Part II of II:
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #32: Breaking a trend, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN hits $3.99 in price BEFORE the iconic 500th issue price gouging reprint-orama hits. That'll show fans, right? To be fair, it does come with a back-up strip. The STARK RESILIENT arc is living up to it's name, as it seems to have gone on for about 50 issues now and is still not finished yet, after 8 chapters (with a ninth in tow). This story was not worth 9 chapters, and would have stretched things at six. Fraction and editor Stephan Wacker have to whack this idea that every arc has to be almost as long as WATCHMEN. Part of the reason is perhaps that artist Sal Larroca seems almost incapable of pages with more than four panels - to be fair, the back-up strip drawn by Jaime McKelvie also suffers that issue. If any title should be sold as an annual or semi-annual hardcover, SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE style, it is this. That won't happen; Tom Brevoort and Axel Alonso confirmed they are "old men afraid of the future" (Millar's infamous line) when they declined ever doing a straight to HC story, at least as a non-Icon product. Bendis is doing so with TAKIO.
At the very least, Fraction has kicked up the action; he tends to do that at the penultimate chapter of a dragged out story. The Stanes launch their attack at Stark's expo for his new repulsor powered car, unleashing a swarm of drones at him. In a clever move, they are all controlled by hapless iPhone dupes who think they are playing a free application game. For some reason, Detroit Steel himself decides to show up and try to kill Iron Man with a giant chainsaw. While I like how not even Stark takes that clown seriously, it is bizarre that he is even there. The Stane women have sought to manipulate the spin and avoid direct responsibility for attacks on Stark. Having Detroit Steel, who is about as large as a public school, show up in the midst of the attack sort of ruins that plausible deniability angle (unless they claim his pilot just "went rogue" or "was deranged", which still makes them look bad). Sure, the Stanes probably got more desperate to kill Stark after his stunt with the younger, but it still smacks of "villain does something stupid because the story is ending", which is a bit of a crude and brainless plot point for a writer and editor who feel this story is worthy of being longer than an arc of Joss Whedon's ASTONISHING X-MEN, for heaven's sakes. If you are so brilliant that your arc needs to be 9 issues long, then you should be able to come up with a better story hook than a hack who is writing a HOSTESS comic advert.
There is a lot of action; in fact, the entire issue is one big action scene. Unfortunately, while "Team Iron Man" (Rescue and War Machine) are deployed to help Stark fend them off, all you get is a lot of scenes in which drones explode, either due to being hit or hitting someone. Imagine if that scene in the 1966 "BATMAN" film, with Adam West, in which Penguin tricks himself into the Batcave and tries siccing a half dozen dehydrated minions at the dynamic duo, lasted not 5 minutes but about a half hour. This is what this feels like. The trick is the drones are locking onto the repulsor tech, so Rhodey and Pepper decide to shut off so that Stark can save himself and the car. Unfortunately, because Pepper's heart relies on it, this leads to the back-up strip, which is a bit of a dream sequence between her and JARVIS. It, honestly, is the most innovative part of the book, helped largely due to the art. While this isn't the only superhero book that things an action sequence against what is literally expendable canon fodder is supposed to be brilliant (Ed Brubaker has relied on those sorts of fights so much you could make a drinking game of it), it still is a tad annoying. I know I nitpicked why Detroit Steel is there before, but just because he HAS to be there, doesn't mean he had to have no reason besides, "Grrr, IMMA GUNNA KILL STARK!"
The best line of the issue was in the last page, TO BE CONCLUDED. This isn't the worst Marvel comic out there, or even the worst superhero comic. But it's SO not my bag anymore, and once this arc is done, so am I. That, or the $5 price gouge anniversary issue.
