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Marvel

The Essential Marvel’s S.W.O.R.D. Comics Reading Order!

November 4, 2020 by Dave Leave a Comment

Marvel’s SWORD, the Sentient World Observation and Response Department, is the intelligence equivalent of SHIELD, dealing with the extraterrestrial threats of the Marvel Cosmic scene. Whereas SHIELD has been with the Marvel Universe since the Jack and Stan Silver Age, SWORD debuted in 2004’s Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. Since that time, SWORD, and most specifically the unit’s delightfully no-nonsense commander, Abigail Brand, have been an integrated, yet sporadic part of the Marvel Universe fabric, although most commonly tied to the pages of X-Men.

Despite the memorable debut, clear purpose, and compelling role in Marvel Cosmic, SWORD only has one solo five issue miniseries prior to the launch of Al Ewing and Valerio Schiti’s hotly anticipated entrance into the X-Men’s Dawn of X. There are good stories involving SWORD and Agent Brand – as a matter of fact I have a list of 10 essentials – but I’d also argue there’s a definite sense of untapped potential. 

[Read more…] about The Essential Marvel’s S.W.O.R.D. Comics Reading Order!

Filed Under: Featured, Marvel Characters Tagged With: Marvel, sword, X-Men

She-Hulk by Dan Slott Omnibus Review!

October 27, 2020 by Vishal Gullapalli 3 Comments

When I signed up to write about the She-Hulk by Dan Slott Omnibus, I was coming in with the context of it being a fairly popular run that I saw a lot of people hold up as the definitive She-Hulk run. What I got instead was a very uncomfortable depiction of a textually strong female character as essentially a stereotypical (in 2004) comic book fan’s ideal female protagonist. Right from the first page, Jen is depicted as a woman who is so insecure in her self image that she just has to sleep with different men almost every night to cope with it. And while, sure, Slott points out that this isn’t a healthy way to live, the entire thing just feels like the creative team is leering at her. Every single page of this book reminds the reader that it was created entirely by men. [Read more…] about She-Hulk by Dan Slott Omnibus Review!

Filed Under: Featured, Marvel Reviews Tagged With: Marvel, She-Hulk

Are Black Widow’s 1990’s Graphic Novels Worth It?

October 17, 2020 by Sara Century Leave a Comment

When asked about great Black Widow stories, it’s easy for even a lot of her longtime fans to find themselves at a loss. Yes, there have been many great stories featuring Black Widow, but they tend to appear in fragments, across the greater Marvel Universe. Though Marvel has made it more of a point in recent years to write exciting new sagas for our beloved spy, it doesn’t change the fact that there were entire decades during which Natasha was more or less regulated to her position as a supporting character.

Still, even in relatively minor roles, Natasha is the kind of protagonist that makes a big splash. Her time as an elusive double agent is as much fun to read as her days with the Avengers, and she has remained fascinating over time precisely because of her mystery rather than in spite of it. We’re a lot happier now that there are whole series dedicated to the Widow’s lore, but we can’t deny that even on her worst day, she was always a heck of a lot of fun to read. Marvel is releasing a collection of some of her 1990s OGN team-ups and there’s no time like the present to revisit them. [Read more…] about Are Black Widow’s 1990’s Graphic Novels Worth It?

Filed Under: Featured, Marvel Reviews Tagged With: Black Widow, Marvel

Krakin’ Krakoa #93: X-Men X Of Swords Pt. 1 – Creation Review!

September 23, 2020 by Dave 2 Comments

It begins! The 60+ page “Creation” kickoff to X-Men: X of Swords is here, marking the epic beginning to the 22 part X-Men event of 2020.  The launch book is fantastic, effectively a Lord of the Rings for the Krakoa era of X-Men, with plenty to dig into.

Today I’ll answer:

  • How does Creation kick off Ten of Swords, and what do we learn about the event?
  • What major or minor revelations are given, and what X-Men characters are most impacted?
  • What are the secrets of Otherworld and S.W.O.R.D.?
  • Theories and predictions for what’s to come!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

[Read more…] about Krakin’ Krakoa #93: X-Men X Of Swords Pt. 1 – Creation Review!

Filed Under: Best Comics Ever Podcast, Featured, Marvel Reviews Tagged With: krakin krakoa, Marvel, X-Men

X-Men Grand Design Omnibus Review: The Flaw In X-Men Cliffnotes

September 16, 2020 by Zoe Tunnell 3 Comments

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

Filed Under: Featured, Marvel Reviews Tagged With: grand design, Marvel, X-Men

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  • Extra Issues – Dykes to Watch Out For (1983)
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  • 2011 Variant Cover A: DC and Marvel cross over, Zack has a really compelling dream, and Dave runs the Eisners now
  • 2011 Pt. 2: Uncanny X-Force, X-23, & Wolverine (Pt. 1 is delayed)

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