Fantastic Four #13 Review

You've heard the phrase "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride"? That seems to apply to Karl Kesel when it comes to the Fantastic Four franchise. Kesel has often been called upon to write fill-in arcs and shorter adventures, but the closest he's ever come to writing an ongoing Fantastic Four book was his short-lived Human Torch solo series.

So Kesel was the logical choice to step in for Matt Fraction and help bring this series to a conclusion. He has the experience, certainly. And this issue is immediately more enjoyable than the previous two muddled, overcrowded installments. But while a solid read, this is still a Fraction comic that's missing some of the trademark Fraction charm. And Mark Bagley's artwork remains more rough and jagged than usual. As ever, FF is the real draw with this franchise.

This issue veers into much darker territory as the writers explore an alternate universe with a very specific bearing on the current conflict. The script is actually a bit frustrating in how it first seems to be focused on the regular cast, and then reveals itself to be an alternate universe story but still takes its sweet time making those connections clear. But eventually everything comes together nicely enough. Kesel shows that he still has a firm handle on the Richards clan in any universe, and the pacing is much smoother and more straightforward than it has been.

Again, the diminished humor is a concern, with only a brief scene between Johnny Storm and Bentley "Wiz-Kid" Whitman offering any real levity. But this issue doesn't necessarily call for that approach considering the darker nature of the conflict. We'll see if the remaining few issues can invoke more laughs, or if it's all grim and serious from here on out.

Get the full review from IGN here

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Death of Wolverine: The Weapon X Program #2

They’ve escaped and now anything goes from here when they have to fight for their freedom and keep it as Weapon X will take them back dead or alive. Just those three questions asking what will kill them first between their pasts, their strange new powers, or their mysterious connection to the Wolverine is more than enough reason to give this series a shot as much as the rest which are spinning out of the Death of Wolverine.

With issue #2 of Death of Wolverine: The Weapon X Program, Charles Soule continues to do what he does best when it comes to take characters with potential and doing something creative with them. This is his cup of tea when he is able to take these new characters with new abilities and explore what they are capable of when their backs are against the wall. This issue of Death of Wolverine: The Weapon X Program further shows how unique some of the escapees powers are while also using what they are capable of as a way to create an identity for them beyond who they once were. In fact where he goes beyond the cliche is avoiding altogether trying to force these characters into a position where the have to know who they were before Weapon X. It’s all about where they are in the here and now with the exception of Sharp.

Character development is a big thing going into Death of Wolverine: The Weapon X Program. This issue takes more time fleshing out the characters in a way that their personalities are more distinctive than fearful. Now that they had a little bit of breathing room, characters like Junk, Neuron, Endo, and Skel are able to show what makes them tick. Even if they were experimented on, who they are at the core is still intact.

The mystery of Sharp is definitely something we all should want to follow closely as this story progresses. While there is the question of everyone else’s connection to Wolverine, Sharp obviously stands out as the one who has more to him than meets the eye. Especially when he looks like Logan, has some of his memories, and may even have some of his abilities as well. There is much to be revealed about Sharp that’s being hidden from us and the escapees that we should anticipate finding out.

Death of Wolverine: The Weapon X Program #2 shows that this series has a lot of potential spinning out of the death of a beloved character to many fans. From here one has to wonder what they will do next, what next Weapon X will throw at them, and who they could possibly turn to for help that would better tie these newly created characters to the rest of the Marvel Universe.

Get the full review from Geeked Out Nation here

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Deadpool #37 Review

You have to hand it to Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn. Somehow they're able to keep this series humming along despite the constant cycle of event tie-ins. Original Sin fit perfectly into their plans of exploring Wade's past. Now AXIS comes at an ideal time. Wade's personality has been inverted just as he's finally achieving some semblance of normality and happiness in his personal life. It turns out that inner peace can be a terrible thing when it's just forced on you by a giant, red and purple psychic demon.

That's the thrust of this issue, as Wade finds himself slipping away from his friends, his daughter, and even his new bride. I wish Shiklah had been more of a focus in recent months so that this rift was a little more meaningful. Regardless, Wade's new psychological shift adds a nice bit of drama to the book. It also ties in nicely with the ongoing conflict involving the North Korean mutants.

