Ms Marvel & Venom #1 (re:view)

Ms Marvel & Venom #1

Jody Houser (writer), Dave Wachter (artist), Erick Arciniega (colour artist)
2022
Marvel

Welcome to a whole new adventure with… Ms Marvel! She be teaming up with Venom for a takedown. Let’s get it!

I have the other issues hiding somewhere but not sure where they be. I have to say I picked up the issues as they look super fun when I was flicking through them and this final issue in this mini-series seems no different. From the get-go it jumps right into the action with Venom taking a beat down and saved none other than Ms Marvel. I so love the fact that there’s a recap for nunces like me for not reading the previous issues and with a quick catch up, I’m back in the game!

I love the contrasts Venom and Ms Marvel brings to the table whereby Venom doesn’t care for much for feelings and goes boom boom bang and Ms Marvel does care and tip toes herself around situations. It makes for a fun read bringing in some humour. I love the subtleness of Ms Marvel bringing out more out of Venom such as when she highlights his villainous past and lets him know he is a hero. There’s a real warmness to it especially when it’s further explored at the end when Ms Marvel reminisces on being a hero.

In terms of team-up I don’t think I’d ever see Wolverine, Venom, Moon Knight and Ms Marvel in the same room but it’s a great joy to see them work together. Would love to see how they interact more with each other but it’s Ms Marvel’s gig so it’s understandable focus would be on her.

Loving the art. It’s pretty easy to follow it and I quickly worked through the issue. The action pieces are amazing and the people that transform as a result of the failed experiment serums that they take are very grotesque. Brilliant!

Subscribe? Yes! 

Syphon #1 (re:view)

Syphon #1
Meaney, Ashraf, Edwards, Kalisz
2021
Image Comics/Top Cow Productions, Inc.

Welcome to a whole new adventure with… Syphon! Syphon (don’t know the dude’s name) gets hi mojo on as he deals with life and his shindig powers on.

The issue is really easy to get through from start to finish. I absolutely love that EVERYTHING is introduced right in the first issue with the villain’s introduction, Syphon’s origin story, life and powers. The abilities and origin story are quickly explained in a few pages in such splendour that I just get it. It’s how it should be done especially since there are so many comics to get through that I just want it to grab me from the shoulders and shake me from the get-go. For that, I give it major snaps.

The villain is pretty much introduced in the beginning by jumping right into the action but the intentions are not revealed. I do love it when I jump right into the action and get the kiss on the pecker.

I love the art style of the issue. The darkness of the issue and Syphon’s power as well. It brings out a lightness in the suffering that he gets from the darkness. Quite literally. I think he’s like X-Men’s Bishop but they “syphon” the suffering from one and can redirect it as energy which he does in high fashion. This makes for great visualisation of the issue and creates a beautiful way of exploring his powers through his eyes. Even when the panelling shifts into double-spread pages, I was very easily able to follow through on each page and never lost sight of direction.

Subscribe? Hell to the yes!

Strikeforce #1 to #5 (re:view)

Strikeforce #1, #2, #3, #4, #5
Tini Howard (writer), Germán Peralta (artist), Jordie Bellaire (colour artist)
2019
Marvel

Welcome to a whole new adventure with…Strikeforce! They ain’t no Skrull but they are going to shapeshift some trouble for the Strikeforce team.

I did re:view the first issue some years back but managed to find the further issues at London Comic Mart so what they hey! Here I am back at it with the Strikeforce team. I have to say I really enjoyed the first issue. The next 4 issues didn’t quite hang strong for me as the first issue did.

It is a mish-mash of a team and I love some of the chemistry that they have with each other such as moments they work together in the second issue where the take on the enemy at a Vegas bar was super fun. Wiccan’s inexperience does show which I love in the way that the team directs him to do things better or when he says just call in the big guns Avengers to help deal with the issue. Those types of moments I live for as the other members are obviously quite seasoned in what they do so it’s a great way to take him under their wing but unfortunately not much of that does happen. He ends up beheading someone with a Doombot. Stuff like that doesn’t have any consequence yet the team just accepts it. I don’t think anyone as young as he is should be making such a drastic decision without being given some perspective on it.

