New Comix - Week of 8/22/12

None of my regular comics came in this week, so I just bought the new Lobster Johnson one-shot story.  It's hard to go wrong with anything by Mignola!

Lobster Johnson - The Prayer of Neferu

For those who don't know who this weird-named character is, he's  side character from the Hellboy Universe.  To my knowledge, Hellboy has only interacted with his ghost, as the Lobster was active in the 20's & 30's, decades before Hellboy was brought to our world by the Nazis.  Lobster Johnson is a Noir-style Batman-type vigilante who fights against terrorists, gangsters, paranormal threats, ect...  He is at least as ruthless as Batman and also relies on an array of cool gadgets to fight the good fight.  He's a very grim character and always shouts "Feel the Claw!" when he attacks.  One of his signatures is to burn a lobster claw into the forehead of his victims.

All that backstory explained, here's what happened in this issue.... We see a nefarious group of characters meeting at a club to see the unveiling of a recently "found" mummy.  It's understood that this group is some kind of a secretive, cultish, high-society organization.  A woman introduced as "Princess Nefertu" greets the crowd and presents the ancient corpse to the audience.  Suddenly Lobster Johnson announces that the mummy was stolen that same night from a museum and he swings into action yelling "Feel the Claw!"  The Lobster attacks, guns blazing, and drops numerous gangster types and cleared out the room by the time he addresses "Princess Nefertu", who he reveals is nothing more than a local criminal in Egyptian garb.  A hulking man with a sledge hammer attacks LJ from behind and eventually lands a solid blow, knocking out the vigilante.  When he awakes, he is chained to a wall in a basement as Nefertu and her big friend are beginning some kind of ritual involving the mummy and 3 of his ancient companions in a fiery cauldren.  Nefertu explains that she will harness the spirits of the 4 priests of Annubis who she has gathered and she will be granted ancient powers of the Priestess of Annubis and all they lack is the living blood of a "volunteer".  As they move forward to begin the bleeding process, Lobster Johnson makes them sorry for not chaining up his feet and kicks his surprised attackers, destroying their ceremonial knife and freeing the souls of the 4 dead priests.  The ghosts pull Nefertu into the fire where she dies, and then posses the corpse of the big man, who LJ killed in his escape.  When a spear through the head doesn't slow him down, Johnson's sprints upstairs where his weapons belt is waiting.  Apparently a possessed monster zombie is not match for a good, old-fashioned grenade.  The book ends with a view of the dead mobsters and closeup of the Lobster Claw burned into a piece of paper at the scene.

This was a short story, but it was full of pulp heroes, zombies, gangsters, and explosions.  All the things that make Hellboy books so great.  I wish Mignola handled the art duties here as well as writing the story, but Wilfredo Torres does a good job matching the art with the story.  I really dig this Lobster Johnson guy.  This issue makes me want to pick up his graphic novel that I passed on a few years back.  I'm pretty sure I would buy an ongoing Lobster Johnson comic, if one were available.  Fun fun stuff!

 - Default Pic of the Week, but worthy nonetheless.

Weekly Comix! - Week of 8/15/12

I picked up four comics this week and they were ALL good!  What are the odds?!?

Daredevil #17
Yeah, I don't follow Daredevil, but when Mike Allred shows up to draw a Marvel comic, I've gotta buy it!

Apparently, in the last issue of DD, Matt Murdock's pal and business partner, Foggy Nelson, found a box in Matt's office full of Matt's father's remains.  He was so put out by this grim discovery that he tells Matt that he can't trust him anymore and is dissolving their law firm.  I don't know the story behind the box of bones and dust, so don't ask.  I'm just here for the art.

This issue is mostly a flashback of a time when lame-o villain Stilt Man attacked their offices and tried to kill Foggy.  Daredevil stops him using a cool aspect of Matt's sensory powers and saves Foggy's life.  It ends with DD vowing to find out who is trying to turn Foggy against him and keep his life on it's newly optimistic track.

This story was very average, but the artwork was classic Allred.  You might now his style from X-Statix or Madman.  His work for Image Comics is a little too weird for me to read on a regular basis, but I love it when he works for Marvel.  If he drew Daredevil weekly, it would be on my pull list, but this was just a random one-issue stint.  Thanks, Mike!

Avengers Vs X-Men (AvX) #10
The Phoenix Force has divided itself into 2 host bodies, Cyclops & Emma Frost.  Cyclops is facing down the Avengers while Emma subjugates the mutants on the island of Utopia to her will like an angry Goddess.

