Thursday Morning Superhero

After a two-week hiatus it is good to be back in the driver's seat for another edition of Thursday Morning Superhero. The end of the year is rapidly approaching and I am reminded that it is nearing the time to reflect on the state of comics in 2018.

Pick of the Week:
Daredevil #612 - Charles Soule wrapped up an amazing run as he wrapped up "The Death of Daredevil" and set the stage for Chip Zdarsky to take over the reigns. While Soule may not have been able to tie up all of the loose ends he created, he brought Daredevil back into Hell's Kitchen and allowed him to return to his roots. Drawing strong parallels to the current situation in the White House, Daredevil's final fight is leveraging the system to remove Kingpin from power following an illegitimate election. In one of the final scenes in the courtroom Soule brought out Marvel's star power with cameos from Captain America, Spider-Man, and She-Hulk to name a few.  While the ending will give you pause and cause you to re-read some of the final panels again, Soule did a great job setting the stage for a new creator to take over on the Man without Fear. I thoroughly enjoyed Soule's run and would rank it up near Mark Waid's run which remains my favorite.

The Rest:
Stranger Things #3 - This mini series is nearing its conclusion and it has been an interesting peek at Will's time in the Upside Down. If you ever wondered how Will communicated to his mom and maintained hope he could survive then this series is well worth your time. In a particularly devastating scene, Will returns to try and talk to his mom only to find his dad boarding up his only window into reality. He is pleading with his dad, but he doesn't hear him leaving Will feeling hopeless. I can't see this book appealing to non-Stranger Things fans, but if you enjoyed the Netflix series I highly recommend giving this one a whirl. If it is successful maybe they will consider a spin-off set during the time of season two. My only wish is that it featured more flashbacks of Will and the boys prior to his abduction.

Darth Vader #24 - I will admit that the current arc of Vader has me scratching my head and being highly entertained at the same time. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and feel it might be the best Star Wars comic in the Marvel arsenal. It gave us the Dr. Aphra spin-off and has finally provided insight into Vader's rise to power. As Dean noted in our Holiday Gift Guide, this book accomplishes what the prequels never did and is must read material for Star Wars fans. Having said that, this current arc and Vader's return to Mustafar features a horde of insects and a Sith Master's spirit rising from the dead to teach Vader about his misunderstanding of what the dark side truly is. The highlight in this issue was watching Vader command his army of Storm Troopers in battle. Watching how he inspires them with his actions on the battlefield highlight how he may indeed be the chosen one. This issue fell a bit flat, but I am looking forward to the conclusion and am still enjoying this series.



POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

Pull list was longer than usual so we are diving right into the books this week!

Pick of the Week:
Royal City #14 - While I am sad to see one of my favorite current books come to an end, I am happy that I was able to experience the life of Royal City and highly recommend this series to everyone. Learning about how everyone in this messed up family is coming to peace with the changes in their small town, a death in the family, and the other issues they are dealing with really gives me hope. Hope that people are able to roll with the bad times and persist. The quote that sums this series up for me is from Pat's inner monologue. "That's the thing about the past. It's gone. Just because it forms us, it doesn't mean you have to let it define you forever." Wise words that have a profound meaning given the turbulent times in which we all exist.

The Rest:
Cold Spots #1 - A spooky tale from Cullen Bunn and Mark Torres debuted this week and it leaves me with more questions than answers. There are some sort of presence in the form of ghosts that seem to be gathering in a central location. This has drawn the attention of the town folk and has brought with it unseasonable cold weather. Add in a missing woman and child and we have a very intriguing mystery forming. This book had me at Bunn and horror, but Torres does a phenomenal job with the overall atmosphere and tone for this story. One to keep an eye one.



Daredevil #607 - For the first time since he took the helm I am a bit concerned with where Charles Soule is taking this series. After surprising us with Matt Murdock meeting his twin brother Mike, we learn that Mike was accidentally created by Reader after going over case files Matt sent over to help bring down the Kingpin. While I appreciate the issues that may arise having a Matt Murdock twin interfering with things, I am not quite sold on the idea. It is novel and I will check out the next issue to see what grand plans Soule has for this development.

Darth Vader #20 - After not being sure about the direction Soule is going with Daredevil, it is crystal clear which way he is headed with Darth Vader. I sounds like a broken record talking about this series, but the sheer power and force of Vader in the comics is something to behold. Vader takes swift revenge on a pair of inquisitors he has concerns with and then openly defies the Emperor in order to make a very interesting demand. I won't spoil what Vader wants, but it is clear he wants some space to himself after his slaughter of the Jedi.




