Finished reading She-Hulk:Jen Walters Must Die, writer Mariko Tamaki concludes the series as Jen finds herself against a familiar foe while also trying to find a solution to her current state as a Hulk. The book opens with Jen meeting with Professor Robyn Meiser Malt in a restaurant for an interview that was set up by her assistant Bradley. After leaving the restaurant Jen has her phone stolen by someone being controlled by the Leader which gives Robyn time to drug Jen whiles she's distracted and takes Jen to her lab where Robyn plans to use replicate Jen's powers for herself. The next story sees Jen going to self help author Flo Mayer for help with her current state with her Hulk persona after she nearly went to far in her fight with the Leader and Robyn. The final story see's Jen along with Patsy Walker at a high school prom when an anti-mutant rights group attack the prom in protest of a mutant named Burn had been elected class president leading to Jen and Patsy having to stop the group. Overall this was a great book as it brings an end to the series as writer Mariko Tamaki brings in the Leader as the main villain for the first half of the book allowing for some interesting story beats as Jen's views on the state of her powers differ from that of Robyn's who whats be be like her which the Leader is pushing. The book has some great character development for Jen as her story comes full circle within the scope of the series as she comes to terms with how her life and powers have been effecting Jen which leads to a great ending for the series. Additionally the book does a great job in giving the supporting cast their own character arcs with Robyn having a fleshed out backstory making her more of us one note antagonist. Along with Burn from the book's final story and Hellcat who brings some great interactions with Jen while also providing some of the best comedic moments. The art throughout the book is great as it does and exceptional job to bring the action set pieces between Jen and Robyn as well as the final fight with Jen against an anti-mutant rights group to great effect. Also the art puts a great amount of detail into the way that the characters are able to emote allowing for the more emotionally driven moments to be more effective. 8/10.
Finished reading Spider-Gwen: Gwenom, continuing the series of Marvel's Earth-65 as Gwen finds herself dealing with this universe's version of Venom which makes her life even more complicated. The book opens shortly after Gwen along with the help of this universe's version of Wolverine and Shadowcat have been able to cured Harry Osborn of being the Lizard which lead to the creation of a version of Venom that bonds with Logan casing him to go on a rampage. Once Gwen and Shadowcat are able to catch up and separate Logan from Venom it lashes on to and bonds with Gwen leading to Matt Murdock showing up with Gwen's interdimensional teleported to show Gwen the current state her father is in. Once back in New York Gwen shifts her focus onto finding Rhino to get revenge for her father, meanwhile the band members of the Mary Janes try to search for their friend along with the help of May and Ben Parker due to Gwen now showing up for some time as she has been Spider-Woman nonstop. Overall this was a great book as writer Jason Latour continues the series with Gwen dealing with a version of Venom that leads to some great storytelling thanks to the way that it effects her and the book's supporting cast. The addition of Matt Murdock's origin within the book is great as it provides an interesting backstory to the character that has some great twist the the main universe's version. The art throughout the book is great as the design of Gwenom looks extremely foreboding in places thanks to the way that the book has a sift in a slightly darker tone in the way that Venom effects Gwen. Along with the art doing great job in bringing to life each character's emotions that has a great effect on the story. 8/10.
Finished watching Johnny English Strikes Again, directed by David Kerr and staring Rowan Atkinson, Adam James, Ben Miller, Emma Thompson and Jake Lacy. The film opens with MI7 being at the centre of a cyber attack which leads to all of the names of current agents being leaked online, causing the agency to call in former agent Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) who is currently a geography teacher while also teaching his students how to be spies. After being reassigned and debriefed by Pegasus (Adam James) the current head of MI7, English then meets with Bough (Ben Miller) again as the two begin their mission with France being their first stop. Meanwhile the British Prime Minster (Emma Thompson) finds herself calling in tech billionaire Jason Volta (Jake Lacy) to help with the cyber attack that keep happening in the country. Overall this was a good film as it continues the film series by reintroducing some characters like Bough from the first film to great effect with how he plays off of English throughout the film. The comedy throughout the film is great as there are some truly hilarious moments throughout. However some parts do fall a little flat as there are some bits that are a bit dated and out of place. 7.5/10.
