Top 10 2008: Comics

10. SECRET INVASIONIssues #1-8 / Written by Brian Bendis, Art by Leinil Yu

You'll note that this is the only Skrull-related comic in the top ten, mostly because I was absolutely green in the face (PUNZ) after about two months of all the wrinkly-chinned hullabaloo. It got old, Marvel. And yeah, as the flagship series this series weighed way too heavily on slow-paced action and not enough on big reveals or characterization...or plot really. But okay, the art was amazing, the entire creative team was A-list (Mark Morales and Laura Martin rounded out the team, and they're the biggest inker and colorist working today) and the kick-off issue was downright paranoid glee. Good stuff and, as a whole, a bit more sturdy than Civil War. So that's it, no more Skrulls on this list. For the most part.

9. UNCANNY X-MEN
Issues #494-505 / Written by Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction, Art by Mike Choi, Greg Land and Terry Dodson

A lot of Uncanny's 2008 was spent with its wheels furiously spinning around with the car parked in neutral (that car metaphor works, right?). The great "Messiah Complex" storyline of 2007 ended and, well, led into five months of farting around until the fancy and multiple-covered 500th issue. Since then things have been slowly improving, with Fraction (and a bit of Brubaker) bringing in a bunch of slow-burning plots that all seem to be destined to dovetail together in a big ol' Claremont-ian event of awesomeness. Along with having a downright retro feel, the book is also breaking new ground with the current San Francisco locale change which has made a huge impact on the line as a whole. It's not great yet, and Fraction can do great things, so I'm looking forward to 2009.

8. ASTONISHING X-MEN
Issues #24-27 and Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1 / Written by Joss Whedon and Warren Ellis, Art by John Cassaday and Simone Bianchi

The stellar Whedon and Cassaday run came to an end with a truly epic moment and probably the biggest sacrifice the X-Men have endured since...well, the first death of Phoenix. There's not much more I can say about that part of Astonishing's run that I haven't said before. Whedon ruled, Cassaday did the best art any x-book has seen in a long time, the only problem was with the book's scheduling and the fact that the big climax was ruined in the other titles a month before said issue hit. Following that team's run was going to be hard, but Ellis and Bianchi haven't done...horribly. Okay, Bianchi's art is...odd...but I always appreciate Ellis' insane take on tradition and his seeming respect for continuity. This is no longer the flagship title but under Ellis, it's an okay one.

7. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON EIGHT
Issues #10-20 / Written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, Art by Georges Jeanty and Karl Moline

2008 was split between two storylines, one stellar and one fun, and a couple one-off issues that were all enjoyable. Drew Goddard's "Wolves at the Gate" really nailed the humor, conflict and bloody death that made the best episodes of Buffy memorable. The more recent "Time of Your Life" crossed over with Fray, a series that I just read. This was plagued by a bit of a delay, a fact that hurt the story a lot since I had no clue what Fray was all about. I now do. The storyline was better in retrospect. Big things are coming in Buffy, and I'm stoked.

6. CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI: 13
Issues #1-8 / Written by Paul Cornell, Art by Leonard Kirk

If you had told me a year ago that a series starring Captain Britain and a bunch of D-List English heroes would be in my top ten list of 2008, above two X-Books, I would have said something ridiculously sarcastic, rolled my eyes and walked away asking myself why you even bothered talking to me. And now, here we are, stepping into 2009 and Captain Britain is one of my most-anticipated books each month. Solid art, intricate and careful characterization and some big ol' action with a shot of the UK added in. It's a pretty great read month in and month out and MI: 13 is becoming a ragtag group of heroes up there with the old school X-Factor team. Good stuff.

5. RUNAWAYS
Volume 2 Issues #29-30, Volume 3 Issues #1-5 / Written by Joss Whedon and Terry Moore, Art by Michael Ryan and Humberto Ramos

This book spent most of 2007...um...not coming out, so it was nice to have seven months of Runaways in 2008. Both of the creative teams lacked what the other had and vice versa. Michael Ryan has the strong storytelling that Humberto Ramos lacks, but Ramos makes up for it with tons of attitude and charisma. And while Terry Moore is crafting a story that feels much more like Runaways than Whedon's time travel story, there's no denying that Whedon's run was much funnier and snappier. So, you know, good and bad. Overall I'm ecstatic about where this book is going, especially because it's coming out regularly again. Moore may not be as flashy or buzzworthy as Whedon, but he really appreciates these characters and knows how to craft stories with them. The future is bright.

4. X-FACTORIssues #27-38, Layla Miller and Quick & The Dead one-shots / Written by Peter David, Art by Pablo Raimondi, Valentine De Landro and Larry Stroman

The first half of 2008, X-Factor was experiencing a creative rebirth. Wolfsbane's departure yielded one of the series' best issues and led into one of its best storylines with "The Only Game in Town." That arc was aptly named as it was the only X-Book to really kick the events of "Messiah Complex" into high gear instead of sitting around for five months. The two one-shots spotlighting Quicksilver and the time-displaced Layla Miller were real highlights, especially Layla Miller. And then...well, the team moved to Detroit and lost a lot of its appeal. This coincided with the awkward return of Larry Stroman, a move that was highly anticipated and ended up disappointing. With 2008's close, Stroman has departed and Peter David has acknowledged the series' slide. He promises that things are going to pick up and with Madrox and Siryn's baby being born right now, well, I believe him.

3. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN
Issues #118-129 / Written by Brian Bendis, Art by Stuart Immonen

Yeah, this is probably the best this book has ever been. Stuart Immonen's art is perfectly suited for the title and the fresh energy he has brought to Spidey has completely rejuvenated Bendis' writing. Venom, Gwen Stacy, last month's arrest of Aunt May...everything is illustrated with a detailed urgency unlike any this series has ever seen. Bagley was great, yeah, but this title really needed an offbeat artist to make it stand out. The teenage angst has never been this palpable. This is the only "Ultimate" book that matters.

2. X-MEN/X-MEN: LEGACY
Issues #207-219 / Written by Mike Carey, Art by Scot Eaton

This is also the title everyone either loved or hated in 2008. I, obviously, fell on the "love it" side. Of course I'm obsessed with continuity, so Mike Carey going back and fixing past wrongs and making every bit of mutant minutiae make sense had me in giggle fits every month. We saw Hazard again this year, people! Hazard! He appeared like, once! Fifteen years ago! Awesome! But seriously, Carey's doing all this while telling a smart story and making Professor X a relatable and complex character. Plus, you know, Gambit came back and didn't suck. So, that was cool. The Legacy setup is ending soon I think, and Carey said the book is going to change into something else that has never been seen in this corner of the Marvel Universe. I'm excited to see where this book goes.

1. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Issues #546-581 / Written by Dan Slott, Bob Gale, Zeb Wells, Marc Guggenheim, Joe Kelly and Mark Waid, Art by Steve McNiven, Salvador Larroca, Phil Jimenez, Chris Bachalo, Barry Kitson, Marcos Martin, Mike McKone and John Romita Jr.

Thirty-six issues. This one comic alone shipped three times the amount it normally does in a year and somehow managed to make every one of them (of the twenty I read) the most worthy additions to the legendary Spider-Man mythos that I've read in my long tenure reading comics. The writers and artists listed up there are not only among the best in the industry, they're among my personal favorites. Slott and Romita Jr.'s "New Ways to Die" arc was a thrilling read every week, an arc that successfully re-purposed Eddie Brock and brought him back from obscurity. Marcos Martin's page layouts during his two storylines ("Peter Parker, Paparazzi" and "Unscheduled Stop") were divine, his completely unparalleled and unique vision of the webhead surely inspiring artists all over the country to give it a try. And of course, I can't say enough about all of Chris Bachalo's work on the title, especially his arc with writer Joe Kelly. Their two-part "Family Ties" arc was simply, well, amazing. Spider-Man's one-liners had never been so hilarious and his look had never been so abstractly exhilirating. In all of Marvel Comics, there really is none better when you look at the monumental goal they set for themselves by deciding to publish thirty-six issues in a year and see how they succeeded. And no, "One More Day" did NOT need to happen and Peter Parker SHOULD still be with Mary Jane, but "Brand New Day" is the best thing that could have happened to Spider-Man. Things are only going to get better.

Comics: 2-27-08

ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL #4
Plot: Joss Whedon & Brian Lynch
Writer: Brian Lynch
Illustrator: Franco Urru
Colorist: Jason Jensen
Letterer: Robbie Robbins
Editor: Chris Ryall

Every issue of After The Fall so far has successfully added new information and, with this issue, re-introduced the entire main cast. There have been surprises and shocks, twists and turns, and everything is coming to a head quickly. There's no decompression here and this feels more like an old school comic book than a padded-for-the-trades title. But something is not clicking.

That something is the art.

Franco Urru may be a solid penciler, but he is definitely not a solid inker. His figures are ill-defined, doughy, and lack any type of emotion. He's a competent enough storyteller but his characters do not emote and, in some cases, don't even have proper faces. It's ugly, distracting, and a major detriment to the title. Honestly, Rob Liefeld would almost be preferable because even though he is a horrible storyteller and has no grasp on anatomy, at least his characters have a kind of structure and energy behind them. Liefeld's work has a completely misguided passion behind it that at least resonates so strongly that it causes outright disgust and laughter. Nothing comes through from Urru's work. No passion, no emotion, not even the urge for me to mock it. It's simply bad. I mean, look at the preview for next month's issue. "The Gang's All Here." Illyria, Angel, Spike, Connor, Gunn and Lorne I recognize. I assume the guy in sunglasses (?) is Wesley. The two females have to be Gwen and Werewolf Lady, although I would hardly consider them part of the gang and they aren't even that distinguishable from each other. And then there's...Xander? Matthew Perry? Jon Stewart? Seriously, who is this guy?

The story, as I said, is okay so far. I like that things are moving along quickly; this issue feels more like #7 than #4. The arrival of Groo is...well, who really wanted to see him again? It feels more like he's there because this is a comic and producers don't have to convince the actor to return (although I doubt it would be hard to pull him away from whatever romance novel cover he's posing for). Whatever, it's an okay development.

