Interesting things afoot in the Marvel Universe….

• According to the All-New Official of The Marvel Universe A to Z: Update #3 (full title) that came out this week… Ronin of the New Avengers, who originally was the hero Echo, is now going to be Clint Barton (Hawkeye). In Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America series, Clint was offered the role of being the new Captain America, he tried out the costume for a day or two and then felt he just couldn’t do it.

• In New Avengers #31-#32, Elektra dies again… but that’s okay because now we, and a select few in the Marvel Universe, know that she was a skrull. It is hinted at in both issue #32 and in this month’s Wizard that there is at least one more skrull hiding and disguised as another major player somewhere in the MU.

• Taking place in X-men #200, is chapter 1 of the Endangered Species storyline. It seems that not only when Scarlet Witch brought the number of mutants down to hundreds (House of M storyline), she also sterilized the ones left. Hank “The Beast” McCoy has made it his sole purpose to find away to solve the problem and reverse the situation. The issue ends with Hank willing to make opened ended deals with some of the most evil scientific minds that he can find.

• In Amazons Attack #3, the Amazons have asked for a full surrender from the United States, while the plans of the Amazons and another possible ally of theirs run circles around the JLA / JSA. Also, we see Supergirl and Wonder Girl get an audience with the Amazonian leadership and then flag down the president for a talk. Except for the fact that we have seen Amazons cross-over onto the weekly Countdown series and other main DC titles, Amazons Attack has many of the secondary characters written in such a way that they have the feel and look of one of the “other ” earths. I have not found confirmation anywhere, but I will not be surprized if the Amazons storyline ends up dealing with the 52 multi-verses.

• Lost writer and seasoned comic writer Brian K. Vaughan will be writing the second story arc in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight.

• And due to his incredible imagination and creative capabilties and given how much he has added to pop culture in America and around the world, Stan Lee will be getting his own star on the Walk of Fame in 2008.

Anyone who has ever followed a Marvel crossover event knows that it touches just about every book in the Marvel Universe. Do you need to read all these books to get the story? Absolutely not. In fact, I suggest that you just keep getting the books you do get and the main crossover book. Now that I’m in the comic book review game, I get the fun (and sometimes not so fun) of reading evey title that World War Hulk touches. So here we go.

Heroes For Hire #11
The current Heroes For Hire (H4H) team consists of Misty Knight, Colleen Wing, Black Cat, Shang Chi, Tarantula, Humbug, and Paladin. Of all of those characters, I’m only familiar with Black Cat and Shang Chi. I don’t know if that makes me less of a comic geek, but there it is.

We open issue 11 with the H4H team jetting back from a mission in the Savage Land where they were hired to capture Moonboy (Really? Moonboy?) because S.H.E.I.L.D believes that he may be the key to curing many of Earth’s diseases. When they arrive in Manhattan, S.H.E.I.L.D is busy dealing with the coming of the Hulk and his War Bound. H4H is pressured to help with the evacuation when Humbug, who has recently gone thought some kind of change in the Savage Land, runs of spouting nonsense. His teammate follow him and we learn that Humbug is getting incoming chemical communication from a Brood Queen, one of Hulk’s War Bound, and visions of thousands of Brood larva. Basically, Humbug is seeing the Brood Queen’s plan to bring the Brood back to Marvel U.

Reading this book, I got the same feeling I get when I come into the middle of a movie that I know the basic premises of, but none of the characters. I like that they are re-establishing the Brood and I like that Shang Chi is active in the Marvel U, but that’s about it. There were many moments that I just didn’t get because I’m not a regular reader of the book, and those moment didn’t make me want to read any more of the book either.

Issue Grade: C

World War Hulk Grade: C, It didn’t really add anything to the overall WWH story.

Ghost Rider #12

Holy Deceiving Cover Alert Batman! Let it be known that Ghost Rider and Hulk do not actually meet up until the last page of the comic.

