I don’t know what the hell Marvel is doing with Wolverine, but whatever. We’re waiting on Old Man Logan, which is Mark Millar and Steve McNiven‘s god-send-child about Wolverine in the future that has been extremely delayed for reasons I couldn’t even tell you and all of a sudden Marvel decides they’re going to simply stop with that series, sum it all up in one issue, #72 has to be the last issue even though it’s part 7 of 8, and just jump into this new Wolverine story that appears to be a one shot in two issues but will somehow transition us into Dark Wolverine.

Let me take a deep breath quickly.

Wolverine #73 was a good pair of mini-stories which begins what appears to be the last two arcs of the Wolverine title before it is taken over by Dark Wolverine. After the break, I’ll divulge my feelings over it all.

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Captain America #50 Cover

I’d like to preface my review of Captain America #50 by stating that I not only love what Ed Brubaker has done with Captain America, but I pretty much love everything that Brubaker does. I can’t say for certain, but I’m pretty sure I am buying everything that the man puts out right now. As you’d expect, I was stoked for Captain America to come out this week. Yeah, it’s a landmark issue at #50, but I didn’t expect it to be too mind-blowing, as the Cap crew will be celebrating the 600th issue next month. Still, despite Brubaker likely saving up his best for June’s big issue, I still expected 50 to continue in the great tradition of Brubaker’s run. Not only that, but at $3.99 with a few extra pages, issue 50 appeared to be a nice, big, juicy Bucky-Cap adventure. Sadly, I was gravely disappointed almost from the first frame.

I’ll tell you why Brubaker failed to impress after the break.

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After a long hiatus (sorry about that), I’m finally back to bring you more previews of solicited comic books. This time, I’m showing you what to look forward to in August. And boy, is there a lot to be excited for. It seems like the comic book publishers decided that they wanted to get in on the summer blockbuster action and decided to pull out all the stops in August. Some of the biggest titles of the year look to be coming out, so let me break down some of the big ones to keep an eye on.

The Marvels Project #1

The Marvels Project is likely to be the biggest Marvel comic this year, if not the biggest comic of the year period. While Blackest Night over in DC land might overshadow it slightly, The Marvels Project is likely to be the critically acclaimed hit of the year. Much like the smaller, more story-based movie compared to the summer blockbuster, Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting are celebrating Marvel’s 70th anniversary in style, by retelling the origin story of the entire universe! With talent this great and a story to match, how could you not be excited to see what is in store from this limited series?

Batman: The Widening Gyre #1

While much of the DC fanbase will have their eyes turned towards the previously mentioned Blackest Night event, a little Batman book by acclaimed writer Kevin Smith is set to hit the stands. Set to be a 12-issue maxi-series, Widening Gyre will be 2 6-issue story arcs, separated by a 3 month publishing gap. According to Smith himself, the 3 month gap will allow him to start writing an on-going series about one of the characters he will introduce in Gyre. While some might be skeptical about whether the often-late Smith can really pull out this much writing, I have faith and hope, cause this sounds like a great series from one of comic’s top writers.

Daredevil #500

Nothing shouts “70th anniversary” like milestone issues. And dammit if Marvel hasn’t had their share of them this year. From Thor to Cap to Hulk to the up-coming Amazing Spider-Man, this has been the year of landmark issues (and the return to the original numbering). Add to that list Daredevil, which will hit issue 500 this August. What Brubaker has in store for us is anyone’s guess, but it is sure to be a doozey as he ends his legendary run on Daredevil and passes the reigns over to the capable Andy Diggle.

Incredible Hulk #601

Ok, so this isn’t a milestone issue, but the one after, so what gives? Why is this so exciting? Well, I’ll tell you. Greg Pak is returning to Hulk. Yeah, Jeph Loeb is still going to be fucking up the beloved character over in the Hulk book, but hopefully Greg Pak, the man who brought us the amazing Planet Hulk, can restore the green giant to his former glory.

