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.