Marvel 2010 Year In Review

[JewishHobbit]

The Lizard as a Thunderbolt could've been pretty cool. Trusted scientist at the Raft as Conners, villainous field agent as the Lizard.

Not to mention he could have been an interesting part of Ellis's Thunderbolts as well... one of the borderline members. I started reading Thunderbolts with the New Thunderbolts relaunch and I've wanted the Lizard to join since day one (Lizard and Shocker actually) but there's nothing much appealing about a generic beastile Lizard. It's the Conners aspect that made him interesting.

 

[Themanofbat]

The Lizard as a Thunderbolt could've been pretty cool. Trusted scientist at the Raft as Conners, villainous field agent as the Lizard.

I'm not sure how the Thunderbolts "operate"... but how would they have controlled the Lizard into doing what they want?

I really don't know; hence, why I'm asking....

 

[TheCorpulent1]

They inject nanites into all the criminal T-bolts. It allows Luke (or any of the other overseers, I assume) to shut down their powers, make them double over in pain, and probably kill them if things get really out of hand.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Sorry about the delay. Being a sub, I never know when I'll be called in; so, this is going to take longer than I expected. I was going to include Hercules in this listing; but, he really separated himself from the Hulk universe, beside having Incredible in his title for two issues at the beginning of 2010.

Hulk - Pt. 2

She-Hulks #1-2

Even though I was dreading this book, it's been a pleasant surprise. None of the previous She-Hulks minis (or Lyra adventures) have thrilled me that much; but, I'm happy to say that Harry Wilcox's first two issues are just a lot of fun. The plot is pretty basic, as She-Hulk and Lyra team up to take down fugitive members of the Intelligencia, and the interaction and action is solid.

She-Hulk: Sensational One-Shot

Just in time for She-Hulk's 30th Anniversary, Marvel brings readers this lackluster $4.99 one-shot. We get a story from Peter David, which is about the only one that's worth reading; then, we get some story that's suppose to take place "before Secret Invasion," guest-starring Ms. Marvel. (Actually, it feels more like "guest starring She-Hulk...and, one review stongly believes this is a "dusted off" story from Brian Reed that never saw print.) Finally, we get our standard reprint, which is made even more bad since it is the first part of a five part story. (It's the classic She-Hulk nude scene, where like Austin Powers, she's constantly having her privates covered by other things.)

Nice of Marvel to acknowledge this anniversary; but, pathetic they really didn't put much into it.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Hercules and Chaos War

Incredible Hercules #140-141

Quite a few series came to an end in 2010; but, they were quickly replaced by other series or minis. The was the constant case with Herc throughout this year, as his Incredible series ended in February with the conclusion of "Assault On New Olympus." Pak and Van Lente did an awesome job of wrapping up quite a few loose ends with their series and setting things up for the future minis. Herc's death in the final issue wouldn't be resolved until the end of the year with Chaos War.

This title just got better and better each month, as Pak and Van Lente's blend of humor, action, and drama just kept intensifying. It's hard to say I miss the series, though, since it never really ended.

Oh...and, Parker's back-up Atlas adventures concluded, leading into his own (short-lived) series later in the year. These back-ups were really nice, and I didn't mind paying the extra buck to read them.

Hercules: Fall Of An Avenger #1-2

A month removed from Herc's final issue, we got this 2-parter from Pak and Van Lente, where heroes and such come together to remember Hercules. It had it's moments; but, I was more interested in getting the ball rolling. (But, these "fall of" rememberance stories seem to be an essential with the Big Two nowadays.) I did like the back-up story from Paul Tobin quite a bit, though. It featured Namora and Venus trying to settle Herc's affairs.

Heroic Age: Prince Of Power #1-4

It's no secret that one of my least liked characters in the Marvel Universe is Amadeus Cho. He's just a new version of Rick Jones...just with a whole lot more smarts. (And, like how Rick was passed on from Hulk to other heroes, Amadeus starts out with Hulk but now is a Herc character.) Nope, never been a Rick Jones fan, and I don't see myself becoming a huge Amadeus one, either.

That said...I liked this mini quite a bit. In it, Vali Halfing of the Pantheon takes on Amadeus for the right to become a god. If Vali wins, he will slaughter the Council of Godheads; and, if Amadeus wins, he'll use his power to bring back Herc. (Yeah, we all know how this will end; but, Pak and Van Lente do a bang-up job telling it.)

Hercules: Twilight Of A God #1-4

This is one of the rare books that is still sitting in my "must-read" box; because after reading the first issue, I wasn't shoving it to the front of the pile. It's still a neat book, because it allowed Bob Layton to come back to the futuristic Hercules he created and finish his trilogy. Those two old minis really set up the humorous Herc that we see nowadays with Pak and Van Lente. Sadly, I don't think current fans were too interested in picking up a finale to a 20 year old story. How many people even have read those two classic minis?

Anyway, if anyone read this and wants to comment on what you thought, I'd appreciate it.

Chaos War #1-4

How do you get people who haven't been reading Pak and Van Lente's Hercules to pick up this mini-event from Marvel? Why, you hype the heck out of it, calling it "Bigger than the Infinity Gauntlet! More cosmic than Annihilation!" (Hmmm...maybe the writers of those blurbs were trying to have the same kind of humor as Herc's Incredible series.) Anyway, while I won't say this event was a disappointment, it sure didn't live up to the build-up. It doesn't feel that cosmic, and it cannot compare to Infinity Gauntlet.

Herc is back; but, so is the Chaos King, who plans on turning the Universe into one big nothingness. We do get a large cast of characters; but, many are only shown for a panel or two and quickly forgotten. (And, it's mainly in that first issue.) Plus, if you aren't a fan of Herc, I'm not sure how big your excitement for this series will be. Action in those first few issues are handled pretty quickly, like seeing Chaos King take down Hell. (You'd think his battle with Hell would take longer than his battle on Earth.)

This would be a much better read if it was limited to Herc's regular series; but, by making it an event, they end up disappointing. (Kind of the theme with Marvel's mini events in 2010.)

Chaos War: Alpha Flight One-Shot, Chaos War: Chaos King One-Shot, Chaos War: Dead Avengers #1-2, Chaos War: Thor #1-2, Chaos War: Ares One-Shot, Chaos War: God Squad One-Shot, and Chaos War: X-Men #1

Figured I'd batch this whole group together.

