Review: THE THRILLING ADVENTURE HOUR #1 Gives Fans What They Want

After the podcast of The Thrilling Adventure Hour came to and end, fans were promised the segments would continue in comics. After a few issues from Image Comics came to an end it appeared as if the idea of more adventures from the characters would not come to pass. Now, thanks to Boom Studios, if there is a second chance for more adventures in graphic novel form.

Summary

Meet Frank and Sadie Doyle. The toast of the upper crust, headliners on the society pages. And oh yes…they see ghosts.

Writing

This new series starts off very well. It hooks the readers with a very intriguing tale of “Beyond Belief.” For those who have never heard the original podcast, know there is still plenty to enjoy from this comic without having previous knowledge. The series does a good job slowly reintroducing the characters and their motivations. The writing also finds a way to capture the feel of Frank and Sadie from the podcast. This should be expected as writers Ben Acker and Ben Blacker are the original creators.

The issue does end a bit abruptly but a quick cliffhanger is nothing terrible. Hopefully this new series will encourage more readers and more of the original characters from the podcast (like Sparks Nevada: Marshal On Mars or Captain Laserbeam) could be featured in future issues. For now, the Doyles have an intriguing new case for their fans to indulge in.

Artwork

The art has a unique style which seems to capture the dated look of a roaring 30s, noir style setting which the series is set. Artist M.J. Erickson does a perfect job capturing the fashion and look of the characters. The art also seems to perfectly capture the disinterested looks of the Doyles as they don’t seem impressed at all with the acts of the supernatural disturbance.

The coloring by Brittany Peer offers a more muted tone which helps to cement the old fashion style of the time period. Also, shifting color palettes at just the right moment helps to showcase moments of dread, comedy, and even when a flashback is supposed to take place.

The lettering by Mike Fiorentino adds to the atmosphere of the issue. Lines are often delivered like a punchline from the original podcast, complete with authentic jokes and zingers. There is a level of great timing which is displayed from panel to panel.

Conclusion

Not only is the new series a treat for the devoted fans of the podcast but it also has a lot of great material for anyone who is looking for an entertaining indie comic. The Thrilling Adventure Hour has returned and the world can laugh a little more because of it.

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BATWOMAN TV Show in Production at The CW

Michael Stagno

July 18, 2018

The annual ‘Arrowverse’ crossover event, which mashes together The CW’s Arrow, Flash, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow, is already scheduled to include Batwoman in December, but now she will soon have her own show on the cable channel as well.

The LGBTQ+ character will not only make television history, but will further expand the CW/DC Comics Universe. This year’s crossover, however, will not include one of the channels staple shows in Legends of Tomorrow (More HERE).

The upcoming series is currently in development for consideration in 2019. Caroline Dries, the executive producer of The Vampire Diaries, and the architect of the Arrowverse, Greg Berlanti, are spearheading the initiative to bringing the character to the screen.

In the comics, Batwoman, aka Kate Kane, is fueled by social justice and motivated to extinguish the criminal resurgence in Gotham City. She is an out lesbian, advocate and trained street fighter, but must first overcome her own demons before she can become a savior and symbol for hope in Gotham. She first appeared in Detective Comics #233 in 1956.

The casting process will begin soon for the character to appear in the crossover event in December and is assumed will be portrayed by the same actor if the series goes to pilot. Her appearance follows an ongoing theme in the Arrowverse, where a character appears over a limited arc on the CW/DC shows before landing a standalone series.

It will mark the first time the character will make her live-action appearance.

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Funko and Epic Games Partner on FORTNITE Collectibles Line

Michael Stagno

July 18, 2018

The leading pop culture consumer products company, Funko, is at it again, having just announced a new partnership with Epic Games to create a new line of Fortnite collectibles.

Fortnite, the action-building game that allows you to drop into an enormous battle royale of 100 players or squad-up with friends to save the world from a horde of monsters, will soon allow pop culture collectors the opportunity to loot up with memorabilia, ripped straight from the game.

The collection will include more than 10-different product lines, including Funko’s iconic POP!s, 5-Star action figures, Pint Size Heroes, apparel and much more!

