September's reading list feels a little light, but ... actually I don't know the reason. It does feel like I'm slowly working through the books I've collected.
Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider Vol: 2 Uncharted by Stephanie Phillips
"Black Tarantula first. Coffee shop crush ...? ... Maybe fifth?"
Now armed with the name of who has been trying to kill her ever since she entered Earth-616, Gwen begins looking in every low-down spot for the location of Black Tarantula. When Black Tarantula's plans for cleansing the city are revealed with the kidnapping and planned execution of a corrupt judge, Ghost Spider will suit up to stop him - which wouldn't be so hard if the villain didn't have a particular charm to him. Will Gwen be able to stop the villain - or even change him - before he crosses a line from which he can never return? Plus, the secret of Gwen's exodus to Earth-616 is revealed.
Collecting issues #6 - 10 of the series (which I think actually ended its run a couple months ago ... so they could start a new one? I still don't understand comics), this volume sees Gwen go from hunted to hunter as she starts tracking down Black Tarantula. When she discovers the villain's plans are more altruistic as he attempts to not only clean-up the corruption plaguing the city but also help those swept aside by the system, she finds it hard not to like the man behind the mask. What I really like about this volume was Gwen's unique team-up with the detective Jessica Jones - one I never expected to see considering Gwen's character aligns more with the light and hope of Peter Parker's Spider-Man than the shadowy Jones. I am glad that they showed the reason for Gwen coming to Earth-616, even if it was just a single page. I understand the focus of the story is your superhero hunting villain plot, but I'd also like more internal turmoil from Gwen having come to Earth-616 where Gwen's death is held in such high importance in the universe's history.
Absolute Green Lantern #1 - 6 by Al Ewing
Near the California/Nevada state line, the town of Evergreen, Nevada is gone, destroyed by an alien force. Miles away, Hal Jordan walks in fear of the destruction left in his wake, the weapon still in his grasp. When he is eventually confronted by one of the town's few survivors, Sojourner "Jo" Mullein, neither are prepared for the horrible tale of judgement that follows.
The sixth new story in DC's "Absolute" series, "Absolute Green Lantern" is a cosmic horror/action series which introduces the Green Lanterns to Earth. The story jumps from the present day confrontation between Jo wielding the Green Lantern powers and Hal armed with the Black Hand to the start of the Evergreen incident, explaining the effects of Abin Sur's arrival on Earth. Upon the Lantern's arrival, he begins systematically abducting people from the town for purposes unknown and unknowable to those that remain. While Jo tries to reason and learn, Hal reacts with violence which eventually sets them both on separate paths. Why give a whole, general plot synopsis, you ask? Honestly, just so I can re-enforce the idea that not a lot happened in these six issues. The whole thing kinda fell flat for me. I really liked the cosmic horror aspect - this unknowable entity brought to Earth - and the eventual reveal of Abin Sur's mission, but that's all background information. The present day is simply Jo and Hal going at it with their new abilities, the same drawn out fight for six issues, which doesn't really progress anywhere. It's a disappointing start to what could've been a great series.
Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #1 - 6 by Ram V
"And so how does a man so convinced of the doomed nature of every action choose to take such a leap of faith?"
"You think saving the universe and falling in love are the same thing?"
"You'd be surprised"
Having walked away from his life as a superhero, Mitch Shelly aka The Resurrection Man dies of old age, his body and life succumbing to the effects of time. Reviving once again, now with the power to manipulate time itself - to walk his entire lifespan and change his path - he now faces an enemy of his own creation seeking to devour the universe itself and leave nothing in its wake. Tracing through his past, seeing the hard choices he made and those he ran from, he will finally see the whole pattern of life itself - and his ultimate decision will decide the fate of not only all of life, but time, itself.
The thought of a superhero with a superpower that changes everytime he died was such an interesting concept that of course I had to get the first issue. What follows is not necessarily your typical superhero story, but instead one about just how precious life and living is. When Mitch Shelly discovers his most recent death grants him power over time itself, he'll look through his life to not only find the one thing he'll need to stop a mistake from his past, but learn of the beauty found in all of existence. As a counterpoint, the villain in its stolen immortality, seeks to consume and devour everything in its path - until all becomes nothingness. DC really does a great job with a lot of these Black Label books ("Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma", "Jenny Sparks") showing that superhero comics don't just have to be about good guys punching bad guys.
