AVENGERS VS. ATLAS #1: Well, this kicks arse. Writer Jeff Parker is clearly in his element here, writing the Agents as the over-the-top science-fiction heroes they should be. The enemies they go up against are as creative as the best Atlas stories, and the twist at the end is a ton of fun. If you’ve never read an Atlas book before, this is a great place to start.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #602: Ahhhhhhhh. If you’re wondering what that means, that’s a big, happy sigh, a release from the clenched breath I’ve had while reading Captain America stories lately. Whatever you think about Reborn, whatever you think about the multiple appearances a certain Mr. Rogers (no, the other one) has made in various titles, and whatever you thought about the various one-shots, apologies, and spoilers: this is Captain America the way we like it, Ed Brubaker style. It’s a great cap story, tied into the intricate continuity Brubaker has set up, but eminently accessible. And, like all the good stories Bru has been telling, it’s reflective of the world around us. If you’ve been sitting out the capital letters Big Events happening in Cap, come on back for this issue.

DARK AVENGERS #13: Don’t let anyone tell you that Brian Michael Bendis doesn’t have balls. The beginning and ending of this issue are practically Bendis poking the collective fan community in the shoulder, daring them to complain about the plot in this issue. And as pissed off as it made me, I think that’s the point; and I kind of love him for that. The Sentry, since his creation, has been a way of playing with fan expectations of superheroes. Every mini-series he’s been in, from Paul Jenkins original, to the excellent Age of the Sentry, has posited an entirely new origin for the character, an entirely new set of rules for his powers.

The only constant is, there’s Robert Reynolds (The Sentry), and The Void (his exact opposite). From there, it’s really just how the author wants to use him. So reading this issue, and reading the new info Bendis “reveals” about Mr. Power-Of-A-Million-Exploding-Suns, as inflammatory as it may be, might be equally untrue. Or at least, easily overturned the next time someone else tries to explain away the character. Heck, Bendis has even gone over The Sentry’s origin himself once in an earlier Avengers issue. It’s the biggest joy, for me, of the character, and I think the thing that’s most infuriating to comics readers.

The majority of comics (in continuity ones, at least), is explanation and rectification of prior continuity. The fact that writers of The Sentry not only purposely ignore anything that’s previously happened to him, but also seek to contradict it must drive continuity lovers* mad. So why not, if you’re going to go for it, go as insanely over the top as Bendis does in this issue? And why not have Mike Deodato draw insane two panel spreads filled with intense violence and gorgeously rendered action?

Point is, it might make you angry, but at least its getting a reaction out of you. That’s what, whether you like it or not, good art does.

DARK WOLVERINE #82: I have no idea of what Daken’s status quo will be post Siege, or what the future prospects for this title are, but Way and Liu are riding it out for all its worth, letting Daken play all allegiances against each other, and bringing to a head relationships and plot lines that have played out since this title changed, er, titles. There’s a huge moment towards the end of this issue that I’m shocked didn’t play out in Siege itself, and some god related craziness thrown into the mix that I’m not quite sold on; but I’m definitely on board to see how this all turns out.

DEADPOOL: MERC WITH A MOUTH #7: The Gisch is really starting to get into a groove with this title… While Daniel Way’s Deadpool is more grounded (if that’s possible), Merc With a Mouth works best the more insane it gets. And this issue is pretty insane, as Wade jumps from dimension to dimension, encountering alternate versions of himself along the way. I’m always a sucker for parallel universes drawn by different artists, and its a kick to see Rob Liefeld and Kyle Baker (among others) taking their own stabs at other Deadpools. This issue isn’t going to change the world, but its a fun almost one-shot, with some good art and silly jokes.

HULK #19: Okay, that’s now five issues in a row that Jeph Loeb has consistently delivered a fun story mixed with actual character development. It’s probably a little too early to declare that Mr. Loeb has gotten his groove back, but he’s certainly bringing a clarity and focus to the character of Red Hulk that hasn’t existed for the first twelve or so issues. Like the character himself, Loeb has stoped puffing up his chest and trying to show us how awesome he is, punching out Watchers and breaking cool s**t just to see what happens. Loeb, and by extension Rulk, have stopped being the high school bully, and instead are growing up into what that bully usually becomes: a businessman. Well, or the town drunk. Lucky for us, Loeb is setting Rulk up as a master strategist, and its paying off with a lot of fun. My big caveat here: Loeb is great at the set-up, and only about 50/50 on delivering. Here’s hoping with Greg Pak et al on board for this Fall of the Hulks event, the whole thing’ll pay off.

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #140: My guess is, this is the awesome, fun, actiony issue, before next issues heart-breaker. Regardless, I’ll keep saying it, until you start buying it: every issue of this series is great. If you like good stories, fun characters, and comics that you’ll enjoy reading (again), pick up Incredible Hercules.

INCREDIBLE HULK #606: Greg Pak and Paul Pelletier are the perfect team on Hulk. Never, ever let them stop doing this title. That little bit out of the way, once again, Pak turns in a near perfect issue of the Hulk, mixing all the drama and pathos we expect from a Banner-centric title, with plenty of humor and big, bold set pieces. The question of whether Bruce Banner is a hero or a villain continues, and perfectly parallels with Skaar’s similar journey. This is quickly becoming my favorite title at Marvel after Incredible Herc. Oh, and a little note about the Fall of the Hulks storyline: I wasn’t totally sold on the idea in advance, but this issue, and Hulk #19 have amped up the danger and intrigue enough that I’m dying to know what happens next. Here’s hoping the later chapters pay off on that promise.

MIGHTY AVENGERS #33: With comic book in-jokes a-plenty, strong ties to continuity, and big Avengery moments, I’m hoping this title – and team – come back after the Avengers “cancellation” in April. Tying up the Cosmic Cube two-parter with panache, the team of Dan Slott and Khoi Pham prove that even with Dark Avengers, your comic doesn’t need to be dark. Fingers crossed, the Heroic Age looks a lot like this issue.

SPIDER-WOMAN #5: Bendis and Maleev writing a female super-hero in Noir-ish style? You kind of can’t go wrong there. There’s a bit of a continuity hiccup at the end of the issue, but getting past that, and the slight lack of skrull fightin’ going on, you have another solid issue that plays better in comic form than motion comic form. Hopefully, this gets to be an ongoing.

