WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!
You mean I was actually going to come back?!
I thought that was just an excuse to run and hide without admitting failure!
Anyway, welcome back to the new and improved (in the eyes of the few) version of Flip The Page, now purely known as COMICFLIPPER!
So yes there are some obvious changes visually here, whether it be the Chamber x2 banner or the bigass buttons down the left hand side to navigate, everything's been made more friendly and/or personal.
As for content, reviews are going to largely be big no-nos for now, with the focus being on things like Thoughts On and That Is Why for the foreseeable future.
With that welcome to the new look site and hopefully you'll stick around!
Read More ..
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Top Ten: Comic Story Arcs
Whilst my attempts to make the site more accessible, rebooted, prettier and generally more respectable are going along at a far better pace than expected I'm sure that no-one will check the site when it's done if I don't post once in a while. As such I'm taking a leaf from the brilliant Ryan K. Lindsay of Stinkbrown fame and doing a TOP TEN COMIC ARCS! Heck, everyone should do one! START A REVOLUTION!
In a slightly shocking move this won't consist entirely of New Mutants arcs peppered with other X-Teams (GOOD GOD HAVE I GONE MAD?!) and spread itself over as many different and diverse comics as possible. Which considering one of my favourites here covers a million or so comics won't be that surprising.
(in a rare move by myself these aren't in any order, simply to save over-thinking on the subject)
1. Detective Comics: Elegy by Greg Rucka & J.H. Williams III (#854-857)
I'm sure that some people might groan at how recent this is, but then those people obviously haven't read this outstanding example of how to do an opening arc right AND as a piece of art. I mean seriously, it hit fast and hard with the plot, threw in tons of natural feeling elements, hinted at Batwoman's origin and had one of the best twists in comic history (though I'm sure it's a little corny). Still even if that was non-existent this arc stood out amongst all the others I've considered because of how well the art is implemented. Switching tone entirely depending on the content of the story with layouts so insanely beautiful grown men have been known to weep (or at least write a review that opens on the word fuck in big, bold, orange writing). A story arc that did EVERYTHING right and punched you in the gut, this has truly earned its place in this top ten.
2. Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock by Zeb Wells & Carmine Di Giandomenico (#1-4)
Sometimes the thing that can truly make an arc is the flow and narrative structure, especially between issues. As such this Marvel Knights limited series captured that crucial part of a comic arc to a tee, using the 4 round final fight of Jack Murdock to frame the story of him and his son (you might know him, he's that Matt Murdock bloke. Blind, bit horny, you know) to great effect, along with the simple notion of how a person's perception of strength and what makes you strong can be completely wrong. That's really all I need to say about this story arc other than the brilliant writing and art by Zeb and Carmine. If you haven't read this then you might well have missed one of the best Daredevil arcs of all time. And heck, it doesn't even really STAR Daredevil!
3. Kraven's Last Hunt/Fearful Symmetry by J.M. Dematteis & Mike Zeck (WoSM #31-32, ASM #293-294 and SSM #131-132)
The things I could say about Spider-Man arcs and how much I love them could very well fill a very large and useless encyclopaedia and with good reason; between this, Death of Jean DeWolffe, Marvel Knights Spider-Man #1-12, Changes and The Other, Spider-Man has never failed to produce some of the best arcs of all time! Kraven's Last Hunt particularly stands out due to a combination of sophisticated plot elements (I could just straight up write an essay on the examination of Kraven in this comic and his grasp on obsession and insanity, or heck just quote the poem that runs throughout the comic) and some of the most exciting scenes in any Spider-Man comic EVARR. Seriously Kraven hunting Spider-Man at the start has to be one of the most heart-stopping scenes in any comic. One of the best arcs and in fact one of the best comics ever.
Oh and I should probably mention the magic that is how Dematteis claims this comic evolved and formed itself more than he created it (seriously buy the TPB, he explains it) and how it did the unheard act of running across all the Spidey titles to get the tale out quicker and to show focus exclusively on this epic story. 'Nuff said?
4. New Mutants: Legion by Chris Claremont & Bill Sienkiewicz (#26-28)
Okay you knew I'd address something to do with New Mutants eventually, so just be glad that I mentioned three other arcs before getting to this gem. Up until this point in the series New Mutants had been a brilliant if incredibly corny gem for me, with only Nova Roma standing up as a truly awesome comic arc, so when it finally came to hit the big mystery nail on the head of what the hell the deal was with Xavier's unknown son I wasn't quite ready for how awesome this arc turned out to be. And it WAS awesome. Aided to no end by Bill Sien... Sience... SIENKIEWICZ, this was a captivating piece of art for me and absorbed me into the mind of Chris Claremont's mad world of Legion's mind with the same ease that the characters themselves were thrown into it. the story didn't miss a beat and most importantly did what all good comic arcs should do. It made me want to read the next issue so badly that I just couldn't wait! If your comic can do that then you're on the path to greatness!
... Well all that and I bloody LOVE the New Mutants.
5. Secret Wars II by Jim Shooter & Al Milgrom et al (Don't Get Me Started)
Jim Shooter is a bit of a cunt. I'm not talking Ronald Perelman "complete and utter bastard ruining Marvel comics" cunt, just a bit cuntish. A tiny bit. Despite that small handicap Shooter managed to write what might very well be my favourite event of all time; SECRET WARS II. Turning the idea of comic flow on its head, SWII managed to have EVERYTHING change between each of its nine issues, to the degree that if you were just following the event comic itself you'd probably lose track of who the Beyonder actually is. In fact that would probably be a schizophrenic arc at best. No, it's when you see the bigger picture, where anywhere up to five different series would further the complete story, showing the Beyonder's exploration of humanity through the heroes he's met through his time on earth and how that shapes him between each issue of the greater picture. In all the time I've put into reading Marvel comics lately (I remind you I'm trying to find the 50 best Marvel comics of all time) I haven't read anything quite like this and I have to say that if all current events did this... Well it'd be bloody interesting. A crossover between crossovers and events this stands as a testament to how being completely different can be completely amazing. Heck I stand by that so much I'm buying the freakin' omnibus!
6. X-Men Icons - Chamber: The Hollow Man by Brian K. Vaughan & Lee Ferguson (#1-4)
Let's be honest now, you haven't read this. Heck as far as I SHOULD be concerned I haven't read it either. Except I did, having to shamefully resort to downloading the issues online (as I type this I've spied a relatively cheap bundle of all 4 issues on ebay I may order on thursday though, so disregard that). For whatever reason this balls-blisteringly brilliant limited series hasn't surfaced in trade form yet, a tragedy and no mistake. This comic managed to...
...
