Tag: review

Review: Fantastic Four: True Story #1

When Reed Richards can no longer find solace in the theatrical version of “Josie and the Pussycats”, you know something very serious must be going on! But when the whole world seems to lose it’s love for fiction, some villian must definitely be behind it! Now it’s up to the Fantastic Four, with the help of their old friend Willie Lumpkin, to get to the bottom of the problem. Get ready to take a journey through classic literature with the Fantastic Four as your guides in this all new four part miniseries!

Writer Paul Cornell (Captain Britain and MI:13, Wisdom, TV’s Dr. Who) and artist Horacio Domingues seem to have something really special going on with this series. This book was just a really fun, off the wall experience from start to finish. This is probably unlike any other Fantastic Four book you’ve read before! The story literally finds the FF using their imaginations to get to the bottom of the worlds sudden missing love for fiction. Along the way, the team encounters classic characters throughout literature including Dante (not the one from Clerks) and the Dashwood sisters from Sense and Sensibility. You really feel that Cornell has a great love for the classics with this story. Horacio Domingues’ art is just a blast to look at! His playful style is really a wonderful fit for this book. Just wait till you get a look at the Fictocraft! I would love to see what he could do with Spider-Man. This was just an all around great read that I truly had a blast with and can’t recommend enough!


COVER BY: NIKO HENRICHON

WRITER: PAUL CORNELL

PENCILS: HORACIO DOMINGUES
INKS: HORACIO DOMINGUES
COLORED BY: HORACIO DOMINGUES

LETTERER: DAVE LANPHEAR
EDITOR: TOM BREVOORT
Rated A …$2.99

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Review: Black Panther #39

The Skrulls think an invasion of Wakanda will be a walk in the park. But King T’Challa, the Black Panther, and the citizens of Wakanda have other plans! It’s non-stop Secret Invasion excitement as the Skrulls bring the fight to Wakanda’s front door! Black Panther #39 features the new creative team of writer Jason Aaron and artist Jefte Palo. Story wise, I thought this issue was a really good read. I loved the back and forth between the Skrull battleship and the Wakandan command center leading up to a final confrontation at the gates of Wakanda. I really appreciated the insight we get into the motivation of the Skrull Commander leading the Wakandan invasion. For me, it really helped make the battle feel more than just another Skrull attack. You knew the Skrull leading this mission was fighting for a purpose and I felt that really added to the story. Really great writing on Jason Aaron’s part. The art from Jefte Palo was kinda hit or miss for me. There were a couple of splash pages that I thought looked really good, especially some of the battle scenes. But than there were other spots that just didn’t really do anything for me. Overall, this was a really good issue and an excellent tie-in to the Secret Invasion event. There were some really well done battle sequences and the story was well written. This book is definitely worth picking up!

COVER: JASON PEARSON
WRITER: JASON AARON
ARTIST: JEFTE PALO
COLORIST: LEE LOUGHRIDGE
LETTERER: VC’S CORY PETIT
EDITOR: AXEL ALONSO
Rated T+ …$2.99

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Review: True Believers #1

The heroes of the Marvel Universe better look out! There’s a new team in town, and their not completely into the whole hero scene. In fact, if your a hero in the Marvel U., you better make sure all those dirty little secrets you don’t want the public to know are well guarded or you may end of like… You’ll just have to check out True Believers #1 to find out!

Written by Cary Bates (Flash, Star Brand, Superman) and illustrated by Paul Gulacy (Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, Six From Sirius, Batman, Catwoman) issue one introduces us to the True Believers, a team of four computer hacking superheroes who use their powers and abilities to run a popular tabloid style blog that covers the slimier side of the Marvel Universe as well as the latest superhero gossip and dirt. The team’s leader, Mavis Trent who goes by the name Payback, also doubles as an adviser for S.H.I.E.L.D. I really, really dug the hell out of this first issue! The story is told from the view point of Mavis, who I found to be a really fun character to read. Bates’ dialog is very believable and has a great flow about it. This is the first time I have read any of Bates’ work, and so far I am thoroughly impressed. The story was very entertaining, and the cliff hanger at the end really leaves you wondering: did this really happen?

The art from Paul Gulacy is absolutely phenomenal! Once again, Gulacy is an artist I am not familiar with, but I thought the stuff he did in this issue was outstanding. Each panel was incredibly detailed and he draws some absolutely stunning women! I am really curious to see where this book goes. Based on the end of this issue, I’m wondering what kind of dirt we will be getting on some of our other favorite heroes? Definitely give this book a try, I can’t recommend it enough!

COVER BY: PAUL GULACY
WRITER: CARY BATES
PENCILS: PAUL GULACY
INKS: PAUL GULACY
COLORS: RAIN BEREDO
LETTERS: ARTMONKEY’S DAVE LANPHEAR
EDITOR: MOLLY LAZER & BILL ROSEMANN
Rated T+ …$2.99

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Marvel Noise Episode 42

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Going to San Diego? I’m not… But Phenomenal Pat Loika will be there! And he’s also here! In not one, but TWO segments. First, he offers up this week’s new releases and later, he returns to give us the rundown on what Marvel has planned for the convention this week! In between we hear from evaD (Bring ’em Back), Steve Raker (from his Comics Bunker), and Chris “Equinox” Chavez and Mike Sims both sharing some thoughts on recent reads. And our host pops up once or twice.

Comics mentioned include Immortal Iron Fist, Daredevil, Uncanny X-Men, X-Men: Legacy, She-Hulk, Wolverine: First Class, X-Factor, and Universal War One.

Get it here.
Discuss this episode on the Marvel Noise forum.

