Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite

Issue #4

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Michael Del Mundo

Published: July 2013

I have been shamelessly enjoying this series recently, and jumping at the chance to read each issue that Marvel releases online for free. There’s just something about the sweeping sci-fi world that’s endlessly engaging, and each character introduced thus far has been full of personality, or at the very least, come packaged with enough hints and foreshadowing to their own unique and interesting backstories.

It doesn’t hurt that the art is just painfully beautiful. The sandy textures, the colours, the movement and poses! It’s just a gorgeous-looking series thus far, and I would recommend the great character designs alone. So many unique-looking aliens and creatures! Thankfully, the story continues to be pretty engaging on its own terms, and I like the fact that each issue comes complete with its own small storylines and narratives and characters. I never feel dissatisfied when I finish one, like I’m just waiting for some greater story to start. The build-up is compelling on its own, and while it still very much reads as build-up, the slow introduction to the world is thoroughly enjoyable—and what a vast world it seems to be! Quirky and gritty and diverse all at once.

While I’m really enjoying the very self-contained narratives of each issue, however, I’m also starting to get a bit antsy to see how everything is going to tie together, and how these characters are going to relate to one another. This is maybe my disadvantage as a new fan, but I think it’s testament to how enjoyable this series is that I’m so eager for more.

• Daredevil #172 (v1) to add Nick Manolis.
• Moon Knight #3 (v1) to add Midnight Man and Nedda.
• Daredevil #170 (v1) to add Foggy Nelson.
• Daredevil #168 (v1) to add Eric Slaughter and Foggy Nelson and update Elektra.
• Journey Into Mystery #124 to add Queen Ula and update Thor and Hercules.
• Thor #126 (v1) to add Queen Ula.
• Journey Into Mystery #125 to add Queen Ula.
• Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15 to add Ben Urich and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Savage She-Hulk #9 (v1) to add Jack Wordman, Ultima Wordman and Ralph Hutchins.
• Moon Knight #2 (v1) to add Ray Landers.
• Savage She-Hulk #10 (v1) to add Ultima Wordman and Jack Wordman.
• Human Fly #8 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Human Fly #9 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Fantastic Four #191 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Eternals Annual #1 to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain Britain #37 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain Britain #38 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain Britain #39 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #16 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain #231 to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Tales to Astonish #83 (v1) to update creator listings.
• Uncanny X-Men #148 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #153 (v1) to add issue blurb.
• Captain America #154 (v1) to add issue blurb.
• Captain America #155 (v1) to add issue blurb.
• Captain America #156 (v1) to add issue blurb.
• Thor #205 (v1) to add issue blurb.
• Incredible Hulk #147 (v1) to add issue blurb.
• Captain America #145 (v1) to add issue blurb.
• Captain America #146 (v1) to add issue blurb.

• Marvel Super-Heroes #2e (v2)
• Marvel Super-Heroes #2b (v2)
• Marvel Super-Heroes #2d (v2)
• Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #14 (v3)
• Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #12 (v3)
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #166 (v1)
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #167 (v1)
• Marvel Super-Heroes #2c (v2)
• Marvel Super-Heroes #2a (v2)
• Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #13 (v3)
• Queen Ula

Thor

Issue #364

Written by Walt Simonson, Art by Walt Simonson

Published: February 1986

The opening page proudly titles this story “The Mighty Thor… Croaks!” Oftentimes with older comics like this there’s a certain sense of irony that goes along with one’s enjoyment of it. It’s fun to read comics that conform to campy storytelling standards that would seem ridiculous today (well…maybe). Still, you can usually tell a silver age comic from a modern-day comic through tone alone, for example. This one’s from the late 80s, so it’s not quite as campy as some of the older fare, but it still indulges in pure silliness. Happily, there’s nothing ironic about my enjoyment of this one—this is a funny issue, and the funny is absolutely intended.

