Week of May 16th

Honorable Mention

Avengers Academy # 30 (Marvel)

I don’t collect this book. In fact, this is the first time I’ve ever bought this title. To be honest, I was simply intrigued by the sight of Sebastian Shaw on the cover looking as though he’s about to dish out some serious hurt. To my pleasure, that’s exactly what he does on the inside of the book, albeit, not to the same person on the cover. Shaw is after the students, and Madison Jeffries, Hercules and Tigra aren’t going to deter him from his goal. Now...if only the cover artist would draw the book...

AVX: VS # 2 (Marvel)

There are two matches in this book, but only one of them is worth talking about. If you guessed the Captain America versus Gambit fight, give yourself a no-prize. The art is simply spectacular (Steve McNiven) and the fight itself is simply awesome. The entire book is worth picking up...just for the first half alone. Let me drop a few facts. Captain America’s shield maintains stability even fully charged by Gambit. Captain America can run a 40 yard dash in 3.82 seconds. Get this book.

DC Universe Presents # 9 (DC Comics)

Vandal Savage is one of my favorite villains of all time. Being immortal and having been around a long time already will afford you certain advantages and an outlook on life that not many share. In this book he’s written just as I would imagine him to be...calm, collected, smooth, overtly intelligent and perceptive...a very scary man when you consider the brutality he indulges in. his daughter is a detective and needs his help on a case..and has no idea who he really is, and doesn’t believe that he is immortal. I think in time, all will become clear to her. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to the next issue..

Green Lantern Corps # 9 (DC Comics)

Seems like every time someone or something needs to be killed, John Stewart is the man to do it. He was responsible for the death of an entire planet in the “Cosmic Odyssey.” He killed the Green Lantern living planet, Mogo. Now he’s on trial for the death of another fellow Green Lantern...and I’m almost of the mindset to say put him away and throw away the key...he’s killing everybody! At least Guy Gardner is in his corner. Wait...that’s supposed to be a good thing?

Incredible Hulk # 7.1 (Marvel)

It’s Hulk versus Red She-Hulk...but it’s about more than just knocking each other around. It’s about love and loss...with a bit of revenge. Hulk is without the burden of Banner now...seemingly killed in a gamma bomb. So all there is left to do is simply wander the globe and find something to get into. That is, until Betty catches up with him. Then it’s collateral damage, with dessert at the end. Is there any truth that within the Hulk lurks complete madness on an epic scale? Is it true a monster rages within the Hulk...and his name is Banner?

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

Danger Club # 2

Company: Image Comics, Inc

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Landry Q. Walker, Artist: Eric Jones, Letterers: Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt, Colorist: Michael “Rusty” Drake with Derek Hunter, Editor: Branwyn Biggelstone

All-Star Summary for Choice: Very few books manage to keep my attention when the enter into character development mode. I guess it’s my obsession with the fights...action is where it’s at for me. However, a great story will simply be engaging....and I will have no choice about the matter. This book delivers the makings of a great story.

   Kid Vigilante is having a moment. The writing makes me forget he’s a super-hero sidekick and draws me into the fact that he’s a kid that has lost his father, while the world is going to hell in a hand basket. He has a twin brother, Kid Victory that has fallen victim to a neurological disorder that he keeps in stasis. In addition to all that, the writing shows me a child that has lost a brother, and must now let him go for good in an attempt to save what’s left of society. Very few books can get me to look at these characters in quite the way this book has me looking at Kid Vigilante.

   The offset of all this is that Yoshimi is having the time of her life in Micro-Tokyo as she takes on the male elite, bent on making sure she adheres to the rules of society that say only men can pilot the gigantobots. The cool thing here is no matter what anyone reads, there will be some similarity to something that has come before. Yoshimi is this worlds Atom or Ant-Man, except she pilots a giant robot where she comes from...that’s just a little bigger than a regular person in reality.


All-Star Quote of the Book: “Watch now...and bear witness to the price of your insurrection.”

Daredevil # 13

Company: Marvel

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

All-Star Summary for Choice: Mega Crime is finally coming after Daredevil for the Omega Drive. Hydra, Agence Byzantine, the Secret Empire and A.I.M...all gunning together to deprive Daredevil of the single most dangerous artifact to their world of crime. Any other person would be making peace with their maker...but Daredevil dives right in doing what he does best.

   It’s the writing that makes this book so interesting, particularly the narrative that goes on on the mind of Matt Murdoch as he fights the unbeatable odds of dozens of killer elite that know his strengths and weaknesses. Just when it looks like he’s down for the count, things get...worse!

   Black Spectre shows up with superior firepower and a fierce attack that catches everyone completely by surprise...and in a display of professionalism, take the Omega Drive and vanish without a trace. I suppose once it’s revealed who they really are, it’s totally understandable that they were so good at what they did. Of course...this book is always primed to deliver a good shock and when Daredevil disappears, only to reappear in a cage in Latveria...I’m shocked! I’ll wager Murdoch is as well...


