Essential Avengers, Vol. 1 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Comic Book Quiz Time: True or False - the Fantastic Four appear in the first issue of The Avengers.

The answer is TRUE. In fact, Marvel's First Family play a very large role in the formation of Earth's Mightiest Heroes becoming a superhero team. 

The Norse god of mischief, Loki, would like nothing more than to defeat his boastful half brother Thor. However, due to being banished to a forbidden zone within the Seven Realms, Loki has to use a proxy via his magical inclinations to defeat the god of Thunder. The chosen lackey is none other than the Incredible Hulk who is duped into destroying a train track after Loki used an illusion spell to make the green behemoth believe there was dynamite about to explode.

Using a ham radio, the Hulk's teenager sidekick, Rick Jones attempts to summon the Fantastic Four for help, as they had dealt with him previously. However, the Fantastic Four must decline and they recommend Jones summon Thor, since he's a heavy hitter. You'd think this is just what Loki was hoping for. Only his ultimate trap is far from set. So when Rick Jones attempts to radio Thor, his transmission is received instead by Iron Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp. 

Eventually, Thor joins the fight against the Hulk with the other heroes. Rick explains that the Hulk is innocent of the mass destruction and Thor with assistance from the All Father, defeats Loki. Enjoying their adventure together, the heroes, along with the Hulk, decide to make this a regular thing. With suggestion of the Wasp, the team take on the name of the Avengers and comic book history is made.

Marvel characters had already been interacting with each other for a couple of years prior to the debut of The Avengers. As mentioned earlier, the Fantastic Four attempted to defeat the Hulk in issue #12 of their first series. Spider-Man asked the FF for a job in his first solo issue. With each of these crossovers, Marvel developed a cohesive universe which was a delight to readers.

As fans were demanding more of such adventures, Stan Lee got the idea to develop a group team title that would hopefully introduce readers to some of the struggling (in popularity) heroes and hopefully enticed them to pick up their solo books as well. Besides, DC has been having similar success with it's flagship group title, Justice League of America. Thus in Stan's mind, what was good for the goose must be good for the gander.

By issue #4, the Hulk departed the Avengers feeling hated and unwanted by his teammates and the remaining Avengers added the World War II legend, Captain America, since frozen in an iceberg, to the roster. Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man now going as Giant Man, the Wasp and Captain America: they may not have been the original lineup. But they are considered by many to be the most iconic membership of the team's 60 year plus history.

Jack Kirby was Stan Lee's go-to artist and collaborator whenever a new project arose. Kirby was allowed to select the original roster of the Avengers. When asked in interviews years later why he went with the 5 characters that made up the Avengers by the end of issue #1, the King responded 'they were all characters that I had created' and was comfortable drawing. Plus, Kirby felt that he'd receive a higher working wage if he used only characters that he had created previously at Marvel. Familiarity and money might have been the reasons why The Sub-Mariner became a one-time adversary of the Avengers as well as the return of the Sentinel of Liberty, Captain America.

By issue #8, Kirby became bored with the title, as he often did, and went on to plot and pencil other projects at the House of Ideas. Don Heck took over as the series' regular artist. The co-creator of such Avengers stalwarts as Iron Man and the Wasp, Heck would oversee the team's biggest roster shake up in Avengers #16 when Captain America would now lead the team, comprised of former baddies Hawkeye, The Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. Heck would stay on until issue #40. Dick Ayers inked a majority of the first 2 dozen issues with lettering completed by Artie Simek at Sam Rosen. 

Completing this review completes Task #14 (A Volume of Marvel Essentials or DC Showcase) of the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Ant-Man: Ant-iversary

Dr. Henry Pym, Scott Lang and Eric O'Grady are plucked from the time stream to battle a futuristic version of an enemy so unthinkable, that I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it myself. 

