Okay then, in
case you missed it, I’m playing “catch up” with My Monthly Stash. I didn’t get a chance to do any blogging
during the summer, so, lucky you! I’ve combined my summer reading into an
all-encompassing two part party. If you
missed Part 1 it’s here. Let’s continue,
shall we?
Note: I’ll be
discussing titles with Original Sin inspired tie-ins in two separate sections:
pre-OS issues nearer the top, tie-in issues nearer the bottom. So there.
My Monthly Stash -
Summer 2014, Part 2
All-New X-Factor #8-11
Uncanny X-Men #20-22
Black Widow #1
Hulk #1-4
Iron Man #24-25
Loki: Agent of Asgard #4-5
Daredevil #0.1, 1.50, 1-5
Moon Knight #4-6
Superior Spider-Man #29-31, 32
Amazing Spider-Man #1-3
Spider-Man 2099 #1
Original Sin #2-6 OS
Avengers #29-33 OS
All-New Invaders # 6-7 OS
Nova #18-19 OS
Daredevil #6 OS
Amazing Spider-Man #4 OS
Uncanny X-Men #23-24 OS
“All-New X-Factor” keeps moving right along, straining the team
dynamic, spinning intrigues, and, in this arc, delving deeper into the back
story of new member/mutant ward of Serval Industries, Georgia Dakei. Turns out, she’s adopted and her biological
parents are still alive- though her father is a for-real super-villain hotel &
mall mogul who now wants to make up for lost daddy/daughter crime time. Memento Mori is interesting, and might have
the potential to be this title’s primary, long term antagonist- even if his
name and M.O. might be a little more oblique than some readers are used to- and
if he survived this arc’s climactic battle with Georgia’s mystic mom. Who knows?
And it just wouldn’t be X-Factor without relationship drama, so of
course Gambit gets seduced by his (unbeknownst to him) boss’s wife, and we
learn that he is a hoarder of Disney-character-named cats. His quarters must reek. I really like this title, though I can see
how it’s pacing and art style could be off-putting to some new-to-PAD-readers. Its monthly numbers hover around 20K-22K, as
is historically consistent for “X-Factor,”
yet we’re now hearing the rumblings of cancellation. Grrrr…
In this first batch of “Uncanny X-Men” books we finally learn
who’s been screwing with Scott and his revolutionary team: Age of Apocalypse Dark Beast. Not the most original reveal, but in line
with his character. Also, a very pissed
and twitchy Dazzler escapes Mystique’s clutches and helps thwart her careful
infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D. in an X-Mansion front lawn battle royale. About
the only part of this drawn out tale worth getting excited about is the
“manning up” of Hijack as he lends a hand to save the day. This book isn’t Bendis’s worst monthly title,
but there’s not a whole lot going for it either.
Issue #1 of Black Widow’s new ongoing was reprinted in the back of “Superior Spider-Man” #30, so I gave it a read. Good, but not my particular pill of poison. It sets up the premise adequately, the tone of which is somber and businesslike. If I were a bigger Natasha fan I’m sure I’d appreciate the deep, contemplative character study and seeing what makes a super-spy tick. The art is stylishly reminiscent of 1970s espionage films, and that’s a good thing.
I only stuck around for the first 4
issues of the newly re-launched “Hulk”-
just until Mark Waid left. I seriously
hate all the recent creative team bait-and-switch shenanigans over at
Marvel. I’m realizing I don’t care much
for Gerry Duggan’s writing (dropping “Nova”)
and so I saw this as a jumping off point- which I find myself doing more and
more of these days. As for the “Who Shot Banner”
story, well…we still aren’t sure who orchestrated it. But we do know that big changes are in store
for Hulk as Tony Stark heals Banner’s wound and mind using Extremis, leading to
the evolution of Omega Hulk in Duggan’s run.
Sheesh! In the last few years, comic
book Hulk has gone through almost as many iterations as cinematic Bruce Banner.
I tried so hard to finish up this “Rings
of the Mandarin” story in “Iron Man,”
but I just can’t get into it. Maybe I’m
having trouble grasping (or caring about) the personification of each of the
ten rings, or trying to keep all of the new hosts/bearers straight. Whatever the case, I think I’m just about
ready to be done with Tony and Kieren Gillen for a while.
It felt like “Loki: Agent of Asgard” was finally starting to hit its twisty,
turn-y stride as Loki pulls one over on Sigurd and Mephisto in issue #4, but
then #5 arrests the momentum (and fun?) as old, evil future Loki more or less
reveals that the present-day god of mischief’s attempts at rehabilitation are
pointless. It was kind of a bummer for
those of us who liked the idea of this character breaking free of his vicious,
self defeating cycle. This one’s
creeping closer and closer to being dropped.
Caught up on the newly relaunched
and relocated “Daredevil,” and I
have to say, it’s chock full of the same action and fun intrigue as the
previous volume. Mad Thinker, Shroud,
the Owl- good stuff! Thank goodness Mark
Waid is still on this book! I can almost
forgive him for bailing on “Hulk.” Okay, and I’m really looking forward to the
new “S.H.I.E.L.D.” ongoing.
