Looks like a light week for me based on these Post-Crisis Previews. Maybe half a dozen books, of which Secret Invasion is probably the only one making a big splash, in terms of hype. I'm not too thrilled with the whole Skrull event and it's the first time I think I've ever thought a Bendis story was actually rushed out the door.He's literally wasted the past year of build up on the Hood story in New Avengers and Cho's ass drawing delays in Mighty Avengers. The only two things indicating any sort of invasion are Blackbolt's replacement in Illuminati, which should have warranted at least a trip to the Moon to see if he was alright or not, and the Skrullektra body.
I just don't see any invasion. Skrulls picking on the Kree-based Inhumans and a random Elektra Skrull that has no real political or military reasons for replacing her. She's an assassin that no one trusts and it served no purpose in any coordinated invasion.
In fact, Bendis has provided the majority of the hype and build up for this event in interviews. I could have sworn I was reading comic books, but I guess I need to read every interview now to get the full story. Bendis' hype in these interviews is then conveniently copy and pasted into Luke Cage, Iron Man, Wolverine and the rest of the Avengers' speech bubbles, giving me nothing but a sense of deja vu everytime I read any Skrull related conversations in these books.
Simply put, I'm bored and the book hasn't even come out yet.
/rant off
Hit the jump for the previews and comments on the rest of the books I'll be picking up this week.
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #4
Story by Paul Dini
Story consulting by Keith Giffen
Script by Adam Beechen
Art by Carlos Magno and Rodney Ramos
The Great Disaster has occurred, and all hell breaks loose as all the storylines in COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS come to a climax, threatening Darkseid and Jimmy Olsen and Mary Marvel and the future of their Earth!
Kirk Says: I couldn't find the cover by one of the Kuberts slated for this issue. I wonder if he was able to finish it on time. This issue features Darkseid sitting on Mary Marvel's ratty old couch and tempting her back to the darkside. Seems Grant Morrison wants her evil again, so after the painful fall from grace and return to being good, DC is making her evil...again. These last 10 or so issues are giving me migraines.
KICK-ASS #2
Written by Mark Millar
Art by John Romita Jr
Sickening violence...just the way you like it. The most screwed-up superhero comic of all time continues in what's sure to be the most exciting launch of 2008. What would happen if you tried to be a super hero? What would happen when an ordinary man in a latex suit comes face-to-face with the criminal underworld? Read about super heroes like you've never seen them before and feel happy that you are living here right now when this book is being published. Your grandchildren will only envy you. Comics just don't get better than this.
Kirk Says: I already gave my thoughts on this issue back when it was originally slated about 3 or 4 weeks ago, so I'll just do the ol' copy and paste deal.
The first issue really surprised me. The premise sounded like the generic 'real life hero' that books like Rising Stars or Squadron Supreme and many others have done, but this one was literally a real life super hero story and definitely appealed to the comic nerd that's always dreamt of dressing up in a costume and going out to fight crime. The shocking ending leaves me wondering what kind of turn the book will take, but I also can't wait to find out.
LOGAN #2
Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Art by Eduardo Risso
The groundbreaking new mini–series from Eduardo Risso (100 Bullets) and Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man) continues! Returning to the place that made him the man he is today, Wolverine faces off against an all-new enemy in an epic clash with a last page that has to be seen to be believed.
Kirk Says: First issue of this three part series was very good, but was hitting just about every single Wolverine cliche possible with yet another flashback to Japan, a mysterious woman Logan falls in love with, betrayals about - you get the picture. I have faith BKV can avoid the obvious pitfalls and give us something memoriable with this arc. If not, there's always Risso's pretty pictures to look at.
NIGHTWING #143
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Don Kramer and Christian Alamy
In an attempt to stop Dr. Kendall's mad experiments with the dead, Nightwing and Robin head to a remote island hideaway to confront the doctor and his fiendish creations once and for all. The only obstacle in their way: The League of Assassins!
Kirk Says: Nightwing has been on fire since Tomasi came on board. I can't believe how much I've been enjoying it. I'm surprised there's a fill-in artist already for Morales. Wonder what the story behind that is. He's only been on the book for two or three issues.
SECRET INVASION #1
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Leinil Francis Yu
SECRET INVASION IS HERE!! Years in the making, months in the teasing...and it all STARTS HERE!!
The shape-shifting alien race known as the Skrulls has secretly infiltrated every super-powered organization on Earth with one goal...full-scale invasion! In this DOUBLE-SIZED first issue, page after page unveils reveal after reveal and shocking moment after shocking moment! Brian Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu leap off the pages of mega-hit New Avengers and deliver a story that will change the Marvel Universe forever.
THE MARVEL UNIVERSE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!!
