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Review: Black Science #6

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BlackScience06-Cover“It’s not what I’ve done that flashes before my eyes, It’s what I’m going to miss.
– Grant McKay

Black Science #6 wraps up its incredible first arc titled ‘How To Fall Forever’. Six issues of arguably the best new comic of 2013 filled with amazing art and an equally unbelievable plot. Rick Remender and Matteo Scalera have really created something special with Black Science, mixing dimension-bending physics with top-notch art. You really feel for each of the characters and want them all to survive, even the bad guys; that’s one way to know that you’re holding a really great comic in your hands. Issue number six of Black Science, on the Wednesday when it gets released, is the first comic I read from the huge pile I get from my local comic shop. Yes, I do have access to pretty much any comic for review purposes, weeks and sometimes months before they are released, but I am one those people that love the feel and look of a physical book in his hands. That goes double for books with art that appears to jump out at you. Art that truly magnifies the amazing plot it’s meant to capture. The Walking Dead and Saga come to find to name just a few. We can definitely add Remender’s and Scalera’s Black Science to this list as well.

The current issue’s story line continues immediately where number five left off, with Grant and Kadir falling helplessly into the frozen volcano we saw at the end of the last issue. Grant had just discovered that Kadir was the one responsible for sabotaging the Pillar, the device used by the team to jump from one dimension to another. As a result, their “jumps” are erratic and unpredictable at best. Two members have already perished in previous issues and Grant places the blame solely on Kadir, who funded the project in the first place.

This new dimension is difficult to explain and must be seen to be believed, but I will try my best. Entwined with each other during their struggle and free-fall, Grant and Kadir fall through a glass ceiling and ultimately into a pool of water. The building appears to be some sort of nursery for the ape/gorilla-like residents. They have less than five minutes to return to the Pillar if they want to “jump” with it and the rest of their team. You can’t help but feel immersed in the mesmerizing scenery and Dean White’s painted art is like nothing else. Everyone involved in making this book really did a great job at bringing Grant’s and Kadir’s struggle to life. Without spoiling too much, Grant finds himself in what appears to be an impossible situation to overcome, but we love these characters and have to believe he will triumph. Chandra comes for Kadir, but not before the “sentient gas-life” (I really have no idea what to call the fire-stream thing, but this is what Kadir called it) attaches itself to her. I know this sounds strange, but trust me, it works within the context of the comic and it’s super-awesome. Even the Shaman from the previous arc steps up and helps the team out when needed. It’s a great issue. Needless to say, the next arc cannot get here soon enough.

What Remender and Scalera do extremely well is create these worlds, or dimensions I should say, that are original, imaginative and inventive. They do this every few issues which is as unbelievable as the worlds they create. Unfortunately, we will have to wait until July 30th to experience the next world our favorite dimension-jumping scientists travel to and what awaits them there. Although Black Science #6 answered many lingering questions we had from previous issues, it also created more. It was a perfect close to the arc and great set-up for what’s to come.

Thoughts and Discussion

– How will the team be able to communicate with the Shaman?

– Kadir kills two ape/gorilla-like beings of this dimension…where did the second “sentient gas-life entity” go? Which body did it attach itself to? We know the first one went into Chandra.

– What will happen to Grant? How will he get out of his “situation”?

– Did you notice…one of the ape-gorilla-like beings that Grant and Kadir come across seemed to notice Grant? How did he recognize him? Was it possibly from a different Grant, from a different dimension that happened upon this same dimension?

Thank you for checking out my Review! Please comment below so we can discuss the issue and Black Science further!

Story: Rick Remender Art: Matteo Scalera – Painted Art: Dean White – Lettering: Rus Wooton
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Amazing Spider-Man #1

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Amazing_Spider-Man_1_Cover“Yes! This is what being a Spider-Man is all about! Swinging through the sky–a New York sky–patrolling the city. Every moment a chance to make a difference. To fight the good fight.
– Peter – Thinking to himself

Not only is Peter Parker back, but so are his quick-witted comebacks. “Silly Rabbit. That’s what you get for putting all your Faberge Eggs in one basket.” Lol, love it…and the numerous other one-liners in the first few pages alone! Glad your back Peter. Peter Parker has, indeed, returned in Marvel’s new Amazing Spider-Man #1 and he has a lot of cleaning up to do after the mess that Doc Ock created and left from the past 30 plus issues as Superior Spider-Man. The task before him may seem insurmountable to most, but we have faith That Peter will rise to the task and throw in a few one-liners in as well.

I had thought for a moment that ASM #1 would be a sort of reboot for the Spider-Man franchise, since Marvel decided to renumber the issue #1 instead of continuing to #701. Then I thought, “Where would all those problems and situations that Doc Ock created go?”. So, what we ended up with is a new element to Spidey’s history and our beloved Peter Parker is thrust into repairing his image, career and relationships at the same time. Leave it to the amazing Dan Slott to conjure up another intriguing and unique story for Spider-Man immediately after the Superior Spider-Man chapter ends.

The first arc is aptly named “Lucky To Be Alive” and, as mentioned, begins with an added element to Spidey’s history. As we all know (you should know this), Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider and subsequently gained its speed, agility, and proportional strength. What we didn’t know is that someone else, a female, was also bitten on the ankle by that same spider. We don’t know who she is, but we should find out before 2014 is over. It will, no doubt, be a great story that Dan Slott introduces to Spidey’s world and I am very curious who it could be.

Parker’s first real villain in ASM is the bad-guy group, The Menagerie. He takes them down with ease, and you know he is back when you catch yourself smiling and/or laughing at all of his one-liners. A lot of problems arise out of this much anticipated first issue and we can tell right away that Parker will have his hands full for quite some time. He will have to deal with Electro and the other prisoners at Conway Penitentiary that escaped when it was destroyed from the Goblin attack.

While Peter is catching up with everything Doc Ock left in his wake he figures out that Doc wasn’t just twiddling his thumbs in the Spidey suit. He is now the owner and founder of Parker Industries as well as receiving his doctorate. I am sure he can pull that off because he is a genius after all, but Doc wasn’t all about the Spidey suit and getting degrees. He fell in love…as Peter Parker. Not only did he fall in love, but he was going to marry her. Which, of course, Anna Maria figures that out and patiently waits for Peter to return home. She figures out something else too, but I won’t spoil that for you. I don’t think anything could have prepared our webbed hero for how to handle this situation.

As much as I loved Superior, I am glad to have Amazing Spider-Man back on my Pull-List. The ink by Humberto Ramos is nothing short of outstanding and is a staple of of this franchise. Every page jumps out at you and the colors really pop in each and every panel. Edgar Delgado does an equally impressive job. Dan Slott appears to have many wonderful things planned for ASM and it’s going to a great year for the fans. I enjoyed Superior Foes and Team-up and thought they were really good series (Foes was so funny). However, I would trade anything to have Peter Parker and The Amazing Spider-Man back.

Thoughts and Discussion

– I thought this was hilarious…The old woman telling Peter, “Put some clothes on! Who do you think you are? Miley Cyrus?!

– How will Captain America and The Avengers get the proof they need that this is the real Peter Parker?

– Will Peter ever access Doc Ock’s memories for anything? Or will he think it’s too dangerous to even try?

– How will Peter break the news to Maria? Is this situation going to be a big problem for him?

– One of the most important questions, I think, is ‘what happened to Doc Ock?’ Where did he go?

Thank you for checking out my Review! Please respond below so we can discuss the issue and Spider-Man further!

Story: Dan Slott – Art/Cover: Humberto Ramos – Ink: Victor Olgaza – Color: Edgar Delgado
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Superior Spider-Man #31

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SSMCOV31“I was wrong. For me to even be here–someone had to die.
– Peter Parker (the real one)

Superior Spider-Man has finally come to an end. The thirty-one issue superhero story is one of the best of I have ever read and will definitely be remembered as a very important moment in the timeline of our favorite web-slinger. I was surprised to learn that quite a few people I spoke to about the series were a little confused by what transpired in issue #30 and how Peter took back his body from Doc Ock. Before I summarize and review #31 let’s go back and I’ll explain what exactly happened in the last issue real quick. Dan Slott did a fantastic job with this thirty-one issue Spider-Man story and it would be a shame to not understand the little nuances that made it so…well…superior.

Issue #30 confused a lot of folks and left people wondering if it was Doc Ock who did the valiant thing and gave up his seat of power as the Superior Spider-Man or if it was Peter Parker’s doing and he duped the brilliant scientist Dr. Octopus? Well, in my opinion, it was a harmony of both of those. If you remember back in Amazing Spider-Man #700, Peter/Ock died and Peter’s fans and followers let out a unanimous “gasp” that one of their favorite Avengers finally succumbed to Doc’s evil plan. However, We learn later on that a part of Peter still lived on the brain of Doc/Spidey. Then in the infamous issue #9, it appeared as though the tiny remnant of Peter that we desperately wanted to cling to for hope vanished as Doc went into his brain and defeated Peter for good. I know, this is going to get a little confusing, but it will be worth it.

We all thought Peter was gone for good (most of us, anyway) until he showed up back in Doc/Spidey’s brain, during The Darkest Hours arc, to help take care of Venom because things were getting a little too crazy for Doc as Superior. And the world rejoiced. Which brings us to issue #30 and the part that confused a lot of people. If you look closely Peter’s plan all along was to hold onto the key moments in his life as Spider-Man, the parts that really defined him. Their are actually 31 of those moments, which, is why Slott made Superior 31 issues long. So, what Peter planned to do was go through Doc’s timeline, but, not lose himself by remembering the key moments he held onto as ASM; he’s fighting all the memories that are not his – we can clearly see that. Note that Doc is fighting this from happening, also. When Peter gets to the point on Doc’s timeline where we reach ASM #700 Peter doesn’t fight anymore and lets it all in realizing that those are his memories. This is why I say the FINAL switch was a harmonious result of both Doc and Peter. Doc finally decides that he is not the hero Peter is and Peter does what he planned to get his memories back. It was a perfect resolution by Slott. If this is still a little confusing, please comment below and I would love to clarify any questions you might have

This brings us to the heroic tale of Issue #31 and Peter back in his original body. The final issue of Superior Spider-Man is basically a cleaning up and restart for the much anticipated ASM #1 that will be released in a few weeks. Peter’s first task is to find out how the Goblin became so powerful so quickly. Carlie tells him that he hacked Doc Ock’s Spider-bots to not recognize anything with a Goblin mask or logo on. Peter immediately gets to work to get his city back and save the people he loves and the people that love him. In brilliant fashion, Peter goes to save Miguel O’Hara from the Spider Slayers, so he can have someone like himself fighting with him to take down the Goblin. They take down Menace and Peter injects her with the serum that Doc created to reverse the effects of what makes her a Goblin. Peter attempts the same with the Goblin, who is in fact Norman Osborn, but he admits to changing his face to become unrecognizable. The spider-bots were reprogrammed and fitted with Goblin-serum and attacked Osborn. Just like that there is no more Goblin.

The issue does a great job at setting up the next arc in the franchise and resetting things for Peter to take the reigns once again. It will be nice to have him back, but I will admit that Doc Ock as Spidey will be missed. We will definitely keep an eye out for him in the future as well as Stone, Liz Allan and Norman. I really enjoyed Doc’s time as Spider-Man and I had hoped that there would room enough in this city for both of them. That would have been really neat to see and, who know, maybe Doc Ock will make another superior outfit and challenge Peter once again. One thing is for sure, however, the next time these two meet will be one superior…amazing…awesome issue.

It goes without saying that fine lines and perfect colors are a perfect match for Slott’s unique writing skills. Giuseppe Camuncoli draws the most incredible Spider-Man issues and every issue is a treat to look at. John Dell and Terry Pallot are amazing on ink and, well, everything about this team is awesome. When I find myself staring at each page in awe I tell myself that this has to be one of the best teams in comics today. All of that would be nothing colors by Antonio Fabela and letters by Chir Eliopolous.

And lastly, Anna Maria Marconi does get saved by Peter and her confession of love for Doc/Spider really touches him. He realizes that Doc did a good job even if he couldn’t complete it. Maybe people can change? He understands the sacrifice Doc had to make to save the people he loved and Peter contemplate that someone had to die in order for him to become the Amazing Spider-Man again. That someone was the Superior Spider-Man, but in the end, it’s Peter who was Superior all along. Welcome back Peter. Welcome home.

