DREAD'S BOUGHT/THOUGHT for 2/21/07 Part 2:
NEW AVENGERS: THE ILLUMINATI #2: Much better than most of Bendis' non CW issues of NEW AVENGERS, the retconning machine continues. Merrily, Bendis is teamed with Reed (MS. MARVEL) which is probably why the continuity is so tight and an action sequence is included in every issue (Bendis believes both are "beneathe him"). This one is cast "a few months ago", or at least back when SHE-HULK originally wrapped, noting that Titannia had the Power Gem (this was maybe circa 1-2 years ago). Reed, believing that leaving the remaining Infinity Gems laying about for Thanos or any megalomanica to collect is too risky, especially as they've had to stop someone empowered with the Gauntlet twice. However, not everyone is in agreement with Reed, especially as there are concerns that the lure of the gems could be corrupting Reed. Splitting into teams, they all collect the gems before the Watcher comes down and pouts at Reed, getting him to surrender the gauntlet and divide the gems amungst his Illuminati partners, beliving they are safer in their hands than laying about the universe. In a way I can understand both positions of the arguement here, although I again state that the only thing holding this concept back, beyond flagrant retcons, is the fact that "keeping this alliance secret from all friends and teammates" is not only stupid, but counter-productive. Of course, had this NOT been a secret, all their various teams would have been more unified and CW may not have happened. See why retcons suck sometimes? Aside for that, though, the art's nice and the issue is written well. Not as exciting as #1, but still plenty readable. Maybe Bendis should have Brian Reed tag along for an arc of NEW AVENGERS. Bet it'd be boss.
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #3: A book that does everything right and apparently has to struggle to sell within the Top 50, or even 55. Marvel promoted it, it has an A-List cast (Brubaker & Aja, along with Fraction & Co), and supposedly Rand's stint as DD created "buzz" for him. One believes this book should sell better. Granted, if someone said in Feb. 2006 that an Iron Fist book could actually sell above the Top 75, they'd probably been laughed at, so maybe expectations are too high. For anyone who complained about the book "being mostly Rand on rooftops talking to himself", keep in mind that basically described 25% of all of Bendis' DD issues (and I am being modest). I found it moody and kinetic, as I did with DD. As stated elsewhere, Fist gets a new costume here and I approve of it, aside for the belt tails which I feel are too easy to yank; as an ultimate fighter, Rand should leave as little as possible on his costume that can be used against him. But, the design is simple, keeps his colors and symbol, and looks more like a ninja than a dancer. Attempting to track down the source of the man who is using his "chi" to summon the iron fist (Orson Randall, WW 1 era soldier and Fist), Rand comes across a dead end but promises to use his company to combat his enemies in HYDRA. Meanwhile, Davos (Steel-Serpant) is in alliance with HYDRA in his quest for Randall, and we get a glimpse as to how HYDRA deals with minions too fearful (or smart) to act as expendible fodder. I actually like a HYDRA story that doesn't have Baron Strucker or Cap in it; makes it more interesting, especially as Iron Fist has few enemies. I do believe a rematch with Sabretooth before issue #12 is essential for rep. I like how different artists do the flashbacks, a detail I am seeing imitated in ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR this month; a good way to mix tone as well as give the main artist fewer pages and this chop down the time. Not every story needs a flashback, but if it works, it works. Rand and Randall finally meet and the pieces are starting to come together. Most past IF comics have overelied on action, but this one is taking a page from DD and trying to establish a lot of dark mood. I think it works. Besides, Rand and Randall have a short but nice exchange of iron-fisticuffs (couldn't resist). Chock Iron Fist up as another B-Lister dusted off and reinvigorated in 2006. Another solid issue. In a way, Brubaker's retcons work because he is filling in gaps in Fist's story, which happily were rarely touched in 30 years. Marvel needs more legacy heroes so fleshing out Iron Fist's history a big is an A in my book. About time Rand was defined by something other than, "oh, that dude who hangs with Luke Cage".
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #4: PWJ finally shrugs off the CW tie-ins and gets to Fraction's Punisher stories, and this one is a solid one-shot tale about various criminals attending a wake for Stilt-Man (killed by the Punisher in issue #1). There is a virtual Handbook issue of B, C, and D list villians here (including a Doombot rigged up to make it seem as if Stilt-Man was worthy of that kind of patronage, although all it can say is "KNEEL BEFORE DOOM!"). Fraction gets in a lot of mood and story here and makes this rogues seem like a little underworld community, like Flash's Rogues, which doesn't happen enough. Rhino is naturally in bandages due to last issue's pummeling at the hands of Punisher, but considering how often Rhino gets beaten, it could have been from anyone (Deadpool is next up in the "pwn Rhino-athon" apparently). He even makes Princess Python work! There are some questionable bits, though. Firstly, it didn't make sense that Prowler would attend the funeral despite Fraction's explaination. Secondly, Armadillo is supposed to be here and then headlining a Texas team in CW #7. The last comes with the issue's conclusion. As one could note in the beginning, the bartender is Frank in disguise, and after a barroom brawl and a dressing down from Spider-Man, the villians note that their short sightedness and petty jealousy of each other probably kept them from achieving victories. Then, it's revealed that Punisher has poisoned them all, and then blows up the joint to kill them all, almost like a repeat of Scourge's famous massacre at THE BAR WITH NO NAME in the 80's. That is where the third questionable comes in. Despite how cool the moment was, and how well written the issue was, I don't approve of just mass slaughtering so many villians. Sure, there is dead weight like Cat Burglar, Ringer II, and Armada, but what about Eel, Shocker, Rhino, Python, Will O' The Wisp, etc.? I know this series was about Frank killing off supervillians, so maybe it doesn't make sense to be surprised when he's actually efficient at it. But so many at once? I mean there is some leeway that some survived, as I doubt Marvel will let go of Shocker or Rhino so easily. Plus, there are so few villians these days who aren't dead, overexposed or Thunderbolts that to toss not one or two but a few dozen into the furnace, including Prowler, seems to be a waste. Does Frank even care that Prowler's been a vigilante for most of his career and barely was a petty burglar once? Probably not I guess. Anyway, maybe it seems unfair to be angry with Fraction here when the dilemma with villians is not entirely his fault. One could say, this could force Marvel writes to be creative with reinventing villians who are left, amping them, or creating bold new villians that don't suck or immediately vanish. But the cold, blunt reality is that this is not happening, and likely will never happen. Marvel believes that villians are not naunced enough and only heroes can fight heroes and garner any drama. The writers who passionately attempt to rise up the B-Listers are few and far between; even Bendis, who made an A-lister out of Purple Man, only averages 1 every 2-3 years (the Hood will be next for him). Heroes outnumber villians like 100-1 when you throw in villians who flee to Canada or ones who are Thunderbolts and if/when the villians have no advantages over any heroes, then it gets moot. Final verdict? Good issue, bad trend.
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #39: Carey's best issue on his run yet, and that was merely because I could understand what the hell was going on. Anyway, they spun the wheel of Random FF villians to Ultimatize, and left with few options, go with Diablo the Alchamist who always looked like Liberace as a Mexican Wrestler. In a rarity for Ultimate, Carey dives facefirst into the concept of magic by having Diablo be imprisoned during the 13th century or so but using his skills to manipulate the Fantastic Four of the future into freeing him by kidnapping their loved ones. Along the way, Thing has a short but good talk with his mother. A big step up from the last issues, and with art by the always reliable Kolins and Brooks. Besides, Diablo's a nice blank slate who won't offend anyone, so Carey can go to town with him. Straightforward but solid so far.
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS #6: Also straightforward but solid is another offering in this one-shot superhero adventure series from Parker & Cruz about the Silver Age founding X-Men. The gang ends up impersonated by young Skrull soldiers who also know their civilian guises from the Coffee-A-Go-Go (dopey name, but it was 1963, what do ya want), but those Skrulls have a change of heart upon learning their new pals are the X-Men and how selflessly heroic they are. They are repremanded by their boss and leave the planet. The X-Men in a way are sidelined in their own book but it is a cute little story, as everyone was fighting Skrulls in 60's stories. Not essential, but fun reading and Parker obviously likes old school stuff, a refreshing approach. A rare mini that does one-shot stories, some past issues were better and in some ways this was one of the worst of the six, but I still liked it. The next issue with Angel & Scarlet Witch sounds promising, though.
