The Amazing Spider-Man: Big Time

Is it possible to still be a fan of the Green Goblin while hating Norman Osborn? Because I do! Other characters have been the Green Goblin when Osborn has been either cured of his mental illness or dead. Plus, the Goblin seems to be a separate character as opposed to Norman, who does have a type of multiple personality disorder or schizophrenia. Or both, maybe. Not sure. 

Plus the Goblin is one of the most aesthetically pleasing designed super-villains of all time. The purple and green. That demonic face. The orange pumpkin bombs. The flyer. I just love this villain.

And then there are the impostors. Many have attempted to become a better version of the Goblin. There are like 6 different Goblins in the pages of Marvel today, including a female version that I think is also a spawn of Carnage... But the best of the usurpers has got to be Hobgoblin!

In this collection of Spider-Man stories from the early 2010s, life couldn't be better for Spidey nor could it be any worse for Peter Parker. Spider-Man is a member of the Avengers now. He's respected again by the police force. Despite the ire of Mayor J. Jonah Jameson, the wall-crawler is the darling of the New York public and media. As for Peter, he lost his job at the Bugle for falsifying photos. Behind on rent, he's now homeless as his roommate just moved out for the West Coast. There's even a rift between Peter and Aunt May!

Meanwhile, a new Hobgoblin has come on scene. He's got access to all of a currently incarcerated Norman Osborn's old gadgets and weapons and he's looking to become the newest enforcer for the Kingpin!

This collection is the start of Dan Slott's massive Big Time story line which would run for 52 issues, culminating with issue #700. You can see the wheels of that issue's massive twist ending in these pages as Doctor Octopus and a new line-up of the Sinister Six are moving pieces of their giant chess board into place. 

Though there was a lot of backstory that I wasn't very familiar with, I was able to enjoy this story very well. It was great seeing Spidey teamed up with both the Avengers and Fantastic Four in the opening chapter. Very awesome twist finale that adventure as well!

Not everything was so exciting. Artist Humberto Ramos' style is very, um... well gnarly. And I'm not talking about that skateboarding term of appreciation and excitement. Everyone looks very spindly. For Spidey, the art style is appropriate. But for the rest of Manhattan, Ramos' pencils makes everyone look like a descendant of Abe Lincoln!

Having completed this book, there's basically 46 more issues in this Big Time saga to go. Will I devote time and energy to finding the rest of the story? I doubt it as there's tons more stuff in my wish list that I want to own and read first. However, should I ever find an affordable omnibus of this story arc, I would seriously consider getting it to read. Perhaps I can find the rest at my local library.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #133

We close the book on a lengthy and ludicrous Iron Fist story to roll right into... another Iron Fist story??? Steve Lightle is back on art duty. But the writer for this one is Dan Slott (Fantastic Four)! 

Now it's only the first chapter. But so far, so good. Assisting Danny Rand are the Daughters of the Dragon, Misty Knight and Colleen Wing. Unlike in the previous Iron Fist story, they're both being used appropriately. It's a good thing too, as they're all pitted against the Yakuza led by Sabretooth! Looks promising. Fingers crossed.

The one-shot story is a vampire tale starring Cloak & Dagger. A female vampire has her sights on Dagger- in particular that strange void-like power of his. As a kid, I always thought Dagger was a vampire. So it's interesting to see that the writer of this story, Chuck Kim (Doctor Strange) felt the same I did.

For our continuing stories- I'm in opposite directions. I love the Midnight Run sort of turn the Wolverine and Cyber story. That band of cannibal islanders has turned against Cyber. Seeing his mutant power as part of a well fortified meal, the Wolverine foe must team with Logan or else they'll both be on the menu!

As for the Ghost Rider and Luke Cage story, I've given up on it. The concept of some sort of demon that thrives on love instead of hate is just absurd. The parts where Cage is trying to solve the murder of one of his exes is great. Why writer Karl Bollers (Sonic the Hedgehog) couldn't have just stuck with that is a real head scratcher. I don't think Ghost Rider or any of his supernatural elements add anything to this story. 

A good offering with a promising introductory Iron Fist chapter.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Fantastic Four #37

This one was an unexpected treat for this Halloween season. Every week I scroll through to see the newest forthcoming titles due out the following Wednesday. When this issue was listed, there was a 'Cover Not Submitted' image in place of the actual cover. So I didn't know this was a Halloween story until just a couple of days ago. Needless to say, I rushed to the comic book store as soon as I could and snagged me up this instant classic!

Ben Grimm and wife Alicia are now the adoptive parents of N'Kalla and Jo-Venn: Kree and Skrull children who were once mortal enemies and now siblings. It's the kids first Halloween and they've made it their mission to obtain massive amounts of candy by hitting the neighborhood multiple times. To do this, N'Kalla will use her shape-shifting abilities to create a host of amazing costumes. Jo-Venn will just have to do his best to disguise his blue skin. This assignment will be tough work. But if anyone can pull it off, it's these two!

