Marvel Comics Thread

[slqrick]

With all the praise of diversity about the new Ms. Marvel yesterday I failed to notice that the writer is going to be G. Willow Wilson, whose Air I loved, but hasn't had an ongoing since. Finalllly.

I think it's really sad that it's such a big deal that they're giving a Muslim character some shine. I remember at the NYCC a couple of years back when Peter David said it was going to be revealed that Monet from X-Factor was a Muslim and there was a hushed tension throughout the crowd, to the point where he had to acknowledge it with a "yes she is Muslim, deal with it" type of remark. Anyway, I'm looking forward to this and will probably buy an issue for my younger sister. I do think that it's much easier to sell a teenage girl than a guy, but given the writer's pedigree I'm not really worried about potential exoticism.

[Sven]

I think it may be time to wrap up my relationship with Marvel. This last issue of Infinity was rough, rough stuff... expressionless busts issuing commands and backgrounds dropped like crazy. Indicative of the event overall--lots of coordination, plot plot plot, it's all gnawing on the bone. No meat. No fine details that resonate, or make the affair stand out. Started a'ight, Thunderbolts weirdness has been fun, but damned if I can't muster up any interest in Inhumanity and dealing with a "whole new status quo" that's exactly the same.

Legacy is ending in a few issues, and I'll probably stay on Uncanny Avengers, but that's it.

Valiant be needing my cash, yo.

[Sven]

Oh, and obviously I'm referring to weeklies. There's still quite a bit of Marvel stuff I'd like to read eventually.

[number8]

I'm dropping both Avengers after Infinity.

Dropping X-Men soon, probably.

Not enjoying the current Malekith arc on Thor, but I'll wait to see what Aaron's gonna do after obligatory movie tie-in arc.

Planning to pick up Ms Marvel though!

And Hawkeye till I die.

[ledfloyd]

Daredevil and Hawkeye forever.

[Sven]

Hawkeye goes in the box of most overrated comics of all time. It's funny sometimes, sure, and the design of the book is solid. But it's all smirky attitude over substance. The volume of its praise is slightly dumbfounding.

Post-Garney on Thor sounds like it could be cool, back to Ribic and all. Still not gonna get it:


THE LAST DAYS OF MIDGARD begin NOW!
Thor, Asgardian God of Thunder, has always fought to save his adopted home of Earth. But who can he fight when the planet itself is dying? Thor’s mortal ally and environmental secret agent Roz Solomon has a few ideas. Namely the world’s largest and most nefarious energy company Roxxon, and its ruthless new CEO known as “The Minotaur.” Has the God of Thunder finally met his match, in the form of a multinational super-corporation? Meanwhile, many millennia ahead, a future version of Thor faces a very different battle to save what remains of the earth--a battle against the greatest villain the Marvel Universe has ever known—Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds!

[Sven]

Well crums. Looks like I'll be getting on Ellis/Shalvey's Moon Knight.

[Sven]

I guess the ultimate theme of Infinity was that hope isn't fleeting in the face of Thanos after all. Yaaaawwwwn. A far cry from Starlin.

[sevenarts]

So Marvel's still doing pretty good. New Peter Milligan Doop comic coming!!! Holy shit that can only be awesome. The Slott/Allred Silver Surfer looks amazing based on the preview in today's "All-New Marvel Point One" teaser anthology, it reads pretty much like a Madman comic with more space-surfing. Black Widow #1 was good. All-New X-Factor #1 was good. Avengers World was boring, and the James Robinson Invaders preview was boring too. I'm excited for Ellis' Moon Knight, Spurrier's X-Force, anything Kot does, probably more. It's pretty impressive how strong and varied their overall lineup is shaping up to be as they keep shaking things up with these waves of new releases.

[number8]

Black Widow #1 was rather slight. I'm fine with Edmondson, but it reads like a low-stake Brubaker or Ales Kot book. I really like the idea of her finally getting own spy ongoing, though, so I added it to my pull list solely on that. Oh, and probably the most impressed I've been with Phil Noto's work, who's usually so stiff.

[sevenarts]

I didn't think it was amazing or anything, and your low-stakes comment definitely rings true, but it was still a fun read. And it was definitely the best Noto art I've ever seen, which elevated it quite a lot. Like you, I'm often kinda iffy on Noto, who can be good at times but rarely *this* good. The closeup of Natasha towards the end of the issue was a thing of beauty. Noto really drew out the emotion that was otherwise a bit too under-the-surface in Edmondson's script.

[number8]

It really just should have been an #0, because it set up absolutely nothing, offers nothing new about the character, and introduces no danger. Natasha is basically shown to be so good she just breezes by two standalone jobs without breaking a sweat, then comes home to nothing. What is the book going to be about?

Marvel seems to realize this, though, since #2 is coming out this month too. Maybe that's where the hook is going to be.

[sevenarts]

Seems like it's going to be about Natasha's feelings of guilt and emptiness, more than anything. I'm OK with it being a slow burn, I just hope that thread becomes more pronounced and substantial in subsequent issues - here it was mostly carried by the emotional quality of Noto's closeups on the lead, rather than anything inherent in the story (which isn't much of a story at all yet). The obvious model here is Hawkeye, doing these kinds of day-in-the-life stories about superheroes in their downtime and private moments. Now clearly this is nowhere even close to that level (and not just because Natasha's cat is no Pizza Dog) but I do like that Marvel is taking lessons from Hawkeye's success and is willing to do this kind of quiet, character-based book. I'm rooting for it, basically, and I'm excited to see where it goes from here even if the 1st issue on its own wasn't exactly earth-shaking. A relatively low-key Black Widow book that's primarily about the heroine feeling like shit about her past is actually kind of risky for a Big Two company, and I'd like to see it really develop that core idea into something special.

[Sven]

Anyone else still on X-Men:Legacy? I can't believe Marvel has been letting Spurrier do what he's been doing. Real plus on their part. This tremendous character drama about actualization couldn't exist outside of a popular shared superhero fantasy universe. It's such a singular experience, and I'm so happy it exists.

McNiven's best work to date has been the last few Uncanny Avengers issues. Beautiful read. NOW-wise, Remender > Hickman.

[Acapelli]

on a related note, this variant to spurrier's x-force #1 is amazing. looks like a cover to an 8-bit metal gear game

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_super/0/40/3571464-2+x-force_1_noto_variant.jpg

i've always like noto, but his art has gotten so much better

[Ezee E]

That's a cool cover for sure.

Wish I could get into comics. The stores by me are all pretty inconsistent at getting titles in overtime, and the entire Year One thing at DC sounds annoying, so I haven't even bothered with it lately.

[Grouchy]

That's a cool cover for sure.

Wish I could get into comics. The stores by me are all pretty inconsistent at getting titles in overtime, and the entire Year One thing at DC sounds annoying, so I haven't even bothered with it lately.
Solution? Buy classic comics you haven't read.

[slqrick]

Ms. Marvel was a pretty awesome first issue. Pretty funny to see some of the nerd rage over having a Muslim character, especially when a lot of that stuff is downplayed for the usual teenager antics. Strong art too, I hope the quality stays the same.

[Skitch]

Did anyone pick up Wolverine #1 or Punisher #1?

I felt Wolverine was odd. I'll give a few issues, but consider me on the fence.

Punisher was pretty good, I'm definitely getting #2.

[Sven]

I wanted to get the Punisher, but Edmonson's PunisherMAX issue was so inert that I passed.

[sevenarts]

I thought Punisher was boring other than the art, and a real letdown in comparison to Rucka's run, which I still mourn.

Ms Marvel was fantastic and fun.

[number8]

Yeah, Ms. Marvel's really funny. Maybe it's just the Alphona art, but it reads like BKV's narrative pace and characters but with much better dialogue.

[number8]

Al Ewing's Mighty Avengers > Every other Avengers book. Newcomer got y'all beat, Hickman, Remender, Spencer and Gillen.

[Sven]

It is third, after Uncanny and New. Sorry, but Greg Land...

