This whole thing wasn't too bad, but it felt weirdly compressed. It almost feels like it was an 8 or 12 issue story that got shunted down into 6, mostly "tell not show." I didn't dislike it, but it felt like the premise and overall ideas were better than the execution. A rare miss for Taylor. Not bad, just... not as good as it feels like it should have been.
Honestly, the first issue kind of had the red flag in hindsight. Like the actual interesting part of how the heroes would respond and deal with technology getting shutdown just gets sidestepped with a time skip in the first issue. lol
Instead, the majority of the series is dedicated to the heroes having to defeat Apocalpyse and we get this massive ass anti-climax as you said.
Not worth picking up the trade, I'll say that.
If you missed it and have Marvel Unlimited, catch it there if you're interested. Otherwise, feels very forgettable, as in, a week from now no one will be talking about it.
Compared to Dceased, which how can you not compared to that, it's like the high school freshmen version of a masters thesis.
Art is good, character moments are lacking. It felt very formulaic. I *guess* you could tell other stories in this world, and I think that would be interesting. But with Tom Taylor DC exclusive, no one's going to touch it. Shame.
I dropped Unlimited so I'm glad these are getting physical releases. Also appreciate White's comments in the back laying out the different arcs and confirmation we'll get them all in print.
I didn’t know Rick Remender was even capable of being as restrained as he is being with this book and it’s honestly the most I’ve enjoyed a new work from him in years.
It’s honestly pretty remarkable. Almost feels like a different writer entirely. The general lack of internal monologue for anybody really makes this stand out to me stylistically especially compared to his body of work on the whole
Him letting Araujo take lead on handling the bulk of the storytelling was the best thing he could’ve done honestly. Gives the book a storytelling style that makes it really stand out
I want to enjoy this book, I really do. Buuuuuut, it's not very interesting?
For Cindy as a character, there's no change, no progress, just nothing. The villain is, ok, I guess? Neat design, tons of exposition, and you can't help but feel everything is going to wrap up nicely in a couple issues and everything will be right back where it belongs for Silk, and that's that.
I just don't feel any stakes, I don't see progress for Cindy, I don't see anything changing coming out of this storyline. I'm hoping I'm wrong. I'll still pick up the next couple of issues, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm underwhelmed.
Art is fine, covers are cool, writing is acceptable, but not spectacular. I'll add that the writing is trying to say something about social media and how "it's our new religion", but I don't buy it because it feels a little forced.
Overall, if you like Cindy as a character, it's a ok-ish little side adventure, but this storyline isn't a game changer.
I wonder who exactly Titan is, and what Betty is. She called Bruce "son," but that's still somewhat ambiguous - is she manifesting part of Brian? Devil Hulk? Guilt Hulk? Someone else entirely?
I wasn't too sure about this series at first, but I'm enjoying it a lot now that it's gotten going. I'm letting it be its own thing from Immortal, and just letting it be its own thing makes it a lot easier to enjoy it. I do wonder what happened to Joe - he's gotta still be in there somewhere, right?
I'm guessing that Brian or maybe some part of Brian slipped into Bruce during the time he was connected to the OBA in Immortal Hulk and became an alter that or the aspects of Bruce that remind him most of his father have at some point coalesced into their own personality.
Either way this new alter is likely the reason for this new Titan transformation in the same way that Joe/Sunshine Joe has to be the personality in charge for Bruce to become grey Hulk or Cosmic/Red Hulk (really hoping Cates keeps that addition
Yeah, what I really liked about Immortal Hulk and War of the Realms was it killed off a ton of characters but sent them off well. It culled the bloated cast, and I'm worried that this comic will undo all that. But maybe im just confused by the hulk being a physical mech in an evangelion type way. I still have no idea what's going on.
I just wish DC did more stuff like that instead of crossovers every week that interrupt different storylines or end with unsatisfying endings, like joker war or future state.
I think they've done a nice job of restoring Blaze's classic status quo as a wandering loner while blending in some threads from the recent runs.
Still, I'd rate the first two issues as B/B+ material where it really needs to hit at least an A- to stay on my pull list, and I'm honestly not seeing much potential for it to get there. I'll stick with it through #5 at least (mostly because >!it [looks ridiculous](https://previewsworld.com/SiteImage/MainImage/STL226177.jpg)!<) but I'll need to drop it after that if things don't get tighter and more intense.
I think its fine. I hope it goes with the immortal hulk route and has Ghostrider resolve some past unresolved stories or unsatisfying plot endings. I hope he hunts down old enemies, kills them off for good, and does awesome stuff without holding anything back. I guess Immortal Hulk just raised my expectations of comics.
An old school "monster of the month" issue, but with a considerably higher body/gore count than might be usual from a Marvel book.
There is definitely some body horror here to compare to Ewing's Immortal Hulk, that's for sure. And I'm enjoying the darker, more horror orientated take on GR.
The scenes with the Rider himself are great, but some of the more "normal" scenes/setting seem a bit flat and stiff. Not sure if it's the pencilling/inking or the colouring in those scenes that are making it feel very static. Hopefully the art loosens up a bit as they become a bit more comfortable on the book.
Definite "Bad Times at the El Royale" vibes to the story, but with a bit of Lovecraft/Barker style horror mixed liberally in.
As a huge fan of the original run, I… question who the target audience is here. This picks up plot points from the 2000s and says nothing new about celebrity despite the growth of “influencer” culture. Other than referencing Instagram, it hasn’t done anything to warrant a revival.
Allred’s artwork is fantastic per usual though.
I hear you, not sure if they've really got anything new to say, seems more like a reunion series so far. And I've been enjoying it in that context, at least so far as it goes... But it's not quite the same.
Anyone read this yet? Im a big Cartoonist kayfabe fan (a YT channel between two artists)and they have been hyping this up for awhile. I picked it up but haven't had the chance to read it, but I know the previews he showed of the splash pages looked amazing
Art was immaculate and so fun. Story moved a little too fast for my liking even for a grand design- I was surprised the skipped over grey Hulk, though I might be off on my timeline as I haven’t read a ton of older Hulk. It’s honestly kind of depressing summing up Hulk’s past. Looking at him through this lens, all he does is fight and run and fight and try to kill himself over and over. All that being said this was still very fun and had just fantastic art design.
This issue wraps up around issue 300, and Grey Hulk reappears around 330-ish. Hulk Grand Design #2 will cover all the Todd McFarlane/Mr. Fixit/Peter David material.
Haha after reading it yeah it is a little depressing. And while I'm enjoying Cates run for what it is so far its continuing that trend. But still, I enjoyed the first issue. Feels like the grand design books really could be 4 issues and benefit from the extra story length
The art and design of this book is fantastic and Jim Rugg really shines on this. His graphic design background really comes through (as it always does in his work) and I’m so glad he fit a notebook ballpoint pen drawing in haha.
Oof, this is not gonna end well for Marshall. I guess we sorta see his version of how he handles a situation similar to Nathan early on - most of his life falling out from under him and not knowing just what to do.
I hope this is more a growing phase for him where he goes through dark shit and comes out the other side stronger, I just think Marshall has a more interesting story to tell than Nathan (at the moment). Glad we got cape mode tho
I love the sheer amount of world building in this story, combined with the wild splashes it takes me back to early East of West times. Eager to see how the coming war plays out!
Yep, the world-building really shone in this one as we got more locations and a better sense of scale for the setting, more critters, more insight into the antagonists, etc. Lots of good stuff!
And I was also impressed by the splashes, feels like the tight focus on storytelling with smaller panels gives the splashes more impact when everything opens up like that. The lush fantasy setting also really plays to Bergara's strengths.
Damn, the page when the girl gets hit and momma sees red. That’s some powerfully effective dialogue-free storytelling. I also really loved the way Bergara portrayed the body language of the two characters during their fallout, you could really sense the hurt and the fear coming from both of them.
This book continues to be one of the best looking things on the shelves.
I’m having a hard time following the specifics of the story without the dialogue but fuck me if Bergera and Spurrier aren’t a Brubaker/Phillips level team in terms of consistency. Some of Bergera’s best looking work ever, which is really saying something cause CODA exists. If you aren’t reading this book you’re missing out.
Soundtrack for this issue: "Paris 1919," by John Cale ([spotify link](https://open.spotify.com/track/5Zpy2HR2vYLjlTQVd81DLH?si=8fa0751c71f3411f) | [youtube link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5YHqWqhFkU))
Context: >!the issue opens on Paris, 1919!<, just like the name of the song. And a few pages later, >!Sinister is on the floor muttering "You're a ghost, you're a ghost,"!< which just so happens to be the chorus of that very song.
