Fools Like Us

Amazing Spider-man #225 by Roger Stern and John Romita Jr.

Another good issue by this creative team. Although not quite as good as the previous issue featuring the vulture this story still was very enjoyable.

If I was trying to pick any faults, it would only be that yet again, somebody in Pete's life turns out to have super powers. But that's dramatic license I suppose.

I also had a little trouble believing the Foolkiller's motivations - but he was mad.

Still an excellent Spidey tale and a great cover! Rating 8/10


Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-man #63 by Bill Mantlo and Greg Larocque

Speaking of people in Pete's life with super powers, this issue had a number of examples! First there's Harry Osbourn, who's Dad was the original Green Goblin and had previously taken the role himself. Next there's Liz Allen, her step brother is Mark Raxton, the Molten Man.

Now I've always been partial to a Molten Man story as he featured in some of the first Spidey stories that I ever read. But this one wasn't a classic.In fact it was a bit of a re-hash of the last few MM stories which featured in Amazing (#173 was the latest).

I wasn't really satisfied with the way MM was defeated but it was nice to see Harry and Liz get a happy ending for once (even if their house burned down).

Rating 6./10

Top 100 Marvel and DC Characters

Well the results of the poll are now done and I'd thought I'd post to say how my votes did.

I voted back in the beginning of Sept.

These were my Marvel picks with the final picks in brackets

1. Spider-man (1)
2. The Thing (5)
3. She-Hulk (25)
4. Captain Britain (-)
5. Daredevil (3)
6. Dr Doom (4)
7. Mysterio (-)
8. Green Goblin (-)
9. Captain America (2)
10. The Vision (original) (42)

I'm quite pleased with that. I'm not surprised that Capt Britain or Mysterio didn't make the top 50 - but I was the the Goblin didn't. Many people said that one of the reasons that they love Spidey so much is that his villains are great. Well Gobby was/is the best. So go figure....

The full list can be found here.

My DC list was wacky and I didn't expect many to make the top 10. They didn't!

Guy Gardner (25)
L-Ron
G'nort
Batman (1)
Blue Beetle (15)
Jesse Custer (32)
The Joker (5)
John Constantine (19)
Superman (2)
Lex Luthor (19)

Let Fly These Aged Wings - Classic 1982 Spidey

Things start looking up for the main Spider-man title from this issue. After too many fillers, the creative team starts to settle in. In this case John Romita Jr pencils Amazing Spider-man#223 from an O'Neil plot and DeMatteis script.

Although it's another single issue story, the art carries it somewhat. However, compared to recent efforts the story featuring the Red Ghost ain't too bad. The RG gets away in the end, so you just know that he'll be back soon.

Rating 6.5/10

Similarly, the creative team for Peter Parker #61 of Mantlo/Hannigan/Mooney is on the beginning of a fairly successful run. Although this issue is from a Stern plot, Mantlo pens a good script. Sterns stories concerning Moonstone (his creation I think) are always good. Hannigan and Mooney' art is fine for this story.

It appears from this issue that Pete and and fellow teaching assistant Marcy Kane might start a relationship. I know that they don't but I can't remember why.

Rating 7/10


Amazing Spider-man 224 by Stern and Romita Jr.

Woh Boy! This is a stonking issue! Finally the character of Adrian Toomes aka The Vulture is explored and in such a brilliant way. I love the fact that he's sharing a nursing home with Aunt May and Nathan Lubensky. I love the irony that it's Nathan who persuades Toomes that he's not too old to still do what he wants to do. So Toomes promptly becomes the vulture again.

Best scene is when Pete meets Toomes and recognises him so Toomes tries to knock him out. I also love Toomes' hat in that scene. Smart!

Great job by everyone. Rating 9/10



Issue 62 of Peter Parker by Mantlo/Hannigan/Mooney was a bit silly mainly due to the fact that the villain, Gold Bug is very silly and never really poses a threat that you can take seriously.

Average really 6/10

A Bonus Trip to FP

As I was in town on a day off from work, I couldn't miss dropping into Forbidden Planet.

There was much in as it was only a week or two since I'd last been and, being Wednesday, this weeks new comics hadn't arrived. This is what I got.