“Moon Knight” is about as good as an ethereal, dark, moody, brutal,
street-level vigilante, done-in-one book can be, but to be honest, I’m kind of
looking forward to Brian Wood taking this over from Warren Ellis. I’d like to see more connectivity between
issues and- dare I say it, a bit more substance over style. Regardless, I’ll take whatever MK I can get.
Oh, Spidey…they sure keep you
hopping! I’ll admit to holding off on
finishing out “Superior Spider-Man”
because, frankly, I just didn’t want it to end.
Doc Ock taking over Pete’s body and running amok with his life was the
most interesting and entertaining thing to happen to him in years! I was happy to pick up the new “Amazing,” but it wasn’t until “Superior” resumed along side (in
anticipation of the upcoming “Spider-Verse” event) that I could finally bring
myself to catch up. What a ride! “Goblin Nation” left plenty of destruction in
its wake, Otto showed his growth as a hero, and now Peter is left trying to
piece together everything that’s happened in his “absence.” Curse that Parker luck! Slott really seems to have his finger firmly
on the pulse of what these titles should be.
I’m really looking forward to “Spider-Verse!”
“Original Sin.” Okay, I’ve
been enjoying this story, even though I fear it’s spiraling ever closer to the
ultimate demise of one of my favorite characters: the REAL Nick Fury. Not “which-came-first” chicken or egg Samuel
L “Ultimates” Jackson Nick
Fury. And not that pathetic attempt at
pandering to fans of the MCU through woefully weak retcon Marcus” Nick Fury Jr.
ridiculousness. No, I’m talking about WWII
Sgt. Nick Fury. Super-spy, agent of
S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury. Eye patch
wearin’, gray templed, white guy Nicholas Joseph ‘Nick’ @#$%ing Fury! I’m reserving judgment, though if things pan
out the way I think they will, I’m likely going to be pretty mad.
As for the various tie-in inspired
issues I’m getting, I like the premise of the Orb releasing the Watcher’s
secrets, and the diversity of tales that these secrets trigger. However, these stories are only as good as
the creative team telling them, and sadly, many have missed the mark. I fear that the “Thor & Loki: The Tenth Realm” mini-within-the-mini will ultimately
be nothing but long-winded bluster. Three
issues (so far) of posturing?
Really? All to set up Angela’s
new status quo as, SPOILER! Thor’s long lost sister?!
At least “Avengers” addressed the growing rift between Stark and Rogers as
Cap learns the truth about what secrets the Illuminati has been keeping from
him. It‘s always cool to see story seeds
planted early on by capable writers come to fruition. The “All-New
Invaders” issues were decent enough, though not particularly
compelling. We got to see some familiar
Golden Age-associated faces, most notably Golden Girl and the Kid
Commandos. Some might assume these two
issues were just trying to capitalize on the event, but I bet Robinson will
eventually circle back at some point.
“Nova”
#18-19 were ridiculous. Sam blunders in
(like usual) to the main battle between the heroes and Exterminatrix and the
Orb. After getting underfoot (like
usual), he learns some vague half-truths about his father’s time as a Nova and
sets off on an ill-conceived journey (like usual) of discovery with a
moronically written Rocket Raccoon. Just
awful. Thankfully “Daredevil” kept things real by delving into the mystery of Matt’s family, thereby infusing the tie-ins
with some much needed emotional weight. I’m excited to learn more about the
relationship between Battlin’ Jack and Sister Maggie.
“Amazing Spider-Man” #4 spun yet another web of retcons, but because
it’s Dan Slott’s Spider-Man I didn’t mind so much. We are introduced to Cindy Moon, AKA Silk,
who was supposedly bitten by the same radioactive spider that bit Peter moments
later, but before it went off to die.
Sure! Why not? Fearful that Morlun would track her down to
no good end, Ezekiel stashed Cindy away in a Morlun-proof bunker only to be
“rescued” years later by Peter when the knowledge of her existence was revealed
to him through the Orb’s exploding eye-bomb. I-Bomb?
Sold! Bring it! I believe!
I have no doubt that Silk will be a big part of the Spider-man mythos
for the foreseeable future, and honestly, even though we’ve just met her, I
find her waaaayyy more interesting than the last few spider-women. And so does Peter, apparently. Bom Chicka Wow Waw!
And finally, “Uncanny X-Men” #23-24… Just
in case you were wondering whether Cyclops and Beast had finally buried the
hatchet over the death of Charles Xavier, the answer is “No. They and the rest
of mutant kind are still pledged to both hate and fear each other.” What a legacy Charles has left. With all the wacked-out $#!& the X-Men
have endured and perpetuated over the years, you’d think they’d have a blanket
amnesty clause in place for any of their number who pulled a bonehead move. I’m not saying they all have to get along all
the time, but seriously, not a single one of them is entitled to cast the first
stone. Or second or third, for that
matter. So now all aggrieved parties
have assembled for the reading of Professor X’s will, and all come across as
childish a-holes. The flashback story of
Charles’s meeting of dangerous new mutant Matt Malloy was intriguing, but all
the present tense posturing left a sour taste in my mouth.
And
that concludes my summer reading. My
eyes hurt!