In this 60th anniversary epic, readers are treated to 3 untold tales of the trio of men to bear the moniker of Ant-Man. Pym is removed during the dawn of the Marvel Age of Comics just as he is fighting a quartet of some of his not-so-well-known foes from the 1960s. O-Grady is sent into the future right after he steals the Ant-Man suit from Pym, who is working for SHIELD at the time. Lang's story occurs during the present of 2022, right after the Avengers stop Ultron for the umpteenth time. 

Tom Reilly is the main artist for this tribute to Ant-Man. Yet, if you were to tell me that he had help from an assortment of other artists, I'd believe you. Reilly changes his style to reflect the time periods in which each Ant-Man exists. It's a level of dedication (and nostalgia) that I greatly appreciate. Story writer Al Ewing also tries to differentiate his narrative voice which each time period. I just didn't feel that he was as effective as Tom Reilly was in making things feel as timely. Although, how he presents the Marvel Universe in the future of 2549 A.D. feels like how comics and literature in general is going, what with the near ubiquitous use of emojis, tech-speak and the removal of letters from everyday words.

There's also a pair of classic Ant-Man stories from the early 1960s. Hank Pym takes on the Protector and the Time Master in those reprint tales. Both villains are part of the team of 4 that take on the original Ant-Man at the beginning of this anniversary miniseries. While nowhere near on par with the likes of other classic Ant-Man foes like Egghead or Kang the Conqueror, I loved getting to see these vintage tales in vibrant color. I've always admired the Ant-Man and later Giant Man tales as his stories were more scientific in nature like those of the Barry Allen Flash and needed the use of his brain a lot more than his brawn. 

There's also a Wasp miniseries floating around. That 4-issue mini came out earlier this year. Based on how similar that cover to those books looked to the Ant-Man stories, I researched and found that Al Ewing and Tom Reilly were the creative forces behind that project as well. One way or another, I must get my hands on it. If it's half as good as this book was, then I am in for a treat!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #137

Has Iron Fist become MCP's unofficial third featured character? After two lengthy multi-parters in a row (for a total of about 27 straight issues), Danny Rand returns for a third story. Or is it a fourth straight? At least this one is a single issue tale. But still, what's with the fascination with Iron Fist in the pages of this book all of a sudden?

Poor Wolverine. He just can't have a simple vacation. After fleeing an island full of blood cultists in his last story, Logan tries to salvage his tropical holiday with a trip to an island infested with aliens! Oh. and don't forget the blue gorilla!

Ghost Rider's multi-issue adventure, he's run afoul of a trio of samurai-looking heroes called the Masters of Silence. Of course, these martial artists mistakenly believe that Ghost Rider is a demon. And technically, they're not wrong. These Masters of Silence, which are pretty talkative, just don't realize that Danny Ketch is working on the side of the angels.

Lastly, our fourth feature is another 8-page single issue story. It's got Scott Lang trying really hard to balance being a super-hero, the head of a security firm and a dad. This story read like it might have been the inspiration for 2015's Ant-Man film. Well, at least the domestic parts of the film with daughter Cassie.

The Iron Fist story was forgettable. But at least it was brief. Wolverine's segment might have some promise. I mean, it's got a navy blue primate in it for goodness sake. I like the Masters of Silence. They remind me of Marvel's very brief Shogun Warriors; albeit these guys are way shorter. And I just loved the Scott Lang story. I would have been totally fine with this one being spread out over 2 or 3 more issues.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #131

A sensual villainess that appeared in the very first issue of this series makes a return to Madripoor. It's her desire to cause a wedge between lovers Wolverine and Tyger Tiger. A lethal wedge!

Ghost Rider Danny Ketch teams with Luke Cage, who at this time is only going by his last name. A serial killer has murdered a old flame of the former hero for hire. In a weird twist, the killer is under the influence of not the living embodiment of hate but the personification of love!

Speaking of former heroes for hire, the Iron Fist story seems to have been powered (unfortunately) by the Energizer Bunny. This thing just keeps going and going and going. Please! Make it end!

Along with the Wolverine story which is a one-and-done tale, we've also got an 8-pager starring the Scott Lang Ant-Man. A thief has stolen some experimental materials from Stark International. As a security expert, Ant-Man is on the case. But for Scott Lang, as a father, this mission is personal as the thief has also taken a child hostage. 

