Friday, November 18, 2011

Flash Review - 11/9/11



Battle Scars #1 – Not impressed.   A lot of action and nothing happened.  In a Post-Fear Itself world there are epilogues, fallout and spin-offs abound and with Fear Itself #7.1-7.3, The Fearless, ReGenesis, and everything else going on this issue just didn’t rate very high.  Marcus Johnson is the newest character with a big secret, so big that even he doesn’t know it.  YAWN!  I am sure the writers have something really special in store for him but after one issue it seems like we have the making of an African Punisher or a new Luke Cage (neither of which we need).

Buffy: Season 9 #3 – A little weak but that’s ok.  This series has definitely taken on a tone very like the television series and when it was on TV there was always the occasional slow episode so they are entitled to a slow issue.  They are really taking their time getting into anything too big in this series (which makes me think they have huge things on the horizon) but hopeful to say the least.  The whole male slayer thing was kinda cheap and stupid but they turned it around at the end and made him a BAD male slayer which hey I guess that works.  Next issue seems like it’s going to be cool as hell but this one was a little lacking in the action and story departments.

Fear Itself #7.2: Thor – Um…what?   This was just a regular heartfelt sweet goodbye issue to send Thor to the afterlife after his sacrifice against the Serpent.  At least that’s what I thought it was.  We got to see Jane Foster’s reaction, Sif in mourning, Lil’ Loki missing his brother, Odin step down and the Vanir women appear to take his place.  If they had left it at that it still would have been a great issue, but they took it one step further.  Who is Tanarus!?  And why does everyone already know him as God of Thunder and Avenger?  Nice set up for the upcoming stories in Thor’s book (which appears to be keeping its name).  Oh…and was the Thor’s body floating in the ether and then waking up at the end??  This should be good…

Ghost Rider #5 - What the hell are they doing??  This book is turning into a huge steaming pile of crap.  Where should I even start?  Her bike looks like a chicks bike, not a Ghost Rider’s for starters.  And where did she get all these powers from?? How does she even know she CAN spit locusts and control sandstorms and how does she know how to access them when Johnny couldn’t for all those years?  And just when did it become that Johnny’s Ghost Rider was Zarathos again? I thought that the Ghost Rider power was just inside him and Mephisto used Zarathos to bring it out, why does Alejandra need or have Zarathos?  Her flaming nunchuk weapon is a stupid step down from the flaming chain that Danny Ketch used and needs to go also.  And last but not least, her father is a baby wearing psycho…not nearly as creative as the writers think it is.  Johnny Blaze wasn’t even in the issue and I was bored to tears, not sure what else to say.

Marvel Point One #1 – WOW!  Lots of good stuff happening in here!  First of all, when did Nova come back??  Now, they never say the name Rich Rider so there is always a chance it’s his brother Robbie  but I am pretty sure we’re supposed to think its Rich.  More importantly, PHOENIX!!! OH MY GOD IT’S BACK AND IT’S BLUE!  If I start now I’ll just go on and on about the Phoenix but I will say that it’s about time there was a Phoenix story that involved more than just the X-men.  And who are the X-terminated?  Is Age of Apocalypse really getting its own series??  That’s exciting, not a lot of alternate timelines get the amount of play and coverage that AOA gets and none deserve it more (Days of Future Past is played out like crazy).  Having read the 90’s clone saga, I am a big Kaine fan, but I didn’t know he had returned (I didn’t read Spider-Island)!  I was also a really big Ben Reilly fan (especially as the Scarlet Spider) so seeing Kaine, all healed and not dying, taking up the mantle seems like a really great direction to take the character…as long as they don’t dye his hair blond.  I don’t know I think yet of Coldmoon and Dragonfire (aka Empty Circle) but I am definitely intrigued by these twins and can’t wait to see more of them.  And they are really pushing this new Defenders book lately but I am just not seeing the huge draw.  I know it was a big thing back in the late 70’s and early 80’s but no matter how many promos I see I just don’t have the drive to get into this new (old) team.  And lastly I don’t really know what’s going on in this little Ultron bit but it looks exciting! I can only imagine that it has something to do with the Ultron stuff going on over in the Avengers books lately.  Only time will tell…

