Thor #12-14: War of the Realms

WAR OF THE REALMS

Written by Jason Aaron
Penciled by Mike Del Mundo and Scot Hepburn
Published April - June 2019

   While the War of the Realms raged in it's own miniseries, Jason Aaron continued the side action in the pages of Thor in three distinct issues. The first of which details just what went on in Loki's head after being eaten by his father, Laufey.

   Inside his own mind, Thor's adopted brother is visited by three different versions of himself. One much older, who shows him a past where Malekith is just an innocent boy. Another vision of where Loki is a spoiled child and finally one where he is corrupted by the Venom-formed necrogod. But either way, the story concludes with him still floating inside the frost giant's stomach.. and obviously he has to find a way out.

   The next story is the ballad of Cul Borsen. Once destined to be the king of Asgard, he was eventually bested by his brother Odin and at one point died. Regardless he eventually returned to life and now is undercover to find out about Malekith's black bifrost. In this issue, he eventually learns its secrets but then dies saving the slave children of the elves. In the end, his name inspires a rallying cry.

   Finally, Thor #14 begins many years in the past with a young Thor unworthy of lifting Mjolnir. He's soon visited by the Fantastic Four, whom in a bid to stop Malekith have united several Thors from different timelines. They charge into battle to fight the dark elf whom is now joined with the Knull symbiote. Between King Thor giving him advice, the youngest of them is able to feel every striking blow. It ends with his mother being threatened, sending the young god into a rage but now worthy to lift the hammer while the war goes on.

  So although these three stories weren't necessarily related, they all furthered the backstory of the War of the Realms and I think did a pretty good job of doing so. I'm obviously not a huge fan of Mike Del Mundo's artwork but his style is definitely fitting of this kind of story. He draws epic landscapes and features and here it just works. And even though Jason Aaron was actually writing the 6 part series, he didn't take anything away from the regular series he's worked on for so long, and it certainly shows here. I give these books 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 below:

Thor #12
Thor #13
Thor #14

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

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

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #5-7

Written by Saladin Ahmed

Penciled by Javier Garron
Published April - June 2019

   While getting a second of downtime, the fight intensifies for Spider-Man again. This time, he interrupts Tombstone's Harlem crew from trying to muscle into Brooklyn. Between having some serious issues with his girlfriend Barbara, the web head gets another shot to break up another fight - and this time it leads him right to Tombstone's hideout. Taking them out is far too easy, but Spidey finally meets his match when all new vigilante Super Heroine Starling shows up, and she's looking for Tombstone just as eagerly.

   After figuring they're both on the same side... kinda.. it turns out Starling is from Detroit. And let's just say her crime fighting methods are a bit more extreme than Spidey's. After yet again getting mixed messages from Barb, Spider-Man heads for Tombstone's hideout. There he again runs into Starling, but this time they're forced to deal with the man himself.

   She gets the upperhand and flies the gangster straight up to drop him to his death. Miles can't let that happen, so he hitches a ride. Forcing her to make a Sophie's choice, he webs himself together with Tombstone, convincing her to save the two of them. After the police show up to take him away, the two heroes chat. It turns out she's the granddaughter of famed villain Adrian Toomes, aka the Vulture. Their chemistry vibes pretty well but he still can't out his secret identity.

   Miles heads for Uncle Aaron's pad to get the scoop on why Tombey had his picture in his desk. The former Iron Spider explains he'd been recruited for Lonnie's gang war but he declined. Before long, he hears an explosion and he and bombshell quickly diffuse the apparent rogue terminator drone. With the problem solved, Miles hustles to brunch with his folks. Before long they drop the news - Spider-Man is soon to be a big brother.

   Still reeling from the news, he walks back to the library for a study session. Problem is that he never makes it there. A futuristic, ghostly and floating spider-droid kidnaps him. But what does it want with Brooklyn's favorite son? We'll have to wait till next time to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

   You know, it seems like forever that i've waited for Ahmed's control of Bendis's greatest invention to spiral downward, but it just doesn't seem like it's happening. There's plenty of opportunities to stack plot points all over Miles but he manages to keep them simple. And I appreciate that. As far as a monthly book, this creative team keeps most of the stories bound into single our double issue arcs and that's something I've really learned to appreciate of late. I don't know what else they have in store for him, but one thing is for sure - I'm definitely along for the ride. I give this story 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 below:

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #5
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #6
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #7

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

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

Guardians of the Galaxy #4-6

THE FINAL GAUNTLET pts IV-VI

Written by Donny Cates
Penciled by Geoff Shaw
Published April-June 2019

   The Guardians land on Half World and immediately find Gamora, who after a quick fight, acquiesces to flee with them on the run from Eros. Nova soon finds them but unfortunately leads Gladiator and the Dark Guardians right to them. The fight between the two factions is brutal, and ends with Peter Quill lying unconscious in the dirt.