Kirk Says: Five freaking variants. It's 1995 all over again folks. That figure isn't counting any special Wizard or Dynamic Forces exclusives either. I expect a good seven or eight covers for this issue when it's all said and done. I've barely got any interest in this event as it is and they pull shit like this. It just burns me.
YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #3
Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Art by Alina Urusov
Wiccan & Speed: THE LOST BOYS
You're Wiccan, the Young Avengers' resident warlock. Your mother is one of the most reviled, misunderstood mutants in history: Wanda Maximoff, A.K.A. the Scarlet Witch, who's been M.I.A. for months. Even though you've never met her, she's been haunting your dreams lately...With your super-fast twin brother Speed in tow, you set out to find her, unaware that someone else is looking for Wanda, as well. A demon with a mountain-sized grudge against the Scarlet Witch: Master Pandemonium! And guess what? If Pandemonium can't find Wanda to destroy her, he'll happily destroy...YOU!
Kirk Says: Oi, this issue doesn't sound that hot based on the solicit. I love Young Avengers, so I'll be picking it up, but demons, Scarlet Witch and a writer and artist I don't recognize makes even me very weary of buying this.
YOUNG X-MEN #1
Written by Marc Guggenheim
Art by Yanick Paquette
In the wake of Messiah CompleX, there are no X-Men and young mutants Rockslide, Blindfold and Dust are alone and directionless. Until the day Cyclops recruits them to hunt the new incarnation of the Brotherhood – and kill them. Joined by a pair of new recruits, the young X-Men learn a hard truth about the world post-Messiah CompleX: sometimes old allies make for deadly enemies.
Kirk Says: This title already has two strikes against it from me. 1) It's not New X-Men and 2) it's not by the New X-Men creative team. I'm willing to give it a chance since it's using a couple of my favourite characters from New X-Men, but I do not expect good things from this and it's probably going to end up being dropped after this first issue.
Story by Paul Dini
Story consulting by Keith Giffen
Script by Adam Beechen
Art by Carlos Magno and Rodney Ramos
The Great Disaster has occurred, and all hell breaks loose as all the storylines in COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS come to a climax, threatening Darkseid and Jimmy Olsen and Mary Marvel and the future of their Earth!
Kirk Says: I couldn't find the cover by one of the Kuberts slated for this issue. I wonder if he was able to finish it on time. This issue features Darkseid sitting on Mary Marvel's ratty old couch and tempting her back to the darkside. Seems Grant Morrison wants her evil again, so after the painful fall from grace and return to being good, DC is making her evil...again. These last 10 or so issues are giving me migraines.
KICK-ASS #2Written by Mark Millar
Art by John Romita Jr
Sickening violence...just the way you like it. The most screwed-up superhero comic of all time continues in what's sure to be the most exciting launch of 2008. What would happen if you tried to be a super hero? What would happen when an ordinary man in a latex suit comes face-to-face with the criminal underworld? Read about super heroes like you've never seen them before and feel happy that you are living here right now when this book is being published. Your grandchildren will only envy you. Comics just don't get better than this.
Kirk Says: I already gave my thoughts on this issue back when it was originally slated about 3 or 4 weeks ago, so I'll just do the ol' copy and paste deal.
The first issue really surprised me. The premise sounded like the generic 'real life hero' that books like Rising Stars or Squadron Supreme and many others have done, but this one was literally a real life super hero story and definitely appealed to the comic nerd that's always dreamt of dressing up in a costume and going out to fight crime. The shocking ending leaves me wondering what kind of turn the book will take, but I also can't wait to find out.
LOGAN #2Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Art by Eduardo Risso
The groundbreaking new mini–series from Eduardo Risso (100 Bullets) and Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man) continues! Returning to the place that made him the man he is today, Wolverine faces off against an all-new enemy in an epic clash with a last page that has to be seen to be believed.
Kirk Says: First issue of this three part series was very good, but was hitting just about every single Wolverine cliche possible with yet another flashback to Japan, a mysterious woman Logan falls in love with, betrayals about - you get the picture. I have faith BKV can avoid the obvious pitfalls and give us something memoriable with this arc. If not, there's always Risso's pretty pictures to look at.
NIGHTWING #143Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Don Kramer and Christian Alamy
In an attempt to stop Dr. Kendall's mad experiments with the dead, Nightwing and Robin head to a remote island hideaway to confront the doctor and his fiendish creations once and for all. The only obstacle in their way: The League of Assassins!
Kirk Says: Nightwing has been on fire since Tomasi came on board. I can't believe how much I've been enjoying it. I'm surprised there's a fill-in artist already for Morales. Wonder what the story behind that is. He's only been on the book for two or three issues.
SECRET INVASION #1Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Leinil Francis Yu
SECRET INVASION IS HERE!! Years in the making, months in the teasing...and it all STARTS HERE!!
