Not-Very-Deep Thoughts: The December 28 Marvel Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Captain America:  Steve Rogers #8-#9:  The problem with Maria Hill's Jack Nicholson moment here -- as she pitches the idea of the a planetary defense shield to save her from getting ousted as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. -- is that she never explains why she's the only person capable of building it.  If S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists were the ones who invented it, Sharon Carter could just as easily build the Shield, couldn't she?  My main issue right now is that I don't also want to have to start reading "Thunderbolts" to understand everything happening here.  For example, in issue #8, Steve wants to use the new Quasar to get in touch with Bucky, but it isn't clear why he does.  Presumably I'd understand if I were reading "Thunderbolts," but I can't read every series on the shelves, Marvel.

Civil War II #8:  I honestly don't know if the ending here is brilliant or the greatest cop-out of all time.  In the end, Ulysses "ascends," becoming a celestial being.  Before he does so, he confirms -- with his newfound insight -- that he really was seeing multiple futures, not a linear one.  However, no one seems to care Tony was proven correct.  Carol is somehow seen as the winner, despite beating Tony into a coma as he (correctly) tried to save Miles from her.  In fact, Beast tells Carol that Tony himself didn't see the issue as one between him and Carol:  he trusted Carol to use Ulysses' visions responsibly, but he didn't trust the person after her to do so.  I don't really buy that, to be honest.  Tony didn't believe Ulysses' visions were actionable, period; it didn't matter who interpreted them.  But, I guess it doesn't matter because Tony's in a coma.  In the end, Ulysses was the MacGuffin he always seemed to be.  The only real outcome of this event is the launch of "Champions," and I can't say that development alone was worth the $30+ I spent on this series.

Extraordinary X-Men #17:  For all the faults of the main series, Lemire does a great job here of showing us Storm's path to war:  she realizes she has to act after holding the hand of little girl who idolized her as she dies of M-Pox.  Despite the fact that the science driving this war has always been poorly explained, Lemire helps us move past that point.  He encourages us just to buy what he and Soule are selling:  the X-Men have to fight this war for survival.  I don't care about the Inhumans, so I'm not collecting any of their series.  As such, I don't know how they're spinning their side.  But, it's hard to see how they'd argue their religious beliefs justify the extermination of a race and the death of a girl, as we see here.  That's always been the other problem with this event, but I guess I have to get past that part, too.

Mighty Thor #14:  Just in case we didn't think Malekith was enough of an asshole, he burns Alfheim to the ground  and maims Queen Aelsa in this issue.  Yeah, he's a dick.  Jane pledges the League of Realms will end the War of Realms in its favor but, honestly, it's hard to see betting against Malekith at this point. 

Prowler #3:  I can't say I understand why Electro (Electra?) has singled out Hobie for abuse, other than the possibility she's just a bully.  But, it makes for an entertaining fight.  But, my real question is why Hobie believes he can only ever rely on himself when he's saved by Julia at the end of the issue.  Is it supposed to show us he's barely conscious and unaware of what she's doing?  Otherwise, it sounds pretty ungrateful, to say the least. 

Spider-Man #10:  I waited to read this issue until I had read "Civil War II" #8, since I had heard online that it spoiled that issue.  (Sometimes it's good to have a several week backlog of issues.)  Having now read it, two things struck me.  First, Bendis really does get Miles.  I mean, it makes sense, since he created Miles.  But, he delivers a really moving portrait of a young man struggling to be a better person than he thinks he is.  Miles is worried he's going to go the way of his father and uncle, and he confesses to his friends that he struggles with murderous impulses every time he fights.  It's a reminder of how young he is and how you want someone like Luke Cage or Peter Parker to take him under his wing to explain how normal that is, that his concern over those feelings is what makes him a good person.  But, I was also struck by how terribly Marvel has screwed up "Civil War II."  If you read this issue, you would believe Tony Stark died at the end of "Civil War II."  He doesn't, but you'd think he did.  It's not exactly service to the reader to preemptively spoil the ending of another series, only for said spoiling not actually happening.

Also Read:  Black Panther #9; Mighty Captain Marvel #0; Spider-Man #11; Star Wars #26; Uncanny Avengers #18

Not-Very-Deep Thoughts: The November 23 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Captain Marvel #10:  So...much...talking...

Civil War II #7:  I feel like I've read issue #5 three times at this point.  The only interesting thing to happen here is that Ulysses has a vision of the future where Captain Marvel seemingly destroyed the world after Iron Man pushed her too far.  But, he isn't really sure.  In the present, it seems clear Ulysses' vision of Spider-Man killing Captain America isn't actually Miles killing Steve, but Miles holding Steve's body after Captain Marvel and Iron Man's battle killed him.  But, are we really going to kill Steve Rogers again?  At this point, it's either that or Ulysses is wrong.  Either way, it's going to be anticlimactic.

Death of X #4:  OMG, this issue makes no sense on a number of levels.  First, all the X-Men titles published after "Secret Wars" asserted Scott did something so terrible even mutants wanted nothing to do with him.  (I can't remember which series it was, but I distinctly remember a new mutant expressing horror at the idea she would be on Scott's side.)  But, all he does here is destroy one of the Terrigen Mist clouds.  Why is that so awful?  After all, Black Bolt (who I didn't even realize was still alive after "War of Kings") murders him in cold blood.  Isn't that worse?  How the hell could anyone think Scott was the villain here?  Scott didn't kill anyone, but Black Bolt murders him.  Why is everyone so accepting of the Inhumans' religious fervor over the Mists?  Does protecting them justify any action the Inhumans take?  The Inhumans asserting the right of the cloud to pass around the world even though it actively kills people is essentially like arguing a maniac gets to murder people because his religion puts a high value on death.  It seems pretty clear Marvel had something else in mind, but had second thoughts, unable to make Scott do something that couldn't be undone.  It actually gives me hope he's going to return someday, since Marvel seems concerned about his reputation.  (By the by, we also never learn why Scott was riding those...things in "Secret Wars" #1.)  But, I'm sad to report this debacle isn't the worse part.  We discover it wasn't Scott at all.  Scott died in the lab on Muir Island, almost immediately upon entering it.  Everything since then was Emma, who seems to have lost her mind as a result of Scott's death.  It's just too much.  First, we kill off Scott fucking Summers in a flashback sequence.  Moreover, he dies mewling on the ground at the horror of it.  Then, his name is desecrated (even though it shouldn't be) without him even committing the acts he's accused of committing!  Emma reveals the truth to Havok, and then he doesn't do anything about it.  I just don't understand how anyone could read this issue and feel satisfied.  We've been force-fed "suspense" about these events for the last several months, but Marvel treats it like a footnote to "Secret Wars."  I just can't with them and their events anymore.

