June 20 Reviews

So what's good y'all? Here's what I picked up this week, some pretty good stuff. Sorry we missed Tuesday Conversation, Tom's been engaged in some other .newseed obligations and I was swamped with my finals. Maybe we'll make it up to you. We'll see.

Expect Tom's reviews sometime later in the week; X-Men Endangered Species, Highwaymen, Ex Machina, Wasteland, Hellblazer, and whatever else he picks up. The man is quite shifty-swap-y with his pull list.


The Amazing Spider-Man #541
Marvel
4/5

This was a good issue, and the first of the Back in Black series where I started to believe in this storyline. I've been holding it at arms length, unsure of where it's been going, and honestly the direction remains more or less the same. What changed in this issue is that I'm starting to believe in, or at least understand this Peter Parker. I'm willing to commit to whatever happens next because it doesn't feel as contrived as it did an issue or two ago. If nothing else, credit Straczynski for effectively developing this character change in only several issues.

On a lesser note, most of the Kingpin's role in this issue was disposable or near laughable, though we do get to see his uneasiness with Spidey's impending arrival. I'm very excited to read next month's installment, though I wish more quality time was invested in the Kingpin's role in things, as he is somewhat flat in this storyline right now.



Sensational Spider-Man #38
Marvel
3/5

I found myself enjoying the trip into the psyche of Eddie Brock more than I thought I would. This is about as compelling as I can ever remember him being. The presentation of his sickness and the dream-like visuals of the symbiote are all wonderfully done. That said, nothing happens in the issue aside from some dramatic painting of character. I'm increasingly sold on the idea of a single Spidey title running three times monthly instead of series like Sensational being high on passion but low on room to breath and move.



Iron Man #19
Marvel
3/5

If you've read WWH 1, then you're at least somewhat privy to most everything that happens throughout the course of this issue. Granted Tony Stark was the star of that first issue, and reviewing those opening events through his perspective was a prospect I welcomed. There are some good background bits here, as well as some development for Tony, though mostly the same incidents over again albeit with different and often incredible art. This is about as awesome as I have ever seen Hulk look stylistically. Recommended if you're more than the average WWH enthusiast or if for some reason you, like me, harbor a weird compassion toward Iron Man. I too am frustrated with a lot of his roles in the Initiative series', but his solo title is still doing the man correct.


Annihilation: Conquest Prologue
Marvel
4.5/5

I'm completely new to this portion of the Marvel Universe. I didn't read Annihilation, nor have I ever followed any of the characters discussed in that series or this one so far. So maybe I'm just excited to enjoy a new arena of the comic world, but I thought this was a terribly interesting and above all engrossing opening act to this event. About half way through people stopped talking in explain-backstory-through-dialogue-style and the characters were allowed to settle in and the story to unfold. I have to admit that the emergence of another hive mind race of evil super baddies to add to the current state of affairs isn't something I'm totally stoked on, but I'm over it. This is just pure fun for me.