REVIEW: Silver Surfer #2

By Dan Slott, Michael Allred and Laura Allred

Who is the NEVER QUEEN? How is the entire future of the Marvel Universe tied into her very existence? And why is she trying to DESTROY the Silver Surfer?!  Are these questions important? Sure. But you know what’s just as important? Lunch. Because what Earth girl Dawn Greenwood has for lunch today could change the fate of EVERYTHING!  Not kidding here. This is a very important lunch.

I enjoyed the first issue of the new Silver Surfer series but it didn’t wow me.  It was a little too out there and I just couldn’t really connect.  I often struggle with the first issues in new series, there is never really any room for anything other than the ground work and that doesn’t always work for me.  So, I always make sure I check out the first three or four issues before I give up.  I am so glad I have that rule because the second Silver Surfer #2 improved on issue one tenfold.  It gave me something to invest in and it really started to tell a story that I know I am going to love.

In issue #1 we saw how The Silver Surfer came to be the champion of Impericon.   We were also introduced to Dawn Greenwood a human woman held against her will in order in ensure Norrin Radd’s help destroying the mysterious Never Queen.   The Silver Surfer has no idea who Dawn is but they are linked in a way he is yet to understand.

In Issue #2 we see that not everything is what it seems there are some twists and surprises that I really enjoyed.  We get to meet the Never Queen and see her motivation.  I am still not all that sure what she is but she looks amazing.  The art work especially where she is concerned is really great.  I also liked the Silver Surfer a lot more than I did in the first issue.

My favourite aspect of this comic has to be Dawn.  She is a great character who I find really interesting.  She is an important aspect of this story not because of her link to The Silver Surfer but in her own right.  She may not be an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D or a martial arts expert but she is still strong.  I can’t wait to see what happens next with her and how her relationship with The Silver Surfer evolves.  

4 stars

Varient Covers

Cover by Francesco Francavilla 

For more information about this title and others check out the Marvel website

Review: The Amazing Spider-Man #1

By Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos

The Greatest Super Hero of All Time RETURNS! The world may have changed since Spidey’s been gone, but so has Peter Parker. This is a man with a second chance at life, and he’s not wasting a moment of it. Same Parker Luck, new Parker attitude. Putting the “friendly” back in the neighborhood, the “hero” back into “super hero,” and the “amazing” back into “Spider-Man!” Also returning: The recharged and reenergized ELECTRO!

The first in this new run of The Amazing Spider-Man started with a naked peter parker swinging (not what you’re thinking) through the streets of New York and it just kept getting better from there.  It is really great to have Peter Parker back after being gone so long.  I thought Superior Spider-Man was a great series, and I liked Otto Octavius in the spider suit but I am happy Peter Parker has returned. 

Parker is one of those characters who manages to be incredibly annoying in the most endearing of ways.  His witty personality and sarcasm is on full display here which is part of the reason I loved this comic so much.  There is plenty of humour which is great but underneath that you can see how Parker is struggling to come to terms with the fact that someone else has been living his life, making decision he would never make, being a man he would never be.  He is confused and a little overwhelmed but he manages to keep his chin up and get on with things.  It will be interesting to see how he copes as the series continues and the actions of Octavius become more apparent.

The story is short but sweet.  It is packed full of personality and doesn’t overwhelm straight away.  It lays down the ground work for what is to come and from all the hints (and the preview at the back of this issue which includes a very annoyed Black Cat and Electro) there is some pretty exciting stuff coming our way. 

My only grumble has nothing to do with the story but with Marvel adding in Inhuman #1 as a bonus.  I really love Inhuman I have always liked the inhuman characters so a part of me is happy that it is included so more people will see it.  However, the other part of me who has to think about real life things like money is a little peeved.  Why did I bother paying for Inhuman when it is included free in another comic?  A comic that most fans who have already bought Inhuman are bound to buy.  Comics are not overly expensive in comparison to other entertainment products but with new releases in double figures every week it sure adds up quickly.  For the avid comic book fan I am not sure this was the best move from Marvel.

4 Stars

Varient Covers

For more information about this title and others check out the Marvel website.

