To paraphrase children's author Judith Viorst, in Avengers #500 the Avengers have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I mean, days can't get much worse. Really.
It is probably not a secret to many of you that Avengers #500 is a big event for Marvel comics. It is a new jumping on point, it starts the Avengers run of very hot artist David Finch, and it is the first issue by fan favorite, super-genius writer Brian Michael Bendis. It also marks the end of the Avengers as we know them, and the beginning of a new direction that, as Stan Lee might say, "will change the Avengers' lives forever!"
Bendis really delivers the goods in this issue, as does Finch. The action starts on the second page and then never stops. The Avengers come under attack from an unknown source, an unknown source who apparently really knows their weaknesses and how to exploit them. Chaos (the title of this story arc, by the way) ensues, and the Avengers will really never be the same again.
In typical Bendis fashion, there is more here than just all-out action. The dialogue is snappy and the characterizations are all spot-on. The fact that he really captures these iconic characters so well makes the disasters that befall them that much more intense. There are also many mysteries to capture reader interest, and fuel speculation.
As an Avengers fan, and a Bendis fan, I was blown away by this issue! If you have any interest in these characters, or if you like well-written, over-the-top super hero action, you really have to try out Four Color Fantasies' Book of the Week, Avengers #500. Experience for yourself this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. (It's fun for you, you don't have to actually be there!)
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Excellent Backstory: Emma Frost #13
Prepare to enter the no-punching zone! It is pretty rare for a Marvel comic to tell stories that don't involve punching, kicking, or spandex-wearing. Yet Emma Frost by Karl Bollers and Adriana Melo does just that, and does it very well.
For those of you who are not X-Men readers, Emma is the White Queen, a reformed villain who has recently been featured in both X-Men and Astonishing X-Men. She is a tough, no-nonsense, teacher and leader. She is also currently Cyclops' main squeeze. Her own series, however, is far removed from all those angsty mutant antics because it takes place about 8 years or so in the past.
In Emma Frost, Bollers has gone back to show us what made a spoiled rich girl from a very dysfunctional family into the White Queen we see in the X-Men today. Emma's past has been refreshingly free of mutants. Instead, we have seen her deal with her family, her school, and her developing ability to read minds in a very realistic, character driven, way. Or as realistic as a story about a mutant mind reader can be.
This week's issue, #13, is what comics always refer to as a "good jumping on point for new readers." In part one of "Bloom," Emma has left her family, and her hometown of Boston, to attend college at E.S.U. in New York. There, she has to learn to cope with a new roommate, a heavy college course-load, flirty guys, and her continually developing mutant powers. How well does she handle her trials and tribulations? When does she develop her tendency to wear white leather corsets to work? You will just have to read it and find out! (In fairness, there are no white leather corsets in this issue.)
Emma Frost is a great read with a strong central character that tries something very different for a Marvel book. If you enjoy a little soap-opera with your super-heroics, you are sure to enjoy the adventures of young Emma. And now is a great time to give this book a try, since it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week.
For those of you who are not X-Men readers, Emma is the White Queen, a reformed villain who has recently been featured in both X-Men and Astonishing X-Men. She is a tough, no-nonsense, teacher and leader. She is also currently Cyclops' main squeeze. Her own series, however, is far removed from all those angsty mutant antics because it takes place about 8 years or so in the past.
In Emma Frost, Bollers has gone back to show us what made a spoiled rich girl from a very dysfunctional family into the White Queen we see in the X-Men today. Emma's past has been refreshingly free of mutants. Instead, we have seen her deal with her family, her school, and her developing ability to read minds in a very realistic, character driven, way. Or as realistic as a story about a mutant mind reader can be.
This week's issue, #13, is what comics always refer to as a "good jumping on point for new readers." In part one of "Bloom," Emma has left her family, and her hometown of Boston, to attend college at E.S.U. in New York. There, she has to learn to cope with a new roommate, a heavy college course-load, flirty guys, and her continually developing mutant powers. How well does she handle her trials and tribulations? When does she develop her tendency to wear white leather corsets to work? You will just have to read it and find out! (In fairness, there are no white leather corsets in this issue.)
Emma Frost is a great read with a strong central character that tries something very different for a Marvel book. If you enjoy a little soap-opera with your super-heroics, you are sure to enjoy the adventures of young Emma. And now is a great time to give this book a try, since it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
This is no dog: Bloodhound #1
I am not a Dog!
Shockingly, DC's new title Bloodhound is NOT about the adventures of a cuddly, yet fearless, hound dog who tracks down criminals and lost children. Instead, Bloodhound is about a VERY large man who tracks down criminals and hurts bad people.
Actually, there are quite a few unanswered questions about protagonist Travis Clevenger. This first issue tells us that Clev is a former cop who has been in prison because of an "incident" in which he killed his partner. He has apparently passed the time in jail by working out, and earning the absolute hatred of both the guards and his fellow inmates. And by administering some extreme and painful beatings to inmates who have gotten in his way. We also discover that Clev was the best when it came to solving "metahuman" crimes.
This first issue gets our hero out of jail to bring his unique skill to a special case with a bit of a personal twist. Writer Dan Jolley does a great job of intriguing the reader with all of the unanswered questions about Clev and the mystery that he is going to have on his big, meaty hands. Why did he kill his partner? How did he get his cool, scary scar? Why does he not particularly want to get out of jail? Who wants pie? (Okay, there isn't any pie. I just made that one up.)
