Reviewing Marvel Comics a Week Early

[random_havoc]

Okay, I've been dying to talk about issues that I get advanced copies of for my reviews, but I don't want to spoil them, so I came up with this thread as a solution. So in this thread I'll rate comic issues that I read with just a _/10 type rating and maybe some general comments.



Avengers Initiative :Reptil
6/10 Not too bad. Introduces and basically focuses entirely on a new character. Has some good moments but the new character's not that great.

Bishop 2
5/10. Tells more of Bishops backstory. Not great.

Daredevil 117
8.5/10. The return of Kingpin. Really well done. Nuff said.

Darkhawk 2
I liked the original series. Not a big fan of the art in the issue or of some of the plot. 7/10 mostly cuz I like the character.

Dark Reign Elektra
9.5/10. Loved it. Absolutely loved it. Pick this up!

Fantastic Four 565
Conclusion of this little mini arc. I guess I just expect something more epic from this creative team, but the art is beautiful as usual and the story is ok. 6.5/10

Guardians of Galaxy 12
Mixed feelings on this ish. Won't elaborate so I don't give anything away. 7/10

Hercules 127
Haven't read much of this series, but seemed like a good ish. 7.5

Iron Fist 24
A standalone story about a past Iron Fist. Kind of fun but I was hoping to see the Iron Fist we all know. Just my taste, but I'd probably go 6.5/10

MA 23
Twist at the end that I liked. 8/10

NA 51
Ugh, not sure what to rate this. Wasn't great, wasn't bad. I'm interested in where it's going. 7/10

War Machine 4
Not liking this series too much, despite really wanting to. 5.5/10


Still to come: I haven't read them yet, but will read X-Force/Cable Messiah war, X-Men Braddocks.

Have them but probably won't read: Wolverine First Class 13, X-infernus 4, Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four 46 and Captain America 48 (only because there's a few earlier issues I haven't gotten to yet. Love the series though).

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Okay, I've been dying to talk about issues that I get advanced copies of for my reviews, but I don't want to spoil them, so I came up with this thread as a solution. So in this thread I'll rate comic issues that I read with just a _/10 type rating and maybe some general comments.



Avengers Initiative :Reptil
6/10 Not too bad. Introduces and basically focuses entirely on a new character. Has some good moments but the new character's not that great.

Bishop 2
5/10. Tells more of Bishops backstory. Not great.

Daredevil 117
8.5/10. The return of Kingpin. Really well done. Nuff said.

Darkhawk 2
I liked the original series. Not a big fan of the art in the issue or of some of the plot. 7/10 mostly cuz I like the character.

Dark Reign Elektra
9.5/10. Loved it. Absolutely loved it. Pick this up!

Fantastic Four 565
Conclusion of this little mini arc. I guess I just expect something more epic from this creative team, but the art is beautiful as usual and the story is ok. 6.5/10

Guardians of Galaxy 12
Mixed feelings on this ish. Won't elaborate so I don't give anything away. 7/10

Hercules 127
Haven't read much of this series, but seemed like a good ish. 7.5

Iron Fist 24
A standalone story about a past Iron Fist. Kind of fun but I was hoping to see the Iron Fist we all know. Just my taste, but I'd probably go 6.5/10

MA 23
Twist at the end that I liked. 8/10

NA 51
Ugh, not sure what to rate this. Wasn't great, wasn't bad. I'm interested in where it's going. 7/10

War Machine 4
Not liking this series too much, despite really wanting to. 5.5/10


Still to come: I haven't read them yet, but will read X-Force/Cable Messiah war, X-Men Braddocks.

Have them but probably won't read: Wolverine First Class 13, X-infernus 4, Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four 46 and Captain America 48 (only because there's a few earlier issues I haven't gotten to yet. Love the series though).

Why do you buy stuff you "probably wont read"?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

He's doing reviews for a website.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

He's doing reviews for a website.

Reviews without reading them?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Maybe he gets a bunch but only has to review X number of them?

 

[random_havoc]

Maybe he gets a bunch but only has to review X number of them?

Exactly. I get a bunch of Marvel comics (digital copies) for free each week, about a week before they're actually released. I only review a small number of them actually so the rest are just bonus free reads basically.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Hmm, digital copies. Good idea on Marvel's part. Saves them the cost of actually printing and mailing advanced copies out, and it's not like reviewers really need a hard copy.

