Wednesday Number Ones is a weekly feature here at Comic Pants. We take the books that are premiering a first issue from that week and give a quick opinion on them. From time to time we may also include more than issue number ones in this feature. If a noteworthy one-shot or the first issue of a new story arc is released, we may talk about it in this feature.
This week we will cover Civil War: The Return #1, Ninja Tales #1, Power Of the Valkyrie #1, Wolverine #50, Silent War #1 of 6, and Xena Annual #1.
Dan Grendell Read and Thought:
Silent War #1 of 6 (Marvel Comics): Well, the time has come to deal with the fallout from David Hine’s Son of M mini-series. The Inhumans are pissed that the US government has their terragen crystals, and diplomatic channels have gotten them nowhere- now its time for force. With their culture at stake, Gorgon leads a devastating first strike, but things don’t go at all as planned and it looks like this war is going to escalate fast. David Hine continues the fine work he started in Son of M, and Frazer Irving picks up where Roy Allan Martinez left off with some fittingly dark and depressing visuals. A good start to what promises to be an interesting story.
Dave Farabee Read and Thought:
Xena Annual #1 (Dynamite Entertainment): Actually quite good. Having had a guilty-pleasure fondness for Xena once, I’ve looked in on a few issues of the new Dynamite series to see that the company’s doing right by the property, and this is probably their best outing. Opening with Xena’s discovery of a downed alien spaceship, the story sets up for a decidedly non-campy outing when she reluctantly performs a mercy killing on the grievously injured pilot. What follows amounts to an extended chase sequence that feels a lot like it could’ve come from an unused “Xena vs. Predator” script. Whatever its origin, it works, and like the other Xena outings, features above-average artwork.
Civil War: The Return #1 (Marvel Comics): I’m sure it’s all over the internet by now, but I’m not going to spoil the name of the Marvel hero who returns in this one-shot, Civil War special written by Paul Jenkins. What really struck me about the issue, beyond a general disappointment that A) this character should return at all, and B) that his return is tied into Reed Richards’ “Space Guantanamo Bay”…was how slight it all felt. The issue’s actually got two stories, with the first 13 pages being exposition to explain the hero’s return, the last 10 pages showing us how Sentry came to register for the Superhuman Registration Act. There’s just not much room for either story to maneuver, so the first one just feels like set-up for the returnee’s pending series, the second like a throwaway story that should’ve been a back-up in New Avengers. Tom Raney’s art is quite nice, though. If he’s not already slated to draw the new series featuring the returned hero, he’d be a good choice. His Sentry, on the other hand, looks oddly effeminate.
D3 (David Martindale) Read and Thought:
Power of the Valkyrie #1 (Arcana Studios): You know that voice you use when mocking a really bad model-turned-actor? You know, the one completely void of any emotion or intonation? Power of the Valkyrie just screams to be read in that voice. The concept isn’t too hot either. Some mere mortal is the key to a god-scale conflict and must master her new found abilities before it’s too late. Yeah, I saw that movie 15 times between 1983 and 1993 too. The artist shows some promise and may even be decent after some time to improve and mature, but for now the art just isn’t ready for a national stage. Substandard throughout; feel free to skip this one.
Nick Budd Read and Thought:
Ninja Tales #1 (Boom! Studios): I LOVE ninjas. I know that I’ve said it before and I’ll no doubt say it again at the next possible opportunity that presents itself. I enjoy the humorous Ben Edlund, “I’m a bush. Please move along,” kind of ninja, but I also am equally entertained by the take no shit, men of stealth and action sort like Larry Hama’s characters Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. These are but two out of the countless ways to portray such characters, but what’s keen (Yes, you heard me right, keen!) about Ninja Tales is that you get all of these things and more in a single, prestige format issue. It’s funny, action-packed, well drawn and has Albert Einstein fighting ninjas. That really should be all you need to know. The only drawback at all is the hefty $6.99 price tag, but if your buy pile is a little light this week or if you have some extra cash to spend, check this one out.
