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DanSchwent

Dantastic Book Reviews

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The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 5: The Superior Venom

The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 5: The Superior Venom - Christos Gage, Javier Rodriguez, Dan Slott, Humberto Ramos 22 - Agent Venom takes on the Crimemaster and Spidey wants them both! Parker Industries is up and running!

Not a lot actually happened in this other than my one line summary. Spider-Otto reminds me of Darth Vader at times. While I'm enjoying the Superior Spider-Man quite a bit, I'll be glad when Petey eventually takes back control.

23 - Venom escapes and Spidey is furious! Meanwhile, J. Jonah Jameson goes to Alchemax for help to get a certain Spider-monkey off his back and Aunt May finally meets Anna-Maria.

Things really kicked up a notch in this volume. Otto's single-mindedness when it comes to fighting crime is getting even more out of hand. I'm curious about where the whole Flash Thompson angle is going.

24 - The Superior Venom is on the rampage! Can Otto get the symbiote under control or will he be a bigger monster than ever?

Yeah, the shit has really hit the fan. Flash Thompson is dying and Otto is way out of control. To top it off, the Avengers are on their way. This run must have been hell waiting for month to month.

25 - The shitstorm is now an F5 as The Avengers show up to take down The Superior Venom! Also, the Hobgoblin doesn't like what the Green Goblin is doing. And what's going to happen with Carlie Cooper?

Now that was some carnage. To top it off, Menace and Monster are set to go on a rampage and the Hobgoblin and Green Goblin are about to war on each other. How much longer will Otto be able to maintain the charade?

26 - The Avengers have come for Spidey and the Goblins are gunning for him. What's a super-villain in a webslinger's body to do?

Spidey quits the Avengers in dramatic fashion and the Goblin King reigns over his Goblin Nation. The war for Spider-Island is coming fast! And Peter Parker survives in Spidey's head after all!

Annual 1 - The vampire Blackout comes for Aunt May as a way to strike at Peter Parker, the man the mob thinks makes Spider-Man's gadgets!

Nice cameo by Danny Ketch in this one. Spider-Man and Blackout have a surprisingly good fight. It does not end well for Blackout. And it finally looks like the big Spider-Man vs. Green Goblin gang war has arrived!

Closing Thoughts: Dan Slott's examination of what it means to be a hero is coming to an end soon as Otto continues to unravel. While it's been a very interesting and enjoyable road, I'm glad the destination is finally in sight. Four out of five stars.

The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 4: Necessary Evil

The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 4: Necessary Evil - Giuseppe Camuncoli, Dan Slott, Ryan Stegman 17 - In 2099, time is coming unraveled and that time period's Spider-Man comes back to the present to fix things. Meanwhile, Horizon is taken over by Allan Chemicals, the precursor to the Alchemax of Spider-Man 2099's future. Also, stuff happens with Peter.

Slott's definitely a fan of the Spider-Man mythos since he digs up Spider-Man 2099 and Liz Allan here. It was a fairly packed issue.

18 - The present and future collide when Spider-Man 2099 meets The Superior Spider-Man!

Freeing himself from Peter Parker's memories continues to have repercussions as Spidey clashes with the future Spider-Man. Things get Timey-Wimey as future Spidey tries to prevent his timeline from being destroyed by protecting his obnoxious ancestor, Tiberius Stone. Also, things are heating up with the Goblin Nation.

19 - 2099 continues to unravel and the only thing that can stop it is an equation in Peter Parker's head. Too bad Otto purged those memories...

Things come to a thunderous conclusion. Horizon is gone and Alchemax is just beginning. And just where did the Superior Spider-Man go for nine hours after the explosion?

20 - Otto punches the Black Cat in the mouth and starts Parker Industries.

The highlight of the issue was Parker defending his thesis. This one was mostly setup for some big things. I think the Spider-Verse crossover is coming soon. I should research that.

21 - The Stunner comes gunning for the Superior Spider-Man. Little does she know that he's also her lover, Otto Octavius...

The Stunner nearly gets a couple members of the supporting cast killed but Spider-Otto saves the day. The Goblin situation also heats up.

Closing Thoughts: This volume was pretty good but not quite as good as the previous ones. Pull the trigger on the Green Goblin thing already! 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 3: No Escape

The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 3: No Escape - Christos Gage, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Dan Slott, Humberto Ramos 11 - Spidey goes out to the raft to watch the execution of the Spider-Slayer. Things don't go as planned.

