Incredible Hulk #12

Jason Aaron's run on the Incredible Hulk has been one of the most disappointing things I've read in a long time. This is a writer who perfectly replaced Garth Ennis on the superb PunisherMAX, who wrote some of the most twisted Wolverine stories ever, and who is writing the current best X-title out there in Wolverine & the X-Men. So when I heard he was taking over the Jade Giant, I figured we'd get some of the most insane, epic brawls the Hulk has ever been in. But what we've gotten is the strangest take on the Banner/Hulk ideal ever. And it has not been good in any way, shape, or form. In fact, the issue that guest-starred the Punisher was one of the worst books I've ever read. The whole "Stay Angry" arc has been a horrible read. Each part has introduced the dumbest elements ever seen in a Hulk book. From mutated dog drug dealers, to Atlantean hicks, to space bears (which I will admit was an absolute hilarious issue), to a city of sasquatches, this has been a painful story to read. Except for this issue. This is the one where we finally see what Aaron could've done with his run.

The issue's main story is nothing we haven't seen a million times: the Hulk vs Wolverine & the Thing. And it's everything you'd expect out of that almost-annual battle. It's non-stop destruction, clobberin,' slashing and smashing. But it's the dialog that made me love this issue. If you read my review of New Avengers #29 (And if you didn't, why not? Don't you like me?), then you know sometimes all you need for a great story is to have great dialog. This issue shows you can have great dialog at the same time as great pummeling. Each character is given an equal amount of time to shine with their fists and their thoughts. The bickering between the three is exactly how you'd imagine these rivals to act. The funniest take on all three.

Carlos Pacheco really nails the brutality and savagery in the combatants. His art starts out smooth and refined, then ends sharp and rugged once the main event unfolds. I think it's his best art since returning to Marvel. I also think Roger Bonet does an exceptional job on inks giving each character the depth in their muscles to show their strength and ferocity. Laura Martin's colors really shine in this issue as well, giving everything a brutal shine with each blow delivered.

So while I can't recommend this entire Incredible Hulk series, or even this whole arc, I can say if you want an issue where three legendary brawlers pound the living snot out of each other while delivering the most killer one-liners, then look no further than this book.

New Avengers #29

My original plan was to review every single part of AvX after I had my first published review on Bleedingcool.com with #0. But the series blew up so big that it seemed like every person on the planet was reading it, so I didn't feel the need to review something everybody already had their hands on. And while that feeling still holds true, this tie-in issue was so good, so powerful, that I had to share my thoughts.

To me, Brian Michael Bendis is one of the best, if not THE best, at giving characterizations. This issue personifies that quite possibly better than anything else he's written. It's easily my favorite of any AvX issue so far, including the main series. It centers around Captain America's calling together of the remaining members of the Illuminati with the hope of talking some sense into Namor. As each member shows up, they all tell Cap how futile an effort it is to expect Namor to actually show up to peace talks. But Cap holds out hope that one of his oldest compatriots will see the light.

The entire issue is nothing but one big conversation, and that is what makes it perfect. Each character's thoughts on the whole AvX battle is truly eye-opening. The reasoning with which Reed Richards explains why he feels the X-Men might be right is a logical surprise. Professor X's inner turmoil about feeling blamed by the others for Cyclops' turn and his own feelings of failing Scott as a father is gut-wrenching. Iron Man's jerkish attitude hides his inability to find a solution to a crisis he feels he created when his weapon spilt the Phoenix into the Phoenix Five. Dr. Strange's slight indifference of doing anything other than taking orders from Cap. And of course, Cap's staunch refusal to believe his teammate is beyond reasoning with.

All of the emotion is brought to life brilliantly by artist Mike Deodato. The facial expressions he gives each character is exactly what you'd expect someone to look like in a real life situation. But that's always been one of Mike's best qualities as an artist; his realism. You can actually believe these people are out there doing these things. Even if it's just sitting around a table debating.

The only problem with this issue, and it's a pretty big one, is I'm not sure when it takes place. All of the Phoenix Five have their powers here, but that hasn't been the case for over a month. And when you factor in Namor's attack on Wakanda, this issue had to be before AvX #7. I just can't place it.

