Venom #164

THE NATIVITY pt I

Written by Mike Costa
Penciled by Mark Bagley
Cover by Ryan Stegman
Published Apr 4, 2018

 Eddie sees Liz Allain and Anne Weying in a dream, being threatened by Carnage and other Life Foundation symbiotes before awakening. He immediately throws up when Venom convinces him to go out for some air.

I know you just threw up, but let's go swing around the city.

   Meanwhile the Shocker robs a jewelry store, failing to get any respect from the clerk when Venom shows up. The shocks vibrate the jewels, creating a painful sonic hum that forces the alien to flee. The Shocker grabs his stash but is quickly apprehended.

The Shocker is always the dipshit.

   In a dream, Eddie again see's Liz but this time with a baby Venom. He comes to and the alien explains they had to get away, but Eddie senses confusion in it. Later they walk down a busy street when they run into old girlfriend Claire Dixon. But something's not right.
    The symbiote realizes the streets are empty, and convinces Eddie to take off just before Claire can shoot him. Now airborne, her team fires sonic blasters at him until finally, some drones are able to strike him from above.

Hey no fair, yall is cheatin!

   He falls to the ground and they continue blasting him. Finally incapacitated, they load him up as the alien resists one more time through the dampening collar. The issue wraps with Claire giving Eddie the news - the symbiote is about to spawn. What does this mean for the lethal protector? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Congrats, Edward...

   If you're a regular reader of Venom, by now you know that Eddie Brock is always torn between listening to his suit or fighting it. But now with news like this, it's got to take him to the next level? What part of Eddie would be this offspring's father? Is it to eventually give him an assistant? And even more interesting, what does a baby Venom look like? I guess I'll bite. Let's see what happens. I give this one an 8/10.

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The Punisher #223

WAR MACHINE pt VI

Written by Matthew Rosenberg
Penciled by Guiu Vilanova
Cover by Clayton Crain
Published Apr 4, 2018

   As Frank rockets towards the missle, he orders his armor to drop all on board weapons in order to catch it. Later he’s interrupted by Nick Fury, but orders the armor to end the transmission. Suddenly the rocket explodes. Watching from the ground, 2 former SHIELD agents see he’s ignited the fuel. He catches the warhead and orders the rest of them out of their suits.

Don't make me drop this...

   Counting to five, he nearly blows up the nuke when Fury fries his suit with an EMP as well as the others from afar. Now just sitting in worthless armor, it’s man to man combat. The Punisher makes quick work of the former agents. And with them now out of the picture, it’s finally time to take on the big fish.

Anybody home?!

   Beating on his bomb shelter door, Frank orders Petrov to come out. He does so, but now in his own hulking war machine armor. Frank leaps behind a tank for cover, stepping out and tossing an explosive shell in the general’s face. Then using a dagger, he’s able to pinpoint the suit’s weak spots before getting blasted. Turning to recover, Petrov has his hand sliced off before blasting away as Frank grabs onto his legs.

   Rocketing to the sky, Petrov attempts to freeze him. But the Punisher is able to pry the power core from his suit and they both fall to the ground. With time for one more Hail Mary, Frank is able to wire the core and repels from the ground in spectacular fashion just before impact.

It's...all right... CUZ I'M SAVED BY THE BEEEELLLLLLLL!!!

   The issue wraps with Nick Fury watching the news about the general’s demise when Captain Marvel walks in. Not knowing where the Punisher is now, he turns up in the Bronx with his War Machine armor intact. Back underground, the crime world is in big trouble. But this issue and this story arc have finally come to a conclusion.

I'm sorry, but Punisher is the greatest War Machine of all time...

   So it only took 6 parts to wrap, but I don’t really care. This is exactly what I look for in a Punisher book. Maybe very, very little of it is actually believable but obviously you’re reading a comic book. It’s supposed to be over the top... and Matt Rosenberg knows just how to push all the right buttons. I give this one a 9/10.

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Spider-Man #239

SINISTER SIX REBORN pt VI

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Penciled by Oscar Bazuldua
Cover by Patrick Brown
Published April 4, 2018

   Miles Morales swings towards his back-from-the-dead uncle's apartment for clues. It's in stark contrast to a decade prior when in happier times, he showed Miles his safe. Today he punches through it, discovering an incredibly advanced burner phone.

