Marvel Unlmited Find: Daredevil #1 (2015)

Daredevil (2015-) #1 by Charles Soule
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Daredevil is back in New York, this time working for the District Attorney's office. With Blindspot at his side, can he protect Billy Li from the Church of Tenfingers?

Yeah, it didn't take long for Marvel to toss out all of Mark Waid's changes on Daredevil. No one remembers Matt Murdock is Daredevil, Foggy is cancer free, and Daredevil's wearing his black costume again. Blindspot makes an interesting sidekick for Daredevil. At least they haven't gone completely back to the Frank Miller formula of Daredevil misery. I'll skip the rant I have brewing about Marvel's "Illusion of Change" policy this time.

Matt Murdock working for the DA is a new wrinkle but it may be a case of to-may-to/to-mah-to when all is said and done.

This new beginning for Daredevil feels about 90% status quo but it was good for what it is. We'll see how things shake out in subsequent issues. Three out of five stars.

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Thor: God of Thunder, Vol. 2: Godbomb

Thor: God of Thunder, Vol. 2: Godbomb by Jason Aaron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gorr, the God Butcher, builds a bomb designed to travel back in time and kill all gods. The present day Thor and the All-Father Thor united to stop him. But can two, or even three, thunder gods be enough?

Wow. The three Thors vs. the Butcher of Gods. It reminded me quite a bit of the Elric tales when multiple versions of the Eternal Champion would team up against some huge menace. Whereas the first volume was mostly setup, this one was all payoff, like a porno that's entirely money shots.

Aaron brought forth his A-game in this one. It was everything a cosmic fantasy tale should be. The three Thors kicked serious ass and ended the menace of the God Butcher. The carnage level was pretty huge but it seems to me that a story headlined by so many gods should feature wholesale destruction.

The interplay between the three Thor incarnations was worth the read alone. I like that this tale is how the young Thor finally become worthy to wield Mjolnir. Old Thor drops some tantalizing hints of things to come, hopefully during Jason Aaron's run.

Four out of five hammers.

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Thor: God of Thunder, Vol. 1: The God Butcher

Thor: God of Thunder, Vol. 1: The God Butcher by Jason Aaron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Gods of Indigarr are dead and all signs point to Gorr, the God-Butcher, a being Thor knows all too well. Can the Thunder god defeat the God-Butcher once and for all?

Most of the Thor comics I've read over the years were pretty forgettable unless Walter Simonson was involved. The God Butcher was an eye-catching title so I decided to give this a shot and I'm very glad I did.

The God Butcher tells the tale of Gorr, the Butcher of Gods, and his conflicts with Thor over the years. Aaron weaves a tale in three timelines. One of a young Thor in the age of the Vikings, before he earned the right to wield Mjolnir, one of present-day Thor, and one of old King Thor, a one-eyed, one-armed god, the last god of Asgard. Pretty cool, huh?

The God Butcher is essentially a murder mystery with Thor piecing together the God Butcher's motives and whereabouts. Gorr, for all intents and purposes, is a serial killer gods. Aside from his great power, the scariest thing about him is that he thinks his cause is just. The way Aaron weaves the three Thor tales together is pretty skillful and present-day Thor joining forces with old Thor to save what was left of Asgard was bad ass.

That's about all I have to say. The only mark against this volume would be that it doesn't tell the full story but I'll be glad to read the second volume. Thor is one of those characters that's so powerful it's hard for me to care about his exploits. Jason Aaron has made me care. Four out of five stars.

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Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 5

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 5 by Brian Michael Bendis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Miles Morales has been out of the super hero game for a year when Spider-Woman shows up, trying to bring him back in. Meanwhile, teen heroes Cloak and Dagger are after Roxxon oil in a big way...

I enjoyed the super hero action in this book, even if I didn't care for Cloak and Dagger that much. The Ultimate version of Taskmaster was much more fearsome than the main universe's version. Bombshell was more interesting than either Cloak or Dagger to me.

The partnership between Miles and Spider-Woman was my favorite part of the book. The super hero action was pretty spectacular. Miles continues to prove himself worthy of the Spider-mantle.