That possible continuity flub should in no way make you pass on reading one of the best written books in years. It's definitely the hands-down best written tie-in of any of these event books that have been the norm for the Big Two the past 8 years or so. Yes, there's really no action in this issue, but sometimes words are the most powerful weapons.

X-Treme X-Men #1

This book is exactly (or should that be x-actly?) what I figured it would be: pointless. There is just no need for this title to exist. It springs from an Astonishing X-Men storyline that was bad, and it doesn't get better here. Didn't we already see this book? Wasn't it called Mutant X? Oh, I'm sorry, I meant Exiles. It's the same old, same old. Just this time we get Dazzler! Hooray. No offense to any Dazzler fans out there. I like Alison. If anything, this gives Dazzler fans exactly what they want. She'll finally get a starring role. But honestly, how long will this book last? It is offered as an on-going, but shouldn't be more than a mini-series. It's too much to expect readers to stick with this book for two years, three years, or more. If this lasts one year, I'll be shocked.

It's not even that the book is bad. There's good dialog, and nice fluid art. But all of that is wasted on an over-used plot. And a plot the X-Men seem to own all to themselves. One of them gets sucked into another dimension and have to team up with that dimension's X-Men to save other dimensions? Oh man, sign me up for that original idea! Sigh.

Greg Pak is a very talented writer. It's sad to see him wasted on a book that shouldn't ever have been made. Why couldn't this just be another arc in Astonishing X-Men, like the story that inspired it? I just don't get it. Maybe Marvel was going to lose the rights to the term "X-Treme X-Men" like they almost did with "X-Factor" almost 15 years ago? It's really the only explanation I have as to why they bothered making this a monthly title.

If you love Dazzler, get this book. By all means, support this so Marvel will continue to actively use her. If you have no interest in her at all, then there's really no need bother with this.

Debris #1

Debris is set in a post-apocalyptic world where resources are a premium and humanity is dwindling. There is an encampment of survivors who struggle to make it in this harsh world. Adding to their troubles of survival are strange creatures that seem to be a mixture of long-lost broken technology and organics. A sort of cybernetic species, if you will. Enter Maya, who has been chosen to protect the camp from these creatures. She is their only hope to ensure their future. But when her mentor, Calista, is killed during an attack, Maya must abide by Calista's final wish and set forth on a journey to find the key to saving the remainder of the populace.

This premise has been seen in variations before. Nothing overly groundbreaking here. The creatures that seem to be made of junk are interesting. There was no backstory to why the world has become this way, why these people are all that is left of what we assume is earth, or even how these robotic creatures came to be. That will be a turn-off to some readers, I'm sure. It would've been nice to learn more about these characters in the first issue so we can learn why we're supposed to care for them. It's hard to worry about whether a character lives or dies if all we get is a lot of action panels with no explanation as to how these situations came to be. Hopefully the second issue sheds light on some of these areas. This is only a four-issue mini-series, so answers need to come fairly quickly.

The art is the selling point to me. I picked it up because I liked what I saw in the preview pages when the book was offered. The style is very similar to something you'd see in Heavy Metal. And it is the perfect style for the rugged, desolate future look this book commands. A lot of sharp points and muted colors to show how bleak this period is.

Overall, I was hoping for a little more out of this. I'm not a big sci-fi fan, but I took a chance with it because the premise seemed a bit new. After reading it, I was disappointed that it had a lot of the same premises that I have seen before. It's not a terrible read, but not much above average either. I'm sticking around since it's only four issues. Those type of books get to their points right away since there's no time to waste. Here's hoping the next issue can resolve some of my doubts.

Danger Girl/G.I. Joe #1

This is a cross-over I never would've guessed in a million years. On one hand you have the world's most elite anti-terrorist organization and on the other you have a group of ultra sexy adventurer chicks. That just screams team-up, doesn't it? Well, guess what? It actually works. It's a surprisingly well-crafted action tale that brings the best qualities of both franchises to the front.

The Joe team is escorting an important transport when they are caught in a Cobra ambush. Scarlett and Flint get caught behind enemy lines, but the Joes can do nothing to save them because the President has suspended the team due to the botched mission. So who can the Joes turn to? Team Danger Girl of course! Seems there's a connection with one of the members and my favorite Joe, Cover Girl. But just as the rescue plan is set, a traitor is revealed! Dun-dun-duuun!