Detective Comics #945:  This issue is spectacular because Spoiler is spectacular in it.  Stephanie comes out swinging when she sees through Bruce's feeble attempt to gather information about the Victim Syndicate by hiding behind two-way glass while Leslie Thompkins psycho-analyze her.  First, she calls out Bruce and his tendency to underestimate his own allies (something she proves by seeing through his ruse).  But, she also refuses to absolve him of Tim's death, saying he only cares about his colleagues' feelings when he needs forgiveness.  She is 100% correct.  I had never thought of it that way, but Tynion hits the nail on the head.  Plus, she identifies the team as a group of potential threats -- three daughters of super-villains and an actual super-villain -- that Bruce wants to control.  It's also something I hadn't put together, but it totally fits.  In one fell swoop, Tynion dismisses the Bat-family's long-standing ethos, where the colder and more technically minded you are, the better asset Bruce believes you to be.  It's why Tim always seemed to be higher in Bruce's estimation than Dick, Harper than Stephanie, Damian than Jason.  But, Stephanie isn't having it.  She's not only smart-smart but emotionally smart, and, Jesus, the Bat-family could really use someone like that right now.  Take 'em down, Stephanie.

Han Solo #5:  This issue ends pretty much the way I expected it to end, with the least likely candidate revealed to be the assassin and Han intentionally losing the race only to win.  Liu seemed to be writing for the trade with this series, because I'll admit I couldn't for the life of me remember why this "master list" was important.  I thought we just had to find the traitor?  But, more importantly, Liu manages to really sell Han's connection to Loo Re Anno, drawing a rare hint of emotion from Han as he contemplates his future of loneliness if he truly just sees himself "of the stars."  That said, Loo gets her happy ending as the gate at the end of the Dragon Void is revealed to be the connection to the rest of her people.  As a result, Han decides to stay with the rebellion for increasingly clear reasons, as he hand inches closer to Leia's.

Spider-Gwen #14:  The art change here is terribly, terribly timed.  Just as I'm tearing up a bit (a lot) as Gwen realizes May not only knows her secret but doesn't blame her for Peter's death, we switch to an exaggerated cartoon-y style as Jessica and her family appear for Thanksgiving.  It totally spoils the moment, the moment we've been waiting to see since Spider-Gwen was introduced.  Talk about an editorial blunder.

Star Wars #25:  I admit Aaron loses me a bit here.  I'm not entirely sure why it was necessary for the Rebels to hijack a Star Destroyer if the only thing they did with it was disable some moon bases and send down some escape pods filled with supplies.  Couldn't they just have warped into proximity and sent down the pods?  It didn't seem like the Empire was guarding the moon bases that closely.  Also, couldn't the Empire just take back the supplies?  It's not like the Rebels stay to defend the planet.  Are the Tureenians really that well equipped that they can hold off the Empire?  Aaron also has some lazier moments here that I find surprising from him.  For example, at some point in this arc, the Empire put the captain of a rebel ship on the prow, damning him to freeze to death in the vacuum of space.  (Similarly, Aphra almost immediately freezes to death after Vader expelled her from his ship in "Darth Vader" #25.)  But, here, Han and Leia are able to float totally safely outside the ship.  Separately, one of the members of SCAR Squadron gives Sana a weapon so she can fight to the death honorably.  It's a really comic-book-y moment that interrupts the realism Aaron has used throughout this series.  SCAR Squadron had even fewer agents on the ship than the Rebels; they didn't really have the luxury of giving everyone a fighting chance.  Overall, it feels like Aaron was forced to rush the ending for reasons that aren't totally clear.  This arc had great promise, so it's sad to see it end with a whimper.

Titans #5:  Abnett and Booth do their best to inject this issue with suspense, but it's ultimately hard to believe DC will get rid of Wally West five issues after they resurrected him.  As such, the tension we feel in this issue is mostly thanks to Booth's innovative panel arrangements, showing Wally's struggle to race faster than he's ever raced before.  Abnett also hints that the main point of this arc is Linda finally remembering Wally, perhaps because his sacrifice is so clear.  As such, it's particularly hard to believe he's lost in time; in fact, it feels like just another way to keep Linda and Wally apart, like we're in the umpteenth season of "Friends," where they're going to have to send Ross to prison for him not to be with Rachel.  My guess is we're going to see the Titans jump into the time stream to find Wally.  That could be interesting.  Here's hoping.

Also Read:  All-New X-Men Annual #1; Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1; Batgirl #6; Mighty Thor #12-#13; Prowler #2

Not-Very-Deep Thoughts: The October 26 Marvel Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

All-New, All-Different Avengers #15:  In all seriousness (really), the best part of this excellent issue may be the letters page!  Roman's letter explaining No-Prize rules and Alanna's responses are LOL funny, and, as an oldster like Roman, it makes my FOM heart glad.

