Daredevil #27

THE LAND OF THE BLIND pt. II

Written by Charles Soule
Penciled by Ron Garney
Cover by Ron Garney
Published Oct 11, 2017

   Matt Murdock awakens in the bottom of a cell when he hears a familiar voice. Blindspot. Once his apprentice. The boy he came to save now knows his identity. Amazed he didn't figure it out sooner, he decides to tell his former master his story.

Wanna hear a story? I mean, it's not he's letting you go anytime soon.

   Born in China to an unwed mother, he was raised in a rural area but she didn't like farming. She packed up and left with nothing and the boy grew up in the city. He was put in a school for acrobats and excelled until his mother found a way to get them to the US. Suddenly gas fills the cell and Matt is rendered unconscious once again.

Hey Blindspot. Quit farting!

   He awakens to the sounds of Tenfingers screaming once again. Blindspot is there and continues the tale about America and his mother's relationship with the former gangster. Over his screams, Sam explains that the beast brings him back every night. Eventually Sam met Daredevil who trained him. Everything was amazing until Muse took his eyes. His mother sold her soul to the Beast in exchange for restoring her son's eyesight. And he kept his promise. With that, he drops Daredevil's mask into the cell along with a lockpick.
   Matt springs into action. He picks the lock and runs. Over fields, rivers, gorges, finally he leaps and his hit behind with a net. NO he screams! Have to help Sam! Soon he's dumped before the beast and Sam stands by, apologizing. Daredevil tells him not to give the beast his soul and Blindspot reminds him, he didn't give the beast his soul. He gave it Daredevil's. So why the escape? The beast prefers his meals hopeless. With that, we're left to be continued.

Ewwww. Gross!

   I always had a feeling that Blindspot was trouble. Maybe he reminds me of Bullseye. I don't know. Either way, it's cool to see Charles Soule marrying an older storyline back into the present. Tenfingers was a worthy villain for a ninja-assassin obsessed man without fear. Still, he looks like small potatoes to the beast. I wonder where they wrap things up, as it looks to conclude next issue. Looking forward to it. I give this one an 8/10.

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Amazing Spider-Man #789

FALL OF PARKER, pt 1

Written by Dan SlottPenciled by Stuart Immonen
Cover by Alex Ross
Published Oct 11, 2017

   Bobbi Morse's new couch crashing roomie Peter Parker wakes up on the couch. She reminds him it's time to pick up the pieces. While avoiding Harry Osborne's call, he skims through the channels. Each one blasting him as an abysmal failure. Flipping through the paper, he finds the front page article pinned to Mockingbird's fridge. Peter Parker: Threat or Menace?!

Well you know, neither sound all that good.

   Meanwhile Harry could use Pete's assistance. Trying to stave off creditors, his wife Liz sees the Baxter Building as a nice future piece of Alchemax real estate. They pawn off the kids on the sitter and get some alone time, only to barely remember Flash's surprise party. At the Bugle, Betty confirms to him it's all still on when Peter makes an appearance to dispute the headline.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

   Joe Robertson walks up to ask what the commotion is about. The only thing he can tell his former employee is that it's pretty much all true. Pete accepts it but drops some layman tech talk to a writer on his way out - and interestingly to Joe Robbie, in a language he can understand.
   Pete walks toe streets of Midtown when he's recognized by a crowd. They all have a bone to pick with Parker Industries. He makes a run for it and accepts it... Everybody hates him. He almost skips Flash's birthday party but manages to make it. He stands in the corner listening to Aunt May talk to Flash, sadly turning him down for VA fundraising assistance from the Uncle Ben foundation because they're broke. Even Mary Jane takes pity on him.

Who cares what MJ thinks, Pete?

   He heads back home and depressingly crashes out when Mockingbird comes in. She throws him a costume. They're going out for some crime fighting. In what I suppose could be chalked up to a quiet night, they find the Griffin stealing empanadas. They tag team him while the crowd sees an opportunity to blame Peter Parker's bodyguard for their woes. They take out the b-lister and Spider-Man saves a poor street vendor's food truck. Over a pretty good nutjoke from Mockingbird, the crowd goes wild.
   The issue ends back at the apartment. Bobbi tells Pete that was just what he needed and they get into some hot superhero makeout action. The world might not always like Pete but when he needs a pick me up, Spider-Man can always swing into some action. With that, this issue is left to be continued.
   Man, I love old school Spider-Man tales. Flash Thompson, Betty Brandt, Aunt May, Harry Osborne - Even Mary Jane gets a cameo. If this is where the new Legacy edition of Amazing is headed, I'm excited. It's been a while since this series took it back to where it all began. Peter Parker down on his luck in New York, but still crushing it as the webslinger. It's a classic tale and I can't wait to see where Dan Slott takes it this time. I give this one a 9/10.

