Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

Review: A+X #18

Posted in Reviews, tagged , , on June 22, 2014| Leave a Comment »

A+X #18Issue 18 marks the end of the run for this title. It says it’s ‘the natural conclusion’ but I think they just realized it wasn’t that great and let it end with the close of Cap and Cyclops’ story.

Our final team up is the unlikely pairing of Shadowcat and Vision.  Again, we see what a wasted opportunity these comics where in that so much could have been done but wasn’t because they only had half an issue to work with. First there is the two of them ‘being attacked by people they love’ in the simulation. Then you have the idea of what it means to be sentient and human and feel regret and remorse. But it’s all ran through really quickly and then capped off with a random out of left field joke that kills the mood.

Then we get the conclusion of Cap and Cyclops which is also kinda lame.

Everyone walks away happy and dandy as if they weren’t mortal enemies or thinking one was a terrorist or something. All Cap and Cyclops do is get into a mediocre and cliche yelling/pissing match while everyone else just walks away.

I’m glad that Marvel took a note and just walked away from this title since they really weren’t given it the depth it could have had.

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Review: Deadpool #27

Posted in Reviews, tagged , , on June 22, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Deadpool #27I’m not a fan of when a female character is introduced simply to be the love interest of the male character, especially when she’s literally introduced in the issue she marries said male character, well unless you read the online-only comics.

That being said, this is Deadpool, the most loved and yet unloved character in Marvel’s 616. He’s an emotionally damaged man who has been through hell several times and barely holds it together with a grin and a joke. The man who feels like he’s alone in the world because, frankly, people keep him at a distance due to his erratic nature. The man who is treated unfairly by his peers, and they know it too. The man who suffers depression and uncontrollable bouts of self-loathing.

The man who deserves at least one happy day in his life.

So you know what, Deadpool, here you go, she seems like a hell of a woman and I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun while it lasts. Not saying you won’t make a great husband or her a great wife, but lets me honest, Marvel isn’t going to let you stay happy for long.

Cherish this moment my friend… you earned it.

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Review: Ms. Marvel #3

Posted in Reviews, tagged , , on June 22, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Ms Marvel #3Now I want you all to stop and take a look at the artwork in this title, drawn by Adrian Alphona. Seriously, from the cereal name “GM-O’s” with the tag “trust your gut, not the lawsuits” to the random parking meter with a hatchet stuck in it… it’s all gold.

And it’s made even better with the excellent story telling by G. Willow Wilson.

To be honest, the story of Kamala Khan is all one big trope, the kind of stuff we’ve seen in every teen superhero story where the kid gains powers, they’re horribly awkward with them, meaning they accidentally destroy school property, etc… etc… But through Kamala’s eyes, the story is fresh and new, and it’s because she’s a young teenage Muslim girl who is acting like a young teenage Muslim girl. She is not one walking cliche, but she’s not an anti-cliche.

She’s perfectly normal and reasonable. She’s charming and funny. She’s relatable and sympathetic.

And when she gets shot in the end you’re rather shocked and worried while knowing that you kinda saw it coming.

This is what I call perfect storytelling.

 

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Review: X-Men #13

Posted in Reviews, tagged , , on June 22, 2014| Leave a Comment »

X-Men #13Now that the Arkea thing is taken care of the team is trying to ask itself if it wants to be a team.  Why?

The X-Men have always had teams, some members on multiple teams, and it’s always been because either they all work well together, or out of necessity. I honestly can’t remember the last time they all sat around and debated forming a team. It either just happened or was declared without question. So why is Wood making these girls debate it? Either the team works or it doesn’t and they move on. I’m all for mixing it up, doing something different, but here it just falls flat.

Then you top that with the fact that the issue was cut short because they decided to run two stories at once? What?

Literally, there was all this boasting about this title being an all-female team and how awesome that is and progressive, etc… then they decide to cut several pages and give it to an all male team? Now, I like the characters they picked, I wouldn’t mind seeing a story with them… but maybe in Wolverine and the X-Men which is more geared towards having a group of young students and all that. Here, it’s literally a moment of ‘what are you trying to say?’ and it’s nothing good.

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Review: Uncanny X-Men #20

Posted in Reviews, tagged , , on June 21, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Uncanny X-Men #20You know, I don’t know a lot about comic!Maria Hill, but I”m pretty sure she wouldn’t have the hots for Cyclops.

And if Cyclop’s team is powerful enough to take out the staff of the hellicarrier like that, or at least get into their heads, then why don’t they just pwn SHIELD and be done with this?
And if Cyclop’s team can just walk up to the school, then what the hell, is this a war or not? I’m so confused…

I’m sure all the stupidity with Bond and his being kicked out is either a master plan by Cyclops (the least likely because this would show forward thinking) or a way to turn one of the new mutants into a villain (the most likely as the shear level of stupidity is about right for how much Bendis actually cares).