There’s just something endlessly charming and riotously hilarious about frog!Thor, with his very serious ‘thinking’ closeups and his old timey dialogue. The flippant tone of the narration—which kindly informs us that they will be translating frog!Thor’s ribbits for those of us who cannot speak ‘the language of the beasts’—also adds to the general hilarity.

Inevitably, with a concept like this, it’s a bit gimmicky. Much of the plotline is taken up by the predictable efforts of frog!Thor to get his friends to realize it’s him. Still, this one is pure goofy fun, and it’s hard to criticize it too much for being predictable. It’s still charming and funny, and that’s what matters.

This kind of comic is such a ‘your mileage may vary’ sort of thing. If you’re the type of person who likes their heroes dark and gritty and angsty, stay away from this one. If you just want to have fun, check it out.

Incredible Hulks

Issue #623

Written by Greg Pak, Art by Dale Eaglesham

Published: April 2011

Boy, Marvel really likes drawing parallels to Planet Hulk and World War Hulk in Hulk-related titles. We’ve had “World War Cho,” World War Hulks, and, over in the red Hulk’s title, Planet Red Hulk. Now we’ve got Planet Savage, which is a bit of a misnomer since we’re still on the planet Earth, albeit in the Savage Land. To the credit of this story arc that begins in The Incredible Hulks #623, at least there is a tie back to Planet Hulk, with Miek and the Warbound making an appearance.

The issue picks up where the last one left off, with the Hulk near death after the beating he took from Zeus. His ex-girlfriend Kate Waynesboro rigs up a super-defibrillator to stabilize the Hulk’s heart, and I have to give a slight nod that she isn’t just shocking a flatline like most media medics do when they use a defibrillator. Leave it to a comic book involving a green monster lying near death after fighting a Greek god to show the use of a defibrillator in a more realistic light than any medical drama.

The Hulk’s weakened state means a couple of things. First, he’s not able to transform back to Bruce Banner lest he dies from his wounds. Second, he’s much more vulnerable than we’ve seen anywhere in Greg Pak’s run. The Hulk gets a message from his old ally Ka-Zar in the Savage Land, who informs him that Miek’s bug refugees from World War Hulk have been wreaking havoc in the area. That means that it’s time to leave the Hulk family behind, save for Skaar, and journey with the Warbound to face off against Miek.

Unfortunately for the Hulk, Miek has a bit more cunning than he’s previously displayed. A traitor poisons the Hulk’s company’s food, rendering them all unconscious. This is probably Miek taking advantage of the Hulk’s weakened state, since it’s unlikely he’d be so easily captured otherwise. Skaar, Ka-Zar, and the rest of the Warbound sleep the night away while the Hulk is brought before Miek as a prisoner.

This is a buildup issue, but it’s done very well. First of all, we jump right into the action due to the fact that the story picks up right after Godsmash, and even if you didn’t read the previous issue you’ve got a decent idea of what’s going on. The Hulk has some nice character moments, particularly when he leaves Betty behind to go to the Savage Land and they have a talk/fight on his way out. It’s also interesting to see the Hulk in such a weakened state, since for most of Pak’s run he’s been stronger than he ever has been before. The art is solid, although Dale Eagleham’s pencils make the current Hulk look like the more intelligent merged Hulk that showed up throughout the 1990s as part of Peter David’s run. Other than that, though, the Savage Land is rendered beautifully.

Overall, The Incredible Hulks #623 is one of the better kickoffs to a new storyline that Marvel has had lately, and it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re keen on seeing a continuation of the Planet Hulk saga or are just a fan of the Incredible One in general.

Justice League of America

Issue #2

Written by Mark Kindt, Art by Scott Clark

Published: May 2013

Leave it to DC all-star Geoff Johns to take a team of second stringers and make them more interesting and compelling than the actual Justice League. Justice League of America contains some big names like Martian Manhunter, Catwoman, and Hawkman, but then there’s also Stargirl and Vibe. The team that’s been put together is an effective one, but whether or not they could stop the Justice League – which, unknown to them, is the purpose of the team – seems very likely, at least at this stage.

