Marvel Comics
Fear Itself #3: While the tagline "The Hammer that Fell on Yancy St." wasn't such the coded message Marvel wanted, #3 still holds up to the previous two.
Washington DC is under attack, and Bucky, Black Widow, and the Falcon are taking charge against Sin in her worthy form. Loki uses his trickery to get Thor out of prison. Odin is not pleased by this and sends Thor back to Earth. The Avengers are on the scene to held Red She Hulk fight the Hulk. The Thing is chosen as one of the worthy and leaves wreckage around Yancy St. Commander Rogers decides he can't sit out and anymore and joins the fray. But all is not well in the battle between Bucky and Sin......
While some might complain that this issue feels more like set up than actual plot development, there is some truth to that. Matt Fraction has been setting up a lot of threads to pay off later. But remember, there are still four issues left. That's a lot of event to go through. I do wish the destruction around Earth could have been shown more, but I'll just read those issues if I want that story. Event comics can't cover 100% of what is going on.
Stuart Immonen pencils his usual beautiful issue. The fight scene between Sin and Bucky looks stunning. I couldn't stop looking at those pages. The same goes for the double page spread with the Thing brining destruction down on Yancy St. Just stunning work.
Overall, Fear Itself gets 5/5.
DC Comics
Flashpoint #2: This is much better. While the first issue solidified the world, it focused to much on Batman. Thankfully Barry is back, and this helps the issue.
Barry has finally convinced Batman to listen to him, and he goes on to describe how the world isn't the way it is suppose to be and he needs to fix it. But who has done it. A quick touch of his Flash ring reveals the culprit to be Professor Zoom. The Amazonians, led by Wonder Woman, discover they have been infiltrated. Barry looks to recreate the accident that turned him into the Flash.
Most of the issue is exposition, which can be a little much. A good chunk of Geoff John's dialogue is cemented around making us believe that this is permanent and that this is the real DCU. It's not necessarily bad, but the dialogue feels so shoveled in and not part of the story. Other than that, John's writes a good issue and adds some bad assness to Wonder Woman in the process.
Andy Kubert steals the show though. Everything is so detailed, it's a sight to be hold. Then I looked at the sketchbook and realized he had been working on this for over a year. Well I HOPE everything would be very detailed if an artist had a year to work on it. None the less, his work is the real start of this mini series.
Flashpoint #2 gets 4/5.
Marvel Comics
Herc #4: This issue perfectly shows how a book can benefit from an event tie in. Herc #4 is the strongest issue to date.
Hell is breaking lose in Brooklyn thanks to Kyknos and Hecate. The people of Brooklyn aren't really happy that Herc did the heroic thing and saved the villains from being killed. Herc gets a sidekick in the form of Friffin, who is acting like a trained dog. Herc is learning the hard way that he isn't as powerful as he use to be, getting shot up and stabbed. He passes out, and wakes up to Brooklyn in dire need of a hero.
#4 is a great issue for many reasons. Namely it's due to Pak and Van Lente finding a great balance of action and comedy. There are a couple of plot points that seem a little odd. But these can be left up to interpretation. Having Griffin act like a dog and be Hercules' sidekick is fun, and it adds to the humor.
Neil Edwards does a good job as usual. Nothing really to say that I haven't said in past months. His action is good with the occasional body looking odd.
Herc #4 gets 4/5
Marvel Comics
Moon Knight #2: Brian Michael Bendis originally didn't want to write Moon Knight. After the first two issues of this series, I'm so happy Joe Quesada pushed him to write this book.
After talking to some contacts, Moon Knight found a lead on the mysterious kingpin of LA. It leads him to a strip club. After discussing with his personalities about who should take point, Spider-Man wins out. The Spidey personality does a good job, but Wolverine takes over. Things don't end well, and Moon Knight is saved by Echo, who was undercover as a stripper.
The writing is pitch perfect. Bendis writes Moon Knight as Spider-Man in a humorous, but logical way. Spidey is portrayed as over the top, Wolverine is overly masculine, and Cap is noble till the end. The personalities arguing could get gimmicky fast, but for now it's a blast to read. Bendis seems to be going for a Daredevil feel, and it's really working.
I'm liking Alex Maleev's new penciling style. There are a few times in this issue though that looked rushed and a little to scratchy for their own good. Tame the pencils a little bit and everything will be great.
Bottom line, Moon Knight looks to be staying around for a while and this is for the best.
Moon Knight #2 gets 4/5.
Marvel Comics
The New Avengers #12: The complaint about a lack of focus can be sent out the window with this issue. Bendis finds a real reason for this book to be around, and it's great.
Mockingbird is in the hospital as Hawkeye takes her side. Wolverine and Luke do some interrogating to a H.A.M.M.E.R. agent. Most of the issue revolves around the 1950's Avengers who are fighting the third Red Skull and his copy of Steve Rogers. A massive battle ensues, and it ends with the Red Skull being killed. There might also be some connection to Fear Itself as well.....
The conclusion leaves a lot of open threads. I'm very interested to see where Bendis could take this new angle. The 1950's Avengers ends a little anticlimatic, but like I said, it might be tying into Fear Itself, but that is just me speculating. I'd like to see more of this team of Avengers though.
Mike Deodato doesn't have much to pencil this month, but it looks good as usual. Howard Chaykin's pencils look good, but there are a couple of panels that could have used a little more detail. Some of the facial expressions look a tad odd to me as well.
The New Avengers #12 gets 4/5.
Marvel Comics
S.H.I.E.L.D. Vol. 2 #1: One of the best books Marvel put out last year is back, and finally some answers have been brought up.
As with past reviews about S.H.I.E.L.D. books, I won't give a synopsis. Much like LOST, if you haven't been keeping up or rereading, the plot can get a little convoluted. Thankfully #1 gives a couple of answers. Not to many questions are brought up in this issue thankfully, as the series was starting to suffer from a lack of understanding. Yeah, some things can be left up to the reader to interpret on their own, there needs to be some solidified things for the reader to find their footing. The revelations are very interesting and makes me that much more excited for the next issue. Jonathan Hickman is writing one hell of a book here.
Dustin Weaver continues to draw the hell out of this book. Everything has the wonder and grandeur that a book like this needs.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Vol. 2 #1 gets 5/5
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