Rocketeer Adventures #4 (of 4)

I'm sorry to see the Rocketeer Adventures mini-series ends with this issue, but hopefully the run has been enough of a success to bring additional stories in the future.

If so, I hope they'll tackle some longer stories - after four issues of 8-page stories, it'd be nice to see one with a bit more meat on its bones.

Like the previous editions, the issue features some all-star talent, including an Alex Ross cover and one by Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens, interior art by Scott Hampton, Tony Harris and Brenden McCarthy, pinups by Ashley Wood, and stories written by Dave Gibbons, Joe Pruett and John Arcudi.

It's a fun mix of stories about Hawaiian legends, invading subs and a female version of the Rocketeer!

The series has been a great tribute to the talent of Stevens, and hopefully it's not our final sighting of his greatest creation.

Yes, I'm talking about Betty. But it'll be nice to see the Rocketeer again, too.

Grade: B+

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Secret Avengers #16

So far the Secret Avengers book has mostly flown under the radar.

It has an odd, Defenders-like lineup and it often seems to operate outside normal continuity.

But in the hands of the right creative team, that can work to the book's advantage, and that's the case with this issue.

Written by Warren Ellis, it takes the team to a city hidden beneath Cincinnati, Ohio. It was built by the Secret Empire for a sinister purpose (natch), and Steve Rogers has assembled a team to investigate, which includes the Black Widow, the Beast and Moon Knight.

What follows is a strange menace, an atomic-powered car, shootouts and more than a few plot twists.

The art is by Jamie McKelvie, and the visuals are fantastic. The line is clean and deceptively simple, but the depictions of the hidden city, the action scenes and the interaction between the heroes is a pure delight.

The odd sideways cover by John Cassaday is impressive, too.

If you haven't been following this series, this would be a good "done-in-one" issue to check out. If you have been following it, this may be your favorite issue in the series.

Grade: A-

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The Incredible Hulks #635

The adventures of the Incredible Hulk have to be a challenge for the writer - what do you do with a giant, green-skinned, unstoppable engine of destruction?

A few writers have tackled that challenge and created some innovative, lasting stories: co-creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Roy Thomas, Bill Mantlo, Peter David and Roger Stern leap to mind. But to that list you can add another excellent writer: Greg Pak.

With this issue he wraps up a run of more than five years on this series, which started with the epic Planet Hulk series. In the time since Pak has built up the Hulk Family, crafted a number of intelligent, clever stories and taken the book in unexpected directions.

And he manages the difficult task of wrapping up his series on a strong note, leaving all the pieces in place for the next writer to take off in his own direction.

This story puts the Hulk (and Bruce Banner) in the enviable position of having his dreams come true. But trust me, his dreams are not what you might expect.

The issue is loaded with over-the-top, world-shaking action, lots of plot twists, numerous Hulk supporting characters, and Fin Fang Foom! What more could you need?

The art chores for the book's two chapters are split between two excellent pencillers - Paul Pelletier and Tom Grummett - and they present two completely different kinds of stories - one loud and destructive, the other quiet and introspective.

It adds up to a great "final" issue, and leaves the next creative team with a tough act to follow.

Grade: A-

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Justice League #1

So this is the "New 52" (in other words, "The New DC!").

Hmmmmm.

The Justice League is the big gun in DC's arsenal (or at least it should be), since it combines all the company's biggest names in one package (or at least it should).

And that's what they've done here - or so it seems on the cover. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg are apparently intended to be the core of the team - and that's great!

Unfortunately, in this issue, only four of those heroes appear - one is in his pre-hero state (origin forthcoming) and another one only appears on the last page.

The story is set "five years ago," so we're seeing the team form for the first time. Apparently this is going to take the shape of several "meet cute" scenes - except for the ones that use the old Marvel formula of "good guys meet, fight, then realize they should work together." An oldie but a goodie.

All of which is to say, this series is off to a slow start. It starts with Batman chasing a mysterious opponent (whose origins leave no doubt as to the identity of the first big bad for the team), and he's joined by another hero in his search.

It's all sharply written by Geoff Johns, with solid characterization and the proper voice for each character - but considering they had 24 pages to work with, the issue doesn't cover a lot of ground. This opening story is obviously going to take at least six issues to get the team assembled.

