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

Author Brian Michael Bendis’ best team title is the Dark Avengers.  Known for his quips and deeply characterized dialogue, Bendis is nailing the personalities of each Dark Avenger.  As I find myself asking, well what about this… Bendis tackles it in the next issue.

Ares, the god of war, is a silently brooding Avenger who has been in the background.  In this issue, he addresses the fact that his son Phoebus, god of fear, is on Nick Fury’s Secret Warriors.  Ares confronts Fury and it’s nothing that I expected.  Rather than handing us a safe and predictable resolution, Bendis creates a realistic father-son relationship between Ares and Phoebus that makes perfect sense, yet totally unexpected.

Dark Avengers are a time bomb waiting to explode.  Daken is manipulating his teammates behind the scenes; Bullseye is nuts and craving to kill; Venom is crazy as well; and the Sentry is waiting to unravel.  The tableside chat between teammates is priceless – who is funnier Spider-man or Deadpool? – wisecracks about the Sentry and his fragile state of mind.  Bendis also leaves us with a cliffhanger that could have major ramifications.

Bendis frames this issue beautifully with both the first and final pages depicting a silent Norman Osborn behind closed doors as his team of leashed psychopaths begins to become untethered.

The next issue should be interesting.

4 out of 5

Author Matt Fraction is putting the dethroned Tony Stark through the proverbial ringer.  He’s on the run, equipped with on out-of-date ironman, tired, and losing his greatest power, his intelligence.  Most shockingly, he’s shaved his moustache in an attempt to disguise himself.  He’s getting dumber and looks like an idiot.

The “World’s Most Wanted” arc continues to pummel poor ol’Tony.  He reunites with Pepper Potts, geared up in a iron suit made just for her.  Fraction writes the desperate meeting believably and true to the characters.  With Lady Masque sent to assassinate the struggling Ironman, this former flame only has more motive to cap Tony now that he sees Pepper stealing her man.  Rogue ex-SHIELD agent Maria Hill is still trying to deliver her package to Nick Fury and seeks the Black Widow’s help.  Fraction creates a great against-all-odds feel to the plight of our heroes.

Salvador Larroca and Frank D’Armata show skills as artist and inker, respectively.  This issue is polished and sharp.  The shimmering metallic effect makes the technology realistic and accurate, although at times, faces can look goofy in their expressions.

The last few pages are a tough read, but in a good way.  Lady Masque is sadistic, and Tony and Potts are in some serious trouble.  Eventually, Ironman will save the day, but it sure is fun watching him get the crap beat out of him.

3.5 out of 5

This is what I have been waiting throughout this series: Nicky Fury and the gang take on HAMMER and Hydra.  Since issue number one, Jonathan Hickman has been building this title to this issue’s inevitable showdown.  Turning this read from ordinary to extraordinary are the many smart additions made along the way and Caselli’s phenomenal art.

Recently, the Howling Commandos have been reunited.  Hickman writes them with a nostalgic flare and gives these veterans an authentic potency – you don’t want to mess with them because they can kick ass.  Hickman has been building the Hydra mythos and now that the evil team is assembled, they’re ready to take out Fury.  Devious plans are hinted to, yet never fully known to the reader, leaving us wanting more.

Hickman’s real talent lies in the issue’s structure and dialogue.  It begins with the current mission; Fury and crew are stealing Helicarriers from a heavily guarded HAMMER base.  Through flashbacks, pages reveal how both sides prepared for this melee.  The opening scene is awesome dialogue, as a HAMMER solider reveals he is a Howling Commando and gives not only a beat down but also life lessons to his patrol buddy.

Stefano Castelli’s art is incredible.  Like all great artists, Castelli has his own unique style that is uncompromisingly his own.  His work is textured and vibrant in its emotive quality.  His ability to nail both still panel of a face and the mass chaos of a multi-figure battle is breathtaking.

Hickman delivers that “hell yeah” moment on the last two page panel.  This sums up both in art and story why Secret Warriors rocks!

4.5 out of 5

This book is slowly building up a good momentum.  I wasn’t a fan of the first issue.  My expectation of what Secret Warriors was going to be was very different than what it actually is.  There is a reason Jonathan Hickman is being paid to write and I’m not.

Hickman is writing a smart book.  Pacing and plot are right on target.  The stakes are high for Fury and the gang.  S.H.I.E.L.D. is Hydra.  This is certainly darker than Norman Osborn having his fifteen minutes of glory.  Osborn’s power will come tumbling down; we know this.  Hickman’s incarnation of Hydra’s power is much more terrifying.  The implications of Hydra’s reach into our government and the world plays on anyone who has conspiracy theory fears.  Hickman handles the build up, reveal, and characters reactions with skill and realism.

Stefano Caselli’s art is breathtaking.  The emotions and facial expressions are beautiful, crisp, and transparent.  Who these characters are is expressed in the Caselli’s lines.  His ability to nail both a dinner conversation and a frantic battle is masterful.  I don’t like the coloring; it’s too muted and dull.  I like that it’s moody and unique to Secret Warriors.  Like the story, I guess it’s growing on me.

I’m still not sold on the each member of team Fury has assembled.  The stronger members, Phobos and Hellfire, are getting more time in the spotlight.  Not impressed with Daisy, I was glad to see her screw up a mission and be demoted by Fury.  Another weaker member get hurt pretty bad.  Hopefully, we get a cool replacement.

Hickman’s writing and Caselli’s art crafts a well-paced title that avoids the silliness of many Dark Reign titles.  Hydra is no push over.  This is personal for Fury.  He seems like a time bomb that will go off at some point.  However, he is a seasoned veteran who has self-control and is willing to wait for the big payoff.

3.5 out 5

Secret Warriors begins to build up steam.  In this issue, we learn about Baron Strucker, leader of Hydra, and his devious plans for their future.  Hickman navigates through some back-story on Hydra that works very well.  Hydra actually feels like a tough enemy, rather than a laughable cartoonish Cobra (from G.I. Joe) rip-off.  Fury’s inner battle, realizing he has been a Hyda pawn and questioning years of his work, is convincing and a great motivator for his impending war on the organization.

We’re treated to a more natural and seamless introduction to the Secret Warriors’ team.  I am starting to get to know and like them. Some interesting dilemmas are placed before our newly formed warriors.  Six-year-old Phobos, god of fear and Ares’ son, flexes his powers.  During a Chinese food dinner, he predicts each team member’s fate, including the death of a teammate.  After a tough meal, Fury tells the team that one of them must infiltrate Hydra as a spy.

Stefano Casselli is able to draw a great book that’s heavy on dialogue scenes as opposed to panel after panel of action. He combines a vivid energy and sharp realism to give him a unique style.  Being able to hold the eyes’ attention without action is no easy feat, yet I think the use of more vibrant colors would help these pages come to life even more.

Hickman is resisting a pure action plotline for taking the time to build character motive and a compelling story.  I wasn’t thrilled with Issue One, but I enjoyed this issue. I’m looking forward to the next issue.

3 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

Of all the Dark Reign titles, I was looking forward to this one the most.  What could be better than the return of Nick Fury, now agent of his own band of bad asses?  This was the top of my stack this week and once finished, I wept.  They were tears of sorrow; the same tears I shed when I watched Star Wars : Episode One.  

Here’s why:  Writer Jonathan Hickman hurt my head.  Bendis is listed on the title as well, but he was a passenger for this train wreck.  I had to read this comic twice to make sure I knew what was going on (last few pages I read three times).  I had to keep checking who was who on the team and what their powers were.  Right now, the team members remind me of a leftover dinner my mom would serve, throwing on the plate whatever was left in the fridge.   Hopefully, they will take on flesh and personality in issues to come.     

Someone needs to open the box of Crayolas on this book.  None of the colors popped and the characters were hard to tell apart at times.  Daisy, the leader of the group,  looks like Maria Hill and the other girl on the team.  I call her the other girl because she’s not memorable.  All I remember is she had longer hair and held a big stick.  Daisy is a dull character, not a good sign since she’s the leader of Fury’s covert bunch-o-misfits.

I always thought of Nick Fury as a man of few words.  Well, I have been proven wrong.  He never shut up and what he said was confusing.  He spoke to Obama, he talked to Daisy, and lectured him team (yelling at them for doing stuff, which was the only action in the entire book).  That’s a summary of the entire book!  I waited months for a lecture!  The last few pages of this book was a text book, literally.  We get to see the documents Nick Fury downloaded.  I’m not on his pay roll.  Shouldn’t Nick Fury be reading this and just giving me the Cliff  Notes?      

The big reveal at the end, Hydra controlling S.H.E.I.L.D, didn’t do much for me.  Hydra’s in charge S.H.E.I.L.D, Osborn is the world’s savior, villains hijack the Avengers – life is tough in the Marvel Universe.  Deal with it Fury.  Stop lecturing and start kicking ass.  The only saving grace is that this is issue one.  I hope this is just necessary set up for better things to come.  If not, class dismissed Professor Fury.

2 out of 5