Finished reading Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man - Most Wanted, writer Chip Zdarsky continues the the series as Peter Parker becomes a high profile target for the entire Marvel Universe while trying the help his potential sister Teresa. The book opens with Peter returning home after just receiving his identity as Spider-Man to J Jonah Jameson where he’s met by a swat team who are looking to bring him in for questioning about Spider-Man and his involvement with Teresa who currently has government secrets about the super heroes and villains in the Marvel Universe. After turning himself in when the authorities go to aunt May’s home Teresa along with Johnny Storm break Peter out of custody only for the two to find themselves being chased by heroes and villains alike including a group of former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents know as the Grey Blade wanting the information that Teresa currently has within her blood stream. Overall this was a great book as it continues with the series story as Spider-Man finds himself at odds with heroes and villains alike while trying to keep the information on the superhero community that Teresa has within her blood stream out of the hands of people who what to abuse that information. The book also has some great character moments within the book thanks to the great interactions between characters leads to some comedic moments that reach their mark while also developing a new and interesting status quo for Jameson and Spider-Man. The art throughout the book is great as all of the action set pieces but all of the characters powers and abilities on show extremely especially within the moments where the Tinkerer is able to disable the heroes technology which lead to some very creative sequences with in the book. 8/10.
Finished reading Uncanny Avengers: Unity - Stars and Garters, writer Jim Zub brings this Avengers series to an end as the team are dealing with the aftermath of the Secret Empire event while also looking to move forward. The book opens outside of a damaged Avengers Mansion as the team is join by Scarlet Witch who what's to rejoin the Avengers team that comes with a bit of opposition. While staying the night at the Mansion the team soon find themselves up against Graviton who is looking for the Cosmic Cube. After the Graviton fight Johnny Storm is approached by a lawyer to speak to him about his inheritance of the Fantastic Four as on the other side of the city Beat and Wonder Man catch up over a couple of drinks before seeing Whirlwind caught in a high speed chase. While back at the Mansion Brother Voodoo and the team being to make plans to rebuild the Mansion only for Juggernaut to show up by accident when Voodoo summons some help. Overall this was a good book as it brings an end to the series by giving each of the characters their own story arc allowing for the book to wrap up nicely to set up the future for the team itself along with each of the individual characters. The art throughout the book is great as the character driven moments have a great amount of focus on the characters reactions and interactions to one another thanks to the way that the book is more of a character piece for the team. While the action sequences are brought to life extremely thanks to the way that each of the characters powers and abilities are put on show while still retaining the focus on more character driven moments. 7.5/10.
Finished reading All-New Guardians of the Galaxy: Infinity Quest, concluding the current Guardians series as writer Gerry Duggan begins to set up the next part of the Marvel Universe as the book reintroduces aspects from the universe's cosmic side. The book opens with Nova commander Scott Adsit introducing the Corp's newest recruits, the Guardians of the Galaxy who have been ask by Adsit to help him in uncovering any untrustworthy Corp members. This leads to the team splitting up as the cover more ground as Rocket staying at the Nova's base as Gamora and Ant-Man finding themselves fighting a bunch of aliens that Ultron has assimilated while Star Lord meets with Richard Rider to check on a Nova facility. While Drax is on is own mission to locate another group of Novas. Overall this was a great book as it sees the Guardians joining the Nova Corp to help clean up the Corp along with focusing on their own missions to find the Infinity Stones which leads to the return of Adam Warlock back to the Marvel Universe while the threat of the Raptors and the Gardener's twisted Groot like creations is sill present. The art throughout the book is great as its able to breath life in the different aspect of the book especially well be that of the body horror moments with the Ultron assimilated aliens to the way the more character driven moments of Peter and Richard catching up along with Drax being at a crossroads in his life and the direction it heading in. 8/10.
