Batman Battle for the Cowl #3

WRITER: Tony Daniel
ARTIST: Tony Daniel

It's common discussion between Evil_Larry and I how hard it is to pick up a DC comic that you haven't read in a while. I haven't been following Battle for the Cowl, but I decided to give it a try after finishing Batman R.I.P. I was surprised that it wasn't so hard to understand. Despite this, the comic had a lot of short comings. Without ruining anything I was not surprised in the least by the end, which seemed very rushed. The appearance of various heroes seemed to set up for a huge climax, but this was not meant to be and instead were used as a plot device. Also there was no real update on the Two Face-Penguin situation, another major disappointment. It's sad that this had to end this way. Battle for the Cowl should have been an epic series which would crown a new Batman. DC is clearly trying to do to Batman what Marvel did with Captain America, and unfortunately they fell up short. It's a good thing this will undoubtedly be temporary when DC brings back Bruce Wayne to don the cowl once again.

Writing:	2	There were too many plot devices used to make this comic even average, the ending wasn't a surprise, and there was no real resolution to other parts of the story.
Art:	2	There were too many instances where panels didn't directly flow, I had no clue where the action was taking place, there was unnecessary "comitography," etc. In short, too many problems.
Anticipation:	1	Even though BFTC is done, Detective Comics and Batman will pick up and the story will continue. I am not looking forward to it at all.

Overall:

Irredeemable

Wolverine #73

WRITERS:Various
ARTISTS: Various

Old Man Logan was such a great read. I was really looking forward to reading the rest of that story, but with the release of the awful Wolverine Origin movie, Marvel had other plans. In walks this comic (and the next one). The idea is that people who saw and liked the movie will be interested in reading some Wolverine comics. We need to get more people into comics, so I'm for it. The plan was to release a couple Wolverine comics that are supposed to attract mass readers. With this story Marvel really messed... wait what am I saying? I actually liked this comic for some reason.

This comic is two stories in one. The first is kinda a typical week in Wolverine's life and was full of some nerd-gasms that referenced how many books he is actually a part of. The second story is more Logan than Wolverine. He meets up with an old friend and we get to see the human side to Logan. Overall, the comic was a really quick read and was entertaining, but if you want to introduce more people to the comic they should have done it with more oomph.

Writing:	4	In the first story, action was very fast paced and dialogue was kept to a minimum. Still nothing was left out. In the second story we have quite the opposite. None of the chatter was boring and actually is quite a good contrast t the first half.
Art:	4	The first story hosts some ordinary art, but the action of each panel is some nice eye candy. I love the drawing style of the second story. At first I wasn't too partial, but then I started to take notice of the style of the detail and felt it was a nice compliment to the writing.
Anticipation:	3	I look forward to the next release more for the anticipation of the return of Old Man Logan than anything else.

Overall:

Mighty

I'm currently using an inferior version of the internet that won't let me upload images the typical and easy and better way, so excuse this current formatting ugliness. It will be better in the next post promise.

War of Kings Ascension #2

Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Wellington Alves

There isn't much more to this comic beyond plot. But the story arc is pushed forward well. Darkhawk's history is retconned a bit so any one who actually read those comics from the 90s, I am sorry you wasted your time. The last page finally shows how Darkhawk will tie into the war of king. There is also a page that has large implication to future galactic stories, not War of Kings. So it comes down to this: if you are reading War of Kings or a fan of the Marvel's galactic characters you will read this comic and enjoy it. If you haven't read any Annhilation or anything that doesn't take place on Earth then skip this one.

Writing:	4	This comic manages to have a complete plot, push the story arc, and raise excitement for stories after War of Kings.
Art:	3	Nothing spectacular, but you never have to stare at the page to figure out what is going on.
Anticipation:	4	I am a fan of War of Kings so this comic has me excited for when Darkhawk makes his appearance in the main title

Overall:

Mighty

Iron Man Armored Adventures Episode 106 - Iron Man VS The Crimson Dynamo

With the success of Marvel's movies, they have unleashed a series of cartoons to bring the characters back to full time glory. Wolverine and the X-Men is so good it is reminiscent of the awesome cartoon from the 90's. Spectacular Spider-Man is also a great cartoon full of action. Based on these successes and the success of the movie, Marvel came out with Iron Man Armored Adventures. I have no idea why they would make a show using the same animation stylings of the failed Spider-Man cartoon on MTV, but ok whatever.

