Amazing Spider-Man #32: Given I started this blog as essentially a Miguel O'Hara tribute site, I'm obviously so fucking excited about this event.
First, let's talk about the Peter parts of this issue. Spencer does a lot to secure Peter in his new status quo here, in important but not overly obvious ways.
We begin with Peter daydreaming during his group-exercise meeting, prompting his two partners, Kel and Derrick, to lay into him. They both focus on the fact that Dr. Connors got him readmitted to the Ph.D. program, with Derrick calling him Connors' "pet" after T.A.ing for him "back in the eighties or something" and Kel assuming that the Lizard almost ate him. Kel says that he was probably just bored because he's a "big shot who had his own crash-and-burn start-up." As Derrick's laying into Peter about plagiarism, a guy named Jamie saves him. Jamie reveals that he turned an old WebWare watch into an early-warning device for large-scale emergencies. Jamie also lauds Peter's attempt to provide free high-speed internet to everyone worldwide, whereas he notes that Google keeps rejecting Kel and Derrick is a patent troll. In other words, Spencer repositions Peter not as a failure but as a doer. Jamie (and likely others) see his failure as a totally acceptable setback given what Parker Industries accomplished (or tried to accomplish). Spencer also doesn't drop the plagiarism angle here. But, when Peter suggests a way to solve the problem the professor assigned the group, Kel acknowledges that it's a good idea. In other words, Spencer is setting up Peter's academic redemption since it's clear that he can get a Ph.D. on his own merits.
But, perhaps the best part of this issue is Gleason. Teresa pulls a fire alarm to get Peter's attention, and they head to a meeting between the Chameleon and the Foreigner. This Foreigner seems new (and hot), and the Chameleon is selling him Infiniti Formula from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s "going-out-of-business" sale. Gleason is on fire during the entire confrontation between the Foreigner and Spidey. The Foreigner looks like an action hero in a suit, rolling up his sleeves like he's Henry Cavill in "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol." Spidey is lithe in contrast, prancing around the Foreigner while delivering quips. Spidey's head tilt here somehow accentuates how happy-go-lucky he is, particularly in contrast to the Foreigner's more serious mien. (It reminds me of "Avenging Spider-Man" #5, where Spidey looks like a gawky teenager next to Cap.) They're small things, but they really sum up the characters (and the differences between them) perfectly. The scene is also bathed in a red light as they're confronting each other right in front of a car shining its break lights, making the entire sequence even more arresting.
Moreover, the Miguel part of the issue is also pretty on point. He arrives in the present falling onto a burning oil platform that Roxxon owns. Roxxon retrieves his unconscious body, and its scientists have him under observation at their headquarters, where the suits delight in the technology that they can steal from him. He awakens groggy but manages to break free. However, he's still disoriented and his powers aren't working. We only know that he's escaping the "end of everything" in his future, desperately looking for Peter. But, he falls several stories when he forgets how to glide, landing on a taxi. It's an inauspicious start for our man, Miguel.
All in all, it's a strong start and I'm needless to say, excited about this event.
King Thor #2: Aaron is as good as he's ever been here, as each character plays his role perfectly. We learn that Loki resurrected the God Butcher not to kill Thor, but to kill him. Loki himself wanted to kill Thor, but knew that, after eons of trying, he didn't have the courage to kill himself. He needed Gorr to do that. Aaron even manages to inject some humor here, with Loki scoffing that he's been killing gods since Gorr was in short pants and he's offended at the implication that he needed help killing Gorr. Aaron and Ribic pull out all the stops in showing these final moments. Loki derides a human as he prays to Thor. The human is confused, wondering if he's praying wrong since he never had to pray before: Thor always provided. Loki tells him that they're all going to die and that no eternal reward is forthcoming. As other humans gather with him, the human simply says that he'll pray for Loki then, too. The issue ends with Thor and Loki dying in Gorr's goo, with Thor telling Loki that he lied when he said earlier (I think in issue #1) that Freyja gave up hope for him. He reveals that her last words were: "Never let go of your brother. And someday he'll save us all." Ribic uses a different style here, with Renaissance-inspired pencils, to show the "dying of the light," as Loki's hand, initially far from Thor's, clasps it. Earlier, Thor told Loki that -- after Gorr took his arm and eye -- they still had Thor's strength and Loki's brain. Loki refused to tell Thor how to defeat Gorr, saying it was impossible. But, in this last moment, does Loki give Thor what he needs? It's amazing after all this time that Aaron can conjure these sorts of emotional moments, keeping us on the edges of our seats waiting to see who Loki really is.
Marauders #1: This issue is spectacular. It's everything I hoped that I could have in an X-Men comic. I've always liked Duggan; his run on "Uncanny Avengers" was on my favorites. But, he really outdoes himself here.
First, we start with a great premise: Kitty Pryde can't use the Krakoa gates. On the first page, Nightcrawler and Storm deliver a rousing speech in Central Park to a group of mutant refugees seeking to use the gates, about how they're going home and leaving behind their old life. Telling Kurt and Ororo that she'll see them on the island, Kitty walks into the portal...and busts her nose on it. It's particularly funny given her power: she can phase through walls, but she's the only mutant who can't use the portal.
