Here are today's "Guest Reviews" by John McCubbin from Imagination Centre. Included are Marvel's; Deadpool #6, Savage Wolverine #3, Age of Ultron #3 & Guardians of the Galaxy #1. I have also added my rating after each review. If you have any questions about my rating or want to discuss anything just leave me a comment.
Deadpool #6 - National Maul
The epic finale of DEAD PRESIDENTS!
Not everyone gets out alive!
I mean, besides the Presidents, duh.
Preview
This has been a brilliant series, and one of my favorites since the start of Marvel NOW!, and it's also been one of the best Deadpool series I've read. It's ton's of fun, and has Deadpool at his witty best, with some good jokes (some not so good), and brilliant action, and Brian Posehn, Gerry Duggan, and Tony Moore have done an amazing job on this series.
Plot
The final battle is about to commence, and Deadpool is set to take on the first president of the United States, George Washington, and fittingly they're in Washington D.C.
Review
This was yet another amazing issue, and probably the best in the series so far. This was the big finale to the mysterious zombie presidents opening story arc to Deadpool, and Brian Posehn, and Gerry Duggan didn't have close it with a bang. What I liked most about the writing was that it was much more serious this time round, as most of the series has been fun, with Deadpool taking things not very serious, but with the consequences of this final battle, he has to be serious. Don't get me wrong, this is still a fun issue, and it has funny moments, but Posehn, and Duggan have toned it down a bit, knowing when to add a joke, and when it's time to be serious. The only thing I didn't like about the writing was how they wrote Captain America (yes the Avengers make an appearance), as he felt way out of character, but I'll talk more about that later.
Once again Tony Moore has given us some fantastic art, and it's nothing short of phenomenal. This series wouldn't be as good if it wasn't for Moore's artwork, and although Posehn, and Duggan have done a brilliant job with the writing of the series, it's Moore's art that makes it shine. I just love his gruesome style, and the way he doesn't worry about holding back, making both Deadpool and the undead presidents look grotesque. Everything from the character's, to the scenery has brilliant detail, looking truly epic. The facial expressions were also spot on, and you could easily feel what the characters were feeling, whether joy, or anger. To be honest there isn't anything to fault about the artwork, and if every comic book had art to the quality level of this I'd be very happy, but I can be thankful that this series has that level of quality.
My Rating
Cover & Solicit - 3/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 4/5
Layout & Flow - 4/5
Story - 4/5
Verdict - 3.9
Savage Wolverine #3 - Savage Part 3: Kill Island
Shanna and Wolverine are separated, and Shanna teams up with...Amadeus Cho?
Secrets about the island are revealed, but only bring up more questions.
And, in this issue, a hero will fall!
Preview
I've been a huge fan of Wolverine for many years now, with the little runt being my third favourite comic book character, but I've been disappointed with his outings in the Wolverine, and Wolverine and the X-Men series' prior to the relaunched Marvel NOW! I decided to finally give this a try when the second issue was released, but haven't gotten around to reading any until now, with there now being three issues released, and one issue released in the other Wolverine series. I will however be dropping this series after issue 5, as I can only really afford one Wolverine series, and with Frank Cho leaving this series, and a brilliant writer like Paul Cornell, and artist like Alan Davis working on the other I think I'll prefer the other in the long run.
Plot
Wolverine and Shanna continue their journey to the temple, meanwhile the natives believe Amadeus Cho to be their god.
Review
This series just keeps getting better and better, as Frank Cho continues to reveal more of the mystery, whilst also giving amazing, and shocking sequences. Cho has really turned me around, and I'm starting to see that he's very capable of writing a story, as well as drawing one. After finishing the first one, being not much more than satisfied, I really didn't expect the series to leap up as far in it's standard of quality, but each issue has been better than the previous, and this has been one of my favourite Wolverine stories since Jason Aaron worked on the character as a solo character (got bored of Wolverine and the X-Men which now writes), and I'm really happy to see the character treated with the respect he deserves. Cho also delivers once more on the art front, and to be honest this series is worth buying just for the art, although I'm not complaining about the story being good. The detail is phenomenal, as every single thing looks perfect, and I can't really fault anything. As I said with my review for the first issue, I loved the way he draws Shanna, and women in general, but he shows that even more, as despite drawing Shanna every beautiful again, he also draws a group of native girls, who all look amazing. Jason Keith continues to provide brilliant colours for this series, and they really suit Cho's art, making it stand out more, as well as look more beautiful than it already is.
Last issue ended with the native leader believing that Amadeus is their god. I found this a rather interesting, and sudden thing, but it did give the perfect continuation to Amadeus' appearance, as although he could continue fighting the natives, or even team up with Wolverine, it's more interesting to have him with the natives as it gives them more opportunity to appear, and it also splits the story into two parts nicely. Plus Wolverine has Shanna with him, so adding Amadeus would maybe be a bit much. I also like how Amadeus continues to talk to his A.I. Calvin (as in Calvin Klein), and that he doesn't seem to think of how people will see this, as others don't hear Calvin, just Amadeus talking to thin air.