Everything about the X-Men niche of the comics is annoying right now… especially when it comes to Bendis and Remender…

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Review: All-New X-Factor #6

Posted in Reviews, tagged , , on May 28, 2014| 2 Comments »

All-New X-Factor #6I totally need to catch up on all that went down with New Mutants… cause damn Doug, what the hell happened?

It seems like David is building a team of very broken people. They all have had a pretty crappy time of it lately, really, they’ve had a crappy time of it for quite some time now, but this is of course no reason to assume they can’t do the job. I think once David is finished with his team… shit is gonna go down and we’ll have some very angsty character rebuilding… this is gonna be fun… depending on your definition of fun.

I’m kinda thrown by Serval’s sub-plot, I am sure it will be important, but it is kinda like a bad soap opera so… yeah…

As for Warlock and his Dad… truly the best WTF ever. Clever. I love it.

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Review: Nightcrawler #1

Posted in Reviews, tagged , , on May 26, 2014| 2 Comments »

Nightcrawler #1Who doesn’t like Nightcrawler? I mean, honestly? In both the real world and 616, he’s beloved by everyone.

It’s great to see him back, and written by one of Marvel’s best writers, Chris Claremont. Now, it would be understandable for Kurt to have a bit of a soul searching period seeing as he did die, come back, and it only cost him his soul. That’s where I thought this story was going and I couldn’t wait to see what Chris had cooked up.

Then halfway through the book we get one of the most awkward transitions I’ve seen in a long time.

I suppose it’s not too unrealistic for Amanda not to be phased with the previously thought dead Kurt appearing in her apartment, after all, this is the Marvel Universe and he is an X-Man, but hasn’t this woman ever seen an episode of Supernatural? But the whole thing is literally “Honey, I’m back from the dead” straight to “okay, let’s make out”. And in only half a page.

Then the rest of the issue is a random attack and stuff gets blown up and Amanda gets shoved to the side even though she’s a kick ass magic user.

You okay Chris?

p.s. bonus points to Samnee and Wilson for getting Rogue on the cover… I hope this whole Uncanny Avengers farce is over soon so Kurt can reunite with his sis…

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Review: All-New X-Men #25

Posted in Reviews, tagged , , on May 26, 2014| Leave a Comment »

All-New X-Men #25Man, the Watcher is a bit of a dick, isn’t he?

This issue is just a filler and excuse to slap on some ‘monumental’ ‘buy this issue’ ’cause reasons’ fodder to hike sales. It has nearly nothing to do with any of the actual plot other than to say that Hank is having misgivings for mucking up the time stream. File this under crap we already know.

Still, some of the art is pretty awesome, and the random ‘fan fiction esque’ stories thrown in there were pretty hilarious.

But otherwise this is just another waste of filler space as there are so many maybe’s and possibilities that we don’t even know if anything that is said even matters. It could literally all be the product of the Watcher being, well, a dick and messing with Hank.

Meh.

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Review: Black Widow #5

Posted in Reviews, tagged , , on May 25, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Black Widow #5This title is starting to spin its wheels.

Natasha is a spy, but she’s not really been acting much like one.She’s getting all her information from other people then later lamenting that she’s spending too much time trusting others and not doing things herself or going by her gut. Does any of this seem right to you?

This is Black Widow we’re talking about here, by now we should be knee deep in intrigue and film noir, not just random jumping from one fight to the next. It seems that Edmondson understands this as he has Natasha comment previously that she’s a spy, not Hawkeye or Iron Man or whatever… so why isn’t he making her a spy? He seems to be purposely making her do the worst spy job ever and letting her recognize that she is.

Is there a point to this? Will I suddenly be wow’d later when it all comes together? Cause at the moment this is less Maltese Falcon and more Knight & Day. Not a good thing…

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Review: Deadpool #26

Posted in Reviews, tagged , , on May 24, 2014| 1 Comment »

Deadpool #26Let’s go kill Hitler… again.

The trope of going back in time to kill Hitler is getting pretty worn, but in true Deadpool fashion, it gets flipped on its head in this issue. Instead of going back to kill Hitler, in this story Hitler gets the time machine and goes back to kill his nemesis, Nick Fury.  What follows is somewhere between campy and classy as we visit the 40s and see Deadpool try to keep Fury alive, even so much as calling on bff Cable to come save the day.

As filler issues go, it’s pretty random and fun, all things considered. I always enjoy a story that can turn convention on its head.

But I would have expected more lead up into the ‘wedding’ issue that is up next… perhaps I should have been reading The Gauntlet online… kinda a cheap shot to get more signed up the Marvel online comic book store… but that’s marketing for you…

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