This is another series that is played just for fun. And why not? The current G.I. Joe books are terrific, but they are strictly serious military books. There's nothing wrong with that at all, but this series plays upon the old cartoon tone. The Joes are in their old school uniforms, and the cool vehicles are present. There's a very nostalgic feel to it. The Danger Girl crew doesn't take center stage in this first issue like the Joes do, but the scenes they are in fit their style perfectly.

My one beef with the plot is the fact that the Joe team is suspended in yet another story. For a government that sorely needs the Joes to protect it, they sure love going out of their way to shut them down every chance they get. It makes sense in this case because why else would they need outside help, but it's just been used in so many different incarnations of G.I. Joe that it's really repetitive.

John Royle's artwork is very reminiscent of J. Scott Campbell's style, which makes sense since Campbell is the co-creator of Danger Girl. Royle's art is very action oriented. The best fit for a G.I. Joe title. I wish he had done the last Danger Girl series. That art was very sub par. Not this though. It adds a very cinematic style to the book, something that the Danger Girl books have become known for.

If you're unfamiliar with neither of these franchises, this issue doesn't give you much history of who the players are. That could be a detriment. But if you're knowledgeable with at least one side, you should get a kick out of this series. What starts out seeming like an impossible pairing ends up making more sense than any of the G.I. Joe/Transformers cross-overs!

Revival #1

Revival #1. Buy it. The end.

No, just kidding. Not about the buying part, though. You should definitely do that. In fact, go ahead and do that now. I'll wait here.
La la la. La la la. La la la.
Oh good, you're back. Now don't read it yet, let me tell you why you just bought an amazing book. Then you can read it and see how right I was.

Image has some of the best horror books in the market today. This one has quickly put itself right near the top. It has all the creepy atmosphere, intriguing characters, suspenseful moments, and gore needed to scare the living bejeezus out of you. The last two or three pages really grab you and don't let go. I literally yelled an expletive out loud when I read it. And I read it at work, so talk about awkward.

I'm not going to get into too much detail about the plot. I feel it would spoil a great mystery that the first issue really only hints at. Too many things are spoiled by trailers or solicitations nowadays. Remember before the internet when you didn't know when a character was going to die? Man, those were the days. Everything was exciting. Now we're all jaded before we even read the issue. Just go to any comic site's forums. People hate books just from teaser pictures. It's ridiculous.
Wow, where'd all that come from? Sorry about that. Anyways, what I will say about the plot is that it is not zombies. At least not your typical ones if it has to be classified as zombies. Trust me, it's a pretty fresh take on the horror genre.

The art is really gorgeous. It's a great blend of realistic, yet cartoony. The people look like they could be people you know, yet exist in a fantasy world. And we should all be thankful we don't live in their world. The fact that the entire first issue takes place in the daylight and yet is still as scary as if it took place at midnight is all in thanks to Mike Norton's handiwork.

Norton and writer Tim Seeley have a real winner on their hands. Revival came out the same day as the 100th issue of The Walking Dead. I don't think that was a coincidence. It was a perfect marketing opportunity by Image to get some attention to their next horror icon. Will Revival make it to issue #100? Will it surpass The Walking Dead as the premiere horror comic currently on the stands? I don't have the answers to either of those questions, but I do know it's off to the right start to accomplish both of those things.

Avenging Spider-Man #9

Avenging Spider-Man has kind of started to lose it's purpose anymore. It's still the Spidey team-up book, but I just feel it's really redundant now. With all of the guest-stars that are in Amazing Spider-Man each month, what's the point of this title? Maybe it's just the fact that the last few issues haven't been that great. This latest issue continues that disappointing trend.

This issue was truly crappy. From horrible dialog, to a very uninteresting plot, to a lame new character. I'm not sure if it's because this came out before Captain Marvel #1 and yet takes place AFTER that, or what. All I know is, since this was written by the same writer of the new Captain Marvel book, then that book is not going to last long. I couldn't stand any of the characters in this issue. I didn't care if they won or lost, lived or died. And I like Spider-Man and Carol Danvers. All I cared about was for this issue to be over and to see who Spidey would team-up with next month. Imagine my horror when the dreaded "To be continued" reared it's ugly face on the last page. Ugh.

