The Thanos Imperative #1 – Review

By: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (writers), Miguel Sepulveda (artist), Jay David Ramos (color artist)

Canadian comic book reviewers maintain bold opinions, despite Memorial Day in the US! News at 11.

The Story: The forces of the Cancerverse (the universe where Death was defeated and life reigns uninterrupted) spew through the rift, into our universe, ripping through the strongest Kree defenses. At the same time, Thanos, a psycho so dangerous that sometimes Death throws him back, seems to be the key to facing the invasion. And, it only gets worse….

What’s Good: Sepulveda’s art, paired with Ramos’ color work, is awesome. Marvel has lined up a great art team that has delivered the goods. Rocket Raccoon looks positively feral as he stares down Thanos (with a threat to keep him alive!), while the space battle around the extrusion at the Fault is worth poring over for a good few minutes. My reading experience slowed even more to watch Gladiator fight one of the invaders head on. The villains are creepy and disturbing, and the Silver Surfer is distant and regal while staring at the same thing I was: the streamers of power spilling through the Fault like prominences on a star. Brilliant, brilliant work (no pun intended). I could go on about the art, but I don’t want to short-change the writing in the review.

Abnett and Lanning are quickly becoming two of my favorite writers. They have been delivering solid, surprising, cosmic-scale adventures in the Marvel U for years. They juggle tension, humor, death, epic invasions and personal losses in as deft a manner as any of the best writers of comics today. I’m not a huge Inhumans fan, but watching Medusa and her entourage react to the invasion had me fascinated. I loved the character moments between Richard and Robbie (and Namorita). I was riveted by all of the Thanos moments, and how different Guardians managed him, or filled their pants with bricks. The panel devoted to Thanos and Drax deserves a bit of a writing award for the freshness of the scene and the desperate, paradoxical longing that Abentt and Lanning have managed to soak into both characters. And I can’t miss mentioning the nods that Abnett and Lanning always seem to give to past classics, like the last-minute arrival of the Cancerverse Defenders.

Nova #36 – Review

By: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Andrea DiVito (art), Bruno Hang (colors) & Cory Petit (letters)

The Story: After a multi-issue battle with the Sphinx, Nova returns to Earth.  Will his stay there be quiet?

What’s Good: I’m excited for the Thanos Imperative, and this issue of Nova was a nice lead in.  I was a little afraid that this issue would be an issue to get Nova ready to become a Secret Avenger and perhaps focus on his relationship with the not-dead-anymore Namorita, but DNA don’t give us any of that.  Instead we get evil Quasar and parasitic mind-control organisms, as Nova returns to Earth and Project PEGASUS, only to find an open portal to the Fault down in the basement with one of those big, nasty, tentacled, pointy-toothed monstrosities coming through.  Cool story and a nice lead in to the Thanos Imperative!

Guardians of the Galaxy #25 – Review

By Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (writers), Brad Walker (artist), Andrew Hennessy (inker), Wil Quintana (colorist)

The Story: Thanos lives!!! And holy shit does he have an axe to grind…

The Good: Fellow critic Dean Stell and I were talking about this series the other day and we both agreed that one of the things that makes Guardians of the Galaxy (and really any of Marvel’s cosmic comics) such a fun read is how surprisingly accessible it is. Abnett and Lanning work hard to make every issue easy for new readers to jump into and rewarding for those of us that have been reading for awhile, and it never ceases to amaze me what a great job they do of walking that fine line month after month. It was also a great pleasure to see Walker back on the book. I never had a problem with Wes Craig’s art over the previous few issues, and am actually looking forward to seeing him come back to the book at some point, but I have to admit that Walker is the perfect artist for this comic.

Guardians of the Galaxy #21 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Brad Walker (artist), Andrew Hennessy & Victor Olazaba (inkers), Wil Quintana (colorist)

The Story: Following the events of last month’s issue, the Luminals have foolishly brought back an alien life form with them from their unwarranted expedition into The Fault. The Guardians want to send the abomination back to where it came from, the Universal Church of Truth wants to worship it as a god, and the alien wants to hibernate in somebody. Needless to say, it’s a bad day to be a Guardian of the Galaxy.

The Good: I’ll tell you what, taking a chance on this comic has been one of the best decisions I’ve made all year. I’ve picked up six issues so far (excluding the first two graphic novels I picked up to fill in the back stories) and every single one of them has been an astounding blend of political intrigue, manipulations, action, and science fiction ingenuity. With each new issue released under the “Realm of Kings” banner, you new information is revealed that makes the nature of The Fault all the more terrifying. Without giving anything away, let me just say that as a mild-mannered reviewer living with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, this issue’s revelation put honest to God chills down my spine and made my skin crawl. And shit, if you want to talk about terrifying, let me take a moment to talk about that alien life form. Abnett and Lanning, to their credit, somehow found a way to take all the utter creepiness of the movie Alien and condense it onto the printed page. Moondragon’s encounters with the xenoform are vile and disgusting, bringing to mind images of when the alien burst out of Kane’s chest in the movie. Abnett and Lanning excel at getting across the repulsiveness of life on the other side of The Fault and what a genuine threat it poses to our universe, and if they can pull that off with one measly alien, I can’t wait to see what they have in store when the story kicks into high gear.

Guardians Of The Galaxy #20 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Brad Walker (artist), Victor Olazaba (inker), Wil Quintana (colorist)

The Story: While Drax and Rocket Raccoon continue to investigate what exists on the other side of The Fault, Star-Lord and his teammates must come to terms with the tragic losses they’ve suffered, not that the Luminals especially care.

The Good: Taking a chance on Marvel’s cosmic comics has been one of the best things I’ve done this year as a reader. Abnett and Lanning are producing some incredibly fine stories on Guardians of the Galaxy with scripts that are full of dynamic action and developed character drama. What continues to impress me is how they managed to create across all of their titles an unpredictable atmosphere of genuine danger. One need not look any further than last month’s confrontation with the Magus to understand what I mean by that. Could you ever see that kind of climax happening in a mainstream Marvel book? I can’t, and that’s a large reason why I’m so drawn to these stories. Reading them, you seriously get the impression that nothing is sacred and even the heroes of your favorite comic can perish at a moment’s notice. For the most part I found myself enjoying Walker’s art, although his humanoid characters like Star-Lord and Moondragon were less impressive than the more fantastic elements of the issue like the hideous space mole that Drax and Rocket confront or the Lovecraftian nightmare and the end. Trust me, it’s as wonderfully bizarre as it sounds.

