The Mast Blogs: Fourth Time's a Charm & 2010's Biggest Treat Just Got Bigger.

Greetings.

So, I figured I'd make this somewhat of an information update, because this IS a very educational blog. It's designed to teach you all about the wonders of comics and update those who are already so fortunate.

News has got out that there will be a FOURTH on-going added to the upcoming swathe of Avengers titles. The Avengers, Secret Avengers, The New Avengers and now Avengers Academy will all launch around May/June.

Obviously, nobody is obligated to buy them all and lots of people are up in arms about how they're all gonna work, but we're not SUPPOSED to know yet. Be patient, you bums. Personally, I'm on board for The Avengers and Secret Avengers. I've agreed with myself to add ONE more title to my pull-box, so I'm curious as to what'll be better out of The New (New) Avengers and Avengers Academy. To be honest, I'm leaning toward The New Avengers, simply because I know the characters and love them so much. If Avengers Academy goes the way of Avengers: The Initiative, I won't really dig it since I didn't get into that series.

We'll see I guess. Here's the obligatory teaser poster:



What a dreadful font, but whatever. It's all adding to the fact that this Heroic Age is dawning and I gotta say, as I have before, it feels real.

I have one more nugged of sexually exciting info for all of you, if you aren't aware already.

Iron Man 2 has a NEW trailer out!

It's pretty fucking awesome. It doesn't reveal too much, and considering the movie is kinda close, that'll probably be the last trailer. It's the last one I'm going to watch, anyway. My issue lies with the fact that Scarlett Johansson doesn't speak in it, which you'd think she would. Are Marvel Studios regretting casting someone who possibly sounds like a tool with a Russian accent?

Let me know what you think, ladies and gents. Unless it's about how fucking incredible War Machine looks, because that's just inarguable.

Until next time, peace!

-The Mast

The Mast Reviews: Thursday's Comics (4/3/2010).

Ooh, what a lovely tea party.

Hello and welcome to Fox News, I'm your host Sean Hannity and I'm a tool. Just kidding, this is not Fox News and I am not Sean Hannity. This is Welcome to the Mast and I am The Mast.

Today only two comics came out that I happened to buy, so there won't be much for you to read. Next week is also going to feature only two comics, if you can believe that. Well, that's according to the predicted releases that week, anyway.

Next week you can expect the thrilling conclusion to the epically awesome series that is Dark X-Men. I'm joking, it's a terrible series and I'm glad that #5 of 5 is out so I can get it over with.

For now though, a double dose of Deadpool! Alliteration is a strong suit of mine.


Deadpool Team-Up #895.

Considering the nature of this series, as I've said before, Deadpool Team-Up's quality is really up in the air. With new writers every month and one-and-done stories in each issue, it really does have any chance of being shit, amazing or anywhere in between.

This month's guest is It! The Living Colossus and this issue is...ok. It's very funny in part, and the story itself is somewhat amusing. Deadpool is hired by a woman and her catatonic father, Bob O'Bryan to accompany them on a journey to the bottom of the ocean in hopes of finding something that they're after. Deadpool is hired, it's revealed, because she thought he was the captain of a submarine. This turns out to be a mistake as Deadpool reveals, quite hilariously, that Captain Vanilla Peen is just his screen name on Brian Michael Bendis' messageboard.

For the record, Bob O'Bryan is a guy who can psychically meld his mind with this gigantic statue and thus become It! The Living Colossus. That's the reason they're down there, to look for the statue and hopefully get her father some consciousness back.

They are accosted by sea monsters and Deadpool starts puppeting Bob so as to control It! and fight off the beings. The sub becomes damaged and just as they're about to drown Bob awakens, melds with It! and carries them to the surface after slaying the beasts.

All ends well.

It's an ok issue, I guess. Dalibor Talajic's art is the best thing about this comic, really. It has a nice, almost old school feel to it. It's not quite Joe Madureira, but it'll do.


Prelude to Deadpool Corps #1.

The first of a five-part mini-series that leads into the FOURTH Deadpool on-going series, Deadpool Corps, is surprisingly not shit. They're releasing one a week, so it'll have its final part on March 5th and the second part is the only other comic coming out next week.

I can't hate on Rob Liefield (Artist) too much, as he is the co-creator of Deadpool. Sometimes his Deadpool is awesome, sometimes it's not. Generally, his character art, layouts and such are just DIRE. This book is no different. Well, it's not dire, artistically, it's just bread-and-butter Liefield. Deadpool looks good, but...that's about it. Liefield's tendancy to draw all unmasked characters with the same open-mouthed, sunken-cheeked expression means that they all tend to lack any sense of visual characterisation.

Victor Gischler, however, does something relatively surprising. There's a Lady Deadpool (Wanda Wilson) in this book, and she too has two voices in her head, that amounts to there essentially being four Deadpools in this book: the two voices, the Lady Deadpool from the alternate dimension (Previously seen in Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #7) and Deadpool himself. Gischler does a pretty decent job of writing some pretty funny dialogue throughout, especially for Lady Deadpool and Deadpool.

The two voices NEED to go; this is no more noticeable than in this book. Deadpool himself does not utilise the two voices, so when he interacts with anyone, it's so much better. The writing between Lady Deadpool and Deadpool is identical, making it hard to differentiate between the two, but the dialogue is reasonably decent.

Lady Deadpool is part of a rebel group trying to fight against General America (Cap got a promotion), cybernetic arm and all. Deadpool appears, they get into a fight with General America and after winning, Deadpool recruits Ladypool for something that he says the world needs the Deadpools for. It's not stated what this is, but the issue ends there.

I really think this could be some fun, out-of-continuity stuff if it was a mini, but I really hate how this is being pushed into a series. Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth and Deadpool Team-Up are covering those aforementioned bases, so another series REALLY isn't needed. If anything, Deadpool Team-Up serves a better purpose. At least it does something different every month and, with the revolving door writing policy, has every chance to produce a stellar issue.

Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth and Prelude to Deadpool Corps/Deadpool Corps are going to cancel each other out. I think it's a maddeningly confusing decision, especially as the former was starting to pick up steam in its own right and, far from what was expected, become many people's favourite Deadpool title.

Oh well. If this is something you're interested in, wait for the trade paperback.

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That's about all I've got for you this week, guys and girls. Just as a heads up, though, the Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire trade paperback comes out next Weds/Thurs, depending where you are. DEFINITELY go grab that, it's a brilliant little story.

I may not review Dark X-Men #5 if it's so bad, so next week may be Prelude to Deadpool Corps #2 and not much else. Regardless, that wraps up this weeks edition of Thursday's Comics. Sorry it wasn't more entertaining, but I cannae play with cards I've not been dealt.

Over the next week, keep an eye out for either my massive Daredevil Catch-Up post (Possibly), another edition of The Mast Looks Back OR...something entirely different.

