Old Man Logan #26

Written by Ed Brisson

Penciled by Mike Deodato Jr
Cover by Mike Deodato Jr
Published July 5 2017

   Flashback to the Wastelands, a blind and grizzled Hawkeye helps Logan and his kids around the farm. Scotty asks his paw why the pigs keep getting sick and Logan tells his boy that due to the nuclear fallout, the pigs are only as strong as the crops they can grow. Fast forward to today, and an old man with his grandchildren are ordered stopped at a gate. The soldiers tell him to leave and his eyes glow green... 

This kind of stuff always happens in Canada.

   Suddenly scores of hulks pounce, brutally killing the canadian soldiers as soon as they can get their hands on them. Back at their former location, Logan cycles in and smells blood. Dirt tracks and leftover nukes, he's able to tell there's a lot more of them with quite an agenda. That agenda is being laid out by the old grandpaw hulk to his inbred children and grandchildren. They plan on using the weapons they were able to obtain at Department H against the human population.
   Once Logan loses their trail, he calls in a favor. Puck answers aboard the Alpha Flight Space Station - ready to help his former teammate find the trucks with satellite imaging.

Just have a bunch of favors. You know - the usual.

 Meanwhile at that location, Paw Hulk tells his son Buck to get ready for the Wolverine. When he finds him, take him out. He tells him to also take Billy Bob, the inept member of the hulk gang that got so many of them killed in the last issue.
   Logan rides down a dark highway. He hears the sound of incoming artillery but it's too late and the bike explodes. Buck and company run him down and unload high caliber guns mercilessly into the mutant. Buck tells Billy Bob to take a pistol and fire a bullet into Logan's brain. He cautiously walks up to him, but when he pulls the trigger, the gun is empty. The rest of the gang open fire, raking the disgraced member of their family with round after round. He falls dead on top of the bloodied but likely healing Old Man Logan. We're left to wait to see what happens though, as this issue is to be continued.

That's gonna be a whole lotta mad on the ground when they wake up.

   Ed Brisson is turning into just as much the storyteller as his predecessors in this book, and Mike Deodato's art is certaibly capable enough to compliment it. I assumed that before this, there were some plans to somehow youth Logan back up, as it seems like it's been forever without our old Wolverine, but maybe not. Either way, as long as they prove they can keep it going, I'll take it. I give this one a 9/10.

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Star Wars #33

Written by Jason Aaron

Penciled by Salvador Larroca
Cover by Mike Mayhew
Published July 5, 2017

   After the events of the screaming citadel, Luke and Leia find themselves in a ship with no power. Luke manages to pilot them towards a tropical planet and weeks later, they've adapted to island life. They work together to hunt and survive and the more time they spend together, the more the two orphaned siblings learn about each other. 

"Hey Leia - Is that Alderaan?... GAH.. Sorry. Too soon..." 

   One day while hunting, they hear a loud boom and splash off the coast. A strange race of mer people walk from the water carrying a stormtrooper helmet. As the two cultures learn they share an enemy, they develop a plan. They build a large fire to draw attention to the remote planet, and as Luke hears another splash, he waits. An AT-AT walks in from the surf and as the recon team fans out, they're attacked by paralyzing spineshark quills.

The Empire spends all that money on Death Stars, but stormtrooper suits can't even stop splinters? 

 Next up Luke attacks with his lightsaber but is fired at by the walker. He runs and Leia draws a flaming arrow. It sails through the air and lands atop a pile of dried animal droppings and sulfur crystals, exploding and sending the AT-AT into the sea.
   Luke and Leia scavenge the remains of the Empire's equipment and are able to repair their ship. Meanwhile, Sana Starros and Lando Calrissian walk on Coruscant discussing what appears to be a terrible plan. The details will have to wait however, and with that we're left to be continued.

It's probably fine. You can always trust your buddy Lando.

   After the multi-part crossover of the last few issues of this book, it was nice to read a well needed one-shot story. Luke and Leia are growing as close as siblings can.. even though at this point, they might not know it. Jason Aaron does the official Star Wars canon proud introducting new alien races to interract with, just as he's shown in the past. I'm looking forward to see the upcoming Lando angle too. For this one, I give it a 9/10.