The Not So Good: I’m still at a loss to understand how this qualifies as being a “Realm of Kings” tie-in. Sure, it deals with Guardians investigating The Fault, but certainly not in any way that advances the overall storyline. If anything, the time Drax and Rocket spent on the other side was little more than an extended action sequence that Moondragon offered commentary on. I enjoyed the issue, but at the same time felt it was a cheap attempt to capitalize on the “Realm of Kings” story.

Conclusion: Guardians of the Galaxy continues to be the best book you’re not reading, so go visit your local comic shop and change that already!

Grade: B

-Tony Rakittke

Realm of Kings – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Leonardo Marco & Mahmud Asrar (artists), Bruno Hang (colorist)

The Story: What lies beyond The Fault? It’s an answer Marvel’s cosmic heroes have wanted to know ever since the war between Black Bolt and his Inhumans and the mutant Vulcan came to its tragic conclusion. Quasar, newly resurrected and desperate to prove his worth to his colleagues, has offered to delve into the tear in time and space to find out what lies on the other side, but what he finds there threatens to consume the entire Marvel Universe.

The Good: Readers will know that lately I’ve been taking a long overdue interest in Marvel’s cosmic heroes, and since I’ve missed the previous storylines set in this corner of the Marvel universe, I’ve decided now’s as good a time as any to jump on the rollercoaster and fully experience what so many other critics have been buzzing about for years now. I’m glad I’m starting here, because this issue has set the stage for a truly epic, terrifying story. Abnett and Lanning have masterful control over this little corner of Marvel’s universe, and it shows in the tight, interlocking arcs they are weaving together. From Annihilation right on through War of Kings, each story feels like a natural extension of the one that came before and not just another overly-marketed gimmick. These guys have literally rebuilt the universe from the ground up and it shows with the rich characterization and intricate plots they have developed. Quasar rings true as a devastatingly powerful hero struggling to earn his role as the guardian of the universe right at a time when it is most threatened, and the confidence with which he handles himself on the other side of The Fault reminds us why it remains a role he was born for. As for what lies beyond The Fault, I’m choosing not to comment because I don’t want to spoil the surprise, except to say the eerie combination of Lovecraftian horror and traditional superheroes is a delight and something I sincerely hope to see more of even after this storyline concludes.

The Not So Good: Nothing that won’t spoil your reading experience. This issue is primarily set up and exposition for the storyline proper, but I swear you’ll be so freaked out and have such a good time following Quasar’s journey (and I never thought I’d be saying that about a man named Wendell Vaughn) that you’ll hardly notice, and if anything want just a few more pages to see what happens next.

Conclusion: In a year highlighted by shockingly mediocre storylines, I feel like Marvel may have finally struck gold with Realm of Kings, and I’m really excited to see what happens next.

Grade: A-

-Tony Rakittke

 

Nova Vol. 1 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Sean Chen, Scott Hanna & Brian Denham (artists)

The Marvel universe (by which I mean that vast expanse of space in which Silver Surfer, Galactus, and Ego run around in as opposed to the Marvel Universe, the corporate umbrella that we gather all of the company’s intellectual properties under when we talk about them) has never been an especially interesting setting to tell stories in.  Weird, right?  I mean, this is space we’re talking about, the final frontier.  An endless, ethereal, expanse of limitless potential and imagination where anything can happen.  And yet, despite the wealth of stories that can be told here, Marvel writers have seemed reluctant to do anything with it.  The last time I ever got excited about a Marvel space story was when “The Infinity Gauntlet” came out, and that was eighteen years ago.

Fast forward to 2006 when I began reading  positive fan feedback and critical praise for “Annihilation” a storyline designed to revitalize Marvel’s cosmic franchise.  The story certainly sounded worthwhile, but I wasn’t quite convinced to invest the time and money to collect it.

And then I found out Dan Abnett was involved with the story.

I’d known and been a huge fan of Abnett’s work through his involvement with Black Library’s series of Warhammer 40,000 books (any Gaunt’s Ghosts fans out there?) and it was on the strength of his writing there that I was willing to take another chance on Marvel’s final frontier.  I’m glad I did, because there is new life and abundant imagination to be found here, and nowhere is that more apparent than on Marvel’s flagship space title, Nova.

This inaugral volume collects the first seven issues of the title and spins directly out of the events of Annihilation: Conquest, the sequel to the 2006 crossover.  Following the devastation of the Annihilation Wave, the galaxy has been torn asunder and left in a broken, fragile, and highly volatile state.  There was a time when the Nova Corps was around to maintain law and order, but that time has come and gone and the Nova Corps is all but dead, with only Richard Rider left standing as their sole representative, one man to protect an entire galaxy.  It’s a burden no one person should have to carry, and yet Rider does because he knows it’s the right thing to do and that he’s the only one capable of doing it.

Against this backdrop of one man pushing himself to the limit in order to do the right thing, Abnett and Lanning craft a series of explosive, entertaining stories that are deeply rooted in the continuity established by the Annihilation crossovers, and yet immediately accessible to new readers.  What I most like about this volume, and about the new landscape of Marvel’s universe, is that it is such a fully-realized continuity and fully divorced from mainstream Marvel.

For those of you who, like me, have had enough of mediocre crossovers like ‘Dark Reign’, you have here the opportunity to get your Marvel fix with an excellent comic that has absolutely nothing to do with Norman Osborn for a change.  Abnett imbues this graphic novel with a skilled blend of action, imagination, and pathos that frankly shames anything being turned in by Marvel’s ‘terrestrial’ writers, and if you’re looking for a change of pace in your comics then I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you.  This is damn good stuff to read, and I have a feeling it’ll just keep getting better.

Grade:  A

-Tony Rakittke

 

Nova #31 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Andrea DiVito (artist), Bruno Hang (colorist)

Some Thoughts Before the Review: Being a die-hard, loyal Green Lantern fan, it goes without saying that I love a good space story.  It’s with some bewilderment though that I confess I’ve never been a huge fan of Marvel’s space faring heroes.  Sure, I devoured Infinity Gauntlet like everyone else, but haven’t touched this corner of the Marvel Universe until I started hearing good things about their Annihilation storyline.  That feedback, coupled with Abnett’s amazing storytelling, has persuaded me to pay closer attention to Marvel’s cosmic comics.

The Story: In the wake of the “War of Kings”, Nova pursues Darkhawk, his friend and alleged assassin, to the outworld Shard in search of answers regarding his involvement in the murder of the Shi’ar Empress Lilandra.

