It’s a week dominated by Siege tie-ins.  Does Marvel fall into the trap of craptacular tie-ins that dragged down Blackest Night?  See below for what we think.

We’ll be posting reviews throughout the night.

Monthly Comics

Avengers: the Initiative #34 – It says something about the quality of writing that we want these villains to come out of Siege safe and sound.  Seeing Constrictor’s heart break actually got to me this issue.  We also see the resistance continue their campaign against the Hood.  It’s a pretty decent issue, not bogged down by it being sucked into an event.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.5

Breaking Into Comics the Marvel Way #2 – When this two issue limited series was announced it seemed like it’d give the secrets to breaking into the industry and also showcase some up and coming artists.  The first issue focused on the showcasing but missed out on the secrets.  The second issue attempts to rectify that with some extra hints at breaking into the business.  But really the two issues should be purchased for the quality story telling and art.  It’s a shame Marvel’s other recent anthologies didn’t have this quality, they might of lasted longer.  But the bigger question is why didn’t they have this quality.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Captain America #604 – The arc of Fake Cap and the Watchdogs continues as we learn what their two plots are.  It’s a great arc and Brubaker is doing some great commentary on the current political climate and violence and hate that’s being spewed about.  This is very much a statement, and Ed Brubaker is showing that he’s one of the best at taking current events and spinning it as part of his stories.  Also, it’s nice to see Marvel not backing down (as far as I can tell) from the political controversy that was kicked up when this story arc began.

Story: 9.25 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9

Deadpool #21 – It’s Spider-man and Deadpool versus Hit Monkey in the third and final chapter of this arc.  Full of action and humor, this is the Deadpool series that gets the balance right.  There’s no need for any other Deadpool series, you’re not going to improve on the original.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Green Lantern #52 – It’s the second to last chapter as all of the Lantern Corps. must fight Nekron and his forces and Sinestro deals with his new role as a White Lantern.  We also learn more about the beginning of the various corps. and the color spectrum.

Story: 8 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.25

the Mighty Avengers #35 – The team is disbanded, just in time for Ultron to rise.  And while Pym has his hands filled in the infinite mansion, the rest of his former team mates hear the call from Captain America to help take on Osborn.  It’s not much of a Siege tie in, but it does help give a time frame as to when the story occurs.  Also, there’s one hell of an ending.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.5

Nemesis #1 – It’s Mark Millar’s latest creator owned series and he goes all out trying to top his previous creations.  We’re introduced to the world’s greatest super villain who’s decided to take on Washington D.C.s top cop.  If Michael Bay was a comic writer, it’d be something like this.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

New Avengers #63 – Not necessarily a bad issue, but also not great.  We see the team in the thick of battle as they take on Osborn’s goons.  We’re also treated to various pairings of members to moments before Siege to see what they were up to in a bit of foreshadowing.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5

Prelude to Deadpool Corps. #4 – It’s the second to last issue of the series that gathers Deadpools from numerous dimensions to deal with some sort of huge calamity.  This issue sees Headpool join the bunch.  Again, why is Marvel flooding the market with so much Deadpool?

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

Secret Warriors #14 – We finally learn who the traitor in Hydra was and it’s a doozy.  Hickman’s been setting this one up for quite a while.  Leviathan vs. Hydra vs. Fury is just getting started, and it’s going to get good.  We also get a bit of a glimpse into the personal lives of two of the Secret Warriors.

Story: 8.75 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.75

Supergod #3 – Warren Ellis’s trippy look into the difference between a super hero and a god continues.  It’s definitely a pretty philosophical look at what would happen if super heroes existed in the real world and their impact on our faith.

Story: 8.75 Art: 8 Overall: 8.5

Thor #608 – It’s Siege from the point of view of the residents of Asgard.  A decent look at what they’re going through that does a great job at humanizing them.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8 Overall: 8

Thunderbolts #142 – It’s the Might Avengers vs. Osborn’s Thunderbolts for Odin’s Spear.  A pretty decent issue with a lot of back and forth and good action.  This is a good example of how you properly tie in a series into an event.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.75

Uncanny X-Men #522 – We’ve been waiting for writer Matt Fraction to find his footing in his writing of this series and he’s finally hit it.  This is brings together a lot of themes he’s been weaving together since his run began and also folds in what Joss Whedon set up with his Astonishing X-Men run.  This is a high point that’s been a long time coming.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8 Overall: 8.25

X-Factor #203 – Monet and Guido continue their search for Monet’s father as we learn who the villain behind the kidnapping is.  I have to say this is one of the poorer issues of the series, and just isn’t to the normal quality level.  Also, what’s with the disconnect between the story and the cover?

Story: 6.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.25