Oh and by the way, the latest reveal on the roster for the new version of The New Avengers was released today...JEWEL. Hells yes. Jessica Jones-Cage out of retirement! I'm VERY much looking forward to the Spidey/Cage/Jewel interaction. The main series of The Avengers is fast becoming my least awaited (Though still awaited) of the three titles! I can't wait for The Heroic Age, it's starting to feel impactful more and more!

Anyway, I'm out.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

The Mast Looks Back: Vol. 6 (Civil War).

Thank you, computer MAN!

Welcome to this blog. It's called Welcome to the Mast, I'm The Mast. I talk comics here, I think you know it.

Today I'm going to be reviewing the thing I said in the title, but first I've got some updates for your mindhead.

1. Regarding interviews, I'm not going to announce future ones until I actually have them done. The reason for this is because I announce them, confirm them, and then for various reasons they take longer to do due to conflicting schedules. Still, the Vast Aire interview IS coming, I assure you.

2. Daredevil #506 doesn't come out until APRIL, so that means you will get an entire Daredevil summary/catch-up before I integrate the series into Thursday's Comics. It may be a review of the current arc or it may be an entire retrospective of his second volume. I'll see.

3. Recently there have been updates regarding the post-Siege Marvel universe. There will be THREE titles featuring variations of The Avengers. Those are: The Avengers, Secret Avengers and as of a few days ago, The New Avengers. All of this and possibly a 4th in Avengers Academy.

I know, I'm confused too. I don't see why they'd END The New Avengers and start it up again from #1 in June. Bendis has said that it isn't supposed to make sense yet, but it will. Regardless, I will be posting post-Siege/pre-Heroic Age recaps so that you can know where things stand if you choose this as your jumping on point. Most curiously I wonder if these teams will involve Daredevil. I sort of feel that with so many variations it won't feel as big for him to get the call-up. Still, we'll see and I'll deal with that in time.

Let's get on with the review that a lot of people have asked me for (People seem allergic to commenting, though)!


Civil War.

For all intents and purposes, not counting The Avengers: Disassembled, this is the storyline that started everything we're seeing right now.

Originally released in seven parts and now as a trade paperback, Civil War tells arguably the most meaningful story of division among the Marvel universe and sets the stage for the following arcs. Mark Millar really does well with Civil War and, accompanied my Steve McNiven's art, solidifies it as one of the more memorable Marvel stories in a long time.

In Stamford, Connecticut; the New Mutants are seen preparing to bust into a house and take down some supervillains who are hiding out inside. They're filming it for their reality show and plan for this to be their biggest show yet. As they set upon the house, all is going well until Nitro escapes. Namorita chases him down and corners him, this turns out to be the mistake that causes the dominoes to fall. Nitro knows he has nowhere to go and so, with the chilling last words: "You're playing with the big boys now.", he spontaneously explodes himself. The entire neighbourhood is levelled and destroyed, resulting in the deaths of 512 men, women and children (I think).

With public/mutant/superhero relations already at breaking point following the events of Secret War, this caused the government to have absolutely no doubt as to what consequences would arise, and the Superhuman Registration Act was proposed.

This act required all superheroes to register with the government and reveal their identities in order to receive proper training and to operate under the jurisdiction of said government. The titular Civil War begins at this point.

Now lead by the bullish and stand-offish Maria Hill, S.H.I.E.L.D. sent out a warning that if anyone had refused to register by midnight they would be hunted down and imprisoned. Some superheroes such as Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Mr. Marvel and Wonder Man all supported this idea. Others such as Captain America, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Cable, did not. In reply to Iron Man's argument that it was their duty to protect the American people, to give them something more than potentially irresponsible masked heroes, Captain America retorted that it was a violation of civil liberty and civil rights. I'm still not entirely sure which side I fall on, but more on that later.

Captain America and his underground group of supporters are resultantly made fugitives of the law and spend a majority of the time waging a guerrila war against the Pro-Reg heroes, with Iron Man and Captain America frequently coming to blows. Someone who registered, but had yet to reveal his identity, was Spidey. It's with Spidey that the tide of the Civil War began to get extremely choppy and turned into a rather dangerous undercurrent.

Spider-Man was considering fleeing the country due to not wanting to put his loved ones in jeopardy by revealing his identity. Eventually he was convinced by Mary Jane, Aunt May and others to do so. In one of the most shocking events in Marvel history, Spider-Man publically unveiled his identity on live television:



He fully joined Tony Stark and began campaigning for registration. Doubts began to form in his mind, however, when he is told of the plans for the prisoners (Storing them in the Negative Zone for their natural lives or until they register) and especially when the Pro-Reg heroes confronted Captain America's rebels. A fight breaks out after Cap attaches a scrambler device to Iron Man while pretending to shake his hand in agreement for amnesty, and Iron Man calls for back up.

This is where things take a tragic turn for the worst. Iron Man and Mr. Fantastic had cloned Thor from a single strand of hair that Stark had kept since the first meeting of The Avengers. Using the Thor clone to subdue the rebels in battle turns out to turn the tide in their favour, but quickly gets out of hand as Clor (Clone/Thor, dubbed by fans but later known as Ragnarok) begins brutalising his opponents, eventually killing Goliath by blasting him through the chest.

Spidey has generally seen more than enough at this point and through a series of events in The Amazing Spider-Man (You can buy the tie-ins for each character in trade paperback form), decided to rebel against registration. Unfortunately, with his identity out, he now has to worry about Stark AND his family. He sends Aunt May and M.J. away into hiding. Sadly, the information of his identity falls into the hands of an imprisoned person...the worst person possible...



The Kingpin orders a hit on Spidey/Parker and, in the event that he isn't home, anyone who is. More on this later...

Meanwhile, the Civil War rages on with the Marvel universe split right down the middle. The X-Men, still shaking from the events of House of M, choose to remain neutral while Sue, Johnny and Ben from the Fantastic Four choose to side with Captain America.

The story revolves around both sides and their members dealing with the consequences of their actions. It's a nicely balanced cat and mouse game with the rebels trying to simultaneously fight back and stay out of the law's hands. Friendships are broken and beliefs are all questioned throughout the story.

The story ends in a climactic battle in New York City, erupting after even more rebels were freed from the Negative Zone prison. Iron Man and Captain America face off one more time before Cap eventually surrenders. After seeing the damage surrounding them he realises that they're all endangering the people they were supposed to be protecting and that it's not worth the fight.



Tony Stark enters into the post-Civil War world as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and begins his 50-State Initiative (A super-powered team for each state), but not unscathed. Ties have been severed and things haven't really been the same since, especially considering Steve gets assassinated on the way to his court hearing.

It's a real gripping story about how the beliefs held tear even the closest bonds apart, and the dangers of what can happen when citizens exchange freedom for security through fear (An obvious political allegory).

Peter Parker returns to the motel in which M.J. and Aunt May are waiting for him. They embrace and the happiness is short lived. His spider-sense goes crazy and he tackles M.J. to the ground in time to dodge the rifle bullet intended for him, courtesy of The Kingpin. He saves one, but loses the other. Aunt May is seen with a bullet wound and dangling at death's door. This occurs in The Amazing Spider-Man #538, the final Civil War tie-in.

