Monday, May 28, 2018
I’ve been wondering if the big parade of geek movies coming out on the big screen and later for home entertainment is affecting the sales of comic books. It’s great that loads of people have gone to see Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Deadpool 2, Solo et al, and will go to the still unreleased movies in the pipeline. I wish more of them would try out the comic books that those movies were inspired by. I also wonder if comic book fans have cut back their comic book purchases because they are spending their money going to these movies. The wait between geek centric movies used to be years. Then it was down to months and now we see them hitting the big screens almost weekly just like how new comic books hit the racks. I think I’m in the minority of people who prefer to sit quietly at home to enjoy my printed stories and art rather than sitting in a crowded theatre watching my heroes in all that frenetic CGI action. Maybe it’s because I’m old.
X-Men the Wedding Special #1 – Not to be outdone by Bruce and Selina’s upcoming nuptials over at DC, Marvel is presenting us with the long overdue marriage of Piotr Rasputin and Kitty Pryde. But first here’s a $4.99 US one shot with three wonderfully cheesy stories. First we have Chris Claremont (writer) Todd Nauck (art) and Rachelle Rosenberg (colours) recapping Kitty’s origin and adventures with the X-Men leading up to her wedding. Then we have Marc Guggenheim (writer) Greg Land (pencils) Jay Leisten (inks) and Jason Keith (colours) showing us what happens when Piotr and the boys go to Vegas for a bachelor party. All hell breaks loose. Finally it’s the girls’ turn as Kelly Thompson (writer) Marika Cresta (art) and Frederico Blee (colours) introduce us to stripperoke, a combination of karaoke and strippers. Sounds like fun right? The whole issue was heroically lettered by VC’s Colonel Clayton Cowles. I read it and wept (not with happiness either).
Super Sons #16 – Peter J. Tomasi (writer) Carlo Barberi & Brent Peeples (pencils) Art Thibert & Scott Hanna (inks) Protobunker (colours) Rob Leigh (letters). End of Innocence part 2. I find it hard to believe that Kid Amazo could beat the Justice League so easily but there you go. The boys free the adults from the bad guy all by themselves and the dads are impressed. Yes, even Batman. I wonder who is telling these bedtime stories.
Hunt for Wolverine: Mystery in Madripoor #1 – Jim Zub (writer) Thony Silas (art) Filipe Sobreiro (colours) VC’s Joe Sabino (letters). The last team to go looking for answers to Logan’s disappearance is all women. Psylocke, Kitty Pryde, Jubilee, Storm, Rogue and Domino head to Madripoor to meet with Magneto. They suspect he had something to do with Wolverine’s missing body. They are met by an all female team of super villains lead by Viper. We’ve got Mindblast, Knockout, Bloodlust, Snake Whip and Sapphire Styx. Six against six and the bad guys’ surprise attack gives them the advantage. I wish the art could have been prettier what with all the women involved. If the next issue doesn’t offer more than just the heroes and villains fighting each other I think I will pass on reading the full 4 issues to see what Kitty and her crew find out.
Detective Comics #981 – James Tynion IV (writer) Eddy Barrows (pencils) Eber Ferreira (inks) Adriano Lucas (colours) Sal Cipriano (letters). Batmen Eternal finale. That was a very satisfying ending to the story centered around Tim Drake and Batman’s group of Gotham City’s protectors. I liked that everybody got some closure. I look forward to seeing what comes next.
Old Man Hawkeye #5 – Ethan Sacks (writer) Marco Checchetto (art) Andres Mossa (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). An Eye for an Eye part 5. The big shocker is who the POTUS is in this reality. That’s right at the start of this issue. Another surprise awaits on the last page. I love seeing who is still alive and kicking in this wasted future.
The Silencer #5 – Dan Abnett (writer) Viktor Bogdanovic (art) Mike Spicer (colours) Tom Napolitano (letters). Honor/Silencer is being manipulated like a puppet on a string. She can trust no one. I want to be there when she finally takes control of her own life again because the bad guys are going to pay big time.
Moon Knight #195 – Max Bemis (writer) Paul Davidson (art) Mat Lopes (colours) VC’s Cory Petit (letters). This crazy book just got crazier with the introduction of the Collective. What a bizarre creature. We’ve spent the last few issues inside Marc’s head and now he has been welcomed into other people’s psyches. This title has veered into writer Peter (Shad the Changing Man) Milligan territory.