The story had a strong beginning so it showed promise but the excitement was starting to drop but not like it was hot. You have the action, the dialogue, She-Hulk goes berserker fury, gore, the mystery, the lot! It does have its humorous moments like you would with a doppelganger taking your place and starts kissing someone (you know, your average day). Then there’s the issue of pacing with there being a few too many flashbacks interspersed which takes away from the main story and I feel like could have been an issue in itself with them coming together at the end of the issue and truly realised that they must put an end to it. I would have also prolonged the mystery just to keep me hooked, line and sinker. Then there’s the build-up with a steep drop of disappointment such as the Doom reveal turning out to be a Doombot and the doppelganger Wiccan’s visit to Hulkling which is dealt with off-screen and doesn’t really go anywhere.

Love the art style, I feel it suits the darkness of the comic with the gore, decapacitation and shantay you stay active. It does change art styles during some of the flashbacks which I love as it gives me a vivid mind stamp to separate the both of them.

Subscribe? Maybe next time

Punisher #1 (2022) (re:view)

Punisher #1
Jason Aaron, Jesús Saiz and Paul Azaceta, Dave Stewart (colour artist), VC’s Cory Petit (letterer)
2022
Marvel

Welcome to a whole new adventure with… the Punisher! Punisher commandeers a new legion of the hand. Let us dive in!

The issue starts strong with a flashback which bookends the issue very nicely with the death and life of Frank’s love. It’s poetic in the sense that it’s an exploration of his character which is swiftly followed by a homage to the Punisher through the times. I guess it’s a metaphor for Frank's trials and tribulations, which is a reflection of him having to prove himself to join the ranks of the Hand.  Indeed very poetic and cleverly written. On the surface, I like to be made to think sometimes as I sometimes do just work myself through comics very quickly but this one has made me a thinker.

The pacing is pretty good with the action getting in tight which is helped by the panelling in creating intensity by honing it in smaller panels. The maximum impact was made with double spread pages for the incredible shots especially the one with the hand appearing around the Punisher - killer moment. I love art. Reminds me of the art style by Adi Granov in Iron Man’s Extremis story which has a sense of realism.

I wonder if the issue takes him back to his villainous roots. He did start off as a villain of sorts and hanging around the Hand is not a route to becoming a saint. I guess in that sense it’s a nice throwback since the issue seems to be a throwback to his past.

Subscribe? Yes! The pacing is good, the back story gives a good jumping pad into the whole issue and the montage was cute

Stranger Things: Kamchatka #1 (re:view)

Stranger Things: Kamchatka #1

Michael Moreci (script), Todor Kristov (art), Dan Jackson (colourist), Nate Piekos (letters)
2022
Dark Horse Comics

Welcome to a whole new adventure with… Stranger Things! It’s up to Anna and Leonid to shake a thing or two to save their daddy from the grips of the baddies. Let’s dive in!

It’s my first foray into the Stranger Things comics and I would say that it’s an expansion of the Stranger Things universe. I was somewhat disappointed by the story as it does share some similarities to what has happened in the main series in that the Soviet Union kidnaps in order to gain the upper hand. It’s like a concoction of capture, torture and Demogorgon which ticks the boxes of what I’ve pretty much seen in the main series. I don’t mind if there is a repeat but it would be nice to something new then just something spun off something I’ve seen before. It would be pretty awesome if this had more of a thriller vibe to it.

The issue felt short but it might just be me expecting too much which I find doesn’t give enough payoff in terms of developing characters. Anna and Leonid are quickly taken out as quickly as they first stepped on the scene. Then you have a protagonist introduced who - spoiler alert -  saves them in the nick of time and probably just end up as their babysitter in this mess going by how quickly they were captured.

There’s a dark undertone to the art which I find fits into this world great, but the expressions can be hard to read especially when the eyes look so glassy. They do say the eyes are the windows to the soul! I do get the general gist of what they’re trying to convey given the environment that they’re in or what’s happening right in front of their eyes.

Subscribe? I’ll give it a skip for the moment. There’s nothing fresh that I feel can take me to the next issue.

The Least We Can Do #1 (re:view)

The Least We Can Do #1
Elisa Romboli (artist, creator), Iolanda Zandardino (writer, creator)
2022
Image

Welcome to a whole new adventure with… the Least We Can Do! Uriel joins the Eclipse Rebel to make her Golden Stone shine bright like a diamond. Let’s get it!

There can be 99 people in the room and only one believes in you which is the case of Uriel when she’s joining the Eclipse Rebel. Seems like everyone else really is a meanie to Uriel. Doesn’t help that Uriel is so timid but I really do hope she grows into herself during the course of the series, especially in the first issue she gets little to no support and even in flashbacks, she’s the Cinderella of the family (with no prince or princess to call for herself). I do live for character development! I would hope that the team would support her as in her timid nature she does become more of a danger to the team and herself out on the field. 

