When we last visted Fury Max – Nick was in Vietnam just as American were getting involved on the French side of Indochina. That mission was a good read with great historical grounding. The mission wasn’t successful except it got Fury an assignment he liked better for helping out Congressman Pug McCuskey. The bad news is – it has to do with Cuba, Cuban nationals, and the Kennedy White House.
First a very satisfied nod to the creative team: Garth Ennis, Writer – Goran Parlov, Artist – Lee Loughridge, Colors – Rob Steen, Lettering – Manny Mederos, Production – Sebastian Girner & Nick Lowe, Editors on Issue #4 – Nick Lowe, editor on Issue #5 & 6 – Axel Alonso, Editor In Cheif – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.
The bright side of the previously failed Indochina mission was Pug’s secretary Shirley. She and Fury struck up a friendship with benefits. That was early 1954, after a flash Nick today dictating his memoirs while his call girls take a rest between sessions we are taken to 1961. Fury is training Cuban Nationals in Central America. At least until the soon to be Senator Pug calls him for another off the books job.
But in this one – it appears Shirley wants more than quarterly visits. In the middle of one of Nick’s visits she announces she’s marrying Pug. She doesn’t want to go back to the South Side of Chicago she wants the good life. If Nick will stay and give it to her she’ll reconsider – but no that’s not Nick.
He and his side kick Hatherly’s reward for training the Nationals as best they can – an off the books assignment from Pug and the leaders of the Nationals – Kill Castro. They get a gung-ho radioman and set out on their mission in the middle of the Bay of Pigs event. You can guess how it turns out. What you can’t guess is just how low Pug will sink and how he’ll put his new wife in danger doing it.
I like the story except for the end. It’s not that the mission fails (sorry I don’t consider that a spoiler basic knowledge of American history tells you that) I just didn’t get what Fury did or why. I’ve always gotten Fury’s thought process. Sure it’s screwed up at times, at times I DO NOT agree with it, at times it’s so clouded by testosterone that it reeks. His final decision in this arc just didn’t make sense for the character. Maybe it’ll be a plot device we’ll see develop later but as it stands – it’s out of character to me.
Though I have to say I’m loving this title. It’s historically accurate, great writing, and the art is fantastic. It all comes together to give me a comic I want. Yes Fury is a man’s man but that’s the appeal kinda like Bond with a more rugged edge and dirtier finish. That I enjoy. We are getting to see Pug, Hatherly, and Shirley develop into full characters not just cut-outs of spy novel characters. I can’t wait for the next arc to complete. I’m hoping this team stays for many issues to come.
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*********A Few Internal Scans******* May Be Considered Spoilery by SOME****************
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Let’s start by being clear – Max comics are for adults. What makes them different from say regular Marvel? They drop the f-bomb and other curse words. People smoke – something forbidden now even for the healing factor crowd in the main titles. There’s nudity – no just right shadows or things in the foreground. They have sex, they depict some sex scenes, and yes they talk about sex. The fighting in some titles is more graphic, more blood and gore. When a guy gets punched it’s not just spittle that’s gonna fly. Still with all of that you’ll see and experience more extremes in an R movie than in a Marvel Max comic. It’s more than their general comics but not as much as an R movie. Got it? So if seeing women’s breasts or the f-word in type or blood fly in a fight – these titles aren’t for you.
That said they are for the rough and tumble character of Nick Fury! I like this take on him. He’s free to be what his character is set up to be in the regular line. I don’t seem him not cursing, not bedding the women, and not spoiling for a good fight when he can get one. He doesn’t mince words, says what he thinks but as a good soldier eventually follows orders even if he thinks it could be to his death. In this series he’s telling about his career post WWII in all it’s unvarnished truth. The first arc deals with Fury’s first days in French IndoChina as it’s moving toward what would become the Vietnam War. He’s the perfect character to use the Max setting to tell his tales.
First a very satisfied nod to the creative team: Garth Ennis, Writer – Goran Parlov, Artist – Lee Loughridge, Colors – Rob Steen, Lettering – Manny Mederos, Production – Sebastian Girner & Nick Lowe, Editors – Axel Alonso, Editor In Cheif – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.
This arc takes place in early 1954. We meet a politician Congressman Pug MCCuskey who thinks if Indochina falls to the communists then all of Southeast Asia will fall and he’s an anti-commie man second only to Joe McCarthy. Next we meet Agent Hatherly who will be Nick’s side kick through this. He’s a new CIA agent assigned to the the embassy where Nick’s the field operative, or so they say. Finally we meet the fiery and fiesty Shirley DeFabio secretary to Pug and becomes lover to Nick. The main cast is set. The task is for Nick and Hatherly to evaluate a French Foreign Legion post as allies to help assess it and improve security. What they find there disturbs them – for Nick it’s the indefensible position, under trained men, and lack of supplies that worry him the most. For Hatherly it’s the Nazi that admits to killing Jews serving as an ally to the US and going unpunished.
