Waiting on Wednesday: Marvel Coloring Books

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

Why I'm Waiting

This week I've got a somewhat unconventional WOW.  I love coloring books, and apparently, Marvel has some of their own.  So, yes of course, I'll be buying each of these at some point.  I don't know which one I'm most excited for, honestly.  They all look like they're going to be awesome!

These books come out in September and October

Graphic Novel Review: L.A. Woman (Hawkeye, Vol. 3)

Author| Matt Fraction  Artists| Annie Wu and Javier Pulido  Rating| 4 Stars

Edition| Paperback

Buy Links| Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Book Depository

Related Reviews| Little Hits | Hawkeye v Deadpool

Graphic Novel Review: Hawkeye vs Deadpool

Author| Gerry Duggan  Artist| Matteo Lolli and Jacopo Camagni  Rating| 4 Stars

Edition| Paperback

Buy Links| Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Book Depository*

This was a really fun read.  It lacked seriousness, but that's not too surprising seeing who was headlining the title.  If you're a fan of either Hawkeye or Deadpool, you'll enjoy this one.

5 Star Graphic Novel Review: Who Holds the Hammer? (Thor, Vol. 2)

Author| Jason Aaron  Artist| Russell Dauterman  Rating| 5 Stars

Edition| Hardcover

Related Reviews| Goddess of Thunder

Buy Links| Amazon*/Barnes and Noble/Book Depository*

As everyone knows, I absolutely love this series, so the following review is more of me just saying that and not giving anything away because you really want to be surprised by this one.

Sunday Comics

Sunday Comics is something I do every other week to highlight all the comics I've been reading.  Since getting Marvel Unlimited I haven't been able to put it down.  If you're interested in comics I really recommend getting Marvel Unlimited because it's only ten dollars a month and you get to read not only classic comics but new ones released within the last six months.  It's handy for newcomers and old readers alike.

Movie Review: Ant-Man

Starring| Paul Rudd (Scott Lang), Michael Douglas (Dr. Hank Pym), Evangeline Lilly (Hope van Dyne), Corey Stoll (Darren Cross), Bobby Cannavale (Paxton), Michael Pena (Luis)

Rating| B

The newest hero in Marvel's line-up isn't the greatest Avenger, but the movie was a bunch of fun to watch.

Sunday Comics

Sunday Comics is something I do every other week in order to review and comment on the comics I've recently read.  Since I read so many, and since they're so short, I like to keep them all in one place.  These last two weeks I've read fourteen comics.  I also signed up for Marvel Unlimited.  So far it's been an awesome decision.  At only ten dollars a month I'm able to read a huge amount of comics- recent ones and older ones.  It's wonderful and I really recommend it!

Graphic Novel Review: X-Wing Rogue Squadron (Vol. 1) (Star Wars Legends)

Edition| Kindle eBook  Rating| 3.5 Stars

Authors| Haden Blackman, Michael A Stackpole, Darko Macan, and Mike Baron

Wow this was really confusing.  X-Wing Squadron is certainly not the place to start with Star Wars comics.  Neither the art nor the writing lend themselves towards acclimating the reader, sadly.

5 Star Graphic Novel Review: Goddess of Thunder (Thor, Vol. 1)

Author| Jason Aaron
Artists| Russell Dauterman and Jorge Molina
Edition| Hardcover
Publisher| Marvel
Genre| Superhero Comic
Rating| 5 Stars

Can we just take a moment to appreciate where Marvel is headed?  This is just one in many of the new female driven series.  Clearly they've gotten the message that we need more bad-ass women.  Thor is obviously the most drastic change to the Marvel universe.  The character of Thor has been around for quite a long time, and replacing Odinson with a woman is a BIG change.  I know there were many people upset by the change.  And it is understandable; you're used to one character holding the title and suddenly he's not worthy?  It would have bothered me, too, if I had grown up with the character.  But now people are able to grow up with this version of Thor- and she's awesome.

To avoid confusion, I'll be referring to Thor #1 (the one you see in the movies) as Odinson (since that is what he's referred to in the comics now) and Thor #2 as Thor.  Also, I'm not caught up on the comics- I've been reading the bind ups- so I don't know who they revealed Thor to be.  Please don't spoil it in the comments!

