Books of the Week – 09/11/19

1. Daredevil #11 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘Through Hell – Part 1’
Writer: Chip Zdarsky / Art: Marco Checchetto / Colors: Nolan Woodard
This book keeps going places I don’t expect. I love that. Four great set pieces weaving together a story of obligation, duty, guilt and fear. Brilliant writing and gorgeous art. This series is amazing.

2. Batman #78 (DC) ★★★★★
‘City of Bane – Part 4’
Writer: Tom King / Art: Clay Mann / Colors: Tomeau Morey
I loved this book. (Bruce’s disguise – Classic!) Watching Bat & Cat heal and drop all their walls and veils. It was both riveting and romantic. I really love them together… and yes, I know this will not end well. (sigh).

3. Doctor Strange #19 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘The Choice’
Writer: Mark Waid / Art: Jesus Saiz
A stunningly brilliant read featuring a big change for the Sorcerer Supreme. Art, story, everything, just wow. Outstanding.

4. Invisible Woman #3 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Mark Waid / Art: Mattia De Luis
From the cover to the final page, this is a spy thriller done right. I love Sue as a bad-ass spy… and with a new power ability too. Awesome stuff.

5. Invaders 9 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘Dead in the Water – Part 3’
Writer: Chip Zdarsky / Art: Carlos Magno with Butch Guice / Colors: Alex Guimaraes
Solid issue which answers a slew of questions (it’s about time). Love seeing Spitfire again. They packed a lot into this and it promises more good stuff to follow. Aces.

6. Gwenpool Strikes Back #2 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Leah Williams / Art: David balloon / Colors: Jesus Aburtov
More silly fun, this time wth the Fantastic Four… and Deadpool. This may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but I really like it.

7. Event Leviathan #4 (DC) ★★★★
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis / Art: Alex Maleev
Tension filed issue as our heroes try to figure out just who Leviathan is and what they’re planning. Nice character interactions – everyone’s a suspect. The art really suits this story well.

8. Black Cat #4 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘Yancy Street Shuffle’
Writer: Jed MacKay / Art: Travel Foreman / Colors: Brian Reber
Solid caper-gone-bad story guest starring Johnny Storm. There’s a lot of snappy pater in this book, but not much actual action. It’s a slow burn, but one that still manages to entertain. Also, is it me or are the FF appearing in a lot of books recently?

9. Loki #3 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘The God Who Fell to Earth – Chapter 3: Your Move’
Writer: David Kibblesmith / Art: Oscar Bazaldua / Colors: David Curiel
Fun read, beautiful artwork and a shocking finale. I enjoy the breezy narrative in this book. It’s a refreshing break from recent, more somber Marvel offerings.

10. Canto #4 (IDW) ★★★★
Writer: David M. Booker / Art: Drew Zucker / Colors: Vittaro Astone
A new character, a couple of entertaining giants and furies. The story is ambling along at its own pace, and I like that its taking its time without unnecessary padding.

11. Absolute Carnage vs Deadpool #2 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Frank Tieri / Art: Marcello Ferreira wth Roberto Poggi & Andy Owens / Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg
Not as many laughs as the first issue, but still an enjoyable read. I admit I’m having difficulty keeping up with all the Symbiots & Carnages in this Event.

12. Guardians of the Galaxy: Prodigal Sun #1 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Peter David / Art: Francesco Manna / Colors: Espen Grundetjern
What a weirdly odd book. I loved the art, but the story? WTF? That is one screwed up ending. I did not see that coming. Wow. A very interesting read.

13. King Thor #1 (Marvel) ★★★
‘Chapter 1: Twilight of the Thunder God’
Writer: Jason Aaron / Art: Esad Ribic / Colors: Ive Svorcina
A long, gristly fight between Thor & Loki centers this book. The Thor Granddaughters have a sequence too, but it feels a bit like plot exposition filler. Overall this book is solid, with beautiful art by Ribic, but it suffers from a sense of ‘I’ve seen it all before’.

14. Miles Morales: Spider-Man #10 (Marvel) ★★★
‘Celebration’
Writer: Saladin Ahmed / Art: Javier Garron / Colors: David Curiel
‘The Secret Origin of Starling’
Writer: Saladin Ahmed / Art: Annie Wu / Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg
A bit of a wheel-spinning issue, albeit a warm and fuzzy one. The fight with Norman and Ultimatum was interesting. The PP Spidey cameo was the highlight of this book, and I’m not sure that’s a good sign. The Starling origin story was a nice, but unnecessary addition.

15. Absolute Carnage: Symbiote of Vengeance #1 (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Ed Brisson / Art: Juan Frigeri / Colors: Dono Sanchez-Almara
Carnage as a Ghost Rider was pretty cool. The stakes are getting bigger, and Carnage is getting… crazier? Not the greatest book in the series by far, but not the worst either. Clearly a GR Promo.

16. Amazing Spider-Man #29 (Marvel) ★★★
‘Arrivals/Departures’
Writer: Nick Spencer / Art: Francesco Manna / Colors: Carlos Lopez
Basically a filler issue before ‘Absolute Carnage’ kicks off. I feel I’ve read this story a hundred times. I did enjoy Manna’s art (until the last 2 pages WTF?) and most of the Pete scenes. Pete acted very Spidey-like, which is something writers don’t often get right.

17. Silver Surfer Black #4 (Marvel) ★★★
‘Black – Part 4 of 5’
Writer: Donny Cates / Art: Trade Moore / Colors: Dave Stewart
The artwork continues to carry this book. Norrin continues his sanctimonious pity party. It ends like you expect it too (the sap). I’m crossing my fingers for an unexpected conclusion, but I am not hopeful. We’ll see.

18. Powers of X #4 (Marvel) ★★★
‘Something Sinister’
Writer: Jonathan Hickman / Art: R.B. Silva / Colors: Marte Gracia
I’m completely lost. The Sinister story was intriguing. The Krakoa sequence interesting, and the Phylanx story… indecipherable. Clearly I’m missing something (It’s not Hickman, it’s me).

19. Venom #18 (Marvel) ★★
Writer: Donny Cates / Art: Iban Coello / Colors: Rain Beredo
Aside from the stupidity of all the characters in this story (well, Maker and Dylan), this is a fairly good read. The decisions made by Dylan and Maker don’t make a lot of sense, and serve mainly to move the story along. I did like the final act though, that was pretty cool.

20. Moon Knight Annual #1 (Marvel) ★★
‘Acts of Evil’
Writer: Cullen Bunn / Art: Ibrahim Moustafa & Matt Horak / Colors: Mike Spicer
Your typical time-heist story, this time with three MacGuffins. I did enjoy the various MK iterations, but the ending felt very tired and predictable. Also, – Kang has never acted more stupid. His was a flawed plan from the start.

21. Flash #78 (DC) ★
‘Death and the Speed Force – Part 3’
Writer: Joshua Williamson / Art: Rafa Sandoval & Jordi Tarragona / Colors: Arif Printano
Less action and more… lots more… talk in this issue. There’s some decent dialog, but overall its a bit of a bore.