Amazing Spider-Man #91 (March 2): I love Kelly Thompson, but I'll admit that her humor-based approach didn't feel like the best fit for this issue. I mean, yes, it was the right fit for the demonic multiplying kitties, obviously. But, the main point of this issue is Ben's increasing descent into madness as he loses more and more memories. Thankfully, he remembers enough to go after Maxine but unleashes a souped-up Lizard on Colleen, Misty, and Peter so that they don't get in his way. I get that he's unstable, but we never really get insight into why he thought that they'd get in his way. In other words, it isn't a terrible issue, but I'd have enjoyed it more if Thompson treated Ben a little more seriously.
Devil's Reign: X-Men #2 (March 2): To my mind, this issue is tied with "Edge of Spider-Verse" #2 (which introduced Spider-Gwen) as the best tie-in issue of all time. I'd love to read a Duggan/Noto series about Emma's misadventures in '80s and '90s New York.
In the past, Emma helps Elektra extricate Isabelle, the girl who witnessed her "work" last issue, before Kingpin can eliminate her. Duggan shows a more brutal New York here than we typically saw in that era's superhero comics. Kingpin learns about Isabelle after she tells her foster parents about what she saw and they go to the police hoping to collect a tipster reward. (The police naturally tip off Kingpin.) Emma is appalled that they just left her alone. It all fits with Emma walking a darker road during that era than Daredevil or Spider-Man (which is saying a lot).
When Elektra needs a hand taking out the cops that Kingpin sent to kill Isabelle so that Emma and Isabelle can escape, Emma calls in Spider-Man since he's swinging through the neighborhood. It results in one of the issue's best scenes, when Emma reads Peter's mind to see why he does what he does. "You were just a boy," she remarks, sadly, as she scans his memories. She then kisses him on the cheek and thanks him for what he does before wiping his memory of their encounter. Emma escapes with Isabelle, but one of the photographers that Kingpin has observing Emma gets a photo of her doing so.
In the present, Kingpin uses the photo to accuse Emma of Isabelle's disappearance, which leads Emma to London to ask a now-adult Isabelle to appear in court. Before Emma can find Isabelle, Union Jack arrests her so the United States can extradite her to stand trial for Isabelle's disappearance.
Again, this issue is beyond excellent. It opens with Emma interacting with all sorts of Marvel characters; my favorite vignette is a tie between her impersonating Sue Storm to mortgage the Baxter Building for $200 million and her interrupting a handcuffed Nick Fury during sex to get him to ignore something for Kingpin. Duggan is definitely not pretending that Emma is a saint. But, he picks up a theme that we've seen in "Marauders," as Emma helps remove girls and women like Isabelle and Lourdes Chantel from bad situations.
In other words, I'd be worried if I were Kingpin.
Moon Knight #9 (March 2): Although we learn that Marc is now operating from a bar through pet peeve #1, I'll try to temper my annoyance. After all, this issue is all about the Midnight Mission's destruction and Marc rebuilding it with his own Krakoa in the form of the House of Shadows. It's brilliant, honestly. Along the way, we're treated to Marc figuring out the House's identity as he's lost in its maze. Given that "Devil's Reign" is still ongoing, McKay manages to deliver a self-contained issue that advances the series' overall plot without spoiling "Devil's Reign" outcome. It's a high tightrope to walk, and McKay does it perfectly.
X-Men #9 (March 2): I read somewhere that Abigail Brand was a traitor to the X-Men, but I didn't realize that it meant she was an Orchis Board member. Jesus. Given that we also don't know the identities of the "Culture/Narrative" and "Sociology/Modeling" chairs, I'm guessing that she isn't going to wind up being the only surprising Board member. (Has anyone heard from Val Cooper in a while?)
But, unless you're a former political-science major like me, the best part of this issue is Destiny and Remy squabbling as Remy and Rogue take out the denizens of a bar on a moon, Oblitus, that replaced Knowhere. (Yay, Cosmo!) Destiny quipping, "Hate you" as she mimes strangling Gambit is one of the best scenes I've seen in comics in a while!
Meanwhile, Duggan builds another story here, as we learn Arakko wants someone to find Redroot, the Forest, who apparently wound up trapped in Otherworld. She seems to have chosen Sunfire as her champion, so that should be fun. I also just want to note that Storm's new costume - particularly her headdress - is really spectacular.
In other words, Duggan being Duggan, he manages to keep a number of plots of burners without leaving you feeling bored or confused. It's still a great time to be an X-Men fan!
Also Read: Devil's Reign: Spider-Man #1 (March 2)
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