I love the illustrations and the huge influences of London with Big Ben, Tower Bridge, red telephone boxes and a double-decker bus making an appearance. It’s a nice departure from the typical art style of superhero comics that I have become so accustomed to.

Subscribe? Yes, would love to see how Uriel grows in her team and what adversaries come up for her

Radiant Red #1 (re:view)

Radiant Red #1

Cherish Chen (writer), David Lafuente (artist), Miquel Meurto (colourist), Diego Sanches (letterer)
2022
Image Comics

 Welcome to a whole new adventure with… Radiant Red! Satomi has to find her ground as she has quite a bit to juggle with. Let us dive in!

I have to say that I’ve not read any comics from the world of Radiant Black and only found out about it from reading the letter from inside the issue! It’s pretty easy to pick up though as it seems to be Satomi trying to find herself as she contends with a mysterious person making threats, a reporter jumping right on to her and family matters. Can relate.

I’m loving the fact that I can jump into this world as I journey with Satomi to find who she is. She seems to have a supportive sister but then her sister just about rugby tackle her figuratively speaking. It offers a really grounded storytelling which can provide respite to following event after event from the comic book behemoths.

The art isn’t quite as defined as I would like but I do love the graininess which makes it a bit raw looking. The character designs are super amazing especially Radiant Red’s costume design!

It does close off with a short story with a different Sonya who has their date gatecrashed by two sparkly people. Her transformation into a wolf hybrid seems not to have put their date off which reminds of the character of She-Hulk. Can one like two sides of the coin that is ultimately the same person? I would say so and so did their date.

Subscribe? Yeah, I’d give it another spin. Looks promising.

 

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

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... comic for your dollar! This time the Avengers face off against a god (ahem, tell me something new there). Let us dive in!

I actually remember reading this in the pages as a reprint in UK's Avengers United which I guess is a testament to the unique storyline as it's kind of a weird one I would say. Having a quick scander online it seems that Lion God hasn't made a massive impression in the Marvel Universe but they seem to be - umm - shall we say unique as they come. 

The issue goes dark when a human sacrifice is needed so that the Lion God has a vessel to inhabit. They do seem like a very formidable opponent for the Avengers in that the Lion God can influence people and create an army by doing so. He also possesses Black Panther it's so strange that the advantage of this power is not taken. I mean send me in and I'll get the job done better (paint me a supervillain any day with amazing blush and on-fleek smokey eye). Also, the god can magically bring forth lions that catch Scarlet Witch off-guard and Black Widow stuck up a wall (that's two Avengers out of play). Send a few of them in and you'll have a field day. The Lion God abandons his groupies and lets go of the possession of Black Panther which ultimately leads to their downfall and easy defeat. Okay, now I get why the Lion God may not have appeared so many times in the history of Marvel comics and I'm getting the sense of why being a supervillain seems to be taking over me.

I would have thought Black Panther would have putten up a better fight with the Lion God as it seems to be someone from his turf. Except he gets influenced like the likes of his people and it's subdued for the most part of the issue. It takes a god to take on a god as Thor shuts the Lion God down in the end. Would have been interesting to see the powers of a Lion take on the powers of the Black Panther but that's that.

Natasha is almost the MVP in the issue with her speaking her mind when they're doing their plans. Being the newbie in the group, she doesn't shy away from it which is a very admirable quality to have. She takes out the lion and lioness very easily and tells Lion God to never underestimate her. She so bad-butt until she ends up stuck up on the wall until Iron Man saves. She did good for a new starter though. 

I almost forgot the issue's title characters. Mantis just a fleeting moment of appearance in the comic!

Subscribe? Yes

I'm writing a book "How to be a supervillain 101"

True Believers: Annihilation - Mantis #1 (reprint of Avengers volume 1 #112)

Steve Englehart - author

Don Heck - artist

Frank Bolle - inker

John Costanza - letterer

Petra Goldberg - colourist

Marvel - publisher

X-Men: Phoenix – Endsong #1 to #5 (re:view)

X-Men: Phoenix – Endsong #1 to #5
Greg Pak, Greg Land, Matt Ryan
2005
Marvel

Welcome to a whole new adventure with… X-Men! The Phoenix force is right back at it again and she wants some L-O-V-E. Emma better watch yo back as she’s coming for ya!

