349. Thor vol 1 Annual 15 ... Marvel ...

We skip to 1990 at the start of the 90s boom time of comics but a few years short of Image ... and here we see Thor slugging it out with Terminus. At that time, Marvel had gotten into the habit of each year, having a storyline that continues through a few of its annuals. So example in a year there are 20 annuals. They may decide to have like 5 stories set through 4 issues each. An Annual can be double or triple sized but by this time, an Annual will be filled with pin-up, back-up stories and what have you until the main story is usually less than 30 pages just like this and this is a 5-parter

I picked this up because I may not remember seeing Terminus before but he is huge and one of those powerful, mysterious villains. In this issue of Thor, he has already materialized twice before and each time, the threat grows. Unfortunately, this time there is not only Terminus himself but variants that had been affected by the big T called ... Termini? Termice? Whatever

The main point is naturally to see Thor launch himself into space for a big of walloping ... while on Earth, his buddy Hercules who was accompanying some people to check out stuff found himself fighting a whole batch of metallic creatures that finally ended up growing into one Termini ...

And unfortunately, that's where the main story ends ... sigh!

The back-ups have a few stuff Thermal Man being primary but after such an opening, another huge fellow from the past seems kind of tame?

Ratings: 6/10

348. Thor vol 1 Annual 10 ... Marvel ...

Now, for something a little different, we are going to tackle Thor's (I know, I know, we did his reviews not that long ago but bear with me for a sec) Annuals ... yup in the past we have been reviewing regular issues of ongoing and limited series. But this and next review is on Annuals

Firstly, check out that cover. Admittedly, it conveyed the tale within. However, we believe in this case, it could have been much better and am not sure if the inking is insufficient or the penciller was not that tight. Colouring ... you cannot fault it

But fear not because the contents inside more than do justice to this cover because it doesn't let down for within these pages ... we have the god-eater!  Now before you think me a huge fan of Thor, while I like big slugfests, somehow I never collected Thor except via back issues ... and only during Simonson's run

So the villain is a surprise to me. However, the writer of this issue did it justice because in the opening pages, we actually have the entire origins of how the villain or rather in this case, the opponent came to me ... how he was created in the early days of the world to bring a cleansing when the planet was corrupted with too many demi-gods ... and how he had been away for eons since

Then why is he back? Well ... greed is the reason for you see Mephisto and a team of rulers who oversee the underworld has had a meeting of minds, so to speak and debated the fact that individually, they all rule over a minute aspect of creation ... with some weakening as the believers of their faith fast vanish from Earth ... so they sought to consolidate their presence by breaking the barriers between each other's realm ... only this is one spell of summoning that is beyond anything even they know and before they realized it, they have released Atum, the God-Eater!

As the cover tells it, we know that it will soon be Thor and his legions turn to do battle and what a magnificent battle it is. Similar to our review of Namor, this writer did not cop out and let Thor and his people get consumed by Atum! Yup, defeated and eaten alive! Now that's a rocking good read and as for the escape, we leave it up to you to read the actual comic, eh?

Ratings: 6/10

347. Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner (80s) #4 ... Marvel ...

Once more, look at that cover! Imagine from a time when comics artists have to meet deadlines and there are no fancy computer colouring and yet that piece of work is just superb! About the only thing I would suggest to improve is to make the background ... a bit more dark ... more shadowy so that the foreground with the characters would "pop" a bit more ... but that's just tiny bit of suggestion!

So, how will our tale of Namor end? Surprisingly, very well. Nothing feels rushed and everything is closed beautifully. Starting with Namor's usual denial when the truth about his latest crush, Jacq came to the fore ... to the man he had thought to oppose him in bringing Atlantis to the UN ...

No spoilers here as the cover would have told you everything ... apparently Jacq is hellbent upon a mission of revenge since she was a girl as her father was one of those innocent bystanders caught in the middle of a battle with Namor years and years ago and she grew up hating him preparing herself for this mission ...

And to aid her, as she studied the ocean depths and their mythologies, she managed to cover the real trident of Neptune. This is the very instrument that allowed her transformation into that blue Mermaid that gave her the power to transform others into the various creatures that have been giving Namor a hard time over the past few issues. So naturally when he finally found them, ain't no way he was going to defeat them as each of them, singly had already beaten him!