As for the art, I'm a fan of Jim Lee's work (here ably inked by Scott Williams), and his work here lives up to past glories. Lots of full and double-page splashes, lots of explosions and action scenes, lots of dynamic layouts, and lots of heroes with grim looks of determination.

You can add me to the chorus who are not exactly wild about the new costume designs - everyone has that armored-up look, except for Wonder Woman, who looks like she's about to burst out of her skimpy top.

I don't object to the costumes being tweaked, but there's an overwhelming sense of "sameness" there.

Of course, this issue is review-proof. It doesn't matter if critics love it or hate it - it's a historic issue, so it'll sell by the ton.

But here's my review: it's not bad. It's not great, it's not a radical new beginning, but it is a fresh start, a good jumping-on spot for new readers, and it may build a following - but it has a ways to go before it earns its spot as a fan favorite.

They have a great creative team, the right cast, and loads of potential. Time will tell if they can live up to it.

Grade: B+

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Flashpoint #5 (of 5)

This has to be one of the biggest issues in DC's history.

On the shoulders of Flashpoint ride the upcoming transformation of the DC Universe, the final fate of the transformed world, and the closure of (for all intents and purposes) the last 70-plus years of DC's history.

That's a lot to put on one comic book, and by that scale this issue doesn't quite get there - but it does manage to provide a satisfying conclusion to the Flashpoint series, at least.

The issue begins on a battlefield as the Atlanteans and the Amazons begin their final battle, with all of Earth's remaining super-powered characters (I would not call most of them "heroes") joining in the fight.

At the same time, the Flash and Batman finally confront the Reverse-Flash, who reveals a final plot twist (one that doesn't quite succeed in selling itself as THE CAUSE FOR EVERYTHING TO GO WRONG).

But there are lots of dramatic twists, some nice heartfelt moments and loads of big (and sometime bloody) action scenes.

It's all top-notch work by writer Geoff Johns and artist Andy Kubert (I've raved about both men many times before).

If it doesn't quite manage to be the mind-blowing trip we might have hoped for, it does provide a nice wrap-up to the recent run of DC's titles - though it makes no effort to tie the whole history together.

We're apparently getting a fresh start (of sorts) with the New 52, and time will tell whether or not the new version takes off. If not, the Flashpoint series has left a few escape hatches available so DC can return to the status quo - but barring a disaster, I'd say the future is here to stay.

Tomorrow, we'll look at the first issue for the New DC: Justice League.

Grade: A-

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The Classics - The Books of Magic #1 (of 4)

So here's a great idea for a story.

Start with a young boy who looks like any typical nerd - skinny, glasses, tangled mass of hair. He thinks he's just another kid, but then four mysterious men show up and reveal to him that magic is real and that he's actually a wizard - possibly the most powerful one ever.

That begins his education into the world of magic, lessons fraught with danger and excitement.

Of course, everyone knows the name of the young magician: Tim Hunter.

For those who guessed Harry Potter, don't feel bad - though the mini-series and continuing series called The Books of Magic was popular when it was first published in 1990, it was eclipsed by the hero of J.K. Rowling's books - even though the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, wasn't released until June 1997.

Thankfully, there were never any lawsuits (both Harry and Tim benefit from being under the wings of Warner Brothers, of course) - in fact, now that the Potter movies are finished, perhaps they should look into the somewhat darker story that begins in this issue.

The four-part Prestige mini-series that kicks off the series was written by Neil Gaiman - who needs no introduction - and the first issue was drawn by the incredibly talented John Bolton - and an amazing bit of work it is, depicting everything from the origin of the Universe (and of magic) to the gruesome history of the practice of magic on Earth.

Each chapter features Tim being guided by a different figure from DC's magical universe - the Phantom Stranger, John Constantine, Mr. E and Dr. Occult.

The series provided a great primer for the world of magic in the DC Universe - and created a terrific new character at the same time.

It's a dark but extremely well-done series and well worth tracking down.

Those Harry Potter books are good, too.

Grade: A

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New Comics - and an Explanation

Just back in town after a work-related trip, so please bear with me - I'll get the "classics" review up shortly.

In the meantime, here's what I picked up on this historic day for comics:

- Flashpoint #5 (of 5) - Secrets revealed! Universes changed!

- Herc #6.1 - Learning about Hercules - with art by Mike Grell!

