Mary Louise Eklund

Category: Comic Comments

I share my thoughts on comics that have on my pull-list. I wait until an arc is complete before giving my commentary.

Comic Comments – AvX Conclusion

So I’m getting back in the blogging saddle with comics. They are comforting and I have a box to review. Before we get on with that I want to thank you for all the support from friends during our family’s losses. Of course after such an emotional blow our immune systems were low and we battled the cold from hell. Never bad enough to toss in the towel and go to bed but bad enough that life was work and sleep until we healed. We are well now, Spring is attempting to spring and life is blooming again.

Now to the comic – a limited series to wrap up the Avengers vs X-Men shenanigans or as I liked to call it AvX Interruptus because many good titles were interrupted in their strong story lines to tell this weak story that was an excuse to undo M-Day. Honestly this was a weakly veiled Marvel marketing ploy to sell more comics trying to get people to buy comics across titles. Unfortunately the title samples they are buying weren’t as strong as the story that was interrupted by the ploy. Don’t get me wrong I like a well done cross title story (see House of M and M-Day, Don’t see Civil War or World War Hulk) but forcing one at least once a year not to expand the universe but to push sales is lame and gives you at best something like Civil War that started out strong and ended weakly or just stupid.

I wasn’t going to get this title due to my avoiding of the whole cross over except when it intruded into my normally subscribed titles. Yet I saw a few sample scans of the scenes between Logan and Scott and wanted see how they played out. I do like how they officially switch roles. Yes it had happened with Schism but this solidifies it with Scott truly a criminal and Logan the experienced headmaster proving to be Xavier’s real disciple.

Now for the credits: Kieron Gillen, Script – Tom Raney, Art Issue 1 – Steve Kurth, Pencils Issue 2 – Scot Eaton, Pencils Issue 3 – Mark Books, Pencils Issue 4 – Gabriel Hernandex Walta, Art Issue 5 – Jim Charalampiois, Colors – Allen Martinez, Inks Issue 2 – Andrew Hennessy, Inks Issue 3 – Mark Brooks & Andrew Hennessy, Inks Issue 4 – VC’s Clayton Cowles, Letters – Patrick Zircher & Dommo Sanchez Aymara, Cover Art Issue 1 – Paolo Rivera, Varient Cover Issue 1 – Ron Garney & Jason Keith, Cover Art Issue 2 & 3- Shane Davis, Danny Miki, & Morry Hollowell, Variant Cover Issue 2- Adi Granov, Variant Cover Issue 3-5 – Salvador Larroca & David Curiel, Cover Art Issue 4 & 5 – Jordan D. White, Assistant Editor – Nick Lowe, Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

The ever present US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

WOW! Look at the artists that contributed to this 5 issue run. Lots of them and honestly I don’t have a complaint about any. They all have their own quirks and styles but I like them. They aren’t overly stylistic so that it becomes painful (yes I’m thinking of the first few issues of Wolverine and the X-Men, OUCH) nor are they too cartoony. All these artists hit that balance I look for in a comic, realism with just a toe over the line to make it fantasy (trust me boobs don’t do that on their own). So reading this I didn’t cringe and cling to the script for the story nor did I stop astounded at the artistic beauty. The art completed the tale, added dimension, and made it a full experience. I have my personal favorite Tom Raney and personal least favorite Gabriel Hernadez Walta. But still I enjoyed them all. Cudos all the way around!

Now the story – or stories I should say. It’s a follow up on the Phoenix 5 focusing mainly on Scott in jail. We get glimpses of other aftermath but the central thread is Scott Summers. We see Tony Stark dealing with the illogic of the Phoenix. Hope Summers try to be a typical girl who goes out to hunt for her partly cyber foster father from the future. Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost exchange zingers at each other. We learn what the fugitives Namor, Magneto, and Magik are up to. Also get the low down on Agent Brant and Hank McCoy’s relationship status. We see Colossus dealing with part in the whole thing, poor woobie. Oh and Danger the AI droid from the previous declared “totally separate” Ultimate universe is here throwing in with the fugitives. (I hate hate hate that Ultimate has crossed into 616 cannon really enjoyed the separate takes for separate generations of fans). Storm takes her place at the Jean Grey School and Logan chats with Capt America. (does Steve Rogers ever get out of costume? I think he wears it like Bobby Drake runs around iced up in every day life)

Since I’m a Wolverine fan you’ll know I’ll spend the most time there. I liked the dynamic between Logan and Scott. It was interesting to see reluctant partners with totally different approaches in life, personal life differences, still go after agreed upon goals for the common good. But as they matured and one lusted after the other’s wife you knew it wasn’t going to work long term. As a Logan gal I can see how Xavier’s dream appealed to the man who had high goals and morals but always fell short of them. Honestly you take in the whole of Logan’s path and Xavier gave him a way to mature as a man into the son of John Howlett not the biological pup of Thomas Logan. When you get down to it that’s Logan’s story nature vs nuture. He chose to be more than his genes. Xavier helped him see how to do that. While Scott always lived the good boy dream raised to be a superhero, and was the expected heir. I’d say he rebelled when he dumped Jean for Emma. That he was always prone to rebel to the dark side as part of his growing. So no surprise he’s now thrown in with Xavier’s arch nemesis Magneto. I can see the progress of the two down these paths. I could also see how it could have gone the other way with Scott never rebelling and Logan becoming say a Nick Fury like black ops go to guy for mutant issues. But then neither gets much character growth from that scenario. I always contended once Logan got back his memories and processed them he’d have to be more mature than any of the other X-Men because you can’t have over a century of life experience and not become more than what those with less than half a century are. So it makes sense that out of the two Logan would be the most mature adult about dealing with things.