At least the art was nice. It's by the Dodsons, so that's no shock. But even they couldn't make me care about Carol's new costume. What was wrong with her old costume? Heck, they could've at least put her back in her original one.

On a side note, I will say I like the art on the new Captain Marvel book. So it at least has one good thing going for it. Maybe one of you will tell me if the story and dialog is any good. Change my mind for me people!

Here's to hoping issue #11 comes by a lot quicker so it washes the taste of this arc out of my mouth. But then again, it could also be another disaster in the waiting...

Space: Punisher #1

Yep, this book is exactly as it's title implies; Punisher. In. Space. And it's awesome! When I first heard the announcement for this, I just rolled my eyes. I thought "Here we go again, just over saturating the market with more pointless Punisher junk again like back in the '90's." Now don't get me wrong, I love the Punisher. I have every appearance of his. Every one-shot, on-going, mini-series. Everything. But there comes a time when sometimes I buy the books to finish my collection, not because it's a good read. This was not one of those occasions. This is most definitely a worthy book. The over-the-top wanton destruction is magnified by the fact that it takes place in an area that has no limits. And no, I don't mean space, I mean non-continuity. Sometimes that is the best place for the Punisher to exist. No rules, no limits, no mercy. Only vengeance. Glorious, violent vengeance.

Frank Tieri is a true pro at crafting hardcore, action-packed books. I have no clue why he's not on more monthly titles. If it's not by his choosing, then some companies have some 'splaining to do. Frank does an excellent job with this first issue of not hampering us with a bogged down origin of the Punisher. By now, if you don't know what turned Frank Castle into an unstoppable killing machine, then why are you even reading anything with the name "Punisher" on it? We, as readers, already know why the Punisher does what he does. In this instance, just add "space" and you're done. Presto! Instant bringer of pain.
Anyways, the story is pretty much straight forward. The Punisher is looking for all of the men, or in this case, aliens, that are responsible for the murders of his wife and children. There are six heads of mob families that he is hunting. Each of the mob bosses are an alien version of well-known Marvel villains. And not all are ones you'd expect the Punisher to cross paths with. Tieri does a great job in delivering the action and the requisite attitude you'd expect in a summer blockbuster style of action movie. Don't expect for Shakespeare, expect Stallone.

Mark Texeira is no stranger to the Punisher. He can draw Castle with an intensity few artists ever have been able to. Now with basically no restrictions, his art is even more alive. The explosive scenes of destruction are true masterpieces. Seeing the Punisher take on a hive of symbiote infused Brood is a sight not to be missed. I cannot wait to see his designs for the remaining mob bosses.

This is a very creative series. One that most people wouldn't think would be possible with the character involved and the environment it takes place in. If you're looking for a fun read, this is it by far. The only thing that could've made it better was if it was released under Marvel's adults-only MAX imprint. I think the creative team would've destroyed our eyeballs with awesomeness!!

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #1

There have been tons of '80's cartoon remakes in comic form over the past decade or so. Some have been extremely well done, and some should have been left in the era of my childhood. While it might be too early to say which category this remake falls into, He-Man is at least off to a great start.

Everything you knew about Eternia and it's heroes is thrown out the window in this first issue. Adam is not the Prince of the most powerful kingdom on the planet. He is now a meager woodsman, tending to his sickly father. The shadow of great evil falls over the land, and the closest we see of any heroics is in Adam's dreams. Or are they more than just dreams? That is something Adam tends to find out, so he heads out on a journey to discover answers.

James Robinson has done an excellent job of breathing new life into the fantasy world of Masters of the Universe. He gives us hints of what made the franchise great back in the day, but at the same time, he makes us feel that there's a chance even we could be Adam. Eternia feels more real that it ever has. A world that needs He-Man more than ever. Much like our world today.

Philip Tan's artwork is decent. His scenes bring out a realism in Eternia that makes it seem like it could possibly happen in our world, if we had beastmen and strange mystical beings in our world. The dream sequences are a drawback, though. The art is so rough and unfinished looking that it brings the quality of the book down a bit. I understand it's probably signifying the difference in that universe's fantasy and reality, I just feel it could've looked a bit more refined.