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Justice League #30

LEGACY pt V

Written by Bryan Hitch

Penciled by Fernando Pasarin
Cover by Bryan Hitch
Published Oct 4 2017

   Wonder Woman kneels, conflicted with the voice telling her to kill everyone. The darkness, Hunter says... and its already here. It lashes out at Baz and tries to get him to kill Steve, but he and the future Justice-Kids fight it while he threatens with lethal force. The kids introduce themselves to him and he quickly reminds them that time travel to fix things almost always makes them worse.

Didn't your parents tell you not to play with time travel?

    Of the coast of Amnesty Bay, Sovereign descends. Dory tells her mother they need to go while Sovereign tells Mera that in the future timeline, she's Aquaman's queen. Explaining that their daughter is responsible for Arthur being in this shape in the first place, he tells his former queen that he was banished. He scavenged and found Cyborg's body, which he used for survival. Either way, tells Sovereign that she's there for her daughter. He opens a boom tube and they all walk through it.

Look. I did all that terrible stuff. Now walk through this glowing hole with me.

   Meanwhile aboard the Batplane, Batman asks Genie for Victor's coordinates and he sets course. Back with the children, Wonder Woman tells Steve that it's taking all she can to hold the Darkness back, and to keep Hunter safe because that's the only person it's telling her not to kill. Suddenly the boom tube opens and Sovereign falls through it. She attacks them all while Aquaman tells Mera to not get involved. She can't stand by and watch. Can he?!
   Inside Wonder Woman's head, she debates with the creature. There's a connection to make, it tells her. Baz realizes the darkness is shifting focus. He unleashes green energy, telling the kids to make coordinated attacks, and to make their parents proud.
   Speaking of parents, Superman, Cyborg, Jess and Flash are in limbo following Aquaman's red solar radiation attack. Victor realizes's they're in a space pocket in a boom tube wormhole. He finds a file and a message from Aquaman plays. He came back to kill the Justice League on Sovereign's orders but in the process, he was filled with hope. Now she must be stopped.

I changed my mind. We DON'T need to kill the Justice League.

   Now Aquaman fights alongside the children but it's not enough. And eventually they're all defeated. He leaves them a signal for where he is but to take caution. She's fought gods and defeated them, But now she's here for her daughter... Diana. A boom tube opnes and they pour out to help the Justice Kids, but they find Baz critically wounded. Slowly the darkness envelops all the current members of the Justice League and a demonic Wonder Woman prepares to kill everyone. What happens next? We'll have to wait to find out...

Damn Wonder Woman. You scary.

   Holy wall of text, Batman! Look, there's no disputing that Bryan Hitch is an amazing writer. Sometimes though, I wonder if he should just write like.. a normal book. Because there's more words in this thing than War and Peace. Ok.. not really, but he's certainly wordy. Does a story of this magnitude warrant it? Maybe so. Like we all know, most team up books kind of have to stay complex. And if there's anything we know about this series, we've come to expect it. But if that's all I have to complain about, I'll take it. I give this one an 8/10.

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Batman #32

THE WAR OF JOKES AND RIDDLES, finale.

Written by Tom King
Penciled by Mikel Janin
Cover by Mikel Janin
Published Oct 4, 2017

   Bruce Wayne gets emotional while Catwoman Selina Kyle comforts him. Scores of people were killed in the War of Jokes and Riddles. Finally we're about to see how it ended. Batman, Riddler, and Joker slug it out over the next 5 pages, with eventually the Riddler begging for mercy. He then asks Batman if the Joker is laughing.

Q: Well, is he?!
A: I dunno... Sorta.

   It all should have been enough. Wage a war, only to lose. And all because of Kite Man?! That's funny! And now the Joker can't laugh?! It's during this argument that Batman finally cracks. Kite Man's son was just used as a pawn, killed just to set him up. The thought is more than Batman can take. He picks up the knife and thrusts it out... only to stab the Joker through the hand.

