Age of X-Man: X-Tremists #5: I've not been a fan of this event or this series, but Williams lays it all on the line here, and it might be the only thing to save this series (though too little to save the event). In each issue of this event, the authors have studiously avoided placing any blame on Nate for his decision to create his Utopia. Sure, this title and "Age of X-Man: Prisoner X" have focused on the repressive infrastructure Nate put in place. But, this issue finally shows how truly horrible it is, as Jubilee remembers Shogo. Williams effectively uses Jubilee writing a letter to Shogo as her framing device. It allows Williams to convey Jubilee's horror at not just forgetting Shogo, but, like a true parent, her horror at not knowing if he's OK. There's no redeeming that, particularly not when you consider how many people experienced exactly that horror. Speaking of horrors, Williams also addresses the homosexuality of Iceman, Northstar, and Rictor more directly than I've ever seen in a comic, even "Iceman." They're all comfortable in their skin here, as they engage in the drunken "gay apocalypse" with Jubilee. It makes their "awakening" all the more awful, as their loss of memories was functionally like returning them to the closet. Williams even addresses -- for the first time that I can recall -- the fact that Northstar's crush on Iceman was the first hint that we all had that Bobby was gay. "Otter-pop" indeed. I still can't say that I recommend this event or series, but Williams, at the end, gives it the emotional grounding that it's been missing all this time.
Age of X-Man: Prisoner X #5: It's hard to believe this event is still happening. The team, such as it is, rushes Legion, whose omnipotence is stretched to the limit in his attempt to keep the prison under control. Legion eventually surrenders, using a Shard persona to warn the team that someone is pulling the strings. For reasons that aren't clear, he can't say the name. Bishop guesses that it's Nate Gray, but his description of why he thought that Nate was the only person who could create this Universe is ridiculous. First, I'm not sure how Bishop even knows Nate other than a few X-Men Christmas parties. Second, even if he did, any number of powerful telepaths seem like possible candidates. It has to be Nate and not, say, a deranged alternate-future Cable possessing his full powers? Jean Grey losing it again? A personality Legion himself wasn't aware was doing it? This event has had way too many of these overly convenient epiphanies for me to take it seriously, and I find myself looking forward to Hickman's turn at the wheel here. Given how I feel about Hickman, that's saying a lot.
War of the Realms #6: If last issue was a chaotic mess, this issue was nothing short of perfect. It's like the creator of the "Gilmore Girls" knowing how the last episode was going to end from the start. Aaron's entire run led to the moment where Thor picked up a reborn Mjolnir and declared himself the God of the Unworthy. The Thor makes the hammer; the hammer doesn't make the Thor. But, Aaron let us think that we had lost Mjolnir forever, as Thor sacrificed that (and his eye) to Yggdrasil for knowledge. But, as the Mother Storm returns and everyone -- Daredevil, Freyja, Odin -- mumbles about how Thor has to use it to defeat Malekith, Thor responds, "What do they think I've been doing since the tree exploded?" Thor makes it rain fire to destroy the symbiote and then reveals Mjolnir, in all her fury. The single tear welling in his eye when she returns? Perfect. The Storm of Thors -- for Jane Thor, Old Thor, and Young Thor have all joined him -- makes short work of Malekith. Ultimately it's the Wild Hunt that kills him, smelling the fear on him: the fear that he lost his father, brothers, and uncles to war for no good reason. We then end where we needed to end, as Odin relinquishes his throne in favor of Thor. In some runs, this moment would seem logical but rushed, a quick way to change a status quo and show that the author had left his impact on a character. But after so many issues, after so many years, it feels like what it is: a Thor-blessed coronation. Thor has been in the wilderness for a long time, and he found his way home. I can't wait to see where we go from here. Although last issue might have been shaky, Aaron closes out this event so strongly that I think it's the best of the best. I can't recommend it enough.
Also Read: Avengers #20; Thor #14; War of the Realms: Uncanny X-Men #3
Showing posts with label War of the Realms (2019). Show all posts
Showing posts with label War of the Realms (2019). Show all posts
Monday, April 6, 2020
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Not-Even-Remotely-New Comics: The June 5 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Age of X-Man: Prisoner X #4: Like the other series in this event, this issue covers the same ground that we've previously covered without adding anything particularly new or interesting. The only real development is Dani putting to words what we've all already known, that every time someone manages to break free of Nate or Legion's control their control over everyone else slips. As such, it's no surprise that Bishop is able to get a full-scale riot going here. But, it's still unclear what role Legion plays in it: I can't tell if he encourages Forge to release the power-dampening collars or if Forge did it on his own. I honestly can't say I care all that much at this point. This entire event is just an awkward transition as we move to whatever mess Hickman plans on making.
Batman #72: Every time I think this series can't get worse and more repetitive, it does. I have to give King that, I guess.
Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1: This issue is interesting in that it maintains the main series' modus operandi, focusing not just exclusively on the Guardians team as we traditionally know it but also including the various Marvel Cosmic characters as well. As a Nova and Quasar fan, I was of course most interested in their story. I thought Ewing did a great job teasing out their characters through their dispute, as Rich criticizes Quasar's breezy optimism as a sign that he's lost touch with reality given his dealings with cosmic entities like Galactus. The conversation starts with Rich admitting to Quasar that he's on "therapeutic leave" after he watched the Skrulls destroy one of their renegade worlds. He had just saved a family from a group of Skrull soldiers when Adsit tells him that the Skrulls had withdrawn from the Pan-Worlds Treaty and revoked the Nova Corps jurisdiction over the planet. Adsit compels him to leave just before the Skrulls destroy the planet. Rich observes to Quasar that the Kree and Shi'ar are likely to withdraw as well, meaning galactic war is coming. Quasar essentially tells him that he's sure everything will be fine, prompting Rich's criticism. In an obvious parallel to our current era, Rich tells Quasar that he's on the front lines dealing with real people. He sees the hard-liners taking over the political system, the galactic economy collapsing after years of inequality and upheaval, etc. He warns Quasar that people like him are looking for a Thanos, when it's really the 30-credit beer that sparks revolution and chaos. Sound familiar?
Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider #9: As I think I've mentioned, I feel like this series has gotten increasingly repetitive, recycling the same story lines over and over again. McGuire does it again here, as a bad guy interrupts yet another Mary Janes' performance trying to get at Gwen. But, the good news is that Man-Wolf is at least a different villain, injecting some much needed energy into this issue. We don't yet know why he's targeting Gwen, other than his assertion that he's defeated all the city's heroes. It seems like he's essentially offended Gwen thinks she could superhero in "his" city. That said, the cop who helps Gwen ID Man-Wolf somewhat contradicts this claim, telling her that he appeared during her incarceration. Did he really defeat everyone in the short time she was in prison? Although the rhythm might be the same, at least the person playing the instrument is different. I'm not sure I'm going to stick with this title when it's (once again) relaunched, but for now I'm at least glad that I have a reason to hang in there.
War of the Realms #5: This issue is the point where it feels like this story spun beyond my ability to grasp. Previously, the tie-in issues had been supporting the main title, so they weren't necessary to read to understand the main title's plot. Although I've been reading many of the tie-in series, this issue is where I feel like you had to read specific tie-in issues to understand the developments here. I had to re-read several issues just to assemble the rough timeline I put together here, and even then I'm still not sure that it's right.
Some leaps you can legimitately make on your own. Last issue, most of the teams reconvened at Avengers Mountain, and it's clear that it's when they slammed the Boggle cube on the table to make new teams. She-Hulk brought the dwarves from Nidavellir in issue #4; in this issue, they joined forces with Iron Man to become, awesomely, the War Machine Dwarves. Meanwhile, She-Hulk is leading Daredevil, Deadpool, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage to take Australia from the Trolls. But, even when you can make some leaps on your own, it isn't all necessarily clear. For example, Jennifer has somehow gotten a hammer and Ulik calls her "Thunder-Hulk." I assume that happened in a tie-in issue that I didn't read.
In some cases, you can make the leap, but it's still hard to follow. Carol Danvers is a great example. She led the War Avengers (Black Widow, Captain Britain, Deadpool, Sif, Venom, Weapon H, and the Winter Soldier) in the Battle of London in issue #3 and "War of the Realms: Strike Force - The War Avengers" #1, but they seem to surrender in issue #3 when Malekith teleports Venom and himself...somewhere. They resume the fight at the end of "War of the Realms: Strikeforce - The War Avengers" #1, taking on dark elves at the Great Wall. But, in issue #4, the Agents of Atlas have replaced the War Avengers in the fight with Carol at the Great Wall without explanation. In issue #5, Captain Britain has re-appeared in London, found the Black Blade, and is now fighting alongside Captain America, while Carol has moved onto Shanghai with Hawkeye and Shang-Chi. The Agents of Atlas are presumably somewhere.
In some instances, you just have to assume existing tie-in series end happily. Last we saw him, Sir Ivory was unconscious in Africa after fighting Kurse in "Spider-Man and the League of the Realms" #2; in issue #5, he joins Queen Featherwine and the Punisher at the head of the Light Elf Rifle Brigade in Wakanda. (It seems like the entire "Spider-Man and the League of the Realms" mini-series happens between issues #4 and #5, after Spider-Man returns from Jotunheim and the Punisher brings the Light Elves to Midgard.) Balder and Thori were trying to save Balder's sister in "War of the Realms: Journey into Mystery" #4, but now Balder is with Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider, and Spider-Man taking on the Enchantress in Montevideo and Thori is with Captains America and Britain in London. (I guess Spider-Man hitched a ride from Africa.) Kurse also apparently survived, because she's fighting the Destroyer somewhere.