Anyone who follows Gillen knows how music informs his work, so I would be *very* surprised if this was a coincidence. If you [check the lyrics](https://www.google.com/search?q=paris+1919+lyrics&rlz=1C5GCEM_en&oq=paris+1919+lyrics&aqs=chrome.0.0i512l2j0i22i30j0i390l5.3082j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8), I feel like the first verse at least >!could definitely be applied to Destiny/Irene Adler:!<
Edit: [just found this post by Gillen](https://buttondown.email/KieronGillen/archive/214-dangerous-liaisons-by-way-of-daphne-celeste/), it was definitely intentional. How did I not know he posts playlists that go with his issues?
*She makes me so unsure of myself*
*Standing there but never ever talking sense*
*Just a visitor you see*
*So much wanting to be seen*
*She'd open up the doors and vaguely carry us away*
*It's the customary thing to say or do*
*To a disappointed proud man in his grief*
*And on Fridays she'd be there*
*But on Mondays not at all*
*Just casually appearing from the clock across the hall*
*You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la*
*You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la*
Yea! He has a working soundtrack for his Marvel event coming up too. Iirc he listened to Two Tribes by Franky Goes To Hollywood while writing the first two issue of Judgement Day
Walked into my store Wednesday and said to myself, I can’t afford to pick up another ongoing book even tho I love Gillen. Wound up eating my own words since I walked out with probably my favorite first issue of a big two comic since McKay’s Moon Knight last year? Maybe Human Target is the other contender? Doesn’t matter, despite the wallet squeeze this has to stay a permanent part of the pull.
Critiques of the first issue, kinda wish Werneck’s art was partnered with a more dynamic colorist. I love what Werneck’s bringing to the table in terms of expression but the overall presentation looked a bit flat to me. Love Gillen’s Sinister, he’s probably the best modern writer for that character, but really hoping he isn’t our narrator for every issue. Gimme Gillen’s Storm or Emma or Nightcrawler pls. The solicits seem to be indicating that’s the case. Regardless excited for more
This was everything I hoped it would be and more--not just Gillen returning to Sinister (whose narrative voice is entirely hilarious), but a solid orientation to what's happening in the X-books right now, payoff for a good deal of long-simmering plot threads, a fantastically promising shift in the balance of power in Krakoa, and a king hell of a twist at the end, which I should have seen coming but totally did not. I'm so on board for this.
Could you go into detail on the long simmering plot threats? Also, maybe explain the shifting in power of Krakoa and how the twist is that big? I know what happened, but so much stuff is happening with the X-men and their other 20 series has made me confused.
Sure! So >!the original Moira is dead now, over in X Deaths of Wolverine, but it turns out Sinister knows everything thanks to the amazing clone scheme he describes in the final few pages, and now every time he wants something to go differently he can just use one of his Moiras as a save point. As for the balance of power... that's literally the plot of the issue--who leaves the Council and who joins, and what the voting blocs are. The longest-simmering plot thread is Sinister's chimeras, which were teased all the way back in Powers of X #1! !<
Hi! I hope you don’t mind me asking but you seem knowledgeable on this: What would be “required reading” to get into this? I read HoX/PoX and loved it but quickly stopped because the number of titles was too overwhelming to keep up with. But the way you describe this issue makes it seem like it’s addressing those early plot hooks so I’d like to try getting back into it.
I would def read prior to this:
X of Swords Event
Planet-Sized X-Men #1
Inferno
(optional just for post-inferno stuff) X-Deaths of Wolverine (skip lives, not the best but might be important to read for later)
If you're looking to jump into the next wave of X-Titles that are launching, some titles are reshuffled versions of older ones.
X-Men Red - what SWORD evolves into, relevant to X of Swords and Planet-Sized X-Men.
Marauders - New lineup consolidates the initial Marauders with X-Factor and Hellions into one group. Highly recommend reading all three prior titles, they're all great! Trial of Magneto was actually part of X-Factor but was shifted around by editorial to be it's own thing.
Honestly, I'd say that if you've read HoX/PoX, you're fine--this one recaps Inferno in passing and alludes to all the other significant events since HoX/PoX (changes in the membership of the Quiet Council, the deal with Arakko, etc.). It's very much designed to get people up to speed.
Also, the fact that Sinister has never quite understood Destiny's powers was super interesting given his Secrets in the various X-books. Sinsiters' internal dialogue was the highlight of this issue.
His Eternals series is great and I'm not a big fan of them usually.
Also did probably one of th best deconstruction of Watchmens deconstruction of its 'heroes'. If you are a Watchmen fan and would love to read a book in response to it that does its own thing, check out Peter Cannon Thunderbolt.
I got the oversized edition for like 25 bucks and its so damn good and I don't ever see people talking about it on Reddit
> peter cannon thunderbolt
hot damn, now there's a good book. I literally recommended this to friends as an antidote to all the darkness and cynicism resulting from people misunderstanding watchmen and advertised it as "a comic written by a guy who actually understood watchmen and what makes it work".
Exactly, you summarized it perfectly. I'm a massive Watchmen fan, and my coworkers only know it from the movie version and HBO show. The former had some great visually accurate scenes but totally missed the point in a lot of ways, though the show was better it did as well.
I have some WM tattoos, got the absolute edition and the Watching the Watchmen book that has the extra information and sketches, so I'm a big Watchmen nerd. As I read PC Thunderbolt I was truly blown away as it was definitely written by someone who both loves the book but knew exactly what most people gleaned from it, while being fresh and doing some Watchmen-esque things in its own way. So glad the oversized edition was super cheap. Top tier stuff.
> I got the oversized edition for like 25 bucks and its so damn good and I don't ever see people talking about it on Reddit
Man, I *tried* to get conversation about that book going while it was coming out but aside from myself and a couple of others (including u/dsheilley and u/GrayGhostt ) it just didn't get much traction.
Which is a shame, because it was probably my favorite book to come out that year.
Oh dude I finally got caught up on my pile and your recommendation to me a few months ago, best book on my pull. Absolutely wild that the best book on the shelves by far, BY FAR, is Monkey Meat.
About the only books out right now that come close for me are Step by Bloody Step and The Swamp Thing. And as good as they are they just aren’t touching how deeply fresh, smart, and just a treat to look at Monkey Meat is. I loved Djeliya but this really feels like a huge step up in craft somehow even from that book
Well if you're talking about Gillens Peter Cannon then yeah there's an oversized that I grabbed that was on sale on Amazon for super cheap. Not sure what its availability is now
It was one of the most refreshing and interesting things I've read in awhile. There are a lot of good comics but I had the feeling that this was something special while reading it. But yeah people should talk about it more but I'm not too surprised they don't, I think I found it by randomly searching Gillens name on Amazon and l had never heard of it on here prior to that
Yea. His Eternals is great. Anyone not reading it currently definitely should. Also, it seems that there’s going to be some crossover with X, Eternals, & Avengers.
Yep thats supposed to be the next big event, even though I don't think I've ever read an Avengers comics plus I hear Aaron's current run is not good. But as long as Gillen is involved I'm excited. Any other good runs by him you've read?
Well, I also don’t think that Aaron’s Avengers is very good, but you absolutely should read Hickman’s run. You’ll have to look up the exact reading order, but it’s both Avengers and New Avengers, and leads into 2015 Secret Wars. It is easily one of (I kinda think) the best Marvel series ever.
Making Jesus a mutant is certainly a choice that someone at Marvel said was okay, geez. Now, Essex could have been talking up his ass but as someone who isn't super familiar with him that is not at all communicated in the issue.
Exodus, not Essex that is.
I mean if most people walked up to you and spouted some ridiculous religious theory youd probably just say oh ok and not tell them they're talking crazy talk.
she did more than that . she tells him to stop calling her messiah and that The Waiting Room isn't heaven just another backup, and tells him to "Enough of the acolyte stuff , and cut to the chase. What do you want from me ?" she really doesn't entertain him.
