The Great Scott Avengers...

Okay that was a really bad title, but I swear it does relate to what goes down in this comic that I am looking at today. It was either that or "That Time Iron Man was Turned into a Naked Killer Robot Lady". You know we all have that one that got away, an idea that at the time might have been awesome, especially if everyone was passing around some green and/or booze was involved, but once done and finished is actually a pretty terrible idea. Kevin Smith did it with Tusk, and I have to say Brain Michael Bendis would probably want to take this one back. Or not, he makes millions, so f*ck you. I have to believe anyone who makes boat loads of money today can look back and not really care about past mistakes or flops along the way. But if I am wrong, that would totally be cool. (After all, Mark Wahlberg knows The Happening was awful) Regardless, I can't help but feel like this arc in The Mighty Avengers is one that most comic book fans want to bury and forget about for sometime. And here I come like a grave digging jerk face to bring it back into the light and talk about it. A book with a new team of heroes after a massive world event like Civil War against a classic Avengers foe like Ultron, how can you mess that up? And is it really that bad? Even a strange plot can have some great moments and is worth another look. So with that said, let's take a look at The Mighty Avengers issue 2 from Marvel comics.  

From the creative team of Brain Michael Bendis and artist Frank Cho, we get a new team of Avengers. Though some may call them the "sell-outs" Avengers team, this is the team that sided with Iron Man during Civil War, the other team of cool kid "rebels" Avengers became the New Avengers. This is still a very strong powerhouse team, led by Ms.Marvel, with Iron Man, Wasp, Black Widow, Wonder Man, Sentry and Ares. You would think this team could handle practically anything, and then Iron Man gets turned into a naked robot chick who looks exactly like Wasp...because creepy. Yeah, that goes down in issue 1 and issue 2 picks up right there, Mole Man and his critters are also there but they run away pretty quickly as soon as the shit hits the fan. We see a bunch of flashbacks to the recruitment of most of the team members, except Ares, who actually is probably the most curious one of them all, being a God and all that. And the team is trying deal with the now naked lady Iron Man villain that they are trying to take down and figure out what the waffle is going on. Though Janet has an idea about what they might be dealing with, it becomes clear by the end of the book. But we get to see plenty of Avengers tossing about and being thrown all over the place, good times. 

So let me make one thing clear here, Bendis and Cho are very talented individuals, that really goes without saying. And who could say otherwise, unless your Joe Quesada or Jim Lee, you don't really have a platform to dump on anyone making money in the industry. Anyone who makes it, is there for a reason. That being said, do I feel like this book and this particular arc is pretty weak all things considered. While some really interesting stories were going on in New Avengers, which Bendis was handling at the time and planting seeds for Secret Invasion, this feels like it needs to be strange for the sake of being strange. Can you just have Ultron come back and wreck some havoc, just like that. Sure, why not? I know you always need to up the ante, but this just comes as a little forced. Shock for the sake of shock, no substance. And comics do this all the time to stir the pot, I get that. But after the shock is gone all that is left are feelings of embarrassment and sadness. These are the books that become ghost stories of stupidity, like no one would actually do that in a comic...would they? Yeah, they would. Could this same story have been done properly? I think so. This Ultron here feels like a killer sex alien. Instead you could've had the bad robotic villain waking up as Janet and believing that it is Janet, not Ultron. A sleeper agent, a wolf in sheep's clothing. You work an angle of mistrust and confusion in the team, and have them conquer Ultron and grow as a team overall, especially if this is the first challenge for The Mighty Avengers. Just an idea, but you get the point. 

This is one of those if you happen to find it at a good price, check it out, but you know be warned. But if you are a pretty new to comics, you'll probably want to read something that isn't so bizarre. This is the comic book your librarian warned you about. 

