Avengers #8-9

Written by Jason Aaron
Penciled by David Marquez
Covers by David Marquez
Published Sep 19 and Oct 10, 2018

   Fresh off the heels of the Final Host's defeat, the Avengers officially welcome Ghost Rider as their newest member with a little one-on-one Captain America time. Not letting anything go to waste, they remodel the dead cellestial into their newest headquarters. 

Avengers HQ #10,839

   Meanwhile, Jenn Walters struggles with her newfound gamma overdoses with none other than Dr Strange, as Carol Danvers is officially invited to rejoin her old team by the always pimpin' Tony Stark.

Tony gets whupped again.

   The Avengers decide as a group to name Black Panther their newest leader. His first action as chairman comes quick. It seems that topside, some Atlantean soldiers have invaded a Roxxon vessel and are quickly murdered. This forces King Namor to spring into action, causing the Avengers to fight back in response.

Electo-Loogie

    Black Panther uses their diversion to find the Roxxon hostages, but is quickly discovered by Namor. The rest of the team hurry to help, and eventually Cap convinces the sub-mariner to return the hostages to him to face justice.

   The issue wraps with Namor flooding the cells of the perpetrators. Assembling his own group of Defenders of the Deep, the king of Atlantis declares war on the humans above. What's gonna happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Mad-Nam!

   One of the easiest ways to rate a comic book is to compare it to others. This series has managed to start on it's third story arc while, take X-Men Red for example, bounds in it's 10th issue still on the painfully slow and first story. Of course, Tom Taylor is no Jason Aaron - no matter how much we wish he could be every now and then. I give these two books a 10/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copy of these books HERE and HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Old Man Logan #46-47

NORTHERN FLIGHT pts I and II

Written by Ed Brisson
Penciled by Damien Couceiro
Covers by Andrea Sorrentino
Published Aug 29 and Sept 12, 2018

   Over the course of a few weeks, strange things are happening in Canada. Meanwhile, Logan drops his bike off at a garage for repairs as a familiar ride picks him up. Thanks to his old friends in Alpha Flight, Logan gets a checkup from resident healer Shaman. Unfortunately the news is not what he wanted to hear. Adamantium poisoning is slowly killing the mutant and there’s no cure.
   With nothing else to do, he rolls with his old Canadian crew to check out some eerie, purple plant growing phenomena in Shag Harbor. They soon discover the center of it, and Logan and Puck set out to do some field surveying. Eventually though they’re attacked but thanks to some quick thinking, they’re saved by some villagers.
   Meanwhile, the rest of Alpha Flight fight they’re way towards what’s rest of the town’s stronghold. Left on the outside though is Guardian. He’s eventually trapped, and Puck and Logan scurry to the local plant nursery to grab what’s left of the weed killer. They’re interrupted by the plant monster rupturing a gas line. As the creature recoils from the blast, Shaman is able to surmise it’s home planet was attacked by fire.
   Logan takes off towards the gas station. As the monster bears down on the Post Office, Logan and Puck fill up some gas cans and use Guardian to fly the mutant towards the plant’s brain. He cuts into it and eventually exposes it’s core, later slicing into the gas cans and lighting a match. It explodes, and Guardian rescues the now crispy man once known as Wolverine.
   The issue wraps with his first super team giving Logan a lift back to pick up his bike. On the way, Puck gets to share what will likely be his last moments with one of his oldest friends, and reveals that seismic activity likely proves that “he” is still out there. They say their goodbyes and with that, this issue and story arc come to a final conclusion.
   With just a few issues left to go, it’s really cool to see Andrea Sorrentino cranking up the cover art on this book again. He’s easily one of the greatest comic book artists I’ve ever seen. And although I’m assuming there’s no Jeff Lemire to lend his stellar writing style that was a force in this book’s first half, Ed Brisson has more than earned the right to wind it down. This series is going out the right way, and this is just one more example. I give these two a 9/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copies of these books HERE and HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Amazing Spider Man #6-7

A TRIVIAL PURSUIT pts I-II

Written by Nick Spencer
Penciled by Humberto Ramos
Covers by Humberto Ramos
Published Sept 26 and Oct 10, 2018

   Pete and Mary Jane make out at his shared apartment as supervillain Fred Myers, aka Boomerang, loiters nearby. As he feigns chore duty to hang around, Pete decides to tail him, watching him carouse with some other fellow d-list crooks, but all in all, nothing looks like an imminent threat.

