Tag: Marvel Comics

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Comic Review: Punisher Nightmare

Punisher Nightmare

A man who has a similar origin to the Punisher becomes his partner with dire consequences. This mini series is written by Scott Gimple (Simpsons Comics, What If..?) and illustrated by Mark Texeira (Ghost Rider, Hex).

Jake is a special forces soldier who has just come home from Iraq. Happy to be home all he wants to do is spend time with his family. While they are out for a walk in the park, his wife and daughter are gunned down during a mob hit. With revenge being the only thing keeping him going, he sets about his task. It’s during his attack on the people that killed his family that he and the Punisher meet. The punisher, seeing himself in Jake, agrees to help him take his revenge.

To me this is like a what if kinda story but not in the sense that it’s an alternate reality. More so, Jake is the what if the Punisher lost his grip on reality. Since both characters have internal dialogue bubbles we get to see Jake’s slow decline and how his thinking drastically changes. There is more behind Jake’s turn for the worst but you’ll just have to read to find out.

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Comic Review: Punisher MAX Volume 1 Kingpin

Punisher MAX Volume 1 Kingpin

This is a reboot of the Punisher MAX series with a new continuous storyline. In this volume Jason Aaron (The Other Side, Scalped) and artist Steve Dillon (Skreemer, Preacher) tell the re-imagined origin story of Kingpin.

The Punisher is doing what he usually does–killing bad guys. As he moves through the streets he starts to hear whispers about a boss of bosses coming to town. His name is The Kingpin but The Punisher has never seen or heard of him before. With the streets preparing for his arrival can The Punisher find him. Or will The Kingpin be standing over his dead body–if he even exists that is.

As always the MAX series is known for its gore and violence. It definitely does not disappoint. The new origin of Kingpin is a brutal story that is very satisfying. I liked the previous MAX series but what’s really enjoyable about this series is the continuation. Each volume leads into the next following the ending of the previous issue.

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Comic Review: Nemesis

Nemesis

Imagine that Bruce Wayne decided to take everything that he learned and put all this knowledge towards being evil and murderous just for kicks. Mark Millar (Sin City, Civil War) is back again with artist Steven McNiven (Wolverine: Old Man Logan, Marvel Knights) and have brought Nemesis to Icon.

Blake Morrow is a detective who has been picked to die. Nemesis has come into town following his usual M.O., he picks a law enforcement agent best suited to fight against him. This is usually followed by the death and destruction of said agent. With his life on the line will Blake be able survive or will he become one of the many left dead in the path of Nemesis.

This series is a fun cat and mouse between Nemesis and Blake Morrow. The action is intense and the deaths are awesomely bloody. Only down side is that it’s a quick read so just as your are getting into it’s over. But fear not this September Nemesis two is coming out.

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Comic Review: Wolverine Enemy Of The State

Wolverine Enemy Of The State

What happens when Wolverine goes bad? Worse, what happens when Wolverine is under the control of someone else? Frank Miller (300, Holy Terror) and artist John Romita JR. (Kick-Ass, Sentry) show us what happens when Wolverine is a pawn in a very violent game.

Tricked into going to Japan, Wolverine is defeated by an enemy that he doesn’t even see coming. Waking up in a S.H.E.I.L.D. infirmary, he has the overwhelming urge to kill. Unable to control his actions he murders his way out. He is now under the control of H.Y.D.R.A. and is an unrelenting killing machine. What is it that they want with Wolverine and if possible, who can stop him?

An enjoyably long and well thought out story line. It’s nice to see Wolverine kill rather than just knock out guys. Also there are serious repercussions during his time as a mind control victim, that he will regret later.

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Comic Review: Battle Scars

Battle Scars

A soldier returning home gets caught in the center of a battle between superheroes and supervillans. A Marvel series written by  Christopher Yost (X-Force, Red Robin), Matt Fraction (Defenders, The Mighty Thor), Cullen Bunn (Venom, Wolverine) and illustrated by Scot Eaton (Sigil, Swamp Thing).

Army Ranger Marcus Jones has been fighting for his life and the lives of his fellow soldiers overseas in Iraq. He is an exceptional soldier who has done his tour of duty and is heading back home. When he arrives at his mother’s house he is attacked. What follows is something Marcus has trouble believing. A full on battle between superheroes and supervillans. Soon he is saved by S.H.E.I.L.D and after some confusion it is explained that his life is in danger. What is it that makes Marcus so important?

