Book Description

As Spider-Man continues to search for Aunt May, things go from bad to worse for the wall-crawler! Everyone's favorite symbiote, Venom, is back - as only Millar and Dodson could envision him. Hold on to your spit, there's a beatdown coming for at least one guy with a spider on his chest! Featuring Black Cat, Venom, Doctor Octopus, and the X-Men. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

JJJ offers $5 million for Spider-Man's secret identity
With the success of the "Spider-Man" movies there has been a marked increase in the number of Marvel comic books featuring the web-head.From "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "The Spectacular Spider-Man" in the main time stream and "Ultimate Spider-Man" going back to the beginning to start anew, we then had "Marvel Age Spider-Man" retelling the original Stan Lee & Steve Ditko stories, with "Marvel Knights Spider-Man" and "Spider-Man Unlimited" doubling the contemporary adventures of our hero.Now we can throw in "Marvel Adventures Spider-Man" and "Spider-Man/Human Torch," and that is without getting into all the mini-series, guest appearances, and team appearances.Although the artwork is not the most compelling I have seen, it is Mark Millar's writing on "Marvel Knights Spider-Man" that stands out among the new crop.

"Venomous" presents issues #5-8 for the second volume of the "Marvel Knights Spider-Man" trade paperback collections.The problem is that Aunt May is missing having been kidnapped by an old foe who has learned Spider-Man's secret identity and is out to get him and get him good.Following a wild goose chase engineered by the Owl that had him tangling with both the Vulture and Electro, Spider-Man ended up in the hospital where a picture of him with the lower half of his face exposed by his tattered mask is on the front page of the "Daily Bugle."Smelling blood in the water, J. Jonah Jameson is offering $5 million to anyone who identifies the man in the picture and reveals Spider-Man's secret identity.The Black Cat is helping Spider-Man, but Mary Jane does not like the Felicity Hardy hanging around her husband.

As you can tell from the title Venom is going to show up in this one, but first Spider-Man has to tangle with a drug-addled Doctor Octopus, a NYPD SWAT team, and Norman Osborn.This requires a visit to the Xavier Institute for some psychic help in finding Aunt May, but the news is not good.Add to that the Parkers's money problems and the fact that somebody is experimenting on his old foes, Spider-Man is about ready to crack (and this is before Venom actually shows up).Fortunately a coffee break can help clear the webs, but the next thing you know Peter Parker's old classmates are trying to give him a wedgie at his high school reunion and then things get really bad.

Millar and artists Frank Cho and Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson are heaping a lot of bad times on Spider-Man but in an intricately structured way.Consequently, things do not start spiraling out of controlling but just keep pilling on Spider-Man.Aunt May's fate still being on the back burner is the only significant weakness, because he really would crack under all that pressure by the time we get to the end of this four-part story.But overall "Venomous" delivers a nice on-going nightmare for the web-head and a solid story.Plus, there is a nice punch-line as Peter Parker comes up with a way to get JJJ off of Spider-Man's back.Okay, it would not really work once JJJ stops to think about it, but it is still a nice little joke.

Millar is still amazing
Collecting the four part storyarc, Venomous continues Mark Millar's run on the newly launched Marvel Knights Spider-Man, but for those looking for some sort of closure after the cliffhanger ending of the first storyarc (Down Among the Dead Men), you're going to be left hanging again.Picking up right after the end of the first arc, Peter Parker finds that a million dollar reward has been offered by J. Jonah Jameson to anyone who reveals the identity of Spider-Man.As if that weren't enough, Aunt May is still missing, and after paying a visit to X-Men telepath Rachel Summers, is feared dead.But, there is something else going on as well.What are the police doing working with Doctor Octopus?What is Norman Osborn hiding and why is he in danger?And just who is the mysterious assaillant who knows everything there is to know about Peter?In the thick of it all, Eddie "Venom" Brock has auctioned off his alien symbiote, and now there is a new, sadistic individual wearing the costume and pushing Spidey past his limits.Millar's writing is just plain awesome (is it me or is he having Spidey say "What?" a lot?) and his characterizations of the villains and various in-jokes are refreshing to longtime web heads.The art by Frank Cho (in issues 5 and 8) is superb, while the art by Terry and Rachel Dodson (issues 6 and 7) is as great as it was on the first arc.All in all, this is definitely worth picking up for longtime Spidey fans, and it will leave you salivating for the next chapter. ... Read more

Book Description

A complete record of the public art installations sponsored by New York City’s Percent for Art Program since 1983 that features two hundred works by nearly as many artists, many of whom are internationally well known, including Vito Acconci, Dennis Adams, Siah Armajani, Alice Aycock, Dawoud Bey, Scott Burton, Jackie Ferrara, Komar & Melamid, Matt Mullican, Pat Steir, Fred Tomaselli, Ursula von Rydingsvard, Carrie Mae Weems, Fred Wilson and Krzysztof Wodiczko. City Art includes interior and exterior permanent art installations at schools, parks, playgrounds, courthouses and other sites throughout New York City’s five boroughs. Contains a foreword by Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City, and specially commissioned photography by celebrated New York-based architectural photographer David S. Allee. A stunning book that will appeal to anyone interested in contemporary art, architecture, urban issues and culture. ... Read more

Book Description

Wolverine's 30th Anniversary Celebration starts off with a bang as the X-Men investigate a series of mysterious murders in New York City. All the victims seem to have been cut to pieces by blades...Adamantium blades! But if Wolverine didn't murder these people, then who did?! Plus: While on assignment to track down missing teammate Sage, the X-Men discover more than they bargained for: the birth of a newer and deadlier Hellfire Club! Collecting Uncanny X-Men 450-454, and X-Men #165. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Silly
This book is just plain silly. It's a parody that just doesn't work for me. As the President of the USSR, Superman creates a Utopia where it doesn't even rain unless Brainiac is sure everyone has an umbrella! He's waiting for America to collapse, but Lex becomes President (even though he hates the people) just to defeat Superman!

A Pinnacle of Superman writing
Red Son, for those not in the know, is the Elseworlds tale showcasing how the world would have been different should Kal El have landed in Russia during the beginning of the Cold War. What occurs during the three issues is the rise of the Superman, and the fall of the world under his boot. Oh, it's not a tyrannical rule; Superman has made the world a Socialist community, with only a dilapidated America under President Luthor standing up against the alien's involvement.

