I cannot even begin to tell you how HYPE I am that Warren Ellis will be signing at FPNYC in a few short weeks. That’s an insane GET, and something NYCC hasn’t even managed to do yet. I am excited to meet the man who’s written some of the most important comics ever (NEXTWAVE NEXTWAVE), and have him acknowledge my existence, something he’s yet to do on Twitter. #ThanksObama
Captain Marvel #17
Kelly Sue DeConnick/ Filipe Andrade
Marvel, $3.99, 30 pages
Confession time: When this issue was originally solicited, I thought it was going to be super cheesy and pandering, given it’s the #CarlCorp issue. I am glad to be so wrong, because this is EASILY the best issue of the run. Shame on me for doubting that which is KSD.
The final issue of the first volume of this series (don’t worry, Carol’s back in March with a brand new #1, pre-order that when you can!) deals with the fall out from the Enemy Within crossover in a very nice done is one. The focus on this issue is Kit, Carol’s “kid sidekick” and Kelly Sue has done a bang-up job of developing her relationship with the good Captain, which serves as the A-plot of this issue. Aside from that, Cap gets a new enemy, a new apartment, and a new Ms. Marvel, whom you’ve may have heard about by now, makes her official debut. The reason why it’s the Carol Corp issue makes sense once it wraps up, and it’s a very cute and cool shout-out to the awesome fanbase KSD and co. has acquired over the last year and a half. Filipe Andrade is firing on all cylinders with this final issue, as the art is fantastic. It’s clean, kinetic very Eric Canete-esque, which fits the type of book Captain Marvel should be. Jordie Bellaire‘s colors are a little too dark for my liking at some times, but overall she does a great job with em. And Kelly Sue bounces back after 2 less than impressive tie-in issues, ending this volume of Captain Marvel on an impressive.
The hiatus for this title certainly sucks, but it’s needed. KSD is obviously focusing on Pretty Deadly moment, and as great as Andrade is, David Lopez is a great upgrade for this title. Hoping the All-New Marvel Now relaunch will help with the sales with the next volume of Captain Marvel, because this has been a fun ride so far, and I’m excited for more in 2014.
Longshot Saves the Marvel Universe #1
Christopher Hastings/Jacopo Camangi
Marvel, $2.99, 20 pages
The mini-series you never know you wanted is here and man, I am thrilled.
Longshot is one of those character I’ve always had a soft spot for, and I’m really glad he’s been written well under Peter David in X-Factor. But that story is over, and Christopher Hastings is here to give us the first solo Longshot story in years.
Hastings has written a few Deadpool stories for Marvel over the last couple of years, but is mostly known for his excellent Web-comic Doctor McNinja. Which makes him a PERFECT fit for ol’ Longshot, as he’s put in a very zany, almost Doctor Who-esque scenario. And Jacopo is the perfect fit for this book. His work is very animated and clean, the perfect fit for Hastings’ story. It’s nothing ground breaking so fat, but it’s very fun. Which is pretty much all I want from a Longshot story.
ADVANCE REVIEW: UNITY #1
Matt Kindt/ Doug Braithwaite
Valiant, $3.99, 40 pages
Reviewer’s Note: The version of this comic being reviewed is not the print version, but a 40 page PDF supplied by Valiant.
Confession time 2: Up until now, I’ve yet to read a single book published by the new Valiant comics. Sorry gang, but my comics-allowance is limited, and I REALLY like the X-men. It’s a shame, because the company employees a lot of creators I do like, and I’m glad to see it doing well in the market.
Unity, according to the press release supplied by Valiant, is the company’s answer to the Avengers or the Justice League, and is brought about by the actions of X-O Manowar. Not being familiar with Valiant all too much, I really didn’t recognize a lot of the book’s cast, and Matt Kindt doesn’t exactly bring the reader up to date on all of the characters. That being said, after a slow, kind of confusing start, the book picks up and delivers right until the ending.
Doug Braithwaite is brillant from cover to cover. A great artist, this book really showcases his talents, and Valiant was wise to bring him aboard for this new series/mini-event. He’s really on the same pages as Kindt when it comes to telling this story, and visually this book couldn’t be better.
Unity is sure to please fans of the current Valiant universe, but people planning to jump into the book/universe for the first time may want to do a bit of research first. I’d go with X-O Manowar volume 1, which is all of $10. But Unity is off to a good start, and things can only get better with Matt and Doug involved.