- Incredible Hulks #635 - The end of the line for writer Greg Pak.

- Journey Into Mystery #626.1 - Learning about Loki.

- Justice League #1 - A new beginning!

- Rocketeer Adventures #4 (of 4) - More great art!

- Secret Avengers #16 - A wild one from Warren Ellis.

- The Mighty Thor #5 - Odin vs. Galactus!

- Uncanny X-Force #14 - A showdown between powerhouses.

And that's it!

Retroactive 1990s: Justice League America (One-Shot)

The Retroactive series of comics seems like an odd project for DC to tackle.

The company is focusing on the Flashpoint series and the assorted mini-series and one-shots that tie into that series.

Of course, the idea is (I assume) to celebrate the history of the company, even as we stand on the edge of its (presumed) end, and the beginning of a "new era."

That's commendable, but I can't imagine the sales on this series are anything to write home about. The $5 price tag and the fact that half the comic is a reprint seems like a tough sell.

I have to admit, I've only picked up two issues - the "Mod" Wonder Woman issue, and this one, which is dedicated to the Keith Giffen - J. M. DeMatteris - Kevin Maguire incarnation of the Justice League America.

That version was a big hit with the fans because of the humor, sharp writing, fun characterization and (of course) great art by Maguire.

I couldn't pass up one more story from that team, and while it's not the best thing they've ever done, this story does stand up well, it has a few laughs and lots of great art.

The reprint in the back is from the team's last issue during the original run, and it's fitting that the blurb at the end promises "A New Beginning."

That's what we'll get on Wednesday. Time will tell if new is better. Here's hoping!

Grade: B+
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Dark Horse Presents #3

You'd think the Dark Horse Presents series would be a tough sale, since the cover price is a gulp-inducing $7.99.

But it's actually well worth the price for a couple of reasons.

First of all, it's a heck of a bargain - you get 104 pages of comic - about equal to four regular comics - at a cheaper price than three normal issues.

Second of all, each issue features some of the industry's top talent. This issue alone includes Dave Gibbons, Paul Chadwick, Steranko, Neal Adams, Howard Chaykin and Rich Corben.

And while each story is relatively short, they're an outstanding mix of action, humor, science fiction, fantasy, horror - in other words, a little bit of everything.

The Steranko feature is a chapter from his remastered graphic novel Red Tide, which features the private eye named Chandler. The author claims it was the first-ever graphic novel, and he makes a persuasive argument for it (feel free to discuss amongst yourselves).

There's also a rambling (and somewhat rare) interview with Steranko included. I'm not sure if the Red Tide story is being serialized here or if this is just a "sneak peek." (It is labeled Chapter One.)

Other favorite stories include: a new Concrete adventure in which the stone activist goes into crime fighting (sorta); Gibbons' look at a futuristic cross between a cop show and reality TV; Chaykin's analysis of a hit man; and the strange character known as Number 13.

I should add that, in addition to stories by hall-of-famers, there are several stories by some impressive up-and-coming talent, too.

I really like this series, and as long as they can maintain this caliber of talent, I'll be there.

Grade: A-

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Justice Society of America #54

So there's good news and bad news.

The bad news is, this is the final issue of the Justice Society of America. Also, the story here is pretty bad. (It's another one of those "demigod goes wild, destroys the city, and the heroes can't stop it" things.)

The good news is, the art is great - from the iconic cover by Darwyn Cooke to the interiors by Jerry Ordway - and DC has just announced that it will bring back the JSA in a few months, reportedly setting the team's adventures on Earth-2 (where it belongs).

I'm not sure if the "new" JSA will include heroes like the Golden Age Flash, Hawkman, Atom or Green Lantern (not to mention the original Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman), or if DC will stick to the heroes who aren't duplicated on Earth-1.

Whatever the case, it's good to hear the team is getting a fresh start, because it's been struggling since writer Geoff Johns left the series. It's been through various hands, and no one seems to be able to bring the series back to its former glory.

They tried splitting the team into two books (terrible idea), making the JSA a virtual army like the Legion of Super-Heroes (that didn't work), and giving the team a new setting and strange new villains to fight (no one cared).

What makes the JSA work is its sense of history and the family atmosphere - the idea that these old warriors are training the new heroes of today. Make them characters we care about, throw in some humor and some entertaining action sequences - and most important of all, tell a good story.

