Bought/Thought August 5th, 2009

[Dread]

Considering that Vulcan may possibly be alive and the populace doesn't yet know that he's dead, Deathbird would be considered to be overthrown just like her husband.

Technically, Vulcan's power came from marriage. Deathbird was Lilandra's sister and the one with the "royal blood". When Lilandra was overthrown, Deathbird became queen; Vulcan was basically emperor by marriage. He was simply the crazed, assertive one, and Deathbird essentially supported him and went along. Then when Deathbird was put into a coma (and probably paralyzed) by Lilandra at the end of KINGBREAKER, Vulcan became full on "king". Even still, Lilandra was able to put his legitimacy into peril simply by showing up at a council meeting with a fancy religious staff.

Vulcan is, at least, missing and presumed dead. His army is in shambles. Deathbird is legally queen but she's comatose. Lilandra is dead. Gladiator apparently was hailed "king" because he was holding said religious stick, and he's the only one left. He's at best a regent and at worst an impromptu dictator.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I had to wait until today to buy my comics and, of course, War of Kings was sold out. Sucks.

Captain America: Reborn #2 was good, though. I'm glad the series is focusing a bit more on Steve now. I hope he continues to get the lion's share of the focus. I love time travel stories where the hero has no control. Worked for Quantum Leap, works for Lost, and it's working nicely here. Unfortunately, it makes it sort of impossible to figure out where the story is going on Cap's side, since he's not following any sort of linear progression of events. He relives his origin, presumably to catch anyone who's just starting out with Cap in this mini up, but for those of us who've seen it ad infinitum, it's kind of just there. Only difference from what we've always seen is that Cap's whispering in his own head about how much it sucked that Erskine died, which we already knew he felt crappy about in the original origin story. I didn't feel much progression in this issue, is what I'm saying. Basically it was just the Bucky/Black Widow stuff that progressed anywhere. I kind of felt like the whole issue could've just been the last page and we would've gotten the same amount of plot progression. Oh, and Reed and Hank are catty b****es to each other again. Just pull 'em out and measure 'em, guys. For Christ's sake.

Secret Six was also good. Mostly. Except for the "oh noes, the Secret Six have tried to kill each other and broken up A-F***ING-GAIN" bit. It's so tired at this point that it's becoming a farce. Anyway, Jeannette's whole deal was crazy. DC banshees are f***ing creepy. I'm glad Artemis is still alive. I like her and Simone has her fly into badass mode nicely toward the end of the issue. Wonder Woman is characteristically--for Simone--kind of bloodthirsty and mean here. Makes sense since the Six are all villains, some of whom she knows, but she's really mean. The ending was a little anticlimactic. It takes a lot to visually impress me in a universe where you've got giant sea creatures and living gods and stuff, so a hairy dude chained to an X doesn't quite do it. But we'll see where it goes next. Still pretty funny throughout the issue. Simone's knack for dialogue never fails.

 

[Dread]

I had to wait until today to buy my comics and, of course, War of Kings was sold out. Sucks.

Captain America: Reborn #2 was good, though. I'm glad the series is focusing a bit more on Steve now. I hope he continues to get the lion's share of the focus. I love time travel stories where the hero has no control. Worked for Quantum Leap, works for Lost, and it's working nicely here. Unfortunately, it makes it sort of impossible to figure out where the story is going on Cap's side, since he's not following any sort of linear progression of events. He relives his origin, presumably to catch anyone who's just starting out with Cap in this mini up, but for those of us who've seen it ad infinitum, it's kind of just there. Only difference from what we've always seen is that Cap's whispering in his own head about how much it sucked that Erskine died, which we already knew he felt crappy about in the original origin story. I didn't feel much progression in this issue, is what I'm saying. Basically it was just the Bucky/Black Widow stuff that progressed anywhere. I kind of felt like the whole issue could've just been the last page and we would've gotten the same amount of plot progression. Oh, and Reed and Hank are catty b****es to each other again. Just pull 'em out and measure 'em, guys. For Christ's sake.

Glad you seem to like the "unintentional homages" to LOST and QUANTUM LEAP, since other readers, such as the reviewers on CBR's THE BUY PILE don't appreciate that at all. " 'Captain America: Reborn' #2 borrows both from "Lost" and "Quantum Leap," and not in a good way. Only Norman Osborn does anything even close to useful, and that's not for long."

Reed and Pym did bicker, but it wasn't nearly as juvenile as in MIGHTY AVENGERS, thankfully.

