Deadpool Team-Up, Vol 1: Good Buddies

I got on the Deadpool Team-Up band wagon way too late. I'm taking about the 2009-11 series, by the way. I bought issue #884 which has the Merc With a Mouth teaming with Oatu the Watcher. A sucker for a team-up title, I was thrown off by the high numbering. It turns out that as a joke, Marvel decided to spoof the now meaningless legacy numbering by having each issue of this series go backwards from #899, after releasing a special 900th issue of Deadpool!

With Deadpool Team-Up getting cancelled with issue #883 and finding it a financial nightmare trying to collect the rest of the series, I quietly put the series on my wishlist and went on to collect other, more affordable titles. For nearly 15 years, I searched and searched for issues that wouldn't break my bank. Wanna guess how many issues I found? If you guessed zip, zilch, nada; give yourself a cookie. That was until this past week. I had a box full of stuff to take to a used bookstore for trade credit and got lucky finding not just this hardback edition, but the other 2 volumes that round out the run. Being premium editions, each book was still pricey. But at a little bit less than half of original cover price, AND considering how difficult it's been to get this series off my wishlist, I scooped up all 3 books and merrily went about my way. Besides, the trade credit covered the price, meaning that the cash in my pocket could be spent on other things!

With the numbering going backwards, I wouldn't have been surprised if you were supposed to read volume 3 first. But I can attest that is not the case here. In the opener, Wade Wilson finds himself stuck in the wandering labyrinth of legend with none other than Hercules! Deadpool then attempts to collect bounties for successful hits with a pair of lucha libre hitman siblings called the Zapata Brothers, legendary big rig trucker US Ace, and a pair of Ghost Riders. Wade then helps a woman locate the missing behemoth, IT!, the Living Colossus before accepting a hit to rub out the Punisher, who at this moment in time has been reanimated into a Frankenstein monster!

The Punisher issue has a ton of fantastic cameos. It's a real treat if you are a fan of Marvel's monsters, of which I definitely am. You could consider me gobsmacked when I learn that the old Jim Shooter lead series US1 is actually pronounced US Ace! There are no numbers to be said when speaking about the title! Plus, I didn't realize that the trucker had adventures in outer space. I'm going have to revisit that staple of dollar boxes nationwide...

Featuring a different talent team each issue, I really dug this series. A good rule of thumb about team-up books is that the more obscure the guest star, the better the story. And with IT!, the Living Colossus and the hermanos Zapata, I do not think you could get much more obscure. The only thing I wasn't such a fan of was the inclusion of the bonus material of an issue of Marvel Spotlight focusing on Deadpool. It's mostly a 30 page commercial for other Deadpool titles and if you've read 1 interview with a comic book creator, you really have read them all. I mostly read it for the pictures...

Come on volume 2!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Ghost Stories

A celebration of nearly 40 years of Marvel inspired ghostly tales. This slightly larger than digest sized trade paper back features stories with the Silver Surfer, the West Coast Avengers, Damon Hellstrom, and many more.

My favorite tale was taken from an issue of Marvel's 1970s combat series War is Hell. The series' first non-reprint tale was from issue #9. It introduces us to John Kowalski, a former Marine ex-pat forced to live in 1930s Poland after being dishonorably discharged. Cursed by a member of the Polish resistance for not warning the American government of the Nazi invasion of Poland, Kowlaski is forced to wander the world as a specter to save others from the spoils of war. His first mission is to wrestle the life of a young girl from the literal grasp of the grim reaper. 

Fans of Ghost Rider get to encounter another character from the ill-fated War is Hell. The ghost of the World War I ace, the Phantom Eagle seeks revenge on the German general who killed him in combat.

There's a Halloween set story with Captain America summoned to the estate of the Red Skull. Set during one of several time periods when the Skull is dead, Cap encounters a variety of ghosts, both bad and evil in a holiday tale that morphs into All Saint's Day when the clock strikes midnight. 

My least favorite stories were the most modern tales. Both stars Damon Hellstrom, the son of Satan, who is just too demonic for my comfort. The West Coast Avengers story wouldn't have been so bad except for the prominent use of a pentagram and the revelation that the character of Mockingbird was drugged and raped by one of the incarnations of the Old West superhero, the Phantom Rider. That's really strong stuff for 1990s era Marvel.

