Wolverine and the X-Men #28

Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Ramon Perez
Colorists: Laura Martin & Matt Milla
Letterer: Joe Carmagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 24th, 2013

"Savage Learning Part 4: School of Snikt"

I am not overly sad to see this arc end. I understand that the purpose of it was to show growth between the students so that their unity when the Hellfire Academy starts doesn't seem forced but I wasn't a huge fan of Dog. I get that the title of this book has Wolverine clinging to it but I enjoy when it is all about the kids, not his past. The fact that these past four issues have dealt more with him than the students even though it seemed it should have been about the students took a little away from it for me.

Regardless, I did enjoy this final issue. It was fun to see the kids stand up to someone that was more experienced than them and to not instantly die. I did also like that the students were able to see Wolverine go off on his brother and do some serious damage which showed that he has gained more control over her berzerker side. The tease with Old Man Logan worries me though that this storyline may come back around in the near future....

Other than that we did lose a member of the team in the Savage Land. Not in a dark way but in a way that could lead to a little more interesting moments during the next arc. I have insanely high hopes for this title to get back to what it was when I started reading it. I know that Jonny Capps, who I do the podcast with, loves the book still and we disagree that it has lost anything. I really hope I am the one that has it wrong and he is right. Only time will tell.

Uncanny X-Men #5

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Frazer Irving
Lettering & Production: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comic (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 24th, 2013

Wow did I read a lot of Bendis books this week. I had problems keeping up with the reading so I have no clue how he wrote them all! Anyhow, this is NOT a bad thing because this book keeps getting better and I can't help but smile at how good X-Men books are getting again.

This issue focuses incredibly heavily on Magik. This is good because she was the one character we really haven't seen her powers fail too much yet and it almost felt as if she didn't get any backlash from the Phoenix Force. That is, of course, until this issue. She is having problems balancing her control of the other realm due to some demonic interference and she needs to regain control over it before her Darkchilde half takes her over.

I am loving how Bendis is using this book to show some of the most powerful mutants struggling to figure themselves out again. The addition of new mutants is adding a layer of fun that couldn't be there if it were just old friends in pain together. I love the direction this is going and can't wait to see Magik's battle continue in issue #6. When Bendis originally said that this and All-New X-Men would be totally different books, I had no idea this is what I was in for. That, I am not mad about.

Uncanny Avengers #7

Writer: Rick Remender
Aritst: Daniel Acuna
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 24th, 2013

It is hard for me to really follow the time frames that this book is following so far. I am also a little worried that because it is so hero heavy that they are trying to make it a little too villain heavy as well. We have a lot of key players that I am not sure what their next moves will be. I know that Red Skull is bound to return as powerful as before, we have Kang as well as Apocalypse all swirling around this team to make things rough. On top of that, there is a ton of public relations stuff that Alex is handling with Janet that although seeming necessary also feels sort of thrown in.

It seems for the moment we will be focusing more on Jarnbjorn and Apocalypse which I can handle as long as the next issue picks up after this one. I think all of the jumping around is making things a little more difficult for me. If I can find time I may go back and read all seven of the first issues to get my facts straight and feel more comfortable with what is going on. I think that there is a lot of good here but because of the quantity of comics I read I am losing some finer details that make it easier to follow the flow of the book.

I truly hope I can get reattached to this tale because I was excited for it the moment it was announced and have loved earlier issues. I do honestly believe that I am just lost for the already mentioned reasons and do hope to be fixed soon. If you want to help me iron things out or add to my jumbled brain feel free. Until then, I am sticking with this title and hoping for something great to come.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #22

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Sara Pichelli
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Lettering: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 24th, 2013


I am still loving Miles as Spider-Man in this universe. The poor kid just isn't having much luck under the mask and Venom is definitely not trying to make it any easier. Whenever you start to think things may turn around something terrible happens and that is what this book is about.

I guess it can be argued that no one can truly be Spider-Man without some major loss and maybe that is why Miles hasn't quite gotten a complete hang of it yet but it is just cruel what happens in this book. Bendis, once again, blew my mind with his choices and painful moment within these pages. I have also been digging Pichelli's work with the symbiote as well as the more torn and worn out Miles. By the end of this issue my jaw was dropped and I had flipped back through the immense fight scene between symbiote and kid at least twice to make sure I didn't miss anything. Poor Miles...

I am on the edge of my chair waiting to see what awaits me next month. I just hope that Miles is able to deal with loss at least half as well as Peter...if not....I have no idea where the book will end up.

Scarlet Spider #16

Writer: Chris Yost
Pencils: Khoi Pham
Inks: Pallot & Olazaba
Colors: Antonio Fabela
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 24th, 2013

"A Good, Ol' Fashioned Rodeo"

I want to start by saying that this issue does not have a lot in it when it comes to overall story line other than the last couple pages. That said, it was still a good and fun read simply based on the fact that I love the characters in the book.

This issue has Kaine being drug to the rodeo (which he doesn't really want to go to, let alone wear the hat) which gives him a peak into how some women can love monsters. He had been pushing away Annabelle because he knew he was a monster and felt that he couldn't be with her because of it. While he is battling with the, The Armadillo (some Texas hero/villain) shows up to profess his love for one of the cowboy's fiance. After a little whooping from Kaine, The Armadillo is shown some love from his ex and Kaine realizes that even monsters can love. He finally gives in to Annabelle.

After this we see on the last page some relatively fishy stuff that Annabelle does...it is intriguing to see what is on the horizon for Kaine and his friends. I hope that the next issue that promises Wolverine (in ANOTHER friggen Marvel book) doesn't bring it down too much. Don't get me wrong, I do not hate Wolverine. I just think he is overplayed.

Guardians of the Galaxy #2

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencilers: Steve McNiven & Sara Pichelli
Inkers: John Dell, Mark Morales, Steve McNiven, & Sara Pichelli
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comic (Dan Buckley)
Price; $3.99
Release Date: April 24th, 2013

It says a lot for Bendis that he is able to make me start caring about characters in a handful of issues. It is unfair to say that we are only on issue #2 of this book though. To date I have read a .1 issue, # 1-2 and three infinite issues which, if you haven't read, are well worth the time. This book is full of things to love and moments to walk away with.

This issue picks up with the Guardians battling to defend Earth against the Badoon and with quickly answering the why they are there. The fight is beautifully penciled by McNiven and Pichelli with vivid coloring by Ponsor that stopped me on each page to absorb the environment. Bendis fills the pages with dialogue and it isn't superfluous. Everything fits neatly within the pages and I have to say, this book felt like a book. I feel like there is actual story to walk away with and it reminds me why I enjoy reading comics.