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this.  I've read a Thor comic here and there, but have never really invested in the character.  I like the Thor movies, but know very little beyond that.  The most surprising thing about the Thor comics is the tone.  Rather than read as a sci-fi, like the movies make it out to be, it's magical.  It's heavily based in mythology and the characters play up to it.  It's more fantasy than science fiction, and that was an instant draw.

And I do like the new Thor.  She's pretty awesome.  But she's also insecure, and nervous about her role in the universe now.  Her voice quickly made her likable.  And she proves (in my opinion) herself of Mjolnir.  She does have a different connection to the hammer than Odinson had, and I can't help but wonder why, and if it has anything to do with who she is.

I can talk this book up forever, so let me cut myself short.  One last note: the art is absolutely gorgeous.  I stared at the pictures for hours, just flipping pages to enjoy how it looked.  Another reason to pick this one up- aesthetic appeal.

Sunday Comics

Sunday Comics is something I do every other week.  Rather than review each comic individually, I wrap them all up in one place.  Lately I've been reading quite a few, but you can expect that number to start going down soon.

Blackest Night (Issue #0) written by Geoff Johns with art by Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert and Rob Hunter
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Definitely a little confusing at first, but with classic characters and a pretty good catch up on what's going on.  It sets up a very interesting concept, and many pages at the end are dedicated to the different orders of Lanterns etc.

Batgirl Preview (2011- ) written by Brenden Fletcher and Cameron Stewart with art by Babs Tarr
Rating: 5 Stars
So much fun!  I really want to dive into the series for real now.  The characters come right off the page and our heroine is spunky in all the best ways.  Plus, she's good at what she does.  Top of my list now.

Black Canary Preview (2015- ) written by Brenden Fletcher with art by Annie Wu
Rating: 1.5 Stars
Ugh, no.  I enjoy the character of Black Canary quite a bit and was excited to see that she had a new series starting.  For one, the art is hideous (in my opinion) and the story is stupid as can be.  She's in a band now, fighting off members of other bands.  Like, it makes no sense to me, and I dislike the direction her character is taking.  Sad, because I was looking forward to this one, too.

Supergirl (Issue #1) (2011-2015) written by Michael Green and Michael F. Johnson with art by Mahmud A. Asrar, Dan Green, and Dave McCaig
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved it!  The only thing I wish is that it were longer.  I'll be picking more of these up in the near future because it was such a wonderful change.  Both the art and the story were fresh and it gets me even more excited for the upcoming TV show.

Silk (Issue #2) (2015-) written by Robbie Thompson with art by Stacey Lee
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this again, though it wasn't as interesting as the first issue.  It did a good job at starting to dive into her old life and how her new life was vastly different.  It also expanded her powers and how they worked exactly.  The villain was silly, but that's okay.  It's only issue two, and I'm still very much looking forward to reading these for some time.

Grayson Preview (2014- ) written by Tom King and Tim Seeley with art by Mikel Janin and Jeromy Cox
Rating: 5 Stars
I have no idea what's going on in this series or how it gets there, but I enjoyed every second of what I read.  It was great in every aspect, and now I look forward to reading it some day.

Midnighter Preview (2015- ) written by Steve Orlando with art by ACO
Rating: 2.5 Stars
And on the flip-side of Grayson, is Midnighter.  I'm not a fan, at least not yet.  I may give this another chance someday, perhaps when I'm more familiar with the character, but until then, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Harley Quin Preview (2013- ) written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Chad Hardin
Rating: 2.5 Stars
My cousin is a huge Harley Quinn fan, so I was eager to give this a try.  It wasn't really my stride, though it does have potential.  I think it was just a bad place to start.  I did like the writing and the cast of characters very much.  Just, perhaps, not enough to carry the story itself, which seems nonexistent.  Perhaps someday I shall continue the series.

