Goblin's books ...

Captain America #38

Did you buy this book yesterday? Well, why not? Sgt. Sausagepants and I have been beating you over the head with how good this book is. We can only tell you to buy so many times. If you won't, then ... then I think we need some help. I don't know, maybe some counseling? We need something. I don't want to lose us, but I don't feel like you're listening to me. No, it's not just your fault. (Well, okay, maybe it is.) Oh, alright. I'll forgive you. Just make sure you buy Captain America #38 next month.

In this issue we find out who Sharon really found down in the basement. Bucky and Falcon come one step closer to finding out what the Skull is up to. The Skull's shill is rising in the polls with his Third Wing political party. And Arnim Zola is still looking creepy as hell with that camera-headed robot. This issue deals a lot with older continuity from the 70s, but Brubaker really lays it all out so even if you have absolutely no idea about the books he's referencing, you never miss a beat in the story. This is prime example of how to use continuity but not be a slave to it.

BUY IT
(Duh.)

The Incredible Hercules #117

What's that? You hear an echo? Could that be because I've also been telling you to get this book for months now too? Seriously, folks. Captain America and Incredible Hercules are two of Marvel's best books right now. I know that seems downright impossible, but it's true.

#117 sees the start of a new arc (perfect for jumping on!) and a tie0in to Secret Invasion. The arc is called "Sacred Invasion" and, quite frankly, I am in love with that title. The title and I have plans to move to California to get married before the Supreme Court appeal is lifted. We're registered at Best Buy. But I digress. Sacred Invasion brings Herc and Amadeus Cho to a meeting of Earth's gods as assembled by Athena. Through a very clever ruse 0 she is the god of wisdom, after all - Athena sets up what Cho calls The God Squad. A group of deities from the assembled pantheons set out to kill the two Skrull gods.Without their gods, the Skrulls will be leaderless and without direction.

Why do the gods care about Secret Invasion, you ask? Good question. If the Skrulls invade Earth and win, who will be left to believe in the gods? Whether this goes to the extent Earth X did in saying that the very existence of the gods depends on mortals' beliefs is unclear, but regardless they'd have no one to honor them or do their bidding. They can't have that.

Oh, and there may also be a kickass Skrull reveal on the last page. Want to know who it is? Plunk down your three dollars and read, my friends. You'll be glad you did.

BUY IT

X-Factor #31

"The Middle East Side Is Burning" is almost a stand-alone issue. While it deals with the direct aftermath of the last storyline with Arcade (who has one of the best escape scenes in recent memory), the story's focus is much more on the people of Mutanttown the Middle East Side. As Arcade's net is not being lifted, his bombs are starting to go off all over town. People are literally burning alive in front of the FDNY as they try to shoot water into the net, but it burns off before it reaches the people. A group of ex-mutants are deluded beyond belief. survivor of the concentration camps compare then and now. However, as sad as all of them are, the most heart wrenching story comes from an absolutely terrible stand-up comic in need of rescue.

Once more, Peter David has taken a line-wide story and really worked wonders with it. Aside from his being just about the only book to deal with M-Day at all, he also crafts some amazing stories from it. The people in this book really come alive as they talk about and come to realize that they don't have their powers anymore. We really see what it means to them now that they can't do hat they've taken for granted for so long. At times it's downright gutwrenching (again, the comedian).

Rictor is able to break the net over the city, as was not exactly a terrible shock, but it's wonderful that it's Rictor that does it. He's obviously been a little depressed since losing his power, so here's hoping he'll realize that he saved the day this time. This may be an off the radar book for those who haven't been reading the book, but the next issue should be a Secret Invasion tie-in and crossover with She-Hulk (also written by David).

If you're at all interested in the X-Men but are afraid to jump in to the beast of Uncanny, try out X-Factor. If you've lost touch over the years and want a gentle immersion back into the line, here's your book. It's close enough to the main books to matter, but far enough away where you don't need to read 13 books to stay connected.

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Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. # 29

As the Knaufs take a break from writing (presumably because their Eternals book launches in June). Stuart Moore takes over. The highest compliment I can give him is that if I hadn't read the credits I wouldn't have known that the Knaufs were not writing this book. The style is a little different, yes, but it's still very much in their vein of action-espionage.

As Tony and his Iron Men squad track down nuclear weapons in the Eastern Bloc, a weapons designer from S.H.I.E.L.D. has a bit of a mad-on for Director Stark. Seems that the man who invented the flying cars and nanolasers is obsolete now that the man who invented Iron Man is working for the Directorate. It's a great idea, one that I never would have thought of when Stark took control of S.H.I.E.L.D. His nanotech goes a bit haywire (as evil technology always does) and we see what will be the villain for this arc. There is another sub-plot with the terrorist who planted the bomb and just how much of a hand Tony had in driving this man over the edge.