It’s not that Logan doesn’t deal with the feelings. He admits to Capt America that his emotion is to deal with Scott by killing him but he learned from Xavier what he should do and that’s why he gave Xavier’s eulogy. He can be what Scott called in issue 5 “the better man” but it’s a struggle. That’s why I like Logan he’s honest about his internal struggle between wanting to just go with base reaction rather than reason. Yet he has matured enough to know when that’s called for and when it’s time to grow up and do what you should instead of what you want. Which is what leads to the Issue 2 and the conclusion note to Logan from Scott in Issue 5. It’s previews of those two scenes (you’ll see a my preview choices from them below) that drew me to purchase the arc. Both characters make choices that if they hold as long as Jean’s death, Logan having his memories back, and a few other things have these developments will change the characters significantly. I also like it because it follows what has been my impression of the characters for years. It also nicely mirrors the Xavier/Magneto split of the generation before, former teammates now arch enemies. I wonder who will be the two for the next generation- will Quire follow in Xavier/Logan footsteps or Magneto/Scott? Who will be his balance Evan? or have we not yet met the two future leaders?

That leads me to say to be an all around trying to gather up loose ends and point to the new directions and arcs of multiple titles the writing in this is good. Gillen succeeds in his labor intensive task of staging the relaunch/launch of many titles under the Marvel NOW! banner. Not only does he achieve his corporate directive but he writes some great scenes that redefine characters as well as give them the starting point for new growth down divergent paths. As a writer who knows the difficulty of fusing your contractual assignment with the art of writing I give him praise for taking what could just be a through the paces move characters about to get them where they need to be for the title launches into a true story that can be used a defining moments for the storylines to come.

Over all if you are into the Marvel universe and want to keep abreast of what changes were wrought by the AvX Interruptus these 5 issues are for you. They are not the jumping in point for those who aren’t familiar with the characters. It for those of us who know the characters and want to get insight into where they are now.

Next up from the Review Box – Astonishing X-Men Issue 57-58 a mini arc that centers on Warbird.

Below here there maybe SPOILERS in scans

You have been warned

Don’t want to see then stop scrolling

Really this is your last SPOILER ALERT. (more…)

April 29, 2013
Two Wolvies To Call My Own

I have to run to work – working late tonight. Yet I wanted to share what came in the mail yesterday! Original art work especially for me by Vanessa Catnose! We chat occasionally on over on G+ and she graciously offered to do original sketches for me of Wolverine! Then she mailed them to me. They are going to be custom framed and will hang in my office!

Here he his at work doing what he does best!

Then in his down time making dinner, I have to say this is my favorite. Just watch out for ashes in the fruit salad.

Thanks Van! Until next time!

March 7, 2013
Comic Comments – AvX Concludes

I’m grouping Issue 18 & 19 of Wolverine and the X-Men together for two major reasons 1) I’m very behind on my Comic Comments and 2) both deal with post AvXinterruptus. I’ll give the writers credit this time they did say school focused no roaming off with the Jr. Hellfire Club (though they make an appearance), no roaming off with one student or faculty member (though various ones move in and out of the spotlight). Humor is used well in Issue 19 to ease the serious losses in 18. In these two issues I’d say Marvel has shown it can master the ensemble cast – have them going different directions, cover them and not tell a disjointed story! CUDOS! Yes when one story gets hot focus will have to draw only onto that story & characters with a few ‘meanwhile back at the ranch…’ panels. I enjoyed both issues and think this is how I wanted to see AvX in this title – from the school’s point of view.

The ever present US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

Issue 18 entitled Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow credits – Jason Aaron, writer – Jorge Molina, Penciler – Norman Lee, Inker – Morry Hollowell & Rachel Rosenberg, Colorists – Chris Eliopoulos, Letterer – Ed McGuinness & Morry Hollowell, Cover Artists – Jordan D. White, Assistant Editor – Daniel Ketchum, Associate Editor – Nick Lowe, Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor In Chief – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

Issue 19 entitled More Pencils, More Books, More Teachers’ Dirty Looks credits – Jason Aaron, Writer – Nick Bradshaw, Penciler – Walden Wong, Inker – Laura Martin, Colorist – Chris Eliopoulos, Letterer – Nick Bradhaw & Gurur EFX, Cover Artists – Jordan D. White, Assistant Editor – Daniel Ketchum, Associate Editor – Nick Lowe, Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor In Chief, Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

AvX has been over enough I don’t feel it is a spoiler to say – Phoenix is destroyed erasing M-Day (so why did we go through that just to undo all of it!) and making many new mutants. Charles Xavier is dead (AGAIN! I think this is about the 10th death maybe the 9th still lags behind Jean Grey’s 14 – 20 deaths). Oh and Scott Summer killed Xavier this time and is in jail for it (at least for now).

Issue 18 shows how the school views all these big universe. While this is going on Idie, Quentin, and Broo all have their own important events happen. Staff wise Husk is feeling the strain of her powers fracturing and being a teacher. We see more of her relationship with Toad as she makes a big life change.

