Ghost Rider #13 — Writer: Daniel Way; Penciler: Javier Saltares; Inker: Scott Hanna
As a World War Hulk tie-in, this is better than I thought it would be — Way’s logic behind the “fight” makes sense (although I’m not sure I buy into Dr. Strange’s comments on GR’s power levels), and Saltares’s art is up to the big splashes and set pieces that are required; best of all, the whole “Satan-makes-GR-look-like-an-idiot” over-plot is put on hold for an issue. One of the better WWH crossovers, all told, and if you’ve been following that event you should probably give it a look.
World War Hulk: Frontline #2 (of 5) — Writer: Paul Jenkins; Artist: Ramon Bachs (1st story); Shawn Martinsbrough (2nd story); Chris Moreno (3rd story)
The lead story continues to follow the two reporters, Ben Urich and Sally Whatever-her-name-is, and offer their limited, civilians’-eye view of New York as the Hulk fights the FF (which means it runs parallel to this week’s World War Hulk #2). The second story is more intriguing, as an NYC cop teams up with the stone-guy alien to investigate the murder of another alien; the cultural clashes between the two very different hard-boiled investigators are fun. (The third, and last, story is just a quick two-page joke.) Fairly disposable, although I’m sure Marvel wants us to wonder if there’ll be an eventual Big Reveal with this series, as there was with the Civil War Frontline book (I’m betting on the two sneaky aliens on Hulk’s side as the ones who actually rigged his ship to blow up, if anyone’s starting a pool…).
Thunderbolts: Desperate Measures #1 (of 1) — Writer: Paul Jenkins; Artist: Steve Lieber
This is one of those why-did-they-do-it books; it’s in current (i.e., Ellis) continuity, focusing on Penance, Bullseye and Osborn, and it’s a regular-sized one-shot. Why not just make it a fill-in between arcs for the regular title? Jenkins is as responsible for Penance as anyone, so he’s allowed to do what he wants, but the concept — a grim ‘n’ gritty Speedball — reads like the Marvel counterpart of DC’s making Max Lord a bad guy, and it’s just… funny, I guess. Silly. Impossible to take seriously. (They need to swap this guy for the Robby stuck in the 2099 timeline now.)
Anyway, it’s worth it to flip through the last few pages for a Robby/Norman encounter where Robby and his writers seem to think he’s Clint Eastwood, just to see it, but only completists need to actually buy it — and, hey, since it’s not part of the regular numbering, it won’t even leave a hole in your collection! Brilliant!
Annihilation: Conquest: Quasar #1 (of 4) — Writer: Christos N. Gage; Penciler: Mike Lilly; Inker: Bob Almond
The new Quasar and Moondragon fight the Super-Adaptoid, check in with the Priests of Pama, and find out about the Phalanx. Standard space-opera pyrotechnics, competently done; if you like that kind of thing, here it is.
Super-Villain Team-Up #1 (of 5) — Writer: Fred Van Lente; Pencils: Francis Portela; Inks: Terry Pallot
Just what the title implies, as yet another new M.O.D.O.C. (the “C” stands for “computing,” instead of the “K” that stood for “killing,” although he’s a mite conflicted about that…) gathers a group of C-list villains — the Armadillo, Mentallo, Nightshade, the Chameleon, Puma, the guy with the teleportation spots all over him (the Spot?), and, of all things, Rocket Racer — for some big caper. Fun enough, if you like tales from the bad guys’ perspective mixed with obscure Marvel history, although I can’t help thinking that this book partly exists partly just to maintain the trademark (or is it copyright?) on that title.
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #22 — Writer: Peter David; Penciler: Todd Nauck; Inker: Robert Campanella
Wrapping up the “Miss Arrow” storyline, as this book prepares for cancellation in another two issues (Marvel’s combining all their Spidey books into just one — Amazing Spider-Man — and is going to start publishing it three times a month. No, I don’t know how that’s going to work, either). It’s OK — the David/Nauck team has been around since Young Justice, and so knows how to deliver a smooth story — but fairly forgettable. It’s the set-up for next issue that looks intriguing, however — a confrontation between Peter and J. Jonah Jameson, now that Spidey’s secret is out. That one, I’ll probably buy.
Birds of Prey #108 — Writer: Gail Simone; Penciller: Nicola Scott; Inker: Doug Hazelwood
Is this Simone’s last issue? It feels like it, as she lets Barbara get in a couple of good shots (figuratively and otherwise), has a curtain call (a four-page spread of the cast) and leaves everyone in a good place; she makes it clear how much, under her tenure, this has been a series about family, about people with similar goals working together and becoming friends. Not bad, especially if you’ve been following the rest of Simone’s run (although, as a guy, I have to admit that it’s always seemed a little chick flicky to me…).
Catwoman #69 — Writer: Will Pfeifer; Penciller: David Lopez; Inker: Alvaro Lopez
Batman runs over from Countdown, or Amazon Attacks, or somewhere, and ropes Selina into the whole Circe’s-giving-Hippolyta-a-hot-flash-and-the-Amazons-are-attacking-the-U.S. thing. Part one of two, for those of you excited by this news (and, to be fair, at least it offers a consistent part of the crossover, since Pfeifer is the writer on that too).
Checkmate #16 — Writer: Greg Rucka; Pencils: Bennett and Prado; Inks: Jadson and Prado
Um, Michael and Sasha hook up. That’s pretty much it, as we’re filled in on the history of their relationship over the last two years (let’s see… Bruce Wayne, Mr. Terrific — she apparently has a thing for really smart guys. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…). As a quiet one-off character story between longer arcs, it achieves its goals.
Phil Mateer