Robin: Son of Batman Preview (2015- ) written by Patrick Gleason with art by Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray
Rating: 2.5 Stars
I'm not a huge fan of Damien in general, and this did little to help me like him.  Although, it didn't do anything to make me dislike him, either.  It was confusing from the get-go, story and art.  It didn't end on a good note, either.  Rather than getting me intrigued in the future of the series, it left me wondering what was even going on.

Wolverine (Issue #42) (Civil War) (2003-2009) written by Marc Guggenheim with art by Humberto Ramos
Rating: 4 Stars
I liked this more than I thought I would.  The character of Wolverine is normally a miss for me (I enjoy Jackman's portrayal of him for the most part, but as a supporting character in other comics I always consider him a jackass).  I am in love with the Civil War story line, though, so knowing this would tie in helped.  Wolverine's role in the whole arc is going to be great.  He's the only character actively looking for revenge for what happened, and I couldn't have asked for a better character to do it.  I eagerly await what comes next.  On a side note, I really dislike the art, it's too cartoon-y, especially for this character.

Starfire Preview (2015- ) written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Emanuela Lupacchino
Rating: 5 Stars
Sign me up, I'm hooked!  The preview's a good taste of what's to come, and the art is absolutely gorgeous.  I like where the story's headed, and the interaction with other characters was a lot of fun to watch.

Teen Titans (Issue #3) (2003-2011) written by Geoff Johns with art by Mike McKone, Marlo Alquiza, and Jeromy Cox
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This one was less personal than the previous two, and the story itself was left a little weak because of it.  However, propelling into the major story line and a confrontation with Deathstroke helped.  The ending was a bit strange, but I'm willing to see where it goes.  Overall, a very good issue, though, seeing as it manages to balance several different story lines and characters.

Graphic Novel Review: Daredevil Ultimate Collection (Vol. 1)

Authors| Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev
Edition| Kindle eBook
Publisher| Marvel
Genre| Superhero Comic
Rating| 4 Stars

Yes, I am still a little hungover from the Daredevil TV series, thanks for asking.  It has abated some, but every once in a while I just have to re-watch parts of it and dream of the next season, which is still much to far away.  This is the first Daredevil graphic novel I've read in a while, so it was a treat.

My biggest issue was the first story arc.  It was four or five issues (read: chapters) and seemed really out of place.  It wouldn't have been as bad if it was advertised a little clearer that it was there.  It takes place from Ben's point of view, and the art is very confusing.  In fact, I really hated the art.  Each issue got very little done expect Ben's inner monologue, and that grew very tiring, to say the least.  Were I just reviewing this short arc, I would give it merely one star.  Luckily, I'm not.

The rest of the story was pretty good, and I think it may even be a direction the show starts to head next season, or in a few seasons.  I'd love to give a summary, but it would be rather spoilery, so I'll refrain.  I'm sure there's a description floating somewhere around the internet.

My favorite part of the whole collection was how naturally the story built on itself.  One problem occurred, and while working on resolving that story, another, related one, would pop up.  They slowly culminated until I can determine there are at least three very distinct and interesting things happening at once.  I do wish there had been some closure, but I'm sure there is in the next two volumes, which I'm eager to get to.

There were also several fun cameo's that I couldn't get enough of.  Both Spider-Man and Black Widow make appearances that I wasn't really expecting, and it was really interesting to see that interaction within the superhero community.

If you're just coming off of watching the Netflix show, then I recommend this collection for sure.  You won't be too lost, though there is a gap, and you'll have a lot of fun trying to predict when, and if, the show will get to this point.

Sunday Comics

Sunday Comics is something I do every other week.  I've been reading so many single issue comics lately, that I want to be able to review them.  However, the reviews would be short, so I find it easier to do this cumulative post.  Below are all the comics I've read for the last two weeks.  If you have any recommendations, please feel free to comment!

Children's Crusade (Issues, #2-5) written by Allan Heinberg with art by Jim Cheung
Rating: 5 Stars
This series just keeps getting better and better.  I love all the characters and the story itself is top-notch.  My favorite comics so far this year.  The only issue to really deviate and make me less happy is the fourth, at which point I had over-exhausted myself for the day.