In other words, the wheels come off the bus here as Aaron's ambition gets the better of him. I get what he was trying to do, instill in us the magnitude of the battle. He does accomplish that; it's awesome to see everyone fighting all over the place. But, the plot gets lost in the shuffle of players across the chessboard, a point Carol herself made in "War of the Realms: Strikeforce - The War Avengers" #1. After all, Thor is the key here, but we barely get a sight of him. I get the symmetry of Thor hanging himself from Yggdrasil like Odin did. I just don't get why he does it. Insight? Did he really need insight to know that he has to take on Malekith? I assumed that it was to reforge Mjolnir, but that didn't seem to happen. I feel like we could've had fewer slugfests and a few more panels teasing out this very, very essential plot point. Aaron has pushed this moment of "OK, time to wrap up this story" longer than most authors, so I'm not complaining too much. But, it's time for the end to come, as it thankfully does next issue.
Also Read: Black Cat #1; Marvel Team-Up #3; Star Wars: Age of Rebellion - Luke Skywalker #1; Uncanny X-Men #19; War of the Realms: Journey into Mystery #4
Batman #72: Every time I think this series can't get worse and more repetitive, it does. I have to give King that, I guess.
Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1: This issue is interesting in that it maintains the main series' modus operandi, focusing not just exclusively on the Guardians team as we traditionally know it but also including the various Marvel Cosmic characters as well. As a Nova and Quasar fan, I was of course most interested in their story. I thought Ewing did a great job teasing out their characters through their dispute, as Rich criticizes Quasar's breezy optimism as a sign that he's lost touch with reality given his dealings with cosmic entities like Galactus. The conversation starts with Rich admitting to Quasar that he's on "therapeutic leave" after he watched the Skrulls destroy one of their renegade worlds. He had just saved a family from a group of Skrull soldiers when Adsit tells him that the Skrulls had withdrawn from the Pan-Worlds Treaty and revoked the Nova Corps jurisdiction over the planet. Adsit compels him to leave just before the Skrulls destroy the planet. Rich observes to Quasar that the Kree and Shi'ar are likely to withdraw as well, meaning galactic war is coming. Quasar essentially tells him that he's sure everything will be fine, prompting Rich's criticism. In an obvious parallel to our current era, Rich tells Quasar that he's on the front lines dealing with real people. He sees the hard-liners taking over the political system, the galactic economy collapsing after years of inequality and upheaval, etc. He warns Quasar that people like him are looking for a Thanos, when it's really the 30-credit beer that sparks revolution and chaos. Sound familiar?
Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider #9: As I think I've mentioned, I feel like this series has gotten increasingly repetitive, recycling the same story lines over and over again. McGuire does it again here, as a bad guy interrupts yet another Mary Janes' performance trying to get at Gwen. But, the good news is that Man-Wolf is at least a different villain, injecting some much needed energy into this issue. We don't yet know why he's targeting Gwen, other than his assertion that he's defeated all the city's heroes. It seems like he's essentially offended Gwen thinks she could superhero in "his" city. That said, the cop who helps Gwen ID Man-Wolf somewhat contradicts this claim, telling her that he appeared during her incarceration. Did he really defeat everyone in the short time she was in prison? Although the rhythm might be the same, at least the person playing the instrument is different. I'm not sure I'm going to stick with this title when it's (once again) relaunched, but for now I'm at least glad that I have a reason to hang in there.
War of the Realms #5: This issue is the point where it feels like this story spun beyond my ability to grasp. Previously, the tie-in issues had been supporting the main title, so they weren't necessary to read to understand the main title's plot. Although I've been reading many of the tie-in series, this issue is where I feel like you had to read specific tie-in issues to understand the developments here. I had to re-read several issues just to assemble the rough timeline I put together here, and even then I'm still not sure that it's right.
Some leaps you can legimitately make on your own. Last issue, most of the teams reconvened at Avengers Mountain, and it's clear that it's when they slammed the Boggle cube on the table to make new teams. She-Hulk brought the dwarves from Nidavellir in issue #4; in this issue, they joined forces with Iron Man to become, awesomely, the War Machine Dwarves. Meanwhile, She-Hulk is leading Daredevil, Deadpool, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage to take Australia from the Trolls. But, even when you can make some leaps on your own, it isn't all necessarily clear. For example, Jennifer has somehow gotten a hammer and Ulik calls her "Thunder-Hulk." I assume that happened in a tie-in issue that I didn't read.
