On paper, X-Men: Grand Design sounds like a great idea. Condensing 30 years of dense continuity into an easily consumed package from a creator who found mainstream success doing the same with hip-hop history sounds like a surefire winner. In practice, however, the experience of reading the omnibus release of Grand Design is closer to consuming a 14-year-old boy’s high school notebook doodles blended with a print out of the X-Men’s Wikipedia page rather than an enjoyable comic book. [Read more…] about X-Men Grand Design Omnibus Review: The Flaw In X-Men Cliffnotes
Marvel
Marvel Mini Books – The World’s Smallest Marvel Comics Review!
I love comic book ephemera from Marvel’s Silver Age, the early 60’s through early 70’s when Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee and the mighty Marvel bullpen were turning Marvel Comics into one of the biggest pop culture phenomena in the world. Sure, I love the comics first and foremost, but the historical treasures from the era – things like the Marvel Bullpen album Stan insisted they make – are a delightful trip down an out-of-state nostalgic highway.
So naturally when Abrams ComicArts publishing reached about sending me a copy of Marvel Mini Books to review, I didn’t hesitate to explore. Simply put, these minis (and their history) offer short and sweet spells of delight for longtime Marvel fans. [Read more…] about Marvel Mini Books – The World’s Smallest Marvel Comics Review!
The Best Marvel Comics of 2020 (So Far!)
Gauging a publisher’s success in 2020 is a fool’s errand, although Marvel Comics has held relatively steady throughout the tumultuous, pandemic impacted year. There are few (if any) new series launches that have taken comics by storm, but last year’s good books have either remained strong or improved.
The line is significantly bolstered by the post House of X / Powers of X X-Men lineup of comics, with a remarkably high batting average across a “Dawn of X” wave that’s grown over 10 series. Likewise, Immortal Hulk continues making its case for Marvel’s best comic, and properties from Guardians of the Galaxy to Deadpool received creative overhauls and shots of adrenaline. [Read more…] about The Best Marvel Comics of 2020 (So Far!)
Captain America: The First Avenger – Assembling a Timeless Hero
There’s a romantic idealism at the center of Captain America. A figure who’s both a relic of the past and a timeless source of inspiration across generations. And while longtime readers have loved Captain America for decades, one film bridged past and present to set the hero on the big screen adventure of a lifetime.
In 2011, Marvel Studios brought Steve Rogers to life in Captain America: The First Avenger
When Superheroes Go Bad (22 Times In Chronological Order!)
Superheroes turning bad is a staple of comic books. From sudden tragic twists to long falls from grace, heroes becoming villains is a storied tradition. It’s also a great way of grabbing readers’ attention and raking in the cash. But what are the long and short term effects of turning a well-loved hero evil? And what does it take to bring heroes, and legions of angry readers, back?
Let’s take a look at a long history of when superheroes go bad in comic books, character by character in chronological order.
For the sake of time, we’re not going to include villainous superhero replacements (sorry Azrael and John Walker) or when superheroes get mind controlled and turn evil for like 1 issue. We’ll also skip alternate universes or we’ll be here all day. And look, I’m gonna miss some. I can only cover so many. [Read more…] about When Superheroes Go Bad (22 Times In Chronological Order!)