READ NOVA!

Nuff said!

Post #201 for 2009!

I didn't realize that my last post was #200 for the year. So, in celebration of reaching that lofty number, here's a knock down, drag out, dirty fight between Nightwing and Arsenal from the old Outsiders comic book. Remember, these two are actually close friends! With that said, I'd hate to be one of their enemies!

Only 799 more posts to go to reach my goal of 1,000 posts for the year!

Mighty Avengers #22

Overall- Eh, this was one of those cases where I didn't hate what I read, but I also didn't really care about it either. Before I go any further, here's a quick review of the contents of this comic.

The motley crew of Avengers Scarlet Witch(Wanda Maximoff)summoned to Wundagore Mountain to stop the evil god, Chthon, begin to fall apart practically the moment they get together, with Hulk deciding he wasn't interested in helping anyone, Stature blaming Scarlet Witch for killing her father(the second Ant-Man)and US Agent trying to arrest Hercules and that nasty punk Amadeus Cho. Just for trying to arrest that jackass Cho, I have a new found respect for US Agent.

While these Avengers are falling apart, Chthon, who is in possession of Quicksilver's body is running across the planet, spreading chaos in his wake. Wanda leaves the bickering group when she realizes Iron Man was approaching Wundergore Mountain. Wanda makes it so that Hulk and Iron Man run into each other, which predictably leads to Hulk attacking Iron Man, since Hulk still holds Tony responsible for the death of his wife and(as far as he knows)his unborn son.

Eventually, Hank Pym manages to get the Avengers into some semblance of order and they retreat to strategize. Hank decides with Chthon destroying the Earth, they have to move fast and attack Chthon's stronghold underneath Wundergore Mountain. Hank and the Avengers enter Wundergore and run into Chthon's top lieutenant, Modred. Modred brings the walls to life and has them attack the Avengers. The Avengers have difficulty dealing with the living walls and Bova the cow-woman, who Modred has retained from Wundergore as his personal assistant, tries to strike Modred in the back of the head with a book she's been carrying. Modred sees Bova's attack coming and prevents it. This momentary distraction winds up giving Iron Man, who managed to defeat the Hulk during their battle, the chance to blast Modred into unconsciousness. With that, the ever arrogant Tony Stark dumps Bruce Banner's unconscious body on the floor and announces that he'll take over matters from here... Damn, what an a##hole Stark is! The issue closes with us discovering that Quicksilver's consciousness seems to be trapped within the book Bova was seen clutching throughout this issue.

This comic was OK, it was readable, but it just didn't wow me. I've made a point to say that I think Dan Slott is one of the top comic book writers out there today, but so far, this storyline isn't pleasing me the way Dan's work in "Avengers: The Initiative" did. It could be the team, since I can't stress enough just how much I hate Amadeus Cho. Whenever I even see him in a comic book, I begin to lose interest, that's how much I hate him. I'm also still harboring a grudge(yes, I hold grudges against comic book characters!)against Tony Stark over the way "Civil War" and Captain America's death went down. As far as I'm concerned, Stark is as responsible as the Red Skull when it comes to Steve Rogers death. I never really liked US Agent(once again because of all the crap he put Steve Rogers through), Hercules I can take or leave and Scarlet Witch has been so butchered by the dread LORD BENDIS during Avengers: Disassembled and House of M, I have a hard time as seeing her as anything but a lunatic. I will say that I've always liked Hank Pym, due to the fact that the guy is always a few seconds away from a total nervous breakdown, and I'm also fine with Jocasta hanging around. I really like the fact that Stature and Vision are included here, because I absolutely, positively LOVED the "Young Avengers" series while it was around.

Next issue has the potential to be interesting, since US Agent should consider Iron Man a wanted criminal, as well as the fact that Pym basically blamed Stark for the death of his ex-wife, the Wasp. I'm sure this comic will pick up, Dan always produces good to great work, but I would really like to see some tweaks to this roster. Hell, I'd accept Iron Man with open arms if they'd throw that son of a b#### Cho off the team. With that, I'll give this comic a score of 6 out of 10. This comic was readable, but just never grabbed my attention... Oh well, better luck next month.

Yes, somehow Hawkeye survives this!

The fact that Clint Barton(Hawkeye)managed to survive getting shot like 20 times at once still manages to make me laugh. For a guy with no superpowers, surviving THAT many gunshot wounds is a pretty impressive feat!

Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead? #1

Overall- This comic book basically consisted of 4(very)short stories, which focused on 4 different Gothamites. The first story looked at Vikki Vale, who was writing for the Gotham Gazette newspaper again. Vikki wrote a story about Batman's sudden disappearance, but was more interested about where Bruce Wayne had disappeared to. Vikki begins to hunt for Bruce, but comes up empty at every turn. Finally, after a long day and a fruitless search, Vikki returns to her apartment and finds some roses, champagne and an invitation to a fancy ball, signed by Bruce.

The story then moves on to Stephanie Brown(Spoiler). Steph wants to help fight crime in Gotham, but is still pining for Robin. She watches Robin stop a crime from a distance and thinks back on their rocky relationship. After she gets home, she stares at her Spoiler costume.

Next, we focus on Dr. Leslie Thompkins, who is returning to Gotham after spending the last year in Africa. After checking in to her hotel, Leslie takes a walk around town to get a feel for Gotham now that Batman is gone, and winds up witnessing some of Two-Face's goons springing a couple of inmates from a prison van. Leslie looks to help any injured people and winds up coming face to face with an injured inmate called the Cavalier.

Finally, we look at Harvey Bullock as he attempts to solve a case where a man was decapitated and the wound was cauterized. After returning to the station house, Harvey gets reprimanded by Captain Sawyer, talks to his new partner, Jamie Harper, and then thinks he may have figured out who the perpetrator of the crime was.

And that was it... Was this comic book really necessary? This comic didn't really accomplish anything. First off, putting 4 stories in a regular size comic book is a huge mistake, because the writer, in this case, Fabian Nicieza, doesn't have any time to develop ANY of the stories properly. By the time you blink, you're reading the next story. I really didn't like this comic book, which kind of surprised me, because I like Fabian's work alot, and I'm also partial to Spoiler. For a score, I'll give this comic a 2 1/2 out of 10. If anyone is on the fence about picking this comic up, save your money, it had NOTHING to do with the upcoming "Battle for the Cowl" storyline.

Secret Six #7

Overall- Before I even open the cover and read this comic, allow me to state straightaway that #1, I HOPE this issue finally concludes the Junior/Get Out of Hell Free Card storyline, and #2, I hope that the Mad Hatter doesn't show up inside this book, but if he does, I hope someone kills him as gruesomely as possible. On that happy note, here is a review for Secret Six #7.

I'll start with the basic review and then I'll editorialize a bit. Last issue, Deadshot had stolen the Get Out of Hell Free Card and has left his former(?)teammates battered at a truckstop outside Las Vegas. After stealing the limo the Six were travelling in, Deadshot, along with Tarantula, who Deadshot released from her handcuffs and the dying Bane continue across country as they slowly make their way to Gotham City. Meanwhile, the Six regroup and steal a "disgusting hippie van" as Ragdoll so astutely puts it, and chase after Deadshot and the Card. It should be noted here that last issue it looked like Deadshot killed the Banshee woman and Scandal, but they both survived with only flesh wounds.

Deadshot arrives at a bridge just on the outskirts of Gotham City, and realizes something is drastically wrong, because the bridge is completely deserted. At this very moment, the Six members ram Deadshot's limo with the hippie van and knock Deadshot for a loop. Catman goes after Deadshot and Scandal prevents Tarantula from making an escape. Catman seems poised to kill Deadshot, but before he can, a small army of d-list villains arrive on the scene in order to collect the $20 million bounty on the heads of the Secret Six members.

So, basically, we have a battle royal on the bridge with the Six and Tarantula fighting for their survival against a good 20 some odd villains. In the distance, the Mad Hatter happily watches the carnage, hoping that the Six will meet their end for "betraying" him. Next, Junior(Ragdoll's crazy sister)arrives on the scene and implores the villains to kill the Six if they want to collect the bounty on their heads. On top of that, some stronger villains begin to arrive, and one of them, Komodo, begins to batter Scandal, which the nearly dead Bane can see from his position in Deadshot's limo. In order to save Scandal, who Bane considers to be his "adopted daughter", Bane does what he promised he would never again do and takes some venom. Now powered by the venom, Bane explodes from the limo and begins to walk around breaking villains left and right, since to him, they all look like the Batman.