Marvel Monday #1: This weeks comics

I have found lately that the blog is getting a little weighed down with all the Marvel stuff I keep posting.  There are reviews, MCU news, comic news and a heap of other stuff that does not interest all of you and may sometimes hide other posts from view.  I am a massive Marvel fan so not posting Marvel stuff is not an option.  So in an attempt to please everyone I have decided to start a brand new feature called…Marvel Mondays! 

Yeh I know, it's pretty exciting.

Every Monday there will be a Marvel mega post.  I will go through all the new comics for that week, look at what’s coming up and go through all the news concerning the movies, TV shows and comic books.  That way it will all be in one handy post and the blog will be free for other things.

I am pretty excited about this and hope you are too! As always let me know what you think in the comments or tweet me @Katie_la_geek

This week in comics

There were some great new releases this week including the eagerly awaited first issue of Elektra and our first taste of Original Sin which will be a huge in the upcoming months.

First up is Elektra #1 written by W Haden Blackman with art by Michael Del Mondo.

Witness the beautifully violent return of the world’s deadliest assassin. A life spent in silent pain has led Elektra to the precipice of despair. As she prepares to shed her past and take her next step, everything you know about her will change! Death is no escape, but she will find her way as a new option opens up that will take Elektra to places no other Marvel character can go.

In many ways Elektra reminds me a lot of the current Black Widow series which is both a good and a bad thing.  Visually (like BW) Elektra is stunning the art is some of the best I have ever seen it is so detailed (see the cover for an example of this) and uses colour so well.  But like Black Widow there seems to be a lack of personality here, yes it is beautiful and yes it is great to have another female focused comic but I want to know her and see her personality.  A great example of a comic full of character is Hawkeye #1 which is amazing (actually the whole series is amazing you should check it out if you haven’t already).  If it can be done with him then it can be done here too.  Hopefully we will see more of Elektra’s personality in future issues.  Also worth mentioning is the introduction of the ‘Matchmaker’ who for good or bad has the potential to be a really interesting character.

Next is Original Sin #0 written by Mark Waid with art by Jim Cheung and Paco Medina.

IT’S THE PROLOGUE TO THE BIGGEST MARVEL SERIES OF THE SUMMER! WHO IS THE WATCHER? That’s what Nova is wondering after his latest brush with the moon-dwelling enigma he’s encountered before! But what he discovers will have a profound effect on the young hero, as well as priming the pump for the most cataclysmic event in Marvel history! WHAT DID HE SEE?

As you can probably tell by the synopsis Marvel is pretty excited about the Orignal Sin series and if this comic is anything to go by then they have good reason to be.  This is one of my favourite comics of the week.  I much preferred the art in Elektra but in terms of story this ticks all the boxes.  The watcher is a character that crops up a lot in the Marvel Universe but little is known about him.  This insight into who he is and why he does what he does is great and at times touching.  The pairing of The Watcher and teen Sam Alexander aka Nova worked so well and I think that pairing is what really made this story something special.  This is a great start to Original Sin but would also work on its own if you were just interested in The Watcher or Nova.

Next on my list is Iron Patriot #2 written by Ales Kot with art by Garry Brown.

“UNBREAKABLE” PART 2.  Who is controlling the IRON PATRIOT suit?  The conspiracy to destroy America from within grows.  And…James Rhodes dies!!!

I heard the other day that this series might be facing the chop which is a shame as I quite enjoy it.  Things are not going well for James Rhodes in the second comic of this Iron Patriot run and I guess if I have a complaint about this series so far it is that.   I like Rhodes so it hurts when he just cannot catch a break I hope before this series ends we see him a little chirpier.  This comic left things in an interesting place so I can’t wait to see what happens in the next issue.

Next is Avengers Undercover #3 written by Denis Hopeless with art by Timothy Hope II

FACE-TO-FACE WITH ARCADE! What happens when the Murder World survivors confront their former captor? Hint: Someone doesn’t survive!