Captain America:  Steve Rogers #6:  The problem with this series at this point is that the shtick at its core -- Steve Rogers as a HYDRA agent -- is starting to get old.  I'm not saying it isn't well executed. In fact, Spencer has probably given us the best "Civil War II" tie-in issues, showing how Steve is manipulating the civil war between the superheroes to advance his own agenda.  But, at some point, we know this story is going to end.  The only suspense is how it ends.  Will Steve publicly be revealed as a HYDRA agent, destroying decades of credibility?  It would fit with the post-"Civil War II" theme we saw in the "Champions" debut, of a world that has entirely lost faith in its "heroes."  But, can Marvel really do that to the brand?  It feels more likely Kobik will just will away the entire experience.  It's that possibility that's starting to make this series feel tedious.  Marvel seems to have grand plans for the Red Skull ever since he took Xavier's brain in "Uncanny Avengers."  But, it's been over four years since that happened.  Are we ever going to see a reckoning?  Until then -- when presumably he'll lose control over Kobik and said wiping will occur-- we're just spinning our wheels here, waiting for the inevitable psychic plane battle between Johann and Steve that we already saw at the end of "Captain America:  Reborn."

Champions #1:  I don't have too much to say about this issue, since Waid hits most of the marks well. It's not the most exciting way to get the team together, but it works, so I'm not complaining.  Waid's decision to separate the younger Avengers from the team feels right, disgusted as they are in the way the adults spend more time fighting each other than injustice.  It's the sort of optimism the young can have despite all odds, so it makes sense that Kamala, Miles, and Sam hit the road.  The challenge for Waid is going to be to test them, but not leave them completely disillusioned.  "New Warriors" collapsed in part because everything was so grim all the time.  Waid probably needs to have Kamala's promise of a better way -- where people with powers aren't just pounding people who don't have powers -- persist in despite of adversity.  Otherwise, it's going to be just another team book, and these characters are too good for that.

Civil War II #6:  I officially have no idea what's happening anymore.  We've got a burning Triskellion that I don't remember ever being attacked.  We've got the fact that I'm not really clear on which side most of the characters have taken, a confusion exacerbated when a number of them switch sides this issue.  (When did Jean and Storm start worshiping Queen Carol?  Why is T'Challa an asshole simply for disagreeing with Carol based on pretty sound evidence that Ulysses' predictions can be wrong?)  We've got the false equivalency of Cap and Miles standing at the Capitol next issue proving Miles doesn't kill him, even though it only prove Miles doesn't kill him in that exact moment.  We've got the junior Avengers praising someone named RiRi for her actions on the field, but I don't remember even seeing her last issue, let alone seeing her do anything.  I could re-read issue #5 and then this issue and try to make sense of it all, but I don't really care enough to do so.  If Marvel doesn't care enough to put out these issues on anything approaching a regular schedule, why should I put in the work trying to understand the story?

New Avengers #17:  We learn three important things in this issue.  First, the Maker is trying to reconstruct the original multiverse and make it stronger so we're ready for some sort of coming war.  (Isn't there always some sort of coming war?)  Second, 'Berto didn't lose his powers, but doesn't use them because it costs him several years of his life every time he does.  Third, Dum Dum Dugan's prime body is alive.  Taken together, it clears up some of the mystery hanging over this series.  "Berto seems to be preparing to finish off A.I.M next issue and it seems like H.A.M.M.E.R is in his sights after that...if he survives the experience, as the cover to next issue implies.

Prowler #1:  I was excited about this series, since Prowler has been one of my favorite B-Listers ever since I first encountered him in "Amazing Spider-Man" #304.  These types of characters don't get a lot of chances to shine.  For every surprisingly successful "Hawkeye" run, there's a dozen or so "Black Knight"s or "Red Wolf"s, where the creative team isn't able to convince anyone beyond long-time fans to return for issue #2.  I'm worried Hobie is going to fall into that category.  Marvel is giving a number of B-Listers and C-Listers their own series this month, and I've read a few of the first issues.  The "Solo" debut was solid, giving new readers a good idea of his modus operandi but focusing enough on action to keep the casual reader engaged.  Unfortunately, Ryan fails to do that here.  He not only spends too much time narrating Hobie's past, but the casual reader has to be following all the twists and turns of the "Clone Conspiracy" event to have a hope of understanding what happens in this issue.  It's that sort of in-universe focus in a first issue that can kill a series before it gets off the ground.  My opinion is obviously colored by the fact that I'm not buying what Slott is selling in "Clone Conspiracy," but I feel like we don't even have a chance of Hobie getting to stand on his own two feet before the axe drops on this series.

Also Read:  Extraordinary X-Men #15; Ms. Marvel #12; Poe Dameron #7; Star Wars #24

Not-Very Deep Thoughts: The October 12 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Clone Conspiracy #1:  At this point, I feel like Marvel is begging us to ignore the fact that Slott is just rehashing his own stories every few years.  Six years ago we had "Big Time," where Peter got the job at Horizon and upped his Spidey game, and now we have "Worldwide," where he took over Parker Industries and really upped his Spidey game.  Five years ago we had "Spider-Island," where the Jackal was turning everyone into spiders, and now we have "Clone Conspiracy," where the Jackal is doing...something.  Four years ago we had Otto Octavius taking over a new body, and now we have him getting a new body...again.  In other words, it's getting old.  This event holds promise only because Slott may be setting up the possibility that a number of characters -- so far, Marla Jameson, Dr. Octopus, Captain Stacy, and, most importantly, Gwen Stacy -- could be permanently resurrected.  After all, if the Prowler is going to exist as a resurrected character, as his new series implies, it means Peter has found some way to keep the resurrected people alive.  (I wouldn't necessarily be surprised if Uncle Ben is added to that list, much to my horror.)  Slott makes it clear in the back-up story that the new people aren't clones created from a drop of blood, but reanimated from their remains.  If Slott uses this arc as a way to reboot Peter's continuity in a way that corrects some of the worse stories of the last few years ("Sins Past," anyone?), I could be OK with it.  But, it would require a very deft touch lest it feel like a cheap ret-con.  In truth, I feel like only Ed Brubaker has really pulled off something of this scale with his resurrection of Bucky.  I'm willing to give Slott a chance, but I'll admit I'm not overly optimistic.