At this point, Huntress arrives, along with Grace and Zinda, in an attempt to get Catman to abondon the fight and leave with her before even more villains arrive. Catman tells Huntress that no one on the bridge is without sin and that he refuses to leave the bridge without the Card. Huntress realises that Catman still hasn't repented his crimes and that until he does, she can't help him. At this point, Junior once again begins to demand the villains get her the Card. The Mad Hatter arrives to tell Junior that she can't have the Six, he still needs his revenge on them. Bane, still in a drug induced rage, attacks Junior and the rest of the team, including Deadshot, pile on, trying to restrain Junior.

Even with the entire team on her back, Junior still breaks free and tells the assembled villains to kill the Six and retrieve that damn Card! Tarantula jumps on Junior's back and announces that she has the Card, not Deadshot or the Six. While Tarantula and Junior struggle, the assembled group of villains let out a massive blast at Tarantula, which hits Junior as well and flings both of their incinerated bodies off the bridge. With Junior presumably dead, and the Card gone into the cold, murky waters below with Tarantula, Scandal tells the villains there is no reason to continue to fight, since no Junior means no $20 million bounty. The Mad Hatter steps forward and says that things aren't over yet, since he still wants revenge against the Six for their "betrayal". Ragdoll takes Hatter's hat and tosses it off the bridge, and Hatter, being a lunatic, jumps off the bridge after it, hopefully to his death.

The villains are somewhat dubious that Tarantula had the Card, but Deadshot says that during the battle someone swiped it from him and that since he was working with Tarantula, it had to be her. With that, the villains begin to disperse to where ever it is super-villains disperse to and the Six make their way into the beaten up hippie van. The issue ends with us seeing the Card sticking out of Scandal's top, until she tucks it safely away.

HA! So Scandal swiped the card off of Deadshot during the battle. Nice. Overall, this comic had a great fight scene, but also kept the story flowing throughout the big battle. After being somewhat let down by the past few issues of this series, I have to say Gail Simone(writer)redeemed herself in a big way with this issue. Storywise, everything fell into place nicely and Nicola Scott's pencils looked amazing. Considering most of the pages were filled with dozens of characters, Nicola's pencils looked great throughout this entire issue. I usually don't pay much attention to the artwork in a comic book, but Nicola deserves some major props for the amazing job she did here.

I have to say I was pleased with Tarantula's apparent death, since I've really detested her ever since the whole ludicrous rape angle with Nightwing. Good riddance Tarantula, may you stay dead. I was also glad to see the Mad Hatter jump off the bridge as well. Hopefully he'll drown and we won't have to see that idiotic, perverted dwarf anytime soon. I have to admit, coming into this comic I was expecting little, but Gail delivered big time. For a score, I'll give this comic a 8 1/2 out of 10. This issue concluded the Junior storyline in a very satisfying fashion. Great job Gail and Nicola!

Avengers: The Initiative #22

Overall- Ahh... I feel much better now... After reading that horrid Teen Titans #68, this comic book was just what the doctor ordered. Here's the review. The New Warriors engage Ragnarok(The clone of Thor that was created during "Civil War")in the wreckage of Camp Hammond with pretty bad results. Ragnarok tears through the Warriors, as well as the few remaining Initiative members at Camp Hammond. Finally, Gauntlet has enough and rallies the troops behind him, which helps the heroes fight in a more orderly fashion.

Even though this may not be the actual Thor, a clone of Thor is still pretty damn powerful, and Ragnarok continues to take on a dozen or so heroes with no sign of letting up. Eventually, Ragnarok kills one of the Scarlet Spiders, which brings Baron Von Blitzschlag into the fray. When Ragnarok struck the Baron with a blast of electricity last issue, it actually invigorated him, as opposed to killing him. At the Baron's command, the last remaining Scarlet Spider shows Ragnarok holographic images of the Baron and other scientists at Camp Hammond creating and working on him, as well as showing him images of the one true Thor.

These images shake Ragnarok to his very core, and Ragnarok decides that instead of continuing the battle against the Initiative and the New Warriors, he'll confront Thor, who he feels is unworthy of his name and powers. With that, Ragnarok takes to the sky and leaves. With Ragnarok gone, Gauntlet turns his attention to the New Warriors, who are composed of unregistered heroes and members of the Initiative gone AWOL. Before Gauntlet can make a move against the Warriors, Justice tears up the Camp and telekinetically lifts the dead body of the original MVP from the underground laboratory in front of hundreds of citizens and reporters, announcing that the experimentation/desecration of MVP's corpse was ending now.

