Marvel NOW! continues to take the lead for attention grabbing new series, with a lot of other series flying under the radar. That can only be good for Marvel, but it’s also good to know that the market is strong enough to make things like this happen. The Marvel NOW! movement is in full effect this month, with a ton of series rebooting! Besides Marvel, Image Comics and Valiant Comics have also made a mark in the comic market with some new titles!
This month of November is a gigantic month for new comics, not only from Marvel either!
Deadpool #1 published by Marvel Comics
Deadpool is back, though he really wasn’t gone all that long. Deadpool #1 is the Marvel NOW! Re-Evolution of the popular merc with a mouth. A new creative team took over the series after Daniel Way’s dwindling run on the series with. Gerry Duggan, a comedian/writer and Brian Posehn, comedian and actor/writer co-wrote this issue, making the statement “This series of Deadpool will be funny.” That is where my concern for this issue arose. Deadpool is more than just a funny character, he’s also a very skilled mercenary and weapon master. He’s a violent and gorey character with one of the grossest abilities known to comics, he can heal from any wound, faster than Wolverine, but is plagued with a disgusting skin condition that makes him look dead. That part isn’t very funny, so what could two funny guys know about making Deadpool gruesome?
It would turn out that Duggan and Posehn are very good at writing exciting action scenes and bloody and grotesque scenes. Not only did they have a good handle on the action and humor, but they added a serious tone behind the lighthearted mood. A villain has resurrected dead presidents of the United States, and Captain America was there to stop him. Needless to say, S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn’t very happy when Cap had his picture taken decapitating Truman. They needed someone with a bad reputation to abolish the threat of the American presidents. Who has a worse reputation that the brutal killer, Deadpool? A dragon in New York, a team-up with Thor, fighting dead presidents with death lightning, this issue has it all. Not to mention the amazing art by the original artist of The Walking Dead comics, Tony Moore. This issue was a great opening story for new readers and return readers alike. If you don’t at least crack a smile while reading this comic I’ll eat my words.
Art: 9/10
Script: 9/10
Parental Concern: High. Blood, gore, violence.
Storm Dogs #1 published by Image Comics
Storm Dogs was a comic that took my by surprise, both visually and in script. It’s a space traveling story very similar to that of the movie Avatar. It seems like the movie right off the bat, the bright visuals of the planet Amaranth grab you right from the first panel. The story is also about humans coming to this planet to mine its resources, and there are rights groups making the rules about protecting the native fauna and lifeforms. Sounds like Avatar, right? Only for the first 6 pages at most, that’s where the story takes a dark twist.
Mysterious deaths have been occurring on the job sites, human deaths with no explanation. A special task force has been sent to Amaranth by “the Union”, a group that has never actually been on Amaranth. The sheriff of the settlement that the team lands at informs the them of some of the mysteries of the planet, namely the insane rain storms. Rain that makes any foreign species go “insane” and take on a different form if it is able to touch the skin. Not only is the rain weird, but the storms are massive and violent with red lightning. As the team watches the storm safely indoors, a distress call comes in, and the team wants to go help. What they find is more questions than answers.
This comic was a thrill ride form start to finish. The story was really great for anyone who appreciates sci-fi and space travel stories. The art has to be the main selling point of the comic, though. It is so bright and colorful and fresh that it really is the focal point, taking priority of your senses before the story itself. If you liked Avatar, Star Wars or comics like Saga and Planetoid, then this comic is great for you.
Art: 10/10
Script: 8/10
Parental Concern: Moderate. Violence, language.
All-New X-Men #1 published by Marvel Comics
The All-New X-Men is a new series from Marvel that focuses on the present, but also the past of the X-Men. The whole story is a perfect follow up to the Avengers vs. X-Men event, and actually leads straight out of the five part weekly series AvX: Consequences #1 – #5, a developing story that takes Scott Summers, aka Cyclops, from villain to escaped convict. The beginning of All-New X-Men #1 focuses on Hank McCoy, aka Beast, but shortly shifts to Cyclops and his new role as mutant revolutionist with his new team of mutants, Magneto, Emma Frost, and Magik.
Cyclops is on the lookout for new mutants created by the conclusion of AvX, and recruiting them to fight by his side for mutant freedom. Cyclops insists that he owes a great debt to the world for the things he did in AvX, but he is never clear on what he intends to do except fight for mutant freedom. This series is the perfect starting X-men title for anyone who was in to the AvX event. If you haven’t read AvX #1 – #12 you are going to be at a total loss when reading this one. If you read AvX and did not like it, then AvX Consequences and All-New X-men may be able to redeem it. It is full of excitement and mutant tension, and a blast to the past, the past involving the first X-men team and their possible involvement in these present events.
Art: 8/10
Script: 9/10
Parental Concern: Low.
Shadowman #1 published by Valiant Comics
Who is Shadowman, he sounds familiar? Don’t worry about googling Shadowman, because Valiant comics gives you a perfect introduction to Shadowman, carrying on the old series from the 90’s and making something new out of it. Valiant has done a great thing for comics with their Summer of Valiant event where they relaunched four of their original series from the early 90’s, which were cancelled when Valiant closed its doors. X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Bloodshot and Archer and Armstrong have had their time in the spotlight, but now, probably Valiant’s most violent and gruesome series is also getting rebooted.
The story focuses on the potential end of the original Shadowman’s life, but carries forward with the life of his son. Jack Boniface lives his life not knowing who his father was, and loses his mother at a young age, too. When Jack finally finds the information on his parents that he desires, the results are devastating to him. He renounces his past and intends to move on. When the gruesome and gory Mr. Twist comes after Jack, so does the spirit of the shadow. The conclusion of the comic is well worth the already stellar read. I can see this series being something really special, and perfect for someone looking for something a little darker than a superhero comic. Shadowman is no hero by conventional terms, but he is a huge badass. This is a great read for any new comic reader, and you should be picking this up ASAP.
Art: 9/10
Script: 9/10
Parental Concern: Moderate. Blood and gore.
With so much focus on crossover stories like Death of the Family in DC’s Batman series, and a whole bunch of series rebooting from Marvel comics, there hasn’t been a whole lot of focus on new story arcs in ongoing series, but here’s a few:
Earth 2 #6 ends current arc
X-O Manowar #7 starts new arc
Harbinger #6 starts new arc
I should also mention some of the other titles that came out recently, both good and bad: X-Men Legacy #1, Thor: God of Thunder #1, Iron Man #1, Fantastic Four #1, Freelancers #1, Colder #1, 47 Ronin #1, Chasing The Dead #1.
Happy reading, new and old comic fans alike! This is an amazing time to be reading comics, despite “elitist” dissension around the Marvel NOW! movement. Comics are fun, entertaining and an amazing art form to study. Have fun!
