True Believers: King in Black - Iron Man/Doctor Doom #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... Iron Man! Iron Man dukes it out with Dr Doom to get his mitts off his equipment. Let us dive in!

Gosh, you could always forget when Iron Man was in the closet about his identity. Live that double trouble life that is Tony Stark/Iron Man. It's funny how no one questions how they're both never in the same room yet Iron Man is supposedly Tony's bodyguard when in actual fact they are both the one and the same. 

Anyway! I'm surprised Tony has all the money in the world but not enough manpower to protect his goods when his cargo is being ransacked at sea except Iron Man saves the day. I mean Iron Man can't save the day for EVERY cargo being shipped... he got other things to do! Like... firing his staff on the spot for selling their goods to Doom. Permission to misbehave? Denied! Being savage is all in a day's work for Tony. 

Tony better watch his back as Doom's lackey seeks revenge and ultimately sashayed both him and Doom literally in a portal. It's kind of interesting to see so many people against Doom even the people of Latveria. I'm so used to seeing Doom idolised by the citizens of the country that I felt that they always seemed to be attuned to his evilness as being good. 

It's trial and tribulation for Iron Man as he has to use his brains to overcome his adversaries. Long gone are the days when superheroes used to explain their thinking in getting out of sticky situations which is exactly what Iron Man does during this issue in overcoming a trap, an illusion and the fight against Doom. There's a science behind it. Science, yes.

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Where they at?

True Believers: King in Black - Iron Man/Doctor Doom #1 (reprint of Iron Man volume 1 #149)

David Michelinie - plot/writer

John Romita Jr. - penciller, art

Bob Layton - plot/finished art

Joe Rosen - letterer

Bob Sharen - colourist

Marvel - publisher

Symbiote Spider-Man: King in Black #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... Spidey! Pete gets called into Ravencroft to see Smythe turn over to the "good" side. Let us dive in!

The cover is a strange bag of a mix of characters for a Spider-Man comic but it is a "Symbiote Spider-Man" so here to live for it. Ironically though, Spidey saves a kid who mistakes him for Daredevil. Have to say that I don't mind being saved by Spidey if ya know what I mean - uh, ha ha ha - oh, never mind. The story does take several turns and it does feel slightly disjointed with the supposed storyline of the Watcher and Kang thrown in the mix of Kang siphoning Watcher's knowledge to save the universe while we have Peter fighting some shadow beings. All in a day's work!

Of course, Uatu the Watcher always makes a grand speech wherever I see him and this comic is no different. There's no Watcher appearance without one of his famous speeches. Kang's another character who I guess is trying to "save" the universe (I guess he's thinking that) but I'm curious if he really is or that he thinks he is doing so. I'm guessing the big threat has something to do with the King in Black crossover event.  

Can't believe anyone in the right mind would give a supervillain of epic proportions tools of any sort to carry out experimentations and that's what they do at Ravencroft in the form of Smythe who has always wanted to take down Spidey for decades. Who even runs this clown show? Cannot wrap my head around this! Smythe manages to unleash these very sinister and creepy looking shadow creatures that I would not want to be caught in the dark with. Black Knight in shining armour comes in to save the damsel in distress Spidey. They look cute together.

Mister E as in Mystery! Get it? Oh uh... I'll see myself out...

Anyone looking for Rocket should probably lower their expectations as he only makes umm... one appearance in the whole issue.

Have to say the art in this issue is solid with everything being easy to read from the expressions, kicks, flairs and backflips to exploding spaceships. It's all there in full glory. I guess there's a lot to have fun with this issue too with street-level to cosmic proportion fun. Get it, girl!

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Give Spidey a crown!

Symbiote Spider-Man: King in Black #1
Peter David - writer
Greg Land - penciler
Jay Leisten - inker
Frank D'Armata - colourist
VC's Joe Sabino - letterer
Marvel - publisher

WandaVision Season 1 Episode 9 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... Wanda and Vision! It's go-time for Wanda and Vision as they fight for their right to part-tay. Let us dive in! (spoiler alert)

It's witch Wanda versus witch Agatha... who's the better witch? There's only one way to find out... FIIIIIGHT!! It's quite the opener with Agatha stealing some of Wanda's mojo away from her with each spell cast towards her. I mean Wanda really does have her work cut out for her. The Wizard of Oz reference killed me and I was loving it. I love that Wanda sends her children to their room when Agatha has no trouble fetching them. Wanda is quite the quick learner from picking up tricks from Agatha such as teleportation and rune casting. I would have to say Agatha is quite right in the regard that Wanda doesn't know what she's unleashed especially she's kept a town under her spell and manipulated reality. Oh snap, Agatha will be quaking in her boots. 

The Vision and Vision fight were both pretty equal until Vision pulled the philosophy trick out of the hat. It's a very clever moment I found than one that always plays out in Marvel that fisticuffs always seem to solve the issue but the brain play does in this situation. Also, love the small attention to detail in that they took it to the library. The library is open. 

