Not-Very-New Comics: The August 29 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Edge of Spider-geddon #2:  Wow, this issue is intense.  It really invokes "Edge of Spider-Verse" #2, where we first met Spider-Gwen.  Thompson and Nadler fill out Peni Parker's story, introducing not only the VEN#m suit but also a lot of questions.  The authors start the issue by reminding us this Aunt May and Uncle Ben aren't the parental types.  They see Peni as little more than SP//dr's pilot.  May refuses to comfort Peni as she struggles with being "special," telling Peni she's not really special.  To May's mind, a lot of people work on the SP//dr project; Peni is just one of them.  This detachment sets the tone for the rest of the issue.  Peni is also understandably upset when she learns about the VEN#m suit, particularly the revelation it has equipment she doesn't.  It raises the obvious question of why Ben and May didn't just focus on making SP//dr better.  But, the decision to create a second suit might be explained by May's cryptic comments that Ben understood the dangers of the Sym engine when he installed it in VEN#m.  May tries to save VEN#m's teenage pilot as the engine possess her, but May is also lost to VEN#m.  Later, Ben only manages to admit to Peni he's not the best father when their conversation is halted when Spider-Ham arrives to take Peni with him.  As evident by this short review, Thompson and Nader cram in a lot of action and plot here.  Most importantly, they really nail the characterization.  I'm not sure we need a full-time series dedicated to SP//dr, but it's a thrill to see Peni and SP//dr back in the mix again.  

Extermination #2:  This issue is marginally better than the first one, as Brisson does a better job of conveying the original X-Men's emotions.  Scott serves as the reader's surrogate, reeling from the guilt he feels over Bloodstorm's death and the confusion they all feel over the situation.  Young Nathan ups the ante when he kidnaps Warren, though Jean and Scott are able to identify him before he disappears.  Meanwhile, Ahab arrives and appears to be acting independently of (and possibly at cross-purposes as) Nathan.  I'm guessing they're both trying to use the original X-Men to convince their older counterparts to advance their own agendas in the future, but that's still unclear.  However, I'm still not sure I care.  Although I mentioned Brisson does a better job of portraying the original X-Men's emotions, parts of this issue still make little sense or feel obviously wrong.  For example, Shatterstar seems an odd voice for outrage over Cable's death, given he's not really known for his emotions.  Second, it's hard to share his feelings since it seems unlikely Cable is going to stay dead for long.  Whatever.

Hunt for Wolverine:  Dead Ends #1:  This series of miniseries has really been much better than it had any reason to be.  The authors have really collaborated well on a story that strikes at the heart of the Marvel Universe.  It reminds me of the old days, when everyone would get together to attack a problem before we decided such stores had to revolve around how their personalities made that impossible.  Sure, Tony is an asshole, but he also knows it's Kitty's show after the mysterious Persephone kills ten mutants whose powers haven't manifested themselves yet.  I read "The Adamantium Agenda," so the revelation that Persephone swiped Mr. Sinister's DNA catalogue was particularly rewarding.  (FYI, it's how she's identifying the potential mutants.  Storm has to explain to Tony that she chose the perfect threat when she said she'd kill more unactivated mutants if they didn't stop hunting for Wolverine, since Cerebro can only track activated mutants.)  In "The Adamantium Agenda," we learned one of the mutants was a genetically-enhanced mole; I wonder how we're going to see that information unfold in "Return of Wolverine."  Meanwhile, I'm half-tempted to get Daredevil's Wolverine-related miniseries, particularly given the presence of Cypher.  All in all, I'm really happy how this understated event is developing, much to my surprise.

The New Mutants:  Dead Souls #6:  I'm honestly not sure what exactly we see happen here.  If I'm following the story correctly, the explosion in Warlock's cabin in Connecticut happened several months ago.  Xi'an sent Dani to find him, but he absorbed Dani because he was injured and needed her help.  Around the same time, Illyana realized that Xi'an was trying to weaponize magic, inspiring the team's off-the-books trips to New Orleans and the Arctic.  But, she's smart enough to realize it wasn't Xi'an so much as it was Tran manipulating Xi'an.  (Xi'an was motivated by a desire to give the mutants a company -- i.e., the Hatchi Corporation -- to control, like Rand, Stark, etc.)  We learn Xi'an's psyche has shattered as a result of years of Tran's manipulation and their eventual separation.  Surprising everyone, she possesses Illyana to attack Tran with the Soulsword, reabsorbing him.  Here, it gets weird.  (I know, as if it weren't already weird.)  It seems like Tran was somehow behind Warlock's problems.  Xi'an sent Dani after Tran not Warlock; Warlock was simply an unexpected complication.  (I don't think we learn how Tran came to possess -- as I'm assuming he did -- Warlock.)  But, Xi'an took advantage of the moment, and she's had Warlock stashed in a closet making replicas of the New Mutants all this time.  At this stage, it's fight time.  War-dani tricks Rahne into possessing her, and Illyana sends Boomer, Rictor, and Shatterstar to safety before summoning Guido.   But, Guido has a heart attack, and Illyana agrees to let Warlock try to save him.  (Guido has been in Limbo for years even though only 36 hours passed on Earth.)   But, it's a trap:  a now possessed War-guido takes control of Illyana.  Her/his plan realized, Tri'an calls "General Callahan" (as Tran) and promises test subjects (the New Mutants), but War-yana takes over Tri'an as well.  Unexpectedly, the issue ends there.  It seems pretty clear Rosenberg was planning to extend this series past six issues, and we seem likely to see something soon, as Dani, Guido, Illyana, Rahne, and Tri'an are left as part of the Warlock collective now.  But, Marvel might be right in having us stew with this shock for a few months before scratching our curious itch.

