As comic readers looked on the shelf this week, they noticed yet again another Wolverine title. When I saw that this book was coming out, I initially thought that it was a one-shot, since Marvel has the habit of putting out more than a few Wolverine related one-shots, but I was wrong.
Wolverine: The Best There Is, is yet another Wolverine on-going title to go along with his other main title (Wolverine Goes to Hell) and all the other team titles that he is part of. When I found this out, I was very disillusioned, the Wolverine one-shots are usually entertaining at least, but I firmly believe that Wolverine is an over-worked character who, although I am a fan of the character, I do not believe that he needs all of these books, especially, as more and more are made the quality drops.
The new Carnage mini series marks two monumental events. First, it is the return of a popular villain, who has not been seen in the Spider-Man universe in quite some time. Second, and probably the more important event is that it is the return of Clayton Crain, the first full length issue he has drawn since the end of the last X-Force series; a very welcomed return from long time fans.
The story begins following three story lines, that of Spider-Man, that of Iron Man/Tony Stark and that of a mysterious Six Armed Spider-Man esque figure that may seem familiar to some hardcore Spidy fans. As the story progresses, all three characters are brought together and the action ensues.
I was quite sad when Kyle and Yost’s X-Force came to an end, but when I heard Rick Remender and Jerome Opena were taking over the book and starting with a new team I became a little more okay with it ending. I really love these two as a team, and when Punisher went sour with the introduction of Frankencastle and I left the book, I really missed these two and the work they did. So to finally get a chance to experience them in action again was exciting.
For some time I have known that X23 was going to be getting her own series, not only because it was announced awhile ago, but also because her rising popularity over the last 4 years or so made it apparent that Marvel would soon try to start her with her own series.
I cannot say that I was hopeful for this comic. Instead of condemning this book from the start I decided that I would at least read it and give it a shot.
Mike Choi does it again! I guess my true bias shows up when an issue of X-Force comes out that is drawn by Choi and inked by Oback. But aside from their involvement with the book it was yet another great issue of X-Men Second Coming. The greatest part of this book was the first 6 pages or so that were text free and let the reader just soak in and feel just what was going on with the battles that have been waging for the past 2 months. It really illustrates how powerful Choi's art is. This issue was great because it is finally pushing us towards the end of the cross over since there are only 4 issues left. The action in the books was spectacular and the ending was even better. I'm not going to spoil any of the story line for anyone, but to see where the book takes what happened at the end will be pretty interesting, even though everyone knows that the worst outcome wont happen. I am kinda disappointed that next week is a by-week for the cross over, I have really enjoyed the week after week of progressing story line. Lets just hope that the cross over can keep up its momentum and finish strong.
8.5 out of 10 Least Favorite: Amazing Spider-Man Annual #37 The reason why this issue was so disappointing is not because it was a bad issue, it was because it did not live up to last year annual and that is what I was expecting. The whole issue kinda took place in the past. The stuff with Captain America was interesting and fun because I am a fan of Cap and Spidey but it just wasn't enough. I was hoping the issue would be less like a one-shot and more part of the current story arc with the Kravens. It was kinda nice to see that the second half of the annual wasn't a reprint from an older issue and to see that it was just a throw back to the 90's with an unused story, that actually wasnt half bad.
Over all the issue was not bad, it had pretty good writing and decent art and the stories were bad, but like I said I was just expecting something else entirely and when it didn't deliver it was disappointing. The good thing is that, although it didnt give me what I wanted, its better than giving me something I hated.
Sorry it has taken me so long to get around to writing this post, I've just been busy and didn't actually get to read all of my comics this week until Saturday anyways. But here it is!
This boom was in the running for best book of the week wayyy before I got a chance to read it. First off, this cover by Adi Granov is by far one of his best yet, there is no getting around it. Secondly, it is the return of Mike Choi and Sonja Oback on interior art; the last issue they did for X-Force was issue 20. When the book finally came out last week, as soon as I got a free second I read this issue, way before I actually read anything else, and let me tell you, I am very happy I did. The interior art on this book is beautiful! It really proves that Choi is the best artist in comics today.
Aside from the art, everyone knew that this book was very important for this huge cross over event. Marvel had been talking about how a character was going to be killed since before Second Coming started and everyone knew it was happening in this book.
Kyle and Yost did a great job with this issue, it kept my attention the whole time, the dialogue was beautiful and they way they executed the death was just spectacular. It was exciting and packed with action, but heart wrenching at the same time. I wont reveal who actually died, but seriously they went out with a BAMF.
Boom, two posts in one day. Jared, I've filled this month's quota.
So!...
Since Marvel would be nothing without silhouetted guessing games, we get a new one this week!
This fall, X-Force is back and (almost) all new! Penned by the oft-overlooked and under-appreciated Rick Remender, the team finds themselves up against the forces of Apocalypse. Yes, the crazy-lipped, Darwinian mutant is looking to capitalize on the events of Second Coming by ushering in his Age of Apocalypse (without the silly "big-haired son travels back in time and accidentally kills his dad *whoops!*" plotline)
So, I'm opening the floor for guesses. Judging from the picture, I'm betting Wolverine is on the team. Remender assures fans that all the new members of X-Force are A-list mutants, so it will be "interesting" to see who he has chosen.
That being said, the silhouette at the top is clearly Maggot.
If you aren't aware, Marvel has announced that someone is going to die in X-Men Second Coming Chapter Five (X-Force #26) and I was wondering if anyone had any preferences. A promo picture was released and with it the tagline "To save the world, one of these X-Men will die." Who do you want to see bite it?
My choice: Nightcrawler. While yes, it would be sad to see Kurt do one last BAMF six feet below the earth, I feel like it's his time. There are other competent teleporters: Magik and Pixie and their teleporting range are much longer than Kurt's, thus making him obsolete. We will have to wait and see who is right and Magik or Emma Frost die, I will be so angry with Marvel I might start reading Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers just so they think it was a 'success.'
I had a big week in comics this week, but after talking to everyone else, it seems like I was the only one really. But alas, I was able to select a favorite and least favorite for this week and now all of you can read (or not read) about them.
Favorite Comic: Choker #2 *Warning Possible Spoiler Alert*
First off, I want to say that this book is beautiful. Templesmith's art really never lets me down. Also, the physical quality of the book itself is great as well, using high quality art paper for each and every page.
Aside from the way the book looks, this issue topped my list this week was the story and how it is developing. The events of this issue are even more messed up than the last, introducing the threat of man eating human monsters that seem to be attacking civilians in Shotgun city. This is on top of the introduction of a vampire attack in the last issue, which the reader still knows nothing about because it was hardly mentioned in this issue. I think it will be interesting if that in every issue McCool and Templesmith introduce a new threat that Jackson has to deal with and then in the last issue(s) it all ties together and you learn how it is all connected to the (as of right now) main antagonist Cassidy.
Best New Ongoing Series: The Unwritten – The Unwritten is a title from Vertigo comics; a subsidiary of DC Comics written by Mike Carey and Peter Gross.Vertigo recently decided to change the cover price of many of their new series to 1.00 for the first issue in order to gain a larger reader base on many of their upcoming titles, and with Unwritten it paid off.The story follows Tommy Taylor who is both a real person, as well as a character in his Fathers acclaimed book series.As the story progresses it seems as though the two Tommy Taylors no longer seem to be separate people as events from the his Father’s stories begin to become reality.
Best Ongoing Series: Green Lantern – No surprise with this title winning the award!Green Lantern has been on the rise in the past year due to the return of Hal Jordan after the events of Green Lantern Rebirth as well as the DC’s Blackest Night event that has jump started Green Lantern to comic book super stardom.Don’t get me wrong though, its not just these events that have made Green Lantern the book it is today, that credit goes to Writer Geoff Johns and artist Doug Mahnke who make this book the best ongoing series of 2009 and at the rate its going, maybe even the best ongoing series of 2010.
Best Mini Series: Batman Cacophony – This mini series from writer and director Kevin Smith follows past events of one of DC Comic’s most popular heroes Batman.This three issue series features Batman’s arch nemesis the Joker as he wages a drug war with Maxie Zeus, but also features one of Smith’s own villains by the name of Onomatopoeia.As Batman struggles to figure out who Onomatopoeia is and what his motives are, while also having to regulate the actions of the sinister Joker.In my opinion, this series is a must read for any Batman fan and it does not fail to keep you on your toes throughout the entire story.Also, make sure to check out Batman: Widening Gyre a new mini series by Kevin Smith going on right now.
Best Maxi Series: Blackest Night – First and foremost, what separates a maxi series from a mini series is the issue amount, a maxi series has more than six and a mini has less than six.The winner of this category was of no surprise, Blackest night was the biggest event in the comic universes on 2009 and re-invigorated many of DC’s titles due to their association with the event.Blackest Night is the largest comic event to ever occur, with the most amount of tie-ins from other series.The story revolves around the fact that all of the people who have died over the years are coming back to life as powerful Black Lanterns and have sworn to get their revenge on the heroes of the DC universe who wronged them during the years they were alive.The many different lantern corps that exist in the universe will have to get over their differences and ban together against this new and powerful threat.As the series begins to wrap up after a year of existence, many fans are eager to see what is going to happen; and some are just happy that it is going to end!
Best Indy Series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 8) – Buffy the Vampire slayer is no stranger to modern day pop culture, after its seven season run from writer and creator Joss Whedon.Following the conclusion of Buffy’s TV series Whedon decided that he was going to continue the series by putting out the Buffy comic series entitling it Season 8: Time of Your Life.The series has had great fan reception since it began in 2007.In 2009 it is still is extremely popular and continues to amazes its overwhelming fandom.
Best Writer: Geoff Johns – No surprise here!Geoff Johns is considered to be one of the greatest writers in DC comics and he has done nothing but lived up to that mantle.Johns is currently writing Blackest Night and the Green Lantern, as well as a number of other DC titles and never fails to deliver to his fans.Comic fans know that if John’s name is on the cover than the book will not be a let down.In addition to comics, Johns is also a television writer, recently writing the made for TV movie Smallville: Absolute Justice.For anyone looking to get into comics, starting with a book written by Johns would be no mistake.
Best Interior Artist: Ivan Reis – Ivan Reis has gained major acclaim in the last year due to his work first on Green Lantern with Geoff Johns, but most notably his interior work on Blackest Night.He is an up and comic artist who because of Blackest Night will have a great chance of making a major name for himself in the comic years.
Best Cover Artist: Mike Choi – Mike Choi is one of the artist that when you see one of his covers you say “Whoa, what a great cover, who did it? “ and then when you see it is Choi you understand why it is such a great cover.Choi is best known for his astounding covers on Marvel’s X-Force series, but has also done covers for many other Marvel titles.Choi’s art just has this feeling to it that seems so realistic but still feels like you’re reading a comic book, its very hard to explain.Aside from the great covers Choi produces, he also provides interior art for X-Force and has also done art for Uncanny X-men.Choi is never one to let his fans down, and continues to wow the comic community with his great work.
Best New Talent: Patrick Gleason – Gleason is a comic artist who does not have many titles under his belt, but the titles he has worked on are spectacular.He has provided art for the 2006 mini series Green Lantern: Recharge and is currently the artist for one of DC’s most popular titles: Green Lantern Corps.Like Ivan Reis, Gleason’s art is getting major recognition due to his books involvement with the Blackest Night crossover event.Gleason is a very young artist and many look forward to his futures works.
Best Single Issue: The Unwritten #1 – When Unwritten his the shelves in May of 2009 people just had to look at the cover of the book and they were already hooked and then when they look and see that the book has only a $1 cover price how could they not give it a shot.The first issue of this series does nothing but deliver to the reader, with 40 pages of spectacular art and writing, as well as an introduction to an all-star cast. When you finished this book you were left with this feeling of excitement and fulfillment and began to eagerly awaiting the next issue.Unwritten is one of those series that when someone asks you to explain it to them you’re left saying that it is impossible to do it accurately and that they should just read it for themselves.
Most Underrated in Comics: Jonathan Hickman – Most comic fans hear the name Jonathan Hickman and ask who is that?This is exactly why he is so deserving of the award most underrated in comics.Hickman currently writes one of Marvel’s flagship comics Fantastic Four with artist Dale Eaglesham as well as one of Marvel’s newer series Secret Warriors.And trust me, if you were to pick up either of these titles you would not be disappointed.Hickman’s writing is like something else, it engulfs the reader in the story and Hickman never fails to leave the end of the book with a cliffhanger that will leave you longing for the next issue.Hickman will also begin to write another ongoing series for Marvel entitled Shield which will be released in the upcoming months, so make sure to check out one of his three series and you will not be disappointed.
Most Hated in Comics: Disney Buy-Out of Marvel – The most controversial issue in comics has now become one of the most hated events in comic history.In August of 2009 the unthinkable happened, a 4 billion dollar deal which turned Marvel Comics in to a subsidiary of Disney.People didn’t know what to think, whether Disney would destroy the company by using its power to change Marvel for the worst?Or would they just sit by and reap the profits from Comic’s biggest company.As of now, nothing has really changed or occurred, but the event left many comic fans with a bitter taste in their mouths.2010 will prove to be an interesting year based on what Disney decides to do with their newly acquired addition.
If youre interested in picking some of these winning titles or any comic books in general please stop byHeroes Your Mom Threw Out Comic Shop on W14th Street in Elmira Heights.