I have a couple of gripes with this show in general. First there is almost no character development. There are only 3 main characters, but each episode is the same: Iron Man fights a villain, Rhodey helps, and Pepper does things too. Second, each Iron Man villain apparently has to be a technofreak. Even the Mandarin is a technological villain with a suit of power armor. His rings are technological in nature instead of magical. Granted I would not want to see Whip Lash in his classic goofy looking costume, but does he really need to have Iron Man like technology?

Now that I got my series recap out of the way, this episode features the Crimson Dynamo. The suit was desgined for some near solar experiments and some unfortunate incident happens. Crimson Dynamo then tries to get revenge on those who were part of the incident. Iron Man tries to help. Nothing really special, but I liked the way the writers chose to do this origin. For once a villain isn't a villain, he is just an angry guy. Now I know in comics this happens frequently, but usually this angry guy is still a villain at the end. This isn't the case here. Overall this episode is better than I expected. I'm still waiting for a continuous story to build instead of the introduction of villains in each and every episode.

Quick Review:

I like the origin of the Crimson Dynamo, and I like seeing a villain that Iron Man can't outright beat. I thought Tony would go build some special armor, but it was nice instead to see some smart fighting and an unorthodox ending.

Overall:

Mighty

Voltron: A Legend Forged #5 (of 5)

WRITER: Josh Blaylock
ARTIST: Julia Bax

I came across this series quite by accident, but as soon as I saw Voltron I had to read the whole series and it did not disappoint. This 5 issue miniseries details Voltron's origin and the whole gang is here. Contained in the story were several story-telling cliche's but there wasn't anything too ghastly so it was easy to overlook. It helped that it was done well too. The only drawback was the ending because readers are basically teased with a very young Voltron. It seemed a little rushed, and the cliffhanger ending (gasp, surprise) was a bit corny. Despite those two drawbacks, the rest of the series was a blast to read and I think any Voltron fan should pick this up. Other readers might not be so into it because there aren't too many things for general fans to grasp onto.

Writing:	4	If you are not a fan of Voltron, then this comic is a bit too esoteric for you. Otherwise there are tons of cool little Easter eggs for fans. There is also a bit of some robot smashing as well.
Art:	2	The art never detracted from the comic, but it was hard to take notice away from the writing. Even the speech bubbles had their own little flair which could be art, but I think it subtracted glancing at the actual images.
Anticipation:	5	Now that I know this exists I am definitely looking forward to more.

Overall:

Mighty

Amazing Spider-Man #593

WRITER: Mark Waid
ARTIST: Mike McKone

I haven't read a Spider-man story in some time so bear with me on this review a little bit. It wasn't hard to figure out what was going on and I thought the plot synopsis in the beginning was sadly thorough. I say sadly because it didn't seem like much has happened in the while I haven't read. Anyways here are a few things I liked and some things I didn't...

Liked: The story telling was simple and fluid. I liked how Spidey is combating JJJ in this story by being everywhere. I also liked that spectators and victims realize the good Spider-Man does (like in Spider-Man 1 and 2 movies). I always thought they underplayed that by not showing victim reactions to the do-goodings.
Don't Like: In some stories Aunt May is portrayed as old and helpless and some not so old. Here she gives the impression of a much younger woman, but still looks way too old to pull it off. Something is off. I also didn't like the gimmicky vulture villain, but for now I'll give the writer the benefit of the doubt to expand on this character.

Writing:	4	I thought the writing was well done. I liked Spidey's banter and I liked the foreshadowing of the villain Spidey would meet at the end.
Art:	2	The art (at times) seemed to be at odds with the writing, for instance in Aunt May's case. And when it wasn't at odds with it, it was just normal pecils. I also don't appreciate those shower scenes.
Anticipation:	2	I wasn't turned off by this comic, but I wasn't really drawn into it. Therefore I'm lukewarm about the next issue.

Overall:

Ordinary

Hulk: Broken Worlds #2

WRITER: Various
ARTIST: Various

I feel like I am doing both the artists and the writers discredit by not stating who's hand is responsible for this, but this comic is bad enough that I might be doing them a favor. Why on Earth would Marvel think it is a good idea to take a bunch of universe's that served their purpose and ultimately have very little to do with hulk and tell more tales of those universes from hulk's perspective? They can't even make a decent Hulk comic. Right now Hulk isn't a very interesting character (he should be), and he isn't interesting in 4 other universes. Enough time has been wasted on this.

