671. Guardians of the Galaxy vol 1 #7 ... #GOTG ... #mephisto ... #nikki ...

[This is reviewed and posted on 11th Feb 2018 - one year later]

This issue is a great read simply because it shows how tight the story telling is in the career of the GOTG at this juncture. Not only did the first story arc (which is really 2 arcs - one was with the Stark and the other Captain America's shield), conclude but there are so many interwoven threads with sub plots and development that they just continue seamlessly into this tale so that if you jump on here, there will need to be a few moments for you to ponder and catch up on

However, let's just jump in, shall we?

What is important for us all to know is by the end of the last story, basically the GOTG have seized the fabled shield of  Captain America inspite of them generally losing out in combat to their opponents a group named FORCE simply because FORCE thought the shield to have special powers rather than a symbol of hope for the free people to rally behind

When this issue opens, we see some of the injured Guardians being treated while others explore the new ship which is also their new home. Unfortunately, Mephisto has decided to have a daughter. Who knows how he managed it? And with whom? And why? But she decided to take a potshot at the GOTG and thanks to the generally low power levels of all the GOTG, she almost succeeded before she encounters Stakar aka Starhawk and his light based power

But what is really important is that the injured Martinex is recovering and with the assistance of Starhawk's light and life giving energies, emerged with a new look! That and the fact that Vance Astro is now the proud holder of the shield even though we find him still annoying are the more important developments in this book

Ratings: 7/10

670. Incredible Hulk vol 1 #313 ... #hulk ...

[This is reviewed and posted on 9th Feb 2018]

Wow we are posting this one year plus later hahahaha but this issue features two significant matters ... firstly the cover is art by Mike Mignola (Hellboy) and at this juncture you can already see him developing his own signature art style which we are happy for him that many like it. But it is just not for us. Especially for a cover because while it may be acceptable for interiors, as cover goes, it just doesn't pop!

Anyway the next significant matter of this issue is that after a year in the land of travelling from planet to planet with no end in sight and potentially (we are not sure) sliding interest of readers (and sales) because we remembered dropping this title before picking it up years later ... this is the one that brings the Hulk back to Earth courtesy of Alpha Flight so yes you will need to read the conclusion and the prologue of this tale from Alpha Flight

Basically as the writer knows where the tale has to end, he spends the bulk of this issue letting the Hulk and his alter ego have flashbacks from their earlier times on earth to the days here in this particular setting of the Crossroads and all that they had encountered ... and some soul searching ensue before Alpha Flight, searching for a powerful host body to house the spirit of Sasquatch who was killed in the regular Flight series accidentally reaches for the body of the Hulk and brought him back to Earth

So when the Hulk returns, does he have Walter within? Or is it the crazed savage Hulk? Or perhaps the original man-child Hulk?

Next issue please ...

Ratings: 6/10