It's a heady case that Mark Millar brings, but the work stands as one of the best and definite works for Superman. You may ask, 'definitive for Superman? How? It's not a real story!" (...)! Millar defines his world using the very paradigm of who and what the Superman character stands for. Oh, our guy is most certainly there. It's just that we get to see how Superman would react given a different lot in life. He is still the highly noble, self-sacrificing hero that we all know and love. There isn't a person on this planet that doesn't know that familiar 'S'-shield, and each one can pick up on the familiarity with the character as he and his cast are presented here. After all, it's the classic story of invulnerable alien versus his greatest nemesis-a brilliant mortal flesh and blood human. Ah....but Lex gets it done. In a brilliant way, Lex gets it done.

Art wise, Dave Johnson and Kilian Plunkett share the art chores throughout the telling. Johnson begins the story for the first part, and is joined and later finished by Plunkett. Johnson's work heralds the Superman Fleischer cartoons from the 1940's, where our hero is a broad shouldered man of action, simple in wants and benign in deeds. His work directly expresses the innocence of the years, and it's slow decay as time marches on. Plunkett finishes the tale up, and his style shows a harsher, aged time for the world and Superman. The decay of freedom is complete, and our hero bears that weight in full force. You can clearly perceive the gloom that hangs over all, which is...until....

You read it for yourself. What, you think I was going to tell you? Ha! And ruin it? You're out of your gourd!

Superman: Red Son more than stands out this year as the story that none should miss. It succeeds on all levels as a defining work that grabs your attention and leaves you overwhelmed come story's end. There is nothing more that I can say that the book doesn't say for itself.

Not a cause & effect, but a complete overhaul
I am a big fan of Marvel's long-lost WHAT IF series, in which one small change in a familiar storyline would result in radically different outcomes for heroes or villains. When DC began their Elseworlds imprint, I took notice, hoping that this would satisfy my craving for more variants on the old standards. I've noticed more and more, however, that Elseworlds is not so much a continuation of the WHAT IF premise, but complete reimaginings of the DC Universe. What's more, they really don't make much sense, and that is no more apparent than with Mark Millar's SUPERMAN: RED SON.

From reading the cover and introduction, the premise of this book appears to be "If Kal-El's rocket was off by a few minutes and landed in the USSR instead of the USA, how would that affect the DCU?". Reading on, however, I realize that the premise instead is "How would the DCU look in a world dominated by the USSR?" That's a whole different ballgame, and not nearly as interesting to me. The reason I say this is that Millar does not make it clear how the effects presented in RED SON are caused by Superman's existence as a communist figurehead. For example, why would Superman's not being in the USA make Jimmy Olsen decide to become a government agent instead of working for the Daily Planet? Why would a Russian boy with murdered dissident parents become Batman instead of Bruce Wayne? Why would Oliver Queen work for the Daily Planet instead of becoming Green Arrow? It seems to me that Superman's existence in the "regular" timeline had no effect on Olsen's desire to work at the Planet, the murder of Bruce Wayne's Parents, or Oliver Queen being stranded on an island; therefore, these characters should remain pretty much the same in this alternate timeline. All I can assume is that Millar wanted to give us more bang for the buck, giving us a quick thrill upon spotting familiar characters in different circumstances, but his cause-and-effect gets sloppy in the process. There are a few well-done moments, such as the creation of Bizarro and the release of the super-villains, but these were overshadowed for me by the little inconsistencies I mentioned before (and others) that just didn't add up. This is not a simple "alternate timeline" caused by a different destination for Kal-El's rocket... this is an complete reinterpretation of the DCU, and not much fun for me.

"Red" hot
Probably one of the best "what if" stories i have ever read. It has all the elements of a great grophic novel. Good story telling, good art, and exelent dialogue.

Superman Behind The Iron Curtain
I have enjoyed many of the Elseworlds books ever since the precursor, Gotham By Gaslight. This is probably the best Superman title and one of the best overall.

A few hours difference in the arrival of superman's space capsule could mean landing half a world away from Kansas and that is the premise. Superman has landed in the Soviet Union and has been raised by loyal Socialists. Superman's presence in the Soviet Union drastically alters the future.

Superman rises to power despite the conflict of political ideals and the Warsaw Pact signs on new members. We see the world change and see the lives of many familiar figures form the DC universe; Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, etc.

This is more than just a remake of the Nazi Superman (Ubermensch) as seen on Saturday Night Live. The story is fairly believable and Superman is as true to his upbringing as in the regular DC universe. The story progresses nicely until we see the final surprise plot twist.

A wonderful story for Superman and Elseworlds fans. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Brilliant, the best Daredevil story ever told
Born Again marked Frank Miller's return to Daredevil a few years after he penned the legendary Elektra saga. Here, DD's old flame Karen Page outs Matt's identity for a quick fix, resulting in the Kingpin learning Daredevil's secret identity and the Kingpin nearly succeeding in driving our hero insane. Matt loses everything: his home, his friends, his law practice, and almost his mind. Miller discards the Daredevil costume as well for most of the story, focusing more on the true hero behind the mask. Miller's deconstruction of the hero and his focus on the man in the costume is what makes Born Again so brilliant; it's Daredevil like we've never seen him before (at this point in the comic that is) as we see that this super hero is all the more human, something that made Miller's classic Dark Knight Returns story so good as well. The art by David Mazzucchelli is nearly perfect as well, and fits the tone of the story. All in all, if you want the defining Daredevil story, than look no further.

This Sold Me On Daredevil For Good
I initially became aware of the so-called "Man Without Fear" through several Ann Nocenti issues more than a decade ago. While I found her stories to be a bit out in left field (with DD LITERALLY going to hell!), they were often quite entertaining reads for the most part. They also drove me to seek out more issues, for I found the main character to be somewhat of a revelation (a blind attorney with superhumanly enhanced senses who also fights crime as a costumed vigilante???). My search eventually led me to the now classic Frank Miller-penned story in Born Again.

