To Thrill A Mockingbird

West Coast Avengers #1
(limited series)

I've been a fan of Mockingbird since the days of the West Coast Avengers back in the 1980s, as that was one of my favorite series.  I also loved her as half of the Hawkeye/Mockingbird coupling.  

Hawkeye & Mockingbird #6

Cut to: 2010.  I was excited about the Hawkeye & Mockingbird series...only to be disappointed that they didn't reunite romantically and the series was canceled after only six issues.  

While I'm not crazy about the emphasis put on her involvement with S.H.I.E.L.D. in the past few years, I decided to pick up her latest comic, a one-shot, celebrating 50 Years of S.H.I.E.L.D.  As I started reading, I thought, "Who wrote this?" and "Why isn't this a regular series?"  It was unlike a lot of the action-packed and non-character-focused crap that I've read as of late.  Turns out, it's a new writer to comic books -- Chelsea Cain.  Ah, that explains it.  She hasn't been editorialized to death yet.  She's a published novelist and, because it was a one-shot issue, Marvel probably let her write whatever she wanted to.  And what she wrote was an excellent story of mystery, romance, and character development that left me wanting more.  It's a shame I can't slap down $4-$5 on a comic book and get the same quality time and time again. 

Mockingbird #1 (one-shot)

The back-up story introduced the Red Widow who has some connection to the Black Widow.  Meh.  After a lead-in like Cain's Mockingbird story, the Red Widow story by a YA novelist was doomed to fail.  I would have liked another story of Mockingbird. 

With Mockingbird becoming more and more known through ABC's Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series and Marvel wanting to increase the number of female-driven comics, I'd like to think it's only a matter of time before Mockingbird gets her own monthly series.  Let's just hope that Chelsea Cain writes it.

It's No Secret: the Latest Event Series is Lame

Back in the 80s, I read the Secret Wars limited series and freakin' loved it.  It was so exciting and so many exciting things came out of it:  Spider-Man got his black symbiote costume, The Thing stayed behind on Battleworld and got his own series, She-Hulk joined the Fantastic Four, etc.  Not only was the series unique and interesting, but Secret Wars action figures came out of it.  There were characters I had never had or seen before to play with!  Yes, they were pretty cheaply made with no points of articulation, but still it felt revolutionary.

A couple of years later came Secret Wars II, which was just plain farcical with the Beyonder in his white Miami Vice leisure suit. 

After the most recent shitty Marvel event series, AXIS, I was really looking forward to the new Secret Wars series.  I finally read Secret Wars #1 (2015) and all I have to say is, "Huh?"  What the fuck was that?  Seriously.  What the fuck was that?  I don't even know what the hell happened.  It felt like I was picked up and plopped down in the middle of something going on -- a battle of some sorts on Earth -- and I'm supposed to enjoy that and follow along?   Did I miss the introduction?  This was the first issue, correct?  

I guess I shouldn't be surprised.  It was written by Jonathan Hickman after all, who has previously turned me away from his storytelling on Fantastic Four and the Avengers.  There's no character development.  No character interaction.  No enjoyable/followable plot.  It's just battle after battle after pointless battle, like watching Man of Steel on repeat.  And while his comics always have more word balloons than most comics, they don't really say anything.  The dialogue doesn't feel real or seem to come naturally to the characters speaking it.  The characters are always telling what is happening, when the pages should naturally just "show" it without explanation and the extraneous wording. 

After reading the latest Secret Wars #1, I can only guess that the rest of the series will be equally boring and pointless, much like every Marvel event series that has recently preceded it.  Wake me when the Marvel Universe is over. 

Hawkeye Misses His Target...AGAIN.

What's up with Hawkeye #22?  

Issue #21 was finally released in April 2015, five months after #20.  And there were several lapses in the comics prior to that.  Now instead of releasing (forever delayed) #22, Marvel Comics goes ahead and releases an "All-New" Hawkeye series?  FAIL.  

Who hires these bozos?  You can't meet a deadline?  Writer?  Artist?  Editor?  Etc.?  Did Kevin Smith write this book?  Hello?  Anyone home? 

Tell ya what, Marvel, you can keep Hawkeye #22.  My collection ended with #21.  

