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Amazing Spider-Man Issue 640: “One Moment in Time, Part 3”

I still really want to like this storyline. I applaud Quesada for actually telling it. It would have been very easy to just say “Mephisto did it” and move on like “One More Day” was no big deal. However, with that story being so controversial, he felt the fans deserved this story. Then again, the fans that were most pissed off about “One More Day” have no interest in “One Moment in Time.” So, it’s a storyline explaining another storyline, written for people who aren’t going to read it. That said, I felt that if it was pulled off well, it would go down as one of the most important stories in Spider-Man’s history. Unfortunately, with each issue, it feels more and more like Quesada didn’t have a solid plan going in. At the end of last issue, they showed Peter saving Aunt May’s life. This issue starts off explaining how Peter was able to succeed where the doctors could not. Aunt May’s life was saved through the power of love. Peter Parker; your Friendly Neighborhood Care Bear. With Aunt May’s life saved, this issue focused on the second major development of “One More Day”; the restoration of Peter’s secret identity. It was a huge deal when Iron man talked Peter into publicly revealing his identity as Spider-Man during Civil War. Moreso than almost any major hero, Spider-Man has a good reason for his secret identity. The reason Aunt May almost died was because Kingpin wanted to hurt Spider-Man, and in this issue we see him going after Mary Jane and her family. The thought of losing MJ causes Peter to look for help restoring his identity. Who does he go to? Doctor freaking Strange. If the whole point of this storyline is to explain how things happen, replacing “Mephisto did it” with “A wizard did it” is not an acceptable solution. I still want to like this, but the plot is making it difficult. There’s only one issue left, and things still aren’t making a whole lot of sense. Amazing Spider-Man Issue 640: “One Moment in Time, Part 3” Marvel Comics Story: Joe Quesada Art: Joe Quesada, Paolo Rivera, Danny Miki, Richard Isanove...

Shadowland Issue 2 of 5

Shadowland #1 did a very good job of setting up this miniseries. Daredevil killed Bullseye, the Hand are slowly taking over New York and Matt Murdock’s friends and allies are trying to bring things to a peaceful conclusion. After his fight with Bullseye last issue, Daredevil shows surprisingly little emotion. If he’s not upset at actually killing someone, then at least he should be happy to have finallly defeated his greatest enemy. His growing detachment shows just how much of a hold the Hand has on him, though their ultimate goal is still a mystery. Luke Cage and Iron Fist once again try to talk to him, but they’re bringing reinforcements this time, with their old Heroes for Hire buddies and Spider-Man tagging along. Additionally, we see Moon Knight infiltrate Shadowland and Kingpin summon the freaking GHOST RIDER. I was a little unsure what to expect going into this miniseries, but this issue had enough of a wow factor to completely grab my interest. The art continues to be impressive, setting the mood perfectly. Drawing Ghost Rider is no easy task, and Billy Tann hits it out of the park here. The big fight at the very end of the issue leads me to believe that the art team is more than up to the task of doing justice to this large cast of characters. With major players like the Punisher and Elektra still to make their promised appearances, Shadowland is shaping up to be a big, epic piece of summer fun. At least at this point, the tie-ins don’t seem to be taking anything away from the core title, which was a major concern of mine going into this event. While I can’t speak for all of the tie-ins, I did rather enjoy the first issue of Shadowland: Moon Knight. I loved the relaunch of Moon Knight a couple years ago, but the art style on Vengeance of the Moon Knight made me stop reading his solo series. The quality of the Shadowland tie-in was very impressive, and does a great job of tying his individual story in with the miniseries. Moon Knight is going to be PISSED when this is all over. Shadowland Issue 2 of 5 Marvel Comics Story: Andy Diggle Art: Billy Tann, Victor Olazaba, Christina Strain...

X-Men Issue 2: “Curse of the Mutants, Part 2”

Victor Gischler, where have you been hiding? There are plenty of great writers in the comic industry lately, and Marvel and DC both seem to be trying to get as much mileage out of them as possible. Some just seem to be perfect for their respective titles, like Geoff Johns on Green Lantern or Matt Fraction on Invincible Iron Man. When it comes to X-Men, Gischler just gets it. With such a large cast of characters available, it’s easy for things to become overcomplicated. Gischler, however, seems to have a solid plan for which characters best fit the story and how to utilize them. Wolverine, Storm, Emma Frost and others all bring different angles to the plot, and it never seems like Gischler is using them just to use them. As part of Marvel’s initiative to bring the X-Men out of isolation and interact more with the rest of the Marvel Universe, Blade makes an appearance here to assist the X-Men with their vampire problem. Of course, Blade is the obvious choice to guest star, but his introduction and interaction is so seamless, you’d almost think he’s a long-lost mutant returning to the team. It’s something that goes wrong in comics all too often. The biggest issue with many comics is pacing. If the plot moves too quickly, it becomes too hard to follow, but if you spend too much time explaining things, it’s just boring. Gischler effortlessly juggles several plot points in this issue; the X-Men trying to figure out a plan, the vampires plot to take over and the corruption of Jubilee. In the end, the story makes about as much sense as possible for a premise this bizarre. The tension increases bit-by-bit over the course of the issue until the final pages. Knowing the extremes the vampires are taking this war to and the plan Cyclops has come up with to counter them, I simply can’t wait to get my hands on the next issue. X-Men Issue 2: “Curse of the Mutants, Part 2” Marvel Comics Story: Victor Gischler Art: Paco Medina, Juan Vlasco, Marte Gracia...