THUNDERBOLTS #140: Jeff Parker’s first arc ends with a bang, quite literally, as we get one of the more shocking moments in this title in a while. There’s also some good creative solutions to problems going on (but, you know, more fun than that phrase makes ‘em sound), and solid character moments throughout. But it still feels a little like we’re treading water until we get to the next, post-Siege status quo. On another note, anyone else feel like Ghost is the next break-through character at Marvel, that he’s really stepping it up as a uniquely creepy villain? I’m hoping he doesn’t get TOO popular though, or we’ll just get another anti-hero title. Additionally: I realize Ghost is not a real person, though the last two sentences may not convey that.

UNCANNY X-MEN #520: Is X-Men coming out every week now or something? I feel like I just read the last two issues… Regardless (and I kind of hope that’s true), Matt Fraction continues to write his X-Men in broad strokes, with action movie flourishes. Three fan-fave X-Men head to New York to trail down the last Predator X (mutant eating beastie), while back on Utopia, Magneto just wants to help out the only way he knows how: by taking charge. I know a lot of people aren’t fans of Fraction’s run on this, but I’m really enjoying this cinema-esque approach to the team, especially with (and here is where I loose all credibility) with Greg Land on board. Fraction’s script perfectly compliments Land’s glossy art. It’s big, and loud, and fun, and I’m enjoying the heck out of it. Is it Claremont’s sad, soap opera X-Men, mixing angst with action? Heck no. But every writer has to forge his own take on the group, and Fraction’s X-Men are slick, modern, and fun, all catch-phrases and quips. I like it.

WOLVERINE WEAPON X #9: See, now that’s how you make a new villain. There’s not as much explanation, or story, as I might like in the last chapter of “Insane in the Brain,” but there’s more than enough, well, insanity, to keep Jason Aaron fans satisfied. Plus, Dr. Rot is a great new adversary for Wolverine to deal with, and honestly, I’d rather have less “my claws are bigger than your claws” enemies for Mr. Howlett, and more intelligent maniacs like this.

*Someone please get me one of those Continuity Lovers pizzas from Dominos, stat.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #615: Javier Pulido’s gorgeous art and Javier Rodriguez’s muted colors perfectly match Fred “Javier” Van Lente’s haunting lullaby of a story. The events of the previous issue are poignantly followed up on, as Spidey’s cast of characters try to move on in the wake of the destruction of the Daily Bugle. We get new status quos, some great character moments, and a deadly new Sandman. The best part of this issue is the amount of invention Van Lente and Pulido bring to Sandman’s moves (hey, he’s not just making hammers with his fists!), and more importantly, they explain how Spidey swings from the city to the center of the East River. That’s been a long time coming. Possibly my favorite issue of this title since Dan Slott and Marcos Martin’s Paper Doll arc.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS: ANTI-VENOM – NEW WAYS TO LIVE #3: I’m not 100% sure we needed a return of “Venom: Lethal Protector,” but it’s also not like Zeb Wells did a bad job with this series. There’s a nice underscoring of the theme on the last page, and the art is solid enough, I’m just still suffering from a bad case of the Venom over-exposure I caught during the ’90s.

ASTONISHING X-MEN #33: I’m not saying this isn’t fun. The splash pages and giant panels in particular are totally insane and poster worthy, and Warren Ellis has his usual “I read a science article this morning and now it is a comic book” ethic going on. But it’s also like Ellis spent the day watching a bunch of sitcoms, and then aped the speech rhythms of said sitcoms. There’s a lot of banter in here, and pacing that almost demands a laugh track. We’re not really getting anything except broad character strokes, so if you’re thinking about picking this up, do so knowing you’re in for a silly, big budget ride of a comic.

CABLE #21: I swear to god, if Hope ISN’T Jean Grey, I will eat my hat. I don’t own or wear hats, but I will go out, buy a hat, and put it on my head until the X-Men Second Coming event starts next year, just to prove a point. However, that hat will be made out of cheeseburgers. FYI. Anyway, this issue is great, as usual. Bishop and Cable are the super serious, time-traveling versions of Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner I never knew I wanted to read about on a monthly basis, until I did. If this series ends when Cable and Hope get back to “our” time, I’m going to be very sad; though, I don’t know how the mission statement of the book couldn’t completely change. Ah well.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN #5: Well, that just went crazy-pants. And in my book, there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that. Bryan Hitch and Butch Guice get to draw some insane, over the top battle sequences, including the intro of one character that, if it doesn’t fill you with abject glee, you’re not a Marvel fan. Unfortunately, given all the build-up (I’m including the entirety of Brubaker’s run on cap, because let’s be honest, this is what it’s all been building up to), the Red Skull’s plan comes off a little half baked. And generic. Which is too bad, because otherwise it has the action fans have been craving for most of the series. This is going to collect very well, and I think there the pacing will feel a little more classically three-act, but as is, it hasn’t quite been working in the issue format.

DAREDEVIL #503: I’m not a big fan of characters telling me, “things are going to get real bad…” or “There’s a storm coming…” or just generally letting me know things are getting bad, without actually showing me that. And, as is, it’s not like Daredevil doesn’t know he’s in over his head, we don’t need to keep telling him that. Still, Andy Diggle does a solid job solidifying the status quo in this issue, thoough I wonder how long it can hold for. We shall see…

DARK AVENGERS #12: Last issue I said I’m a sucker for a good Molecule Man story, loved what Bendis, Deodato, and Horn did with the look and pacing of the issue, and was curious to find out more about Victoria Hand. I wouldn’t abjectly say those fizzled out with this issue, but it definitely feels like, to use a television metaphor, the last five minutes after the last commercial break. The issue looks fantastic, and there’s at least two big plot points here (one I’m not crazy about, the other, at the end, is blindingly obvious once you think about it, but also incredibly satisfying), but as an issue, it’s a light one.

DARK WOLVERINE #81: When Daniel Way and Marjorie Liu completely avoid action, and instead focus on making Daken a diabolical mastermind, this series soars. Reason it works is, most monologuing bad guys don’t have frickin’ bone claws and assassin skills to back up their smarts, just a few bombs and some henchmen. Daken, in case you haven’t guessed, has bone claws. And, in this issue, is completely terrifying. A quiet character piece using Ms. Marvel (Sofen-style) as a window, this is a great one-shot to get on board the title, and another illuminating piece of the puzzle for Daken, who is quickly coming out of the shadow of his father.

