*** (three of five stars)
Favorite Quote: "Maybe I'll land on a street mime and make my death count --" -- Fitz, entering free-fall as his "gypsy cab" dies under him
Summary
A police vehicle makes its way through a storm, with one officer asking the other if he thinks the storm is a sign that Thor has actually returned. The other officer observes that everything has been weird since Spider-Man appeared and asks how he could explain the "freaks in that high-rise crib." He mentions how four of them were there, but they captured only the "normal one." However, at that moment, a blast of energy bursts from the vehicle and a mutant (obviously the source of the burst) exits the car, telling the (presumably unconscious or dead) officers that he has to find his friends. Meanwhile, on Valhalla, the X-Men face Heimdall. Blookdhawk attacks, though he's easily deflected by Heimdall, whose ability to see everything allows him to prepare for the attack before it happens. Before he uses his sword to cut Bloodhawk, Heimdall is stopped by Krystalin, who rains diamonds on him. Meanstreak acknowledges to himself that Heimdall's fast, but hopes that he's sufficiently distracted by Krystalin's attack not to notice him speeding towards him with the intent of knocking him unconscious with a pipe. However, Heimdall does notice and instead knocks out Meanstreak with a well-placed punch. In the shadows, Loki observes the scene, noting to himself that Heimdall is the most steadfast and dedicated of the Aesir. He quietly beseeches his "old friend," Meanstreak, to regain consciousness, noting that he didn't bring him to Valhalla to miss what he has planned. Before Heimdall can attack again, Krystalin is rescued by Ravage. He tells Krystalin how "Hela" was actually his friend Tiana, viewing it as proof that the Aesir are not gods. Krystalin wonders what the Aesir's purpose is and Ravage hypothesizes that they're a distraction from the faulty anti-gravity devices. They then head below to shut down the machinery. Thor meanwhile appears in the sky and a crowd of believers assemble in the park to try to get rides to Valhalla from "gypsy pilots," drivers of dilapidated taxis passing off themselves as "Valkyrie" and charging $1,000 a ride. The guy with the energy blasts tries to make his way to the front of the line and, when some of the faithful try to stop him, he ignites them with his powers. He notes to himself that it's the second time he's been able to generate his power willingly and then makes his way to the front of the line, convincing the scared driver to take him to Valhalla. The driver assures him that his car is reliable and asks if it's his first time in New York. The question results in a flashback...
The X-Men enter New York in a car, after having apparently landed their plane in a warehouse that Meanstreak maintains in New Jersey. They're in New York to investigate the disappearance of Meanstreak's friend who was looking into the Valhalla project. As they make their way through traffic, they notice the newsscreens reporting on the appearance of Thor and the Aesir. They arrive at an apartment that Meanstreak and his friend, Jordan, kept to keep Alchemax in the dark about their "extra-curricular activities." They're stopped by a dominatrix version of Lyla and Meanstreak asks her about Jordan. She tells him that she hasn't seen him for 22 days. The X-Man with the energy blasts ("Fitz") sits in a gel chair while Meanstreak explores the apartment for clues. He finds Jordan's personal journal and plays it. Jordan reveals that Alchemax launched the "Floating City" two years earlier than scheduled, even though internal memos that he found showed that the anti-gravity core was dangerously unstable. The tests were buried by the "ECO" office so that the project could be approved, as it was, by Paul-Philip Ravage. The X-Men decide to pay Ravage a visit (as we saw in "Ravage 2099" #15) when armed officers burst into the apartment. Fitz mistakes them for the Public Eye, but Meanstreak corrects him, saying that they're the Shadow Squad, Alchemax's internal security that must've been monitoring the apartment. Fitz is stuck in his chair, but the rest escape to go talk to Ravage.
In the present, Fitz reveals that it was the Shadow Squad from whom he escaped at the start of the issue. Relishing his new found control over his power, he begins to wonder if Jordan has been found just as the flying car dies. The driver bails with the only parachute and Fitz begins to free-fall with the car, before a hand rescues him. Elsewhere, the Punisher and Spidey make their way to Valhalla on the stolen flybike, watching the flying car crash. At Alchemax HQ, the CEO reveals his plans, opining that the masses are so gullible that they pray to fictional deities to rescue them from their mundane lives. He's now created a new pantheon to worship -- Hela, Heimdall, Thor, Baldur, and Loki -- and hopes that they will cause the other heroes to fall from grace after being branded as heretics and killed by the Alchemax "gods."
Back on Valhalla, the X-Men still face Heimdall and Krystalin attempts to buy time while Bloodhawk recovers. Heimdall is impressed and offers her a place on Valhalla, noticing the Mjolnir necklace she wears; she had earlier noted that she wore it to honor her mother, who died believing in Thor. Angered, she tells Heimdall that she doesn't believe in his Thor. Meanwhile, Meanstreak regains consciousness coming nose-to-nose with a wolf, who transforms himself into Loki. He offers his assistance, something that Meanstreak is loathe to accept, given that Loki is the God of Mischief. Loki notes that a gift from the gods is a rare thing and gives him a device that can turn off the neurotechnology that gives Heimdall his accelerated responses and heightened perception. Meanstreak takes it and speeds towards Heimdall, just as he breaks Krystalin's shield and tells her that those who oppose the Aesir must fall. Meanstreak activates the device and Bloodhawk sees his opening, taking down Heimdall. Loki joins them and reveals that he is, in fact, Jordan Boone. He notes that Meanstreak's mutant powers had always given him the edge in their competition, but his new powers as a god give him something to match them. Meanstreak asks about the side effects, but Loki tells him that he needed the power. Alchemax was rushing the transformation to coincide with the Valhalla launch, so he broke into the research banks to alter his psych and gene profiles to match the criteria. He also knew the tech, so he sabotaged the process to retain his identity. At that moment, Doom arrives with Fitz (he was the hand that saved him). Loki implies that he manipulated the situation to ensure that all the heroes were on Valhalla. Annoyed at the deception, Bloodhawk strikes Loki and departs to take down Valhalla, but he's felled by a lightning bolt. Thor then appears, declaring no quarter and no mercy will be given to them for opposing the Aesir.
The Review
After reading this issue, I have to wonder why it didn't come before "Ravage 2099" #15? We learn why the X-Men are in New York (though not exactly how they knew about the ecological impact of Valhalla, given that Bloodhawk mentions it before they get to Henri and Jordan's apartment) and why they approached Ravage in the first place (though not why Ravage had Boone's disc). Otherwise, this issue is remarkable for confirming that Alchemax was, indeed, behind the creation of the Aesir.
The Good
1) Moore did a great job slowly building off the hints laid by Mills and Skinner in "Ravage 2099" #15 that Alchemax created the Aesir. First, during the flashback, we get Alchemax's infonet broadcasting information about the appearance of the Aesir, something I'd assume Alchemax wouldn't be doing if it had wanted to keep their arrival quiet. Second, we learn the real nature of the Aesir's "powers." Heimdall and Thor begin the issue appearing to possess their powers naturally, as they did in the previous two issues of the event. Heimdall manages to knock down Meanstreak, despite his speed, and Thor appears mid-air in a storm that seems to be of his making. Neither seems to possess any obvious technological support that gives him his powers. However, once the curtain is pulled back a little, it's pulled back completely. Loki helps Meanstreak disable Heimdall's genetic enhancements and confesses to his own enhancements, making it clear that the Aesir are not gods. Moreover, in case anyone still had doubts, the CEO reveals his plans, confirming Alchemax's role in their creation.
2) Also, in terms of confirmation, I'm glad we learned that Meanstreak is the "Henri" to whom we originally saw Boone address his message in "Spider-Man 2099" #15.
The Unknown
1) We still haven't seen Baldur, if I'm not mistaken?
2) We also still haven't learned why Alchemax decided to rush the launch of Valhalla and the Aesir. Was it just to combat the heroes? I mean, were they really causing that many problems? It seems a little short-sighted for such a huge company, particularly if it means that a huge investment like Valhalla is going to wind up failing.
3) I'm still not sure what mischief Loki brought the X-Men to Valhalla to sow? Was it to challenge Alchemax? Moreover, if he wanted the X-Men on Valhalla, why did he tell Heimdall that they were coming? Didn't that risk Heimdall successfully repelling them? Was it just part of the mischief?
4) As mentioned above, we do learn here why the X-Men decided to approach Ravage about Boone in "Ravage 2099" #15, something that didn't seem to make sense at the time. But, we still don't learn how Ravage came into possession of Boone's disc or why the X-Men knew that Valhalla is an impending ecological catastrophe. I'm assuming previous issues of "Ravage 2099" and "X-Men 2099" addressed those issues, but it would've been nice for the authors to have brought those of us not reading those titles up-to-speed.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
New Comics!: The "X-Men Get in Touch with Their Feelngs" Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Both X-Men issues covered in this review were pretty emotional affairs. From David giving us some insight into powerless "superheroes" to Gage pondering the meaning of transformative friendships, the X-Men got in touch with their feeling this month!
Similarly, I thought Shatterstar touchingly telling the kid's mother that her son was a warrior who will be avenged was a key moment. First, it remnds us 'Star is a person, too, even if he sometimes shows it in a weird way. David continues with that theme later, showing 'Star insisting on coming with Jamie to Seattle when Longshot is rendered comatose after "reading" the camera, noting their "personal" connection. 'Star is often played for laughs because of his lack of empathy (such as his comment earlier in the issue about knowing how many quarts of blood the human body has), but David never lets him fall into caricature, showing us moments like this one that remind us who he really is. Moreover, this moment is important not just in terms of characterizaiton, but also in terms of the plot. It shows a reverence for the victims on the part of X-Factor, a respect that these guys don't normally get. Shutterbug's mother notes the fact that no one took her son and his friends seriously; 'Star, of all people, telling her that they were warriors who need to be avenged tells us, the reader, that we need to pay attention to them, because they're not just jokes. It's a small scene, but I really feel like the whole issue pivots off it.
But, David doesn't slow the pace for these moments of characterizations, returning us quickly to the story at hand by showing us (or, at least, X-Factor) the brutality with which Shutterbug was killed. Madrox and 'Star head for Seattle, and it's here where David really shines, as "Multitask" and "Starface" go on patrol with the X-Ceptionals. David makes us care about the characters, with Lord Defender priding himself on helping a junkie, Alfonse, stay clean, only for us to see Buzzkill minutes later find drugs on him. David gives us a sweet moment, if you can call it "sweet," when Alfonse tells Buzzkill that everyone knows that Lord D is a joke and Buzzkill tells him that he doesn't know and they're going to keep it that way. It's this moment that makes you like Buzzkill and realize that he's the backbone of the X-Ceptionals, something that makes it all the more devastating when he's killed moments later. David leaves us hanging, promising 'Star unleashed on the vigilantes' killer and, because of the work he's done humanizing the victims of this killer, I really want to see nothing more than 'Star go to town on him. Yet another amazing issue. Seriously, how does David do it?
X-Men Legacy #265: OK, I'll admit that I was waiting for Mimic to plant one on Omega by the end of his speech at the end of this issue. But, even if he went a little overboard with the bromance, Gage still delivers a really moving issue, with Mimic telling Omega how he helped him get through his dark times and realizing that his best times were with the X-Men. First, I didn't see the twist at the end of the issue coming. For most of the issue, I kept thinking, "OK, sure, they're living bombs, but, c'mon, Rogue is going to die." As such, I assumed whatever solution that they developed to the problem would be a solution for all of them. But, instead, Gage got me when it solved only Mimic and Rogue's problem. On some level, it had to be done, because, if they had all been saved, it would've reduced the impact of the story, leaving us rolling our eyes at yet another brush-with-death story. Instead, we're left with Omega appearing to be on the verge of death, something he wants. Of all the moving moments in this issue, I thought Omega whispering, "Can't you just let me go?" was the most moving, the most meaningful. It goes to the entire core of the X-Men: they don't let each other go. After "X-Men: Schism," I feel like Gage is specifically reminding us of that fact, using it to have Rogue remember who she is. Speaking of Rogue, Gage continues to do great work with her here, having her come to the realization that, despite all her growth, she's still just looking for someone strong to give her direction, after so many years of worrying that she wasn't behaving the way she normally would, but instead being influenced by one of the personalities that she absorbed. It's a great epiphany, in part because it not only truly encapsulates who Rogue was (and remind her how far she has come), but also manages to really flow naturally from the story Gage is telling here: you can rely on your friends to help be who you're supposed to be, but you still have to have an idea of who it is that you want to be. In the speech to which I allude at the beginning of this review, Mimic tells Omega that he can be strong without him, because he had been strong with him. It's a great testament to friendship, even if it's a little mushy. I'm glad Mimic is staying, because he's exactly the type of person that I think Logan had in mind when he re-started the school, someone trying to find his way again.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Ravage 2099 #15: "Fall of the Hammer" Part 2 ("Horns of a Dilemma")
** (two of five stars)
Summary
The X-Men end a "holocall" with Ravage, who did not like the "threatening attitude of those arrogant young punks." He reveals that the X-Men want a disc that he liberated from Alchemax that may have something to do with their "missing friend." Suddenly, one of the X-Men bursts into Ravage's office. He tells Ravage that "Meanstreak's" friend, Jordan Boone, has disappeared after compiling incriminating evidence on Alchemax's problems with Valhalla and demands that Ravage tell him where Jordan is. However, Ravage transforms, telling the X-Man that he knows nothing about Jordan, but is willing to give him a fight. The X-Man is tempted, but notes that fighting Ravage won't help him find Jordan or "bring down that ecological nightmare, Valhalla!" Realizing that the X-Man isn't a friend of Alchemax, Ravage suggests that they cease hostilities and talk, just as the other two X-Men, Meanstreak and Krystalin, arrive. Ravage tells them the little he knows about the disc and they tell him what they know. They all agree that they have to go to Valhalla to get answers, and Ravage commandeers a ship to get them there. Meanstreak wonders if their goal is to take down Valhalla, but Ravage notes that, although he also originally planned to do so, the ecological consequences would be too severe. He notes that it's the "long wave generators" causing the problem, and, if they can replace them, they can solve the problem. He mentions that his uneasy ally, Doom, might be able to help him neutralize the threat. Meanstreak balks at Ravage's leadership, but the X-Man who was first fighting Ravage, Bloodhawk, and Krystalin encourage them to put aside their "absurd male posturing" and get the job done. They arrive above Valhalla, only to encounter the Public Eye. One officer asks his supervisor if they're "the official Valhalla heroes," and the supervisor informs him that they're the "mavericks" they've been "warned about." The Public Eye attacks and the X-Men take down the officers while Ravage steals a flybike and heads to Valhalla. He looks to meet Doom to break through the "stasis skin" of the generators and destroy them, assuming Doom will find a way to keep the city aloft. Heimdall sees Ravage arrive and prepares to attack.