Every issue of Avengers Undercover makes me want to cry a little.  Life for the survivors of Murder World doesn’t get any easier.  I truly wonder how much they can go through, some seem fine but the cracks are already showing in others.  This is one of my favourite Avengers series at the moment it is a great story full of touching moments, twists and cliff-hangers.  I recommend it to people who have read Avengers Arena.  If you haven't read that particular series then there is probably enough info here to read Avengers Undercover on its own but I would still recommend reading Arena first to get more of an emotional understanding of the characters.

Next is Daredevil #2 written by Mark Waid with art by Javier Rodriguez.

Daredevil’s in over his head in his new hometown, which isn’t at all as he remembers it!  New threats, new obstacles...and a forgotten Marvel hero steps from the shadows to make him feel MOST unwelcome!

Daredevil has never been one of my favourite comic book characters so this series was never really a must read for me I am enjoying it but not like some of the others.  I liked this better than the first it introduces The Shroud aka Maximilian Quincy Coleridge to the series.  I am hoping that he will really shake things up a bit and give me a little more to look forward to.

Also out: What if? Age of Ultron #4, Fantastic Four #3, Dexter Down Under #3 Uncanny Avengers #19, Thunderbolts #25, Superior Spider-Man Team Up #12, Savage Wolverine #17, Guardians of the Galaxy #14, Powers: Bureau #9, All-New Invaders #4, Marvel Universe: Ultimate Spider-Man #25, George Romero’s Empire of the Dead Act one #4

Next week

There are some great titles to look forward to next week.  Here is the rundown of what is coming out on Wednesday: Amazing Spider-Man #1, Uncanny Avengers Annual #1, Silver Surfer #2, Hulk #2, Disney Kingdoms: Seekers of the Weird #4, X-Force #4, Origin II #5, Avengers World #5, Wolverine #5, What if: Age of Ultron #5, Avengers A.I #12, New Avengers #17, All-New X-Men #26, Avengers #28

If you want more information about these comics or any others check out the Marvel website.  You can also visit my Tumblr to see all the Variant covers for this week.

Also before I move on to the news section just a reminder that this Saturday is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! Yes that’s right I said free.  Check to see if your local comic book store is takeing part and head on down there on Saturday for your free reads.

Graphic Novel Review: 47 Ronin by Stan Sakai & Mike Richardson

 

Japan’s enduring national legend comes to comics! The tale of the 47 Ronin and their epic mission to avenge their wronged master epitomizes the samurai code of honor, and creators Mike Richardson and Stan Sakai have done justice to their story! Meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated, this collection of the acclaimed miniseries recounts this sweeping saga of honor and violence in all its grandeur. Opening with the tragic incident that sealed the fate of Lord Asano, 47 Ronin follows a dedicated group of Asano’s vassals on their years-long path of vengeance!

I have always had an interest in Japanese history and culture.  It is not something I know a lot about but I enjoy reading about it.  I had heard of the story of the 47 Ronin but didn’t really know what it was about.  Unfortunately the first taster I had of it was the trailer for the movie which featured a woman that could turn into a dragon and a man that looked a little fish like.  So naturally I assumed that this legend dabbled in the supernatural.  That assumption could not have been more wrong.

47 Ronin is actually a true story about a group of samurai who avenge their wronged leader.  It is about honour and courage not dragons and fish men.  If you go to Japan you can actually visit these men’s graves and learn all about their amazing bravery and sacrifice. 

The graphic novel tells this story well enough it is detailed and well pieced together.  The illustrations are very classic and simplistic in their approach.  There are no big pictures or bright colours it is muted which really fit the time period of the novel and the subject matter.  What I really liked about this graphic novel was the added information at the end.  There are pages of stuff about the legend, Japan, the author and the men involved.  It is really interesting stuff and added a sense of realism that you don’t ever really get in graphic novels.

There are flashier and brighter Samurai graphic novels out there but if you want something a little different based on a true story with a ton of extra history thrown in then 47 Ronin is for you.  I really enjoyed it.

3 stars

Published February 19th 2014 by Dark Horse Comics.  Book Cover courtesy of Goodreads.  A free copy was provided by the publisher.

Review written by Kate Phillips