Randy Lander Read and Thought:
Wolverine #50 (Marvel Comics): Jeph Loeb and Simone Bianchi sign on as the new creative team, and serve up what is probably exactly what the fanbase for this book wants, a big slugfest between Wolverine and Sabretooth, with flashbacks to memories and mysteries in the mix. It’s beautifully illustrated and solidly written, but I can’t help but feel like it’s Wolverine at his most basic, lowest and boring form. Plot? All but nonexistent. Characterization? The same rote “beast vs. beast” that has been driving this duo since the beginning. If you’re dying to see Wolverine and Sabretooth face off yet again, this will probably push your buttons. If you’re looking for depth, the lead story won’t do it, nor will the utterly forgettable backup where Loeb rehashes the original Wolverine vs. Hulk fight with a mismatched Ed McGuinness on art.
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Ooooh…I hope NINJA TALES was ordered by my comic shop. I am also fond of every iteration of Ninja in comics, from the serious “Hand” issues of Daredevil to the steaming piles of ninjas in the Wolverine mini in the 80’s to the Tick’s nemesis group, the Foot. And yes, the Lee Van Cleef version in the loudly laughed at MASTER NINJA (I think that is the title). Heck, my home state of Ohio had a school for Ninja back in the 80’s. I know this because I read it in my martial arts magazine when I was in Jr. High and it said so right there. Ninjas. Sweet, sweet Ninjas.
24 Jan 2007 at 8:41 am
QuoteHow about a notable ending? Last trade of Lucifer on shelves today. I am so excited. I started reading in December and finished book 10 last night. Three cheers!
The only “Tales” book I’ve bought from BOOM! was Cthulu (sp?). I dig the dark stuff. I sorta wish they’d collect them.. they have two Pirate Tales books right? A little thicker, squar-bound, $10.. I’d be interested in that.
24 Jan 2007 at 10:46 am
QuoteRandy, is Wolverine #50 start of an mult-part or a single ish story? I got a friend who digs a real basic Wolverine… but I’d hate to feed him part 1 of 6. Especially with an artist who I’ve never seen on an ongoing (I’m expecting delays).
24 Jan 2007 at 10:49 am
QuoteTim, it is unfortunately part 1 of I think 4 parts, rather than a standalone. However, I will say that Bianchi has probably been working on this for a while, so we may not see any delays… aw, who am I kidding? Marvel can’t put a book out on time to save its life!
On a separate note, there have been several Zombie Tales, but only one Pirate Tales thus far. I do wish that the books were maybe a little bigger, and $10, as opposed to the sort of in-between $7 price point/format they’ve found, but the quality on these anthologies has been pretty high, which is nice.
Boom! has carved out a nice niche for themselves as sort of a pop entertainment publisher, putting out full color books in the horror, action and other sort of general genres that don’t get enough play in comics. And their publisher’s a former Austin guy, so you’ve got to give respect for that.
24 Jan 2007 at 1:13 pm
QuoteTim: Friends don’t let friends read Jeph Loeb books.
I know I sound like a broken record with Loeb, but for crying out loud, does this many have ANY ideas of his own?
Civil War: The Return- dear God, that’s a horrifically convoluted excuse for a resurrection. And why did they see this guy and think “hey, he’s PERFECT to run a superhero prison!” However… it WAS well written, and Raney’s art was phenomenal.
24 Jan 2007 at 1:18 pm
QuoteI dunno, Dan… I’ll stack Loeb’s best work (with Sale) up against your man Daniel Way’s best any day of the week.
For what it’s worth, Wolverine #50 does what it sets out to do. Wolverine walks into the mansion and picks a fight with Sabretooth. And they fight. And he remembers Silver Fox. And they fight some more. And they threaten each other.
For me, it’s like nails on a chalkboard. But for Wolverine fans, it may be nirvana, and I think Loeb’s commercial instincts are relatively sound.
I do agree with you that Civil War The Return was a godawful idea, but I have trouble believing it was well written. I like Jenkins, but his Civil War stuff that I’ve read (including a flip-through of the Penance issue of Frontline) has been painful.
24 Jan 2007 at 3:46 pm
Quotewith wolverine, i am being the classic anal-retentive fanboy and staying on board through the Loeb/Bianchi run just because Marc Guggenheim has revealed he will return to the book after they’re done. I thought Guggenheim’s Civil War run on the title was fantastic, I’m enjoying his Blade, and he’s brought me on to his run on Flash at DC. I’m a fan.
