Author Archives: Paul Manzato

Review: The Vision #1

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2015-11-06-visionI’ll be honest, I had no intention of reading this book.  We all know the Vision as a member of the Avengers, especially after his big screen debut in Avengers: Age of Ultron.  But a book about Vision having a family and living in suburbia?  Curiosity got the best of me and I thought ‘why not?’.  And I am very glad I did!

In The Vision #1, Vision has settled in Arlington, Virginia, along with his wife Virginia, daughter Viv and son Vin.  He has a position at the White House; the President’s point man between him and the Avengers; the kids have started high school and have acquainted themselves with the neighbours.  But you can’t help but notice that all of this is done outside of what we would perceive as ‘normal’.  The Visions go through the motions, but without any of the human emotional cues that would go along with their experiences…and that in itself gives the book a creepy feel.  We see the neighbours welcoming them to the neighbourhood, which leads to a tour of the house that feels cold and eerie.  The kids start at their new school, with the entire student body staring at them throughout the first day, with one even inquiring of Vin is he is normal.  Neighbours take pictures with them…and of them, showing us that they are perceived as nothing more then oddities…something else for the neighbourhood to gossip about.

And the interaction within the family feels very cold and distant…you can see them acting like a family, but so detached and methodical, they are anything but.  There are moments, however, where we see these synthezoids acting and reacting almost as human as any one of us, especially the unexpected action towards the end of the issue, and the equally unexpected reactions that follow.

Tom King does a fantastic job of bringing us this story of trying to fit in when you know you don’t.  It was great to see Vision and his family trying to understand how humans interact and react, and to see how they themselves react to the attention given to them.  The best part, for me, was the way King dropped a few bombshells and hints as to what is to come for the Visions; none of it bodes well and tells us that this experiment does not end well for any parties involved, and that just hooked me in more.  Gabriel Hernandez Walta’s art work is perfect for this title, giving the Visions a very stiff, artificial feel in a world they are trying to fit in to.  My favourite was the depiction of the kids; Vin and Viv are shown smiling as they show off their abilities to their classmates, but the expressions come across as insincere, like they were programmed to do this as it is the social norm, and it really sells the whole point of this book home.

Overall, I loved this title!  This is something completely different from anything I have read; an artificial superhero who wants to settle down in the suburbs with a family he created.  Dark hints and foreshadowing have told us that this experiment is not going to have a happy ending, and I for one will be sticking around to see what leads to all of this crashing down.

Story: Tom King Art: Gabriel Hernandez Walta
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Review: The New Avengers #2

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new-avengers-2-cover-781x1200So we’re now in full swing with Marvel’s ‘All New, All Different” launches and re-launches after Secret Wars.  Many Marvel fans, myself included, were probably very excited at the prospect at seeing our favourite characters coming back with new team ups to face new challenges.  After reading through a few titles, this one in particular, I’m starting to wonder if Marvel really meant ‘All Fluff, All Boring”.

I was very excited for The New Avengers; I loved the team roster (for the most part) and the idea of the Avengers taking the AIM name to mean a force of good for the world was a very interesting idea.  And if you read my review for issue #1, you’ll see that I wasn’t completely disappointed, but not totally satisfied…and sadly, that is the case with this issue #2, but the level of disappointment was much higher.

We open to The Maker, an evil version of Reed Richards, coming off as, well, just that…some mad scientist.  Four pages of him performing a convergence surgery, claiming his has just promoted his patient to ‘post-humanity’; Looks like he uses this procedure to ensure his underlings are truly at his command…and something we’ve seen in some shape or form time and time again.  I would think an evil version of Reed Richards would be far more sinister and interesting as a villain.  Which leads me to the threat he has unleashed on Paris and The New Avengers…a half gorilla/half scorpion hybrid with a crystal for a head.  Yes, you read that correctly.  This creation is rampaging through Paris, along with similar crystal headed/infected SHIELD agents, shouting off about “LIFE!MINUS!” along with the SHIELD agents, conveniently being equipped with tech that infuses them with gamma radiation.  It is exactly as silly as it sounds, and the agents are easily dispatched (a little too easy if you ask me) by White Tiger and *groan* Squirrel Girl.  Unfortunately the victory is short lived as White Tiger, Squirrel Girl and her sidekick Tippy Toe are turned into crystal headed zombies.

Songbird coordinates with Sunspot back at Avengers Island about the situation, and within seconds, a solution is found and executed, with the infected in Paris being restored to normal, and the ape/scorpion thing being defeated.  The Maker doesn’t seem at all disappointed with his loss…and The New Avengers have a win to chalk up.

Al Ewing gives us very little to be excited about in this issue.  Except some little tidbit with The Maker and his suspicions post Secret Wars, there is no characterization and a very basic story here that wraps up a little too quickly for me.  Apparently, White Tiger and Squirrel Girl were the only heroes fighting the crystal headed bad guys, with a brief look at Wiccan assisting and Songbird ending the battle.  So I’m assuming the rest of the team was just watching this go down?  For a second issue on a team book, there is nothing happening to develop this group as a team, though Songbird is given a few moments to show her capability as field leader.  Gerardo Sandoval once again delivers for me in the art department; his pages are bright and dynamic, and he really illustrates the action scenes very well; I just wish there was more of this action.  Too many cutaways to AIM and The Maker really made the action feel choppy, but that is fault in the script, not the artist.

Overall, I am disappointed with this title.  I don’t feel the team vibe I was hoping for in an Avengers title, and I see very little being done to bring out the characters and their personalities.  So much potential is here along with many characters I was excited to see back in action, I just hope this potential is realized soon, as I am really on the fence as to whether I want to continue with this book.

Story: Al Ewing Art: Gerardo Sandoval
Story: 3 Art: 7: Overall: 5 Recommendation: Read (barely; but I like the art)

Review: The Uncanny Inhumans #1

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UncannyInhumansIt would appear that The Inhumans are the newest group of characters that Marvel wants to put out front and center; they are a huge element to Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and I would bet we will be seeing a movie somewhere down the line in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So now we have a new number one, a perfect time for new readers to jump in and get to know these characters, but also for long time fans to get back to the characters they know and love. Overall, Uncanny Inhumans #1 is successful on both fronts, but it does suffer from one minor down point.

We start of with Black Bolt, Triton and Reader having arrived in the past, to the early days of the Inhumans and Attilan, but Black Bolt has come on a mission; to retrieve his son from Kang the Conqueror, a story line that started some time ago in Uncanny Inhumans.  Kang, understandably, is very unhappy that Black Bolt has gone against the deal they made when Black Bold agreed for Kang to take his son to save him, and he intends to punish Black Bolt for this act.  The three Inhumans manage to escape, but know that Kang can easily find them and must come up with a new plan to retrieve Black Bolt’s son.

While all this is happening, we see Medusa and a team of Inhumans in New York, fighting off a group of Chitauri warriors.  They easily take them down, and they are approached by media and fans alike, Medusa easily slipping into PR mode, assuring the gathered group that the Inhumans are ready to defend the world they now share with everyone else.  They return to New Attilan, where we discover that Hank McCoy, aka Beast, is now residing in New Attilan.  He and Medusa allude to him working on finding a solution, to ensure that the X-Men and Inhumans can exist together, and one side not succumbing to death.  Medusa is then alerted to a visitor, who turns out to be Johnny Storm, the Human Torch.  We find out that has been appointed as the liaison between the Inhumans and the city of New York; but there is a lot more to his visit to Queen Medusa.

Charles Soule brings us a great story of the Inhumans, perfect for new and old readers alike.  The characters are exactly as I remember them, and it’s nice to see the focus turned back to the Inhuman Royal Family, and not the NuHumans brought in after the terrigen bomb attack.  My only issue with this story was the long, drawn out explanations and descriptions of all the characters and what they can do.  It really slowed down the pace of the book, even though I see the value of it for new readers.  Steve Mcniven’s art is great; the action is faced paced and every panel conveys the situations very well, and all the details shown really help the story and show the reader why these characters are the Royal Family of the Inhumans.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  When I first started reading comics, the only glimpses of the Inhumans I remember seeing were when they guest starred in issues of The Fantastic Four.  But now that Marvel has invested in this group of characters, it’s easy to see why they belong front and center along with the Avengers and other main stream characters.  They have a long history, but now with the terrigen mists and NuHumans appearing every day, a new history is being written for the Inhumans, and I will definitely be following along to see where it goes.