Meanwhile, the Punisher is holding a gun on Spidey so he can keep his attention focused on the Punisher while he talks. The Punisher informs Spidey that he was fighting "a crazed beast" on Valhalla when he saw Spidey take on Thor and observes that, based on his checking, "things aren't the way they seem" on Valhalla. He mentions that he's not sure who to trust, but Spidey says that, based on what he knows about the Punisher, they're both the good guys, standing against "Alchemax, Valhalla, and the so-called Aesir." The two decide to take the Public Eye flybike that the Punisher has stolen to Valhalla. On Valhalla, Heimdall attacks Ravage. When Ravage mentions the impact of Valhalla on the environment, Heimdall seems aware of it, noting that the destruction of a few fish is an acceptable price for the "greater glory of the gods." Ravage realizes that anyone willing to destroy nature to boost his ego isn't a god and redoubles his attack. Heimdall knocks him to the ground and, before Bloodhawk can launch a sneak attack, Heimdall attacks, proving his point that he's all-seeing. Krystalin and Meanstreak also arrive and Heimdall mentions that Loki warned him that they'd come. Krystalin hypothesizes that Jordan might have become one of the Valhalla gods; Loki, watching the battle elsewhere on a monitor, comments, "If only you knew, my dear..." While the X-Men fight Heimdall to get more information on Jordan, Ravage leaves the scene to meet Doom, running into Hela on the way. The two battle, and Ravage manages to land a punch. Hela asks how he, "Paul-Philip," could hurt her and Ravage realizes that it's his secretary, Tiana. He tells her that he didn't intend to hurt her and she grabs her "Death Rake" and attacks him again. Ravage is reluctant to hurt her, but tries to defend himself. He attempts talking to her, but she refuses to engage, saying that she's no longer the weakling who fawned over his every word. He tells her that he never thought of her that way, telling her that he saw her as "sensitive...intelligent...kind..." but she keeps on attacking. He tells her that she's being used and that Valhalla is going to kill millions of people if it's not stopped. Hela knocks him from her, telling him that he used her because he knew that she loved him. He tells her that she's trying to establish her own identity at his expense and that she's wrong to do it. He promises not to defend himself, being willing to lay down his life to prove it. She tries to kill him, but can't. She sobs and he tells her that it was worth risking his life because he believes in her. She admits that she hasn't thought through her involvement with the Aesir and he offers to help. She rejects his offer, saying that she can't trust him if she can't trust herself. She leaves and Ravage departs to bring down Valhalla.
The Review
The main drawback of this issue is not just that it begins in media res, but that it also doesn't do a great job of filling in the details as we go. As a result, I spent most of the issue feeling like I was reading the series in the wrong order. However, Mills and Skinner manage to tell a compelling story, giving us our first real hints that Alchemax is, in fact, behind the appearance of the Aesir. We learn that Hela and (presumably) Loki are Tiana and Jordan, both employees of Alchemax. We also hear the one Public Eye officer mention the "official Valhalla heroes" to the other one. It doesn't explain how Alchemax gave the Aesir powers, but, given the genetic research that created Spider-Man, Venture, and the corporate raiders from the Spider-Man story in "2099 Unlimited" #2, it's pretty easy to believe Alchemax found a way to create a bunch of "gods."
The Good
To be honest, I felt the need to throw in a "Good" here, because I didn't hate this issue, despite the coordination problems. It moved at a good pace and did at least forward the central plot, even if it left you scratching your head at points.
The Unknown
1) I wonder to what extent Alchemax knows of the ecological troubles of Valhalla. We don't get told here how the X-Men learned of the problem, so it's unclear to me if Alchemax knows that Valhalla is the imminent ecological nightmare that Ravage and the X-Men seem to think it is.
2) If Boone is indeed Loki, why would he warn Heimdall that the X-Men were coming, if the X-Men were his friends?
The Bad
1) The first two pages of this issue are the most problematic in terms of getting dropped in the middle of the story with little to help us understand. We learn that the X-Men have just ended a call with Ravage, though we can only guess that the call had something to do with the "missing friend" that he mentions. He refers to the disc he "liberated" from Alchemax, but we don't learn why or how he "liberated" it. We see Bloodhawk burst into Ravage's office, raising the question why the X-Men called Ravage if they were close enough to "visit" him in the first place. Then, we learn that the disc that Ravage has does have something to do with the "missing friend," but we still don't learn why Ravage has it. In fact, Ravage tells Bloodhawk that he doesn't know anything about Jordan, making it all the odder that he would have his disc.
2) I thought it was weird that Krystalin, upon hearing Loki's name, goes from not recognizing the name to hypothesizing (correctly) that he's Jordan. Given the main problem with most of this issue, that a number of the plots originated in previous issues, it's unclear if something happened before this issue that would lead Krystalin to think of Jordan when she heard Loki's name mentioned. But, to be honest, it seems more like sloppy writing to me.
Summary
The X-Men end a "holocall" with Ravage, who did not like the "threatening attitude of those arrogant young punks." He reveals that the X-Men want a disc that he liberated from Alchemax that may have something to do with their "missing friend." Suddenly, one of the X-Men bursts into Ravage's office. He tells Ravage that "Meanstreak's" friend, Jordan Boone, has disappeared after compiling incriminating evidence on Alchemax's problems with Valhalla and demands that Ravage tell him where Jordan is. However, Ravage transforms, telling the X-Man that he knows nothing about Jordan, but is willing to give him a fight. The X-Man is tempted, but notes that fighting Ravage won't help him find Jordan or "bring down that ecological nightmare, Valhalla!" Realizing that the X-Man isn't a friend of Alchemax, Ravage suggests that they cease hostilities and talk, just as the other two X-Men, Meanstreak and Krystalin, arrive. Ravage tells them the little he knows about the disc and they tell him what they know. They all agree that they have to go to Valhalla to get answers, and Ravage commandeers a ship to get them there. Meanstreak wonders if their goal is to take down Valhalla, but Ravage notes that, although he also originally planned to do so, the ecological consequences would be too severe. He notes that it's the "long wave generators" causing the problem, and, if they can replace them, they can solve the problem. He mentions that his uneasy ally, Doom, might be able to help him neutralize the threat. Meanstreak balks at Ravage's leadership, but the X-Man who was first fighting Ravage, Bloodhawk, and Krystalin encourage them to put aside their "absurd male posturing" and get the job done. They arrive above Valhalla, only to encounter the Public Eye. One officer asks his supervisor if they're "the official Valhalla heroes," and the supervisor informs him that they're the "mavericks" they've been "warned about." The Public Eye attacks and the X-Men take down the officers while Ravage steals a flybike and heads to Valhalla. He looks to meet Doom to break through the "stasis skin" of the generators and destroy them, assuming Doom will find a way to keep the city aloft. Heimdall sees Ravage arrive and prepares to attack.
Meanwhile, the Punisher is holding a gun on Spidey so he can keep his attention focused on the Punisher while he talks. The Punisher informs Spidey that he was fighting "a crazed beast" on Valhalla when he saw Spidey take on Thor and observes that, based on his checking, "things aren't the way they seem" on Valhalla. He mentions that he's not sure who to trust, but Spidey says that, based on what he knows about the Punisher, they're both the good guys, standing against "Alchemax, Valhalla, and the so-called Aesir." The two decide to take the Public Eye flybike that the Punisher has stolen to Valhalla. On Valhalla, Heimdall attacks Ravage. When Ravage mentions the impact of Valhalla on the environment, Heimdall seems aware of it, noting that the destruction of a few fish is an acceptable price for the "greater glory of the gods." Ravage realizes that anyone willing to destroy nature to boost his ego isn't a god and redoubles his attack. Heimdall knocks him to the ground and, before Bloodhawk can launch a sneak attack, Heimdall attacks, proving his point that he's all-seeing. Krystalin and Meanstreak also arrive and Heimdall mentions that Loki warned him that they'd come. Krystalin hypothesizes that Jordan might have become one of the Valhalla gods; Loki, watching the battle elsewhere on a monitor, comments, "If only you knew, my dear..." While the X-Men fight Heimdall to get more information on Jordan, Ravage leaves the scene to meet Doom, running into Hela on the way. The two battle, and Ravage manages to land a punch. Hela asks how he, "Paul-Philip," could hurt her and Ravage realizes that it's his secretary, Tiana. He tells her that he didn't intend to hurt her and she grabs her "Death Rake" and attacks him again. Ravage is reluctant to hurt her, but tries to defend himself. He attempts talking to her, but she refuses to engage, saying that she's no longer the weakling who fawned over his every word. He tells her that he never thought of her that way, telling her that he saw her as "sensitive...intelligent...kind..." but she keeps on attacking. He tells her that she's being used and that Valhalla is going to kill millions of people if it's not stopped. Hela knocks him from her, telling him that he used her because he knew that she loved him. He tells her that she's trying to establish her own identity at his expense and that she's wrong to do it. He promises not to defend himself, being willing to lay down his life to prove it. She tries to kill him, but can't. She sobs and he tells her that it was worth risking his life because he believes in her. She admits that she hasn't thought through her involvement with the Aesir and he offers to help. She rejects his offer, saying that she can't trust him if she can't trust herself. She leaves and Ravage departs to bring down Valhalla.
The Review
The main drawback of this issue is not just that it begins in media res, but that it also doesn't do a great job of filling in the details as we go. As a result, I spent most of the issue feeling like I was reading the series in the wrong order. However, Mills and Skinner manage to tell a compelling story, giving us our first real hints that Alchemax is, in fact, behind the appearance of the Aesir. We learn that Hela and (presumably) Loki are Tiana and Jordan, both employees of Alchemax. We also hear the one Public Eye officer mention the "official Valhalla heroes" to the other one. It doesn't explain how Alchemax gave the Aesir powers, but, given the genetic research that created Spider-Man, Venture, and the corporate raiders from the Spider-Man story in "2099 Unlimited" #2, it's pretty easy to believe Alchemax found a way to create a bunch of "gods."
The Good
To be honest, I felt the need to throw in a "Good" here, because I didn't hate this issue, despite the coordination problems. It moved at a good pace and did at least forward the central plot, even if it left you scratching your head at points.
The Unknown
1) I wonder to what extent Alchemax knows of the ecological troubles of Valhalla. We don't get told here how the X-Men learned of the problem, so it's unclear to me if Alchemax knows that Valhalla is the imminent ecological nightmare that Ravage and the X-Men seem to think it is.
2) If Boone is indeed Loki, why would he warn Heimdall that the X-Men were coming, if the X-Men were his friends?
The Bad
1) The first two pages of this issue are the most problematic in terms of getting dropped in the middle of the story with little to help us understand. We learn that the X-Men have just ended a call with Ravage, though we can only guess that the call had something to do with the "missing friend" that he mentions. He refers to the disc he "liberated" from Alchemax, but we don't learn why or how he "liberated" it. We see Bloodhawk burst into Ravage's office, raising the question why the X-Men called Ravage if they were close enough to "visit" him in the first place. Then, we learn that the disc that Ravage has does have something to do with the "missing friend," but we still don't learn why Ravage has it. In fact, Ravage tells Bloodhawk that he doesn't know anything about Jordan, making it all the odder that he would have his disc.
2) I thought it was weird that Krystalin, upon hearing Loki's name, goes from not recognizing the name to hypothesizing (correctly) that he's Jordan. Given the main problem with most of this issue, that a number of the plots originated in previous issues, it's unclear if something happened before this issue that would lead Krystalin to think of Jordan when she heard Loki's name mentioned. But, to be honest, it seems more like sloppy writing to me.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Spider-Man 2099 #16: "Fall of the Hammer" Part 1 ("The Hammer Strikes!")
*** (three of five stars)
Summary
Valhalla continues its march, passing over Randall, an "indy" town not affiliated with a corporation. Thor announces that he will retain some of the people inside the Floating City to serve as sentinels, but everyone else will be lead to the place of departure by Heimdall. Before he finishes the thought, Thor notices Dana in the crowd. Calling her a "comely wench," he offers to let her see the "sport of the gods." Miguel interrupts at this point, telling Thor that they're not leaving Valhalla since Alchemax built it, not him. Thor takes umbrage when Miguel refers to him as "whoever you're supposed to be" and asserts that he is Thor. Miguel asks where Sif is and Thor responds that he'll take any port in a storm (meaning Dana), cryptically referring to the upcoming storm "blowing" our way. When Miguel tells Thor that he couldn't blow his own nose, Thor grabs him, angry at his insolence. He's initially surprised by Miguel's strength, though, when Miguel again insults him, Thor lifts him above his head and hurls him through a window. Dana accuses Thor of killing Miguel and Thor tells her that she's confusing him with her "Judeo-Christian gods," declaring that the Aesir are not gods for "soft undisciplined masses." He insists that those worshiping the Aesir have to be "truly great" and tells her to leave with the rest of the unworthy. Meanwhile, Miguel flies through the window and grabs onto the side of Valhalla, changing into his costume. As he does, he notices that they're heading to New York, wondering if it's coincidence or "divine guidance." Elsewhere, at the Wellvale home, Conchata knocks out a staff member getting into his car, stealing it and driving away. In one of the many ships departing Valhalla, Dana sobs about the loss of Miguel. One of the passengers chastises her, telling her that Thor might've let them all stay had she not rejected his advances. ("He was trying to be nice and you blew him off.") Dana decries the passenger's suggestion that he really is Thor and continues to lament Miguel's death.
In Valhalla, Spidey appears, demanding to know where "the woman" is. Thor exults at the chance to attack his false harbinger and tells him that she has departed "with the rest of the sheep that bleated in this city." Satisfied, Spidey tells Thor that he'll get leaving, but Thor orders Heimdall to attack. Heimdall hurls his sword, Hofund, at Spidey, who manages to grab it. Thor demands that Heimdall release his mental control over Hofund so that he and Spidey can fight like gods. Thor knocks Hofund from Spidey's hands with his hammer, though Spidey grabs it with a Web-Line and hurls it at Thor. Enraged by the ensuing scratch across his cheek, Thor viciously attacks Miguel, insisting that he is Thor and that Miguel has aggrandized himself by laying claim to Thor's name. Miguel defends himself, saying that the people decided on its own that he was a harbinger. Thor suggests that he's willing to forgive Miguel given his attempt to absolve himself of his responsibility, but asserts that his wrath must be assuaged. Miguel strikes him across the jaw ("Assuage this!!") and Thor decides that he has had enough. Declaring that he has only slain a handful of mortals in his time, Thor announces that Spidey is not worthy to be among them. He then hurls his hammer at Miguel's chest, sending him to a "place of public humiliation" so he can end the "harbinger nonsense." Mjolnir propels Spidey from Valhalla and across the sky until Spidey manages to free himself. He creates a Web-Chute to slow down his descent and lands on the ground. But, Mjolnir returns to him, striking him in a huge blow. Meanwhile, at Miguel's apartment, an agitated Gabe appears, demanding that Lyla tell him where Miguel is so that they can have words. Lyla repeatedly offers him a cruller, which he refuses. Exasperated, Gabe yells at Lyla, who suddenly takes on the appearance of a steroid queen, threatening to order security droids to rip our Gabe's intestines and shove them down his throat unless he takes a cruller. Gabe agrees. In a pile of rubble, Spidey comes to consciousness just in time to see the Punisher standing over him.
The Review
This issue begins the "Fall of the Hammer" cross-over event running through the 2099 titles. David spends most of the issue setting the stage, giving over large parts of the comic to Thor's monologues. Despite the lack of much action (except for a Spidey's brief battle with Heimdall and Thor), David does a great job in creating excitement for the event, mostly by using the monologues to portray Thor in a way that makes you wonder if he might actually be our guy (or, at least, some later reincarnation of him).