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Daredevil #23

Written by Charles Soule

Penciled by Alex Morgan
Cover by David Lopez
Published July 5, 2017

     As the Kingpin works on a heavy bag, he's approached by a new lawyer. Legal is his name. And being the best in the business, he's bothered by something that serves both their interest. Meanwhile, in case Fisk doesn't hire him, there's a plan B. Tombstone. As Legal explains, Murdock called Daredevil as a witness and through appeal after appeal, he can testify anonymously. Legal is the plan to stop the process legally. Tomebstone is the plan if it doesn't work. 

I guess when you look like Tombstone, you're kind of used to being "Plan B"

   Meanwhile at the Lawyer Bar, Murdock meets with more subdued She-Hulk  - Jennifer Walters. As he talks with the foremost authority on superhero law, she's impressed. But the defense has hired a rather high profile attorney and for that reason, there's obviously some high stakes. Still, if he can win the case, there's a precedent allowing masked heroes to testify. 

Too bad legal precedent couldn't be set for comic book art being this shitty.

   As they talk, someone approaches them and grabs Matt. Obviously trying to protect his identity, he feigns weakness while Tombstone throws Walters across the room. Next up, he tosses Murdoch out the window and picks a fight with a bunch of lawyers - not knowing one of them was a hulk. Out on the street, Tombstone admits he was hired as Matt hits him with a brick. Also suddenly being hit with a fire hydrant, a massive She-hulk appears and is out of control. Matt thinks quickly and settles her down while Tombstone runs away. She returns to her normal self and reminds Daredevil that just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you always should.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should - unless you're She-Hulk.

   Two weeks later, Matt Murdock watches Legal argue in front of the court of appeals. Way too good for someone like Slug to hire, Matt knows there's something afoot. As it's his turn, Matt stands up to begin his testimony and with the biggest case in his career about to kick off, we're left to be continued.
   It took a little while but you knew it was only a matter of time for Kingpin to show up. Charles Soule is able to capture everything that was good about the classic Daredevil and more, nearly turning this book into a legal thriller just as much as an action piece. It's too bad that sometimes Marvel hires these unqualified pencilers who using some abstract methods to make a name for themselves just can't measure up to what the author provides. I miss Ron Garney and hope he's set for return. For this one, I give it a 6/10.

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X-Men Gold #7

Written by Mark Guggenheim

Penciled by Ken Lashley
Cover by Ken Lashley
Published July 5, 2017

   There was a time when Magneto terrorized the humans in Central Park. But today in that very spot, a team of X-Men play yet another tired game of softball. Kitty talks to her old crush Colossus about his injuries when suddenly, a cloud forms over the New York skyline. Meanwhile inside the mansion, Prestige lets a shocked Nightcrawler know his feelings for her are mutually received. 

Um, Rachel..?

To fight the enemy in the last issue, she had to take her telekinetic powers to a place she'd never achieved before - More powerful than even her future hound self may have ever gotten to. Just then, a student runs in to tell them there's a disturbance outside.
   The team heads back to the mansion, and after a talk with Doctor Strange, the disturbance turns out to be a warp field over the city keeping everyone inside. Kitty orders everyone into small teams to assist but before that, matters in the mansion require their attention. Belen, a young mutant Storm brought to the school, has been murdered. Kitty explains to everyone it's likely part of a mutant serial killer on the loose that Logan and Storm have been investigating. And now, it's apparently inside the mansion.

"I know this is a bad time, but there's a serial killer in the mansion..."

   On the streets of New York, Logan reminisces with Ororo over the things they've seen - things they've been around. Maybe there's an end game for him. The conversation will have to wait as he springs into action with claws drawn. He smells a demon and quickly guts it. It manages to get up pretty quickly and the two X-Men know they're about to have a fight on their hands. Storm hits it with lightning and an injured but older Logan might need a minute to recover.
  Meanwhile Nightcrawler runs from an enraged crowd - a scene that has probably been recreated in the pages of these very books at least 25 times, but like softball games - who's counting? 

Nightcrawler isn't even phased by this anymore.

Back at the mansion, the killer finds the non-mutant lizard man from the Brotherhood as the X-Men find another dead mutant. Rachel can feel the killer's rage. And as he attacks another mutant, this time Kitty is there to confront him. She kicks him with a brutal roundhouse and before he can fire at her, she's able to request help. Rachel punches him as well and he's brought down by a punch to the back of the head by Piotr. The hit isn't long lasting and as he fires a gun at Colossus's head, we're left to hope he managed to turn metallic just in time as this issue is left to be continued.

