Star Wars #41

THE ASHES OF JEDHA pt IV

Written by Kieron Gillen
Penciled by Salvador Larroca
Cover by David Marquez
Published Jan 3, 2018

   Luke and Chulco-Gi near what's left of the temple of the central isotoper, but Luke's concentration is interrupted by something falling. What that turns out to be is revealed at the partisan's base. A massive city sized mining rover churns towards them. Benthic tells Han and Leia that Ubin and a team has already left to set bombs on it's tracks.

"What?! You sent her to do the old 'mine-in-the-tracks' trick?! That NEVER works!"

   Meanwhile at the temple, the death worshiping cultists explain to Luke that death pretty much rules everything. While back at the Leviathan, Ubin drives a speeder close to the machine. Problem is once they're clear, imperial forces shoot at them, killing the trigger man. Ubin manages to get the detonator but it does virtually nothing. Han and the princess fly near her wreckage and use a two line to pull her free. Once they're far enough away they run to her and chew her out for trying such a dangerous plan. 

You're in big trouble, lady.

   Nearby in space, Chewbacca attempts to get near the moon his friends are on when he's spotted by a tie fighter. The pilot is killed and the wookie injured, but with damaged engines all he can do is wait. While back at the temple, Chulco begins to crack up and attacks Luke. The young jedi is forced to impale him with his lightsaber and looks back at the cultists. With his dying breath, the student tells Luke it was the dark side, when the isopter tells him his friends are literally in trouble.

"Like... seriously..."

   Chewie floats in the wreckage as the imperial pilot locks on and plans to fire when suddenly it's destroyed from behind. Luke has shown up just time, but unfortunately looks to have tipped off someone on the way. They're able to make it back to the base. Although he's hurt, his mission was successful and he gives this mystery package to Leia. What is it? What can it do? Will there be anymore confusing rhetoric from the isopter cult people? We'll have to wait and see as this issue is left to be continued.

Leia's gotta save the day again.

   Like I've said many times, some of these books go in ebbs and flows as to quality. While the previous issue was more complex, this one was more action centric but short on plot points. I'm not all that sure of this temple speak other than some attempt to link Luke to the whills, but either way, it's clear that they want to continue to bridge that gap. I wasn't necessarily bowled over by this issue, but it still wasn't all that bad either. I give this one a 7/10.

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Captain America #697

HOME OF THE BRAVE pt III

Written by Mark Waid
Penciled by Chris Samnee
Cover by Chris Samnee
Published Jan 3, 2018

   Cap relaxes in a barroom while playing pool with flirty opponent, when he takes his eyes off the prize and she knocks him out. When he wakes up, he’s in Kraven’s den, surrounded by previous conquest trophies and wearing a power dampener. Kraven explains that Captain America is the ultimate challenge. He releases a wounded man into the woods below and Cap goes after him.

Cap vs Cheetah.

   Almost immediately, he saves the man from a charging jaguar, later showing him a trap that he nearly stepped in. Turns out the man’s name is David and he was backpacking across Europe and woke up in this jungle. Suddenly a shot is fired, striking the tree behind Cap. They continue on, walking near snakes in a narrowing ravine. He asks how good David is at climbing, but nearly as soon as he answers, the man brings down an avalanche of boulders. They escape, but Cap notices the hunter crouching in the distance and everything begins to kind of make sense...

David appears rather inept.

   After telling David to keep close on his tail, the man steps on a mine. Cap does the best he can to chill the guy out when he notices the smell of gun oil. David was the trap the entire time. Kraven applauds. He pulls a shotgun and fires, which Captain America is able to evade. In the disturbance, they both dangle from the cliff, but the Hunter refuses to turn off the power dampener. They both fall, and as Cap is in the swell of a wave, Rampart’s submarine surfaces. They blast him with icy water, and Captain America is later hoisted onto the ship in a massive block of ice. What will a now re-frozen Cap be like? How will he fight back? We’ll all have to wait and see as this issue is left to be continued.

"I'm beginning to think you guys know I'm vulnerable to things like this..."

