Foilball’s Review Roundup #54 – The Final Bits… of AWESOME!

Billy Batson and The Magic of Shazam! #2 (****1/2)

This is one of my favorite new books and I don’t care that I’m just about 20 years past the target demographic. This comic rocks. It’s better than 90% of the “adult” super heroes comics being published today and here’s why: 1) It’s super fun. 2) The art is Amazo-ing. I love the whole “unfinished sketch/storyboard/panels within panels thing Mike Kunkel has going on. It’s brilliant! 3) It’s fricking cheap! $2.25! Who cares if the paper isn’t glossy!?! It’s $2.25! 4) OH! And every issue has a section in the back that’s in code and you have to use “The Monster Society Code” to break it! FUN!!! 5) And for those interested in continuity, this book is a direct sequel to last year’s Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil mini series by Jeff Smith. I loved that book, but I have to admit, Mike Kunkel’s Shazam is miles better. No lie. Apparently, Kunkel used to do a little book called Hero Bear that I’d heard of but never read and consequently missed the boat on. Totally feel like an idiot. So, if you like fun and great art, give this book a try. If you don’t like it, then you, sir, have no taste.

Fables #75 (****)

Ah, this really hit the spot. Finally. This is the type of Fables war story I’ve been waiting for. Huge epic battles combined with intimate character moments. It took him 75 issues, but Willingham finally forced me to care about Prince Charming! And the art was also superb. Mark Buckingham grinds out another fabulous issue. What an underrated talent that guy is, right? This isn’t the final issue of the series, but it could easily have been so. My only complaint is that I kind of wish Boy Blue and Bigby had died. Boy Blue’s charm has been running thin as of late and I’m sick and tired of the “all-powerful” Bigby wolf. Like, the guy isn’t God, or Jesus, or Moses even. Get over yourself, you hairy monster.

Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1 (****)

Sometimes, and I may get blasted for this, but sometimes I can’t take George Perez pencils. They just… bother me. His layouts are busy and a lot of his faces start repeating. BLAH. What I’m trying to say is that this time I enjoyed his art. It was still uber-busy, of course, but somehow Geoff Johns expert dialoguing mitigated the groan factor. As far as this being a Final Crisis tie-in, I don’t know. How does this story fit exactly? Isn’t Superman zooming through the Multiverse at this point in the FC plot? And what does the Legion have to do with anything? This mini, unlike Revelations, feels like it could’ve been just as well served without the FC banner. Could I be missing the obvious link to FC? Maybe. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Green Lantern Corps #28 (***1/2)

I really want to love this issue, and this arc in general, but the art is just SOOOOO pedestrian. Boring. It feels like fill-in art on some crappy mid-90’s Marvel book. I really like this Sixth Sense character though. I bet Johns and Tomasi are gonna get a ton of mileage out of him once “Blackest Night” starts.

Spawn #182 (****)

Again, WHY? Why are they changing directions? YET! AGAIN! When the story has been so good lately! ARRGH! Admittedly, this issue was a bit of a dip in quality, mostly due to the extraneous amounts of exposition… but… it was still better than 90% of the first 100 issues. At what point do I finally cut my losses and break up with Spawn? Is it time? Yes, I think it is.

Bruce Castle Presents: Skrulls! Zombies! Werewolves! Which One Has The Best Comic?

Mighty Avengers #18 (****1/2)

Why?! Why isn’t Bendis always this good? This is the best Bendis comic I’ve read since Mighty Avengers #12. Is it a coincidence that the main character in both issues is Nick Fury? This comic was so much fun! Who knew Nick Fury training a bunch of D-Listers could be so awesome! I laughed out loud several times. In addition to Bendis’ enthralling writing, Stefano Caselli’s art is very easy on the eyes. Please stay away Khoi Pham! My only criticisms are that I wish Bendis would have the courage (or power) to execute what Nick Fury promises in the beginning of the issue. Also, I wish Bendis had more time to flesh out the characters a little. This leads to the conclusion of my review. Mr. Bendis, could you please write a new Nick Fury’s Howling Commandos series? There isn’t a single Skrull or costumed character in this issue and it’s remarkable!

Secret Invasion: Thor #2 (***1/2) SPOILERS!!!!

Is there anyway Asgardians fighting “Godkiller” Skrulls couldn’t be cool? Speaking of these “Godkillers”, you can add this story to the “Skrulls are going to win” evidence pile. The Skrulls have designed hundreds of creatures to fight Gods. They harness the power of Stormbreaker, Bill’s hammer that has all of the strengths of Mjolnir. Oh and they created a Super-Skrull that is genetically modified to mimic Thundra, Titania, Volcana, and Battleaxe that beats Beta Ray Bill! The Terrans are doomed! While the battle is raging, we also get to see what the people of Broxton are up to. This is the weak part of the issue. Donald Blake delivers a baby. Yes it’s well done, but I think it’s another “I just had a baby and I want to write about how cool it is” concept from Fraction. Oh and there’s another unnecessary scene with the Broxton volunteer firemen. I’m not a big fan of that stuff, but there’s still plenty to enjoy here. Braithwaite’s art is more than satisfactory. Fraction writes the action well and provides an ending that leaves me wanting more.

The Walking Dead #52 (****)

This is probably one of the issues that would support a reader’s want to read this series in trade. I’m sure several people will walk away saying “nothing happened”. The fact that this issue was late doesn’t help. Maybe it would be better if I waited for the trades, but I love these characters too much. And that’s what I took from this issue, lovely interactions. We get some gore too, don’t worry. In fact, that’s probably what a lot of people will love about the post-prison Walking Dead. More dead zombies! Another element that I think readers take for granted is Charlie Adlard’s art. Adlard, along with Cliff Rathburn, consistently perform well. In typical Kirkman fashion, the ending leaves me wanting more.

The Astounding Wolf-Man #8 (***)

What I said about Walking Dead in regards to the lateness and trade concept goes double for this issue. Since its conception, this series has been bimonthly. However, this was supposed to be the start of the book going monthly. This was due in July. All of that may not bother me, except that it took me about five minutes or less to read the issue. It’s still good, but because of the delay I can’t give this more than a mild recommendation. And I was so excited after last issue. Kirkman has stated several times that he’ll make an announcement soon about all his books going monthly for a long time. I find that a bit hard to believe considering his track record, but I still have hope. I mentioned earlier that this was a quick read. Of course that’s because there are several wordless panels. When you have an issue like this, the art is a huge factor. I’m happy to report that Jason Howard pulls it off. I’ve grown quite fond of his style as I’ve watched his improvement in this book. If you regularly read my reviews, you may recall my praise for the current colorist on Invincible, FCO Plascencia. Well, he’s on this book now too! So, the pictures are pretty and the story wouldn’t bug me at all in a trade, but reading it monthly is a bit frustrating.

