Original Sin #0 – Review

Mark Waid (Writer), Jim Cheung & Paco Medina (Pencilers), Justin Ponser (Colorist).

The Story: Sam Alexander bonds with Uatu the Watcher over their paternal issues.

The Review: Daddy issues, all of my favorite heroes from Jon Snow to Scott Summers have them. I would never have listed Uatu and Sam Alexander as part of that group before reading this fantastic issue that sets up Marvel’s big summer event with a quiet, character driven prelude.

I’m not entirely sure how much of Uatu’s origin that was revealed in this issue was the invention of Mark Waid and how much (if any) had already been established but this story injected a lot of pathos and tragedy into a figure that has always been slightly lacking in depth of characterization. Much like with his stellar work on Daredevil, Waid shows a fantastic knack for taking the established framework of a character’s history, personality and powers and putting a unique spin on it. Throughout this issue Waid concretely explores the background of Uatu and his race, explains why the Watcher’s watch, the reasons behind their vow of non-interference as well as the why of Uatu’s seemingly constant struggle to uphold said vow.

Another unexpected treat within these pages was the inclusion of Nova, I’ve been following the Nova book with varying degrees of interest as it’s gone on but assumed that his inclusion in this #0 issue was just part of Marvel’s attempt to promote the character. While that may be true to an extent, his inclusion in this issue feels organic and vital as seeing the Watcher through a relatively fresh set of eyes allows the reader to view him in a different light.

New Warriors #2 – Review

By: Christopher Yost (writer), Marcus To (artist), Daniel Curiel (color artist)

The Story: Spurned by the X-Men, the Evolutionaries throw millennia of planning out the window and decide to back a new, more human, horse.

The Review: With the team’s final member making his appearance at the start of issue #2, New Guardians is clearly taking care with how the titular heroes come together. It’s an impressively varied group, but this is the time to prove that the execution will live up to its concept. In that respect, New Warriors #2 is a bit unsteady.

Picking up where we left off last month, this issue opens with our disparate heroes facing off with teams of Evolutionaries. These adversaries are imposing, thanks in no small part to Marcus To’s artwork, but despite the sheer number of conflicts, none of them justify the issue. It’s not that the book lacks spectacle, but that none of these fights feel like the core struggle. I suspect that this will seem less of a problem in trade, but as it’s probably going to be half a year before we see one, Chris Yost should really be providing a stronger arc in each issue.

The Evolutionaries also lose some of their menace this go around. At times this seems like a conscious choice, but in some cases it just diminishes the story. They whine too much and retreat too frequently, though hints of a greater plan keep them aloft.

With thirteen pages devoted to battles with the Evolutionaries or superhero infighting, Yost has to make his remaining seven count. Justice gets some much needed time to shine in the form of a visit to Avengers Tower. This scene could probably have sped up its exposition slightly, but is decidedly helpful to new readers and conveys Justice’s concern without making him seem dull. Then again, maybe it’s just the fact that he’s standing next to ol’ Slim Summers.

New Warriors #1 – Review

By: Christopher Yost (writer), Marcus To (art), David Curiel (color art)

The Story: Clearly Robbie hasn’t been listening to Edwin Starr or Louis C.K…

The Review: Launching a series is a complicated thing. There are all sorts of different requirements that a first issue holds above all other books and it can be nearly impossible to craft the perfect opening to many worthwhile stories. Team books can have an even harder time. How do you bring potentially disparate heroes together, define personalities, and establish what a series will be all in a scant twenty pages?

For New Warriors #1 the answer seems to be breadth. This issue is aware that it’s not a team book yet and it’s unapologetic about it. Held together by a single mystery and a tempting opening page, this issue takes us on a regular tour of North America as we meet our future Warriors.