The Good: I can honestly say I was not expecting to like Nova as much as I did, but this issue made me hungry for more of Marvel’s cosmic continuity (yes, I know I’m abusing the alliteration here, but it’s so much fun I can’t resist!).  I first came to Abnett’s work through his efforts for Black Library’s Warhammer 40k games and books, and easily consider him to be one of the finest writers I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.  Why it’s taken me this long to get into his comics is beyond me but I’m glad I finally did.  Abnett crafts intelligent, dynamic stories that boldly venture into the unexplored corners of Marvel’s universe and create a new mythology from the ground up.  Through his care, Richard Rider is one of the most engaging characters in Marvel right now.  A young man of unimaginable power, he is tasked with protecting not a city, a country, or even a world, but the entire universe, and in this issue you really feel the weight of that burden as Nova must continue building the ranks of his Nova Corp even as he attempts to apprehend the friend who has been branded a galactic assassin.  This issue walks a fine tightrope between being rich in continuity and accessible to the new reader like me, and that is a damn rare quality to find in a comic.

The Not So Good: If it looks like the art in this issue was utterly breathtaking, take a look again and you’ll realize it was Hang’s brilliant colors that you were really admiring.  DiVito’s art was lifeless and not very interesting to look at, seeming to exist only to give Hang a chance to make it look better than it deserves to be through his beautiful palette.  The confrontation(s) between Nova and Darkhawk were also strangely anticlimactic, with a whole lot of nothing actually happening once you stopped to think about it.

Conclusion: Stellar writing and a richly-developed universe has convinced me that Nova is entertainment worth following.

Grade:  C+

-Tony Rakittke

 

Astonishing X-Men #32 – Review

by Warren Ellis (Writer), Phil Jimenez (Pencils), Andy Lanning (Inks), and Frank D’Armata (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Art hang-ups and the lack of plot development aside, the Warren Ellis/Phil Jimenez run on Astonishing X-Men got off to a pretty nice start. As a fan of the Brood, I can’t help but look forward to what Ellis has up his sleeve.

The Story: The X-Men deal with a strange biological Sentinel and unexpectedly find themselves up against Brood as well.

What’s Good And What’s Not So Good: Astonishing X-Men #32 is, well, a whole lot like Astonishing X-Men #31. As you’ve no doubt guessed, that’s both a positive thing to say about the book in some ways and a negative thing to say in others. It means that the latest Astonishing X-Men is one hell of a fun, action-packed thrill ride. It also means that the art issues are still a problem and that the current arc’s overall plot only advances over the span of a few pages.

The script for Astonishing X-Men #32 is filled with loads of dialogue that could only come from the mind of Warren Ellis. From the pet names Beast gives to Abigail Brand to the sarcasm that drips from nearly every word bubble, the dialogue is so awesome, so distinctly “Warren Ellis,” that you can’t help but wonder what other type of magic he could work with some of the other Marvel teams. All that good dialogue comes at a price, however, as the story sort of takes a backseat to the action. That’s not necessarily a bad thing since seeing the X-Men do what they do best is almost always a good time, but it does leave the book feeling a little light on plot.

Phil Jimenez’s detailed, dynamic artwork in Astonishing #32 leaves little to be desired from a storytelling standpoint. Especially since the artist’s character work is far more consistent than it was in his Astonishing debut. Visually, Astonishing X-Men #32 is not perfect, however. The problem is that Frank D’Armata’s colors simply overwhelm Jimenez’s pencil work far too often. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that D’Armata’s slick, shiny color work makes some of the action almost indecipherable at times. Some panels/scenes are so awash in a “motion-blur” effect that everything sort of blends together in a way that’s downright hard to follow.

Conclusion: Light on story, but packed with lots of X-Men action, Astonishing X-Men #32 is definitely worth your time and money if you’re a fan of Warren Ellis or Phil Jimenez or both.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

 

Astonishing X-Men #31 – Review

By Warren Ellis (Writer), Phil Jimenez (Pencils), Andy Lanning (Inks), and Frank D’Armata (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Warren Ellis’ first Astonishing arc was held back a bit by Simone Bianchi’s inconsistent, occasionally ugly artwork. With Phil Jimenez now on board, I’m hoping that the artwork consistently does justice to Ellis’ storytelling. If Jimenez’s past work is any indication, it’s a good bet that it will.

The Story: The X-Men pull out all the stops in an effort to save Abigail Brand’s life as she plummets to the earth in an escape shell following an unexpected encounter with The Brood.

What’s Good And What’s Not So Good: From start to finish, Astonishing X-Men #31 is one hell an entertaining thrill ride. While there isn’t a whole lot to the book beyond the Abigail Brand rescue and an interesting, somewhat odd ending, there really doesn’t need to be because Warren Ellis and Phil Jimenez are such a strong creative team. Ellis and Jimenez make the absolute most of a simple premise and show that their run definitely has the potential to live up to the hype that Marvel has given it.

As expected, Warren Ellis’ dialogue is superb. Predictably, He throws around techno-babble like a pro, yet his writing never feels pretentious. His signature wit and dry humor manages to shine through on nearly every page as he effortlessly continues to put his stamp on the Astonishing team’s dynamic. Also, it must be said once again that Ellis writes Emma Frost and Beast better than anyone. The writer’s style and sense of humor truly shines whenever either Beast or Frost is in command of a panel.

Phil Jimenez’s Astonishing debut is impressive, yet it’s not perfect. The gripping action is silky smooth and the panel layouts are slick, but some of the character work and coloring knock the overall quality down a notch. In particular, Jimenez has some noticeable problems keeping Emma Frost’s look consistent and Frank D’Armata’s rich colors have the unfortunate effect of making everyone look a bit shiny. Still though, despite the flaws, the action that drives Astonishing X-Men #31 is incredibly engaging and a whole lot of fun.

Conclusion: The Warren Ellis/Phil Jimenez era of Astonishing X-Men is off to a fine start. I look forward to seeing what the team has in store for us next. Also, on a personal note, I believe that the word “gauche” totally needs to be used in more comics.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Amazing Spider-Man #606/ Amazing Spider-Man #607 – Double Review

#606 – By Joe Kelly (Writer), Mike McKone (Pencils), Andy Lanning (Inks), Chris Chuckry (Colors)

#607 – By Joe Kelly (Writer), Mike McKone & Adriana Melo (Pencils), McKone, Lanning, Justice, Smith, & Benes (Inks), and Chris Chuckry & Jeremy Cox (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Since Amazing Spider-Man #606 slipped through the cracks last week, I figured it might be worth reviewing both of Joe Kelly’s newest Spider-Man books in one review.