I'll say one thing for sure. Stan Lee may have been the one primarily responsible for introducing the Matt Murdock/Daredevil character to the Marvel universe, but I truly believe it was Frank Miller who ended up placing him within the proper context. While most superheroes are often busy duking it out with supervillains in otherworldly places and the like, Miller's all-too-human Daredevil was firmly rooted in the gritty, uncompromising setting of New York City's Hell's Kitchen (the lower east side of Manhattan in real life) and dealing with the worst kind of criminal scum imaginable on a frequent basis. I admit, Miller's initial take on DD was somewhat flawed with the Elektra-based stories in terms of execution despite being well-written in general. However, I believe he more than made up for it in what could possibly be THE greatest Daredevil story ever told and certainly one of the best in the entire comic book medium. It all starts out with Murdock's former girlfriend and co-worker Karen Page selling his secret identity for the mere sake of a drug fix, information which inevitably finds its way to the Kingpin of Crime himself, Wilson Fisk. What happens thereafter is nothing short of riveting, as one slowly begins to witness Murdock's world come crashing down in the Kingpin's attempt to make a painful example out of the only person who ever truly got under his skin, particularly as the infamous crimson-clad crimefighter.

I could say more about this highly acclaimed piece of comic book storytelling, but the other reviewers pretty much filled out the remaining details in one form or another. It's also good to see this character finally getting the recognition he so rightfully derserves in the quality stories currently being written of him by some of the best in the business in addition to the much anticipated film set to come out this year. Only pick up this TPB and you can see for yourself why I think Daredevil continues to remain one of Marvel's most notoriously unheralded cornerstones, despite being there from the very beginning alongside more established characters like Spider-Man, the X-Men, Hulk, the Fantastic Four, etc.

Good, Evil, Love & Betrayel... A Daredevil Epic
Frank Miller and Dave Mazzucelli strike comic book gold with this unforgettable tale of Daredevil and the Kingpin. With the Kingpin gaining knowledge of Daredevil's true identity, we watch a man's world crumble all around him. Can he build his life back? Can Matt Murdock come back from the pit that the Kingpin has thrust him into? The answer to that question is artfully and powerfully answered in the pages of this engrossing story. Mazzucelli's artwork seemes to roll off the page as movie storyboards - and Miller's storyline weaves it's web until all the drama's players entertwine, leading to the ultimate confrontation in the final chapter.

Miller's characters are unforgettable - The players are really fleshed out to give us understanding and insight into their world. I really love Miller's style of writing when it comes to this (a style he has used in many other stories, most notably in "The Dark Knight Returns"). Though decades have passed since I first read this story, I still remember exact lines and scenes from these well crafted characters. Truly memorable and powerful.

This collection is without a doubt one of the finest accomplishments in the history of graphic novels. It is essential crime drama reading.

Frank Miller's coda to his run on Daredevil
A few years after his famous long run on DAREDEVIL, Miller returjned to the series and wrote a very interested "Twilight of the God" story arc that centers upon Daredevil's sceret identity becoming revealed to his arch-nemesis, the Kingpin, after his ex-girlfriend Karen Page (who extends back to the first issue of the series), now a junkie, sells his identity to a criminal for drugs. The Kingpin learns the information and destroys Daredevil's civilian life as wealthy attorney Matt Murdock, forcing Daredevil to see if he can start all over from the beginning.

The artwork by David Mazzuchelli (who also did the even better BATMAN: YEAR ONE with Miller) is tremendous, and the story is engaging in part because Daredevil's setback seems such a real one (for once) and also because the story allows itself to be engaged in the very vulnerable and likeable Karen Page's attempt to set things right. The story does suffer from Frank Miller's great vices, his propensity for much too overbroad satirizations of politics and the media. The repetitive poking fun at patriotic jingoism by means of a new villain, Nuke, seems as shallow and two-dimensional as that which it seeks to attack, as does an overlong sequence attacking media sensationalism when Matt's previous girlfriend Glory keeps taking pictures without stopping during a brutal murder. (Miller is a fine one to talk about the sensationalism of violence.) But it's stilla superior graphic novel.

one of the greatest
Being a Daredevil Fan...i would hafta say THIS IS ONE OF THEEEEE GREATEST DAREDEVIL GRAPHIC NOVELS OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'NUFF SAID!!! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Terrifically 70's
This is the epitomy of Classic Batman. The story arcs are beyond reproach, even if the dialogue and expositionary blurbs are melodramatic and farcical by today's standards. If you grew up a fan of Batman: The Animated Series, you'll recognize this as the archetype for what that series became. The artwork, at most times, is the epitomy of the era. These days comics are more artistic and design-oriented, while these remain rather straight-forward. As such, they are the standard by which all other comics of the era, from the 70's through the mid-90's, should be measured.

Absolutely stunning...
This collection of Batman tales remains one of the most engaging, fun, and brilliantly wrought sagas of the Detective's long and storied history. Steve Engleheart pens a classic with the Joker fish, and Silver St.Clair stands as one of the more memorable and alluring love interests that the Batman has had over the years. However, as has been said before (yet cannot be emphasized enough) the real attraction here is the artwork, which (sadly enough) marked the pinnacle of Marshall Rogers' career, and remains one of "the" definitive renditions of the character (alongside such luminaries as Neal Adams, Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, Alan Davis, and Dave Mazzuchelli- look for their work). Ably abetted by Terry Austin in the height of his prowess (see Essential X-Men vol.2 for more of his very best work with joltin' Johnny Byrne), the Batman as presented in this collection is truly awe-inspiring and larger than life. Or, in other words- THIS BOOK IS BEAUTIFUL! An "art-fan's" delight. Not only that, if you are looking for "classic" Batman- the gentleman detective-cum-player, the swingin' bachelor with a keen intellect and a penchant for fisticuffs, well, you can't go wrong with this one. Top drawer, people, top drawer.

Pages Alive With Atmosphere!
It was a dark and stormy night. (or should that be Knight?) "It's Joker weather," says Commissioner Gordon. "True Commissioner," says Chief O'Hara, "But it's also tailor made for him!" The Batman is a character who needs lots of atmosphere. Darkness, rain, lightning, tall dark buildings, smoking gangsters, skinny trees bereft of leaves, all this and more fill the very affordable paperback collection of some of the best Batman stories ever produced. BATMAN: STRANGE APPARITIONS collects the beautifully drawn and superbly written DETECTIVE COMICS 469-476 and 478, 479 from 1977-1978. Some have called these issues "the definitive Batman." It was these stories that got the ball rolling on making a big budget and serious Batman movie and you can definitely see that many of the ideas from that movie came from these stories.