I'm still really digging watching Otto walking around in Peter's body, both with the Spidey-costume and without. I'm also quite pleased that Dan Slott keeps surprising me with the writing. He's damn good.

12 - The raft is in chaos as Spidey takes on the Spider-Slayer, Boomerang, The Vulture, and The Scorpion!

The best part of this issue was when the Spider-Slayer tells Spidey to quit orating like a Bond villain. Things go from bad to worse when the Slayer upgrades Boomerang, The Vulture, and The Scorpion and opens the Lizard's cell. I'm pretty excited to see where this goes.

13 - The final showdown between Spidey and the Spider-Slayer and his minions.

Yeah, Brutality and taking the long view of things are becoming the hallmarks of the Superior Spider-Man. I knew he'd settle the Spider-Slayer's hash but that was pretty harsh. I loved the ending of this one with Spidey taking The Raft as his new headquarters.

14 - Spider-Man and the Spiderlings take out Shadowland. Meanwhile, things are brewing with the Goblin underground and the Green Goblin has proclaimed himself the new Kingpin of Crime!

I thought it was pretty cool that the Superior one has gathered an army of minions and I love how things are escalating toward a showdown between the Spider and the Goblin. Why don't more super heroes have underlings?

15 & 16- The Hobgoblin escaped the destruction of Shadowland and Spidey wants him bad!

Spidey uses his Big Brother-ish ways to find Phil Urich and exposes him as the Hobgoblin! Too bad the police are just as inept as ever and a new chapter of Phil Urich's life begins.

Closing Thoughts: Dan Slott hit this one out of the park but I sense even bigger things to come. I don't know if he intended it when starting the Superior Spider-man but Slott seems to be exploring what makes a hero a hero and exactly where the line between super hero and super gestapo is. He also uses Otto to point out some of the inherent absurdity in the whole super hero concept.

Anyway, I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 stars. I'm in it for the long haul.

The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 2: A Troubled Mind

The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 2: A Troubled Mind - Dan Slott, Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos 6 - After they humiliate Mayor Jameson, Spidey goes after Jester and Screwball. Meanwhile, the Avengers are beginning to suspect all is not well in Spider-land.

I love watching Otto adjust to Peter's life in his pompous way. Peter spouting super-villain dialogue is also pretty awesome. Also, Slott does a great job at showing how dangerous Spider-Man can be without a moral compass.

7 - Spider-Otto deals with Cardiac and the Avengers have a talk with him.

Wow, talk about cliffhanger endings. I'm dying to see how things pan out with the Avengers and Cardiac. And Anna Marie, for that matter.

8 - Carlie Cooper knows it's not Peter in control of Spider-Man but needs proof! Also, Spidey takes on the Avengers and settles things with Cardiac!

The saga of Spider-Otto continues. The bit with Pinkie Penguin near the end nearly loosed a man tear from me. Also, Peter's attempt to warn the Avengers was kind of heartbreaking when it failed.

9 - Otto attempts to eradicate the little bit of Peter Parker contained within his brain.

The battle between Otto and Peter inside Spidey's head was pretty brutal. Is Peter gone forever? I'll pretend I think so.

10 - Carlie tries to convince the chief that something is up with Spidey. Meanwhile, Peter enjoys some quality time with Anna Marie and the Green Goblin hacks Spidey's network.

The looming showdown between Octo-Spider and the Green Goblin is going to be epic! I love what's going on with Peter and Anna Marie.

Closing Thoughts: Dan Slott delivers the goods once again. I can't say enough good things about the Superior Spider-Man. Four out of five stars.

Hawkeye, Vol. 3: L.A. Woman

Hawkeye, Vol. 3: L.A. Woman - Javier Pulido, Matt Fraction, Annie Wu Kate Bishop is the Young Avenger with the bow and arrow. This is what she does when she's not Avenging.

Annual 1 - Kate and Lucky leave town for the West Coast. Madam Masque looks to settle a score.

Well, I didn't like this issue very much. Javier Pullido just isn't David Aja. Also, I'm not sold on Kate as a lead just yet. Still, it was cool to see Madam Masque try to get revenge on Kate.

14 - Kate reinvents herself as a private eye and goes looking for orchids. She also is flat broke.

After annual one, this issue was pretty good. The bellhops making a return appearance was a surprise.

16 - Kate finds a washed-up musician wandering the freeway and senses a mystery to solve.

The mystery seems to be inspired by the Beach Boys Brian Wilson and Pet Sounds. It was a pretty good tale. Oh, and what's with Columbo?

17 - Clint watches the Winter Friends with Simone and her kids.