Finished reading Avengers & Champions: Worlds Collide, writer Mark Waid brings together the Avengers and Champions as they find themselves having to work together to prevent the oncoming threat of Counter Earth. The book opens with Falcon, Vision and his daughter Viv helping civilians escape from a burning building in New Jersey as Viv and her father have a disagreement before parting ways. Meanwhile the other Championships and Avengers members are watching the news of a satellite getting into position from the other side of the sun when it notices an asteroid heading straight for Earth which leads to both teams heading to the crash site to stop the asteroid before it lands. After stop the asteroid after a bit of confrontation between the two teams with how the Avengers as taking the lead the Earth begins to shake causing some to the worlds tallest buildings to become unstable as the asteroid opens to reveal a large Minotaur like creature that has been sent to Earth by the High Evolutionary. Overall this was a good book as it brings the Avengers and Champions together that leads to some great parings from the two teams within the book along the use of the High Evolutionary makes for a villain that raises the stakes of the story thanks to his villainous plan. The story between Viv and Vision is great as it helps to put more of an emotional stake to the story with how to have the most development for the a characters and their relationship which becomes more complicated in some parts when the High Evolutionary is introduced within the book. The art throughout the book is great as each of the art teams are able to bring the action set pieces to life extremely well that takes the different character and creature designs and put them to great effect within the book's story while also having a nice amount of focus on the character emotions as well. 7/10.
Finished watching Venom, directed by Ruben Fleischer and starring Tom Hardy, Riz Ahmed, Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate. The film opens with a Life Foundation spaceship crash landing back on Earth after traveling to an astroid where the crew have gathered several symbiotes with one symbiote escaping from the crash by taking over different human body to get catch up with the others. Meanwhile in San Francisco reporter Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) has gotten himself an interview with the head of the Life Foundation Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) about the current situation of the company's space department however Eddie goes of script when he questions Drake about the human testing in his pharmaceuticals division after seeing emails on his fiancée Anne's (Michelle Williams) laptop which leads to Eddie along with Anne being fired by both of their jobs before Anne leaves Eddie. Six months later an unemployed Eddie is met by Life Foundation scientist Dora Skirth (Jenny Slate) after becoming worried that her boss is going to far with his experiments with the Symbiotes and while investigating within the Life Foundation building as Eddie soon comes into contact with Venom as he becomes host to the Symbiote. Overall this was a good film as it brings the popular Marvel character to life with a story that makes Venom his own character thanks to the way the film puts more focus on to the relationship between Eddie and Venom as the remaining Symbiotes and the Life Foundation having their own motivations that allows for Spider-Man's absence to have zero effect on this version of Venom. The character interactions throughout are great as especially the interacts between Eddie and Venom as the two have some great comedic moments within the film while the film also has Venom being more a a good thing for Eddie as the symbiote try's to help Eddie in his personal life while also being annoyed by him in some places. The action set pieces are throughout the film are great from the extremely well shot case scene that has a good amount of tension and suspense within the scene to the fights scenes with Venom that put all of his powers and abilities on show to great effect. However the final fight scene between Venom and Riot while it takes advantage of both of the symbiotes powers it does become hard to differentiate between the two characters as they both are very similar in colour while also fighting at night doesn't help either with the darker lighting. 7/10.
