REVIEW: Nova, Volume One: Origin

PLOT: Sam Alexander is a kid bound by the gravity of a small town and a father whose ridiculous, drunken fairy tales about a "Nova Corps" were just another heavy burden. But luckily for Sam Alexander...soon gravity won't even matter. And those troubles are a billion miles away. It's a boy, a helmet, and an intergalactic legacy! Then: it's Sam Alexander's training day. And with the Guardians of the Galaxy's Gamora and Rocket Raccoon in charge, Nova soon learns that practice makes painful! Plus, the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of Sam's dad deepen...and the helmet leads Nova into intergalactic conflict that will affect the entire Marvel Universe!

REVIEW: Before this book, I had never read anything about or involving the character Nova. This book gives a great introduction into the original Nova and then follows with the story of the new Nova for Marvel NOW! I really like how accessible this character is even after the first issue contained in this volume. This was also an introduction to the Guardians of the Galaxy for me, which was nice to see previous to the Guardians of the Galaxy film coming out soon from Marvel. Rocket Raccoon was actually a really funny character, and also pretty tough, which was just cool to see in a comic book of this quality. I think Jeph Loeb having written this title is probably a pretty big reason as to why it is so good, because he's a pretty well-proven writer for comics at this point. The art is also great, and overall this volume of Nova is really impressive for a Marvel NOW! title. Easily one of the best of the NOW! initiative, Nova sets out to the stars and beyond for fans of Marvel. I'm not even that big on Marvel comics ever taking place in space, but this one had it all going right.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )
ARTWORK : ( 8 / 10 )
STORY : ( 9 / 10 )
COVERS : ( 5 / 10 )
AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )
FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )

REVIEW: Shadowman, Volume One: Birth Rites

PLOT: There's a million dreams in the Big Easy. But now its worst nightmare is about to come true. As the forces of darkness prepare to claim New Orleans as their own, Jack Boniface must embrace the legacy he was born to uphold. As Shadowman, Jack is about to become the only thing that stands between his city and an army of unspeakable monstrosities from beyond the night. But is the mantle of Shadowman a blessing, or a curse? And what is the true cost of his otherworldly power?

REVIEW: I have been a huge fan of all the Valiant titles thus far that I've read, and I didn't expect anything different from this. Shadowman proves to be the darkest title that I've read from this line so far, and that's saying something considering the titles that surround it. Bloodshot has consistently been a very dark title since the beginning, but even this shows that Valiant can get even darker that it already has. The story is actually very great too, finding Jack Boniface searching for answers about his past, his family, and his new life. The power of Shadowman is only tapped on in this volume, as it serves mostly as an introduction, but it seems that the threats he could face soon will be near apocalyptic. The villain is Darque, and he only appears for a few frames but will be the big challenge that Jack will face in the next volume. I really enjoyed this story, and it's really easy to hop right into. Also, the art is beautiful yet haunting, with the main villain Mr. Twist of this book being consisted of sacrificed flesh. His powers seem to be to take control of anyone he can get his flesh into, but I'm sure there is more to be discovered as he turns out to be a part of a bigger plan. I also like the monkey that resides in Darkside, which is where Shadowman and others draw their powers from. In the end, this is another brilliant entry into the Valiant line and you can consider me a fan of the Shadowman. Must read for fans of Valiant, and darker comics, this is the original kind of work us graphic novel readers are looking for.

WRITING : ( 9 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 10 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe

PLOT: What if everything you thought was funny about Deadpool was actually just disturbing? What if he decided to kill everyone and everything that makes up the Marvel Universe? What if he actually pulled it off? Would that be FUN for you? The Merc with a Mouth takes a turn for the twisted in a horror comic like no other!

REVIEW: I have already read Deadpool Killustrated which was a spin off from this book, and Deadpool has taken it upon himself to destroy everything around him. Deadpool has been convinced that everything in the Marvel universe deserves to die, so it is now the beginning of the end for Deadpool. Realizing that he's just a character, he wants to take it out on all the rest of them and become to lone survivor. What is really fun about these Deadpool books is that they are very self aware in the sense that he knows he's in a comic book. It makes it really fun to read a character that is pretty much there just to entertain you, whether it's in the book or outside of it. It's only once in a lifetime that you get to see Deadpool just kill every single one of the characters you grew up with and read in Marvel, including one particularly fantastic frame of him blowing Spider-Man's brains out with a pistol. It's things like this that you know that are one of a kind, that are really great. I especially like when Marvel tackles more adult themes or stories, because they usually end up being a lot better than usual. This is a must read for Deadpool fans and anybody looking for an entertaining, but violent comic book read.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 7 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: All New X-Men, Volume Two: Here to Stay

PLOT: Yesterday's X-Men continue to adjust to a present day that's simultaneously more awe-inspiring and more disturbing than any future the young heroes had ever imagined for themselves. And things get even more dangerous when the shape-changing terrorist Mystique targets our young time-travelers...starting with Cyclops!