"It's just a bunch of nerd villains!"

   Later, the three roommates talk and Fred lets out the fact he's a Spider-Man expert. Pete corrects him, which inspires the villain to bring him to the famed supervillain drinking spot, the Bar With No Name. Boomerang quickly comes up with an alias for his non-costumed friend, and so Peter Parker is now known as the Liar, allowing him to compete and later excel in Spider-Man trivia night.

It took a little time, but finally something Pete is good at.

   Pete dominates the contest while across town, Mayor Wilson Fisk has decided that Boomerang has become a liability. He texts out an APB to every villain imaginable and suddenly, Boomerang the Liar are wanted men. The duo begins to fight their way out - but it's slow going, and eventually Fred takes a blow he can't shake off.

Boomerang... saves the day?!

   Suddenly the Liar pulls out his own super lie, telling the patrons that their weapons will now immediately backfire. The diversion gives the two of them an instant to escape. Later, the two take a second to rest when Pete clears the air. He knows Fred is still supervillaining as he saw them with the knockoff Sinister Six. Fred explains the sad truth... his old gang were nothing but some doppelgängers he bought from the Tinkerer, and to add insult to injury, they didn’t even function properly. Pete decides to cut his roomie some slack, inviting him to see UCB with him and Robbie because everyone deserves a second chance.

Ok, I guess you can come hang out with us.

   The issue ends with an interesting epilogue. Mayor Wilson Fisk flexes his large muscles when weird bandage bug man appears yet again. He’s had a few cameos in this series so far but this one this one reveals a bit more. After murdering a handful of his associates, the centipede-clad mystery man forces Fisk to bend the knee - which clearly shows he’s a force to be reckoned with. But what’s gonna happen next? We’ll have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.

"Ok, but you have to do EVERYTHING I say.. AND you have to put this gross bug on you."

   So judging by some of Nick Spencer’s previous assignments, he has an odd place in his heart for Boomerang. And you know what? I get it. It reminds me of what Tom King did with Kite Man in Batman a few issues back. Takes an obscure villain and humanize him. Not that it’s anything new but it’s a refreshing approach. Hopefully he keeps Fred around because there’s a lot of places to take him. Nice work for a writer still only 7 issues away from Dan Slott’s shadow, but getting better and better every time. I give this one a 10/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copy of these books HERE and HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Return of Wolverine #1

HELL

Written by Charles Soule

Penciled by Steve McNiven
Cover by Steve McNiven
Published September 2018

   Wolverine awakens in agony with searing claws cooled in pools of blood. He's in a laboratory, surrounded by the dead with one lone scientist still alive. The man tells him he works at the behest of Persephone, and that she must be stopped. Suddenly the lab explodes, freeing a cloned sabretooth tiger who's then impaled by a mammoth, as Wolverine hears a voice in his head explaining what he has to do.

Metal AF.

   Logan walks into a valley with his subconscious describing what he must do. He sees a jeep pass with armed guards and he follows it. At a nearby encampment, the guards take one of the residents' sons and burn it down. Wolverine springs into action, lighting up the guard tower as an Omega Red-clad soldier blows out his motorcycle's tire.

Weeeeeee!

   He dreams. In a flashback he speaks with Persephone before being awoken by one of the fleeing scientists. Reminding him of who he is, she helps to close a wound that won't heal and they discuss her missing son.

Just stapling up Wolvie. No big deal.

   They continue talking, about how he's one of the most famous X-Men of all time but he still can't remember anything. Just bits and pieces. She recounts times he's been seen in action. With knives in his hands and how he fights for those less fortunate. Inside his subconscious, Logan frees one of his many past selves... the original blue and yellow incarnation prepares to fight Persephone. With claws popped, Wolverine is back. But what's going to happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Aw JAM!

