HBO has unveiled their 2018 sizzle reel, and it is most impressive. But then again, who would expect less?
In this reel, you see bits and pieces from all of HBO’s content, and it reminds you just how great the vast majority of it is. There’s the return of Westworld, Insecure, Divorce, and the T.J. Miller-less Silicon Valley, but there’s some tastes of new documentaries (which all look incredible), Al Pacino as Joe Paterno, and a look at Fahrenheit 451. It’s awesome:
HBO continues to rule the roost, no matter who comes in to try and take the crown. Paterno looks interesting, and Fahrenheit 451 will absolutely own. On top of those newbies, we have our first look at Amy Adams in Sharp Objects, Jean-Marc Vallée’s follow up to Big Little Lies.
And we haven’t even gotten to the return of Sharon Stone in Steven Soderbergh’s experimental choose-your-own-adventure drama, Mosaic. Oh yeah, and over here we have Tim Robbins and Holly Hunter in the bizarro family drama Here and Now. And don’t get me started on this documentary collection; HBO has a deep lineup this year.
Here’s a handy list of release dates and what’s coming when. You’re probably going to need it.
In an interesting collaborative move, Clive Owen and Will Smith have agreed to star in And Lee’s upcoming sci-fi hitman movie, Gemini Man.
While that title probably makes one think of an old Steven Seagal mid-90s rap-infused action flick, or the 70s TV show of the same name about an invisible dude, this Gemini Man sounds like something original. According to the Variety report, “[T]he film follows an over-the-hill hitman who faces off against a younger clone of himself.”
This project has been around for twenty or so years, with Tony Scott once attached to direct. Jerry Bruckheimer is producing, and now Clive Owen and Will Smith are set to star, with the former playing “an antagonist role.” Hopefully this turns into something interesting.
Ang Lee has been hit or miss his entire career, as has Will Smith the past decade. But this news is especially exciting for Clive Owen fans (present!), who has mysteriously disappeared into thankless supporting parts when he should be making serious movies and chewing on meaty roles. Gemini Man at least has a shot.
It was announced last week that Jac Schaeffer, best known for writing the script for the 2009 film TiMER, would pen the script for a solo Black Widow movie for Marvel.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige met with several candidates before deciding on Schaeffer. He also met with Black Widow actress Scarlett Johansson to discuss what the direction of her character would be in her solo outing. The two talented ladies have yet to meet but that will change in the near future. According to Variety’s Justin Kroll, Schaeffer and Johansson are set to meet next month to discuss the film.
Black Widow made her MCU debut in Iron Man 2 and has been a mainstay of the universe ever since. Many fans have been calling for a solo film for the character for some time and it appears to be moving forward rather quickly.
No release date has been set but many are speculating the film will release sometime during Phase 4 of the MCU. If you can’t stand to wait to see Natasha Romanoff again on the big screen, she will appear in the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War with a great new haircut.
“AS THE AVENGERS AND THEIR ALLIES HAVE CONTINUED TO PROTECT THE WORLD FROM THREATS TOO LARGE FOR ANY ONE HERO TO HANDLE, A NEW DANGER HAS EMERGED FROM THE COSMIC SHADOWS: THANOS. A DESPOT OF INTERGALACTIC INFAMY, HIS GOAL IS TO COLLECT ALL SIX INFINITY STONES, ARTIFACTS OF UNIMAGINABLE POWER, AND USE THEM TO INFLICT HIS TWISTED WILL ON ALL OF REALITY. EVERYTHING THE AVENGERS HAVE FOUGHT FOR HAS LED UP TO THIS MOMENT – THE FATE OF EARTH AND EXISTENCE ITSELF HAS NEVER BEEN MORE UNCERTAIN.”
The film stars Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Holland, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Sebastian Stan, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Pom Klementieff, and Josh Brolin as Thanos.
Hard Sun is the latest prime-time series to be shown on the BBC on Saturday nights – a crime thriller with a sci-fi twist.
The first episode of the series is set in near future London where two police detectives – DCI Charlie Hicks (Jim Sturgess) and DI Elaine Renko (Agyness Deyn) are partnered up and assigned to investigate an apparent suicide. Of course, the case leads the pair down a giant rabbit hole with a secret that MI5 are desperate to protect. Hard Sun is a series with a lot of talent on screen and behind the camera. It was written by Neil Cross, the creator of Luther and directed by Brian Kirk, best known for directing three episodes of Game of Thrones and was considered to direct Thor: The Dark World. The cast is a mix of well known and emerging talent: Jim Sturgess is the big star, and the first episode featured Lorraine Burroughs, Aisling Bea and Luther alumni Nikki Amuka-Bird. This should give audiences a lot of hope.
