Crypt of Shadows #1 (2024)

This is the third Halloween annual from Marvel based on the short-lived horror anthology from the 70s. Only this time the Crypt of Shadows, Vol. 3 issue #1 doesn't take place in the Crypt of Shadows. Nor is the anthology hosted by Doctor Strange's deranged brother Victor. This time around, Agatha Harkness, sitting in her intergalactic residence on the planet Amanna, is our hostess and she's spying on several characters of the Marvel Universe.

First up is Agatha's former pupil, the Scarlet Witch. When a magic door appears in her kitchen, Wanda Maximoff finds herself lured into a trap. An innocent nibble on the back of the Man-Thing unleashes a plague into the murky domain of the Sub-Mariner. Finally, the Werewolf by Night, Jack Russell finds himself the latest prey at the hands of Kraven the Hunter. Thankfully old friend, Blade is on hand to make it a fair fight.

First of all, that regular cover. How I wouldn't line up at my favorite LCS to pre-order a supernatural themed title with that lineup. Having Scarlet Witch, Vision, Prince Namor, the Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night, Blade and Kraven the Hunter on the same team fighting some kind of magical threat? I'd be all over that series in a heartbeat.

The stories were pretty good. I didn't exactly like that the Scarlet Witch story was a lead up to upcoming events in the pages of her solo book. I understand that specials like these are paid for advertising for fledgling titles. At least it wasn't a cliffhanger that requires me to buy her book.

I also don't quite understand the changes with the host. There wasn't anything wrong with having Victor Strange as the host. Plus if you're going to call it the Crypt of Shadows, then it should at least take place in the Crypt of Shadows.

I do know that some of the changes were done to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For decades, Agatha Harkness has been either this ancient spindly old crone or dead. With a younger Harkness appearing in WandaVision, Marvel has once again changed the looks of a comic book character to reflect the live action version. I'm not too upset with that. Plus with the character's new Disney+ series Agatha All Along debuting now, I understand that Marvel Comics wants to cash in on that connection and is using their Halloween annual book to do it. I don't like it. But I understand the reasoning behind changing a great formula. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #12

The second, and so far final, miniseries starring the android Vision and the mutant Scarlet Witch, comes to a close. Wanda finally gives birth to her miracle child. But there's a twist! It's twins!

It's a total family affair in this extra-large finale. Vision's spiritual brother Simon Williams- AKA Wonder Man, is on hand for the joyous occasion. So is recently resurrected from the dead evil brother, the Grim Reaper. Plus, there's the zombified body of the real Simon Williams, who for some reason is decked out like Rambo with the arsenal to boot! Oh, and we can't forget grandpa Magneto, who was recently revealed to be the real father of the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. 

There's essentially 2 stories going on here. Vision is with Wanda, whose delivery has taken some tricky turns. Meanwhile, on the streets below, Wonder Man and Magneto have teamed up to stop the Grim Reaper and the Simon Williams zombie, who are trying to enter the hospital to kill the expectant parents. 

This issue has got to be the most underrated or understated appearance of Doctor Strange in a comic book. The Scarlet Witch chose him to be her OB-GYN. There's not a single act of magic conducted by the Sorcerer Supreme. Unless you consider delivering twins to be magical. Otherwise, the presence of Stephen Strange just seems unnecessary here. 

Though this issue doesn't take place on Mother's Day, I feel like the holiday theme was at play here. Wanda does give birth in the month of May. And you can't get much more motherly than giving birth. So I guess this issue counts as a Mother's Day issue. Though probably only by technicality.

This was an enjoyable series. Having the holiday themed issues, which except for the Thanksgiving issue, was unexpected by me, was a delight. Steve Englehart crafted a fun maxi-series and having completed it now makes me want to watch WandaVision. Sadly, I know the truth about Wanda's children and I am more than aware of the tragedies that befall the Marvel Universe as a part of that eventual revelation. Avengers: Disassembled and House of M both have their origins here. Required Marvel reading. I just wish things would have ended positively for the starred married couple.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #11

The holiday theme returns in this penultimate issue of Vision and the Scarlet Witch. Okay- is Tax Day really a holiday? I guess so. It's just not one that anyone who isn't a politician or IRS auditor enjoys. 