“We are thrilled to collaborate and partner with Epic Games to create the inaugural Fortnite product collection and to bring these characters to life for the first time,” said Funko CEO Brian Mariotti. “This collection will be a true celebration of Fortnite’s incredible popularity and cultural significance, and we believe our Funko-Fortnite collectibles will strongly resonate with fans of the game. We look forward to expanding this collection and combining our leading product capabilities with our strong retail platform. Ultimately, our goal is to create a powerful merchandise strategy for the Fortnite brand, as well as bring these amazing collectibles to fans around the world.”

The line will launch at the holidays in 2018 and will be available at most worldwide retailers.

Click HERE for the complete press release via the Global News Wire.

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Star Trek 4 Aiming To Start Filming In 2019

Jonathan Bruce

July 18, 2018

Star Trek is continuing to live long and prosper.

Indeed, the upcoming Star Trek 4 will start filming next year.

According to Geek Tyrant, the Trek sequel is aiming to go into production in early 2019. S.J. Clarkson will direct the film, thus making her the first female director to helm a Trek movie.

As Joey Paur reports, the film will feature both a female hero and a new female villain. Reportedly, a Walking Dead alumni is in the running for one of these roles. The Hashtag Show reveals actress Danai Guira is a top contender, but it’s unclear as to which part.

Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, John Cho, Zoe Saldana, and Simon Pegg will return for the film. Chris Hemsworth is reprising his role as Kirk’s late father, George Samuel Kirk. The lone exception is Anton Yelchin, whose death took place before the release of Star Trek Beyond. How the sequel will deal with Pavel Chekov is unknown.

From what we know, the film’s plot will bridge the Original Series‘ timeline and the alternate reality. Through time travel, James Kirk and his crew will interact with George. Whether this will affect events going forward remains to be seen.

Then there’s the Star Trek film Quentin Tarantino and JJ Abrams are working on. Who knows what’s going on with that one? Either way, the franchise has a long prosperous future ahead.

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Review: GREEN LANTERNS #51 Continues the Mystery in Dull Fashion

Jose "Jody" Cardona

While the mystery is intriguing, the newest Green Lanterns arc leaves much to be desired.

Last issue we had the beginning of a new creative run unfold for our Green Lanterns. A new threat has come to the DC Universe, and it’s up to the Lanterns to try and stop it. The problem is that it isn’t just an alien force that is causing trouble, but the Green Lanterns’ rings themselves have been turning against them. John Stewart’s ring refused to send out a distress signal when he was being attacked by invaders, causing his defeat. Jessica Cruz’s Ring shortly followed by giving her doubts about the other Green Lanterns, whispering like Sauron in Lord of the Rings. During all of this, however, a new mystery has risen, what Green Lantern would kill a Guardian?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

As the Green Lanterns of Earth quickly rush the Guardian to a hospital, we see the fleet that defeated Stewart attacking a planet. While the Green Lantern Penelops tries to fight back this threat, the enemy leader Eon murders him. This allows the fleet to begin massacring the people of the planet with Star Wars Empire-esque weaponry. Meanwhile, the other Green Lanterns try to contain the disaster on planet Mogo while the body of the Guardian is being examined. After confirmation from the autopsy, it becomes clear that a Lantern murdered the Guardian.

This issue of Green Lanterns continues the mystery of the Green Lanterns’ ring, and while intriguing at times, overall it comes off being boring. Dan Jurgens appears to be going for a slow burn style with this story, allowing tension to build over time. The problem is that, even if it is a slow burn, a comic needs to entertain at the moment. There is only one scene of ring-slinging action, and it is only to create a dome. Not anything bizarre or creative as expected in a Green Lanterns story, just a dome. This story is trying to be a more subdued tale, with plenty of mystery to keep readers enticed. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make for a particularly exciting issue. Hopefully, things pick up soon because, at this rate, this run might lose the steam that it spent 49 issues building.

