Kull #6

7.5

I have been enjoying all the new Robert E. Howard comics Dark Horse has been putting out lately. The Kull series started out strong but this last issue kind of fizzled out. I do recommend 

checking out the new Conan and Soloman Kane series. These have inspired me to go back and read some of Howard's early stories. Apparently he began writing these stories when he was just 15 years old. Most 15 year olds I know are dumb as hell.

Marvel Zombies 4 #2

7.5

I love the Marvel Zombies. I'm trying hard to love this new series but I just feel like I'm being smacked in the face. I feel like the "Marvel Zombies franchise" is one of the biggest things to happen to Marvel and could be a huge success for years to come.  So why would you hire Fred Van Lente to write it? The guy writes "marvel adventures" for kids! WTF? They got it right when they gave him Hercules to write. Let him fuck that up. No one cares about Hercules. 

 In all fairness, the last two issues weren't bad, but they could have been much better. I just feel like if Marvel isn't going to take this seriously, why should we? 

Agents of Atlas #4

4

What is going on? The first three issues of this series were great! Please don't let this bad review deter you from reading issues 1-3. This particular issue was a headache of time traveling realty altering jet planed red triangle radiation holding thing. Way to take a giant crap on what could be a great series. 

These Golden Age characters work really well together and this Iron Fistesque hideout alternate reality thing they have is cool. This is much better than when Alex Ross tries to yet again re-imagine some glorious hero of the past and put me right to sleep. I have been trying to get through his new books and wow, five pages in and I'm out.

I hope taking on the New Avengers next month will make up for this nonsensical issue. Seriously Jeff Parker, go think about what you did. 

Cable #14

7.5

I am really excited to see this series paying off. A few issues back, when it was dragging ass, time traveling over and over, dying of thirst and moving inches at a time, I was getting as weary as Cable himself. This new X-Force team is what's holding it down for me. This is the most savage team ever seen in the Marvel Universe. 

There is one thing I am not excited to see. Why do they draw Hope with a thirty year old head and a four year old body? Did all the radiation from the future turn her into a creepy mutated midget? Is that her mutant power, to look ridiculous? If and when she finally makes it back to San Francisco, the other students are going to have a field day smacking around her huge deformed noggin. Especially the Young X-men. Those guys are kind of dicks.

The Invincible Iron Man #13

7.5

This Dark Reign is bold and impressive. Bendis has yet again torn the Marvel Universe asunder and reassembled it through a glass darkly. One of the great purposes of science fiction is to satirize our reality giving us a better understanding of the world around us. This Dark Reign obviously inspired by the political climate in the US over the past 8 years is what makes marvel, for me, more relatable than it's rival DC. 

I've never been a big Iron Man fan but this new story line is great. It's now one of my most anticipated books of the month. Stark Enterprises destroyed, Tony on the run, Maria Hill side-story, it's a whole new ball game. It has great tension and I hope they can keep the momentum going.

 

New Mutants Vol.4 #1

7.5

 Today was kind of exciting for me. I have been looking forward to this book because the New Mutants hold a special place in my heart. I began reading comics right around the time the original New Mutants series came out. The X-men were all a little old for me to relate to and the Power Pack was a little too young. Chris Claremont was in his writing prime, making marvel mutant history, and the New Mutants were just right for me at the time I found them.

This new series kicks off with Chan and a de-powered Danielle Moonstar going missing while investigating a mutant in a small Colorado town. Sam gathers the original members, minus Rahne Sinclair (who is having her own issues in the new X-Force series), to go find them. There's a nice torch passing scene where Cyclops, now in the position of Xavier, gives his permission for Sam to assemble his team. The issue ends with the surprise return of a long dead character. 

It's nice to see Illyana back in action, even if we owe it all to the boring "Ex-Infernus" mini series. I've read worse mutant spin offs, and I feel lately, if I can make it all the way to the end of an issue, it's a win. None of that horrible graffiti/anime art, and no embarrassingly awkward pop culture referencing dialogue. I am impressed. Thank you marvel for not breaking my heart.