The final story, which was taken from Hellstrom's short-lived series from the early 90s, was a great Exorcist kinda tale, if you like that kind of thing. I personally do not. 

I found this book for sale at a local coffee shop. You might be wondering why after hating the Hellstrom stuff did I buy this book. I think I was more enticed by the $5 price tag that I avoided noticing the big evil image of Hellstrom in his devilish garb. I should have paid more attention and I really do regret being impulsive and allowing myself to be open to such creepy material. The Silver Surfer two-parter starring Mephisto was also a read I did not favor.

This isn't a book I will keep. Nor is it a book I can resell. That's because of the really poor adhesive Marvel used for the cover. My copy's soft cover is barely hanging on to a thin strip of glue. If you happen to be at the Hillsborough Walmart recycling center on Monday, check out the free book shelf. My copy might still be there waiting for you...

Lastly, I want to implore Marvel to seriously consider producing a collection of the John Kolwalski stories. I really enjoyed that story and I much would have rather owned a copy of that book that doesn't exist than this collection. As for the Captain America Halloween story, I'll place it on my holiday wish list since I am not holding on to this book.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

A Year of Marvels

In 2016, Marvel Comics released 5 one-shots devoted to the holidays as seen through the eyes of the Marvel Universe. The holidays were occasions like Valentines Day, April Fools and Father's Day. Holidays that don't get the specials treatment. There was even a story about a holiday from Japan that I had never even heard of. 

When these holiday single issues were released, I thought it was a great idea. But when Marvel didn't release a 6th one-shot devoted to celebrations in the months of November and December, I was sorely disappointed. Marvel had missed out on executing a brilliant year-long plan. And thus, I kinda lost interest in collecting the whole run.

My interest was revived a few months ago when I found a copy of A Year of Marvels at a used book story for only $1! This book collected the floppies devoted to January-October. Along with those 5 one-shots, there were 3 never before published holiday specials. From Marvel Unlimited's Infinite line, I got to break bread with the Punisher in a Veteran's Day/Thanksgiving epic. Robbie Reyes returned to the City of Angels and helped me to believe in Santa. And I rang in the new year with radio host, Charlamange Tha God over at Avengers Tower.

That those last 3 stories appear in this book is proof that Marvel can indeed take all of their digital holiday specials and sell them in print form! DC does this kind of thing all the time. Why won't Marvel? There's like 30 Thanksgiving and Christmas Infinite specials that I haven't read and I gladly pay some good money for a holiday omnibus. I really think Marvel owes its fans this since in the past 5 years, the only Christmas related special released by the House of Ideas was a Star Wars Life Day one-shot. Don't get me wrong- I appreciated that amazing issue. But Marvel has been a Scrooge for a very, very long time towards it's fans of floppies. 

The stories and artwork of the 5 main volumes were good. But with such a spread of artists and writers, the level of quality was varied. The Punisher story was poignant and amazing. I loved the Ghost Rider Christmas story. Though I hated how a poor little defenseless kitty who is being abused by a brat. I love that Robbie Reyes frees the kitten and threatens the bully. But if you look closely in that story, this monster has abused other animals before. And that just bothered me. That story was written by Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan and he could write for Marvel any day in my opinion.

As for the NYE story by Charlamange Tha God, it was horrible. I think this is where fans can point to Axel Alonzo's failed experiment to basically insult and alienate any comic book reader who was white, male, conservative, Christian, and wealthy. I know that CTA is very popular and he's got followers. But he should stick to radio and since his story is nearly a decade old it thankfully appears that the celebrity did just that. 

You might like to collect single issues only. But this is one of those times you might want to reconsider as this collection completes the full year A Year of Marvels that never actually came to fruition. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars 

Marvel Comics Presents #146

Issue #146 marks the last of the 'Siege of Darkness' devoted issues. 

You really get the sense that these 4 segments are designed mostly to tie up the loose ends. Though there are some notable occurrences peppered throughout.

In the Doctor Strange segment, the demoness Salome makes her first appearance. A minor character that has yet to appear in any movie or TV show as far as I can tell. This debut probably does very little to move the issue value needle. But that could change.

Readers are re-introduced to the Nightstalkers. A trio of ghoul hunters composed of Blade, Hannibal King and Frank Drake; these guys really hate each other. The Children of the Night might have a legitimate chance if the Nightstalkers decide to finish each other off first!