The shape-shifting alien race known as the Skrulls has secretly infiltrated every super-powered organization on Earth with one goal...full-scale invasion! In this DOUBLE-SIZED first issue, page after page unveils reveal after reveal and shocking moment after shocking moment! Brian Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu leap off the pages of mega-hit New Avengers and deliver a story that will change the Marvel Universe forever.
THE MARVEL UNIVERSE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!!
Kirk Says: Five freaking variants. It's 1995 all over again folks. That figure isn't counting any special Wizard or Dynamic Forces exclusives either. I expect a good seven or eight covers for this issue when it's all said and done. I've barely got any interest in this event as it is and they pull shit like this. It just burns me.
YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #3Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Art by Alina Urusov
Wiccan & Speed: THE LOST BOYS
You're Wiccan, the Young Avengers' resident warlock. Your mother is one of the most reviled, misunderstood mutants in history: Wanda Maximoff, A.K.A. the Scarlet Witch, who's been M.I.A. for months. Even though you've never met her, she's been haunting your dreams lately...With your super-fast twin brother Speed in tow, you set out to find her, unaware that someone else is looking for Wanda, as well. A demon with a mountain-sized grudge against the Scarlet Witch: Master Pandemonium! And guess what? If Pandemonium can't find Wanda to destroy her, he'll happily destroy...YOU!
Kirk Says: Oi, this issue doesn't sound that hot based on the solicit. I love Young Avengers, so I'll be picking it up, but demons, Scarlet Witch and a writer and artist I don't recognize makes even me very weary of buying this.
YOUNG X-MEN #1Written by Marc Guggenheim
Art by Yanick Paquette
In the wake of Messiah CompleX, there are no X-Men and young mutants Rockslide, Blindfold and Dust are alone and directionless. Until the day Cyclops recruits them to hunt the new incarnation of the Brotherhood – and kill them. Joined by a pair of new recruits, the young X-Men learn a hard truth about the world post-Messiah CompleX: sometimes old allies make for deadly enemies.
Kirk Says: This title already has two strikes against it from me. 1) It's not New X-Men and 2) it's not by the New X-Men creative team. I'm willing to give it a chance since it's using a couple of my favourite characters from New X-Men, but I do not expect good things from this and it's probably going to end up being dropped after this first issue.
10 comments:
Elektra was leading the Hand who effectively control the entire nation of Japan.
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa did MK 4 with Mcniven, which was pretty good. I think he also did the last Nightcrawler mini as well.
Unlike you, I am looking forward to Secret Invasion, mostly because I enjoy Bendis'(Ultimate Spider-Man and New Avengers are two of the comics that brought me back) writing and it looks like Marvel put more thought into this than some of there more recent events (House of M, Civil War, OMD). But I agree with you about the "interviews" actually being in the books themselves, it just ruins the issue.
Blackbolt and Elektra are actually good people to replace, seeing as they command both the Inhumans and the Hand. Those are two "armies" that could be used against the Skrulls.
Elektra is the leader of the Hand, a major organized crime syndicate.
Re: YA writer. Aguire-Sacasa did Marvel Knights Fantastic Four and a recent run on Sensational Spider-Man; he's really interested in mystic/magic stuff, so I expect he'll be a good fit for Wiccan.
I like don kramer. Rags is doing Batman Confidential as well, i think one more issue.
On Nightwing. Rags Morales is also doing an arc of Batman Confidential.
In all the build-up, has anyone mentioned the Skrull homeworld, um, being Annihilated in any of the Avengers/Ms. Marvel/Cap. Marvel books? I know that it's been mentioned in the free Prologue, but I don't know about the other ones.
That would seem like an important detail to remind us of.
as for Young Avengers - I have a lot of respect for Mr. Roberto there. He wrote a great run on Marvel Knights 4, which focused on the 4 as people and not as spandex heroes.
He really knows characterization.
as for Young X-Men: I really, really love the two covers that are out for issue 1, but I just don't see the point in reading a book that doesn't matter to me.
"I expect a good seven or eight covers for this issue when it's all said and done."
On top of those Dynamic Forces and Wizard specials, don't forget the bonus covers it'll get with the countless reprintings. Maybe we'll make it a round 10!
The writer for that Young Avengers book (Aguirre-Sacasa - a name I probably shouldn't be able to spell correctly without double checking, and yet...) did a run on a short-lived Nightcrawler book and the Marvel Knights FF book called "4". I think he did some other pretty forgettable stuff too...
Not that I dislike his work, mind you. I just don't get very excited about it.
*Licks Finger* MMM That's good event fatigue!
regarding Young Avengers Presents, i've seen previews, the artist's, well, art looks really good - i like his style. i could see him replacing Cheung if the monthly ever came back.
check it out;
http://comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=13510
it's on that page somewhere!
Post a Comment