All in all though, He-Man is a great retelling of a classic childhood franchise. Easily enough for a new generation to enjoy as it is for those of us who grew up with it. A real treat!

Avengers vs. X-Men #0

*This review was originally posted on Bleedingcool.com.*

Before I start, let me give a quick introduction. My name is Chris Miller, and I manage Illusions Games and Comics in Salisbury, MD. I've been collecting comics for thirty years, and even owned my own store for six years. I love this industry and everything about it. But hey, you're not here for me, you're here to get an early peek into Marvel's biggest event of the year: Avengers vs. X-Men!

This zero issue is split into two chapters: the first (written by Brian Michael Bendis), focusing on the Scarlet Witch, and the second (written by Jason Aaron), focusing on the mutant messiah, Hope. Both chapters are drawn by one of today's best "good girl" artists, Frank Cho.
We open with the Scarlet Witch making a go at being a solo superhero, as she foils an attempt by M.O.D.O.K. to kill an ex-A.I.M. scientist. Eventually Wanda is joined by Ms. Marvel and Spider-Woman, and the trio dispatch M.O.D.O.K. and his crew. After the dust settles, Ms. Marvel convinces Wanda to come back to Avengers Mansion to catch up with her former teammates. Once arriving there though, not everyone is excited to see their old friend. The Vision immediately confronts Wanda, and a very emotional exchange is had between the two. It's a confrontation that has been brewing since the beginning of Bendis' work on the Avengers. After Wanda leaves the mansion, we are left to wonder if this emotional state is the reason the Phoenix could be drawn to her. The dialog between the ex-lovers is where Bendis shines in his part of the book. People either love or hate Bendis for his copious amounts of dialog, but I really don't think there will be any denying the impact of this sequence. To me, the raw emotion the Vision emits is the most pivotal part of this entire issue.
The book closes with a story about Hope trying to find answers to her purpose for being. She confronts Cyclops about the Phoenix. She knows all about it's history with Jean Grey and what it did to her, and that it's on it's way to Earth. Scott can offer no answers, so Hope storms off to respond to a call from a police scanner. The call is about an attempted bank robbery by the Serpent Society. Hope surprisingly has little trouble taking on the crew single-handedly. But when you think about it, D-Man could probably stop them by himself. It's the Serpent Society, for crying out loud! The fact that Hope could take them down so easily isn't the point here, it's the ferocity in which she does it. Is this the dark side that the Phoenix is attracted to? Is this the reason Hope should be possibly feared more than lauded? Jason Aaron has a great grasp on the nuances of the different X-Men. He has quickly become one of the few writers today that I trust with my beloved X-Men. I think that's what makes he and Bendis the perfect choice for co-writers to begin this whole event. Frank Cho's art compliments their writing style perfectly. He obviously draws beautiful women, and those talents are on display in the first story. But his energy in action sequences is equally exciting, which excels in the second story. It's almost like you can see the crackle of electricity in his pages. I like to think of him as a summer blockbuster artist.
All in all, AvX #0 is an enjoyable opening act. It doesn't exactly answer anything, like why the Phoenix is no longer attached to Jean Grey. I could've sworn I read somewhere that this issue was supposed to give that closure. I either misread that, or Marvel switched gears. What it does however, is set up the two characters who will have the most impact on this entire event. An event that should be a fun read. I say should, because who knows anymore? There's top talent across the board on this project, with all of Marvel's top characters involved. It just seems nowadays that these big events always start out well enough, but eventually deteriorate into "is it over yet?" I don't want to feel that way. I love the X-Men, and am a big Avengers fan thanks to Bendis. I am just going to sit back and see where this story takes us. I've heard the rumors of what might happen post-AvX, but until anything is confirmed, I'm not going to let possible outcomes cloud a fun beginning. This issue starts everything heading in the right direction. I'll be sticking around for what has the potential to be an extremely wild ride.

Avengers Academy #23

I wanted to review this issue when it first came out, but things kept coming up, and issues kept coming out, to the point it felt too late. But with the recent press it's gotten again over the past few days I felt the need to review it still.
My review is only going to focus on one part: the fact that Striker comes out as being gay. This series has always done an exceptional job of portraying young super heroes trying to learn who they are in a world that needs saving. But in this case, the book excels at showing how even heroes have doubts as to who they are. And that fact makes them just like us; human. I have always said that comics, movies, tv, and music help us get through ordeals that talking to people sometimes can't. It's not that we don't have people we can turn to, it's more the fact that unless you're in that person's shoes, you really can't get a feel for what they're going through. But when you see it on film, or hear the lyrics in a song, or read it on the page, your problems are outlined for you. You can see that there's a path out there someone has already walked down, and it gives you hope that you can travel those miles as well.
Striker's case is a common one in today's society. Are the conflicting feelings you have right? There are no right or wrong answers for this. There are only emotions. There will be people that think emotions are wrong. Those people are misguided. You have to decide for yourself what is right for you, not what anybody else says is right for you. This is what Striker learns.
This issue should be commended for treating the subject material in an open, honest way. It doesn't sugarcoat anything, nor does it present a clear-cut answer. What it does is present it in a way that allows you to connect with the character, whether you are straight or gay. A way that hopefully people can turn to and realize that there is hope for every single one of us.

Fables Volume One: Legends in Exile

Admittedly, Fables is a book I was never interested in reading. Fantasy just does not appeal to me, which is funny because of how much I immerse myself in comics. But after thoroughly enjoying ABC's Once Upon a Time and NBC's Grimm, I figured I'd try out the book that influenced those shows. Some would say those programs flat-out ripped-off Fables, but that is not for me to say. If those shows get people to read Fables, then the reader can make up their own mind.
If you've never heard of Fables, the premise is basically what if the characters of the stories we were told as children were real, and they lived in our world after being forced from their own. It's not as straight forward as you think, though. To adapt to our world, these iconic characters have changed their looks to blend in with modern society. So there are no talking wolves or a trio of pigs running around freaking everybody out (they get shipped up north of the city to live in seclusion). They've even set up their own community called Fabletown. Half the fun of each book is trying to figure out who the characters are before they're revealed. Some are obvious, some unfold in time.
Bill Willingham himself has said his idea isn't exactly an original one, but I feel the way it's presented surely is. He gives each well-known character a new attitude that makes each seem new to us. Some have very unexpected modern attitudes. The art in volume one by Lan Medina is an exquisite mixture of childhood tales brought to life with modern stylings. Elegant is a word that fits so many of the pages, especially two-page spreads.
The opening arc ended up being a bit predictable, but I'm not entirely sure if that's because I had heard how it ended already or not. After all, this is not a new series. I hear the series picks up mightily around volume three or four. Sufficed to say, volume one was enough of a treat to keep me coming back already.

Winter Soldier #1

Winter Soldier, or Bucky Barnes to you and me, is a character who has gone through more changes in the past few years than any other character in comics. He was found to be not dead since WWII, he was brainwashed into working for the Soviets, he broke free from his captors, became the new Captain America when Steve Rogers died, and then "died" again during Fear Itself. But he didn't really die. Not everyone in the Marvel Universe knows that fact though. And that brings us to the point of this new series.
Bucky is now hitting the underground, trying to right the wrongs he did as a puppet of the Russians. Along to help him is his current gal pal, the Black Widow. The book is full of the espionage and intrigue you'd expect from the best James Bond movie. Ed Brubaker has taken a character he did not create, and turned him into one that should not be written by anyone else. Bru has such a take on Bucky that fits more perfectly than any writer with any character today. Bru's backed on art by one of his best partners-in-crime, Butch Guice. Butch always fired on all cylinders when he drew Captain America, and he hasn't slowed down one bit here. In fact, he might have even stepped up his game. The book has that atmospheric feel that makes you believe this spy tale could actually happen in our world, even with all the fanastical aspects of the book (you'll see what I mean when you get to the last page). A lot of that atmosphere is in part due to colorist Bettie Breitweiser's amazing talents. Colorists, much like inkers, don't get enough credit when it comes to how well a book looks. The color palette Bettie uses matches Guices moody pencils in a perfect manner. The color plays an important role in this book because you can't have spies believably sneaking around in the light, but you can't also make the pages so dark that the reader can't tell what's happening. There's a perfect blend here.
Winter Soldier is a return to form for Brubaker to me. His current Captain America series has just not clicked with me since the relaunch. This book on the other hand, is exactly what I think of when I think of Bru. To me, Bru + Bucky = brillance.