World War Hulk 4
Captain America (2005) 30
Wolverine:Origins 17
Highwaymen 4

Music Update

I've been "spending time" with my music collection over the last few days.

Thanks to martin and Teresa, my friends with the clever record turntable, I am able to covert my old vinyl albums into CDs. They have kindly lent me the kit until December so I've got a few months to do as much recording as I can.

At first, I am concentrating on those albums which I can seem to find on Amazon etc. cause they have been deleted.

As I'm writing this I'm recording Tyketto's "Don't Come Easy". It's an album I've not heard for years. Great stuff.

On the music front, I've already received in the post today Joe Lynn Turner's debut solo album from 1985 "Rescue You".

B5 Season 5

I've now finished all of season 5 of Babylon 5 and it was way better than I remembered.

When it was first broadcast, I remember being diasppointed that the season didn't really match the previous ones with the defeat of the Shadows.

Well, it still doesn't but it's still good. It follows two (maybe three) storylines. The future of the telepaths (and Bester makes a fairly regular appearance in the first 12 episodes) and the fate of Londo and the Centauri.

The later story was more interesting as it featured Londo and G'kar who always made great scenes together. Basically, this sets up the events in "In the Beginning". So I suppose that JMS could be criticised for not finishing the story within the season and for having such a crap title for what is actually the last story featuring many of the characters.

As I've said before, I really didn't like Byron, the leader of the rebel telepaths. There was just something about his moral high ground, silly hair style, chatting-up Lyta, pathetic wimpiness that really annoyed me every time he was on screen. I'm pleased Bester eventually got to take him out.

It was a shame that the telepath wasn't resolved within the confines of season 5. I'll have to read the books to find out what happens there.

All the above seems like I'm moaning. I'm not. This was great entertainment with brilliant characters (even Elizabeth Lockley introduced at the beginning of the season integrates well, although I did miss Ivanova).

Best episodes. No.s 17 "Movements of Light and Shadow" and No.18 "The Fall of Centauri Prime".

Hey -that's me!

Wow.

I get a mention in todays Augie De Blieck Jr's CBR column "Pipeline" about which comic creators make up my comic collection.

Thanks for mentioning me Augie!

I'm now gutted that I didn't go into any detail.

Beetlemania

More classic Spidey comics from 1981. After some poor issues of Amazing it was nice to read a solid, if not spectacular, story is Peter Parker issues 59 and 60.

Both were written by Roger Stern and were his last issues on this title before he moved on to the main book. Jim Mooney handled the artwith Ed Hannigan providing the layouts for issue 60.

Again, Stern spends a great deal of time on establishing the set-up for the story. Especially the motives of the villain. In this case, it's the tried and trusted "I'm going to make my reputation by beating the tar out of Spidey" motive - but at least it's valid for a villain such as the Beetle. What was particularly nice about the Beetle in this stroy was his approach to the fight. He tried his best to make sure all the odds were stacked in his favour (by for example using the Ringer in #58 to battle SM and thus learn Spidey's moves). All that prep and he still lost!

Stern adds a further random element into the story by re-introducing The Gibbon from issue #112 of Amazing. Again the Gibbon wants to get involved to prove his worth by beating Spidey.


One thing that struck me when reading these two issues is that there is far more panels and text in these stories than current comics. That is not to say that that is better or worse, it's just a different style.

I enjoyed both issues, although I guess I would have enjoyed them more if Mooney hadn't been handling most of the art.

Issue #60, although double-sized, didn't have a double-sized main feature. Instead there was a faithful re-telling of Spidey's origin. Back in the early 1980's reprints such as the Essential Series or even Masterworks were not available, and so every few years or so, Spidey's origin was re-told for new readers. This happened quite often in other comics as well.

Rating 7/10

Dan Slott's She Hulk

I couldn't wait any longer and had to read the final three issues of Dan Slott's great run on She-Hulk. I wasn't disappointed. Each issue was packed with witty dialogue, in-jokes for old-time Marvel fans like myself, mad concepts, tight continuity and just plain fun. I will really miss these each month.