... Okay at this point I'd just be reiterating how well narrated and structured a comic can be so instead of all that usual crap I'll say this: this comic makes Chamber even more awesome than he was before. I KNOW! I'm not even saying that as a fanboy *shuffles banner with Chamber on it out of the way* but from the simple knowledge that BKV turned him into a brilliant tool to show how the prejudice against mutants isn't restricted to humans as he interacts with the arc's other prominent character Amber, a shape-shifting reptilian mutant woman with the major hots for the then-faceless wonder. Possibly my favourite limited series of all time (I say stuff like that a lot, so ignore that statement if you must), this... Is REALLY hard to explain to the full extent I should! READ IT! NOW! GO DO IT AND SAVE ME THE EFFORT OF STRUGGLING WITH THIS BUM-LICKING!
... Okay? Good.
(side note: look forward to me moaning about how I should write a Chamber ongoing series in a future article)
7. New X-Men - E is for Extinction by Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely (#114-116)
"Oh look someone saying that a part of Morrison's New X-Men was one of the best comic arcs what a surprise he must be a genius to think so ahahahaha-"
SHUT UP!... Wait who was that? Never mind, the point is that some series will obviously appear in lists like these and this is one of those series that was guaranteed to crop up at some point. It's almost such a guarantee that I don't need to explain how this arc took a series that had been stale to a ridiculous degree and changed EVERYTHING. Up was down, black was white and the X-Men had learnt how to be mature instead of edgy. Oh and it wiped out an island of mutants, beating the arse off of the far more recent mutant removal of a crazy woman using powers beyond the scope of reason to fuck shit up (though I do actually like House of M). Morrison did it all right here and then kept up that level of power in his stories right up until the end... Well except for Here Comes Tomorrow, that wasn't quite as good but shut up I'm making a point here.
8. Generation X: The Third Genesis by Scott Lobdell & Chris Bachalo (#1-3)
... It MIGHT be because Chamber is in it. MAYBE. It certainly isn't because Skin is in it and even less so that Jubilee is in it. It MIGHT be because Banshee is in it. Oh and Penance, who is genuinely intriguing, especially when she interacts with Chamber. Heck it might be because the first issue was REALLY SHINY. This is pure self-indulgence. I love this arc and as such it stands up here with the other 9 as the best comic arcs I've read. Sure it's not very professional but no-one can tell me I'm wrong this way! WAHAHAHAHA! *ahem* Uh... Moving on...
9. Animal Man: Deus Ex Machina by Grant Morrison et al (#18-26)
MORE Grant Morrison?! Creative choices, eh? This is notably more credible with the artsy crowd than my million and one mutant-related picks. This is the famous arc that took the 4th wall and bent it over and made it Morrison's bitch. Not just that but the comic evolved past everything it had already become to be a spookily sombre insight into the incredibly self aware mind of Morrison, to a degree I don't believe any other comic writer would have allowed. Not just that but the ending isn't even happy. AT ALL! It fills you soul with sadness (with that crucial tinge of hope, a light shining in the darkness) and leaves you slightly in despair. Oh and it's from when Morrison wasn't a Lex Luthor lookalike. For those reasons and more this is one of my favourite arcs of all time.
(Want another reason? I love the Psycho Pirate. However we won't dive into that here, for my obsession with mentally unstable characters is something to be addressed in a future post)
10. Phonogram: Rue Britannia by Kieron Gillen & Jamie Mckelvie (#1-6)
And finally we come to a series that isn't about superheroes, has no pretty colours and fucking hates Kula Shaker. Yes, Phonogram: Rue Britannia. An epic tale of Phonomancy, Retromancy and a jaded Phallocrat disguised as an intricate look into the creator's attachment to a musical era long dead (wait, that's the wrong way around, reverse that), Phonogram captivates the true Brit in me and twists its melons until all that remains is a slack jawed comic fan who's been amazed by one of the best comic stories out there. I can't speak for The Single Club (the follow-up series) as I haven't read it yet, but this arc is flippin' brilliant and has managed to be the only independant series apparently deserving of such a position in this Top 10. Read More ..
In a slightly shocking move this won't consist entirely of New Mutants arcs peppered with other X-Teams (GOOD GOD HAVE I GONE MAD?!) and spread itself over as many different and diverse comics as possible. Which considering one of my favourites here covers a million or so comics won't be that surprising.
(in a rare move by myself these aren't in any order, simply to save over-thinking on the subject)
1. Detective Comics: Elegy by Greg Rucka & J.H. Williams III (#854-857)
I'm sure that some people might groan at how recent this is, but then those people obviously haven't read this outstanding example of how to do an opening arc right AND as a piece of art. I mean seriously, it hit fast and hard with the plot, threw in tons of natural feeling elements, hinted at Batwoman's origin and had one of the best twists in comic history (though I'm sure it's a little corny). Still even if that was non-existent this arc stood out amongst all the others I've considered because of how well the art is implemented. Switching tone entirely depending on the content of the story with layouts so insanely beautiful grown men have been known to weep (or at least write a review that opens on the word fuck in big, bold, orange writing). A story arc that did EVERYTHING right and punched you in the gut, this has truly earned its place in this top ten.
2. Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock by Zeb Wells & Carmine Di Giandomenico (#1-4)
Sometimes the thing that can truly make an arc is the flow and narrative structure, especially between issues. As such this Marvel Knights limited series captured that crucial part of a comic arc to a tee, using the 4 round final fight of Jack Murdock to frame the story of him and his son (you might know him, he's that Matt Murdock bloke. Blind, bit horny, you know) to great effect, along with the simple notion of how a person's perception of strength and what makes you strong can be completely wrong. That's really all I need to say about this story arc other than the brilliant writing and art by Zeb and Carmine. If you haven't read this then you might well have missed one of the best Daredevil arcs of all time. And heck, it doesn't even really STAR Daredevil!
3. Kraven's Last Hunt/Fearful Symmetry by J.M. Dematteis & Mike Zeck (WoSM #31-32, ASM #293-294 and SSM #131-132)
The things I could say about Spider-Man arcs and how much I love them could very well fill a very large and useless encyclopaedia and with good reason; between this, Death of Jean DeWolffe, Marvel Knights Spider-Man #1-12, Changes and The Other, Spider-Man has never failed to produce some of the best arcs of all time! Kraven's Last Hunt particularly stands out due to a combination of sophisticated plot elements (I could just straight up write an essay on the examination of Kraven in this comic and his grasp on obsession and insanity, or heck just quote the poem that runs throughout the comic) and some of the most exciting scenes in any Spider-Man comic EVARR. Seriously Kraven hunting Spider-Man at the start has to be one of the most heart-stopping scenes in any comic. One of the best arcs and in fact one of the best comics ever.
Oh and I should probably mention the magic that is how Dematteis claims this comic evolved and formed itself more than he created it (seriously buy the TPB, he explains it) and how it did the unheard act of running across all the Spidey titles to get the tale out quicker and to show focus exclusively on this epic story. 'Nuff said?