There’s certainly a sense of youth in this book, even Kaine, apparently the oldest member of the not-yet-team, is accompanied by the cheerful Hummingbird. Kaine is also probably one of the highest profile characters in the book. In some ways that’s refreshing, in others kind of sad. It’s rare that a book from DC or Marvel can claim that its most marketable team member is a recently revived veteran of one of the 90s’ most reviled events, but his sullen, brusque demeanor is an instant draw. Chris Yost does a good job of balancing the off-putting nature of such a reluctant hero against the reality of his recent experience and, if his interactions with Aracely are any indication, he’ll be a fine counterweight to the rest of the team. The pair are a delight to read and their powers are highlighted expertly, perhaps evidence of Yost’s familiarity with them. If you’re not intrigued by the descriptor “Demigod, Manipulation of Emotions, Levitation” I don’t know what to say to you.

Nova #6 – Review

By: Zeb Wells (Writer), Paco Medina (Penciler), Juan Vlasco (Inker), David Curiel (Colorist), Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne

Review: This is Nova all grown up, in a way; Jeph Loeb’s inaugural story arc has finished, and this is the first issue where Sam Alexander has been handled by another writer. Loeb actually did a pretty great job introducing the character and Zeb Wells is an almost pitch-perfect replacement. He’s writes a liekable smartass well, and Sam’s definitely that, though he’s also got a fairly well developed personal life where he’s rendered a bit softer, more insecure. It’s the latter that Wells focuses on for his first time behind the wheel, and while the action gets knocked down a gear as a result it’s still well worth a read.

This issue begins with Sam returning home after helping the X-Men take down Dark Scott in Avengers Vs. X-Men #12. That happened (in the context of this book) a month after Nova #5, which means the events seen here are, what, 6-9 months old? No matter, as there’s not much that occurs here that alters wider continuity. It’s mainly a tour through the important parts of any fourteen year old’s life – the home, school, family, friends and (for all too many of us) bullies that make up the day-to-day.

Nova #5 – Review

By: Jeph Loeb (Writer), Ed McGuinness (Penciler), Dexter Vines & Ed McGuinness (Inkers), Edgar Delgado (Colorist)

Review: A strange thing has happened. I think I’ve actually enjoyed a Jeph Loeb comic book. I don’t know if the events over in Age of Ultron somehow impacted on our own universe, but something is definitely up. This is not the natural order of things.

After reading Nova #5 – the finale to Loeb’s scene-setting inaugural story arc – I’ve been surprised to come away with a keen affection for its eponymous hero. He’s young, headstrong and cocky, three character traits that usually leave me feeling cold. But Loeb’s vision for Sam Alexander is fuelled by an infectious sense of energy and an emphasis on a certain Silver Age approach to superheroics (one that’s proved rewarding for Waid’s Daredevil and Fraction’s Hawkeye); these heroes enjoy the day job. There are tensions and tribulations outside of the mask but freedom and escapism behind it. Sometimes it’s just nice to sit back and watch a superhero have a good time.

Nova #4 – Review

By: Jeph Loeb (Writer), Ed McGuinness (Penciler), Dexter Vines (Inker), Marte Gracia (Colorist), Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne (Letterer)

Review: It’s a mystery to me quite how this happened, but Nova is undoubtedly the best cosmic book Marvel currently publish – this issue seals it. I never expected that from Loeb. I thought this’d be a big, dumb, brash piece of fluff – and it is, I guess – but it’s also filled with the fun of sci-fi, of explosions in space, of weird aliens aboard even weirder ships. Guardians of the Galaxy could learn a lot from this.

This issue starts with out with Sam Alexander, AKA Nova, apparently unconscious, left drifting through space at the mercy of the incoming Chitauri armada. Just as they’re about to scoop him up he blasts away with a glib cry (“Suckers!”) and weaves through the Alien hordes before crashing into the mothership: “All I have to do is find the generator or the power core or the thingy thing that runs this beast – and problem solved – Nova style.”