I remember reading this some time ago during my teen years but warrants a second reading or a “re:view” (wink wink) especially after seeing it going for £4 for the set at Gosh! So yeah, the Phoenix is let go by some Shi’ar lackies in an attempt to destroy it once and for all. That’s going to end so well. It’s here that the Phoenix has a conscience rather than a conjoined conscience in Jean’s mind. It’s different and sheds a whole different light on the Dark Phoenix Saga which holds such a place in my heart and is referenced in the past with the psychic link between Jean and Scott.

I mean this is a 5 issue mini-series but a hell of a lot happens. It does well to juggle the different characters coming together as well as providing a huge amount of breathing space to develop the mind behind the Phoenix force. Some get their moments but I feel like at the expense of other characters getting short-changed like the pain Wolverine goes through to repeatedly attempt to kill off the Phoenix and the sha-blam moment for Storm taking down the Shi’ar transport plane in all her splendor, whereas Colossus and Kitty get subpar which was disappointing. They all play a part in being Jean’s family and Colossus deserves to be there for her more than anyone else, and Kitty gets one-liners here and there which don’t seem to make any impact on the overarching scheme of the story.

I had an “oh snap” moment with the return of Quentin. There’s an interesting conversation to be had about the ethics and morality in doing such a thing but I guess we have witnessed an evil Beast in the past (or future however you want to put it). I quickly worked through the 5 issues. What’s more, I would have loved to see how Emma and the Phoenix feel when they’re occupied together but I can see Emma relishing the moment and umm... relishing more than a moment with Scott.

There were so many Jean and Phoenix moments when she exclaims “I am you” when she rips the Phoenix out of Emma. Giving me that Heathcliff and Catherine vibe that they belong together but are not good for each other. I mean if only Jean can see the future as the Phoenix Force has been around the block quite a few times. The other moment was when Emma projected the minds of everyone to say that they love her. All you need is little bit of love. I live, girl, I live! 

Subscribe? Yes!

Giant-Size X-Men: Nightcrawler #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... some X-tra big sized bonanza! Nightcrawler returns back to the mansion after Krakoa opens a portal there and an investigation ensues as the team take on a haunted mansion. Let's dive in!

The story and the plot is well put together but it does feel kind of on the short side and rather that it explored more in the creepy side in the mansion itself. I mean it feels like forever since I've been in the X-Mansion and forevermore now that's everyone's in Krakoa. It would feel synonymous with great horror tropes to play with rather than going all alien up in this house halfway through the issue. 

Ironically, I remember there was a X-mas X-Story involving Illyana who haunts Colossus and now someone else is doing the haunting on Illyana. Anyway, I'm super excited as Nightcrawler is my fave X-Men (Marvel NC was my username on Runescape!) and it's always a great joy to see him go on an adventure. 

I love the art style to which is actually the same artist I grew up with when I was reading them in the UK Collectors' Edition of Essential X-Men which is always nice to make that connection. The art does feel nostalgic and makes a nice return for me in the X-Men universe. 

There's so much fun getting scared which I felt they built up using atmospheric tropes of bringing some familiar dead characters back into the fray (I can only assume everyone is back from the dead following the House of X event). The build-up to the horrifying mid-issue reveal is quite the one to stay around for. Despite being a giant-size issue, the issue itself felt short though but that could just be the testament of wanting more of the good from it (I guess it is hard to fill in so much in so short of pages available on hand). 

It's actually quite nice to see the team come together and use their suited abilities to the changing situations instead of being relegated to the background. It's also the introduction of two characters for me with Cypher and Eye-Boy being two of them with their weird and wonderful abilities on display. 

Subscribe? Yes

Haunted X-Mansion - yes, yes, yes!

Giant-Size X-Men: Nightcrawler #1
Joanthan Hickman - story and words
Alan Davis - story and art
Carlos Lopez - colour artist
VC's Clayton Cowles - Letterer
Tom Muller - Design
Publisher - Marvel

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.

Subscribe? Yes!

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!

Subscribe? Yes!

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

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. 

Subscribe? Yes

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

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!

Subscribe? Yes!

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

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! 

Subscribe? Yes

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

Marvel's Greatest Creators: Silver Surfer - Rude Awakening #1

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing you an adventure of galactic proportions as Nova prepares a feast for Galactus for when they take on the might of Thanos but Silver Surfer shows that there is more to life. Let us dive in!

You know... reading this issue made me realise Nova does get around quite a bit with her fair share of herald love interests and does fall for Galactus at some point (insert citation). I mean Galactus does pick 'em right so I don't blame her. Snack! 