As always, there's ample humor to balance out the drama. The writers dust off the idea of a disembodied spirit being trapped in Wade's mind, except now rather than Agent Preston it's the old Deadpool. This Wade's horrified reactions to seeing his new self coddle villains and shy away from cutting a Thanksgiving turkey are consistently amusing. And honestly, it would be nice if more characters in AXIS showed this level of mental anguish over being changed.

Mike Hawthorne delivers another engaging set of pages with this issue. His work isn't as detailed as some Deadpool artists, but it is energetic, expressive, and cleanly laid out. The writers give Hawthorne plenty of good material to work with, especially as Wade enters the X-Men's Danger Room and waltzes into a Wild West setting.

Get full review from IGN here

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Axis Revolutions #2 Review

This was a pretty much one big fight scene, but despite that we get plenty of character stuff from the comments being made by both men and the actions they're willing to take. Creed is trying to be a better man, but still he was still willing to fight back. And Kurt is angry, bitter and in full revenge mode.

I loved seeing Kurt cut loose and we got some pretty impressive action from him in this story. (How the hell did Mystique survive an encounter with him during AXIS) Teleporting off limbs, sword play, acrobatics, rapid teleporting, dropping cars and even the tail came in to play.

Extremely enjoyable to see, especially when there's no consequences to worry about for Kurt's character because Creed will heal.

The art was great in this, both Creed and Kurt looked menacing. And the flow of the action and teleporting was captured very well.

The only flaws I really had with the story were Creed's explanation for predicting where Kurt would strike and the fact that Kurt didn't continue attacking after Creed walked away. other than that it was great - not that you could go that wrong with an extended fight scene, but you never know.


Get full review from Comic Book Resources here

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Black Widow #12 Review

Natasha’s past comes back to haunt her in a very public way in Black Widow #12. As Anderson Cooper exposes Natasha’s recent activity, both as a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative and contracted agent, the rest of the superhero and espionage communities at large must scramble to deal with the backlash. While “celebrity guest appearances” such as the one made here tend to be campy, the use of the news anchor serves to ground the story in a semblance of realism and considerably raises the stakes of Natasha.

In Somalia, Natasha is far removed from the troubles brewing back home during a routine mission with the Howling Commandos. After the recent dilemma with Chaos she welcomes the change of pace, even as the Avengers confer with Maria Hill to try to minimize the damage of the report. Every mission since the title began is put under the microscope, her actions and motivations analyzed and debated as eye witnesses give accounts of her very public encounters with assorted antagonists.

In the age of whistleblowers and the demand for government transparency, Black Widow #12 strikes a timely chord. Such an investigation into the scope of Natasha’s missions as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and member of the Avengers calls both of their authorities into question; considering what these entities have recently been up to in Avengers and New Avengers respectively, the public is surely watching people like Natasha quite closely. Edmondson also brings up an interesting point of contrast, whether implicitly or not, between how the public (and the reader) views operatives like Black Widow or Hawkeye and “heroes” like Iron Man or Captain America.

While Natasha’s reputation as an assassin is well-known, all of them have done questionable, sometimes even treacherous things in the name of larger causes. The only thing that really separates them is the fact that people like Natasha primarily use violence as their means, whereas people like Tony Stark are largely Machiavellian, scheming and manipulating people and scenarios to achieve their desired outcomes. Of course the Avengers have been scrutinized by both the public and the government in various storylines, but it still raises the interesting question of who bears the guilt when secrets such as these come to light.

With strong scripting and artwork from start to finish, Black Widow #12 is another solid read from this creative team.

Get the full review from Nerds Unchained here

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Axis: Carnage #2 Review

The Good

AXIS: CARNAGE #1 was really funny. Watching Carnage -- one of the most heartless and violent villains in the Marvel Universe -- fight his desire to slaughter innocents and instead force himself to do the right thing -- or at least try to -- was consistently entertaining and hilarious. But can that same joke still deliver laughs in the second chapter? Thankfully, the answer is a very clear yes. AXIS: CARNAGE #2 is just as fun as the debut issue and had me cracking up a handful of times.

