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Like It, Love It – Reviews for 5/10

It's Tuesday, I got a Soup at Hand, it must be time for reviews!

Annihilation: Super-Skrull #2

Please note that the 'Day Timeline' in the book was updated and noted with a correction from last issue.  Andy Schmidt just might be an actual editor at Marvel Comics.  It makes me proud.  More of the same bad-assed bad-assery from the last issue with a moment taken to acknowledge how hardcore the Super Skrull is from the vantage point of a kid.  it's nice to see the book notice itself like that;  I mean, the Punisher gets away with a lot of stuff and we pretty much get used to chalking it up as par for the course, but it's nice to see a book that notes that the 'hero's' methods aren't exactly always the right ones.  Super Skrull takes on the Negative Zone with a kid mechanic that is starting to realize that his childhood hero isn't all that heroic.  in fact, he's a pretty brutal guy.  But in the end, it might take 'an even more deranged form of evil' to defeat the Annihilation menace is his answer. The Super Skrull hunts down the way to stop the 'Harvester of Sorrows' (the catchy title of the weapon that took out the Skrulls), which turns out to be generically labeled as 'a virus', but we don't care too much as Super Skrull recruits himself rather forcibly a new alien squad.  I still say this Annihilation thing should be getting all the good press, but prove Civil War hype wrong and pick up some fun.

Cable & Deadpool #28

Awww.  He had to go and ruin the 4th wall breaking format by trying to give it actual format.  When it's just a couple characters talking to you on a white page, we know not to take it seriously.  Dress it up as some 'talk show' and it starts to get irritating.  First page included, this issue we learn that Domino is still not an interesting character.  Okay, I haven't read everything and I'm sure there's a comic out there that really brings out her wealth of depth and character, but today, she's not really fit to give the book running dialogue.  Especially when there's Deadpool about.  Made up country 'Rumekistan', controlled by the Flag Smasher, is under resistance fighting and looks to be up for an overthrowing.  Domino is there to make sure the new guy isn't as messed up as the last guy, so is Deadpool, let the fighting begin.  The art's actually really good as far as action goes, very well paced and fluid.  There's an obligatory Civil War reference and we find out that the new leader in Rumekistan is... Cable!  Surprise!

Fantastic Four: First Family #3

Not 4: First Family as you might guess from the logo on the cover.  This time people seem a little more settled and a little less 'made up' so to speak as we see the start of Ben's private war with the Yancy Street Gang, Johnny's shown a little more polite than we might be used to these days, and the FF gets set to battle their first foe, the giant green monster from their first issue.  Reed is all systems go on founding the Fantastic Four, enough to look into purchasing the Baxter Building from his little dockside warehouse, while Sue's not so sure that 'nothing is more important' that their new responsibilities.  They still have a head chat with 'Franz' from the first issue, which only really serves to remind us that these sorts of re-tellings only really click when they extrapolate from the original story and not add to it.

Last Planet Standing #1

Last Planet Standing?  Oh, it's Galacticus, doing what he does best and that's eat.  The Richards (Sue and Reed) happen to be out in space when they catch sight of the oncoming muncher and send a distress call to Earth, where the Avengers are pretty much scraping the bottom of the barrel.  Earth's Mightiest Heroes are not s mighty according to the rest of the M2 Universe and even the President doesn't seem too happy they're the Earth's best hope.  May Day internal monologues on whether or not it would matter if she went to college and gets called in as a reservist of the oncoming menace.  The Fantastic Five (Fantastic 3 now?) go to see where Reed and Sue last were and find a big nothing, as if nothing was ever there!  Not exactly monumental reading, but fun nonetheless.  Hey, it's Galacticus.

New X-Men #26

  If I remember correctly, shouldn't there be an 'after Byrne' note on the cover?  I seem to recall most homage covers making a little nod to the first artist... Anyhoo, let's spin the Wheel of Death!  Who's it going to be this week?  To start, we get X-23 and Dust in a rather sexy looking burka chat about religion and what it means to a girl that not only met the person who created her literally, but who X-23 killed as well.  Reverend Stryker explains what's making him nuts this time and it happens to be that he can see the future through the Nimrod sentinel he found.  Stryker seems to think that the Days of Future Past storyline is a grand old idea and is trying to bring it about.  It involves killing everyone (obviously), including Dust who has risen up in the wake of Wallflower's hideous demise to be the linchpin of the plan.  Josh Guthrie feels awfully stupid for going along with all this and apparently leading Dust into a trap which she probably survived.  Instead of investigating, Stryker gets cracking on his assault on the X-Mansion Internment Camp on the last page.  Huh, come to think of it... why isn't this book getting more press?  Why aren't people watching this book as it seems to be hinting that the entire Marvel Universe at this point just might be headed towards Rachel Grey's future?

