Books of the Week – 08/14/19

1. Fantastic Four #13 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘The Fight of Your Life’
Writer: Dan Slott / Art: Sean Izaakse / Colors: Marcio Menyz
This was a crazy good book. I don’t think I have never seen the Thing get beat up that badly. Loved the way the fight was portrayed. Loved the ending. Loved the coda. Loved everything.

2. Silver Surfer Black #3 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘Black’ – Part 3 of 5
Writer: Donny Cates / Art: Trade Moore / Colors: Dave Stewart
Visually stunning throughout (that cover!) This issue has a tight, direct narrative that really improves the story. Surfer is valiant and strong in this issue, as opposed to the previous ones where his usual flaws were front and center. I prefer this version.

3. Show’s End #1 (Mad Cave) ★★★★★
Writer: Anthony Cleveland / Art: Jef Sadzinski / Colors: Julian Gonzalez
Dark, Intense and gripping storytelling. There’s a lot of story packed into this book. The art is quite good and fits the subject matter perfectly. I need to see where this goes.

4. Loki #2 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘The God Who Fell to Earth’ – Chapter 2: ‘Can I Help You’?
Writer: Daniel Kibblesmith / Art: Oscar Bazaldua / Colors: David Curiel
This is such a fun read. So many little things add up for a delightful whole. I don’t know where to begin. The writing sparkles and the art never misses a beat.

5. Amazing Spider-Man #27 (Marvel) ★★★★★
’Who Run the World’? – Part 2
Writer: Nick Spencer / Art: Kev Walker & John Dell / Colors: Laura Martin
The laughs continue. The fight between Spidey, Boomerang & the Syndicate is hilarious. Such a fun book. Aces!

6. Sharkey the Bounty Hunter #5 (Image) ★★★★★
Writer: Mark Millar / Art: Simone Bianchi / Colors: Matteo Vattani
Sharkey delivers again in this fast paced rescue mission. Plus Extra Billy gets deep and an old friend returns. The excellent writing & gorgeous art continues. Only one book left. I need more Sharkey!

7. Immortal Hulk #1 Director’s Cut (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘Or Is He Both’
Writer: Al Ewing / Art: Joe Bennett & Ruy Jose / Colors: Paul Mounts
The first IH issue reprinted with bonuses, including the pencils for each page along with some pin-ups and notes. The pencils are amazing.

8. Event Leviathan #3 (DC) ★★★★
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis / Art: Alex Maleev
This may be the best issue of Leviathan yet. The story is gelling and the tone gets tighter and more suspenseful. Cool stuff.

9. Second Coming #2 (Ahoy) ★★★★
‘Second Coming’ / ‘Important NYC Checklists’ / ‘The Fare’
Writer: Mark Russell & J. Endress / Art: Richard Pace with Leonard Kirk, Mat Buechele & Ameilee Sullivan / Colors: Andy Troy
Some fun bits to be sure, but a bit of a darker tone than the previous issue. It’s an interesting direction that I didn’t expect. The two short stories at the end (Checklists & Fare) are priceless.

10. Symbiote Spider-Man #5 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Peter David / Art: Greg land & Jay Leisten / Colors: Frank D’Armata
Great looking book. The Shea Stadium setting gives this story a real NYC Flavor. This was a very cool run. I’m sorry to see it end.

11. Gwenpool Strikes Back #1 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Leah Williams / Art: David Baldeon / Colors: Jesus Aburtov
Fun silliness. The art is aces and there are some pretty solid set pieces, especially toward the end. The FF are in the next issue, so I’ll be sticking around.

12. Silver Surfer: Prodigal Sun #1 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Peter David / Art: Francesco Manna / Colors: Espen Grundetjern
Highly entertaining book. We get some solid backstory on Prah-d’gul, and an interesting take ion the Surfer. Very cool.

13. Miles Morales: Spider-Man #9 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Saladin Almed / Art: Javier Garron / Colors: David Curiel
Some very cool fight visuals in this book. Nice mix of subtle humor and action. The art remains aces. The staircase fight page… woof!

14. Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #10 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘Feast or Famine’ – Part 4
Writer; Tom Taylor / Art: Ken Lashley, Scott Hanna & Luca Maresca / Colors: Nolan Woodard
Cute finish to the story, with a pretty cool final battle. It was nice to see Spidey rise above his guilt for once. That was a very good sequence. Nice, fuzzy conclusion too.

15. Invaders #8 (Marvel) ★★★
‘Dead in the Water’ – Part 2
Writer: Chip Zdarsky / Art: Carlos Magno with Butch Guice / Colors: Alex Guimaraes with Dono Sanchez-Almara
The writing saves this issue. The Magno/Guice art team misses the mark a lot in his book. It’s not that the art is bad, it just looks hurried, and slightly unfinished. This takes away from a great narrative by Zdarsky.

16. Absolute Carnage: Scream #1 (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Cullen Bunn / Art: Gerardo Sandoval & Victor Nana / Colors: Erick Arciniega
Stunning artwork in what is essentially a set-up issue for a monster/murder story. I don’t know the players, which doesn’t help. Still, it held my attention.

17. Powers of X #2 (Marvel) ★★★
‘We are Together Now, You and I’
Writer: Jonathan Hickman / Art: R.B. Silva & Adriano Di Benedetto / Colors: Marte Gracia
Interesting, if a bit dry. The art is great, but the book is mostly narration and techo-speak. A lot of set-up that hopefully pays off down the road.

18. Doctor Strange #17 (Marvel) ★★
‘Herald Supreme’ – Part 6
Writer: Mark Waid / Art: Barry Kitson & Scott Koblish / Colors: Brian Reber
‘Herald Supreme’ comes to a close, but it’s an ending I feel I’ve read before, several times. That’s a bit of a letdown. Still, it was done well, so there is that. Mephisto is always a welcome addition. Crazy bastard.

19. Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety #1 (Marvel) ★
Writer: Clay McCleod Chapman / Art: Brian Level / Colors: Erick Arciniega
So many questions. How many symbiots does it take to capture a tween? A bit too cute by half, this one. It’s like they were hardly trying (the writers and the symbiots).