For the last three years I have embarked on a Comics Odyssey, reading and writing reviews of comics towards an ambitious goal which I only attained on one of three attempts. This year, I still want to read more comics and write reviews, but I’m not setting a specific goal. I’ll just document them and number them. We’ll see how far I can go . . . . . . .
#313 THE PRINCIPLES OF NECROMANCY #2 written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly with art by Eamon Winkle (Magma Comix, May 2024)
This title is no fluke. Issue #2 lives up to the promise exhibited in the debut issue. The art is engaging. The story continues to add surprises, new layers that give more depth to the world-building on display here. Issue #1 read like this might be a barbarian comic, with the story centering on a woods-dwelling tribe in battle with the King’s armored soldiers and featured some imaginatively illustrated scenes of gore and body horror. The setting changes in Issue #2, with the only returning character the mysterious Doctor Jakob Eyes - whom I am now sure will be present in the remaining issues of this series and the main focus.
Both issues read like stand-alone stories, and readers who missed Issue #1 can begin with Issue #2 as the premise remains the same . . . . .
“Set in a fantasy universe bereft of magic . . . Doctor Jakob Eyes - is one of a small number of scientific physicians who have set their minds to the task of curing the ills of the world. But the young Dr. Eyes isn’t satisfied simply to cure the sick or be known as a wizard to curious peasants. No, he has set his sights on defeating the only malady doctors are expressly forbidden from curing: death itself.”
In Issue #2, Doctor Eyes reluctantly takes on an apprentice, a young woman whose letters to the doctors of City Hospital pleading to help her bedridden mother went unanswered. Until, Doctor Eyes showed up and removed a tumor from her mother’s brain. The scenes inside the Doctor’s experimental lab/workshop and the secrets in the basement are as disturbing as the battlefield hospital scenes last issue.
There’s a bit more to this warm yet sad tale this issue but I won’t spoil it for you. I’m also wondering if the young apprentice will play a prominent role in a future issue. I liked Issue #2 enough to read it three times and still found things to appreciate. FOUR STARS.
#314 HEARTPIERCER #1 of 4 by Rich Douek and Gavin Smith (Dark Horse, May 2024) Warrior woman Atala hunts the great beasts in order to gain favor with her master, Kurrn, in this dark fantasy debut. When she delivers the horn of a unicorn to him she has unwittingly finished off the last of the world’s guardians, paving the way for a dark wave to spread over the land - all led by Kurrn. Betrayed and left for dead, when she miraculously survives and wakes up the world is overrun by monsters. She makes an alliance with some villagers hanging on by a thread. What’s on her mind? . . . . revenge.
If you’ve read a lot of dark fantasy in novels and comics, this may not seem that original a concept. However, epic fantasy seems to repeat itself. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the genre as long as the story is well-told . . . and this is a good one. If you’re going to get attention for your fantasy title, you need some great visuals. This has them. The art is what prompted me to check this out. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#315 - #316 BLOODSHOT UNLEASHED: RELOADED #1 & #2 of 4 written by Deniz Camp (#1), Mauro Mantella (#2), and art by Al Barrionuevo (Alien Books / Valiant Entertainment, March/April 2024) I’ve been a fan of Valiant since their original introduction to the comics market some decades ago. It’s good to see that, after an absence of new material on comic shop shelves, they have returned and are beginning a “resurgence” (their words, not mine) in a new collaboration with Alien Books.
I’m still looking for the first Alien/Valiant title to keep me interested. Ninjak: Superkillers didn’t wow me. While the art is good here, and it’s gory and violent (as expected of a Bloodshot title) this doesn’t grab me either - - and I’m going to abandon it.
This is mostly mayhem and there’s not enough meat (plot) on the bones. Issue #1 is mostly a battle between Bloodshot and a cyborg who is on a mindless killing rampage. It’s not until Issue #2 that we learn the cyborg is one of several “spent shells” (discarded living weapons) who have escaped confinement and Bloodshot is hunting them down. There’s a little more plot/development in Issue #2 but it’s too late. (Also, what’s with the change in writers from Issue #1 to #2? - - that can’t be good.)