The Ant-Man story involves some of Lang's ants dying. I didn't like that. I've just resented the Iron Fist serial. I'm so through with it. The Wolverine story was interesting as I like Tyger Tiger and the femme fatale in the story peaks my interest. As for the Ghost Rider story, it seems rather ludicrous. But with the twist in modus operandi for the villain, I'm willing to give it a couple more chapters before really passing judgment.

A middle of the road issue of MCP.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

The Astonishing Ant-Man, Volume 1: Everybody Loves Team-Ups

After we live Scott Lang's last day on earth, which involves an amazing assortment of cameos from the golden age of Marvel/Timely, we start the newest Ant-Man series: The Astonishing Ant-Man. It begins with Lang back in prison. But the how and why isn't yet explained. Instead, we get a very long and slow process that promises to get us there. We learn of Scott's many failed romances. He's down in the dumps security company. And of his troubles being a good dad. But nothing on how Scott ended up wearing orange jumpers.

As I said, this story is moving at a snail's pace. 

In the pages of Mike Allred's FF, Scott Lang is quite heroic. He's a good leader though flawed. But at one point, he beats the crap out of Doctor Doom. The real McCoy! Not one of Victor's Doom Bots! In the Ant-Man series just prior to this; Scott has fallen on rough times, but there's still a luster in his reputation. Yet with this series, he's almost a total screw-up! It's almost like Marvel decided to make the Paul Rudd MCU the standard. 

I get that Marvel wants their characters in the comics to reflect the characters in the movies. But this self-deprecating change is so all of a sudden. It doesn't gel right. 

This isn't a bad volume of tales. The annual involving Hank Pym and that Last Days story at the beginning were both great. But then things get depressing after that. And it doesn't make for an enjoyable read. 

I understand that things can't always be peaches and cream for superheroes. But I also can't stand it when it seems like a perpetual rain cloud is always over the head of characters I really like. Marvel has really f-ed this up with Deadpool and now it seems that Scott Lang is getting the same treatment.

I'm hoping that things either speed up so we find out why Scott Lang is once again incarcerated or that things spring back into a more positive front for this Ant-Man. I'd even be okay with the prison thing being a fake-out. You know, have Lang be going undercover as a villain in order to take some crime lord down. Regardless, there has to be better turn out of things in volume 2 or I'm not sticking around for a third entry.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Jessica Jones: Alias, volume 2

     Jessica Jones is hired to find a missing girl in upstate New York. For the most part, the town is glad she's there to help. But as the detective digs deeper into the disappearance, she discovers a secret shame that is haunting the town. It has a anti-mutant problem and the young girl Jessica is hired to find claimed she was a mutant. Was the missing child a target of a homo superior hate crime?

     Then Jessica goes on a blind date with Scott Lang. Just what do the two have in common? The answer might surprise you in this very charming story by Bendis.

     This entire volume was great. The Ant-Man story had a 'When Harry Met Sally' appeal to it. It was very fresh and very New York. 

      But the story about missing teen was awesome. There were hints of Twin Peaks. Yet, the small town feel behind the mystery actually was more representative of an even more obscure, short-lived series called Picket Fences. There were some powerful parallels between the hatred of mutants and the discrimination that minorities and homosexuals face. 

        Of course, Bendis does a fantastic job. But I can't overlook the amazing artwork by Bill Seinkiewicz, Mark Bagley, David Mack, and Michael Gaydos. Gaydos crafted an entire scrapbook as from the perspective of the runaway and it was amazing. It's published in it's entirety in the back of this volume. Amazing stuff!

       Worth Consuming!

       Rating: 9 out of 10 stars. 

Ant-Man, Volume 1: Second-Chance Man (Marvel NOW!)