I just read that issues #6-8 will feature different artists, including John Byrne. Hopefully Urru won't come back.

MY SCORE: 7.8/10


KICK-ASS #1
"Issue One"
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Tom Palmer
Colorist: Dean White
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Alternate Cover: Steve McNiven
Cover Inks: Klaus Janson
Editor: John Barber
Editorial Assistant: Michael Horowitz
Production: Anthony Dial & Irene Lee
SVP of Business Affiars & Talent Management: David Bogart
Created By: Mark Millar & John Romita Jr.

Between this and the surprise of X-Men: Legacy, this was Romita Wednesday. For a first issue featuring a completely original character and world, Kick-Ass kicked my ass. I am immediately invested in the lead character, I'm totally hooked to the next issue by the cliffhanger, and I can't wait to find out how he gets into the predicament that opens the book. I felt sympathy for Dave when it was revealed that his mother died of a non-revengeable aneurysm. I love that Dave's dad is a good man who loves his son and not a stereotypical abusive absentee. All of the nerd trappings and the lovingly drawn pictures at the top make the horror of what happens to Dave at the end of the issue even more gripping. I'm a little bit in love with this issue.

The art is a true standout. Romita Jr. is detailed, dynamic, and one of the best storytellers in comic history. Dean White's colors go well with Romita's art, giving it a both realistic and nostalgic tone. The palette is soft, reminding me almost of A Christmas Story in a way. It's warm and inviting, and then horrific. Awesomely done.

A lot depends on issue #2, I guess. If it can keep up at least half of the momentum, it'll be a must-buy. For now, it's a darn fine start.

MY SCORE: 9.2/10


NEW WARRIORS v.4 #9
"Thrashed part 1"
Writer: Kevin Grevioux
Penciler: Paco Medina
Inker: Juan Vlasco
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Nic Klein
Production: Paul Acerios
Editor: Daniel Ketchum
Executive Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Jubilee gets a new costume. And is called variations of Jubilee throughout the issue. But I assume she's still Wondra. Come on, a title like New Warriors where the entire cast is almost interchangeable does not need to start changing costumes and, apparently, codenames! We haven't even learned the old ones! Surely it wouldn't be hard for Marvel to slap some character IDs on the recap page. They do it for Young Avengers Presents and this book has twice as many characters. I'm starting to get the hang of it. Even though I can't tell you the codenames to anyone on the cover aside from Night Thrasher and Jubilee/Wondra, I can at least figure out who the rest of them used to be. Except for the black guy whose sister died. Still don't know who he is.

Geez. That's a problem.

Thankfully the art is back in the capable hands of Paco Medina. He has a distinct style and is finally on a book that seems to match his talents for drawing flashy heroics, a talent wasted back in his New X-Men: Academy X days. Grevioux is finally letting his "Night Thrasher is sneaky" subplot boil over to satisfying results. I like that it's Jubilee calling him out on it to Chamber, er, Jono, er, whatever his new code name is. They do have history and Chamber's confiding in Jubilee is a great touch. I'm also happy that a non-X-book (even if the book stars 100% former X-Men) acknowledges Destiny's diaries and then realizes that Jubilee could see through it. Continuity, good.

The action in the issue is pointless; Alpha-Clan is unknown to me and the fight between them amounts to "let us pass" and "no." As a way to show how manipulative Night Thrasher is, it works. As a part of the story I should care about as a reader, not so much at all.

An okay issue. It is beyond ludicrous that none of the characters are identifiable and this book is, so far, surviving on really good art and the mystery with Night Thrasher. That isn't going to be enough for much longer.

MY SCORE: 7.8/10


SHE-HULK v.2 #26
"The Whole Hero Thing conclusion"
Writer: Peter David

Penciler: Shawn Moll with Val Semeiks

Inker: Victor Olazaba

Coloring: Avalon’s Rob Ro

Lettering: Dave Sharpe

Cover Artists: Greg Land, Jay Leisten and Rainier Beredo

Production: Paul Acerios

Assistant Editor: Thomas Brennan

Editor: Stephen Wacker

Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada

Publisher: Dan Buckley

I've started reviewing comics at Comixfan, so from time to time I'll link to that site for the review. This is one of those times. Link! Odds are I'll repost the entire review with my own 1-10 rating next week when it's not so topical.


ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #119
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Cover: Stuart Immonen & Richard Isanove
Production: Irene Lee
Assistant Editor: Lauren Sankovitch
Editor: Bill Rosemann
Senior Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Another fun issue of Ultimate Spider-Man, which has become more of a joy to read with Stuart Immonen's fresh take on the series. There's no new ground being broke here, just more of the same with characters you've come to really enjoy. While "more of the same" may sound bad, it's actually a good thing considering the rest of the Marvel and Ultimate universes are being gobbled up by big events. Liz's reaction to being a mutant (maybe) is the freak-out we actually don't see all that often. I'm trying to think, but most stories I can recall feature most mutants already having had their powers for enough time to either be comfortable with them or depressed. It's rare that we see the eruption of power and the confusing rush of emotions that follow. This is one of the few times where, as a reader, I think Peter Parker is a little bit nuts. We get to see how he really thinks and his own motivations come through when he basically tells Liz that she has to be a superhero now. It's actually a lot more simple than that, and I agree with Liz. She doesn't have to be a hero (she does have to go to school, so I don't agree with all of it). Iceman's immature asides are also hilarious, especially the bit with Spidey pointing out Iceman's huge ice trail. The end would have worked better if it wasn't completely spoiled by the cover; still, Immonen's Magneto is an imposing figure indeed.