She-Hulk #7

I was getting worried, but apparently Dan Slott knew that.  The comics archivist at Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway mentions to Pug that the whole idea of Star Fox is kind of skeevy and not the kind of character he wants to read about.  Pug reminds him half heartedly that Star Fox isn't a character, but it's still nice nod to the fact that this Eros guy gives me a bad vibe when looked at for sexual harassment.  In fact, She Hulk herself seems to get the same idea when she realizes that all her flirting (and apparent foolin' 'round when they were in the Avengers together) might have not been her free will.  But while i get squick'd out, she gets mad, grabs the guy out of the court and proceeds to try and get an answer out of him.  Well, no answer is had as the Eternals yank him home than sully their name with this court case, leaving a reporter at the steps showing us this is just another example of 'privileged son using Daddy's connections to flee the country and avoid sexual assault charges'.  Heh.  Slate is cleared for Civil War.

Spider-Girl #98

Really, who thinks this book is actually ending this time?  Normally, I'd have shrugged my shoulders after such a statement but after this issue, I'm starting to wonder where to sign the petition.  The Hobgoblin has been hired by the Sciriers to dismantle Spider-Girl's friends and family network and goes about being enjoyable evil.  Meanwhile, caught lying to her dad about Venom not actually being dead and more bonded to Normie Osborn, Mayday is grounded until her father 'can find a way to kill the alien creature'.  That's awesome parenting.  Of course, May Day has another costume and web shooters stashed away and can't help but try and stop the people out to get her and spends some time being really guilty about continuing to lie to her dad.  Plus, Moose is going through a rough patch at school and working it through with Mayday at school ... instead of his forlorn girlfriend.  Love triangle, villainous villain on the loose and personal guilt.  This is a Spider-Man book.  Not a bad issue to pick up off the shelf and a good recommendation to the pre-teen set.

Thunderbolts #102

Wait, when did the 'Squadron Sinister' get here?  And why do they want to be called by their Max title name?  Apparently, they and the Gamesmaster want to tap into the power source of the Church of Infinite Truth (apparently the Magus of the Infinity Gauntlet used to run with them, but I think they were mentioned in Cable & Deadpool... or was that another crazy cult?) in order to combat the secret war cold war we'll say between them and the Thunderbolts.  We get this information through the story of 'Thunderbolt' Joystick, a fairly ridiculous character given some time, some back story and motivation.  It's hard not to look at a fair shake at a super villain without thinking about Villains United (okay, maybe that's just me), but it stands up pretty well. Good story, good art, plot's a little odd considering I'm not sure how fearful I should be about the... cold war between the Gamesmaster and Baron Zemo, but a pretty good issue to pick up off the shelf.

Uncanny X-Men #473

Speaking of plots I'm not sure how fearful I should be of...  Remember Jamie Braddock mentioning 'The Foursaken' last issue before he was pulled into his own chest by green monster hands?  Apparently, they are his old school buddies, a real Brat Pack that got kicked out of private schools, thus their moniker.  Oh, and they have super powers.  And there's a 'male' or opposite force to the Phoenix Force called the 'First Fallen' and they're trying to summon it, thus the End of Everything Psylocke mentioned last issue.  Thank heavens there's a Watcher hanging around for exposition purposes.  We also get another butterfly effect reference, meaning no one's watching for reused metaphors at the X-Office.  Well, the Foursaken show up, cause some trouble at Cleopatra's Needle in London and set about using Jamie and the X-Men who came to rescue him to bring about the 'First Fallen', and Betsy's the only one who can stop them as they all get sucked into another dimension anyways.  I'm pretty sure the End of Everything isn't going to happen and the story arc will be fairly self-contained despite its threat level.

X-Men: 198 #5

Last issue and what was a really good idea sort of has that rush job feeling.  The kid with the crazy stomach manipulates everyone and has Leech and Magma kill Absolon Mercator (a name so silly I just can't help but say it as much as possible!).  That... pretty much kills this whole '198 going to live by themselves on an island' thing and everyone goes back to the Internment Camp.  Stomach Kid is never caught, Magma blames Empath, and in as about a resurrection-like analogy as they can fit in, Leech and Lorlei wait by Absolon Mercator's coffin only to wake in the morning and found himself turned into butterflies.  God, I hate butterflies.