 

 After a pretty hard life in the Big Apple, Scott Lang follows his daughter to sunny Miami. Lang hasn't always been there for Cassie, what with being in jail and all, so he decides to stay close after his ex-wife relocates to the Sunshine state. The second Ant-Man hopes to capitalize on his name recognition and he starts up a new security business. Along with a fellow reformed super-villain named the Grizzly (who mistakingly tries to kill Scott after believing he is the Ant-Man who sent him to the slammer!), things seem to be going great at this new business (except for the customers who mistake him for an exterminator...) 

   But Scott should know not to look on the bright side for too long as a trio of his old foes has arrived on the scene, gunning for revenge. Just don't call them his arch-enemies, okay? These baddies do have a reputation to uphold!

    I liked this series. It did a fairly decent job playing off of the events that occurred in last year's Ant-Man movie. Author Nick Spencer has Lang be the narrator for this volume and I think that was a great idea. Spencer seems to really be able to get into our anti-hero's head and with that being said, I really can hear actor Paul Rudd's voice throughout this book. This Ant-Man has all the mannerisms, quirks, and foibles of the actor who is set to portray the diminutive character for a number of upcoming Marvel films. It was brilliant.

   There are just two little things that I think are missing from this series. The first thing is that I think Miami was a little bit of a mistake. In the Ant-Man film, the lead character lives and operates in San Francisco. Now, I know that in the comics all of the characters operate out of New York and that's where this story opens up. But I also know that Marvel wants the books to more closely resemble the films. So, instead of Scott pick up stakes and move to Miami, Spencer should have him set up in the Golden Gate area.

   The other issue I had was an editorial problem. This series only ran for 5 issues and an annual. The short run is all likely due to the massive shakeup of Secret Wars. But Second-Chance Man only contains issues 1-5! Where is the annual at? Is it going to be reprinted somewhere else? And more importantly, why isn't it contained in this volume?

   This was a great book, though a little incomplete. Hopefully, after Secret Wars, we'll continue the adventures of Scott and Cassie Lang. I gotta say, if Marvel doesn't return to the adventures of this Ant-Man, they'll be coming up 'short' on a perfect opportunity involving a fascinating character.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9.5 out of 10 stars.

Indestructible Hulk, Volume 4: Humanity Bomb (Marvel NOW!)

 

    With the destruction of Attilan, the Inhumans' reserves of terrigen mist have been unleashed upon an unsuspecting populace. Anyone with even the slightest bit of Inhuman DNA is in danger of transforming into an unimaginable assortment of beasts, mutated humans, or even a super-powered hero like the Kamala Kahn Ms. Marvel. Leading the charge for a cure is Bruce Banner and his think tank of scientists at SHIELD. However, when it's revealed that Banner's cure is in the form of yet another bomb, the Avengers have visions of gamma disaster that created the Hulk. In other words, Iron Man, Beast, and Ant-Man typically act before they speak and massive carnage ensues.

   Unfortunately for one of Banner's team, the cure unlocks their latent Inhuman potential and is transformed into a ferocious monster that feeds on anger. How will the Hulk be able to stop the newest member of the Inhuman family when this new foe keeps siphoning away any trace of rage and continuously reverts the Hulk back into a human? For once, Bruce Banner will have to save the day!

   This volume marks the end of the Stan Lee/ Jack Kirby Hulk. Up next are the reality changing events of Secret Wars that reboots the original Marvel Universe in DC Comics Crisis fashion for the first time ever. Unfortunately, the ending left me really confused as the volume ends with a cliffhanger and the promise to be continued in Hulk #1!

   What Hulk #1 is it? Is it Totally Awesome Hulk which star wunderkind Amadeus Cho taking on the role of the Green Goliath? Or is the answers to the end of this series found in one of the many one-shots and miniseries that accompany the Secret Wars storyline? For the sake of spoilers, I've not been able to find out what happens next. (But, folks, if you know- please feel free to spill the beans. Because I have to know what happens next!)

   Another Marvel NOW! triumph by Mark Waid with a cool Bruce Banner/ Tony Stark team-up by Jeff Parker.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

She-Hulk, Volume 2: Disorderly Conduct (Marvel NOW!)

