Quickie comic reviews - Week of April 18

Woulda posted this sooner, but I had Internets problems on Thursday, and I was busy working on my card game Friday...

This week's purchases:
- DC - 52 #50, World War Three #1-4
- Marvel - Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes II #8



52

So very awesome. The epic scale, the massive battles, and particularly Black Adam's fall (literally). Terrific stuff.

I think Atom Smasher is being far too generous to Adam. And I wonder what Black Adam's new magic word is? I'm betting something like "Humility" or "Forgiveness."

And at the last moment, we get a hint of the final time-travel plotline's resolution.

5/5 - Highly recommended

World War Three

Unlike 52 proper, this was a disappointment. By DC's own admission, a major purpose of World War Three was to take care of some of the missing-year events that 52 proper - having become sidetracked by its own awesome stories - failed to cover. These four issues, while they have their moments, are mainly a mix of workmanlike continuity bits with scenes of Black Adam carnage (including some spots of really gratuitous gore). The result is, you get an "important" series, but not the best series possible.

There are also a few odd moments, most notably Aquaman's appearance, which seems to contradict an earlier issue of 52. And the fourth issue of World War Three bugged me the most, as it subverted the awesomeness of 52 #50 in favor of a less dramatic Martian Manhunter-centric on its events. Argh.

3/5 - Take it or leave it

Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes II

A decent conclusion to the series. We finally get what I bought the series for - a Super-Adaptoid battle. Unfortunately, although cool, it's too short, and it's mostly a Vision vs. Adaptoid fight. We also get the other three dangling plotlines (one good - the Black Panther plot - and two ehh - the Black Widow and Henry Pym plots) wrapped up, if abruptly so.

Overall, I think this series, although it had its moments, was hampered by its setting in continuity. And I particularly think the detour with Yellowjacket was a bad idea - initially because it seemed to violate said continuity, and later, because it makes Henry Pym even more messed up.

4/5 - Recommended