ComicCritic87's Weekly Comic Reviews

ComicCritic87's Weekly Comic Reviews

The beginning of a new month we kick off the next huge event for Marvel

Review Opinion
By StuckInPanels - Apr 04, 2012 06:04 PM EST
Filed Under: Comics

ComicCritic87 Weekly Comic Reviews

Month- April
Week #1- 4/4/12

Hey there friends, I skipped out on last week’s reviews since it was a slightly small week, so I’m back and ready for the big event we have all been waiting for. The Avengers, Earths Mightiest Heroes battling the X-men, the mutant species desperate to avoid extinction; once allies now torn apart by a simple child and her key to the coming power of the phoenix.

Comics this Week

Dark Horse Comics: None
DC Comics: Action Comics #8 and Swamp Thing #8
IDW Comics: None
Image Comics: None
Marvel Comics: Amazing Spider-man #683, Avengers Vs X-men #1, Fearless #12, Thunderbolts #172, and Venom #15

MUST READS

Amazing Spider-man #683: Written by Dan Slott/Artwork by Stefano Caselli
Story: The Avengers battle the Sinister Six, things end badly
Review: Really well done second part of the story. Doesn’t slow down for one second
Writing: Dan Slott continues to do an impressive job with the character. Grade: 75
Artwork: Caselli does an amazing job drawing the heroes and the fights are top notch. Grade: 80
Pros: Fast paced story, Spider-man and his new suit, Avengers fighting the Sinister Six
Cons: Thor holding diplomatic power (?)
Grade: 77.5

Avengers Vs X-men #1: Written by Brian Michael Bendis/Artwork by John Romita Jr
Story: The Phoenix is on the way as Cyclops throws the first punch to start the clash.
Review: Great start off to the event of the summer. Great use of both teams in the first issue
Writing: Bendis does a good job writing off the first part of the event. Grade: 84
Artwork: John Romita Jr does a great style with his artwork, get over it. Grade: 90
Pros: Huge Event, Great Beginning, Nice amount of exposition and action
Cons: Cyclops being more of a douche than ever.
Grades: 87

Swamp Thing #8: Written by Scott Snyder/Artwork by Yanick Paquette
Story: Alec becomes the Swamp Thing Warrior King and battles Sethe and the Rot.
Review: One of the best comics out there, a wonder to behold.
Writing: Scott Snyder does an AMAZING job with this character and story. Grade: 95
Artwork: The new looks of Swamp Thing is amazing. The world of the Rot is great too. Grade: 90
Pros: Top notch writing and artwork, amazing story, shocking ending
Cons: How does Swamp Thing fly with leaves?
Grade: 92.5

READABLE
Action Comics #8: Written by Grant Morrison/Artwork by Rags Morales
Story: Superman battles Brainiac and saves Metropolis, now donning his new outfit.
Review: A fun issue with a pretty good ending setting the stage for something bigger
Writing: Grant Morrison does a good job writing Superman. Grade: 77
Artwork: Morales art is nicely done; his style is good with costume details. Grade: 75
Pros: Nice ending, Superman fighting Brainiac
Cons: Luthor helping out Clark
Grade: 76

Fear itself: The Fearless #12: Written by Bunn, Fraction, Yost/Artwork by Bagley
Story: Val returns from the dead and defeats the Sleeper. She also finds a new lease on life.
Review: A fitting conclusion to a pretty decent post event.
Writing: The team does a good job where they write keeping a good flow. Grade: 70
Artwork: Top notch with amazing amount of stuff going on. Grade: 75
Pros: Val’s swan song of a tale
Cons: The ending sets up for something else
Grade: 72.5

Thunderbolts #172: Written by Jeff Parker/Artwork by Delcan Shevley
Story: The present Thunderbolts do battle with the Thunderbolts from the 90s
Review: A very clever take on time travel adventures.
Writing: Parker does a great job with the characters and their personalities. Grade: 79
Artwork: Shevley does a great job with the art, each character nicely detailed. Grade: 80
Pros: 90s return in a good way
Cons: Boomerang alters the past with no repercussions
Grade: 79.5

PASS/FANS ONLY

Venom #15- Written by Rick Remender/Artwork by Lan Medina
Story: Venom joins the Secret Avengers
Review: A slight improvement from the Circle of Four event but still lacks too oomph
Writing: Remender does a good job working both the SA and Venom together. Grade: 65
Artwork: The cover is AWESOME but the inner artwork is meh. Grade: 64
Pros: Flash and Val love interest? Sweet Cover
Cons: Flash giving up on love, Eddie Brock shocking return
Grade: 64.5

Well that’s all for this week friends. Catch you later.

ASTONISHING X-MEN And PLANETARY Artist John Cassaday Has Passed Away Aged 52
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Weedbeater
Weedbeater - 4/4/2012, 8:17 PM
I was surprised about how good avengers vs. x-men was. I really hate Bendis but I dug it. He streamlined his typical dialogue idiosyncrasies into something digestible and reading. Also, I will stress this again and again, You should be reading Animal Man.

good reviews dude

Destroyer14
Destroyer14 - 4/5/2012, 7:23 AM
Great reviews man, AVX was fantastic. I'm going to try something a little different with my reviews, look for them later.
manymade1
manymade1 - 4/5/2012, 11:47 AM
The Venom series must be taking a turn for the worst. I'd heard it started off great now it's getting bad reviews everywhere.
StuckInPanels
StuckInPanels - 4/5/2012, 12:33 PM
@Many...it has, the beginning was some of the best characterization of not only Flash Thompson but his struggle to be human and not succumb to the venom suit. Now that he is with the Secret Avengers he has control of over, that basically makes him less more interesting of a character. It was that battle of wills that kept it interesting. Then the Circle of Four event came in and ruined it all. I think they should have kept Venom as a solo character, a true loner.
Weedbeater
Weedbeater - 4/5/2012, 2:24 PM
keeping venom as a loner would ruin character progression
Destroyer14
Destroyer14 - 4/5/2012, 3:24 PM
I thought the Circle of Four was a fun little event.
Weedbeater
Weedbeater - 4/5/2012, 3:26 PM
the problem with circle of four was the number of different writers on the project. Also, Marvel events have no long-lasting outcomes so it seems pointless
StuckInPanels
StuckInPanels - 4/5/2012, 4:05 PM
Venom to me doesn't scream team player. He's supposed to be a special ops agent. I know he sounds perfect for the Secret Avengers but they have a well established crew already
Weedbeater
Weedbeater - 4/5/2012, 5:53 PM
I know he isn't really a team player but still its nice to see characters progress and be written differently
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