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 17 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Batman #5:  The twist here isn't the death of Gotham, since comic-book rules require that a hero-gone-bad has to die.  It isn't even that Gotham Girl is the one to do it or that their powers are based on depleting their life energy.  It's that Gotham Girl will one day kill Batman to save him and/or Gotham (the city or the person).  In presenting us with this revelation, King refers to a point in the future where Gotham Girl has married Duke, so it's unclear to me if DC intends for Gotham Girl to be a permanent character.  It all feels a little "Elseworlds"-y to me.  Either way, I really hope we don't spend too much time on a dead Bruce story, since, by Rao, we've had enough of them.  (I will throw in a nod here for King in having Alfred comment on the ridiculousness of Thomas Wayne taking his bepearled wife and precocious son through Crime Alley at night.  Seriously, talk about an idiot.)

Captain America:  Sam Wilson #12:  Reading this issue after the election, I have to think Spencer deserves an award for being the only pundit to predict the results.  Using John Walker as the agent of the shadowy group of conservative leaders seeking to take the shield from Sam is brilliant.  Spencer tries to treat them fairly, though it's clear they're the villains of the story -- the Charles Koch, Rush Limbaugh, and Jeff Sessions of the Marvel Universe.  But, after all the ink spilled on this election season, it's still probably some of the most insightful commentary I've read about our differing perspectives.  As I've said previously, this series is the best one on the stands now.

Civil War II:  Amazing Spider-Man #3:  This issue is solid.  Harry does a great job of laying out the ways Peter has helped Clayton and foreshadows Clayton not being able to stop himself from screwing up his latest chance to change.  His need to be special is his addiction, and Gage frequently compares it to alcoholism to drive home the point.  When Spidey makes it clear Clayton has to give up the vehicle for his addiction -- his sonics -- for Peter to save him, it's finally too much for Clayton.  As sad as this turn of events is, it feels true, a testament to how carefully Gage has constructed the story.  Gage isn't just tearing down Clayton; his experiences and personality lead him  to this point, like Cyclops' lead him down the path he chose.  That said, I'm still wondering how Peter emerges from this experience convinced Carol is correct.  It seems to me the obvious lesson is that acting on Ulysses' visions can cause events to happen instead of preventing them.

Nightwing #3:  I'm still not buying this idea of Raptor as Nightwing's mentor.  Even if you buy the idea Bruce didn't teach Dick everything he needed to know because their moral codes didn't align (with Dick hewing more Robin Hood than Bruce), it ignores the years Dick spent on his own as Nightwing.  I don't understand why Raptor just can't be his partner.  Along those lines, I also don't buy this idea of Raptor wanting to betray the Parliament of Owls, but Seeley is hopefully going somewhere with this revelation.  At least, I hope he is, because it's all feeling like a mess right now.

Uncanny Avengers #12:  This arc was heading for a pretty solid conclusion.  Although Duggan seemed to skip a few steps in getting Ultron onto the Quinjet that the Avengers plan on sending into the sun, he compensates by giving us a pretty stellar (heh) battle royale. The Avengers' plan goes pear-shaped pretty quickly as Ultron manages to trap Rogue, Torch, Voodoo, and Wasp on the Quinjet with Vision, upping the drama.  Even though it seemed unlikely Duggan would kill five of the more prominent members of the Marvel Universe, he does a good job of showing the Avengers struggle with their plan now that they're directly confronted with its goal.  In other words, it's a lot harder to kill someone who sounds like your friend when you actually have to hear him begging for mercy.  Moreover, Duggan changes the stakes at the last minute:  we learn Ultron has murdered billions of people throughout the galaxy, keeping alive enough people so they could hear him blame it on the Avengers each time.  It's the perfect beyond-the-grave revenge.  But, it's cheapened when Duggan saves Ultron at the last minute, hiding him in a neutrino.  (Yeah, I have no idea either.)  I thought Duggan was going to give Ultron the greatest gift possible - a legacy of generations of victims visiting their revenge on Earth.  Instead, it's just another Ultron story, with him yet again magically avoiding death.  The only log Duggan added to this fire was the most nonsensical save in a long history of nonsensical saves.  But, I guess now Ultron can return at the right moment so the Avengers can make it clear he acted on his own.  Do we even have to go through the story if we know how it's going to end?