4. New Mutants: Legion by Chris Claremont & Bill Sienkiewicz (#26-28)
Okay you knew I'd address something to do with New Mutants eventually, so just be glad that I mentioned three other arcs before getting to this gem. Up until this point in the series New Mutants had been a brilliant if incredibly corny gem for me, with only Nova Roma standing up as a truly awesome comic arc, so when it finally came to hit the big mystery nail on the head of what the hell the deal was with Xavier's unknown son I wasn't quite ready for how awesome this arc turned out to be. And it WAS awesome. Aided to no end by Bill Sien... Sience... SIENKIEWICZ, this was a captivating piece of art for me and absorbed me into the mind of Chris Claremont's mad world of Legion's mind with the same ease that the characters themselves were thrown into it. the story didn't miss a beat and most importantly did what all good comic arcs should do. It made me want to read the next issue so badly that I just couldn't wait! If your comic can do that then you're on the path to greatness!
... Well all that and I bloody LOVE the New Mutants.
5. Secret Wars II by Jim Shooter & Al Milgrom et al (Don't Get Me Started)
Jim Shooter is a bit of a cunt. I'm not talking Ronald Perelman "complete and utter bastard ruining Marvel comics" cunt, just a bit cuntish. A tiny bit. Despite that small handicap Shooter managed to write what might very well be my favourite event of all time; SECRET WARS II. Turning the idea of comic flow on its head, SWII managed to have EVERYTHING change between each of its nine issues, to the degree that if you were just following the event comic itself you'd probably lose track of who the Beyonder actually is. In fact that would probably be a schizophrenic arc at best. No, it's when you see the bigger picture, where anywhere up to five different series would further the complete story, showing the Beyonder's exploration of humanity through the heroes he's met through his time on earth and how that shapes him between each issue of the greater picture. In all the time I've put into reading Marvel comics lately (I remind you I'm trying to find the 50 best Marvel comics of all time) I haven't read anything quite like this and I have to say that if all current events did this... Well it'd be bloody interesting. A crossover between crossovers and events this stands as a testament to how being completely different can be completely amazing. Heck I stand by that so much I'm buying the freakin' omnibus!
6. X-Men Icons - Chamber: The Hollow Man by Brian K. Vaughan & Lee Ferguson (#1-4)
Let's be honest now, you haven't read this. Heck as far as I SHOULD be concerned I haven't read it either. Except I did, having to shamefully resort to downloading the issues online (as I type this I've spied a relatively cheap bundle of all 4 issues on ebay I may order on thursday though, so disregard that). For whatever reason this balls-blisteringly brilliant limited series hasn't surfaced in trade form yet, a tragedy and no mistake. This comic managed to...
...
... Okay at this point I'd just be reiterating how well narrated and structured a comic can be so instead of all that usual crap I'll say this: this comic makes Chamber even more awesome than he was before. I KNOW! I'm not even saying that as a fanboy *shuffles banner with Chamber on it out of the way* but from the simple knowledge that BKV turned him into a brilliant tool to show how the prejudice against mutants isn't restricted to humans as he interacts with the arc's other prominent character Amber, a shape-shifting reptilian mutant woman with the major hots for the then-faceless wonder. Possibly my favourite limited series of all time (I say stuff like that a lot, so ignore that statement if you must), this... Is REALLY hard to explain to the full extent I should! READ IT! NOW! GO DO IT AND SAVE ME THE EFFORT OF STRUGGLING WITH THIS BUM-LICKING!
... Okay? Good.
(side note: look forward to me moaning about how I should write a Chamber ongoing series in a future article)
7. New X-Men - E is for Extinction by Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely (#114-116)
"Oh look someone saying that a part of Morrison's New X-Men was one of the best comic arcs what a surprise he must be a genius to think so ahahahaha-"
SHUT UP!... Wait who was that? Never mind, the point is that some series will obviously appear in lists like these and this is one of those series that was guaranteed to crop up at some point. It's almost such a guarantee that I don't need to explain how this arc took a series that had been stale to a ridiculous degree and changed EVERYTHING. Up was down, black was white and the X-Men had learnt how to be mature instead of edgy. Oh and it wiped out an island of mutants, beating the arse off of the far more recent mutant removal of a crazy woman using powers beyond the scope of reason to fuck shit up (though I do actually like House of M). Morrison did it all right here and then kept up that level of power in his stories right up until the end... Well except for Here Comes Tomorrow, that wasn't quite as good but shut up I'm making a point here.
8. Generation X: The Third Genesis by Scott Lobdell & Chris Bachalo (#1-3)
... It MIGHT be because Chamber is in it. MAYBE. It certainly isn't because Skin is in it and even less so that Jubilee is in it. It MIGHT be because Banshee is in it. Oh and Penance, who is genuinely intriguing, especially when she interacts with Chamber. Heck it might be because the first issue was REALLY SHINY. This is pure self-indulgence. I love this arc and as such it stands up here with the other 9 as the best comic arcs I've read. Sure it's not very professional but no-one can tell me I'm wrong this way! WAHAHAHAHA! *ahem* Uh... Moving on...
9. Animal Man: Deus Ex Machina by Grant Morrison et al (#18-26)
MORE Grant Morrison?! Creative choices, eh? This is notably more credible with the artsy crowd than my million and one mutant-related picks. This is the famous arc that took the 4th wall and bent it over and made it Morrison's bitch. Not just that but the comic evolved past everything it had already become to be a spookily sombre insight into the incredibly self aware mind of Morrison, to a degree I don't believe any other comic writer would have allowed. Not just that but the ending isn't even happy. AT ALL! It fills you soul with sadness (with that crucial tinge of hope, a light shining in the darkness) and leaves you slightly in despair. Oh and it's from when Morrison wasn't a Lex Luthor lookalike. For those reasons and more this is one of my favourite arcs of all time.
(Want another reason? I love the Psycho Pirate. However we won't dive into that here, for my obsession with mentally unstable characters is something to be addressed in a future post)
10. Phonogram: Rue Britannia by Kieron Gillen & Jamie Mckelvie (#1-6)
And finally we come to a series that isn't about superheroes, has no pretty colours and fucking hates Kula Shaker. Yes, Phonogram: Rue Britannia. An epic tale of Phonomancy, Retromancy and a jaded Phallocrat disguised as an intricate look into the creator's attachment to a musical era long dead (wait, that's the wrong way around, reverse that), Phonogram captivates the true Brit in me and twists its melons until all that remains is a slack jawed comic fan who's been amazed by one of the best comic stories out there. I can't speak for The Single Club (the follow-up series) as I haven't read it yet, but this arc is flippin' brilliant and has managed to be the only independant series apparently deserving of such a position in this Top 10. Read More ..
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Flip The Page / Comicflipper Reboot
Followers of my TWITTER will by now be aware that I've been trying to do two things lately: 1) write a read-along review thing of New Mutants as a regular feature and 2) reboot this journal into a less schizophrenic and far more organised model (especially as my time for the journal will be freed up in the coming weeks).