It's April 15th and Peter Parker has got one heck of a tax bill. In order to pay it off, he takes a magazine gig photographing the beautiful new home of the Vision and Scarlet Witch. Wanda is just days away from giving birth and has been placed on bed rest. So it's up to the Vision to take Peter around the home which has been targeted once again by the dastardly Toad! Enter your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man wearing his iconic black costume to help the former Avenger protect his wife and unborn child from the clutches of the evil mutant lackey.

Hey! Where'd that Parker kid run off to?

The Toad's contribution to this series comes to an end with this issue. Vision has been keeping the Toad's obsession with the Scarlet Witch quiet in order to not stress the expectant mommy out. With this latest round, there's nothing the android hubby can do to keep Wanda out of this affair. Man, does the Toad get really petty when he comes across the very, VERY pregnant Scarlet Witch. To the point he's sickened by her large size and the Toad has never been what you'd consider a looker. In return, high on hormones and motherly instinct, Wanda Maximoff really lets the Toad have it laying on insults that should have killed the mutant by the sheer tones of her rejection. 

Don't mess with Mama!

By the way, a comic book being set during Tax Day isn't quite as unusual as you might think. In fact, I've got a Tax Day holiday issue in my collection starring Tick and Arthur. So I guess you can count April 15th as a holiday but again, why would you???

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #10

The holiday theme is scrapped for some high tension drama on the moon with Quicksilver and the Inhumans.

Pietro's wife Crystal has been carrying on an affair with Norman Webster, the realtor who sold Vision and the Scarlet Witch their home. As pollution has made the air on Earth deadly to Inhumans, Crystal has been taking a powerful medicine in order to make her carnal dalliances. But something during this liaison went wrong and Crystal fell into a coma.

Angered by his wife's betrayal, Quicksilver gathers his militia men to enact his revenge against Norman who happens to be in the Inhumans' lunar compound. He was with Crystal when she collapsed and called emergency services. Things go from bad to extremely worse with King Blackbolt banishing Pietro from his kingdom and the mutant speedster running amok on the moon in a huge tantrum!

A child of divorce, I'm on Quicksilver's side. I hate infidelity. I understand Pietro getting pissed. Though I do think it's extreme to use the entire might of the Inhuman military force to kill the guy who is boinking your wife. Those sorts of crimes of passion should be a mano a mano sort of affair. 

I understand that there's not really a March holiday that covers family issues. Being part Irish, maybe it's safe to say that the whole Crystal and Pietro drama is suited for St. Patty's Day. It's definitely a stereotype that I wouldn't make if I wasn't a partial descendant of the Emerald Isle or if it just wasn't true. Lord knows my family, both the European and Native American sides were pieces of work on par with the domestic squabbles in this book.

I know that I'm making light of things. But the subject matter really hit home. I hope Pietro and Crystal can work things out. But further research on the Marvel Wiki reveals that won't be the case. And there's a child involved. Fiction comic book or not, divorce is not an easy subject for me.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #9

This issue is a team-up. But not of superheroes. It's a joining of 2 holidays! The main holiday event is Mardi Gras, which in itself is a rarity in comics. I don't have such an issue in my collection and I can't even recall a single Mardi Gras special ever being published. Vision and Wanda's new neighbors, the professional magician duo of Illusion and Glamour, have invited the former Avengers to accompany them to the Big Easy where they are scheduled to perform during the Fat Tuesday festivities. This vacation doubles for the expectant parents as a pre-baby romantic getaway as Valentine's Day is happening at the same time as Mardi Gras. 

As for Valentines Day set comics, they're rarer than a Halloween or Christmas special. But compared to Mardi Gras books, I've got a glut of them in my collection.

While Vision and the Scarlet Witch enjoy the oddities of Mardi Gras, it's revealed that Illusion and Glamour are not just traveling magicians, but super-powered cat burglars who fund their luxurious lifestyle with thefts planned around their touring schedule. They're in New Orleans in hopes of pulling a heist involving a valuable jewel.

Also with their eyes set on the jewel is the Norse villainess, the Enchantress. She somehow manages to pull the Vision under her thrall with the task of stealing the jewel for her. Now why the Enchantress couldn't steal the bauble herself, what with her Asgardian powers is about as beyond me as to how can an android man become the love slave of the Enchantress? She mentions something about pheromones influencing the Vision and well, how can androids be influenced by human chemical compounds when they also comment in this book how they don't need to eat or drink? Well, both head scratchers do occur in this book and by stories end, there's a scene where Vizh in in between both his wife and new love and the two ladies are becoming at him like a pair of masters trying to prove who is the true owner of a stray dog. 