Issue 19 deals with the aftermath – Broo’s injured and Henry is doing all he can to save the boy. Kitty is stressed with Husk gone and more mutants popping up and enrolling daily she needs to expand the staff. Logan is out to find Broo’s attacker. We also see the next arc setting up with Frankenstein’s Circus rolling into town…

I love how the financial issues of the school were solved with Warren gaining control of his company and Xavier leaving his estate. Yet I’d enjoy it more if a constant stressor on Logan was paying the bills. I think that would relate to the real world’s economy and give interesting story lines for the school. Can you imagine a bake sale in town with the Jean Grey Students? Or in his solo title Logan taking various jobs for pay to support his school? Oh the comic interludes, moral questions, serious situations, and interesting issues that could be raised and dealt with – but no money is no longer a worry. Phooey heck even Krakota could make diamonds if need be… pfft too easy.

The handling of the title as an ensemble TV show is improving. Think of any show you followed that had an ensemble cast – there’s the lead characters (here Logan, Quentin, Bobby, Kitty, Hank) and the major characters (Idie, Broo, Husk, Toad) and the supporting regulars (Chamber, Gambit, Doop, Glob…) Rarely do you have a show (or issue in this case) where the lead character’s story isn’t addressed or moved forward. Next if the lead characters are in the valley between stories you catch us up then shine the light on the major characters to move their story forward more significantly. Finally the regulars take stage if there is time if not they support the other story lines. Think of Hillstreet Blues one of the best written longest running ensemble shows – that’s how it’s done. I applaud these issues for mastering it so well! We get the conclusion of the major multi-title event but not without losing the title’s focus of the school. We see the issues faced after the event but again through the school’s perspective. Yet while doing this we’re developing the major character story lines since the lead characters are winding up their major story arc. Cudos!

I can’t not mention my ache for Broo and hope that they do bring him back. I think he’s a good student for Henry to mentor for many reasons. They are so similar. Besides I love Broo and don’t want to lose him. Next I have to mention Kitty’s interviewing of various Marvel characters for position as teacher at Jean Grey… hilarious and the one REAL teacher’s reactions OMG! I got a case of the giggles. Great comic relief and excellent way to intro the new lead character!

Finally – the budding student romance has been hinted at in the flashes into the future finally gets a small start here. I enjoy seeing Quentin’s insecurities at the first school dance. For all his bluster and talent he’s still just a scared kid inside. So good, so good… I see Quentin and Idie being that generations Jean & Scott with Broo being that generation’s Logan carrying a torch for Idie. The more things change the more they stay the same.

As for the art – OMG they got it right! After such a hideous start to this title with tiny footed Kitty and gotta poop tie Logan with such confusing panels that the story was overwhelmed Marvel has found its footing with solid art that has style but supports the story! I actually recognize the characters. Their proportions don’t throw me out thinking they look like toddler toys with the oversized feet for easy play. Here they have comic features when needed – see the cover of 18 for the students looking almost Archie-like to Scott being rendered dramatically with hyper-realism. I think that juxtaposition sums up the story of the school trying to put on the happy face of normalcy with a dance as the final battle rages. Then the cover of 19 returns to the ensemble cover we’ve seen in other issues.

I give credit to Marvel for having rescued this title from the roller coaster of good school centric issues to WTF where’s the school issues! They pulled it together for these two issues and the following arc. **STANDING OVATION** This is why I get this title!

You know what is next…. interior scans

These might be spoilery for some…

So if you are worried…

Stop scrolling right NOW

If not then here’s the first page…

Here we see Xavier extort the promise from Logan to protect the next generation. While that is going on we see the dynamic of the next generation start to take shape. I thought the set up here was very effective

Okay this amused me on many levels – first the Bamfs at the buffet of the dance! So cute I can’t wait until we get the issue or arc that explains how they aren’t grimlins. Next I used my trusty Doop Translator I determined he says “You know my wounds have healed from last time.” I still can’t wrap my head around those two being friend with benefits. I think I really don’t want to go there.

Deadpool you crack me up! Oh Spidy I think it’s worthy of getting a picture of him actually doing it for his English Lit class. Good summary of how Kitty’s interview process is going be sure to check out the real teacher in the issue!

Remember Broo helped Tony solve the Phoenix problem and became a friend of Tony Stark’s. I find it touching Henry consults the brains of Marvel Universe in an attempt to help Broo.

I don’t know if it’s good that the headmaster dons stripper spandex and goes about sniffing floors in town… I know it is for a good cause but really if you are trying to build good relations with the community does this work? I won’t go on my rant against the return of the blue and yellow spandex uniform. Honestly I liked the black one best be it the turtleneck with shoulder holster, leathers with a shirt please, or my fav the western look with cowboy hat.

Any way that’s it until next time!

March 5, 2013
Comic Comments – Masks

This is a comic I didn’t buy. I got it free with my monthly purchase over X amount. I didn’t choose it, it was just the freebie included. Generally I’m not impressed by these freebies but this one impressed me. I love the art. The interior art isn’t the typical comic style but rather painted all by one artist, Alex Ross. The story introduces classic old time radio heroes into the comic book format. The Shadow, Green Hornet, Kato, Spider, Zorro just to name the core few. It’s set in the 1930s style and has that old Phantom comic feel to it (not that Phantom is in it that I could tell). It is a very well done comic. Visually stunning but… hang on let’s get the technicalities out of the way…

The ever present US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

The credits: Chris Roberson, Writer – Alex Ross, Painter – Simon Bowland, Letterer – Main covers by Alex Ross, Jae Lee (the cover I got & pictured here), Francesco Francavilla, and Ardian Syaf.