This is one Marvel story that stayed through to its hero's limitations. Namor, for once, when realizing he was hopelessly outclassed (the seas have cast him out) uses his brains and decides on a gamble ... for he is a product of land and sea but not everyone is. So SPOILER ALERT he put the new Jacq to the test ... and she in turn was found wanting

And the last few pages ... both heart breaking and touching and hopeful ... as he found that upon this disaster from the surface ... to return to Atlantis only to be notified that he has been voted unfit to rule!

Ratings: 8/10

346. Namor the Sub Mariner (80s) #3 ... Marvel ...

Look at that cover! Now that is a cover that conveys power!

And that is precisely how this issue starts - full of energy and action and the suspense goes on and on until the final page leaving us to wonder how they are going to wrap this up in just one more issue. I will be honest and admit that as a 12-year-old reading this for the first time ... wow ... it made a good impression on me regards Namor ... he may be arrogant (hey he is a royal born and king of Atlantis) ... but doesn't he have a right to be so?

Anyway for those who have yet to read issues 1 and 2 ... at this time of the tale, Namor is still king of all Atlantis. However, as a person who has a human father and Atlantean mother, Namor decided that it is time for Atlantis to take part on the world stage instead of living hidden away beneath the waves or to come out only for attacks

To this end, he pursued and petitioned through the UN. And the UN attached someone to his case a lady named Jacqueline who actually managed to capture Namor's heart although this is possibly not as difficult as one may imagine as Namor always seemed to melt for human ladies who is blond hehehe!

Anyway, while all this is ongoing, there are problems in his kingdom with some factions thinking he doesn't care about them and more about the surface world. And when problems come and the king is not around, well, this is an opening for politicians and the politicians of Atlantis are no less sharp as their counterparts from the surface world above

But what's a super powered protagonist without a super powered villain? And here the mystery deepens. In the first two issues, each time, Namor encounters something from out of legends. Here is no different. Two giant blue men came out of the depths to assault him and leave him among the rubble and to Namor's swirling thoughts, they most seemed like the old Twins ... from Lord Neptune's era ... but how is that possible?

And who is that mystery figure in darkness that is yet to be revealed?

What will Namor's final fates be?

Ratings: 8/10

335. Ultimates #9 ... Marvel ...

And now for our second instalment and boy can this series pump up the pressure! It continues as if it was the same flow from last issue ... because basically it is ... as we see Cap confronting Pym about his behaviour towards Janet. Rather than taking it as it is, Pym decided that it was none of Cap's biz and grew to giant man size and you know what this means, right? Fight!

And what a fight it is! We get to see once again how bad ass the Ultimate Cap can be as he gave Hank the beat down of a lifetime. Damn! Aside from this, there is always the need to seed the story for the future. So cue some downtime chat between some of the characters like Tony and Natasha and Fury and his mates ...

The really heartfelt and sad moment came just before the last scene change for this issue. Cap went to the hospital with simple gifts for a recuperating Janet ... only to be torn a hole as Janet ripped out right at him telling him to butt out of his business ... and that his 1940s values just do not work here ... crazy woman ... Hank nearly killed you and regardless of your love for this man, shouldn't there be a limit? Sigh!

Yes, there are bits about the aliens on earth but for me this little drama is so much more exciting. And that cover with Hawkeye - how cool is that?

Ratings: 10/10

334. Ultimates #8 ... Marvel ...

I cannot believe that almost one year in of reviews and I have not touched on this title. This is easily one of the best comic series I have ever read and this is the series that made me a fan of artist Bryan Hitch and writer Mark Millar. Honestly. Before this, I don't even know Hitch's work even though I have seen it like the Thing and She-Hulk one off

Anyway, the Ultimates is basically the Ultimate Universe's version of the Avengers before this verse go too messy and by messy I meant that after several years' in, there came an Ultimate Avengers and Ultimate Ultimates. Yes, see what I mean? Hehehe!

