Wonder Woman #0
With the New 52 relaunch's year anniversary, DC Comics is producing #0 comics for each series with the idea being for them to be an easy jumping-on point for new readers. This one features a backstory on the New 52 version of WonderWoman.
In this flashback story we follow a 12-year-old Diana as she goes through the rituals of a young Amazon warrior. At one point she is approached by her (unknown to her) Uncle Eres, the God of War. He offers to teach her to be a great warrior and secretly hopes she will take his place as the God of War. Over several months she advances quickly with her skill. Finally, Eres sends her into a labyrinth for a real test and she comes face to face with a minotaur. She eventually defeats the beast, but when she won't kill it where it lays Eres becomes enraged and turns his back on his pupil.
This was a good comic, but nothing outstanding. I really enjoy Cliff Chiang's artwork on this character and he is probably the only reason I've hung on with this series as long as I have. I will probably give the next storyline a chance and decide whether to stick around for a while based on the direction it goes.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #15
This comic is intertwining with the overall Ultimate Universe storyline, United We Stand. The US has been attacked and is falling apart from within. States are seceding, sentinels have taken over parts of the country, and Washington DC has been obliterated.
Miles is back at school telling his best friend, Ganke, about meeting Captain America and Aunt May giving him Peter's web-shooters when the announcement is made that school is going on a hiatus until city officials feel they can guarantee the student's safety (Miles goes to a dorm-type school for smarty smart kids) and they are all sent home. Miles heads home and find homocide detectives there who question him about his uncle's death. They explain that their people have deduced that the new Spider-Man did not kill him, but that his own equipment malfunctioned and they are still looking into the case. Miles is relieved that the cops no longer think he's (Spidey) a murderer (they obviously don't know he's Spidey). With his parents working long hours and school on break, Miles takes Ganke's advice and heads to the Triskellion to try to join the Ultimates and help the country. He's still getting the hang of his web shooters, so when he snags a helicopter to hitch a ride to the floating base, it doesn't go very smoothly. First he hits the window of the Triskellion and is dragged along it and up to the roof. There, SHIELD troopers open fire on him (he's not authorized to be there...yet). He webs them up then promptly slips on the wet rooftop and falls on his butt. He looks up to find Cap starring down at him and asking what he's doing there. Spidey says he's there to join the team and the last scene is Cap starring at him.
This book is consistently good. I like the new Spider-Man. I like Bendis writing Spider-Man. David Marquez has done a good job filling in for Sarah Pichelli while she drew the Spider-Men mini-series (see below), but I'm ready for her to come back. He's good, but she's just better.
Spider-Men #5
And the best mini-series I've read in years comes to a close.
Mysterio has trapped Peter Parker in the Ultimate Universe with no way to come back. He's won and he knows it, but it's not enough for him. He wants to see Peter suffer. Against his better judgement, he activates one of his avatar robot bodies and opens the portal to the Ultimate Universe so he can send it through and check on his foe. Before he can do anything though, webbing shoots through the portal and pulls him in face-first. He looks around shocked to see 2 Spider-Men, a squad of SHIELD operatives, and the Ultimates glaring at him. Peter and Miles team up to berate him verbally and Peter prepares to return home when Mysterio breaks free and uses his illusion powers to trap the heroes in imaginary nightmares. As he runs towards the portal he's tackled by Miles who tumbles through the portal to the regular Marvel U. The two fight it out in his laboratory for a bit before Miles tackles him back through the portal back to the Ultimate U. This time it's all over for Mysterio. Nick Fury offers to lock him up there, so Peter's secret identity can stay a secret in his world. Before he leaves, Peter gives Miles his blessing to carry on the torch as well as a LONG list of advice including dating one girl at a time, never loaning money to Wolverine, & not letting his Aunt May marry Doc Ock (that almost happened in the regular continuity), ect but the portal closes and he's cut off mid-sentence. The story ends with Peter back at home. He showers then goes to his computer to look up his world's version of Miles Morales on Google, asking aloud, "I wonder if we have a Miles Morales?" With a look of complete shock on his face, Peter says, "Oh my god." End scene!
Man, what a great ending! I wonder if they'll work the regular universe Miles Morales into the ongoing Spider-Man comic? This story has been top-tier work, writing and art. As a Spidey fan, I have thoroughly enjoyed every single issue. Bendis worked some real magic here. I'm sorry to see it end, but all good things...
- Pick of the Week!
No comments:
Post a Comment