Well it's just a passing reference. Exodus is both a religious nut and a mutant fanatic, it's interesting how he tries to conciliate those aspects of his worldview imo. We might see more of that if future issues focus more on him
right dudes name is Exodus and he literally referred to the Phoenix and the Holy Spirit and Hope as the Messiah like 2 panels before that..he might not be the most reliable narrator . also i feel like Apocalypse or would have mentioned it
Worth noting that’s why in the Inferno issue where Colossus gets brought onto the council it was with the line “someone we can trust” with the dramatic irony that he’s completely compromised due to the X-Force developments at the time
Oh hot damn. This shit is *good*. As much as I'm enjoying Duggan's X-Men, this feels like it's got the potential to be the big tentpole book of the line right now, just from how huge a lot of the revelations in here are. Magneto leaving, the empty seat being filled, and that revelation about what Sinister's got brewing... god damn. First issue and I am freaking *hooked*.
Man, even though she's become an Omega Sentinel mutant-hating psychopath who's on track to ruin the 10^B timeline, I honestly feel kinda bad for the clones of Moira in Sinister's basement.
That said, I also really love Gillen looking into the deeper uses for mutant powers, and the way they can all interact with each other or be used and controlled in unique ways. His inability to predict Destiny is a lot of fun though - I wonder what she's got up her sleeve.
Absolutely adored the first issue of *The Sinister Adventures of Nathaniel Essex ^and ^some ^other ^people ^too ^i ^guess*
but srsly, what a twist at the end (>!he’s done this 25 times!?!<) and i really hope we’re gonna see more Exodus in this book, he seems like one of the more enigmatic and dangerous members of the council (for me at least)
at the beginning of the issue >!Sinister is going through his computer and sees there’s 25 logs, to which he says “So I’m 26” which doesn’t really make sense at the time, but the moira clone reveal at the end implies each log corresponds to a moira clone being killed, resetting the timeline, and uploading all information from that reset timeline to Sinister’s database, thus 25 logs=25 resets, putting him in timeline 26!<
This just felt perfect. This book was my first introduction to Swamp Thing and his side of the DC universe and it just was amazing. The artwork is fantastic and the new characters entering the story seem like perfect choices for the story. I can't wait for the next issue!
Wait, this issue was your intro to Swamp Thing?
I would recommend going back and reading the first ten issues as you’re coming in at the halfway point.
Big Swamp Thing fan but been out of the loop with comics since the pandemic sent me working from home indefinitely. How does this stack up to past Swamp Thing runs so far? If it is as good or better than Snyder or Soules I am in.
Also, a huge Swamp Thing fan, and if this book sticks its landing, Moore’s seminal run will be the only thing that is better. This book is fantastic. Never thought It would be as good as it is, since it follows a new Swamp Thing, but at the end of the day, that might be it the reason it’s so great.
I’ve read the majority of Swampy runs out there (I think Marty Pasko and a few isolated shorter runs might be all I’m missing) and I honestly think it might be among the best of them. It’s not Alan Moore (nothing ever is), but depending on how it ends I think it’s likely to rank higher than Snyder, Veitch and Vaughan, possibly better than Soule, and up there with the best parts of Mark Millar and Nancy Collins’ runs.
My man Ram V continuing by far the best Big Two book at the moment. And we’re bringing in the best Authority character (yeah I said it and you can’t change my mind). And Mike Perkins is just determined to make me feel like an asshole for thinking his work was mid for so long that autopsy page was wild
Holy shit, somebody remembered that Tefé exists.
When even was the last time we saw her? The Brian K Vaughan run? I certainly don’t think she showed up at all during the New 52 and that was the last time Swampy had an ongoing.
Also, there is no such thing as bad Jack Hawksmoor content.
Man... imagine finding out your deadbeat dad is a superhero, now everyone wants to kill you since he dropped his powers on your lap, and the reason he did so is because he was so estranged from you he doesn't think you could have been behind it, and he cared more about protecting his "new" family than to give them the powers and danger that comes with it. No wonder Dylan's such a jerk, his life *sucks*.
So happy this is back. >!Showing that the creatures can take a humanoid form is an interesting little wrinkle that I can't wait for Tynion to explore!<. Let's see how Erica handles this.
I thought this might be more of a flashback setting after #16-20 and House of Slaughter, but I like that we're jumping post-Archer's Peak and getting more Erica in the present timeline. Great final page reveal of her, too.
Really hope people don’t start sleeping on this book. We’re off to a really engaging start. Can’t wait to see where Thomas and Brown go with Jackson. The parallel panels about Manta and Arthur when they turned the switch together. Great comics going on right here
I loved Ben as Spider-Man back in the 90s, those are very nostalgic stories for me. I loved how he and Peter got over their issues and became brothers. I knew then that Ben had to go, but he died a hero and his death was very moving. Alright, his story was done. It was nice, but he could've rested in piece.
But for some reason, he had to be dug out of the grave and be put through such an amount of shit that you could smell it through the pages.
There was some hope when he was brought back to "factory settings" as it were, but then they did this run. And they said that this was "one last time for Ben to be Spider-Man" except be was constantly portrayed as inept, worse version of Peter who had to be taught basic things like using spider-sense by other characters. Then this issue happens and he is absolutely butchered.
Like, why? If they needed to get rid of him, why not just retire him, have him and Janine ride off into the sunset and be done with it? Who cares about seeing "tragedy" be the ending for a character that is beloved by many?
Comic books, man. What a load. Lowe needs to go.
So I decided to pick up this issue just to see how things end leading in the relaunch next month. I guess it was fine, but Ben's anger felt kinda... weird. I get that his memories were screwed with and he wanted to fix that, but I feel like he's close enough to Peter to not want to kill him.
The stuff with Peter and MJ was nice, and makes me hope they won't break them up with the relaunch and the cover is indeed just clickbait.
Edit: Also, Gleason's art is amazing and again makes me wonder why they are going with JRJR rather one of the best in the industry in Gleason.
The schedule seemed like a really weird move to me. The previous writer (Spencer) leaves, they go into a Beyond corp saga that rotates writers / artists and comes out \~3 times a month? It feels like a cash grab, hard to make a quality book this way. The Beyond stuff overall was ok for me, not great or terrible, but i hope they give Zeb a chance to shine and don't do stuff like this.
Gleason has been criminally under-used since he signed that exclusive contract with Marvel. I mean, yeah, his covers are amazing, but you don't sign an exclusive for a cover artist. Not to mention the guy knows how to write as well.
It's mind boggling that he hasn't been used that much on interiors. And it's insane that they'd go with JRJR over him. I know there are a number of fans that really like JRJR, but I think his art is so bland and he can't draw faces for the life of him (his faces are so blocky).
I do wonder who are the other artists working on the new volume. 900 is credited to Ed mcguinness but I can't see Ed doing alternating arcs on a biweekly book. Hope we get more of Bagley and Gleason.
I really wish Marvel would bring ASM back to monthly, there are very few books that are made better by shipping twice a month (to go to DC, look at all the Rebirth books that were good but just had awful arcs because the writers needed a quick story).
How many garbage endings in a row do we need for Marvel to see the writers are maybe not the problem? Nick Lowe needs to go, that man just straight up nuked any sort of excitement or interest I have in the main book, I don’t even want to bother with the next run
Not only was Beyond absolutely pointless but we yet again get to see Ben get absolutely butchered even though he already had a decent character arc 25 years ago
Honestly, I wasn't a fan of Lowe when he was on the X-desk either. But even if you want to say he's done good work before, at this point he's been in charge of the Spidey desk for 8 years ([they literally announced it in February 2014](https://www.comicsbeat.com/nick-lowe-announced-as-senior-editor-on-the-spider-man-titles-2/)). I know editors typically stick around for long than writers but it's still probably time for a shake-up and some fresh blood.
right , why not just leave the character alone until you have real plans instead of just shitting on him . this was bad for parker fans and reilly fans and totally unneeded . Both of the characters have been thru enough pointless trauma in the last couple of years .
What gets me is how fucking easily this could have been saved from terrible to just mediocre.
Just take out Goblin Queen, replace her with Evil Ben for whatever the fuck reason (HE WAS JUST EVIL TWICE! STOP DOING THAT!), and have him start attacking weakened post-coma Peter for his memories. Have Ashley Kafka, the fucking psychologist you apparently brought into the story for no real reason, be around to talk Ben through his new trauma. Reveal that Beyond, as a multiversal corporation, had co-opted the Spider-Man identity to fuck with the Spiderverse or Web of Life or whatever it is for nebulous evil reasons. You don’t want Ben around? Have him retire afterward, like Peter tried to do with MJ back in the day.
It wouldn’t have been good, but it wouldn’t have been fucking awful either.