Doctor Aphra #23 - To set the scene where this book is headed, Aphra is currently trapped in a floating jail that is dealing with a toxic spore issue and is on a crash course with a neighboring inhabited planet. She and other prisoners have been abandoned and she is currently hatching an escape plan.  I will admit that this arc left a bit to be desired, but it is setting up an epic clash involving Aphra's knowledge that Vader wants to supplant the Emperor. It seems an encoded message has reached Vader and it will be interesting to see how it pans out and the impact it has on the Empire.  After all, public knowledge of such a plot would provide a lot of fuel for the Rebellion.

Redneck #14 - We are finally seeing the bigger universe in which the Texan vampires in Donny Cates' series exist and I am very curious to see what this next arc will bring. We are introduced to the Parliament of Elders who apparently own all of Austin. The Bowman family has houses on the land, but that land is property of this powerful group. These individuals have grand plans for Texas and I have a feeling that this series is going to take a very interesting turn.





Hit-Girl #7 - In part 3 of this mini-series from Jeff Lemire, Hit-Girl remains in Canada and is currently trying to escape from Billy Baker and his gang of thugs. It has been an odd journey with Lemire penning such a violent series, but his subtle touches that hearken back to his ability to connect characters with meaningful relationships add an interesting element as people get their heads lopped off. I will finish this mini-series, but will probably take a break from the upcoming Kevin Smith arc in which Hit-Girl is in Hollywood surrounding the making of an upcoming Hit-Girl movie.




POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

It was rough watching Gen Con from afar, but from what I gathered on social media there were a lot of amazing games to be had, big announcements, and some sweet exclusive promos. I am hoping to write up another Gen Con from afar post and will attempt to return next year. At least I still have my comics!

Pick of the Week:

The Sandman Universe #1 - This week we are welcomed back into the world of The Dreaming with a debut issue brought to us from Neil Gaiman, not written by Gaiman. I was introduced to this series after picking up the first trade paperback many years ago prior to my first trip to SDCC. In the current world, Morpheus is dead and his successor, Matthew, is missing. This does not bode well as there are changes in The Dreaming that need to be addressed. A raven is able to escape The Dreaming and learns that Matthew embarked on a quest of his own and may not be able to respond to the call for help. I love the way this series juxtaposes real life horror with the main arc in The Dreaming. It provides a human element that makes this series all the more horrifying. While it would have been great to have Gaiman penning this series, his impact is felt and the first issue reminds me why this series drew me in so many years ago.

The Rest:

Darth Vader #19 - The start to a new arc called Fortress Vader is off to a shocking and satisfying start. Vader and his Inquisitors are attempting to wipe out the Jedi. This book opens with an attack on an old Jedi and his family. This Jedi has left the order and his wife literally just gave birth to a baby boy. Enter Vader and the Inquisitors and we have the most amazing child abduction that I have ever seen in a comic, television show, or movie.  I won't spoil it, but it was chilling and horrifying and sets the scene for what is likely an extremely dark chapter in the Vader playbook. I have chills just thinking about it. 

Daredevil #606 - To bring everyone up to speed, Matt Murdock just left his job as deputy Mayor in order to prove that Fisk rigged the election to become the current Mayor of New York City. He is enlisting the help of other heroes, but it is no easy task to prove a case of corruption of this magnitude. It is an oddly familiar tale. Meanwhile he still has a city to protect and has to deal with a bad guy of the week. This week it was the classic Hammerhead in a relatively generic bank heist/social media stunt. The twist at the end of the issue has me scratching my head and I'm curious where Charles Soule is taking us with this reveal. I won't spoil it, but I don't trust it.

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

An odd thing happened over the weekend at New York Comic Con. Marvel announced that there was a planned partnership with the defense contractor Northrop Grumman. There was a promotional comic book image featuring the Avengers and the Northrop Grumman Elite Nexus (N.G.E.N.) that had to be yanked due to public outrage over the agreement. Fans even brought up Tony Stark and how he got out of the weapons business after he saw its impact first hand. Marvel heard the outcry, cancelled the partnership and the event announcing it, and this is likely the last we will hear of it.