DEADPOOL: MERC WITH A MOUTH #6: Last issue, I felt like Victor Gischler was really finding his stride with this title, making Deadpool his own; and I think that’s solidified with this issue, especially in light of Daniel Way’s take on DP in the… Main, I guess? Title, which is far more anti-hero-ish, than goofy. This is goofy. Almost shticky. It’s weird to say, but this is the comedy counterpart to Deadpool. Where there’s almost zero character development, and everything is to set up far more ridiculous situations for Deadpool and his talking zombie head to get into. Far be it from me to criticize someone else for being shticky, so I’ll just stop there.

DOCTOR VOODOO: AVENGER OF THE SUPERNATURAL #3: I’ve really enjoyed the first two issues of this, but this third one just devolves into the supernatural mumbo-jumbo speak people pick on when they talk about not liking magic comics. Arts still good, though.

HULK #18: Jeph Loeb continues his streak of solid character pieces about Hulk characters with this issue’s smartly written focus on Leonard Samson. Seriously? Did I just write that sentence? And it’s true? Everything I know and love is wrong.

MIGHTY AVENGERS #32: After the last, excellent arc, this title is finally firing on all cylinders, giving us the old school Avengers action we (well, I) wanted. Dan Slott takes solo scripting duties this issue, and as usual, he gives nicely textured character moments, big action, and at the end, a threat so big it needs two Avengers teams to take it on. For now, at least, this title has replaced Avengers: The Initiative as the best title to get a sense of what’s going on in the Marvel Universe right now.

MS. MARVEL #48: If Brian Reed is going to wrap up his run on Ms. Marvel in two issues, he’s definitely going in style. Great second page, great last page, a fun romp throughout that plays on elements seen throughout Reed’s run on the series. I’ll miss it when it’s gone.

REALM OF KINGS INHUMANS #2: As usual, a solid and enjoyable effort from Abnett and Lanning, but I’m going to repeat my slight, unfair dismay from the previous issue. In my mind, the Inhumans work best when you can radically change their status quo in a mini-series, allowing them to completely change over the course of four or five issues. As, you know, their whole thing is change. Previous Inhumans mini and maxi series have been some of my favorites put out by Marvel in the past two decades. Here, though, for the first time, DnA have given them a solid, interesting status quo. And I like it. However, I don’t think it really lends itself to a series, so much as having them now be supporting character in the back-drop. Also, I don’t think matters are helped by strangely crossing over the second issue of a mini-series with an ongoing series (Mighty Avengers). Again, I like both titles, Inhumans fans should definitely pick this up, but the whole endeavor is striking me as a little off.

THE MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ #2: Easily the must absurd issue of this series (as well as the previous one), it’s far more dialogue based than the previous issue, so more on writer Eric Shanower’s shoulders than Skottie Young’s. But… It’s still great. Every issue of this is great, and like I say pretty much every time, if you want to get a kid you know hooked on comics, give them one of the Marvel Oz books.

THUNDERBOLTS #139: It’ll probably take a few issues before Jeff Parker finds his footing and makes his mark with this title… Right now, it feels like it’s skimming on the surface of the water set up by Warren Ellis, then Andy Diggle. It helps, though, with this issue that Parker lands himself in comfortable waters by having the T-Bolts go up against his pet project, Agents of Atlas. And it’s a fun, creative fight in this issue, well worth picking up; though at this point, I’d love to skip forward five months and see where this title will be after Dark Reign finishes.

ULTIMATE COMICS ARMOR WARS #3: Okay, so after three and a half issues of Tony Stark boozing it up, havin’ da sex, and kicking arse without a care, we finally get a challenge worthy of the name Armor Wars. But again, he just kind of kicks arse, and I imagine the next issue he’ll again, easily solve his problems. Warren Ellis always knows how to make cool, fun tech, and write big battle scenes with quippy dialogue, but this, like most of his Marvel work, is characterized by far less interest and care than his creator owned work. Which is too bad, because he could make an insane Ultimate Armor Wars, if he put his mind to it.

VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT #4: I’m just going to keep reiterating the same thing every issue: Jerome Opena’s art is spectacular and cinematic; I still don’t know why I should be caring about Moon Knight.

WHAT IF? DAREDEVIL VS. ELEKTRA: Of these new batch of What Ifs, this comes the closest to telling an actual story. There’s a review for you!

X-FACTOR #200: Ah… That’s more like it. After a cramped last issue, X-Factor is back with a super-sized spectacular, and as good as ever. This is a great jumping on point for new readers, as Peter David expertly introduces each character, as well as the new, central mystery. In a certain way, after the massive amounts of continuity and crossover-itis in the past few arcs, it’s bringing the title back to basics. And I like it. Plus, a killer last page, as usual.

X-FORCE #22: This is very much a middle chapter of the Necrosha cross-over, and while there are some big moments involving Rahne’s condition, and a great little moment with Blink and Eli Bard, for the most part, not too much changes; we’ve got far too many parts of this cross-over to go. If you’re picking this title up, keep picking it up, but this may not be the best time to jump right in.

X-MEN LEGACY #230: More like, “X-men leg you see,” because they all have legs, and you can see them, am I right? No, I’m not. Anywho, another solid issue by Mike Carey, wrapping up his Emplate arc in a big way. But again, broken record time… What’s this series about, really? what’s the mission statement? Because I don’t think we’re going to find out for another few issues, until the Necrosha cross-over is done, and I’m missing a compelling reason to pick up this title.

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #30: Despite some great character moments with Penance and Trauma, this is not my favorite issue of this series ever. It’s VERY texty, to a fault, especially considering there’s some great action set pieces. And it feels like the title is in a holding pattern until the next status quo, when previously, it was almost the backbone of the Marvel U. Too bad. If you’re a fan of the series, pick ‘er up, but otherwise not the best point to jump on board.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #613: Paul Azaceta’s art, once again, fits perfectly with the electrical (Electro is the villain, natch) nature of this storyline, with his jagged art, and thick lines. Mark Waid also turns in a solid script, though there’s a few too many “Whoops, the villain disappeared, guess we’re done with him forever!” moments for my liking. Spider-Man continues to be a solid read, though, week after week, and not many comics can say that.

