Comic Book Thoughts

Guardians Of The Galaxy #1 - I absolutely loved this book. I was very impressed with #0.1 when that came out last month, and I am very happy to say that this issue really does carry on where the introductory issue left off. Prior to last month I had never read any GOTG before, it had never really interested me, but now I am very much looking forward to the next issue. The dialogue and art were absolutely superb, and it does a great job at really getting new fans like myself involved.
I understand that this is getting negative reviews in some circles as some people believe that it is not catering enough to the more hardcore fans of these characters. However, I think this book really will be standing on its own two feet in a few issues to come. The naysayers may even change their minds about it.
8.5 / 10

Bedlam #6 - Great way to end the arc. I am very much looking forward to where this may go. Spencer is writing a great tale here, and I am certainly on board! HOWEVER, I may be saving the next arc for trade as I have a feeling it may read even better that way. Don't let that put you off picking this up if you have been following this series though; it is still a great issue.
8 / 10

Superior Spider-Man #7 - This is still my favourite Marvel NOW! title. The series still seems to be getting better and better. I haven't heard of Cardiac before, and after this issue I am not pretty happy I found out about him here. I thought the fight between Cardiac and Spidey was pretty intense, and I cant wait to see how it will pan out in the end. Also, what a great scene at the end with the Avengers.
8.7 / 10

Mind The Gap #9 - I usually am not too keen on silent issue. I normally find them quite hard to get totally immersed in, and this one was the same at the start. However, when it became evident what was happening in it, I was completely hooked. This was superb. The issue literally did not need any words at all.
That's another thing, sometimes I think silent issues feel slightly forced, but this was suited this way of story telling right down to the ground. It looks like one of the more loved characters of the series may be in some pretty serious trouble. I just hope they don't make a mistake and kill her off too early; we will see. Also, we are promised a big reveal in the next issue and that is something that I really hope happens.
8.5 / 10

Action Comics #19 - I am absolutely gutted that this will be Diggles' only issue on this series. This story was great. The highlight for me was the characterisation of Lex Luthor. He was great in this issue, and I am looking forward to seeing more of him in this series.
I do agree with some reviews that argue that the whole plot to defeat Superman does seem a little used up, but I am still excited to see what happens nonetheless. I hope Daniels' writing will be as good as his art on this series. Yeah, this has been a series that I have enjoyed from the beginning really, but I have a feeling that this might really take off soon to become the title that a lot of people were hoping for.
8.5 / 10

Green Arrow #19 - I am still a big fan of this new GA written by Lemire. This particular issue was full of action, and it was great to see as much of Komodo and his daughter as we did. The big reveal of this issue was kind of ruined by the fold out front cover, however I am looking forward to learning the reasons behind these actions in future issues.
I still absolutely love the art in this book. I think that it suits the book  perfectly, and I advise everyone who hasn't seen this style yet to make up their own mind before taking note of some of the negative reviews surrounding it.
7.9 / 10

All New X-Men #10 - Bendis is sticking to the formulae of the entire series in this issue; which I suppose comes as a surprise to no one whatsoever. There is a lot of dialogue again here, but if you have been enjoying this series as much as I have so far, then you will certainly enjoy this issue.
I loved the reveal of the Uncanny X-men's plan in this issue, and I really cant wait to see just which member of the school will be joining them. I have a feeling who it is going to be, but we will just have to wait and see.
Still a great time to be an X-Men fan.
8.2 / 10

Age Of Ultron #4 - Still enjoying this series, however I am a bit confused about how this is going to make its issue quota. Still a lot of issues left, so I am expecting another kind of twist to be coming our way sometime soon. Another death in this issue, and I really liked the way that it was done. It was realistic as well as showing just what the good guys are up against in Ultron and his forces.
8 / 10

Uncanny X-Force #3 - I have been enjoying this series up to this issue, but I am a bit unsure now as to how much longer I will be following it. I enjoyed this issue right up until the ending; which I feel is leading the next issue into a direction I am not too keen on. This is still an enjoyable series, and I will reasses my thoughts on it after #4 has been read.
7.4 / 10

Uncanny X-Men #3 Review

I am a big fan of this series so far, and after last issue I was very excited to see what was going to happen between Cyclops and the Avengers. We did not get a big fight scene; which to be honest is something that I was not holding high hopes for anyway. However, what we did get was some great dialogue, along with an argument that Scott Summers actually came out on top of. Yes you heard that right. Maybe the man is not as crazy as we all first thought.