The biggest negative for me is the presence of Bloodsquirt (Bloodshot’s imaginary friend) who chastises him and reminds him to act like himself, even breaking the fourth wall to remind us to read comics (duh). I do not like imaginary little friends (like Batmite), never have. It’s a deal breaker for me.
Still, I’m a bit loyal and will probably give some more of the new Valiant books a chance before I hang up the towel. (It’s currently wet from my tears). TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#317 - #319 THE AVENGERS, VOLUME FOUR #8, #9, #11 by Brian MIchael Bendis and John Romita, Jr. (Marvel, February - May 2011) This version features Steve Rogers (not as Captain America, but head of S.H.I.E.L.D.) who handpicked the current Avengers: Wolverine, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Thor, Spider-Woman, The Protector and Hawkeye.
Many storylines back, six heroes (Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Charles Xavier, Namor, Reed Richards and Iron Man) worked together to become the Illuminati and hide away in six secret locations the various Infinity Gems in order to keep the world safe from their use ever again. The existence of the Illuminati was kept secret from everyone, including teammates and family members.
Now criminal Parker Robbins a.k.a. The Hood has learned of their existence and managed to steal two of the Gems. Red Hulk (General Thunderbolt Ross) gets his ass kicked by The Hood, but manages to crawl away and alert the Avengers. Steve Rogers flips out once the danger is revealed along with the secret of the Illuminati, and this causes friction among the Avengers - - especially between Steve and Tony Stark.
With that trust shattered, Rogers tells Stark he is out of the Avengers once the Gems are recovered. The Avengers break off into teams to search and recover the remaining Gems before The Hood can get his hands on any more.
This was a fun read with some good art from Romita Jr. Beyond the plot points what kept this interesting were
I found these and several individual Avengers issues in bargain bins, and decided to finally get to reading them. Even though I liked this story arc, I’m not going to try to find the missing issues or pick up the trade paperback collection. There’s just too much in my present collection to worry about finishing off old stories. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#320 ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT AVENGERS #4 by Mark Waid and Mahmud Asrar (Marvel, March 2016) Iron Man pulls together this version of the Avengers: Captain America (Sam Wilson), Thor (female version - I think it’s Valkyrie, although she’s not specifically
identified and doesn’t take the helmet off), Ms. Marvel (Kamela), The Vision, Spider-Man (in a black & red costume, and not identified as either Peter or Miles) and Nova. The Avengers have no funding, no tower, and no official recognition - - and set up shop inside an old Stark Industries warehouse.
Hurricanes pop out of nowhere along the Atlantic City boardwalk and elsewhere. The Avengers go into disaster-prevention mode and find out that Cyclone is behind this. The highlight this issue is the big kiss that Thor bestows upon Cap, and is featured on the cover. Tony gets suspicious as the issue ends - - that’s not how Thor’s supposed to act - - is this an imposter? Mark Waid is also good at snappy character dialogue, snide remarks, and jabs at each other. Entertaining despite the ho-hum nature. THREE STARS.
#321 - #324 THE AVENGERS VOLUME SIX #1, #2, #3.1, #7 by Mark Waid and Jeremy Whitley (#7) with art by Mike del Mundo (#1, #2), Barry Kitson (#3.1), and Phil Noto (#7) (Marvel, January - July 2017) The Avengers are Thor (Jane Foster), Wasp (Nadia Pym), Captain America (Sam Wilson), Vision, Spider-Man (Peter Parker) and Hercules. The first two issues feature Kang, my all-time favorite Marvel villain (although not crazy about his film portrayals).
The Vision travels in time and abducts the baby version of Kang, hoping that he would then never grow up to terrorize the Avengers in their timeline. But this action ends up creating a dozen-plus versions of Kang to fight the Avengers. Two of these Kangs then decide to go back in the time-stream and kill the Avengers as children.
Waid does an excellent job here, especially with snarky comments from Thor and Wasp, but mostly with this fresh take on time travel stories. My head was spinning trying to keep the threads together. The art by Mike del Mundo only added to the confusion. His absence of dark ink lines and too much orange-red-yellow-purple in his color choices makes my head hurt.
