The Answer! #1

I went into this book thinking I'd get an exciting new character by two of today's hottest up-and-coming creators. What I got was a book with way too many questions. Kind of ironic since the book is entitled The Answer.

The story revolves around a research librarian named Devin MacKenzie, who receives a mysterious puzzle for her birthday. As Devin solves that puzzle, she's led to more puzzles to solve. Meanwhile, we see our hero stopping a convenience store robbery, who then is alerted to Devin's puzzle solving prowess. The Answer must get to Devin before she solves the final puzzle, unleashing a cadre of soldiers upon her. For what purpose? That is the premise of the book.

Frankly, there just wasn't enough here to really care about. This is a new universe we're being introduced to here, and we should have been given some back story into who The Answer is and what makes him tick. With this being only a 4-issue mini series, the answers need to come a lot quicker than they would in a monthly ongoing title. Sure, the next issue could be entirely about The Answer's origin. But by then, I'm not sure if I'm interested. The first issue was too boring to really expect any excitement in the remaining three issues.

The other area I was disappointed in was Mike Norton's art. The cover looks just like his art on Revival, but the interiors were almost sloppy. I don't know if the colors muddied everything up, but it was just very bland overall. And there was a huge coloring mistake where Devin has red hair on the cover, but was blond on the inside. What's the Answer to that??

This series could still end up being a good read because of the talent behind it, but I think it's going to take a lot to turn this whole thing around.

Uncanny X-Force #1

This book most definitely continues the wave of excellence that the term X-Force has been riding the past few years. I have never read anything by Sam Humphries before. In fact, before The Ultimates (which I gave up on long before he took over), I had never heard of him. I didn't hear many things about his run on the book, and the few things I did hear weren't glowing. But he's hooked me right away. He fills in the gaps of what happened after the last incarnation of the team disbanded almost immediately, while still leaving a few questions left to answer to get you to come back for more. You still get a sense that this is what an X-Force book should feel like, but with it's own new take on it.

All of the characters are easily introduced in a way that new readers can get into the groove right away, even if the lesser known characters aren't fleshed out entirely. You get the feeling you'll learn what you need to in the next couple of issues. One of the best attributes of the book is the fact that, so far, all of the characters have back story together. It's not like the readers nor the cast don't know who anybody is. We can get right past introductions and on to the meat of the story right away.

Ron Garney has been a favorite of mine for many a year, and this book really shows you why. He has a way about him that allows him to draw the grittiest of battle-hardened heroes, to the most sexiest of women. In this instance, they are one in the same. His stuff looks the best it has in years. The coloring almost acts like a character itself as well, setting the mood quite exquisitely in each exotic locale.

Rick Remender's run on the last volume of Uncanny X-Force drug on too long. The book needed a fresh perspective. This is without a doubt that. While there are currently two books with the name X-Force on the stands, I feel this one just made itself the true bearer of the name.

Oh, and that last page is sure to get some tongues wagging across the 'Net!

Young Avengers #1

This book didn't really grab me like I hoped it would. I am a huge Jamie McKelvie fan, but Kieron Gillen is hit or miss with me, with mostly misses. But the two of them together really tend to shine. I just couldn't get into this first issue, though.

The characters were really take 'em or leave 'em. First we see Kate Bishop (who I think is still going by the name Hawkeye) and Noh-varr (formerly Marvel Boy, formerly The Protector). Right here is where I have a major problem. Noh-varr seems to have already forgotten he had a somewhat girlfriend on Earth. Granted, it's only the first issue, and maybe we'll get into that, but I feel like it was a topic that should've been brought up immediately upon the reader seeing his actions with Kate. Hopefully Gillen hasn't forgotten that bit in Noh-varr's history, which is not that deeply involved.
Next we get Hulkling and Wiccan. This made the book for me. Their relationship has always been an important part of every previous Young Avengers series. It's never played out just for the fact that it's a gay relationship because that would be very offensive, it's always been about accepting the fact that two people can truly love each other, no matter their sex. Gillen does a fantastic job with Teddy and Billy. Every bit as good as Allan Heinberg, who co-created them.
Finally, we see Kid Loki and Miss America. Loki is as fun as he has been the entire time Gillen has written him. I only read Journey Into Mystery when it crossed-over with New Mutants, but even there you could see Loki as a youngster really should only be written by Gillen. Miss America, on the other hand, has been a boring character since she premiered in Vengeance. There's just not much to her. If Marvel was just looking for a strong Latina character, I really wish they had used Arana. She at least has some history to work with.