Art:

While it’s far from perfect, I have to admit Mike Perkins art is beginning to grow on this reviewer. The darker style that Perkins is going for matches the story, but can still be out of this world. The alien race we follow getting attacked are drawn very well, capturing the aquatic theme of the world. They aren’t the only ones either. All of the Green Lanterns are drawn fantastically but are still subdued enough to fit the narrative. Hopefully, we’ll get more action for Perkins to show off his skill as the story progresses.

Conclusion:

Second issue into the run and this reviewer is already bored. The mystery of the Green Lanterns’ rings is intriguing, but this story needs more. The art is steadily growing, and I feel it could soar if given a chance. We still have a ways to go before the end so let’s hope there is some action next time.

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AVENGERS #5 Review: The New Origin

Dispatchdcu

AVENGERS #5 story by the spectacular Jason Aaron, with art by Paco c, inks by the thorough Juan Vlasco, Mark Morales, and Karl Story, colors by David Curiel, and letters by Cory Petit arrives on shelves this week giving readers the answers they’ve wanted since MARVEL LEGACY. Readers will never guess this backstory or what the Ghost Rider can do now! Let’s jump in.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

AVENGERS #5 SPOILERS TOO!!

The FACTS of Life

Loki opens the issue with a new Marvel History lesson. Afterward, the Ghost Rider helps Captain America escape the Final Host and captures the evil trickster. Meanwhile, Black Panther and Captain Marvel altered their suits energy structures to take down the locust hordes while She-Hulk and Thor arrive back with the blood of Ymir. The two of them eat it to gain immense power growing as large as the Dark Celestials. Iron Man’s God Killer armor arrives from Mars, and the Avengers split up having Doctor Strange battle Loki while the Ghost Rider takes control of a dead Celestial possessing it like his car! Things just got real!

Perfect Strangers

Reading every issue to this point, confusion was starting to set in on the how, where, when, and why of this Avengers Fresh Start. However, this issue by Aaron did a phenomenal job answering all of those questions and more. It turns out, the First Celestial was infected by the cosmic locusts 4 billion years ago and fell to Earth by happenstance. Aaron gives new readers to Marvel, as well as old, an origin story to this universe that was indeed out of this world.

The First Celestial got sick and died on the planet, which was never going to amount to anything… until that day. It spewed out its diseased infection all over Earth. From that disease and sickness came the human race. This Celestial was called the Progenitor. Aaron‘s telling of our creation and being is so dang creative and impressive. This story completely blew me away. But it gets better!

Fraggle ROCK!

Aaron turns the start of our world into a love story gone wrong. Looking for his lost Celestial love, another Celestial named Zgreb came to Earth in One Million B.C. only to be defeated by Odin, his first Avengers, and the locust plague that took his beloved. This drew the attention of all the Celestials called the First Host. However, they withdrew from Earth fearing to become infected too. This is where my confusion subsided. Aaron pieced the story together so well and gave the story meaning, purpose, and new history. The time it must have taken him to create a story that connects the old and the new Marvel together is very inspiring for the future of Marvel. Lead the way, Aaron!

As impressive as the story is in this issue, the art by Medina and Mcguinness is terrific. As much detail as Aaron put into the story; this art team did the same with the layout, colors, and design of each panel. From the Celestial sickness of black ooze flowing from their mouth to the Ghost Rider fire billowing out from each freakin’ Celestial he touched, this team draws you into the story with realistic displays and bright, vibrant colors that make this issue come to life.

GOLDEN Girls

The intricate detail, time, and extensive thought to the story to weave Marvel Legacy, the ancient Avengers, Fresh Start, and the future of Marvel was thrown on Aaron‘s back. This issue showed readers that he’s the right person for the job. Aaron‘s experience shined throughout this issue in such an intelligent and mind blowing way, which got me excited for the future of Marvel Comics.

One of my favorite parts of the issue was finding out that Zgreb didn’t die. The locusts infection created a new breed of Dark Celestial and Zgreb went out to find more of his kind and create more Dark Celestials, which is why in earlier issues readers see them falling from the sky. This put a closed circuit on the story. Aaron answered all the big questions and set up readers for the showdown and gave our Avengers a chance. He didn’t trap his heroes in a corner and have them magically win in the end. With them all giant sized, we can see an epic showdown coming, and the conclusions and direction make sense.