Little Charlie and the Nightcats, The Big Break (http://www.alligatorrecords.com/)

Comic-Con International: San Diego (http://www.comic-con.org/)

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Marvel items on sale, 7.23.08

Angel Revelations #3 $3.99
Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Guilty Pleasures Vol 2 HC Book Market Edition $19.99
Astonishing X-Men Vol 3 #25 Incentive Lee Bermejo Variant Cover – [PI]
Avengers Invaders #1 Directors Cut $3.99
Avengers The Initiative #15 (Secret Invasion Tie-In) $2.99
Black Panther Vol 4 #38 $2.99
Daredevil Vol 2 #109 $2.99
Halo Uprising Must Have $5.99
Immortal Iron Fist #17 Incentive David Aja Variant Cover – [PI]
Immortal Iron Fist #17 Incentive Dragon Logo Variant Cover – [PI]
Immortal Iron Fist #17 Regular Travel Foreman Cover $2.99
Incredible Hercules #118 2nd Ptg Sandoval Variant Cover (Secret Invasion Tie-In) $2.99
Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #38 $2.99
Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four Vol 9 New Yorks Finest TP Digest $7.99
Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Captain America Vol 2 HC Regular Dust Jacket $59.99
Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Captain America Vol 2 HC Variant Dust Jacket $59.99
Marvel Adventures Super Heroes #1 $2.99
Marvel Comics Presents Vol 2 #11 $3.99
Mini Marvels Vol 1 Rock Paper Scissors TP Digest $9.99
New Avengers #43 (Secret Invasion Tie-In) $2.99
New Warriors Vol 4 #14 (Secret Invasion Tie-In) $2.99
She-Hulk 2 #31 (Secret Invasion Tie-In) $2.99
Skrulls One-Shot (Secret Invasion Tie-In) $4.99
Thunderbolts #122 (Secret Invasion Tie-In) $2.99
Ultimate X-Men #96 $2.99
Uncanny X-Men #500 Incentive Michael Turner Variant Color Cover – [PI]
Uncanny X-Men #500 Incentive Michael Turner Variant Sketch Cover – [PI]
Uncanny X-Men #500 Incentive Terry Dodson Variant Color Cover – [PI]
Uncanny X-Men #500 Incentive Terry Dodson Variant Sketch Cover – [PI]
Uncanny X-Men #500 Regular Alex Ross Cover $3.99
Uncanny X-Men #500 Regular Greg Land Cover $3.99
Uncanny X-Men 500 Issues Posterbook $6.99
Wolverine First Class #5 $2.99
Wolverine Vol 3 #66 2nd Ptg Steve McNiven Variant Cover $2.99
X-Men Endangered Species TP $19.99
X-Men Kitty Pryde And Wolverine HC Premiere Edition Book Market Cover $19.99
X-Men Kitty Pryde And Wolverine HC Premiere Edition Direct Market Cover $19.99
X-Men Legacy #214 $2.99

Product Updates:

  • Immortal Iron Fist #17 (MAY082277D, $2.99) will have art by Russ Heath in addition to Travel Foreman.
  • Marvel Adventures: Fantastic Four #38 (MAY082286D, $2.99) will have art by Graham Nolan, not Ronan Cliquet.
  • Ultimate X-Men #96 (MAY082257D, $2.99) will have art by Brandon Peterson and Clay Mann, not Mark Brooks.
  • X-Men Legacy #214 (MAY082326D, $2.99) will have art by Ken Lashley in addition to Scot Eaton.

Review: She-Hulk #31

When She-Hulk and bounty hunting partner/Skrull Jazinda land in Detroit tracking down a premonition Jazinda has regarding the highly revered Skrull Talisman, the pair find themselves crossing paths with private mutant investigators X-Factor who believe the duo are after some friends of theirs. But are these “friends” really who they say they are? Get ready as the Secret Invasion infiltrates the She-Hulk’s world in She-Hulk #31!

She-Hulk #31 continues the story that began in X-Factor #33 and ties into the current Secret Invasion event. Since Peter David is writing both books, the story in this issue fits in seamlessly with the one in X-Factor. David does a good job of mixing humor and action and keeping the story moving forward. Having not been a reader of either X-Factor or She-Hulk, I found the story was easy to jump into and I was able to pick up enough information from the characters that I didn’t feel I needed to read all of the She-Hulk back issues to know what was going on. The Secret Invasion parts of the story feel as if they could potentially be a big part of the event, but seem almost a little too big for She-Hulk and X-Factor. Then again, Peter David might just be setting up something that is going to play out in one of the bigger Invasion books. Either way, I’m definitely enjoying the story and I’m looking forward to the next issue of X-Factor to see how this pans out.

I thought the art from the team of penciler Vincenzo Cucca and inker Vincenzo Acunza was pretty solid. I wouldn’t call it spectacular, but I felt it fit the story well. I thought each of the characters were well drawn and that there were some pretty good action scenes. However, at times I felt that some of the panels may have been a little lacking in detail. There was nothing that was just blaring out at me, but there were just a few places here and there I thought the artist could have added a little more detail to the surroundings.

In all, I really had a good time with this book. The story was fun and has me looking forward to what happens next. If your enjoying the Secret Invasion event, and haven’t picked this book up before, definitely give it a shot. I think you will be glad you did!

COVER: MIKE DEODATO & RAIN BEREDO
WRITER: PETER DAVID
PENCILER: VINCENZO CUCCA
INKER: VINCENZO ACUNZA
COLORIST: BARBARA CIARDO
LETTERER: DAVE SHARPE
EDITOR: BILL ROSEMANN
Rated T+ …$2.99

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Marvel Noise Episode 38

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Shownotes are practically nonexistent as our host is more than a little sleepy. A quick rundown includes, Bring ’em Back, Marvel Unbound, multiple calls from Carlos, Steve Raker and the Comic Bunker, and some driving.

Titles mentioned in this episode include Amazing Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Punisher, X-Force, and The Twelve.

Get it here.

Maria Daines , What More Do You Want (http://www.maria-daines.com/)

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Marvel items on sale, 6.18.08

Comics

Amazing Spider-Man #563, $2.99
American Dream #4 (of 5), $2.99
Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Guilty Pleasures #12 (of 12), $2.99
Captain Britain and MI 13 #1 (2nd Printing Kirk Variant)(Secret Invasion Tie-In), $2.99
Ghost Rider #24, $2.99
Guardians Of The Galaxy #1 (2nd Printing Pelletier Variant), $2.99
Guardians Of The Galaxy #2, $2.99
Incredible Hercules #118 (Secret Invasion Tie-In), $2.99
Iron Man Director Of Shield #30, $2.99
Kick Ass #1 (Directors Cut), $3.99
Marvel Adventures Avengers #25, $2.99
Marvel Adventures Two-In-One #12, $4.99
Marvel Illustrated Iliad #7 (of 8), $2.99
Punisher #58, $2.99
Secret Invasion Fantastic Four #2 (of 3)(Secret Invasion Tie-In), $2.99
Thor Ages of Thunder (2nd Printing Patrick Zircher Variant Cover), $3.99
Ultimate Fantastic Four #55, $2.99
Ultimate X-Men #95, $2.99
Ultimates 3 March On Ultimatum Must-Have, $4.99
War Is Hell First Flight Phantom Eagle Max #4 (of 5), $3.99
Wolverine #66 (Regular Steve McNiven Cover)(X-Men Divided We Stand Tie-In), $2.99
Wolverine #66 (Incentive Michael Turner Sketch Variant Cover)(X-Men Divided We Stand Tie-In), $2.99
X-Factor #32 (X-Men Divided We Stand Tie-In), $2.99