Nightwing Annual #1:  I've been pretty on board with Percy's dark-web story because it's an intriguing premise, the idea the machines are more actively controlling us than we think they are.  But, he always risked pushing too far with the social commentary, and we cross that line here.  This issue is essentially a screed against the modern news media.  Nightwing goes so far as to exalt the era when Walter Cronkite's had a total command of the truth.  Beyond the fact he was too young to remember that era (something he acknowledges), it's also a weird position to take.  (I'll let pass having Dick reminisce about the days when straight white men controlled the facts.)  I get that Percy has reinvented Dick as a Luddite, but that type of story feels very ten years ago.  No one living in this particular moment would think it's even possible to return to that world.  It's not about getting rid of technology; it's about managing how we use it.  I thought Percy was telling that sort of nuanced story, but the wheels seem to come off the bus here.  

X-Men:  Blue #34:  On the plus side, Bunn does an excellent job building to the moment when Magneto reforms Asteroid M and the Brotherhood.  After all, he's been building to this moment all series, and that careful spade work pays off here.  We're not seeing Magneto randomly embracing his dark side, as he often has in the past.  Instead, it's more like Scott Summers' gradual evolution into an extremist, with each development leading him farther and farther down that road.  Magneto is shaken to learn of the destruction in the future, though it's still unclear if it's all because of the war with the Reavers or not.  Nightcrawler, Jr. keeps insisting Magneto saved everyone from the Reaver virus, but older Scott tells Nightcrawler, Jr. he doesn't understand the full scope of Magneto's actions.  The older original X-Men try to prevent Mangeto from returning to the present after they realize he hasn't committed his greatest crime yet, but he manages to escape.  When he returns to the present, he finds the lab where the Reaver virus began and kills everyone there.  (Creepily, he leaves a statue of himself on the site, echoing the statues dotting the landscape in the future.)  My only criticism of these developments is Magneto is smart enough to realize that destroying the lab may very well be the "greatest crime" that sets in motion the events of that future.  He doesn't even pay that lip service here, which seems like an oversight.  Moreover, I'll admit it's hard to keep straight all the strains of time travel happening right now.  In "Extermination," we've got the young original X-Men in the present facing young Cable and Ahab from the future and here we've got the older original X-Men in the future facing Magneto from the present.  I like Bunn's story better, but it all contributes to the sense it really is time to wrap up the kids' story.

Also Read:  Dungeons & Dragons:  Evil at Baldur's Gate #5; Marvel 2-in-One #9; Ms. Marvel #33; The New World #2; Star Wars:  Lando - Double or Nothing #4

Not-So-New Comics: The July 11 Marvel Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #1:  Since "Brand New Day" began, I’ve been bothered by two developments:  Mary Jane and Peter making a deal with Mephisto to dissolve their marriage (obviously) and Peter accepting the doctorate Dr. Octopus got for him.  Spencer unexpectedly fixes both of them here.  First, a new technology designed to identify plagiarism correctly pegs Otto as the author of Peter’s dissertation.  Later, Peter’s near-death experience fighting Mysterio inspires him to tell Mary Jane he needs her.  As thrilled as I am in Spencer addressing these issues, I can’t say it’s a fun issue to read.  As Kingpin himself says, Peter needs to be isolated to be defeated, and he is here.  Robbie is forced to fire him to protect the Bugle’s integrity, and Aunt May is appalled when he refuses to take responsibility for his mistake.  But, Kingpin didn’t count on Mary Jane.  My hope is Spencer doesn’t take Peter any lower than he is now.  After the events of the “Fall of the House of Parker,” Slott and Spencer have now taken everything (including Aunt May) but Mary Jane from Peter.  If we go much lower, we’re going to return to the terrible period during the “Clone Saga” when he turned his back on Peter Parker because his life was so terrible.  I just can’t do that again.

Infinity Countdown #5:  From the hurried art to the dropped plots, this issue is the definition of rushed, even at 36 pages.  We start with Black Widow appearing to Dr. Strange to tell him -- via a hand-written note she passes to him -- someone is listening to her through the Space Gem.  (Duggan never clarifies how Nat knew that, at least as far as I can tell.)  Dr. Strange chimes a "crystal that was grown in the lowest dimension known to exist," presumably to find the eavesdropper, though Duggan never makes that clear.  The frequency leads him to Turk.  (If Turk was using the Mind Gem to read Nat's mind, wouldn't he know what she wrote in the note?  Isn't the whole point of reading minds not needing people to say their thoughts aloud?)  At Oblitus, Warlock approaches the Guardians, hoping they can lead him and Kang to the Time Gem.  Gamora asks Warlock to show her the Soul Gem, and he agrees, but tells her he cannot open it without help.  Gamora demands he does so, and Drax tries to help her, punching Warlock and grabbing the Soul Gem as he drops it.  Something...happens when Drax touches it, and it results in Drax throwing in his lot with Warlock.  He tells Gamora no one can open the Gem and it's no longer the heaven it was.  Cryptically saying he "saw someone in the trees[;] they all died horribly," he follows Kang and Warlock through a portal after Kang realizes the Guardians don't know where the Time Gem is.  Peter, Groot, and Rocket then refuse to go after them with Gamora, who's becoming increasingly unstable.  (That said, she's not necessarily wrong that Peter leaving Rich in the Cancerverse was a good indicator of how he'd behave here.)  Meanwhile, in the Soul Gem, something traps Hank in a fantasy of his own making where the Avengers rescue him and greet him with open arms.  The issue concludes with Dr. Strange calling an assembly of the Infinity Watch; in this moment, we learn Peter has the Power Gem (even though Drax is shown as possessing it in the intro page).  In other words?  It's all just a fucking mess.  It's hardly an inducement to read "Infinity Wars," given how rushed even this 36-page issue is.  Barely anyone's actions are explained.  I still don't understand why Peter, Groot, and Rocket didn't support Gamora.  I have no idea why Drax threw in his lot with Warlock and Kang.  Again, we also never get confirmation it was Turk eavesdropping on Nat through the Space Gem.  Moreover, other than the Gems changing hands, nothing has actually happened since the start of this prelude.  Darkhawk, Dr. Strange, the Guardians, Natasha -- they're all essentially where they started.  I can't believe I spent money on this event (and that I'm still likely to get the main "Infinity Wars" series).

