Every week I do a column full of comic book reviews as I've done since March 2003 and currently published at Comic Book Resources. Then, after the reviews post, I try to come over to Komplicated and expand on the thoughts and ideas listed there. Why talk about stuff at some other site? Oh, like you've never done any private projects when you're at work! Sometimes things get profound, sometimes it's gibberish, but it's always about comics … let's see what we get this week!
What? This week's reviews …
BRAIN TRUST: One of our Facebook friends, Chicago's own Jason Smith, had this to say …
Also, Valeria Richards can do no wrong in my eyes and should be given command of S.H.I.E.L.D. I'm diggin' her, Frank and the gang, and Doom's 'last second life realization' was interesting and unique in the history of the character too. The crazy ideas mixed with cool character stuff like Doom's affection for the girl named after his mother, and further yet, actually developing him beyond what he's consistently been since Stan wrote him 40 years ago make me enjoy this book a nice bit more than the regular title.
Valeria is awesome. Smart and snarky and distinctive, she's somebody a father could be alternatively proud of and worried about. In a perfect world, Marvel would put together a Runaways/Teen Titans style book with Valeria and Franklin Richards, Amadeus Cho and Layla Miller. Call it The Next Movement, or even The Young Intelligencia. I'd buy that. Toss in guest appearances from Doctor Nemesis, Kristoff Doom, T'Challa and Shuri. I … hang on a second, meet me at the next paragraph …
FORGIVE AND FORGET: Lemme get this straight. Victor Von Doom is the first person in thousands of years of history to conquer Wakanda. He stole their greatest cultural heritage and practically bankrupted the country. Nobody has tried to avenge this? Marvel thinks the Wakandan people would be content to struggle on, fending off the occasional ninja incursion, and not stand up to the white conqueror that centuries of isolationism warned them about? T'challa's gonna shmuck around Hell's Kitchen instead of plotting to burn Latveria to the ground? Is this because Marvel arguably killed the Panther God in Secret Invasion? Insulting. Every time I think about Wakanda, it makes me mad.
… WHERE WAS I? Oh, right, Valeria. Between her attitude and smarts, added to the Wanda-esque threat of Franklin's world-building powers, they're the best thing Jonathan Hickman developed in the Baxter Building, especially given the idiotic Council of Reeds and what not. So yes, more of her, please.
SOLDIER ARCHER HERO SPY: After his stint with his ex-wife,I'm coming on board for Hawkeye leading the Secret Avengers, but I note an interesting parallel with Wolverine. Both teach super powered pre-adults by day and slide sharp points into the bad guys by night. Uncanny X-Force/Secret Avengers crossover? That could work.
That's not to say I wasn't loving Steve Rogers being less of a dim bulb and becoming a spy, but you can't have everything. Or can you?
DEADPOOL, THE MUSICAL: DEADPOOL, THE MUSICAL: The comic book version was abysmal, let's see if the actual score (courtesy of Comics Alliance), played on ukelele by Jordan White with writer Daniel Way on guitar and bass, is any better …
Let's never speak of this again.
THAT'S THE NEWS, AND I AM OUTTA HERE: All Marvel stuff today, heh. A light week of stuff makes me a little more thoughtful, with more things to share, seemingly. Back to the grind.
Playing (Music): "I Won't Hurt You" by Hopie
[Source: Comic Book Resources]