There's so much goofiness to enjoy and a few gags made me burst into laughter. From reworking his origin story so it's more fitting for a hero to the way he interacts with others, observing this new Carnage is such a twisted and good time. Two bits that gave me especially big laughs were Carnage's handling of a bank robbery ("Taking a victory lap, babe!") and the clever handling of the cliffhanger. Carnage as a villain tends to be hit or miss, but Carnage attempting to be a hero? It's such a good time when Rick Spears is writing.

The Bad
When a scene revolves around Carnage, it's great stuff. But if the focus isn't on Carnage, it's just not as engaging or interesting. The plot with this new Sin-Eater is slowly unraveling and it just isn't as gripping or entertaining as the rest of the issue. Obviously it doesn't need to be all comedy all the time, but the terrific writing with Cletus just makes the rest of the material feel way less interesting and will leave you anxious to return to the psychotic symbiote. As for the plot, you shouldn't really go in expecting anything other than pure fun. The insight into Cletus is cool, but there isn't really anything compelling -- the focus is clearly just on keeping readers smiling.
Minor gripe: He couldn't use a tendril to grab onto the car in the final scene.

The Verdict
AXIS: CARNAGE is legitimately hilarious and so much fun. Yes, the plot isn't anything special and the time away from Carnage makes you wish you never left the maniacal symbiote's side, but when we are observing Carnage, it's such a good time and full of amazing silliness. This may not have the level of the blood and darkness you'd expect from a Carnage story, but it more than makes up for that with some excellent comedy as we watch Carnage put in one very awkward situation after another. When all is said and done, you know Carnage will eventually go back to his old ways, but this limited series sure is making me wish that won't happen any time soon.

Get the full review from Comic Vine here

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Avengers World #15 Review

With "AXIS" in full tilt, there comes a day unlike any other, when Earth's Mightiest Heroes were united against a common threat -- except they are that threat. The Avengers as the world knows them are missing and the ones left in public sight aren't exactly performing feats of heroic daring-do. Thus, the writing duo of Nick Spencer and Frank Barbiere use "Avengers World" #15 to recruit a handful of characters to serve as Avengers.

The catch is those newly-minted Avengers are less than famous, despite the fact that at least two of them have been Avengers before. The story itself is front-loaded, with Doctor Doom explaining the Inversion, his new mission and his plan to Valeria Richards through the opening pages of "Avengers World" #15. That digression is compounded when Valeria takes Doom's plan to S.H.I.E.L.D., which affords Spencer and Barbiere the opportunity to infuse some humor at the rest of the issue yet to unfold. Valeria has always been a tough nut to crack, and her words and deeds in this adventure certainly make it easy for readers to lose sight of her youth, especially by the end of this comic book.

"Avengers World" #15 promises to be another comic book that features the charming gathering of the heroes, but a lackluster collection of characters is all that's left. This is definitely a story that needs "AXIS" to exist. Once the Inversion is explained, the writers provide some clues as to what is to come, but "Avengers World" #15 has a completely open ending since no one missed these "Avengers" before now, and they all appear somewhat expendable in this story. Couple that with a significant threat and Spencer and Barbiere give readers a suspense-filled book with high stakes in which anything can happen. After all, Doctor Doom is one of the good guys here.

Get the full review from Comic Book Resources here

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Avengers & X-Men: Axis #6 Review

If you were hoping for Avengers & X-Men: Axis to suddenly get better, then keep hoping. Between the creators and the concept, there was certainly a lot of potential in this event, but it has not lived up to it. Red Skull obtaining the power of a god, Apocalypse returning, the Avengers and X-Men going crazy evil, and Marvel’s villains going crazy good -- it could have been an intriguing exploration of the concept of good and evil focused around the years-spanning story of young Evan/Genesis. Yet we’re left with a story that jumps around to different characters behaving cartoonishly opposite of who they truly are without a strong narrative to make it all gel together.

More than anything, Axis feels like it exists to set up stories in other tie-in comics. That’s been a longstanding complaint about event comics, namely because it makes the core series a hollow outline that can only be filled in by purchasing a slew of tie-in comics. A nine-part event is expensive enough without all that business.