With the Avengers movies riding a huge financial wave, you'd think they'd want to capitalize on one of the main characters by producing a consistent series.  By the way, it also helps that when you have a Hawkeye comic, that you include that superhero (the Clint Barton version) instead of focusing on the "other" (lame) Hawkeye (Kate Bishop).  And just why can't she get her own moniker anyway?  So, Marvel, you can keep All-New Hawkeye, too, because I'm not buying into it when you can't even include the main character in his own book.   

I've always loved Hawkeye and was a HUGE fan of him during the West Coast Avengers days, so I was excited when he was included in the silver screen version of the Avengers and got his own series.  Sadly, while Marvel Studios seems to know what to do with Hawkeye, it seems Marvel Comics doesn't.

An EYE for an EYE

In time for Convergence, Eye finally caught up with DC Comics' weekly series New 52: Futures End that ended with #48.  Sadly, Eye was underwhelmed.  The series ended with a whimper, not a bang. 

It felt like the series had some direction at the beginning but then the creators and/or execs decided to just say "fuck it" and move on to the Next Big Thing (i.e., Convergence.)   It didn't even offer much of a lead-in to Convergence.  Brainiac started to come collect cities...but then they defeated him?   And pretty quickly, too.  Eye was quite confused.

Eye think what the series was also missing was interesting characters.  Or maybe they just weren't used properly.  Included were Batman Beyond, Shazam as Superman, Amethyst, Frankenstein, Grifter, Mister Terrific, Tim Drake (retired), and a new female Firestorm.  Meh.  Eye think DC did a much better job of using secondary characters in their 2006 weekly series 52.  Eye was invested in the 52 characters, not so much in the New 52 Futures End ones.

Eye wasted about $150 and who knows how many hours of my time waiting for something exciting and big to happen, but it never did.  And the series didn't even matter in the course of things. 

Move along, folks, there's nothing to see here...

Hello, Old Friends

Ever since its announcement, I've been looking forward to DC Comics' Convergence series and spin-offs.  Why?  Like a lot of long-time readers, I have a personal history invested in the "old" characters (i.e., pre-New 52).  Not only that, they seem to have more personality and character development than those in the New 52. 

Of the main series, I've read Convergence #0 and #1 so far.  It's been interesting, but even better have been the spin-off Convergence series.  The ones I've read from week one have been:   

• Convergence: Speed Force #1 - starring the (Caucasian) Wally West Flash and his two speedy kids
• Convergence: Superman #1 - starring Superman and his pregnant wife Lois Lane
• Convergence: The Atom #1 - starring an "I-Hear-Voices" Ray Palmer
• Convergence:  Nightwing & Oracle #1 - starring a romantically involved Dick Grayson and wheelchair-bound Barbara Gordon
• Convergence:  The Titans #1 - starring Donna Troy, Starfire, and Arsenal
• Convergence:  Harley Quinn #1 - starring a fully clothed Harley

All of got to say is:  FANTASTIC.  This is what DC Comics has been missing for the past four years since the inception of the New 52 Universe.  Not only does it bring back the characters that I know and love and that have an actual history, but it involves character development, human emotion/interaction, and decent dialogue.  Maybe people (myself included) wouldn't dislike the New 52 Universe so much if it wasn't focused on dreariness, flat emotions, battles/fight scenes, and cheesy dialogue.

With these Convergence titles, I get Wally West worried about his kids and wife, Superman looking forward to being a father, the Atom wigging out, Dick Grayson proposing to Barbara Gordon, Starfire being jealous about Dick's romance, Roy Harper still agonizing over the death of his daughter, Donna Troy working her photographer job, and Harley Quinn interacting with Catwoman and Poison Ivy again.  (Not to mention Captain Carrot's teammate Fastback chasing after Wally West!)  These are real human traits, feelings, and emotions, and they're what's missing from DC Comics today. 

The bigger question about Convergence is: Why is the storywriting so much better?  Is it due to the return of the better characters?  Or are they using writers who aren't fatigued and/or mandated to write crap? 

I'm not sure what the future holds for the DC Universe, but I'm thinking that if they decide to stick with the flat, two-dimensional characters of the New 52 Universe, then I'll probably drop several titles and maybe even quit reading comics all together again.  (And don't even get me started with the new Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman; I've already canceled those comics.)  Until then, I'm going to enjoy seeing my old friends converge.

Longer Is Not Always Better

Amazing X-Men #13

I'm a little behind in reading my Amazing X-Men comics, so I just finished issue #13 last night.  All I can say is...WOW.  It was such an -- dare I say? -- amazing story starring one of my favorite minor characters, Anole, who just happens to be gay.  And green and scaly.  