Good issue. Immonen is still making this title fun.

MY SCORE: 8.3/10


X-MEN: LEGACY #208
"From Genesis To Revelations"
Writer: Mike Carey
Pencilers: John Romita Jr. & Scot Eaton

Inkers: Klaus Janson & John Dell

Colorists: Christina Strain & Frank D'Armata

Assistant Editor: Will Panzo

Editor: Nick Lowe

Executive Editor: Axel Alonso

Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada

Publisher: Dan Buckley

This comic surprised me completely. John Romita Jr. My favorite penciler in all of comicdom making a return to the X-Men universe after 15 years (which is coincidentally how long I've been collecting X-Men comics). Romita was the first regular artist I associated with the X-Men and to see his art on the first page without knowing about his involvement prior made my inner fanboy giggle. If the premise of your retitled X-Men book is a trip down the secret parts of Xavier's brain and the X-Men's history, no other currently working artist can do it BUT Romita Jr. He has drawn the X-Men to amazing results twice and is one of the biggest names in the industry. And, unlike John Byrne, his art is just as powerful now as it was in his x-days. The giant collages of X-Men past and present are so beautiful, I want to frame them and put them in my living room (sorry, roomie). Scot Eaton's art is good as well and provides a nice contrast to the "mindscape" art.

Since the biggest selling point on this issue is the art, I will talk about the coloring next. D'Armata has gotten plenty of high profile gigs despite being one of the most annoying colorists in recent memory. Every one of Eaton's characters are impossibly shiny, looking like they just lubed themselves up. It's unnatractive at best. Also, it's pretty obvious that Exodus is some non-white ethnicity (his wiki entry states that he has fuschia skin, which I never knew was on purpose), but he is colored almost purple in this issue which is completely against his past colorations. It's extreme. He has been colored white or the same color as the Native American characters in previous appearances and to all of a sudden look like a victim of Willy Wonka's factory is jarring. Christina Strain, the gorgeous colorist for Runaways, does some breathtaking work with Romita's images.

For a premise change, this one is interesting. The title change is justified and I'm excited about where this is going. Maybe it was just seeing Moira MacTaggert alive with all of her fiery Scottish passion. Maybe it was seeing Xavier defending his questionable idea of making a mutant army. Maybe it was seeing Cyclops' role as brilliant tactitian and uncapable leader restated this month like the last issue of Uncanny. Mike Carey knows his mythos and I'm excited to see what else he digs up.

The notion that Exodus would save Xavier to preserve a mutant champion when they most need him is far-fetched in theory but in line with Exodus' history. He's never been outright evil, more a follower and a proponent of the survival of mutants. I could see him overcoming the obvious ideological differences he has with Xavier to save him. Plus, there's always the reasoning that Xavier is way more dangerous as a martyr. Carey doesn't explain how Exodus and Karima survived apparently dying during Messiah Complex. I know we should rarely believe that a character has died, but this issue flashes back to that battle and Exodus looks just fine. Very inconsistent and, um, that should have been addressed.

It seems like the fallout from Messiah Complex is a big nothing. All of the books are out now save Cable and every one of them seems to be low key and self contained. I'm fine with this since we're not rushing headlong into the next event. Bold new direction with Romita Jr.? I'm on board.

MY SCORE: 8.9/10

Comics: 1-30-08

MIGHTY AVENGERS #8
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inkers: Danny Miki & Crime Lab Studios' Allen Martinez & Victor Olazaba
Colorist: Justin Ponsor & Stephane Peru
Letterer: Artmonkeys' Dave Lanphear
Production: Rich Ginter
Associate Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Mark Bagley's catch-up job on Mighty Avengers ships another issue just three weeks after the previous one, which is also the same week that New Avengers finally ships the final part to their "Trust" arc. Both of the books are almost at the same place, continuity wise, but this doesn't stop the whole thing from being a mess. Like I said (probably) in the review to #7, all drama in this issue is completely gone since, really, a good chunk of this story was already published back in New Avengers #36. That issue was released on November 14th. That's crazy-bad scheduling. We've had to wait since then to find out exactly what Tony Stark did to rid New York City of the symbiote bomb that, literally, was there one page and not there the next in that New issue. We find out in this issue of Mighty that he just whipped up an antidote, real nice and quick like. I mean, I guess that's okay. I am not a fan of unnecessarily convoluted remedies and mechanical macguffins that pop up out of nowhere, but there's nothing more than one of Mr. Fantastic's computers analyzing a sample symbiote and producing the magic cure. That Iron Man then sprays everywhere. Problem solved. We waited two and a half months for that?