Bendis has been building up the fact that Scott Summers actually has a pretty good argument for some time now. However, in this issue it really came to the forefront. I found myself agreeing with a lot of what he was saying; which I am sure many other fans found themselves doing too. He came across as the good guy who is being completely misunderstood, not just by the world but also the Avengers as well.
Speaking of the Avengers, in this particular issue they were written to come across as complete assholes. Ok, maybe that is a little bit too strong, but they were totally single minded in their understanding of what Scott and his gangs intentions were. They also seemed more than happy to ignore true facts that Scott was bring up to them. I understand that Bendis wrote them this way intentionally in order to get Scott across in a certain way, so I did love the way that this worked. However,I am hoping that the Avengers don't continue to think in this way for a prolonged period of time. The members are not stupid, so I hope it doesn't get to a point where I feel like screaming at the pages at them.

Magneto also came forward in this issue to admit that he was the one who told the Avengers where to go to confront them. I am glad this came out here as it was quite obvious who it was. Leaving this unanswered for a few issues would have been the wrong move; so I happy with what I read here. However, something I was not expecting, was the fact that Magneto seems to be playing SHIELD. I was not expecting this at all, but it does make sense. Bendis really has pulled off something here, and I am looking forward to seeing how this is going to develop.

One of the new recruuits of Scotts team, Eva Bell, came to the forefront here too. It was nice to get a brief glimpse into her past, and I also enjoyed the scene in which she not just stuck up for her leader, but also helped in stopping a big battle from breaking out in front of her own home.
One of the things I did not like in this issue, which is unusual as I usually like the way Bendis does this, was the constant humour throughout. Normally I think that this is really well placed, but here I thought it all felt a little forced in places. As I say, it is something I am normally a fan of, so it is not something I am too concerned about.

This was another great issue in which Scott has come across in very well. I am very happy this has happened because I have not been the biggest fan of Marvel turning him into a complete baddie. The end of this issue also leads me to believe that may hear another big speech from him in the next issue; which is something I am also looking forward too.
This series continues to be great, and as I have mentioned earlier, this is a very exciting time to be a fan of the X-Men. If you didn't pick this title up because you were frustrated that it was being rebooted yet again; then I really advise you to have a change of heart. The character development, along with the foundations being set for the future of the team, are things that just can't be missed.

Rating: 8.1 / 10

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Age Of Ultron #2 Review

I was pleasantly surprised with the first issue of this, so I was eagerly anticipating the next instalment. I was not let down at all as right here we have another very solid issue that focuses mainly on character development; whilst also showing how bleak the future looks for our heroes.

The start of this issue is actually my favourite scene in the whole book. In it we see Black Widow sneaking through a demolished San Francisco looking for supplies. Whilst doing this she encounters a normal man who acts totally out of character. The writing and art immediately tell us that this guy would not even think of doing something like this before the world fell apart; which means that what happens to him really comes as a bit of a shock. It shows how people that at one point were Avengers are now no better than normal human beings. Everyone is doing their best to survive, and it has really become a dog eat dog America.

The second half of this book focuses on Peter Parker and the super heroes that saved him back in New York. Once again, the writing is absolutely fantastic here; giving us some real insight into how this has effected certain people. Peter, for one, is absolutely distraught. I love how we got a look back as to what he saw when Ultron first attacked. It showed how big the scale of the assault was, as well as just how powerless these guys were against him.
A very good point was brought up by an Avenger concerning Peter  possibly being sold to Ultron. This got a certain character thinking which ultimately led to their first line of the series. The plan that is going to be set is quite obvious, and it is pretty much confirmed by the sneak peak of the cover for #3, but is still a LONG way to go in this crossover so I am really excited to see just how this big plan to defeat Ultron will go wrong.