In this issue, the Justice League of America gets an official endorsement from the President of the United States that stems from a scene very reminiscent of the opening scene in X2: X-Men United. Martian Manhunter bypasses all of the White House’s defenses to show that he could easily kill the President, leaving him with no other option but to back the team. It’s dirty pool, but that’s what makes this book and these characters so compelling. They do have the country’s best interest in mind, but they will cut corners to get there.

Then there’s the Secret Society, the current antagonists of the book. The one member whom we’ve seen looks like a cross between the Joker, the Riddler, and Bruce Wayne’s butler Alfred Pennyworth. Whatever his visual inspirations, the effect works and he’s very intimidating, managing to the be the scarier character when side-by-side with the Scarecrow. Johns is definitely doing a good job in drumming up interest in the Secret Society.

So we’ve got two teams, one full of heroes and the other villains, both incredibly shady. It’s definitely a solid foundation and there’s a lot of potential with this mix of characters. I have the utmost faith in Johns to take this book somewhere worthwhile.

Uncanny Avengers

Issue #8

Written by Rick Remender, Art by Daniel Acuna

Published: July 2013

• Captain America #361a (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #10a to follow Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #9a.
• Captain America #362a (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Captain America #363a (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Captain America #364a (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Captain America #358b (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Captain America #359b (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Captain America #360b (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Captain America #361b (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Captain America #362b (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Captain America #363b (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Captain America #364b (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Punisher War Journal #9 (v1) to follow Punisher War Journal #8 (v1).
• Uncanny X-Men #144 (v1) to follow Defenders #95 (v1).
• Amazing Spider-Man #317 (v1) to follow Amazing Spider-Man #316 (v1).
• Amazing Spider-Man #316 (v1) to follow Amazing Spider-Man #315 (v1).
• Web of Spider-Man #55 (v1) to follow The Spectacular Spider-Man #154 (v1).
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #154 (v1) to follow Web of Spider-Man #54 (v1).
• Web of Spider-Man #54 (v1) to follow The Spectacular Spider-Man #153 (v1).
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #153 (v1) to follow Web of Spider-Man #53 (v1).
• Web of Spider-Man #53 (v1) to follow The Spectacular Spider-Man #152 (v1).
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #152 (v1) to follow The Spectacular Spider-Man #151 (v1).
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #151 (v1) to follow Web of Spider-Man #52 (v1).
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #150 (v1) to follow Web of Spider-Man #50 (v1).
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #157 (v1) to follow The Spectacular Spider-Man #156 (v1).
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #156 (v1) to follow The Spectacular Spider-Man #155 (v1).
• The Spectacular Spider-Man #155 (v1) to follow Amazing Spider-Man #320 (v1).
• Shadowmasters #4 to follow Shadowmasters #3.
• Shadowmasters #3 to follow Shadowmasters #2.
• Shadowmasters #2 to follow Shadowmasters #1.
• Shadowmasters #1 to follow Punisher War Journal #8 (v1).
• Captain America #357b (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Captain America #358a (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Captain America #359a (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.
• Captain America #360a (v1) to follow Fantastic Four Annual #22a.

