The Marvel Comics Keri Read Over the Holiday Break

I’m sure you noticed that we took a bit of a hiatus over the holiday break. As soon as school got out, well, most everything came to a halt in both of our houses. Now that school is back in session, we’re crawling back into the sunlight, rubbing the sleep from our eyes, and trying to remember all we read. Two weeks of comics is a lot to try to review at once, so we ain’t doing it.

I’ve already written one wrap-up with DC, and now it’s time for some Marvel love.

Captain America: Sam Wilson #16 – Sam Goes on Vacay

Things have been tough for Sam. He wasn’t able to save a Senator who hated him, and now the world things he let the politician die on purpose. Because things couldn’t get any worse for the guy, right? Sam wants Misty Knight to help him by kicking his ass over and over again, but she has better ideas, like a road trip with his brother. She literally shoves Sam out the door for some rest and relaxation as he accompanies Gideon on a fall color tour of the northeast. He’s not excited about it at all, but Misty won’t take no for an answer. As he stresses that he can’t just leave her with his responsibilities, she lovingly points out that she can handle it all just fine.

And yes, she does take care of things just fine on her own. The writers gave Misty a very feminist story, but it’s a story many women need right now. Misty takes on a crimelord who is profiting off of making fake sex videos of small time villains and heroes. While his wallet gets fatter, the girls reputations are ruined. No one believes them when they say that’s not them. The public, even these girls’ families, would rather believe what they see on the Internet instead of listen to these victims. During her hunt for the mastermind, Misty also drops this gem: “But here’s the thing: if anyone had bothered with a little detective work–because, yes, that’s what I used to do–the evidence backs them [the women] up.”

I’d love to see Misty tackling something that doesn’t speak solely to women, but I also love this story-line. Many women go through this, especially now that it’s so easy to frame anyone via a cell phone. The victims are never believed. This, my friends, is how you tackle real world issues in a comic.

Mighty Thor #14 – Watching the Realms Burn

Now that Jane Foster securely has her position as Thor, this comic has officially turned into a Thor comic. And as a result, I’ve lost interest.

Yes, I know Malekith is visiting each realm and burning it for the lulz. Specifically, he’s burning it because he’s Malekith. As Alfred from The Dark Knight would say, some men just want to watch the world burn. In Malekith’s case, he wants to watch all the realms burn. It’s a very Malekith thing to do, and he’s doing a bang-up job of it.

However, the allure of reading Jane Foster’s Thor has dissipated. It’s now a true Thor comic, and I’m sure those who have been Thor fans for eons just love it. For me, I’m out.

Uncanny Avengers #18 –

Uncanny Avengers was once again one of the best books that released over the holiday. Attention has shifted back to Red Skull; you know, the guy who stole Professor X’s brain and used it to turn Steve Rogers into a double-agent? The poor mutants are fighting one too many fronts these days between the Terrigen mists and Red Skull. They just freed Hulk’s spirit, and Red Skull finds this to be the perfect time to turn the Rogue Avengers against one another.

I feel like if I go too much further, I will spoil too much. I will say that one panel totally horrified me, and I know I will see it in my nightmares until the end of time. Yet, it was the very last panel that sent shivers down my spine.

Also, here’s my Christmas card for next year.

 

Uncanny X-Men #16 – And Now for Something Totally Different

Apparently over the break, Marvel decided to do what Marvel does. They’ve launched a new series, Inhumans vs. X-Men, and to promote it, they’re crossing it over with their other comics. So instead of reading about who I have been for the last fifteen issues, such as Magneto, Psylocke, and Sabretooth, I’m treated to five people I don’t know. Thank goodness I have a support group with comics where we help one another fill in the gaps.

With this tie-in, Jean Grey and three Cuckoo girls are mentally imprisoning a powerful inHuman, Karnak. One of the Cuckoos is also keeping a telepathic link open with Fantomex, who is running through The World to find out what Someday Corporation has done to it. After reading it once, the only things I understood were Jean Grey and Someday Corporation. Thanks to my support group, I somewhat understand the rest.

Look Marvel, I know you like to cross-promote to sell your future and additional books, but could you cross over a little more smoothly?