These tie-ins offered one of the worst stories by Marvel all year, Chaos War: Thor #1-2. Having Thor turn into Donald Blake and teaming up with some woman who provides a very annoying narration throughout provided readers with some of the worst writing of 2010. In fact, except for those issues that saw dead heroes return to life, the other one-shots weren't much better (or entertaining).

I did like Alpha Flight, Dead Avengers, and X-Men. (I have not read Ares, as my shop never got in a copy. They messed up there order, and weren't able to get any in...so, I'm waiting to buy it online, I guess. Anyone with a review is welcome to say if it was any good.) Those groups really had a nice chemistry, and I kind of wouldn't mind to see them around in the future. The problem, though, is that this story is just too much like Necrosha X and Blackest Night. I think it's time for Marvel and DC to do away with raising the dead for a while.

 

[JewishHobbit]

The problem, though, is that this story is just too much like Necrosha X and Blackest Night. I think it's time for Marvel and DC to do away with raising the dead for a while.

But before they do... can they please bring back Banshee and KEEP hiim back?! He came back in Necrosha and was hinted at being one of the survivors, prime to be fully resurrected at a later date. Then suddenly he's still dead here in Chaos War, as he's resurrected there. I'm hoping he stays alive but I doubt it.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Marvel Youth Comics

Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #59-61 & Spider-Man #1-9

Tobin's arrival the previous few years on the Marvel Adventures line of books have been refreshing, as he brings a bit of (Marvel Adventure) continuity to the series and doesn't dumb the story down much for a younger audience. Still, these books were at the bottom of the sales chart; so, naturally, Marvel decides to try the old renumbering ploy with them. (I think Dread said it didn't change much.)

There isn't much difference in these two series, as Tobin continues storylines begun in his Marvel Adventures Spider-Man run with Spider-Man #1-9. Throughout, Spidey is being hunted by the Torino Crime Family; a storyline running throughout the end of the M.A. run is finally resolved in issue #4 of Spider-Man, the battle with Bullseye; Peter's relationship with Chat continues, along with other relationships with Emma Frost, Wolverine, Kitty Pryde, and The Blond Phantom Detective Agency; and, new storylines are starting to develop, like "Who is Chat's Sister?" from issue #8. Each issue is an individual story; but, Tobin is smart enough to give readers something to keep them coming back.

Marvel Adventures Super Heroes #19-21 and Super-Heroes #1-9

This is basically the new Marvel Adventures version of The Avengers; but, it's much improved on that old M.A. series. The roster has stayed the same throughout; and, Tobin has a recurring storyline appearing throughout the many issues. In this title, there is a mystery involving why Sue Storm is with the team. Reed Richards has been in private contact with the Black Widow throughout; and, in recent issues, it's been revealed there is a mole in these Super Heroes. Add to this Captain America crushing on Sue, the upcoming issues for 2011 are starting to look very interesting.

I am a bit worried that when everything is resolved, Sue Storm might not be with the Super Heroes any longer; but, hopefully Tobin will realize that she's brought a lot of heart and soul to the group. (Makes me wish she's join the real Avengers in the 616.) Adding Nova was brilliant, too; as he provides a lot of youth and comic relief to the group. (I've enjoyed this version of Nova more than the 616.)

I still enjoy M.A. Spider-Man more than this series; but, it's made great strides in the past few issues.

Super Hero Squad #1-12

2010 began with this comic finally getting it's own series, mainly because Marvel has a cartoon with the same name on television. Sadly, I whole-heartily recommend everyone SKIP IT! It's my least favorite Marvel series of 2010, and is really dumbed down for a very young audience. Before the series began, previous versions of this book would have half of it devoted to little three or four panel comic strips, along with large single panel ones. Those were somewhat humorous. But, now we get a couple stories involving the heroes and villians looking for Infinity Fractuals. (Having the same plot in every story makes for severe boredom with your stories.) Yep, this book is bad; and I PRAY it ends in 2011.

Tails Of The Pet Avengers One-Shot, Lockjaw And The Pet Avengers Unleashed #1-4, & Avengers Vs. The Pet Avengers #1-4

Still enjoyable; but, nowhere as good as that first series that blew so many of us away. The adventures are starting to become more important than the pet's interactions with each other; and, the pets are having no growth. The book is cute, though. I just think Marvel needs to space things out a bit, letting readers wanting to look forward to another series and these characters.

Avengers And The Infinity Gauntlet #1-4

Maybe the worst mini of the year. This book had less to do with Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet than it did with just sticking a bunch of Marvel Heroes into space with U.S.1 and his space-traveling semi-truck. The jokes weren't funny, and it was an ordeal to just trying to get through a single issue. Truly horrid!

Captain America & The Korvac Saga #1

Not as bad as the previous mini; but, the first issue failed to impress. The original story is dumbed down (or, as Marvel would say, "reimagined") for a much younger audience; so, the majority of the comic reading public wouldn't even want to buy a second issue. Cap comes across as a real *****e; and, Marvel favorites, like Spider-Man, are included in the adventure to try and give some (failed) comic relief.

These kinds of book worked okay when you have a competent writer, like Tobin; but, the next two "reimaginings" have failed on an epic level. Hopefully, 2011 brings an end to this, too.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Thor - Pt. 1

Thor #606-618

What an up-and-down year for this title! After all the stuff happening with JMS, Gillen was really delivering some fantastic stuff at the beginning of 2010. Issue #606 finished off a good Doom story, and issues #607-610 brought us an excellent Siege tie-in. (In fact, issue #610 was the epilogue for that event.) Some HUGE things happened, including Loki becoming the hero in the end and sacrificing himself in the process.

But...all good things must come to an end.

BUT...maybe not as soon as planned.

Originally, issue #611 was suppose to be Fraction's first; yet, for whatever reason, Gillen was allowed one more (pretty decent) storyline in issues #611-614. Thor and Tyr go to Hell and assist Hela in defeating the Disir. It all starts out strong; but, in order to wrap up some storylines, the final issue kind of fails. (Especially concerning Kelda.)