Also Read:  Civil War II:  X-Men #3; Mighty Thor #10; Poe Dameron #5

Not-Very-Deep Thoughts: The June 15 Marvel Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Civil War II #2:  Again, I don't really have much to say here, but this time it's because Bendis so perfectly anticipates what I expected to happen after the events of last issue:  Tony kidnaps Ulysses, the Inhumans want revenge for the affront, and Carol asks for a shot at bringing in Tony before the Inhumans go to war.  Along the way, Carol and Tony have possibly the best banter ever.  (Really.  I usually hate Bendis' banter, but this banter is top-notch.)  Now we just have to see if the Hulk kills everyone next issue.

Civil War II:  Amazing Spider-Man #2:  Gage does here what the best tie-in issues do, using the premise of "Civil War II" to advance a character's ongoing storyline.  In this issue, Peter may create a self-fulfilling prophecy, when Ulysses' prediction that Clayton Cole will again take up his Clash identity drives Peter to push Clayton into doing just that.  Peter realizes his mistake, but it might be too late, as Clayton puts in a rush order on his Clash costume with the Tinkerer.  Although ostensibly Peter's fault, Gage isn't totally easy on Cole:  after all, he was secretly building his Clash uniform again.  Gage also gives us some great insights into Harry along the way, as he warns Peter that it's hard to put aside the limelight that the costume brings.  My guess is that this experience with Cole is going to put Peter firmly on Tony's side, believing that the unintended consequences of acting on Ulysses' visions aren't worth it.  But, it's really the characterization that makes this issue, and it makes me wish that someone would finally pry "Amazing Spider-Man" from Slott's hands and give it to Gage.  (This issue actually came out July 13, but I read it by accident, mistaking it for "Civil War II:  X-Men" #1.  Just like Ulysses, you're seeing into the future!)

Moon Knight #1-#4:  I knew that Lemire, Smallwood, and Bellaire had me in the scene from issue #4 where Khonshu appears to Marc in a bathroom stall while he's at the urinal.  Everything about this scene is so great:  Lemire putting the characters there, Smallwood making it so realistic, and Bellaire creating a great atmosphere.  My only previous exposure to Moon Knight came as a loyal reader of "West Coast Avengers" in the '80s.  I was always intrigued by him, but he had back story in the way that Spider-Woman had back story.  In other words, it was complicated.  I had flagged this series as a possible pull, but it wasn't until "Black Knight" and "Red Wolf" got canceled that I felt that I had some time for it.  I'm glad that I took the plunge.  The creators are telling a wonderfully original story, and, after four issues, I honestly can't say what reality is and isn't.  Is Marc insane?  Is he sane?  Maybe he's both?  I was disappointed when Lemire's "All-New Hawkeye" got canceled, but reading this series makes me feel like I got a reprieve.  I highly recommend it.

Spider-Gwen #9:  This issue is extremely difficult to follow if you (like me) didn't read every part of the "Spider-Women" event.  First, Gwen has apparently lost her powers; she has a "power-up" device that she can use to temporarily become Spider-Woman, but once the device's charges are exhausted she's done.  Second, a picture of her shaking hands with Captain America has been released, apparently making the public re-assess their view of Spider-Woman.  (I was surprised by this development, since I feel like this picture was taken quite a long time ago.  Why is everyone just reacting to it now?)  Moreover, Captain Stacy has done his part in helping the public change its mind about Gwen, releasing a video on YouTube that details why the police and the public rushed to judgement on her guilt.  (Again, I don't think that this event happened in this title, but it's possible that it did in one of the "Spider-Women" issues.  That said, we might be seeing it for the first time here.)  At any rate, this last development is the catalyst for the events of this issue, as Frank Castle decides to present his case to the District Attorney.  He in turn tells Castle that he's not touching it given the now positive view that the public has of Spider-Woman.  Frank doesn't handle that well, stalking Gwen and confronting her in front of her friends when he stops a robbery at the hot dog place.  In a rage, Gwen powers up and attacks him in front of her friends, later fleeing.  Latour does a great job of showing how overwhelmed Gwen is:  she previously lamented the fact that she didn't get a choice in getting her powers, but now that she has one it's too much to handle.  But, this message is undermined by the confusion that I felt since I really had absolutely no idea what was happening for most of the issue, since I didn't read "Spider-Women."  Hopefully it'll be easier to follow next issue, because I refuse to be forced to read an event retroactively that I didn't want to read in the first place.

Uncanny X-Men #8:  Bunn really loses me here, to be honest.  First, we have Fantomex and Psylocke at each other's throats over some betrayal that I don't understand because I didn't read "Uncanny X-Force."  (For all the ranting that Fantomex does here about Besty's betrayal, you'd think that he could've actually mentioned what it was.)  Then, we learn that Fantomex is there at Magento's invitation, allegedly to kill Betsy, though we're given no idea why he would want to do so or why he would choose then and there to do it.  Finally, we learn that Clan Akkaba wants Betsy there to summon the Archangel drone, though we don't know why.  After all, they cut off Warren's wing:  why would they just another Warren with wings?   If you were a long-time reader of "Uncanny X-Force," this issue might make more sense to you.  For me, I spent most of it wishing the Wikipedia entry on Fantomex was more current.

