Comic Book Wednesday 05/16/2007

Well I tried to do this a few weeks ago, but the first comic I did seemed to turn into a synopsis of the Marvel Universe.

So I am going to do these comics a different way. I am going to give the title, the number, writer, artist, synopsis of the story (From comics website) and what I think of it. I am also going to list series I am not going to purchase anymore and why.

So anyway, here we go:

Fallen Son: The Death Of Captain America
Publisher: Marvel
Issue: 3 of 5
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: John Romita, Jr.
Story:

"How has the fall-out of Civil War affected Captain America? One side won
and the other side lost – but the aftermath may have hit some heroes harder than
others. Now it’s time to navigate this turbulent new landscape with the
shield-slinging Super Soldier – and your guides are none other than Jeph Loeb
and John Romita Jr. "

Loeb has stated that these 5 issues will follow the 5 stages of grief. The first, Denial, had Wolverine not believing that Cap was dead and was a great issue.

The second, Anger, featured the Mighty Avengers and New Avengers. (The Mighty Avengers are registered heros...The New Avengers are outlaws because they have not registered...this is all detailed in the Civil War that finished earlier this year). The Mighty Avengers were fighting some villian, while the New Avengers were playing cards with The Thing and getting into arguments about Cap. The second issue was not as good as the first.

My hope was that this mini-series was not losing steam...and I am glad to say it is not. The third, Bargaining, has Clint Barton, the original Hawkeye back from the dead. Iron Man wants Clint to be the new Captain America because because Tony Stark believes that America needs Cap especially now.

The art work by Romita is great, as has been in the past 2 issues. The story was great. Barton contemplating becomeing Cap's replacement, but wondering if he should shame Caps memory. Barton's confrontation with the new female Hawkeye. Tony being confronted by Barton about the real reason why he wants Captain America to continue on. All great stuff.

The next issue, Depression, will feature Spider-man and how he copes with Cap's death and him reflecting on all the people he has lost in his life. Hope Loeb does just a great a job with that one as he did here.

All-Star Batman & Robin The Boy Wonder
Publisher: DC
Issue: 5
Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: Jim Lee
Story:

"The pulse-pounding adventure continues with the All Star creative team of
Frank Miller, Jim Lee and Scott Williams! The Batman puts Dick Grayson to the
ultimate test, and the orphaned aerialist must make a difficult choice before
becoming Robin, the Boy Wonder!"

Dear Lord, they actually put out issue #5?!? The last issue, #4, came out last Sept or Oct. So you figure that all that wait would be worth it...that we should have an awesome story? Well...not so much.

We start with Wonder Woman meeting Superman, Green Latern and Plastic Man to discuss what to do with Batman (The press is stating that he kidnapped a boy, but really he was rescuing Dick Grayson). Miller writes Wonder Woman as a feminist who just hates men. She wants to take down Batman...permanetly, but Supes, Greens and Plastic think they should talk to him first. Meanwhile, Batman goes out in Gotham and beats the hell out of two rapist punks, Alfred has some time to think about Bruce and his hope he does not go crazy and Grayson is in the Batcave checking things out.

Sorry, but I just expected...more for a 8-9 month wait. I am a big fan of Jim Lee's work and it shines here. I like Miller's writing as well, but he just seems to make these charactors ass----s. I understand this is before these heros have a bond with each other...they are just starting the Justice League, but Miller can write these charactors to be down right depressing. Still, this is a good story...just expected more after the long hiatis. Next issue is in July so will not have to wait long.

World War Hulk: Prologue
Publisher: Marvel
Issue: 1 (One-Shot)
Writer: Peter David, Chris Giarrusso, and Greg Pak
Artist: Al Rio, Lee Weeks, Sean Phillips, Chris Giarrusso and Takeshi MiYazawa
Story:

"Hulk is coming and no power on Earth can stop him from getting revenge on
the Illuminati! What events have led up to the super-human
battle-to-end-all-battles? As Hulk’s great stone ship approaches the planet, he
prepares for the war on the horizon by reliving past conflicts with Iron Man,
The Fantastic Four, Doctor Strange and the Inhumans. This is the perfect
jumping-on point for this summer’s super hero-smashing, city-leveling,
bone-crushing, Marvel history-making event! "

Yea...You read the above and you say "What is the Illuminati?" "What battle to end all battles?"and "How the hell did the Hulk get a great stone spaceship?" Well, I will be brief.

The Illuminati is a group of heroes (Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Black Bolt, Namor, Dr. Strange, and Professor X) that got together years ago to "worked together for an unspecified amount of time to mold and shape the status of the superhuman world and the world around it." Soon, they would meet secretly to share infomration and determine how each of the members groups would react.

