I get what you're saying about Silverstri's X-Men feeling "authentic." Not directly, since I wasn't a big X-Men fan as a kid. (Though, with Fraction and Ellis writing the primary titles, Marvel doesn't leave me much choice these days.) I grew up on Spider-Man, and I still consider Todd MacFarlane one of my favorite comic artists. Then again, his art is flipping beautiful, so it might just be that.
I'm sure Fraction writing Dark Avengers is a great change of pace, though. It's a great line-up and a great concept with absolutely horrid execution. #3 was such a poorly written ******** that I doubt I'll pick any more issues up until the crossover. Then again, my obsessive-compulsiveness about my comics will likely force me to finish the arc.
stare
Haven't picked up this week's haul due to lack of cash, but I can only assume the implication is that Spidey unmasks to his New Avengers cohorts in #51. I verily doubt it's any kind of protest from Bendis. More than likely just him ignoring the events of any title not written by him, as usual. Him and Joey Q are tight. Would he still have a job otherwise? (Probably. He sells comics, and that's all Marvel seems to care about these days. My point remains valid, though.)
June's solits have their ups and downs...
Ups:
Good to see that Amazing Spider-Man is starting to interact with the rest of the Marvel U. Apart from a few off-hand references to being an Avenger, that one issue with Wolverine and New Ways to Die, it's been pretty isolated from the rest of the MU, post-BND. When Norman Osborn takes over the world, you want Spider-Man stopping it. Of course, he won't - it's absurd to think that Dark Reign will come to an end in a title not written by Bendis - but at least he's giving it a shot. And it'll be nice to see if Kelly decides to rekindle Norman's Spider-Man obsession that Ellis perfected, Slott largely glossed over and Bendis completely ignores. Though, as for the back-up story, I don't see how Harry would ever get back together with Lilly after the end of Character Assassination or ASM Extra #3, where he learns she's being manipulated by Norman.
Leinel Yu cover of Agents of Atlas #6. Say what you will about Yu, but the man draws a good Namor.
Dark Reign: Lethal Legion could work. I like a few of the B-lister villains like Mr. Hyde and Absorbing Man, and I really liked Tieri's 'Civil War: War Crimes.'
Dark Reign: Zodiac is another one that could definitely work. The concept and writer have me interested. Though, I must admit, the title gave me a glimmer of hope that it could be a resurgence of character Scorpio, who's fundamentally rooted in Nick Fury mythos. (First incarnation was his brother, second was his son)
I guess I glossed over last month's Deadpool solits, since this is a part 2, but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing Bullseye in that title. Hell of a match-up.
I'm not liking Jim Cheung's Secret Warriors covers, especially in comparison to their wonderful interiors. The series itself... Hickman writes a damn good Fury, and the rest of the team is shaping up nicely too. They're making a few editorial decisions that don't sit with me, like SHIELD being under command of HYDRA (read issue 1's supplementary stuff, and it makes some sense, but not nearly enough to justify such a stupid retcon) or the reintroduction of The Gorgon, but it's not enough to make me drop a title with a well written Nick Fury and Stefano Casseli art.
A Slott-penned Herc/Thing slugfest. Score!
A Taskmaster run Initiative. Need I really say more? Tasky doesn't get nearly enough exposure.
Downs:
Pregnant Menace. That image is certain to haunt my dreams.
Spider-Woman. Hate the cover, doubt the tone of the title will work with Maleev's penciling, BENDIS!
X-Men Origins: Gambit. Pure exploitation, and milking the movie's cash-cow.
LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND still back on Uncanny. gonk
"Original Numbering" with Cap #600. It's getting kind of ******** ridiculous. Thor just did it. Amazing Spider-Man is doing it soon. Daredevil's doing it soon, despite the fact that it only just celebrated Issue #100. It's such a blatant grab at money. They'll all come with ten variant covers as well, I'm sure. It's the exact same thing they do everytime they "cancel" a comic, and bring it back the next month with a "Special Collector's Issue #1!" Ugh.
Dark Wolverine. What the ********? Wolverine has about 10 titles at the moment, and Marvel chooses his main one to hand over to his obscure son that no one gives a s**t about? Seriously?
Dormammu on the cover of an issue of NA about the new Sorcerer Supreme... It's going to turn out to be the Hood, and I am going to RAGE about the internet.