Darth Vader #25:  I wasn't aware of the fact "Darth Vader" was ending with this issue, and I'll admit I feel bereft.  (Maybe it's because Carrie Fisher died the day before I read this issue.)  Gillen and Larocca use all the tricks of the trade to maximum effect here, from the wordless sequence of panels building tension to the early use of a credits page to let us think Aphra was really dead.  It's a spectacular issue, from start to finish.  With Aphra spilling the beans about Vader's treachery to the Emperor (though keeping quiet about Luke), Vader raises in his esteem.  He has Vader replace Tagge, and Vader kills him for his failure to see Cylo's treachery.  Vader had also killed Cylo himself earlier in the issue, meaning he stands here with all his enemies vanquished...or, at least, so he thinks.  It isn't surprising that Aphra isn't on that list.  Gillen had me totally buy her panic when Vader throws her in an airlock and expels her from the ship; her tears as she cried about not wanting to die in the vacuum of space felt real.  But, Aphra is Aphra:  she expected Vader to do that, knowing he'd never be "kind" enough to give her the saber as she had asked.  As such, she stashed the droids nearby, and they rescue her.  With Vader now convinced of her death, Aphra is ready to fight another day.  This 25-issue series is absolutely a must-read for any "Star Wars" fan, and it just reminds me how lucky we all are to be here, reading monthly "Star Wars" comics.

Detective Comics #942:  I haven't reviewed any of the "Night of the Monster Men" issues, mainly because they've been pretty well constructed but not particularly notable stories.  It's mostly true of this issue as well, though I'll admit I got a little lost in the pop psychology at the end.  But, I felt the need to comment on the fact that the team Bruce assembled for Kate has started to feel like one.  Unfortunately, in modern comics, we'd now abandon this premise altogether.  How often has a "bold new direction!" lasted six issues?  How often does the "new roster!" get also immediately replaced to start yet another new series?  I hope DC doesn't do that here.  It wasn't until this issue that I realized it's essentially the B Team of the Bat-family, and it's a great way to see them all in action, particularly when they interact with the A Team, as they do here.  It provides a continuity to the Bat-books that we've rarely seen.  For example, this arc nicely sets up Bruce's upcoming war with Bane as he tries to figure out why Bane wanted Psycho-Pirate.  It's rare to see the loose ends from a previous arc (namely the "I am Gotham" arc in "Batman") actually get addressed.  I feel like the Bat-titles may finally have a solid editorial team.  I just hope they don't throw away this success in favor of the next new thing.

Han Solo #4:  Maybe it's because I just saw "Rogue One," but I teared up a bit when Loo Re Anno commented that we're all the last of something.  She had just explained how her race had found itself (and each other) in creating the Dragon Void, realizing the joy of racing through the stars with someone.  Han laments that she's the last of her kind -- and hence forced to fly on her own -- but Loo Re Anno turns that comment into an analysis of Han himself.  She had earlier noted he belonged to the stars, and it made me realize how much this series is setting up the solo film due in 2018.  We know nothing about Han, just that he's a man with "Solo" as a last name.  He came from somewhere, and the moment that passes between him and Loo Re Anno conveys the sense that he understands the isolation she's feeling.  It really gets you thinking about his past and how he fits into the larger "Star Wars" story.  It also helps you see him as a person and not just a caricature.

Uncanny Avengers #15:  I continue to like this title in spite of myself, or, more to the point, in spite of Duggan's somewhat uneven scripts.  Although he's not surprisingly adept at writing Deadpool, the other characters fare less well at his hand.  Rogue spends the issue simply shouting out demands for the Hand's agents to tell them where Bruce Banner's body is, forcing Elektra to speak for all of us when she exasperatedly tells her it's not helping.  Duggan does manage some moments of humor as the team members slowly realize, despite Deadpool and Rogue's best attempts, that Steve has disbanded the team.  But, the characters all still seem interchangeable at this point, with Johnny not sounding all that distinct from Synapse.  The good news is that Duggan is still telling a fun story; the team fighting a Hand-controlled zombie Hulk is as cool of a premise as I can imagine.  Moreover, the art is top-notch.  Curiel's colors are so well considered and executed that the characters really do seem to leap off the page.  It helps remind you you're reading a comic book and maybe expecting a little too much from it.  Just look at the art and relax.

Also Read:  All Star Batman #2-#3; Moon Knight #7; Reborn #1; Solo #1

Not-Very-Deep Thoughts: The October 5 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #19:  Honestly?  I flipped through this issue until I got to the end.  Slott has made it clear since Jay fell ill that he was going to die, sacrificed to amp up Peter's personal investment in the story.  It makes sense, since the Jackal always strikes at the heart of Peter's personal life.  But, the execution (so to speak) is terrible.  First, as a reminder, Jay is only in this situation because of his previously undisclosed genetic condition.  Based on his Spider-Sense, Peter insists that Jay should receive the conventional treatment available for the condition, rather than going with New U's experimental technology.  But, it raises the obvious question of why Jay didn't get the conventional treatment years ago.  Why is he only getting it now that he may die?  (The answer is that Slott needed a hook, but in theory we're supposed to be shooting higher.)  Moreover, Peter is in a difficult position because he can't simply tell Jay and May his Spider-Sense is the "data" telling him the technology isn't reliable.  But, it also stretches belief that Peter would risk Jay's life over his hunch.  We know why the deal is bad, but Peter has no reason beyond his Spider-Sense to know that.  In normal circumstances, I get going with his gut, but we're actually talking about life and death here.  What's worse than death?  In fact, knowing what the deal actually is, I'd say better should've taken it, since it would've at least bought him time.  To make matters worse, Peter recants at the very last minute, urging Jay to get the experimental treatment.  We have all that angst only for him to decide to just go with it at the end.  In other words, I continue to wait for the day when we're free from Dan Slott.