The main story had some implausibles. Really, the addition of the Enchantress to this double holiday themed story was unnecessary based on how she could just steal the jewel herself. This plot issue is irregardless of the fact that her powers of seduction are useless over the female owner of the stone. Are you telling me that Enchantress lacks the ability to magically break into a safe?

I thought the revelation that Illusion and Glamour are traveling thieves under the guise of famous show biz magicians was the best part of this book. I wonder how this reveal is gonna be handled through the last 4 issues of this miniseries. Will it even be addressed? I'm really interested in learning more about these 2 characters because thing just got interesting!!!

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #8

1958 marked the first of many appearances of civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in a comic book. Martin Luther King and The Montgomery Story tells of the Atlanta preacher's involvement in the Alabama bus boycott that came about from the incarceration of Rosa Parks after she refused to give up her seat to a white patron. What I am not certain about is the first instance of a comic book to take place during Martin Luther King's birthday, I very much may have read the very first one. 

The first push for a federal holiday honoring King was in 1968 just a few days after his assassination. The push for the ratification of a bill had gained enough momentum by 1981 that the US Senate was presented with a petition signed by some 6 million people after a brief march through the nation's capitol, led by King's widow, Coretta. After a few committee stalls and some contentious debate, a vote took place in the fall of 1983. The bill was signed into law by Ronald Reagan in November with the first official Federal holiday of Dr. King's birthday to take place in January, 1986.

This issue of Vision and the Scarlet Witch hit store shelves on February 4th, 1986, just 2 short weeks after the first official MLK, Jr. holiday observance. Other books might have come out before celebrating the unofficial observances of King's birthday. There might have been other books released by DC and Marvel (or some of the smaller publishers) earlier that year that also have stories that take place during that first MLK Day. I just don't know. For a fan of holiday themed comic books, this is my first experience with a story set during this event. There's been a couple of books I've read that mention the Federal observance as a part of King's legacy. But usually those books only have a single panel set during the holiday. This story is 24 pages of super heroes operating during the night of January 20th, 1986.

Quicksilver and wife Crystal are visiting with Vision and the Scarlet Witch when Luke Cage comes crashing through the living room window of the former Avengers. This is supposed to be a peaceful day for Cage, reflecting on the legacy of Dr. King. Instead, a magical death cult has other plans for the Hero for Hire. 

Followers of a demon called Zor are looking for a set of idols that Luke Cage and partner Power Fist once confiscated and gave to Wanda for safe keeping. Wanda hid the idols somewhere in the World Trade Center. With brother Pietro in tow, Cage, Vision and the Scarlet Witch head over to the WTC to destroy the relics once and for all.

You might think that a story such as this has minimal references to MLK Birthday and you're right. Unlike an issue set at Christmas, Halloween or just about any other holiday, the settings are not full of posters of Dr. King and other decorations. We get Luke Cage reflecting on the civil rights icon. Scarlet Witch bestows Cage a blessing of the 'new holiday'. Then as things end for the story, Quicksilver makes a racist statement against humans and Cage comments that making strides for racially equality includes mutants and that was what Dr. King's dream was all about.

Yes- this issue really ends with Luke Cage doing his best impression of Linus from A Charlie Brown Christmas! The sapping ending kinda gives new meaning to Cage's trademark exclamation of 'Sweet Christmas.' Yet, in a time when not every state was willing to celebrate a holiday devoted to a black American, this issue was a big deal. Remember it wouldn't be until 1993 before Arizona would finally observe MLK Day and another 7 years before South Carolina would pay state employees for the day off work. So to have January 20th the setting of this Marvel issue, as passing or trite as the creative team might have made it's usage in this story, it was a huge step forward in bringing about normalcy and acceptance to the new holiday celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #7

So I take a little over a month off from reading the second Vision and the Scarlet Witch miniseries, to read a bunch of Christmas themed comic books to come back and read a Christmas themed issue!

I shouldn't have been surprised. Just about every issue is set during a holiday. The last issue was Thanksgiving. The month before that was Halloween. 

