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 #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 #135

The one-shot story stars the Black Widow. Widow's Soviet secret agent past comes back to haunt her when a former KGB operative who did a lot of very things behind the Iron Curtain comes to the States. This butcher is afraid that the relatives of his former victims are out for revenge. So he plans on killing them first! When he starts killing friends of Natasha Romanoff, things get deadly personal. 

As for our 3 multi-parter team-ups, not really much is happening.

The uneasy alliance between Wolverine and Cyber is still in effect as they attempt to flee an island full of blood cultists. 

Ghost Rider and Luke Cage are still atop the World Trade Center battling an ancient evil. This chapter does delve a little in the origin of the former follower of Mephisto now known as Darklove. But in current time, there's very little happening except for posturing. 

As for Iron Fist and the Daughters of the Dragon vs. Sabretooth and the Yakuza. I'm starting to get bored. For 2 chapters now, it seems like the good guys have been putting together a plan of attack. Do something already! 

A ho-hum issue that felt like a waste of 15-20 minutes of my life.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 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.

Marvel Comics Presents #127

The segments that comprise the multi-part stories of Wolverine, Ghost Rider/Typhoid Mary and Iron Fist really seem to do nothing. I call these segments 'Chess Move Chapters'. There's not a lot of action or kills. Just a lot of movement to get the players into the right place in order to execute the final act. 

As for the 4th segment, I was in love. It's a single issue 8-pager starring Speedball. Young Robbie Baldwin comes across Doctor Octopus. But the teen hero is the one in the wrong as Otto actually isn't doing anything really wrong. Recently paroled for his past deeds, Doc Ock has just gone out for a night on the town with a lady love. And NO- it's not Aunt May! 

Over the course of MCP, my interest has grown immensely about collecting the original Speedball run. Having Steve Ditko involved was already a huge selling point. But it was this issue, without the comic book legend at the helm, that sold me over to really trying to find an affordable run or even a collected volume. I mean if you can produce quality work without the guy who created the character, then that's a character I want to learn more about. 

Sadly, the Speedball story was really the only thing of note in this issue. I guess that's why none of the other characters are on my wish list.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #126

The She-Hulk story ends in this issue. The ending wasn't as dynamic as the rest of the story. It wasn't bad. But it was more psychological and the ending was sad as opposed to being a humorous romp in previous 3 parts.

The Wolverine story seems to be a reunion as a bunch of characters from previous stories are popping up left and right. This time it's a trio of protoplasmic villains called the Flesh Tones. They had appeared in some story a while back. I can't remember which Wolverine story. But I do remember them and I'm not a fan.

With the Ghost Rider/Typhoid Mary story things have done a sort of 180 degree turn. At first Mary was going after a bunch of terrorists that had invaded a shopping mall in which she's visiting. But now after being sexually assaulted by some security guards, she's resorted to her deadly type of revenge on them. That has caused Ghost Rider's internal vengeance meter to go on full alert against Mary. But shouldn't the Spirit of Vengeance realize that something's off and that Mary is only fulfilling her skewed internal sense of duty and justice? 

Lastly, we've got the Iron Fist story. After apprehending a Hydra backed meta-human that infiltrated his research facility, Danny Rand has sought out the assistance of one of the Daughters of the Dragon, Misty Knight. But instead of using Misty and her detective skills, Iron Fist has decided to take on Hydra alone and put Misty in charge of his company!

After a nearly flawless issue, this issue of MCP seems to go spastic. All 4 chapters seemed to shack off the shackles of reason and went off into odd tangents. Wolverine's villains turned spineless- literally. The She-Hulk story went from comedy to drama. Ghost Rider went all misogynist and victim blaming against Typhoid Mary. And Iron Fist isn't using his allies to their fullest extent. 

Disappointing.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #125

If there's anything I have learned from watching movies involving bounty hunters or other types of soldiers of fortune, you should trust no one! And that's what Wolverine is figuring out here in this amazing story about a young feral girl named Lynx. She carries inside her basically the cure of all cures. And that makes her worth a lot of money. And naturally, the mercenaries who assist Logan are betraying each other in the name of the highest bidder. 

It's an almost comical affair that for some reason reminds me of the Three Stooges. And now Black Widow has entered the picture representing Col. Nick Fury and his agency of SHIELD!

The She-Hulk story continues to amuse me as well. It's very campy and funny. It's almost as good as the Sensational She-Hulk series from this time period. Only, it's missing the god-like narrative of John Byrne who often put himself into the stories for a broken fourth wall effect. Still, I rather like this story with the Batman knock-off Nosferata and the She-Hulk imposter Adrenazon.

The Ghost Rider/Typhoid Mary story is also rather good. A bunch of terrorists have held up the shopping mall in which both Dan Ketch and Mary happen to be at. There's an interesting twist to this story. With Mary's past of abuse, she's taken in with a Women's shelter. Helping volunteer for a community outreach is why she was at the mall that day. Well, the women of the shelter are sick and tired of being pushed around and they've rallied around Typhoid Mary to take on these terrorists. Unfortunately, the women have mistaken Ghost Rider as being a part of the all-male group of subversives that have captured the shopping center.

The fourth story is a change of pace for MCP. Instead of being a one-shot story, the final segment begins a multi-parter starring Iron Fist. I keep forgetting that Danny Rand is wealthy. I always seem to think of him as just some poor wandering monk in designer clothes and not a Bruce Wayne arch-type. 

Anyways, one of Rand's companies is doing research into a mysterious artifact known only as 'the anomaly.' It's so mysterious that Hydra is willing to steal for it by hiring a meta human that can break into any security system. Named Skeleton Ki, the baddie has an appropriate name. But he's no match for Iron Fist who quickly steals the anomaly back before readers are slapped with the inevitable 'To Be Continued' ending.

All 4 segments were entertaining. I'm okay with there not being a single issue story. This kind of variety is what MCP needs to stay fresh as opposed to other tried and true methods that have gotten old over the course of 125 issues.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #118

Both the Ghost Rider/ Iron Fist and the Bill Foster Giant-Man stories end in this issue. Both were very good stories. I was more of a fan of the Bill Foster tale if only because it was a more energetic and fun story. 

The Wolverine story is a team-up with Venom. In typical Marvel fashion, the two characters think the other is responsible for their current predicament and instead of talking things out, they beat each other's brains in.

The one-and-done story was another Marvel 2099 introduction. This time it's Doom 2099. Could it be that the tyrannic leader of Lavteria has returned after nearly a century of being long thought dead? 

Upon reviewing the last issue, I discussed how despite the character of Ravage being touted as making his Marvel debut in the pages of MCP, the Marvel [Database] wiki claims that Ravage 2099 was that guy's debut comic. Well, Marvel's editing staff claim that Doom 2099 is making his debut in this book and I wanted to know what that other resource thought. They concur that issue #118 is the first appearance. Hmmm... I wonder why the wiki agrees on the first showing of Doom 2099 but not Ravage? I guess it's just one of those eternal questions that wie'll never have an answer to.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #117

I had mentioned somewhat in my review of issue #100 that I didn't think that Nightmare was done with Wolverine. This issue proves me right. Wolverine is being plagued once more by troubling sleep and is seeking Professor X's assistance once again. This time, the leader of the X-Men empowers Wolverine with tools to fight the dream lord. But when Logan enters the realm of Nightmare, he comes face to face with Venom!

And then BAM! To Be Continued...

We'll need to wait until the next issue to find out if Venom is being used as a tool of Nightmare or is the symbiote anti-hero at the mercy of the Doctor Strange villain as well?

Both the Ghost Rider/Iron Fist and the Bill Foster Giant-Man stories reach their penultimate chapters inside the flip cover. For the single issue story entry, readers get a glimpse as the Marvel 2099 universe. This issue claims that this is the first appearance of the character Ravage. However, the Marvel [Datebase] claims that the character's first appearance was in the pages of Ravage 2099 #1. 

For myself, this kind of oversight isn't an issue. I also own a copy of that issue. Plus neither this issue that I am reviewing nor Ravage 2099 #1 are valued at more than $5 each. Both books have a cover date of December, 1992. So, I guess it's not really a big deal. But should the character appear in a movie or Disney+ series, I'd expect the value of the Ravage premier issue to rise. But I want to put in a case now that this issue should also jump up in price. 

Not that I'm planning on selling this issue. Just putting it out there.

By the way- that Wolverine/Venom cover was killer!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #115

The duo of Cloak & Dagger make a single issue appearance. For a story appearing in MCP, a fairly major character dies in this issue. And no, I'm not talking about a villain either. I didn't read a ton of Cloak & Dagger as a kid. But the little bit I do recall, the character who gets the axe was a fairly big supporting player to the Cloak & Dagger mythos. 

I really don't have any complaints about this issue. Wolverine continues to be about 1 step behind Typhoid Mary, who is indiscriminately taking out just about any guy who ever wronged her in the past.

 With the Bill Foster Giant-Man story, another baddie enters the story. It's Goliath! No. Clint Barton hasn't gone back to wearing that hokey harness. Nor is he living a life of crime again. This is the Goliath who later as part of Baron Nemo's Thunderbolts, becomes Atlas.

And then the Ghost Rider/Iron Fist story. The last member of the Legion of Vengeance is introduced. Named Strontium-90, we now know that all of these characters got their powers from nuclear science testing that went out of control. As a result, this quartet has a very short half life and as they burn out, they plan on taking any and everyone they can with them; including Danny Rand!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #114

The Arabic superhero, the Arabian Knight, makes a return visit in this issue. In his last appearance, issue #47, I was under the assumption that Abdul Qamar was a character in like the 8th or 9th century. But as Qamar battles a mutated villain called Sandstorm, I learned that this guy's story has been occurring in the present day. 

See Sandstorm was a former American soldier who had recently fought in the Gulf War. Iraqi enemy agents captured this guy and dosed him with some sort of chemical agent that reacted with the soldier's latent mutant abilities. As a result, the Marvel Universe has another master of silicon dioxide (Sand for those of you in South Carolina.)

The other 3 segments were really good. Wolverine's torrid love affair with Typhoid Mary, Ghost Rider's encounter with a group of mutated scientists turned bad and Iron Fist, and the Bill Foster led story just kept getting better. 

If I had to choose a winner for this issue, it would be the Giant-Man tale. Turns out that all the missing Stane tech was at the result of a shrinking baddie. So the contrast of a growing superhero having to take on a shrinking villain was very well balanced fun.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents # 113

A whole lot is happening in this issue. 

I wanted to mention a couple of issues ago that when Mary Walker transformed into Typhoid Mary, she set Wolverine ablaze. Since he's on the cover of this issue and he's smoldering, I figured it wasn't so much of a spoiler now. Let alone the fact that this issue is nearly 30 years old now. 

Iron Fist joins Ghost Rider in a new multi-parter that begins here. A bunch of bizarre fiends are terrorizing areas of the Big Apple. One is named Vesper and she's literally on fire. The other has a gigantic eyeball on his chest named Mind's Eye. We mostly get a small introduction of the two villains and don't really get the two heroes crossing paths... yet. 

The Bill Foster Giant-Man also has a multi-parter that kicks off in this issue. An expert at security as well as bio-sciences, Foster is pulling double duty at a high clearance research facility for Stane International. Things have been going missing. Very expensive, important stuff! And Stane security has no answer for the disappearances. 

Lastly, the Werewolf by Night returns! Okay, is it really a disappearance if he never actually went away? I loved his single issue tale. Jack Russell comes across a man who's been cursed to become a Wendigo. Len Kaminski (Web of Spider-Man) crafts a beautifully sad morality tale in which Russell laments his unwarranted animal urges in comparison with the man cursed to be a carnivorous beast because he willingly choose to feast on another human. 

A fantastic quartet of stories that I just couldn't put down. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.