The Devil-Slayer, Eric Payne, is finally given a chance to redeem himself. After years of battling booze, demons and skeptics, the troubled hero finally comes out on top. 

Lastly, continuing from last issue's Ghost Rider story, Danny Ketch attempts to move Heaven and Earth to safe a friend and ally from a deadly Lilin attack.

Speaking of that Ghost Rider story, this is Ketch's swan song in the pages of MCP. At least as a main feature. Wolverine stepped down several issues ago and next issue, Vengeance, that much more hard core version of Ghost Rider will take over for a little while.

Lastly, I want to talk about the cover. As you may recall, MCP has flip covers. The Blaze cover was far more superior than the Doctor Strange image I chose. I don't know why, but I just like the one with the Sorcerer Supreme more for some reason.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #145

It's another round of 'Siege of Darkness' stories in this issue. 

Morbius, the Living Vampire comes face-to-face with the half-Vampire vampire hunter, Hannibal King. It's not Morbius whom King is after. It's a young Lilin child that Morbius feels should not be held accountable for the sins of the father or mother Lilith in this case.

A blast from Doctor Strange's past returns in the midst of this crisis. She's being haunted by her own demons. However, when she learns who her truth father is, things suddenly fall into place.

Danny Ketch is back at one of his favorite haunts, the Cypress Hills Cemetery, where an ally of the Midnight Sons is being held captive by a faction of Lilin.

Finally, Blade makes contact with an ally from his Dracula hunting days. Unfortunately, the guys buried under a ton of rubble and time and air is running out.

All 4 of these stories were good tie-in segments to the 'Siege of Darkness' crossover event. But if you were to read all of the main titles and glossed over this issue, I really don't think you'd miss anything. Of the 3 tie-in issues of MCP (thus far), this is perhaps the issue that most captures the origin anthology spirit this title intended. But geez- that flip cover of Morbius by Steve Lightle and Fred Harper. Man, what a mess. That's why I went with the Ghost Rider cover instead to represent this issue.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #143

After wrapping up several multi-part stories, MCP #143 is poised to introduce 4 all new tales. But things are a bit different in this issue. Instead of 3 multi-part stories and a one-shot tale, all 4 segments in this issue are supplemental chapters to the Marvel cross-company story arc 'Siege of Darkness.'

Lilith, the mother of Demons is launching an all-out attack on the Marvel Universe. In order to take over the world, she must first rid the world of its supernatural defenders. In order to do this, Lilith summons the Lilin, her satanic spawn of super-powered demons!

A lot of action has already transpired in the pages of titles such as Doctor Strange and Ghost Rider. I don't have those issues, nor have I read them prior. So forgive me if I don't have all the details 100% accurate.  

Johnny Blaze is alive! Along with Danny Ketch and the new Spirit of Vengeance, aptly named Vengeance, Blaze is separated from the forces mustered by Doctor Strange. It's kinda fortuitous as the trio of hellraisers learn that there's a traitor in the midst of heroes referred to as the Midnight Sons.

Elsewhere, Jack Russell attempts to rescue a group of trick-or-treaters who have been kidnapped by Lilin. The Scarlet Witch learns that demons can also exist in digital form. Rounding things out, the Devil-Slayer, Eric Payne, fights a duo of demons- baby Lilin called Infinks as well as the damning call of the bottle.

Everything that transpires in this issue as well the couple of issues is all going to refer to the 'Siege of Darkness' story line that introduces Marvel's Midnight Sons imprint. As mentioned previously in other reviews, I read these issues months prior and am just now getting caught up. As the Midnight Sons thing hasn't been something to pique my interest, my forthcoming reviews will probably be less than stellar. It's a lot harder to explain a bunch of vignettes that may or may not offer anything to the story than a quartet of stories that are split up into multiple chapters.

I think the overall concept is intriguing. And there's a bunch of differing characters being used. No Wolverine! No Iron Fist! But 3 times as many Ghost Riders! But this issue of MCP is what comic fans would consider a supplemental money grab as the segments don't really do anything to move the overall plot along. Well, maybe that Spirits of Vengeance chapter does with its revelation of a rat in the midst of Doctor Strange's group of heroes. But it's such an insignificant bit of information that otherwise could have been included elsewhere.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #142

As mentioned previously in another review, the 3 multi-part stories all come to a close in this issue. I was happy with the Wolverine story's ending and that adventure was enjoyable overall. Ghost Rider's action-packed romp through New York and Hong Kong was good. But it lacked substance. I might have actually done a back flip with the Spellbounder story coming to an end.

What really makes this issue stand apart is the introduction of a character named Alex Grimmond. MCP has seen several new characters make their debut in its pages. But this may be the first and only time that a main character made their first and only appearance in any Marvel publication. 

Grimmond wants to join the 1400 Club. It's an elite association of assassins. Only 1400 killers can be a member at a time and the only way to gain membership is to kill the head honcho, the British accented Foreigner. 

This was a really good tale if only for the twist ending that I didn't see coming. I would have loved a follow up story to this. However, upon checking the Marvel Wiki, as of press time of this review, there has never been another appearance of Grimmond in another comic book from the House of Ideas. 

A great ending to a couple of stories. Another tale was okay. And we're done with a multi-parter that was terrible from almost the very first panel. The thing that makes me the most excited about this issue is that issue #143 is a complete clean slate of 4 new story segments.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #141

Guess who's starring in the single issue feature, again. Yep. It's Iron Fist. I swear, with having Wolverine, Ghost Rider and Iron Fist in every issue, the original concept of MCP being an overall anthology series of the Marvel Universe is essentially dead. 

On the flip side of this, change is about to come as the 3 multi-part stories are all in their penultimate segment phase. 

Wolverine discovers an inter-dimensional portal. If he can close it up, he'd get rid of those pesky aliens and hopefully free a bunch of islanders from mental enslavement. 

The Spellbounder story has been anything but spellbinding. I read this story but I mostly am just going through the motions with it.

The Ghost Rider/Double Dragon- I mean the Masters of Silence team-up, is just about to face the big boss. 

You know, if this entire issue had been an 90s arcade game, I think I would have been all over it. A Street Fighter type game with Ghost Rider, Wolverine and Iron Fist. Epic. Since these type of games were quartets, I wonder who the fourth character would be... Luke Cage? Punisher? Hellcat? I'd love to visit the alternate earth in the multiverse where this video game idea is a reality...

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars. 

Marvel Comics Presents #140

Wolverine is now officially teamed with Doc Samson. Recently freed from his mental enslavement by extraterrestrials, Samson is working to free other humans from their torments. But can the good doctor really be trusted?

The Ghost Rider story that pits him with the Masters of Silence is still action-packed. But that now seems to be all of the story. It's like a Double Dragon video game now. Just continual fighting until you get to the big boss.

I'm just not a fan of that Spellbinder story. This is not because the character is a female. Not at all. It's because the story bounces from reality to induced fantasy; often without warning. And I swear this is just a grown-up version of Rainbow Brite. 

And for our one-and-done story, guess who's back! If you guessed Iron Fist, give yourself a cookie! I mean it's not like the Marvel Universe has other characters or anything. Unfortunately, I don't really remember anything about it either. 

This issue is like a ski slope. You start off on the highest high. But as you make your way through the book, you keep getting lower and lower. Only this time its lowering in quality, not height.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #139

For the past two issues, Wolverine has had his tropical island vacation ruined by some pesky aliens, a navy blue gorilla and a seemingly possessed islander. In the past 16 pages of story, Wolverine has had this notion that he knows who the islander is. This chapter reveals that yes, Logan does know who that fella is- Hulk psychiatrist Doc Samson! Now we've got a Wolverine team-up!

The Ghost Rider/Masters of Silence story is a pretty good kung-fu caper. It has a lot of Bruce Lee movie type elements to it. 

I really don't know what to think about the Spellbounder story. The lead character at the point can't really tell what's real and what is illusion. In my bones, I also feel like this story steals a lot from Rainbow Brite. I don't know why. That's just the vibe I get. 

Our one-shot story stars that Captain America foil, Batroc the Leaper. When a bank is robbed by a diminutive goon with psychic powers and his gang, a desperate bank manager hires Batroc to recover the stolen cash. For a fee, of course!

The Batroc story was a laugh riot. Such a romp by Silver Surfer scribe Mike Lackey. The artwork is by someone referred to as Pedi. Whoever this person is, they're a complete unknown. The Marvel Wiki has nothing about this artist other than listing the work on this story. Not even a place of birth! Google searches just take me to pedicure artists. So if I had to describe the style, I would compare it to that of 'Mazing Man's Stephen DeStefano. It's vibrant. It's impressionistic. And it's kinda wacky. 