Should readers be looking St. Elsewhere?

Absolutely! Questions are answered. Art is fantastic. And, Aaron is on fire guiding new and old readers back into Marvel again. This issue wasn’t filled with a ton of action, but it gave readers a ton of explanation that was drastically needed. Pick this issue up and get the answers you need moving forward.

Should you add this to your pull or do you have a FULL HOUSE?

Totally! Next issue will be an all-out melee battle to the extreme. Our heroes are Mega-Zorded up and ready to roll. The current cast of Avengers are working well together, and Aaron is giving all the heroes something to do. At first, I thought Ghost Rider was getting overlooked but not anymore. And I love the Thor/ She-Hulk team up as well as Doctor Strange and Iron Man. This issue was fun even with heavy explanations. Next issue should be epic. Add this to your pull!

What did you guys think of AVENGERS #5? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @dispatchdcu

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WEAPON H #5 Review: Power Pak

Dispatchdcu

WEAPON H #5 written by Greg Pak, with pencils by Cory Smith drops this week as Pak gives readers some background into what makes up the Hulkverine and throws everything at the beast to see if anything can stop it. Let’s go find out!

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!

WEAPON H #5 SPOILERS TOO!!!

Recap

Roxxon has Weapon H tied up with some elvish supernatural magic since nothing on this Earth can hold the Hulkverine. Dario Agger, the CEO of Roxxon, wants Weapon H to work for him. Clay won’t work for him. So, Agger tries a lobotomy and wants to implant a controller into Hulkverine’s optic nervous system. But, the supernatural chains holding Weapon H wore off, and he’s loose and pissed!

As he tries to escape, Hulkverine comes across Man-Thing and the Brood pilot from the last issue. He frees them, and they make their exit until Weapon H runs into his wife, who happened to track him down to Roxxon headquarters. It turns out, Dario was “kind of” telling the truth. He needs Clay to be Weapon H because he opened a portal to a magical realm that could power our world for millions of years. However, he can’t close the portal, and there is a giant squid monster on the other side who wants to break through and kill the human race. So, it’s up to Weapon H to take care of this monster and save the human race!

What I liked

Smith, Pallot, Champagne, Hanna, and Wong did a tremendous job on this issue. The art was amazing right out of the gate with the opening splash page of Weapon H chained up and alien spikes through his chest. His size is just immense, AND the amount of supernatural chains needed to hold him down are nuts! The detail by the art team creating this beast is fantastic, and the panel layout made the story easy to follow.

The issue wasn’t too wordy. Pak‘s writing was clear, precise, and to the point. His story developed naturally, and it remained unpredictable, which is tough to do in a monster story filled with nonstop action. Pak and his team aren’t holding anything back in this series. Plus, it looks like we get a fight between the Hulkverine and Captain America next issue. Who wouldn’t be pumped for that?

There is just too much to like

Pak finally gives the reader what makes a Hulkverine. He has nanotech adamantium laced bones, Hulk DNA, as well as genetic material from Sabretooth, Wolverine, Lady Deathstrike, Warpath, Domino, and their healing factors. This dude is nuts, and Pak ties him into all of these Weapon X related characters. This comic is so dang interesting! Pak has made an unstoppable masterpiece out of Weapon H. With genuinely untapped power, who could beat this guy?

Pak has truly made the Hulkverine unbeatable. He’s destructive, explosive, but unlike the other Hulks, he has the mind of a highly trained fighter. At this point, who knows if Banner Hulk could stand a chance? Cho Hulk would probably get destroyed easily! What do you think Pak: Cho Hulk or Weapon H? But the next issue will be the real test. How will Weapon H do against a supernatural squid monster from another dimension?

Should you buy this issue?

Yes! It’s still a fun read filled with action, monsters, explosions, and exciting twists and turns. If you pick up Weapon H for something deep and emotional, you grabbed the wrong comic. You’ll leave this issue as well as the past issues saying, “that was freakin’ awesome!”