Finished reading Marvel Legacy, starting the next publishing line for Marvel as writer Jason Aaron sets you the next part of the Marvel Universe and where some of the directions the characters and series are heading. The book opens in the distant past as a young Odin scars away a group of Neanderthals in order to retrieve Mjolnir along with a group of prehistoric superheroes as they focus their attention onto the giant Celestial on Earth. While in present day Robbie Reyes wakes up fining himself in South Africa with no memory of why when he is attacked by Starbrand. Meanwhile Loki has gotten a group of outcasted Frost Giants together as they attack an old S.H.I.E.L.D. facility for a mysterious crate which is being prepared for transporting after the collapse of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the aftermath of Secret Empire. Luckily the current Captain America, Sam Wilson and Thor along with the help of Ironheart are overseeing the transfer of the facility’s contents when the Frost Giants attack. The book also contains a set of mini character centric stories that retells the origins of multiple heroes and teams within the Marvel Universe that work greatly for anyone needing to catch up on a different part of the Marvel Universe. Overall this was a great book as it sets up the future for the Marvel Universe with the return of characters and concepts that have been away for a little while at Marvel while also weaving an intriguing along the way. The art throughout the book is great as within the main part of the books story does a great job in transitioning between the prehistoric and the present day stories with Loki and the Frost Giants plan along with the fight between Ghost Rider and Starbrand which the art excels at which how the heroes powers are put on show. While the pages that interconnect with the main story by multiple artists does a great job in setting up the tone and character directions for future stories while not feeling completely out of place to the main story. 8/10.
Finished reading Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider - Death's Sting, continuing with Ben's time in Vegas as the one time Spider-Man finds himself dealing with his own mortality along with the aftermath of Marvel's Secret Empire event. The book opens with Ben trying a serum to help Abigail Mercury while he is still looking for a cure for her. While wait for how the serum with affect Abigail, Ben notices Rick Jones' wife Marlo who has come to see Ben and wants to see how he reacts to different parts of his life before revealing herself as Death. The next story within the book has a time jump to the aftermath of Secret Empire as the partly destroyed city and its population is dealing with what happen during the event as Cassandra Mercury's food supplies come under attack by Hornet who has been hired to stop these shipments which leads to Ben meeting with Ricochet who has come to Vegas after hearing that Hornet has been spotted event though his friend was killed by Wolverine. The final story in book shows the first appearance of the Slingers as the group get use to being a part of a superhero team that is inspired by identities that Spider-Man temporary had. Overall this was a great book as writer Peter David continues Ben's story by bringing characters like Death and the Slingers into the book allowing for some great interacts with Ben, particularly Ben's interactions with Death which give him some great character development. The art throughout the book is amazing as Will Sliney is able to bring the city of Las Vegas to life extremely well thanks to the amount of detail that is put into the location along with how the wave of destruction from Secret Empire has affected the city. This is also accompanied great some action scenes and character moments throughout. 8/10.
Finished reading She-Hulk: Let Them Eat Cake, writer Mariko Tamaki continues the series as Jen Walters is still getting used to her new Hulk persona when an internet celebrity finds himself in a similar situation when he his transformed into a monster. The book opens with Jen at a trauma support group before heading to a construction site to let of some steam when Hellcat shows up as the two catch up on recent events. Meanwhile internet celebrity Oliver Constantin is preparing for the next episode of his online cooking show when one of the cameramen named Steve puts a drug on to a cake Oliver later try's while live on the internet which begins to turn him into a monster while the world is watching. This prompts Jen to begin an investigation of what happened. The last story in the book sees Jen getting ready to go on a date with the help of Hellcat as the to discuss the state of Jen’s love life before discovering that her date is more than what they seem. Overall this was a good book as continues with Jen's story with how her life has changed since the end of Marvel's Civil War II event and the inclusion of the internet sensation Oliver Constantin becoming a monster allows for some great parallels to Jen's own story with the type of Hulk she is that makes this a very personal case that she takes. The structure book’s opening story is great as its able to tell a investigation story with Jen at the helm allowing for the supporting cast to have some great moments while also making time for a nice amount of character development for Jen with how her motive to help Oliver coming from what she is dealing within her own personal life as a Hulk. The art throughout the book is great as the entire art team is able to put a nice amount of focus on the way characters are able to emote along bring to like some great monster designs to life especially with the fight scene between Jen and Oliver where the character designs are used to their fullest. 7.5/10.