If they can achieve those goals, they can make the team as exciting and fresh as... well, as they look on the cover of this issue.

Here's hoping!

Grade: B

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FF #8

For quite a few issues of FF the story has been mostly concerned with moving all the characters into place (don't get me wrong, this has all been happening in a very entertaining manner, as you'd expect from writer Jonathan Hickman) - but with this issue, the action part of our program kicks into gear.

The four cities have gone to war, and the result is a chaotic battle that includes the return of a major character who was thought to be dead (no, not the Human Torch), the assembling of an army of super-villains, a diminished (but still potent) Fantastic Four (sorry, I mean FF) and a menace that just might destroy the world.

And that's just part of it all - we have inter-family squabbles, Reed's daughter trying again to outsmart her dad, and a scene I've been waiting for.

Dr. Doom has been treated poorly by writers in recent years - he was beaten badly - twice - killed, had his brain damaged, and forced to turn to his most bitter foe to be rehabilitated. Doom should be Marvel's most formidable foe, not a punching bag.

But in this issue - finally - we see a glimpse of the real Dr. Doom, and it's mighty satisfying - and, I suspect, just the beginning.

The art is by Steve Epting with colors by Paul Mounts, and they turn in some impressive work here, illustrating cosmic events, a cast of thousands and some Kirby-sized battles.

There are just four issues left until we (presumably) see the return of the Fantastic Four, and a story this big will no doubt take that many issues just to sort things out.

Highly recommended!

Grade: A-

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John Byrne's Next Men #9

The final issue of this nine-issue story arc for the John Byrne's Next Men manages the difficult task of wrapping up a time travel story that, in lesser hands, would have been a confused mess.

Instead, it's a smart, clearly-told adventure that plays fair with the reader while offering up lots of surprises, interesting characters and clever twists.

Having suffered through a number of traumatic events - including developing super-powers, being tortured, assaulted and controlled (to name a few) - the surviving members of the Next Men may have found a way to alter their destiny, thanks to the time-traveling technology at their disposal.

But... (there's always a big "but," as the old joke says) the solution may mean the destruction of the team.

As always Byrne crafts a sharply detailed story (although Jazz gets to be a bit annoying here, her reactions are true to the character), and the art is fantastic, running the range from intimate moments to world-changing events.

I wouldn't recommend this issue to a new reader (wait for the collection), but this is a rewarding wrap-up for longtime readers, and paves the way for the next (and possibly final) Next Men story.

Grade: A

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The Ultimates #1

This issue arrived in a plastic bag, though the reasons why seem difficult to discern.

There are no big revelations, no shocks that require a barrier to keep the reader from turning to the last page.

(I know, the bag is there to hide which issue comes with a special autograph. It still seems silly.)

Anyway, here we have a new version of The Ultimates (or at least the latest version - there are no new characters on display). And the story starts off smack in the middle of a number of disasters-about-to-happen, and the team is spread thin trying to keep up.

Oh, and despite the cover, there's no Captain America to be seen here - he apparently quit the team during Ultimate Fallout.

The star of the book is actually Nick (Samuel Jackson) Fury, who is faced with deadly threats on a number of fronts, including some he's not aware of.

One features a somewhat-disguised Reed Richards, who has become a villain for no apparent reason, one features a mysterious naval assault on Uruguay, one focuses on the irritating presence of Asgard over the skies of Europe, with the additional question: just whose side is Thor on?

It's all big and bold and loaded with dark purpose, and obviously we're just getting the beginnings of the story here - but the series is off to a very disjointed start, and it seems like it would be a bit difficult for new readers to sort out.

Heck, I've been reading comics forever and I struggled in places. (What is a SEAR, anyway?)

There's certainly a lot of action to go around, but with the team scattered all over the globe, there's no sense of "team" established. Yet.

I like the artwork by Esad Ribic, which features a fresh and energetic style. It's a bit on the dark side, but that matches the mood of the story perfectly.

I have to admit that I'm struggling a bit to get into the "new" Ultimate Universe. They've worked so hard to tear it down, I'm not sure I have the energy to wait while they build it back up.

And frankly, the dark tone of this series isn't much encouragement. I trust writer Jonathan Hickman to turn in outstanding work - but at the moment, I'm on the fence with The Ultimates.

