Justice League #40

JUSTICE LOST pt II

Written by Christopher Priest
Penciled by Pete Woods
Cover by David Yardin
Published March 7, 2018

   Cyborg rushes down from the Watchtower to assist the Justice Leagues, revealing more freaky alterations care of the Fan. When he gets there, the poorer people of Estes Park are pissed that the rich were tended to first. Once the first responders arrive, he tries to organize them when Superman explains they need to go. A debate rages among both teams about public perception vs what they're supposed to actually be doing.

Stop fighting, guys...

   Meanwhile aboard the Watchtower, the Fan disguised as Regina Cole gets decked by Aquaman. She works to disable everything, including anti-gravity as she teleports and he runs right into Lobo. Both factions of the League have teleported back to HQ and find quite a mess on their hands waiting for them.

Hey watch it, Fish Boy!

   It's determined that the space station is falling back to Earth, forcing them all to work together, at least the ones that haven't bailed out. Atom uses his brain while Black Canary discusses who's in charge. Back at congress, the representative who pushed the League's legal issues deals with lawsuits, while back in orbit, the debate vs who lives and who dies continues to rage. As they discuss, things get weird until Superman breaks it down.

Look, I don't know how the B-Team does it... but this is how Superman rolls.

   Finally Batman looks to Cyborg and it's official... it's all of none of them. As time ticks, they all work together, freezing and thawing the space station while dealing with the Fan's boobie traps. Superman holds it up while Black Canary does her scream for some reason. Things continue to go awry while Priest goes on a dialogue tear and the Watchtower drifts into an orange hole... or something. What happens next? We'll have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.

Look out for that giant orange contact lens!

   This issue made my brain hurt. Like I've said before, team up books are expected to be heavy on words but this one finally crossed the line into ridiculous. In the end, it trails into science babble that was over the top for a comic book. If Christopher Priest's goal is to let every member of the squad talk, then I guess it's mission accomplished. But I'm left scratching my head. I give this one a 6/10.

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Infinity Countdown #1

Written by Gerry Duggan

Penciled by Aaron Kuder
Cover by Nick Bradshaw
Published March 7, 2018

   Above Xitaung, Eve Bakian's Nova Corps tries to shield the infinity stone but the Raptors have found them. They fire torpedoes at a meditating Drax, but when Talonar doubles back around at the massive stone, Eve gives them one final warning.

I'm only gonna tell you 15 more times...

   Drax attacks and throws the Raptor out the side of the building. Eve explains they need backup, and with jammed comms, Drax needs to find his way to a radio.
   Meanwhile on Telferina, the Guardians of the Galaxy battle the Gardener'sflora army. Suddenly the natives retreat and he appears. Rocket leaps into action, shooting past the defense plants with guns blazing. As the Gardener catches him, Rocket stabs him in the face with a pocket knife.

"so I'm gonna kill you back!"

   Elsewhere, the Destroyer tries in vain to use the Raptor's wings, eventually just using them as an air taxi to attack the reconnaissance ship. He climbs aboard it and tries to use the radio, later being psychically by Quinon, a telepath he saved from Ultron a few days prior. She calls for the Guardians of the Galaxy to help their old friend. They may never get the chance though as the Chitauri warlord Warbringer shows up. It bites through the Raptor ship and Drax directs the burning wreck down to the planet's surface where the Novas fight to hold their ground.

You fools messed with the wrong interplanetary police force...

   Across the universe, the Guardians battle the Gardener when Adsit mentions the call from Drax. Unfortunately their hands are full at the moment. They fly towards the Elder as Groot drifts toward him, though the fight rages. Nova spears him as the Gardener sends him flying but not before Groot lands on him, screaming as loud as he can. He sends his wooden tendrils over the man when suddenly he's healed, free from Loki's poison. 

I'm Free!