The Good
1) I liked how David leaves open the possibility that Thor is, well, Thor. Like Dana and Miguel, I automatically assumed that he was an impostor, but, here, we definitely see him engage in some godly behavior, from his incredible strength to his obvious control of Mjolnir. It certainly doesn't guarantee that he is actually Thor, given that it's pretty easy to believe that someone used technology to endow him with strength or give him control of the hammer. But, it did make me raise an eyebrow. He's a little coarser than our Thor, given his somewhat more energetic assertion of his godly rights than we're used to seeing. But, maybe it's because he's been outside the realm of humans for a while...
2) Miguel really needs to start thinking before he acts! In both this issue and "2099 Unlimited" #2, he defends a woman (Dana here; Anna there) from a super-villain in his civilian identity. In "2099 Unlimited," it exposed him as Spider-Man, even if Anna doesn't remember it in the end (though I still wonder if Mutagen does). In this issue, Miguel appears to be killed, meaning that he's going to have to explain to Dana, at some point, how he survived getting hurled from a window of the Floating City. I'm all for saving damsels in distress, but Miguel is going to have to start learning how to do so without so obviously jeopardizing his secret identity. (I put this comment under "Good" instead of "Bad" because it actually fits with Miguel's hot-headed identity. It makes sense that Miguel would get pissy with Thor when he's hitting on Dana, though I did think it weird that Miguel seemed more upset that Thor was claiming Valhalla for his own, almost defending Alchemax when he notes that Alchemax, and not Thor, built Valhalla. But, I think David made it clear that Miguel was mostly acting on behalf of Dana, so I'm willing to look past the somewhat weird exchange.)
Summary
Valhalla continues its march, passing over Randall, an "indy" town not affiliated with a corporation. Thor announces that he will retain some of the people inside the Floating City to serve as sentinels, but everyone else will be lead to the place of departure by Heimdall. Before he finishes the thought, Thor notices Dana in the crowd. Calling her a "comely wench," he offers to let her see the "sport of the gods." Miguel interrupts at this point, telling Thor that they're not leaving Valhalla since Alchemax built it, not him. Thor takes umbrage when Miguel refers to him as "whoever you're supposed to be" and asserts that he is Thor. Miguel asks where Sif is and Thor responds that he'll take any port in a storm (meaning Dana), cryptically referring to the upcoming storm "blowing" our way. When Miguel tells Thor that he couldn't blow his own nose, Thor grabs him, angry at his insolence. He's initially surprised by Miguel's strength, though, when Miguel again insults him, Thor lifts him above his head and hurls him through a window. Dana accuses Thor of killing Miguel and Thor tells her that she's confusing him with her "Judeo-Christian gods," declaring that the Aesir are not gods for "soft undisciplined masses." He insists that those worshiping the Aesir have to be "truly great" and tells her to leave with the rest of the unworthy. Meanwhile, Miguel flies through the window and grabs onto the side of Valhalla, changing into his costume. As he does, he notices that they're heading to New York, wondering if it's coincidence or "divine guidance." Elsewhere, at the Wellvale home, Conchata knocks out a staff member getting into his car, stealing it and driving away. In one of the many ships departing Valhalla, Dana sobs about the loss of Miguel. One of the passengers chastises her, telling her that Thor might've let them all stay had she not rejected his advances. ("He was trying to be nice and you blew him off.") Dana decries the passenger's suggestion that he really is Thor and continues to lament Miguel's death.
In Valhalla, Spidey appears, demanding to know where "the woman" is. Thor exults at the chance to attack his false harbinger and tells him that she has departed "with the rest of the sheep that bleated in this city." Satisfied, Spidey tells Thor that he'll get leaving, but Thor orders Heimdall to attack. Heimdall hurls his sword, Hofund, at Spidey, who manages to grab it. Thor demands that Heimdall release his mental control over Hofund so that he and Spidey can fight like gods. Thor knocks Hofund from Spidey's hands with his hammer, though Spidey grabs it with a Web-Line and hurls it at Thor. Enraged by the ensuing scratch across his cheek, Thor viciously attacks Miguel, insisting that he is Thor and that Miguel has aggrandized himself by laying claim to Thor's name. Miguel defends himself, saying that the people decided on its own that he was a harbinger. Thor suggests that he's willing to forgive Miguel given his attempt to absolve himself of his responsibility, but asserts that his wrath must be assuaged. Miguel strikes him across the jaw ("Assuage this!!") and Thor decides that he has had enough. Declaring that he has only slain a handful of mortals in his time, Thor announces that Spidey is not worthy to be among them. He then hurls his hammer at Miguel's chest, sending him to a "place of public humiliation" so he can end the "harbinger nonsense." Mjolnir propels Spidey from Valhalla and across the sky until Spidey manages to free himself. He creates a Web-Chute to slow down his descent and lands on the ground. But, Mjolnir returns to him, striking him in a huge blow. Meanwhile, at Miguel's apartment, an agitated Gabe appears, demanding that Lyla tell him where Miguel is so that they can have words. Lyla repeatedly offers him a cruller, which he refuses. Exasperated, Gabe yells at Lyla, who suddenly takes on the appearance of a steroid queen, threatening to order security droids to rip our Gabe's intestines and shove them down his throat unless he takes a cruller. Gabe agrees. In a pile of rubble, Spidey comes to consciousness just in time to see the Punisher standing over him.
The Review
This issue begins the "Fall of the Hammer" cross-over event running through the 2099 titles. David spends most of the issue setting the stage, giving over large parts of the comic to Thor's monologues. Despite the lack of much action (except for a Spidey's brief battle with Heimdall and Thor), David does a great job in creating excitement for the event, mostly by using the monologues to portray Thor in a way that makes you wonder if he might actually be our guy (or, at least, some later reincarnation of him).
The Good
1) I liked how David leaves open the possibility that Thor is, well, Thor. Like Dana and Miguel, I automatically assumed that he was an impostor, but, here, we definitely see him engage in some godly behavior, from his incredible strength to his obvious control of Mjolnir. It certainly doesn't guarantee that he is actually Thor, given that it's pretty easy to believe that someone used technology to endow him with strength or give him control of the hammer. But, it did make me raise an eyebrow. He's a little coarser than our Thor, given his somewhat more energetic assertion of his godly rights than we're used to seeing. But, maybe it's because he's been outside the realm of humans for a while...
2) Miguel really needs to start thinking before he acts! In both this issue and "2099 Unlimited" #2, he defends a woman (Dana here; Anna there) from a super-villain in his civilian identity. In "2099 Unlimited," it exposed him as Spider-Man, even if Anna doesn't remember it in the end (though I still wonder if Mutagen does). In this issue, Miguel appears to be killed, meaning that he's going to have to explain to Dana, at some point, how he survived getting hurled from a window of the Floating City. I'm all for saving damsels in distress, but Miguel is going to have to start learning how to do so without so obviously jeopardizing his secret identity. (I put this comment under "Good" instead of "Bad" because it actually fits with Miguel's hot-headed identity. It makes sense that Miguel would get pissy with Thor when he's hitting on Dana, though I did think it weird that Miguel seemed more upset that Thor was claiming Valhalla for his own, almost defending Alchemax when he notes that Alchemax, and not Thor, built Valhalla. But, I think David made it clear that Miguel was mostly acting on behalf of Dana, so I'm willing to look past the somewhat weird exchange.)
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
New Comics: "The Culling" Part 1 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Teen Titans #8: It took me some effort to get through this issue, because DeFalco fails to provide the reader any sugar as Lobdell forces down a spoonful of exposition. We're treated to "Omen" using her "womb" to reveal the image of the Titans' darkest selves, though the result is muddled at best in terms of the lessons we learn from it. For example, with Red Robin, Omen lays bare his "greatest fear:" becoming who he wants people to believe he is. (He's afraid of becoming himself?) But, with Cassie, Omen merely states information that Cassie already knows, that her powers come from her armor and her lasso is apparently killing her. (This moment feels completely expository, given that Cassie, as I said, already knows the information that Omen "reveals," making it news only to the reader.) Omen fails to learn anything, really, from Skitter, who tells Omen that life on Earth is doomed if she doesn't undo her splitting of Skitter into her Celine and Skitter personnas. Finally, Kid Flash gets stripped of his power-controling uniform and escapes, so we only get a chance to see Omen confirm what, in this case, both we and Bart already know, that he's hearing voices. Looking at these moments, I'm left to wonder how they have anything to do with one another. Sometimes Omen is revealing fears, other times truths, other times secrets. It makes you wonder what her power really is, other than exposition. Moreover, we never learn what she was doing in using her powers of exposition. She's in theory preparing the Titans for some event that Harvest is planning, but Lobdell never draws the line between Omen's actions in this issue and how they prepare the heroes for said event. It just feels like a vague attempt to torture them for no real purpose (other than exposition for the reader), particularly since Harvest has his lackey, Leash, merely grab them and disappear at the end.
Teen Titans Annual #1: OK, so, even with the "Hunger Games" parallels doing a lot of the work for me, Lobdell doesn't do much to resolve some of the questions I had from last issue. In fact, he only adds questions (and not in a "ooo, the plot thickens" kind of way). We learn that the children held in the Colony are not only meta-humans, but also regular humans and infected victims of the "hypertaxis virus" (something apparently explained in "Legion Lost" #8). But, we aren't even given a hint of Harvest's plans for any of these groups. First, we don't learn why he chose regular humans (like Artemis) to participate or why he felt the need to use the hypteraxis virus to add to his Colony numbers. (Moreover, his use of this future virus raises questions in the Legion's mind about his connection to the 31st century, as does his use of advanced technology that manages to block Gates' power.) We also still haven't learned the point of the Culling. Yes, he's separating the strong from the weak with his gladiator competitions in the Crucible, but we don't learn what he intends to do with the victorious strong, other than turn them into "Ravagers." What does he plan on doing with the Ravagers? For me, personally, the addition of the "hypertaxis virus" and, in fact, the Legion itself were distractions, a clear attempt to create an arbitrary connection to avoid this event "just" happening in "Superboy" and "Teen Titans." Other than the mandatory "superhero team fighting another superhero team thanks to the machinations of the mysterious villain" sequence, the Legion doesn't really do anything here that couldn't have been done just by the Titans, except expand the scale of the conflict. In so doing, Lobdell cuts off areas of characterization, leaving the fact that Superboy has joined the Titans essentially ignoreed in the chaos. I'm hoping that, when the dust settles, we successfully leave behind this N.O.W.H.E.R.E. business for a while and focus on the Titans themselves. Given what Lobdell is doing in "Red Hood and the Outsiders" with the All Caste, unfortunately, I'm doubtful that it's going to happen.
Teen Titans Annual #1: OK, so, even with the "Hunger Games" parallels doing a lot of the work for me, Lobdell doesn't do much to resolve some of the questions I had from last issue. In fact, he only adds questions (and not in a "ooo, the plot thickens" kind of way). We learn that the children held in the Colony are not only meta-humans, but also regular humans and infected victims of the "hypertaxis virus" (something apparently explained in "Legion Lost" #8). But, we aren't even given a hint of Harvest's plans for any of these groups. First, we don't learn why he chose regular humans (like Artemis) to participate or why he felt the need to use the hypteraxis virus to add to his Colony numbers. (Moreover, his use of this future virus raises questions in the Legion's mind about his connection to the 31st century, as does his use of advanced technology that manages to block Gates' power.) We also still haven't learned the point of the Culling. Yes, he's separating the strong from the weak with his gladiator competitions in the Crucible, but we don't learn what he intends to do with the victorious strong, other than turn them into "Ravagers." What does he plan on doing with the Ravagers? For me, personally, the addition of the "hypertaxis virus" and, in fact, the Legion itself were distractions, a clear attempt to create an arbitrary connection to avoid this event "just" happening in "Superboy" and "Teen Titans." Other than the mandatory "superhero team fighting another superhero team thanks to the machinations of the mysterious villain" sequence, the Legion doesn't really do anything here that couldn't have been done just by the Titans, except expand the scale of the conflict. In so doing, Lobdell cuts off areas of characterization, leaving the fact that Superboy has joined the Titans essentially ignoreed in the chaos. I'm hoping that, when the dust settles, we successfully leave behind this N.O.W.H.E.R.E. business for a while and focus on the Titans themselves. Given what Lobdell is doing in "Red Hood and the Outsiders" with the All Caste, unfortunately, I'm doubtful that it's going to happen.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Spider-Man 2099 #15: "Fall of the Hammer" Prelude ("The Rise of the Hammer")
*** (three of five stars)
Favorite Quote: "My, Mr. O'Hara! You're very knowledgeable. Are you a Thorite?" "No. Just an object of Thorite worship." "Ahh. Mr. Stone warned me you were quite the kidder." -- Miss Gibbons and Miguel
Summary
Dictating an e-mail, Jordan Boone tells a friend, Henri, that his personal stock has fallen with Tyler Stone as a result of the virtual-unreality incident, as well as his conflict with Miguel (who Jordan describes as Stone's pet). Jordan notes that Stone got nervous about him asking about "Valhalla" and includes an image of it, a huge tower, in his e-mail. Jordan tells Henri that he continued digging after Stone told him that he couldn't be involved in the project and found out everything. He tells Henri that he's about to do something outrageous that will put everything they did as "videogoths" to shame. He advised Henri that, if he doesn't hear from him, things have gone bad and sends the e-mail. Just then, someone appears at his door and knocks him unconscious, dragging him from his apartment.
In Downtown, Miguel battles some Fenris thugs, to the cheers of the people living in the buildings surrounding the fight. "Bloodsword," the leader of the Fenris gang, appears and attacks Miguel with his sword. Miguel grabs the sword between his open-faced hands and then uses his talons to slice it to pieces. With Bloodsword weaponless, Spidey knocks him unconscious and reminds the gang of his declaration at the church (last issue), that the people of Downtown are entitled to peace. The Fenris flee and the Downtowners surround Spidey, praising him as their savior. A woman asks Spidey to heal her child and he tells her that he'll ask Thor before he departs for Uptown. He stops by the stash of clothes he hid on the top of the Downtown understructure, and, while changing clothes, notes how he feels dirty every time he goes Uptown. Back in Downtown, Raff warns Kasey against getting too excited as she and the rest of her gang plan ways to support Spidey in his efforts. Frustrated, Gabe leaves, telling her that she should just go ahead and marry Spider-Man. In Stone's office at Alchemax, Dana is asking Lyla over the phone whether Miguel gave any indication of when he was going to return and Lyla tells her that he didn't. Stone approaches Dana, telling her that he's grown fond of her and that she's a nice girl who he'd hate to see hurt. He warns her that "Mike" may not be returning after the Thanatos business and Dana asks if he means that Miguel was "scared off" and quit the company. Stone responds that Miguel "was...," and Dana panics hearing him discussed in the past tense. However, Miguel walks into Stone's office at that moment. Miguel embraces Dana, who tells him that she kept calling his apartment. Miguel asks Lyla, who's still on the vidphone, why she didn't tell him that Dana had called when he asked her (last issue). Lyla suggests that Dana is lying and, when Miguel tells her that's unlikely, she decides to run a "full diagnostic." Stone, who was staring at Miguel after he walked into his office, recovers and informs him that a craft is ready to bring Dana and Miguel to the Floating City, just in time for its opening ceremony.