A series that is one part homage to the soldiers overseas and the other part sets up something in the Marvel universe. There is a big emphasis on hand to hand combat which goes with whole soldier aspect. What they are setting up will either come as a surprise or it will be quite obvious from the beginning. That aside, it is a refreshing read for those that enjoy non powered lead characters.

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Comic Review: Superior

Superior

When you were a kid didn’t you use to wish you could become your favorite superhero. What if that wish came true? What would you do? Well that’s exactly what Icon answers with Superior from Mark Millar (Wanted, Kick-Ass) and artist Leinil Yu (The New Avengers, X-Men).

Simon was just like every other 12 year old kid until the day he got multiple sclerosis. Every night he wished he would get better, until one night he did. He woke up to find a being in his room who granted him one wish. He chose to become his favorite superhero Superior. Now he is the opposite of everything he was.

Experiencing everything through a child’s eyes gives being a superhero a new feel. The characters are easy to relate to and you find yourself thinking that at one point or another you could be that person. For such a simple and seemingly straight forward storyline there’s an awesome twist that just adds a whole new dimension to story.

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Comic Review: Deadpool Killustrated

Deadpool Killustrated

Deadpool is out to kill everyone and to do that he needs to kill the classics. In Marvel’s latest Deadpool mini-series written by Cullen Bunn (Venom, The Sixth Gun) and illustrated by Matteo Lolli (Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, X-Termination), Deadpool kills the literary world.

Having killed all the marvel universe (and parallel universes), Deadpool is still alive. Using the brains of some of the smartest villains, he creates a portal to certain other worlds. They are the worlds where classical literature exists. If he can kill all the classics maybe finally he can get some rest, by bringing about the end of existence.

Picks up where Deadpool Vs. Marvel Universe left off. After a bunch of explaining about why he needs to kill the classics it kicks off. Much more funny and not as serious as the previous mini-series. Definitely pick this up if you want to see where the story is headed.

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Latest News: X-force Movie Announced

Fans of the team created by Rob Liefield will finally be able to see them on the big screen! 20th Century Fox has announced that they are releasing a movie based on the X-force team from X-men. Lauren Shuler Donner of the X-men franchise will be producing the movie, and Jeff Wadlow, fresh off of Kick Ass 2, has been tagged to write the script and possibly direct the movie. Who will be cast is yet to be announced as well as which X-force storyline will the movie based on. Hopefully, they will do a better job with Deadpool than the horrible version in the Wolverine Origins movie!

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Comic Review: Supercrooks The Heist

Supercrooks The Heist

Pulling the ultimate heist with the baddest super-criminals around, what could go wrong? An Icon title written by Mark Millar (Ultimate X-Men, Swamp Thing) and illustrated by Leinil Francis Yu (Wolverine, The New Avengers).

Johnny, a super-criminal, is fresh out of jail and it doesn’t take long before he is breaking the law again. His friend and mentor The Heat has racked up a 100 million dollar debt and he needs Johnny’s help. They decide to get their old friends back together and blackmail those who aren’t willing. The job is to steal from a man known as The Bastard–the worlds most feared supervillan.

Another Millar mini-series that’s going to be made into a movie. It’s easy to see why they picked this one as it transitions into a movie pretty easily. Heavy on the drama and suspense it makes a damn fine comic.

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Comic Review: Kick-Ass

Kick-Ass

What would you do if you wanted to be a superhero? Would you spend all your days thinking about it or would you actually do it. Icon’s Kick-Ass, written by Mark Millar (Secret Service, Jupiter’s Legacy) and illustrated by John Romita JR. (Iron Man, Spider Man), asks just that question.

It’s hard being a teenager, knowing how to fit in, getting the girl and all that fun adolescent stuff. To Dave Lizewski that’s all well and good, what’s really important, is being a superhero. Too bad for him that’s when he tried to be one, he got the sh*t kicked out of him and got stabbed. But, that’s not going to stop Dave and pretty soon people are starting to recognize the masked vigilante known as Kick-Ass.

When it first came out this is series was unbelievably popular and it’s easy to see why. It’s a super fun comic that never takes itself seriously at all; over the top violence, vibrant artwork, ridiculous high school situations, great characters and of course, a child who commits murder. What’s there not to love about this comic. Personally, I like the comic book ending more than the one in the movie because hey, you don’t always need a happy ending.