Category: Comic Books & Graphic Novels

Written by Chip Zdarsky.

Art by Mattia Iacono; Marcio Menyz; Francesco Mobili; Victor Olazaba; Manuel Garcia; Le Beau Underwood; Chris Mooneyham; Rachelle Rosenberg; JP Mayer; Mike Hawthorne; & VC’s Clayton Cowles.

Collection Cover Art by Marco Checchetto & Erick Arciniega.

SUMMARY:

Released by Marvel Comics in 2020, this 144-page trade paperback collects Daredevil # 21-25 and Annual # 1 from the same year. 

In the aftermath of their alliance defending the city, Mayor Wilson Fisk orders Daredevil’s arrest for killing thug Leo Carraro.  With help from NYPD Detective Cole North, Daredevil later surrenders to the District Attorney, who is stunned by the vigilante’s secret identity.  Led by Foggy Nelson, Daredevil’s defense enlists Matt Murdock’s ex-girlfriend: Kirsten McDuffie, who doesn’t realize Matt and Daredevil are one and the same.

Due to a magical spell, a wildcard is a convenient figment from Matt’s imagination now materialized into his adult identical twin brother (and perpetual scam artist), Mike.  With Daredevil’s origin now retroactively correlating their turbulent lives growing up together, even Matt doesn’t know who Mike’s current allegiances are truly with. 

Accepting that prison is inevitable, Matt seeks out Spider Man and Tony Stark/Iron Man’s help in protecting Hell’s Kitchen from Fisk and his handpicked successor’s ongoing schemes.  Immediately worse is the mega-rich Stromwyn siblings, who have their own nefarious plans for the same neighborhood.  Also lurking is yet another shadowy presence, who may well outmaneuver rival billionaires Stark and the Stromwyns’ vast resources.

With Matt’s conscientious ideology opting for incarceration (while still retaining his masked identity), Elektra Natchios makes a stunning decision to regain Daredevil’s trust.  Guest appearances/cameos include Black Cat, Luke Cage, and Steve Rogers/Captain America.  This storyline’s additional villains include Typhoid Mary, The Hood, Hammerhead, and The Owl.

Note: This title is also available in paperback and digital formats.

REVIEW:

When on his game, writer Chip Zdarsky’s storytelling ought to be an ideal fit for this terrific art squad, as far as pitching a great read.  The reality is slightly more than half-right.  This volume’s visuals are consistently likable, but the same doesn’t apply to Zdarsky’s uneven plotting. 

Aside from playing too much off Matt’s sanctimonious attitude, the premise of Daredevil going on trial and then willingly off to prison exudes intriguing potential.  Yet, Zdarsky opts to peddle unnecessary contrivances that risk sabotaging the next arc: Elektra Natchios as a new Daredevil.

Case in point: where are Matt Murdock/Daredevil’s trusted super-friends (i.e. Black Widow) to show support during his legal predicament?  Seeing only two Avengers in civilian attire in the courtroom gallery can only infer that Daredevil has burned far too many past friendships.  Yet, among this volume’s M.I.A., shouldn’t Jennifer Walters’ She-Hulk at least have made a fitting cameo offering Matt (or, by extension, Foggy) pivotal defense strategy advice, given the circumstances? 

For that matter, wouldn’t/shouldn’t  Daredevil logically be incarcerated in one of Marvel’s super-max prisons (i.e. The Raft, The Vault, etc.)?  It also doesn’t bolster Zdarsky’s plot credibility when Elektra easily accesses Matt’s cellblock (presumably, on Riker’s Island), without any semblance of an instant security lockdown.

Such knocks are trivial by comparison to the ridiculous cliché Zdarsky most relies upon: the eye-rolling existence of Mike Murdock.  Beyond the preposterous ‘twin brother’ angle (echoing Spider-Man’s Ben Reilly clone), there is this illogical plot hiccup: why wouldn’t a supposedly savvy Mike recognize Matt as Daredevil? 

Others, like Kirsten McDuffie, might be excusable utilizing this superhero genre plot cheat.  In the dubious instance of Mike Murdock, however, it comes off as an insult to any reader’s intelligence.  All it does is make one wonder how much better Truth/Dare would have been running Matt Murdock/Daredevil ragged (switching in and out of costume), without resorting to the identical twin ploy.     

Otherwise, had Zdarsky simply tapped a plausible alternative for a Matt Murdock impersonator (i.e., the Chameleon, an evil android, etc.), then the game-changing Truth/Dare would score as a definite keeper for fans.    

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

In a full-page format, the covers by Marco Checchetto & Erick Arciniega (Issues # 21-25) and Chip Zdarsky (Annual # 1) precede their stories. 