At the Wellvale Home, Conchata gets information from a waiter, who tells her that the Prophet of Thor has come and that the Harbinger, Spider-Man, is all over Downtown fighting for the little people. Conchata observes that she hadn't thought of Downtown since she sold her soul to leave it. The waiter asks what she meant and Conchata tells him that she did wicked things. She's tried to repent, but never succeeded. But, with Spider-Man leading the way, she, too, might now be able to go to Downtown. Meanwhile, Dana and Miguel arrive at the Floating City, and their driver, Miss Gibbons, informs them that it's accessible only by skycars and standard maglev cars. Miguel asks how it's possible to get there via a maglev, given that it's mid-air without tracks, and Gibbons points out a bridge composed of maglev and antigravitation particles. The bridge creates a rainbow effect when it's in use and, as such, it's called Bifrost, after the bridge to Midgard from Asgard. Miguel gives Dana a mythology lesson, prompting Gibbons to note how knowledgeable he is. She informs them that they have a few Thorites on staff who've taken to calling the Floating City Valhalla. (Aha!) They enter the city to find everyone staring upwards. Gibbons informs them that they're turning on the main systems all at the same time, a first, since they previously had just been running individual tests. Miguel asks if it's because of the possibility of them overpowering the power grid and she confirms that it was. But, she declares that this moment represents Valhalla becoming self-sufficient and offers to take them to the hydroponics lab to see what the co-venture with Synthia has been doing. But, the countdown begins and Miguel, looking skyward, notices a man standing on a ledge in the shadows. Once the systems go online, Valhalla shakes and begins to move. Dana suggests that they hurry to a skycar, but Miguel notes that "about a million people" in the city have the same idea as people around them begin to flee. However, everyone is distracted by the sudden appearance of Thor, who hovers mid-air with Heimdall. He announces that he has returned and instructs Heimdall to guard the gate. He tells the crowd that the Aesir will follow him and they will bring a golden age to the world. But, he declares "woe" on the false bringers of the word of Thor, stating that they will be the first to die.
The Review
OK, so, off we go! David makes it clear that the "Fall of the Hammer" cross-over event is going to bring the long simmering Thor issue to a head and I can't wait to see where they go with it.
The Good
1) Yay, Downtown! As I mentioned last issue, I really prefer when Spidey is Downtown, because we get more stories involving him as a crime-fighter, which I think do more to really show us who Miguel is than the more high-concept arcs (like Thanatos). I mean, don't get me wrong: I love a good high-concept arc. (I am, after all, excited about "Fall of the Hammer.") But, this early in the series, I feel like we're still getting to know Miguel. We're still sorting out his motivations and his limits. We've seen hints that his role as a superhero has sparked his religious faith and left him questioning his corporate role. We've also learned that his moral code is different from the original Spidey's, given his decision to let the Vulture fall to his death. But, it's still not clear where those hints are going to go, in terms of Miguel as a man and Spidey as a hero. As such, the Thanatos business seemed like a distraction to me, since I'm more interested in fleshing out Miguel as a character right now than I am focusing on conspiracies. The best mainstream Spidey stories are when we get to see Peter juggling his crime-fighting career with his regular everyday life and I look forward to more stories in this vein after "Fall of the Hammer." Regarding Downtown, it's interesting that Miguel himself views himself as an avenging angel for Downtown, noting that he feels dirty every time he returns to Uptown.
2) I always mention when David takes a previously seen plot and brings it to the forefront, because I feel like he and Dan Slott are the only two authors who really plan so far in advance that they can do so (and blow your mind in the process). Here, we see Dana and Miguel go on the trip to the "Floating City" that Stone promised them in issue #11.
3) I've gotten so used to Miguel being called the Harbinger of Thor that I actually started to believe that he was. It never dawned on me that he wasn't and that Thor might consider him a usurper! (Of course, see below in the "Unknown" section for my thoughts about Thor.)
The Unknown
1) Stone pretty clearly knows that Miguel is Spidey at this point, right? I mean, given his conversation with Dana in this issue, I'm pretty sure that it'll be more difficult for David to explain that Stone doesn't know than that he does.
2) Did Stone know that Thor was going to appear at Valhalla? Maybe Thor is an Alchemax stooge? It could be an attempt by the company to get into the superhero business, if you will, to undermine it. I could see them using Thor to eliminate the Prophet and Spider-Man, but still having the goodwill of the people, since it would be seen as the "will of Thor." It seems like an Alchemax thing to do. Along those lines, did Stone want Miguel there for Thor's arrival? He planned for Miguel to be there that week (as mentioned in issue #11). Has Spider-Man now lived his usefulness (whatever it may have been to Stone) and Stone is now ready to replace him with Thor?
The Bad
David doesn't tell us how Valhalla became self-sufficient. What changed that allowed them to throw on all the systems at once?
Favorite Quote: "My, Mr. O'Hara! You're very knowledgeable. Are you a Thorite?" "No. Just an object of Thorite worship." "Ahh. Mr. Stone warned me you were quite the kidder." -- Miss Gibbons and Miguel
Summary
Dictating an e-mail, Jordan Boone tells a friend, Henri, that his personal stock has fallen with Tyler Stone as a result of the virtual-unreality incident, as well as his conflict with Miguel (who Jordan describes as Stone's pet). Jordan notes that Stone got nervous about him asking about "Valhalla" and includes an image of it, a huge tower, in his e-mail. Jordan tells Henri that he continued digging after Stone told him that he couldn't be involved in the project and found out everything. He tells Henri that he's about to do something outrageous that will put everything they did as "videogoths" to shame. He advised Henri that, if he doesn't hear from him, things have gone bad and sends the e-mail. Just then, someone appears at his door and knocks him unconscious, dragging him from his apartment.
In Downtown, Miguel battles some Fenris thugs, to the cheers of the people living in the buildings surrounding the fight. "Bloodsword," the leader of the Fenris gang, appears and attacks Miguel with his sword. Miguel grabs the sword between his open-faced hands and then uses his talons to slice it to pieces. With Bloodsword weaponless, Spidey knocks him unconscious and reminds the gang of his declaration at the church (last issue), that the people of Downtown are entitled to peace. The Fenris flee and the Downtowners surround Spidey, praising him as their savior. A woman asks Spidey to heal her child and he tells her that he'll ask Thor before he departs for Uptown. He stops by the stash of clothes he hid on the top of the Downtown understructure, and, while changing clothes, notes how he feels dirty every time he goes Uptown. Back in Downtown, Raff warns Kasey against getting too excited as she and the rest of her gang plan ways to support Spidey in his efforts. Frustrated, Gabe leaves, telling her that she should just go ahead and marry Spider-Man. In Stone's office at Alchemax, Dana is asking Lyla over the phone whether Miguel gave any indication of when he was going to return and Lyla tells her that he didn't. Stone approaches Dana, telling her that he's grown fond of her and that she's a nice girl who he'd hate to see hurt. He warns her that "Mike" may not be returning after the Thanatos business and Dana asks if he means that Miguel was "scared off" and quit the company. Stone responds that Miguel "was...," and Dana panics hearing him discussed in the past tense. However, Miguel walks into Stone's office at that moment. Miguel embraces Dana, who tells him that she kept calling his apartment. Miguel asks Lyla, who's still on the vidphone, why she didn't tell him that Dana had called when he asked her (last issue). Lyla suggests that Dana is lying and, when Miguel tells her that's unlikely, she decides to run a "full diagnostic." Stone, who was staring at Miguel after he walked into his office, recovers and informs him that a craft is ready to bring Dana and Miguel to the Floating City, just in time for its opening ceremony.
At the Wellvale Home, Conchata gets information from a waiter, who tells her that the Prophet of Thor has come and that the Harbinger, Spider-Man, is all over Downtown fighting for the little people. Conchata observes that she hadn't thought of Downtown since she sold her soul to leave it. The waiter asks what she meant and Conchata tells him that she did wicked things. She's tried to repent, but never succeeded. But, with Spider-Man leading the way, she, too, might now be able to go to Downtown. Meanwhile, Dana and Miguel arrive at the Floating City, and their driver, Miss Gibbons, informs them that it's accessible only by skycars and standard maglev cars. Miguel asks how it's possible to get there via a maglev, given that it's mid-air without tracks, and Gibbons points out a bridge composed of maglev and antigravitation particles. The bridge creates a rainbow effect when it's in use and, as such, it's called Bifrost, after the bridge to Midgard from Asgard. Miguel gives Dana a mythology lesson, prompting Gibbons to note how knowledgeable he is. She informs them that they have a few Thorites on staff who've taken to calling the Floating City Valhalla. (Aha!) They enter the city to find everyone staring upwards. Gibbons informs them that they're turning on the main systems all at the same time, a first, since they previously had just been running individual tests. Miguel asks if it's because of the possibility of them overpowering the power grid and she confirms that it was. But, she declares that this moment represents Valhalla becoming self-sufficient and offers to take them to the hydroponics lab to see what the co-venture with Synthia has been doing. But, the countdown begins and Miguel, looking skyward, notices a man standing on a ledge in the shadows. Once the systems go online, Valhalla shakes and begins to move. Dana suggests that they hurry to a skycar, but Miguel notes that "about a million people" in the city have the same idea as people around them begin to flee. However, everyone is distracted by the sudden appearance of Thor, who hovers mid-air with Heimdall. He announces that he has returned and instructs Heimdall to guard the gate. He tells the crowd that the Aesir will follow him and they will bring a golden age to the world. But, he declares "woe" on the false bringers of the word of Thor, stating that they will be the first to die.
The Review
OK, so, off we go! David makes it clear that the "Fall of the Hammer" cross-over event is going to bring the long simmering Thor issue to a head and I can't wait to see where they go with it.
The Good
1) Yay, Downtown! As I mentioned last issue, I really prefer when Spidey is Downtown, because we get more stories involving him as a crime-fighter, which I think do more to really show us who Miguel is than the more high-concept arcs (like Thanatos). I mean, don't get me wrong: I love a good high-concept arc. (I am, after all, excited about "Fall of the Hammer.") But, this early in the series, I feel like we're still getting to know Miguel. We're still sorting out his motivations and his limits. We've seen hints that his role as a superhero has sparked his religious faith and left him questioning his corporate role. We've also learned that his moral code is different from the original Spidey's, given his decision to let the Vulture fall to his death. But, it's still not clear where those hints are going to go, in terms of Miguel as a man and Spidey as a hero. As such, the Thanatos business seemed like a distraction to me, since I'm more interested in fleshing out Miguel as a character right now than I am focusing on conspiracies. The best mainstream Spidey stories are when we get to see Peter juggling his crime-fighting career with his regular everyday life and I look forward to more stories in this vein after "Fall of the Hammer." Regarding Downtown, it's interesting that Miguel himself views himself as an avenging angel for Downtown, noting that he feels dirty every time he returns to Uptown.
2) I always mention when David takes a previously seen plot and brings it to the forefront, because I feel like he and Dan Slott are the only two authors who really plan so far in advance that they can do so (and blow your mind in the process). Here, we see Dana and Miguel go on the trip to the "Floating City" that Stone promised them in issue #11.
3) I've gotten so used to Miguel being called the Harbinger of Thor that I actually started to believe that he was. It never dawned on me that he wasn't and that Thor might consider him a usurper! (Of course, see below in the "Unknown" section for my thoughts about Thor.)
The Unknown
1) Stone pretty clearly knows that Miguel is Spidey at this point, right? I mean, given his conversation with Dana in this issue, I'm pretty sure that it'll be more difficult for David to explain that Stone doesn't know than that he does.
2) Did Stone know that Thor was going to appear at Valhalla? Maybe Thor is an Alchemax stooge? It could be an attempt by the company to get into the superhero business, if you will, to undermine it. I could see them using Thor to eliminate the Prophet and Spider-Man, but still having the goodwill of the people, since it would be seen as the "will of Thor." It seems like an Alchemax thing to do. Along those lines, did Stone want Miguel there for Thor's arrival? He planned for Miguel to be there that week (as mentioned in issue #11). Has Spider-Man now lived his usefulness (whatever it may have been to Stone) and Stone is now ready to replace him with Thor?
The Bad
David doesn't tell us how Valhalla became self-sufficient. What changed that allowed them to throw on all the systems at once?
Monday, April 30, 2012
2099 Unlimited #3: "Water God"/"Spare Changes"
*** (three of five stars)
Summary
A nuclear explosion in America's "interior states" (where "fuel companies pretty much own the government") sends a wave of a hundred thousand refugees fleeing west to "that fabled land where the environment is supposed to be protected, where the poor are supposed to be taken care of -- California." Instead, they discover that California is now an island, separated from the rest of America by a canal that also serves as a moat. The refugees attempt to swim the canal but are attacked by robotic buoys that open fire on them. As one buoy takes aim at a mother and her two children, the Hulk attacks at it, saving them. He then helps get the survivors and wounded to the shore. When the mother asks why California wants to be an island, the Hulk responds that the canal was created by eco-terrorists trying to save precious resources, like water. However, California's "bosses" now use it as a border fence to control immigration, getting enough cheap labor without having "hordes of unhappy poor people." When the mother asks why the Hulk helped them, he responds, "Maybe I just figured a crooked state could use a little new blood." Then, suddenly, a wave washes over them and a gigantic humanoid figure made from water threatens them for trying to "drain the homeland dry." Calling himself the Water God, he attacks, forcing some of the refugees back into the water to escape. The Hulk tells them to stand their ground and takes on the Water God, but struggles to land a punch, given that the Water God is, you know, made of water. The mother's youngest son tries to help, but the Water God smacks him away, making the Hulk realize that he becomes solid (and hittable) right before he strikes. The Hulk asks who made him as they battle, and the Water God exposits that he was created by the eco-terrorists behind the Great Monkey-Wrench of 2076. The group detonated eastern California's earthquake faults, letting the Pacific join the Colorado. The government killed the "monkey-wrenchers," but, before they died, they dropped electromagnetic transformers into the water that gave the Water God form and power, with the mission to protect the water. The Hulk suddenly realizes how to defeat the Water God, looking to the desert mountains and heading towards them, telling the Water God that he knows another way to get the refugees into California. The Water God follows in pursuit (while the refugees fear that the Hulk has left them) and the Hulk brings him higher and higher until he freezes, since his creators never thought to teach him about the cold. The Hulk then shatters him and returns to help the refugees into California, carrying the little boy who the Water God injured to help him get medical attention.
