More info on what’s reviewed after the jump!
(more…)

Bullseye gets a Hawkeye mini, and Ms. Marvel’s title has been taken over by Moonstone. Ares is conquering various books and has his own three issue Dark Avengers tie-in on the way. Hell, even Wolverine Jr is series-jacking one of his old man’s titles.

the sinister spider-crotch

In all these offshoots, the titular hero saves the mission, if not the day, and makes the other Dark Avengers who show up in that scene look like chumps.

But what about poor ol’ Mac Gargan, aka Venom? He doesn’t have any beef with the jerks he works with; all he wants to do is punch who he’s told to punch and maybe do a little good in the world. Sure, maybe get the girl. Maybe show some people that you can’t keep a good Gargan down.

Maybe eat your face.

I’ve been too busy getting bingo on my celebrity death pools to watch the recent solicits, so Sinister Spider-Man #1 was a welcome surprise. Chris Bachalo‘s cover really does drag your face in and nibble on it quit a bit. Once inside, it’s mean and fun mean and whispers creepy promises of fast, modern, pulpy goodness.

The first issue delivers the goods while still setting us up for the rest of the four-issue run. This oh-so-Sinister Spider-Man has all the set pieces of his Amazing counterpart – JJJ, Osborn, Six goons who are fairly Sinister in their own right, and lots and lots of girls.

Well, ok, skanks and whores. This is Mac Gargan, after all.
(more…)

Amazing Spider-Man #573 cover

Have you been keeping up with Spider-Man? Have you? Because if not, you need to find the last 5 issues and buy this week’s issue. Mr. Dan Slott kicked so much ass in this New Ways To Die arc… so much ass. Coupled with John Romita Jr.‘s art the last six issues of Amazing Spider-Man have been some of the most interesting and well developed comics I have read in a long time.

Previously, we’ve seen the creation of “Anti-Venom” in this series, the loss of Venom (well, Mac Gargan‘s body lost the symbiote thanks to Anti-Venom) and then some craziness with the craziest man in comics: Norman Osborn. This month, it all comes to wraps in Amazing Spider-Man #573. But read on.. I dare you…

**spoilers and more banter than you could ever imagine after the break**

(more…)

So kiddies. This last week was a tiny one for Marvel and since I’m a biased little boy and read primarily Marvel titles I was a bit sad. Nevertheless, Image had some big stuff as did Avatar press: Invincible #53 (which I didn’t get due to some BS with Diamond), Four Eyes #1 and No Hero #1. So I was happy there.

Even still, there were 2 Marvel titles that caught my eye that no one else called for review and here they be for ye:

• Punisher War Journal #24
• Venom: Dark Origin #3

A small week, yes, but let’s proceed. I’ll indulge you with some coolness.

**blah spoilers blah more blah break**

(more…)

Amazing Spider-Man #570 50/50 variant cover by John Romita Jr.

I was going to start this off all cheezy like with a poem or something to bring something new to the table, because god knows I say the words “amazing” and “awesome” enough, but I gave up because after writing 2 lines I remembered that I’m not a fucking pet. Excuse my harsh language before the break, but it’s seriously true. I laugh about it though…

Aaanyways, this week’s issue of Amazing Spider-Man (#570) was quite a page-turner for me. I don’t know what the Spidey writers are cooking up but so far, it smells great. We’ve got multiple plots pulling together, major conspiracies, Brand New Day aftermath effects topping some plot points and just plain-old fun Spider-Man bringing it all together. We’ve got Dan Slott heading the writing team for this arc (this issue is smack dab in the middle of the “New Ways To Die” arc) and the ever-so-amazing John Romita Jr. is providing the unequivocally perfect art.

But let me continue and spoil it all for you…

**spoilers and possible hellfire after the break**

(more…)

So, this week I decided to just continue my sort of “Rapid Reviews” to which I call, if you didn’t guess it, Tuesday Twist-offs.

Let me lay down what I’m going to speed through for you real quick:

• Air #1
• Amazing Spider-Man #568
• Incredible Hercules #120
• Rest #0
• Squadron Supreme 2 #2

Does that work for you? Well, it works for me. Let’s begin.

**definite spoilers and randomness after the break**

(more…)

Amazing Spider-Man #568 Cover

Is it just me or did that week go by really fast? I feels like I was just writing about the August 13 comic book releases and here we are with August 20 already. Hey, I’m not complaining, that just means more comicy goodness for all of us to enjoy.

With the summer quickly coming to a close, Marvel’s got a bunch of great comics coming this week (sorry, DC, nothing I was all that interested in this week). First, we’ll start with a big new arc in Amazing Spider-Man. I’ll also talk about a couple of awesome, fan-favorite books, one which is ending an arc and another that is starting one. Finally, there are a couple of great one-shots that should round out a nice pickup at the shop this week. I’ll tell you more, if you just hit that break!!!

(more…)

Earth X TPB cover

Well if you didn’t know this you do now. I love Alex Ross. I buy comics that he did the cover of just because his painting is amazing. The comic Marvels is my favorite book ever. But Marvels has enough praise, this review is of something else he was involved in. Earth X is Ross’s theory of the end of the marvel universe. This was inspired by DC’s Kingdom Come at Ross painted for. Ross was asked in 1997, in Wizard, what his vision for the end of Marvel would look like when everyone had super powers. What will the characters be like when everyone has superpowers?

Based of Ross’s notes and sketches Jim Krueger wrote Earth X (first issue came out in 2000), a 14 issue series (12 issues, a 0 issue and one issue numbered X). Earth X is a compelling story that whips around from the beginning of earth, to WWII, to the beginning of the Fantastic Four, and to the present–years into the future from the present Marvel universe. The story explains everything from why people have powers, to how Galactus chooses which planets to devour. My favorite part of the story is how it ties everything together from the beginning of time, to the end. It makes this world, where all these characters are invincible and all powerful, quite believable.

After the break I’m going to divulge some of the plot so beware. (more…)

One of the big releases that I forgot to mention that I was excited about in my look at the comic book week ahead on Tuesday was Ultimate Spider-Man. I often make the mistake of forgetting about the Ultimate Universe sometimes, and I really shouldn’t, because some of the best stories by top Marvel artists can be found there. And Ultimate Spider-Man is no exception. After the break, I talk about the new issue of USM and the return of an old foe in this new arc of one of my favorite comics.

(more…)