SECRET AVENGERS #7: The team fight minions again. That surprise anyone? How about the fact that the Avengers fight ninja? We've never seen that in comics, ever, right? This remains a frustrating comic. Brubaker and artist Mike Deodato Jr. get all the technical things right, but it still remains a comic in which the whole is not always the sum of it's parts. Many say that the uproar over $3.99 comics isn't exactly due to quality, but the sense of not getting a "satisfying chunk" of story at that price. It's perfectly fine to have an espionage story in which the greatest heroes in the world fight ninja in a mansion or a graveyard and nothing else happens. It's almost indefensible to do that at $3.99 an issue. To be fair, at least this story is playing more to Brubaker's strengths than the last, and is moving in a positive direction. I mean, Valkyrie actually talked to someone! And there were quite a few memorable sequences.
The plot is that the Shadow Council, an evil cabal run by the 19th century Thorndrake, Max Fury (a very evolved Nick Fury LMD), and John Steele (1940's war hero) have dug up Fu Manchu and apparently want to resurrect him outright and sow all sorts of nastiness. Only, due to Marvel no longer having the rights to Fu Manchu, he is simply "Shang Chi's father" who cannot be named ("Nonchu"?). Two issues and Brubaker couldn't have come up with an alternate name? At any rate, the Council send some ninja to capture and kill Shang Chi before he can stop his father again, but fortunately Steve Rogers is crafty enough to keep him out of their clutches with some foresight, and Ant-Man. Prince Of Orphans and Valkyrie have a fight at a graveyard, and confirm that "Nonchu" is in fact alive. Naturally, they make short work of the minions. That's all this team ever does. However, things look to pick up next issue, with Steele & Max set to attack the SA outright.
For the record, Moon Knight has not appeared in three issues and counting, at least aside for the covers. He's been part of the team in their alternate appearances outside of his title, like TASKMASTER #4 and DEADPOOL #29, but is as scarce as War Machine here. Given how out of place Valkyrie, a Class 40 heroine, is fighting ninja and super-soldiers, it is a bit odd that she is here and he isn't, since he'd actually fit the black ops stuff more. Part of me seriously wonders how John Steele and Max Fury will challenge a team that has Valkyrie and War Machine on it unless the two just don't show up for it. It's possible Steele has worked out since the war (even during the war, he was at least about Class 2). This is a team that is able to achieve suspense by having it's strongest members never appear to fight anything relevant. In a way I feel sorry for poor Valkyrie. She was a longtime DEFENDERS member, and thus spent many stories fighting bizarre or outright ridiculous villains who in no way should have been a threat, like Manslaughter (a guy so lame he couldn't even afford a mask that covered his whole face) or even an evil tap-dancer (I swear I am not making that up:
http://marvunapp.com/Appendix/tappingt.htm ; he even OUT-DUELED her for pity's sake), and yet here she is again being wasted fighting ninjas or human level mooks that Carlie Cooper could clean house with. Here is a heroine who should be fighting the big name bruisers and instead the best she's had in a while is Piledriver, in a one-shot, who she owned. Meanwhile, who gets to fight Rulk? SPIDER-GIRL. There isn't any justice in Marvel sometimes. No one is going to learn to like some of these B and C list characters if all they do is spin kick henchmen to the ground.
On the upside, Brubaker seems to be enjoying Eric O'Grady, and gives him an entertaining sequence in this issue. And at the very least, Shang Chi being defeated by random henchmen at least shows Brubaker doesn't respect him TOO much more than Nova. I believe modern writers want us to change our way of thinking and see ninja as a worthy threat, but it's 30 years too late. They're still just minions, and instead of being impressed when some prove to be a challenge, we just react like, "wow, that hero was having an off day".
Still, Deodato's art is cool. I did like that Valkyrie showed up, even though it is fitting that she only has about 1-2 pages to talk with John Amon before a fight, and what do they talk about? Steve Rogers. What'd you expect? He's clearly the star. This is MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE, basically with him instead of Thing. Naturally, given that Valkyrie was on said DEFENDERS team when half the time she was paired up with the likes of Gargoyle and Nighthawk, I guess it is nice to be taking orders from Steve Rogers for a change. And since I do like Steve Rogers now, I don't mind his scenes and focus overall. I just would have rather this title not be misleading and have been called STEVE ROGERS AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS rather than SECRET AVENGERS, is all. I went in expecting an actual team
book, not a team
up. There's a difference, even if Brubaker fails to realize it.
