Amazing Spider-Man #64 (April 21): Ugh. I just don't even know what to say at this point. Spencer introduces another Kindred-related sub-plot, as Kindred brings brought back Doctor Octopus so that he can launch this summer's "Sinister War." Does that mean that we've still got months of Kindred left? On the Kindred front, we may be getting somewhere as the Kingpin brings Baron Mordo to Ravencroft to try to figure out which demon or devil possesses Harry. Meanwhile, Crime Master #6 (#7?) and Madame Masque kidnap Janice and Randy in a complicated plan to off Tombstone (to get his Kingpin-designated territories) and Robbie (to replace him with a more "friendly" "Daily Bugle" editor). Couldn't they just have assassinated them? Also, Fred decides to find the last piece of the Lifeline Tablet on his own in order not to endanger Pete (after Crime Master and Madame Masque blew up their apartment for Randy). I mean, it isn't terrible, but it isn't good either.
Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #2 (April 21): Spurrier crams in so much exposition here that it probably would've taken him five or six issues to let it come out naturally. Cutting to the point, Percy explains that Merlin originally created four ebony artifacts and told him to choose one. When he choose the Ebony Blade, Merlin threw the other artifacts into the River Styx. But, after Jacks touches her dead professor's blood, she has a vision of Mordred stealing the staff before it dissolved and searching for the chalice. "Dead professor's blood?", you ask? Spurrier reveals that Mordred is last issue's black-robed figure, and he's killing Camelot scholars to create a bloodstone. This behavior brings Elsa Bloodstone into the mix for reasons that I'm not sure extend beyond "bloodstone." It's...a lot. I'm hoping with all the cards on the table we can finally establish whatever this new status quo for Dane is going to be, because even I can't handle another issue of Percy storytime.
New Mutants #17 (April 28): This issue is all over the place. It's hard to follow all the emotional outbursts, from Anole screaming at Gabby that she doesn't understand what it's like not to look human to Dani threatening Roma if she doesn't let them steal from her. It turns out the search for Josh in Otherworld was essentially a MacGuffin to get Dani to summon Xi'an's twin brother's spirit. Ironically, Josh's journey in Otherworld is the most interesting story of these past few issues, particularly as he rejects living on Earth simply because the Five can only resurrect him there. I wish that we had spent more time on Josh's story and less time trying to cycle as many characters through these issues as possible.
Also Read: M.O.D.O.K.: Head Games #4 (April 28)
No comments:
Post a Comment