   A business neighbor of Jen's hires She-Hulk, not for a case but to complete some superheroing work. The neighbor is a scientist, who along with his partner, are making strides in the field of shrinking organic material. Only, the partner has gone missing, and presumed shrunk- also, there's the nasty business of the formula not quite being perfected yet, so he might explode at any moment and take half of New York with him. Enter the pioneer of shrinking technology, Hank Pym, who along with She-Hulk and Hellcat, race against time in an adventure straight out of 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.'

    Then She-Hulk must travel to the West Coast to defend Steve Rogers in a wrongful death case dating back to his days before becoming Captain America. But will she be able to defend the aged Sentinel of Freedom when she learns that her civil court opponent is none other than the Man Without Fear, Matt 'Daredevil' Murdock.

   Lastly, Jen gets to the bottom of the mysterious Blue File. But, with nobody able to remember just what happened in the Dakotas, She-Hulk will have to use all of her technical legal resources available to find the answers she's looking for. Plus, she'll probably call in a few favors from the superhero community as all New York lawyers are able to do as well.

    This volume marks the end of yet another dynamic She-Hulk series that just couldn't find an audience. She's a fan favorite (and a favorite of mine), but she's more often looked at as a comedic sex-pot like Marilyn Monroe as opposed to a serious kick-ass superheroine. This should be considered a crime because while she's a very funny character, She-Hulk a top-notch Marvel hero to boot. 

    Another thing Jennifer Walters is is a crackerjack lawyer. But it might be this very reason that the series ended way too soon. The series writer, Charles Soule, claims in the book's afterword, that this series was meant to be heavier on law as opposed to action. Maybe that kept fans away but as a fan of the comedic law thriller 'Supernatural Law' I enjoyed the Law & Order approach to this series. 

   Some might argue that She-Hulk wasn't meant to go more than 12-issues because of everything going on with the Marvel reboot series Secret Wars. But, if that was the case, then She-Hulk would be returning with an all-new series later this year and that just doesn't seem likely to happen. Soule claims that this series was only planned for a year's worth of issues but I've heard that line so much, it's become a cliched excuse when a series ends early.

   I want to go back to the art for just a second. I have mentioned that She-Hulk is a cult favorite because of her sex appeal. Well, in this series, she's attractive looking but she's not cheesecake material. Series artist Javier Pulido has more of a Latin style in his work. It's big on using pastels and watercolors to flesh out the art. It can also give a character a bit of a blotchy look to them and it's not the cleanest of art styles. It's not quite Impressionist art, but it's close and I think this style makes She-Hulk look less like a goddess and more down to earth. If anything, I would bet that it's how she and the other females in this book are drawn that kept the fanboys away. Yet another crime of passion against the great green female superhero of the Marvel Universe.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel's Ant-Man

 Well, it took me forever, but I finally saw the film Ant-Man. It's kinda ironic since it took literally forever for this movie to see the light of day. I remember reading almost a dozen years ago in Wizard Magazine about how a script that would involve multiple generations of people bearing the mantle of Ant-Man was floating around Hollywood but never could find anyone to commit to it. For the life of me, I couldn't understand how this concept would work and it made sense that this was the superhero movie that nobody wanted. 

   That is until this Sunday when all of the pieces fell into place and I finally could see the full picture that this amazing script was to paint on the silver screen. 

    Elderly Dr. Hank Pym's (Michael Douglas) days as the Ant-Man for the American military covert ops are over. Not wanting the formula to his Pym Particles, a mysterious substance that can shrink and enlarge organic material, to fall into the wrong hands, Pym willingly allowed himself to become a pariah of SHIELD. As a result, Pym loses his company and is estranged from his daughter. When a former colleague of Pym is close to unlocking the secret behind the Pym Particles, the original Ant-Man enlists the help of Scott Lang to prevent project Yellowjacket from becoming a reality.

    Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is a cat-burglar recently released from prison. Down on his luck, Lang wants to make amends in order to restore his relationship with his daughter, Cassie. Desperate, the ex-con agrees to one last job and, as a result, steals Pym's Ant-Man suit. But this heist was really a test to prove if Lang has what it takes to finally redeem himself, save the world from terrorists looking to weaponize Pym's work,  and become the new Ant-Man.

   Filled with lots of great cameos, Ant-Man was a literal who's who (Oops, I'm sorry, wrong company)- a literal The Official Handbook of the Marvel <Cinematic> Universe. Ant-Man was planned as the final project in Marvel's Phase Two which looked to expand the number of heroes and villains in the movie universe. And though a sequel has yet to be approved, that doesn't mean the end of the diminutive hero. Rudd's character looks to play a major role in the forthcoming Captain America: Civil War (2016.)

    A major character starring in Civil War has a great- gee, I wouldn't call it a cameo- let's say supporting role in Ant-Man. It's probably been spoiled to death as to who pops up, but you will not find out who it is from me, folks. But, speaking again about Civil War, be sure to stay during and after the credits to learn more about Scott Lang's future in the movies. (Yes- there are not one but two bonus scenes!)
  
    Compared to the latest Marvel film to hit the big screen, this film was fantastic. The acting was superior with its all-star cast. The special effects were generations better than the Fox flop to remain nameless and I was surprised by how much I was interested in a movie about a guy that can shrink to 4-inches tall and commands legions of ants. 

    The only thing that I felt was wrong about the movie was that the plot and ending were telegraphed numerous times. This might not be the fault of the director or screenwriter. The fact that I pretty much knew how this film would end by about the 35-minute mark on, could very well be because I've read so much of the Marvel catalogue that not very much surprises me anymore as much of Lang's origin was taken from his origin story in the pages of Marvel Premiere, 1979.

    But this was a good movie and a fun ride. A little heavy on swears, this is still the type of super-hero movie that kids as much as adults will want to see. Especially during the very funny climatic battle between Ant-Man and Yellowjacket on a child's toy train set. 

    Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Age of Ultron Companion

  This trade contains the companion issues devoted to the age of Ultron. These issues explore events such as how Black Widow and Moon Knight teamed up in San Francisco during the Ultron invasion, how the U.K's magical heroes were scraping by during the Age of Ultron occupation of Britain, as well as a few glimpses into the pocket parallel universe created by the actions of Wolverine. To finish the set (and segue into the Avenger AI storyline), there's a great origin story about Henry Pym, set during the aftermath of the AOU miniseries.  

    With dozens of writers, artists, inkers, and editors involved in this work, I can't judge the work as a whole. It would not really be fair since these issues are supposed to provide glimpses into the corners of the Marvel Universe left untouched by the AOU mini.

Below is a list of the issues found in this book:

Avengers Assemble 14AU -15AU 
 Fantastic Four 5AU 
Fearless Defenders 4AU
 Superior Spider-Man 6AU 
 Ultron 1AU 
 Uncanny Avengers 8AU 
 Wolverine & the X-Men 27AU 
 Age of Ultron 10AI

The best art is found in the Age of Ultron #10AI and it's a pretty good story about the childhood and early career of Dr. Pym. The Superior Spider-Man  was also very well written. Not only that but it left me intrigued to read the rest of that series. (Note to self: add to wish list immediately.)

   My least favorite issue takes place in the pocket universe caused by Wolverine murdering Henry Pym before he could create Ultron. That issue is Fearless Defenders #4AU. It involves a character named Hippolyta going to Latveria to fight her father Ares. What is this? Wonder Woman? It's a complete rip-off! I could not stand it. 

   Other than that, this was a great collection of stories that supplement the AOU miniseries. It was an enjoyable read and required reading for anyone looking to understand the root of the collapse of the Marvel Universe and it's forthcoming reboot later this year.

Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Daredevil: volume 4 (2011-2014)

   What a stroke of luck! My library had 2 more volumes of the fantastic Mark Waid and Chris Samnee run of Daredevil! That’s awesome. Add to that the fact that one of my all-time favorite artists, Michael Allred does an issue as an added bonus! SCORE!