It's a tragic end to what was a bittersweet ending as it is. Spidey only ever wanted to do the right thing and in a way, he came off worse than anyone.

There are tie-ins for Iron Man, Captain America and others, but none are really as weighty or impactful as Spidey's.

What follows are the controversial One More Day and Brand New Day Spider-Man arcs. Click the links if you wanna know how it goes. In general, the mini-arc The Initiative followed and that was succeeded by the next BIG arc entitled Secret Invasion. The latter is the arc that really, truly caused Dark Reign (Which I've already done a retrospective on) and will be reviewed soon.

All things considered, Civil War is a pretty intense story. It's far from original, but it's truly powerful if you have any investment in these characters. In many ways, it's Spider-Man's tragedy, but it did force changes on the M.U. and its characters that are still felt today. Spider-Man has since become an even bigger part of the Marvel universe since, joining The New Avengers and even becoming an actual member of The Avengers in their upcoming reformation.

If you want all seven single issues, eBay is good. As a trade paperback, it's not that expensive to buy or find, really. You can grab it from Amazon or any good, varied bookstore probably. I have both, simply because it's easier to read a trade than to keep getting the single issues out. You don't NEED the tie-ins, it works well like that, so I'd definitely recommend picking it up. It's riveting.

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Thanks for reading this, guys and girls. I appreciate your time, attention and any feedback I get. Drop me a comment to give me your opinions! What do YOU feel? Who would YOU side with? If powered individuals existed, do you think they could be trusted to go unregistered and untabbed, knowing that many individuals do their best, or would you be a vocal supported of forced registration and training?

Stay tuned for Thursday's Comics, all two of them, and I'll catch you then!

Until next time, peace!

-The Mast

The Mast Blogs/Reviews: Shameless Plugs & Thursday's Comics (25/2/2010).

Oh yeah!

I guess that intro loses potency when done without wearing a Kool-Aid Guy outfit.

Regardless, welcome to another fine edition of Thursday's Comics! I am your host, The Mast. You should know that by now.

I want to start this weeks post by gloating about a few gems I recently picked up! Last week I got my hands on THIS bad boy: The Daredevil #505 Deadpool variant.

It's special because it's a parody/edit of Daredevil #187, as I've said before. That comic is special because it's the first Daredevil comic I ever read, so to have a Deadpool variant of Daredevil (My two favs) that happens to be a mock-up of my first Daredevil comic? Pretty special. I want to give special thanks to Mr. Alex...well, just Alex, of Comicana Comics for providing me with this gem for a stupidly reasonable price. Someone actually wanted to charge me £25 more than what I paid, so major thanks to him for that.

I also want to thank Alex for providing me with this: The Fantastic Four #576 Deadpool variant.

I think it's hilarious, totally Deadpool and thus, essential. I don't have it NOW, unfortunately. I have to go back next week to get it, but he's putting it aside for me.

Comicana and Gosh (My main sources of comicy goodness) BOTH happen to be void of websites, so if you want anything ordered, get in touch with me or Google the number/email address of the respective places. Between those two stores and the really awesome staff that work there (In Comicana's case, just Alex. He's a trooper!), there's nothing you'll really be left wanting for. As soon as either of these establishments have an internet place of purchase, you'll see me spam the links here.

Alex has a knack for making people spend money...it's like a sickness, so watch out.

With all that apple-polishing out of the way, let's get to why all seven of you are here (I totally must have more than seven regulars by), to read comic stuff!


Deadpool #20.

Ehh.

The interaction between Spider-Man and Deadpool is solid in this issue, as it was in the issue before, but something just...lacks. I'm so glad that Way seems to have ditched Pool-o-Vision and seems to be cutting back on the two-voices thing, too. That's always a good thing.

The whole issue revolves around Deadpool and Spidey trying to figure out how to deal with Hit-Monkey and his impending assassination attempt on our favourite 4th wall-breaking mercenary. There's one scene where Deadpool shows up in a dress...which was so unnecessary that it made me sick. Like Deadpool isn't portrayed as enough of a joke nowadays, they gotta put him in a dress.

I must admit, the first time they encounter Hit-Monkey is amusing; Spidey theorises that if he can't kill Deadpool then Deadpool can just let himself get shot and then heal, derived from the fact that Hit-Monkey isn't aware Deadpool can heal. Spidey then stands up and just gives Deadpool's hiding place away, thus causing him to get peppered with bullets.

Regardless, it's hard to like or dislike this issue because NOTHING HAPPENS. It honestly feels like absolutely nothing happens at all. There's a subplot involving some corrupt cops who are quickly assassinated by Hit-Monkey...so that was pointless. The issue ends with Hit-Monkey attempting to make amends with Spider-Man after attacking him, but Deadpool mistakes it for an attack and engages Hit-Monkey. The final page shows Deadpool getting pumped full of bullets.

I don't know where this is going, it frustrates me. I wish there was some kind of cohesion between his comics, I really do. During his first main on-going series, it honestly felt like each comic had a purpose. The filler issues at LEAST felt solid. Now it feels like hardly anything's going on. These last two issues have been improvements, but it's gonna take something good to dig it out of the hole it has been in since #12.

I can't say I'd recommend this series right now. Get #1 to #12 and then don't bother with any of them until there's a better arc.

I do love the art, though. Chunky and nice, I dig.


Realm of Kings: Inhumans #4 of 5.

So frustrating, I swear to god.

Realm of Kings is truly suffering without a main serious, I feel. I can only hope that somewhere and somehow things end up relating to everything else. Let me clarify that point...

In the one-shot you had all this horrifying shit revealed and things seemed like they would blow up, big time. Then...never heard of again. Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard is doing well, but that's because it has characters I like and contains actual creatures from The Fault. Realm of Kings: Inhumans has gone four issues without really revealing how or why The Fault is connected.

The loose connection of Black Bolt is running through the issues, this one included. Triton and Ra-Venn continue their research within The Fault and come to the conclusion that they can't tell Queen Medusa of their discovery. The reason for this is that they don't want her to get her hopes up of Black Bolt being alive. They agree that if there's some kind of ghost in The Fault, that Black Bolt himself might be, but don't feel that telling her is a viable option yet.

Mainly, though, the story consists of Ronan and co chasing down Maximus who has betrayed them yet again and been revealed as the orchestrator of the Alpha Primitive rebellion. Toward the end of the issue they corner him and it's revealed that Queen Medusa herself had been the one ordering him around.

Could she be a Fault-controlled being? Who knows? With one issue to go, I don't understand nor see how they could possibly connect it to everything else, but we'll see.

Of the two miniseries, this is the one with the least focus. I've stopped reading Nova and Guardians of the Galaxy, though. I can't be missing much as there're only a couple of issues of those left that can be considered tie-ins.