Teen Titans (Issue, #2) (2003-2011) written by Geoff Johns with art by Mike McKone, Marlo Alquiza, and Jeromy Cox.
Rating: 5 Stars
Great character development, though the story was a bit lacking.  It makes up for it with the fantastic art.  Geoff Johns really can't do any wrong, if you ask me (and many others, I'm sure).

Birds of Prey (Issue, #1) (1999-2009) written by Chuck Dixon with art by Greg Land, Drew Geraci, and Gloria Vasquez
Rating: 4 Stars
My first thought upon starting this issue was how dated it felt.  Not bad, but also not the kind of art or story you would find in modern comics.  I didn't feel particularly close to the character's based on this alone, but I have high hopes since I know I already enjoy these heroes.

Superior Iron Man (Issue, #1) (2014- ) written by Tom Taylor with art by Yildiray Cinar
Rating: 3 Stars
The art was nice but the story is a really poor place to start with this character.  It was just a lot of "eh, no" feeling I got from it.  Read it for Pepper, maybe, but not for Tony.




Bravest Warriors: Tales from the Holo John
Rating: 4 Stars
A fun break from the tedium of life, but nothing extra special.  It does expand nicely on the idea of the Holo John, which I felt was underused in the Youtube Series.

Thor: God of Thunder (Issue, #1) written by Jason Aaron with art by Esad Ribic
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did.  It's got three aspects; a very past, present, future thing going on.  And I'm interested in all of them!  It'll probably be something I invest more time into eventually, though not right away.

Hulk (Issue #1) (2014-) written by Mark Waid with art by Mark Bagley
Rating: 3 Stars
I'm not a huge Hulk fan.  I can enjoy the character, but stories that center around him just aren't my cup of tea.  Plus, there's a lot that goes on with brains in this one, including a head that's half cut open the whole time.  That sort of stuff leaves me extremely queasy.  I don't expect to continue this series in the least, even though the story did promise good things.

Batman Beyond Preview (2015-) written by Dan Jurgens with art by Bernard Chang
Rating: 5 Stars
I love Batman Beyond, it's one of my favorite story lines.  This series looks as though it's a bit spoilery though, since it directly follows the Future's End story.  I do like where it looks like it's going, and I love the main character.  That's all I'll say about that.

Gotham Academy Preview (2014-) written by Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher with art by Mingjue Helen Chen
Rating: 2 Stars
A cute idea and too cute of a follow through.  It's aimed at a younger audience, which I was expecting.  Younger than I expected though.  It struck me as a Disney channel show.  Plus, the continuous rhyme throughout the preview and the lack of getting to know any characters really bothered me.  I plan to pick up at least one issue of this eventually, but that won't be soon.

Silk (Issue #1) (2015-) written by Robbie Thompson with art by Stacey Lee
Rating: 4 Stars
The art is absolutely gorgeous during the action and costumed scenes.  It wasn't great when Cindy "dressed down".  The story was pretty good at setting up her own comic series, though I feel it could have had a little more meat to it.  I will absolutely be continuing this one, ASAP.

New Avengers: The Reunion (Dark Reign) (Issue #1) written by Jim McCann with art by Alvaro Lopez and David Lopez
Rating: 4 Stars
It follows two of my favorite characters, but completely throws you into the story, leaving a lot to question.  I had to do a little research to make sure I knew what was going on in the wider Marvel world at the time.  The art is pretty decent, though nowhere near half as gorgeous as the cover.  I recommend this one, though, particularly if you want to see some Mokcingbird/Ronin (read: Hawkeye) action.

Martian Manhunter Preview (2015-) written by Rob Williams with art by Eddy Barrows, Gabe Eltaeb, and Eber Ferreira
Rating: 3 Stars
Another character I'm not a super huge fan of.  But this makes me think I could grow to love him.  I'm looking forward to continuing this series, though at my own pace.

5 Star Graphic Novel Review: Little Hits (Hawkeye, Vol. 2)

Author| Matt Fraction

Artist(s)| David Aja, Francesco Francavilla, Steve Liever, and Jesse Hamm

Edition| Paperback

Publisher| Marvel

Genre| Superhero Comic

Rating| 5 Stars

Man, I love Hawkeye.  The character of Clint Barton is so different in the movies and the comics.  But I love both versions.  And, of course, it's hard to hate Kate Bishop, too.  Since they both hold the mantle of Hawkeye, I'll refer to them by secret identity from this point forward.

Matt Fraction and David Aja deserve all the awards.  The stories read more like peeks into Clint's life than a full-fledged epic journey.  This type of story-telling allows for unconventional stories, such as the whole issue told from a dog's point of view.  You could still understand the story, even though the language was at a minimum.  And the art is beyond amazing.  It's all simple, clean lines and I can't get enough of it.  If David Aja could just do the art for everything everywhere that would be great, thanks.

The over-all story arc continues in this one, and the plot thickens as a new villain is introduced.  I'm not sure how I feel about him, yet.  Readers are also given a close-up and personal look at Clint's romantic life, and it's one part heartbreaking, the other part humorous.  Kate's story is kept at a minimum in this volume, though I'm fairly certain volume three is dedicated to her solely.  The ending of Little Hits, in which she plays an integral role, is bittersweet and wants you ready for more.

When I recommend people a place to start with comics, I always go with these.  They aren't very confusing, nor do they throw obscure characters into the mix.  Plus, cameo's from Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Iron Man don't hurt.

TV Review: Agent Carter (Season 1)

Watch| OnDemand until August
Starring| Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter); James D'Arcy (Edwin Jarvis); Chad Michael Murray (Jack Thompson; Enver Gjokaj (Daniel Sousa); Shea Whigham (Roger Dooley); Lyndsy Fonseca (Angie Martinelli); Bridget Regan (Dottie Underwood); Dominic Cooper (Howard Stark)
Rating| A

What a show.  I have no idea why it took me so long to watch, seeing as I was watching it live for the longest time.  Somehow, the last two episodes slipped me by and I couldn't finish it until recently.

I love, love, love this show.  It's not my favorite Marvel show (Daredevil has claim to that spot) but it's a close second.  The noir, mystery themes.  The stunning and alluring characters.  The way it hinted at the "future" of the marvel universe and founding of SHIELD.  And, most of all, the actors.

There is so much one could say about this cast.  Top notch casting.  Each character was uniquely portrayed and given the right amount of development.  I think, had I to pick one actor to give all the accolades, I would give them to James D'Arcy.  His turn as Jarvis was equal parts comic relief and superhero of the show.  Of course, Hayley Atwell is the most remarkable.  Peggy Carter may very well be the best female character on television right now (certainly my favorite marvel lady to grace the screen) and only because of the bombshell behind her.

The fact that there was only a limited number of episodes also helped.  The plot wasn't staunched in any way and was able to freely tell the story.  It took twists and turns I didn't see, played risky with some of the characters, but really made its way into my heart.

When does the box set come out because I need to buy that now!

Waiting on Wednesday: Forever Red (A Black Widow Novel)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.  Click here to be taken to their blog and participate in this week's WOW.

So, I'm a huge Marvel fan in case you didn't know.  The movies really got me into it, way back when, and I've started to read more and more comics.  Actually, with Age of Ultron coming out this weekend in America, I've already gotten three tickets- one for the premier, one for the Saturday after, and one for the Sunday after.  You could say I'm obsessed.

When it was announced that Marvel would be bridging the gap into YA, I was super excited.  But then the hype all died down and I pretty much forgot about it.  Until the other day, when I was wandering the internet and found both the title and the description for this lovely book.

So, yes, this is a real thing that's actually happening!  I'm dying inside and I would love to see the cover!

The description from goodreads reads as follows:

Enter the world of Black Widow in this thrilling Marvel young adult novel, penned by #1 New York Times bestselling author Margaret Stohl.
This novel features all the thrilling adventure readers will expect from the Marvel brand, backed up by the young-adult cred of #1 New York Times bestselling author Margaret Stohl. Uncover a new side of the Marvel Universe, accessible to old fans and new readers alike, as Stohl weaves an unforgettable story through the world of the Black Widow

Dying inside for this one.  What are you waiting for this week?