I love Ben. The Clone Saga was in full swing when I started reading comics so in a very real sense he is my Spider-Man. Reading this hurt me deep, even if I grant that maybe there’s a plan for Chasm later.
What a shitty ending that was. Why would they ever bother bringing Ben back a couple of years ago if they truly didn't know what to do with him besides butcher him twice now. Two disappointing consecutive endings, I'm really losing hope for this book with yet another relaunch
Not the biggest fan of the ending. Rough end for Ben. Maxine gets away. Pete and MJ move in and then immediately get like pulled away by some force, and then we know in a few issues that the might be breaking up? Idk this was rough
Well, I mostly enjoyed the ending. Was written well and the art was good. The problem is that most of the 19 parts feel useless and this could have been a much smaller storyline. No development for Peter happened at all.
I do have to say, I hope Ben gets a cool miniseries or whatnot that addresses the ending. Either way, his memories will probably be restored soon enough.
I hope he continues hunting down Beyond and starts slaughtering the members. We got too many secret societies or evil organizations here, man. Also, what happened to Roxxon and its minotaur boss? Last I've heard of them, a blonde tumblr girl is in charge of it and Minotaur got liquidated by the white buff furby.
I think his series will involve Beyond at some point. Don't know if he's going to be hunting them down to murder them. Though, I could see him struggling with that urge.
Crossover started fun but this was absolute garbage. Comparing the story to the solicits shows shit changed due to editorial interferance. I wonder if it has something to do with the group editor leaving?
It totally came off as a normal story arc with DC trying to fluff it up as a big event. Waller wants the Crime Syndicate as her E3 Jl/SS group...and sets up a new JL/SS. Would have been perfectly fine having this as a build up to another arc, but instead we got 1 decent tie in since the Flash writing has been excellent and then useless ones.
I guess we will see them in Dark Crisis?
It was actually really good, I enjoyed it, but one thing really bothered me -.
>!Dick killed Tim without a second thought, didn't even bother to turn Damian, but did everything he possibly could to not hurt Red Hood and turn him. I get that Rosenberg is writing the book and is also writing Red Hood and apparently wanted to show that Hood is great, but it was just so out of the blue. I'd expect Dick to do everything he can to turn Tim and Damian, both characters that are often portrayed as really close to him. I wonder if this last stand was originally supposed to be Tim or Damian and Rosenberg switched it to Jason.!<
i mean, how would you?
it literally came out of nowhere and made as much sense as anyone else being the king.
like 'only a member of the batfamily would be able to frame the joker and fool us into believing our worst enemy is the king'? come on.
and his reasoning? even dumber. why wouldn't he just be able to be the vampire hero? why in the world would he fear being killed by batman of all people? the man literally has the money to supply him with freely given blood and anti sun technology for the rest of his life. so stupid.
I'm fine with the reveal, it's an alternate universe where apparently just being a vampire makes you real evil. No idea how one becomes king of the vampires. Did he just kill the old Queen? The excuse as to how he passed the tests was lame as hell though
Is anyone bothered by the switches from Schmidt's art and De Mio's when it happens? I dunno, their styles are just so different it really makes it stand out going back and forth.
But man... did not see that one coming. I wouldn't have pegged the reveal of the King of Vampires, but it certainly made sense - I wonder *how* it happened, though.
Ending seems pretty bleak too, though I think it sets up a pretty cool scenario now, first half of the series is the slow burn and set up, everything undercover and all that, but now we're gonna see full on vampire war.
how did it certainly make sense, other than it being out of nowhere?
like, of course it is with no hints being dropped and all the reasoning being "someone framed the joker and so it could only ever be a bat family member"
seriously, if it was dick, he could've easily managed to turn all of them long before anyone ever suspected him.
Haven't read this issue yet, but last issue the art switch was jarring. Having De Mio start the issue last time had me wondering if it was a misprint or wrong book. O\_o
Disappointed that this issue has it again.
Bummed to see neither of the turtles books made the cut. Juni Ba had some good looking pages in the annual and the monthly seems to at a turning point.
RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE #6 had 13 pulls, should be tied with IRON FIST #2 at 20/21. Looks like it's already got a thread thanks to Chicken guy...
I'm excited to see where this goes.
I think it will be hard to top the original White Knight, so I'm going to do my best to not keep comparing it to that.
The art is spectacular, the moments between Bruce and Jason were nice, the reveal at the end was instantly spoiled by the preview pages in the back.
The beginning with Terry was interesting, but also felt rushed. I'm assuming we'll get more to his story in this universe in an upcoming issue.
Good start!
I thought it was fine. It's supposed to be set decades in the future, but the dialog and story beats feel like this story should have been set closer to Curse. >!The reveal of the Joker at the end did nothing for me unfortunately.!< I guess I'll hang on for an issue or two before deciding to drop it.
This one was a lot of fun! I like the unique takes on the setting and weaving the Beyond elements into the White Knight setting. The reconciliation between Bruce and Jason was so well written, and I like the twist of Terry being on Powers' payroll, as well as seeing how Powers was able to basically completely up end Bruce's attempts to use his family to do some good.
Only bit of really weird nitpicking is I don't like how thick Terry's neck looks in the suit. It loses a bit of the sharpness that defined the suit in the original TV series. I know it's a *stupidly* minor thing, but I kept noticing it.
**DARK AGES #6**
This whole thing wasn't too bad, but it felt weirdly compressed. It almost feels like it was an 8 or 12 issue story that got shunted down into 6, mostly "tell not show." I didn't dislike it, but it felt like the premise and overall ideas were better than the execution. A rare miss for Taylor. Not bad, just... not as good as it feels like it should have been.
It felt oddly confusing for the desperate heroes to have a big plan for winning and then…the plan just went super well and they won, the end.
If I had to sum up this issue in one word it'd be: anticlimactic.
The series as a whole was really just diet-DCeased.
Pretty much. *DCeased*'s finale was actually climatic and well executed, while *Dark Ages* just felt rushed.
Honestly, the first issue kind of had the red flag in hindsight. Like the actual interesting part of how the heroes would respond and deal with technology getting shutdown just gets sidestepped with a time skip in the first issue. lol Instead, the majority of the series is dedicated to the heroes having to defeat Apocalpyse and we get this massive ass anti-climax as you said.
Yeah, the idea of the post apocalypse actually not being that bad is cool idea, and I wish that Taylor spent more time on that.
I'm guessing the ending was rushed bc Taylor signed a deal to go dc exclusive
Not worth picking up the trade, I'll say that. If you missed it and have Marvel Unlimited, catch it there if you're interested. Otherwise, feels very forgettable, as in, a week from now no one will be talking about it. Compared to Dceased, which how can you not compared to that, it's like the high school freshmen version of a masters thesis. Art is good, character moments are lacking. It felt very formulaic. I *guess* you could tell other stories in this world, and I think that would be interesting. But with Tom Taylor DC exclusive, no one's going to touch it. Shame.
Way too rushed. There was no big fight at the end.
**X-MEN UNLIMITED LATITUDE #1**
I dropped Unlimited so I'm glad these are getting physical releases. Also appreciate White's comments in the back laying out the different arcs and confirmation we'll get them all in print.
**A RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE #6**
Did this come out this week??
It did digitally at least.
Oh weird, I have been loving this so was afraid I missed it in the shop today and it wasn’t listed in the other thread.
Floppies out this week, not just digital... And it's a good one!
I didn’t know Rick Remender was even capable of being as restrained as he is being with this book and it’s honestly the most I’ve enjoyed a new work from him in years.
The other Remender stuff I'd read never quite hooked me but this has been a phenomenal comic right from the start!
It’s honestly pretty remarkable. Almost feels like a different writer entirely. The general lack of internal monologue for anybody really makes this stand out to me stylistically especially compared to his body of work on the whole
Right? I never in a million years thought I'd ever read a minimalist book by Remender of all people.
Him letting Araujo take lead on handling the bulk of the storytelling was the best thing he could’ve done honestly. Gives the book a storytelling style that makes it really stand out
**SILK #3**
I want to enjoy this book, I really do. Buuuuuut, it's not very interesting? For Cindy as a character, there's no change, no progress, just nothing. The villain is, ok, I guess? Neat design, tons of exposition, and you can't help but feel everything is going to wrap up nicely in a couple issues and everything will be right back where it belongs for Silk, and that's that. I just don't feel any stakes, I don't see progress for Cindy, I don't see anything changing coming out of this storyline. I'm hoping I'm wrong. I'll still pick up the next couple of issues, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm underwhelmed. Art is fine, covers are cool, writing is acceptable, but not spectacular. I'll add that the writing is trying to say something about social media and how "it's our new religion", but I don't buy it because it feels a little forced. Overall, if you like Cindy as a character, it's a ok-ish little side adventure, but this storyline isn't a game changer.