I mean, I guess it's kind of funny. Not really that much though.

   Now That! That's funny, he says. And he erupts into laughter. Years later, when asked why the Joker saved him, he replied "When you know the difference between a joke and a riddle, you'll understand...". Today, Bruce feels like he's almost the same as the Joker and Riddler. What separates him from the bad guys? He's not noble. Cat tells him who cares what the difference between a joke and a riddle is. There's no real answer.
   The issue wraps with Catwoman asking Batman to propose to her again. This time, just ask. He does so. With tears in her eyes, she accepts. And Finally.. FINALLY.. the war of jokes and riddles is concluded.

Ok Batman. I get it.

   You know, I'm starting to figure out that DC loves graphic novels and collected editions more than the actual comics. Everything has to be epic or else I guess they feel like they're just spinning their tires. This was a good story arc. It drug on too long but I guess in the end, more pages means a bigger price of the hardback coffee table version.  All in all, I definitely think it was worth the read. I give this final issue a 9/10.

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Royals #9

ON THE OTHER SIDE

Written by Al Ewing

Penciled by Javier Rodriguez
Cover by Javier Rodriguez
Published Oct 4 2017

   5000 years from now, Noh-Varr and Maximus approach the gigantic crystal spire with the remains of the Moon King. Maximus touches it and the skeleton's socket gleams as he commands him to open his eyes. 

Oh hey Moon King!

And speaking of eyes, Flint has discovered a new gift - his eyes aglow and the skin on his hand glowing and translucent in the place where he touched the spire last issue. He feels he needs to tell someone. But how?

   In Medusa's quarters, she throws up some blood. Gorgon calls his very sick new girlfriend back to bed. She tells him that the only time she's not sick is when she's working. They talk more about Black Bolt's rumored escape from prison, as well as Maximus eventually facing the king's justice. She further explains that during their marriage, a lot of the imagery of their coupling was made up, simply to maintain the fairy tale in the minds of their subjects. Afterwards she climbs back in bed and I guess her and Gorgon commence making out. Hopefully she brushed her teeth.

Um.

   Meanwhile on the ship's bridge, Crystal and Maximus discuss Medusa's fate - a terminal disease in exchange for ending the Inhumans legacy. Maximus uses the moment to shed light on the Progenitors and their role in creating the first Inhumans out of the Kree. 

That's pretty trippy.

Later back on the bridge, Crystal and Swain ask if they find what they're looking for - a stronger version of Terrigen - will it be something they'll be able to survive.
   Suddenly Flint runs in. They're near where the skyspears were thrown from. He knows. He can feel it. The upload back on Centauri-IV heightened his abilities to see it. They're home, he says, which gets Marvel Boy's attention. On one of the worlds that orbit the invisible solar system, a progenitor Harvester farms but senses a threat. He sees the Inhumans ship and he plucks it from the sky. It explodes and he decrees the threat over. With that, we're left to be continued.

   This issue is the first in which Royals joins the realm of Marvel Legacy. Sadly, it is also my queue to move on as well. It's not that I don't like this book. There's a lot of potential, and for the more cosmic driven fans of comics, it's probably right up your alley. As I've mentioned in reviews, the galactic arm of the Marvel universe is way over my head. Perhaps I look for comics that are rooted a little more in an earth reality? I don't know. Either way, I'll be swapping to a new title soon. With Hulk, Captain America, and Thor all returning to their original numbering, it's a good time to turn my eyes back to those. But who knows? I'll check back in with Royals from time to time. But for now, I give this issue a 7/10.

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Old Man Logan #29

DAYS OF ANGER pt V

Written by Ed Brisson
Penciled by Mike Deodato Jr
Cover by Mike Deodato Jr
Published Oct 4 2017

   In the past, Cambria discovers her brother Billy Bob in tears at their father's grave. She tries to console him, eventually introducing him to the Maestro who welcomes them into their fold. 

Don't worry.. NOTHING can go wrong with this guy!

In the present, Logan hangs up the phone on a mystery caller explaining who the Maestro is - another dimension's Bruce Banner. Waiting for them in the car, Hawkeye talks to Cambria who puts him in an awkward position, asking about his role in Bruce Banner from THIS timeline's death.

Look at the time...!

   Meanwhile all over the world, members of the Hulk Gang walk around with nuclear bombs strapped to themselves.  In the Yukon, the Maestro drives with the smaller children in his car when it's hit by an arrow. Hawkeye orders them out of the vehicle but instead, it plows ahead with the Maestro leaping out the front of it. He brutally attacks Logan while the X-Man claws back at him.
   At the various bomb sites, the hulks walk around threatening everyone while back in Canada, the children hulk out and argue with Cambria. She pleads for them to listen but it's no use. Hawkeye shoots a tranquilizer arrow but it does little good.

Just feedin us all them lies!

 Logan continues to be pummeled into a bloody mess. He tells the Maestro that he's lost, while at the sites, the hulks begin triggering the bombs. Only problem is that nothing happens. Thanks to Logan's phone call, Alpha Flight and Puck have rendered the bombs useless, encasing the hulks in a foamy cement.
   Logan gives Maestro the bad news - his bombs are history. Cambria and Hawkeye take care of the kids while the man once known as Wolverine prepares to battle this hulk to the death. He plants his claws in the green monster when one of the kids yells out in the distance. "LEAVE HIM ALONE..." he says, holding a warhead "Or we all die..." And with that, this issue is left to be continued.
   This is such a great book. I've lauded it in the past as being kind of second rate to it's first run creators, but honestly, this team is able to run right up there with them. It practically serves as the real defacto Wolverine title to me, and I think it's as gritty as Chris Claremont or Frank Miller could have ever intended. I give this one a 9/10.

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The Walking Dead #172

172: HILLTOP REBORN

Written by Robert Kirkman
Penciled by Charlie Adlard
Cover by Charlie Adlard
Published Oct 4, 2017

   Juanita goes to get her stuff and Michonne and company get tired of waiting. She finally returns equipped with a spear, later asking Michonne for her gun back but being denied. “Whatever. I have others..” she replies.

Michonne just being a dick.

   Meanwhile Annie returns to the compound with a few new horses, telling Rick to not be worried about the others before mentioning Mikey waiting for him. He goes and finds the boy and teaches him how to plant some seeds. While Hilltop rebuilds, Dante marks Negan’s location on a map for Maggie while Carl revels in how much progress they’ve made rebuilding.
   Paul and Aaron decide they want to move back to the Hilltop. They go to tell Rick and find him sleeping at Andrea’s grave. Back at the Hilltop, Maggie thanks William for all the help rebuilding and he mentions she seems preoccupied. Meanwhile Lydia and Carl keep talking and she thanks him for sticking by her. With all the ways she’s seen the community coming together, she finally feels like she belongs. They hug each other while Sophia meanmugs them in the background.

Lydia Sux 4-Eva! - Sophia BFF 

   With Michonne’s Group, Yumiko asks Magna why she won’t publicly disclose their relationship. While they discuss, Michonne lets Princess thread out some walkers with her spear. They walk back and Yumiko blabs it to the group, although it was apparantly no real secret. Back at Alexandria, Aaron and Paul leave out and Rick sends his thanks. In the tents, Carl can’t sleep and rises to find Sophia awake outside. They talk and she reveals to him that she misses their talks. He tells her they’ll talk more while Maggie sits in her tent fretting. WE get one more page of Rick crying at Andrea’s grave when finally we see Paul looking at Aaron as he sleeps. Behind him walks a quiet Beta with a huge set of knives. With that, we’re left to be continued.

Maybe he just wants to cook for the guys?

   With the season 8 premier the other night, this book finds itself continuing further down a path that may or may not follow the television series and I for one am totally cool with it. Robert Kirkman has given us some amazing characters but the writers of the show have managed to develop them in more complex ways. If you’ve ever watched the show with me, you’d see that I’m a constant critic of how much time they waste by focusing on an inanimate object like a cane or a clock for minutes at a time to burn up showtime. It’s good to know Robert Kirkman still does the same with his comics. As is par for the course, his concise last issue meant this one would be crammed with dialogue and getting a panel in for every character. Guess that means I’ll be looking forward to the shorter one to come. I give this one a 6/10.