Spidey and the Public Eye are in pursuit of a hijacked weapons van that "has enough fire-power to hold a small city hostage." The Public Eye's blasters are bouncing off the van's armor and the lieutenant in charges tells the officers to also try to nail Spidey, who's hanging off the back of the van via a Web-Line. Spidey rips open a side panel and enters the van, taking down the hijackers and setting the van to auto-hover. He sens a message via the van's communicator to the lieutenant, telling her that he has no intention of fighting the, and she lets him go. Meanwhile, at an Alchemax subsidiary named Helix, Miguel's colleague Anna is waiting for him, since he's over 30 minutes later to a briefing with Ms. Benoit, an annoyed Helix official. Benoit decides to start without Miguel, telling Anna that she would like to give her a tour of Helix before discussing why Alchemax is there in the first place, the high-speed DNA scanners that Helix has developed. Spidey arrives at Helix, changes into Miguel, and finds Anna and Ms. Benoit to join the tour. Downtown, Mutagen has hacked into Helix's net to learn more about the DNA scanners, realizing that they would allow him to make decisions about who to eliminate on the spot and he would not have to resort to hospital computer files. He changes into his costume and heads to Helix. Meanwhile, 100 feet below ground level, Benoit brings Anna and Miguel to Helix's experimental labs, showing them the cryonics lab and a globe that traps ambient solar radiation. Impatient, Miguel asks to see the scanner and Benoit leads them to that lab, explaining that Helix projects billions in revenue, since the scanners with cut diagnosis time in half. She is interrupted by a call, informing her that they're having problems "topside" with a costumed individual before the call is cut and Benoit tells the caller to handle it. Topside, Mutagen has killed the security staff and hacks into a computer to learn the location of the scanners. In the sub-basement, the group hears the screech of metal and goes to investigate. Benoit attempts to open the elevator doors, but is killed when Mutagen blows through them. Mutagen tells Anna and Miguel that he won't hurt them; he's just there for the scanners. Miguel tells Anna to let him pass and Mutagen, hearing her name, suddenly realizes that she's the sister of the woman he tried to kill in the hospital (in "2099 Unlimited" #1). Since her sister has a blood disease, Mutagen decides that she might have that genetic disorder as well. Before he can attack, Miguel threatens Mutagen, wondering how to extricate them from the situation without revealing his identity to Anna. Mutagen punches Miguel across the room and Miguel loses his shoes and grasps onto the wall with his talons, exposing his identity. He attacks Mutagen and changes into his Spidey costume, telling Anna to run and webbing Mutagen's eyes. Mutagen pulls off the webbing, punches Miguel, and then knocks out Anna. Infuriated, Miguel swears that Mutagen will pay "in blood" if Anna is hurt and knocks them into the cryonics lab. Mutagen immediately starts to adapt and he suddenly realizes that he's surrounded by the "genetically flawed" who wish to stay alive to perpetuate their diseases. Before Mutagen can attack the frozen people, Miguel amps up the cold to see if he can overload Mutagen's adaptation powers. However, it has no effect, except to make Miguel even slower. Mutagen tries to convert Spidey to his cause and, when Spidey asks what the benefits package is (heh), Mutagen redoubles his attack in anger for being mocked. Seeing an opening, Miguel belts Mutagen into the solar-radiation globe, where he burns. Miguel grabs Anna and leaves before the flames consume the lab and, in the lab, Mutagen's hand appears to grab the DNA scanner. That night, at the hospital, Anna is fine, but reveals that she can't remember the last hour before the fight. Anna asks if they ever found Mutagen and Miguel informs her that they didn't, nor do they know if he got the DNA scanner.
The Review
Unlike last issue, it's the Spidey story that gets this issue a three, with the Hulk story weighing it down. (I'm not even going to mention the oddball last stories anymore, because, yeah.) The Hulk story was surprisingly a mess, given how strong Jones has been over the last two issues.
The Good
1) A lot of the 2099 world shows what would happen if certain political and
economic arguments from the 1990s were taken to the extreme, and Jones manages to combine the militant environmentalist movement with harsh immigration policies, in a great example of being on such extreme sides of the political spectrum that you loop to the other one. Although I have some issues with the Water God plot in the Hulk story (as you'll see below), I thought Jones raised some interesting points about how California's separation from the rest of the U.S. as a result of the eco-terrorists (and, later, California "bosses") had left it a harsh, cold place. In previous issues, Jones has shown how John's "friends" are all trying to get him fired so they can take his job and here he tells the mother that people in California only have need of family if they can make money from them. Jones makes the argument that bringing in new people with different approaches will help shake up the status quo, something the Hulk, who is in the process of realizing how morally bankrupt California society is, clearly supports. It, of course, overlooks some of the downsides, like how you manage all those "unhappy poor people" and their need for scarce resources like water. But, it's not like I expect Jones to solve a problem that currently bedevils politicians. I thought he did a great job in just raising the issue and showing how 2099 California became the dystopia it is.
2) As I mentioned in my review of "Spider-Man 2099" #14, I need to give Skolnick more credit than I have for essentially being the only one focusing on Miguel fighting crime. In the main title, we've really only seen Spidey act as a vigilante in the S.I.E.G.E. issue (#11). But, even that fight is part of his larger fight against Alchemax (as were his fights against Venture and the Specialist). It's been Spidey's fight against Mutagen that shows him helping the common man and building the reputation among the people that David seems to be hinting that he's developed in "Spider-Man 2099." In addition, we see Spidey taking down the hijackers, helping the Public Eye and implying that, in so doing, he might even be creating admirers within it, with the lieutenant ordering her men to let him go. I've been hard on Skolnick for some of the plot holes in his previous work (and this issue), but I have to give him credit for giving me more of the stories I want to see.
3) Speaking of Mutagen, I though the applicability of the DNA scanners to his "work" was a clever development. It's rare that you so clearly understand a villain's motives beyond just doing something "evil."
The Bad
1) Why was Hulk 2099 at the border in the first place? Last we saw him, he was obsessed with finding Gawain. Was Gawain out there? Did he find him? I find it weird that Jones would have us believe that the Hulk just patrols the borders looking for fleeing refugees. How often does that happen? If it's a lot, maybe I understand why the "bosses" used the canal the way that they did...
2) I'm not quite sure that I follow the geography? How exactly did the explosion connect the Colorado and the Pacific in a way that created a border around California? Wouldn't that actually just cut off California from Baja California in Mexico, or, if it broke higher, Southern California from Northern California?
3) I'm also not sure what the Water God's deal was exactly. He was created by the eco-terrorists, but he seems to be fulfilling the mission of the "bosses" who used the canal to create a moat around California. It seems weird that he would've been programed by the eco-terrorists to keep refugees from entering the water. Was he just operating under general "keep the water" pure orders?
4) Does Mutagen now know that Miguel is Spider-Man? Spidey doesn't seem to be concerned about Mutagen seeing him. I mean, he webs up his eyes, but I'm pretty sure Mutagen saw him use his talons to grab the wall. Even if he didn't, I think that Mutagen is smart enough to put two and two together when Spider-Man suddenly appears (and Miguel suddenly disappears) 100 feet below ground level. I mean, sure, he may not know Miguel's name, but I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to discover who the guy on the tour was. Given the "does he or doesn't he" game that David has been playing in "Spider-Man 2099" regarding whether Tyler Stone or Miguel's brother knows his identity, it's weird that we don't really comment here on the fact that one of his nemeses pretty clearly does.
5) Is Skolnick aware that Miguel has a girlfriend? We seem to be treating Anna as a girlfriend, but, um, she isn't Miguel's girlfriend.
5) Is Skolnick aware that Miguel has a girlfriend? We seem to be treating Anna as a girlfriend, but, um, she isn't Miguel's girlfriend.
Spider-Man 2099 #14: "Boiling Point"
** (two of five stars)
Favorite Quote: "Pardon me, Father. I'm going to take these sinners out where they can see the light. Maybe they'll repent." "Hope springs eternal, my son. If, however, they continue to harbor thoughts of hostility...kick their shockin' faces in." "Yes, ma'am, Father." -- Spidey and Father Jennifer, with the banter
Summary
After going through a portal at the end of last issue, Spidey finds himself in his apartment, standing over a bleeding Prophet. At Alchemax, Tyler Stone has returned from his meeting with the C.E.O. to discover both the Prophet and Spider-Man gone. He demands answers from Jordan Boone, but one of the security guards who initially escorted the Prophet responds. The guard informs Stone that the Prophet escaped (as depicted last issue) and, when the guard opened fire on him with a stun blast, the Prophet "warped the air in front of him" and absorbed the shots. (The guard says that the Prophet seemed as surprised by that turn of events as the guard.) The Prophet then leapt through the warp and knocked him unconscious. Stone asks Jordan to continue the story, which he does, recalling that the Prophet stormed into the lab, demanding to know if Spider-Man was in the portal. When Jordan confirmed that he was, the Prophet shoved past Jordan, grabbed the mechanical arm as an anchor, and then leapt into the portal. Jordan says nothing happened until Thanatos' distorted and roaring face appeared the portal. Panicked, Jordan shut down the portal, just as a massive arm started to come through it. When the portal was finally closed, the only thing remaining was the now-carbonized arm. Just as Jordan confirms that neither the Prophet nor Spider-Man returned, Dana enters the room, demanding to know where Miguel is.
At Miguel's apartment, Spidey uses a "heat sealer" to seal the Prophet's wounds (received when Thanatos slashed him last issue), given that going to a clinic would be like "sending up a flare to Alchemax." Spidey asks Lyla to load up a medical text on wounds, but gets no response. With the wound healed, Spidey asks the Prophet who he is, a question that the Prophet can't answer. Meanwhile, at Kasey's Downtown apartment, Gabe learns that Kasey is sick from Raff, who informs him that she's dizzy, tired, and vomiting and that Gabe put her in this condition. At Miguel's apartment, the Prophet looks at a holophoto of Dana and Miguel together and marvels how much technology has advanced. Miguel takes off his mask and introduces himself, telling the Prophet that, since they owe each other their lives, they might as well be straight with each other. He asks the Prophet what happened and the Prophet informs him that he had no interest in being a prisoner so he leapt through the portal to save Miguel, since he somehow seemed familiar. When Miguel asks how he broke free, the Prophet tells him that he used powers that he doesn't still understand, positing that he believes that he used to have other abilities, but they've somehow changed due to the cross-over or his time trapped in interspace. He tells Miguel that he had initially wanted to shield himself from harm, but wound up warping space in front of him, creating a field that causes anything to enter it to vanish, except the Prophet and whatever it is that he's touching. When Miguel asks how he knows that, the Prophet explains that he uses the warp to surround him and Miguel when Thanatos was pursuing them and, realizing that his powers are psionic in nature, instinctively decided to take Miguel and him to the place where Miguel felt the safest. Elsewhere in the apartment, Lyla appears to answer a call from Dana, lying to her that Miguel wasn't there. Dana tells Lyla to tell Miguel that she's at Alchemax waiting to hear from him and that she's safe and that she loves him. Lyla agrees.
Miguel gets the Prophet some clothes, because he's asked to see New York and explore this new world. As they leave, Miguel tells Lyla to call Dana at Synthia. Lyla agrees and, meanwhile, asks Miguel if his companion is the "Net Prophet" everyone is discussing. Miguel asks the Prophet what he wants to see and he tells him that he wants to see the best and the worst. Lyla tells Miguel that Dana isn't at Synthia, Alchemax (liar), or her apartment. When Miguel asks if Dana has called, Lyla says no (double liar). Miguel tells Lyla to tell Dana, if she does call, that he's looking for her, that she should stay put, and that he loves her. Lyla agrees. The Prophet grabs Miguel's hand and teleports them to where Miguel has decided where they should go. Downtown, Gabe proposes marriage to Kasey, assuming that she's pregnant. Kasey laughs and Raff tells him that she's not pregnant; she's got a concussion from when Gabe shot her (at the end of issue #7). He asks what Gabe is going to do to rectify the situation and Gabe doesn't have an answer. Miguel shows the Prophet (who he calls "Proph") Stark Tower, the highest point in the city. He asks about Thanatos and the Prophet tells him that he doesn't remember much. He recalls a great battle involving many beings from different worlds. He wonders about Thanatos' claim that he killed Thor, noting that it's hard to trust the words of "such a creature," and then tells Miguel that "there was a massive flash of white, and...the rest is blank." But, he reveals that he seems to remember having a daughter and he can feel her like an amputee feels his missing leg. He realizes that she's long gone by now and asks Miguel to take him to where the "despondent and desperate" are. Miguel agrees, but notes that he should dress for the occasion and changes into his Spider-Man costume.
At St. Pat's in Downtown, a group of Fenris thugs arrives to steal the church's food stash. Father Jennifer tells them that they can only enter if they renounce violence. The lead thug begins to beat her, telling her that her god has no power over him. He screams to "God" that he is Oguun of the Fenris talking to him in his house and tells him to take his best shot. At that moment, Spidey and the Prophet arrive. Spidey apologizes to Father Jennifer for the Vulture "fracas" and seeks to make amends. The Fenris wonder who's with him and Spidey informs them that it's the Prophet..."and he's real annoyed." The Prophet then blasts one of the thugs from the room with a newly discovered eye power. Spidey webs up the rest and takes them outside the church. The lead thug warns Spidey that "Bloodsword" will get him for this affront. Spidey tells him that he's not afraid of Bloodsword and announces that St. Pat's is under his protection. Elsewhere, Kasey, Raff, and Gabe go into the street because "the vine" said that Spidey had returned. Gabe tries to get Kasey back into her apartment, but she refuses, excited to see Spidey. She then loses consciousness, causing Gabe to shout her name. She next awakens at a clinic, where a doctor reveals to her that he's not going to report her gunshot wound to the authorities because Spider-Man asked him not to do so. Raff reveals that Spidey heard Gabe's scream and took Kasey to the clinic after telling Gabe and Raff where he was taking her. Spidey, meanwhile, returns to the Prophet, who thanks Spidey for the tour and tells him that, armed with dehydrated food from Father Jennifer, he's going to see the world with his eyes. He then departs via one of his warps after the two wish each other well.
The Review
That summary seems really involved, given that, honestly, nothing of real significance seems to happen in this issue. It feels mostly like a transition issue, wrapping up some of the loose ends related to Thanatos, deepening the mystery of Lyla, and making us wonder where the Kasey/Gabe relationship is going. Unfortunately, I'm not really pleased with the way that David wraps up the Thanatos plot and the Prophet storyline also had some serious flaws. It's the first two stars of the series, but, hopefully, it's an isolated incident and we're going to get some higher marks as we move into "Fall of the Hammer."
The Good
I'm really stretching to find something I liked in this issue. It wasn't that I hated everything, but I found most of it annoying. I guess the best part, for me, was the Father Jennifer storyline, since I originally hoped at her initial appearance in issue #8 that she would serve as a liaison between Spidey and Downtown. So far, my favorite stories have taken place in Downtown, where we see Spidey as a crime-fighter and avoid some of the high-concept plots that are starting to get a little dull. So, hopefully, with Father Jennifer and Spidey starting to work together, we'll see more of those sorts of stories. That's about all I've got at this point.
The Unknown
How did Spidey know the clinic doctor so well that he was willing to risk the ire of the authorities at Spidey's request? Was it the same place he went in issue #6? It doesn't seem like it, since this clinic seemed a bit fancier. I think it's actually David showing that the public has started to be taken with Spidey and supporting him, but I feel like we probably needed that clarified a bit.
The Bad
1) OK, I'm disappointed in David, because I'm just not feeling this Thanatos/Prophet story. It seems pretty clear that, at some point, it's going to be revealed that they're both characters that we know from the 1990s era of Marvel Comics. As I mentioned last issue, my problem with this sort of mystery is that I'm just eager to get to the reveal. The 2099 world has worked best so far when it's avoided playing up its direct connections to the 1990s era. I'm so much more interested in the 2099 world itself -- with all the discoveries that we have yet to make -- that I can't say I'm all that interested in getting plagued by the baggage of the 1990s era. I'm not saying that I don't find how the 2099 world evolved from the 1990s era interesting; I do. For example, I thought the 2099 Vulture in "Spider-Man 2099" was pretty bad-ass and the thirty-mile mall in "2099 Unlimited" #2 was brilliant. I'm just less interested in seeing direct connections to the 1990s era, characters from that era suddenly appearing in 2099. It seems to really break our suspension of disbelief somehow, and I find myself just hoping that we learn who Thanatos and the Prophet are in "Fall of the Hammer" so we can get onto more interesting stories.
2) Moreover, I'm still confused by what Thanatos' motivations are. Last issue, we learned that he wanted to destroy the 2099 world for his host. Is that it? I mean, if the guy is powerful enough to have survived whatever bad thing happened at the end of the Heroic Age, does he really care about his host? I'm not sure I buy that he feels so indebted to him that he's willing to destroy the entire world just to thank him. Wouldn't he have his own goals? Why would he want to destroy the world rather than rule it or something? I mean, if he was powerful enough to kill Thor, you'd think that he'd be powerful enough to rule the world. (Also, I think the Prophet is wrong here. I don't think Thanatos said he killed Thor; he just said that he was there when Thor died.)
Favorite Quote: "Pardon me, Father. I'm going to take these sinners out where they can see the light. Maybe they'll repent." "Hope springs eternal, my son. If, however, they continue to harbor thoughts of hostility...kick their shockin' faces in." "Yes, ma'am, Father." -- Spidey and Father Jennifer, with the banter
Summary
After going through a portal at the end of last issue, Spidey finds himself in his apartment, standing over a bleeding Prophet. At Alchemax, Tyler Stone has returned from his meeting with the C.E.O. to discover both the Prophet and Spider-Man gone. He demands answers from Jordan Boone, but one of the security guards who initially escorted the Prophet responds. The guard informs Stone that the Prophet escaped (as depicted last issue) and, when the guard opened fire on him with a stun blast, the Prophet "warped the air in front of him" and absorbed the shots. (The guard says that the Prophet seemed as surprised by that turn of events as the guard.) The Prophet then leapt through the warp and knocked him unconscious. Stone asks Jordan to continue the story, which he does, recalling that the Prophet stormed into the lab, demanding to know if Spider-Man was in the portal. When Jordan confirmed that he was, the Prophet shoved past Jordan, grabbed the mechanical arm as an anchor, and then leapt into the portal. Jordan says nothing happened until Thanatos' distorted and roaring face appeared the portal. Panicked, Jordan shut down the portal, just as a massive arm started to come through it. When the portal was finally closed, the only thing remaining was the now-carbonized arm. Just as Jordan confirms that neither the Prophet nor Spider-Man returned, Dana enters the room, demanding to know where Miguel is.
At Miguel's apartment, Spidey uses a "heat sealer" to seal the Prophet's wounds (received when Thanatos slashed him last issue), given that going to a clinic would be like "sending up a flare to Alchemax." Spidey asks Lyla to load up a medical text on wounds, but gets no response. With the wound healed, Spidey asks the Prophet who he is, a question that the Prophet can't answer. Meanwhile, at Kasey's Downtown apartment, Gabe learns that Kasey is sick from Raff, who informs him that she's dizzy, tired, and vomiting and that Gabe put her in this condition. At Miguel's apartment, the Prophet looks at a holophoto of Dana and Miguel together and marvels how much technology has advanced. Miguel takes off his mask and introduces himself, telling the Prophet that, since they owe each other their lives, they might as well be straight with each other. He asks the Prophet what happened and the Prophet informs him that he had no interest in being a prisoner so he leapt through the portal to save Miguel, since he somehow seemed familiar. When Miguel asks how he broke free, the Prophet tells him that he used powers that he doesn't still understand, positing that he believes that he used to have other abilities, but they've somehow changed due to the cross-over or his time trapped in interspace. He tells Miguel that he had initially wanted to shield himself from harm, but wound up warping space in front of him, creating a field that causes anything to enter it to vanish, except the Prophet and whatever it is that he's touching. When Miguel asks how he knows that, the Prophet explains that he uses the warp to surround him and Miguel when Thanatos was pursuing them and, realizing that his powers are psionic in nature, instinctively decided to take Miguel and him to the place where Miguel felt the safest. Elsewhere in the apartment, Lyla appears to answer a call from Dana, lying to her that Miguel wasn't there. Dana tells Lyla to tell Miguel that she's at Alchemax waiting to hear from him and that she's safe and that she loves him. Lyla agrees.
Miguel gets the Prophet some clothes, because he's asked to see New York and explore this new world. As they leave, Miguel tells Lyla to call Dana at Synthia. Lyla agrees and, meanwhile, asks Miguel if his companion is the "Net Prophet" everyone is discussing. Miguel asks the Prophet what he wants to see and he tells him that he wants to see the best and the worst. Lyla tells Miguel that Dana isn't at Synthia, Alchemax (liar), or her apartment. When Miguel asks if Dana has called, Lyla says no (double liar). Miguel tells Lyla to tell Dana, if she does call, that he's looking for her, that she should stay put, and that he loves her. Lyla agrees. The Prophet grabs Miguel's hand and teleports them to where Miguel has decided where they should go. Downtown, Gabe proposes marriage to Kasey, assuming that she's pregnant. Kasey laughs and Raff tells him that she's not pregnant; she's got a concussion from when Gabe shot her (at the end of issue #7). He asks what Gabe is going to do to rectify the situation and Gabe doesn't have an answer. Miguel shows the Prophet (who he calls "Proph") Stark Tower, the highest point in the city. He asks about Thanatos and the Prophet tells him that he doesn't remember much. He recalls a great battle involving many beings from different worlds. He wonders about Thanatos' claim that he killed Thor, noting that it's hard to trust the words of "such a creature," and then tells Miguel that "there was a massive flash of white, and...the rest is blank." But, he reveals that he seems to remember having a daughter and he can feel her like an amputee feels his missing leg. He realizes that she's long gone by now and asks Miguel to take him to where the "despondent and desperate" are. Miguel agrees, but notes that he should dress for the occasion and changes into his Spider-Man costume.
At St. Pat's in Downtown, a group of Fenris thugs arrives to steal the church's food stash. Father Jennifer tells them that they can only enter if they renounce violence. The lead thug begins to beat her, telling her that her god has no power over him. He screams to "God" that he is Oguun of the Fenris talking to him in his house and tells him to take his best shot. At that moment, Spidey and the Prophet arrive. Spidey apologizes to Father Jennifer for the Vulture "fracas" and seeks to make amends. The Fenris wonder who's with him and Spidey informs them that it's the Prophet..."and he's real annoyed." The Prophet then blasts one of the thugs from the room with a newly discovered eye power. Spidey webs up the rest and takes them outside the church. The lead thug warns Spidey that "Bloodsword" will get him for this affront. Spidey tells him that he's not afraid of Bloodsword and announces that St. Pat's is under his protection. Elsewhere, Kasey, Raff, and Gabe go into the street because "the vine" said that Spidey had returned. Gabe tries to get Kasey back into her apartment, but she refuses, excited to see Spidey. She then loses consciousness, causing Gabe to shout her name. She next awakens at a clinic, where a doctor reveals to her that he's not going to report her gunshot wound to the authorities because Spider-Man asked him not to do so. Raff reveals that Spidey heard Gabe's scream and took Kasey to the clinic after telling Gabe and Raff where he was taking her. Spidey, meanwhile, returns to the Prophet, who thanks Spidey for the tour and tells him that, armed with dehydrated food from Father Jennifer, he's going to see the world with his eyes. He then departs via one of his warps after the two wish each other well.
The Review
That summary seems really involved, given that, honestly, nothing of real significance seems to happen in this issue. It feels mostly like a transition issue, wrapping up some of the loose ends related to Thanatos, deepening the mystery of Lyla, and making us wonder where the Kasey/Gabe relationship is going. Unfortunately, I'm not really pleased with the way that David wraps up the Thanatos plot and the Prophet storyline also had some serious flaws. It's the first two stars of the series, but, hopefully, it's an isolated incident and we're going to get some higher marks as we move into "Fall of the Hammer."
The Good
I'm really stretching to find something I liked in this issue. It wasn't that I hated everything, but I found most of it annoying. I guess the best part, for me, was the Father Jennifer storyline, since I originally hoped at her initial appearance in issue #8 that she would serve as a liaison between Spidey and Downtown. So far, my favorite stories have taken place in Downtown, where we see Spidey as a crime-fighter and avoid some of the high-concept plots that are starting to get a little dull. So, hopefully, with Father Jennifer and Spidey starting to work together, we'll see more of those sorts of stories. That's about all I've got at this point.
The Unknown
How did Spidey know the clinic doctor so well that he was willing to risk the ire of the authorities at Spidey's request? Was it the same place he went in issue #6? It doesn't seem like it, since this clinic seemed a bit fancier. I think it's actually David showing that the public has started to be taken with Spidey and supporting him, but I feel like we probably needed that clarified a bit.
The Bad
1) OK, I'm disappointed in David, because I'm just not feeling this Thanatos/Prophet story. It seems pretty clear that, at some point, it's going to be revealed that they're both characters that we know from the 1990s era of Marvel Comics. As I mentioned last issue, my problem with this sort of mystery is that I'm just eager to get to the reveal. The 2099 world has worked best so far when it's avoided playing up its direct connections to the 1990s era. I'm so much more interested in the 2099 world itself -- with all the discoveries that we have yet to make -- that I can't say I'm all that interested in getting plagued by the baggage of the 1990s era. I'm not saying that I don't find how the 2099 world evolved from the 1990s era interesting; I do. For example, I thought the 2099 Vulture in "Spider-Man 2099" was pretty bad-ass and the thirty-mile mall in "2099 Unlimited" #2 was brilliant. I'm just less interested in seeing direct connections to the 1990s era, characters from that era suddenly appearing in 2099. It seems to really break our suspension of disbelief somehow, and I find myself just hoping that we learn who Thanatos and the Prophet are in "Fall of the Hammer" so we can get onto more interesting stories.
2) Moreover, I'm still confused by what Thanatos' motivations are. Last issue, we learned that he wanted to destroy the 2099 world for his host. Is that it? I mean, if the guy is powerful enough to have survived whatever bad thing happened at the end of the Heroic Age, does he really care about his host? I'm not sure I buy that he feels so indebted to him that he's willing to destroy the entire world just to thank him. Wouldn't he have his own goals? Why would he want to destroy the world rather than rule it or something? I mean, if he was powerful enough to kill Thor, you'd think that he'd be powerful enough to rule the world. (Also, I think the Prophet is wrong here. I don't think Thanatos said he killed Thor; he just said that he was there when Thor died.)
Friday, April 27, 2012
New Comics!: The "Night of the Owls" Edition #1 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
I'm posting these reviews in the order in which I read the issues, which winds up having been the exact opposite order in which I should've read them. One of my pet peeves (though not an official one) is when publishers don't tell us the order in which we're supposed to read the issues of a cross-over event, a service to the fans that, to me, seems like a basic step if you're asking them to buy multiple issues of series that they don't normally buy. As such, I saw Alfred sending out the call to arms in both "Red Hood and the Outlaws" and "Nightwing," despite not actually seeing the circumstances surrounding the event until I read "Batman" #8. Annoying.
Red Hood and the Outlaws #8: Oh, thank effing God! I have, since the first issue of this series, been desperate for a story that shows us some insight into the state of Jason's relationship with the Bat-family in the DCnU. Given the soft reboot that the Bat-family was given (and Jason's previous comments about repeatedly trying to kill Dick), it was pretty clear that all his crazy moments, such as "Battle for the Cowl" and "Batman and Robin" #3-#6, still likely happened. In Jason's conversation with Tim here, we more or less get confirmation that they did, with Jason noting that he wasn't always that nice to Tim (you know, like, when he stabbed him in the chest in "Battle for the Cowl" #2). However, and this part is key, we also get, finally, someone in the Bat-family stating what should've been the obvious, that Jason returned from the dead after being murdered, and that's a lot to digest. It makes sense that it's Tim who holds out the olive branch. After all, he never knew Jason alive (the first time), so he doesn't come to his relationship with him with quite the same baggage that Bruce and Dick do. It turns into a lovely moment, with Jason somewhat shockingly accepting Tim's offer to stay and have breakfast with him and the two of them bonding over a discussion about how terrible Alfred's waffles are. (I found the revelation that Alfred's waffles are terrible to be possibly the most shocking part of this issue.) Given the anger we saw in "Red Hood and the Outlaws" #3, when Jason leaves behind his most cherished memory, of Bruce skipping patrol to stay with him when he was sick, I'm thrilled that Lobdell opens the door to reconciliation one day. "Batman Incorporated" #6 seemed to be going down that road, before the reboot, when most of us assumed that the mysterious person getting fitted with armor by Batman, who suggested it was this person's chance at redemption, was Jason. Other than that moment (which, again, wasn't confirmed to be Jason and happened in the DCU), the breakfast scene gives us the first hint that we've seen that Jason maybe is starting to think he might want a reconciliation (or would at least consider one). He's always been so adamant about his hatred of Bruce for not avenging him, but, as Tim said, he had a lot to digest and maybe he's done some digesting by now. Tim also raises the idea that the other members of the Bat-family will eventually realize that, too. At this point, I would've just been happy to know that Jason had Tim as his link and therefore have my hope kept alive that we'll see everyone hug out their emotions soon. But, Lobdell goes one step further here, and we see Jason take another step towards the Bat-family in agreeing to help with the Night of the Owls. Now, I have no doubt that, after the dust settles, we'll at best get a tense conversation between Bruce and Jason acknowledging what Jason did in helping with the Court of Owls and what him doing it means in terms of his relationship with the Bat-family. But, at this point, I'll take it. Jason deciding to help the Bat-family is a huge step and it gives me hope. Hurrah! Moreover, I have to give Lobdell props for finding a pretty convincing reason for getting Jason to come to Gotham, with Suzie Su kidnapping all the kids in the Gotham hospital in order to get Jason to return so she could get her revenge on him. I'm sad to see Su go, because she seemed to have so much potential as a crazed villain, but she served her purpose here of getting our man to Gotham. All in all, I'm a lot more hopeful about this series now that we've at least left the All-Caste nonsense behind (no matter how temporary it is) and put our boy back in Gotham. I'll sleep easier tonight.
Nightwing #8: Okie-dokie, the "Night of the Owls" has started, with William Cobb coming after his descendant, Dick Grayson. Higgins gives us Cobb's history here, moving him from a poor boy on the streets of Gotham performing juggling tricks around the turn of the century to a celebrated acrobat in Haly's Circus romancing the daughter of one of the city's elites. His story doesn't finish here, since Higgins only sets up the betrayal that we'll presumably see turn him into a Talon next issue. But, Higgins does his best to set up the tragedy of Cobb and make it clear that the Court of Owls has done some pretty terrible things to him. It's not all about Cobb's past, though, with Higgins focusing on his attack on Mayor Hady in the present day and ensuing fight with Nightwing, who arrives to save the Mayor. I was initially surprised by Nightwing stabbing him in the eye, but then Higgins reminds us that Cobb -- and all the Talons -- are already dead, making me realize that we're really going to get to see the Bat-family unleashed in this event. I'm still a little confused, because I thought we last left Cobb in the Batcave, though I'm assuming I'll see how he escaped in "Batman" #8 (despite this issue being labeled a "Prelude" and that issue being labeled "Begins"). But, Higgins really moves us along this issue better than he has in previous installments of this title, a weakness that I'm realizing might have been more related to his need to stall on the reveal of who Saiko was (to conincide with the "Night of the Owls") than any failing on his part. It gives me hope for the future of this title, and makes me anxious to see how Dick survives three blades to the chest next issue! I'm also intrigued to continue the Cobb story, since Higgins does a good job humanizing him here, paralleling his story to that of Dick, who also wasn't born "of Gotham" but became as central to the city as anyone other than Bruce could be. All in all, it's one of the stronger issues of this series.