The Avengers try to slow down Phoenix Cyclops while preparing Hope for some attack they've been devising.  No one, not Iron Man, Thing, Thor, or Hawkeye can even slow him down.  Suddenly he's hit with a wave of green fire and it actually hurts him.  Hope and one of Iron Fist's kung-fu buddies are in the air riding a red dragon that spits green fire.  The caption boxes name the dragon "Shao Lao, the undying source of the power of K'un Lun, carrier of the Iron Fist energy, endlessly reborn, and who legend says once defeated the Phoenix."  It hurt Cyke once, but he shoots an optic blast back and knocks the dragon from the sky.  Now the caption boxes say, "This one is young...too young...not strong enough yet..."  Cyclops goes in for the kill, when Hope screams "STAY BACK!" at him and shoots green dragon fire from her mouth and runs away surprised to have absorbed the dragon's power.  Scarlet Witch steps forward and unleashes her hex bolts, which have slowed the Phoenix before, but Scott is too powerful now and he laughs at her.  Hope screams "STOP THIS!" and Cyclops falls powerless momentarily to the ground.  She follows that up by kung-fu punching him in the neck and yelling "GO AWAY!"  Scott wakes up on the moon and we're told it takes him an hour before he can stand up again.  He thinks to himself that he needs more power...Emma's power...then flies back to earth in a fiery rage to battle his lover.  The issue ends with Magneto sending his thoughts to Professor X, asking him to come back because Scott and Emma are out of control.

Things are heating up!  I'm enjoying this series.  Not as much as Civil War or Secret Invasion from a few years back, but fun nonetheless.

Saga #6
One of my favorite titles continues as new parents, Marko & Alana, arrive with their infant daughter and poltergeist babysitter at the Rocketship Forest.  They were hoping their ride off the planet would be there, but it's been clearcut to nothing.  They start to despair when their ghost friend reveals some hidden planetary secrets and one remaining rocket tree appears from hiding.  It's literally a tree that can shoot through space like a rocket.  The tree requires a sacrifice for travel and Marko breaks his family sword over his knee, hoping to keep his oath of non-violence after last issue's battle.  The tree accepts and they escape from the planet.

The scene switches to where Prince Robot IV has shot and killed the bounty hunter known as The Stalk, thinking her to be a threat.  She had been talking to her lover and fellow bounty hunter, The Will, on her phone when she was killed and the prince picks up her phone, thinking it to be her agent.  When The Will realizes what happens he says this:

I would not want to be in Robot's fancy pants!  The Will has been shown to have a good heart despite his bounty hunting profession, but he has also been spoken of as a very deadly assassin.  Anywho, Prince Robot confers with his commanders and gets an idea of where the couple might be heading.

Back on the Tree Rocket, our heroes are surprised when 2 horned warriors teleport into their ship.  They use magic to take out the ghost babysitter then engage in battle.  Before anyone gets gravely injured, Marko stops the attack by yelling at the newcomers.  They stop and take of their helmets as the comic's narrarrator (the baby who is now grown up) explains that the baby's grandparents have come to live with them.  They're Marko's parents drawn to their location by the broken family sword!

This series continues to entertain.  I love how off-the-wall it is!  In last issue's review I mentioned that i hoped that The Stalk's death would cause The Will to side with Marko & Alana.  That may or may not happen, but he's certainly going to be a problem for Prince Robot, who's mission it is to capture or kill the couple.

AGAIN...THIS IS A MATURE COMIC BOOK.  There is bad language and occasional boobage.  If you can't handle that, pass on this amazing comic book until you're older.

Wonder Woman #12
In this storyline's finale, Wonder Woman and Hermes are all that stands between Apollo and Zeus's throne.  Hera just wants to kill WW's friend, Zola, who is about to birth Zeus's love child, but Apollo and Artemis move to join Wonder Woman and Hermes in battle.  As they engage each other, Hera throws Zola off the edge of Olympus where she will fall for eternity. Diana (WW) breaks away from Artemis and dives off the cliff after her as Hermes throws a feather at her legs, giving her the ability to fly.  She saves Zola, but Apollo takes the opportunity to sit on the throne, becoming the new King of the Gods.  Apollo banishes Hera and sets his sights on killing Zola and her baby who may someday challenge him.  Diana sends Zola away with Hermes and takes off her famous bracelets.  Artemis says, "Really? You strip yourself of your best defense against a GOD?"  Diana responds with, "MY defense? My cuffs were YOURS."  as she glows with power that had been kept in check by arm bands.