Meanwhile, Johnny Storm is on fire. And its all thanks to the wraith of Doctor Doom. Now unable to shut off his flame and reaching unprecedented temps, Johnny has become a pariah. That is until Reed Richards can find a cure; which based on how long it has taken Mr. Fantastic to cure The Thing, Johnny may have to wait. Hopefully, a play date with best bud Spider-Man can help alleviate some of the Human Torch's loneliness. 

Why am I not reading more of this series? I enjoyed the wedding issues between Ben and Alicia. And the addition of the two alien kiddos was fantastic. This was a solid issue full of drama, humor and heart. 

I've read a lot of Fantastic Four and besides the original team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Dan Slott might very well be the best FF writer of them all! This was a modern comic book that while very culturally appropriate, it wasn't the least bit preachy! How come all current comics can't be like this?

I think some Fantastic Four issues or trades collections are gonna be getting added to my wish list!

A perfect little Halloween read!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Looney Tunes Greatest Hits, Volume 2: You're Despicable!

Your favorite Looney Tunes characters are back in this collection of DC Comics. 

Magicians Bugs and Daffy complete are only the rabbit and duck could! Foghorn Leghorn recruits the Tasmanian Devil to get rid of the barnyard's protective pooch, Dawg. Pepe Le Peu searches for romance in the streets of Washington D.C. Granny adds a new security device to keep Sylvester from making a quick meal out of Tweety. And a pair of mice named Mac and Tosh try to teach the gang the importance of manners- to little avail!

This was a great read for a rainy day or a pick-me-up. This volume features story and art from some industry greats such as Dan Slott, Dave Alvarez, Terry Collins and Michael Eury.

There's one thing that perplexes me about this book; it's the title. This is Looney Tunes Greatest Hits, Volume 2. It reprints issues #41-47. Volume 1 covers issues 34-40. What happened to issues #1-33? Are they not considered greatest hits? 

While I am extremely glad that this book collects entire issues, I was expecting this to be a mix of stories. I mean it is a mix, it's just not cherry picker stuff. So if you are trying to collect the entire run of DC's Looney Tunes in one way or another, this is an affordable way to do it as the only original run content missing are the ads!

Fun stuff worth quite a few laughs!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Fantastic Four #5 (The 650th Anniversary Issue)

It finally happened! Benjamin J. Grimm married Alicia Masters! No tricks. No gimmicks. And human-DNA was confirmed to make sure Alicia wasn't once again replaced with a Skrull infiltrator. 

If I had read this last year, it would have ranked as my favorite book of 2018. But funds and the holidays prevented me from getting it until just a couple of days ago. But that's okay as this issue of Fantastic Four ranks as one of my all-time favorite issues!

Dan Slott (Amazing Spider-Man) bookends this deluxe sized issue with the prep work and final vows of the true Marvel wedding of the century. 

Then Mike Allred and his lovely wife Laura recall the origin of the team. As you know with all anniversary issues, it's a mandated law that the origin of one of the heroes or the entire team must be retold. But the Allred's do it with such nostalgic charm as they have done for decades! 

We also get a glimpse of the early days of Ben and Alicia thanks to the Allreds. Another sort of origin story. But one of which I do not recall getting this much detail into. I did not know how much Sue Storm played matchmaker. Plus, I love the great cameo of a famous rock group in one scene in which The Thing takes his gal to a petting zoo! That's classic Allred right there!

Then the amazing Adam Hughes (Betty and Veronica) tackles Ben's bachelor party. (For Alicia's hilarious bachelorette party, see the Fantastic Four Wedding Special #1) It's a wild ride. Hughes adds such a layer of humor and classic FF style to the book. And I love the tick-lined art style of his. I never realized how much Hughes and the Allreds are alike in that aspect. I am also a fan of thick inkings. So it's no wonder I am a fan of both artists!

Originally, I was thinking I would be faked-out like with the wedding of lies between Kitty Pryde and Colossus. But Marvel went through with these nuptials and thanks to a Facebook buddy posting a scene from that story, I decided to grab this book. Man was I so glad I did. This issue was fantastic!

I've been very impressed with the Fantastic Four since their return! It's been one of the few bright spots of Marvel in a two-year period that has had way more lows than highs when it came to comic books for them. Please keep up the good work and use the formula for this and Spider-Man to help return the House of Ideas to it's former glory days.

While I love what Dan Slott and artist Aaron Kuder is doing with the team right now, I realize that creative teams don't last forever. Might I suggest Mike Allred? He did such a great job here and he's proven that's he's got the chops in the pages of FF to do that part of the Marvel Universe the right way! But in that series, we didn't get Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny. I would love to see how Michael and Laura would do focusing on the First Family of Marvel! Heck, I'd even be a monthly subscriber to that!