1) has been completely abandoned as far too difficult just for the entertainment value of completely ripping off the invincible super blog and my own lack of ability to make jokes about something I frequently make super-sized bum love to and 2) is.... this.
Welcome to the end of the beginning and the beginning of the end.
Throughout this period of change I'll be preparing such basic things as a decent archive and regular features. With any luck they'll be good too!
In the meantime I remind you I have a TWITTER and TWITTER TWITTER OH LOOK A TWITTER and I'll make some posts about what things will be appearing in the reboot and general progress reports. Ya know, for hits!
(oh and comics-wise: I'm making a Fumetti comic for a presentation evening thing soon. It sucks arse but hey you might see some similar stuff around here for portfolio stuff or summat. That and I LOVE Fumetti. Dunno why.) Read More ..
1) has been completely abandoned as far too difficult just for the entertainment value of completely ripping off the invincible super blog and my own lack of ability to make jokes about something I frequently make super-sized bum love to and 2) is.... this.
Welcome to the end of the beginning and the beginning of the end.
Throughout this period of change I'll be preparing such basic things as a decent archive and regular features. With any luck they'll be good too!
In the meantime I remind you I have a TWITTER and TWITTER TWITTER OH LOOK A TWITTER and I'll make some posts about what things will be appearing in the reboot and general progress reports. Ya know, for hits!
(oh and comics-wise: I'm making a Fumetti comic for a presentation evening thing soon. It sucks arse but hey you might see some similar stuff around here for portfolio stuff or summat. That and I LOVE Fumetti. Dunno why.) Read More ..
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Thoughts On: Marvel's January Solicits Of Things I'm Gonna Buy
Not to continue being the whiny self-depreciative overly apologetic person but I really am sorry if the current colours are horrible. I've been toying with the template recently and it hasn't gone well and I haven't reverted it yet. Just cringe as you read this.
Remember this? No, not just the blog (that's been gathering dust as I pursue real world stuff, that I'll talk about soon) but also Thoughts On, the once in a while look at solicits and my (funnily enough) THOUGHTS ON them. In an attempt to keep it simple I'm only going to be looking at things I'll actually be buying come January 2010, as opposed to just about everything and swamping the visual senses with so much fecal matter.
Before we go in it's worth mentioning that the recently announced events and stuff in comics are going to be largely ignored in these, just because the only one I'm guaranteed to buy is DOOOOOOMWAAAAAAR, which might well be the ballsiest thing Marvel's done in ages (what with the throwing of Maberry into the event comic world quite early into his Marvel career). Whether I can just stick to this one event comic is questionable however due to how SIEGE BLOCKBUSTER seeps into Mighty Avengers, World War Hulks is crucial to Incredible Hulk and New Mutants is one of the many titles Second Coming is running across.
... Ruddy event comics...
KOOKABURRA K #3 (of 3)
Written by CRISSE, MITRIC & HICKS
Adapted by AUBREY SITTERSON
Pencils & Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS
The titanic red wave of destructive energy has nearly destroyed the entire universe; without anyone surviving long enough to ask themselves why!
The passengers of the space cruiser K, the only survivors in the galaxy, found refuge on Eyrolia, the mysterious “Planet of Illusions.” But far from being saved, they are captured by the terrible Master-Guardian of the planet who sees them as invaders, coming to steal the jewel he protects at the heart of his planet.
Only one being thinks he can stop the madness that is destroying their reality. He is the Paladin, and for him there can only be one culprit: the Kookaburra, almighty reincarnate… Under Mitric’s quill and drawings by Ramos, discover the stunning conclusion to the Kookaburra K trilogy.
48 PGS./Mature …$5.99
Humberto Ramos pencils and 48 pages still don't really make up for the comic being six dollars and whilst I'm fairly sure this is a book adaptation I've never heard of Kookaburra K and have no real desire to. The only reason I'm getting this outside of some pretty Ramosness is just how interesting these solicits sound for a comic book (seriously can't imagine them as standard prose) so count me in!
X-MEN NOIR: MARK OF CAIN #2 (of 4)
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Pencils & Cover by DENNIS CALERO
Variant Cover by DENNIS CALERO
"The Genosha Bay guards rolled Angel, gagged and shackled to the gurney, into solitary confinement, warden Emma Frost trailing close behind. From the ceiling and every wall bright, hot lights pounded a blinding glare onto the cell's only furnishing, an ominously solitary chair. 'Until you tell me what I want to know,' Warden Frost said, 'You will never leave this room. Welcome to Project: Wideawake."
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
I freakin' LOVED X-Men Noir. An X-Factor artist and one of my favourite writers of the modern age?! It was all too much. This can only improve upon the original series, something safe to presume simply because the solicits are much, MUCH clearer this time around. No reading the entire series four times over to just figure out what happened for this one!.... I hope.
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #6
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by DAVID LAFUENTE
Mysterio has had just about enough of Spider-Man, so he sends in the ULTIMATE SPIDER-SLAYER…and sends it right to Peter Parker’s school! All this and the mystery of the Shroud is finally revealed!! Join rockstars BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS and DAVID LAFUENTE as we swing into the final chapter of this thrilling arc!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
The one good Bendis comic makes it to the end of its first arc come January and I couldn't be more stoked if I tried. Between Lafuente's near-perfect art style (shut up I like it) and a thrilling enough storyline so far in I don't think anything could ruin this outside of the obvious lesbian MJ story not playing out (okay that might just be in my head but shut up it'd be ballsy and interesting and not too close to 616 Marvel like everything else in the Ultimate U)... Or a lack of a hardcover release. This REALLY needs one of those.
BLACK PANTHER #12
Written by JONATHAN MABERRY
Penciled by WILL CONRAD
Cover by PAUL RENAUD
PRELUDE TO “DOOMWAR”
If you think you know what's coming next in BLACK PANTHER, guess again. Shuri, T'Challa and Storm are caught up in a tangle of plots within plots as Doctor Doom and the Broker close the jaws of their trap. Heroes will fall, trust will be betrayed, secrets will be revealed, and nothing will ever be the same. The fuse is lit and Wakanda is about to explode. Guest stars Namor and the Fantastic Four jump into action as the new Black Panther goes to war.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
STILL one of my favourite Marvel comics, especially now I've adapted to the change in writing. "Power" has been pretty awesome so far and this lead-in to Maberry's first Marvel event DOOOOOOOOOMWAAAAAAAAAAR sounds like it will kick all sorts of arse before the series shuffles away into hiatus whilst the event comic runs its course. Seriously if you aren't at least buying the hardcovers for this (all the one of them) then you suck so hard you've actually imploded a little.
