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 #130

The Wolverine story comes to a close in this issue. While I did around the mid-point of this event say that this adventure was getting a little boring and predictable, about 2 or 3 issues ago, this book turned into a bit of a screwball comedy and I was reinvigorated. The tale of Logan trying to protect a young mutant girl from numerous interested parties ended with a promising conclusion. One of which that actually has me a little bit interested to see what is in store for the child referred to only as Lynx.

The Ghost Rider/Typhoid Mary story also ends. This one didn't really peak my interest with a comeback or anything. But it very much does guarantee that readers are going to see a third segment that will tie in Mary's run-ins with both Danny Ketch and Wolverine!

The Iron Fist story is just spinning its wheels. If this was a horse, and I owned a gun, I would have shot it! If Danny Rand just wouldn't be doing everything opposite that I'd expect from the character of Iron Fist, I might enjoy this Hydra heavy story. Did his recent death and resurrection in previous pages of MCP screw with his head or something?

In the single issue story, the Navajo superhero American Eagle returns. This is just his second appearance in 3 issues! Still in the Big Apple, the protagonist is recruited by the NYPD to help take down a mutant on a killing spree. 

The American Eagle stories by John Figueroa (Marvel Knights) and Ron Wilson (What If...?) have been fantastic. I would rather have had a multi-parter where the hero was called to New York City for a family friend and then stick around for a while helping out the police with unusual cases. The fish out of water type story would have been way more entertaining than the farce that the Iron Fist story has become. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #129

Once more, there's no end in sight for any of the 3 multi-part stories. But if the Wolverine story keeps being as hilarious as it has been (unintentional I'm sure) it can keep on.

But it's really time for the Ghost Rider/Typhoid Mary and the Iron Fist tales to conclude.

In the crimes against comics department, the Crossbones adventure should have been a two-parter or maybe even a three issue involvement. It was that good. Wolfpack's John Figeroa has the criminal pulling Suicide Squad duty. As part of his rehabilitation and to earn time off his sentence, Crossbones must infiltrate a hospital that has been take over by terrorists and free the hostages. 

The crux of this story was that there were many opportunities for Crossbones to escape. But he just won't do it. Not because he's reformed or anything. It's just not the right time to make a break for it. 

Okay, so we've got 2 stories in one issue dealing with domestic terrorism. This issue was published sometime around the summer of 1993. That makes the US about 2 years away from the Oklahoma City bombing. Oh, wait, the first attack on the World Trade Center was earlier this year. That explains why Marvel seems to be really focused on the threat of terror in their stories right now. 

Having realized all that, the past 6 or so issues of MCP have been time capsules of societal fears. Had Marvel had just stuck with the Ghost Rider story which involves a terror group taking over a shopping mall, I might not have made any historical connections. But with 2 stories (in  1 issue) about terror, I saw an unusual pattern and now I understand why. 

That being said, I'm only half satisfied with this issue as 2 stories are just getting stale and frankly a bit boring.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #128

Neither of the 3 multi-part stories are coming close to being over. If it wasn't for the all-star cast of the Wolverine story, I would be completely bored with these continuing segments.

With Logan's story, this chapter was rather comical. You know how in a Scooby-Doo cartoon, when the monster steals some kind of priceless artifact and there's a musical montage? It's like how the Mystery Inc. gang and the baddie go back-and-forth stealing the object from each other. Frist, you'd see Shaggy running with the treasure. Then the monster trips Shaggy, making off with the bauble until Fred pulls the rug out from under them and now Fred's off and running. Well, the 8 pages devoted to Logan's attempt to protect Lynx from bounty hunters, evil scientists and SHIELD is just like those types of Scooby-Doo scenes. 

The Iron Fist segment seems to be doing everything opposite anybody with a lick of sense would do. It's rather infuriating. 

As with Ghost Rider and Typhoid Mary, I don't get the sense that writer Ann Nocenti really knows what direction she wants this story to go in. There's literally 4 different plots going on right now. We had 5, but Nocenti did manage to kill off the characters involved a chapter or two back. But right now, we've got Ghost Rider trying to kill Typhoid Mary. We've got Typhoid trying to kill anyone that wronged her. We've got a group of women from a battered women's home trying to take on the terrorists who invaded the mall. And we've got this strange family of a priest, his wife and their child just wandering around the place. I have no idea where the Longshot writer is trying to go with this story and I don't think Ann Nocenti does either.

As for our single issue 8-page story, it involves the Native American superhero American Eagle. Normally, American Eagle operates in the American West. But a favor to an old friend has the hero traveling to the Big Apple. It appears that the son of the friend has left the reservation and gone to New York City to make his name. Unfortunately, the young man has run along with the wrong crowd and with a NYPD officer dead, American Eagle must get to the lad before an angry and vengeful police force gets to him first!