I am so excited to see where this story takes us. Each character on the team is growing on me quickly and Iron Man is not being overused (which I was afraid of). This book is early enough in the story that you can easily grab past issues and the infinite issues are free on Comixology. If you enjoy space stories and badass heroes, this book is for you.

Gambit #11

Writer: James Asmus
Penciled by: Clay Mann with Paco Medina
Inked by: Clay Mann, Seth Mann, & Juan Vlasco
Colored by: Rachelle Rosenberg
Lettered by: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 24th, 2013

"Girl Trouble"

Finally I get my interaction with Rogue that I have been waiting four months for. The question is, was it worth the wait? I would have to say yes.

Rogue and Joelle obviously do not get off on the right foot and their initial interaction is a lot of fun to watch. It is impressive how easily Joelle can stand toe-to-toe with such a veteran fighter like Rogue. Of course, that proves the Joelle isn't exactly new to the game herself and that is the main focus of this issue. We are starting to get little pieces of her past trickled which is adding even more questions that are being revealed by Tombstone.

There is a lot of action in this book and a lot to like. I am happy to see Rogue in the pages and she seems to be sticking around for at least another issue or two. Simply the questions the revolve around Joelle is enough to keep me buying at least until I know exactly what she is and what she is planning. Lastly, the last page really grabbed my attention and want to see how everything comes together.

So, once again, I am sticking with this book purely on the desire of wanting questions answered. Asmus has done a phenomenal job making me ask why, I just hope that his AHA! moment is worth the amount of issues it took to get there,

A+X #7

"Iron Man + Beast"

Writer: Zeb Wells

Penciler: Dale Keown

Inker: Norman Lee

Color Artist: Morry Hollowell

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

"The Mighty Thor + Iceman"

Writer: Christopher Yost

Artists: Orphans Cheeps (R'John Bernales & Chris Turcotte)

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)

Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 24th, 2013 

The first half of this book had me a bit excited. I love interactions between the super brains that exist in the Marvel Universe and recently Hank McCoy and Tony Stark have been my favorites. Their brain bumping always seems to end in some sort of issue and here it is with a revamped Hulkbuster that doesn't respond well due to a virus that is within. With a quick cameo from Bruce Banner (another great scientist) and some...well anti-hulkbusting the first half of the issue left me with a smile on my face.

The second half surprised me a bit. I am loving Thor on my side read of his current solo book and Iceman is always fun to see joke around but I wasn't sure how they would react to one another. Also, I was uncertain about the incredibly "The Batman" looking art style that slid into the frames. Regardless, the fight with the two heroes against Ymir was enjoyable to see and there were a few argh-worthy puns said by Iceman that made me smile. It was a fun little story which really shouldn't surprise me because I have a bit of a history loving Yost's work.

I am always iffy on this title. I was originally told that it was supposed to be a limited series but it doesn't seem to have an end in sight AND I can't seem to find the fact that it is limited anywhere anymore so I bite my lower lip in thought. Now that I am not so sure how long it will be I need to think long and hard about my desire to continue to pick it up. Yes it is fun but that only goes so far for $3.99 a month. I will revisit this next issue.

Weekly pulls for 04/24/13

Wow this is late late late late this week! I apologize for the delay but life is a bit hectic as I said in my previous post. This weekend my lovely wife ran in the Akron Color Run which was a bit of fun and I was covered in colored powder. It was an interesting experience and I am considering trying to do it next year but don't tell the lady, she may get her hopes up. On the same day I also had a Heroclix draft tournament which was interesting and gave me a chance to see how much I have learned playing the game in the past handful of months. I must be getting better, I went 2-1.

Other than that I have been a little nervous about tackling the immense amount of reviews that will accompany this entry this week. I initially thought that there was going to be some AoU and was relieved to see that there wasn't a single AU issue released this week but then realized that even without that I had a massive eight book pull. Granted, I was excited about the issues that weighed in my hand (not as excited about the price-tag) and couldn't wait to read them but didn't even have the opportunity until Friday night. As I said earlier, my weekend was swamped and today was the first day I have actually had the chance to start this run of reviews.

So, the eight books that have now graced my comic box are as follows:

A+X #7
Gambit #11
Guardians of the Galaxy #2
Scarlet Spider #16
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #22
Uncanny Avengers #7
Uncanny X-Men #5
Wolverine and the X-Men #28

I hope this is the only week I fall this far behind but life is really starting to catch up to me. The remaining reviews should follow quickly but until then, happy reading comic book lovers.

X-Men Legacy #9

Writer: Simon Spurrier
Penciler: Tan Eng Huat
Inker: Craig Yeung
Colorist: Jose Villarrubia
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 17th, 2013

"Judgement of Diana"

The odd antics of this book never seem to grow old to me. David Haller is a character that is easy to like and want to connect with because he is full of so many mistakes and problems. He is just like any other human that can't seem to figure out what exactly is wrong with them other than the fact that he is incredibly powerful.

This issue opens with he and Ruth on the moon having a date. David is discussing Aarkus and the terrible plans that he has with the Earth due to some unhealthy reading he had been doing and, well, his insanity. David shows Ruth images of the future but doesn't make it clear that they are just images which causes her to become quite upset. David is having the argument that many people have of if you could stop something from happening in a vicious way before it happens is that an okay thing to do. Ruth does not like his methods.

The book closes with Ruth and David not on the same page and with David being alone again. It seems that he is bound to be stranded and alone, trying to figure out exactly what he is there for and how to be the most beneficial person to the world that he can. I truly felt bad for him as he sat alone on the moon reading Luca Aldine's journal. I hope he and Ruth work things out.

So, way to go Simon Spurrier for making me care about people who aren't even real. That is a feat within itself. Bravo sir and please keep this book coming, it is so different and special that it would be criminal for it to go away.

Wolverine and the X-Men #27 AU

Writer: Matt Kindt
Penciler: Paco Medina
Inker: Juan Vlasco
Colorists: David Curiel w/ Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 17th, 2013

"Age of Ultron: Road Trip"

This AoU tie-in fits neatly into the first couple of pages of Age of Ultron #6. Wolverine and Sue Storm are already in the past but they have yet to run into Hank Pym. This issue dealt with a lot of soul searching for both of them and the realization that they do not want to cause to large of a ripple in time (other than the massive one that Wolverine intends to).

Wolverine has an interaction with a Brood that doesn't go overly well for him. He decides to keep everything that happens to him from Sue because he may have made a massive mistake (which I wouldn't be surprised if it somehow is also mentioned in future comics). Sue, on the other hand, sees that Nick Fury was actually spying the the Fantastic Four and decides to inform that time's Reed Richards of it. Once again, this interaction may cause something to happen in the future but we will have to wait and see.