Writing:	1	4 completely different stories, and not one engaged me at all. I almost sort of liked the mangaverse story, but the writing was too bad to get past (the story was mostly told through art).
Art:	1	$ different stories and 4 different artists and not once did I realize this was the case. Everyone has their own style, but apparently Marvel found the 4 guys who all have the exact same style... boring!
Anticipation:	-6	I know that's not a rating score, but I wish I could go back and stop myself from wasting the 20 minutes I invested in this.

Overall:

Craptacular

Deadpool #10

WRITER: Daniel Way
ARTIST: Paco Medina

I've never understood how two comics could come out containing the same character and take place at different same times. Deadpool is here in the present dealing with Norman Osborn (who is also dealing with Iron Man), but he is also in the future aiding the X-Force. Of course this time the reasoning behind this actually makes sense, so it's awesome to see a good character in more than one book. Ok enough of that.

Deadpool definitely puts the comic in comic book (sorry). Somehow the writer (Way) keeps pace, while maintaining the high level of humor that constantly flows from the Merc with a mouth's...uh... mouth! This issue also perfectly contains the story that it set forth without drawing in too much. Too often, writers need to put 3, 4 or more story arcs in an issue and none of them progress much. Here we are presented with a situation, a climax, and a cliffhanger and I don't feel cheated.

Writing:	4	Not once did I want Deadpool to stop talking, and when he did I wasn't disappointed because I felt the supporting characters did a good job supporting.
Art:	3	There were a couple of confusing panels, but there were also a few that forced me to look at the art (great harmony between writer and artist). This is not a bad 3 by any means.
Anticipation:	4	I just plain want more... way more!

Overall:

Mighty

War of Kings #3

WRITER: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
ARTIST: Paul Pelletier

If you are getting tired of Messiah War's lack of action, then I think it is time you jump over to War of Kings. Of course that might be difficult without wikipedia because none of these comics cater to the new reader. Which is a shame because this is one hell of a saga. The plot is pushed well as the line between good and evil is blurred. Don't get me wrong Vulcan is still the Darth Vader of this saga, but other character's more malevolent intentions are starting to come into focus. Even with Black Bolt, Vulcan, and the Star Jammers, the Gaurdians of the Galaxy steal the show. Rocket Racoon and Groot make you laugh out loud in the middle of a beautifully designed battle. In a scene that could have totally ruined the comic, Abnett and Lanning throw a twist and continue to impress. My only complaint is that the ending is a bit obvious, and as soon as Drax and Gladiator appear in the same room I really want to see them fight. Gladiator is shown as this Superman like character, but let's not forget Drax killed Thanos. I really want to know if he can take Gladiator. What do you guys think? Leave it in the comments.

Writing:	5	Rocket Racoon and Drax fill up the best panels in the comic. The story arc is pushed forward as complexity is added to the story.
Art:	4	Average art, but well laid out battle scenes bump the score up.
Anticipation:	5	This comic was really good and the overall story arc is really heating up, and we haven't even seen the Nova Corp, Richard Ryder, Blastaar, or Darkhawk. I am getting really excited to see what happens when they enter the story.

Overall:

Essential

Invincible Iron Man #13

WRITER:Matt Fraction
ARTIST:Salvador Larroca

Ever since Civil War, and possibly before then, we have been dealing with a new kind of super-villain. This super villain didn't need a silly costume or a bizarre origin mishap to fight the hero. We have this villain as Norman Osborn head of HAMMER. I like that the villain can fight via alternative methods (politics and other means of modern combat), but Evil_Larry pointed out that nothing has really changed. These new villains don't ever win major battles, ultimately the hero always wins. That doesn't change here. Of course, there really isn't much to win with Tony on the run, but still there was no winning. When will the villain get a victory?

Writing:	3	The writing and pace was very fluid, but I wasn't too into the plot. There are 4 different stories going on and nothing happens in any of them. I feel like I just read Marvel Comics Presents.
Art:	3	I really like the attention to detail, and the style of drawing. The artist (and inker) use solid black lines to define boundaries, but use color gradients to distinguish features. It made me notice certain panels, but unless I actually paid attention I wasn't drawn to the art.
Anticipation:	3	I'm looking forward to see what Tony is doing, but I don't really care about the minor heroes.