Grade: B+

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Today's Comics

Today I picked up:

- Captain America & Bucky #621 - The real story of their first mission.

- Dark Horse Presents #3 - A remasterered version of Steranko's Red Tide and an interview with the master.

- FF #8 - The build-up is over, it's time to go to war.

- Justice Society of America #54 - The sad end for a once-great series.

- Mystery Men #4 (of 5) - This has been good and pulpy.

- Next Men #9 - The surprising end of the latest chapter.

- Retroactive 1990s: Justice League America - One last go-round with Giffen, DeMatteis and Maguire.

- The Ultimates #1 - Big trouble is brewing.

- Flashpoint: Project Superman #3 (of 3) - A slugfest between Supermen.

- Uncanny X-Force #13 - Dark times in an alternate universe.

And that's it!

The Classics - Challengers of the Unknown #47

By the time this comic came out (it's cover dated December 1965 - January 1966), I was picking up fewer of DC's titles and gravitating toward Marvel's line - but one of the DC books I held onto the longest was Challengers of the Unknown.

(Don't worry, I eventually came back to DC's titles - but it took several years.)

Like The Doom Patrol, the Challs were very different from most of DC's heroes. For one thing, they didn't really get along, although it was obvious they were friends and good teammates.

But they would argue, they would tease each other, they would crack jokes - they just seemed like a fun group to be around.

Which seems funny, since their origin was a bit odd and decidedly serious. The four men who made up the team were each experts in their field: Kyle "Ace" Morgan (a pilot), Matthew "Red" Ryan (a daredevil), Leslie "Rocky" Davis (a boxer) and Walter Mark "Prof" Haley (a scientist). They survive a terrible plane crash, decide they're living "on borrowed time" and devote their lives to exploring the ultimate mysteries.

That brings them in conflict with an amazing array of monsters, aliens and strange life forms.

This issue was a particular favorite because of the lead story (there are two stories in this issue). In "The Sinister Sponge," an ordinary man is transformed into a Sponge-Man, capable of absorbing anything - sound, energy, even color.

This gave long-time (and vastly underrated) Challengers artist Bob Brown lots of room for fun visuals, as a crime spree leads to widespread destruction.

But the surprising thing about the story is the fact that it doesn't wrap up with a happy resolution. Writer Bill Finger (one of the greatest of the Golden and Silver Age writers) takes what could be another "Challs vs. a monster" story and makes it a tragic tale.

The Sponge-Man is actually the victim of a freak accident and led into crime by a con man. When his actions accidentally threaten the lives of the Challengers, the Sponge-Man saves them. But the ending of the story is the real surprise, though I won't spoil it here.

The backup story written by France Herron and drawn by Brown is a bit thin, as the team is trapped by Mr. Tic-Tac-Toe (honest!), and other than some nice art and a few clever uses of the game design, there's not much there.

In fact, the issue is a good synopsis of the team's comics: when they were good, they were great fun; but when the stories were just OK, the series suffered.

After too much of the latter (and a shuddering infusion of campy stories), the series ended with issue #75. There have been some attempts to bring the team back, but these days they're rarely seen.

It would be great to see a series take the team back to its over-the-top style - but these days, comics are a serious business, so perhaps we'll have to be satisfied with the occasional guest appearances.

Grade: B+

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Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #3 (of 3)

Flashpoint #5 must be a heck of an issue, because apparently every mini-series dovetails into it.

In other words, after reading three issues of Wonder Woman and the Furies (a "mini-series within a mini-series") and the parallel Emperor Aquaman mini-series, nothing is resolved.

The Amazons and the Atlanteans are still at war, most of Europe is in ruins, Wonder Woman and Aquaman are both acting like villains, and just as the "final battle" begins, the issue ends with a "To Be Continued in Flashpoint."

Oh, the plotters are revealed, but their scheme frankly make no sense - the logic is essentially "we had to destroy the village to save it." Right.

But the good news is, we're almost at the end of this event, and we'll see how it all wraps up. As it stands, it looks like the entire series has just been an exercise of the creative teams deciding to turn all the characters on their heads just for the fun of it.

It hasn't exactly been DC's proudest moment. Here's hoping that final issue and the new, rebooted version of the DC Universe redeems this mess.