Infinity Countdown: Darkhawk #4:  Sims and Bowers again change a status quo here, as Dark Starhawk seems to evolve simply into Starhawk before our eyes.  He executes Gyre, announcing he’s evolved beyond advancing Gyre’s goals (which I’ll be honest weren’t entirely clear to me).  Now, he's dedicated to safeguarding order in the universe by taking out entities with special powers that threaten it (like the possessors of the Infinity Gems).  However, Chris takes back his amulet, destroying the nexus between his soul and Robbie’s body.  Robbie disappears, and Rich vows to imprison Chris if he sees him off Earth again.  To be honest, Rich is pretty true to character here:  he leaps to conclusions and doesn’t even pretend to listen to Chris as he explains Robbie willingly sacrificed himself to become Dark Starhawk.  We end the issue with Chris committed to staying on Earth.  However, that night, Sleepwalker pays him a visit, telling him he needs to become a Sleepwalker, too.  I mean, why not change everything all over again?

The New Mutants: Dead Souls #5:  This issue is really solid.  Tran manipulates Illyana into breaking into Dr. Strange’s house and drawing her Soulsword.  In so doing, she apparently (and conveniently) breaks the seals that prevent him from entering the house.  Rictor then inadvertently presents Tran with what he wants, a gem that converts him to his physical form.  Reborn, Tran is all the more formidable.  This series of errors seems to prove his point that this team is the B-team.  Guido grabs Tran and has Illyana send the two of them into Limbo.  This moment is significant because Rosenberg had earlier forced Rahne and Guido into a room in the house that seemed to show them their nightmares.  There, Rahne learned that her nightmare — Guido killing her son — is also Guido’s nightmare.  It brings resolution to their story as Guido tearfully begs Rahne for forgiveness and Rahne grants it to him.  (I totally cried.)  Reconciled, Rahne refuses to let Guido stay trapped in Limbo, knowing how nightmarish it would be for him.  But, Rosenberg also uses it as a bit of therapy for all of us, showing us how we remain stuck in cycles of grief and guilt that serve little purpose.  This series just continues to get better and better, and I think Rosenberg makes a great case for continuing it as an ongoing.

X-Men:  Blue #31:  Although the last arc was awful, Bunn rights the ship here, as the kids follow Magneto’s path of devastation as he makes his way to Emma.  Bloodstorm exposits that Magneto was driven over the edge when he was forced to kill the Mothervine-controlled mutants in his care who attacked him, though I’ll admit I don’t totally buy that.  Bunn seems to be arguing that Magneto is inherently unstable and violent (if not exactly evil), and the events of the Mothervine arc simply overrode his ability to control his behavior.  But, he is slowly but surely destroying Hellfire Club chapters along the way, so we’ll see where it all goes.

Also Read: Darth Vader #18; Detective Comics #984; The Hunt for Wolverine:  Adamantium Agenda #3; Ms. Marvel #32

New-ish Comics: The June 13 Marvel "N-Z" Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

The New Mutants:  Dead Souls #4:  This issue is great.  I was pretty sure Rictor wasn’t dead, but the revelation that Illyana's dream sequence was Tran manipulating her into revealing Xi’an’s plans was brilliant.  At this stage, we still don’t really know what those plans are, and it’s pretty clear Illyana is also getting impatient for them.  But, Rosenberg is drawing back the curtain a bit for us, as Prodigy asks Xi’an if she wants to activate the second team as they look for the missing plane.  Xi’an also seems to suspect Illyana might not totally be on her side anymore, making for an interesting conversation next issue.  As Illyana points out here in her dream sequence, the places Tran has appeared seem random, so it’ll be interesting to see what the connection (presumably) is in the end.  At any rate, as someone who just read the first few issues of the original “New Mutants” series, it’s hard to believe it’s taken this long for Tran to assert himself against Xi’an.  I’m totally game for this ride.

Peter Parker:  The Spectacular Spider-Man #305:  I love this series.  It lost its way a little there, but it rebounds here, as younger Peter realizes it’s time he stops hiding.  As Doom activates the time platform to send back JJJ, Jr., our Peter, and Tessa, younger Peter joins Gwen in trying to hold back the Sinister Six.  When our Peter realizes what’s happening outside the building, he joins the fray, and the Avengers and Tessa later follow suit.  Cap is killed during the fray, another moment that underscores for younger Peter that he can’t hide any longer.  Our Peter is reluctant to leave with Osborn still out there, but he finally realizes everything can't be about his guilt.  Happy to see younger Peter take up his role as Spider-Man again (and kiss Gwen), our Peter leaves with JJJ, Jr. and Tessa.  It’s hard not to draw parallels to the Trump administration here, as Zdarsky shows Osborn as the lunatic he’s always been.  But, our Peter tells Osborn he defeats him in every world in every way, and it inspires younger Peter to have the faith he can do the same.  It's a helluva lesson for us all.

Thor #1:  I honestly don't have a lot to say here, despite this expanded issue relaunching Odinson as Thor.  Aaron is great as he always is, and del Mundo is an excellent successor (though not replacement) for Dauterman.  He imbues the story with a cinematic sensibility; you can hear the seagulls calling as Thor returns to his boat.  Thori and Toothgrinder make for excellent comic relief as always, and Loki’s presence adds the expected level of intrigue, as he offers to serve as Thor’s own Bifrost bridge...for an as-yet-unrevealed price.  Thor wisely pulls Loki with him as Loki opens a portal to the heart of the war, and they find Balder greeting them in Hel/Niflheim.  Aaron has been carrying on the War of the Realms for a long time at this point, and it definitely feels like it’s time for Thor to handle it directly.  But, hopefully it won't be over too quickly.

X-Men:  Blue #29:  You’d be forgiven for thinking you missed a dozen or so issues picking up this one.  Only a brief footnote lets us know that, in “Venomized” #5, all the Poisons were destroyed except the one inhabiting Jimmy.  (I thought they were indestructible, which is why Scott had all the sads for Jean?)  You’d also be forgiven for not caring.  This storyline was maybe interesting for two or three issues, but it’s always been a forced cross-over event driven by the fact Bunn happened to write both series.  Neither Venom nor the Poisons bring out anything particularly interesting in the team.  It’s time to put this one to bed.