   So five years after Charles Soule and Steve McNiven penned the death of Wolverine, I honestly never thought it would stick this long. Before starting this series, I went back and flipped through it's proceeding one to remind myself of what all happened. Now after months and months of Logan popping up in cameos, he's finally back for good. And it's true that nobody can spin a talke quite like Charles Soule. This was an awesome way to kick it off. I give this one a 10/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copy of this book HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Avengers #7

FIRE AND BONE

Written by Jason Aaron
Penciled by Sara Picheli
Cover by Geoff Shaw
Published Sept 5, 2018

   One million years ago, a tiny cave boy lives among his ignorant peers. One day a white haired stranger shows up, and kills many in his clan just to let them know he’s their new boss. Able to speak with the boy, he tells him who he and the boy truly are - the world’s masters. But the boy’s lesson ends abruptly when the monster eats everyone else in his family, leaving him alone in the cold.

Thanks, scary hairy man. Now I'm solo.

   He crawls out in the snow and is soon found by a talking snake. Giving him the opportunity for redemption, he only need to speak the demon's name. But redemption quickly shifts to being cursed, as the very first Ghost Rider immediately seeks vengeance.

By the way, I'm bad ass now.

   Five years later, the stranger smells the boy approaching - now riding a flaming mammoth with his signature fiery skull face. They fight, but the very first Wendigo has grown stronger since their last encounter. The battle is epic but it ends sadly with the monster taking Ghost Rider's flaming mammoth friend down with him.

GREAT! THAT WAS MY ONLY FLAMING ELEPHANT!

   Afraid of being forever alone again, the Ghost Rider is soon joined by the first Phoenix and Odin, the Asguardian Thor. With that, the very first Avengers take shape. But what happens next will have to wait, as this issue is left to be continued.

"You looking to party?"

   You know, the coolest thing about comic books is that origin stories can be rewritten and re imagined by every writer assigned to them. Most times, it comes off as super lame. But with a skilled an amazing storyteller like Jason Aaron at the helm, you can suspend anything you know about a character's history. Because it's in great hands. I absolutely love where they're taking things here. I give this one a 9/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copy of this book HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

X-Men Blue #36

SURVIVING THE EXPERIENCE, finale.

Written by Cullen Bunn
Penciled by Marcus To
Cover by RB Silva
Published September 26, 2018

   The time displaced X-Men meet up to discuss returning to the past, and for once they're all in agreement. But before they go, they had to New York to thwart Mojo TV, give their goodbyes to the Starjammers, and head to Madripoor to wrap up with the Raksha. Polaris and Danger offer their help by forming a brand new X-Men chapter, as Beast gives a farewell to the ominous Gazing Nightshade.

Well at least before y'all left, you gave us these sweet unis.

   They return to the mansion in New York and offer the mothervine mutants to Kitty, Storm and the X-Men Gold team. Later, Pickles bamfs Jean into the woods where an unsuspecting Cyclops awaits. And though it took 36 issues, the two heroes finally get their big make out moment.

Finally!

   The issue wraps with them all assembled before the time jumping platform, but breaking news out of DC reveals the return of Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. With that, the X-Men decide to stick around a little bit longer - but this issue and series drifts to a bittersweet conclusion.

Not dedicated to Chris Claremont.

   So I'm convinced they canceled this series just because X-Men Gold was sooooo bad and they didn't want to hurt Marc Guggenheim's feelings. Back when Brian Michael Bendis brought this crew to the present almost 6 years ago, there's surely no way he thought they'd still be here. But Cullen Bunn managed to make lemonade out of the lemons, and what he gave us was a real, solid X-book. Hopefully his writing days with the children of the atom aren't all behind him, because he gave us some pretty good gems. I give this one a 9/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE

You can also buy my physical copy of this book HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

X-Men Gold #36

FEARED AND HATED

Written by Marc Guggenheim
Penciled by Pere Perez
Cover by Phil Noto
Published September 19, 2018

   Kitty makes yet another call to Colossus, who's obviously still ignoring her. Meanwhile in the Danger Room, Prestige explains to Iceman why she changed her uniform. Suddenly they're interrupted by Nightcrawler, who has been sent to grab Rachel for a mission.