Fraction then finished the year with issues #615-618, bringing back two major characters: Odin and Loki. While Odin doesn't bother me so much (except in the way Fraction does it, where it's all rushed and kind of hooky), bringing back Loki (as a child, nonetheless) so soon after the dramatic ending of Siege just takes away from that great story. Even the story involving the World Eaters isn't that good, and the removal of Gillen just seems like one of those major mistakes the Big Two has done throughout the years. (Kind of like taking Simone off of Wonder Woman and being replaced by the awful JMS storyline.)

Thor: The Mighty Avenger #1-7

So...two of "The Big Three"'s main titles are now being run by Fraction: Invincible Iron Man and Thor. The thing is....both of those characters currently have much better series being run by someone else. For Iron Man, Van Lente's Iron Man Legacy is far superior to Invincible; and, this title is so much more entertaining than Thor's.

This book could have been placed in the Marvel Youth Comics category, as Langridge and Samnee present a retelling of Thor's origin in a comical, innocent way. But, that's what makes it endearing. Jane Foster hasn't been this interesting in AGES! Sadly, the book is cancelled after this month.

Thor: Rage Of Thor One-Shot

This was a pretty good issue from long ago in Thor's past, which saw Thor fed up with Asgard, deciding to leave it for Midgard, and settling down with a wife and tribe. Naturally, something interfers eventually with those plans, ending this more peaceful life he had saught. It's filled with emotion, and worth the higher price, imo.

Thor: For Asgard #1-5

Lots of Thor titles coming out at the end of the year, as Marvel gears up for Thor's movie. This Marvel Knights out-of-continuity story has been pretty good, as we see Asgard facing a very long, tough winter. As the people start to rebel, Hela takes this opportunity to strike. It's a harsh look at Thor, Odin, and the people of Asgard; and, the art blends well with this storyline.

Thor: First Thunder #1-4

Or, to put it more aptly, Thor: Year One.

Glass does an excellent job retelling Thor's origin with the first issue; but, I found myself increasingly bored with each additional issue. I can't put my finger on why that is; but, maybe it's simply because there are so many Thor stories coming out right now, and this one does not separate itself from the pack very much.

Sif One-Shot

The forgotten Asgardian! You'd hardly even know she was brought back for the dead, except for this one-shot at the beginning of 2010. Picking up where JMS's storyline brought her back to life and removed Loki from her body, this issue sees Beta Ray Bill teaming-up with Sif to remove some aliens who've infested his ship. Not a bad one-shot; but, I remember feeling like it was all over rather quickly. How sad that we really haven't seen her much since.

Thor and the Warriors Four #1-4

Another title that could have been put in the Marvel Youth section, as the Warriors Four are Power Pack. Whereas we've had Power Pack minis coming one after the other in previous years, this was the only one for 2010. It was a nice break, and made their return much more enjoyable. Not only that, but it might be the best Power Pack mini that I've read.

In it, Power Pack's grandmother is close to dying, and the group decides to go to Asgard and steal some of the golden apples in order to save her. Naturally, Loki is involved, which means things never work out as planned. The Asgardians are turned into small children (baby Asgardians), and Power Pack must determine whether to do what their heart or their mind tells them what is right. Lots of emotion with the dying Grandmother in this story; but, very satisfying, too.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Thor - Pt. 2

Thunderstrike #1-2

How disappointing that 2010 finally brought about the end of Spider-Girl; but, all that sorrow turned to joy when Defalco released this new title. So very much in the style of his previous series, Thunderstrike has been a real surprise of 2010...even though it's only two issues in it's run. Kevin Masterson, Eric's son, has grown up to be a surly teen, and comes into possession of his father's hammer. Thus heralds the return of Thunderstrike!

It's just a fun book to read. Defalco has a real old school feel to his writing, and in a day of age where we have the Hickman's and Fractions dragging out stories issue after issue, it's nice to have an almost complete story in just one.

Loki #1-2

This mini has been a nice surprise, also. It tells readers the origin and reasons behind Loki's hatred of the Asgardians; and, even though we don't come away liking the character that much, we do feel a little more sympathetic toward him. If you're a fan of Thor, this is a must read. (It is a bit delayed, though. Issue #3 was suppose to be released in December, but still hasn't come out.)

Warriors Three #1-2

This issue tells of the current adventures of the Warriors Three, as they discover the release of the Fenris Wolf in Midgard. The story skips between present time and one from long ago, when the Warriors Three first fought Fenris. Not a bad tale; but, for some reason, one I don't clamour to read the next issue of. (Again, it might be simply because we have so many Thor titles right now, and this doesn't set itself apart from the rest with it's storytelling.)

Thor: Wolves Of The North One-Shot

A review of this book put my feelings of these one-shots perfectly: they "function in a similar way to an annual, delivering a story that isn’t essential, but is enjoyable enough." Couldn't have said it better myself!

In this, Thor comes down to Earth to assist a village that's being ravaged by Hela's demon army. Not a bad story, but another that will be quickly forgettable months later. Also, too many stories this year featured Hela. Marvel needs a limit on some character appearances. I'm just about all Hela-ed out.

Astonishing Thor #1

Another bi-monthly comic from Marvel. (I'm really hating that bi-monthly format. I read too many comics each month, and having to wait so long for the next issue makes me forget what happened two months earlier. And, face it, many times these books are STILL delayed.) What's to say about this first issue that came out in November? It's much better than Fraction's Thor, Choi's art looks FANTASTIC and makes the story a bit more enjoyable; but, also, you don't get a lot happening in the first issue. I'll let IGN's review sum up what the story is about so far: "strange weather occurs on Earth, Thor meets a mysterious woman from his past, Heimdall warns of coming doom, and then Thor visits Ego The Living Planet before learning some details about the villain's origin."

Again, though, Choi's art is what makes the book worth recommending.

Valykrie One-Shot

For Marvel's "Women Of Marvel" event, we got a bunch of these female spotlights...but, not really much beyond that. (A few minis were thrown in, too.) This one tells of how Valykrie came back to life after Ragnarok. Not a bad story; but, another that's forgettable after a few months. Glass did an adequate job with the page constraint of a one-shot.



That completes Thor. Thor: The Mighty Avenger is my favorite series; but, Thunderstrike would probably have replaced it if it wasn't only two issue's into it's run. The best mini is Loki, by far!