Story: Charles Soule Art: Steve McNiven
Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Review: The New Avengers #1

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TheNewAvengersMarvel has started rolling out their new Avengers titles following Secret Wars, Uncanny Avengers and The New Avengers being the first ones out of the gate. After reading Uncanny Avengers (which I also reviewed), I was very nervous about jumping into this book; I didn’t want to deal with disappointment twice. Thankfully, I didn’t have to worry about that after reading this book, but I wasn’t completely satisfied with what I had read.

I was very glad to see this title following a story thread from the previous volume, where Roberto DaCosta (Sunspot) had successfully taken over A.I.M, and is now called Avengers Idea Mechanics, working as a world-wide rescue initiative, operating off an island, away from the jurisdiction of any governments, or SHIELD. The team of Avengers brought together is, again, a very odd match up: Songbird, Hulkling, Wiccan, Power Man, White Tiger and Squirrel Girl. Going off into their mission, we get a glimpse into the team dynamic, as well as a look into the tech that AIM is now able to equip them with. It didn’t really feel much like a “team”, but more like pairs being pushed into working together. White Tiger and Power Man stick together (coming from Mighty Avengers) and Hulkling and Wiccan, of course, stick close (coming from Young Avengers). Songbird seems to be the field leader of this group, and seems comfortable in the role; and Squirrel Girl…well, the less I say now about her is better.

Sunspot is the same old Roberto we’ve seen in the last volume of this book, still as confident as ever, even as he is facing an inspection from Dum Dum Dugan and SHIELD. They’ve come to see what exactly this new AIM has to offer the world, and for the moment, is treating them like the good guys. But, SHIELD would like to have one of their own assets on the team as well, someone who can keep SHIELD in the loop on the activities of this group…and Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, is introduced as its newest member.

The villain is revealed, being the Maker, an alternate Reed Richards, who really only comes across as another mad scientist looking to take over the world, and the threat he has created for the team really feels, well, silly…crystal headed zombies gathering energy of the dead? By this point, I was asking myself if this title was aimed at Avengers fans, or something more aimed to a younger, elementary school audience.

Al Ewing brings a story that clearly lays out the reason for this new team, and introduces them to us jumping into action. The team feeling isn’t really quite there, and it feels more like a team up with various couples under the Avengers banner. And then there’s Squirrel Girl. My only reaction to her was….why?? Why isn’t she the kick ass character we saw back in New Avengers who worked as nanny for Danielle Cage (Luke Cage and Jessica Jones’ daughter)? We saw her kick Wolverine’s butt and serve as a more than capable member of the team. Now, she looks like something from a BAD children’s cartoon show, and she talks as if she really is just a child (I would guess 5 or 6). Why did they do this? I used to think Squirrel Girl was a decent character, but now just comes across as a joke.

I really enjoy Gerardo Sandoval’s art (it was the saving grace for me for Age of Apocalypse in Secret Wars). I really enjoyed it here in this book, though I found it didn’t work for all the characters. I am having problems with how Wiccan looks more buffed and like a ‘typical’ super hero as opposed to being smaller, more lanky looking. I really liked that about the character; here was this kid that could easily be overlooked, but wielded realty altering abilities. And then again, there’s Squirrel Girl…I have no words. She looks like a cartoon mascot for the team. Again I ask, why?

Overall, I did enjoy this book. A new team with a lot of characters I’m happy to see back in action (notably, Songbird, Hulkling and Wiccan). The team dynamic isn’t quite there yet, but I’m confident as the book goes on, this will get stronger. The team has a clear purpose, and I’m intrigued with this new AIM, and the support staff introduced, that could lead to many interesting stories. The villain wasn’t anything special, and the immediate threat felt a little sub par for an Avengers book, but I did enjoy the ride and I am looking forward to seeing where this book goes. And here’s hoping Squirrel Girl isn’t along for the ride much longer.

Story: Al Ewing Art: Gerardo Sandoval
Story: 6 Art: 7: Overall: 6.5 Recommendation: Read

Review: Uncanny Avengers #1

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UncannyAvengersSecret Wars is over…kinda…sorta…I’m not really sure…but, we’re starting to see Marvel release the new titles emerging from their latest event, set to re-imagine the Marvel Universe. For Uncanny Avengers, this is the second time this title has been launched this year, and I was disappointed to see this volume of the series falling as short, if not shorter, then the last.