In some cases, you can make the leap, but it's still hard to follow. Carol Danvers is a great example. She led the War Avengers (Black Widow, Captain Britain, Deadpool, Sif, Venom, Weapon H, and the Winter Soldier) in the Battle of London in issue #3 and "War of the Realms: Strike Force - The War Avengers" #1, but they seem to surrender in issue #3 when Malekith teleports Venom and himself...somewhere. They resume the fight at the end of "War of the Realms: Strikeforce - The War Avengers" #1, taking on dark elves at the Great Wall. But, in issue #4, the Agents of Atlas have replaced the War Avengers in the fight with Carol at the Great Wall without explanation. In issue #5, Captain Britain has re-appeared in London, found the Black Blade, and is now fighting alongside Captain America, while Carol has moved onto Shanghai with Hawkeye and Shang-Chi. The Agents of Atlas are presumably somewhere.
In some instances, you just have to assume existing tie-in series end happily. Last we saw him, Sir Ivory was unconscious in Africa after fighting Kurse in "Spider-Man and the League of the Realms" #2; in issue #5, he joins Queen Featherwine and the Punisher at the head of the Light Elf Rifle Brigade in Wakanda. (It seems like the entire "Spider-Man and the League of the Realms" mini-series happens between issues #4 and #5, after Spider-Man returns from Jotunheim and the Punisher brings the Light Elves to Midgard.) Balder and Thori were trying to save Balder's sister in "War of the Realms: Journey into Mystery" #4, but now Balder is with Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider, and Spider-Man taking on the Enchantress in Montevideo and Thori is with Captains America and Britain in London. (I guess Spider-Man hitched a ride from Africa.) Kurse also apparently survived, because she's fighting the Destroyer somewhere.
In other words, the wheels come off the bus here as Aaron's ambition gets the better of him. I get what he was trying to do, instill in us the magnitude of the battle. He does accomplish that; it's awesome to see everyone fighting all over the place. But, the plot gets lost in the shuffle of players across the chessboard, a point Carol herself made in "War of the Realms: Strikeforce - The War Avengers" #1. After all, Thor is the key here, but we barely get a sight of him. I get the symmetry of Thor hanging himself from Yggdrasil like Odin did. I just don't get why he does it. Insight? Did he really need insight to know that he has to take on Malekith? I assumed that it was to reforge Mjolnir, but that didn't seem to happen. I feel like we could've had fewer slugfests and a few more panels teasing out this very, very essential plot point. Aaron has pushed this moment of "OK, time to wrap up this story" longer than most authors, so I'm not complaining too much. But, it's time for the end to come, as it thankfully does next issue.
Also Read: Black Cat #1; Marvel Team-Up #3; Star Wars: Age of Rebellion - Luke Skywalker #1; Uncanny X-Men #19; War of the Realms: Journey into Mystery #4
Friday, March 27, 2020
Not-Even-Remotely-New Comics: The May 15 Non-X Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Amazing Spider-Man #21: Holy shit, this issue and "Star Wars" #66 make for a fucking intense week. Kraven eventually "rescues" Peter from the horde of Vermins, because they're just a prelude to his actual plan. Said plan is a doozy: to prove Peter is man enough to take on the Hunter, Kraven sets up Peter to rip out Curt Connors' inhibitor chip so the Lizard can, in turn, save Billy (and the Black Cat) from Kraven's son. Yup. To Kraven's mind, Peter is forced to sacrifice his "No One Dies" code (and, by extension, his view of himself as an uncompromising hero) to save Billy and Felicia. I wouldn't necessarily see it that way, but Spencer make a compelling argument that Peter does, and Peter's opinion is obviously the only one that matters. Moreover, on the road to this denouement, Curt and Billy reveal (to Peter and the Black Cat, respectively) that Billy remembers his dad eating him. Oy. As I said, intense. "Hunted" has been cruising on auto-pilot since the Gibbon issue, but Spencer floors it at the right moment. I can't wait to see how it ends.
Batman #71: Reading an issue like this one, I always wonder how exactly it got to be this bad. Yes, some people will continue to interpret (or, to my mind, confuse) King's obtuseness for genius, in the same way that I feel people interpret (or confuse) Hickman's obtuseness for genius. But, this issue goes beyond just the question of whether obtuseness equals genius. In both stories we see here, Bruce isn't Bruce. In both stories, he's spouting phrases that it's impossible to see him saying in any form, from repeatedly telling Bane that he's going to break his "damn back" to busting into a hospital mumbling paranoid dribble about seeing the truth behind Bane. King pretty clearly seems to be building to a reveal where we learn Bruce was right all along and Bane has been running Gotham in secret. But, King has dragged out this story well, well, well beyond any point where I could care. Taking into account that the Bat-family connects Bruce's current state of mind to Catwoman leaving him at the altar, King has functionally been telling this story for almost a year at this point. But, nothing has happened. Sure, maybe Bane, with the help of Bruce's father, is secretly running Gotham from Arkham and Bruce had to escape a machine designed to make him crazy to stop Bane. Or, maybe Bruce has just been...staring at the wall imaging that for the better part of the last year? Even if Bane is engaged in shenanigans, it's been 21 issues and we're not even close to confirming if he is, let alone to getting to the point where Bruce addresses it. I almost literally feel robbed.
