Wonder Woman #26

These days, DC is just killing off everyone. Or making the attempt. I don’t think Wonder Woman will die. I do think the storyline with why Athena ‘betrayed’ her will be answered.

The storyline is a little more detached from Wonder Woman’s POV in a way that’s unusually for Simone’s writing. I wonder if it’s not that Wonder Woman is so iconic to really get into her head. Taking on any of DC’s big three would be a challenge as a writer.

I do worry that this new “god” story is too much of a tie-in with Simone’s Secret Six. One thing I’ve appreciated about Wonder Woman (and something that helps attract new readers) is that it’s not tied to the big events. I’m so tired of big events.

Uncanny X-Men #504

I’m really glad that Brubaker is finally addressing just how Scott can keep secrets from Emma. I think it would’ve been more interesting if Xavier had taught it to him, instead of Jean, but what do you do. However, does this mean that Scott’s now a darker character with more things to hide than Emma?

The whole Colossus is emo about Kitty dying and trying to express his emo pain is rather hilarious. At least, I’m finding it hilarious.

Secret Invasion: X-Men #4

Talk about being tired of “big events.” I think this issue really made me realize that I don’t like Secret Invasion. I don’t find it as universally interesting as House of M, ethically interesting as Civil War, or as compelling as World War Hulk. I was rather cheering for the Skrulls to win. And there goes Scott being sketchy again.

Secret Invasion: InHumans #4

Jason started picking up this title mostly based on the covers. And the covers have been pretty cool and the story hasn’t been too bad either. I think this cover has been my favorite.

As someone who doesn’t know a lot about the InHumans, I think the comics do a good job at giving enough of a backstory on the InHumans. As much as Illuminati made me annoyed with all those characters, this story does make me cheer for Medusa and Black Bolt. Maybe I do fall into the horrible stereotype of cheering for a love story. In a way Pokaski’s writing reminds me of Pak’s in Hulk before World War Hulk. I can see why Marvel is allowing this storyline to continue beyond the mini.

I Was Kidnapped by Lesbian Pirates From Space #6

I love this title. I also realized that I’d never read the ending to this story arch. (Gedris has everything available on her website as it was really a webcomic.) Betty has an awesome story ending and, of course, Susie is never going home. Even if she turned out to be straight, we all know from too much Dr. Who that you can never go home. Plus, Janet gets a name!

Invincible Iron Man #7

This comic just got weirder. Weirder if you’re following other Marvel comics and wondering why Iron Man isn’t arresting Spider-Man on sight and just how he doesn’t know Peter Park is Spider-Man.

I suppose in the context of this comic being a post-Iron Man movie, it’s not as confusing. Or maybe more.

Hulk #8

Okay, I’m really picking up this title because She-Hulk’s in it. (Especially since her own title got canceled. Great writing there, Peter David.) And I like the Lady Liberators. It’s just that Loeb is a lukewarm writer for me. I don’t love him, but I don’t hate him. He’s like the endless holiday marathon of Law & Order episodes. I watch them, but I don’t call my friends up to tell them about this amazing show.

On a sour note, Frank Cho wanted us to see just what child-birthing position She-Hulk could get into while while riding Pegasus. Cho, that’s not how pelvises work. Put down the porn and focus on real human bodies.

On good notes, Moon Knight was rather entertaining, especially to show how single-minded the Sentry and Ms. Marvel were about forgetting about the Wendigos.

Most importantly, She-Hulk smash! And Titania using a gun right in Red Hulk’s face.

Deadpool #4

Deadpool probably had the only Secret Invasion story I enjoyed. But who doesn’t love a 1,000 Deadpool Skrull clones who are insane and kill each other.

Now Way is promising zombies. Zombies.

Okay, the chair made of plastic explosives was pretty funny. But I need some Blood on the Highway. Shenanigans with zombies.

Avengers/Invaders #6

Toro finds out he’s now dead. Toro is emo. Toro goes to visit his grave.

The LMDs turn into Cylons and start killing. The Torch is the hybrid for peace. I’ve watch Battlestar Galactica, Ross.

If I didn’t love Steve Rogers so much, I would probably stop reading this title.

Avengers Fairy Tales #4

“We’re off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Now that’s some alliteration that Stan Lee could get behind.

She-Hulk as Dorothy, how could I not love? It’s precious and cute. Plus, Jen’s self-realizations about inner strength are a literary kink of mine. And seriously, green sparkly shoes are so much better than red ones.