And just like that, another book reviewed and gone. Feels good to be writing again, had to get that out of my system. There is actually a lot I want to talk about recently, been going to therapy and been looking around for a new job, all the while doing my best to bust out as much art work as possible while trying to learn more and more art techniques. Not to mention the constant feeling that life and most people are leaving you behind, not a great feeling. But you know what, I am here now and I am going to do my best to bust out as much work as I can. It's the only thing I can do, so let's shoot the shit and talk some comics. Let me know what you thought about this issue and this run of Mighty Avengers. Are you a fan or did you hate it? Let me know in the comments below. Going to try and write something up more and more, but I might do some more personal ones, trying to make sense of it all and what not. But the Storm is back, so as I said before, stay sassy n classy and until then, keep chasing the storm.

Public Mutant Enemy...

It's good to be Scott Summers. That's something you aren't going to hear very often now in days, not only did he kill his mentor Charles Xavier, he is a wanted criminal, a dubbed terrorist, with his powers working on and off. And he now has some new robotic stalkers. And if you think it can't get any worse, lets put that thought on hold until we get through more issues. Going through all the comics that I have, I decided to take a look at Uncanny X-Men #10 today, I needed to catch up with the series and not to mention that I am feeling like I am on a big X-Men trip. That I need to avoid reviews all the one shot and annual comics that I have, on going series comics are important as well, to see how it holds up as a single issues and how it helps the entire series as a whole grow in general. The Marvel Now series of Uncanny X-Men follows the rag tag group of mutants who follow Cyclops, this includes classic team mates like Emma Frost and Magneto, but also includes a lot of the new younger mutants who have shown up thanks to the aftermath of AvX. It's a great team to follow, a team that really does want to do go in the world but who are all also wanted criminals as well. The anti-hero of superhero teams if you will. I highly recommend you check out the earlier books, but for now let's take a look at this issue.

So first off this series is being written currently by Brian Michael Bendis, who is also currently writing the All-New X-Men series as well, so needless to say he is doing his best to keep and respect the current continuity. I have always been a big fan of his work in the New Avengers and in the Ultimate Spider-man series, and I hear Powers is a really good series as well. Come to think of it, I have only met one person who really didn't like his work, and that guy seemed bitter and sour about something. Could have been weak coffee or something. Needless to say, Bendis is one the top writers in comics today, and he has done a great job so far with the X-Men titles. Another thing to keep in mind with this issue, is that it's drawing by Frazer Irving, who has an incredible style to his art, it reminds me of the kind of work from Jae Lee. And while it is completely different from Chris Bachalo, who is the other main artist on this title, his art really works well here in these stories. Amazing splash pages as well, and tells a story through colour and mood. And while it may not be for everyone, I personally see Irving doing some incredible work on some big titles!

I want to do my best to review this book without giving away too much. I will say though, as a starting point comic for new readers, it will be extremely confusing and not give you a lot of background on what is going on and who is who. But for long time readers this book is great, showing the evolution of mutant abilities and some of the relationships going on behind the scenes. It also shows a rally of human supporters for Cyclops and the mutant cause. A sight that has started ever since Cyclops was deemed a criminal of the state. An interesting idea to play with for sure, Cyclops getting a rally of support like this over a guy like Xavier, who for years peacefully pleaded for mutant rights. Makes you wonder, is action the loudest way to get your message out there. Even after the event of AvX, I don't feel that Scott Summers is a villain or a bad guy, also considering Professor X was part of the illuminati group of heroes. The things they have done, the damage and the secrets they hold, doesn't exactly make them saints. And you know it's a bit of irony, that now Cyclops finds himself in a Scarlet Witch like situation. Maybe this is a Marvel thing, heroes get turns at being cast out and labelled as criminals. And apparently with AXIS, the next big Marvel event, a lot of good guys will be making some bad choices.

All things said, this book does a great job of making this series move along. And for anyone collecting the series it's a no question, this book is a must in the collection. An absolute delight to read and plenty to see within each page. 

That's all the time I have for today guys, plenty more comic book reviews on the way! I just picked up my weekly books and a few more from the discount bin, got to love those one dollar comics! I also got a lot to get done for Fan Expo, so plenty to take care of. Comment, share and subscribe as well guys. Until then, keep chasing the storm!