 

[random_havoc]

Two more (and that's all for this week. The Braddocks issue was glitched so I couldn't read it):

X-Force/Cable Messiah War
Better than I'd expected. Not usually a fan of Cable or Deadpool or Bishop, so I didn't expect to like this. But the story is actually pretty interesting so far, and the art is really really good (a style that I like). 7.5/10


Ms Marvel 37
Another series I'm not usually too into, but this issue was good. Nice plotting with some good turns that I didn't see coming (I haven't read the whole series though so an avid reader might not be as surprised). VERY interested in what they'll be doing with the series from here on out though. The end of the ish left me wanting the next ish RIGHT NOW 8/10

 

[random_havoc]

Hmm, digital copies. Good idea on Marvel's part. Saves them the cost of actually printing and mailing advanced copies out, and it's not like reviewers really need a hard copy.

Yep. Though I certainly wouldn't mind hard copies lol

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Hey, you get to read 'em a week early. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

 

[random_havoc]

Hey, you get to read 'em a week early. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

That's true.
One thing's for sure, this has helped cut down on me buying issues, reading them, finding out they're crap and having to re-sell them. That always ticked me off. Now I just buy the ones that I already know I like.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It'd be a great model for the future of comics, except that very few of us would actually buy them after we've read them. I still would, but I think I'd be among the few exceptions to the rule.

 

[venom892]

I would too.I have an emotional attachment to paper.

 

[random_havoc]

Nova (I forget the issue number. Whatever one comes out on Wednesday)
8.5/10

Good storyline, went some places I couldn't have predicted. Good dialogue, good art, and a really really interesting ending. Good issue.

 

[random_havoc]

Anyone care to comment on how they'd rate the issues compared to how I rated them?


P.s. More advanced ratings from me tomorrow

 

[random_havoc]

Here's my thoughts (no spoilers) of issues I've read that are coming out this Wednesday.

Agents of Atlas #3
I continue to enjoy this title despite not liking the main characters. I mostly find I'm enjoying it because of how well they're tieing it in with Dark Reign (done well again this issue with an Osborn and Sentry appearance). As a result I'm actually starting to enjoy the main characters too I must confess (though talking animal characters still grate on me) 8/10.

Captain America 70th anniversary issue
What a waste. It's a crappy new story with mediocre art that retroactively inserts a story into Steve Rogers life where he does Capt America heroics before ever getting the super soldier serum. Terrible. Followed by a reprint of an old Cap and Bucky story that, which wouldn't be bad if it were a story that were at all interesting, but it definitely isn't. The whole issue is a fail. I'd only take it if it were free, and I'm a huge Cap fan. 3.5/10

Dark Reign: FF #2
Better than the first issue was. Not bad, but not great. 6.5/10

Invincible Iron Man 12
Remember where last issue's cover left us expecting a sweet fight between the new war machine and Iron Man, but then the actual showdown between the two was a big letdown where Stark escapes in a really cheap way. Same thing here, but escapes in an even more cheap way. The art was beautiful though and overall the plot is still interesting. The Maria Hill and Iron Woman storylines are coming along nicely, though VERY slowly for my tastes. 7/10, could've easily been higher if the "fight" hadn't been so bloody cheap.

Marvel Assistant-sized spectacular
Unsurprisingly was a waste of time and paper (well, my copy was digital, but you get my point). 5/10

New Avengers Reunion 2
Had some good reveals relating back to secret invasion and mockingbird. Not bad, and that's coming from someone who doesn't like mockingbird or Clint Barton. 7/10

Secret Warriors 3
If you liked 1 and 2 you'll like this one. I still think the whole "Shield is really part of Hydra" thing is stupid and makes no sense at all (Hydra should be ruling the world by now if that were true), but other than that like the series. 8/10

War of Kings 2
Not digging this series too much yet. The last frame of this issue does leave me wanting to know what's going to happen in issue 3 though. 6.5/10


Hope u guys find this stuff interesting and that it might help give you some ideas when ur at the store on Wednesday.

 

[random_havoc]

Sidenote:

I also got advanced copies of Boom! studios The Remnant #4 and Irredeemable.

The Remnant is a 4 ish mini series that I hope they put another mini out to continue because it was great (not superhero, more action/mystery-ish)

Irredeemable is from Mark Waid (Kingdom Come) and is a GREAT first issue. I HIGHLY recommend picking it up everybody. You'll see it has some things in common with the plot of Invincible, but I think it's done very differently and looks like it's going to go in a very different direction. REALLY good first ish I thought. 9/10

 

[Yodaman]

Quick question, do you know which old issue was reprinted in the Captain America anniversary issue?

