Thursday's Reviews

I've really got to start posting more.  All I have been doing lately is slacking off.  On the other hand, the past couple of months, my comics were less than...inspired.  I think that Secret Wars is over? Who knows, all I have been getting is the subsidiary books anyway, and speaking of which, are they ever going to finish the "Thors" book? 

But at least there is some new and not terrible stuff out this month.  Thank goodness!


Harley Quinn and Power Girl #5

I do love those Amanda Connors covers.  And this has Vartox in it, so naturally I am enthralled.  Gosh I do love Vartox. 

They are in a bit of a pickle, because they have apparently called down the Harvester of Sorrows, a cosmic baddie, who goes around making galaxies depressed and then eating them.  This is not a good thing, and Vartox is justifiably upset.  So Harley goes riding into it's...brain, and in her craziness...drives it absolutely nuts.  She is also channeling Mistah J, so there is that.  Also, she rips off Vartox's mustache, which is awfully painful...and embarrassing.  But in the end they prevail, and his mustache magically reappears. 

Oh, and he wants to marry Peej.

This is all pretty silly, but I enjoy silly, so it's a lot of fun.


Sensational Wonder Woman #16

Two stories this issue, and neither one is bad. In the first, Diana ends up in Gotham for some reason, where she runs into Echidna, who is an apparent old foe, who is beating up some guy. Turns out that he's the bad guy, and has kidnapped her kids.  This leads to a run-in with Batgirl, and Professor Pyg and Harley...and more kidnapped children, and it's not bad. 

The second story has Diana as the UN Ambassador...again, preventing an incursion into another country by some more bad guys.  Superman marvels at how fabulous she is. 

Both are decent stories, but nothing particularly spectacular.  But still, it's nice to see her portrayed in her actual costume instead of the abomination that the Finches thought up, and doing her usual heroic thing.


Doctor Strange #2

I was a bit hesitant about buying this book when it first came out, but boy howdy, I am converted! This is right up there with Squirrel Girl and Ms Marvel, in my book.  It's insane, its fabulous, and it puts the Strange in Doctor.  The art is astounding, the colors leap off of the page, and it is an absolute visual feast. The story and dialogue is right up there with it. 

Basically, the Sanctum is one of the most haunted places on earth, and it's full of weird stuff.  Like his fridge.  and please ignore the snakes on the table.  Young librarian Zelma came to see Strange in the first issue because of the mouths that had appeared on her head, which turn out to be an alien viral infection.  He is able to get her to tell her deepest darkest secrets in order to lure them back from his basement. Having them run amok in his house is...A Bad Thing.  He takes the virus on himself, Wong beats up monsters in the kitchen, and things seem to calm down, except that this virus has never been seen on earth, so it is just one more really odd thing that has been happening lately. 

God, this is fabulous.

Howard the Duck #1

Like Squirrel Girl, this is the second number one issue in a couple of months.  Sheesh.  But it is worth it, since it is just as much fun. 

Howard is depressed and really really wants to go home, so he cons his friend and partner Tara into going to Florida to the Nexus of all Realities, thinking that he could get home that way.  Unfortunately, Man-Thing is no longer in charge and they run across the Wizard and Titania.  Naturally a fight ensues,and strange and bizarre and hilarious things happen. 

I also love the fact that Aunt May is apparently working as his secretary, and keeping him in Wheat Cakes.  And that Spider-Man keeps having breakdowns.  This is pretty great.


Invincible Iron Man #3

Another winner!  I never thought of myself as an Iron Man fan, in fact I pretty much hated his guts after Civil War...but at least he is done being a complete asshole, and is only a partial asshole now.  The art is lovely, and the story is fun, and Bendis seems to be managing to actually not make everyone sound alike. 

It is post Secret War, and Tony is pursuing a new girl friend. Not sure what happened to Pepper, but like I said, I haven't been keeping up.  Didn't she beat him up when he was in asshole mode or something.  Anyway, Amara is smart and gorgeous and rather nice, so I like her.  Also, Madame Masque is busy trying to acquire a plethora of mystical objects, which seems a bit unlike her usual modus operandi, and Doctor Doom is unmasked and uncaped, and looking pretty hot.

This all makes Tony confused.  But he's still in there trying.  It's all pretty darned good, and I'll be keeping up with this as well.

That's a lot of Marvel books!  Hardly any DC, except Green Lantern with Hal being a twit, so I've actually given up on that.  I expect Hal to be a twit, but not sulking around with long hair being a faux rebel, so I've written him off until they come up with a new writer.  But Marvel hit it out of the park this week!