Tag Archives: nova corps

Review: Infinity Gauntlet #2

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ig-covThe Secret Wars landscape features a number of different settings and inspirations for the various characters.  Some of those settings try to stay close to the source material and other diverge somewhat from it.  In both cases there have been examples where staying close or diverging has been the source for a pretty good story, but in the case of Infinity Gauntlet the diversion is quite a bit more.  As previously shown, this section of Battleworld is one which is overridden by giant bugs with the few survivors striving to stay alive.  If not for the timely intervention of the Nova Corps in the previous issue the lone family in the spotlight might not have made it, but they were saved and for a reason.  The Nova Corps member is the mother of the small family.

This follows upon that development, as Eve meets back with the family and after protecting them gives them unlikely upgrades, as each of them becomes a Nova Corps member themselves, including a cute moment where the dog also figures out how to become a Nova Corps member.  As the family departs by sky they are attacked once again by the bugs, although this time they manage to fight back and are successful despite the odds.  Their success is due to the use of the mind stone which has fallen into Eve’s hands.  After the attack they return to the Nova Corps base, where things get kind of weird with the arrival of both Star Lord and Thanos.  From this point onward the issue becomes a bit more confusing as the two vie for control of the stones in a non-sequential end to the story.

The initial setup of this story might be conventional but it manages to work.  It takes the common plot from many pop culture properties to survive against a world ending calamity and gives it an interesting twist with the entire family becoming Nova Corps members.   At the same time the inclusion of cosmic heroes confuses the second half of this issue as it is not clear how one can be stuck on Battleworld but also be based in outer space.  Combined with the odd approach to telling the story in the second half takes what was a pleasant story and confuses it.  That is not to say that this was a bad issue, only that it is confusing, and that answers are needed soon in the next issue so that the reader can figure out what is going on, but the issue being divided into rough halves in terms of both pacing and quality makes this one a bit of a misfire.

Story: Dustin Weaver and Gerry Duggan Art: Dustin Weaver
Story: 7.6 Art: 7.6 Overall: 7.6 Recommendation: Read

Marvel Minimates Series 50 Fan Poll Results Revealed!

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Diamond Select Toys teamed up with Marvel to allow fans to vote on the characters they wanted to see in the Marvel Minimates 50th consecutive assortment.

The characters in each poll were based on fan wish lists, so it was anybody’s guess who would win, and now that the results are final the line-up may shock you! (Note: Spider-Man villain Shocker was not a winner.) This series will only be available at comic shops and specialty stores in summer 2013, so be sure to pre-order with your local comic shop (or your favorite online retailer) when the time comes!

MAIN ASSAULT TEAM
The first poll dealt with the superstars of the Marvel Universe, the A-list heroes everybody knows and loves. The clear winner, with 2,516 votes, was Ghost Rider, in his most recent look as Danny Ketch, complete with blue flame. Second place went to Cyborg Spider-Man, with 1,723 votes, and both characters will be made in Series 50.

SUPPORT TEAM
The second poll was entirely composed of the supporting heroes of the Marvel Universe, those who may occasionally headline a mini-series but are primarily team players. The surprising winner of this poll with 1,719 votes was Thunderbolts member Songbird — one of the few female characters in any of the polls. She will be the sole Support Team member made in Series 50.

PRIMARY TARGETS
The all-villains poll gave us the largest portion of the assortment, with crossover villain and Heroes Reborn instigator Onslaught coming in first place with 1,535 votes. Additionally, the second-place winner was longtime Avengers foe Baron Zemo II, with 1,337 votes. Both will receive figures in the assortment, and Zemo will also receive the rare variant figure in the wave — his father, Baron Zemo I.

CANNON FODDER
The final poll was dedicated to army-builder characters who may not have individual names, but are known to fans for their roles in some of Marvel’s most epic battles. The winner, with 935 votes, was the classic Nova Corps Centurion, who recently played a key role in the War of Kings. A Corpsman will be packaged with Zemo I AND Zemo II, and will include alternate head and hair pieces to represent different characters and races.