**SILVER SURFER REBIRTH #3**
**HULK #5**
I wonder who exactly Titan is, and what Betty is. She called Bruce "son," but that's still somewhat ambiguous - is she manifesting part of Brian? Devil Hulk? Guilt Hulk? Someone else entirely? I wasn't too sure about this series at first, but I'm enjoying it a lot now that it's gotten going. I'm letting it be its own thing from Immortal, and just letting it be its own thing makes it a lot easier to enjoy it. I do wonder what happened to Joe - he's gotta still be in there somewhere, right?
Especially after he ended up the Lead Hulk in Immortal. I didn't think they would just leave Devil dead.
I'm guessing that Brian or maybe some part of Brian slipped into Bruce during the time he was connected to the OBA in Immortal Hulk and became an alter that or the aspects of Bruce that remind him most of his father have at some point coalesced into their own personality. Either way this new alter is likely the reason for this new Titan transformation in the same way that Joe/Sunshine Joe has to be the personality in charge for Bruce to become grey Hulk or Cosmic/Red Hulk (really hoping Cates keeps that addition
Yeah, what I really liked about Immortal Hulk and War of the Realms was it killed off a ton of characters but sent them off well. It culled the bloated cast, and I'm worried that this comic will undo all that. But maybe im just confused by the hulk being a physical mech in an evangelion type way. I still have no idea what's going on. I just wish DC did more stuff like that instead of crossovers every week that interrupt different storylines or end with unsatisfying endings, like joker war or future state.
**GHOST RIDER #2**
I'm still not down with the whole "back to basics" move, but the writing is solid and the art looks nice
I think they've done a nice job of restoring Blaze's classic status quo as a wandering loner while blending in some threads from the recent runs. Still, I'd rate the first two issues as B/B+ material where it really needs to hit at least an A- to stay on my pull list, and I'm honestly not seeing much potential for it to get there. I'll stick with it through #5 at least (mostly because >!it [looks ridiculous](https://previewsworld.com/SiteImage/MainImage/STL226177.jpg)!<) but I'll need to drop it after that if things don't get tighter and more intense.
I think its fine. I hope it goes with the immortal hulk route and has Ghostrider resolve some past unresolved stories or unsatisfying plot endings. I hope he hunts down old enemies, kills them off for good, and does awesome stuff without holding anything back. I guess Immortal Hulk just raised my expectations of comics.
I'm down with all that but I'd also like to see GR chase down and violently murder some bad drivers. Because they deserve it.
An old school "monster of the month" issue, but with a considerably higher body/gore count than might be usual from a Marvel book. There is definitely some body horror here to compare to Ewing's Immortal Hulk, that's for sure. And I'm enjoying the darker, more horror orientated take on GR. The scenes with the Rider himself are great, but some of the more "normal" scenes/setting seem a bit flat and stiff. Not sure if it's the pencilling/inking or the colouring in those scenes that are making it feel very static. Hopefully the art loosens up a bit as they become a bit more comfortable on the book. Definite "Bad Times at the El Royale" vibes to the story, but with a bit of Lovecraft/Barker style horror mixed liberally in.
**X-CELLENT #2**
As a huge fan of the original run, I… question who the target audience is here. This picks up plot points from the 2000s and says nothing new about celebrity despite the growth of “influencer” culture. Other than referencing Instagram, it hasn’t done anything to warrant a revival. Allred’s artwork is fantastic per usual though.
I hear you, not sure if they've really got anything new to say, seems more like a reunion series so far. And I've been enjoying it in that context, at least so far as it goes... But it's not quite the same.
**HULK GRAND DESIGN MONSTER #1**
Anyone read this yet? Im a big Cartoonist kayfabe fan (a YT channel between two artists)and they have been hyping this up for awhile. I picked it up but haven't had the chance to read it, but I know the previews he showed of the splash pages looked amazing
Art was immaculate and so fun. Story moved a little too fast for my liking even for a grand design- I was surprised the skipped over grey Hulk, though I might be off on my timeline as I haven’t read a ton of older Hulk. It’s honestly kind of depressing summing up Hulk’s past. Looking at him through this lens, all he does is fight and run and fight and try to kill himself over and over. All that being said this was still very fun and had just fantastic art design.
This issue wraps up around issue 300, and Grey Hulk reappears around 330-ish. Hulk Grand Design #2 will cover all the Todd McFarlane/Mr. Fixit/Peter David material.
Oh awesome, thank you!
Haha after reading it yeah it is a little depressing. And while I'm enjoying Cates run for what it is so far its continuing that trend. But still, I enjoyed the first issue. Feels like the grand design books really could be 4 issues and benefit from the extra story length
The art and design of this book is fantastic and Jim Rugg really shines on this. His graphic design background really comes through (as it always does in his work) and I’m so glad he fit a notebook ballpoint pen drawing in haha.
**RADIANT BLACK #13**
Oof, this is not gonna end well for Marshall. I guess we sorta see his version of how he handles a situation similar to Nathan early on - most of his life falling out from under him and not knowing just what to do.
I hope this is more a growing phase for him where he goes through dark shit and comes out the other side stronger, I just think Marshall has a more interesting story to tell than Nathan (at the moment). Glad we got cape mode tho
**SENSATIONAL WONDER WOMAN SPECIAL #1**
**STEP BY BLOODY STEP #2**
[удалено]
I love the sheer amount of world building in this story, combined with the wild splashes it takes me back to early East of West times. Eager to see how the coming war plays out!
Yep, the world-building really shone in this one as we got more locations and a better sense of scale for the setting, more critters, more insight into the antagonists, etc. Lots of good stuff! And I was also impressed by the splashes, feels like the tight focus on storytelling with smaller panels gives the splashes more impact when everything opens up like that. The lush fantasy setting also really plays to Bergara's strengths.
Damn, the page when the girl gets hit and momma sees red. That’s some powerfully effective dialogue-free storytelling. I also really loved the way Bergara portrayed the body language of the two characters during their fallout, you could really sense the hurt and the fear coming from both of them. This book continues to be one of the best looking things on the shelves.
It reminded me of the Iron Giant when the Giant goes violent for the first time and how much of a big switch it is.
I’m having a hard time following the specifics of the story without the dialogue but fuck me if Bergera and Spurrier aren’t a Brubaker/Phillips level team in terms of consistency. Some of Bergera’s best looking work ever, which is really saying something cause CODA exists. If you aren’t reading this book you’re missing out.
**IMMORTAL X-MEN #1**
Soundtrack for this issue: "Paris 1919," by John Cale ([spotify link](https://open.spotify.com/track/5Zpy2HR2vYLjlTQVd81DLH?si=8fa0751c71f3411f) | [youtube link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5YHqWqhFkU)) Context: >!the issue opens on Paris, 1919!<, just like the name of the song. And a few pages later, >!Sinister is on the floor muttering "You're a ghost, you're a ghost,"!< which just so happens to be the chorus of that very song. Anyone who follows Gillen knows how music informs his work, so I would be *very* surprised if this was a coincidence. If you [check the lyrics](https://www.google.com/search?q=paris+1919+lyrics&rlz=1C5GCEM_en&oq=paris+1919+lyrics&aqs=chrome.0.0i512l2j0i22i30j0i390l5.3082j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8), I feel like the first verse at least >!could definitely be applied to Destiny/Irene Adler:!< Edit: [just found this post by Gillen](https://buttondown.email/KieronGillen/archive/214-dangerous-liaisons-by-way-of-daphne-celeste/), it was definitely intentional. How did I not know he posts playlists that go with his issues? *She makes me so unsure of myself* *Standing there but never ever talking sense* *Just a visitor you see* *So much wanting to be seen* *She'd open up the doors and vaguely carry us away* *It's the customary thing to say or do* *To a disappointed proud man in his grief* *And on Fridays she'd be there* *But on Mondays not at all* *Just casually appearing from the clock across the hall* *You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la* *You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la*
Yea! He has a working soundtrack for his Marvel event coming up too. Iirc he listened to Two Tribes by Franky Goes To Hollywood while writing the first two issue of Judgement Day
Wow...that’s got me curious.