I very much look forward to Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #5 of 5, but aside from that. I really can't recommend this. The first half of this arc was good, but then...I don't know what happened. It has dissolved.


Dark Wolverine #83.

This is a bit of a weird issue.

After revealing that the Asgardian Fates had dubbed Daken the bringer of Ragnarok (The cycle that ends Asgard and rebirths it again), we saw him kill Norman Osborn. Naturally, it wasn't real and had to be revealed as a daydream in this issue.

We see the Fates continually courting Daken and getting rebuffed for their troubles. They seem certain that Daken is the one for the job, and it's only when they explain things that it gets interesting. You see, Thor ended the Ragnarok cycle and this caused the Fates to be cut from Asgard and somewhat bound to Earth (Best I could tell, anyway). The Fates cannot handle this, they consider it unnatural and explain that Ragnarok MUST occur as it's a natural cycle. Daken, confused, asks what the Hell this has to do with him and, while not totally explained, it's revealed that the circumstances of Ragnarok have changed.

It used to be that Ragnarok could only be brought about by a certain kind of person, but now Daken is somehow eligible. He says he's in, but on his terms and shakes himself out of the hallucination, just in time to get fried by an off-panel Thor (See Siege #2).

The Fates begin plotting their next move with regards to manipulating Daken as the issue ends.

I think Daniel Way meant to hint to a lot of things in this issue, but failed to do so clearly enough. The result is a reasonably odd issue that neither asks nor answers questions. It isn't revealed how Daken is meant to be involved at all, which is expected, but I thought it'd be hinted at a lot more.

I'm curious, so I'll keep reading. I doubt Dark Wolverine is going to have a massive Siege revelation in it, though. I'm sure that'd only ever happen in a Bendis title.


Thor #607.

Now, this is such a nice issue even if Thor isn't in it.

Throughout the issue, multiple things happen that spell quite epic consequences for all involved.

Asgardian hobo, Knut, begins running around prophesising that Asgard will not survive the night, which ends with Loki murdering him after confirming that what he is saying is true, all following a typical scene whereby he is dismissed as a crazy old man by King Balder. This is compounded by the fact that Heimdall contradicts him and says that there IS no threat coming, that he would have seen it if it were true.

The very next morning we see the Siege of Asgard begin (I guess this is where Thor's series catches up). Volstagg, currently held in a jailcell (Willingly), is released by the two jailers so that he can go and defend his home. He vows to return and honour the justice he is served as soon as things are settled, but not before he uses a broadcasting system to plead his case and reveal that he was provoked.

Loki traps Heimdall in some kind of room and tells him that trying to escape will mean his own death. He isn't capable of escaping in this issue, but we must assume he does since he is the one who explains things to Ares.

The issue ends with Volstagg on his way to Asgard as Thor seemingly flies down to greet him, old costume and all. With great vengeance, Thor begins attacking Volstagg, revealing himself to be none other than Ragnarok, the Thor clone from Civil War!

I'm very glad they brought Ragnarok back, simply because I want Thor to smash him into oblivion. Thor is definitely the most effective Siege tie-in right now, seeing as it's the source of the battle.

If you do want to get into Siege but don't want all the tie-ins, Thor #607 is a good issue to pick up. The art is phenomenal, courtesy of Billy Tan, and Kieron Gillen's dialogue gives the Asgardians a robust and potent aura. I'm enjoying this series thoroughly.


The New Avengers #62.

This issue is set before/during Siege.

Following on from the battles in the previous issue, we see Spidey fighting for his life against a Mandrill-hypnotised Spider-Woman. He takes a fairly hefty beating without fighting back before he manages to shake her out of it and the two of them team up. Griffin and Mandrill don't really stand much of a chance against the two and the focus of the issue quickly shifts to the Living Laser Vs Steve and Bucky.

Steve, using the diplomatic approach, tries to reason with the guy but ultimately fails. The coolest moment comes when he tells Laser to walk away and change his life or else. Laser's all like: "...or else what?", "...or else Luke Cage will punch your head off your body.". Something to that degree. Luke Cage then appears and deals Laser and ALMIGHTY uppercut. Such a badass, and a badass entrance.

Bucky overloads him with a stray electrical wire and knocks him out of commission. There's a really, REALLY touching moment at the end of this battle as Luke Cage realises Steve is back. They embrace and it's the first real time you see someone affected by his return. Before they can share pleasantries, Nick Fury and his Secret Warriors appear on a rooftop opposite with rifles aimed directly at them. Convinced they are who they say they are, Nick Fury and his crew follow the three of them back to the area we saw them gathered in during Siege #2.

Upon Steve returning to the base, he meets the assorted Avengers teams for the first time since being back and again, it's a really touching scene. The look on all of their faces, Ms. Marvel especially, is priceless. Luke Cage has the line of the issue, though: "I went to the Living Legends store and this is all they had left.".

Another really cool piece of dialogue is dropped when Spidey and Spider-Woman show up. Spidey says that they wouldn't believe the night they had, but before he can finish his line he sees Fury and Steve together and says: "Ok, you guys clearly had a crazier night.". They gather around to see Thor getting decimated on TV (See Siege #1), to which Steve says something needs to be done (Leading into the planning stage from Siege #2 I guess). Bucky and Fury state that they don't have nearly enough manpower to go up against Osborn, but Steve says it'll have to be.

With the immortal line of "Avengers Assemble!", Steve inspires the group and the issue ends.

I cannot get enough of this team. By "This team" I mean Bendis and Immonen. Stuart Immonen has long proven that he is one of the world's premier comic artists, man. The dude can draw like a motherfucker. Bendis isn't perfect, but when he gets his shit right, he gets his shit RIGHT. The dialogue in this issue, as with most of his latter-Dark Reign and Siege work, is as on point as it needs to be and really does convey a great sense of character understanding and situational gravity.

It feels like they're preparing for a war. Hopefully the relevant tie-ins will have caught up to Siege in time as it's a bit weird reading stuff as if it's happening before Siege. Besides that, which isn't really a negative, I have nothing bad to say.

The Siege tie-ins are not spectacular, they've actually been kinda mediocre up until Thor #607 and this issue. As single comics, they are doing a very good job, though. Again, if anyone wants to get into Siege I have an entire read-order ready for anyone who needs it. it tells you what comics you need to buy and in what order. Don't hesitate to let me know!

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I was going to review Nation X #3 of 4, but it's so fucking shit that I really can't be bothered.

I definitely want to start putting at least one post between editions of Thursday's Comics, but the past two weeks have caused me to be a bit scatterbrained. I'll definitely start doing other posts with the same regularity as I do Thursday's Comics, though. I'm not sure what they'll be, but I'm SURE I'll think of something.

That's all I've got for you today, but keep your eyes glued to this blog! Bookmark me, RSS me or do whatever makes you feel good, because you never know what I might post next! I am very sneaky.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast

The Mast Reviews: Thursday's Comics (18/2/2010).

