Marvel Comics April 6th 2011
Annihilators #2
The heroes go onto the planet and start dealing with the black sun problem, Dredd is defeated, and the real reason for the problem arises as the leader Brandy Clark is found responsible. Filled with guilt and wishing to bring her husband home she set this situation up as a trap and was manipulated by the Wraith Queen. Now I don't know that character either as I'm relatively new to the cosmic books, but I get the feeling that this book is reading like a who's who of the cosmic big bads. A nice read and filled with skillfully orchestrated action, that is rightfully over the top. I do question the way the characters converse as the dialogue feels like it's between a bunch of wise cracking teens not between the top "alpha class" powered universe protectors. Still it makes it a fun book to read none the less.
The Rocket Raccoon half of the book continues to be my favorite though. Everything about it from the look of the animals and the stylised pencils to the high joke count just makes it amazing. Raccoon rescues Groot and meets an underground resistance, quite literally underground consisting of woodland creatures etc.
Raccoon offers to liberate them from their oppressive lives but they only want a few more days off a year and some more crap to eat! They then find that the clowns wanted Raccoon to go to the groot world as to set a trap. After defeating them we travel to Halfworld, Rocket's home and find that it is actually a mental asylum. That explains the clowns then, and also his repressed memories of the place.
Fear Itself Book One
I'm sure you've all read or heard enough online for me to not have to recap the story instead I'll go right in with my likes and dislikes. It was a bold move to have Immonen do art on a massive event book. His stylised, graphic visuals may not have the typical comics feel about them, yet in the same way I feel that look will open the book to a wider audience. I am a fan of his work so I couldn't be happier. He has just the right amount of detail for the pages to look crisp and not over crowded. I found it nice for a change that the first issue of a major event didn't go in all guns-a-blazin' and instead looks to be building up some suspense first. The characterisation of everyone seems spot on and if anything you don't see enough of some fan favorite characters and we focused on others too much. But as with all Marvel crossovers we are expected to follow the main characters into their own side-books to keep up with the stories we wish. I would argue that Odin is being too much of a dick, but that may just be his anger and desperation that the Fear all father is loose. Only he knows the ramifications of such an event.
I really love the way that the human side of the story is shown through the book as well. Dotted throughout are short drips of story about a man forced to leave his home thanks to relatable happenings such as job and money loss. He is forced to move away and warns his friend whom is staying in Broxton- joint home of the Norse Gods and the crash landing of Asgard on it's land. As he leaves he gives an ominous warning to his neighbor to start locking his door and later the same character is seen watching the falling lights in the sky- the coming battle hammers of the worthy- and he walks inside his house with his son and the locks it behind him. It's subtle moments like this that seem to be shaping up to be a great build up to a satisfying end game.
I feel like, despite all the tie ins and other spin-off series this Event will have a much more satisfying main story than previous ones.
Fear Itself The Home Front #1
I didn't put a label for each Writer and Artist in this post as there are four short stories in this book and it would have been ridiculous! Needless to say- there are no huge names working on this book. I'm terrible at remembering creator names but I do recognise a few styles.
Wow the Speedball story is a tad heartbreaking. It just shows how realistic it is that people get missinformed and angry and how only what people want to hear gets stuck in the media. I really feel sorry for this guy. The art is beautifully painted, doesn't really suit the action scenes but everything else is great. The tensions built up so high in the first section of story I just want to read more.
The Agents of Atlas are hunting down Neo-Nazi's and it's leading them to the Thule society that was in Fear Itself Prologue, in a hunt for answers. I'm glad that this story is tying together already.
A single page story to show that the riot from Fear Itself Book One, In J. Jonah Jameson's eyes was inspired by Super Heroes.
Then one final story where the art choice is a bit too much of a clash to what was going on at the start of the book. Don't get me wrong I like the anthology books during the events but this one could have done with more consistent art considering the unifying story and the serious nature of it. Another actual front line story featuring just plain old humans and their side of the story. A WWII veteran has had to get a job in a diner as his pension doesn't cut it anymore. Only the diner is filled with tourists come looking for the Norse Gods. Very interesting and I hope there's more human stories in each issue of this maxi series tie in to the main book.
Heroes For Hire #5
Compared to the first few issues all the ingenious ideas seem to have gone and the pace of the story has slowed. I miss the clever crimes that were being solved. It's a shame there was the Puppet master stuff really because if it had kept up that pace then this would be unmissable. This was the last in the first arc I guess but the tables have now turned and the Puppet master is now in a coma after being shot by the punisher. Misty is free and it looks like Paladin has feelings for her. They now have the task of finding out who supplied the Puppet Master with all of the advanced tech.
While a part of my is kinda wanting to follow the rest of it and see where it goes, I honestly give up and I'm dropping this title. Sorry but it was good while it lasted. Shame it couldn't keep the pace that it hit the ground running with. Also that art is still really ugly.