In this issue, we learn that the Inhuman Crystal has been spending a lot of time on Earth. It's been under the guise of helping Wanda get ready for the birth of her miracle baby. Only, Crystal has been going off on her own, conducting an affair with a human behind the back of her husband, the mutant Quicksilver.

Meanwhile, Vision has been following up on the robotic attack by the Toad's version of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants from the last issue. Vision catches up with the evil mutant lackey who has recently become powerful thanks to a raid on the armory of the Stranger. Toad has long pined after the Scarlet Witch when she and her brother were unwilling members of Magneto's band of villains. Now that he's got some fire power, Toad wishes to finally make Wanda Maximoff his bride. But first, Toad has to kill Wanda's husband and the Vision is not about to go quietly!

A good chapter that has some decent fight scenes while the Scarlet Witch enjoys Christmas, aloof of the battle between her husband and Toad. I could have done without the soap opera theatrics of Crystal cheating on Pietro. It's been a long time coming as Quicksilver has been more devoted to training the Inhumans' militia than being a doting husband and father. Still it's an element of this book I could have done without.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars. 

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #6

This is the issue I've been hinting at since I began reading the Vision and Scarlet Witch minis. I was originally going to read these comics earlier in the year as part of my annual reading challenge. I think I needed to read an Avengers book or something like that. When I was looking things over, I discovered that this issue was set during Thanksgiving. As I don't have very many books set during Turkey Day, I decided to hold off on reading these until November. Imagine my surprise as two issues have been set during Halloween. It's been an unexpected holiday extravaganza!

So what is this issue about? Wanda and her husband decide to host Thanksgiving at their new house. Members of the Avengers, Wanda's physician Doctor Strange, brother Pietro and family and friends are all invited. That includes papa Magneto. The former villain is treated to a chilly reception as Magneto has burned a lot of bridges. This leads Magneto to leave early. Only he doubles back when he discovers that a group of foes are hiding in the former Avengers' back yard awaiting to strike. It's the original lineup of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. But wait, how can there be 2 Magnetos and 2 Quicksilvers?!

This holiday set story was worth the wait. I knew with this being a superhero story that this wasn't going to be a total love feast. I knew that there was going to be some action and excitement. But there was enough turkey and trimmings to make this story festive enough for my liking.

Plus somebody must really like me because I learned at the end of this tale that issue #7 is set during Christmas!  It's a holiday miracle! I normally wait until the day after Thanksgiving to start reading Christmas comics. But as this issue ends on a cliffhanger, I'm gonna treat myself with an early Christmas present and read the follow up early.

You don't have to read the 9 previous issues that lead up to this giving of thanks. But it helps. I understand why this book is consistently included in lists of the best Thanksgiving comics of all-time and it's not because of how few Turkey Day reads there are in comicdom.

A true classic!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #5

At the end of the last issue, I saw that this story was going to be set at Halloween! And I actually cheered! Yes, I like to read my holiday themed comics during the season in which the action takes place. But as the next issue is why I waited until now to read the two Vision and the Scarlet Witch minis, I decided to just enjoy the ride!

In this issue, it's Halloween night and Wanda is about to perform a ritual in order to communicate with her deceased mentor, Agatha Harkness. However, as Wanda's powers are currently tied-up with producing a miracle baby from her mutant DNA and Vision's synthetic material, the expelling of magic opens the Scarlet Witch up to attack from those who wish to siphon her powers- from beyond the grave!

Meanwhile, Vision, who has left Wanda at home to conduct her seance, enjoys a night out on the town. He's the special guest of his new friends Glamour and Illusion, who are putting on a special Halloween magic show. During the presentation, Vision experiences what can only be a disturbance in the Force. Agatha Harkness makes contact with the former Avenger, warning him of supernatural threats to Wanda and her unborn child. For a once thought vanquished foe from Wanda and Vision's earliest days on Leonia, New Jersey seeks to make the child a new vessel of their evil in hopes of once again conquering the earth.

If you're a regular reader of my blog, which is also my reading journal, then you'll know that while I like stories about the supernatural, I have a limitation on how much magic and arcane spirits a story can have. This Halloween issue almost crossed that line. Not a fan of seances or making contacts with the dead. Demons are definitely not my thing. I hate things that are possessed. I think if the Scarlet Witch hadn't defeated the foe when she had, I might have had to throw this book away. 