24 Jan 2007 at 3:52 pm
QuoteGood to hear Silent War starts off well. David Hine hasn’t impressed me on much of anything yet. The ideas are there - District X, 198 - but the execution is not. That said, Son of M was one of the only good things to come out of Decimation, so I’m excited about this semi-sequel.
And I would be much more drawn to those Boom! “Tales” books (especially this Ninja one) if it weren’t for the price tag.
24 Jan 2007 at 4:02 pm
QuoteRandy: As a Wolverine fan, it’s hell on earth. Loeb seems to have just scanned random issues of the Claremont and Hama runs and stapled them together in lieu of a script. betcha a shiny new dime the Big Twist is that Sabretooth is Wolverine’s biological father (”you’re going to BECOME me”). Which, of course, is what Claremont and Byrne originally intended. Loeb calls that being true to the characters: I call it hackery of the higest order.
Really, I wish this man would quit comics. He contributes NOTHING. I mean, Ron Marz is a hack and a half, but at least he TRIES something other than superheroes.
Kiel: Read Daredevil: Redemption. Drawn by Michael Gaydos, it’s basically “What if Matt Murdock defended the West Memphis Three?” but it’s an upsetting and compelling drama. Ironically, Gaydos pre-dates Shark by drawing the ruthless prosecuting attorney to look like James Woods.
24 Jan 2007 at 4:53 pm
QuoteI vaguely remember that Daredevil mini, so I might have to check it out, based on your opinion, Dan C. You do have good taste, even if you like Daniel Way. I guess I didn’t realize Gaydos did the art, but him drawing DD almost sells the book for me.
Nothing really surprising about Wolverine, yet…not sure if I’ll like this. I like Wolverine enough, but I’m pretty sick of Wolverine/Sabretooth tales…The only Loeb stuff I ever really enjoyed are the great collaberations with Tim Sale, but I dig Bianchi’s covers a lot (haven’t seen any interior work). I wish Rucka and Robertson were still on it….that was my kinda Wolverine book. At least Loeb seems to be using the whole memories-gained plot from House of M, which was a nice twist, but only Daniel Way has really touched upon that, so…ew.
24 Jan 2007 at 7:02 pm
QuoteI actually like McGuinness in general and was enjoying the backup story in Wolverine until I realized it was all just to set up a joke about Ultimate Hulk Vs. Wolverine. How tacky can you get? Yeah, I’m disappointed that it’s been a year since Ultimate HvW dropped off the face of the earth, but it’s pretty unclassy of Loeb to make a stab at it.
24 Jan 2007 at 7:05 pm
QuoteIt is, but it’s also unclassy to leave fans waiting over a year for a book, especially when it’s probably never going to come out. So I’d call it fair game.
My only disappointment was that it was a weak joke.
24 Jan 2007 at 8:26 pm
QuoteNot to derail the comments, but is there any official PR line about Ultimate Hulk vs Wolverine? Have they ever given a reason for the delay, or even acknowledged it, given any assurances about it one way or the other, or is Marvel just trying to pretend the whole thing never happened and hoping we forget? Do they have any kind of policy in general about that sort of thing? Is there a point where they’ll give it to some other creative team to finish, or will they just let it die entirely before that happens?
24 Jan 2007 at 9:04 pm
QuoteMy guess at this point, based on my cynical observations about Marvel’s past unfinished projects with Hollywood creators (Daredevil: The Target) is that they’re just kind of hoping we’ll forget, and they’ll be using it as a punchline at various panels at various Cons.
So I think we’ll never see any more Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk, and the fans who bought the first couple issues wind up basically screwed with an unfinished story, and Marvel feels no particular need to apologize. But that may be me being overly cynical.
24 Jan 2007 at 10:04 pm
QuoteBy the way, despite a relatively weak offering of new #1s this week, it’s actually a pretty good week for comics. With any luck, I’ll get a chance to write Short Pants reviews for some of the books I read this week, but in short I really dug Criminal #4, Damned #4 (from Oni), Fables #57, Mouse Guard #6, DMZ #15, Doctor Strange Oath #4, Invincible #38, Official Handbook O/t Invincible Universe #2, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #14, and Star Wars Dark Times #2.