Despite the caliber of the cast, there were issues. The main one was some of the actors seem too young for their roles. Sturgess is 38, and even with a beard, he looks young. It was hard to believe him as a hard-boiled senior detective especially when he is shouting at a street and smashing up car windows or when he is worried about his family. He can’t pull off badass, hard-ass or desperate. Deyn and Bea also looked too young for their roles. Deyn was playing senior detective which is technically possible but unlikely, and it was stated that she was a young teenager to justify why she has an adult son. At least Amuka-Bird was convincing as a shady MI5 officer.
The episode starts with some brutal violence with Renko getting beat up by a young man (Jojo Macari) which sets up her character dynamic for the series. It is an instant start to the series especially for prime time Saturday night viewing.
Hard Sun has been heavily promoted in the UK, and its twist was already announced – Earth is about to suffer an extinction level event. This affects the first episode because there could have been a great bait-and-switch from a police/spy conspiracy thriller to an apocalyptic level drama. It is basically like the first act of Deep Impact.
Even without prior knowledge of the show’s premise, there are clues throughout the first episode of something bigger than a government conspiracy. There are computer monitors showing solar flares from the sun and the cinematography shows a large red sun looming over London. These touches would have been more impactful if it weren’t for the marketing.
Hard Sun comes across as the BBC attempting to make an American style show. The biggest example was a large chase sequence when Hicks and Renko are following a young man who has a flash drive with information on it, and they end up being chased by the Security Service with a big car chase in London. It was a well-executed set piece with a decent amount of bloodshed. There are also small touches like the character Renko using the term ‘flash drive’ – in the UK people use the term USB stick.
The episode did have a terrific ending with David Bowie’s “5 Years” playing as the main characters are forced to make a decision that would impact their families and the whole world. It offers enough intrigue to make the show worthy of continued viewing.
The first episode of Hard Sun acts as the BBC’s attempt to make a blockbuster action show in the guise of a police procedural. The first episode can easily feed someone’s bloodlust and offers a decent idea of a sci-fi thriller hybrid.
Matthew Rosenberg, off the strength of Kingpin, Rocket Raccoon, and 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank came in during a rough time for both Marvel Comics and Inhumans characters. Marvel’s 2017 public relations can only be described as a dumpster fire. Not only did Secret Warriors make its debut as a tie-in to the highly controversial Secret Empire, but it also featured a cast composed almost entirely of Inhumans. Rosenberg was joined by artist Javi Garrón and colorist Israel Silva for ten of the twelve issues.
Marvel had spent the last couple of years trying to shove Inhumans down the throats of fans in an effort to replace the X-Men; the fans weren’t having any of it. Secret Warriors was a comic that was doomed from the start, having these two major hurdles to jump over right out of the gate.
Instead of crashing and burning, like many five-issue Marvel runs from the last five years, it pushed through into Marvel Legacy before getting cancelled at issue twelve. Despite acclaim from critics and fans alike, the book simply didn’t have the sales numbers and fell in with a number of other Marvel titles recently getting cut.
Secret Warriors was a comic about a team of heroes who initially came together to resist Hydra and ended up becoming a quirky and dysfunctional family. It’s partially a coming-of-age tale, with a heavy dose of spy action, and a ton of heart. It was a colorful, action-packed, and often hilarious book that helped mend the relationship between Inhuman characters (especially after IvX) and Marvel fans.
This series deserves a lot of credit for consistently being an enjoyable read through twelve issues. A lot of what comic book readers wanted from Marvel comics, that they weren’t getting elsewhere, could be found here. Secret Warriors was one of the bright spots during a dark period for many Marvel readers. Timing, marketing, Marvel’s garbage PR, and fan distrust ultimately cut this book’s potential down significantly.
Fans of Matthew Rosenberg can continue reading him in 2018 on The Punisher, Phoenix Resurrection, Tales Of Suspense, and The Archies.
To continue following these characters there’s always Ms. Marvel, Champions, and Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur to keep up with Kamala and Lunella. Karnak, Quake, and Inferno don’t have a locked roster spot on any title at the moment. The same goes for Magik but she regularly appears in the various current X-Men titles, most recently in X-Men: Gold and the upcoming New Mutants.