The Wolverine segment was hilarious. The American Eagle story was powerful. Compare that to the ludicrous Iron Fist chapter and the labyrinthine plots of the Ghost Rider and Typhoid Mary tale and you at least have a halfway decent issue of MCP.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #127

The segments that comprise the multi-part stories of Wolverine, Ghost Rider/Typhoid Mary and Iron Fist really seem to do nothing. I call these segments 'Chess Move Chapters'. There's not a lot of action or kills. Just a lot of movement to get the players into the right place in order to execute the final act. 

As for the 4th segment, I was in love. It's a single issue 8-pager starring Speedball. Young Robbie Baldwin comes across Doctor Octopus. But the teen hero is the one in the wrong as Otto actually isn't doing anything really wrong. Recently paroled for his past deeds, Doc Ock has just gone out for a night on the town with a lady love. And NO- it's not Aunt May! 

Over the course of MCP, my interest has grown immensely about collecting the original Speedball run. Having Steve Ditko involved was already a huge selling point. But it was this issue, without the comic book legend at the helm, that sold me over to really trying to find an affordable run or even a collected volume. I mean if you can produce quality work without the guy who created the character, then that's a character I want to learn more about. 

Sadly, the Speedball story was really the only thing of note in this issue. I guess that's why none of the other characters are on my wish list.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #126

The She-Hulk story ends in this issue. The ending wasn't as dynamic as the rest of the story. It wasn't bad. But it was more psychological and the ending was sad as opposed to being a humorous romp in previous 3 parts.

The Wolverine story seems to be a reunion as a bunch of characters from previous stories are popping up left and right. This time it's a trio of protoplasmic villains called the Flesh Tones. They had appeared in some story a while back. I can't remember which Wolverine story. But I do remember them and I'm not a fan.

With the Ghost Rider/Typhoid Mary story things have done a sort of 180 degree turn. At first Mary was going after a bunch of terrorists that had invaded a shopping mall in which she's visiting. But now after being sexually assaulted by some security guards, she's resorted to her deadly type of revenge on them. That has caused Ghost Rider's internal vengeance meter to go on full alert against Mary. But shouldn't the Spirit of Vengeance realize that something's off and that Mary is only fulfilling her skewed internal sense of duty and justice? 

Lastly, we've got the Iron Fist story. After apprehending a Hydra backed meta-human that infiltrated his research facility, Danny Rand has sought out the assistance of one of the Daughters of the Dragon, Misty Knight. But instead of using Misty and her detective skills, Iron Fist has decided to take on Hydra alone and put Misty in charge of his company!

After a nearly flawless issue, this issue of MCP seems to go spastic. All 4 chapters seemed to shack off the shackles of reason and went off into odd tangents. Wolverine's villains turned spineless- literally. The She-Hulk story went from comedy to drama. Ghost Rider went all misogynist and victim blaming against Typhoid Mary. And Iron Fist isn't using his allies to their fullest extent. 

Disappointing.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #125

If there's anything I have learned from watching movies involving bounty hunters or other types of soldiers of fortune, you should trust no one! And that's what Wolverine is figuring out here in this amazing story about a young feral girl named Lynx. She carries inside her basically the cure of all cures. And that makes her worth a lot of money. And naturally, the mercenaries who assist Logan are betraying each other in the name of the highest bidder. 

It's an almost comical affair that for some reason reminds me of the Three Stooges. And now Black Widow has entered the picture representing Col. Nick Fury and his agency of SHIELD!

The She-Hulk story continues to amuse me as well. It's very campy and funny. It's almost as good as the Sensational She-Hulk series from this time period. Only, it's missing the god-like narrative of John Byrne who often put himself into the stories for a broken fourth wall effect. Still, I rather like this story with the Batman knock-off Nosferata and the She-Hulk imposter Adrenazon.

The Ghost Rider/Typhoid Mary story is also rather good. A bunch of terrorists have held up the shopping mall in which both Dan Ketch and Mary happen to be at. There's an interesting twist to this story. With Mary's past of abuse, she's taken in with a Women's shelter. Helping volunteer for a community outreach is why she was at the mall that day. Well, the women of the shelter are sick and tired of being pushed around and they've rallied around Typhoid Mary to take on these terrorists. Unfortunately, the women have mistaken Ghost Rider as being a part of the all-male group of subversives that have captured the shopping center.

The fourth story is a change of pace for MCP. Instead of being a one-shot story, the final segment begins a multi-parter starring Iron Fist. I keep forgetting that Danny Rand is wealthy. I always seem to think of him as just some poor wandering monk in designer clothes and not a Bruce Wayne arch-type. 