Once again I think this is another solid issue in a crossover event that I am now very excited for. Bendis is doing a great job here at slowly setting the scene, as well as introducing more characters. I read today that he has hinted that something big is happening half way through the series; which I can tell by the buildup already that whatever it is is going to feel massive. Even if you think this is an event that you don't fancy ( like I originally did ), I would still recommend picking up these first two issues and giving it a go. It has even made me tempted to pick up Fantastic Four #5 due to it being a tie in; and it is a book I don't normally get!


Rating: 8.3 / 10

Age Of Ultron #1

I was giving to give this event a miss. It is written by Brian Michael Bendis so naturally it is something that I would want to read, but I instead planned to read this in trade form. However, after seeing the cover in my LCS, I just had to pick it up. My whole curiosity just got the better of me; so I really could not resist it.

 The most I knew about this character / series was the fact that he hates humanity, and that this book focuses on a world that has been destroyed by Ultron himself. This interested me, but as I mentioned earlier it was not enough to make me buy it. However, after reading it, I can say that I think this setup is just great. I love how there are only a small amount of Avengers left in the world, and how massive the task at hand really felt in this first issue. They have a massive job ahead of them if they are to defeat Ultron, and I am struggling to see a way in which they can do so.

So, the setup really interests me now, but it is not just that that has got me excited in this series. What I was surprised at was how at each others throats the remaining super heroes are. For some reason I still expected them to be a really strong force, with lots of plans surrounding defeat Ultron. This is not what we saw in #1 at all. They are alive, but only just, and it seems to be like they have given up hope. The last page of this issue showed us that even the one man who you would expect to still be in one piece mentally, is really struggling to comprehend what needs to be done. If he is not with it, then it easy to see why everyone else seems to be crumbling around him.

I don't really want to say too much about this issue, as it mainly focuses on character development in setting up what point we are at now with these people. I never want to spoil things too much, and I feel that if I go into details about what was said, then I would essentially be telling you guys exactly what happened in this book. What I can say though is just how impressed I was in this issue. I am now going to be picking up pretty much everything related to this crossover event. Bendis has won be over, and I really can't stress enough how much I think you guys should check this issue out.

Rating: 9 / 10

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All New X-Men #8 Review

This series has been a massive win for me so far. As some of you guys know I missed the first few issues initially before all the good press made it just too good for me to ignore; and I can honestly say that there has not been one bad issue in this run thus far. This issue teased the young X-Men meeting the present day Avengers; so you can imagine my excitement going in to reading it. My excitement ended up to be totally warranted too.

Three quarters of this issue was made up of past Angel and current day Angel battling Hydra as they were attempting to burn the Avengers tower down to the ground; all while the Avengers were nowhere to be seen.  I enjoyed this part of the issue; especially the way the two Warren's were with each other. Warren, for me anyway, is a member of the X-Men that I have never been overly excited about. However in this issue I really liked the dialogue coming from both versions of the character; which just shows how well written this series really is.

Next up in this issue was the confrontation between the Avengers and these young X-Men. To be honest it was not what I was expecting as I was expecting everything to be slightly more heated. However, as mentioned in the above paragraph, this book is just so well written; which means I really don't mind if things don't get too heated.
Put it this way, this scene consisted of a conversation between Hank and Cap, and we heard pretty much none of it due to Kitty and Bobby mocking the conversation. They had a conversation between them; whilst taking up the roles of Hank and Captain America. This was not only immensely fun to read, but also to look at; due to the fact that Marquez is a God at nailing facial expressions. I found myself with a big smile on my face as I was reading through this scene.
Jean Grey also had a very nice moment at the end of this issue; which followed a very well constructed rant by young Warren. It has become clear in previous issues that he has been struggling to get to grips with what exactly he becomes in the future; so everything came out regarding that in this issue.