The core reason for this Unity Squad remains intact: to show the world that mutants and non-mutant heroes can work together for a better world; but now they have expanded that to include Inhumans (Marvels latest spotlighted characters) to show a united front to the world. But, as expected, there is hardly any unity in this squad. The roster for this team seems an odd choice to me; Steven Rogers choosing Rogue, Quicksilver, Spider-Man, Brother Voodoo, the Human Torch, a new Inhuman named Synapse…and Deadpool. Yes, Deadpool is now an Avenger. The last member seems to be a point of contention within the group, leading one of them to quit a few pages into the book.  This new team definitely does not feel comfortable, or overly friendly with each other, with even one member making a pretty nasty comment during a press conference in regards to the Inhumans. The team really feels disjointed and forced together.

I’m sorry to see that a lot of the characters from the previous volumes have not made it into this book (Rogue and Brother Voodoo being the only two), and Rogue and her powers seem to have been changed, no longer dealing with the absorbed Wonder Man and the problems that came with him in her head, but rather we see a more classic Rogue with flight and super strength.  For only carrying two characters forward in this book, it would have been nice to see come of the challenges facing them carry forward as well.

Gerry Duggan does an ‘ok’ job of bringing us this new team of Avengers. There is no real reason given as to why Steve chose this new team to serve, and there is nothing really to introduce the new character Synapse to the reader. She’s just here, now an Avenger, and the reader is supposed to care about her without knowing anything about her. The interactions between the team members fall flat for me and do nothing to  reinforce the feeling of a real team. Ryan Stegman’s art feels way too cartoony for me. The over exaggerated facial expressions really ruin some panels for me and these characters look like they haven’t eaten for quite some time, looking more like stick figures. And I really don’t like some of the costume redesigns (Quicksilver has a fast forward symbol on his chest?  Really?)

Overall, I was not happy with this latest relaunch. The characters feel flat on their own, and definitely do not feel like a team; I found the art very distracting and the villain feels very lackluster after the likes of the Red Skull and the Apocalypse Twins. This issue has set the bar very low for the latest volume of Uncanny Avengers, but here’s hoping it can only go up and improve going forward.

Story: Gerry Duggan Art: Ryan Stegman
Story: 5 Art: 4 Overall: 4.5 Recommendation: Pass

Review: Siege #3

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Siege3The last 2 issues have led to this….the Ultron Perfection has come to tear down the Shield, the wall that protects Battleworld from the zombies and robots that want to lay waste to the planet.  And leading the charge against Abigail Brand is her old colleague, now part of the Perfection himself…Nick the Fury.

We open to a chaotic scene as the forces of the Shield rush headlong into battle to protect the wall from Ultron’s forces, and The Fury leading the attack.  The Endless Summers are having little effect against the horde, and Abigail pulls them back as Kang tells her that he is not able to access the timestream to help in the battle.  Abigail goes back to the robots she is holding prisoner, who warned of the coming battle, to see if they have any information to help in the battle.  It is revealed that the ‘prisoners’ actually enjoy being together in their cell, as they are in love and get to spend every day together.  Abigail is happy for them, but points out they are now going to die together, when the robots reveal they have a hidden ability…they are able to talk to robots; technohacking they call it.  They are willing to risk their lives to save the peace they have found together.

Nick the Fury is easily taking down the meager forces of the Shield, Ms. America and Katherine Bishop giving all they can, but to little effect.  One of the robots arrives on the scene, and “tells” The Fury to aim his gun at his head and shoot…which he does, seemingly taking him down.  Much to everyone’s disappointment, The Fury gets up and destroys the robot.  The second one goes out, now prepared for a suicide run after losing their love, and instructs The Fury to hold Kangs hand, who appears behind him and pulls the Fury into the timestream.  While there, Kang directs the Fury to hit the chronomines that are set up throughout the timestream, making it extremely difficult to navigate time travel.  Given this chance, Abigail does her best to rally the troops she has left…when suddenly help arrives in the form of Magik and her lover, Leah of Hel, riding the back of a giant Colossus and leading a demon horde into battle against the Perfection.  This quickly turns the tide and the invading forces are defeated.  Abigail welcomes Magik and Leah back to the Shield, but the two of them inform her they only returned to help her out…and leave once again, back to their place in the badlands.  Kang emerges from the timestream, with a now destroyed Nick the Fury…and both receive applause from a newly arrived guest….Thanos.  He tells them he has arrived to talk, and surrenders.