Overall:

Ordinary

Cable #14

Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Artist: Ariel Olivetti

Pacing continues to be a problem with Messiah War. Somehow despite having Wolverine, Cable, Stryfe, and Apocalypse in the same story with some of the most bloody X-Men writers at the helm, and yet the problem is that the story does not move at all. None of the story lines get moved significantly. If you want to know what Apocalypse wants with Archangel, you'll have to wait for the next comic. If you want to see like the cover shows, Wolverine versus Stryfe, wait for next comic. In fact the only fighting you see in this comic is Wolverine and Cable fight some meaningless minions. This is the second time X-Force fought an army of faceless bad guys we don't know anything about. This battles seem just like filler to give Wolverine something to do while talking. Combine this with the slow pacing, and it seems like every one has just been standing around. You can skip this comic and catch up very easily with the next one. In fact if things don't start to pick up, it will probably be smarter to just read every other comic in Messiah.

Writing:	1	No memorable dialogue. No push in the overall story arc. However Warpath is done well, but not enough to raise the score.
Art:	3	The art used to match the violent tone of the comic, but this slacks with the brighter colors.
Anticipation:	2	Maybe if the story arc was pushed forward I would care, but at this rate you can skip the next comic and miss nothing.

Overall:

Irredeemable

Movie Review: X-Men Origins Wolverine (Co-written by Evil_Larry)

We had read a lot of opinions and rumors prior to the release of this movie. There was so much speculation about the plot and characters that it was hard to ignore all the rumors. However we had to see for ourselves. I guess we were hoping that everything we had heard was just interpretation and that everything was going to be ok.

The rumors we are speaking of are related to the character Wade Wilson and another character named Deadpool (who appears later in the film). Well everything that was said turns out to be true and I will just leave it at that so as not to ruin too much. There is more at fault in this film then just one messed up character back story.

I am assuming that by the time most people read this they have already paid their $10 to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but maybe there is a slim chance that someone hasn't decided. This review is for that person. Let me begin the review (hopefully I still got it) with what was wrong with the film:

THE BAD: From a comic fan standpoint (and from the view from a fan of the comic character), this movie ruined a lot of everything. The character of Deadpool is nothing like his comic counterpart (and they removed his most awesome feature). They ruined people's abilities (Blob isn't a super strong guy who got obese, but a person who is obese as a result of the mutant gene making him unmovable and thus making him super strong). And apparently Wolverine isn't the animal everyone says he is. To give you a good idea of how bad this movie is let's just look at Team X consisting of Blob, Bolt, Maverick, Sabertooth, Wolverine, and Deadpool. Of these six members two of them weren't even on the team in the comics (Blob and Bolt). Maverick didn't have the same powers as in the comics, and he was a different ethnicity. And they completely screwed up Deadpool beyond belief. Giving them a score of 2 out of 6. Even worse is that Wolverine wasn't even Canadian to begin with.

From a movie watcher standpoint, this film doesn't quite stand there either. There are too many long quiet parts for this to be an action popcorn flick. When the action does appear onscreen, the stunts look a bit aged. The computer generated graphics are sadly corny. You know someone didn't do their job when Wolverine's claws (the one detail that should be top notch) don't even look that good. There was dialog in the movie that was at best groan inducing and at worst laughable (which may be best depending on how you look at it). There are scenes and plot devices that make no sense like an old couple taking in Logan out of the goodness of their heart. And then giving him their old motorcycle and some tailored fit clothes.

Speaking of which it is never explained why Wolverine went by Logan anyway. At the time he still had his memories but people were calling him Logan instead of James Howlett. I think they were trying to let the audience assume that he needed a new identity after he leaves his Spec Ops team. You know what happens when you assume? Yep, they made Wolverine look like an ass! Finally the worst plot device was how Wolverine loses his memories. Trust us, the explanation is not fully thought through. Also, this movie gives you an extra kick in the ribs by not actually matching up with the original X-Men movies.

THE GOOD: Liev Schrieber is entertaining as Sabetooth. Ryan Reynolds portrays Wade Wilson perfectly (although he is only in the movie like 5 minutes). Will.I.Am even does a good job as John Wraith. The opening sequence (not the introduction but the credit sequence) is pretty cool too. At least they made sure we didn't hate every moment of this film.

Quick Review:

If you are looking for a fun action film, save your money for the sure-to-be-more-entertaining Terminator Salvation. If you want to see might be the 4th worst film of Marvel Studios then go see this at least 3 times. There is lots of bad acting, bad special effects, bad costumes, etc and almost nothing likeable. At least the casting crew did a good job.

Overall:

CRAPTACTULAR

We're Back!

Sorry for the hiatus Fever Fans, things have been pretty hectic in our lives. We are ready to be committed to the cause (of comic book reviewing). We are back and we are going to be better than ever. The comic reviews you love are returning. We also plan on providing reviews of things comic related like movies, TV shows, etc. To help kick off this awesome return to action, we have unveiled a brand new logo (see top of page). Enjoy the return of Comic Fever, we promise to provide the very best in reviews!