A good offering of segments. Though, I really think the Spellbounder tale has turned into something I'd expect from a girl-centric weekday cartoon series from the 80s. If the creators of it didn't steal some element from Rainbow Brite, I'll eat my hat.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #138

Readers are introduced to the character of Spellbounder in this issue. According to the Marvel Wiki, the character has been around since 1987. But other than a 6-issue miniseries (Spellbound), Spellbinder had never made an appearance in any other series until now. Not even a cameo. 

Right now all I know is that Erica Fortune became Spellbounder. She has telekinetic powers which are amplified by a pair of power bands that are of alien nature. In this opening chapter, the owner of those rings, the alien Zxaxz, has returned and wants them back. With this first chapter basically introducing me to all the main characters, the jury is still out on this one.

Wolverine is still on his tropical island holiday. One that is filled with aliens, a navy blue gorilla and a seemingly random slave to the extraterrestrials that Logan thinks he knows from somewhere. As things are still getting sorted out, the jury is still out on this one.

The samurai clad Masters of Silence have determined that Ghost Rider isn't such a bad egg. Yes, he's got some evil in him. He is fused with the demon of vengeance, ya know. But all parties have agreed to team up against the monster who has been killing native Chinese in an immigration smuggling scam for money. Things are starting to come together; however the jury is still out on this one.

The one-and-done story has Spider-Man trying to protect a hospital full of patients from an evil entity called Deathurge. As I've said before, I'm several months behind on the reviewing of these comics. I really can't recall anything about this story. So, I think the jury is out on this one- guilty of being a forgettable story!

A relatively tame issue in which all of the multi-parters are still trying to gain their footing. The single issue Spidey story was apparently not worth my time.

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #137

Has Iron Fist become MCP's unofficial third featured character? After two lengthy multi-parters in a row (for a total of about 27 straight issues), Danny Rand returns for a third story. Or is it a fourth straight? At least this one is a single issue tale. But still, what's with the fascination with Iron Fist in the pages of this book all of a sudden?

Poor Wolverine. He just can't have a simple vacation. After fleeing an island full of blood cultists in his last story, Logan tries to salvage his tropical holiday with a trip to an island infested with aliens! Oh. and don't forget the blue gorilla!

Ghost Rider's multi-issue adventure, he's run afoul of a trio of samurai-looking heroes called the Masters of Silence. Of course, these martial artists mistakenly believe that Ghost Rider is a demon. And technically, they're not wrong. These Masters of Silence, which are pretty talkative, just don't realize that Danny Ketch is working on the side of the angels.

Lastly, our fourth feature is another 8-page single issue story. It's got Scott Lang trying really hard to balance being a super-hero, the head of a security firm and a dad. This story read like it might have been the inspiration for 2015's Ant-Man film. Well, at least the domestic parts of the film with daughter Cassie.

The Iron Fist story was forgettable. But at least it was brief. Wolverine's segment might have some promise. I mean, it's got a navy blue primate in it for goodness sake. I like the Masters of Silence. They remind me of Marvel's very brief Shogun Warriors; albeit these guys are way shorter. And I just loved the Scott Lang story. I would have been totally fine with this one being spread out over 2 or 3 more issues.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #136

 

All 3 multi-part stories come to a close in this issue.

The Iron Fist/Daughter of the Dragon adventure finally sees some action. In the vein of Jackie Chan's Rumble in the Bronx, Marvel's resident kung-fu fighters take on the Yakuza and Sabretooth among the tenements of the Big Apple.

The Wolverine/Cyber story has two results. One unexpected- a death! One expected- Cyber double-crosses Logan with typical Marvel fisticuffs!

As for Ghost Rider and Luke Cage. We get all the poop on why Darklove betrayed Mephisto and decided to become a demon of love instead of hate. It's a pretty good ending to a story that was fairly ridiculous. 

The one-shot tale involves Daredevil. I'm a few weeks behind on reviewing that which I've read. But in the case of this story, I just can't recall anything about it. Truly a forgettable story starring the Man Without Fear.

A better offering of MCP. Maybe because 3 very long stories are coming to a close finally. But still not the best issue I've read. Not even close.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #134

There's not really much happening in the Wolverine/Cyber unlikely team-up story. Same thing goes for the Iron Fist and Daughters of the Dragon Vs. Sabretooth and the Yakuza crime thriller. 

The one and done story stars Lance Astro of the original Guardians of the Galaxy. He's on a mission to save the crew of a crashed ship. In the year 3000-ish, Astro and his teammates are at war with the Badoon. But in this story, Lance learns that not all members of that bloodthirsty race are natural born killers. Some are lovers and the Galaxy Guardian must help this intergalactic Romeo & Juliet survive a Badoon terror squad that looks to eliminate those 'pure bloods' who fall into inter-species love.

Then there's the Ghost Rider/Luke Cage adventure. I'm still not a fan of it. But this chapter is of note because of it's locale- atop the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. It's just so hard to imagine that we've been without those buildings for going on 22 years now! Anytime I come across images of those buildings in a comic (or other type of media), my mind just can't help but go back to that tragic day in September. 

The one-shot story was amazing while all three of the team-up multi-parters weren't really all that impressive. Only the setting of the Ghost Rider epic is what's really all that memorable. 

Rating: 4 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.

Marvel Comics Presents #132

A new multi-parter starring Wolverine begins in this issue and I'm really excited about it for once. That's because Cyber, the one villain that actually scares the crap outta Logan, has returned! The X-Man is vacationing on an island paradise where he comes across a beautiful native being pursued by a blood cult! Not one to see a girl in distress, Wolvie attempts to play Superman and ends up in dank pit with his worst enemy- Cyber!

I really can't figure out the Ghost Rider/Cage team-up. On the surface, it's a crime noir mystery with Luke Cage trying to find the madman who killed an ex-flame of his. As we dig deeper into the onion, we find that Ghost Rider is trying to stop the demonic entity that is behind the motives of the serial killer. A being powered not by hate but love!

In the single issue story, Iron Man takes on an armored villain. Big surprise there...

Lastly, that horrible Iron Fist Vs. Hydra story comes to a close. This was an adventure that had a lot of promise. Yet poor use of back-up characters and really implausible plotting of Danny Rand made this an absolutely awful story that I couldn't wait for to end! Most people lament not wanting a story to end. How many people actually want something they read to conclude?

The Wolverine story has a lot of promise. The Ghost Rider/Cage story is interesting but also something I can't quite figure out. The Iron Man story was cliched. And finally, I can put to rest that Iron Fist tale. I'm going to rate this book a tad higher than I normally would if just for the mercy killing of that clunker of a kung-fu yarn.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #131

A sensual villainess that appeared in the very first issue of this series makes a return to Madripoor. It's her desire to cause a wedge between lovers Wolverine and Tyger Tiger. A lethal wedge!

Ghost Rider Danny Ketch teams with Luke Cage, who at this time is only going by his last name. A serial killer has murdered a old flame of the former hero for hire. In a weird twist, the killer is under the influence of not the living embodiment of hate but the personification of love!

Speaking of former heroes for hire, the Iron Fist story seems to have been powered (unfortunately) by the Energizer Bunny. This thing just keeps going and going and going. Please! Make it end!

Along with the Wolverine story which is a one-and-done tale, we've also got an 8-pager starring the Scott Lang Ant-Man. A thief has stolen some experimental materials from Stark International. As a security expert, Ant-Man is on the case. But for Scott Lang, as a father, this mission is personal as the thief has also taken a child hostage. 

The Ant-Man story involves some of Lang's ants dying. I didn't like that. I've just resented the Iron Fist serial. I'm so through with it. The Wolverine story was interesting as I like Tyger Tiger and the femme fatale in the story peaks my interest. As for the Ghost Rider story, it seems rather ludicrous. But with the twist in modus operandi for the villain, I'm willing to give it a couple more chapters before really passing judgment.

A middle of the road issue of MCP.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #130

The Wolverine story comes to a close in this issue. While I did around the mid-point of this event say that this adventure was getting a little boring and predictable, about 2 or 3 issues ago, this book turned into a bit of a screwball comedy and I was reinvigorated. The tale of Logan trying to protect a young mutant girl from numerous interested parties ended with a promising conclusion. One of which that actually has me a little bit interested to see what is in store for the child referred to only as Lynx.

The Ghost Rider/Typhoid Mary story also ends. This one didn't really peak my interest with a comeback or anything. But it very much does guarantee that readers are going to see a third segment that will tie in Mary's run-ins with both Danny Ketch and Wolverine!

The Iron Fist story is just spinning its wheels. If this was a horse, and I owned a gun, I would have shot it! If Danny Rand just wouldn't be doing everything opposite that I'd expect from the character of Iron Fist, I might enjoy this Hydra heavy story. Did his recent death and resurrection in previous pages of MCP screw with his head or something?

In the single issue story, the Navajo superhero American Eagle returns. This is just his second appearance in 3 issues! Still in the Big Apple, the protagonist is recruited by the NYPD to help take down a mutant on a killing spree. 

The American Eagle stories by John Figueroa (Marvel Knights) and Ron Wilson (What If...?) have been fantastic. I would rather have had a multi-parter where the hero was called to New York City for a family friend and then stick around for a while helping out the police with unusual cases. The fish out of water type story would have been way more entertaining than the farce that the Iron Fist story has become. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #129

Once more, there's no end in sight for any of the 3 multi-part stories. But if the Wolverine story keeps being as hilarious as it has been (unintentional I'm sure) it can keep on.

But it's really time for the Ghost Rider/Typhoid Mary and the Iron Fist tales to conclude.

In the crimes against comics department, the Crossbones adventure should have been a two-parter or maybe even a three issue involvement. It was that good. Wolfpack's John Figeroa has the criminal pulling Suicide Squad duty. As part of his rehabilitation and to earn time off his sentence, Crossbones must infiltrate a hospital that has been take over by terrorists and free the hostages. 

The crux of this story was that there were many opportunities for Crossbones to escape. But he just won't do it. Not because he's reformed or anything. It's just not the right time to make a break for it. 

Okay, so we've got 2 stories in one issue dealing with domestic terrorism. This issue was published sometime around the summer of 1993. That makes the US about 2 years away from the Oklahoma City bombing. Oh, wait, the first attack on the World Trade Center was earlier this year. That explains why Marvel seems to be really focused on the threat of terror in their stories right now. 

Having realized all that, the past 6 or so issues of MCP have been time capsules of societal fears. Had Marvel had just stuck with the Ghost Rider story which involves a terror group taking over a shopping mall, I might not have made any historical connections. But with 2 stories (in  1 issue) about terror, I saw an unusual pattern and now I understand why. 

That being said, I'm only half satisfied with this issue as 2 stories are just getting stale and frankly a bit boring.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #128

Neither of the 3 multi-part stories are coming close to being over. If it wasn't for the all-star cast of the Wolverine story, I would be completely bored with these continuing segments.

With Logan's story, this chapter was rather comical. You know how in a Scooby-Doo cartoon, when the monster steals some kind of priceless artifact and there's a musical montage? It's like how the Mystery Inc. gang and the baddie go back-and-forth stealing the object from each other. Frist, you'd see Shaggy running with the treasure. Then the monster trips Shaggy, making off with the bauble until Fred pulls the rug out from under them and now Fred's off and running. Well, the 8 pages devoted to Logan's attempt to protect Lynx from bounty hunters, evil scientists and SHIELD is just like those types of Scooby-Doo scenes. 

The Iron Fist segment seems to be doing everything opposite anybody with a lick of sense would do. It's rather infuriating. 

As with Ghost Rider and Typhoid Mary, I don't get the sense that writer Ann Nocenti really knows what direction she wants this story to go in. There's literally 4 different plots going on right now. We had 5, but Nocenti did manage to kill off the characters involved a chapter or two back. But right now, we've got Ghost Rider trying to kill Typhoid Mary. We've got Typhoid trying to kill anyone that wronged her. We've got a group of women from a battered women's home trying to take on the terrorists who invaded the mall. And we've got this strange family of a priest, his wife and their child just wandering around the place. I have no idea where the Longshot writer is trying to go with this story and I don't think Ann Nocenti does either.

As for our single issue 8-page story, it involves the Native American superhero American Eagle. Normally, American Eagle operates in the American West. But a favor to an old friend has the hero traveling to the Big Apple. It appears that the son of the friend has left the reservation and gone to New York City to make his name. Unfortunately, the young man has run along with the wrong crowd and with a NYPD officer dead, American Eagle must get to the lad before an angry and vengeful police force gets to him first!

The Wolverine segment was hilarious. The American Eagle story was powerful. Compare that to the ludicrous Iron Fist chapter and the labyrinthine plots of the Ghost Rider and Typhoid Mary tale and you at least have a halfway decent issue of MCP.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.