New-ish Comics: The May 9 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Batman:  White Knight #8:  Murphy really nails the landing here, making this limited series one of the best "Batman" stories I've read since Snyder's "Black Mirror" run on "Detective Comics."  Batman and the GTO successfully take down Neo-Joker, liberating Clayface (and, as a result, the mind-controlled villains) and getting Mr. Freeze to the cannon in time to reverse its effects.  In the aftermath, Jack carries out his end of the bargain, releasing a video explaining how he controlled the villains and destroyed his own library to turn the city against Batman.  Bruce then confronts Harley, telling her Jack fingered her as the person who manufactured the pills that controlled the Joker as well as maneuvered Batman into administering them.  In fact, Murphy hints Harley had a much larger role in the events of this mini-series than we thought.  Right before he's imprisoned in a new cell (a reward for his cooperation), Jack comments how he "found" the Joker in his old cell.  When Bruce asks Harley what Jack meant by that, Harley (not convincingly) says she doesn't know.  (Did Harley create the Joker?)  Moreover, Bruce doesn't answer her question about why Jack never told her that he knew she was the one responsible for creating the pills.  Given these questions, I could see Murphy returning to this setting soon, like how "Batman:  The Long Halloween" followed "Batman:  Year One."  After all, Jack isn't the only character who evolves here:  Bruce also fulfills his promises.  He turns over the keys to all the Batmobiles to Jim, admitting not only that he was wrong not to allow the GCPD to use them in the first place but also that he enjoys hurting criminals.  He then reveals his identity to Gordon, with the intent to reveal it to the world, saying it's the only thing that'll make them -- but particularly Jim -- trust him again.  Finally, Bruce reads Alfred's note with Barbara and Dick, and Alfred expresses his joy that Bruce has finally embraced them as his family (as Alfred knew he'd have them with him to read the note).  Stories like this one can really reinvigorate a character, and I highly recommend this mini-series to any Batman fan out there.

Darth Vader #16:  This issue is devastating.  As the Inquisitors take out Barr's disciples one by one, Soule and Camuncoli show us the reasons why they were driven to join Barr in the first place.  Soule and Camuncoli do so without editorial restraint, making clear their disdain for Barr's deception in promising them they could defeat the Empire.  Camuncoli and the colorists are masterful in showing the hope the disciples feel as Barr offers them a future, making their deaths all the more poignant as they're eliminated.  Barr has his back against the wall as the issue concludes, left with only one disciple.  But, realizing the troopers accompanying the Inquisitors are clones, he orders them to execute Order 66, turning them against the Inquisitors as well.  It's a brilliant tactic, as Barr increases the odds that he'll take down as many Inquisitors before his death that he can.  But, it still doesn't answer what Barr thought he was doing on Mon Calamari.  He tells one of his disciples his plan now is simply to flee to another planet to sew more rebellion.  Knowing the high cost the Mon Calamari will pay for this rebellion, it's hard to see him as a hero.  Instead, he feels like an angry old man willing to resort to any means necessary to have a measure of revenge, even if it ultimately accomplishes nothing.  In a way, it reminds us why Leia is such a different (and inspirational) character, as she's driven by hope, not hate.

The New Mutants:  Dead Souls #3:  We get right into it here:  the New Mutants are fighting the Mindless Ones in the Morlock tunnels when Prodigy calls for help from on board a crashing airplane.  Illyana manages to teleport them onto the plane, and Prodigy reveals the pilot is trying to kill him because of what they're doing (i.e., whatever Xi'an's plan is).  Guido asks what he means by that, showing that Prodigy is more in-the-know on said plans than the other team members (except, obviously, for Illyana).  The team begins bickering among themselves, likely due to the pilot's telepathic influence (as he's also turning the passengers against them).  In a way, though, their disputes actually make sense; Rosenberg reminds us that Guido murdered Rahne's son, so it raises the question why they're on the same team anyway.  (Illyana apparently helped Guido get back his soul at some point?  I re-read some of my "X-Factor" reviews to refresh my memory of that entire crazy storyline, and it really doesn't make any sense that Rahne is working with Guido without some explanation).  Illyana eventually uses her Darkchilde powers to get into the cockpit (as the pilot was telepathically blocking her mutant powers) and, not surprisingly, we learn Tran is possessing the pilot.  Illyana informs him he's dead, but he exposits he's really just trapped in Xi'an's body.  He also implies Xi'an and the New Mutants aren't necessarily the good guys here.  (Per the above point, Tran is the one who points out how weird it is they're all working together.)  Illyana is surprised to learn from Tran that Xi'an sent someone else after him, and she tells Tran that Xi'an hired her to imprison him in Limbo while Xi'an figured out what she wanted to do with him.  However, Tran claims he's going to save the world from Xi'an.  Tran doesn't seem to be the most reliable narrator here, but it all just got more interesting.

Peter Parker:  The Spectacular Spider-Man #304:  This issue is fascinating for a number of reasons.  First, "our" Peter discovers that Doom's warning about the Time Variance Authority didn't meant they couldn't alter the past; it just meant he couldn't return to his present.  In the new present, "past" Peter is the head of Parker Industries, but he's in a constant state of war with his wife, Gwen, given her support for the Resistance.  The Resistance, you ask?  Right.  Norman eventually leaves prison and builds a second career,  turning the Goblin Serum into a vitamin supplement after he convinced influencers "green is beautiful."  (Brilliant.)  He uses his funds to get Harry elected President and install Dr. Octopus as police commissioner.  (We don't see Harry here, so it's unclear at this point why he'd take Norman's bait, other than possibly the Goblin mania affecting him.)  Gwen sends "our" Peter to meet with the Resistance, i.e., Cap, Dr. Strange, and Riri, but it's grim.  Their only hope is freeing Dr. Doom from prison (after Norman had Harry invade Latveria years earlier).  But, the most fascinating part is JJJ, Jr. confessing to Teresa that this future scares him because it shows he was wrong all these years:  the world is worse without Spider-Man.  When you throw in a Venomized Ben Grimm as the prison's head guard, it's just a great time from start to finish.  I really dislike time-travel stories, but Zdarsky isn't just putting an innovative spin on the trope, but also successfully using it to tease out everyone's personalities.  Beyond JJJ, Jr.'s realization, you've also got the steady heroism of Gwen Stacy and the broken wreck of both Peter Parkers.  "Past" Peter is so afraid of losing someone that he can't live his own life, and "our" Peter realizes his inability to trust anyone puts him in the situations that cost him dearly.  Um, yeah, Peter.  Good job realizing it now.

