• Categories

  • Archives

  • Top 10 Most Read

Avengers vs. X-Men #6 – Review

Posted on June 20, 2012 by paladinking

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Olivier Coipel (penciler), Mark Morales (inks), Laura Martin (colorist), and Chris Eliopoulos (letterer)

The Story:  The Phoenix Five begin to reshape Earth; the Avengers make a daring raid on Utopia to snatch Hope.

The Review:  I’ll admit that after last issue, I thought AvX had jumped the shark.  As a result, I was pretty worried when I started reading this issue.  Instead, against all odds, I had a reason to be excited.

Hickman has done some great work here with the Phoenix Five.  What we get is a story of gods among men and the resulting intersection and conflict between the two.  The result is a story that is much smarter, more meditative, and more global and nuanced in nature.  AvX has suddenly become a whole lot more than Avengers and X-Men punching each other.  Better still, Hickman muddies the waters at just how godly the Phoenix Five really are and the extent to which they are merely mortals gifted with godly powers.  The result is that the intersection/conflict isn’t just between gods and men, but also between the godly powers of the Phoenix Five and their human/mutant cores.

The result is a strange sort of antagonist: their acts are amazing and philanthropic, and yet they feel so alien that you can’t help but find them somewhat sinister.  Scott only continues to be more disturbing; while he acts and talks like a god, he still carries that vengeful chip on his shoulder.  This leads to scenes where he’ll drop his godly guise and seem like…Scott, with powers he shouldn’t have.  There’s also an especially strong scene where Scott plays the nasty, biblical God: teasing and tempting Hope only so he can chide and reject her for her lack of blind faith in some form of sadistic “test.”  For all the good the Phoenix Five do, it’s the hints like these that Hickman uses to suggest that men cannot and should not be gods.

Olivier Coipel’s art refreshes AvX just as much as Hickman’s script does, if not moreso.  While Romita Jr. truly was doing his best, Coipel blows him out of the water.  Coipel is everything you expect out of a “big event” type book, with an incredible sense of scale and drama and a polished, “big budget” feel to his work.  His art goes a long way to rejuvenating AvX and making the book an exciting one.
(more…)

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

The Mighty Thor #4 – Review

Posted on July 30, 2011 by paladinking

by Matt Fraction (writer), Olivier Coipel (pencils), Mark Morales (inks), Laura Martin (colors), and Joe Sabino (letters)

The Story: The Asgardians go to war with Galactus, as the big purple guy takes on Odin in a battle of wills.  Also, Volstagg takes on the slavering hordes of Broxton.

What’s Good: If there’s one thing that comic books as a medium lends itself well to, it’s “awesomeness.”  By awesomeness, I don’t mean mere positive quality.  Rather, I’m referring to the jaw-droppingly ludicrous that can be described in no other way, things that are so massive that they beggar belief.

With issues like this, it seems that Matt Fraction is very in tune with this when it comes to his Mighty Thor comic.  I mean seriously, this month, we have Thor and the Warriors Three, dressed in space marine armor, battling the Silver Surfer, “cosmic demons,” and Galactus in freaking space.  The very fact that Fraction doesn’t do anything criminally wrong in his dialogue or storytelling pretty much means this issue is a win due to its concept alone.  The space battle is so massively epic that at some points, you’ve just gotta sit back and enjoy it.

A lot of this is also due to the efforts of Olivier Coipel.  I feel like I’m saying this every month, but this really is Coipel’s best outing thus far.  His Galactus is awesome, his actions sequences are mind-boggling in scale and speed, his characters are likable, and he even does really nifty work in altering his style a bit when depicting flashback sequences, shifting from bombastic space opera to dark fantasy mystery.

Fraction also finds space for other stuff as well, not satisfied with awesome space battling.  We get quality Volstagg comedy, full of the usual hot air and exaggerations that have made the big guy such an easy fan favorite.  There’s Kid Loki’s well-meaning scheming as well, and frankly, Kid Loki has been a winner of a character since his creation.  He also is a fantastic straight man next to Volstagg’s bluster.

I also really enjoyed Galactus and Odin’s mental struggle.  The flashbacks initiated in Odin’s mind were creepy and ominous, and the way Galactus took shape in the All-Father’s mind was pretty cool and subtle, while also giving the whole thing a tinge of horror comic goodness.
(more…)

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

The Mighty Thor #3 – Review

Posted on June 23, 2011 by paladinking

by Matt Fraction (writer), Olivier Coipel (pencils), Mark Morales (inks), Laura Martin (colors), and Joe Sabino (letters)

The Story: Given an ultimatum, Thor rumbles with the Surfer.  Meanwhile, Volstagg finds himself unwanted in Broxton.