All-Star Quote of the Book: “Figure out your least predictable option...and do that.”

Fantastic Four # 605.1

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Jonathan Hickman, Artist: Mike Choi, Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles, Colorist: Cris Peter, Editor: Tom Brevoort.

All-Star Summary for Choice:  This is probably one of the greatest re-imaginings of a classic super hero team that I have seen in a very long time. It starts with Nazi Germany taking over the world...and spins wildly after that until I’m left just sitting quietly.

Reed Richards assembles a team for the Fuhrer to conquer space. Susan and Jonathan Sturm are the perfect and most vicious cadets, and secure positions on the mission as the security team. Benjamin Jakob Grimm is released from a concentration camp...since he’s the best pilot around.Of course, some details still need to be worked out, and the most brilliant mind in the world offers the problem to lesser scientist. Lesser until one solves the problem quite easily...Viktor Von Doom. In this world though, Viktor never becomes Doctor Doom (see All-Star Quote).

A recurring theme of Reed Richards being an evil mastermind is afoot. I’m seeing it in too many different places. Here he orchestrates the death of Hitler via Ben Grimm, now turned into the Thing form their trip...and Iceman (Johnny Sturm). The Human Torch (Sue Sturm) perishes as she kills the Thing...leaving Richards in charge of it all. It isn’t very long before Richards has the Infinity Gauntlet in opposition to all the heroes of the world. If this little glimpse doesn’t convince you to get this book...nothing will.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “So thank you Viktor. You made all of this possible. A little of you, mixed with all of me, proved to be the perfect combination. If you could have lived through the procedure, I’m sure you would marvel at what we will do together.”

Nightwing # 8

Company: DC Comics

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Kyle Higgins, Artists: Eddy Barrows & Andres Guinaldo, Inkers: Ruy Jose, Eber Ferreira & Mark Irwin, Colorists: Rod Reis & Peter Pantazis, Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual, Editors: Bobbie Chase & Brian Cunningham.

All-Star Summary for Choice: William Cobb, the great-grandfather of Richard Grayson is the very Talon from the Court of Owls that is trying to kill him...and doing a pretty good job of it so far. coming off the beating he just took last issue, Nightwing’s in no shape at all to take on the first and best Talon from the Court. Between last issue and this one, Nightwing has been stabbed so much he might as well change his name to pincushion.

   Along the way we learn more of the history of the Grayson family line...and it’s a tale of rejection, betrayal, purpose...and murder. Richard Grayson was supposed to be a Talon in the service of the Court of Owls. Instead he upholds the tenets of justice and in doing so, has found himself at odds with his great-grandfather...a man so old that he should be dead, but kept ever so young by the chemical machinations of the Court of Owls.

   Being taught by the best in the World, Batman...Nightwing must find a way to beat an opponent that outmatches him physically, and can regenerate from any wound he  receives. Here is where the proof is in the pudding that the greatest asset Batman has...and has passed on to all of his pupils, is the mind. Know your opponent...and know victory over him.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Broken bones...for someone...who regenerates? I said...impress me.”

Shade # 8

Company: DC Comics

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: James Robinson, Artists: jill Thompson, Colorist: Trish Mulvihill, Letterer: Todd Klein, Editor: Will Moss.

All-Star Summary for Choice: I don’t remember when the Shade became such an interesting character for me. I suppose it’s when they stopped writing him like a two bit villain, and started taking him seriously. I think the hooks got in me when they made him immortal. That resonated with me as I was already intrigued by characters such as this.

   This title keeps the Shade interesting, especially as he is continually crossing paths with his past, a seemingly inevitable occurrence considering he never ages. This time it’s his grandson that has a very unique problem. He is in the thrall of a demon...with no hope of freedom, or so he thinks. It’s noteworthy that the vocabulary of the period adds a certain flavor to this title that I don’t see anywhere else. In the beginning of the book, the demon recounts to the Mayor of a small town how he killed everyone...ravaged some before death, and ate others after. He even levies personal insults about the Mayors wife...and all I could think of while reading this was the line from one of the Matrix movies about cursing in French. It’s like wiping your ass with silk. Different circumstances...same effect. Kudos to the great writing.

   Another intriguing thing about the Shade is that many people underestimate how powerful he really is. Take for instance the demon in this story. He didn’t have a clue and ran with the assumption of an assured victory, but if there’s one thing that’s been consistent about the Shade for the past eight issues, he comes through for his family...and that has personal appeal as well.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Trust me.”

Fallen Stars

Avengers # 26 (Marvel)

I spoke about this already...and still got roped in again. I should have known when my eyes started bleeding, that I shouldn’t have gotten this book. I really need to read my own reviews. The problem now is, I want to know what happens next issue, but I know it will be like sticking fiberglass shards in my eyes to find out. Maybe I could get someone to read the story to me...then just apply medical attention to their eyes when they’re done? I don’t know the politics behind producing these books....but I hope they change so that I don’t have to be subject to this type of treatment.