There’s also that animated movie, Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors, that’s coming out this year. It’s not exactly like the comic book, but it does feature Quake, Ms. Marvel, and Inferno.
Some of our favorite moments from this series include:
Superhero forums
Lunella and Karnak BFFs
Pissing off the X-Men in New Tian during Secret Empire
The Secret War board game used to settle team member differences
Quake versus her asshole Hydra dad
Karnak working for Ahura
Another solid series, gone too soon. Another victim of poor sales numbers. I predict this book will continue to build upon its cult status in trade form. There’s always a chance that we could see this cast together again for an ongoing series, but we’re not going to hold our breath.
To say that the last arc for Suicide Squad was disappointing would be putting it lightly. While it had a strong opening, it devolved into a boring tale that would sooner cut plot lines than answer them. It had its moments, but the arc is best left in the past. Before we get to Rob Williams’ next big arc, we have a smaller arc written by Simon Spurrier. Will it be good or are we in line for more disappointment?
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
The opening of the two-part story follows Juan Soria. Never heard of him? That’s because he is one of the unknown members of the Suicide Squad. One of the members who have a higher chance of dying on the mission. We follow his origin of how he came to America, got his power, and was ultimately sent to Belle Reve. His first mission with the squad involves quelling an alien attack that popped up at an amusement park. Kind of hard to fight aliens when your power is to unlock any door!
The story itself is both sad and a bit humorous. You watch Juan’s life go by and you really end up feeling bad for him. He wanted to grow up and be a superhero, but the day he got powers, it was one of the lamest powers ever. This leads to why it’s funny as well: Juan’s ineptitude. He has no form of combat training and basically stumbles throughout his misadventure. I found myself chuckling out loud at some of his sillier moments.
It’s also humorous to see Spurrier take a jab at the ‘dangerous side’ of the Suicide Squad. Despite the name, it’s obvious none of the main characters will die. The two that have died (Boomerang and Flag) return an arc or two later. This is how it’s always been since the first issue of John Ostrander’s original run in 1987. Only the c-list characters with lame powers are on the chopping block when it’s time to die. Due to this, it’s interesting to see the point of view of one of these c-listers on their mission.
Art:
When it comes to the art of this issue, there are many great facets of it. The pencil work of Fernando Pasarin provides interesting character designs that range from silly to terrifying. One moment you’re laughing at Juan’s reaction to being thrown in with aliens then scared stiff by Croc eating one in gory detail. Despite this, the color work of Blond comes off average at best. There isn’t anything wrong with it, but compared to the pencils, this could have gone above and beyond.
Conclusion:
I like this issue. I enjoy the character of Juan and the humor he provides. The art is fantastic to look at and imaginative as well. Overall this was a great issue to read after the last arc. It is a fun opening to lighten up the series once again.
AMC made the obvious announcement today; The Walking Dead would return for a ninth season. The surprise is the series will get its first female showrunner as Scott M. Gimple moves to a new position and Angela Kang takes over, according to reports by Deadline.
“I am beyond thrilled to be stepping into this new role with The Walking Dead. Working on this series and having the opportunity to adapt Robert Kirkman’s amazing comic has been a fangirl dream come true for me. I’m excited to continue working with Scott and the wonderfully supportive folks at AMC, and can’t wait to share the next chapter of the story with our fans next fall,” said Kang.
Kang has worked on the show for the past seven years on the writing team and Co-Executive Producer. Will Kang cover the Whisper War?
Let’s get ready to Rumble! The 31st Royal Rumble is right around the corner, and the excitement is building! In celebration, Boom! Studios released WWE Royal Rumble 2018 Special #1, which is the next edition in the “Big Four” pay per views anthology.
This treasury includes four stories of Rumbles of the past with twists and adventure to add to what you already know from WWE lore. Each is individually written and illustrated, which adds a nice variety to the compilation.
“To Be Number One” centers around the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, who is currently hot off of his recent “30 For 30” episode on ESPN and the release of his autobiography, co-written with daughter Charlotte. While Flair is known for his extreme vanity and swagger, Lan Pitts’ storytelling and Rodrigo Lorenzo’s artwork didn’t capture this. The story centers on Flair’s 1992 Rumble match win, but I just didn’t feel the excitement in the story. It could have used a little more expression in Flair’s eyes and a head shake as he yelled his signature “Woo!” The backstage happenings seemed a little immaterial. After the win of a lifetime, his minions Bobby Heenan and Mr. Perfect keep telling him to be ready for next-level competition, but I would have liked to see a little more classic Ric Flair over-the-top celebration.