REVIEW: To start, I wasn't a huge fan of All New X-Men, Volume One: Yesterday's X-Men but it did leave some things open to get better in this second volume. Things definitely got better, but actually got really great and I really enjoyed this volume. The first volume was more of a set up for this one, as the X-Men from the past are still struggling in finding out what they've become in the present time. Most importantly, Scott Summers has seen where his life has gone and it's all too frightening a truth for him to take. He takes an approach to it, and vows to not be the same Scott Summers and do whatever he can to change it, but that's the typical Summers agenda when problems arise. It's really interesting to see these characters struggle with themselves in the past, when they've seen what they become in the future. There is a tie-in as well with the Uncanny X-Men cast, and I thought that was pretty cool just having read that. My review of the first volume was a considerable bashing, because I've been fed up with X-Men comics for the past year or so. They all seem so similar, and it seemed to me that this Marvel NOW! title was headed in the same direction. However, it has turned around in this second volume and I'd highly recommend All New X-Men to Marvel NOW! readers. It's definitely in the top three in the reboot, and I take back what I said about Brian Michael Bendis last volume. This guy is a mainstay in writing the Marvel universe, and he writes teams really well.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 8 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 7 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )

REVIEW: Uncanny X-Men, Volume One: Revolution

PLOT: In the wake of the Phoenix event, the world has changed and is torn on exactly what Cyclops and his team of outlaw X-Men are - visionary revolutionaries or dangerous terrorists? Whatever the truth, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Magneto, and Magik are out in the world gathering new mutants and redefining the name Uncanny X-Men. But the challenges that they must overcome are fierce: once again, robotic Sentinels hunt the team and the mutants they protect...but when you find out who's doing the hunting, your jaw will drop! And if that's not enough, there's a mole on Cyclops' team - but who is it?

REVIEW: I really haven't had the greatest luck with the X-Men in comic book form. I did enjoy the Ultimate X-Men series for the most part, but other than that they've all been pretty lame to me. This volume didn't start out too great at first, because it was kind of a similar story that's been told before with the X-Men. The mutants being disliked by humans, and an all out war on the brink as Cyclops and his team try to fight the good fight. What it turns into though is that you're really unsure of Scott Summers' condition to lead a team of heroes because of information Magneto leaks to S.H.I.E.L.D. I surprisingly ended up really liking this volume and I think it was to do with the excellent writing from Brian Michael Bendis who always seems to do a very nice job of handling multiple characters without losing himself in the story. Often times, group comics tend to be a handful with all of the characters, but Bendis takes a few familiars and throws in a couple newbies and you've got a whole new team that's easy to follow, and each has their own personality and traits. I really like this Uncanny X-Men team and I hope it continues on the path that it has built in the first volume. The art is great, and I really like the way they make Cyclops look with the dark reds and X-visor with his costume because it gives him that evil aura. It does cause some confusion as to who to root for, but it does provide for some great super hero drama and this volume of Uncanny X-Men is not short on that. This is easily one of the better Marvel NOW! entries, and I hope that it can continue to be so.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )

REVIEW: Uncanny Avengers, Volume One: The Red Shadow

PLOT: The Marvel Universe's greatest era starts NOW!, as the all-new, all-different Avengers assemble! Captain America creates a sanctioned Avengers unit comprised of Avengers and X-Men, humans and mutants working together...so why is Professor Xavier's dream more at risk than ever? The Red Skull has returned - straight out of the 1940s and full of hatred - and his rebirth will alter the Marvel Universe forever! What are the Skull's new powers? Can Havok and Thor defeat the spreading influence of Honest John, The Living Propaganda? As Rogue and Scarlet Witch find themselves trapped on the Isle of the Red Skull's S-Men, Wolverine and Captain America investigate the worldwide mutant assassination epidemic! Uncanny Avengers Assemble! Plus: from the ashes of AvX, the funeral of one of Marvel's greatest heroes! 

