SENYC Report: Marvel – The Next Big Thing

Marvel came out in force for Special Edition: NYC. Though they easily flattened the competition when it came to number of panels, this was the one to see if you wanted to know what was coming from the House of Ideas.

The panel was moderated by Senior VP of Publishing Tom Brevoort and featured a slew of top name talent. This included Senior X-Men Editor Mike Marts, fan favorite writer Peter David, Storm writer Greg Pak, and Deadpool editor Jordan D. White. There was even a surprise guest in the form of Katie Kubert, the former editor of Batman and Detective comics who had announced her departure from DC less than twenty-four hours before!

Mighty Avengers #10 – Review

By: Al Ewing (Writer), Greg Land (Penciller), Jay Leisten (Inker), Frank D’Armata (Color Artist), VC’s Cory Petit (Letterer)

The Story:
Sad times on the Blue Area of the Moon, and prices aren’t the only things being slashed at the Biggest Buy store.

The Review:
One thing that’s rapidly characterizing Al Ewing’s run on Mighty Avengers is a good, conscientious use of continuity, both in context of the book itself and in the Marvel universe overall. This issue in particular picks up ongoing subplots and, even with a cross-over into the narrative of the Original Sin, does well to stand on its own as a solid example of comicbook storytelling.

The events of the Original Sin storyline show up twice here: One, as the Avengers battle a Mindless One in New York, and Two, as Blue Marvel checks in on the Watcher’s family. The battle sequence is quick– only three pages– although it offers Photon a key moment, where she builds a powerful attack that lays the monster low. It’s a nice moment for Photon, where she also explains a bit about her previous experience with NextWave. Unfortunately, it’s not a very clear explanation. It’s equally unfortunate that after her attack she only appears one more time, if you count being in the background of a small panel with her head cut off by the frame as “appearing.”

The more extensive use of the event brings Adam Brashear/Blue Marvel to the Watcher’s “family,” namely Ulana, his “wife,” and their baby. This naturally extends from the Brashear’s friendship with the Watcher (long-standing continuity, apparently), but it also provides a way for him to deal with the events of previous issues and the loss of his own family. It’s effective characterization for Brashear, while also providing a lot of humanity (for lack of a better word) in memorial for the Watcher. (That “humanity” is doubly ironic since the scene explores many quite alien concepts.)

X-Men: Curse Of The Mutants Blade #1 – Review

By Duane Swierczynski (writer), Tim Green (artist), Nathan Fairbairn (colorist)

The Story: Someone or something is killing vampire hunters all over the world, and Blade’s investigation into the matter uncovers a terrifying revelation that will change his life’s work forever.

Randomly Assorted Thoughts: Seeing as how Victor Gischler did such an amazing job asserting the role and dominance of the vampire nation in his “Death of Dracula” one shot, I was immediately curious to see how this storyline would impact Marvel’s premiere vampire hunter. What I took from this issue, oddly, was a caption from Blade towards the end of the story where, being the last man standing against Xarus and his footsoldiers, he realizes “Killing us Slayers–His prime opposition–wasn’t his endgame. Merely an item on a To-Do List.” And therein lies the crux of why this issue didn’t work for me: to a degree, it exposes how irrelevant Blade and his vampire slaying ilk have become in this brave new world where vampires can now walk and hunt in daylight. Not that Blade’s any less good at what he does, but he didn’t win his battle against Xarus in this issue as much as he barely escaped with his tail between his legs.

“Curse of the Mutants” is, obviously, a storyline tailor-made for the X-Men. There’s nothing wrong with that, and if anything I credit this storyline with bringing me back into the X-Universe, but even as I applaud what I feel it’s doing for the X-Men, I’m a bit taken back by what it’s not doing for Blade; this should have been Blade’s moment to shine, it should have been the perfect opportunity to try launching a new series for him, but he instead comes off seeming strangely fragile and inconsequential, slightly out of his league as the vampires barely pay attention to the vampire hunters and instead set their sights on the mutant populace.

X-Men #2 – Review

By: Victor Gischler (writer), Paco Medina (pencils), Jan Vlasco (inks), Marte Gracia (colors) & Joe Caramanga (letters)

The Story: The war between the vampires and the mutants is joined in full.

