Venom #261
(W) Al Ewing (A) Carlos Gómez
VENOM’S OLDEST ENEMY RETURNS! Long ago, a friend of Reed Richards had a problem — an alien costume that didn’t want to come off. Reed Richards blasted it off with a sonic weapon and imprisoned it for study. It seemed like a good idea at the time… but now he’s got to work with that alien to save the world — and Venom holds one heck of a grudge!
Absolute Green Lantern #18
(W) Al Ewing (A) Jahnoy Lindsay
THE HORRORS OF THE UNIVERSE! After Jo’s showdown with Sinestro and the Blackstars , she understands the harsh reality of this intergalactic war she finds herself in the middle of. But even with more knowledge of her powers and place in the universe, is she ready for the horrors that lurk in the unseen?
This November, return to when TIME RAN OUT! Five multiverse-shattering Incursions one-shots will harken back to the advent of Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić’s Secret Wars, revealing the untold battles from the Marvel multiverse’s final days.
The series kicks off with X-Men: Incursions #1 by Alex Paknadel and Jim Towe, pitting two iconic mutant realities—Days of Future Past and House of M—against each other. The series continues with Spider-Man: Incursions #1 by Christos Gage and more; Fantastic Four: Incursions #1 by Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, and Paco Medina; X-Men ’92: Incursions #1 by Chris Yost, Craig Kyle and more; and Avengers: Incursions #1 by Al Ewing and Fran Mariscal Mancilla. In each one-shot, worlds from Marvel history collide, with only one left standing. Fans will journey across a wide range of universes from Marvel storytelling, including classic eras, alternate timelines and beloved media adaptations.
It was the catastrophe that led to the end of both the Ultimate and Marvel Universes and birthed the conflict known as Secret Wars, but not every story of those dark days has been told!
In X-Men: Incursions #1, witness what happens when the universe of the mutant-ascendent House of M intersects with that of the Days of Future Past! In eight hours, only one can survive, or both will collide and be utterly annihilated! This devastating choice is left in the hands of Kate Pryde!
Kicking off the series, writer Alex Paknadel said “As someone who sincerely relishes the challenge of dancing between the raindrops of continuity, this project was all my Christmases come at once. I got to tell a story about what really matters, and I got to do it against the backdrop of three (!) of the biggest Marvel events of all time. I really love my job sometimes.”
Check out covers for X-Men: Incursions #1, featuring pieces by Gleb Melnikov and Secret Wars artist Esad Ribić, along with a promotional cover for the entire series by Bryan Hitch. Plus, check out an Incursions checklist and stay tuned for information on the other one-shots in the months ahead.
Thor #800
(W) Al Ewing, Chris Condon, Kieron Gillen (A) Pasqual Ferry, Jesse Lonergan, Declan Shalvey
AN ASGARDIAN MILESTONE: THOR #800!
The Serpent has trapped Sigurd Jarlson in the worst of all possible worlds for his greatest trial. Now, without even a weapon in his hand, he must prove himself worthy to enter the Realms of the Gods. Somewhere in the city, a man without even a hammer begins the ultimate quest… the quest for Thor!
Plus: Bonus stories, including a thrilling new tale by Chris Condon (Ultimate Wolverine) & Jesse Lonergan (Drome)!
Queen in Black #3
(W) Al Ewing (A) Paco Medina, Iban Coello
THE CODEX IS THE KEY! Hela wants him as her secret weapon — Knull just wants him dead! Dylan Brock’s survival might be the one thing Venom and Eddie Brock agree about — but even at the end of the world, can they work together? All this and the rollicking return of the Fantastic Five!
NO ONE ESCAPES! Sinestro’s might has overwhelmed Jo Mullein and Tomar Re! Can the two anomalies overcome his brutal onslaught, or will they be lost to Oa and become one with Mu?!
Story: Al Ewing
Art: Sid Kotian
Color: Pressy
Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.
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Venom #260
(W) Al Ewing (A) Carlos Gómez
Months ago, Dylan Brock was killed by Carnage — and granted an audience with the Eventuality, the ultimate iteration of his father. He asked five questions and he was given five answers — hints at a dark future waiting for him. Now that future is here…
Queen in Black: Thor #1
(W) Al Ewing (A) Sergio Fernández Davila
As Beta Ray Bill battles Hela at the edge of space, he considers his role as the heir of Thor’s story… little dreaming that the story continues with Sigurd Jarlson… or that the Death Goddess has plans for the Mortal Thor. Somewhere in the city, a man with a hammer is about to face the ultimate test.
A Cataclysm of Light & Darkness! Tony Stark races against time, assembling powerful twin teams- Defenders of Light and Defenders of Dark – to battle Hela and Knull amidst the cosmic void. As their clash shakes the stars, Hela unleashes her devastating assault on Earth, forcing the AVENGERS OF EARTH into action for humanity’s survival. But chaos doesn’t end there: the monstrous SYMBIOTE INTELLIGENCE descends upon New York City, igniting a fierce confrontation as Venom and the Fantastic Four leap into battle! Will heroes unite and overcome the tide of darkness threatening the universe? Queen in Black #2 continues the bombastic action as heroes defend Earth while others plan how to take the battle to Hela and Knull.
Queen in Black #2 cements this event as summer popcorn entertainment. It’s the movie you see for the spectacle of it all with the plot being secondary. You want the explosions, the battles, the action, and the quippy one-liners. The issue delivers all of that while it teases what’s to come.
Written by Al Ewing, Queen in Black #2 is fun entertainment, a big event that feels like a throwback in some ways. The issue does a good job of keeping things focused with Spider-Man and his team fighting to defend New York City while keeping Dylan Brock safe, Iron Man and Cable making plans, and Hela delivering her villain lines with cheese. It’s that last part that makes the comic feel like a bit of a throwback. Hela lays out what her vision for Earth is and it feels like that over-the-top idea from yesteryear. That’s not a bad thing at all and overall is kind of fun due to that.
Ewing does a great job of narrowing down the issue where the previous took us around the world to give us the scope of the matter. But, even with that focus, he does spend some time having fun with Wolverine and Storm as they protect Japan and we get a really entertaining sequence and resolution to that particular fight.
The art by Iban Coello and Paco Medina adds to the enjoyment. With color by Guru-eFX and lettering by Clayton Cowles, the characters look good and the action is delivered with a certain splash to it. There’s something visually where it feels a bit over the top but not obnoxiously so. The designs of the villains look great with their Venomized takes and Iron Man’s new suit is kind of cool. Where the art shines is its opening sequence which has reality being warped as Wolverine goes into battle with a great two-page spread that really stands out.
Queen in Black #2 is a fun read that keeps things packed with action but rather light at the same time. It does a good job of setting up what’s to come and focusing on the battles raging. It’s not the deepest event, but it’s a fun one that delivers exactly what it needs to.
Story: Al Ewing Art: Iban Coello, Paco Medina
Color: Guru-eFX Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
Queen in Black #2
(W) Al Ewing (A) Paco Medina, Iban Coello
A Cataclysm of Light & Darkness! Tony Stark races against time, assembling powerful twin teams– Defenders of Light and Defenders of Dark — to battle Hela and Knull amidst the cosmic void. As their clash shakes the stars, Hela unleashes her devastating assault on Earth, forcing the AVENGERS OF EARTH into action for humanity’s survival. But chaos doesn’t end there: the monstrous SYMBIOTE INTELLIGENCE descends upon New York City, igniting a fierce confrontation as Venom and the Fantastic Four leap into battle! Will heroes unite and overcome the tide of darkness threatening the universe?
