Comments on The Weekly Crisis - Comic Book Review Blog: UPDATED - Weekly Crisis Comic Book Reviews for 11/...

In regards to the Amazing Spider-man review: At th...

2009-11-09T00:44:19.907-04:00

In regards to the Amazing Spider-man review: At the end of last issue, Damon's wife tells Ben that Damon is in his study, a perfectly reasonable place to find a fireplace. In fact, both of my uncles have studies (the only 2 people I know who have one) and both of them have fireplaces in there. As for Kaine, if you read Web of Spider-man #1, it pretty much explains why Kaine would turn on Peter.

There was some foreshadowing of Deadshot's problem...

2009-11-08T10:03:32.163-04:00

There was some foreshadowing of Deadshot's problems in the last few issues of Simone's arc. I think issue #13 of S6 has Deadshot killing all of the slavers (and possibly Ragdoll) in a blood-red panel...

I don't know why but the general feeling I keep ge...

2009-11-08T09:33:05.897-04:00

I don't know why but the general feeling I keep getting from FVL about Deadpool is that he's the same sort of fan that most people should be - a Cable & Deadpool fan. His rendition is similar (as in: not a bad sitcom gag repeating verbatim) and you almost feel like he has the neccesary slight dislike of Deadpool himself.

Or at the least FVL is the only person to find a way for the retarded dual text boxes to not be a nuisance for once.

On another note I'm surprised that you're not reading Sweet Tooth Kirk, it's freakin' amazing

Deadshot didn't meet up with some pastor he met in...

2009-11-08T03:59:04.154-04:00

Deadshot didn't meet up with some pastor he met in prison. That PRIEST was a major supporting character in the Suicide Squad as the team's counselor. He was also Jim "the Spectre" Corrigan's priest during Ostrander's epic Spectre series.

I love Gail on Secret Six. But I believe she would agree with me when I say that Ostrander writes circles around her and half the current writers at DC and Marvel.

Nobody writes the morally/ethically ambigious like him.

Ostrander's issue of Secret Six is a filler issue....

2009-11-07T17:20:20.810-04:00

Ostrander's issue of Secret Six is a filler issue. Simone is returning with a new artist for 16 and Ostrander and Simone are teaming up for the suicide squad/Secret Six/ Blackest night crossover in January

I totally agree that Van Lente should have one of ...

2009-11-07T13:44:24.297-04:00

I totally agree that Van Lente should have one of the Deadpool ongoings. Of the current writers, he is the one that gets the most that Deadpool is not a total psycho. His Deadpool is more along the lines of what Nicienza was doing with him back in Cable and Deadpool,

I picked up Black Widow and thought it was a pret...

2009-11-06T18:00:25.649-04:00

I picked up Black Widow and thought it was a pretty good issue. I also agree that it could have been told as just a straight origin series, though apparently Marvel has the idea that you need an alibi of sorts to keep it current. Either way, it looks promising and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, particularly issue #3 where we get a visit from a certain red-clad vigilante. ;)

@mskedtky - I really enjoyed it, especially the 'w...

2009-11-05T14:38:23.509-04:00

@mskedtky - I really enjoyed it, especially the 'wish you were here' ending in Mexico. The art was a little weak, though. Expected a lot better to start the series off. I'll have a full review up today or tomorrow.

@Nathan Aaron - My thoughts exactly. I hadn't even heard he was involved until I saw the art change and went back to the credits to see who was doing the art.

How good was DEADPOOL TEAMUP? Between this and DE...

2009-11-05T12:14:23.634-04:00

How good was DEADPOOL TEAMUP? Between this and DEADPOOL #900 I'm a little disappointed that Van Lente isn't writing Deadpool on a regular basis. The scene with Hercule's armpit (you know it if you read it) was easily my favorite moment of the week (so far). Great issue.

AHHH! Why couldn't they have gotten John Paul Leon...

2009-11-05T10:43:53.426-04:00

AHHH! Why couldn't they have gotten John Paul Leon to do the entire Black Widow mini! Now THAT would have rocked!

I actually picked up Deadly Origin myself, and lar...

2009-11-05T09:48:35.498-04:00

I actually picked up Deadly Origin myself, and largely agree with your assessment. The way her origin was laid out leaves me a bit uncomfortable, but if you massage it a bit it can fit with past tellings of it, and the story set in the present has a good setup.

One problem I can forsee is that the people Icepick is going to be going after in her life include Wolverine, Hercules, and Daredevil who are, in order, damn-near unkillable, a god, and the leader of the Hand. Good luck with that Icepick! I'll be interested to see how Cornell deals with that.

My one major concern for her characterization that I hope Cornell doesn't screw up is that past stories have made it abundantly clear Natasha doesn't like being a spy. It would be really easy to fall into the trap of making her be like a female James Bond, but that wouldn't accurately capture her disillusionment with the job and her distaste for the kind of people who become spymasters. I've always thought that was one of the most interesting parts of her character, and it would be tragic if it were done away with.

Great reviews as always, Kirk. You bring up an exc...

2009-11-05T03:18:45.334-04:00

Great reviews as always, Kirk. You bring up an excellent point about the Assault on New Olympus prologue; while it is the usual high standard for Herc stories, it doesn't really have the solid hook that a big storyline like this needs. Still, this was probably the most enjoyable Spidey appearance I've read in a while, though a focus on Continuum and the threat posed by Hera would be preferable.

Btw, the Agents of Atlas backup story follows up on ending to X-Men vs. Agents of Atlas #2, also released this week (which was pretty lackluster compared to the first issue and the rest of the Atlas stories). Just so you know.

Black Widow was pretty good too; the flashbacks were excellent and I loved how they brought back Ivan, even if only for a little while. I think his last appearance was in the old Champions series, though I could be wrong on that. I also loved the "Icepick Protocol" as a name; it's an allusion to the death of Trotsky, who was killed by the KGB with a icepick to the brain after his exile from the Soviet Union. It's a nice little reference that tugs at the cockles of my political scientist/historian heart. For the most part, it's just set-up, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Other books I got this week:

Psylocke #1: Good, with lots of action and development for Betsy, with the best art Talibao has ever done, but readers who aren't fans of the character might be a bit lost.

X-Men vs. Agents of Atlas #2: A misunderstanding occurs between different super groups, they fight, come to an agreement, become friends. It's so utterly rote so as to be boring, the action is pretty lackluster and the dialogue isn't up to the usual snuff. There is a nice twist with the O5 X-Men vs. 50's Agents flashback, but that's the only thing that comes across as remotely creative.

The Great Ten #1: Very interesting start, Bedard does a great job setting up the primary conflict of the series, and the characters are all pretty good, with Accomplished Perfect Physician serving as a interesting and sympathetic perspective character, something which I hope continues.

Immortal Weapons #4: Focuses on the origins of Tiger's Beautiful Daughter. Lots of sex and violence, and while it's not very deep or groundbreaking, it's quite a lot of fun to read.

Can't wait for the rest of this week's reviews!