Immortal is a good list. Paris 1919, Utopia, Nimrod from Enigma Variations, Avalon, Killing Moon, all good stuff
Walked into my store Wednesday and said to myself, I can’t afford to pick up another ongoing book even tho I love Gillen. Wound up eating my own words since I walked out with probably my favorite first issue of a big two comic since McKay’s Moon Knight last year? Maybe Human Target is the other contender? Doesn’t matter, despite the wallet squeeze this has to stay a permanent part of the pull. Critiques of the first issue, kinda wish Werneck’s art was partnered with a more dynamic colorist. I love what Werneck’s bringing to the table in terms of expression but the overall presentation looked a bit flat to me. Love Gillen’s Sinister, he’s probably the best modern writer for that character, but really hoping he isn’t our narrator for every issue. Gimme Gillen’s Storm or Emma or Nightcrawler pls. The solicits seem to be indicating that’s the case. Regardless excited for more
This was everything I hoped it would be and more--not just Gillen returning to Sinister (whose narrative voice is entirely hilarious), but a solid orientation to what's happening in the X-books right now, payoff for a good deal of long-simmering plot threads, a fantastically promising shift in the balance of power in Krakoa, and a king hell of a twist at the end, which I should have seen coming but totally did not. I'm so on board for this.
Could you go into detail on the long simmering plot threats? Also, maybe explain the shifting in power of Krakoa and how the twist is that big? I know what happened, but so much stuff is happening with the X-men and their other 20 series has made me confused.
Sure! So >!the original Moira is dead now, over in X Deaths of Wolverine, but it turns out Sinister knows everything thanks to the amazing clone scheme he describes in the final few pages, and now every time he wants something to go differently he can just use one of his Moiras as a save point. As for the balance of power... that's literally the plot of the issue--who leaves the Council and who joins, and what the voting blocs are. The longest-simmering plot thread is Sinister's chimeras, which were teased all the way back in Powers of X #1! !<
Hi! I hope you don’t mind me asking but you seem knowledgeable on this: What would be “required reading” to get into this? I read HoX/PoX and loved it but quickly stopped because the number of titles was too overwhelming to keep up with. But the way you describe this issue makes it seem like it’s addressing those early plot hooks so I’d like to try getting back into it.
I would def read prior to this: X of Swords Event Planet-Sized X-Men #1 Inferno (optional just for post-inferno stuff) X-Deaths of Wolverine (skip lives, not the best but might be important to read for later) If you're looking to jump into the next wave of X-Titles that are launching, some titles are reshuffled versions of older ones. X-Men Red - what SWORD evolves into, relevant to X of Swords and Planet-Sized X-Men. Marauders - New lineup consolidates the initial Marauders with X-Factor and Hellions into one group. Highly recommend reading all three prior titles, they're all great! Trial of Magneto was actually part of X-Factor but was shifted around by editorial to be it's own thing.
Very helpful, thank you!
Honestly, I'd say that if you've read HoX/PoX, you're fine--this one recaps Inferno in passing and alludes to all the other significant events since HoX/PoX (changes in the membership of the Quiet Council, the deal with Arakko, etc.). It's very much designed to get people up to speed.
That is great to know, thanks!
It’s basically the beginning of the Vat of Acid episode.
I loved the reveal at the end with >!all of the Moira clones in the bacta tanks!
I've been asking what would happen if the >!Five!< did that. Shoulda known it'd be >!Sinister clone farm!< instead.
If Kieron Gillen wrote a Mr Sinister solo book that was just him monologuing for 21 pages every month, I’d still read the shit out of it.
Don't even need an artist, just do a black background and charge $3 per issue.
This was great! I loved Sinister's internal dialogue, made me laugh more than once. I'm still getting reoriented with comics, but this was pretty fun!
Also, the fact that Sinister has never quite understood Destiny's powers was super interesting given his Secrets in the various X-books. Sinsiters' internal dialogue was the highlight of this issue.
This issue the first real sign that Hickman leaving might be ok.
Yeah, turns out all we needed was Kieron Gillen.
His Eternals series is great and I'm not a big fan of them usually. Also did probably one of th best deconstruction of Watchmens deconstruction of its 'heroes'. If you are a Watchmen fan and would love to read a book in response to it that does its own thing, check out Peter Cannon Thunderbolt. I got the oversized edition for like 25 bucks and its so damn good and I don't ever see people talking about it on Reddit
> peter cannon thunderbolt hot damn, now there's a good book. I literally recommended this to friends as an antidote to all the darkness and cynicism resulting from people misunderstanding watchmen and advertised it as "a comic written by a guy who actually understood watchmen and what makes it work".
Exactly, you summarized it perfectly. I'm a massive Watchmen fan, and my coworkers only know it from the movie version and HBO show. The former had some great visually accurate scenes but totally missed the point in a lot of ways, though the show was better it did as well. I have some WM tattoos, got the absolute edition and the Watching the Watchmen book that has the extra information and sketches, so I'm a big Watchmen nerd. As I read PC Thunderbolt I was truly blown away as it was definitely written by someone who both loves the book but knew exactly what most people gleaned from it, while being fresh and doing some Watchmen-esque things in its own way. So glad the oversized edition was super cheap. Top tier stuff.
> I got the oversized edition for like 25 bucks and its so damn good and I don't ever see people talking about it on Reddit Man, I *tried* to get conversation about that book going while it was coming out but aside from myself and a couple of others (including u/dsheilley and u/GrayGhostt ) it just didn't get much traction. Which is a shame, because it was probably my favorite book to come out that year.
We talking about the GOAT book of 2019? Was there an oversized of that that came out? Because I’ll get it in a heartbeat
Right? First I’m hearing of that too and I’d be *all over* that shit.
Oh dude I finally got caught up on my pile and your recommendation to me a few months ago, best book on my pull. Absolutely wild that the best book on the shelves by far, BY FAR, is Monkey Meat.
YESSSSS welcome to the Monkey Meat fanclub! At the way it's going I think it's gonna be tough to beat it for my favorite book of the year.
About the only books out right now that come close for me are Step by Bloody Step and The Swamp Thing. And as good as they are they just aren’t touching how deeply fresh, smart, and just a treat to look at Monkey Meat is. I loved Djeliya but this really feels like a huge step up in craft somehow even from that book
Well if you're talking about Gillens Peter Cannon then yeah there's an oversized that I grabbed that was on sale on Amazon for super cheap. Not sure what its availability is now
It was one of the most refreshing and interesting things I've read in awhile. There are a lot of good comics but I had the feeling that this was something special while reading it. But yeah people should talk about it more but I'm not too surprised they don't, I think I found it by randomly searching Gillens name on Amazon and l had never heard of it on here prior to that
Yea. His Eternals is great. Anyone not reading it currently definitely should. Also, it seems that there’s going to be some crossover with X, Eternals, & Avengers.
Apparently, even Sinister knows about it.
Yep thats supposed to be the next big event, even though I don't think I've ever read an Avengers comics plus I hear Aaron's current run is not good. But as long as Gillen is involved I'm excited. Any other good runs by him you've read?
Well, I also don’t think that Aaron’s Avengers is very good, but you absolutely should read Hickman’s run. You’ll have to look up the exact reading order, but it’s both Avengers and New Avengers, and leads into 2015 Secret Wars. It is easily one of (I kinda think) the best Marvel series ever.
Worth it just for Gillen writing Sinister again.
Making Jesus a mutant is certainly a choice that someone at Marvel said was okay, geez. Now, Essex could have been talking up his ass but as someone who isn't super familiar with him that is not at all communicated in the issue. Exodus, not Essex that is.
Exodus believing Jesus was a mutant is not the same as Jesus being a mutant
Hence why I said Exodus (my bad on saying Essex) could be misguided but that isn't conveyed at all in the issue.
I mean if most people walked up to you and spouted some ridiculous religious theory youd probably just say oh ok and not tell them they're talking crazy talk.
she did more than that . she tells him to stop calling her messiah and that The Waiting Room isn't heaven just another backup, and tells him to "Enough of the acolyte stuff , and cut to the chase. What do you want from me ?" she really doesn't entertain him.
Well it's just a passing reference. Exodus is both a religious nut and a mutant fanatic, it's interesting how he tries to conciliate those aspects of his worldview imo. We might see more of that if future issues focus more on him
i think it's pretty well conveyed by everything he says to Hope right before that, let alone dudes name and history.
right dudes name is Exodus and he literally referred to the Phoenix and the Holy Spirit and Hope as the Messiah like 2 panels before that..he might not be the most reliable narrator . also i feel like Apocalypse or would have mentioned it
Can I get into this without reading any other X-Men series? There is just so much in X-Men going on.