Foilball’s Review Roundup #53 – I Probably Read Too Much Marvel

The Amazing Spider-Man #570-571 (****): Menace is a good guy. Osborn is still a douche. Anti-Venom can take away powers. Mr. Negative has no idea he’s actually Mr. Negative. JRJR still knows how to draw the best Spidey comics anywhere. About the only glaring hole in this entire shebang occurs when Norman finds Parker’s webbed up digital camera. Like, the first thing that popped into my head when Norman made this discovery was “Hey, this is how Osborn figures out Spidey’s secret identity! It’s so obvious!” But, no. What is obvious to almost every single Amazing reader is not as obvious to the malignantly brilliant Osborn. C’mon Norman, grab a clue! Why would Spidey need to cut a deal with some random to sell his photos to the papers? Why couldn’t he just sell them straight up in his civilian identity and cut out the middle man? Norman Osborn, and by extension Dan Slott, equals FAIL.

Eternals #4 (**): Still expertly written, but the low star rating is my personal protest against COVERS THAT LIE! Iron Man does NOT fight Ikaris. Doesn’t happen, people. He just shows up and acts like a jerk. Wow. Big surprise. I expected more from the Knaufs… they did just finish one of the best runs on Iron Man ever, right? BLAH.

Foolkiller: White Angels #2 (***1/2): I liked it, but gosh I wish I’d waited for the trade.

Ghost Rider #26 (****): How does Jason Aaron do it? He brings back four of the lamest villains in comics (straight from the 90’s!) and manages to make me laugh from cover to cover. “I didn’t get to be called Death Ninja by being cautious.” RIGHT!?! It’s stuff like this that keeps me coming back. I want to break up with you so bad Ghost Rider, but Aaron is making it kind of impossible. Damn.

Ghost Rider Annual #2 (***): A nice, forgettable one-shot. I don’t think I’ll be getting these annuals anymore.

House of M: Civil War #1 (**): This blew. I was gonna wait for the trade, now I’m just gonna toss this and forget I read it.

The Invincible Iron Man #5 (****): Out of continuity Iron Man FTW!

Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. #32 (***1/2): And so, this series of Iron Man comes to a close. Sure we got another War Machine centric SI arc to slog through before the series officially ends, but the star of the show is gone so we might as well call it like we see it. Stuart Moore did an exceptional job filling in for the Knaufs in this final Iron Man tale about doomsday weapons and revenge. It was probably one issue too long, but I really enjoyed it.

Moon Knight #21 (***): Another book I wish I could break up with. I don’t even like this version of Moon Knight anymore, I’m just sticking around for the Thunderbolts. See, if the Thunderbolts’ book had more hero-hunting stories, then I wouldn’t need to read crappy books like Moon Knight to get my fix. UGH.

Ms. Marvel Annual #1 (****1/2): This was very, very, very surprising. Brian Reed can not only write Spider-Man, but write him well. So well in fact, that this felt more like a Spidey annual than a Ms. Marvel one. Ms. Marvel is barely in it and when she does speak it’s only in response to something funny that Spider-Man just said! He totally steals the show. True Believers! I hold this comic up as further evidence that Brian Reed’s Ms. Marvel is boring! BUT! Brian Reed is still a good writer! SO! We must make our voices heard! PLEASE! Marvel, cancel Ms. Marvel and put Reed on Amazing! MAKE IT SO!

The Punisher #61 (**): Oh, God. Reading this is like that feeling you get when you’re at a party and it’s way past midnight and the host/hostess totally wants you to leave, but you’re too much of an idiot or too wasted to pick up the signals and then it gets awkward until finally he/she asks you to leave and then you can no longer be friends because you know that they think you’re an asshole, and…

Punisher War Journal #23 (*): There so many things wrong with this issue that if I actually started to list them out, one-by-one, I’d go insane with rage and tear the damn thing up instead of tossing it in the donation pile. Soooooo… don’t ask.

Runaways #1 (***1/2): NEW READER FRIENDLY JUMPING ON POINT ALERT!!! This book is T-H-I-C-K. It takes a while to read because there’s just so much ####ing dialogue, which I think is fine. All the characters get stuff to talk about and say and no one gets left out. My only complaint is that although I still enjoy Ramos’ art, his latest style choices make the comic hard to read at times. He’s putting extra effort into the backgrounds and I think that’s at least part of the problem. It’s too confusing; too much stuff to focus on. The mall scenes are especially busy. Be that as it may, Terry Moore’s first issue was still miles better than Whedon’s. I’ll be sticking around for at least the first arc, then, I may switch to trade.

Skaar: Son of Hulk #3 (****): Why is this book so late? At least it’s really good, otherwise…

Ultimate Origins #4 (**): Too little, too late. Also, ULTIMATUM = CELESTIALS!

Ultimate X-Men #97 (***): I’ve been enjoying this arc, but this issue had too much emo.

Ultimate X-Men/Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual #1 (****): This was really fun! But, I can see why some people would hate it. The ideas are a bit tired…

Uncanny X-Men #501 (*): Seriously, Marvel? Rated “T+”? I gotta call bullshit here. Like, what’s with all the X-Men sex scenes? Yeah, yeah, w/e Frac-Baker… your story justifications don’t hold water when you got Greg Land, Super Perv, as one of your regular pencillers. Did Emma Frost really need to stroll around nude for three pages? How is that necessary to the plot? Or are we still trying too hard to be “cutting edge”? GARBAGE.

Wolverine #68 (****): Alright, I’ve bitched enough about this story. This issue? I liked it. I’m ready to be entertained now.

X-Factor: Layla Miller #1 (****1/2): Reading this was bittersweet. It reminded me of the old days, when X-Factor was fun. When XF was good. *sigh* If we could just skip past all the current XF sub-plots and get to the part where Layla Miller returns, that would be swell. Thanks, Peter!

X-Men: Legacy #215 (**): How many times are the X-Men writers going to subject us to this infinitely repeating scene? X-Man “X” is mad at Xavier. HO HO!! Stop the presses! Can’t wait to read that story! No. I can wait. I can wait forever.

X-Men: Manifest Destiny #1 (**1/2): BLAH. Nothing impressive here. The Boom-Boom story was amusing (that word is sooo condescending… LOVE IT!), but the Iceman/Mystique story seems to serve no purpose other than to once again illustrate how stupid Bobby Drake is and how much of an evil #### Mystique is. No thanks.

Bruce Castle Presents: The Man of Steel!

All Star Superman #12 (*****)

It’s hard to review this comic without gushing about it for several paragraphs. I think we all knew three years ago that Grant Morrison and Frank Quietely on a Superman series sans continuity would be good, but did anyone think it would be this good? This is the best Superman comic I’ve ever read. Everything that Superman is has been conveyed in this series. This is why I love Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly. No matter how good their previous work has been, they always raise the bar. It’s hard to believe that’s possible I know, but I think it’s true. This may be Morrison’s best comic. This is Quietly’s best comic. I can’t recommend this comic enough.