The but I have about this comic is many fold. 1) I have only the funds for so many comics per month. If I had unlimited this would be on the pull list for sure but I don’t. 2) I’m not so much into that era and style of superhero. It’s old movie style, with some campy 1930s stuff thrown into the mix. Just not my thing for a full title. I enjoy visiting it for a limited title but on long term it’s not me. 3) I never really liked those heroes. I’m more of a modern day gal for my superheroes. I like the reluctant hero, the hero that struggles, the one that isn’t perfect, the one that’s not into show and flare. I like ’em a bit insane too. I never got the touch of angsty darkness I want from what I’ve read about these heroes.

Still I can’t deny this comic is very well done. The story is classic. The heroes find one another and align together as evil come into legitimate power. They unite to right the wrongs and expose the corruption of the current ruling Freedom party which is anything but increasing freedom. Some heroes are seen in action, others are just introduced. It’s a good strong start to a series. The story is set. The main players introduced or at least glimpsed. The tone and feel of the comic is defined. It’s got it all together. Definitely if you are into this era of comics it’s a must!

I’ve raved on the art. I’ll say it’s lovely and expertly done. Just what Alex Ross has built a solid reputation doing. It’s not so avant guard in stunning style it takes away from the story. Instead the rich art with styles from the era so lushly shown it give an old movie feel to it. There’s a richness that one often gets watching old Hollywood spruce up reality even for the old gangster movies. Ross captures it deliciously. You have to scroll down and see what I mean.

In the end I have to say this is again another small print comic that brings it all to the table. Characters, art, story come together in an excellently executed package, nothing was short changed. The only problem is it’s not for me. I appreciate all of that but when push comes to shove I’ll have to pass.

SCANS to Show off the interior

Warning some may say these are spoilery

I think they are lovely

You want it keep scrolling

and here they are:

Here I swear it’s Bogie and Bacall not a bad duo to use, the dinner scene gave me the old movies feel but honestly Logan fills out a white dinner jacket much better than the Shadow, IMHO.

Here Zorro is on trial for being a Mexican without a job. Being a 1930s inspired setting YOU know there had to be a court room scene!

and here’s the heroes in action when they first meet Spidy’s grandpa the Spider!

Until next time!

February 22, 2013
Comic Comments – Mutant School Football League

So the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning isn’t the only school for mutant kids. There’s the Avenger Academy where kids are taught to be superheroes. With just two mutant high schools you know they have to have like dances and sport competitions – Right?!? That’s what this issue is about, post AvXinterruptus a flag football game between the two schools. THEN Avenger Academy was cancelled and they all graduated I guess, I dunno don’t follow it. Just picked up this issue to see the Jean Grey School part.

The ever present US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

Okay here’s the team for the issue: Christos Gage, Writer – Tom Grummett, Penciler – Cory Hamscher & Rick Ketcham, Inkers – Chris Sotomayor, Colorist – Giuseppe Camucoli & Jim Charalampidis, Cover – VC’s Joe Caragna, Letterer – Jon Moisan, Assistant Editor – Bill Rosemann, Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor In Chief – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

This issue is a fun break and gives a glimpse of the staffs and students blowing off steam post AvX. At first the staff is permitted in the game but slowly they are disqualified, Iceman and Hawkeye are the first to go for excessive awesomeness. Then there’s fights, Logan tackles instead of grabs a flag – oops. Then again there is cold beer on the sidelines for the disqualified. Finally it’s figured out that Logan and Kitty were working to disqualify the adults so the kids could form two teams mixed from both schools and play. Logan denies being that smart but Giant Ant acknowledges that yes, Logan is that smart. The kids make new friends and see that they aren’t the only ones with mutant teen problems and a strange school staff.

That’s it… that’s all the fun to be had is in the light interaction between the two groups. Oh and now that I have the Doop Speak Translator I can at least get the gist of what he is saying. Bull by the horns! LOL that Doop!

The art in this is wonderful. I love how it suits the story and comics in general. There’s detail the people are pretty even if they are blobs or rocks or whatever. The only issue I have is the cover thing I usually have – X-23 is NOT the ref she plays for her school. Kitty Pryde is the ref and the only adult who has sense enough not to wear a superhero costume to a high school flag football game! Also look at the cover – what the heck is wrong with X-23’s face why is it a series of black lines? Okay I know I know covers are to pull you in but pull me in with something in the story further illustrated not made up crap.

Any way here’s a few scans of the issue to share the lighthearted fun.

Warning these maybe spoilery to some

If you are still scrolling I assume you don’t mind that.

Really don’t blame me if you feel spoiled.

I warned you…

If Hawkeye and Iceman were allowed to play there’d be no game. Awesome indeed. Oh and Movie Hawkeye needs a quiver like that…

TMI Santo, really TMI about the no junk stuff. But reminds me of the saying “I was depressed that I had no shoes until I met a man with no feet.” Let’s just leave it at that and move on shall we?

