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.

Marvel Comics Presents #150

When Wolverine and Typhoid Mary parted ways at the end of 'Typhoid's Kiss' in MCP #116, I suspected that their story wasn't over.

When the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider and Typhoid Mary said their goodbyes at the end of 'The Walking Wounded' in MCP #127, I was convinced that their story wasn't over. 

And now all I can say is- I WAS RIGHT!!! (kinda...)

In the extra special 150th issue of this bi-weekly anthology, Wolverine reunites with Mary Walker to save a young woman from a shadowy research facility. The experiments being done are eerily similar to the bio-science torture Mary underwent, and resulted in the unlocking of her Typhoid Mary psyche. 

Due to the special occasion, the story is divided into 4 chapters. Wolverine and Mary occupy the first couple of chapters. Vengeance stars in the third segment. Typhoid Mary arch foe and former paramour Daredevil rounds out the story in the last chapter. 

While Wolverine and Mary reunite, opportunities are missed with Michael Badilino replacing Danny Ketch as the Spirit of Vengeance in this story. I understand that at this point in Marvel publication history, Ketch is dead or at least trapped in some sort of limbo. But couldn't the editors or issue writers Ann Nocenti (Uncanny X-Men) and Steve Lightle (Daredevil) have said that this story took place before those events so we could have had Ketch and Walker met again? Would that have been such a big deal?

I've said frequently, that for this series to really work, it needs to be comprised of 4 different segments. But I also have no qualms with MCP mixing things up if A) it's done creatively and B) it still follows the spirit of utilizing 4 segments; or in this issue's case chapters. 

But man- a giant missed opportunity that prevents this from being the perfect Typhoid Mary reunion.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #145

It's another round of 'Siege of Darkness' stories in this issue. 

Morbius, the Living Vampire comes face-to-face with the half-Vampire vampire hunter, Hannibal King. It's not Morbius whom King is after. It's a young Lilin child that Morbius feels should not be held accountable for the sins of the father or mother Lilith in this case.

A blast from Doctor Strange's past returns in the midst of this crisis. She's being haunted by her own demons. However, when she learns who her truth father is, things suddenly fall into place.

Danny Ketch is back at one of his favorite haunts, the Cypress Hills Cemetery, where an ally of the Midnight Sons is being held captive by a faction of Lilin.

Finally, Blade makes contact with an ally from his Dracula hunting days. Unfortunately, the guys buried under a ton of rubble and time and air is running out.

All 4 of these stories were good tie-in segments to the 'Siege of Darkness' crossover event. But if you were to read all of the main titles and glossed over this issue, I really don't think you'd miss anything. Of the 3 tie-in issues of MCP (thus far), this is perhaps the issue that most captures the origin anthology spirit this title intended. But geez- that flip cover of Morbius by Steve Lightle and Fred Harper. Man, what a mess. That's why I went with the Ghost Rider cover instead to represent this issue.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #112

The Werewolf by Night/Ghost Rider story ends. I had to double check that Robert Kirkman didn't have anything to do with this story based on the level of red ink used. It's a bloody closing chapter is what I'm wittily trying to say.

Two new single issue stories appear in this issue. The first stars the Spider-Man villain Hobgoblin, who at this point in his career has been imbued by demonic powers and is known as the Demogoblin. Not really much of a memorable story. Though the real protagonist for this story is a NYPD task force of peacekeepers trained to take on meta human threats. I thought it was really groundbreaking for this group, called Code: Blue, to have a member who is a paraplegic. 

The other story is another Infinity War crossover. It stars Adam Warlock allies Pip and Gamora. Having both been obliterated by Thanos in the war, Pip and Gamora are exploring their new surroundings inside of Adam's Soul gem. It's a beautifully illustrated story by Rita Fagiani. 

And I've just got to talk about this Steve Lightle cover. It's a good thing the artist decided to use a silhouette because there'd be all kinds of bits and stuff hanging out. And there's not much left to the old imagination as Typhoid Mary gives Wolverine the slip and starts enacting revenge on some of the slimeballs who abused her as a youth. It hearkens to the 1980s Linda Blair retribution thriller Savage Streets in which Balir dresses and acts seductively to her friends' tormentors before serving a dish of ice cold revenge. 

Another mixed bag of stuff that was good but not really enough to make me say this issue was great.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Marvel Comics Presents #111

Typhoid Mary finally appears in the Wolverine story to some explosive effects. Despite the slowness of how the Ann Nocenti (Daredevil) story is going, this noirish tale has been anything but boring. And the artwork from Steve Lightle (Legion of Super-Heroes), it's some pretty risque stuff. 

The only thing else to talk about that is of note is that the Infinity War crossover story starring Thanos ends in this issue. While I enjoyed the first 3 chapters, I was very disappointed with the ending. It literally goes nowhere. I guess I should have expected this. With this being a tie-in to a larger story arc, why would Marvel want to accomplish anything that would take away from Infinity War? Still, I was disappointed.

Ghost Rider and the Werewolf by Night continue to take on the Braineaters. Danny Rand, the Iron Fist, stars in a single issue story. But both aren't really all that memorable even though Iron Fist takes on some mummies in a desecrated church.

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #110

It took 2 chapters. But Logan finally meets Mary Walker. This story really feels like the noir films Body Heat or Double Indemnity. Mary tells Logan that she's got memory gaps but knows that she's been abused. Logan is falling for her and thinks that her past is somehow tied in with the serial killer from chapter 1. 

I haven't been much of a fan of the Wolverine stories as they all feel like really bad action movies. But this one has got a sexual tension and a mystery angle to it that is really making me a fan.

I forgot to mention this last issue, but Marvel has finally decided that it's time to stop having Sam Keith do both of the covers to this flip book anthology. Last issue introduced Marvel Swimsuit Special artist Steve Lightle to the mix. Lightle has been tasked with the Wolverine covers based on his pencils in the Wolverine/Bloody Mary story. Lightle's covers are a breath of fresh air, though I must say that I think Keith's cover is the better offering of this issue. 

Oh, and Nightcrawler returns. He's only been gone 2 issues. But I don't mind his return in this 8-page single issue story. It's a murder mystery based on the legend of Jack the Ripper. I loved the ending. Maybe it's because I figured out who the killer was. Maybe it's because Nightcrawler is one of my favorite superheroes of all-time. Maybe it's both. It's a real good story.

The Werewolf by Night/Ghost Rider story and the Thanos epic are both continuing to impress me as well. Both segments don't really have a lot of action to them. But they are interesting and unique enough to keep my attention.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.