Overall, this may be one of the best written comic on the stands at the moment. Bendis has a great feel for every single character that he writes. No wonder he has quite a few X books on the go at the moment. This is a massive time for the X-Men, and it is great to see that they have the right man behind them in moving forward. If you are a fan of these characters then I strongly recommend you guys get involved with this series. Yes at times there may not be much action involved; but all that is forgotten due to the fantastic character moments throughout each and every issue.

Rating: 8.9 / 10


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Uncanny X-Men #2 Review

After the first issue that did a nice job at setting up exactly what this series was going to be; I was very much looking forward to this instalment of the title. I was not let down either as Bendis continued to build the foundations of the story he is going to be telling. He is really fleshing out the characters here, especially the new ones who we are not aware of. So, if you guys ant to meet some new mutants, then I think this book is the place for you to be.

This issue, as mentioned, focused mainly on the new mutants being shown the new school in which they will be learning their trade. Although these children have names that are pretty forgettable for the time being, their own individual personalities came to the forefront in this issue.
Seeing as most of the issue focused on these new guys just talking to Cyclops and co, this issue really could have fallen flat on its face. Luckily for us Bendis had other ideas, and has really done a good job at helping us get to know these guys. Of course, we still do not know everything about them, which is just fine, but this issue has got me excited to read more about them for sure.

The start of this issue focused on Emma, and her getting used to the fact that her powers are nowhere near where they were. The conversation between her and Cyclops was interesting, and was something that really had to happen. I was getting quite confused at what point these two were at, and why Emma was even hanging around still. This issue has answered these questions, and also gone some way into explaining what kind of dynamic these two will have with each other.
The end of this issue nicely leads on to the next issue, and I for one can really not wait to see what will happen in the upcoming battle. I just hope that Bendis lets these guys duke it out, and doesn't just tease us. However, saying that, even if we do just get teased, I am sure Bendis will do it in a way that we will be desperate to pick up the next issue anyway.

All in all, this was a very good issue that is still laying down the foundations. Some people may not like the pace this series has, and I guess in some ways it may be best to read it as a trade, however I am loving the development of the story. I think it is always best to see these kind of things develop. Not only do I think it is more interesting that way, but you certainly get more value for money as the issues seem to be more wordy.
If you have been reading Bendis on All New X-Men, then jump on this too.

Rating: 7.8 / 10

Uncanny X-Men #1 Review

We have missed Uncanny X-Men a lot over the last three months, so it is great to see it back already. This time is back with a whole new attitude, as well as one of the greatest writers right now at the helm of it, Brian Michael Bendis. This series is going to follow Cyclops and his team and he attempts to build a mutant revolution. It is a very interesting concept, which this #1 does a great job at getting me interested in even more.

This issue focuses on someone who has turned themselves in to SHIELD with information on what exactly Cyclops is up to. This person is not named or shown until the end, and I can tell you now that the reveal is something that really shocked me. I did not have a clue throughout the issue who it could be, and I was certainly not expecting it to be who it ended up to be. What I also liked about the reveal was the dialogue that followed on the last page. This mystery person is focused on taking down Cyclops, and he has a personal interest in doing just that.

We also saw a flashback of events that happened in San Diego as Cyclops took another new mutant under his wing. In this scene we also got to see his two new recruits in action. They have come along way since they were first taken in by Scott, which is scary as it was not that long ago ( 4 days for one of them ).
I cant wait to see more new mutants, and I cant wait to see how they are going to react when they realise what Scott is really up to. They may even become totally brainwashed, which I think will be awesome to see. Scott Summers leading a group of die hard followers is something I would be very interested in seeing.