[number8]

Goddamn dead weight is what he is.

[Acapelli]

It is third, after Uncanny and New. Sorry, but Greg Land...
well greg land didn't draw the latest issue

[Sven]

well greg land didn't draw the latest issue

...and Schiti is definitely not shitty. I'll probably read it in trade so I can zip through all the crossover silliness.

[slqrick]

Greg Rucka writing a young Cyclops series?!

[number8]

Yeah. He didn't really address the open letter he wrote about Marvel and DC in that CBR interview. Weird.

[Sven]

I'm a Spurrier fanboy, for sure. X-Force was going to be my opportunity to demonstrate restraint, but unfortunately it ended up being pretty damned entertaining. And the art is effective. I disagree with the naysayers.

[sevenarts]

Is the word on X-Force negative so far? I liked the first issue a lot.

Legacy ending ruled, too.

[Acapelli]

I'm a Spurrier fanboy, for sure. X-Force was going to be my opportunity to demonstrate restraint, but unfortunately it ended up being pretty damned entertaining. And the art is effective. I disagree with the naysayers.
i find the art absolutely hideous, but in a kind of appealing way

[Sven]

Legacy ending ruled, too.

"Ruled" barely scratches the surface. I've read the whole thing twice, and I still can't figure out how Spurrier successfully actualized a character out of existence (a nice rejoinder to the similar gesture made in Numbercruncher). That's some sorcery right there. Emotional, dazzling, hysterical, intricate, uncompromising. Contender for the best at being what comics can be, marred only insignificantly by Khoi Pham, whose work wasn't even that bad anyway.

[slqrick]

"Ruled" barely scratches the surface. I've read the whole thing twice, and I still can't figure out how Spurrier successfully actualized a character out of existence (a nice rejoinder to the similar gesture made in Numbercruncher). That's some sorcery right there. Emotional, dazzling, hysterical, intricate, uncompromising. Contender for the best at being what comics can be, marred only insignificantly by Khoi Pham, whose work wasn't even that bad anyway.

Just finished it. It's incredible...those last few pages really, really got to me. Didn't know much about Spurrier beforehand, but definitely a guy on my radar now.

Daredevil continues to be the most consistently great ongoing. I kept waiting for the quality to dip at some point these past few years,a dm it's only gotten better if anything. Looking forward to the "reboot" next month.

[number8]

I'm still not really interested, but holy crap, the art on the new Ghost Rider is sexy as hell.

http://comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/All-New_Ghost_Rider_Preview_1.jpgh ttp://comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/All_New_Ghost_Rider_Preview_2. jpghttp://comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/All-New_Ghost_Rider_Preview_3.jpg

[sevenarts]

Tradd Moore is amazing. I know nothing about the writer on that book and don't care about Ghost Rider much, but Moore doing Ghost Rider is such a no-brainer brilliant pairing that I'm sure I'll at least love looking at it.

I just wish Moore was paired with Ales Kot on something like this at Marvel; the Zero issue they did together is one of my favorite comics.

[Skitch]

I'm way too intrigued not to shell out for a least the first couple issues.

[number8]

Skottie Young is writing and drawing a Rocket Raccoon solo series.

Marvel ain't kidding around with fan service.

[slqrick]

Moon Knight kicks ass.

[number8]

Hawkeye 17. Yes.

[sevenarts]

Eh, it was not bad. I admire the ballsiness of it more than I actually love it.

Any Hawkeye fans should be reading Ales Kot's new Secret Avengers. The first issue ruled and had a distinct Fraction Hawkeye vibe to it. Kot's skyrocketing up my list of favorites lately, and this was a total blast, like a mix of Hawkeye, Nextwave, and Kot's own Zero.

[number8]

So... Silver Surfer #1. They weren't kidding about it being influenced by Doctor Who. Silver Surfer being told by an omniscient thing that this one Earth girl is the most important person to him in all of time and space, but he doesn't know who she is yet, and it's implied that their relationship is a time paradox because she'll become important to him in the future after traveling space with him.... It reads exactly like a Doctor Who premise.

[Sven]

Three-quarters done with Battle of the Atom (HC checked out from work). It's aggressively bad. I kind of can't believe the fumbling of the talent involved. Anyone look at those Bachalo issues? Easily rock bottom. And I've been trying to give Bendis a pass since being overwhelmed by Powers, but this is some seriously lazy writing.

But definitely love those Art Adams covers (his covers for Remender's Secret Avengers run are some of my all time favorites).

[Sven]

So glad I slogged through the morass of BotA, a truly, truly meaningless lump of doggerel, because the new Doop issue is some hardcore rockage. Milligan's disdain for the X-book modus of convolving everything beyond reasonable sense is a song I know all too well, and I love him for singing it. Awful comics redeemed by the inexplicable, green marginista.

[number8]

I'll say it. Fire Hickman from Avengers, replace him with Al Ewing.

[Acapelli]

I'll say it. Fire Hickman from Avengers, replace him with Al Ewing.
i've been kind of underwhelmed by his avengers for a while, but the latest new avengers was great. not that mighty avengers has been all that impressive either

forget the avengers though, what about that moon knight

[Sven]

what about that moon knight

I like Shalvey's visual evocations, but kinda was hoping for more character work (last pages of the first issue have been the height so far). Latest was a great bit of setpiece, like the best Global Frequency issues, but the all-flash approach is a little distracting. Coulda been Batman. Coulda been The Punisher. I like Ellis with more of an intent.

[sevenarts]

Hickman's New Avengers has consistently been a lot better than Avengers. I wasn't crazy about that last Avengers arc (part of it could've been the Larocca art) but NA seems to be getting back to the slowly creeping dread and gloom that characterized it in the earliest issues, before Infinity intervened. I love NA.

Of the newer series, my favorite is probably She-Hulk. It's just delightful, a really fun book with some sharp character work and beautiful art from Javier Pulido. Moon Knight is good, I like the art and like Ellis in propulsive mainstream action mode, like a solo/urban version of his Secret Avengers approach. Speaking of, Kot's new Secret Avengers reads like a mix of Ellis' Nextwave, Fraction's Hawkeye, and Kot's own style, and it's a ton of fun. Kot's Iron Patriot seemed kind of forgettable though. I'm really enjoying Ms. Marvel, Silver Surfer, and Iron Fist.

[slqrick]

Lol all new Doop!!

[number8]

http://www.avclub.com/article/doop-21st-centurys-most-important-superhero-comics-203174

[Sven]

http://www.avclub.com/article/doop-21st-centurys-most-important-superhero-comics-203174

Nice. While I think it's overstatement that the X marks Doop as a Warholian revolution, it's always nice to be reminded of the radicalness of his presence anyway. Something that can only ever exist in a superhero comicbook.

[slqrick]

Uncanny X-Men is pretty good minus Bachalo...right?

[Sven]

Uncanny X-Men is pretty good minus Bachalo...right?

Dunno what this means. Are you suggesting that Bachalo somehow brings down the quality of the book?

[number8]

Been catching up with Charles Soule's Thunderbolts. It's great fun. It's really a shame the series started with Daniel Way and turned off a lot of people like me.

[slqrick]

I've been enjoying Hickman's New Avengers a great deal, while being meh on Avengers and liking Avengers World for the cast, but recent issues of all three series are finally starting to tie in well in a way Hickman's cross title narratives usually do, even if they meander at times. The recent issues of Avengers/New Avengers issues focusing on a Justice League style Avengers counterpart has been particularly fun.

My problem with his books are that the "Big Bad" is always some robot (Builders, Mapmakers, adaptiods, black priests) that makes everything feel kind of impersonal.

[Acapelli]

I've been enjoying Hickman's New Avengers a great deal, while being meh on Avengers and liking Avengers World for the cast, but recent issues of all three series are finally starting to tie in well in a way Hickman's cross title narratives usually do, even if they meander at times. The recent issues of Avengers/New Avengers issues focusing on a Justice League style Avengers counterpart has been particularly fun.

