The current Arc, I Against I, is shaping up to be yet another great story line.

When last we left Heath Huston and Nicholas in Hatchet Job #5 (issue #21) they were sucked in to a black hole while attempting to escape from the planet Neavsivia. Now they are stranded on an unfamiliar planet where they attempt to survive it’s harsh conditions.

I really love the looks of the civilization that Heath encounters on this new world. It seems to be a mix of an old Western town and a futuristic palace city. I’m not sure why, but I have a thing for alien civilizations that resemble towns from the Wild West… they intrigue me.

Rick Remender continually manages to keep me engaged throughout each and every issue, and by the end leaves me wanting more. I can’t wait to see where this story is heading.
Honestly, if you are not reading Fear Agent, I highly recommend that you pick up the trades. If you’re like me, you’ll be hooked on the monthly issues.

You can preview the first three pages of I Against I at the official Dark Horse Comics website.

Warning: there be spoilers in this review.

Action Comics #865: The Terrible Toyman gives us a glimpse inside the Toyman’s psychotic mind as he captures Jimmy Olsen to tell the “real” story of his origin. The Toyman claims he never killed Cat Grant’s son, and that the crime was instead committed by one of his life-like robots.
Although this is a basic origin retelling and continuity change (cringe!), Geoff Johns was able to keep me entertained and managed to make everything feel OK. He has a wonderful ability to give each character he writes a unique voice, something that is very important for convincing characters, and for convincing story lines.

Unfortunately there is one glaring flaw I could not get my mind around while reading this issue. If one of the Toyman’s robots had actually killed Adam Grant, Superman would not have been fooled by this. We are talking about a man who is able to see through flesh and bone, and to hear pulses. I am unconvinced that anyone, no matter what their level of genius, would be able to create a robot that would fool Superman in to thinking it was an actual human being.

Other than that flaw, this was a well written comic… plus it was hilarious to see the Toyman mistake Olsen for a 16 year old boy!

The premise is this: Wolverine has been ordered by Cyclops to hunt down and kill Mystique for her betrayal of the X-Men. Wolverine is happy to comply, and the chase is on. Mystique repeatedly gives Wolverine the slip just as he is about to kill her.
The story is split between the modern day, as well as bits of Wolverine’s past (as usual). The past sequences are pretty cool as the involve lots of interaction between Logan and Mystique.

Like many other X-Men fans, I am pretty fed up with the Wolverine worship. While I agree that he’s a pretty cool character, and I even admit that at one time he was my favorite of the X-Men, I really would like to see Marvel stop over using him.
But despite all that, this current arc is really fun and interesting, and is leading up to what will almost surely be Mystique’s demise.

The dialogue is well done, and the art is easy on the eyes. I recommend this arc, even if you’re a bit on the bored side with Wolverine.

Get Mystique spans Wolverine issues #62 - #65. The final part of the series was released on the 14th of May.

Update (with spoilers)

I was slightly disappointed with the final issue of this arc (issue #65). Wolverine hunted Mystique down for days only to stab her and leave her for dead in the desert. I am sick of reading stories in which characters die only to be magically (literally or figuratively) revived, writer Jason Aaron managed to avoid this problem. Unfortunately he did so in a very clunky manner. Wolverine simply would not have left without thoroughly finishing the job.
At any rate, I still enjoyed this arc and would recommend picking up the trade when it’s released.

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In the meantime, checkout the new Incredible Hulk trailer if you want to see two CG animations almost fight.

Bucky agrees to don the costume of Captain America and go after the Red Skrull.

This sentence obviously should have said, “Red Skull”. Was this an accidental typo or a sly attempt to generate some buzz by Marvel?

Perhaps Marvel is just so obsessed with Skrulls right now that they can not keep their finger away from the ‘R’ key when typing out the word Skull.

There seems to be a few other observant readers who noticed this possible error, and they are as curious as I am.

