The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.
Title: X-MEN Issue Number: 5
Title Story: Part 3
Title Arc: Battle of the Atom
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: David Lopez
Inker: Cam Smith
Colors: Laura Martin
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Art Adams & Marte Gracia
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
Possible Spoilers
This is the third chapter of the X-Men event running through ALL NEW X-MEN,
UNCANNY X-MEN, WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN, this title and the two bookends in X-
MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM. These kinds of multi-book stories are often a challenge
to those of us who may read only one or two of those four books. Unlike titles
that just tie-in to a big event without advancing the main story every title in
this case is an integral part of the story. If you just read your regular titles
you miss most of the story, though you probably can get the gist of the setup
and the resolution by reading the bookends. So my challenge here, having read
parts one and two is to see if this part of the story is worth the extra
investment. Time travel has been very prevalent in the Marvel Universe lately
causing all kinds of problems. Within the X-Men books it started with the
original X-Men being brought to the present by the current day Beast hoping to
heal the schisms within the mutant heroes. Well, that was a high hope and soon
the current day X-Men decided the originals would have to go back to there own
time. The problem is the younger X-men have learned things about their own
future and are sure that once back Xavier would wipe their memories of the time
travel so that the future would play out as it already has. (I'm getting a
headache just explaining it!) This is a real problem for young Jean who has
learned of her own death ala the whole Phoenix saga and she does not want to go
back. They have all learned first hand of the problems of staying in the present
when the young Cyclops nearly died causing his older counterpart to disappear
momentarily. The situation became more urgent when future group of X-Men came to
the present insisting the young X-Men return to their own time as well. I find
this group most interesting as it includes older versions of Kitty Pride,
Deadpool, Iceman, and Beast, Xavier's grandson, one of the Runaways and a
mysterious member wearing a mask who last chapter was revealed to be. nope, not
gonna tell you. Last chapter as everyone was debating the whys and why nots Jean
telepathically contacted young Scott who agreed to escape with her. It was easy
enough for her to set some of the assemblage against each other and during that
diversion the two flew off in the Blackbird. So in this chapter a group of ten
current and future X-Men, basically those at the Jean Grey School, head off to
track down the two runaways leaving behind young Bobby and Hank under the care
of Kitty, Rachael and Jubilee but Kitty and Rachael decide that they have better
things to do - after all it is their title book so you need to have them do
something of note. This is a sort of transition issue with a lot of time spent
on Jean and Scott alone together. Wood handles this part really well showing
bits and pieces of the budding romance between these two. The abilities of the
future X-Men are also a highlighted nicely aided visually by the fine art team.
So far for the first three issues it seems the major theme is that most of the
mutants are divided on what the right thing to do is and some are more adamant
than others. As far as the title of the event, there really hasn't been a battle
just some stereotypical fisticuffs amongst fellow heroes. There are some rather
nasty Sentinels though that could take a major part of the story or they just
may be an element of the ongoing story in UNCANNY X-MEN. As I said this is a bit
of a transition point in the story. Things haven't really gotten dicey yet. I
really don't know if I can answer the question I posed at the start - is the
event worth buying the books I don't normally read? I think there is enough here
in the story involving the characters I am more familiar with to stick it out.
Perhaps if you just read this title, X-MEN, it may not be worth it to read the
rest. You will have to decide.
Title: SONS OF ANARCHYIssue Number: 1 (of 6)
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Writer: Christopher Golden
Artist: Damian Couceiro
Colors: Stephen Downer
Letters: Ed Dukeshire
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: TV show based drama
Mature - Comics on the Edge
Right up front I have never watched the TV show this comic is based on. The
story in this adaptation takes place in the middle of season five, which means
nothing to me. So let's see if I can figure this out. There is this motorcycle
club called the Sons of Anarchy. There are twenty-nine chapters worldwide. The
first was Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original - SAMCRO for short.
The focus of this story is on one of the members, Alex "Tig" Trager. He is in a
bad point in his life just now trying to get his head straight after the loss of
his daughter and apparently other tragedies among the gang. The SAMCRO
president, Jax, is willing to let him cope but when he gets into a bar fight,
defending a battered woman it may indicate he is on the edge of getting into
real trouble. The main plot though revolves around a girl from Los Angeles on
the run. The men after her are desperate because she knows too much about their
operation. While they torture her ex-boyfriend for clues to her whereabouts she
is headed for the place where her dead dad told her she could find help -
SAMCRO. It seems to me that the writer is trying to walk a tightrope. On one
hand he is a fan of the show and knows the characters well. This leads to him
wanting to give other fans of the show a story consistent with the themes and
characterizations from the show. On the other hand the comic has to have enough
of an understandable plot to engage new readers. I am not sure about the first
part but I believe Golden succeeds on the second. He gives us several scenes
that set up the conflict and others that provide new readers insight into some
of the major characters. There is definitely some heavy action on the way and
from the brief introduction to the SAMCO crew I believe they can handle it. The
art is exceptional, with most of the characters pretty close to the real life
actors' likenesses. So far it is a decent comic with a lot of promise.
