Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 3:24 am
Here's a rundown of whats shakin' in the Marvel U. ( Excluding X-Stuff) ( and Ultimates)
Amazing Spidey. I LOVE Deodato's art. But I think JMS has run out of ideas. Let's face it, that Gwen Stacy storyline sucked about the biggest balls a comic story ever has. I'm gonna read the "Other" crossover, but if it stinks, I'm dropping ASM ( I don't bother with the other two Spidey books) I'll get my Spidey fix in...
(New)Avengers. Man this book kicks ass. Bendis is a writing legend. Watching Wolverine and Luke Cage ineract with Captain America and Spidey is perfect. They could just sit around in the Avengers penthouse and not actually do anything super heroic and this book would be worth buying. Now we've got the mysterious Ronin storyline. Which they are trying to make you think is Elektra, but I think that's a red herring. I think it's Shang-Chi, but I think the real kicker is that Ronin will actually be a different hero every time, leading up to it eventually being Matt Murdock in the costume. THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ.
Black Panther. I bought up the first two issues. But since I can't stand Romita's art and they were just rehashing his origin for the umpteenth time. I could care less. DROPPED.
Captain America. Brubaker is spinning an exciting yarn. Despite bringing Bucky back a cryo frozen cyborg Commie assassin, I actually finish each issue wondering where the story will go. And that's all any book can do. Make you come back next month. HIGH RECOMENDATION.
Daredevil. Alas, Bendis and Maleev are leaving. But Brubaker is coming on board, and since he's doing solid work on Cap, I'll stick around for an issue or three. But anything after bendis is gonna be a falloff. I'm just interested in seeing what Ed will do with the mess Bendis promised he's gonna leave the character in. Sounds awesome.
Defenders. Wacky fun stuff from the guys that brought us the Justice League back in the 80's Giffen, Dematteis and Maguire. Watching Strange and Namor constantly sniping is hilarious. They don't seem to grasp the Silver Surfer, instead using him as a one joke punchline, but mostly its just fun to watch a super team bicker more than save the world.
Exiles. Sort of a mutie book, but I also look at this as kind of the heir apparent to What If...? What if...? was cool when it was good. I'm glad they're sort reinstating it as as a kind of annual event where every December they release a handful of one shots. This is book is pretty good when it's good, and not so good the rest of the time. IN DANGER.
Fantastic Four. it took me about ten issues to realize that McNiven was only doing the covers on MK4, so I dropped that one. I've tentative about reading JMS run on the regular title since he's been kinda dropping the ball on ASM, but I dig Mike McKone's art and so far the story has been fast paced and the characterizations have been spot on. So for now its on my buy list.
Ghost Rider. Excellent limited series with gorgeous art. HIGH RECOMENDATION.
Hulk. After Bruce Jones apocalyptically letdown finale of his conspiracy story. Is it just me or did he get bored with his own byzantine plot and just...end it? Then we a weak Peter David story which gets waylaid by an even weaker House of M tie in. They say big things are happening next year with the Hulk, but as of right now...DROPPED.
Iron Man. Ugh. First off, this series started at the same time as Captain America. Cap's on issue 12, this one is on issue 4. Second. Nothing has happened in those four issues. Some bad guy whupped Iron Man's ass and Tony Stark is gonna "take the next step" in Armor Evolution. Other than that it's been a bunch of philosophical talk about obscure authors that you only have to read in advance Graduate classes. Boring and Boring. DROPPED.
Punisher. Wow. Hardcore ass whupping thanks to the MAX imprint. Lots of swearing and titties and violence. The way the Punisher should be. Frank Castle is a fucking sociopath thanks to Garth Ennis and yet it's compelling to watch him month after month. I mean, he erased his closest friend's head with a point blank shotgun blast because he "betrayed" him. ( We'll miss you Microchip) MUST READ.
Runaways. I've actually never read this, but everyone keeps giving it tons of kudos. And going on about how hot little Julie Power from Power Pack is now. That's just sick.
Supreme Power. Gone as we know it. The Nighthawk book is pretty good. The Hyperion book slightly less so. When its all done we'll have Marvel Knights Squadron Supreme which doesn't sound like it can live up to the previous series. I'll probably get the first issue or arc, but this ones is definitley on the chopping block.
Young Avengers. A strong start about the next group of Marvel heroes. Lets hope they don't turn into the next New Warriors.