Now covers aside, the highlight of this issue is certainly not Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. In fact, until the end of this volume, these two are merely on the fringes of the book and gets cameo appearances and occasional dialogue. Whatever they do, it is always off panel

So what's the highlight here then, you ask? It is the awesomeness that is Hitch's artwork. Hehehe! Basically the focus is on Hawkeye and Widow as they infiltrate a seemingly normal building to uncover that the workers here, from drone to managers are all decades old aliens. And what a firefight it was. This is worthy of a movie framing sequence - reminds one of Matrix lobby scene where Neo walks in, gets checked and whips out the guns! I kid you not. Check it out and you will be glad you did

Of course the ending is equally good promising us a sure kick ass next issue as Cap takes it upon himself to track down loser, Pym in a bar after he has finished (Pym not Cap) assaulting the Wasp until she has to be hospitalized! Talk about wife abuse!

Ratings: 10/10

306. Ultimate Six #2 ... Marvel ...

Let's close out the month of Feb 2015 on a high note with a review from the Ultimate-verse back when it was good, enjoyable except for spotty artwork like this of Trevor Hairsine. I am not sure if it is him, inker or what but his work looks very ... grainy? And this is not the only limited series he did under the Ultimate banner

What's this about?

It's the Sinister Six and how they came to be, Ultimate style, natch!

So all the villains whom Spidey and others encountered are stashed in a hidden bunker under SHIELD and of all people to put in-charge, there is Henry Pym after his massive disgrace in the Ultimates series. Yes, makes no sense. And to make it worse, he is questioning them as if he is a psychologist

Now before you say bad writer, this bit was picked up and commented on by the Wasp (phew). In fact, in this whole issue, what's great is all the tension and people centric moments. We have Nick discussing the fate of the villains with the Ultimates and we get to see how Cap walked off in anger after one of Nick's comments which is so not 616 Cap which is ... cool and more realistic

And then there is the fact that there are only 5 villains in captivity. So who will make up number 6?

Psycho Osborn's answer in the closing panels will leave you wondering WTF

Ratings: 7/10

305. Alpha Flight vol 1 #4 ... Marvel ...

This is John Byrne at his best ... seriously!

Anyway, as the cover indicates, we are treated to the continuing saga of Alpha Flight where as the premier team of Canada, they have spent the past two issues dealing with internal problems that somehow got them encountering a new super-villain who had apparently been part of humanity from the early ages i.e. the dawn of civilization! And the origin story of that including Alpha member, Marrina is now told in full ... as she too is an alien not of Earth!

This issue sees the guest-stars that appeared briefly (cameo) in the last issue making their presence felt as Namor and Invisible Woman enter the fray ... very good fighting sequences as we see the Flight finding each other in the maze, working to help each other out before the final big clash with the villain du jour

This is comic story telling at its best! (Sorry we just loved this issue so)

Ratings: 8/10

303. PITT #1 ... Image ...

Sorry we had to jump back to a series we reviewed just a few days ago because upon checking, we found out we started this particular series' review with issue 2 onwards. So here is issue 1

And what an opening issue it is. Dale Keown, hot off his success on Marvel's Hulk had disappeared for months joining the fledgling publisher (then) Image. He was not on the hot creator list that had his own studios like Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld or McFarlane ...

But when his first issue came out, it was such a surprise because here, given time and space, Keown delivers. Naturally, his protagonist who is large like the Hulk. Hehehe!

Basically this issue shows us Pitt coming to Earth and like Terminator, encountering bikers who provided him with his "uniform" that will last throughout most of the series (he doesn't change or shower). Hahaha!

On the supporting cast end, we are introduced to Timmy and his grandpa, both of whom will become central to the focus of the storyline as well as some policeman and glimpses of home

A lot happening, not too much action but the few scenes with Pitt is so awesome that ... you know you will buy issue 2

Ratings: 8/10

301. Magneto Testament #1 ... Marvel ...

So what do we review after that 300 momentous limited series?