Also, in a full-page format, the variant cover gallery consists of: Annual # 1 (artist: Declan Shalvey); Issue # 23’s ‘Timeless’ (artist: Alex Ross);  Issue # 24’s demonic ‘Knullified’ (artist: Ken Lashley); Issue # 25 (artists: Salvador Larroca & Frank D’Armata); and finally Issue # 25’s 2^nd printing design variant showcasing Elektra’s Daredevil (artist: Marco Checchetto).

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     6 Stars

Written by Brian Michael Bendis.

Art by Stuart Immonen; Wade Von Grawbadger; Laura Martin; Matt Milla; Rain Beredo; & Chris Elipoulos.

Collection Cover Art by Stuart Immonen.

SUMMARY:

Released by Marvel Comics in 2011, this 160-page hardcover compiles The New Avengers (Heroic Age) # 1-6 from 2010-2011.  At Commander Steve Rogers and Tony Stark’s behest, Marvel’s ex-Hero for Hire, Luke Cage, takes custodianship of a rebuilt Avengers Mansion and recruits his own team. 

With Cage as their leader, signing up are his wife, Jessica Jones; his best friend, Daniel “Iron Fist” Rand; Mockingbird; Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers); the Fantastic Four’s Thing; and, though already committed to other Avengers rosters, both Wolverine and Spider-Man.  Their new liaison is Norman Osborn’s ex-associate, Victoria Hand, now in search of professional redemption.  Briefly seen is Hawkeye, along with various other Avengers in cameo appearances.

Meanwhile, a malevolent supernatural entity has corrupted Daimon Hellstorm, Doctor Strange, and even the current Sorcerer Supreme, Jericho Drumm – Doctor Voodoo.  Trying to defend Jericho, Voodoo’s ghostly brother, Daniel, is ominously abducted.  In a subsequent clash with the New Avengers, Iron Fist is also briefly taken captive.  As the team slowly deciphers who their adversary really is, the ultimate prize become clear: the all-powerful Eye of Agamotto.

On Earth and in another dimension, the New Avengers, Strange, Hellstrom, and Doctor Voodoo desperately make a stand against dark magical forces to save humanity.  It may necessitate a heroic sacrifice leaving the Marvel Universe’s magical world vulnerable.  Plot threads are also set in place for a sequel storyline here the New Avengers are targeted for vengeance by a ghostly nemesis.

Notes: This volume is available in both paperback and digital formats.  As to this short-lived incarnation of New Avengers, it lasted 2½ years before burning out in 2012.  Coincidentally, Bendis had shifted to X-Men, so writer Jonathan Hickman took over to begin a third incarnation of New Avengers in 2013.

REVIEW:

Beginning with its best asset, this book’s art squad devises appealing visuals making this volume almost a sufficient read.  Insurmountably, though, the detriment is writer Brian Michael Bendis overextending himself.  At the time, he was cranking out multiple Avengers titles simultaneously and seemingly rebooting these spin-offs every few years. 

Pitching an excessive slew of Issue # 1’s, it is no surprise that Bendis’ eight-year run programming the Avengers franchise eventually imploded.  Partial blame belongs to Marvel’s soft 2010 relaunch (dubbed their “Heroic Age”).  While easily surpassing Bendis’ weak revamp of his primary Avengers title, this “Heroic Age” incarnation of New Avengers is evidence of fixing something that wasn’t really broken. 

Despite his kid-friendly approach, conjuring up a supernatural plot for these New Avengers better suited for either Justice League Dark or Shadowpact clearly isn’t Bendis’ forte.  The combined star power of this rehashed team roster, therefore, seems ill-fitted to the plot.  Mortals like Luke Cage, Mockingbird, Spider-Man, the Thing, and Wolverine are subsequently left contributing too little to a generic magical crisis that Bendis doesn’t even bother to title. 

It is as if standing around, cracking weak jokes about only knowing something bad is happening, and punching random things will help these Avengers resolve a mystical cataclysm.  That’s why Bendis’ middling plot twists signal merely another day at the office for this unremarkable team.  Case in point: an uninformed Ms. Marvel rashly blasts into battle, with little to no consequence, other than Doctor Strange having to then save her. 

Note: One particularly weird sequence depicts a lethargic (almost zombie-like) Hawkeye easily pushing off a wrecked taxi (with one arm, no less) that he was trapped underneath.  Despite the world-in-peril chaos, he then inexplicably tells his wife, Mockingbird, that he is leaving on an Avengers emergency priority call that no else knows about and then skips out.  Describing this nonsensical scene (unless Hawkeye is a leftover Skrull) as out-of-character is an understatement.

