Plunge #1

Writer:  Joe Hill

Artist:  Stuart Immonen

Variant Cover Art:  Gary Frank & Brad Anderson

It is my next book recommended to me by my comic shop.  They know that I am heavily Marvel so when something comes out that is intriguing and a good read, they suggest I buy it.  They even offer to let me read it before I make a decision.

There have been books that I love that have been recommended to me (Something is Killing the Children, Family Tree), some that started strong but have slipped a bit (Sea of Stars, Far Sector), but I have to say, when they recommend one, it has never been a flopper in my mind.

This time it is a book from Hill House Comics, which looks to be under the DC Black Label and it is called Plunge.  Plunge #1 has two very compelling and beautifully illustrated covers, one regular and one variant.  I did buy the variant, but I really found the regular cover interesting and I almost chose it over the variant.

The book starts slowly, and we are introduced to our characters.  There is some excellent dialogue in the book as our new group of characters are very well written.  There is some witty banter here as well as we meet our crew that is being hired by a company called Rococo to salvage a ship of theirs that has reappeared after 40 years.

The issue takes its time to set the story and the characters up and, while that may make the first issue a little less energetic, in the long run, should pay off nicely.

There is a compelling story being set up too and the ending panel promises us that the first issue presentation is going to bring us something different.

While this issue did not blow me away, I did like the set up and the dialogue was definitely funny and enjoyable to read.  There seems to be some promise of horror involved here and I hope that this will be another book that only improves.

Jessica Jones: Blind Spot #3

Writer: Kelly Thompson

Artist:  Mattia DeIulis

Cover Art:  Valerio Giangiordano & Marcio Menyz

My friend Todd at my comic shop today, as I was picking up my Wednesday released comics, asked me which comic I was going to read first tonight.  I told Todd that I was not sure, but, after looking through the pile, I knew which one it was going to be.  It is my current favorite book being released by Marvel (Somebody is Killing the Children may be my overall favorite book currently).

Not The Immortal Hulk.  Not The Amazing Spider-Man.  Not Hawkeye: Freefall (those are all awesome, but not my choice). No, the book I chose was…

Jessica Jones: Blind Spot #3.

Yes, that is right.  I have always enjoyed the character of Jessica Jones, but she has never been one that I would have guessed would be starring in my favorite current active comic.

I love this story.  The mystery aspect of what happened when Jessica was shot in the back of the head and lived is compelling as can be.  Especially as the story continues to progress and involve other areas of the Marvel Universe.  This issue’s guest appearance from Elsa Bloodstone took a character who I never gave a second though, and it created a fascinating female character that I enjoyed reading about.

The dialogue of this book is the biggest part that I love, and that is thanks to Kelly Thompson’s wonderful writing.  There is such a clever feel to the book and Jessica’s narration keeps that tone consistent throughout.

The story took another weird twist at the end of issue three and I really want to see where this goes.  I cannot wait until the next issue come out so I can see what happens.

I love this book.  It makes me feel like I am reading Mockingbird again.  And that is as big of a compliment as I can give.

Immortal Hulk:  Great Power #1

“Great Power”

Writer:  Tom Taylor

Artist:  Jorge Molina

Cover Art:  Jorge Molina

I love Spider-man.  He is my favorite character ever.  I love the Immortal Hulk series that Marvel has been putting out the last few years.  Putting them together was always going to be a great issue.  This stand alone issue goes even further.

Why?  Because it is written by Tom Taylor, who just finished a run on one of the best Spider-Man titles ever, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.  I am not sure I have ever read a writer who gets Spider-Man more than Tom does.  That shines through in this issue as well as it did in that series.  Then, throw in the Hulk goodness and you’ve got yourself a fantastic story.

Spider-man gets turned into the Hulk.  It is amazing.  There is an epic cameo from Loki as well, playing the basic Loki character we got in the recent Loki series.

It is kind of funny how every time Spidey turned into Hulk, his one eye piece gets broken.  There is a running joke about pants that is just laugh out loud funny and a joke that you may not think about.

I truly thought this was fun and dramatic.  I would read anything Tom Taylor writes that has Spider-Man in it.  This was great.

X-Men/Fantastic Four #1

“The Impossible Boy: The World Has Changed”

Writer: Chip Zdarsky

Artist: Terry Dodson

Cover Art:  Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson

The new mini series bringing together two of the Marvel Universe’s top teams, The X-Men and the Fantastic Four.  In fact, the storyline involved in this issue is a stroke of genius and makes perfect sense bringing these two teams into the same orbit.

