In 2021 I set a goal to post reviews here for 1,000 comics, and finished the year at 1,008 reviews. It was a stretch - - not to read that many comics, because I actually read quite a bit more. The challenge is to find and take the time to write a fair review of what I read - - but I made it. I’m up for a new year, and a new challenge. My goal for 2022 is to read and document 1,200 comics. That’s an average of 100 books per month, easy enough to check and update. Wish me luck!
# GOAL FOR April 20, 2022 . . . 367 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 366 comics documented
I admire the art style of Patrick Gleason, of which this issue is not a very good example. Rushed, and sloppy? I guess. It doesn’t even look like Gleason art.
What about the story? At least that seems to be paced pretty well, although this “Beyond” storyline has been dragging on for a long time. I haven’t read every single episode but the few that I did were good.
While Peter Parker has been recuperating, Ben Reilly has been working for the Beyond Corporation as Spider-Man. However, behind the scenes they have been missing with his mind, erasing some implanted memories related to Peter Parker’s life lessons. Without them, Ben acts from a different moral bent, not always good.
It all comes to a head here as both Ben and Peter storm the Beyond corporate headquarters in search of answers and resolution. It sorta works out for all involved parties. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Issue #15 is a Ben Grimm solo tale, wherein he struggles to regain an Earthside identity and ends up joining S.H.I.E.L.D., which leads to his confrontation with Doctor Doom in INFAMOUS IRON MAN.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #19 (June 2017) The conclusion of the “Grounded” story arc (and the Bendis run) finds Thanos leading a group of intergalactic allies (The Badoon, Skrulls, Annihilus) planning to take down Earth (a big threat to all of them). Thanos makes an announcement from the invading space fleet, attempting to convince the public that an invasion is not occurring and it’s a friendly visit. (His dialogue here was not convincing and completely out of character for Thanos).
The Earth allies (with an assist from Angelina) defeat Thanos, subjugate him, resulting in the other invading forces deciding it’s best to leave. Rocket Racoon builds a new ship as the GOTG depart minus Kitty,Ben and Flash.
Plenty of action and good art with some witty dialogue. This just seemed a bit too light-hearted considering the seriousness of the invasion. This one just didn’t go over well with me. I could not engage. THREE STARS.
The main difference is I don’t feel for these characters the same way. It may be that NEW MASTERS tries for too much and has too many characters to allow readers inside enough to empathize. I am starting to worry for the underworld group that is led by a married couple and young impetuous daughter, so that’s a start. Another issue is that I’m struggling to remember their names (without cheating by looking it up). They are South African names and only reading this title every four weeks or so makes it difficult to recall them. If you’re curious about this book, pick up the issues and hold onto them until it concludes (or wait for the trade, of course).
The plot thickens this issue as the poor family’s home is assaulted. They are forcibly persuaded to attempt a theft during a highly political and polarized celebration. In a side plot, it’s hard to discern the true intentions of the new leader of Eko. A fascinating title that is equally frustrating and confusing. FOUR STARS.
revisiting 2018 and three titles, briefly . . . . .
Max Bemis continued after Lemire left, and seems to have maintained the multiple personalities themes. Here it’s Marc Spector, Steven Grant, and Jake Lockley. Seems the Lockley personality had an affair with Spector’s former lover and they have a daughter (Diatrice) she’s been secretly raising.
Until now. Another escaped mental patient with fire power called Sun King teamed up with Bushman and kidnapped the daughter. Marc enlists old assistant Jean-Paul (“Uncle Frenchie”)to watch over Diatrice. The issue ends on a cliff-hanger with Frenchie not looking so good.
THREE STARS.
Seldom-used character Rick Sheridan/Sleepwalker guards the Mindscape dimension.
In this spin-off limited series from INFINITY WARS Gamora collects the Infinity Stones and folds the universe in half. New heroes and villains emerge with Sleepwalker caught up in the middle. In this violent landscape, he is accompanied by Banner, who when enraged turns into a mini-Hulk who only gets smaller the more he gets angrier.
Lots of character encounters ensue, including appearances by Dynamus (a bulked-up Adam Warlock lookalike), The Headman (Leader-like), the Thunderbolts (Poltergeist,The Beetle,Bullsai) a creature inside The Headman’s brain (where micro-Hulk goes) looking like The Abomination,and Rick Fury, Agent of S.L.E.E.P. Ho hum.
TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#350 STAR WARS ANNUAL #4 by Cullen Bunn and artists Ario Anindito, Roland Boschi, Marc Laming (Marvel, July 2018)
This was a cool, compact little story that featured both Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker (although not together).