There’s nothing sour in the next story, “Mr. Royal Rumble,” which features the silliness of the most colorful faction in WWE now. The New Day act like a bit juvenile, and the bright colors and cartoon-like art of Dominike “Domo” Stanton and Jeremy Lawson communicate this perfectly. Kevin Panetta’s recount of the past several Rumble events is fun, as he has the New Day boys reminisce about Kofi Kingston’s theatrical and fortuitous ways that’s he’s avoided elimination in the battle royal matches. Panetta makes me excited to see just what shenanigans Kofi will get into to stay a little longer in this year’s match.
Next, we take a step back in time to Royal Rumble 1991 to go on the run with Macho Man in “Randy Savage: Not Show King.” The story from Ryan Ferrier was a complete whirlwind, but that’s not surprising when capturing the intensity of Macho Man and the Ultimate Warrior. I actually caught myself reading this quickly, almost like I was being chased by the Ultimate Warrior, too. The illustrations, muted color pallet, and simple panel layout by Kendall Goode have a retro feel which is fitting for the story being told.
I was stoked to hear that AJ Styles would lend a hand in writing his feature, as he has often stated that he’s a huge comic book fan. Writing about himself came easy, and Styles was excited to work with Michael Kingston to bring the story to life. “For those who haven’t had a chance to look at his work, the Headlocked comic series he does is great. It’s just tremendous stuff, the way he puts everything together. The pictures and stories are just amazing. If you’re going to get advice and work alongside someone on something like this, there’s no one better,” Styles tells IGN. Daniel Bayliss illustrations capture the enthusiasm of Styles’ surprise arrival but also convey his persistence with not being looked upon as a rookie in a business he’s been in for almost 20 years.
Overall, I thought this book was solid and fun, and it definitely adds to the excitement of the upcoming event. It also makes me look forward to future issues of this series that will feature WWE Superstars writing talents, as Samoa Joe has a hand in his story in WWE #13. The issue will feature stories in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Monday Night RAW, the longest running weekly episodic show in television history.
Get your hands on a copy of this issue today by visiting your local comic shop! Find one near you at comicshoplocator.com. And don’t forget to tune into the Royal Rumble on Sunday, January 28 at 7 PM EST, live on the WWE Network.
DC Comics has a live feed to DC in D.C., check out the feed below.
About DC in D.C. DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television Group bring you DC in D.C. LIVE from Washington, D.C.
This landmark pop culture event features panel discussions and appearances by the stars and producers from Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Gotham, Supergirl and Freedom Fighters: The Ray, comic book authors and artists and more!
Full Panel Schedule below:
10:00–10:45 a.m. ET – The Art of the Matter: From Sketch to Screen
11:00–11:45 a.m. ET – The Many Shades of Heroism: DC Heroes Through the African-American Lens
12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m. ET – Wonder Women
2:00–2:45 p.m. ET – The Pride of DC: The Art of LGBTQ Inclusion
3:00–3:45 p.m. ET – The Aftermath: Battle & Trauma in Comics
As we find ourselves in a new era of Marvel Comics, I’ll be providing a weekly report on all Legacy titles. Your one-stop guide to what’s going on in the 616 universe from MFR’s resident Marvel fanatic. Below, we’ll dive into each book from this week and then a Marvel Legacy report card. Let’s dig in!
Also, check out our coverage from the previous weeks!
Living Lightning is front and center for this gigantic weekly series. He reenters relevancy as he gets the call to assemble along with the rest of the Avengers. This is an opportunity to take a character in a different direction without altering a major player and angering the online comic community (like that’ll stop them).
It’s hard not to compare a big, weekly comic series in any way to the triumph that was 52. To that end, Avengers #675 does a fantastic job giving us just enough to come back next week without showing any cards or being over-the-top.
Mark Waid, Al Ewing, and Jim Zub are a mighty fine writing trio. It’s going to be fun trying to guess who came up with what as we get deeper into this story.
It’s a great, big joy to have all the Avengers under one umbrella. Especially for the heroes of Occupy Avengers, the underrated, cancelled-too-soon comic by David Walker, which was cancelled before Legacy.