The story and art have quality. It's the quantity of the contents that put me off. I enjoyed the holiday themed and the parts with the Vision were quite good. It was just a bit too occultish for my taste.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4

After a hoo-hum issue, Steve Englehart redeems himself with this story about prejudice and greed.

In between the last issue of the first miniseries and issue #1 of this maxi-series, Vision and the Scarlet Witch saw their dream home being burned down by townsfolk who didn't want muties or heroes living in their quiet little burg. Despite the loss, Wanda and Vizh aren't done with Leonia, New Jersey just yet and they've bought another home.

Feeling like the former Avengers haven't gotten the message yet, those same citizens plan another assault on Vision and his wife. Thankfully, the couple have a pair of guardian angels who are secretly super-powered mutants as well. Living in Leonia as a husband/wife magician act known as Glamour and Illusion, one can manipulate matter while the other can become intangible. Pretty good abilities for a pair of illusionists and the newest members of the Vision and Scarlet Witch family.

Actually, scratch that. The newest member of the title family is Wanda's fetus in which Doctor Strange has just confirmed that the Scarlet Witch is pregnant! 

A much, much better issue that introduces a pair of new characters that I like. Plus, a bunch of bigots get a comeuppance in some spectacular ways that only a mutant with magical hex would be able to pull off. Plus an appearance by Doctor Strange.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #3

A character from the Marvel Universe dies in this issue. I wouldn't say that it's a major character. More on par with maybe your Wyatt Wingfoot or Foggy Nelson. More powerful than a Dum Dum Dugan or Sharon Carter, but not as steeped in Marvel lore. Though I will say that this is a major character in the Scarlet Witch back story. 

Anyways, this character's grandchildren aren't satisfied with the magic they have absorbed from their relative. Now they're after Wanda for her powers too. 

I wasn't a big fan of this issue. There's a lot of talking and yet with it, nobody says anything. It's like Steve Englehart tried to be Shakespeare. Only this is no Macbeth or any other of Shakespeare's plays that had witches and magic in it. 

I could have done without this issue. Other than Vision and Scarlet Witch deciding to have a baby (thanks to the use of magic), it all just felt unnecessary. I mean I don't even see a reason for that character to have died. If Marvel was needing an excuse to make this a 12-issue maxi-series, they found a sure way to milk a cash cow. 

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #2

In West Coast Avengers #2, Ultron kidnapped his 'father', Dr. Hank Pym. Then as the Scarlet Witch joined up with the Avengers of the Pacific in their quinjet, Ultron unleashed an assault on the plane and it's going down!

Now in Vision and the Scarlet Witch #2, as the plane is crashing, Hawkeye is contacted by his wife, Mockingbird who has been away from the team, assisting SHIELD in a mission. This is fortuitous because when Grim Reaper's minions kidnap the crash's survivors, it's Mockingbird who saves the day.

Look, this book is over 30 years old. If you haven't read it now, you're probably not going to read it later. Although, if you're wanting to read the inspirations behind Disney+'s WandaVision, maybe you will read this book. Don't worry, I've not really spoiled anything. If anything, the big revelations that could spoil this issue involve Vision, Wonder Man and Grim Reaper. Let's just say that what transpires explains a lot of the villain's motives and why Simon Williams went from being Baron Zemo's lackey to an Avenger. However, I think in the past 30 years of Avengers stories, what happens to the trio has been retconned and distorted to the point that any spoiler I were to reveal wouldn't have any long-term repercussions to your knowledge of this corner of the Marvel universe.

A bit of a mess. Steve Englehart does manage to keep me from being lost in the material that was covered in the West Coast Avengers issue I've not read. Nor own. A lot of the action on the Quinjet seemed unnecessary. It's almost like Englehart needed to add that scene as filler in order for this issue of Vision and the Scarlet Witch to meet minimum page count requirements.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1

The second miniseries to star Vision and the Scarlet Witch begins with quite a few changes. What do you expect? 3 years have elapsed since then. Here's a small rundown of important things that have some impact of the current plot:

• The American Government has decreed that there are too many Avengers. The team has been trimmed down to 7 members with Hawkeye and Iron Man going to California to start the West Coast Avengers. 
• Since revealing that he is the father of the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, Magneto has pledged to repent of his past sins against humanity and is currently on trial for his past crimes as the leader of the Brotherhood of Mutants.
• Ultron, acting through a super-computer, turned Vision temporarily evil. Just inches away from taking over the world, the Avenger reclaimed his synthetic humanity and is awaiting being cleared of any dark influences on him...