The heroes go onto the planet and start dealing with the black sun problem, Dredd is defeated, and the real reason for the problem arises as the leader Brandy Clark is found responsible. Filled with guilt and wishing to bring her husband home she set this situation up as a trap and was manipulated by the Wraith Queen. Now I don't know that character either as I'm relatively new to the cosmic books, but I get the feeling that this book is reading like a who's who of the cosmic big bads. A nice read and filled with skillfully orchestrated action, that is rightfully over the top. I do question the way the characters converse as the dialogue feels like it's between a bunch of wise cracking teens not between the top "alpha class" powered universe protectors. Still it makes it a fun book to read none the less.
The Rocket Raccoon half of the book continues to be my favorite though. Everything about it from the look of the animals and the stylised pencils to the high joke count just makes it amazing. Raccoon rescues Groot and meets an underground resistance, quite literally underground consisting of woodland creatures etc.
Raccoon offers to liberate them from their oppressive lives but they only want a few more days off a year and some more crap to eat! They then find that the clowns wanted Raccoon to go to the groot world as to set a trap. After defeating them we travel to Halfworld, Rocket's home and find that it is actually a mental asylum. That explains the clowns then, and also his repressed memories of the place.
Fear Itself Book One
I'm sure you've all read or heard enough online for me to not have to recap the story instead I'll go right in with my likes and dislikes. It was a bold move to have Immonen do art on a massive event book. His stylised, graphic visuals may not have the typical comics feel about them, yet in the same way I feel that look will open the book to a wider audience. I am a fan of his work so I couldn't be happier. He has just the right amount of detail for the pages to look crisp and not over crowded. I found it nice for a change that the first issue of a major event didn't go in all guns-a-blazin' and instead looks to be building up some suspense first. The characterisation of everyone seems spot on and if anything you don't see enough of some fan favorite characters and we focused on others too much. But as with all Marvel crossovers we are expected to follow the main characters into their own side-books to keep up with the stories we wish. I would argue that Odin is being too much of a dick, but that may just be his anger and desperation that the Fear all father is loose. Only he knows the ramifications of such an event.
I really love the way that the human side of the story is shown through the book as well. Dotted throughout are short drips of story about a man forced to leave his home thanks to relatable happenings such as job and money loss. He is forced to move away and warns his friend whom is staying in Broxton- joint home of the Norse Gods and the crash landing of Asgard on it's land. As he leaves he gives an ominous warning to his neighbor to start locking his door and later the same character is seen watching the falling lights in the sky- the coming battle hammers of the worthy- and he walks inside his house with his son and the locks it behind him. It's subtle moments like this that seem to be shaping up to be a great build up to a satisfying end game.
I feel like, despite all the tie ins and other spin-off series this Event will have a much more satisfying main story than previous ones.
Fear Itself The Home Front #1
I didn't put a label for each Writer and Artist in this post as there are four short stories in this book and it would have been ridiculous! Needless to say- there are no huge names working on this book. I'm terrible at remembering creator names but I do recognise a few styles.
Wow the Speedball story is a tad heartbreaking. It just shows how realistic it is that people get missinformed and angry and how only what people want to hear gets stuck in the media. I really feel sorry for this guy. The art is beautifully painted, doesn't really suit the action scenes but everything else is great. The tensions built up so high in the first section of story I just want to read more.
The Agents of Atlas are hunting down Neo-Nazi's and it's leading them to the Thule society that was in Fear Itself Prologue, in a hunt for answers. I'm glad that this story is tying together already.
A single page story to show that the riot from Fear Itself Book One, In J. Jonah Jameson's eyes was inspired by Super Heroes.
Then one final story where the art choice is a bit too much of a clash to what was going on at the start of the book. Don't get me wrong I like the anthology books during the events but this one could have done with more consistent art considering the unifying story and the serious nature of it. Another actual front line story featuring just plain old humans and their side of the story. A WWII veteran has had to get a job in a diner as his pension doesn't cut it anymore. Only the diner is filled with tourists come looking for the Norse Gods. Very interesting and I hope there's more human stories in each issue of this maxi series tie in to the main book.
Heroes For Hire #5
Compared to the first few issues all the ingenious ideas seem to have gone and the pace of the story has slowed. I miss the clever crimes that were being solved. It's a shame there was the Puppet master stuff really because if it had kept up that pace then this would be unmissable. This was the last in the first arc I guess but the tables have now turned and the Puppet master is now in a coma after being shot by the punisher. Misty is free and it looks like Paladin has feelings for her. They now have the task of finding out who supplied the Puppet Master with all of the advanced tech.
While a part of my is kinda wanting to follow the rest of it and see where it goes, I honestly give up and I'm dropping this title. Sorry but it was good while it lasted. Shame it couldn't keep the pace that it hit the ground running with. Also that art is still really ugly.
Marvel Comics April 6th 2011
Reviewed by Matt
on
02:50:00
Rating:
Reviewed by Matt
on
02:50:00
Rating:
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