Comic Book Reviews – Mike’s Haul 6/19/13
Wonder Woman #21 by Azzarello &Chiang: Another great issue in the second large arc by Azzarello and Chiang. After a lot of build-up, we finally get Wonder Woman versus The First Born, and it was very good opening salvo that really sets the stage for later fights. We have a little more of the explanation of Cassandra, another child of Zeus, who I speculate will become Dr. Cyber. We also have an exhausted Diana fighting after defeating the goddess Artemis, aided by Orion and Lennox, and the three of them barely get an opportunity to run. We see a possible heroic sacrifice of a certain character, though I hope not and we see the full power of the First Born. Hera and Zola get some nice moments, especially as mothers, and we start to see the hint of the power of Baby Zeke. A great story and fantastic art by Chiang. I love his perspective of a boom tube, and I’m very interested to see how the story precedes in it’s new location.
Review: 6 (Out of 7)
New Avengers #7 by Hickman & Deodato: After a great 1st arc, this second arc seems to focus on re-calibrating itself with the current state of the Marvel Universe. We check in tangentially with Iron Man & Beast, while Doctor Strange and Mr. Fantastic pay a visit to Doom & his ward Kristoff (who has always been a favorite character of mine) which I hope means larger parts for them both in this series. We also get hints at some dark tidings with the Inhumans, whom we have teased to believe have a large part in the Infinity crossover. We also get lots of great character development of T’Challa and Namor, and a bold proclamation at the end. My only really problem, is that it seems that Richards has worked out a way to help his secret group while traveling across space and time with his family. However, in FF, we are lead to believe that the FF think they are dead and there is an older, crazy Johnny Storm around, but Reed doesn’t deal with these issues? Weird and problematic, Marvel. At least give us a cryptic hint in dialogue that Reed at least knows of the situation! Deodato is great on this book, filling the big shoes of Epting.
Review: 6 (out of 7)
Uncanny Avengers #8 by Remender & Acuna: While I enjoyed Remender’s work on Secret Avengers, Uncanny X-Force was, in my opinion, a stronger product that Secret Avengers. Unsurprisingly, based on it’s reception, Uncanny Avengers takes up on the Apocalypse thread in it’s second arc and it seems to be headed in a very exciting direction. Acuna is great on this book and valuable after such a slow pace set by Cassaday. I did love the large philosophical battle between Rogue and Wanda, and appreciate that it mirrors the debate that went on with fans in the M-Word issue. I also enjoyed the choices for the 4 Horsemen of Death, except Sentry, because he makes me head hurt. Fans waited for many years, while Bendis claimed we would know and understand his secret origin, and it never really panned out. I hope Remender brings him back in a way that doesn’t hurt my head, cause if he doesn’t, I’ll be really angry he didn’t use Thunderstrike!
Review: 6 (out of 7)