It's too early to tell exactly where the plot is going. This first issue set up about three different story lines with no clear hint of where they're heading, or if they connect. I'm going to assume they connect, or why are all these charcters coming together as a team?

At least Jamie McKelvie gave me everything I wanted (and somewhere so did Mike Norton, because he's also credited on art, but for the life of me, I see no difference in art style). I love how bold and clean every panel is. And there are a LOT of panels in this book. It has a very modern look to the storytelling. Without a doubt, I feel the art is the big selling point here.

This Young Avengers series is a far cry from every previous incarnation. I'm not sure every YA fan will be pleased with the new additions to the title. I know I wasn't happy with the subtractions. I still have hope for the book, because Gillen's stories always have a long lead-in to the overall plot. I'm just not sure if the plot is all that interesting to begin with.

Wolverine and the X-Men #24

This issue is what you'd call one of those "Great jumping on points!" And it really is. Nowadays, how many people don't know who Wolverine or the X-Men are? I'd wager very few. There's no need to get into who everybody is at the beginning of every arc anymore. I remember growing up and reading The Punisher, and every six issues you'd be reminded that his family was killed in a mob shootout in Central Park and he killed criminals for vengeance. It got so tiresome. I understand the need to fill in new readers, but in today's world of Google, and websites, and whatever, if the audience needs background info, they can find it easily without being constantly bogged down story-wise every few issues. This issue realizes all of that.

The premise this time is simple: date night. After all the months of crazy things that the X-Men have had to go through, they decide to take a night off to have some fun. We see the teaching staff leave the school to party, leaving Wolverine in charge, which he does not appreciate. Kitty Pryde and Iceman have their first official date, which is about as awkward as a first date can go. Jean Grey and Quentin Quire have a nice little exchange that shows how Jean is adapting to today's youth. And yes, there just might be a kiss that the cover blatantly spoils.

Wolverine and the X-Men has always been a lighter book, which is something you wouldn't expect from Jason Aaron. But I've always felt, since it's beginning, that it's portrayed the X-Men exactly how they've always acted at their core. It makes them human. The X-Men have always been the characters you're supposed to connect with because they could be you. Aaron does a wonderful job making you feel like these characters could be your neighbors, friends, or even family.
David Lopez on art even takes it a step further and draws the majority of the cast in normal clothes, almost making you forget you're reading a superhero book. His style here is almost reminiscent of the old 60's romance comics. He's been doing great with the super heroic action over in X-Men recently, and now he gets to show another side of his fantastic art. Some of his facial expressions he gives Kitty and Jean are priceless.

This isn't the perfect issue to introduce anybody to the X-Men if they're expecting action and wild powers. But it is the perfect issue to show them that the X-Men are more than a team with powers, they are us.

Savage Wolverine #1

It's another Wolverine title! Hooray! I just don't understand how Marvel can keep pitching this idea to anybody anymore. But they do. And they do it with Spider-Man, and DC does it with Superman and Batman. And why do they do that? Because it's a safe sale. Sometimes the titles end up being worth it and sometimes they end up being worthless. It's too soon to say where this title stands.

I didn't hate this book at all. It was fun, gory, and exactly what it's supposed to be: savage. The trouble is, is this the main Wolverine title or is the Paul Cornell/Alan Davis "Wolverine" book the main one? Wolverine does not need two monthly ongoings. He's in Wolverine & the X-Men, Astonishing X-Men, All-New X-Men, Avengers, Uncanny Avengers and now two self-titled books. That's way, way too many to justify two solo books. So one of these will not last. I have a feeling this will be the one to go. Like I said, I didn't hate it (even though I despise Savage Land stories and am sick to death of how many there have been in the Marvel Universe lately), but I feel once Frank Cho is no longer on the book, this title will become pointless. Cho is the strong point with this title. It has everything he's known for. You can see and feel his personal touch all over this book. If you are a fan of Frank, then don't miss this. I really hope he's on the book for a long time, and the Savage Land story is only the first arc. I'd love to see Frank write & draw Logan in Japan, interacting with the Avengers, teaming up with the Punisher, basically anything. But I don't want to see this book without Cho on it. It would become just another watered-down Wolverine title. That's not to belittle any other creator out there. I just feel like the aforementioned Cornell/Davis Wolverine title is going to be the solo book that affects Logan's ongoing history. This Savage Wolverine title should be a series of mini-series only done by Cho.