There are also some frustrating errors when reading these two issues back to back. Again, I have to stress how lax I am with continuity these days, especially with Quesada's Marvel. But both of these books are written by the same guy and the dialogue in both books is the same as well, meaning that Bendis definitely looked at the issue of New when scripting this issue. I can get that there are little asides and bits of dialogue that are not in each issue. That's fine. I look at this as being two different cuts of the same movie, with Bendis choosing what word balloons to include to enhance each story. That's fine. But. Why, then, does a phrase that Wonder Man says in New turn into one that Ms. Marvel says in Mighty? And, biggest mix-up of all, why does an entire scene with Luke Cage comforting an attack victim in New turn into, same dialogue and all, Hawkeye (Ronin, Clint, whatever) in Mighty? Yeah, it's obvious that Iron Man confronting Hawkeye is good drama for Mighty Avengers, but why blatantly change the character? Couldn't Bendis have made Hawkeye help another victim with different dialogue? Whatever. Bendis is writing so many books a month, I guess we can't expect him to keep them all straight even when he goes out of his way to make them depict the exact same story.

But. Overall. The issue has good art. The characters are all interesting and issues like this really drive home the difference between and the need for two Avengers titles. Also, Iron Man's comment about Wolverine being a symbiote once ("What hasn't he done?") is great. The buildup to "Secret Invasion" is still keeping me interested, it's just when Bendis does issues with blatant continuity errors like this I have huge worries about him planning a line wide event.

MY SCORE: 8.2/10


NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #2
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Carlo Pagulayan
Inker: Jeff Huet
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: RS & Comicraft's Albert Deschesne
Associate Editor: Molly Lazer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Sadly, I'm going to continue on my continuity rants since they're all that is holding the Avengers titles back from greatness. Really, I have a lot of fun reading these comics and Bendis has made me care about characters that I've never even given two shakes about before.

Complaint #1: Dr. Strange has, at some point, been attacked by the Hulk during the Marvel event "World War Hulk" and is now the victim of broken hands. A plot point that comes into play in this issue. A plot point that hasn't come up at all since this whole epic storyline started way back in New Avengers #27 almost a year ago. This book has been so densely plotted, I can't piece where Strange was supposed to have slipped away to get his hands jacked up. Therefore, he's been like this the whole time, a fact that hasn't mattered at all until now probably because Bendis didn't know that other people were using his characters in the rest of the Marvel Universe. This is more of an editorial problem, I'd say. I almost respect Bendis turning this awkward turn of events into a pivotal part of the story (it turns out he's been in cahoots with dark magic to mask his crippled hands) but it just reeks of rewrite and acts almost like a cop out. The bad guys win. They kill the Avengers. And Dr. Strange uses his dark voodoo to resurrect them, voodoo he didn't have until Bendis was clued in on a story that, yep editors, he should have been told about a year ago.

Complaint #2: Ms. Marvel shows up and lets the renegade Avengers go free, letting their good deeds and the bigger picture outweigh their unregistered status. Wait, did I just describe the ending to New Avengers #36/Mighty Avengers #8 or this annual? Oh. All three. That's right. In two comics that came out on the SAME DAY that tell stories that, seriously, probably take place no more than a day (if even half a day) apart from each other, Ms. Marvel lets them go. And no one says anything. This is just lazy. I like that Bendis let one of Ms. Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. grunts voice concern over this but, really, it should have been Ms. Marvel herself expressing her concerns over continually letting these guys go.

Complaint #3: Spider-Man. There's no linear continuity gaff here; the last year's worth of both Avengers titles have probably occurred over, what, a week at most? So yeah, he's still in the black costume. That's fine. It's just that he's walking around with his mask off all over the place, a huge plot point which was just negated under a month ago in The Most Confusing Marvel Story Ever being told right now in Amazing Spider-Man. No one knows that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Everyone's memories were altered by Mephisto. So that means that Marvel has just published a story that was, essentially, negated and altered in another story that's still on the stands. The whole notion of no one knowing who Spider-Man is is so ludicrous, I can't buy it. I can't buy that America knows that Spider-Man was unmasked but "no one can remember who was under the mask." That's. Retarded.

And those are the biggies. The issue is a huge fight scene, which I have to say Bendis isn't good at. Fists flying, half sentences and grunts, the issue takes about 10 minutes to read and it's longer than the normal one. "The Trust" arc had such a great build up, the deus ex machina of Strange's suddenly crippled demon hands is a let down. I have a headache just thinking about this issue.

MY SCORE: 7.3/10


ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #118
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade von Grawbadger
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Production: Anthony Dial
Assistant Editor: Lauren Sankovitch
Editor: Bill Rosemann
Senior Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

So simple. The appeal of the Ultimate line used to be the flashy creators and the modern approach. Now, for me, the appeal is the ability to just read a comic that pretty much exists in its own forward-marching world. Yeah, the Ultimate universe is riddled with delays and some clunky continuity, but it's so refreshing to read Ultimate Spider-Man knowing that that's the only Ultimate book I have to read (and the only one I do). It's fun and shows how great a writer Bendis can be when he's not bogged down in the insanity of the Marvel timeline.