As with any of these tie-ins so far, this book wasn't necessary. It ties in some extra character building and fills in a couple small blanks from the main title but you would not have to read it to get the full grasp of AoU. I had fun reading it and enjoyed seeing the way Wolverine and Sue react to one another. I just hope that the choices they made in the past in this issue and in the main issue doesn't have too big of a reaction.

Venom #34

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Declan Shalvey
Color Art: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 17th, 2013

"Family Bonding"

It is so good to finally get to the fight that I have been waiting for. Just by looking at the cover of the book you can see that Toxin and Venom finally get the chance to go head to head and it is just as violent and vicious as you could imagine. It is incredibly sad that Eddie Brock is bonded to another symbiote but it is not surprising how fast he does bond. He works with Toxin like they are old friends and is able to beat Flash into the ground with very little effort. Thank goodness Flash had a secret weapon up his sleeve...but you'll have to read the issue to see that.

I think the surprising attribute of this comic is the weird creature that had been fighting the two guys previously. The mystery as to what it is exactly still stands in the air but it is something to drag me into many more issues. It seems that there is more than one of them (which isn't a giant surprise) but the reasoning for them being there is. I will delve more into that in the next issue's review so that I am sure to not spoil anything.

I have to close this by saying poor Flash. The guy just can't seem to catch a break and I don't think he is going to any time soon. His life seems to be a roller-coaster that he just can't get off. I am glad that I have stuck with this title considering it keeps getting better. I just hope there isn't another lull for a long time.

The Superior Spider-Man #8

Writer: Dan Slott
Penciler: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Color Art: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 17th, 2013

"Troubled Mind Part Two: Proof Positive"

I have to start by saying that I am always thrilled when I see Humberto Ramos' name sprawled across the cover of a Spider-Man book. The man definitely knows his way around this hero and does some of my favorite work with Spidey. Okay, enough gushing.

We were left last time with Spidey about to fight The Avengers. The fight went pretty quickly and went in the direction I assumed but it was fun to watch. It is good to see that the spider-sense messes with even the greatest of heroes. I loved what Slott did with the analysis of Spidey's brain. It wasn't what I expected but was fitting. It is also fitting as to what the response of the Avengers was from what they figured out (no spoilers here...).

I am also really enjoying the way that Slott is trying to make Peter show himself while Otto is in control. The use of the right hand is genius and feels a bit realistic (especially the bit where no one really recognizes it). There is just so much going on with characterization here that it surprises me that people are still so angry about Slott's choice. This new direction for Spider-Man is making the base character insanely interesting while not letting you forget about the source material. Also if/when Peter takes control again it will make him that much more likeable all over again.

I want to close by saying I am beyond excited for what the next issue will hold. I don't want to ruin anything but it is a showdown that I don't think any Spidey fan will want to miss. I can't stress enough that if you gave up on this book after issue #1 that you really should give it another go. It has far surpassed my expectations and I grow more and more excited with each issue.

Cable and X-Force #7

Writer: Dennis Hopeless
Artist: Salvador Larroca
Color Artist: Frank D'Armata
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $.399
Release Date: April 17th, 2013

This issue lets us in on Cable's plans and we see what Scott has to say to his son. I think the fact that the title touted "Daddy's Home" was a little bit of overkill. One, Scott was not used too heavily within the pages. Two, what Scott had to say wasn't too surprising. Three, that is a pretty damn cheesy hook for a book that is as dark as this, isn't it? Oh well...

I have to admit that even though the stuff with Scott was a tad underwhelming, this issue found a good spot in my heart. I am starting to connect more with this team and am really interested to see what is going to happen to the group now that there are aliens and space involved. I know there has been a bit of rumbling and complaining online about Marvel taking too much stuff into space but I think that is what comics are about. They are about being able to do things that the normal human may not be able to.

By the end of this book we see what the purpose of the alien was, we see a general idea as to what the plan is and we get a hook for Colossus to perhaps rejoin the team. I am intrigued and actually enjoying what Hopeless is doing here finally. I just hope that the issues that follow this keep stride and don't fall back to the slacking that I felt the previous issues were.

Age of Ultron #6

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Present:
Artist: Brandon Peterson
Color Artist: Paul Mounts
Past:
Penciler: Carlos Pacheco
Inker: Roger Martinez
Color Artist: Jose Villarrubia
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 17th, 2013 

I was sort of surprised to see that Wolverine was already away from the other heroes at the beginning of this issue. I was expecting a bit of a big fight between the remaining heroes and he but I was mistaken. He must have just been able to waltz up to the time machine and blast into the past to kill Hank Pym. Although I find it a little hard to believe, it did speed up the inevitable. The portion of the book that deals with Sue Storm and Wolverine is quite good actually. There seems to be a lot of struggling going on in their minds (which is delved into deeper in Wolverine and the X-Men #27 AU) and the end result is actually a bit surprising.

As for the heroes in the future, it does not seem to be going too well. They are down a body since Sue decided to bomb after Wolverine and Ultron was more than ready to stop anyone that tried to infiltrate his city. There are some incredibly graphic and well drawn pages that make the heart skip a beat and question what is going to happen next.

I think that is the main thing now...what is going to happen next? Something big happened in both the past and the future. What does it mean for the present? The fact that I actually care is saying something about how this is turning out. This issue may be the turning point for me from just feeling meh about the whole event to actually starting to enjoy it. I am looking forward to the next issue and am glad that the wait is not going to be too long.

Weekly pulls for 4/17/13

It is hard to believe that it is already time to review books again. I am looking forward to when my books go back to a normal level of pulls (also known as when AoU ends) so that this isn't as arduous of a task. Regardless, for the handful of readers I have out there I don't want to let you down. I also would like for you all to get the word out about this blog! I have lost a few readers (and I know this is my fault) I assume to my lackluster posts there for a while. I had a lot going on and it was hard to bring myself to keep the blog up to date but I felt obligated. I don't want to feel just obligated to write and I have started to get the feeling of desire to do it back so my posts should have more of the feeling that they did when I started this about a year ago.

I also think that part of the reason my readership is falling is due to my ramblings on my weekly pull blogs. I am sorry for that but that is just how I roll. I need some place to just ramble and this seemed as good a place as any ESPECIALLY due to the content of my rants sticking to that of comics rather than politics, world goings on or anything like that.

So, I ask a simple favor of those of you that are still reading this, please let others know. I love discussing comics and I love reading them. Also, start leaving some comments again. I haven't had a chance to chat with a random stranger on the internet in what feels like ages! Lastly, don't forget about the podcast over here to hear more of the great discussions between people that enjoy reading comics. Anyhow, thank you for those of there out there reading this now. I appreciate your support and I hope that you enjoy reading the blog half as much as I do writing it.