Thoughts and Discussion

– Where is Doc Ock? Will he be a villain fighting Peter again? Will he be a good guy for now?

– What will happen with the Goblin now? Will he turn back the effects of the serum that Parker injected him with?

– What are J. Jonah Jameson’s plans? Will he hold a grudge against Spidey and be a new antagonist?

– Will Peter put a fail-safe in place so the brain-swap won’t happen again?

Thanks for checking out my Review! Please comment below so we can discuss the issue further!

Story: Dan Slott – Script: Christos Gage – Art/Cover: Giuseppe Camuncoli – Ink: John Dell & Terry Pallot – Color: Antonio Fabela – Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Manifest Destiny #6

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ManifestDestiny-06“We had won the battle. But not without cost.”
– Captain Meriwether Lewis

Manifest Destiny #6 wraps up the wonderfully creative first arc of the alternative reality tale of Lewis & Clark’s journey through the American West of the early 1800’s. The story is filled with supernatural beasts and even zombie-like vine people to suggest that our heroes, Lewis & Clark, came across more than just raging rivers and mountainous terrain in their quest to map out the uncharted west. Chris Dingess’s story comes to life seamlessly when combined with the beautiful art and color by Matthew Roberts and Owen Gieni, respectively. The infested animals and ‘floral’ people appear to jump out of the page with how realistic it all is. It was difficult to continuously read the remarkable story when I all I could was stare at each character and marvel at how well drawn every page is. Manifest Destiny is really a work of art and, combined with a unique take on an important historical event, needs to at or near the top of everyone’s comic book pile.

Manifest Destiny #6 continues immediately after the events of Issue #5 with Lewis, Clark and York running from the ‘floral’ infested bear. I love how the book can be serious most of the time and with one perfectly placed panel, make me laugh. It was funny to see York knocked aside by the bear in the midst of them trying to fight it off. Lewis and Clark manage to set the animal ablaze and the bear quickly runs off. Our heroes think the best course of action is to follow it, not realizing how far they have strayed from the rest of their group. While they chase the animal their crew mates are busy batting other ‘floral’ infected beings with a few losses and some members becoming infected themselves.

Lewis and Clark are standing over their kill when all of a sudden an infected carnivorous flower (I am not sure what to call it, but it looks like a large flowering vine) emerges from the forest floor and attacks them, placing Lewis and Clark inside its floral maw. The neat part about all this is the fact that the flowering vine is sentient. It speaks to Captain Lewis and says in its land it is considered a lord or godlike. Immediately after their conversation, Lewis and Clark succumb to its hallucinatory drug effects released by its tongue (does this sound at all strange yet? Trust me, it’s a great comic book). With our fearless leaders incapacitated and helpless Sacagawea leaps to the rescue and saves them from being swallowed up and forgotten forever. The panel sequences of Sacagawea fighting off the evil plant are some of the best drawn in the entire series. It was interspersed with the dream images of Lewis and Clark and made for some really great art.

The issue ends with the crew cleansing to rid themselves of the infestation. The final page was drawn superbly with symbolic meaning. The river they travel down is getting redder as they progress. This, of course, hints at the treacherous journey that lay before our heroic team. One of my favorite parts of Manifest Destiny is the spin they put on Sacagawea. They make her out to be this being with super strength and keen hunting skills. She is a great character and they did a wonderful job of building her up.

Alternative reality stories are some of my favorite kinds of comic books to read and get lost in. It’s so interesting to experience a different take on a story you are already familiar with and enjoy that I often find myself day-dreaming about “what if” scenarios all the time. Isn’t that the beauty of most of the tales we immerse ourselves in any way; a series of “what-if” events that lead to something unique and fascinating? Even if you do not know the story of Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark’s perilous journey in the early 1800’s to explore and map the newly acquired Louisiana Territory, Manifest Destiny is a comic book worth delving into. You do not need a degree in American history to know that Lewis & Clark did not come across strange vine monsters or rabid floral-infected animals on their trek, but the alternative reality that Chris Dingess conjures up suggests that they came into contact with that and a whole lot more.