Sup.

It's been a few days and I am terribly sorry for the lack of posts.

Due to health reasons I couldn't go to the comic store on Thursday OR Friday, so I went on Saturday. By this point I figured it would be a bit ridiculous to do an edition of Thursday's Comics. I was going to just do a double post next Thursday, but then I figured that'd be way too much due to the amount of comics coming out.

So, apologies for this belated post, but here is Thursday's Comics for 18/2/2010!


Deadpool #19.

Two Deadpool comics this week. No shock there. The shock is that they're both quite good.

No, seriously, they're both quite good.

Deadpool #19 sees my favourite of favourites arrive in New York City with hopes of yet again becoming a hero. The plot isn't anything you'd be surprised with, which makes its enjoyable execution all the better.

In order to learn the ways of a hero, Deadpool decides he must acquire Spider-Man's attention. After eating a crapton of street hot dogs, he sets off to get Spider-Man to notice him. Elsewhere, someone assassinates Spider-Man's shopkeeper friend, Mr. Cheng, and a bunch of his back-room collegues. Assuming Deadpool is the culprit (Having seen him enter the city from the office windows of the Daily Bugle), he hunts him down and gives him a beat down. Now, Spidey WOULD beat Deadpool, so I don't mind him being on the losing side here. I just wish Way would give him SOME FUCKING FIGHTING SKILLS. Jesus.

Anyway, Spidey webs him up and naturally doesn't believe him when he says he didn't do it. For once, Deadpool is being truthful! He even has an alibi. Agreeing to let him tag along and help if he agrees not to kill, Spidey and Deadpool set off to the crime scene. Surveying the bodies and damage, Deadpool claims this was the work of a REAL pro, a professional and legendary assassin named Hit-Monkey.

Yes, Hit-Monkey. A hitman that's a monkey (Deadpool actually says that line). The interaction between Spidey and Deadpool IS enjoyable in this issue, unlike The Amazing Spider-Man #611.

Hit-Monkey only takes out people who've killed, so Deadpool says, leading us to believe there was more to Mr. Cheng than people knew.

With disbelief, Spidey dismisses the claims and Deadpool begins explaining who Hit-Monkey is (He hasn't been seen by many, just known). As he does so, we see Hit-Monkey entering a club with women on his arms etc. Deadpool tells Spidey that they can't find him, they can only hope to find who he's after before he does and that he goes after multiple, high-profile gun-for-hire targets as per his modus operandi.

Spidey says that Deadpool fits that description and the issue ends, implying that Deadpool is Hit-Monkey's next target.

I don't know if this issue was good or if I'm so used to Daniel Way's shit that it seemed good. Either way, I enjoyed it. It felt more like he was an integral part of the story and had something to contribute as opposed to just BEING there and Way assuming that would be enough.

We'll see how the next issues go. #20 is due out next week according to various sites (#19 was late I suppose), so there won't be long to wait.


Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #8.

This issue seemingly wraps up the previous arc and begins a new one all in the same comic.

Dr. Voodoo explains to Deadpool, Headpool and co. that time is unstable due to all the time travelling they've been doing. He suggests that they put it right as soon as possible and opens a portal to Headpool's world for them, the destination they've been waiting for.

When Dr. Voodoo says that time has been thrown out of balance due to overuse, Deadpool says his Xbox 360 does that too; "You've just gotta keep it ventilated.". I laughed.

Leaping through, they find themselves in the Marvel zombies universe. Zombies attack, they fight them off and spend the issue hiding in place after place, all while trying to formulate a plan. Headpool reveals a way to get them all back to their own dimensions just as they are accosted by another group of zombies.

They are rescued by four surviving humans that have built a base amongst rubble further into the city, hidden from the zombies. Professor Veronica Chase and her three friends; Costello, Porter and Weinstein take the crew back to their hideout and the issue ends.

All in all, I'm happy with this series. It feels like it has come far in eight issues. It's far from great, but it's solidly good. I'll want way more variation in the coming stories, but I'm liking it so far. Gischler has a knack for the lighter side of Deadpool and as I've said before, this series reads like a typical '80s action flick; full of violence, action, a couple of big-boobed chicks and witty one-liners.

Not a bad week for Deadpool.


Doomwar #1 of 6.

I bought this under the pretenses that it was a Deadpool appearance, and was prepared to do so begrudgingly. I really didn't want another mini-series.

Deadpool is NOT in this issue, he is on the cover. Quite bullshit. That's not what shocked me, though. No. What shocked me was the fact that this is a pretty fucking epic opening to what could evolve into a captivating story.

Basically, a group of clandestine rebels known as The Desturi have overthrown the Wakandan government and seized power. Storm is held captive and T'Challa - most famous for being the former Black Panther - has fled with the current Black Panther, Shuri. It's revealed that Dr. Doom has been plotting to conquer Wakanda for some time and these are his first steps to doing so. Do you see why I love the guy so much? One country isn't enough, he wants the country that's allegedly impossible to conquer through force of arms.

At first, it's entirely unknown as to why this is, but the most televised part of the takeover is Storm's trial for witchcraft. Even more shocking is that she is sentenced to death for her alleged crimes. The audience most intrigued and unsettled by this are her former teammates, the X-Men, who are watching from Utopia.

Desperate for help, T'Challa and Shuri (For those reading at home, she's T'Challa's sister and regent Princess of Wakanda) approach the X-Men on Utopia and request assistance in retaking their homeland. T'Challa illustrates that Dr. Doom wants all of Wakanda's exclusive supply of vibranium, known for being the most durable substance on Earth besides adamantium. The X-Men ask why it matters if Dr. Doom gets his hands on "some metal", and T'Challa reveals the terrifying truth.

Vibranium has a quality that has not been looked into or researched; magical absorption. He believes that while nobody in Wakanda or elsewhere has figured out its potential in conjunction with magical powers, Dr. Doom has. If Dr. Doom got his hands on the mountainous amounts of vibranium contained in the Wakandan vaults and proved this theory to be true, he would undoubtedly become the most powerful being to ever walk the Earth.

Cyclops, ever loyal to his currant Utopia philosophy, states that he cannot sanction such an intervention, what with their existence and public relations being shaky at best. Just as T'Challa leaves with a great deal of supplies, Cyclops tells him that he can't SANCTION the intervention...but he can't stop the X-Men from following their hearts. T'Challa's jet opens and we see the X-Men sitting in there waiting to go to war with him whilst Cyclops and Emma stay behind.

Battle plans seem bleak, especially considering the country they're about to go up against, but it really is all very exciting as they're on the plane heading to Wakanda. Truly. The art is also especially sharp thanks to some nice pencilling from Scot Eaton.

As soon as they land they are greeted by a swathe of Wakanda military might. A nice touch is that when the focus is aimed at the invaders, there's a sign that says "You are now leaving Wakanda.", and when it's aimed at the military, it says "Welcome to Wakanda.". I dunno, I thought that was cool.