This was a fill-in issue with Chris Eliopolis on art. The events of the Winter Friends cartoon reflect the events of Clint and Kate so far in the series. I didn't really care for this one.

18 - The situation with Kate and Columbo gets even stranger, leading down a train of bodies to Count Nefaria and Madam Masque!

The manure really hit the windmill in this one. Kate gets caught in a shitstorm the magnitude of which would impress even Clint.

How painful was this series to read in the monthly format?

20 - How can Kate bounce back after Harold H. Harold is found with one of her arrows in him?

Kate's time in LA comes to a close. Thank God! It was wrapped up nicely, though.

Closing Thoughts: The Kate issues killed the momentum of Clint's tale for me. However, they wound up being pretty good, just below the quality of the rest of the series. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Hawkeye Volume 4: Rio Bravo (Marvel Now)

Hawkeye Volume 4: Rio Bravo (Marvel Now) - Francesco Francavilla, Matt Fraction, David Aja, Annie Wu Clint Barton is Hawkeye, the Avenger with the bow and arrow. He is now currently dog-less and partner-less.

17 - Clint watches the Winter Friends with Simone and her kids.

This was a fill-in issue with Chris Eliopolis on art. The events of the Winter Friends cartoon reflect the events of Clint and Kate so far in the series. I didn't really care for this one.

12 - Clint's brother Barney, aka Trick Shot, comes to town.

Some of Hawkeye's childhood is revealed, as well as some differences between Clint and Barney. I'm guessing Barney will fill Kate's shoes while she's out in LA.

13 - Clint has to tell Grills' dad about his death and goes to his funeral.

Clint is at a low point when Kate leaves town and his brother moves in. The Russian bros are still at it. I'm curious to see how Clint's relationships develop from here with the new status quo.

15 - The Russians really want Clint's building. Too bad his pants are around his ankles.

Barney proves his worth. The ending sure was a jaw-dropper. How the hell is this going to pan out?

19 - Clint is now deaf and Barney is all shot up. The storm is coming!

I loved this issue, the way Clint's deafness is expressed in the art, the flashbacks to Clint and Barney's youth. Everything. This is the best issue since Hawkeye volume 2, in my opinion.

21 - The Battle of Bed-Stuy is here!

Holy shit, that was brutal. Clint rallies the tenants of the building and the Russians arrive in full swing. The ending was a cruel cliffhanger. Have I driven home the point of how much I've enjoyed this series?

22 - The Final Bow is here. The stolen safe from way back when is back and so is Cherry.

The cavalry arrives in the form of Kate and pizza dog. Things are finally settled with the Russians. So it goes.

Closing Thoughts: If the series had to end, I'm glad Fraction and Aja chose to end it here. While I preferred the first half of their run to the second, this ranks right up there with Starman and Gotham Central as one of my favorite runs of all time. 4 out of 5 stars for this volume, a 4.5 for the series as a whole. Now to try to fill the Hawkeye-shaped void in my life.

Accepted: How the First Gay Superstar Changed WWE

Accepted: How the First Gay Superstar Changed WWE - Pat Patterson, Bertrand Hebert, Vince McMahon Jr. Accepted is the autobiography of former wrestler Pat Patterson, possibly the first openly gay pro-wrestler.

Accepted was a quick read. Pat fulfilled the first requirement of what makes a good wrestling book, in my opinion. The non-wrestling part of his life was done by the 10% mark.

Pat relates his story, starting from his dirt poor roots in Montreal to becoming a wrestler to moving to the united states. Pat covers his trips from Canada to Boston to San Francisco to Florida and all points in between.

I'm not sure what I expected but the story Pat told wasn't it. Pat and his longtime partner Louie didn't seem to suffer much in the way of discrimination behind the scenes. Good for them. There also weren't a ton of road stories, although the Ray Stevens chapter was damn good and the bit with Terry Funk was quality as well.

The book shifted gears when Pat retired and started working for the WWF(E) backstage in the mid-1980's. I knew he usually booked the Royal Rumble back in the day but I never knew it his was idea. I also never knew he championed the smaller guys like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels in the 1990s. Gears shifted again once Pat retired for the final time.

Accepted had some really good moments but I wanted more. It was a pretty short book, which seems weird considering Pat wrestled for decades. More road stories, more backstage machinations, generally more everything, would have been nice. Still, it was a decent read. 3 out of 5 stars.

The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 1: My Own Worst Enemy

The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 1: My Own Worst Enemy - Giuseppe Camuncoli, Dan Slott, Ryan Stegman 1 - Doctor Octopus, in Spider-Man's body, tackles the Sinister Six in his own way...

When I heard Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man swapped bodies, I groaned a bit. However, it kept getting rave reviews so I gave it a read. It may be too soon to tell but I'm digging it so far. Doc Ock approaches being a super hero from a different point of view, one might say a more intelligent point of view. Why let the Sinister Six live when you can settle their hash permanently?

Fortunately, Peter Parker's personality is still in there and he's acting as Otto's conscience. We'll see how things go but I'm already intrigued with Otto putting the moves on Mary Jane and being an asshole to Peter's co-workers.

2 - Otto/Peter's relationship with M.J. evolves as he incorporates spider-bots into his patrols.

Okay, I'm digging this. I like how Otto treats all the aspects of his life like an equation. The spider-bots were also a nice touch. I'm interested in seeing the series through and see how Peter sorts things out when he inevitably returns.

3 - The Vulture and his flock are committing a series of robberies and Spider-Man is on the case, only this is a very different Spider-Man than the one The Vulture is used to...

Slott gives us a window into the childhood of Doctor Octopus in this one. Also, I love how quickly Otto is changing things. Spider-bots? A good relationship with J. Jonah Jameson? The way he dealt with the Vulture and the motivation behind it were pretty brutal.

4 - Massacre busts out of Ravencroft! Can the Superior Spider-Man stop him before he kills again?

To be continued. Spidey and Massacre don't go head to head just yet. This issue was mostly setup as Otto goes back to school so people will call him Doctor Parker. No shit!

5 - Spidey vs. Massacre is the main event in this one. Also, Otto gets a tutor who's a little person and I think he's having feelings.

Otto crosses the line that Spider-Man never would and seems to be getting praised for it. This certainly ups the ante for future volumes.

Closing Thoughts: I knew Dan Slott had chops going in but he's actually turning what I thought was a cheap stunt into something with lasting consequences. The art was damn good as well. I guess I'm in it for the long haul with Superior Spider-Man. 4 out of 5 stars.

The Irredeemable Ant-Man, Volume 1: Low-Life

The Irredeemable Ant-Man, Volume 1: Low-Life - Robert Kirkman, Phil Hester 1 - The new Ant-Man saves a woman from a purse snatcher and asks her out for dinner. Then we are treated to a flashback of his origin. Part of it, anyway.

Okay, reading this on the heels of a Hawkeye trade was not a good idea. The pace is slow, the dialogue isn't great, and it's just not Hawkeye. It has potential, though. Too bad the origin story is still going on.

My suspension of disbelief is strained when a fuck-up like Eric O'Grady makes the cut for SHIELD in the first place.

2 - Things pick up when the SHIELD helicarrier is under attack. Meanwhile, in the present, O'Grady is using the Ant-Man suit to try to get laid.

Okay, this issue was a little better. O'Grady is finally in the suit and his douchebaggery continues.

3 - O'Grady makes a move on Chris' girlfriend before he's even in the ground. In the present day, he continues trying to get laid using the Ant-Man suit.

I can see how this is supposed to be funny, and it does have funny moments, but it's more uncomfortable than anything else.

4 - An agent is tasked to find the missing Ant-Man suit. Will he find Eric and bring him in?

We can only hope. I think this series would work much better if it was played for laughs instead of played seriously. For laughs, it would be like a teen sex comedy. Played seriously, it's got an ick factor and it really strains my suspension of disbelief that SHIELD agents would be so incompetent.

5 - Agent Carson closes in on O'Grady, both in the past and in the present.

Yeah, I'm glad this trade paperback is short. The sad thing is I know that O'Grady won't get his comeuppance at the end.

6 - Carson and O'Grady have it out in both time periods.

Okay, I didn't hate this issue. The fight between the two Ant-Men in the cafeteria was the highlight of the series so far.

Closing Thoughts: I'm really glad I got this from Marvel Unlimited rather than paying for it. O'Grady is a slimeball and not the kind of slimeball that is fun to read about. I will not be seeing how the series ends. 2 out of 5 stars.

Hawkeye, Vol. 2: Little Hits

Hawkeye, Vol. 2: Little Hits - Matt Fraction, David Aja, Francesco Francavilla, Steve Lieber, Jesse Hamm, Matt Hollingsworth Hawkeye is the least powerful member of the Avengers. This is his life when he's not avenging.

6 - Hawkeye takes a few days off work for Christmas. Shit goes down with the Russians.