This is a fun issue. I like the parallel way each character is introduced with a short page or two of their inner monologue about how crappy their lives are. For the first time in a while, it seems like the book has a fully fleshed out supporting cast comprised of characters that I like. The convenient arrival of Iceman just at the worst moment is kinda hard to believe, but it's all written so well and plays off the character dynamics in such an entertaining way, I can deal with it. The reveal of Liz as a mutant (I assume Ultimate Firestar) was not a surprise but it was a nice cliffhanger to what is actually a quaint little standalone issue. Not much happens, but luckily Stuart Immonen is as skilled at making scrubbing counters look exciting as he is at giant goblins.

Another above average installment in the new era of Ultimate Spider-Man.

MY SCORE: 8.4/10

Hype Machine: August 2007

Time to take a look at Marvel's comic book solicitations for August. I'm definitely not buying many of these books, but I can still gripe about them!

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #112
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils by STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STUART IMMONEN & RICHARD ISANOVE
There is a huge explosion in the side of the Triskelion—the side housing superhuman criminals. And from the acrid smoke emerges a man seething with vengeance—a man who wants Peter Parker dead! That man is Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin! And for the web-spinner, things are about to get out of control. All this and the Shocker, too! Ya can’t miss it!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

You know what, I can miss it, but the promise of More Money August (still searching for a better name) means I will be there for this, the return of the Ultimate Green Goblin. Here's hoping he comes back as many times as his Marvel Universe counterpart...which I think is only one time. Okay, I'm a little fuzzy on my Spidey facts. I'm more interested in seeing how Stuart Immonen handles the drawing chores. He's a phenomenal penciler and designer, I just don't know how he's going to fit in with this all ages apeal book.

ULTIMATE X-MEN #85
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Pencils and Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
The X-Men have only been reformed for mere days, and they’re already in the middle of a national crisis. The Sentinels have been reactivated—mutants are once again hunted and killed like animals. But who's controlling them this time—and what does it have to do with the newly-formed Mutant Liberation Front?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

For Pete's sake, Ultimate Universe! Grow an original idea! I'm sure the M.L.F. are going to actually be time-traveling gnomes from Nightcrawler's home dimension, all with Wolverine hairdos in an attempt to seem edgy (like Kirkman turning Cable into a future version of Wolverine). But for reals, why must everything be rehashed? Did no one get super powers in this universe that doesn't already have them in the main Marvel one? But seriously, if Kirkman does Ultimate versions of Wild Side, Reaper, Tempo and Forearm, I'm way so there. I have a soft spot for that league of buffoons.

AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #11
Written by TOM DEFALCO
Pencils and Cover by RON FRENZ
Not only has Carnage captured her father and baby brother, but Spider-Girl realizes that its new host is someone she knows! Guest-starring Kaine and Darkdevil!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

You know how you always walk into conversations just as someone is talking about sucking on their mother's pig feet? You know the wrong time? Out of context? That's what this is to me. Kaine? Darkdevil? Is Halloween Jack far behind?

BLACK PANTHER #30
Written by REGINALD HUDLIN
Penciled by FRANCIS PORTELA
Cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM
"GOOD EATIN" Part 3
After taking a wrong turn on the dimensional super highway, the New Fantastic Four have just become the daily special in the Zombie Universe! Seated at table one: Zombie Galacti! At table two: Zombie Skrulls! And at table three: a Zombie Monster from the Negative Zone! Well the Black Panther, Storm, the Human Torch and the Thing better come up with a perfect escape plan…or are they destined to be zombified.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Marvel's done it! They know what sells more than Wolverine and his new sidekick, Topless Chick With Big Guns (And By Guns We Mean Boobs That Shoot Bullets); zombies. And more specifically, zombies of super heroes. And now that they've started popping up in the main Marvel universe (away from poorly constructed crossovers with other companies), there's no stopping them. "Zombies: The Initiative," "Civil War X: Zombie Battalion," "Marvel Adventures starring General Zombie," "Astonishing X-Corpse," "World War Z," the list goes on and on. And that last one was stolen. I'm just looking forward to the Power Pack/Zombie crossover. It's about time Mass Master got what was coming to him.

HEROES FOR HIRE #13
Written by ZEB WELLS & FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by CLAY MANN & JOHN BOSCO
Cover by SANA TAKEDA
The Heroes for Hire find themselves in the middle of World War Hulk when their mission to Hulk's stoneship leaves them on the Warbound's death list! It's divide-and-conquer as each hero is hunted by a member of the Jade Giant's band of alien soldiers.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

This is the cover that's causing a big ol' roar, mainly due to it's allusion to tentacle rape. That's a link to Wikipedia, by the way. I don't go anywhere dirty while at work. Bets are off at home. Oh yeah... What am I doing...? Next.