The newly elected and corrupt leader, T'Ken, mocks the invaders and tells them to leave. Shuri, more than prepared to shed blood to reclaim her country and directly opposed to T'Challa's previously diplomatic approach, immediately tells them to back off or die. Well, not verbatim, but more or less.

T'Ken asks if they are truly going to shed blood of their countrymen and go to war with Wakanda. Nightcrawler provides a distraction and, quick as lightning, Shuri rushes in and breaks T'Ken's neck. T'Challa ends the issue by saying "You are NOT Wakanda. WE are...", as Shuri clutches the dead T'Ken in her hands.

I have to say, Jonathan Maberry totally surprised me here. What I thought would be a throwaway, contradictory-to-Siege mini-series has turned out to be reasonably captivating! I really didn't need another series to buy, but since I've dropped Uncanny X-Men, Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova (For now), I can pick this up without worries. I'd be dropping Nation X too if it wasn't an issue from ending.

Regardless, this is looking to be a NICE series so get it while it's new. I wonder how Deadpool will figure into this...


Dark Avengers #14.

A point of contention among fans, oddly, has been that the synopsis for this issue was a complete lie and that nothing mentioned therein actually happened in this issue. For one thing, synopses will always overblow the story more often than not. Secondly, cover art is always false. Nothing on covers actually happens in the comics, at least not often.

Not a great deal happens in this pre-Siege issue of Dark Avengers, but what does happen is rather intriguing and could have serious ramifications.

Victoria Hand expresses great discomfort at Norman Osborn's continually deteriorating mental state ahead of his planned invasion. She requests he see a team psychologist to which her efforts are quite vehemently rebuffed. I must add that I think Bendis does a good job of writing the devious and the insane, with this scene proving why. Osborn really does seem unhinged as he expresses his stress under the pressure his job brings upon him.

Hand goes so far as to say that she is scared he is reverting back to the Green Goblin and that he is losing his team. Not surprisingly, she highlights Karla as the problem factor, stating that she has been working (Fucking) her way through the roster and has already scared off Noh-Varr. At this point she shows Karla and Bullseye having fun in the meeting room, awakening Osborn to the lack of seriousness his team are exhibiting. He gives her full authority to deal with it however she sees fit, and with that, she leaves.

What happens next is just badass. Now, of the two newly introduced women, I always liked Maria Hill more as a character. She's a completely unlikable bitch, but that proves how well her character gets across. Victoria Hand seemed like nothing more than Dark Maria Hill, but she really has developed into her own character over the past 14 issues.

She walks into the meeting room and orders Karla to go to her quarters, which Karla scoffs at. She won't have anyone effectively sending her to her room, and she questions Hand's guts to even confront her. Hand blasts her with a ray gun and sends her into paralysing spasms, after which she is dragged back to her quarters and Bullseye is sent to the gym, but not before making some choice, sexual remarks to Hand.

This scene was one I really enjoyed. It feels like there's a real struggle going on between the sane, the insane and the murderous. Victoria Hand is trying to keep balance between members of a team that consists of super powered questionables. Elsewhere, Osborn is cracking up internally and then you have Bullseye who just loves the drama. The interaction between the characters in this scene, ironically, just seemed to dive a wedge further between everyone. I loved it. Hand is badass.

Alarms ring out all over the tower and Osborn expresses fear at what he sees. The Void is slowly closing in on Avengers Tower after appearing at the end of Dark Avengers #13, and Sentry appears to be orchestrating it. Osborn flies up in his Iron Patriot armour and talks to Sentry as controlled by The Void, trying to calm him down and dismissing this as a tantrum. His pleas fall on deaf ears as Sentry begins mocking him and saying how weak Bob is, all while reigning chaos and destruction on New York City.

Osborn needs Sentry, right? So he's panicking like fucking crazy, he's screaming at Sentry to stop. Sentry says he can't sotp him, but Osborn retorts that the likes of Reed Richards, Dr. Doom and others can...and will if he continues to prove unstable. Sentry says that he can't kill Lindy, because he won't let himself (Remember, The Void is speaking through him), but he can make the world bad enough that she'll go away.

At first, it seems like Osborn genuinely doesn't want The Void to continue using Sentry in this way, and after some coercing, Sentry stops. The Void clearly is the dominant personality here, and it shows. Osborn warns Sentry that if this happens again, he won't stop him, but he won't stop what happens next either. Lindy, terrified beyond belief, looks up at the confrontation from a window in the tower.

The comic ends on the note that I think the synopsis was referring to. Osborn pays Bullseye a visit and asks if he's feeling blood thirsty and, receiving the obvious answer, gives Bullseye the task of murdering Lindy...Sentry's wife.

If this goes ahead, The Void probably won't give a shit and it'll cause more destruction than perhaps any available being can handle, what with no ties to subdue Bob anymore. Alternatively, Bob may use such a tragedy to come to a realisation and be all good again. I really hope that's not the case, but it could be.

Being that Siege is happening (This is pre-Siege, remember), we have to see if Lindy dies or not. It will go some way to maybe explaining the current actions of Sentry in Siege if she IS dead, and if he knows this.

All in all, I can't really see why so many people are crying foul over this issue. I really liked it, but then again, I consider most solicit/synopsis reading forum dwellers to be idiots.

Bring on Dark Avengers #15.

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Next week sees the release of SIX comics that I'll be picking up. The volume is increasing again, people! To be honest, had I continued buying Guardians of the Galaxy AND Uncanny X-Men, I'd have had seven comics to review instead of four!

Seven? Yes, seven.

Seven because Daredevil #505 came out this week. I know, I know...I said I'd get started on covering Daredevil this week, but I didn't. I want to give Daredevil's series a proper catch up and as a result, I've decided to dedicate a post to Daredevil's entire second volume (He only has two), from Kevin Smith's run up to #505. I'm working on the format so that it won't be just a chunk of text that you have no interest in, or...it might me a chunk of text. At least it'll be out there either way.

This will come sometime before Daredevil #506. So that's the next big thing.

With regards to interviews, I've got three in the pipeline. I won't announce the two you're unaware of until I'm certain they're gonna happen. Vast Aire is semi-confirmed and I'm waiting on him to tell me how he wants to do it, since he already said he would. That's the deal with those, incase you were wondering.

All things said, thanks for reading and sorry for the delays. It won't happen again unless there're extreme circumstances.

Until next time, peace!

-The Mast

The Mast Blogs: The Heroic Age Feels Real/Vigilante Morality in Comic Books.

You have LEGOS?!

Greetings to you all. I bring good tidings and bloggings of a comical nature. Comical as in the bloggings pertain to comics, not that they are of a jocular content.

SO! Blog! Blog, blog, blog, blog, blog. I even love saying the word "Blog". A bit of light and heavy, today. Light content and reasonably heavier content than you're used to.

The Heroic Age Feels Real.