Now, onto the title of this page. My pulls for the week were another solid six:

Age of Ultron #6
Cable and X-Force #7
The Superior Spider-Man #8
Venom #34
Wolverine and the X-Men #27 AU
X-Men Legacy #9

Reviews are to follow as always. Until then comic book fans, happy reading.

Uncanny X-Men #4

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler/Colorist: Chris Bachalo
Inkers: Tim Townsend, Jaime Mendoza, Al Vey & Victor Olazaba
Lettering: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 10th, 2013

This fourth issue of Uncanny X-Men ties directly into All-New X-Men #10. It opens with Scott and his team on the doorstep of the Jean Grey school trying to recruit members. Only in this book we get the events through the eyes of Scott's team. I liked the interaction between the girls (Celeste, Mindee and Phoebe) and Emma Frost. It is hard to realize how much they are individuals when they are normally functioning as one. I think this helped build more with them and who how much they were actually hurt when Emma "abandoned" them.

I am liking how Bendis is slowly giving us more of the four new mutants that Scott has already picked up. We have Benjamin Deeds (chameleon like abilities), Fabio Medina (shoots gold balls out of his body), Eva Bell (code name Tempus, can create time bubbles) and Christopher Muse (code name Triage, he is a healer). These four are still incredibly new to the world of being mutants and it is fun to watch. There is a nice moment where they stumble into the Danger Room and have no idea what is going on and show their incredibly limited control over their powers. I think it is going to be fun to watch them grow as characters.

There are two other main aspects to this issue that were nicely done. Firstly, we are starting to see what the interaction with the Phoenix Force did to Magik. She is handling it about as well as can be expected from someone like her. Secondly, we see which member of the original X-Men joined Scott. I won't spoil it here but it isn't too surprising all things considering.

I am really liking what Bendis is doing with the X-Men. His two X-books are flowing together so well that it is hard to ever argue that he wasn't the right choice for bringing the X-Men into the Marvel NOW universe. I will say that if you aren't reading one of the two books you should probably start grabbing the one you aren't. I am not sure how much more that they are going to overlap but it has been really enjoyable to see things unfold from both perspectives.

Uncanny Avengers #6

Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Daniel Acuna
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 10th, 2013

Who would have thought that Thor had a history with Apocalypse? Also, who would think that Loki (or in reality Kang) would be able to manipulate Thor so easily to do something that his father told him not to. The thing I have to be honest about is I am not sure what the hell is going on in this book! I am sure that the Apocalypse thing is going to tie into the Onslaught thing somehow but I am not sure how and I am also not sure what Kang wants with Thor's ax, Jarnbjorn.

It seems that this whole issue was made to build a foundation for events that are to come. This whole issue dealt with Thor having his first interaction with Apocalypse and the bad choices he makes with Kang guiding him along the way (under the guise of Loki). I am just so full of questions that I am sure will be answered in coming issues but I hate feeling so lost. So far this book has been nothing short of incredible and I have faith that Remender is setting the stage for something big. I sit in anticipation for the final act when all of these pieces of the puzzle come together. Until then, I suppose I will sit in slight confusion as I fumble with the puzzle pieces that have already been presented to me.

Ultron #1 AU

Writer: Kathryn Immonen
Art: Amilcar Pinna
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 10th, 2013

I am not overly familiar with Victor Mancha considering I didn't read The Runaways but it is easy to grasp his struggle just from the pages of this one-shot issue. With a father like Ultron, I think it would be incredibly difficult to go the route of the hero and also try to figure out what it means to be a human (even if you are a cyborg).

This issue shows Victor's response after his father's hostile takeover. It shows him trying to figure out if he is registering as a human or a robot while trying to help some other, less fortunate people in the apocalyptic world that his father created. It is sad to see Victor struggle with himself and the memories of his friends. This book makes me feel like he is going to be a major player in the final chapters of the main AoU books.

So far this book has been my least favorite tie-in but I think that has a lot to do with my lack of knowledge of the character. I didn't feel half as connected to him as I have all of the others. I will admit that I now have a sparked interest in Victor as a character and I hope he gets more of a chance to grow in the future of the Marvel Universe.

Hawkeye #9

Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: David Aja
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 10th, 2013

"Girls"

Fraction, Aja and Hollingsworth have their Clint Barton well developed and fun to read. I think I have established this over my past nine months of gushing about how incredible this series is. I am happy to report that it is still going strong and this issue even answered a question myself and I know some of my readers were asking: "What is going on with Clint and Jessica?"

Last issue we saw Clint's red-headed companion kiss him in front of Natasha (friend), Bobbi (ex-wife), and Jessica (girlfriend?) and they all seemed shocked. This issue picks up with that scene and what the women do in response to it. It is incredibly fun to see a story played out through what ends up being five perspectives (Kate Bishop has a part and of course Clint). After you are able to connect all of the dots as to why characters are the way that they appear (the story is not chronological of course) you get a little closer with Clint and Gil on the rooftop. I love the human interactions Clint has with his normal friends and this is no exception.

There is a pretty sad and shocking twist on the last page of the book which is obviously showing us what is to come in the life of Clint. I am beyond excited to continue to pick up this book and bow to the prowess of the team that works on it. Considering when this book was announced I picked it up on a whim, it is hard to believe that I could have missed this great piece of storytelling. I know I say this every month, but pick this thing up if you aren't. You really...really are missing out.

Avenging Spider-Man #19

Writer: Christopher Yost
Artist: Marco Checchetto
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 10th, 2013

"Bad Dreams"

This book just keeps surprising me. I am never anxious to pick it up but seem to always have a smile on my face when I put it down. Ever since the book turned into the Superior Spider-Man, everything feels so much more tied into the main book and the stories are incredibly fun to read.

This month we see Otto team with Sleepwalker to battle basically a sleep demon in Otto's dreams. There is a nice moment early in the issue that Peter is tugging on his arm telling him to give him his body back which does shake Otto later in the story. He seems to be having a bit of an issue telling what is reality and what isn't.

I think what has made this so good is that I am still getting used to Otto as Spider-Man. Because he is basically a new hero, there is a lot more character development that needs to happen and this is a great place to do it that doesn't seem like a way to stretch issues in the main story. Also, we get to see Spider-Man team up with characters that we haven't seen for a long time or characters you never thought you would seem him with. It was recently announced that this title will be cancelled (I think in July) but will be quickly replaced with Superior Team-Ups which will still be headed by Yost and that makes me happy.

If you are reading Superior Spider-Man and you want more, this is definitely the place to get it. If you haven't given this book a chance, you should. It is a fun read that any Spidey fan should enjoy.

Avengers Assemble #14 AU

Writer: Al Ewing
Penciler: Butch Guice
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colorist: Frank D'Armata
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 10th, 2013

There had been a resonating question for me since this event started: "What the hell happened to Black Widow's face?" This tie-in not only answers that question but also shows Ultron's invasion, at least in San Francisco. I think by seeing the attack happen like this helps support why the main book started right after the place had been wrecked. It seems that everything happened so quickly that the heroes themselves probably didn't have time to react much to everything, so why should the readers?

This book was one of the first times I have really connected with Black Widow. I really felt bad for the things that happened to her and the choices she had to make. I like how Ewing showed us a woman that was pushed to her edge and yet somehow burst through to potentially make a huge difference in the terrible events in Ultron's world. I also liked the way that her teaming up with Moon Knight wasn't necessarily wanted, it was needed.

As I have said with the other tie-ins, this book isn't necessary but it does help form the world that we are reading about in the main books. Also, if you have any love for Black Widow, this is the book for you. The poor girl just suffers so much...

Age of Ultron #5

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Bryan Hitch
Inker: Paul Neary
Colorist: Paul Mounts
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 10th, 2013

Wow Bendis is taking his sweet time with this baby. I feel as if these first five issues could have easily been tied into two MAYBE three neat books without all of the superfluous items added. Alas, that isn't the way that things are done when it comes to Marvel events.

Now, I don't want to give off the wrong impression. I am not hating this event so far. I am actually starting to enjoy it quite a bit. There is a lot to like about the way that Bendis is portraying the apocalyptic world of Ultron wailing on 616. The heroes seem so frazzled and worn down that it is easy to relate to them and understand why they are going to the extremes that they are willing to to make the world return to the way it once was.

The flashback moment dealing with the Vision was nice but not really needed. We all already knew that the Avengers trusted the guy and knew that he was created by Ultron. I don't think we needed that pushed in our face (another reason I say this could have been summed up faster). I also find Nick Fury's bunker to be a little too convenient but I guess that is part of the suspension of disbelief that is reading comics.

Lastly, I am really starting to get over Wolverine being over-utilized in everything. I like the character and always have but why does he always have to be the center of some sort of opposition of another group? The reality is he isn't always right and it is a damn shame that he always seems to think he is and that it always seems necessary that writers want to put his opinion out there. I am sure the next issue is going to deal heavily with the concluding pages of this issue with Wolverine and the other heroes left behind from the main mission. It may turn out to be interesting and I have high hopes that it is, but this is the moment that is either going to make or break this event for me. Here's hoping it makes it.

Weekly pulls for 04/10/13

This week in the world of Marvel was swarmed with issues related to AoU. I am glad I cut back a few books considering there seems to be at least one book related to this event coming out each week! It is a blow to my budget and you will have to read my comments about each book to see if it is even worth while.

Other than that I was able to tackle Marvel's marketing ploy with Comixology for the #1 issues that started this week. The cut-off date to apply to download them was this past Tuesday and I was able to download my books today. They undershot slightly by saying that there would be 700 issues available considering I walked away with a whomping 723 books. I am not saying I will ever read all of them or if all of them were even familiar to me but they were FREE and it is hard to turn away from stuff like that especially if it may turn me unto something that I had never even considered reading before.

I also wanted to note that my reading of Amazing Spider-Man is starting to struggle a bit. The mid-nineties became a difficult time to read only one Spider-Man title considering every story arc is spread over all of the on-goings. I decided that I was being overly flooded with reading them and have decided to cut back to reading an issue a day until I get really interested again. The other reason for this is I decided to read the Game of Thrones books which had been sitting on my Kindle for months. I loved the first one and have three more already purchased and ready to roll SO that is a distraction. I will keep everyone updated on the ASM status over Twitter (@Philthec) and will touch on it from time to time here.

Now for the purpose of this initial post, my pulls for this week:

Age of Ultron #5
Avengers Assemble #14 AU
Avenging Spider-Man #19
Hawkeye #9
Ultron #1 AU
Uncanny Avengers #6
Uncanny X-Men #4

As you can see, three of the seven books are AoU so if it didn't exist I would have had a light week. Oh well, on to the reviews. Until I get those up, happy reading everyone.

Venom #33

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Declan Shalvey
Color Art: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 4th. 2013

"Monsters Anonymous"

It is hard to believe that this Agent Venom series has run 33 issues already. I am not saying that because it is bad, it isn't. It is just rare for a secondary character from a series have such a successful comic. Also, I am really happy to say that the weak story arcs seem to be over and we are getting back to the good and dark stuff that I have always loved about this title.

Right away we get to see a little Toxin action battling the weird abomination that Flash was fighting in the last issue. Toxic and this creature are pretty violent and the fight is something to see. It doesn't come to a complete end so I am hopeful to see more fights and learn a little more about this thing. Actually, getting to know a little bit more about the thing is what Flash is trying to do when he contacts his old Avengers friend Hank McCoy. Of course Flash doesn't really want help but it seems that he needed to contact an old friend.

My original doubts about Flash going to Philadelphia are also squelched considering this town is ending up to be just as chaotic as New York for him. I also like the thought that anything that actually goes wrong will be completely up to Flash to handle because he doesn't have the same support he does back home. Lastly, I am excited to see Toxin being used again. Flash has recently struggled against Carnage and has had an encounter with Toxin in the past (with a different host) so I am intrigued to see how much he has grown as a hero.

I am beyond happy to be digging this book again and am very happy that I did not drop the title a couple months back when I was toying with the idea. I can't wait to see issue #34 and the fight between these two symbiotes that has been building up now for a couple months.

The Superior Spider-Man #7

Writer: Dan Slott
Penciler: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Color Art: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 4th, 2013

"Troubled Mind Part One: Right-Hand Man"

This is one of those moments that I am incredibly happy I am reading all of the classic Amazing Spider-Man run because if I weren't, I would have no idea who Cardiac is. Considering he has been playing a major role in the issues I have just finished reading, it was exciting to see him in the pages of Superior Spider-Man and shows that Slott is reaching back to the 90s for some of his characters.

This issue continues to show us how Otto does not do well under pressure and thinks that his law is the ultimate law. While fighting a vigilante like Cardiac, his way of responding to his enemies is not great. People do not like seeing a person that commits crimes for the greater good get his face punched in. This includes the Avengers and Otto's subconscious passenger Peter.

Slott has also started to show us that Peter has a little bit of control over Otto when he is asleep and not paying attention. I think this is another way that Slott is showing us that Otto is not going to be Spider-Man forever and that we should just continue to go along for the ride. I am loving the direction this is going and the fact that Otto is so unstable makes it exciting to open each issue. This refresher of a long time hero is fun and I could definitely go along with it for a while.

Next issue promises a battle between Spidey and the Avengers, I feel that it will be great. I am also digging the fact that Ramos is back on the art considering he is one of my current favorite Spider-Man artists. Enough gushing though, give this book a read. It was easily my pick of the week.

All-New X-Men #10

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger
Color Artists: Marte Gracia & Rain Beredo
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 4th, 2013

I am truly starting to believe that Bendis can do no wrong with his X-Men titles. This book has been nothing short of wonderful since the first issue hit my pull list. I can't wait to see what the overlap in Uncanny X-Men does in relation to this book, but I am getting ahead of myself.

At the end of the last issue, Scott and his team had shown up at the Jean Grey School to find members to join their school, The New Xavier School. Of course this name doesn't make the members of the Jean Grey School too thrilled and it makes Wolverine and the staff a tad nervous about losing their students to the school. The issue ends with someone claiming that they will be going with Scott (I am guessing Jean but they do not say) which comes as a shock to everyone else.

Other than the conversation at the school, Mystique is finally on the move and she is using the image of X-Men to do it. I wonder what she is up to...It is sort of nice to see some actual villain movement instead of just seeing the two teams at each other.

I have said it once and will continue to say that if you have ever been an X-Men fan, ever been interested in the X-Men, or ever wondered if it is a good time to start reading it now is the time. Bendis is doing a masterful job building a story that is enjoyable to be along on the ride with. Pick this series up and be sure to read Uncanny X-Men along with it!

Age of Ultron #4

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Bryan Hitch
Inker: Paul Neary
Colorist: Paul Mounts
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 4th, 2013

This thing is really picking up. There is zero fright of killing off any of the heroes that are still functional which makes it a little exciting BUT that also confirms my original belief that when this is all over there will be a flicker and everyone will still be standing. That isn't a terrible thing and it lets me enjoy this as a stand alone story that will somehow still dribble into the normal 616 universe after the fact.

This books starts us where the last left off with Luke Cage and She-Hulk handling the shock of who is running the Ultron idea on Earth and where Ultron actually is. I really want to discuss the surprise there but I think it is still too soon to throw up any spoilers.... The remaining group of New York heroes is heading to the Savage Land under the cloak of Sue Storm's invisibility and Storm's wind ability. It is a little shocking to see out of all of the heroes that were originally in New York only twelve are left to work together.

There is a short overlap with the heroes in Chicago and San Fransisco which also make the decision to go to the Savage Land based off of Nick Fury's files. By the end of this issue we actually get all of the remaining heroes together in one place with a plan to take down Ultron...sort of.

Bendis is doing a nice job keeping my interest and considering the speed that these issues are coming out it is hard to not get excited each week for a new piece to the puzzle. I still have a lot of questions (like what the hell happened to Black Widow's face) but am sure to have them answered by the conclusion of this series. As of now, I am really happy I decided to stay on for the ride.

A+X #6

"Captain Marvel + Wolverine"

Writer: Peter David

Artists: Giuseppe Camuncoli with Michele Benevento

Colorists: Dan Brown & Andres Mossa

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

"The Thing + Gambit"

Writer: Mike Costa

Artist: Stefano Caselli

Colorist: Andres Mossa

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: March 27th, 2013 

It seems that even superheroes enjoy playing cards. That is what I took away from this issue and I also took away that this thing is running way too long. I thought that this was supposed to be a limited series but can't seem to figure out when it is going to end. I don't hate the book, it can be a lot of fun BUT there is limited content to take away. You get to see heroes interact with one another but it just doesn't feel like it is going anywhere.

The first half of the book had Captain Marvel and Wolverine playing a game of cards. I think it is unfair to use Wolverine as one of the Avengers or X-Men spots considering he is both but that is beside the point. The two are arguing over the idea of Cavemen versus Astronauts and who would win in a fight. It escalates and then start to get at each other until a two-bit enemy shows up that is dealt with in a ridiculous way.

The second half of the book deals with The Thing and Gambit playing yet another game of cards. There is a spattering of flashbacks of the last run in with the two that is directly related to the current card game. The card game, of course, wraps up neatly.

I enjoyed the second story more which is sad considering I love Captain Marvel and this new Wolverine, although over-exposed, is a pretty enjoyable character when written well. I just hate feeling a bit cheated whenever I walk away from this book and I did once again. I need to get a straight answer out of someone if this is a limited series or not because if it isn't ending soon I may have to consider dropping it. I think I may find a better place to drop my $3.99 a month.

Weekly Pulls for 04/03/13

It was nice to be on Spring Break from my job this week which allowed me to catch up on some backlogged issues of comics and to actually read this week's releases in a timely fashion. There is a lot going on in the Marvel Universe and I feel like I am slacking a bit but there is only so much money I can pour into this habit. I mention this because Thanos Rising started this week and I opted out of picking it up. With AoU going on my margin for extra comics has shrunk significantly and I couldn't justify buying another mini-series. Perhaps if there are still issues on the shelves after May and once AoU has come to fruition I am pick up the back issues and carry forward with the five-part mini-series. If not, I don't suppose it is the end of the world.

Other than that I was happy to grab five books this week. One was a book I somehow missed last week and sort of wished I missed it completely but I will cover that in the review. Regardless, there were five books this week:

A+X #06 (Last week's book)
Age of Ultron #04
All-New X-Men #10
The Superior Spider-Man #07
Venom #33

It is nice to have a little lull in my pulls this week because it gave me a little time to catch up on my reading of Amazing Spider-Man. As of last night I have reached the 30th anniversary of the series with issue #365. I have seen Venom created, defeated, reformed and spawned into Carnage. I have seen many villains fall and return to give Spidey some problems. I have seen the growth of Peter Parker into the man we are all familiar with. It has been an incredibly ride and I look forward to the next 20 years of comics to read (yes, even the Clone Saga) because it is engrossing my knowledge of one of my favorite heroes of all time.

Enough rambling though, I must be off. I will slap some reviews up later today but until then, happy reading comic fans.

X-Men Legacy #8

Writer: Simon Spurrier
Penciler: Tan Eng Huat
Inker: Craig Yeung
Colorist: Jose Villarrubia
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 27th, 2013

"Ballad of the Gloryhog"

The courting of Ruth continues in this issue with David showing her a new mutant that has a very unique power. His power is to take credit for anything good that happens around him. Even as a joke on the credits page of the comic his name (Santi Sardina) is written above each person that had something to do with the book while their names were crossed out. David's idea with this mutant is that he could have him ultimately work to become president so that people would start to see mutants as something that was good.

