I like Hine continuing the story from Son of M here, and I think his characterization, particularly of Black Bolt and Maximus, is fabulous. That said...moreI like Hine continuing the story from Son of M here, and I think his characterization, particularly of Black Bolt and Maximus, is fabulous. That said it doesn't really hang together as well as Son of M, storytelling-wise. Part of that might be Irving's art, which is quite lovely, but doesn't really work for me narratively.
Plus this led into Secret Invasion which is pretty cool--and I actually read before I read this, because I had a hard time getting my hands on it until recently.(less)
**spoiler alert** This is a difficult one to rate. When I read the issues after House of M it was kind of a rough go for me, because I was still a bit...more**spoiler alert** This is a difficult one to rate. When I read the issues after House of M it was kind of a rough go for me, because I was still a bit O.o over the whole thing. Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are some of my all time favorite characters, so yeah, my Maximoff Feels were out of control. I was looking for some kind of closure, or at least a step in some direction for Pietro after that complete mess. That made Son of M unsatisfying to me at the time, but that's more my expectation than anything else. I'm not a huge fan of the art, either--though the storytelling is fine, the lines themselves are choppy and not to my taste. The covers are some of the most beautiful ever, though.
I finally managed to get my hands on the trade and read it all through at once, though, and this reading changed my mind. (Emotional distance from Maximoff Feels? POSSIBLY.) For one, having re-read a bunch of old Avengers, Quicksilver, and X-Factor stuff at once recently (as you do...), I gotta say that I really like how Hine took, um, well, Quicksilver into account here. Everything that happens here basically makes me just go, "Yep, well, obviously..." So I like the characterization, in terms of "here's Pietro at his most screwed." (It's not actually, but you know. Up to this point.)
Though its not really a complete character arc for Pietro, it does what it's meant to do in dealing with him immediately post House of M. Seeing as he has effectively broken the world and been beaten to death by his father in an attempt to simply not lose his sister, and now he has anyhow... well, things are likely to go badly, right? It is mainly annoying to see Magneto have the high moral ground, but, well, at this point he does. So what can you do?
Pietro, you done screwed up. It's only right you should pay; it just hurts to watch you start to do so by screwing up more people--especially your daughter :/
I just re-read this in trade format and... yeah. I'd kind of forgotten just how good it really was. Damn, dude. It's all been said, and years ago, but...moreI just re-read this in trade format and... yeah. I'd kind of forgotten just how good it really was. Damn, dude. It's all been said, and years ago, but... yeah.
Dammit, Maximoff Feels all over the place right now.(less)
The old-school early-eighties style is a little bit thick (exposition exposition...), but this is must-read stuff for Scarlet Witch fans. Classic and...moreThe old-school early-eighties style is a little bit thick (exposition exposition...), but this is must-read stuff for Scarlet Witch fans. Classic and pretty decently paced. I'd probably give it three stars if I wasn't so desperate for someone writing Wanda-as-Wanda, but considering the current climate for her... I am.
Leonardi's pencils in the mini make me super nostalgic. Really pretty stuff.
Not quite as coherent an arc as the ones surrounding it, but since I really like Fantomex, I was pretty into it. Great stuff, good art, nothing to com...moreNot quite as coherent an arc as the ones surrounding it, but since I really like Fantomex, I was pretty into it. Great stuff, good art, nothing to complain about.(less)
Got to be one of my favorite line-ups ever: Archangel, Psylocke, Deadpool, Fantomex, Wolverine. Yeah, okay, I'm not a huge Wolverine fan, but this is...moreGot to be one of my favorite line-ups ever: Archangel, Psylocke, Deadpool, Fantomex, Wolverine. Yeah, okay, I'm not a huge Wolverine fan, but this is the team he was meant for.
I actually read the Dark Angel Saga before this, but that didn't ruin things for me. Loved this story, loved the way it was written, love each of the characters for being so THEM, loved the ending. Also: adore the art. Opena's Psylocke is unbeatable.(less)
This is my second Season One graphic novel and I thought it was great. I have read, read, and re-read the FF origin story as much as the X-Men one, bu...moreThis is my second Season One graphic novel and I thought it was great. I have read, read, and re-read the FF origin story as much as the X-Men one, but the idea here is to keep things intact while updating it--unlike, for example, in the Ultimate universe, where things were changed up. I think the FF in particular benefits from the method. Their 616 origin is a particularly silly one (cosmic rays!) and what follows in S1 is appropriately cracktastic. Because that is, and has always been, what makes the FF awesome.