What’s Good: If you’re willing to suspend disbelief and logical thinking (more on this below), the plan that the X-Men come up with to combat the vampires is kinda cool in a teenage fanboy kind of way.  That may sound like a lot of qualifiers, but if you can’t suspend disbelief, go with the flow and enjoy the sheer spectacle, you probably are going to have a lot of problems with most superhero comics.  So, the concept is cool and kinda dumb all at the same time……and that’s okay.

I do like that the mutants seem hard pressed here.  When they reconfigure Cerebro (groan) to see vampiric DNA, they are pretty much surrounded.  It can get a little old seeing the X-Men about to be wiped out, so this was a bit of a wrinkle: The vampires want to incorporate the mutants to strengthen their ranks now that the vampires are united and out to rule the world.

Captain Britain and MI:13 #15 – Review

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

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Here’s to hoping that Paul Cornell ends Captain Britain on one hell of a high note.

The Story: Pete Wisdom watches his grand plan unfold while he shares a tender moment with his new lady friend. Needless to say, Dracula’s day goes from bad to much, much worse…

What’s Good: You know what’s the best thing about the final issue of Captain Britain and MI:13? It’s that it’s all about superheroes being superheroes. In addition, they are being superheroes in a way that brings some resembling closure to a series that should never have been canceled. In short, it’s pretty much everything I could have asked for. The action is nearly non-stop, the character work is as strong as ever, the dry humor is spot on, and the conclusion leaves the door open for Cornell to work with the team in the future if given the opportunity.

I really don’t want to go into much detail for fear of spoiling anything, but you can rest assured that Paul Cornell and his team make the most of Captain Britain and MI:13 #15. From the incredibly well-written opening with Pete Wisdom, to the chaos that takes place on Dracula’s ship, it’s clear that the creative team is firing on all cylinders. And you know what? That’s the way it should be.

What’s Not So Good: My only complaint is that occasionally the action becomes hard to follow. Does it hurt the quality of the book as a whole? Not really. There is a LOT going on and in all honesty, I’m shocked Leonard Kirk and the rest of the art team are able to keep it in check as well as they do.

Conclusion: The finale of Captain Britain and MI:13 does the series justice. If you’re a fan, there is a whole lot to like about Captain Britain and MI:13 #15.

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

Captain Britain & MI:13 #14 – Review

By Paul Cornell (Writer), Leonard Kirk w/Adrian Syaf (Pencils), Jay Leisten w/Craig Yeung (Inks), Brian Reber (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: With only two issues of Captain Britain left, I hope Cornell and his team really make them count… The under-appreciated series deserves to go out with a bang.

The Story: Unfortunately, I really can’t go into much detail about the issue without wading into heavy spoiler territory.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: Since I really can’t say a whole lot about Captain Britain and MI:13 #14 without ruining things, I will keep things short. Paul Cornell overcomes what is initially a disappointing opening with some great character work, awesome dry humor, and clever use of a past arc to bring make the latest chapter of “Vampire State” a very good read. As for the art, it’s absolutely solid all around as Leonard Kirk and his team do a fine job of delivering action that could easily come across as muddled or confusing.  While some of the artwork looks a bit rushed, there’s enough good stuff to make up for it.

Conclusion: You can rest assure that the creative team behind Captain Britain is in no way half-assing the final issues of a tragically canceled series.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Captain Britain And MI:13 #12 – Review

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

Some Thoughts Before The Review: A story about Dracula attempting to take over Great Britain could easily come across as silly unless the tension and drama manages to set the tone both early and often. Fortunately, Paul Cornell is aware of that fact. He proves it by using the story to both raise the stakes of his series as a whole and create opportunities to add more depth to his already compelling cast.

The Story: Captive under the power of Dracula, Spitfire is escorted around the vampire base by her son. She learns some things about Dracula’s grand plan and the preparations that he has made in order to carry it out. Meanwhile, Captain Britain and the rest of the MI:13 team try to find “the head” that may help them combat Drac’s plans.