Weapon X #18 – Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (writers) Yildiray Cinar (art) Frank D’Armata (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). Sabretooth’s in Charge part 2. While most of the team fight off mutants in a Russian prison, Sabretooth and Omega Red have a bonding experience sharing ultra violent tendencies. I like this Victor Creed.
Incredible Hulk #717 – Greg Pak (writer) Carlo Barberi (pencils) Walden Wong (inks) Frank D’Armata (colours) VC’s Cory Petit (letters). World War Hulk II finale. Ah nertz, this is the last issue of Amadeus Cho starring as the Hulk. I’ve enjoyed his adventures since his debut as the Totally Awesome Hulk in December 2015 and now he makes way for the return of Bruce Banner as the Immortal Hulk which hits the racks June 6. The new book doesn’t look like it will be as much fun as this one but I will reserve judgement until I read it. Happy trails to Amadeus. You can still follow his exploits with the Champions, who make an appearance in this issue.
Invincible Iron Man #600 – Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Stefano Caselli; Alex Maleev; David Marquez; Daniel Acuna; Leinil Francis Yu & Gerry Alanguilan; Jim Cheung; Mike Deodato Jr.; Mark Bagley, Andrew Hennessy & Scott Hanna; Andrea Sorrentino (art) Marte Gracia, Alex Maleev, Daniel Acuna, Guru-eFX, Romulo Fajardo, Marcelo Maiolo & Rachelle Rosenberg (colours) VC’s Clayton Cowles (letters). This is the last Marvel comic book to hit the racks written by Brian Michael Bendis. I’ve read most of what he’s written for Marvel and have enjoyed each issue. Tony Stark: Iron Man #1 by Dan Slott (writer) Valerio Schiti (art) and Edgar Delgado (colours) comes out June 20. We’ll see what direction they go with old shellhead. They have a tough act to follow.
The Mighty Thor: At the Gates of Valhalla #1 – This $4.99 US one shot has two stories that follow the retirement of Jane Foster as the Mighty Thor. “The Tomorrow Girls” by Jason Aaron (writer) Jen Bartel (art) Matthew Wilson (colours) and VC’s Joe Sabino (letters) is about the Odinson’s grand daughters, the Goddesses of Thunder, travelling back through time to visit Jane. We last saw these fun sisters during the God Butcher story. Frigg, Ellisiv and Atli give us hints to possible future adventures. “The Lord of the Realms” by Jason Aaron (writer) Ramon Perez (art) Matthew Wilson (colours) and VC’s Joe Sabino (letters) reminds us that Malekith, King of the Dark Elves, is still waging war with the ten realms. It looks like the war will involve Earth and we will find out how when Thor #1 comes out June 13.
Captain America #702 – Mark Waid (writer) Leonardo Romero with Rod Reis & Howard Chaykin (art) Jordie Bellaire with Rod Reis & Jesus Aburtov (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). Continuing the story of Steve’s descendants in the 24th century. This started out with Jack Rogers finding an American government secret that harms its citizens but then this issue introduces a classic Captain America villain to make matters worse. I can still picture this bad guy holding the Cosmic Cube and cackling hysterically. Jack Kirby art is seared into my brain.
Daredevil #602 – Charles Soule (writer) Mike Henderson (art) Matt Milla (colours) VC’s Clayton Cowles (letters). Mayor Matt Murdock makes many memos to help keep the civilian population of New York City safe from the Hand. It’s tough for him to get into the fray personally as his secret alter ego but he finds a way. Wait until you see who he appoints as his new Chief of Staff.
Weapon H #3 – Greg Pak (writer) Cory Smith (art) Morry Hollowell with Rachelle Rosenberg (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). Dario Agger, the head of Roxxon, wants to capture Hulkverine for nefarious purposes and just like the original Hulk, all Weapon H wants is to be left alone. I was going to bench this book because it’s just Hulkverine fighting bad guys that Roxxon keeps siccing on him. Greg Pak takes a page out of Brian Michael Bendis’s playbook and throws a new threat at Clay right at the end of this issue that forces me to read the next issue. Well played sir.
Avengers #2 – Jason Aaron (writer) Ed McGuinness (pencils) Mark Morales & Jay Leisten (inks) David Curiel (colours) VC’s Cory Petit (letters). It seems there’s a puppet master behind the latest threat to Earth that calls for the Avengers assembling. Avengers fans will immediately guess who it is but all anyone else has to do is research the origin of this team.