   Holding the fading Groot, the newly charged Gardener heals his oldest creation. The restored tree is back, not only in body but also with a newly expanded vocabulary. It hails it's friends and grows to destroy the scary evil other tree thing that's been hurting his friends.

Tree Game recognize Tree Game...

   The issue wraps in Madripoor when an apparent non-dead Black Widow notices a sign on her dead drop. The only two that were ever aware of it were Wolverine and Captain America. She checks for assassins and lifts the toilet tank lid, revealing a note to take care of this Infinity Stone and a note from Logan. What will happen next? We're left to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

   So I read recently about how Gerry Duggan pitched this entire event to the Marvel brass and they fell in love with the idea. Thanos and the infinity gauntlet is very en vogue right now. Coupled with a resurrected Wolverine and a new Avengers movie about to drop, there's obviously a lot of irons in the fire. The only thing that it takes away from is Duggan's work solely on a Guardians of the book, and really just when he was hitting his stride. I guess I'll take this in exchange, but it makes for long reading and even longer reviewing. I give this one an 8/10.

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Captain America #699

OUT OF TIME pt II

Written by Mark Waid
Penciled by Chris Samnee
Cover by Chris Samnee
Published March 7, 2018

  Captain America battles an unknown soldier of Babbington that turns out to be The Hulk. He grabs the high ground and calls for Liang to send him some explosives care of his shield. It explodes and slowly Bruce Banner reverts, telling him that only two heroes survived the fallout. Suddenly they're attacked, and Cap orders the commandos to hold the line while he and Liang storm the castle.

Too bad you couldn't have left him as Hulk.

   Meanwhile King Babbington fires his military leaders while Cap and Liang bum rush a power plant and find Benjamin Grimm pushing a wheel, powering the castle. The Thing has been used all this time to fuel the despot's kingdom, and when he finds out, he's pissed. With plans to move him to the perimeter, they come under attack.

"Not gonna lie, Cap. I'm fairly agitated..."

   Running up the entryway, they make quick work of the storming rampart troops. Outside the city, the Thing knocks down the walls of the elites as Cap and company blitz the last defense and stand before the king. He wants his country back, but Babbington has other plans.

"We have to take the country back. You're gross..."

   Using mind control, Rogers is hampered but fights back. He grits his teeth and with all his might, hurls the shield at the mutated overlord, knocking him from his throne. He picks up the fallen king and orders the battle over, but the war far from finished.

Y'all elected him.

   The issue wraps with a stirring speech about triumph. To restore the republic they'll need a leader. He offers the mantle to Liang but the crowd can only cheer for Captain America. How's he gonna get himself out of this jam? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be concluded...

Meet the new boss. NOT the same as the old boss.

   Along with his nearing legendary status on Avengers, it's pretty clear that Mark Waid is a superstar. Paired with classic artist Chris Samnee, this series keeps a distinctive retro vibe, issuing in a brand new era of one of Marvel's greatest heroes with a throwback feel. I genuinely find myself looking forward to this book and this issue is no exception. I give this one a 10/10.

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Batman #42

EVERYONE LOVES IVY pt II

Written by Tom King
Penciled by Mikel Janin
Cover by Mikel Janin
Published Mar 7, 2018

   A brainwashed Superman hovers above Wayne Manor, while inside Bruce and Selina watch the brainwashed news. They take off with Supes in tow while they stop at Batburger, all the while loudly gushing about Ivy. Even the radio plays the sounds of leaves rustling. Finally Batman nears Catwoman's ear to whisper, causing Superman to listen intently before Batman whistles so loudly it hurts the Man of Steel.

This version of Supes isn't very hardcore.

   They move to walk into a nearby house and brace for what's coming. All three Flash's rush them and are incapacitated. When they walk in, a mind controlled old lady tells them they should have stayed in the mansion. Later we see the two of them hanging from a skyscraper under the watch of Wonder Woman, Jessica Cruz and Superman.

WHAT A VIEW!