Issue #1 opens with Wanda and Vision quitting the Avengers due to how Vision has been held by the government without due process. But the heroes' freedom is short-lived when the biological brother of Simon Williams, the Grim Reaper, sends an army of zombies to capture Vision and Scarlet Witch. Meanwhile on the West Coast, Ultron has tracked down Wonder Woman and kidnapped him, leading Hawkeye and his team on a search for their missing comrade.

One of my greatest pet peeves about comic books takes place at the closure of this issue. It ended on a cliffhanger. But instead of being resolved by reading issue #2 of this mini, you have to read issue #2 of West Coast Avengers. Normally, I would have held off on reading any further. But I really want to get to a certain issue of this series before Turkey Day. As I've been waiting almost all year to read these books, I said 'screw it' and went on ahead to the next issue. 

If you are someone who has to have all the correlating issues in your possession before reading the whole story, take note. Otherwise, trust that the team of Steve Englehart and Richard Powell will keep readers abreast of what was missed out if you decide like me to forgo reading West Coast Avengers #2 first.

Worth Consuming! -but losing points for the cliffhanger pet peeve.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4

The first miniseries to star Vision and the Scarlet Witch comes to a close on the lunar sanctuary of the Inhumans. Vision's mind has been restored after the events that took place in issue #2, thanks to fellow hero, Wonder Man. Now the former Avenger needs to have his arm replaced and Attilan has the advanced technology to do it.

The biggest impact this issue has to the Marvel universe doesn't even involve Vision. In this issue, Wanda and her brother Pietro learn the identity of their real father. That's right issue #4 is the one that confirms Magneto is the biological father of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch!

A key issue for fans of the Maximoffs or Magneto. Maybe also for fans of the Inhumans as Magneto meets his grandchild, the son of Quicksilver and Crystal. But if you are hoping for a lot of the Vision in this book, he's a secondary player in his own miniseries closure at best.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10. 

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #3

While an attack on the life of Nuklo resulted in the mutant being cured of his radioactivity, the results of last issue's battle have let the family of Wanda Maximoff and the Vision in tatters. Robert Frank, the Whizzer, is dead while Vision is left mangled, minus an arm and in a sort of coma. As the Vision's brain patterns were taken from that of Wonder Man, the Hollywood Avenger is called to the Big Apple to help restore the synthezoid hero's mind.

This was a trippy issue as the majority of the story takes place in the mind of the Vision. The level of action is upped by the addition of the Grim Reaper who blames both Viz and Wonder Man for the death of Simon Williams, which confuses me because I thought Wonder Man was Simon Williams. Internally, both Vision and Wonder Man must battle Ultron, as a small part of the Vision's creator still lingers in the Avenger's brain and has been trying to kill him ever since the hero rejected the influence of his creator!

I've figured out the theme of this miniseries. It's family and its many facets on people. Family sometimes is who you are born into. Other times, family is who you care about the most. It's that latter version of family that is sometimes the closest and the most meaniful. 

Being that so much of this story is based on symbolism and the exploration of the deepest recesses of the psyche, this is the kind of tale that my wife would be a fan of. As for me, it's just a little too metaphysical. Not the worst story. Just not my taste.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #2

Former World War II superhero, Robert Frank, the Whizzer, arrives on the doorstep of Vision and the Scarlet Witch. The 'father' of Wanda Maximoff and her brother Pietro the mutant racer Quicksilver, Frank seeks to regain custody of his son, Robert Jr., who is also the radioactive mutant, Nuklo.

Nuklo has the mind of a child due to his autism. As a result, Nuklo isn't able to control his powers which if allowed to get out of control could destroy the entire world. For some time now, Nuklo has been in a self-contained environment, under 24/7 care by specialists seeking to cure his nuclear powers. The Whizzer wants to take Nuklo to Attilan, where Quicksilver lives with his wife Crystal, in hopes of that the Inhumans with their state of the art technology might be able to save Nuklo once and for all. The aging hero believes that with the blessing of some Avengers and Inhumans, he'll be able to reclaim rights to his son and save him.