You see, the X-Men are living on their own little world now called Krakoa, where all mutants are welcome.  And Reed and Sue Richards have a son, Franklin, who is an omega-level mutant.  Professor Xavier and Magneto are drawn to the young teen and want him to come to Krakoa and Reed and Sue were not interested.

Immediate conflict.

Not just conflict, but conflict that stems out of character, because Franklin is having power issues, slowly having his power draining, and the mutants tap into that.  Now we have cracks in the relationship between the Richards and their son.  They brought back a connection with Franklin and Kitty Pryde from a previous mini-series.  Franklin’s sister Val, a human, is involved as well.  There can be some serious character development going on here if the writers allow it.

The art is different.  My friend at my comic shop said he disliked the art, but I found it interesting.  Some of the facial shots are iffy (looked as if some noses are odd), but the rest of the art is decent.  Sue Richards looks tremendously beautiful.  She is easily the best looking character in the book.

Chip Zdarsky has been great over the last few years and this only solidifies his run.

I really enjoyed this first issue and I have some high expectations as it continues.  This has so much potential to be really awesome.

Ravencroft #1

Writer:  Frank Tieri

Artist:  Angel Unzueta

Cover Art:  Kyle Hotz & Dan Brown

This must be Misty Knight week because she was everywhere.  She was in Captain America.  She was in Jessica Jones: Blind Spot.  And she is a major character in Ravencroft #1.

Ravencroft #1 has a definite Thunderbolts vibe to it, which I think was a really great thing.  The use of John Jameson and the questions involving his alter ego Man-Wolf are interesting.

I like all of the combinations of characters that kept showing up in the issue and I am excited to see what this mini-series will continue to be.

Jessica Jones: Blind Spot #2

Writer:  Kelly Thompson

Artist:  Mattia De Iulis

Cover Art:  Valerio Giangiordano & Marcio Menyz

This is my favorite book out right now.

After two issues, I love the world that they have built with Jessica Jones and the mystery of what is going on is so compelling that I really do not know what is going on.

Last issue it looked as if Jessica Jones had been shot in the head and killed.  Now, she appears to be fine, but she believes that she was dead.  But unsure why or how.

I love the guest stars, from Luke Cage to Doctor Strange and seeing how Jessica Jones interacts with them was awesome.  The voice of Jessica Jones as the books’ narrator fits so perfectly.  Jones’ thoughts and banter about the rest of the Marvel Universe are funny and just brilliant.

I am thoroughly entertained by the first two issues of the comic and I cannot wait to see where this story goes.  Congrats to Kelly Thompson and Angel Unzueta for this excellent comic.

Ruins of Ravencroft: Dracula #1

Writer:  Frank Tieri

Artist:  Angel Unzueta

Cover Art:  Gerardo Sandoval & Romulo Fajardo Jr.

I have been enjoying these issues focusing on the history of the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane, and this one starring Dracula may be my favorite of the bunch.

These are all building toward the new mini-series Ravencroft  which should be out next week.  There are plenty of Marvel characters and ties to this series, from Carnage to Misty Knight, the role call of characters involved seems unlimited.

And the use of Dracula here, specifically in a match-up with Captain America while Bucky takes care of business is a fun flashback.  It also gives up the answers of what happened to Jonas Ravencroft.

There are some definite horror elements to be found in this issue and not just with the use of Dracula.  Some of the results of the experiments going on at Ravencroft were shocking and awesome to read.

Man-Wolf being in the series is another nice nod to the horror genre and a solid tie to the characters of Marvel.

I think I enjoyed this more than the other Ravencroft one shots and I am ready for the new series coming next week.

Atlantis Attacks #1

“The Serpent in the Tower Part 1”

Writer:  Greg Pak

Artist:  Ario Anindito

Cover Art:  Rock-He Kim

I had been enjoying the Agents of Atlas series that was recently ended by Marvel Comics with the intention of moving the team into the pages of the new mini-series called Atlantis Attacks.

Namor has been pretty active lately in the Marvel Universe.  He was front and center behind the Invaders series, where he was both with and against his old teammates.  Now with Namor being what looks to be one of the primary antagonist in this series, it is interesting how he has become such a force again.  Could it be that the rumors of him being the villain in the MCU’s Black Panther 2 is true and Marvel is trying to up his face time?

