Title: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MANIssue Number: 692
Publisher: Marvel
Creator: Lee & Ditko
Cover Artist: Ramos/Delgado - Variants: Marcos Marting
Price (USD): $5.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
If you are wondering why a regular issue is now $6 it is because this is not a regular issue. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 had a cover date of August 1962, which makes this issue the 50th Anniversary Edition. To celebrate Marvel is giving us an extended issue with three stories. The cover is a montage of the various versions of Spider-Man costumes over the years with a nice blurb at the bottom from Ramos simply saying, "Happy Birthday old man!"
ALPHA
"Point of Origin - part 1"
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colors: Edgar Delgado
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
After a one-page recap of Spidey's origin we get into the main story that will affect Spider-Man and the Marvel Universe for some time to come. As the title suggests it is an origin story. It seems rather fitting for the anniversary that Spider-Man would host the origin of a new teen hero to kick off the next fifty years. His name is Andy Maguire. He is a straight C student and a bit of an outcast. He is not much of anything really. No extracurricular activities, too shy to meet girls, he can't even get his parents to sign a permission slip for a class trip so he forges it to go. Like Peter Parker in his day that field trip will change his life forever. He is going to Horizon Labs on a day that is pretty big for Peter as well. Where Reed Richard found unstable molecules, Hank Pym the Pym Particle and Tony Stark created arc reactor technology Peter Parker is about to unveil Parker Particles. As he explains to the class there is a hyper-kinetic form of energy tied into the forces of universal expansion. But there is a young scientist named Tiberius who is covets a slot in the think tank and is jealous of the attention and publicity Peter will get so he does a little sabotage. When the system overloads everyone is at risk from random discharges. Peter manages to push most of the kids out of harms way but one girl, the apple of Andy's desire is still in danger. Without thinking Andy pushes her out of the way and gets zapped. In an instant he displays super human power, saving both himself and the girl, Chrissy. After determining he is not harmed the brains call on the major super hero scientists, all of them, to check him out. They discover he is charged with Parker Particles. He can discharge them as energy, has super strength and speed, can generate a force field and even fly. This is the new teen hero for the twenty first century. Horizon Labs steps up to the plate to offer Andy and his parents a deal where they will monitor his physiology and pay all medical expenses as well as substantial financial compensation. Andy will become the spokesperson for Horizon and Peter Parker is assigned to oversee the entire project. But of course we know at some point they will have that discussion about what comes with great power. There is a little more to the story, his first interactions with other kids as Alpha, the first true test of his power, and even a prelude of what will come next. It is a decent origin story. The character is a bit cocky once he is transformed. Who knows how this will affect his family, since everyone knows who Alpha is. Peter Parker has his hands full and no doubt Andy will eventually learn some hard lessons. It is a great start and visually everyone does a great job bringing the story to life. This one story is worth the price of admission and lots of comic book fans will want to have a copy for their collection.
"Spider-Man For a Night"
Writer/Artist: Dean Haspiel
Colors: Giulia Brusco
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
This is the type of story you might see as a fill-in in an annual. Dean Haspiel picks the point in time when Spider-Man decided to give it up and left his costume in the trash. A bank robber enters the alley shortly after and sees an opportunity to evade the police by putting on the costume. But while that is a success other things don't go so well. It takes the crook's daughter and her special condition to teach him that it takes more than dressing like a hero to become one. It is a nice short story with a moral and a tip of the hat to previous creators. Haspiel has his own unique style and Brusco is the perfect compliment on colors for this story.
"Just Right"
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Nuno Plati
Letters: Clayton Cowles
The last story is a day in the life of Peter Parker. He overslept and missed the bus so he tries his other form of transportation in order to get to his appointment as a guest lecturer. Of course things come up that demand his attention along the way - "with great power..." and all that. But things don't turn out smoothly. After one disaster after another he happens on a kid about to bet a beating from some bullies because he claims to be Spider-Man's best friend. Despite the rest of the day being a bust Spidey decides to step in to stop it. The rest of the story is pretty much a conversation between Peter and this kid about why he is making up lies to impress people and the difficult nature of making a fresh start the right way when your situation changes. This is a feel good story that is perfect for rounding out the issue. While I don't as much for the art style on this one it is good enough for a top Marvel title.
Title: BEFORE WATCHMEN: DR. MANHATTANIssue Number: 1 (of 4)
Title Story: What's In the Box?
