I read some stuff this weekend, so here is what I think:
Pigs #1
Written by Nate Cosby & Ben McCool
Art by Breno Tamura
Awesome cover by Jock
If you like good old fashioned Cold War inspired international sleeper espionage, this one’s for you. Very enjoyable with a surprise ending. And having read a preview of #2, this is one to jump on.
Fear Itself Monkey King
Written by Joshua Fialkov
Art by Juan Doe
I read this one only because I made fun of it. I was making a point that Marvel will include any book as part of a crossover and expect people to buy it because they slap “Fear Itself” on it.
This book really had absolutely nothing to do with Fear Itself. The Monkey King was trapped in the 8th City below China and the force of the hammer landing near it allowed him to escape. I heard that it does tie in with Iron Man 2.0, so I will ask the 4 people still reading that book if it is relevant.
But, on its own, it was actually a good story. The Monkey King is a small time hood who is tricked into the Monkey King’s cave and when he later escapes, he is bonded with the spirit of the Monkey King. I can only hope that the character appears elsewhere in a meaningful manner or this will have been a kinda silly one shot.
Fear Itself Hulk vs Dracula #1 (of 3)
Written by Victor Gischler (who else)
Art by Ryan Stegman
I find it a little odd that this came out this late in the series. It directly follows the events of Fear Itself #5, so coming out the week of #6 and with it being a 3-parter, its going to have to ship pretty quickly to wrap up before Fear Itself #7.
Basically, in Fear Itself #5, Hulk is knocked into the Carpathian mountains where the vampires just happen to have set up their camp in Castle Dracula. Hulk is smashing everything in sight and the vampires merely wish to have him spare them. But Hulk smash vampires.
One good thing is that the titular vampire introduced in the “Must Read! Retailers would be foolish to not order a lot of this crucial Fear Itself lead in!” Tomb of Dracula: Blood on the Throne One Shot finally appears. I was beginning to wonder if he would ever show up.
While its going to be interesting to see if the vampires can actually take him out, its hard to believe that the Hulk would not be part of the big finale in Fear Itself #7.
Amazing Spider-Man #669
Written by Dan Slott
Art by Humberto Ramos
After not moving the story too much ahead last issue, this one clicked on all cylinders. Lots of fun interplay between Peter and Carlie including her getting the inkling that Peter may be Spider-Man and Peter having to do some quick thinking to dissuade her. While everyone likes having Spider-powers, a secondary mutation is revealed. And a cure is found. They key player is revealed, but I don’t know who she is. Good stuff and will keep me reading the main series.
Daredevil #3
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Paolo Rivera
As many of you know, I am a big Daredevil fan. It’s the only book that I have read every issue ever produced. But the last few years have been tough. Not that the stories haven’t been good. Just sad and depressing. Crap is coming down around his ears, but he finds one bright spot in Milla, so lets make her crazy. Its not bad enough that he has allowed himself to be sucked into the Hand, lets actually have him possessed by a demon.
So, when they announced the relaunch of a new #1, I was not super thrilled. What other crap did they find to weigh him down with? Now he has cancer! Watch him battle dementia! We took Spidey’s spider-sense, so we’ll take Daredevil’s radar sense!
I was very pleasantly surprised when I read #1. Are you just setting me up, Mr. Waid? But after reading #2 & 3, you have me again. Great art (and #4 is going to my new favorite artist, Marcos Martin!) and a good story that (as a customer told me) doesn’t make me want to eat a bottle of sleeping pills and down a bottle of scotch. Things are looking up for ol’ DD. Though I have to say it felt odd when he was hitting on women in a bar.
New Avengers #16
Written by Brian Bendis
Art by Mike Deodato
Daredevil is everywhere this week! DD joins the Avengers. This issue shows just what a non-powered blind man can do to Nazi robots! Sadly Squirrel Girl merely hides this issue rather than kicking Nazi butt. Overall a good issue. The only thing that didn’t sit well with me was at the end. There was a conversation with Luke Cage where DD asked how the Nazi stuff ended up and Luke answered well we ain’t speaking German, so I guess it worked out. Almost like no one told Bendis what happens at the end and since its not his event, he doesn’t care. Also, the end gave me a Breakfast Club flashback.
Journey Into Mystery #627
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Richard Elson
I haven’t been following the adventures of young Loki. I figure that if the Asgardians haven’t caught onto his crap, they deserve what they get. After he let Dr. Doom dissect his people, I can find no sympathy for the character.
That said, I was hearing a lot of good stuff about this issue, so I decided to give it a read. Basically it is Mephisto explaining the hierarchy of Hell and he has a pretty interesting conversation with Nightmare. A fun issue and it looks like some crap is going to come down pretty hard on Loki. So, I will probably keep up with this to see if he gets his due.