Well, Robert Frank does win rights to take his son to the Inhumans' base on the moon. Only, before he's able to remove Nuklo from the medical facility, an enemy from the Whizzer's past makes themselves known! Now it's up to Scarlet Witch and Vision to stop this foe from not only killing Nuklo but from also destroying planet earth as the enemy's attack on the autistic mutant threatens to send him into meltdown!

It's not really a spoiler to mention that the real father of Wanda and Pietro is Magneto. That's been established for quite a while. I've also known that it was believed that the Whizzer was the real father to those super-powered siblings. But I never really knew the story behind that. Nor did I know when Wanda and her brother learned that Robert Frank wasn't their real father. While both Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch have known the truth for a while, Whizzer doesn't learn the truth until this issue. We also get the back story as to why Robert Frank thinks he's their real father. 

As for Wanda and Pietro learning their true parentage, that revelation looms for another day...

Another good issue. I was hoping this issue would be Veterans Day themed, since the previous issue took place during Halloween. While the Whizzer did fight along side the Invaders during World War II as part of the Liberty Legion, thus making him a veteran, there's nothing about November 11th that fits into this being a holiday tale. 

Okay, so I was a little disappointed about that. But the story by Bill Mantlo was excellent. Lots of action and adventure. And what happens to Vision shocked the heck out of me!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1

The opening chapter of one of two miniseries that inspired the hit Disney+ series WandaVision.

The story opens on Halloween night. It's the first day of Wanda and Vision's new life as a domesticated couple. Retired from the Avengers, living in a new house in the quaint town of Leonia, New Jersey, the Scarlet Witch and Vision are ready to unpack and settle in. As a house-warming gift, Avengers butler Jarvis has come to help with the moving in. As yet another housewarming gift, Captain America has gifted Wanda with an ancient spell-book from one of his SHIELD missions in Europe. 

Being Halloween night, the former Avengers are ready for the goblins and ghosts you'd expect trick-or-treating on your doorstep. What the new homeowners don't expect is for an ancient druid god to escape from their housewarming gifts and try to kill them! 

I was thrilled to get to read a Halloween story out of season. I had no idea that this premiere issue took place on All Hallow's Eve. I've been sitting on these two mini-series almost all year, for reasons that I'll explain in a few days. But had I known that there was a Halloween story in the mix, I would have started Vision and the Scarlet Witch last month!

Another pleasant surprise was the writer. It's Bill Mantlo! A talent whose artistic voice was tragically quieted way, way too early, I love his stuff. I cut my comic book reading teeth on his Rom: Spaceknight stuff. His Marvel Two-In-One and Marvel Team-Up works are master classes on how to write crossovers. Mantlo's prose gets a little too flowly at times, especially at the beginning of this issue. But the man could write some amazing stuff!

A great and surprising first issue to start things off! Perfect for your Halloween reads, though I bet many of you overlook this one as an October time read.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Crypt of Shadows #1 (2023)

For the second year in a row, Marvel releases a horror themed one-shot under the legacy banner of Crypt of Shadows. Unlike last year's offering, none of these stories seem to be set around Halloween. Also unlike last year's offering, every story was actually quite good!

Once again Victor Strange, the vampiric brother of Doctor Strange is our host. Trapped in that mirror somewhere in Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum, Victor regales readers with creepy stories set in the Marvel universe while scheming to escape from his shadow realm prison. The main theme of most of these stories are team-ups involving classic 1970s Marvel horror characters.

Deadpool is hired to kill a priestess who seeks to rule both the world and underworld. But he's got to get through N'Kantu, the Living Mummy in order to obtain his bounty. Daredevil is nearly ripped to shreds by the ninja clan known as the Hand. Coming to his aid is the Man-Thing, whose touch results in death in those who know fear. Good thing Matt Murdock is the Man Without Fear. Then the Hulk is assisted by the Werewolf by Night from an all-out assault by Kraven the Hunter. 

The only story to not feature a team-up stars the Scarlet Witch. She fights a demonic force called Bricklayer. It's the villain's first appearance and it's a pretty darn good one. Years ago, this haunted house was destroyed. Only one of the bricks from the possessed domicile lodged itself into the chest of a vagrant. Now the vagrant continues the destroyed home's reign of terror by killing innocents as the super-strong and extremely evil Bricklayer. This was a villain I very much want to see more off and the tagline at the end of the story promises more of the character. Though I expect Bricklayer's legacy to be taken up by a new host body.

