Secret Empire #10: This series ends more or less how I expected. As I mentioned in my review of issue #9, some of the excitement has been missing in the last few issues since Spencer had done such a solid job of setting up the denouement. But, Spencer still does his best to throw some surprises our way. Bucky has Sam give Captain Nazi the last Cube fragment, figuring (correctly) that unifying the Cube would unify Kobik. Under the guidance of Dream Steve, Kobik finds the courage to stand against Captain Nazi, erasing the history he and HYDRA created. Spencer also answers some long-standing questions: for example, we learn Elisa used a fragment of the Cosmic Cube to rewrite Mjolnir's rules, rewarding the strongest not the worthiest. It explains why Captain Nazi could wield the hammer in "Secret Empire" #0, though I'm not quite sure we ever learn how Elise got her hands on the shard in the first place. That said, I still have questions. We never really resolve the implication in "Secret Empire" #1 that Steve had embraced HYDRA before Kobik rewrote history, and I'm still not sure we learned who the new Kraken is. (I'm still pulling for it to be Ian.) Spencer also does the unthinkable and doesn't use Kobik to retcon everything: Natasha and Rick stay dead, Sharon stays old, etc. The issue ends with Barf, the young Inhuman who began the series, reuniting with his little brother and returning home to find his house graffiti-ed with HYDRA slogans. (I admit I teared up a bit at their reunion, a surprising reminder of how emotionally engaged I was with this series.) The next day, Barf awakens to discover the community helping clean up the house, epitomizing the message Spencer is sending: Kobik left the scars to remind us what happens when we embrace the easy answer. Once again, it's not hard to see the parallels to current events, but Spencer gets us there without sounding too preachy. All in all, as I've previously said, this event has hands-down been the best Marvel has published since possibly "Siege." Spencer adroitly sets up the "Generations" mini-series and larger "Legacy" relaunch this fall. But, perhaps more importantly, he told a well constructed and emotionally engaging story about the fight between good versus evil. Back to basics, indeed.
Generations: Hawkeye and Hawkeye #1: Man, as Katie herself says here, I miss these two. Can we please get the band back together?
Spider-Gwen #23: This issue might be the most perfect issue of a comic ever. Mary Jane has to convince Glory to cover drums since Gwen is busy in Madripoor, and Blumenreich and Latour take us on an amazing tour of the girls' lives in the process. Seriously, I would 100% read a Blumenreich-penned series just about the Mary Janes sans Gwen. She really taps into what it feels like to be young in a way that reminds you how powerful of a medium comics can be. We see the best and worst of Mary Jane here, from the self-centered whining Glory cites as the reason she originally left the band to her literal ass-kicking when she beats up the guy accosting Betsy because she wouldn't give him the time of day. (I don't know how she did it, but Blumenreich immediately telegraphed this guy was bad news when he approached Betsy at the party. When he accosts the girls on the street, it feels very much like the threat it is.) The ending on the subway - with Mary Jane telling Glory she'd punch out all the guys for her and Glory not being able to stay mad at her - is just the magic of the friendships of our youth. As Uatu says (seriously) at the start of this issue, this series used to be fun but it's gotten really dark. Hurrah for a break from that, for Uatu and us.
Star Wars #35: Aaron has really been on a roll lately. After last issue’s great romp with Sana and Lando, I figured we’d be getting a multi-issue arc here. Instead, we get another great one-and-done issue, as Han outmaneuvers Grakkus to trick him into revealing where his safe house (and all its weapons) is located. Aaron has Han’s voice down so completely you can hear Harrison Ford speaking the dialogue in your mind. Moreover, the art is great: Delgado’s colors are downright cinematic as a result of his amazing use of lighting. (After only a few pages I flipped back to the title page to see who the colorist was.) Issues like this one remind me what a golden age of Star Wars it is.
Uncanny Avengers #26: After all this time, I continue to believe this series is the real Avengers title. Zub just gets it. The sexual tension between Johnny and Rogue and Voodoo and Wanda reminds me of the good ol’ days, when everyone was sleeping with each other and it caused problems on and off the battlefield. Johnny and Rogue are particularly charming here as a couple: they both start with bravado but fade to honest-to-goodness feelings. (Johnny Storm! Talking about feelings!) Izaakse is a great find, a less highly defined version of McNiven who works well for this title. (Johnny in his little shorts is particularly a revelation.) Moreover, Zub puts us squarely in that most Avengers of all moments: after a great battle where they’re divided and exhausted, they have to find a way to keep on going. Even the battle itself mirrors their situation: they’re squatting in Avengers Mansion after the previous occupants abandoned it during “Secret Empire,” and Graviton turns everything upside down in his attempt to prove life is meaningless and random. They’re literally fighting for meaning here, and it’s a great ride. I would say I'd like Zub to do a little more with Janet here, as I feel like she's often portrayed as more inexperienced than she is. I get Rogue is also experienced, but, I mean, Janet is Janet.
X-Men: Blue #10: From Hank’s dark-magic use to Bobby’s more serious mien, Bunn is reminding us we’ve gone beyond the point where these kids are the kids we knew. They’re their own characters, and their new personalities are on full display. Moreover, we get another amazing group of enemies here, as the Goblin Queen manipulates Hank into bringing her “Hex-Men” into the present. Adding even more intrigue, this series seems to be the one where Marvel is exploring the fallout of “Secret Wars,” as Jimmy and Warren explore his origins. When you add in there the possibility of Magneto and Polaris fireworks, this series is really the best soap opera in town! (Also, Romeo, Jesus, return Bobby's calls!)
Also Read: Dungeons & Dragons: Frost Giant's Fury #5; Rebels: These Free and Independent States #6
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