Hey everybody, I’ve gotten way behind on reviews so I’m going to try and fit all 8 issues in one shot and just tone down on the content along with my opinion! Hopefully I can get all caught up by the end of this weekend. So to quote Optimus Prime…Let’s roll out!
First up is…Mighty Avengers #33.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Khoi Pham
What a cool issue! In this book we saw Hank Pym make Osborn look like a real dope but we also saw the return of Ultron! The team managed to get the upper-hand on Norman’s team and it looked like they were going to put the Absorbing Man down too but Loki once again helps Norman and he looks like the hero. One thing to look out for next issue is Ultron, who has invaded Jocasta and the fact that Pym has found out that Loki is the one helping Osborn. Good writing and artwork! 4/5
Next on the list is…The Avengers vs. Agents of Atlas #1 of 4.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Jeff Parker
Artist: Gabriel Hardman (cover by Humberto Ramos)
This book was just OK due to the fact that it was hard to figure out where it’s going. Both teams are fighting menaces from Avengers’ past battles. Atlas is fighting Lava Men and The New Avengers are fighting one of Kang’s Growing Men. We get to see some sort of time/space phenomenon that looks like an apparition of sorts. In the end, both teams are trying to figure out what’s going on and the Avengers are sucked into this being and the original Avengers come back out. It will be interesting to see where this leads. There was also a back-up story featuring Namora about saving whales from poachers. I’m sure Al Gore got a chubby from this but it didn’t do anything for me. 3.5/5
Next up is…Dark Avengers #13.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mike Deodato
OK, so in this issue we found out The Sentry’s true origin. He was a junkie that broke into a lab and stole some secret formula and it gave him super powers. The book actually started out with a biblical reference but then showed Bob and a friend breaking into a lab to find some “stuff”. Well, honestly that didn’t mean a whole lot but next we saw what happened after Lindy shot Bob in the face way back after Bob returned from the riots in San Francisco. Lindy told the computer/ recording device all about Bob, but then Bob wakes up looking like The Void has taken over but calling himself, Galactus, Devourer of Worlds. Sentry eventually decides to fly away debating with The Void about right and wrong and how to clean up the mess that their “lives” have become. Good issue but I really want to know why He called himself Galactus? 3.5/5
Fourth in my pile is…The Incredible Hercules #140 (Assault on New Olympus).
Publisher: Marvel
Writer(s): Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
Artist: Rodney Buchemi
This title is getting cancelled if you haven’t heard and it is making me very sad. Pak and Van Lente are great at getting the most out of every character in every panel. Buchemi’s art is very good to. This issue showed how Herc and Cho have finally reasoned with Hera along with Zeus’ help and convinced her to shut down the Continuum. The only problem is that Typhon tells them all that he won’t shut it down because he wants all of this to die and be reborn. Hera and Zeus try to stop him but he has been outfitted by an armor that stops their power and allows him to redirect it back at them. He takes Hera’s head clean off her shoulders and knocks Zeus on his butt! Next issue will be a thriller so don’t miss it! 4/5
Fifth on my list is…Realm of Kings Inhumans #3 of 5.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer (s): Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Artist: Wellington Alves (cover by Stjepan Sejic)
This series has definitely picked up as it has gone along. The first issue was really boring but now with issue #3 it is apparent that Maximus is using Gorgon as his pawn and also betraying his Inhuman brothers and sisters by having machines built to kill other Inhumans. Crystal and Ronan find out that Maximus has been helping the Kree resistance to try and kill his family. The next issue will be spectacular because you know Medusa won’t stand for Maximus’ play for Black Bolt’s throne, nor his treason either. 4/5
Get ready for…Spider-Woman #5.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Alex Maleev
As of last issue, Jessica was jumping off of the roof of a Hydra base and she can’t fly. She can glide with the aid of her costume but she isn’t wearing it. Needless to say even falling into water knocks her unconscious. She wakes up in a jail infirmary and is then interrogated by a cop who Jessica finds out is more interested in who she works for, then finding out who killed his fellow officers. Jessica doesn’t tell him anything he can use and then makes a break for the roof only to walk right into the Thunderbolts! It seems they’ve come looking for Miss Drew and aren’t going to take no for an answer. Good issue as usual. 3.5/5
