“Moon Knight Vol.1: Crazy Runs in the Family” by Max Bemis (W) and Jacen Burrows (A)

The large comic book universes are full of various characters. There are of course your Spider-Mans and Batmans that get 3 different titles every month, not including the ensemble titles. Then there are your B-listers, that get titles because of the movies, or sentiment or historic relevance aka Antmans and the Wasps, Aquamans, etc. At the end of the line there are experimental titles with less popular characters; a testing grounds for new authors and artists. If they mess up, it is ok, because it is not like they ruined Superman. Sometimes if such a small title is a hit, the author gets the spotlight and moves on to do bigger things. Sometimes it also happens to the character he was writing.

Comic book round-up!

OK, I confess it is a bit of cheating on my part, but I am a fuzzy ball of lazy lately so this is the only way. It will be a quick summary of the comic books series I have been following over the last few months bud did not come around to review for one reason or another. Let’s get started!

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

“Darkhawk #51: The Return” by Chad Browser and Chris Sims (W) and Key Walker and Java Tartaglia (A)

The newest issue of Darkhawk is another of Marvel’s one-shots that I was interested in. Also it was one that I knew nothing about beyond the synopsis and the fact that it is some kind of a cosmic hero. It is both a good and a bad thing. 

“Master of Kung Fu #126: Shang Chi’s Day Off” by CM Punk (W) and Dalibor Talajić (A)

 

I might be sick of super heroics, however sticking true to your values is more important than that. Marvel is publishing some special one-shots as a part of its Legacy initiative and Master of Kung Fu #126 is one of them. It is important to support this kind projects, because if the issues prove to be popular enough they might get a green light for an on-going, or at least a limited series (this is what happened the fantastic Mockingbird series by Chelsea Cain). 

“X-O Manowar, Vol. 1: By The Sword” by Robert Venditti (W) and Cary Nord (A)

Since 2012 DC and Marvel killed off and resurrected many of their characters, made their heroes villains and their villains heroes and blew up their universes so that they can be rebirthed and embrace their legacy (hehe). At the very same time there was something lurking in the shadows, gradually growing stronger and popular, unable to compete with the great two, but nevertheless full of potential. I am talking about the third shared super hero comics universe: THE VALIANT UNIVERSE.

“Iron Man: Extremis” by Warren Ellis (W) and Adi Granov (A)

I feel like everything has been already said about Ellis’ Extremis run on Iron Man. How it reintroduced the character to the new generation, paved the way for the cinematic reimagining of Tony Stark and is an overall masterfully crafted story. So since we established the obvious allow me some subjective nonsense.

“Batman: Detective Comics: Volume 7: Anarky” by Francis Manapul (W) and Brian Buccellato (A)

Now, that was a mixed bag.

“Batman: Detective Comics, Volume 6: Icarus” by Francis Manapul (W) and Brian Buccellato (A)

Before we start, let’s take a moment and appreciate a Batman comic book drawn with pastel colors!

“X-men: Gold, Vol. 1: Back to the Basics” by Marc Guggenheim (W)

Ladies and Gentlemen, please stand up for the anthem!