Young Allies #2

The first issue was a pleasure but with all things, transition is a natural state.  With the glow from being ‘new’ tarnished away, Young Allies 2 slips into something that fits between regular super-hero team up and teen drama-comedy.  A dramedy if you will.

I say this not as a slight but to describe just what this book presents, it’s somewhat different in the comics landscape as it does not neatly fit into other categories, at least as much as something like Avengers Academy or X-Academy.  Looks like Marvel has Academies on the brain at the moment.

The book casts a cardinal sin for smooth storytelling in having the ‘team’ split across two locations, working independently.  This works perfectly well for more long form styles of story but when you only have 22 pages to get across a significant amount of detail, it doesn’t work as a continuous entity, rather it ends up feeling like so much meat in a butcher’s window; all cut up.

The story within is enjoyable with some poignant moments dealing with the repercussions of evil-doers, a greater perspective than is often offered in some other more ‘powered’ books.  This ties in nicely with the naive feel of the characters though if this becomes and ongoing theme it’ll be tiresome.

Not as good as the first book, but better than some other’s that are in there 100′s of issues. -Bretzke

Iron Man: Kiss and Kill (One Shot).

This book is getting some high praise but I can’t for the world see why, other than if you rejoice in Tony Stark being made a fool of.  In all seriousness, this is a book about making the industrial giant the running gag for the espionage and super hero industries combined.

Tony gets played like a cheap violin, with about as much artistic endeavor.

I won’t ruin the surprises for you, because they are quite craftily nuanced.  The book contains two stories, each with Tony and some kind of foil, be it Black Widow or Wolverine.  In each story there is a goal to be achieved that involves some piece of Stark technology that can either cause great harm or lose Tony a bunch of money; something he seems to consider of equal weight, go figure.

The artwork is hit and miss, especially with the first adventure but what makes this book entertaining is the writing, that the staff have let loose in this way is to be admired.  But is this the book for you?  If you’re of the stable that thinks Iron Man is the original Avenger and the best of all heroes, then you will find this book an uncomfortable read for the aforementioned reasons; Tony gets played. However if you enjoy a well crafted story and don’t mind that the Stark armor takes a few hits, then pick this up and forgive the badly drawn faces.

Seriously, it’s like people are sucking on prunes. -Bretzke

Rarely in my position do I get to geek out about a book as much as I am about to now.  I admit it freely, I found Young Allies to be a deeply enriching experience and a thoroughly good read.  No, I’m not being sarcastic.

In modern comic books it’s almost the norm now to have a superhero book be overly gritty and “real”.  Take a look at what’s happening over in X-Men land; they’re screwed.  Nightcrawler just DIED!  Sorry for the spoiler, but that was a month ago and you should have read it by now.  On the other side of the coin, DC is dealing with blackest night/brightest day.  I know it’s about redemption but that story, whoa, such a stinker.  Tiresome!

Young Allies presents an honest to goodness story about people trying to do good things by stopping bad people from doing bad things.  It is, to me, what a superhero book should be about.  There aren’t any A-List heroes here, with my apologies to Firestar and Nomad.  What is present is a believable team-up against an imposing foe.  And let’s be honest, how long has it been since that’s been printed in any decent fashion?

Some may argue that the art is too cartoony but that is easily overlooked.  Within pages you will feel the same glee as they onlookers towards these heroes.  The book is summed up perfectly for me during the first interactions when a student looks in the sky after some ominous explosions, sees their hero and exclaims “Go Firestar Go!”.  That kind of pride in heroes.  It’s been a while.

Read the book, you won’t regret it. -Bretzke

EDIT:  There is an interesting “Slip” on the part of Marvel with reference to Arana.  Her backstory is explained through Amazing Spider-Man 634-7.  They haven’t happened yet.  Mistake, or advertising?  I lean to the latter.

X-Men: Blind Science

In such a broad universe as is described within the X-Men, let alone the entire Marvel creation, it’s fair to assume that sometimes characters get overlooked, maybe not getting paid their dues.  This book highlights a series of characters that could really play a larger part in the entire continuity, were it for some different writing decisions at the top.

The book describes a mission allocated to Club-X, the science ‘wing’ of the X-Men.  An oil rig has appeared close to Utopia and must be investigated.  With little more than that Dr Nemesis, Kavita Rao and Co. head off for the installation.  Granted, the lead in is weak but the entire story builds nicely to a completion which resonates within the current feel of the series; hopeful but all in all, bleak.

What makes this book a pleasure isn’t the art or the pacing, both capable, but the dialogue, specifically anything involving Nemesis.  That his whip-snappery hasn’t been exploited more thoroughly is surprising given the current popularity of a certain smart mouth psychopath.  Is he worthy of his own series?  Likely not, but certainly a greater part within the current X-Books.

You don’t need to be reading Second Coming to enjoy this, but it’ll certainly help. -Bretzke

Siege: Spider-Man

I’m going to be upfront and just say it.  I am not following the Siege event.  While this may be somewhat shameful allow me the time to explain my reasoning.  I think Marvel have shot themselves in the foot on this one.

I remember some years ago, maybe last year Wizard put out a poster that explained how all of the Marvel Universe was interrelated, down to the character level.  It essentially fell out that you had anything that was X-Men, anything that was Silver-Age, and then the rest, in three broad spheres.  When we look at anything that is Marvel, it’s either big name heroes or mutants, in general terms, with some crossover.  Marvel already has the “Second Coming” story arc generating static in the Mutant sector.  Why on earth would you add in more to distract?

I hear the proponents for the anti mutant league saying that not everything should come down to powers born of genetics, I comprehend your plight.  However.  Let us consider the sheer economics of having two culminating story events (Second Coming, Siege) happening simultaneously across the majority of Marvel books.  Disregarding the utter saturation and fatigue a reader may face with this onslaught, you also have to consider the person who just wants to read their one or two monthly titles.  The disruption to continuity across the entire universe borders on distasteful for the casual reader.  But, I digress.

Spider-Man Siege: presents the Siege event from the perspective of the Web Head.  To be honest I think this is a mistake.  Asgard is falling and Peter Parker is quipping left and right during his battle with Venom.  Yes it is within character for Peter to bring the funnies during the fisticuffs, but its for this very reason you don’t bring a clown to a funeral; its not a funny event.  Spidey’s normal vocalizations during a fight become jarring and trite when the background of the encounter is available, in the occasional background or with debris raining down.  The only way this becomes tolerable is with the near absence of any action within Asgard itself.  This brings about a different issue.

Why is this a Siege title?  The only thing connecting it to the entire Asgardian event are the opening and closing pages.  This feels a lot like a Spider-Man and Ms Marvel story tacked onto an already running event.  Sure Venom comes in for some hits and the fight itself is not dull, but it is normal fare for these two.  It feels vastly disconnected from what is occurring hundreds of feet above their heads.  This book misses the mark.

This could have stood alone as a fully competent story in it’s own right.  Through hitching it to this event the entire piece is undone.  -Bretzke

New Mutants continues to bumble along within the scope created by the ‘greater’ (meaning large) X-Titles.  In an issue driven largely by end tying and interpersonal dialogue, the new reader will be largely lost.  Even seasoned readers will find one particular conversation bordering on insane considering the amount of ill will that was (allegedly) derived from previous issues.  Neither here nor there, and certainly not everywhere. -Bretzke

New Mutants #19

A fitting end to what has been a fun series.  It would be nice to say it wasn’t predictable but sadly that is asking too much.  Well drawn and written but there are no surprises here.  Sad to see the tie-in issue with Captain America came in so long ago though (602). -Bretzke

Nomad: Girl without a World #4

Once again, the cover lies.  The only interaction between Peter and Logan revolves around whether Kitty Pryde will survive her test in the Danger Room.  During the testing, things go quite awry.  For those who have ever debated “Kitty Vs Wolverine”, well, need I say, “Read on”? No, I’m not kidding. -Bretzke

Wolverine: First Class #21

Cute title, and not a joke.  The story revolves around the notion that Spidey is lonely and through some twist of fate, a date is owed with one Ms Marvel.  What the?!  The blatant disregard each identity shows for their secret identities, openly talking ‘shop’ while in civvies, is purely baffling and completely distracting.  Were Peter to eat like this continually, everyone would know who their friendly neighborhood Spider-Man was.  Only timing prevents two goons working it all out!  Who let this out past the scripting stage?  PARKER! -Bretzke

Ms Marvel #47

I am never ok with supers being unmasked, its like dentistry or nails down a blackboard – it just doesn’t sit right!  This issue is squirm-tacular in that kind of way.  It ends with what is, for me, the least understood reveal so far.  Obscure!  -Bretzke

Nomad: Girl Without a World #3