The Story: Peter Parker’s got girl problems. And just when it seems like things couldn’t get much worse, the Black Cat finds her way back into Spider-Man’s life. A flame is quickly re-ignited as the two must work together to solve a bizarre murder and bring down the villain known as Diablo.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: Let me start off by saying that Joe Kelly absolutely knocks the Black Cat stuff completely out of the park. In both #606 and #607, the funny, entertaining dialogue that goes back and forth between the conflicted Spider-Man and the flirtatious Black Cat is loaded with personality. Simply put, it’s an absolutely blast to read. Spider-Man’s inner dialogue proves to be equally impressive and really gets across the conflicted, frustrated feelings that Peter’s been wrestling with recently. It’s also funny as hell at times. Also, props to Kelly for allowing Peter to let loose and enjoy himself a bit throughout both issues. Even though what Spidey does isn’t necessarily the “right” thing, it’s certainly a good thing for the character as a whole.

So the character work is great, but what about the storyline that takes place around all of it? Thankfully, that’s pretty good as well. While the unique villain Diablo is a bit goofy for my taste, the murder mystery plot is solid all around and constructed in a way that allows the relationship of Black Cat and Spider-Man to take front and center at nearly all times. That’s a good thing because it not only keeps the interplay between the characters going but also puts Black Cat’s “bad luck” powers to use in clever, funny ways throughout the story.

The highlight of the artwork by Mike McKone in Amazing Spider-Man #606 has to be the character work. McKone’s characters convey the personality of the script and, for the most part, flow through the crazy action scenes with ease (though there is an awkward pose here and there). One noticeable negative about the character work is that Spider-Man looks a bit like a child in a Spider-Man costume in a few panels, either due to the small panel size or the way the scene is put together. It’s nothing more than a minor annoyance, but it does look a bit odd. As for the Black Cat, McKone makes sure she oozes sexuality and personality in nearly every panel. She’s a bit too “posey” at times, but I think that was sort of the point since she’s got a thing for Spidey.

The artwork in Spider-Man #607 is something of a mess. The phrase “Too many cooks in the kitchen” comes to mind. While the pencil work by McKone and Adriana Melo is well done (McKone stays on par while Melo ups the sexuality of things a bit), there’s an inconsistency from page to page that simply cannot be ignored. One page near the end looks particularly rough and, in truth, very rushed. Hard to believe it make it into the book as it is.

Conclusion: Amazing Spider-Man #606 and #607 are extremely fun comics that should please pretty much anyone. While the art problems are worth noting, they don’t bring down the overall quality of the creative package all that much.

Grades:

#606 : B+

#607: B

-Kyle Posluszny

War Of Kings #6 – Review

By Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (writers), Paul Pelletier (pencils), Rick Magyar and Andrew Hennessy (inkers) and Wil Quintana (colors)

The Story: The final battle between Blackbolt and Vulcan explodes in deep space with irreversible consequences to both these characters and the entire galaxy. The War of the Kings concludes, but the cosmic event has really just begun.

What’s Good: First off, if you haven’t been keeping along with this mini-series, shame on you. Second of all, buy this trade as soon as it hits the shelves not only for this incredible series, but because of what is going to come from it. Finally, a Marvel event bears good fruit instead of rotten, deformed, and poisonous produce (read: Secret Invasion, World War Hulk, etc).

In this issue, we get to see what we every Inhuman fan wants to see: Blackbolt going apeshit. This occurrence is perhaps the highlight of this issue as nothing is more pleasing than finally seeing Vulcan getting what he deserves–turned into an over boiled hotdog.

Also, the whole way the Vulcan actually became decent for a few moments as he protected his Kingdom from Blackbolt’s extreme plans was a brilliant ploy by Abnett and Lanning. It really showed the blurred lines that paint the field of war as no one has clean hands in this issue.

However, the best part of this issue is that Gladiator is finally raised to the status he deserves in a great, great scene. From the ruins of the Sh’ar empire, the Starjammers escape just before a new and worthy leader is crowned Majestor.

Everything in this issue clicks. The dialogue is great during the action scenes and heavy and meaningful as the Inhuman royal family reflect on the war they’ve both won and lost. The script proves to be well-written, as this whole event shows how it was meticulously and expertly plotted.

As I mentioned in the beginning of this review, this issue, despite it being the final installment in this mini, really just was the beginning of this story as the Marvel Cosmos will never be the same. A ton of possibilities and adventure is set up and frankly, Marvel Cosmos is the best part of the Marvel Universe right now. And, it looks to be this way for a long time.

The art is off the hook as Paul Pelletier draws fantastic fight scenes between Blackbolt and Vulcan. Energy waves flow, fists fly, and worlds shatter. Not to mention there are tons of poignant scenes where the realities of war settle into the consciousness’ of the characters.

What’s Not So Good: We have to wait for Realm of Kings to launch. Need. It. Now.

Conclusion: Thanks you Dan Abnett and Andy Landing for making sci-fi comics the way they should be. You guys pulled the best from what Cosmic Marvel had to offer and made it even better. You even made Dark Hawk relevant! Kudos–sign me up for the next event!

Highly Recommended.

Grade: A

-Rob G.

Fusion #3 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Tyler Kirkham (Pencils), Sal Regla & Jay Leisten (Inks), and John Starr & Blond (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: As long as you read an issue of Fusion with the right mindset…

The Story: Cyberforce and the Avengers face off against the Thunderbolts before all the teams realize there’s something far worse that must be dealt with: Venom’s alien symbiote has gone ballistic!

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: Fusion #3 uses a simple formula to get the job done. And you know what? It works well enough. If you came into the series to see all four teams (Cyberforce, Hunter-Killer, Tbolts, and Avengers) fight and then team up, well… Fusion #3 is your book. It’s dumb, it’s mindless, but it’s also quite a bit of fun (I’m sure I’ve said that about Fusion at least once before).

Artist Tyler Kirkham does his best to make the most of his time playing with the Marvel characters. Kirkham crafts a rather badass looking Venom and he also does a nice job of keeping the nonstop action manageable and satisfying. There’s a drop in quality here and there, but it’s understandable, considering how much is going on in nearly each and every panel.

I honestly wish I had more to say about Fusion #3, but how much can you really say about a book focused almost entirely around the action taking place? Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning keep things moving from scene to scene with some fun dialogue and, frankly, that’s really all I need with a crossover like Fusion. In short, if you’ve liked part one and two, you’ll probably enjoy the conclusion as well.

Conclusion: There isn’t much to it, but Fusion #3 is almost certain to please those that are part of its target audience. Fun, yet totally forgettable.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Dark X-Men: The Beginning #1 (Utopia) – Review

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’m always a bit hesitant to pick up story collections like Dark X-Men: The Beginning because they tend to be rather hit-or-miss. That said, I couldn’t possibly pass up a Namor story by the Captain Britain team.