I enjoyed this issue, but not because of the World War Hulk tie-in. I just enjoyed the Ghost Rider Story! The premises of the book for the last year has been that Ghost Rider was trapped in Hell and escaped, but when he escaped Lucifer (I guess Mephestio was busy) escaped too. During the escape, the Prince of Darkness was broken into 666 pieces that have possessed humans and Ghost Rider is sending them back to Hell one at a time.

So how does this apply to World War Hulk you ask? Well, it seems that Johnny Blaze and the Ghost Rider have the split personality thing happening with each competing for control of the body and the Ghost Rider’s powers and they have different opinions on if they should get involved in the whole Hulk business at all. The issue opens with the Rider battling a possessed human who has taken control of a passenger jet pilot. During the confrontation, Johnny enacts his will over the Ghost Rider with causes some hesitation and the passenger jet blows up, with everyone inside. To add insult to injury, the bad guy gets away. The Rider and Johnny have some not-so-nice words when Johnny B sees the news cast about the Hulk’s warning to the people of Earth. Johnny then takes control over the Ghost Rider, in a very cool scene, and heads off to New York to confront the Hulk

Issue Grade: B

World War Hulk Grade: B, It’s a great set up issue for Ghost Rider #13 when I expect we’ll see a beat down.

Iron Man #19

This issue shows us that Tony Stark was prepared for the Hulk’s eventual coming. That explains why he had the “hulkbuster” armor and nanobots at the ready. The later half if the issue re-tells the story from World War Hulk #1 from Tony’s perspective. Nothing too new. I did very much enjoy the first part of the story where Tony was dealing “Dum Dum” Dugan and the rest of S.H.E.I.L.D. Basically, Tony does not have the support of his subordinates. They see him as a trust fund baby who’s been give the sweet government job that he doesn’t deserve. It looks like many people in S.H.E.I.L.D are not too pleased with the way Tony runs things and want him out My prediction: Tony will be fired and replaced after the events of World War Hulk.

Issue Grade: B+

World War Hulk Grade: B, Pretty much a rehash of WWH #1

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End Of An Era For Arcana’s Ezra

Arcana Comics’ Kade: Sun of Perdition #4 made its way to comic shops last Wednesday and there have been quite a few angry emails from long time fans…

Spoiler.

Kade confronted the Beast from the Abyss and managed to scribe his true name into his flesh..but before the Beast burst into flames he killed Ezra…

Originally appearing in the first issue of Arcana’s debut title, Kade, Ezra instantly became the company’s most popular character. Created by Sean O’Reilly, Ezra has spawned two of her own mini-series, a team-up with 10th Muse and her very own model search contest! With a past shrouded in intrigue and circumstance, Ezra soon realized that as a Child of the Black Sun she was the key to the Kingdom of Heaven and the chain to the Abyss of Hell. In Kade: Sun of Perdition #4, Arcana sadly announces their fallen daughter with the Death of Ezra.

Kade: Sun of Perdition #4 is written by Sean O’Reilly with artwork by Stjepan (Darkness Wolverin, Witchblade) Sejic with a cover price of $3.95 (Diamond code: DEC063296). Be sure to look out for the variant by Ashley (Hellspawn, Metal Gear Solid) Wood.

To commemorate this historic “End of An Era” issue, Arcana is releasing a box set collecting every single issue of Ezra over the last three years for only $16.95 USD ($19.95 CDN) . Inside this box set will also include a limited edition poster by Caanan White. Diamond Code: JUN073239

As well Greg Horn was the first artist to draw Ezra, and it looks like he’ll be the last. Greg Horn has come back to do a commemorative cover for the special 25 cent issue of Kade: Shiva’s Sun #0 available in this month’s Previews. Diamond Code: JUN073240.