The date that is taking place in the Psychosphere (great place for two telepaths to meet) is broken up by something monstrous which knocks Ruth away after she seems to think David shouldn't guide Santi into something he may not want to do but support him in doing something he does, such as art. This monster's attack forces David to go back into his mind, that he doesn't trust because of the appearance of something that looks like his father appearing there, to grab powers. 

After seeing the struggle in his own mind David makes a choice that seems best with Santi. I think that the whole relationship building with Ruth is causing him to grow significantly as a character and maybe even be balancing out his sanity more. I love the way that Spurrier is handling David and this book stays consistently at the top of my pull list because I can't wait to read it every month. I feel connected to David like he is a real person and keep hoping things work out for him...that and I want to see what or who this thing is that is living in his brain trying to take control over him.

Wolverine and the X-Men #27

Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Ramon Perez
Colorists: Laura Martin & Matt Milla
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 27th, 2013

"Savage Learning Part 3: Generation Dog"

I am still not certain how I am feeling about this arc. I do feel like the students are too quick to trust Dog just because he gave them weapons and find it surprising that the only person who doesn't seem to completely bow to trust is Quentin and that doesn't work out too well for him.

The parts that aren't directly dealing with Dog piqued my interest though. I am liking that we are starting to see Genesis deal with the fact that he is an Apocalypse clone and that he is having a more open conversation with Wolverine about it. I also like that we are seeing a little bit of development with Sprite. I am starting to feel like the kids are becoming their own X-Men team because of little moments where it is more about dealing with them than the staff of the school. I have been wanting this book to start heading in that direction for a while and hope that it continues to do so.

As for the remainder of this arc, I have faith that I will be happy at the end. Dog is an okay character but I could care less about the "enemies" from different eras. I am sure it will all be wrapped into a neat conclusion in the next issue or two and then we can finally get to the Hellfire Club stuff that I have been waiting for. Until then, I am sticking with Wolverine and the X-Men and hope that it starts getting back to the greatness that it was two arcs ago.

Uncanny X-Force #3

Writer: Sam Humphries
Penciler: Ron Garney
Inker: Scott Hanna
Mindscape Pages: Adrian Alphona & Christina Strain
Colorists: Marte Gracia with Israel Gonzalez
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 27th, 2013

"Sweet Virginia"

I think this title is hitting its stride. This issue was action packed, blended some history of the heroes into it and started to show a team forming. I am loving the insanity that is Bishop so far and the fact that the whole "team" isn't playing well together. Everyone seems to have their own goals and can't agree on how to do anything which is making it completely interesting.

One of the things that is drawing me the most is what is going to happen with the three Fantomax characters. They are obviously still drawn to Psylocke and will hopefully find her soon. Fantomax was one of my favorite parts about the previous Uncanny X-Force run and I am missing him being part of the main team.

I think that this vicious, almost more adult feeling version of an X-Men team is what I need to break up everything else I am reading. If the pacing keeps heading in this direction it could become something that I look forward to with extreme anticipation every month. For now it has moved from my "Stick" pile to my "Stuck" pile. If you listen to the podcast you'd understand what that means. I do recommend reading the previous Uncanny X-Force run before this though. It will help you stay with it long enough to get to this point.

Uncanny Avengers #5

Writer: Rick Remender
Penciler: Olivier Coipel
Inker: Mark Morales
Colorists: Laura Martin with Larry Molinar
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 27th, 2013

"Let the Good Times Roll"

After a couple issues of chaos we are back to the forming of the team. We see the additions of Wasp, Wonderman and Sunfire which could make things a little interesting. I think if you include Cap that makes a team of nine which isn't too many for an Avengers team.

The thing that sort of threw me off was after the cliffhanger of last month's issue we are now thrown the curve ball of Apocalypse seeming to be the forefront enemy. I am not certain if this is going to tie into Red Skull but I do know it is coming. I hope that the story levels out here soon so I can figure out where everything is headed. I am enjoying the book but there is a lot going on.

Other than the already listed things, I am enjoying the fact that this book isn't just about the heroes, it is about human/mutant relations and how they are not going really well after the appearance of new mutants. All of the little errors that are happening with people aren't helping either (see the last page of this issue). I am enjoying Remender's direction as long as it becomes cohesive soon.

The Superior Spider-Man #6 AU

Writer: Christos Gage
Artist: Dexter Soy
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 27th, 2013

"Doomsday Scenario"

Another tie-in to the AoU event where this time we focus on Spider-Man. This is the first time we are blatantly informed that this is definitely Otto and not Peter. He is really trying to figure out how, as one of the smartest people in the world according to himself, he will end Ultron. He claims that if he hadn't been asleep when Ultron took over he would have been able to stop him.

Otto runs a mission with the other surviving heroes to try to stop Ultron by dropping him in the Negative Zone. Of course this doesn't go too well or we wouldn't still have an event going but it shows a level of Otto giving up after being selfish doesn't exactly work out for him. As I said with the Fantastic Four tie-in. This issue isn't necessary at all to enjoy the overall event. I think it is nice that it is finally clear that it is Otto and not Peter and we can see how he is actually handling everything that is going on. The issue was a good read and as a Spidey fan I was happy. Give it a go if you want the full event or if you just like Spidey, if not you can pass it up and be okay.

Scarlet Spider #15

Writer: Chris Yost
Pencils: Khoi Pham w/ Edwards & Siqueira
Inks: Pallot, Bit, Pham, Siqueira & Olazaba
Colors: Antonio Fabela
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 27th, 2013

"In the Midst of Wolves Part 3"

I left the last issue of Scarlet Spider concerned that it was sliding down my list of comics to a nearly drop point. This issue started to redeem that thought process by letting me see Kaine at his most feral, showing that he still has a monster inside of him. I now understand the direction that the last few issues were going and it wouldn't have been fair for me to judge it yet. I have to keep reminding myself that we are in the middle of an arc and Yost hasn't let me down yet.

The majority of this issue was a giant fight with Kaine against the Wolves. We get a small spattering of Aracely's secret past (that even she doesn't know about) and we see that Kaine's problems in relation to her past are far from over. I really do feel bad for him, all he wanted to do was go to Mexico and not be a hero. Now he has been killed, seen that he is still a monster and keeps getting the crap beat out of him. I guess it is no surprise either that there are a ton of b-list villains in this book considering Scarlet Spider is a b-list hero. I just hope that in the near future he is more recognized.

Guardians of the Galaxy #1

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Steve McNiven
Inker: John Dell
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99 ($2.99 at my comic shop since this was a "must read" title)
Release Date: March 27th, 2013

I am still surprised I am reading this book. First, I am not one to jump on a title that contains Iron Man. It isn't that I don't like Tony Stark, I do, I just am never really interested in titles that he is part of. Second, I am not familiar with any of the members of this team. Third, I am reading so much already that this title may make it overwhelming for me. Regardless I have this book and I am intrigued.

