Chili Pepper Chris’s Comic Cave: Reviews for Releases from November 26, 2008 (Thanksgiving!)
Marvel Comics: Thor - Man of War (one-shot)
DUDE! This is hella-awesome!! Thor’s pissed at the gods and humanity for various transgressions and decides to say to hell with it all and thrashes everything on an epic scale. This leads to his father, Odin, to start smackin’ his son around and show him the error of his ways. If you love mythology, battles, great art and, of course, Thor then you should pick this up and revel in this mighty good tale. Grade: A+
DC Comics: Justice Society of America - Kingdom Come Special: The Kingdom ( one-shot )
I don’t understand why this and the previous JSA Kingdom Come one-shots weren’t just told in the regular JSA monthly title but, like the previous two, this is a decent story (with fantastic art) that adds to the mystery and drama surrounding the god-like being, Gog, and how it affects the JSA as well as the rest of the world. Gog has granted “the heart’s desire” of several members of the JSA and some see it as a blessing while others are waiting for the other shoe to fall. The last page of this tale gives you an idea (which at least to me was obvious) of what’s coming. A pretty good story here but only pick it up if you’ve been reading the JSA Kingdom Come storyline already. Grade: B-
Marvel Comics: Hulk #8
You have two stories here in this issue, both second parts of ongoing storylines, one starring the Bruce Banner Hulk and the other starring the very crappy Red Hulk. The Banner Hulk story is better but I was at least entertained by the Red Hulk story. Jeph Loeb writes, if you want to call it that. The highlight of this whole issue is the phenomenal art by Arthur Adams and Frank Cho. Both men are kicking serious ass here. I just wish the writing was up to par. Please Marvel, I beg you, let the Green Hulk kill this Red Hulk. The character really really sucks! Grade: C
Cover of the Week: Batman #681
I hear that the current storyline in this book kind of sucks…but damn, that cover sure is purty!
Until Next Time–Peace…
Popularity: 5% [?]
So far I haven't cared much for this series. This is DC's big event book for 2008 and the big completion to their "Crisis Trilogy" started with Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1986 and continued with Infinite Crisis in 2006. This one has been a little hard to follow and frankly, a bit boring, but thankfully this issue kicks it up several notches.
Here's more goodness from writer Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener, delving out good sci-fi World War II action in their own fantastic way.
Written by Joe Pokaski with art by Tom Raney (and a brutally beautiful cover by Stjepan Sejic), the third issue of this mini involves the strange royal family of the Inhumans as they deal with the Skrull invasion that is currently sweeping through the Marvel books.
As comic book companies like to do with their "milestone" issues, issue 25 here is double-sized....and contains a story that has many elements that we've seen in other titles that have been executed better. But there are some good things here and that cover is pretty kick-ass, huh?
Now this was a great read! Written by Matt Wagner with ethereally beautiful art by Amy Reeder Hadley, issue 4 is the continuation of the medieval adventures of the magical fortune teller Nimue as she tries to prevent the explorer, Marco Polo, from being framed for rape in the kingdom of Xanadu, under the rule of Kublai Khan.
Damn, I love this book and I love the hell out of the cover above!
Well, Marvel Comics had such a hit with Stephen King's The Dark Tower series they are going to see if they can do it again (and I'm sure they will) with his apocalyptic epic, The Stand.
Writer Peter Milligan and artist Esad Ribic bring us an interesting tale that I'm assuming takes place sometime in the recent past concerning the existence of Atlantis and Namor, the Sub-Mariner.
Writer Mark Millar and artist John Romita, Jr. just keep the "kick-assery" coming with the fourth issue of this highly entertaining and gloriously violent book.
Captain America #41
Still one of the best Marvel books for your money!