Aguirre-Sacasa gets that. He handles the story extremely well, and I'll be on the lookout for more. Marquez's art is expressive and at times even pretty. Most importantly, it's imbued with consistent personality and a great sense of storytelling. It's a complete package.
Again, I don't think these books are of much interest to anyone but new comic readers and die-hard fans of certain franchises. For me, totally worth the cash. Bonus points again for Marvel handing out digital versions for your app along with the hardback purchase. I actually read it on my iPad while I was working out and it was glorious. (Except it's hard to bike when laughing.)(less)
There's nothing new here with the story, but, I mean, it's SUPPOSED to be a retelling of stuff we already know, so that's all right. I like the random...moreThere's nothing new here with the story, but, I mean, it's SUPPOSED to be a retelling of stuff we already know, so that's all right. I like the random teen drama, because that's what made the X-Men so fun in their early years, and I like the change-up in the Warren/Jean/Scott thing. I loved the characterization on all five and the script was fun entertaining. Also love that Jean is effectively our PoV and all, "So, Xavier's creepy and these boys are dumb." <3 <3 <3
I wish we could've seen more about Bobby and Scott's life before. Feels like we at least got glimpses at Warren, Jean, and Hank's. I dunno, that's probably pretty random, but I feel like it made Bobby and Scott flatter than the other three, which they totally are not. (And again, characterization was perfect.)
That said, it art is f#@kin' glorious and gets it an extra star. Admittedly I am biased because McKelvie's wizardry with body language and his beautiful, clean lines have long since predisposed me toward his art. But hey. Whatever.
This'd be a great intro for people unfamiliar with the X-Men. I really like the First Class comics, but just as a sort of "classic" version, this is where its at.
Extra points to Marvel for giving us a download code for the Marvel app with the hardcover buy. Thanks, y'all. Made my day.(less)
**spoiler alert** Okay, here's the thing -- I am so, so biased. This revolves around my favorite f*cked up Marvel family, so of course I thought it wa...more**spoiler alert** Okay, here's the thing -- I am so, so biased. This revolves around my favorite f*cked up Marvel family, so of course I thought it was completely awesome. Also, the writing was lovely. So here, how about a list of my highlights:
-Tommy cockblocking Billy and Teddy. -Everything Spidey says ever. -The Von Trapp Young Avengers. Bonus points for Tommy in lederhosen. -WUNDAGORE OMG lovelovelove. -Quicksilver vs. Speed. (It's like he wrote it JUST FOR ME.) -Teddy offering to break Pietro's legs. (Also from the Protective Boyfriend Department: Shatty offering to murder Wanda if Rictor got all screwed up later.) -Everything about how Wanda was written, but particularly the part where she cops to everything without flinching. -Scott and Cassie. I might've teared up. Shut up. -Hawkeye and Hawkeye moment! Yaaaaaaaay! (Really want Kate to be able to land one on Tommy next time he says, "Hawkette".) -Tony: "That is the noise Pietro makes right before he's tossed out of the airlock." -"Madrox is right, Rictor." "Never say that out loud." "Too late." Oh, Jamie, Ric loves you. -Speed and Wiccan calling Cyke out on his bullshit. Word. -Eli and his naysaying. I love that little pessimist like you would not believe. -Tommy at the very end, all desperate to go heroing. Bonus points to the ever-patient Teddy -- also very well written to show you exactly what he's thinking without him having to say it. -Teddy and his bass-ackwards proposal. Oh dear. (Normally I'd be like, "You're SIXTEEN!" but they are clearly going to be together forever and everyone knows it so whatever.)
Also, I gotta say, nice job with the backstory stuff -- not just as it relates to Wanda, but also for Doom, etc. That's easy to either make annoying for the people who already know it or confusing for the people who don't, and I thought it was perfectly handled to make this collection/storyline self-contained. In spite of it pretty much just being about trying to sort out past screw-ups.