I think Wolvie can consider this mission accomplished – the schools are friends the kids are friends and the staff are friendly… Doesn’t matter if they are dysfunctional, they work.

Until next time.

February 19, 2013
Comic Comments – When the Dead Revive

It seems the small consistent presses are the ones turning out awesome stuff. The big publishers can’t get their acts together to bring everything to the table at once in a single title. That’s my take. I adored Think Tank and I’m digging Revival. Both are comics that are slam dunks of the medium – strong multi layered stories whose telling is supported by great art. Revival is about the dead coming back to life in the middle of Wisconsin, Wausau county to be exact. Why they came back, how they came back, and what it means for the rest of the world is what the book is about. It successfully goes from the personal focus to the international focus and back all building and adding to the story of the quarantined area after Revival Day. You know it’s good when you can’t wait for the next issue to see just where this is all going.

Okay let’s get the routine stuff out of the way – legal disclaimer – All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

Next a nod to the team that is bringing a great story to press. Story by Tim Seeley, Letters by Crank!, Covers by Jenny Frison, Art by Mike Norton, Colors by Mark Englert, Design by Sean Dove, Edited by 4 Star Studios.

Now let’s talk story set up, May Tao a local reporter breaks the news to the world that the recently dead in central Wisconsin are coming back to life. Her story goes international complete with a reviver jumping out of a cremation oven. The area is put on quarantine by the CDC. Why? Think if this is contagious – no one dies but birth rates continue what would that do to the balance of the world resources? That’s why. So a perimeter is set up where no one is allowed in, no one is allowed out. A task force is formed to study the Revivers with CDC representative and a local officer who is the main character if there is one Dana Cypress. I’d say she’s more the linchpin character that ties all the others of the ensemble together. Oh by the way her younger sister is a reviver – murdered and came back, doesn’t care to solve her own murder though.

This book doesn’t follow the formula of comics of an arc, an issue, an arc and so on. Instead it’s telling a story that keeps growing and developing involving an ensemble cast. This is a hard thing to pull off in book series, TV series, and comics – to develop each character fully while keeping the stories moving and in balance. There are arcs for individual characters, May Tao just completed one with the odd fundamental cutting edge exorcist. Yet the one with Justin and Jamie and their reviver father has just started. Some are short arcs like May’s some are long and slow building like Em sister of Dana. That’s what makes this an awesome read! It’s well written and just because one story beat wraps up in this issue others are at their mid beats or just starting. That’ll keep me reading for a long time.

Now for the art which is awesome. Honestly I forget I’m reading in someways and feel I’m watching a movie play out. A good novel does that to me just like a good comic. The story is so well done the medium of how it is told fades away and I’m left enjoying the experience. I don’t think I can pay any higher praise to a comic book artist than that – you made the story real for me to watch unfold.

If this isn’t on your pull list it should be. It’s not to late to go back and get reprints of the first few issues. It’s well worth catching up and if you do it as one night’s read I’ll bet my last potato chip you’ll have a great time!

**** SPOILER ALERT********Some interior pages*********Maybe Preview/Review for some but Spoilerly to others *********

In some cases the death and revival are harder for the living to deal with than the dead. In other cases, like the one they are coming from it was hard for the dead to be cheated out of the eternity of bliss with those they loved that had died before them. Interesting to see various reactions from those involved.

I like how the Hmong population of Wisconsin is worked into the story. As it goes on we see the vast difference in the generation that migrated here after Vietnam and those who were raised here come to the surface. That also plays into the story of how they interact with the events and the mysterious white ghost/demon creature.

Here’s Dana and Ibrahaim from the CDC. What’s awkward is they had a romantic encounter the night before at a local bar before they knew they’d be working together. Honestly I like them and hope both sides of the partnership flourish.

Here’s a good example of story layering. May is coming near the dramatic conclusion of her arc with the fundamentalist stalker. Em is just learning a bit of what this white lurking thing we’ve caught glimpses of in other issues is and what it wants. So the fast developing story of May is driving to a conclusion, the slow building story of white creature is developing, and Em’s personal story moves a bit further along it’s arc while encountering the crescendo of May’s story and the building arc of white creature. Cudos!

Here’s a look at what the world saw to introduce it to Revival Day.

Until next time!

February 13, 2013
Comic Comments – Gambit Tries Solo Title Again

I’m not sure what volume of Gambit stand alone title this is but it’s the latest one. I think it’s volume 5 according to Marvel. It’s nice to see him in his own title again. So it’s good to see Remy in the spot light. If you like magic that’s here in heaping quantities too.
What is sad is that he always seems to be treated like the ‘red headed step child’ as my grandmother put it. I think the call goes out for mediocrity when there’s a Gambit launch. No, don’t bring your A game a strong C or B- at the highest will do.

The ever present US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

Acknowledgement of the village that got this story to press. James Asmus, Writer – Clay Mann, Penciler Issues 1 & 2 with Clay Kirk on issues 3 &4 – Seth Mann, Inker Issues 1 &2 with Clay Kirk on issues 3 &4 – Rachelle Rosenberg, Colorist – VC’S Coery Petit, Letterer – Mann, Mann Rosenburg – Cover to issue 1 – Mann & Rosenberg, Covers 2-4, Chris Bachalo, Variant Cover Issue 1 – Dan Ketchum, Editor, Idette Winecoor, Production Issue 2 – Jennifer M. Smith, Assistant Editor Issues 2-4 – Nick Lowe, X-Men Group Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor In Chief – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer – Special thanks Issue 1 to Irene Y. Lee and Manny Mederos.