Collections

ETERNALS BY NEIL GAIMAN
COVER BY: JOHN ROMITA JR.
WRITER: NEIL GAIMAN
PENCILS: JOHN ROMITA JR.
“An intriguing plot and amazing visuals…one of the most entertaining and exciting Marvel titles I’ve had the pleasure to read in a long while.” – Kelvin Green, SilverBulletComicBooks.com More than thirty-five years ago, comics legend Jack “The King” Kirby returned to the House of Ideas with perhaps his biggest idea of all: the universe of the Eternals! Their creation was the result of Kirby’s ceaseless curiosity about the origin of man and his mythologies – but like many of the King’s concepts, it was definitely ahead of its time. Flash forward to 2006: Superstar creators Neil Gaiman and John Romita Jr. have boldly taken on these concepts with a loving hand, in the process telling a fresh and crackling fun yarn full of mystery, suspense and majestic power – all with an eye on helping establish Kirby’s creations as a vital part of the Marvel Universe once and for all. Against the backdrop of Marvel’s CIVIL WAR, the Eternals are being awoken one by one from a strange, waking dream, at once coming to terms with the fact that they are far more than the normal people they have thought themselves to be. They find there is little time to commiserate about such things, however, as they are thrust into a life and death struggle that spans both time and space! Collecting ETERNALS #1-7.
Rated T+ …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-781-2177-0

HULK: WWH – DAMAGE CONTROL
COVER BY: GREG LAND
WRITERS: DWAYNE MCDUFFIE and GREG PAK
PENCILS: SALVA ESPIN and RAFA SANDOVAL
World War Hulk is over. But the Aftersmash has just begun. Heroes and monsters rise and fall as the events of World War Hulk reverberate through the blasted ruins of New York City with goliath impact in a massive story featuring the Warbound, the Renegades, Heroes for Hire, Iron Man, Tom Foster and Damage Control. And yes, smashing will be involved. Plus: We don’t know if you heard, but Hulk came back to earth and made a HUUUUUUUUGE mess. Who’s S.H.I.E.L.D. gonna get to clean it up? DAMAGE CONTROL, the roughest, toughest dilapidated dirt dogs this side’a the universe. If anyone can clean up the aftereffects of World War Hulk, they can. But while they’re picking up the pieces, they find that the war…may not be over. Collecting WORLD WAR HULK: AFTERSMASH and WWH AFTERSMASH: DAMAGE CONTROL #1-3.
Rated T+ …$12.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2388-0

IRON MAN: HAUNTED
COVER BY: JIM CHEUNG
WRITERS: DANIEL KNAUF & CHARLIE KNAUF, and CHRISTOS GAGE
PENCILS: CARLO PAGULAYAN, HARVEY TALIBAO, BUTCH GUICE, ROBERTO DE LA TORRE, and CARLO PAGULAYAN
As the man behind the mask, Tony Stark’s life has hit rock bottom. His plans for the super hero Initiative have hit a tragic snag. His former flame, believed dead, is being manipulated by one of his deadliest enemies. Even to his strongest allies, Stark appears to be descending into a mental breakdown while everything around him swirls out of control. Now, with the lives of millions hanging in the balance, Iron Man must fight his way out of the darkness and prevent the Mandarin from releasing a plague that would change humanity as we know it! Plus: S.H.I.E.L.D. has a problem, and her name is Madame Hydra. The leader of the world’s deadliest terror organization is also the lawful ruler of Wolverine’s old stomping ground: the island nation of Madripoor. Unable to depose her openly, S.H.I.E.L.D. sends in its best man to secretly take her down. His name? Stark…Tony Stark. But with his Extremis powers blocked and his Iron Man armor hovering in orbit for emergencies only, can the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. survive against enemies like Bloodscream and Roughhouse, who’ve nearly killed Wolverine himself? Collecting IRON MAN #21-28 and IRON MAN: DIRECTOR OF S.H.I.E.L.D. ANNUAL #1.
Rated A …$26.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2557-0

JACK KIRBY’S GALACTIC BOUNTY HUNTERS VOL. 1
COVER BY: JACK KIRBY
WRITERS: LISA KIRBY & STEVE ROBERTSON
PENCILS: MIKE THIBODEAUX
An All-New series featuring characters and concepts created by Jack “King” Kirby! Meet the Berkleys, your typical suburban California family. But when young Garrett Berkley discovers his parents’ secret – that the science-fiction stories his father writes aren’t fiction at all, but autobiography – he’s blasted into a whole new universe of adventure, mystery and danger. Now, Jack Berkley must put down his pen, reassemble his old team and take up the mantle of being a Galactic Bounty Hunter for one final mission! Collecting JACK KIRBY’S GALACTIC BOUNTY HUNTERS #1-6.
Rated T+ …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2629-4

MARVEL ADVENTURES THE AVENGERS VOL. 6: MIGHTY MARVELS
COVER BY: LEONARD KIRK
WRITER: MARC SUMERAK
PENCILS: IG GUARA
Facing the foes no single super hero could withstand! When global threats surface, they must contend with the combined might of: Captain America! Storm! Iron Man! The Hulk! Giant-Girl! Wolverine! Spider-Man! It’s all-ages action in the Mighty Marvel Manner! Featuring the Crimson Dynamo, the Black Widow, the arrival of Ant-Man and more! Collecting MARVEL ADVENTURES THE AVENGERS #20-23.
All Ages …$7.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2982-0