Hercules is a character that never landed with me until recently. His stock in likability continues to rise with this issue, including a nice comedy beat about Atlas.
Young Wasp’s conflict with Jarvis’ condition feels underdeveloped and mostly puzzling. A person so dedicated to science so strongly opposed to the age-old “one life versus billions” numbers? Highly unlikely.
Pepe Larraz and David Curiel do a fantastic job “meeting in the middle” for all of these books that were dissolved into one. There are shades of each series making up this new experience. That panel of Carol staring off into the vacancy of space where Earth used to be is stellar.
We still know nothing about this Voyager, founding Avenger business, but it’s certainly enough to pique a reader’s interest. Perhaps the missteps taken, in some people’s eyes, about The Sentry’s history provided a lesson learned by the trio of writers when plotting out Voyager’s introduction.
Personally, I’m a fan of The Sentry, but I understand those who are not. Either way, Voyager presents an opportunity to at least improve upon the idea behind altering 616 continuity.
This is a big, bold project for Marvel and these creators. Avengers starts its now weekly story in a classic comic book structure and pace. This issue is much more than merely copying and pasting a handful of comics into one.
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X-Men: Blue #19 “Cross Time Capers” Part Three
Cullen Bunn wasn’t just stringing us along through a time-jumping history lesson. We get hit with the real twist in this issue, and it’s a clever one. Everything the time displaced teens assumed about the past was wrong, it’s all a ruse by The Brotherhood.
We get these great interactions between the Blue team and an old school Magneto, which Bunn doesn’t waste the opportunity to have fun with. It’s great that both Gold and Blue read more like classic X-Men comics without feeling similar to each other.
No matter how many times we’ve seen them in X-Books recently, the gigantic splash pages showcasing X-Men history highlights is still effective. Just like the rest of the issue, what could be overcrowded and messy is instead a beautifully balanced display of color and pencils.
R.B. Silva and Adriano Di Benedetto have a strong handle on all these different eras, ages, and attitudes we’re exploring with this story. Rain Beredo is making a major case for more steady coloring work. Altogether this arc has been beautiful, this team is dynamite.
Part three of this story was going to be the make-or-break issue, tilting the scale heavily onto the positive side. Cullen Bunn is doing his finest X-Men work with an art team hellbent on keeping the explosive and bright spirit of X-Men drama alive and well.
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The Punisher #220 “Punisher: War Machine” Part Three
Frank’s time in the armor continues to be a bloody, fun, face-exploding extravaganza. We don’t need an intricate or complicated story, just Punisher in the War Machine armor. Frank saving innocent people and shooting holes through the bad guys.
Matt Rosenberg’s dialogue between Castle and the suit’s computer is hysterical. His old man, military mentality clashing with statistics and probability for every one of his actions doesn’t cease to entertain.
Guiu Vilanova and Lee Loughridge deliver on every bit of violence. Every explosion of flesh and drop of blood is brutal. The look of the armor is still odd and unpolished and looking like Bernthal is annoying. Otherwise this is a solid artistic effort.
Matthew Rosenberg keeps this wacky time in Punisher comics straight forward and tasteful. This could’ve easily been a disaster, but instead it’s exactly what it needed to be.
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Spider-Man/Deadpool #26 “Oldies” Part One
This new arc takes us in a completely different and unexpectedly touching direction. Peter and Wade are living out their last few years in the same retirement community.
Robbie Thompson successfully catches readers off-guard with this charming and delightful issue. Spidey and Deadpool’s BFF status as old men is adorable. Pete taking pictures from his wheelchair while Wade seduces every wrinkly lady he can, it’s perfect.
Scott Hepburn does a fantastic job aging these two heroes. Deadpool looks legitimately disgusting in a perfect way. Even his posture and mannerisms are perfect exaggerations.
Ian Herring gives these panels a proper tint when necessary and does a lot with background color. Pete’s subtle outfit colors were a nice touch. Herring and Hepburn knock this out of the park.
Wheelchair wall-crawling, Deadpool deception, old treasures from past adventures, this issue is fully loaded. This is my way-too-early front-runner for favorite single issue of 2018.
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She-Hulk #161 “Jen Walters Must Die” Part Three
Writer Mariko Tamaki wraps up this story about The Leader and a She-Hulk super fan. Knowing this series is cancelled puts a different lens over the reader’s eye. Tamaki had to close this story out and get to her final arc, she does so gracefully.