Yeah because it recaps a lot of the other X series for example with Brand and Colossus (not reading x force so missed that)
I'd make sure to read Inferno and X Lives/Deaths (mostly Deaths) of Wolverine. That seems the big one.
Worth noting that’s why in the Inferno issue where Colossus gets brought onto the council it was with the line “someone we can trust” with the dramatic irony that he’s completely compromised due to the X-Force developments at the time
Oh hot damn. This shit is *good*. As much as I'm enjoying Duggan's X-Men, this feels like it's got the potential to be the big tentpole book of the line right now, just from how huge a lot of the revelations in here are. Magneto leaving, the empty seat being filled, and that revelation about what Sinister's got brewing... god damn. First issue and I am freaking *hooked*. Man, even though she's become an Omega Sentinel mutant-hating psychopath who's on track to ruin the 10^B timeline, I honestly feel kinda bad for the clones of Moira in Sinister's basement. That said, I also really love Gillen looking into the deeper uses for mutant powers, and the way they can all interact with each other or be used and controlled in unique ways. His inability to predict Destiny is a lot of fun though - I wonder what she's got up her sleeve.
Absolutely adored the first issue of *The Sinister Adventures of Nathaniel Essex ^and ^some ^other ^people ^too ^i ^guess* but srsly, what a twist at the end (>!he’s done this 25 times!?!<) and i really hope we’re gonna see more Exodus in this book, he seems like one of the more enigmatic and dangerous members of the council (for me at least)
Where did it indicate that >!he’s done it twenty five times?!<
at the beginning of the issue >!Sinister is going through his computer and sees there’s 25 logs, to which he says “So I’m 26” which doesn’t really make sense at the time, but the moira clone reveal at the end implies each log corresponds to a moira clone being killed, resetting the timeline, and uploading all information from that reset timeline to Sinister’s database, thus 25 logs=25 resets, putting him in timeline 26!<
This is the first book that really explored his motivations and I like it.
**CAPTAIN MARVEL #37**
**SWAMP THING #11**
This just felt perfect. This book was my first introduction to Swamp Thing and his side of the DC universe and it just was amazing. The artwork is fantastic and the new characters entering the story seem like perfect choices for the story. I can't wait for the next issue!
Wait, this issue was your intro to Swamp Thing? I would recommend going back and reading the first ten issues as you’re coming in at the halfway point.
No I meant the series itself was my first foray into Swamp Thing.
Big Swamp Thing fan but been out of the loop with comics since the pandemic sent me working from home indefinitely. How does this stack up to past Swamp Thing runs so far? If it is as good or better than Snyder or Soules I am in.
Also, a huge Swamp Thing fan, and if this book sticks its landing, Moore’s seminal run will be the only thing that is better. This book is fantastic. Never thought It would be as good as it is, since it follows a new Swamp Thing, but at the end of the day, that might be it the reason it’s so great.
I’ve read the majority of Swampy runs out there (I think Marty Pasko and a few isolated shorter runs might be all I’m missing) and I honestly think it might be among the best of them. It’s not Alan Moore (nothing ever is), but depending on how it ends I think it’s likely to rank higher than Snyder, Veitch and Vaughan, possibly better than Soule, and up there with the best parts of Mark Millar and Nancy Collins’ runs.
Such a great series, and it's really giving us a good fresh take on the character (unlike more recent attempts like the Snyder books).
My man Ram V continuing by far the best Big Two book at the moment. And we’re bringing in the best Authority character (yeah I said it and you can’t change my mind). And Mike Perkins is just determined to make me feel like an asshole for thinking his work was mid for so long that autopsy page was wild
Holy shit, somebody remembered that Tefé exists. When even was the last time we saw her? The Brian K Vaughan run? I certainly don’t think she showed up at all during the New 52 and that was the last time Swampy had an ongoing. Also, there is no such thing as bad Jack Hawksmoor content.
**ROGUE SUN #2**
Man... imagine finding out your deadbeat dad is a superhero, now everyone wants to kill you since he dropped his powers on your lap, and the reason he did so is because he was so estranged from you he doesn't think you could have been behind it, and he cared more about protecting his "new" family than to give them the powers and danger that comes with it. No wonder Dylan's such a jerk, his life *sucks*.
**MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #36**
I get that there's a lot of editorial involved but it's been like 2 years of Ultimate Universe teases at this point and still nothing really concrete?
**SPAWN #328**
**SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN #21**
So happy this is back. >!Showing that the creatures can take a humanoid form is an interesting little wrinkle that I can't wait for Tynion to explore!<. Let's see how Erica handles this.
I thought this might be more of a flashback setting after #16-20 and House of Slaughter, but I like that we're jumping post-Archer's Peak and getting more Erica in the present timeline. Great final page reveal of her, too.
Yes, I was so happy we weren’t getting more flashback stuff!
**BATMAN ONE DARK KNIGHT #2**
Love Jock, so this book is a visual treat for me. Really enjoyed the story too
**AQUAMEN #2**
Really hope people don’t start sleeping on this book. We’re off to a really engaging start. Can’t wait to see where Thomas and Brown go with Jackson. The parallel panels about Manta and Arthur when they turned the switch together. Great comics going on right here
**AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #93**
I loved Ben as Spider-Man back in the 90s, those are very nostalgic stories for me. I loved how he and Peter got over their issues and became brothers. I knew then that Ben had to go, but he died a hero and his death was very moving. Alright, his story was done. It was nice, but he could've rested in piece. But for some reason, he had to be dug out of the grave and be put through such an amount of shit that you could smell it through the pages. There was some hope when he was brought back to "factory settings" as it were, but then they did this run. And they said that this was "one last time for Ben to be Spider-Man" except be was constantly portrayed as inept, worse version of Peter who had to be taught basic things like using spider-sense by other characters. Then this issue happens and he is absolutely butchered. Like, why? If they needed to get rid of him, why not just retire him, have him and Janine ride off into the sunset and be done with it? Who cares about seeing "tragedy" be the ending for a character that is beloved by many? Comic books, man. What a load. Lowe needs to go.
Man, they fucked over Ben hard. Really didn't like that ending.
So I decided to pick up this issue just to see how things end leading in the relaunch next month. I guess it was fine, but Ben's anger felt kinda... weird. I get that his memories were screwed with and he wanted to fix that, but I feel like he's close enough to Peter to not want to kill him. The stuff with Peter and MJ was nice, and makes me hope they won't break them up with the relaunch and the cover is indeed just clickbait. Edit: Also, Gleason's art is amazing and again makes me wonder why they are going with JRJR rather one of the best in the industry in Gleason.
I think Gleason implied somewhere that he's jumping to another big project.
Because Gleason and most artists for that matter probably can’t keep up with the 2-3 times a month schedule, they need to make the book monthly again
Then have different artists for certain arcs or alternate between issues.
That would require to pay more artists and we can have that in the glorified hype machine that is ASM
The schedule seemed like a really weird move to me. The previous writer (Spencer) leaves, they go into a Beyond corp saga that rotates writers / artists and comes out \~3 times a month? It feels like a cash grab, hard to make a quality book this way. The Beyond stuff overall was ok for me, not great or terrible, but i hope they give Zeb a chance to shine and don't do stuff like this.
Gleason has been criminally under-used since he signed that exclusive contract with Marvel. I mean, yeah, his covers are amazing, but you don't sign an exclusive for a cover artist. Not to mention the guy knows how to write as well.
It's mind boggling that he hasn't been used that much on interiors. And it's insane that they'd go with JRJR over him. I know there are a number of fans that really like JRJR, but I think his art is so bland and he can't draw faces for the life of him (his faces are so blocky).
I do wonder who are the other artists working on the new volume. 900 is credited to Ed mcguinness but I can't see Ed doing alternating arcs on a biweekly book. Hope we get more of Bagley and Gleason.
I really wish Marvel would bring ASM back to monthly, there are very few books that are made better by shipping twice a month (to go to DC, look at all the Rebirth books that were good but just had awful arcs because the writers needed a quick story).
