Defenders [2017-2018] #1-10

Reading Format:

Marvel Unlimited App

Story […very briefly.]

This story is written by Brian Michael Bendis.  The Kingpin has gone legit. [Yeah, right.]  Who will be the new Kingpin?  It’s up to the newly formed team of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Ironfist [Because you know, netflix show lineup.], to find out.  Also why are believed dead villains comming back to life? [Don’t hold your breath for a good explanation.]

Art [Just IMHO.]

David Marquez artwork is on point.  Too bad the story isn’t.

Other Notes [???]

Ok.  This story.  Ummm, it started off really strong but in the end it didn’t really go anywhere.  In the beginning we have this really interesting lead in with Diamondback, who everyone thought was dead showing up and this new street drug that he’s distributing through the city.  It’s a really good mystery set up but it never delivers a satisfying stopping point.  Every issue pretty much ends with a shocking cliffhanger, even the last one.  In these ten issues appearances are made by Night Nurse, The Punisher, Daughters of the Dragon, Black Cat and Deadpool, to name a few.

The dialing and friendly banter between the characters, works well and carries the story along.  The art is consistently good throughout.  Unfortunately the story meanders in the end; with a poorly thought out wrap up.  It feels very much like an unfinished work.

These issues are also collected in the two trades titled Defenders Vol. 1: Diamonds Are Forever and Defenders Vol. 2: Kingpins of New York.

In Other News! [For Fun.]

Netflix has canceled Iron Fist after two seasons.  Which is disappointing for me as I actually really liked the show and the second season had a really interesting tease at the end of it that I was really hoping to see play out.  Oh, well!  Maybe we’ll get to see the characters in on of the other series.  Here’s a link to one of the many articles about it.

https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/10/13/iron-fist-canceled-netflix-kills-first-marvel-series

TGIF & X-Men Gold Vol. 2: Evil Empires

This week has been exhausting on so many levels.  Somehow I managed to completely forget that this week was spring break and my sweet little devil was at home with me all week.  I have new appreciation for all the times I complained to my own parents that I was BORED!

Then I had to deal with getting a new washing machine.  Which necessitated moving half the house around in order to clear a path in an out big enough for a washing machine to pass through…  Believe me when I tell you how much you take for granted the simple ability to do your laundry until you can’t.  Ah, anyway I finally got to sit down this evening after putting the boy wonder to bed.  And I finished…

The rest of the issues that make up X-Men Gold Vol. 2: Evil Empires on the Marvel Unlimited App.  I’m still really liking this title even though I don’t think the issues are all that groundbreaking overall.  I like the character line up.  I like the teams dynamic but they are missing a bit that would really kick it up to Gold Level.  Looking forward to continuing to read it though.

 

GraphicAudio Sale

GrapicAudo is having a sale for a few days and some of the Marvel Books are on it if anyone wants to pick them up on the cheap.

Promo Code for Marvel Unlimited

Right now you can get a year subscription to Marvel Unlimited for $60 with promo code PANTHER.  These promos usually run a few times a year and coincide with the release of new movies or series they are promoting.  In this case the new Black Panther movie that’s going to be released on 2.16.2018.   It’s a good discount especially if you compare it to the cost of a month to month subscription at $9.99.

X-Men: Gold, Vol. 1: Back to the Basics

So, Friday my new tablet came in the mail and I’ve read quite a few things off of the Marvel Unlimited app while I was testing it out.  Among the things that I read were X-Men Gold #1-6, and X-Men Prime #1.  Those issues have a collected volume out titled X-Men: Gold, Vol. 1: Back to the Basics  by Marc Guggenheim, Ardian Syaf (Penciler), Jay Leisten (Inker), Craig Yeung (Inker), Frank Martin (Colorist), Andrew Crossley (Colorist), R.B. Silva (Penciler), Adriano Di Benedetto (Inker) , Cory Petit (Letterer) ….

Wow!  This was actually quite readable.  I won’t say much about the previous X-Men run, because well, I haven’t read it.  My previous attempts to get back into reading any of the X-Men books did not go well.  Maybe it’s because they presented a team line up with characters I was familiar with at least.  Kitty Pryde, Colossus, Storm, Nightcrawler, and  a version of Wolverine…  those are the core members of the X-Men I grew up with and remember.  Now that I found a jumping back on board point I may try again to go and read some of the gaps I’ve missed.

Issues #1-3 have the story Back to the Basics, that introduces Lydia Nance, Heritage Initiative Director [Who wants to deport the Mutants.]; and the newest incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

The next three issues, #4-6, are a story titled Techno Superior, which brings in Gambit, and the granddaughter of Bolivar Trask [Inventor of the Sentinels], when he steals some nanites for her.

One of the things I really liked about this is that they are actually presented as a team that goes out and fights super villains for once.  On the stupid side of things the school is now in the middle of Central Park.  I will probably be confused as to why they decided to put it there for quite some time.