Nova #2 – Review

By: Jeph Loeb (Writer), Ed McGuiness (Penciler), Dexter Vines (Inker), Marte Gracia (Colorist), Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne (Letterer)

Review: Space: The Final Frontier. This is the origin of Nova Corps member Sam Alexander. His mission: to beat up a talking Raccoon, to act like a bit of a dunderhead, to boldly go where several hundred heroes have gone before…

Such is the plot of Nova #2, where one young lad plays with his helmet in order to experience pleasures hitherto unknown. We’ve all been there, but it’s not often that the results saw us flying through space headed to the moon (unless you’re some kind of medical anomaly). Yet this is the next stage of Sam’s journey: a seat-of-the-pants induction into the Nova Corps and a crash course in supersonic flight. There’s a surprising amount of charm in Loeb’s story, with Sam Alexander further settling into his role as a likeable, wide-eyed ingénue thrust into an intergalactic Soap Opera. It might not have achieved ‘spellbinding’ status just yet, but it’s definitely on the right path. Bewilderingly, as a self-proclaimed Loeb-denier, I find much about it highly enjoyable.

Nova #1 – Review

By: Jeph Loeb (Writer), Ed McGuinness (Artist), Dexter Vines (Inker), Marte Gracia (Colorist), Albert Deschesne (Letterer)

The Review: I was bracing myself to maul this book. Even the physical act of purchasing it elicited a heavy sigh; there is simply no fun in handing over hard-earned money for something you feel in your gut you’re going to hate. Sadly, this is the main response my nervous system has developed to anything with the name ‘Jeph Loeb’ attached to it over the last few years. I’ve read things of his I’ve enjoyed, sure – you can’t really deny the quality of most of his Batman work or his Marvel ‘Colour’ titles – but most of his recent output has been, in my eyes, unabashedly poor.  In some cases, like Hulk or X-Sanction, I actually felt like he was trying to see how far he could push his audience, using them as a test group in a heinous experiment to seek out that magic ‘so bad it’s good’ sweet spot. Problem is, when you fall short of that target, you just get ‘bad’. Yet Marvel continues to put their faith in him, and perhaps no more so than with Nova, being as it is an integral part of the company’s Cosmic restructuring.

The Thanos Imperative #4 – Review

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

I have cancer.

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, to be exact.

It’ll probably kill me at some point, assuming I don’t drink myself into oblivion before then, but I felt compelled to share with you because that is the frame of mind I’ve been in as I read Abnett and Lanning’s latest, and possibly most disturbing, space epic for Marvel. I’ve long been a fan of DnA’s work for this corner of the Marvel Universe, and applaud how they have carved out and defined a territory that has been vastly under-utilized by creators for decades now. These guys have succeeded in forging Marvel’s universe a chaotic, exciting, and utterly terrifying place to tell stories in. With every epic they’ve crafted, they’ve gradually raised the stakes in ways that seem logical yet infinitely more perilous. Now, with The Thanos Imperative these guys are building one of their finest stories to date, one that forces me to consider my own mortality in a way that is deeply disturbing.

At the heart of this tale is the simple, eternal conflict between Life and Death. Specifically, it is the tale of a universe where Death died and Life prevailed. A universe that is now trying to infiltrate our reality in a desperate attempt to find more space to continue growing and living. Where this story excels though is in the way it fucks with our expectations by portraying Life as a vile, cancerous entity and Death as, if not The Good Guy, then certainly a necessary deterrent to the threat of Life unbound. Thematically, it’s a strange concept and not something we’re accustomed to endorsing; our education as readers of fiction has trained us to view Life as being Good and Death as being Evil, but here Abnett and Lanning do what good writers do and play with our expectations, twisting them in ways that make us reconsider what we thought to be true. I don’t know about you, but I like that.

The action in this issue is unparalleled and furious, even if the plot was rather sparse. Sepulveda has a wonderful understanding of these characters and his gritty style is perfectly suited to the large canvas Abnett and Lanning like to work on. I loved the contrast of Nova and his strikeforce leading an incursion into the Cancerverse while Lord Mar-Vell and his Revengers stalked our universe in pursuit of the Avatar of Death. With every issue, this cat and mouse game is becoming more intense and bloodthirsty, the stakes are being continuously raised as each side fights relentlessly to gain the winning advantage, and after this issue I’m at a loss to see where the creative team could possibly go from here with the story.

The Thanos Imperative #3 – Review

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

The Story: Thanos and the Guardians of the Galaxy sneak deeper into the Cancerverse with a little help from artificial friends. In the meantime, Nova, Quasar and the heads of various power groups in our universe talk war now that the Galactus Engine is chewing through the allies. Oh, and Drax picks an inopportune moment to remember why he was created.

What’s Good: Things are definitely getting worse for our heroes, which is always a great place to be as a reader. At least one Marvel cosmic entity buys it, and the Galactus Engine seems unstoppable. There’s danger and drama in the story. The reveal of the Cancerverse artificial lifeforms was a great tip of the hat to a lot of the Marvel Universe and fun for continuity fans. There were other nods to deep Marvel history for those who have been reading about Thanos since Jim Starlin turned him from a Blastaar-type of villain into the bad-ass who tried to commit cosmic genocide. I also liked the moments of growth (Nova) and the fast and furious revelations. By the end of the issue, we get a lot more of a grip on what caused all this and what everybody has to do.

Secret Avengers #3 – Review

By Ed Brubaker (writer), Mike Deodato (artist), Rain Beredo (colorist)

The Story: The Secret Avengers and Archon fight valiantly to oppose a possessed Nova, while Ant-Man spies the machinations of the Shadow Council.

The Good: Uhhhhhh, God, I don’t even know. I mean, there wasn’t anything glaringly wrong with this issue, but I didn’t think there was anything overwhelmingly good about it to justify the $3.99 price tag, either. It was so slightly above average that when I finished it I was almost too apathetic about the experience to summon the strength to shrug my indifference. Is it just me, or is it slightly unreasonable to charge so much money for a comic that delivers so little?! In terms of actual plot, we are treated to an extended fight scene in which a throw character gets killed, Nick Fury and the Big Bad Guy talk ominously of the three Serpent Crowns, and Nova encourages subtly encourages Valkyrie to go back into the kitchen and bake him a pie. But what the hell is happening?! We’re three issues in and the Secret Avengers are still on Mars, seemingly no closer to understanding why the hell they are there or what their objective is. They haven’t actually thrown down with any serious villains or than some minor cannon fodder types, and aren’t even really functioning as a team. This story is plodding along to a destination that I’m not sure I care to reach at this point, and that is a huge shame to speak of a comic created by such esteemed talents as Brubaker, Deodato, and Beredo, none of whom have quite seemed to be firing on all cylinders on this book.

Secret Avengers #2 – Review

By Ed Brubaker (writer), Mike Deodato and Will Conrad (artists), Rain Beredo (colorist)

The Story: The Secret Avengers search Mars for Nova and answers as to why Roxxon Corporation was in possession of a Serpent Crown.

The Good: Brubaker has done a rare, wonderful thing with this book: he’s taken everything we’ve come to expect from an Avengers Comic and, with a generous dose of espionage intrigue, turned it into something different, but no less exciting. For a title with as rich a heritage as the Avengers, this is a rare feat, but Brubaker is pulling it of nicely and making this a priority comic for me to read each month. Reading Secret Avengers, I can’t help but feel like this is what it must have been like to read Steranko’s run on Nick Fury back in the 60s; it has that same, suave aesthetic to it. I like that Marvel has this kind of covert team out there in the field now. Incredibly powerful for a black ops unit, these Avengers are nonetheless a highly surgical strikeforce, and it’s immensely satisfying to watch Steve Rogers take command of these unique personalities and their abilities. Speaking of unique personalities, Brubaker has done a great job this issue of defining who these people are and how well they work together. I loved (and realized how much I have missed) the calm, assured confidence Rogers displays when going into battle, as well as the unspoken trust, forged through years of fighting together, between Rogers, Beast, and Black Widow. Add to that Moon Knight’s desire to be a good soldier and please his commanding officer, War Machine’s refusal to go easy on Ant-Man, and Ant-Man’s quest to get a little respect from his comrades, and I can’t help but see potential in the stories that can be told about these characters.

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.

Secret Avengers #1 – Review

By Ed Brubaker (writer), Mike Deodato (artist), Rain Beredo (colorist)

“Our world is out of control… But the things I worry about most are the threats we don’t know about.”

