AvX #4
In the last issue Cap kicked Wolverine out of an airplane over the antarctic to keep him from killing Hope, the girl destined to be the next host for the Phoenix. Cap wants to save the girl and somehow shield her from the Phoenix Force. Wolverine believes (from past experience) that the only way to save the girl and the world is to kill her before she becomes something awful. In this issue he is picked up in the frozen wasteland by the girl herself, Hope. Both the X-men and the Avengers are searching the world for her and she is in the least likely place, with Wolverine, her would-be executioner.
Hope makes Wolverine a deal. She wants to try to control the Phoenix and use it for good. If she can't control it, she wants Wolverine there to put her down, if necessary. To protect the Earth they hijack an A.I.M. (lame Marvel Universe terrorist organization) spaceship and head for the moon so she can meet the Phoenix before it gets to our planet. When they get there they find the Avengers waiting for them. Wolverine searched his soul and decided even HE didn't have what it took to kill a teenage girl in cold blood so he contacted the Avengers for help. And then the X-Men show up via teleportation (thanks to Colossus's mutant sister, Magik) to take Hope back home. And THEN the Thor rudely interrupts the ensuing argument by landing unconscious in a crater on the surface of the moon (he and a squad of Avengers were sent to outer space to try to slow down or stop the Phoenix)...The Phoenix has arrived.
While not the most exciting issue, it wasn't boring either and moved the story along nicely. There were some really great character moments between Hope and Wolverine also. I still question John Romita Jr. handling the art duties on this title. I like his art, but on more of a smaller-scale project. I LOVED it when he drew monthly Spider-Man stories. These grander-scale projects don't seem ideal for his style though, in my opinion.
All in all a good issue in an increasingly interesting story. I thought this storyline would be just a string of nonsensical fights, but it's shaping up to be better than I expected.
AvX Versus #2
This title is for the aformentioned nonsensical fights. That being said, it's fun, which was the point.
This issue features fights between Captain America vs. Gambit, and Spider-Man vs. Colossus.
In the Cap-V-Gambit fight, Cap fights someone distractedly until Gambit charges his uniform and makes it explode. Cap then turns his full attention to the cajun mutant and knocks him out with one punch!
In Spidey-V-Colossus, Spidey is severely outmatched. Spider-Man is actually one of the stronger heroes in the Marvel Universe, but Colossus is stronger usually...and NOW he is also empowered with the powers of the Juggernaut....SOOO...Spidey loses. In true Spidey fashion, he prepares to fight to the end, but Daredevil shows up and tells him that Hope isn't at that location so they just leave.
The art in the Spidey section was good, but the art in the Captain America section was drawn by superstar artist, Steve McNiven, and was phenomenal. McNiven is in my top 5 favorite artists. I love everything he does. Period.
This was a fun comic, though I think it's ridiculous that Colossus has been fighting in EVERY Versus issue that has come out. Really? The X-Men don't have any other tough guys?!?
Meh story. Great art. Fun reading.
Saga #3
Winner. This story is awesome and win everything, in my book. Check it out.
At the end of issue 2, the two main characters were about to be taken down by a dangerous bounty hunter (both sides of the war want them dead because they are in a Romeo/Juliet situation and if the story of their love got out it could demoralize the centuries-old war) when the legendary ghosts of the forest (called the Horrors) show up and scare the bounty hunter away. The ghosts are all children. Creepy, huh?
With Marko wounded and unconscious, Alana is desperate to defend him against the creepy kid ghosts that are rumored to kill any living they find. Instead one of the ghosts (Izabel) befriends the couple and promises to help heal Marko if Alana will agree to one condition. She wants to be bonded to Hazel (their newborn baby) so she can leave the haunted forest and the world were she and her family were killed in the war. Alana reluctantly agrees and they set off to save Marko. As they are traveling Marko mutters from within his fever dreams that he is worried about Gwendolyn...his WIFE! The last scene ends with Alana's frozen, horrified face.
This story is epic, weird, and addicting. The artwork is equally weird but SO good. Please note that this title is for MATURE readers and every issue has included at least one swear word and one bare breast. That being said, it's one of the best, most original series I'm following right now. If you're able to get bast the "mature" stuff, I would highly recommend getting on the SAGA bandwagon!
- Pick of the week!
Wonder Woman #9
I've been really enjoying this new take on Wonder Woman, making her much less of a "superhero" and much more a "mythical" character. That being said, the story is getting weird and a little off-topic.
In this issue WW and her greek mythology friends head off to Hell to rescue her friend Zola from Hades. They succeed, but not before Hades shoots one of Eros's (Cupid's) guns (instead of arrows...clever, huh?) and strikes WW in the heart. He then lets the rest of the group go and keeps Diana to be his wife. This is extra creepy when you realize that she is Zeus's daughter, making Hades her uncle.
The issue ends with Hades questioning Diana's love for him. He asks her to prove it by putting her Lasso of Truth around her next as a noose, so she can't lie about it.
The art is still good. The story is getting lame quick. I want to see WW take on evil, spiteful Hera, not mucking around in Hell with Hades, dealing with his abandonment issues! I'm hanging on for a few more issues, but it needs to pick up the pace and inject some excitement.
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