Okay, so that last one ran long, so now here's the comics
Kill Your Darlings #5 - 8 by Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan
The reason for the witch's assault on Rose and her fantasy world is revealed, their pasts' entwined thanks to an accident committed by Rose's mother. Rose, Elliott, and a fraction of Rosewood's subjects escape before the witch Eleanor transforms them and their land into horrors. Years pass as Rose attempts to master her magic and abilities while she and Elliott kindle a romance. Finally, Rose and Eleanor confront each other in a final battle for control over this fantastical realm and its inhabitants. In victory, Rose spares Eleanor's life, recognizing she too is also a victim of the trauma dealt to her. Despite learning all she could from the witch's tome, Rose is unable to reshape the land back to what it once was. Her attempt, however, opens a doorway back to reality, thus merging the two worlds instead. Though she leaves the world of the fantastical, Rose continues to help others battle the monsters that haunt them.
The conclusion of this great series, one of the best of the year! (note: now that I'm kinda in the community, I've been hearing folks say that indie comics are the best they've ever been, so that makes sense). First off, I know I don't talk about art too much, but I loved it - the pretty art combined with the horror/revenge theme of the story. It also took me a while to notice (and makes me glad I continued to by these in single issues rather than a collected trade paperback), but each issue has a wraparound cover, which you don't always get despite being really cool.
The backstory and connections between Rose's family and Eleanor the witch is revealed and ... that just felt kinda "meh" for me. I was expecting the evil to simply be a monster born from the same world that Rose's fantasy land exists in, but this explanation makes more sense based on the title of the story, and also with the conclusion as well. These last four issues have had great callbacks, including Rosewood's treasure, The Hidden Flame, and even Rose's sword, Francine. I loved the pacing of the story, not dragging on for too long as some stories might, and even providing just a quick single issue for backstory instead of dragging that out too. I enjoyed Rose's journey from just a happy child to abandoned teen to a strong and confident woman in her final battle where she makes the tough choice. The clashing juxtaposition of cute/cuddly fantasy characters with the horror that could have very well been Rose's fantasy world was great and kept me hooked early on in the series, and was given an even deeper meaning once Rose's family history was revealed.
Avengers Twilight #1 - 6 (complete) by Chip Zdarsky
Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, has joined with an underground Defenders movement to free America from its totalitarian government. Joining him are a rescued Tony Stark, a brand-new Hawkeye, a re-summoned Thor, and an out-of-hiding Ms. Marvel. They've discovered the new Avengers protecting America are merely projections, a fabrication created by The Red Skull to bring America under his control. Encased in armor with James Stark (Tony's son) at his side, he's launched an attack on the US government. The Defenders set out to protect the country and stop The Red Skull's plan, confronting the Nazi's ultimate weapon (and the reason for H-Day itself) - a collared and controlled Hulk.
As I mentioned after reading issues #1 - 4, I was really interested in the premise though having the combined villainy of The Red Skull and Ultron be the driving force behind the totalitarian government Captain America is fighting against feels like a kind of a let-down. I was really hoping this series would see Captain America fighting against an America he no longer recognized, making it a discussion about America itself. The ending itself was superb, especially with the death of Bruce Banner/The Hulk, a mercy-killing freeing him finally from his curse. I also felt proud seeing James Stark attempting to rebuild after his error in judgment siding the a masked Red Skull in his attempt to takeover America. Overall, this felt like a good series, kind of reminiscent of DC's The Dark Knight Returns series featuring an older Bruce Wayne once again taking on the mantle of Batman - an older man outside his prime looking to restore order to a world that had left him behind.