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: SGT. FURY VOL. 2 HC (and VARIANT EDITION)
COVER BY: JACK KIRBY
WRITER: STAN LEE
PENCILS: DICK AYERS
Get off your duff, goldbrick, and get ready for another k-ration of the adventures of Nick Fury and his Howling Commandos! From the heart of the Marvel Age Stan Lee and Darlin’ Dick Ayers bring you an assortment of WWII adventures that define the “War comic for people who hate war comics!” That means it’s for you AND everybody else, bunky! Fury and his crack squadron tackle the Axis powers across both the European and Pacific theatres — over land and under sea, from scorching sands of North Africa to the darkest jungles of Burma, there’s no order too tall for the Howlers! They’ll square off against Baron Strucker and his cadre of Nazi commandos, the Blitzkrieg Squad; meet the young Hans Rooten for the first time; and before you finish turning these pages, one will fall in the line of duty, forever changing the life of Nick Fury. To top it off, we’re including the first SGT. FURY ANNUAL, featuring a rare adventure of the Howlers in the Korean War and the story of Fury’s promotion to Second Looie! Collecting SGT. FURY #14-23 & ANNUAL #1.
All Ages …$54.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2928-8

NEW AVENGERS VOL. 7: THE TRUST
COVER BY: LEINIL YU
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: CARLO PAGULAYAN and LEINIL YU
Who do you trust? In the wake of the superhero Civil War, outlaw Avengers Luke Cage, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Dr. Strange and Iron Fist are still fighting the good fight, joined by two new recruits: mistress of mimicry Echo and long-lost Avengers mainstay Hawkeye, now Ronin. But when the heroes uncover evidence of a secret invasion by shape-shifting Skrulls, paranoia starts to tear the team apart. Who can they trust when any one of them might be an alien monster in disguise? Which Avenger betrays the group? And can the embattled rebel Avengers survive when new supernatural crime boss the Hood targets them with an army of super-villains? Find out in this prelude to Marvel’s SECRET INVASION saga – guest-starring Deathlok, Tigra and the Mighty Avengers! Collecting NEW AVENGERS #32-37 and NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #2.
Rated A …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2503-7

TERROR, INC.
COVER BY: JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC
WRITER: DAVID LAPHAM
PENCILS: PATRICK ZIRCHER
Meet Mr. Terror – he’s dapper, he’s charming, he owns and operates his own VERY successful business…and, oh yeah, he’s fifteen and a half centuries old and rotting fast. Doomed to decompose for all eternity, Terror forever replaces his festering limbs with fresh parts. The curse keeps him alive, but it’s what’s left of his twelfth-century sweetheart – encased in enchanted metal and serving as his right arm – that keeps him honest. Today, Terror runs a high-stakes private eye firm – espionage, investigations and assassinations for the extremely rich and extremely powerful. But after eliminating who he was told was a very bad guy, with extreme prejudice and in his own inimitable idiom, Terror learns he’s been had – he’s just murdered a major government intelligence chief. Now, with the feds on his rancid tail and whoever set him up looking to tie their loose ends, Terror’s on the run to clear his name and bring down the real bad guys. But the killers know exactly who they’re dealing with, and they aren’t making it easy for him… Don’t miss this 5-issue series of blood, guts, sex and salvation written by David Lapham (Stray Bullets) with jaw-dropping art by Patrick Zircher (CABLE & DEADPOOL). Collecting TERROR, INC. #1-5.
Explicit Content …$16.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2756-7

ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL. 10: GHOSTS
COVER BY: MARKO DJURDJEVIC
WRITER: MIKE CAREY
PENCILS: MARK BROOKS and TYLER KIRKHAM
Red Ghost + Thanos = double death for the FF! Susan Storm — the Invisible Woman — is headed toward a science conference in Siberia when her airplane is mysteriously shot out of the sky! With her survival in doubt, Reed Richards must abandon his completion of the equally enigmatic Cosmic Cube at its most crucial time to confront none other than the Ultimate Crimson Dynamo AND the Ultimate Red Ghost! Who shot down Sue – and can she survive the horrors hiding in the snow? Plus: Ultimate Thanos returns! What has placed the Baxter Building — and a huge chunk of New York City — under siege? Aliens are among us, hunting the greatest force in existence: the Cosmic Cube! And in the race to command this deadliest of weapons, treachery and overkill are the order of the day…even from former friends! Collecting ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #47-53.
Rated A …$15.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2898-4

Marvel Noise Episode 31

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week doesn’t go exactly as planned, but we’re still gonna do our best to give you something worthwhile. After the new releases, we hear from Mike Sims and the Mighty Marvel Movie Minute. Jay Scars offers up some good and bad with Nova and Annihilation: Conquest, and Moon Knight, Carlos calls in with a voicemail, and our host has another Marvel Tales for you.

Titles mentioned include Hulk vs. Hercules: When Titans Clash, Mighty Avengers, Ms. Marvel, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine: First Class, X-Force, Alpha Flight, Nova, Annihilation: Conquest, Moon Knight, and Secret Invasion.

Download Here
Discuss this episode on the Marvel Noise forum.

Mighty Marvel Movie Minute thread (http://www.thecomicforums.com/forum2//index.php?showtopic=130926)
Bring ’em Back thread (http://www.thecomicforums.com/forum2//index.php?showtopic=125661)
Marvel Tales thread (http://www.thecomicforums.com/forum2//index.php?showtopic=125653)

Thee Emergency, Hopped Up Fer The Git Down (http://www.theeemergency.com/)

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Marvel items on sale, 4.30.08

Comics

Avengers Invaders Sketchbook, AR

HULK #3 (and FINCH VARIANT)
COVERS BY: ED MCGUINNESS and DAVID FINCH
WRITER: JEPH LOEB
PENCILS: ED MCGUINNESS
INKS: DEXTER VINES
Not a flashback! Not a dream! Together again for the first time! The battle you NEVER thought you’d see — The Hulk Vs. The Abomination! But…wait, we’ve seen that lots of times! Well… No you HAVE NOT. And it isn’t just because superstars Jeph Loeb & Ed McGuinness are bringing it to you for the first time — it’s because if you’ve been reading the Hulk (yes, we know there’s one or two of you), it CAN’T be possible! But it is — AND IN COLOR — LOTS OF THEM! The pulse-pounding, gamma-spawned action adventure continues in Hulk #3!!!
Rated A…$2.99

HULK VS. HERCULES: WHEN TITANS CLASH #1
COVER BY: MARKO DJURDJEVIC
WRITERS: GREG PAK & FRED VAN LENTE
ART: KHOI PHAM, PAUL NEARY, DENNIS CALERO, ERIC NGUYEN, REILLY BROWN, CARLOS CUEVAS, TERRY PALLOT, and CHRIS SOTOMAYOR
“BAH! HULK NEED BIGGER BOOK! HULK SMASH PUNY BEARD SKIRT MAN!”
Calm down, big fella. You’re going to need your strength when you go up against the Lion of Olympus, the INCREDIBLE HERCULES!
We’re bringing you a BRAND NEW story with THE most SMASHING, CRASHING, BASHING, MASHING and LASHING you’ve EVER witnessed, and THEN we’re giving you some of the greatest HULK and HERC stories from yesteryear!
BRING ON THE FIGHT!
Parental Advisory …$3.99

