Review: Secret Avengers #3

Story: Ed Brubaker
Art: Mike Deodato Jr.

After the great first two issue of Secret Avengers, this third one sets in pretty slow. Here we are introduced to the real threat, which I think should have been introduced last issue or so. Although Nova may seem the antagonist here (in a way, he is), apparently there is a much bigger threat behind all of this.

Brubaker introduces us to a new character in the opening scene, Aloysius Thorndrake, a man who came from a post-Civil War America and then got sucked into a dimensional plane. Later it is revealed that Thorndrake is actually the boss of Nick Fury (is this really THE Nick Fury?) and the Shadow Council, and he knows much more about the crowns.

Review: Amazing Spider-Man #638

Story: Joe Quesada, Jim Shooter, David Michelinie
Art: Joe Quesada, Paolo Rivera, Danny Miki, Richard Isanove, Paul Ryan

It's been more than two years since the dreaded arc "One More Day" changed the status quo in the Spider-Man universe (i.e. undoing the marriage of Peter and MJ, Peter making a deal with Mephisto) and angered fans all over the world (including me), thus dropping the book altogether (I didn't). However, the stories after OMD were good with solid art that it made me accept the change.

Review: Brightest Day #6

Story: Geoff Johns, Peter J. Tomasi
Art: Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Scott Clark, Joe Prado

In every issue of Brightest Day there's always a lead character. This time it's J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter. Throughout the book, the lead character's story is spread out with the other characters' story in between. As a result, the pacing is of the general story of the book is moving pretty slow since Johns and Tomasi are dealing with twelve characters in the title.

However, we still get some developments about the characters bit by bit during each segment, like how it was revealed that Mera is actually an assassin and that Siren is Mera's younger sister. Well if you read the previous issue, it was pretty obvious.

TTC Presents: INDESTRUCTIBLE (SSFIV Tournament)

The 1st TTC Super Street Fighter IV tournament!
Featuring lagless SDTV's, a commentary booth, recorded match footages!

Click here for details: http://sf4philippines.freeforums.org/ttc-presents-indestructible-t117.html

Review: Secret Avengers #2

Story: Ed Brubaker
Art: Mike Deodato, Jr., Will Conrad

After a great start with the launch issue, now we find Steve Rogers and his team in Mars, mainly to rescue Nova. However, things may be a little more complicated than that, as we get to read through.

Writing "Captain America" certainly helped Brubaker in writing Steve Rogers, showing why he has been the leader of the Avengers for so long. Another character he seems to write well is Beast. Maybe Brubaker's stint with "Uncanny X-Men" also gave him an advantage.

Review: Amazing Spider-Man #637

Story: Joe Kelly
Art: Michael Lark, Marco Checchetto, Stefano Gaudiano, Matt Southworth

Just like the previous issue, Marco Checchetto comes back to help with the art alongside Michael Lark. However, we get TWO MORE fill-in artists for this issue - Stefano Gaudiano and Matt Southworth - which seems to be happening a lot lately in the Spidey books. Now that I've seen more of Checchetto's art, I can say for myself that I wish he drew the whole Grim Hunt arc. That's not to say Lark's art was ugly. Checchetto's use of shadows fit more with the theme. His panels are more dynamic compared to the other artists in the issue. Plus, and I've said this before, he draws a pretty good Kraven.

Review: Amazing Spider-Man #636

Story: Joe Kelly

Art: Michael Lark, Marco Checchetto

Amazing Spider-Man #636 slows down the pace compared to the previous two issues which involved a lot of action and suspense. Kraven is finally resurrected by the Kravinoffs, but how does the man feel about it? This issue takes a look at how Kraven feels about his resurrection. Spider-Man doesn't make much of an appearance here.

Speaking of Spider-Man, I think it's pretty obvious that the Spider-Man we see here hung up on Kraven's wall with a huge stick sticking out of his chest and two knives stabbed in both his shoulders isn't the Spider-Man we know. There's also an explanation on how Kaine got into a Spidey suit just in the nick of time. Apparently, as Peter fell into the pit from last issue, Kaine was immediately there to save him. I have no idea how he got there that fast, but anyway, Kaine takes the suit from Peter, punches him in the face, and buries him alive. That's Kaine's "hero moment."