What’s Good: It always feels really good to get your money’s worth with a comic.  I definitely felt like I got a meaty book with Mighty Thor #3.  Despite having no more than the standard number of pages to work with, Matt Fraction covers quite a lot of ground this month.  While the plot progresses at your standard rate, a great deal happens and plenty of characters are visited.  There’s the big Surfer/Galactus plot, of course, but there’s also an amusing scene of kid Loki mischief, a subplot involving Volstagg and the residents of Broxton, and the lingering issue of Thor’s mysterious wound.  All of these elements are, for the most part, disparate which removes any sense of decompression and delivers a more rounded and comprehensive reading experience.

Many characters receive solid treatment.  Loki’s scene with a very naked Sif is admittedly a digression, but it’s a fun one that only continues to make kid Loki one of my favourite Marvel characters right now.  Volstagg is as humorous as ever and his exaggerations regarding the citizens of Broxton’s newfound hostility is a lot of fun, all the more because if ever there were deaf ears for those citizens to speak to, they’d be Volstagg’s.

As far as the main plot goes, I’m still really loving this Galactus/Asgardian clash, as it brings together the high fantasy of Thor with the cosmic in a way that continues to feel fun and fresh.  The fight between Thor and Surfer is awesome, if only due to the participants.  Best of all though, I really liked how Fraction hinges much of the plot on who between Odin and Galactus is less trustworthy.  That’s a major conundrum, to say the least, and one that has me looking forward to next issue.
(more…)

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Mighty Thor #2 – Review

Posted on May 25, 2011 by paladinking

by Matt Fraction (writer), Olivier Coipel (penciller), Mark Morales (inker), Laura Martin (colorist), and Joe Sabino (letterer)

The Story: Thor and Sif begin training a new team of heroes, Odin may be up to no good, and the Silver Surfer brings Asgard an ultimatum from his purple-hatted master.

The Review: Now that’s more like it. I was one of the, apparently, few people who enjoyed Fraction’s arc on Thor.  That said, there was something vaguely underwhelming for me about the first issue of Mighty Thor, something I wasn’t quite able to put my finger on.  This time out though, I got a rock solid experience.

As I noted last month, I continue to enjoy Matt Fraction’s use of Sif.  She’s the major cast member she’s supposed to be and, as Thor’s significant other, she’s frequently in the thunder god’s company.  Between this, the new “brigade of realms” Thor forms out of a motley group from the various worlds, a brief but humorous Volstagg cameo, and a tense scene of dialogue between Odin and Heimdall (plus Destroyer!), this is becoming more than just a Thor comic.  It’s becoming almost a “Thor family” title, or an Asgard comic.  Thor is a major member of the cast, but he by no means carries this comic.  The result is a very satisfying package that feels like it has more meat on its bones.  It’s one thing to have a comic where you get to read Thor, and it’s another thing entirely to have a comic that lets you read Thor’s world, or at least his corner of the Marvel Universe.  Character-wise, Fraction is doing a solid job of using almost all of the tools at his disposal.

But hey, I’ve not even touched upon the Surfer/Galactus stuff.  I love Fraction’s bringing the old school sci-fi/cosmic stuff into what is otherwise a fantasy comic.  It ends up feeling like a jam session of sorts.  More than that though, after dealing with monsters and, earlier in the issue, a “stone colossus,” there’s something very cool about having the Asgardians facing down someone like the Silver Surfer.  They’re facing something so far out of their world, that it’s out of their genre.  When Heimdall says that the Surfer comes from “beyond” or calls him a “star-bastard,” it’s just really, really cool.  It’s akin to, say, a group of Predators showing up in the Hyborian Age to challenge Conan the Barbarian.  It shouldn’t work, and yet it does, and it’s awesome due to the weirdness.
(more…)

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Siege (Hardcover)-Review

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Roman Colombo

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Pencils by Oliver Coipel, Michael Lark, Jim Chueng, with art by Lucio Parillo, and colors by Laura Martin, John Rauch, Matt Holligsworth, and inks by Mark Morales and Stefano Gaudiano.

If you haven’t read this yet, there may be spoilers, but if you’ve been reading Marvel, all of this is known already.

