Monday, April 16, 2018
Today is going to be challenging here in Ottawa. Freezing rain overnight has left thick ice on everything. It’s going to take a lot of muscle and time to scrape off any cars parked outside overnight. Penny has been going at hers for half and hour and she still hasn’t left for work. I would normally go out and help her but I caught a bad cold and I feel like poop. I probably got the bug on the flight home from Cuba last Tuesday. My immune system let me down this trip.
Our week at the Brisas Guardalavaca resort in Cuba was near perfect. Beautiful sun every day. I took one of the resort bikes out for a ride on one of the only cloudy mornings, got rained on a little but made it back to the resort unscathed. I donned mask, snorkel and fins every afternoon but one to swim out to look for tropical fish on what remained of the reefs after last year’s hurricanes. I’m happy to be home but I wish winter would finally leave the area. Just going to stay in today and try to get better.
Domino #1 – Gail Simone (writer) David Baldeon (art) Jesus Aburtov (colours) VC’s Clayton Cowles (letters). Killer Instinct part 1. It’s my lucky day. The merc with the facial tattoo is back on the racks and she’s being take care of by a writer and artist team that I like a lot. This story starts off with Neena Thurman’s birthday but may end in her death day. If I didn’t like this whole issue and the many guest stars so much, that last page guarantees that I will be reading the next issue.
Immortal Men #1 – Jim Lee, Ryan Benjamin & James Tynion IV (storytellers) Jim Lee & Ryan Benjamin (pencils) Scott Williams & Richard Friend (inks) Jeremiah Skipper & Alex Sinclair (colours) Carlos M. Mangual (letters). The End of Forever part 1. I used to get excited when I saw Jim Lee’s name attached to a new project because his art was so fantastic. At least to me it was. His X-Men and Batman stuff made me go “wow”. Now I look at his art and feel meh about it. This latest New Age of Heroes book introduces a team of immortals that are brand new to me. None of them made a positive impression. I didn’t finish reading the Dark Nights Metal stories and this team ties in to that series so that’s probably why I couldn’t get into this debut. These Immortal Men will be short-lived.
Xerxes #1 – Frank Miller (story & art) Alex Sinclair (colours). I really liked 300 when it hit the racks 20 years ago. This new 5-issue mini promises to be just as good. This time the Greeks and the Persians go at each others’ throats in 490 BC. I have an interest in ancient history so I’m going to follow this story to see what happens.
Exiles #1 – Saladin Ahmed (writer) Javier Rodriguez (pencils & colours page 4) Javier Rodriguez (pencils) Jordie Bellaire (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). Here we go again with Blink leading a team of heroes to save the multiverse. This first issue introduces two team members and the big bad guy that they’ll be facing. I liked this debut. It reminded me of the Unstoppable Wasp book with young Nadia. I really enjoyed Javier’s art in Spider-Woman so I’m giving this new book a chance.
Batman #44 – Tom King (writer) Mikel Janin & Joelle Jones (art) June Chung & Jordie Bellaire (colours) Clayton Cowles (letters). I loved the silent scenes where Selina picks out her wedding dress. Those pages are interspersed with flashbacks showing different times in Batman and Catwoman’s tumultuous relationship. The lead up to the wedding has been amazing. I’m starting to get a bad feeling about the blessed event however. The “’til death do us part” part may be a nasty surprise that the creative team are going to spring on us. I really hope not.
Oblivion Song #2 – Robert Kirkman (writer) Lorenzo De Felici (art) Annalisa Leoni (colours) Russ Wooton (letters). Still liking this adventures in monster land series.
Runaways #8 – Rainbow Rowell (writer) Kris Anka (art) Triona Tree Farrell (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). Julie Power/Lightspeed is all grown up. I remember reading Louise Simonson and June Brigman’s book when it first hit the racks in 1984 and loving the Power Pack kids. I never would have thought that Julie would mature into the woman she is now and would be dating Karolina. Julie’s visit to her girlfriend’s is interrupted by a surprise villain who wants Victor’s head. I was surprised because I thought he was a good guy now.
Superman #44 – Patrick Gleason & Peter J. Tomasi (writers) Doug Mahnke (pencils) Jaime Mendoza & Doug Mahnke (inks) Wil Quintana (colours) Rob Leigh (letters). Bizarroverse part 3. Thank Darkseid this story is over. This climax had more Bizarro characters so the confusion I felt while reading this issue was increased exponentially. Even the sound effects were Bizarro. I hope we get back to normal next issue.
American Gods: My Ainsel #2 – Neil Gaiman (writer) P. Craig Russell (script & layouts) Scott Hampton (art) Rick Parker (letters). Find out why this arc is called My Ainsel.