The artistry of the show is amazing with the battle sequences between Vision with white Vision and Wanda and Agatha especially the last battle sequence with the full Scarlet Witch reveal just gave me goosebumps. The moment went Wanda was bringing the wall down was just a beautiful and sad moment when we find out that her family all tied to the hex so she couldn't remove them or her family will pretty much vamoose (got a bit teary too - sob sob). Wanda's Scarlet Witch costume was just breathtaking and really well designed.

Team Monica seems to all have small parts which serve a higher purpose though. I mean I could do with a bit more of them in the episode as they've always been such fun characters. I really do hope that I get to see more of them in the future (of course, Monica will serving some looks in Captain Marvel 2). Don't even get me started on Fietro as the character was a slight let down as the revelation is that he's Ralph umm... Bohner (Agnes's "husband"). 

Gosh, the ending got me. Dang it, it got me so bad. I cried even before I knew it was going to happen... the moment with the children and the final conversation between Wanda and Vision just sent me over the edge. I was such a blubbering mess. 

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Sob, sob sob, sob!

True Believers: Annihilation - Odinpower #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing the might of Odinpower. Let us dive in!

Gosh, these recent True Believer issues are giving me a lesson in superheroes and what they can do with their powers. It was Silver Surfer travelling so quick that he can travel in time and now it's the other half with Thor whirling his hammer so quick that he can space warp. They both can make a deadly c-c-combo! Not much going on in Thor's side except Lady Lorelei trying to seduce the heck out of Thor but I think her sis Enchantress might have something to say about that. She gonna zap that wig into space. Lorelei does have the greatest power of all time with the power of sexuality. Rogers was gonna rat on her but one kiss from Lorelei resolved that. Should have worn rubber lips (Batman & Robin ref).

The main course is Odin's tale of woe and empowerment! Have to say I have no idea Surtur outside the Thor films but he does prove quite the big baddie in this as he gives Odin and Bros a run for their money. Let's take a pause here and appreciate the names of the bros being Vili and Ve (and I sing Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?). They literally join together like a Go, Go Power Rangers to form a mega Odin and clunk clunk goes their sword. I'm surprised with the combined efforts couldn't take out Surtur in one go yet Odin is able to rain snow in Surtur's volcanic lair.

Not much context at the beginning for it to stand on its own but the ending was served in epic proportions dished out to Michelin standards. It does have a poignant ending in that you feel for Odin in having lost his brothers so that they can trap Surtur and give up their powers to juice Odin up. What is with it though that Odin does not like Thor partnering up with a human lady and not a robot. 

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Is that a tear in my eyes? No, I have hay fever!

True Believers: Annihilation - Odinpower #1 (reprint of Thor volume 1 #349)
Walter Simonson - art and story
John Workman, Jr - letterer
Christie Scheele - colours
Marvel - publisher

WandaVision Season 1 Episode 8 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... Wanda and Vision! Agatha's got her serve on and she's giving Wanda a walk on the runway. Let us dive in! (spoilers ahead)

Agatha gets her origins nicely whipped up in this episode as she is brought in front of her coven for practising magic above her pay grade. This episode does show her manipulative side in high fashion from the beginning where she pleads with mother witch to kiss and make up but then sports a sinister smile as she levels up in power as she steals that mojo from the coven. Talk about a switch-up in character. She does form a sort of mentor to Wanda in this episode by giving her some home truths about spellcasting and to move forward is to look back which is a nice way to reflect and remember. This is sort of reminiscent of the comics where she does teach Wanda how to control her abilities. Her final boss form does seem a bit of place in the final shot with its regal dark colours. I'm gonna see how she dukes it out with Wanda. 

Gosh, I knew about Wanda's past but to see it in high fashion display is quite the tearjerker. They don't let down on the shock value as Wanda and Pietro's parents are blown away by an explosion. Didn't quite get why they were not instantly mourning over the loss of their parents but then again they must have been dealing with a lot of emotion especially with Wanda saying it would be like a "bad dream at the end of the episode". This does strike a chord with me in the way that she loathes the reality she's in so she creates lives in her fantasy reality of the sitcoms of her childhood. Shock, horror! The revelations in this episode cast a different shade on her in that everything I thought I knew about Wanda wasn't exactly the case. Hell of a revelation!

Wanda and Vision's relationship is explored and it does shine another light as I said in a previous re:view that I felt that their relationship didn't feel solid enough for me to invest in them as a power couple as they were in the comics. Here though, it goes back into the past and I see that they have beautiful chemistry in their way their views come together and forms a perfect fit. It's beautiful in the way that Vision describes grief as "love persevering". The moment was so tender and sad. We do see the puzzle pieces come together of how Westview came about and the strong grief that Wanda experiences that pushes herself to the limits. I did cry in those moments and then the meta clap from Agatha happened to bring me back to Earth. Dang, can't let a girl cry, can ya?!

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Let the witch battle commence! 