  In this volume, Daredevil may be going insane. But is it all because of the guilt and trauma he’s racked up over the years fighting the Kingpin, Bullseye, and having just about everyone he loves die tragically in front of him? Or is it because he’s accidentally switched brains with Hank (Antman) Pym? Waid will keep you guessing in this multi-issue mystery fraught with chills and thrills. Just who did put Matt’s father’s remains in his desk while he was fighting Doctor Doom in Latveria?

While the mystery part of the story was fantastic and I loved every minute of it. I wasn’t so happy with this volume’s conclusion. Keep in mind, that I’ve already read the last 2 volumes in the series prior to getting my hands of a couple of the middle meaty parts of this Daredevil sandwich. So, when I say that the storyline involving the antagonist is never revealed. I’m not talking about in this volume. I do realize as I type this that I still have volume 5 to read, so maybe that will come to pass. Regardless, there was something missing to the dynamic formula of Waid + Samnee = Genius. I’m not sure if it was the humor that was off or that there just wasn’t enough of Matt Murdock as a defense attorney in this volume or what. But there was something that was the other volumes before and after that I read that was missing from volume 4.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Fred Hembeck Destroys the Marvel Universe #1

  This book came out in 1989 and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. As a kid, one of the highlights of collecting Marvel Comics were the awesome Fred Hembeck cartoons that would occasionally be sprinkled in select issues. He also had a rotating segment in Marvel Age: the official Marvel magazine that was pretty funny. But some of his humor was contained of inside jokes that unless you were older and really knew about the goings on of the comics industry, you wouldn’t understand.

 I found this book recently in a bargain bin and since it was cheap and I remember owning it as a kid, I decided to make it a part of my collection again.

  In this one-shot, Hembeck crafts a tale in which Death is tasked with killing off all of the characters of the Marvel Universe in one day. Nobody is safe from Hembeck’s poison pen. Lawn work becomes Ant-Man’s biggest nightmare while Asgard succumbs to the metal sounds of Ragnorok & Roll music. Daredevil learns the difference between a sigh and a sai while the X-Men face their most dangerous foes ever- Ninja Sentinels!

  The book is absurd but it’s really fun. The art is classic Fred Hembeck- cartoony and I suspect with everyone’s bulbous eyes and oval heads, an influence on Matt Groening’s Simpsons. As the cover says, this romp is a ‘Marvel Massacre’ but I didn’t feel that my time, money, or intelligence was victims to Hembeck’s skewed view of the Marvel Universe.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Ant-Man & Wasp #3

Turns out AIM didn’t want “Heaven” after all. They just stole it in order to recruit Hank Pym to their criminal organization. Now trapped by AIM, Pym endures the weirdest job interview of all time as he must escape over 100 traps in order to free Ant-Man from the Sleepwalker and save the universe from a temporal displacement.

Excellent stuff. I think Marvel did a fantastic job for once. But, they missed a great opp to have an ongoing Wasp/Ant-man title. However, that doesn’t stop the book from being very much Worth Consuming. Also, the background characters have influenced me to give Avengers Academy a very serious glance.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Ant-Man & Wasp #2

Using a Sleepwalker/ human hybrid, AIM has kidnapped one of Hank Pym’s inventions. I say kidnap because the invention is a computer simulation of Heaven that houses the soul of Pym’s deceased lab assistant Bill “Goliath” Foster.

It’s up to Pym as the Wasp and the latest crony to bear the mantle of Ant-man to team up and rescue Foster before AIM reverse engineering of the device causes paradise to collapse.

Great mini-series. Very much Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Ant-Man & Wasp #1

Ant-man and the Wasp have reteamed for the first time ever! It’s not your father’s Ant-man and Wasp and ironically, the book actually mentions that fact! I love it.

Here Hank Pym is now bearing the mantle of Wasp, in honor of his deceased lover, Jan Van Dyne. Ant-man is an upstart SHIELD drop-out who makes Guy Gardner look like a choir boy.