We take a little jaunt on the side and moved onto a review of a series that reads more like something from Vertigo or an alternative press. And it's Magneto! When a villain who is as complex and colourful as Magneto, you can bet that every once in a while, the publishers will roll out yet another series about him to see if he can generate sufficient interest

And in this series, it attempts to tell the definite history of the man, Magnus

In fact, we start off with his childhood in a country that is slowly being seized by the Nazis coming into power. Here Magnus is still a child without his powers. And we get to see how he suffers in school where if he were to excel, the teachers would assume that he cheated because he is a Jew and only Aryans should come out on top in both theory and practical examinations. I am not sure how extreme real world views were at that time, but perhaps, it is a little over the top in this series? I mean, the entire school against him? Why doesn't he go to a normal school within his community then?

However, not all is doom and gloom yet because we are privy to a generally happy home and family life

And the sad part is, the ending is not strong enough to make you bother with the next issue. The artwork is acceptable, the storyline passable but nothing special to hook you in

Ratings: 5/10

299. Pitt vol #1 #8 ... Image ...

There is actually another series we wanted to review but as 300 is looming up, well, we decided to save it for that occasion as it is a big, big, big hit!

So, in issue 8 of Pitt, we finally see the confrontation that has been building. And what's this about?

1. Wroth, Pitt's half-brother finally confronts Pitt in all out battle and if you thought Pitt was tough, well, he couldn't take down Wroth. Even with Axiom, the super powered group, they couldn't and they only finally did because of ... SPOILER ALERT ... Jareb ... who is Jareb? Read the book

2. We finally learn the truth about the relationship between Pitt and Timmy so ... why is that page ... SPOILER ALERT ... blank with only so little words? Damn!

3. We see Rai-kee, the super powered agent cum cop, kick some alien butt!

And all in awesome colours. Need we say more?

Ratings: 8/10

297. Gen 13 vol 1 #1 ... Image ...

Can we make it four in a row? Yes, we can. And so for the fourth day, we jumped to yet another new title with a rotation of publishers and none Marvel (be patient all you Marvelites - you know a Marvel can never be far ahead, right?)

Well, this series when it was first launched featured a few notable facts and the first is that it was meant to be Gen X while simultaneously Marvel was coming out with Generation X. So the early ads for this title is actually different than what was finally launched. Not a surprise though as an Image character went from Bedrock to Badrock or vice versa (?)

Anyway, the next important fact is that it featured then unknown but now super popular artist, J Scott Campbell ... here his artwork is a wee bit cartoony with those large eyes and oft times overly proportioned ladies ... but hey even after 20 years, he still has the same characteristics except far more refine ... so you know he didn't waver much

What's the tale like? Well, it seems that the govt is setting up all these exam centers although some are disguised as more fun than serious all over the country in the hopes of locating teens with a special gene that may grant them super powers. Where did these genes come from? Experiment? Natural i.e. evolution? Read on then, eh?

Our main stars at this point are (no names intentionally):

1. Short chunky hairy guy with tattoos supposedly loser Asian American
2. Tall All American Girl with legs and geeky looks waiting to blossom into super bosom we mean super strong gal
3. A bleurgh average bloke who will look like  the human torch
4. A Jubilee wannabe gal who is insecure and will fall in love with 1
5. Another non-Caucasian gal whose sole purpose is to be less popular than the above and while her powers is kinda more powerful than some of them, yet she didn't make much impact here or throughout the remainder of the series

Who are the bad guys? Some government folks who managed to recruit the kids under the pre-text of good for the nation ... you just know that's full of shit, right? Hah!

Ratings: 6/10

296. GCPD #2 ... DC ...

Honestly, this is a hard issue to review and we are not just talking about the themes and diverse characters because this book ... though is about the police officers in Gotham where Batman lives and operates ... reads more like adult-oriented or a Vertigo slice of life book

As this is issue 2 in the series (that lasted more than 3 years) ... I didn't pick it up owing to its "average" covers ... and only tried one issue that had Robin on the cover ... but when it came out on digital and I sampled issue 1, I was hooked

It is great reading!

We have the entire squad of GCPD as potential main stars for each issue along with all others including the coroner, ambulance drivers, etc

And in issue 2, we start off with a crime ... or a murder ... and all evidence points to Mr Freeze. The only challenge here is that Mr Freeze kills his victims now by freezing them ice-solid. But why? He is not a petty criminal. So what is he after? And as it is a supers type of crime, should they call in the Bats or not?

