Tarot #1

   This is one of those comics that almost got lost in the swarm of comics on sale this week - and that would be a shame, because it's terrific!

   Tarot is a story told in different times, featuring three of Marvel's greatest teams!

   We start with a World War II adventure with The Invaders (Captain America, Namor, the Human Torch), and that leads to a more 'modern' adventure with the '70s lineup for both The Avengers (Cap, Thor, Iron Man, Vision and the Scarlet Witch) and the much-missed original Defenders (Doctor Strange, Namor, Hulk, Valkyrie and Silver Surfer).

   The story is written by Alan Davis - he's most famous for his amazing art, but he's also a tremendous writer, as this issue demonstrates. 

   The art is by Paul Renaud, whose style is similar to Davis' - great character designs, energetic page layouts, clear storytelling and vivd environments - it's excellent!

   So, a top creative team handling an all-star cast facing a powerful and mysterious opponent, and a story with some clever twists and turns - a great combination!

   As a fan of all three of those comic teams - and especially glad to see the return of the original Defenders - I'm "all in" on this series, and anxious to see where it goes from here.

Grade: A

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The Defenders #10

   This has been a fun series and - sadly - this issue apparently marks the end of it (for now).

   The Defenders has been a playground for writer Brian Michael Bendis, who's moving over to DC, so he's wrapping up the story in the dozens of Marvel's books that he writes (only a slight exaggeration).

   This series has been focused on establishing the new Kingpin of crime in New York (since the actual Kingpin is busy being the Mayor of New York over in Daredevil's comic).

   It all comes to a head in this issue as DD, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones (who gets the best lines as always) face off against the newest and deadliest contender.

   It's a lot of fun throughout, with terrific art by David Marquez and excellent color art by Justin Ponsor.

   Happily, they even manage to sneak in a nice tip o' the hat to the original Defenders team along the way.

   If this series is ending, I'm sorry to see it go - but at least it wraps up on a strong note.

Grade: A-

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The Defenders #9

   As writer Brian Michael Bendis wraps up his long career at Marvel, he's apparently having fun and leaving a memorable finale.

   This issue of The Defenders brings us the next-to-the-last issue in his 'Kingpins of New York' story, and it's all about confrontations.

    So we have Luke Cage confronting Diamondback, a team of villains facing Luke's allies, Jennifer Jones confronting... well everyone, some surprise appearances and a twist at the end.

    Add in lots of sharp, funny dialogue and terrific art by David Marquez (with color by Justin Ponsor) and you have a crackling good time.

Grade: A-

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The Defenders - TV Review

   I've watched the first two episodes of the new Netflix series Marvel's The Defenders, and so far it's a terrific achievement. 

   I think Marvel's brain trust has been brilliant, using the same concept they used with The Avengers - to introduce each hero individually in separate series, and team them up in this series.

   The series brings together the heroes from the four existing Marvel / Netflix series - Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Iron Fist - to tackle a menace too big for any single hero.

   Each character gets (more or less) equal treatment, and they're an interesting mix of earnest and powerful (Iron Fist, played by Finn Jones), troubled but dedicated (Daredevil, played by Charlie Cox), a streetwise hero trying to make a difference (Luke Cage, played by Mike Colter), and a troubled spitfire whose heart is in the right place whether she wants to admit it or not (Jessica Jones, played by Krysten Ritter).

   There's a nice mystery building behind the villain (wonderfully played by Sigourney Weaver), a big menace to New York (and points beyond) and yes, the first time two of the heroes meet, they fight. (It's a beloved tradition with Marvel.)

   The action scenes are well staged and entertaining, the photography and special effects are excellent, and the music is perfect (it changes depending on which character is in the spotlight).

   The series is building nicely on the individual series and includes most of the excellent supporting cast from each one, and the interaction between the heroes is a lot of fun (although to be fair, that's just starting to kick in with episode two).

   It's not necessary to have seen the previous series to enjoy this one, but it isn't really for young kids - it gets intense and there's some adult language (mostly from Jessica).