REVIEW: I have yet to read the Avengers vs. X-Men event in Marvel comics because I own it and can take my time, but apparently this volume deals heavily with those events. I was able to get into the story for the most part though. I'm starting to sort of get sick of these Marvel NOW! titles claiming to be something new and bold in the Marvel universe, but most of it strikes me as the same old stuff. This volume of Uncanny Avengers focuses on the return of Red Skull in modern times, and he has taken control of Charles Xavier's brain after his death. He is using it to control the population and even minds of the mutants to do his bidding, but also is blackmailing hero teams to do the very same. I like the Red Skull as a villain, and I think he is very terrifying but at the same time. However, this book does little to nothing to differentiate itself from the multiple Avengers and X-Men books that are out right now. What Marvel NOW! has failed to do with their titles is create a clear and concise story for each character or character group, and suck the reader in to the new Marvel NOW! titles. Uncanny Avengers definitely wasn't the worst that I've read from the reboot series, but it definitely did little to impress me. It does leave off with a good scene that will hopefully carry into the next volume and propel it to higher levels. Unfortunately though, I find myself hoping for this with a lot of the current Marvel NOW! titles. I got a great kick out of the Deadpool variant at the end of the book.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 7 / 10 )

STORY : ( 6 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 5 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 6 / 10 )

REVIEW: The Superior Spider-Man, Volume One: My Own Worst Enemy

PLOT: Peter Parker spent a lifetime living up to the responsibilities his powers foisted upon him, but his story finally ended dramatically in the historic Amazing Spider-Man #700. NOW!...The new Amazing Spider-Man has arrived, and he is better in every single way. Smarter, stronger... Superior. And he'll prove it, both to himself and the world, when he faces down the all-new Sinister Six! But is this all-new Spider-Man in cahoots with J. Jonah Jameson? And has Carlie Cooper figured out the Superior Spider-Man's secret identity? Plus: Spider-Man and Mary Jane...reunited?! All this and the return of the villainous Vulture!

REVIEW: This is a Spider-Man series that requires a little bit of prior knowledge in the way of having read Spider-Man: Dying Wish to know what The Superior Spider-Man is all about. For those who haven't read it, and those who do not wish to know the spoiler that makes this comic possible, this is your chance to turn around. In Spider-Man: Dying Wish Doc Ock is Spidey's villain, and has come up with the ultimate plan to finally defeat his nemesis. Through the miraculous ways of science, Doc Ock is able to switch minds with Peter Parker, and thus switch their roles in this long going comic. In The Superior Spider-Man, Doc Ock is now Peter Parker and/or Spider-Man and he has vowed to do things different. Forever known to mock Peter's way of taking care of business, Doc Ock knows that his outlook on fighting crime is a little different. He has turned a new page and now wants to live as the Spider-Man but as time goes on, he begins to realize that he will never be Peter unless he fully commits himself to this change. Now all of Doctor Octopus' brilliant work in the fields of science and Spider-Man are credited to Peter Parker and not himself. Really, this series was an outstanding idea from author Dan Slott and gives the series a new look and feel, while still keeping in tact the characters and stories previously woven. I love that Spider-Man is now seemingly ruthless, but even when Doc's evil tendencies attempt to surface, Peter Parker in spirit form is able to keep most of his legacy the same. I really like how Doc Ock uses the powers of Spider-Man for his version of good, which could be considered vengeance, which also gives this series a darker edge. If you're looking for a great new Spidey comic, this is it folks. The Superior Spider-Man is one of the best original twists on a popular character that I've seen, and it provides for some truly entertaining and new adventures with our favorite webslinger.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 8 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 9 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: Cable and X-Force, Volume One: Wanted

PLOT: Cable is back! NOW!, with a new X-Force at his side, he must tackle the threats that nobody else can know about - even if it makes him and his team public enemy number one. Just who are Cable's new recruits? Where has Colossus been post-AV X, and what is wrong with his powers? And most importantly, why are Cable and his team attacking a civilian company? Caught red-handed at the scene of a terrorist attack on a major American corporation whose CEO has expressed anti-mutant views, the X-Force find themselves branded criminals and on the run...with none other than the Uncanny Avengers in hot pursuit. There's no going back from here... 

REVIEW: This graphic novel was really poorly written. I could not for the life of me focus on the story and try to wrap my head around what was going on. I could only tell the basics from location and such, but the dialogue and interactions between characters didn't add much to the storytelling process. It was really a bummer to read this because the art was fantastic and of course it's supposed to be more of a darker Marvel tale being that it deals with Cable and a couple of the other darker characters. I really liked what was trying to be done, but somewhere along the lines the story was just lost to poor writing. I have read Dennis Hopeless before and it wasn't terrible so I know better is possible. This book needs a clear story to go through, and the first few issues do a really poor job of introducing the characters and the plot. The last issue was good and I think may be the turning point for this set of heroes and begin a new mission that some of us who are unfamiliar with most of these characters can grab on to. I have hopes that this series could turn around, but so far I wasn't impressed with anything but the art.