DARK AVENGERS: ARES #2: Last issue, I said I loved what writer Kieron Gillen was doing up until the end. Oops! I was wrong! There’s a great twist in here that completely forgives the ending of this issue, and proves Gillen has a well thought out series. Fans of Incredible Hercules, in particular, will appreciate this as the more serious, hardcore action piece to that series’ emotion and humor. I’d love to see Gillen on an Ares ongoing, dovetailing with Hercules as both Greek Gods continue, creating their own mini universe. But maybe that’s just me.

SECRET WARRIORS #10: Jonathan Hickman proves, once again, that he remembers just as much about the Secret Warriors as the rest of us do – which is to say, not at all. Other than Phobos and Nick Fury, none of ‘em appear in this issue, and that’s a great thing. A character piece focused on the relationship between Phobos and his father Ares, with a little Fury thrown in for good measure, it works to further deepen the relationship between father and son. I’m honestly at a bit of a loss with this title, in general. Some excellent art; as mentioned, great character work by Hickman; but no one has any idea who any of the characters are, and it doesn’t seem to have a purpose. If you want a Nick Fury book, I’m totally behind you. If you want an Ares & Son book, I’m cool with that, too. But the team Secret Warriors doesn’t seem to be working. Maybe it’s the title? Maybe Secret Warriors sells more than Nick Fury and His Amazing Friends? I dunknow. Whatever it is, there’s something off about this, and it needs to be fixed… Even with the good quality of this issue (and most issues) as a whole. Weird, right? Anyway, hopefully his upcoming S.H.I.E.L.D. mini-series will address these concerns.

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #138: Every issue of this is perfect. Why aren’t you reading it? You should be reading it. Good, glad we settled that.

FANTASTIC FOUR #573: In one issue, Jonathan Hickman completely dumps everything in the first half of Mark Millar’s run, and all of Fantastic Force. Hey, I didn’t say this was a bad thing, it’s just surprising that it happened so quickly. As is, I still like but don’t love this series. But! Franklin’s birthday party in the next issue should, I think, kick it up that extra notch. We shall see…

MS. MARVEL #47: I wish this was a LITTLE more fun. Brian Reed has shown that he knows how to write Spider-Man, in, you know… Spider-Man. And he knows what to do with Ms. Marvel. But this issue paints Peter as a slob, which is a little too broad, I think. And we don’t really learn anything necessary, other than a tidbit that sets up the next (and last) arc of the series. Too bad, as there’s a lot of great comic and emotional possibilities, which, other than a few exceptions, aren’t present in this issue. Not bad, but not my favorite issue of this series so far.

DARK WOLVERINE #80: Daniel Way and Marjorie Liu are doing a splendid job fleshing out Daken’s character in this series, and actually making him someone I would want to read more about. While this arc isn’t quite as successful as the first (the motivations are even murkier, as are the antagonists), I’m eagerly awaiting whatever comes next.

WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #2: There’s a fun surprise guest in the too-short Electro origin story in this issue that, nevertheless, makes it worth a pick-up. And the Jonah Jameson story in the back is a delight. Spider-Girl, I know, is good, but its so dense it makes my head hurt I’M SO SORRY.

SON OF HULK #17: With the last issue of this series, I have a far better idea of who Hiro-Kala is, and where he’s going than when we started, and that’s a good thing. Though I don’t think he can support his own series, I’m looking forward to the next appearance of this addition to the Marvel Cosmic Universe. Which is kind of a repetitive name.

THOR GIANT SIZE FINALE #1: Sigh. It’s solid enough, and has some great Warriors Three moments, but the steam has gone out of JMS’ run with this issue. You can almost feel him turning the script in because he had to. I don’t blame Marvel for this, they did give him amazing latitude for a main Marvel character, I just wish he had gotten to finish the story he was telling. Maybe someday will get an out of continuity finish the way he wanted to do it? Regardless, I’m looking forward to Gillen’s run and seeing what he does with good ol’ Hammer-Master. That’s my name for Thor.

NEW MUTANTS #7: I’m sorry. You bring Douglock into the equation, and I just can’t properly review a title. I’m sure it’s good or something, but you’re not going to win my over with flashing back to Fall of the Mutants, the most seminal story for Dougheads (you know, Doug Ramsey fans), Zeb Wells. You won’t win me over. Never. Maybe.

POWERS #1: I love that Powers is back, and it’s great to see Mike Oeming and Brian Michael Bendis back as a team; they perfectly compliment each other. If you haven’t previously read the series… Well, first, what’s wrong with you? Second, this is not the BEST jumping on point, but its as good as any other for a series that alternates between easy to follow to mysteries, and dense character continuity. Pick ‘er up.

HULK #17: …And we’re back. Sigh. This arc went one issue too long, and a few too many angsty Rulk lines to be believable. It’s still silly fun, and I would argue probably one of the more classically structured comic books Marvel is publishing. But with the copious unnecessary nudity, and grim and gritty dialogue, ya lost me. And just when I was starting to get into the character. Ah well. Anyway, Fall of the Hulks should be fun.

ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #4: Given the amount of Ultimates stories where the Avengers try to take down one of their own, before teaming up to beat the big baddie, you’d think I’d be tired of it. And yet…

UNCANNY X-MEN #517: It’s pretty clear that Matt Fraction is channeling an action movie for his run here on X-Men, and whether you like it or not if pretty dependent on whether you like your X-Men big and broad, or angsty and playing baseball. Me? I like it, its big and fun and though the cast is huge, its easy to keep track of. But Claremont era fans might be bristling in their juices right now.

I mean, I don’t usually do a lot of IMDB-ing, but I’m surprised to see “rumored” next to actors’ names in cast listings. Is IMDB user-generated like Wikipedia now? Can Lou Ferrigno’s agent just add him to any old Marvel movie cast?

On top of this, just yesterday MTV’s Splash Page reported talking to Norton himself about Marvel movies, and Hulk developments in particular, and the actor said he’d heard nothing new. In fact, he told them “If you hear anything, then let me know.”