Anyways, one of Rand's companies is doing research into a mysterious artifact known only as 'the anomaly.' It's so mysterious that Hydra is willing to steal for it by hiring a meta human that can break into any security system. Named Skeleton Ki, the baddie has an appropriate name. But he's no match for Iron Fist who quickly steals the anomaly back before readers are slapped with the inevitable 'To Be Continued' ending.

All 4 segments were entertaining. I'm okay with there not being a single issue story. This kind of variety is what MCP needs to stay fresh as opposed to other tried and true methods that have gotten old over the course of 125 issues.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #124

I'm really enjoying both of the cover stories. For myself, that's been rare. I think it's because both of them are tying up some loose threads from earlier stories. With the Wolverine story, the German mercenary Courier and the French bounty hunter Peregrine have teamed with Logan to help the young feral child known only as Lynx escape her former tormentors and captors. Too bad the mutant forgot that you can't trust soldiers of fortune. In the Ghost Rider story, Danny Ketch is troubled by a series of dreams of a mysterious beauty. Turns out, that mystery woman is Typhoid Mary!

I'm also loving the She-Hulk multi-parter. There's a She-Hulk impostor doing everything in her power to make She-Hulk come across as being on a Gamma induced rager. Jennifer Waters' only hope for help is a zany Batman knock-off character known as Nosferta! It's a great romp by Spider-Man Magazine's Kelly Corvese that has not disappointed thus far!

The one-shot story stars a 2nd rate Punisher type character called Solo. Really, it's not the protagonist who impressed me. It was the villain. That's because our antagonist is the South American baddie, El Tarantula! 

Unfortunately, this isn't the Tarantula I encountered as a kid in the pages of Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1. I didn't find out that it was a different character until later on after reading it. But the nostalgia factor was what sold me on the Solo story. As for the impostor calling himself Solo- he ain't no Harrison Ford!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #123

After a very lackluster issue #122, this issue offers 4 fantastic segments. 3 of these segments are multi-parters. 

In the Wolverine story, Logan stumbles upon a feral girl that contains within her a biological secret that could change the world. Sensing a kindred spirit, Wolverine will do whatever it takes to protect her from the researchers who want her back.

In the Ghost Rider story, Typhoid Mary returns! Normally, when I say that, I am talking about them just appearing again in the pages of this comic. But not here with Mary. This team-up with Ghost Rider is actually a continuation of the Typhoid's story with Wolverine. While I don't expect the X-Man to pop up here, I am now expecting there to eventually be a future story starring Wolverine, Ghost Rider and Mary!

Personal favorite She-Hulk is the star of the 3rd multi-parter that begins in this issue. A woman who has been beaten down by life gets a second chance with an experimental surgery. With increased strength and confidence thanks to an adrenal gland transplant, the woman paints herself green and goes on a rampage. The reason- to frame She-Hulk who put her hubby in jail in a recent court case. 

Then in the one shot story, you will feel sorry for a Nazi! It's the final hours of the Captain America villain Master Man. Now in his golden years, heavily bandaged and in a coma, all Wilhelm Lohmer can do is reflect on his life. Knowing his time is near, the former Nazi realizes that his life choices were wrong. But unable to actually repent, Lohmer mentally agonizes on his sins to a point where all of the occupants of the hospital feel his sorrow and pain.

Yes, that story involves a Nazi. Yet, it's also a story about how people can change and regret their wrongs. But if you wait too long to do it, that's the real tragedy, I think.

4 very strong segments in an issue I couldn't put down.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #116

In what I think is only the second time in the history of this anthology series, a Western character appears in a one-and-down story. The Two-Gun Kid makes his debut and his story is amazing! Featuring artwork by the legendary Gil Kane (Superman), a group of 13 outlaws call the Kid out and in this issue a major character dies! 

That's twice in two straight issues where a character dies in this book. Not a major title or a massive crossover. But this tiny little anthology series that by many collectors has not just been overlooked but downright forgotten. True, the character that dies in this book isn't ranking up there with Spider-Man's Uncle Ben or Captain Marvel. But the character that dies is important to the history and legend of the Two-Gun Kid.

Also of note, the Wolverine/Typhoid Mary story ends in this issue. I'm not satisfied that this is the end of the torrid love story between these two damaged characters. But I was happy (for now) with the ending. 

A good issue that doesn't have an off segment at all. 4 very good reads in one!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #115

The duo of Cloak & Dagger make a single issue appearance. For a story appearing in MCP, a fairly major character dies in this issue. And no, I'm not talking about a villain either. I didn't read a ton of Cloak & Dagger as a kid. But the little bit I do recall, the character who gets the axe was a fairly big supporting player to the Cloak & Dagger mythos. 

