Wayne Markley

by Wayne Markley

Recently, Marvel has been publishing a slew of new number one issues. Marvel is mixing re-launching previously established characters with new a number one (as a sales gimmick) and they are also launching number ones of characters that had their own books previously (and were canceled), or were supporting characters in other titles in the past. I am going to look at seven of these new number ones. One thing all of these books have in common is they are all well done stories. They tend to be very creative and are interesting reads. That does not mean I like all of these new titles, as I don’t. But I do think all of them have made a strong effort to do something different from the traditional superhero story. The stories, art, and style are vastly different from book to book so I do think there is almost something for everyone mixed in the following list. I would suggest you try and least one or two of them depending on your personal tastes.

She-Hulk #1

Marvel just launched She-Hulk in an all-new title. She-Hulk has been done a number of times in the past, with perhaps Dan Slott’s version being my favorite so far (which Marvel recently collected into a trade paperback). The new She-Hulk is written by Charles Soule and drawn by Javier Pulido. I have praised Charles (Swamp Thing, Letter 44) Soule’s writing in the past many times and I think he is a very creative talent who tells a very good story. This first issue of She-Hulk is no exception. The story is driven by Jen Walter’s desire to meet with Tony Stark over a legal issue and all of the red tape she must go through to get there. While I get this may not sound like that exciting of a story, it is filled with humor and action that mix to make an almost perfect story. No doubt Charles Soule’s other career as a lawyer (aside from writing comics) gives him unique insight to the world of legal hassles, and he uses this knowledge to make a perfect first issue. The art is a touch cartoony but it is perfect for the story. Soule is able to capture the best of John Byrne and Don Slott’s run on the character in the past and to update it to make it a welcome read to my monthly pile.

The Punisher #1

Another re-launch Marvel just did is The Punisher. The creative team behind this book is Nathan Edmondson and Mitch Gerads, who both move Frank Castle out of his traditional home of New York and head west to Los Angeles, where they tell an interesting tale. While this new take on the Punisher includes all of the gun play and violence of the previous incarnations, it also has a new feel to it. I think changing his location adds a fresh feel to the character and I found this first issue to be extremely enjoyable. It moved at a quick pace and the story had enough twists and turns to make me want to come back for issue two. As an aside, the creative team on The Punisher is the same as the creative team of The Activity, an excellent book from Image (who almost no one reads) about a covert opps team. There are three collections of The Activity out so far and they are also worth seeking out.

X-Force #1

Another title that has been re-launched multiple times is X-Force. This new X-Force once again features Cable and a mix of other mutants. This time, the X-Force is a group that goes around the world defending mutants. It is similar to how the United States has the Secret Avengers and the United Kingdom has M13 in the Marvel Universe. The mutants have X-Force. It is written by Simon Spurrier and drawn by Rock-He Kim. While I like the idea behind the book, while reading I found the book to be a jumbled mess. I cannot put my finger on a specific reason for this, but as I read the book I found it harder and harder to read, and by the time I was done I had no desire to read anymore. It was dark and dense and the story just did not enthrall me. But to be fair, I will give it three issues as I always do as I have learned sometimes a book gets off on the wrong foot and then becomes one of my favorite reads.

Loki: Agent of Asgard #1

Loki: Agent of Asgard is another number one and it picks up where the various Loki stories from Journey Into Mystery and Young Avengers left off and launches the trickster god into a new direction. This new title is written by Al Ewing, who also writes my favorite Avengers titles, the Mighty Avengers (check it out), and here he once again takes a character I did not care all that much for, as I did not like the young Loki stories in JIM and Young Avengers, and makes him interesting through unique storytelling and dialogue. This first issue did not overwhelm me but I did enjoy it, particularly the end which left me hanging and wanting more. This book has not made its way to my must read list, but it has caught my attention.

Ms. Marvel #1

Ms. Marvel is yet another new number one from Marvel. I first read the preview of this new series in All-New Marvel Now Point One and I can honestly say I was not impressed. But having read the first issue I have changed my mind as I really enjoyed it. This first issue introduces us to the new Captain Marvel, a young teenage Muslim girl from New Jersey. It is a pretty straight forward superhero story but I was intrigued by the teen drama from a girl’s point of view and her transformation to Captain Marvel was different enough to bring me back for issue two. The first issue sold out due to the mainstream press it got, but for once the press was well deserved (well, the press was about a teenage Muslim girl, not the actual story), but what the hey. Creators G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona deserve credit for making an interesting read from a rather bland character in the past.

Winter Soldier: The Bitter March #1

One final number one from Marvel is Winter Soldier: The Bitter March by Rick Remender and Roland Boschi. This is a six issue miniseries set in the 1960s and it reads like a mix between 1960s spy movies and war movies. It is action filled and moves at a break-neck pace. As a general rule I am not a big fan of Rick Remender’s writing, but this is an exception. I really enjoyed this book.

In closing, I would like to mention a number one from DC called Batman: Joker’s Daughter. The premise of this book is a young girl believes the Joker is her father (well, it may be wishful thinking) so she goes around committing horrendous crimes one after another hoping to impress The Joker. The story and art are both well done, but the overall story is vile; there is death after death and violence for no reason. I do not fault the creators (who I am not going to mention) but I have to question what was the purpose of this book? The only explanation I can only come up with is to try and make a buck on the Joker (and Batman) name. Editorial should be ashamed that they green lighted this book; it adds nothing to the Batman universe and only shows a teen girl killing because she is deluded. If you want a good story with a female teen lead, read Ms. Marvel.

That is everything for this time. Everything I have written here is my opinion ad in no way reflects the thoughts or opinions of Westfield or their employees. I welcome comments, both good and bad at MFBWAY@AOL.COM. Please let me know what you think.

Thank you.