The story is a nutshell of politics in Indochina at the time. Nick comes at it as a pragmatic fighter while Hatherly gives us the idealistic fighter’s take. Both wind up taking a beating as Vietnam rises to overthrow the French colonials. The story is told with the rough edge of a fighter giving a true to the character voice for Fury. We all know how this is going to turn out in the end. Vietnam isn’t a good chapter but it is one every student of history shouldn’t over look or forget. Here we watch as the two polar opposites confront the issues as they were in ’54. New type of war differing from the one we’d just won. They struggle to make their ideas of war fit with the situation, colonialism is dying and our former ally Russia is now our enemy. Does that mean we should take former Nazis as our allies to defeat them? Just as in real life there are no clear cut answers. In the end the characters are wrong, all of them and glad to get out with their lives. Yet we who possess the benefit of hindsight know this isn’t the end of Vietnam for our warrior.
Miss DeFabio is all Nick could want in a woman. She’s a fighter, nay a brawler! She’s beautiful and sexy. She likes sex and has no qualms about that. She’s pragmatic and honest. She’ll help him out under the table if she sees it as the right thing to do. (Like warning him about Hathaway going off the reservation after the Nazi). She uses her influence to help Nick and her legs to pull him in closer, all for the better enjoyment of both of them.
Another issue that’s always bother me about Fury is that he heals and doesn’t age. He addresses that right up front just stating it as fact. I’ve come to think over the years that our Fury is a mutant, with somewhat of a healing factor. It would explain a lot and maybe the term didn’t apply to him back in the day and he just skirted the whole issue by not having a SUPER power. I dunno but just like I stick my fingers in my ears and LA-LA-LA-LA away aliens and magic, I’ll do the same and make Fury a low level mutant.
In the end the story was the best Nick Fury story I’ve read in some time. Considering he’s in my top five favorite Marvel characters I was pleased to see him comfortably sitting in his own title, telling his own story, his own way. It’s most enjoyable and I’m hoping this team has a long long run with Fury Max.
Now after such praise for the story how can the art live up to it? Well I dunno how but it does! The style of the covers shows the influence of the age the story is set. The art is excellent for the story. It picks up the details of the age, dial phones with receivers that are somewhat pointed at the top, the fashion isn’t perfect but carries the flavor of the age with a modern flare. It is made to appeal to today’s audience with a feel of the era in which it sits. The good guys and gals are lovely even in the nude – remember this is Max. The bad guys or generalized characters are given traits to make them memorable. It all fits with the flashes to Fury today in his bathrobe dictating his memories. A great success in supporting a strong script.
After this misadventure in Indochina the next arc moves forward to 1962 and Cuba, or Cuber as JFK called it. You know our hero Nick Fury wasn’t on the sidelines for that one.
***Warning MATURE content below that is also somewhat spoilery for the story***
***Warning MATURE content below that is also somewhat spoilery for the story***
It’s been awhile since I’ve done a post updating on my pull list status. Some comics have fallen by the wayside and others have come on the list. Let’s look at what I am reading and why.
If you’ve been to Cons you’ll laugh and nod while reading.
The Adventures of Comic Con Girl had me laughing and nodding. I’ve been to Cons and I know of what they are parodying. This is a limited run and fun to laugh at ourselves. I look forward to her adventures and know if this was on-going it’d drop but for the short limited it’s worth the read.
This issue Logan IS the bomb.
Actually I’ll have to say it wasn’t Logan being a bomb that brought me back. What brought me back into this title was the previews of this issue. I loved how the team reacted and worked together after the Logan bomb went off. How they supported him and worked with each other to figure it out. I like that kind of X-Men story it’s too much inter fighting and not enough teamwork stories lately. So I went back to issue 50 just before Northstar’s wedding issue. Oh Logan blew at the wedding reception luckily he’d left the tent to walk off his ‘too many canapes’ that were upsetting his stomach.
You wouldn’t know it today since I’m heavily Marvel and Independents but DC and I go way back. So far back that my first word was Batman, not Mom, not Dad, but Batman. However I burned on DC decades ago. I’d tried about every five years or so to make a foray into their titles to be disappointed. However the free Earth One I got with the preview of the Batman story line hooked me. That was a title I liked with just Batman. I put my old buddy back on the list in hopes we can renew our friendship. Would be could to welcome him back with Wolverine and Bigby as a favored hero.
I liked Top Cow back in the day. Then with the buzz surrounding this and the kickstarter project I just gotta see the results. So this went on the pull list. I’ll let you know what I think.
I’m staying with this title out of nostalgia. I loved Dark Shadows back in the early 70s and this has kept the vibe. Unlike the Depp/Burton butchering of it, this held true to what I adored. So as long as they keep up with the original I’ll keep this on my pull list.
Deadpool‘s own title the best of the Merc with a Mouth. I enjoy him as the antidote for the overly serious superhero/villain stories. He’s staying on the pull list for the fun that he is.
Fables is a staple of any pull list I ever create. when starting a pull list first on the list is Wolverine and second is Fables. Fables for consistence excellence in writing and art. I’ve never been let down by them in the years I’ve been reading.
The latest and currently on-going spin off from Fables. Just like the main titles have never let me down – neither have the spin-off titles. So I’m on board.