My problem with his books are that the "Big Bad" is always some robot (Builders, Mapmakers, adaptiods, black priests) that makes everything feel kind of impersonal.
pretty sure the black priests aren't robots. and they look real rad

the scientist supreme (and aim in general) seems like he's gonna be a much bigger factor too

[number8]

I'm loving Silver Surfer.

[number8]

Took me a few issues, but I'm starting to really gel with the languid vibe on Black Widow. It felt decompressed and repetitive for the first 3-4 issues, but now it's clicking and it just feels moody and right. It has the pace and look of those cool-guy, sort-of-existential 80s European thriller comics, which I suppose is "duh" for the character.

Very nicely handled Hawkeye cameo.

[Sven]

This new arc of Avengers where they're shunting through time is madness and I love it. Yu's griminess is working (as opposed to the Infinity stuff, which was leaving me bummed... maybe he has more time this time).

[slqrick]

The Cylclops series is pretty good, and having only very recently read the old Starjammers stuff, I'm enjoying the shit out of the Corsair/Scott stuff.

Also Remender's really killing it with Uncanny Avengers.

[Sven]

Also Remender's really killing it with Uncanny Avengers.

I think so too, but this last issue is steering the conflict toward pat resolution. I'm hoping Remender's being stretched thin is not compromising his wits.

[Sven]

The Hick's ChronoCap has bested the Rick's AveX-Mengers for Earth-616 apocalyptica. It's all dark and surreal and uncompromising. I'm increasingly disinterested in this Axis business...

And Spurrier's X-Force is out-Ellis-ing Ellis. Heady sci-fi stuff blent with balls-out action, jouissant character building, and syntaxtual experimentation. Didn't think I'd like it, but love is more like it. Terrifically funny and sour, and Kim's crosshatching knocks my socks off (total Huat vibe--always good to see a writer pair so well with a style). This last issue killed me, and the next two are tangles with Wisdom and crew. I feel like a good child at Christmas.

[sevenarts]

I'm loving X-Force too. Kim's art doesn't seem to be popular when I've seen it discussed elsewhere, but despite his kinda stiff figure-work, I really dig the aesthetic. Very unusual, and the way he makes everyone look a bit like posed action figures actually fits really well with what Spurrier is up to here, the whole parody of military-industrial fetishism and modern terrorism paranoia. This most recent issue was stellar, with so many moments that had me laughing with delight, from the pages with Cable and the bad guy finishing each other's sentences to the Meme/Fantomex scene to Marrow and the Doc bonding over coffee to the brilliant final reveal.

[sevenarts]

Also, Sven, are you still liking Doop? I enjoyed the 1st issue well enough but am finding that with each issue I'm turning on it more and more. The third issue was mostly downright terrible, I thought. The whole marrying Kitty plot is baffling, the decision to make Doop speak English is turning out to be a really bad one, the X-Statix cameos were surprisingly underwhelming, the thing with the mother is just stupid, and the continued reliance on the structure of Battle of the Atom seems totally unnecessary and results in lots of plot regurgitation without much added value. Milligan created Doop and used to have such a good handle on him but the whole tone of this series seems forced and unfunny, like Milligan's trying way too hard to recapture the magic of his best moments with this character in the past. It's a really big disappointment. Doop's periodic appearances in Jason Aaron's WATXM were much truer to the spirit of the character, and much more fun and funny and genuinely surreal than this slapstick stupidity.

[Acapelli]

i'm really enjoying x-force as well, but marrow's a bit much for me. pretty much reminds me of else bloodstone on steroids

[Sven]

Doop is thrilling me less and less too. Haven't turned on it quite so hard, and I think Doop's dialogue retains Milligan's original character, even in English. I actually dig that aspect (and the mom stuff, yes). Have you ever read the translations? Milligan's Doop is a surprisingly straightforward character, played without much irony, which reads in this new series's banality. What irks me is how disconnected the whole narrative is, and the overreliance/disposal of BotA is exhausting... almost too surreal. Reducing its bent to simple slapstick ignores how thoroughly unhinged it is, but I'll admit it's not really in an attractive way.

I'm going all the way with it, though. I'm thoroughly committed to Mr. Milligan, thick and thin. Also, Lafuente continually impresses, so there's at least that. I like him more than Allred.

[Sven]

Hm. Ales Kot and Marco Rudy on a cosmic Winter Soldier title. From Kot, on what it'll be about:


Besides the ones I already named—fluid identity and fluid gender. Many worlds theory, maybe. Feminism. Taoism. Pacifism. Nature and the systems we impose on it. Life in space. Empathy. Power unrestrained and power controlled. The Randian belief in the vampire self/20th century capitalism, what it brings, what can come after. Did I mention empathy? I know I did. I’ll mention it again.

I must say, this kind of answer is exactly what I don't like about Kot's work. This is not to say that he can't do whatever he wants, and having ambitions to make great things is always good. But can the man not say "it's about a super agent preventing cataclysms in space"? This whole thing of selling your story with an ostentatious philosophy angle is the definition of pretension.

But I may read some for Rudy.

[Sven]

This last issue killed me, and the next two are tangles with Wisdom and crew. I feel like a good child at Christmas.

I was naughty and peaked at the solicits for issues 10 & 11 -- Spurrier's reviving Forget-Me-Not. Awesome.

[megladon8]

Thor is now female. (http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/07/15/marvel-comics-announces-new-female-thor)

While I appreciate that she IS Thor (rather than it being a secondary "She-Thor" or "Thor Girl" character), I do so wish that we could have some new, singular female characters.

Actually, new characters in general would be nice.

[number8]

People always say that (and not just about female characters, but also black/gay/whatever), but Marvel has created a shitload of new heroes, many of them female, in the past decade.

Off the top of my head: Maria Hill, Quake, X-23, Elsa Bloodstone, Nico Minoru, Molly Hayes, Miss America, Layla Miller, Abigail Brand were all created 2001 onward.

And those are just the ones that are pretty big fan-favorites, who are still around and kicking in current books. Marvel even put them into books with X-Men and Avengers in the name and in their big crossover events to promote those characters. But they're not gonna be "the big thing" because who the hell can compete with decades of name recognition like Spiderman, Thor, etc?

I'm happy that Kamala Khan has turned out to be such a breakout character this year, because she's fun to read, but let's be honest: she wouldn't be if they hadn't made her take up the name Ms. Marvel. Same goes with Kate Bishop's popularity as Hawkeye.

So whenever I see fans say things like, "Why make Ultimate Spiderman black instead of just creating a new black hero?" it always sounds so disingenuous because it's not like they don't. But people prefer the same old shit. So they try to sell new shit in familiar old shit packaging. I can't really blame them at all.

[megladon8]

Yes, what I find most frustrating is that the fans are pretty much solely to blame here.

Admittedly I haven't been following comics too intently for some time now - not since the first year of Marvel Now and the New 52, which both quickly lost me with terrible choices and too many crossovers. So many of the characters you mentioned above don't ring a bell for me.

I really liked the Miles Morales Spider-Man stuff.

[Sven]

What irks me is how disconnected the whole narrative is, and the overreliance/disposal of BotA is exhausting... almost too surreal. Reducing its bent to simple slapstick ignores how thoroughly unhinged it is, but I'll admit it's not really in an attractive way.

...aaaaaaand just like that, I'm right back on board. I loved this last issue. The genesis and domestic angles are a riot, and I'm so happy the book's BotA referencing slipped solidly into bonkers territory.

I wonder how this book is going to read collected to those that didn't engage with the crossover. Mind explosion.

[sevenarts]

Oof I thought this issue was the worst yet. Anchoring Doop to a deranged take on the usual "dark" comic book origin story (broken home, mommy issues, whatever) just isn't working at all, and the humor and surreal qualities feel so forced at every step. Milligan's best work has always been effortlessly wacky and imaginative but here I feel like I can see the sweat on the pages from him trying too hard. It was probably the first issue where the BOTA tie-ins didn't feel like they were dwarfing any new material, but this was still just dire, and I say that as a huge fan of Milligan and of X-Statix/Doop in particular.