The issue is a "filler" issue by James Tynion IV who's not a series regular.  It's a sweet tale about Anole meeting a guy online.  They click, chat for several hours, and decide to meet up for coffee.  Only Anole can't go through with it because he's afraid that his appearance will scare away his prospective suitor.  The only weird part being...would you meet up with someone online who you've never seen a photo of?  That aside, it was a perfectly written story contained within a single issue.  It also features Northstar, another out X-Man, as well as Nightcrawler, who knows a thing or two about growing up looking different.  I loved the lesson the story taught, and it was comforting to see Northstar and Nightcrawler tackling the mentor role for this teenage boy who's not only struggling with his mutant powers, but also his appearance and being gay.  

Amazing X-Men #7

Recently, Amazing X-Men had another "filler" issue with #7, featuring a reunion of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends, Iceman and Firestar.   The concept of this story made me giddy with nostalgia, having loved the Saturday morning cartoon series from the early 1980s.  The issue was written by Kathryn Immonen, also not a series regular. 

I miss the single-issue story that was so prevalent in the 1980s, as they always seem to be the better written.  It's too bad there aren't more single-issue contained comic stories like these two Amazing X-Men stories, as well as the Rose & Thorn and Looker one-shots from 2012.  Storylines in modern comics are typically stretched over six issues so they can be collected into a graphic novel for additional sales.  From a business standpoint, I get that.  From a quality standpoint, I'm disappointed.  Unfortunately, when that happens, most stories also usually feel like they're stretched.  What could have been a one-, two-, or three-part story is now six parts and it's borrrrrrrrrring.  

I'm all for these one-off filler issues.  They not only give aspiring writers and artists an opportunity to show what they can do, but they tend to be much more enjoyable to read.  I anticipate DC's upcoming one- or two-part Convergence-related stories to be similarly enjoyable.  Then it will be back to business-as-usual and the humdrum 6-part stories will resume.  Marvel and DC could both learn a lesson from this, though. 

Crazy Nuts

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is a return to when comics were fun.   I'm not saying they all need to be "fun," but they don't all have be so dark and dreary (yes, I'm pointing fingers at you DC New 52 and Marvel NOW!). 

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is about Doreen Green who is a nerdy girl going off to college for the first time.  She just happens to have all the powers of a squirrel (?), can communicate with squirrels, and has a big bushy squirrel tail.  How does she become inconspicuous at college with a big ol' tail?  Why, she neatly tucks it into her pants, giving her a Kim Kardashian booty. 

It's apparent that Doreen doesn't have a lot of friends outside of squirrels, probably because they think she's a bit -- pardon the pun -- nuts because she talks to squirrels, or just looks like she's talking to herself.  Her new college roommate has a secret cat in their dorm room, and they already seem to be hitting it off, so good for her.  Doreen also gets flirted with a bit, gets scared, and runs off.  You know, normal college girl stuff.
 
Besides establishing her character and supporting cast in issue #1, Squirrel Girl also battles Kraven the Hunter.  Well, not so much battles him as she outwits him.  

Writer Ryan North provides a fast, enjoyable read, and Erica Henderson's art is cartoonish, which normally I wouldn't like for comic books but it suits Squirrel Girl's style.  

While The Unbeatable Squirrel doesn't hold the same exciting appeal for me as the new Ant-Man comic, I will continue to pick it up every month, as it's fun and a nice break from all the darkness and seriousness that plagues too many comics today.

The Force Is Strong With Them

Star Wars #1
(Marvel Comics 1977)

As a kid, I loved loved loved everything Star Wars.  Except the comic book.  I could never get into it.  I guess I never felt like Marvel Comics captured the magic that the movies did.  

Star Wars #1
(Dark Horse Comics 2012)

After Dark Horse Comics got the licensing for Star Wars in the early 1990s, I gave them a try, too, but wound up with similar results.  Many years went by with nary a Star Wars comic in my monthly reading collection.  I got excited when, in 2012, Dark Horse was going to feature a new series with the original characters.  Unfortunately, even this series left me a little flat. 

