Superheroes Books - Page 6

Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1: Power and Responsibility

Brian Michael Bendis

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 60 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The comic book publishing event of 2000 is coming to your bookstore.

Ultimate Spider-Man received extensive press coverage and was the highest selling comics launch of the year. It is the reinterpretation of Spider-Man's origin, updated for today's tweens and teens. Starting over at the beginning, the story of how a tortured teen is imbued with startling powers, has been completely re-imagined to appeal to the hi-tech, media savvy youth of today.

In the process, great steps were taken to make the unfolding saga reader-friendly to the non-comics reader. "Our characters have been around for almost 40 years," explained Bill Jemas, Marvel`s President of Publishing and New Media, explaining the reasoning behind Ultimate Spider-Man. "It's great that our comics are so rich that storylines run forever, but we want the Ultimate books to be accessible to the first-time reader. Someone will be able to pick up an issue of Ultimate Spider-Man and have enough information to understand and appreciate it."

An outsider even amongst his own peers, high school student Peter Parker is a young man at the crossroads of destiny. Orphaned as a youth and raised by his Uncle Ben and Aunt May, Peter finds himself the target of a constant barrage of pranks perpetrated by school jock Flash Thompson and his burly bud, nicknamed Kong. After Peter is bitten by an experimental spider from the laboratory of Osborn Industries, industrialist Norman Osborn takes a deadly interest in this development. Will Peter be able to avoid a violent case of corporate downsizing? When backed into a corner, will our hero learn that with great power there must come great responsibility?

Wolverine: Origins, Vol. 2: Savior (v. 2)

Daniel Way, Steve Dillon

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Good but not great. 3 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

The Origins:series is based off of the idea that Wolverine has remembered all of his past, which is a great concept. I think the storyline moves a little slow to get to the point and the art is very lackluster and subpar. I feel like I am watching Saturday morning cartoons from the 90's that really really suck and went cheap on the budget. Also they probably could have narrowed down the length to get to the point instead of draggin on the end. If you decide to continue on with the series after this it is much of the same with more questions. I say borrow a friends copy to read but keeping it is just not worth the effort or cost. I think I read it in 15 minutes which is pretty pathetic for a trade.

Overall:Awesome cover art, poor interior art and ok dialog and narrative. It makes me wish that they would just start reprinting the Wolverine: Originals from 'Marvel Presents'. Apparently those days of great art inside and out and amazing story telling are gone for this series. Too bad.

Editorial Review:

Completely shattered by recent revelations, Logan must now ask himself some hard - almost impossible - questions, such as whether he can continue on his quest... or if he even should. Though he now remembers who he was, the more pressing question becomes who - and what - is he now? Answering these questions will take the help of one of Logan's closest friends and one of his deadliest enemies: Omega Red! Collects Wolverine: Origins #6-10.

Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight

DK Publishing

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A Celebration of the Modern-Day Caped Crusader 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

This book is a blast to read. I wished this book had come out sooner when I was just finding my way around the modern Batman comics. Nevertheless, better late than never.

A word of caution. If you are looking for the DEFINITIVE guide to everything Batman, I wouldn't recommend this book to you. Les Daniels' book on Batman is by far the most comprehensive treatment on the whole history of the Batman from his pre-conception in the 1930s up till the recent stuff (including his incarnations outside the comicbook - TV, toys, cinema, etc.). Also, if you're interested in analyzing Batman as a pop-culture icon, you should check out Will Brookner's "Batman Unmasked" book. Finally, if you're interested in reading a one-volume collection of the definitive Batman - I'd recommend Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Returns" and/or "Year One" along with the "The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told".

What then is this book by Scott Beatty about? It's about the modern day Batman. THIS Batman is as different from the classic Bob Kane/Bill Finger creation as the Tim Burton movies are from the Adam West TV show. For your information, THIS Batman is the one from Frank Miller's "Year One" (1986) and it includes the later revisions by Dennis O'Neil and Chuck Dixon up to today. In other words, this is the Batman of "Knightfall", "Contagion", "Cataclysm" and "No Man's Land". And in my opinion, this is the most exciting and rich version of the Batman since his conception in 1939. This book is not so much a guide but more a celebration of this modern-day Dark Knight of the comicbooks.

The book is neatly divided into sections. The first section is about Batman/Bruce Wayne and Gotham City. The second section covers his allies and loves (Alfred, Gordon, Nightwing, Oracle, Robin II, Robin III, etc.). The third section focuses on the many colorful villains in the Bat-mythos. Finally, there's also a foreword by Chuck Dixon, the man who, under the editorial-eye of Dennis O'Neil, pretty much shaped the direction of the Bat-books throughout the 1990s. Note: Dixon also teamed up with the author Scott Beatty on some other great works like the recent "Robin: Year One" and "Batgirl: Year One".