[Sven]

Weirdly, Stokoe's Avengers issue is not half as odd or imaginative as what's going on with the Avengers right now. It was good, obv, but mostly just reminded me of the current incursion/Ragnarok/time-shunting strangenesses.

[number8]

This is fucking hilarious. The captions are the best part.

http://abload.de/img/origsins2014005-int4-vssi7.jpg

[slqrick]

Hickman's Avengers story is hitting critical mass...new Avengers was cray, what a twist.

[Sven]

Hickman's Avengers story is hitting critical mass...new Avengers was cray, what a twist.

/head spinning

[sevenarts]

Hickman bringing Iron Lad, of all people, into this just had me so happy.

[Sven]

Wow, Al Ewing's Hyperion issue was just brilliant. A textbook example of a one-and-done character showcase. Funny and sad, hopeful and realistic.

[number8]

506188277875896320

I thought this was cute.

[Sven]

In my apartment is a fan, and for some reason, any time I go to plug it in, I think "Simon Spurrier". I cannot explain.

[number8]

Ryan North is writing a Squirrel Girl book! This Art Adams cover is boss:

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2014/10/04/Art-Adams.jpg

[slqrick]

Hm, another Marvel Secret Wars penned by Hickman. I guess he's not done with Avengers stuff and world breaking just yet.

[Sven]

Hm, another Marvel Secret Wars penned by Hickman. I guess he's not done with Avengers stuff and world breaking just yet.
I hate this. Deflates the climax of his Avengers, which until now has seemed like it was building to something crucial.

Sigh. And the fact that it's Ribic just means I'm going to have to buy all of it.

...and I was so excited to bail, too, after Axis in all its suckiness gave me reason to excise Marvel's Remender column from my budget...

[slqrick]

It's a shame the event will probably be a mess but the Spider-Gwen and Gerard Way Spiderverse issues are two of the more enjoyable Spidey stories I've read lately, much better than Slott's crap.

[number8]

Is Slott's Spidey currently just going to a different beloved universe every issue and making it miserable? Seems so needlessly cruel. Even Hickman and Morrison don't get down like that.

[Ezee E]

Saw a cover of Old Logan coming out in the summer that looks rad.

[Sven]

Started a slow re-read of Hickman's Avengers (maybe an issue or two every few days). Forgot that he introduces the life/death dichotomy so early on with Cap/Tony. In fact, a lot of things suggested in those first three issues we see layered and complicated even in this last arc. And Opena's art is still amazing. Gonna reread NewUniversal as well, just to fill out the details.

[Dukefrukem]

I dont think this belongs here?

Just finished The Death of Wolverine. Love the art in this- but I was a tiny bit underwhelmed by the cause of death. I would have taken it a different way. I would have perfered an actual fight that caused his death, not by accidental exposure to liquid Adamantium.

Anyone else have thoughts?

[number8]

Sooooo. Pretty fucking huge announcement today (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=58625). I don't know what to make of it yet. I had an inkling that Hickman's story would lead to something bigger than Infinity, but this is somewhat surprising. I hope they paid close attention to what worked and didn't work with New52.

[Dukefrukem]

So it's a reboot?

[Irish]

"So we're gonna combine everything into a gigantic, MARVELous pizza called Battleworld. Battleworld is called Secret Wars. Number one. Also, some of your toppings will be on the pizza and some of your toppings will be on the floor."

[Sven]

Inevitable. I think anyone reading Avengers and paying attention to solicits already intuited this. I can't imagine it's going to make much sense.

[number8]

I wrote this as a joke except it's probably true. (http://www.artboiled.com/2015/the-real-reason-the-marvel-universe-is-ending/)

[number8]

Interview with Hickman about Secret Wars, which he pretty much confirms is his swan song to working with Marvel for the near future, and that it will be a way for him to tie together all his Marvel work on Secret Warriors, SHIELD, Fantastic Four, Ultimates, and Avengers.

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/01/29/jonathan-hickman-secret-wars-its-end-horror-story

[Acapelli]

hope his shield finale finally comes out then

[slqrick]

Ultimate Reed, best Reed?

[number8]

Wow, what? One of the Secret Wars tie-ins is a 5-issue mini series about Marvel's WWI air fighter Phantom Eagle fighting dinosaurs (presumably in the Savage Land). It's by Garth Ennis and Russ Braun.

http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/vulture/2015/02/06/06-moster-dwell.nocrop.w450.h683.2x.jpg

[Sven]

Wow, Dalibor Talajic, an otherwise fine illustrator, filled in on the new New Avengers issue and it's unbearable. I'm actually shocked.

[number8]

Hah. The reveal in New Avengers today. Should have expected that from Hickman. Funny that I was just re-reading his FF run over the weekend.

ALL HOPE LIES IN DOOM

[Sven]

Si Spurrier is doing an Elsa Bloodstone-led Marvel Zombies SW-tie in w/Kev Walker. I may be picking up more of those ancillaries than I anticipated...

[number8]

Hah. The reveal in New Avengers today. Should have expected that from Hickman. Funny that I was just re-reading his FF run over the weekend.

ALL HOPE LIES IN DOOM


So yesterday Doom is revealed as the real identity of both Rabum Alal in the regular Marvel universe and the leader of Hydra in the Ultimate universe. That had to be planned, right?

[number8]

Some of these Secret Wars tie-ins sound amazing.

I'm laughing at the concept alone for Jason Aaron's THORS.

[number8]

I'm buying the shit out of this.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/imgsrv/imglib/0/0/1/Hank-Johnson-Agent-of-Hydra-Conner-Cover-03b0e.jpg

[Sven]

Concluding Avengers issues are remarkably dour. I mean, the whole thing has been for a while, but still, pretty heavy stuff.

Also, in related news, I wrote a blog post for the Seattle Public Library about Avengers comics (kinda). https://shelftalkblog.wordpress.com

[number8]

Silver Surfer #11 must be a pain in the ass to read digital.

[ledfloyd]

Is there any specific way to read Avengers and New Avengers together? I want to catch up for Secret Wars, and all issues are $1 on Comixology right now.

[Dukefrukem]

Is there any specific way to read Avengers and New Avengers together? I want to catch up for Secret Wars, and all issues are $1 on Comixology right now.

For New Avengers, I saw the volumes on Comixology, Vol 1 is $10.99 Vol 2 is 6.99, but I'm not seeing the $1 issues you're referring to.

[ledfloyd]

https://www.comixology.com/New-Avengers-2013-2015/comics-series/9381?ref=Y29taWMvdmlldy9kZXNrd G9wL2JyZWFkY3J1bWJz

The first 24 issues are all $0.99.

[number8]

If you're gonna buy digital, it's really a lot cheaper to just subscribe to Marvel Unlimited.

[number8]

This page from Secret Wars #1 is absolutely hilarious.

http://i.imgur.com/UHXtZ9w.jpg

[Dukefrukem]

https://www.comixology.com/New-Avengers-2013-2015/comics-series/9381?ref=Y29taWMvdmlldy9kZXNrd G9wL2JyZWFkY3J1bWJz

The first 24 issues are all $0.99.

Those come up as $1.99 on my kindle.

[Dukefrukem]

If you're gonna buy digital, it's really a lot cheaper to just subscribe to Marvel Unlimited.

Can't get it on my kindle or I would.

Also, you can only save 12 issues on your device. What kind of shit is that?

[Sven]

Is there any specific way to read Avengers and New Avengers together? I want to catch up for Secret Wars, and all issues are $1 on Comixology right now.

