Big news! I have acquired one of the comics I refer to as The Trinity! The Trinity is a group of, as you can imagine, three comics that are massively important to me. Two of these are issues a comic series I am/will be trying to complete, one is a first appearance, not an issue of a series I necessarily like.
It cost me a bit more than I am used to paying for comics (HA! I just got an email telling me I am winner of Understatement of the Year!), but that's how much the copy I bought is absolutely worth. It is on its way to me, or will be soon and you can be DAAAMN sure that as soon as I have read it, turning the page with tweezers and all (I plan to touch it just once), I shall review it. Guess the comic and get a FREE comic sent to you from that very same series! Let's make it fun!
Another week, another batch of comicy juice. Not many at all this week, really. Well, I bought five, but one is Daredevil #504 and I'm not reviewing that on-going until #505, at which point I will cover the backstory with already existing Marvel synopsis. It saves time.
"Enough of all this talking, David. Talk of comics using some words arranged to form sentences!", I hear you cry. Talk of comics I shall.
Guardians of the Galaxy #22.
Kicking off from the last issue where the horrifically impregnated Moondragon was kidnapped by The Universal Church of Truth, we see her being placed on a massive throne high up in the air. As the leader of the Church proceeds to butter her up with a mass of praise and compliments, Moondragon reminds her that she is a psychic. Then, in quite a chilling piece of dialogue, says something along the lines of: "I know you plan to rip this thing out from inside me.".
Moondragon speaks of her growing inability to keep the organism calm, and that it's about to burst out, just as her cavalry arrives in the form of the Guardians. Star-Lord points his weapons at the group and says the very best line that Deadpool should have said:
"I'm Star-Lord. I'd flash my business card, but my hands are too full of guns.".
How is there going to be a better introduction than that, ever?
With help from the Luminals, Star-Lord and the Guardians manage to cause enough chaos and destruction to free Moondragon, killing a few members of the Church on the way. This includes Drax stabbing one of the cardinals through the head. When they get her back to Knowhere, The Guardians are threatened with action for their attack on the Church, but the Luminals threaten to leave the service of Knowhere if they are punished, causing the Council to re-think the decision.
Moondragon gives birth to the creature - off-panel of course - before the Guardians launch it back through The Fault.
The comic ends with the surviving members of The Universal Church of Truth confronting their master and apologising. Their master, in quite an epic twist, is revealed to be none other than Magus, Adam Warlock's evil self.
Interesting as this issue is, it makes me feel as though every title besides Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard has lost its focus. I will purchase Guardians of the Galaxy #23, but if nothing significant happens, it will be the last issue.
As you can expect, Abnett's dialogue is consistently immaculate and his pacing works wonder even in its disharmony of focus. I feel this title would be way more enjoyable to me if I had been reading it anyway, but I am not a Guardians reader. If you are, or you're curious, then check the title out.
Captain America: Reborn #6 of 6.
This issue frustrated me beyond belief.
I love Ed Brubaker as a writer - I think I've made that clear enough without having to pleasure his reputation any further - but this kind of thing really bothers me. "Sir Mast, what kind of thing?", I hear you cry.
Captain America: Reborn was supposed to be a perfectly timed five part mini-series that got Steve Rogers back in time for Siege. This did not happen. What happened was that the series became later and later, then got pushed to an additional issue, bringing it to six. By the time five was out (Maybe even coming out), Steve was already supposed to be back, and had been revealed as such in other books.
Never mind, I figure I'm already four/five issues in and that it's no big deal to finish the series, it looks like it's coming to a good end.
I was wrong. This is essentialy a tacked on ending that does some obvious work, but the obvious work isn't even great. Steve continually fights back against Red Skull (Who took over Steve's body in #5) inside his mind, the mind they both share now, while The New Avengers continue to fight off the M.O.D.O.K. clones. This prevents Skull from killing Bucky (Yeah, reverting back to Bucky cos it's easier and more known) and forces him back into his previous body. As Steve helps Bucky to his feet, both clad in Captain America regalia, they go off to aid The New Avengers.
