Marvel Adventures The Avengers #23
“New Avengers”
Writer: Marc Sumerak
Penciler: Kevin Sharpe; Inker: Jay Leisten

Another ‘Marvel Adventures the Avengers,’ another mediocre comic book (replete with gratuitous Wolverine appearance).

Considering how wildly popular manga has become with young readers, it is surprising that Marvel is taking this ‘dumb-it-down’ approach with their all ages books.

Look at Naruto, one of the most popular manga series out there — brilliant fight sequences with solid pacing, cliffhangers that create anticipation for the next issue, meticulous continuity within an overarching story, comedic touches based on strong characterizations.

Perhaps Marvel should consider this approach for its younger audience. Not the manga art style (which Marvel has done in the past with disastrous results), but the story and pacing.

How about ‘Young Logan,’ chronicling Logan’s training to become a ninja under Ogun back in the 1930s? Dynamic tension over his training from an evil immortal, interactions and jealousies with other ‘forgotten’ pupils, Logan’s destiny as a ‘failed’ samurai…

Wait a minute, that’s not bad!

Hey, Marvel… give me a ring, I think I may be onto something here!

From Marvel (preview): “What happens when you take the ‘Earth’ out of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes? You end up with a bunch of Avengers that have mysteriously vanished off the face of the planet! Now Captain America and Spider-Man must call on some of their newest allies to help them rescue their missing teammates. But will this new roster of unpredictable heroes be able to work together long enough to save the day… or will they just end up making things even worse?” On sale Spril 16, 2008.

Wolverine: Origins #24
“The Deep End, Part 4”
Writer: Daniel Way
Artist: Steve Dillon

I should’ve known.

The last few issues have been too good to last.

Daniel Way just couldn’t help himself, straying into pop psychology and the tedious and unnecessary psychoanalysis of Deadpool (and to a lesser degree Wolverine). What an original idea — an abusive alcoholic father who tells his son to shut up. Surely this trite cliche explains the insanity that is Deadpool.

And the reappearance of Daken seems to portend the continued return of the old days of ‘Wolverine: Origins’ — cheap melodrama and unrelenting cynicism.

From Marvel (Preview): “Wolverine and Deadpool have fought to a standstill and are now—literally—dead on their feet. Whose healing factor will reign supreme? And what horrible fate awaits the loser? The most over-the-top grudge match in recent memory continues!” On sale April 16, 2008.

Wolverine #64
‘Get Mystique, Part 3’
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Ron Garney

Jason Aaron and Ron Garney have really delivered a fun, smart run on ‘Wolverine’ so enjoy it while you can. They only have one more issue to go.

And I almost hate to say it yet again, but at some point the ramifications of Logan losing his immortality (‘Wolverine’ #61: “Next time I buy the farm, I buy it for keeps.”) have to be addressed. Sure one can argue that this issue came before that one, but, come on, that happened only three issues ago… in the same damn series!

That said, awesome final page.

From Marvel (preview): “Spinning out of the decade’s biggest X-Men event, Wolverine embarks on a personal mission to hunt down MYSTIQUE. But what do you do when the person you’re chasing, the person you’re dying to kill, chooses to hide behind an army of American soldiers? That’s the question Logan is asking himself, and the answer will be explosive. Plus, Wolvie pulls a bank heist in 1920s Kansas City, but all does not go according to plan.” On sale April 9, 2008.

Amazing Spider-Man #555
“Sometimes It Snows in April”
Writer: Zeb Wells
Pencils: Chris Bachalo; Inks: Tim Townsend

I’ve been reading comics for a long time.

So when Joe Quesada and company unveiled their little ‘One More Day’ magical retcon a few months back, I was more than a little pissed off. But this being a Wolverine blog, I decided to pass on the rant I felt bubbling within (shocking, I know).

And while I do feel ripped off that 20 years of continuity have been altered to keep yet another entertainment property ageless, even I must admit that this is a pretty good issue (though why this story couldn’t have been told just as ably with a married Spider-Man is beyond me).

Spider-Man’s discussion with Wolverine about breakfast (Fruit Loot vs. beer), weather forecasts by Dr. Strange and the obligatory battle sequence are just some of the highlights.

But the Mighty Marvel Magical Retcon still poses a few questions that have yet to be addressed. How can the New Avengers include someone during these troubled times without knowing their secret identity? Does Wolverine still know that Spider-Man is Peter Parker (from the epic ‘Spider-Man vs. Wolverine’)?

Since I have ignored ‘Brand New Day’ for a variety of reasons, can anyone shed some light on my queries?

From Marvel (preview): “Month Four of ‘Brand New Day’ is upon us and so is the worst blizzard in the history of New York City! It’s colder than an outdoor hockey game in January out there and your favorite Wall-Crawler (aided by his Avengers buddy, Wolverine) must find his way through the cold to rescue a doctor who may know the real secret behind the deadly storm.” On sale April 2, 2008.