• Moon Knight #10 (v1) to add Bertrand Crawley and Gena Landers and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #57 (v1) to add Nathan Lubensky and Hobgoblin and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Master of Kung Fu #103 to add Juliette and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Micronauts #32 (v1) to add Microtron and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Savage She-Hulk #6 (v1) to add Ralph Hutchins.
• Captain America #258 (v1) to add Heat-Ray.
• Rom #21a to add Pamela Quinn, Brandy Clark, Steve Jackson, Jonathan Clark, Eddie Harris, Maggie Jones and Sarah Clark and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Marvel Two-in-One #78 to add Human Torch, Rebecca Blake, Foggy Nelson, Daredevil, Beast, Alicia Masters, Franklin Richards, Invisible Woman, Mr. Fantastic and Xemnu and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Marvel Team-Up Annual #4 to add Nick Manolis and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Marvel Comics Presents #51a (v1) to add Wild Child, Vindicator and Wolverine and to update creator listings and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Savage She-Hulk #19 (v1) to add Dennis Bukowski and Daniel Ridge Jr and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Strange Tales #154 (v1) to add Sayge.
• Marvel Team-Up #108 (v1) to add Philip Chang and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Marvel Premiere #61 to add Ship (Starlord) and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Power Man and Iron Fist #72 (v1) to add Jennifer Royce and Chaka Khan (Robert Hao) and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain Marvel #58 (v1) to add Stellarax.
• Rom #21b to add Terminator (Mentus Servant) and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Spider-Woman #39 (v1) to update Deathstroke and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Nova #6 (v1) to update Sayge.
• X-Men Annual #13b to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Amazing Spider-Man #112 (v1) to remove Ben Parker and .
• Human Fly #2 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain Marvel #59 (v1) to update Stellarax.
• Marvel Graphic Novel #50 to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Marvel Team-Up #85 (v1) to update Clay Quartermain and Nick Fury.
• Marvel Team-Up #84 (v1) to update Clay Quartermain and Nick Fury.
• Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #14 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Incredible Hulk #209 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).

• Marvel Comics Presents #52d (v1)
• Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #9a
• Marvel Comics Presents #51d (v1)
• The Mutant Misadventures of Cloak and Dagger #13
• New Mutants #90 (v1)
• The Mutant Misadventures of Cloak and Dagger #12
• Marvel Comics Presents #51c (v1)
• Marvel Comics Presents #52c (v1)
• Marvel Comics Presents #52a (v1)
• Marvel Comics Presents #53a (v1)
• Nedda
• Ray Landers
• Ultima Wordman
• Midnight Man
• Jack Wordman
• Ralph Hutchins
• Heat-Ray
• Thermo

Superior Spider-Man

Issue #9

Written by Dan Slott, Art by Humberto Ramos

Published: July 2013

Which each issue of Superior Spider-Man that I read, I’m further amazed at how much I’ve come full circle on the comic. Like the legions of fans out there, I was upset at Dan Slott for the crazy stunt that he pulled. In my defense, I didn’t foam at the mouth or send him death threats or anything else that the “crazy” fans did, but I certainly wasn’t happy about it. I was afraid that it would end up like Brand New Day, forcing Marvel in a sloppy ret-con. Nine issues in, however, and I really think Slott might pull this off.

Regardless of how this all ends up, Superior Spider-Man has turned into one hell of a comic, and issue nine is the most emotionally charged yet. Octavius has discovered that a part of Peter Parker’s psyche is still alive in the back of his mind and is planning to use his neurolitic scanner to wipe him out of existence completely. What follows is a mental showdown between Spidey and Doc Ock, where Ock begins systematically – and permanently – erasing Peter’s memories.

Overall it was a really sad issue, but a few moments in there were absolutely heartbreaking. Peter forgetting Gwen’s dad’s name, then forgetting Uncle Ben; it was brutal. And to have it all end with him forgetting his own name was the perfect touch. I’m a sucker for tragedy and at this point I think I could sue Dan Slott for emotional abuse.

So Peter Parker is gone. The last fragments of him buried deep in what used to be his brain have been wiped out and all that remains is Otto Octavius. Obviously Peter is going to be back, and probably soon rather than later, but I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen next, and I find that very, very exciting.

• Captain America #332 (v1) to follow Captain America #331 (v1).

