Hey Superior Foes of Spider-Man is back this week. Yay, I’m so glad no other Marvel books that I really like are also on hiatus :: breaks out in ugly crying :::
Superior Foes of Spider-Man #12
Nick Spence, Steve Lieber, Racelle Rosenberg
Marvel $3.99
It’s been awhile since I’ve checked in on ol’ SUP FOES, due to a month delay and some fill in issues I didn’t care to purchase. But Nick, Steve and Rachel and back, and despite a increase in price, I’m glad to see the once again. Especially with that rocking cover by Ron Wimberly.
Our lead, disgraced former Mets pitcher turned super villain Boomerang, find himself in a bit of trouble rest of the Sinister Six ( actually Five). Mostly because he lied/double crossed the lot of them, or if you’re the Shocker, tried killing. So their anger is justified. Can Boomerang lie his way out of this scenario? Yeah probably, but you should still read the damn thing.
This issue is incredibly rewarding to people who’ve been reading SUP FOES since day 1. Lieber & Spencer bring back a few old gags like the double page death trap warehouse ( complete with Stalin Mummies!), super deformed version of the Sinister Six, over exaggerated facial expressions. Steve Lieber’s panel count per page is also impressive, fitting up to 12 in some pages, without the final product being over crowded. And his placement of characters for comedic purposes really helps sell the humor. This book continues to showcase how strong of an story telling Lieber is ( and props to colorist Rachelle Rosenberg for really making this book come to life, especially with the action sequence towards the end of the book).
Nick Spencer deserves his fair amount of praise with what he gets accomplished with this issue. Aside from tripling the amount of characters in a certain team of villains ( Bi-Beast is back!), the Shocker & Hammerhead get decent amount of spotlight with their connected subplots. It’s really wonderful to see everything come together for a super great read.
As our first massive arc ( and possibly series :/) wraps up, I’m really impressed with this issue of Superior Foes of Spider-Man. It’s a well constructed comic that manages to raise the stakes without sacrificing character development.
The Woods
James Tynion IV, Micahel Dialynas
BOOM!, $3.99
The 2nd issue of the Woods is heavy on the troupes. Evil facility member? Check. Adorable monkey-esque pet character? Check. Creepy ass alien bear…alright that’s kind of new and awesome.
As familiar as the 2nd issue of The Woods is, it’s not any less entertaining than the first issue. The team of students that decided to run off into said the woods find themselves not as prepared they thought they were, and the divide between the Student Council and the school’s facility begins to grow. With all this growing conflict, I’m expecting a heavy body count by the end of this first arc.
The team of Tynion & Dialynas continue to impress with this issue. The art in this book is stellar and the dialogue remains sharp, and the amazingly brutal cover by artist Ramon K. Perez is as great as it is horrifying. My only complaint is that the massive cast is making some elements of the book seem a little crowded, but considering the type of monsters that occupy this weird alien planet or moon, I’m sure that’s not going to be an issue for much longer.
Despite the sense of familiarity this books gives off at certain points, the Woods is definitely a must read horror title. It’s a little than the previous issue, it’s constructed in a way to build the dread and terror the cast faces while adding on the intrigue. It’s a unique type of horror comics, one that smart without talking over the reader’s head. With only 2 issues under the team’s belt, I’m really impressed with the quality of story the team has told so far.