Action Comics #869 (*****)

Take a look at that cover. Superman and his father drinking beer while leaning on a gate. Superman’s wife and mother watching from the porch. America’s heartland in the background. How much more American can you get? But this isn’t the cover of the comic I’m holding. Something’s changed. The beer brand has been altered to a dismal label that reads “SODA POP”. Really?! I’ve talked about this enough, but I just wanted to let you all know that this comic was delayed a week because of this. I think the main reason why is because of All Star Batman and Robin’s faux pas, but I’ll talk more about that later. This was another great issue. I’ve always liked Supergirl. She’s one of the most poorly handled characters in comics, but she’s written brilliantly here. This issue is particularly remarkable because a few of our questions are answered. Why is Supergirl in this comic? Find out in this issue. Why have the Daily Planet employees been getting a lot of screen time lately? Find out in this issue. Why are there about to be a lot more Kryptonians running around? Find out in this issue. In addition to all of that, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank still bring their A-game. Johns’ writing is wonderful and Frank’s art is superb.

SeventhSoldier Reviews…COMICS!

All-Star Superman

Yesterday, All-Star Superman – otherwise known as Grant Morrison’s ASS – came to an end, finally.  With the stated objective of telling the definitive Superman story, Morrison and artist Frank Quitely set a rather high bar for themselves, setting up against such classics as Alan Moore’s Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? and Alan Moore’s For the Man Who Has Everything and…uhhh…just, really, Alan Moore.  With the last issue on the stands, we can finally look back at the series and ask: Did All-Star Superman make a mistake by setting the bar so high?

Nope.

It cleared it.

Morrison and Quitely made sure to touch on as many aspects of the Superman mythos as humanly possible in a twelve issue series, with an issue featuring Lex Luthor, an issue about Jimmy Olson, a trip to the Bizarro Cubed Earth, and more.  Many comic fans who aren’t reading the series have derided All-Star Superman as a Silver Age throwback, completely missing the point – to provide a continuity-free retrospective on the history of Superman, be it Golden, Silver, or Modern.

The book isn’t flawless, of course.  The Bizarro two-parter can drag on, which is a shame given that it’s the only two-parter in the series, the rest of the book composed of a series of one-shots tied together by the central conceit of ‘How would Superman react if he knew he was going to die soon?’  But, beyond that, the book hits a variety of emotional highs and lows, has insane, epic action, and just in general manages to succeed.

It isn’t flawless, but looking back on the series as a whole, this is the only mainstream comic work that I imagine stands a chance of being mentioned in the same breath, 10 years from now, as Watchmen or The Sandman.

Grade: A+

Final Crisis: Revelations #2

Final Crisis: Revelations is a great many things.  It’s spiritual sequel to both Infinite Crisis and 52.  A direct sequel to The Five Books of Blood.  A tie-in to Final Crisis.  Under a lesser writer than Rucka, this might be too much material to work into a 5-issue series, but it does well. 

This issue is the first that feels like a ‘traditional’ tie-in, in the sense that it takes a standard character - The Question - and uses the current event to shake up that character’s status quo, introduce a new enemy based on the major event, etc….  The issue feels very traditional in many ways, but it’s still good.  The long-needed introduction of an element of balance to the Spectre occurs, a major reveal regarding one of DC’s older villains, and a reunion of sorts between Cris and Renee in their new roles all keep the action rolling, but it’s the emotional core of the issue that makes it great.  This is Rucka revisiting his old toybox, and it seems like he’s having a good time doing so.

The revelations of this issue all felt natural and needed, the action was engaging, and emotions ran high.  All around solid, but nothing spectacular.  A competent tie-in, and a strong issue on its own.

Grade: B+

Secret Six #1

Everyone’s already said most of what needs to be said, but Simone really nailed it, here.  The twisted humor and uncomfortable camaraderie of the Six are perfect, and the new villain is intriguing.  All-in-all, a solid start to this new series.  Hopefully, it’ll be around for a good little while.

Grade: A-

Captain Britain and MI:13 #5

For anyone wondering if the quality of Captain Britain would keep up once the Secret Invasion tie-in ended, the short answer is: “Hell Yes.”  Cornell and crew are now using the book to look at a variety of British heroes, so this issue sees cameos from more than one, of all calibers - from nobodies like Captain Midlands to bigger characters some people might not know were British, like Blade.  The issue is fun and engaging, but it’s still set-up, and it leaves off with a frankly ridiculous cliffhanger.

Oh, Blade.  You aren’t a team player.

Grade: B+

Foilball’s Review Roundup #52 - Even More Secret Invasion Reviews!

Deadpool #1 (****)

Deadpool #1 was fun and pretty at the same time. I’m not always 100% on board for Daniel Way but he seems to have a story to tell, and I like it so far, so I’m gonna let him tell it. Paco Medina kicked the crap out of the art in this issue, especially the Skrull characters. Cable & Deadpool was decent fun (hardly ever pretty fun), but Deadpool has always worked better as the star of his own book and Way is taking advantage of that trademark charisma with the introduction (or re-introduction?) of “Pool-o-Vision”. Also, kind of an unrelated question but, are we sick of the Skrulls yet?

Ms. Marvel #30 (***)

Ms. Marvel fights a Super Skrull this issue. Just like last issue. And the issue before that. Oh, but this time said Super Skrull is actually a product of HYDRA science. Oh, and then we’re treated to a SI-epilogue that’s just weird. Huh-wha?

Secret Invasion: Frontline #3 (****1/2)

Are people reading this? Because it’s awesome! Easily one of the best tie-ins. Brian Reed confuses me though, as a talent, I mean. Sometimes, like with this book, his writing is incredible, and then there’s Ms. Marvel which is so hit-or-miss lately. Ugh, BRIAN REED! Focus!

Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #3 (****)

They swooped in, got their story told, and got out. Three cheers for three issue tie-in minis! And in three issues there was so much character development it was almost too much. Is Terry Moore going to address any of what happened here in his new Runaways ongoing? And what about Heinberg’s new Young Avengers series? WHEN IS THAT COMING OUT!?!

Secret Invasion: X-Men #2 (****)

I don’t want to beat a dead horse, so you won’t see me telling you how much better this is than Secret Invasion. It is, but I won’t say it.

Foilball’s Review Roundup #51 – Read A Ton of Good Books Lately?

(Be advised, the following “Feature Review” space reserved for fanboyish fanboying.)

Buffy The Vampire Slayer #18 (*)

This cover is absurd. That is all.

Detective Comics #848 (*****)

Paul Dini, you monster. You took out her heart? OMFG!!!