•Avengers #1-3
•New Avengers #1-3
•Avengers #4
•New Avengers #4
•Avengers #5
•New Avengers #5-6
•Avengers #6-13
•New Avengers #7
•Avengers #14-17
•New Avengers #8
•Infinity #1
•Avengers #18
•New Avengers #9
•Infinity #2
•Avengers #19
•New Avengers #10
•Infinity #3
•Avengers #20
•Infinity #4
•Avengers #21
•New Avengers #11
•Infinity #5
•Avengers #22-23
•Infinity #6
•New Avengers #12
•Avengers #24
•New Avengers #13-15
•Avengers #25-28
•New Avengers #16-17
•Avengers #29-34
•New Avengers #18-23
•Avengers #35
•New Avengers #24
•Avengers #36
•New Avengers #25
•Avengers #37
•New Avengers #26
•Avengers #38
•New Avengers #27
•Avengers #39
•New Avengers #28
•Avengers #40
•New Avengers #29
•Avengers #41
•New Avengers #30
•Avengers #42
•New Avengers #31
•Avengers #43
•New Avengers #32
•Avengers #44
•New Avengers #33

[Sven]

That was a copy-paste job from a message board I found. Looks about right.

[number8]

Can't get it on my kindle or I would.

Also, you can only save 12 issues on your device. What kind of shit is that?

What are you talking about? I use it on my Fire.

[number8]

Oh, right. I forgot I sideloaded the Android version.

[Dukefrukem]

Oh, right. I forgot I sideloaded the Android version.

Does the subscription act like PS+? Where if I cancel my sub I lose access to all the issues I downloaded?

[number8]

It works like Netflix. So yes. You're essentially streaming comics. The download is just so you can read without an internet connection, hence 12 is enough for most users. It's more than enough for me, since I read maybe 2 or 3 issues on my commute between work and home.

[Dukefrukem]

Gotcha. I kinda like going back and reading them though. But you're right, $1.99 per comic adds up quickly.

I've been tearing through them lately both digital and TB. I dropped $100 on Captain America Lives Hardcover (OOP) which I'm starting next.

I just read through Winter Solider, Red Menace and Death of Cap.

I also read through Thor Ragnarok because it was mentioned in the Road to the Civil War. So now I understand how Doom escaped Hell, how Thor died and all the precursors to Civil War. So good. I'm lovin' it Jerry. LOVIN' IT!

[ledfloyd]

Thanks, Sven!

Also, I just did the one month free trial of Marvel Unlimited. I'm out of school and only working 16 hours a week for the next month. Time to go nuts.

[Sven]

Jeez. Despite generally liking where the Avengers has been going for the last few months aside from all the uneven plotting and art shuffling, and despite being generally displeased with Hickman's last event Infinity, I'm all the more pleased to report that Secret Wars was kinda the bomb. Ribic nails it, and the cast is mercifully manageable, mostly. I wish Hickman would write Ultimate Reed forever.

[slqrick]

Secret wars was fucking awesome. Tremendous writing on Hickman's part to tie everything together, and yeah that art was just spectacular.

Just signed up for the month of Unlimited. Realized I haven't read a lot of classic 80's arcs other than Miller's DD stuff, and recently read Claremont's X-men stuff. I just put all of Roger Stern's Amazing Spider-Man in my library, what else should I look into?

[ledfloyd]

I'm just starting New Avengers, and something about Hickman writing Reed Richards just works.

[number8]

I'm just starting New Avengers, and something about Hickman writing Reed Richards just works.

As epic and memorable as his Avengers work is, I think his Fantastic Four run is what will always be remembered as his masterpiece at Marvel. Or should be, at least. It was just perfect from start to finish.

[ledfloyd]

It's really one of the best comics I've read. Easily in the top 5 marvel runs.

[sevenarts]

I feel like Hickman's Fantastic Four is top 5 superhero runs ever, not even just at Marvel. His Avengers/New Avengers has been a lot of fun but FF is definitely his masterwork thus far, even including his also-great creator-owned work.

[ledfloyd]

Curious what your top 5 would be.

I'm through Infinity. It's not bad, but it's not exceptional either.

[sevenarts]

I think Hickman's New Avengers at least was mostly exceptional, I love that dark brooding tone he maintains throughout. Would've been better if Epting stuck around for the whole run though. Infinity was a fun cosmic epic, and I appreciate it more for being a big event crossover that actually seemed to arise organically from a writer's concerns, fitting as a piece of a larger puzzle. The whole ride was quite good overall.

Gonna post more about best superhero runs in the general thread so I don't take this one off-course.

[number8]

The biggest problem with Infinity was that because they had to keep Secret Wars a secret for so long, as the first crossover between the two Hickman titles, the build-up made it seem like it was going to be the culmination of both stories, but it ends up being little more than table-setting for the new Inhumans status quo, with the two Avengers plotlines being left open and continuing on. So it came across anticlimactic.

There are pros and cons to running such a long game. I can't believe New Avengers stayed on the exact same plot for three years.

[Dukefrukem]

So I started Avengers/New Avengers.

In Issue #2 of New Avengers, there's a page that shows the Infinity Stones being owned by certain members of the Illumanti. How/when did that happen??? This is what annoys me about comics. There's too many crossovers!

[sevenarts]

So I started Avengers/New Avengers.

In Issue #2 of New Avengers, there's a page that shows the Infinity Stones being owned by certain members of the Illumanti. How/when did that happen??? This is what annoys me about comics. There's too many crossovers!

That happened during Bendis' Avengers run, they collected the gems and distributed them among the Illuminati members to keep anyone else from forming a new gauntlet. Honestly, the best way to deal with stuff like that is to not stress about it. The status quo on Big Two properties is constantly changing and there are always going to be references to things that happened in previous runs. Unless you start reading from the '60s Avengers #1 and do every subsequent Avengers book in chronological order - which can be fun (I'm doing it on and off with Batman) but is really not practical - you're always going to miss some references, and it's really not a big deal if you do. People always make such a big deal about comic crossovers and continuity as though it's impossible to just pick up a new run and read it without any prior knowledge, but in my experience that's almost never the case. In this particular instance, literally all you need to know is what Hickman tells you: the Illuminati have the gems, and plan to try to use them. You don't need to know the whole story of the gems and how they wound up in their hands to appreciate this story.

[Dukefrukem]

I'm a completionist, so I try my best to always watch, play and read things in chronological order for I have a FOMO on references like these. But thank you for the reassurance here.

[Dukefrukem]

•Avengers #1-3
•New Avengers #1-3
•Avengers #4
•New Avengers #4
•Avengers #5
•New Avengers #5-6
•Avengers #6-13
•New Avengers #7
•Avengers #14-17
•New Avengers #8
•Infinity #1
•Avengers #18
•New Avengers #9
•Infinity #2
•Avengers #19
•New Avengers #10
•Infinity #3
•Avengers #20
•Infinity #4
•Avengers #21
•New Avengers #11
•Infinity #5
•Avengers #22-23
•Infinity #6
•New Avengers #12
•Avengers #24
•New Avengers #13-15
•Avengers #25-28
•New Avengers #16-17
•Avengers #29-34
•New Avengers #18-23
•Avengers #35
•New Avengers #24
•Avengers #36
•New Avengers #25
•Avengers #37
•New Avengers #26
•Avengers #38
•New Avengers #27
•Avengers #39
•New Avengers #28
•Avengers #40
•New Avengers #29
•Avengers #41
•New Avengers #30
•Avengers #42
•New Avengers #31
•Avengers #43
•New Avengers #32
•Avengers #44
•New Avengers #33

This site as it backwards.... any idea why?

New Avengers #1-3
Avengers #1-3
and so on...


http://www.comicbookherald.com/the-complete-marvel-reading-order-guide/secret-wars-reading-order/#secretwars5

[Dukefrukem]

That happened during Bendis' Avengers run, they collected the gems and distributed them among the Illuminati members to keep anyone else from forming a new gauntlet. Honestly, the best way to deal with stuff like that is to not stress about it. The status quo on Big Two properties is constantly changing and there are always going to be references to things that happened in previous runs. Unless you start reading from the '60s Avengers #1 and do every subsequent Avengers book in chronological order - which can be fun (I'm doing it on and off with Batman) but is really not practical - you're always going to miss some references, and it's really not a big deal if you do. People always make such a big deal about comic crossovers and continuity as though it's impossible to just pick up a new run and read it without any prior knowledge, but in my experience that's almost never the case. In this particular instance, literally all you need to know is what Hickman tells you: the Illuminati have the gems, and plan to try to use them. You don't need to know the whole story of the gems and how they wound up in their hands to appreciate this story.