Amazing Spider-Man Issue 639 “One Moment in Time, Part 2”

Issue 638 of Amazing Spider-Man brought us the first part of Joe Quesada’s “One Moment in Time” story. We saw the events of that fateful day when Peter and Mary Jane’s marriage was erased from history. Now, in Issue 639, Quesada has the daunting task of making sense of the intervening twenty years of Spider-Man stories; the stories that old-school fans are upset about because the retcon rendered them worthless. Or did it? Issue 639 picks up the morning after the wedding. When Pete finally confronts MJ with the truth of the situation, she reaches her breaking point. She doesn’t mind being Spider-Man’s girlfriend, and definitely wants to be Peter Parker’s wife, but she has realized that she cannot and will not be Spider-Man’s wife. Through some introspection they realize that, despite not wanting to go through with the marriage, Pete and MJ still love each other and still want to be together. The whole decision comes off as a bit forced, but Quesada and Rivera deliver some genuine emotion to pull it together. Overall, it’s an acceptable solution to the problem, and likely the only way they could have incorporated the changes of “One More Day” while still maintaining the integrity of previous storylines. While I was expecting something a little more creative, I can’t be upset with something that makes sense. That said, the last couple pages threw the story into a completely unexpected direction. Part of Mephisto’s deal was Peter would have his old life back, secret identity and all. Though, if it’s now been established that everything previous to “One More Day” still happened, the events immediately preceding that story need to be explained. The most notable of these events are Peter revealing his identity and the shooting of Aunt May. It looks like we’ll have to wait to see how the unmasking is reversed, but the way they chose to keep Aunt May around just didn’t work for me. A lot of the tricks Quesada pulls in this issue seem like he’s taking the easy way out. After three years of buildup, I was simply expecting something more substantial out of “One Moment in Time.” However, while the writing may be a bit questionable, the story is still worth reading, and it’s important to make the distinction between the two in this case. Amazing Spider-Man Issue 639 “One Moment in Time, Part 2” Marvel Comics Story: Joe Quesada Art: Joe Quesada, Paolo Rivera, Danny Miki, Richard Isanove...

Superman Issue 702 “Grounded, Part 2”

As I said in my review for Superman #701, despite all the larger controversy, I like the concept of J. Michael Straczynski’s “Grounded” arc. Having Superman connect with the normal people of America, helping them with normal problems and trying to make them better people as a result is a fun change of pace for the Man of Steel....

Superman Issue 701: “Grounded, Part 1”

I’ve got two things to get out of the way before the actual review. First, I freaking LOVE that cover (by Astonishing X-Men artist and BDTU favorite, John Cassaday). When you walk into your comic shop and see that cover practically jumping off the shelf at you, you can’t help but pick it up. Second, and I’m apparently in the minority on this one, but I’m a fan of J. Michael Straczynski. I liked his work on the Spider-Man franchise. He introduced some interesting elements that I would have liked to see him explore further, but his hands were tied by larger events. He’s been widely criticized for his work on the controversial “One More Day” storyline, but most of the work there can’t even be attributed to JMS. His previous work aside, I was excited when they announced JMS would be taking over Superman. I’ve never like the Man of Steel all that much, so bringing in a writer known for his fresh, original ideas was a move I welcomed. We saw the prologue to Superman #701 in the big Issue; 700. After spending a year dealing with New Krypton, Superman was sorely missed on Earth. He wasn’t there when people needed him, or at least thought they needed him. He has grown out of touch with the people he’s supposed to protect. Which brings us to “Grounded.” Superman reaches the decision that he should no longer live above humanity, but rather alongside them. So, he starts walking. Not really going anywhere, just walking… there’s kind of a Forrest Gump thing going on here. The first issue finds Superman walking the streets of Philadelphia, in another departure for DC, as most of their locations are fictional. It’s an interesting way to reconnect Superman, not just with his fictional world, but with his readers as well. So, Superman’s on a walkabout, going around helping normal people with normal problems. He uses his X-Ray vision to help someone fix his truck, he cleans up a diner’s stockroom to pay for his lunch, and in a great bit of writing literally talks someone off a ledge. He’s helping real people with real problems, instead of punching invading aliens in the face. It’s a change I find very interesting, but many readers don’t. They feel Superman is being a smug jerk, ignoring larger problems in order to make himself feel better. As Superman himself says, “If there is [a crisis], I’ll deal with it and come back, pick up where I left off.” He’s not ignoring the rest of the world; there’s dozens of other heroes than can hold down the fort while he’s gone. If the world really does need Superman for something, he’s not gone, but he would rather spend his time actually helping people. As the issue goes on, Superman becomes philosophical. Why does the world need a Superman? People have become so dependent on his help, and that of other heroes, that they’ve forgotten how to help themselves. That’s the true purpose of his walk. He wants to create a world that doesn’t need a hero, because each citizen is a hero in their own right. It’s a thought-provoking parallel to our own society. Instead of wondering why others aren’t helping, look within and ask what we’re doing to make the world a better place. True, it may get a bit preachy at times, especially when Superman starts quoting Henry David Thoreau, but aren’t superheroes – these larger-than-life characters supposed to be an inspiration to the rest of us? This is the first time, possibly ever, that I’ve been looking forward to an issue of Superman. I can’t wait to see how the story evolves in Issue 702. Superman Issue 701: “Grounded, Part 1” DC Comics Story: J. Michael Straczynski Art: Eddy Barrows (Pencils) & J.P. Mayer (Inks)...