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #29: Another consistently solid issue of this title. There are some cheese-ball moments throughout, and the cliffhanger is paced far too quickly for it to have any sort of resonance (unless I’m forgetting things from previous issues). But those quibbles aside, A:TI continues to shine the light in the forgotten corners of the Marvel Universe, while still staying squarely in the middle. I’m going to be a little bummed if it gets canceled at the end of Dark Reign, but if the rumored Avengers Academy takes its place, and stays consistent to the tone presented here, I’m definitely on board.

DARK AVENGERS: ARES #1: Kieron Gillen continues to prove why he was made to write about gods and mortals, perfectly capturing Ares character here, as well as creating some indelible military images. Which is why its such a bummer that this suggests, at least, its going to tie into other comics at the end of the issue. It may not, who knows, but the first 20 or so pages are filled with brilliant menace. I hope the next issue is as good as this one, and doesn’t exactly follow up on the promise of the cliffhanger here.

DARK REIGN: THE LIST – PUNISHER: Now this is what the “List” books should have been all along. This is easily the biggest issue of the week, Marvel-wise, and if you ignore that the ending has been effectively spoiled for months now by Marvel itself, and take the book on its own merits, it kicks an ass and a half. My main problem with the List books so far is this: they purport to be Normie taking Dark Reign to the next level, attacking the heroes where they live. But they come off as attempts hampered by continuity, lack of change, and perhaps editorial decree (oh no! editors! run!). So you get lame things like sending Bullseye after Daredevil with Norman’s over-arching plan being, “Make Daredevil feel bad.” Or Norman’s plan to take down Clint Barton is to wait until he comes into Avengers Tower, and then arrest him. Or, my personal favorite, taking care of Namor once and for all by killing a character we haven’t seen in more than a decade (though I will admit that got to me). I think the key term there is “once and for all…” The endings of these one shots have felt very much like Norman going in loops (standing in for the authors), explaining how the result of the book was a big victory for him. The other problem I’ve had is that these plans have consistently had a reverse Acts of Vengeance feel to them. Rather than mixing things up, Norman sends the same villains who have previously gotten their butts handed to them multiple times by the hero, and expects they’ll be victorious this time. They’re not.

All of this, and I still haven’t talked about this issue, so here we go… And there are spoilers here: Norman decides to take care of the Punisher once and for all. Does he resurrect Jigsaw and send him after Frank? Heck no. He blows up everything in a five block radius around him. And when that doesn’t work, he sends hundreds of H.A.M.M.E.R. agents to kill him. And when that starts to work, he sends in Daken, who slices Frank Castle into tiny little pieces. And if you’re not sure that worked, the issue ends with tiny little pieces of Frank lying in a pile in a alleyway. The end.

Now, that is what I’m talking about. Plus, you’ve got John Romita Jr. drawing at the top of his game, Klaus Janson writing, and insane, over the top action courtesy of Rick Remender. If there’s one fault with this issue, it’s that we also get a preview of the next issue of Punisher (by Tony Moore and Rick Remender, hells yeah), and we know he’s not gone for long.

But like I said, on its own merits? This is a classic comic, and worth every penny.

DARK REIGN: THE LIST – WOLVERINE: Yeah, and then there’s this. Totally fine writing and art, Jason Aaron writing a fun, over the top story as usual, but read above for all my previous criticisms of the List books, and apply that here, too.

DARK REIGN: YOUNG AVENGERS #5: The resolution of this series is hampered a bit by the idea that I don’t think we’ll ever see these characters again, so its a little hard to get into their struggle. Also, though Paul Cornell’s scripting is reliably good, most of the last few issues of this mini have taken place in one warehouse, with the characters just talking. Kinda boring, honestly. I think there was potential here to have a new, Young Masters of Evil to counter the Young Avengers, but it was squandered on yet another recruitment drive story. Ah well.

FANTASTIC FOUR #572: People are really loving this run a lot, and… I’m not totally sold. Love Jonathan Hickman, LOVE Dale Eaglesham, and the inventiveness on display here is surprising and fun in all the right ways. But the situation with the Council of Reeds and the Celestials is resolved a little too quickly and easily, without using all the tools on display (hey, what about that room full of Dooms, huh?), and Reed’s emotional resolution with Sue, while nice, also feels a little quick. Plus, Hickman separates Johnny and Ben from the group before Reed even gets back. So we’re not gonna get a full group story for a while, which is a bummer. It’s possible Hickman is holding certain ideas and arcs in reserve, so we haven’t seen how this all plays out yet, but I’m not quite falling in love with this as hard as other people are. I’m still keeping with it, though, because its a well made comic, and I expect it’ll get even better, even if it isn’t grabbing me right now.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #19: Well, that situation was resolved way more quickly than I thought it would be. GotG is solid month after month, and its a thrill to see Kang, one of the most integral characters in the history of the Marvel U, back in the spotlight, however briefly.

HULK #16: Who is the Red She-Hulk? Who cares? And I mean that in a good sense, actually, because Loeb is finally remembering that comics are about characters, not just blow-em-ups and super-secrets. I could actually care less about the whole conspiracy angle, but like the attempt to give the Red Hulk some sort of character, and how more is revealed through the new Red She-Hulk. This is not high art by any means, but its been fun, and a step up for two issues in a row.

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #137: There’s nothing I don’t like about this book. Tying up the Amadeus Cho half of this particular arc, we get good emotion, great ideas, and lots of myths, just the way we like it. This book is great.

MS. MARVEL #46: Brian Reed made a pretty bold choice with this arc, to make Karla Sofen (Moonstone) the focus, and “hero” of the arc, while Carol Danvers is most decidedly the villain. And it works, while keeping them both on their sides of the fence anyway. I do think this fizzled a bit, starting far stronger than it ended, but we’re probably (hopefully) getting some follow up on this arc as we switch perspectives back to Danvers. Definitely one of the more underrated titles Marvel is publishing right now, and worth jumping on for next issue at least to check it out.

NEW AVENGERS #58: Bendis has really gotten his groove back on this arc. Its based in the characters, good action, and fun beats throughout. Hope it keeps up, ’cause this is a lot of fun.