“Namor/Norman”

By Paul Cornell (Writer), Leonard Kirk (Pencils), Jay Leisten (Inks), and Brian Reber (Colors)

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: Little more than a tense standoff/exchange of words between Norman Osborn and Namor about Namor’s recent actions, “Namor/Norman” still manages to make an impact thanks to Paul Cornell’s strong knack for personality-driven dialogue and Leonard Kirk’s always reliable pencil work. What’s disappointing about “Namor/Norman” is that it really doesn’t amount to a whole lot beyond being an interesting character study. Now I’m all about character studies, but Cornell’s story left me wanting more…anything really. Thankfully, the “To be continued” lets me know that “more” is on the way.

“Mimic”

By James Asmus (Writer), Jesse Delperdang (Pencils & Inks), Andy Lanning (Inks), and Rain Beredo (Colors)

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: James Asmus’ compelling Mimic story is basically the comic equivalent to a movie montage. That’s both a good thing and a bad thing. The montage style is a good thing because it means that “Mimic” is a great introduction to a troubled character that has been thrust back into the spotlight. It’s also a bad thing because it means that “Mimic” is a fast read that ends just as it begins to gain some real momentum. Now, with the good and bad out of the way, I can say that “Mimic” ultimately manages to avoid feeling like a wasted effort thanks to the art team’s impressive handling of Asmus’ (rather weighty) dialogue.

“Dark Beast”

By Shane McCarthy (Writer), Ibraim Roberson (Artist), and Matt Milla (Colors)

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: I’ve always found the alternate Beast to be a cool character. He’s generic, sure, but he’s also quite interesting and a great addition to the Dark X-Men lineup. Shane McCarthy’s “Dark Beast” is a prime example of why I found the other Beast to be worth reading about. It works as both a nice introduction to the character and as a way to move some of the Dark X-Men story forward in regards to the secret project Fraction has been writing about. The only downside to “Dark Beast” is that it’s artwork looks a bit odd. Matt Milla’s color work sets a strong tone, but Ibraim Roberson’s Norman Osborn looks quite fat and his Beast goes from looking downright awesome to silly depending on the panel. It leaves “Dark Beast” looking visually inconsistent.

Conclusion: Dark X-Men: The Beginning #1 is worth picking up if you’re a fan of what Emma’s team of X-Men has to offer. All three stories read well, two out of three look quite good, and one, Paul Cornell’s, brings Namor’s special kind of awesome in a big way.  The problem though is that nothing of consequence happens.  If you can handle that and character studies, you’ll probably find a lot to like in this book.

Grade (As a whole): C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Fusion #2 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Tyler Kirkham (Pencils), and Sal Regla (Inks)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Fusion #1 was a fun ’90s throwback comic. It was dated as hell, but if you just went with the crazy stuff going on, there was far more to like than hate. Plus, you really can’t go wrong with Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.

The Story: The Avengers and Cyberforce battle it out because of the Ripclaw situation. It’s soon learned that something is linked to Ripclaw in some way and that something is now in the hands of Norman Osborn’s Thunderbolts….

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: You can look at Fusion in one of two ways: it’s either an action-packed crossover that delivers where it matters most or a dated, tired crossover that serves as a reminder of why comics like Fusion no longer work well. That’s why it’s so difficult to write a review about Fusion #2. In fact, I’m fairly certain that the second chapter of Fusion is “review proof.” If you like it, I can totally understand why. If you hate it, I can totally understand why. It’s a great example of what made some of those “bad” comics so much fun, but also a great example of how silly and nonsensical they are. Make sense?

Now, on a technical level, Fusion #2 is surprisingly solid. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning do a nice job of bringing out every personality that’s part of Fusion’s cast. They write a number of entertaining character moments and have come up with an interesting enough reason to throw four different teams from two different companies together for a showdown. As for the artwork, Tyler Kirkham does a fine job of handling a number of chaotic scenes, though a few panels look awkward and rather “pose” heavy.

Conclusion: If it sounds like your type of thing, then by all means pick up Fusion #2. If it sounds like your comic book version of hell, then be sure to stay far, far away.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Guardians of the Galaxy #15 – Review

By Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (writers), Brad Walker (pencils), Victor Olazaba and Livesay (inks) Jay David Ramos (colorist)

The Story: All hell breaks loose as the Guardians find themselves sandwiched between invading forces of Inhuman and Shi’ar while one of their own teammates holds Crystal the Inhuman captive. The team tears out of the malay and separates into a couple different groups, one of which will not return. The excitement really cranks up as Rocky Raccoon and his crew return from their rescue mission of Illandra to face the Shi’ar attackers as they try to steal Knowhere.

What’s Good: As always this is a series that doesn’t take itself all that to seriously, even the characters are always braking form to do something funny, and there are a lot of funny moments in this book. This levity allows the book to go full barrel at times and pick up some kinetic energy that is truly unique in comics today.

The other great thing about this book in general and this issue in particular is the art. Brad Walker can draw just about anything here and with all these character colliding from all areas of the Marvel U, he has a lot to work with. His detail is brazen and clear; tree-men and talking animals look like they could be sitting right next to you.

The thing I liked most about this issue was that it went deep into the heart of War of the Kings, played a major role there, and then stepped back into its original mythos. The writers handled all of this nicely and all the developments seemed natural. Also, any series that has Adam Warlock in it is good with me, but especially when they have such a great take on this unique character. Although he has been downsized from his god-like past as a near invincible and indestructible being (Vulcan took him to town last issue after all), there is more to like about this incarnation of Warlock. It was interesting to see his viciousness as he took apart (literally) some enemies this issue.

What’s Not So Good: I was expecting to see the Guardians foray into the WOK to be a little longer and I was looking for them to be part of the final throw down. Alas, that doesn’t seem to be the case. My other complaint is that the cast has gotten a little too crowded. I’m not sure how many is too many personalities before the cast starts to weigh down a comic, but I think Guardians of the Galaxy has reached that threshold. There are too many comedic foils, too many cunning and ruthless warriors, and too many altitudes. Especially when taken into account that there is a great secondary cast of characters that live on Knowhere.

Conclusion: All in all this is another solid installment in Guardians of the Galaxy. If you were expecting major revelations here for WOK, then you will be let down, but shame on you for thinking that a tie-in series would be seriously revealing. However, if you are a fan of this series and are excited for the lingering and building plot threads of past installments, than you will be psyched for things to come.

Personally, I am not a regular reader to this series although I am just on the cusp of adding it to my stack. If more elements of the Starlin’esque take on Marvel cosmos like the Death and Chaos and all that, or if the creative team brought in the Eternals, than I would be sold on this title. For some reason, these second stringers don’t call out to me, regardless of how excellent their story is being told.

