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Well, another week has come and its about time for us to begin another edition of TPL. I have been blowing through these the last 2 months and I’ve actually been getting these done by late Sunday night. That’s all about to change. Graduate classes have begun again and for some crazy reason, I am taking 3 classes now instead of 2. So every Thursday and Tuesday night I will be at St. John’s, plugging away at the 12 classes left I need to graduate. This puts a severe in my review production since a) I am not available at all on Tuesday nights (class from 440-850) b) Thursdays are almost gone, too (440-640) and finally c) I am going to have a shit load of homework and silly projects to do that will not make me a better teacher. I need them to graduate so such is life. I will try over the course of the next 14 weeks to do these without delay. This week I am staring down 10 Marvel titles, 12 DCs and two from Image for a total of 24 comics. So it’s a light week. Without any further ado, on with the show.
Spoiler Alert
The Main Event
-Amazing Spider-Man #548- Spider-Man realizes that the gas is not affecting him, or others at the meeting, just those in a certain family. It was tailored to their DNA apparantally. Spidey goes to save the mobsters wife and kids from Mr. Negative and does! But Negative has a kid captive and Spidey must give him some of his blood. Negative tells him that if Spidey interferes with his plans again, a gas will be used that will kill him and his family. Spidey then finds the man who has his web-shooters and finds he is dead. He takes the web-shooter back but the cops find him and think he murdered the man! Spidey is hated by the police and is a wanted fugitive. This is nice. In other news, JJJ wakes up and asks about his paper, not knowing his wife sold all his shares to Dexter Bennett, who shows up to run the paper. We also learn that Mr. Negative is actually Mr. Li, a pal of May’s at the homeless shelter. This title is off to a great start. It tells a whole story in three issues, leaves plot lines running for the next writer, and it is the most interested I’ve been in Spider-Man for a while. 1/1
-Young Avengers Presents: Patriot #1- For those wanting more of the Young Avengers, here it is. This issue (the first of 6 in a series) focuses on Patriot, the grandson of the first Captain America. He craves action and is stunned when he sees Bucky leaving from his home. He and Hawkeye go out to investigate and find Bucky, now known as the Winter Soldier. Patriot and Bucky finally have a sit-down chat and discuss all things, including the recently deceased Steve Rogers. Very good issue. Fans of YA or Captain America would love this. 2/2
Marvel
-Iron Man: Director of SHIELD #25- Iron Man finally figures out that Mandarin is behind it all. He tells Samson about it and Samson turns off his inhibitor, and the two look more into the issue. Mandarin keeps pulling Maya’s strings and when Maya finds out the Mandarin is there to meet her. Iron Man busts through the skylight and the fight is on! This was a really good issue featuring a tight script and finally paying off what has come in the previous 24 issues. This extended issue has some Iron Man movie stuff, an Omnibus ad and a brief reprint of his origin. There’s also a preview to the new Favreau/Granov miniseries. Easily a 3/3.
-Marvel Zombies 2 #4- Black Panther is a little pised his dead son was used for Captain America’s brain. He gets over it and hatches a plan to take on Giant-Man and his band of Zombies. They have a big fight, Giant-Man squashes Black Panther and Wasp, and after Banner attacks one of the Acolytes, the forcefield around the humans is dropped and the Zombies are free to feast! In a big shock, Giant-Man picks up one of them to eat and finds that the hunger has gone away! I didn’t see that one coming! Who doesn’t love Marvel Zombies? 4/4
-Order, The #7- This issue really focuses on the negotiation between Namor and Henry (Anthem) and although I missed the last issue I got what was going on faily easily. Namor surrounded LA in a wall of water and Henry uses his intelligence to appease Namor and end the threat. There was little action but told a great story between Henry and Namor. Very well-written. 5/5
-Picture of Dorian Gray, The #2- Well, where to begin. Dorian wants to marry the actress but after seeing a bad performance with his friends, he dumps her. She later kills herself. Dorian feels upset about this and starts noticing the painting is reflecting his mood. Maybe he did sell his soul to stay young? This was easier to follow than last issue but I am still not digging it at all, sorry Oscar. 5/6
-She-Hulk #25- She-Hulk and Jazinda head to Ohio to look for the guy that blew up the bar last issue. Along the way an alien ship lands on their RV and it’s an alien who says he’s been accused of murder and is on the run. She-Hulk refuses to help but Jazinda does. The alien hunting him shows up and shows mercy to two campers. Unfortunately, the escaped alien actually was a killer, kills the campers and seemingly kills Jazinda. She-Hulk really hates the super-hero thing which is an interesting turn for her. There’s a backup story with an elephant superhero or something. There’s a short story with She-Hulk complaining to the writers about the direction she is going which was the only thing I really enjoyed this issue. The surprise ending can be seen from a mile away and it was way too predictable. I don’t know if the portrayal here of Jen Walters is accurate, either. Eh. 6/7
-Ultimate Iron Man II #2- Iron Man and War Machine are in a terrorist site and encounter a trap. Tony’s arm is blown off and they see the government avoid picking them up. Stark gives them hell for this. We also see Stane using some sort of power of manipulation to tell some guards to kill Anthony Stark, then finding out who really killed his father. The government now wants the suit of armor and Tony finds out from Stane who ordered the hit on his father. I liked reading this but in retrospect it was just okay. I am in the middle on this one, but let’s give it the point. 7/8
-Ultimates 3 #2- Spider-Man makes an appearances, gets shot with a needle by Hawkeye and left in the snow after a misunderstanding. Wasp is worrying about Hank when Quicksilver comes in saying Wanda is dead. While there, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (Blob, Mystique, Lorelei, Sabretooth and Madrox) attack. Tony is drunk but dons the armor. Quicksilver is visited by Magneto who tells him he has a choice, either the Ultimates or the Brotherhood. Things go from bad to worse when Wolverine shows up. Well, we are two issues in and this is still on time, what a miracle! Seriously, the team of Loeb/Madureira have crafted a story I find myself enjoying more than I thought. 8/9
-WWH Aftersmash: Damage Control #1- Damage Control tells Stark how much it will cost to repair Manhattan, 164 billion dollars. Damn. Stark at first is reluctant to give it to them but eventually relents. We follow the CEO hiring back some members, and using superhero volunteers (some unregistered) to help. The big surprise is the Thunderbolts showing up to demand the registration cards of all heroes before they can continue! Do I see fighting next issue? Great set-up. 9/10
DC
-Blue Beetle #23- Jaime tries to battle the Reach and actually uses the Bleed to be in three places at once. He almost does it but it just isn’t enough. The Reach capture him, rip out the scarab and blow up his family’s house! Uh-oh, not good for ol Jaime. Just another solid outing for the new improved Blue Beetle. 1/1
-Countdown Presents: Lord Havok & The Extremists #4- You know what, does anyone really care? People fight, there’s some religion involved that we’ve never seen before and the Countdown tag is there to move copoes for people who we will never hear from again. ½.
-Countdown to Final Crisis #14- This title kicked ass, Wonder Girl shows up to Belthera, reveals she’s actually Donna Troy, then takes her out becoming the new queen. Batman gives Jason a costume, becoming the Red Robin. Solomon tells Prime there is a perfect planet, but Monarch is destroying it. A PISSED Prime busts in on Monarch and this is a fantastic fight and a fantastic few weeks for Countdown, leading to a Prime/Monarch battle. 2/3
-Countdown to Mystery #5- The cover says that a hero and villain are in one man, but who is it? Is it Bruce Gordon with Eclipso in him? He loses control and Eclipso comes out and here Eclipso beats the crap out of Spectre. Also, Ice, Creeper and Plastic Man perform a heist. The Dr. Fate part of the title reminded me a lot of Watchmen, as we read the real comic and the More Pain Comics written by Inza. Fate sees an old picture of a WWII era Fate. This featured two interesting stories and easily gets a point. 3/4
-Crime Bible: Five Lessons of Blood #4: Murder- Renee heads to the Questions old hometown to speak with the mayor, who is worried about the amount of cops being killed. These are all good cops, those not on the take. Renee finds out who the murderer is and chases him into the hands of someone associated with the book. He kills the murderer and tells Renee where he can find him, before he kills those close to her. He knows her identity, we have a very good build to the next issue and as a self-contained story it was readable. Last issue was a misstep but this redeemed it. 4/5
-Gotham Underground #4- Some new villain appears, a man with a stitched together face. Bruce is still in his Patches disguise but it dying from a wound he got last issue. He tries to escape, does, then finds a wounded Great White Shark. There is a gang of supervillains attacking Scarface and his team. They run away and Scarecrow helps trap them in an ambush. Scarecrow is in cohoots with Tobias White who repays him back with a savage beating. One of the villains working for White takes his helmet off, makes a comment about weating Robin underwear and is in the crosshairs of the Vigilante. Now, here’s a problem. It’s not Robin since he’s with Oracle, so is it Nightwing or Jason Todd? Calafiore draws all the faces the same way so I have no idea who this is supposed to be. Back to Robin, Oracle and Wildcat (still don’t know why he’s there), look at Spoiler, who escapes and destroys the computers of Oracle. Nothing too great here but it kept the story moving. The art of Calafiore is fine, but it bothers me the males look mostly the same. I can’t not give it a point since it didn’t suck. 5/6
-The Legion of Super-Heroes #38- The Legion on Titan take on the enemies there with the help of Giselle, the woman he was last issue. The teams works together, takes a few hits but manages to win. They offer to help Giselle but she doesn’t want to be in the Legion. Lightning Lad is still dealing with being the leader of the Legion but finds it very stressful and it seems to be getting to him. Great art, great storytelling and a fun issue overall. 6/7
-Superman/Batman #45- Superman and Batman continue looking for the stray pieces of Kryptonite and use the help of Firestorm, Booster Gold and Firestar. Toyman (the young one) appears, makes fun of the size of Batman’s plane and then head underwater to get a 28-ton piece. They run into Aquaman (the new uninteresting one), who fights them then makes them realize that maybe the world doesn’t want them as a savior, and that they do what they want and expect thanks. The duo leaves with an important lesson. Nice art, nice script, though I don’t know why Starfire is here since she’s powerless and Booster is in the timestream. Continuity gaffs aside, it’s a strong issue 7/8
-Superman Confidential #11- This is the long awaited conclusion to the Cooke Kryptonite story. There was actually a being in the kryptonite, someone who observed what happened to Krypton. He tells (shows) Superman what happened and I assume that is how Superman found out about his homeworld. Superman leaves knowing his history, and knowing there is something that can hurt him. Nice ending to the Cooke story. 8/9
-Teen Titans #55- Supergirl leaves the team after Cassie tells her that she was just friends with her because she needed a Kryptonian in her life. Kid Devil feels unwanted by Ravager (who has her eye on Blue Beetle) and Miss Martian (who is talking to herself). Cassie and Tim have dinner together, then after a meeting they break up and Cassie leaves the team. Watching is a villain named Dreadbolt. Passable story, much better than the last arc. 9/10
-Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #5- Red Bee still has the Freedom Fighters captive, has sex with the Human Bomb to procreate, then fights an escaped Black Condor. She tells Bomb to kill him, and he must obey. Miss America dies in this issue, too. The original Ray finds out that others are in trouble and gets help Thomas Corbet, or Neon the Unknown. Nothing going on here. 9/11
-Wonder Woman #16- We see more of the history of Hippolyta and her guards hating her for having a child. The Nazi guards are intent on destroying the island but face opposition from Wonder Woman and her gorilla pals. They fight a bunch and Wonder Woman heads to her fallen mother, who was taken down with lasers by the Nazi troops. The synopsis may have been short but don’t let that fool you, Simone has made this title a winner. 10/12
Image
-Jack Staff Special #1- This was basically an introduction to Jack Staff and his supporting cast. The art and script by Grist was pretty good, as we meet all the characters, see Jack fight an immortal who finds out his mission of taking over the world is too late and overall it was pretty enjoyable. I don’t think I will be picking up the monthly series since I missed too much of it and I don’t think it is something I would actively follow. Still, I have no hate for this. 1/1.
-Mice Templar #3- This issue really focuses on the training of Karic by Pilot. Karic is left by Pilot and he starts encountering ghosts! This issue really expands on the mythology and you should really pick this up if you enjoyed things like Lord of the Rings. I can’t write enough to tell you what’s going on in this book. Excellent stuff. 2/2.
Awards
-Book of the Week- Amazing Spider-Man #548 gets the award this week, as the work of Slott and McNiven (both first time winners in the TPL, oddly enough) have done a great job with this reboot. The fans hated OMD but they are really missing out if they boycotted this. I am serious when I say I haven’t enjoyed Spidey like this since before the Clone Saga!
-Disappointment of the Week- Countdown Presents: Lord Havok and the Extremists #4 easily wins the title this week. I am just thankful there are only two issues left. It sucks, but I don’t want my collection to be incomplete! By the way, this is the fourth time writer Frank Tieri has won the DOTW. He’s not a bad writer, they just don’t give him anything to work with.
-Cover of the Week- Iron Man #25 wins in a week where most of the covers were just average. I just really liked the Iron Man that was painted here by Gerald Parel.
-The Bottom Line- Image had a solid week, going 2 for 2 with two nice additions to the TPL. DC had a very nice week as well, with 10 out of 12 titles being enjoyable. Unfortunately, the 2 that were bad were really bad and soured the week for DC. The winner is easily Marvel, who turned in a 9/10 week, with the only misstep being Dorian Gray, a title I don’t even collect. I am going to give it to my friend, the English teacher. Overall, an awesome week for all publishers involved, as we see an amazing 21/24, an impressive 88%! Very good.
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Questions? Comments? Shoot me an email.
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