I really don't have any complaints about this issue. Wolverine continues to be about 1 step behind Typhoid Mary, who is indiscriminately taking out just about any guy who ever wronged her in the past.

 With the Bill Foster Giant-Man story, another baddie enters the story. It's Goliath! No. Clint Barton hasn't gone back to wearing that hokey harness. Nor is he living a life of crime again. This is the Goliath who later as part of Baron Nemo's Thunderbolts, becomes Atlas.

And then the Ghost Rider/Iron Fist story. The last member of the Legion of Vengeance is introduced. Named Strontium-90, we now know that all of these characters got their powers from nuclear science testing that went out of control. As a result, this quartet has a very short half life and as they burn out, they plan on taking any and everyone they can with them; including Danny Rand!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #114

The Arabic superhero, the Arabian Knight, makes a return visit in this issue. In his last appearance, issue #47, I was under the assumption that Abdul Qamar was a character in like the 8th or 9th century. But as Qamar battles a mutated villain called Sandstorm, I learned that this guy's story has been occurring in the present day. 

See Sandstorm was a former American soldier who had recently fought in the Gulf War. Iraqi enemy agents captured this guy and dosed him with some sort of chemical agent that reacted with the soldier's latent mutant abilities. As a result, the Marvel Universe has another master of silicon dioxide (Sand for those of you in South Carolina.)

The other 3 segments were really good. Wolverine's torrid love affair with Typhoid Mary, Ghost Rider's encounter with a group of mutated scientists turned bad and Iron Fist, and the Bill Foster led story just kept getting better. 

If I had to choose a winner for this issue, it would be the Giant-Man tale. Turns out that all the missing Stane tech was at the result of a shrinking baddie. So the contrast of a growing superhero having to take on a shrinking villain was very well balanced fun.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents # 113

A whole lot is happening in this issue. 

I wanted to mention a couple of issues ago that when Mary Walker transformed into Typhoid Mary, she set Wolverine ablaze. Since he's on the cover of this issue and he's smoldering, I figured it wasn't so much of a spoiler now. Let alone the fact that this issue is nearly 30 years old now. 

Iron Fist joins Ghost Rider in a new multi-parter that begins here. A bunch of bizarre fiends are terrorizing areas of the Big Apple. One is named Vesper and she's literally on fire. The other has a gigantic eyeball on his chest named Mind's Eye. We mostly get a small introduction of the two villains and don't really get the two heroes crossing paths... yet. 

The Bill Foster Giant-Man also has a multi-parter that kicks off in this issue. An expert at security as well as bio-sciences, Foster is pulling double duty at a high clearance research facility for Stane International. Things have been going missing. Very expensive, important stuff! And Stane security has no answer for the disappearances. 

Lastly, the Werewolf by Night returns! Okay, is it really a disappearance if he never actually went away? I loved his single issue tale. Jack Russell comes across a man who's been cursed to become a Wendigo. Len Kaminski (Web of Spider-Man) crafts a beautifully sad morality tale in which Russell laments his unwarranted animal urges in comparison with the man cursed to be a carnivorous beast because he willingly choose to feast on another human. 

A fantastic quartet of stories that I just couldn't put down. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 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.

Marvel Comics Presents #109

This was a great issue!

A new Wolverine team-up starts. This one co-stars Typhoid Mary. Though the Daredevil enemy doesn't really appear in the opening chapter, it's got an intriguing premise with Logan on the trail of a serial killer who has a history with Mary. I can't wait to see where this one goes...

The Young Gods story comes to a close. The Gerry Conway/Eric Fein story still seems like a second rate Eternals story. But the Tom Sutton artwork is stunning. 

I'm really enjoying the Werewolf by Night/Ghost Rider adventure. It follows up from a MCP story from a couple of years back. As wild as that story was involving a bunch of in-breed werewolf cannibals that also happen to be members of a biker gang. This sequel starring that same pack is just as wild and maybe a little bit S&M.

I think all the more revealing and explicit artwork and story-lines are because Marvel (at this time) is edging away from the Comics Code. I think they're trying to figure out how far they can go before finally splitting away from the CCA. That way, the House of Ideas doesn't just go completely wild and end up in yet another comics scare level of trouble based on the content. 

Wrapping things up is the latest chapter of the Thanos story. Death has for some reason been avoiding the Mad Titan. Not one to be stood up, Thanos takes on Death's legions of followers to finally win an audience with his true love.

As I've said before, I am not really a Jim Starlin fan. He's too cosmic for my tastes. But this second volley wasn't that bad. And I am actually looking forward to see what happens next. Plus, it doesn't hurt to have amazing artwork from Spider-Man's Shawn McManus!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.