Not sure what I'll do next. Maybe get Siege out of the way.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Siege

Siege #1-4, Siege Director's Cut #1

To me, this was the best event (or mini event) of 2010. It accomplished ending Norman Osborn's year long reign with all the Dark Reign titles of 2009, getting rid of the Superhero Registration Act, and (most importantly) frees up a ton of comics to not be stuck supporting some year-long event. Also, thankfully, it didn't stretch out for 6 to 8 issues. Bendis did one of his better jobs with this book; and, even gave Loki a hero's death. About my only complaint is how he handled The Sentry in the end...but, one of the pluses is that we were Sentry-less throughout the rest of the year (unless you count the What If appearance).

Siege: Embedded #1-4

I liked this mini, also; as we not only got to see the media's viewpoint on the events during Siege, but also got to see some good Volstagg appearances. Overall, I felt Brian Reed did a good job presenting readers a "Front Line" style of comic that many times accompanies Marvel's big events. It was a nice companion piece; but, not essential reading for those not wanting to spend the extra bucks.

Siege: Spider-Man, Siege: Young Avengers, Siege: Loki, Siege: Captain America, and Seige: Secret Warriors

There five one-shots came out at a good time, especially since Bendis' final issue of Siege was delayed by a good month. If memory serves me correctly, most of these books were set during the battle of Asgard, and gave us a look of events between issues #3-4. It did help fill the void.

Siege: Storming Asgard - Heroes And Villians One-Shot

Your basic companion Handbook, with this being told from Norman's point of view on all the individuals involved in Bendis' event.

The Sentry: Fallen Sun One-Shot

Another one of Marvel's memorial issues; but, it lacked any real emotion. By the end of Siege, did anyone really care that this character died off? It might be the most welcome death Bendis has ever done.

New Avengers #61-64, New Avengers Finale, Dark Avengers #13-16, Avengers: The Initiative #32-35, and Mighty Avengers #33-36

All Siege tie-ins...and, all books that came to a conclusion when Siege was all done and over. New Avengers Finale was delayed, just like Siege, simply because it came out much longer than Bendis had planned. Of course, none of these books really came to a conclusion. They just got renamed or re-numbered with Heroic Age starting up.

The best of these was Avengers: The Initiative, and Avengers Academy has kept up that greatness.

 

[iloveclones]

Lizard/Connors as a Thunderbolt would have been really interesting. It would have been cool to see Lizzie really cut loose and eat the Headmen or something.

 

[JewishHobbit]

All in all I thought Siege was a decent read but the fact that Bendis couldn't keep his timeline/continuity correct during just this tiny spert killed me and took me out of it. I know Dark Avengers was really screwed up and he had two different scenerios of Captain America learning about Osborne's attack on Asgard. One he was sitting in a room watching television (in Siege) and in another he's standing with a bunch of other heroes in one of Nick Fury's hide outs (New Avengers). And his Sentry continuity between Dark Avengers and the Cabal oneshot was attrocious.

Personally, this was one event where I felt it was too short. I don't feel like they did Osborn's final justice. They could have easily made this much more epic. It had the build up and if they added an issue or two they could have really played out everything how it was built up and it would have been very good. Keep everything it had and add in more with Osborn's craziness (I'd have liked to see him go full goblin by the end) and other such things.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I still maintain that Siege was never about Osborn. Dark Reign was about Osborn. Siege was about the Sentry/Void and the Big Three Avengers.

Although moraldeficiency made me think about Siege's ending a bit more and I realized Bendis didn't really resolve even that conflict particularly well.

 

[JewishHobbit]

It was decent with the Void but not great. It wasn't a good Big 3 ending in my opinion. And the fact that it WASN'T much of an Osborn ending was disappointing for me. All that build up with Osborn in power and he has a quick spaz out with facepaint and is punked like a wuss. Very disappointing.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I took the Osborn component this way: Osborn was allowed to gain such power because the heroes were in total disarray and couldn't present a united front to counter Osborn's use of the media to influence the public. But he was playing way out of his league right from the start. Once the heroes got their s*** together, they pretty much immediately exposed Osborn to the public as the raving lunatic we all know he is. It's kind of a play on the old adage, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

 

[Phaedrus45]

Captain America

Captain America: Reborn #6

The fun thing about looking back through the year is not only recognizing Marvel's accomplishments; but, also their failures. This one...was pretty epic. Whereas OMD is probably the biggest gripe people still carry with them, at the end of 2009 and January of 2010, this expanded, late mini was what everyone was talking about. People weren't upset that it was expanded by one extra issue; but, that Captain America was making appearances in various comics..and in Siege...before his return in this mini-event. Heck, who can even forget that in late December, we even got the answer to "Who will wield the shield?"

That gripe aside, my problem with Reborn wasn't that Cap was revealed to have returned; but, that Brubaker's Cap-event just wasn't that spectacular. At times, it was even laughable. (I still haven't forgotten the giant Red Skull.) Whereas Captain America used to be the cream of the crop for many years previous, I felt Brubaker had taken a huge step back in 2010 with my enjoyment of this character.

Captain America #602-613

The new year began with Bucky still holding the mantle of Captain America (and, would continue to do so all year; though, things aren't looking up for that continuing in 2011), and the first storyline in issues #602-605, "Two Americas," as the Captain America from the 50's returns to do battle with Cap-Bucky and The Falcon. This storyline did create a little controversy, as Marvel had to issue an apology to the Tea Party for some things said in it.

After this, we get a storyline that sets up the rest of this year's direction, as Zemo decides to try and bring Cap-Bucky down, especially in the eyes of the media and American public. "No Escape" ran in issues #606-610." It all leads into the final year's storyarc, "The Trial Of Captain America," as Bucky must face his past as the Winter Soldier. (Also, these issues set up a future storyline, guest starring The Red Skull's daughter, Sin, in what looks to be another mini-event coming soon.)

I didn't mind Brubaker's characterization of Baron Zemo; but, it did get a few people's dander up. For me, these stories just didn't compare to Brubaker's run with Captain America from issue #1 to right before Captain America: Reborn started. I do have a bit of hope, though; as, the Sin storyline has me very interested.

Finally, thoughout the year, the back-up feature with Nomad ran in these pages. McKeever did an awesome job with it, and I didn't mind paying the extra buck, just to get some more of her adventures. I did find that McKeever really made up for his stint at DC comics; and, he was back in good form for all of 2010 with his various projects.

