And round the corner from that very spot, where last Sunday I watched Horror a la Carte, I also bought three issues of Wolverine and the X-Men, the first of the gold medal comics I'm reviewing today.
As the seemingly- interminable AVX finally ended, the chilling new iteration of Marvel's Hellfire Club rolled into town. The issue above was devoted to the origin of their psychotic ringleader Kade Kilgore.The pre-pubescent killers then made adorable parasitic insect- student Broo their first victim.
There was also a zany comedy issue starring incomprehensible gherkin-creature Doop and drawn by pop surrealist Mike Allred. I didn't find it all that funny although its saving grace was a cameo by Howard the Duck. Nevertheless, I wish this blend of twisted humour and horror were the one and only X-book with the classic mutant cast we know and love: Storm, Kitty, Beast, etc.
Holy Homage, Batman!
Batman Inc: another violent and gory book, this one depicts the terrifying rise of Talia's organisation, Leviathan; the resurrection of Bats' 70s lowlife i.d. Matches Malone; and more of the former Club of Heroes, (including Steed and Mrs. Peel and Dangermouse gags for Knight and Squire ). Very stylish artwork by Frazer Irving and Chris Burnham.
Action Comics: Grant Morrison's work on the other great DC icon also reworks Silver Age imagery in a Hallow'een story that turns out, touchingly, to be about the devoted Krypto. Phantom Zone villain Xa-Du is revised as a ghastly mummy and there is a clever reference to the Hound of the Baskervilles.
The Zero issue features the heart-warming story of the Boy Who Stole Superman's Cape and gives a glimpse of Mystic Mr.Triple X.
Sholly Fisch's well-written back-ups put meat on the bones of Morrison's tumult of ideas: the history of Captain Comet, Zackro and of Drekken, the evolving villain from the Anti-Superman Army.
The First X-Men: Christos Gage and Neal Adams tell the secret history of the X-Men with a cinematic scope. I unabashedly love the kinetic, widescreen art especially the magisterial, vampiric Magneto and the repulsive mutant Virus. There are cameos from obscure 60s X-Men cast Bolivar Trask and Fred Duncan and you just know the relationship between Holo and Sabretooth will end in tragedy.
Avengers Assemble: Brian Bendis and Mark Bagley (perfecting his Alan Davis impression) herald the debut of the Guardians of the Galaxy with an homage to the Infinity Gauntlet. It's very exciting to see Bendis, better known for his urban noir and techno-thrillers evoke Starlin and Englehart with the Elders of the Universe and the Badoon. Marvel's movie superstars, Hawkeye and Black Widow, seemed a bit out of place however.
Avengers: Simonson's run on the title ended; issue 29 felt a bit of a cheat since it retold the events of Wolvie/X-Men 12. Squabbling lovers Spider-Woman and Hawkeye seem to have the lion's share of the spotlight but that does ensure more of messianic terrorist, Madame Hydra. Wonder Man is looking for reconciliation- don't trust him!- but the best news was the Wasp was finally back! And she only has Baron Karza ...sorry, Lord Gouzar after her! It's the Original Lee/Kirby Avengers versus the Micronauts!
Earlier in the week, coincidentally, I bought my nephew- and his dad- an issue of Earth's Mightiest Heroes starring the Wasp and featuring the Microns (as they're known now, apparently).
Who's the Avenger in the Red? Get some specs, Murdock
New Avengers: the AVX issues featured a movie-style sequence of the Invaders vs. the Red Skull by Mike Deodato. Luke Cage quit the team but Daredevil- who, frankly, has done about as much Avenging as Storm- finally went into action. Meanwhile, Bendis' final arc on his brainchild began with a brutal attack on the Son of Satan as Dr.Voodoo's brother takes his revenge in a spooky story of possession.
Although I used to complain about Bendis' snarky, one-note character voice, I've come to really enjoy his version of the Avengers over the last few years. I may follow him to Xavier's First Class of X-Men but I rather wish he were scripting Justice League. I think I may be dropping the Avengers titles and Earth-2 shortly but the new Justice League of America will replace them.
Coming soon: Bond and Beyond
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Try as I might, I just can't generate any enthusiasm for most of the current crop of comics. Give me a back issue 'though, and I'm in heaven.
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