This doesn’t have the grand finale one would like with the return of a classic villain. Jen overcomes her adversary without destroying her admirer. The emotional triumph we experienced with her earlier in this run isn’t there, it feels rather thin.
The color contrast effectively serves the greens used in these panels, making The Leader and Hulks stand out. However, it doesn’t make for terribly exciting art as a whole.
Some pages are just plain dull and seem to barely be inked. The watercolor pages appear to be where the most attention was paid, they are beautiful pages.
This issue is most likely the victim of bad news. Having to wrap-up an arc and quickly transition to your series finale all of a sudden doesn’t usually make for a compelling comic book.
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Secret Warriors #12 “Versus Mister Sinister” Part Five
Secret Wars: The Game doesn’t look as fun as you would initially expect. Regardless, Lunella uses it to try and mend fences among her damaged teammates. A clever way to settle differences and give readers some closure as this series comes to an end.
Matthew Rosenberg has a ton of quick comedy bits here that land every time. They’re littered throughout the whole issue and never derail the story, it’s a skillful display. He handles all the business, addressing everyone’s issues, but never drenches us in sappy apologies.
Ramón Bachs sends us out on a light issue. Despite taking place entirely inside an apartment, it never gets dull or boring. Bachs keeps our eyes busy and allows Rosenberg to do his thing. In a perfect world, I would’ve appreciated some sort of detail to the board game.
This is a really solid finale for a series that has a passionate cult following. Matt Rosenberg keeps us entertained and laughing while providing some closure that we need.
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Phoenix Resurrection #3 “The Return Of Jean Grey” Part Three
If this weren’t weekly, pacing would be a real problem. We’re moving so slow, only getting little bits every issue of what’s going on, that any longer of a wait between issues would make this feel much less urgent.
This is still big and haunting, absolutely loaded with foggy mystery. However, it’s dangerously close to losing our interest. In this issue it became apparent that we’ve basically read the same thing three times now. Matthew Rosenberg may have stretched this out a little much.
The horror sequences and hallucinations by Jean are effective and intriguing, it’s elsewhere that the pace may soon start feeling like a drag. Three straight issues we’ve seen the X-Men gather together and walk different places like an episode of LOST.
Thankfully Emma Frost shows up and injects some life into the repetitiveness. Even still, the end of this issue isn’t as fulfilling as it is frustrating.
Joe Bennett, Lorenzo Ruggiero, and Rachelle Rosenberg keep the needle moving unaffected by Rosenberg’s crawling narrative. Jean finds herself trapped in a Truman Show nightmare that really makes he reader feel a bit claustrophobic thanks to the pencils, ink, and color.
A major push forward needs to happen in the next issue or this runs the risk of losing impatient readers.
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Old Man Logan #33 “Scarlet Samurai” Part Three
This story goes from being a really well done Old Man Logan Kung-Fu action comic to essential Wolverine-in-Japan adventure. Ed Brisson plays with continuity a bit and teams Logan up with Silver Samurai.
Brisson also plays around with Logan’s healing factor as an old man. This is an element that’s rarely explored, but always welcome. The process of his hand being severed, growing back, not having adamantium coating on the claw, and the time it all takes is fascinating.
I love the action lines we get throughout the issue, like when Logan is escaping, effectively creating the illusion of motion and speed. The layouts and atmosphere in this book are what make it one of the best looking comics at Marvel.
Deodato delivers a brutal and gruesome comic once again. Logan’s slowly regenerating hand is a highlight, even if it showcases how Deodato always draws gigantic hands on characters.
Cory Petit also does fantastic work with lettering, adding a exclamation point you can’t ignore as Logan rips through Hand ninjas.
Ed Brisson, Mike Deodato Jr., and Frank Martin are making Old Man Logan matter so much more than just a side note in the Wolverine continuity. Stunning layouts, a thoughtful script, and brutal violence solidify this series among the best at Marvel.
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The Unbelievable Gwenpool #24 “Lost In The Plot” Part One
Gwenpoole’s taken a turn towards villainy with time in the 616 limited. Her and Batroc are on a mission to rob Chance’s Sky Casino.
Gwen and Batroc make a hilarious pair. There’s no shying away from how ridiculous he is as a character. Chris Hastings utilizes the fourth-wall breaking in new ways yet again, this time getting Batroc involved.
Hastings is using this series in an interesting way to work through the thought process of a writer whose book has been cancelled. As we approach the final issue, fans will be right there with Hastings as we work through the cancellation together.
