanting revenge for the death of his mother, overthrowing the government and declaring himself emperor. The former empress, Lilandra teamed up with a group of X-Men and the remaining crew of the Starjammer to lead the rebellion. Both Lilandra and Vulcan were killed, leaving Gladiator, the head of the Imperial guard as the new leader of the Shi’ar. D’Ken Neramani: As the long-time emperor of the Shi’ar Empire, D’ken was a brutal dictator. Growing increasingly unstable, D’Ken attempted to use the power of the legendary M’Kraan Crystal to gain absolute power. He was defeated by the combined efforts of his sister, Lilandra, the X-Men and the Starjammers. Lilandra Neramani: D’Ken’s younger sister, Lilandra, knew her brother needed to be stopped before he destroyed the universe. She travelled to Earth, enlisting the aid of Professor X and the X-Men. She ruled the Shi’ar Empire in relative peace for years after, until she was deposed by a returned D’Ken. Deathbird: Lilandra and D’Ken’s older sister Cal’syee was determined, too bloodthirsty to rule the Shi’ar and was exiled before she could take the throne. She was a constant threat to both Earth and the Shi’ar before she married Vulcan to help cement his rule. Vulcan: Gabriel Summers, the long-lost third Summers brother was long thought dead, even his existence unknown to all but Professor X. When he was discovered alive, he left Earth for the Shi’ar Empire to exact revenge for the murder of his mother. Vulcan allied himself with D’Ken after he had reclaimed the throne from Lilandra and married Deathbird. He eventually turned on D’Ken, killing him and becoming the new emperor. The Imperial Guard: The elite forces of the Shi’ar, the Imperial Guard is made up of the strongest fighters from across the empire. They are loyal to the throne, and will fight for the leader of the Shi’ar, regardless of right or wrong. For years, the Imperial Guard has been commanded by Gladiator, one of the strongest fighters in the known universe. The Starjammers: After their abduction and the murder of his wife, Christopher Summers, father of Cyclops, Havok and Vulcan, took the name Corsair and led the crew of the Starjammer in a rebellion against D’Ken. When D’Ken rose to power the second time, Corsair was killed, with Havok and his fellow X-Men Polaris and Marvel Girl taking over leadership of the Starjammers. While the three empires may be the largest and most influential members of the Marvel Cosmic line, they’ve by no means the only ones worth talking about. Next we’re going to look at some of the heroes attempting to maintain peace and order in the war-torn galaxy. The Guardians of the Galaxy The original Guardians of the Galaxy were a team of superheroes in the 31st Century. They fought to protect Earth from the threats it would face 1000 years in the future. They would occasionally travel back in time, even becoming honorary Avengers before being lost in a space/time rift. The latest version of the Guardians was formed after the Phalanx attack in Annihilation: Conquest. Star Lord brought together the heroes who had fought the Phalanx, citing a need to prevent any future problems. They established a base of operations in Knowhere, a bizarre space station constructed in the head of a dead Celestial. Star Lord: Peter Quill was granted the mantle of Star Lord to serve as a sort of intergalactic cop, righting wrongs and generally doing good. Star Lord was an obscure character until he was freed from a prison by nova during the Annihilation Wave. While he has no powers beyond those of a normal human, his leadership abilities proved vital in the coming battles. Drax the Destroyer: Drax was a being created for a sole purpose; to kill Thanos. He assisted the Avengers in that goal years ago and wandered the galaxy, lost without purpose, for many years. Freed from the same prison as Star Lord during the Annihilation Wave, he helped Nova and the others once he found out Thanos was involved. Later, after being freed by the mind control of the Phalanx, Drax stayed on as a member of the Guardians, lending them his immense power Gamora: “The Most Dangerous Woman in the Universe” was once a pawn of Thanos, before she turned on him and allied herself with Adam Warlock. She was drawn into battle against the Annihilation Wave, and much like Drax, joined the Guardians after being freed by the Phalanx. Rocket Raccoon: A badass raccoon with a big ass gun. Rocket’s backstory is about as goofy as it gets. All you need to know is he was assigned to Star lord’s team by the Kree to combat the Phalanx, serving as a tactician. Groot: He’s an incredibly strong, sentient tree than can regenerate his body from almost nothing. A powerful fighter, he is good friends with Rocket Raccoon and was also assigned to Star Lord’s team by the Kree. Bug: A master thief, Bug joined Rocket Raccoon and Groot as prisoners selected for Star Lord’s assault team. Mantis: This former Avenger is a powerful telepath. She foresaw the coming of the Annihilation Wave and made her way to space to help, often putting herself in the line of fire to protect her teammates. When the Guardians were formed, she used her telepathy to influence some of the members into joining. Major Victory: Vance Astrovik was one of the original Guardians of the Galaxy. When Star Lord’s team discovered him on an asteroid which had emerged from a space/time rift, he was disoriented and shouted a rallying cry for the “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The fledgling team had a name and a new member. In the 31st Century, Vance obtained Captain America’s shield, which he still uses. Jack Flag: A former protege of Captain America, Jack was paralyzed resisting the Superhuman Registration Act and thrown into the Negative Zone prison, 42. When the staff evacuated during an attack, Jack took over as warden, attempting to keep the prisoners under control. He was rescued by Star Lord and healed on Knowhere. He decided to stay with the Guardians, as he was still a wanted fugitive on Earth. Cosmo: Cosmo was a dog used during the Soviet Union’s space experiments in the 1960s. His rocket went off course, somehow finding its way to Knowhere. Cosmo gained telepathic communication due to a mutation and has served as Knowhere’s Chief of Security ever since. Nova There have been two major Marvel characters to go by the name of Nova. The first is the former love interest of the Human Torch and Herald of Galactus, the other is who we’re focusing on here, the hero known as Richard Rider. Nova is basically Marvel’s version of the Green Lantern in concept. The Nova Corps are the police force protecting the entire Marvel Universe. For much of his superhero career, Rich alternated between helping the Nova Corps out in space and fighting with the Earth team of young heroes, the New Warriors. When the Annihilation Wave hit, its first target was the Nova Corps and their base of operations on New Xandar. Rich was the only Nova Centurion left alive in the entire galaxy, and he now possessed the Nova Corps Worldmind. In order to preserve itself and the Corps, the Worldmind downloaded itself into Rich’s Nova helmet, granting him access to all the combined knowledge and power of the entire Corps. Supercharged, Nova became the front line of defence in the many crises to follow and has begun to rebuild the Corps. Adam Warlock Adam Warlock was created to be the perfect human being, the height of human potential, though he has the potential for great good or great evil. In one of his early adventures, Warlock encountered an insane future version of himself gone mad with power, known as Adam Magus. Knowing what may lie in store for him, Warlock sought to do some good in the universe, constantly clashing with Thanos. During the Annihilation Wave, Warlock’s Cosmic Awareness caused him to feel each of the billions of deaths, nearly driving him insane. A partially recovered, but still unstable Warlock would assist in the defeat of the Phalanx and briefly joining the Guardians of the Galaxy. He used his Cosmic Awareness to guide the team in attempting to repair the universe, but would not remain long. Once Mantis’s mental influence over the team was discovered, many members, including Warlock would leave, though he would return soon… as Magus. Quasar Wendell Vaughn was a guard at a Stark Labs facility investigating the cosmic artifacts known as the Quantum Bands. During an attack, he put the bands on and was able to harness their power. As Quasar, Wendell was named Protector of the Universe, the successor to Captain Marvel. He would fill that role admirably until his death during the Annihilation Wave. The Quantum Bands would pass to Phyla-Vell, Captain Marvel’s daughter, making her the new Quasar. Phyla-Vell did her best, but was killed when Thanos returned to life prior to The Thanos Imperative. Wendell was later reborn as a being of pure energy and reclaimed the Bands. Beta Ray Bill Beta Ray Bill was chosen as the champion of a dying race, the Korbinites. He was given a cybernetic body in order to protect them and guide them to their new home. During their journey, their ship flew close to Earth and Thor was sent to investigate. Bill defeated Thor in battle, even proving worthy enough to wield Mjolnir. Bill later proved his worthiness by defeating Thor once again in a battle designed by Odin to teach Thor humility. In recognition of Bill’s worthiness, Odin commissioned a weapon for Bill, Stormbreaker, equal in every way to Mjolnir. Bill would spend the next years battling foes both cosmic and Asgardian, even confronting Galactus on more than one occasion. Silver Surfer Norrin Radd lived a peaceful life on the planet Zenn-La until the day Galactus arrived to consume their world. Norrin offered to become Galactus’s Herald in exchange for sparing his planet. As Herald, Norrin would seek out worlds fit for Galactus to consume, but free of sentient life. Galactus accepted the offer and transformed Norrin into the cosmically-powered Silver Surfer. Over time, Galactus’s hunger eclipsed his will and he altered the Surfer’s mind, causing the Surfer to lead him to inhabited worlds and, in time, Earth. Though the Surfer turned on Galactus to protect Earth and spent years fighting evil on his own, he would return to Galactus’s service in order to combat the Annihilation Wave. Of course, heroes would be nothing without threats to combat. On Earth, villains want to rob banks, blow up buildings and conquer small countries. Not content with such simple goals, cosmic villains just want to end all life in the universe. They’re a badass bunch, and it’s understandable that it would take an assembly of all the heroes above to take down just one of them. Galactus The Devourer of Worlds is a being of almost unimaginable power. Unfortunately, all that power must be fed, hence the title. In order to sustain himself, Galactus breaks down suitable planets into their base energy and consumes them. Aided by the Silver Surfer and his other Heralds, Galactus constantly seeks out new worlds to devour, as his hunger continues to grow. Once thought to be a great evil, in recent years Galactus has been accepted as more of a force of nature, a necessary balance in the universe. Thanos Thanos was born on Saturn’s moon, Titan, populated by a race of godlike beings known as Eternals. Born with a genetic quirk making him an outcast, Thanos grew isolated and jealous, growing in power to compensate for his perceived shortcomings. Thanos’s dark thoughts eventually led him to become obsessed with Death. Yes, with a capital ‘D.’ Thanos fell in love with the cosmic embodiment of Death and has spent his entire life attempting to please her by destroying all life in the universe, going to seemingly impossible ends to do so. The problem is, Thanos has gained so much power in his desire to please Death, he has become nearly immortal himself and may never be able to join her. In the heirarchy of Marvel badasses, Thanos may not have the power level of a Galactus or any other actual cosmic entity, but his power combined with his desire makes him the most dangerous individual in the universe. Annihilus The Negative Zone is a parallel dimension made entirely of antimatter. In the rampaging chaos there, a being known as Annihilus was formed. The creature quickly grew in power and influence, eventually becoming paranoid of his own survival to the point where he attacked anything perceived as a threat. Not knowing when to leave something alone, Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four would repeatedly clash with Annihilus on experimental excursions to the Negative Zone. When Annihilus saw that our universe was expanding into the Negative Zone, he claimed that our universe was now his by right and started the Annihilation Wave to conquer it, leading to the Annihilation event. Phalanx The Phalanx are a technological alien race bent on conquering anything in their path. Even after the Phalanx War, little is known about them. They are able to infect other biological and technical entities with a virus, enslaving them to the Phalanx. With most of the galaxy devastated in the wake of the Annihilation Wave, the Phalanx thought it was the perfect time to strike. Their first target was the Kree empire, leading to the second big Marvel Cosmic event, Annihilation: Conquest. The Cancerverse A massive explosion at the end of War of Kings opened a rift into another universe. In this universe, Death no longer exists. Without Death, there is no end to life, and the universe is growing too fast for its own good; it has become a Cancerverse. This Cancerverse is populated by twisted versions of Earth’s heroes, who worship the “Many Angled Ones”, bizarre extra-dimensional beings looking to expand their influence. The Cancerverse is ruled over by none other than Lord Mar-Vell. With the characters established and the basic layout of Marvel Cosmic set up, be sure to check back for Part 2: Story. There’s some great stuff here I’d recommend to anyone, and hopefully giving you a taste of what’s going on will interest some to check these fantastic comics out....

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...

Chaos War Issue 3 of 5

This really is getting hard to look at; the first panel of the comic features what’s supposed to be Balder, and it’s a total mess. At least the cover looks good this time. It’s also getting a bit hard to read. The first panel of the fight shows why Hercules is the worst leader ever. He basically just tells everyone to use their specific powers, “Thor! Lightning! Sersi! Transmutation! Hellstrom! Fire! Surfer! Power Cosmic!” No shit, Herc. Goofy art and goofier dialog aside, there’s still a solid story going on here. The fallen gods of Hades, Valhalla and the other afterlives are now under the control of the Chaos King; as if the God Squad wasn’t screwed enough. The battle between the living and dead gods is entertaining. Thor, a God of Thunder himself, gets completely owned by Zeus and his lightning; the Skyfather even knocks Galactus around. In this particular sequence, with Hercules, Zeus, Ares and the other Athenians interacting, the simple, almost clichéd, dialog actually seems to work. It makes sense that these beings who have been around for thousands of years would talk like this. Once Herc finally cuts loose and takes down his father, Zeus gives him some advice. In order to take down the Chaos King, Hercules needs more than the God Squad; he needs the power of the heads of all the pantheons. Unfortunately, they have sealed themselves away, protecting their realms from the Chaos King. Hercules uses his newfound power to open the way, falling right into the Chaos King’s trap. The universe is screwed. I’ve criticized the art, I’ve criticized the dialog, and yet I’m still reading. Chaos War has become the equivalent of a summer blockbuster for me; it’s not GOOD, but it’s still entertaining. Pak and Van Lente have backed our heroes so far into a corner, now I have to know how they’re going to get out of it. Chaos War Issue 3 of 5 Marvel Comics Story: Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente Art: Khoi Pham, Tom Palmer...