I have to admit that I am a little excited to read about a team I know nothing about. It is almost like being a little kid finding new superheroes that you may be able to relate to. I was overly impressed with the Point One issue and I have been enjoying the free Infinite comics on Comixology (if you aren't reading them, you should) because it is helping paint a complete picture of who these guys are and why they are a team.

This issue is set to get the ball rolling on the main story. Star-lord's father is up to something with Earth and he doesn't seem to want his son around. Of course this makes Star-lord (Peter Quill) want to return to Earth with his team quickly. Before that though, there is a bit of a space battle that allows the readers to see the team fight together, which they aren't as prepared for as you would think. I think it is good to see a group of heroes worse for wear after a battle that they technically win and that is what happens in this issue. It is making me like this team more.

I find it incredibly hard to believe that Bendis is writing so many books right now and that I have not been let down yet. I think leaving Avengers was the best thing the man ever did. I hope I can keep saying that for the months to come or my pull list will get significantly shorter. Regardless, I will be continuing my reading of Guardians of the Galaxy because there is a lot to love here and we are just at the beginning.

Gambit #10

Written: James Asmus
Penciled: Clay Mann with Leonard Kirk
Inked: Seth Mann, Clay Mann, & Jay Leisten
Colored: Rachelle Rosenberg
Lettered: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 27th, 2013

"Teeth of the Hydra Upon You" 

I keep threatening to drop Gambit pretty much monthly and yet for some reason I just keep coming back for more. Honestly, I have never been a huge Gambit fan. He doesn't ever seem to be presented in a consistent way and for all intents and purposes is kind of a douche. Yet, Asmus has piqued my interest to the point that I have delved ten issues deep into this solo series and am still in it.

I think this issue paints a pretty good picture as to why I have enjoyed this series for the most part. There is a lot of action, plenty of quick wit from Gambit and he has been consistent throughout. He is becoming a character that feels like he could be a real person that is struggling with his inner demons. He may be considered a womanizer but he is stuck on one girl and he isn't even certain why. There is also that overlying question of is Joelle even being honest with him at all. I think these are the reasons I have stuck with the comic and will continue to do so.

Anyhow, this issue deals with Gambit and Joelle breaking into a top secret lab to get a cure for Joelle's daughter (supposedly) and it doesn't go too well initially. There is plenty of fighting and explosions that Mann and Kirk do an phenomenal job spreading over the pages. All seems to work out but the final page was the hook that I was looking for. One of my favorite X-Men shows and if you have been reading my posts as of late you should have a guess who it is.

So, for now, Asmus will continue to have me as a reader on this book. I really did think I was going to shelf this series after this issue but I have been proven that either the book will keep getting better or that I am a fool and should have dropped it a couple issues back. Only time will tell, until then I will continue to go along on Remy's ride.

Fantastic Four #5 AU

Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Andre Araujo
Color Artist: Jose Villarrubia
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 27th, 2013

I am not one to collect Fantastic Four but I figured grabbing the single issue tie-in wouldn't hurt me. I was correct in that assumption especially with Matt Fraction at the helm. This book answers the question of why is Sue Storm the only member of the team around in the main AoU books and how the team got back to Earth while they are supposed to be traveling the Universes to find a cure for whatever is happening to Reed and potentially everyone else on the team.

The presentation of the events in this book was done incredibly well. The team left a holographic message for Reed and Sue's children saying their goodbyes while layered in with the team fighting off hordes of Ultrons. Even in this issue by the time we get to see Earth it is already devastated by Ultron and many heroes are already dead. I still am scratching my head as to how this is going on in the main universe and how we are ever going to get back to the norm considering the other main titles are still running beside this.

Anyhow, it speaks levels for Fraction's writing when I walk away from a book of characters that I have never really felt connected to and I actually had feeling of remorse for what happens. I don't think this book is necessary to get the full enjoyment out of the main AoU books but it is definitely a good read.

Age of Ultron #3

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Bryan Hitch
Inker: Paul Neary
Colorist: Paul Mounts
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics (Dan Buckley)
Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 27th, 2013

We left our torn heroes at the end of issue #2 ready with a plan to get to Ultron. This issue deals heavily with that plan in New York which deals with Luke Cake and She-Hulk trying to make an exchange with Ultron as the villains were trying to do with Spidey back in issue #1. It seems like a solid plan and gets them generally what they want but there is an interesting twist to the end of it that intrigues me for what is to come. Bendis as said that this isn't the only twist in this series so I wonder where it is going.

Also, there is a short interlude in Chicago with Black Panther, Red Hulk and Taskmaster. It is easy to say that things are not going really well for any heroes at this point. It is really hard to discuss this book without ruining too much of the story but it is starting to pick up. There are a lot of turning cogs to the machine that is ultimately going to explode by the final issues. I am just happy to see it going somewhere. It is hard to judge an event until it is over because you never know what the closing chapters will do to the story (see AvX) but for now, Bendis has me hungry for the next chapter.

Weekly pulls for 03/27/13

I am convinced Marvel knows how to make their customers spend the most amount of money possible and enjoy doing it. I originally jumped into Age of Ultron thinking that it was a lot less burdensome than AvX, which it is but at the same time they are dropping another event Thanos Rising which I do believe is going to tie into Guardians of the Galaxy and who knows what else. It is good to be a Marvel fan right now because the books are getting really good while at the same time that is a double edged sword. Because there is so much good stuff it is hard to choose what is worth picking up and what is worth missing.

I think my pull lists recently have been showing a level of struggling on what to actually keep. I keep debating dropping titles but can never seem to do so (other than Deadpool last month which I still want to read) while continuing to pick up more titles. I think this is the main problem with any comic collector, I just wish I had a little more willpower to say no or a little more cash to say yes. Oh well, the world still turns.

Now that my general angst is out and I have pondered Marvel's marketing on events and what I am going to do about it (still debating Thanos Rising #1 this week...reader feedback would be great) I believe it is time for my books from this week. Note that A+X is missing from my pulls, my comic guy slipped and missed it but I should be getting my copy Wednesday. We shall see...on to my books:

Age of Ultron #3
Fantastic Four #5 AU
Gambit #10
Guardians of the Galaxy #1
Scarlet Spider #15
Superior Spider-Man #6 AU
Uncanny Avengers #5
Uncanny X-Force #3
Wolverine and the X-Men #27
X-Men Legacy #8

A lot of books there and note that three of them are Age of Ultron related. As I said, Marvel knows how to market events. Reviews shall follow shortly. Until then, happy reading!