Editorial Review:

With unparalleled access to the archives of DC Comics, Batman: the Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight provides spectacular illustrations reveal the secret workings of key installations and equipment such as the Batcave, the Batmobile, Batman's suit, and the weaponry contained in his Utility Belt. Panoramic views of Gotham City and Arkham Asylum with its villainous inmates, allow readers to enter into Batman's world. Crucial events and characters of the Batman legend are illustrated with drawings from the original DC comic books.

DC: The New Frontier, Vol. 2

Darwyn Cooke, Dave Stewart

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Still Bearing That "New Frontier" Smell! 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Picking up where the first volume of "DC: THE NEW FRONTIER" left off -- notably, in 1959 -- Darwyn Cooke continues to spin his epic yarn surrounding the founding of the Justice League against the nostalgic and political backdrop of the late 1950's and early 1960's -- a period in America largely noted for ... well ... an awful lot of stuff that even today still troubles and confuses most people, certainly many Americans. Issues of racial equality, political indifference to broken governments, space exploration versus understand our own world better, etc., still find ample play time in most news outlets, though the warm-fuzzy ending to this tale might lead you to believe otherwise. (Again, as referenced in my review of Volume 1, I don't say that as a political statement; it's only a reflection of the facts as I see 'em.)

Thankfully, Volume 2 is a vast improvement in the narrative department over the quick, clipped scenes of Vol. 1. The heroes have, largely, come together, though the Justice League hasn't. They've found one another -- or, in the cases of the Green Lantern and the Martian Manhunter, two characters who get ample amount of page space in "Frontier" -- are well into their origin stories and are only facing one or two pivotal events to set them on their course to becoming two of the greatest heroes the planet has to offer. The menace -- a lurking alien presence known as 'the Centre' -- has come to light, and leave it to Big Bold Blue -- Superman himself -- to throw down the gauntlet, deliver a speech about ignoring those feelings and opinions that divide us in order to serve all of the greater good when it becomes necessary, and to set the chain of events in motion that'll, once and for all, bring these heroes together in a quest to save the planet and to save mankind from itself.

But what have we learned?

Cooke's cultural-theme "Frontier" eeks great mileage out of the racial harmony (or the lack of it, as most frequently appears here). John Henry Irons brief appearances explore the nature of racial inequity at its most pervasive, most vile, but, in the end, he's still a victim to a culture that's broke. The Martian Manhunter elevates the idea of racial inequity into an area best explored in comics -- the fact that he's the last Martian trying to find a way to fit into the xenophobic American experience; while mankind never quite reconciles its fears, John Jonzz rises to the occasion by proving himself the better man. But, in the end, it's the Green Lantern -- a character who spent the better part of Vol. 1 struggling with the conceit of racial discrimination -- who essentially commits genecide to rid Earth of the alien menace. Is that one great step for man, one giant leap for mankind? I think not ... or, at least, I don't think much of the solution. Also, and it is a minor point, but the island-sized existence of the Centre seemed lifted a bit too similar to the alien ships in the movie INDEPENDENCE DAY to seem an independent creation -- with living creatures serving as its attack craft -- and maudlin trip through the Centre's interior seemed a bit too reminescent of an H.R. Puff'n'stuff-like acid drug trip with splashes of retro colors and hues and shapes ... I guess that's why I never much cared for comics of the 1960's and early 70's.

In fact, I grew to love comics more and more with the advent of the grim 1980's. Frank Miller's take of the Batman was a welcome departure for what came before -- a dark, nihilistic, grim fairy tale where good guys don't necessarily finish last when the best you could hope for is that they finish with their life and limb -- has meant far more to me because (and this harkens to my review about the generational aspect running through both volumes of "Frontier" as well as my review of the first volume) it's part and parcel of the generation I'm part of. Cooke's a few years older than I am, and -- in the story's afterward -- he spells out briefly how the collective optimism of hope and unity and 'just being a kid at that time' influenced him to tell this story that clearly a lifetime in the making. The mid-to-late 1970's brought in far more disillusionment in the United States (the aftermath of Vietnam, the Nixon resignation, Jimmy Carter's panic-fueled gas crisis, etc.), and the stories that sprang from that consciousness just mean more to me and my generation, I guess.

That's not to say "Frontier" isn't a wild trip; it's just that -- outside of embracing the artwork, the foundation aspects for the Justice League, and the Martian Manhunter's origins -- it'll never mean much more to me than just another graphic novel. Not an epic ... just epic in its scope.

Justice League International Vol. 3

Keith Giffen, J.M. Dematteis

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Continuing the silly - the second year of the JLI 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

By this point, in 1988, a year into the series, Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis had gotten a sure handle on this incarnation of the Justice League, and, in this set of issues, with the debut of the soliloquy-minded Manga Khan, they officially crossed over into the genre of wacky levity. JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATION Vol. 3 collects issues #14-22 and continues the JLI's madcap missions and misadventures.