Marvel GODS #4 - 8 (complete) by Jonathan Hickman
Continuing along with tale of the supernatural and the Powers above, ie Gods, the following issues involve individual stories, each connected with Wyn's journey. Dimitri, on a quest go find his parents who disappeared into another reality, gets caught-up with another supernatural group before disappearing himself. Aiko, on a quest to right a wrong, deals with several gods of many tiers before getting caught in a trap herself. Wyn, having humiliated one of these gods, losses a piece of his life before bearing witness (a hundred years later) to the end of a war between gods (and the destruction of an entire pantheon). Having witnessed all that he has in service to The Powers That Be, Wyn journeys through time, evaluating his life, only to arrive at his wedding day to witness his own marriage to the love of his life - a love he would eventually give up because of his duties. For being a loyal Avatar, The Powers That Be offer him a choice - to continue serving as he has, or make a change with could have ramifications throughout the Marvel universe.
As confused as I was through the first couple of issues, I think I started to get the hang of it through these last few issues. Perhaps it was because these issues were more of one-shot stories and were a little easier to follow than before, although they did feed into the overarching storyline. As I also mentioned, I'm always a sucker for stories of the supernatural, higher beings, and of course those "names"/"titles". I really loved the issue focusing on Aiko attempting to fix her mistake by making deals with gods only to be screwed over at the end - it was really cool to see her quest amongst higher beings. Also, (hopefully), as a very, very new comic collector, I'm really hoping that there is some sort of continuation with these characters only because we see the first appearance of The Powers That Be in GODS #8, making it sort of a Key Issue as long as the character gets popular enough for other collectors to care. Since I was just talking about is, I've heard some rumors that Wyn's ultimate decision might actually affect the rest of the Marvel Universe, so I'm just going to keep the results in mind as I keep on reading comics.
The Bloody Dozen: A Tale of the Shrouded College #1 - 6 (complete) by Charles Soule
Finishing up this arc of "The Shrouded College" universe, the Hill family has repelled their attackers only to find themselves confronted by the vampires they were sent to retrieve. Despite George Hill's attempt to kill the vampires and return his family to safety, he is betrayed by Glory, his own granddaughter and the newest addition to the vampire clan. The remaining survivors are sent to the dark side of the moon to wait for the time when The Shrouded College calls upon them to act.
The second series from "The Shrouded College" universe, a story about family and addiction, the story ultimately serves to further establish new characters, new rivals, and the reach of The Shrouded College. Other than that, it falls flat on its conclusion as I hoped it might do more to either connect to the first series, "Hell to Pay," or set-up an upcoming third arc. I've definitely seen this type of problem with other "sequels" and "Volume 2" stories that leave too much out of their ending knowing they've got another story on the way. However, since these stories aren't connected in a traditional sense (by main character, usually), I'd hoped for a more defined ending rather than one that simply puts its characters in a "holding area" until needed. That all said, I mean, I still love this idea and I'm still going to pick-up the next story arc, though maybe I should wait for the trade paperback release.
Quick Stops Volume 2, issues #1 - 4 (complete) by Kevin Smith
It's the 35th anniversary of the creation of Mooby, the cartoon cow which has spawned books, a fast-food franchise, and even an entire theme park. For the anniversary, Kayla interviews Mooby's creator, Mrs. Nancy Goldruff about the mysterious origin of Mooby's creation. What follows is a tale of debauchery involving drugs, lust, deceit, greed, and, ultimately, murder - a tale which Mrs. Goldruff has kept secret for 35 years, and still plans to through a ritual Satanic sacrifice. Will the truth be told to the world, or will Mrs. Goldruff keep her dark secret secure for a little longer?
Coming back with another story from his Askewneverse, Kevin Smith presents the creation story of Mooby, the cartoon cow featured as the fast-food mascot of Mooby's in "Clerks 2" and the golden cow in "Dogma." Unlike the first volume of short-stories presented in "Quick Stops Volume 1," "Volume 2" gives a longer, connected story across its four issues. I liked that the entire volume was connected to present a longer story, especially for a "character" that has appeared in multiple movies. I was a little scared that because they are all connected and I didn't want to put such a short run on my pull-list, I might not get the full set and miss out on the story. The last volume was a set of unconnected short stories, so if I missed an issue, I wouldn't be missing part of the story. And, I think only one of the shops I frequent even carried it.