Chaos War Issue 1 of 5

This one is going to require a bit of backstory. During the “Secret Invasion” event, where the alien Skrulls attempted to conquer Earth, a battle was waged on a higher plane of existence. For the Skrulls, it literally was a holy war, their mission blessed by their deity. In order to combat that higher power, the pantheons of Earth sent a group of representatives to combat the Skrull gods and prevent them from intervening with the battle on Earth. This “God Squad” consisted of Hercules, representing the Greeks; Snowbird, representing the Norse; Amatsu-Mikaboshi, representing the Japanese and several others. This “Sacred Invasion” took place in the pages of Incredible Hercules and saw Earth’s heroes defeating the Skrull gods, as well as the enslaved gods of the Skrull’s conquered enemies. All good, right? Well… one small problem; Amatsu-Mikaboshi is bad news. In the Ares miniseries, he destroyed Olympus and killed Zeus. After the “Sacred Invasion”, he was thought dead and left behind with the remaining enslaved gods. Fast forward a bit, and Hercules is lost in another dimension. In the Prince of Power miniseries, his young friend, the supergenius Amadeus Cho, gained god-like powers of his own through a ritual and brought Herc back. Realizing no mortal can wield such power, Cho bequeathed it to Hercules. With his newfound omniscience, Hercules saw the coming of the Chaos King. It took a crap-ton of continuity to get us here, but that’s the basis of Chaos War. Amatsu-Mikaboshi, the Chaos King, existed in the nothingness before the universe was born; he WAS the nothingness, and now he wants to destroy reality to go back to that time. Backed by all the gods enslaved by the Skrulls, the Chaos King is a force to be reckoned with. We begin “Chaos War” with Hercules wrecking everything he comes in contact with. Never the most composed of heroes, he lacks the self-control to contain his new level of power. He tries his best to warn everyone of the Chaos King, but with him causing more harm than good, even lashing out at the heads of Earth’s pantheons, the warning is ignored. Van Lente and Pak do a nice job giving us a look at the other heroes’ opinions of Hercules; he’s a great hero, but lacks any leadership qualities. So, if none of his fellow heroes will volunteer, Herc will just draft them. He summons all of Earth’s heroes, gives a rousing motivational speech, endows them with a fraction of his own power and leads them into battle. The whole issue moves at a breakneck pace, which is both one of its best and worst qualities. For someone like me, who’s read all the stories leading up to Chaos War, it’s nice to just get to the action. However, someone who hasn’t been reading second-tier titles like Incredible Hercules (as awesome as it was), may be lost if they just want to read Marvel’s latest event title. Pacing aside, it’s good fun. Chaos War features the same larger-than-life characterizations and quick humor as its predecessors, not to mention the hilariously over-the-top sound effects. I think it will be a nice change of pace for this potentially monumental story to be told with a bit of silliness; many event comics take themselves too seriously. I look forward to seeing the story play out. What I don’t particularly look forward to is the art. It’s not bad, the characters are wonderfully detailed. Hercules definitely looks heroic, and there’s a great sense of scale to the characters; you definitely feel the strength Hercules and Thor possess. While there are occasional inconsistencies, Khoi Pham’s basic artwork is overall impressive. My issue lies in the coloring of the comic. I’ve never been a fan of the washed-out watercolor style. As I mentioned in my review of the first issue of Scarlet, in a comic, it just looks like the art was run through one too many PhotoShop filters. I may be in the minority on this, as the art in both titles has been highly praised, but it just isn’t my preference. Unlike Scarlet, I’ll continue to look forward to Chaos War. It’s a huge, fun story featuring two of my favorite characters, Thor and Hercules. It’s big, it’s loud, it’s goofy and it’s fun. That’s enough entertainment to keep me on board. Though, again, the story is deeply dependant on previous storylines, so comic noobs beware. Chaos War Issue 1 of 5 Marvel Comics Story: Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente Art: Khoi Pham, Tom Palmer...