My only gripe with this series is the pace. It's agonizingly slow and there's way too much talking. Bendis writes good dialogue but he doesn't have to write so much of it. After more minimalist comics like Hawkeye, Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon and Moon Knight, Vol. 1: From the Dead, I feel like I'm working my ass off. I respect what Bendis has done but I'd prefer someone not as long-winded to chronicle Miles' adventures at some point. Three out of five stars.

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Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 4

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 4 by Brian Michael Bendis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Venom is in town looking for Spider-Man. And thanks to the late Betty Brant, he thinks Spider-Man is Jefferson Davis, Miles Morales' father...

The Ultimate Version of Venom arrives and turns Miles' life upside down. Being Spider-Man has its drawbacks. Your family members wind up getting killed. It's not as if his family was in good shape before that. His dad was already shell-shocked after fighting HYDRA agents.

The action was great, the art was fantastic, but I still felt the writing dragged. How much talking can Brian Bendis fit into five issues of a super hero comic book? Quite a bit, it seems.

The collection ends with Miles having his "Spider-Man No More!" moment ala Lee and Ditko, which was a nice touch considering what happened. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol.3

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol.3 by Brian Michael Bendis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Miles Morales deals with his uncle, the Prowler, meets Gwen Stacy, Aunt May, and MJ, and goes to war with the Ultimates against HYDRA.

One chapter of the new Spider-Man's life ends as a new one begins. I thought the Prowler storyline was resolved abruptly, which is weird in this day and age when every story is stretched out for 4-6 issues. It was a good resolution, however, that will probably have lasting consequences.

Miles gets webshooters from Aunt May, passing the torch from the old Spider-Man to the new. He saves Captain America's life and joins the Ultimates against HYDRA, which he probably regretted.

It was a pretty enjoyable tale but wasn't nearly as fun to read as the previous two volumes. The Ultimate Universe sure was a much grimmer place, wasn't it? I reiterate that Marvel should have used Miles instead of Peter in the MCU. Miles winding up in the main universe after Secret Wars is a step in the right direction, though.

3.5 out of 5 stars. I'm hoping the next volume is better.

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Doctor Strange (1974) #13

Doctor Strange (1974) #13
date: April 1976
writer: Steve Englehart
artists: Gene Colan, Tom Palmer
rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Baron Mordo's madness has destroyed the world and Doctor Strange floats in the void that was formerly earth.  Doctor Strange enters the dream realm to set things right, battling Nightmare and freeing Eternity. Eternity won't undo what has been done but helps Doctor Strange build a new earth.

Holy shit.  That was huge.  The earth is rebuilt from the beginning of time and the only person aware anything is different is Doctor Strange.  Stories don't get much bigger than that.  Marvel might have missed the boat with this.  If they wanted to de-age everyone, this would have been the perfect reboot point.

Nightmare tampering with Eternity's dreams and Mordo destroying the earth were pretty crazy.  I wonder how the hell any future Doctor Strange stories could top this.  Five out of five stars.

Doctor Strange (1974) #12

Doctor Strange (1974) #12
date: February 1976
writer: Steve Englehart
artists: Gene Colan, Tom Palmer
rating: 4 out of 5

Eternity's game continues as Doctor Strange meets the Ancient One in battle once again.  Meanwhile, Baron Mordo has something in mind involving the Ancient Genghis.  Strange conquers his super hero self and he and Clea take on Baron Mordo.

This Doctor Strange vs. Eternity storyline is hard to contain.  It appears the world is going to end after all.  Englehart sure didn't shy away from big stories, did he?  I have to wonder what he'd do today if given the opportunity.  Four out of five stars.

Doctor Strange (1974) #11

Doctor Strange (1974) #11
date: December 1975
writer: Steve Englehart
artists: Gene Colan, Tom Palmer
rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Humanity's time is running out and in order to save them, Doctor Strange must conquer his four selves: the surgeon, the drunk, the super hero, and the sorcerer supreme! As Doctor Strange fights for his life in Eternity's psychodrama, Baron Mordo is on the loose.

The tripped out odyssey continues as Doctor Strange attends a masquerade where everyone else is a version of himself.  What the hell is Baron Mordo up to?  It's easy to see why people sent the Doctor Strange crew drugs in the mail during the 1970s.  3.5 out of 5 stars.

Doctor Strange (1974) #10

Doctor Strange (1974) #10
date: October 1975
writer: Steve Englehart
artists: Gene Colan, Frank Chiaramonte
rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Doctor Strange looks for the root of Baron Mordo's madness and is confronted by Eternity!  In order to save the world, Doctor Strange must conquer his four selves!