The story is that Remy hasn’t had enough excitement in his life as a Professor. Apparently the whole Phoenix AvX thing bored him as much as it did me. We he gets an invitation to a fundraiser at Borya Cich’s house he’s in to rob it for some good old time excitement. Borya Cich is one that bankrolls the uber bad guys. When the baddies are defeated Cich gets the gadgets or magical goodies they were using. Remy’s cover is to be there to get money for the Jean Grey school, his entertainment will be to break in and see what goodies Mr. Cich has accumulated. In the process of this he finds out he’s rusty and meets a mystery woman. They team up (stop me if you’ve heard this before) but she betrays him only to help him in the end. Oh and magic gets way out of hand and Cich loses his goodies and blames Remy (not the mystery woman for some convenient reason).

Now don’t get me wrong there’s nothing wrong with a familiar story frame. There school of thought is that there are only so many story frames out there (7 to 21 seem to be the consensus) when you boil things down to their essence. So the trick is being original in how you decorate that frame. I’m sure you can name many stories where two sides team up to get a goal that sticks it to a third party. That’s the frame here but the story seem a bit too trite, too often told in the thief/spy genre. Remy deserves better. He’s a strong diverse character with a lot of emotional depth but often is short changed into the joking flirty characterization of himself. That’s what happened here. The dialogue is weak stung out over many frames. The cliches keep coming and I ache to see more.

Then there’s the whole aliens and magic crap I don’t like. I know it’s a personal thing for me so I’ll do my best to overlook it. I try hard to just shrug and go that’s for someone else. But when it is used to justify weak writing I call foul. Write yourself into a corner then edit and rewrite the story don’t rely on magic, infinity cubes, Lazarus pits, or it was just a dream to get you out of it. That’s a cop out of a writer’s lack of ability. Here I felt so many opportunities to be a better writer and tell a more complex story were tossed aside thinking “oh this is a Gambit title it won’t last long any way.” Sadly it is such thoughts that I think feed that trend.

As for the art. It relies heavily on the colorist for textures and depths. The colorist goes for the glow Photoshop tones a bit much for my tastes. After having just left Think Thank where the details are drawn in this style struck me as wholly unfinished and rushed. Even more so as the title when on, with greater sweeps to the colorist filling in the lack of penciller’s detail. The covers struck me as a nod to the Bond openings where the women are frames for the images but again the concept seemed solid (much like the start of the written story) but then seemed rushed and unfinished.

In the end it all goes back to the mediocrity I mentioned in my introduction. I felt like the writer, penciller, and colorist wanted to bring their A game but couldn’t for what ever reason be it rushed or told don’t worry just get something out it’s not going to last or be promoted. I don’t know but I saw so much potential there that was left undeveloped. If you are a Gambit fan like me, this is still a must. It’s good to see him out there on his own and I support that in hopes that some day the team can bring their A game to it. If you aren’t into him and aren’t looking to pad your pull list to get something (freebies like shipping). Then as much as it pains me and saddens my Remy lovin’ heart I’d say pass this by and hope next volume gets better treatment.

**** Interior scans*** You have been warned that such scans might be considered spoilery***

Okay here the inane party chatter grated on me like a cheese grater on my bare bum. The Paris Hilton stupid shallow rich people wanting to hang out with gods, magicians, mutants, and aliens just hit all the notes of what I don’t like in my X-Men. Yeah I know others do and that’s for them, enjoy knowing it made me cringe.

Oh Remy we oldsters always wonder just when did computers take over every thing?!? Loved this scene it’s our Gambit doing what he does best and he’s pretty while doing it!

Okay here we meet the mystery woman he teams up with. She’s dumped him once and now before their team-up continues Remy evens the score. Good thing mutants don’t injure as easily as we real people eh?

As you can see she’s a tattooed Laura Croft type. I personally nominate this pose for the Hawkeye Initiative. Caw Caw boyz!

As you can see it really jumped my no magic/gods/aliens in my X-Men shark by a mile. So there you go and I hope the next arc get down to more thievery heist type stuff and less magic stuff.

February 11, 2013
Comic Comments – Think Tank

If you are into comics you’ve heard all the buzz about Think Tank. If you’ve not picked it up I hope my comments on it encourage you to do so. If you aren’t into comics but are into science/military research/secret project development – then I hope I’m introducing you to a wonderful new read. If you like well written stories I encourage you to try the comic medium for adults in this title.

I can say that generally with Aaron gone my comics stay in their place. I don’t have to go around looking for them (I have a system to read box, read to comment box, finished box and deity of your choice have mercy on your soul if you mix ’em) but Think Tank is different. Even my comic book snob of a husband must have ventured a read.

Okay let’s get the technicalities out of the way so we can chat about a comic that brings it all to the table. First the ever present US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

Next a great nod to the team that brought us this title: Co-created & Written by Matt Hawkins, Co-created & Art by Rahsan Ekedal, Letters by Troy Peteri, Cover A Art issue 1 first printing by Bagus Hutomo, Cover art issue 2 Rahsan Ekedal & Brian Reber, (apologies to cover artists Issues 3 & 4 as those have disappeared from my office will give you credit when they reappear & I can get the info) Edited by Matt Hawkins, Filip Sablik, & Bryan Roundtree.

