yetanothercomicbook

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The New, Nefarious, and Downright Nasty Frightful Four

Fantastic Four Unlimited #5

Not terrible.

The New Frightful Four.

The Wizard escapes prison using a special chess board (?!). The FF has replaced Reed Richards with Scott Lang (?!). Klaw releases Sharon Ventura from the chamber she was it. It's never made clear exactly why he's doing this. Or what he wants to achieve. It just seems like a really stupid thing to do. At this point, the Wizard snatches them away to be in his new gang. Really getting into the swing of things, Sharon immediately turns full-on evil with no prompting. Whatever sympathy I was feeling for her over in the (excellent) regular title evaporates instantly. There, she was attempting suicide. Here, she's just an evil bitch.

Hilariously, the Red Ghost shows up for no reason whatsoever. It's just a random thing that happens. The script doesn't even bother to explain it. Instead, we are told it's "fate." Next time we see the FF, they are in their locker room (?!) at Four Freedoms Plaza. It's unisex, too, because Sue is changing in front of the guys (?!). Later, she and Scott Lang go on a date (?!) and they are abducted. In fact, all of the FF members are abducted. And each one is forced to fight one member of the Frightful Four. These fights are actually okay. The Sue vs. Sharon one is remarkable because Sharon is - and I can't stress this enough - a super-villain now. We then learn that all these fights are happening in... the Wizard's old house in the suburbs (?!). But, at the last minute, the Frightful Four's victory is snatched away because something something something cause and effect something something.

The Fantastic Four then escape the house having forgotten everything that happened (?!). Why did they forget? Absolutely no idea. It must be "fate" again. Presumably it's written this way so that all this nonsense doesn't ever have to be referenced in the regular title. While Sharon stop being evil in the regular book, I wonder?

The previous issue was complete drivel. A chore to read. However, in sharp contrast, this issue falls into the so-bad-it's-good category. It's so hilariously bad that I truly loved it. Every scene was dafter that the one before. It should be a cult classic. Essential reading for every FF fan. I was sorry to finish it because it was making me chuckle.

Roy Thomas (5 of 11).

Herb Trimpe (5 of 11).

4/10

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The Night Negative Man Went Berserk

My Greatest Adventure #83

Above average.

Negative Man does not return to Larry Trainor!

This story is much more linear and cohesive. Unlike what went before it doesn’t feel like different mini-adventures tied together. It’s all about one thing - NM out there causing problems - and it doesn’t feel crowded.

Arnold Drake (4 of 59).

Bruno Premiani (4 of 55).

7/10

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...and Make Death Proud to Take Us!

West Coast Avengers #100

Dull.

Crossfire traps Hawkeye and Mockingbird in a basement with an old movie star and her butler.

And everybody talks a lot. And there are references to really old movies. I have seldom seen a more boring superhero battle.

Roy Thomas (46 of 47).

4/10

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Endings... Beginnings

Doom Patrol #18

Good.

Gargaux and his Sirens attack.

Solid, realistic take on super-heroics. One team member is dead. Another is dying. And two come out of this battle in rough shape. Grim.

Paul Kupperberg (22 of 22).

8/10

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Jaded Perception

The Prowler [The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #13]

Nice story.

Prowler & Sons of the Tiger vs. Killer Shrike

8 pages is just the right length for this surprisingly effective team-up.

6/10

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Extreme Measures

X-Force Annual #2

Good.

First appearance of Adam-X.

It takes a while to get going and it gets very preachy in the final pages but this is a good story overall. The three new characters - Adam-X, Neurotap, Martin Henry Strong - hold our interest, the action is decent and there's a nice twist near the end. Worth reading.

Wizard Top 100: #51.

Fabian Nicieza (32 of 54).

Tony Salvador Daniel (1 of 14).

8/10

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The Real Monster

Morbius #10

Good.

Villain: Vic Slaughter!

Lots going on here. Another vampire killer, with Morbius likely to take the blame. Plus, our hero is having blackouts and going through drastic changes. It looks good and it really pulls you in.

Up to now - with Kaminski scripting - this series has been good. Dare I hope the new writer can keep the quality up?

On the other hand, I'm dreading the upcoming crossover with NIGHTSTALKERS.

Wizard Top 100: #100.

Gregory Wright (2 of 19).

Ron Wagner (9 of 13).

8/10

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On the Brink

Dark Guard #2

Way better than issue 1.

"I sense over three thousand troops against us here."

Man, this is really good, action packed, and funny. The characters are great together. Death's Head and Col. Liger are such a fun double act. Arguably the two best characters in the whole Marvel UK line, and it turns out they are even better when paired up. Indeed, with the notable exception of Dark Angel, all of the established heroes really pop in this new team. They mesh surprisingly well. I wish this was an ongoing title with a lot of adventures.

Story-wise, the questions I had about the Time Guardian after issue 1 are voiced here by the characters. Also, the actual mission turns out to be very interesting. Can't wait to see what happens next. And the art is gorgeous.

9/10

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The Main Event

Fantastic Four Unlimited #4

Drivel.

Hulk and Thing must fight to the death to save their captured friends.

If this was a 22-page story from 1976 I might enjoy its silliness and give it a 5/10 along with a favourable review. But it's not. It's a 50-page story from 1993 and it's junk.