Logan #2
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Eduardo Risso

Just as this issue begins a descent into eye-rolling cliche, Brian Vaughan redeems himself with a wonderfully foreshadowed turn of phrase (‘Gomen nasai’) and a cleverly done surprise.

Yet as enjoyable as this series is, it does seem to ignore the loss of Logan’s immortality as suggested by Marc Guggenheim in recent issues of ‘Wolverine.’ Of course, that could simply mean this series comes before the aforementioned story, but one hopes the removal of Wolverine’s invincibility rolls through the rest of his appearances sooner rather than later.

From Marvel (preview): “Returning to the place that made him the man he is today, Wolverine faces off against an all-new enemy in an epic clash with a last page that has to be seen to be believed.” On sale April 2, 2008.

Secret Invasion #1
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Leinil Yu; Inker: Mark Morales

‘Secret Invasion’ is as overly hyped, melodramatic and contrived as I feared.

‘Civil War’ was an event. This, on the other hand, is a 1950s science fiction movie gone bad. Everything feels so forced, especially when compared to how well Brian Bendis usually plots his stories.

And the stupidity of Tony Stark (and Agent Brand to a lesser extent) is mind boggling. Having faced Skrulls before, one would think the heroes would be better prepared, especially the Fantastic Four.

To top off the issue, Bill Quesada writes a three-page love letter explaining just how diligent Bendis has been over the years and why we should care about this miniseries. It serves as the kiss of death for me and speaks volumes about Marvel’s failure to generate any good publicity about this project beyond the sycophants in the comics press who adore anything put out by Marvel.

Newsarama: Bendis on ‘Secret Invasion’ #1
ComicBookResources: ‘Secret Invasion’ Spoilers of War

From Marvel (preview): “The shape-shifting alien race known as the Skrulls has secretly infiltrated every super-powered organization on Earth with one goal…full-scale invasion! Brian Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu leap off the pages of mega-hit New Avengers and deliver a story that will change the Marvel Universe forever. The shocking reveals, powerful action and pulse-pounding page after page will keep you on the edge of your seat as Marvel’s greatest heroes and villains must ask…Who Do You Trust?” On sale April 2, 2008.

I’ve decided to unveil a new category: Covers — issues that only feature Wolverine on the cover, but not in the story itself. For the inaugural post, we have two issues, one from last week (March 26) and one from this week (April 2)…

Marvel Atlas #2
Cover: Staz Johnson

From Marvel: “Your only guide to Marvel’s Earth concludes! Antarctica, Africa, the Middle East, and North, Central and South America are highlighted as the Marvel Atlas plans your trip to Wakanda, Atlantis, the Savage Land, Sky Island and the U.S.A. (home of a super hero or two)! Visit the realms of the Black Panther, the Initiative, Omega Flight, the Sub-Mariner, Ka-Zar and more…” On sale March 26, 2008.
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Young X-Men #1
Cover: Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson

From Marvel: “In the wake of Messiah CompleX, there are no X-Men and young mutants Rockslide, Blindfold and Dust are alone and directionless. Until the day Cyclops recruits them to hunt the new incarnation of the Brotherhood – and kill them. Joined by a pair of new recruits, the young X-Men learn a hard truth about the world post-Messiah CompleX: sometimes old allies make for deadly enemies.” On sale April 2, 2008.
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Ultimate Spider-Man #120
‘Apocalypse, Part 3’
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade von Grawbadger

It is, perhaps, issues like this one that makes Secret Invasion so hard to stomach.

Brian Bendis is an amazingly talented writer when it comes to small stories. Here, he takes the juvenile ‘Spidey and His Amazing Friends’ concept and turns it into an engaging and fun yarn about becoming a mutant. And even Wolverine comes across in this cameo as Ultimate Wolverine.

So when this same writer tells us to believe that Secret Invasion will be good, you want to believe him.

Unfortunately, all the evidence is to the contrary.

From Marvel (preview): “Now that one of Peter Parker’s fellow students has been outted as a mutant, the struggle for their heart and mind is on! Magneto, Master of Magnetism, claims the new mutant as his own, but the X-Men aren’t about to let that stand! It’s a battle royale that rages across the city with the web-slinger caught in the middle!” On sale March 26, 2008.

Ultimate X-Men #92
‘Apocalypse, Part 3’
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Salvador Larroca

I’m still struggling to understand why I don’t like this series.

The story is interesting. Salvador Larroca rocked on ‘Xtreme X-Men.’ Robert Kirkman kicked ass on ‘Marvel Zombies.”

But mix all these ingredients together and I get a series I just don’t care about.

I mean, the first panel of a one-armed Wolverine is awesome. But the dreadful dialogue (“Why’d you shoot your own teammate, Cyclops?”) and the flat, uninspired artwork just deadens the whole series for me.

Anyone out there enjoying this?

From Marvel (preview): “Hey, on the cover…is that Stryfe and Onslaught? Apocalypse’s endgame is revealed as the beleaguered X-Men mount a last-ditch attack to save the world! Meanwhile, two more monstrous threats rear their ugly heads to ensure the young mutants’ downfall!” On sale March 26, 2008.