   You know, I’ve often praised quick and short comics since they’re such a change of pace from what Marvel and DC are often prone to doing. I’ve followed some of the most complicated and multi-faceted stories that even I’ve completely lost focus of what’s happening. With books like this though, there’s very little question. Obviously after Cap’s Secret Empire brain scrambling, it makes sense to thaw him out a little slowly, pardon the pun. This issue keeps sight of that. I give it an 8/10.

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Amazing Spider-Man #793

VENOM INC pt IV

Written by Dan Slott
Penciled by Ryan Stegman
Cover by Alex Ross
Published Dec 27, 2017

   In the meatpacking district, two goons stick up a food truck when they're interupted by a gruff sounding Spider-Man. He beats the crooks up badly, not only freaking out the drivers, but later stealing the truck himself.

Spidey in full jerk mode.

   Back in the Bronx, Maniac and his minions boot up a conveyor belt, feeding Flash Thompson into flames. Obviously busy, Lee Price leaves his gang to finish the job when in jumps Mania. She takes them out and pulls a very crisp Anti-Venom out of the fire. Now covered in some kind of shell, he bursts out of it, explaining to his protege that they need to hurry up and find Spider-Man.

Whew! That was a close one!

   Meanwhile at Alchemax, Venom surprises Dr. Steve, requesting the artificial Anti-Venom. Black Cat joins the show, and helps to persuade the doctor. While back in the Bronx, Spider-Man delivers the stolen goods to Maniac. He explains to the webcrawler it's all an attempt to draw the Black Cat out of hiding when Spidey has an idea.

Even the Web Ware screen is black. Cool.

   At the secured location of the anti-venom, Black Cat breaks in and she, the doctor, and Venom prepare to weaponize the serum. While at the Bugle, Super jerk-mode Spider-Man crashes into the office and although they can tell he's under mind control, he's able to force Ben Urich to pen a story. They're interrupted just in time by Flash, who pulls Spider-Man out the window, and eventually propelled onto the roof.

"Here 'U' Go!"

   Spider-Man punches out Mania, and when Flash goes after her, is able to pull one of the DAILY BUGLE'S sign letters right on top of him. Mania dangles from the roof when suddenly Black Cat swings in, throwing some kind of anti-venom weapon belt thing at Spider-Man. He's finally free of the mind controlling symbiote. As Venom joins the party, the entire group of them all decide to join forces in the interest of stopping Lee Price's crime tour.
   The issue wraps at the annual meeting of the five largest crime families. As they gather to toast their truce, their champagne glasses turn out to be spiked. The symbiote wraps each mobster's head as Maniac celebrates. From now on, they're all family. What happens next? We'll have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.

Wasn't this how Godfather III ended?

   Now that we know Dan Slott will be moving on from this book, it's kind of feels like we need to enjoy every issue we have left together. This story arc has really turned out to be awesome. How else can you make Spider-Man instantly more interesting? Give him a Venom to fight. Even better than that? Put a bunch of Venom's on his side. Ryan Stegman's artwork pairs nicely with the story as well. I'm stoked to see where Slott and Mike Costa can keep bringing this one too. I give this one a 10/10.

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X-Men Blue #18

CROSS TIME CAPERS pt III

Written by Cullen Bunn
Penciled by RB Silver
Cover by Arthur Adams
Published Dec 27, 2017

   Banshee and Emma Frost sit at apparently one of the many X-schools when Iceman comes crashing through the window. What Emma has been expecting has happened, and the time displaced original X-Men and Generation X battle on the front lawn.

Well THAT escalated quickly.

   Evenly matched, the fight rages. Generation X seem fairly aware of these characters. Jean is finally able to convince them that they're clearly confused, and the originally team eventually overpowers them. Emma and Banshee scream themselves before Scott and Jean and it clearly has them freaked out. They walk back to the mansion to talk as Banshee and and the white queen psychicly warn each other to brace themselves.

"Ix-nay on the Agneto-May.."

