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The Moloids and I have eerily similar reactions to most things.
Just a quick rundown on the books I read today. Slightly embarrassed that I neglected to read anything creator-owned. Oh well. Remember for every negative, I’m forcing myself to write two positives.
I think the overall tone and mise en scène was spot on, and it felt GREAT reading a #1 by KG and Kittens again. When they are on, they are fucking on. It’s like a really great band during a live performance with a great lighting rig by Matt Wilson. It felt good. I still want to beat Billy with every shoe I own. I’ve never liked him, and I have an aversion to superheroes avoiding The Greater Good. I’m not taken, but I love the creative team, so I’ll stick it out.
This is very much a first issue. I think for folks reading the previous UXF, this is a nice flow into the new team. Nothing was terribly appealing to me until the final few panels when Sam Humphries does what he does best which is being slightly and delightfully bizarre/perverse. Anka’s redesigns were exceptionally fresh and welcome.
Avengers Vol. 5 #3, POTW
Before talking about this book, I wanted to give myself until the first arc was over. Jonathan Hickman is a slow burn. This book is unlike any Avengers title that has come before it.
It’s stentorian in tone while simultaneously existing in a perfect moment of stillness. I credit Jerome Opeña’s gloriously static art and Dean White’s subdued color palette with maximizing this feeling. This is an incredibly voyeuristic comic. It’s grand and intimate at the same time. In a way, this first arc is essentially sequential storytelling of the Avengers organizational chart. “It started with two men.” By the end of the title, it’s a cross section. It’s brilliant. It’s new. It feels big.
It makes me feel small. Job well done.
I came for the blazers and ironic t-shirts. That’s about it.
I’m not wild about this team. At all. I’m here for the party. Also Wanda. This is still a “let’s get the team together” story, and I’m trying to find this engaging, but I’m struggling. Eventually Remender will always win me over.
And did I mention Cassaday? Because someone just won the “best entrance in comics this week” award. I appreciate this.
Can we just not? It’s so good, you guys. It’s just so good. Between Fraction’s subtle brashness and the sheer pop-ness from Allred, I don’t know where this book can go. It’s already sitting on top. Nega Johnny Storm is suitably terrifying. This book is so sharp. Who needs panels when you have a stairwell, right Mike?
Darla, I feel you. I feel you and your inner flawless bitch.
It’s possible that this book was written by strung-out seven year old boys with a fine coating of pixy stix around their nostrils. Exceptionally talented seven year old boys with a fine sense of humor to go with their lines of pixy stix. My only problem with this title (and it’s a personal problem), is that that it’s text heavy in panels. Brevity would be a blessing in this title, but having a character with multiple inner monologues makes that near-impossible. It’s possibly a lettering problem. I haven’t the foggiest how to fix it. It’s a terribly fun read.
I felt like leaving Sarah McLachlan on repeat while reading this. It’s so bittersweet. I just hate that this is Ed’s last Marvel book for the foreseeable future. Alternately, this feels very The West Wing circa season finale of Season Four Sokin exit.
This is some of Guice’s best work, and I love the complex coloring multi-talents of Jordie Bellaire and Bettie Breitweiser.
Books of Note*
- First appearance of Miss America Chavez (Vengeance #1), soon to be featured in KG & McKelvie’s Young Avengers. Joe Casey on vocals with Nick Dragotta on art. Educate yourselves, etc.
- The Order. Look, you already know how I feel about Fraction. Don’t make me pull out my embarrassing pie charts and talk about my feelings. You can own the COMPLETE run for $10. Barry Kitson on art. Let it happen. For those playing along at home, this is where you start to see Fraction transforming Pepper into the force she is today.
- Thunderbolts. Uncle Warren sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. Just treat yo self, okay? This is something everyone needs to own and read. Thank me later.
*Sale ends at 11PM EST. Meaning you have basically a little over an hour to snatch and grab.
So you like Iron Man, huh?
Have some required reading, citizens.
This is 100% Grade A story that you need to understand Fraction’s Tony Stark, and it’s on sale for $.99 a book. This takes you through a bit of Resilient directly into Fear Itself, and then dumps you directly into the buildup of what I consider to be the greatest endgame in current/modern superhero comics.
So yeah, don’t steal comics. That’s such a shitty thing to do, and I will side eye the everliving fuck out of you. Go buy them on sale at an absolute gem of a price, and join our super secret boy band.
Last month, writer Matt Fraction revealed through an interview that Tony Stark will be Iron Man no more in the upcoming Long Way Down storyline. That doesn’t mean that the Armored Avenger will also be dead, however, as an all-new Iron Man will be introduced in May’s Invincible Iron Man #518. Although the identity behind the armor still remains a mystery, check out the teaser image.
ohgodohgodohgod
MANDY HOLD ME
I can’t. I can barely hold all of my feels let alone yours. Honestly, there has never been a better writer at making me want to curl up and die than Fraction. He’s like the GRRM of comics. It’s flawless and wonderful work, but I never want to leave the fetal position once I’m done reading it.