This was a really fun issue, finally seeing the battle that has been threatened to come since issue 1.  Everything happens fast, and the battle scenes are really great to see (especially the splash page of a pride of “kitties” attacking, along with a giant Lockheed).  What I really enjoyed the most about this issue was seeing this group of characters come together and work as a team.  Kang, who has hinted at having his own agenda, steps up and is integral to the defeat of The Fury; the robots, now revealing their true intentions, sacrificing their love to see it possible to continue; and the Endless Summers are treated more then just cannon fodder, but as valued members of the Shield.  Kieron Gillen has definitely kept the momentum of this book going, bringing us a great story of battle and, for the day at least, a victory.  He’s shown that these characters really are more then prisoners assigned to protect the Shield, but a team that have come to rely on each other.  Filipe Andrade’s art is still on point in this book, conveying the franticness of the battle and the elation of the victory.  Also, the double page spreads of the battle really bring the heat of battle to life, thanks to Julian Totino Tedesco, Juan Jose Ryp, Andy Troy, Michael Wm. Kaluta and Rachelle Rosenberg.

Overall, I have really enjoyed this Secret Wars tie in, and this issue did not disappoint. This is still very much an Abigail Brand book, but I really liked seeing more of the other characters and how they all came together to defend the Shield.  And now that Thanos has arrived, as foretold from the beginning, I can’t wait to see what this means for Abigail and the wall.

Story: Kieron Gillen Art: Filipe Andrade
Story: 8 Art: 9 Overall: 8.5  Recommendation: Buy

Review: Age of Apocalypse #4

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AoA4Of all the titles to come out of Secret Wars, Age of Apocalypse was one of the books I was most excited about.  And four issues later, this is the title I am the most disappointed in.  If you’ve been following my reviews, you’d see that issue 1 started out so great with such promise…and then it just fell of the tracks and never corrected itself.

Apocalypse has released the legacy virus, exposing the X-Men, his Horsemen and himself, to see who is the fittest to survive.  The Horsemen and the X-Men decide to team up, to stop the virus from killing each other through their powers and also to stop Apocalypse.  Magneto gets Emma Frost to probe the mind of Peter Corbeau, to try and find out what the humans used to make the virus, but Emma finds that his memories have been blocked…but she does see glimpses that tell her the humans didn’t make the virus all on their own.  Apocalypse proclaims that there is no cure and only those fit will survive…when suddenly he begins to freeze in place.  Iceman (who was thought dead after the explosion in the Savage Land in issue #1) arrives on the scene, putting Apocalypse and his Horsemen on ice.  Emma then instructs him to not drop his cryogenic field, as right now, he is the only one keeping the virus at bay.

We then move on to see Wolverine and Burner with Cyclops, who is inexplicably no longer being held as a prisoner, wandering the deserted labs of Henry McCoy, but how they got there or why is never mentioned, as last we saw them, Cyclops was being interrogated at the X-Men’s base.  Burner reflects on his time being held captive in the labs, when Wolverine says he has picked up the scent of Jean Grey. They move on, and stumble across a corridor that Cyclops says shouldn’t exist.  They then realize that the hidden corridor and adjoining lab belong to Dr. Nemesis, McCoy’s assistant.  Wolverine is then suddenly attacked by Havok, calling out his brother Cyclops on his apparent traitorous activities, when they explain to Havok that the virus has been released and threatens all mutants…and suddenly Havok decides to join them in finding Nemesis.