The flashback scenes for me are page-filler. They're doing nothing to tell us anything about Steve or his feelings that we don't already know. That Brubaker HIMSELF didn't already do in early issues. They may be excellently drawn, written, and paced page filler, but page filler they are. I dare say we may learn more about Rogers in THE MARVELS PROJECT than REBORN honestly. If the entire time gimmick is to just provide a typical "ludicrous resurrection engine" and keep him occupied until his inevitable return in issue four or five, I would rather they get on with it sooner rather than later. Brubaker's good at execution but REBORN still feels to be more about going through motions. Bru's at least making the motions entertaining enough to read.

MARVELS PROJECT may have more meat as a story, IMO.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

People who b**** about Reborn being a "rip-off" or some such of Lost, Quantum Leap, or anything else are idiots. Pure and simple.

 

[Dread]

My complaint isn't about them being similar to LOST or QUANTUM LEAP. My issue is despite all the effort and solid execution of the motions, they're just that; motions. You could do a skit in which Steve Rogers cannot go from the shower to the kitchen without at least two or three WWII flashbacks with full monologue about how hard war is, how he regrets every death, blah blah and it would be "funny because it's true" variety. As I said in my review, it's akin to Superman having yet enough flashback about a farm, Ma, and a dog. Batman having another flashback about Joe Chill and falling beads. Either do something new or unique with it, or don't bother and get to the point. We've seen flashbacks of this type or variety with full commentary from Rogers at least 800 thousand times.

The time travel angle is basically an excuse to deny Steve is dead, and to keep him busy until the story is ready to revive him. It's nice that Bru's made the flash-backs a little more literal, but they still succumb to the flaws. That's my problem. I was far more entertained by the battle at the HAMMER base or the visit with Reed.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Well, that's why I figure the time flashes are more to orient new readers with Cap, since this is a big event mini. They do come off feeling a bit pointless in this issue, though. If the plot keeps inching along in the present while standing totally still in the flashes, I'm gonna end up really wondering why this mini wasn't like a 2-issue arc in the main series.

 

[Dread]

Well, that's why I figure the time flashes are more to orient new readers with Cap, since this is a big event mini. They do come off feeling a bit pointless in this issue, though. If the plot keeps inching along in the present while standing totally still in the flashes, I'm gonna end up really wondering why this mini wasn't like a 2-issue arc in the main series.

If you don't know who Captain America was, you wouldn't pay $4 a pop to read CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN. It is that simple. If Marvel genuinely believes the average fan will pluck down $4 for a character they have no vested prior interest in in this economy, they're more out of touch then I give then credit for. While Marvel, to their credit, have done a good job reviving the CA franchise with Brubaker a bit, he's nowhere near as big or well known as the X-Men, Spider-Man, the Avengers, Hulk, or even Thor at times. It's nice that it is a vehicle to orient fans who aren't familiar with Cap, I just wish Brubaker could do both; orient those who haven't followed and advance the story.

It's 5 issues for the same reason it is it's own mini; Marvel feels they can sell more copies of it. To be fair, these two issues so far have been more than 22 pages an issue, so it is worth the money. They could have stretched it to six issues. I mean how many of Bendis' mini's have been stretched to obscene lengths? Seven, Eight issues?

I am curious what the future holds, though. The franchise had a future of opportunity with "New Cap". Now that the original is coming back, beyond the initial "hooray!" phase of Steve busting heads again, there'll be that lull, that realization that now things are exactly as they were two years ago, and the entire trip was pointless. That'll be the real crunch time.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

I don't know why, but I feel sort of underwhelmed by Reborn so far.

 

[RockSP]

I had to wait until today to buy my comics and, of course, War of Kings was sold out. Sucks.

That's what your pullbox is for.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Technically, Vulcan's power came from marriage. Deathbird was Lilandra's sister and the one with the "royal blood". When Lilandra was overthrown, Deathbird became queen; Vulcan was basically emperor by marriage. He was simply the crazed, assertive one, and Deathbird essentially supported him and went along. Then when Deathbird was put into a coma (and probably paralyzed) by Lilandra at the end of KINGBREAKER, Vulcan became full on "king".

First of all, when Lilandra was overthrown, Chancellor Araki became regent in hopes of reviving D'ken. Deathbird did not become Majestrix. Due to Vulcan, D'ken was revitalized and he was properly restored to the throne.

Also, Vulcan was not merely Majestor by marriage. His marriage to Deathbird merely solidified his claim to the throne after he killed D'ken. Deathbird had no desire to rule and willingly reduced herself to that of Vulcan's Majestrix Consort.