 

[random_havoc]

Quick question, do you know which old issue was reprinted in the Captain America anniversary issue?

Hmm, sorry I can't remember offhand and I don't want to re-download it. I can tell you that it centered around baseball if that helps any.

 

[Yodaman]

Hmm, sorry I can't remember offhand and I don't want to re-download it. I can tell you that it centered around baseball if that helps any.

Not really, but thanks anyway. I haven't read this, but really, a baseball story? They couldn't pick ANYTHING else?

 

[random_havoc]

Not really, but thanks anyway. I haven't read this, but really, a baseball story? They couldn't pick ANYTHING else?

EXACTLY!! Not only does the new story suck but they couldn't even pick a decent story to re-print. I'd have been much more interested in seeing Cap's first issue appearance myself instead of one focused around a baseball game.

 

[random_havoc]

Okay, here's what I've read so far that's coming out next Wednesday and my thoughts (again, no spoilers so don't worry):


Dark Reign: Hawkeye.
I'm a bullseye fan so I liked it, but there's a few points that I found rather silly that Osborn would put up with. The conclusion was good, leaves me wondering what's going to happen next issue for sure. I'd personally trade wait though to see what happens cuz this mini's plot could go bad pretty easy with how this issue was written. 7/10

Timestorm 2099
Yay and nay for this issue. I was very pleased to experience the 2099 nostalgia, but at the same time, it's not really much like the 2099 that I remember anyways (that, and it doesn't have Doom 2099, which was my fav character from that brand). Punisher 2099 is virtually unrecognizable from the previous incarnation.
That combined with current Spidey's spider sense not warning him about something with no reason given equalled me being generally bothered.
BUT there was some interesting aspects, a generally interesting plot that has me looking forward to more, and good quality art (though not as darkly toned as a book like this calls for).
Overall good, but wanting in some aspects. 7/10

Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk #4
Finally, that old feeling of Ultimatey goodness. Okay, so that however many year long wait was still inexcusable, but moving on.
The writer looks like he's being tutored by Bendis (using the repeating all the time) but other than that this is a really good issue. Some sweet twists, a few good shots at the regular Marvel U continuity, some decent art from Yu, and a good plot overall. Really good issue. Reminds me of when the Ultimate U was still good (ie before they let Loeb touch it).
8.5/10



All 4 now. More tomorrow.

 

[random_havoc]

Btw, before I go on, if anyone has any specific questions they're curious about regarding any issues I comment on here, feel free to ask (for example, someone asked me if Clint Barton appears in the Dark Reign: Hawkeye #1. I've got no prob answering questions like that).


War of Kings: Ascension #1
I was a fan of the old Darkhawk series and the character when he was in loners. This issue started off slow, but gets good at the end with one twist I saw coming and another I definitely didn't. VERY interested on where they take the character from here. Like the art better in this ish than on the previous War of Kings Darkhawk stuff. 7/10

Daredevil: Noir #1
Okay, most people (myself included) thought a Daredevil Noir comic would be redundant. In some ways it is but there are enough changes here to make it interesting, and the writing and art were both really good and bang on for the genre their going for. 8.5/10
Looking forward to seeing what's next.

Exiles #1
I was not expecting to like this. I've read the odd Exiles issue in the past and not been interested, but this one was really fun (I won't spoil it but there's a line in there about Captain America that was hilarious). The story looks interesting with some hints about little twists to the characters that I'm looking forward to finding out and the art is quite good, and fits the story. 8.5/10


More to come later.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yay, Jeff Parker strikes again! I knew he'd return the Exiles to their former glory.

 

[random_havoc]

Okay, I read through 3 more:


Wolverine: Weapon X #1
Surprisingly enjoyed it. I thought it was going to be some kind of origin related thing again based on the title, but it's not. Wolverine was more blatantly brutal in this ish than in most comics they put him in and the art, plot and dialogue all seemed pretty good so far.
I find I like Wolv better in non-team appearances, which makes it ironic that they have him on like 17 different teams. 7.5/10

Anita Blake: Necromancer #1
Wasn't bad, one or two pages had me interested. Just not the type of story I like. I'd give it a 6/10 but that's partially just cuz it's not my taste.

Captain Britain MI13 #12
I like the art quite a bit, like the characters, but not a fan of the story they're doing right now. If you've been digging the vampire story so far though you'll continue to like it. 7/10