• Spider-Woman #39 (v1) to add Deathstroke.
• Dazzler #5 (v1) to add Paul Jansen.
• Micronauts #29 (v1) to add Queen Esmera and Dagon.
• Marvel Premiere #14 to add Lancelot.
• Spider-Woman #41 (v1) to add King Arthur and Lancelot.
• Moon Knight #1 (v1) to add Samuels.
• Ka-Zar the Savage #5 to add Tongah and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Ghost Rider #59 (v2) to add Moondark and Aqueduct and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Amazing Spider-Man #112 (v1) to add Ben Parker.
• Havok and Wolverine: Meltdown #4 to add Scarlett McKenzie and remove Quark.
• Iron Man #149 (v1) to add Yvette Avril and to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #355 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Avengers #316 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #335 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Avengers #317 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Avengers #318 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #350b (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #350a (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #349 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #336 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #337 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #338 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #339 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #340 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #341a (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #341b (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #342 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #343 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #344 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #345 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #346 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #347 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #348 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #334 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Marvel Two-in-One #48 to update Machinesmith, Agent Martins and Thing and update SHIELD.
• Marvel Two-in-One #50 to update Thing and Mr. Fantastic.
• Doctor Strange #35 (v2) to update Dweller-in-Darkness and Ludi.
• Doctor Strange #36 (v2) to update Dweller-in-Darkness.
• Doctor Strange #37 (v2) to update Dweller-in-Darkness and DSpayre.
• Moon Knight #2 (v1) to update Frenchie.
• Marvel Team-Up #82 (v1) to update Nick Fury and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and update SHIELD.
• Marvel Team-Up #83 (v1) to update Nick Fury, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Clay Quartermain, Jasper Sitwell, Viper, and update SHIELD.
• Marvel Premiere #44 to update Agent Martins and update SHIELD.
• Captain America #144 (v1) to update creator listings.
• Sensational She-Hulk #14 to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• The Hulk! #26 to update creator listings.
• Marvel Two-in-One #47 to update Thing, Human Torch, Invisible Woman, Mr. Fantastic and Machinesmith.
• Captain America #311 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #318 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #319 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #320 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #326 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #328 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #332 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).
• Captain America #333 (v1) to update general comic information (story title, page count, etc).

• Marvel Comics Presents #50c (v1)
• Marvel Comics Presents #51a (v1)
• Marvel Comics Presents #50d (v1)
• Marvel Comics Presents #51b (v1)
• Marvel Comics Presents #53b (v1)
• Marvel Comics Presents #50b (v1)
• Marvel Comics Presents #52b (v1)
• Paul Jansen
• Lancelot
• Deathstroke

Death’s Head

Issue #9

Written by Simon Furman, Art by Geoff Senior

Published: August 1989

Death’s head is a badass and despite the fact that he doesn’t manage to land a single punch in this issue his sheer badassery makes him seem awesome while doing it.  In this issue Deaths head is ditched in the past by that double dealing master trickster Dr Who. Who left Deaths Head on top of the Fantastic Fours headquarters in modern times (read 1989) rather than deaths head natural terrain of the 2800’s. The FF’s defense systems immediately open fire of course. What follows is fairly short & straightforward issue wherein deaths head has to team up with the FF in order to defeat the buildings defense systems gone haywire. Eventually Deaths head save Franklin and Reed uses the FF’s time machine to send Deaths Head back to the future. Unfortunately deaths head manages to mess that up by saying to Reed that he kills people for a living and Reed sends Deaths Head to 2020 by accident. Deaths Head just couldn’t resist that parting shot and it cost him big.

Not a lot happening is this issue as its only 23 pages long. We see some interesting character development when Deaths Head saves Franklin. It is implied that he saved Franklin due to some fleeting moment of sympathy with him but we also know that Deaths Head was planning to save him anyway because he had the suspicion that letting the FF’s son die when he needed access to their time machine might be a bad idea. So while his emotions exist and he barely lets them change his course of action, he still does the most pragmatic thing. This is part of what makes Deaths Head such a refreshing change from other protagonists, he’s a bounty hunter, or freelance peacekeeping agent as he would say, who kills people for money and he generally works for villains against other villains. A hero would charge in without a thought and save the kid, while many villains would abandon Franklin equally thoughtlessly and without thinking of the consequences. Deaths Head strikes a balance and he’s always got a plan backed up with a big gun. He won’t kill children for nickels but neither does he make it his business to save them for free.  This comic is while worth reading, yes?