MS. MARVEL #18
Written by BRIAN REED
Penciled by AARON LOPRESTI
Cover by GREG HORN
A new story arc begins as Ms. Marvel drafts two recruits from the Initiative…Machine Man and Sleepwalker?! When Araña is kidnapped, it's time for Carol Danvers to use her newly expanded strike force to squash an evil that's hit too close to home! The ongoing team of writer Brian Reed and artist Aaron Lopresti kicks off the three-part "Puppets" with a last-page reveal that'll have fans of female heroes buzzing!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

Sleepwalker! Ha! I love that Marvel is starting to embrace the f***ing insanity that was the early 90s. Anyone remember Slapstick? Or Death's Head? Or Dark Angel? The Darkhold Redeemers? Vengeance? Motormouth and Killpower? Everything 2099? Bring them on, Marvel!

NEW WARRIORS #3
Written by KEVIN GREVIOUX
Pencils by PACO MEDINA
Cover by NIC KLEIN
Sofia and Wondra face off as the New Warriors respond to Tony Stark’s offer of amnesty. But will they accept or reject it? Meanwhile, Detectives Sykes and Givens uncover a shocking mystery about the death of the original New Warriors, and a former member may hold the key. Plus, Wolverine shows up…and he ain’t happy!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

So M-Day happens and all the mutants on Earth, save 198ish, are left powerless. Except for Iceman, who got his powers back immediately. And Polaris, who lasted a couple more months. And Professor X, who just got his back. Chamber, who was repowered by Apocalypse. Feral, Wild Child, and Thorn. Oh, and Layla Miller says she lost her real powers, but now she has new ones. And Quicksilver is going around repowering people too, now that he has his powers back, sorta. Sticking in the grand tradition of making things stick, here's the new New Warriors series starring Night Thrasher whose death led to the Civil War. That big thing that Marvel shoved down our throats for a year. And. Here. He. Is. Again. Alive. In the fourth series to bear the name New Warriors. At least Bucky is still dead. Oh, wait...

And, lastly, a special section dedicated to the two Joss Whedon solicits.

RUNAWAYS #28
Written by JOSS WHEDON
Penciled by MICHAEL RYAN
Cover by JO CHEN
“DEAD END KIDS”
Super-star JOSS WHEDON (Astonishing X-Men, Buffy) and rising star MICHAEL RYAN (New Excalibur, New X-Men) continue their landmark run. Pun intended. Love is in the air as the Runaways try and run back from 1907.
Part 4 (of 6).32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

ASTONISHING X-MEN #23
Written by JOSS WHEDON
Pencils and 50/50 Covers by JOHN CASSADAY
“UNSTOPPABLE”
The end is near. The situation is dire. The outlook is bleak. But Cyclops has a plan.
Part 5 (of 6).32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Wow, Marvel is really trusting on his name to sell those issues. After reading those summaries, you can only be certain of this: stuff happens and it will be awesome. My favorite is Astonishing's which is comparable to the Rambo tagline "The first was for himself. The second for his country. This time it's for his friend." Things are near, dire, and bleak, but Cyclops has a plan. Woo wee, I'm first in line for that one! Actually, I am. The solicit could be "JOSSWHEDONLOLZ!!!11" and I would buy it.

August is going to be the most awesome month.

Comics: 2-7-07

MS. MARVEL: VOLUME 2 #12
"Something Dark Is Coming"
Writer: Brian Reed
Pencilers: Roberto De La Torre & Patrick Zircher
Inker: Jon Sibal
Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover: Greg Horn
Production: Paul Acerios & Kate Levin
Assistant Editor: Alejandro Arbona
Editor: Bill Rosemann
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Ms. Marvel has been an okay title so far. It was finding its voice and then got steam rolled by Civil War and still managed to get some good stories out of it. According to Brian Reed's interesting letter at the end of the issue, some big changes are ahead and that has me interested.

The issue at hand, though, is another okay offering. This series isn't doing anything spectacular and it doesn't have the unique voice of She-Hulk, but it does tell good stories with a strong character and with consistent artwork. It's a good book. This issue takes a nice spin on an old villain and puts Carol in some not-so-light places. The last pages especially drive this home (sorry Arana fans). And hey, what's up with Carol's PR lady? She's seeming quite dubious after disappearing for a while. Hmm...

MY SCORE: 7.9 (out of 10)

NEW AVENGERS #27
"Revolution part 1"
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Leinil Yu
Colorist: Dave McCaig
Letterer: RS & Comicraft's Albert Deschesne
Production: Brad Johansen
Assistant Editors: Molly Lazer & Aubrey Sitterson
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

New Avengers has been underperforming for me lately, so this issue marks a strong upturn in quality. It's not that the stories have been lame lately, it's just that they've been so quiet. Now, I like a quiet comic, seriously, I'm all about some introspection...but the previous issues have been that and nothing of great consequence seems to have happened. Bendis' naturalistic dialogue is great...unless it's in an extremely natural setting. Then it's seriously like listening to the people next to you on the subway converse. Okay, maybe not that boring. Or scary.

The art is the standout this time around. New penciler (regular, I hope) Leinil Yu is better than ever, his splash of Echo on the opening page is particularly breathtaking. But, ah, Echo, yeah, um, when was she revealed as Ronin? Did I miss that? Was it the same issue when it was revealed that it was actually Xorn posing as Magneto in New X-Men #150? Hmm, Bendis? He seems to rely on those opening recap pages for important info.