"Rachel! I've come to take you away from this terrible comic book. Follow MEEEEE!"

   Before leaving, Kitty and Storm talk. Then they head to New York to talk down a brand new mutant from killing everyone. Kitty manages to calm the boy, explaining that he's got the rest of his life ahead of him. But without warning, he's shot by an armed citizen with a handgun.

Just what this book needed.

   They whisk him away to the hospital where one doctor is afraid to work on the boy. Another woman comes forward and agrees to. The issue ends with them all waiting to see what happens. With that, this terrible X-Men book finally comes to a merciful end.

I'm pretty sure Chris Claremont turned down the dedication.

   Clearly Marc Guggenheim saved the worst for last. I don't even feel like rating this but if anything, it's about a 3/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE

You can also buy my physical copy of this book HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Daredevil #608

Written by Charles Soule

Penciled by Phil Noto
Cover by Phil Noto
Published Sept 12, 2018

   Matt Murdock's fake twin brother holds up Foggy demanding he call his old partner. The problem is that he calls Daredevil who smashes in the window. Mike demands his baton and takes Foggy away at gunpoint.

"Gimme one of dem cool sticks you got!"

   As the pretend twin and the lawyer ride around town, they're spotted by Bushwacker, who mistakenly believes killing them will be rewarded by the Kingpin. The car bursts into flames but when the criminal approaches them, Mike deploys the baton and they're able to escape.

Your brother Matt could have "seen" that coming a mile away.

   Finally the two brothers get a chance to meet up and talk. Frank McGee and Reader surveil them from afar, waiting on Matt's signal to erase the fake doppelganger. When he never gets the signal, he goes in but is stopped by Murdock. Mike then accuses them of setting him up. He runs away and heads straight to Mayor Wilson Fisk's office.

"Wait - Aren't you Vince D'anofrio?

   The issue wraps with him asking Fisk for work. Suspecting it's a ruse, the mayor sends him away, but he's later approached by Parker Robbins - aka The Hood. What does the villain have up his sleeve? We'll have to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

"Hi. I'm Little Red Riding Hood..."

   So I'm not sure when Daredevil is going to reboot past it's Legacy numbering but if I had to guess, it's somewhere around the corner. Therefore, enjoy Charles Soule on this book while you still can because what he and Phil Noto are putting together is stellar. I give this one an 8/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copy of this book HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Tony Stark: Iron Man #4

LOVE BYTES

Written by Dan Slott
Penciled by Valerio Schiti
Cover by Alexander Lozano
Published Oct 3, 2018

   As the Baintronics Make-A-Match dating app takes Stark Unlimited by storm, the employees seem to have been bitten by the love bug. Meanwhile, Tony links up with Jacosta's brain and has a stunning reaction. Luckily Janet Van Dyne is on the scene to distract him while Jacosta notices some anomalies.

Tony being inappropriate.

   Bethany notices realizes something is amiss in these new matches. She orders background checks which prompts the immediate end of a robotic hack. The news interrupts Tony and Janet's lunch date and the two Avengers leap into action.

A Vespa turns into that?!

   Back at HQ, everyone's matches have turned out to be killer robots. As the heroes blow them into oblivion, Jacosta explains they're machines with a glitch in their AI and begs them to stop. Tony takes a softer approach and the robots move to self destruct when suddenly he has an idea. He uploads his own dating profile and with the overload of matches, the robots give up.

Do that many people REALLY want to date Tony Stark?

   The issue wraps with Sunset Bain apologizing for the hack and Tony and Janet relaxing on the couch. With that this issue and quick little one shot story come to a conclusion.

Pimp Tony.

   With Dan Slott at the helm of this book, we already know he can't lose. Maybe it's true that Spider-Man losing his favorite writer may have spelled trouble for the webslinger, the shellhead clearly still operates at 100% with this creative team. I give this one a 10/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copy of this book HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.