Plus, Captain America as the cowardly lion, just gives me more Cap as Jesus as I’ve been reading too many Narnian tales.

I Was Kidnapped by Lesbian Pirates From Outer Space!!! #4

This issues has my favorite thing ever in it: Shoe Shopping! I’m a little obsessed with shoes and I might overly identify with Susie who’s just heartbroken to realize that she can’t fit all the shoes on the ship. I have the same problem with my shoe rack, which has made my shoes move into my closet as well.

Okay, Susie is a little shell shocked still from her kidnapping, and she’s still being a little ditsy. And having gay panic over her “newly” discovered feelings. Specifically how much she’s in love with the Captain.

Marge and Velma drinking together is hilarious. There should be more issues with drinking and karaoke. Maybe then Susie can confess her love to the Captain. Even when she’s so sad that the Captain is chasing a straight woman, Sally Speed the fastest pilot in the galaxy. Which the Captain’s unrelenting chase the object of her affection really shows how in her world, all the women are lesbians or at least bisexual. Which really would make my dating life better too.

The Mighty Avengers #19

And we have another filler…

Okay, seriously, we know that Captain Marvel is struggling with his Skrull identity vs. his fake Kree identity. This is not new, and since really this issue told us nothing new or interesting about Captain Marvel’s situation or about the Skrull’s plans, boring.

Seriously, Bendis, it’s okay to admit that you’re overworked and bit off more than you can chew and that you can hire someone like me to fill in the blanks.

Uncanny X-Men #503

I so called that it was Madelyn Prior. (Actually, my second guess was Adriana, but I guess it’s time for Scott to have another angst round. Hey, maybe they can bring back Cable and the baby and there can be some emo crying about how Cable never really got to know his dad’s ex-wife who’s was retconned to be a clone of Jean Grey, his mother. Or you know Jean Grey from an alternative universe. Maybe Cable Jesus can figure this all out for us and draw us a map of the Summers’ family while he’s at it.)

Okay, and I get being pissed to find that while your husband left you and your child for his not-dead-lover, but haven’t we hashed out the Emma-being-hated-by-Scott’s-exes-and-them-stealing-him-away already? I really hope this is not where this comic is going. Mostly because I except more from his dynamic writing duo.

Pixie was fantabulous in this issue. I loved how she got over her issues about being almost beaten to death and feeling like quitting by kicking the shit out of Empath before Wolverine could get there. Pixie is fast becoming one of my favorite characters. She’s way more interesting than Cyclops. (Sorry, Cyclops fans.)

I really wish that someone besides Greg Land was doing the art. You can’t tell the characters apart. While it’s helpful for new readers to see the little labels next to the characters. (Or heck even comic book geeks like me don’t remember every X-Man.) However, it would also be extremely helpful if there was an artist who could render them to have different faces.

X-Men Fairy Tales #4

Okay, not a new comic, it came out in 2006, but something I picked up this week at the used bookstore. Mostly because I’ve been enjoying the Avengers’ versions of these. This one is, however, a little weird.

This folk tale is based on an amalgamation of Cajun Voodoo stories. Of course, Cajun Voodoo requires Rogue and Gambit falling in love with Mystique, Bishop, Emma Frost, and the rest of the Hellfire Club serving as cast. The story itself is kind of run-of-the-mill, Rogue can contact the dead and Emma wants to use her to control the dead for an army of zombies for the Hellfire Club and played the characters of rather trope-y with no real explorations of characterization insight. It needs to be a lot longer than one comic to fill the story out.

It’s kind of sleazy how there’s this set-up for how you don’t really know what Rogue’s doing and you might think she’s a prostitute given that she has a “client” waiting for her.

The worst thing about this comic is the art. Kei Kobayashi draws a horrendous Gambit and gives Emma Frost a neck longer than a giraffe’s. She also does this with several other of the characters, though it’s more noticed with Emma’s long up-turned coat collar. It’s one thing to be manga-influenced and another to make beautiful characters ugly. And Mystique is just made out into a stereotype of a mad Voodoo momma. Rogue and Bishop are really the only characters drawn well.

Spoilers for Birds of Prey #91, Wonder Woman #25, The Invincible Iron Man #6, Final Crisis: Revelations #3, Avengers/Invaders #5, and I Was Kidnapped by Lesbian Pirates From Outer Space!!! #3.

Birds of Prey #91

This is the only Birds of Prey issue not to show up in the trades and I’ve spent a while trying to find it. I figured that it might take place during the Crisis. But nope. For all my searching, I think this comic is mostly filler, and it’s not great filler at that.

Written not by Simone (who was the writer on BoP at the time), it has Jim Alexander as a guest writer, along with guest artists. The writing is just bland and Barbara’s characterization just seems to be a little off. Yes, she keeps secrets from her team, but there just seems to be gap. The story tries to be too cute and too much of a telling, rather than showing, of Helena’s conflicted feelings about mobsters and killing them, if killing them just means she doesn’t save them from impending death. Then it ends in really weird art showing an evolution of Huntress, mostly in costume, with one of them looking like a prepubescent boy. Frankly, the whole thing is rather weird.

Wonder Woman #25

I love the cover art on this conclusion to why there’s not a Wonder Woman movie issues. In this the director turns out to be a fable, specifically the Wicked Witch who sees Wonder Woman as Snow White and wants to kill her.

While the story is not particularly invigorating into the mythology, I did enjoy the poking it gives to Joss Whedon about failing to direct a Wonder Woman move and how Simone continues to explore the reasons why Wonder Woman should make a great role model for women.

The best scene is the end when Wonder Woman meets up with Allison again. Wonder Woman has become not only a role model for Allison’s two daughters, but for Allison herself. Plus, Simone gives more set up for Hippolyta’s order for Diana and Tom to have children.

The Invincible Iron Man #6

Another end of a plot, Iron Man takes down Ezekiel Stane and his Iron Man suicide bombers, which are all around the world in Stark facilities. Of course, Tony Stark did not die in the last issue. Fraction’s is not quite ready to pull off killing his main title character and keeping the title going a la Brubaker yet.

While sometimes I find this universe confusing as a Marvel reader, I do think it works well in bringing the fan of the movie into the Marvel universe. It’s all about the baby steps. (Even if readers will wonder why the heck Samuel L. Jackson is head of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the Avengers movie. Because he’s that mother%$#@!&$# cool.) It’s also what I would term a very realistic comic.

Stark stops Ezekiel by sacrificing himself (to some extend) and shows sorrow when they can’t save the suicide bombers. While I’m not intrigued by the Spider-Man preview for next issue, I am curious to where this title is going with Pepper’s character.

Final Crisis: Revelations #3

I love Rucka’s writing and I love the Question. I’m the fangirl who wants to know when Rene is going to get her own series, a good and proper one, not just these minis. However, this whole Crime Bible cult has me scratching my head and re-reading a lot of the time. And I had enough of Christian schooling to know my Biblical references.

I like how it’s bringing almost all the elements of Renee’s life together and how free will is shown as life vs. anti-life of the brainwashed. However, when all the anti-life shows up in Gotham, I can’t help but wonder, where’s Batman in all this? It is “his city” as he tells fellow superheroes and the cast of villains all the freaking time.

My favorite part was when Mercy could not forgive her murders. It really made a stand-up for free will and that she still had it, when both the Specter and Renee had questioned if she didn’t follow whatever “God” said.

Also, I love the full-size covers on this. The Batwoman one is just beautiful. (Well, her boobs are a little too large.) I love the color and the light.

Avengers/Invaders #5

I really the Invaders and moreover, I love Steve Rogers as Captain America, so I was really intrigued to pick up this Alex Ross title. It’s a little Secret Invasion and a little Captain America with a giant What If… thrown in there for fun. However, Ross’ writing keeps coming off as slightly flat with predictable sadness and delight from all the characters as the Invaders run into “themselves” and the Avengers meet the Invaders post-Rogers’ death.

I Was Kidnapped by Lesbian Pirates From Outer Space!!! #3

I love this campy comic. It’s funny and, if you haven’t been able to tell from the title, has Lesbians, Pirates, and Outer Space. I love all three. In this one, the pirates crash down to a planet as their warp drive is busted after a harrowing escape after some bank robbing. Susie runs away when confronted by her lesbian feelings — the Gaydar detects all — and finds herself kidnapped.

Male Man is naked for most of the story (eww) and his assistant Betty proves to be cool as a cucumber. She takes a bubble bath while pretending to do his laundry as he has no idea how to do laundry and thus, no idea how long laundry takes. FTW. Support your independent comics.