Issue #3.1 is a flashback to the 1960’s second version of the Avengers (just Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver - led by Captain America) for a previously untold story featuring the Mad Thinker as foe. Lots of fun, with great nostalgic art from Barry Kitson.
Issue #7 has some different art by Phil Noto, but muted and not as effective after Mike del Mundo stepped in to assist with color choices (arrgghh!) After the second super-hero civil war incapacitated Tony Stark, Victor Von Doom abandons his villainous ways and takes up the mantle of Iron Man (but, infamously). However, his past actions as Doctor Doom have made it difficult for the world and now the current Avengers to accept him as a hero, especially when he wants to enlist their help against the threat of Susan Storm’s Camp For Girls’ Leadership. Seriously, he turns out to be right. The best bits of this issue are the moments of doubt among the Avengers members. Will he or won’t he? THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS overall for this crop of issues.
#325 THE AVENGERS, VOLUME EIGHT #11 by Jason Aaron, Ed McGuinness & Cory Smith (Marvel, February 2019) I continue my reading of random back-issues. The yet-again re-formed Avengers are led by Black Panther, and include Iron Man, Thor (the original Odinson), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers), She-Hulk and Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes).
The Avengers are still no longer recognized by the United States, and new threats have surfaced in Namor’s Defenders of the Deep and Russia’s Winter Guard. The team now hangs their hats in Avengers Mountain.Thor has an awkward date with Jennifer Gray in the Savage Land, when what he really wanted was to go out with She-Hulk. T’Challa calls a meeting of the world’s greatest heroes to try and form an alliance, only to be disrupted by Ursa Major, the representative from the Winter Guard. S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson is back from the dead, and working hard to get The Squadron Supreme appointed as guardians of the United States. THREE STARS.
#326 THE AVENGERS, VOLUME EIGHT #25 by Jason Aaron and Stefano Carelli (Marvel, December 2019) “Challenge of the Ghost Riders, Part 4 of 4” Ghost Rider Robbie Reye’s demonic car has misbehaved and an exorcism fails, sending Robbie to the King of Hell - - Johnny Blaze , who challenges Robbie to a race. Meanwhile, the Cosmic Ghost Rider (Frank Castle) agrees to lead the Avengers to Hell so he can settle a personal score with King Blaze.
This was a lot of silly fun, very nonsensical but who cares? Credit Jason Aaron for coming up with some unusual and imaginative plots for the Avengers, his run culminating in that wacky but wonderful Avengers Forever final epic. THREE STARS.
#327 THE AVENGERS, VOLUME EIGHT #32 by Jason Aaron, Ed McGuinness & Francesco Manna (Marvel, May 2020) “Earth’s Mightiest Villains” This is an exceptional issue - - when it come to the art. Very expressive and evocative, with some big panels exhibiting great visuals perfect for posters.
So who’s been puling resurrected Phil Coulson’s strings? - - Mephisto, who’s taken a direct hand in all the major teams lining up against the Avengers, not just the threat of the Squadron Supreme. This issue spotlights all the various factions, giving page space to each one: Namor’s Defenders of the Deep; Dracula and vampiric minions now banded together in Ukraine’s Chernobyl Exclusion Zone; and Moscow’s Winter Guard. Blade gets an offer to assist the Avengers. This was just a big set-up issue, with lots of threats emerging from everywhere. THREE STARS.
#328 THE AVENGERS, VOLUME EIGHT #40 by Jason Aaron and Javier Garron (Marvel, February 2021) “Enter The Phoenix, Part One” This follows up from Issue #39 (which I read in 2021 but can still recall) that told the origin of the Phoenix force. It wasn’t just the power wielded by Jean Grey, but an actual giant space parasite made of fire. The Phoenix Force more recently used Moon Knight as its’ avatar, but that takeover plot was thwarted by the Avengers.
Now, the Phoenix Force is looking for a new host and has forced a globe-spanning tournament pitting heroes against enemies and allowing them enough of a taste of the fiery Phoenix Force to effect the outcome of the battle. First up, Captain America versus Doctor Doom. Flaming fun ensues. THREE STARS.
No comments:
Post a Comment