There was another viral ad displayed within one of the actual panel’s of this comic. There is a page where Tony Stark discusses his intel on the faked death of Aleksander Lukin with the Secretary of the State. Various screens surround them displaying news feeds and maps. On one rather obvious screen that Tony and the Secretary happen to be facing is a reporter. At the bottom of the screen there are captions that read

Dr. Jack Shephard. The Lost.. are Found? Details can be found at find815.com

find815.com is a viral advertising campaign (passed off as a “fun interactive game”) for the television show Lost, and Jack Shephard (as any self respecting geek should know) is one of the main characters.

Interesting bits of trivia for those who like this sort of thing.

This touches somewhat close to home for me being that I’m seriously looking forward to The Dark Knight, not only because it will be an awesome movie, but also because I was in it as an extra. Now the premier will be tainted by the knowledge that Heath Ledger is dead.

When last I reviewed One More Day, Peter Parker and Mary Jane were facing a deal with Mephisto: he would keep Aunt May alive if the two long time lovebirds would become un-married. Reject the deal, and Aunt May dies. So with only 24 hours to decide, Peter Parker proves he’s a loser and takes the deal, leaving the final choice up to Mary Jane who would also need to accept for the deal to be legitimate. She also agrees to the terms under one condition: the memory of Spider-Man’s identity (revealed during the Civil War) would be erased from the public’s minds.
Just like that, the deal is done. Mary Jane Parker is just plane old Mary Jane Watson again. She, Spidey and the rest of humanity have no recollection of their past together.
Spider-Man is still an unregistered, wanted hero, but no one remembers his identity, and Aunt May is alive and kickin’.

Breaking up Spider-Man and Mary Jane would be an OK story concept, perhaps even bold. However to destroy years and years of story is not bold or inventive, it’s just stupid. Taking a deal with Mephisto that erases everyone’s memory about Sider-Man’s true identity is a cop-out. Why even reveal it in the first place? Oh right, I forgot: increased sales.

But the horror does not stop with the erasure of Spidey’s marriage. It seems that Harry Osbourne is back from the dead and is great friends with Peter once more. Spider-Man also has mechanical web shooters back (actually that’s a good thing) and horror of horrors: Mary Jane is a Super Hero.
I’m going to give this series a month or two and if it fails to keep me interested, I’m dropping it. I should really drop it on mere principle. I keep hoping that the whole deal will be reversed, although I am very sure this is wishful thinking.

Fraction is a really wonderful writer. He manages to blend humor seamlessly into the horrifically violent actions Kraven Jr. takes against his “pets”.
What’s funnier than Kraven wearing a chef’s hat along with his crazy-man outfit while he serves an exploded Pegasus horse to his unsuspecting prisoners… OK lots of things are funnier. But combine the thought with a visual and you can see what I mean.

I have loved every issue of Fraction’s run on War Journal, but this current arc takes the cake. It’s just fun, and the switch to artist Scott Wegener was an excellent choice. My one complaint with earlier issues was the odd art which included illustrations merged with photos. Thankfully Fraction’s writing was so good I could get past it. Now that Wegener has taken the reigns, War Journal looks more like a traditional comic book and seems to have hit a level of near perfection.

Take my advice, start reading Punisher War Journal. Start with issue #13 and go from there, you will not be disappointed.

Two years ago I started reading Supergirl. The first several issues had decent art (if you like Michael Turner) minus the fact that Supergirl looked to be in her early twenties rather than her supposed age of 16.
The story lines were pretty basic and terrible: Supergirl fights people and then befriends or proves herself to them. She fights her inner demons and struggles with her identity. This was hardly a bad premise for a back story, however the execution was poorly done time and time again.

Issue #24 of Supergirl was brought to us by writer Kelly Pucket and pencilers Drew Johnson and Lee Ferguson. It concludes the two issue arc, Ghosts of Krypton, yet another story in which Kara attempts to prove what she can be to herself and the people around her.
In part 1, Supergirl attempts to find a war ship in deep space and almost suffocates, and that pretty much sums up Issue #23 (great pace, eh?).
In Part 2, entitled “Star Child”, Kara bursts through a portal (in her shower) just in time to catch her breath. She finds out that Superman not only found the ship, but also discovered a way to look back at Krypton from 30 light years away.
This prompts yet another flash back to Kara’s Kryptonian past… and that does it for issue #24.