Back at the battle, Apocalypse breaks free of the ice, and begins to press his attack…when his powers suddenly begin to flare out of control…and he realizes he has been infected.  This comes as a surprise to him, now realizing he his not fit to survive…but figures if he won’t, then the X-Men will not either, and he continues his attack.  The X-Men and Horsemen press on, trying to stop Apocalypse before his powers flare and kill them all…when Apocalypse’s molecular structure destabilizes and he dies in a puddle of goo.  Unfortunately, Magneto is also infected and his powers begin to flare out of control…so to save everyone, Emma goes into his mind, gives him one final memory of happiness, and kills him.  Consumed with anger, Emma rips into Corbeau’s mind and discovers that Nemesis was the one who made the virus…and that they have sent their friends right to the madman who created it.

*Sigh* where to start with this issue….my biggest problem is that things are happening with no explanation or set up, just BOOM here you go, this will move this story along, who care if it makes sense?  Iceman arrives to freeze everyone with Rogue saying “no wonder it’s been raining so much”, yet we didn’t see any rain depicted until Iceman arrived. Cyclops goes from prisoner to ally, helping Wolverine and Burner explore the labs…when last we saw him tied to a chair and being interrogated. Jean Grey is shown briefly, but still no real explanation as to what her role in all this is.  And we then catch a glimpse of Dr. Nemesis…at least they call him that, but he doesn’t look like he did when last we saw him and we don’t know why. Also, every other book in Secret Wars mentions Doom in the various regions; his laws, the Thors, something. But this one?  Nothing.  Apocalypse can release a virus that would kill all the mutants in this realm…a power that should only be reserved for ‘God Doom’…and there is no intervention. Really?  It had me wondering how this exactly tied in to Battleworld, and if this can even be called a tie in.

I’m convinced that Fabian Nicieza is not working from any kind of script or story outline and is just making things up as it goes along.  Nothing is cohesive and elements and events are just thrown in to make it seem to work.  Having the story being seen through Cypher’s point of view was a great way to start…but now I just don’t care anymore.  A team of X-Men sacrificed themselves to rescue Cypher in issue #1, to keep him from Apocalypse…but why?  All he is now is an observer…he hasn’t done anything, nor has any purpose for him been revealed.

Iban Coello took over artist duty on this issue…and it definitely shows. This did not feel like the Age of Apocalypse.  The artist who started on this book, Gerardo Sandoval, did a fantastic job of giving us the look and feel of the Age of Apocalypse we first saw all those years ago.  He gave it his own twist, but it still felt like the AoA I remembered. Coello’s art is nice, don’t get me wrong, but it totally changed the tone of the book for me. I don’t know why they would change artists so close to the end, but it adds into the overall feel of disconnect with this book.

I stuck with this title because of the fanboy that I am, and I will see how it all ends. But I can in no way recommend this to anyone, even other die hard fans out there. It seems to me this book just gave up, and they’re putting it out because they had to because of whatever agreement was made.  If you want to revisit the Age of Apocalypse, go back and read the original series. This tie-in has been a waste of time.

Story: Fabian Nicieza Art: Iban Coello
Story: 2 Art: 5 Overall: 3 Recommendation: PASS

Review: Age of Apocalypse #3

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AoA3After the low I was left with after issue #2, I was really hoping that issue #3 would renew my excitement and enjoyment of revisiting the Age of Apocalypse in this Secret Wars tie in. What I got was a confusing continuation of a so-so story that, sadly, didn’t really provide the pay off I was hoping for.

The book opens with Dr. Nemesis, who we’ve seen only in random scenes in past issues, spouting off about the greatness of his work and how he stands above those who would call their work “exceptional”.  He is very excited about his latest test subject….Jean Grey, who is inexplicably made a key point to the story, with no mention of her before now.  Apparently Jean was brought in for interrogation, along with sheriff Carol Danvers, and the two were kept separate to see if Jean could corroborate the information Danvers would reveal.  Up until now, we had no idea that Jean was with Carol and the human resistance.  In another lab, Sinister, Abyss and Beast are questioning Carol about the weapon that the humans are suspected of hiding to use against the mutants.  She does her best to hide the truth, but when Sinister threatens to invade the human settlement, Carol quickly rolls over and gives the information they were looking for.

We then shift back to the X-Men, and Magneto telling Cypher of one of the first battles of his first group of X-Men fighting against the first group of Horsemen.  Magneto recounts the severity of the battle, and how his team was not prepared to face the villains against them.  Cypher feels a deep sense of loss from Magneto, telling how he lost some of his X-Men in that battle…but also how Magneto lost support from both humans and mutants; mutants saw them as a threat from them taking over, and humans saw them as no better then Apocalypse.  We then have a cut scene to Blink and Burner interrogating Cyclops, trying to get any information on Apocalypse’s next move.  Cyclops doesn’t say anything, so Burner threatens to, well, burn him, and his powers flare…with no effect on Cyclops.  Blink questions if his powers are working, when Magneto comes to see how things are going…and Rogue bursts in to tell Magneto that something is wrong with his wife, Emma Frost.  Somehow, Emma is in psychic link with Jean Grey, who is linked to Dr. Nemesis, who reveals that the humans have a weapon to destroy mutants.

The psychic flash reaches everyone, X-Man and Horseman alike, and the race is on to reach the human ghetto to retrieve the weapon. The Horsemen arrive first and unearth the weapon, slaughtering any humans in their way…and the X-Men arrive to stop them, as the two sides grapple for the weapon.  All sides are suddenly forced away with a flare of power, as Apocalypse himself arrives on the scene and takes possession of the weapon.

As I’ve said in my last two reviews for this tie in, Gerardo Sandoval does a fantastic job with the art in this book, really bringing us the feel and look of the Age of Apocalypse we were first introduced to years ago, even with his own added touches to the characters.  Fabian Nicieza again shows us here why he is so great at writing the X-Men; he knows these characters inside and out, and writes them exactly as any X-Men fan would want to see them.  The problem for me, however, is how the story is laid out in this issue.  After reading it, I wondered if someone forgot that this is supposed to be an on-going series.  Characters are thrown in out of the blue, like Jean Grey all of sudden being an important plot piece and Dr. Nemesis, who we’ve only seen really as Beasts ‘side kick’ now suddenly has a larger role.  And for this being the realm of Apocalypse, we have hardly seen a hint of him, until the end of this issue where he just steps in, with no build up, and plucks the prize for himself.

No, this third issue definitely did not earn this tie in any redemption with me.  It felt sluggish, disjointed and uninspired.  I still love the art, and how the characters are portrayed, but I’m wondering if this story had any direction when the idea was pitched, or if they just decided to make it up as they go along.

Story: Fabian Nicieza Art: Gerardo Sandoval
Story: 5 Art: 9 Overall: 6 Recommendation: Pass (as with issue #2, unless you like the art)

Review: Age of Apocalypse #2

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AOA2I have really been enjoying the majority of Secert Wars tie ins I have been reading, but I was most excited about Age of Apocalypse being revisited in this new Battleworld.  I was thrilled with issue one (you can read my review for it on this site *shameless plug*), and couldn’t wait for issue two to be released.  After reading it, I was left really wanting more, and feeling let down.

This issue was basically a retelling of everything that happened in issue one; Baron Apocalypse rules with his iron fist and his ‘survival of the fittest’ beliefs.  The X-Men failed in protecting a young mutant named Doug Ramsey, aka Cypher, who was delivered to Apocalypse’s Elite Forces and sent out into the field with them to speak with the Human Forces to find out if they are harbouring the X-Men, who spring into action to rescue Cypher from Apocalypse’s men.  This issue is basically one long battle scene between the X-Men and the Elite Mutant Force who ultimately take down Apocalypse’s agents, and make off with Cypher and take Cyclops as their prisoner.  We still see all the action from the point of view of Cypher, who through the battle, reflects on how the X-Men once stood as a beacon of hope for the oppressed suffering under Apocalypse, but now seems to act no better then those they are fighting against.  We get a brief scene of Angel in his private club, Heaven, being paid a visit by Sabretooth and Wild Child who has now sided with Apocalypse.  He accuses Angel of knowing about the attack against the Mutant Elite Force and demands he tell him everything he knows to save his own life.  We get a very brief scene with Apocalypse, just bellowing more about how the humans can try to take him down, but will ultimately fail.  The only real hint at something more going on is when Sheriff Carol Danvers is paid a visit by Sabretooth, who says he needs to talk to her.

As mentioned, this issue is nothing more then a rehash of issue one, so I can’t really say Fabian Nicieza gave us a compelling story; we saw all this previously and nothing really moved forward.  I do still enjoy the story being seen through Cypher’s POV and I did like his opinions on what the X-Men have become.  Gerard Sandoval’s art is just as good in this issue from the first, giving us the look and feel of the Age of Apocalypse first shown to us so many years ago, but giving it tweaks here and there to make it his own.

I apologize if my summary of this issue is so blasé, but that is exactly how I felt after reading it.  The story didn’t really move forward, as this was nothing more then a recap of past events.  I still enjoy the characters, the art and the colours, but I really wanted more from this second issue.  I will more then likely pick up the next issue, as I am not ready to completely write off Age of Apocalypse, but I hope the story advances and is able to pull me back in like the first issue did.

Story: Fabian Nicieza Art: Gerard Sandoval

Story: 5 Art: 9 Overall: 6 Recommendation: Pass (unless you want to check out the art)

Review: Siege #2

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Siege2“There is no win here.  We just can’t fail” – Abigail Brand

These words from issue one ring even truer here in issue two as we see how the individuals who were sentenced to protecting The Shield, the planet long wall designed to protect Battleworld from the robot, zombie and annihilating hordes that would consume the planet, step into the front lines to defend the wall with their very lives, but ultimately know they will not win the war.

Leah has made the decision, against Abigail’s protests, to head out into the Deadlands in search of Thanos, the figure who they have been warned about who will bring about the fall of The Shield and ultimately the planet.  But Leah is also hoping to find her lost love, Ilyanna Rasputin, who has not been seen in some time since going out to defend the wall.

Fifteen days pass and Leah doesn’t return to The Shield.  Ready to take up her place as commander of the Hel Rangers, Kang proclaims he is ready, and more suited, to take up the newly vacant position.  Noticeably shaken by the seeming loss of Leah, Abigail orders one of the Summers to hand her gun…which she more then willingly points at Kang.  Summers stops her from following through, which to Kang, shows him how soft Abigail is. Summers enlightens Kang just how wrong he is, when they are alerted that Leonardo da Vinci has come across information regarding Thanos.  It seems there are many who fit the name Thanos on Battleworld, but the one that Leonardo says fits more closely to who they are looking for, is a Thanos spending his time trying to assemble some sort of glove.  Not knowing where to go next, Abigail decides to question two robots; defectors from Ultron, who are know prisoners of The Shield, but also able to access information from across the planet.   Abigail doesn’t fully trust the robots, but gives them permission to reach out and find what they can.  At that moment, they are alerted to an army that is headed straight for the wall…and was dispatched the moment the robots went looking for information.  Abigail accuses them of setting the attack up, but they vehemently deny any traitorous actions on their part.  Abigail quickly assembles her force and they prepare to engage….when Abigail finds out that a face from her past is leading the charge against them.

This book is so different in tone from any other from the Secret War tie ins.  We are seeing characters who know that their fight will never lead to a victory, and yet they go on, throwing themselves into battles that may very well be their last.  This issue gives us a deeper look into some of the characters.  Leah and Abigail’s friendship, and Abigail’s loss when Leah does not return; Kang wanting to serve his own intentions and agendas, despite the impending doom; and the Summers clones who give their all to the cause, but understand how disposable they really are.  We are given some small, lighter moments, with Lady Katherine charging in, stating to not be scared of the oncoming battle.  America quickly reminds her that she is a one-time hero, who will go down in battle and not be seen again; but reassures her that she will not be left behind.

Kieron Gillen again brings us a great story, really focussing on the characters and showing us what it means to endure loss on the wall.  Filipe Andrade‘s art definitely fits the tone of this story, along with darker shades and colours used throughout.  Again, we get flashbacks of past battles through beautiful splash pages provided by guest artists Yasmine Putri, Kyle Strahm, Jesus Aburtov and In-Hyuk Lee, which help us see what Abigail has gone through to make her the wall commander she is today.

Overall, I am really enjoying the story being told in this book.  There is no happy ending to look forward to, and I’m ok with that. This is a tale of a group of people who wake up every day knowing it could be their last, but wake up anyway to face it.  They can’t win…but also can’t fail.

Story: Kieron Gillen Art: Filipe Andrade (and guest artists)
Art: 8 Story: 9 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Read

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