Pick of the Week:
Babyteeth #5 - Sadie, in addition to dealing with the possibility that her newborn is the Antichrist and that there is an assassin currently trying to kill him, now learns that her sister is working with a warlock who is part of a secret organization known as "The Way". The life of a young mother is never easy, but Sadie has it particularly rough. What I love about this book is the way that author Donny Cates walks the fine line of keeping this book light and touching, while interweaving the bigger picture of the competing factions we are introduced to in this issue. Sadie is not only confronting the difficulties of being a young mother and family drama, she now has to worry about "The Silhouette", a group who believes that her child will bring about the end of days, and whether or not she should trust Dancy Cherrywood, the warlock who just saved her life. Loving the direction this series is heading and really enjoying the multiple titles from Cates I am currently reading. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

The Rest:
Royal City #6 - Jeff Lemire gives us a glimpse into the past as he takes us to 1993 as we learn more about the family dynamics, Tommy's life before his death, and some of the day to day activities that the family engaged in. On the surface this feels like a very simple issue, but it was nostalgic and was an issue that made me reflect on my life as a teenager in that same time period. I am still not sure on where this series is heading, but it evokes feelings of Sweet Tooth and I am really enjoying every single panel. I think that this flashback will cause a lot of readers to revisit the first five issues to see what connections they are able to draw.  At least that is what I plan on doing.



Daredevil #27 - This is by and far my favorite current Marvel series. Charles Soule has done a phenomenal job with Daredevil and the current arc is a must-read. In this issue we learn how Blindspot came to China and the price his family paid to get him his sight back. Trapped in a pit, Daredevil is forced to listen to the horrifying truth, listen to the screams of Tenfingers who is thought to be dead, and forced to confront a demon if he wants to save his former partner. This is a dark and gritty arc and Ron Garney, Matt Milla, and VC's Clayton Cowles are absolutely crushing the art in this series.

Doctor Aphra #13 - The arc that featured the soul of an awakened Jedi trapped in a droids body came to its conclusion in this issue and left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. I have really enjoyed this spin-off and think Aphra is a terribly interesting character who walks the fine line of good versus evil quite well. I think what frustrated me a bit with the conclusion of this series is the lack of a payoff from Vader. He showed up, defeated Rur, and simply returned to the Emperor with no repercussions for Aphra. Given their past relationship, I expected more than Vader allowing her to escape and take a leave of absence. I am hopeful that this will be rectified in the next issue, but this oddly felt like a series finale even though it is slated as an ongoing book.



POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

This week's pull-list only featured two books that were both must-reads.  In this slow week I didn't feel it was appropriate to name one as the pick of the week and felt a simple review of two titles that you absolutely should be reading would be a better approach.  In no particular order I present this week's books that are complete polar opposites of one another.


Picks of the Week:

Curse Words #2 - The first issue of this series hit me like a van from the 80's with a radical wizard airbrushed on the side.  If that isn't enough to get you on board, the email in which to send letters has a .horse domain.  That is correct.  Dot freakin' horse.  In the first issue Wizord, a fierce wizard sent to earth from the Hole World, realizes that he cannot destroy the world in which his powers make him virtually a god.  This upsets Sizzajee, the leader of the Hole World who sent Wizord to destroy all humans.  We last left off wondering what became of the baseball stadium and the fans within after witnessing Wizord murder Cornwall (another wizard sent to kill Wizord).  In this issue we learn the fate of the stadium and its residents, and learn more about Wizord, Sizzajee, and this acid trip of a world that Charles Soule and Ryan Brone have created.  The first two issues have been a complete sensory overload and this is rapidly becoming my favorite book.  I might even have to send an email to a .horse domain for only the third time in my life.

Valiant High #1 - If you haven't been reading some of the stellar books that Valiant has been publishing then you are missing out.  I am a big fan of Bloodshot and Faith has been a massive hit.  When I heard that there was a mini-series consisting of the Valiant heroes as high school students, I was intrigued.  Under the leadership of Principal Harada and gym coach Bloodshot (my favorite), Livewire, Faith, and other high school heroes will have to navigate the issues that all teenagers deal with.  In this mash-up of Archie, She's All That and Sky High, writer Daniel Kibblesmith infuses this series with smart humor, high school antics, and a lot of Bloodshot yelling.  This book serves as a fun way to learn about the Valiant Universe and promises to be a lot of fun.


POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.