Guardians of the Galaxy #5: This series has pleasantly surprised me from the start, but revealing that Thanos chose Eros, not Gamora, for his host was great. First, it makes total sense from a biological standpoint: as Hela says, it had to be a Titan. But, it also makes sense from a characterization standpoint as well, as it's so...cruel. Thanos delights in the fact that Eros thought himself to be a leader finally, assembling a team to do what it needed to do to save the galaxy from Thanos. In the end, he just achieved Thanos' goal of distracting everyone so they couldn't see the truth right in front of them. I'm used to this level of plotting from Aaron and Gillen, but it's nice to see someone like Cates throwing his hat into that ring.
Star Wars #66: Gillen actually gives Trios redemption here, something that I didn't think possible. She attempts to get Kanchar to end his aerial bombardment, but he refuses, committed to killing Leia even if it means killing Trios. (He assumes another "pampered aristocrat" will take the throne, so it's no great loss to the Empire, to his mind.) Trios realizes that she has no other option other than take out Leia and hopefully stop the assault, so she rushes Leia and her squad's position in the throne room. She and Leia have a full-on sword fight, which Leia wins. Trios calls Leia a monster at the start, and Gillen reminds us that she thinks Leia is trying to destroy Shu-Torun. After Leia strikes the killing blow, she explains that she's only trying to disable the Spike. Trios informs Leia that the plan has "gone awry." Leia promises to stop the Partisans, something Han notes might be a tall order. But, Trios' dying words are the best part here. She tells Leia that she fought for Shu-Torun like Leia would've for Alderaan. She curses the fact that she survived the attack on her family and laments that Shu-Torun may be destroyed because of her actions. As she dies, she tells Leia that she believes her and apologizes for making Leia believe her. It's sad. Gillen makes us really feel the weight on Trios' shoulder this entire time, as she was forced to choose between a set of increasingly bad options. The only good news for Trios as she dies is that she's leaving behind a pissed-off Leia committed to saving her planet.
Star Wars: Tie Fighter #2: This issue is interesting not because of anything its usual cast of characters does, but because of the issue's "villain." Shadow Wing finds itself captive after it fails to protect the Star Destroyer that it was supposed to protect and squad leader Broosh surrenders to the assailants. It turns out an Imperial officer, Admiral Gratloe, is running the outfit, hoping to operate a small mining operation outside the Imperials' notice. It's not entirely an enthralling issue, particularly since Shadow Wing goes all do-gooder here, in the sense that they plan on re-claiming the operation for the Empire. But, it does do something that we don't normally see, showing us the expanding chaos in the post-"Return of the Jedi" galaxy. Gratloe just wants to get him some, and I find myself relieved that the Powers That Be in "Star Wars" Land finally show this type of story. In all the galaxy, someone has to try to seize the moment. We often only see this galaxy far, far away through the eyes of ideologically motivated protagonists. But, I love watching a NPC operating on the margins and hope we get more issues like it.
War of the Realms #4: I haven't really written about "War of the Realms" mostly because I continue to enjoy it. Aaron hasn't really provided anything worth criticizing, but he also hasn't presented anything so amazing that I felt the need to comment. It's just a really solid event.
Aaron's plotting is above reproach, where he yet again manages to keep so many balls in the air while still giving each one its due. Virtually every other event author at this point in the story has you confused and tired, usually because they're trying to incorporate events that happen in the various tie-in issues. Not so here. The tie-in issues flesh out the events here, sure. But, honestly, you could really just read this mini-series and completely understand the events transpiring in it. How often do we get that, huh? Moreover, Aaron is funny as ever. The dwarves' reactions to She-Hulk calling on them to help her smash were hilarious, from one of them saying that he had dust in the eye to another one complimenting her on her motivational speaking. Thori is also great, as always, and Spider-Man continues to have such on-the-nose one-liners that I'd love for Aaron to write him one day. Dauterman is also, as always, on fire. The Iron Odin suit? Amazing. As Ghost Rider said, it's all very metal.
The only criticism I could find is that Aaron doesn't have a ton of space for emotional beats. Aaron has spent months, if not years, showing us the virtually non-existent relationship between Odin and Freyja. Here, Odin appearing to help her at her final stand on the Black Bifrost may have her claiming he finally "turned her on" for the first time ever, but it's rushed. If Aaron had more time, I could imagine him using flashbacks to remind us where we've been with these two, building to this rapprochement, instead of just hurling it at us to give us (presumably) the requisite event deaths. Again, it isn't a hideously off-note; it's just a note that I wish Aaron had more time to hit. It's a minor complaint for an otherwise great event, but there it is.