NEW MUTANTS #6: The moment we have all been waiting for has finally come: Doug Ramsey is back. Okay, maybe only I was waiting for it, and herein lies the crux of this review: I can’t divorce myself from my feelings for Doug enough to properly review this issue. Everybody has that character, that one character they unequivocally love, and for me it was always Cypher. So… Yeah. Good issue, but I couldn’t read it without feeling kind of uncomfortable, because this isn’t even close to the Doug I know. Amping up his powers to treat combat as a “language” is cool in theory, but it does just come off as “Doug’s powers are lame, let’s figure out a way to make ‘em interesting.” Also, this is probably the 56th time he’s come back as a techno-organic being, so its lost its power a bit. Take this all with a very large grain of salt, by the way. If you haven’t already.

PUNISHER #10: Read this before The List. I would say that this has one of the most insane moments in Punisher history; so much so, it made me angry. And you wouldn’t like me when I’m… Can’t think of a word to finish that statement. Oh well!

SECRET WARRIORS #9: I keep going back and forth about this title. If it focuses on one character (say, Nick Fury or Phobos), I like it quite a bit. If it’s a team story, like this issue, I honestly can’t remember who all the Secret Warriors are, so it’s a little difficult to follow. Does that make me racist towards Secret Warriors? Probably.

ULTIMATE COMICS ARMOR WARS #2: Did Bryan Hitch ghost-pencil this? I swear to god, I didn’t realize this was Steve Kurth and not Hitch until I went back to check the title page. This is silly, the kind of “remixing old stories” that the Ultimate U was supposed to have left behind. I honestly don’t know if any of it would make any sense to someone who hasn’t read the main Marvel U. For someone who has, like myself, it’s a lark, but a negligible one.

ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #3: Same thing here, with remixing Marvel U ideas… Except it kind of works, because Millar is drawing on his run on Ultimates, and skipping right over the Loeb stuff. Great art, big over the top globe trotting story, huge action… Just the way we like it.

X NECROSHA: Blackest Night begins here! Its actually unfortunate that this is coming so close to the heels of BN, though to the writer’s credit, it zips through the “Oh my god! Look who’s back alive!” thing much more quickly and efficiently. I’m not sold on this yet, but if you want the tapestry of the X-Men part of the universe for the next few months, you have to start here. Actually, read X-Force first, then this, then New Mutants. But yeah, start here. In the middle.

X-FACTOR #50: I would love to say this is a triumphant end of this title’s biggest arc, but… Well, X-Factor is always solid, and always fun, but this is a little too texty. And plotty. And wraps up a bunch of stuff that I didn’t really care about, so unfortunately the stuff I do care about, like Layla Miller’s secret origin, and what’s going on with Evil Madrox kind of get short shrift. That’s too bad, but at least we’re clearing the deck for a new start next issue, and hopefully more people will start picking it up.

X-FORCE #20: Basically a continuation of the X-23 series, this is hardcore, sad, and everything that is good about this comic on a regular basis.

Video reviews for JSA #30, Superman #691, Flash: Rebirth #4, Hulk #14, Secret Warriors #7, Last Days of Animal Man #4, Wonder Woman #35, New Mutants #4, Batman: The Widening Gyre #1, Sinister Spider-Man #4, X-Force #18, Gotham City Sirens #3, Dark Wolverine #77, Avengers: Initiative #27,

I did! Well, Marc Sumerak did, and I wrote the back-up feature. But I’m still pretty excited, and I need your help.

The issue isn’t coming out until September 2nd, but I need all of you to go to your local comic book shop before August 13th (the order cut-off date), and tell your comic book guy how excited you are for Hulk Team-Up #1, and how they should order a butt-load of copies.

Then, on September 2nd, buy all those copies.

The title of the story, by the way, is “Selling Out and Compromising My Journalistic Integrity.”

As always, email us your questions or comments at pcs@popcultureshock.com or give us a call at 1-888-817-5766 and we’ll address your feedback on the next show.

And there you have it. My question is: Is this awesome? Is this a great nod to the fanboys?

At first I thought Marvel’s strategy of linking all of their films together and creating a movie version of comic book continuity was a bold and risky move. Would Marvel really risk alienating mainstream audiences by creating a tight little Marvel world. But I think this blurry image points to how it will be done across the board: they fanboy nods will be slight and subtle, the non-comic reader won’t even register the difference.

But that strategy leaves me hoping for more. How cool would it be to have the Hulk confront a man frozen in ice in Antarctica: Doesn’t that idea speak to Bruce Banner’s imprisonment inside the body of the Hulk? The connections are there and if Marvel can make them in the right way then the movie continuity could be a great boon, a thread that binds them all together and makes them stronger rather than a much talked about, blurry, throw-away image.

Boy genius Amadeus Cho pulled together a team of Renegades to side with his big green hero during “World War Hulk” — but what will happen to his faith in the Hulk’s heroism when he discovers the horrors lurking beneath Madison Square Garden? The Hulk takes center stage with a terrifying confrontation and a stunning revelation that lays bare the central question of whether the Hulk is a hero — or a monster.

32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99
IN STORES: August 8, 2007

32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99
IN STORES: July 25, 2007

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So when I finally got a chance to sit down with Pak again, I knew that we had to talk about The Kid.

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We also talked in depth about fan favorite Amadeus Cho (created by Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa) and his part in World War Hulk.

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The Illuminati called the Hulk a monster — and shot him into space. But Amadeus Cho, the boy genius who took on Reed Richards in INCREDIBLE HULK #100, calls the Hulk a hero — and prepares for his return. With just his big brain, a lot of guts and a few billion dollars stolen from Warren Worthington III, Cho tackles the insane task of building a team of heroes willing to side with the Hulk against the rest of the Marvel Universe. Will Hercules and Angel become the Hulk’s Champions? Will Namor be his Defender? And what happens when the Prince of Power meets the Green King on Manhattan’s shattered streets?
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

IN STORES: 2007-06-20

Brendan: It’s finally over. A full year has passed, and the mega-story that was DC Comics’ most ambitious project ever reached the climactic finish.

So how was it?

The problem with judging 52 up to this point has been the lack of precedent. A normal miniseries is generally about seven issues. The first two issues set Act 1, the next three give Act 2, and we wrap up with the last two. In this series the acts were each about eighteen issues long. While this was an exciting prospect and a true novelty, eighteen issues of setup was a difficult burden for much of the audience. One would not be wrong to say this series was slow at times.

But, that was the payoff.