In issue #19 Jen's arch rival at his law firm, Mallory Brook, defends the Leader reasoning that the Gamma radiation he's been exposed to has affected his mind and he shouldn't be accountable for his actions. She uses She-Hulk as an example saying that Jen acts in a totally different way when she's in Shulkie mode than when she's not. Sound logical to me.

In issue #20 the plot that the head of the law firm has been replaced by a robot, Artie Zix, is resolved. Not quite as much fun as the previous issue but I did like the way lots of dangling plot threads were sown-up over the course of the 22 pages. Neat and Tidy.

The big climax occurs in issue # 21, where not only does Jen get her powers back but all Marvel's continuity and characterisation errors are explained in one swoop. Very clever, but if tried in any other comic this would have been a disaster. Here I liked it.

I particularly loved the reference to some a the old FF issues from way back (118,160-163) and the way it was used as part of the overall solution. That was one of the first FF stories that I read so it was nice to see it used again.

Overall, excellent comics. Rating 9/10 but 10/10 for the whole run.

If only all comics could be that good.

Last couple of new September comics

Wolverine #57 by Marc Guggenheim and Howard Chaykin is the first part of "The death of Wolverine". Hmmm. Another major Marvel Character snuffs it. I think not.

Anyway, after a prologue with Wolverine involved in the First World War, the action moves to Iraq. But Wolvie's covert operation goes wrong when he discovers a trap set for Tony Stark, rushes to the rescue, only to realise that the trap was for him instead. Wolvie and his new girlfriend,an Atlantean called Amir, met a real bad ass who not only kills Amir but pops a bomb into Wolvie's mouth which explodes inside him!

Hmmm. There's a lot going on there. Some I liked and some I didn't. I didn't like the fact that Logan's new girlfriend is introduced and then killed in about 5 pages. I didn't like the fact that we've never seen the group responsible for all this before (Scimitar).

However, the dialogue was quite good and Chaykin's art a real treat.

Rating 6./10



Avengers: The Initiative #5 by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli was a improvement on previous issues. Firstly because it featured Henry Peter Gyrich doing what he does best - bossing Heroes around. But it was also good because it was an unexpected change of direction.

I suppose, Slott has loads of characters to use, but has so far concentrated on some new recruits.

This issue featured, for the most part, more established characters, or at least characters who had more of an idea of what they're doing. I liked the use of the Constrictor and Bengal seems like an interesting character. I've not met him before.

This newly formed covert team are assigned to save the new recruits from the events of World War Hulk and get caught up in it all. A more enjoyable WWH book than the Hulk books for me.

Rating 7/10

New September Comics

I couldn't resist reading my new comics that I bought last Friday. I thought - if I read them quickly, then I can carry on with my Spidey back issues.

Well, I have been reading quickly, with only a couple left to read as I type this on Monday night.

New Avengers #34 was better than recent issues. I liked the cover concept, and was intrigued to see a female Daredevil, Powerman in his old costume and Peter Parker leaping forward -not Spidey. I missed the fact that Cap was on it at first glance. Doh!

Anyway, the story by the regular team of Bendis and Lu was quite good. The paranoia that the team is demonstrating was reigned in slightly, characters started acting more rationally, and I liked Doc Strange's method of calming everyone down.

Much better, and I'm starting to look forward to the Skrull Invasion. (Still don't rate Yu's art much though)

Rating 7/10

Issue 543 of Amazing (Straczynski & Garney) completed the black in black storyline, with Pete committing criminal acts to save his Aunt May's identity being exposed. A solid story but a bit low key really.

In issue #544 (Straczynski & Quesada) the much hyped "One More Day" story starts. This appears to be the story where Pete/Spidey has one more day to save Aunt May before she dies from the gunshot wound. In this part he gets Tony Stark through Jarvis to sort out her medical care while he goes off as Spidey to find a way to save her.

As a first part it was alright, but I'm getting a little bored with the whole Aunt May/ MJ in peril scenario. I really, really hope that all this will mean something in the end.

What a really liked was the retro cover. Wow that's two covers I've liked so far this month. Makes a change.

Raring 7/10


Another solid issue of FF by McDuffie and Pelletier, but I didn't think it was quite as good as some of the reviews I'd read.