Hawkeye trying to hook up his DVD player was pretty awesome. The ethical dilemma he wrestles with promises to have future consequences. I can't get over how well the art fits the story and how much Matt Fraction makes me care about Hawkeye and the supporting cast. Bro.

7 - With a hurricane on its way, Clint helps a neighbor tend to his elderly father and Kate goes to a wedding in New Jersey.

Another slice of life tale. The Clint and Grills thread was touching and Kate's side of things painted New Jersey in a favorable light for once. I love that Grills called Clint Hawkguy and Kate gets called Lady Hawkman.

8 - Cherry walks back into Clint's life and she's in trouble again...

The thing that really appeals to me about Hawkeye is that while he's the world's greatest marksman, he's still a regular dude whose brain turns to mush when a beautiful woman shows up.

I can't say enough about David Aja's art being perfect for this series.

9 - Some of Hawkeye's female Avenger friends give him a talking to because of Cherry. Meanwhile, some crime heavies want Hawkeye dead.

It seems that every woman Hawkeye knows is pissed at him for one reason or another. Didn't I say he was relatable? The last page was a jaw dropper.

I haven't mentioned Matt Hollisworth's coloring job on this but it is perfect for the art style and tone of the series.

10 - While Clint mopes around, the assassin gunning for him cozies up to Kate.

That was futzing tense at the end. Next issue is going to be a blowout for sure. This issue nicely illustrates how Kate and Clint are just as human as the rest of us.

11 - Pizza dog tracks down a killer! And some stuff happens with Kate and Clint.

It sure looked like Kate walked out on Clint and took Pizza dog with her. By the by, the entire issue was told from the dog's point of view and it was pretty spectacular.

Closing Thoughts: Another futzing volume down already? Grumble, grumble. I think Hawkeye appeals to me so much because it is a throwback to the early days of Marvel. Marvel heroes were the heroes with ordinary problems, something I think they lose sight of in these days of endless deaths and resurrections and big honkin' crossovers. 5 out of 5 stars.

Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil, Vol. 1

Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil, Vol. 1 - Stan Lee, Wallace Wood, Joe Orlando, Bill Everett 1 - A mysterious new super hero in red and yellow is gunning for the Fixer! But what is the connection between this criminal and the boy who was blinded saving a blind man years earlier?

This is the origin of Daredevil and the tale of his vengeance on the man who had his father killed. It reminded me a lot of Batman confronting the murderer of his parents. Stan Lee's writing wasn't bad in this and Bill Everett's art was pretty darn good for the times. Oddly enough, I didn't hate Daredevil's original red and yellow costume like I thought I would.

2 - Daredevil busts up a car theft ring, only to find that it's run by Electro! Can Daredevil escape Electro's wrath and stop him from stealing Reed Richards' inventions while the Fantastic Four is out of town?

Joe Orlando of EC Comics fame handles the art on this one. It's a jarring change from Bill Everett but the old pro gets the job done. The way Stan Lee managed to get Daredevil and Electro to Fantastic Four HQ at the same time was actually fairly clever. Daredevil vs. Electro begins the Daredevil tradition of being outgunned in nearly every fight, a big part of the character's charm.

On a side note, Daredevil sometimes comes off as a poor man's Spider-Man in the pre-Frank Miller days and sending him Spider-Man's sloppy seconds doesn't help that impression.

3 - After an accountant accused of fraud strolls out into traffic and punches his own ticket, the cops bring in the Owl for questioning. The Owl randomly picks Matt Murdock out of the phonebook. Will Matt defend the Owl in court or be forced to bring him in as Daredevil?

Joe Orlando's EC roots show through in the art in this one. His Owl is straight out of a Tales from the Crypt story. Daredevil's underdoggery continues in this one.

4 - Daredevil faces the might of The Purple Man! How can he hope to defeat a man whose every word is an unbreakable command?

So this is where the Purple Man first appeared! DD is really under the gun in this one. Killgrave, the Purple Man, proves to be a formidable foe. My admiration for Joe Orlando's art continues to grow. It's distinct enough from the Kirby imitation a lot of Marvel artists did during the same time period to set Daredevil apart.

5 - Daredevil goes up against the masked Matador!

The Matador is kind of a lame villain but the fight scenes between him and Daredevil are pretty good. Wally Wood becomes the regular artist at this point and gives Daredevil a little something extra.

6 - Daredevil takes on Mr. Fear, The Ox, and The Eel, the Fellowship of Fear!

Daredevl's underdog ways continue when he goes up against the Fellowship. Mr. Fear and his fear gas are pretty formidable. Ox and Eel are sloppy seconds from Spidey and The Human Torch, however.

Daredevil turns the lights out at one point during the battle. It would be really easy to over-use this tactic in future stories.

7 - Namor wishes to sue the human race and attempts to Matt Murdock as his lawyer. Matt tells Namor he doesn't have a case and the Avenging Son goes on a rampage. Standing in his way is Daredevil!

This issue has a lot of things going for it. It's the first appearance of Daredevil's trademark red costume. It also is the story that first got me interested in Daredevil when I read a summary of it in an issue of Marvel Saga. When I finally got the chance to read it years later, it became my favorite silver age Marvel story. Did it hold up under a re-read?

It did. It exemplifies the underdog, never-quit nature of Daredevil. Daredevil repeatedly gets his ass handed to him by Namor but keeps coming back. That's what being a hero is all about. Namor also shows he's more than a one dimensional asshole in this one, saving DD when he could let him drown.

To top it off, Matt winds up having to defend Namor in court anyway. Like I said, it's my favorite silver age Marvel story for a reason.

8 - Daredevil goes up against... Stiltman.

Despite the lameness of the Stiltman concept, I actually wound up digging this issue. The mystery of which of the characters was actually Stiltman was well done. Still, Stiltman...

9 - Matt Murdock goes to a tiny European country with a buddy from law school to see a surgeon that might be able to restore his sight.

Turns out Matt's old buddy was a dictator. I think this was an early attempt to get Matt away from his usual urban haunt. It was passable but I don't think Matt works well as a globe trotting super hero. At least it'll get Karen Page off his ass about getting eye surgery for a while.

10 - Daredevil takes on The Organizer, Ape-Man, Frog-Man, Bird-Man, and Cat-Man!

The first Daredevil story I read was an issue of Marvel Team-Up where DD and Spidey took on the Unholy Trio of Ape-Man, Bird-Man, and Cat-Man so this story had some special interest for me. As always, DD is outnumbered and outgunned.

11 - The battle with the Organizer concludes!

Daredevil continues his fight against unfavorable odds. The Organizer was formidable enough but his Ani-Men were scrubs, for the most part. I did like Daredevil's switcheroo with Frog-Man, though.

Closing Thoughts: The first run of Daredevil stories was a little uneven but still quite enjoyable. Daredevil's abilities and handicaps give him a bit of a Spider-Man feel but I think Matt being a lawyer is what helps differentiate Daredevil from the web-slinger. The writing was actually way better than I expected. The ever-changing art chores were a little jarring but all the lead artists were pretty good for the time. 3.5 out of 5 stars, adjusted for the passage of 50+ years.

Hawkeye, Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon

Hawkeye, Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon - Matt Fraction, David Aja, Javier Pulido Hawkeye is the Avenger that uses a bow and arrow. This is the stuff he does when he's not avenging.

1 - After a bad fall, Hawkeye gets out of the hospital and goes back to his neighborhood to find that the Russian mobster that owns his building has tripled the rent. Shit goes down.

Now that's how you kick off a comic series. Hawkeye is out of his league with the rest of the Avengers and he knows it. In his neighborhood, on the other hand, he's a serious bad ass. Also, pizza dog.

2 - The circus comes to town and Clint and Katie Bishop are in attendance, for it is an Evil circus.

Fraction does a good job delving into Clint's background and the formation of his partnership with Katie. Also, robbing the robbers who were robbing robbers.

3 - Clint meets a mysterious redhead in a 1970 muscle car on the way to get some tape for labeling his collection of trick arrows. Too bad the Russians are on her trail.

Okay, Russian gangsters and an issue long car chase. I haven't fallen in love with a comic series this quickly since Gotham Central.

4 and 5- SHIELD loses a mysterious tape and Clint goes to Madripoor to retrieve it before it goes up for auction.

Criminals bidding on a tape showing an Avenger apparently assassinating a dictator? Ninjas? Clint and Kate vs. an entire country? Awesome, awesome shit.

Young Avengers Presents #6 - Clint passes the torch to Kate.

I didn't really care for this one, mostly because of the jarring change in style and that it wasn't actually part of the series.

Closing Thoughts: Despite being the world's greatest marksman, Hawkeye has that underdog everyman appeal that really appeals to me. David Aja's art gives the series a unique tone and suits the action perfectly. I love that Fraction shows the everyday life of the Avenger with the least powerful abilities.

While I'm tempted to devour the entire run in rapid succession, I'm going to try to pace myself. They've never made many comics like this. Five out of Five stars.