WRITING : ( 5 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 8 / 10 )

STORY : ( 5 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 6 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 5 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 5 / 10 )

REVIEW: Thor: God of Thunder, Volume One: The God Butcher

PLOT: Throughout the ages, gods have been vanishing, their mortal worshippers left in chaos. Now, Thor follows a trail of blood that threatens to consume his past, present and future. The only hope for these ravaged worlds is for Thor to unravel the gruesome mystery of the God Butcher! In the distant past, Thor follows the bloody wake of murdered gods across the depths of space. In the present, the Thunder God discovers a forgotten cave that echoes with the cries of tortured gods...and is shocked to find himself among them! And thousands of years from now, the last god-king of a ruined Asgard makes his final stand against the God Butcher's beserker legions. As three Thors from three eras race to stop the God Butcher, the full extent of his vicious scheme takes terrifying shape!

REVIEW: I wouldn't go as far as considering myself a big fan of Thor, but I did really like the film Thor that came out as part of Marvel's Phase One. I wasn't extremely excited to see the film even though I knew that it had to be good because Marvel has done an extraordinary job with re-branding themselves in terms of film, and it was even better than good and may be my favorite other than Iron Man. This book, is the first book of the Marvel NOW! series now called Thor: God of Thunder and I have to say I was extremely surprised with how great it was. It opens with a spectacular first issue showing the many sides of Thor. An avenger, and a man of the people, the godliness of this character is shown in many different lights. I loved the way that the author is so easily able to blend the darkness and haunting story of Thor and The God Butcher, with Thor's recently unraveled sense of humor. The film showcased Thor's immense misunderstanding of the different world around him, where this book shows his simplest desires in the places he calls home. There are quite a few good jokes about Thor's habitual drinking, and I think it humanizes an otherwise unrelatable character. The God Butcher is a great villain, and flashes of Voldemort from the Harry Potter series shows in his look and his words. The writing is also phenomenal in telling three separate stories of Thor but keeping them entangled together to tell an even grander story of one of Thor's most dangerous enemies. I have to say that this may easily be the best Marvel NOW! title I've read, and again I'm shocked at the titles that this NOW! initiative has gotten right, over the ones that they've completely butchered, in my opinion. This is a must read for Marvel fans, Thor fans, and fans of the film.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 7 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: 14

PLOT: Padlocked doors. Strange light fixtures. Mutant cockroaches. There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s. Because every room in this old Los Angeles brownstone has a mystery or two. Mysteries that stretch back over a hundred years. Some of them are in plain sight. Some are behind locked doors. And all together these mysteries could mean the end of Nate and his friends. Or the end of everything.

REVIEW: I picked up this book because the description sounded very entertaining, and it seemed extremely neat because all of the reviews on the book comparing it to one of my favorite TV shows, Lost. After reading it, I can see why the comparisons were drawn to the hit television show but at the same time, it really isn't that much like it at all in my eyes. I particularly like the quote inside the cover from the star of Castle, Nathan Fillion, that says something about geek jizzing in the book. It is a really great story, and it's really entertaining but the quotes on the book may exaggerate just a little bit. After reading about halfway through this book, I realized it was written by Peter Clines. While it was probably unusually late for me to be looking to see who the author was, I discovered that Clines was the one who wrote the Ex-Heroes and Ex-Patriots books that I read earlier this year. What has now turned into a full-fledged series for Clines with the heroes and zombies books, looks like a successful adventure into his own science fiction series. This is great too, because Peter Clines is a fantastic author with really great ideas and after 14 I'm really looking forward to more from him.

With 14, Clines takes an incredibly ordinary setting and group of characters into an adventure that is as wild as anything he's ever written. For sake of spoilers and mystery, I don't really want to give too much away but I really like the connections that this book drew with real life and real, once living, people. The science part of this fiction is really intense, and I guess in a way one could accurately describe 14 as "Lost in an apartment building" but it never quite earned that comparison from me. The main character Nate is really likable in the sense that his life is somewhat easy to understand, at least for the common man, as he's stuck in a seemingly dead end job with nowhere to go but down. It's these characters that are all in some sort of despair that seems unlikely to be conquered, but yet when they band together as a group and become something more than their individual selves, they find their purpose. Not only do they find their purpose together as a group, but as individuals after this wild ride through The Kavach Building and its unique apartment rooms to rent. By the time things start to go down, there's so much mystery surrounding the building that even though you may have a theory, deep down you know it probably won't even come close. This was a great book, a great mystery, and a definitely awesome sci-fi read.

RATED : ( R )

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

COVER : ( 6 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )