Holiday helpers: Marvel Comics

Now, whilst we're in the warm comfort of Image, Marvel really is bring it's A Game with it's new batch of NOW! We'll try to keep this short and simple


All New X-Men #4
The redeeming X-Men series that can do no wrong.
Scott has come face to face with him and the early X-Men - he thought, he freaked out Jean and it was epic. I don't think that this confrontation could have been any better.

The start is dialogue heavy, but it definitely called for it. It's a concise and a progressively human insight into Scott's mind. Bendis pretty much answered all the questions that we'd find ourselves asking, and Immonen captured the sequence brilliantly. These short bursts of action really get you excited about what's to come, and you just know they're gonna get bigger. Also, is it just me, or is Angel looking suspicious?

What Would Doom Do?
He'd read this now, and he'd read it a lot, then start over and read again


Avengers Arena #2
Only a page in and another man down (Red Raven - the close up of her death is amazing yet chilling) leaving 14 teen superhumans.

Hopeless is very smart with this issue, and turns his focus to the lesser known characters - The Braddock Academy and Rebecca Ryker.
I felt like this was quite an emotional issue - with the young and lonely Rebecca taking the lead. With no friends, or alliances and fresh off a cybernetics table, she is most out of her element and you really do sympathise, but as the issue goes on you can really feel the story beginning to take a darker turn. It's definitely time to get their killin on.

What Would Doom Do?
He'd start gathering his latverian pennies cause it's time to bet on who's gonna come out on top




Cable and X-Force #2
Hopeless is the man of the hour.

Cable is dying (no surprises there), and his 'headaches' are manifestations of the future. You'd think that Nate would start to user this power for good, but based in the scenes from the present, you can only assume 'good' is far too boring for him now.

Most importantly, the final member - Colossus, has now arrived, and in keeping up with the new NOW! continuum, like the rest of the Phoenix five (All New X-Men) his powers are all out of whack, and in comes Cable to save the day. Now, although Colossus doesn't appear until the very end #2, it's still the highlight!

What would Doom do?
Find Nate, capture Nate, steal Nate's brain, see the future like Nate, and live blissfully knowing that what's to come is gonna be badass




Captain Marvel #8
I've been waiting a while for this issue and I must say i'm a little disappointed. We LOVE the work that Deconnick has been doing, but this issue fell pretty flat. Captain Marvels 2&3 (Rambeau and Danvers) take on the underwater transformer and with all the wise cracks and banter flying around, it was very easy to forget they were in combat.
Soy made it look as amazing as ever, but we'd really like to see his skills tested in a bigger action setting.

I know this is the reintroduction and redevelopment of Danvers, but it's time to see a longer arc for Captain Whiz Bang! Deconnick and write it, and Soy can art it so lets see it!

What would doom do?
Put the party poppers away cause this issue's just a very tame hootenanny. Maybe next time eh?




FF #2
Tasked with becoming the worlds savoirs' for 4 minutes, Fraction's new FF are rapidly becoming our ultimate alliance (overboard? yes).

#2 follows on directly where Fantastic Four #2 left off . There are mole men, "ex-cons with delusions of super-heroic grandeur", thing-suits and human torches falling from portals. At times it feel like it's moving too quickly, but I can see what Fraction is trying to achieve, but i'm hoping the pace slows down a bit. Apart from that the dialogue is on point. Scott and the kids of the Future Foundation are really selling this for what it is - a story about a bunch of people that haven't got a clue, and now they've realised that it's gonna be a whole lot longer than 4 minutes, the story can really begin to shape up!

What would doom do?
Time to get on standby, it's Doom's time to shine...that or just keep reading.


Thunderbolts #2
My original review still stands. This story just feels like its passing me by and I still have no idea of what's going on. Way doesn't seem to be making any attempts to inform us why Ross has brought this new team of Thunderbolts together, and why in the hell any of them have agreed to join. They also seem rather out of character (especially Deadpool, apart from the trippy scene), and I just don't feel like this has any strong direction.

Sad to say that this is definitely my first disappoint me of Marvel Now. There seems to have been a lot of hype, but not much delivery. Maybe a couple more issues will change my mind but we'll have to wait and see.

What would doom do?
Hijack Hank McCoys time machine in an attempt to get back the 20 mins it took to forcibly read this issue. Harsh Doom...harsh.

And finally they became Fantastic

Let's keep this short and under 300 words.

Welcome back Fantastic Four.

Matt Fraction has taken the helm to lead this new series of the Fantastic Four (as well as the FF) and i'm finally falling back in love with this team. Fraction has taken it back to basics by returning them to the "astronaut family" that they really are. But of course this is Reed Richards, so of course there is a hidden agenda. After being bitten by a dinosaur (lol), upon further investigation Reed discovers that the molecular reconstruction that made these 4 'fantastic' is now deconstructing. So in an attempt to save his family, Reed whisks them off into space - under the guise of teaching the kids and showing them the universe- in an attempt to find answers and a cure.

The story is well written, witty and as far as i'm concerned it makes perfect sense, and it's great to see them returning to their roots. Jonny is back on top form (presenting his number to Darla in a ring box) and Ben is as awesome as ever. The introduction of the new FF aligns perfectly with where Fraction left with FF #1, and to be honest it makes sense to read both, if not for continuity, but Fractions work is not to be missed.

Mark Bagley and Mark Farmer are leaving their mark on this series, and I really can't fault their work at all. Very excited to see what they will produce for the space and action scenes.

This series just screams action and fun, and personally I think it's something that's been missing from the Fantastic Four recently, and with Franklin and Valeria in tow (FINALLY) you just know it's gonna be good.

What would Doom do?
Well this would definitely be a massive sore spot from his highness of Latervia, but hey there might be a chance of a cameo?! So he'd hold his banner high and chant "Yay for family fun!"

FF #1: Future Foundation FTW

Well what can I say, Marvel NOW has done it again...and this time I was at the mercy of Matt Fraction and Michael Allred. FF #1 pretty much delivers everything you want in a #1, and what it lacks in action, it makes up for in strong, witty dialogue, FANTASTIC artwork, and just general hilarity.

This first issue establish the new line up for the FF team, who have been tasked to become the earth's great defenders for 4 minutes whilst Richards and the family go on 'holiday' (no spoilers here my friend). This new team of consists of Ant-Man (Scott Lang), She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters), Medusa and Ms Thing (Darla Deering), with each hero being scouted by an existing member of the FF squad.


Throughout this little jingle jangle of rallying the troops, are a series of clips of the younger members Future Foundation talking to Lang about what the FF is and what it means to them. I LOVE these little clips - especially the opening scene with Franklin and Valeria. They really provide some extra character to this issue, and kinda gives you a handle on things - cause if we're honest it can get a little complicated.

I must say, initially, Scott Lang was the main draw for me; not only is he grade A awesome as Ant-Man (I adore Pym and O'Grady, but no-one can own the ant like Lang), I really wanted to see how they'd develop his story since his reanimation and the Cassie's death. (Avengers: The Childrens Crusade).

But in the end it was Allred who's the star of the show. His work is cool, slick, bloody cool and comic pop art at its finest - and Laura Allred's colours don't do it any harm either.
With Allred's work, I really feel like i'm watching an adventure unfold, and I really reallllyyy hope that Fraction can maintain the high standard that he has set with this first issues.

What would doom do?
Grab his finest set of colouring pencils, draw himself a little doom doodle self portrait, and march it across these badass pages of FF. We all know that it's only a matter of time before it'll actually be the real thing.