What’s Good: Simply put, Paul Cornell is writing one hell of a vampire story. It puts the dense mythology about Dracula and his minions to very good use. In addition, the distinctly British flavor of Cornell’s writing keeps things from becoming too serious thanks to a healthy dose of dry humor and clever wit. As for the artwork, Leonard Kirk and his team continues to make sure Captain Britain is as much fun to look at as it is to read. The action hits hard, most of the vampire-related imagery is downright haunting, and each panel is filled with an impressive amount of detail.

What’s Not So Good: My only real complaint about Captain Britain and MI:13 #12 is that a few scenes come across as visually confusing. Either the action is a bit to cluttered or the perspective used for the scene makes things look a bit off. While it is a minor complaint (and some may not find it distracting), I figured it was still worth a mention.

Conclusion: I really can’t recommend Captain Britain enough. The writing is damn near perfect, the artwork is always pleasing, and the stories are a brilliant mix of insane and intelligent. It’s just good stuff all around.

Grade:  B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Captain Britain and MI:13 #9 – Review

By Paul Cornell (Writer), Leonard Kirk & Mike Collins (Pencils), Jay Leisten & Cam Smith (Inks), and Brian Reber & Rain Beredo (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: When I picked up the debut of Captain Britain and MI:13 during the Secret Invasion, I never expected it to become a favorite of mine. But nows, I find myself eagerly awaiting each new issue. The latest, the conclusion to the insanely chaotic Plotka storyline, is no exception. It’s a shame that the numbers for the series are so slow, because it absolutely deserves the attention of nearly every comic fan. It’s that good.

The Story: With the majority of the team stuck in one part of Plotka’s dream corridor thanks to Captain Midlands’ betrayal and Captain Britain still trying to find a way out of another part, things look grim for pretty much everybody. But Pete Wisdom has a plan, as does the person studying the trapped Mindless One outside of Cloverfield Estate. Soon the tides are turned and the team goes on the offensive.

What’s Good: Simply all the factors that make this title wildly imaginative. That’s the only way to describe the conclusion of the latest Captain Britain and MI:13 arc. Despite all the crazy magic, chaotic action, and elements of the occult, Paul Cornell and his art team somehow manage to keep everything in line long enough to wrap up one hell of an entertaining story that also plant the seeds for what promises to be another. In short, if you’ve liked what the series has offered so far, you won’t be disappointed what it offers this time around.

What’s Not So Good: There is one “elephant in the room” element regarding the latest Captain Britain arc that has nagged at me from the start. And guess what? It nagged at me a whole lot more while reading Captain Britain and MI:13 #9. Basically the whole thing is so filled with action and chaos that it rarely stops to take a breath long enough to really work through and explain what’s actually happening. Sure it’s a lot of fun to read and look at, but I just can’t help but wish I had a better grasp on the storyline as a whole. It made sense well enough, but I just can’t shake the feeling I missed out on a few things here and there.

Conclusion: Despite being almost overwhelming at times, the latest issue of Captain Britain is loaded with high-quality, high-concept entertainment. And, while it isn’t the greatest jump-on point if you haven’t checked the series out yet, it’s strong enough to make hunting down back issues a worthwhile endeavor. Consider it highly recommended.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Captain Britain and MI:13 #8 – Review

By Paul Cornell (Writer), Leonard Kirk (Pencils), Michael Bair w/Jay Leisten & Craig Yeung (Inks), and Brian Reber (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I initially gave Captain Britain and MI:13 a look because of the way it launched as a tie-in to the Secret Invasion. I fully expected to drop the book following the event because, in all honesty, my pull list was starting to get out of hand. But a funny thing happened during only a few short issues. Thanks to Paul Cornell’s writing and some imaginative, vibrant artwork, I found myself quickly drawn into the magical world of the Marvel heroes operating across the pond. Now, seven (going on eight) issues in, I can safely say that I am glad that I stuck around.

The Story: The team, currently without the help of Captain Britain, continues the fight against the demon Plotka and its army of Mindless Ones at the Cloverleaf Estate. Captain Britain, meanwhile, continues to face down his inner demons as a prisoner trapped within Plotka’s soul stealing Dream Corridor. A lot of questions get answered in this action-packed issue, most notably regarding the nature of Plotka, its army, and its ultimate goal.