Publisher: DC
Creator: Moore & Gibbons
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Adam Hughes
Colors: Laura Martin
Letters: Steve Wands
Cover Artist: Adam Hughes
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
The title indicates the theme of this first issue, in a number of instances. It refers to the quantum physics theory that a closed box can contain anything in any state of existence. Once it is open the observer affects the observed, opening it up to new possibilities. Dr. Manhattan narrates things, as he did in WATCHMEN, with a unique perspective - that of an observer who exists simultaneously in different times. His consciousness slides up and down the time stream. As we go through the issue we get lots of different observations at different points in his life - as a boy in anticipation of opening a Christmas present, as a teenager missing an obvious overt invitation to have some fun with a classmate, as a hero affecting which other hero he will be teamed with and thus shape both their futures, and even at his own father's funeral wondering what is inside the box. The structure is a stream of consciousness format as is fitting. Sometimes he ponders key moments in his life while at others he imagines how one slight change could change everything. It touches on his first love Jane and his new love with Silk Spectre and even takes us to the surface of Mars. He keeps going back to the fateful day that changed his existence and draws parallels to that event with other times and places. It is somewhat complex but professionally scripted to be understandable and logical. It is a not a straightforward linear plot like most of the other books in the series. Adam Hughes is a perfect artist to get it all on the page with Laura Martin doing her usual perfect job of coloring. This may not be as appealing to the average fan looking for an action story but it is one of the best in the series so far.
Title: THE ROCKETEER: CARGO OF DOOMIssue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Creator: Dave Stevens
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Chris Samnee
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Shawn Lee
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero/Adventure
IDW has put out another Rocketeer mini-series and this time the very capable Mark Waid is spinning the story. What he gives us is two plots that will merge later. The first involves Cliff Secord and his circle of friends - his girl Betty, his pal and mechanic Peevy, and Peevy's niece Sally who has a big crush on Cliff. The newly formed Civil Aeronautics Agency has sent an inspector to go on a test flight to certify Cliff's plane. It turns out he is a bit of a perv and makes a move on Sally while she is flying the plane, indirectly causing a fatal accident that only the Rocketeer can stop before the plane crashes. Of course Cliff does not know about the hanky panky. So this plot will be around the difficulties Cliff will have with the government man as well as his girl problems. He has a habit of keeping Betty waiting. He also has to deal with the teenage girl who obviously has the hots for him. The plot referred to in the title involves a freighter off the coast of California. There is something very dangerous in the cargo hold as we learn in one scene. One of the men on the ship named Guptmann has a dark secret, is constantly distracted and reveals a hard side of his personality rather graphically. But it is the person who meets the ship at port that provides the mystery to the plot. Who is he? Why is he referred to by the captain as Master? Why is he interested in the Rocketeer? There is much to explore as the plot moves forward. The art team does a great job with a lot to work with from the action scenes to darker suspenseful scenes on the ship. This is a very readable adventure story sure to please all who give it a try.
Issue Number: 12
Publisher: dc
Writers: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Artist: Francis Manapul
Colors: Brian Buccellato
Letters: Wes Abbott
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
Time to check in on another of the NEW 52 books from DC to see how things are developing. This time I check out THE FLASH. Right off the bat I notice the art is different from what I am used to. Manapul has given Flash a new look unlike previous versions. There are energy lines coming off of him even when he is standing still. It is not bad by itself. However the rest of the art is not to my liking. I guess it really is the way he draws and peoples faces. When combined with Buccellato's coloring technique everyone comes off in an unappealing way to my eye. There is a brief encounter between Flash and a Dr. Ellis, who evidently has gotten acclaim for presenting a renewable energy source and has somehow turned the people against Flash. That brief moment is left hanging as more pressing concerns arise. Heat Wave and Cold are being transported in an armored vehicle when the female known as Glider stages an accident rescuing Heat Wave and leaving Cold behind. She is teamed with Weather Wizard and Mirror Master on this caper and there is more to come. Piper comes along to keep Cold under wraps and later Trickster sets him free. There are Rogues all around and they are not on the same side. But Glider has a bigger plan - to get even with Ellis, discredit the Flash, kill her brother and steal a train of people. There is a lot going on. While the who and the hows are straightforward the why is not clear. Some of that may have come from previous issues but to learn more you will have to get the FLASH annual just out this week. Flash does not do much this issue, for obvious reasons involving the plot. Hopefully he will get more panel time in the annual.