Also Read: Nightwing #60; Spider-Man and the League of the Realms #1; Star Wars: Age of Rebellion - Lando Calrissian #1; Transformers #5; War of the Realms: Strikeforce - The War Avengers #1
Batman #71: Reading an issue like this one, I always wonder how exactly it got to be this bad. Yes, some people will continue to interpret (or, to my mind, confuse) King's obtuseness for genius, in the same way that I feel people interpret (or confuse) Hickman's obtuseness for genius. But, this issue goes beyond just the question of whether obtuseness equals genius. In both stories we see here, Bruce isn't Bruce. In both stories, he's spouting phrases that it's impossible to see him saying in any form, from repeatedly telling Bane that he's going to break his "damn back" to busting into a hospital mumbling paranoid dribble about seeing the truth behind Bane. King pretty clearly seems to be building to a reveal where we learn Bruce was right all along and Bane has been running Gotham in secret. But, King has dragged out this story well, well, well beyond any point where I could care. Taking into account that the Bat-family connects Bruce's current state of mind to Catwoman leaving him at the altar, King has functionally been telling this story for almost a year at this point. But, nothing has happened. Sure, maybe Bane, with the help of Bruce's father, is secretly running Gotham from Arkham and Bruce had to escape a machine designed to make him crazy to stop Bane. Or, maybe Bruce has just been...staring at the wall imaging that for the better part of the last year? Even if Bane is engaged in shenanigans, it's been 21 issues and we're not even close to confirming if he is, let alone to getting to the point where Bruce addresses it. I almost literally feel robbed.
Guardians of the Galaxy #5: This series has pleasantly surprised me from the start, but revealing that Thanos chose Eros, not Gamora, for his host was great. First, it makes total sense from a biological standpoint: as Hela says, it had to be a Titan. But, it also makes sense from a characterization standpoint as well, as it's so...cruel. Thanos delights in the fact that Eros thought himself to be a leader finally, assembling a team to do what it needed to do to save the galaxy from Thanos. In the end, he just achieved Thanos' goal of distracting everyone so they couldn't see the truth right in front of them. I'm used to this level of plotting from Aaron and Gillen, but it's nice to see someone like Cates throwing his hat into that ring.
Star Wars #66: Gillen actually gives Trios redemption here, something that I didn't think possible. She attempts to get Kanchar to end his aerial bombardment, but he refuses, committed to killing Leia even if it means killing Trios. (He assumes another "pampered aristocrat" will take the throne, so it's no great loss to the Empire, to his mind.) Trios realizes that she has no other option other than take out Leia and hopefully stop the assault, so she rushes Leia and her squad's position in the throne room. She and Leia have a full-on sword fight, which Leia wins. Trios calls Leia a monster at the start, and Gillen reminds us that she thinks Leia is trying to destroy Shu-Torun. After Leia strikes the killing blow, she explains that she's only trying to disable the Spike. Trios informs Leia that the plan has "gone awry." Leia promises to stop the Partisans, something Han notes might be a tall order. But, Trios' dying words are the best part here. She tells Leia that she fought for Shu-Torun like Leia would've for Alderaan. She curses the fact that she survived the attack on her family and laments that Shu-Torun may be destroyed because of her actions. As she dies, she tells Leia that she believes her and apologizes for making Leia believe her. It's sad. Gillen makes us really feel the weight on Trios' shoulder this entire time, as she was forced to choose between a set of increasingly bad options. The only good news for Trios as she dies is that she's leaving behind a pissed-off Leia committed to saving her planet.
Star Wars: Tie Fighter #2: This issue is interesting not because of anything its usual cast of characters does, but because of the issue's "villain." Shadow Wing finds itself captive after it fails to protect the Star Destroyer that it was supposed to protect and squad leader Broosh surrenders to the assailants. It turns out an Imperial officer, Admiral Gratloe, is running the outfit, hoping to operate a small mining operation outside the Imperials' notice. It's not entirely an enthralling issue, particularly since Shadow Wing goes all do-gooder here, in the sense that they plan on re-claiming the operation for the Empire. But, it does do something that we don't normally see, showing us the expanding chaos in the post-"Return of the Jedi" galaxy. Gratloe just wants to get him some, and I find myself relieved that the Powers That Be in "Star Wars" Land finally show this type of story. In all the galaxy, someone has to try to seize the moment. We often only see this galaxy far, far away through the eyes of ideologically motivated protagonists. But, I love watching a NPC operating on the margins and hope we get more issues like it.
War of the Realms #4: I haven't really written about "War of the Realms" mostly because I continue to enjoy it. Aaron hasn't really provided anything worth criticizing, but he also hasn't presented anything so amazing that I felt the need to comment. It's just a really solid event.