As for the story itself, I was kinda disappointed with it. The story itself was enjoyably shocking through the first two issues, but it started to feel played out after that. If, perhaps, most of the story was contained in the first two, two-and-a-half issues of the story, I think they could've adjusted the last two issues to make it better. Like the last volume, I hoped to see more of the Askewneverse characters make cameo appearances. Because of the Satanic sacrifice at the end, I was really hoping to get maybe an appearance by God or the Metatron, played respectively by Alanis Morissette and Alan Rickman in "Dogma," so that feels like a missed opportunity.
Washed in the Blood #1 - 3 (complete) by Kevin Roditeli and Rob Cannon
Imagine you are called upon to become the messiah of the worst god to ever exist. That's exactly what happens to young Kralex when Cold, the god of guns, calls upon him after the ritual suicide conducted by the rest of the cult leaves him as the sole survivor. With Colt insulting him, urging him to kill, Kralex will take all of the accumulated weapons to look for help. What he finds will eventually drive Colt from his head and leave him in peace.
Note: So, I finished this awhile back and forgot to do a write-up about it, and it was particularly weird and I fell behind in writing (as usual), and I don't feel like going back to getting everything correct. With that said, here we go. As I mentioned, I'm not exactly sure how accurate all of this is (but who really cares as no one is reading this anyway, at the very least not this story). It was a really weird three issues. I liked the art, which definitely added to the story, and I liked the premise when I read it, but as I read the execution of it, well, that's where the story lost me. If I remember correctly, the whole thing starts with a group of gods trying to resurrect themselves into existence (or something like that) by getting people to worship them or their ideas. Colt (as he is later called) is a real asshole, insulting Kralex almost every chance he gets which seems counter to the idea of resurrecting himself through worship. Sorry, it was just so strange. It does mention early on that this is a parody, I think, of gun culture in America, and I'm hoping I understood it but maybe not. This is one that I really should've waited for the trade paperback version instead of buying individual issues as it's easier to off-load.
Ultimate Spider-Man #4 - 6 by Jonathan Hickman
Focusing more on the relationship between Peter Parker and Harry Osborn, the two discuss their current fight against crime, including how they got into the crime-fighting scene. More is revealed about how and why Osborn chose to take-up the Green Goblin mantle. Finally, the two attempt to take on an enhanced Kingpin only to retreat. Plus, Parker does the unimaginable - revealing his secret identity to the rest of his family.
If there's a comic series you should be reading right fucking now, it is this one! Look, Spider-man is such a popular character, everyone should at least be a little familiar with the character, and the new Ultimate Universe is its own universe not connected to the main universe so you don't actually need to know a lot about the Marvel comic in general. It's such a good story. In these issues, we spend a lot more time focusing on Parker and Osborn's relationship as they go on a dinner date with their respective partners, Mary Jane and (holy shit!) Gwen Stacey. Harry reveals how his company was forced into The Kingpin's (and thus, The Maker's) orbit, and how he got his hands on the Stark/Stane Technology he uses. Finally, in (I think), one of the only fights in these three issues, we see the two team-up to take on The Kingpin - and lose. Of course, it couldn't be that easy, and it does help to set-up some new villains to be introduced. But, when was the last time you read a superhero comic and had to wait a couple of issues between battles while still be hooked on to the story? And, of course, seeing Parker no longer keeping his identity secret from his family - it's such a huge shock compared to his other, primary Marvel universe counterpart (is it 616 that's the main one?). The story for this series has been great so far, and Marvel made the smart choice choosing to start its new Ultimate universe with such a popular character with so much potential. And, yes, I'm still buying variant copies which look cool but will never pay-off in the future.