Captain America: Who Won't Wield The Shield? One-Shot

I remember hating this one-shot. I didn't find it the least bit funny; and, many of the jokes were directed at the workers at Marvel. (People who work for Marvel might enjoy it; but, seriously, that's an extremely small audience for this kind of humor.) I did like seeing Forbush Man return...sadly, that return didn't do the character justice.

Captain America: The 1940's Newspaper Strip #1-3

Marvel has a real gem on their hands with Karl Kesel. He can really deliver on some old school type of action; yet, make it all a fun read. These three issues pretend that Marvel had a comic strip in the funny pages back in the 1940's, and Kesel gives readers a nostalgic feel for an art form that hasn't been significant in quite a while. (Except for DC's Wednesday Comics.) Marvel might have just stole that idea from DC; but, Kesel really perfected it. He gives us a full story that could have played out daily in any newspaper, and I especially enjoyed his interpretation of how Bucky would have acted.

Captain America: Patriot #1-4

Kesel not only delivered a Captain America 1940's WWII adventure; but, he also wrote this fantastic look back at the Cap who would replace Steve Rogers after his (and a subsequent Captain America's) death. The first issue introduces us to the character, who originally was the Patriot during WWII; and, the final three issues tells of his adventures after becoming the new Captain America. Normally, this nostalgic looks back do nothing for me; but, it speaks to how well Kesel tells a story that I enjoyed both of these more than Brubaker's main title.

Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier #1-4

Whereas Bucky was having his adventures in the main Cap title, Brubaker gave Steve Rogers fans something to enjoy with this mini-series. It wasn't a bad story; but, it did suffer from not having that wow-factor. First, the main villian was an old enemy hardly anyone remembers, named Machinesmith; and, second, another storyline centered around the Super Soldier Serum was becoming extremely tiring. Finally, with this book only being "ok," it gives a reader more of an incentive not to bother with it, especially when it's priced at $3.99 without any real extras to speak of.

Captain America: Forever Allies #1-4

Not only was Karl Kesel writing some "untold tales" from Cap's past, but so did Roger Stern. This look back at the Bucky Barnes and his group, the Young Allies, was very enjoyable, especially since Stern tied it in with a current adventure Cap-Bucky was having with Lady Lotus. The use of flashbacks to relay the problems these Young Allies faced during war time mixed with the current adventure worked well and was just as enjoyable as any Cap-Bucky adventure Brubaker had told thus far.

Captain America/Black Panther: Flags Of Our Fathers #1-4

Another look back at a WWII adventure, this time telling of Cap's first meeting with a Black Panther (T'Challa's father) while on a mission with the Howling Commandos. They end up facing off against Master Man, Warrior Woman, White Gorilla and the Red Skull. This book is a Marvel Knights story; so, I believe it is not in 616 continuity. And, while it starts out well enough, things get a bit silly by the end.

Captain America: Man Out Of Time #1-2

I'm kind of holding back judgement on this series, as the second issue was a bit more impressive than the first. Plus, I expect a decent story when it's written by Mark Waid. I guess I just dislike that he's reimagining Cap's origin (when he's discovered by The Avengers in ice) for a new era.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Daredevil and Company - Pt. 1

Daredevil #504-512

Wow. I didn't realize that only nine issues of Daredevil came out in 2010. The beginning of the year was all set-up for Shadowland, as issue #504 concluded Diggle's first storyline since taking over for Brubaker, and issues #505-507 brought us "Left Hand Path," as Matt goes to Japan in hopes to unite The Hand's five continental regions. (Those three issues took 5 months to come out, explaining the lack of DD books for the year. Maybe it's also the reason that Antony Johnston started helping with writing duties on the book.)

Issues #508-512 were all Shadowland tie-ins, and for the most part, tended to be more enjoyable than the main Shadowland series. I believe Antony Johnston took a larger role in the writing duties, even writing my favorite issue of the year, #510, by himself. Then, one of my least favorite issues, the finale, #512, was only written by Diggle, just as many of us felt the big let-down of that event.

I find this interesting. Examining the "year in the life" of DD, you see Diggle cannot stay on schedule, not until he got a co-writer (and, a pretty damn good one, in my opinion); and, the worst issue of the year is also the one he wrote himself. Sure, filling Brubaker's shoes are HUGE shoes to fill; and, I think Marvel found the person who should be doing it: Antony Johnston!

Daredevil: Cage Match One-Shot

This was a fun one-shot written by Antony Johnston during one of the months that an issue of DD's regular series wasn't coming out; and, it looks back at an unspecified period in Matt's past where he and Luke Cage decide to have a match to decide which has the best moves. We get some good comic relief from Turk, and we get one of those situations many of us ponder: Between two heroes, which would win out in a one-on-one battle. (It's also nice to see Luke back in his old costume.)

Daredevil: Black And White One-Shot

Marvel put out a few of these in 2010, which are formatted like the old black and white magazines they used to release back in the 70's and 80's, like Savage Sword Of Conan. I was never really wowwed by any of these books, and this one is no exception. It's made up of three stories, the first being the longest. In it, Matt imagines what would happen if his sight was restored, and naturally, the results make him decide to not get the experimental surgery a doctor is advising. The second story involves the Kingpin setting up Matt Murdock into getting an innocent (though, not THAT innocent) man found guilt of a crime he didn't commit, all in a way to toy with Murdock. The final story is a prose story, in which Daredevil tries to solve a crime that involves a young gal who's supposedly hanged herself in her bathroom.


(My daughter wants my attention now; so, I'll have to conclude this another time. As DD's world has expanded this year to include Black Widow, Black Panther, Moon Knight, Ghost Rider and Heroes For Hire, I'm including them in this section. Then, I'll do Shadowland after it's all done.)

 

[Phaedrus45]

Daredevil and Company - Pt. 2

Black Widow #1-8

I don't think I remember Black Widow having a bigger year, as she seemed to be appearing everywhere. She even had three series devoted to her. Sadly, this ongoing was cancelled with issue #8; but, did continue on in Widowmaker. Issues #1-5, written by Marjorie Liu, is a great spy thriller, as Natasha is accussed of espionage and must find out who is trying to tarnish her name. Liu writes a great story, and it's too bad that she didn't get to finish out this comics run, as the second story, "Kiss Or Kill," wasn't quite as enjoyable as the first. Written by Swierczynski, it sees Natasha trying to save a Senator's son/journalist who's not only being targeted for murder, but who also believes that Black Widow seduced and killed his father. By series end, we're told that answers from this storyline will lead into Widowmaker.