Amazing Spider-Man Issue 638 “One Moment in Time, Part 1”

This is a story I’ve been looking forward to for quite a while. Three years, and almost 100 issues ago, Peter and Mary Jane Parker sacrificed their marriage to the interdimensional, trickster-demon Mephisto in exchange for saving Aunt May’s life. This was a huge shake-up to the Spider-Man lore and was not received well by the fans. While I personally enjoyed the plot twist, it did leave some question marks over the past twenty-odd years of Spider-Man comics. So, just a few short months before the “Brand New Day” era of Amazing Spider-Man comes to a close, Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief, and mastermind of the original “One More Day” storyline, Joe Quesada is bringing us “One Moment in Time.” The first issue of “One Moment in Time” brings us back to the day Peter and Mary Jane were supposed to be married. Mary Jane shows up at Peter’s apartment with a bottle of wine to talk about that fateful day in the past. In a very interesting publication twist, actual panels from the Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21 wedding issue are included, but with small changes detailing Mephisto’s influence on the timeline. So, the issue has an interesting style, artistically. You have Quesada’s art for the “present day” scenes, the original 1987 art of Paul Ryan and Paolo Rivera’s art depicting the changes in the flashbacks. While it takes a little getting used to, it creates a very interesting effect. Many fans, even those who read the Annual back in ‘87, don’t remember the severe doubt both Peter and Mary Jane were having at the time. Mephisto didn’t come in with his giant, demonic paintbrush and alter everything. No, he made some small influences on some minor players to nudge things in a direction they could have easily gone in the first place. The end result of this concept is a solid, unexpectedly emotional story. Amazing Spider-Man has been the most consistently good book on the shelves for the past 3 years, and Issue 638 lives up to the standard. Fans may still be pissed at the changes to Spidey’s backstory, but if the next 3 issues can continue the trend set by this one, maybe they’ll quiet down a bit. Amazing Spider-Man Issue 638 “One Moment in Time, Part 1” Marvel Comics Story: Joe Quesada Art: Joe Quesada, Paolo Rivera, Danny Miki, Richard Isanove...

Scarlet Issue 1

Scarlet is the latest creator-owned series from Marvel’s big gun, Brian Michael Bendis. Say what you will about Bendis’ writing (and there’s a lot to say), but the guy is a great character writer. The best parts of New Avengers and Dark Avengers were when the teams were just sitting around talking, being themselves instead of heroes. And that’s where Scarlet really shines. We’re introduced to the heroine right away, and Bendis uses some creative storytelling techniques to give us her background. The world is messed up, even broken, power and corruption go hand-in-hand. Scarlet’s life has been miserable because of it and she’s taking a stand. Scarlet is a relatable character, everybody has a desire to fight back against authority, though not necessarily to the extent she’s taking it to. It’s handled well, with Scarlet breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the reader, or perhaps to some unseen audience. Either way, we’re along for the ride. Speaking honestly, I am not a fan of the art. Maleev’s presentation is unique, with lots of strong lines and shading, with only sparse, simple colors. The backgrounds are sketchy and undetailed. While that would normally be a criticism, the elements work well together. The characters, the only important parts of the story really pop off the page and draw your eye. However, it seems like each panel has been run through one too many PhotoShop filters, and any time shadows are present it’s just awkward. I like the style of the art, I like the concept of the art, I just don’t like the execution of the art. As a character and a story, I love Scarlet. Unfortunately, as a comic, I’m unconvinced. I want to like it, and will likely give it another issue or two, but the art may prevent me from fully enjoying what it has to offer. Scarlet Issue 1 ICON Comics (Marvel) Story: Brian Michael Bendis Art: Alex Maleev...

