Comics of March 27, 2013

So there’s not going to be a video this week, thanks to some computer problems. It can’t even save files properly and my video editor won’t even open, and this is on a fresh windows install (so I’m working form my dad’s desktop). Also, I can’t promise more than one full review for the same reason. Things should be back to normal next week though.

Anyway, these are the comics I picked up this week. Guardians of the Galaxy 1, Astonishing X-Men 60 (X-Termination part 2), Age of Ultron 3, Uncanny X-Force 3, Uncanny Avengers 5, FF 5, Gambit 10, Scarlet Spider 15, Wolverine and the X-Men 27, Batman Incorporated 9. Somehow I forgot to pick up Journey Into Mystery, but I will rectify that when I’m out for computer parts tomorrow. These are my first impressions.

Guardians of the Galaxy 1 review

Astonishing X-Men 60 was good. While at times it was slightly hard to follow when I read through it quickly, it does a great job at explaining what the villains are and what they’re capable of. The dialogue between the three different teams is entertaining, as is their distrust for each other. The two wolverines arguing as they fought side-by-side was particularly amusing, and the art does a good job at making them look similar yet different. The art change in the middle of the issue is rather jarring though – it almost makes this feel like two comics merged into one. Otherwise I can’t think of any serious complaints. Definitely worth reading if you’re even interested in this crossover, but it’s not quite good enough to recommend to anyone who isn’t.

Age of Ultron 3 was great. It continues the storyline with the main group of superhero survivors and gets the plot moving. There’s also a glimpse at Red Hulk, Black Panther and Taskmaster working together in another city. Saying anything more about this issue’s plot would be a spoiler. The characterization is good and the post-apocalyptic world is well-drawn. This is an easy recommendation for any general Marvel fans who aren’t feeling event fatigue. The fact that it’s almost completely self-contained certainly helps.

Uncanny X-Force 3 was a bit crazy, but in a fun way. The first half catches readers up on what exactly is going on, while clarifying a few things that may have been slightly confusing in the last issue. The second half is a very well done action scene that makes great use of its location (underneath New York). The art is great too. It’s also nice that the male/female fantomex relationship was toned down in this issue, although it still creeps me out. This is worth checking out if you’re an X-men fan or an Uncanny X-Force fan – just don’t expect it to be like any X-Men book you’ve read in recent years.

Uncanny Avengers 5 was great. This issue is all about the fallout from Red Skull’s attack in issues 1-4, as well as the team’s expansion. There is a lot of character development in this issue, and it’s all tightly written. The action scene has a surprising ending that could easily cause the group difficulties down the road. Uncanny Avengers 5 is well worth picking up whether you’re an X-men fan or an Avengers fan.

FF 5 was fun. It’s a little light on the plot, but there are obviously wheels in motion. For the most part, it’s full of little character moments and a fight scene with an old Human Torch who has a few screws loose. It’s an all-round enjoyable issue, and an easy recommendation for Fantastic Four fans or anyone who likes the characters on the front cover.

Gambit 10 was also fun. Gambit and his new “friend”, Joelle, break into a high security facility to steal something that may help her daughter. Along the way, Gambit has plenty of opportunity to show off his thieving skills and powers, while the two of them banter on whether they can trust each other or not. Throughout the entire issue, there’s a sense that nobody’s being perfectly honest, which makes it all the more fun to read. Well worth reading for Gambit fans.

Scarlet Spider 15 was great. It concludes the storyline where two werewolves are trying to kill Kaine’s young telepathic friend, Aracely. It’s a dark issue where Kaine unleashes his inner monster upon the wolves. This comic has intense action, strong writing and good artwork that matches the mood perfectly. If Superior Spider-Man angers you, or you want more Spider-Man related material, this series is a great alternative even if the title character has much less responsibility than Peter Parker does.

Wolverine and the X-Men 27 was decent. Dog Logan has found the kids that Wolverine is supposed to be leading, and he tries to teach them how to fight in his own way. It’s a fun issue with touches of character development, but it’s nothing special. If you’ve been enjoying this series so far, pick it up, but I wouldn’t quite recommend it to new readers.

Batman Incorporated 9 was … ok. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this mini-series form the start, but I felt a bit lukewarm about this one. Maybe it’s partly because so many other books have been dealing with Robin’s death, but this felt like it unnecessarily slowed down the story. It also seemed to jump around a bit too much for its own good, and at times it was a bit hard to follow. Maybe I’ll enjoy it more on my second reading, and there are important story developments, but I’m not completely sure what my thoughts are on this one.