Death of X #1:  First, I have to comment on the "death" of Madrox here.  Peter David's "X-Factor" always seemed to exist more or less outside the other X-books' continuity.  They rarely got involved in the drama occurring elsewhere.  It was one of the reasons why the book was so special.  Madrox's presence on Muir Island -- where Scott and his team find him dying -- feels almost like Marvel forgot how "X-Factor" ended, with an exhausted Jamie retiring and deciding to settle on his family's farm with Layla.  Adding fuel to the fire, Madrox is not only without Layla here, but he's also in his union suit without his trench coat.  It's almost like Marvel went even further, turning back the clock to 1993, when Jamie was dying of the Legacy Virus in Genosha.  However, Lemire and Soule don't even allude to the fact that Jamie was in a similar situation 20+ years ago, dying of the mutant disease du jour.  This total neglect of Jamie's history makes it hard to accept his "death," because it makes his character unrecognizable.  I understand the need to sacrifice a mutant so the X-Men can learn the Mists are poisonous to mutants.  (Actually, Marvel would just be doing it to make the "event" mean something, but you get my point.)  But, this sequence is so disrespectful of Jamie's character that I basically don't accept it.  I hope we'll see Jamie somewhere else, and it'll all be ret-conned.  Of course, starting an event hoping against hope it immediately gets ret-conned probably isn't exactly what Marvel was hoping would be my reaction to this first issue.  But, there you have it.

Dungeons & Dragons:  Shadows of the Vampire #5:  In the end, we don't really get a satisfying resolution to the mystery at the heart of this miniseries.  Strahd gets his hands on the amulet, and he learn he has some hope the amulet will free him from Ravenloft.  Before we can explore that interesting idea, the ghost of Sergei, Strahd's brother, appears, preventing Strahd from using the amulet.  He wants to ensure Strahd is punished for him crimes by being forced to stay in Ravenloft.  However, Delina is able to use the amulet to transport the team somewhere else, though that somewhere else doesn't exactly look all that safer.  The good news is the lack of resolution isn't really too disappointing.  Zub does a great job showing how awesome Strahd is as he easily dismisses the team, even when they seem to have him cornered.  The fact we never learn what Strahd intended to do with the amulet fits with the idea of Strahd as the unquestioned master of Ravenloft, the only all-knowing one among us.  Not surprisingly, Zub also uses darker tones here than we've seen with Delina's team.  Although no one dies, Strahd tells the team the darkness of Ravenloft will follow them, a threat that doesn't feel hollow as they find themselves battered and alone in a range of snow-covered mountains.

Justice League #6:  After this yet-again-rebooted series' disastrous first arc, I admit Hitch has a ways to go to convince me to hang in there.  Despite some uneven art, this issue is an improvement, though not the home run we needed.  Hitch focuses on the League's interpersonal relationships, but it isn't simply to work on characterization.  The threat in this arc has something to do with fear, and Hitch uses the team members' relationships to provide a vehicle for that fear to spread.  For example, Jessica attacks Barry on their first date, and Superman decides to travel to Gotham to kill Bruce for not trusting him. Presumably, Aquaman and Wonder Woman and Cyborg and Green Lantern will come to blows next issue.  Beyond our lack of understand of why the characters are feeling this fear in the first place, their responses to it all feel formulaic; only Jessica's predicament provoked any real emotional response in me.  But, it's better than the last arc, so I'm willing to give it a whirl for the time being.  In the meantime, I keep wondering if we're ever going to see the Rao arc in "Justice League of America" come to a conclusion.

Midnighter and Apollo #1:  As much as I enjoyed Orlando's "Midnighter" series, my consistent complaint was he didn't do a great job explaining why Midnighter was fighting the people he was fighting.  For example, we never learned why Prometheus chose him as a victim in his war against superheroes.  Here, Orlando also doesn't do a great job of explaining Henry Bendix and his beef with Midnighter.  He appeared several times in the first series, and I don't know if we ever really learned more about him beyond having a hand in creating Midnighter.  He's now decided to take out Midnighter, though we're not told why he chose to act at this moment.  (It's possibly because Midnighter has decided to go after him, though, again, we don't know why Midnight would be doing so now.)  But, just like in the original series, these questions aren't as important to my enjoyment as Midnighter's relationships, and Orlando continues to deliver on this front.  I was always surprised in the last series that people embraced Midnighter's violence so readily, but we see Apollo broach that subject here, wondering if Midnighter has to be as brutal as he is.  I'm excited to get insight into the two of them as a couple, something hopefully not ruined by the fact Bendix has hired some demons to bring Apollo to Hell.

Spider-Man 2099 #16:  The revelation that Jameson and Power Pack were deep-undercover Skrulls engineering the superhero-registration debacle to hide an invasion is so brilliant I don't even know what I can say.  David is essentially using the premise of "Secret Invasion" to send up "Civil War II."  It's almost something you'd see in one of the satirical back-up stories Marvel ran in their Annuals in the 1980s.  Moreover, it leaves behind yet another possible future.  All in all, it's a great conclusion to this arc and an inspired use of an event.  Looking ahead, I wonder what Roberta is going to do with the knowledge that her husband, Harry, experimented on her.  Of course, we still have the First out there, which probably poses a more immediate threat to Miguel.