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1 and Avengers #1

Speaking of Jeph Loeb fucking up beloved things, Marvel’s Ultimate line relaunches as Ultimate Comics in August with the debut of Spider-Man and Avengers. Fan-favorite Brian Michael Bendis continues his outstanding work with Spidy in the Ultimate universe (though, it might not be Peter Parker, if Loeb has anything to do about it). And even better, universe co-creator and certified badass Mark Millar returns to the Ultimate Line with Avengers, a book which is set to focus on groups or characters in the Ultimate universe (no, this is not replacing Ultimates). Millar has stated that each arc of Avengers will be like a mini-events, so this will be a book to watch. Honestly, I’m pissed at what Loeb is doing to my beloved Ultimates line and I disagree with the “relaunch” and renumbering, but with any luck, we’ll survive this editorial mistake and still have a good universe to enjoy.

Blackest Night: Superman, Batman and Titans

With Blackest Night starting in July, DC is set to start releasing their tie-ins to the universe-altering event in August. Can’t say I’m all too excited about the Superman or Titans tie-ins but Batman should be a book to watch. Not only is it written by the great Peter J. Tomasi, but it might just feature the supposedly dead Bruce Wayne as a Black Lantern. We’ll see when the series launches in August, but those following Blackest Night will probably want to pick up at least 1 of these tie-ins.

Amazing Spider-Man #601, #602 and #603

Coming off their own landmark 600 issue, the ASM crew is not slowing down. Starting at issue 601, Mary Jane is back!!! As a huge fan of MJ and one of many who were sorely disappointed at the breakup of one of comic’s most beloved couples, it is great to see that the Spidy writers are finally bringing her back. Likely, she will not be a romantic interest in Peter Parker’s life (at least not right away), but at least she’s back in the fold and the possibility is there. Here’s hoping we also get some more answers about what exactly Mephisto did at the end of One More Day.

Fantastic Four #570

Last but not least (seriously, any other month, an issue like this would be at the top of things to look forward to) is Fantastic Four #570. Why’s this such a big deal? Well, that would be because writer Jonathan Hickman is taking over the writing duties on Marvel’s first family. Not only has Hickman proven himself to be a great writer with his indie work and his outstanding work on Secret Warriors, he’s proven that he can writer the Fantastic Four like nobody’s business with his work on Dark Reign: Fantastic Four. I, for one, am looking forward to him bringing his unique voice to FF and hopefully continuing Mark Millar’s work at bringing the Fantastic Four back to the top of the Marvel line.

What has come before: Batman is dead. Gotham is unprotected. And two of his former enemies are main characters in an ongoing series.

"Oh yes, I was trying to remember a word that rhymes with 'Catman'..."

I hate to steal Matt Brier‘s thunder here, but Secret Six is a consistently entertaining title, and this is a nice jumping on point for those of you who stubbornly refuse to read it. It’s a self-contained story with great character development, action, and humor, courtesy of the consistently clever Gail Simone and the talented newcomer Nicola Scott.

The plot revolves around Bane, Catman, and Rag Doll being hired by an unknown benefactor to stop a rash of kidnappings in Gotham. While in Gotham, Bane and Catman reminisce about their encounters with Batman, note their own (and each other’s) similarities to the Dark Knight, and argue about whether or not he is more man than myth. This could have gotten incredibly ponderous, but thankfully Rag Doll (wearing a homemade Robin costume) is around to provide caustic commentary on the situation.

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I refuse to make the obvious joke on the grounds that I will be arrested. Anyway, read this comic.

As a kid in the dark ages of the 1980s, I would bike to my local used book store (recently gentrified into a 21st century shoe shop) to pick up anthology books of the old EC books like “MAD” and “Tales From the Crypt“. “Tales” and similar magazines told one-note stories, sure, but the notes were strong and clear and pure, like a bugle breaking the dawn. “MAD”, of course, had some of the best artwork and mentally electrifying comedy plots (plotz?) in the business. (NOTE: If you remember the original horror and suspense comics from EC, you’re probably drooling away watching Marcus Welby reruns at the nursing home right now and not reading this review.) When I ran the store out of those great old half-dollar copies, I eventually stumbled across “Plop“, which blended elements of both; Sergio Aragones and weird murder.