Siege may go down in comic history as Marvel’s last big event before everything became an event. At only four issues, it’s hard to imagine that this series is supposed to conclude ten years of Avengers stories, but it does conclude a good three or four, at least from Civil War on. Not only that, but it unites the solo stories of Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man in a way that actually makes a lot of sense. Siege wouldn’t have worked without all three of them, and on a story level, they needed each other to finally defeat Norman Osborn and put down the Sentry.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Siege is the final battle of Osborne’s Dark Reign. Loki manipulates him into attacking Asgard, which forces Steve Rogers, Iron Man, and Thor to work together for the first time in years. It’s an event designed to do one thing: show why these three Avengers are so important to the superhero community. You can throw anyone you want onto an Avenger team, but when Cap (any Cap, it seems), Iron Man, and Thor are united as one? Well, shit gets done. If this event did anything, it rekindled the magic of superheroes. Civil War, Secret Invasion, and Dark Reign was such a, well, dark time for Marvel that seeing these three heroes come together was an amazing effect. People might not like Bendis, but he’s crafted the tone of the Marvel Universe perfectly over the years to make “the big three” coming together really mean something.

And while we’re on it, let’s talk about Bendis. Most people hate to admit it, but he is one of the best superhero writers out right now. He knows how to craft a story—but that doesn’t mean he always knows how to tell it. Avengers Disassembled was a good concept but poorly executed. House of M was an improvement, but the last couple of issues faltered too much. Secret Invasion was close to being really great, but it was too long and that last issue fell really flat even if the outcome was cool. So how does he do with Siege? Near perfectly, actually. It’s always the end issue that has fans going “okay, now Bendis is going to drop the ball.” But he doesn’t. Every issue is actually really well told, with important things happening. Maybe it’s the shortness of the series that did this—Bendis didn’t have time to drop the ball. That’s not to say Siege is perfect, but out of all of his events, Siege is the best written.

So, why isn’t it perfect? Well, there are a few things missing that might mean four issues were too short. It was a big event, but it could have been bigger. One issue of pure battle (like issue 7 of Secret Invasion) would have served it well. Also, and I know I might be chastised for saying this, the X-Men needed to be involved. Before you decide to hate me, hear me out. The semi-big event before Siege that Marvel made such a big deal about was Utopia, which pitted the Dark Avengers against the X-Men and finished with Cyclops starting his own island nation for mutant. Marvel kept saying and are still saying that the X-Men would be much more integrated with the rest of the Marvel Universe. So, when Captain America is leading the Avengers to Asgard, where are the X-Men? We get one panel of Wolverine and Cyclops watching the news, but I highly doubt that if they saw Cap leading the charge and they were in need of help—say, when the Hood’s army of super villains arrives—he would have stayed home. The Avengers may have appeared in Second Coming (not doing too much), but if Marvel really wanted to unite their universe, Siege was the place to do it. Cap, Iron Man, and Thor could have still saved the day; I’m not saying the X-Men should have done that, but they should have had much more of a presence considering that Osborne is trying to do to the Asgardians what he has already done to the mutants—drive them out.
(more…)

Filed under: Marvel Comics, The Graphic Novel Reader | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Siege #4 – Review

Posted on May 13, 2010 by paladinking

by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Olivier Coipel (pencils), Mark Morales (inks), Laura Martin (colors), and Chris Eliopoulos (letters)

The Story: The battle with the Void concludes, leading to the dawning of a new chapter for the Marvel Universe.  Oh, and two major characters die.

What’s Good: The majority of this book is one gigantic fight with the Void.  This big stuff and the sense of scale are pretty dwarfing, as is the sheer number of heroes involved.  That being said, amidst all the battling, Bendis is very particular in how he uses his heroes and who lands what blow.  If it wasn’t clear before, it is now: Siege is an Avengers book more than anything else.  As our heroes team up on the multi-armed Void, you get a kind of nostalgic feel as you realize that we’re basically seeing another classic scenario where the Avengers team up against a big monster.  And what a team-up it is.  Bendis goes for the always fun “everything but the kitchen sink” dynamic, as the Avengers throw themselves at the former Sentry.

That being said, what’ll get most people talking are the two major deaths.  While one is fairly expected, the other really is something of a surprise, especially given the character in question’s natural ability to get out of scrapes.  What’s even better is the way in which the character goes out.  I couldn’t have imagined it being done any better, as he/she does so purely because he/she acts entirely contrary to his/her pattern of behaviour.  For a brief moment, he/she makes a stand and becomes perhaps the most heroic figure in this entire book.  It’s a major moment of redemption for the character.

On the art, this is some more amazing work from Coipel.  The explosions are jaw-dropping, the burial of the dead character above (a cremation in the Sun) is touching, and the Void looks truly terrifying.  As far as being a big-time artist, Coipel has most certainly gone far above and beyond earning his stripes.