Let me first say this story is right up my alley. For those of you who don’t know in another phase of my life I lived in Oak Ridge Tennessee home of a National Laboratory, Y-12, and K-25. Oh it was a town with the highest concentration of science (various types of physics mostly) PhDs in the nation at that time. I worked in the volume reduction of low level radioactive waste by a private firm. There I was the Regulatory Compliance Specialist and did the internal audits to assure the state & Feds we adhered to the law, regulations, and our written procedures that were approved by those agencies. I dealt with lots of the government and military research types both in my work and in my social life. We all lived in the now open but planned city of Oak Ridge. On top of that I’ve lived my adult life with a Submarine Nuke Officer who had/has travel restrictions based on his knowledge of that field and worked in a leadership role in the war room at CENTCOM for over a year. So I know these people depicted. They are my people. They were the parents of Aaron’s best friend on his first soccer team. They were PTA members beside me. They came to wetting down parties for Mike as he advanced in the ranks. They were ushers at our wedding. They are colleagues, subordinates, and bosses. This was the work world I left behind to be a stay at home mom. Still many who work for such things are my friends and I keep in touch.

First off true young boy wonders in these fields are rare and far between. It takes a certain maturity beyond intelligence to deal with the issues raised by the research. I knew a few who graduated before they could legally be employed for their field of study (being under 18 Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, various military protocols, and other regulatory bodies have age limits for working with that sort of thing). All of them worked at fast food places until they were old enough to apply. (no they didn’t want to turn out like the Radioactive Boy Scout) All of them said it was a big mistake to push forward like that, their parents warned them but they didn’t listen. I had one of them chat with Aaron when he was given the option to move ahead to help him understand why we didn’t pursue that. I knew many more that had turned down that option because they were brilliant enough to see the pit falls of social retardation, economic management issues of pay to an minor & minor work hour laws, along with knowing life was more than the lab. Generally people who are smart enough to be in the lab research be it pure or applied are smart enough to know life is very complex and pushing one area out of shape isn’t a good thing. That said they can get tunnel vision in their own area of study due to conditions of research.

So the story is about the exception – the boy genius that goes to work at military/government research at a very young age. He’s not the stereotypical by the book type. Then again I’ve never met any in that field who are, in academia oh yeah met that type all the damn time in R&D nope most were nerds and/or geeks with my sense of humor. He’s at a station like Groom Lake/Area 51 where you board in during your work session. Knew a girl who worked in a place like that – boarded a plane flew to work for a week, lived in a dorm, ate at a cafeteria there. She managed mixed waste at the facility (radioactive and RCRA [Resource Conservation and Recovery Act] classified hazardous – radioactive & hazardous are two different things to waste people) then when her week was up she flew home for 7 days off at her place. Except David Loren the main character seems to live in his lab all the time. His buddy Manish has a family & home in town, kinda like what Oak Ridge was before the gates opened.

David’s character has a moral epiphany while watching Schindler’s List. He doesn’t want his work to be used in killing, in weapons of war. I get that. I have to say many of us at the lunch table in Oak Ridge had talks about that. I came to the realization I couldn’t work at say Y-12 because I couldn’t take making radioactivity for any reason other than medical. I’d seen how it’s “disposed” which is put it some place for eons and watch. I wasn’t the only one at the table that said they could work in the waste, the cleaning up of the messes already made but making those messes to make mass destruction research – nope not for us. So I get David’s maturing realization that he doesn’t want to be a part of that.

Also since he lives in his lab he wants to go out and live a real life. I get that. Talking to the friend that flew to the 7 day job she said flights there were quite, business mummer type flights but the return ones were more like high school cafeteria talks – new movies, kid’s games, and all that. Yep after 7 days of work they were ready to go be ‘people’ again! So it’s cool that David wants to go out and pick up chicks – not so cool that he takes controlled tech out to help him do it. Yeah, that’s the rub (kinda like the guys that stole the magenta tinted tools for use in the radioactive areas and tried to sell them at a swap meet). That kind of thing is heavily frowned upon.

David and his date that saw the tech both get taken back on the reservation and detained. However with Manish’s help David activates a plan to get them out. I do have an issue with how he escaped. You see I’ve worn canaries (what we called the yellow haz-mat suits) and been trained as a first responder. I’ve audited procedures of first response and emergency response for these type of places. You don’t have anyone dressed out in PPE (personal protection equipment) without giving them proper monitoring of many types and knowing how many you have, who they are, where they are going, and where/when they come out. You account for the decontamination of each and their monitoring equipment is sent for rush processing. They don’t wander out en masse. They come out in a controlled doffing area. It’s all part of preventing any potential contamination from disasters in the lab being spread by the responders. They are closely monitored to help them should they have trouble and know when they have reached max stay times in potentially dangerous areas. So donning a canary and walking out with a group is major breach of protocol. The group would notice we each had our identifier there on our forehead (Mine was EKL-1). See someone you don’t know in your zone you’d address it first to minimize exposure, then limit spread of possible contamination and many other reasons. You go in knowing who your work buddies are and keep an eye on them. You want to be there for them should they get into trouble Just joining the group to wander out wouldn’t happen. A canary exiting without going through decon/doffing procedures would draw max attention. However, I’ll say this place had bad Emergency Response Procedures and/or were willing to crap up the world with doffing canary zoomies and dander. (cool industry slang eh?)