Vertigo’s House of Mystery brings a lot of these traditions back for their thirteenth issue. While it jumps out of their active plot, it fits in with the *theme*, and that’s actually better than good.

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Hello, all. I’ve been away for some time, both due to an influx of schoolwork and just being to damn poor to support a budding comics habit. But I have been keeping up with my comic book adaptations, which in many ways is more unfortunate than suffering from a broken economy. Many Americans have flocked to the cineplexes in these hard times, as they always do, looking for a bit of escape from a harsh world. Yet when I sat through Watchmen at a midnight screening in March, I was suddenly reminded of how good I have it. Not because of the stark dystopia and the amoral wasteland it depicted, but because it so thoroughly missed the point that I was looking forward to getting back to my world of scraping together money to try to stay in school, pay the rent and feed myself, all while trying to land some sort of job. Synder’s screwed-pooch enraged me so much that, after I wrote a review for my school paper and came here to make my triumphant return with a more fleshed-out (papers have word limits, you know) takedown of why the film so completely let me down. Suffice to say: it knew the steps but not the rhythm, and so it lurched about like a wino with an inner ear infection, occasionally careening into the right tone but too often gazing at the inside of its navel by shoving its head up its ass (to mix metaphors poorly). But never mind that dismal failure, because I’m here to discuss the latest comic book extravaganza, the summer-starting X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
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Those artistic types who are also fortunate enough to possess some degree of intellect seem fond of employing mysticism when describing elements of quantum physics. This makes a certain level of sense:

I would not be this angry if I had this jetpack.

When describing the unknown, people get reverent

• As Neil deGrasse Tyson posited in 2006, whenever the inquisitive mind reaches the end of what it is believes itself capable of understanding, it seems to reach for God. Quantum physics is often beyond the reach of those who study it professionally, so artists finding commonality between quantum physics and Native American mysticism isn’t a stretch.

Some mystic systems weren’t a bad idea

• Certain brands of mysticism are simple diagrams that are meant to be rough, poetic maps of the processes of life; a sort of mixed psychology/philosophy/theology with the occasional rotten mushroom or bowl of hallucinogenic pee thrown in.

Mysticism has been the driving force behind several creative movements over the past fifty years

• Thanks a lot, hippies.

Jeff Smith is following a path fairly consistent with this in his new series RASL. Issue 4 is out and will instantly confound and frustrate you if you haven’t read the first three, so do it immediately. There’s even a collected 3-volume book to get you started.
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“Every ten years or so, you need to give the universe an enema.” – Julius Schwartz

The poster even looks like one of those Foil Covers from the 90's, doesn't it?

In Adventures in the Screen Trade, William Goldman devotes a chapter to what he calls a “comic-book movie.” He’s a bit fuzzy on what  a comic book movie actually is,  but one interpretation would be any film that chooses to follow the rules of its genre rather than the laws of reality. He admits that many of his favorite films qualify as comic book movies, and cites the then-upcoming Star Trek II as an example of a comic-book movie.

Over 25 years later, audiences would get a Star Trek movie that literally owes its existence to comic books. And it was good.

Set a course for the Spoiler system, Warp Factor 3…

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It’s been a slow month here at DestroyTheCyb.org but nevertheless I wanted to get out a review of X-Men Origins: Wolverine sometime with a week of it’s release. Let me explain things in a fashion that I feel will work best: TPKC.

Theory: Going into the movie, I’d heard but not seen things from leak and I had low expectations given the few people I knew who had watched the leaked video. Of course, I’m a monster comic book fan, if you didn’t already know, so I knew my Wolverine origin from that aspect and even so, I knew that a movie couldn’t capture every line, ink, and letter of the comics. With that said, I still was going in with low expectations especially since X-Men: The Last Stand had me holding vomit in my mouth and I could only think that Fox was going to make me nearly puke once again. But I digress, I was going in thinking the movie could only be better than what I was thinking…

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