The next page is nothing but Wonder Woman kicking Artemis's &%@!  She then make a bargain with Apollo.  He will not pursue Zola's baby if, in the event that the baby does grow to fullfill the prophecy of killing a god and taking the throne, that Diana will be the one to stop it.  It is implied that she agrees as she appears in Zola's hometown hospital to check on her and the baby.  Zola suddenly screams that Hermes took her baby while she was unconscious.  Wonder Woman vows to find the traitor.  We then see Hermes in the home of Demeter, who is keeping the baby for now.  He says some vague stuff about what's coming and we get a glimpse of a figure (looks like Orion from Apokolips) emerging from the snow somewhere and using a boom tube.

Looks like the next story arch will tie in the Greek Gods to the New Gods of Apokolips.  I'm up for this.  I like this mythology take on WW, but it will be cool to see her interact with other DC superhero characters after seeing this side of her.  I was on the fence with this series and was on the verge of canceling it from my pull list, but I think they've hooked me into staying on for a while yet.

New Comix! - Week of 8/8/12

This week I read possibly THE most touching comic book of my life.  I literally blinked back tears.  Seriously amazing storytelling!

Spider-Men #4 (of 5)
This super-fun crossover continues after Peter and Miles teamed up to defeat Mysterio's Ultimate Universe avatar (that he controlled virtually from his hideout in the regular Marvel U).  By the time Fury and SHIELD showed up, Peter had disappeared, heading to Queens to see his family and try to make sense of his situation.

This issue starts with Peter standing on Aunt May's lawn with his mask off staring at May and Gwen.  Thinking he's a classless prankster, both of the women physically attack Peter, knocking him down.  Miles shows up then and tells them that it's really Peter, causing Aunt May to faint.  When she wakes up on her couch she quietly moves up the stairs and stops, listening in on Peter, Miles and Gwen's conversation.  They trade questions and each wants to know about their counterpart's in the other world.  Gwen keeps asking about her regular Marvel U self and Peter deftly evades the question, not wanting to tell her about her death.  May comes in then sits by Peter and asks him how he's here, if he's going back and if Uncle Ben is alive in his world.  Peter explains that, like his Ultimate Universe self, Ben's death inspired him to become Spider-Man because with Great Power comes Great Responsibility. May has stayed composed this whole time, but when he says that her eyes get big and she says, "Oh my God, it IS you.  Look at you."  Then she hugs him with all she's got, tears flowing from her eyes, just holding him close.    She continues, "We lost you.  We lost you and we didn't get to say good-bye.  And now you're all grown up.  You're here.  You're okay."     About that time, Miles notices the SHIELD car outside and says it's time to go.  Everyone hugs and says goodbye and heads outside.  Peter sees Ultimate Mary Jane in the crowd that has gathered across the street and reaches forward to call to her, but she runs away.  They get in the car and fly away (it IS a SHIELD car).  Back at the Triskellion, Peter meets Ultimate Tony Stark and they locate Mysterio's hideout.  Fury calls in the team and the last page is a great shot of a SHIELD strike team, Thor, Iron Man, and both Spideys swinging into action.  I would NOT want to be Mysterio in issue 5!

I wish I could show you that scene with Peter and Aunt May but my printer is being stupid.  The way it went down and the art and the pacing of the story...it was perfect.  When I turned the page and May was hugging Peter, I had to look away and blink my eyes.  I know that's not cool to admit, but dang it, it was touching!  Imagine anyone who's lost a loved one too young and what they would give to see how that loved one could have turned out and to hug them one more time.  This was so good.  I want to give this book of the year, but I'll reserve that call until I see what they've got cooking up for a finale!

This issue blew me away.  If you haven't been buying this series, I HIGHLY recommend picking up the Trade Paperback when it comes out.

Conan the Barbarian - Border Fury #1
I had an epiphany lately.  Just because I like a character doesn't mean I have to religiously follow their book.  With that in mind I cancelled The Mighty Thor from my pull list and added Conan instead for something new.  Thor is great and his comics have been somewhat fun, but they haven't been great for a while now and I try to only keep up with comics that I can see myself wanting to read again later.  I read good things about the current Conan direction, and being a longtime fan of that character, decided to jump in on this storyline at #1.