   Jean, Scott, Emma and Sean Cassidy sit and discuss. They're from the future, um past.. and in their timeline, their friends began to disappear. Xavier called them back, and Magneto built a time platform - odd indeed, since in this timeline, the X-Men killed him.
   Meanwhile the students talk amongst themselves, all the while not quite trusting each other. Hank suddenly notices something, and realizes the mansion isn't real as it fades away. In Jean and Scott's meeting, it equally fades and Emma explains that when the X-Resistance fell, they used parts of the danger room to make the best of it.

I mean, if the mansion was falling down, wouldn't YOU grab parts of the Danger Room? Cuz I know I would.

   Jean peers into Emma's head and sees her original X-Men fighting the rest of the team. Emma tells her they turned against them, while the older Jean notices the younger one in the memory. Jean finally figures it out. She tells Scott they have to go back when another paradox makes everything fade away again. Hank readies them for one more jump and once again they see themselves in the fight of their lives vs Magneto. What does it all mean? Will they ever be able to return to their time? We'll have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.

Man, comic book artists love to draw dead super heroes...

   So I clicked around the internet for a few reviews of this book, and like I expected, they were a bit mixed. While it's still my second favorite of the current X-Men series, it's still irritating that both Bunn and Marc Guggenheim basically fill every tiny crevice of a story with trying to remind you they know their X-history. Also via the reviews, many found the arc difficult to follow, but if you can suspend some imagination here and there, it's easy to enjoy. When 5 kids from the 60's leap through timelines as much as these do, it's bound to crack a few eggs. I enjoy seeing where they're going and look forward to seeing how they wrap it up. I give this one a 9/10.

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Despicable Deadpool #291

DEADPOOL KILLS CABLE pt V: GREAT SCOTT

Written by Gerry Duggan
Penciled by Scott Koblish
Cover by David Lopez
Published Dec 27, 2017
   Deadpool calls Stryfe with the news that he finally killed Cable. He teleports the mercenary to his blimp, where a drunk Wade pees all over the floor and throws him the heart. Stryfe performs a test and it's official - it's real. Suddenly an intruder alarm sounds and Cable flies in. With bullets flying in every direction, Stryfe swears revenge.

Well now you're in big trouble.

   He throws Cable out of the window and grabs Deadpool, asking him how he wants his family to die when Wade grabs a pen and stabs him in the eye. When Cable comes back in, Deapool tries to duck out when the phone rings. A very sick Ellie asks for permission for the doctor to administer some meds - a doctor who turns out to be a time traveling Stryfe. Deadpool is blackmailed into turning on Cable, and he warns him that he's planted a bomb that will kill Hope Summers. Cable curses all of them and he bodyslides out of the timeline.

Dammit Deadpool. Ok bye.

   Stryfe tells Deadpool he won't forget this betrayal as he chugs beers, uncaring. The next three deaths he orders must come from THIS year. With that, Stryfe throws him out of the blimp and he lands in the river below, floating near a hobo who makes some interesting nonsensical observations.

Hey. Thanks, Hobo.

   The issue wraps with Deadpool talking with the very dead and dismembered Preston when his phone rings. Leaving a message is an old Hydra buddy. It seems they've tracked down the old, bizzaro fake Steve Rogers from the Secret Empire arc. What he intends to do to enact his revenge though will have to wait, as this issue is left to be continued.

Old Steevil Rogers.

   Man, I love this book. It's one of those titles that's just hit a sweet spot and almost reads itself. It's interesting that so long ago, I looked on it with such disdain. What happened to that Gerry Duggan? Either way, it's truly firing on all cylinders now, with cartoonish artwork to match. Duggan and Koblish are on fire and I can only hope it stays like that for a long time. I give this one a 10/10.

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Action Comics #994

BOOSTER SHOT pt II

Written by Dan Jurgens
Penciled by Dan Jurgens
Cover by Dan Jurgens
Published Dec 27 2017

   Booster Gold and Superman run through Krypton's past, running into Jor El and Zod working on Space Arks. Problem is, Superman is currently powerless. He takes Booster's glove and fires back, allowing them to escape.

