Comic Book Reviews

Steel Spider [The Amazing Spider-Man Super Special]

An above-average 10 pages; enjoyable.

Master of Vengeance returns thinking Steel Spider is really Spider-Man.

There's lots to like here. Not every Marvel hero can be a big deal in the universe where they live. Oliver is just a decent guy doing a good deed when a villain makes a--stupid but understandable--mistake. Oliver even needs a bit of help to win the day.

There's something charming and sincere here. It's not trying to be dark and gritty.

This wasn't quite as strong as the previous story, but I would have enjoyed more Steel Spider adventures.

The Uncanny X-Men #323

Leisurely.

Storm, Wolverine, and Cannonball visit the city morgue and learn that the bodies of the nightclub victims show no apparent cause of death...

Several strands running through this issue. Not much changes. It's mostly character-driven, but some villains show up at the very end.

Scott Lobdell (50 of 80).

Web of Spider-Man #125

What an odd, contrived story.

Gwen Stacy and Miles Warren racing across the Brooklyn Bridge being chased by the Green Goblin. Huh?!!

Yeah, this one is a weird one. Kavanagh decides, for whatever reason, to bring even more clones into the SPIDER-MAN books. One of them has been around for a very long time, a clone I really didn't think we'd ever see again. I was wrong.

As a standalone story, there's not much to it. Peter follows a trail of clues, finds something shocking and then there's a chase which--after the script does some absurd gymnastics--ends in tragedy. A couple of treads are left hanging. And I'm sure they will appear again very soon. I have no idea where any of this is going.

Diamond Top 300: #27.

Terry Kavanagh (30 of 31).

Steven Butler (8 of 11).

The Punisher War Journal #77

Still only average, but a lot better than the last couple of issues.

Lynn, Ed Dyson, and Lynn's dad are in hiding from their enemies.

First up, Heathen and Blind Joe track them down. Both villains are lame but it doesn't matter in this issue. It's just action. Here, they are just guys with guns. Later, more villains find Lynn's group for the cliffhanger ending.

The issue works because the dumber aspects of the ongoing story arc are completely ignored/unmentioned and the focus is on action. Lynn is still too terrified/miserable for a protagonist, however. I get that they didn't want to simply clone Frank. She's supposed to be a different kind of Punisher; a contrast. I get that. But they went too far.

Diamond Top 300: #151.

Chuck Dixon (2 of 5).

Melvin Rubi (5 of 6).

X-Force #46

Above average.

Caliban & Warpath & Sunspot vs. Mimic

It's really just a misunderstanding fight, but the location--Siberia--lifts it up. And there's the mystery of what's really going on. That gives the proceedings a boost also.

Away from the fight, ongoing developments with Siryn and with Boomer are also intriguing. Meaning that, while nothing particularly special happens, it's a very entertaining comic.

Jeph Loeb (3 of 18).

Adam Pollina (3 of 28).

Silver Surfer III #110

Lightweight.

Genis-Vell takes Silver Surfer to a Go-Go Bar and they bump into Nebula. (Yes. Really.)

It's trying hard to be funny. And I must admit--that against my better judgement--I was mildly amused by some of what went on.

The battle with Nebula was okay and it all turned more serious towards the end. We were even inclined towards having sympathy for her.

Mike Lackey (9 of 9).

Daredevil #341

No comic that ends with Daredevil and Kingpin in a physical fight should be this bad, yet here we are.

Krule attacks District Attorney Kathy Malper.

So this villain has no memory of the night long ago when Kingpin tried to kill him and he has no idea who tried to kill him, yet he remembers the other people who were there? And he's able to track them down years later? And beating each one of them up somehow helps him remember the identity of his true nemesis. Huh?! What is this?

Cyborg spy John Garrett is suddenly back in the book again. Because why not?

Diamond Top 300: #84.

D.G. Chichester (4 of 5).

X-Force #45

Character moments and build-up.

Siberia. A tracking station has gone off-line. X-Force investigates.

Before all that, there are some scenes with Tabitha and Caliban, and some shorter moments with the others. Solid writing, making them all feel like real people. The intrigue starts near the end, and builds towards a surprise on the last page.

Low-key, but an above-average comic.

Jeph Loeb (2 of 18).

Adam Pollina (2 of 28).

Spider-Man Unlimited #9

Good.

The Sinister Seven go after Kaine!

This is a good idea for a story. It makes sense that a group of villains would be concerned about someone new on the scene who is known to kill villains. Especially those evil-doers with ties to Spider-Man. Plus, it's always a positive when you have a script that isn't just bad guys carrying out some nefarious scheme or other. Scripts like this go a long way towards making the Marvel Universe seem like a real place with real people in it.