This story find Conan returning to his homeland, Cimmeria, in the frigid North lands with his lover, Belit, the infamous Queen of the Black Coast.  They receive a welcome from Conan's mother that's colder than the landscape.  She implies that Belit is a slave woman and tells them to find a place to sleep elsewhere.  The next day Conan meets with the clan elders and discusses the matter that brought him home.  A man is moving through Cimmeria killing and destroying everything around him, claiming to be Conan.  Conan swears to stop him and the elders suggest he leave his woman behind.  Belit is a pirate captain and a fearsome presence in her home region, so being dismissed by everyone has her in a deadly mood.  Conan stops her from killing some peasant women who laughed at her and tells her that she will indeed be coming with him.  The issue ends with a scene of devastation as the false Conan raises another town to the ground in his name.

This is an interesting story and I'm glad to be reading a new Conan adventure, but what really grabbed me about this book was the art by Becky Cloonan.  Female artists are rare in the industry, and choosing one for a "macho" book like Conan is a very bold choice.  I love seeing women draw mainstream comics because their artistic approach seems so different.  It's hard to explain the difference.  Everything seems...softer?  Conan still looks powerful, but he's more stylized and less bulky with muscle.  It's a strange choice for this genre of visual storytelling and for that I love it.  I'm looking forward to issue #2.

New Comix! - Week of 8/1/12

This was Spider-Man's week to shine, for both Peter & Miles!

Avengers Vs X-men (AvX) #9

In the last issue, the Avengers teamed up on the attacking Namor, and with Scarlet Witch's help managed to depower him.  His portion of the Phoenix Force then split into 4 and was absorbed by the remaining Phoenix-Powered X-men.  The Avengers, in the meantime, fellback to their last hideout, the mysterious kung-fu (I know, I can't believe they're resorting to mystic kung-fu either) city, K'un Lun.

The X-men have been capturing Avengers and are holding them prisoner in a Phoenix-made volcano in Siberia that houses the denizens of Magik's Limbo realm.  It's basically a volcano full of what most people think hell looks like, including the demons monsters.  Cap orders a strike on the prison in an attempt to free their friends.  Unfortunately, the prison is currently guarded by half of the "Phoenix Four", siblings Colossus and Magik.  The entire strike force would have been defeated and captured as well, but Spider-Manused his webs to pull everyone (including most of the prisoners) out of the volcano's enterance and sealed it behind them.  He then attempted to slow down half of the Phoenix Force on his own to buy them time to escape.  Believe it or not, it worked!  Pete got beaten to mush, but he managed to used his sarcastic whit to turn the increasingly paranoid and power-hungery mutants against each other.  They battled, attempted to gain the other's portion of the Phoenix power and defeated each other.  Their power then left them and went to the only Phoenix hosts left, Cyclops & Emma Frost.  The issue ends with Cyclops appearing above the city demanding Hope come with him to fullfill her Phoenix destiny.

The story moves along and focus's on my favorite character, Spider-Man.  What's not to love?

Pick of the Week!

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #13

In the last issue, Miles' uncle (the super villain) attacked him and in the ensuing fight, one of his gadgets misfired and exploded, burning the Prowler to a crisp and killing him.  Since then, (apparently) the Ultimate Marvel U has fallen apart and I didn't know about it because I'm only keeping up with this comic in that universe these days.  America has partially collapsed, with militias popping up around the country in revolt, Texas seceding from the union, and who knows what else. 

This issue opens up with Iron Man and Cap discussing the new Spidey with Cap saying he's too young.  Miles is informed by his father that his uncle has been murdered and that the news is saying that Spider-Man is the killer.  Miles spends a few days dealing with what happened and coping with the idea that the media thinks he's a killer.  Then while at school, he gets a text asking for him to meet up with someone.  He says "after school" and heads that way after his classes let out.  On the way he stumbles across Batroc the Leaper (a lame French villain) and foils his burglary attempt.  After evading the cops, Miles enters a warehouse and meets Aunt May and Gwen Stacy.  They discuss who he is and why he's doing it.  Just when Aunt May is about to give him something of Peter's, Cap steps out of the darkness and says, "Hold on, Ms. Parker.  I don't think he's going to be Spider-Man any longer."

This issue wasn't as exciting or enthralling as most, but I've enjoyed every issue of this series so far and this was no exception there.  Bendis knows how to write Spider-Man and Miles is just fun to read about.  Sarah Pichelli's art is missed, with her spending time on the awesome crossover SPIDER-MEN, but the fill in guy does a good job, except for Captain America's silly shoebox-shaped shoulder pads.