Ultimate Black Panther #1 - 5 by Brian Edward Hill
With The Maker now trapped in his City, his lieutenants are starting to branch out to maintain their hold on the world. In the African region, Ra and Khonshu have moved to secure the region, killing everyone in their path. In Wakanda, T'Challa, his queen, Okoye, and his sister, Shuri, debate how to handle this new threat while still protecting Wakanda's secrecy. Outside the kingdom, Killmonger and Wind-Rider fight back against The Maker's minions. After an attack on his people, The Black Panther sets out alone to not only conduct reconnaissance but also fight back against this threat. Meeting with the vigilantes/freedom fighters, T'Challa will discover a new element (the antithesis to the Vibranium so precious to his kingdom) and the true reason for Khonshu and Ra's conquest.
The second series in Marvel's new Ultimate storyline Ultimate Black Panther picks-up in the African region and focuses not only on Black Panther T'Challa but also the pain Khonshu and Ra who have joined The Maker's council. So, first off, I've never been a big Marvel comic book reader as I've mentioned before. That said, I was surprised Marvel went with Black Panther as their next hero for this new Ultimate universe as I didn't think Black Panther was as popular as many other characters they could've gone with. Following the success of "The Black Panther" movie and to give a story set someplace outside of the Americas where Ultimate Spider-man is set, I understand why you'd choose the character. Of course, like other Ultimate Universe stories, it is interesting to see the tweaks in these characters thanks to The Maker's influence. Luckily, besides The Black Panther movies, and The Moon Knight Disney+ show, and the X-men movies, I really don't know a lot about the characters established here. T'Challa wrestling with his responsibilities as a king and a warrior definitely gives the story a different feel than Ultimate Spider-man and Ultimate X-Men in case you might think Marvel is simply re-skinning the same stories. Honestly, I almost didn't pick this one up, not because I didn't want to, but because issue one was completely sold out when I got to both the stores I frequent. Luckily, I found a second print to get me started and then I got it on my reserve list after that.
Ultimate X-Men #1 - 4 by Peach Momoko
Starting highschool is stressful enough for loner Hisako Ichiki, but when a shadowy figure begins stalking her, things only get worse. Blaming her for the death of her friend Tsubasa, the ghost attacks her, forcing Hisako's mutant abilities to reveal itself to protect her. Fellow classmate, Mai Igarashi not only witnesses Hisako's transformation, but also reveals powers of her own, and the two become friends as the ghost continues to haunt Hisako. A horror story set in Marvel's new Ultimate Universe, what new powers and abilities will be revealed, and will Hisako perhaps put together her own team to fight back against this mysterious figure?
So, I was definitely interested in this series not only because it is a part of Marvel's new Ultimate universe, but also because it is helmed by Peach Momoko who does both the writing and artwork. I don't know much about her story work, but I'm really fascinated by these water-color style drawings. I've picked-up several comics simply because she did the cover art for them, including one issue of I Hate Fairyland. Like the other two Ultimate series, the story is set in a world changed by The Maker's influence. Unlike the other series though, the focus is not on superheroes but rather feels more like a Japanese Horror manga with a shadowy, unknown force haunting Hisako (and, perhaps soon, her other mutant classmates). Side note: Shadow King from Legion? It's an interesting read so far as Hisako and her classmates explore their powers (without the traditional X-men to look after them) while a ghostly presence lurks. Also, check out these variant covers
Just because I think it should be addressed, I have heard chatter that the series is facing some backlash amongst X-men fans as the series doesn't depict the traditional superhero story nor the classic X-men characters. To that, I don't think it should. First, The Maker would've found a way to neutralize Cyclops, Jean Grey, and your traditional X-men team from the start, because, well, because he would. Secondly, if you developed powers no one understood, it should feel like a body-horror story probably closer to FOX's poorly-received "The New Mutants" movie which had more of a horror-theme. Besides, if you want superheroes, jump into Ultimate Spider-Man or just wait for The Ultimates to be released (it's coming).