The Heroic Age, as referenced in a prior post or two, is not becoming unavoidable clearer. Whether you dislike spoilers, solicits or not, it's near impossible to avoid announcements about who is on what team.

With that said, we got the alternate cover to the upcoming comic, The Avengers #1! I'm not sure if they're adding the prefix "The", but they should. It sounds better. I haven't shown the main cover by John Romita Jr., so I'll do that:

The Avengers #1.

Here's the new one:

The Avengers #1 (Greg Land variant).

I loved Romita Jr.'s Thor and Iron Man from the teasers, but I disliked his others. In the former, I LOVE his Captain America and dislike all the others. I guess I'll just have to see what it's like when reading. Though I gotta say, Wolverine? Give it a rest, man. Spidey has the chance to make the BIG push, the call-up to the main roster...and you cheapen it by throwing in Wolverine? Ehh.

I like the Land cover more, but it still looks anti-climactic.



Either way, the Heroic Age is feeling way more real to me now, though. Bendis has stated that it isn't the whole team, so if you consider that we have seven already...I think we're pushing limits. It depends on so many factors, though. If it's written well and so are all the characters, it'll blast off. I'm totally excited for it, man. It FEELS like the dawn of a new era.

I'm still most awaiting Secret Avengers, especially with the continued teaser posters. Silhouetted ones at that.

So, heroism and such out of the way, we move to the darker side of the arguably heroic spectrum!

Vigilante Morality in Comic Books.

The Punisher: If you don't shoot, you've got a death on your conscience. A death you could have prevented. If you do shoot you're a killer.

Daredevil: What kind of a choice is that?

The Punisher: The one I make every time I pull the trigger.

I was re-reading Daredevil's entry into the mini-series that was Dark Reign: The List, and there's a scene in there that got me onto thinking of something that I wanted opinions on.

We've seen it in Batman's stories inside and outside of film, we see it in Daredevil and we see it in The Punisher. There are countless other characters, comic based or movie based, that take vigilantism upon themselves.

Now, while we can all agree that seeing these people kick ass is awesome...how RIGHT or WRONG is it? Well, it's neither as morality is subjective, but for the purposes of this blog post, I am asking.

Some people have such a low level of faith or trust in the law that they feel vigilantism is justified. Me? I believe that if we're going to green light vigilantism, we might as well green light anarchy. If we green light anarchy, we're green lighting idiocy. Sorry, but anarchy is never going to work, ever. Proof? It never has. The world was once lawless and it sucked, it would suck again.

If someone kills your loved one and you kill them, I don't condone that. I UNDERSTAND it, I do not condone it. That's not really vigilantism, though.

Regardless, where do you stand?

Where do you stand in the case of people like Batman? This man stands so rigidly and firmly by his rule to not kill, he does so because his parents were murdered and he wishes to not be the same. The fact remains, though, that he could have saved many lives by killing the Joker.

In Dark Reign: The List (Daredevil), Daredevil is lured to a rooftop by Bullseye. Bullseye then reveals that he didn't want to fight, just distract him long enough to blow up the condemned building he was trying to help the inhabitants of. He then explodes the building, killing 107 people of all races, genders and ages. The most notable piece of this exchange is when Bullseye says this:



Would Daredevil have been justified in killing him? Could you?

Is that a different kind of vigilantism? Is killing those who YOU decide deserve to be removed from society a different kind to, say, killing someone who has killed many, with a view to preventing many more?

Give me comments, let me know how you feel about this and what you feel on the subject. I'm really interested.

---

I guess that's all for now, so I will see you guys and girls on Thursday with slightly bigger edition of Thursday's Comics than you've seen in a while!

Until then, peace.

-The Mast

The Mast Reviews: Thursday's Comics (11/2/2010).

Precisely 27 minutes 'til Jeopardy.

Sorry, I've just been watching Rain Man; excellent movie. If you haven't seen it then you're stupid.

Welcome to the Mast, ladies and gentlemen. Today I bring you another edition of Thursday's Comics!

Unfortunately it's a very slow week for me and my subscription box at Gosh! Comics, so you won't have much to read and I won't have much to type. Before I get into that, though, I want to give you a heads up about some stuff you should be keeping your eyes out for.

Image Comics' ultraviolent series, Haunt, is approaching the release of its first trade paperback. Haunt (Vol. 1) comes out on March 3rd and collects issues #1 to #5. It shouldn't break your recession-hit pockets too much, so if you're looking for something to get into then definitely check that out. Furthermore, it has a truly delicious cover!

Also, people have been asking me if I plan to do anything on DC's current mega event, Blackest Night. I have only read bits and pieces, but I haven't read enough to review it. On top of that, with the amount of subscriptions I have, I can't really focus my efforts on yet another event that's attached to another load of mini-series' and tie-ins. When Blackest Night is finished and released in trade paperback format, I GUARANTEE I will be doing a comprehensive review of Blackest Night in its entirity.

That's for another time, though. Right now, let's talk some comics!


Haunt #5.

With the Kilgore bros now in deeper with The Agency than they ever imagined they would be, we see the plot of Kirkman's first arc as Haunt writer come to a close.

The comic begins with Hurg - the Kingpin with a ponytail and grey hair, looks wise at least - visiting Cobra, still in his hospital bed after getting his face caved in by Haunt. He mentions that he can forgive Cobra for his misgivings THIS time, simply because he now has an opportunity to gain what he wanted anyway; cast your minds back to Haunt #4's end and the woman (Mirage) offering to sell Shillinger's notebook to him.

As of this moment, the story centres around the Kilgore bros and their progression inside The Agency as they track down the notebook, the people who want the notebook and the people responsible for Kurt's death. All the while, the mole that Hurg placed there begins to relay info to him.

Agency Director Stanz reveals to Daniel that they've received a tip-off about a meeting between Mirage and Hurg, and that the notebook will be present. Kurt tells Daniel to pass on the message that they ARE going, regardless of what Director Stanz says, to which he reluctantly agrees.

Naturally, the deal goes awry as soon as Mirage and Hurg exchange the notebook and cash respectively. The Agency's agents command everyone to freeze and a massive gunfight erupts between themselves and Hurg's men. Haunt joins the fray and they despatch a number of bad guys with their tendrils. They catch up with Hurg and as they have him near their grasp, one of his henchwomen fires multiple shots into his side, forcing him to concentrate on healing as Hurg escapes.

During the botched meeting it's revealed that there's a connection between Kurt and Mirage. This is quite expertly explained when Daniel is back at The Agency getting patched up. Kurt had an affair with Mirage, but for reasons that you can't help but understand. He snaps at Daniel for judging him and goes on to say how he loved Amanda, but felt nothing in common with her due to his line of work. Through all the death, carnage and high stakes of being a covert assassin/soldier, he began to find all of the little aspects of her life to be trivial. Due to a similar line of work, he bonded with Mirage and they made all these plans to use the notebook as a means of bartering for cash. Cash they'd then spent to forge a new life together.