   Batman explains to Ivy that by letting the mind controlled people eat, they're eating scores of living, green plants. Ivy calls to Bruce to shut up but he refuses. Using Superman, she tells him they're making a perfect world when he punches the Bat, brutally breaking his cowl, his teeth, and pretty much his entire face in general..

DAMN! Nevermind what I said about Supes being hardcore. He's SUPER hardcore!

   Later Ivy talks business with her new friend, Catwoman. While Bruce wakes up in the hospital, Selina tries to reason with her old pal but it doesn’t seem to be getting through. She tells the cat about the killing she did back in the War of Jokes and Riddles. It was a mistake. But now she can be redeemed. She can remake everything.

I can fix it!

   The issue wraps with Bruce figuring it out. She needs speed, Ivy uses flash. She needs strength, Ivy uses Superman. As he recovers, he expected the help from only one other character, and there stands Harley Quinn to assist her newest patient. What’s gonna happen next? We’ll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Not as hot as Margot Robbie.

   With last issue’s intro of Ivy back into Bruce and Selina’s way, I mentioned her brief appearance as the Riddler’s lackey during the afore mentioned war. Who’d have thought Tom King would have found a way to reference it. And if you say “Oh I’d have never thought it” then clearly you haven’t been paying attention. This team of King and Mikel Janin continue to prove that they’re one of the best in the business. This has all the makings of yet another Bat-sterpiece. I give this one a 9/10.

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Avengers #683

NO SURRENDER pt IX

Written by Mark Waid, Al Ewing, and Jim Zub
Penciled by Paco Medina
Cover by Mark Brooks
Published Mar 7, 2018

   Back at HQ, Lightning sprints in and requests a quinjet to pick up Rogue's team when a monitor reveals the latest pyramoid at Jarvis' hospital. With the ghosts attacking and Jarvis fading, Wasp micro-shrinks Beast to fight their patient's pathogens, while she shoots down the hallway to grab the pyramoid. When she touches it, she's thrown back - clueless as to what to do next.

Wait - that's new!

   Meanwhile Beast surfs inside Jarvis' bloodstream when something surprises him. Back in the hospital, Wasp does the next best thing and protects hospital staffers from the wraiths while Beast avoids lighting strikes at the Avengers butler's brain. Furthermore their entire history is on display. He leaps across the surface to attack the pathogen when it seizes him. Luckily Wasp joins the fight and they're able to escape back into normal-sized world.

Boy, are you lucky!

   When they do so, he begins to come to - and tries to warn them when Voyager appears to assist. She surrounds the pyaramoid when Jarvis yells out to them... There is no Valerie Vector. This Voyager was never an Avenger. It finally begins to make sense to Hank and Nadia and they realize they've all been fooled. Unfortunately the fake has already had enough timie to make off with the pyramoid, leaving the rest of the team in substantial trouble. What's gonna happen next? We'll have to wait until next week to find out.

Suddenly everybody realizes this...

   So just when you think you know somebody, they turn out to be a fake. Or course, you'd have to be kidding yourself to not expect Voyager to be a pawn of the Grandmaster or the Challenger, or even worse, somebody like Thanos. Still, that has all the makings to make her character even more epic. I can't wait to see what they do with her. I give this one a 10/10.

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Amazing Spider-Man #797

GO DOWN SWINGING pt I

Written by Dan Slott
Penciled by Stuart Immonen
Cover by Alex Ross
Published Mar 7, 2018

   In Norman Osborne’s old gentlemen’s club, he torments an unnamed hostage. And the subject dujour is Spider-Man. And speaking of, Peter Parker previously makes out with old flame Mary Jane before she notices a glaring Spidey uniform under his shirt and gets cold feet. She tells him that in their past, she’d never know when he was headed off to save someone, and the fear of his not returning is still too much. He takes to the sky but his parting is still noticed by the former Green Goblin.

Not only is he a maniac, he's a peeping tom?!

   Back in the present, Osborne continues to verbally terrify his kidnappee, even using rats to make an example. Spidey swings above midtown detaining familiar purse snatcher Jimmy. He even does the perp a solid on his way to work. When he gets there, Joe Robertson talks with staffers about Ben Urich and his nephew Phil, the newest Goblin King. Pete is tracked down by the Science Staff but opts to take a phone call instead from his old boss J. Jonah Jameson. The former Bugle editor beats his old photog down for info on the Goblin King, but sadly there’s nothing to report.

Not his boss, but still in his head.

   Meanwhile, in the now Norman Osborne continues to connect the dots between Mary Jane, Alchemax, Liz Alain, Harry Osborne and Spider-Man. Another flashback proves that his daughter in law Liz has hired Flash Thompson, aka “Agent Venom” as added muscle. Across town, her estranged husband Harry plays with the kiddos while the babysitter spies someone out of the ordinary. 

Maybe the fact that Norman Osborne is clearly hanging out behind a tree is nothing to report to his innocent son.

   Downstairs, Osborne hears a disturbance and discovers Goblin King raiding his stash. When caught, he decides to finish his mentor once and for all but the newly restored and manical Norman is able to kill off his former protege. He returns to his victim who taunts him. Green Goblin has always been a loser. But he lets slip a tiny clue in the Gwen Stacey affair. And Norman now knows - PETER PARKER IS SPIDER-MAN! It’s revealed his victim is J Jonah himself, who’s now spilled the biggest beans ever. What will happen next?! We’ll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Way to go, JK Simmons!

   Fantastic issue, really proving that Dan Slott is revving up on the way to his finale. Still, more wordy than he’s known for. I’ve mentioned before that period turns literally every other page is not only tough to follow, but tough to review. Obviously it’s building to more than what’’s on the surface so I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. I give it an 8/10.

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X-Men Blue #22

POISON X pt IV

Written by Cullen Bunn
Penciled by Jacopo Camagni
Cover by Nick Bradshaw
Published Feb 28, 2018

   As killer Thrill and her pirates hurtle through space, they strike a mystery object. It turns out to be ice, but as it melts it turns out to be an attack from the X-Men and Venom. Jean works to shut down the locals voices buying them a few precious minutes.

Jean shuts them down.

   Once inside, Venom warns everyone to be careful. They allow one to speak and learn the Starjammers are ok. They split up. Scott moves to find the hostages while the others seal up their prisoners and head for the ship's bridge.

Because what we need to do on a huge alien mystery vessel is to split up.

   Jean is bothered by their parting. Something isn't right. But time is of the essence and they attack the real threats quick and violently. Meanwhile, Scott takes out the guards in front of the Starjammers' cell and enjoys a tearful reunion with his father Corsair.

Wait, Scott's dad is Magnum PI?

   Back on the bridge, the rest of the X-Men trade blows with the more experienced symbiotes. Jean Gray sends a psychic noise blast that cripples their enemies while protecting the team. While this unfolds, a mystery vessel nears them. Killer Thrill races to see who the visitors are while Beast does what he can to identify them. With the fight at a pause, Jean goes after Killer Thrill but both her and her symbiote are scared.

I'm TOTALLY freaking out right now.

   She discovers her in a cargo hold along with Kraven, and the Hunter reveals he's armed with several other mystery aliens. The issue wraps with Scott suddenly not feeling Jean's presence. The others get a similar sensation - but the mystery of where she is doesn't last long. She and Killer Thrill both stand armored and mind controlled. What's gonna happen next? We're left to wait and find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Oh Noze...

   When the young X-Men, who are already a bit underdeveloped emotionally, are forced to deal with the violent effects of Venom like aliens, it's a recipe for good reading. Couple them with Eddie Brock and you have some serious magic on your hands. And like I said before - with Jocopo Camagni, how could anything go wrong? I give this one an 8/10.

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