The Wild Storm:  Michael Cray #7:  Well, I certainly didn't see that coming.  After getting a vision of the future from the gods he worships, Constantine sends for Michael Cray.  Surprised to be invited to meet the man he's supposed to kill, Cray arrives in Constantine's town house with the intent to kill him.  But, Constantine comments on Cray's increased loss of control, something Constantine's agent, Dion, also mentioned when she delivered the invitation.  It results in Michael delaying in killing Constantine long enough for Wonder Woman (Dion is her avatar, I think?) to lasso him.  The entity in Michael's brain was hot for him to kill Constantine, so I wonder if Constantine's going to reveal something about Michael's powers that's inconvenient for the entity.  On a side note, Constantine is also creating free energy for, I believe, Wonder Woman, though I'm not sure why.  Curiouser and curiouser.

Also Read:  Detective Comics #980; Oblivion Song #3; X-Men:  Blue #27; Youngblood #11

Almost-New Comics: The April 4 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #798:  OMG, this issue is soooo effing good.  Honestly, I’ve been disappointed with Dan Slott for a long time, but I love that he’s going out this way.  Seriously, I can’t imagine a better issue.

Norman is a completely over-the-top threat here -- as he should be -- and Slott hits the right notes at every point to make sure we understand that.  When he threatens the lives of the "Daily Bugle" staff, it’s not an idle threat, as he actually has a bomb connected to the tritium.  (Of course he does.)  When the "Daily Bugle" veterans — Joe, Betty, and Ben — play a game of verbal hot potato to keep him distracted, he sees right through it.  (He seems almost offended.)  But, it’s when he pretends to be impaled (once again) to lull Peter into a false sense of security that Slott and the art team really hit the gas.  Norman Osborn has been with us for 53.75 years (according to Wikipedia), but he enters a whole new phase the minute he laughs that red laugh.  Red Goblin is terrifying in his first interaction with Spider-Man, and you can feel Peter’s blind panic, as he himself calls it, as he struggles to clear his mind and think of a way just to land a punch, let alone defeat him.  (Peter’s initial response to Norman becoming Red Goblin -- a censored “Fuck me” -- felt totally organic.  I felt the same way, Pete.)

Of course, it's all made worse by the fact Norman now knows Peter’s identity.  Slott doesn't sleep on this part, as he shows JJJ, Jr. desperate to free himself from his bonds to save Peter.  In fact, JJJ, Jr. is so desperate I wonder if he isn’t long for this world.  Through JJJ, Jr.'s desperation, Slott shows how deeply JJJ, Jr. cares about Peter and how much he wants to prevent him from suffering the losses he himself has suffered.  But, it's so convincing I'm now worried, and I hope they don’t kill off JJJ, Jr. just as we see him in this new light.

That said, Slott is so convincing you actually sort of wonder whether Peter is going to survive.  In possibly the greatest development of the year, Norman unveils Carnage bombs, extensions of the symbiote that verbally harangue Peter as they fly at him.  One grabs Peter’s leg and explodes, and I wondered if Slott wasn’t going to have Peter lose said leg.  Instead, Slott does one better.  Norman demands Peter stop being Spider-Man or he’ll kill everyone he loves.  Peter agrees, attaching his jersey to a flag pole, and Norman laughs in triumph.  But, Peter vows to take out Norman as Peter Parker.  Slott seems to be building to a moment where Peter redeems himself, at least in his own eyes, as Peter and I can’t think of a better way for Slott to end his run.

But, Slott also has other irons in the fire, as “Emma” incapacitates Harry, Liz, and Mark with tranquilizer darts and grabs the children.  It's still not entirely clear who her employer is, though we're led to believe it's Norman.  Moreover, Slott has shown Normie as extremely jealous of Stanley, and I have to wonder if he'll bond with Stanley through the kidnapping or if Normie will ally himself with “Pop-pop” to disastrous results.  Man, it’s a good time to be alive.

Avengers #687:  “We are all exiles from the divine.”  Jarvis, everybody.  Can the guy give a rallying speech or what?  I totally cried, along with Bruce Banner.  As the rest of the Avengers scramble to try to save Vision and figure out a way to handle Voyager, Jarvis finds a despondent Bruce Banner sitting by himself in a ruined courtyard.  We learn Nadia brought Jarvis to the Mansion because she thought it would help his recuperation, and Jarvis remarks -- mostly to himself -- that she apparently thought they would serve him.  He's clearly not having it (evidenced by his tuxedo and forehead bandage), and his response to a broken Bruce Banner is to serve him tea.  Bruce tells Jarvis he can't face the Avengers, particularly Hawkeye, after what he's done to them, and Jarvis quotes “Paradise Lost,” reminding him the mind can turn heaven into hell and vice versa.  He then succinctly boils down the essence of Avenging in a way no one has:  they are avenging their own crimes and faults.  They all know they aren’t heroes, but they try to be.  Jarvis encourages Bruce to keep trying to be, because it’s the only thing that matters; it’s not the evil he’s capable of doing -- the only thing he sees -- but the good he does (and most importantly, to Jarvis' mind, wants to do).  Man, Jarvis, I really needed to hear that right now.

It’s not just Bruce who gets a pep talk, though.  Lightning is despondent he couldn’t stop the Hulk and save Vision, and Simon’s pacifism here works well.  Lightning is particularly disappointed he wasn’t powerful enough to fight off the Hulk, and Wonder Man reminds him they would’ve kicked out Hawkeye on the first day if it was all about power.  The best part, though, is Simon is poised to dive into the inspirational part of his speech when Quicksilver tells him to be quiet so he can focus.  It’s the perfect snarky Quicksilver moment; in the 70s, he would've made some sort of arch remark about Simon's inane prattling.  But, it's all the better because he’s not wrong: he’s trying to find something whizzing around them.  (It turns out being the “mite” that’s keeping everyone in stasis.)  Emily enters the room at the fuss, and Pietro can’t face her.  But, she tells him he did what he thought was best and she got hurt; it’s the price of heroing.  (I hope at some point we get a deeper dive into Synapse, because she really deserves it.)  At any rate, it's a good thing the Avengers had a minute to regroup, because the Challenger has decided to take out his fury over the Gamemaster's cheating (and likely disappearance, not death) by destroying the board, i.e. Earth!