New Avengers #18 – Let me say first that any issue where none of the title characters show up is already at a huge disadvantage in my eyes.  That being said, this new team of Dark Avengers blows the last one out of the water!  I am not even sure who half of these characters are and I am absolutely enthralled by this gathering.  My one complaint is that two of the Avengers they are impersonating (Ms. Marvel and Scarelt Witch) are some of the most powerful  members there are and they are being “played” by two people that (as far as I can tell) don’t have any powers of any kind.  I’d like to see how they simulate cosmic manipulation and chaos magic with technology.  I can’t wait to learn more about Gorgon and Barney Barton, but what the hell is Ai Apaec??  Seems like something that monstrous and creepy would have been heard more of before now.  Can’t wait to see what kind of trouble they cause Luke Cage’s crew.

Uncanny X-Force #17 – And the Dark Angel Saga keeps on going!  This has been such a crazy storyline that its almost hard to keep track of it!  Earth-616 and the Age of Apocalypse collide once again as the Amazing X-men come to X-Force’s rescue.  Since we’ve been seeing promos for X-Force with Nightcrawler in it, it’s no surprise that he (and some other familiar) faces showed up as the story approaches its conclusion.  For a Phoenix fanatic like me, it is always a huge treat to see Ms. Grey wielding the Phoenix Force even if it’s from an alternate reality.  This saga has maybe gone on for a little too long but it’s been amazing and I can’t wait to see how it ends.  I suspect that Warren is not going to make it through this one, but I am hoping that I am wrong.

X-men: Legacy #258 – It’s a fun story, but I could take it or leave it.  The best part of this is knowing that Havok Polaris and Rachel are coming back to the fold when it’s over, but other than that it’s just a bit…“whatever”.  The entire bug people vs. the Shi’ar seemed a little weak to begin with in my eyes.  It ended on a hilarious note though, with everything going on up in space it completely slipped everyone’s mind that Alex, Lorna and Rachel have NO idea about Fear Itself or Schism and “there are some briefing sessions need to be had”.

Not Your Average Joe - Review Magneto: Not a Hero #1


Can I just say that I LOVE Magneto lately? When he went all “good guy” I was a little skeptical to say the least.  Like “Didn’t we already do this once before?”  But no we haven’t!  He may be one of the X-men now and dutifully following Cyclops’ orders, but he really isn’t all THAT changed from his super villain days.  It’s not like last time he joined the team and he suddenly became this new and improved good person with feelings and a heart.  NOT EVEN CLOSE.  No he is still a hardcore mutant advocate and borderline human hater, but he is at least willing now to accept that his methods and goals were not working and Cyclops had accomplished (for the most part) what he tried for years to do.  He showed us his disdain for “ordinary humans” in no uncertain terms with the way he dealt with Iron Man in this issue.  “The Invincible Rubber Man” is a classic line from a character not really known for his sense of humor and “I’ve entertained you human long enough” tells us that he really has changes his mindset that much since Asteroid M fell and Genosha was leveled.  But that was far from the only stellar part of this issue.