Uncanny X-Force Issue 1: “The Apocalypse Solution, Chapter 1”

X-Force is back with a new team and a new adjective. Rick Remender’s Uncanny X-Force picks up where Crag Kyle and Chris Yost’s recent X-Force run left off. In the previous version, X-Force was a black-ops team, proactively taking out enemies before they could become true threats to the dwindling mutant population. Due to the extreme nature of X-Force’s tactics, the team was kept secret, known only to Cyclops. Consisting of Wolverine, X-23, Archangel, Domino and several other members, X-Force took down nutjobs, racists, psychic vampires and even traveled to the future to help Cable. Following the “Second Coming” event, Cyclops decided there was no longer a need for X-Force and disbanded the team. Ever the realist, Wolverine decided to keep X-Force alive, this time a secret even from Cyclops. He turned to Archangel as co-leader and recruited a new team; psychic ninja Psylocke, world-class mercenary Deadpool and infiltration specialist Fantomex. It’s an interesting team, full of fan-favorite characters that also fit the theme of the comic. Wolverine is, of course, the best there is at what he does. However, he also tends to go a bit overboard at times, so he’s sharing leadership of the team with Archangel. Warren, though, has his own issues, attempting to sort out the two personalities warring for control of his body. Psylocke fills an obvious role on the team as the lone psychic, but Betsy needs Warren’s support as much as he needs hers. Deadpool… well, he’s Deadpool. The goofball of the Marvel universe, I truly feel Remender will be reining in some of his more outlandish traits, and bringing the character back to his roots as someone who will do whatever is necessary to get the job done, but also have fun doing it. At least in this first issue, none of the bizarre (and honestly, stupid) effects recent writers have been using to turn the character into nothing more than a clown are present. There really is more to the character than we’ve seen since his resurgence a couple years ago. The one character poised to be the breakout star of this series is definitely Fantomex. One of the many intriguing ideas Grant Morrison came up with, but never quite followed through on during his run on New X-Men, I’m glad to see Fantomex get another chance. The character is a product of the Weapon Plus program, itself an offshoot of Weapon X, the same agency responsible for “creating” Wolverine and Deadpool. Essentially, just like Deadpool, he was an attempt to create the next Wolverine; the three characters are tied together. While not a mutant, Fantomex still has powers, most notably his unique nervous system. Technically, Fantomex has more than one brain, giving him slight psychic abilities, as well as several more interesting powers. I thought it was a good call by Remender to have Fantomex narrate the bulk of this issue; it allows newer readers unfamiliar with the character a chance to connect with him. Fantomex is definitely one Marvel character to keep your eyes on next year. As for the issue itself, it’s a solid setup for what’s to come. We start with Deadpool investigating an enemy base, then move on to the rest of the team assembling for a rescue mission. Each character has a moment in the spotlight, and we see how the members of the team are going to interact with each other. There’s some camaraderie, and there’s some tension; all the elements of a good team book are present here. Yes, there’s also some fighting and explosions, giving the book a solid balance of story and action. Everything a fan could want is in this first issue, elevating Uncanny X-Force above other recent first issues. (Wolverine, I’m looking at you.) At this point, it’s not much of a spoiler to say Apocalypse is the first villain X-Force will be facing, though the reveal at the end of the issue is still a great twist. On the art side of things, Opena does a solid job. Wolverine and Archangel are as badass as they should be, but his Deadpool seems a tiny bit off in some aspects, mostly the mask. His interpretation of Psylocke is a bit more “athletic” than traditional portrayals, but the feelings associated with that will vary from reader to reader. There seems to be an overuse of certain color schemes, mostly blue and gray, but I’ll need to see more to decide if it’s a trend or just the way this particular issue worked out. Still, it’s an improvement over the “All BLACK, all the time!” style of the last X-Force. Uncanny X-Force is just a solid comic. It gives fans enough of a taste to feel good about where the title is heading, as well as enough cool stuff to bring some new readers to the franchise. I highly recommend this one to fans of the X-Men, Wolverine, Deadpool or anyone just looking for something new and different. Uncanny X-Force Issue 1: “The Apocalypse Solution, Chapter 1” Marvel Comics Story: Rick Remender Art: Jerome Opena, Dean White...

Page 4 of 51 2 345