By resorting to tired clichés (i.e. Bendis and his battlefield repartee) and expecting competent artwork to bail the story out, this version of New Avengers simply craves a fresh target audience – yes, the whole purpose of “Heroic Age.”  If anything, even avid Marvel readers will surely forget this creative bore in a matter of days. 

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Starting with Issue # 2, in a full-page format, the uncredited original cover precedes each story.  The variant cover galley is also presented as full pages.  For Issues # 1-5,  artists Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, & Laura Martin showcased one character per issue.  Specifically, the order is # 1: Luke Cage; # 2: Spider-Man; # 3: Wolverine; # 4: Jessica Jones; & then # 5: The Thing. 

From artist Marko Djurdjevic, in a two-page montage spread, are his six Issue # 1 variants for Hawkeye & Mockingbird; Avengers Academy; Avengers; New Avengers; Secret Avengers; & Avengers Prime.  The upper half of this spread displays Djurdjevic’s finished artwork while the lower half depicts his pencil sketch version. 

Afterwards, there is Issue # 3’s “Women of Marvel Frame Variant” of Ms. Marvel from artist Joe Quinones.  Following it is Issue # 4’s “Super Hero Squad Variant” from artists Leonel Castenllani & Chris Sotomayor.  Lastly, in tone-deaf poor taste, is Issue # 5’s ghoulish “Vampire Variant” of the Cage Family by artist Stephane Perger.   

Note: New Avengers # 1 ‘s primary cover is this collection’s cover artwork.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                             5 Stars

Written by Brian Michael Bendis.

Art by Frank Cho; Jason Keith; Artmonkeys’ Dave Lamphear & Natalie Lamphear.

Collection Cover Art by Frank Cho.

SUMMARY:

Released by Marvel Comics in 2007, this 168-page trade paperback complies Mighty Avengers # 1-6 of the same year.  After Marvel’s first Civil War, Tony Stark/Iron Man (now commanding SHIELD) recruits Carol Danvers’ Ms. Marvel to lead a government-recognized Avengers roster.  Effectively overriding Carol’s authority, Stark helps her choose veterans Wonder Man, Black Widow, and the Wasp, as well as the more unstable Sentry and Ares, for extra firepower and muscle.

As Earth faces an onslaught of inexplicable natural disasters, Iron Man’s physical form is shockingly usurped by Ultron’s latest A.I. incarnation: a virtually nude and idealized version of Janet Van Dyne – the Wasp.  With Stark evidently dead, Black Widow now assumes temporary control of SHIELD while Ms. Marvel must quell rebellion within her team’s own ranks. 

Aided by Hank Pym, the team must devise a way of thwarting Ultron’s devastating missile strike.  Desperately devising a counter-assault against this feminized Ultron (whose primitive mindset is somewhat reminiscent of Star Trek: The Motion Picture’s V’Ger), Ms. Marvel realizes that an ultimate sacrifice by at least one teammate may be necessary.  

The epilogue ends with an enigmatic tease of Marvel’s next epic crossover: Secret Invasion.

Note: This title is also available digitally and in hardcover.  The series itself ran approximately three years: May 2007 – April 2010.

REVIEW:

The good news is that Frank Cho’s artwork is consistently high-caliber.  Still, rather predictably, the one caveat would be relying upon too many semi-risqué glimpses of this Ultron – aside from a thin sheet of liquid metal.  Case in point: the ‘sexy’ back cover image speaks for itself.  Unfortunately, the flip side is that Cho’s visual style only distracts so much from an exceedingly blah Brian Michael Bendis storyline. 

Given how this first arc is yet another reboot, too few of Bendis’ self-involved Avengers come off as likable enough to care about their success inevitably saving the day.  More so, multiple game-changing plot twists are resolved with little to no explanation – as if Bendis even cares about plausibility.  Case in point: the status quo (i.e., Stark’s miraculous return; an Avengers spouse not really murdered, etc.) is even conveniently restored just in time for the next arc. 

The uninspired Mighty Avengers, Volume 1: The Ultron Initiative, suffice to say, is a decent read for franchise die-hards.  One is likely better off finding this Avengers title at the library.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

In a full-page format, each Frank Cho cover precedes its issue.  Also included are the double-page variant cover for Mighty Avengers # 1/New Avengers # 26, and Cho’s full-page Wizard Magazine # 180 promo cover.  Lastly, Cho’s two-page sketchbook features Ares; Captain America; Wolverine; She-Hulk; Wasp; Iron Man; Hulk; Black Widow; Ms. Marvel; and Quicksilver.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:               5 Stars