Invincible Iron Man #594

THE SEARCH FOR TONY STARK pt II

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils by Stefano Caselli and Alex Maleev
Cover by RB Silva
Published Nov 15, 2017
   Riri Williams makes a desperate call to Doctor Doom for help, as Mary Jane Watson and Amanda Armstrong walk out of the building that graces her son's name. She's upset, but doesn't have much of a chance to grieve before running into former X-Man and Stark Industries hired gun, Hijack. Riri hovers above but is soon attacked by the mutant's controlled air defenses.

Riri shows off, gets burned...

   Meanwhile in Detroit, one of the super criminals Doom is tracking rifles through an apartment before attacking him, but it appears to be a ruse. Doom is blasted in return and looks back at a horde of the many that he helped put away.
   Back in New York, Riri continues fleeing the Stark helicopters when one of them connects with a missile. She powers back up when suddenly, they all stop. Safely out of Hijack's range, MJ walks up and maces him, giving Riri a chance to take out the copters and Amanda a chance to attack him. Back in Detroit, Doom is in trouble. He's beaten into the air before being attacked. He does all he can, eventually blasting them with a beam from his chest and making a run for it. The remaining villains discuss raiding Latveria for it's riches.

Have you foolz even BEEN to Latveria?

   The issue wraps with Amanda and MJ walking into the boardroom of Stark Industries while Eric Lynch barters for control. She opens a guitar case and pulls out a piece of rock history, using it to attack the acting CEO. She accuses him of trying to take power while her son is missing. Finally she breaks down, successfully delaying the vote of the board while hoping to spend the time searching for Tony. Where he is though remains a mystery, as a man lies elsewhere on a floor encased in an older Iron Man suit. Who he is, and where Tony is, will have to wait though.. as this issue is left to be continued.

This Iron Man is partying like it's 1989.

   So as the Brian Michael Bendis era wraps on this book, it's strange to consider that Tony will search for a voice that has been so distinctively in the hands of Bendis for so long. Will the next person that picks up that mantle be able to mold his words as well? As luck would have it, we'll have a few more issues to eulogize Bendis before he leaves for DC, and this arc is looking more and more like a classic as well as even harder to replace the man behind the dialogue. For this issue, I give it a 9/10.

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Cable #151

THE NEWER MUTANTS pt II

Written by Ed Brisson
Penciled by Jon Malin
Cover by Jon Malin
Published Nov 16 2017

   Selene's resurrected Externals surround Cable and his team. He backs down, explaining to them that Selene wasn't Candra's killer. Later in Cable's bunker, he tells Shatterstar and Longshot they need to find Burke and Saul - the remaining Externals not currently in Selene's camp. Also, they're gonna need some reinforcements.

Oh you men I can be on a team with Doop?!

   Aboard a yacht off the Greenland coast, Selene explains she has a secret weapon to help find who's hunting them. She opens a portal and pulls the frightened child through it. Meanwhile, Cable and Doop head to the X-School and recruit Armor. Reluctant to tell her much about her future, he at least alludes to the fact she's eventually in the X-Men. Across town, X-23 kills various Facility agents who've hunted her down. Shatterstar emerges from the shadows, and asks her to join their team.

Look. I know you don't know me or anything about me, but come with me.

   Later that evening, Armor, Doop, and Cable are invited into a cabin by Burke. His pre-cog abilities have tipped him off to their visit days in advance. He unfortunately can't help them, explaining that he has a deathwish... which doesn't do a whole lot to move the story along.
   While Cable and crew enjoy their tea, Longshot, Shatterstar, and the new Wolverine approach a temple littered with dead monks. When they enter, they're attacked by Crule and Absolum. Longshot ducks out while they keep the Externals busy, and apparently makes some sort of horrifying discovery behind a door.

Oh lookie!

   Back in the woods, Cable's team leaves the cabin, and Burke tells a mystery guest that he upheld his part of the bargain and didn't give them up. In return, he's run through with a sword - and act he thanks his attacker for perpetrating. The issue wraps with Longshot revealing his surprise. Selene stands with Nicodemus over Gideon's dead body with his heard missing the same as Candra's. Only this time, it appears former pal Blink is involved in the apparent murder. What will happen next? We'll have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.

Ok I know this looks bad...