I have a handful of favorite characters in Marvel beyond Wolverine. One of the is Nick Fury. When this started set in the 60s with great cover art I was interested and haven’t been disappointed. I’ve heard the tale of Fury in WWII many times but Fury in the 60s-80s not so much and enjoy this take on him.
Another favorite Marvel man of mine is Gambit. He’s had his own title many times – this is his 5th. I wouldn’t miss it. I’m waiting for the first arc to complete before reading but I have flipped through. I’m anxious to see what he’s like here as teacher by day – superhero thief by night.
I’m a fan of the Ghosbusters movies. The first DVD I ever bought was the first movie. So I had to try this comic, they had me at John Beluishi as Jake Blues was the guardian angel of Ackroyd’s Dr. Raymond Stanz sold me on the series.
With the pleathra of paranormal “reality” shows and my penchant for loving those types of stories I had to try out this title. I’ve not been disappointed and it still sits on my pull-list in a well deserved spot.
When Marvel Zombies were introduced I loved them as a novelty gag. I didn’t nor am I interested in a series based on them. BUT a Halloween special SURE! Zombies, Marvel, and Halloween pass the candy corn I’ve got reading to do. I’ll also be getting the Holidays special just like last year. Hopefully I’ll be more timely in reviewing it.
Speaking of zombies – this centers around zombies in Wisconsin. I couldn’t resist. I’ve not read waiting on complete first arc before I dive in. I know it’s been highly praised and is in multiple reprints to meet demand.
I read great reviews of this and jumped in at issue 6 which was sold as a good jumping on point. I liked it so much I went back and bought issues 1-5. I’m a fan of the odd and strange. I’ve been intrigued by UFO tales since there was a bulletin board outside my 3rd grade class about them back in 1974. This story is good at weaving in all the classic tales, theories, incidents, and such into the telling. I am enjoying it very much.
Okay another type of story I enjoy the heist/scam story. Think Oceans 12, The Heist, The Sting, etc. Scam struck me as being in that vein. I put on the list and was surprised when I got issue 1 that it’s more than a double sized issue. I’ll stay on to see where it goes. So far so good.
Okay I jumped on this for two reasons 1) awesome reviews 10 out of 10 rating this I gotta see and 2) I’ve had to make similar decision (not so extreme) working in the rad waste industry as a consultant. I’ll be honest I’ve not read them yet again waiting for a full arc so I can judge. But if it lives up to a portion of what the reviewers claim – it’s awesome.
I got this to see where the over all Marvel universe goes post AvX interruptus. I hop on and off the New Avengers boat as the title and arcs grab me. I’m not sure how long I’ll stay on this Uncanny Avengers title but for now I’m willing to stay for at least the first arc.
I’m on and off the X-Force boat like I’ve been the Avenger boat. Anytime Cable isn’t there I’ll consider it. I don’t like Cable and avoid him unless Deadpool is there then I consider it REAL HARD. So here we have Wolverine and Deadpool my most favorite character and one of my other favorite Marvel men. So I’m on until this title ends at issue 35, which is 4 more issues.
Okay I’ll admit it I hopped on this title after falling for the TV show it inspired. Yes they are two different stories with the same characters and kinda the same plot but not exactly. Both are excellent both get my time, neither am I dropping. Good writing will always keep me enthralled.
Remember back at Fables I said whenever I start a pull list… well this is the first title on it. My favorite character by far in the comics is James “Logan” Howlett. This title at times rocks and other times sucks (like the most recently completed arc sucked.) At times it’ll be so bad I’ll drop comics all together for years (AHEM Evolution arc I’m looking RIGHT AT YOU) but then something awesome will come and I’ll be back. So this time I put on my barn boots and waded through the last arc of Sabertooth Reborn and hoped for better. Isn’t that always how it is with the one you love they’ll drive you crazy.
This would be number 3 on my pull list. I love this title and hope, hope that they assign strong artists to it. I adore the growth of character it took to make Wolverine headmaster of his own school. Five years ago we’d thought it’d been Scott but no it’s Logan who inherits Xavier’s dream and carries on. It makes perfect sense in many ways. I love watching it be carried out. I hope this title is around for a VERY long time and sits there on any pull list I make with Wolverine and Fables.
The final title doesn’t have a preview cover released yet – Wolverine Max. It’s a Wolverine title so yeah it’s on my list. It’s another retelling of the Wolverine tale so I might like it if it’s limited like Wolverine Noir was or I might get bored and dump it. Been there done that don’t need another universe to follow… like recent First X-Men title for me. Only time will tell. Check in to my next pull list post and see if it stayed or read the Comic Comments I do and see what I think.
Once again I’m been messing with my pull-list. I hear of such great comics I just have to jump in and give them a try. Then there are old faithfuls that almost always get unless the arc is so bad I suspend it until they are through it. So what’s on the list now and why?
Adventures of Comic Con Girl (Antarctic Press) won me over with the title alone! I mean really how can I a fangurl pass up a book about a fangurl’s adventures? At various comic cons no less! I’m in! It just started. I’ll start my comments with issue 1.
Mary Louise Eklund 