Spider-Woman #4 review
We know that Brian Michael Bendis loves Jessica Drew, a.k.a Spider-Woman. He has been enthralled with her and is singlehandedly responsible for inserting her at the Marvel Universe’s epicenter with he role in Secret Invasion. Months ago, Bendis spoke with love and excitement as he announced his Spider-Woman series. Jessica Drew is a compelling character, raised by terrorists, allied with Nick Fury, then the Avengers, and kidnapped by the Skrulls. How would she fit into the world post-Secret Invasion world? Bendis certainly had an interesting premise to work with.
Four issues into the series I can state in all fairness that I am not impressed. After reading the first few issues, I couldn’t decide if I liked it. There are many elements of the series I like, but they fail to gel together into a good book. I like Brian Michael Bendis’ choice of allowing Jessica first person narrative. However after four issues, she just seems to be bitching. I’m a fan of wordless panels, allowing the art to speak for itself. While this series relies on this technique frequently, the plot is too sparse for it to be effective. There is just not enough going on and it gets boring fast. I like that gritty noir style which artist Alex Maleev employees. It just doesn’t work well with this story. Bendis’ writing doesn’t have a noir feel and there’s a disjointed presentation between script and art. The watercolors are distracting and out of place. From the coloring, to the art, and the dialogue, no one element is bad, but there is something missing, leaving this series with many individual pieces and nothing complete.
It’s a bizarre combination of ideas that seems like a Bendis experiment. I applaud the attempt, but I’m disappointed with the end result.
2 out of 5
When I heard Mark Waid was tackling a four-part mini-series on Doctor Strange, I was interested. Interested enough to buy this first issue. Now, I have $4 less and I am very sad.
These are dark times for Doc Strange – he is no longer Sorcerer Supreme and off the Avengers roster. I hoped this series filled in some gaps. I guess Doc Strange is not too worried about recent events because he goes to a baseball game. This issue is Strange enjoying America’s favorite pastime. One of the teams is possessed by demons and he helps out – that’s it!
The story sucks and Emma Rios’s art sucks even more. The demons look ridiculous and the pages have an inappropriate manga flare to them.
I will not be paying for the next three issues. I would not even read them for free.
0 out 5
Is Clint Barton the only voice of reason? I would say “Yes.” With the mutant enslavement, including Avengers Wolverine, Barton has found the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. His plan is to assassinate Norman Osborn. Who’s with him?
Bendis delivers his quipping dialogue between Avengers teammates as Clint asks if his teammates will lend to hand to kill Norman. This is what the Dark Reign has been moving towards since its inception. However, being a one-shot and the first of many “The List” one-shots to come, you get the feeling that Barton will fail.
Artist Marko Djurdjevic masterfully darkens these pages with shadows and tension, adding weight to the plot. He captures the facial emotion at every beat and then softens his delivery for a more stealth-like approach to the action. His panel choices are sharp and fluid.
I thought Norman’s device for shielding himself from Clint’s bullets was a big ol’ bucket of Velveeta, but the confrontation was fun. It’s tough for me to believe that the other Avengers would not want to kill Osborn – he’s evil and things are only going to get worse. Besides those gripes, this was a great read. I hope the cliffhanger ending is intelligently resolved in upcoming Avengers issues.
So far “The List” has earned its place on my pull list.
4 out of 5
Hank Pym’s newfound Avengers are stuck in the PymPocket; sounds kinky doesn’t it? The Pympocket is a lab that exists outside of both time and space. Barely escaping a HAMMER attack, the doorways to return home are quickly disappearing. Only Mr. Fantastic, Reed Richards, has the technology that can help them. Hank calls up his old buddy, but plans and people change. Meanwhile, U.S. Agent and Quicksilver are off to China on a mission involving the Inhumans, which could have far reaching ramifications.
Okay, I’m not a fan of the mega-science stories; time travel, multi-dimensions, and alternate realities are not my thing. That being said, I still really like this issue. I have writer Dan Slott to thank for that. Slott can write good banter and advance the story as well. Hank Pym declaring to Reed Richards “It’s on, bitch” was a great moment in Avengers’ history. This is a far from cohesive team and Slott is able to capture the tension with wit and style. With Loki pulling the strings and Hank still not entirely stable, it’s going to be bumpy time for this fledgling team.
Stephen Segovia’s art should get this book noticed. Even panels without action appear vibrant because of his talent. There is a power and fluidity to each image that brings life into these pages.
This issue leaves us waiting for the action that will occur next issue. This team is fun and Slott seems to have a lot in store for them.
3.5 out of 5
This Avengers titles should have been killed off along with the Skrulls. The Initiative was a brilliant part of Bendis’ Secret Invasion, but it should now be put out of its misery.
No matter how author Christos Gage tries to sell it, this story is Dark Reign leftovers and nothing really important. The story arc centers an a battle with a Thor clone? This team’s roster has some crappy nobodies like Thor Girl, Bengal, Komodo, and Barron Von Blitzschlag. The icing on the generic mishmash of Marvel bottom of the barrels is the arrival of The New Warriors. They were great pawns in Civil War for the set up, so please let them retire into obscurity.
Humberto Ramos pencils this nightmare. This book looks like manga or an old Voltron episode. Everyone has big feet, disproportionate limbs, and huge eyeballs. I’m just glad he’s drawing characters I don’t care about.
This arc is called “Avengers: The Initiative Disassembled.” I pray it happens soon.
1 out of 5
Wolverine fans will very pleased with this issue. What was previously a floundering storyline has skyrocketed in a great direction that has this X-Men fan wanting more.
In this issue, Nick Fury and Wolverine have a discussion about some recent events. Daken, Wolverine’s son, has taken his pop’s place on Osborn’s Avengers. Fury fills Logan in on the details of Romulus, the shadowy figure that has been manipulating Wolverine for decades. Wolverine learns of Romulus’ next move. Cyclops and the X-Men are drawn into this one as unknowing pawns of Romulus. Fury and Wolverine join forces to prevent Romulus’ latest plan – to create Daken into an even more powerful weapon than Pappa Logan.
Some great reveals are given as the Wolverine mythos deepens. Logan and Fury swill beers as we are treated to some great flashbacks. Doug Braithwaite nails the art. Being able to capture both Logan out of costume and the ass-kicking Wolverine is no small task. The close-ups of Fury and Wolverine are sharp and true to these well-loved characters.
It’s a great jumping on point. The conversation between Fury and Wolverine fills you in on all you need to know.
This issue announces, “Weapon XI begins here.” This title needed a new beginning. It’s off to a great start. This is classic X-Men stuff and I want more!
4 out of 5