Issue #6 is full of scenarios that could have been interesting, but ultimately fell flat. Rogue and Nightcrawler greeting Mystique; Daredevil confronting jerk Iron Man; Scarlet Witch finally attacking Dr. Doom for wrecking her life; Loki reaching a helping hand out to Thor; Sabretooth acting like Wolverine. These are cool interactions that any Marvel fan would be eager to see -- except Asgardian one, because what about Thor makes gambling his most evil desire? -- yet they wind up having little meat on the bone. Really, those scenes just serve to round everyone up for that final group shot -- a group shot that should have been cool except for the fact that half the characters haven’t played much of a role, if any, in Axis. Remember when Iron Man and company assembled the Thunderbolts in Civil War? Now that was a group shot.

The Verdict
Avengers & X-Men: Axis succumbs to the flaws of event comics, leaving us with a hollow story that never gets to dig in to deliver the good stuff. The quality of the artwork is solid overall, but there are a few noticeable issues. Axis is bittersweet in that It’s a story that longtime Marvel readers have been dying for yet will find hard to be satisfied by.

Get the full review from IGN here

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Avengers #38 Review

One of the weirdly cool things about this Avengers title specifically during this Time Runs Out storyline, is that you actually don’t have any idea where Hickman is going to put the spotlight at from issue to issue. Whenever I expect we’ll get the (former) Avengers traveling to the origin point of the Incursion disaster, we get S.H.I.E.L.D. chasing the Illuminati.

When I think we’re going to get more S.H.I.E.L.D. stuff, we get A.I.M. and what they plan to do in rebuilding the Avengers. I’m sure the lateral movements may prove a little fatiguing in time, but for now, I’m enjoying the wide angle on this story. I mean, there are like 2000 active Avengers characters at this point.

Make no mistake, this a chatty ass issue with basically no action and all dialogue, but it is at least, pretty interesting. There are about three different backdoor conversations being had as the incursions are out in the open and now on the table for everyone’s theories. Everybody seems to have a mole of some sort and who knows who will ultimately be betrayed and who might benefit most from the double dealing. The inclusion of Scott Summers was nice and a welcome wildcard into this issue too…as if we didn’t have enough tennis balls to keep our eyes on. But you know what the comic book gospel is, Hickman never gives us more than we can handle.

The art is on point for this one too. The pencils in particular are clean and accommodating for the straight forward structure, yet complex maneuverings of this issue.

Get the full review from Black Nerd Problems here

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Amazing Spider-Man #10 Review

The GoodThe most fascinating thing about this book isn't the Morlun family killing off Spider-Folk from different worlds. It's the fact Peter Parker and Superior Spider-Man have come face-to-face. In addition, Miles and Peter are reunited as well (SPIDER-MEN fans start cheering now). If you were a fan of SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN, then this is the moment you've been waiting for, since he was knocked out of time.

The real purpose of this issue is to bring the team with the 616 Peter Parker and the Superior Spider-Man team together. Also, it's an excuse to see ALL the Spider-folks take on some of the Morlun clan. Does the issue deliver an immense amount of action that has excitement, suspense, and some touching moments? Well, that's a rhetorical question. Of course it does. It's almost overwhelming how fast this issue moves, even though it's packed to the gills with dialogue.

What's been great about Spider-Verse, and this issue especially, is that it's a lot of fun fan service, which is normally something I'm not a fan of. It's obvious that Dan Slott loves the character and the history of the character. We get to see so many different Spider-folk and most importantly, this book is just a ton of fun. Better yet, it's a ton of fun and tells an interesting story.

The Bad
The issue has a lot of action and people coming together, but it feels like something bigger should have happened here. While most of the issue is a joy to read, it feels like something is missing. It may be because the last issue delivered so many revelations and this one delivered so few.

The Verdict
ASM #10 wasn't as big as a hit as issue #9, it still delivers a ton of fun. Dan Slott loves this character and it shows. Yes, at times, it's a fan service book, but that's not such a bad thing in this case because it's involved in a very interesting story, conceptually. Luckily, it's also executed well too, and the art team is top notch. While this issue left me feeling like something was missing, overall, it's an awesome issue and I'm loving this arc.