Should you add this to your pull list?

Absolutely! Pak is on fire with this series, and I want to know how he handles the supernatural, inter-dimensional, squid monster. And how does Cap fit into this? Keep this train going Pak. I’m all in!

What did you guys think of WEAPON H #5? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @dispatchdcu

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THOR #3 Review: Hel Of A Wedding

Dispatchdcu

THOR #3 written by Jason Aaron, with art by Mike Del Mundo, art and colors assisted by Marco D’Alfonso, and letters by Joe Sabino unleashes a battle royal between all of Odin’s sons in a fight for control of Hel. Who will survive? And, did I hear wedding bells? Let’s jump in because you’ll never guess who makes a special appearance on the last page.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

THOR #3 SPOILERS TOO!!

Overview

Tyr played his brothers like the horn of Gandor and used them to free Hela. A fight breaks out with all Odinson brothers brawling amongst one another. Thor kicks the flying feces out of Fenris while the others fight Hela and the traitor Tyr. Eventually, Thor and Loki get the upper hand and the clever trickster Loki develops an idea to help everyone, including Hela.

If Hela and Balder marry, both of their armies of Hel will join together and regain Niffleheim from Sindr. But as the issue ends, Loki kills Thor to send him to Valhalla in hopes to get help from the Valkyrie and the Mad Titan Thanos graces Niffleheim with his presence. Let’s just say he has some choice words for Balder.

The Good

The art by Del Mundo of Fenris was terrific as well as the dialogue between “Uncle Thor” and his nephew, Fenris. The way Aaron’s set up the humorous dialogue between the two characters made it feel like a simple family squabble but between God’s and Beasts. Not to mention, Thori as a flower girl was a great touch.

Next, the Valkyrie splash page by Del Mundo was eloquently drawn and fabulously bright. Excellent choice of vibrant colors by D’Alfonso.

The story didn’t come barreling out of the gate, but it became fascinating towards the end, especially when Thanos was introduced, and Loki killed Thor with a magical dagger. Excitement is building for the next issue now. A dead Thor and a Mad Titan entering the picture are both great cliffhangers to draw readers back into the story.

The Bad

How did we start with a wedding? It was explained later BUT sometimes flashing back or forward can throw readers out of a story if not done well. The wedding was a very confusing way to start right out of the gate. Then, the wordy nature of the story became overwhelming at times taking me out of the issue and away from the art. Sometimes, the pages just seemed too cluttered.

Also, the parts of Del Mundo’s art that were trying to show movement throughout fights with characters looked smudged, which lead to more confusion of what was happening. Next, look at the art when Thor walks out of the poisonous waters of Gjoll holding Fenris. The Beast looked deflated. For every page of art that was outstanding, other pages seemed bogged down with dialogue and objects that looked smeared.

Should readers get this issue?

Expectations where high after the reveal of Hela at the end of issue 2. But, I struggled to get into the story, and the pages seemed oversaturated with dialogue and explanations. It was a down issue for Aaron and Del Mundo overall. If you love THOR and are in the middle of the story, get it. If you think the summary page next issue can clue you in enough, maybe you skip it…

Should you add this to your pull list?

Yes. However not because of this issue entirely. Add THOR to your list because of the success Aaron has had with the character and stories with THOR in the past. This was just a down issue. Plus, Aaron left readers with two huge cliffhangers. Readers must see what part Thanos plays and if Thor can come back from the dead.

What did you guys think of THOR #3? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @dispatchdcu

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DARTH VADER ANNUAL #2 Review: Out With The Old

Dispatchdcu

DARTH VADER ANNUAL #2 written by Chuck Wendig, with pencils by Leonard Kirk, inks by Walden Wong and Scott Hanna, colors by Nolan Woodard, and letters by Joe Caramagna releases this week as Wendig gives readers an entertaining insight into Governor Tarkin, Commander Krennic, Darth Vader, and the events leading up to ROGUE ONE. Let’s take a look!

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

DARTH VADER ANNUAL #2 SPOILERS TOO!