One of the most perfect comics of all-time! Definitely worth the couple extra bucks!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Fantastic Four Wedding Special #1

2018 was a year of mostly downs for Marvel. But there were a few bright spots for the House of Ideas. Spider-Man was by far their best line of properties, including the amazing new stuff that was being done with Venom. Another bright spot for 2018 was the return of the First Family of Marvel, The Fantastic Four. However, due to the X-Men wedding debacle in which we were all ready for Kitty Pryde to finally marry Colossus and the whole bait and switch with Rogue and Gambit tying the know instead, I waited a little bit before I decided to buy this special issue.

Once the nuptials were confirmed and Alicia ended up not being a Skrull (at least for now), I ponied up the $4.99. Don't worry, it's an over-sized book, slightly. Plus, it's well worth the money.

There's a trio of stories here. The first shows the shenanigans surrounding Alicia's bachelorette party. Written by Gail Simone (Wonder Woman), the opening adventure was quite funny, a little naughty, and had a very touching ending to it. It guest stars She-Hulk, one of my all-time favorite Marvel ladies. But when did Jennifer Walters start to become more primal (again) when she goes green?

In the second story, current Fantastic Four scribe, Dan Slott, has Ben Grimm visiting Alicia's father, The Puppet Master, for his daughter's hand in marriage! Of course, old baldy is going to say no! SPOILER- he doesn't! The reason why was straight out of the late Stan Lee's playbook! I loved it!

Lastly, living legend, Fred (he actually writes me an annual Happy Birthday message on Facebook) Hembeck does a small feature on the tumultuous history of the Puppet Master and The Thing as only Fred can do it! And yes- the knees still have spirals on them!

The art of this entire book was also very good. Marvel has gotten a lot of due flack for the lessened quality of new artists. But Laura Braga (Harley and Ivy Meet Betty and Veronica) is a real talent. And Mark Buckingham, who has been a favorite of mine since his Fables days, brings a real 70s flair to the Thing/Puppet Master story. (I don't care what you think- to me, the 70s was the best stylistic time for the FF!)

Lastly, we come to the cover. There were several to choose from. But I went with the regular cover. It depicts The Thing getting ready to smash a glass with his foot. Being a Jewish wedding tradition and married to a beautiful Jewish princess, you know I had to pay respects to the Tribe! 

Be sure to take an extra look at the cover! Our photographer is obviously Peter Parker! But look at the awe-inspiring tribute touches added by cover artists Carlos Pacheco and Romulo Fajardo Jr. Just below Parker's elbow is The King, Jack Kirby wiping away a tear. North of Peter's shoulder is Stan Lee making one final appearance in the lives of his most important creation. (Is that Fabulous Flo Steinberg next to Stan the Man?)

The Fantastic Four Wedding Album is a treat not to be missed. I can't wait to save up some money for the actual ceremony that takes place in Fantastic Four #650. My guys at my favorite LCS have it on hold for me. If it's half as good as this one, then I will be in for one hell of fun read!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Fantastic Four #1 (2018)

I gotta admit- I bought into the hype. I could not control myself and on Wednesday, I purchased the first issue marking the return of the Fantastic Four. I must admit, Dan Slott did one heck of a job on this initial outing. 

Let's face facts though: the only reason the FF disappeared was due to Marvel and their parent company (especially) Disney being upset that Fox held the rights to the Fantastic Four. The idea was that without Marvel's First Family being in print, any TV show or movie starring them would flop. Needless to say, that the 2015 film being giant sacks of garbage, didn't help matters any; the PR move was the first in a long line of missteps by Marvel Comics.

The former Spider-Man writer, Dan Slott, did an pretty good job with this first issue. Unfortunately, it's not quite the reunion loyal fans were expecting. But Marvel promises that it will happen soon! If this series continues to exceed from the first issue, then I think this could be Marvel the publisher's first step to returning a two-way street of respect and appreciation for it's fans that has been lost for the past several years from the House of Ideas.

I liked Sara Pichelli's art. It was very clean and bold. I think if she stays on, it will become a fan favorite of not just mine but of many other readers.

The back-up story did not impress me much. It marks the return of Doctor Doom. I understand that Doom is the main villain just as Luthor is the foil to Superman. But they both lack the creative inspiration of a Green Goblin or a Joker do in order to make me excited when they are both used ad nauseam. 

If I had unlimited resources, I would add this Fantastic Four revival to my monthly pull list. I really love this team and I feel like some great things are in store. However, money is an issue for myself, so I will have to wait until the trade. But if you can afford the monthly adventures of the Richards family, I highly recommend this book!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.