I love the group of the Agents of Atlas too.  Amadeus Cho is a great character that I remember enjoying way back in the Incredible Hercules series.  That, too, was written by Greg Pak, who clearly has a strong take on this character.

There are other cool newer heroes in the Agents of Atlas that, though did not have a lot of book time in this issue, are strong enough to bring the goods as the series continues.

The fight between Atlantis and the portal city of Pan is not just black and white either.  One could argue that Namor has the right to do what he is doing.  That makes the narrative all the more engaging.

This is a fantastic start to the mini-series and I can’t wait to see where they take it and what the Agents of Atlas plan on doing with their shades of grey problem involving the dragon.  This could be very exciting.

Guardians of the Galaxy #1

“1. Then it’s us“

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist:  Juann Cabal

Cover Art:  Juann Cabal & Dean White

I was told that I had to read this comic first this week.

I was told that this was the best comic of the week.  Perhaps the best of the year.

So I followed my instructions from my comic shop gentlemen (honestly, it was actually Todd kind of teasing Ben for his enthusiastic response).

You know what?

It was pretty good.

Not sure I would go as far as saying it was the best comic of the year so far, but there is no doubt that Al Ewing is on fire right now.  His Immortal Hulk run has been epic every week (even with that oddball issue 25) and now he is off to a great start with the new Guardians of the Galaxy title.

I will say that I will be taking this with a grain of salt.  Every series of the Guardians seems to start off great, with some solid work and then just kind of fades into the pile of comics each week.  Other volumes of the Guardians started off hot only for me to lose interest in it as the issues piled on.  I hope this one breaks that cycle.

I like the new look for Rocket.  He is absolutely rocking the suit.  I also enjoyed the reemergence of the Olympians in their new attire and look.  And the final page was something that I really loved and look forward to as the series continues.

The art is great. I have not seen Juann Cabal before but I liked his work. Some of the pages had larger images that truly popped.

The book started a little wordy with the introduction, but it certainly brought together some of the great cosmic action from the Marvel Universe.

I am cautiously optimistic of the future of the Guardians of the Galaxy.  We’ll see how Al  Ewing continues to build this brand.

Iron Man 2020 #1

Writers:  Dan Slott & Christos Gage

Artist:  Pete Woods

Cover Art:  Pete Woods

The new Iron Man series features Arno Stark taking over the armor from Tony Stark.  Tony was revealed to have been an A.I. since he had returned from the “dead”

Of course, Iron Man 2020 was introduced years ago and now, as the year arrives, Dan Slott has brought him back.  Interestingly enough, Dan Slott seems to replace characters as he takes them over (of course, famously, Slott replaced Peter Parker with Doc Ock).

The Iron Man 2020 story arc looks to be involving the robot revolution that was starting at the end of the Tony Stark: Iron Man series.  There are some creative ideas that are starting to be shown in this series.  I have to say, the first issue was fine, but it did not blow my mind away.  However, if it takes the steps that it could, Iron Man 2020 could be one of the most influential series around.

I do like the use of the Tony Stark A.I. in this book.

This one is full of potential.  We’ll see how it goes.

Jessica Jones: Blind Spot #1

Writer: Kelly Thompson

Artist:  Mattia De Iulis

Cover Art:  Valerio Giangiordano & Marcio Menyz

The new Marvel limited series featuring everyone’s favorite P.I., Jessica Jones came out this week and just nailed it.

This is the first time that this solo version of the character is being written in her own series by anyone other than Brian Michael Bendis. This time, the series is being written by Kelly Thompson, who also is currently writing the brand new Hawkeye: Freefall series.  She has been one of the best writers in Marvel over the last few years and this was one more great issue.

I absolutely loved this issue.  The dialogue was crisp and engaging.  The story was intriguing and I was fully enthused.  The art was great.  The POV of the story in Jessica’s voice was wonderful.

And then the ending of the issue was just jaw dropping.  I sat there after finishing the book with a dumb expression on my face, shocked at what I had seen.

I am very excited about the rest of this series and seeing where it will  go.

Star#1

“Birth of a Dragon Part One”

Writer:  Kelly Thompson

Artist:  Javier Pina with Filipe Andrade

Cover Art:  Carmen Carnero & Jesus Aburtov

Flying from the pages of Captain Marvel, the new character Star has her own series from Marvel Comics.