BLACK WIDOW: DEADLY ORIGIN #3 (of 4)
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Penciled by TOM RANEY & JOHN PAUL LEON
Cover by ADI GRANOV
Time is running out for the on-the-run Black Widow as the sinister Icepick Protocol sets Clint Barton against Mockingbird—and Hercules against everybody! With flashbacks to her days with Daredevil and the Champions, and the final revelation of who is trying to destroy her life, the clock is ticking on Natasha’s life!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
I don't much care for the Black Widow outside of her appearance in the first 11 issues of Mighty Avengers (one day I'll have to clarify my somewhat schizophrenic enjoyment of that run) and that won't change at any point ever. Seriously I prefer Black Widow II, which is apparently crazy to say. Still, Tom Raney & Paul Cornell? This comic could shit needles into my face when I open it and I'd still buy it!
... Too weird?
CAPTAIN AMERICA #602
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by LUKE ROSS
Cover by GERALD PAREL
The monthly CAPTAIN AMERICA returns with a bang! Where has the Captain America from the '50s been the past few months, and what part of our modern world has welcomed him? And what will Steve and Bucky do when an old enemy tries to become a revolutionary? TWO AMERICAS begins here! By best-selling writer Ed Brubaker with art by Luke Ross. Plus, the start of a Second Bonus Feature - NOMAD by Sean McKeever and David Baldeon!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
... Bollocks. Now I have to get ANOTHER comic series just for the back-up strip (this goes alongside Incredible Hulk in that regard). On the plus side it has the same advantage as Incredible Hulk in that the main comic is also by an awesome writer and will make up for something I'd rather have its own series of being reduced to something like 10 pages a month. Oh and 50s Cap for the win or something.
FANTASTIC FOUR #575
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Penciled by DALE EAGLESHAM
Cover by ALAN DAVIS
Marvel Women Variant by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC
Kicking off the world-spanning new adventures of the Fantastic Four, this is part one of the Prime Elements arc: The Hidden City of the High Evolutionary!
Featuring the return of the Mole Man, the architecture of the underworld, and the smartest Moloid you'll ever meet.
Don't miss it!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99
I have to admit I've been an idiot and thought that SOLVE EVERYTHING would have been a larger story in the end and Marvel's First Family wouldn't devolve into basic tales with no real aspirations to greatness. Still I'll get it and enjoy it because I can and then I'll run and hide from freaky buff stubble Reed.
INCREDIBLE HULK #606
Written by GREG PAK
Penciled by PAUL PELLETIER
Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
He's fought Thor, Black Bolt, the Juggernaut, and virtually every Avenger on the planet. But nothing's ever hit Bruce Banner as hard as "The Fall of the Hulks"! As the epic storyline begins, Bruce Banner makes the best and worst discovery of his life, Skaar, the savage Son of Hulk, finally shows his true colors, and a Green Goliath in purple pants takes on Doctor Doom himself! "Planet Hulk" writer Greg Pak teams up with fan favorite penciler Paul Pelletier to deliver massive revelations, shocking emotional twists, and epic smashing that will transform Bruce Banner's life forever.
40 PGS./Rated A …$3.99
.... No Olivetti? NO Fred Van Lente? NO LYRA THE SAVAGE SHE-HULK?! *sobs uncontrollably*... I'm okay I just... Need some time... *sniff*... Just... Don't know what to do...
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #140
Written by GREG PAK, FRED VAN LENTE & JEFF PARKER
Penciled by RODNEY BUCHEMI & GABRIEL HARDMAN
Cover by ALEX GARNER
"ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS," Part 3 (of 4)
Of all the giants, gods and monsters Hercules and his team of New and Mighty Avengers have faced in their battle through New Olympus, none may be as formidable as HEPHAESTUS, creator of the immortals' fearsome war engines! With what fearsome device will he try to ensnare and destroy the Hercules/Amadeus Cho team, which has reformed at last -- only to meet their doom? Find out as the New York Times Best-Selling creative team lead Herc on his biggest adventure yet! Plus: as the Agents of Atlas push into the stronghold of the Olympus group, Aphrodite decides to take matters into her own hands in Godmarked Part 3!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
The most promising comic combo ever continues as Hercules continues to be Hercules and have the Mighty Avengers co-star AND Jeff Parker taking up residence with his precious Agents of Atlas in the back-up comic. Honestly someone at Marvel has figured out how to combine elements into a perfect critic pleasing sandwich full of delicious cake. I mean wow... I'm not sure where I'm going with this whole thoughts on thing here I'm mainly just bum-licking.
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #22
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art & 50/50 Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
50/50 Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER
The heart and soul of the Marvel Universe gathered to bring Tony back online…but when they flipped the switch, nothing happened. What do you do when the smartest man in the world is trapped inside his own subconscious? Doctor Donald Blake reaches out for a specialist…Doctor Strange! And meanwhile…the Ghost closes in, ready to assassinate Tony Stark once and for all.
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99
Might not get this to be honest. I mean now we all know that Stark's return to life or whatever it will be is reserved for Bendis-fest SIEGE BLOCKBUSTER there's almost no point to this retrospective/revival of the nigh-on brain dead wonder that is Tony Stark. Still non-X-Men Fraction + Larroca is a good combo that I don't think I can pass up. That and a strong man love for Zircher will make me go ooh at the cover I'm sure. Maybe.
MIGHTY AVENGERS #33
Written by DAN SLOTT
Pencils & Cover by KHOI PHAM
"The Coming Darkness..." Part 2
Can the MIGHTY AVENGERS and DARK AVENGERS join forces long enough to -- we're sorry, we can't even pretend to finish that sentence. There's no way the MIGHTY AVENGERS and DARK AVENGERS are teaming up. They're gonna beat the living heck out of each other! The only question is: can HANK PYM stop the IRON PATRIOT before he harnesses the power of the Cosmic Cube?!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99
There it is. The last pre-SIEGE BLOCKBUSTER issue, now carrying those precious words I once feared lost; "Written by DAN SLOTT". I will love this, even if the cover makes me want to shit out of fear. In fact I'll buy the SIEGE BLOCKBUSTER issues too, just because I can't perceive Dan Slott doing bad with this series, even in a situation like that.
AVENGERS VS. ATLAS #1 (of 4)
Written by JEFF PARKER
Penciled by GABRIEL HARDMAN
Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Variant Cover by GABRIEL HARDMAN
Spacetime is being selectively eroded by an unknown force. To stop the effect, the Agents of Atlas seek the help of the Avengers- and find a much earlier version of the team than they expected: Captain America, Iron Man, Wasp, Giant-Man and Thor are together again, with the atomic wildcard THE HULK!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Ya know I could swear Agents of Atlas was cancelled. How it's gone from that to "Oh it's just here and in Incredible Hercules and Thunderbolts and various other limited series and so on". It's almost ridiculous. Thoroughly stup- Oh who am I kidding I'm loving this and will lap up EVERYTHING to do with it. Also more Ramos coverage, which is always pleasing. All that and I haven't even mentioned the original avengers team stuff here. Which is awesome by the way.
