Another week gone by and that means another round of Bullet Reviews! This time around we have books from last week and a few from two weeks ago managed to sneak in! Amazing Spider-Man #673! Annihilators: Earthfall #2! Farscape #24! Godzilla #8! Infinite Vacation #3! Journey Into Mystery #630! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3! Exclamation Points! Okay, that last one isn’t a comic book…Let’s get to it!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #673 (Marvel)
Spider-Island, AKA THE Marvel Event of 2011, wraps up with some major changes in Peter Parker’s life! Everyone has been cured, mostly, from the Spider-Plague and its left everyone very naked. But while the city works to quickly cover its collective dangling unmentionables, Spider-Man begins to see how some people really view him…and for once, it isn’t all bad! Also: Kaine leaves town by request of Madame Web and Mary Jane finally allows herself to be cured before she mutates and starts it all over again… The big shocker here is Carlie revealing that she did, in fact, know that Peter was Spider-Man and the realization that he lied to her drives her away. Are they done for good? I truly hope not, I like her far more than Mary Jane. They way MJ is being used in this series now makes her tolerable to me but I don’t want her to become more of a major character in this series. What happens next? Well, we know the Scarlet Spider and Doctor Octopus are waiting in the wings…but, honestly, how can Dan Slott follow-up such an epic story as Spider-Island? I have faith that if anyone can do it…HE can! -Skott Jimenez
ANNIHILATORS: EARTHFALL #2 of 4 (Marvel)
Wow, where to begin! This is one of those “all-action” issues that only Abnett and Lanning can do! The Annihiliators have come to Earth to stop the Universal Church of Truth from making a mistake the entire universe would regret and end up having to fight the Avengers because they think the Space Guys are attacking a normal human city! It’s a classic Marvel Team-Up, meaning the heroes fight first then team up, and man is this fun! Just think back to the classic first meeting/confrontations of The Avengers and the X-Men or the Fantastic Four and The Avengers, it’s straight out of the Mighty Marvel Playbook and though I was a little worried about the direction of this series, this has ended all doubt. Besides, whenever the Magus shows up things always go pear-shaped and get really bad! PLUS: Rocket Raccoon and Groot are having a heck of a time escaping the Badoon. Their ship is missing parts and there seems to be a narrator now, a voice from nowhere? Well, yeah, it’s because this whole thing is a television show. The producer/director? Mojo! -Skott Jimenez
FARSCAPE #24 (BOOM! Studios)
Sorry folks, bit of a belated send off here for one of the best sf shows in recent years. With fans having endured abrupt cancellation and the long gestation for the Peacekeeper Wars which attempted to wrap up the series loose ends, this final issue of the Boom! Studios book is the final-final conclusion to Rockne S. O’Bannon’s baby – aided and abetted on writing duties here by Keith DeCandido.
Of course further Farscape universe stories will no doubt appear, but this issue concludes the story of Crichton, Aeryn and Moya, as well as the rest of the gang. The issue itself is told in flashback, our heroes know the subjects of a children’s story hour. It’s a nice touch that sums up much of the affection felt for the show. Reading this issue felt like saying goodbye to old friends. If ever you were a fan of Farscape, give this a gander and check out the previous series trades also available from Boom! -Emmet O’Cuana
GODZILLA: KINGDOM OF MONSTERS #8 (IDW)
MONSTER FIGHT! We finally get the long teased battle between Godzilla and King Ghidorah! As the beasts battle in Washington D.C., effectively destroying the place, we also find that Allie and Steven are still making their way to a safe place. But in a world where giant monsters have attacked many major cities, is there a safe place to go to? This series is constantly met with criticism that it’s too slow. I find that these books move too fast. It’s mostly because when we have a monster fight there is no dialogue to read and I have no problem slowing down and looking at the fight. I also find that I can hear the classic music and sound effects in my mind as I read these issues. I think starting with #9 I’m going to start reading this series while listening to the Destroy All Monsters soundtrack. That should be really fun! My hat go offs to writer Eric Powell for showing us that a Godzilla comic book can be done and it can be just as awesome as the movies! Also, they MUST keep Victor Santos on the art! I LOVE his monster drawings! -Skott Jimenez
INFINITE VACATION #3 (Image)
At last the long wait for Nick Spencer and Christian Ward’s mind-bending series is over. However, after I put down the issue, hands shaking slightly, mouth dry, I had to wonder – was it worth the wait? This issue felt like a bad trip! The story continues to ramp along and Mark’s summation of the previous two issues not only neatly frames the conceit – a world where you can go on a ‘infinite vacation’ from your own life through every possible iteration of ‘you’ in the multiverse – and it made him look quite insane to the characters he is actually speaking to. Funny stuff. The Church of One religion is brilliantly elaborated upon, with the instructional video that accompanies this issue well executed. And Christian Ward’s artwork continues to amaze, a psychedelic fugue. So what’s the problem? Well try a rape/cannibalism scene. It’s sickening, horrific stuff, no doubt intended to raise the stakes, but buyer beware. This book pulls no punches. Spencer took to Twitter the other night to reassure readers that the fourth issue would be out much sooner. I await the next issue with a heightened sense of anticipation – and mild dread. -Emmet O’Cuana
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #630 (Marvel)
What can there be said about this series that hasn’t been said already? Another top shelf issue by Kieron Gillen and Richard Elson as this time around we learn where the mighty (large) Volstagg, Lion of Asgard, was during Fear Itself. He returns to his family and tells them the story of the Serpent and we learn that his role in bringing him down this time was very important. When Loki stole the Destroyer armor he needed a soul to place inside it to allow it to run and follow his orders. THAT is where Volstagg was! They placed his body at the base of the World Tree in Asgard so the All-Seeing Heimdall could not gaze and see what was planned. But while Volstagg was very instrumental in saving Earth and Asgard, he’s still saddened that he played a part in the death of Thor. He understands it had to happen but it doesn’t make the situation easy to swallow. His story of his battle, as he tells it to his children, is golden though. It’s another example of why Journey Into Mystery is one of the best books Marvel is putting out today. Next issue will be interesting as well: Loki must answer for his actions during Fear Itself! -Skott Jimenez
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #3 (IDW)
Things are starting to make a little more sense now. When the turtles and the rat were stolen from the lab in the last issue’s flashback, and then in this issue dropped in the sewer and attacked by a stray cat, we piece together why they are searching for Raphael. He was taken by the cat who became Old Hob and has no memory of the other turtles or the rat who is now Splinter. Splinter knows he must still be alive but the remaining turtles aren’t so sure.
He is still alive and, while he doesn’t even have a name, he’s made a friend in young Casey Jones as they try to make the streets safer by beating the crap out of thugs and criminals. Good stuff. This series is very new reader friendly and I recommend it to anyone who was ever curious about reading a TMNT comicbook. I was only going to stick with this for a few issues but it’s officially made it to my pull list! -Skott Jimenez
