Avengers vs. X-men #9 (of 12)
Okay, it’s about time Marvel handed us another good AvX book. We’re at that critical moment in the story where everything begins to deteriorate and right before everyone starts to get ready for the final battle. The key message with issue nine of AvX is that everything is falling apart on all sides. The Avengers are getting their American pattern shields handed to them, the Phoenix Five are losing their minds, and Black Panther kicked Storm out on her firm black butt. Things just get worse and worse with each panel. It’s an intriguing read even though some aspects of it are fairly predictable. The only major flaw in it is that you have to have been following “The New Avengers” to understand a great deal of it. The main story comic should feed into the tie-ins, not the other way around. You have to understand that Hope has been undergoing training and Spider-man has been her sensei. What Peter says earlier in AvX also gives greater meaning to his last stand. He goes toe to toe with the Phoenix Force like only a spider can.
I really can’t say if issue nine out does issue six, but it’s close regardless. It also serves as a strong reminder of why comic fans read major event comics in the first place. Granted it’s not the game changer we’re all expecting, but it does a very good job bringing all of these characters together in a major showdown. Watching Spider-man take one for the team is something you really don’t see in the everyday serials. While AvX has been fairly inconsistent due to the group think that binds it, issue nine really hits a seventh inning homerun. All that is really left for this comic now is to set up the final throw down and kill somebody off. Ten bucks says the unlucky victim is going to be Thor… again.
The Sun Sets
I read the newest issue of Previews recently and banged my head against my desk a few times. This was especially true of Marvel who unveiled a great deal of detail into how comics are ending and/or changing. Some of the comics that are changing have been some of my personal favorites and I’m upset that they are leaving us. This part of the article is dedicated to all the great stories they’ve done and hope they still have plenty of wonderful things ahead for us.
End of an Era
Three big comics are having their writers end their long standing runs. The comic themselves aren’t ending, but will be getting a new team shortly.
Captain America #19
Ed Brubaker made Cap relevant again. He took a very black and white character from WW2 and found a place for him in this grey world of intrigue. Brubaker is just a great writer period, and any comic he leaves will be deeply lessened by his absence.
The Mighty Thor #22
I’m a fan of Matt Fraction, but I didn’t really love his Thor comic. Personally I think Thor is just a difficult character to write especially in a solo comic. Don’t know who is coming on board, but I might abandon Thor if I don’t love the name.
The Invincible Iron Man #527
Iron Man is the reason I’m a fan of Matt Fraction. Stark was rebooted when the first “Iron Man” movie hit theaters and Fraction has been doing a great run ever since. Out of all of the disappearing acts that are happening, this one hits me really hard. Not the hardest, which I’ll get to shortly, but the end of an era doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Avengers vs. X-men: Consequences (5 issues)
It’s a typical aftermath to a major event comic. An Avenger has died (called it) and God only knows what happened to the X-men. It’s worth might be based on however AvX ends, and it’s too early to tell for that.
Uncanny Avengers #1
I first rolled my eyes at this new Avengers comic they teased at Comic-Con. But with Rick Remender at the helm and the huge change in the other Avengers comics, I might consider this a worthy read.
A+X #1
Ugh. It’s a two story comic that features an Avenger teaming up with what’s left of the X-men. It’s like AvX, but not. Ugh.
Avengers #31 and New Avengers #31
Brian Michael Bendis begins his final Avengers story arc entitled “End Times”. I’ve actually liked Bendis on Avengers so I’m disappointed at this shake up. At least he gets one final bang before the end.
Incredible Hulk #15 (Final Issue)
Hulk will always have a special place in my heart. Jason Aaron’s run has been an awesome mixed bag of WTF, and I’m a little perturbed that they are ending iHulk completely. He wouldn’t disappear forever though, but they’ll probably wait until the movie reboot before they bring him back.
Red She-Hulk #58
Jeff Parker ends his story of the Red Hulk to bring us Red She-Hulk. I haven’t been following Parker’s run, but everything gets interesting after a sex-change.
Fantastic Four #611 and FF #23 (Final Issues)
Holy Mary Joseph. The day I’ve always feared is here. Jonathan Hickman ends his beyond awesome work with the Fantastic Four. FF has always been a difficult team to write for because a great deal of their mythos is based on the better part of the Silver Age, but Hickman successfully brought them in the 21st century. I’m am both sad and mad about this, and that’s how you tell it’s truly affected me.
Daredevil: End of Days (8 Issues)
Eight issues of Daredevil writers talking about killing off Daredevil. That’s what I gleamed from the preview. Not sure how I feel about this one.
Marvel Zombies Halloween
Fred Van Lente continues to try and gross us out with Marvel characters. And I will continue not to care.
Punisher: War Zone (5 Issues)
Greg Rucka will return to Punisher in this short five issues series. If you buy it, they will make more.
New Mutants #50 (Final Issue)
I didn’t follow this comic, so I’m not sure how to feel about it ending. I know the writers do solid stuff, but this was just one too many X-men comics for me.
X-men Legacy #275 (Final Issue)
I dumped this comic about a year or so ago, and haven’t looked back. It was okay, but Marvel has mutant comics coming out of their ears. There are only about two hundred mutants left and I swear they all have their own comic. This was manly Rogue’s comic and that can be considered good or bad depending on how much you like Rogue. It was a good comic, but not good enough to demand my attention.
Wolverine: Max #1
If anyone should get their own bloody sexed filled comic, it’s Wolverine. ‘Nuff said.
Rise of the Third Army
Every DC comic with the word “Lantern” in the title is taking part in this story. Ever since Geoff Johns brought Hal Jordan back to life, the Corps has faced one galaxy ending problem after another. This time the Guardians themselves have decided to rid the galaxy of the Corps and replace them with a Third Army. Green Lantern has been a wild ride for years because Johns has been threading all of these stories together. I honestly can’t wait to see what he has in store for us.
Ame-Comi Girls #1: Featuring Wonder Woman
A digital first comic is getting a printed version soon. Features art from people like Amanda Conner, which is nice. Might be worth to look at, but I don’t know about actually spending money on it.
Also, in a shameless plug to myself, check out Bruce Osborne on Facebook. I post/link all my stuff there, including chapters on a book I’m working on. Feel free to hit the ‘Like’ button as if you’re an addict.
I also write publish works of fiction on my Bruce Osborne Blog. Feel free to read, follow, or even hate my stuff. I don’t care if people like it, only that they read it.
There are too many movies for me to review in full, so I created a twitter account to give brief opinions on the many movies I view. If you wish to read my smart ass remarks, follow M.O.V.I.E. Reviewer @MutantOpossum.
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