The other half of the story dealt with the Shadow Initiative in Madipoor, searching for former Initiative member and current leader of Hydra, Hardball. Before the Shadow Initiative can locate Hardball, he gets the drop on them, along with a mess of Hydra agents and his new girlfriend, Scorpion(!).

This comic book was great. It really was. It was action packed(Ragnarok throwing around his lightning was spectacular)and the story didn't disappoint in the least. I especially loved Ragnarok's dialogue throughout this issue, he actually had me chuckling a couple of times with his lines. I have to say that Christos Gage(writer)has been doing a great job with this book since replacing Dan Slott. After reading this comic, I have to say, evil Thor(Ragnarok)is awesome! The way Ragnarok insulted everyone around him with his old school manner of speech was really downright hilarious.

The secondary story with the Shadow Initiative and Hardball is slowly building, and the addition of Scorpion made things even more interesting. I have to say, this comic is still heads and shoulders better than any other Avengers comic on the market today. For a score, I'll go with a very strong 8 1/2 out of 10. I enjoyed this comic immensely, and can't wait to see the confrontation between the Warriors and Gauntlet, as well as the impending battle between the Shadow Initiative and Hardball's forces. The next issue can't come out soon enough!

A rant against Teen Titans #68

Overall- Before I start with the straight up review, I want to say something. I like most of the work I've read from Sean McKeever. I admit that I mainly know Sean's writing though his Marvel work(Gravity, Sentinel and Mystique really stand out), but as a writer, I always thought Sean was very good... Then Sean took over this series, Teen Titans. After reading this comic I sat back and wondered what exactly I did to piss Sean off so badly. Did I run over his dog? Did I throw a rock through his window? Did I spit in his coffee?!? Whatever it was, I want to extend my fullest apology, and beg Sean to fix this comic book series.

OK, that was my overly dramatic way of saying this comic was bad. Real bad. The last year(at least)of this series has been bad. Why oh why is this comic so bad?!? It was this series(well, actually the series that preceded this one, Young Justice)that actually made me begin to read DC comics, after devoting the early years of my life entirely to reading Marvel comic books. Teen Titans will always be special to me, which is why the horrible current direction has been killing me. I can't stress strongly enough how much I HATE the current make-up of this team. After checking out the cover for next issue, my hopes aren't any higher at all... It looks like the new team will consist of Wonder Girl, Kid Eternity, Red Devil, some girl I can't identify, Bombshell, Miss Martian, Blue Beetle and Static... Yes, the Static from the cartoon... Once again, I find myself asking, why?

This comic has officially made its way onto my s###-list. If things don't improve DRASTICALLY immediately following the upcoming "Deathtrap" crossover, I'll be dropping this book. For the record, I hardly EVER give up on a comic book. Through thick and thin, I stick it out and hope things will improve, until things become hopeless... Off the top of my head, I can only remember dropping three comic books over the course of my life, the current Ghost Rider series, Chris Yost's awful New X-Men and Thunderbolts. Basically, Teen Titans is now officially on life support, and I hate to say it, but I think by summertime, I'll be pulling the plug.

As for a review of this comic, I don't have the patience to do a proper one, so I'll be brief. Kid Eternity takes the newly de-powered Red Devil to Hell, so they can figure out why his powers are gone. They travel along and run into some shape-shifting demons... Ho-hum. They arrive at Hell's hall of records and discover that Red Devil never actually signed his contract with Neron... You know, the contract that gave him his powers... Yeah, that makes TONS of sense. So, I guess Neron gave Red Devil his powers because he's really a nice guy? Anyway, Blaze approaches Red Devil and offers to give him his powers back, if he promises to serve her for all of eternity upon reaching his 20th birthday. Since Red Devil's an absolute moron, he gets ready to sign, but is stopped by Kid Eternity. KE transforms into Red Devil's dead aunt, the two have a heart to heart and Red Devil decides not to take Blaze's deal. The end.

As for the "Origins & Omens" part of this book, the future images we see from Scar don't do anything to lift my spirits. Yay, Wonder Girl and Blue Beetle are going to make out! Please.....

This comic series is horrible. I can't put it any more bluntly than that. This current Teen Titans series reminds me alot of "Old Yeller". As much as it breaks my heart, I think it's time to take this series out back and shoot it... For a score, I'll go with a 2 out of 10. I couldn't wait to finish reading this issue.