And I’m looking forward to reading Lucifer Vol 11 Evensong TP, hopefully tonight, and Legend Of Grimjack Vol 6 TP soon.
Wanted to read True Story Swear to God and Ninja Tales, but we sold out before I got a chance. So next week, I guess I’ll get a chance to read those.
24 Jan 2007 at 10:07 pm
QuoteIt’s unclassy for Loeb to make a stab at it because he spent the last arc on Superman/Batman pissing on the Ultimate line, yet he has no problem writing them if the price is right. You know what else makes me mad? The talent that’s wasted drawing his plots. There have been some shitty, SHITTY Books I’ve bought just for the art- and WOW, Bianchi and McGuinness turned in some nice art- McGuinness and McCaig in particular. But I decided to spend #3.99 on the new handbook.
Given recent developments at DC, I think we might see Robertson back on Wolverine sooner than even he expected. I remember running into him at Wizard World Philly, and he was saying, “Man, am I glad to be away from [Marvel]!”
Irony dept: Lindelof has written the intro to Daredevil: Father.
Ninja Tales- John Rogers’ story is BRILLIANT. It’s worth the 7 dollars alone. It’s already got my vote as one of the best stories of the year. It’s the kind of story that makes you think, “Jesus, why didn’t anybody think of that before? because it’s PERFECT.”
24 Jan 2007 at 10:24 pm
QuoteWolverine 50 if by the end it does a great final Wolverine story. I want it to be great. There must be so many “Final Wolverine VS Sabertooth” Pitches floating round Marvel, they damn well better pick the absoulte best. I’m in an odd postion of loving Marvel but having to admit their simply not very good lately
24 Jan 2007 at 10:45 pm
QuoteYeah, speaking of which, Dan C., I’m interested to hear what happens to Robertson (for those not in the know: The Boys was reportedly cancelled….with the latest issue currently out. Presumably it’s because of content). He’s exclusive with DC, right? I love Garth Ennis, but Robertson was the main reason I was buying The Boys, so it gets moved out to a smaller publisher…hmmm.
Oh, and Randy, how is Damned? Been meaning to try it, but….trade format is so much more alluring for minis like that.
24 Jan 2007 at 11:00 pm
Quote*Love* Damned. Started out good, gets better with every issue. Cullen Bunn is a promising new writer, and Brian Hurtt always impresses, and his work on The Damned is some of the best I’ve seen. One of my absolute favorite miniseries running right now.
As for The Boys, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I hated that book on general principles (we can all go back to Nick’s review to see the discussion on that ;), and so I feel like it’s a bit of a victory for DC to shitcan it. On the other hand, I didn’t like it because it felt like pointless hatred of the superhero genre (which may have played into DC’s decision) and Garth Ennis on autopilot and Robertson wasting his talents on Ennis-lite (both of which probably *didn’t* enter into the decision). I certainly think that DC is making a big mistake. Either publish or don’t publish, but don’t pussy out on the book later when you decide it’s not for you. Do they not remember all the deserved heat they took for neutering The Authority? That was the last time the Wildstorm imprint showed some promise of mainstream appeal, and they effectively killed that with their treatment of The Authority.
The Boys debacle, if it plays out the way I expect it to, might be the final nail in Wildstorm’s coffin. I mean, if you know that if they ever produce anything edgy and commercially successful, DC is going to get skittish and pull the plug, why on Earth would anyone commit to their books?
24 Jan 2007 at 11:12 pm
QuoteDan Coyle wrote:
Given recent developments at DC, I think we might see Robertson back on Wolverine sooner than even he expected. I remember running into him at Wizard World Philly, and he was saying, “Man, am I glad to be away from [Marvel]!”
When was the last time Robertson was on something worthy of his talents? I think it might have been Transmet. Seriously, his Wolverine and Nightcrawler work was drop-dead gorgeous, but it was Wolverine and fucking Nightcrawler. I like both characters in certain contexts, but I don’t think a solo series of either of them is the best place for a major talent like Robertson. And The Boys? Piss-takes on superheroes and over-the-top violence and sex? Still not really worthy of Robertson, who deserves something with some thought, some depth that is worthy of the beauty and sophistication his art could give it.