Anyway, it's nice to see the juxtaposition shown between her character and Galactus's in this issue with - spoiler alert - that Silver Surfer shows her a planet much like Earth and ask if she would have Galactus destroy it and without hesitation, she says she would. A but and a VERY big but and I'm not talking about the mighty derriere of Galactus, it's Earth in the prehistoric times when men walked Earth resembling more of our ancestral Neanderthals. She gasps and realises the reality of her actions. It kind of provides a fresh new perspective on morality and choice which paints Nova in a different light in this issue especially by the end, which is tragic yet beautiful at the same time. 

With the new perspective in place, it kinds of got me thinking about Galactus in being umm... not a villain. I guess in some regards like Dracula who is found in a circumstance that they have to an urge to fulfil their hunger but it satisfied by blood or in Galactus case in the destruction of a planet to harvest its resources. I mean Galactus wanted to take down Thanos as he realises that the threat that he brings. See... good guy! 

There is no Galactus issue without destruction unless the Fantastic Four stop you of course! It provides such a beautiful juxtaposition to the life that Nova sees and posed even more by the beautiful yet terrifying destruction of a planet and a body floating in space that Nova witnesses. This issue has so much depth to it ending on a cherry on the top poignant ending as Nova contemplates the future of planets ahead. 

Wait, how did Silver Surfer become Superman with time travel super-speeding. He ain't breaking a sweat... weeerk. 

Subscribe? Yasss

Galactus want that feast... nom, nom, nom, nom

Marvel's Greatest Creators: Silver Surfer - Rude Awakening #1 (originally published as Silver Surfer volume 1 #51)
Ron Marz - writer

Ron Lim - penciler

Tom Christopher - inker

Ken Bruzenak - letterer

Tom Vincent - colourist 

Marvel - publisher

True Believers: Avengers - Nebula (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... some cosmic intergalactic hoedown - cue the music! This time I'm bringing you some Avengers and Skrulls team-up as they bring the beat 'em up to Nebula. Let us dive in!

Diving straight into the deep end with this being part of Secret Wars II crossover event which I know very little about so don't really know Nebula's real motive but that she wants to bring doom and gloom. To be honest, I'm not very well acquainted with the comic book version of Nebula so can't really make much commentary on that front but the girl knows what she wants and she gonna get it!

Anyway, in what world does the Avengers team up with Thanos to take down Nebula??? I could almost forget that the Avengers are working with Skrulls. Anyway, in what world does the Avengers team up with Skrulls to take down Nebula??? 

It is revealed - spoiler alert - that Nebula and Starfox are related?!? Somebody write me a book of revelations and not of the biblical sense - amen!

A lot of the story focusses around Firelord who should have teamed up with the Avengers as he finds - spoiler alert - that Nebula has destroyed his hometown. Hell hath no fury like a - ummm - wo-man scorned as he exacts revenge and takes it to Nebula's ship. It's beautifully detailed and his anger comes off the page but funnily enough built up to the point that Nebula should fear him but is blasted off and no one there lit-ter-rally knew he was even there as he gets blasted off faster than team rocket and into the arms of the Beyonder. 

Beyonder does seem naive in this in that he pops in wanting to help the Avengers but zaps Nebula and the crew away when they truly just want her to be brought to justice. Oh Beyonder, you did it again! *cue comedic music*

So much does happen in this comic with great chemistry between the Avengers and Skrulls in taking Nebula's ship down. Captain America giving that fresh valiancy talk with the Skrulls to be less - uhhh - villainous. It's great to see Avengers out in space and adapting to their new surroundings. I just wonder why Nebula is that much of a foe that brings together the Avengers and Skrulls...

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Show me the money! Oh, I mean the true colours of the Beyonder and of why he wants the Avengers!

True Believers: Avengers - Nebula #1 (reprint of Avengers V1 #260)
Roger Stern - writer
John Buscema - breakdowns
Tom Palmer - finisher
Jim Novak - letterer
Christie Scheele - colourist
Marvel - publisher

True Believers: Fantastic Four - Marvel Two-in-one #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing some monster on monster action as the Thing tends to Man-Thing for stealing their thunder. Let us dive in!

You know, the Thing is quite bully despite their many valiant heroism. I definitely would not want to get on the wrong side of them. The Thing gets wind that someone else has claimed the part of their name in "Man-Thing" so without any second thought wants to give them a taste of the same medicine for umm... claiming his name as part of their name. Sounds confusing but I'll work it. Then he torments the shopkeeper in paying part of his ride and then torments the bus driver to drop him off a point that isn't the bus stop. Like... take several seats, hun. 

Can't say that I'm very well acquainted with the Man-Thing but they seem charming for a being of very little words. They look very cuddly but probably best not to be caught dead of night. Poor Man-Thing, he can't seem to catch a break in the peace of the swamp. There is respite for the Thing in seeing that Man-Thing's situation is much worse than his.

Love that the word "porno" is exchanged between the Thing and the shopkeeper. I just hear a kid somewhere asking their parents, "mum, dad... what's a porno?" 

The son of the Molecule Man adopts the mantle seeking revenge for their father's exile. He is quite terrifying actually especially in his transformation. Kind of reminds me of the Gangers from the Doctor Who as they are terrifying in how they are formed. He does get too big for his boots by undermining Man-Thing who later gets him back anyway. The Molecule Man's power comes from umm... a magic wand which taketh away his power with Thing knocking it out his hand with a bit of ummm.... Man-Thing's sludge. This comic is all kind of weird.

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The turn of the century moment when Thing turns from wanting to give Man-Thing a thumping to lovey-dovey.

True Believers: Fantastic Four - Marvel Two-in-one #1
Steve Gerber - writer
Gil Kane - penciler
Joe Sinnott - inker
Jean Izzo - letterer
G. Roussos - colourist
Marvel - publisher

True Believers: Marvel Knights 20th Anniversary - Daredevil and the Defenders #1

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing you some nailbiting tension as the crackdown of Daredevil whereabouts are sought while he is bleeding out. Let us dive in!

The pacing of the writing is beautifully done and in a matter of minutes, I was completely enthralled and wanting more, more, more like Rina Sawayama. It's propelled by a strong sense of urgency interwoven with different layers of story that ultimately comes together beautifully like a jigsaw in the final hurrah of the issue. 

The art style is I gritty, dark and unpolished. It complimented the writing and helped pace it forward. I did flit through this super quick so the art styling is very clear to follow - werk.

The camaraderie (or lack thereof) between Urich and Kingpin is so fascinating with Urich taking a swipe at him to get the answers. For a fleeting moment Kingpin looked vulnerable but I wasn't too sure if it was the intention or if I just got it wrong as a few frames later it appeared that Kingpin had their winning face which was mindboggling. Can't quite put my finger on it yet...

On the other side, you have Black Widow and Elektra duking it out with threats galore between the two with Black Widow saying she'll whoop Elektra's buttock. This is sooooo meta with Black Widow zapping Elektra in the face and Elektra being hilariously fine on the next page. Maybe Elektra is more of a threat than Black Widow anticipates but they're all on the same team for the moment.

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It does have a cinematic quality to it with fast pacing writing with action and art to compliment.

True Believers: Marvel Knights 20th Anniversary - Daredevil and the Defenders #1 (reprint of Daredevil Volume 2 #80)
Brian Michael Bendis - writer
Alex Maleev - artist
Dave Stewart - colours
VC's Randy Gentile - letters
Marvel - publisher

Power Pack #1 (2020) (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... some pow wow! Power Pack are back and ready to knuckle down on life and big bad tackles. Let us dive in!

Love the beginning! It starts off as a child's drawn comic book strip of the backstory and LIVING for it. There was a very funny moment when a character in the strip is shot down dead and I just can't... left my dying that something so graphic was in a child's drawing. The writing does shift to slightly bland compared fresh uptake start of the issue, as the kids try to contend with family life with humour that doesn't stick the landing. I felt that it was slightly held back and it could have been brought more forward in terms of pushing the humour envelope. It felt like dead air. This is slightly saved by the ending with as they work together cohesively to formulate a plan and take down the baddie.

I have to give it to them for re-establishing the characters and fully fledging their personalities out. It was a great joy to actually see them deal with situations in their own way and working together intuitively. It's a nice introduction for me anyway as I've not touched upon the world of Power Pack that often but have picked up a few issues as London Comic Mart after being recommended by a friend. I guess this a shortfall of the lack strong plot or story in the issue.

The art styling is very... minimal. I guess it's not a complaint but the focus was more on the subject but it would work better if there were more visuals on the subject too to push the oomph a bit more. It does feel good to see the powers in full display as well, as their powers are actually visually pleasing. 

Subscribe? I'll give it a go 

Lack of story or plot is aided by strong characterisation and slight visuals

Power Pack #1
Ryan North - writer
Nico Leon - artist
Rachelle Rosenberg - colour artist
VC's Travis Lanham - letterer
Marvel - publisher