Hey all, I'm back and not well rested, my small break was good during the day but sucked at night. I was at the Shore and was in a hotel with terrible bedding. Anyways it was fun but I do have some energy left to continue to do these reviews for you all. Today we got a nice helping of Fun Reads, Awesome Exposition, and Intriguing Plots. This week we finally see the return of Mark Millar doing what he does best, Matt Fraction now takes over THOR, The Avengers meeting with an unlikely person, Who exactly is that “Nick” Fury person, The students confronting Osborn, and Power Girl gaining an ally. That's right this week has Avengers #5, Avengers Academy #4, Nemesis #3, Power Girl #16, Secret Avengers #5, and THOR #615
Avengers #5
Story: The Avengers continue the battle in the past while the others deal with the future events. A potential new event called the Ultron War is taking place, They discover the Time line is screwed up and is folding in on itself. They return to the moment where Apocalypse enters and continue the fight briefly. The group goes into the future once more but to a time prior and meet the threat of this arc.
Review: This is by far the best issue of the first arc in this new relaunch of the Avengers. This issue mainly handles the team that is sent into the future. We do get some quick pages of the team stuck in the destructive present where all the heroes are at a loss with what to do when all this chaos occurring around them and unable to stop it all. The best part of those present sets are Thor fighting Galactus. The main attraction of this issue is that the Next Avengers plot in the beginning was basically a red herring, a simple ploy used by a younger Kang to lure the team into the future. The real baddie is the Avengers ultimate nemesis, ULTRON. That switch to me was a good idea and a great twist because it was never hinted or mentioned at the possibility of Ultron's involvement until this issue. I did find it strange that we went back to prior events before the destructive present and into a moment in time where they meet the unlikely person. Now the prospect of an Ultron War may come to us in the near future.
Artwork: Romita's art style in this title feels pretty much spot on. The simplicity and yet colorful design of the characters is a warm welcome to some of the other artworks and style out there. Once again we get another funny Thor face when clashing with Galactus. The most interesting thing which is hard to tell if its a coloring error or intentional is hard to tell. There are a few panels with Wolverine and Protector(Noh-Var) have red eyes. Also the two different designs of Ultron are really bad-ass, one appears to be him combined with the Destroyer armor and one at the end with a sleek redesign and a menacing head.
Grade: This was a stupendous issue, full of stronger story-telling, amazing action scenes and Romita's artwork continues to impress with its color and simplistic yet well detailed characters. This issue gets an A-
Avengers Academy #4
Story: Continuing for the Scared Straight arc, Mettle, Veil, and Hazmat have found Norman Osborn and confront him for what he has done to the three of them. This issue begins with the quick origins of Mettle, who enjoyed surfing but an accident caused his power to activate, Norman discovers this and “fixes” him. As the three deal with Osborn, who tells them that there is a cure for them not even Hank Pym knows of, but cannot do a thing about it just yet. As the kids return they are attacked but they are saved by their teachers and are ordered to leave by Cage.
Review: I'm surprised we got this issue. I mean Thunderbolts wrapped up the Scared Straight arc with only one issue and they immediately entered the Shadowland. While Avenger Academy lags to the split the arc into the two issues. It's cool to see each issue introduce the origin of how these young cadets have gained their powers and how Osborn made them into what they are today. We still got Striker and Reptil left to cover and those two pages are no longer needed and can focus on more story lines. This is what I like to call a stalling issue, we are getting story but its nor progressing. We are getting all these back stories that follow the same beats; normal life, power activates, Norman comes in, Messes with them, and now seek vengeance against him. So hopefully after this issue, we pick up the pace and get in more action of the team actually doing something.
Artwork: The character designs with some of the members of the Thunderbolts is truly a contrast especially since seeing Juggernaut in this art style is much slimmer and in the Thunderbolts title. The origin scene with Mettle is truly odd...if you look on the ground it looks like Osborn basically tore up the kids skin. The character designs are still amazing and the coloring of the teachers are the best.
Grade: This was a stalled issue but still worth a good read but you gotta get through a ton of exposition. The artwork is nice but what a random moment that was with the skin. This issue gets a B-.
Nemesis #3
Story: Without spoiling anything...Serious S@!T goes down in this issue. Bad bad things occur. Nemesis is caught but gets free, captures the Commissioners kids and does something horrible to them. And The cops go down for the final showdown with Nemesis.
Review: I don't know where to begin with this issue. First, its glad to see this issue making its official release. Second this is Millar's most messed up and exploited issue ever released....EVER!!! I...I can't even say what are the most horrible parts of this issue....I just can't...you all have to go out and read this issue.