This was one of the most cosmic issues yet, much like a Michael Moorcock story.  I have to wonder if Steve Englehart was influenced by Michael Moorcock to any degree.  Anyway, the issue was mostly setup but has be intrigued by the coming storyline.  Three out of five stars.

Doctor Strange (1974) #9

Doctor Strange (1974) #9
date: August 1975
writer: Steve Englehart
artists: Gene Colan, Frank Chiaramonte
rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

A colossal Dormammu goes on the rampage and Doctor Strange and Clea prepare to confront him! Dormammu and Umar turn on one another.  Umar takes his power for herself and Orini reveals that Umar is Clea's mother, just in time for Doctor Strange and Clea to show up! Clea frees the Earth Mother and she helps them against Umar and Dormammu.

Doctor Strange and Clea triumph once again.  I like how Strange and Clea's relationship is evolving over the course of the series.  I already knew who Clea's parents are due to reading Doctor Strange in a haphazard fashion over the years but it was still a powerful revelation.  I've accepted Gene Colan as Frank Brunner's replacement.  The man could sure draw monsters.  4 out of 5 stars.

Doctor Strange (1974) #8

Doctor Strange (1974) #8
date: June 1975
writer: Steve Englehart
artists: Gene Colan, Tom Palmer
rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Clea saves the weakened Doctor Strange's bacon and appeals to her father for help. He refuses and Clea and Strange perform a pagan ritual in an attempt to restore Stephen's power. Clea winds up with the power and goes toe to toe with her father. Strange's power is restored and the story ends with Dormammu crawling out of a crack in the earth.

Englehart's depiction of drug culture and his portrayal of Clea as a competent woman were years ahead of their time.  I'm warming up to Gene Colan's art.  His depiction of the Mindless Ones and Dormammu's demons were very good.  I'm pretty excited about seeing how all this shakes out.  3.5 out of 5 stars.

Doctor Strange (1974) #7

Doctor Strange (1974) #7
date: March 1975
writer: Steve Englehart
artists: Gene Colan, John Romita
rating: 3.5 out of 5

Clea escapes the reborn Dormammu and Doctor Strange is in Umar's clutches. Clea whoops ass on Umar's disciples and Doctor Strange overcomes the G'Uranthic Guardian.  Clea's father is revealed to be Orini, Umar's chief henchman.

Things are heating up.  It seems Umar is playing Dormammu for a sap.  Clea is showing herself to be quite capable.  She and Doctor Strange are shaping up to be a great team.  I'm still not sold on Gene Colan on art, even though I thought he was fantastic on Daredevil.  It doesn't have the cosmic feel I think Doctor Strange needs.

Doctor Strange (1974) #6

Doctor Strange (1974) #6
date: April 1975
writer: Steve Englehart
artists: Gene Colan, Klaus Janson
rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Doctor Strange and Clea find themselves the target of Umar the Unrelenting, sister of the dread Dormammu!  Strange goes to the Dark Dimension to find Umar while Clea stays behind at the Sanctum Sanctorum. Clea leaves her physical body behind and finds Dormammu, back from the dead.

This issue kicked off a new saga and a new creative team.  Umar and Dormammu vs. Strange and Clea should be a good one.  I'm not sold on Gene Colan and Klaus Janson just yet.  Frank Brunner left some King Kong sized shoes to fill.  Four out of five stars.

Doctor Strange (1974) #5

Doctor Strange (1974) #5
date: February 1975
writer: Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner
artists: Frank Brunner, Dick Giordano
rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

As Doctor Strange crosses the universe to find him, the Silver Dagger reveals his past to Clea, his past as a bishop that was nearly pope. Strange animates a mannikin to attack Silver Dagger before entering Clea's body. The two of them flee to the Sanctum Sanctorum and reunite Doctor Stange's mind and body. Together, the two of them banish Silver Dagger to the interior of the Orb of Agamotto.

For a tale not involving Dormammu, that was pretty epic.  The threat of the Silver Dagger felt very real and this issue was a fitting conclusion to the whole debacle.  Five out of five stars.