I would have done a few art samples but I haven’t figured out how to do it on my new tablet yet so maybe next time.

Marvel Unlimited 1/24/2018

New in the Marvel Unlimited app today were comics originally published July 19, 2017 [List Below]. Also back issues of Fallen Angel #1-8, and Namor: The Sub-Mariner #1-10.

I jokingly say that Marvel Unlimited is full of unlimited disappointments but here I am again getting a new year of it.  I let it lapse last year so I haven’t had it for about eight months or so I think. I usually will read any new #1’s that show up so today I read Astonishing X-Men #1, and am quite surprised to say that I actually thought it was good. I added that to my library list and plan on reading the next issue.

So what I really need to know is are any of these worth reading?  Any opinions out there? Wanna rec me or warn me about any of the issues on this list?  For me the ones with a strike through are hard passes; I just have no interest whatsoever.

 

1. All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #6
2. Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #9
3. America #5
4. Astonishing X-Men #1
5. Daredevil #24
6. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again #2
7. Doctor Strange #23
8. Invincible Iron Man #9
9. Luke Cage #3
10. Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok Prelude #2
11. Mighty Thor #21
12. Monsters Unleashed #4
13. Ms. Marvel #20
14. Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #2
15. Poe Dameron #17
16. Royals #5
17. Secret Empire #6
18. Secret Empire: Brave New World #4
19. Spider-Man 2099 #25
20. The Totally Awesome Hulk #21
21. U.S.Avengers #8
22. Ultimates 2 #9
23. X-Men Gold #8

Superhero T-Shirt Haul @ Five Below

The town near us just got a store called Five Below put in.  I had never heard of this chain prior to this but it’s one of those price point stores where everything in it is between $1 -$5.  I was shocked to see the amount of nerd/geek/fanish type shirts they had in the place. I got these five shirts, all priced $5 each there yesterday.  They had a pretty good selection overall of Marvel and DC merchandise like comic grab bags, water bottles,   keychains, blind bag figures, action figures, and the like, as well.  It looked like the turnover on goods were pretty fast so I will probably make checking in there a regular thing that I do.

Hawkeye, Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon by Matt Fraction

Hawkeye, Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon by Matt Fraction

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was our group read on Superheroes and Comic Book Club for May 2016.  I read it on time but I’m a bit behind getting my review up.

I found Hawkeye to be a very likeable book but didn’t fall in love with it as others seemingly have. It kind of captures a day-in-the-life of a superhero feeling and pairs it with a stylized art style that works well with it.

One of the best things about the book is that it has some low key humor to it.  Like these Russian mobsters in their matching tracksuits that keep showing up, BRO.

The art style lacks detail but it’s impactful it’s own way.  I do like the impromptu costume that Katie dons here with the arrows sticking out all over her head… however I just don’t see how she’d be able to pull those arrows out and use them without pulling the whole wig off…

Because… Boomerangs!

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The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 1: Squirrel Power by Ryan North

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 1: Squirrel Power by Ryan North

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The first issue seemed like it might have some promise but it quickly just spiraled out into stupidity. Full of bad puns and grade school humor, I really couldn’t find a lot to like. It’s an ok comic to give to a very young child but otherwise I see no merit in it. It also has some of the most god awful ugly art I’ve seen published. Torture to the eyes.

This is Squirrel Girl.  She and every woman in this comic are drawn man faced ugly.  So much so that it’s hard to look at.  While I applaud the use of a more realistic body shape, the reality is most women have feminine faces.  Not being a size 0 does not make you dog ass ugly by default.

The other thing that annoys me about this book is the ridiculous ways in which she defeats villains like Galactus.  Come on now really?  Why do they even need the Avengers with Squirrel Girl on the team! — rolls eyes — I guess it’s supposed to be funny and cute but it just annoys me, guess I’m too old and humorless to enjoy it.

I read these issues on the Marvel Unlimited Reading App.

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Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller

Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What can I say about the classic story Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller that hasn’t already been said? Collecting Daredevil #226-233, these issues originally published in 1964 include some of the original source material for the now popular Daredevil Netflix series.

Frank Miller has the dubious honor of having written some of the best and worst comics I’ve ever read. This collection comes at the end of his run writing the Daredevil monthly book and tells the story of what happens to Matt Murdock when his greatest enemy the Kingpin learns his secret identity.

When ex-girlfriend and drug addict Karen Page sells out Matt for a quick fix, his life spirals out of control and he loses almost everything he ever had. Will he be able to find the fortitude to get up and fight again? Lots of fan favorite characters make appearances in these issues including Gladiator (Melvin Potter), Nuke, Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, low level thug Turk Barrett, and the Avengers.

This book has some excellent art as well.  In the days before computer coloring techniques artists were somewhat more limited but a lot of effort was put into these panels to add to the overall mood of the story.

Here we have a dramatic scene with the Kingpin sort of gloating and looking down on the city, but did everything really go as planned?

And Matt laying in the gutter…

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