Nevertheless, this is still a fine issue in what is an enjoyable run by these creators.

Only grip, although the universe is falling apart, I would have preferred a better name than "The Horologium Supercluster" as the reason!

Rating 7.5/10

The Hulk is rapidly entering my "Danger list"! i.e. If it doesn't improve by the end of World War Hulk I'm dropping it until they get a new creative team. The best bit about this issue is the cover. The rest is very sloppy. Even Amadeus Cho is becoming boring

Rating 5/10

This was an unexpected surprise.

Wolverine #56 by Jason Aaron and Howard Chaykin was a nice read. Chaykin's art is great for Wolvie and this was an interesting story, with Wolvie cooped up in a pit and his energy constantly spent healing his body from gunshot wounds.

I didn't like the plot device of child abuse as a reason for an adult behaving as he does (too cliche) but the characterisation of Wolvie was spot on.

Rating 7/10

Trip to the flix

With a babysitter suddenly available, we were able to make an unexpected trip to the cinema.

We went to see "The Bourne Ultimatum". It was ace and I really enjoyed it. It could have been something to do with the fact that I didn't have any preconceptions or expectations. Anyway the film was great entertainment.

Forbidden Planet Goodies

New Comics purchased today

Wolverine (2003) 56
Wolverine (2003) 57
Amazing Spider-man 543
Amazing Spider-man 544
Astonishing X-Men 22
Fantastic Four 549
She-Hulk 21
Avengers: The Initiative 5
Hulk 110
New Avengers 34

Plus Star wars Miniatures Starter Set (latest Aug 2007 version)!

Amazing=Poor, Spectactular = Good

With watching B5 on dvd each night - I've only been reading one comic per night recently. So it's time to review those. It's still Spidey back issues from 1981.

Amazing Spider-man #220 by Michael Fieisher and Bob McCloud looks like it was originally intended as a team-up story. Most of the act concentrates on itroducing Moon Knight to the readers. Nothing of any consequence happens to any characters and the issue has "filler " all over it.

I really don't like the cover either. If Spidey's in an upright coffin - then why is his head tilted upwards. It just looks plain odd.

Rating 5/10



Spectacular Spider-man continues to completely outclass Amazing at this time. Issue #58 not only features a script by Stern but has a cover and art by John Byrne.

It's a great issue and an indication of what might have been if JB had got involved in the Spidey books at this point in his career ( instead of when star was waining).

Rating 8/10


If issue 220 was a fill-in issue of Amazing the issue 221 was a disaster and one of the worst isues of the entire run so far.

It's a terrible story by Denny O'Neil. Not helped by average and boring artwork by Alan Kupperberg. Wiacek's cover is a good indication of the issues contents; terrible!

Some reasons why this issue was so poor.

The pointless appearance of Deb Whitman and Bif Rinkin.
The use Mister Pincus and his awful singing to save the day

RamRod a pathetic hammerhead rip-off villian.

Rating 2/10



Amazing Spider-man 222 by Bill Mantlo and Bob Hall was yet another filler issue on Amazing.

At least this one was moderatley decent as Mantlo tries to give us a complete story in one issue.

Some great results..

It doesn't happen very often, but the sports results have been going really well just lately.

England have just won back-to-back matches at Wembley. Both with good performances and both 3-0.

In fact last Saturday, I watched us polish of the Indians in the deciding on-day international on the way to a convincing win, went to Gresty Road to watch the Alex win 2-0 and then got back home to see the national football team win too.

It doesn't get much better than this sport wise.

Spidey comics from August 1981

As I've said before, it's been quite some time since I last read any Spidey back issues.

Time to remedy that.


Amazing Spider-man #219 by Denny O'Neil and Luke McDonnell was OK, the art wasn't up to much but the story was fairly original. It revolved around Pete's camera going missing after he's taken photos of a prison escape. He's then accused of aiding the escape and is thrown in jail himself (hence the Frank Miller cover).

An interesting point is that Matt Murdoch defends is Pete's lawyer - but doesn't recognise his i.e. Spider-man's heartbeat. Probably one of many such occasions!

Rating 6/10

Unsurprisingly, The Spectacular Spider-man # 57 written by Roger Stern was loads better.