Batman #8: OK, somewhat surprisingly, I actually have a few complaints about this issue. First, the transition between Capullo and Albuquerque in the art department is bizarre. It seriously, seriously disturbs the flow of the story because, although DC appears to want us to believe that the Albuquerque part is a secondary feature, it's really just the second part of the story that this issue tells. The first is the Court of Owls' attack on Bruce Wayne in the Mansion, and the second is Alfred's call to the Bat-family while Bruce fights the Talons in the Batcave. They're really not separate at all. Second, I'm a little confused why the Talons don't know that Bruce Wayne is Batman, since I'm pretty sure that the Court knows. I mean, Snyder made a point of the Court not removing Batman's mask in issue #5, to prove how irrelevant his identity was, so maybe it doesn't know. But, if it doesn't know, why send that many Talons to kill a millionaire playboy? I mean, they only send one guy to kill the Deputy Police Commissioner, who, presumably (despite being in the bathtub), probably had a better chance of putting up a fight than a guy known for being a bon vivant. Plus, if the Court is really as connected to the Waynes as we're lead to believe, did it really not figure out the fact that Bruce is Batman? Really? I'm hoping Snyder has a better explanation up his sleeve for this part, because, so far, it's a pretty gaping hole in the plot. (I'm going to have to re-read the last few issues to see exactly what they seem to know.)
Otherwise, it's a pretty straightforward story, with both Snyder and Capullo showing us a Bruce who hasn't been this broken, both mentally and physically, since "Knightfall." While knitting from the wounds inflicted on him while he was stuck in the Court's maze, Bruce realizes what a fool he's been not to have seen the Court's role in Gotham all along. As I said in my review of last issue, Snyder has done a brilliant job of showing that the Court of Owls has manipulated Bruce' overconfidence in his knowledge of Gotham to stay in the shadows. At some point in this series, we should learn how it managed to do so, and how that answer is tied into the Wayne family's past. Did it know that it was escaping Bruce's notice, or did it just happen that way, as part of its general goal to escape everyone's notice? (Moreover, again, this manipulation speaks to the fact that I'm pretty sure that it would've known Bruce is Batman.)
At any rate, I'm not thrilled with this issue, but, given the amazing job that Snyder has done with this arc, I'm definitely willing to reserve my judgment and see how the main event progresses.
Red Hood and the Outlaws #8: Oh, thank effing God! I have, since the first issue of this series, been desperate for a story that shows us some insight into the state of Jason's relationship with the Bat-family in the DCnU. Given the soft reboot that the Bat-family was given (and Jason's previous comments about repeatedly trying to kill Dick), it was pretty clear that all his crazy moments, such as "Battle for the Cowl" and "Batman and Robin" #3-#6, still likely happened. In Jason's conversation with Tim here, we more or less get confirmation that they did, with Jason noting that he wasn't always that nice to Tim (you know, like, when he stabbed him in the chest in "Battle for the Cowl" #2). However, and this part is key, we also get, finally, someone in the Bat-family stating what should've been the obvious, that Jason returned from the dead after being murdered, and that's a lot to digest. It makes sense that it's Tim who holds out the olive branch. After all, he never knew Jason alive (the first time), so he doesn't come to his relationship with him with quite the same baggage that Bruce and Dick do. It turns into a lovely moment, with Jason somewhat shockingly accepting Tim's offer to stay and have breakfast with him and the two of them bonding over a discussion about how terrible Alfred's waffles are. (I found the revelation that Alfred's waffles are terrible to be possibly the most shocking part of this issue.) Given the anger we saw in "Red Hood and the Outlaws" #3, when Jason leaves behind his most cherished memory, of Bruce skipping patrol to stay with him when he was sick, I'm thrilled that Lobdell opens the door to reconciliation one day. "Batman Incorporated" #6 seemed to be going down that road, before the reboot, when most of us assumed that the mysterious person getting fitted with armor by Batman, who suggested it was this person's chance at redemption, was Jason. Other than that moment (which, again, wasn't confirmed to be Jason and happened in the DCU), the breakfast scene gives us the first hint that we've seen that Jason maybe is starting to think he might want a reconciliation (or would at least consider one). He's always been so adamant about his hatred of Bruce for not avenging him, but, as Tim said, he had a lot to digest and maybe he's done some digesting by now. Tim also raises the idea that the other members of the Bat-family will eventually realize that, too. At this point, I would've just been happy to know that Jason had Tim as his link and therefore have my hope kept alive that we'll see everyone hug out their emotions soon. But, Lobdell goes one step further here, and we see Jason take another step towards the Bat-family in agreeing to help with the Night of the Owls. Now, I have no doubt that, after the dust settles, we'll at best get a tense conversation between Bruce and Jason acknowledging what Jason did in helping with the Court of Owls and what him doing it means in terms of his relationship with the Bat-family. But, at this point, I'll take it. Jason deciding to help the Bat-family is a huge step and it gives me hope. Hurrah! Moreover, I have to give Lobdell props for finding a pretty convincing reason for getting Jason to come to Gotham, with Suzie Su kidnapping all the kids in the Gotham hospital in order to get Jason to return so she could get her revenge on him. I'm sad to see Su go, because she seemed to have so much potential as a crazed villain, but she served her purpose here of getting our man to Gotham. All in all, I'm a lot more hopeful about this series now that we've at least left the All-Caste nonsense behind (no matter how temporary it is) and put our boy back in Gotham. I'll sleep easier tonight.
Nightwing #8: Okie-dokie, the "Night of the Owls" has started, with William Cobb coming after his descendant, Dick Grayson. Higgins gives us Cobb's history here, moving him from a poor boy on the streets of Gotham performing juggling tricks around the turn of the century to a celebrated acrobat in Haly's Circus romancing the daughter of one of the city's elites. His story doesn't finish here, since Higgins only sets up the betrayal that we'll presumably see turn him into a Talon next issue. But, Higgins does his best to set up the tragedy of Cobb and make it clear that the Court of Owls has done some pretty terrible things to him. It's not all about Cobb's past, though, with Higgins focusing on his attack on Mayor Hady in the present day and ensuing fight with Nightwing, who arrives to save the Mayor. I was initially surprised by Nightwing stabbing him in the eye, but then Higgins reminds us that Cobb -- and all the Talons -- are already dead, making me realize that we're really going to get to see the Bat-family unleashed in this event. I'm still a little confused, because I thought we last left Cobb in the Batcave, though I'm assuming I'll see how he escaped in "Batman" #8 (despite this issue being labeled a "Prelude" and that issue being labeled "Begins"). But, Higgins really moves us along this issue better than he has in previous installments of this title, a weakness that I'm realizing might have been more related to his need to stall on the reveal of who Saiko was (to conincide with the "Night of the Owls") than any failing on his part. It gives me hope for the future of this title, and makes me anxious to see how Dick survives three blades to the chest next issue! I'm also intrigued to continue the Cobb story, since Higgins does a good job humanizing him here, paralleling his story to that of Dick, who also wasn't born "of Gotham" but became as central to the city as anyone other than Bruce could be. All in all, it's one of the stronger issues of this series.
Batman #8: OK, somewhat surprisingly, I actually have a few complaints about this issue. First, the transition between Capullo and Albuquerque in the art department is bizarre. It seriously, seriously disturbs the flow of the story because, although DC appears to want us to believe that the Albuquerque part is a secondary feature, it's really just the second part of the story that this issue tells. The first is the Court of Owls' attack on Bruce Wayne in the Mansion, and the second is Alfred's call to the Bat-family while Bruce fights the Talons in the Batcave. They're really not separate at all. Second, I'm a little confused why the Talons don't know that Bruce Wayne is Batman, since I'm pretty sure that the Court knows. I mean, Snyder made a point of the Court not removing Batman's mask in issue #5, to prove how irrelevant his identity was, so maybe it doesn't know. But, if it doesn't know, why send that many Talons to kill a millionaire playboy? I mean, they only send one guy to kill the Deputy Police Commissioner, who, presumably (despite being in the bathtub), probably had a better chance of putting up a fight than a guy known for being a bon vivant. Plus, if the Court is really as connected to the Waynes as we're lead to believe, did it really not figure out the fact that Bruce is Batman? Really? I'm hoping Snyder has a better explanation up his sleeve for this part, because, so far, it's a pretty gaping hole in the plot. (I'm going to have to re-read the last few issues to see exactly what they seem to know.)
Otherwise, it's a pretty straightforward story, with both Snyder and Capullo showing us a Bruce who hasn't been this broken, both mentally and physically, since "Knightfall." While knitting from the wounds inflicted on him while he was stuck in the Court's maze, Bruce realizes what a fool he's been not to have seen the Court's role in Gotham all along. As I said in my review of last issue, Snyder has done a brilliant job of showing that the Court of Owls has manipulated Bruce' overconfidence in his knowledge of Gotham to stay in the shadows. At some point in this series, we should learn how it managed to do so, and how that answer is tied into the Wayne family's past. Did it know that it was escaping Bruce's notice, or did it just happen that way, as part of its general goal to escape everyone's notice? (Moreover, again, this manipulation speaks to the fact that I'm pretty sure that it would've known Bruce is Batman.)
At any rate, I'm not thrilled with this issue, but, given the amazing job that Snyder has done with this arc, I'm definitely willing to reserve my judgment and see how the main event progresses.
Spider-Man 2099 #13: "Prophet and Loss"
*** (three of five stars)
Summary
The man who emerged from the inter-dimensional portal last issue asks how long he's been trapped in there. Spidey answers that it's 2099, and the man seems confused (and asks Miguel why he's wearing a mask). Two figures (maybe Public Eye officers) whisper about the possibility of him being the Prophet of Thor, following Spider-Man, the Harbinger of Thor. Thanatos overhears the conversation and tells the two figures that Thor is dead, because he was there. The Prophet recognizes Thanatos, though he can't place him as anything more than a creature of evil. The Prophet tries to take out Thanatos, but only manages to create some light around his hands. Thanatos informs the Prophet that his "internal powers have run dry," though stressing that, even at full power, he wouldn't have been able to defeat him. Thanatos tells the Prophet that he used to be formidable, but that Thanatos won't allow him to remember it. Meanwhile, Dana speeds towards Alchemax, worried that Miguel would be concerned about her after seeing Thanatos burst into her office last issue. She wonders briefly if Miguel would've just been happy that her plans with Tyler Stone were ruined, but then stops herself, assuring herself that Miguel would've been worried about her, even if he wanted to see Stone harmed. On her way, Dana notices that Alchemax is crawling with Public Eye officers and expresses frustration when her car is slowed by the traffic authority to "ensure proper traffic flow." At Alchemax, Spidey defends the Prophet against Thanatos while Stone escapes the room, telling the Public Eye to take down the guy "with a brush on his head," save the "silver-haired one" for questioning, and hold Spider-Man for him. In the lab, Spidey is stunned when his talons don't penetrate Thanatos' skin at all. Thanatos further surprises him when he confirms that they don't and that he read Miguel's mind to know it was what he was thinking. He then punches Miguel across the room. The Prophet tries to intervene, but Thanatos, telling him that his transition to the 2099 world has either robbed him of his powers or mutated them being his understanding, slashes him. Thanatos observes to no one in particular that he could've disemboweled the Prophet if he had wanted to do so, but that leaving him bleeding profusely was sufficient. Thanatos then asks Spidey if he recognizes him, telling him that "we set you up." Spidey is still dazed from the punch and Thanatos is poised to throw him in the portal when the Public Eye opens fire and blasts both of them into it.
Elsewhere, Kasey has a dream where she blows up Alchemax and is subsequently saved by Spider-Man. She tells him that she can't stop thinking about him and he reveals that he's Gabriel, who expresses frustration that Kasey had feelings for Spider-Man, even though he's him. The dream is interrupted by a knock. Elsewhere, Miguel is falling through a blank space, seeing images of people in his life. He hits bottom and, looking around him, observes a sky made of "a zillion colors." He begins walking until he hears voices and realizes that he's walking on his own enormous (costumed) body. A voice tells him that the crowd surrounding the body (the source of the voices) is mourning his (though not Miguel's) passing. The voice informs him that he's in "interspace," which is everywhere at once, "one stop removed from the nexus of all realities." The voice is revealed to be a giant-sized Thanatos, who tells him that interspace is his second home and that he's been marooned on Earth since the end of the Heroic Age, existing as a discorporated, powerless entity who was awakened when the virtual-unreality portal came on-line a few weeks earlier. He used the energy coming from the portal to possess the body of a "newly deceased vessel..one whose last thoughts were hatred for you, Spider-Man." Thanatos tells Spidey that, in his host's honor, he will abandon Spider-Man in interspace and go to devastate the world of 2099 to make him pay for whatever he did to the host.
In Downtown, Kasey discovers that the knock was a guy named Raff at her door. He tells her that she doesn't look so good and offers to lend her money so that she can go to the clinic. She tells him that she's fine, but then vomits, telling him that, on second thought, she might be ill. At Alchemax, the division heads meet with the C.E.O. to review their performances. The C.E.O. threatens to take over Stone's affairs since they seem beyond his control. Stone says that he can handle them and the C.E.O. tells him to do so, noting that the "nets" are flooded with rumors of the "Net Prophet" emerging from the virtual-unreality portal. He informs Stone that he doesn't need another hero running around New York and, in fact, notes that it's the sudden rise of the heroes that inspired the meeting. He says that the division heads need to take out the heroes rather than arguing among themselves. Elsewhere in Alchemax, the Prophet is being escorted by the Public Eye, muttering to himself that he has to help the "man in black." The Public Eye tries to restrain him, but he re-discovers his powers, firing blasts at the officers and then throwing up a force field when they fire on him. Back in interspace, Miguel attacks Thanatos, who then grabs him in his huge fist. He tells Miguel that he was never in the same league as the original Spider-Man or his foes, like Venom, and that he can ask the original Spider-Man about it when he sees him after he dies. However, before Thanatos can crush him, Miguel bites him. Thanatos is paralyzed and Miguel announces that he realized when Thanatos mentioned Venom that spiders inject venom into their prey with their fangs; figuring that he had fangs, Miguel figured he might also have venom. He then begins to run while Thanatos is paralyzed and sees a hand suddenly appear. He hears Thanatos screaming behind him and decides to go with the devil he knows, grabbing the hand The hand pulls him through the portal and Miguel appears in his apartment. Taking off his mask, he's relieved to be home...but shocked when he realizes that the hand belonged to the Prophet, who's bleeding next to him.
The Review
As predicted, David was just setting up the story last issue, and, wow, he hits the gas in this one! Although it's a fast-paced issue with a lot of interesting plot developments, I'm giving this issue a three because it remains to be seen where David goes with some of these plots. I'm assuming it'll be somewhere amazing, but the lengthy "Unknown" section implies that we'll have to wait to see. I think one of my issues is that Thanatos seems all over the place in terms of his motives, his powers, and his connections. Once we get a little bit more clarity on that front, I think I'll be a happier camper.
The Good
1) OMG, Aaron Delgato or the Vulture is Thanatos! I mean, we don't actually know that yet, but I'm pretty sure that it's one of them, given that Spider-Man was involved in their deaths (assuming the Vulture is dead). As usual, David keeps an old sub-plot -- the fact that Delgato's body was never found after the accident in issue #1 and that we never actually saw the Vulture die in issue #8 -- and makes it a key part of a future plot. Moreover, David answers almost all the questions I had about Thanatos last issue. He "knew" about the virtual-unreality machine because it awakened energies that he previously channeled before he was expelled from "interspace," the dimension into which the virtual-unreality machine was tapping. Although it's a little science-fiction-y, it works as an explanation. I love how David didn't just leave that question unanswered, since so many other authors would've just made it seem like Thanatos just magically knew about the portal. Moreover, David clarifies Thanatos' connection to Thor. He's clearly not Thor, as David seemed to be hinting last issue, given that Thanatos informs the Public Eye officers that he was there when Thor died. (He also mentioned last issue that he was there when God died. The guy goes to a lot of funerals.) David also shows that some of my doubts about whether or not Thanatos really had powers were premature, given that he's able to read Miguel's mind even when he's not in interspace (where, presumably, his powers are even stronger). David obviously has some huge reveal still up his sleeve, like Thanatos being Loki or something, but I feel better that he started answering some of the questions that I had about Thanatos this issue.
2) OMG, the venom power is awesome! I did NOT see that coming.
The Unknown
1) Although David answered a lot of questions about Thanatos in this issue, he also raised several new ones. We still actually don't know Thanatos' plans, particularly what he was going to do with the "full lost power of the Heroic Age." First, why is the full power of the Heroic Age lost? Did some sort of even happened that took away the powers of all the super-beings? Is that what Thanatos was somehow siphoning? I actually wondered if Thanatos isn't Immortus or Kang, given that he refers to interspace as his "second home." If it's his second home, where is his first one? It doesn't seem to be our dimension, since he lamented the fact that he was trapped in it in the first place. Moreover, what exactly did he plan on doing? He mentions in this issue that "we" set up Spidey. He seems to be referring to his host as the second person in the "we" since he mentions that he was going to destroy the 2099 world in tribute to his host, because it would pain Spider-Man. Is that really his motivation, though? To get revenge for his host? What would he do after that? Moreover, why does he not seem to want to just stay in interspace? He lamented the fact that he was trapped on Earth, but here he seems eager to leave interspace to return to it.
2) Continuing on the Thanatos/Prophet theme, one of the pitfalls of the 2099 premise, as has been discussed in the various letters pages, is that it would be easy to reduce every plot to a guessing game of how such-and-such character or such-and-such event is connected to the current (or, at least, current for when these stories were written) time line. One of the reasons why David has been so successful so far is that he's avoided doing that, making the world about Miguel and not Peter. It's why the world is so engaging, because it's not just a reflection of our world. It also takes on added importance in terms of the fact that I'm reading these issues 20 years later. They don't feel dated, because, so far, David hasn't tied anything happening in 2099 to an event in the past. Given the way Marvel has rebooted events over and over again, it would be embarrassing if David made "Bloodties" (the Avengers/X-Men cross-over event that Marvel is hyping in the ads in these issues) into some sort of defining event, as opposed to a forgettable one. I'm concerned about it in this arc (or the future arc where we learn what's really happening), because David is definitely implying that both Thanatos and the Prophet are present incarnations of past (or future) characters. Already I find myself just wishing that he'd tell us, another drawback to this sort of story, because it's difficult to just let it take you where it takes you.
3) Again, in the category of David not letting a plot drop, I like how he continues to show Thanatos switching back and forth when it comes to what he thinks about Miguel. When Miguel tries to save the Prophet, Thanatos tells him that it's a pity that he threw in his lot with "losers." But, Miguel (understandably) notes that Thanatos was willing to throw Miguel into the portal last issue, so it's not like, in Miguel's words, Thanatos has Miguel's best interests at heart. Even after the later events of this issue, I'm not really sure what Thanatos' intentions are towards Miguel. He seems to know all about Miguel, though it's unclear if it comes from his possession of the host who knew him or some other sort of exogenous knowledge, like he's from a future timeline. I figure, at some point, David will show why Thanatos vacillates from seeming to be fond of Miguel to wanting to kill him. Similarly, I'm not sure why Thanatos didn't kill the Prophet. He tells us that he could've disemboweled him but didn't, despite the fact that he seemed to want the Prophet dead before he could remember who he was (and how powerful he was). Why not just kill him?
4) I wonder what's up with Kasey. It seems too obvious for her to be pregnant.
The Bad
Dana doesn't really seem to think much of Miguel. She suggests in her drive to Alchemax that Miguel wouldn't be all that worried about her when he saw the explosion, suggesting instead that he would've been happier that her night with Stone would've been ruined. Does she really think that of him? Really?
Summary
The man who emerged from the inter-dimensional portal last issue asks how long he's been trapped in there. Spidey answers that it's 2099, and the man seems confused (and asks Miguel why he's wearing a mask). Two figures (maybe Public Eye officers) whisper about the possibility of him being the Prophet of Thor, following Spider-Man, the Harbinger of Thor. Thanatos overhears the conversation and tells the two figures that Thor is dead, because he was there. The Prophet recognizes Thanatos, though he can't place him as anything more than a creature of evil. The Prophet tries to take out Thanatos, but only manages to create some light around his hands. Thanatos informs the Prophet that his "internal powers have run dry," though stressing that, even at full power, he wouldn't have been able to defeat him. Thanatos tells the Prophet that he used to be formidable, but that Thanatos won't allow him to remember it. Meanwhile, Dana speeds towards Alchemax, worried that Miguel would be concerned about her after seeing Thanatos burst into her office last issue. She wonders briefly if Miguel would've just been happy that her plans with Tyler Stone were ruined, but then stops herself, assuring herself that Miguel would've been worried about her, even if he wanted to see Stone harmed. On her way, Dana notices that Alchemax is crawling with Public Eye officers and expresses frustration when her car is slowed by the traffic authority to "ensure proper traffic flow." At Alchemax, Spidey defends the Prophet against Thanatos while Stone escapes the room, telling the Public Eye to take down the guy "with a brush on his head," save the "silver-haired one" for questioning, and hold Spider-Man for him. In the lab, Spidey is stunned when his talons don't penetrate Thanatos' skin at all. Thanatos further surprises him when he confirms that they don't and that he read Miguel's mind to know it was what he was thinking. He then punches Miguel across the room. The Prophet tries to intervene, but Thanatos, telling him that his transition to the 2099 world has either robbed him of his powers or mutated them being his understanding, slashes him. Thanatos observes to no one in particular that he could've disemboweled the Prophet if he had wanted to do so, but that leaving him bleeding profusely was sufficient. Thanatos then asks Spidey if he recognizes him, telling him that "we set you up." Spidey is still dazed from the punch and Thanatos is poised to throw him in the portal when the Public Eye opens fire and blasts both of them into it.
Elsewhere, Kasey has a dream where she blows up Alchemax and is subsequently saved by Spider-Man. She tells him that she can't stop thinking about him and he reveals that he's Gabriel, who expresses frustration that Kasey had feelings for Spider-Man, even though he's him. The dream is interrupted by a knock. Elsewhere, Miguel is falling through a blank space, seeing images of people in his life. He hits bottom and, looking around him, observes a sky made of "a zillion colors." He begins walking until he hears voices and realizes that he's walking on his own enormous (costumed) body. A voice tells him that the crowd surrounding the body (the source of the voices) is mourning his (though not Miguel's) passing. The voice informs him that he's in "interspace," which is everywhere at once, "one stop removed from the nexus of all realities." The voice is revealed to be a giant-sized Thanatos, who tells him that interspace is his second home and that he's been marooned on Earth since the end of the Heroic Age, existing as a discorporated, powerless entity who was awakened when the virtual-unreality portal came on-line a few weeks earlier. He used the energy coming from the portal to possess the body of a "newly deceased vessel..one whose last thoughts were hatred for you, Spider-Man." Thanatos tells Spidey that, in his host's honor, he will abandon Spider-Man in interspace and go to devastate the world of 2099 to make him pay for whatever he did to the host.
In Downtown, Kasey discovers that the knock was a guy named Raff at her door. He tells her that she doesn't look so good and offers to lend her money so that she can go to the clinic. She tells him that she's fine, but then vomits, telling him that, on second thought, she might be ill. At Alchemax, the division heads meet with the C.E.O. to review their performances. The C.E.O. threatens to take over Stone's affairs since they seem beyond his control. Stone says that he can handle them and the C.E.O. tells him to do so, noting that the "nets" are flooded with rumors of the "Net Prophet" emerging from the virtual-unreality portal. He informs Stone that he doesn't need another hero running around New York and, in fact, notes that it's the sudden rise of the heroes that inspired the meeting. He says that the division heads need to take out the heroes rather than arguing among themselves. Elsewhere in Alchemax, the Prophet is being escorted by the Public Eye, muttering to himself that he has to help the "man in black." The Public Eye tries to restrain him, but he re-discovers his powers, firing blasts at the officers and then throwing up a force field when they fire on him. Back in interspace, Miguel attacks Thanatos, who then grabs him in his huge fist. He tells Miguel that he was never in the same league as the original Spider-Man or his foes, like Venom, and that he can ask the original Spider-Man about it when he sees him after he dies. However, before Thanatos can crush him, Miguel bites him. Thanatos is paralyzed and Miguel announces that he realized when Thanatos mentioned Venom that spiders inject venom into their prey with their fangs; figuring that he had fangs, Miguel figured he might also have venom. He then begins to run while Thanatos is paralyzed and sees a hand suddenly appear. He hears Thanatos screaming behind him and decides to go with the devil he knows, grabbing the hand The hand pulls him through the portal and Miguel appears in his apartment. Taking off his mask, he's relieved to be home...but shocked when he realizes that the hand belonged to the Prophet, who's bleeding next to him.
The Review
As predicted, David was just setting up the story last issue, and, wow, he hits the gas in this one! Although it's a fast-paced issue with a lot of interesting plot developments, I'm giving this issue a three because it remains to be seen where David goes with some of these plots. I'm assuming it'll be somewhere amazing, but the lengthy "Unknown" section implies that we'll have to wait to see. I think one of my issues is that Thanatos seems all over the place in terms of his motives, his powers, and his connections. Once we get a little bit more clarity on that front, I think I'll be a happier camper.
The Good
1) OMG, Aaron Delgato or the Vulture is Thanatos! I mean, we don't actually know that yet, but I'm pretty sure that it's one of them, given that Spider-Man was involved in their deaths (assuming the Vulture is dead). As usual, David keeps an old sub-plot -- the fact that Delgato's body was never found after the accident in issue #1 and that we never actually saw the Vulture die in issue #8 -- and makes it a key part of a future plot. Moreover, David answers almost all the questions I had about Thanatos last issue. He "knew" about the virtual-unreality machine because it awakened energies that he previously channeled before he was expelled from "interspace," the dimension into which the virtual-unreality machine was tapping. Although it's a little science-fiction-y, it works as an explanation. I love how David didn't just leave that question unanswered, since so many other authors would've just made it seem like Thanatos just magically knew about the portal. Moreover, David clarifies Thanatos' connection to Thor. He's clearly not Thor, as David seemed to be hinting last issue, given that Thanatos informs the Public Eye officers that he was there when Thor died. (He also mentioned last issue that he was there when God died. The guy goes to a lot of funerals.) David also shows that some of my doubts about whether or not Thanatos really had powers were premature, given that he's able to read Miguel's mind even when he's not in interspace (where, presumably, his powers are even stronger). David obviously has some huge reveal still up his sleeve, like Thanatos being Loki or something, but I feel better that he started answering some of the questions that I had about Thanatos this issue.
2) OMG, the venom power is awesome! I did NOT see that coming.
The Unknown
1) Although David answered a lot of questions about Thanatos in this issue, he also raised several new ones. We still actually don't know Thanatos' plans, particularly what he was going to do with the "full lost power of the Heroic Age." First, why is the full power of the Heroic Age lost? Did some sort of even happened that took away the powers of all the super-beings? Is that what Thanatos was somehow siphoning? I actually wondered if Thanatos isn't Immortus or Kang, given that he refers to interspace as his "second home." If it's his second home, where is his first one? It doesn't seem to be our dimension, since he lamented the fact that he was trapped in it in the first place. Moreover, what exactly did he plan on doing? He mentions in this issue that "we" set up Spidey. He seems to be referring to his host as the second person in the "we" since he mentions that he was going to destroy the 2099 world in tribute to his host, because it would pain Spider-Man. Is that really his motivation, though? To get revenge for his host? What would he do after that? Moreover, why does he not seem to want to just stay in interspace? He lamented the fact that he was trapped on Earth, but here he seems eager to leave interspace to return to it.
2) Continuing on the Thanatos/Prophet theme, one of the pitfalls of the 2099 premise, as has been discussed in the various letters pages, is that it would be easy to reduce every plot to a guessing game of how such-and-such character or such-and-such event is connected to the current (or, at least, current for when these stories were written) time line. One of the reasons why David has been so successful so far is that he's avoided doing that, making the world about Miguel and not Peter. It's why the world is so engaging, because it's not just a reflection of our world. It also takes on added importance in terms of the fact that I'm reading these issues 20 years later. They don't feel dated, because, so far, David hasn't tied anything happening in 2099 to an event in the past. Given the way Marvel has rebooted events over and over again, it would be embarrassing if David made "Bloodties" (the Avengers/X-Men cross-over event that Marvel is hyping in the ads in these issues) into some sort of defining event, as opposed to a forgettable one. I'm concerned about it in this arc (or the future arc where we learn what's really happening), because David is definitely implying that both Thanatos and the Prophet are present incarnations of past (or future) characters. Already I find myself just wishing that he'd tell us, another drawback to this sort of story, because it's difficult to just let it take you where it takes you.
3) Again, in the category of David not letting a plot drop, I like how he continues to show Thanatos switching back and forth when it comes to what he thinks about Miguel. When Miguel tries to save the Prophet, Thanatos tells him that it's a pity that he threw in his lot with "losers." But, Miguel (understandably) notes that Thanatos was willing to throw Miguel into the portal last issue, so it's not like, in Miguel's words, Thanatos has Miguel's best interests at heart. Even after the later events of this issue, I'm not really sure what Thanatos' intentions are towards Miguel. He seems to know all about Miguel, though it's unclear if it comes from his possession of the host who knew him or some other sort of exogenous knowledge, like he's from a future timeline. I figure, at some point, David will show why Thanatos vacillates from seeming to be fond of Miguel to wanting to kill him. Similarly, I'm not sure why Thanatos didn't kill the Prophet. He tells us that he could've disemboweled him but didn't, despite the fact that he seemed to want the Prophet dead before he could remember who he was (and how powerful he was). Why not just kill him?
4) I wonder what's up with Kasey. It seems too obvious for her to be pregnant.
The Bad
Dana doesn't really seem to think much of Miguel. She suggests in her drive to Alchemax that Miguel wouldn't be all that worried about her when he saw the explosion, suggesting instead that he would've been happier that her night with Stone would've been ruined. Does she really think that of him? Really?
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