Daniel feels worse because he fell for Amanda in the way Kurt fell for Mirage, but could never have her due to her love for his brother, despite his brother loving another in the same way. It's a really twisted, heartbreaking tale that leaves no moral ground safe to stand on.

Eventually we see Hurg's mole, Ms. Rhodes, cursing the incompetence of Hurg's henchwomen and Hurg himself for not getting the notebook. Director Stanz overhears, asks what's going on and gets a headshot for his troubles. She detonates a bomb in The Agency and Haunt promptly shows up ready to handle the business, but it's too late. Assistant Director Tosh is crying over his body and the realisation that this is deeper than they thought dawns on them.

Drawing to a close, we see Daniel at a meeting with Tosh as she thanks him and Kurt for saving her. Offering Daniel the chance to be a full member of The Agency, using the spirit of his brother to train him as a soldier, Daniel says he isn't sure. She gives him a card and tells him to meet her back at the H.Q. when it's rebuilt, and that she knows he'll say yes because he has nothing better to do.

The issue ends thusly.

I have to say, this is an absolutely tremendous way to end the arc. It feels like this title is on its way to progressively greater things and I'm an so very hooked. The characterisation is being fleshed out nicely, the characters have noticeable punch and the art is mesmerising. Unfortnately, this is the last issue that Ryan Ottley is working on. It's not all bad, though, because Greg Capullo (Haunt's layout organiser) will be taking over.

Really, this is shaping up to be something special, even though it's not wholly unique or original. The trade paperback is out on March 3rd and if you don't pick it up, it's your loss!


Dark X-Men #4 of 5.

I am so glad that this series is only five issues.

Again, I am going to assume this takes place before Siege because otherwise it makes even less sense than it does already.

We pick up as we left off. Nate Grey has possessed Norman Osborn and Mystique is trying to talk him out of it, or talk sense into him. Something of that nature. Eventually, the Dark X-Men venture into Osborn's mind via the use of his psi-ops. The ones that Nate Grey, X-Man, used to take corporeal form.

They enter his mind and eventually come face to face with Osborn's psyche. Due to having to spend all his energy trying to fight Nate, he has left some of his lesser personality traits unchecked, and thus the Green Goblin portion of his psyche proceeds to appear and threaten to kill them all.

That's more or less all that happens in this issue and, honestly, I don't care to remember anything else.

It's a poorly written, poorly conceived and poorly timed series. Avoid it.


Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #4 of 5.

THIS rules.

With the immense and nightmarish ships closing in on them as they venture further into The Fault, the combined crew of the Starjammer - this being The Starjammers and the Imperial Guard - attempt to prepare themselves for an upcoming fight of epic proportions. In a last ditch attempt to call for help, Oracle links with Quasar in an effort to use the M'Kraan crystal as a means of communication between them and Gladiator, the Shi'ar Emperor.

Gladiator barely receives this distress signal, but he recognises the dire peril his collegues must be in if Oracle risked using the crystal as a means of contact (The crystal is in the hands of the Shi'ar), and decides that they need his immediate help.

The scene shifts back to space and members of the Imperial Guard are floating around outside the ship, trying to use some of The Fault's floating debris as a barricade. They haven't got much time, but due to not being detected by The Fault's warships, they have SOME time. Starbolt begins welding pieces together whilst Warstar and other plant mines around on various pieces of space debris. In the middle of all this battle prep, Smasher's attention seems to be caught and he floats off toward something.

Ch'od of The Starjammers contacts them and asks which one decided it would be a good idea to rip out the ships hyperdrive capacitor, to which Praetor quickly dismisses any hint of sabotage. It begins to dawn on them that Smasher has only recently joined the Guard, and becomes a prime suspect. As he re-boards the ship, he is revealed to be none other than Talon, a space-warrior with a group known as The Raptors. He retrieved these amulets that will allow him to spawn three more of himself, with the excuse being that he wants to aid them in their battle. They can't outrun the threat, so they may as well outfight it.

The dialogue in these issues is just brilliant. Abnett, if a little directionless on other titles, always comes through with brilliantly gripping dialogue that marries up with the storytelling perfectly.

Inevitably The Fault's warships detect them and they begin their approach. Let me just say that the art on the creatures from The Fault is absolutely great, the horrifying appearance of these creatures/demons is truly what helps them come across as this demonic threat. The battle is similarly gruesome.

The Fault's ships begin spitting cloned warriors out of their maws - think the Kraken from Pirates of the Caribbean, but red/brown and looking suspiciously like a vagina -, clones that look like the X-Men! The clone of Beast bites into Starbolt causing him to explode and, presumably, die. As the rest of the Guard fight for their lives while those on the ship make further attempts to bolster their firepower, one of the warships draws closer, about to fire something from it's gaping mouth. At this moment, something erupts forcefully from it as if being shot from a gun, severely disabling it.

We see Praetor exclaim great shock at the sight, and the issue ends with him triumphantly announcing: "It's Gladiator!".

THIS is where it all seems to kick off, despite having ONE issue left. It feels like nothing as really happened in ANY of the Realm of Kings titles except the one-shot, and this. Even then, this title has only stepped the gears up within the past two issues.

Regardless, Gladiator finally defying Shi'ar law and entering the battle (An Emperor must never enter combat) made me very happy. I loved seeing him become Emperor as he's one of by boys after all, but he clearly isn't born for it. He's meant to be out there, fighting! Finally, he is. I await the final part pleasantly, even if I feel Realm of Kings is a bit of a missed opportunity. If it ends in March/April like I assumed it did, then it's definitely not really done enough, but we'll see.

If you still haven't picked up or read War of Kings, do so. Get the trade paperback and then, if you desire, you can get this series. Realm of Kings: Inhumans is alright, but I'm really not sure what it has to do with Realm of Kings. I will be better suited to recommend tie-ins and mini-series' when the whole thing is over and I can better understand the purpose of it all.

Overall, Abnett provides yet another lesson in how to write exciting and dramatic cosmic extravaganzas. You could do far worse than to pick up anything he's writing right now.

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In other news, we have THREE more teasers for Marvel's upcoming Secret Avengers series!







Discussions suggest that the most popular front-runners for the first and second ones, respectively, are Scarlet Witch and Noh-Varr. It could be Noh-Varr in his Captain Marvel costume, but I think the only reason the former is being said to be Scarlet Witch is because not many other females have a silhouette like that.

I doubt it's her just based on what she has caused in the past, but I suppose it could be. Though the second one is rumoured to be Captain Marvel, it is a very ambigious silhouette. I have NO idea who the last one could be. I was going to say War Machine, but the severe absense of shoulder minigun and shoulder missile launcher is standing out.

I'm actually thinking that it could be Captain Marvel, and the second one is someone else entirely.

Oh well. Expect to hear from me as soon as they're revealed!

That's it for this week, but as usual I will be back between now and next week with another post or two of some kind.

Thanks for reading, thanks for the interest and thanks for the support.

Until next time, peace.

-The Mast