Iron Man Hulk Sampler, AR
Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #35, $2.99

Marvel Illustrated Picture Dorian Gray #5 (of 6), $2.99


MIGHTY AVENGERS #12
COVER BY: MARKO DJURDJEVIC
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: ALEX MALEEV
INKS: ALEX MALEEV
SECRET INVASION TIE-IN!
The Eisner-award-winning team of Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev (NEW AVENGERS ILLUMINATI, HALO: UPRISING) reunite to answer the question that has been on every comic fan’s mind for years…WHERE THE HELL HAS NICK FURY BEEN?? Rewinding the clock to Fury’s time in SECRET WAR, follow Fury as he puts together the pieces of his life and starts finding clues to a Secret Invasion that makes him TARGET NUMBER ONE. A major Skrull reveal happens in these pages!
Rated A …$2.99

MS. MARVEL #26
COVER BY: GREG HORN
WRITER: BRIAN REED
PENCILS: ADRIANA MELO
INKS: MARIAH BENES
Out–gunned and on the run! With S.H.I.E.L.D. convinced she’s a Skrull impostor, Ms. Marvel must fight for her identity and her life against her very own Lightning Strike Force! But when the Strike Force has a Ms. Marvel of their own, even Carol can’t be sure she’s Carol anymore! SECRET INVASION: The Infiltration continues here from Brian Reed (Captain Marvel) and Adriana Melo (Witchblade).
Rated T+ …$2.99

New Exiles #5, $2.99
Power Pack Day One #2 (of 4), $2.99
Powers #29
Secret Invasion #1 (of 8)(Blank Cover Convention Variant Edition), $3.99

She-Hulk 2 #28, $2.99


THOR #8
COVER BY: MARKO DJURDJEVIC
WRITER: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
PENCILS: MARKO DJURDJEVIC
INKS: DANNY MIKI and CRIMELAB STUDIOS
The God of Thunder keeps sizzling off the stands! Part two of a two-part arc by writer J. Michael Straczynski (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) with sumptuous art by DAREDEVIL cover artist Marko Djurdjevic sees the mighty Thor ruling over a newly glorious Asgard and all its people! But what danger has risen on the horizon of its American heartland surroundings? And how will Thor equip himself to face it??
Rated T+ …$2.99

Ultimate Fantastic Four #53, $2.99

Ultimate Spider-Man #121, $2.99


UNCANNY X-MEN #497
COVER BY: MICHAEL CHOI
WRITER: ED BRUBAKER
PENCILS and INKS: MICHAEL CHOI
“DIVIDED WE STAND”
In the wake of Messiah CompleX, there are no X-Men…Something strange is going on in San Francisco and Archangel gets pulled into the middle of it. Can Cyclops and Emma Frost save him and get out alive? And Wolverine, Colossus and Nightcrawler’s road trip takes a turn for the dangerous.
Rated T+ …$2.99

WOLVERINE: FIRST CLASS #2
COVER BY: LEONARD KIRK
WRITER: FRED VAN LENTE
ART: ANDREA DI VITO
The good news: Kitty’s managed to figure out Wolverine’s birthday and has arranged a surprise candlelight dinner with the love of his life, Mariko Yashida, as his present. The bad news: The reason Wolverine never tells anybody about his birthday is that every year on that date Sabretooth shows up to dice him into cutlets. And Kitty has put Mariko within Sabretooth’s grasp!
All Ages …$2.99

X-FORCE #3 (and BLOODY VARIANT)
COVER BY: CLAYTON CRAIN
WRITERS: CHRISTOPHER YOST & CRAIG KYLE
PENCILS, INKS, and COLORS: CLAYTON CRAIN
ANGELS AND DEMONS
As X-Force searches for their missing teammate, Wolfsbane strikes—and she’s not taking any prisoners! But the Purifiers have more than an ace up their sleeve— they’ve got the deck stacked. And when Wolverine, X-23, and Warpath learn the truth behind Risman’s nefarious plan…no one is safe. And no one is guaranteed to get out alive. Part 3 (of 6)
Parental Advisory …$2.99

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS #11
COVER BY: CARLO PAGULAYAN
WRITER: JEFF PARKER
ART: NICK DRAGOTTA and COLLEEN COOVER
Whew, that all-Cyclops issue was a little heavy, huh? Let’s pick things up with a story that makes the X-Men-go-into-the-Professor’s-Head issue look tame. Because our five exceptional students are about to meet the enigmatic MYSTERIO.
Rated A …$2.99

Young Avengers Presents #4 (of 6), $2.99

Collections

AVENGERS: KREE/SKRULL WAR TPB (New Printing)
COVER BY: NEAL ADAMS & TOM PALMER
WRITER: ROY THOMAS
PENCILS: NEAL ADAMS, SAL BUSCEMA, and JOHN BUSCEMA
Back-to-press and fully restored by popular demand!
Caught in the crossfire, Earth has become the staging ground for a conflict of star-spanning proportions! For those eternal intergalactic enemies, the merciless Kree and the shape-changing Skrulls, have gone to war, and our planet is situated on the front lines! Can Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers, bring about an end to the fighting before humanity becomes a casualty of war? And what good are even a dozen super-powered champions against the vast military machines of two of the great empires of the cosmos? The key to victory lies with the expatriate Kree Captain Mar-Vell and his human host, honorary Avenger Rick Jones! Featuring the trend-setting artwork of Neal Adams, the KREE/SKRULL WAR is universally acknowledged as one of the finest and most important sagas in the Marvel canon.
Rated A …$24.99

DAREDEVIL: HELL TO PAY VOL. 2 TPB
COVER BY: MARKO DJURDJEVIC
WRITER: ED BRUBAKER
PENCILS: MICHAEL LARK
Things couldn’t be going worse for Matt Murdock. Everything he thought he’d gotten back teeters on the edge of a precipice, ready to shatter all around him, as he fights a battle on both fronts of his life – in the courtroom and on the rooftops of Hell’s Kitchen! Collecting DAREDEVIL #100-105.
Rated T+ …$15.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2815-1

