THE GOOD
Fantastic Four #588– This “final issue,” that is until the new series starts next month. The team (and the superhero community in general) is dealing with the death of the Human Torch. There are actually two stories here. The first story is 99.9% told without dialogue or narration. It’s not exactly new, but when done well, works. And it was done extremely well in this issue. I want to take a moment to compliment the coloring for one reason alone. Just pay attention to Ben Grimm’s eyes throughout the story. They are blood red from all the tears he shed over his buddy’s death. Nice touch. The backup story you may have seen parts of on the internet. It’s Spiderman talking to Franklin about the death of Johnny and that Spidey can related since his uncle was taken from him in violence as well. Very nice job all the way around.
Incredible Hulks #623 – Hulk and the Warbound (not the Hulk family) respond to Ka-Zar’s call for help. Sakaarians who had arrived on with the Hulk have received asylum to live in the Savage Land have been brutally attacked and killed. Won’t spoil the ending for you, but if you are reading this series, it’s not too much of a spoiler, right? Expect a bunch of monsters and creatures battling each other next couple of issues!
Star Trek: Infestation #2 – There’s pluses and minuses when a mini-series is two issues. The plus is it’s over quick and the minus is…it’s over quick. The story is resolved way too quickly, but had to for the reasons I just said. This probably could have been extended another issue and would have been perfect. As I stated with the first issue, I’m tired of zombies, but this story doesn’t really push the fact that Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are battling zombies. They are fighting a deadly virus. If you are looking for a read and don’t want invest a lot of time (meaning a story arc that is a yearlong), I would recommend this.
Teen Titans # 92 – This is the concluding chapter of the Red Robin/Teen Titans crossover. Our heroes take out the Calculator robots and finally come face-to-face with the man himself…or do they? And Titan fans get their wish, Damian leaves the group and it appears that Tim is back. Quite honestly, that’s a shame. Damian is a pain – I know that. The situation is similar to the JLI days when Guy Gardner was a pain in the butt. No one was screaming to get rid of him!!!! Oh well, lost opportunities because of short-sightedness….
THE NOT-SO GOOD
Secret Avengers #10 – This is the concluding chapter of “Eyes of the Dragon.” Five issues, it took five issues that should have taken four. Sigh. I’m starting to have doubts about this series, I really am. I mean, yay the good guys won and the bad guys lost; Shang-Chi ain’t staying around (boo) and apparently the next issue we’ll learn more about John Steele and his days in WWII with Steve Rogers (Captain America). My problem is NOT every story has to take five issues to be told. Some might take six, others four.
THE UGH
Iron Man 2.0 #1–I guess they named it that because they’re hoping to get people to buy the people who wouldn’t if it had been called War Machine. Yeah, this is Rhodey’s book and I don’t have a problem with that. As to the story, meh. Rhodes is given a chance to redeem himself in the government’s eyes from his time being a part of the Osborn Reign…what??? They’re pissed at him because of actions he did following the orders of a madman that was put in power by the federal government??? Screw the story…I’m out of here!!!!
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