The Spectacular Spider-Men #1 - 4 by Greg Weisman
Keeping their identities secret and battling super-villains. Not a lot of people can relate to the trials and tribulations of superheroes. Luckily, Peter Parker and Miles Morales have each other to not only help save the day as Spider-Men, but also to hang out with as just friends with a unique bond. While the two simply want to hang-out as Parker and Morales once a week at a coffee shop, of course, life isn't always so simple for your friendly, neighborhood Spider-Men. When the two discover their fellow shop patrons not only acting strangely but also disappearing, the two will need to set-off together to solve this mystery.
I wasn't sure about picking-up this book, but I saw the shiny, foil variant cover sitting on the shelf, and just decided to see what it was about. It's a pretty fun read so far. I love seeing Parker and Morales play off of each other, not only in their tactics but their dialogue (just the bit about trying to figure out what to call each other was hilarious). As mentioned, the two end-up investigating the disappearance of fellow regulars at the coffee shop they frequent, and of course, get pulled into the trap: an illusion giving you whatever you desire most. That said, what I didn't expect was Parker's fantasy to be a life with Gwen Stacey, his first love interest killed off by the Green Goblin as I always expected his true love to be Mary-Jane Watson (perhaps because that's the one I'm just most use to seeing). The series is good so far, and as much as I was hesitant to pick it up, I'm glad I did.
Ghost Rider: Final Vengeance #1 - 4 by Benjamin Percy
Having left the body of Johnny Blaze, the Spirit of Vengeance looks to take a new host, one more willing to utilize ALL of its powers unlike its former master. Thanks to a mystical ritual, the Spirit is called to Parker Robbins, aka The Hood. With his new powers, Robbins sets his sights upon the criminal underworld of Chicago, not to clean it up, but to claim it for himself. Can Blaze get back on his feet in time to regain his power and put a stop to Robbins' plan?
The One Hand #1 - 3 by Ram V and The Six Fingers #1 - 3 by Dan Watters
Detective Ari Nassar is about to retire from the Neo Novena Police Department after a prestigious career which includes arresting The One-Hand Killer - twice. Gruesome murders famous for their severed body parts and unsolved, blood-painted ciphers always signed with a bloody handprint, Nassor managed to catch both killers whose motives remain unknown to this day. Unfortunately for Nassor, just as he is about to walk out the door for the last time, he catches wind of another murder committed in similar fashion - the killer had yet again returned. Back on the hunt, how many will die before Nassor once again catches this mysterious killer? And what other secrets will Nassor discover about Neo Novena before he is through?
Archeology student Johannas Vale is very much in control of his life. That control begins to unravel though after he commits a brutal murder using the M.O. of Neo Novena's most notorious serial killer, The One-Hand Killer. Having no memory of how he did it, Vale will set himself on a path to discover what buried impulses might drive a man to commit such an act - and if they may be urged upon the citizens by the city itself. At least, as long as he can stay a step ahead of the detective who caught the last two killers.
This was such a cool read so far The One Hand series following Detective Nassor as he tries to catch a new killer while in The Six Fingers series, Johannas Vale attempts to figure out why he is subconsciously committing these brutal acts while trying to not be caught. It's a cat-and-mouse game between two different, connected series. Besides the chase, both protagonists also find something possibly more sinister hiding within Neo Novena's foundations itself, as if the city may be more than it appears. The issues were also being released one week after another so the reader would see Detective Nassor gather clues in The One Hand, and the following week witness Vale on the run in The Six Fingers. It was really cool and an interesting way to tell stories using the comic-book medium. If you're a fan of murder-mysteries and don't mind violence and mutilation (body parts are severed and sculpted into artistic works) then I definitely recommend picking-up this series. Unfortunately, comics are expensive and it's harder to resell "floppies," so I opted to stop after these six issues to instead pick-up the collected edition whenever it is released (at least bookstores are more willing to buy collected versions for cash or preferably store credit).