Summary

Governor Tarkin lands on Scarif for a surprise visit and storms into an unauthorized area to find Darth Vader researching “Project Stardust.” It turns out, the Emperor gave Tarkin the power to tell Vader what to do, and this drastically angers the Sith Lord. Not only was he left out of these new project plans BUT some poor shmuck now gets to tell him what to do. Oh, how times are changing, and Vader is pissed!

Tarkin and the Emperor send Vader to Geonosis to find out who is sabotaging this new “Project Stardust.” After looking into leads, he gets a name: Galen Erso. This should sound familiar from ROGUE ONE. Lord Vader looks into Erso’s research, stumbles onto Kyber Crystals and finds a race of Brood creatures within the planet. Vader unleashes his current anger and destroys them all.

The issue ends with a Brood alien confronting Lyra Erso, Galen’s wife, and telling her that Galen is creating a planet killing weapon for the Empire. Surprised by this, she runs off to confront her husband, and they go into hiding, which leads readers right into ROGUE ONE.

Rogue Zero-ish

DARTH VADER ANNUAL #2 was Wendig’s take on the prequel to ROGUE ONE, and it was pretty fascinating. Sure, “Project Stardust” was stated, but it was unexpected to see where it ended, which was a fantastic twist. Wendig turned a Vader story into a prequel and made the idea that it was a prequel the plot twist. Many could argue that readers should have seen it coming, especially since they used words like “Stardust,” “Kyber Crystals,” and readers see Commander Krennic.

Tarkin’s my Patronus

Tarkin is a cocky jerk with the biggest pair of balls any man could possess. He’s seen what Darth Vader has done to thousands of people. He knows the power this man has, yet he still pokes the bear. He has no fear! I absolutely loved this take on Tarkin. Soule has been leading up to this idea with the character, BUT this put him over the edge. If you include issue 18 as well as this annual by Wendig, together both writers did an excellent job elevating Tarkin to badass level.

Out with the Old in with the New

On page 33, Vader confronts Tarkin about “Project Stardust” and tells him that he figured out that it’s a planet killer once he found the Kyber Crystals. But the cunning Tarkin notices something about the Sith Lord; that Vader fears being replaced. Darth Vader thought he was the only technological abomination required to take over the universe. This is what the Emperor led him to believe until Tarkin showed up and devised an even grander plan with Krennic.

Now, the technological abomination that is even more powerful than Darth Vader is the Death Star! Wendig shows readers the fear and worry behind the face of one of the most powerful beings in the known universe without him taking his mask off.

Art and Storytelling

Parts of the issue seemed to drag a bit. Maybe because it was an annual and longer BUT this could have been done better if it was the regular issue length. However, that said, this wasn’t dialogue heavy at all. Thus, it was easy to read. And even though it felt slow moving at parts, the issue was smart, clear, easy to follow, and easy to understand.

The art by Wong, Hanna, and Woodard was nicely done, especially the flashback scenes from Vader. Each time a memory would happen, the art team placed it in red as if Vader himself was visualizing it through his eyes instead of it being through the reader’s eyes. The expressions on the characters faces were detailed so well and are accurate to the situations they were in. Surprisingly, this can be a hard task for artists but not this art team. These artists knew exactly what they were doing.

Should I buy this issue?

You bet! Wendig’s annual adds fantastic lore to the Star Wars universe by building up Tarkin and surprisingly tearing down one of the most feared beings in the galaxy. Wendig shows readers a transfer of power and adds so much more to both these characters. Get this issue!

Should I add this series to my pull list?

Absolutely! Now, keep in mind Charles Soule has been writing the series, not Wendig. However, Soule is doing a spectacular job. Look no farther than last week to issue 18. That may be his best issue yet!

What did you guys think of DARTH VADER ANNUAL #2? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @dispatchdcu

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The INFINITY COUNTDOWN Concludes, Time For Cosmic Chaos!

Brandon J. Griffin

The clock for Gerry Duggan’s cosmic Marvel event, Infinity Countdown, reaches zero. It’s final chapter sets up next week’s Infinity Wars Prime #1. One thing is clear with this issue, we’re ready for the damn thing to start already!