"Shop... or Die" introduces the rather silly intergalactic barterer Manga Khan and his wiseacre bootlicking droid L-Ron, as they and Manga's fleet of Cluster ships come to Earth to either deal in trade or plunder the planet's resources. The JLI doesn't take too kindly to Manga's threats, but, in the ensuing fracas, Mr. Miracle is taken away in Manga's space vessel. And the lovely but intimidating Big Barda, Mr. Miracle's bride, doesn't take too kindly to this. Barda, the Martian Manhunter, and Rocket Red blast off into deep space in pursuit, joined and aided sloppily by a mangy, mutty Green Lantern.

Back on dirtside, Batman (who I thought had quit the League) takes a handful of JLI members and goes undercover to look into shady shenanigans in the dictator-ruled nation of Bialya. But Batman's investigation runs concurrent with the Queen Bee's efforts to topple the current Bialyan regime, and the inevitable face-off is explosive.

Catching up with Big Barda and company, who are still tracking Mr. Miracle, we find that Manga Khan has contracted the services of the invulnerable assassin Lobo, with the JLI as his targets. And Lobo turns out to be someone truly not to be effed with, although it's fun seeing him get increasingly frustrated as each of his attempts to off a JLI member is stymied. This story arc culminates on the planet Apokolips and would come to involve the entire roster of the JLI battling for survival (excepting Captain Atom, who seems to be always late to the party). This, even as no one seems to quite know what's really going on. In light of this air of befuddlement, it's perhaps apropos that the resolution is so anticlimactic.

Issue #22 is the JLI's tie-in issue with DC's Invasion crossover event. It breaks down into two stories, starting with Oberon single-handedly taking on tiny aliens in the JLI's New York embassy, followed by the JLI fighting off a wave of Khund battleships in the South Pacific.

Somewhere in all this, there's a membership drive, and yet another member quits. But several new recruits do sign on, or as Guy Gardner tactfully puts it: "Hey!!!! Who's the geek in the wings?!" Newcomers include Fire & Ice (formerly Green Flame and Ice Maiden), who would both become core members. And, if you haven't clued to it yet, Guy Gardner reverts to his true nasty form, just in time to tangle with Lobo.

Kevin Maguire, the sensei of drawing the expressive face and pose, returns and handles most of the artwork. But the series loses some of its luster when Steve Leialoha (issues #14, 15) and Ty Templeton (issues #20, 21) step in as guest artists. Nothing against them, but this version of the Justice League has become so associated with Maguire's illustrations that anyone else's stuff quickly establishes a jarring feel.

Giffen and DeMatteis never had it so good. J.M. DeMatteis on his own is considered a serious comic book writer. Only when he's paired up with Giffen is his inner irreverence fully unleashed. In their five year run with the Justice League, although there was ample straight-up adventuring, Giffen and DeMatteis for the most part served up the superhero story done sitcom style, with Blue Beetle and Booster Gold rapidly becoming the impetus to some of the more zany plots. I'm still waiting on Beetle and Booster's get-rich-quick scheme to transform KooeyKooeyKooey into an island resort. But that's not until issues #34 and 35. Anyway, check out JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL Vol. 3 if you want to see what the fuss was all about, in the comic book world way back in the late '80s.

The Ultimates Vol. 2: Homeland Security

Mark Millar, Bryan Hitch

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

at least the art is good... 3 out of 5 stars.
3 of 8 people found this review helpful.

in the ultimate universe, ultimate spider-man and ultimate fantastic four are much much much better series than the ultimates (well not ultimates 2, it's great).
1. captain america is probably the only avenger you'll like out of this series. he does whatever he thinks is right, no matter what. and he skipped the decades of american brainwashing from vietnam on, so you know he's good to go.
2. nick fury and shield are pretty annoying, and i don't like how they virtually run the ultimate universe. they shouldn't have invisibility and stuff like that. takes away from the real superheroes.
3. thor is a hippie. i'm pretty sure the gods don't like hippies.
4. the hulk and banner are entirely unsympathetic. banner/hulk is the greatest character in the marvel universe, yet here banner becomes the hulk and kills almost a thousand people just to give the ultimates something to do. no way jose. banner should be a good, but conflicted guy. but as presented here he's almost as big of a scumbag as hank pym.
5. hank pym is a scumbag. ok he's irredeemable (ok i know that's o'grady but you know what i mean).
6. the pop references on almost every page are pretty bad. imagine how dated they will look over time. clever writers would have made up celebrities and pop references, that way they could have tied them into future stories or problems. then marvel would have new characters and plots voila. instead it's like reading a people magazine. yuck.
7. oooh tony stark can't be arsed to go battle evil, he's partying with z-lister shannon elizabeth. blech.

to be fair the ultimates 1 book 2 is 100x better than ultimates 1 book 1. but it still isn't great by any means.