Black Widow: Deadly Origin #3-4

Black Widow must find out the truth about the Icepick Protocols, and by issue's end, she discovers the person behind it all is her old mentor and friend, Ivan. This series did what many previous with Black Widow has done, cutting between current and past adventures. The series was alright; but, I must confess, I'm a bit tired of the same old routine that makes up many Black Widow stories. How nice woud it be to have a Black Widow adventure that has NOTHING to do with her past?

Black Widow and the Marvel Girls #3-4

Awesome mini by Paul Tobin!!! I'm not sure if this Black Widow is the same from Marvel Adventures Super Heroes; but, it does have the same kind of feel. In each issue, Natasha teams up with a different female hero (issue #3 is Ms. Marvel and issue #4 is Storm) to take part in some adventure; but, the beauty is in Tobin's dialogue. He makes his comics fun to read, and this was my favorite of the three Black Widow titles.

Black Panther #12, Doomwar #1-6, Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #513, Klaws Of The Panther #1-4

Mayberry really did a great job of making Black Panther filled with intrique and suspense month after month. Even the introduction of Deadpool in Doomwar didn't ruin the story for me! (Although, it did come across as a bit desperate, in an attempt to try and draw in a few more readers.) By the time everything was over (in Doomwar), big changes happened to Wakanda. (Namely, all Wakandan Vibranium had ceased to exist.) Mayberry's epic story (really taking place from BP #1-Doomwar #6) gave readers a very good Doom story, and seeing T'challa and Doom face off was classic. It was like a good game of chess between two masters.

Sadly, Mayberry wouldn't be continuing his story in Black Panther: The Man Without Fear. David Liss would take over, and he'd present one of the worst comics of the year with his first issue of Black Panther in December. For some unknown reason, Matt Murdock has decided to enlist T'Challa to be the guardian of Hell's Kitchen; and, with his country in turmoil, T'Challa decides this is his best course of action at this time in his life. He not only abandon's his country, but also his marriage. (Of course, Storm is completely alright with this.)

Mayberry would continue his story in Klaws Of The Panther, though, with the adventures of Shuri, the New Black Panther. In this, we see Shuri battling Klaw, as she has some new guest star in each issue to help her get a substitute for Wakandan Vibranium. (Issue #1 has her visiting Ka-Zar and Shanna, in an attempt to get Savage Land Vibranium.) Klaw is trying to destroy all the vibranium; because, vibranium is the one source that causes his defeat time after time. This book wasn't as enjoyable as Mayberry's previous; but, it's clearly better than the new direction for T'Challa.

Ghost Riders: Heaven's On Fire #6

Jason Aaron finally concluded this battle with the Ghost Riders and the renegade angel, Zadkiel, at the beginning of the year. Ghost Rider would later appear in Shadowland.

Vengeance Of The Moon Knight #5-6

This series would end in February (was it a series, or a mini?), and even though Moon Knight would end up later in Shadowland AND a member of the Secret Avengers (where he was completely wasted as a character), I'm much more excited to see what Bendis has planned for him in 2011. I could never get that into these Moon Knight books, as each writer took him in a direction I was never interested in following.

Heroes For Hire #1

The year did end nicely, as this series stemmed off of events in Shadowland. Kind of like the 90's Secret Defenders, Misty Knight brings together various Marvel Knight-style heroes to take part in a particular adventure that is suited for their abilities. It holds a lot of promise, even though it also feels like a rip-off of Birds Of Prey.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Shadowland

Shadowland #1-5

What to say about this final event from Marvel in 2010? The idea was kind of neat; but, the execution, especially those last few issues, really went downhill. I'm not sure if this book suffered from too many guest stars; but, the demonic-DD at the end took things over-the-top, and I never really understood the moment that Daredevil was transformed and changed. Everything kind of felt rushed, too. DD's Shadowland transformation of Hell's Kitchen seemed to happen over night, even though changing that building to such an extent would have taken forever to do. The battle at the end in the final issue was handled pretty quickly. In all, it was a sloppy mess.

Shadowland: Bullseye One-Shot

The most interesting thing to happen in Shadowland (issue #1) was the death of Bullseye. This One-Shot memorial to the character does not do him justice. In it, a biker-gang that practically worships the villian forces people to throw a funeral, and Ben Urich watches it all unfold. Nothing real special happens, and nobody really noteworthy makes an appearance. It's just a way for Marvel to get a quick four bucks from our pocket...and, another crappy memorial issue. (Seems to me these events are all following a standard formula now.)

Shadowland: Moon Knight #1-3

It's Moon Knight versus Shadow Night! Has Khonshu decided to replace Marc Spector? Naaa, he's just making him beg for forgiveness. Another rather boring Moon Knight story...and, again, making me rather excited to see what Bendis has in store this year.

Shadowland: Power Man #1-4

Since Luke Cage hasn't been using the name, Power Man, for quite a while now, a new person decides to take up the name: Victor Alvarez. Victor's father was killed in the building disaster seen in Dark Reign: The List-Daredevil, and from there, decides to make a difference as the All New Power Man. Van Lente does a good job of making the character interesting; although, the final issue wasn't nearly as good as the first three. Most importantly, I'm interested in seeing more of Power Man (he's really more like Power Kid, though).

Shadowland: Blood On The Street #1-4

Antony Johnston's was my favorite of the group; although, I thought the final issue was a bit of a letdown, too. (That final month of Shadowland was a huge letdown.) His team of B-list heroes worked well together, and is really the foundation to the new Heroes For Hire. I especially liked The Shroud, even though Misty Knight was probably the central character. The biggest drawback, though, was the reveal in Age of Heroes (I believe) before issue #1 came out that Misty Knight isn't really pregnant; but, it's never revealed in this entire mini. It was also nice to see Silver Sable back in action.

Shadowland: Daughter Of The Shadow #1-3

This mini told of Colleen Wing joining DD's crew, in order to find out the truth of her mother's death. She ends up leading a group of female assassins, named The Nail. Naturally, Colleen must turn on this new group, discovering which of The Nail she can trust and which she can't. It's not groundbreaking in any way; but, adequetely entertaining. Maybe best of all, Misty and Colleen finally make-up (somewhat) after the events from the previous Heroes For Hire series ended.