Read the rest of John McCubin's Review on Imagination Centre
My Rating
Cover & Solicit - 4/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 5/5
Layout & Flow - 5/5
Story - 4/5
Verdict - 4.4
Age of Ultron #3 - Book Three
For years the heroes of the Marvel Universe have lived in fear that the artificial intelligence known as Ultron would one day evolve to fulfill its desire to wipe out all organic life and take over the Earth -- that day has arrived. This massive 10-part Marvel Universe-spanning event is brought to you by Eisner award-winning writer Brian Michael Bendis and comics legend Bryan Hitch.
Preview
This was a series that I'd been looking forward to for a long time, and I have to say that I've been nothing but disappointed with it so far. I was expecting something phenomenal, and all we've been given is something mediocre, and I just hope that in the long run this will be a good series, with a bad start.
Plot
Captain America has came up with a plan, which involves selling She-Hulk to Ultron. Also Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) has his own strategy.
Review
I have to say to start with that my rating is on the overall issue, as both halves of the issue were completely different in terms of quality, but overall this was an improvement. Brian Michael Bendis isn't a bad writer, as he's been doing brilliantly on All-New X-Men and Guardians of the Galaxy recently, and he did write some brilliant stories during his run on the Avengers, even if the run was a little inconsistent, but unfortunately the start to this story wasn't brilliant, which was a shame as I was really looking forward to it, and although this issue is better, it's still far from perfect. It does however show that there is more depth to this story, and I hope that it's now on the right track. The one problem that I did have was that still not a lot was explained, and although there was some stuff that was, it's still a bit annoying. There was however a few surprises that made up a bit for this, and overall, although still not as good as I'd have hoped it still manages to show potential, which keeps up the hope that it will eventually be as good as I was hoping it'd be, but I still fear that it may be one of the poorer Marvel crossovers in recent history.
The art from Bryan Hitch continues to amaze me, and this is easily the best thing about this issue, and the series so far. I've always loved Hitch's artwork over the years, and his work on The Ultimates, and Fantastic Four has been brilliant, and his more recent work on America's Got Powers has also been fantastic, but his art on this series has been simply phenomenal. Whether you think the story itself is good, or bad, you can't fault the artwork, as Hitch has really made this apocalyptic setting, and the people, and events in it look epic, and it's just beautiful to look at. The detail is also brilliant, and even the panels that have the characters in the distance has been handled well, as although there isn't a great lot of detail in them, there is in the surrounding setting. The characters emotions are also brilliant, and there simply isn't anything I can fault about the art, and all I can say is I will miss it after issue 5 (Hitch is only doing the art on the first 5 issues).
My Rating
Cover & Solicit - 4/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 3/5
Layout & Flow - 4/5
Story - 4/5
Verdict - 3.7
Guardians of the Galaxy #1
There's a new rule in the galaxy: No one touches Earth! No one!! Why has Earth become the most important planet in the Galaxy? That's what the Guardians of the Galaxy are going to find out!! Join the brightest stars in the Marvel universe: Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket Raccoon, Groot and--wait for it--Iron-Man, as they embark upon one of the most explosive and eye-opening chapters of Marvel NOW! These galactic Avengers are going to discover secrets that will rattle Marvel readers for years to come! Why wait for the movie? It all starts here!
Preview
I was sceptical about this series at first, and I had not much prior knowledge of the series, but the point one issue was brilliant, and I've became real excited for this series, and am glad to be getting it.
Plot
Star-Lord (Peter Quill) gets a visit from his father, J'son of Spartax, and the Guardians of the Galaxy join up with Iron Man to face the Badoon.
Review
After a brilliant origin story for Peter in the point one issue I was expecting a lot from this one, and although it wasn't quite as good, it was still brilliant, and the perfect introduction to the series, especially for someone like me who knows very little about the Guardians of the Galaxy. Brian Michael Bendis did an overall brilliant job on this issue, and I loved that he used the elements from the point one issue, whilst still introducing the series as a whole nicely, meaning that you don't need to have read the point one issue to enjoy this one, although I'd still recommend it as it was brilliant. Bendis has been doing brilliant overall since the start of Marvel NOW!, and although Age of Ultron (not really a part of Marvel NOW!) hasn't been as good as I'd hoped he has been doing a brilliant job on All-New X-Men, and has brought that level of quality to this series. I loved how Bendis managed to make this a very interesting issue, that was exciting, and fun, and although it was slightly slow I'd expect that from the first issue, as although this is technically the second issue in the series, it's really the opening one, and the one that needs to do the most introductions to not just the characters, but the style of story this is, and the path it will be taking.
The art from Steve McNiven was once again brilliant, and I'm really happy that he's working on this series. I really enjoyed McNiven's art on Civil War, and other stuff since then including Old Man Logan, and Captain America, and it was the addition of him as artist that finally made me decide to get this series. McNiven's art is simply magnificent, and really marvelous to look at, and there isn't anything I can really fault about it. The detail throughout is phenomenal, as everything is highly detailed with next to no imperfections, if there is any at all. He also draws all the characters perfectly, making them look fantastic, but the character that I like his artwork on the most is Rocket Raccoon, as with all that fur it isn't easy to make him look perfect, but McNiven manages to do that. The layouts are also brilliant, adding a more dramatic feel to the issue, and there are panels, and pages that look nothing short of epic. The facial expressions are also brilliant, and you can really feel the emotion throughout the story.
My Rating
Cover & Solicit - 5/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 4/5
Layout & Flow - 5/5
Story - 5/5
Verdict - 4.7
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