Get the full review from Comic Vine here
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Thor #2 Review

Though "Thor" #1 was a fine preview, "Thor" #2 is clearly the main event. Now untethered from her predecessor's story, the Goddess of Thunder is off on a classic Asgardian adventure. With giant-slaying, flights to the moon and showdowns with evil corporation Roxxon, this issue is a whole lot of tremendous, thunderous fun. Jason Aaron's nonstop script and Russell Dauterman and Matthew Wilson's rousing, creative action scenes show that the new Thor is just as entertaining as the old.

Dauterman draws his heroine with ferocious momentum, always either smashing and whirling or gearing up to. Careening through space, crashing into ice or calling down the lightning, she hits all the classic Thor poses. It's clear that Dauterman enjoys the visual language of the Thor canon, and the poses feel organic and exuberant. He and Wilson also have fun with the physics and physicality of Mjolnir, and everything from the page layouts to the coloring shows a thoughtful, playful portrayal of that very unique fighting style. This isn't as roaringly epic as Aaron's previous "Thor" run, but the team produces magical, muscular fight scenes.

The team's creative integration of onomatopoeia is particularly inspired. When Thor tears through a gang of Frost Giants using Mjolnir, her looping course is mapped out with stretched, spiky words -- "krunch," "kraaak" and "kkrroom" -- instead of simple lines. When she lands in the frozen Pacific, the cracks in the ice spell out "thooom." Not only does this lettering-as-landscape effect emphasize the physicality and force of Thor, but it makes clever use of the medium. Since everything in comics is written out, sound effects are technically concrete objects just like the rest of the panel - so why not make that explicit?

Jason Aaron's script is speedy and to-the-point, like its heroine. He handles the many plot elements neatly, and while he doesn't take much time for emotional or thematic beats, the action is so efficient and enjoyable that I didn't mind. This is an issue about the new Goddess of Thunder exercising and understanding her powers, and that's development enough at this stage.

Providing another hint to the Goddess of Thunder's identity, Aaron gives her a rather Midgardian internal monologue. Aloud, she says "How art thou supposed to steer?" but she thinks, "You throw it as hard as you can." Generally, this stream of thoughts is an amiable, excited companion to her dialogue, but sometimes it only serves to downplay her power. When she cries, "I am the Goddess of Thunder!" and it's followed by the self-doubting "I am? Holy crap", that thought bubble only serves to deflate the moment. It's neither humorous nor relatable, and I couldn't figure out why it was there -- especially in a book like this. When writing the female version of a male character, a project that's inevitably dogged by accusations of imitation, it's best not to give the character herself "imposter syndrome." If she is the Thor of the Marvel Universe, let her be. (If there's one thing Thor is, it's confident.)

Get the full review from Comic Book Resources

Superior Iron Man #1 Review

Apparently set after the events of AXIS was born a Superior Iron Man with a Tony Stark that has the ego and drive which had once only been born of his love of alcohol in his youth. Long purged from his system, the weapon creator turned weapon hero has long kept himself as a futurist and now that thought remains, only in a very non-Tony form. The booze is back and so is his love for scantily clad women and doing everything in a an overly egotistical Tony-is-the-only-thing-that-matters way. He’s loosened his view on Extremis and has not only created a new version of Extremis but has given it freely to the public in San Francisco.

Well, maybe that’s not exactly what has happened.

Tom Taylor’s take on Tony Stark is going to piss off a lot of people and that really is the point. This is the ‘opposite’ of Tony Stark that emerged from the currently ongoing AXIS event even though many aspects of his personality may seem familiar to long term readers. Alcoholic? Check. Pure capitalist? Check. Womanizer? Check. Person who is willing to put his profits above everything else? Check. There’s a lot of the very old Tony Stark showing up here and Taylor clearly has a grasp of what parts of Tony we love and what parts which we’d hate if they were in place when he was young. Taylor has a history of taking heroes and making them unheroic from his time in DC and that trait shines through wonderfully here.