Title: INFINITY: THE HUNTIssue Number: 1
Title Story: Contest of Champions
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Steven Sanders
Colors: Jim Campbell
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Slava Panarin
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
This comic has a unique premise. Most of us are familiar with the young heroes
being trained as future Avengers at Avengers Academy but it turns out there are
similar schools for powered kids around the world. We have Future Foundation,
the Jean Grey School, the Braddock Academy in England, The Wakandan School of
Alternative Studies, The Pan-Asian School for the Unusually Gifted, the
Atlantean School and even the Latverian School of Science. For the first time
the administrators of these schools for super powered kids have agreed to a
competition to try and foster a sense of community among the gifted children.
Hank Pym hosts the opening ceremony from Avengers Academy with some of the
schools students already present and some checking in via satellite
communications. The plan is to take three students from each school and drop
them off on a remote island. There will be various events to test their skills
against each other with bonuses for teams showing exemplary teamwork and
tactical skills. This ceremony is to introduce everyone to each other and tell a
little bit about their school. Most of this first issue is taken up with the
introductions. Some of the players are familiar as they appear or have appeared
in their own titles. Others like the Wakandans and Pan-Asians are mostly new to
us. Throughout a lot of the dialogue is among the other contestants scoping out
the competition or musing to themselves thoughts about their own superiority,
their desire not to be there, sarcasm about some of the competition and a host
of other emotions. Two of the schools fail to check in. The Latverian
transmission does not even come. It is the Atlantean transmission that changes
the tone of the book real quick as the static-filled transmission reveals
devastation and blood in the water - the invasion related to the INFINITY
crossover has begun. So the book begins as a long set up for a major event but
it is clear that there will be no time for such a competition as explosions
begin to rock even the city not far from Avengers Academy. This is truly a tie-
in to the Infinity event. From the looks of it the comic will show involvement
in the conflict on Earth at various places where groups of super humans live. At
least that is the inference I draw. Thanos and his invading forces will be tough
to deal with and it is not a stretch to show even lesser or unknown until know
heroes would get into the act. It could prove to be an interesting story once it
gets going. I was not that impressed with the art on this one. Jim Campbell
does a fine job coloring but the pencil and ink work is less than flattering at
times to what should be familiar major heroes. This is a slight distraction. I
don't feel compelled to follow this story just because it is a tie-in but I am
curious about those lesser-known schools and how they will be involved in the
big picture. It might be worth sticking around to see if they are emerging stars
or just tragic cannon fodder for the conflict.
Title: MIGHTY AVENGERSIssue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Greg Land
Inker: Jay Leisten
Colors: Frank D'Armata
Letters: Cory Petit
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
What better time to launch yet another Avengers title, by my count this is
number ten, than during a major event. Indeed this book ties in to INFINITY as
we get to the last third of the issue. Luke Cage recently resigned from active
Avenger duty to focus more on his family and restart his old business, "Heroes
for Hire." The lineup of his companions seems to structured on purpose to
resemble the team on the TV show MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN. It
includes both White Tiger and Power Man. If you are sensing a theme here so far
they are all non-white. Later another ethnic female joins in, Monica Rambeau the
former Captain Marvel now known as Spectrum. And to add an element of mystery an
acquaintance of hers shows up but we only see him in the shadows. I am guessing
he may be black also. But he also has some issues about being seen in public so
when the attack on New York by Thanos' minions begins he throws on a Spider-Man
costume to hide his identity. We don't know what his special abilities might be
but the clue is he is carrying nunchucks. The costume actually says on his chest
Spider Hero! The issue has a lot going on and we are not sure if all of the
characters are members of Heroes for Hire or will even remain so. At the start
Cage, Tiger and Power Man are fighting the Plunderer and his thugs to keep them
from stealing a crate from Horizon Labs. This is their latest work for hire
assignment but it seems the Superior Spider-Man has an interest in the crate as
well. His interference ends the conflict but his new snarky attitude, since it
is really Otto Octavius in the body of Peter Parker, sets up conflict among the
others with White Tiger resigning from the group and late Power Man reassessing
his commitment as well. Not a good start for Luke and his business. The scenes
with Monica and her mystery man are more interesting but they only go so far
when the attack begins. It is only Luke, Monica and the new Spider Hero who take
on the invaders as it begins as well as Superior Spider Man. In fact he is the
one prominent on the cover so could he possibly join the group. My guess is no.