   The series shows the strength of "team stories." A single character can be almost silly, using superpowers (or wearing a costume) in the real world. But bring several together and it gives the story more gravitas - and each character can show their strengths, bouncing off each other.

   Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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The Defenders - TV Trailer

   NetFlix has released the final trailer for the upcoming series Marvel's The Defenders - and I have to say, it looks like a lot of fun. (Warning, this trailer includes a naughty word.)

The Defenders #4

   Writer Brian Michael Bendis specializes in taking the unexpected route in telling a story, but this issue of The Defenders has a few twists that may leave you scratching your head.

   That's not a bad thing, of course.

   The story features a mysteriously-alive and strangely-powerful villain named  Diamondback, who's planning to take control of the drug trade in New York City - but standing in his way is the "new" Defenders: Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones.

    Diamondback's amped up power is evident because he manages to defeat Luke Cage in a fight. This time around, Iron Fist and Jessica are out for revenge - and one of them will suffer a terrible injury. Or will they?

   (Longtime readers - like me - may not be as mystified about that hero's recovery.)

   The story seems to come to an abrupt end - perhaps they want to have a new story starting as the new Netflix series premieres?

   Whatever the case, this has been a strong start to the series, with great characters, compelling stories and terrific art by David Marquez.

   Highly recommended!

Grade: A-

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The Defenders #3

   I shouldn't be surprised that I'm really enjoying The Defenders - but somehow I am.

   I assume it's because the series feels a bit forced, bringing together the stars of assorted Netflix shows as a team - which works fine on TV, but may be a stretch in the comics where their stories have taken different paths.

   It works because - well, the book is loaded with terrific characters. It pits Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones against a mysteriously powerful (and no longer dead) crime lord named Diamondback.

   But first, they have to fight the Punisher (and survive the encounter).

   The story by Brian Michael Bendis is fast and funny, and almost worth buying just for Luke Cage's comments.

   It's also packed with action, terrific art by David Marquez, and a heck of a cliffhanger.

   If I had to quibble about something, it's that lots of injuries are doled out - and everyone seems to recover with amazing speed.

   But that's minor - all standard business in an action / adventure story.

   And this is a very good one. What a happy surprise!

Grade: A

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Defenders #2

   While I still struggle a smudge with the name of this team (I fondly remember the original gang), The Defenders is a darned good comic.

   Set at the ground level of the Marvel universe, it teams up Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones as they face the challenge of a new kingpin of crime in New York - a surprisingly powerful and deadly old foe of Luke's named Diamondback.

   Formerly a run-of-the-mill villain, Diamondback is more lethal than ever - and his confrontation with Luke Cage leaves that hero at death's door.

   As you'd expect from writer Brian Michael Bendis, the dialogue is fast, funny and very real - and the reactions of each character are likewise.

   The art by David Marquez is excellent, with striking layouts and powerful character designs.

   Throw in some clever plot twists and several guest appearances, and you have a series that doesn't slow down for a moment.

   More like this, please, and I can forgive the lack of Dr. Strange, Namor and the Hulk!

Grade: A-

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The Defenders #1

   Several different groups have carried the label "The Defenders" - and now there's a new one.

   I can't remember if Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist or Jessica Jones were ever members of the original version of the team (the one that started with Dr. Strange, the Sub-Mariner and the Hulk), but that foursome gets to carry on the team tradition thanks mostly to the upcoming Netflix TV series that brings together those four heroes.

   This issue flows directly out of the recent Free Comic Book Day issue, with each hero under attack by a surprisingly powerful (and surprisingly alive) Diamondback.

   The book is written by Brian Michael Bendis, who did a terrific job with 3/4 of the team when he was writing the New Avengers - and now he gets to add Iron Fist to the mix.

   The art is by David Marquez with color art by Justin Ponsor, and it's excellent, with great character designs (I love the introductory graphic each hero gets with his or her "entrance"), strong layouts and vivid environments.

   It's a  powerful start for this "street level" series, and I'm anxious to see where it goes next.

   Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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The Fearless Defenders #1

An amazingly short span of time has elapsed since the last attempt at a Defenders comic (which was actually a very good comic, if a bit unorthodox) - but here's Marvel right back in the game with The Fearless Defenders.

The problem is: it's not the Defenders.

Oh, the Valkyrie is in it, and it seems to be a non-team (in the sense that there are no leaders, no rules, no structure, no meeting place) - but so far, it's just a team-up comic between Val and bionic detective Misty Knight.

The original Defenders team was made up of Dr. Strange, Namor and the Hulk (one could argue that the Silver Surfer belongs, too), and in my mind, for a team to carry the name, at least one of those characters has to be on the roster.

Instead what we have here is an updated version of the Lady Liberators, a one-and-done gathering of Marvel's female heroes in an early issue of The Avengers (wait, the group made another brief appearance in a recent issue of the Hulk).

I actually like the concept of an all-female team of heroes (whether or not I like the name the team has here), but this title has a ways to go to win over its audience.

The comic is taking the gradual rollout approach, gathering the team members very slowly. So we only have two heroes involved here, and the menace they face - Asgardian zombies, of all things - offer no challenge at all.

So the story is barely under way and the art is solid but not exceptional - this is not the recipe for making a strong impression with new readers.

Shock us, surprise us, delight us - just don't give us the same old thing. With the wrong team name on the comic.

Grade: C+

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The Defenders #7

For reasons old-timers will understand, reading The Defenders is like watching an old episode of the Ed Sullivan Show.

See, Ed regularly had an act on where a guy would start plates spinning on the end of tall poles. He'd have to run back and forth, spinning those plates frantically to keep them from falling. It was tense to watch, because you kept expecting one of those plates to fall.

That's what we're seeing in this comic, as writer Matt Fraction tries to keep all the story elements spinning, madly keeping it all together lest the whole thing crash.

So we have the team investigating some mysterious engines that somehow affect the fate of the world, and it involves the character Prester John (who first appeared in the Fantastic Four in a single issue in the 1960s), and it also involves Iron Fist and his predecessors, and the murder of several of the Immortal Weapons (of which Iron Fist is one), and it also ties in to the nation of Wakanda and a certain Kirby-created device of great power. Oh, and the Black Cat shows up in there, too.

Whew! But somehow it all works, as the story crackles along with action and great humor and interesting characters.

The art is by Terry and Rachel Dodson, and I really like it. Dark and menacing, fresh and sexy as can be, the feel of the art mirrors the story perfectly.

This series really recaptures the fun early days of the team, with a fresh spin. Highly recommended, as long as Fraction doesn't drop any plates!

Grade: A-

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Classic Comics - The Defenders #62

Through its first incarnation, The Defenders enjoyed some prime writing talent, including Roy Thomas, Steve Englehart and Steve Gerber.

All three turned in excellent work and made their mark on the series. Those talents tend to overshadow another writer whose work I enjoyed quite a bit on this and other titles - David Kraft.

His work in the late '70s featured quite a few entertaining twists - but this is the one that stands out most clearly in my mind.

This issue is a (mostly) comedic take on the hoary "recruit new members for the team" bit. The twist was that the Defenders didn't really want any new members - they were happy with the existing roster, which included Nighthawk, Hellcat, Valkyrie and the Hulk.

It seems that amateur filmmaker (and comic relief) "Dollar Bill" had made a documentary about the team without their knowledge, and gave it to a TV network to broadcast. At the end of the film he pointed out that The Defenders were a "non-team," with no charter or rules - so any hero could be a member!

The next morning, the team is swamped with a small army of second-tier characters looking to join - and the situation just gets wilder with every page. (And we all now what happens when a bunch of Marvel heroes get together for the first time, right?)

Aside from a serious (and unconnected) sub-plot, the issue was given over to this offbeat situation - and the story, while improbable, was undeniably fun.