I was initially thinking that a complete 180 on Tony Stark was going to come off as badly written and a bad idea. The way the first issue has presented it though really does work. The only reason I’m not super happy is that it takes place after the events of AXIS so it would appear that we may have a couple spoiler hints coming up. Still, a fun read and an interesting direction to take the character in which makes us wonder how they’ll end up redeeming him and how long that will take.

Get the full review from Science Fiction here

Spider-Verse #1 Review

Marvel has a really bad habit of giving their event tie-ins confusing and redundant titles. Spider-Verse is the name of the overarching crossover that just kicked off last week in Amazing Spider-Man #9. It's spawning a number of spinoffs and tie-in comics, one of which is also called Spider-Verse. Because reasons.

All you really need to know about this particular tie-in is that it's an anthology book that focuses on various versions of Spidey from throughout the multiverse. Some of these tales offer origin stories, while others showcase how a particular Spider-Person is recruited by the growing resistance against Morlun's family. Essentially, there's no difference between this series and the recent Edge of Spider-Verse comic except for the focus on shorter vignettes over full-length stories. What matters is that the same charm and sense of adventure is still present.

Spider-Verse #1 features six different story segments. Three of these are shorter, humorous little tales from Amazing Spider-man writer Dan Slott and various artists, while the other three are slightly longer and more in-depth. Fans of the Mangaverse Spider-Man will be pleased to see that Peter Parker return. Unfortunately, creator Kaare Andrews isn't present. Instead, writer Skottie Young and artist Jake Andrews continue this Spider-Man's story one year after his last adventure. This segment proves to be the one real weak link in the issue. Young goes through a lot of effort in sending Peter on a journey to confront his heritage, only for it not to matter much in the end. The art style is also underwhelming, coming across as more Avatar: The Last Airbender-lite than something truly manga-inspired.

THE VERDICT

Spider-Verse #1 doesn't deviate from the format of previous tie-ins. It doesn't even contribute much to the larger Spider-Verse conflict. But it does offer a fun selection of stories that play with the familiar Spider-man mythology in new and interesting ways. The three core features are balanced out with some delightfully twisted short stories from Slott, leading to a well-rounded Spider-package.


Get full review from IGN here

Silver Surfer #7 Review

You ever watch a TV show and come across a “clip-show” episode? That’s what this issue of Silver Surfer feels like, as the Surfer and Toomie reflect on their adventures with Dawn Greenwood. Thankfully, Slott and Allred use this issue to demonstrate the fun of the series and show what makes it so great.

I’ve personally loved this series so far, mostly due to the heavy Doctor Who influence working perfectly with this series. Each issue is full of fun, adventure and loveable characters and this is very much on display in this issue. Slott packs this issue with ridiculously crazy scenarios which showcase a great imagination and demonstrate the kind of hijinks that make me love this series. My only major gripe with this model is that towards the end the story begins to get a bit repetitive and I was hoping we could get back to solving the main conflict.

What helps carry the issue when it starts to get repetitive is the great characterisation present. It really says something when even Silver Surfer’s board manages to have a character in and of itself. I already mentioned the Doctor Who connection, and nowhere is it more present than in Dawn and the Surfer’s interaction. Dawn would make the perfect companion for the show as a fun loving traveling companion who manages to provide a human link for the reader to the very alien Surfer. It’s a fun dynamic that gives the issue a real heart and keeps things light and enjoyable.

Overall, while the pacing of this issue was a little stranger than the previous issues, it managed to perfectly encapsulate what makes this series so fun. Slott and the Allreds are working perfectly in sync on this series and have maintained a high of quality since the first issue. This series is just pure fun and easily accessible to new readers, I highly recommend jumping in!


Get full review from We The Nerdy here

Savage Hulk #6 Review

With Marvel spinning the upcoming Jim Starlin arc into its own mini-series, this looks to be the series finale for Savage Hulk. This issue is actually more of a showcase for Doctor Strange than Hulk, but really, who is in greater need of the exposure right now?

Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko effectively build on a classic Hulk storyline and give Strange the opportunity to test his mettle against an unusual opponent as Hulk becomes more of a background player. As with pretty much any story arc in these “Savage” titles, the art is the primary draw at the end of the day. It’s great to see Hardman tackling the Hulk again. His style channels Hulk’s Silver Age monster roots and the character’s Bronze Age period in equal measure. The resulting effect is moody and very much unlike any Hulk-centric story you’ll find on the stands these days.

