Marvel Comics Presents #171

There are only 5 issues left of Marvel Comics Presents. But I don't really feel like the creators are pulling out all the stops just yet. But that doesn't mean that this wasn't a thrilling issue.

Michael Badilino is undergoing a therapy session with Doc Samson. This happens to take place at a top level facility for mentally ill patients with super powers. A blackout results in one very troubled patient getting free and going rogue. Enlisting the help of Vengeance, Doc Samson has to make one very important house call.

In a one-shot story, one of my all-time favorite characters returns. That's right! It's Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD. In this adventure, he's in Alaska where there are reports of a Hydra base that's doing their very best- and worst- to create their version of a super solider!

The second half of this issue is rather interesting. It's comprised of 2 single issue stories that tell of 1 event but from two points of view. The first POV is that of War Machine. The second is of the Force Works team. Both parties are in Hong Kong fighting the Mandarin and his minions. Rhodey is more directly involved with the villain while Force Works are in the air in their armored transport vehicle, the Hex-Ship Pegasus. The ship has been damaged and it's going down fast and in flames!

I liked the idea of having 1 battle told from 2 points of view. I would have rather liked to have seen the Mandarin's take on this battle instead of Force Works. Plus, I am irked because that segment ends with readers having to grab the next issue of Force Works in order to find out what happened to the Pegasus crew.

Having Badilino going to therapy and having Vengeance have to help Doc Samson was pretty cool. I had a feeling this was going to happen last issue. So, I wasn't quite surprised. But really, was anybody shocked when the Ghost Rider popped up to help save the day?

Lastly, I loved the Nick Fury story. But once again, he's squandered to just 8 pages. Why can SHIELD have a lengthy multi-parter in the pages of MCP? How can anybody hate Nick Fury? This sort of perceived slight is going to affect my rating...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.