Ultimate Comics X-Men #6

I've lost a lot of desire for the Ultimate line over the past few years. When Ultimatum came and killed a ton of major characters, I figured that would be a good place to end the line. But Marvel continued with it. The readers, on the other hand, did not. So Marvel decided to redo the line for a third time, this time killing off Spider-Man, and bringing in a lot of new up-and-coming creators. It still hasn't clicked all that well. I used to get the entire line, but with this third outing, I just stuck with my X-Men. It was an easy call for me since I get anything with an "X" on it, and Nick Spencer is writing it. But even that hasn't helped. It just doesn't hold much interest because these aren't the "real" Marvel characters. There's no "Oh no! So-and-so died!" That's why I didn't understand the huge outcry over the new Spider-Man being of African-American/Latino heritage. It wasn't Peter Parker, so why the fuss? This is the perfect universe to do something like that. It's a just big ol' What If?

But this issue is where everything finally clicked. There's been a big plan all along. One that reaches as far back as Ultimatum. And that right there is where the genius of the new blood creators comes through. They're not the type of writers to just give you all the answers on the first page of the first issue. And they shouldn't. What's the point of reading a story if you know how it ends before it starts? That's why so many prequels get it wrong. This issue finally brings some of that grand arc to light. It's a pretty bold one, too. I didn't see it coming. Maybe I should've, but I was caught off guard by it. It's going to be interesting to see how broad this idea is taken. We've seen a slightly similar story in the main Marvel U, but it can never go so far as it can in the Ultimate U.

So if you've been disappointed in the direction of the current Ultimate Comics line, I think this might be the beginning of some very interesting, and very big, developments. Let's just hope the payoff is worth the long build-up.

The Li'l Depressed Boy Volume 0

The Li'l Depressed Boy is one of my top three favorite comics currently. More often than not I can see myself in his shoes. It's a quality that makes you, the reader, care for the character in a way that isn't present in most books. It also has the distinction of being the only book to ever publish one of my letters, so it'll always have a special place with me.
This volume collects the stories that were released as a webcomic years before it became an Image comic. It's rough around the edges, but you can see where LDB grew from. The fact that you can see LDB drawn by a myriad of artists is a unique treat. Each one gives their own special take on our lead, and each style fits the emotions of the particular strip.
LDB is a very emotional comic. Frankly, it's not for everybody. But it should be. There's not a person on this planet that hasn't felt like him or found themselves in one of his situations at least once in their life. He's a character you want to succeed, because if he does, then maybe, just maybe, so will you.

Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha & Omega #1

If you are a fan of the main Wolverine and the X-Men series, then you should not miss this side series. It lets Quentin Quire shine brightly, where he doesn't get the full attention in the main book. Quentin's always been a jerk (to put it "kid-friendly"), but that's what makes him a great character. You can't have every character be your obvious hero, or run-of-the-mill villain. Is Quentin a hero? Nope. But he's not a clear-cut villain, either. That's what makes him interesting. You want to see what mischief he starts.
The mischief he brings about in this series is completely directed at Wolverine, someone who he has a huge problem with currently. Quentin traps Logan and Armor in Logan's mind, for a reason that is yet to be fully explained. Sure, the simple answer is simply to screw with Logan, but nothing is ever simple when it comes to Quentin Quire.
It's good to see Brian Wood back at Marvel. It's been probably over a decade since he's written anything for them. He's still got a great grasp on characters that he has never written before, or written very little of in the past. He immediately makes Quire his own. The story fits it amazingly well with Jason Aaron's main series.
I am torn on the art. I love Mark Brooks' art, so the psychic parts of the story work well. The multitude of inkers is a little jarring, but not distracting. Just...noticeable in certain panels. But, I do not like Roland Boschi's art on the present day parts. I've seen better from him before, so it's disappointing he didn't bring his A game to such a high profile book. I really hope it gets better in subsequent issues, or quite frankly, it could be a huge detraction from the overall series.
But for now, the book is a worthy read. It leaves you with just enough story to satisfy, but also enough "I don't get it" so you'll come back for the answers.