Comics of September 9, 2015

Secret Wars is really playing havoc with my pull list. Three out of four weeks each month I barely pick up anything. This is my big week. I picked up Siege 3, 1602 Witch Hunter Angela 3, A-Force 4, Civil War 4, Giant-Size Little Marvel AVX 4, Ms. Marvel 18, Starfire 4, Bitch Planet 5 and Gotham Academy 10. I decided not to pick up Batman 44 this week because it was $5 and not part of the main story, but I might pick it up next week since as of now, it looks like there are only 3 comics on my pull list. Anyway, here are my first impressions, and links to full reviews will be added when they’re posted. A lot of these are really good though, and it’ll be hard to decide which comics to review.

Ms. Marvel 18 review

Starfire 4 review

Siege 3 review

1602 Witch Hunter Angela 3 is good. Partly because of my tired brain (I didn’t get enough sleep last night), I found this issue confusing. That said, it continues this fascinating medieval interpretation of the Marvel Universe, with a lot of this issue’s focus on Rogue. There’s a lot to like about this issue, and when I re-read this with a better rested brain, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it more. If that interests you, pick this up by all means.

A-Force 4 is great. A lot happens in this issue, both plot-wise and with the action. We learn who the traitor in A-Force is, and while it’s not a surprise, it flows naturally with the narrative. The ending suggests a big battle for the final issue of this mini-series. Anyone interested in an all-star female superhero squad should be picking this up.

Civil War 4 is good. This is the issue where we find out what’s really going on with the conspiracy behind the war, and who’s really responsible for keeping it going. There’s some good action, a great speech by Captain America and an epic cliffhanger. Anyone interested in a Civil War that escalated instead of ended should look into this series.

Giant-Size Little Marvel AVX 4 is an incredibly long title, and the comic is a lot of fun. It’s hard to talk about how fun this comic is without gushing, so let’s just say it’s Scottie Young’s usual comedic talent on full force. If you haven’t read a Scottie Young comic you should, and if you like his work, pick this up.

Bitch Planet 5 is great. If you’re looking for a subtle satire on sexism, this isn’t it. This is about as subtle as chainsawing a grenade open … in a fireworks factory. For what it is though, it’s a commentary on sexism disguised as a women in prison exploitation piece, and it’s quite brilliant. This comic has gathered quite the loyal fan following for a reason, and while this concludes the first volume, it’s worth checking out if the concept interests you.

Gotham Academy 19 is fun. After a few issues I didn’t like as much, the series feels back on track with a more focused issue. Gotham Academy continues to tap into Batman mythos while still doing its own thing. It takes place in a boarding school that may or may not be haunted. The cast is fun, the art is fantastic and the growing mystery is handled very well. You should be checking this out if the concept sounds interesting.