Still, good issue and when the New Avengers appear towards the end, well, it has a great energy to it and the banter is pitch perfect.

MY SCORE: 8.7 (out of 10)

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #105
"Clone Saga: Epilogue"
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inker: Drew Hennessy
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Production: Brad Johanssen
Associate Editor: John Barber
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

"Clone Saga" lived up to the hype, I'd say, and this issue really hit home how monumental the arc was. Pretty strong issue, one of the best in recent memory. This book is at its best when it's dealing with teen angst, and "Clone Saga" provided bucket tons of it. Yes, bucket tons. I'm not looking forward to Kitty getting dumped; that relationship has been a recent highlight of the book.

MY SCORE: 8.8 (out of 10)

UNCANNY X-MEN #483
"The Rise & Fall of the Shi'Ar Empire 9 of 12: Vulcan's Descent"
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Penciler: Clayton Henry
Inker: Mark Morales
Colorist: Frank D'Armata
Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna
Assistant Editor: Sean Ryan
Editor: Nick Lowe
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

This story is reaching epic proportions, mainly because it’s already at epic lengths. Part nine. Dang. Still, a nice momentum has been maintained and last issue's shocking cliffhanger has, rightfully, a full issue dedicated to it.

Vulcan is showing signs of another dimension, so that's a good thing. Pairing him with Deathbird, an established lunatic, gives him a nice foil and he comes across as almost...almost normal. Almost. But not really. There's a nice sense of importance and grandness to this story and it feels like it matters. Three more chapters to go and I think it's only going to get bloodier.

The art is just okay. I mean, Billy Tan's is awkward at times but Henry's gets me a little more. His torsos are long, his necks and foreheads are long, some of his poses are too stiff (not good in a love making scene...well, I mean, stiff posture). It's all good, but it's not the best. Still, it's really good...just some problems. Eh.

MY SCORE: 8.4 (out of 10)

X-MEN #195
"Primary Infection 2 of 3"
Writer: Mike Carey
Penciler: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Carlos Cuevas
Colorist: Studio F's Edgar Delgado
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Assistant Editor: Sean Ryan
Editor: Andy Schmidt
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Mike Carey's run on X-Men has exceeded all of my expectations to become the most consistently entertaining of the three main titles (Astonishing is held back since it comes out only after the tribal dancers celebrate the moon ritual of Ma'Gog). It's witty, action packed, and doesn't aim to do anything above be a great read. If Carey didn't take "being a great read" so seriously, the book could have continued down the road that Peter Milligan was taking it down. The soap and over-the-top action is still here, but there's a darkness and realism to it that makes this book stand out for the first time since Morrison left two and a half years ago.

The first arc was great; it made Rogue a readable character again (a star, in fact) and gave cause to the crazy roster (was anyone clamoring for the return of Karima?). "Primary Infection" has a different artist and a less sturdy idea, but the way it reads is just a pure rush. Iceman, Lady Mastermind and Karima's infiltration of Palance's headquarters was great fun and I was definitely cheering when Iceman held his own; Carey's starting to finesse him like he has Rogue.

The art has improved. I usually don't like Ramos over-exaggerated characteristics but it seems to work moreso than in the previous issue. His final splash page, and the idea itself, has me giddily waiting for the next issue.

MY SCORE: 8.9 (out of 10)

X-MEN ANNUAL: VOLUME 2 #1
"Covenant"
Writer: Mike Carey
Penciler: Mark Brooks
Inkers: Jaime Mendoza with Victor Olazaba
Colorists: John Rouch & Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Assistant Editor: Sean Ryan
Editors: Andy Schmidt & Mike Marts
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

Annuals were lame. That's why Marvel got rid of them five or so years ago. They were the dumping ground for forgotten characters in non-canonical adventures told by second rate writers with third rate artists. But because everything is cyclical (like Rogue's costume), they're back and they actually matter.

I thoroughly enjoyed this issue for one reason: Mike Carey has a memory. My main problem with comics nowadays (to sound like I'm an old-timer) is their treatment of the past. It's usually forgotten or contradicted for no good reason, the newer writers jettisoning what they don't want and amplifying what they do. Carey, though, has thus proven to be knowledgeable of the past and able to adjust it to meet his current needs without rendering it unrecognizable. This issue features Exodus, Random, Tempo and Frenzy, all of which are portrayed correctly and have a wee little goal. I also enjoy the interactions between Mystique and Rogue; Carey's handling that well and it's really making both characters shine. Lastly, Carey ran us through the history of Northstar and Aurora in an attempt to heal both of their fractured minds. That's right, Carey, the best way to appease fans is to let us know that you know where they're coming from. Thanks.

The story is okay, the art is acceptable (some of Brooks' stronger work), and the ending is oh-so-delightful to me. That is, if Carey follows up on all this at some point. I hope so, because I really think Carey could do the character on the last page justice.

MY SCORE: 8.7 (out of 10)