The Architect of Sleep

The Architect of Sleep - Steven R. Boyett After a near mishap while exploring a cave, Jim Bentley emerges to find a humanoid raccoon using a fishing pole. What strange world has he stumbled into? And will he ever find his way home?

Since we're both dorks, my lady friend and I have had multiple conversations about which animals would be likely to evolve once humanity is dust in the wind. Raccoons are said to be one of the most adaptable species so they get my vote. When this book, complete with humanoid raccoon cover, popped up on my Goodreads feed, it was a no brainer.

The Architect of Sleep is told in alternating chapters, ones from the point of view of Jim Bentley and ones from the point of view of the intelligent raccoon he has nicknamed Truck. Bentley is a fish out of water, learning the sign language of the raccoons while he explores the world in Truck's company. Truck has her own reasons for wandering...

The world Steven R. Boyett has created is well thought out. If primates stay in the trees and raccoons step up, lots of things change. The raccoons ride llamas, for instance. They have pre-Renaissance level technology and have carved up what would have been the United States into their own territories, each with a spiritual leader called The Architect of Dreams.

Lots of time was put into the crafting of the culture of this world, raising it above the sword and raygun adventure it easily could have been. The plot turned out to be pretty intricate.

The only complaints I have are that the writing was a little dry and, much more major, the book just ends and the second half was never published! What the hell happens to Jim, Zorba, and Fagin? And does Truck get her throne back? Son of a damn bitch!

3 stars. Just don't expect any sort of closure.

Daredevil (1963-1998) #43

Daredevil (1963-1998) #43 - Stan Lee, Gene Colan, Jack Kirby Fresh from a break-up with Karen Page, Daredevil swings around NYC in a foul mood. After some radium scrambles his brains, he picks a fight with... Captain America?

Back in my pre-pubescent days, I frequently bought comics mail order through Mile High Comics. This was one of the ones I bought based purely on the cover. Daredevil vs. Captain America, one of my favorites. Sold! It was the first Daredevil comic I ever bought after reading an issue of Marvel Team-Up where he teamed with Spidey.

The story was pretty simple. Radium turns Daredevil into a dickhead and he interrupts one of Captain America's fighting demonstrations. The fight rages all over the building like one of those falls count anywhere wrestling matches. Old Horn-head eventually comes to his senses and all is right with the universe.

Gene Colan drew the shit out of this! After experiencing this issue and [b:Captain America (1968-1996) #132|25782628|Captain America (1968-1996) #132|Stan Lee|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435092839s/25782628.jpg|45632432] in rapid succession, I have a new found admiration for Gentleman Gene's art. The fight was pretty dynamic and I'll be digging up more Colan from my back issue bin at home. Four out of five stars, adjusted for the passage of time.

Fantastic Four Omnibus, Vol. 1

Fantastic Four Omnibus, Vol. 1 - Stan Lee, Jack Kirby The Fantastic Four Omnibus, Volume 1, contains issues 1-30 of the Fantastic Four, plus Annual 1.

By now, most people know the story of the Fantastic Four. Scientist Reed Richards, his girlfriend Sue Storm, her brother Johnny, and Ben Grimm, a friend of Reed's from World War II, fly an experimental rocket into space, passing through a cosmic storm and gaining super powers in the process.

Issues 1-4: The team encounters the Mole Man and his monstrous subjects, has Skrulls impersonate them, battles a hypnotist called The Miracle Man, and face the wrath of Namor, the Sub-Mariner.

Things start off rough for the foursome. Lee and Kirby were laying the foundations of the Marvel Universe, whether they knew it at the time or not. Kirby's panels were already pretty spectacular, though that art wasn't as polished as it would become a couple issues later. Stan Lee's writing has a high cheese factor, however.

Issues 5-8: The team battles Doctor Doom, confronts the combined might of Namor and Doctor Doom, encounter Kurrgo from Planet X, and thwart the Puppet Master for the first time.

Both Lee and Kirby are finding their rhythm. Lee and Kirby are expanding the Marvel universe, although it's looking like they're going back to the Doom and Namor wells a little too early. After the issue with the Puppet Master, I have to wonder how much thought they actually put into Reed and Sue's powers at this point, and would they have went a different way if they knew the Fantastic Four was going to be successful. Things to ponder.

Issues 9-12: The gang battle Namor again, Doom again, The Impossible Man, and The Hulk!