Even still, Lilandra was able to put his legitimacy into peril simply by showing up at a council meeting with a fancy religious staff.

The reason why Lilandra threatened Vulcan's legitimacy to the throne was because the massive political turmoil concerning the House of Neramani, the people not trusting Vulcan because he was not Shi'ar, Lilandra having loyal followers within the Shi'ar populace and government, and the fact that Vulcan killed the previous Majestor. Lots of factors go into why Lilandra challenged Vulcan's legitimacy than just she was a previous Majestrix and a part of the royal family.

Vulcan is, at least, missing and presumed dead. His army is in shambles. Deathbird is legally queen but she's comatose. Lilandra is dead. Gladiator apparently was hailed "king" because he was holding said religious stick, and he's the only one left. He's at best a regent and at worst an impromptu dictator.

Gladiator is now the Majestor of the Shi'ar Empire as proclaimed by the people which gives him legitimacy. Not a regent or impromptu dictator.

Deathbird was not the Majestrix of the Shi'ar Empire. She was not a co-ruler, she was a mere consort. When the Shi'ar proclamed Gladiator as Majestor, they had no idea that Vulcan is currently presumed dead. Any legitimacy Deathbird had with the throne was thrown away with Vulcan being overthrown along with her wishes to not be Majestrix.

 

[Dread]

First of all, when Lilandra was overthrown, Chancellor Araki became regent in hopes of reviving D'ken. Deathbird did not become Majestrix. Due to Vulcan, D'ken was revitalized and he was properly restored to the throne.

Also, Vulcan was not merely Majestor by marriage. His marriage to Deathbird merely solidified his claim to the throne after he killed D'ken. Deathbird had no desire to rule and willingly reduced herself to that of Vulcan's Majestrix Consort.



The reason why Lilandra threatened Vulcan's legitimacy to the throne was because the massive political turmoil concerning the House of Neramani, the people not trusting Vulcan because he was not Shi'ar, Lilandra having loyal followers within the Shi'ar populace and government, and the fact that Vulcan killed the previous Majestor. Lots of factors go into why Lilandra challenged Vulcan's legitimacy than just she was a previous Majestrix and a part of the royal family.



Gladiator is now the Majestor of the Shi'ar Empire as proclaimed by the people which gives him legitimacy. Not a regent or impromptu dictator.

Deathbird was not the Majestrix of the Shi'ar Empire. She was not a co-ruler, she was a mere consort. When the Shi'ar proclamed Gladiator as Majestor, they had no idea that Vulcan is currently presumed dead. Any legitimacy Deathbird had with the throne was thrown away with Vulcan being overthrown along with her wishes to not be Majestrix.

Wow. In my defense, I didn't read any of the Vulcan/Starjammer stuff between DEADLY GENESIS and KINGBREAKER, so I may have been a bit ignorant. I just assumed Vulcan wouldn't have so easily become ruler since he wasn't a blood Shi'ar. But I guess that doesn't matter since Gladiator is now ruler. That is why I compared the masses there to folks from Metropolis. Metropolis folks seem to flock to anyone with an S on their chest, at least before Crisis. Gladiator was slaughtering, albeit not happily, anyone Vulcan aimed him at for a good long while. Then again, the Shi'ar have usually been messed up for a while. I won't miss them.

 

[CaptainCanada]

Oh, and Reed and Hank are catty b****es to each other again. Just pull 'em out and measure 'em, guys. For Christ's sake.

Hank would be unwise to agree to such a contest. I don't think it's one he can win.

 

[70namrepuS]

Pick of the Week for me was ASM #601. Fun, entertaining read and a nice follow up to #600. Looks like Pete's gonna have his fair share of lady drama.

Serious contenders for my Picks of the Week: Irredeemable #5 and Chew #3.

The Plutonian just keeps coming up with more and more ways to screw people over (that's putting it lightly), and we're being introduced to all these great characters with their relationships and pasts being slowly revealed. At $.99 you should not pass this up.

What can I say about Chew? Each issue leaves me wanting more. Reprints of the first two issues as well as the brand new #3 came out this week, and I highly recommend picking them up.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

That's what your pullbox is for.

I rarely ever put mini-series on my pull list because they're over in a few months and I'm almost always in the shop on Wednesday anyway. This was the first week in like a year that I haven't been at my shop on Wednesday.

Hank would be unwise to agree to such a contest. I don't think it's one he can win.

Are you really so sure Hank hasn't developed more refined control of his Pym Particles?

Given the powers involved, that would be the most absurd and disturbing contest ever.