The action stuff is decent. Typical comic book fighting. (Nothing wrong with that.) Peter gets involved and, of course, ends up fighting everyone because he wants to stop anyone from getting killed. Very Peter.

The scenes away from the battle are just as good, if not better. Particularly enjoyed when Felicia Hardy visited the prison and figured out that the person she was talking to wasn't Peter Parker. I'd be disappointed if it had gone down any other way.

Diamond Top 300: #51.

Tom Lyle (3 of 3).

Ron Lim (9 of 9).

Lunatik [Cosmic Powers Unlimited #3]

Who exactly finds this funny?

"The Pan Galactic Dog Sled is one of the finest vehicles on this lot!"

Lunatik's idea of hammering out a deal with the sales manager involves violence.

My sides hurt from laughing at this. (No. No, they do not.)

The Punisher War Journal #76

New writer; no discernible improvement.

Stone Cold leads VIGIL into a trap; Lynn's father shows up at her hideout!

Most of the issue is devoted to the end of VIGIL, as they get blown out of the sky. Wasn't expecting that. It felt anticlimactic--a way to get them out of the book quick, without an actual resolution. Using a brand new character to do it is deeply unsatisfying.

Lynn's father finding her is just dumb. Thus far, Lynn Michaels is proving to be a disappointing protagonist. After a lot of build-up, they have dropped the ball on this character. Instead of making her a dangerous vigilante, they made her a mess.

With the arrival of Stone Cold, this book now has 3 lame recurring villains. Blind Joe and Heathen being the other two.

Diamond Top 300: #156.

Chuck Dixon (1 of 5).

Melvin Rubi (4 of 6).

The Spectacular Spider-Man #224

The surprise at the end lifts it up a lot.

The battle against Freakface!

An all-action issue, with everyone trying to stop “a killing machine genetically engineered by the Jackal” from killing MJ and anyone else that gets in its way.

Uncomplicated fun. It was Ben Reilly’s choice at the end that made this into a significant chapter.

Diamond Top 300: #27.

Tom DeFalco (10 of 15).

Sal Buscema (91 of 108).

Peter Parker: Spider-Man #58

Good.

“Wonderful. The only one I’m sure isn’t Peter is me.”

This chapter only services only one ongoing plotline, the one where MJ has been kidnapped by Kaine (to save her life). Three different Peters find her!

It’s straightforward stuff. But having clones of the hero in the mix adds a lot and lifts it up a couple of notches.

Diamond Top 300: #23.

Howard Mackie (16 of 80).

Tom Lyle (13 of 16).

The Amazing Spider-Man #401

Clone fun!

Judas Traveller convinces Peter to break out of jail; Kaine abducts Mary Jane; the three clones meet!

Some exciting sequences here. Too many of the villains are enigmatic and mysterious, keeping their motivations a secret. It's beginning to get tiresome. However, the plotting here is very good indeed. Peter leaving jail is a big deal, and the final page packs a punch.

Diamond Top 300: #20.

J.M. DeMatteis (13 of 18).

Mark Bagley (46 of 60).

Web of Spider-Man #124

Good soap opera.

MJ is captured by Kaine; there's a fire in the jail; Detective Raven is approached by Stunner.

The fire is inconsequential and Kaine says nothing of interest to MJ, but there are some significant developments here. MJ now clearly trusts Ben and, at the end, she meets the third clone! Raven and Stunner promises to be an interesting team-up.

The SPIDER-MAN book have, at their best, always been a soap opera. This is no different. It's just got a vastly different recurring cast. And clones. It has clones.

The Peter-in-jail storyline is bringing out the decent/human side of Jonah.

Diamond Top 300: #27.

Terry Kavanagh (29 of 31).

Steven Butler (7 of 11).

The Punisher II #101

Great.

"That's not our Punisher, Mouse."

Creatively, the series is in great shape right now. Frank Castle is being kept in the background, but the conflict between him and Micro is escalating. That makes for compelling reading. There's a new Punisher working for Micro. His character and backstory are strong. Meanwhile, two of Frank's associates are trying to find him. Finally, there's a recurring villain. Her story is gripping also, as she fights to stay alive and outwit her organised crime rivals.

The original PUNISHER formula is long gone. I miss it, but this stuff is high quality. Frank's less in control and more unhinged. The character evolved/changed. But the action/violence is still there.

Diamond Top 300: #103.

Chuck Dixon (10 of 13).

Rod Whigham (5 of 8).

The Amazing Spider-Man #400

Okay.

Peter faces Aunt May in the kitchen the morning after Uncle Ben's death.

The law clearly states that you gotta retell the hero's origin in an anniversary issue. These 7 pages skirt around that necessity. It's more about the origin of the Peter-May dynamic. Why is he the way he is around her? Why did he keep his secret from her? Why did he feel so guilty?

As such, it's a mildly entertaining read.