The best thing about the issue though is its end and where it leaves the Marvel Universe.  It truly feels like a fresh beginning and will surely leave Marvel fans excited for what’s to come.  Oh, and Steve Rogers ends up in a very, very interesting position.
(more…)

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments »

Seige #2 – Review

Posted on February 3, 2010 by DS Arsenault

By: Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Olivier Coipel (penciller), Mark Morales (inker), Laura Martin (colorist)

The Story: Osborn has managed to start his war with Asgard pretty well. He’s got Thor down, the Asgardians are on the ropes and things look good, until Ares clues in that Osborn wasn’t entirely truthful. Divine blood is thicker than water and Osborn’s got to pay. But then, Ares has a problem: Sentry.

What’s Good: Coipel is always a treat to watch. My comic reading experience here slowed waaaay down, just to admire the beautiful pencils, inks and colors. Steve Rogers has a very definite look under Coipel’s inks. Ares, with or without helmet, is an awe-inspiring figure. The Sentry’s motion is so fast as to disappear in some panels in a style that reminds me a lot of Gene Colan’s art. The other artist that Coipel really reminds me of is Paul Smith, especially Wolverine. While Daken stalks Thor in Broxton, he looks so much like his dad did under Paul Smith in the Uncanny X-Men or in the X-Men-Alpha Flight miniseries. And for the fans of more gruesome content, you may wish to check out this issue if you want to see what Wolverine and Ares look like from the inside. I won’t explain – it’s worth the look…

The events Bendis has set in motion are a big deal. That’s good for a story and I’ll give you some examples of stuff that matters. Sentry is now a bad ass. Not only can I tolerate his presence, I actually like this brutal punisher that Osborn has on a leash. Captain America and Bucky are sorting themselves out, for the long run. They are each deciding who they will be. Osborn seems to be coming closer and closer to a comeuppance. Ares fights Sentry and it ain’t pretty. Steve rallies the divided troops. For a lot of reasons, this series is showing that it matters; events in this book will affect the rest of the MU.
(more…)

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Other | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Siege #1 – Review

Posted on January 7, 2010 by paladinking

by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Olivier Coipel (pencils), Mark Morales (inks), Laura Martin (colors), and Chris Eliopoulos (letters)

The Story: Norman Osborn finds his reason to begin his assault on Asgard.

What’s Good: This is some really impressive, massive work by Coipel and Martin.  The art here is gorgeous and some of the best stuff I’ve seen from Coipel.  The assault on Asgard, with its horde of fighter jets, is truly impressive and the mandatory explosions look great.  The book is maintains the “high budget” feel a book like this requires.

Perhaps unexpectedly, the most enjoyably written character in this first issue is actually Ares.  His disagreement with Osborn and the generally badass way Coipel illustrates is a blast (he rides into battle on a fighter jet, bent on one knee).  It’s clear Bendis wants this to be a war comic, and he’s placed Ares in the General position.  The result is a nice fusion of modern combat and ye olde fantasy heroism (the obligatory motivational speech in front of a horde of cheering warriors).  Seeing Ares lead modern HAMMER troops and superheroes as though they were Camelot’s finest is a lot of fun.

Beyond that, Bendis seems to want to make this issue, and this event, as straightforward as possible.  At the very least, you’re guaranteed not to get the sort of convoluted mess that other recent events have devolved into.
(more…)

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments »

Thor #10 – Review

Posted on August 6, 2008 by lotrking

By J. Michael Straczynski (Writer), Olivier Coipel (Penciler), Mark Morales, Allen Martinez, and Victor Olazaba (Inkers), and Laura Martin (Colorist)

I don’t know how J. Michael Straczynski does it. Every issue so far has been nothing but a slowly stewing plot in which we get a lot of story, but relatively little development. There has been very little action, and it seems that Thor is getting even less “screen time.” But despite all this, and perhaps because of it, Thor continues to be one of my favorite monthly reads, if not my favorite monthly read in general.

Building upon Loki’s secretive sinister actions, we see exactly how Balder reacts to his new-found knowledge that he is a son of Odin, half-brother of Thor, and another heir to the throne of Asgard. As Loki relates the truth of Balder’s origin and why it has been kept secret, we get a classic mythical tale of Asgardian feasts, ominous visions, and even a brief explanation of the “true” origin of vampires! Loki continues to move her plot forward, as Balder confronts Thor demanding to know why the truth of his heritage has needlessly remained hidden. Thor, of course, had perfectly good motives, and while Balder seems to regain his trust in him, I wouldn’t be surprised if this might be the cause of friction between them later. Indeed, I am sure that is what Loki intended. Personally, I’m loving the little teases of what Loki has in store for Asgard, and I’m sure when her full plan is finally revealed it will be both epic and devastating. (I just want to know how it involves Dr. Doom, as revealed back in issue four or five!)