Artwork: This artwork is bloody, the mixture of Nemesis's white costume and the ruby red blood mixed in is amazing. The whole look and feel of this series is about the gritty and unabashed style is just pure awesome and can't wait to see issue #4 top this.
Grade: Just pure jaw dropping writing and story with dark gritty and dirty artwork. This issue gets an A+
Power Girl #16
Story: Power Girl is first seen fighting a bondage looking person. It goes back to a few days prior where an employee says he knows her true identity. He calls her out by saying her company was just because she is bored. She tells him that she wants to help and never wanted anyone hurt. She meets up with Batman and he gives her a surveillance room for her former employee to use and help her with providing important details and information.
Review: This was a fun issue to read. This issue is the first part in a new arc, which was a great and seamless transitions I have ever seen in a title. This was another exposition issue. We get some quick closures of certain characters that were part of the series and adds some interesting emotions to have shown with Karen. The quick fight scene in the beginning was pretty cool and sets up for a huge reveal next issue. I find it cool that Power Girl is upping with some language but still bleeped out.
Artwork: Great art for this series, but Connors did an amazing job with the character design and light hearted look while Basri gives us a more realistic and grounded version of the characters. The facial expressions are some of the best expressions I seen in some comics lately.
Grade: Improving story and adding drama to an otherwise fun and campy like title, this series keeps getting better. The artwork is great and the facial expressions are top notch. This issue gets an A-
Secret Avengers #5
Story: We get an entire issue devoted to the mystery man who looks like Nick Fury. It turns out to be that it a clone of Nick Fury who discovers he is a clone. He gets freed by the shadow council and is tasked to keep watch of the Secret Avengers or destroy them.
Review: This is was really fun read, kinda of a stall issue but its a great way of clarifying that the character was not the real Nick Fury but a clone. The storyline as to how this clone lived a rough life and changes his name to “Max” Fury. This entire issue is just back story and exposition but it keeps every page interesting and wants you to learn more of this clone.
Artwork: Deodato did the artwork for this but it seems entirely different as to what we been seeing. The artwork changes from a better version of his dark Avengers style to a Steranko style with the Cloned Fury, which fits amazingly well for this issue.
Grade: A great exposition story with old style artwork gives this issue a B+
THOR #615
Story: A scientist tells Asgards greatest scientific mind the Multiverse theory and that Asgard on earth is causing problems that will destroy the Life Tree(Yggdrasil) has a gap in it that must be filled or else. Meanwhile on one of the 9 worlds, these Blue Elves are attacked by these red beings who slaughter them. We cut to Thor over looking Asgard and is met by Sif. He tells her that he misses his brother. He leaves her there while Thor and Blake have a talk about who is right or wrong. Thor finds Balder and tells him to not dwell on the past but to become a strong king. The Scientist warns the Asgardian Scientist, who is Volstagg(LOLZ)that whatever is coming for them is out to destroy the people of Asgard.
Review: Matt Fraction has delivered with this new run of Thor, I was sold. I loved the way that this issue is mainly a quick explanation issue for newbies but also for the die hard fans to get some fun lessons on the nine realms and who the creatures are in it. Seeing Thor sad is an interesting twist because he is all action in the other runs. I'm sure some of you worried but all the dialog and characters we are introduced to come and go fast and we are gonna focus much more on Thor contending with the bigger threat. My favorite part was the talk Thor and Blake had, it shows that despite being one in the same, Thor and Blake are contrasts to one another and Thor threatening Blake is kinda funny. The Volstagg reveal was great and got a chuckle out of me.
Artwork: Ferry has some great style when it comes to adding a sci-fi sensibility to any title. I loved the way he handles Blake and Thor. Seeing Blake as an apparition that follows Thor while Thor has taken control, so seeing Thor in that version will be cool to see. I thought the Blue elves were very Na'vi like and either intentional or a joke because they get slaughtered demon things. Everyone still has their designs and looks from the JMS and Kieron runs and to me, this art fits really well with these characters.
Grade: For giving us a new fresh start, well thought out start for the new run along with spacy and sci-fi inspired artwork fits to the cosmic feel of the old days. I give this issue an A
And those are my takes on this weeks batch of comic reviews. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do. I also have a quick update on new things to read. I will skip this coming week 9/29 reviews because I will only be picking up Amazing Spider-man #644 and Wonder Woman #603..so for that week I will skip over it and do those in the 10/6 batch. Also in terms of my new reviews coming up, I will pick up and review the Cosmic War event, because the boast that its bigger than the Infinity Gauntlet got my ears perked. Same with Superior and Kick-ass 2, I will have those be in my roster. So that's all for now. Catch you all when I post my next article. ComicCritic87 OUT!!!!