SECRET WARRIORS #12
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Penciled by STEFANO CASELLI
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
Nick Fury quietly moves his forces into place as the war between the armies of LEVIATHAN and the armies of HYDRA kicks into gear. Also, the long-awaited origin of the mysterious HIVE, and we finally find out who the father of STONEWALL is.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
If the whole Stonewall stuff is such a mystery why the fuck does everyone call him Jerry Sledge?! Or more importantly why is his real name Henry something? I mean that's a fair difference there! Still I love Secret Warriors and am looking forward to this eventual clarification.
STRANGE #3 (of 4)
Written by MARK WAID
Penciled by EMMA RIOS
Cover by TOMM COKER
Stephen Strange and his new apprentice travel not to the Ruins of Raggador or the Dread Dimension of Dormammu...but to a small Southern town conducting a bizarre ritual of its own, one that threatens the life of every young girl in the state! Plus: more on the secrets that Stephen himself is hiding from his student!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
I don't know why I'm getting this series. Move along.
MARVEL BOY: THE URANIAN #1 (of 3)
Written by JEFF PARKER
Penciled by FELIX RUIZ
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
A young man has travelled billions of miles through space in a rocket to help our world. But is Earth of the 1950's ready for a new super hero? Before he became the dark figure the Agents of Atlas call The Uranian, Bob Grayson raced through the skies as Marvel Boy! From the critically acclaimed writer of AGENTS OF ATLAS and FALL OF THE HULKS: ALPHA comes this all-new look back at one of Marvel’s first heroes!
48 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Gotta love how they're talking about FALL OF THE HULKS: ALPHA like it's already critically acclaimed along with Agents of Atlas. Ah well. Good to finally see the original Marvel Boy get some proper attention, even if it is a 3 issue 4 dollar limited series. Also pretty Djurdjevic cover that breaks his unwritten "loadsa white space" rule that most his covers have.
THUNDERBOLTS #140
Written by JEFF PARKER
Penciled by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
Thunderbolts vs. Agents of Atlas—round 2! The hunt down in the swamp comes to a head when one of the T-Bolts ends up dead! There's not going to be much time to cope either, because Norman Osborn needs his team of killers ready for a final mission—and this is what he's been saving them for!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
A) it'll be Paladin or Ant-Man that dies just to spite me. B) final mission might well mean that I'll get some good ole original Thunderbolts stuff again soon. No Baron Zemo this year though apparently. Stupid people. Oh and WE GET IT MARVEL YOU HAVE A STIFFY FOR JEFF PARKER AND AGENTS OF ATLAS!
REALM OF KINGS: INHUMANS #3 (of 5)
Written by DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING
Penciled by PABLO RAIMONDI
Cover by STJEPAN SEJIC
It’s chaos in the streets of Hala as the Kree aristocracy rise up and revolt against the Inhumans! What legendary weapons have been unleashed upon the Royal Family? Meanwhile, in The Fault, Triton’s expedition closes on the source of a mysterious and chillingly recognizable voice...have they found Black Bolt?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
DnA, Pablo Raimondi AND a Stjepan Sejic cover? If this could get any better I fail to see how. Do I need any more thoughts on this? BUY IT EVEN IF IT SUCKS YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE!
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #22
Written by DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING
Penciled by BRAD WALKER
Cover by ALEX GARNER
A REALM OF KINGS ISSUE! Holy Octo-mom! What’s growing in Moondragon’s belly, why is the Universal Church of Truth obsessed with keeping her, and can the Guardians rescue her before the planet they’re on goes supernova? Find out in the series that IGN calls “Impressive…Brad Walker’s pages are a dazzling sight…Guardians of the Galaxy is still standing tall and strong.”
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
... I'm scared of this, I'm scared of the cover, it genuinely unsettles me and makes me want to hide from the glowing fetuses and creepy creepy smile... No I don't care what happens in this issue I just want to fucking RUN. AND. HIDE.
... And never return.
DARK X-MEN #3 (of 5)
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Penciled by LEONARD KIRK
Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
Nate Grey, a.k.a., X-Man is back and he is not happy with the state of affairs in the Marvel Universe. So he goes straight to the man responsible—Norman Osborn—and it’s not for a nice chat. It’s X-Man vs. the Dark Avengers and Dark X-Men. Can this Omega class mutant survive this matchup? Find out here!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Despite what an abortion Utopia turned out to be I genuinely wanted to embrace the Dark X-Men as a team, save Guardian who's been horribly rewritten since Omega Flight's emotion creating character. Now that they're all gone save Dark Beast, Mystique, Mimic and *shudder* rewritten Guardian I'm not sure what to make of it all... OH YEAH NATE GREY SCREW ALL THAT HE'S AWESOME.
Oh yeah and the Captain Britain team. That helps.
NATION X: X-FACTOR
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by VALENTINE DE LANDRO
Cover by CHRISTIAN MACNEVEN
Utopia. The sanctuary for mutants to escape a world that wants them extinct. So is it the ideal home for X-Factor? That's what Cyclops believes when he invites the world's only mutant detective agency to relocate to their floating island retreat and take up residence there. But will Madrox and his team believe that it's the best place for them? What old faces will pop up, and what old acquaintances will be renewed? And will there even be a Utopia left when the mysterious Crone shows up and threatens to bring the entire place crashing down into the Pacific?
40 PGS./One-Shot/Rated T+ …$3.99
I suppose this was neccesary. I'll love it and cherish it but... *sigh* Well... The X-Factor one shots are weirdly collected. I'm not even sure if the Layla Miller one-shot's made it into a trade yet. If it has... Someone make sure to tell me... Where was I? Oh yeah one shot I'll read but might not care about as much as the main series of X-Factor. Yeah that's it.
CABLE #22
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Penciled by GABRIEL GUZMAN
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
PRELUDE TO “X-MEN: SECOND COMING” EVENT!
The penultimate chapter in the X-Men saga that began with “Messiah CompleX” continues here! Now that Hope’s told Cable that she’s ready to join the X-Men in the present, Cable risks it all to repair his busted time machine. Finally, after years of being stuck in a one-way trip to oblivion, Cable and Hope leap into the past. But the Mutant Messiah and her surrogate father miss the mark by more than a few hundred years, finding themselves in a primitive Manhattan – and hunted by a mutant who just doesn’t know the meaning of the word “quit.”
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
Consider this tentative considering how great Cable has become lately. Seriously the second that changes this can FUCK RIGHT OFF. That or it'll end after this story and it won't matter anyway. I mean with Second Coming coming up (heh) there's no real reason for Cable anymore.
NEW MUTANTS #9
Written by ZEB WELLS
Penciled by PAUL DAVIDSON
Cover by ADAM KUBERT
What is Illyana Rasputin up to? In NEW MUTANTS #1, she returned from who knows where with knowledge that she says is from the future. A future where things aren’t going well for the X-Men. Emma Frost is not going to settle for this question being unanswered.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
Ah the shining gem of the X-universe. New Mutants leaves Necrosha and gets back to awesome storylines it seems. If you aren't buying this you're either not a comics fan or you're a douchebag... Or something... Perhaps I should encourage you all instead of calling you douchebags.