"I'm just like DC owned, company man Batman.. yep. That's Me!"

   Aboard the stolen Helicarrier, the new Sinister Six delight in their success when Sandman punches out the traitorous Hobgoblin. Explaining he was the leak that got Red Hulk on their trail, they kick him overboard.

"The extra point is good..."

   Meanwhile back home Danika meets Ganke and gives him a questionable letter. While in Latveria, the Helicarrier reaches it's destination. There the criminals are introduced to their customer, former Latverian leader Lucia Von Bardas. Before any money can change hands though,the Champions leap into action.

Avengers Lite.

   The cyborg and the Sinister Six fight the young heroes. Aaron Davis and his nephew argue about Miles' interfering. The issue wraps when Von Bardas orders her troops to open fire on the two spider-folk, blowing them off the side of the carrier. What will happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Uh oh.

   In the second to very last issue of this series, it's hard to not appreciate what one lone writer was able to accomplish. While this title was started by the great Todd McFarlane so many years ago, it's hard not to argue that Bendis wraps it up in even better shape than it's lauded beginning. Either way, with one more issue left to go, I give this one a 10/10.

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Justice League #42

JUSTICE LOST pt IV

Written by Christopher Priest
Penciled by Pete Woods
Cover by David Yardin
Published April 4, 2018

   While the Lanterns find the Watchtower suspiciously missing, Wonder Woman drifts in and out of consciousness. The ricochet from Superman pummeling her with bullets, he cauterizes her wound and takes to the air.

Come with me if you want to live.

   Flying at supersonic speeds, he's caught by Flash. He explains that he'll tend to Wonder Woman while Supes should deal with the Red Lion. Diana breathlessly begs him to intervene, which he does.
   Meanwhile Cyborg wakes up to the sound of Deathstroke's voice. The mercenary explains to him that the entire thing is a ruse for the cameras. Red Lion only wants publicity, and adding insult to injury, tells him it never would have happened to Batman.

Dude's calling you out, Vic.

   In San Francisco, Kid Flash zips towards Raven to help with Wonder Woman's injuries. Back at the palace, Cyborg struggles to reach a knife Deathstroke left. While outside, the Lanterns arrive to find a conflict they can't figure out. Superman tries to convince the rebels to stop fighting but the Lanterns can't figure out who's side they're on.
   Back at the palace, The Fan transports Batman and Aquaman to Cyborg, who though fading, is able to transport them all out. In Washington, Red Lion holds the committee members to a promise to not invade their airspace. He's surprised though by a weak Cyborg decking him out.

...I used to be much stronger.

   The issue wraps with the League debating when it's time to leave, explaining that the refugees will certainly be killed. They argue immensely when they're interrupted by the sound of gunfire. Deathstroke has executed the Fan. And with the League in tow, he plans to kill even more. What will happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Let's go!

   This marks the penultimate issue for Christopher Priest, and while I'm ready to move on, I'm enjoyed his storytelling immensely. He paints in broad strokes, giving the reader more than a few plots to think about. Each issue is a long read, and with this one no exception, his audience is sure to get their money's worth. I give this one a 9/10.

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Batman #44

BRIDE OR BURGLAR

Written by Tom King
Penciled by Mikel Janin
Cover by Mikel Janin
Published April 4, 2018

   Suffering from insomnia, Catwoman sings from Wayne Manor all while reminiscing about her and Batman's long history together. From a vampy 1940's pinup as she swims through the sewers below, to times she confusingly saved the caped crusader.

Robin: "Bats - She CRAY!"

   She explodes through the floor of a dress shop as the memories cascade. Bat tells her there's no future as the Cat. She strips down among all the dresses and remembers back to a time she had him in her grasps.

Catwoman making a mess.

   Trying on dress after dress, she casts them aside remembering her independent nature. With every dress having flaw after flaw, she again revisits their long, love/hate relationship. Popping some champagne in the shop, she finally see's one that catches her eye. 

Just send the bill to Bruce.

   Perched on a long, past rooftop, they've drifted apart. But as she pulls the sheer black dress with a white train from the hanger, she knows she's found it.
   The issue wraps with a conversation over the roofs about costumes changing over the years. But she eventually arrives back at the mansion, sliding the dress silently into a closet. With a wink to Alfred, she climbs back into bed and drifts off to sleep. With that, this tale of nostalgia between the bat and the cat comes to a purrrrfect conclusion.

Say ANYTHING to Batman and I'll kill you...

   With all this Royal Wedding talk, it seems like everyone’s crazed about the larger than life getting married. But like the brits were so tempted to drag out the ceremony, Tom King equally gets in on the act. Batman proposed in Issue #24. With issue #50 finally being the wedding issue, we're sure to get our fill. But even sappy comic nerds love romance, and count me among them. I give this one a 9/10.

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Avengers #687

NO SURRENDER pt XIII

Written by Mark Waid, Jim Zub, and Al Ewing
Penciled by Paco Medina
Cover by Mark Brooks
Published Apr 4, 2018

   As the fake memories of Voyager fade, the Avenegers are left to deal with her. She tries to run but Scarlet Witch entraps her. Finally she levels with them - they must win to avoid total and complete elimination. 

"I'm not gonna lie here... This is bad.."

   Meanwhile, Bruce Banner and Jarvis have a heart to heart. He can't face his former teammates in light of what he did to them all. And now that he lives again, he's once more in a living hell. Jarvis begs the doctor to never give up, as all that matters is how hard you work to rise again.

Pfft. The butler telling the man with a maniacal Dr. Hyde complex to not give up...

   In the med bay, Dr. Ho tells Lightning and Wonder Man she can't repair Vision with the tools she has, while Lightning tells his own sob story. Nearby Quicksilver tells Synapse he see's supersonic energy circling them all and keeping some in stasis. After grabbing it, he tells Toni to re-calibrate her tools.

Ride the lightning.

   Back in the Vault, Voyager tells the Avengers all about the Elders of the Universe, all ruled by personal obsessions. And none of them loom larger than the Grandmaster's insatiable desire to win.. The Challenger issued such a challenge and Earth is the playing field. 

I'm taking it all down!

   The issue wraps in their game room, with the Challenger determined to destroy everything to complete the game even in the event of the Grandmaster's cheating. Beast witnesses unparalleled destruction as earthquakes and tidal waves wreck the planet. Wasp grabs Valerie Vector and tells her they need her help. But will it be enough? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

You mad?

   With every issue getting closer to this arc's completion, it makes me sad to see such an incredible tale this epic eventually come to an end. I know people throw the term "perfection" around too easily these days, but at the point comic books are at ow, this story has been almost absolutely perfect. Can they keep it up? I guess there's only one way to find out. For this one, I give it a 10/10.

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Astonishing X-Men #10

A MAN CALLED X pt IV

Written by Charles Soule
Penciled by Aco
Cover by Aco
Published Apr 4, 2018

   As the blackbird zips over Scotland, the X-Men know they’re getting close to Proteus. Drawing nearer, they spot dragons and finally arrive at Fetters Hill. Proteus has remade the area with the unfiltered desires of a people with infinite wishes, setting them all up for an epic battle. 

The people of Fetters Hill are some freaks...

   Without warning, the plane is pilfered with arrows, sprayed with dragon fire and begins to lose altitude. Rogue crash lands it and thanks to Psylocke, the crew is encased in a psychic bubble. The don’t get much of a break though. An army of knights on horseback along with dinosaurs attack them and force them into a dangerous fight.

Old Man Logan has bone claws in some books, but not all.

   The disruption interferes with Proteus maintaining the wall around the city, but just as quickly as the fight began, the troops suddenly stop. The ground however begins to quake and the powerful mass swallows the X-Men up. X asks what it is he’s doing, and Proteus explains that on the Astral Plane, everything was shaped by the Shadow King. Here he’s allowed the same energy to be shaped by a village, eventually constructing a macabre garden.

What a weird garden.

   Proteus asks X if his dream is still for humans and mutants to live in peace. It is, but this isn’t what they would have chosen. Proteus disagrees and with plans of letting his garden grow, the remaining earth below him explodes... What will happen next? We’ll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

And thus ends the 11 page comic book.

   This series intrigues me. It almost exists in a standalone universe where Charles Soule is free to pick an all star team. The problem though is that it’s far better than both X-Men Gold and X-Men Red, and at the very least on par with X-Men Blue. This is odd to me. With all due respect to Marc Guggenheim and Tom Taylor, Charles Soule writes circles around them. This series remains the bastard stepchild with no stability at artwork. It’s just too good and deserves more respect. I give this one a 10/10.