In the most needlessly confusing piece of set-piece action I've seen in a long time, Henry Pym (The Mighty Avengers' Wasp. Formerly Giant Man/Ant-Man/Yellowjacket) shoots Red Skull with Pym Particles, the substance that makes him shrink/grow. They all fight the giant Red Skull until Sharon Carter revives Vision on their ship, and he interfaces with the ships controls in order to launch missiles at Red Skull. It's almost explicitly said that the Red Skull has died, but his daughter has been scarred in the explosion and it's left her looking like her father. I don't know, was this supposed to be ironic?
As everything winds down and the battle is won, there's a pretty near piece of dialogue. I can't remember who says it, though I think it's Ronin, but someone says: "Let's get out of here before Osborn and his Avengers show up!". To which Steve says: "Wait...Norman Osborn has Avengers?!".
I thought that was kinda cool, because the idea of waking up from a coma or whatever has always fascinated me. The idea of having to re-learn SO much knowledge, depending on how long you've been gone. So, I can only imagine what it's like for Steve to come back and discover that a madman has his own version of The Avengers.
The bit that got me angry was the ending. Steve is out on a balcony, pondering things and musing over the experience he had as Sharon comes out and asks him if he is going to join the party downstairs. He tells her she looks beautiful and asks her to stay with him for a bit, so that he can enjoy this moment while it lasts.
End.
Really? I loyally stick by your books, Ed Brubaker, and even when this was late I still supported it. THIS is what you postponed the book for? If it's not, why did you? It can't be time contraints because Bendis writes about a million a month. He's never late. EVER. Not to my knowledge. I don't know why you were late with this title, so I won't judge, but this ending isn't good at all. If this was the best you could do with the return of Steve Rogers...I'm not happy.
I recommend Captain America: Reborn to EVERYONE, because maybe if you read it whole, it may lack the lack of impact these last two issues had for me due to their delays. It still is a rather enjoyable story, it just has a very flat end and gave us no further resolution to who Captain America will be on a more permanent basis.
Though, I suppose we won't see who that is until post-Siege. I mean, it's been stated that it's likely Bucky will be the new Cap, which FUCKING RULES. I just want it explicitly said.
Thor #606.
I was so ready for this issue. Oh man.
I'm gonna say right now that this is probably set before Siege, just so the continuity doesn't seem off. If anyone can confirm this, please do.
As #605 ended with Dr. Doom smacking Thor through a wall in his newly erected (Shut up) Asgardian Destroyer armour, so #606 begins. The battle outside of Castle Doom is still raging with the Asgardians and King Balder against Dr. Doom's half-cyborg Asgardians. Seeing Thor get blown through walls and stamped on is not a common thing, so let that be a testament to how nightmarish a concept it is to have Dr. Doom in the Asgardian Destroyer armour. He even goes so far as to block Thor's swing, WITH Mjolnir, and hurls him through the castle wall to the outside.
The fight between these two rages and continually interrupts Thor's intended mission to reclaim Queen Kelda's heart (Literally) and restore her to life. As a result, he instructs Balder to do it. Loki, meanwhile, is still on the scene and is using his magic to keep her alive a little longer. It's a very well written and paced piece of action, with suspense and excitement marrying together in harmony.
Dr. Doom continually taunts Thor until he lashes back in a rage for the very unkind things being said about his beloved race. He repeatedly and brutally begins smashing away at the armour, accompanied by some truly robust artwork, until it is revealed that Dr. Doom has vacated the armour...mysteriously.
Kelda, to the joy of Balder and his men, is revived by the returned heart. She immediately asks if Bill lives again, and upon being told he does not, she says that she has no life, despite her resurrection. As Balder orders all of his men back to Asgard, Thor says that nnot all men are going back, implying himself. Balder respectfully agrees that whilst law is law, they remain steadfast friends and will be there for each other during the coming troubles (Thor was exiled for killing a fellow God. The god was disguised by Loki, though, and was also tricked into attacking).