Get full review from IGN here

Nightcrawler #8 Review

Nightcrawler gets a distress call from Bloody Bess and teleports to help her. Apparently, they're great friends now and even have romantic tension. They kiss twice in this issue alone...

Anyway, the Crimson Pirates were on a mission to retrieve the female member of the Omega Clan from stasis and all of them got infected by Shadow King except for Bess, thanks to her psychic defenses.

The two run around the West China Desert, fighting off the mind-controlled pirates and the Shadow King.Some pretty good action scenes. The rest of the X-Men show up, instantly get taken over by Shadow King and Nightcrawler prepares to fight them.

Pretty boring stuff. Shadow King is such a bland villain, every story with him feels the same and the fact that he took over the likes of Psylocke and Rachel Grey instantly yet he's unable to take over Bloody Bess is lazy writing.

Still, art is nice and the action is fun.

Get full review from Comic Book Resources here

Nova #23 Review

Zachary Montoya’s cover tells you everything you need to know about Nova #23, its epic tableau recreating the battle of David and Goliath for a comic book audience. This is not the sort of lighthearted adventure that readers have come to expect from Nova, as Sam finds himself facing his greatest threat yet in the form of the Hulk (saying Kluh never gets any easier). Going bi-monthly as it’s pulled into ‘Axis’, Nova’s status as a tie-in might appear arbitrary at first, but this new arc functions well as a rite of passage for young Sam as he takes the next step in his evolution as a superhero.

Steve Rogers’ narration brings an immediate sense of gravitas to the wider conflict at play in the Marvel universe. The exposition rapidly brings readers up to date, yet it can’t help but feel a little clunky in execution – not so much as a passing reference has been had to ‘Axis’ in Nova up until this point, and the events of #23 don’t even line-up with the latest issue of Axis.

David Baldeon’s depiction of the other heroes and villains affected by the inversion wave is similarly haphazard, characterised by peculiar body proportions and facial expressions – at one point Thor’s face kind of looks like Apocalypse’s lined mug. His art shines through strongest whenever Nova is on the page, applying a fairly unique aesthetic style to the boy’s diminutive frame and angled, bug-eyed helmet. This dynamic character design carries over to the antagonistic Hulk as well, depicted here as a genuinely frightening, lumbering menace. Baldeon’s deceptively simple art style works best with clean, well-defined line work and inking, overloaded in these early pages by the sheer amount of content.

This final showdown between the Hulk and Nova functions as the emotional heart of the issue, somewhat making up for the lackluster first half.  The Hulk’s threat is proven palpably real when he bites down on and breaks Sam’s arm in one particularly hard-hitting panel, with Gerry Duggan quick to remind us that Nova is, for all intents and purposes, still but a boy. Nonetheless, Sam rises to the occasion as best as he can, acquitting himself admirably without ever compromising that sense of youthful optimism that makes Nova such a refreshing read. Ending on a complete change in both setting and circumstance, Nova promises not to let off anytime soon.

Get full review from Infinite Comix here



 

Hawkeye Vs Deadpool #2 Review

Gerry Duggan is trying to make me get a shirt with his face on it. Duggan captures Clint Barton’s personality down to the arrow point. We see Clint try to institute a plan in order to rain on Felicia Hardy’s growing syndicate reign. We see that plan go to shit when Kate Bishop and Deadpool are battling Typhoid Mary & The Hardy’s right hand man once they find out they been had. Duggan really has Kate in place as the baby sitter of sorts, the one with the common sense. While Wade is really just a guy trying to protect his daughter who is in custody of a Shield agent (his friend preston). We also get a sense of Wade really trying to be cool with the Hawkeyes and hang out with them. Lolli’s art is smooth and I got no complaints as it displays them playing the avengers version of Mario Kart. Shit is glorious and my favorite shot in the book thus far.