And lowlights: -Wait, so Wolverine is gung-ho to kill Billy, but he brings Genesis to the Jean Grey School without batting an eyelash? Really? (I know this is more of a 2 writers, 1 character thing, but seriously.) -I didn't quite follow the Doom thing in the end with the life force. I wanted to, but it didn't really work for me. -Scott and -- CASSIE WTF! I definitely teared up. :( Okay so it's not exactly a lowlight but... but... waaaaaah! -The little additional things tacked on at the end -- the Magneto and alternate timestream Iron Lad prequels... eh. I get why they put them in, but I didn't really care and didn't think they were particularly well written or drawn. -The implication that it wasn't Wanda. I'm so sick to death of this EXACT retcon device. I loved that she was like, "Yeah, I did it, and I should try and make it right." Dammit.
But yeah, I'm still giving it 5 stars. I'd probably say 4 1/2, but the art, oh, I love you, Cheung. So hard.
(He draws a superhot Scott Lang, incidentally. Just putting that out there.)(less)
This was bad-ass. I enjoyed the build-up, which had some incredible writing and art, but the story just wasn't gelling for me. These issues were heart...moreThis was bad-ass. I enjoyed the build-up, which had some incredible writing and art, but the story just wasn't gelling for me. These issues were heart-pounding, throat-grabbing, eye-burning awesome, and somehow maintained a perfect flow the whole time. Great writing -- perfect characterization on everyone. I don't want to say much, but I really like the way the ideas of apocalypse (small "a") and love are dealt with here.
And the art is gorgeous. Psylocke in particular is wonderfully done, which is nice to see, since she's one of Marvel's Most Contorted. Archangel was breathtakingly scary and -- yeah. Everyone. Fabulous.
I read this knowing the basic idea of the outcome, both from spoilers (which I encouraged!) and reading the current Wolverine and the X-Men book monthly, but I actually feel an emotional attachment to the whole thing now. It's hard to re-break a toy that's been broken this many times (yes, Warren, I'm looking at you) and still make it work, but Remender does it with style.
Also, thank god Deadpool was in this to make me laugh. Without him pining for Mr. Crusty-Bottoms and snarking with Fantomex, I probably would've cried a lot. True story.(less)
Avengers Academy is addictive and absurd and wonderful. It's like comics crack, I swear. I love all the kids, I love all the redemption storylines for...moreAvengers Academy is addictive and absurd and wonderful. It's like comics crack, I swear. I love all the kids, I love all the redemption storylines for the teachers -- oh, also, Quicksilver, who doesn't need your redemption, but will humor your need to learn things if it means you'll shut up and leave him alone thankyouverymuch. (Not that he cares, because he doesn't, except he does.)
Some pretty cool and massive battles, and some deft handling of really srs bznss by Gage. Bonus points because, uh, honestly... I teared up on the page with Hazmat taking off her helmet and leaning on Mettle on the couch. Cuz dude. Come on. That was great.
Great book -- best of Marvel these days, for sure. Dying for the next one, now.(less)
I really, really like AoA stuff, first of all. Second, I love stories about people going to absurd lengths to save their friends. Third, I love Angel/...moreI really, really like AoA stuff, first of all. Second, I love stories about people going to absurd lengths to save their friends. Third, I love Angel/Archangel/whatever at pretty much all times. Angel + Psylocke = even better. Hell, even Wolverine had some awesome moments and didn't bore me to tears in this...
Except when he was chasing after AoA Jean. Ho hum.
Wasn't that into the art on this one -- not just the pencils but the actual page layout was kind of weird for me. But it wasn't distracting or bad or anything, just not my favorite.
Anyhow, this was a cool setup, and I'm excited for the second one to ship now. So yay!(less)
2.5 stars by averaging the two major arcs, and I usually round up, but this left a bad taste in my mouth.
The first story with Angelville was the kind...more2.5 stars by averaging the two major arcs, and I usually round up, but this left a bad taste in my mouth.
The first story with Angelville was the kind of pulptastic awesome I expected when I read the first book. Depraved and terrible and over the top and awesome. Four stars for fun, definitely.
The middle section was cool, particularly because Cass showed up, and yay Cass!