With Disney acquiring Marvel and Star Wars, it was only a matter of time before they took back the rights to create their own Star Wars comic books.  So, today in 2015, we have a new Star Wars #1 from Marvel Comics.  I must admit it's the best rendition so far that I've read of these classic characters.  I feel like it captures the excitement, adventure, and mystery of the first film.  The issue held my interest throughout, and when it reached its cliffhanger conclusion, it made me look forward to issue #2. 

Star Wars #1
(Marvel Comics 2015)

Congrats to Jason Aaron on the great writing and to John Cassaday on making the characters lifelike, resembling the actors who portrayed these spectacular characters on the silver screen.  You've finally captured the magic of the Force. 

No Small Feat

I just finished reading Ant-Man #1.  Now that, my friends, is how you start off a comic book series.  Not only was this issue one of the best first issues of a series I've ever read, but it was one of the best comic book issues I've read in quite a long time.  Too long of a time.  

I've never been that interested in Ant-Man, but with the movie coming out soon, I decided to give the series and character a try.  I'm very glad I did.  Nick Spencer did a fantastic job establishing the character, his personality, and his supporting characters.  And this is coming from someone who's very unfamiliar with the Scott Lang Ant-Man.  I already feel like I know (and like) him.  He's down on his luck, but he's got a sense of humor about himself.  He's got responsibilities that he know he's ignored for too long.  He's screwed up his past and now wants to make amends.  In other words, he feels real.  And that's what's missing from most comic books today that are too focused on epic battles.  The human side is missing.  The character interaction is missing. 

In this first issue, we're given a well-written overview of Lang's origin (all new information to me), as told to a job interviewer.  It was different than your typical first-issue origin comic and better because it wasn't just a retelling-of-origin issue.  Spencer informed readers of Lang's origin, but mostly set up the series going forward.  

I'm not familiar with artist Ramon Rosanas, but after reading Ant-Man #1, I already like him, too.  His art fits well with Ant-Man, or really any comic book superhero, I would imagine.  It's clean and realistic looking. 

With only one issue under its belt, Ant-Man has quickly jumped to the top of my monthly comic book reads.  I only hope Ant-Man continues with its fine storytelling and doesn't jump on the epically boring bandwagon.

Hawkeye Goes to the Dogs

Why was the 2012 Hawkeye series canceled by Marvel Comics?  I'll tell you why:  it sucked.

Pizza Dog

Don't get me wrong; when the series first started, Matt Fraction and David Aja did a fantastic job.  I even hailed it in a previous review.  Sadly, it quickly went to the dogs.  (And I don't just mean Pizza Dog.)  

Pizza Dog himself was a great addition to the Hawkeye supporting cast.  Who wasn't?  "Hawkeye" Kate Bishop.  I'm pretty sure the reason Marvel gave Hawkeye his own series was due to his popularity in a tiny movie called The Avengers.   I don't recall ever seeing Kate Bishop in the movie. 

Shown above, the series originally promised us Clint Barton (a.k.a. Hawkeye) and his life outside of the Avengers.  Sadly, the series quickly became about some teenage chick that Fraction apparently has fantasies about who would never ever warrant her own book.  Heck, she can't even sustain a team book (Young Avengers).  That's how crappy her character is.  And do we even need a second Hawkeye?  Why not just call her Speedy or something?

Surprisingly, that wasn't the worst thing about the series.  Yes, I'm talking about issue #17.  The summary for that book is as follows:  

Who could forget that time when Clint Barton let his neighbor's kids watched a holiday cartoon at his place?  At long last, this issue is pretty much the cartoon they all watch.

And they are correct.  Not only are we subjected to Kate Bishop instead of Clint Barton, but now we're given a joke for our $2.99.  It had to be one of the worst comics I've ever read in 30 years.  With issue #18, the story returned to -- you guessed it -- Kate Bishop.  

And THAT, my friends, is why this series was canceled.  Who wants to continue reading this garbage?  

Now Marvel (or is that Marvel NOW!?) is putting out the All-New Hawkeye in 2015, restarting the series with #1.  Naturally, that's not uncommon nowadays for Marvel (sigh...), and it's probably meant to coincide with the release of the next Avengers movie. 

In the first issue's summary, we're told that we'll be getting "a fresh new look into the life of everyone's favorite Avenger."  Then the next sentence starts, "With Kate Bishop, his trusted ward and protégé back at his side..."  I guess Marvel hasn't learned their lesson.  Have you?  I have.  I won't be spending $3.99 now for a series that still can't get it right.