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!

Generation Hope #6 – Review

By: Kieron Gillen (writer), Salva Espin (art), Jim Charalampidis (colors), Dave Sharpe (letters), Jordan D. White (assistant editor) & Nick Lowe (editor)

The Story: Hope and kids head off to find another emerging mutant with a new liaison to the big-boy X-Men in tow.

What’s Good: Most of the fun from this issue stems from seeing new characters doing new things.  Between Hope and her Five Lights, Hope is the best known character and we (the readers) still don’t even really know what her powers are.  The rest of the Lights are really black boxes beyond a cursory description such as “Laurie is blue, had fins on her head and can fly.”

So, those of you who bitch and moan that there aren’t even any new characters in comics, you should check this out because it is almost 100% about new characters.  And you almost feel like you’re learning about their powers at the same time as the writers.

Probably the most interesting of these new characters are Kenji and Teon.  Kenji (who everyone says is an Akira rip-off, but I haven’t read Akira, so there!) seems to view his body as a piece of living organic art, which should be interesting to anyone who enjoys the artform side of comics.  There is also the small fact that Kenji may or may not be evil making him more interesting.  I think Teon is mostly getting his positive vibe because he’s hanging out with Wolverine.  For years, it has seemed that the only way to make new characters stick with the X-titles is to have them be mentored by Wolverine, so perhaps we’re seeing the same formula that worked so well in the past with Kitty, Jubilee and Armor (someone needs to use Armor!) only with a young man instead.

I have mixed thoughts about Kitty being the new liaison for Hope’s team.  On one hand, IMHO the biggest thing making the X-titles weak over the last several years has been the lack of established roles for the characters.  For better or for worse, I think we would get more interesting stories if characters like Kitty are forced into a defined role on a sub-team of X-Men instead of being a minor, supporting character in all of the stories.  By putting her in a role like this, we are most likely to get interesting Kitty moments as she interacts with the new team and has to deal with being the grown-up after decades of being the “kid”.

Exiles #6 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Salva Espin (Art), and Anthony Washington (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: First Exiles… Then Agents of Atlas… Not cool Marvel… Not cool at all…

The Story: The Exiles go back to finish their first mission. They also find out why Blink has been acting a bit strange…

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: The latest, (and, sadly, last) issue of Exiles is just as satisfying as the others. Writer Jeff Parker finds a nice balance between fun, lighthearted dialogue and somewhat serious, weighty themes without ever allowing Exiles #6 to tip too far into one direction. In addition, Parker manages to give readers a sense of where the series (and character work) was headed, had it been allowed to continue while at the same time bring in an open-ended sort of closure that one comes to expect from a final issue (I believe longtime Exiles fans will find a lot to like). In short, Exiles #6 is pretty much a great example of an early cancellation handled right… Except for the one thing that can’t possibly be ignored.

I totally understand why Jeff Parker drops so much into the issue, especially considering that it’s clear he had a pretty big plan for the series. That said, the pages dedicated to laying out Parker’s vision are pretty dense and a bit boring. While the whole concept is fun to try to wrap your head around, the surprisingly dark, detailed explanation Parker reveals seems somewhat out of place as a whole. Spread out over what I’m sure would have been an arc or two, the whole thing would have probably been much easier to swallow.

Salva Espin’s clean, attractive artwork is, as I’ve said before, a perfect fit for the series. Thanks, in part, to Anthony Washington’s bright, vibrant color work, Espin’s style captures the funny, the sexy, the serious, and the action of Parker’s script incredibly well. While some expressions are a bit off and some of the work seems a bit simplified, Espin is an artist that I’m definitely going to be watching for quite some time. I can’t wait to see what series he lands on next.

Conclusion: Exiles, it’s been fun. You all will be missed.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Exiles #4 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Casey Jones (Pencils), Karl Kesel (Inks), and Anthony Washington (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’m not quite sure what I think about having Casey Jones take over for Salva Espin. However, I’ll save any judgment until after I’ve seen what the artist can do with a full issue.