Black Cat volume 2 #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... some kitty cat action - me-ow! Black Cat think she be doing a night of kitty cat burgling but she got another thing coming for her instead. Let us dive in! (warning: spoilers ahead)

It's a short read but what's a girl gotta do in this town to get a drink? Well. it's a hit and run for Black Cat as a Marvel crossover event slam dunks into her catty thievery as she some crowned jewels from an old SHIELD underpass. It does come off with a brilliant ending as we find out her skills are put to the test as she has to steal a Doctor Strange from the Symbiotes, which kind of reminds me of the Ant-Man first film which I had so much fun watching.

Black Cat's personality is on display and it's great to see great new perspectives from the main King in Black event. It reminds me that she's not a person to gel into the main crossovers as it's in her character to have a low profile as she's a kitty cat burglar with bling bling coming out of her paws. It's funny how Captain America knows of her through Spider-Man. Wonder what he told Cap about her? Hmm....

Love what they did with the place with the panels with different stylings that bring things together with the storytelling of perspectives, action and dramatisation of events. Makes for a good read and very quick to pace through especially you want to just jump into the main course. Yummy!

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Bring on the kitty cat!

Black Cat #1 (volume 2)
Jed MacKay - writer
C.F. Villa - artist
Brian Reber - colour artist
Ferran Delgado - letterer

Marvel  - publisher

WandaVision Season 1 Episode 7 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... Wanda and Wanda! Seems to be Wanda running the show now but is it really her that running it? Let us dive in! (spoilers ahead)

Y'know... it's not entirely the WandaVision show without Vision, hun. It's clear that she misses him as the first thing she does when waking up is to reach for him. It's the kind of love that's the real kind of love. Darcy knows it, I know it and you better know it!

I love how Wanda and the kids are super concerned in the previous episode for Vision and I was expecting them to pick him up. I expect that they know that he's safe when he was absorbed back into the hex. Anyway, this is a lesson on how to be a bad mother 101 when she wakes up late, doesn't tend to her children and tells her kids to just deal with it. I have no idea what I missed... I mean it's just been one night and all hell has broken loose for Wanda. Like girl, get it together!

Gosh, the product placement is out of this world in this episode with the boys scrolling through decades of gaming consoles and inconspicuous opening of the fridge to see the many varied products on display. It's like I stepped out of a Lady Gaga Telephone music video. 

I'm living for Vision and Darcy being the ultimate comedic duo in this episode. It involves Darcy knocking the guy out that didn't offer that cup of joe from an earlier episode which was a nice homage. It's super hilarifying to see them overcome their obstacles in getting to Wanda. Snaps to that for offering that slice of cake as Wanda can be very intense in this episode which offers that balance. OMG, they were made for each other! 

Team Monica have split up and it's so sweet that it gets a mention that they miss Darcy! Monica being the ever so noble self does anything on all accounts to save Wanda and the rest of Westview in risking her life to get through the hex wall. But yas girl, she gonna get that pow-wa kapow. Her origin has finally landed and it's so beautiful in the way that it's done as she can hear voices of her past and images of her breakaway as she passes through the hex wall. Quite the thick wall at that but gonna get that A-class beauty scene. 

The ultimate dessert of the episode is Agnes as she is revealed to be "Agatha All Along". My gosh, she got the Disney villain treatment with an ultimate sing-a-long. It's like one of those evil pantomime villain moments which is so wondrous in all its glory. Moments like this make me live and literally can't get the song out of my head - ugh, I have become deaded!

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Oh no she didn't! She killed Sparky!

Annihilation - Scourge: Silver Surfer #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... Silver Surfer! Silver Surfer faces annihilation as they face off against the Scourge. Let's dive in!

The artwork is so gorgeous and even the Scourge is even more terrifying here than they are in the Annihilation Scourge Alpha issue. I have not yet read Silver Surfer Black yet but can pretty much get the drift about what's happened to him which is so great as it's hard to keep up with everything. It doesn't take too much out of the story but I would say it enhances it as it provides that lens for me to see SS on a journey in discovering himself and as shown when he assimilates with a being hurtling through a planet's hemisphere and it beautifully shows the pain and powerlessness in overcoming his new bodily functions. 

I love the pacing of the issue too where it's calm and serene at the beginning to allow room for those paused moments and reflective thoughts, which is quickly dialled up with the pacing of the incoming danger and in dealing with the real threat. It's fluid in build up like I can literally chart it.

The scourge is terrifying in this! Especially Ronan and Captain Marvel. They are worse than the ones in Alpha and I'm having nightmares tonight. This time we're getting the Scourge Defenders which I thought was a nice touch to the issue and a homage to Silver Surfer's hey-days. 

The ending sees the return of Robert or Bob otherwise known as the counterpart to the Sentry who gets their back story of how they got there which is a nice respite to the whole issue but the ending is just wow! It reminds me of the Spirit of Vengeance and Johnny Blaze being separated in Hell but joining together, the wonders are limitless and exciting! 

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I want me some more Scourge action!

Annihilation - Scourge: Silver Surfer #1
Dan Abnett - writer
Paul Davidson - artist
Matt Milla - Colourist
VC's Clayton Cowles - letterer
Marvel - publisher