Also Read:  Batman #8; Bloodshot Reborn #18; Nightwing #6

Not-Very-Deep Thoughts: The September 28 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Captain America:  Steve Rogers #5:  This issue is unexpectedly very relevant to the plot of "Civil War II," though I'm not sure where it leaves us.  Although I'm sure a similar theme has been covered in the "Iron Man" series, it's actually the first time I've seen a real exploration into the nature of Ulysses' powers.  First, Cap and Dr. Selvig realize the danger Ulysses' visions pose to their plans, since he could obviously discover Steve's allegiance to HYDRA.  However, they also recognize Ulysses seems to prioritize global-level threats and seem to assume Steve's duplicity would be low on that list.  (It's again why I'm not buying the events of the "Ms. Marvel" tie-in issues, because I don't really think Ulysses is spending all his time trying to identify who plans on robbing a liquor store in Jersey City before the prom.)  Selvig sends some "research" to Bruce Banner, and it provokes the vision that kicks off "Civil War II."  Moreover, Cap's membership in HYDRA means he knows Ulysses' prediction that the woman Captain Marvel arrested for trying to take down the global financial system was wrong:  she wasn't working for HYDRA.  (This part is a little unclear, though.  Steve asks the Skull if she could've been working for an independent cell, but the Skull refuses to recognize that such a cell could escape his notice.  But, of course, Steve's cell exists, so it sort of casts some doubt on the certainty of the Skull's conclusion.)  If you accept the events of this issue are true, then it's impossible to believe Carol's side of the argument, since Steve has proven Ulysses' visions can be manipulated and also incorrect.  It reminds me of "Death of the Family," where the tie-in issues made it clear the Joker knew the Bat-family's identities, but the main issues supported Bruce's insistence that he didn't.  It casts an even greater shadow over an event that I already find to be poorly plotted.

Extraordinary X-Men #14:  It's pretty clear Lemire knows where he's going, though I'll admit it feels like the falcon is getting too far from the falconer.  It stands to reason the two stories he's been telling over the last few issues will converge, but it's hard to see how Sapna and her mysterious benefactor will combine with Apocalypse and a Horseman-ed Colossus.  Lemire ups the ante here even further by introducing concepts like the World Eater (presumably Sapna's benefactor) and the Lattice (presumably the system of portals Sapna manipulates).  As I said, I'm confident Lemire is in charge of the narrative, so I'm not overly worried.  But, hopefully he won't drag out this story too much longer.

Ms. Marvel #11:  The best tie-in issues are the ones where the main event provokes changes in the character's life.  Willow delivers that in spades here, as a paralyzed Bruno tells Kamala he never wants to speak to her again (and announces he's moving to Wakanda) and Ms. Marvel ruptures her relationship with Carol over "predictive justice."  (Willow also gets in an amazing shot at the premise of "Civil War II," as one of the minor characters tells Ms. Marvel she should watch "Minority Report.")  Nothing here is easily fixable.  Under normal comic rules, Bruno would get some sort of neural implant that magically heals him, and we're never talk about his paralysis again.  The entire incident would just be forgotten, part of the group's usual shenanigans.  But, Bruno has finally decided the consequences outweigh the benefits, not only because his accident lost him scholarships but because Kamala doesn't seem to care.  Kamala doesn't really argue with him, and she ends the issue with no one standing by her side (not Bruno, not Carol).  The image on the cover for next issues shows her on a journey of self-discovery, and it doesn't feel like a random "NEW DIRECTION!" arc like Babs' does in "Batgirl."  Willow makes it clear why such a journey is necessary at this point, and I'm intrigued to see where Kamala goes, physically and mentally.

Star Wars #23:  Han and Leia as a couple are obviously an icon of the Star Wars universe, even more so after "Star Wars:  The Force Awakens."  However, Aaron tweaks that status here, giving us an insight into the experiences of everyone surrounding the couple during the time period where they aren't actually a couple.  Han and Leia's race to the bridge to see who gets to be captain is childish in many ways, from leaving such an important role to chance to forcing Luke and Sana to deal with a threat that presents itself during their race.  But, Aaron uses it brilliantly, showing us the awkward period where Han and Leia haven't admitted their feelings to each other while also allowing other characters -- such as Luke and Sana -- to shine.  Although it might elicit some raised eyebrows on the ship (and from the readers), it's a reminder these characters are human and not just icons.

Titans #3:  I don't have too much to say here other than noting Abnett seemed to confirm here that Kadabra is from the future but also a victim of Dr. Manhattan's machinations.  He knows Wally and Linda should know one another but don't and that Dr. Manhattan is behind it.  Abnett has Kadabra claim he threw Wally into the timestream, but Dick isn't buying it, a sign it's probably not true.  I have to wonder though how much truth we're going to get since DC doesn't seem to be in a hurry to address the Dr. Manhattan situation.

Also Read:  Batgirl #3; Bloodshot Reborn #17; Captain America:  Sam Wilson #13; Captain Marvel #9; Detective Comics #941; New Avengers #16; Spider-Gwen #12

Not-Very-Deep Thoughts: The September 21 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Civil War II #5:  Given how ridiculously delayed this issue (and entire series) is, it's absurd that the only significant event in this issue is Ulysses' vision of Miles holding an impaled Captain America in front of the Capitol.  I have no idea how many issues we have left, since Marvel has a habit of adding issues when a story is already going badly.  But, it's getting harder and harder to stay engaged here as the schedule slips and the story doesn't progress.  It feels like we're heading to a big revelation about the true nature of Ulysses' power, but it's getting harder and harder to see how that's going to lead us to a resolution.  If Tony is proven correct and Ulysses' biases impact his predictions, does Captain Marvel just shrug and apologize?  Does Clint then produce a still-alive Bruce Banner and say, "Hey, the other guy was a LMD, I was hiding Banner in a cave, gotcha!"?  If Carol is proven correct, do we have predictive justice forever in the Marvel Universe?  That's always seemed unlikely, which partly explains why this series has lacked any drama, since it's been pretty clear what the conclusion was going to be from the start. Beyond just the unwieldy plot, we have a huge characterization problem here.  I subscribe to a lot of series with tie-in issues, and the events in those issues don't seem to be well represented in this main title.  For example, Kamala and Miles have made up their minds here to join the anti-Carol forces, despite the fact they haven't come to those conclusions yet in their own series.  Peter very explicitly made the decision to support Carol at all costs at the end of "Civil War II:  Amazing Spider-Man," but he's shown (I think) emerging from the shower while the fight occurs as if he's just a bystander.  The original X-Men are shown in the title page as siding with Tony, but we don't see them (as far as I can see) in this issue, despite the obvious draw of a fight between "old" Iceman and young Iceman.  In fact, in their own series, they're not even in the same place -- Hank is hiding in his lab, Scott is still recovering from his beating at Toad's hands, and Evan and Idie are helping Bobby score some peen in Miami.  In other words?  It's a mess.  It's hard to believe Bendis and the editors planned for us to be where we are now, but it doesn't matter, because here we are.