The art in this issue by Chris Bachalo was absolutely stunning in some places. The scenes involving SHIELD were immense. They were fantastic to view, and they really helped set up the epicness of what I am sure this series will become. Unfortunately, during the battle scene in San Diego the art did become a bit hit and miss. Yes, a fight with Sentinels is not going to be clean, I get that. However I did feel like some of the panels could have been more clear with what was going on in them. Apart from that, I believe that we have a great artist for this series, and I am very much looking forward to more of Bachalos' work in future issues.

This series has got off to a great start and I am very keen to read more. I am enjoying the place that Cyclops is in at the minute. He is not a complete bad guy, and is walking a really fine line between good and bad. I can't wait until his intentions become a bit clearer as this series progresses.
The next issue is advertised to show us Scott training his new recruits, which I am sure is going to be a blast to read. I would get involved in this series for sure. If you are an X-Men fan or a Bendis fan then I think that this will be for you.

Rating: 8.7 / 10

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All New X-Men #7 Review

This series has been absolutely fantastic up to now. Admittedly I jumped onto the bandwagon relatively late; but since I caught up with proceedings I have loved the ride it has taken us on so far. Bendis works his magic in this issue as he sets the foundations for future issues. In many titles and issue such as this one may be a little boring for the reader. However, in All New X-Men there is really no such thing as a boring issue.

This issue mainly focuses on young Cyclops and a conversation he is having with Mystique. He is unaware of who she actually is, which makes this conversation even more interesting, as throughout it she constantly puts thoughts into Cyclops head about destroying the X-Men set up at the school.
What makes this so awesome to view is the fact that it is so clear just how much Cyclops wants to put his trust into someone. He is so utterly confused about the situation that he has found himself in, and he is desperate for just a little bit of guidance. He thinks he has found it with Mystique, but unfortunately for him he is very very wrong.

There is a nice little character moment in here with Bobby and Kitty Pryde. I love Kitty so I am very happy to see her come into the forefront in a book such as this. She has so much to offer the Marvel universe and it seems that Bendis feels the same way that I do about her.
It is also going be pretty awesome to see what Mystique is going to be up to in the future. She is clearly laying the foundations for some sort of attack, but her motives are a bit unclear at the minute. It will also be interesting to see who exactly she is working with.

This is a pretty short review for this issue, but if you are reading it then you guys will be picking this one up anyway. It is not very new reader friendly as it seems to rely a bit on the reader knowing what exactly has gone on. Trust me though, pick up some of the back issues and you will not be disappointed in the slightest. If you want some fantastic story by Bendis, as well as some equally awesome  art by  David Marquez, then get involved in this series ASAP.

Rating: 8.25 / 10


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Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #20 Review

I have been eagerly anticipating this issue since the last page of #19; and it has really felt like a massive amount of time since I saw that last page. Yes, Venom is back in the Ultimate universe, and he looks as great as he ever has. It is one of the best depictions of the character that I have seen for quite some time, which means that Sara Pichelli is doing such a fantastic job on this issue as always. However, it looks like Miles may have bitten off a bit more than he can chew this time around.

The whole of this issue was pretty much made up of a fight between Venom and Miles, and let me tell you; there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. What we got was a great little battle, which Miles spent most of trying to figure out just how he was going to beat the villain  This is what is great about this book in general; the fact that Miles is still trying to figure out how to be Spider-Man. He has never faced Venom before, which makes battles like this even more intriguing as he is trying to feel out his opponent.

Bendis still includes some humorous touches in this issue, as he has been doing the whole of the series. There was one particular moment when Miles attempted to use the webbing that Ganke had just supplied him with that made me laugh out loud. What really helps with this is just how accurate Pichelli can draw human emotions, which sees the humour just pour off the pages.

The only downside to this book is the fact that we are still waiting for more development of Miles. He has been the new Spider-Man in the ultimate universe for 20 issues now, and he is still a complete rookie. I do not want him to become a vet over night, however it would be nice if he was a bit more polished and a bit more sure of himself; considering everything he has already fought during the series. This is a minor gripe, as I'm sure many people would argue "but we are only 20 issues in". What Bendis is doing here with this series really helps you to overlook a gripe such as this one.

