- Amazing Cover of Amazing Spider-man #563
I really had to start with this issue. Amazing Spider-man #563 jumps out and smacks you across the face and says, “Hey dude! Buy this comic!” The ironic thing is that if you read the little caption at the bottom it says “We’re as surprised as you are that Quesada approved tihs cover…”. Well thank goodness he did. Cover art: 5/5. This issue is brought to us by the creative team of Bob Gale on the typewriter, Mike McKone on pencils, and Marlo Alquiza on inks. The Bookie storyline continues in this issue, as Spider-man, thinking the Bookie may have information on the serial killer posing as himself, goes looking to find the underworld favorite odds maker. Along the way he brawls with a barroom full of baddies, goes off to Coney Island to battle the Enforcers, saves Ox’s life, and finds a way to raise some money for charity. If you have been reading my reviews you know that I don’t like to put in too many spoilers. The story is funny, corny in spots, a little far fetched at times, and really entertaining. I have to give it 4/5. The art is really decent. Really vivid, exciting colors. Refreshing. 4/5. And for relevance, well I will give it 2/5. My reason for this low score is that this is the story of a bunch of real bush leaguers. The Enforcers aren’t even B-list. Add to that the fact that it is part of the Brand New Day arc and it gets a lower score. The only reason it gets higher than a 1/5 is because there is an event that is supposed to affect the future stories in this title. So total score is 15/20. This is a really good read and I recommend you pick it up, even if you haven’t been following the story up to this point. The Ox does something after Spidey saves his life that is really impressive. One of those moments where they show the bad guy to be human.
The next issue I will review is the Amazing Spider-man 564. The cover is not nearly as good. Not to say is it necesarily bad, but they artist chooses to render most of the cover in black and white, and the full color Spider-man is done in shadown. Not a real grabber, but I will still give it 3/5. This is one of those weird issues that has multiple writers. It is written by Marc Guggenheim for the first third, then Bob Gale for the second third, and Dan Slott for the remainder. I gotta say, this book is a virtual non-event complete with a really lame bad guy named Overdive, and a story that I was really happy to finish reading. The worst thing about the whole book is this stupid vibration gun that the bad guy shoots Spidery with at point blank and… nothing really happens. Except his head warps out of shape for a second. Don’t ask me. 2/5. The art is by Paulo Siquira, and it is good. I think. 5/5. And for relevance, well there is none. 1/5. Total score is 11/20. I gotta tell ya, the most interesting thing in this issue is the advertisement in the back for Hulk #5. Do not buy this book. Save your money for somewhere else.
Now, I have read lots of stuff this last couple of weeks, but I really want to get to this one. The All New Atom #9-11. Gail Simone writes. Eddy Barrows draws. Ladronn provides the covers. I have been covering nearly every issue from this run. I have given it mixed reviews. Well I gotta tell you, this three issue story arc was a home run. The covers were interesting, although a little dark, but I will still give them 4/5. The story was really entertaining. You kind of have to shut off the part of your brain that is screaming about what an idiot Ryan Choi is, but it is worth it. In a nut shell, a girl that Ryan had the hots for in school kills her husband. When the dead guy refuses to stay dead and starts trying to kill her she calls Ryan to come save her. It is a little silly, since she has no idea that he is the Atom, but I guess they had to get them together for some reason. So the Atom is once again smitten with the little murdering tramp all the while that he is battling with undead bullies who made his school life miserable. Eventually he manages to defeat the undead and asks the lady to come to America with him, at which point she proclaims that she was using him all along and breaks his heart once again. Ok, it is pretty cheesy. But I liked it. 5/5. The art is pretty decent. 4/5. As for significance, I think at least one of the undead guys will be back in this title. I will give it 3/5. You know how it goes in comics. Something may seem really insignificant at the time, but will end up being something really ground breaking in the future. Total for this book is 16/20. If you don’t own it, I recommend that you go pick up a copy.
I have been talking a lot in my blog about covers, and how they just aren’t as good as they used to be. Well this week I walked into the comic story with a mission. I was going to buy a comic based solely on what I saw on the cover. I looked through the store and was close to picking up an issue of Batman when I spotted Fantastic Four #558 featuring Doctor Doom, and stating that the death of Invisible Woman starts here. I had to buy it. I am going to reserve my review for when the story arc is complete.
Well I have lots left on my reading list, but I want to say a quick word about Secret Invasion. This cross over started out with tremendous potential. They hyped it quite well. The first two issues were exciting! And then everything just stopped. I am not buying every title connected to this crossover, but I am reading the main Secret Invasion title as well as Avengers and New Avengers. The stories they have been telling are almost 100% set in the past. I am so disappointed in this crossover. Not that the stories have been bad, or that they are not relevant, but I feel like Marvel is milking me for every drop again. Lots of the stories they are telling could have been done as a narrative in the background of the main story. And most disturbing of all is the fact that the Avengers and New Avengers titles have been so messed up by Civil War, the Initiative, and now Secret Invasion that they don’t even make any sense. There is no good flow in these magazines. It has gotten to the point where I have been considering dropping both titles. I would love to hear what someone else thinks.
I have been busily rereading my collection of Marvel Knights Spider-man. I own from issue #1 to #15. I hope to find time to review that mess next time.
The last word goes to Xuthl’s Wilderness Comics and Collectibles which has just made the move from EBay to Comic Collector Live. Go to http://www.comiccollectorlive.com/LiveData/Seller.aspx?id=cc0608d3-03c2-4b73-81dd-40662b76b9c9 and check out the titles I am offering for sale. Please remember to consider the cost of shipping as part of the total price. You will find my prices are often the lowest available. I have also come across some really nice 1970’s Mego Star Trek Action figures which I am listing on EBay. If you go to EBay, and enter the community section, you can search for me under the user id xuthl69 and see the items I have for sale.
Also, if you collect current comics, I encourage you to consider ordering your books from me. I charge cover price plus $3 shipping and handling for the first book and an additional $1 for each book after that anywhere within Canada. This may sound expensive, but with the cost of gasoline continually rising you really can’t lose. This is also ideal for readers living in cities and towns without a local comic shop.
Lastly, if there is a book you are looking for but can’t find, drop me a line and I will see what I can find for you. I have a good network of sellers and have had great success in the past. Feel free to contact me at xuthl@yahoo.ca.
Again, if you have any comments, I would really love to hear them. Please leave feedback!
Have a great week!