Doctor Strange (1974) #3 & #4

Doctor Strange (1974) #3
date: October 1974
writer: Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner, Stan Lee
artists: Frank Brunner, Alan Weiss, Steve Ditko
rating: 2 out of 5 stars.

This was a fill in story, a Lee-Ditko reprint sandwiched between Englehart and Brunner bookends.  Talk about a momentum killer.  2 out of 5 stars.

Doctor Strange (1974) #4
date: December 1974
writer: Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner
artists: Frank Brunner, Dick Giordano
rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Doctor Strange enters the realm of the dying and battles death at the heart of the Orb of Agamotto.  Doctor Strange overcomes his fear of death, dies, and meets the Ancient One.  Having passed one of his greatest trials as Sorcerer Supreme, Strange is ready to be reborn and finally go after Silver Dagger and rescue Clea.

Wow.  This one was very cosmic in scope and had some awesome Frank Brunner art.  I'd like to see Brunner and Englehart get a shot at Doctor Strange today. 4 out of 5 stars.

Doctor Strange (1974) #2

Doctor Strange (1974) #2
date: August 1974
writer: Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner
artists: Frank Brunner, Dick Giordano
rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Silver Dagger has Clea in his clutches while Doctor Strange is lost in the unreality of the Orb of Agamotto's interior.  The Silver Surfer comes to Doctor Strange's aid but it is a Silver Surfer conjured from Strange's mind.

Doctor Strange and the Surfer wind up at a version of the mad tea party featuring Hawkeye, Spider-Man, Namor, The Hulk, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Nick Fury, Pip the Troll, and some guy with a winged clock on his chest.  Doctor Strange defeats the tea party and heads toward the center of the Orb.

Most of the Doctor Strange stories I've read, even the modern ones, are pretty tame compared to this.  4.5 out of 5 stars.

Doctor Strange (1974) #1

Doctor Strange (1974) #1
date: June 1974
writer: Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner
artists: Frank Brunner, Dick Giordano
rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

With the movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch on the horizon, I thought it was high time I experience more Doctor Strange.  What better way than to jump into Steve Englehart's run via Marvel Unlimited.

While Doctor Strange is sleeping, Silver Dagger takes out Clea and Wong, steals the Eye of Agamotto, and stabs Doctor Strange in the back!

By the Vipers of Valtor, this was a great first issue. Silver Dagger has Clea and the Eye and Doctor Strange must get them back but first, he has to keep himself from dying from the wound inflicted by Silver Dagger.  He winds up inside the Orb of Agamotto and battles a giant hookah-smoking caterpillar.

Aside from the Ditko run, this is my favorite issue of Doctor Strange I've read so far, everything a Doctor Strange tale should be.  Five out of five stars.

The Kree Skrull War - part 9

Avengers #97
date: March 1972
writer: Roy Thomas
artist: John Buscema, Tom Palmer, Gil Kane, Bill Everett
rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Rick Jones wanders the Negative Zone.  Captain Marvel frees Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.  Rick Jones, with the Supreme Intelligence, summons seven heroes from his memories of Marvel's golden age (Captain America, Namor, Blazing Skull, the original Human Torch, the original Vision, the original Angel, the Fin, and The Patriot) to battle Ronan and the Kree.

Using his newfound power, Rick aids the rest of the Avengers against the Skrulls, turning them into statues.  It turns out the anti-Kree sentiments on earth were stirred up by a Skrull to begin with.  Captain Marvel resumes his former place in the Negative Zone.  Things are back to normal, except Goliath is missing.

Wow.  That was a great payoff.  The Avengers kind of seemed like spectators for a big part of this issue, playing second fiddles to Rick Jones and Captain Marvel.  I have no gripes with the payoff issue of the Kree Skrull War.  Five out of Five stars.

The Kree Skrull War - part 8

Avengers #96
date: February 1972
writer: Roy Thomas
artist: Neal Adams, Tom Palmer
rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Avengers FINALLY go into space and tackle a Skrull armada to find their missing comrades.  The Avengers stop Vision from killing a Skrull.  Rick Jones is brought before Ronan. Rick Jones and the Supreme Intellgence hatch a plan to end the war.

Okay, when the Avengers finally get involved, they get involved big.  I was skeptical for some of this series but now I'm confident the finale will deliver the goods.  Everyone knows the Vision is in love with the Scarlet Witch but he's still in denial.  Great stuff.