Batman #44:  I'm not sure how he did it, but King somehow makes Catwoman looking for a wedding dress -- by breaking into a bridal boutique at 3:00 am -- into a perfect character study.

Batman:  White Night #7:  This issue is remarkably solid, as everyone is called on their bullshit in some way.  Jack is forced to admit the drugs are starting to lose their effect, making his confrontation with Neo-Joker all the more precarious as it's unclear if she'll face Jack or the Joker.  Jack holds it together through the confrontation (barely), but she demands he bring back the Joker, dismissing Jack as the "sane man" she was always worried would take the Joker from her.  Jack laments to Harley that he played by the rules to try to prove Gotham didn't need law-breaking vigilantes to save it, but he's still faced with a law-breaking criminal holding it hostage.  Harley brilliantly calls bullshit, reminding him he didn't play by the rules at all:  he used the Mad Hatter's technology to hijack criminals' minds to scare the city into giving him power.  Harley then does what Bruce knew she would do all along:  she sends Jack to Batman.  Bruce agrees to work with him only if he provides a full confession:  he attacked the financial district, destroyed his own library, and created the Neo-Joker (if inadvertently, in the latter case).  Jack agrees, but only if Harley goes free.

Jumping into the Batmobile, Bruce ups the ante:  he asks for the Joker's confession about Robin, but Jack admits he's been fighting the Joker to get that information.  Under pressure from Bruce, he concentrates harder.  (Honestly, this part was the only flaw in the issue.  Jack claims he's been trying to figure out Jason's fate, but he literally just scrunches up his eyes harder here to get it.  It's a minor complaint, but I mention it because Murphy had other options here, like Jack simply confessing.  I'm not sure why he went this way.)  He eventually breaks through the Joker's walls and reveals the Joker tortured Jason to get Bruce's identity, something Jason surrenders at the final moment, saying he wish he'd never heard the name Bruce Wayne.  But, we also learn the Joker let Jason go free, because it was much more damaging to know Bruce would mourn his loss and then eventually learn Jason hated Bruce so much he'd let him think he was dead.  (Jack also tells Bruce he knew he was Batman after discovering Wayne Enterprises funded the Batman Devastation Fund, not taxpayers.)

The pair finally arrive at their destination:  Mr. Freeze reveals the existence of Thomas Wayne's tunnels under Gotham, which the Army used to help Baron von Fries build the weapon.  They return to GCPD, where Bruce provides the GTO with Batmobiles.  Jack struggles to control the Joker as Bruce shows Barbara and Dick a note Alfred wrote for him when he had Freeze save Bruce instead of him.  He tells them he can't read Alfred's last words to him yet, and he confesses the note he'd write the kids would tell them how he was no longer motivated by avenging his parents' deaths, but making Gotham a safer place so they could take off their masks.  They hug him, and, honestly, it's the moment for me.  It's one of the few explanations of his motivations at this point in his career that have ever made sense to me.  I hope someone adopts it into mainstream comics.  As everyone heads to war, Gordon tries to apologize to Bruce for arresting him, but Bruce won't have it:  he not only tells him he was right to do so -- that it all had gone too far -- but that he planned on revealing his identity once the caper is done.  (I assume that means he's going to die before that happens.)  He and Jack then head into the tunnels to find Harley as Jack, riding with Bruce, loses control for the final time.

Marvel 2-in-One #5:  Making it clear this title is leading to a reboot of the "Fantastic Four," Zdarsky does a great job using the alternate versions of them to make us hungry for the real thing.  Ben and Johnny learn Doom saving Earth as Galactus so broke this Universe's Reed Richards that he's done nothing to find a way to stop him, focusing instead of improving people's lives during the time they have left.  However, he comes to his senses when Ben and Johnny join this Earth's heroes in fighting Doom's legion of Doombot heralds.  The return of at least half of the Fantastic Four rallies the heroes, and Johnny saves Reed from one of the heralds.  However, Johnny's power misfires right then, and Reed saves him as he plummets to Earth.  Reed now realizes he has to do something.  Surprising no one, Doom from our Universe appears, having hitchhiked with Ben, Johnny, and Rachna.  Reed is momentarily distracted when learning of Ben and Johnny's plight, discussing his theory all metahuman powers come from a universal power source but admitting he never thought about an interpersonal one.  He starts to offer to help, but our Doom, offering his assistance, wisely keeps him focused on the task.  Ben and Johnny are sent to a farm where the Silver Surfer -- now human -- lives with Emma Frost.  We've heard a number of whispers about the terrible fate of this Universe's Johnny Storm, and Emma and Norrin's shocked reaction at seeing him shows how terrible it must have been.  At this stage, all we know come from Emma, who comments on how much Johnny and Norrin suffered.  That doesn't sound good.

The New Mutants:  Dead Souls #2:  Rosenberg does a solid job teasing out the team dynamics here, as Julio takes Boomer and Tabitha to brunch (with Shatterstar!) to ask them if they trust Magik.  Of course, she appears with Strong Guy right behind him as he admits he doesn't trust her and whisks them all (minus Shatterstar) to October Revolution Island off the coast of Russia.  They quickly find themselves in battle with a frost giant, and Julio takes charge in getting the team to flee to safety after Magik refuses to acknowledge they're overpowered.  They make their way into tunnels beneath the surface and discover researchers were digging for an old Norse battle whose participants were frozen in time.  The team finds one of the researchers alive, and we learn someone named Tran was interested in his research on the battle.  Dun-dun-DUN!  After that, he remembers nothing else, including the fact his excavation released the aforementioned frost giant.  Magik teleports Boomer into the giant's belly to destroy him, but it doesn't really resolve the situation.  Rahne tries to talk some sense into her about her erratic leadership, but it goes to a point Rictor previously made at brunch, when he wondered aloud why Magik (and not Dani) is running the team and why Shan hired them in the first place.  (In fact, other than the obvious Tran connection, I'm not sure what the ruse was to get the team to come to October Revolution Island in the first place.  Did Shan pretend her company owned something here?  I'm not sure if Rosenberg ever established that.)  The issue ends continuing the B story from last issue, with some kids in Connecticut daring an alleged mutant their age to prove he's not a mutant by approaching the Alone Man's house.  It turns out the Alone Man is...Warlock!

