Bendis Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Annual, Hank Johnson, Savage Hulk

Red Sparrow

I mentioned the trailer here, and finally got around to watching it today.  Not nearly as fun as I would have liked. It may have stood a chance if I had gone into it with different expectations, but even though I knew it was more of a grim spy movie than entertaining action flick, the violence was still too realistic for my tastes.  Seeing a guy get his skin peeled in a torture scene is not my idea of a good time. Black Widow can be much better than this.

Regret watching? Yes

Would watch again? No

Would buy? No

Rating: Didn’t suck

Guardians of the Galaxy Annual 1

I’m keeping this solely for the Frank Cho art.  There’s potential in the plot concept, summarized neatly at the end by Captain Marvel: “Life Model Decoys stuck in a neverending cycle of violence and war against a fractured empire of shapeshifting religious zealots that don’t know the war ended.”  But Bendis only grazes on the possibilities, settling for empty action scenes bookended by some nice monologuing by Carol Danvers.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Fine

Guardians of the Galaxy 24-27

Past Me lasted four issues longer than Present Me.  The Black Vortex crossover ticked me off the first time I read it - thirteen issues spread across eight titles is excessive by any stretch.  I only have the GotG and All-New X-men issues, and those were enough to convince me of its boringness. The two issues after that deal with Peter’s election to the kingship of Spartax.  Boring.

Peter’s quickie engagement to Kitty Pryde is emblematic of Bendis’ usage of the Earth-bound heroes - They show up sporadically at best, leaving me to wonder why they were even there in the first place.  Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Venom, and now Kitty. Why did Bendis include them at all, if only to use them in incomplete, fragmented stories? Editorial mandate? Frustrating.

Regret buying? Yes

Would buy again? No

Would read again? No

Rating: Boring

Hank Johnson, Agent of Hydra 1

This reminds me of the Hench graphic novel by Adam Beechen, about an everyday joe who happens to work as a redshirt for an evil organization.  Outside of his employer, his problems are the same as everyone else’s, including the struggle to stay sane as a parent.

I'm pretty sure this is a common scene across America.

Admittedly, attending a funeral where M.O.D.O.K. sings Amazing Grace is a little less ordinary.

Add MODOK to your comic for instant humor.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Fine

Savage Hulk

An squarebound jam session that’s only staying in the collection because of some hilarious Humberto Ramos pages.  Everything else is thoroughly underwhelming.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Fine