Now don’t get me wrong, I love X-leader Emma Frost over Hellfire Club White Queen any day of the week, but I never get enough of these issues where we see glimpses of the old Emma.  Whether it’s Danger over in Astonishing X-men or Magneto in this issue, every mutant knows that if you need help with something shady and underhanded (not to mention keep it secret) AND you want the sanction of a high ranking X-man, you go to Ms. Frost for help.  But Magneto was right…the students don’t fear her, they respect her and her experience and her power.  These are all the makings of every hardass teacher (that you probably hated) that ever helped you when you needed it.  And even without her telepathy, there is no getting ANYTHING past her.  Whether it’s a student or its Scott or Magneto, she knows when she’s being buttered up and she’s not interested.   But she’s always up for a glass of wine and some playful banter (at the other person’s expense of course…


And then of course there’s the pay off at the end.  JOSEPH.  I’ll be real honest here…I did NOT see that coming in the slightest!  Forget his deformed “Brotherhood” cronies surrounding him, just the fact that he has returned after almost 15 years is astounding enough.  Now last time around, Magneto was still evil and Joseph, his poor clone, was trying his hardest to be an X-man and atone for, what he thought were, his crimes.  This time I’m not so sure though.  The real Magneto has somewhat mended his ways and now Joseph, by all appearances, is going around murdering people.  Also, and this could just be how it was drawn, Astra didn’t look deformed to me like the rest of the brotherhood was.  Is it possible that she’s also back and in cahoots with Joseph or is she a deformed version of herself like the rest and it just wasn’t as obvious?  There is definitely more to this story then meets the eye but the writers of this ReGenesis spin off have definitely caught my attention with this one.


I know in my reviews I usually have at least one section where I complain about the stuff I didn’t like but I have to say, I loved it all!  From the fighting with Iron Man and Captain America and Iron Man somewhat inappropriate (but hilarious) jokes with each other to Magneto’s Emma-guided tour through the magnetic mindscape this issue was fantastic through and through.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

My Weekly Pull List - 11/16/11



There weeks just keep getting smaller and smaller, as much as I loved Fear Itself, it is nice to have some spending money back each week!  Shattered Heroes and ReGenesis collide in Avengers Academy this week! Valkyrie continues her quest in Fearless while ReGenesis keeps on going in New Mutants, X-men (Vol. 3) and Generation Hope!  Also, a team member dies in X-Factor...who will it be?!

Avengers #19
Avengers Academy #22
Fear Itself #7.3 FI
Fear Itself: The Fearless #3
Generation Hope #13 RG
New Mutants #34 RG
X-Factor #227
X-Men #21 RG

FI = Fear Itself
RG = ReGenesis

Marvel Comics On-sale - 11/16/11






The final Fear Itself epilogue issues finally comes out this week (not a moment too and this doesn't include Fearless)!  A new Avengers line-up in Avengers this week while the Avengers Academy keeps getting cozy in their new digs!  Blink's back in New Mutants and will X-23 join the FF?


Amazing Spider-Man #674
Amazing Spider-Man #674 (MC 50th Anniversary Variant)
Avengers #19
Avengers Academy #22
Avengers Origins: Luke Cage #1
Captain America #4
Captain America #4 (MC 50th Anniversary Variant)
Deadpool #46
Deadpool Max 2 #2
Fear Itself #7.2: Thor (Iron Man Variant) FI
Fear Itself #7.3 FI
Fear Itself: The Fearless #3
Generation Hope #13 RG
Generation Hope #13 (Keown Variant) RG
I am Captain America #1
The Incredible Hulk #2
The Incredible Hulk #2 (Sketch Variant)
The Incredible Hulk #2 (MC 50th Anniversary Variant)
John Carter of Mars: A Princess of Mars #3
Legion of Monsters #2
Marvel Adventures Super Heroes #20
New Mutants #34 RG
The Punisher #5
The Punisher #5 (MC 50th Anniversary Variant)
Six Guns #2
The Stand: The Night Has Come #2
Thunderbolts #165
Ultimate Comics Spider-man #3 (2nd Printing Variant)
Ultimate Comics X-Men #3
Ultimate Comics X-Men #2 (2nd Printing Variant)
Venom #9
Venom #9 (MC 50th Anniversary Variant)
Wolverine, Ghost Rider and Punisher: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #4
Wolverine: The Best There Is #11
X-23 #17
X-Factor #227
X-Men #21 RG

FI = Fear Itself
RG = ReGenesis