Avengers #11

Written by Mark Waid

Penciled by Mike Del Mundo
Cover by Alex Ross
Published Sep 20 2017

   Fresh off the events of Secret Empire, the Avengers return to their HQ/ Parker Industries now-sold Baxter Building, and the disdain for Peter Parker is evident. Spider-Man does his best to put a spin on it but in the end, realizes it’s probably best to pile on. With no urgent business to discuss, the members pair up to talk, leaving Spidey and Wasp as an unlikely couple. He uses the opportunity to try and get on her good side and invites her on an outing.

   Meanwhile Falcon and Thor talk his newfound freedom from the Captain America mantle, eventually bringing up a secret he’s held onto. Jane Foster is battling cancer in her mortal life, and Sam hasn’t mentoined it to anybody. He still stands by the fact he won’t let her go on a suicide mission, but goes on to ask her a favor - he needs her to lead the Avengers.

WHAT?!

   At a coffee shop that to Hercules’ dismay is fresh out of Mead, he and Vision talk about the pressure of being immortal. He tells his cybernetic friend that reveling is the present in the answer. Humans are short lived. The more Hercules dwelled on it the sadder he got. Among the two taking selfies with scores of people in the shop, the warrior assures Vision that friendships with the humans will make their memories of them immortal as well.

I know I'm kinda stupid, but does this coffee shop have any beer?

   Back in midtown, Spidey reveals to the scientifically driven Wasp that he has two tickets to a lecture when suddenly they spy a circus truck overturned below. They descend to help when the two get into another argument about what type of monkeys they’re rescuing. After things are shored up, Spider-Man is upset and no longer wants to go to the fair anyway. Wasp cheers him up, leaving with one last dig at that jerk Peter Parker.
   Atop a building, Thor asks Sam if he’s retiring as Falcon as well. There’s no need to not lead the team simply because he no longer wears Stars and Stripes. There’s still 5 members of this team who won’t defer to a costume to lead them. Sam considers her advice, eventually rescinding his offer... the conversation is interrupted though with his breaking news app. Without their normal tools to hail each other, Thor sends a lightning bolt to the sky. They all show up. Titanium Man and Crimson Dynamo have hostages at the American Embassy. The team looks to Falcon for one less order and he gives it. "Avengers Assemble" he commands... and with that this issue is concluded.

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE! Away from Mike Del Mundo's Artwork!

   This brings a chapter in the lives of these Avengers to a close, one I think that’s fitting of any legendary team to have worn the banner through the years. Next issue returns us to the original numbering, an all new team and an all new sorry arc. More importantly, to an all new artist although it appears that the cover is still drawn by water colorist Alex Ross. He must have nudes of Stan Lee. I can’t think of any other reason he’s still around. Either way, this was a pretty good issue. I give it a 9/10.

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Venom #154

SKIN DEEP

Written by Mike Costa

Penciled by Paulo Siqueira
Cover by Gerardo Sandoval
Published Sep 20, 2017
 
   While Eddie sleeps, the creature known as Venom uses the time to scan the television - one of his newest favorite ways to ingest the news of the day. What he sees though is hardly settling. During a jailhouse interview with the Shocker, the voiceover refers to him as a horrifying creature.

The Shocker is a hater anyway...

   Between that and the doctor shows, the creature learns more and more about our world. As dawn breaks, the news program mentions a rash of bank robberies. Eventually Eddie awakens, already late for his appointment at Alcehmax. The two swing into town for his treatment and encounter the hateful Ms. Allen, whom Venom reveals that Eddie has a bit of a crush on. He flashes back to being with Spider-Man and learning about fear, although that doesn't have a whole lot to do with anything. On the way back home, the pair stops by the store for some crime fighting. They see the thieves the news mentioned, and intervene. Before leaving, they tell the clerk to mention to the police that Venom saved him.

Tell the others of this!

   He flashes back through his many parasitic hosts. Scorpion, Lee Price - briefly detailing their rises and falls. Eddie then tries to sell the TV but the pawn shop owner fails to offer a good price. Back home, Venom watches more and more while Eddie sleeps. He continues to flashback, this time remembering the time he spent with Flash Thompson. 

BFF's,

   Deciding he seeks forgiveness, Venom visits a priest he recently injured at a local hospital. After reassuring the man that he's safe, the priest asks him the world can be hopeless without people who care each other. Venom tells him he does have someone. He promises to the priest that he will earn love by fighting crime and heads out the window. With that, this issue comes to a close.

K. Bye!

   This is the first issue of this comic I've reviewed and I have to admit, it's a little disjointed and confusing. The arc with Lee Price a few issues back was well written but this conclusion was forced, and weird. With as long as they had knowing that there would be a new era launching with Marvel Legacy, seems they could have put it together more. Either way, there's been so many points of this series' history that keeps me wanting more. Hopefully it delivers. For this particular issue, I give it a 5/10.

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All New Guardians of the Galaxy #10

THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY

Written by Gerry Duggan

Penciled by Aaron Kuder
Cover by Aaron Kuder
Published Sep 20, 2017

 The Guardians pull into the Grandmaster's super trippy lair with a mission to deliver his brother, the Collector's fake egg, when Drax and Rocket's surliness threatens to sabotage the deal. None of that matters anyway, as Gamora blatantly tells him it's a forgery. Suddenly the egg begins to crack, and as the team prepares to be vaporized, out jumps the Collector with a vicious left hook. The two continue to fight when Quill talks Drax into intervening. He obliterates them, though the results are only temporary.

Drax never knows when he'll have to splatter someone.

   When they come to, the Grandmaster admits the entire ordeal was an attempt to open communication between the brothers, as their other sibling The Contemplator has been altered. His head is missing, and being that their other brother The Gardener is also MIA, it all has to be related somehow. As Gamora is searching for the Soul Stone, the Elders and another Guardian has crossed paths before as well. Grandmaster senses his brother's touch on the Baby Groot, a revelation that fires Rocket up as well.

What the flark did you just say...?!

   The Infinity Stones are all missing. The fact that some of the Elders are also missing isn't a coincidence. Peter reveals to everyone that the Nova Corps have contacted him. They lost Thanos. Rocket is incensed and turns to walk before Gamora reminds him they need to decide as a group. The Collector touches Peter's head and gets a crash course in Infinity Stone history. The two brothers decide that seeking the stones is beneficial for all parties, so they agree to team up to find Thanos.

Let's make a deal.

   The issue wraps with a flashback to what happened with the Gardener. Loki has come to visit, kicking some of his plants around. The humans of the universe have thrown the ecosystem off balance. He'll help the Gardener in exchange for a Soul Stone - but unfortunately he no longer has it. The Groot clones he's been amassing are apparently a larger plot to help him locate it... But that will have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.

Where ya at, Loc?

   There's only one more issue until Marvel Legacy kicks in for the Guardians, and judging by the cover, it has something to do with the Sh'air and Nova, which is gonna be totally cool. They'll get back to the Infinity Stones in a book or two. In the meantime, It was cool to see Aaron Kuder's bright artwork gracing more than just the cover. This was a pretty good book. I give it a 9/10.

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Star Wars #36

REVENGE OF THE ASTROMECH

Written by Jason Aaron

Penciled by Salvador LaRorroca
Cover by Mike Mayhew
Published Sep 13 2017

   An Imperial destroyer drifts towards the lifeless ship. They tow it in and it's empty except for a powerless droid who suddenly pops to life and escapes, incapcatating an entire Stormtrooper containment team. The commander overhears their exchange and sends another team to be on the lookout for biggest, nastiest droid they've ever seen.

Guys who dress like that on the bridge of Imperial ships always do stupid things.

   They pass the tiny R2 unit in the hall, who heads to a computer and hails another team to the other side of the door. There they exchange friendly fire, unaware that the droid has tricked them. With word that both squads are down, they order 5 more squads... each either being burned to death, ejected into space or going on a goosechase with the wrong droids.
   Meanwhile R2D2 finds who he came for : C3P0... about to be dismantled on orders from Darth Vader himself. The tiny droid enters the room and is able to take out the guard, sending them running down a hall with a stormtrooper team in tow. They blast the room and mistakenly kill the guard, as the 2 droids steal an X-Wing and escape.

Need to stop leaving the keys in the X-Wings, guys.

   Back on the bridge, Darth Vader approaches and hears the commander trying to keep what's going on under wraps. He kills him and deploys in his advanced tie fighter. He approaches and fires upon them, with 3P0 trying to make the jump to hyperspace. Their luck looks to have run out when Luke's ship and the Milleneum Falcon appear. He gives them the coordinates and they all make the jump. 

Just in time!

   The issue wraps with them all back together again, but danger still looms. It appears the elite Scar Squadron has located the rebel outpost. They prepare to approach when this issue ends, left to be continued.
   In this issue, it's revealed that Chewbacca upgraded R2's defense systems. That has to come in awfully handy, as the little droid that could is always not to be counted out. In familiar fashion, his companion 3P0 blames him for everything but in the end, would you ever want any other outcome? I give this one an 8/10.

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Deadpool #36

SI, CHANGE

Written by Gerry Duggan
Penciled by Matteo Lolli
Cover by David Lopez
Published Sep 13, 2017

   Deadpool breaks into the jail but is caught red handed. He punches the responding officer in the nuts, escapes after being inconventiely shot and sets out on his business. Walking down the cellblock, he sees his target and blows the old Hydra commander away. Somebody had to die although the real object of his affection is Steve Rogers. He vows revenge soon enough.

Official end to Secret Empire.

   Lamenting that his life is over, the merc with a mouth takes his rental police car and digs up a bag at the cemetary. He stops by the Preston household and after a brief discussion with Terry, gives him a hundred thousand dollars cash. He sees Ellie and she flips him off for one last time and the family leaves him standing there. The phone rings and Wade heads in to raid the fridge. Stryfe has caught up with him. The deal was four lives for four lives and he's come to collect. First on the list is Cable. Wade initially refuses before the clone reminds him he's inside Ellie and Terry's house. 

"Hey Dad.. It'sJUST Mr. Cable..."

Deadpool begrudgingly agrees and pulls the gas line out of the stove. He puts their mail in the toaster, lets the place go up in flames and later steals a fire truck. On the way, he's primed and ready for a flashback.
   Sabretooth once told him that he should stop for a second and think. All the people stuck with him will die and leave him living. Isn't it best to walk away. First stop,  Avengers theater. Photos of him and the Unity Squad are soaked in gasoline. Photos of the Mercs for Money are doused. Lastly a pic of the Prestons is soaked before the Zippo strike. The theater goes up in flames and Deadpool walks away.

Just like the movies.

   The issue ends with him breaking into a gun store. He fills a duffle bag, steals a motorcycle and hops on a bike - leaving it all behind and moving on. With that, this issue comes to a big end... and the Despicable Deadpool is once again reborn.
   This concludes the Marvel Now arc, with Deadpool returning to it's original numbering of issue 287 up next. I'm not sure what the plans are with the writing staff, but I can only hope Gerry Duggan gets to lead the revolution. He's earned it. I've never seen a writer who seemingly holds onto a character quite like he does and at this point, I don't know if I could follow him with another writer at the helm. Guess there's only one way to find out. For this issue, I give it a 9/10.

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Uncanny Avengers #27

PUSH AND PULL

Written by Jim Zub

Penciled by Sean Izaakse
Cover by RB Silva
Published Sep 13, 2017

   The issue begins with a cabbie pulling up to pick up a fare at the airport. Who this "super hero" lawyer might be will have to wait, as the former Unity Squad is in the midst of battle with Gravitron. The immediate order of business is Scarlet Witch, who floats in space after being previously thrown into it. The team threatens revenge while Dr. Voodoo casts a spell on her to give her air.

Dr. Voodoo is still like the coolest 70's Funk Band name ever.

   Meanwhile Synapse strikes, sending the villain crashing into a building and being beaten by Wanda's brother Quicksilver. Gravitron repels him backwards and turns to see the remainder of the team ready to attack. Human Torch goes first, and is quickly knocked aside as well as Wasp. Next up, Rogue readies for him but he uses magic to increase her gravity. She is slowly being crushed into the ground and he's distracted, as Scarlet Witch hits him while Rogue sneaks in for a kiss. She absorbs his powers and is instantly infected with his madness. She tries to fight it, much to the cheerleading of her teammates. She realizes life is insignificant while the others convince her otherwise... 

Rogue's wasted...

   Eventually she powers through it. Defeating their enemy, he lays at their feet while they ready a jail cell for him somewhere and Wanda flirts again with Jericho, thanking him again for saving her. Suddenly a cab pulls up. The man from the beginning of the issue walks towards them. He's an attorney and he's here to discuss the legacy of the Fantastic Four. What that entails though will have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.
   According to Comichron, this series is sitting pretty solid in 90th place when it comes to comic book sales. Unfortunately it suffers from the sins of previous Avenger-oversaturation, and now has to deal with it. I've heard around the way that this book is headed for merger with Avengers which to be honest is where it should be. There's some super redeeming qualities of this team but they'd be better suited with their original Avenger counterparts. As far as this issue goes, I give it a 7/10.

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Old Man Logan #28

DAYS OF ANGER pt IV

Written by Ed Brisson
Penciled by Mike Deodato Jr
Cover by Mike Deodato Jr
Published Sep 13 2017

   Old Man Hawkeye hears Logan's pig poacher sneak in. They tell her to hold it and there stands a Hulk child. Logan explains to her that he needs the pigs. It's how he pays her daddy for rent. She tells him she doesn't care about him so Logan tries something. He tells her she can have one last one. Hawkeye tells him he's gone soft. One day, he'll regret it.

Whatever... man.

   In today's timeline, Jozelle staggers back to the camp. She tells the Maestro that Logan got loose and tortured one of them, learning everything. He tells them all that it's time to leave and one of his sons tells him they're done running. The old man asks if he thinks he can do a better job and the boy punches his father to the ground. The man gets up and beats the other hulk to death. With bloodied fists, he tells them they're not running. They're being smart.

Lemme gore this up a bit...

   Back at the hotel, Logan and young Hawkeye walk to the car when Hawkeye asks if he can come along. Logan eventually relents but tells him to keep the chit chat to a minimum. Eventually curiosity gets the better of him, and he asks the X-Man about his future. Logan tells him point blank he gets cataracts, runs drugs for a living and marries Spider-Man's daughter and pretty much leaves it at that.

So what you're saying is that I become awesome.

   Meanwhile the Hulk gang pulls over to sightsee. The old man calls for one of his young children to take a gander before battle. He then begins strapping bombs to the larger hulk's backs. Hot on their trail, Logan pulls into their previous spot. He sees the missiles scattered across with ground, but the nuclear cores are gone. Wondering where they've disappeared to, someone speaks up.
   Cambria - the female hulk who'd previously grown a conscience and been ostracized from the group, stands before them. They've met before. He once helped her when he didn't have to. She offers to help find them, but she asks that they do all they can to help protect the children beause time is running out. We see the missile equipped Hulks talking to the air and with that, we're left to be continued.

Word to your moms, we came to drop Hulk bombs.

   This series dipped a little bit to me since the very first creative team launched it, but it's working it's way back to the top of my list. Ed Brisson does a fantastic job meandering between the Wastelands world that Jeff Lemire left him and the Old Man Logan of today. The artwork is good too. Maybe not Andrea Sorrentino good but certainly complimentary of the story-telling. I give this one a 9/10.

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