The last story in the loosely tied-together arc though, with the Grail folk and what have you... lots of overexplaining, lots of stereotypes of sexual depravity to tell us why we should hate the bad guys, and a disturbing reliance on anal rape jokes. Because it's hilarious if bad people get raped, apparently.
I'm still totally on board for reading the rest of this series, it just hit some major hate buttons for me with that last story. It'll look like I'm taking it too seriously -- I mean, what's Jesse's family if not a bad stereotype of southerners/Christians, and I was okay with that for fun. But I reckon we all have our sore spots.
Pulpy is one thing. This just felt kinda lazy and overexplainy at the same time :/(less)
I snagged this for a friend for Christmas this year, thinking it was a good start to ease into comics -- also that the Young Avengers are the most ent...moreI snagged this for a friend for Christmas this year, thinking it was a good start to ease into comics -- also that the Young Avengers are the most entertaining team in comics right now, so there's that. Realized I was missing random issues from the first two volumes when I went back through my collection and asked for it as a gift myself. And voila!
I read it all through again tonight, and I cannot stress how awesome this is. On pretty much every level, I love the beginning of the YA run, and I love that it's conveniently collected in this TPB. Fabulous.
This is really just a peripheral book to the whole Siege storyline, in which I wasn't terribly interested. I read Avengers: Disassembled and Civil War...moreThis is really just a peripheral book to the whole Siege storyline, in which I wasn't terribly interested. I read Avengers: Disassembled and Civil War, but got annoyed shortly after and took one of my many Marvel Breaks. Came back and was filling in gaps in my Young Avengers collection, saw this, figured wtf.
Highlights: Gillen/McKelvie on Loki is pretty sweet. Young Avengers thing was fun, with little moments for everyone, and Speed got to be an awesome badass with moments of feeling superinadequate and unbadass. Spider-Man and Ms. Marvel made me happy -- the Spidey/Venom moments were great, and Carol made them greater.
Lowlights: The whole Cap coming back while Bucky was being Cap and... yeah. Whatever, man. Bucky's existential dilemma was overwritten and boring. Also, I tend to dislike most Asgard storylines as a general rule because they never make sense. I'll reserve judgment there since I didn't actually read the rest of Siege, but I get the general idea and don't imagine this is much different.
It's not awesome, but it was cheap, and my faves were cool in it.(less)
This is pretty much the only way it COULD end, but it was weird and talky and... pretty much a Freakangels ending, actually. It was also effing awesom...moreThis is pretty much the only way it COULD end, but it was weird and talky and... pretty much a Freakangels ending, actually. It was also effing awesome. I don't even know what to say, I'm mostly just sad there's no more.(less)
I reviewed this tpb collection, along with Books of Faerie (Titania's) for Fae Awareness Month. Link right here!
As a side note, the actual Auberon bit...moreI reviewed this tpb collection, along with Books of Faerie (Titania's) for Fae Awareness Month. Link right here!
As a side note, the actual Auberon bit would get 4 stars. The other stories are cool, but more of a "that was cool" 3, so it might be a 3.5er over all.(less)
I reviewed this tpb collection for Fae Awareness Month riiiiiight here, along with Auberon's Tale.
I'd give Titania's actual story a 4, and the rest of...moreI reviewed this tpb collection for Fae Awareness Month riiiiiight here, along with Auberon's Tale.
I'd give Titania's actual story a 4, and the rest of them a 3 for being generally cool to read, but not as pretty and less interesting in terms of a tpb. A cool introduction to the ongoing series, though. Overall that makes this more of a 3.5.(less)
I waited to grab this in TPB and I think it was for the best. Issue by issue this might've given me more trouble, but reading it at one go was very co...moreI waited to grab this in TPB and I think it was for the best. Issue by issue this might've given me more trouble, but reading it at one go was very cool. It allowed me to get a feeling for the recruits, and love what they all have to offer. Though we only get point of view -- in the sense of first person narration -- from the kids, the issues of the instructors are just as interesting. And after Civil War, I gotta say I'm really, really into what's happening with Speedball right now.
