Marvel Comics Presents #175

This is it! The final issue of Marvel Comics Presents!

There are 4 segments and they are all 8-pagers. Obviously. 

2 segments continue stories that I thought were over. You know how at the end of a scary movie, the monster does a jump scare before actually dying off? Well, that's what happens here with Vengeance as Diabolique returns! Man, I hate that scary ass white kid...

I also had thought that Lunatik's story with Silver Surfer was completed last issue. But the two titans have decided once again to go toe-to-toe. 

The other half of this issue involves characters from the epic 150th issue. There's a group of kids known as NewGenX. They've all been turned into living weapons thanks to the geneticists of The Fortress. That's the research compound that kidnapped Typhoid Mary during that massive issue. Well, these kids appeared in like 1 panel then and this issue is the chance to tell their story. As this is their only full appearance in over 80 years of Marvel Comics, apparently 16-pages was enough paper in which to tell it. Did I say 16-pages? That's because the mercenary Steel Raven saves the kids from The Fortress in her 8-page segment.

I never thought I'd finish this series. It had a few highs but a whole heck of a lot of lows. There was a bunch of Ghost Rider. Too much Wolverine. And not enough quality. This finale didn't do anything to end this on a high note.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #151

Typhoid Mary's return to Marvel Comics Presents was so massive, it had to spill over into a second issue. 

Mary is bent on revenge. Not just to any man who ever abused her but all creeps in general. After rescuing a young woman from a research facility similar to the one that tortured Mary, both heroes and villains are on the duo's trail. Wolverine wants to save Mary. Daredevil does too. Vengeance wants to exterminate Typhoid for her sins. And then there's Steel Raven.

Steel Raven is a brand new antagonist. Just introduced for the first time in issue #150, Steel Raven is a mercenary hired by the research team that Typhoid busted her little friend out of. This new character is a lot like Boba Fett in that money talks but there's also a strong moral code. With tresses like Silver Sable, a costume like Deadpool, and an arsenal to make Frank Castle blush, Steel Raven seems to be an amalgam of many characters. Thankfully, Ann Nocenti and Steve Lightle have done a fairly decent job keeping the character from being too one-note. However, her dialogue could use some work.

Another issue that has just 1 story, split into 4 chapters. Unlike the last issue where each chapter seemed to focus on 1 main character, this time around, the story feels more like a regular comic book caper. It's got a lot going for it. But that anthology essence is completely missing.

This story has a plot twist decades ahead of its time. Well for the cinema, this story probably got its inspiration from 1992's The Crying Game. But for a Comics Code Approved book, the big surprise reveal in this two-parter is a whole generation ahead of its time. 

Year 3000 stuff.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.