I’d love to see Robertson paired with Grant Morrison, or Ed Brubaker, maybe. Ideally on a Vertigo book. But I doubt that’s where he’ll land next.
As to the perfect home for the orphaned The Boys? Dave F. nailed it when he suggested this afternoon: “Avatar.” Seems about right.
24 Jan 2007 at 11:17 pm
QuoteGreg Rucka’s Wolverine was hell on earth to read. Dear God, it was bad. So very very impressed with itself. Nightcrawler was much better, but still… the character just can’t sustain an ongoing. He is, no matter how many fans he has, just a supporting character.
Robertson loves working with Ennis, and Ennis created The Boys specifically for him (in fact, he held off on launching it until he knew Robertson was available). It’s saying something that the two of them thought that The Boys was worth 60 issues. The only entertainment I got out of that book was thinking of all the ways the WEF would have sucked it off if it had shipped five years sooner.
The truth is? There’s no “war” for guys like Ennis to win against guys like me. Just walk away, Garth. Just walk away.
24 Jan 2007 at 11:59 pm
Quotebetcha a shiny new dime the Big Twist is that Sabretooth is Wolverine’s biological father
Too obvious, Dan. The Big Twist is that Sabretooth is Wolverine’s biological son. And Silver Fox is his mother.
Jesus F. Christ I hate Marvel these days …
Dex
25 Jan 2007 at 3:16 am
QuoteFor fans of The Boys, DC is cutting the rights free quickly so Ennis and Robertson can start back up at issue 7 somewhere else soon. Plans are to publish the trade there too. Robertson is apparently being released from his exclusive DC contract for this one project only, so he’ll still be with the book. News courtesy of Heidi at The Beat.
25 Jan 2007 at 5:17 am
QuoteIf this work really goes on for 60 issues, that’s quite an exception in Robertson’s contract.
And I’m kinda surprised you didn’t like Rucka’s Wolverine, Dan C. I for one really enjoyed it, despite the fact that it was a new Wolverine series. I thought Rucka had the characterization nailed down, and I really enjoyed the overall vibe. better than anything Tieri had done for the past few years, anyway.
And Randy, I think the only thing Robertson has done that can live up to Transmet was Punisher: Born. Yeah, it was Ennis, but it was the best stuff I had seen from Robertson, and one of the best Punisher tales from Ennis so far. Like I said earlier, I love Ennis, but I would much rather see both of their talents elsewhere. It’s not possible, but Robertson on Punisher would be nice…at least Ennis manages some sophistication in that book, instead of resorting to shockfest. Of course, ideally, I would love to see Steve Dillon back with Ennis somewhere, but Marvel seems to be intent on putting him on a book that plays down to his talents (and many casual Marvel fans have subsequently taken a dislike to his work).
25 Jan 2007 at 8:45 am
QuoteI hope not- Ultimate X-Men already did that. Then again, Loeb’s obviously quite content to rehash Ultimate Wolverine, so maybe.
25 Jan 2007 at 11:47 am
Quotewell they keep saying “Sabertooth is not Wolverine’s father” and then reminding us that’s why he was created. It is kind of like all the versons of supergirl that WERE NOT SUPERMAN’S COUSIN HONEST!
25 Jan 2007 at 12:08 pm
QuoteActually, Sabretooth was originally an Iron Fist villain. His tie-in to Wolverine came much later.
25 Jan 2007 at 3:28 pm
QuoteI forgot to mention something positive about Wolverine: big props to Marvel for putting out a black and white issue. Bianchi’s figures look a little….thick, for lack of a better word, and the colors make them look even bulkier, so it’s nice to have the alternative.
25 Jan 2007 at 4:04 pm
QuoteGah! No NINJA TALES! My store didn’t order it and when they went to order it for me they found it was out of stock. Dang!! Does BOOM! do second runs or reprints? Or will I have to find this another way? Gah!
25 Jan 2007 at 7:39 pm
QuoteRandy, let me know if you can’t get your copy. I’ll pop one in the mail for you.
Glad to hear it sold out, however!
25 Jan 2007 at 9:47 pm
QuoteI thought the implication from Wolverine: Origin was that Sabertooth was Wolverine’s half-brother, but maybe I’m misremembering it. As for The Boys, I admit it’s not Ennis’s strongest work, but I’ve been enjoying it as sort of mindless fun. I’m praying it doesn’t end up with Avatar or IDW. I’d hate to have to buy an Avatar book just on general principal, and IDW would probably bump up the price of the book by a $1 just for the hell of it.