I Hate Fairyland Vol. 8 Happy End Game by Skottie Young
"Ha ha. I just said Fuck! Holy Shit. Ha hah. And I said shit."
Having saved Fairyland from the brink of doom, the residents of Fairyland now see Gert in a new light - as their Hero (despite the catastrophe being her fault all along). Now, a new threat from The Inferno makes its way to Fairyland with Happy and an army of those slain by Gert's hand threatening to take over Fairyland, Gert will need to gather her own army to protect the land that, despite hating for years, has now grown to love.
It's a new chapter in Gert's life - one where she now finds herself as a hero to the people who once feared her - and she finds she loves it and all of Fairyland. It's a big and surprising change to see Gert truly embrace a place she has always despised. Of course, things once again go back to the way they were when Fairyland gives her another chance to return home - as soon as she finds her key!
Amazing Spider-Man: The Eight Deaths of Spider-Man by Joe Kelly
"Even if in a thousand years, my life and anything I ever did won't matter ... it matters today. Today is worth fighting for."
After taking on the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, Dr. Doom finds there are certain tasks to complete the come along with the role - and he simply doesn't have the time. Instead, Doom chooses Peter Parker to be his champion against the Eight Scions of Cyttorak. Imbued with mystical powers, Spider-Man will be forced to fight and die, over and over, in order to keep Earth safe.
This story is a perfect example of why I sometimes wish I could not only understand , but had enough money to follow the primary Marvel and DC comics storylines. Following the Blood Hunt event, Dr. Doom took on the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, leading to several changes to the universe - a couple of them I'm interested in reading, but lack the time and funds to read them all. "The Eight Deaths of Spider-Man" sees Marvel's most self-sacrificing hero doomed to die over and over and over in order to keep the universe safe. It's a story about the value of not only life, but living. I also really liked the Skottie Young variant covers, but that would be something to collect if I were actually dedicated to reading the primary storylines.
Spawn Kills Every Spawn by John Layman
Desperate to prove himself as the most popular Spawn, Spawn aka Little Spawn aka Spawny (just don't call him Albert) sets out to kill all of the most popular Spawns. It's a silly, non-canon event filled with childish antics, a meet-your-hero moment, and even a chibi-Violator (because, why not?). It's just a lot of ridiculous fun.
Batman and Robin # 21 - 24 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
The end of The Gotham Cycle! With Robin captured by Momento, Batman and Katherine Lautrec reach out to unlikely sources to find the missing Boy Wonder and learn more about the mysterious Momento. Discovering the demon's true nature, Batman and Robin will work toward expelling it from this world.
The Momento Arc comes to a close with the rescue of Damian and the reveal of the demon's true nature. Though the occult and supernatural does exist in the DC universe, I felt a little disappointed that the villain was a real monster rather than "a guy in a mask." But then we got more of the main reason I show up to read this comic in the first place - a bonding moment between Bruce and Damian Wayne, in the form of a Juni Ba inset comic, no less!
Feral Vol. 3 Nine Lives by Tony Fleecs
Elsie, Lord, and the other indoor cats are once again thrust back into the rabies-infested nightmare. Gathering a couple more survivors, the group will enact a daredevilsh plan into paradise - an abandoned pet supply store! Unfortunately, they'll soon find their new home is anything but, controlled by the mysterious Mother Helena for the purpose of order. What horrific secret hides amongst these cats who've never seen the outside world?
It's the Terminus story arc of the series ("Walking Dead" reference), the group finds a pack of survivors hiding in a pet supply store, and must determine what mystery they're hiding lest they succumb to their authoritarian rules. As much as I love seeing these new types societies emerging from the chaos of the apocalypse, the scene that really got me was the reunion of Elsie and Lord with a rabid Patch. The horror and heartbreak of seeing their brother turned into a monster - that really just hit me so, so hard.
If you're reading this (as always, why?) and said, "hey, these reviews feel a little light" well, you're right. I've kind realized (also because someone pointed it out to me) this blog has become more of a book review than a writing blog like I hoped it to be. So, hopefully, by lightening some of these reviews it will give me time to do some actual writing. I don't know, we'll see.
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