These pages are alive with atmosphere! Artist Marshall Rogers' panels literally drip down the page and capes slither behind the storyboards. Rogers sometimes lets the design of his panels tell the story as much as the art within them. When characters talk on the phone the panel's edges are drawn like phone cords. Sometimes panels rest on top of full-page illustrations that most artists would weep before covering up. Rogers is teamed for the most part with the incredibly talented inker Terry Austin. Together they provide pictures that are at once moody and sharp and exquisitely defined. When Batman menaces a thug you believe it. When Bruce Wayne has a nightmare you feel it. This artwork is a joy to look at and if the story were rotten it would still be worth buying this collection just to see the Batman look like the Batman should!

As the tale begins, Bruce Wayne has given up living at Wayne manor and he and his loyal butler, Alfred, have moved to a luxurious penthouse in the heart of Gotham. This makes it easier for the Batman to prowl the night. The first two issues, drawn by Walt Simonson (later of THOR fame) before Rogers came on board, sets the stage for what is to come. Bruce Wayne meets the beautiful and intriguing Silver St. Cloud and falls head over heels for her. But their romance is interrupted when a scheming white collar criminal, who has been turned to phosphorus (which burns on contact with air he loves to scream), decides to take revenge on the city that he believes is responsible for his fate. Dr Phosphorus contacts the corrupt city official "Boss" Rupert Thorne and agrees to spare his life if he will get the Batman off his back. Though Batman defeats Phos (of course) Boss Thorne continues to use his political power to undermine the Batman through the rest of the novel.

Hugo Strange, a great character who appeared long ago in BATMAN #1, is brought back from the 1940's. Strange has a hospital for the rich needing privacy that is actually a place where he drugs and mutates and blackmails them into doing his bidding. It isn't long before he captures millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne and (gasp!) learns that he is really Batman. Hugo Strange is an interesting character who seems to admire the Batman as his only equal. "Truly a life of genius is a lonely one," he says. Strange is killed by Boss Thorne, but don't count him out! He is the "strange apparition" the book is named after. He haunts Boss Thorne all through the book and even helps the Batman out a time or two.

Next, the Batman faces off against the Penguin and another character from the golden age of comics, albeit retooled for the 70's Deadshot. All the while he dodges the machinations of Boss Thorne and as Bruce Wayne falls deeper and deeper in love with Silver St. Cloud, who by this time has discovered that he is Batman. After all, she "has spent many nights studying his chin." The bittersweet romance between St. Cloud and Wayne is so thick you can taste it, and for the reader extremely satisfying. It is rare to see the Batman obsessing over a woman as he flits through the darkened Gotham streets, but that is what he does. But he has little time for mooning because his next opponent is the maniacal Joker.

"My world goes CRAZY sometimes," thinks Batman as he considers all the things that are piling up on top of him at the beginning of "The Laughing Fish." The Joker has another insane plan and is on a killing spree. There are some beautiful scenes between the two archenemies and the Joker is portrayed as delightfully chilling and insane. His laugh is described as "raining down like ice cubes." The two Joker issues are my personal favorite Joker stories. He is deadly, evil, menacing and doggonnit FUNNY! The Joker never takes himself too seriously - except when he does. And if you don't know which way he is taking himself at the moment - he'll kill you. You gotta love a guy like that (from a DISTANCE!)
The plot lines of Silver St Cloud, Boss Thorne, Hugo Strange and The Joker all come to conclusions, but I won't spoil them for you.

The paperback ends with a pair of stories featuring a new Clayface, written by Len Wein and continuing with the beautiful art of Marshall Rogers. Clayface is a somewhat tragic figure who is in love with a wax dummy. Wein does a good job conveying this and keeping it sad rather than comic.

STRANGE APPARITIONS features an all-new cover illustration by Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin and a foreword by Steve Englehart? It is attractive and easy to read without cracking the spine. It gives you 10 classic comics for thirteen bucks - such a deal! And Like any good compilation, this one ends too soon and leaves you begging for more. Unfortunately that more will have to come from back issue bins - at least until someone decides to collect Englehart's Justice League America!

Highest Possible Recommendation!

The Definitive Batman?
Certainly one of the best runs ever on the Batman - portrayed appropriately by writer Steve Englehart not as a psychotic, vengeful terrorist of some sort but as an adventurer/detective born of a lifelong desire to see that no child would come to the end of their childhood as violently as he had. Justice being the goal, but not at the expense of life (any life), he adopted this identity to work with law enforcement, in a manner which they could not. Artist Marshall Rogers appropriately renders the Batman with the build of a gymnast/martial artist - fitting for one skilled in all manner of each and inker/embellisher Terry Austin brings further character and mood to these renderings. There might well be a better depiction of the Batman, but one would be hard pressed to find it. Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" from the mid-1980's (which is said to have inspired the Batman films in the late 80's) is often cited as the height of the Batman's lore, but was intended as a tale outside the current Batman stories - a story of a possible future, 10 years after his retirement and a tale of hope and redemption mired in a dark, grim and gritty world. Unfortunately, those who followed Miller focused solely on the "dark, grim and gritty" and superimposed that mood upon the character of the Batman. "Strange Apparitions" by Engelhart and Rogers is, in my own opinion, a much better rendition of the Batman. Beautiful art and engaging story for juvenile fiction fans old and young alike.

Batman: Not so strange
For me, this is the story that I always go back to. I originally bought it as a very cheap poorly produced reprint paperback in England, 20 years ago. Read it countless times. So I was overjoyed when at last this was reprinted. This is the story that gave us our Batman back! super writing and even better artwork. Just as influential as Frank Miller, if not as well known and just as good. ... Read more

Book Description

Leaping onto center stage from the wings of comics history comes that dazzling Master of Elusion, foe of tyranny, and champion of liberation - the Escapist. Operating from a secret headquarters under the boards of the Empire Theater, the Escapist and his crack team of associates roam the globe performing amazing feats of magic and coming to the aid of all those who languish in the chains of oppression. The history of the Escapist's creators Joe Kavalier and Sam Clay was recently chronicled in Michael Chabon's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Now the best of the Escapist's adventures are collected into one volume for all to enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Get This Now.
This is an excellent choice for post-reading when you have finished Kavalier and Clay. The art is outstanding, and to see the Escapist in so many different forms brought me nothing but joy. The writing/stories range from campy to fantastic, never giving you too much of one incarnation of the Escapist to induce boredom. The mythos of the Escapist throughout the years has been dutifully captured with some surprising tales featuring an aged Tom Mayflower and several (some of my favorites) of Luna Moth. The two bad things are this: 1) that is that there is not more in this volume. and 2) I don't think readers will fully appreciate this without reading Kavalier and Clay first. But if you have, go get this now. I read thorugh it way too fast the first time, but this book will have me re-reading it for years.