The art by Leonard Kirk fits the story well. Not only is the art realistic and gritty, but Kirk is very good at drawing blood. You can tell, because there is a LOT of blood in this issue! The number of gougings, shootings and stabbings worked into this book is quite impressive. But don't feel bad, everyone on the receiving end really deserves what they get. Well, almost everyone.
If you enjoy books like Garth Ennis' Punisher or Brian Bendis' Powers, you should find a lot to like in this week's guaranteed Book of the Week, Bloodhound #1!
Shockingly, DC's new title Bloodhound is NOT about the adventures of a cuddly, yet fearless, hound dog who tracks down criminals and lost children. Instead, Bloodhound is about a VERY large man who tracks down criminals and hurts bad people.
Actually, there are quite a few unanswered questions about protagonist Travis Clevenger. This first issue tells us that Clev is a former cop who has been in prison because of an "incident" in which he killed his partner. He has apparently passed the time in jail by working out, and earning the absolute hatred of both the guards and his fellow inmates. And by administering some extreme and painful beatings to inmates who have gotten in his way. We also discover that Clev was the best when it came to solving "metahuman" crimes.
This first issue gets our hero out of jail to bring his unique skill to a special case with a bit of a personal twist. Writer Dan Jolley does a great job of intriguing the reader with all of the unanswered questions about Clev and the mystery that he is going to have on his big, meaty hands. Why did he kill his partner? How did he get his cool, scary scar? Why does he not particularly want to get out of jail? Who wants pie? (Okay, there isn't any pie. I just made that one up.)
The art by Leonard Kirk fits the story well. Not only is the art realistic and gritty, but Kirk is very good at drawing blood. You can tell, because there is a LOT of blood in this issue! The number of gougings, shootings and stabbings worked into this book is quite impressive. But don't feel bad, everyone on the receiving end really deserves what they get. Well, almost everyone.
If you enjoy books like Garth Ennis' Punisher or Brian Bendis' Powers, you should find a lot to like in this week's guaranteed Book of the Week, Bloodhound #1!
Friday, July 09, 2004
Space Pirates! Starjammers #1
Yes, we think pirates are cool!
One thing that most of us can agree on is that, at least in fiction, pirates are cool. The idea of just sailing around, hiding treasure, drinking grog, and singing sea shanties has real appeal. One of the few things cooler than being a pirate though, is being a SPACE pirate. Most things seem more exciting in space anyway, but for pirates it means freedom from scurvy, rats, and that seaweed stink that never washes out of your beard.
Someone at Marvel must think space pirates are pretty exciting too, since their latest new title, Starjammers, just happens to be about space pirates. Judging from the first issue, Starjammers is setting out to be an epic sci-fi space opera. Not too surprising, considering the writer is SF novelist Kevin J. Anderson. The art, from Ale Garza, is very clean and clear, with just a hint of manga style.
The first issue revolves mostly around young cadet Tolo Hawk. He meets a princess, becomes involved in machiavellian political machinations, and (of course) runs into space pirates. There are some brief space battles and a couple of scary aliens thrown in just to round things out.
If you are a long time X-Men reader, the name Starjammers probably sounds a little familiar. You may remember Cyclop's dad, Corsair, hanging out with them and maybe saving Xavier's bacon a time or two. Well, these are those Starjammers, sort of. This series seems to be either a prequel or a retelling. There are some familiar faces amongst the 'Jammers, but no Corsair, no Lilandra, and no X-folks. This is a sci-fi story, which seems to be completely separate from the Marvel Universe. If you like the old Starjammers, some of them are here. If you have never heard of them, you can still really enjoy this book. Everybody wins!
So, despite the complete lack of plank-walking or buried treasure, Starjammers #1 is Four Color Fantasies guaranteed Book of the Week!
One thing that most of us can agree on is that, at least in fiction, pirates are cool. The idea of just sailing around, hiding treasure, drinking grog, and singing sea shanties has real appeal. One of the few things cooler than being a pirate though, is being a SPACE pirate. Most things seem more exciting in space anyway, but for pirates it means freedom from scurvy, rats, and that seaweed stink that never washes out of your beard.
Someone at Marvel must think space pirates are pretty exciting too, since their latest new title, Starjammers, just happens to be about space pirates. Judging from the first issue, Starjammers is setting out to be an epic sci-fi space opera. Not too surprising, considering the writer is SF novelist Kevin J. Anderson. The art, from Ale Garza, is very clean and clear, with just a hint of manga style.
The first issue revolves mostly around young cadet Tolo Hawk. He meets a princess, becomes involved in machiavellian political machinations, and (of course) runs into space pirates. There are some brief space battles and a couple of scary aliens thrown in just to round things out.
If you are a long time X-Men reader, the name Starjammers probably sounds a little familiar. You may remember Cyclop's dad, Corsair, hanging out with them and maybe saving Xavier's bacon a time or two. Well, these are those Starjammers, sort of. This series seems to be either a prequel or a retelling. There are some familiar faces amongst the 'Jammers, but no Corsair, no Lilandra, and no X-folks. This is a sci-fi story, which seems to be completely separate from the Marvel Universe. If you like the old Starjammers, some of them are here. If you have never heard of them, you can still really enjoy this book. Everybody wins!
So, despite the complete lack of plank-walking or buried treasure, Starjammers #1 is Four Color Fantasies guaranteed Book of the Week!
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