The Story: The Exiles must overthrow the machines that have made great strides towards killing most of the life on the planet.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: Exile’s #4 delivers in all the ways you’d expect. Jeff Parker introduces an interesting alternate world that seems rather plausible, considering how technology exists in the Marvel Universe. Furthermore, he uses that world to give each Exile a chance to shine (Polaris, as you’d expect, really benefits from the situation). In addition, Parker intelligently uses Blink to add a layer of uneasiness to a series that, so far, has been fairly light-hearted and fun. While I’m not entirely sure if Exiles will actually benefit from the darker tone that’s hinted at (since the series stands out because of it’s tone), I’m confident that Parker will find a way to make the most of it.

The artwork in Exiles #4 works a lot better than I had expected. While I prefer Salva Espin’s style, Casey Jones’ work definitely doesn’t feel out of place. Jones handles all the action well and brings out the personalities of the characters in a way that elevates Parker’s handle on the team. The more I think about it, I feel that Jones’ more realistic style might prove to be more effective than Espin’s in the long run; now that Parker seems to be moving the Exiles down a darker path.

Conclusion: I recommend picking up Exiles #4. It’s satisfying for regular readers and it can function as a nice jump on point for new readers.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Exiles #3 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Salva Espin & Casey Jones (Pencils), Karl Kessler (Inks), and Anthony Washington (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Clever, funny, and visually pleasing, Jeff Parker’s Exiles series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

The Story: Imprisoned in an alternate-reality Genosha for trying to overthrow Magneto’s reign, the Exiles must think of an escape plan or else the universe will suffer the consequences.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: The best thing about Exiles #3 is how Jeff Parker manages to spin the predictable into the unexpected. While I can’t go into specifics, I can say that (outside of the escape attempt) the Genosha conclusion is likely to disappoint a bit. At least until the characters make the “jump” into the next mission; an event which impressively passes the torch from one art team to the next. That said, the latest issue of Exiles is still quite fun.

Jeff Parker does a great job playing with the alternate-reality concept and characters. Sure, some things never change, but the stuff that does is surprisingly entertaining. I say that because Beast and Black Panther continue to be a highlight because of how much they differ from the established versions. Also, though he only appears to narrate the standard recap, Morph gives Exiles a recap page that manages to match (or even surpass) the Incredible Hercules’ on the entertainment scale. Those of you that read Incredible Herc know that that’s saying something.

As for the visuals, Salva Espin continues to be a perfect fit for the tone of the series. Some of the smaller panels look a bit rough, but as a whole, Exiles is a very nice-looking book. I’m not entirely sold on Casey Jones’ more realistic style, but I’ll hold judgment until I see his work over the course of an entire issue.

Conclusion: While not quite a strong as the first two issues, Exiles #3 is still well worth your time and money.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Exiles #2 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Salva Espin (Artist), and Anthony Washington (Colorist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Exiles #1 wasted no time in winning me over. Jeff Parker’s script was informative, surprisingly funny, and featured a solid twist ending. Salva Espin’s lively, expressive artwork proved to be a perfect compliment to the story being told. As for the colors, Anthony Washington’s work made the entire book feel like a breath of fresh air from all the darker, more serious Marvel fare. Simply put, I found Exiles #1 to be quite the creative success because of the fact that everything just came together so damn well. It will be interesting to see if the second issue can keep up all the positive momentum.

The Story: The Exiles mission is to help Wolverine overthrow Magneto’s reign in Genosha. The one catch is that in the reality the Exiles are in, Wolverine isn’t much more than a head on a stick. So what that means is that it’s up to the Exiles to figure out a way to overthrow the royal family of Genosha while blending in with the general mutant population of this alternate reality.

What’s Good: Nearly everything about Exiles #2 works for me. The story that develops successfully threads the line between fun and serious, rarely losing balance. Jeff Parker’s script is clever, humorous (Black Panther has some great lines), and very effective in how it plays around with established character norms. The visuals from Salva Espin look fantastic, especially in regards to the highly expressive characters that show an impressive range of emotion throughout the book. Also, I must mention that Anthony Washington deserves praise for making Exiles one of the most colorful, eye-catching books on the stands.

What’s Not So Good: While rarely losing balance, Exiles #2 does occasionally teeter into melodrama here and there. It doesn’t really hurt things from a story perspective because the drama is used to develop the characters on the team, but it does come across as a bit heavy-handed. Another small complaint is that some panels look a bit rushed. It’s something that’s carried over from issue one and it, while somewhat understandable, still proves to be distracting.