I thought this book was going to be in typical Marvel fashion with the two heroes fighting each other, but it doesn’t happen. Instead, there is a great buddy cop vibe and the banter is funny.

Did I say that I love it?

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Secret Invasion: Requiem

Janet Van Dyne, AKA The Wasp, has died and now ex-husband and long-time lover Hank Pym finds himself in charge of clearing her estate. Wanting to make amends for her death as well as how poorly he treated her over the years, Pym reflects over his love life in hopes of finding a way to honor the fallen Avenger.

In Requiem, we see the beginning of Pym and Janet’s relationship with the Wasp’s origin, reprinting Tales to Astonish #44 and then we see the end of Hank and Jan’s marriage with his epic court-martial as Yellowjacket in an early 80s reprint of the Avengers.

The two reprints, along with the filler story are superb. I really enjoyed the ending. There’s also a Official Marvel Handbook entry on the life of Janet Van Dyne. Though it’s very extensive, there’s some omissions that I wish were explained further. For instance, her bio sheet lists her as once being known as Doctor Spectrum and the Invisible Woman. I wanted to know how she took up those monikers, but the author doesn’t touch those subjects.

Lastly, it’s said Janet wore about 200 different outfits in her illustrious career and the book closes with a 3-page spread that tries to capture everyone of those costumes.

Great work, Marvel!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Avengers: The Origin #2

What a fantastic cover. No wonder Iron Man created his Hulk Buster armor!

In issue 2, Thor thinks he knows whose behind the Hulk’s rampage and returns to Asgard to investigate. Already way down in the manpower department, Ant-Man, Wasp, and Iron Man use the latest in hi-tech to track the Hulk’s movements. In terms of the Hulk, he’s made some new friends who make him seem normal in comparison.

Fantastic Art. I mentioned the cover, didn’t I? There’s a great sequence that involves the Hulk on a rampage, but I won’t let on to what happens. I will say, it’s gory and kinda morbidly fun.

Worth Consuming, but it still doesn’t add much to the content first presented in 1963’s Avengers #1.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars,

Avengers: The Origin #1

I like origin stories and I think they can offer some unique insights into the characters background. But, what if they merely retell the exact story with very little changes? That’s exactly what happens in this book. If you are familiar with Avengers #1, volume 1, the events that unfold happen in this book.

Here’s the kicker- the 1963 Avengers story took 48 pages to tell a single adventure. This miniseries has decided to stretch it out for 5 issues! A little overkill, don’t you think?

The book does re-frame the origin to a more recent history. I’d say within 5 years of the book’s publication date of 2010. The hype for the Avengers movie probably prompted Marvel to issue this series. But again, if you’re not going to offer anything new to the storyline, don’t expect fans to shell out $3.99 per book for 5 issues when they can read the entire story along with 5-25 other reprinted Avengers tales (dependent on format) written and drawn by the very best in the biz- Lee and Kirby.

Thankfully, I paid only a buck a book, so I didn’t hurt too much in the pocket book. Also, the art is really good. I love the covers and the interior art has a realism similar to Alex Ross and a classic Marvel feel similar to John Romita- Sr and Jr.

Worth Consuming, but don’t pay full cover price! It’s just not worth that!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

"Essential Ant Man, Vol. 1 (Marvel Essentials)"

WORTH CONSUMING!

Dr. Henry Pym, Ant Man, Giant Man…. no wonder this character has had one of the most complex storylines in all of comicdom.

 I really like Hank and his sidekick Jan Van Dyne. I hated when they divorced. I cheered when they were seen as a couple together in the recent Civil War series.

However, for a 60s Marvel series, it gets kinda hokey. However, two of which many consider to be the worst villains of all-time (The Top and Porcupine Man) actually are what makes this volume corny. Mainly, it’s the faux romantic tension between Pym and Van Dyne. Stan Lee never really was the “man” when it came to romantic dialogue.

 Regardless, I enjoyed this book and probably will add it to my collection on a permanent basis.