Aaron's plotting is above reproach, where he yet again manages to keep so many balls in the air while still giving each one its due. Virtually every other event author at this point in the story has you confused and tired, usually because they're trying to incorporate events that happen in the various tie-in issues. Not so here. The tie-in issues flesh out the events here, sure. But, honestly, you could really just read this mini-series and completely understand the events transpiring in it. How often do we get that, huh? Moreover, Aaron is funny as ever. The dwarves' reactions to She-Hulk calling on them to help her smash were hilarious, from one of them saying that he had dust in the eye to another one complimenting her on her motivational speaking. Thori is also great, as always, and Spider-Man continues to have such on-the-nose one-liners that I'd love for Aaron to write him one day. Dauterman is also, as always, on fire. The Iron Odin suit? Amazing. As Ghost Rider said, it's all very metal.
The only criticism I could find is that Aaron doesn't have a ton of space for emotional beats. Aaron has spent months, if not years, showing us the virtually non-existent relationship between Odin and Freyja. Here, Odin appearing to help her at her final stand on the Black Bifrost may have her claiming he finally "turned her on" for the first time ever, but it's rushed. If Aaron had more time, I could imagine him using flashbacks to remind us where we've been with these two, building to this rapprochement, instead of just hurling it at us to give us (presumably) the requisite event deaths. Again, it isn't a hideously off-note; it's just a note that I wish Aaron had more time to hit. It's a minor complaint for an otherwise great event, but there it is.
Also Read: Nightwing #60; Spider-Man and the League of the Realms #1; Star Wars: Age of Rebellion - Lando Calrissian #1; Transformers #5; War of the Realms: Strikeforce - The War Avengers #1
Monday, March 23, 2020
Not-Even-Remotely-New Comics: The April 17 "War of the Realms" Marvel Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
I'm back. Yes, I'm aware that this event happened almost exactly a year ago. I also became a parent almost exactly a year ago, explaining why I'm a little...late in posting. But, I figured why not get back on the horse where it threw me, right?
(Marvel didn't publish these issues in the same order as the reading checklist in the back of "War of the Realms" #1 shows them. I'm presenting them here in the recommended order, even though they're not all strictly "April 17" issues.)
War of the Realms #2: I don't have much to say here because Aaron is an expert at delivering this sort of pitched battle; I don't think anyone else does it remotely as well. Only the opening issue of "Age of Ultron" comes close in my mind to using so many characters so effectively to convey the increasing sense of desperation and then doom that falls over the heroes as they struggle against Malekith's horde. Aaron's characterization is stellar, from small moments (like Wolverine's "Good catching up" quip to the Punisher after Frank simply states that he's "reloaded") to larger ones (like Jane's persistent need to find Malekith to hand him his head). No one acts against character just to advance the plot, as we often see in these events. When Dr. Strange inadvertently evacuates everyone to Avengers Mountain, you feel the heroes' overwhelming sense of confusion, as they want to return to battle but also realize that they can't win in a head-on conflict. (Also, how often does someone make a mistake in these events? That alone was a breath of fresh air.) Aaron then does a great job setting the stage for the four different quests the Avengers and their allies begin: rescuing Thor from Jotunheim, destroying the Black Bifrost in Svartalfheim, taking out Roxxon so T'Challa can essentially reboot the internet, and defending Earth. Aaron is pulling in every thread of his years-long run on the various Thor titles, and it's a wonderful tapestry to behold. By the time Malekith murders Valkyrie, you begin to believe the scroll, that the time of gods and Valhalla has ended. I am very excited about this event.
Thor #12: Aaron cleverly uses "A Christmas Carol" as inspiration here, forcing Loki to confront his various selves -- past, present, and future -- as he dissolves in Laufey's stomach. Loki is forced to confront his long (and persistent) history of evil, from allowing Eldred, his mentor in magic, to starve to death in the prison where Loki first met him to facing Kid Loki's accusation that maybe poisoning his mother wasn't the best way to prove that he wasn't evil. In the latter case, Loki insists that he was doing it to save her, but he has a much harder time justifying his evolution into Loki the Necrogod. Perhaps mostly notably, for fans of Loki's "Young Avengers" and "Loki: Agent of Asgard" arcs, I think Aaron finally acknowledges Loki's attempt to become the God of Stories here. I've been waiting a long time for that moment, and Aaron doesn't disappoint. In the past, Aaron has seemed to ignore Loki's evolution in those series, but here he more or less confirms that people continue to misunderstand Loki. But, importantly, Aaron also has Loki embrace the "truth" underlying that misunderstanding, his desire not to be a villain. To that end, he seems to accept his death in Laufey's stomach in order to prevent his evolution into the Necrogod. I don't think that it'll stick, to be honest. But, again, it's nice to see Aaron not using Loki as simply a useful tool of evil, instead forcing Loki to confront the fact that maybe all his scheming with Malekith didn't work out exactly the way that he hoped.
