SDCC COVERAGE SPONSORED BY MAD CAVE
Welcome faithful Marvel readers back to another edition of the Marvel Rundown! The last few weeks we’ve gone to outer space, assembled like Avengers, and been exposed to cosmic rays. This week though we’re going throughout time and space in the Marvel universe! One main review takes a look at Imperial #2, while our Rapid Rundown will cover Imperial #2, Bring on the Bad Guys: Abomination, The World to Come #2, Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe, Marvel Knights: The World to Come #2, and Exceptional X-Men #11. So buckle up for this full tour of everything Marvel has to offer and be aware that there might be MINOR SPOILERS!
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Cover art by Marco Checchetto & Marte GarciaImperial #2
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Iban Coello & Frederico Vincentini
Colorist: Frederico Blee
Letterer: vc’s Cory Petit and Ariana Maher
We here at the Rapid Rundown spent a lot of ink talking about how much we enjoy events like X-Manhunt or the ongoing One World Under Doom. Marvel events right now feel so underwhelming, that it’s left many Marvel fans listless. The stakes feel meaningless, and the consequences rather weightless. Last years Blood Hunt was one of the most fun books Marvel put out last year. That was until it became the prologue for One World Under Doom. At this point, it would be a surprised if One World Under Doom wasn’t just a stepping stone for the next WORLD CHANGING EVENT.
Which makes this second issue of Imperial feel so refreshing. In the same way Jonathan Hickman surprised readers with the family dynamic in Ultimate Spider-Man, here he crafts a massive space opera story that feels thrilling and exciting in a way most of Marvel’s event have not recently. The actions of characters have consequences with everyone here rushing to conclusion that bites them in ass. There’s very clear stakes with the politics of the universe in total chaos. And the moments that meant to make you gasp? They complete land here. Bigger bonus? It doesn’t feel like you’re missing anything by not reading tie-ins (though they’re coming).
Art by Iban Coello & Frederico Vincentini, Frederico BleeAfter the massacre at the end of last issue, every single galactic empire descends on Wakanda Prime fully believing the Wakandans are behind it. This issue is just pure action with massive space battles and close quarter individual fights. Artists Iban Coello and Frederico Vincentini and colorist Federico Blee get as much drama and action out of all of the dutch angles, crazy compositions, the color orange, and motion lines that they can throw into every panel. The term “widescreen comics” has fallen out of favor but it feel necessary when describing this comic. The two artists just intuitively understand the sense of how huge this conflict is and how that needs to be sold on readers. There’s nothing cheap in their storytelling that undercuts what’s happening here. The drama feels as big as the action and the color palette Blee uses only enhances all of this. It’s a balancing act to that when this issue hits the reveal, that the drama of that scene on the spaceship and the events that follow feel as big as the explosions outside.
Art by Iban Coello & Frederico Vincentini, and Frederico BleeImperial #2 is space opera on a scale that superhero comics rarely see. The first issue might mostly have been compelling set up but this issue becomes the culmination of storylines from throughout the last twenty or so years of Marvel History. When a group of characters trigger word for action is the name of a long dead supervillain, you know something awful is about to take place and it’s great. The storytellers here are firing on all cylinders. This reads like what a huge event should be. Multiple characters struggling in ways that feel emotionally real and are thrilling to witness.
Verdict: BUY
Rapid Rundown!
Art by Lee Bermejo- Bring on the Bad Guys: Abomination
- Marvel’s Bring on the Bad Guys tackles Abomination this week. Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson and artist Sergio Davila undertake the significant task of detailing the iconic Hulk villain’s pact with Mephisto. The Abomination gets coerced into helping the Wakandans deal with a supernatural element discovered in an ancient well. Without going into any spoilers, this issue does a great job of making Abomination an absolute monster, from his overwhelming brutality and strength to how he speaks to and treats his only real ally, the newly introduced intelligence analyst assigned to his case.Once the Abomination enters the issue, the writing becomes excellent and engaging; never once does it feel like things are dragging, especially if one is looking for the twist that comes with this issue. The Bring on the Bad Guys run is reminding us readers that the villains of the Marvel world are villains for more than just their powers, but their shrewd personalities. Fans of the Hulk’s nemesis will likely appreciate the focus on him. However, for those who have never read an Abomination issue, like myself, this issue is an excellent introduction to the character without holding your hand and filling in every detail about him.My knowledge of Abomination extends to the character’s cinematic debuts. However, I never felt lost when engaging with this issue, a testament to the comic writers’ excellent understanding of the character and the story’s own merits, as it doesn’t require prior knowledge. It tells you everything you need to know about the Abomination through dialogue. This issue is one to pick up, and I’m excited to see what Abomination brings to the Hulk in their issues.- LM
art by Joe Quesada and Richard Isanove- The World to Know #2
- Marvel Knights is back, and so are artist Joe Quesada and writer Christopher Priest, reunited to stir up more $#it. In the future, T’Challa is dead, and the world is falling apart. Like their original run back in the 90s, they use the character of Everett Ross as our narrator to this near/far future tale of how things went so bad for our favorite monarch. Additionally, the first issue of this series caused quite the uproar in the Blerd-sphere with the reveal of T’Challa’s son, and this issue addresses “the Panther in the room.” From the credits, it would seem that this is Quesada’s story, but it definitely has Priest’s hand in crafting. As with any Priest comic, the way he plays with time, you would think that he was Kang the Conqueror or the wizard Merlyn come out of retirement. While the dialogue still has that slick humor associated with his catalog, there is an edge in this story that is menacing and very worrisome. As for the art, to my immediate recollection, Quesada has mostly done covers for the longest and hasn’t done any interiors, and it is a shame, his work here with color artist Richard Isanove‘s art for this series has been amazing. The storytelling and pacing of the issue are tight, and with Isanove’s skill coloring the various scenes adds a lush and energetic vibrance that is fantastic. Quesada and Priest make for a great team, and whatever they have in store for the rest of this series seems like a worthy read. – GC3
Art by Mark Brooks- Godzilla Destroys The Marvel Universe
- Maybe it was foolish to expect more from this issue of a book titled Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe, but after Jonathan Hickman turned his Alien/Avengers crossover into a cerebral, gothic storytelling event, I was similarly hoping we might get a book that takes the concept with some seriousness. This is a comic in line not with recent dramatic reimaginings of the King of Kaiju like Shin Godzilla or Godzilla Minus One. This is a firmly classic big goofy rubber suit Godzilla of yesteryear. That’s fine as far as it goes. Gerry Duggan can write good, funny comics. The problem here is he wants to do both the drama and the slapstick and the book never finds a balance. Javier Garron’s art is superb. Godzilla is lovingly detailed and dominant on every page with big vertical panels to sell his size and weight. The destruction is a lot of fun to look at and the lizard himself is definitely patterned after those sillier films. There are truly impressive spreads here. Quicksilver dashing through and up and down panels rescuing people from toppling buildings (with tilting panels evoking the quaking stairways) is a stone cold stunner and an inventive depiction of super speed. The same shift in broad tones from big action and stakes to screwball comedy is evident here, too, with Garron drawing exaggerated facial expressions and reactions. Jesus Arbutov and Andrew Dalhouse give the book bold bright colors as if to emphasize this book is meant to be FUN! VC’s Travis Lanham nails the lettering with dynamic depictions of the classic Godzilla SFX that add weight and volume to his roars and energy blasts. The comic looks great and is a decent enough time but never elevates beyond the gimmick. – TR
Art by Carmen Cornero & Nolan Woodward- Exceptional X-Men #11
- Chicago’s Most Unusual Teenagers kick off a new arc this week with Exceptional X-Men #11. Writer Eve Ewing continues to nail it with each issue. The teens all feel authentic, the dialog is snappy, and the character moments feel like there is actual growth. This series is ostensibly a Kitty Pryde focused book and Ewing’s handling of the character feels fresh. Kitty is still trying to heal her emotional and psychological wounds from the Fall of X and wanting to keep the kids safe from living her life. Which is hard as the team is fresh off a victory over Mr. Sinister. The teens begin to want more freedom to operate on their own. Of course, Kitty has trouble letting this go. Ewing’s handle of the situation is nuanced and effective. Kitty doesn’t feel out of character and the addition of Iceman to the team keeps paying dividends. Bobby is not only an original five X-Man, he’s the first young teen member. He tempers Kitty’s concerns. Ewing balances the dynamic quite well. The art by Federico Mancin is really great. The emotional beats of the comic hit extremely hard thank’s to their art. Mancin has a strong command over facial expressions which helps make this mostly talking issue pop. Before I end this review I should note that Ironheart makes a guest appearance in what can only be called “Brand Synergy” with the Disney+ show just being released. Riri is okay here but feels a bit unnecessary to the story. That aside this is a good comic that just makes me happy. —JJ
Come back next week for more reviews or go through our archives to read past reviews from the Rundown team!
SDCC COVERAGE SPONSORED BY MAD CAVE
English (US) · 