Shadowland Issue 1 of 5

“Shadowland” is a Marvel mini-event running this summer. In recent issues of Daredevil, Matt Murdock has become the leader of The Hand, the group of ninja assassins that have long been his enemies. He has set up a fortress in the middle of Hell’s Kitchen named Shadowland and has been using them to protect the people of New York. Elements within the Hand are attempting to corrupt Murdock to further their own ends. Shadowland #1 is basically 24 pages of “Daredevil may have gone over the edge,” which I guess is fitting for an issue launching as (and even billed as) “The Battle for the Soul of New York.” The issue is told largely from the perspective of Daredevil’s longtime nemesis, Bullseye and every page with him is excellent. He was, after all, the most entertaining character in the cast of Dark Avengers. Unfortunately, the scenes without Bullseye are a bit lacking. We get an unnecessary trip to Avengers Tower, with Captain America, Iron Man and Thor telling Luke Cage and Iron Fist they need to keep an eye on their old friend. The time will come when he’ll need to relinquish his control to more official peacekeepers. Brian Michael Bendis has done so much work in New Avengers setting up Cage as a leader in his won right, the need for the others to tell him what to do here lessens his impact as an authority figure. That aside, the issue is quite a bit of fun. The action is fast-paced and well-styled. The fights are effectively brutal without becoming unnecessarily violent. We also get to see a new, black costume for Daredevil, and it’s pretty damn cool. It takes a great deal of skill to make two characters wearing black costumes stand out against each other, and the art team handles it well. “Shadowland” looks to be a very interesting event, with personal favorites like Spider-Man, Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, Iron Fist and LUKE F’IN CAGE involved in the story. As an event, though, this may be one better left for the collected editions. Not only is there the core miniseries, but also a crossover with Thunderbolts and an entire lineup of tie-in miniseries, not to mention the actual Daredevil comics. That’s quite a few titles to purchase, even if the event turns out to be successful. Shadowland Issue 1 of 5 Marvel Comics Story: Andy Diggle Art: Billy Tann (Pencils), Matt Banning (Inks), Christina Strain (Colors)...

Avengers: The Children’s Crusade Issue 1 of 9

First of all, this book SHOULD have been called YOUNG Avengers: The Children’s Crusade as that’s the team it focuses on. The actual Avengers only make small appearances, and even those are a bit awkward. There’s a disclaimer at the beginning of the book stating that there would be some continuity discrepancies due to its long production cycle. The story takes place after “Siege,” and I can deal with Iron Man wearing the wrong armor. However, having the WRONG CAPTAIN AMERICA is something that just makes the story feel awkward. Continuity issues aside, I really did enjoy this issue, though. It picks up on some plot threads that have been established over the last few years. Unfortunately, the Young Avengers haven’t been strong sellers, so many readers will just have to jump on. That said, Heinburg does a good job filling in the important parts without too much exposition. At the start, Young Avenger Wiccan goes a bit too far with his powers, which are magical in nature. The last time a magic-oriented mutant lost her powers, the Scarlet Witch was responsible for the deaths of several Avengers and later the near-genocide of the mutants. “The Children’s Crusade” refers to the Young Avengers’ quest to find the Scarlet Witch and reunite her with her lost twin sons. That’s right, it has long been hinted that brothers Wiccan and Speed were the lost sons of Scarlet Witch and Vision, if not biologically, then at least spiritually. All in all, it’s a fun issue, but is nothing more than a big set-up for the upcoming story. Thankfully, it’s a story we’ll get through rather quickly as the nine issues are being published bi-monthly. However, I have a request for Marvel. In many youth-team books, the writers feel the need to create romantic relationships between the characters. Possibly in an effort to connect with some of today’s youth, many of those relationships are gay. Now, I have no problem reading a book with a good romantic subplot, regardless of orientation. X-Factor is a recent good example. The relationships between Madrox and Siryn, as well as Shatterstar and Rictor (two males) don’t take away from the book as a whole. However, Young Avengers, much like Runaways before it, feels the need to beat the reader over the head with it. Hawkeye and Mockingbird don’t spend entire pages staring longingly into each others eyes, TALKING about kissing. It either happens or it doesn’t and the book moves on. Stop speaking down to your audience, Marvel. Accept that your readers are either mature enough to handle a homosexual relationship or not and stop treating it differently than a traditional one. Avengers: The Children’s Crusade Issue 1 of 9 Marvel Comics Story: Allan Heinberg Art: Jim Cheung (Pencils), Mark Morales (Inks), Justin Ponsor (Colors)...