Smuggler Sana Starros retrieved the lightsaber of Darth Atrius (prized for the deadly rage channeled within it) for a high bidder, only to dupe him. There are actually two blades, and she sold the other to an Imperial Commander who presents it to Darth Vader as a gift to the emperor. However, both the high bidder and Darth know that there are two blades, Starros barely escapes. The Commander is not so lucky.
Luke finds the blade dropped by Starros. In a neat touch of irony, the story ends with both Luke and Darth discarding/destroying the light sabers - although for entirely different reasons.
FOUR STARS.
#351 - #362 AVENGERS / INVADERS #1 - #12 of 12 (Marvel/Dynamite, 2008) Covers and plot by Alex Ross. Script by Jim Krueger. Pencils by Steve Sadowski.
A full review of this limited series was posted to this blog for Wednesday, April 20, 2022. FOUR STARS.
#363 DC VS. VAMPIRES #1 of 12 by James Tynion & Matthew Rosenberg with art & colors by Otto Schmidt (DC, December 2021)
Think Marvel’s Secret Invasion but with a horror theme. That’s the premise introduced here, and its’ a good one. I especially like the switch from full color to black & white & bloody red for Richard Bennett’s (of I, Vampire fame) flashback scenes.
The Queen Mother has been killed, and the once tranquil vampires who have not disturbed humans for centuries make their move. Objective: elimination. One lone vampire, escaping from his peers, struggles to make it to the Justice League and warn them of the plot. I enjoyed this debut issue a lot more than I thought, and picked it up with the intention to wait for trades as long as I liked it.
The only thing that bothers me (well, there is a second that I’ll get to) is the planned twelve-issue run. That maybe more vampires versus super-heroes than I care for. Here’s that other reason: while I love good vampire horror comics I have a bit of an aversion to their mixing with super-heroes. I normally avoid those type of storylines. We’ll see what I do when final decision time arrives FOUR STARS.
Now that Naomi is past Season One, some of the mystery that made it interesting to me is gone. She knows she has superpowers inherited from her birth parents who died sending her to Earth (sound familiar?); is somewhat comfortable with her new abilities, and has become member of the Justice League.
She’s seeing a counselor as there is new tension within her foster family and she does’nt quite know how to interact with her suddenly aloof parents as everyone struggles with the new knowledge. Her dad is trying to train her how to use her powers properly and control them, and that’s not going well.
I never finished Season One, having stopped at Issue #3 when I lost interest (it was a bit too slow-moving for me). I also haven’t watched the CW network television series yet, but I’ll get to it. I really can’t find anything wrong here, a reason to advise you not to check this out. You should. It’s just not for me, although I think my 18-year old self would appreciate it much more. THREE STARS.
#365 AMERICAN VAMPIRE: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST #4 of 5 by Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy (DC/Vertigo, November 2011)
After reading DC VS VAMPIRES I had a craving for some straight-up vampiric horror.
Pulled this out of my bargain long box and it hit the spot, even though I jumped in nearly at the end of the story.
An scientific investigator of mythological artifacts in 1915 finds bacterial growth on a giant Egyptian statue and concludes that it is alive. However, the owners destroy the statue and this launches Dr. Erik Pavel into a career of seeking out and then protecting and preserving such artifacts - including those of vampiric origin. He runs into the unlikely duo of Book and McCogan who believe his findings may turn over a cure for vampirism, which they would prefer to be rid of. Not before a squad led by vampire Captain Clementine and his Nazi vampire stormtroopers interfere. Good stuff.
FOUR STARS.
The first wave of titles were The Atom (the world’s most powerful being), Metal Men (an elite group of soldiers), Green Lantern (uses an object to summon spirits of the dead), Flash (a young girl who’s a living flash of light), Sea Devils (mutated survivors of an atomic strike), Joker (an anarchist making fun of the system), Nightwing (a covert organization with suspect motives and fingers in everything), Secret Six (Atom, Flash & Joker are the core of a team), and Doom Patrol (a group from the future heralding the end of the world).
This Atom is the third generation, his grandfather gaining powers from exposure to nuclear radiation back during the government’s experiments on soldiers. He passed on his abilities to his son, more noble than he but killed by the Fatal Five. The third Atom is motivated by learning the truth and getting revenge for his father’s death. His powers include flying plus the ability to change his molecular density as well as the molecular composition of anyone/anything he touches. He eliminates Count Viper of the Fatal Five by grasping his face and then turning his flesh, tissue and muscle into tapioca pudding.
Too much info, too much cornball dialogue, too little real characterization to care. I love you, Dan Jurgens, but this is not your finest moment. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
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