Spawn Origins Collection Vol. 1

I can't believe that it took me this long to pick up a Spawn comic.  Spawn was created back in 1992 by Todd Mcfarlane one of the co-founders of Image Comics he was also known for his work as an artist on Spider-Man.  Mcfarlane's art is to die for it is on par with Jim Lee's artwork.  Al Simmons is a tragic character who doesn't view himself as a hero.  By the end of this volume of Spawn is starting to accept his powers & this second chance at life that he has been given.  Mcfarlane's opening story arc is a little wordy for my taste but the origin story pulls you in leaving you wanting more.  Spawn references several other Image Comics creations like Youngblood, The Savage Dragon & Shadowhawk.  Not only was this a great diversion from the big two super-hero comic book companies but it made me want to delve into the other titles that set up the foundation of Image Comics which is now known for a vast array of creator owned comics.

Eternal Warrior Vol. 1: Sword of the Wild

This first volume of the Eternal Warrior is really a stand alone story about Gilad & how he has lost his way.  Over the years while he was the guardian for the Geomancer for the the House of the Earth he settled down to help raise a family.  While warring with one of the other houses Gilad lost his family this did not immediately dissuade him from his chosen path but instead it became the seed that would lead to his walking away in the late eighteen hundreds.  It is only when his daughter returns after six thousand years that he decides to pick up the fight again, but this time he wants to destroy the houses starting with Mother Earth.  This volume ends with a bang but where it goes from here is any ones guess this seems to be a different Gilad than has been previously seen in Archer & Armstrong.

Harbinger Vol. 3: Harbinger Wars

Still tied into Harbinger Wars this third volume of Harbinger is almost all flashback to an early confrontation between Toyo Harada & Project Rising Spirit.  There are really two different stories being told here the first of which is between a young Harada & the director of Project Rising Spirit, the second is set during present day & shows how the Renegades proceeded to Las Vegas & what trouble they got into along the way.  This is really the first time they have functioned as a team the previous volume was finding & activating them.  The way this is written I really have to sympathize with Harada he's not an out an out villain instead he is a lot like Magneto for Marvel Comics & the Renegades are like the X-Men without Xavier.  I like where this is going it was a great compliment to Harbinger Wars.

Bloodshot Vol. 3: Harbinger Wars

This volume of Bloodshot gives a detailed account of Bloodshot's journey from his showdown with Toyo Harada to the Harbinger War in Las Vegas.  Bloodshot has a lot of inner dialog with the nanites that control the healing in his body.  This explains how he regenerates after the battle with Harada.  Kuretich chooses a side & pays for his choice in this volume.  Bloodshot gives Kara an out in this volume which explains why she is not seen in the main Harbinger Wars book.  The final showdown between Bloodshot & Harada takes place in this book & sets up where Bloodshot is going after this event.  

Harbinger Wars

This is the first major crossover in the new Valiant Universe.  This is basically the big showdown between the Harbinger Foundation & Project Rising Spirit with Bloodshot, several new psiots & the Renegades caught in the middle.  This is a great little crossover its only four issues it builds directly off of the events in Bloodshot Vol. 2.  Project Rising Spirit is almost decimated by Bloodshot & is looking at a hail marry attempt to contain the situation by unleashing the H.A.R.D. Corps.  One of the major questions that has been lingering since the beginning can Harada be injured or is he just too powerful,  well Bloodshot can certainly hurt him.  By the end of this event some characters are dead & the balance of power has shifted more in one direction for psiots plus Toyo Harada is still anonymous when it comes to the Harbinger Foundation's true purpose for the global landscape.

Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis

The first story in this third volume is about one of Wonder Woman's main villains Cheetah.  The story delves into Cheetah's origin & in this two issue story she takes out all of the members of the Justice League well almost all of them.  It is amazing the she is fast enough to take out the Flash.  After the Cheetah story The Justice League book jumps into the Throne of Atlantis story arc.  Throughout this story Cyborg is the true savior of the Justice League when all of the rest of the League is incapacitated.  One of the things about the two stories in this volume is that they both show the Justice League taking some of its founding members villains.  This is something that Marvel doesn't really do unless the villain is really looking to strike out on a massive scale.  The Cheetah story was really not in that caliber.  There is some interesting fallout in this book from the Throne of Atlantis story arc.  The potential for new members to the Justice League.  Steve Trevor & Amanda Waller setting up a contingency plan.  Plus the biggest revelation of all that Batman knows about Superman & Wonder Woman while Cyborg & Flash suspect something.

Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis

This third volume of Aquaman touches on his origin which leads seamlessly into the Throne of Atlantis story arc which crosses over with the Justice League book.  One of the great things about this book is grand epic scale that the event has taking a what was once a fifth rate character & taking one of his villains to a world threat level.  Even though all of Atlantis's attacks were directed at the United States its effects would have been felt around the world.  The revelation that Orm is not only Arthur's brother but Ocean Master is nice but the reveal of who really orchestrated this attack to certain & for what purpose is somewhat lackluster.  The return of the creatures from The Trench is nice surprise as well.   All in all this really an Aquaman story & the Justice League are just bit players but does show that the League is not prepared for everything.

Daredevil: The Man Without Fear

Earlier this month I binged Marvel's Daredevil on Netflix, that is one awesome show.  I had to go out & find the origin story of Matt Murdock.  Frank Miller revitalized Daredevil for Marvel Comics in the early 1980s before he solidified is career with his epic tales on Batman for DC Comics.  In 1993 Frank Miller & John Romita Jr. created the essential origin for Daredevil.  This book and everything & then some the only thing that was missing was Night Nurse she was so essential to the Daredevil's life in the show.  Other than that this book had everything even Elektra.  One of the best things about this book is John Romita Jr.'s art I love his work on Amazing Spider-Man, its appropriate for Kick-Ass but in this book it's just phenomenal.   I feel like his style had changed for the worse over the years.  Don't get me wrong his work is still great but his early work is far superior to his current work.  I would love to see Frank Miller return to Marvel Comics in some way on writing duties.  This was a great story & I definitely will be looking for more Daredevil to read.

Manifest Destiny Vol. 2: Amphibia & Insecta

This volume picks up after the events of the first one the Lewis & Clark's group has expanded a little by picking up the survivors from the fort.  But are these new characters going to help or hinder the expedition remains to be seen.  This volume slows down the expedition quite a bit by having the boat get stuck on the river, the symbolism of the arch is back, & to top it all off the group has been split in two.  Clark is in charge of the group that has made it to the shore while Lewis is in charge of the group that has remained on the boat.  There is a giant frog like creature that is preventing them from continuing on their journey.  On land however in the woods a blood thirsty foe awaits not as deadly but just as gruesome.  There is also a glimmer of back story to who Lewis & Clark really are & that they may not be as wholesome heroes as we are meant to believe.

The New Avengers Vol. 2

The New Avengers team is coming together, they have recruited The Sentry & Ms. Marvel now. Their quest for the forty five prisoners who escaped the raft has taken them to Japan in search of the Silver Samurai.  Daredevil still refuses to join their team since his identity has been outed but introduces them to the mysterious Ronin.  While in Japan the Avengers have a run in with Madame Hydra & the Hand.  The Avengers know that something doesn't smell right with S.H.I.E.L.D. & it is revealed that Hydra is in the same boat.  There are several revelations in this volume including who the double agent is, who is Ronin, What happened to all of the mutants powers after House of M.  Yes this volume is best read after House of M if you are into reading Marvel events.  Another big revelation in this book is that marriage of Luke Cage & Jessica Jones.  This volume also sees the return of Magneto post House of M & puts the idea of the Super-Hero Registration Act out there which helps pave the way for Civil War.  All in all I am starting to realize why Bendis is the man when it came to writing the Avengers, this is a really good run so far.

X-O Manowar Vol. 3: Planet Death

The big event sized story of X-O Manowar is here in Planet Death.  Aric has discovered the invasion force of the Vine in orbit around Earth.  Not only does the Shanhara make short work of the invasion fleet but instead of waiting for the Vine to reorganize another offensive Aric the Visigoth sets out for Loam the Vine's homeworld taking the fight to them.  During the story we discover the origin of the Vine as a race & the origin of the armor.  Aric uses the suit to free all of the slaves of the Vine from different planets & unite them as a revolt against the Vine capital.   With the help of a priest & a soldier Aric is able to persuade the majority of the Vine to fall back on their faith & realize that this is the dawning of a new age.  At the end of this volume Aric is taking what remains of the Visigoth people back to earth to reestablish their place in the world.