With few options, she steals a sailboat and makes her way to the island with Lockheed, who's having a spectacular time eating all the fish and seagulls that he can find. (Can I just say how happy I am to see Lockheed again? In these dark times, we need more Lockheed.) Kitty arrives to Bobby welcoming her on the beach. When he asks whether she still can't use the gates, she tells him that "top men" are working on it. Bobby quips that he'd like to meet these "top men." Duggan! How risqué! In the same panel as the one where Bobby makes this comment, we see a quotation bubble from an off-panel person shouting, "Did you get it?!?" The next panel reveals that it's Logan theoretically yelling about where Kitty got the supplies that he asked her to bring (mainly BBQ and whisky). But, Duggan really uses it to draw a line under Bobby's joke. Moreover, Logan's note to Kitty about the supplies, presented in one of the interstitial pages, itself is hilarious, particularly his "tell no one" instructions about his "dapper dude" pomade. This entire sequence alone made me loves this book. But, wait, there's more!
Bobby bids Kitty adieu as he explores why no one has used a certain portal. Kitty is then called to a telepathic meeting with Emma Frost, who calls her Kate. Kitty is on the defensive throughout this interaction, behaving more insecure than we usually see her. But, Duggan uses that insecurity to show the respect that Emma has for her, not only because she calls her Kate but because, as she explains: "You've been fighting your whole life against impossible odds, and you never once gave someone an extra shot in the ribs simply because they deserved it." I have to say that it's the perfect description of what makes Kitty special, and it's why Emma offers Kitty a job. She wants Kitty to take command of a large ship that helps mutants who can't use the portals for a variety of reasons, mostly because they're guarded by anti-mutant nutjobs. Kitty hilarious remarks, "Ororo said 'No,' huh?", to which Emma responds, "Before I could finish my pitch -- but darling, you will be grand!"
I read a review somewhere in which the reviewer sagely noted that some authors are going to ignore the new status quo to their detriment and some authors are going to lean into it to great success. Duggan happily takes the latter route here. On the very first page when I saw Kurt and Ororo leading the kids to the gates, I wondered about whether every gate would be so easy to access. Duggan wanted me to think exactly that in order to set up where he goes here. Moreover, Emma seems to be offering Kitty the Red Queenship, which, OMG, yes! Duggan didn't have to make Kitty unable to use the portals, but, by doing so, we're not getting some random team whose entire roster will change by issue #6 and whose orienting mission will change by issue #8. Kitty is front and center here as she has to be: her inability to use the portals means that the ship is her only option. As Emma says, she might as well use that opportunity.
Meanwhile, Bobby goes through the portal and is immediately attacked by one of the aforementioned anti-mutant nutjobs, a Russian solider wearing a power-eliminating suit of armor (proving why the Marauders are needed). We are then treated to an underwear-clad Bobby leaping back through the portal to a whisky-swilling Kitty. I mean, what more could you want? Kitty recruits Storm for the boat and away we go. On board is also the old Pyro, seemingly to Bobby's dismay, given his previous sexy time with new Pyro. The team arrives at the portal and the solider takes out Bobby and Ororo's powers quickly. But, they were a distraction, as Kitty uses her powers to disrupt the armor. Bobby and Ororo go to free the imprisoned mutants, and Duggan and Lolli go to town in showing Kitty ruthlessly making her way through the attacking soldiers by her own damn self. (Phasing the gun into the legs of two of the soldiers was...brutal.) Pyro exults as Lockheed provides him dragonfire, and the rest of the soldiers retreat. One of the refugees is recording the scene as they're freed, and Kitty announces to the interwebs that they're the Marauders and they'll bring any mutant who can't get to Krakoa "home." The issue ends with the team agreeing to stay with Kitty and her asking them to call her Kate. (Well, it really ends with the Red Diamond saying that Kate was actually Emma's third choice, but whatever.)
Elsewhere in the issue, Bishop is investigating an anti-mutant activist in Taiwan named Mrs. Zhao who claims that her husband disappeared when he touched the gate. Bishop confronts her, informing her that they don't have any record of her husband, and she departs with an insult. Interesting.
All in all, I just can't describe how happy I am. First, the mission is great. It's like X-Force without the brutality. As Storm says, how could she turn her back on mutants who need them the most? But, most importantly, the cast is great. Bobby, Kate, and Storm are three of my favorite X-Men. Seeing them galavanting around the world together on a ship with booze, guys, and quips? Pinch me.
Star Wars #73: Like any good "Star Wars" story, everything goes from bad to worse here. After torturing Han, Carpo releases him to Leia and Dar's reconnaissance so the three of them can attack the regional governor. (I now realize that Dar didn't intentionally set up Han, which sucks, because it would've been easier not to like him as much as I do.) Leia and Dar have to explain to Han that the only reason that Carpo thinks the governor is attacking is because they changed the plan. Of course, Han notes that, instead of Carpo dying in their plan, they will. (He ain't wrong.) Han realizes that they don't have any hope of breaking into an Imperial Star Destroyer, so he plans on brining them to K-43 because, "the more, the merrier." Of course, he still thinks that Chewie and Threepio are planning to blow up K-43, taking said Star Destroyer with it. Meanwhile, Chewie rescues Threepio from Vader's grasp after Vader catches Threepio lying that the Kakrans were under his thrall. Chewie tells Threepio that he only managed to disable half the detonators, so Threepio calls Luke for help. But, Luke has to protect the Rebel base, though he may actually convince Warba to help. As Carpo says, so complicated!
Also Read: Conan The Barbarian #10; Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - Allegiance #3 and #4
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