The art is by the legendary Sal Buscema with inks by the equally legendary Jim Mooney - but the printing doesn't do them any favors. It's a solid, professional job, but not the best work by either artist, I must admit. Of course, it's the kind of story that would give any artist (except maybe George Perez) nightmares, with dozens of costumed heroes running amok.

Still, kudos to Kraft for his excellent work on this series - and you'd also do well to track down the project he tackled after leaving Marvel: he created Comics Interview magazine, one of my all-time favorite comics publications.

Grade: B+

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The Defenders #4

They started out as an odd gathering of "heroes," but The Defenders became famous in the 1970s because of the strangeness of the stories, featuring inspired writing by Steve Gerber.

The new version of the title seems to be trying to follow in those same offbeat footsteps, and so far it's succeeding!

This issue is very Dr. Strange-centric, as he struggles to decipher the mystery behind an ancient machine he's taken into... shall we say, protective custody.

His investigations yield a surprising and emotional result, but he's hampered by the attentions of a student - and a thief.

It's an intelligent, moving story by Matt Fraction, and the resolution is quite surprising (if somewhat out of character).

The art is by Michael Lark, who does a solid job filling in for Terry and Rachel Dodson. He's not quite in their league, but he's close - the art has a nice, dark look to it, with strong layouts and great characters.

Even if the story is serious, there's an undertone of humor that runs through it, and the notes at the bottom of each page add to the surreal feeling. Some notes are ads for other comics, and some feel like a stream-of-consciousness commentary. Very funny stuff there.

There are lots of new books out there vying for attention, so don't let The Defenders get lost in the shuffle - this is one to watch.

Grade: A-

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The Defenders #3

Since I was a big fan of The Defenders in its original version, I'm happy to report that - so far - I really like this version, too.

Part of that is the return of longtime favorites such as Dr. Strange, the Silver Surfer, Namor the Sub-Mariner and Iron Fist. I'm not as big a fan of the Red She-Hulk (did we really need another She-Hulk? Is Jen Walters over-utilized?), but she's used well here, so that's OK.

The series has kicked off by pitting the team against a powerhouse opponent, Nul, and thrown in some other old favorites, including the Knights of Wundagore and Prester John (you can count his Marvel appearances on one hand and have fingers left over).

Throw in some assorted weirdness and the fate of the universe hanging in the balance (and a reference to another beloved - and offbeat - Marvel comic), and you have one entertaining story by Matt Fraction.

The art certainly holds up its end of the deal, with Terry and Rachel Dodson providing lush, action-packed pages. Strong layouts, powerful heroes, beautiful women - what's not to like?

I especially enjoy the little touches, and find the notes on the bottom of many of the pages to be very funny.

Best of all, the opening storyline wraps up in this issue (at least I think it does) - it's nice to see a more compact adventure, rather than the standard stretched-out story that's so common today.

This is a fun, slightly off-center team book that's a lot of fun. Recommended!

Grade: A-

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The Defenders #2

See, this is what being a Marvel Comic is all about.

You gather a team of heroes, set them up against a formidable opponent, throw in some interesting additional characters, add some humor, a bit of drama, some outstanding artwork, great action sequences - who could ask for more?

You'll find all that in this second issue of The Defenders, as the team (consisting of Dr. Strange, Namor, Silver Surfer, Red She-Hulk and Iron Fist) travel to Wundagore Mountain to try to stop Nul, the Breaker of Worlds (and the last remaining member of the Serpent's hammer-wielding demons from Fear Itself).

Of course, if you travel to Wundagore you're going to run into at least one of its inhabitants - in this case, the Knights of Wundagore (animals evolved into human form).

Naturally, mayhem ensues - and while you might think the Defenders would make short work of the Knights, the home team has the assistance of Prester John, a little-seen character who first appeared long ago in the Fantastic Four, carrying the powerful Evil Eye.

The story is great fun, the art by the Dodsons - Terry and Rachel - is terrific, with great layouts, strong designs, beautiful women, handsome men, and a good humorous touch when needed.