Secret Six #1 (*****)

OH! I missed you girls so much!

Quick Hits:
• 100 Bullets #95 (*****): Heh. Irony. How ironic? (I mean, what can I say? Besides me and like five other guys, who else is still reading this bloated self-indulgent masterpiece?)
• Anna Mercury #3 (***): This book feels like half a comic, or a web comic. For $3.99 it feels lazy.
• The Authority #2 (***): Relaunch! Even with DnA, I’m still a lot o’ bit bored. I like the whole “World’s End” idea, but some of these titles are just BLAH! Where’s my Nemesis ongoing?
• The Boys #18 (****): The thrilling conclusion to “I Tell You No Lie, G.I.”… thrilling really isn’t the word. The near-rape scene was disturbing and the park stuff was sweet… I don’t know, The Boys is complicated and so are my feelings about it… stop asking personal questions!
• Criminal #5 (****): Dude, she is totally playing you! And! I’m hoping she isn’t, because if she is, then Brubaker is getting a tiny bit predictable.
• Dreamwar #4 (***): This needed to be over already because I just don’t care anymore.
• Final Crisis: Revelations #2 (***): OH! Emotions! Upheavals! Duty! Revenge! Mercy! …cliché? There was just too much hand-holding and feeling-sharing. BLAH! Spectre needs to kill more bad guys. Soonish.
• Green Arrow and Black Canary #12 (*): IT’S OVER… my involvement!
• Green Lantern #34 (***1/2): Mind wipes, all around!
• I Kill Giants #2 (***): The art is interesting and the characters are… interesting, but I hope the hook for this series isn’t just “crazy girl makes friends”. Show me something, Joe Kelly, show me anything and I’ll love you forever.
• Invincible #52 (****1/2): Bruce is right, this book rocks! It’s been rocking for two issues now, and it better keep rocking or I’m gonna have to start bashing Kirkman again!
• Nightwing #148 (*): I’m no expert on bullet related injuries, but the logic in this issue just feels WRONG. Dick gets shot twice, loses two bodies worth of blood and within 24-hours is up and around like nothing happened?
• Savage Dragon #137 (*): Why do I still support this book? It’s sooooooo Terry-Bull.
• Wonder Woman #24 (****): Queen of Fables? BLAH. Dude, but those white gorillas are funny as ####! What a great addition to the supporting cast they’re turning out to be. Simone is a genius.
• Young Liars #7 (****1/2): Even with the fever dreams, not as crazy as usual. But yes, this “Amy Racecar” stuff is cool and I’m looking forward to more.

Bruce Castle Presents: Spider-Man & Invincible Together Again!

Amazing Spider-Man #571 (****)

If you like John Romita Jr.’s art and you’re looking for a good time (without alcohol or working girls), then you should probably pick this up. New Ways To Die isn’t changing anything or blowing any minds, but it’s still enjoyable. Of course there’s nothing wrong with that. We who read funny books over the age of 13 always want adult material and hard-hitting stories. We must remember that these are still comics. Real law enforcement has little to do with spandex-clad individuals and pumpkin bombs, but this is the norm when it comes to the realm of comics. So please, immerse yourself in a world full of wonderfully drawn Thunderbolts, symbiotes, and goblins.

Invincible #52 (*****)

The new costume bodes well for Invincible. Just like the last one, this issue is marvelous. There are changes, but it’s an easy transition. The most visually noticeable difference, besides the aforementioned new costume, is FCO Plascencia’s colors. Bill Crabtree was on the book for 50 issues, but as of issue #51 he was replaced by Plascencia. Though I still enjoyed Crabtree’s work, to be frank, he’s easily forgotten. The art looks remarkable! Ryan Ottely is the main attraction of course, but Plascencia has noticeably changed the book’s look for the better. This issue appears to be more violent as well. There are two moments in particular that got a holy this and Jesus that from me. And I handle violence extremely well. So, the book looks great and it’s going in an intriguing direction. As always, I hope the next issue comes out quicker.

Marvel Team-Up #14 inspired my title. Go read this, it’s funny.

Review: Young Liars #7

Young Liars #7 (*****)

This book is a real treat. Our story begins on Mars. Mommy is copulating on the dinner table. Little Sadie refuses to eat her fly. Ma’s lover, Bob, assures Sadie that “horseflies are full of essential micro-nutrients”. She responds “You’re not my dad”. Then stabs poor Bob in the eye with a straw and drinks up. Mom then cuts a hole in Bob’s groin and digs in. What would follow such a grotesque act? Little Sadie wins a radio contest to go with her favorite DJ, Danny Duoshade, to the Orpheum. But how’s a poor girl going to get there when she’s trapped on Mars?

Did you find that appalling? If so, then I guess Young Liars isn’t the comic for you. “One of the best series going, if you can handle it”, that’s a quote from the review on this cover. A true statement indeed. Young Liars is definitely a book that fascinates some and repels others. To say that the book is extreme is an understatement.

This is the start of a new arc and its origins stem from something Sadie said in an earlier issue. It seemed inconsequential at the time, but apparently it’s all real. It’s explored in excruciating detail within these pages. What seemed like a bizarre and overdone sci-fi concept reforms due to David Lapham’s newfangled writing. Freshness is a staple in Young Liars. Everything seems new even when it’s not. In an age of fourquels and Hollywood buying the rights to everything, this series is welcomed with open arms.

An ingredient that seems unobtrusive in Young Liars is Lapham’s art. It appears to be rather simple and undistinguished. But he has engendered some of the most repulsive and haunting images ever rendered. I’m always impressed by writer/artists because they give you a better sense of their world. The synergy between the words and the pretty pictures are near lyrical. I mention lyrics because that is another theme in this book.

There’s a reason for that awesome guitar gun on the cover. Every issue Danny Duoshade (You’ll find out who that is in this issue) recommends two songs. You can think of that as a soundtrack to the issue. Listen to the songs while reading if you wish. Lapham even provides a sort of “Where’s Waldo” of music. There’s an abundance of musical treats throughout that adds additional enjoyment and supplies a motivation to reread the issue. There are even songs playing within the book itself. Yes, the lyrics are printed on paper, but it’s almost as if you can hear the song even if you’re unfamiliar with it.

It’s a bit odd that I wrote an in-depth review about a Vertigo title. I usually reserve these reviews for big mainstream books like Secret Invasion or Final Crisis. This is the start of a new arc, but it’s nothing pivotal. I’d like to point out that even though this is a part 1, it doesn’t read that way. You can even enjoy this issue without reading any of the preceding six. You can kind of consider this my love letter to Young Liars. I spent a little too much time talking about the book in general than I did about issue #7. It’s just my little unsubtle way of telling those who had some time to buy this book. I’m not sure how this series is selling, but I have a feeling the numbers are low. You can even purchase that Vertigo double-shot that contains the first issues of Young Liars and House of Mystery. So please, give this book a try. And no, even though this a shameless endorsement, I am not David Lapham.