And I have a feeling the other two will come back around. Frankly, I am tired of
Marvel over-pushing the Avenger franchise with another title. These characters
are interesting but throwing them together and slapping the Avenger label on
them does not make it must reading. And I think including Spider-Man prominently
in the first issue is just another way to drag in potential readers, I could be
wrong. I saw nothing here that would make it a must read for me. Other fans may
differ in their opinion.
Title: DETECTIVE COMICSIssue Number: 23.2 (HARLEY QUINN #1)
Title Story: Harley Lives
Publisher: DC
Creators: Paul Dini & Bruce Timm
Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Neil Googe
Colors: Wil Quintana
Letters: Taylor Esposito
Cover Artist: Chris Burnham & Nathan Fairbairn
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
As part of DC's villains month the bad guys are "taking over" some of the usual
titles. This provides a break in continuity from the ongoing plots for a month
as well as in some cases a tie-in with the villain of the issue to the FOREVER
EVIL event. In most cases these books offer us insight into the origins of the
particular villain, as is the case with Harley in this issue of DETECTIVE
COMICS. The immediate story follows after the Crime Syndicate opened up all the
super prisons and invited the criminals to join their Secret Society. Harley
attended their conclave at the remains of the Justice League Watchtower but
chose not to join but to return to Gotham. She is free from her indentured duty
in the Suicide Squad and can create her own kind of mischief on her own. One of
two main plots is her immediate actions which include a somewhat comical way she
puts together her new costume and then starts planning a grand event that
involves giving away a great deal of computer tablets that will be used for a
spectacular event. But the main story is really the flashback to her origins.
She succeeded in getting her degree despite the extremely dysfunctional family
she came from and eventually started treating criminals at Arkham Asylum. It was
her failure to get through to the really hard-core criminals that inspired her
to change her approach with the Joker and the rest, as they say, is history.
Harley has always been a fan favorite and no doubt this issue will be very
popular. Both plots are entertaining and the art is up to the task. If you were
planning on picking up a few of the villain titles this month this one would not
be a bad choice.
Title: BRAIN BOYIssue Number: 1
Title Story: Psy vs. Psy
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: R.B. Silva
Inker: Rob Lean
Colors: Ego
Letters: Nate Piekos
Cover Artist: Ariel Olivetti/Juan Doe
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/Spy Adventure
Dark Horse is adding to its line up of super hero comics with this title. It
also features a preview of their next title call THE OCCULTIST. This one though
is about Matt Price who is the world's most powerful telepath. After his parents
died their employer, Albright Industries, took care of his upbringing and
education helping him hone his psychic skills. Matt is very important to
national security and is often loaned out to the Secret Service to protect
important political figures by mentally scanning the area for dangers. His
latest assignment takes place as the delegates arrive for the next convening of
the UN General Assembly. He is to protect General Emil Ricorta, the duly elected
president of South America's largest oil producing country. He is the
stereotypical quasi-dictator who oppresses the people and jails dissidents for
speaking up. Before Matt reports for duty he stops to see a CIA agent, Gerard
Bodell who requested a meeting off the books. He actually enticed Matt to come
with a text suggesting Albright Industries has not told him everything. It seems
the CIA wants Matt to read the general's mind regarding some top-secret fuel he
may be developing for the North Korean's. Matt plays by the book and parts of
the rules say that he does not read the client's mind so they will trust him. He
is there to sweep other minds for possible threats. But Bodell says the CIA has
a file on Matt's parents, the contents of which he has purposely not seen, that
will shed a lot of light on who Matt really is. He does not take the bait and is
off to the job. The second part of the book is the real action as Matt settles
in at the General's suite but when he returns from refreshing after a shower all
the guards are in a trance and the general is gone. The psychic trace leads to
the roof and stops at the helipad. Matt will have more troubles as there are
elements of the drug cartels from the general's country looking for the leader
and they think Matt hid him. Things get very intense from this point on until
the climax at the end gives Matt a major surprise. This is decent spy thriller
action with the added touch of psychic powers. There are manipulations within
manipulations, a possible corporate conspiracy, and international intrigue. I
particularly like the story title's play on the old "Spy vs. Spy" bit. The art
team does a great job bringing it to life and especially depicting the various
psychic powers in unique ways in no small part due to the coloring job by Ego.
This is a thoughtful story that relies more on the script and characters than it
does on violent action. I would stay with this one for sure.
*****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!! WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!
If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only. Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.
Last week's trivia question:
Rainbow, Tank, Surge. What group did they belong to?
These characters are all members of Mark Evanier's DNAgents. The winner by the
dice is Mauricio Carvalho.
Here was your no prize question
Which New Hampshire town claims to be the home of the first snowmobile?
The answer is Ossipee, NH.
THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What unique cover enhancement was used in the DC/MILESTONE crossover, "WORLDS
COLLIDE"?
Here is your no prize question:
What two countries have capitals named after US presidents?
Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.
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