Also if you don't mind pointing me to the series where:

Charles Xavior died This is something I'm not willing to accept until I read it.

[sevenarts]

Also if you don't mind pointing me to the series where:

Charles Xavior died This is something I'm not willing to accept until I read it.

This happened in Avengers vs. X-Men. It's a pretty lousy crossover, honestly, other than a few bright spots, but the events in it do have repercussions in subsequent Marvel books so it's probably worth reading if you're interested in following the overall continuity of the Marvel U.

Re: the reading order of Avengers/New Avengers, the 2 books tell pretty separate stories at least up until Infinity, and indeed for a while after that as well. So it doesn't matter much early on if you read New Avengers 1-3 or Avengers 1-3 first or whatever. The books gradually converge, so for the later stuff, the site you linked seems accurate; Avengers 44 explicitly occurs after New Avengers 33, for instance, not the other way around.

[Sven]

This site as it backwards.... any idea why?

New Avengers #1-3
Avengers #1-3
and so on...

The reason they invert the two is that New Avengers 1-3 happens before Avengers 1-3 chronologically. Avengers was published first and alludes to things that happen in New Avengers that was published later. I prefer to read things in publishing order as opposed to chronological order.

[Sven]

Fuuuuuu... good job, Marvel. Secret Wars is awesome.

[Dukefrukem]

WTF. I must have missed the explanation on why Ex Nihlo joined the Avengers.

Reading the comics in order as Sven posted, and last I checked, he was trying to destroy EArth to remake life with these seeds....

So why the fuck would they ask him to join the Avengers while this is still going on? (I'm on Infinity btw)

This order of comics makes no sense.

[number8]

I think you either misread or you're burning through these issues way too fast. Ex Nihilo stopped trying to destroy Earth and formed a truce with the Avengers, like, immediately after their fight. I think it's in the second or third issue.

[Dukefrukem]

I think you either misread or you're burning through these issues way too fast. Ex Nihilo stopped trying to destroy Earth and formed a truce with the Avengers, like, immediately after their fight. I think it's in the second or third issue.

Okay I'm gonna go back and read that. Thanks.

I think you're right...I am going through them too fast- there's now three major stories going on at the same time. How the fuck does Captain America bounce back and forth between them? AT least Tony has an excuse when he's piloting his suit remotely.

[Dukefrukem]

Got it. Captain Universe calms him down I see. It's not very clear though. At best he says:

"I suppose we could play for a bit"- I guess that means play with the Avengers? THis is right after a huge battle with his "Adam". There's barely any small talk.

[Dukefrukem]

And sorry for the F bombs. I got frustrated.

[Dukefrukem]

The more and more I read this series, the more I feel Marvel just has a superior universe than DC. The Hierarchy of "beings" is just phenomenal. From Mortals to Gods to Elder Gods to Proemial Gods. Then add in the cosmic entities and inter-dimensional stuff and then the multiverse. I'm borderline obsessed right now.

[sevenarts]

Marvel's cosmic mythology is very, very rich. That's what you get when the foundation of the universe was basically built from scratch by Jack Kirby within the span of a few years. DC has always seemed more piecemeal because that's the way it was formed, slowly over time from tons of little fragments and disparate characters/ideas.

And Hickman makes great use of the full scope of all this stuff, stitching it all together with his own ideas in really satisfying ways. What are you up to now?

[Dukefrukem]

Infinity #3.

[Sven]

Today I am not feeling well. I have called out of work. I plan on consuming much Battleworld material. I'm already bowled over by a surprising amount of it. A pleasant shock. Like Old Man Logan, the original series of which I am no fan of. But BendisSorrentino conceived the hell out of that one. And Secret Wars 2099... I love you so goddamn much, Peter David.

[Sven]

Also, agree entirely with Hickman: "Thor Corps" is stupid. It's just "Thors." Every time I see the former, I die a little.

[Sven]

Very interesting going from reading James Robinson's Armor Wars Secret Wars issue, which is basically crap, to reading Airboy, which is about how Robinson basically only writes crap now.

[number8]

This is godly. (From Battleworld #2)

http://i.imgur.com/oC5GPTs.jpg

[Sven]

Update, update:

Secret Wars - After Hickman's rushed and insignificant Infinity, I was skeptical of his ability to steer another major event. I couldn't be happier to be wrong. The scaling of the main event issues has been the most impressive part (other than Ribic's chops, which are not a surprise now) - each issue has been a measured address of major plotlines concluding Hickman's Avengers story, but also a fantastically surreal jaunt in its own right, building a world from the scraps of scrapes past, building a Battleworld that may as well be called Marvelworld because the concept is allowing creators to bring back favorite Marvel characters, create new ones, blend others, crosshatch concepts, etc. A reality-bending scope worthy of Morrison's Seven Soldiers.

Old Man Logan - My favorite ancillary issue so far. I think I love the cinematic aspect of it. Sorrentino is one of my favorite Big 2 artists at the moment, and this issue only further hammers that spike into the ground. Nice scope, great expression, moody, intricate, logical. And Bendis... I don't know. Maybe I need to give this guy another go. I love every single Powers issue, but his Marvel stuff (what I've read, obv) always leaves me ho-humming. But I dig the man's pacing like none other. Throw me some recs, if you wanna.

Future Imperfect - Could be this one is my favorite, though. Even Land's work is impressive here. An exciting fusion of classic sequential zest and new-fangled cinematic appeal. The Maestro has always been a top-tier character. There're rumblings that he'll be around after the event shakedown.

Infinity Gauntlet - Weaver's cooking on a Euro-level with this one. It's an artbook more than it is an adventure comic. Which I don't mind. It still reads well, and I'm curious to see where it goes. Any Thanos is good Thanos, and the panelling style on this one used for space stuff could be epic.

Planet Hulk - Eh. I'm sorry, Mr. Humphries. You are not a very good writer. The art and ideas are in place, but I wish the dialogue were better. The backup Cho story by Pak is cool though.

Where Monsters Dwell - My bad for not realizing how much Ennis was gonna play with good taste on this one. Uncomfortable laughs a-plenty, and his collabs with Braun are always well paced. I'm curious to see how Doom is gonna play into this, knowing Ennis's proclivities for subversion.

MODOK Assassin and Giant-Size Little Marvel AvX - Cute. I laughed.

Inferno and Armor Wars - Pretty much a great example of why people hate crossovers because of how much they make otherwise talented people phone it in so hard.

A-Force - A good read. Probably will appeal to people for whom straightforward superhero comics do the trick. A fine example of that. And I love anything Miss America-centric. She's a great character.

Master of Kung Fu - Wish it were better. Parlov inking Talijic is tremendous, but the plotting is... well, it's just not for me. Didn't check out issue 2. Maybe it gets better?

Journal and Battleworld have been offering fantastically imaginative reinventions/blendings of Marvel characters and concepts. Seriously recommended event.

Oh, and X-Tinction Agenda has tons of promise. The artwork has me hooked, anyway, but the story (the original of which I never read) is compelling enough.

[sevenarts]

Secret Wars is amazing so far, the payoffs and fist-pump-inducing moments are really packed in. I'm in awe of Hickman's ability to construct character arcs that not only stretch across his tenure on a title, but with what he's done with Doom and the FF, across several major multi-year runs and events.

The premise has encouraged a lot of fun tie-ins, too. None seem essential to the main story at this point but it's a great, flexible playground and Bendis, Ennis, et al seem to be having a good time set loose in it.