What’s Good: In all honesty, I have very few complaints about this latest issue. It excels in nearly every area I take into consideration when writing a review. The twisting storyline is wonderfully bizarre and extremely refreshing thanks to the heavy emphasis on magic and the occult. In addition, the writing is laced with dry, British humor that does wonders for both the team dynamic and the overall flavor of the series. As for the artwork, the creative team perfectly compliments the story with some incredibly trippy, kinetic visuals that somehow manage to keep the nearly non-stop action manageable and, for the most part, fairly easy to digest.

What’s Not So Good: My biggest complaint is that series still hasn’t done enough to get those new to the characters (like me) enough information to get totally up to speed. I like the characters enough to keep reading, but I don’t really feel like I know them at all. For a re-launch, Captain Britain is not exactly friendly to new readers.

The other issue I have with the book is that, occasionally, it feels as though there is just way too much going on at once. The creative team does a nice job keeping everything in check for the most part, but I did find myself re-reading sections from time to time just to make sure I understood everything. It’s not a big complaint by any means, especially considering how much is going on, but I feel it’s something worth noting.

Conclusion: A fine package of storytelling, artwork, and character moments, Captain Britain and MI:13 #8 is well worth the cash. Be sure to check it out if you are looking for something from a different corner of the Marvel Universe.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Captain Britain and MI:13 #7 – Review

By Paul Cornell (Writer), Leonard Kirk (Penciler), Michael Bair (Inker), and Brian Reber (Colorist)

Captain Britain and MI:13 continues to roll out, and I keep buying it. Though I’m not entirely sure why. Now that it’s no longer part of the Secret Invasion, it feels cut adrift from the rest of the Marvel Universe, and the cast is, let’s face it, a collection of B-listers. Captain Britain is still a goody-two-shoes dweeb, Peter Wisdom continues to confuse me (Is he Peter Pan or not? If not, why should I care about him?), and the Black Knight is still wearing that damn helmet but not the damn armor. I have no problem with superheroes not wearing costumes– I don’t miss Power Man’s yellow shirt, but if you’re going to be getting into sword fights, shouldn’t you wear some protection? As for the Spitfire/ Blade storyline, it is still completely unconnected to anything else going on in the book.

On the plus side, Plokta, maker of the Mindless Ones, is one of the creepiest villains to ever grace a comic book. He’s a white mask floating above a mass of cosmic protoplasm, and he’s not evil as much as completely and unabashedly selfish. His trick is to give his enemies a vision of their fondest wishes and waits until they’re entranced. He then sucks their magic powers to create more of those one-eyed golems that bedevil Dr. Strange from time to time.

The art is pretty good, but the writing lacks the sort of depth that would make me really care about the characters. I have to admit, I haven’t read Captain Britain since Alan Moore wrote him, so a lot of the details of the book don’t mean much to me, but I imagine a lot of readers are in the same situation. Cornell has the rest of this plot line to convince readers that he can make this book work, otherwise I don’t think it’ll be around much longer.

Grade: B-

– Andrew C. Murphy

WCBR’s WonderCon 2008 – Swag Giveaway!

Want a ton of free stuff? Good, because we want your comments!

Comment on this post telling us what panel, artist, or author you liked the most at WonderCon. If you didn’t attend, tell us which panel, artist, or author you would have gone to.

There’s no need to register, but you need to add your email address in the comment section – don’t worry, your address wont be seen by anybody but us and we promise to *NEVER* spam you with anything. We won’t add it to any database or sell it either. We just want your participation! The winner will be selected randomly out of all the people who comment. Giveaway ends March 2^nd, 8pm PST. Good Luck!

And here’s all the stuff you can win!

* Willow Creek #0 signed by Christian Beranek
* Hellboy: The Golden Army (Promo Comic)
* Dead Space #1 signed by Ben Templesmith (Special Convention Edition)
* 2 10000 Bc pins
* 2 Get Smart pins
* Mini Posters: Star Trek, Iron Man, Dead Space, Funny Games, Doomsday, Blade, 10000 BC, Prom Night
* Animation Magazine March 2008 (WonderCon Edition)
* A lot more stuff