Secret Wars Too, #1

This comedic one-shot tie-in to Marvel's 2015-16 Secret Wars event was a bit of a disappointment. Over the year's Marvel had developed a number of 'Not Brand Echh' style parodies of their annual massive event story lines. Many of them have been quite funny. But not this time around.

The main story is a metaphysical story in which Secret Wars scribe, Jonathan Hickman has just finished pitching the idea to Marvel's think tank to great success. However, Hickman realizes that he doesn't have a clue how it's going to end. Enter Doctor Victor Von Doom for a funny pep talk that goes off an a great tangent about hot dogs. 

Unfortunately, this story is peppered with jokes about how the issues in the miniseries will not ship on time as well as groaners about too many tie-in comics. My question is: If Marvel knows that this is a problem, why do they repeat themselves time and time again?

The other stories in this book were pretty forgettable. There's a yarn about how not killing off Uncle Ben would actually be one of the worst follies to ever befall the Marvel multiverse. Aside from the clever puns of alternate Peter Parker heroic personas, it was a stupid story. A tale involving the tragic character of D-Man was naturally quite sad. We also had a couple of episodes involving a universe of Bear Marvel heroes and the computer hacking adventures of Spidey, Jessica Jones and Daredevil that started out great but got ridiculous pretty quick. 

Only the dimension shifting adventures of Kate Bishop and America in their quest for something called 'pizza' and a Eric Powell parody on a reality series starring Doctor Doom were back-ups in this one-shot that were any good. 

An excellent question is posed thanks to the last story: why hasn't Marvel signed The Goon creator, Powell, to any sort of contract. I bet something by him and Donny Cates would kick serious booty!

Thankfully, I only paid a buck for this book. Quite a disappointment really. But it's from the Axel Alonso era. So could you expect anything less?

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Uncanny Origins #7

  The complicated relationship between Eddie Brock and the alien symbiote that turns him into Venom is explored in this issue. From Peter Parker first coming across the parasitic creature in the pages of Secret Wars to later bonding with disgraced reporter Brock after Parker rejects his alien 'suit' to the pair becoming a vigilante type anti-hero who seeks to destroy Spider-Man, all of Venom's history is explored right up to 1997. 

   So here's what confuses me- the cover states that this issue is 'the deadly debut of Spider-Man's Nastiest Nemesis.' Was that a typo? Poor editing? 

   At the point of this issue of Uncanny Origins being published, the Symbiote has been around for over a decade as well as the character of Eddie Brock. Their fusion into Venom occurred about 2 years afterwards. So, again, I ask, how is this the debut of Venom? 

   Oddly enough, I think this is why the issue was so gosh darn hard for me to find. It was the last issue I needed to complete my collection of this series and it cost me almost $10 (compared to spending only about a buck a pop for the rest.) Yes, Venom is a popular character but I think some fans mistakenly think this is the debut of the Spider-Man villain thanks to the cover blurb. 

   Well, folks, I am here to tell you that it's not.

   A good issue with more fantastic art by Dave Hoover. It's definitely worth reading and was worth the search, but it's not a key issue in regards to the character. So, make sure if you seek out this issue that you don't pay an arm and a leg.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Captain Marvel & The Carol Corps

The heroes of several alternate universes failed to save the multiverse. As a result, Doctor Doom recreated the Beyonder’s Battleworld in an effort to save himself. It doesn't hurt the he's also set himself up as GOD with his own set of minions and made a decree that to question his authority is an act of blasphemy.

  In this supplement to 2015’s Secret Wars, Captain Marvel has been made the leader of the Carol Corps, an elite team of female fighter pilots who defend Doom's main territory of Hala Field from neighboring Hydra forces. When a near invasion is repelled with the help of the Thor Corps, a sort of Asgardian-powered special forces, Carol learns that one of the Thors’ hammer was forged from a fallen star. Only under Doom's doctrine, there's supposed to exist nothing past the atmospheric barrier erected around the Battleworld. This revelation will put the Carol Corps on a collision course with the wraith of Doom as more events uncover a conspiracy that could shatter the façade of paradise crafted by Doom himself.