Shadowland: Elektra One-Shot

In truth, I completely forget what happened in this issue. Anyone who has a review would be appreciated.

Shadowland: Ghost Rider One-Shot

The Ghost Rider is working for The Kingpin, and is left doing his dirty work in Japan. In the end, he's free of the Kingpin's influence. I really questioned having Ghost Rider involved in this Shadowland stuff; and, this issue didn't change my decision. He's clearly the odd man out.

Shadowland: After The Fall One-Shot

An epilogue that wasn't needed, because the last issue of Daredevil gave us everything we needed to know. It's not bad...it's just that it wasn't really relevant.

 

[JewishHobbit]

Trim most of the fat of Shadowland (all save Shadowland, Daredevil, and the Ghost Rider oneshot) and I think that helped Shadowland some, but yeah, all in all it was a bit of a let down. I can't help but wonder though if that is only due to how great the book's been since Bendis came on? As a typical hero vs villain vs friend story it was actually pretty good, but it just paled in comparison to Bendis and Brubaker's runs. I think Diggle should have ran the Hand storyline longer and if he wanted this Shadowland story he should have built to it better. Daredevil's fall was just too quick and jarring.

At least Iron Fist got a lot of exposure in these though

 

[Phaedrus45]

Iron Man

Invincible Iron Man #22-33, Ann. 1

One year...two storylines. First, issues #22-24 finishes the previous year's Disassembled storyline with very little action, with much of it happening in Tony Stark's mind. Then, issues #25-33 brought the storyline that might just contribute to a mass-exodus of fans who are greatly discouraged with Fraction's ability to drag out a story. "Resilient" for a good five issues went nowhere, as Fraction set-up his final few issues of action. Then, the final issue's anti-climactic ending only served to set up a future one. The best issue, in my opinion, was the Annual, which re-wrote the history of The Mandarin. (Depending on who you talk to, this issue was either praised or reviled because of this re-imagining.)

Iron Man Legacy #1-9

How much better was this series, which more than likely will be cancelled in 2011. Issues #1-5 brought us "War Of The Iron Men," and maybe the biggest gripe is we have another story involving Tony trying to get his Iron Man armor back from those who have stolen his designs. Issues #6-9 brought the second storyline, "Industrial Revolution," and is even better than the first. How great to see Van Lente bring back The Pride!

The best thing about this series is the constant appearance of numerous guest stars. In nine issues, we've had a ton more action than in the all the issues Fraction has written in Invincible Iron Man. (Heck, two issues brings more guest stars and action than those nine issues of Resilient!)

Iron Man: Kiss And Tell One-Shot

Tony teams up with Black Widow in the first story and Wolverine in the second. Truth be told, I don't even remember what happens in this one.

Iron Man Vs. Whiplash #3-4

I found this mini very disappointing. It didn't really tie into the movie, and was a separate story from the 616 universe. I guess it's just a way to promote Whiplash, but more the version from the movie than the classic. (And, for the record, I prefer the look of Classic Whiplash MUCH more than the movie version.)

Iron Man: I Am Iron Man #1-2

In order to further promote Iron Man 2 in theaters, Marvel turns the original film into comic form. What a waste of money! This book should have come out when the first movie was released, not a few years later. (Of course, does Marvel give readers a comic version of their new movie? Nope!)

Iron Man 2 Spotlight

Marvel reduced the amount of Spotlight comics in 2010; but, we still got a few. This Spotlight on the movie and current/past comics came out to promote it all.

Iron Man 1.5 #1-3

This movie tie-in tells of what happened between the events of both movies. Joe Casey writes; but, nothing that really brought anything interesting to the table.

Iron Man 2: Agents Of Shield One-Shot

This comic was the most interesting of all the movie tie-ins. Joe Casey gives a "deleted scenes" aspect to Iron Man 2, as we get three short stories on various SHIELD agents that we see in the movie. I especially liked the Black Widow one, which shows what happened before Natasha makes her appearance in the movie.

Iron Man Extremis Director's Cut #1-6

I've gotta give credit to Marvel for giving a Director's Cut of an entire storyline, all to promote their new motion comic of this classic storyline. What stinks, though, is we get a lot of the usual garbage that doesn't interest me: Variant Covers, sketches, and a scriptbook. I'd sooner have a page-by-page discussion of the book by the writer and artist, kind of like how DVDs have a commentary track.

Iron Man By Design

Not for everybody...or maybe even hardly anybody...but, I loved this book that collected all of the variant covers that promoted Iron Man 2 in a certain month. Each design had the "commentary track" that I'd like to see with director's cuts, as the artist discussed their drawing. (I'm also bringing this book to the next Comic Con, as a few of the artists are going to be attending. I'll love to get their pages signed.)

Iron Manual Mark 3 One-Shot

The Official Handbook to Iron Man. Great stuff if you're into it.

Indomitable Iron Man: Black And White One-Shot

Another Marvel Black And White book that, as CBR states, "merely average or adequate stories that simply provide a means for the art to be its best." Couldn't have said it better myself. I think about four of these books came out this year, and none of the stories have been that impressive. This one is no exception.

Rescue One-Shot

Part of Marvel's Women Of Marvel year-long tribute, this book features Pepper Potts using her new armor, while also having a conversation with her dead husband. This was an enjoyable book, and the Rescue armor is one of the things I've enjoyed about Fraction's run on Invincible Iron Man.

Iron Man: Rapture #1-3

After reading the first issue, I wasn't a fan of this new mini; but, the next two issues have brought a new appreciation of Alexander Irvine's story. Set in an alternate world, this story sees what happens after Tony Stark tries to treat himself after suffering a coronary. To say "things spiral out of control" is an understatement!

This Marvel Knights book reads like a very good "What If?" style story, and it's this lack of knowing this book is taking place in an alternate universe that could turn off readers from the outset. Knowing that now, I'm appreciating it so much more.

Iron Man: Titanium! One-Shot

I had mixed feelings about this one-shot. While I loved the A.I.M. agent introduced, the story was too talky. Lots of tech-banter, and I found it kind of boring to follow. There are other shorter stories; but, none of them come to mind.