DEADPOOL CLASSIC VOL. 1 TPB
COVER BY: ROB LIEFELD
WRITERS: FABIAN NICIEZA,ROB LIEFELD, MARK WAID, and JOE KELLY
PENCILS: ROB LIEFELD, JOE MADUREIRA, IAN CHURCHILL, LEE WEEKS, KEN LASHLEY, and ED MCGUINNESS
He’s the Merc with a Mouth, the Assassin with Elan, the Wryest Wisecracker of the Weapon X Program, now in a collection of his earliest sagas! Deadpool, with sidekick Weasel in tow, sets out on a quest for romance, money and mayhem – not necessarily in that order – only to learn he’s being hunted by an enemy he killed years before! As if that isn’t enough, the Juggernaut crashes into the action, and it’s the unstoppable vs. the un-shut-up-able! But all may not be lost if the sultry Siryn can inject a little sanity into the proceedings! Will Deadpool be steered toward a better life by his new heartthrob, or stay the chaotic course he’s set for himself? The answer is Yes! Guest-starring the New Mutants, Banshee, Sasquatch and more! Collecting NEW MUTANTS #98, DEADPOOL: THE CIRCLE CHASE #1-4, DEADPOOL (1994) #1-4 and DEADPOOL (1997) #1.
Rated A …$29.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3124-3

DEADPOOL VS. THE MARVEL UNIVERSE TPB
COVER BY: SKOTTIE YOUNG
WRITERS: FABIAN NICIEZA and REILLY BROWN
PENCILS: REILLY BROWN
With his best pal gone, Deadpool continues his trek through time and space, spreading friendship and mercenary whoop-&*$ throughout the cosmos. Featuring titanic team-ups with Wolverine, Captain America, Dr. Strange, Brother Voodoo, Ka-Zar and the Fantastic…Eight?! And in the unforgettable series finale, the dreaded Venom Symbiote has multiplied, and made some new friends of the prehistoric variety, giving the Merc with a Mouth his final opportunity to prove himself the ultimate hero – or the ultimate villain! Guest-starring Spider-Man! The Fantastic Four! The Mighty Avengers! And of course, those lovable goons from Agency X! Collecting CABLE & DEADPOOL #43-50.
Rated T+ …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2524-2

THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN OMNIBUS VOL. 1 (and MOVIE and GRANOV VARIANTS)
COVERS BY: JACK KIRBY and ADI GRANOV (and IRON MAN MOVIE IMAGE)
WRITERS: STAN LEE, LARRY LIEBER, ROY THOMAS, ROBERT BERNSTEIN, DON RICO, and AL HARTLEY
PENCILS: DON HECK, GENE COLAN, JACK KIRBY, and STEVE DITKO
As the Marvel Age of Comics exploded on the pop-culture scene, super hero after super hero that redefined the genre leaped forth from the imagination of the Marvel Bullpen. Adventurers and innovators, scientists and high-school bookworms, they were amazing men and women with all the failings and foibles of you and me. And there are none that touch both that adventurer ideal and human reality as Tony Stark, the Invincible Iron Man. A jet-setter, playboy, and brilliant scientist, Tony is cut down to Earth when a battlefield explosion rips into his heart. Only by creating the amazing Iron Man armor can he stay alive! Packed with the debonair and debutantes, Cold War monsters and sultry super-spies, the Iron Man Omnibus presents the stories of one of comics’ most intriguing characters from the very beginning! Featuring the first appearances of such classic Marvel characters as the Mandarin, the Black Widow, Hawkeye, the Crimson Dynamo and the Titanium Man in lushly-illustrated stories by “Dazzling” Don Heck, Gene “The Dean” Colan and scripted by no less than Stan “The Man” Lee himself, this is the go-to volume for the Iron Man fan. Including every page, every pinup, and every letters column. Not to mention unused covers, critical essays, and bonuses galore! Collecting TALES OF SUSPENSE #39-83 & TALES TO ASTONISH #82.
All Ages …$99.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2900-4

X-MEN: EMPEROR VULCAN TPB
COVER BY: BILLY TAN
WRITER: CHRISTOPHER YOST
PENCILS: PACO DIAZ
It’s brother versus brother and the outcome could decide the fate of billions. UNCANNY X-MEN: RISE AND FALL OF THE SHI’AR EMPIRE continues here! Vulcan is the Shi’Ar Emperor and Havok is leading the rebellious Starjammers. But who is really right and who is really wrong? Collecting X-MEN: EMPEROR VULCAN #1-5.
Rated T+ …$13.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2551-8

Iron Man Hulk Sampler, AR


Marvel Previews #57 May 2008, AR

Marvel Noise Episode 29: Daredevil 100, Page 17 Panel 6

New releases (by our host) and Bring ’em Back (by Backwards Dave) are joined by reviews from Equinox (Chris Chavez) and Vernson (Rob)! We also have a voicemail from Carlos and Mr. Chavez chimes in again with thoughts on Secret Invasion!

Sadly, there is no Marvel Tales this week. What, I’m on vacation!

Titles mentioned include Amazing Spider-Girl, Amazing Spider-Man, Criminal, Nova, Punisher, Wolverine, and New Mutants.

Get it here.
Discuss this episode on the Marvel Noise forum.

Bring ’em Back thread (http://www.thecomicforums.com/forum2//index.php?showtopic=125661)
Marvel Tales thread (http://www.thecomicforums.com/forum2//index.php?showtopic=125653)

Jeff Mallon, Ran (http://www.jeffmallon.com/)

Voicemail: (206) 312-5239
Email: marvelnoise@comicbooknoise.com
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http://marvelnoise.com/
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Marvel items on sale, 4.9.08

Comics

AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #19
COVER BY: RON FRENZ
WRITER: TOM DEFALCO
PENCILS: RON FRENZ
INKS: SAL BUSCEMA
“There Can Only Be One!” (Part 1 of 1)
At last—the battle you never thought you’d see—Spider-Girl versus Araña! ‘Nuff said!
Rated A …$2.99

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #556
COVER BY: CHRIS BACHALO
WRITER: ZEB WELLS
PENCILS: CHRIS BACHALO
INKS: TIM TOWNSEND
“Sometimes It Snows In April” (Come on it’s a Prince reference from 20 years ago! The day of the massively unhip editor is upon us) continues with Spidey caught in the middle of two ancient threats that are conspiring to take him and the city itself down.
Plus, Carlie trapped at the Police Station with someone after her blood!
Rated A …$2.99

Avengers Fairy Tales #2 (of 4), $2.99
Civil War Chronicles #10, $4.99

CRIMINAL #2
COVER BY: SEAN PHILLIPS
WRITER: ED BRUBAKER
PENCILS: SEAN PHILLIPS
It’s the second of three standalone stories, as CRIMINAL’s new expanded format keeps the hits coming!

