Nobody has done it yet, so I thought I'd get the ball rolling.
All New X-Men #5- Another good issue that focused on the kids deciding to stay here and try to right what's wrong. This issue kind of touched upon what everyone thought the ending of this story would be: Whenever they go back to their timeline, Xavier is going to wipe their minds and forget that this ever happened. They figured that while they're here, they should try to at least stop their current selves. Some nice character moments with Jean here, who I'm really enjoying. Angel seems to be the only one who isn't cool with what's going on, so let's see how that unfolds. Not sure how I feel about the new Beast design. I hated cat Beast, so I'm happy they went more ape-like again, but I think it's kind of a meh design. Maybe it'll grow on me.
American Vampire #34- **** am I going to miss this series while it's on hiatus and this issue set up the rest of the series ****ing AWESOMELY. The Gray Trader looks like an awesome villain and I can't wait to find out more about them. The splash page that shows hints about the future also looks ****ing awesome. Looks like Skinner gets involved with Hell's Angels, which is a ****ing great idea and my favorite character from the series looks like he's finally going to make his return. It's going to be hard to wait for the next issue.
Batman Inc. #6- This was a pretty good issue. I haven't been as big of a fan of Morrison's run as a lot of people, but I'm enjoying to see how it's beginning to get tied up. Still hope he doesn't kill Damian, even though I have a feeling that he might.
Batman: The Dark Knight #15- This issue had one of the stupidest, comic booky solutions to a problem in recent memory. Basically, Scarecrow is able to gas Gotham with a new highly potent fear toxin that no one has a cure for. They found out that the only place they can quickly secure the cure is within Batman's blood. So what does Batman do? Get in his batplane and spray the infected area with his blood, curing everyone and almost killing himself. Comics, folks.
Hellboy in Hell #2- I think I might drop this as a monthly and pick up the trade. It's not because I think it's a bad series, because it's not... It's actually really, really great. But I feel like Hellboy stuff is just better when it's in collected editions. anyway, Hellboy continues his journey through hell and finds out more details about his early life. Great series, but might be better as a trade than a monthly.
Iron Man #5- This was the first issue that I really enjoyed in this series. I feel like Gillen nailed the smart-ass-but-still-a-good-guy aspect of Tony.The Extermis story has been wrapped up and Tony has turned his attention to space. I don't really know much about the Guardians of the Galaxy, but I'm intriguged by the team and can't wait for their monthly to start. It seems like Iron Man is going to kind of set up the title. But yeah, this was a solid issue and I'm excited to see where it goes.
Manhattan Projects #8- This is such a great ****ing series and this issue was no exception. I feel like this series is hard to review because it's so strange and out there, but in a good way. To kind of blandly sum up what's going on, the good guys, made up of Albert Einstein, Joseph Oppenheimer, various US, Russian, and Nazi scientists, are going up against the bad guys, made up of powerful higher ups, the Freemasons, Harry S. Truman, and a computerized FDR. It's ****ing crazy and GREAT.
New Avengers #1- This was an obvious set up issue, but still entertaining. I was wondering how Hickman was going to have Black Panther join a group that he was so vehemently against just a couple years ago. I feel like he did a decent job finding a motive. I love Hickman, so I'll be checking it out.
Punk Rock Jesus #6- I really loved this miniseries, but I don't know how I feel about this ending. I ended up really liking all of these characters and maybe it was naive of me, but I was kind of hoping for a happier ending. Not to say that this book was a total downer, because it wasn't... In fact, the immediate kind of went out on an uplifting note, I guess you can say. Anyway, Sean Murphy really did an excellent job on this series in both the writing and art department. This was a really thought provoking series that really delivered on both the badass and emotional fronts. It makes you thankful to have places like Image and Vertigo where you can mass produce these awesome little stories that you wouldn't be able to make at the Big 2.
Talon #3- I'm really enjoying this title more than I expected to. This issue features a bank heist that goes wrong. Again, there's nothing really spectacular about this book, but it's always solid. I hope the rumors that Tynion is taking over Red Hood and the Outlaws is true because I'd love to see him get higher profile work. I kind of wish he'd take over Teen Titans instead though, because I love the Titans and that book is pretty awful.
The Flash #15- This might be my vote for most underrated book in the New 52. I'm really loving this Grodd story and this story kind of built up to a pretty epic conclusion. Manapul's writing has been top notch, but his is even better. The art in this book is just absolutely beautiful and for the life of me, I don't understand why it doesn't get more recognition. But yeah, like I said, awesome ending to this story. Excited to see how Barry responds now and if he'll team up with the Rogue's to eliminate the threat.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #19- Ultimate Spider-Man has always been my favorite book from Bendis and he's still doing a great job on this title all of these years later even though it is completely different than when it started. There's a really, really nice J. Jonah Jameson moment in this book that I enjoyed. It sets up Miles first meeting with Venom quite nicely. Just a solid book that I look forward to reading every month.
All New X-Men #5- Another good issue that focused on the kids deciding to stay here and try to right what's wrong. This issue kind of touched upon what everyone thought the ending of this story would be: Whenever they go back to their timeline, Xavier is going to wipe their minds and forget that this ever happened. They figured that while they're here, they should try to at least stop their current selves. Some nice character moments with Jean here, who I'm really enjoying. Angel seems to be the only one who isn't cool with what's going on, so let's see how that unfolds. Not sure how I feel about the new Beast design. I hated cat Beast, so I'm happy they went more ape-like again, but I think it's kind of a meh design. Maybe it'll grow on me.
American Vampire #34- **** am I going to miss this series while it's on hiatus and this issue set up the rest of the series ****ing AWESOMELY. The Gray Trader looks like an awesome villain and I can't wait to find out more about them. The splash page that shows hints about the future also looks ****ing awesome. Looks like Skinner gets involved with Hell's Angels, which is a ****ing great idea and my favorite character from the series looks like he's finally going to make his return. It's going to be hard to wait for the next issue.
Batman Inc. #6- This was a pretty good issue. I haven't been as big of a fan of Morrison's run as a lot of people, but I'm enjoying to see how it's beginning to get tied up. Still hope he doesn't kill Damian, even though I have a feeling that he might.
Batman: The Dark Knight #15- This issue had one of the stupidest, comic booky solutions to a problem in recent memory. Basically, Scarecrow is able to gas Gotham with a new highly potent fear toxin that no one has a cure for. They found out that the only place they can quickly secure the cure is within Batman's blood. So what does Batman do? Get in his batplane and spray the infected area with his blood, curing everyone and almost killing himself. Comics, folks.
Hellboy in Hell #2- I think I might drop this as a monthly and pick up the trade. It's not because I think it's a bad series, because it's not... It's actually really, really great. But I feel like Hellboy stuff is just better when it's in collected editions. anyway, Hellboy continues his journey through hell and finds out more details about his early life. Great series, but might be better as a trade than a monthly.
Iron Man #5- This was the first issue that I really enjoyed in this series. I feel like Gillen nailed the smart-ass-but-still-a-good-guy aspect of Tony.The Extermis story has been wrapped up and Tony has turned his attention to space. I don't really know much about the Guardians of the Galaxy, but I'm intriguged by the team and can't wait for their monthly to start. It seems like Iron Man is going to kind of set up the title. But yeah, this was a solid issue and I'm excited to see where it goes.
Manhattan Projects #8- This is such a great ****ing series and this issue was no exception. I feel like this series is hard to review because it's so strange and out there, but in a good way. To kind of blandly sum up what's going on, the good guys, made up of Albert Einstein, Joseph Oppenheimer, various US, Russian, and Nazi scientists, are going up against the bad guys, made up of powerful higher ups, the Freemasons, Harry S. Truman, and a computerized FDR. It's ****ing crazy and GREAT.
New Avengers #1- This was an obvious set up issue, but still entertaining. I was wondering how Hickman was going to have Black Panther join a group that he was so vehemently against just a couple years ago. I feel like he did a decent job finding a motive. I love Hickman, so I'll be checking it out.
Punk Rock Jesus #6- I really loved this miniseries, but I don't know how I feel about this ending. I ended up really liking all of these characters and maybe it was naive of me, but I was kind of hoping for a happier ending. Not to say that this book was a total downer, because it wasn't... In fact, the immediate kind of went out on an uplifting note, I guess you can say. Anyway, Sean Murphy really did an excellent job on this series in both the writing and art department. This was a really thought provoking series that really delivered on both the badass and emotional fronts. It makes you thankful to have places like Image and Vertigo where you can mass produce these awesome little stories that you wouldn't be able to make at the Big 2.
Talon #3- I'm really enjoying this title more than I expected to. This issue features a bank heist that goes wrong. Again, there's nothing really spectacular about this book, but it's always solid. I hope the rumors that Tynion is taking over Red Hood and the Outlaws is true because I'd love to see him get higher profile work. I kind of wish he'd take over Teen Titans instead though, because I love the Titans and that book is pretty awful.
The Flash #15- This might be my vote for most underrated book in the New 52. I'm really loving this Grodd story and this story kind of built up to a pretty epic conclusion. Manapul's writing has been top notch, but his is even better. The art in this book is just absolutely beautiful and for the life of me, I don't understand why it doesn't get more recognition. But yeah, like I said, awesome ending to this story. Excited to see how Barry responds now and if he'll team up with the Rogue's to eliminate the threat.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #19- Ultimate Spider-Man has always been my favorite book from Bendis and he's still doing a great job on this title all of these years later even though it is completely different than when it started. There's a really, really nice J. Jonah Jameson moment in this book that I enjoyed. It sets up Miles first meeting with Venom quite nicely. Just a solid book that I look forward to reading every month.
He's done a fantastic job so far. Aaron and Remender got me real excited for W&tXM and UXF, but they trailed off right about the time of AvX and I don't feel either really recovered to their previous quality (though still good). Now Bendis' All New X-Men has me excited like those two used to excite me and I hope his run is as long as his Avengers.
