WORLD WAR HULK #5
Writer: Greg Pak
Art: John Romita Jr. & Klaus Janson
Marvel $3.99
Matt C: This entertaining mini ends with a bang with a full on smackdown through Manhattan between Hulk and the Sentry. Beyond the joy of Romita Jr’s rendition of the two combatants knocking each other through buildings I can’t help but feel this issue was a slightly underwhelming resolution to this chapter of Pak’s Hulk saga, with character moments taking a backseat to the carnage. Having said that, it has been a fun ride and I look forward to seeing where Pak goes next with the story. 6/10
Matt T: I'm in agreement with Matt here - the big fight was impressive and extremely well drawn but the conclusion was, well, a little flat. I know there's going to be plenty of Hulk spin-offs as a result, but I'm thoroughly 'meh' about the whole saga. 6/10
WONDER WOMAN #14Writer: Gail Simone
Art: Terry & Rachel Dodson
DC $2.99
Matt C: I’ve tried several times to get on board Wonder Woman, but I’ve never really been that taken with her solo adventures. Still, I’m always willing to give the character another shot, and I’m glad I did because Gail Simone’s first issue as new writer leaves me very optimistic about her run on the book. Talking gorillas? Check. Superpowered Nazis? Check! Matt C adding Wonder Woman to his pull list? Check!!! 7/10
THE NEW AVENGERSWriter: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Leinil Yu
Marvel $2.99
Matt T: The retrospective voiceover is one of those plot devices that either works well or spoils any dramatic tension. Unfortunately for this book it's the latter. Somehow any fun has been dragged out of a huge battle with a shed load of symbiotes, and the whole issue ends up just being annoying. Granted the Wolverine stuff was good, and Spidey seems to be well treated here, but please re-unite the Avengers before I give up on this book. 6/10
Matt C: God knows where we are continuity-wise at the moment – obviously we’ve zipped past the delayed storyline in Mighty Avengers but this looks like it’s either set before or around the same time as the last issue of Illuminati. Whatever, these so-called New Avengers are still getting worked up over the prospect of a full-blown invasion on the evidence of ONE SKRULL!! Do I even need to go into how stupid that is here?!
Nobody in this book seems to be able to say anything without another character throwing back a question and it’s becoming hugely irritating reading the “realistic dialogue” month in, month out. I don’t know why I keep punishing myself buying New Avengers, I guess it’s the faint hope that it’ll get back on track again, but I know I’m kidding myself. And don’t get me started on that embarrassing Spider-Woman shower scene……! 3/10
BLACK ADAM: THE DARK AGE #4
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Art: Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy
DC $2.99
Matt C: Ever since 52, Black Adam has become one of the most complex and interesting villains in the DC universe and this mini has excelled at showing that while his rather dubious moral code may make him the “bad guy”, it doesn’t necessarily make him evil. His all-consuming obsession to bring Isis back from the dead no matter what the cost has been fascinating, and this is probably the darkest, most unnerving mainstream book DC is currently publishing. Twisted but compelling, like Adam himself. 8/10
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVEWriter: Dan Slott
Art: Stefano Caselli
Marvel $2.99
Matt T: Fast becoming one of my favourite Marvel books, and easily the best Avengers title - this issue is a perfect example of why. The characters are well rounded, and the initial boot camp feel has been given slightly more of a super-team look, with plenty of intrigue and back-stabbing to boot. Throw in a fair few twists and this entertaining title is really hitting its stride. 8/10
NOVA #8Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art: Wellinton Alves & Scott Hanna
Marvel $2.99
Matt C: Surprisingly, Nova looks like he’ll be sitting the rest of Annihilation: Conquest out judging by the events in this issue, but if the story continues the way it’s going here, I don’t mind a bit. A far out tale (literally!) where our hero teams up with a talking Russian dog (!) in a setting that looks like something out of Alien (but turns out to be a lot weirder) this is probably my favourite issue of the series yet. Thoroughly recommended. 8/10
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