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X-Men: Divided We Stand #2 (of 2)

This two issue limited series is really just a series of snippets showing how various X-Men are reacting to the end of Messiah Complex and what they're up to now that the team has disbanded. Let me tell you up front that none of these are essential. In fact, one of these stories reads more like an advertisement for an upcoming storyline. Let's look at each tale separately.

Beast spends his story rummaging through the remnants of the destroyed mansion. Between burning the files on th students, cleaning up Sentinel pieces, going through his old room and packing up that odd living brain from Morrisson's run, his story is mainly told though his thoughts. He's closing a chapter in his life,but even he admits to knowing the X-Men are going to return. There re some nice moments, but it's not the end as we all know. And why is he burning the files? Shouldn't he save some of them? Place them in safe storage somewhere?

Illyana Rasputin's tale is more of a commercial for whatever storyline she'll be popping up in. I won't waste a lot of time here, but she's in search of her soul again. As the demonified Magik, she tries to find her soul through love (by reuniting with Piotr and Kitty), only to find the mansion destroyed. Now she's going to find her soul through suffering. Uh-huh, I don't care. Magik was a great character in the 80s, but she died a good death and should stay that way. She's more powerful as a dead sibling to Colussus than she is as Magik.

Havok's saga is by far the best. He is trapped in solitary confinement after losing to his brother, Vulcan. He is utterly broken and alone as he is harassed by the screams from his teammate's torture. He blames himself, both as leader of the Starjammers and as Lorna's lover. As Vulcan begins telling Alex about what he's been missing on Earth, namely Messiah Complex, he misconstrues the effect it will have on his brother. Knowing that a mutant child was born gives Alex a new found strength. Finding out that Xavier died knocks him over the edge and he starts laughing at Vulcan, rising to his feet. With some amazing art (painted, but very dark and gritty that matches both the tone and location perfectly), Alex's powers jump back to life as he is renewed. The story ends with his powers coming back, so I'm assuming we will be catching up Havok and Vulcan again soon. I'm looking forward to it.

Forge's chapter fills in the gap between the end of Messiah Complex and Cable #1. We see how Bishop got his metal arm and how he was able to follow Nathan to the future. Forge also comes up with some idea to safeguard his Aerie. It's not a bad tale, but it isn't one that was screaming to be told. A mall aside in Cable's book explaining how Bishop got there was all that was needed, really. Regardless, I'm a fan of Forge so it's fine. Ineffectual, really, but no harm done.

Finally, we come to Surge and Moonstar. If you've seen any sort of "Youth in Trouble" movie or book, you can move on along. Surge bursts into Dani Moonstar's Colorado cabin and tells Dani that pain always follows her. Dani says it's natural, tells Surge she has to fight through it, then explains that there is a lot in the world worth fighting for. Yes, w get it. Surge shouldn't kill herself or do drugs. Pointless story.

All in all, the only story worth reading is Havok's. It's a great presentation of art and words and gets me excited to see the Starjammers again (which I wasn't all that excited for before now). That said, that one chapter isn't worth the $3.99 price tag. The X-office had an opportunity here to really bridge the gap between Messiah Complex and Uncanny #500, but aside from one or two stories between the issues, it's basically a waste of time and an overly produced ad for the next stage of the line.

SKIP IT

Jonostarsmore's books ...

Mighty Avengers #14

After a surprisingly well done job on the first two Mighty Avengers Secret Invasion tie-ins, you'd expect this issue to meet or exceed expectations, right? Nope. This issue brings us the horribly extended back story of a pivotal moment in Secret Invasion #2 (Vision/Void taking out the Sentry). Not only is it extraneous, but this issue is a convoluted mess that ultimately serves the purpose of explaining why Marvel's Superman won't be fighting in the big war (hint: He's mentally unstable--big whoop). The surprise ending is a bit intriguing, but it doesn't save this issue from being a...

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Avengers: The Initiative #13

Wow...not a Secret Invasion tie-in at all...nor is it a continuation of the storylines of the graduating recruits from last issue. So what is it? It's basically a soft reboot of the series as it gets a fresh load of recruits to train under Taskmaster (one of the few remaining main characters). It reads like a first issue, which is disappointing to fans of character development and story progression. The new cast is remarkably less charming than the first and the book falls back on its staple of clichés (the young cast gets caught up in a big superhero fight by accident....yawn). Now, there is an ending scene that is actually a bit touching, but other than that, there's not much to hold a reader's interest. I do have to say, though, that I really liked Steve Uy's art...just not enough to warrant a purchase of the next book in the series if the story continues to falter. There is hope, though; the next issue is the first tying in to Secret Invasion.

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Fantastic Four #557

"We couldn't let you face him alone, Reed. This is an extinction-level event and botht he pro- and anti- registration people are completely at your service here" - Sue Storm

Umm...what? I hate, nay, loathe what Mark Millar has been doing on this title with CAP. He thinks he could get away with creating a character with little background and building him up to be an "extinction-level" threat over the course of a couple of issues and that, my friends, just doesn't fly with me. Not only does it lack any sort of credibility, but lines like the one above uttered by Sue are like a slap in the face to readers of Civil War and the current Secret Invasion. On top of that, the big epic battle ends with a single scene as Reed Richards (in an, *ahem*, anti-Galactus suit) punches CAP into oblivion...and that's it for that character.

OK enough of that horrible diversion of a plot line. Millar actually shines in the last half of the book when he brings the scale down a notch and focuses on characters. Specifically, Reed and Sue's anniversary dinner was an elegant and well-written scene that had me swooning just a bit. If Millar focuses more on this and less on mega-events, he can have a real gem on his hands.

Read It (well, just the latter half)

Sgt. Sausagepants' books ...

Justice League #21

This month Justice League ties into the upcoming Final Crisis event, with revelations on Libra and showing the perspective of a lower-level villain being confronted with one of the occasional 'villain team-up' propositions. The dialog is fantastic and makes the villains seem much less like caricatures, even Luthor and Grodd. Bonus points, Firestorm makes a nearly fourth-wall breaking quip about the silliness of someone being called "The Human Flame".

Read It

Justice Society #15

The Justice Society confronts Gog in an attempt to stop Kingdom Come from ever happening, and we get an even more stunning reveal that raises questions on the source of Gogs power. Personal highlight, Obsidian (who you will recall was once our LGBT character of the week) displays some interesting uses of his powers.

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Dreamwar #2

Not sure what exactly is going on in this book, but I have a feeling the word 'Dream' in the title is no coincidence. The DC heroes are not acting like themselves at all, and people are dying that can't be dead. Some sort of bizarre alternate reality fight is going on here, but it's still fun to watch, from a fanboy perspective.

Read It

X-Factor #31 (second take)

X-Factor fights to stop Arcade's attempted destruction of Mutant Town (or the former mutant town, anyway). I don't want to spoil it here, but the scene with the firefighters is going to haunt me for a while. It's a dialog-free moment that hits harder than any words could hope to. Once again, X-factor shows that they can turn the side stories of a crossover into far more compelling reading than the main storyline.

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Superman Batman #48

Ah, Amanda Waller. Is there any better government villain in the DC Universe? I think not. Batman is held prisoner while Superman fights a Kryptonite-enhanced clone of Doomsday, sacrificing to stall the beast until Batman can find a solution. The two heroes prevail but a larger fight is revealed.

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Oraclechele's books ...

Catwoman #79

Catwoman is back in Gotham but considering the recent announcement that the book has been canceled it would seem the homecoming won't last. Helping out Slam and reminding the reader where the little bundle of joy disappeared too dominate the story. Once again we have ourselves a bridge issue. Setting up the bad guys to think she is dead, Catwoman ends the issue hot on the hunt for "The Thief" and with a final line of dialogue that can only be considered a twisted bit of irony. The cover by Adam Hughes rocks but so far Catwoman is going out with a whimper and not a bang.

Skip it!

Robin #174

Oh the Spoiler spoiler... I won't go into the details in a review but will only say that considering how little I try to read up on DC news of this nature I was surprised on some level. On other levels it was hardly shocking at all. My hope is that there is more of a twist here than meets the eye but I suppose we will have to see. The fighting with the North Korean mafia types and the arguing between Robin and Violet seem simply filler when what the reader really wants to know is who is Spoiler.

Read it!

Birds of Prey #118

After a decent set-up for the post-Gail Simone run of BOP DC goes and ties the series into some sort of Final Crisis plot. Despite finding Black Alice an interesting character the fact is she isn't a Bird, which makes it hard to care. What I care about even less though is Misfit. The readers get it. The Birds have adopted a troublesome teen that keeps getting into mischief. As far as the big twist goes, I have seen that on about a half dozen daytime soaps. Snore.

Please just get the ball rolling with this title. The Birds deserve better than this because otherwise the book will head towards the same fate as the TV adaptation did - cancellation.

Skip It!

Echo #3

Julie's not only going through a bitter divorce but her sister is working through such grief she lives in a psychiatric facility. Oh, and did I mention the fall out from the explosion she witnessed in issue #1 has made Julie a walking atom bomb? Yikes. And she's not the only one! A higher concept story then writer Terry Moore tackled with his last outing, Echo keeps the reader coming back with it's gentle mix of real world relativity wrapped around a superhero core. Can't wait for issue #4.

Buy It!