Some are agreeable, others not so and want to prove that the GCPD is equipped to handle all sorts of crimes. Raveling or rather unraveling alongside the clues comes the lives of a few selected officers. We get more hints in each issue as stuff like lesbianism, corruption, drugs etc move to centerstage

And finally because it is early days in this series, we get the bits and pieces of Batman as if he is merely one of an ensemble cast

All in all, a good read

Ratings: 6/10

295. Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 ... DC ...

Well, well, well we were going to save this particular review for our 300th but seeing things as it is, we thought after the success of Fear Agent, how do we follow it up with something that is NOT Marvel but equally huge? And this is it!

First up, while Marvel had its Secret Wars, DC decided at that time that its loooooong history with alternate histories make for a very convoluted universe or universes. And thus they decided to dream up a very very very detailed and huge storyline to sort of clean up their entire multiverse. Did they succeed? Well you read it and decide for yourself

On the art front, all we have to say is that Perez did some of his best work here. There is not a single panel that read as if it is disjointed or felt rushed. Every little detail and emotional nuance is in place and when there is a need for action or some energy signature, it is magnificent. Mind you, this is before the advent of computer colouring and when there is light or energy or glistening ... well ...

Next up, in this first issue, while it has many pages, all we get is a wee bit of the overarching plot. Yet, it is so engaging that it makes you want to read more. Basically we are introduced to a few main players that appear up front. First chap is the crying man who appears as a witness from one dying universe to another as a ... witness. He cannot be seen and he cannot affect anything or anyone ...

And how does each universe dies? A disappearance as if a big eraser is erasing them. So on each Earth, there abounds heroes and villains who will band together in desperation

And amidst all these chaos, we are given witness to a beautiful lady who is transformed and sent to seek out those they believed may assist in stopping the villainy that is afoot. However, all is not right with this lady nor with the one who sent her nor even with ... a shadowy villain ... who is not the shadow beings that attacked the first gathering of heroes ...

Is that enough? Is that confusing? If you answer yes, then please get it and read it

Ratings: 9/10

293. Alpha Flight vol 1 #3 ... Marvel ...

Check out the cover first! Here's a voluptuous woman fully clothed yet managing to look o-so-sexy! All you bad girl pin-up artists should learn a thing or two here especially as you can see even though she has tights on there is no nipple! Don't get me wrong! I do collect the 90s comics from Image a lot

Anyway, in this the third issue, the primary highlights are that we get to see an aspect of Snowbird's abilities that are largely ignored throughout Alpha's issues which is certainly refreshing as I too have forgotten until I re-read this issue

Aside from that, each Alphan finds themselves being challenged with their worst fears by the revealed villain from last issue, the Master of the World ... and he even shares his origins with Marrina (and no it is not cliche) ... and what an unexpected origin it is too ... something I would never have dreamt of

And as for a cliffhanger ending ... yup ... I thought when the word balloon popped up it would be an Alphan ... what an unexpected but delightful surprise! We will not SPOIL it for you by disclosing who are the guest stars since even the covers kept them out of it

Finally, on the flipside, we see more development in Weapon Alpha in Dept H as Mc develops his suit and other operatives come onboard including a certain mutant with claws

Ratings: 8/10

292. Alpha Flight vol 1 #2 ... Marvel ...

Well, if you thought we were just going to do more Ultimates interspersed with Wolverine only ... hehehe ... this is a good break then, eh? We take a time machine and skipped back to the ... 80s ... and to the hey days of John Byrne as he came into his own as both writer and penciller able to churn out monthlies on time!

In this second issue of the series, Byrne ably splits the actual book into two but that's not all he is using for the 2. Second issue = 2 stories = 2 origins.

First up is thanks to the cover we see the development of Marrina. As the Flight does some practise scenarios in the great countryside that is Canada, our resident water girl is suddenly overcome with pain and lashes out injuring fellow Alphans before disappearing and while she swims to only Byrne knows where, we are given flashbacks to how she came to be on Earth and we find out that she is not human!

The ending also introduces us to a new villain who will end up being an arch nemesis of the Flight in the years to come

Now on the flipside, we have the start of the saga of how Alpha Flight came to be ... literally as we see Mc being a government stooge and having a hardtime accepting the fact that his R&D will be used by the military (grow up you moron)!