BOOM!

   All the lame softball games aside, this is finally starting to feel like the real X-Men showed up. Who would have thought Kitty Pryde of all people would be able to lead such a legendary lineup but she's doing it with confidence. Mark Guggenheim is starting to heat up as a writer and Ken Lashley is probably the established X-penciler this series has deserved all along. With all of it finally starting to fall into place, I give this one a well deserved 9/10.

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Batman #26

Written by Tom King

Penciled by Mikel Janin
Cover by Mikel Janin
Published July 5, 2017

   In a non-descript suburb, a taxi pulls up to Dick Sprangs Ave. The taxi driver laughs to his fare about it. The Joker gets out and walks inside and a few gunshots later, Batman swings above Gotham hearing the police report of the murders. Elsewhere, the Riddler speaks to a disgraced doctor in a scene reminiscent of the Joker's transformation. "Mirror...?" He asks. "MIRROR?!" He yells. He carves a big "R" in his chest and later, Gordon and Batman inspect the crime scene. How the now deceased doctor ended up helping the Riddler - well that's the mystery.

Well, there's the mystery. Right there.

   Meanwhile in a bathroom, the Joker looks in a mirror while the TV rattles on and on. The Riddler has apparantly left a message for him in a pizza joint. "I'm gonna kill you, Joker. And then I'm going to laugh..." he writes. Joker calls up a gangster and gives him an hour to kill the Riddler, and the gangster is quick to reply. As Riddler and Poison Ivy walk through the park, they're ambushed by Carmine's crew. They order the girl to step away and cover her ears, and in an instant she commands the nearby vines to strangle her victims as the two laugh snicker at of course - a riddle. Batman arrives on the scene with a hatchet to cut down the dead goons, stacking them up and shedding a sympathetic light on who they were.

Bat-Hatchet.

   As the hour's up, Carmine walks into his study and there sits the Joker with Carmine's mother's teeth. He shoots a few more of the gangster's henchmen explaining to them all that now, they work exclusively for the maniacal villain. And later, we see Batman standing over the elderly woman's body.

The Joker Dental Plan (tm)

  
   As the weeks went by, the public saw the bodies piling higher and higher. It was a war. Anyone between the Riddler and Joker were just things to be put aside. It had been a year since Batman put on the cowl. Since then, he'd earned tons of nicknames. The world's greatest detective, the dark knight, the caped crusader. The issue wraps with Bruce Wayne standing near he and Catwoman's bed. The victims all flicker on a screen. Now he was a superhero but with that, this issue is left to be continued.

Bruce. Seriously. You're blowing it.

   Obviously a great deal of this book happens in the past. It's kind of a calling card for Tom King, who loves to jump in between events that happened long ago with blurbs of present dialogue hovering above it. It's become a habit for me to read his books two or three times before I figure out exactly what's going on, but it always eventually makes sense. That's more than a lot of comics can claim. I guess I got my three buck's worth. Either way, it's masterful as usual and I give it a 10/10.

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Batman #25

Written by Tom King

Penciled by Mikel Janin
Cover by Mikel Janin
Published June 21, 2017

   A nervous comedian steps to the microphone with one last joke but his lone audience member is getting restless. He shoots him in the head as the next performer steps up. Reminded to clear the stage first, he drags the dead to the pile which now fills the orchestra pit. 

Well, that's not very funny.

Back at the Gotham jail, a detective asks the Riddler for help but doesn't seem to be getting anywhere. He turns to leave, but as he poses one final riddle, the detective turns and is sliced across the neck. Stabbed a total of 26 times, once for each letter of the alphabet, Riddler says it was because he had something to say.
   At the Joker's comedy club, Commissioner Gordon orders his team in just as the club explodes. An unknown assailant walks up and ambushes a policeman, shooting him in the back of the head with a terrible joke. Later he shoots a woman telling the same joke, and as the Joker walked away, a young and completely oblivious Batman was elsewhere.

Got a joke for you...