25 Jan 2007 at 9:55 pm
QuoteI agree with Dan, Loeb is hugely overrated. There has been no project of his that I am particularly fond of and his name pretty much puts me off whatever he writes.
Oh, and Beland seems like a cool guy.
25 Jan 2007 at 9:59 pm
QuoteThis may be a bit long, so apologies in advance!
Jeph Loeb’s been a hit or miss writer for me. I love Superman For All Seasons, Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: Dark Victory, Batman/Spirit and a lot of his Superman run. On the other hand, Superman/Batman was extremely hit or miss for me, although I thought the first issue and the last issue (the Sam Loeb issue) of Loeb’s run were great.
Really, I wish this man would quit comics. He contributes NOTHING. I mean, Ron Marz is a hack and a half, but at least he TRIES something other than superheroes.
Well, you don’t need to do non-superhero work to contribute to comics, do you?
And I’m kinda surprised you didn’t like Rucka’s Wolverine, Dan C. I for one really enjoyed it, despite the fact that it was a new Wolverine series. I thought Rucka had the characterization nailed down, and I really enjoyed the overall vibe. better than anything Tieri had done for the past few years, anyway
I’ll second that, even if the pacing was sometimes slow and the last story went into more conventional territory (and abruptly dropped that detective supporting character Rucka had created in the title). I think Rucka and Morrison delivered some of the stronger, more well-rounded takes on the character in recent years. Tieri mostly didn’t go past the “I’m a tough guy with claws and a bad attitude” (at least in the issues I read) characterization, and Whedon’s “I like beer” Wolverine, while fun, is a bit light.
I actually like McGuinness in general and was enjoying the backup story in Wolverine until I realized it was all just to set up a joke about Ultimate Hulk Vs. Wolverine. How tacky can you get? Yeah, I’m disappointed that it’s been a year since Ultimate HvW dropped off the face of the earth, but it’s pretty unclassy of Loeb to make a stab at it.
It is, but it’s also unclassy to leave fans waiting over a year for a book, especially when it’s probably never going to come out. So I’d call it fair game.
True, but it’s a bit hypocritical, since nearly all the issues of his final Superman/Batman arc were late. Not Ultimate Wolverine/Hulk late, but enough for people to take notice. Then again, I understand that the comics’ lateness might have been partly due to Sam Loeb’s passing, so unlike Lindeloff (as far as we know), Jeph had a legitimate (and tragic) reason for series’ lack of timeliness.
26 Jan 2007 at 1:29 am
QuoteWoopsie. As you guys probably figured out already, the last two italicized paragraphs are from two different posters (Schmidt and Randy). Sorry I didn’t make that clear
26 Jan 2007 at 1:34 am
QuoteI like Wolverine, but I can’t quite put my finger on why I don’t read more of the *many* titles he’s in.
For those of you who really don’t dig Wolverine, or at least the way he’s usually written, how would you improve it?
26 Jan 2007 at 10:07 am
QuoteYou know, he isn’t my favorite character in the world but the X-Men sort of brought me further into comics and I think part of that was due to Wolverine. He’s a badass, plain and simple. I think what’s turned me off of the character, and I can’t quite pinpoint when this first happened, was the fact that he was turned into something closely resembling a god.
I read the Frank Miller/Chris Claremont Wolverine mini a few months ago for the first time and not only was Wolverine hacking and killing people left and right, he himself was getting the shit kicked out of him. If memory serves me correctly, there were even times that the character himself said that he was close to being killed. I liked that. It made the character more interesting or if nothing else, more believable. Now we have GOD Wolverine, a man who can be incinerated unitl there’s nothing left but bone and still somehow come back to life as long as there’s a smidgen of DNA left lying on the ground.
How would I improve him? Take him back to the character that he’s been in the past. He’s a powerful character, no doubt about it, but he’s not that powerful.
26 Jan 2007 at 10:19 am
QuoteI, myself, loved the era of Byrne/Claremont because Wolverine was a creature of nature. I recall the scene where Wolverine goes hunting the deer and it was all about getting so close to it, he could touch the deer.