Spider-Man #239:  It's hard to believe we're where Bendis wants us to be for his finale on this title, but it is what it is.  If you put aside the pressure of next issue, it's actually pretty solid.  Aaron comes very close to successfully delivering the helicarrier to Lucia van Bardas, but he underestimates Miles.  Bendis shows us Miles learning about a safe Aaron kept in his closet a decade ago, and he breaks into said safe in the present, looking for clues.  He finds Aaron's burner phone and, searching through its history, finds out where he's going.  Miles arrives with the Champions, and a pretty great battle ensues.  However, von Bardas acts like an actual villain, ordering her men to open fire on Aaron and Miles as they fight.  Miles told his uncle he was trying to save him, because he believes he's better than a thief.  The front cover of this issue implies next issue Aaron will die, but I'm not so sure.  Also, Ganke's girlfriend gives him some sort of note, but we don't know what it says.  I have no idea how Bendis is going to wrap up all these threads, but we'll see.  (All that said, Miles comparing himself to Batman was great.)

Star Wars #46:  Man, this issue is awesome.  The plot is tight, as the team successfully executes its plan to swipe the Moff and use his bio-signature, with the codes Trios stole for them, to enter the prison where they're keeping Lee-Char.  But, it's all the little moments of characterization that make it a thrilling issue, from Han not passing up a chance to profit (even when posing as a bathroom attendant) to Threepio's anxiety (and titillation) when Leia leaves him in charge of making sure the shape-shifter stays in character as the Moff.  The Moff's shock the Rebels were able to get their hands on such sensitive codes furthers the sense the Empire is going to quickly realize Trios is the weak link.  Dissecting it further would be a disservice, so I really just recommend giving it a read.

X-Men:  Gold #25:  Guggenheim's storytelling can feel random at times, and this issue is a great example of that problem.  "Iceman" #11 promised Bobby a shot at leading a team of X-Men, and this arc was supposed to fulfill that promise, as Kitty and her team were trapped in prison.  But, it doesn't happen that way.  As Scythian attacks Paris, Bobby and his team head over there, while Kitty's team laments their imprisonment.  That part makes sense.  But, then, Storm breaks from her confinement, because apparently the mutant-canceling technology isn't all that good if you're really, really mad.  She threatens the warden into releasing them, as if the warden actually had the power to decide that.  They arrive in Paris thanks to Magik, and Kitty just simply takes over giving orders; we don't even see Bobby for several panels, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't get in a word edgewise after Kitty's arrival.  Also, Storm's distress in imprisonment summons Stormcaster, an Asgardian weapon I vaguely remember her using in the day.  However, everyone stresses how even an amped-up Storm can't put a dent in Scythian, so the plan is merely to distract him until Magik can send him to Limbo.  But, then Kitty slams the Blackbird into him and that apparently does the trick?  Yeah, I don't know.  It's Guggenheim, so what can you do?  Also, the X-Men's actions in Paris not only mean that the NYPD apparently just forgives them for assaulting its cops but the Senate majority leaders says the deportation act is stalled.  Hurrah!  Cigars for everyone!  Honestly, I could've dealt with a little less Stormcaster, a little more sense here.

Also Read:  Astonishing X-Men #10; Nightwing #42

Not-So-New Comics: The March 14 Marvel Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Avengers #684:  We finally learn the truth about Voyager in this issue, as she reveals she's Grandmaster's daughter.  We also learn the Hulk is apparently more or less immortal now, which actually makes a lot of sense the way the authors present it.

If I'm following the story the authors are telling correctly, Grandmaster gives Voyager powers appropriate to each game he's playing, and he then uses her to make sure he wins.  Her current set of powers allows her to move through space and time and she can also use them to "move" through memories somehow as well.  As a result, she was able to implant the false memories about her in the Avengers' minds.  Apparently, the parasite in Jarvis’ memory center prevented her from altering his memories.

I have to be honest, I feel like everything related to Jarvis has been plain old bizarre.  I don't understand why the authors spent so much time making him immune to Voyager's powers.  I'm pretty sure all the events that have happened so far would've still happened in the same sequence if he hadn't been immune.  It just meant Hank accepted he was telling the truth when he woke from his coma, because Hank had been inside his brain.  But, this knowledge doesn't have any impact on the story; Voyager is still able to swipe the spirit Pyramoid.  Moreover, the authors didn't have to use some cockamamie excuse that her teleportation powers somehow allow her to alter memories.  As the daughter of an Elder of the Universe, it would've been totally believable that she had advanced telepathic powers as well.  But, whatever.  It is what it is.

All that said, Voyager's motives are less clear than we first thought.  She seems tired of helping her father rig his games, so it's unclear what she plans to do with the spirit Pyramoid.  I guess we'll see.

Meanwhile, the authors make the compelling argument the Hulk is immortal.  They review all the times he’s died and survived, and they imply he survives because his rage keeps a spark of life alive in him each time.  I totally buy that.  The authors do require a pretty significant knowledge of Hulk’s history to understand the nuance of the story they’re telling.  I accept I'm not going to follow everything about every character, and they do include a helpful guide at the end of the issue tying the events to specific issues of the various Hulk titles.  But, the entire sequence is made confusing through the use of a third-party narrator talking about a door (presumably to resurrection) that I didn’t quite follow as a metaphor.  (I think the Challenger was the narrator, but I'm not sure.)