An Amusing "Comic" Romp
I haven't read a comic book in close to 35 years. I picked Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adentures of the Escapist on a whim because I had read and enjoyed Chabon's novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Chabon's novel detailed the story of two young men (Kavalier, a refugee who fled from Nazi-occupied Prague after an amazing escape and Klay, his New York cousin)who have a long stormy career after creating a sensational comic book hero - The Escapist. The Escapist, as his name suggests, has the extradorinary Houdini-like ability to escape even the toughest bonds and fights the forces of evil, specifically the Iron League whose ultimate goal is to enslave the world.

The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist is the comic book spin off of the novel. Chabon, together with a team of well known graphic artists (including Kyle Baker, Gene Colan, and Jae Lee) and writers (including Glen David Gold, author of Carter Beats the Devil)has created a series of comics that trace the history of The Escapist. The comics begin with the 'premiere' episode in the late 1930s and move chronologically through the late 1970s. As with real comics, some stories are better than others. I particularly enjoyed the opening story, The Passing of the Key, which serves as the premiere epdisode that explains the origin of the Escapist. Prison Break, and Divine Wind (a Japanese version of the Escapist authorized by Kavalier & Clay) were also particularly good. Although I liked Are You Now or Have You Ever Been (Chabon's comic book look at the McCarthy era) I am not at all certain that any comic published in the 1950s would advance the views contained in it but I enjoyed it nevertheless.

Each section is introduced by brief overviews written by Chabon and his collaborators. The overviews put the comics in their proper 'historic' context. They are amusing and well written.

I very much liked the Amazing Adventures of the Escapist. As noted, I have not read a comic in quite some time so I claim no particular expertise in this idiom. The era of the modern comic has passed me by. Perhaps now I might look into it further. However, this lay reader enjoyed both the story lines and the art work. Reading these stories took me back to my younger days reading Batman, Superman, Sgt. Fury (and yes - even Mad Magazine). In short, this is a fun read. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Chabon and the creators played this work out with a straight face even if one can see that they all clearly had fun working on this project. The cover art on the back page which harks back to comic book advertisements of days gone by is a case in point.

I think the fact that I had read Chabon's Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay enhanced my enjoyment of this work and I would suggest this may be so for any reader for whom reading comics may be more an exercise in nostalgia than a current avocation. However, the book does stand up on its own, particularly because each story is advanced by explanatory overviews.

Again, this book was a lot of fun. I entered it with some trepidation at the thought that I was reading a comic - but as I got into it those feelings were replaced by the enjoyment of sitting down for some excellent 'escapist' reading. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Fresh Take On A Classic Character
This new Batgirl story really invigorates the classic character. All the classic elements of Batgirl's origin are here, but they are updated and fleshed out. I like how her relationship to Batman turns out. At first he tries to make her quit and give up being a superhero, but then he sees how serious and capable she is. The story gets 5 stars. the artwork gets 4, because, although it was fresh and sort of abstract, I think Batgirl was drawn too skinny. She did not look healthy. All in all this was a great story and made me miss Barbara Gordon as Batgirl even more than I did.

Terrific Update!
The writer and artist made a super update on the character and origin. The streamined art was perfect for the story... capturing a bit of old-fashionedness and nostalgia without looking campy and/or dated. Excellent correographed action, the storyline got confusing visually rarely. Barbara Gordan has spunk and in the would of Powerpuff Girls and realistic female heroes they showed her strong, compassionate, smart, and funny without dumbing her down. Brought some of the "modern sensibilities" of the current female characters to an origin story. Best mini-series of 2003.

A great update of the original Batgirl
Chuck Dixon, at the time this book was written, had spent several years chronicling Barbara Gordon as Oracle in "Birds of Prey." That combined with his own great work on "Robin: Year One" made him a natural choice to work on this volume. Together with Scott Beatty, he did a great retelling of the original Batgirl, getting rid of some of the campier elements from her 60s-era debut and making her a powerful female superhero. The writers also managed to work in some foreshadowing to future events in Barbara's life such as her relationship with Dick Grayson (a.k.a. Robin I, a.k.a. Nightwing) and set up the pieces for her eventual role in "Birds of Prey" -- also a great series. The artwork in this book has a very clean style, almost a hybrid between traditional comic book artwork and the style you see on "Batman: The Animated Series" People who like the character will be in no way disappointed... although I must admit, I find it very interesting (almost amusing) that Barbara Gordon's Batgirl seems to have a lot more fans now than she did before the Joker put a bullet in her spine in "The Killing Joke."

The Dynamite Damsel
The Batman family seems to do well by Year Ones, and Batgirl is no exception. These mini series are almost always superior to the regular ongoing series, as they are not tied down by subplots and the rush of a monthly deadline.

"Batgirl: Year One" is an excellent amalgam of the old and the new, incorporating important elements of Batgirl's mythology, such as Killer Moth and the costume party she makes the Batgirl suit for, while successfully incorporation new Batman lore such as the jump lines and modern technology. Gone is the Utility-Handbag and the Batgirl who would stop fighting the Joker (nice foreshadowing of the Joker, by the way) if she got a run in her stocking. The modern Barbara Gordon is a capable partner in crime fighting.

The art in the series is excellent, and stays in tone with the rest of the Year One series, maintaining a slightly retro-feel. The colors are dark and mysterious, lending a nice tone to the story.

An altogether excellent mini-series.

Winner of Wizard Magazine's Best Mini-Series of 2003!!
This is the collected volume of the acclaimed nine-issue "Batgirl: Year One" limited series published in 2003 by DC Comics. It features the beginning of Barbara Gordon's life as a superhero. While it is a deviation from the 1967 origin, the story is interesting, smart, and fun--making this volume a page-turner. Also, the art is very "retro" and appealing.

Batman, Robin, Firefly, Killer Moth, Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, Jason Barde, Blockbuster, Black Canary, Spectre, Wildcat, and Green Arrow make guest appearances, but what makes this book special is seeing Barbara evolve from a determined young girl who simply wants to help people into an all-out vigilante named Batgirl. Also, the fact that she and Batman are more rivals than partners adds a wonderful aspect of independence and competition to the story.