Thanks, Skeets!

   While Booster's possession of stolen power suits has given them an edge, it's clear that their presence is re-writing Krypton's history. Evidence that they need to get out of there quickly mounts, but seeing Zod and his father working together piques Superman's curiosity.  

"I know you find that interesting, Superman, but I don't care."

   Back in the control center, Jor-El and Zod watch video and notice the House of El's symbol on Supes' chest. Zod sends Eradicators, and once they realize what's happening, Booster and Superman find themselves in real trouble. They fight back before Zod attacks him personally.
   Meanwhile back on earth, Lois and Jon walk through the Pentagon looking for answers about her father. Finally a general explains to her that Sam Lane acted on his own in Logamba. The information isn't exactly what she was looking for, but gives her permission to investigate further.

Real quick, here's two pages of this.

   On Krypton, the battle continues when Booster gets word that a curious Jor-El is on the way. He realizes that if the father and son speak, it could mangle the timeline. They make it to the time bubble and take off, much to Superman's dismay. They're forced to watch a timeline that could have been - a wife and family that would never be. Superman is obviously crushed. 

Meh. Lois is hotter.

   The issue wraps with the bubble crashing as it exits the time stream. Unfortunately for the unconscious passengers, they've been followed by an eradicator. They're location: Gotham City in the 25th century - a future the Eradicator plans to destroy. What will happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Kill, Kill, Kill.

   Obviously I'm a little new to this book. I read a few issues in the past but it always seemed like DC never planned to really continue it's flagship status. That all changes in a few issues and I wanted to make sure I was ahead of the curve. This issue was written and penciled by Dan Jurgens - which isn't anything new at DC, but always impresses me. The art seems a bit rushed and the story is a little shifty, but I'm willing to give concessions when I see how much of it was a one person undertaking. I give this one a 7/10.

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Phoenix Resurrection #1

CHAPTER ONE: FRUSTRATE THE SUN

Written by Matthew Rosenberg
Penciled by Leinil Frances Yu
Cover by Leinil Frances Yu
Published Dec 27, 2017

   Two kids enjoy a bike ride when they happen upon a red headed girl bleeding in the street. When they approach, she rises and speaks backwards. Later another girl walks up and asks if they want to play frisbee. She throws a pigeon into the air and it’s transformed to the girl - now in white and the kids run away.

What kind of sick magic trick is THIS?!

   Two hours later, the X-Men are on the scene. The apprehensive local sheriff explains the situation - two children were found bleeding and floating a few inches off the ground. Armed with this info, the entire extended team gathers for a briefing at the Xavier Institute. Beast does his best to explain the events to everyone, and though nobody understands it, it was enough to put Rachel in the hospital again, apparantly. Further, three arbitrary spots displayed odd energy patterns - New York, France, and the North Pole. Kitty tells them that three teams will be formed to continue the investigation.

Ok, so 3 teams... Made up of our most popular and marketable X-Men only though.

   The Gold Team, mostly anyway, goes to the old Hellfire Club. Blue team heads for France and mostly Weapon X based members head for the Arctic. In the old mansion, they tread carefully when Nightcrawler realizes they have company. In France, they walk up the stairs when Rogue is attacked by some freaky, scary lizard guy. In the tundra, they keep walking when they see old Wolverine walking towards them.

Pretty soon there will be enough Wolverines in this timeline to form their own X-Men team.

   Jubilee bites one of the Hellfire guards, realizing they’re non-human. The X-Men attack en masse. Rogue takes a nasty spill from Lizard man, but when the rest of them realizes she’s out, they battle back. And as Young Man Logan closes in, Domino shoots him in the head. It doesn’t phase him much and he gets back, clawing Sabretooth in the neck.
   Back at the Hellfire Club, the X-Men realize they’re outnumbered. They move to retreat but realize the door is gone. Colossus lowers his shoulder and bursts through the wall. In France, Lizard Man evades their attacks. Eventually it has young Hank McCoy in a bad spot but Rogue punches it out. In the snow, the Wolverine clone is slowly knifing everyone that gets close to it until eventually, Old Man Logan and his younger clone are all that’s left. Suddenly, all three conflicts are immediately ended. The soldiers, Lizard Man, and Wolverine all disappear. But above all of them, the sun rages and they all look up to stare at it.

Just an FYI, I think it's bad for even mutants to stare at the sun.

   Elsewhere at an indescript diner, two waitresses stare into the sky. Jean doesn’t seem to think much of it but Gladys describes it to their boss as what looks like a bird in the sun. Jean shuffles over to take Mr Cassidy, aka Banshee’s order and later walks home. When she returns, she tells her parents she doesn't feel well and may take a raincheck on dinner. But when they say it might upset her guest, she answers the door and there stands Scott Summers with flowers in hand. Clearly surprised, she looks at him... shocked. But what happens next will have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.

Jean appears to have a hot date with the nerdiest, oldest looking accountant version of Scott Summers like ever.

   Immediately after this issue, there's a letter Matthew Rosenberg penned about how he never got a chance to mourn Jean Gray, and when he approached Marvel execs about a way to clear up Marvel Girl's return, they agreed to let him do it. The problem is that I don't know what reality Jean is in at the moment. Is this a version of her that didn't know Scott initially? Is the girl at the beginning her from some other reality? What connection does her future daughter Rachel have to it? It's poorly explained but like many first issues, the series deserves time to develop. I'm in - and if we've finally started down the path for the original Jean Gray to return, I couldn't be happier. I give this one an 8/10.

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Invincible Iron Man #595

THE SEARCH FOR TONY STARK pt III

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Penciled by Alex Meleev and Stefano Caselli
Cover by RB Silva
Published Dec 27 2017

   Dr. Doom explains what is going on with Tony Stark. The coma, the whole missing thing. He says that for the time being, he intends to carry the mantle until the real Stark can return. He stares down Dr. Amara Perara who holds him at gunpoint... until he notices the pre-natal vitamins in her grocery bag. With that, he teleports away.

So Doom IS still a bad guy... runs away from his obligations.

   Meanwhile, Riri flies over the city talking with her Tony AI, who has quite a lot to say about CEO surrogate Eric Lynch. Suddenly her boot boosters stop working. She crash lands on her street in front of her crush, Xavier King. They walk into her garage and see scores of Stark bots raiding her stuff. Melina Vostokof explains that the property belongs to Stark Enterprises until Riri threatens to go to the press.

I know Bendis tries, but doesn't MSNBC get like the worst ratings of all cable news?

   Elsewhere the real Tony Stark awakens to see his birth mother pulling off his helmet. Due to the bilogical experiments he's been running on himself through the years, he's undergone some physical changes. Mary Jane runs into the hospital room and says over comms that they found him. Suddenly the entire Marvel universe stands at his bedside ready to help. Leading the charge is his dead best friend, Rhodey. It all begins to make sense... as Tony remains in the heap on the floor. It was all a dream.

Oh wait.

   In France, Victor returns to his home and stands in his kitchen in thought. He's surprised by the Hood who pulls twin pistols and fires. Victor dissipates into black smoke out the side of the wall. The issue wraps with Amanda Armstrong wrapping up an unsuccessful conference call with several superheroes. She calls on Friday and they realize there's a copy of Tony's consciousness possessed by Riri. They call him and ask him where Tony is. He starts to answer... but whatever he says will have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.

Y'all seriously JUST thought of this?

   Reading this issue made me realize how awesome Alex Maleev's art in Infamous Iron Man was. While it's definitely cool that Doom and Riri have been combined into the same book, I'm a little confused with where it's headed. Obviously Dan Slott will take over for Bendis at some point, but his style coupled with what they did together in Infamous...combined with Riri's story drawn by Caselli is weird. Still really cool though. This is setting up to be a great story in the end and wrapping up Brian's time at Marvel looks to be one of the greatest comic swan songs I've seen. I give this one a 9/10.

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