Thoughts and Discussion

– What happened to the Minotaurs? Will we see them again?

– Are the “floral” people and animals all gone? Did any of them survive the final burning of the forest area?

– What did Lewis mean when he said Sacagawea doesn’t know why she is really there? What is her real purpose?

Thank You for checking out my Review! Please comment below so we can discuss this book and issue further!

Story: Chris Dingess – Art/Cover: Matthew Roberts – Colors/Cover: Owen Gieni – Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Story: 9 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Review: The Walking Dead #125

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walkingdead_125“So that’s what we’re fighting for. A world without Negan.”
– Rick

The penultimate issue of the current story arc for The Walking Dead, All Out War, is also #125, a milestone in the comic book industry. When books reach a milestone readers can expect something ‘big’ to happen to one or more of the main characters. Robert Kirkman has been teasing the past few months that nothing will be the same after this arc concludes and I, for one, was worried it spelled the demise of our most beloved sheriff of the zombie apocalypse, Rick Grimes. The last issue had me trembling before each page, thinking that Rick was too damaged from Dwight’s bolt to continue fighting and survive. Not only did Rick make it into the house, but we learn Dwight did not taint the bolt meant for Rick; Dwight shot someone else with the one tainted arrow he had first. The Walking Dead #125 continues the heart-wrenching story of this grizzly war and Kirkman was right…nothing will be the same when it’s over.

Zombies, walkers, the walking dead. That is what citizens of the Hilltop would normally be accustomed to seeing if they peered over the security walls surrounding their village. Zombies they could handle; they have been battling them since the outbreak began years ago. Now, their vista has been transformed to include the clan that wants nothing more than to see them all enslaved, The Saviors. Negan, the sociopathic tyrannical leader of The Saviors, has been camped just outside their walls since the last battle. Him and his followers have been waiting for someone within to exit the Hilltop and surrender, thinking that because Rick is either dead or dying that they would lack the motivation or expert leadership to continue fighting.

While Negan was outside the walls, Rick was within and his mentality and health are the main feature of issue #125. I was half-expecting him to be lying in a hospital bed, but being a fan of the fearless leader I should have know better than to think he would go down without a fight. For someone who just had an arrow penetrate his abdomen, Rick is up and about and moving with such purpose that it felt like the series had already begun a fresh start with each turn of the page. Now that Rick is positive whose side Dwight is on, he quickly formulates a plan to confront Negan and finally put an end to all the death and destruction All Out War has caused. He acts like a general commanding his forces to take up siege positions and goes out to seek Negan one-on-one. Dubious that Rick is still alive and/or well, Negan figures out that Dwight has deceived him. Their confrontation appeared perfect in an issue with only one left in the arc and I actually believed that The Survivors and The Saviors would work as one with the final issue heralding in the new era Kirkman has been speaking about. Being a fan of Kirkman and The Walking Dead should have taught me better than to think like that. The final page was a perfect ending to 125 issues of comic book greatness.

The Walking Dead #125 is one of my favorite issues of the series. Charlie Adlard is phenomenal the way he makes us really feel for Nicholas’s family heartache. We also get two full page pieces by Adlard; one of Negan and one of Negan and Rick at the end. I love stories where the good guys get mean and dirty in order to achieve their goals. This issue reminded me of the Rick Grimes that had to deal with the Governor long ago. The Rick Grimes that had to take care of The Hunters in such a gruesome fashion. The Rick Grimes that had to rip a man’s throat out with his teeth to save Carl. That is the man I think we have been missing since Negan entered the story. This issue ties everything together nicely and prepares us for the final issue in the story-altering arc. The only thing that remains to be seen is how the event of the final page affects our survivors moving forward. I’m just glad that our old sheriff is back and in fighting form.

Thoughts and Discussion

– Did Rick tell anyone else his plan before going out to meet Negan?

– Does anyone else think that Rick is in a vulnerable position after what happened? Will he be able to get away in time?

– Where do they go from here? What will happen next? Kirkman promised us ‘nothing will be the same after issue #126…what did he mean?

Until Next Time…Thanks for checking out my Review!

Story: Robert Kirkman Art: Charlie Adlard Cover: Charlie Adlard/Dave Stewart
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

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