Plus, you get to see Batgirl kick a lot of things--always a good time.

Pick up this book and learn all about Batgrrrrrrrrl Power. ... Read more

Book Description

This hardcover volume features many key introductions, including Proteus (the evil son of Professor X), Gambit (who enjoyed a large fan-following in the hit X-Men cartoon) and Phoenix (the dark split personality of Jean Grey). The X-Men are cut to the emotional core as they battle their way through an obstacle course of deadly trials. First, Professor Xavier -- the mentor of the X-Men -- is forced to confront his past sins when his own son explodes into a destructive force. The question is, will he sacrifice his team to save his son? Then, the X-Men face another internal conflict when Jean Grey turns to the dark side.To save themselves, and the world, will the X-Men strike down their own teammate? ... Read more

Reviews (9)

New generation of writers out to destroy comics....
These new stories by Millar contain terrible Kubert drawings and story plots that go no where. They play more like a video game rather then a comic and are the work of people who are more like internet geeks then serious writers. No wonder comic book sales are dead and less then 2,000 comic book stores are still open nationwide.

Los mutantes recontados
La idea del Universo Ultimate que tan bien le esta saliendo a la Marvel, es adaptar sus historias clasicas al entorno actual con la finalidad de atraer nuevos lectores. Es decir, todos sabemos lo geniales que son los mutantes de Stan Lee pero reconozcamos que no atraen lo suficiente a nuevos lectores.
Asi, esta version Ultimate incorpora varios cambios menores que al final hacen un gran cambio, por ejemplo en las personalidades de los personajes, su origen, etc. Y todo eso hace una gran lectura. El escritor es Mark Millar, la actual estrella de la editorial Marvel que ademas ha escrito a los geniales Ultimates y los dibujantes son los hermanos Adam y Andy Kubert que se complementan muy bien el uno al otro. En resumen, buenos autores logran una estupenda historia.
Este tomo de tapa dura tiene los primeros 12 numeros de la coleccion Ultimate X-men:
- del #1 al #6: Tomorrow People, como se reclutan a los nuevos X-men y la pelea contra la version mas malvada de Magneto que se haya visto.
- del #7 al #12: Return to Weapon X, con la aparición estelar del Ultimate Samuel Jackson, perdon, quise decir Nick Fury.
Altamente recomendable para quienes pensaron que no se podian hacer nuevas historias de mutantes, para quienes no tienen nada de los X-men en su coleccion y para quienes llegan a los X-men por la pelicula.

Keep it real
The creators of Ultimate X-men did a very smart thing. They started all the way over. Considering Ult. X-men starts off anew, they can do what they wish with the story. Unlike X-treme and New X-Men which have plots so Twisted, it doesn't feel like the X-Men at all. They changed a few things in this series, like how Wolverine joined. Also Colossus and Storm take Angel's place as one of the first X-men. Making a team of 6 instead of 5. Magneto and the Brotherhood are pretty much the same. These books are solely based on story. Theres action, but its kinda far between.

The Weapon X Program tries to "recruit" the X-Men
Despite the title and the cover art for this second trade paperback volume in the "Ultimate X-Men" series (collecting issues 7-12), "Return to Weapon X" does not focus on the character of Wolverine. True, he is a key part of the solution for the predicament our Merry Mutants have found themselves in this time around, but Weapon X is now a big time secret government program run under the auspices of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Nick Fury that has a rather impressive little roster of mutants in its service: Juggernaut, Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Sabertooth. Think of them as the government's answer to the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and that pretty much accounts for all of the mutants belonging to groups at this point in the series.

Despite being on a first name basis with the President of the United States, Xavier's School for Gifted Children is hit by Colonel Wraith and his shock troops, both human and mutant. Now Cyclops, Marvel Girl, and the others will serve the greater good and help the government fight fire with fire (the only good mutant is a mutant with a neural implant). Of course, since this is a comic book, the person in charge of this government program is psychotic and perfectly willing to do anything to do anything to get the job done (or did I mention already that Wraith was in charge?). The main part of the story arc has to do with the X-Men regaining their freedom, but this is also mixed up with Wolverine's search for his past and Nick Fury's search for an illegal genetic operation violating the Superhuman Test-Ban Treaty.

I think that one of the main strengths of the Ultimate comic books is that they emphasize story arcs that take multiple issues (six in this case) so that a dozen issues into the series we have only dealt with two major stories instead of a self-contained episode with a new villain every single month. This should help the well from running dry too quickly. Writer Mark Millar along with Penciller Adam Kubert (with Tom Raney & Tom Derenick) and Inker Art Thibert (with Scott Hanna, Joe Kubert, Danny Miki, & Lary Stucker) are having fun tweaking the "original" X-Men stories and creating some new dynamics (e.g., Storm is interested in Hank McCoy, Nightcrawler does not speak English) so I think that those who have been reading the X-Men since issue #1 of "The Uncanny X-Men" (or issue #1 of "The Giant-Size X-Men") will enjoy the differences more than neophytes and appreciate the way key stories resonant (e.g., Jean Grey is Marvel Girl and not Phoenix when she steps over the line this time around).

"Return to Weapon X" is not as good as the first volume in the series, but it is hard to compete with Magneto when you talking about the X-Men, whichever version of the group is involved. Millar's story is certainly complex enough and you can see all sorts of things being set up for down the road. As long as you are not offended by the very existence of the series, you should find "Ultimate X-Men" or any of the other titles in the Marvel series to be at least entertaining and quite possibility compelling. At the very least, you should be able to appreciate the tweaking.

Awesome!
An alternate X-Men universe is perhaps the best way for newer readers to come to terms with the characters that have amazed many throughout the years. The familiar characters get a stylish upgrade. Jean Grey with red, spiky hair? Cyclops with a goatee? Iceman with a bandana? You get them all here! Fantastic artwork with a reasonably paced storyline. The X-Men's battle with Magneto's Brotherhood of the Evil Mutants opened its first chapter. A highly recommended read. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

George Perez at his best!
This is an excellent collection of D.C.'s relaunch of the Teen Titans in the early 80's. Marv Wolfman and George Perez brought comics to a totally different level with this series. The books focused not only on the action necessary for comics (fun battles, great villians - - - especially the introduction of the Terminator in issue #2), but also explored the characters in detail - - - why were they doing this, what problems they faced, who was attracted to who, etc. The artwork is fantastic - - - George Perez is a master and draws every issue but one in this collection. The writing is also very good and for the time was exceptional. A little wordy compared to today's comic but still nothing to complain about. If you are looking to get into the D.C. archives series, this is a great place to start.

