Giant-Size #Avengers #2

Wow. Action-packed. Ingenious time-travel story. Plus heartbreaking death of a regular. Fantastic. 10/10 #comics

As well as all the action, the characters - particularly Hawkeye and The Swordsman - are well written and heroic.


Giant-Size Avengers #2
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Part 2 of Celestial Madonna Saga

Fantastic Four #152

Feels a bit rushed. Everything falls into place too easily. 5/10


Fantastic Four #152
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Man-Thing #8

Good stuff. A bit closer to standard superhero fare than usual. But still superior nonetheless. 8/10


Man-Thing #8
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The Avengers #129

Kang the Conqueror is the villain, and the focus is on (currently) the least interesting Avenger: The Swordsman. And it does him good, makes me notice and like the guy for the first time. Solid read. And all this time-travel stuff is FUN. 7/10


The Avengers #129
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Fantastic Four #151

Terrific action story with The Thing & The Human Torch, nicely punctuated with scenes of Thundra (always a character I've really liked) and Medusa (always a character I've found bland) as we get some back-story. Nicely done. Perfect example of a good superhero comic. 7/10


Fantastic Four #151
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Man-Thing #7

Great story. Steve Gerber really knows how to take disparate elements and make them work. And there is some crazy stuff here. But, as always, it all comes together to make a fascinating/original story. 9/10


Man-Thing #7
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The Defenders #21

First two-thirds focuses on each team-member in turn, giving each character some quality time in the spot-light. Then, in the final third, something odd happens and there's a bit of action, leaving us with a hint of a future threat. Pretty much perfect. 9/10


The Defenders #21

Captain Marvel #35

Captain Marvel #35 finds Rick Jones in control of Captain Marvel's body in a fight against Annihilus. Which should be interesting. But isn't. The art doesn't appeal to me, at all, and the story (particularly the hospital scenes) seems clumsy and amateurish. A chore to read. 2/10


Captain Marvel #35

The Defenders #20

Some nice Valkyrie scenes, leading to a battle where lots of stuff happens and lots of stuff is revealed about her origin. Trying to fit it together in my head... My head hurts :) But it was fun. 7/10


The Defenders #20

Marvel Two-in-One #7

Steve Gerber's stories sure are 'out there'. Imaginative, to say the least. This one is a blast. And there are several moments for The Thing that made me smile. 9/10

So, um, I just read a comic where The Thing saves the world with a supernatural harmonica. And it was a beautiful story. Comics are awesome.


Marvel Two-In-One #7

Marvel Two-in-One #6

The Thing & Doctor Strange - Another great Steve Gerber story: Unique, fascinating, thought-provoking. 9/10 #comics

The first scene alone is so mesmerizing that even if the rest of the issue disappointed I'd have rated it at least an 8. It really is a cool comic. Can't wait for the next chapter. And Valkyrie (always one of my fave Marvel characters).


GCD :: Issue :: Marvel Two-In-One #6

Defenders #19

Even better than the previous issue. Again, it's pretty much a battle from start to finish, but the reason/setting/characters make it fun and the Hulk gets lots to do. And is fun. And awesome. 7/10


GCD :: Issue :: The Defenders #19
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Man-Thing #6

Surreal storytelling at it's best. It works because the emotions at the core of it feel completely real. So sad. 9/10

As the series goes on, Steve Gerber sure finds innovative ways to use the recurring cast members...


GCD :: Issue :: Man-Thing #6
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Defenders #18

Action from start to finish, which works because the characters are interesting. Good use of Hulk, too. 7/10

Plus, hints of Valkyrie storyline...


GCD :: Issue :: The Defenders #18

Avengers #128

Avengers #128 - An Agatha Harkness/Scarlet Witch story. Set-up is interesting. Resolution is kinda ordinary. 5/10 ##comics

Some very interesting developments for Vision, Mantis and Swordsman occupy the rest of the issue.


GCD :: Issue :: The Avengers #128
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Marvel Team-Up #27

A fun Hulk/Spider-Man tale with lots of action and a surprisingly sad ending. 7/10

I like the way this fits into events in concurrent Defenders issues, and there's something rather wonderful about The Hulk learning that his friends are in trouble via police radio, and getting directions from Spider-Man so he can go help them!


GCD :: Issue :: Marvel Team-Up #27

Giant-Size Defenders #2

Giant-Size Defenders #2 - Ordinary team-is-divided-and-each-faces-personal-demons tale. At least Son of Satan is in it. 5/10


GCD :: Issue :: Giant-Size Defenders #2
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Defenders #17

Defenders #17 - One of those hero vs. hero misunderstanding battles that I don't enjoy :(
Early part of the issue (Valkyrie leaves) was more interesting than the battle with Luke Cage, Hero for Hire. 5/10


GCD :: Issue :: The Defenders #17
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Brother Voodoo: Strange Tales #172

Brother Voodoo: Strange Tales #172 - Implausible coincidences and loads of characters who say/do very stupid things. Sigh. The art is fantastic, but this is now a very irritating series. 4/10


GCD :: Issue :: Strange Tales #172
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part 5 of Dracula

"Ship of Death" (part 5 of Dracula) changes location and is mostly set aboard a ship at sea, as - one by one - the crew disappears. Very eerie. Lots of foreshadowing of what is to come... 9/10


GCD :: Issue :: Dracula Lives #10

Brother Voodoo: Strange Tales #173

Brother Voodoo: Strange Tales #173 is actually pretty okay. Good art (by Gene Colan and Dick Giordano) and atmospheric story/setting is hampered somewhat by a frightfully dull hero. 5/10


GCD :: Issue :: Strange Tales #173

Tales Of The Zombie #6

"End of a Legend" in Tales Of The Zombie #6 pretty much bring the adventures of Brother Voodoo to a conclusion with the rescue of a girl from a (fake) cult. Lots of recapping and a fistfight/brawl take up most of the issue. 5/10


GCD :: Issue :: Tales of the Zombie #6

Marvel Team-Up #24

Marvel Team-Up #24 finds Brother Voodoo and Spider-Man up against a cult. Another one?! BV sure fights a lot of very similar cults. 5/10

The presence of Spider-Man adds a bit of spark to the story. After seven stories with Brother Voodoo the read still knows virtually nothing about his personality. Nothing much about who he actually is. We just know his powers, and his habit of referring to himself in the third person. And we know that the narration, no matter who the writer is, loves to refer to him as a 'legend'. Meh.


GCD :: Issue :: Marvel Team-Up #24

Marvel Team-Up #25

Weak start (as Daredevil attacks Spider-Man for no apparent reason) but it quickly develops into an enjoyable case-of-the-week yarn with interesting baddies, crime and location. 7/10


GCD :: Issue :: Marvel Team-Up #25

Marvel Team-Up #26

Brisk pace, epic scale, Thor/Human Torch adventure, with some twists at the end. One of them: very clever. 8/10


GCD :: Issue :: Marvel Team-Up #26