Age of Ultron #8 – Review

By: Brian Michael Bendis (Writer), Brandon Peterson (Artist), Paul Mounts (Color Artist), VC’s Cory Petit (Letterer)

Review: How crazy is Age of Ultron #8? “It’s insane. It’s—it’s a fantasia of insanity,” according to future/alternate Tony Stark. I’d say that’s pretty conservative. R Kelly would call it “crazier than a fish with titties.” Amanda Bynes would just do this. Though as good as those descriptions are, do any of them really do justice to the image of Morgana Le Fey flying into battle backed up an army of Dragon-riding Asgardian Doom-Bots!?!? Nah, not really. This ish is bugnuts.

Age of Ultron #7 – Review

By: Brian Michael Bendis (Writer), Brandon Peterson, Carlos Pacheco (Artist/Penciler), Paul Mounts, Jose Villarrubia (Color Artists), Roger Martinez (Inker), VC’s Cory Petit (Letterer)

Review: Regular WCBR readers will know that I’ve been a staunch supporter of Age Of Ultron. Amidst the general criticisms that it’s been sluggishly paced or too low on action and characterisation, I’ve instead found it to be a well-plotted and atmospheric success that’s offered a welcome change in tone to the more overt histrionics of other Marvel event books. It’s been bleak but beautiful, the hypothetical death rattle of the Marvel Universe. But everything that’s occurred in those first six issues has really just been a set-up; a teaser playing up the eventual reveal of what happens when the past is definitively altered in a final act of desperation by the heroes of the present. With Ultron retroactively defeated, what exciting new world has Bendis created for us? If the Rabbit never existed, what now rests in the Magician’s hat? Well, it’s just the Magician’s hand. And he’s giving you the finger.

Marvel Zombies #4 (of 5) – Review

By: Robert Kirkman (Writer), Sean Phillips (Pencils)

Marvel Zombies 2 has been a good follow up to its predecessor, but it’s been missing a lot of the crude humor that made the first one so much fun. Granted, this sequel is more story driven, but the humor has been spotty at best.

Not anymore! Marvel Zombies 2 #5 actually made me laugh out loud a couple of times. And it just made me realize why I loved the first series so much. Black Panther’s son was pronounced brain dead last issue, but Forge being the genius he is, grafted Colonel America’s brain to his body! In what can be described as a hilarious Frankenstein (or broken toy) moment, Colonel runs around spouting famous lines like, “Avengers Assemble” and “This ends now!”. Spidey’s reaction to this is just priceless. Kirkman proves that he’s still got it.

Compared to earlier issues in this run, not much is accomplished in this one, but the funny dialogue more than makes up for it. Also, the zombies finally start their *real* civil war – and there are casualties! Bring on issue #5. (Grade: B)

-J. Montes