For more information, please visit Arcana Comics at:

www.arcanacomics.com

Once again this week’s Countdown seemed like half a story… like catching ten minutes in the middle of a good movie; interesting and unsatisfying all at the same time.So here are the highlights…

• Billy Batson reveals himself to Mary and lets her know that he has taken the Wizard Shazam’s place after he died… kind of. As Billy described it, it seems like he is now in a symbiotic relationship with the Rock of Eternity. 
• Billy then chastises her for taking Black Adam’s powers and tells her that perhaps it’s destiny that she had lost hers… she replies that perhaps it is destiny that she got these new powers. She then proceeds to blast a hole in the roof of the rock and fly off.
• Monarch introduces himself to Forerunner (and to any reader who wasn’t reading in the 90’s), he offer Forerunner the path to Greater Glory to come with him and take down the Monitors. There is still no hint to where he has been… or where Waverider is.
• Jimmy Olsen has a new power appear (retractable / shooting spines) as he takes down a group of street thugs.
• Holly Robinson takes up company with a group of Amazons.
• History of the Multiverse covers the connection between Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis.

Sorry Dan, but once again this week Countdown seems fillerish… like I said above it… interesting and yet unfulfilled.

Series Grade:C+

Issue Grade: C

I’ve been going to Cons for about 10 years now and have met some really great people. Last year at Wizard World: Chicago had the great pleasure of meeting Sean O’Reilly and the folks at Arcana Studios. Sean is currently working on his creator owned book Kade. The quick and dirty sum-up of Kade comes from the back cover of the book:

” It was the coldest winter the land had felt in years when Kade was born. The day after his birth he was abandoned in a deserted alley, and left to die. By chance a young monk was walking down the alley, found this baby and rushed him back to the temple. He was nourished back to health but there were some features that were unique with this young infant. For one, his skin was opalescent white, which was in direct contrast to his hair - coal black. Also, this small baby didn’t respond to touch.”

This is a very solid story in a great looking book. O’Reilly does a great job balancing the dialog and story text that a story like this requires while leaving room for Artist/Inker Allan Otero and Colorist Steve Cobb to create great the stunning art a story like this requires. And boy-howdy did this art really work. Otero and Cobb create a visually rich world that reminds me of a mix between Ed McGuinness and Joe Madureira. The inks and colors are stunning.

Grade: B+

So last week, not a lot that impressed me on the shelves… this week made up for it.

Green Arrow #75 (DC - Winick / McDaniel / Owens) - I find it interesting that when a series is coming to an end, a short hiatus or at least a change in the format - DC turns up the action. We see here the all-and-out Ollie versus Slade. One of the best action scripts that I have seen in a long time. Green Arrow and his entourage are in a “winner-takes-all” fight to the finish with Deathstroke and his new right hand man. The fight pinnacles as Slade has Black Canaray with a blade in her mouth, Ollie backs off and offers himself up instead… giving a classic soliloquy about the fight being between him and Deathstroke and Ollie offering his life up to finish it all. Slade refuses is ready to take them both out when the JLA show up. Only due to a last-ditch granade laces with Kryptonite and all sorts of other things (Slade said it cost him several million and several lives to make) does Slade make a narrow escape to fight again another day. Winick, McDaniels and Owens out do themselves in what is bound to be seen as a classic issue. The Issue ends with Ollie asking Black Canary to marry him. The answer / engagement continues in the Black Canary Limites series coming this summer and Green Arrow as a series is put on hold while the Green Arrow: Year one book is revealed soon.

Issue grade: A

Batman #665 (DC - Morrison / Kubert / Delperdang) - I know this has been out for several weeks, but I figured it was still okay to put this up given issue #666 isn’t due out uintil the end of July. On top of everything else DC has done in the past couple years, having Grant Morrison turn up the fear factor and hardcore drama in Batman has got to be on the top of Dan Dido’s achievement list. This issues covers so many things, it’s hard to know where to start… what happened to Batman in the cave in 52, Casebook X, a hunter using Batman’s worse personal fears to get to him, Robin trying to show he has backbone… Kubert’s art matchs the pace of Morrison’s high speed story. I fyou haven’t been getting this, make sure to put it on your trade list!

Issue Grade A

Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four #3 (Marvel - Parker / Wieringo / Von Grawbadger) - This limited series is quite possibily the most under-rated book this Spring / Summer. The story takes place out of continuity, which is a little bit of break for the fanboys - imagine reading a FF or Spider-man story not dealing with Civil War or a movie tie-in. The well-told family-friendly story revolves around an alien race that has come to our planet to mesh and creat a symbiotic and more utopian relationship with Earth and it’s inhabitants. It has non-stop action, the characters you love in believable situations, great dialouge (Jeff Parker has nailed the Spider-man / Johnny Storm relationship), a manipulation of Dr. Doom… and fights with giant bugs.  This is the type of story that gets people hooked on comics.  You can still probably get this series at your local comic shop… very much worth the effort.   A complete blast from start to finish!

Issue grade: A

 Series grade: A

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This issue of the Hulk was less focused on the Hulk himself, and more about the people trying to help the Hulk. They are Amadeus Cho (seventh smartest person in the Marvel U), Hercules (Greek demigod and son of Zeus), and Angel (Original X-Man, Warren Worthington III). We see Amadeus continue in his quest to gather the Hulk’s former allies, mostly the former Champions, to help the Hulk in the best way he knows how. Amadeus has a scheme that will allow the Hulk to stay on Earth while still being left alone. The kicker is Hulk is not too interested in listening to anyone’s plans right now.

Once again Greg Pak shows off his superior writing skill. His Hulk stories are bottom line, the best since the early Peter David days. This book didn’t even focus on the Hulk specifically, usually a complaint of mine, but Pak’s story of the supporting characters is so compelling that I didn’t care. I especially love the scene with Hercules and Angel in the internet cafe, classic stuff.

Gary Frank’s art is great! I very much enjoyed his renditions of the Hulk and his War Bound. The character then, I think, looked the best was Hercules. I’ve never been a big fan of Marvel’s Herc. To me always seemed like a waste of space, a poor man’s Thor if you will. In fact, I can’t every remember reading a Marvel book and saying, “Man that was a cool Herc moment!” I know many of you feel the same. Well, Gary Frank makes Hercules look like the bad-ass he is. Couple that with Pak’s writing and I want a Hercules mini-series by these two, but that won’t be soon. On May 10, 2007, Frank signed an exclusive contract with DC Comics. He will be working on Action Comics with writers Geoff Johns and Richard Donner.
Grade: Very Solid “A”

This review is sponsored by the great people at Kowabunga Comics

Warning Spoilers abound!

Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #13 (DC - Guggenheim / Daniel / Thibert)- For a series that started out slow (namely The Fastest Man Alive - the first couple issues were at a very un-Flash like pace), this run ended with incredible adrenaline. Bart is still trying to prove to his enemies and to himself that he can take up the Flash’s mantle. Marc Guggenheim does a believable job of laying it on and having Bart up against odds he couldn’t possibly handle; Bart has to take on Inertia and almost the entire Rogue gallery without being able to tap the Speedforce. All the while in the background Bart sees the Black Flash (the death-like figure only those in tune with the Speedforce can see) which only spurs him on to be the hero that he wants to be. With a sacrificial victory, Bart dies saving most of the East Coast from an explosion that would be from a trapped build up of the Speedforce. Bart dies a hero without his powers, finally moving out of Wally West’s shadow and becoming the hero that long time Impulse and Young Justice fans knew he could be. But given the nature of the new 52 alternate realities, I can’t imagine it won’t be much time at all before we see an alternate version of Bart. Tony Daniel’s art shows both drama and action and once again comes through without issues. Watch for something called All Flash #1 next month, and then after that Mark Waid returns to the Flash as the series goes back to the original numbering. But wait?!? With Bart dead… will the series be about Jay Garrick? I had doubts until read JLA #10 this month… check it out!

Series Grade: B

Issue Grade: A

Justice League of America #10 (DC - Meltzer / Benes / Hope)- This issue concluded the Lightning Saga, the JSA / JLA crossover the explains Starman’s condition and brought six other members of the Legion into the modern era. Accomplished author Brad Meltzer continues his magic by weaving the last chapter onto this tale in a direction that we didn’t see coming, or at least I didn’t see it coming. We know that there is some sort of conspiracy between the members of the Legion (as also seen in Countdown) as to why they are here, the readers are given a glimpse back in time when the Legion had brought Lightning Lad back from the dead by sacrificing one of their own through cosmic lightning rods (nope, not lying) and seems to be where it is all heading… with the Legion looking to bring back the Lad again. And just as the JSA, the JLA and DC’s loyal readers have figured out Brainiac 5’s plan… the rug is pulled out from under us and the DC universe is on it’s ear. It is not Lighting Lad, but rather Wally West (and wife and two sons) who are brought back into existence… so it would seem that Mark Waid’s new Flash series is not about Jay Garrick at all. The issue ends with Wally being brought back into the JLA and farewells between the two heroic teams. One of the last things we see is the Legion in the future and Brainiac telling his team that they have gotten who they wanted… with the art work showing someone trapped in one of the lighting rods.

Series Grade: A

Issue Grade: A

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Interesting finds and good bets this week…

• Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #13 that came out this week is the last issue in this series, followed by an issue of All Flash #1, then Mark Waid is returning to the Flash Series and it is returning to it’s original numbering. This issue is a major turning point in Flash history and a good bye to a wonderful character. Check out the review coming soon.

• Everyone gets their shot at glory in the upcoming cross over Marvel event World War Hulk… watch for Hulk vs. Ant-man… Ant-man?… not even Hank Pym Ant-man?… What?… not even Scott Lange Ant-Man?… Who in the world is Eric O’Grady?… anyway, watch for it in Irredeemable Ant-Man #10

• After reading the one-shot on Free Comic Book Day, The Umbrella Academy seems like a good bet this Summer, conceived and written by Gerard Way (From My Chemical Romance), this off-beat alternate superhero team tale will be out in August.

• DC is releasing a 128 page hardcover of 52: The Covers… throw that on the coffee table and see what your significant other says

• IDW is looking to round out the five year mission. In July they will release Star Trek: Year Four #1 which will pick up the Enterprise right where the original series left it. Written by David Tischman (writer on TNG) and Steve Conley (writer on Astound Space Thrills), this is one of the many small arms that are out trying to bring a beloved franchise back into a place of quality (Yes, Captain Archer, I’m looking right at ya!)

• Ash escapes from the Marvel Zombies and gets back into the solo spotlight in his own Dynamite Entertainment book Army of Darkness: From the Ashes. Ash returns to his world to find it total conquered by the Deadites and ruled by Evil Ash. Coming in August

• Another great bet coming this Summer is Image’s Astounding Wolf-Man (Kirkman and Howard), once again I read the Free Comic Book Day version and it offers a new view on a classic story.

New Books from DC / Marvel This Summer:

Black Adam: The Dark Age (limited), New Avengers / Transformers (limited), Black Canary (4 part limited), The Order (ongoing), 52 Aftermath: The Four Horseman (1-shot), Spider man / Red Sonja (limited), Green Arrow: Year One (limited), GL: Sinestro Corpse Special (1-shot), Metal Men (ongoing), Countdown to Adventure (ongoing), Outsiders: Five of a Kind (limited series), Booster Gold (ongoing), Batman / Lobo (2-part limited series), The Un-men (ongoing)

Here on in, I am just going to be doing a weekly post on this Week’s Countdown… Dan Dido keeps suggesting this is the backbone of the DC Universe, so you can get your spinal tap here

This week…

• Still tying in with Amazons Attack!

• Jason Todd and Donna Troy go head to head with Forerunner

• Jotham swore he saw somewhere that Forerunner had the same energy signature as Waverider from the Armageddon 2001 storyline (1991)

• Not surprising because Monarch shows up at the end to save a depressed Forerunner (Monarch was the big baddie from Armageddon 2001)

• Jimmy Olsen gives a back story for the New Gods, to catch some readers up

Overall, a filler week, just like issue #46. The only thing that really stood out as a “Wow” was DC re-using Monarch. It seems that when they opened the door to their multi-verse again, they are planning on using all of it

Issue Grade: C

Series Grade: B-