On the mortal side of things, we see that Bill is still struggling over his feelings for Kelda. While this may seem like a “soap opera” element for the moment, I’m sure Bill’s connection as well as Asgard, may play a significant role in the future. The citizens of Broxton also provide us with the obligatory humor of the issue as they are “startled” by the noises of the Asgardian celebration. (Poor Ms. Sooner, that’s all I gotta say.) So while Thor #10 may have been a slight bit slower than usual, Straczynski maintains his mastery of storytelling and I’ve been provided my “Thor fix” for now. That said, I already can’t wait for the next issue. (Grade: B+)

-M. Staples

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Thor #9 – Review

Posted on May 27, 2008 by lotrking

By J. Michael Straczynski (Writer), Olivier Coipel (Pencils), Mark Morales, Danny Miki, and John Dell (Inks), and Laura Martin (Colors)

On sale 5/29/08

Anyone who needs convincing that Thor is one of Marvel’s most entertaining series needs to pick up this issue. Here J. Michael Straczynski delivers a story mostly about the supporting cast, but one so well done that I didn’t really miss Thor. The story begins as Loki attempts to work her deceit on Balder, as she begins to scheme her way into starting rebellion against Thor. I must say, especially with the surprising reveal at the end, she may succeed. And while I do not want her to “win,” watching her plan unravel in this issue (as well as the build up of the last several issues) shows that her schemes can be just as impressive and entertaining as Red Skull’s master plan currently in Captain America. (Not to mention that it is further proof of JMS’ strength and grasp of writing this series!)

Aside from the execution of the plan itself, we get an action filled battle between Balder and some frost giants. I thought I would miss Marko Djurdjevic and the flavorful art that he brought to the book, but here Olivier Coipel proves that he can depict any chain of sequences just as well. Compliments are also owed to Laura Martin for keeping the colors bright and vibrant throughout, without making them seem too “cartoony”.

Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the issue is the humor. Whether it is Hogun and Volstagg attempting to interpret Frandral’s pun, Volstagg’s response to Bill, or Bill’s interactions with the Asgardians, this issue made me laugh more than any other comic I have recently read. In fact, JMS’s take on Thor is beginning to remind me very much of Bone by Jeff Smith.

This series is slowly becoming one of my favorite stories of all time. If someone were to ask me right now which one ongoing they needed to read, Thor would most assuredly get my vote. (Grade: A)

-M. Staples

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Thor #6 – Review

Posted on February 28, 2008 by Deamentia

By J. Michael Straczynski (writer), Olivier Coipel (pencils), Mark Morales (inks), Laura Martin (colors)

At last! The showdown we’ve been waiting for: The town meeting in Nebraska! As short as it is, we’re treated to a bunch of laughs and comedic dialogue. From there, we’re shown how the people in this rural town have interacted their new “neighbors”. It’s a series of short, intimate moments that brings a lot of humanity to the story.

Mixing gods among men is a concept that’s been done for thousands of years, but the modern spin Straczynski gives us is fascinating. It’s fresh, modern, and original. Eventually, these moments give way to the heart of the matter: Thor’s predicament. He wants the gods to tread down a new path, not the old ways of his father, Odin. In the end, he makes a decision, for better or worse, regarding the rest of his “slumbering” brethren. And Loki? She’s up to something…

JMS does a wonderful job portraying the adjustment of the townspeople and the Asgardians. As light-hearted as they are, the interactions feel sincere. Olivier Coipel and Mark Morales’ will mesmerize your eyes with their art. From the most mundane images of people hanging out in a diner to the grandiose shot of Asgard, there’s not a panel in this book that isn’t beautiful. Laura Martin also deserves a lot of credit with her coloring. Her work throughout this series has been consistently stunning. When Thor flies off into the clouds, it’s a sight to behold. This team, is perhaps, one of the most gifted working in comics right now.

Notably absent from this book is the opening page that explains what’s happened in previous issues. I’m not sure why it was omitted, but it would have been a welcome addition considering how this book has been delayed for months! Otherwise, this is the best issue of Thor yet. (Grade: A)

- J. Montes

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 548 other followers