   After the detective's murder, the SWAT team holds the Riddler at gunpoint but he recites the names of various members of the officer's families. Simple information he'd gotten from a fellow officer in return for tips on football betting, he walks right out as the terrified cops look on. Nearby, the Joker tells a bad joke in the back of a cab. He shoots the driver from behind as he laughs. The car crashes and an injured Joker climbs out and walks into an apartment with the Riddler closely behind. 

Guess who?

   He has an answer for the Joker... his riddle for the Batman. He explains to him how he knows that there's no laughter until the bat is dead. And since they're both in a race to kill him, the only way for either to laugh again is to team up. Joker disagrees and shoots him point blank before walking away. By the time Batman arrives, he assumes the Riddler will not survive and he pursues the Joker. But he was wrong. Now they both got away.
   Over the next few months, the battles raged. Villain after villain wrapped up in it. Bruce lays with in bed with Cat and as the issue wraps, tells her how it became the War of Jokes and Riddles... and with that we're left to be continued.

Bruce's pillowtalk game is taking a beating.

   The reason I love this book is because Tom King can make flashbacks even seem brand new. What other book can do that? Every other comic spends time trying to wrap their head around new adventures for their heroes. This one does that too but can revisit things that happened in the past - making them suspenseful and like new. A brand new tale. Great story. Great art. I give it a 10/10.

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All New Guardians of the Galaxy #5

Written by Gerry Duggan

Penciled by Chris Samnee
Cover by Chris Samnee
Published July 5, 2017

   Peter Quill reminisces to the summer on the lake. The summer before his mom died. But nowadays he runs from novice Novas, stealing loot but ruining his favorite mixtape in the process. He gets a surprise punch on the guy tailing him - former SHIELD operator and constant Deadpool handler, Scott Adsit. Thanks to an ill placed helmet, Star Lord loses his balance before eventually getting the upperhand and escaping with the gyroscope Rocket sent him to retrieve. As he takes off, Adsit yells after him. He didn't want to arrest him, he wanted to recruit him.

Think about your FUTURE!

   On board his ship. he finagles out of the cuffs, he takes some time to repair his tape as best he can. Still, some of the tunes aren't recoverable. The only thing to do is angle his ship in a manner where he can pick up long lost broadcast signals from earth. Inside his tape box, scores of mixtapes reveal what makes up the inner-workings of the former human. Lite and airy favorites of the 60's and 70's to punk and indie alternative any college DJ would be envious of. He charts every possible corner of the galaxy where he could possibly track them down, eventually finding waves from 1987's wall street crash and beyond.

Remember when the Bears won the Super Bowl?!

   At some point he meanders a little too close to the danger zone, and he does some quick talking. The two aliens actually know him. He explains he's trying to get back to 1980. He's lost one of the greatest songs ever made and he has to get it back. They let him go, and he's able to once again resume his trek. He pilots light years away, and continues to chart the timeline. Around Reagan's inauguration, he's in the right neighborhood.
   He opens a brand new box of blank tapes, and gets ready to recapture one of his most prized possessions in glorious analog sound. He pops one in his boombox and hits play and record. News of John Lennon's senseless assassination fills the air. Star Lord disables gravity and soaks it all in. The Beatles' "Across The Universe" fill the ship.. and with that, this issue comes to an end.

Gerry Duggan wonders if you could recognize this one.

   As a child of the 80's, the fabled mixtape is something I'm well acquainted with. While I might not know what it's like to lose a tape while running from aliens, the struggle was still real. This is a little one-shot issue that was probably quickly cobbled together. It doesn't tell much of a story, other than chirp out as many musical pop culture references that can be made. Still it was complete and stands on it's own. Narrative was good. Guest penciler Chris Samnee was sharp. What's not to like. I give it an 8/10.

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Avengers #9

Written by Mark Waid

Penciled by Mike Del Mundo
Cover by Alex Ross
Published July 5, 2017

   In another dimension, a strange alien dimension fights for survival. But one day, a god appeared. Covered in food. Hecla helps to free her and although she's been seperated from her hammer, she's seemingly ok. The two introduce themselves and Thor agrees to eat while explaining how it's imperative she return home.

Mike Del Mundo has failed art again.

   After resting, Hecla gives the alien a gift: A replica hammer. They set out to explore a way to return her home, explaining on the way that he lost his family from them defying their new ruler, Yod. He took everything from them, allowing them resources to barely live. The two continue learning more about each other, and Hecla tells her about the device they're looking for. A machine that emits a ray of light and sends the person back. He's interrupted though by a shark-like beast that much to Hecla's sake, is quickly felled by Thor.