DMZ #25

I came into this comic with a preconceived notion. I was thinking that I'm sick of these DMZ one shots and that the overall story has come to a screeching halt. I didn't care that Brian Wood is an excellent slice of life writer and that I actually like this series. All I could think was that I wanted no more. What I got was a great story that made me realize that DMZ isn't just about Matty Roth and his endeavors inside the DMZ, but it is a story about all of New York and how they cope with the situation they are in. This series could easily be only slice of lifes with each comic presenting some interesting person in this very crazy city.

This story give us a look at Wilson prior to Matty's arrival in the DMZ. Someone tips the media off about an explosion in Chinatown that hasn't occurred...yet! Wilson is caught in the blast and then he brings his Triad upbringing to those who would harm his turm. Ole School Gangsta style! This story brings some cool action, and even though it isn't as deep as some of the other one-shots, we get a little taste of the craziness that is the US media. The art is fantastic too. I just don't have words to describe it. The powers that be for DMZ find some great guest artists for these stories, and I don't know how I can go back to the normal work on DMZ. Even though this story was fun and great, I still can't wait to get back into the meat of this series. No complaining though, because I can't get enough of Brian Wood's slice of life stories.

Plot:	4	Wilson is caught in a blast and then goes all gangsta' on his enemies.
Story Arc:	4	Even though this is a one-shot, these stories fit in well with the overall theme of DMZ -- how people cope with living in this new NYC.
Lasting Appeal:	4	This one will stick with me a little bit more than the previous issue.
Anticipation:	5	This issue reminded me what this series is all about.
Art:	5	All I can say is wow. The art isn't too detailed, but it suits the story really well. Makes me want to read Loveless.

Overall:

Mighty

Marvel Comics Presents #3

I think I'm giving up hope on this series. There were 3 continuing tales and 1 one-shot in this issue and only one managed to hold my attention. The Magneto story was pointless, and the art in all but one tale was nothing to rave about. The CSI-like story is pretty good and the art is great, but this is the only saving grace for this series thus far. I'm not going to lie, I gave up reading this comic with about 5 pages left. That's how little I care now!

Plot:	N/A	It's a bunch of short stories, how am I supposed to grade this?
Story Arc:	2	This would be a 1 if not for the crime-drama.
Lasting Appeal:	1	I don't really care anymore. 2 of the stories are12 parters, which gives me little hope for the future.
Anticipation:	1	I'm hoping I don't come across the next issue.
Art:	3	Average art, with one good comic.

Overall:

Irredeemable

100 Bullets #86

It has been 2 months since the last issue and waiting has grown quite tiresome. I had completely forgotten what happened in the last issue and had to reread my review from it. Like the previous issue, this is another one shot that focuses on Victor. I don't know where this series is going anymore. Obviously something is going to happen, but what and to who I have no clue. It seems like the Trust is losing power and the Minutemen are gaining, but events are unfolding so slowly now that I don't know what is going on. These self contained issues are good, but I want a little more from this series than what I'm being dealt recently. The only other problem is that it took two months for this comic and who knows how long before we get the next one. There wasn't enough in this issue to satisfy me for a month and waiting any longer than that will be brutal. No matter what happens though, I'll still be there when the next issue comes out.

Plot:	3	Victor takes care of a couple of things.
Story Arc:	1	Even though this is a one shot, I have no clue what this means in the scope of the whole series.
Lasting Appeal:	3	A few chilling pages won't make me remember this issue for too long, especially if the next issue is another 2 months away.
Anticipation:	3	I still like this series and this is probably the lowest I will give for this category.
Art:	3	The same as every other issue. Compare to other comics this is good, but I've become jaded by Risso's work.

Overall:

Ordinary

Captain Marvel #1 of 5

Writer: Brian Reed
Artist: Lee Weeks

In case the cover didn't give it away Captain Marvel is back. He was brought back to serve as warden of Iron Man's prison in the Negative Zone, but he has since left his post. Marvel still has cancer, but he was brought forward in time right after he was exposed to the carcinogenic gas. Brian Reed does a great job of starting this new miniseries. There aren't many answers in this issue, but this isn't as bad as in other comics. Because this issue does a great job of setting up the severity of what can happen with time travel implications and the tenuous world Marvel has come back to, the lack of answers just set up the tension of this series. What does Captain Marvel plan on doing? The tension is built even greater with the fantastic characterization of Marvel. He is a determined warrior who hasn't come to grips with the death in front of him yet. In the emotional "Death of Captain Marvel" Marvel is shown in the beginning raging against his disease, so Reed's Marvel is spot on with his actions. It must have been a daunting task to write a miniseries about a character who had one of the greatest written deaths in all of comics, but so far Brian Reed has done a good job.