Batman and Robin #8 - 10 by Joshua Williamson
The ending to the Man-Bat arc! With Flatline in town, she and Robin team-up to stop her sister from selling an array of arms seized from various Gotham supervillains. Meanwhile, Batman and Shush team-up to stop Man-Bat from spreading a virus throughout Gotham. Damian discovers his former mentor as in fact infiltrated the high-school and is set on teaching him a lesson. Batman and Robin manage to not only stop Man-Bat's plan, but also safely trap the bats he was using to spread the virus. Their mission solved, the two enjoy a meal together as father and son, only to be interrupted by someone believed dead.
I'm really liking this series, especially the Bruce and Damian Wayne relationship - enough so, in fact, that I may actually go out to find more of the earlier issues such as the introduction of Damian Wayne/Robin. Of course, Batman and Robin take down Man-Bat and foil his plans, but what I was really surprised by was the reintroduction of Flatline. She was interesting to see in the "Lazarus Planet" event now being haunted by Ra's Al Ghul, and now reintroduced as a possible love interest for Damien, a boy not quite in touch with his feelings or understanding social norms. As I mentioned when I first started reading, what I really hoped to see were instances of how these heroes live their normal, everyday lives (what makes them people), included with the crime-fighting, and I'm happy to say we're still getting that. Issue 10 puts an end to the Man-Bat story arc and sets up a new villain - finding Bane on Dinosaur Island (who apparently killed Alfred? I should look into that).
The Outsiders #6 - 8 by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly
The Outsiders true mission is revealed and the team sets out to discover what exactly is "reality". Instead, they discover a place where characters go to ... not die, but simply exist after they are erased. Not finding the people she lost, The Drummer finally reveals her true identity as Jakita Wagner of Planetary, an organization of archeologists dedicated to uncovering the world's secrets.. Oh, and she's also from another reality. Fed up, Kate Kane leaves The Outsiders only to be caught up in a curse which only her old team can solve - a cursed gun left behind by Jonah Hex.
Continuing with a much more meta romp through the comic universe, The Outsiders explore not only the place where characters go when they've been passed over by the comic book industry and even go through different versions of the DC universe caused by real-world mergers as well as crisis-storyline events - referencing real-world markets and popularity of characters. If you like these types of meta stories but without the Deadpool/She-Hulk 4th wall breaking shenanigans, then take a look at this one. Also, included is the return of the newest Century Baby, Jenny Crisis, so I'm curious to see if she might play a bigger part in DC's overarching plan for its comics (she's the embodiment of the century, after all). I'm really liking this new kind of superhero/archeology story as the team looks into the secrets of the DC universe, perhaps even looking for a way to stop another crisis event.
Deadpool #1 - 3 by Cody Ziglar
Deadpool is going back to what he knows best - killing a lot of people for money. Lost and heartbroken, he decides to open his very own mercenary-for-hire business, pulling in The Taskmaster to his team along with his own symbiote-dog, Princess. Their first job, however, is interrupted by "The Touch," a cult obsessed with death, and their leader, Death Grip, who has set his sights on finally killing the unkillable mercenary. While Wade goes off to deal with Death Grip, he'll entrust his daughter's safety (and training) to Taskmaster.
Obviously, I picked this up because of the movie hype, but also because I've never read a Deadpool comic. The first issue definitely satisfied what I was looking for - violence and blood, fourth-wall breaks, and jokes (I was not expecting the "Chainsaw Man" reference in the first issue).
After all that though, the next book kinda fell flat. I mean, how do you keep the stakes high when you can't be killed? If they had introduced the Muramasa Blade and its fusion with Death Grip a little earlier (maybe cut out the whole "starting a mercenary business" plot), I think it would've maintained my interest more. Honestly, halfway through the third issue, I thought I might stop reading as the story wasn't quite maintaining my interest. However, after seeing The Taskmaster taking on Deadpool's daughter as his protege and rumors that she might become the new Deadpool (if Marvel does kill his character), well, now I'm a little curious to see how the rest of the story goes. That said, there's no way Marvel is killing off such a huge character, ie moneymaker, so who knows what they'll do at the end of this story.