Well, the Illuminiati decided that the Hulk was too dangerous to be on earth. So they tricked Bruce Banner to become the Hulk to fix a satellite in space. The Illuminati revealed their true plan to the Hulk and exiled him to a planet...but not the one they intended.

Instead the Hulk fell on a world, were he was weakened and enslaved. He would turn out to be a hero and rule the planet eventually, with his new allies he made along the way to overthrow the evil king there. He married and was expecting a child. Everything was good.

However, the Illuminiati set an explosive in the spacecraft that the Hulk traveled on and it detonated causing a chain of events that devistated the planet and killed the Hulks new wife and unborn child. With his new allies, the Hulk is returning for revenge against the Illuminiati.

Ya all caught up...good...here is the comic. There are actually three stories here. The first by David is great. The Hulk and his companions are on there way to earth while Doc Sampson and She-Hulk on Earth talking about the Hulk. The Hulk is convinced by Hiroim, one of his allies, to meditate so he can focus his anger. The story goes back and forth from the Hulk and Doc Sampson. Each describing how members of the Illuminati interacted with the Hulk. Sampson tells She-Hulk that the members tried to help the Hulk, while the Hulk's memories are far different. The story just leaves you wanting more....I am very excited about this event.

The next story is a parady by Giarrusso about how the Illiminati (not Illuminators) decide to get rid of the Hulk. Namor is the only one who does not want to send him into space, until the Hulk does something unforgivable. I found the story humerous.

Finally, a reprint of a story from Amazing Fantasy Vol. 2 #15. This is about Amadeus, who is the seventh smartest person on the planet. Amadeus went to see Reed Richards to tell him he knows what he did to the Hulk and that the ship did not go to the destination they originally intended. He is getting heroes together for the Hulk's eventual return to help the Hulk. Why is Amadeus supportive of the Hulk? This story tells it.

As I stated earier, this issue is making me excited about the World War Hulk storyline. Just a few more weeks an the chaos begins... I cannot wait.

Marvel Zombies: Dead Days
Publisher: Marvel
Issue: 1 (One-Shot)
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Sean Phillips
Story:

"At last—witness the birth of the Marvel Zombies as told by the creative team of
the best-selling limited series! Kirkman and Phillips pull out all the stops as
they reveal the secret story of the day the Marvel Heroes became brain-eating
monsters! Want to see the Avengers eat Jarvis? You won’t get that in this
month’s New Avengers, effendi!"

Some people are saying that the whole Marvel Zombie thing is getting old fast. They say it was a cool concept...Marvel Heroes turning into zombies...eating the flesh. I am reading the Army of Darkness/Marvel Zombie tie-in (which I will write about when the next issue comes out) and like the idea of Ash meeting up with Spider-man and fighting zombified heroes.

Anyway, back to the this story. The story tells how the Marvel Zombies became what they are. You kinda have to read the Army of Darkness/Marvel Zombies to clear up a few things as the Avengers here are already turned and Spider-Man is on his way (Mary Jane never tasted so good!).

However, we do learn and see a few things that were not shown in the original limited series last year. Spider-Man feasting on MJ and Aunt May...Henry Pym locking up the Black Panther and eating him a little at a time so he can think straight and come up with a cure...The Avengers eating Jarvis...and a turn of events from Reed Richards that is just f---ed up.

A very entertaining story and fills in the gaps from the limited series last year. So has this series run its course. Not just yet, but after this and the Army of Darkness tie in, I think Marvel should let this go for a while.

COMICS I AM DROPPING:

Moon Knight
Publisher: Marvel

Sorry I cannot buy this anymore. The art work is ok, but the writing is getting on my nerves. Whoever is putting this comic together...please edit together so the reader can actually know what panel to read first. It is very annoying.

Last issue pissed me off because on the cover was Moon Knight and the Punisher. I was expecting a throw down and what do I get...Midnight threating Moon Knight to find him and the Punisher on the last panel. GUYS...YOU DO NOT PUT THE PUNISHER ON THE COVER AND HAVE HIM ON THE LAST PANEL ONLY.

This issue, they put Midnight on the cover and show him in the last few panels. These covers should be the other way around.

And the Punisher is in this issue, but they just talk as the Punisher is on a roof top taking out gang member.

People say that Moon Knight is a poor mans Batman. I like Moon Knight. I was excited when they started his own series again. But after 10 issues, I am done.

Star Wars: Rebellion
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Just could not get into this one. I am marginally enjoying Knights of the Old Republic comic and that is on the bubble. I just could not get into Rebellion. It is ok, but hey...with comics going for $3.00 a pop...if it does not get me in the first 6 issues, it has to go. I may pick this up again in the future, but for now it is out.

Well, that is it for this week. I have more, but I have things I need to do. My plan is to do all the comics I get every week, but that may not happen because of my schedule. I may have to a few that I like or I really dislike.

Thanks for reading.