S.W.O.R.D. #3
Written by KIERON GILLEN
Penciled by STEVEN SANDERS
Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
Agent Brand, Beast, Sydren, Beta Ray Bill, Marvel Boy, Jazinda, Karolina and all the other aliens on Earth have been captured by Henry Gyrich and his “NO MORE ALIENS” agenda. Only one person can free them and save the world: Lockheed.
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99
Yes that's Lockheed with guns. 'Nuff said.
X-FACTOR #201
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by BING CANSINO
Cover by DAVID YARDIN
Something is rotten in the state of Latveria. How does it relate to the disappearance of the Invisible Woman? How does it involve Layla Miller, and is she now an ally of Doctor Doom, with all of her precious knowledge at his disposal? Will Madrox learn exactly who is buried beneath that mysterious grave? And will you buy the issue in order to find out? We dunno; what're we, psychic?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
When a solicit results in you yelling "SAY WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" you know you'll not only pick up the comic but you'll love the shit out of it. Peter David helps a fair bit too by being one of the best writers of all time... I'm really not on the ball here. Um.... oh yeah mysterious grave. That whole thing... Yeah.
X-BABIES #4 (of 4)
Written by GREGG SCHIGIEL
Penciled by JACOB CHABOT
Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Star Comics Variant by JACOB CHABOT
The gloves come off! The X-Babies are in way over their heads as they’re overwhelmed by adorable-ness. Can they, even with the help of the Star Heroes, survive? And when the dust settles, control of the Mojoverse goes to...?????? The X-Babies status quo changes forever in this issue! Plus, a Star Comics reprint!
40 PGS./New and Reprint/Rated A …$3.99
X-BABIES! THEY'RE BABIES! AND X-MEN! AND FREAKIN' AWESOME! No sense of a big climax here, but then I've read one issue and have no idea where it's really going to head. Still, I THINK it'll be awesome, so there's a THOUGHT ON it.
X-MEN FOREVER #15 & 16
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT
Penciled by PETER VALE (#15) & TBA (#16)
Cover by TOM GRUMMETT
GREAT JUMPING ON POINT…the fate of PERFECT STORM! The last time we saw Storm, she was fleeing from the X-Men, having blinded Sabretooth and killed Logan. Now, we turn our focus to Wakanda to see what became of the evil clone of the woman that the X-Men loved and trusted. ALSO: new two-part story starting with Issue 16 as CHRIS CLAREMONT continues his landmark run on X-MEN FOREVER! Don’t miss a single panel! Plus, an extra feature detailing a timeline of what other Marvel Universe stories were occurring during the current X-Men Forever saga!
#15 - 40 PGS./Rated A …$3.99
#16 - 32 PGS./Rated A …$3.99
Okay I confess I'm not buying these, I just want to point out that in January there will be 16 issues out there and only one trade. That I own. That contains 5 issues. WHERE THE HELL IS VOLUME TWO?! I'm going to have to be buying these things in the end just to not get left behind. Also where's evil Storm's scar gone?
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL. 3 TPB
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled by JACK KIRBY
Covers by JACK KIRBY & DEAN WHITE
Prepare yourself for another dose of the World’s Greatest Comic Magazine, courtesy of the world’s greatest comic collaborative team! Lee and Kirby set the standard for out-of-this-world imaginative adventure and launched the Marvel Universe with the Fantastic Four. Now, with all the Marvel U.’s super hero players in place, it’s time for the FF to run the gauntlet. The Thing throws down with the Hulk in a battle so huge it takes the combined might of the FF and the Avengers to stop it; the Sub-Mariner makes a play for Sue Storm; the FF tangle with the X-Men; Nick Fury drops by in the story that set the table for “Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.”; and even Dr. Strange makes an ever so astral appearance! Oh, and there’s villains, too! The Mole Man makes his first return since FF #1; Dr. Doom threatens the FF once more, and if he’s not evil enough for you, just wait ’til you see the surprise identity of the Hate-Monger! Just for fun, you’ll also get the Mad Thinker and his Awesome Android, the Puppet Master, the Red Ghost, the outer space Infant Terrible, and the villain fans love to hate—Diablo! Collecting THE FANTASTIC FOUR #21-30.
248 PGS./All Ages …$24.99
I still need volume 1 of this but I'm loving the TPB releases of Marvel Masterworks (an ex bought me volume 2, which I cherish dearly for some great Kirby/Simek art). In fact due to the set-up for Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. I'm going to go back and buy the hardcovers for that series too. My wallet screams.
SECRET WARRIORS VOL. 2: GOD OF FEAR, GOD OF WAR PREMIERE HC
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Penciled by ALESSANDRO VITTI & ED MCGUINNESS
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
Baron Strucker and Norman Osborn team up to drive out the Marvel Universe's ultimate covert superteam. It's wall-to-wall insanity as the Dark Avengers and the Thunderbolts go after the Secret Warriors. It's time for Ares to get his son back! And in THE LIST, Osborn's got it in for Marvel's super spy, but what happens when he needs Nick Fury to uncover a breach in national security? Nothing good, nothing good at all. It's lies, interrogations, double-crosses and just a whole bunch of meanness. Collecting SECRET WARRIORS #7-10 and DARK REIGN: THE LIST - SECRET WARRIORS.
128 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-4306-2
Trim size: standard
No shit moment: Secret Warriors is awesome and worth buying the hardcovers. That'll do for a thought.
AGENTS OF ATLAS: TURF WARS PREMIERE HC
Written by JEFF PARKER
Penciled by GABRIEL HARDMAN, CARLO PAGULAYAN, DAN PANOSIAN & PAUL RIVOCHE
Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Disturbing visions plucked from the malignant mind of Norman Osborn lead the intrepid Agents to the darkest depths of the Atlantic Ocean, where Namora must have words with her infamous cousin — the Sub-Mariner! Then, The Agents of Atlas find themselves racing around the world to rescue their leader! Jimmy Woo and M-11 find themselves under the talons of the most terrible power in China...the deadly- and beautiful- JADE CLAW! Plus: the Atomic Age heroes meet the original gamma ray giant and learn the meaning of HULK SMASH!!! Collecting AGENTS OF ATLAS #6-11.
144 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-4276-8
Trim size: standard
Buy cancelled series it makes sense and keeps them going in a million different forms because Marvel is obsessed with Agents of Atlas now for some reason.
CABLE VOL. 3: STRANDED PREMIERE HC
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Penciled by PAUL GULACY & GABRIEL GUZMAN
Cover by DAVE WILKINS
We open literally one second after the shattering conclusion of "Messiah War," and Cable's mission to save mutantkind has never looked bleaker. In fact, you can't even call it a mission anymore... After all he’s been through, after all he’s survived…now all Cable can do now is pray—pray the heavily armed killers roaming the deep future can’t match his survival skills.