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Avengers #672

WORLDS COLLIDE pt I

Written by Mark Waid
Penciled by Jesus Saiz
Cover by Alex "Bleeeeegh" Ross
Published Oct 4 2017

   In New Jersey, the Avengers work to save people in a burning building when Vision's daughter Viv disobeys an order and assists some firefighters. He later admonishes her and she leaves, rejoining the Champions in Austin. There Hulk explains to Nova at the same time Wasp explains to Spider-Man that a satellite is nearing position to transmit from the opposite side of the sun. A debate rages between evidence of Counter Earth when a rift disgorged a meteor and turned it towards Earth. With that, both the Champions AND Avengers Assemble.

Let's do dis!

   Minutes before it's set to impact, both teams are on the ground. They exchange pleasantries and Falcon, much to Ms Marvel's dismay, splits them all up. Nova and Thor fly upwards to slow it but they're unsuccessful. Meanwhile Falcon and Viv carry both Spider-Men towards it but their super-tensile webbing won't hold it.

At what point did they actually think this would work?

   Vision and Wasp fly towards it and Nadia seeds the clouds with Pym Particles. She loses it while Vision blasts it with solar rays, later being hit by it and caught by his daughter. Finally Cyclops blasts it while Hulk and Hercules punch it. It slows it enough for Ms Marvel to giant size herself and catch it. The heroes take a moment to catch their breath - but not for long.

How is Cyclops still here?

   The meteor begins to vibrate, with reports worldwide showing a constant earthquake endangering occupied skyscrapers. Falcon splits everyone across the globe with Vision, in a crappy father moment, requesting to be apart from his daughter. He leaves the two strongmen to break the meteor apart but without warning, it quickly explodes. There, one of the High Evolutionary's New Men stands before them and they brace themselves, as we're left to be continued.

Aw dang!

   Now this is the Avengers I've been waiting for. Correct numbering: Check. No Mike Del Mundo artwork: Double Check. The only weakness is these lame Alex Ross covers. Either way, it's still definitely enough for a huge win. Once we get Cap and Hulk back in the fold, we'll be good to go but it's not like Asgard was built in a day. This was a great issue and if this is where we're headed, the Avengers Legacy era has started with a boom. I can't wait to see where we're headed. I give this one a 9/10.

One point deducted for the Alex Ross cover.

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X-Men Gold #13

MOJO WORLDWIDE pt I

Written by Marc Guggenheim
Penciled by Mike Mayhew
Cover by Arthur Adams
Published Oct 4 2017

   The issue opens with Mojo addressing his producer, as well as attempting to explain why he killed the writer. Meanwhile at a softball game, the longest running cliche in any X-title, the Blue and Gold teams hang out. 

Softball. I'm shocked.

Logan and James exchange father and son, um, pleasantries and Jean and Kitty talk shop. Suddenly gigantic spires begin to drop from the sky. Jean tries to organize the teams but Kitty immediately takes over. Jean looks irritated but the X-Men clearly don’t object, even ordering the students into recon teams.

Sorry Jean. Kitty just totally dunked on you.

   Scott, Storm, Kitty and Prestige approach one with Rachel clearing the area. She psi-link’s with the others, and all of them equally report trouble. Suddenly a forcefield appears around each team causing immediate power dampening and it appears the X-Men have wandered into a trap. No matter how hard they try, they cannot punch apart, teleport around, or claw through the barrier although somehow Rachel's psychic link still works. The more they discuss, each is in a different type of environment - from old New York to frozen Asgard.

With all this going on, I'm just psyched to see Wolvie in an old costume.

   Each member of the team takes on a different appearance as a response. Rachel's "hound" future is painfully resurrected while Storm's 80's mohawk and even Logan's brown and tan Wolverine look returns. All across town, they're pitted against sentinels from the future to demons from the "Inferno" storyline. Suddenly Mojo comes across the airwaves announcing he's broadcasting it across the globe. The X-Men's greatest hits and no matter who happens, the audience is the real winner. Images from the future and past flitter across the screens behind him as he lauds what's upcoming. And with that, this issue is left to be continued.

Yuck.

   Mojo is one of my favorite villains of all time and I can only hope this crossover somehow culminates in the return of Longshot. It's also an amazing coincidence this was one of my first exposures into comics in the mid 80's. If this is the X-Men's foray into Legacy, a throwback to that character set would be almost perfect. Can't wait to see what happens, I give this one an 8/10.

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