Week of March 28th

Honorable Mention

Aquaman # 7 (DC Comics)

   Black Manta is back...but what connection does he have with the sinking of Atlantis?

Batman: The Dark Knight # 7 (DC Comics)

   It’s Bane versus Batman...in a bloody and brutal battle!

Green Lantern: New Guardians # 7 (DC Comics)

   The story of Invictus...and progress for the New Guardians.

Justice League Dark # 7 (DC Comics)

   Can the team stop the vampire infestation of Gotham City...?

New Avengers # 23 (Marvel)

   Skaar versus the Dark Avengers, and when he’s done...enter the New Avengers!

...and now for this weeks All-Stars!

Avengers # 24.1

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, Artist: Brandon Peterson, Color Art: Sonia Oback, Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit, Editor: Tom Brevoort

All-Star Summary for Choice: 
The Vision has always been an interesting character to me. He always had that Pinochio element about him...the synthetic man trying and wishing to be human. Now, he has been given the “Captain America-man-out-of time” syndrome in his return to the Marvel Universe after being destroyed by a Scarlet Witch controlled She-Hulk. Of course, this was after he was forced by her to attack his friends. Now he awakens to try to pick up the pieces.

A reconciliation with She-Hulk is his first stop, but the high point of the book is his confrontation with his father-in-law, the Master of Magnetism himself...Magneto! Kudos to the writers for making this an epic confrontation that didn’t have to go to the extreme of knock-down-drag-out to have a profound impact on me. Each has the power to destroy the other, but both pass up the opportunity out of the love they share for the same person. This was some very nice writing and the visuals simply enhanced the effect.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “And I shall pull out your heart and show it to you with my dying breath.”

Avengers vs. X-Men # 0

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Brian Michael Bendis & Jason Aaron, Artist: Frank Cho, Color Art: Jason Keith, Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos, Editor: Tom Brevoort

All-Star Summary for Choice: 
For months Marvel has been advertising their big summer event...the Avengers versus the X-men. Although it’s happened before, they are really hyping this up to be something really big. So far, it’s off to a great start with this first issue split into two distinct stories, both equally good and I’m sure, connected in some unrevealed way.

The first story is about the Scarlet Witch. Out on her own and trying to find her place in a world that sees her as a failed Avenger or the best solution to date for the “mutant problem”...she has a hard road to walk. It doesn’t get any easier when she ends up on the Avengers doorstep and finally sees Vision for the first time since he was destroyed by her hand through She-Hulk. This is a must-read sequence if ever there was one.

The second story is about Hope. Out on her own after a spat with Cyclops, she happens upon the Serpent Society conducting a robbery. Being billed as the “Savior of Mutant Kind” has to come with some pressure...so it;s a good thing the Serpent Society have volunteered themselves as scape goats for letting off some steam!

Great writing with both stories and Frank Cho is one of the best artists in the business. Get this book while you can.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “The Phoenix is coming. I know that. And I’m not afraid. I want it to come. I’m ready.”

Avenging Spider-Man # 5

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Zeb Wells, Artist: Leinil Francis Yu, Inker:  Gerry Alanguilan, Color Art: Sunny Gho, Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna, Editor: Stephen Wacker

All-Star Summary for Choice: 
I’m not a Spider-Man fan...but this book is quickly making me into one, at least in the context that this book is written. It seems to be following the mold of the old Marvel Team-Up comics...and that’s alright with me, I loved those books. 

After the Daily Bugle publishes an article featuring home made comics drawn by captain America as a child, Spider-Man feels they have something in common in that a comic geek and a science nerd don’t really live in worlds that far apart. I’m a sucker for giant battles and great fights...but I’m also a sucker for a great story...and Spider-Man trying to connect with Capon an emotional level makes for a great story. Especially since I really am a comic geek.

Just as every issue of this book seems to do, a few more layers of Spider-Man are peeled back as well as some unique insight into his co-star...in this case, Captain America. The thoughtful writing is superb and the characterizations are a staple of why Marvel Comics resonates with so many comic readers. This series just seems to to that better than any other on the shelf today...and this issue is simply a prime example.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Soooo...did you get beat up a lot?”

Daredevil # 10

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Mark Waid, Pencils: Paolo Rivera, Inker:  Joe Rivera, Colorist: Javier Rodriguez, Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna, Editor: Stephen Wacker

All-Star Summary for Choice: 
This title has been consistently good and it’s just the luck of the draw on any given week that it hasn’t made the All-Star feature sooner. The artwork is great and fits the book by creating a feel of a throwback to an oder style, without actually throwing back to an older style. I know, it sounds confusing...and it’s just one of those type of things you have to see for yourself.

The Mole Man has stolen all the corpses from a graveyard to find the body of the woman he loves, but has also inadvertently stolen the body of Daredevil’s father. Captured and thrown into the maw of a great beast, Daredevil escapes to confront the Mole Man...and it’s a battle that everyone should see (pun intended). Some might have the impression that the Mole Man is a poor defenseless slob, but a quick look at this issue will dispel that myth very quickly.

The underlying point here though, is examining the way these two men deal with their grief...and ultimately how they must continue to do so in the face of doing the right thing.  If you’re not reading this book, this issue will make you a collector of the title.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “That’s the way justice works Harvey. Sometimes both sides lose”

The Twelve # 11 (of 12)

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writers: J. Michael Straczynski, Artist: Chris Weston, Letterer: Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt, Colorist: Chris Chuckry, Editor: Tom Brevoort

All-Star Summary for Choice:  
Writer of the Babylon 5 television series, J. Michael Straczynski is arguably one of the greatest writers of science fiction fantasy...ever. Chris Weston is awesome and always brings the characters and story to life.

Dynamic man has officially lost his mind and seeks to kill all his old comrades in one shot. At least, that’s how I interpreted bringing down an entire mansion on their heads. The sacrifice (or was it?) of Rockman is the only thing that saves them since Captain Wonder exits before the calamity in pursuit of Dynamic Man.

Phantom Reporter, Fiery Mask, Captain Wonder and Mastermind Excello take the final fight right to the one place Dynamic Man will be, the place of origin of his creation. It’s a great fight that not everyone survives. This issue could be dubbed the issue of closure as many of the stories and subplots of at least four of the characters comes to a close...and the direction of one is changed forever.

With this being issue eleven of a twelve issue series...I’m really excited about how the rest of everything will finally be resolved.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “And what will you do, now that the strongest of you has been driven to his knees by my father’s power?”