As the Marvel Universe breaks free from the dark reign of Norman Osborn to bask in the light of a new age, Steve Rogers has remained skeptical. Cautious, even. He and his compatriots have endured many hardships over the years, responding to threats that have threatened to destroy them and only barely emerging victorious each time. Captain Steve Rogers has had enough. Ever the steadfast soldier, he is tired of holding ground and waiting for the problems to come to him. He has put together a new strategy, one that will proactively hunt the threats that plague the world before they have a chance to destroy it. To aid in his mission, Rogers has assembled a covert team of specialized operatives to help him save the world, but only this time from the shadows.

After months of speculation and eager anticipation, Secret Avengers has finally arrived, and I’m relieved to find that it was a comic well worth the wait. There’s simply a lot to like here!

Marvel has flirted with this idea of a preemptive superhero strikeforce before (anybody ever read Abnett’s short-lived Force Works?) but I’m glad they dusted it off and polished it up for The Heroic Age, because I think it’s an idea Marvel needs to keep around and address often. Why aren’t there more superheroes in the Marvel Universe that prevent problems instead of simply stopping them after they’ve already happened? Why do so many teams stand idly by and wait for shit to land on their doorstep when they should be relentlessly taking the fights to the villains until they are crushed once and for all? Hell if I know, but Secret Avengers seems ready to defy those conventions and offer us a new perspective on what heroes can and should do, and for that alone I’m ready to see where Brubaker, Deodadto, and Beredo take this comic.

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!

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

 

Nova #18 (Secret Invasion) – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Wellington Alves & Geraldo Borges (Artists), Scott Hanna (Inker), and Guru FX (Colors)

What’s Going On: The big fight arrives as the Skrulls are trying to take Project PEGASUS. Nova, DarkHawk, and the newly resurrected Quasar are trying to stop them with no strategies employed, just a lot of punching and blasting, until the Xandarian WorldMind (also newly resurrected) introduces a new factor that may save them or just create a new level of danger.

What’s Good: It’s an exciting, good-looking issue, but honestly, the new Nova works best in cosmic situations. Back on Earth he’s just another superhero.

What’s Not So Good: Those who are nostalgic for the New Warriors should like this issue. Personally, I think blowing up the New Warriors and then frying Quasar were two of Marvel’s smartest moves. Hopefully Quasar’s resurrection will be as brief as the much better handled return of Captain Marvel.

What It All Boils Down To: This is really an obligatory Secret Invasion fill-in issue. I don’t think I’m the only one who’s had enough of the Skrulls now. The appearance of some semi-familiar aliens at the end of the book hints at a return to cosmic themes. Keep your fingers crossed.

Grade: C

– Andrew C. Murphy

Nova #14 – Review

By Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (Writers), Wellington Alves (Penciler), Scott Hanna (Inker), Guru eFX (Colors)

This is part two of the current Galactus/Silver Surfer arc. Nova has been trying to help evacuate the planet Orbucen. This planet is next in the serving line for Galactus at the cosmic smörgåsbord. Nova attempts to plead for a little extra time from the big fella but is intercepted by the Silver Surfer and, well, the rumble is on! It’s a whale of a good fight and clocking in at almost half the issue, it’s one of the longest battles I’ve encountered in any recent Marvel books I’ve read. Generally speaking, I feel that long fights in comics are good things! So huzzah!

When the battle concludes and a compromise reached, the rest of the issue focuses on Nova on the surface of the planet. We get a real cliffhanger of an ending with our hero stuck in quite a tight spot which almost seems impossible to get out of. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ll be tuning in again in thirty days for the answer.

As I’ve gotten back into Marvel Comics over the past year I’ve found that while I may not always like what they do with the old standbys (Spidey, FF, Thor and others), I do very much like what they’ve been doing with their “B list” characters. Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, and Nova are among my favorite Marvel reads at the moment and this particular issue may well be my favorite of this run.

A big reason for my enjoyment is the art of Wellington Alves. Not only is the Surfer versus Nova fight nice and long but it is extremely well done. His figural work is first rate, dynamic, and fluid. They move and twist in space in believable ways. Alves also mixes up long shots and closeups creating a good action flow that moves nicely from one panel to the next. He employs a variety of angular panels reminiscent of Gene Colan on Dr. Strange, while treating us to two impressive splash pages (not including the opening splash). Alves is a new artist for me and I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future.