  Carol Corps was a pleasure to read. It's my first official foray into the most recent Secret Wars. You don't have to read that series to enjoy this mini- but it helps! I have a lot of questions like why would Doom create a territory for himself so close to enemy forces?

  The important thing I took from this book was that A) Secret Wars is enjoyable and B) thanks to reading lists at the beginning and end of this book, I now know everything I need to read and collect for the entire storyline. In other words, Secret Wars is going on my wish list.

A marvelous effort by Captain Marvel regular series writer Kelly Sue DeConnick with help by Kelly Thompson(Heart in a Box) and as always, more dynamic art by Capt. artist, David Lopez!

Worth Consuming

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Captain Marvel, Volume 3: Alis Volat Propriis (Marvel NOW!)

   Carol Danver’s sabbatical in space is about to come to an end. But before it does, Captain Marvel must rescue her beloved cat, Chewie from a band of space pirates. But her mission won't be easy as her ship has been sabotaged and Chewie’s captors have a commanding lead over the cosmic powered Avenger. Good thing she's located a wormhole that should beat the catnappers to their destination. Too bad Carol didn't get the message to 'avoid the space envelope’ from her extraterrestrial friends.

  Then the series of Captain Marvel comes to a close when friends of Carol's pay a fond farewell to a fallen friend. Is the dearly departed Captain Marvel or someone close to her? I won't spoil it, folks. You'll just have to read this for yourself to find out.

   This volume contains the last issues of the 2014-15 series before the continuity skewing events of last year's Secret Wars. This volume was a fun read, but it lacked a little of the charm of the previous volumes. I think that's mostly because the only characters in this book are Marvel and her sarcastic spaceship, Harrison. They have some classic moments of banter but most of their interactions involve really horrible puns. 

( Hmmm… Harrison… Chewie… I think someone's got a thing for a certain scruffy- looking Nerf Herder…)

 The final chapter, however, was something special. It had that little spark of heart and humanity missing from the rest of the book. Plus, it cleared up several questions that I had from the 2012 series that contains events just prior to Danver's mission of self-discovery in the furthest reaches of outer space.

   Though this series is through it is not the end of my doings with the Carol Danvers Captain Marvel. I happened to get my hands on her Secret Wars miniseries but don't worry, I haven't spoiled the ending of this series by revealing my reading list as Secret Wars is an amalgamation of different Marvel stories and timelines.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 2: Revelations

  As the Ultimate Universe begins to unravel, all of the remaining secrets you've been waiting for answers are uncovered before the final curtain goes down on Miles Morales and his band of New Ultimates.

   Reveals include:

•    How did Norman Osborne survive after seemingly dying during his climatic battle with Peter Parker in revealed?
•     Is the Peter Parker who returned asking to for his mantle of Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man the real deal or a blasted clone?
•     Where's Miles' dad and what's been the deep dark secret he kept for so long?
• and much more...

   

    While this volume does tidy things up in a big way, the ending boasts the biggest question of 2015? Just what happens to Miles and the rest of the world in Secret Wars when the Battleworld arrives at the series end?

    That's right, this volume is the last we'll ever see of Miles Morales in the Ultimate Universe. Well, for now, at least, as nothing really is forever in comics. 

    A grand capper to a great character in a great alternate universe from Marvel Comics. 

    It's fitting that the mastermind behind the Ultimate Comics universe, Brian Michael Bendis, crafted the swan song to Ultimate Spider-Man. The artwork by David Marquez was also very good. However, he's not the original artist behind UC: Spider-Man #1. That would've been the icing of the proverbial cake.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

"Secret Wars (Marvel Super Heroes)"

NOT WORTH CONSUMING

Not Marvel’s best.

Here’s the recipe:

Take 2001: A Space Odyssey, subtract all the parts that people can understand, add 3 parts clichés, mix in some of the worst artwork of X-Men ever drawn, and a dash of interesting plot developments and you have Secret Wars.

How many times can people who are dwarfed by a giant creature be described as “gnats”, How often can we believe that Dr. Doom is afraid to destroy the universe in his sleep. Is the WASP really that vain about her looks?

I just wasn’t buying it. Except for the fact that I did buy it…thankfully used and half price. But I do intend on keeping SW mostly for the fact I want to own a copy every X-Men story ever written.