Plot:	3	Marvel is back, and outside of that we aren't really sure what is going to happen.
Story Arc:	4	Reed does a great job of introducing many story lines, and bringing in the principal characters.
Lasting Appeal:	3	This score depends on the strength of the series.
Anticipation:	4	I am excited to find out what a terminally ill Captain Marvel plan to do in the future.
Art:	3	Average art

Overall:

Mighty

Sword #2

What a major change! The first issue was full of surprises and was just great, this issue is just plain ordinary. The writing is decent, and the art is nice but there is nothing to it. This comic has no substance. Events are building up nicely, but even still nothing here had the impact of the first issue. Dara has to cope with the death of her family and learns a little bit about the father that she really had. We are given very little explanation, and the men who killed her family learn she survived the fire and are after her. Next issue looks to be better, but who wants to wait for next time?

Plot:	3	Dara survives and needs to get her life back together.
Story Arc:	3	The story continues and there is nothing wrong, it just isn't what the previous issue was.
Lasting Appeal:	2	Easily forgettable.
Anticipation:	3	A well-written book that hopefully delivers next time what the last one provided.
Art:	4	Very real feel.

Overall:

Ordinary

Wolverine #59

For as long as I can remember movies, video games, and comics have shoved down our throats that our worst enemies and nightmares are ourselves. The latest issue of Wolverine is no different. The only positive that comes from it is that we are treated with some classic Wolverines. The ending also has promise for the next issue. Outside of that, there isn't much I like about this series so far. Wolverine is immortal, the art isn't favorable, and the plot of this comic is horrible cliched. Reading each subsequent issue is difficult, because I have to take all those shortcomings in stride and still be objective about the newest issue. Once Guggenheim made his plot mistake of the month, I realized the writing isn't so bad. I think it is really difficult to shoot yourself in the foot and not bleed all over the place, but somehow he pulls it off. I didn't like the fact that Wolverine has to face himself, but I do like that he fights various past versions of himself. I also like that we are going to be treated with some major vengeance next issue. Hopefully Guggenheim doesn't take 2 steps backward to take one step forward again.

Plot:	2	To be free of purgatory Wolverine must face-off with himself. Oh puh-leez!
Story Arc:	3	Even though I don't like the story arc thus far, at times it is easy to overlook it because the writing is pretty good. There are just some clumsy mistakes made throughout each issue.
Lasting Appeal:	4	I was a huge fan of the alternate Wolverines.
Anticipation:	4	I'm ready for a slobberknocker next issue.
Art:	2	I just don't like it.

Overall:

Ordinary

Avengers: The Initiative #7

Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Stefano Caselli

I am not sure how this team works. It's three leaders Gyrich, Yellow Jacket, and War Machine all argue with each other. The field leader Justice is running rampant after being lied to constantly about their first deceased member, MVP. And to make things even more interesting the Scarlet Spiders get a large push in this comic. It turns out that they are very exciting. Some two bit thugs, the Vulturions, try to steal some information on gamma bombs so the Spiders break their stealth orders and pursue the villains. What makes this comic so great is when Spider-Man shows up. We finally are given Parker's reaction to his old suit being used in the initiative. In the end there are two big twists, and one of them will impact more than just Initiative comics. This comic does a great job of giving us plenty of well drawn action and plot development. Not too many comics can handle this. Usually it is just a choice between heroes sitting around talking or them punching each other. I give Slott credit for being to handle both in a single comic that has an ending. This isn't so much of a one shot because it pushes the overall story arcs, but this single plot does have an ending. So if you buy this one you do get a complete comic.

Plot:	4	Watching the Scarlet Spiders is entertaining. Throw in Peter Parker and you have yourself a good comic.
Story Arc:	4	The Scarlet Spiders get a major push in this comic, but MVP is not forgotten. Both arcs are done well.
Lasting Appeal:	3	Well written and drawn, but nothing bad ass enough to bring me back.
Anticipation:	4	A lot of story lines are coming together, and it looks like the next issue they'll explode. I am excited.
Art:	4	This comic is a long chase but it is drawn well so I'll give up the extra point.

Overall:

Mighty