Bring on the Marvel hype!
House of M (or, House of Hmmmmmmm) comes to a hopefully satisfying conclusion or it really will be a waste of time and hype, and the internet won’t so much crack in half as fall asleep. Should Bendis be allowed to write huge crossovers in future? (Unless it involves people talking all the way, of course …)
I enjoy Peter David’s writing and Mike Wieringo’s art, but the thought of their new Spider-Man comic being the start of a 4-month Spider-Man event turns me off Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #1 quicker than puberty turns off Michael Jackson. I’m glad PAD is writing regularly again for Marvel, but not like this.
She-Hulk is back. Again. A second series for the Dan Slott version of Jennifer as Hulky McBeal, which was affectionate and funny and an enjoyable read, which is why it didn’t succeed. Joining him will be Juan Bobillo and his quirky renditions of Marvel heroes; let’s hope that circulation levels are healthier this time around. Although I really wish they didn’t use Greg Horn as cover artist because it’s not going to help sales.
Nick Fury’s Howling Commandos is a great name, even if it sounds a little dated. I don’t know if Giffen will be writing it like his recent attempt on Suicide Squad, which this sounds similar to, and it has the potential to be interesting, but I can’t see this lasting more than a few issues (even if it is supposed to be ongoing.)
This month brings us Ultimate Namor and Ultimate Galactus, I mean, Gah Lak Tus. Not so confident with Millar and the former, but intrigued by the latter under Ellis (his work-for-hire stuff isn’t as good as his creator-owned work, but I did enjoy his Ultimate Fantastic Four, so there’s potential).
I can’t believe that Garth Ennis is writing a Ghost Rider mini-series; I thought it was weird enough when Warren Ellis tried to do something with bizarre character in his early days at Marvel. I just don’t get the appeal of Ghost Rider, I’m afraid. A skeleton in a leather jacket on fire on a motorcycle is a very silly idea, as I’m sure the majority of the population who had never heard of him prior to the Nic Cage film will agree with.
Is Bendis trying to relive some of Frank Miller’s Daredevil? Ninja stuff? Check. Identity issue? Check. Kingpin story? Check. Elektra? Check, as of this issue. All he needs now is Bullseye and he’ll have everything covered. I mean, he’s even got the ninjas in the New Avengers. Not that I’ve got anything against ninjas, mind you. Not sure they should be in the Avengers, though …
It should have on the cover: ‘You won’t believe your eyes! Not a hoax! Not an imaginary story! This is it: the last issue of Secret War!’ But it probably won’t.
What is the artist of such comics as Kid Eternity and Enigma doing drawing Marvel Monsters: Monsters on the Prowl? Duncan Fegredo is a great artist – why isn’t he doing something worthwhile? Or am I just being snobbish?
Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big in Japan – is this the most bizarre mainstream idea in the world, or are they saying that the people of Nippon are short of stature?
X-Men and Power Pack (or is it just Wolverine and Power Pack?) reminds me of the issue missing from my Power Pack collection, #27, which was rare because of the Wolverine appearance. Yes, I have Power Pack comics; you wanna make something of it?
I have a dilemma regarding the Supreme Power spin-offs. Apart from why are they needed while the series is on hiatus. I like JMS’s writing but don’t like Dan Jurgens art for Hyperion, a situation reversed for Nighthawk with the take-it-or-leave-it Daniel Way on script duties and the great Steve Dillon on art chores. Wait for the trade, I think.
Apart from promoting Gravity and Runaways, I can’t think of anything else to say, so I shall curtail my opinion spouting and start thinking about writing some film reviews to share with you all. In closing, I shall quote Public Enemy: ‘Don’t Believe The Hype!’