Another feature of this series I really enjoy is the banter between Nova and the Worldmind. The Worldmind is dry and matter of fact in his statements leaving Richard Ryder to interpret the zingers tossed his way. This interplay is somewhat muted here as the tone of the book is rather serious – after all a world is dying, but it can be delightful and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it.

All told, a very enjoyable issue and I look forward to the conclusion of this arc. (Grade B+)

– Arthur Cooke

Guardians of the Galaxy #1 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Paul Pelletier (penciler), Rick Magyar (inks), Nathan Fairbairn (colors)

This is how you write the first issue of a team book. Granted, if you’ve been following the Annihilation and Annihilation: Conquest series Marvel’s been running over the past two years, you’ll feel right at home, but for new readers the team chemistry is instantly realized. It helps that Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have been writing these characters for a while too. It’s really amazing how quickly they’re able to introduce the roster, give us background of what’s transpired with the Annihilation storylines, thrust us right into the middle of a chaotic battle, and set the tone of what’s to come.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a smart space saga packed with some of the most likeable characters you’ll ever meet. Rocket Racoon may feel like an outlandish choice for the team, but he fits right in and will most likely be one of the most popular characters amongst readers. His sarcasm coupled with his tactical genius is one of the cornerstones of this book. The humor, not just by him, but by the rest of the team off-sets the serious implications they get themselves into. The way these guys fight together is completely chaotic, yet when they’re put into a pinch they always manage to get the job done. Abnett and Lanning have cleverly planned this series. We get a run down on how the chemistry of the team is kept in check, how they move around the universe, what what may become of them in the future. A lot of ground work has been laid in this first issue, and it’s very, very impressive to say the least.

Paul Pelletier is the unsung hero of this book. He’s the glue that makes it all come together. From page one he throws down the gauntlet giving us spectacular splash pages, engaging fights, and harrowing views of space. There’s absolutely nothing negative I can say about the art he’s done in this issue – it’s strong on every single front, and believe me, this book moves around a bit.

In a perfect world, this comic would be one of those big budget, science fiction epics we’d see on television a weekly basis. But since it’s not, the comic will have to do. If the creative team can keep this momentum going (and I have no doubt that they can given their track record on Annihilation and Nova), Guardians of the Galaxy will quietly become one of the best new series of 2008. (Grade: A)

– J. Montes

Nova #13 – Review

By Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (writers), Wellinton Alves (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks) and Guru eFX (colors)

I won’t lie, this was my first issue of Nova, and I’ve never Annihilation or Annihilation Conquest. I only picked this up because the Silver Surfer is supposed to play a big role in this arc. That said, I was quite impressed. The premise of the story is that Nova has to help evacuate the planet Orbucen which has been marked by Galactus for consumption. While on his quest, he runs into trouble in the form of a parasitic entity called Harrow, that possesses and controls the bodies of its hosts. While he is able to capture it, he runs into other problems which eventually bring him face to face with Galactus. I won’t spoil the ending, but it does indeed look as though the Silver Surfer will play a big part before this tale is over (though not the one you think!)

The story maintains its strength throughout and felt like a cross between an episode of Star Trek (I could swear there’s been a character like Harrow somewhere in Star Trek) and a summer disaster movie. As for Harrow’s character, I suspect that his presence on this world is more than mere coincidence. My theories: Either he is a dark secret of the aristocratic government, or he is somehow attached to Galactus so that he can feed upon hosts that are upon to be consumed. Whatever his story, I’m sure that he will escape and cause trouble at the most inopportune moment.

The art in this issue is spectacular, and helps to convey the epic scope of the story. I especially enjoyed the double splash page of Galactus. Wellington Alves also does a wonderful job of giving “human” facial expressions to non-human characters. Overall, an entertaining read. I’ll definitely be back next month to see where this goes. I recommend this to anyone interested in the cosmic corner of the Marvel Universe, especially if they’re Silver Surfer fans. (Grade B+)

-M. Staples