After a few installments of fairly straightforward exposition and gripping apocalyptic drama, the captain is once again flashing the overhead “spoiler alert” as Jonathan Hickman turns over one of his major cards this week. Entitled “Rabum Alal”, the latest New Avengers spotlights Doctor Strange uncovering the identity of one of the mystery power-players in the upcoming Secret Wars. The captain is also advising that exposing the Great Oz, err.. Destroyer will lead to thorough gobsmackery for all and medium-grade digging into the back issue bins for those inclined. [Read more…] about NEW AVENGERS #31 Review: “The Man Behind the Curtain”
Reviews
HOWARD THE DUCK #1 Review: “Episode Waugh!!”
The latest in a string of offbeat hits from Marvel, Howard The Duck relaunches this week by writer Chip Zdarsky, artist Joe Quinones and colorist Rico Renzi. As much as this is the ground floor of something new and exciting, there’s achievement in the undertaking simply on a profound “balls to dust this off” level. Cementing itself to the epicenter of the Marvel Universe whether anybody asked it to or not, the debut issue is genuinely laugh-out-loud funny and wildly accessible entertainment. [Read more…] about HOWARD THE DUCK #1 Review: “Episode Waugh!!”
GRAYSON #8 Review
From the onset of Dick Grayson’s foray into spyhood, I had my reservations about the whole “secret agent” thing. With Dick’s induction into Spyral, a new codename, and then finally, the use of guns – it all just seemed a bit, I don’t know, gimmicky. Sure, the guy’s been Robin, Nightwing, and even the freakin’ Batman; but could he really pull off being a clandestine agent? There’s absolutely no way that would work – right?
Wrong. So, so, wrong. [Read more…] about GRAYSON #8 Review
PRINCESS LEIA #1 Review: “Royal Solo”
Headlining the first mini-series of Marvel’s hotly re-invigorated Star Wars franchise is the original trilogy’s leading lady. Just as feisty as ever, Princess Leia is a story demanding to be told in spite of vague strokes in this opening chapter. Although not outright mindless, it’s surprising that seasoned writer Mark Waid offers such imbalance in the fluff-to-substance ratio. [Read more…] about PRINCESS LEIA #1 Review: “Royal Solo”
AVENGERS #42 Review: “Oh, Wait– Aliens Still Hate Us…”
This week’s Avengers recovers a lot of buoyancy lost over the last couple of installments. Packed to the gills with scene changes and cast galore, Jonathan Hickman goes into overdrive crunching Marvel’s multiverse toward the Summer 2015 Secret Wars. With his run on Earth’s Mightiest wrapping in April, the writer’s renewed urgency is ably accompanied by some of artist Stefano Caselli’s strongest work. It’s such a well-paced visual delight that you almost forget a coalition of intergalactic empires is heading to Earth to pre-emptively end it. [Read more…] about AVENGERS #42 Review: “Oh, Wait– Aliens Still Hate Us…”