Titanic: The Special Edition
This was DC's answer to Marvel's X-Men. In many ways they succeeded. George Perez's intricate artwork is nothing short of breathtaking (he's still doing this today on Avengers). The artwork really benefits from the DC Archive format printing. In fact, this wonderful artwork helped to pioneer the use of the higher quality Baxter and Mando paper printing that they use today. Marv Wolfman and Perez took us behind the masks and explored these comic characters as people, a novel concept for its time. In time, each of the main characters grew into their own. This volume is the beginning of a long, successful run on the book by Wolfman and Perez as the Titans grew into a special, character-oriented book (as opposed to being mainly action-oriented). I hope that future DC Archive editions of the New Teen Titans will be coming soon.

This was the dumbest idea ever done at DC...
It would be cliche now to say that this series was supposed to be DC;s version of the X-Men, it was not. It was just a marketing effort on DC's part to try and get younger kids to read a book about heroes who went into the business but were hardly out of their diapers just yet. The idea is stupid. Bunch of kids who gather together to fight crime and yet they are so new at the game. They do not use their powers quite the right way yet, and they go against villians that would give the JLA a run for their money, it's amazing that they never got killed, or ended up in the hospital for multiple battle wounds. It's amazing that the older members of the JLA never asked the kids to stop, before someone got killed, they should have been arrested for allowing it to happen. Anyway, Marv Wolfman;s writing was the pits and George Perez's artwork looked like it needed more work, now this is a cheap series on Cartoon network, Thanks for nothing; Wolfman, Perez, DC, and Warner Brothers.

First of the Modern Age Archives!
"The New Teen Titans" by Marv Wolfman and George Perez means a lot to many people. To some, like me, they represent some of the best comics entertainment during our growing-up years. Rereading it, I realized that it is still the most apt comic for the adolescent in all of us.

This DC Archive Edition reprints the first eight issues of the series along with the New Teen Titans' debut in "DC Comics Presents" (a backup feature in an impossibly hard-to-find issue). Perez's detailed art and Romeo Tanghal's tight inking are beautifully reproduced throughout - although certain panels appear a little darker than the original (the ink bleeds much better in the original newsprint).

The stories here are beautiful characterizations of teenagers who behave like teenagers - albeit endowed with powers and costumes. Read especially the story in issue 8, spotlighting the quieter, personal moments of each Titan. Other important points include the debut of Deathstroke the Terminator and Trigon - two classic Titans villains that continue to plague the team even in today's Geoff Johns penned series.

"Junior Justice League"? Anything but
I have to wonder how closely Mr. Rubert read the stories represented in this collection, because the Wolfman/Perez Titans were anything but a "Junior Justice League". The character dynamics were nothing like the JLA of the time. And there certainly wasn't anything like "A Day In The Lives" in, well, any other DC series of the time. These are still great stories after almost 25 years. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Finally, Affordable Golden Age Reprints
While I am a huge fan of the Golden Age Batman comics I have put off buying the HC "Archive" series because each volume is way too expensive for my budget. The Chronicles series is not only more affordable, but improves on the Archive format by focusing on the character rather than the title. That is, instead of only collecting the complete run of Batman stories in Detective Comics or Batman it collects all of Batman's appearances in both titles and presents them in chronological order. Some sort of introductory material might have been nice, but I much prefer saving all the pages for the reprints.

Much Better Format Than the Archives
Finally, DC is presenting an alternative to the overpriced, overblown and overproduced Archives Series. While there's still a flood of those books coming, it does appear as if DC is starting to rethink how it's handling its vast library.

The Batman Chronicles Volume One represents a big step in the right direction. This 192 page paperback begins the mammoth undertaking of chronologically reprinting every Batman tale from every comic in which he starred, beginning with "the Case of the Chemical Syndicate" from Detective Comics #27 (dated May, 1939).

The Good: The paper is cheap (a traditionalist, I prefer my comics on matte paper and with gutters!), the price is low and the quality is good. The design of the book is nice and the reproduction is pretty crisp.

The Bad: The physical size of the book is (like the Archives) disproportionate to the original comics, leaving huge margins at the top and bottom of the page while forcing the art too close to the spine. The art is still being recolored and worst of all, there's a distinct absence of historical perspective; The Batman Chronicles lacks even a cursory introduction. The book opens with a table of contents (that thankfully gives writer and artist credits), and does reprint the covers along with the stories, but some more context would be appreciated.

No doubt, DC is trying to squeeze as many stories as possible into each volume to make the books economically feasible to the fanboys (especially the obsessive ones who already own the Archives... yes, there are some who will buy both). But I'd still love some additional material such as editorial comment on the tales, reprints of advertising (and the "full page autographed picture, suitable for framing" from the back cover of Batman no. 1) and biographies of the creators (which DC almost always includes in its collections).

It would seem that if a little more effort were put into discussing WHY these stories are so important in the history of comics, what their contemporaries and competition were, what the country was going through at the time, the books might appeal to a wider audience than the already oversaturated fan market.

After all, this was the darkest Batman of all (at least before Frank Miller got his hands on him)... he used a gun, he killed his enemies, he was wanted by the police, he was a loner.... until the introduction of Robin, the Boy Wonder in the 12th story herein. The tone lightened a bit, but the Joker was still terrifying instead of funny and the stories retained a noir feel that would alter dramatically as the forties rolled on.

Whether this series is successful or not depends on how regularly DC releases them and if they take the time to try to appeal to more than just the obsessed fanboys. Here's hoping this is just the beginning. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A preminition to "The Six"
...

Now,, On to my Review...

I have activly read Ultimate Spider-Man since issue #1 (in collection form, that is) and i personally love the comic. But this collection wasn't as good a Legacy. It featured a great problem, especially Spidey's injury (No Spoiler). But it did lay way with a great and sad ending to the Ark. My advice: Read it now, weather or not you've read volumes 1,2,3, or 4. It's Awsome.

Poor Spider-Man is guilty until he is proven innocent
"Ultimate Spider-Man" is more than a re-imagining of the Spider-Man saga from the very beginning. Informed by our knowledge of what happened in the first decades worth of issues of "The Amazing Spider-Man" writer Brian Michael Bendis has heightened the intensity by collpasing the time frame. Even though there is never really a self-contained story in the mix, things are moving very quickly and Bendis is constantly pouring on the problems for our favorite webhead and his teenage secret identity.

"Public Scrutiny" is the fifth trade paperback collection of "Ultimate Spider-Man" comics, this time around including issues #28-32. Previous collections have focused on story arcs involving particular super villains (last time around it was the new and evolved Green Goblin). But one of the strengths of "Public Scrutiny" is that Spider-Man never fights one super villain in the entire book (even though he certainly wants to). The other is that the main focus is on Peter Parker being Spider-Man, an issue that is addressed on multiple levels, from Peter being distracted at school to Mary (Jane) having a hard time handling being constantly worried about Peter getting hurt (not calling her Mary Jane is the biggest problem I have with these revisions). This latter point comes to a head after Spider-Man has a bad encounter with the police who are gunning for him because he has been robbing banks and killing police officers. Actually, it is somebody impersonating Spider-Man, which is just another part of the growing headache for our hero.

Bendis is taking pains to explore what it means to be a superhero when you are sixteen years old and in love with the girl next door, who is ticked off that Gwen Stacy has moved in with the Parkers. Meanwhile, the whole bit with Nick Fury and the rules of superheroes in the brave new Marvel universe continues to present intriguing possibilities for the future. Again, Bendis and artist Mark Bagley are taking there time with this one; 32 issues into "The Amazing Spider-Man" Peter Parker was a freshman at E.S.U., while here he is only a sophomore in high school. We can only imagine what he is going to go through before he reaches graduation day. "Public Scrutiny" is as good of a story arc as "Ultimate Spider-Man" has presented to date, even without the standard knock down, drag out fight with a super bad guy.

Note: Harry Osborne is back and is apparently applying for the role of Pacey in the "Dawson's Creek" parallel that is clearly at work here (Peter is Dawson, Mary is Joey, and Gwen is Jen). I swear, Bendis knows exactly what he is doing with this one. This trade paperback have just about gotten me up to speed on "Ultimate Spider-Man," which has proven to be an integral part of the Spider-Man renaissance.

Should have been called MISTAKEN IDENITY
This is a great story it is not as actoin packed as Vol 4 Legacy, but still a great story. Someone is dressed up as spider-man and commiting crimes. As if spidey's name wasnt already bad. It is the first time he gets shot and has the tragic death of Captain Stacy during a armored car chase. I will not reveal the culprit. It could be the cameleon or just some crazy kid you decide.

overall good book
these ultimate spidermans just keep getting better and better. # 4 was awesome and this one definetly rocks. read this!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

How do you kill a man without fear?
This five part storyline is even more solid proof that Brian Michael Bendis is a modern day visionary. Not since Frank Miller has anyone painted a more gritty, realistic portrait of the Man Without Fear. The last part of Bendis' long time run on the Daredevil series, Hardcore finds the blind vigilante even more popular with the people of Hell's Kitchen now that his identity has been outed, and this story contains some of the most memorable scenes and moments to happen in the pages of Daredevil in quite some time. After dueling with The Owl, we see our hero being attempted to stay at bay by Wilson Fisk who is trying to reclaim his mantle as the Kingpin of crime. Daredevil has a run in with Typhoid Mary, followed by one of the most violent and memorable fights with Bullseye that must be seen to be believed. The final battle with the Kingpin seals up this package, the conclusion of which for now (I should say forever, but this is the Marvel Universe after all) changes Daredevil forever. Bendis' knack for gritty storytelling is at his best, while the art by Alex Maleev is superb as always. Appearances by Luke Cage and Jessica Jones (from Bendis' other series Alias, no, not the TV show either) are featured here as well, and this storyline is a fine swan song for Bendis and Maleev. ... Read more

Book Description

It's the epic finale to the story of the Children of the Atom as renowned X-Men scribe Chris Claremont joins with star artist Sean Chen for a trilogy in the style of the Lord of the Rings movies, one that spans the length and breadth of the X-Men canon and brings the saga of Marvel's mutants to a climax! ... Read more

Book Description

In the wake of the systematic destruction of the original Avengers, just what sort of threat to the world could persuade Captain America to assemble an all-new team? And following the events of Avengers Disassembled, who could possibly be on this team? How does Cap, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Wolverine sound? Fate has brought them together, and now Captain America wants to make it permanent. Who will take his hand and join the new Avengers? And will they be strong enough to fight the mysterious forces at play around them?Collects New Avengers #1-6. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Bendis re-assembles the Avengers
To say that the new Avengers lineup raised a few eyebrows is saying it lightly.Plenty of fanboys call New Avengers Brian Michael Bendis' attempt to JLA-ize the team with the company's most popular characters (Spider-Man, Wolverine), but a few of the other choices he's put on the team is quite intriguing.By the end of this TPB, the New Avengers consists of returning members Captain America and Iron Man, along with Spidey, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Luke Cage, and the Sentry; who may be the strangest choice here (you may remember the Marvel Knights mini-series a few years back starring the character by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee) as Bendis gives the team a Marvel version of Superman.As this TPB opens, Electro is hired by an unseen employer to break into the most powerful prison in the city.As this happens, Matt "Daredevil" Murdock, his partner Foggy, and bodyguard Luke Cage are brought in to find out why the Sentry, the most powerful superhuman on the planet, allowed himself to be imprisoned.Soon enough, the power goes out, and all the super criminals break free.Spidey, Captain America, and Iron Man soon join the fight, which thanks to the awesome art of David Finch, is one of the most action packed and well orchestrated brawls in mainstream comics today.After that, a new team is born, and a mystery begins to develop.Bendis' storytelling is ok, while Finch's art definitely sells the book.His action scenes are incredibly detailed, and his rendition of Spider-Woman is incredibly luscious.The new team lineup however is what hurts the book, because we don't need Wolverine on any more teams, and having Spider-Man on the team just comes off as cheap (I'm surprised he didn't include Daredevil as well, which is probably on the way).Despite that, this first New Avengers arc is surprisingly solid, and is definitely worth checking out. ... Read more