A short week, but not too short for Examiner reviews. Or recaps of them here. As always, spoilers.
Dread's BOUGHT/THOUGHT for 6/3/10
INVINCIBLE #72: Skipped May, but only by a hair. The schedule of this title has become more erratic since the "on time in '09" era, but considering that the regular artist was once drawing a second book for 5 months, and the co-creating artist who worked on a recent one shot often runs late, things could be worse. This could be the semi-bimonthly ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN. It is part 2 of the 8 part VILTRUMITE WAR story, which connects the dots to one of the major subplots the series has had for the past five years. Mark, Oliver, Allen, Nolan, and even Tech-Jacket from one of Kirkman's spare Image series that was canceled years ago (before CAPES even bit it) unite in space to join the resistance in a big assault on the warmongering empire. Problem? The Viltrumites have sent an attack party to do away with them before they can better mobilize. To this end, three Viltrumites are sent to do away with out heroes, flanked by an entire armada of aliens. One of them is one of the Viltrumite from the "Mantis World" arc who apparently didn't die; I believe his name was "Lucan". Another, however, is Conquest, who Mark believed he'd killed, and who almost laid waste to him, Atom Eve, and Earth despite missing half an arm.
What follows is a pure action issue, but it's a bit different from the CONQUEST arc; the gore is mostly limited to the last 8 pages or so of the story. It involves an entire group of heroes, as well as the first major action that Tech Jacket has had since that one panel a year ago. Nolan and Oliver get to be in a fight together for once, and Nolan seems impressed (especially since in Viltrumite terms, Oliver's still an infant). Considering how much Allen has bragged, he seemed subdued during a lot of the fight, but then again, he isn't aggressive by nature. Or these were tougher Viltrumites.
The major crux of the action is the rematch between Mark and Conquest, and the latter's vows to destroy Earth and all his family afterwards. This leads to a gut wrenching sequence that has to be seen to be believed. If one reads the issue, they'll see what I did there.
Pretty good issue. Kirkman is apparently too busy with writing his other comics and his "WALKING DEAD" TV show to answer the entire letters page solo, so an editor helps out. Kirkman has denied that he plays a "can you top this" game of gore for some of his battles here, but it seems obvious that he is. Which isn't a bad thing. At the very least, this battle didn't take four issues this time. As a bonus (and a REAL bonus, since you don't pay extra for is), Kirkman and E.J. Su continue their 6 page TECH-JACKET strip, which basically will be an extra issue of the series that was canned back in 2003-2004 or so. Considering the CAPES strip that ran for a while, I'm surprised Kirkman waited this long to do this. At any rate, at 6 pages a month the story flows along a little slowly, but so far does a decent job to cover where the end of that series left of. That is, assuming one has read it. I bought the trade for it about two years ago, so I don't mind. CAPES was better, though. The biggest problem is Tech-Jacket as a character is very bland and generic compared to his origin and even some of his cast; some have felt that Mark Grayson himself fits this criticism at times in INVINCIBLE, but Tech was a bit worse. Granted, Mark's had 72 issues to get fleshed out.
It's an action issue and little more, but that's certainly fine; I'm a sucker for decent action. It does end on quite a cliffhanger, considering we're barely a quarter of the way through.
THANOS IMPERATIVE #1: Picking up right where IGNITION #1 left off, this is the "official" start of the third space event mini by Abnett & Lanning ("DnA"). In reality it is the culmination of a year's worth of subplot from NOVA, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and at least two mini's (INHUMANS and IMPERIAL GUARD) and one Quasar one shot. It essentially takes the place of both NOVA & GUARDIANS for at least 6-7 months. Marvel insists both are on "hiatus". Like IMMORTAL IRON FIST. Or VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT will be. A little honesty's nice. In truth, while the space books have a loyal audience, it is a shrinking one and both titles at best need a relaunch after 2-3 years. But so do many titles. Hell, NEW AVENGERS was among the best selling ongoing series of the last 5 years, and even it is getting a fresh #1. The difference between this and WAR OF KINGS, and even to an extent ANNIHILATION CONQUEST, is that it seems more themed towards the regular readers of the space books. You're expected to be behind Nova and Star-Lord, who are treated as unofficial leads, because they've been the leads of the space line with their own titles for 2-3 years. I imagine someone trying this new would be very lost, but I don't think that is the intention. The intention is to deliver on a story starring the best leads of the two ongoings. Which is greatly appreciated. The biggest criticism of WAR OF KINGS and especially ANNIHILATION CONQUEST were the central characters not being engaging enough. That's a criticism that seems to be thrown by the wayside here. Of course, Nova just popped up in SECRET AVENGERS #1, which should sell double what this does, so it could help.
The forces of the Cancerverse, led by Dark Quasar and Dark Lord Mar-Vell (of the Captain variety) are invading the 616 universe. Since their universe is one of eternal life, everything has become cancerous and vile, and space is limited. With the Fault leading to a new universe, the Cancerverse beings see it as new real estate. Their quest is to come in and not only conquer whatever they see, but to make this universe like theirs by literally killing Death.
Word of Death choosing an avatar is mentioned and it naturally is obvious that it is Thanos. While Thanos is pissed about being alive again and doesn't seek to serve any agenda but his own nihilism, it appears as if Death (or Oblivion) has resurrected him for exactly that purpose, to serve as their avatar of Death (a role that Phyla Mar-Vell apparently flunked). Thanos is probably a step up from her anyway. The Guardians work up an awkward truce with Thanos to steer him towards the Fault. The issue does a good job of showcasing the various Guardians besides Star-Lord. Major Victory wants to be out in the front lines of battle; while Gamora and Moondragon want Thanos dead, Drax's entire purpose in life is to make it so. And Rocket Raccoon seems to have Thanos' death wish number. The only Guardians who seem lost in the crowd are Flag and Bug, but that tends to happen to those two anyway. Both Thanos and even Drax don older, default costumes that I wouldn't have minded seeing redesigned, but I suppose the intention is to go classic, HEROIC AGE and all.
Meanwhile, the Cancerverse hordes are attacking the Nova Corps Starship, which is in the midst of the war alongside the Inhuman-led Kree, and the Shi'ar Imperial Guard. Nova and Quasar naturally survived the explosion from last isssue (IGNITION), but then have to deal with the Dark Avengers (no, not THOSE Dark Avengers, the Cancerverse Avengers) who decide to smash some things and kidnap the recently revived Namorita. Considering there's no way Marvel editorial would let poor Namorita rejoin the rest of the Warriors on Earth (since it would leave Dwayne and Microbe the only heroic casualties of Stamford), part of me fears that nasty things may happen to Namorita. But at any rate, it provides Nova sufficient justification to be angry. While Robbie and Irani (and of course Worldmind/Ko-Rel) appear, none of the other Nova Corps do. It certainly has felt like a while since we've seen them.
The issue is drawn by Miguel Sepulveda, who just wrapped the SIEGE run of THUNDERBOLTS, and his style is rather good (especially alongside J.D. Ramos' colors). He'll draw the next issue before Brad Walker eventually draws for the series as well, which leads me to wonder if instead of offering IGNITION as a separate one shot, they didn't make that the proper issue #1 and stretch this series to 7 issues. It was the real start of the series anyway, and all the issues are $3.99 anyway. There is a preview of the next issue offered, which reveals that is when not only Silver Surfer arrives, but his master Galactus as well.
The Cancerverse creatures, according to Ronan, can take "six to seven times what we would consider lethal before perishing", which must be quite something coming from a Kree cyborg (talking to Medusa of the Inhumans). That does help add to some of the drama, that the monsters are a genuine threat and even Nova needs a little extra time to zap through some of them.
While Marvel says they aren't doing major events after SIEGE this year, they are doing "mini" events such as this and SHADOWLAND. My expectations for this are a lot higher. Rocking start to what hopefully will be DnA's best cosmic event series yet!
Just don't kill Namorita! She just came back, man...
VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT #9: Not a dead book walking but a "due for hiatus" book walking in the Orwellian speak that is Marvel's editorial strategy. After issue ten, this book vanishes during SHADOWLAND and if it does return, it likely will with a fresh #1. Marvel has actually been pretty loyal to Moon Knight, as he's been in his own series since 2006, but given that sales on this have slipped below 20k an issue and that he'll be featured in SECRET AVENGERS, I wouldn't be surprised if the gap between the end of this volume and the start of the next is longer than 3 months (which was the time between MOON KNIGHT #30 and VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT #1).
This is a 36 page issue for $3.99, Marvel's favorite price. Gregg Hurwitz writes a tale in which Moon Knight literally swings into Spider-Man and helps him take on the Sandman. That is really all there is to the plot. It is very similar to what might have passed for a random issue of MARVEL TEAM UP, only with perhaps simpler. Spider-Man has made cameos in earlier issues of Hurwitz' run, and has often teamed with Moon Knight in each other's series or Marvel Team Up (even the 2006 version by Robert Kirkman), so I suppose it feels less random than Deadpool did. Aside for a few quips by Spidey, though, there's little mention of their differing styles or philosophies and full focus on the task at hand. Which is either flat or professional of them. The Avengers can't go 5 seconds without bickering like 12 year old girls no matter what the crisis according to Bendis, but at least here Moonie and Spidey (and Frenchie) focus on beating Sandman.
Sandman himself sprouts a subplot that seems directly ripped from "SPIDER-MAN 3", which I didn't need and I don't think helps him any. Considering an issue in the past seemed similar to "BATMAN BEGINS" (when a "knight" takes on Scarecrow and an army of mental ward escapees), this may not help make Hurwitz stand out. Still, what is interesting about Hurwitz's take on MOON KNIGHT is he isn't afraid of comedy. The meeting of the heroes is pure absurd slapstick and Frenchie himself is the focus in a few running gags of the issue. Only the last six pages, which seek to tie into SECRET AVENGERS, try to delve into typical dark hero fare for Moonie (where he narrates about how much he'd like to maul a spray-paint vandal and especially a drug dealer; usual stuff). Going from Sandman to low level drug dealers in one day; Moon Knight's sure diversified his patrols lately.
Honestly the main draw of the issue is the artwork by Juan Jose Ryp and Andres Mossa. The pencils, inks, and colors are stunning, especially for Moon Knight's armored look. The story changes settings a few times and part of me thinks that was deliberate to cater to the artist(s) on this one. It's not the most original story in the world, but it sure looked pretty.
Part of me wishes Hurwitz had figured out some other kind of story or stories to tell with Moon Knight besides random team-up tales for these last four issues, but they're entertaining reads at least that do no harm to the character. He's gotten sane enough to be an Avenger again, which I suppose is the major thing. Moon Knight as a franchise still has a lot of hurdles to overcome in order for it to finally escape the shadow of Daredevil or Batman, but this won't be the run to fix them. It's instead been the run to set things back to a stable status quo so that things can be salvaged and perhaps one day improved upon, like Iron Fist's world was. Which can seem thankless, much as, say, McDuffie's run on FANTASTIC FOUR (or even how some may see Gillen's run on THOR), but it is something I appreciate.
One more issue to go.
t:!