Focus on the positive. Brubaker, at the very least, does know how to build some suspense. The story is playing more to what he is good at than a space mission, and the ducks are being lined up. I am interested in how Steele & Max fare against the team, so that's an effective cliffhanger. This would be a perfectly fine title...for $2.99. It just doesn't scream awesome like I feel a $4 book should, at least not often enough. I'm sure even at worst, it is better than Bendis' best on AVENGERS & NEW AVENGERS, but one could claim the same of bathroom graffiti. I probably had higher hopes for this series than it has, so far, been able to deliver. That's not an unreasonable opinion on issue seven, right? Still, I'll be dropping INVINCIBLE IRON MAN and THOR before this.
SHADOWLAND: POWER MAN #4: This is the final issue of one of two SHADOWLAND mini series that wrapped this week, although much like the other (which was SHADOWLAND: BLOOD ON THE STREETS), it mostly tells it's own story and only has obligatory mention and reference to the overall event. Writer Fred Van Lente continues his incredible streak of great writing as he finishes telling the introductory arc of the new Power Man, Victor Alvarez, as he comes to his own with his powers and meets Iron Fist, the long time partner of the original Power Man, Luke Cage. While not everyone is keen on "legacy heroes", this works because Luke Cage has spent the better part of about twenty years moving on past his original premise of someone who does heroic deeds for a fee (but isn't quite a mercenary). He's risen out of his street elements and is an Avenger now; thus, his old role is ripe to be filled. Victor's ability to naturally channel bio-energy (or "chi" if you will) also brings him into Daniel Rand's wheelhouse. However, several imperfections kept this out of the top spot of the week. Victor was given a choice between siding with darkness or light, at least in the short term, and that choice was obvious even at the end of last issue's cliffhanger. A monster is summoned for Victor to fight in the final pages, and it is either awkwardly paced or delightfully random. And the final scene borrows a bit too much from the end of "ROCKY III". In addition to these narrative flaws, artist Mahmud Asrar was unable to complete all of his pencils on time (which was common for him on Image's DYNAMO 5), and Ray Anthony Height provides some pages of work; while Height is fine, the style clash is visible and thus not as effective as possible. Bruno Hang does vibrant colors, but two inkers further shows a rush to meet the deadline. Still, make no mistake; this was an incredibly entertaining mini series that introduced a new character into a legacy role organically as well as gave an older character something new to do, which is act as a mentor. A five issue sequel series is scheduled to launch in three months, which already seems too far away.
Overall, not as good as TASKMASTER, but still the cream of the SHADOWLAND spin off crop by a mile. I can't wait to see what Van Lente has in store for these characters for another five issues.
