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Well, I’ve worked my way through my introduction back into comics.

What’s next?

First of all, I want to get more in depth with my reviews. It’s safe to say you may see spoiler warnings from time to time. But, with that in mind, here’s a few different ideas I have:

• Character Spotlight: I want to really delve into a character, past, present, and (speculative) future. I mentioned this in my review of Dark Wolverine, and I think Daken will be first on this list.

• Crossover Review: In the articles I’ve written so far, I’ve touched on certain story arcs like Dark Reign and Utopia, but I haven’t given my thoughts on the over-arching plots themselves. I’d like to do these occasionally, without having to focus in individual books involved.

• What if…: In this, I would take a character, team, or story and tear it apart to build it into a different concept. In many ways, this is similar to Funny Book’s “What if we were writing” segment, except with a broader range of possibilities. Also, these won’t always be improvements. Sometimes, an odd thought could lead me down a dark and disturbing path.

• Comic Review: This is my standard article, much like you’ve read thus far, but as I said, more indepth, and perhaps spoiler filled. I found being vague really confined my ability to explain exactly what I loved or hated about a book.

So, I’d love some feedback from this. Any suggestions, comments, criticisms, or topics are welcome.

New Mutants #1-3

This is a great book for new readers and old fans alike. The title begins right with the Return of Legion storyline. This story (at least the first 3 parts, I’ve read) gives new readers a great, fresh story, while old readers of the first New Mutants are given a rare amount of fan service. You don’t see that too often in post-90′s comics, and from what I’ve heard from Zen Wells (writer), they plan of retelling many of the New Mutant’s old stories. Some may say this is unoriginal, but I think it’s a great choice. I bought all 100 issues of the first New Mutants run…and found it unreadable. I hated the art, the writing, the characters, pretty much everything the series had to offer. All of those things have been improved this time around. I plan on sticking with this series with fingers crossed that it doesn’t get canceled to make way for a different X-Team lead by Beak or something.

Overall: Of all the X-Men related books, this is the easiest to jump into. It just started, and despite various references to the first series, there not a ton of continuity to worry about.

Thor #602

As promised, J. Michael Straczynski’s Thor. In the past, I’ve never seen a point for Thor. A character named Thor is fine…but a literal Thor is a bit over the top. It reminds me of an aspect of the DC Universe I heartedly dislike that throws mythological beings in the same modern world as super-heroes. I did, however, enjoy the Ultimates version of Thor and that was the main reason for giving this book a try. “Maybe they’ve learned something.” I thought. What I found, was a character vastly different than his Ultimate counter-part, but still a great character. I found myself becoming invested in a story that, at 602 issues, I had no business being invested in. Why? The character. Thor, in this book, seems very human, very relateable. Weak. Flawed. Interesting.

Overall: This book is worth a try. There are a lot of unexplained people and events taking place that you have to just go with, but get past that, and the current story being told is good.

Thunderbolts #132

I picked this book up just to have a negative review in my pocket. Unfortunately, I can’t just bash this title and call it a day. It’s surprisingly good. I’d say it’s been the biggest sleeper hit I’ve bought at this point. “But Jonathan,” you might say, “Thunderbolts does just about everything that you’ve criticized books for, so far!” I know, and believe me, I’m just as confused. Despite the D-grade quality of the characters and the redundancy of this team, in leiu of Dark Avengers, I was drawn into this story. Perhaps, many of the things I give books a negative for, does not make a book bad. Maybe, it’s because, unlike Thunderbolts, it’s executed poorly.

Overall: I don’t know. I guess, give this book a try and let me know if you also think 2+2=5, or if I’m full of it.

X-Factor #45-46

If you’re only reading one X-Title, this should NOT be it. This book is crap, man.  Seriously, it’s a bit steaming. The characters are a flat and uninteresting motley crew of F-list characters.  You stick Aron Head in this book with no powers, and it’s more interesting.  Luke Meyer would have too much notoriety for Peter David to use in this book.

In my Exiles review, I suggested putting Blink on this team. It would help. The only good character, Multiple-Man (better to be the best on the worst team than worst on the best team, I guess) is stuck in an alternate future nobody cares about! Say it ain’t so, Pete. Why should the only interesting point in this book be the rambling of an old, delusional Doctor Doom?

Overall: If your dream, your one desire, was to see Rictor make out with Shatterstar, while Strong Guy looks on longingly…welcome to heaven.

Fantastic Four #566

When I find a crappy team like FF4 more interesting than an X-Book, something is wrong with the world (Peter David). This issue looks absolutely …um… fantastic after that last review.

This book introduces Doctor Doom’s Master. The Emperor to his Vader. It’s hard to say more without spoiling the book, so all I’ll say if that this book hooked me quick and the last 9 pages are worth more than the two issues of X-Factor I’ve read combined.

Overall: If, like me, you never understood the popularity of a group lead by a stretchy guy, pick this up and enjoy.

X-Men Legacy #225

I guess this what Jim Lee’s X-Men became since last I read it. This was my kind of book, mostly because Mike Carey (writer) makes reference to people and events I’d read about in the pre-Grant Morrison days. It’s nice to know, not everything in X-Men history was lost to the introduction of Beak and Magneto turning to drugs. I’ll be picking more of this book up. Unfortunately, this book was not a new release when I bought it, so the cliff-hanger did nothing for me. I already knew, through other comics, what happened to Xavier from here.

Overall: If you want to see Professer X beat the Acolytes’ asses, this is for you. Old X-Men readers who’ve been out of the loop should pick this up, as well (I’m looking at you, Aron and Paul).