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32nd Birthday Challenge Pt 2 – Avengers #32 (Hickman Era) & Marvel Futures

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Avengers #32 falls smack in the middle of perhaps the densest portion of the Jonathan Hickman written Avengers that ran from 2012 to 2015 before culminating in the best comic book event of all time, 2015’s Secret Wars. It’s a crucial juncture in the intersecting master plan of Hickman’s New Avengers / Avengers dueling stories, and the kickoff to “Time Runs Out,” when the blend between issues of New Avengers and Avengers wholly consumes the distinct differences in each series.

For more on why I’m reviewing my favorite 32nd issues of comic books, check out the intro review of Amazing Spider-Man #32! [Read more…] about 32nd Birthday Challenge Pt 2 – Avengers #32 (Hickman Era) & Marvel Futures

Previously On #106: 32nd Birthday Challenge – The Best 32nd Comics Issues Of All Time

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It’s my 32nd birthday this week, so I thought it would be a fun relaxing birthday game to write reviews of my favorite 32nd issues of all time. 

The rules here are the issue has to be exactly #32 (not the 32nd issue in a creator’s run or something), and that’s literally it! I’m also looking for particularly meaningful stories contained in this otherwise random number, especially if they stand out on their own terms, not just part of some great larger runs (although in all cases, they’re also that!). Some honorable mentions include Captain Marvel #32, Web of Spider-Man #32 (which is probably the best pick of the bunch, but I didn’t think of it, a reader on Facebook nominated!), and Gotham Knights #32.  [Read more…] about Previously On #106: 32nd Birthday Challenge – The Best 32nd Comics Issues Of All Time

Deathlok Reading Order!

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As far as evocative comic book names go, it’s hard to top having “death” in the mix. Deathstroke. Lady Deathstrike. Thanos’s ever-elusive intended, Death herself. And let’s not even think about expanding to characters with “dead” in their name. But then there’s Deathlok – a moniker that is more a title than a name. There have been many Deathloks throughout Marvel Comics history, each of them a man turned into a mindless killing machine (literally), forced to overcome his programming to take down those who exploit him, and fight for the greater good.

There are about a half dozen Deathloks worth tracking through the Marvel chronology, and that’s not counting the many nameless or throwaway Deathloks that pop up from time to time. If it sounds like a difficult task to keep them all sorted, just wait until I tell you that sometimes there’s more than one hanging about at a given time. Don’t give yourself a headache, though, because your friends here at Comic Book Herald are prepared to do all the hard work for you. Read on to find out where to start with Deathlok, and where things go from there. [Read more…] about Deathlok Reading Order!

Underrated Gems: The Mighty by Peter J. Tomasi and Keith Champagne

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I make no secret that I am a huge fan of Peter J. Tomasi’s work. Especially when partnered with Patrick Gleason, but his writing is among the best currently working. I first found his work during DC’s New 52 initiative when he, along with Gleason, worked on the Batman and Robin series, one of the absolute best things to come out of the New 52. Both he and Gleason moved on to an amazing Superman run during the Rebirth era, and currently Tomasi is writing an equally great run on Detective Comics. 

To get the best understanding of a writer, particularly one working for the big two, it’s perhaps best to look at their independent work. When working for Marvel or DC, creators have to keep to set rules and stay true to the character they are writing. With independent creations, however, writers and artists are free to exercise greater control over their ideas. The two independent creations that spring to mind when looking at Tomasi are the horror title House of Penance, and the superhero book The Mighty. Given Tomasi is now very much associated with Superman and Batman, looking at his indie superhero, Alpha One (co-written by Keith Champagne), is a deeply interesting experience. [Read more…] about Underrated Gems: The Mighty by Peter J. Tomasi and Keith Champagne

Krakin’ Krakoa #50: How House & Powers of X Break All The Rules

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For the 50th episode of Krakin’ Krakoa, I felt it was time to return to the source that inspired this X-Men deep dive project, and now that House of X and Powers of X are fully available to read on Marvel Unlimited, it’s the perfect time to explore what made the event so special, search for clues that take on new light in the wake of X-Men’s Dawn of X, and craft all-new theories I didn’t see the first time around.

Today I’ll answer:

  • + How the theme of “Breaking All The Rules” dominates House of X, specifying which rules are broken and what that means for future comics.
  • + How Moira X’s 10th life holds the secrets for mutant survival
  • + Predictions for the trick Jonathan Hickman has up his sleeve to blow this whole era up and take X-Men comics to the next level

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