Editorial Review:

Iron Man. Thor. Captain America. The Wasp. Giant-Man. They are the world's newest heroes, brought together by the U.S. government to combat the world's growing wave of superhuman threats. But just because they have amazing powers doesn't also mean they don't have the inner problems that strike at us all. After the Hulk has rampaged through New York City, it's member against member as infighting among the Ultimates begins. With the city in ruins and immediate danger ahead, can they pull together to face their greatest threat yet?

New Avengers, Vol. 5: Civil War (v. 5)

Brian Michael Bendis

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Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Mediocre collection of New Avengers issues #21-#25 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This fifth New Avengers trade paperback collects issues #21-#25 of the Marvel series written by Brian Michael Bendis. The first four issues feature the respective reactions of team members Captain America, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman and The Sentry to the impending Superhero Registration Act. Issue 25 is the most interesting: it features an infiltration of Avengers Tower and a S.H.I.E.L.D. surprise at the end. Unfortunately these five issues feature five different art teams, little of which is notable. This non-essential book will probably only interest fans of the aforementioned heroes: Cap fans should instead read Cap's own Civil War TPB.

Bendis Disbands the Avengers...for the 2nd Time 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

They fight, they talk, they fight each other, and then talk some more--it's those wacky New Avengers circa Marvel's 2006 Civil War! As many other readers have noted, these solo takes on the infighting New Avengers are mostly filler, save for the pulse-pounding issue #25 featuring Iron Man helpless against a disgruntled employee. Since Captain America appeared in Civil War and his own book, however, did we really need to see him in solo action in New Avengers? Issue #25, as well as an appearance by the Inhumans (you'll never guess who the Sentry tries to hit it with!), make this an enjoyable if a bit unecessary read.

Editorial Review:

The Civil War is on, and no book will be more affected than New Avengers. You think Marvel would never mess with its top-selling book? Wrong! The Avengers are about to go to war over their beliefs, and the shake-up will shock you. Each stand-alone story in this volume is illustrated by a genuine comics superstar! Collects New Avengers #21-25.

Batman Chronicles, Vol. 1

Bill Finger, Bob Kane

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Dark Knight in his original style! 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

First off, I must say I purchased this book when my friend Anthony Tollin mentioned that the first ever Batman story was a retooled story from "The Shadow." So, I had to see how much the original Batman mirrored the Shadow. Well, after reading "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate" (Batman) and then reading "The Partners of Peril" (The Shadow), I have to agree with him. Bill Finger (the original writer for Batman, Kane was the artist) used the Shadow's story as the script for his first Batman adventure. Check out the new reprint of The Shadow #9 for more details on The Shadow's original story.Lingo And Partners of Peril: Two Classic Adventures Of The Shadow

Ever since, I have been able to spot the Shadow story elements and influences in many other stories. Instead of taking away from Batman, it adds to the fun by allowing me to enjoy one of the first superheroes as well as imaghine how the story would have been if the hero were the Shadow instead. Sort of a "Two-for-one" special. Almost every story in this first archive could have been Grade-A pulp novel and been just as great as it was a comic.

Overall, a great chance to see the first year of Batman stories in the correct chronalogical order and see his evolution from a gun-toting fighter into the superb detective.

Avengers Disassembled

Brian Michael Bendis, David Finch

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Total reviews: 37 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

A very well-done Avengers milestone 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Wow, where are all these negative reviews coming from? First off, this book is very well-written. It draws on the entire history of the Avengers and is a rewarding read for longtime Marvelites.

Secondly, the events that take place herein were instrumental in shaping what's gone on in the Marvel Universe since then - House of M, Decimation; it all starts right here. You can read this and then go straight to the House of M trade paperback, and it's one continuing, fantastic story. I found Decimation to be kind of disappointing, however - it's really just about the aftermath of House of M, and didn't need to be treated as a named event.

But I digress - this is a fantastic read, and it's a must-have for longtime fans.

Editorial Review:

The powerhouse team of Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch take on Earth's Mightiest Heroes! It begins with the return of a team member thought dead - and by the time it's over, everything you know about the Avengers will have changed! The event that will rock the entirety of the Marvel Universe starts here! Collects Avengers #500-503; Avengers Finale.

The Dark Knight: Batman Saves the Day

Jennifer Frantz

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Editorial Review:

Bruce Wayne's friends throw him a birthday party. But a surprise guest shows up to spoil the fun—it's the Joker! Can Batman get there in time to save the day?