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

To Read or Not to Read DC Universe

At 10pm I sat down at my computer and thought to myself.  I’ll write a blog post!  Yeah! What will I write about?  Boo!  So, I wandered off to DC Universe to sample comics… I say sample because that’s all I seem to do lately.  Ever heard the expression, I think I’ve reached the end of the internet?  Sometimes I feel like I’ve reached the end of the longbox.  I just can’t seem to find anything that will hold my interest.  I don’t think it’s the comics though, I think it’s just me.   So for the last 4 hours I’ve read sporadic comic and stared blankly at my computer screen.  Oh, and I ate a slice of leftover meat lovers pizza, (that might have been the highlight of my Friday Night).

Part of my mood probably is from having read Batman #55, and even though I knew where this story was going from the solicits; the end of the issue was upsetting.  Why oh why did it have to be Nightwing? ;-/

Anyway I read too issues from the Marvel Unlimited App.  One was Tales of Suspense Hawkeye and the Winter Soldier #102.  It’s the third part of a story about them looking for Black Widow.  So far I’ve like the story and the art in it.  The other thing was X-Men Gold #23 where Kitty Pryde and the rest of the X-Men get thrown in jail.  I’ve been keeping up with that title and am liking it.

On DC Universe I’ve checked out a few books and I was going to read a Beast Boy mini series that was on there but I kept getting kicked out of the app at the same page in the comic so don’t know what was going on with that?  Other books were working fine.   Despite my reservations about DC Universe I’ve been on there a lot since I got it goofing around, just hope they can make some improvements to it.

Well, it’s going on 3 am now and I should really try to lay down and sleep some,  I’m going to be paying for this late night tomorrow when I have to get up and do things.  Have a good weekend comic friends.

 

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.

 

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

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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Ant-Man, Vol. 1: Second-Chance Man by Nick Spencer, Ramon Rosanos

Ant-Man, Vol. 1: Second-Chance Man by Nick Spencer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If the blurb can be trusted this volume collects issues #1-5. Read as single issue comics on Marvel Unlimited.

Likeable story but centered around the oldest of comic book tropes… Ant-Man’s daughter in in danger…

Basicly his ex wife decides to move their daughter out of the city and down to Miami Florida, for the girls safety. This prompts Ant-Man to have give up a cushy job he’s just landed and follow them down there. The story doesn’t fall flat mostly because of the easy going tone and light humor in it.

Nothing really seems to go Scott’s way and some of the scenes are downright cringeworthy as he tries to find work in the most awkward ways. We got an interesting little nibble about his new business partner and I hope at some point they go back and explain just how the Nazi Robot got locked in the bank vault.

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Miami Vice Parody Cover from Issue #4.

I love Nazi Robots!  —>> Wait that doesn’t sound right at all, what I mean to say is I enjoy seeing heroes fighting Nazi Robots.  😉  I thought this page had some of the better looking art from the book.

Yesterday’s X-Men by Brian Michael Bendis

All-New X-Men, Vol. 1: Yesterday’s X-Men by Brian Michael Bendis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, ever since I got my Marvel Unlimited subscription I had really been avoiding reading X-Anything. I’m a little conflicted about this storyline. Honestly I think the premise of the story is beyond stupid but it actually didn’t end up being as bad as I thought it might be. There are so many storylines that I’ve missed over the years I don’t know if I’ll ever catch up but I might go ahead and try to continue reading some X-Men titles again starting with this title and branching out.

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Early Daredevil retold.

Daredevil: Season One by Antony Johnston
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Likeable retelling of some early Daredevil stories. The updated art and style makes these a bit more palatable to modern sensibilities. Sort of like a what if those stories had happened in the age of cellphones and the internet. I would have rated this higher if it had been a bit more consistent. Several of the stories are just excerpts and you feel like you’ve missed something important.

The art is nice but I’m not in love with it. Still this is a nice book to have if you like Daredevil and it would be a great read for anyone who wants to sample some early Daredevil history.

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I read this on Marvel Unlimited and here are a few screenshots:

The third panel on this page is pretty frightful if you ask me.  Maybe it’s the way his teeth are so heavily outlined it sort of makes it look like jagged shark teeth or something.  Maybe it’s the eyes…

This page was nice looking, that’s a pretty classic looking Daredevil pose.

And this one was just sort of morbidly funny to me because of the crazy villain The Spot.  I mean he looks and is named like he’s a dalmatian puppy, but that is one sick power he has…