Join us as the Marvel Reporters turn into the Marvel Reviewers our weekly review roundup. This is where we have assembled to give our thoughts on various issues that are released each week. This week we have Jay, Louis, and Tatiana giving reviews for books for the week of October 02, 2019. Check out the reviews below and let us know what you think in the comments below or on Twitter. Welcome to the MARVEL REVIEWS, hope you enjoy the experience!
CHAMPIONS #10
“While You Were Away”
Written By: Jim Zub
Art By: Steven Cummings
Colors By: Marcio Menyz
Letters By: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover By: Kim Jacinto & Rain Beredo
Price: $3.99
Blackheart has control of the Champions and they must use their bond as a team to break free and defeat him in this series finale. Jim Zub really turned this book around for me, he gave me the Champions I wanted from the beginning and it is sad to see it go, especially because the cancellation forced this story to feel a bit rushed. Just like the last issue things had to happen super fast so Viv and Viv 2.0 healed their relationship in a matter of a few panels, as did Viv and Riri, while others (like the rest of the newbies) didn’t have any panels they were just turned all at once. But with all of that said, I still enjoyed the overall vibe of the story and the small character moments that did make it like Sooraya and Kamala’s very brief exchange on how people think they should be bond over being Muslim despite them being very different. The art is great, Blackheart is still super creepy and continues to give me that Death Note’s Ryuk look. Overall this is a great issue but at least deserved to be double issue to allow more time for closure.
Verdict: 4 ¼ Stars
FANTASTIC FOUR #15
Written By: Dan Slott
Art By: Paco Medina and Bob Quinn
Colors By: Jesus Aburtov
Letters By: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover By: Nick Bradshaw & John Rauch
Variant Cover By: Valerio Schiti & Richard Isanove; J. Scott Campbell & Sabine Rich
Price: $3.99
The Fantastic Four’s launch of the Marvel-2 rocket is a success when they reach the planet, Spyre. However, Spyre has their own team of superheroes, the Unparalleled, ready for their arrival. The first two acts of this issue are written like a comic featuring the Unparalleled. This is a bold and entertaining choice because it really sells the idea of the Fantastic Four as invaders. Also adding to this idea is the FF’s dialogue being unreadable for the Unparalleled and the reader too. Fortunately, Reed does fix this problem for his team.
Plus the people of Spyre being aware of the FF’s first mission creates an interesting element. The people refer to the FF as the “Four-told” and one of the Unparalleled (Sky) believes Johnny Storm is her soulmate through the planet’s ritual of soul-bonding. However, one flaw of this issue is how easily Slott sets up the Overseer as the big bad of this story. Despite a minor flaw, this is still an enjoyable issue.
Verdict: 4 Stars
GHOST RIDER #1
Written By: Ed Brisson
Pencils By: Aaron Kuder
Colors By: Jason Keith
Cover By: Aaron Kuder & Dean White
Variant Cover(s) By: Mark Texeira; Rahzzah; Arthur Adams & Jason Keith; Stuart Immonen, Cam Smith & Marte Gracia; Philip Tan & Jay David Ramos
Price: $4.99
Johnny Blaze is back in Ghost Rider #1, and he’s King of Hell ever since the events of Doctor Strange: Damnation, but he’s not the only Spirit of Vengeance around. Danny Ketch is hi co-star, in his first main title turn since the 90s. While the issue gets off to a slow start, it lays the groundwork for an understandable rivalry between the two friends while also bringing in tension from a few hellish corners. Brisson doesn’t waste much time with introductions, but even those unfamiliar with Ghost Rider lore will be able to follow the basic premise and grasp the major differences between the anti-heroes. If there’s any fly in the ointment, it may be the sheer amount of wallowing from Danny in comparison to his currently less-human counterpart. But at the same time, his state of mind needs to be explored, and once he receives his Hamlet-esque call one can expect him to act a lot more quickly than his literary predecessor.
Aaron Kuder and Jason Keith really make the Underworld pop, exploring a world that’s as colorful as it is uninviting in bold strokes. The character designs are all bright and fascinating too, and the artwork tells the story as much as Brisson himself does. Especially when it comes to Johnny in his daily demon-hunting life versus the Ghost Rider as King of Hell. There’s a solid sense of place that informs readers when a scene has shifted even without the helpful placards, but what’s most important is that the art team knows how to set the tone. When taken all together, Ghost Rider #1 has all the necessary ingredients to take fan on the ride of their life – for however long Marvel lets it last.
Verdict: 4 ½ Stars
SPIDER-VERSE #1
Written By: Jed MacKay
Art By: Juan Frigeri & Carlos Lopez (pg. 1-4, 16-17); Stacey Lee (pg. 5-6); Arthur Adams & Federico Blee (pg. 7-8); Jams Harren & Dave Stewart (pg. 9-10); Dike Ruan & Carlos Lopez (pg. 11-12); Sheldon Vella (pg. 13-15)
Cover By: Wendell Dalit
Variant Cover(s): Arthur Adams; John Tyler Christopher; Patrick Brown
Price: $3.99
The success of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse necessitated its own comic, of course. However, Spider-Verse #1 I less and adaptation of the film or continuation of its plot than it is a Spider-World generator. Or at least, that’s how it appears in the first issue as Miles is warped into various Earth full of new Spider-people in the midst of their Spider battles. This is all at the behest of a mysterious voice that goes by the name of “Spider-Zero,” but there isn’t much mystery regarding who that voice belongs to because Miles doesn’t get any time to investigate. He barely has room to breathe as he’s zapped from one world to the next, let alone to actually team up with the Spiders he meets (or, in some cases, re-encounters). As an appetizer, it may bring a whiff of what’s to come – especially in the last few pages – but as its own meal, it leaves fans malnourished and unsatisfied.
The artwork, on the other hand, is where Spider-Verse #1 shines. With a set of artists assigned to each ‘verse, there is a sense of uniqueness and wonder that accompanies each of Miles’ quick voyages. New characters stand out as soon as they’re introduced, which helps cut down on the time needed to actually introduce them. Of course, the issue would be better off if it took more time with fewer guest stars – but as it stands, the issue is a visual feast. If those locations are revisited, hopefully, the same teams come with them in order to establish consistency across the multiverse.
Verdict: 2 Stars