Reviews: SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #30, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #13, UNCANNY AVENGERS #18

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #30
Plot:  Dan Slott
Script:  Christos Gage
Pencils:  Giuseppe Camuncoli
Inks:  John Dell & Terry Pallot
Color:  Antonio Fabela
Letterer:  Chris Eliopoulos
Publisher:  Marvel Comics

What I Liked

I didn’t realize we were so close to the end of Superior Spider-Man.  The art team of Giuseppe Camuncoli, John Dell, Terry Pallot, and Antonio Fabela put in a spectacular effort on this issue.  Visually, the art looked more crisp than in the previous issues of “Goblin Nation”.

The Green Goblin’s personal attacks against Otto Octavious and Peter Parker really hit home.  It goes to show how mentally tough Peter Parker is, compared to Otto who is going through this for the first time.

Peter takes a big risk to reveal himself to Otto, but as Peter states, to be a hero involves taking risks others cannot.  Plus, it all builds up to the final page.  It gave me goosebumps.

What I Didn’t Like

It felt like Otto relinquished control over Peter’s body too quickly and easily.  Does Otto have something else up his sleeve?  Also, despite the cover, the issue was very light on the Spider-Man 2099 appearance.

Rating:  4 out of 5

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #13
Writer:  Brian Michael Bendis
Art:  Sara Pichelli & David Marquez
Color Artist:  Justin Ponsor
Letterer:  VC’s Cory Petit
Publisher:  Marvel Comics

What I Liked

Young Cyclops showed a glimpse of his adult bad-ass-ness by stepping up to Gladiator in defense of Jean Grey.  I was shocked that there weren’t panels displaying everyone’s reaction at that.  They could have really played up their fears of young Scott Summers becoming adult Scott Summers.  It would be similar to how everyone is afraid of Jean Grey.

Speaking of Jean Grey, we witness a new manifestation of her power-set.  A new weapon to her already growing arsenal.  Oracle, from the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, would make a good mentor for Jean Grey.  Oracle appears to be one of the few non-X-Men to care for Jean.

The art by Sara Pichelli, David Marquez, and Justin Ponsor makes this one of the most beautiful comics on the stands.  Pichelli provides the bulk of the art, with Marquez helping out on a few pages.  Pichelli lets loose with fiery emotions from all involved, from Jean to Gladiator to Cyclops.  Even small moments between Kitty Pryde and Peter Quill have heart to them.

I applaud Brian Michael Bendis for taking chances and not being afraid to change the status quo in his books.  By the end of “The Trial of Jean Grey”, the roster of All-New X-Men has been shaken up.  Of course, this already happened in “Battle of the Atom”.  One thing I will miss with these new developments is the growing relationship between two members of the X-Men.

Am I the only one who noticed the curious glance that Angela gave Jean Grey near the end of the book?

What I Didn’t Like

In one sense, “The Trial of Jean Grey” was anti-climatic.  Anti-climatic in the sense that nothing Earth-shattering occurred during it.  This has become the norm for Bendis crossover events.  The focal point is how things are left afterwards, not on how the story got to that place.

Star Lord declared to Gladiator that Earth is under the Guardians of the Galaxy’s protection.  If that is the case, everyone involved wouldn’t be in this predicament.

Rating:  5 out of 5

UNCANNY AVENGERS #18.NOW
Writer:  Rick Remender
Artist:  Daniel Acuna
Letterer:  VC’s Clayton Cowles
Publisher:  Marvel Comics

What I Liked

Rick Remender has managed to increase the profile for Havok, which I’m a fan of.  He’s leading his own team of Avengers (even one that has crumbled under pressure) and appears to be the star of the next arc, “Avenge the Earth”.  Speaking of which, it is a change of pace to see our heroes fail.  It shows them as being fallible.  This makes them more relatable to readers.

Daniel Acuna is back as the artist on this arc.  When I first saw his work in previous volumes of Avengers/New Avengers, I wasn’t crazy about it.  Now, seeing how consistent he is, I have a new appreciation.

Mutants such as Magneto have always wanted a world where mutants can live without fear of prosecution from the humans.  But once they find that on Planet X, they still fall back to their old ways of doing things.  As things change, they still stay the same.  Mutants, like humans, cannot live in peace with one another.

We’ve been teased with Kang the Conqueror recruiting members for his team, and it looks like this is the beginning of that payoff.

What I Didn’t Like

Magneto as the bad guy I can deal with.  But do we have to go back to him utilizing the same lackeys (Blob, Pyro, Toad) over and over again?  Give them a new name (X-Force), but it’s still the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

Rating:  4 out of 5

This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network.  They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/

Timdogg

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE