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The Weekly Pile February 25, 2009: Fantastic Four #564, Hulk #10, Mighty Avengers #22, New Avengers #50, Spawn #189, The Sword #15, X-Force #12

Feb 27, 2009 Comics, The Weekly Pile

Now this is more like it.  This week’s collection of comics is a substantial stack.  After a couple of pretty lean weeks, the pile is back!   I left my comic shop with no less than seven books this week, so I’m not going to waste time with a drawn out introduction.  I won’t even bother to finish this sen…

Continue on for Reviews of:

Fantastic Four #564
Hulk #10
Might Avengers #22
New Avengers #50
Spawn #189
The Sword #15
X-Force #12

Fantastic Four
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Bryan Hitch

It’s Christmas time in Scotland with the Fantastic Four and cousin “Hammish”!  This issue picks up with the Fantastic Three (the Human Torch is away shootinga TV special) arriving in writer Mark Millar’s home country for a little “R & R” over the holidays.  After the craziness that has plagued the FF over the last few issues (Dr. Doom, future Sue visting, etc.) they certainly deserve a little time off.

Everyone settles in quickly and Johnny even shows up to do his best Santa impression  But, the sleepy little town Reed’s cousin and family reside in appears to be a little too good to be true.  Millar peppers in a few signs of things to come here and there throughout this issue, but mostly everyone simply has a good time.  I have a feeling that they better enjoy it while they can as Millarobviously has something up his sleeve to gum up the works in future issues.

Quick bits I liked about the issue:

- Ben and Debbie’s engagement afterglow.
- Franklin and Val’s Christmas presents.
- “Val?”

 

Hulk #10
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Ed McGuinness

The wild ride continues with Hulk #10and Ed McGuinness has gotten back on for another spin around the block.  I have enjoyed every instalment of this comic so far and this issue ratcheted that enjoyment up another notch.  Jeph Loebhas injected an exciting idea into this new story arc.  Basically, the Hulk needs to gather a group of heroes to aid him in a battle against an unknown enemy (you should only need one guess as to who this might be…) to save his love Jarella.  With a little assistance from “Blue Man”, the Hulk is sent searching through time and space to gather the Defenders!  Yup, the Hulk is looking for his old buddies Namor, Silver Surfer and Dr. Strange.

The real twist being that Hulk finds each member at the precise moment in time they lose their respective true loves.  Hulk witnesses Namor lose Dorma, Silver Surfer preparing to leave Shalla Bal to serve as the herald for Galactusand Dr. Strange battlingon the mystic planes for Clea.  After a quick bit of explanation, everyone is set for a battle.  But, with who?  That’s when the Offenders make their appearance.  Comprised of the red Hulk, Tiger Shark, Terrax and Baron Mordo, fists are about to start flying when a last variable is added to the mix…  Hulk gets smart.  Bruce Banner’s mind is somehow transferred into Hulk’s body which means its a return to smart Hulk!  Things just got a little more interesting!

Quick bits I liked about the issue:

- “Hockey stick face”.
- Hulk. is. SMART!

 

Mighty Avengers #21
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Khoi Pham

We didn’t have to wait too long to get an explaination regarding the final page cliffhanger from last issue.  Mighty Avengers #21 opens quickly (get it?) with the origin of the new Chthon neatly summed up in a few pages.  Chthonthen proceeds to speed through the remainder of the issue leaving chaos in his wake until he runs into a unique road block on the final page (again, get it?).

On the other side of the world, the newly brought together Avengers are engaging in some growningpains…  They seem to be experiencing some mild, self inflicted chaos of their own as they can’t seem to gel as a team yet.  There’s more bickering than bonding going on and this doesn’t help as they find themselves outnumbered in a fight midway through the issue.  After a narrow victory, Iron Man makes an appearance (following a pretty decent dust up against the Hulk) with a statement that should help right the ship in the near future.

Quick bits I liked about the issue:

- The Jarvis reaction to Hank and Jocasta’s “private moment”.
- “Brainless Dolt”.
- Khoi Pham’s version of Iron Man.  His suit actually looks like beat up metal.

 

New Avengers #50
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Billy Tan with Guests

This was a solid 50th issue.  The openingof this comic puts you in the Avengers living room as they react to the news of Norman Osborn’s “Avengers”.  I was genuinely entertained by the Bendis word playduring this whole scene.  Everyone seemed to react according to their character type.  Spideymade jokes, Wolverine was quiet, Clint was pissed.  It all felt right.  Luke Cage’s realization moment was genius!  So whst is the final solution to this “Dark Avengers” problem?  Time to take the fight to the impostors!

The jumbo size comic boasts a lot of extra talent to go withthe extra pages.   A load of superstar artists offer their takes on individual Avengers duringa tussle with The Hood and his gang during the second half of the issue.  It was fun to see individual pages by artists drawing “their” characters.  Leinil Yu on Wolverine, David Aja on Iron Fist, Steve Epting on Captain America, etc.  This is how you handle an anniversary issue!

Once the battle doesn’t go as planned, Clint Barton actually does something logical to try and fix the problem.  He finds a stage and broadcasts the truth.  He tells it like it is to anyone willing to listen.  Sounds good to me.  But, will it work out as hoped?  After all, Osborn has been known to spin the truth to suit his own motives before… 

Quick bits I liked about the issue:

- Wolverine’s reveal; “It’s my kid”.
- “Ah, good times”.
- Spiderwoman taking down the Dark Avengers.

 

Spawn #189
Writers: Brian Holguin & Todd McFarlane
Artist: While Portacio

The final page of the last issue is what kept me around to pick up Spawn #189.  This was due in large part to Whilce Portacioon art and his depiction of the new Spawn.  His art has evolved into something very dark which fits this book perfectly.  The story is really startingto pick up steam as well with more being revealed about the fresh new character and his surroundings.  Layers are beingpealed away and what’s inside is intriguing.

Most of this comic involves the Clown attemptingto recruit a mysterious dog lover to help flesh out his ranks.  Clown explains that he plans on taking on BOTH sides, good AND evil, but that he can’t do it alone.  Scenes of Spawn interactingwiththe city are cut in while Clown lays his plan out.  This was handled well by both writer and artist as the comic flowed from begining to end and left me wantingmore after the last page.  Especially with the revelation of two old friends in the final panel!  I’ll be back in 30.

Quick bits I liked about the issue:

- Whilce, Whilce, WHILCE!
- “My sentiments exactly, sir.”

 

The Sword #15
Writer: Joshua Luna
Artist: Jonathan Luna

Here’s another comic this week that picked up directly after the previous issue.  One of Knossos’ underlings had picked up the sword after Dara accidentally dropped it after taking a bullet to the arm.  I was left wondering if this new character was going to be a major player in the story to come.  It’s safe to say that the last page of this new issue unequivically answers that question…

The Sword #15 is mostly comprised of another solid fight scene (the Luna brothers know action) with a poignant flashback in the middle for good measure.  I’m a fan of the flashbacks depicting the every day occurrences that give Dara her strength as they help ground the series and even out the many fantasy elements that regularly come into play.

And the last page?  Classic Luna brothers cliffhanger.

Quick bits I liked about the issue:

- Moby Dick flashback
- “You’re powerless”.

 

X-Force #12
Writers: Christopher Yost & Craig Kyle
Artist: Clayton Crain

This issue is labeled as a “Prelude to Messiah War” and it did a good job of setting the table for the upcoming crossover with Cable next month.  The plot moved ever forward with the revelation that Beast has found a way to time travel.  Thus, a meeting with Cable and messiah chil Hope seems to be in the immediate future for X-Force.  Although, after reading the last page, I’m curious to see how many members will actually be making the trip…

Beast is a great character.  Read the exchange between him and Cyclops as they discuss the time travel device Hank has created and the ethics associated to what will be done with his invention.  He stands his ground and defers to his trusted friend all at the same time.  Great stuff from one of the X-Men founding members.

So, as mentioned, the last page of this comic makes for a potentially entertaining next instalment.  It’s another case of; how are they going get out of this one? 

Quick bits I liked about the issue:

-ANOTHER great Clayton Crain cover.
- “How soon can I have seven of them?”
- X-23 “van Gogh-ing” the Vanisher’s ear.

 

The Pick of the Pile this week goes to New Avengers #50.  With the sheer number of artists involved and the completely entertaining story, it wins hands down.  Plus, it has me ready to read issue #51 right now!  Bendis and Tan are a tandem I can get behind on New Avengers.

See you next week!

Tags: Avengers, bendis, billy, brian, bryan, clayton, crain, dan, ed, fantastic, four, Hitch, hulk, jeph, jonathan, joshua, khoi, kyle, leinil, loeb, luna, mark, mcfarlane, mcguinness, mcniven, michael, mighty, millar, new, pham, portacio, slott, spawn, steve, sword, tan, todd, whilce, x-force, yost, yu