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Amazing Spider-Man #798

GO DOWN SWINGING pt II

Written by Dan Slott
Penciled by Stuart Immonen
Cover by Alex Ross
Published April 4, 2018
   Pete and his science staff at the Bugle use the paper's weather radar to track the tritium. Suddenly it arrives through the window via the Green Goblin. Although he now knows Spider-Man's identity, he casually demands Peter simply find his web slinging friend.
   Meanwhile at the Goblin's lair, Jonah beats himself up for giving Osborne Pete's secret. Back at the Bugle, Norman throws Ben Urich a bag he insinuates is the man's nephew, former Goblin King Phil Urich. Turns out to be the super explosive tritium attached to a timebomb, which prompts the staff to evacuate. Finally just in time, Spider-Man shows up and decks the Goblin.
   Near Goblin's lair, Flash tracks Urich's signal and discovers the now dead villain. He also finds Jonah and frees him. At Liz's apartment, she plays with her and Harry's children when Flash calls. It's enough to drive Emma to tranquilize them and flee with Liz and Harry's kids.
   Meanwhile the Daily Bugle staff continues to flee while Spidey and Green Goblin fight. Spider-Man has the idea to web up the bomb as well as himself. The building explodes but it's enough to save him. Norman Osborne however isn't as lucky.
   Impaled on the wreckage, Spider-Man learns Norman knew his identity all along. What happens next though is shocking, as the Goblin merges with the Carnage symbiote. The fight is epic, so much so that Spidey retreats to make a plan but is pursued closely. When a pumpkin bomb explodes, he's injured and hides while the Red Goblin searches for him.
    The issue ends with a deal. If Peter promises to hang up his costume and leave the Spider life, Norman will leave him and his family alone. In the end, Pete flies his burning suit as a surrender. Spider-Man may not be able to fight back but Peter Parker the man certainly will. What will happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.
   So like all the Legacy titles, this one soon draws to a close as well. But as Dan Slott plans his move to Iron Man, he leaves the book in spectacular shape. Plus with Secret Empire architect Nick Spencer set to take the helm, there's only one direction this series can go. For this one though, I give it a 9/10.

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All New Wolverine #33

OLD WOMAN LAURA pt I

Written by Tom Taylor
Penciled by Ramon Rosanas
Cover by David Lopez
Published April 4, 2018

   In a not so future Madripoor, a few arms dealers meet aboard a boat. They’re soon discovered by the All New Wolverine, a mantle now carried by Gabby. They fire at her and the blast punches a massive hole in her. She heals quickly though, but the quick battle is interrupted by a call from Laura.

"Let's dance, asterisks..."

   At Queen Laura’s office, Gabby walks in. After a quick conversation about Gabby’s family, Laura reveals to her that she’s dying... a revelation she floats out effortlessly. There’s an imperfection in her genetic code that’s breaking down, one of which did not pass to her clone Gabby or her offspring.

I'm dying. You're not.

   They delight in a few of their accomplishments when she explains there’s one person left to kill on her bucket list, but one left to save: their sister Bellona. She zips off to Washington DC to meet with former Ms. Marvel turned President Kamala Kahn to get some classified info. There, she explains that SHIELD held her sister prisoner until the Doom War. Sometime during the battle, Doom pulled Bellona and the rest of a SHIELD helicarrier through a portal to Latveria.

Led Zeppelin.

   Maria Hill and the rest of the Secret Service burst in, when the former director tells Laura that she wants in on the mission. The next night, they interrogate the arms dealers on how they got the weapons out of Latveria. There’s a river on the outskirts of the dome where water flows in, as well as the black market.

I think that's our dome!

   The issue wraps with the trio about to enter the dome, when Gabby appears to have double crossed them. An unidentified object heads towards them at a rapid pace... What is it? We’ll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.
   Finally this book turns a corner, and not a moment too soon. It’s no secret that I think this series is woefully maligned... not only with writing but even in cartoonish and bright, unshaded images. Although maybe I can’t say the art has changed, the subject matter indeed has, and in spectacular fashion. Maybe Ed Brisson won’t need to watch his back anytime soon, it’s clear that Tom Taylor may be on to something special. I give this one an 8/10.

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