That's about 50% of what's being offered by the House of Ideas right now. Who can keep track of everything they deluge os with? But that's basically the tentpole rundown.
Amazing Spidey. I LOVE Deodato's art. But I think JMS has run out of ideas. Let's face it, that Gwen Stacy storyline sucked about the biggest balls a comic story ever has. I'm gonna read the "Other" crossover, but if it stinks, I'm dropping ASM ( I don't bother with the other two Spidey books) I'll get my Spidey fix in...
(New)Avengers. Man this book kicks ass. Bendis is a writing legend. Watching Wolverine and Luke Cage ineract with Captain America and Spidey is perfect. They could just sit around in the Avengers penthouse and not actually do anything super heroic and this book would be worth buying. Now we've got the mysterious Ronin storyline. Which they are trying to make you think is Elektra, but I think that's a red herring. I think it's Shang-Chi, but I think the real kicker is that Ronin will actually be a different hero every time, leading up to it eventually being Matt Murdock in the costume. THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ.
Black Panther. I bought up the first two issues. But since I can't stand Romita's art and they were just rehashing his origin for the umpteenth time. I could care less. DROPPED.
Captain America. Brubaker is spinning an exciting yarn. Despite bringing Bucky back a cryo frozen cyborg Commie assassin, I actually finish each issue wondering where the story will go. And that's all any book can do. Make you come back next month. HIGH RECOMENDATION.
Daredevil. Alas, Bendis and Maleev are leaving. But Brubaker is coming on board, and since he's doing solid work on Cap, I'll stick around for an issue or three. But anything after bendis is gonna be a falloff. I'm just interested in seeing what Ed will do with the mess Bendis promised he's gonna leave the character in. Sounds awesome.
Defenders. Wacky fun stuff from the guys that brought us the Justice League back in the 80's Giffen, Dematteis and Maguire. Watching Strange and Namor constantly sniping is hilarious. They don't seem to grasp the Silver Surfer, instead using him as a one joke punchline, but mostly its just fun to watch a super team bicker more than save the world.
Exiles. Sort of a mutie book, but I also look at this as kind of the heir apparent to What If...? What if...? was cool when it was good. I'm glad they're sort reinstating it as as a kind of annual event where every December they release a handful of one shots. This is book is pretty good when it's good, and not so good the rest of the time. IN DANGER.
Fantastic Four. it took me about ten issues to realize that McNiven was only doing the covers on MK4, so I dropped that one. I've tentative about reading JMS run on the regular title since he's been kinda dropping the ball on ASM, but I dig Mike McKone's art and so far the story has been fast paced and the characterizations have been spot on. So for now its on my buy list.
Ghost Rider. Excellent limited series with gorgeous art. HIGH RECOMENDATION.
Hulk. After Bruce Jones apocalyptically letdown finale of his conspiracy story. Is it just me or did he get bored with his own byzantine plot and just...end it? Then we a weak Peter David story which gets waylaid by an even weaker House of M tie in. They say big things are happening next year with the Hulk, but as of right now...DROPPED.
Iron Man. Ugh. First off, this series started at the same time as Captain America. Cap's on issue 12, this one is on issue 4. Second. Nothing has happened in those four issues. Some bad guy whupped Iron Man's ass and Tony Stark is gonna "take the next step" in Armor Evolution. Other than that it's been a bunch of philosophical talk about obscure authors that you only have to read in advance Graduate classes. Boring and Boring. DROPPED.
Punisher. Wow. Hardcore ass whupping thanks to the MAX imprint. Lots of swearing and titties and violence. The way the Punisher should be. Frank Castle is a fucking sociopath thanks to Garth Ennis and yet it's compelling to watch him month after month. I mean, he erased his closest friend's head with a point blank shotgun blast because he "betrayed" him. ( We'll miss you Microchip) MUST READ.
Runaways. I've actually never read this, but everyone keeps giving it tons of kudos. And going on about how hot little Julie Power from Power Pack is now. That's just sick.
Supreme Power. Gone as we know it. The Nighthawk book is pretty good. The Hyperion book slightly less so. When its all done we'll have Marvel Knights Squadron Supreme which doesn't sound like it can live up to the previous series. I'll probably get the first issue or arc, but this ones is definitley on the chopping block.
Young Avengers. A strong start about the next group of Marvel heroes. Lets hope they don't turn into the next New Warriors.
That's about 50% of what's being offered by the House of Ideas right now. Who can keep track of everything they deluge os with? But that's basically the tentpole rundown.