Hecla then asked Thor "What did you do to end up in such a shitty drawn comic book?"

   They continue searching, finally venturing to the mountain lair of Yod. Hecla tries to stay brave, but runs away from the lightning strikes. Thor plucks one from the sky and throws it back. There before them stands a cloaked being. Thor asks who it is. The being attacks, asking who dares to challenge the might of Yod.
   The asgardian springs into action, avoiding the strikes and punching the ruler in the eyeball. As they fight, Hecla sees the device... a ray gun. He grabs it and tries to give it to Thor when he's struck down. Thor begs him to stay strong but he tells her the device only has once charge left. Use it and go home. She selflessly aims the device at Hecla and sends her friend back. 

"THOR! SEND ME TO A BETTER DRAWN TITLE! PLEEEEEEEEEAAAASE!"

   Enraged, she takes the orb out of Yod's hand and smashes it against her fake hammer, creating a massive explosion and banishing the monster to places unknown. Yod awakens in a field. Red skies he described to Thor earlier overhead, he sees his wife and son. He doesn't know whatever happened to the Thor or if she was a really a god. All he knows is that she was his friend. And with that, this issue comes to a close.

"Oh, family. I had a terrible dream... That Mike Del Mundo drew me. Oh.. wait..."

   I had sincerely hoped Mike Del Mundo had been banished from this book in the same manner Thor dealt with Yod, but to no avail. The putrid colors and abstract inks, combined with depths in and out of focus is enough to make me dizzy. This is not a well drawn comic book. There are far more artists that could provide a capably penciled book with clear and sharp inks, but once again, Avengers has failed me. The writing was good. The art is not. With Del Mundo's art squarely to blame, I give this one a 5/10.

After this issue, Jane is officially ready for the male Thor to come back.

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Spider-Man #18

Written by Brian Michael BendisPenciled by Oscar Bazaldua
Cover by Patrick Brown
Published July 5, 2017

   Ganke and Fabio scour Brooklyn looking for Miles when they see  people running. Fabio tells Ganke to go back to the school but he doesn't listen. Meanwhile Goldballs pops into the club and stops Hammerhead from curb stomping Spider-Man. He shoots balls at him and the flat headed gangster charges. He lowers his head and is suddenly smashed by the biggest ball Fabio can fire. He helps his friend up and carries him out while the crowd is enamored by the golden orbs that now litter the dance floor.

Insert "balls" joke here.

   When they get outside, Ganke is still there waiting with the cab. They climb inside amidst all the people distracted by the balls and Miles demands they take him back to the school. When they get there, they find Miles' mom in his room. She asks if he at least sent some bad guys to jail and back at the club, we see Hammerhead basically saying that some vigilante dressed as Spider-Man wrecked the place.

Because Hammerhead has always been so trustworthy.

   Ms. Morales calls in a favor and gets Miles there on the down low. Once there, they patch him up and mother and son have a heart to heart. He's afraid he can't control his anger and she gives him a pep talk. Don't be scared... be better than that. They get up to leave and Miles asks to see someone before they go.
   Lana lays in her hospital bed when her friends come in to see her. She's watching the news and on it, Spider-Man battles a villain. She's enamored he came to help her and hugs him much to the chagrin of his broken ribs. Back at the Black Cat's lair, she's concerned how it looks Hammerhead couldn't get this done without interference. She demands he fix it.
   Back at Lana's room, Fabio watches over her when she awakes. She's banged up, she admits, but as the conversation continues she admits she's completely in love with Miles. The issue wraps with Hammerhead on a cell phone in a seedy hotel. How much to kill someone with the proportionate strength of a spider? Glass shatters and he looks out the window... but whatever happens will have to wait as we're left to be continued.
   I just reviewed another book Bendis writes - the Infamous Iron Man. In it, I think I hit the nail on the head on what captures the best in his writing style. When an issue is quick and to the point, devoid of any overthinking and a little less on his usual heavy dialogue, it's almost guaranteed to be good. It's kinda between what Becky Cloonan does with the Punisher, where she almost doesn't write anything at all, and some of the other books where Bendis has to put in 10 million words. It's about the perfect series. This is another good one. I give it a 9/10.

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