The Irredeemable ANT-MAN!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dread]

You mean Dread the person who buys Ultimate Spider-Man even though he admits is pure garbage? Ok.

Clone Saga is over now so I'm only an idiot if I buy March's issue.

 

[PhotoJones]

Clone Saga is over now so I'm only an idiot if I buy March's issue.

eh...usm has sucked since a long time before the clone saga. i'd say your chances of buying the next issue are at 78%.

 

[Muze]

here's a review from newsarama.com that summed up my own feelings on issue 5.

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=101128

The Irredeemable Ant-Man #5
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Phil Hester
Marvel Comics
Reviewed by Steve Ekstrom

"Everybody who really enjoys this book please stand up. Every one of you who hasn’t purchased an issue of this book, you are free to run to the comic shop immediately and obtain a copy by any means necessary—if you get incarcerated, just tell them, “Steve made me do it!” The ones of you who didn’t like this book—I have some advice: Electro Shock Therapy! For the past five months, I have actually found a comic book that I approach with child-like zeal that still satisfies my adult need for a certain level of sophistication—it’s Robert Kirkman’s Irredeemable Ant-Man.

Billed as “the World’s Most Unlikable Super Hero”—Eric O’Grady has to be one of the most realistically portrayed “average American males” in the Marvel Universe. What would any man do if he were given powers without a heavy “responsibility” like Spiderman or a strong moral compass and sense of duty like Captain America? He’d watch women in the shower—that’s what! Eric is the kind the kind of guy I would call a “beta male”—he isn’t quite cut out for being a hero or an agent of SHIELD for that matter. The fact that he has the job equivalent to a “call center/phone bank operator” on the Heli-Carrier is beautifully portrayed in this story as he jumps up from his post with a great reference to quitting time on the Flintstones. Kirkman’s characterization of O’Grady will remind you of that friend in your circle that you love to hate. His bumble-witted, tactless nature will bring a sardonic smirk to even the most sensible reader.

Another thing this book does very aptly is jaunt between two different moments roughly 3 months apart. Each issue, including this fifth issue, readers are given a dose of Eric’s origins as the Ant-Man—flashing forward to his fugitive-like flight from the roughshod, Agent Mitch Carson, the man intended to wear this new Ant-Man suit designed by Hank Pym. This is usually pretty hard to pull off, especially for this many issues, but Kirkman uses competent dialogue tags to indicate a shift in the momentum of the book and pauses at apex moments within each story—like miniature cliffhangers that don’t muddle the sense of action to the reader.

Phil Hester’s stylized pencils are dynamic; giving this book a focus that captures his talent as a sequential storyteller. I love when artists can use 12 to 16 panel grids on a page to show a sequence or to focus on simple activities like sitting around at a poker game. There are 3 really fantastic examples of these large scale breakdowns, two of which involving somewhat dramatic pauses to expound on large gaps of time being expended—these “caesuras” are easily communicated to the reader without the need for heavy exposition. I’ve been a huge fan of Hester’s since the beginning of his run on Green Arrow and looking at his two versions of Ant-Man going toe-to-toe, being the traditionalist that I am, I almost want the original “prototype” suited antagonist to win.

I say buy this book—I enjoy the more adult level of sophistication this book has—Kirkman and Hester are quite a talented pairing. Most single men can relate to Kirkman’s Eric O’Grady and his semi-womanizing ways and I know at least one female reader who said, “…the new Ant-Man is kind of a sleazebag but at the same time I find myself attracted to him because he’s cute in that blundering, kind of immature, male way.” Hester’s work on this book is deceptively simplistic and energetic. I really do laugh with every issue and I’m starting to question my own ethics when I ask myself the old “if I had super powers” type of question. Honestly, I’d want to be able to turn invisible—you know, for the showers."

can't wait for issue #7 and the fight in issue #6.

 

[Dread]

Good review to post, Muze, and I agree with it too.

eh...usm has sucked since a long time before the clone saga. i'd say your chances of buying the next issue are at 78%.

In my opinion, I enjoyed every arc of USM overall until CARNAGE, and ever since it has been hit or miss. But I've already wasted enough text emoting about Ultimate Clone Saga.

78% liklihood of getting the next issue in March? That sounds like a challenge. That book's a bad habit I need to break now. If anything, if the next arc is so bloody fantastic that is it worth reading, I will always have cheaper, less irritating trade again. Switching monthly on USM has been a bit of a mistake.

 

[PhotoJones]

Good review to post, Muze, and I agree with it too.



In my opinion, I enjoyed every arc of USM overall until CARNAGE, and ever since it has been hit or miss. But I've already wasted enough text emoting about Ultimate Clone Saga.

78% liklihood of getting the next issue in March? That sounds like a challenge. That book's a bad habit I need to break now. If anything, if the next arc is so bloody fantastic that is it worth reading, I will always have cheaper, less irritating trade again. Switching monthly on USM has been a bit of a mistake.

i'm quitting smoking.

if i can do that, you can quit usm. i believe in you, dread. you can do this.

 

[PWN3R]

Cory Walker on Ant-Man! YAY.

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=103971

Man I love this book.

 

[PhotoJones]

cory's one of the most underrated artists out there. why he hasn't been snagged by marvel or dc is beyond me.

 

[Muze]

Cory Walker on Ant-Man! YAY.

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=103971

Man I love this book.

one familiar Damage Control face and a few unfamiliar ones. i wonder who the lady with the eye on her chest is supposed to be/what her powers are. and is the guy on the far left Monstro from Amazing Fantasy? i can't really tell. i am pleasantly surprised by the art. Walker definately makes Ant-Man action figure-worthy.

 

[Phoney Bone]

awesome Awesome AWESOME! That cover is hilarious and I'm so freaking excited that Walker is doing this issue. And I'm not sure if it's the way Walker draws it, or if it's the pencils, but it looks like Eric has a new of some sort of modifications to his costume.

I can't WAIT for Issue 7 now.

 

[deemar325]

Yep, I'm glad I stuck around with this book. Corey Walker needs to be the permanent artist for Ant-man period!

 

[Dread]

Ironically, they made no mention of the last time Kirkman & Walker reunited, to work on Invincible no less, which was MTU #14.

Definately one of the better pieces of news I read yesterday. I'm glad ANT-MAN is being given more of a shot despite low sales (it likely will outlive THE THING) and with attaching it to MA, Marvel is trying to bump it.

Walker naturally is a great artist and he has rapport with Kirkman. And in some ways Eric O'Grady is more of an honest *****ebag than Iron Man right now. Many writers attempt to portray Stark's newfound "fascist authoritarianism" as some grand-standing heroism. Eric just wants to be a peeping tom and score. He had little delusions, aside for beliving he'll join the Avengers, of course. He's still a total jerkwad, but he's not locking people into concentration camps, is he? Hey, a demigod psychopath like Sentry can join, or mass murders like Wolverine or Ares, why not ol' Eric? Sounds like a fun #7.

Still sticking with this title, and with the era of BKV gone on RUNAWAYS and YA off into the void, this might start to rival my pick of best Marvel ongoing for me (along with IRON FIST and MOON KNIGHT).

 

[yenaled]

That preview looks fantastic. Really great to see Walker and Kirkman working together again.

 

[Dread]

Looks like Ant-Man gets to foil Spider-Man Z-List thief Black Fox! And possibly take his loot. To the best of my knowledge ol' Black Fox hasn't been seen since 1991 when Spidey carted the old bird off to prison.

Hey, if stealing from thieves is bad, then Gambit was bad.

It would be interesting if Kirkman had Monstro return. I mean, no one else is using him, and in the wake of CW, a fire-man who is also a metahuman could be interesting to write about. I mean he's not actually a superhero, but he is a public servant with super-powers who maybe registered. And he does save lives, just he wants to put his powers & past behind him.

 

[Muze]

Walker naturally is a great artist and he has rapport with Kirkman. And in some ways Eric O'Grady is more of an honest *****ebag than Iron Man right now. Many writers attempt to portray Stark's newfound "fascist authoritarianism" as some grand-standing heroism. Eric just wants to be a peeping tom and score. He had little delusions, aside for beliving he'll join the Avengers, of course. He's still a total jerkwad, but he's not locking people into concentration camps, is he? Hey, a demigod psychopath like Sentry can join, or mass murders like Wolverine or Ares, why not ol' Eric? Sounds like a fun #7.

the main reason Eric can't be an Avenger is that he doesn't like being hit. in that preview art he takes one look at those monsters and runs like he stole something. well that and he's a pervert. oh well. he's still my favorite living character, at the moment. and it's always fun to see someone else's take on the armor. Walker makes him look very action-figure-ish. i wonder why Tony hasn't basically made it Pym's #1 priority to resecure the ant-man armor. a former SHIELD agent running around defying the registration act makes Director Stark look bad. until Eric starts acting responsibly, Make Mine Marvel.

P.S. i would love to see an awkward meeting between new Ultron and the new Ant-Man. Ultron would want revenge against it's "father." Eric would just want to feel her up.

 

[Oh Snap!]

Oh my, look what I stumbled upon..

IS ANYBODY GOING TO POST HERE?!?!?!?!!! IM GONNA GET P-OED

Ah, that guy so needs to get banned

 

[Spidey Lover 10]

Oh my, look what I stumbled upon..

IS ANYBODY GOING TO POST HERE?!?!?!?!!! IM GONNA GET P-OED

Ah, that guy so needs to get banned

who ME? NO! I like being here!:heart:

 

[Oh Snap!]

who ME? NO! I like being here!:heart:

No, not you dude.. Why would we ban you? Your thread is a great contribution to the Hype! and you're a great member.. I mean Harlekin, that snake; how does he expect to get away with having a cyclops avatar? they should ban him right now.

 

[Spidey Lover 10]

No, not you dude.. Why would we ban you? Your thread is a great contribution to the Hype! and you're a great member.. I mean Harlekin, that snake; how does he expect to get away with having a cyclops avatar? they should ban him right now.

thanks! Appriciate it!t::heart:

 

[Spidey Lover 10]

anyone actually GOT issue 7 yet? I'm getting it next week, so i wanna know what u guys thought of it!t:

 

[Harlekin]

No, not you dude.. Why would we ban you? Your thread is a great contribution to the Hype! and you're a great member.. I mean Harlekin, that snake; how does he expect to get away with having a cyclops avatar? they should ban him right now.

Ssssssss.

 

[Spidey Lover 10]

Ssssssss.

*quote sam l. jackson's infamous double f-bomb from snakes on a plane*!!!!!!t::heart:

 

[Colossal Spoons]

This last issue was damn good. I loved the art and Eric wasn't quite as big of a *****e as usual.

 

[Dread]

Reposting my review. Spoilers!

IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #7: The cover is brilliant, a nice bit by Cho as well as the self knocking, "the world's most shameless tie in" header. Frankly, that's not this, that's probably GHOST RIDER or MOON KNIGHT about now. Cory Walker reunites with Kirkman for this issue to give Hester a break, and I liked his work here, seemed better than his last issue of MTU. Eric is up to his usual stuff from last issue; stashes away in a lady's bag to catch some shower nudity, and it happens to be the hot-to-trot Ms. Marvel, a heroine Eric doesn't recognize (acknowledging that she was C-List for years until very recently). He naturally peeks in on her and stumbles his way between the panels of MIGHTY AVENGERS #1, with some lines perfectly translated. And it offers a "heroic" scene that I haven't seen too many times before. He goes to loot a store that has been smashed due to the Avengers/Mole Man monsters fight, only to run into Black Fox, that unlucky burglar from Spidey comics who was there for about the same reason. Ant-Man hits him in the NADS and literally lifts his wallet before then having to save a girl who was burried in rubble. The story ends with him running into Damage Control, who have a member who looks like a dead ringer for Dupli-Kate (from INVINCIBLE). There's not much to say that hasn't been said before. This is one of the most unque "legacy heroes" in years, and an utterly brilliant incarnation of Ant-Man. Despite how skeevy the lead is, you can't pull away. You want to see what he does next, how far he goes, and even if he manages to do SOME good in-between being a peeping tom or looking out for number one. Kirkman's dialogue is as usual very funny and Walker's art was good for this one. Enjoyed the Iron Spidey reference as well as Kirkman's merging of continuity with his stories, an art some writers bemoan. Hopefully THE INITIATIVE gives this book a boost from the dire of selling below the Top 100, because it really needs and deserves it. It'll outlive THE THING, but this book needs to sell. Eric's a true anti-hero yet avoids the cliches of being dark, brooding, and gorey. And he is still heroic enough that you won't get too sick of seeing him, as while he does note about wanting to stage his own muggings to save hotter women, he genuinely saves a kid today. And if robbing from thieves was wrong, then Gambit wouldn't have gotten away with it. Quickly becoming one of my fave Marvel titles, a must read.

Those ant recaps have also become iconic.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Should I care about Damage Control? I have no clue who they are and they don't particularly excite me.

 

[Spidey Lover 10]

Reposting my review. Spoilers!



Those ant recaps have also become iconic.

DO we get to see some good nude shots of Ms. Marvel?t: :heart: