X-Men Noir: Mark of Cain

The sequel to X-Men Noir has a much different tone. The story starts in jungles of Madripoor with the original '40s Angel, Wolverine, Cyclops and Puck seeking the legendary Eye of Cyttorak. In desperate need of cash, these survivors from the first miniseries take a job for a crime lord which results in a double cross! But when the boss winds up dead back in the States, there's a second chance to score some bread from this rotten deal. The only thing standing in their way- recently paroled Professor Charles Xavier and his newly formed Uncanny X Men!

This Marvel Noir entry had a little bit of everything. The first chapter was like if Indiana Jones was a mutant. Then there's a Hong Kong crime picture. Horror thriller. Mission Impossible type heist. And a wrap up with a Body Heat/Double Indemnity type mystery noir. 

While I did feel that the Mark of Cain was much better than the first X-Men Noir book, it wasn't perfect. At times, this book was a bit schizoid. That's not me trying to be poetic or something. That's a literal assessment.

One thing that I appreciated more with this series was the lack of the prose pulp that really caused the first volume to lag. I think those extra 2-3 pages were needed. This story definitely was action packed!

The behind the scenes stuff was a lot more in-depth this time around too. So many great images. And those variant covers- breathtaking!

The final image of this story sets things up for a third volume. That would round out a trilogy. Alas, that just doesn't seem likely. Mark of Cain debuted on shelves in 2009. I just don't see Marvel rounding things out any time soon. Marvel does get nostalgic and returns to it's theme storylines from time to time. Marvel2099 is making a return currently. Could Marvel Noir be awaiting in the wings? If so, I hope we find out what happened immediately after the curtains feel on this adventure.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 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.

Spider-Woman: Agent of SWORD (Hardcover Edition; includes motion comic DVD)

  In the aftermath of the Secret Invasion of the Skrulls, Jessica Drew, AKA Spider-Woman, is having trouble finding her place in the world. The Skrull Queen kidnapped the heroine, impersonating her, and nearly enslaving the human race. Restored to humanity and looking very much like the face of the Skrull invaders, Drew has lost friendships, relationships, and her self-esteem. 

   So when a woman with green hair comes around offering Spider-Woman a chance to get revenge on the Skrull race who did her wrong (and make a little money to boot) it's not very hard for her to ask 'Where do I sign?'  Spider-Woman might want to eat those words when her first assignment sends her to the seediest place on earth- Madripoor. 

    This mini-series from 2009 was originally released as a groundbreaking motion comic through iTunes. It was supposed to the be the first in a long line of comics that Marvel would publish in the new digital format for years to come.  But due to a score of delays, numerous burnt-out artists, and a general lack of interest, the Marvel motion comic project fizzled after just a couple of releases. 

   Thankfully, that was not the end of Jessica's story as Agent of SWORD was later released in single issue form a few months later. This volume collects all 6 issues and includes a copy of the comic in the digital form as intended by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Alex Maleev. 

   While Bendis doesn't disappoint with his deft storytelling, it's the art that is what makes this book worth owning. Maleev uses real models and then through the magic of digital paint, he renders the subject into an array of heroes, villains, and everything in-between. His painted covers are a sultry delight as well.

   The coloring of this story was quite dim and it doesn't translate very well online. Maybe the choice of colors was some sort of cameraman's trick to make the special effects pop,  but I just didn't like the motion comic version of this story. I also didn't like the voice actors used. Now, I think the big problem with that was not so much that they weren't talented but since I read the print version before watching the DVD, I had built up the voices in my head, so that what I heard just didn't fit my preconceived notions. 

   I bought this book on discount and I was very excited to own it. Now that I'm done, I feel like I got a really good read out of it and a disappointing cartoon version to boot. To be honest, I'm not going to keep this one. It's going to end up in my pile of books to sell. If you live in the central North Carolina area, keep an eye out as my copy might be popping up on a used bookstore shelf near you.

   Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.