I am a huge fan of this series. Especially when Duggan showcases what everyone brings to the table. When the gang decides to follow up and see if the dead dealer of the info perhaps left something on his cat that he may have left with someone. We see Kate asking door to door and Wade being the one to notice the cat hairs on one of the neighbors who said they didn’t have a cat. Wade plays the nice guy and retrieves the collar of the from the cat (being held by elderly woman) where the usb drive they were looking for was attached all along. Wade then tells Kate she is a way better Hawkeye than Clint… and then things go to shit.

This is the best “VS” book marvel has put out and best team up they have put out. Dead ass. Only team ups touching this was when Deadpool shared a book with Cable and when Deadpool teamed up with Hawkeye in A+X.

Get full review from Black Nerd Problems here

Death of Wolverine: Logan Legacy #4 Review

Yurikio Oyama know as Lady Deathstrike heard the rumblings of Wolverine's Death, and something else. The Yakuza raided a storage place in Tokyo of Logan's containing various items. One item they left with is the Honor Sword of Clan Yashida. Given to logan so he could be the Custodian of the sword. It was given to him years ago by his once fiance Mariko Yashida after logan killed her father the crime lord Singen Harada.

Lady D goes to a Gambling den in which the Yakuza have gambled away the sword in a, game. She challenges the men for the sword who proceed to use the spirit of Iruzumi which lady d reveals is the tattoos of the, yakuza. Demon like spirits come out which are created by nantes in the ink from the tatoos.

She avoided it as best as she could and kills the men. As she reclaims the sword q man comes in with a group if teenage girls ready to sell for the sword. Lady D makes quick work of him and saves the girls gives them money and tells them to go.

She goes to a cemetery of sorts logan built, filled with empty Graves to fallen friends and even enemy's as a place for memories. Lady D places the sword on the stones and vows to be better mat e even better then logan himself. She says his, work is unfinished. And that she will be that presence that his death made a void for.

Art was great this issue, really set the tone. Continuity was mentioned and honoree which is great. I loved how his death had meant to her and how she desides to define herself differently.


Get full review from Comic Book Resources here

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #5 Review

Act II of Avengers & X-Men: Axis continues as we see the fallout of the inversion. Last issue showed a lot of promise with its focus on Superior Iron Man, Carnage, and the X-Men, but Iron Man and Carnage don’t even show up in this issue, and now the X-Men are quiet as Apocalypse doles out his mantra. There are some great scenes in issue #5 between Spider-Man and Nova, but putting the spotlight on them without involving those other characters makes the narrative unfocused. Without a character or group to act as the main throughline of the event, Axis doesn't feel like one cohesive tale.
Rick Remender writes a snappy Spider-Man -- and on a side note, with his sense of humor, you could see him doing a great job if he were to take over Amazing Spider-Man one day. The interactions Spider-Man has with Nova are great fun, and when the Avengers reveal their crazy side, their escape certainly thrills, but the quality takes a dip after that.

We’re left with the X-Men and Apocalypse invading Avengers Tower to smack around Captain Falcon and make their play for dominance. Thing is, there’s no one to root for in that scene -- they’re all jerks! -- so instead of feeling dramatic, the issue goes out on an indifferent note. It was inevitable for the X-Men and Avengers to clash once the inversion struck, but with both groups acting cartoonishly evil, it’s hard to feel invested in the conflict.

At the end of the day, what’s most bothersome while reading this issue is that after years of waiting to see the end of Remender’s Apocalypse story -- the one that started in Uncanny X-Force, went through Uncanny Avengers, and is now climaxing in Axis -- it’s nowhere near as satisfying as one would expect given how great the buildup has been. Axis isn’t over yet, so of course it’s impossible to judge it completely, but with the way things are going, it looks there’s just not enough time or space in Axis to do the story justice.

THE VERDICT

It’s certainly a great time watching Spider-Man and Nova interact in this issue, but the fun stops there. The inversion concept has tons of potential to mine for great stories, yet it remains untapped. Instead, the inverted heroes are one-dimensional in their evilness, and so when they clash, there’s an indifferent feeling towards the outcome. We all know Remender is capable of telling some excellent comic book stories, but like so many before him, the cramped nature of event comics doesn’t allow him to do the story justice.


Get the full review from IGN here

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