Wayne Markley

by Wayne Markley

Last time out I wrote about a number of new number one titles, both ongoing series and miniseries, recently released from Marvel Comics. There have been so many new titles launched recently that I am devoting a second blog to all of these new comics. The reason I am doing this, as I mentioned it last time, is I think Marvel has been on a roll with some of the most entertaining books I have read in years. I promise that with my next blog I will move on to something other than Marvel, unless there is a whole new batch of great Marvel titles. (If I do a third column on this I will change the name of this blog to Marvel’s Fevered Brain. Well, maybe).

Marvel Rising: Alpha

First up is a miniseries/event of sorts called Marvel Rising. These are a series on one-shots that feature Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, and others. The target audience is younger girls, but I must say I find this series to be very entertaining even though I am an old man. The stories are light, yet action filled with a touch of humor that is just right. The first book of this series is called Marvel Rising: Alpha. Alpha is written by Devin Grayson (making her return to Marvel Comics) with art by George Duarte. This first issue sets up the basic storyline and explains why Ms. Marvel and Squirrel Girl are together. In their civilian identites, Squirrel Girl is teaching a class that Ms. Marvel is a student in. They both have to confront all sorts of troubles on the campus where the class is being held. From there, it is all fights and entertainment.

Marvel Rising: Squirrel Girl/Ms. Marvel #1

Marvel Rising #1 is the next book in this and this one is written by Ryan North and G. Willow Wilson with Devin Grayson. Here there are two stories both with Ms. Marvel and Squirrel Girl. The Squirrel Girl story is drawn by Irene Strychalski while Ramon Bachs draws the Ms. Marvel focused story. Once again, this is a great mix of action and humor that is a joy to read. The two stories are told so smoothly you really can’t tell them apart even though there are completely different creative teams. I would highly recommend both of these books to anyone looking for a change of pace from the dark superhero fare you find in so many books.

Immortal Hulk #1

The Immortal Hulk is a new series by writer Al Ewing and artists Joe Bennett and Ruy Jose. I love this book so far for a couple of reasons. The first is each issue (the first three, at least) have all been standalone stories. That is, each issue has a beginning, a middle, and an end all in one comic. I love that. Secondly, Al Ewing has gone back to the very earliest stories of the Hulk to develop this new take on the character. The Hulk only comes out as night, and during the day he is Bruce Banner. Each story has Bruce roaming the country trying to find somewhere to find peace and in the process lands up in some sort of confrontation which ends up with the Hulk emerging come sunset. Each story has been very different from the one prior and this is the best take on the Hulk I have read in some time. It is creative and original and a book I look forward to each month, which is not something I have written about the Hulk in some time. Oh yeah, one more thing, the Hulk is now immortal. He cannot be killed. So many possibilities.

Tony Stark, Iron Man #1

Another relaunch of one of Marvel’s founding characters is Tony Stark, Iron Man. The new creative team is Dan Slott writing (after a ten year run on Amazing Spider-Man) and beautifully drawn by Valerio Schiti. In this new series Tony Stark is back. But this is the fun loving, carefree, super-smart, and he knows it and flaunts it, Tony Stark. The story opens with Tony returning and take back control of rebuilding Stark Enterprises. Over the first issue, Slott sets up a number of things for the future, as he assembles a new team of both old and new friends to help run Stark Enterprises. This team also lays the groundwork for future Iron Man stories. The first issue features a ton of different Iron Man armors, which again I think hints at the future, and features a great sequence with one of my favorites, Fin Fang Foom. Issue two continues the fun and action from issue one and was also a great read. So far, Tony Stark, Iron Man is number three on my Marvel favorites, behind only Amazing Spider-Man and The Immortal Hulk. Well worth checking out.

Infinity Wars #1

SPOILER ALERT! Infinity Wars #1 is part of Marvel’s never ending cosmic saga. It seems like Marvel is going series after series (mostly miniseries) which follow one another and feature most of the various comic characters, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy, Warlock, Nova, Darkhawk, etc. Infinity Wars is the newest in this run of titles and it is once again a mini-series that will lead into a bunch of other miniseries. (To be fair, these are really minievents with tie in series more than a series of miniseries as this is the main title of the story.) This book is written by Gerry Duggan with art by Mike Deodato. The story in this first issue once again finds Adam Warlock on a quest and he goes to Dr. Strange for help. Dr. Strange has called together the Infinity Watch and refuses to help Warlock. As with most of these stories, the Infinity Gems lie in the center of all of this mayhem. Again, as with most of the stories, Thanos plays a role in all of this action and seems to be killed in the first issue. Of course, being Thanos, I have no doubt he will be back. There is a much bigger story being told here than what is laid out in this first issue. It was an enjoyable tale and I look forward to seeing where they are going with this, but I did think that the art in the first issue came across as being very dark. I do not know if this is a coloring issue, or printing issue, or if it was intentional.

X-23 #1

Finally we have a new book called X-23, following up on the recently ended All-New Wolverine, (which was about X-23) and was a book I loved. To my surprise, this new X-23 book is as good as All New Wolverine was, if not better. It is written by the super talented Mariko Tamaki, who wrote one of my recent favorite stories, Supergirl: Being Super (go buy it, it is great), with beautiful clean art by Juann Cabal. The story is about the three remaining mutant Cuckoos bringing back their two sisters who I thought were dead. The first two issues were great with such lovely art and entertaining story which flows in such a way you do not want it to end. Plus, the interactions between X-23 and Honey Badger are great and offer a warm and honest relationship between two women. As with the book that preceded this title, I can say this is a continuation of what Tom Taylor was doing and is a nice mix of human drama, humor, and action. Another book that is well worth your time and money.

This wraps up my Marvel love fest. I can honestly say I think that Marvel is doing the best comics they have done is a very long time. There are so many great titles that it is almost enough to make me stop reading everything else. (That will never happen, by the way.) I do wish some of the other major publishers would follow Marvel’s lead in publishing a variety of styles and types of comics. Not every Marvel title works for me, but far more do than don’t. Marvel is doing a very good job of offering a little bit of everything for everyone, not just one type of story. They are mostly still traditional superheroes, but the tones of the stories, as well as the target audiences, vary greatly. I say, well done.

Now, have you read any of these books? Do you enjoy the new wave of Marvel titles as much as I have? If not, why? I would like to hear from you. I can be reached at MFBWAY@AOL.COM or on Facebook at Wayne Markley. All of these words and thoughts are mine and do not reflect the opinions of Westfield Comics or their employees. As always…

Thank you.