Welcome to the Morning Glory Academy, We Hope You Survive the Experience...
This deluxe hardcover of the first twelve issues of Morning Glories is the best comic release of 2011. The hardcover itself is gorgeously bound, the writing and plot by Spencer is intelligent and engaging, the covers by Esquejo are absolutely beautiful, and the interior art by Joe Eisma is expressive and wonderful to look at. All that said, I was extremely hesitant to buy anything related to this series. Morning Glories at first glance looks like a Gossip Girl style drama set at a prep school.
Brian Michael Bendis, best known for kicking off the Ultimate Marvel imprint with Ultimate Spider-Man, takes over Ultimate X-Men for a year. Bendis run heavily featured Wolverine, more so than Miller. Bendis was joined by popular artist David Finch for all twelve issues. Bendis is known for introducing Ultimate versions of many popular characters, chiefly Emma Frost, Angel, Dazzler, and Havok.
Bendis first arc, 'Blockbuster', mainly features Logan trying to track down people who are trying to kill him.
Spider Island
Dan Slott knows Spider-Man. The Spidey mythos has never been stronger. Since Brand New Day, when the entire Spider-Man history was wiped clean, Slott has written some interesting stories and revamped the series to much acclaim. Spider-Island reads like a blockbuster film. There's a good story and pacing, a fun catch, and plenty of action. This event shows that Slott can take unpopular villains and an “epic” idea and make them work.
Reviewing Ultimate X-Men Issues 1-33 and Ultimate War 1-4:
Superstar writer Mark Millar has delivered renowned comics such Civil War, Old Man Logan, Kick Ass, and the Ultimates. While they aren't masterpieces of writing, they are widely read and generally well received.
In February of 2001, Marvel launched the second ongoing series in their Ultimate imprint. Marvel intended Ultimate X-Men to be continuity
Ultimate Comics: Thor is written by Fantastic Four scribe Jonathan Hickman with art by Carlos Pacheco. It collects all four issues of Ultimate Comics: Thor with a few extras. There are three main stories told throughout these issues. The first is Thor's younger years in Asgard, Ragnarok, and a prequel to The Ultimates: Ultimate Collection. Pacheco's art is adequate enough for this series. People look how they should, environments are accurate, and the colouring is good. Hickman nails dialogue and characterisation for all his characters.
Ultimate Iron Man I and II are not 1610 (Ultimate) Anthony Stark's definitive origin story. It was revealed in Ultimate Comics: Ultimate Avengers vs New Ultimates that these two miniseries depict a comic version of a Japanese anime about Tony's early life. This isn't the true origin story of Iron Man.
Ultimate Iron Man I is a five issue miniseries written by Orson Scott Card with art by Andy Kubert.
Ultimate Origins tells the origin of some of Ultimate Marvel's most popular characters. This five issue miniseries is written by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Butch Guice.
"It's all connected." Those words were spoken to Spider-Man by a powered down Bruce Banner in an early issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up. Clues to how this is true have been scattered throughout the Ultimate imprint titles.
I very much hate Batman. I just haven't been able to get into him. At the urging of the comic shop owner, I hesitantly gave this graphic novel a try. I am glad I did.
Noel is a tale that mirrors a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Batman and his son are trying to capture the Joker. We'll see guest appearances from Superman and Catwoman, who play roles like that of ghosts of Christmas past. Lee Bermejo has woven an instant classic. His plot moves along at a brisk and perfect pace. Bermejo's artwork is fantastic as well, it sets the perfect setting for this story. The lettering goes along perfect with the setting, creating a "feel" throughout the entire book that really sets it apart from other comic titles. The thing that impressed me the most is that it reads like a superhero story without coming off as over the top. Fans of Batman or even those who, like me, heavily disliked him in the past should give this hardcover a try.