Still for the sake of the story it was fun to see the laid back cool dude stick it to the man. Except the portrayal of ‘the man’ bothered me. You see the military side is my family and friends. Sure the Col. was the by the book guy but ya know what for all the Hollywood stereotypes of that I’ve never met one in 27 years. Sure people will be by the book on most things but when it comes to something they really fundamentally believe they’ll look to the spirit of the regs than the word of them. Also in all my years I’ve never seen a screamer in a research/science training facility. Not ever heard of one either – I’ve heard tales from nuke sub types that go way back in the Cold War and their training but no you don’t do Drill Instructor in the face screaming to civilians, or top research scientists. It’s just not done. They are treated well and monitored well. They aren’t buck privates and anyone with leadership position in the military knows, understands and works with that. If there’s one thing the modern military trains, trains, trains on is management techniques when working with civilian contractors. More and more base activities are civilian contractors, professionals don’t spit scream at other professionals. The military is nothing if not professional. The community isn’t easy to research or get to know just by its nature. People are discreet to the point of not even mentioning job titles or rank when off the clock. They have to know you, and know you for years, before you learn much more than those simple things. Then we are all aware of classified lines, stories are generalities not specific. So you’re working on a project and really into it when Hulk hands appear in the transom of your office and some shouts HULK HUNGRY FOR BURRITOS PUNY HUMAN MUST LEAVE COMPUTER NOW OR HULK SMASH! and start rattling the glass or there was a temperature inversion and due to contamination from earlier research in the area before modern protocols you had to stay in doors for hours trapped in the wrong damn building with that deadline looming. There’s more of a social camaraderie between researchers and military. The stiff stuff is just when on show for the public. I can’t prove that, but trust me it’s true. This book got much right. It’s just they haven’t been there and it shows. Kinda like Hunt For Red October movie was great and we in the sub community loved it but there were details that made us roll our eyes and laugh. You just can’t get a small quiet community unless you’ve lived & worked in it.

So in the end it’s a fun well researched story about an adult scientist that’s a teenager socially. He’s sticking it to the government bad guys (a la ET type) breaking out of a secure research facility. It was fun and it romped for me. I loved it and was anxious for the next issue. The science was hard and well researched. The story hit notes that I knew well living decades socializing with that community. The issues raised were issues we did have talks about and still do talk about from time to time. There aren’t any pat answers. I loved it and can’t wait for more. Sure I hit ’em hard but when someone writes about family you notice the little things that are off, over all this hit it and knocked it out of the park as a fictional story.

I’ve had some people drag their feet on reading this because the interior is black and white art. Really people are you that shallow? It wasn’t that long ago that daily funnies in the paper we read as kids didn’t have color! The art is wonderful. It is stylistic but not overly so. It also realistic enough. It strikes that balance of being just that much better than real life to be good comic book art. It’s detailed and so well done you don’t notice the missing color. Honestly if you give it a chance the story and art blend together to make the experience so entertaining you get lost in it. Besides look at this way you don’t have to see any bad coloring jobs or odd glowy photoshop effects either. It’s all straight forward art supporting the tale!

Bottom line – pick this up. The science is sound but fun. The story is a romp set in a world few actually see and even fewer who have will talk openly about to strangers. It raises questions that all of us need to ponder not just the people at the lab tables. It’s well worth the money and buzz it created.

You know what’s coming next – interior shots!

Yeah total project failure would be bad. However I’ve never heard of it happening usually something comes out of the pure research even if it’s not the project goal or foreseen in the conceptualization of the goal. Also projects take decades to complete to make an assessment, David isn’t that old to have that many projects listed as a total failure. Oh and see my note about civilians not being buck Privates.

Okay I heard of one case where a researcher struck another (both civilian). It did not go down well for the striker – jail time, stripped of clearance, lost job… not good at all. Strikee was fine. I have to say as we heard the story from another facility we all put the striker down as crazy, went off the deep end.

Okay this is a good scene to get into David’s head, his emotional head. Having talked with people who went through the whole child college student thing I get the emotional insecurity and immaturity he’s showing here.

I get what he’s saying about golf courses. Also I have to point out we’ve given up lots of bases, all the officer clubs, many of the base gyms, movie theaters, post offices, barbers and such consolidating down to more efficient numbers. Getting fewer lines drawn between officers and enlisted with just BQs and Pubs instead of BOQs & BEQs with O-Clubs and E-Clubs. These are people who will die for you, your country on order with hesitation – my husband, my son. So I think now that we’ve packed them in can’t we allow some bases (the remaining ones) to have their Rec areas – golf courses, marinas, and camp grounds. They have to blow off steam somewhere and remember the very low ranking enlisted don’t have any disposable income. Many depend on federal assistance like WIC to feed their families, so why not give those families affordable recreation as thanks. As it stands today every 65 minutes a service member in the US commits suicide – maybe we need to spend more on helping them cope in these ways instead of ignoring that side of life. **sheepishly gets off soapbox and puts it away**

Until next time folks.

February 6, 2013
Comic Comments – Fury Goes To Cuba

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.

Now for the ever present US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

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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January 15, 2013
Comic Comments – Fury To the Max

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.

Now for the ever present US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

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***

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January 11, 2013