Civil War II:  X-Men #4:  Just like the main title, this series seemed to have been going in one direction but veers significantly as a result of a vision Ulysses has.  Here, Magneto finally makes his way to Ulysses.  However, Ulysses shows Magneto a vision of Storm's team and his team essentially killing each other, so Magneto leaves New Attilan before it gets to that point.  The problem is that said vision doesn't really make much sense.  If Magneto did kill Ulysses, it seems much more likely his team would be facing the Inhumans and Carol's side.  Sure, Storm and her team would be part of that larger squad, but it seems unlikely they'd be the only ones coming after Magneto and his team.  But, nothing about this event has made a lick of sense, so I don't know why it'd start now.

Justice League #5:  Honestly, I have no effing idea what happened here, just like the last issue.  I get Hitch is setting up some other story -- one focused on whatever the Kindred was trying to achieve here.  But, you have to make sure the actual story you're telling makes sense, and this one didn't at all.  Magic singing crystals in Atlantis?  An alien race called the Purge that looked like Cyborg?  Three hidden bombs in the Earth's core?  It just made not a damn lick of sense.  I don't understand how an editor could've read this story and thought, "Oh, I totally see where Hitch is going with this one, how clever!"?  I'll give it one more arc, but "Justice League" just went to the top of my "cancel" list after this one. 

Mighty Thor #11:  There was a period there a few issues ago where I felt like this series was dragging, but, man, it is not any longer.  Aaron and Dauterman are just on fire here.  Both of them do such an amazing job crafting characters.  I want Exterminatrix and Silver Samurai to battle Dario and Thor every issue.  Aaron does such an excellent job of giving everyone a distinct voice.  I loved Jane's conversation with Roz at the end, as Roz babbles after Jane shares her secret.  But, it's not all about characterization.  The plot is also getting more interesting by the moment.  Aaron totally plays up the likelihood a shape-shifting Loki helped Jane keep her secret identity, but instead we learn it was an apparently sentient Mjolnir.  It speaks to the point Aaron has frequently made, about how Mjolnir speaks to Jane -- now literally -- in a way it didn't to Thor.  Meanwhile, in the background, we've still got the war in the Ten Realms and now the war between Dario, Exterminatrix, and the Silver Samurai.  When you add in Dauterman's rendering of Jane holding up a gold-clad Roxxon Island before it crashes into New York, you realize it's a golden age of Thor indeed.  (Sorry, I couldn't help myself on that one.)

Also Read:  Amazing Spider-Man #18; Batman #7; Nightwing #5

Not-Very-Deep Thoughts: The September 14 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

All-New X-Men #13:  I love everything about this issue.  As a 40-year-old gay man, I can say we should all be so lucky to have a Romeo walk into our lives at Bobby's age.

Civil War II:  Amazing Spider-Man #4:  Gage almost sells me on the outcome of this story, but unfortunately doesn't quite get there.  I just don't believe Peter could go through this experience with Clash and not see how Ulysses' predictions can become self-fulfilling prophecies.  Peter says it wasn't Ulysses' prediction that caused the Clash situation, but the poor way he (Peter) handled the information.  I can buy that to a certain extent:  Gage focuses in this issue on the importance of learning from our mistakes, and Peter is essentially saying the situation came from his mistake, not the prediction.  Peter also comments on how he could've stopped the infamous burglar if someone like Ulysses had warned him, showing how Peter might be thinking more emotionally than rationally.  Honestly, they're better arguments than I thought we'd get here.  But, Peter has to realize the potential to lose lives as a result of people making mistakes based on Ulysses' predictions is just as high as losing them because someone didn't act on the information.  After all, the Clash situation is a reminder that even people like Peter can use the information badly.  As such, it's probably better not to flush everyone's civil liberties down the toilet based on a 50/50 shot at a predication resulting in a better outcome.  I feel like Peter would know that.  As such, even after Gage's impressive delving into Peter's thought process, I still don't buy him joining Carol's side.

Detective Comics #940:  Tynion does something clever here by immediately disabusing us of the notion Tim is dead.  I was rolling my eyes throughout the panels coming after his "death," just because we've been here so many times.  Tynion did his best to engage me, and he almost got me when Bruce's hands shook as he read Tim's acceptance letter to Ivy University.  But, at this point, a Robin dying is as interesting as heroes fighting due to a misunderstanding.  It's why I retroactively liked this issue when we discovered someone had instead whisked Tim off the field in the nick of time.  Tynion wasn't trying to be Slott swearing Peter Parker is really dead, and I appreciate that.  At this point, we're still left with someone questions.  The mysterious figure says he wanted Tim off the field because he had too many "connections," but he also clearly wanted him alive -- otherwise, he would've just let him die.  Kate's father alluded to a Big Bad out there as justification for his actions, promising Kate will eventually understand why he did what he did.  Is the Big Bad the same person as the mysterious figure?  How does Tim figure into that plan?  Somehow, I think the answer to that question isn't coming anytime soon.