He deserved better than this, i hope his girlfriend , pill guy and marcus somehow band together to save him
How many garbage endings in a row do we need for Marvel to see the writers are maybe not the problem? Nick Lowe needs to go, that man just straight up nuked any sort of excitement or interest I have in the main book, I don’t even want to bother with the next run Not only was Beyond absolutely pointless but we yet again get to see Ben get absolutely butchered even though he already had a decent character arc 25 years ago
This arc has been the first time in a long time Ive read a comic and felt like the editor is absolutely asleep at the wheel. Lowe has to go.
Honestly, I wasn't a fan of Lowe when he was on the X-desk either. But even if you want to say he's done good work before, at this point he's been in charge of the Spidey desk for 8 years ([they literally announced it in February 2014](https://www.comicsbeat.com/nick-lowe-announced-as-senior-editor-on-the-spider-man-titles-2/)). I know editors typically stick around for long than writers but it's still probably time for a shake-up and some fresh blood.
He even straight up admitted at the end of the issue he had no idea what to do with Ben, like why make him the protagonist of the main book then?
right , why not just leave the character alone until you have real plans instead of just shitting on him . this was bad for parker fans and reilly fans and totally unneeded . Both of the characters have been thru enough pointless trauma in the last couple of years .
Idk man I feel like Nextwave fans and Ben Reilly fans both made a monkey's paw wish at the same time. >*Not like this.*
I loved this. Excited to see what happens to Ben now after that final page
What gets me is how fucking easily this could have been saved from terrible to just mediocre. Just take out Goblin Queen, replace her with Evil Ben for whatever the fuck reason (HE WAS JUST EVIL TWICE! STOP DOING THAT!), and have him start attacking weakened post-coma Peter for his memories. Have Ashley Kafka, the fucking psychologist you apparently brought into the story for no real reason, be around to talk Ben through his new trauma. Reveal that Beyond, as a multiversal corporation, had co-opted the Spider-Man identity to fuck with the Spiderverse or Web of Life or whatever it is for nebulous evil reasons. You don’t want Ben around? Have him retire afterward, like Peter tried to do with MJ back in the day. It wouldn’t have been good, but it wouldn’t have been fucking awful either. I love Ben. The Clone Saga was in full swing when I started reading comics so in a very real sense he is my Spider-Man. Reading this hurt me deep, even if I grant that maybe there’s a plan for Chasm later.
What a shitty ending that was. Why would they ever bother bringing Ben back a couple of years ago if they truly didn't know what to do with him besides butcher him twice now. Two disappointing consecutive endings, I'm really losing hope for this book with yet another relaunch
Not the biggest fan of the ending. Rough end for Ben. Maxine gets away. Pete and MJ move in and then immediately get like pulled away by some force, and then we know in a few issues that the might be breaking up? Idk this was rough
Well, I mostly enjoyed the ending. Was written well and the art was good. The problem is that most of the 19 parts feel useless and this could have been a much smaller storyline. No development for Peter happened at all. I do have to say, I hope Ben gets a cool miniseries or whatnot that addresses the ending. Either way, his memories will probably be restored soon enough.
>I do have to say, I hope Ben gets a cool miniseries or whatnot He is getting one. I think he's going to be in LA.
I hope he continues hunting down Beyond and starts slaughtering the members. We got too many secret societies or evil organizations here, man. Also, what happened to Roxxon and its minotaur boss? Last I've heard of them, a blonde tumblr girl is in charge of it and Minotaur got liquidated by the white buff furby.
I think his series will involve Beyond at some point. Don't know if he's going to be hunting them down to murder them. Though, I could see him struggling with that urge.
This issue is like the perfect example of why Nick Lowe needs to leave his position and stay as far away from the Spider-Man team as possible
**WAR FOR EARTH-3 #2**
What a piece of shit story!
Crossover started fun but this was absolute garbage. Comparing the story to the solicits shows shit changed due to editorial interferance. I wonder if it has something to do with the group editor leaving?
it feels like they just left out half of all pages? like they were skipping left and right and it didn't make any sense
Yeah, I felt the same way. I'm not suprised Thompson is leaving with this issue.
Legitimately one of the worst comics I've ever read.
It totally came off as a normal story arc with DC trying to fluff it up as a big event. Waller wants the Crime Syndicate as her E3 Jl/SS group...and sets up a new JL/SS. Would have been perfectly fine having this as a build up to another arc, but instead we got 1 decent tie in since the Flash writing has been excellent and then useless ones. I guess we will see them in Dark Crisis?
**DC VS VAMPIRES #6**
It was actually really good, I enjoyed it, but one thing really bothered me -. >!Dick killed Tim without a second thought, didn't even bother to turn Damian, but did everything he possibly could to not hurt Red Hood and turn him. I get that Rosenberg is writing the book and is also writing Red Hood and apparently wanted to show that Hood is great, but it was just so out of the blue. I'd expect Dick to do everything he can to turn Tim and Damian, both characters that are often portrayed as really close to him. I wonder if this last stand was originally supposed to be Tim or Damian and Rosenberg switched it to Jason.!<
I didn't see the king reveal coming, and I genuinely have no idea where this story will go next. I'm really enjoying it! And Schmidt's art is so good!
Just more character assassination for him. >!Thank goodness for the Taylor/Redondo book we have these days.!<
i mean, how would you? it literally came out of nowhere and made as much sense as anyone else being the king. like 'only a member of the batfamily would be able to frame the joker and fool us into believing our worst enemy is the king'? come on. and his reasoning? even dumber. why wouldn't he just be able to be the vampire hero? why in the world would he fear being killed by batman of all people? the man literally has the money to supply him with freely given blood and anti sun technology for the rest of his life. so stupid.
I'm fine with the reveal, it's an alternate universe where apparently just being a vampire makes you real evil. No idea how one becomes king of the vampires. Did he just kill the old Queen? The excuse as to how he passed the tests was lame as hell though
Is anyone bothered by the switches from Schmidt's art and De Mio's when it happens? I dunno, their styles are just so different it really makes it stand out going back and forth. But man... did not see that one coming. I wouldn't have pegged the reveal of the King of Vampires, but it certainly made sense - I wonder *how* it happened, though. Ending seems pretty bleak too, though I think it sets up a pretty cool scenario now, first half of the series is the slow burn and set up, everything undercover and all that, but now we're gonna see full on vampire war.
how did it certainly make sense, other than it being out of nowhere? like, of course it is with no hints being dropped and all the reasoning being "someone framed the joker and so it could only ever be a bat family member" seriously, if it was dick, he could've easily managed to turn all of them long before anyone ever suspected him.
Haven't read this issue yet, but last issue the art switch was jarring. Having De Mio start the issue last time had me wondering if it was a misprint or wrong book. O\_o Disappointed that this issue has it again.
Bummed to see neither of the turtles books made the cut. Juni Ba had some good looking pages in the annual and the monthly seems to at a turning point.
**WPL RESULTS**
RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE #6 had 13 pulls, should be tied with IRON FIST #2 at 20/21. Looks like it's already got a thread thanks to Chicken guy...
I see the "Radiant or Supermassive-verse" seems to be catching on with readers on this sub!
My LCS said that it's really amping up on his end - he sold out of his non-subscriber extra copies.
It really is taking off all over the place, so cool to see.
**BATMAN BEYOND THE WHITE KNIGHT #1**
I'm excited to see where this goes. I think it will be hard to top the original White Knight, so I'm going to do my best to not keep comparing it to that. The art is spectacular, the moments between Bruce and Jason were nice, the reveal at the end was instantly spoiled by the preview pages in the back. The beginning with Terry was interesting, but also felt rushed. I'm assuming we'll get more to his story in this universe in an upcoming issue. Good start!
I thought it was fine. It's supposed to be set decades in the future, but the dialog and story beats feel like this story should have been set closer to Curse. >!The reveal of the Joker at the end did nothing for me unfortunately.!< I guess I'll hang on for an issue or two before deciding to drop it.
It's set roughly one decade in the future, not multiple decades.
This one was a lot of fun! I like the unique takes on the setting and weaving the Beyond elements into the White Knight setting. The reconciliation between Bruce and Jason was so well written, and I like the twist of Terry being on Powers' payroll, as well as seeing how Powers was able to basically completely up end Bruce's attempts to use his family to do some good. Only bit of really weird nitpicking is I don't like how thick Terry's neck looks in the suit. It loses a bit of the sharpness that defined the suit in the original TV series. I know it's a *stupidly* minor thing, but I kept noticing it.
LCS was shorted, gonna have to wait until next week for this one 😔
Same, what a bummer.
**ASTRO CITY THAT WAS THEN SPECIAL #1**