I also want to mention one of my favorite bits - the use of random sentences at the bottom of the page, something Marvel did for a short time in the '70s (or was it the '80s?). Here they form kind of a split-personality rambling commentary on the story, on Marvel Comics in general, or offer teasers for upcoming events. Clever and funny!

If you're not reading this comic, you're missing a good one!

Grade: A

The Defenders #1

I've always had a warm spot in my fannish heart for The Defenders, although the book has rarely been as popular with the buying public.

The team is back again for another run at success, with a bit of a twist.

An original team member - the Hulk - shows up at Dr. Strange's home, asks for help dealing with the the dark, world-destroying side of his personality that has somehow broken free (no idea how), and then leaves.

Strange starts putting the band back together, tracking down Namor the Sub-Mariner (who seems to be everywhere these days), the Silver Surfer (ditto), the Red She-Hulk and Iron Fist (who seems the odd man out here).

Aside from a cliffhanger ending that brings back a character only geezers like me will remember, there's not a lot in the way of action here - but it's so good to see these characters in the spotlight, I can forgive the mechanics required by the first issue.

The art is provided by the Dodsons - Terry and Rachel - and as always, it's quite good, with powerful heroic figures, beautiful renditions of the characters, detailed backgrounds and lots of expressive emotions on display.

It's writer Matt Fraction who has a big job on his hands, as he must find a way to bring together this mismatched (though powerful) group of heroes and make them work together. So far, he's off to a bit of a rough start.

The story is an odd mix of horror and superheroics, but it's compelling enugh to bring me back for the next issue to see how it all works together.

Oh, and if you want to get a special fanboy jolt, pay close attention to the comic Iron Fist is reading on page 16. Now that's how you get some attention. Heh!

Grade: B+

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Classic Comics - The Defenders #30

Usually this space every Wednesday is devoted to one of the great comics I've read in the past (almost) 50 years.

But there are also lots of comics that are classically bad, so I figured, why not give one its moment in the sun?

I'm not sure this is actually the worst comic I've ever read, but when I bought this issue of The Defenders (it's cover dated December 1975), I do remember thinking, "That's the worst comic I ever read." (I've read lots of bad comics since then, too.)

I don't mean to cast any aspersions on the creative team involved - everyone has an "off" day, and this was obviously a fill-in issue created to head off the Dreaded Deadline Doom - but this was definitely a low point for writer Bill Mantlo, artist Sam Grainger and inker Jack Abel.

The story is titled "Gold Diggers of Fear" and it pits some of the Earth's mightiest heroes (Dr. Strange, the Hulk, the Valkyrie) against... an aging star of movie musicals named Tapping Tommy.

Honest.

Tommy kidnaps Nighthawk (Kyle Richmond) and tries to ransom him, but (thanks to some comically inept criminals) Kyle manages to alert Dr. Strange, who brings the Defenders to the rescue - but they're all overcome by gas and awaken to find themselves in an odd predicament.

(I am not making this up.) They find themselves chained and under attack by robots wearing top hats and ties, reenacting a scene from a Busby Berkeley-style musical - singing, dancing and striking the heroes with their canes.

Of course, they escape and... no, I don't have the strength to continue with the recap. The last two panels are like something out of a bad sitcom, and mercifully this issue ended.

And I haven't even talked about the art, which seems flat, rushed and (with the exception of a few panels) very uninspired. I suspect it was drawn with great haste, but that's just a guess.

Perhaps the story stands out because it's sandwiched between a terrific run on the series by writer Steve Gerber, who redefined "comic book strangeness" with his classic run.

All the members of the creative team produced some great work in their career. Mantlo is beloved for his work on Micronauts and ROM, and Grainger and Able had long careers as outstanding comic book craftsmen.

So we can forgive them for this issue - and thankfully (as far as I know), Tapping Tommy never returned, or if he did, I missed it, thank goodness - I doubt Alan Moore could have made that character worth reading.

Grade: F

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The Classics - Marvel Feature #1

With the ongoing success of team-based comics like the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, you have to assume that Stan Lee and Roy Thomas were sitting around one day and wondered, "Do we have any other characters laying around loose that we can use to create a team?"