Re: Bendis at Marvel, not sure what you've read before but Alias is a classic with very good reason, one of his best books ever. His Daredevil is good too. And his Moon Knight is unfortunately often overlooked but is an inventive, really smart and fun take on the character, which probably benefited from being cancelled early and thus not having the chance to become as meandering and unfocused as some of his longer runs.

[Sven]

Re: Bendis at Marvel, not sure what you've read before but Alias is a classic with very good reason, one of his best books ever. His Daredevil is good too. And his Moon Knight is unfortunately often overlooked but is an inventive, really smart and fun take on the character, which probably benefited from being cancelled early and thus not having the chance to become as meandering and unfocused as some of his longer runs.

Thanks. I've bumped Alias up my queue. I heard intriguing things about his Moon Knight. Was always curious.

Forgot to mention that I thought his Ultimate End issue was excellent as well.

[sevenarts]

Speaking of Ultimate End, Ultimate Spider-Man is real good too. Like any series that ran that long with one guy writing it all, there are dips in creativity and excitement a few times along the way, but Bendis always brought things back on track. The first - I dunno, 50, 60, even 70 issues - are excellent and truly do constitute the "ultimate" Spidey experience. It was a model for what the Ultimate line could be (and too seldom was). And he rejuvenated the concept a few more times later in his run too, notably when he introduced Miles Morales. There were long stretches when USM was basically the whole Ultimate line, or might as well have been.

Bendis (rightly) gets a lot of shit for his excesses, his often samey dialogue, his tendency to wear out his welcome and repeat himself, but at his best he can be really, really good.

[Sven]

Bendis (rightly) gets a lot of shit for his excesses, his often samey dialogue, his tendency to wear out his welcome and repeat himself, but at his best he can be really, really good.

I am in awe of what he and Oeming do on Powers. Its quotient of quantity to quality is insane given the ease with which the concept can be so, so tired.

[Acapelli]

i'm enjoying his and oeming's united states of murder inc as well

[number8]

Speaking of Bendis, they just announced at Special Edition: NYC that after Secret Wars, he's leaving X-Men and going to be taking over Iron Man with David Marquez. Bendis will create new villains, a new girlfriend, and apparently instead of having 30 different armors that do different things, he'll just have one brand new armor that can turn into all of them.

[Sven]

Update, update!

Consider me practically 180'd on Master of Kung Fu. I still think Blackman's plotting is a little vague, but the fun of all the kung fu and supernatural villains and Sudzuka's alchemical inks give it an addictive edge. I couldn't stop thinking about it, and a revisit was flattering.

Ultimate End's tandem Iron Men are a terrific duo (easy to see Bendis planting seeds for his run). Bagley's artwork has never looked so recycled, unfortunately, particularly in the sequence where 616 Peter Parker meets Ultimate May and Gwen. Touching, but eyelines are wonky.

Avengers 2099 meet Defenders 2099. This series is mostly great at making me want to familiarize myself with the 2099 stories and concepts. It's a fine diversion.

Marvel Zombies has the potential to be one of the best minis off the event. Spurrier's got Elsa's voice down, and Walker being wild and monstrous is the best thing to pay him to do. Fabulous, effectively clipped emotional throughline.

In that same vein, being nice to read things with a sense of humor about the whole thing, Weirdworld cracked me up something righteous. Del Mundo's epic rendering and Aaron's sandal/sorcery voice combine to great effect (trolls! dragons! vistas!), but the second Arkon showed us his map, I was lost in hysteria.

I'm trying to determine how much I liked Ghost Racers. More than half the book is context-free race spectacle, with a multitude of sound effect captions. I think Gedeon may be leaning a bit too hard on Manga, which when colored like an American action comic tends to give the setting and backgrounds an empty feel. On the fence.

Years of Future Past is fairly worthless. I'm not a big fan of X-men anyway.

Boss introduction of the Noir Spider-Man in Spider-Verse, but that's otherwise one for the fans strictly. Araujo's illustration is nice, but in a half-baked kind of way (much like the Spiderverse concept itself).

I was slightly surprised at how well Renew Your Vows reads. I'm liking the minis that go whole hog on the strangeness of the situation (unlike ones like Master of Kung Fu or Ghost Racers, which have yet to really utilize the Battleworld concept). Still, I get the vibe that most Spider-man books these days are written for the longtime fans.

Mrs. Deadpool and the Howling Commandos - I laughed a few times. Perhaps I'll read some more Deadpool one of these days. It's interesting how he's the one truly omnipotent character in the Marvel universe. Always love how Joe Kelly went wild with that, but still gave him gravitas...

Few more later maybe.

[Sven]

Secret Wars Journal - the one where Murdock is Sinister's chef... damn. I might have nightmares.

[Sven]

Capt. Marvel and the Carol Corps is a fine piece of work. Solid pace, well-illustrated, intriguing address of the Battleworld concept, and shows promise of blowing up into something relevant. Recommended.

The second issues of both Inferno and Attilan Rising reduce their drams to noisy, esoteric fan-service. Neither should be given much attention.

[Sven]

Okay, fine, 1602: Angela, Witch Hunter was badass. I'm ready to write Bennett off as a not-terribly-good writer of dialogue (and her '-eth's and 'thou's are horrid), but this is a pretty entertaining throwback, and has enough twists on heroic grandstanding to be refreshing. Mostly I'm just amazed at the high threshold of "not crappy" this crossover has produced.

[Acapelli]

love what you're doing in here sven

[Sven]

love what you're doing in here sven

Oh thanks. Maybe when it's done I will write something greater than just these bites. Until then:

Old Man Logan remains one of the essential minis. Sorrentino's command of splash and spectacle is equal to Bendis's rhythm as a storyteller, and the fusion of character to concept is made even more seamless with this issue.

Thors, though, I dunno... the overt COPS riffing is very distracting. So great to see Sprouse back in action, and its overt address of the new world dynamic is scratching that itch for novel fantasy world-building that this massive corporate imperative has surprisingly produced. I have a feeling I'mma reread all this in three or four years and it's gonna really click.

Squadron Supreme is decent entertainment. Kinda like Morrison/Quitely's Earth 2 book, with Hyperion as an Ultraman proxy. Guggenheim seems a fine storyteller, with this iteration's Nighthawk (Batman?) duly subterraneous in characterization and motivation. I wish Marvel'd let Pacheco take his time. Man is capable of astounding renderings, but always seems rushed when dealing with supes...

[number8]

You know, I think this sort of writing has largely gone out of style, but I really appreciate how all of Al Ewing's Marvel stuff is full of references, callbacks, or teasers to something in a particular issue from the past or currently on the stand. Not in the deconstructive and easter egg way that Grant Morrison works in Silver Age stuff, but more in the old school way of "Let's have the characters talk about something that happened in issue such and such to explain why they think this way now." Except Stan Lee and co used to do that for stories that are maybe 6-8 issues ago. Ewing is doing it with issues that are sometimes decades old. Every issue of Loki and Mighty Avengers has at least 4-5 "* For more, see ____" editor caption boxes. The cool thing is, with the digital era (and especially the Marvel Unlimited library), fans actually can just load up that issue they're referring to. It's kinda cool. Maybe the next step would be to turn those caption boxes into hyperlinks.

[Sven]

Yeah, Al Ewing I've decided is pretty much the best. Well, he's up there. Why can't more writers be as simultaneously stylish (but not showboaty) and emotional (but not melodramatic)? His Last Days issue of CAatMA nearly wrung tears from these icy cubes I call eyes. I love that there was pointedly no moment of grand revelation or heroism. Ewing's is a virtue rooted in ensemble. All of his stories are about the interrelationships of constituent parts, which is pretty much the functionality of comics narrative, and it doesn't matter if victory is achieve so long as collective harmony is achieved. I have the first volume of his Loki book waiting for me at the library.

I've never read any of the Runaways, but my cursory knowledge of the greater Marvel U made the Battleworld Tie-in work. I imagine confused faces at the Cho/Skaar pairing, or the significance of Valeria, but I could follow the story and the dramatics were entertaining. I dug Rauch's palette mostly, I think, in terms of the artwork, which seemed a little like Skottie Young, a little like Jeff Stokely, but not as committed as either. Plus, comics about groups of teens in high school have quite an uphill climb in terms of visual intrigue. Buncha young'ns sitting around yapping. Still, not bad.

