For the week of 8/1 through 8/7!




The first week of August is off to a rather decent, but altogether slow start. However there were a slew of great books this week. I pulled a pretty decent assortment of comics (primarily Marvel) and am currently not regretting it one bit. The list of comics that I pulled that are not getting reviewed is a fairly small one compared to recent weeks. Here is a short run down of those books!

-Hawkeye & Mockingbird() #3 by Jim McCann and David Lopez: The series has been pretty decent far on all accounts. This issue is no different. The one knack of I have is that everyone is treating Hawkeye like he's nothing. What's up with that?
-Secret Warriors #18 by Jonathan Hickman and Alessandro Vitti: Jonthan Hickman is such a great writer (more on that later) and his run so far on Secret Warriors is amazing. This is another solid issue with more action involving Dum Dum Dugan and the Howling Commandos!
-Captain America #608 by Ed Brubaker and Butch Guice: Another solid issue of Cap. Baron Zemo puts his motion of outing Bucky's days as the Winter Soldier is upon us. Great read. Must buy for Cap fans.
-Spitfire One-Shot by Paul Cornell and Elena Casagrande: This is a swan song of sorts of Paul Cornell. His contract with DC comics is no in effect and that's a pretty saddening thing. His run on Captain Britain and the MI13 was amazing. One of the best books of the past ten years. This one shot deals with Spitfire and Blade's trek across NYC to catch a vampire. It's not a very original story, but the way it's delivered is superb. Must-buy.

Now, onto the real reviews!

Shadowland #2 by Andy Diggle and Billy Tan


-Shadowland is off to a pretty slow, weird and overall, mediocre start. We still have no idea why Matt has gone crazy and put Hell’s Kitchen under martial law. He now wants to take over all of New York City. That seems a little bit too ambitious for Daredevil. The main problem with this issue besides the clearly missing plotholes is the fact that the comic is all over the place. One page we are with Marc Spector beating up a cab and the next moment Wilson Fisk is summoning the Ghost Rider. Also, they just had to find a way to fit Spider-Man into the issue when he is really not needed. Not yet, anyways.


-I will say that for all the mishaps in this issue, that the art is something spectacular by Billy Tan. The action is rather laid back from last issues and I didn’t get a sense of boringness from that factor at all. The highlight of the art is the brief use of Ghost Rider. It’s good to see Ghost Rider back in a comic. I’ve been a huge fan of the look of Ghost Rider. It’s badass, but beautiful in a “flaming hell demon” kind of way.


-The biggest problem with the story is why haven’t the higher-ups taken Daredevil out. Wouldn’t it make more sense just to send in Thor and Iron Man and apprehend him very easily? Instead, we have Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Spidey and a bunch of B and C-listers taking on Daredevil and a bunch of ninjas. I’m really hoping that the series gets better because if not, this could be Marvel’s biggest flop of the year.

Overall: 4.0

Avengers Prime #2 by Brian Bendis and Alan Davis


-I’ll admit that after the first issue I thought the problem with this mini-series was Alan Davis’s art. After reading the second Issue, I am going to have to say that I was wrong. The problem is with Bendis’ writing. As much as I like Bendis’s writing style and organization, it just does not work in Asgard. Enchantress’s and Thor’s dialogue just sounds bland and un-Asgardian. There is a certain skill to working with Asgardian creatures and characters. It’s not just something you pick up and start right away.

-Alan Davis’s art is pretty damn sensational. There seems to be some sort of action on every single page, whether it be physical or emotional. His take on Enchantress is pretty sexy yet cruel and violent. Having Steve Rodgers still decked out in his Captain America outfit with pieces of Asgardian armor and weapons overlapping it is a nice touch and looks pretty freakin’ sweet! The best aspect of this issue artistically is a huge two-page splash with Hela. It’s beautifully inked and colored.

-This series was supposed to be about Steve, Tony and Thor getting back to the friends they used to be before all the House of M, Civil War and Disassembled storylines. Instead, we get a bunch of fighting and no making up. Maybe it will happen in the final three issues, but I just expected more interaction between the three and instead we’ve gotten none.

Overall: 7.0

Ultimate Avengers 2 #6 by Mark Millar Leinil Francis Yu
-Every since I’ve gotten into the Ultimate Universe, I have wanted to see the Ultimate reincarnation of Ghost Rider. With Ultimate Avengers 2, I’ve finally gotten it and I’m loving it. Not only Ghost Rider, but Vengeance! And the two have a completely epic fight with the addition of some of the Avengers. It’s an absolute blast to read and Yu’s portrayal of them both is amazing.


-While I wish this series was more than six issues, the story is equally distributed throughout the six issues. Equal time is given to all characters involved not only in this issue, but the entire series. I love that Mark Millar is bringing the Ultimate Universe more into the underworld and darker side of the marvel universe (the next Ultimate Avengers deals with Blade and Vampires!).

-Leinil Francis Yu has been one of the artists Marvel has had to offer for years now. Whether it be this book, Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk or Secret Invasion; his art is never bad. The splash pages with Ghost Rider and Vengeance duking it out have been some of the best pages this year in comics. The only thing I am not too keen on is the ridiculously stupid outfit Frank Castle has to sport. Also, his last few pages in Russia with Frank Castle are just superb on all artistic levels.

-Not many negatives here (or with the series in general) except for the god awful uniform The Punisher has to wear. The way it ended just seemed to abrupt, but I would like to say that I want Marvel doing an Ultimate Punisher series with Millar on board to write. Loads of potential within a book like that.

Overall: 9.0!
S.H.I.E.L.D. #3 by Jonathan Hickman and Dustin Weaver
- Once every few years or so there comes a book that is one of the most innovative and smartest books out there. This year it's Hickman's S.H.I.E.L.D. It fires on all cylinders towards being one of the most well thought out books. Do not expect to fully understand this issue after it reading it only one-time (and the same could be said for both previous issues). This is a series that will make you thing. There is no way around that. While we've seen such historic figures as Galileo and Da Vinci in the recent issues, we get two new ones in this issue; Sir Isaac Newton and Nostradamus.
-Hickman's ability to weave in and out of history with such ease is brilliant. He's giving character to historical figures that previously had no such character all while working them in to a comic book of all things. If I said to you that Galileo was the first human to ever defeat the mighty Galactus, you'd probably think I was crazy, but that is not the case because it is seen here in this issue!

-The issue is narrated brilliantly by Sir Isaac Newton. You learn a few key things about Newton. He is not like the other members of S.H.I.E.L.D. He wants the world to bow to him and his throught process and "greater science". The general characterization of Newton is that of a sick and demented individual bent on proving he is the master of the world. And while the weirdness of him having sex with an alien (yes, an alien) it furthers his character into that of a despot. Among other despicable acts he commits.

-Dustin Weaver's unique style of art is one everyone should be on the lookout for in the future. This dude has some talent and what a book for him to show it on. The various splashes and panels with Galactus are a sight for sore eyes. Wonderfully drawn and even more wonderfully colored by Christina Strain.

Overall: 9.5!!!:a pplause:BOOK OF THE WEEK~~!

Well that's it for this week. Next week seems pretty slow for me. Who knows what I will review. Hope you guys enjoyed it and if there are requests, just let me know!