   Stellar issue. It's cool to see Cable once again leading a team as opposed to just jumping through time like a bounty hunter, talking to his mechanical arm. This seems more like his purpose all along. Plus with old friends like Shatterstar and Longshot, as well as being able to see Wolverine being less campy than her own series, it's a win all across the board. A mystery indeed unfolds with these Externals, and I'm excited to see where it goes. I give this one a 9/10.

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Daredevil #595

MAYOR FISK pt I

Written by Charles Soule
Penciled by Stefano Landini
Cover by Bill Sienkiewicz

Published Nov 8, 2017

   Wilson Fisk, true New Yorker, has incredibly been elected mayor and Matt Murdock can't believe it. As he and Foggy watch the celebration in Times Square, he is determined to somehow reverse this. He petitions his boss, the District Attorney, to allow him to build an election fraud case against the man known as the Kingpin, but is instead asked to build cases around New York's superheroes, or as the DA calls them, vigilantes.

They're the bad guys now, Matt.

   Later he asks his assistant how they can do it and he learns she lost a car once because Spider-Man threw it at the Rhino. It slowly dawns on him how he and his counterparts are being manipulated in the public eye. He refuses to quit, but as he responds to a woman's cries for help, he's ambushed. The scene is actually a setup by the NYPD. They take him into custody, later delivering him to the mayor's office uptown. While he waits outside, he can overhear Hammerhead talking with Fisk. It's a conversation that he's meant to hear, as the Kingpin fakely refuses the mobster. He walks out and is stunned to see the masked man without fear, this time in cuffs.

Well would you just look at this?!

   The officers bring him in, and they're dismissed. He explains to Daredevil that he was chosen by this city to save it. He won the election fair and square. Daredevil uses his supersonic hearing to manipulate the cuffs, eventually freeing himself. He uses his baton to break the window and makes his escape.

DAREDEVIL JUST COMMITTED SUICIDE! I SEEEEENT IT!

   The issue wraps with the officers running in and the Kingpin ordering them to go after him. After all, he was attacked. Will he be able to escape? Will he be able to thrive in a city in which he's now a criminal himself? We'll have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.
   You know it seems like old times with the Kingpin squaring off with Daredevil and not knowing his secret identity. Way back in 1986's issue #227, Karen Page spilled the beans. Now after the Purple Man's magic, he has his cover back. It's quite a twist that New York's highest profile criminal now sits in an elected office. Now that he's on the run, certainly sets the table for Matt to get darker than he has in a long time. I give this issue a 9/10.

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The Mighty Thor #701

THE WRATH OF THE MANGOG

Written by Jason Aaron
Penciled by James Harren
Cover by Russell Dauterman
Published Nov 15 2017

   Volstagg the War Thor and Mangog battle fiercely. During their fight, a voiceover narrates the story of the creature's origin. Today he's the collective rage of billions slaughtered by Odin of Asgard, and as he pummels and beats the War Thor without mercy, it would certainly appear that Thor's old buddy has indeed met his match.

This is like when Apollo met that Russian...

   In Vanaheim, the Roxxon Corporation raids some lush, green woods to plunder from the Vanir gods. Seemingly having trouble, they call in reinforcements and the BERSERKER squad responds. They prepare to fight while fighter jets douse the area with Napalm from above.
   Back in Old Asgard, Mangog continues throwing the War Thor around. The war god of thunder has literally no defense, being bitten and utterly battered all across the landscape. While in Niffleheim, Karnilla finds herself in the land of the dead. She is approached by Balder the Brave, who gives her the news. She's overjoyed to be reunited with her long lost love, although today he lords over a new type of kingdom - an army of corpses. They're attacked by a flame army, who appears to strike first, battling for Sundr, their new queen.

It's the battle for words you can't pronounce.

   Finally in Asgard, Volstagg's pain continues. In a last ditch effort, he picks up his hammer but the Mangog grabs it with both hands, still in his grasp. He squeezes and the hammer shatters while the bits of it crumble around him. He launches the thor away again to eventually come to a rest hanging from the side of a mountain. Mangog asks the War Thor where the rest of the Asgardians are. Finally he is told - by Malekith, who walks up behind him. He explains where to find them and the beast takes off in search.
   The issue ends with Malekith dangling a knife over the morphing body. As the bloated and bloodied corpse of Volstagg floats out into the cosmos, the elf continues his inner monologue. Godspeed, he wishes the monster, and goodbye mighty Thor. With that, this issue is left to be continued.

If that fat Asgardian takes out my Direct TV, it's gonna be on.

   In all my years of reading the Wolverines and the Punishers... from worlds of Sabertooth to pages full of the psychotic tales of the Joker, this has to be the most brutal defeat I've seen in a long time. Except for the Roxxon and Karnilla cutaways, this was basically a comic book packed full of just Volstagg getting the crap beaten out of him. It was pretty violent and well... just awesome. Who says you have to have Thor or Jane Foster in a Thor book?I give this one an 8/10.

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X-Men Blue #15

MOJO WORLDWIDE pt VI

Written by Cullen Bunn
Penciled by Jorge Molina
Cover by Arthur Adams
Published Nov 15 2017

   In New York, blimp mounted screens hover above the city while Mojo threatens it’s citizens. He returns to his broadcast of the X-Men fighting for their lives. The majority of the them keep the horde of robots busy while Longshot, Jean, Logan, Jimmy,  Angel and Colossus head to take on Mojo. Longshot leads the way but reveals he has no idea where he’s going, so Jean psi-links with Rachel. There she discovers that the Blue team has been secretly working with a certain long-term arch enemy. Cyclops overhears and says they’ll discuss later, while Kitty takes out Magog.

Wait, did you just reveal something major? Yes, but let's just talk about it later.

   Meanwhile, Longshot and the Wolverines discover a control room and fight while Longshot attempts to disable the signal. He fails as Mojo discovers them and Jean points out he’s siphoning mental energy from his audience. Back at the fight, Bloodstorm freaks everybody out with her freaky vampire ways while Gog is quickly defeated by Rachel. 

Bloodstorm, it's not time to get fresh...

   In the control room, Angel flamethrows everything he can at the Spineless wonder while he deflects Jean’s attempt to get into his mind. The X-Men are in trouble when a bullet hits Mojo. Magneto, Polaris, and Danger enter the room, warning him to surrender which he resists. Danger leaps on him and machine guns his massive torso, though he easily throws her to the side. Jean tells them all that his power is from the people watching, but his tech is vulnerable. Magnetic father and daughter combine powers and take out the controls.
   Outside, the lights go dark and Cyclops reveals it was Magneto that helped them. On Earth, the screens disappear and the spires slowly fade away. The Mojo world fades with Mojo along with it. He screams that they took everything from him, and his threat dissipates. The battle is finally over.

..I'M MELTING, I'M MELTING... WHAT A WORLD, WHAT A WORLD..!

   Back on the streets of New York, the X-Men float from the sky and a very upset Kitty Pryde confronts Magneto. She continues her tirade at Scott and Jean when Colossus backs her off the ledge. They know now that Kitty will never stop demanding control of their team, but for now, the X-Men can relax. The issue wraps with Mojo, Domo, Gog, Magog in the sewers. Apparantly not banished back to the Mojoverse as believed, he’ll have plenty of time to plan his revenge but not this time, as this story arc is finally concluded.

Great. Now she'll NEVER leave us alone.

   I mentioned it earlier but as cool as it was to have Longshot and Mojo back in the fold, two bi-monthly crossover books move everything along at a monstrous pace. With that aside, Cullen Bunn and Marc Guggenheim did a great job from letting things get too carried away. These books still trail behind Astonishing X-Men though which I didn’t expect. Pencils and inks looked great though and it bears being pointed out. Overall, I give this issue a 7/10.

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Incredible Hulk #710

RETURN TO PLANET HULK pt II

Written by Greg Pak
Penciled by Greg Land
Cover by Greg Land
Published Nov 15, 2017

   Hulk battles for the Doka’abi as their champion. Described by Maeera as the Worldbreaker, of which the connotation alone insults the Warlord, he unleashes the blind rage inside and destroys his opponent. The crowd cheers as the tiny voice inside his head tries to calm him down. Amadeus tries to get the monster back in the trunk. It works, and he rewards the people he fights for with a fist bump. He demands his people’s release, food and riches..

YEAH! I killed that guy. Gimme daps.

   The Warlord’s soldiers open fire, and he explains that the gauntlet is actually 5 parts. The Hulk has only made it through the first. His tributes beg him to just lose it and take the Warlord out but he explains that he’s still weakened from his pass through the portal. They return to their “pens” and the clan chants his name.
   Later in the Warlord’s tower, one of his minions Lickspit tells him that he saw Hulk pass through the wheel in the sky. The Warlord demands he find out what’s on the other side. That night, Maeera tells Hulk she could tell he was able to somehow box up his rage - a practice that could doom them all. Suddenly visitors arrive at the camp. Sharn, one of the former clans to fight the Warlord and lose. They were absorbed into his army. She offers them some charged fuel cells, enough to power blasters for the fight but she’s reluctant to commit the forced ranks in his army to rebel.

Sharn is kinda splitting her bets here.

   Lickspit sneaks up to another gate. Seeing Sharna, he speaks with a spy in the Doka’s ranks. That night he sneaks out to the portal and meets them. He hands Lickspit a controller, and the Warlord plans to go across it.. not to find the Hulk’s friends, but to find his enemies.
   The next morning, Hulk is in the coliseum. With cheers at his back, he doles out the fistbumps and readies to fight. The Warlord calls for drums and Hulk’s next opponent squares to fight.. but this time with Sharn and her followers strapped to his shield. How does Amadeus Cho plan to get himself out of this one? We’ll have to wait till next time as this issue is left to be continued. 

Aw dang, I know that girl!

   You know, at this point I honestly think I might prefer Amadeus Cho to Bruce Banner’s hulk. From the Gerry Duggan run a few years back through the Greg Pak books that preceded this one, I was hoping the Legacy arc would issue in a new era of Banner. With the way Pak has streamlined this story, along with the colorful inks this creative team couples with Greg Land’s sharp pencils, I’m resigned to let the teen Hulk keep raging. It’s a good story and everything is firing on all cylinders. I give this one a 9/10.

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Justice League #33

BATS OUT OF HELL finale

Written by Joshua Williamson
Penciled by Tyler Kirkham
Cover by Ethan Van Sciver
Published Nov 15 2017

   As the Dark Knights lead the captured members of the Justice League in chains, the Batman Who Laughs, well, laughs enough to surprise Cyborg anyway. He floods the half human's mother box with memories of his failures, and finally as he's shown images of the multiverse, he's prepared to sacrifice himself to save his teammates. That is - until he hears a voice begging him not to so.

Don't kill yourself, Victor.

   The mystery voice tells him that his mother box isn't what makes him special. It's his heart that controls it. Slowly the Alfred protocol prods the heroes along when there's suddenly some interference with the Murder Machine's connection. That interference is Cyborg himself. He overrides the program controlling him, and prepares to battle with the Dark Knights. 

Didn't someone tell Joshua Williamson that just one more football analogy would have defeated the dark knights?

   He unchains the rest of the League, and using his mother box connection to element x to draw power directly from the multiverse, he pumps up his music and calls hike. And so begins the battle of good vs evil, all while the Batman Who Laughs reminds them that each one of them killed the entire Justice League on their own worlds.
   Cyborg agrees, and in response frees Deahstroke, Doctor Fate, Mister Terrific, and scores of others. Finally he frees Raven, who was the voice that urged him not to give up. He explains to the rest of them that Barbatos tried to separate them, instead uniting them. He uses the multiverse to them why the Batman became monsters. They're not just his fears, but also his regrets.. and the man can be defeated.

Lets beat some batt butt.

   The Batman Who Laughs calls upon Barbatos himself to make an appearance, and he does so as Cyborg opens a boom tube away. Inside Hypertime, they escape but it will be fleeting. Cyborg confides in Raven that the powers are too great, but she explains that his unwillingness to fail saved them. He tells them all that he was a great team player, but maybe being a coach is more his calling. If they're gonna beat Barbatos, they'll need the Nth metal too. He has an idea and booms Raven and Flash away.
   The issue wraps with the Batman Who Laughs giving an ominous warning, indicating that all paths leads back to Barbatos. With that, even though this was supposed to be the finale, we're left to be continued...

The finale.. No wait!

   Ok, I'm gonna be honest with you here. I don't know what the hell is going on. As is common in crossover arcs messing with a multiverse, which is clearly the subject du jour lately, there's about ten million different timelines flying around and intertwining and twisting, with villains collecting other villains and all this and that. I've been pretty vocal about being a fan of streamlined stories that maybe cross here or there, but sometimes publishers go off, and this another one of those times. Christopher Priest debuts in the next issue. Let's just tread water till we get there. For this one, I give it a 4/10.

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