In previous arcs of Criminal we’ve met the man who killed him, and we met his only surviving son… now meet TEEG LAWLESS, thief, murderer, and all around bad mother-#@$%er. Fresh from two tours in Vietnam, Teeg arrives home in 1972 carrying the baggage of war, a drug habit, and an unpaid debt to a local mob boss that’s now long overdue. *“Before the Living End”* tells how he goes about finding a way out of his problems and back into the life of crime.

And on top of this longer-than-usual length main story, CRIMINAL now features an *expanded* back-pages section, as well – with articles by Brubaker and other top crime writers, from novelists to screenwriters to comic writers. These noir articles have become a popular piece of the CRIMINAL package, and are something that can only be found in the comics, not in any collections.
So don’t miss out on this second *standalone* issue of the most acclaimed crime comic on the stands!
Mature Content/No Ads… $3.50

Dead Of Night Featuring Man Thing #3 (of 4), $3.99

FANTASTIC FOUR #556
COVER BY: BRYAN HITCH
WRITER: MARK MILLAR
PENCILS: BRYAN HITCH
INKS: PAUL NEARY
That’s the problem with Utopias—they’re all-too-often built on a foundation of human tears. When an organism designed to abolish war is set into motion, and it decides that the only way to accomplish its objective is to eliminate anyone who could possibly pick up a weapon, there’s only one foursome to turn to if humanity is going to survive!
Rated T+ …$2.99

Hedge Knight 2 Sworn Sword #6 (of 6), $2.99
Iron Man Poster Book, $6.99
Marvel Adventures Hulk #10, $2.99

NOVA #12
COVER BY: ALEX MALEEV
WRITER: DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING
PENCILS: PAUL PELLETIER
INKS: RICK MAGYAR
The New Mutant Warlock returns in an issue that propels Nova back into ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST! Still threatened by his deadly Phalanx virus, Richard Rider finally reaches Kvch, the never-before-seen Technarchy homeworld. But are the “parents” of the Phalanx still there – and can Nova even reach them? And are you ready for the comeback of the former New Mutant know as Warlock? Join writers Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning and new ongoing penciler Paul Pelletier (FANTASTIC FOUR) for another chapter of the saga that has Wizard saying “If you’re a fan of out-there sci-fi with a superhero twinge, you should strap yourself in for a ride with the Human Rocket’s series.”
Rated T+ …$2.99

PUNISHER #56
COVER BY: TIM BRADSTREET
WRITER: GARTH ENNIS
PENCILS: GORAN PARLOV
“VALLEY FORGE, VALLEY FORGE,” PART 2
Garth Ennis concludes his seminal run on PUNSHER — in style.
Eight men who know exactly who Frank Castle is…and how to fight him. Eight men who know that, no matter what they throw at him, he won’t fire back. The Punisher has faced many threats in his day, but never one like this. A Special Forces Squad has been tasked to bring him down, by all means necessary, and his only hope for survival might be crossing a line he swore he’d never cross.
Explicit Content …$2.99

Soleil Sampler, AR
The Last Defenders #2 (of 6), $2.99
Twelve #3 (of 12)(2nd Printing Chris Weston Variant Cover), $2.99

WOLVERINE #64
COVER BY: RON GARNEY
WRITER: JASON AARON
PENCILS: RON GARNEY
“GET MYSTIQUE” Part 3
Spinning out of the decade’s biggest X-Men event, Wolverine embarks on a personal mission to hunt down MYSTIQUE. But what do you do when the person you’re chasing, the person you’re dying to kill, chooses to hide behind an army of American soldiers? That’s the question Logan is asking himself, and the answer will be explosive. Plus, Wolvie pulls a bank heist in 1920s Kansas City, but all does not go according to plan.
Parental Advisory …$2.99

Collections

FALLEN SON: THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA TPB
COVER BY: JOHN CASSADAY
WRITER: JEPH LOEB
PENCILS: JOHN CASSADAY, DAVID FINCH, ED MCGUINNESS, JOHN ROMITA JR. and LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Where were you when Captain America died? Perhaps you were listening to the radio or reading the morning paper. Maybe you were surfing the web or on the phone with a friend. You were probably shocked, most likely thinking, “How could they? How could this happen to Cap?” And for a moment, you perhaps thought about all the ways the super soldier meant something to you. Something very real, very abiding. FALLEN SON: DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA follows the reaction of the legendary heroes’ best friends and closest comrades as they struggle to work through the emotions stirred by the loss of their ally, and the stages of grief that make them confront the part they may have played in that loss. Wolverine. The Avengers. Hawkeye. Spider-Man. Iron Man. All have their own sense of loss, their own levels of grieving. This is their story. This is Cap’s story. This is our story. The story of a Fallen Son and the world he helped make a better place. Collecting FALLEN SON: WOLVERINE, FALLEN SON: AVENGERS, FALLEN SON: CAPTAIN AMERICA, FALLEN SON: SPIDER-MAN and FALLEN SON: IRON MAN.
Rated T+ …$13.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2842-7

MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK VOL. 2: DEFENDERS DIGEST
COVER BY: JUAN SANTACRUZ
WRITER: PAUL BENJAMIN
PENCILS: DAVID NAKAYAMA and STEVE SCOTT
The Green Goliath continues to smash his way through his own Marvel Adventures title! See how brilliant scientist Bruce Banner was cursed to transform into the rampaging Hulk! Dr. Strange, the Silver Surfer and Namor all arrive on the scene, concluding in an all-new Defenders team-up adventure! Most important, thrill to the Hulk smashing everything in sight! Collecting MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #5-8.
All Ages …$7.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2643-0

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN VOL. 9: FIERCEST FOES
COVER BY: DAVID NAKAYAMA
WRITER: FRED VAN LENTE
PENCILS: CORY HAMSCHER
The all-new, all-ages, all-action fun continues! It’s wall-to-wall mayhem in the Mighty Marvel Manner with four original tales of everybody’s favorite teenage wall-crawler! Featuring Doctor Octopus, the Green Goblin and Venom! Plus: Will Harry Osborn succumb to his family’s evil legacy and don the guise of the Goblin? Collecting MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #33-36.
All Ages …$7.99