Foilball’s Review Roundup #50 – My Late Secret Invasion Reviews

The New Avengers #44 (****1/2): This was the much needed issue to explain how the Skrulls did what they did. But here’s the thing, I think it makes the Skrulls look too smart. Like, these guys got cloning down to a perfected science? Shapeshifters, genetic manipulators, interstellar space travel? Dude, how the hell can Earth win? They can’t. They really can’t. So now, after reading this issue, if Secret Invasion ends in any way that isn’t total victory for the Skrulls then it’ll just ring false to me.

The Mighty Avengers #17 (***1/2): This was an okay issue, but in no way a must-read. Hank Pym is hard to mimic… who cares? Unless… unless this means that the Skrull Pym over in the main title plans to betray his people. Interesting…

Avengers: The Initiative #16 (*****): OMG! This book was sweet! The Skrull Kill Krew was never this awesome! The art! The dialogue! This book was just too much fun! Can you guys imagine an event book written by Dan Slott? Poor Robert Kirkman, now I understand his bitterness. Marvel replaced him with Slott!

Black Panther #40 (*****): You know what this arc reminds me of? It reminds me of the very first arc of the series; the arc that made me love the Black Panther. It’s as if Aaron went back and read those first six issues, and nothing else, and then sat down and wrote this wonderful tie-in. It’s sad that it’s taken 30 odd issues to get the Panther title back to this level of good.

Captain Britain and MI13 #4 (*****): Finally got a copy… wow, this was good. Should I be watching Dr. Who? Also, I’m glad I read the Wisdom trade before picking up this series. Continuity is great when it works!

Guardians of the Galaxy #4 (*****): It took four issues, but they got me. I’m hooked. Something about the character dynamics this issue makes me feel like this is a book worth reading.

The Incredible Hercules #120 (*****): Herc rises to the occasion and beats up a god. Not much more to say than that. Also, it was brilliant!

Nova #16 (****): Indeed, this was one of the better issues of Nova, and I like how it tie-ins with Secret Invasion, but what bugs me is how horribly it seems to sync up with…

She-Hulk #32 (****): … so I guess Nova gets away then? As for She-Hulk, I’m still enjoying the new artist but as for the story, I’m kind of wishing this Skrull Pope guy would just go away. He’s annoying. And unnecessary.

Secret Invasion: The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (***): Meh, why did this even need to get published? And the title is total lies. It’s a story about Jackpot (jack-who?), not a story about Spider-Man. Waste.

Thunderbolts #123 (*****): Christos Gage, you are a master.

X-Factor #34 (*): Larry Stroman, you are not.

Bruce Castle Presents: Take Two Ultimates And Call Me In The Morning

Ultimate Origins #4 (**1/2)

Well, it pulled out of that downward spiral. In fact, this issue was even better than last. Unfortunately, it’s still not enough for me to recommend. This issue’s “reveal” was particularly lackluster. Ultimatum is coming, I get it. Stop talking about something big happening and actually show it please. Butch Guice’s art has been mediocre at times, but after looking at this issue, you can see that the man has talent. His renderings are probably the most impressive ingredient in Ultimate Origins. Sadly, this series has turned out to be a moderate retelling of well-known origins with an ultimate twist. Is that really worth your money?

Ultimate X-Men/Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual#1 (****)

Ah, another “people from a warped future come to the present” story. Isn’t that kind of boring now? Yes, but it can still be fun when done well. This comes from two Heroes writers, Joe Pokaski and Aron Coleite. They’re both fairly new to comics, but they’ve already become quite proficient. As I mentioned, this is one of those future yarns. We get to have some fun discovering what’s happened to all our favorite characters. Don’t worry. We still get to see plenty of the current ultimate heroes. They’re drawn wonderfully by Mark Brooks and Dan Panosian. Panosian is a name I’m not familiar with. I found his art to be quite pleasing though. He has a cartoonish style that I’m very fond of. Some more good news is that this issue may actually contain a clue as to what will occur in Ultimatum. Whether it does or not, this was an extremely entertaining read.

Secret Invasion #6

Yes, I’m alive, and yes, I’m for the most part settled in my new apartment. So I have a TON of catching up to do, and I’m going to try to do a lot of it today before Rock Band 2 comes out tomorrow and my free time no longer exists. I’ve also decided to for the most part stay away from plot points and look at this issue as a puzzle piece and how it fits into and affects the entire event.

We’ve entered Act 3. This event is not what most of us expected. Huge and sprawling, but not in the way we assumed would happen. The action is in the tie ins. But Secret Invasion’s main mini is not without its purpose. It’s obviously written from the perspective of Bendis’ own characters. Avengers and their outlying character bases. It’s pretty much his only option. He knows these characters. We know he knows these characters. It’s the best case scenario to write to your strengths. This way there is less of a chance that he’s going to step on the feet of other Marvel writers. Sure, the characters overlap, but that’s not something you can get around when you’re doing an event like this. There really aren’t a lot of characters here that Bendis hasn’t written before. You’ve got the Young Avengers and Runaways, the new Secret Warriors (which is a Bendis creation, so it’s not like he’s stepping outside his bounds here), and a couple people here and there that he hasn’t really touched upon. Two of those characters are the James Barnes version of Captain America and the post reboot Thor. So we get their confrontation, which was a heck of a lot of fun. It was also a beautifully rendered panel that showed the difference in stature between these two mighty heroes that are really new kids on the block that have been around in their current incarnations for ten issues or less (and I am SUPER IMPRESSED that this book hasn’t had lateness issues. Look at those last two spreads! Damn!). But Bendis doesn’t do a lot with them. We’re not looking at any kind of character development beats here. This is a huge fucking event where the entire Earth is at stake, and you’d damn well better believe that Cap and Thor are going to show up and do something about it, even if it boils down to throwing some shields and hammers, being a heroic presence and not doing much else. So they’re not the focus. Nick Fury is the focus. Jessica Drew Spider-Woman is the focus. And that feels genuine to me. It’s the new look of Marvel comics that Bendis has helped create.