Fans are also promised more of Victor Strange in the pages of Doctor Strange. I'm excited for this prospect as well. It might actually persuade me to buy the books new when Marvel finally pits brother against brother once more. 

Marvel managed to make a Halloween special that was relevant and yet not preachy. Comics can tackle tricky subjects while still being fun. Finally, after several years of feeling like I was being targeted by the House of Ideas, it seems that the publisher finally understands that fans want to be entertained, not talked down too. If I wanted to spend my hard earned cash being made to feel like the source of all humanities problems, I'd enroll in an ethics course in college. When I buy comic books, I want to enjoy it and I actually enjoyed this horror comic.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #172

We're down to the last 4 issues of MCP. Things kick off with the debut of a brand new character called Lunatik. Created by Keith Giffen, Lunatik is hundreds of millions of years old. The last of his race, because he consumed all of his planet's people, animals and resources, Lunatik now travels the galaxy as a mercenary with little scruples and a love of space dolphins. 

Yeah, you heard me. Space Dolphins and if that little clue reminds you of a big bad bastiche from the pages of the Distinguished Competition, then reward yourself with a few credits from petty cash. Keith Giffen created the character of Lobo in the pages of Omega Men #3 (1983) and his origin reads an awful lot like that of Lunatik's. Though Lobo did come first, mind you. 

One thing very different between Lobo and Lunatik is that Lunatik has a sidekick. Skreet is a chaos sprite who acts a little bit like Lunatik's conscience as well as his secretary and bookkeeper. Illustrated by Giffen and inked by Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), Skeet is kinda punk and kinda alluring. But for Lunatik, as good intentioned as Skreet is, she's a boil on his backside.

Vengeance appears in a single issue story set in San Francisco. In this episode, Badilino and his task force are responding to reports of a super-powered killer in the City by the Bay. It might just be the extremely misguided vigilante, Foolkiller, behind the murders. Or there could be something even more sinister in the works...

The other two segments are POV stories from members of Force Works. Despite last issue being told that we needed to by the latest issue of Force Works to learn how the team survives the crash of the Pegasus, the stories here pick up immediately after the accident. Miraculously and shamelessly, everyone survives. This leads to U.S. Agent going off on his own, half-cocked of course, to stop the Mandarin while the Scarlet Witch tends to the injured.

While the Force Works stories follow the same formula of one incident told from 2 perspectives, neither is framed from a Point of View like in the last issue. I think omitting such a concept takes away from the unique theme of the Force Works stories.

The Vengeance story was kinda comedic. Though the loose ending scares the pants offa me. I don't really know what to think of the Lunatik story. It's classic Keith Giffen fare. But it also  looks a lot like a Lobo swipe...

A good issue that just has some flaws to it.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars. 

Marvel Comics Presents #144

Another issue, another round of 'Siege of Darkness' segments. 

The main feature has most of the main players of the story line. Since the enemy, Lilith, is also the fabled mother of vampires, the group known as Midnight Sons are distrustful of one of their allies, Morbius, the Living Vampire! The Midnight Sons are saying that their distrust is due to the revelation in the last issue of a traitor in their midst. But I call BS. 

Blade is part vampire. Yet, his allies haven't turned against him. In a social relevance twist that could only be dreamed up by Marvel, the prejudice is against Morbius because he looks like a vampire! The racism Blade experiences along with the recoil people have against one who looks like Morbius bleeds over into a second segment starring the two.

Meanwhile, Scarlet Witch is still battling a demon within the computer cyber realm that I imagine would one day be called the Internet. And at a school play, the Werewolf by Night, Jack Russell has tracked a group of Lilin. They seek to kill the parents and teachers in attendance while Russell is out for blood. The action unfolds on stage to the awed crowd. This is the best Halloween pageant ever!

Last issue, I thought all of the stories were pretty extraneous to the cross-title plotline. I do not feel that way here. Those first two segments involving Morbius and the traitor are some important pieces of information that readers of regular titles like Doctor Strange and Ghost Rider might be missing out on if they don't read this bi-weekly (or has it gone monthly now?) anthology title. 

As for the extra entries, I don't really see the point of the inclusion of the Scarlet Witch. I've heard of ghosts in the machine but not demons. However, the Werewolf By Night story was sheer gory delight. It didn't move the Midnight Sons story along. But it was magnificent in such a marvelously morbid way.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.