Dr. Doom is revealed to have been teleported out by Loki, expressing his reluctant concern that he was not teleported sooner. I must say, I'm glad that they didn't go with it being a Doombot. It adds drama to the proceeding and underpins the fact that Dr. Doom does have some fear of Thor.
Thor returns to Broxton, Oklahoma as Jane Foster arrives to see him, but the climactic scenes happen at Asgard.
Loki asks Balder if he is in his good graces, to which he is swiftly rebuffed, only for Balder to say that he is not even in his own good graces. You can just FEEL Loki grinning internally, knowing that this was all it took to get a grip on another piece of Asgard for his own ends. He really is an outstanding villain currently. He saved a life so as to gain even a tad of Balder's trust, and that's all he needs.
The next issue is a Siege tie-in, and I can't WAIT!
The New Avengers #61.
As with Thor #606, I'm sure this is pre-Siege.
Now, a lot is revealed in this issue that I wasn't sure we'd see a return to.
It begins with The Hood speaking to his army of street criminals (With powers, naturall) and informing them that he has been granted powers from Asgardian nord stones, as given to him by Loki. They naturally wonder what the Hell this has to do with them, to which he informs them that he can power them all up. NOW, they're listening.
Bucky and Steve are doing a kind of recon (Seemingly this is the end scene from the Dark Avengers Annual, but I can't be sure and don't see why it would be) when they are accosted by the Living Laser. Bucky opens fire and throws his shield to hardly any effect. The Corruptor - a villain with the power to use chemicals to control people's minds - tells Living Laser to back off and let him handle it.
What follows is a fight between Bucky and The Corruptor. However, Bucky becomes paralysed by his chemicals. The chemicals themselves are so powerful that even telling Bucky what's going on won't provide enough mental power to break the hold. The Corruptor uses him to go after Steve, who is left ducking for cover. Bucky fires at Steve and the bullt ricochets back, hitting The Corrupter and somehow disabling him. I'm still not entirely sure why...it's a muddled scene. The Living Laser stares down Steve and Bucky as the scene ends.
The other scene in this comic that happens to be quite prominent is one between Spidey and Spider-Woman. It's inter-woven with the above scene, actually. They're doing surveillance atop a roof and naturally, Spider-Man starts getting on her nerves a bit, but the dialogue and the dynamic between the characters really is enjoyable, though I expect nothing less from Bendis. Comments like: "Stop talking like a renaissance guy, I hate it.", "It's what I do when I'm bored.", really just add an interesting sense of levity to the situation of staking out Avengers Tower.
Two of The Hood's goons - Mandrill and Griffin - survey the two heroes before setting upon them with a great deal of fury. A fight ensues where by Spider-Man is left dodging and weaving Griffin's attacks, where as Mandrill uses his ability to control women's minds on Spider-Woman. The art on the fights in this comics is REALLY amazing, but then, Stuart Immonen is a beast. REALLY.
As Spidey tries to keep on his toes against Griffin, he is blasted from behind by the under-control Spider-Woman. Very creepily, Mandrill says that before she kills Spidey, she is to tell them where ALL the other members of The New Avengers are.
The issue ends.
It's a fantastic issue and both this AND Thor #606 serve as really nice, effective pieces to describe the anxiety before the storm. Bendis is on point here, as always, and it does nothing but warm me up for Siege and Siege: Embedded...NEXT WEEK!
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That's all I got for you information-hungry coyotes! Though, I hope this review was informative for you in some way, since that's the point.
So, NEXT Thursday will be a very exciting comics day, but between now and then I will be back with another edition of The Mast Looks Back. What will I be reviewing? Come and see!
Until then, peace!
-The Mast