Two weeks ago the mini event of World War III gave us all some much needed action. If 52 was going to feel like a meaningful series in DC history, we were going to need to see some people get fucked up. Black Adam, my personal favorite character of the series, fucked some people up. In so doing, we got the explanations for the varied “One Year Later” mysteries. Last week gave some resolution to that event. So, if WWIII was the huge crazy go nuts battle at year’s end, how would the series finally resolve? What could there possibly be left?

It turns out, lots. As was leaked in Dan Didio’s DC Nation column a few months back, the multiverse is alive and well in the DC Univ…Multiverse. Consequently, the Grant Morrison-acid trip-inspired-evolved Mr. Mind, after a year of burrowing about in Skeet’s innards, is hungry for the whole reality spawning pie. It’s up to Booster Gold, Rip Hunter, and Supernova (?) to stop him. (Spoilers! They do)

For me, the series paid off. Mike Mckone made a spectacular return to DC for the bulk of this book. Since his work on Exiles he has drawn some of my favorite superhero comics. His stuff is slick. Justiniano does some good work following his great art on WWIII’s Week 50. The rest of the book is rendered by 52 mainstays Chris Batista, Pat Olliffe, Darick Robertson, and Eddy Barrows. The large art cast didn’t distract at all, and in fact gives weight to the expansive scale of this project by each giving the denouement of the stories key players.

I think 52 did well to close the book on some very long running stories. From the initial kickoff of Identity Crisis, through the first Countdown, all of Infinite Crisis, and now 52, we had a story that dealt with a scale that only the DC Multiverse could handle. It was a story that only comics could tell, pushing the boundaries of what periodical comics can do in the ways they tell stories. We got some hugely heroic moments from a lot of underutilized characters, and a plot that no one could have predicted. A hero was redeemed, an Odyssey occurred in space, a family was made stronger, a love persevered, pride killed, and a woman found peace with herself. Add to that another all purpose continuity fixit, a couple big fight scenes, a definitive change to the status quo, a few spin off series starring DC’s new A list, and you’ll have 52. What were you expecting?

Adan: Awesomeness abounds in this issue of greatness rolled in superbity! Okay, maybe there’s a little hyperbole here, but this really was pretty damn good. The explanation of the multiverse was handled expertly, as was the Mr. Mind/Skeets/Rip Hunter/Booster Gold finale to the whole endeavour (although I still think the kids dropped the ball with the whole OYL bit). Yes, Giffen’s Justice League International (the best of them all) may have suffered some massive casualties in the past three years, but some of them have risen to greatness again thanks to this massive series: Animal Man, Booster Gold, and especially Elongated Man. Way to go Rucka, Waid, Johns, and Morrison, as well as all the artists. Also, the editors and production staffers for getting this thing out every week. I honestly didn’t think you’d pull it off; in fact, I gave you a maximum of twelve weeks before one of them was late. I’d like my words back, so that I can eat them.

Alien Pig Farm 3000 #1

Brendan: Right off the bat, this book was what all comics should aspire to be. Why, in the first five pages we see aliens, dinosaurs, The Finger, and rednecks. Those are ingredients for success. The premise is pretty simple; aliens crashed on Earth hundreds of millions of years ago, and today some bumpkins find them. Hilarity, of course, ensues. So the setup is strong, and the loose, cartoony horror illustration holds up. In fact, even the lettering of Jason Hanley stands out in establishing the off the wall mood. The narrative voice of the series also goes a long way to engage the reader. Unfortunately, the promise of the first act fails to carry throughout. Where the simple setup of aliens juxtaposed with hicks was spot on perfect and funny unto itself, the story itself quickly falls back on easy redneck humor that is neither funny nor original. This laziness seems to carry itself into the dialogue, where exposition is overly telegraphed. This is the kind of book that gets better the more outlandish it stays. I had enough fun to want to see where the next issue goes, but the leash may be short.

Adan: Brendan is right. I like dinosaurs, aliens, and to some extent, hillbillies. But how come we have to immediately go to the “hicks have sex with their sisters” joke? The main character seems pretty intelligent, more so than any of the other characters, definitely, cooking up ways evade the cops using the terrain and traps he’s set up. In fact, after the dinos and aliens set-up, we get an extended “Dukes of Hazzard”-type chase sequence, complete with bridge jumping. It’s pretty fun, but it’s not my bag.

Books With Pictures #3

Brendan: The first two issues of this series were lovingly crafted insights into the world of comic book retail. As a non-comic outsider, Melissa, mouthpiece of writer/ artist Sina Grace, takes an often hilarious look at comic culture. This issue, though, was a big disappointment. Porn is funny, comic customers and retailers feel awkward around pretty girls, and people can be assholes. None of this is really fresh ground. This book felt rushed and lacked a literary center. In the notes following the story, Grace admits that it has been ten months since the last chapters were actually crafted, but instead of growing as a storyteller he seems to have lapsed. The first issues showed promise, but I get the feeling that he is going to have to find a new story to tell. This one just feels over.

Adan: I thought it was pretty funny, but I haven’t read the first two issues. It was a spot-on recreation of the retail clerks and the customers of a comic book store (although their girl-to-boy ratio seems to be higher than most). My favorite joke in the book was the “Tongue in Cheek” joke because plays-on-words are the best kind of jokes (also, I’m a huge nerd). So, yeah, I disagree with the Coach and will be looking for the previous two issues so that I can laugh at avatars of myself and my co-workers.

Incredible Hulk #106 and World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker

Adan: First things first: read Incredible Hulk before you read the Prologue, because that’s the order that will make the most sense. That said, I love this Amadeus Cho kid. He is fantastic! Also fantastic, Hulk’s Warbound. If Cho actually gets together with the gladiators and becomes their brains, the Earth is fucking toast. I especially liked She-Hulk’s talks with Doc Samson about the Hulk and why he thinks the Illuminati were right to shoot him into space and why she thinks they’re a bunch of wankers. The Prologue also features a very funny Mini-Marvels retelling of the New Avengers: Illuminati one-shot and the Planet Hulk storyline, as well as a reprint of Amadeus Cho’s first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15.