I actually quite enjoyed the introduction of Star in the Captain Marvel series, but, as a villain, I did not see much of a future as a lead character of a series.  When I first heard that Marvel was giving her this series, I had my doubts.  However, after the first issue, I was very happy with the direction of the series.

Star gains her power from the Reality Stone that is inside her chest and that dynamic fed into the story.  The power attracted some characters that was unexpected and even shocking.  Star appears to fit right into the Marvel Universe and she blends well.

Kelly Thompson has been a writer around Marvel that I have been enjoying.  Her work on Hawkeye, Captain Marvel and Jessica Jones have been some of my favorites and she uses that experience in this book.  I think this is some of the best work that she had provided to this point.

I thought the art in the book was beautiful.  Javier Pina & Filipe Andrade provided some engaging images throughout the book.  I loved some of the colors used in the book.  The colors made many pages explode much more that I expected.  The colors changed depending on what was happening, or who was there.  It is lovely and I should give a shout out to color artist Jesus Aburtov.

I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did and I am looking forward to seeing how it continues.  It appears that it is going to be a five-issue mini series so, if it goes well, maybe it will expand as they have done with Amazing Mary Jane.

Hawkeye: Freefall #1

Writer:  Matthew Rosenberg

Artist:  Otto Schmidt

Cover Art:  Kim Jacinto & Tamra Bonvillain

Clint Barton has had several very good comic runs over the last several years, highlighted by Matt Fraction’s work on the solo Hawkeye series.  Now, it is former Uncanny X-Men and Punisher writer Matthew Rosenberg’s chance at the character in the new series, Hawkeye: Freefall.

The series is very well written as I enjoyed the pacing, the dialogue and the storytelling.  The cameos in the book work extremely well also as the book captures the chemistry between these characters (I will not spoil who these are, outside of Clint Barton).

I am also not sure how much information has been revealed about the plot of this series, so I will leave it at this… Clint Barton, who has been taking more of a back seat to Kate Bishop recently, stands front and center and has to deal with something from out of his own dark past and must deal with his word being doubted.

The book has some good humor, strong character work and an intriguing mystery at the center.

I’m looking forward to seeing where this comic takes us.

Tarot#1

Writer:  Alan David

Artist:  Paul Renaud

Cover Art:  Paul Renaud

I have always been a fan of the Defenders.  When I was a child, the Defenders was one of my favorite books.  They had such a variety of characters that I enjoyed watching develop.  Then, match them up with the Avengers, what could possibly go wrong?

Whatever it was, it did go wrong, because I disliked the first issue of the new mini-series that teams up the Avengers and the Defenders, called Tarot.

I really was disappointed with what I read here. First of all, this was in continuity from years ago.  We have old variations of these characters which is very off-putting.  It is hard to read this book with the Hulk after seeing the Hulk in Immortal Hulk for the last few years.  We also have a much darker version of Namor currently and this version pales in comparison.

None of the characters establish themselves as having their own voice.  The dialogue could have been said by any of the characters and it would have served the same purpose.

I have an issue with the reveal of the mini-series’ villain as well as he shows up in the final few pages, is meant to be a shock, but truly just falls plat because the character is not normally shown as a equal menace for the Avengers or the Defenders, let along both of them.

I usually give Marvel the benefit of the doubt, but this was an disappointing issue and I do not feel the need to continue reading from this point on.

Thor #1

“The Devourer King“

Writer:  Donny Cates

Artist:  Nic Klein

Cover Art: Olivier Coipel & Laura Martin

Thor has started his next incarnation of the character in Donny Cates’ Thor#1.  The God of Thunder gets a new look and a new purpose.

It would be difficult to talk about this issue without spoiling it and I came into it fresh and unspoiled and I feel that not knowing the general path of the story really enhanced my enjoyment of what I saw.  I actually gasped once in the book.  So I am not going to spoil anything for anyone here.

The story is well written and the beats of it work very well. Each guest star fits into the narrative and spurs the story along.

The art is nicely done and there is one specific splash page that it just amazing.  I have not had a lot of exposure to Nic Klein’s artwork, but I found it really leaping from the page with the designs of the characters.

And without spoiling it, there is an extremely funny cameo from Tony Stark at the beginning of the book.

I like where this book has started and I will be looking forward to see where the narrative goes from here.