Next to last is probably my favorite…Wolverine Weapon X #9.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Yanick Paquette (cover by Adam Kubert)
If you aren’t reading this book, you’re really missing out. As long as you can stand a little gore and violence, it’s a really fun read. This issue concluded the plot of “Insane in the Brain”. The nefarious Dr. Rot has seen inside the mind of Wolverine and likes what he saw so much it made him cry tears of joy. Yeah, he’s that psychotic. Wolverine has busted loose though and the mob has come looking for their missing buddies too. Logan’s girlfriend Melita has contacted the X-Men because Logan cried out to her in her sleep. Nightcrawler and Psylocke show up at Melita’s place and she tells them where Logan is. Well, to make a long story short, the mob, Wolverine, Psylocke, Nightcrawler, and all the inmates of Dunwich Sanatorium end up in a battle royal that would make the WWE jealous. Wolverine goes right after Dr. Rot but he and his sidekick Nurse Fester manage to escape, even after Wolverine disembowels him! The best part of the book shows Wolverine closing in on the old Doc but he has an escape plan; he uses a newly plucked brain from one of his orderlies and has a cell phone, comb, pen, two pencils, some wire, plastic forks and spoons, a nail, a battery, and a straw all jammed into the brain itself and uses it to render everyone in the sanatorium unconscious for a minute so he can make his get-away. LOL! There was a little teaser at the end about Dr. Rot and Wolvie so don’t be surprised if the Doctor makes a house call sometime soon. 4.5/5
Last but not least is…Uncanny X-Men #520 (Nation X).
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Greg Land (cover by Terry Dodson)
This issue focused on two different plots. First was the group of X-Men lead by Wolverine that has been dispatched by Cyclops to find the missing Predator X and where it came from. The team heads to New York and not only finds the Predator X, but also Fantomex in the sewers below the city. After a brief conversation with him, Wolverine and the team head topside. We next see the happenings on Utopia. Magneto has gone behind Scott’s back and had Namor and his people build a support for Utopia to keep it from sinking. Later at a meeting, Magneto shows up late then explains to Scott what he did. Scott takes Magneto into the hallway and chastises him for not obeying the chain of command. Magneto then tries to leave the island but Charles talks with him and lets him know that he is sorry for not trusting him when he initially came to the island. At last we see Wolverine and his team find out the location of where the Predator X’s came from. They show up and meet the group that hired Scalphunter to try an deliver them to Utopia. Decent issue but Land’s artwork is kind of boring. 3/5
Well, that’s it for this round. See you soon and Make Mine Marvel!
Billy Dunleavy
billy@comicattack.net
I finally realized why I’m not reading Wolverine: Weapon X. Yanick Paquette. HATE that guy’s art.
I LOVED the Dark Avengers issue!
And yeah, it’s sad that Incredible Hercules is getting cancelled. That Thor story line was one of the more humorous arc’s of all 2009!
And I love your turn around opinion of the Spider-Woman series. I recall you not liking the first issue very much, but you’ve come around!! : )
And you know what Magneto was doing at the end of this X-Men Legacy issue, right? He’s bringing Kitty’s bullet back to Earth!
That UNCANNY X-Men Andy lol And that issue had a lot of build up to absolutely nothing! It teased action but all we got was a lot of banter and yeah the plot was moved a little but not much. The more interesting point in the entire book was the interaction between Scott and Mags. Though I usually love the team up of Wolvie, Colossus, and Psylocke I guess I’ll have to wait till next issue to see someone get a beat down!
I might check out that Mighty Avengers just to see if it’s the Absorbing Man who has the upgrades in the recent Black Panther 12 or if he’s just the same guy who gets smacked around constantly, and I’m checking for continuity a word foreign at times to some companies lol
@Jeff-I’m not a big fan either but up until this issue I was OK with his work. I definitely think he’s better than his predecessor(Garney). Maybe they can get Braithwaite to do this book after Origins gets cancelled.
@Andy-Spider-Woman has definitely got me hooked. Not really action packed in every issue but I always want to see more.
@Speech-You’re right about X-Men, it really didn’t do anything other than set-up for next time. lol