John Constantine Hellblazer: Dead in America #4 - 6 by Simon Spurrier
Continuing his group's trek across America on his way to find Dream's missing sand, they arrive in a town to assist in Swamp Thing's resurrection. With the land barren however, they'll need to uncover the town's hidden secret to not only begin its healing but also to bring Swamp Thing back. They'll continue to meet with others along the road procuring more tales/stories from people in America. Eventually, the trio hunting Constantine makes themselves known to him when they attempt to stop his journey.
Still on his journey but with a new objective, John Constantine and company continue their trek across America. Honestly, in regards to the plot, I don't really care about that part anymore. What I really like about this series so far has been Constantine's journey and his critique on America has he travels its roads and meets its people. It could also be the time between the issue release dates (and the amount of comics I'm reading) that I'm forgetting what exactly happened. He'll meet with people trying to hide a secret held by an entire town just to keep up the appearance. He'll meet with myths and legends, both native to the land but also those considered "invasive" by the false narratives which have taken hold in its people.
Actually, overall, my draw to this series has been those one-off adventures, the unique and interesting individuals Constantine meets which make the story feel alive and new. Each of them, in their own way, could be viewed as a snapshot of America - who are its people, what is its history, etc. I've got no plans to stop collecting the individual issues, though, if I had another chance, I think it would've made a better read as a trade paperback as reading the story over a few days might make for a better read than what I'm doing now.
Carnage #6 - 8 (complete) by Toruun Gronbeck and Venom #32 by Al Ewing
Having (possibly) eliminated his former host, Carnage spring his trap on Flash Thompson and the Anti-Venom symbiote to take them both off of the board. To attain godhood though, Carnage will have to kill a god. With the King in Black, Eddie Brock in hiding, Carnage will need something to lure him out into the open. Luckily, he's found the perfect bait - Eddie's son and the current Venom host, Dylan Brock! But, with a war coming, Carnage will need weapons, one perfectly suited to his goals.
Concluding this latest arc and helping lead into The Venom War event, Carnage has put his nemesis, Flash Thompson and Anti-Venom on the ropes, as well as collected an assortment of followers. Umm, honestly, I think I jumped into this series too quickly without knowing not only the current history of the Carnage symbiote (I'm still confused by its split with Cletus Kasady) but also Venom and the King in Black event (which I heard was pretty good), because I've realized that as much as I love the Carnage character, I don't really care about this current iteration. I loved the "Maximum Carnage" event as Spider-Man attempted to find a non-lethal approach to stopping a villain who is beyond redemption. Maybe it is that I just don't like this godhood-obsessed Carnage vs the serial-killer I remember him being. I think for now I'm going to stop at this point and maybe I'll pick it up later. Note: I'm still looking to score an "Amazing Spider-man #361 - the first appearance of Carnage (plus, have you seen that cover!).
The Displaced #1 - 3 by Ed Brisson
When a sinkhole devours an entire town, the survivors are left to pick-up the pieces of their lives. They are left further distraught when the sinkhole hot only disappears, but everyone outside the town appears to have forgotten entirely about the town and the people who once lived there. As the survivors try to simply stay alive in a world that has forgotten about them, they also learn they must stick close-by each other lest they risk simply vanishing from existence as well. Will the survivors find a way to make the world remember them again? And, is there a chance the people who were lost to the sinkhole are still alive?
This was such an interesting concept, I had to pick it up despite trying to cut down on how many comics I was buying weekly (this is getting out of hand). So far, the first three issues have been full of science-fiction greatness. The idea of the world simply forgetting about a group of people who could vanish at anytime if left alone. That all said, I think I'm going to stop collecting these as individual issues and instead buy the collected trade paperback when it is eventually released. It's not that I don't enjoy the story thus far, but I read a way to save some money is by going the trade paperback route, which I can buy easier used and also sell easier than individual issues.
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