Welcome to my weekly comic book oriented article here at Flipside Gaming. Last week we got to see the softer side of Crusher Creel and the Champions were almost dealt a crushing loss. This week we see Jean Gray get sent through time to potentially a right that once went wrong and Secret Empire starts to get a bit more cosmic on its home stretch. So, without any further delay, here we go! Excelsior!
Reviews
Avengers #10
This issue was surprisingly interesting. It was a bit unsettling to see Vision and Scarlet Witch work on their relationship despite not being in control of themselves. Odinson was the only person there who was not a villain and he was clearly uncomfortable. Taskmaster being an outright villain and lying about the alien’s reason on earth was a shocking moment and really gives you an idea how bad this team is.
Black Bolt #4
This was less about Black Bolt and more about exploring a B-List villain in The Absorbing Man aka Crusher Creel. Creel has had his backstory gone through in the past but this was a nice refresher and the character moments between him and Black Bolt were very nicely done. The ending makes it seem like it was the end for Creel and Black Bolt abandoned him but it was a hook that will get me to come back to a book I had not been interested in before.
Champions #11
There is rarely such gloom and doom in comic books no matter how high the stakes are, but this issue was almost a resounding loss for the team. From the Hulk not being able to put out some flames, to an airplane of cooked alive civilians, and finally a mansion that had fallen on people, this book was grim. If it was not for the baby found alive in a hospital at the end of the book, this would have been one of the most depressing books Marvel has put out in a long time.
Generations: Banner Hulk & Totally Awesome Hulk #1
This was the first book in the new Generations storyline and it was a very interesting read that gave some insight on how Marvel will handle this. Hulk has clearly been thrown back in time to when General Ross is trying to finish off Banner once and for all. It was a good look as to who Cho is trying to stop from becoming the monster that is hiding inside of him. If the rest of the books are like this, Generations will be a great read going forward.
Previews
Captain America #25
It looks we are finally get face-off between Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson. On paper, it seems like it would be pretty one sided in Rogers’ favor due to his enhanced abilities but I am willing to bet there will be a curve ball. This is one the marquee match-ups to come in this story and I am hoping they hold nothing back in showing the emotion that will likely running high throughout this issue.
Generations Phoenix & Jean Grey #1
We get out second “Generations” issue this week with one of the most powerful mutants in the world taking center stage. We were not able to figure out a ton from last week’s Hulk-centric issue but I have a feeling that we get a better grip about this new story initiative. A lot of the stories seem to deal with time travel and I am hoping that the stories only move forward in the end.
Secret Empire #8
I am starting to wonder if the idea that the cosmic cube is going to fix everything is not just some red herring. For such a potential huge piece of the story, we have not heard much about it recently nor have any of the character seem to be overly concerned with finding all the pieces. I would be surprised if that is not the answer to everything and it starts to ramp up as the end comes. The cover includes a piece of the cosmic cube and as the tie-ins have shown, I think we are going to see a united front again finally stand up to Hydra.
All-New Wolverine #23
There is not much shown for the previews for this issue but I don’t think much more needs to be said than Wolverine vs The Brood. The Brood are essentially the Xenomorph’s from Alien, so getting to see any version of Wolverine go toe-to-toe with them and unleash a bit of berserker rage against non-human opponents is fantastic. This book has secretly been one of Marvel’s better series and I really encourage you to look up the back issues and catch up.
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to stop in any Flipside Gaming in East Greenbush to pick up or reserve your copies of these titles today!
-Stu Somers
Stu is a former M:TG Pro Tour competitor and avid comic book fan. He wants to know what you think about his article, so leave a comment below or hit him up on twitter @Ssomers55.