Grade: B

-Rob G.

Amazing Spider-Man # 595 – Review

By Joe Kelly (writer), Phil Jimenez (pencils), Andy Lanning (inks), Chris Chuckry (colors)

The Story: The living specter of the Green Goblin bears down into Pete’s life as Norman Osborn tries to play father-of-the-year by offering a job to Harry. Speaking of screwed up family issues, Peter and JJ, soon-to-be brothers, attend the celebration of Aunt May’s and JJ Sr.’s engagement at the mayor’s mansion.  Peter decides to take a hands-on approach to Norman and during his smack-down, he receives disturbing news as his worst fears are realized.

What’s Good: This issue effectively sets up what the arc American Son, will be dealing with. While this issue isn’t groundbreaking or outrageously good, I’m excited for this 5 issue run by Joe Kelly. The characters are in place, the momentum is laid down, and the many plot threads are in the loom.

I am thrilled to report that Peter’s supporting cast actually helps this story along, rather than bring it into the mud, like in the past issues when you were getting mere attempts of injecting the rag-tag team of Brand New Day associates into this series. Joe Kelly does a great job of making Peter’s friends, family, and associates seem important and interesting. The soap-opera angle of ASM is starting to click, finally. Also, Kelly has a natural take on Peter that works very well, as the character stays consistent and entertaining.

Phil Jimenez is handling pencils on this arc, and minus a few action scenes that take place in a vacuum of setting and form, this comic is drawn great. I appreciate his character designs that stay true to form while still retaining some subtle difference that make the same old characters unique and fresh. There is no doubt that Jimenez was the right man for the job, as his work — specifically the characters’ facial expressions, were  more telling than the text.

What’s Not So Good: I have a personal message for comic book creators: Barack Obama won the election—months ago! I got it, your guy won, America might be better for it, congrats! Can we not move on? Seriously, the scene with Wolverine and Spidey dissing Bush and then fist-bumping as if we are in the middle of an election (or Obama even ran against Bush) was probably the most irritating and corny thing I’ve read this year. Not to mention the fact that  Wolverine strikes me as a Republican, no? Unlike Kelly, I’m not trying to make a political point here about who is good or who is bad, I’m just saying, its time to move on. Anyway, aren’t comics supposed to challenge the status quo, no matter who is in office, rather than playing cheerleader to any political party?

As far as the story itself, without giving too much away, Harry’s change of heart seemed to be a little contrived. The thing he was so emotional about is something that he has and has been through before already with Liz (hint, hint). So, why is he all mushy now? Additionally, some of the dialogue was a bit too terse and quick, and I had to reread certain panels a couple of times to really get what was being said.

Conclusion: A nice start to an interesting and exciting arc that is poised to make substantial changes to Spidey’s world. I recommend to anyone who is waiting to jump into this series to make the plunge now. I expect good things from the creative team, as I’m already looking forward to seeing how things play out.

Grade: B

-Rob G

Amazing Spider-Man #594 – Review

By Mark Waid (writer), Barry Kitson and Mike McKone (pencils), Rags Morales and Andy Lanning (inks), Jeremy Cox (colors)

The Story: Peter battles the new Vulture only to survive and have to face-off against his new ultra-bossy roommate. JJ and Osborn scheme against good ol’ Spidey as the public, inevitably turns against him.

What’s Good: I would be remiss in not stating what perhaps is my favorite aspect of this arc entitled “24/7:” the covers. Seriously, Joe Quesada put out three awesome– dare I say classic, Spider-Man covers in this arc. All of them catch a special tone of the city, while revealing something unique about Spidey as an iconic character. Completely beautiful!

Anyway, onto the book itself. As I mentioned in my last review, I like this new Vulture, which is a more animalistic and threatening version of the old and mostly harmless version. Although they were a bit overly-expressive, I like the way Mark Waid scripted out the battles with the Vulture. These fight scenes take up the bulk of the book and although I usually zone out over long battle scenes, these kept me interested. The fight that probably stood out the most was the final battle at Yankee stadium, which reversed the cliche of “hero beating up bad guy in front of adorning crowd.”  Also, the way Spidey disposed of the Vulture was unexpected and interesting.

I also like Peter’s bold decision at the end of this issue to pursue his mortal enemy. I always thought Peter made a much more interesting character when he would progressively go-for-broke against all odds, rather than being a passive victim to outside forces.

What’s Not So Good: Overall, there were more clumsy moments in this issue than the previous two. These impasses were most noticeable in the art. I’m not sure if it was Mike McKone taking a front seat while Berry Kitson grabbed the front, but there was a big drop in the quality here.

My biggest gripe is that right when I was beginning to think Marvel was cleaning house of annoying supporting cast around Spidey, they bring in the most irritating character to date: Peter’s new roommate. I am not looking forward to her direct effect in Spidey’s life for the foreseeable future. That aside, the addition of JJ’s father to ASM is a solid move and will make for a richer texture to Peter’s life. Additionally, I was a bit let down that some of the high drama that ended last issue, namely Spidey’s traumatic injury, was so easily worked out of the plot.

Conclusion: An unspectacular conclusion to a solid arc. However, everything post Character Assassination has been enjoyable and worth the time and money. Also, don’t forget that Joe Kelley kicks off a new arc next week. These are good days to be an ASM fan. Let’s just hope the editors don’t get punchdrunk and bring the focus back to Harry Osborn and crew.

Grade: B

-Rob G.

War Of Kings: Ascension #2 – Review

By Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (writers), Wellington Alves (pencils) Scott Hanna and Nelson Pereira (inkers), GURU eFX (colors)

The Story: The Dark Hawks Talon and newly resurrected Razor continue their mission of acquiring the Cosmic Control Rod from Catatastophus. Meanwhile, Christopher Powell deals with his banishment into the null force and learns deep and difficult truths about the null source itself, himself and the Dark Hawks.

What’s Good: There are a ton of revelations about the Dark Hawk mythos, and although I am not a Dark Hawk devotee, I would reckon that these revelations are new and will completely transform everything about “The Fraternity of Raptors.” Let me blunt: these revelations are really interesting and entertaining. There is so much to explore in this newly reinvented Dark Hawk character. Who or what are the Servants of the Source? What is the Crystal Tree? Where is the Data Song originating from? Why did Talon come to be? I can’t forget to mention the return of an important figure, who we haven’t seen since the final pages of Annihilation, and who will no doubt play a major role in things somewhere down the road.

It’s kinda unreal that there are so many interesting dynamics at play in the Null Source and tons of other variant plotlines, like what is going to happen to Powell and, most importantly, how is this all going to effect War Of The Kings? To think I almost dropped this mini-series after last issue!

