Books of the Week: 09/25/19

1. Avengers #24 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘Challenge of the Ghost Riders – Part 3: Cosmic Ghost Ranger vs The Avengers’
Writer: Jason Aaron / Art: Stefano Caselli & Luciano Vecchio / Colors: Jason Keith / Cover: Stefano Caselli & Frank Martin
Ghost Riders everywhere! Another big fight book with CGR stealing the show as he battles the Avengers. A fun, action packed read. Very cool.

2. Absolute Carnage: Miles Morales #2 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Saladan Ahmed / Art: Federico Vicentini / Colors: Erick Arciniega / Cover: Clayton Crain
Always fun to have JJJ in a story. Oddly, I can’t recall how the Spidey-Carnage can operate separate from Miles. Clearly I’ve forgotten something (or am I reading out of order?). The fight for control throughout the book makes for compelling reading.

3. Powers of X #5 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘For the Children’
Writer: Jonathan Hickman / Art: R.B. Silva / Colors: Marte Gracia / Cover: R.B. Silva & Marte Gracia
The nuts and bolts of the Mutant nation are being built. The Emma/Charles/Magneto scenes are quite good. The Phlanx business, less so. The Namor sequence makes the book. Can Hickman & Silva do a Namor book? Please?

4. Spider-Man: Velocity #2 (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Dennis “Hopeless” Hallum / Art: Emilio Laiso / Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg / Cover: Skan
Is it me, or is Pete kind of a jerk in this story? Everybody’s acting out of character. It’s odd. Still, Its enjoyable enough and Laiso draws a cute Peter Parker. The repeat of the background in panels 3 & 4 of page 5 made me laugh. Pete’s frozen in time! Don’t see that too often.

5. Fearless #3 (Marvel) ★★★
‘Campfire Song – Part 3’
Writer: Seanan McGuire / Art: Claire Roe / Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg / Cover: Tasmine Putri
‘Copycat’
Writer: Zoe Quinn / Art: Marika Cresta / Colors: Irma Kniivila
‘Jubilation’
Writer: Alyssa Wong / Art: Alti Firmansyah / Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg
Awesome cover, and a fun(ish) ‘Campfire Song’ installment. ‘Copycat’ – the Hellcat story was a lot of fun, though the cat demon is a bit much. ‘Jubilation’ was meh. Be proud, but don’t be careless. I would think Jubilee would know that by now.

6. Amazing Spider-Man #30 (Marvel) ★★★
‘Absolute Carnage – Part 1’
Writer: Nick Spencer / Art: Ryan Ottley & Cliff Rathburn / Colors: Nathan Fairbairn / Cover: Ryan Ottley & Nathan Fairbairn
This book’s a bit of a mixed bag. Ottley’s art feels like bit of a mismatch with the Carnage storyline. A bit too bright, clean and minimal in contrast to the other titles. Also – his young Pete looks just like his old Pete. Weakens the impact of the flashback scenes. Story-wise, this is pretty solid. Kindred is creepy as hell, and Carnage is, well…. Carnage.

7. Strikeforce #1 (Marvel) ★★
Writer: Tini Howard / Art: German Peralta / Colors: Jordie Bellaire / Cover: Andrea Sorrentino & Dean White
Interesting line-up of heroes setting out to fight body-snatcher/shape-shifters out of Asgard/WoR. It’s okay, but nothing really stands out. Not sure I’m on board.

8. Captain America #14 (Marvel) ★
‘The Legend of Steve – Part 2’
Writer: Ta-Nehisi Coates / Art: Niko Walter / Colors: Matt Milla / Cover: Alex Ross
A by the book rescue mission with few, if any real surprises. The narrative a was a bit confusing and a bit of an unpleasant read as well. This title continues to stumble along. Not sure how long I plan on sticking with it. (And I collect Cap books).