Heroes versus Skrulls is arguably just as simple as an event like Civil War. But Civil War was for the most part a straightforward event from a character perspective. Cap versus Iron Man. Shiny heroes versus street level thugs. There was a unified voice on each end. That wasn’t the case for a good portion of the early part of Secret Invasion. The Skrulls certainly had a unified voice, and that voice was established as Queen Veranke/Spider-Woman and her religious holy war. The heroes did not have this unified voice. But now with issue six, we’ve finally got that unification. It took Nick Fury, Captain America, Iron Man and Thor to do it, but the folks of Earth are finally coming together. New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Thunderbolts, Young Avengers and Secret Warriors all banding together to fight back the alien invasion force. And this is how the book has turned. But the beautiful thing about it is the fact that considering the little things we’ve heard from Bendis and Marvel via previews and Word Balloon interviews and Retailer Summits and so on, it sure doesn’t seem likely that the heroes are going to come out of this one on top. We can postulate that the seventh issue battle could easily end on the side of the Skrulls, whether that is due to sheer overwhelming force or the possible wrinkle in the plan that is whatever is going on with Janet Van Dyne. But either way, I think change will be embraced, forcefully or willingly. And it’s a concept that can allow for a lot of growth, and has a ton of room for new stories and characters.

I wrote notes for this review last night after getting home at about 1 AM from the Allston bar Big City. So this review was a little scatterbrained and also somewhat influenced by alcohol. I wouldn’t call it my best effort, but things should hopefully get better the more settled in my new environment I am. New books will be arriving on Monday, so I’ll have reviews of that and some of the small press books I got at the Super Show in the coming hours/days/weeks.

Bruce Castle Presents: Skrulls VS X-Men & Inhumans

Secret Invasion: X-Men #2 (****)

We get more entertainment from the SI tie-in machine. This feels like a genuine invasion book that provides much merriment. What’s a perfect side dish for an invasion book? The X-Men should taste exquisite. You get to see how your favorite mutant crew handles the green meanies complete with some Cuckoos (Yay Morrison!) and some intriguing Nightcrawler business. Did I mention I have a soft spot for Cary Nord’s art? It’s not for everyone, but I really dig it. My only complaint is that this is a four issue mini instead of three. So, it’s not as tight as I’d like it to be, but that doesn’t detract much. If you’re looking for some good old fashioned alien squishing fun with a twist, pick this up.

Secret Invasion: Inhumans #2 (***1/2)

I was about to write about how fun this comic is, but there was quite a bit of torture included. Even though torture is often seen as entertainment these days (cough…24…cough), I still find it a bit too unsettling to refer to this issue as “fun”. However, this is still entertaining. Tom Raney’s art still manages to impress (more historic stained glass windows yay!), we get to see the Inhumans kick plenty of Skrull ass, and Joe Pokaski presents a well-written and amusing Inhumans yarn. I just wish he would lay off the torture a bit (What? Do they tell TV writers that torture sells nowadays?).

Review: Final Crisis: Revelations #2

Well, I think you’ve got to give this mini-series credit for living up to the title.  The revelations come fast and furious in issue 2.

Apparently, god doesn’t just have a spirit of vengeance.  He also has a spirit of Mercy who acts as a counter to the Spectre (and conveniently stops Cris Allen from killing his former partner, Renee Montoya.)  She also lays a major head trip on the latest host of the Spectre.  If god has mercy, why was Cris Allen forced to kill his own son?

The second major revelation of the issue really ties this mini-series into the main story of Final Crisis.  The prophesies in the Crime Bible finally start to come true as the Order of Stone acquires the Spear of Destiny.  They use the Spear to reveal the central figure of their religion, Cain.  I won’t spoil Cain’s identity here except to say that he is a known DCU character and that it makes perfect sense that he could be the biblical figure.

Speaking of the good book, Revelations also has a biblical meaning.  In the bible, the Book of Revelations is the story of the end of the world.  Once Cain is revealed, the Anti-Life Equation is unleashed upon the earth.  Through Renee Montoya, we get to see a more street-level perspective of the end-times which are being depicted on a grander scale in Final Crisis.

I found the final pages of this issue to be pretty chilling.  It’s the super hero equivalent of a good zombie movie.  Ultimately, there is no escape.  By resisting the Anti-Life Equation, Renee is subjected to the horror of seeing the rest of the world fall apart around her.

There is so much good stuff in this issue and surely there is more to come.  The issue clearly sets up a confrontation between Cain and the Spectre.  And the final page teases us with a cliffhanger that leads into the events of Final Crisis #3.

Like so many of the Final Crisis tie-ins, this mini-series is stellar work.  It’s not required reading, but you definitely shouldn’t miss it.

Review: Deadpool #1

You may have noticed I don’t write a lot of reviews for Marvel books.  That’s largely because I don’t read a lot of Marvel books.  That wasn’t always the case.  A long time ago, I read pretty much everything the Big 2 put out.  And one of my favorite books at that time was Joe Kelly’s Deadpool.

I’ve lost touch with Deadpool since he started hanging out the Cable.  (Hanging out with Cable is pretty much a sure-fire way to chase me off your book.)  But I decided to give this Cable-free first issue a look for old time’s sake.

Silly me.  I didn’t notice the Skrulls on the cover.  I’ve been avoiding anything Skrully outside of the main Secret Invasion mini-series.  (Which has caused my Marvel consumption to shrink down to Secret Invasion and Captain America these days.)  Had I known Deadpool 1 was a tie-in, I wouldn’t have picked it up.

But since I had it in my hands, I figured “what the heck” and I gave it a shot.  Am I glad I did?  Not so much.  But I’m not sorry about it either.  Basically, I found Deadpool to be a pretty mixed bag.

There were some pretty funny moments that reminded me of what I liked about the character during Joe Kelley’s run.  And it also had the kind of over-the-top action I’m sure Deadpool fans are expecting from a Deadpool book.  In the first issue, Deadpool goes toe-to-toe with a Skrull army and does remarkably well considering how other heroes have fared in Secret Invasion.

I enjoyed the art by Paco Medina.  Though his style is a little cartoony for such a violent book, it is perfectly appropriate to the goofy nature of the lead character.

The issue ends with a cliffhanger that is a bit of a non-starter.  After single-handedly demolishing the Skrulls, Deadpool offers to enlist in their army.  Why?  At the rate he was going, he could end the entire Secret Invasion John McClane-style.  Am I really supposed to believe that Deadpool is going to do anything but infiltrate the Skrulls?

On the whole, the issue was an okay read.  But it pales in comparisson to something like Secret Six #1.  As a casual Deadpool fan (at best) I can’t see sticking around for issue 2.

Review: Wonder Woman #24

To be honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to this issue.  While Gail Simone is easily one of my favorite writers, her run on Wonder Woman just hasn’t clicked for me yet.  The previous arc really fell flat for me.  And the idea of an arc based on the making of a Wonder Woman movie just didn’t feel very fresh.

So it was a very pleasant surprise when this turned out to be the issue when Gail’s run finally started living up to its promise.  The opening scenes in which Diana takes Nemesis to Themyscria to meet Hippolyta were pure gold!  I was laughing almost as hard as I did reading Simone’s Secret Six (which is easily one of the most entertaing books I’ve read this year).