The answer resulted in the Defenders, a group that first appeared - sorta - in this issue of the short-lived Marvel Feature (the group would spin off into its own title after three issues).

But actually the "team" had appeared before. After his own comic was cancelled, Dr. Strange appeared in a storyline that crossed into the Sub-Mariner's comic and an issue of the Hulk.

Then a later issue of Sub-Mariner featured a two-issue team-up with Namor, the Hulk and the Silver Surfer.

Perhaps fan reaction was strong to the issue, or perhaps Stan and Roy just liked the idea - or maybe they just needed something to put into this double-sized issue.

Whatever the reason, this was the first official appearance of the team, and it started with a bang - almost literally. Strange discovers an old enemy has created a device that will destroy the Earth, and to stop it he'll need brute force - so he recruits Namor and the Hulk to help. (The Silver Surfer is unable to help thanks to a rather thin excuse. At the time Stan was very picky about where the Surfer appeared, so he may have nixed this appearance.)

As one would expect with a Marvel comic, the team spends as much time fighting with each other as they do going against the bad guy - but that's all part of the fun.

Writer Roy Thomas crafts a clever story here, with great dialogue and a fun dynamic between the monster, the monarch and the mage.

The art is also a treat - a very unusual pairing of Ross Andru and Bill Everett, with the result being a scratchy but high-energy style that's unlike anything I can remember seeing from either artist. Oh, and that Neal Adams cover doesn't hurt, either. (At least I think that's Adams.)

In addition to the cover feature, this 25-cent package (cover dated December 1971) includes a reprint of a '50s Sub-Mariner adventure and a back-up story by Roy Thomas and artist Don Heck explaining how the recently retired Dr. Strange returned to action. It's a little thin, but good clean fun.

Reading that first issue, it's amazing that this concept ever caught on, much less continued for more than a decade (and up to the present, in one form or another). Here was a group of heroes who didn't like each other much and preferred to do their adventuring solo - yet every month the writers would find an excuse to bring them together to fight for the greater good.

The creative teams might not be actual magicians, but that's what I call a darn good trick.

Grade: A-

The Classics - The Avengers #118

Lots of great writers have done terrific work on The Avengers, but the most influential writer who ever tackled the series - in my opinion, natch - was Steve Englehart.

He wrote the book for some 50 issues and turned it into a comic that was about big events and big ideas, and he managed to bring together disparate elements of Marvel's history and make it all fit together as though it had always been intended that way. (And that's a trick few writers can manage, though many have tried.)

This issue, cover dated December 1973, was the wrap-up to one of the wildest and most purely entertaining series for both The Avengers and The Defenders.

Englehart was (incredibly) writing both team books, and he decided to create what I believe is the first-ever multi-issue crossover between two titles. There had been crossovers before, but usually just one issue spilling over into another one. This series jumped back and forth between the two titles over several months, as individual members of each team faced off, trying to gather the pieces of a powerful object called The Evil Eye (which first appeared in a single Stan Lee / Jack Kirby issue of the Fantastic Four).

This led to some classic battles, including the Vision vs. the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange vs. the Black Panther and Mantis, and my personal favorite, Thor vs. the Hulk.

Of course, the whole conflict was devised by two of Marvel's biggest villains - Dormammu and Loki, and by this final issue in the series, the bad guys were bringing down hell on Earth, and the two teams would have to work together to save reality as we know it.

The task of drawing (virtually) the entire cast of the Marvel Universe would make anyone this side of George Perez shudder, but the underrated Bob Brown turns in an admirable job here, with clear storytelling and a professional job throughout. If a few panels are a bit shaky in the anatomy department, we can certainly forgive - it's an amazing display here. And I love that John Romita cover.

The whole series is available in reprint form, and is highly recommended. It's loaded with terrific dialogue, some classic battles between heroes, and a knock-down, drag-out final chapter loaded with surprises.

A true classic, and highly recommended!

Grade: A-