This series has been hit and miss so - going into this - I thought there was a chance I might enjoy it. But it lost me from the very start. 9 pages of the Hulk and Thing fighting was a chore to read. Particularly when the art flatters neither character. Then, it turns out that the fight is virtual. We are told that they are doing it to raise funds for a good cause. That's nice but it really doesn't make sense. Why on earth would people pay $1,000 to watch the Hulk and the Think have a virtual battle? I mean, it's that just like watching 2 guys play a video game, right?! Why would anyone care? It makes no sense. Almost as if the writer doesn't quite understand virtual reality.

Anyway, other stuff happens. And we wind up (on page 32!) with the Hulk and the Thing having to fight again. But now it must be real. And it must be to... the death! Because the Mole Man can somehow use the energy released to somehow regenerate his true love. Somehow.

But wait, there's more. The script acknowledges the recent death of Reed Richards, but does so in an offhand manner that comes off as disrespectful. That annoyed me every bit as much as the fact that key aspects of the main story made no sense whatsoever.

Roy Thomas (4 of 11).

Herb Trimpe (4 of 11).

1/10

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The Death of the Red Mask

Animal Man #7

Genius.

"This. Is. Insane!"

Wow. Morrison really seems to have a firm grip on the superhero genre, and he's really giving it a shaking up. Here, amid the chaos of the alien invasion, Buddy Baker chats with a suicidal villain. It's both funny and poignant. The second really great issue in the run.

Grant Morrison (7 of 27).

Chas Truog (7 of 28).

10/10

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Rock'em Sock'em Robots!

It, the Living Colossus [Marvel Comics Presents #169]

Stupid.

Giant robot versus giant robot.

There's a heck of a lot of stupid in these 8 pages. The story leans heavily into the dumb premise of the (proposed) series. Namely, Hollywood is crying out for 50-foot robots to use in movies. So much so that there are two competing movies in production about these things. And in the Marvel Universe there is apparently no such thing as visual effects. So... the robots are real.

I don't thing I've read a Marvel comic yet that portrayed the film business correctly. Everything I've read so far is pitched at an 8-year-old from 1956 who thinks everything they see is real. That kid from the fifties would love this dumbass story. I didn't.

2/10

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Dead Man's Hand

The Incredible Hulk Annual #19

Average fun.

"It's like some supervillain is out to get us."

There is! His name is Lazarus and he's back from the dead! Somehow he's acquired telekinetic powers and he's out for revenge, because his wife and his business partner murdered him. To get to them he has to battle the Hulk. And... that's it.

The fights are entertaining and there are one or two funny lines along the way. Also, a nice bit with Bruce being a really good darts player. All in all, a fun standalone adventure.

Wizard Top 100: #82.

Peter David (88 of 158).

6/10

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Crossing Swords

Excalibur #71

Average.

"In all likelihood, Colossus is being set up."

Cable is probably the best thing about this issue, but he really doesn't belong here and his presence is clearly nothing but a way to increase the page count to 39. It is nice to see him and Rachel together but this feels like the wrong comic to have this meeting.

The Peter-Kitty meeting doesn't have the emotional impact that the script clearly wants it to have. And at the end of the story absolutely nothing has changed. You could skip this issue and miss nothing.

One panel is used to give closure to the characters that used to be part of Excalibur. It fails. Then, on the last page, Rachel and Kurt give a vague definition of what the team's new mission statement is, moving forward. It's just nonsense. It means nothing.

Wizard Top 100: #17.

Scott Lobdell (4 of 11).

Ken Lashley (2 of 12).

6/10

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Tour of Duty

Dark Guard #1

Fun start.

"You eight are going to save your universe."

Simple, straightforward, a bit vague in places, but it's an enjoyable read and the art is gorgeous. The major character death was a shock. Adds a touch of darkness and menace to the Time Guardian. Is he telling them the whole truth?

Except for Dark Angel, this group comprises the best elements of the Marvel UK line. I expect to enjoy this series.

7/10

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A World Against Them!

Fantastic Four #383

Great! (Again.)

"Reports of immeasurable destruction are flooding the palace!"

Lots to love here: The planetwide destruction, Paibok going after Devos, Sue making the rubble invisible, Ben's funny quips, Sue telling Lyja that the FF are a family, and Franklin's big realisation at the very end. It feels like much of what's been happening in the series is concluded here. In fine style, too.

Wizard Top 100: #82.

Tom DeFalco (29 of 66).

Paul Ryan (28 of 60).

10/10

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Killing an Afternoon

The Punisher Summer Special #4

Better than average.

Frank goes to the dentist, and Micro goes for a pizza.

Quirky adventure where the b-story is a tiny bit better than the a-story. Dixon likes these stories where the Punisher isn't prepared for what goes down. Being in a dentist's chair is about as ill prepared as you can get. Once Frank gains the upper hand - more by chance than skill - he shows his sadistic side. Meanwhile, Micro impresses as he saves Mickey Fondozzi from some bad guys.

7/10

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Triple Threat

The Adventures of Superman #450

Okay.

Clark deals with a shocking revelation.

We learn who Gangbuster is. Clark says goodbye to everyone and leaves Earth forever.

It's melodramatic soap opera stuff. Borderline silly.

Jerry Ordway (26 of 31).

6/10