Stern again spends time to give his villain a motive and in this particular story continues the mystery of the Brand Corporation.

It's a shame that we don't really get to see JJJ in action as depicted in FM's cover.Jim Shooter did the layouts for this issue and it was finished by Jim Mooney. The combination works well. Not flashy but they tell a good story.

Rating 7/10

Two great links from CBR

Good news courtesy of Comic Book Resources!


John Romita will soon return to Amazing Spider-man.


There was also recently a great interview with Joss Whedon and Brian K. Vaughan talking about Buffy. I'm excited about reading the first story arc when its collected later this year. In fact reading this has made me want to sit down and watch some episodes again.


Also picked up two more trades this week via an online bookstore


Nextwave Agents of H.A.T.E Vol 2. and Criminal volume 1 by Ed Brubaker. But I think its time for more Spidey back issues as its the beginning of May since I got one with those.

August Comic Reviews Part 2

Wolverine Origins #16 by Daniel Way and Steve Dillon was a double-sized issue. The first half was by Way and Dillon and featured more details on a story which was originally printed in Uncanny X-men #268 (cover dated Late-Sept 1990). The original issue was printed at the back and the Wolvie cover is clearly based on that Jim Lee cover.

Although I bought X-Men #268 I couldn't remember any of it so it was interesting to realise that even way back in 1990, the Black Widow had links with Wolverine and they dated back to the 1940s. I was really surprised that I couldn't remember that. But re-reading that issue again, I could see that the style of the comic far outweighed the substance which meant that it was easy to miss important details. I was also probably buying a great deal more comics at that time, and back issues so it would have been easier to miss bits.

I appreciated the reprint as Daniel Way is clearly trying to establish some clarity to Wolverine's past and is clearly doing his homework. Not bad at all.

Rating 7/10

I'd heard that the first few pages of Illuminati #4 were great and they were. Shame that the same can't be said of the rest of the series.

I'm really hoping that it all comes together with issue 5

Rating 7/10 ('cause of those early pages!)

It was great to see Spidey (or should that be Pete) beat the tar out of the Kingpin is Amazing #542. This was probably my favourite issue for some time even if it was one big fight scene.

Rating 7.5/10

I'm still not convinced about the direction and art in New Avengers.

In issue 33 the wizard appears (isn't he in FF at the moment?) but there was a nice use of The Owl. "The Hood" also makes an appearance which makes buying his limited series (by Brian K. Vaughan) even more of a priority.

This issue seemed to have as many bad bits as good. I wish it would make up its mind.

Rating 6/10

Lots of explosions, car chases and snappy dialogue describe this Wildstorm limited series by writers Marc Bernadin and Adam Freeman and art by Lee Garbett.

The storyline is as little cliched but still told in a fast moving and fun way.

Rating 7.5/10

August Comic Reviews -Part 1

Lots of comics to review tonight. About half the ones that have been patiently waiting in my "to read" pile for the last month whilst I've been reading Annihilation.

First up is Wolverine #55 by Jeph Loeb and Simone Bianchi. A great retro cover and a good conclusion to the story. I actually was disappointed that the story does not continue next issue.

I particularly liked the fact that it ties in briefly with what has been going on in Wolverine Origins.

I will continue with this title to see if the next creative team can retain my interest.

Rating 8/10

I'm more unsure about this issue of Mighty Avengers. Read in isolation it's probably alright but when I read it I was having trouble seeing where it fitted in with current Marvel continuity (with Stark dead an' all....).

Still nice art by Frank Cho, but I think Bendis is better on titles like Daredevil and Powers than big team books. Not bad, but not great.

Rating 6/10

Iwas also disappointed with the latest installments with World War Hulk. Issues 108 and 109 of Hulk were generally poor. Issue 108 was a total waste of time and any comic, such as issue 109, which has Hercules saying "cute" when he gets a pager tends to lose me.

World War Hulk 3 was better, largely due to Romita Jr's art bringing the story to life.

I am, though, seriously considering dropping the ol' greenskin after WWH until a better writer than Greg Pak takes over.