This was long before he was a ninja and then, well… everything. I loved the animal side of him, when the beserker rage would have to take over for him to really attack someone.
I’d put him back to that era. Make him one with nature.
I also miss the guy lighting up a cigar.
26 Jan 2007 at 10:49 am
QuoteI just read “Civil War: The Return #1″ and I’m now officially done with Marvel Civil War and its opportunistic spin-offs and tie-ins.
I agree that C****** M***** didn’t need to “return”, and the way Jenkins and Co. did it is trite (time travel, ugh). Apparently no character death is off limits anymore (like Bucky’s). I can’t wait to see which side Uncle Ben chooses …
I did like Fantastic Four #542 and the latest X-Factor, though.
As far as Wolverine is concerned, I liked him about 25 years ago when he was cool precisely because he wasn’t cool, if that makes sense. He was short, hairy, and had a weird hairstyle; he was a misfit other heroes didn’t seem to trust much, and he seemed more human (paradoxically enough).
Over time writers have pandered to the worst instincts of fanboys and now we have a character so powerful and preening its ridiculous. I remember an old Uncanny X-Men story drawn (and written I think) by Windsor-Smith in which Wolverine spent the entire issue fighting against Sabretooth and just barely held his own and survived; at the end of that issue Wolverine was in really rough shape physically and mentally.
Dex
26 Jan 2007 at 12:28 pm
Quotethey could have broght Marv-ell back by saying “the cancer was really him mutating into a new form. If they Did bring Mar-vell back I am nothing but surpised
as for Wolverine he’s a great chaacter but if he screams about being a loner and can be thrown into the sun laughing all the way. WHY IS HE never a loner?
26 Jan 2007 at 12:52 pm
QuoteYou guys nailed the problem of Wolverine on the head. He isn’t a particularly deep character, he’s just a badass. He has his own code of honor, but he also has the animal side to him. Now he’s just an invincible superhero. I do have to give Joe Q some props for staying true to his word, though - after so many complaints that he was overexposed (very true), his appearances have really been toned down as of late. He might still be somewhat overexposed, but we don’t see him guest star in so many titles anymore, and there aren’t as many trite mini series as there used to be.
26 Jan 2007 at 4:13 pm
Quotealso I CANNOT see Spider-man and WOLverine standing each other! I dont think Wolverine would like Tony Stark (not very far removed from the weapon X guys
26 Jan 2007 at 4:26 pm
QuoteDid the third X-movie influence the new INVINCIBLE WOLVERINE or vice versa? In that movie, we have bits of him burning off and re-forming almost at the same speed. Even the earlier movies had the healing almost instantaneous whereas, as others have noticed, his healing factor used to take a while. His healing factor allowed him to survive fights a normal guy would have died in but he wasn’t invincible. He also wasn’t impervious to pain and when shot with a gun in the gut, he would be on the ground a while before getting back up.
While not always deep (he is, at heart, simply a brawler) it was fun to get his point of view. The Claremont/Miller mini with Wolverine reminded me of the Marv storyline in SIN CITY. Marv, as his own narrator, was never brilliant but you see him as shrewder and deeper when he is telling the story. But when seen through someone else’s eyes, he is a semi-mentally retarded brute. Wolverine was the same thing. Others saw him as an animal and at some level he was but only when he really let himself go but when we saw him through his own eyes, he took on new levels.
Now he is a joke told too often. The new Avengers line up is a joke (the joke being, “how many loners can you stuff into a super group?”). He will get his due somewhere down the line when someone does a definitive Wolverine story worth reading, ala DARK KNIGHT (not the “future Wolverine” but simply something that, for good or ill, will redefine the character for a long time).
27 Jan 2007 at 1:10 pm
QuoteHe will get his due somewhere down the line when someone does a definitive Wolverine story worth reading, ala DARK KNIGHT (not the “future Wolverine” but simply something that, for good or ill, will redefine the character for a long time).
He already has, fil- Barry Windsor-Smith’s Weapon X redefined him from his first characterizations a long time ago.
27 Jan 2007 at 6:34 pm
QuoteDan, thanks for the info. I never read that. I ducked out of much of the 90’s comics and X-titles for sure. I did read the Morrison stories in New X-Men about the Weapon X (as in 10) project, though. That must have been a continuation of the Windsor-Smith story? Is it worth finding this book or is this the book that makes me want to off the current version of Wolverine?
28 Jan 2007 at 10:27 pm
QuoteThe Morrison stuff isn’t a continuation of the Windsor-Smith Weapon X story; the direct sequels to that were in Larry Hama’s run on Wolverine, which utterly ruined the character IMO for a long time.
During his final issues on Weapon X, Frank Tieri tied in the Weapon “Ten” concept with the original stuff- turns out the Professor and Cornelius broke off from the numbered Weapons- which apparently were being run by John Sublime- and established Weapon X up in Canada.
28 Jan 2007 at 11:48 pm
QuoteOh, and before I forget: Marvel’s giving Weapon X the Premiere Classics Treatment- an fuckamagee, those are nice packages- in April.
28 Jan 2007 at 11:49 pm
Quotewolverine 50 review up at http://www.howcomics somebody has size 45 balls making this two parts
29 Jan 2007 at 12:51 pm
QuoteOh, and before I forget: Marvel’s giving Weapon X the Premiere Classics Treatment- an fuckamagee, those are nice packages- in April.
Yeah, they really are. I picked up Kraven’s Last Hunt and the Claremont/Miller Wolverine mini in that format, but I’ve no love for Origin, so gave that a pass. Definitely looking forward to seeing Windsor-Smith’s work that way. I’d like to see them do something besides Wolverine stories now though…
29 Jan 2007 at 6:34 pm
QuoteI think I saw in Marvel’s most recent solicits that they are doing the whole Death of the Staceys storyline in the same format. It’s a great format and I’m looking forward to reading this story again.
29 Jan 2007 at 9:21 pm
QuoteAccording to Amazon, Punisher: Circle of Blood is getting the Premiere Classics treatment one of these days. That’s the Grant/Duffy/Zeck/Vosburg/Beatty mini from 1985. One of the best Punisher stories ever.
29 Jan 2007 at 9:33 pm
QuoteSpeaking of Punisher (which I have now almost caught up on with the Ennis Max run), I read that the Circle of Blood is contained in the Essentials Punisher. I don’t mind the b&w reprints and was wondering if the rest of that Essentials is worth reading.
Thanks!
29 Jan 2007 at 10:39 pm
QuoteI’d say it definitely is, since it contains the three issue Miller/Janson arc from Daredevil, and the various Wein/Wolfman/Mantlo Spider-Man stories are swell, though Wolfman I don’t think “got” the character.
29 Jan 2007 at 11:18 pm
QuoteAs a big Punisher fan, I can say the Essential is worth it. Most of the books are guest appearances, but that’s ok - if they release a volume 2, it would likely include his first ongoing series, which led into the oversaturation of Punisher comics in the ’90s. Not good. Volume 1 is definitely worth it, especially since it includes Circle of Blood and the Miller stuff. Just don’t expect it to be ALL Punisher.
30 Jan 2007 at 8:28 am
QuoteI miss the man trying to be hero, way back when Wolverine had more depth, he had this inner struggle with his animal side, he was a killer, but he was trying to be more than just that. Now he just claws and bad ‘tude and all the rest, the parts that gave him depth, have been more or less forgotten.
30 Jan 2007 at 1:55 pm
QuoteGray, I totally agree. Wolverine had more implied depth than he does now. Maybe it was the Weapon X treatment, maybe it was the oversaturation, but whatever it is, he doesn’t read nearly as well as he did in the Claremont run of X-Men. There he was prickly and dangerous but at the same time really looked out for his mates and tried to come to terms who he was and what had been done to him. He only got nasty when pushed. When he went over the top, like in the Wolvie vs. the Hellfire Club in the 130’s (134? 135? I will wash my geek out with soap since I honestly can’t remember off hand) it was novel and cool as hell. I still think he will fade away to a certain degree and will be ripe for further re-invention. Just probably not for a while. He sells too many books.
Thanks for advice on Punisher Essentials. I think I might pick it up with my stack in the next week or so if I have a thin week. It sounds groovy!
30 Jan 2007 at 8:17 pm
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