SPOILERS LIE AHEAD

All of our players are set and aware of each other on the board. Doctor Strange, Adam Warlock, Black Widow, Drax, Captain Marvel, and Turk Barrett (former Stilt-Man) all have an infinity stone–now let’s light up this big batch of cosmic fireworks.

It feels like we’ve beating around the bush forever with all these tie-ins. We still have no idea who the mysterious infinity figure is from all the promo art, or how Thanos fits into everything. It’s extremely reassuring to see that we only have to wait one more week at the end of Infinity Countdown #5.

Writer Gerry Duggan has become the cosmic mastermind recently and he’s got us on edge. The fact that there’s this much excitement surrounding a strictly cosmic story at Marvel is a testament to the great work he’s done (beginning with All-New Guardians Of The Galaxy).

It’s also a wonderful feeling to go into an event with no idea what’s going to happen. This spoiler culture we live in, especially if you pay attention to comic book solicitations, doesn’t usually allow for excitement to grow through mystery and impatience.

Infinity Countdown #5 doesn’t really do all that much to actually set up what’s coming in Infinity Wars Prime. What we do get is Doctor Strange beginning to assemble all the infinity stone wielders to sort out the inevitable impending threat. For the record, it’s awesome that Stilt-Man has an infinity stone.

As much as we’d all like our beloved 2008 GOTG teammates to reunite, Duggan puts Adam Warlock and the Guardians all at odds with each other. There’s plenty of distrust between Warlock, Quill, Gamora, and now Drax. Also, Groot is still speaking full sentences. Gerry’s knack for writing these characters allows him all the rope he needs to tell this story. In Gerry we trust.

The big surprise from all of Infinity Countdown has been the involvement of Hank Pym, trapped inside the Soul Gem with a piece of Gamora’s soul. Marvel has been on a roll recently, resurrecting longtime staples of the 616 continuity. Pym would not only be welcomed back, but would make for some interesting stories given that Ultron has been running around wearing his face for a few years.

Duggan pulls a fast one on us in a fantastic scene where Hank Pym seemingly meets his end (again). Whether or not this is really the end for the original Ant-Man, it was a clever scene that is sure to get a reaction out of readers one way or another.

Aaron Kuder continues to perfectly accent Duggan’s strength for these cosmic characters. These two are the only creators that have managed to deliver a Guardians Of The Galaxy comic book since the success of the MCU films. That bleeds over into every corner of Marvel’s cosmic landscape. They balance the humor, heart, and absurdity that’s necessary to make the post-movie versions of these heroes compelling.

Mike Hawthorne also contributes some wonderful art. He focuses mostly on Doctor Strange’s investigation into what the hell is going on. Hawthorne gives us a more classic looking Doctor Strange. He’s more weathered and exhausted by sorcery supremacy than recent incarnations–it’s appreciated.

Infinity Countdown is now over, Duggan has us ready and rearing to go–bring on Infinity Wars!

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1...586587588...1,689 Page 587 of 1,689

Writing

Artwork

Conclusion

While the mystery is intriguing, the newest Green Lanterns arc leaves much to be desired.

Story:

Art:

Conclusion:

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

AVENGERS #5 SPOILERS TOO!!

The FACTS of Life

Perfect Strangers

Fraggle ROCK!

GOLDEN Girls

Should readers be looking St. Elsewhere?

Should you add this to your pull or do you have a FULL HOUSE?

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!

WEAPON H #5 SPOILERS TOO!!!

Recap

What I liked

There is just too much to like

Should you buy this issue?

Should you add this to your pull list?

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

THOR #3 SPOILERS TOO!!

Overview

The Good

The Bad

Should readers get this issue?

Should you add this to your pull list?

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

DARTH VADER ANNUAL #2 SPOILERS TOO!

Summary

Rogue Zero-ish

Tarkin’s my Patronus

Out with the Old in with the New

Art and Storytelling

Should I buy this issue?

Should I add this series to my pull list?

***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***

SPOILERS LIE AHEAD