I got reviews!
Essential Fantastic Four Vol. 8
Nice to see these Essentials finally getting close to the 80's...though, with this volume, we're still stuck in the 70's. That's ok, because this volume features my very first Fantastic Four comic! Issue #179 was a classic!!! Reed was stuck in the Negative Zone, and a fake Reed was back home bumping uglies with his wife. I was blown away with this comic; and, even more so, because the ending featured a most wicked looking character about to kill the real Reed: Annihilus.
Ok, now here's what sucked about that issue. I read it over and over and over again, NEVER knowing what happened after Reed was attacked. For a good 5+ years I wore out that copy, until it was no better than Poor condition. FINALLY, in the early-mid 80's, I discovered my first comic shop, located 50 miles away in Tacoma. (If you look at an old Marvel comic from the 80's, you might even see it advertised with a bunch of other comic shops, called O'Leary's.) Walking into that shop was like walking into Fort Knox. I had 50 dollars to spend on whatever back issues I wanted to buy, and I picked up Fantastic Four #180!
Now, imagine my SEVERE disappointment when I discovered this was one of those rare comics that Marvel did a reprint of (issue #101, to be exact). All that waiting, and I got stuck with an reprint, because Marvel didn't have the next issue ready to go in time of publication.
I love the Essential comics. Even though it's at the point where I'm getting many reprints of comics I already own, they are an excellent resource, and a great way to read these classic tales without opening comic bags.
Fall Of The Hulks: Savage She-Hulks #3
Parker's final issue of this mini is hampered by the ridiculous Hulked-Out Heroes making another appearance. Still, it's cool to see the three She-Hulks working together, and this issue is filled with plenty of action. It's not anything great...yet, Parker does a decent job working with what he's been given. It also appears that Red She-Hulk has broken away from her mind-control (as she explains it), and is now working with the good guys.
Ultimate Enemy #4
Expect no conclusion to this final issue of the 4-part mini. It's just a lead-in to July's "Ultimate Mystery." What's good is that Bendis does an ok job with the story, and it pulls me in enough to want to find out what happens next, especially with a newly reformed Ben Grimm on the final page of this book. (His rocky exterior is no more, and he's glowing blue.) I also like how Hawkeye is the one who pulls a Sayid and is able to extract information from the enemy. The one complaint is I want more Spider-Woman...and, the enemy isn't anything that thrills me that much (kind of generic, imo).
Thanos Imperative: Ignition One-Shot
Awesome issue #0 of this upcoming event! It had everything I want in an intergalactic adventure: Thanos, Guardians Of The Galaxy, Magus, and Captain Marvel! (I still am not a big fan of Nova...but, it's cool that this issue picks up right where the last issues of GOTG and Nova left off.) My only complaint is having to wait for the first issue. After a very ho-hum War Of Kings and Reign storyline, looks like Abnett and Lanning might be getting back to some Annihilation-style action.
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Fantastic Four #579
As someone else said, it's nice to see all those many subplots finally coming to fruition. I especially loved seeing Artie and Leech back in action, which was the highlight of the whole comic. Sadly, I'm still not head over heels with this book. We get very little action...AGAIN. We get a bunch of talk, especially at the beginning, where Reed comes across as a major *****e. (In fact, I found some things he said laughable. For example, saying "Never have we lived longer, eaten better, worked less, or possessed more things." Really? Are we working less, when I know quite a few people who have to work 2 jobs just to make ends meet? You cannot possibly say we are eating better, when obeisity is on such a rise.) And, finally, we get another one of those endings that doesn't really lead that well into the next issue.
Iron Man: Extremis Director's Cut #1
Where the hell did this come from? Marvel is reprinting the first six issues of Ellis' Iron Man run, and the Director's Cut is remarks from the artist and the script from Ellis. It's a nice story, but six years after the fact is kind of a long time to release a Director's Cut, let alone six issues at $3.99 a shot. (And, seriously, is there anyone who reads these scripts for the comics?) This issue gets a
, because that's how I felt when I saw this being released. If you've never read it, though; there are much worse comics you could get.
Secret Avengers #1
Real nice first issue, especially when compared to last week's Avengers #1 by Bendis. Everyone is brought together, the story is nicely set-up, and this team's roster is awesome! I love Beast being back on the team; and, while the team might not be A-list, they are some of the best b-listers you could have.
Thunderbolts #144
For that matter, I really liked this issue, too. Cage is a perfect leader for this team, especially with his background. And, his roster nicely includes older T-bolt members with some interesting choices for new ones. Sure, some seem like bad choices; but, it just means things will pick up quickly, and Parker is going to have fun with the group dynamic. (Hell, he already does with my favorite ending for a book that I've read this week. We've all been asking, "Where's Baron Zemo?" for a good couple years. Now, Parker gives us the answer.)
Marvel Previews #82
Just some things I liked...or didn't like...in the new Previews.
*Really? The joke is just stale, and who really was begging for Deadpool #1000?
*Shadowland looks awesome! It's nice to see that the stuff happening in Daredevil will be effecting the Marvel Universe.
*Aren't we all happy that the War Of Hulks will finally be over? I don't care is Loeb leaves or stays with Hulk...just that we can finally get on to a different storyline. It's kind of the way I feel with the Superman titles finally being done with New Krypton.
*Not that impressed with the preview for Marvel Universe vs. The Punisher. Just sounds like Marvel Zombies, with the Punisher taking out everyone infected.
*I am happy with Hit Monkey getting his own mini. The one-shot was awesome! Much better than his appearance in Deadpool.
Previews #261
Thoughts about the other Preview magazine.
*Gotta get the Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago... It's reprinting the classic Marvel stories at an affordable price. I have the complete set of those originals; but, I hate to unbag them.
*Dark Horse is getting into the Dollar Comics now. I'll pick them up, because I really don't buy that many of their comics.
*Finally, the Ultimate Universe comes to DC. All-Star, while hyped to be like it, never really was...but, this sounds like it. I like that Straczynski is writing the first graphic novel, and the cover art looks awesome. (BTW, what ever happened to those final issues of All-Star Batman and Robin??!!?? I thought DC promised that they'd be done by now.)
*Looking at the list of Batman-related titles, DC is going overboard now. Sure, many of them are pretty good...but, it's just a bit too much, imo.
*I cannot wait for the True Blood comic. I got the freebie that came out when the first season premiered, and wondered when we might get more. For that matter, cannot wait for the new season. This is so much better than that Twilight crap! (The last movie, New Moon, had to be one of the worst movies of last year. I was so friggin' bored!) The only thing I hate is that IDW is doing it. Most of their books are really pretty awful..and, the art is even worse.
*I have no idea what it's about; but, Morning Glories by Image looks interesting. What I find strange is how Savage Dragon continues to be published. Do you know anyone who actually reads this title? I did have an artist at my last comic con sign an issue he worked on with Erik Larsen, and he was ashamed of his work in it. He even wrote something to that effect on the cover of my copy.
*Dynamite is really trying all these old licenses. Now, we have The Phantom. The art looks awesome; but, maybe that's just the covers. At least it's not overkill, like the EIGHT GREEN HORNET titles being released that month! What the hell is Dynamite thinking??!!??
Out of everything, I think I'm most interested in that Earth One graphic novel by DC.