Avengers #18: This issue is...weird. We learn Agent Coulson has made some sort of deal with Mephisto not only to return to life but also to exert control over the Squadron Supreme. He controls them absolutely, convincing them that they've been guarding the United States for years. I'm not sure if Coulson's heel turn has been covered in a S.H.I.E.L.D. series, but I'll say that it's jarring to see him this way. Aaron does a good job tying the team's debut to the War of the Realms, as they help fend off a Frost Giant attack on Washington, DC. In that way, it's a solid tie-in issue, using the event to advance an ongoing plot line (even if it's one at which Aaron has only hinted previously). But, I have to admit that it feels like a little too much, a development that the already ambitious "War of the Realms" story could've managed not to include.
Also Read: War of the Realms: Journey into Mystery #1; War of the Realms: War Scrolls #1
(Marvel didn't publish these issues in the same order as the reading checklist in the back of "War of the Realms" #1 shows them. I'm presenting them here in the recommended order, even though they're not all strictly "April 17" issues.)
War of the Realms #2: I don't have much to say here because Aaron is an expert at delivering this sort of pitched battle; I don't think anyone else does it remotely as well. Only the opening issue of "Age of Ultron" comes close in my mind to using so many characters so effectively to convey the increasing sense of desperation and then doom that falls over the heroes as they struggle against Malekith's horde. Aaron's characterization is stellar, from small moments (like Wolverine's "Good catching up" quip to the Punisher after Frank simply states that he's "reloaded") to larger ones (like Jane's persistent need to find Malekith to hand him his head). No one acts against character just to advance the plot, as we often see in these events. When Dr. Strange inadvertently evacuates everyone to Avengers Mountain, you feel the heroes' overwhelming sense of confusion, as they want to return to battle but also realize that they can't win in a head-on conflict. (Also, how often does someone make a mistake in these events? That alone was a breath of fresh air.) Aaron then does a great job setting the stage for the four different quests the Avengers and their allies begin: rescuing Thor from Jotunheim, destroying the Black Bifrost in Svartalfheim, taking out Roxxon so T'Challa can essentially reboot the internet, and defending Earth. Aaron is pulling in every thread of his years-long run on the various Thor titles, and it's a wonderful tapestry to behold. By the time Malekith murders Valkyrie, you begin to believe the scroll, that the time of gods and Valhalla has ended. I am very excited about this event.
Thor #12: Aaron cleverly uses "A Christmas Carol" as inspiration here, forcing Loki to confront his various selves -- past, present, and future -- as he dissolves in Laufey's stomach. Loki is forced to confront his long (and persistent) history of evil, from allowing Eldred, his mentor in magic, to starve to death in the prison where Loki first met him to facing Kid Loki's accusation that maybe poisoning his mother wasn't the best way to prove that he wasn't evil. In the latter case, Loki insists that he was doing it to save her, but he has a much harder time justifying his evolution into Loki the Necrogod. Perhaps mostly notably, for fans of Loki's "Young Avengers" and "Loki: Agent of Asgard" arcs, I think Aaron finally acknowledges Loki's attempt to become the God of Stories here. I've been waiting a long time for that moment, and Aaron doesn't disappoint. In the past, Aaron has seemed to ignore Loki's evolution in those series, but here he more or less confirms that people continue to misunderstand Loki. But, importantly, Aaron also has Loki embrace the "truth" underlying that misunderstanding, his desire not to be a villain. To that end, he seems to accept his death in Laufey's stomach in order to prevent his evolution into the Necrogod. I don't think that it'll stick, to be honest. But, again, it's nice to see Aaron not using Loki as simply a useful tool of evil, instead forcing Loki to confront the fact that maybe all his scheming with Malekith didn't work out exactly the way that he hoped.
Avengers #18: This issue is...weird. We learn Agent Coulson has made some sort of deal with Mephisto not only to return to life but also to exert control over the Squadron Supreme. He controls them absolutely, convincing them that they've been guarding the United States for years. I'm not sure if Coulson's heel turn has been covered in a S.H.I.E.L.D. series, but I'll say that it's jarring to see him this way. Aaron does a good job tying the team's debut to the War of the Realms, as they help fend off a Frost Giant attack on Washington, DC. In that way, it's a solid tie-in issue, using the event to advance an ongoing plot line (even if it's one at which Aaron has only hinted previously). But, I have to admit that it feels like a little too much, a development that the already ambitious "War of the Realms" story could've managed not to include.
Also Read: War of the Realms: Journey into Mystery #1; War of the Realms: War Scrolls #1
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Not-Very-New Comics: The April 3 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
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