[Sven]

Also, hmmmm... to issue 2 of Armor Wars. It's nice to see something through that I would have ordinarily written off (though I'm pretty sure I'm going to be finishing very few of these X-men-based minis), because this second issue definitely helps develop the perspective and voice of the story, which the first issue didn't develop too terribly well. Issue two though was a nice pace quickener, and features some impressive artwork and quirky beats. Still wouldn't call it great, but definitely not the disaster that it suggested it would be.

[Sven]

Alias is a classic with very good reason, one of his best books ever.

It was good. Probably real good. But I have to say, everything he does in it, Powers does better. The Rick Jones arc, though, was pretty amazing. The book's best exploration of the alias-premise. I like how well Bendis's narrative style works with artists that work in heavy contrast. Feels more journalistic, maybe? I dunno...

[number8]

Part of it is probably because it's his own art style done better. He honed his writing skills with that type of art that he did himself in Jinx, Goldfish and Torso.

[Sven]

Update! Update!

Age of Ultron v Marvel Zombies is so much more awesome than I anticipated. I love this relegation of the U's most volatile hostilities, and the promise of intriguing consequence. Giving Ultron the foil of a 19th century Pym is perfect, and I adored the percussive splashes detailing the zone's history. Definitely overshadowed some of the clumsier colloquialisms in the dialogue.

And how about E for Extinction? Love the popping colors, and it's deliciously weird. Cyclops and Emma are hysterical. Burnham must've finally tapped into that Moz-mojo, because his Batman Inc issue was definitely not this good. Still, though, not the best X-book tie-in, which would be Gugg'/'domenico's X-Tinction Agenda.

Infinity Gauntlet 2 is a tiny step down from the surprise of the first issue. Watching a hero family bond over discovered super dynamics has never really been an interesting trope for me. Still hella well illustrated, of course (Dog Nova is gnarly). And the modest infusion of villainy so far is refreshing.

I tried reading X-Men 92, but bailed. I'll try again sometime soon.

[Sven]

A few more thoughts -

MODOK Assassin is now one of my favorite ancillaries. The second issue was rambunctious but clear, and never less than hysterical. Some choice panels. Also, its interwoven Battleworld functionality is quite creative.

Planet Hulk, on the other hand, is even worse with the new issue. Lurching and confused, and Doc Green's dialogue is really leaden. Shame, cuz the artwork is cool, but this is one to veer far from.

Korvac Saga was fine. A little redundant in that there's not much here that other titles aren't doing, but there's some intrigue with this iteration of Wonder Man...

[Sven]

All new Marvel titles post-Secret Wars have leaked. I perused. This will be an opportune time to quit Marvel. The highlights, and the only titles I may compromise and purchase, are Karnak by Warren Ellis, Contest of Champions (which looks like space gladiators overseen by the Maestro) by Al Ewing, and Dr. Strange by Aaron/Bachalo. I'm moderately miffed that they gave Old Man Logan to Lemire, but at least I won't have to read it.

[number8]

Yup, I'm actually seeing this as a good ending point for all the Marvel titles I'm reading and will be dropping them. I won't have any Marvel on my pull list after the "Last Days of" issues and the final Hawkeye issue.

[ledfloyd]

I'm interested in Waid's Avengers and Soule's Daredevil. Also A-Force. And Wilson's Ms. Marvel, natch.

Curious to see what Zdarsky will do with Howard the Duck.

Is Fantastic Four over?

[Sven]

Curious to see what Zdarsky will do with Howard the Duck.

I'm the rare fan of the Zdar that does not like Sex Criminals.* His comedy writing is fabulous. I'm a huge Kaptara fan.

*I've only read the first arc

[number8]

I like quite a few currently, Ms. Marvel and Howard the Duck including (the latter has been REALLY fucking funny). I think I just want to take a break from following Marvel and DC for a bit and they gave me the perfect opportunity to do so.

[number8]

I don't understand why they'd have an Ultimates title without an Ultimates. It looks like it's gonna be pretty much Al Ewing's Mighty Avengers but taking the name of a defunct alternate universe's team name. Kinda weird.

[slqrick]

"Richards."

I dunno about post Secret Wars Marvel, but I'm loving the culmination of Hickman's General thesis on the nature of Marvel and yada yada. Incredible work from Ribic, too.

[Sven]

Working on something a bit more thorough than my blurbies, so I will not be so sweeping with them anymore, but I do feel compelled to mention that Soule/Yu's Civil War tie-in is $%&#in' brilliant, and intertwines perfectly with Hickman's crux.

[Sven]

Pretty much all of the bad ancillaries have been X-Men books. Why's there got to be so many of them? And how do they all exist in this Battleworld.?

Although Gage/Diaz did bring a whole new level of boring to their Spider-Island outing...

[number8]

One thing I really love about Marvel Unlimited is the "Events" feature where you select a story and they list you everything that's tied to it in chronological order. Makes it really easy to be a crossover completist. I'm current re-reading World War Hulk, but this time, with all the Hulk, Iron Man, Frontline, Avengers, X-Men, etc tie-ins. Even the completely inconsequential Ant-Man and Ghost Rider tie-ins.

[Watashi]

I got a Marvel Unlimited subscription. I've been reading a lot of early Lee/Kirby stuff that I never read. Early Fantastic Four, Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers, Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, and others. All awesome stuff. Dated for sure, but there is some stuff that packs a punch. I love on certain issues they still include all the fan letters at the end of the issue. Reading fan letters from young black readers praising Lee for creating Black Panther is timeless and really emotional to read.

[Watashi]

I'm about to move to Claremont's run on Uncanny X-Men which I've never read a single issue. I'm excited.

[number8]

I always felt like there's one popular Spider-Man missing during Spider-Verse. They finally fixed that mistake in Web Warriors.

https://i.imgur.com/vp0OkfM.png

[D_Davis]

Heh.

That's funny.

Anyone read the new Stan Lee autobiography, Amazing Fantastic Incredible?

[number8]

I'm finally digging down into Matt Fraction's Iron Man run. I think it was more interesting than I (and many) gave it credit for.

It made me think of a new yardstick to measure against, and that is, how self-contained can a run feel like when you're reading it almost a decade removed from when it was published, even though it did not disassociate from the continuity at the time? This book cuts through many crossovers, and it's about a character who is absolutely central to all those events, so it had to link directly with them, and yet when taken out of those contexts today, it still reads like its own ongoing story.

[Sven]

Fraction's Iron Man... Larroca's pages move... clearly knows how to tell a story... Incredible series... Easily Fraction's best work.

Awesome! I got it right. I've always liked that one, and am constantly flipping back through it for great moments. The Doc Ock arc is probably my favorite part.

[slqrick]

Secret Wars finale felt kind of off. Enjoyed it, though. What are the best "all new" series now? I've been avoiding them all.

[Acapelli]

the vision

[slqrick]

the vision

Holy shit, this is good. I'm sure this will only get a 12 issue run before its canned.

[number8]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqK1jAH97hY

[Dukefrukem]

Ironheart Eh?

Hmm.

[TGM]

So these are pretty interesting and worth a watch if you've got a little bit of time. A series of hour long documentaries taking a look back at the X-Men series.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvWDjHWgNgc


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjGUE8XaUn4

[TGM]

And she also just released the third one on youtube earlier this week:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRYoP-S3Ho8

[number8]

Saladin Ahmed is writing a new Black Bolt ongoing.

Kinda funny that the answer to the question "How do you write superheroes for Marvel?" is of recently, "Become an award-winning novelist first."

[Grouchy]

https://www.adl.org/education/references/hate-symbols/thors-hammer

Has there ever been a Thor story that addressed Mjolnir's use by white supremacists? I think that'd be a pretty cool idea for a one-shot.