The story of Krypton’s past has been done so many times in the pages of Supergirl (and Superman for that matter) that I have completely lost interest in Krypton and am now glad it was annihilated.
The constant repetition of Kara’s past makes me want to burn every issue of Supergirl I have in my possession.

Supergirl #24 has more than a terrible story. It also contains really awful dialog.
Consider this particularly bad exchange between Supergirl and her father:

Zor-El: “So are you analyzing that ghentta flyer or just watching it? You going to be a scientist like mom… or a ranger like your father?”
Kara: “I’ll be what I want to be. Once I figure that out. And rangers smell like bgzzt poop.”
Zor-El: “Is that… a challenge? Are you challenging me?”
Kara: “Yes. I’m challenging you not to smell like poop!”
Zor-El: “Aha! Very good. Then prepare yourself, little one–”

Prepare for what? For her father not to smell like poop? What in the name of Krypton was Puckett smoking?
This whole exchange reads like a poorly translated Japanese anime. And why is Zor-El dressed like Han Solo?

I really wanted to see this comic book get good writers, but it was not meant to be. I can’t waste another dime or moment on this series. Although I have threatened to drop it time and again in the past, this time it’s for real. As of issue #24 I am officially through with Supergirl. I dropped this terrible excuse for a comic book from my reading list, and I urge you to do the same.

Good-bye Supergirl, it was a rough two years… you will not be missed.

A War and a Bullet

Months ago, there was a super-hero civil war. The government wanted all super-powered humans to register their identities and become government workers, or retire. If the individuals complied, they would go on saving the day under government direction. They would receive training, and a salary. If they refused to register, they would be banished to a holding facility.

Some registered, some rebelled. Spider-Man was convinced by Tony Stark not only to register, but to reveal his identity to the world on television. Immediately following this, the King Pin put out a hit on Peter Parker, and / or Mary Jane and Aunt May.
Meanwhile Spider-Man switched sides and went in to hiding with Aunt May and Mary Jane.
At the end of the Civil War, Aunt May wound up taking a sniper bullet in the chest. Being that she’s incredibly old and frail, this now has her at death’s door. Meanwhile Peter felt responsible and donned his black costume (just in time for Spider-Man 3) and set out to prove a point. What that point was, I’m still not really sure.

All of this brings us to the One More Day 4 part series in which Peter Parker has recently come to the realization that there is no saving Aunt May… that is unless he makes a deal with the Marvel Universe’s Devil, Mephisto.

The Devil’s Deal

Mephisto has offered Peter and Mary Jane the life of Aunt May (a life he claims only he can save) in exchange for the abolishment of their marriage.

Peter Parker instantly rejects the deal, but Mary Jane wants to think it over.
At this point, if I’m Peter Parker, I’ve got to be feeling a little less-loved than before. Here his wife is actually willing to say “I Don’t” in exchange for the prolonged life of his living-mummy of an Aunt.
As Mephisto goes on to explain, taking this deal means the two will have no memory of their marriage what-so-ever. And what, prey-tell does the vile Mephisto get out of the deal?

… there will be a very small part of your soul that will remember, that will know what you lost. And my joy will be in listening to that part of your soul screaming throughout eternity.”

So Mephisto gets to listen to the screaming souls of Spider-Man and Mary Jane throughout eternity… I’d say everyone but Aunt May is a loser in this deal.

Final Thoughts

Most of this comic involved Peter parker in his Spider-Man costume with the mask up, (he’s been doing that a lot lately) conversing with alternate versions of himself in visions brought on by Mephisto. All in all One More Day has been pretty boring, although the idea of splitting the two love birds up is a slightly more inventive idea than killing off a character only to bring them to life later on.
And yet, I’d be willing to put money on Spider-Man and Mary Jane being reunited at some point.

No, I’d much rather see Aunt May dead. I really hate her.