Books of the Week: 10/30/19

1. DCeased #6 (DC) ★★★★★
‘End of the World’
Writer: Tom Taylor / Art: Trevor Hairsine with Neil Edwards & Stefano Guardians / Colors: Rain Beredo / Cover: Mark Brooks
Okay, I did not expect this series to end like it did. Having said that, this was the best issue of the series. Brutal, surprising, even a laugh or two. The book also confirms that Cyborg is an idiot.

2. Fantastic Four: Grand Design #1 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Tom Scioli / Art: Tom Scioli / Colors: Tom Scioli / Cover: Tom Scioli
The First 46 issues of the Fantastic Four in a single book? Pretty impressive job by Sciloli. The narrative by the 4 FF members provides a different feel from Ed Piskor’s X-Men GD, though the art & Design has a similar vibe. Great stuff.

3. Excalibur #1 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘The Accolade of Betsy Braddock’
Writer: Tini Howard / Art: Marcus To / Colors: Erick Arciniega / Cover: Mahmud Asrar & Matthew Wilson
Very entertaining book. Great dialog and solid art. Story takes an interesting direction with lots to explore. Great stuff.

4. Invisible Woman #4 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Mark Waid / Art: Mattia De Lulis / Colors: Mattia De Lulis / Cover: Adam Hughes
Another tight, suspenseful spy thriller, with some key questions answered. Aiden’s turn is perhaps a bit cliche, but we’re talking spies here, so it works.

5. Silver Surfer: Black #5 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘Black – Part 5’
Writer: Donny Cates / Art: Tradd Moore / Colors: Dave Stewart / Cover: Tradd Moore & Felipe Sobreiro
Beautiful conclusion to the SSBlack mini-series. Sadly all that Norrin has created should be wiped out again by Galactus. Still, it’s a good story and a satisfying ending.

6. Venom #19 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Donny Cates / Art: Iban Coello / Colors: Rain Beredo / Cover: Kyle Hotz & Dan Brown
Solid rebound from the previous issue. I do love Dylan and Sleeper, plus there’s a new mystery to solve and I enjoy those too. If you had told me a year ago that I would become a Venom reader I would have never believed you. Nicely done Mr Cates.

7. Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #13 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘You Say You Want a Revolution’
Writer: Tom Taylor / Art: Ken Lashley, Todd Nauck, Ig Guara & Dike Ruan / Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg / Cover: Andrew C. Robinson
Fun Fantastic Four story featuring Spider-Man. Are we going to get back to the ‘Friendly Neighborhood’ Spider-Man soon though? I feel this book has pulled away from it’s initial direction. Still, fun writing, nice art make for a fun read. Tho Johnny was on full flame way too much. Full flame in an apartment building? C’mon.

8. Marvel Zombies: Resurrection (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Philip Kennedy Johnson / Art: Leonard Kirk / Colors: Guru-eFX / Cover: Inhyuk Lee
Marvel’s answer to DC’s ‘DCeased’ brings us a new take on Galactus, a foolishly impulsive Reed Richards and yes-men Tony Stark & Hank McCoy. Characters are doing what the writer wants them to do, not as they should behave. The art’s a bit hit and miss too. If you’re gonna do Zombies, have someone who can depict gore well.

9. Contagion #5 (Marvel) ★★
Writer: Ed Brisson / Art: Adam Gorham / Colors: Veronica Gandini / Cover: Juan Jose Ryp & Jesus Aburtov
This book makes no sense. Moon Knight frees Pei, Pei frees everone else. Problem solved? Why couldn’t one of the numerous other heroes have done the same thing earlier? Bogus ending to what had been an intriguing series. Lordy.

10. Death’s Head #4 (Marvel) ★
‘Jailbreak’
Writer: Tini Howard / Art: Kei Zama / Colors: Felipe Sobreiro / Cover: Nick Roche & Felipe Sobreirp
Underwhelming, rushed and confusing finale for this up and down series. No laughs, no suspense, no real action, just lots and lots of talking. Big disappointment, yes?