American Virgin #3

Remember the nice young man from issue #1?  Well, his intended/soulmate was brutally killed on missionary work in Africa, senselessly so to boot.  And she was sleeping in a room with another guy while she was in Africa and never told him.  Oh, and it looks like she was raped too.  Nice kid to angry slightly unhinged Christian off his own wagon in three issues.  It would have almost made a bigger impact if he's put though all this drama and heartache but manages to remain true to his beliefs, but I guess that's not as interesting a story.  Anyhoo, looks like there's a shady guy who's going to take him to the guy that killed his girl so... maybe we're breaking him down to build him back up.

Batman: Secrets #3

Third verse, same as the first:  more moody, intense and provoking artwork from Sam Kieth, more telling drama and introspective character development and a little shoestring of a plot to hang it all on.  To tell you the truth, I don't even care anymore, the book is too pretty and nifty to let it get you don't.  Here we have the Joker's new squeeze selling him out to Batman because she can't get commitment from the Clown and we just keep slow dancing with secrets.

Captain Atom: Armageddon #8

Wow, 8 of 9 and we already know we get Capt. Atom back in the last Infinite Crisis.  Bad timing?  Lateness?  And... Captain Atom married Plastique?  The Canadian terrorist?  Wow.  Well, Apollo and the Midnighter are sent down to off Captain Atom, the usual thing you do to a guy who's going to 'destroy your universe'.  A pretty heinous fight goes down, Grifter gets his head melted and set on fire and the boys take the fight on the road to space.  When you're killing a guy who's a nuclear reactor, you have to watch where you do it.  If you're committed, great.  It's an interesting read with some minor commentary on the Wildstorm universe, but we all pretty much know the end result.

Cartoon Network: Action Pack #1

We got a toned down Samurai Jack story, a simple Powerpuff Girls tale and something to do with big robots called Mega XLR.  This is kids only stuff, but I wouldn't say it's dumbed down or anything.  Give to the younger set with pride!

Fables #49

The issue before Something Happens.  Everyone remembers the storm and any thought that's given to the moment before is always relative to the damage the storm wreaks.  This is merely filler and story push to get us to the next big thing.  Mowgli finds Bigby, he gets him to come back to Fabletown with him, the chick Bigby shacked up with goes back to her world, Snow and the North Wind notice a change in the winds he didn't cause and everyone's got that sense of foreboding.  Why?  Next issue.

Firestorm #25

Killer Frost, Mister Freeze, some men issues and Firestorm.  Welcome to issue #25.  With the two villains combined, they hijack Firestorm to take him to the sun where Killer Frost can finally feel warmth for the first time by absorbing enough heat from the surface.  Yeah.  Fun science ensues, a random giant floating head moment from Professor Stein and someone peeking in on this world that gave me the willies, and an answer to the dilemma that made me wish I paid my attention in Physics.  Batman shows up at the end to pick up Freeze, admonishes Firestorm for not doing a better job and goes home.  Firestorm freaks out.  'He's just an ordinary guy in a bat suit.  I could take off his head in a second!  But he's got me shaking! That's the way I want to be!'  You can almost see the stars in his eyes.  The story is fun, the artwork a little confusing when they switch from Firestorm Mode to Inner Firestorm Mode, but this is another one you might be able to take off the shelf for flip through fun.

Wildcats: Nemesis #9

Last issue.  It's a lost relationship week at Wildstorm as to cap off another 'isn't she AWESOME?' uninked back story, Nemesis used to date Mr. Majestic.  But, their love was forbidden, and he was forced to 'breed' with her mentor, so he's a dog and doesn't understand her feelings.  Back to the present, Charis takes on the back guy who calls her names and insults her while she counters with witty repartee and his own swords in his stomach.  She gets rescued by Mr. Majestic, asked to join the Wildcats, but no!  She's far too independant and cool for them.  Eh, it wasn't monumental or surprising, but it was fun.

Happy Wednesday everybody.

Buying in – Reviews for 5/4

Second week we've gotten Image previews, second week I've missed getting to them.  Rats.  I'd probably feel worse if it was more than just three books.  Ah well, enjoy your big two previews at least.

X-Men: Apocalypse vs. Dracula #4

Surprisingly enough, I give more cred to Apocalypse from this book than all the other appearances he's got going on these days.  The fairly predictable ending to a very straightforward premise: Apocalypse versus Dracula.  Accept no substitutes.  There's some preliminary mook battles before the Big Guy and the Bat Guy throw down.  Despite the incredible bravado on both ends, the simple human element isn't forgotten and Van Helsing comes in at the nick of time.  Dracula defeated (oh, like he would win?), Apocalypse goes back to sleep thinking his 'Clan Acaba' is done.  Considering one of the supporting characters is named 'Starsmore' and the pink-haired, green-eyed kid has a woman whose last name is Ferguson led up to his room, we all know better and are shown a more sneaky side of Ozmandius to boot.  Hey, if you didn't get all the issues (shame on you, with all those lovely Jae Lee covers!), wait for the trade and take a flip through.  Sure, it's candy, but it's good candy.

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #8

Okay.  I like Peter David, a lot in fact, but I think this book isn't doing it.  We are eight issues, four of which were part of The Other, one of which was practically a 'What If?', leaving two for stories in current continuity.  And, number eight starts us off in an alternate universe!  What's the deal?  Spectacular Spider-Man is for a rather outside little plot dealing with animal villains, Amazing Spider-Man is to push Civil War along... what's up with this title?  Is it for kids?  What are we doing here, folks?  Picture a world where Aunt May died instead of Uncle Ben.  Now picture Peter Parker as an insufferable jerk and imagine what that would do to Uncle Ben.  Now picture what that Uncle Ben would do if he walked into this dimension/universe/whathaveyou.  Now picture Hobgoblin 2211.  Yeah.  Is Civil War really that bad?

Marvel Team-Up #20

There is an awesome recap at the front of this book, plus an all ages rating, so feel free to make it a recommendation to the middle set.  Apparently, last month's 90's Redux was tied into a larger building plot and this time Captain America far too excited about slinging his shield at a MODOC squad to remember the RING OF ULTIMATE POWER he's got in his pocket.  He loses it in the fight and it turns up in the hands of Joe Everyman who, after a night of wild experimentation with his friend, learns how to use his power ring.  Meanwhile, something green regrows his/her/its brain.

Sentinel Squad O*N*E #5

Bug Sentinels look cool.  That's all I really have to say, but here's a recap, just in case anything in this book will come in handy later on.  Big Robots fight bug robots in South America to protect a little mutant hamlet in South America.  The government continues to be mean and nasty and at the end of the day, Lexington is the big hero.  Guys e haven't seen in the X-Men books leave the program for ethical beliefs (the alien-looking green guy stays behind to take care of the mutant hamlet, so... we'll never hear from him again...).  Then M-Day happens, Lexington gets to be in charge since he lost his powers and the current status quo gets set, leaving us with the feeling that... stuff happened.

Spider-Man Unlimited #15

Nice touch with the bios in the front, telling us a little about who got to be in the book.  For your $2.99 you get two stories, a pretty cheesy tale about a little kid whose a Spider-Man fan who stayed brave when his brother left him in the getaway car during a robbery and he makes a friend from the encounter, and a second which is absolute gold in my book.  We're taken through a bunch of memories from the perspective of the wife of Dr. Connors, whose single minded dedication to his work and the desire to hold his wife again turns their life upside-down.  It's a very human story, almost an allegory for a dysfunctional family and how they have to hold together despite it all.  Honestly, it's these kinds of stories that really mean Marvel to me.

Marvel Romance Redux: I Should Have Been a Blonde! #1

Patsy Walker!  Satan!  Peter David!  We're on a collision course to wackiness.  I will agree with Kevin (call I call him that?  Is it 'Mr. Beaucoup'?), the story did run long, but I'm so ticked by the romance of Hellcat and Hellstrom, I can almost overlook those obnoxious boxes commenting on everyone's clothing and hair.  We're those in the original?  Geez.  In the end, it's a laugh or to, much better than the last one and worth the $2.99 if you like Patsy Walker and her Son of Satan hubby or just a good hee hee.

The End: X-Men - Book Three: Men & X-Men #5

I was so ready to just plow my way through this book, pick up the salient points and move on but Claremont pulled a fast one on me and waxed philosophical for a bit on Charles Xavier.  Suckered in, I kept reading with interest when suddenly Marie D'Ancanto is helping Kate Pryde's mayoral campaign.  Didn't she die in that big Gambit debacle?  We learn to let go, and let Claremont, and move on.  We get more info on that campaign, which is a nice turn from the rather raucous events in space and just when I was getting comfy, back to the stars!  Fight fight fight fight, one thing after another goes down and just when I'm wondering when anyone is going to notice that the X-Men have perfect telepathic communication when fighting Cassandra Nova in Charles Xavier's body (they even made a point to mention how much psionic power that is in the front of the book!), the over-the-top villainess gets the power of the Phoenix.  My guess?  Next issue she gets the Power Cosmic.

Annihilation: Silver Surfer #2

Speaking of which... Do note this book's all ages rating, making me thrilled to be able to not only give a customer with the Silver Surfer in it, but I can give it to his kid too. Plus, the 'Previously...' recap page has a nifty day count, helpful for putting a multi-issue series in context with itself. This is a happy comic shop employee.  Now, I loved the first issue, and I am happy to report that the second loses no momentum.  Thanos goes to see this conqueror and finds out that Annihilus wants to expand the Negative Zone and to declare war on Universal Balance.  INGENIOUS!  Silver Surfer gets the band back together with other surviving Heralds who all collectively 'Whoa' at the scope of this story.  There hasn't been much, but man, I am on the edge of my seat for the fate of the universe.

Exiles #80

Oh, you know it's bad when they recap a character's life story.  It's a trick I noted in a lot of anime series, that one episode where they tell you everything that happened before so you'll know exactly what they're throwing out the window.  The moment I saw this was going to be from Morph's point of view, I knew the poor guy was up for it.  And I was not proved wrong:  during the big battle between Hulks 2099 and Maestro, long time baddie Proteus jumps into Morph when his defenses are down, decides that this is the body for him and jumps to the next 'verse.  Team leader Blink says this time it's personal.  Considering this guy got away with killing her beau and has been the focal point for way too many issues, something better give.

Exterminators #5

Did you know this is an ongoing series?  I thought it was a mini!  Anyways, the bug phobia continues.

Hard Time - Season Two #6

Nothing like a story about a kid in prison and his place in the multiverse!  This issue steps out of the current conflict to dive head first into mystics, metaphor, various allusions, secrets and a cheery tour of the book in general and the cast at large.  The kind of story that tickles long time readers and the author himself as he gets to hint at a bunch of stuff, but really doesn't o much for the average reader.  As a storytelling device, it's a cool idea that you can just take the main character to a metaphysical museum and have him tour himself in various tableaus, and in the end, everyone learns a little something about themselves and Cutter promises revenge.

Justice League Unlimited #21

It's supposed to be a 'romance issue' as it revolves around a few couples but it just has the feel that it was written by a high school nerd.  There are a lot of expositionary facts around a very simple story:  Vixen and Green Lantern are having relationship issues while fighting a big storm which just so happens to be caused by Heatwave and Killer Frost having a lover's spat.  Black Canary and Green Arrow are there to provide backup and couple advice and everything's resolved in the end but the Shayera/Vixen/Green Lantern triangle.  Does Green Arrow really have an arrow for everything?

Swamp Thing #27

Enrique Breccia's art is very Corben in this issue, which is a little over saturated for me.  Especially since the last issue I read was so pretty, but it does deliver the sort of dreamy scary story Vertigo is known for delivering.  Swamp Thing makes camp and draws his line.  The inhabitants of said camp warn that they may have to fight to hold that line and the Swam Thing promises protection while slimy things makes life hard outside the swamp.  Not too wordy, not too complicated, just storytelling.

Team Zero #6

The Machismo Issue.  And it's the last one to bring it all home!  There's a big throw down with the Russians in this WWII tale, a handful of double crosses met with bullets and all the characters you're not familiar with from the Wildstorm Universe get bumped off and in the end, the mission is completed and... uhm, yeah.  That's it.  Maybe we were supposed to learn something, but that's what Sgt. Rock and Fury: Peacemaker are for.

Y the Last Man #45

A fast paced issue with plenty of plot points blooming up like spring flowers.  Dr. Mann's mom spills the beans on her connections to this whole story, Agent 355 reaches her breaking point, the monkey stays in unfamiliar hands and in the end... NINJA!  Really, this is a hard book to keep up with issues after issue and really reads much better in trade paperback form.  There's no shame in this; there's a lot to think about, so I continue to recommend it in a thicker format.