Honestly? I loved the Guardian battlesuit but not the man inside. Somehow, I never gelled with him or his wife Heather. I like all the other Alphans though even Aurora

Ratings: 7/10

291. Guardians of the Galaxy vol 2 #8 (2008) ... Marvel ...

One more day to Valentine's and you may be wondering if this has anything to do with love ... and you are right to wonder because ... F it all this has nothing to do with Valentine's ... hahaha

So what does this comic have? Well coming off our last review you may think we will not enjoy it but this issue definitely has picked up a wee bit more. We kick off with Starlord kicking some Krees (imagine him defeating life-long trained soldiers ... yes please suspend the incredulity for a moment) ... and then we found out how he ended up in the negative zone and now the zone is controlled by ex-Fantastic Four foe, Blastaar who apparently has finally declared himself king after Annihilus has disappeared ...

What about the rest of the GOTG? We get snatches of Mantis, Dog and the Roccoon along with folks like Groot giving a hard time to others while screaming and fighting away but by far the most interesting is Warlock in his new guise of almost emotionless statue like look ... him going after the Universal Church of Truth and their "Believe" power ... and finding out what the F is going on after all with so many players and so many possibilities

But finally this ending? Awesome. You see back in main Marvel U ... thanks to Civil War, there is a prison called 42 and it has its claws from our regular universe to the negative zone ... so in order to breach and conquer our universe ... all the negative zone denizens require is a way into this 42 ... and BANG they will be on Earth ... so will Peter do as he is told or will he ...??? Read and find out

Ratings: 7/10

287. Wolerine vol 2 #24 ... Marvel ...

See? We didn't lie. We intersperse a Wolv review with others in this case Ult Spidey and now we are back for one issue, review, okay? Hehehe!

O yes this is the 24th issue in vol 2 but because Millar came in not on a clean slate, he wisely chose to ignore and focus on the storyline. So no double sized issues, no special happenings, no enhanced covers - just great chapter in the continuing arc of Enemy of the State!

As the cover indicates, this time, after the mass killing of grunts in previous issue, SHIELD enlists some aid in the form of those they believe Wolvie may go after so that everyone works together to counter the villain that is our Wolv-ster and in this case, it is DD ... and to our utter surprise, the battle or fight between these two turned out to be quite awesome ... even though you know who will win

Awesome artwork, storyline and pacing - just plain awesome!

Ratings: 9/10

286. Ultimate Spider-Man vol 1 #13 ... Marvel ...

Have you ever thought that a comicbook can be so enjoyable even if they ape a one-act stage/ theater production? If your answer is no, please give this issue a try. As the title so aptly describes, it is about confessions

What confession?

Peter decided to SPOILER ALERT tell Mary that he is Spider-Man and so we open with him in his bedroom talking to Mary, his current squeeze in this Ult-verse of his life. And naturally she initially disbelief him only to change her mind when he had to prove to her

Of course since he is still a young teen living with his aunt, she barges into his room and life every now and then ...

And that's it! That's the entire issue and we read it so fast turning page after page and was so surprised when we reached the end! Wow! A quiet issue that works. A rarity to be treasured, for sure!

Ratings: 8/10

285. Ultimate Spider Man vol 1 #12... Marvel ...

This is it! The big one! Issue 12! And like the first issue of this comic, it comes with no fanfare. No enhanced cover, no double or triple sized page counts no nothing! So what makes it special? Honestly nothing except awesome cover, storyline and artwork! And since it work so well for the first 11 issues, why change a winning formula, eh?

And once again, it works!

This is the culmination of all the big baddies Ult Spidey has encountered so far ... whereupon we have him in the Kingpin's headquarters ... battling lame ass Enforcers gang and the Electro villain ... lots and lots of action panels including even all out fight with the fatman himself although I wonder how Kingpin can break himself out of Peter's spider-webs ... I mean fatman is strong but not that strong!

And the ending?

Wow! What a great ending ... with Kingpin vowing to definitely make a comeback and getting even on a big scale ... you know you are just going to have to buy the next issue if you have been reading this as it comes out! Sigh! Awesome-ness!

Ratings: 8/10