But Simone didn’t just “bring the funny”.  The scenes between Tom Tresser, Diana and Hippolyta also displayed the sharp character work that Simone is known for.  In addition to the character touches and sharp dialogue, Simone also gives us a bizarre and frightening look at the mythological world Wonder Woman inhabits.  (All I can say is, Nemesis is more of a man than I am.  I practically wet myself on the “Jaws” ride at Universal Studios.)

Speaking of the giant guardian of Themyscria, this is as good a time as any to comment on the art.  Bernard Chang is one of those artists I always love to see on a book.  He deftly handles all of the comic moments, but he also delivers the big, splashy stuff too.  The shark practically lept off the page in 3-D more convincingly than anything in “Jaws 3-D” (yes, I saw that in the theater!).

When we got back to Hollywood, some of my initial reservations about the issue returned.  I’ve read the “Hollywood-makes-a-superhero-movie” story so many times.  How could it not feel stale?  Well, to start with, Wonder Woman shows up at the meeting with two white gorillas as advisors.  Simone knows all too well that monkeys = funny.

Yes, the movie is a gross misrepresentation of Wonder Woman’s life.  Yes, she tries to shut the movie down.  And, yes, it all turns out to be the work of a super villain.  We do go through a lot of the expected plot points.  But with the strong delivery from Simone and Chang, I didn’t mind the cliches.  I was entertained and I am looking forward to the conclussion next issue.

(Bonus points for using a WW villain other than Circe.  When the villain was revealed, I was excited.  This character has a lot of potential that has never been fully explored.)

Review: Final Crisis: Revelations #2 - Spoilers!

I still need to read Five Books of Blood and reread 52 to understand some of this stuff, so bear with me. The first thing you’ll notice while delving into this comic is Tan’s beautiful art. Whether it’s the gritty street material (Rucka writing something gritty?) or the cosmic Spectre stuff, Tan nails it all and manages to make it seem fresh. Well done sir.

Spectre is trying to punish Renee for things she thinks she isn’t guilty of. We get some extra emotion (don’t worry there’s more) because Renee and Cris (Spectre) used to be partners. There’s also some spear of destiny business that I’m a little fuzzy on. A fight occurs, but it’s stopped by Spectre taking Renee somewhere. Renee is pissed about some prophecy being fulfilled if she can’t stop it.

Where did Cris take her? To see her old flame, Batwoman, of course. This is supposed to be a kindness before he kills her. He then takes her to the Bat Signal to do the deed. Before cosmic Cris can whack Renee, the Spirit of Mercy shows up. First Libra, now this. Spectre can’t kill anyone (except flamey and rapey).

Things start to get biblical and that aforementioned emotion kicks in as well. Why is Cris mad that the Spirit of Mercy shows up? Because he already had to kill his son as the Spectre! Why didn’t Mercy show up then? Tough stuff! We cut to some more of that spear of destiny stuff and Vandal Savage (Woo hoo!) is there as well. Stuff gets talke.. oh my God! She just stabbed Vandal with the spear of destiny!

Vandal loses his shirt in typical William Shatner fashion and looks all badass with the spear of destiny and a mark on his face. He’s all “Where is the one who marked me? Where is the spirit who must die? Where is Spectre?” Whoa, this shit just got real.

We’re back to the Renee, Cris, and Spirit of Mercy (who is a nun in her human form named Clarice). Things are normal and then anti-life people show up! They attack and Spectre can’t do much to stop them (God doesn’t have much power does he?). Renee gets teleported again and she sees Batwoman on the floor. She’s ok right? Oh no! She’s speaking anti-life!

Whew! Was the last issue this epic? As I said, I was a bit confused in some parts. Please, if anyone could let me know what books to read to understand this stuff it’d be most appreciated. Other than that, I loved it. As I said, it looks great and Rucka is writing some interesting stuff. There are some genuine shocks in here (if you didn’t read my spoilers) and some big things appear to be happening. I like self-contained books, but it’s nice to read a comic that seems incredibly important to Final Crisis as well.

Seventh Soldier Reviews…

Wonder Woman #24

Gail’s Wonder Woman run has been solid all-around - but after the excellent opening arc, the Circle, it lost a lot of momentum, as it was followed by two decent arcs that lacked the emotion or even excitement of the first.  This is the fourth arc of Simone’s run, a small two-issue arc titled ‘Celebrity’.  After Wonder Woman’s very public battle with The Devil, she’s experienced a surge of popularity, and so Hollywood comes calling.

The issue has its strengths - Gail has clearly found the voice of her cast.  The opening scene, between Nemesis and Hippolyta, is absolutely great, and it’s followed by more excellent character work with Diana, the Hollywood execs, and two super-intelligent gorillas.

Of course, the appearance of a villain with a grudge - in this case, the Simone-created Queen of Fables - throws a wrench into the works.  A solid issue, and I have high hopes for the remainder of the arc.

Grade: B+

Green Lantern Corps #28

Green Lantern Corps is a book I’ve only recently begun to pick up in single issues, and I consider it to be a pretty solid book.  Not spectacular, but not pretty good.  That said, I feel that this arc could have benefitted from an extra issue - and an improved threat.  I just don’t feel that five Sinestro Corps members is huge threat for the entire Corps, and I was kind of curious about the fact that it’s mentioned that there is no recording anywhere of that particular race of beings existing.

There are some cool aspects, and the last page of this issue definitely kicks GLC into pre-Blackest Night mode.  It’s a fun issue, but it’s nothing special - the arc as a whole is rather skippable.

Grade: B-

Patsy Walker: Hellcat #3

Patsy Walker: Hellcat opened strong with one of the funnest first issues in recent memory, but the second issue bordered on incomprehensible.  This issue is more in the vein of the first - fun, slightly spastic, cute, and hilarious.  This is the first comic I can remember laughing out loud during in quite some time, and I was laughing out loud more than once.  Part of that is thanks to artist David Lafuente and colorist John Rauch, who do an excellent job throughout at numerous visual gags, and with Patsy’s facial expressions.  Meanwhile, writer Kathryn Immonen goes nuts in this issue, and it leads to good times.

We move on in the story, as we have every issue of the mini thus far.  I’m still not sure WHY the story is happening, but it’s definitely a breath of fresh air, and one that gives Patsy a pretty unique voice in comics.

Grade: A-

Doktor Sleepless #8

Doktor Sleepless opened really strong, but quickly slowed to a snail’s pace.  While there were still interesting ideas in each issue, thanks largely to the back matter, not much was happening.  That said, read on - Doktor Sleepless has come back with a vengeance.  It’s funny, it’s a little scary, it’s insane.  It’s everything that we love Warren Ellis for.  I have a strong feeling that the series will read notably better in trade, but regardless, this was definitely a strong issue, and an excellent way for Ellis to end his first arc.