Brendan: Mastermind Excello! Yes, he truly seems to be the breakout star of the upcoming promoto-vent World War Hulk. Seeing his first appearance was a treat, and I especially like the tongue in cheek description captions. He really feels like the chaotic wrench for Reed and Tony’s power structure. Booyakasha. Giarrusso’s strip is hilarious, but also a surprisingly viable take on that story. Peter David lays the groundwork for what should be a cool Hulk tale by finding the voices of She-Hulk and Doc Samson. I’ve been as leery as anyone concerning this obvious cash in following Civil War, and I don’t plan on altering my reading list to fit the World War checklists, but if the Hulk book and main mini stay this entertaining it should be a big hit.

Hellboy: Darkness Calls #1

Adan: YES! New Hellboy! And right in the first six pages there is a HUGE revelation! Oh man, how I have waited for Mike Mignola to give this to me. It’s creepy, it’s a little bit confusing, but most of all, it’s great! Hecate shows up, as do tons of other witches, and Hellboy doesn’t deal well with witches. They tend to want to kick his ass. Duncan Fegredo’s art is perfect for this book (well, not as perfect as Mignola’s, but he’d take years): it’s spooky and dark, and there’s this heaviness to it, even during daylight scenes, that seems to just grab foreboding right out of the air and make lines with it. It’s really quite good.

Brendan: Good story, good art, good times. Fegredo has come a long way since his Kevin Smith years, and his Hellboy manages to feel right without just being a Mignola rehash. Don’t have anything bad to say, really. This feels weird. Let’s move on to…

Nascar Heroes #1

Adan: A NASCAR driver with superpowers. Heck, a whole pit crew with superpowers. And an evil NASCAR driver with superpowers. How can you not love the heck out of this book (I don’t even like NASCAR)? It’s a pretty simple premise (evil guy is doing crazy experiments so that he can win more easily and our hero gets caught up in it, as does his pit crew), but with cars! And not just any cars; NASCAR cars! Look, you’re gonna read this, and you’re going to like it. Not because it’s some kind of fantastic thing or anything, but because it’s such a ridiculous premise.

Brendan: I may have had my ridiculous premise fill with Alien Pig Farm. I will say this, for speedster lovers this issue was at least as good as the first eight issues of the latest Flash run. Probably better, even. I learned, in perfect infomercial style, a lot about how NASCAR works, and what qualifies as a fast pit time, (9.8 seconds! That’s amazing!) The art was a nice surprise, and had the clean feel of a very good animator. It’s a NASCAR world, apparently, and we’re just living in it. Or something. I guess. But what happens when Jimmy Dash meets the NFL Superpro?

Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1

Brendan: “He’s my husband. You’re just some dude.”

MJ can be pretty great. So this is an oversized annual, but nobody fights. Blasphemy, you cry, but wait- it is actually a pretty sweet love story of Pete and MJ. In fact, I would contend that this issue is proof that Marvel is committed to the Parker marriage for the long term. This would be a waste of a story if she’s just going to die in a few months. Of course, it could be the opposite. Guess we’ll have to see.

Matt Fraction continues to perform as one of my favorite writers working. His story works well, both in addressing the current upheaval for the Parker family, (hospital bills, running from the law, tax season) and looking back in Spider-Man history. Salvador Larroca does good work both in creating a look for Peter that evokes shame and lawlessness as well as doing a hell of a John Romita Sr/ Ross Andru impersonation of the Coffee Bean years. Ultimately, this issue is a character piece about why these two are in love. Fraction’s voice is perfectly suited to the story, especially coming through strong in the voice of a twenty-something couple. They feel modern and familiar, which does more to make them relatable than any dissolution of their marriage would. Big fan of this issue, and also a big fan of SHEILD making an appearance without Iron Man. Hate that guy.

Adan: I am a HUGE fan of Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, and this annual feels like a natural extension of that series (in fact, maybe Fraction should take over that title once Sean McKeever leaves) because Spider-Man most definitely loves Mary Jane, and Mary Jane reciprocates with all her heart. It’s a sweet story, filled with flashbacks to simpler times. But the Coach is wrong: there is some action. It’s small, but it’s there amidst the sweetness and love.

Welcome to Tranquility #6

Adan: A most satisfying ending to the first arc of Gail Simone’s WildStorm comic. Mr. Articulate’s murderer is revealed, as are a bunch of other things that dovetail nicely into one bang-up ending. Everybody has their moment in the sun, including crazy-ass pilot MInxy Millions, and everybody gets to help save the day… well, most everybody. Some people just get their asses beat. If you’ve never read an issue, then pick up the trade when it comes out, but definitely, definitely check out. It’s probably the best thing coming out of WildStorm right now.

Brendan: Gail Simone had a great handle on the large cast of this book. The characters each have unique voices and memorable powers or hooks. Neil Googe and Billy Dallas Patton do a great job making the story look great. The plot itself feels reminiscent of the Minutemen flashbacks of Watchmen, so that doesn’t suck. In fact, it is really nice to see one of these Worldstorm books not sucking, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes from here.

And Others…

Adan: Geoff Johns’ last issue of Teen Titans was a complete and utter disappointment. I’m pretty sure he just stopped caring after awhile. On the other hand, Brian K. Vaughn’s sole issue of Midnighter was great. The storytelling technique he uses this issue is something I don’t think I’ve seen before, and it worked really well.

Brendan: Yeah, it felt like there was a really good, touching story somewhere hidden in Johns’ last Titans go, but it was hidden amidst the crap. For whatever reason, though, I’m looking forward to the new era of the book. Beechen has been very good on Robin. Astonishing X-Men was a good one, and Cassaday seemed to go the extra mile on backgrounds with definite results. Green Lantern was interesting and artist Daniel Acuna seemed to progress a bit, but the real draw was the great Sinestro Corps backup. Also… Nextwave is showing up in a comic this week! Can you be the one to find them first!?!?!

Adan: Oh yeah, I forgot about that. It’s a pretty funny cameo, as are all Nextwave appearances, really.

WARBOUND, Part I
When the Hulk returns to Earth for the senses-shattering events of “World War Hulk,” we can all guess which puny humans will fight against him. But which of Earth’s heroes will fight for the Hulk? Don’t miss the shocking revelations as Amadeus Cho, the boy genius who took on Reed Richards on behalf of the Hulk in Incredible Hulk #100, confronts She-Hulk and Doc Samson — and precipitates a gamma-powered smash-fest in the wilds of Jersey! Featuring the return of Hulk artist extraordinaire Gary Frank!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99