Oh get up, you big baby...

   When he comes to, Gamora has been taken. But luckily Beta Ray Bill has an ace up his sleeve. Lockjaw from the Inhumans is summoned and before long, their group is once again energized. They'll have to hurry though. Gladiator tries to carry out Gamora's death sentence but is interrupted by Thanos' boyfriend, Hela. Now learning that the entire search for his daughter was just a trail of breadcrumbs to find Eros, it's he that turns out to be the hidden Mad Titan's personality.

"GRAAHHH!" - Eros, 2019.

   Once again reunited with Gamora, the Guardians storm Knowhere. As Frank Castle finds himself in real hell, Gamora makes a break for Eros, stabbing her uncle in the back and stopping the transfer of Thanos' conscience into his old body. With the mad titan now only half complete, Hela fires a black hole cannon at Beta Ray, who reflects it back at Thanos' body.

Even being dead, people still wanna take Thanos shots.

   With Lockjaw racing to save the Guardians, the celestial's head explodes - stranding Hela and the Black Order to float into space. Meanwhile the team does it's best to relax. Inviting them all to join the squad, everyone's on board but Gladiator and Nova. They discuss the next order of business being to find Rocket, but we'll have to wait.. because this storyline, The Final Gauntlet - is over.

Ok Rock-Dogg - it's your turn!

   So It only took a few issues to get the team back in some semblance of shape. Groot is still able to talk. Plus Moondragon and Phyla being involved makes it a nice throwback to some previous Guardian iterations. Just got to find Rocket and maybe Cosmo and we're in business. And I think one of those guys... er raccoons is just around the corner. For this one though, I give it 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 below:

Guardians of the Galaxy #4
Guardians of the Galaxy #5
Guardians of the Galaxy #6

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

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

The Punisher #10-11

WAR IN BAGALIA pts V-VI

Written by Matthew Rosenberg
Penciled by Szymon Kudranski
Published April-May 2019

   It’s been a long time coming, but the Punisher has finally made his way into Bagalia to take out Baron Zemo. Meanwhile the Baron makes one more bid to rig some international contracts but the explosions rattling the city makes it difficult to take him seriously. 

   He makes a last ditch effort to deploy Jigsaw to stop his old nemesis but the battle slowly surges out of his favor. With the Punisher gaining on all of them, Jigsaw reveals the ace up his sleeve. Sister mercy is dragged to death behind his motorcycle, which obviously only enrages the vigilante. With news that Zemo has cut and run, Frank abandons his fight with Jigsaw and races for the plane.

   They take off in retreat but the pilot notices some drag. Realizing it's clearly the Punisher who is scaling the aircraft, Baron Zemo calls on all Bagalia Hydra Air Control to fire on the plane. Unfortunately they never get the chance. He dumps the plane in the ocean and ejects, with Castle still onboard.

   The issue ends with Hydra rescuing their leader, later giving orders to head for New York. But where is the Punisher? As his familiar skull logo floats among the wreckage, we're forced to wait until next issue to see just what his next move will be.

   So as the War In Bagalia comes to an end, the War on The Streets heats up. I'm a little surprised the Punisher didn't take out Jigsaw for what he did to the sister but I guess that should truly speak to just how badly he hates Zemo. As usual, Matthew Rosenberg takes a simple title and makes it a little more layered, though the banal seek-and-destroy of every Punisher mission still remains. I like where it's still heading, and give these last 2 books of this story arc 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 below:

The Punisher #10
The Punisher #11

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

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

Immortal Hulk #16-17

Written by Al Ewing

Penciled by Joe Bennett
Published April- May 2019

   At Shadow base B, General Fortean watches as the scientists drizzle gamma over Rick Jones' corpse. Meanwhile, Jackie McGee gets a new assignment - to track down what happened at Bruce Banner's wife's house. She arrives to do some investigating, as a reanimated Betty Ross Banner, aka Harpy, secretly stands watch.

Marvel Execs, 1968: "You can make Betty a Hulk, but we already have a She-Hulk. So you have to make her a bird hulk."

   In New Mexico, Banner and Doc excavate the site where Hulk came to. But with nightfall, big green emerges and not a second too soon. The two are forced to fight off some gamma monsters while Fortean launches phase II - lights illuminate the complex and Hulk... unhulks.

Excuse me, Doc, while I melt all over the floor.

   Now vulnerable, Bushwaker attacks, seemingly killing Doc Samson while a wounded Banner slinks away. The only problem for him though is that the light has transitioned Banner into his grey hulk counterpart's personality, Joe Fixit. With now a much stronger disposition, “Joe” is able to fight back. He fights his way into the computer’s control room and overrides the power dampeners. But does he make it in time?

Well, good thing he's a hulk.

   Bushwhacker rounds the corner and pumps him full of lead but the damage is already done. The lights intensify and eventually turn into full on Gamma. Banner aka Joe becomes super, mega Hulk. But he’s gonna have his hands full. Rick Jones’ body has mutated into an abomination? And I’m sure a mega fight is just around the corner? What’ll happen next? We’ll have to wait until the next issue to find out.

Gross.

   So the interesting thing about this series is that it never ends. The story line goes on and on and on.  No arcs. It’s just one continued story like Walking Dead. Or Batman. There’s pros and cons to that but overall, I think it’s a plus. This is a monthly book so there’s no overdoing it. Plus seeing from the awards this series has been picking up, the critics seem to like it too. I give this little run they’re on 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 below:

Immortal Hulk #16
Immortal Hulk #17

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

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

War Of The Realms #1-6

WAR OF THE REALMS 

Written by Jason Aaron
Penciled by Russell Dauterman
Published April-July 2019

    This epic 6 issue foray isn't necessarily Jason Aaron's first charge into space opera. After all, he had a pretty long turn on the Star Wars wheel after stints with Wolverine and Ghost Rider. Still, some of his greatest work has been on the god of thunder himself, Thor. Between making Odinson unworthy to wield Mjolnir, he also gave us Jane Foster's long run with the mantle. But although Asgard has seen it's fair share of war and turmoil under his watch, this is basically the culmination of everything he sought to do with the two of them in the first place. 

   Malekith has finally brought the battle to Midguard after vanquishing the other 9 realms. Probably one of the greatest run Aaron helmed was the long tales of destruction of all the others, now it's time to bring the fight home while we sorta Thor-out everyone in the Marvel universe. Obviously we need Spider-Man in a Valkyrie helmet, we need Daredevil manning the bi-frost, and we need Captain America and Wolverine on flying horseback. I mean, why not. It's cool.

   Unfortunately for some, there's sacrifices. Loki is eaten by his real father, only to later carve himself out of the frost giant. Cul Borsen fights to the death, and Brunnhilde loses her head. But thanks to a tenacious defense from Earth's mightiest heroes, the Agents of Wakanda, supernatural, vibranium forged suits of Iron Man armor, and an entire army of Thors, the forces are able to eventually overcome.

   The series ends with Malekith being torn apart by gnarly viking dragon tigers, Thor able to pick up a brand new Mjolnir, Jane Foster being named the new Valkyrie and Odin bowing before his son, the new All Father, Thor. And with that, plus about a million more tie in issues, this storyarc finally drifts to a close.

   So with a mega-crossover event in the books, Marvel is probably going to sit on their laurels and mail it in, right? Not so fast. With Venom and Spider-Man set to face off with Carnage, the X-Men gearing up for a 12 issue mini-series to wrap Uncanny up, and all new Loki and Jane Foster books, the summer of 2019 is ending on a high note. As for the War of the Realms - really what was not to love. It was long. It was epic. And for what it's worth, all my hopes and dreams were tidied up for Thor thanks to incredible story telling from Jason Aaron and moderate-to-ok artwork from Russell Dauterman. I didn't love it all, but I loved enough of it and I'm kinda glad it's finally over. I give this series 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 below:

War of the Realms #1
War of the Realms #2
War of the Realms #3
War of the Realms #4
War of the Realms #5
War of the Realms #6

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

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

Major X #1-6

MAJOR X

Written by Rob Liefeld
Penciled by Rob Liefeld, Brent Peeples, and Whilce Portacio
Published April - June 2019

   Somewhere between the end of the New Mutants and the formation of X-Force, a mysterious time traveler named Major X arrives with his future Beast looking companion and explains to Cable that they're in grave danger. A magical mutant haven dimension known as the X-istance has crumbled apart, and he needs to find the X-Men before it's too late.

Nice to meet you. Now I'm gonna beat you up.

   Before long, a shoulder-pad wearing, Deadpool-alternate named Dreadpool appears. He's been sent to kill the Major and anyone who stands to aid in his mission. Between fighting Major X, M'Koy, Cable, X-Force and Wolverine, we learn the Major is actually Cable's son from the future - Alexander Nathaniel Summers.

But where's that glowing eye thing?

   He explains to them that the X-istance was formed by the X-ential, shortly before the Catalyst brought devastation and ruin to all mutantkind. Through the portals, he also took all of the Atlanteans, but their living conditions in the dimension are slowly poisoning them all to death. Attempting to stop Namor from destroying the X-istance, Cable and Major X timeslide to Cable's underwater armory but are nearly killed before they can transport back.

Back to the Future!

   Having retrieved some time-traveling assistance from his father, they leap to the Watchtower to protect the X-ential from his Atlantean assassins. Instead they meet Dreadpool and the Scourge, and after a long battle are finally captured by the Administrator. Shortly after, Namor's agents apear and it's a three way battle as Major X eventually flees with the mutant savior to Genosha.

Don't worry - they won't bite... much.

   Once there, and standing amidst hundreds of deactivated Sentinels, the X-ential makes contact with Aura - his protege. He announces he is dying, but his essence will be transferred. As his body fades ala Jedi robe dropping, we soon discover it is into Aura. The refuge is short however, and the Administrator soon arrives to the battle but is quickly felled by Aura and her now legions of operable Sentinels.

Well dang - you should have turned those things loose a while ago.

   Back at Atlantis, Namor knows his last chance is to kill Major X-s mother before the mutant can ever be born to protect the X-ential. He sets his sights on the present - to take out the X-Men and Nathan's someday mother to be - Storm. Before long, Namor's leviathan attacks... but Aura feels a imminent change. With no time to lose, an aged Cable and Deadpool arrive from a portal and take out the once again attacking Dreadpool.

BoomBoom!

    The series ends with a super powerful Aura able to send the Leviathan back to the sea, and capturing an enraged Namor to be later judged before an X-istance tribunal. She fades from the future with her prisoner, and the Major says his goodbyes to his future mother after turning down an offer to join the X-Men. They all walk through the portal, and with that, the future timeline for mutant paradise is saved - and this storyarc comes to a final close.

He was compelled to join the X-Men but time travel is much more fun,

   So reading some reviews on this one, some folks were less than impressed with Rob Liefeld's attempts at a cheap nostalgia grab. I however thought completely differently. If anything, this series rests is a perfect companion piece to New Mutants 98-100 and X-Force 1-2. The artwork is clean and crisp, the story is coherent and rich, and the characters are intricately developed. There was some strange inclusions of Wolverine... and the Dreadpool thing was a little unnecessary - but who cares? That's just what makes it that much more awesome. 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 below:

Major X #1
Major X #2
Major X #3
Major X #4
Major X #5
Major X #6

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

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

Champions #4

BEAT THE DEVIL pt IV

Written by Jim Zub
Penciled by Steven Cummings
Published Apr 3, 2019

   Ms Marvel catches up with Spider-Man in Dubai, who explains that he and Brawn made a deal with Mephisto to bring her and Viv back from the dead. It triggers her to nearly quit the team but not to be outdone, Myles quits first.

NO! I QUIT FIRST!

   Meanwhile Kaldera continues her vengeance mission on the now powerless Sam Alexander. Possessed with rage, she lashes out at all of the Champions until they're eventually able to capture her. After learning that he's just a regular guy without his helmet, the assassin agrees to take Sam back to the Nova Corps to get it back. So she can kill him at full strength.... Right?

Scoot over, little meat.

   The issue ends with Mephisto relishing Miles' torment and laughing with his forever tortured son, Blackheart.. But what does this mean for our heroes? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'M IN ALLLL THE MARVEL COMICS NOW!"

   So this is the last Champions before the War Of The Realms kicks off, and hopefully that will be thr shot in the arm this series needs. I love Jim Zub, and to be honest, I don't know if he ever let me down.. but to say he's mailing it in here would be an understatement. Let's hope he manages to put it together soon... because for this issue, I give it a disappointing 6/10.

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.