Champions #5-6: War Of The Realms

WAR OF THE REALMS

Written by Jim Zub

Penciled by Juanan Ramirez

Published April-June 2019

   With the War of the Realms raging, half of the new Champions battle trolls in New York when Ms Marvel meets up with an old friend. Cyclops bails on the X-Men to fall in with the team he ran with as a kid. Together he inspires his old allies and they bring a hell of a fight to the frost giants. He leaves them with a renewed sense of vigor, though Ms Marvel is clearly struggling.

"...X-Me... uh, Champions..? You know... whatever.."

   Next up, they continue waging war on the elves in Brazil. It comes to a head when the Disir warriors make a final stand, and their leader Brun reveals her previous death in the Middle East. With her distracted, Disir stabs Power Man but the kinetic energy allows him to pretty much destroy the entire lot. With the battle over, Ms Marvel reveals to the team she can no longer lead them, but what does that mean for the rest of the Champions? With only 4 issues left, we'll know soon enough.

Quitter.

   So I'm pretty tired of this series, and the fact it was canceled probably means Marvel is pretty tired of it as well. They did the best they could with what they have, but Jim Zub is kind of above this. I'm looking forward so see what they do with Nova coming up, as it's a pretty good way to end this saga. As far as the War of the Filler Of The Realms, I give the Champions turn at it a 7/10.

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

You can also buy my physical copy of this book below:

Champions #5
Champions #6

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

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

Venom #13-16: War of the Realms

WAR OF THE REALMS

Written by Donny Cates
Penciled by Iban Coello and Juan Gadeon
Published April - July 2019

   As the trolls attack Midgard, a now powerless Eddie Brock seeks to just survive and protect his son. Eventually he's approached by a witch who gives him a dreamstone. It can give him all the powers he could ever wish for but eventually turns the user into a tool of Malekith's. He uses it to become Venom once again, but unfortunately, he's not her only target.

"Not 'we'. Just 'me'!"

   Eddie locks Dylan in the safehouse and roams the streets in a troll slaughtering rage. The more anger he uses, the more powerful he becomes. Eventually he's forced to fight Jack O'Lantern, the other subject who possesses the same power wielding stone he does. Eventually he flees while Venom takes out his anger on a few hapless frost giants.

   Eventually he begins to take more of an Asgardian shape, and although the power surges in his fight, Eddie can feel something supernatural beginning to take hold. He eventually defeats Jack O'Lantern, who turns out to just be fake who found his costume, and throws the dreamstone towards the crowd which empowers them in their own fight..

Y'all look like you could use one of these!

   The story ends with a quick one shot. Now with the war finished, Eddie is forced to deal with a very sick Dylan in need of some medicine. He heads to the Daily Globe to pick up a photographer gig to make some cash, and ends up fighting a group of possessed bums who've been kidnappin children. Once he lets his inner demons out, he beats them to a pulp and rescues the kids. Now able to pay for his kids meds, alls right in the Brock household, but for how long? We'll have to wait to find out as this story arc drifts to a final conclusion.

Oh the soup sucks? Well you know something? You suck!

   So obviously with the War of the Realms over, it's time to move on to Absolute Carnage. And right off the heels of a super long and drawn out multibook event, why not leap into another. I think we all know Donny Cates isn't scared to take it on, and this series doesn't look to be in any danger of losing out on great artwork. I give this story 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:

Venom #13
Venom #14
Venom #15
Venom #16

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

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

Avengers #18-21: War of the Realms

WAR OF THE REALMS

Written by Jason Aaron
Penciled by Ed McGuinness
Published April-July 2019

   As the War of the Realms rages across midguard, the Avengers obviously have their hands full. But that doesn't stop Hyperion, Power Princess, Nighthawk, Blur and Doctor Spectrum, also known as the Squadron Supreme of America - from protecting Washington DC. Agent Coulson's Justice League knockoffs are able to repel the frost giants and elves all the way to Canada with ease. But with the eerie connection between the former SHIELD agent and Mephisto still very much in play, what will this mean for our favorite super heroes?

   We might know soon enough. Blank Panther uses Wakanda agent Gorilla Man to protect Avengers Mountain from the Frost Giants while the battle rages outside. In addition to this, he's supposed to find a way to power up the ancient celestial that the mountain used to be. He does so, kicking an elf into a power converter and bringing the dead being's weapons back to life. They destroy the bifrost but the issue ends to reveal Gorilla Man serves Dracula, and his entire mission will likely be a betrayal.

   The arc goes on to show the inner struggles of She-Hulk. Not used to her powers being supercharged, she works to keep them in check but still relishes being able to unleash them. And nothing says unleashing supercharged hulk powers like fighting the war of the realms. This particular issue focuses on her trials and tribulations while Blade vamps the super out of Roxxon's super soldiers.

   When the war ends, Issue #21 picks up the pieces, but to consider this an epilogue would not be doing it justice. Most of the Avengers enjoy some well needed camaraderie, but Black Panther works tirelessly to discover the link between the resurrected Agent Phil Coulson and his Squadron Supreme. It ends like this arc began - with a shadowy glimpse of Mephisto's involvement, while teasing Starbrand and Ghost Rider stories, but as far as the war is concerned, this tale finally drifts to a conclusion.

  So in addition to writing the limited series, Jason Aaron made sure not to skimp on the details, using all his regular series to shore them up. I've been a huge fan of his since way back when he was writing Star Wars, and he has a tremendous penchant for backstories that would make even Chris Claremont blush. Can't wait to see where he takes it. I give this series 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:

Avengers #18
Avengers #19
Avengers #20
Avengers #21

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

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

Tony Stark: Iron Man #10-11

STARK REALITIES pts V & VI

Written by Dan Slott and Jim Zub
Penciled by Valerio Schiti
Published April-May 2019

   With Stark Unlimited running out of resources, Jacosta unwittingly allows Sunset Bain and Arno Stark into the eScape. Meanwhile, Amanda Armstrong and Machine Man struggle against Motherboard, the AI iterations of Tony's adopted mother and father, in the fight for Tony himself. Soon discovered, the Stark's banish them from the gameworld.

   In the real world however, the Avengers fight the Controller while Tony continues the fight. Finally realizing he still has control, he's able to fashion himself into the godbuster as his parents reveal that Arno was secretly their favorite son. Unfortunately it takes a toll on the virtual version of Iron Man and he passes out, later being rocketed back to earth by his brother, who can't ever allow him to just die.

   Rhodey catches him on his fall, and now aware of Bain's intrusion, Tony uses all of his competitors' 3D printers to fashion a real version of the godbuster armor. He goes thermonuclear and levels the Controller with a massive ion blast. With the threat now neutralized, he uses the now radioactive armor to destroy the Bain Electronics laboratory and the world is now able to rest soundly.

   The story ends with Tony forced to confront some new demons. He now knows he's merely a genetic copy of his original self and he has to find out some answers. Almost falling off the wagon, he nearly opens a bar door when Rhodey appears, saving his friend once again in more ways than one. With that and nearly a half year of books later, this arc finally comes to a close.

   So it's no secret that this book comes to an end in the next 10 issues, but post War of the Realms, it's good to know that their setting up the long game on how to wind it down. Dan Slott made his mark on Spider-Man and it's clear he's made his with Tony Stark as well. But really, was that ever in doubt? This story had everything I wanted in it and more. I give it 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:

Tony Stark: Iron-Man #10
Tony Stark: Iron-Man #11

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

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