Title: INVINCIBLE IRON MANIssue Number: 521
Title Story: The Demolished Man
Title Arc: The Future
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Salvador Larroca
Colors: Frank D'Armata
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
I haven't checked out this title for a while and noticed this issue was the beginning of a new arc. There is a quick recap up front that covers a lot of ground since the last time I looked at Iron Man. Tony gave up being Iron Man, had Rhodey fake his own death so he could become a new upgraded Iron Man while Tony stepped down from running Stark Resilient and faded from the public eye. It turns out the Mandarin has now been in Tony's mind, partially controlling him. In order to stop Mandarin from attacking his people Tony had to vow allegiance to Mandarin as his master, which he did. There are a number of things going on involving all those threads this issue. Tony is essentially a prisoner in Mandarin City. At Stark Resilient Carson Wyche is introducing something that he says will revolutionize urban renewal, commuter transport and now data storage with something called the Swarm. Meanwhile Hammer Industries has just had their worldwide police force called the Detroit Steel Corp pulled from service by the Pentagon. Of course the book is called Invincible Iron Man so we get to see Rhodey as Iron Man stop a prison break with a little help from Pepper Potts as Rescue lending a hand. She does not know who this new Iron Man is. But of course the main plot is about Tony's situation. He is forced to work on Titanomechs for Mandarin, part of a bigger plot for power no doubt. The prisoners here are all inhibited in some way. Those with powers have bombs implanted in their chests and if they try to use their powers, Boom!. Speaking of bigger plans, it appears Tony has an end game he is working toward; I would be surprised if he didn't. But for now he is helping a fellow inmate and trying to get Mandarin to see his view on how to get the Titanomechs finished. There are several scene changes through the book. The Stark Resilient technology is pretty cool as it is explained. This book has a little bit of everything, which will probably only come together several issues down the road. Still it is a good jumping on point. You may have heard that Marvel is going to reset a bunch of their books in the near future. These plots seem to indicate they will lead into that change for Iron Man.
Title: WHOREIssue Number: Graphic Novel
Publisher: Zenoscope
Creator: Jeffrey Kaufman
Writer: Jeffrey Kaufman
Artist: Marco Turini
Colors: James Brown
Letters: John Hunt
Cover Artist: Felix Serrano & Jeffrey Kaufman
Price (USD): $9.99
Release Date: September
Genre: Action/Adventure
MATURE - Comics on the Edge
With a title like this you might get the wrong impression without seeing the cover. It actually refers to a man, Jacob Mars, who is a thirty four year old operative for the government. He does black ops, wet work and the like. As the story opens he is finding out that his services are no longer required. For a guy with a seven-figure income and three ex-wives to support that is a big blow. Soon he is contacted over the phone and offered contract work. Rather than an employee he is now a contract worker. Thus the less sexual interpretation of the title applies - someone who is willing to do anything for money. But don't let that fool you; there is plenty of sex through the entire book. Aside from being a really good agent he is also evidently a really good lover and he gets to meet the ladies either through work or in his off time that are more than willing to share his bed. Rather than one major plot this book has several sequences with our hero being assigned very different jobs and other adventures. Before things even get going he is attacked in his apartment and later gets to play one on one with the president. Once he gets assignments they are quite a mix. He gets to protect a child star whose life is in danger. What is cool about Jacob is that he is not just an assassin. Sometimes it takes a more subtle approach to remove a threat and he has a lot of tricks. Sometimes the assignment is bizarre - like one from an enemy who will pay him to get his daughter pregnant so when the child grows up it can kill Jacob. He even gets a job protecting a rising star in the mob that is willing to pay for his services. And the action is not only the present. We get to see his past as an FBI agent who is recruited by the CIA. Some of the segments have an element of humor, some are surprising because the bad guys are not always who you would expect. But through it all he gets the job done and always gets the girl. It is a fun romp and even wraps up with a surprise at the end. The art is grade A stuff and manages to handle the violence and debauchery without being lewd or pandering. I did not know what to expect but was pleased at the product once I was finished. It was very entertaining.
*****
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:
From the Silver Age - Who recovered the Cosmic Cube after the Red Skull dropped it in the ocean?
The answer is Namor, the Submariner. The winner by the dice is Mike Dooley.
Here was your no prize question:
What fast-food franchise got its start in a Shell gas station in 1930?
Kentucky Fried Chicken! In the midst of the depression, Harland Sanders opens his first restaurant in the small front room of a Shell gas station in Corbin, Kentucky. Sanders served as station operator, chief cook and cashier.
THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Some characters in THE NEGATION used the term, BOHICA! BOHICA is an acronym for what?
Here is your no prize question:
After the Pentagon, what is the largest office building in the United States?
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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