NEW MUTANTS CLASSIC VOL. 3 TPB
COVER BY: BILL SIENKIEWICZ
WRITER: CHRIS CLAREMONT
PENCILS: BILL SIENKIEWICZ and BOB MCLEOD
The New Mutants face a demon menace and befriend an alien misfit! A rock concert pulls them into the orbit of a multi-galaxy music star, then the team, with Cloak and Dagger, is drawn into a deadly exchange program…of super-powers! Plus: Hellfire Club intrigue and early steps on the path of reformation by Magneto! Action, romance, family reunions and a fairy tale! Anything else? Oh, right, guest-starring the X-Men! Collecting NEW MUTANTS #18-25 and ANNUAL #1.
Rated A …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3119-9

WHAT IF?: CIVIL WAR TPB
COVER BY: MARKO DJURDJEVIC
WRITERS: DAVID HINE, ED BRUBAKER, KEVIN GREVIOUX, CHRISTOS GAGE, GREG PAK, CHRISTOPHER YOST, JEFF PARKER, and PAUL TOBIN
PENCILS: MARKO DJURDJEVIC, GUSTAVO, HARVEY TOLIBAO, JUAN SANTACRUZ, LARRY STROMAN, CLAYTON HENRY, FRED HEMBECK, LEONARD KIRK, and RAFAEL SANDOVAL
Marvel once again poses the question, “What If…?” What if Annihilus had not been defeated in the outskirts of our galaxy, and instead had brought his devastating alien armada to Earth? What if Iron Man had lost the Civil War? What If Captain America led all the heroes against the Superhuman Registration Act and Henry Gyrich became head of S.H.I.E.L.D. to take them down? What if the Hulk had landed on a peaceful planet, as the Marvel heroes had intended when they exiled him into space? Or Banner had landed on Sakaar instead of the Hulk? Or the Hulk’s warrior bride, Caiera the Oldstrong, had come to Earth seeking vengeance instead of her husband? What if Vulcan had become Phoenix? And finally, what if Spider-Man and Wolverine became the most efficient two-man killing team in the world? Collecting WHAT IF? ANNIHILATION, CIVIL WAR, PLANET HULK, X-MEN and SPIDER-MAN VS. WOLVERINE.
Rated A …$ 16.99

WOLVERINE: THE DEATH OF WOLVERINE PREMIERE
COVER BY: HOWARD CHAYKIN
WRITER: MARC GUGGENHEIM and JASON AARON
PENCILS: HOWARD CHAYKIN
Following up on plot threads left over from CIVIL WAR: WOLVERINE, this new story promises to take Marvel’s feral mutant to the limit – and beyond! With Wolverine reduced to a brain-dead vegetable, you’d think that was the end of Wolverine’s adventures – but it’s actually just the beginning of Wolverine’s greatest challenge yet. Guest-starring Iron Man and Dr. Strange! Plus: Wendell Rayfield is a recently divorced, down-on-his-luck ex-cop who’s looking down the business end of a 40 with no hope for the future and with demons from his past still haunting him at every turn. All he has going for him is his new job. A job that involves a very large machine gun, a hole in the ground, a certain hirsute mutant and several thousand bullets. We all know what damage Wolverine can do with his claws, but how dangerous can he really be when all he’s able to do is talk? Wendell Rayfield is about to find out. Collecting WOLVERINE #56-61.
Parental Advisory …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2611-9

Review: Q&D – 3.26.08

Daredevil #106: Ed Brubaker continues to write a Matt Murdock that you feel for. How do you move on with your life when everything you smell reminds you of the woman you can’t see? It’s hard for people without enhanced senses. For Matt, it’s even harder to stay sane. Guest artist Paul Azaceta beautifully illustrates Brubaker’s story of three of Matt’s friends coping with his pain.

X-Men: First Class #10: Jeff Parker loves me. Okay, I’m sure he doesn’t. And until he posted this entry on his site, he most likely never even thought about me. But that’s okay. Because this issue tells the tale of a Cyclops solo adventure. Want to know why Cyclops is the leader? Reading this story will help in unerstanding the character’s origins. Craig Rousseau does an admirable job filling in for Roger Cruz this month.

Wolverine: First Class #1: Now this is a nice first issue. For someone like myself whose been an X-Men fan for a long time and remembers when Kitty joined the team (even if I wasn’t an active reader at the time, joining the faithful at the end of the Dave Cockrum run just prior to Paul Smith starting), this is a look ‘between panels’ at the beginning of the friendship she shares with Logan. And if you’re not familiar with Kitty Pryde and want to know why she would be teamed up with Wolverine, Fred Van Lente and Andrea Di Vito do an amazing job of answering that question, starting with this issue. You can’t go wrong with this one.

Ms. Marvel #25: SKRULLS!!

Ultimate Human #3: This has been a gorgeous story. Cary Nord and Dave Stewart do wonders bringing Warren Ellis‘ script to life. They make a great team. The only nitpick I have is the majority of this issue told the origin of the Leader. Problem is, the origin story takes place in the past and after being in the present day for the first two issues, it was a little jarring being thrown into what’s basically a flashback, cold, and at the beginning of the issue. But I guess I’m a little old-school where we would usually have the villain exclaim his triumph over our hero or heroes and we’d get the origin in a handful of panels. It still works here, don’t get me wrong. And if that’s the only thing I can bitch about, then really, this story’s firing on all cylinders.

Review: Wolverine #63

I think this is going to rank up there with the Greg Rucka run as a favorite of mine. And this is only the second issue in.

As shown by the opening the pages, we see some more of Logan’s past that he shares with Raven Darkholme. But in this issue we also see Wolverine trying to ‘get Mystique’ in the present day as he continues to carry out his orders given to him by Cyclops in the last issue.

This is a very, very good issue. Jason Aaron is on point with all of the characters here. We’re reminded that Mystique is a villain. And a very good one at that. And Wolverine? Well, he is the best at what he does. While I tend to enjoy Ron Garney when he’s inked by Bill Reinhold or Dan Green, he’s doing a damn fine job here. The art is crisp, clean, and dirty when it needs to be.

This is a story that cannot be missed.

Recommended.

Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Ron Garney
Colors: Jason Keith
Letterer: Cory Petit
Editor: Axel Alonso
Cover: Ron Garney and Jason Keith