After the dramatic, game-changing action of Avengers 40, it’s clear Jonathan Hickman’s two-book narrative is simultaneously going into wrap-up mode as it sets the table for Marvel’s bigger-than-big Secret Wars eventacular. As a transition piece, this week’s chapter isn’t as uneven as it is just outright all over the place. With very little advance information to guide reader experience, managing one’s expectations is the new name of the game and this issue really tests Marvel’s tight-to-the-vest stance. However, patience pays off (and then some!) as readers from decades past will have their minds blown in a pleasantly unexpected manner. [Read more…] about NEW AVENGERS #29 Review: “Beards and Bees!”
Reviews
BATMAN #38 Review: “The Gods Must Be Crazy (Quilt)”
My jaw dropped. I’m not guaranteeing that your jaw will drop when you read Batman #38, I’m just saying that mine did. I’ve read every issue of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman run, and this is easily one of the best. [Read more…] about BATMAN #38 Review: “The Gods Must Be Crazy (Quilt)”
FANTASTIC FOUR #642 Review: “The Beginning of the End! (already in progress)”
As comic publications go, few are as hotly contested as Fantastic Four in recent months. While much of the distress stems from perceived managerial edicts, writer James Robinson’s ongoing narrative certainly does not aid in smoothing anything over. Since taking the reins about a year ago, Robinson’s “break ‘em down to build ‘em back up again” approach to the Richards Family is met with consistent acclaim but his overall effort proves too little, too late. [Read more…] about FANTASTIC FOUR #642 Review: “The Beginning of the End! (already in progress)”
CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE MIGHTY AVENGERS #4 Review: “Operation: Hot Mess- The Aftermath!”
The latest issue of the recently re-branded Captain America and the Mighty Avengers is one part epilogue and two parts subplot set-up. It’s like one of those classic X-Men “down” issues, except with a severe lack of backyard softball. For a title re-launched during the “good is bad” shenanigans of Marvel’s fall event, Avengers & X-Men: Axis, this issue tackles the theme of public persona damage control in a pretty straightforward fashion. However, for all its addressing, punctuation is at a minimum as the pages just loll by as a largely uninspired twenty-page segue. [Read more…] about CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE MIGHTY AVENGERS #4 Review: “Operation: Hot Mess- The Aftermath!”
Messiah CompleX Overview
2005’s ‘House of M’ had transformed the X-Men’s world, decimating the mutant race. But by 2006, the Marvel writers started working towards a grand crossover that would move the X-books into a new phase – an arc that was finally unveiled in the 2007 event ‘Messiah CompleX’. [Read more…] about Messiah CompleX Overview