Rating 5/10

I was disappointed after reading Fantastic Four 548 by McDuffie and Pelletier for different reasons. i.e. I know that they are leaving the book at the end of the year and I'm really enjoying their run. Typical.

At least the replacement creative team could be good.

This comic, however, is recommended. rating 8.5/10

I was looking forward to Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man #23 because it promised a showdown between Pete and Johah. I don't know what I expected from Peter David but it certainly wasn't what I read.

I still can't decide if it was crap, clever or a cop-out.

I wanted Pete to let JJJ have it after all the times that he's saved him- not to allow JJJ to beat him up and take out his anger on him. Even if he would let JJJ have pictures to use ion the Front Page.

Rating 6.5/10

Comics Should Be Good! 'sTop 100 Marvel and DC characters

I thought this poll looked fun on Comic Book Resources so decided to vote.

This is how I voted:


DC (all post Crisis characters)

Guy Gardner
L-Ron
G'nort
Batman
Blue Beatle
Jesse Custer
The Joker
John Constantine
Superman
Lex Luthor


Marvel
(No Ultimate versions here please)

Spider-man
The Thing
She-Hulk
Captain Britain
Daredevil
Dr Doom
Mysterio
Green Goblin
Captain America
The Vision (original)

The DC list was easier to do than the Marvel one as I'm familiar with far more Marvel Characters. Most of my DC list comes from reading Justice League International back in the 1980s.

The Marvel list was more difficult but more fun at the same time. Again most of these have been favourites for years. She-Hulk is one of the more recent additions because of Dan Slott's run (and to some degree John Byrne's before that).

Daredevil and Cap America are also on the list because I've got so many great stories with these characters in. They just pushed out ol' Greenskin.

Mysterio is there for purely nostalgic reasons. He was the villain in the few few Spidey comics that I ever purchased and so has a special place for me.

The results of the poll will be out next week.

Captain America No.29

Behind another stonking cover (I'm really liking Steve Eptings classic style covers on this series), is yet another great comic by Ed Brubaker and Epting.

Still keeping to the chapter style which can mess with the pace of the storyline somewhat when reading the monthly installments but I don't mind as I know I'll be re-reading this very soon.

I've no idea where this story is going - which is a good thing.

I'm happy to be back reading my usual monthly comics - and I've a few to waiting to be read.

Rating 8/10.

Annihilation- The End

I finished the last two issues of the 6 part Annihilation limited series last night.

Echoing my thoughts of the 4 preludes - this has some good points,some bad bits and generally poor scripts throughout.

I didn't like that as the series started, the reader seemed to have missed out on a big chunk of story. How did some of these characters join forces to form an alliance against Annihilus?

I didn't like the fact that Drax killed Thanos so easily. Now I guess that Thanos will be back but he wouldn't have let himself get beaten like that.

I did like the general overall plot and Galactus cutting loose at the conclusion. Some good art throughout by Divito. (The series covers were cool too).

Overall, I pleased that I've read the series as I wanted to know what had been going on with Marvel's cosmic characters whilst the civil war was going on back on Earth. However, it's not a series I would want to read again in a hurry.

Annilation - The beginning

As I've said before - I've borrowed all the comics which feature the major Marvel Cosmic event of 2006 - Annihilation. Basically, Annihilus (a classic FF villain) has broken out of the negative zone and is rampaging across our universe. Marvel's cosmic characters including the Silver Surfer, Nova, The Kree, The Super-Skrull etc. are in the front line.

It's an exciting concept but unfortunately I don't think it's was delivered very well. The main creative force behind the story is Keith Giffen but I don't find his scripts very readable. In fact, they are hard work some of the time.

In the four mini-series' that precede the main comic, the best was Nova. This was for two reasons, one Nova is an old favourite of mine. Secondly, the new Drax is a good character. The script by Abnett and Lanning on the Nova was certainly the best.

The Silver Surfer (scripted by Giffen) was the worst and I couldn't really see why the Surfer has agreed to become Galactus' Herald once again. I also don't like what he's doing with Thanos. I can't put my finger on what I don't like just yet, but something is not gelling with me. It could be as simple as just not enjoying Giffen's scripting.

I hope the main event provides a big pay-off.