Iron Man/Thor #1-2

While this story might not wow everybody, I'm really enjoying it very much, especially with how little happens in Fraction's Invincible. Not only do we get some decent action, but many classic characters, like Ulik, High Evolutionary, and Diablo. After stealing the Destroyer armor, it's revealed in issue #2 that High Evolutionary is planning on using Tony Stark to be the vessel for his "New God." A great job by Abnett and Lanning, and I think they are so much better served getting away from Cosmic Marvel.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Oh poo! I have two days of work coming up; so, I better try and get SOMETHING up today.

Heroic Age

Heroic Age: Heroes One-Shot, Heroic Age: Villians One-Shot, and Heroic Age: X-Men One-Shot

These are handbooks told from the perspective of Steve Rogers. The selections are pretty sparse in the terms of information, especially compared to the regular Handbooks; but, it's interesting to see how Rogers sizes people up. (Also, for further proof the X-titles are still so separate from the rest of the Marvel 616, X-Men always have their own book. Talk about segregation!)

Heroic Age: 1 Month 2 Live #1-5

A title I considered a huge disappointment. The main character, Dennis Sykes, accidentally gains superpowers; but, there is a catch. It comes with a death sentence. Dennis has 30 days to live, and does he spend that time with his family and friends? Nope, he spends it saving lives on Earth. The book never found the right blend of action and drama; and, thus, failed to emotionally connect with their audience. Props to Marvel for not finding a miracle cure in the end; and, thankfully, the final issue does deliver more than the first four.

Age Of Heroes #1-4

Marvel is putting out a bunch of these types of books lately. We get from 3-4 short stories featuring a particular hero; and, none of them are so fantastic as to warrant the high #3.99 price. (I guess this takes the place of Marvel Comics Presents.)

Enter The Heroic Age One-Shot

Like Age Of Heroes, we get 8-page short stories, all meant to promote new books coming soon from Marvel. (The exception was Black Widow, which had already started.)

 

[runawayboulder]

Hey Phaed, I've been a silent reader of these posts. I just haven't been responding to them. I don't want you think you're doing all this stuff for nothing.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Thanks Runaway! Yeah, it's too bad that the Hype took away the amount of views you'd receive when they changed things a few months back; because, it's hard to tell how many people are just silent readers or not. I knew from my 2009 thread, that a lot of people end up doing that; so, i figured it wasn't all for naught.

I really should have tried to recruit a little help, as Marvel put out a ton of stuff for some many characters last year. It's definitely a more daunting task...plus, with a new job, I don't have the amount of time I did last year, when I could sit at a computer all day doing nothing.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Soleil

Another Marvel collaboration that goes down the tubes! (Put them right next to Dabel Bros. and Malibu/Ultraverse.) I'm guessing it's all over, at least. The last item solicited, Prometheus, for October of 2010, never came out, and the last two issues never appeared in another issue of Marvel Previews. I've tried to find information about this line of books, namely if Marvel has discontinued it; but, nothing appears online or explains the dropping of Prometheus.

Kookaburra #3

January started off with the final issue of this series. Truth be told, I only read the first issue and wasn't too thrilled with it. This week, I've been catching up on all my Soleil books; but, still wasn't motivated enough to read issue #2 and 3 of this one.

Daffodil #1-3

Not a bad title; but, the art is rather dark at times and hard to see exactly what's going on. It's about a group of three lady vampires who are sent out by The Parliment to make sure other vampires aren't breaking the "no killing" clause in a pact between humans and vampires. The first two issues tell the first story, and it's rather cute at times, especially with two tag-along-children who are being protected by the lady vampires; but, the third issue is a stand-alone, and takes away from the fun. (Hard to know exactly what happens in the last few pages; but, I believe only one vampire lives in the end...which would probably be Daffodil.) Decent; but, not one I'd highly recommend.

Husk #1-2

Originally solicited as three issues (and, issue #1 says 1 of 3), I'm not sure if this book was suppose to be that way, or if they decided to "cut to the chase" and finish it quickly. Either way, it was somewhat of a disappointment. That first issue had some promise; but, throwing in large talking animals for no reason at various times in the book made no sense. Plus, where as the first issue took things nice and slow, the second issue felt like I was missing something. (Maybe the real issue #2???) Don't bother!

Sky Doll: Space Ship #1-2 and Sky Doll: Lacrima Christi #1-2

If we see more Soleil titles, it will probably involve Sky Doll. The art in these books are beautiful; but, this was Soleil's version of Marvel's Age Of Heroes. We get three eight-page stories per book, and where as before all Soleil stories are 48 pages, Marvel STILL charged $5.99 for each of these half-sized issues. (HUGE BOOO to Marvel!) It was one of the biggest rip-offs price-wise of the year. As for the issues, I recommend Space Ship, but Lacrima Christi wasn't so much about the Sky Dolls than about the other inhabitants in their world.

Tales Of The Dragon Guard #1-3 and Tales Of The Dragon Guard: Into The Veil #1-3

Too bad I wasn't reading these books before this week; because, I would have been hyping them in the bought/thought threads like crazy! THESE ISSUES ROCK!!!

Ok, Tales of the Dragon Guard is about an alternate world set in a planet not unlike Conan. Dragons roam the earth, but unlike the ones we're used to seeing, they emit a force, called The Veil. The older a dragon is, the larger the scope of The Veil, an unseen force that mutates and kills all things within it's radius. (It might take days before symptoms start to show; and, by then, it's too late.) Problem is, the only thing that can get close enough to kill a dragon is a virginal female of the human race. To combat this problem, this Earth has a "Dragon Guard" made up of these virgins; but, even with this one thing on their side, it's still very difficult to kill a dragon, naturally.

I love these books, and especially love that each issue is an individual story that's a little unlike the previous one that you'll read. For example, while the first two issues told of a particular Dragon Guard on a quest to kill a dragon, the third issue focused on how the effects of The Veil can subtly creep upon a family. (It's really something to see!) The first issue of the second series tells of a huge battle with humans who've been transformed, and 400 Dragon Guard must do battle with thousands. (It's a slaughter, and the reasons behind it are maddening. We don't see a dragon in this issue; but, that's not really what this story was about.)

I still have the final two issue to read; but, they won't be going back into my "must read sometime" box. They're on top, ready to be continued..probably tonight! If Marvel's Soleil line of books have ended, at least they went out with a BANG! (Yep, and I must say, it's the best of all the Soleil books I've read.)