Spider-Man #239 – Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Oscar Bazaldua (art) Brian Reber (colours) VC’s Cory Petit (letters). The Sinister Six deliver their stolen S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier to the buyer. A special guest star team helps Miles to stop the handover. Somebody is going to die I bet.
Detective Comics #978 – James Tynion IV (writer) Javier Fernandez (art) John Kalisz (colours) Sal Cipriano (letters). The villain tips his hand this issue. I just noticed that all the ad pages were in the back of this book so that reading the story was a lot smoother. I wish every comic book was printed that way.
Avengers #687 – Mark Waid, Al Ewing & Jim Zub (writers) Paco Medina (pencils) Juan Vlasco (inks) Jesus Aburtov & Frederico Blee (colours) VC’s Cory Petit (letters). No Surrender part 13. The Avengers find out what they’re involved in as Voyager confesses to her duplicitousness just in time for the bad guy to ratchet up his threat to destroy the planet. The scene between Jarvis and Bruce Banner bodes well for the return of the Hulk.
Avengers #688 – Mark Waid, Al Ewing & Jim Zub (writers) Kim Jacinto & Stefano Caselli (art) David Curiel (colours) VC’s Cory Petit (letters). No Surrender part 14. The Avengers need every hero they can assemble to defeat the Challenger after he crowns himself the Grandmaster Prime. It’s going to take a lot of sacrifice to save the doomed planet. Who will not survive is the question.
Old Man Hawkeye #3 – Ethan Sacks (writer) Marco Checchetto (art) Andres Mossa (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). Clint is hunting Thunderbolts and Bullseye is hunting Clint. We all know that Clint doesn’t die in this story because he still has to go on a road trip with Old Man Logan. I’m curious to see how he survives Bullseye.
New Mutants: Dead Souls #2 – Matthew Rosenberg (writer) Adam Gorham (art) Michael Garland (colours) VC’s Clayton Cowles (letters). The team gets sent to the Arctic to deal with a giant problem. Meanwhile a new New Mutant makes a surprise appearance on the last page. Maybe Doug Ramsey will show up too.
Amazing Spider-Man #798 – Dan Slott (writer) Stuart Immonen (pencils) Wade von Grawbadger (inks) Marte Gracia (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). Go Down Swinging part 2. I love the design of the new Red Goblin. The sacrifice that Peter has to make to keep himself and everyone he loves safe is huge. Now we’ll see if he can come up with a way to beat the Red Goblin without his web shooters.
Marvel Two-In-One #5 – Chip Zdarsky (writer) Valerio Schiti (art) Frank Martin (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). Ben and Johnny find themselves in a universe where GalacDoom has eaten everything except Earth. Now he’s going to eat it too. Then what? There’s nothing left to eat. Not very bright, GalacDoom. Seeing the Silver Surfer and Emma Frost doing the Smallville thing was cool though.
All-New Wolverine #33 – Tom Taylor (writer) Ramon Rosanas (art) Nolan Woodard (colours) VC’s Cory Petit (letters). Old Woman Laura part 1. We jump into the future where Laura is queen of Madripoor after the good guys win Doom World War. Wait until you see who the POTUS is. Laura has only months to live due to a genetic glitch and one of the items on her bucket list is to kill Victor Von Doom. Someone shows up in the last panel and April 25, when the next issue hits the racks, can’t come soon enough for me.
Astonishing X-Men #10 – Charles Soule (writer) Aco (pencils) David Lorenzo (inks) Rachelle Rosenberg (colours) VC’s Clayton Cowles (letters). A Man Called X part 4. As much as I liked Aco’s art in the Nick Fury mini, I didn’t think it suited that spy versus spy story. It’s perfect for this reality warping story though. The team tries to save the villagers of Fetters Hill in the Scottish Highlands from the villain Proteus before he can spread his madness even further. I’m interested to see how they do that.
X-Men Red #3 – Tom Taylor (writer) Mahmud Asrar (art) Ive Svorcina (colours) VC’s Cory Petit (letters). The Hate Machine part 3. I don’t remember much about the villain Cassandra Nova but it’s clear she’s one very nasty person in the first three pages. I’m not usually a fan of super hero teams but Tom Taylor writes the All-New Wolverine and Gabby and Laura are on this team so this book stays on my “must read” list.
Darth Vader #14 – Charles Soule (writer) Giuseppe Camuncoli (pencils) Daniele Orlandini (inks) David Curiel (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). Burning Seas part 3. Vader is sent to the oceanic planet of Mon Cala to hunt down some surviving Jedi that slipped through the Empire’s clutches when Order 66 was executed. The defiant Mon Calamari are thwarting his efforts. Mmm…calamari is yummy.
Captain America #700 – Mark Waid (writer) Chris Samnee (art) Matthew Wilson (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). So disappointed that a time paradox was used to beat the bad guy. All that matters to Cap fans is that Steve is back in the “present” and the series continues.