Then, with the Earth destroyed, Cable and Hope must venture into space. If Hope is going to make it into adulthood, she’s going to have to do it in the cold, lonely vacuum of space, alone except for dark forces that know she’s coming. Collecting CABLE #16-20.
120 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-4241-6
Trim size: standard
The one volume of Cable that is indisputably good. It's worth buying just for that. Seriously that's the best recommendation I'll ever give this series, so you better bloody buy it!
MARVEL FAIRY TALES GN-TPB
Written by C.B. CEBULSKI & DAVID SEXTON
Penciled by KYLE BAKER, JOÃO LEMOS, NUNO PLATI, TAKESHI MIYAZAWA & RICARDO TERCIO
Cover by WARREN KREMER
Re-imagining the greatest Marvel stories through folktales, myths and fables from across the globe! In Avengers, see Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and the rest of the Avengers as you've never seen them before with all-new interpretations of Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. In SPIDER-MAN, Mary Jane fills the shoes of another famous red-head in this retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with super hero sensibilities! Will Spider-Man be able to save her on her way to Aunt May's house? And in X-MEN, it’s a re-imagining of the tragic origin of Professor Xavier and Magneto! In the ancient African tale, “The Friendship of the Tortoise and the Eagle,” dangerous circumstances cause two pals to take violently different life paths… Collecting AVENGERS FAIRY TALES #1-4, SPIDER-MAN FAIRY TALES #1 and X-MEN FAIRY TALES #2.
144 PGS./Rated A …$14.99
Avenger Fairy Tales is great and it's been a bitch to even find out if it had a trade release, so this gem of a TPB fills me with all sorts of happy. Must buy material.
MARVEL DIVAS TPB
Written by ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SACASA
Penciled by TONCI ZONJIC
Cover by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
What happens when you take four of the Marvel Universe's most fabulous single girls and throw them together, adding liberal amounts of suds and drama? You get the sassiest, sexiest, soapiest series to come out of the House of Ideas since Millie the Model! Romance, action, ex-boyfriends, and a revelation that changes everything! Let your inner divas out with this one, you won't regret it! Collecting MARVEL DIVAS #1-4.
96 PGS./Parental Advisory …$14.99
I've been loving Marvel Divas like the horribly effeminate person I tend to be, so me buying this has always been a guarantee. Glad to see the solicit isn't horrible for once too.
Wow that's actually it. I'm done with this article. Welcome back to the world of updates. Expect one of these for DC soon too. Oh and maybe some proper articles too that are interesting and clever.
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Sunday, 11 October 2009
Flip The Page Review: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #3
Okay, so it's been an updateless week. In all fairness I've had no access to the internet this week and have been busy with some real life stuff too. On the other hand I've been endlessly twittering the last coupla days, further proving that I slack a heck of a lot. So I return, with another boring review. Hard to stand out with these eh?
Still here we are, reviewing a comic about a man who is also a Spider. Except he's not a man, he's a teenager. Ya know, 'cause it's Ultimate Comics Spider-Man.
I've been pretty receptive of Ultimate Comics so far, enjoying Ultimate Comics Avengers and Ultimate Comics Spider-Man to a sizable extent (though I'm very much of the party who doesn't see UCSM as anything more than a pointless renumbering of the original series) and being more than ready to pick up some snazzy hardcovers when the time comes. Which is amazing with Spidey because this is Brian Michael Bendis we're talking about.
The man has written some awful shit in his time. Avengers Disassembled (one of the worst comics I've ever read), New Avengers (save for the Sentry arc), Mighty Avengers (wait I own all of that it's not that bad), Secret War (mediocre), Secret Invasion (kinda bad but I own it and love the tie-ins), Halo: Uprising (GAAAAAAAAAAAAH), Dark Avengers (SUCKS ARSE mosta the time) and the crappy Spider-Woman motion comic that I really REALLY hate.
So why is it that he can do all of that and yet still sit down and churn out likable Ultimate Spider-Man comics? It makes no sense. Perhaps this review will shed some light on that. Or it'll just be another journey into moments and such.
Quick plot catch-up: Spidey blah blah blah, Mysterio blah blah blah, Post-Ultimatum blah blah, Everyone Loves Spider blah, Dude In Red Cloak BLAH BLAH BLAH, Johnny Storm blah blah.
That do it?
I've already said what I want to about Bendis so I'll move straight onto David Lafuente. I've been kinda whoring out my love for artists a bit too much lately so the impact of me saying that Lafuente is one of the best artists I've ever seen the work of is completely lost but SCREW YOU ALL I MEAN IT! This dude has done some brilliant work such as... uh... Okay he's pretty new but that's the point! Lafuente is so good off the bat for Marvel that what he has done is brilliant. Patsy Walker: Hellcat comes to mind, a comic that by all rights shouldn't have been all that good, which by some stroke of luck had him on it, making it infinitely awesome. Keep an eye on Lafuente, I predict big things.
Am I done sucking up? Can I get to the moments now?
1. Coupla Things
Okay so two things I wanna point out here. A) the whole zoomed in look of Mysterio being pixellated is something most artists wouldn't have thought of doing and B) if this is what Ultimate Youtube looks like (YouPanic?) then at least it knows how much spam it needs. Good stuff and moment worthy.
2. Future Womance
Honestly if Bendis lets me down on the sexual tension here I will be very, VERY disappointed. Stands out amongst the rest of the early plot stuff this issue due to impact and successful tension.
3. Speaking Of Tension...
Finally some more substance to where MJ and Peter stand now, and exciting stuff it is. To be honest MJ is likable in this universe but as usual she'll never compare to Gwen, so to have her be the bitter ex type person here who argues with him... Well, it pleases me.
4. SPIDERS!
- I am scared of spiders.
- This has huge spiders
- This is almost scary
- But it's just a comic book
- Which I can use to kill spiders
- ... Looks cool too.
5. A Thought Occurs
Get Lafuente on an ultimate version of Spectacular Spider-Man's "Changes" arc. Go. Get. Need.
Wait I'm barely talking about the moments now...
6. NY Loves Spidey
Ya know why I love Ultimate Comics Spider-Man? Because New York loves the hell out of Spidey now. He's a hero and they all know it. Which for some reason pisses off Mysterio. Still, awesome and a pretty scene to boot.
7. A Brand New Lodger
Seriously Ultimate Spidey keeps swinging with the changes. Now Johnny is a true resident of the Parker household. Which now makes it the best ensemble house this side of... I don't know... The 616 Baxter Building? The Infinite Avengers Mansion (is that even a house?)? COOL STUFF.
And that's the issue. Excuse my rambling, I'm getting back into this again and it isn't easy. A quality performance from the comic though, even despite the low amount of moments.
Rating:
BUY IT!
Next up: I promise I'll get around to That Is Why again soon. Until then I'll probably do a Vengeance of the Moon Knight review. 'Cause I can.
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