Grade: C-

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Captain America #2

One of the tricky things about Captain America's ties to World War II is that it's more difficult with each passing year to reach back to his old foes, since they would all be reaching an advanced age by now.

But that's no obstacle to a clever writer like Ed Brubaker, who manages to link a modern adventure to Cap's experiences in WWII, keeping it all fresh and exciting.

He manages that by creating new characters, including Jimmy Jupiter, a clever "real world" approximation for a certain comic strip kid named Nemo.

It's a smart bit of business that explains why one of Cap's former allies - or would competitor be a better word? - is still young, vital and a good match for the super-soldier.

Steve McNiven is doing exceptional artwork here, working with inkers Jay Leisten and Dexter Vines, and colorist Justin Ponsor. The sequence where Cap leads an attack on a Hydra base is pure poetry.

So, great story, mysteries being revealed, strong action scenes, terrific art - all I can say is: you really should be reading this one.

Grade: A

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Ultimate Fallout #6 (of 6)

So I'm assuming the discussion at Marvel went something like this:

"After we kill the Ultimate version of Spider-Man, we'll restart the series with a new issue #1!"

"Great, but there must be some way to squeeze a few more dollars out of this."

"Hey, we should do a mini-series that ties up all the loose ends left behind by the death of Spider-Man. We'll use top artists, writer Brian Bendis, make it a weekly so we can get to the new title and charge top dollar!"

"Terrific idea! But make sure all the events are teasers for the upcoming issues so we don't actually resolve anything."

"Yeah, and make sure you never actually show Peter Parker's body in case we have to bring him back from the dead faster than we'd planned."

"And let's be sure to put in a few emo scenes for Nick Fury - he's been too macho lately, we need to make him more likeable."

"Great! So the series will be an ad for the new Ultimate titles, not resolve anything, and cost the fans $24!"

"Exactly! Now, we haven't quite managed to kill off the Ultimate titles yet, so let's start planning the next mini-series..."

Grade: C-

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Avengers #16

It seems that the series most affected by an "Event" is the one that struggles the most with what to do while the event is running its course.

That seems to be the problem with The Avengers, as this issue is given over to a side-story that makes little sense and doesn't accomplish anything - unless you count "stalling for time."

Brian Bendis' story doesn't make sense because it's sandwiched in between two key moments in the Fear Itself series. We saw a key character get killed in one issue of the mini-series, and the next issue we saw Captain America's reaction to it.

This issue shows us that Cap took time in between those moments to fly to Europe with three key female SHIELD agents to try to track down the Red Skull's daughter Sin - but wasn't she always at the head of the invading army that's been smashing cities since the first issue of Fear Itself?

What follows is several pages of all-out action, and artist John Romita Jr. has fun putting the heroes through their paces.

But that's all there is to it - by the end, everything is back where it started, There's some solid artwork, a few clever lines - and a story that seems to be unnecessary.

Hopefully, once Fear Itself has run its course, this comic can go back to telling stories that matter.

Grade: C+

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Daredevil #2

I love it when the comics companies create stories that are exactly what I've been hoping for.

That's what we're getting with the new Daredevil, as written by Mark Waid and drawn by Paolo and Joe Rivera.

For the first time in far too long, Matt Murdock is starring in a fun comic book.

The creative team has followed the time-honored technique of going back to basics - way back, to the original version of the character: Daredevil is a happy-go-lucky, wise-cracking hero who is blind, but had his senses increased in a radiation accident that also gave him a radar sense. He is The Man Without Fear. In real life he is Matt Murdock, a brilliant attorney who often defends the super-villains he captures. His best friend and law partner is Foggy Nelson.

And that's all you need! Recent events aren't entirely forgotten, however. This issue kicks off with a terrific encounter between DD and an angry Captain America, who has decided to arrest DD for recent crimes (the less said about Shadowland the better).

Daredevil's skill at debating serves him well, and we're quickly back to the legal subplot - and we find out (sorta) the mysterious plot against his client, which features a surprising guest-villain.

I really like the artwork - it has an open, freewheeling feel that matches the (new) tone of the comic. The action scenes flow nicely, and Rivera creates some clever new ways to depict DD's view of the world.

If you're not reading this, you're missing one of Marvel's most entertaining books.

Highly recommended - especially if you have a sense of humor!

Grade: A

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