At any rate, the authors right the ship once the Hulk is fully resurrected, showing how awesome he is as he tears through the skeleton team guarding the back-up HQ where Toni is working and Voyager has fled with the spirit Pyramoid.  (This part is clearer now.  Last issue, I thought she was in a bunker in the hospital, but now it's clear she teleported to the HQ once she grabbed the Pyramoid.)  The other teams are racing back, but the only thing standing between the Hulk and Voyager right now is...Iron Red Hulk!  Awesome sauce.  (Also, I’m pretty sure Hulk killed Captain Glory and Mentacle. R.I.P., Mentacle.)

Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #15:  You don’t really have to pick up “Damnation” to follow this issue.  David makes it clear enough Dr. Strange’s attempt to repair Las Vegas allowed Mephisto to open his “Hotel Inferno” on the Strip, unleashing hordes of demons onto Vegas like “Inferno” did to New York.  In his usually brilliant fashion, David uses the event to advance the series’ plot, revealing the little girl who kidnapped Aunt June works for the Diogenes Initiative.  It apparently has an augur on staff who predicted this event, and the girl instructs Ben to find the Midnight Sons.  When he does, he drives a cement truck into a group of demonized Avengers poised to attack them.  Yeah, it’s pretty great.  I’m guessing we’re going to learn Ben is immune to demonization because of Death’s hold on him, but we’ll see.  It’s all very reminiscent of the “Circle of Four” event in “Venom” from a few years ago, but David does his best with the hand corporate has dealt him.

Darth Vader #13:  This issue is really interesting, because it serves as a prequel to the story Gillen is telling in the main title, namely the fall of Mon Cala.  The Emperor sends Darth Vader to help Governor Tarkin take over Mon Cala for two reasons.  First, he believes it is time to show the Empire's citizens that the Empire isn't a successor of the Republic, but an entity unto itself under his sole control.  Second, he believes King Lee-Char is receiving help in negotiating the terms of a trade agreement from a Jedi, and he wants Vader to crush him.  (In the main title, Lee-Char is being held prisoner, and Mon Cala is suffering under the Empire's thumb as punishment for its rebellion.)  Tarkin is urging caution among his troops, reminding them Mon Cala has many resources they don't want to destroy.  However, upon Vader's arrival, the Imperial ambassador's ship mysteriously explodes, prompting Tarkin to launch the invasion.  Soule has made it clear this fight is a proxy for Vader's internal struggle, as we begin the issue with him replaying his fight with Obi-Wan on Mustafar in his mind but this time winning.  Is Obi-Wan the mysterious Jedi helping the Mon Calamari?  We'll see.

The New Mutants:  Dead Souls #1:  As someone who possesses every issue of the original "New Mutants" run, including the cross-over event with "Dazzler" during "Secret Wars II," I'm obviously game for this mini-series.  Rosenberg makes it clear he's got big plans.  Shan has hired Magik, Boom Boom, Rictor, Strong Guy, and Wolfsbahne to work for her company, Hatchi Corporation.  Their first job is taking out a bunch of zombies attacking a hurricane-relief center Hatchi is running in New Orleans.  It turns out the foreman (allegedly) stole a ring from a dead woman who happened to be a witch, and she "overreacted" by infesting the area with zombies.  (Removing the ring apparently forced her soul to get stuck in Limbo because it broke certain seals of protection she had put on the neighborhood, hence the ability of a dead woman to "overreact.")  Oddly, Magik just lets her go once she reunites her with her ring, something Shan finds objectionable.  After all, she was responsible for killing a not insignificant portion of the town.  But, Rosenberg makes it clear something else is going on here, as the foreman himself didn't really know why he stole the ring and Shan refuses to answer Rictor's question why Shan needs paranormal investigators in the first place.  Rosenberg also does a solid job establishing the status quo of each character, as Shan says she settled for this crowd because everyone else from the New Mutants -- Cannonball, Magma, Skids, and Sunspot - had their lives together.  But, something feels...off here.  I think it's the fact the paranormal angle feels somewhat forced, but I think that might be on purpose.  I'm definitely willing to give Rosenberg some space here.  That said, if he really wants me for the long haul, Shatterstar should be popping up soon.

Peter Parker:  The Spectacular Spider-Man #301:  This issue is really all about Joe Quinones, given his ability to nail the retro look this issue needs to make you believe it's happening in the past.  It's his ability to distinguish between older (and extremely handsome) Peter with younger (and so young) Peter.  The look of shock on both JJJ, Jr. and Peter's faces as they confront how young he really was is both hilarious and moving.

X-Men:  Blue #23:  Holy shit, this issue is an effing barn-burner.  We have multiple threats building at once.  First, Emma Frost and Havok are working with Bastion and Miss Sinister to launch Mothervine, some sort of artificial intelligence (I think) that will quadruple the mutant population within a year and help bring about secondary mutations.  (Bastion wants more mutants just so he can slaughter them, and Alex and Emma assume Miss Sinister wants to rule them all.)  Meanwhile, Miss Sinister's agents are tracking someone, and Bloodstorm and Jimmy are on their trail.  However, since they're not from our Earth, they don't recognize Xorn when he reveals himself to the trackers.  The Raksha arrive at Magneto's house to inform him they fought some Hellfire Club goons right there in Madripoor, and Magneto realizes it's time he takes out Sebastian Shaw, even though Briar is pretty sure it's just Emma trying to distract him.  If it is, it works, as Magneto goes after Shaw, but is surprised when Shaw reveals a secondary mutation (thanks to Mothervine):  he can now collect ambient kinetic energy.  In Madripoor, Gazing Nightshade uses her powers to see Lorna believes she can save Alex from his inversion, but Bunn complicates matters when Ferris presents her a necklace he found in Jean's effects:  Malice is back!  In other words, this series isn't really about the original X-Men anymore.  It may be in the future, but Bunn is clearly using their absence to advance some long-simmering plots, bringing Alex and Emma from the shadows and even raising the possibility of Alex getting cured.  Based on this issue, though, that might be too optimistic of a read of the future.

Also Read:  Astonishing X-Men #9; Falcon #6; Marvel 2-in-One #4