As for the art, it’s excellent; especially the character designs. Specifically of note  was a spread where swarms of Raptors were fighting some space battle that was drawn amazingly.

What’s Not So Good: Powell is supposed to have anger issues that hinder his evolution as both a hero and a raptor. However, he never comes off as angry–just snotty and whiny. This characterization gets very annoying very quickly, and it was one of the reasons I wasn’t going to pick up this issue. Additionally, not being steeped too deeply in Cosmic Marvel, I had no idea who Blastaar is and his arrival into this plot. His appearance at the end of the story didn’t allow for this issue to end as strong as it could have.

Conclusion: Saying that I am pleasantly surprised with this issue is a huge understatement. Is there anyone else who puts out as consistent and voluminous work as the Abnett and Lanning team? Seriously, how many books are these guys writing? And they are all above average, at the least. Lanning even finds time to do inks on certain other titles as well!

This issue is full of cool concepts and characters, and a plot that keeps you on your toes. Not to mention that there is the possibility hinted around that there could be thousands of Dark Hawks on the scene soon. Imagine: the Nova Corps and the Fraternity of Raptors roaming the Universe! Currently, Cosmic Marvel is a much more interesting place than its terrestrial counterpart.

Grade: A-

-Rob G.

Fusion #1 (Top Cow/Marvel crossover) – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Tyler Kirkham (Pencils), Sal Regla (Inks), Rick Basaldua (Inks Pg. 12), Livesay (Inks Pg. 19), and John Starr (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Just looking at the cover of Fusion #1 makes me think it’s going to be something of a (rather dated) mess. Four teams from two different companies jockeying for space in a three issue mini-series? And it’s going to be coherent? Surely you jest. Still, I do have some hope for the series because it’s being written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, the two guys responsible for making the cosmic side of the Marvel U. home to some of the best stories and characters the company has to offer.

The Story: Fusion is a crossover between Marvel and Top Cow. In the first issue, Cyberforce member Ripclaw is going on a rampage and it’s up to the Mighty Avengers and, eventually, the Thunderbolts to stop him before he injures more people. Something causes the outburst and an ultra-sapien may be to blame.

What’s Good: Fusion #1 is entertaining, visually pleasing (in that special Top Cow way), and full of action. It’s also a hell of a lot of fun as long as you don’t stop to think about it. The book doesn’t, so why should you? It hits the ground running and makes very little attempt to slow down. As a critic, however, I have to stop to think about it. That’s where the next category come in…

What’s Not So Good: Fusion #1 is all the things mentioned above. Unfortunately, it’s also really dated, frustrating to follow, and somewhat ridiculous-looking (in that special Top Cow way). I mean the Might Avengers and Thunderbolts (as featured in Fusion) don’t even exist anymore. It makes the whole thing feel pretty odd. Furthermore, while I put something in the story section, I really have no idea what’s going on as far as overall plot is concerned. It’s almost completely overwhelmed by the action. As for “that special Top Cow way,” I mention it because the style used by Tyler Kirkham tends to be quite divisive.

Conclusion: If you just sort of roll with it, Fusion #1 works in its own unique way in that it harkens back to the ’90s.  It’s mindless and gratuitous, but it’s also quite a bit of fun. If you look at it from a critical perspective, it’s sure to frustrate, confuse, and maybe even cause a few unintentional laughs. Yeah…it’s that kind of comic…

Grade: C (could easily be a “D” or “B” depending on taste, so a “C” seems appropriate)

-Kyle Posluszny

War Of Kings #3 – Review

By Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (writers), Paul Pelletier (pencils), Rick Magyar (inks), Will Quintana (colors)

The Story: War of the Kings rages on as Vulcan tries to rebound from the devastating counter attack  by the Kree and Inhumans. The Star Jammers and the Guardians of the Galaxy make their move to rescue Lilandra from Gladiator and the rest of the Imperial Guard. All of this transpires while in the background the Inhumans struggle with their leadership over the Kree.

What’s Good: The only good thing to come out of Secret Invasion is whatever is happening in the Marvel Cosmos. War of the Kings is at the top of that bracket and this issue doesn’t disappoint. Between Vulcan’s craziness, the Inhuman’s suspiciousness, and the Star Jammers’ boldness, there is a lot to like about this issue. It reads like a block-buster movie; or should I say, a GOOD block-buster movie.

Gladiator has always been one of my favorite characters and in this issue we learn a ton about his personality as he quickly becomes the star of this series. His decision at the end of the issue, though expected, will have an enormous impact on this series. I’d like to see him more involved in the greater Marvel Universe. Perhaps he could visit earth and, I don’t know, like, kill the Sentry. Dead. Forever. Oh well,  just an idea.

It’s obvious that Abnett and Lanning are spinning a winner here. Their pacing, dialogue, and scripting are almost flawless. Additionally,  the art style is perfect for this series. Paul Pelliter’s pencils and Rick Magyar’s heavy inks are fabulous.

What’s Not So Good: It’s basically non-stop action in these pages. I would have liked to have seen more development with what’s going on with the Inhumans. The scenes involving Crystal were interesting but a little frustrating in their ambiguity. Also, Crystal’s character is on one hand  to be an intelligent and measured diplomat, but on the other, innocent and gullible to the true intentions of the rest of her royal family, which is a little contradictory.

Conclusion: If you’re looking for a fun and engaging read, then the War of Kings is for you. No doubt what transpires in these pages will shape the Marvel U for the foreseeable future. However, if your into cosmic Marvel than this will cement your convictions. But if not, this series won’t convert you.

Grade: B+

-Rob G

Amazing Spider-Man # 582

Writer Dan Slott (writer), Mike McKone (pencils) Andy Lanning and Kris Justice (inks), Jeremy Cox (color)

Story: As Molten Man’s powers get out of hand, Spidey battles him in the  house, then the lawn, and then finally the street before Harry permanently finishes the battle. Following the episode’s aftermath, Liz and Harry reconcile.

What’s Good: This issue was printed in color and written in English in a medium called the “comic book.”

What’s Not So Good: Let me preface by saying, I’m not a “Brand New Day hater.” I don’t really care what happens to continuity as long as the story is good. I’ve never been a purist, so I a have no biases coming to this issue. Yet, this issue is simply bad. You have a villain– Molten Man, that Petey essentially treats like a punk the whole issue. At no point do you think, “Hey, Spider-Man might lose this one!” So, no real conflict dives the story. Then you have Harry and Liz’s relationship that is so inconsequential and boring that one wonders why the Spidey “brain trust ” decided to explore such a banal situation in the first place. Lastly, you have the one thing that I hate most about Spider-Man comics, which is when it is so obvious that any character with a heart beat and cerebral cortex would figure out that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. It shows an overall laziness on the writer’s part to make the secret identity switch believable and logical.

One more thing. Peter is endearing as a humble, spastic, and a yeoman super-hero. When he calls himself a genius in his inner monologue, all those attributes are totally negated.

Conclusion: Skip this two-parter. It’s becoming a rule of thumb that any issue that involves the new supporting cast warrants grabbing any other comic off the rack. Go for Sonic the Hedge Hog or Archie. You’ll probably enjoy those much more and feel much better after reading it.

Grade: F-

Rob G

Secret Invasion: War of Kings – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Paul Pelletier & Bong Dazo (Pencils), Rick Magyar & Joe Pimentel (Inks), and Wil Quintana & Mike Kelleher (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Guardians of the Galaxy #8 definitely piqued my interest in the War of Kings. In addition, the Inhumans mini-series that tied into the Secret Invasion left me wondering about how Black Bolt and company would carry on in the aftermath of the Skrull’s plot. However, I figured it’d be probably worth checking out seeing as how the War of Kings one-shot is helmed by the creative team behind the excellent Guardians series and tells a story about the Inhumans.

The Story: Secret Invasion: War of Kings takes place in the aftermath of the Skrull invasion. With Black Bolt back as the driving force behind the Inhumans, the Kree science projects decide to finally take the fight to those that have wronged them. The Skrulls, the Kree, and the Shi’ar Empire all get a taste of what’s to come in a one-shot that provides all the action and exposition necessary to get readers ready for the War of Kings.

What’s Good: As cool as the Secret Invasion tie-in was at times (loved the way Black Bolt dispatched of his Skrull torturer), I never really “got” why many consider the Inhumans to be so cool. Now I do. They re-establish themselves in a big way throughout the action-packed (extremely colorful) one-shot and it definitely leaves me wanting more. Long story short, I’ve got to hand it to Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning for getting me hooked on an event I had almost zero interest in less than a month ago.

What’s Not So Good: The Inhuman Crystal’s narration throughout the book comes off as a bit too melodramatic and heavy handed for my taste. While I understand that the new Inhuman status quo is literally shaking the group to its very core, a little bit more subtlety would have been welcome. Also, while the artwork looks quite well-done for the most part, it suffers from an annoying lack of detail from time to time. And that’s something I find quite surprising considering the impressive work most of the team has done on the Guardians of the Galaxy series.

Conclusion: Secret Invasion: War of Kings works as an entertaining, action-packed prologue to the War of Kings event. While it has a few flaws, I really enjoyed my time with it. If you are a fan of the Inhumans or are thinking of investing in the cosmic crossover, consider it a must read.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Guardians of the Galaxy #8 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Brad Walker (Pencils), Victor Olazaba (Inks), and Wil Quintana (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I knew it was going to happen sooner than later, but I’m still a bit disappointed by the big War of Kings banner on top of the eighth issue of one of my favorites. You see, the Guardians are really the only cosmic characters I have any interest in (though I may check out the new Inhumans series based on the strength of the Secret Invasion story) and I have very little drive to play catch-up with the bigger picture of the space portion of the Marvel universe. Oh, well. I guess I’ll give the Secret Invasion: War of Kings one-shot coming out on Wednesday a read and use that (along with GotG #8) to evaluate whether it will be worth investing in the latest cosmic crossover.

The Story: Star-Lord goes to Hala to evaluate and investigate how the Kree have responded to the Skrull invasion. He ends up trading barbs and fists with Ronan the Accuser, a fight that leads to the predicament seen at the end of the last issue. Meanwhile, the “new” Guardians continue to battle the Badoon and Adam Warlock takes the fight to the Church of Universal Truth with the help of Gamora.

What’s Good: I have to hand it to Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning for really drawing me into the bigger events at play in a corner of the Marvel U. that I am less than familiar with. While I have no investment in (and little knowledge of) the Kree, Blastaar, or the aftermath of either Annihilation event, the efficient, witty dialogue quickly got me up to speed. No small feat considering we’re talking about years of continuity. Also good about Guardians of the Galaxy #8 is the quality artwork and enjoyable characters (but you probably already knew that).

What’s Not So Good: The only thing that took away from my overall enjoyment of the issue (besides some gaps in my knowledge of continuity) is the artwork. While it looks great for the most part, it also looks a bit different from what I am used to. The characters just don’t look as lively or vibrant as they do when drawn by Paul Pelletier and inked by Rick Magyar.

Conclusion: High marks all around for the first GotG tie-in for the War of Kings, especially considering how I initially approached the issue with quite a bit of hesitation. Now, in addition to looking forward to more of the usual Guardians goodness, I find myself more interested in the cosmic War than I had ever thought possible. Not sure if my wallet is particularly happy about that fact…

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Amazing Spider-Man #581 – Review

By Dan Slott (story), Mike McKone (pencils), Andy Lanning (inks), Jeremy Cox (colors)

The Story: Harry and Peter go on a road trip to New Jersey to pay a visit to Harry’s estranged wife, Liz Allan and their son, Normie. Also holed up in Liz’s house is Molten Man who just happens to have a bone to pick with Harry. With Brand New Day now nearly a year old, fans will be pleased to finally get some long awaited answers (to some glaring questions).

The Good? At long freaking last we get the answers regarding Harry Osborn’s alleged resurrection! These answers may not be to everyone’s liking but at least we’re given a logical explanation.

Like his previous story arc, New Ways to Die, Dan Slott packs the pages with lots of dialogue and a story that progresses rather quickly. In all honesty, I thought this was a double-sized issue because of its meaty story that almost never seemed to end. Quite a feat for 22 pages of story. Mike McKone’s art is delicious right from the start. His crisp style works well for this book but the pedestrian sequences seem a bit too bland at times. However, his layouts and panel choices are pure fun to the eyes.

What’s Not So Good? When Harry Osborn tells Peter where he’s been and how he’s still alive, well, it just sounds like Marvel editorial talking to us – not Harry Osborn. It’s like, “Here’s my reason and you’re going to take it.” Sorry, but I still don’t buy Harry’s resurrection and I still think his retcon stinks. Also, a genuine WTF moment happens when Carlie lectures Peter. Talk about feeling out of place and off kilter!

Bottom Line: Not one of Dan Slott’s best stories, but entertaining nonetheless. Peter’s new supporting cast is still not very likable and too full of themselves. I wouldn’t cry if someone like Menace killed them all.

Grade: C+

– J. Montes