Conclusion: Exiles #2 manages to maintain nearly all of the momentum generated by the strong debut. I highly recommend that you give the series a chance while it’s still early enough (and easy enough) to get into it right from the beginning.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Exiles #1 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Salva Espin (Art), and Anthony Washington (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ll be totally honest and admit that I’ve never read an Exiles comic before. But since it was a light week for me, I figured a new number one issue would be a pretty good place to start.

The Story: The Exiles are a team of (B, C, and D list) Marvel heroes plucked from their respective realities mere moments before death. The mission? To travel from reality to reality in order to put things right so that existence (as a whole) continues. Beast, Forge, The Witch, Polaris, Blink, and The Panther are given the rundown on the situation in the first issue and then sent to fix the first of many realities.

What’s Good: Exiles #1 really gets the series off on the right foot. From the characterization, to the artwork, to the execution of the necessary plot introduction, everything feels absolutely full of energy. And that, my friends, is a very good thing.

Jeff Parker’s script is clever and humorous while also intelligently dealing with both the dense concept and the unique challenge that comes from introducing characters from alternate realities. It is perfectly complimented by artwork that effortlessly manages to be humorous, clever (Beast’s look rocks), vibrant, and lively all at once. Throughout the book there are great examples of how the visuals can elevate the writing and vice versa. And almost all of those examples involve the brilliant use of the character Morph. I never thought I’d see the “Hitler as a baby” dilemma delivered in such a humorous manner…

What’s Not So Good: Despite the entertaining script and eye-catching visuals, there is no denying the fact that Exiles #1 is a fairly standard “team introduction” comic. The formula is a formula for a reason…because it works. But that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t point out it’s use.

Also worth noting is that some of the smaller panels look slightly rushed and/or lack detail. While excusable for the most part, it proves to be a distraction when the rest of the issue looks so nice.

Conclusion: What else can I say? Exiles is now the latest addition to my pull list. Take a chance with the first issue, I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised.

Grade:  B+

-Kyle Posluszny

The Incredible Hercules #124 – Review

By Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (writers), Clayton Henry & Salva Espin (artists), Raul Trevino & Lee Loughridge (colorists)

The Story: “Love and War” continues with this hilarious issue that pits Hercules, Namora, and Athena in a battle royale with the baddest Titan of them all, Atlas.  Amadeus uses his love of refined sugar and hot Gorgons to escape from the Amazons, but with the heavy hitters preoccupied, Artume is free to pursue her vendetta against the world of man.

The Good: Some of the gags in this issue are the funniest to date, and I applaud Pak and Van Lente for making this a consistently amusing title.  From George Washington’s bizarre visions and Namora showing Atlas where the capital of Thailand is, to Hercules being bludgeoned with the Washington Monument and visions of everyone’s fondest desires, you’ll be hard pressed not to chuckle when you read this one.

The Not So Good: I was satisfied with this issue up until the end when I realized that, no, “Love and War” still wasn’t over yet, and I would be forced to endure what has proven to be a string of wonderful gags and ideas held together by a mediocre story. This plot about the Amazons’ quest for yet another reality-changing MacGuffin who isn’t nearly as interesting as say, their initial quest to find the hidden location of Atlas.  In fact, the Amazons themselves are easily the most boring part of this story, and I had hoped Pak and Van Lente would end “Love and War” with this issue. However, I was wrong. Now I’ve officially had enough of it.

Conclusion: An issue of great ideas that could have ended the storyline on a satisfying note, but chose to drag it on instead.  Since Pak and Van Lente seem to be writing this for a graphic novel release, you might be better off waiting to read that instead.

Grade:  C

-Tony Rakittke

Iron Man/Hulk/Fury #1 – Review

By: Iron Man: Paul Tobin (writer), Ronan Cliquet (pencils), Chris Sotomayor (colors) Hulk: Frank Tieri (writer), Salva Espin (pencils), Guru eFX & Chris Sotomayor (colors) Fury: Joe Caramagna (writer), Hugo Petras (pencils), Chris Sotomayor (colors)

The Story: This comic tells three short stories taking place in the Marvel Film Universe. The Iron Man story shows Tony before events of the film, and shows what happened right before his press conference at the end. The Hulk story details an encounter between Banner and Fury. When exactly it takes place in relation to the movie isn’t totally clear, but Fury has been sent to see if Ross really came across something with the Super-Solider serum. Finally, Nick Fury’s tale is heavy on espionage as Nick attempts to smoke out a traitor within SHIELD.

What’s Good: Iron Man’s portion really nails the tone of the film. The Tony Starks in this book feels so much like the film’s Tony, you can believe that these scenes could’ve served as extra features for the dvd. Also Fury’s inner monologue in the Hulk story also reads very well. He’s smooth, relaxed, and badass without being cliche.

What’s Not So Good: The Hulk-Fury story is inconsistent. Tony’s story wasn’t anything new or groundbreaking, but it also wasn’t a rehash of the movie. Fury could easily be replaced by Ross or anyone else as he tells us how careful and smart Banner is. There’s also a huge tonal shift between each story. That isn’t a problem, but what’s lacking is a clearly defined start/stop point to the stories. Without a title page or something at the start of each, the shift from story to story is very jarring.

Conclusion: The book is a little misleading. I didn’t know it was a movie tie-in upon purchase. Granted movie tie-ins are normally bad, so it’s probably for the best that they didn’t plaster that over the cover. Still, with Ultimate Fury on the cover most people will probably think it’s an Ultimate Universe story which isn’t the case. Decent art and a solid story for about a 3rd of a comic aren’t really compelling arguments to part with your four bucks.

Grade C-

-Ben Berger

Incredible Hercules #123 – Review

By Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente (writers), Clayton Henry and Salva Espin (artists), Raul Trevino (colorist)

Is it just me, or has 2008 been the year that Marvel Comics finally did right by their B-list characters?  Incredible Hercules has by far been one of the most entertaining titles I’ve read this year, and I never thought I would say that about about a comic starring a man wearing a skirt and leather stockings.

This issue is part three of the “Love and War” storyline, which so far hasn’t been the strongest arc in the series.  Having just rescued his uncle Poseidon from a gun-toting Amazon with the help of Namor and Namora, Hercules learns the nature of Hippolyta’s plans against the world of man.  Meanwhile, Amadeus is still imprisoned on board Hippolyta’s submarine as she and her Amazons race towards the artifact that will grant them control over the axis of the world. However, that doesn’t stop him from finding the time to score with a youthful Gorgon.

Something about this storyline seems underwhelming, especially since Hercules just got done beating on a Skrull god in the earlier Secret Invasion tie-in issues. But I have a feeling that’s going to change soon when the cast finally reaches the Axis Mundi.  Even if the action is a bit more subdued, Pak and Van Lente still know how to pen a really entertaining story, and that’s where Incredible Hercules succeeds.

This is a title that delights in huge action and fantastic villains, where Hercules and Amadeus seek adventure with a wink and a smile.  Artists Henry and Espin perfectly convey that lighthearted tone with clean art that looks like animation and does a great job of expressing emotion.  What can I say?  Incredible Hercules is a pleasure to read!

Grade: B+

-Tony Rakittke

The Incredible Hercules #122 – Review

By Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (Writers), Clayton Henry & Salva Espin (Artists), and Raul Travino (Colorist)

The Story: Namor and Hercules are at it toe-to-toe up until Namora informs the two men that they are on the same side for the time being. The three go off to investigate the disappearance of Poseidon and start the search by heading straight for the Amazonian queen, Hippolyta. Meanwhile, Amadeus Cho remains a willing captive of the Amazons as he tries to decipher an Atlantean tablet for Hippolyta.

What’s Good: The second chapter of the Love and War arc is notable for how well it brings together all the elements that make The Incredible Hercules so enjoyable as a series. The cartoonish visuals prove to be a perfect fit for scenarios that put the series’ trademark humor to good use. Simply put, the book is an entertaining package.

What’s Not So Good: For as fun as the storyline is, there is no denying that it lacks some of the weight found in other arcs. It proves to be quite disappointing in that respect simply because I have come to expect a bit more from the series. Also, it is worth noting that some people are probably going to be turned off by the visuals, especially when the darker elements of the storyline are introduced.

Conclusion: If you just want to be entertained, you really can’t go wrong with this one. That said, be sure to keep your expectations in check. This arc is not exactly a high point for the series.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny