As a byproduct of widespread super-personality wackiness currently making its way through the Avengers & X-Men: Axis storyline, Marvel has relaunched Iron Man with a whole new m.o. Oddly enough, it falls well into place with the billionaire industrialist’s old m.o. pre-life-changing chest wound. Decidedly off the wagon, Tony is making fresh starts all over the place: new armor, a new city, a new attitude and a new creative team. Although the perspective may be questionable, the actual changes themselves seem pretty good so far. [Read more…] about SUPERIOR IRON MAN #1: Tony Stark: Earth’s Mightiest D-Bag
“AVENGERS & X-MEN: AXIS #5: This Side Up”
As writer Rick Remender’s Marvel event story crosses the halfway mark, issue 5 yields a surprisingly uneven reading experience. Opening and closing on a couple of high-impact beats, it also mechanically carves a wheel-spinning valley right down the middle. [Read more…] about “AVENGERS & X-MEN: AXIS #5: This Side Up”
SHE-HULK #9 Review!: Marvel Presents Charles Soule’s ‘All-Law Comics’
Non-traditional superhero comics can be daunting. Not only for the creators but for the audience as well. While there are no set rules, the undertaking usually demands a completely different set of aesthetics than when dealing with more conventional tales of capes and cowls. Although often just as intense, the actual tone struck is typically worlds removed with action focusing more on character-driven drama rather than spectacle and bombast. For the writer, it means not being able to hide behind pictorially-intensive action scenes. For the reader, it normally means reading a lot of talking head word balloons. Despite boasting an ensemble including not only our resident jade giantess but former Captain America, Steve Rogers, Hellcat, and Daredevil as well, it’s into the latter category that the latest issue of She-Hulk squarely falls. However, it is also amid the rigorous chattiness that writer Charles Soule shines. [Read more…] about SHE-HULK #9 Review!: Marvel Presents Charles Soule’s ‘All-Law Comics’
AVENGERS & X-MEN: AXIS #3 Review! Good News For People Who Love Bad Guys
The opening act of Marvel’s latest event series, Avengers & X-Men: Axis, concludes this week. While to date the story has not been shy about pronouncing its “everything AND the kitchen sink” approach, it really ascends to a whole other level this issue. Functionally, it’s nothing short of a twenty-odd page affirmation to the classic Dr. Peter Venkman-ism espousing “cats and dogs living together… mass hysteria!”. The parallel to the Ghostbusters quote being that “Good News for Bad People” plays exceeding well as comedy delivered in the face of impending doom. Metaphoric feline/canine co-mingling and all. [Read more…] about AVENGERS & X-MEN: AXIS #3 Review! Good News For People Who Love Bad Guys
Thor #1 Review! Is It Worthy?
Early fall has always been a time for fresh starts. Schools are back in session and new television shows hit the air. All around, it seems like a good time to get in on the ground floor of just about anything. Likewise, Marvel has relaunched Thor this week with a new number one as part of the “Avengers Now!” branding initiative. However, autumn is also often fraught with ominous symbolism, what with the withering, harvesting and the “winter is coming” of it all. Fittingly, these glooming overtones are well represented within the latest inaugural chapter of writer Jason’s Aaron’s ongoing saga of everyone’s favorite Odinson. [Read more…] about Thor #1 Review! Is It Worthy?