Spider-Man 2099 #15:  SO.  MUCH.  HAPPENING.  We learn the Power Pack we saw at the end of last issue is our Power Pack, because their powers slowed their aging; we also learn Alex has been missing for decades.  David reveals that the mysterious CEO of Alchemax is a still-living J. Jonah Jameson, another departure from whatever passes for the main 2099 timeline at this point.  Also, Harry Mendez is still Roberta's husband in this new timeline and still subjected her to experiments; but, in this timeline, she died and they didn't have children.  I also finally realized in this issue, with the appearance of Black Widow 2099, that the characters in the van are a combination of the Avengers and Defenders we saw in "Secret Wars 2099."  However, I don't believe we're seeing an extension of that timeline.  After all, Miguel was CEO of Alchemax then.  According to this issue, the Sinister Six stole Alchemax from Jonah, not Miguel.  As such, I think we've had at least three timelines in the last few issues:  the Maestro timeline where 2099 is a radioactive wasteland, the "Secret Wars 2099" timeline where Miguel was CEO of Alchemax, and the Sinister Six timeline where Father Jennifer was Goblin 2099 and Gabe worked with Kasey (as Payback) to help her.  However, it's possible this one is a fourth timeline:  simply because Jonah took back control of Alchemax from the Sinister Six in this timeline doesn't mean it's the same one we saw.  And the mystery deepens...

Also Read:  Black Panther #6; Spider-Man #8; Uncanny Avengers #14

Not-Very-Deep Thoughts: The August 31 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #17:  This series is a lot better now that we have an actual plot and not constant shenanigans related to Peter trying to balance his role as Spider-Man with his responsibilities at Parker Industries.  Slott imbues this issue with legitimate suspense as Peter has Hobie spy on the Jackal and his crew.  (Can I just say how thrilled I am to see Hobie every time he appears?)  Plus, Slott adds intrigue as he fills in another piece of the puzzle:  the people he resurrects need to take a pill every day only he can provide.  It explains why anyone he's resurrected (or anyone whose loved one he resurrected) is beholden to him.  But, Slott doesn't make it that simple.  The Jackal keeps insisting he's the good guy here.  It's not his usual paranoid schemes of destruction.  He resurrects Hobie after the new Electro accidentally kills him, and Hobie is seemingly convinced of the Jackal's bona fides after the Jackal shows him his grand plan.  Is Hobie really convinced the Jackal is building a better world?  Or, does he have to say he is to keep the pills coming?  Only time will tell, I guess.  At any rate, for the first time in a while, I'm legitimately intrigued where Slott is going with this series.  It feels like a Spider-Man story and not a reductive Iron Man one.  Color me a happy camper (for now).

Ms. Marvel #10:  Given the backlog I'm currently trying to address, I've trying to identify books I can drop.  Since "Ms. Marvel" is one of my newer series, it's always on the list, since we don't have as much of a history.  Then, I read an issue like this one, where Bruno's injuries provide Kamala her Uncle Ben moment, and I realize this series isn't going anywhere.  The best moment of the issue is when Kamala realizes everything before Bruno getting hurt felt like make-believe, as if she was just playing hero.  It's a sentiment to which we can all relate.  We've all had the moment when it's time to put on our big-boy pants.  It's particularly profound when it happens because you can no longer listen to a person you admired or trusted (as Kamala experiences with Carol here).  At some point, you have to find your own way, and Wilson does an amazing job of showing us Kamala getting to that point here.

Spider-Gwen #11:  The problem with this series right now is we're still dealing with the hangover of "Spider-Women."  Despite having read this series from the beginning, I have no idea who some of the characters we see here are.  Reed Richards knows Gwen's secret identity and designs her tech, but we're not given any insight into how she met him.  Did they go to high school together?  It seems that way, but it's unclear.  We also have Jesse Drew the spy.  I vaguely recognize him from previous issues, but I don't really care enough to research it.  The unfortunate part is that these questions distract from the larger story, namely Frank Castle's pursuit of Spider-Woman.  Latour has infused this plot with all sorts of drama, from the fact that Castle isn't wrong about his suspicions about Spider-Woman and Captain Stacy to the difficult position Jeanne DeWolff faces as a result of Castle's dogged pursuit of Gwen and her father.  But, "Spider-Women" keeps getting in the way, and I hope we can put behind the "powerless" shtick and resume the great story Latour was telling.

Spider-Man 2099 #14:  During his long run on "X-Factor," David proved to me over and over again to trust him.  Every time we seemed to get far from where I thought we were going, we wound up getting there brilliantly.  This issue is no different.  Since Marvel brought back Miguel, I've wondered whether an already complicated timeline would be further complicated to the point of absurdity.  However, David has made it clear that we're beyond that concern now.  I can't count how many timelines we've already seen since Miguel has returned -- I think we're on our fourth, after the "original" one, the Maestro one, the "Secret Wars 2099" one, and the current reality.  But, David seems to be ready to use "Civil War II" to create a definitive one.  Similar to what DC did with "Flashpoint," it's not going to matter what came before.  He'll be able to take the better parts of the previous series -- like bringing back great supporting characters we haven't seen in a while  -- and ditch the worse parts -- like ignoring the disastrous developments of "2099:  World of Tomorrow" and "Manifest Destiny."  For example, great characters like Ghost Rider 2099, Hulk 2099, and Punisher 2099 are returned to us (after, I believe, they were all killed in "2099:  World of Tomorrow").  In other words, David is using the unintended consequences of time travel to correct the editorial mistakes of the past.  Moreover, the story at hand is just as interesting -- if not more -- than the larger continuity developments.  Alchemax and its fellow corporations have used an Anti-Powers Act to neuter the heroes, an homage to the original "Civil War" event.  In a way, I can see these tie-in issues feeling more genuinely like the continuation of "Civil War" than "Civil War II" does.  Leave it to Peter David to accomplish that.

Tokyo Ghost #10:  This series has been, without a doubt, one of the best I've ever read.  It's the one I keep telling people who don't read comics to read.  I've been struggling with its core message of unplugging -- from the Internet, from negativity -- since the election, and I'm glad I wound up reading this issue after it.  I really do wonder if it'll take someone like Debbie to save us, to unplug us forcibly, because no matter how much I say I want to get off Facebook or stop obsessively reading the news I just can't do it.  Davey Trauma is always there, lurking.  Debbie is the hero we need, but, as someone mentions in the letters page, we may never really get her.

Also Read:  Bloodshot Reborn #17; Han Solo #3; Spider-Man #7; Uncanny Avengers #13