Grade: B+

Review: Secret Invasion #6 - Spoilers!

Time for more invasion! I’ll just flip through my issue here and I’ll reveal some stuff while giving you my thoughts.

The issue begins with Marvel Boy crashing down. Yay! We’ll get to see what Benids has been planning for him right? Oh, he just watches Captain Mar-Vell die in his arms. Skrully Mar-Vell mentions something about Marvel Boy being “here for a REASON!” Ok, we get it. Why Bendis? I guess we’ll have to wait more (Really? How many months ago was that Illuminati issue with Marvel Boy? And also, I guess the reason why the captain was brought back was just to show that Skrulls have a conscience and then die? That’s kind of weak.)

Next, we see a bunch of the tie-ins mentioned. That’s cool. It gives Bendis a reason to show the Savage Land (again!!!!) and also reminds the reader of the cool comics that have come from SI. Uh, the Skrulls are chatting about stuff and mention that Wasp bomb (Which was already implied in another book).

We next see that ship filled with the people from the Savage Land. Tony mentions that his armor is down. He does have a back-up system, but he’d have to purge the virus. So Tony is down for the issue right? Have you seen all that “embrace change” stuff lately? Well, we get a little bit of that stuff with the cliché “love the aliens” stuff, but not enough for it to be the big deal that Marvel seemed to think it was. We see more of the Nick Fury fight. The Hood and his crew want to go into action, but Hoody is waiting for the right moment. So, it’ll be a big thing when they get involved right?

We see Cap and Thor together. Oh that’s cool, oh wait that was revealed two issues ago, never mind. So, then all the heroes line up and all the green dudes line up and they fight. Remember when Tony said he was down and out unless he could purge the virus? Well, he’s fighting in what seems like top form at the end with no explanation. There’s so much worthless dialogue in this issue, Bendis didn’t have time to explain that? Or do we have to wait for an NA or MA issue, either way it’s crappy. Oh and apparently The Hood found his right moment because he’s in the big fight too. That’s kind of a letdown.

Let’s see what Marvel promised in this issue:

EMBRACE CHANGE! With these words, the Skrulls have made their intentions clear but not everyone thinks they sound all that bad. Which heroes and icons are hell-bent on defending the Earth from the invasion, and who thinks a new era has dawned for mankind? The final double-page spread of this issue will send chills down your spine, and that is a promise!! The blockbuster event of the year heads towards its shattering conclusion by Bendis and Yu.

Well, the embrace change stuff was barely in it. There weren’t any heroes fighting for the Skrulls that I saw. Oh, and that double-page spread didn’t send chills down my spine. They’re cool two pages for sure, but that has nothing to do with the story, it’s just Leinil Yu showing off.

Were there cool moments in this issue? Yes there were. Yu’s art looks impressive as always and of course I loved the Iron Man, Cap, and Thor reunion. But there are just too many things that disappointed. This is issue #6 and it could’ve been issue #3. Well, I’ve ranted enough. This could’ve been a lot better than it is. I guess I’ll just have to turn my brain off the next two issues and enjoy the fun pretty action.

Oh whoops! I forgot something. They finally revealed who “he” is. Spider-Queen says “he loves you” and Spider-Man asks “he who?” Turns out it’s God. Nick Fury replies “Yeah? Well my God has a hammer!” And then action ensues. Can you understand why I forgot it? Something that should have been a big deal turned out to be kind of weird. It was revealed in bizarre fashion too. And who says God is a he anyway? Didn’t Bendis see Dogma? Man this comic rubs me the wrong way. I hope some of you are at least enjoying it as a fun blockbuster.

Spoiler Review: Secret Invasion #6

-Captain Marvel, what say you about Secret Invasion?

*Here’s the thing: Around two years ago, Marvel brought an amnesiac Captain Marvel back during Civil War. At the time, many fans speculated as to the “why”. Later, we learned that the reincarnated Marvel was in fact a Skrull agent, planted on Earth to prepare the way for his brethren. But, this Skrull had second thoughts and managed to subvert his programming. During Secret Invasion, Captain Marvel decided to attack Thunderbolts Mountain (an act whose motive still remains unclear (due in large part to editorial screw-ups, one would think)), but was somehow convinced by Norman Osborn to instead take out his frustration on the orbiting Skrull Armada, and in this issue’s opening pages we watch him die in the arms of a confused (he’s not the only one) Marvel Boy, thus meeting his final epic, yet tragic fate… or so Marvel would have you think. Now, question, was bringing Captain Marvel back into modern continuity just to have him die so unceremoniously in a neglected Secret Invasion subplot worth all the ####ing hassle? Methinks that mayhaps this Secret Invasion death was not the original plan for our old Kree friend. I’d love to ask someone at Marvel this question at the next convention I go to, maybe I should ask Brian Reed?
*Speaking of neglected subplots: Bendis wasted an entire issue of the Illuminati series on Marvel Boy, presumably to prepare us for his stunning return in the pages of Secret Invasion. Thus far, consider me un-stunned. Seriously? What’s with all the wasted character and story potential?

-Ah, hello there Mr. Black Panther! Secret Invasion has firmly been established within tie-in continuity!

-STATUS REPORT… for those, like me, that like keeping score.

*Your agenda appears flawed: I call BULLSHIT! Why isn’t nuking an assembly of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on the blasted agenda?!? Step 1) Lure them to the Savage Land. Step 2) Distract them with doppelgangers. Step 3) BLOW THEM ALL TO HELL!

-WHA!?! You mean that growth serum Skrull-Pym gave the Wasp was actually some type of secret weapon of mass destruction?!? Interesting…

-It’s nice, but does it feel weird to anyone else that the Mighty and New Avengers can occupy the same space and NOT try to kill each other?

-Come on, guys. This isn’t really the time for super hero posturing.

*Obviously, I loved it: Yep, total fanboy moment and I’m not too proud to admit it.

-That’s a lot of Skrulls, yo!

-Oh, BURN! Point to Spider-Woman!

-SNAP! Nick Fury takes the lead!

-…we now join the epic final battle already in progress…

-GALACTUS SKRULL!!!

Gotta say, this issue really got the blood pumping there toward the end. Secret Invasion feels like one of those good old-fashioned beat ‘em up crossovers done in the Mighty Marvel Way, and it’s about damn time! Next issues promises… let me repeat, PROMISES to be 22 pages of FIGHT. That’s fine. We haven’t had one of those since issue two… and that one sucked. Expect to see Marvel Boy finally make an impact, The Hood launch into his master plan and a whole bunch of dead Skrulls… or maybe, not so much? Marvel recently announced the name of the banner that will be appearing on the cover of all the post-Secret Invasion books: “Dark Reign”. I mean, kind of sounds like the Skrulls win, don’t it?

*HEY! Where’s my Maria Hill action?!?