This is one of the few times I'd suggest picking up the book in trades. I feel like it's going to work best in arcs. Maybe I'm wrong and each successive issue will change my mind into thinking this book will be the main Wolverine title. But for right now, I feel this is a niche Wolverine book. By no means bad, but not entirely worthy of ongoing status.

Superior Spider-Man #1

 

One word to describe the first issue of this new era of Spider-Man's life: amazing. Everyone is going to have their personal opinions of this book before they even read it. Whether you're a long-time fan, casual reader, or this is your first time picking up anything with the name Spider-Man on it. The internet fervor has been widespread. Most of it has been hate. I think that's sadly unfair. You have to go into this series knowing full well this will not be permanent. How much in comics ever is? And this won't be the first. But what it is is an interesting tale, if you give it a chance.

 

This was the first time reading a Spider-Man comic that I felt like I knew what it was like to be in the costume. Marvel's characters have always been more relatable than any other companies'. But this took it one step beyond that. We as the readers are experiencing what it's like to actually be in Peter Parker's shoes along with Otto Octavious. And it's not easy. Would we be able to do it? Would we do it differently? Could we do it better? These are all things the former Doctor Octopus will be figuring out in his new lease on life. He's struggling with things he's never had to deal with before. He's helping innocents where he never would've cared before. He's dealing with relationships he never had the opportunity to do before. And he's getting admiration from the public for the first time. It's a very unique chance to see Spider-Man from behind the mask in a way that's never happened before.

 

Dan Slott being the writer to create this drastic change is a very smart move by Marvel. With their NOW! initiative, almost every creator has switched books, but it was very important for Slott to stay on Spider-Man. He can continue with storylines that have been going on for many months, while at the same time making everything brand new. Ryan Stegman on art is adequate. A bit too rough on the Spider-Man scenes for my taste, but very spot-on with the "Peter Parker" scenes. Hopefully his style improves on the action sequences. 

 

I know most of you are going to be hesitant with trying out this book, but you need to look past your bias and see what Slott has planned. It's a well thought out story that is just beginning. It deserves to be allowed to play out. And if you think Peter Parker's legacy will be trampled upon, I just have two words for you: Last. Page.

New Avengers #1

New Avengers is a misnomer. This book should really be called New Illuminati. And there's not a single thing wrong with that. Unless you didn't like the Illuminati. Which then can I interest you in some All-New X-Men?

Anyways, assuming you did like the Illuminati and are still reading this review, here's the deal. Black Panther takes center stage in this opening salvo. And I do mean salvo, because the action gets hot and heavy pretty much immediately. That pleases me very much. I thought Hickman's Avengers was just way too wordy. I understand that's his deal and writing style, but that's not for me. I never read his Fantastic Four, but I appreciated what he brought to the table with all of the scientific elements that book deserved. But that's not the Avengers. That's a book that should be about global-scale butt-whoopin.' Sure, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner are big brains, but that's why you read their solo titles. With the Avengers, I expect to see huge villains and their nefarious schemes being tackled by a massive group of heroes doing what they do best: fight.

New Avengers started off like Avengers did with a lot of scientific jargon. It almost turned me off. But as soon as T'Challa showed up, the action got going. For as well Hickman writes technical intricacies, he can also write a damn good fight sequence. Black Panther might be one of the best characters for him to write. The character has always been as much brain as he has been brawn. And both qualities were put to the test from the get-go.

This issue set up the threat that the Illuminati will have to tackle. Originally it seemed like this book was going to be another Exiles-style book. But instead, the multi-versal threats are coming to OUR planet, instead of the team going to the other planets. Well, we can't have that, can we? So in steps the team that shouldn't exist to fight the threats no one else can.

This is the first book by Johnathan Hickman that I've actually enjoyed. Again, I'm just not into the scientific stuff. Probably because I never did well in science and math in school. But here, Hickman blends science and action so perfectly, that I can't help to love his style. And having Steve Epting on art is an amazing choice. Steve had been stellar on Captain America the past few years, so it's a treat to see him get to draw so many of Marvel's heavy hitters in one title. One titanic title.

If you love the Avengers, you'll dig New Avengers. If you were like me and thought the Avengers was a bit lacking, try New Avengers. It's what you'd think an Avengers title should be.