Also Read:  Amazing Spider-Man #14; Archangel #1-#2; Civil War II:  X-Men #1; Dungeons & Dragons:  Shadows of the Vampire #2; Han Solo #1; Spidey #7; Star Wars #20

Not-Very-Deep Thoughts: The June 8 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Civil War II:  Amazing Spider-Man #1:  Gage really uses the premise of this mini-series to the fullest, as Spider-Man takes around Ulysses to try to get his measure.  Once Spidey decides that he can trust him, Gage uses that bond to explore other implication of Ulysses' premonitions.  For example, Pete realizes that Ulysses could guide Parker Industries' research into more fruitful areas, allowing them to abandon dead ends more quickly.  It makes you realize how valuable Ulysses could be and why people (and not just superheroes) would fight over him.  After all, Pete would use him in Parker Industries' medical and security divisions to save lives, but other people might not be so scrupulous.  However, Ulysses complicates matters when he predicts that Clayton Cole will once again become Clash and fight Spidey.  It reminds us just of how much of a chaos agent Ulysses is.  I could see the fight becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy and Peter realizing that Tony is right, that acting on Ulysses' premonitions is a bad idea.  As interesting as that story is, though, it pales in comparison to the issue's main highlight:  Peter in his boxers accidentally getting into bed with a naked Johnny Storm.  Excuse me as I go re-read that page again...

Detective Comics #934:  For most of the "New 52!," "Detective Comics" has focused on more traditional Batman stories, the type of stories that you'd see collected in "Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told," Volume 9.  While Scott Snyder was telling marquee stories in "Batman," Layman and then Buccalleto and Manapul told stories that rightly focused on Bruce's work as a detective.  I frequently enjoyed them much more than I did Snyder's work on "Batman."  For me, they have been one of the high points of the "New 52!," focusing on characters rather than concepts.  That said, I'm excited by the new direction that Tynion starts here.  He essentially creates a formal Bat-family, as Bruce and Batwoman prepare to train the next generation.  Although he pushes the boundaries of this conceit at times, it never actually feels forced.  Someone is monitoring the vigilantes of Gotham through drones with technology ten years beyond what the military has, and Batman asks Batwoman to take the younger heroes of Gotham -- Orphan, Red Robin, and Spoiler -- under her wing to make sure that they're ready for the coming conflict.  It promises all sort of fun moments between Bruce and Kate, since Tynion makes it clear that she might be the only person capable of not taking his bullshit.  Oddly, Clayface is thrown into the mix, though Tynion doesn't explain why the mysterious threat would have identified him as a vigilante or why Bruce suddenly decides that he's redeemable.  I feel like I missed a mini-series or something.  But, it's a fairly minor complaint, given how strong the rest of the book is.  I highly recommend this one, if not for this issue itself, but for where we seem to be going.

Poe Dameron #3:  The good news is that Soule continues to do a great job showing Poe as someone who would be a great date.  Like, you probably wouldn't take him home to meet Mom, but you'd wake up the next morning hungover with him next to you and not be all that upset about it.  His charm is real, people.  The bad news is that I still have no idea what happens here.  The egg that we've seen in previous issue hatches, revealing a cross between Dr. Manhattan and Mothra.  It turns hostile, threatening to kill the Crèche members...until a less blue version of it appears and fights it.  I think that this other Mothra was also in the egg with blue Mothra, but Noto doesn't really make that clear.  Anyway, they have a fight while the First Order agent just talks and talks and talks.  Really.  He's barely phased by the blue Mothra versus other Mothra battle; even the roof collapsing onto everyone doesn't stop his exposition.  In future issues, I think Soule would be better served focusing on Poe and less time on other characters.  After all, this series isn't entitled "Annoying First Order Assholes and the Black Squadron Heroes Who Fight Them, with Special Guest Appearances by Poe Dameron."  (Maybe it should be, though.)  After all, I read Chuck Wendig's "Aftermath" novel, and I didn't even realize that "Snap" is the teenager from that story until Soule mentioned it in the letters page.  We just don't really have the space to focus on all these characters, given that we expect our time spent on Poe.  Give us what we want, Marvel!

Also Read:  All-New X-Men #10; Darth Vader #21; New Avengers #12