If you have not experiences the Ultimate Spider-Man universe yet for whatever reason, then get involved in this issue. It is a great jumping on point, and I am sure many old school fans will just fall in love with this version of Venom. I really can't wait to see more of him in this series, and how Miles is going to overcome such a strong bad guy. It is also going to be interesting to see just who this new Venom is, as he seems to know a lot about how Miles has become this new Spider-Man. One thing is for sure; the 20th March feels a very long way off.

Rating: 8 / 10

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Daredevil End of Days #5 Review

People who read my blog frequently will know just how in love I am with this particular series. It is visually stunning, and the writing is above and beyond 90% of titles on the stands at the moment. Bendis and Mack make a fantastic team, and five issues in, they are still to let me down. The fifth chapter of this intriguing and grim tale is just as good as the four previous. However, the difference for me was that with this issue I really got the feeling that we were starting to move along a little faster.

The initial scene with the Punisher was something I have been eagerly anticipating since the end of the last issue, and I was really not disappointed  It was incredibly tense, and I really enjoyed the conclusion of this talk. Punisher also pointed Ben into a direction that for some reason I never even thought about. It makes a ton of sense, but I had a "oh yeah!" kind of moment. The reveal snuck up on me, and I am sure that this is something that Bendis planned. Brilliantly done.

What this series does great is introduces characters that are not really seen as being incredibly important, and making them come out as stars in this book. In any other title if you told me that Gladiator and Ben would be having a discussion over a large amount of pages, I would probably give that title a miss. However, in this issue, the feel of conversations like this are just electric. You have Ben desperate to get to the bottom of things, while the person he is talking too is explaining a life that is completely new to us. I am fairly new to the world of DD, as you guys know, but this issue has made me on the look out for Gladiator in the future and in back issue format too.

The end of this issue leaves us on another cliffhanger, which I am eagerly anticipating the outcome of. I think it is quite obvious what will happen but I hope they go in a certain route that I have in my head. If they do this then we may be in for a very interesting one on one scene in #6.

Once again David Mack hit it out of the park in this issue. This is nothing new in this series as he is really doing a phenomenal job. When I posted my review of #5, he got in touch with me via twitter and thanked me for my kind words towards this title. He is not only a great artist, but he seems like a great guy too.

This is a series that I really can not recommend highly enough. Pick up all five issues that have been released so far, read them in one sitting, and I can guarantee you will be hooked. Reading this series with a nice mug of black coffee is absolute perfection. Bring on #6 next month.

Rating: 9 / 10

All New X-Men #6 Reivew

I initially missed this series when issues 1-5 came out, but ended up doing everything within my power to purchase those issues when I read just how good this series was. So I got myself up to date and now here we are with #6 in the series. Bendis has been getting plaudits for this book from all corners of the comic book community, and you can really see why. This series has legs to it; so what was firstly considered as probably only running for a few issues, now seems to have the world at its feet. Rightly so in my opinion too.

We see a lot of young Jean Grey in this issue as she is coming to grips with what happens to her in the future, as well as the new powers that she all of a sudden now possesses. What I really liked in this issue was how supporting Kitty Pryde was throughout towards Jean. I am a massive fan of Kitty's, so it is awesome for me to see her role become more important in this series as she has taken it upon herself to look after the younger versions of the X-Men.

The other main story running throughout this book was between young Cyclops and modern day Wolverine. It is clear to see what Logan is finding it hard not to take his anger out on young Scott, even though the events that have recently happened are not his fault at all. However, when he does lower his guard, it doesn't end too well for him.
I really do feel sorry for young Scott as he is coming to grips with just what he is going to do in his future. It must be a big shock for anyone knowing that they will never be what they believe they will become in their future; and it must be even harder knowing that you will be behind the death of someone who was a father like figure to you. It is going to be interesting to see the development of young Scott in particular throughout this series, as well as young Jean.

The art in this series is once again perfect for this book. David Marquez is doing a fine job on this series, and I will even go as far as saying that I think this issue may his best work yet on the title.
As mentioned at the start of this review, many people did not think that this title had the legs; now the potential for some major character development seems pretty much limitless. I really can't wait for the next issue of this to hit the shelves; it may be my favourite Marvel NOW title. February seems so far away.

Rating: 9 / 10

Ultimate Spider-Man #19 Review

This is my second Brian Michael Bendis book this week, which means that this has been a good week for comic book fans. In the Ultimate universe, the major "United We Stand" crossover event is finally over, so BMB can carry on where he left off with Mile Morales et al. I didn't hate the crossover event, but this is the only Ultimate range book I buy so I felt like it was stopping this series from being what I wanted it to continue being; which has been one hell of a ride.

The first third of this issue focuses on Miles, as he is back to his everyday life as a teenager. These are always my favorite parts of the series, as Miles is such a great character to read about. I am probably about 8 or 9 years older than him, but I love seeing what he gets up to while he is not being Spider Man. He is just a very likeable character.
Saying that, we saw a great scene where Miles was trying to use his web shooters so he could fly through the city. I have missed these comedic moments, and you can tell  that Bendis just loves writing them. I keep forgetting that Miles has not been under the mask too long, so when a scene like this pops up it really helps to put everything into perspective progress wise. He still has a long way to go, but he is doing just fine so far.

There was a big character moment in this issue that came kind of out of the blue for me. I did not read the last issues of Peter Parker as Spider Man in this series so I was not sure how JJJ felt about him. Needless to say, the explanation he gave in this issue for not printing a news story regarding the identity of the new Spider Man was very touching indeed. I also thought the art in this scene was the best in the issue; especially some of the facial expressions. You could tell from Maria Hill's face that she could feel the pain and anguish coming off JJJ.
Another great character moment was Miles' dad, and his reaction to be deemed a superhero by the press. His story seems to be getting deeper and deeper, and it is something I am really enjoying. Bendis is fantastic at adding depth to characters that you thought you had no interest in and making you care, so I am more than happy to go along for the ride on this one.

Of course this issue saw the grand return of Venom to USM. This issue was mainly teaser until the last panel, so it looks like we will be seeing a lot of more him next issue; which is just fine by me.  BMB knows what he is doing, and so does Sara Pichelli on art duties. These two are becoming a lethal combination, which makes me have no doubt at all that this Venom story is going to be something rather special. Bring on issue #20.


Rating: 9 / 10


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Daredevil End Of Days #4 Review

After finishing this issue not too long ago I can safely say that this series is tremendous. I have loved the series so far, and even claimed way back when #2 came out that it had the potential to be a classic series. Now we have just reached the halfway point of this mini series, and it is clear that this is a beautiful comic book; written and drawn in a styles that compliment each other so well. It is very close to perfection.

In this issue we find out what happened to Bullseye. It was never a surprise to me when it was revealed what happened to him, but it was a surprise at how exactly it had happened. The circumstances, and flashback reconstruction of the events found later in the issue, were a major shock that came out of left field.
This series is great at making you think that you know where it is going and how it is shaping;and then suddenly they take the rug from under your feet. In fact, it is what this series does best. We are investigating along with Ben Urich, and we are getting as surprised at every turn as he is. I have said that in an earlier issue review, but now we are halfway through it is clear that this is sticking. It makes us feel frustrated and lost, but it is all part of the reading experience.

We were treated to a shock appearance of my favorite 2nd string Marvel character towards the end of this issue. I really did not see it coming, so I was very pleasantly surprised. I may have not seen it coming, but it all makes sense for him to be involved somehow. Bendis really knows what he is doing; when does he not.

Once again, and as always, the art was stupendous throughout this issue. What a horrendous Marvel New York this is to live in; it is beautifully ugly. This series would not be the same without this dark, washed out surroundings. I am enjoying the art so much, I am really intrigued as to whether it would make the Daredevil ongoing any better. It is really that good.