Plus, on an even more "my favorite characters" note, I'm a huge dyed-in-the-wool Quicksilver fan. This whole utterly screwed up thing with him and Finesse is amazing, and I like the way it's being handled.(less)
I didn't really bother with the whole Dark Reign thing. Marvel and I were having one of our "we're not speaking" moments and Norman Osborne makes me w...moreI didn't really bother with the whole Dark Reign thing. Marvel and I were having one of our "we're not speaking" moments and Norman Osborne makes me want to shove hot nails through my eyes in general. (JMS is to blame. It's true.) That said, I was kind of trying to patch up holes in my Young Avengers collection and thought, ah the heck with it... in spite of the sheer weirdness of this cover.
(To Cornell's credit, Billy never flirted back. But come on, man.)
This starts out with a great concept, this alternate, sociopathic version of a team that includes characters like, well, Stature. I really enjoyed some aspects of it, but was mostly just along for the ride because I liked the banter between the YA and the other team. Tommy is always a trip, Kate always makes more sense than anyone else, etc. It was a fun read, and I'm glad to add it to the collection, but nothing earth-shattering, really.(less)
Probably more like 3.5 stars, really, as this is super awesome for what it is. This is why one-shot stories are so wonderful, and I love these being s...moreProbably more like 3.5 stars, really, as this is super awesome for what it is. This is why one-shot stories are so wonderful, and I love these being sort of back-ups for these characters I already adore. Super fun, occasionally sad, and the variety of artists and writers makes it anything but boring on that score. Definitely worth picking up and adding to any YA collection.(less)
A lot of s#!t just got real in this one. I can finally say that I really like where things are going. As in, I'm sure they're going somewhere for more...moreA lot of s#!t just got real in this one. I can finally say that I really like where things are going. As in, I'm sure they're going somewhere for more reasons than just, "Oh, but it's Warren Ellis!"
I can also say that thanks to Duffield's incredible panels, I think I love Luke. I mean, he was always interesting, but the head-bleeding speech in the beginning? That was totally my favorite moment, and I swear to god Duffield gets more and more incredible every week.
And in other news: Connor, why are you so amazing?
This is where I actually stopped reading FreakAngels weekly -- or rather, I stopped right before the cliffhanger at the end of book 3 because I had a...moreThis is where I actually stopped reading FreakAngels weekly -- or rather, I stopped right before the cliffhanger at the end of book 3 because I had a few mad weeks where I couldn't get to it online, and that took the edge off. So I didn't pick it back up, deciding instead to wait for the TPBs now I'd kicked the habit.
Thank god I did, seeing the first bit of this TPB. For me, it was awesome to finally get the backstory bit. Loved it. If I'd been reading weekly, I would've probably punched something for them leaving it hanging that long (even though one can imagine who it is saying "Hello, Kait", still, wow.) Loved the other flashback even more, though. In a sappy, "Daaawwwww look how cute they were" way.
Particularly cool moments in this one for Alice and Jack with Luke and then the thing with Arkady and KK and, you know. All that. Good times. It's incredible how these little series of moments have built them all up. The plot, though it now seems to have some serious propulsion, is actually still moving quite slowly. And it's brilliant.(less)
I really dig this one because it's where the interpersonal stuff starts to get super screwed. Part of that is just seeing how truly mad Kait is (Haha,...moreI really dig this one because it's where the interpersonal stuff starts to get super screwed. Part of that is just seeing how truly mad Kait is (Haha, Quincy...), which makes me happy. Also, seriously, her and Miki. Maaaaan. And then her and Arkady! "It's the law." Looooove.
But I also think a huge part of my love for this one is the egg/chicken discussion between Jack and Connor which for some reason makes me unreasonably happy.
Actually, I think what this whole collected book really is, is proof that between Ellis's dialogue and timing and Duffield's art, these two could pretty much vamp with absurd conversation for an entire book and I'd eat it up with a spoon and laugh my head off.
Oh yeah, and I think stuff happens in this one too. Or, I should say, it begins to happen. Like, for real this time.(less)
It's weird that the book where stuff actually HAPPENS is getting the same rating as the one where it was all intro, but I think that speaks to Ellis's...moreIt's weird that the book where stuff actually HAPPENS is getting the same rating as the one where it was all intro, but I think that speaks to Ellis's ability with character more than anything else. Continued awesome. They have it.(less)
Loading...