Gurihiru provides another fun exploration of the limitations of comic book composition and the laws of their characters. Without their efforts, the bold usage of Gwen’s “past the panels” ability wouldn’t be such an easy pill to swallow. Batroc The Leaper’s redesign is splendid as well.
Another series we shouldn’t have to say goodbye to already. Hastings and Gurihiru are working through the cancellation like the rest of us and it’s translating into a truly unique comic book experience.
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Despicable Deadpool #292 “Bucket List” Part One
Deadpool won’t let that whole Secret Empire thing go and turns his attention towards the incarcerated Stevil Rogers. This story could potentially be the best remnant of Secret Empire, it’s nice to see somebody had a plan to address the controversial event.
Gerry Duggan is absolutely on fire right now. His efforts to put the Despicable back in Deadpool has been a triumphant return to form. This issue is an enthusiastically scatterbrained affair that has a laugh on almost every page.
Wade’s visit to Stevil’s cell is a much appreciated check-in that’ll no doubt lead to a ridiculous new rivalry. Duggan has the power to reshape what people think of Hydra Cap.
Matteo Lolli keeps the insanity and violence cranked up. There’s a large array of different textures on display. The reader can feel the difference with their eyes in Deadpool’s leather costume, the snake’s scales, Stevil’s slick hair, Wade’s Stryfe cosplay armor, etc. Ruth Redmond uses a lot of strong yellows and oranges that complement all of Deadpool’s red well.
This is the perfect comic for anybody who was feeling Deadpool fatigue but still have a soft spot in their heart for the mouthy merc’.
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Daredevil #597 “Mayor Fisk” Part Three
“He brought the devil into his house, and the devil is listening.” Wilson Fisk is NYC mayor and Matt Murdock is officially his Deputy Mayor. The game begins as both Matt and Wilson waste no time plotting against each other.
It’s a joy to see Matt and Wilson begin to start poking each other in close quarters. Steve having to read all the city briefing books to Matt is a brilliant distraction.
Horn Head has his hands full between Fisk, being public enemy #1, Muse on the loose, and The Punisher lurking in the shadows. Charles Soule has been flexing his ex-lawyer muscle a lot more recently and it’s made this spectacular series even stronger.
Stefano Landini’s art doesn’t really come to life until DD hits the rooftops, Matt Mills’s beautiful color makes it feel more like home. Not to say that Landini’s got nothing to offer, it’s just not Ron Garney. He even channels Lord Garney’s minimalistic and heavy shadow style a bit. It’s a pretty great looking book overall.
Charles Soule’s run on Daredevil is a staple of Marvel’s lineup over the last two years. It’s consistently one of the best comics and keeps finding ways to evolve and get even better. The more Soule flexes his lawyer muscles, the better.
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Cable #153 “The Newer Mutants” Part Four
Now that the team is fully formed and neck deep in shit, it’s much easier to ignore the art blemishes and just dig in. It’s funny that the more ridiculous and confusing time-jumping that happens, the more this feels like home.
Ed Brisson’s giving us some mighty fine mutant soap opera adventures. Not everybody gets a ton of screen time, but they all sure get a ton of action. Jon Malin has a knack for action sequences. Doop is unquestionably the MVP of Cable’s “Newer Mutants.”
The lettering by Travis Lanhamis a fully loaded assault, especially the page where each member of the team is introduced and has their own corresponding sound effect.
At certain points Bastion makes this sound like a kid playing with his action figures, but at the same time has its own over-the-top 90s charm. This time-jumping mutant soap opera is a blast.
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Ms. Marvel #26 “Teenage Wasteland” Part Two
Ms. Marvel is still nowhere to be found, Kamala’s friends have stepped in to bear the bolt and solve mysteries. They uncover a sinister plot involving The Inventor and an old folks home.
G. Willow Wilson is successfully telling a Ms. Marvel-less Ms. Marvel story, further strengthening her supporting cast. It’s a bold move for a cult book to make to start their Legacy era, but it’s paid off so far.
The framing of these panels is masterful, knowing when to zoom in on a face is crucial. Even if you’re annoyed that Kamala is nowhere to be found, the art by Nico Leon and Ian Herring is enough to keep reading. Those dark basement pages, that are mostly silhouettes on a gray background, are stupendous.
A strong youthful spirit and stylish art keep Ms. Marvel readers satisfied without its leading lady.