This series has four issues remaining and I recommend that you pick up all the other issues and jump on board. You could just wait for the trade, but I think is going to be looked back on as something really special. I can already see myself reading through all this again the week before the final issue comes out, it is that damn good.

Rating: 9.5 / 10

As I mentioned on my Twitter account, I am giving away the FREE digital code for this issue. It is first come first served, so whoever redeems it first gets it. It is out of my control. I just thought it would be a great way for someone to get into this series, or carry on from where it has been left. So, here it is: TMM7M1C7A990

Daredevil End of Days #3 Review

This series has been a huge hit so far. What you get with this book is a fantastically written story, some great art, and an amazing depiction of Hell's Kitchen. I have loved this series so far so was very eager to get into this issue, and once again I was not disappointed. I claimed after the first issue that this may turn out to be a classic, now three issues in, I am even more convinced of that.

In this installment we see Ben Urich visiting more of Matt Murdock's former acquaintances. However, we still get little answers to the questions that he is asking them. Nobody seems to know anything, or nobody wants to say anything.
You would think a book that has done pretty much the same thing for three issues would be pretty poor, but you would be wrong. You really feel invested in the mystery, and you feel planted in Ben's shoes as he is questioning individuals about the murder. It is a great feeling; the needing to know what has happened to Matt. The ending of this issue made me even more eager to pick up issue #4; as if I wasn't excited enough already.

The art has been great throughout all three issues, however I think in this issue it may be the best we have seen so far. Hell's Kitchen looks amazing. It looks like the most depressing place on earth; but you really cant help but love it. It is this grimy view of the place which is by far my preferred image of it. A horrible place to grow up and live full of poverty. The setting really helps to make this series what it is.

I highly recommend checking this series out. You don't even have to be a fan of Daredevil; the writing is so good. There are five issues left in this series, and I can almost guarantee that each of them will be getting similar ratings as the three I have no reviewed. This really is great stuff.


Rating: 9 / 10

Daredevil End of Days #1 Review

I have never read any of Brian Michael Bendis' and Davis Macks' work on Daredevil before so wasn't too sure what to expect from this even though I have heard great things about their past work with the character. This book alone, which is issue #1 in an 8 issue limited series, has single handedly made me want to pick up trades of their older stuff.

The cover of this book says it all. Daredevil is dead. He got killed by Bullseye in what looks to have been an epic street fight from what the first few pages of the book show. So we know how he got killed, but we do not know why. Finding this out has fallen on Ben Urich's shoulders. The disillusioned reporter is originally assigned to write the story on Daredevil's death, however he discovers that there are a lot more questions that need to be answered concerning Matt Murdock and the Man Without Fear in the run up to his untimely death.

This is fantastically written, which is to be expected considering the writers involved. One of the personal high points for me has to be the retelling of DD's back story through an article Urich is compiling. It makes the book completely new reader friendly, meaning it can double as a jumping on point for readers who want to get into the ongoing daredevil title. The internal dialogue going through in Ulrich's head is also tremendous. Especially when he is auto correcting himself when typing up the article. Ulrich himself is also fantastically written. A man who has fallen out of love with the industry he works in, failing to see a point in carrying on doing what he is good at. The art is gritty. Hell's Kitchen looks just as it should, dirty and grimy. The tone for the book is perfect. However, I read this elsewhere but I cant help but agree, I got half way through the book before realising that it was Bullseye who murdered Matt Murdock. In all fairness I think the real detail in that scene was given to Daredevil's injuries, as well as the fight that was giving him those injuries. Nevertheless, I hope there arnt many more gripes like this in the rest of the issues.

I have tried not to give too many spoilers away in this review. Obviously we know that Matt has died, however the events before that are best read without spoilers to get maximum enjoyment out of this fantastic first issue. Pick this book up, it has potential to be a very special limited series.

Rating: 9/10