Yeah, Namor and Doom again. The Namor/Hollywood thing was hokey but Doom swapping bodies with Reed was good. I'm not a fan of Impossible Man but he was tolerable in his first appearance. The Hulk fight was actually a little bit of a letdown. Let's hope Thing and Hulk get more time to duke it out next time.

Issues 13-16: In these issues, the Fantastic Four battle the Red Ghost and his super apes, Namor, The Mad Thinker, and Doctor Doom in the Microverse.

I felt like the FF turned a corner with the Red Ghost story and things started clicking more. The Mad Thinker and the Doom story were both also really good for the time period. Ant-Man shows up and the Marvel Universe is really starting to feel like a universe. Oh, and the Watcher is introduced.

Issues 17-20: The gang battle Doctor Doom, The Super Skrull, Rama Tut, and the Molecule Man.

The stories continue the momentum set by the previous four. The menaces are more inventive and I have to think this is the point that Kirby started contributing more to the plot. It's crazy how many books Lee and Kirby were working on at this point in Marvel comics history.

Annual 1: Once again on the throne of Atlantis, Namor declares war on the surface world!

The origins of Namor and Atlantis are told, and Namor goes to war. This was a much larger scale story than the Fantastic Four's adventures up to this point. It would probably be a title-spanning crossover in today's terms. It's also a damn good tale.

Also, I love Namor's cheesy dialogue. For some reason, Stan Lee's ham-fisted dialogue fits Namor like a glove.

There's also a pinup gallery and an expanded version of the story from Amazing Spider-Man #1 where he tried to join the Fantastic Four.
Issues 21-24: The Fantastic Four battle The Hate Monger, The Mole Man, Doctor Doom, and an omnipotent alien child.

The Fantastic Four continues rocketing forward. Sgt. Nick Fury makes his first appearance outside of World War II but before he starts wearing his trademark eye patch. Was it a sign of the times the way Sue Storm was portrayed or just a sign of Stan Lee's mediocre dialogue?

Issues 25-30: The Fantastic 4 take on the rampaging Hulk, clash with the Avengers while battling the Hulk, take on Namor, battle the union of The Mad Thinker, the Awesome Android, the Puppet Master and The X_Men, tangle with the Red Ghost at the Blue Area of the Moon, and encounter Diablo!

The Fantastic 4 ratchets up the pace yet again. The two-parter featuring The Hulk and The Avengers must have been the comic book equivalent of the summer blockbuster in its day. The battle between Namor and Mr. Fantastic was the only time I've ever thought Mr. Fantastic was a bad ass. The X-Men battle was decent but not in the same league as the Hulk or Reed vs. Namor. The Red Ghost encounter was a little better than the team's first encounter with him. The Diablo story was decent but how many mad scientists can the Fantastic Four encounter?

Closing Thoughts: Volume 1 of The Fantastic Four Omnibus laid the groundwork for much of the Marvel Universe. Things really started clicking at the halfway mark and I have to think Kirby had something to do with that. Marvel's First Family's adventures have just begun. I'm looking forward to reading the next omnibus. 4.5 out of 5 stars, adjusted for inflation and the evolution of comic books as a medium.

Captain America (1968-1996) #132

Captain America (1968-1996) #132 - Stan Lee, Gene Colan Reunited for the first time since World War II, evildoers everywhere face the might of Captain America and Bucky. But what is The Fearful Secret of Bucky Barnes?

Captain America #132 is the first comic book I remember buying based solely on the cover. Captain America on the ground with Bucky looming over him clutching a boulder, with MODOK looking on. I say "buying" but I'm pretty sure I got it free for spending $20 at Mile High Comics. Man, those days of waiting 6-8 weeks when you ordered something were murder, especially since 6-8 weeks passes like roughly thirty eight years when you're twelve.

I was going through my long boxes of back issues, gathering material to write about at Dantastic Comics when I unearthed this gem.

Anyway, the bliss of being reunited with Bucky is short-lived, for Bucky is a robot built by Doctor Doom at the behest of MODOK for the killing of Captain America. Fortunately for Cap, Doom built Bucky a little too well and the memories of the human Bucky overwhelm the android and he self-destructs rather than killing Cap.

The art by Gene Colan is pretty sweet and is above average for the 1970 publication date. The story is fairly simplistic, as was the style at the time, but I dug the robot Bucky being a little too much like the original. The cameos by Nick Fury, Sharon Carter, Dum Dum Dugan, and Falcon, in his shitty original costume, were fun.

Captain America #132 is a fun Silver Age story but isn't a milestone by any means. 3.5 out of 5 stars.