THUNDERSTRIKE #1: Coming out a week after SPIDER-GIRL #1, a new teenage hero arises, who wears the code name and/or costume of another hero. This time, however, the creation is closer to the heart of the creative team. Tom DeFalco, long time Marvel writer, editor, and even former editor-in-chief of the company (1987-1994), created and defined the original Thunderstrike character during his run writing/editing THOR, and helmed his spin off series in the 90's alongside frequent artist and collaborator, Ron Frenz. That series was canceled, and ended with the death of the character (a mortal who once subbed for Thor and ultimately was given his own powers and weapon by Odin for his bravery). After spending over ten years working on AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL (unrelated to the title that debuted last week), DeFalco and Frenz are back working in "mainstream" Marvel continuity with this mini series. It picks up the story of Kevin Masterson, the surviving son of Thunderstrike, who was his father (Eric Masterson). Now a teenager, his mother has remarried, but he has anger issues that he often vents on hapless classmates as something of a bully. While his parents are borderline wealthy, Kevin seems like a hopeless thug until Steve Rogers, his father's old Avengers team mate and current head of "SHIELD LITE", decides to reach out to him and offer him all that remains of his father; the titular weapon. Naturally, no one has been able to summon any magical powers from it, but when the Rhino starts on yet another rampage, things happen. As the second debut of a teenage hero within a fortnight, it is difficult to not compare it to SPIDER-GIRL. To it's debit, it is a bit more strict to formula; Rhino has been a common "initial foil" for many new and old heroes, and Kevin hits most of the tropes for being a petulant brat. The artwork by Frenz and Sal Buscema, even with modern day digital colors by Bruno Hang, looks much like it was ripped from the 1990's, which either makes it timeless or dated in comparison to more modern artists - a style closer to illustration than modern "realism". Fans of comic books that debuted before the 21st century, though, should enjoy the artwork quite a bit, and Frenz has never missed a deadline. The major attribute to this debut's credit, besides the fact that DeFalco is able to pick up a subplot about Eric's surviving son and remain aware of modern continuity, is the twist about how Kevin's powers manifest with the mace. It is a gimmick similar to DC's SHAZAM! franchise, but even that isn't being entirely accurate, and it opens the door to quite a few awkward yet interesting future scenes. There is also an eight page back up strip by DeFalco and artist Todd Nauck (who has become something of a master at the 8-11 page story these days), which details Thunderstrike's past for those less aware. Given the Thanksgiving dinner sized amount of comics this week, as well as no end of Thor comics, it may be easy to give this a pass, but that would be highly disappointing for any Marvel fans who want to see new blood enter the universe. The cover, which is similar to covers of the 80's, is also quite striking in that way.
I nearly broke my budget getting this, and I don't regret it. It's not the best, but it has potential. Even if Frenz drew a pretty odd looking Rhino.
CHAOS WAR: ALPHA FLIGHT #1: The Canadians may have celebrated Thanksgiving already, but that isn't an excuse to bypass this sudden yet entertaining one shot. It naturally is a tie in to CHAOS WAR, and supposedly will lead into the 5th issue of the series. Marvel's promotion of this was somewhat of a near-miss, as senior vice editor Tom Brevoort stated on Comic Book Resources to a fan question that Alpha Flight would never appear in a comic in the near figure, five days before the solicitation for this one-shot was released. Editors such as Brevoort wonder why no one on the Internet takes them at their word. At any rate, one of the key details to CHAOS WAR, which is that the underworld has been ravaged so that the dead can literally walk the earth again with no where to go, is utilized effectively here. Jim McCann (HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD) does the story here, alongside pencils by the talented Reilly Brown (INCREDIBLE HERCULES) with colors by Val Staples (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS). It is basically an Alpha Flight reunion tour, minus the midget, to try to defend the world (especially North America) from the ravages of the Chaos King's minions. Sasquatch, one of the team's only surviving members, makes a deal with their old enemies, the demonic "Great Beasts" to revive most of the founders to aid in the battle against Chaos King. This is a deal that several of the surviving members, such as Snowbird, as well as the "resurrected" members, such as Shaman and Vindicator, feel is a step too far. But when all of reality is at stake, is it worth siding with beasts? This is an enjoyable romp with quite a few good one-liners from Northstar, and a sense that the original team is really back, at least for those who care. The omission of Puck, which is obvious even by the cover, is a curious one (especially since Marrina, who is there, barely says four words). Perhaps he's part of the current WOLVERINE crossover? Brown's artwork is as solid as expected; he is more in his element drawing physical comedy, but he is perfectly fine with superheroes versus monsters.
Alpha Flight are a franchise that are, naturally, more popular north of the border than here, but did have some great stories in their distant past rather than their recent past. Much like last week's CHAOS WAR: DEAD AVENGERS, if one likes lesser tier characters being treated well, this is the one shot for you. I am curious how the boast about them being in CHAOS WAR #5 will play out. Will it be a one panel cameo, or will they actually matter?
