Staring Into the Abyss

I picked up a ton of issues this week and while I was there I finally signed up for a pull list. My local shop gives a 15% discount on any titles on your pull list and at the rate I am buying I need all the discount I can get! Plus this way I can do my part to support some of the smaller titles because my shop barely buys any Hawkeye or Captain Marvel, but now they know that I want it for sure. Anyway onto the comics:

Captain Marvel #10 - I am enjoying seeing Carol at home in New York this issue and last. I like the cast of characters around her from her cat to the people in her neighborhood. This new arc has my attention. There is always something appealing about seeing a superpowered person having to adjust to a physical limitation or accept a flaw in their powers. I enjoyed the Captain America cameo (Carol's thoughts about him are so true! I too love him even though he can be a patronizing son of a--) and can't wait to see what the flying cycle is going to look like done up Captain Marvel style.

Captain America #4 - This book is really not my kind of thing. The alternate dimension, huge time-skips, and isolation from the rest of the Marvel U make it a book I am thisclose to dropping. Today's issue started to pull me in though. The wild surroundings have finally given way to the kind of intimate character exploration a book like this SHOULD be. There have been aspects of that before, but with this issue I've finally been engaged with Cap's character in both the flashbacks and the present. I'm still not sure if I'll keep buying this one after the first arc though. It really depends on where it is going.

Indestructible Hulk #4 - I really, really enjoy this series. I love the direction they are taking both the Hulk and Banner in this series and I love the way SHIELD and Maria in particular have been portrayed so far. There is also a certain wry humor that I really love in Bruce's narration. My favorite part of this issue was seeing the way Banner has been living in that creepy faux town and meeting his new assistants. I am very interested to see where that goes. I also want to know who he was calling to confirm that he was okay...and what's going to happen if he misses a check in?

Daredevil #23 - This is the designated Marvel Now jumping on point for Daredevil. I've read a few years worth of Daredevil (the beginning of volume 2), but haven't been reading it recently. I've heard good things about Waid's run on the book though so this seemed like a good place to check it out. This issue is setting up a story that revolves around Matt's origin and his relationship with Foggy, putting both at the front and center of the plot. Because of that I think this really is a good jumping on point for people unfamiliar with Matt's world. I like it when comics acknowledge that a lot of the origin stories would lead to death in the real world and seeing a villain trying to recreate Daredevil's was creepy. There is a lot of potential in that. The reveal that Foggy has cancer makes me wonder what is going on in Marvel. Everyone seems to be getting cancers and lesions in this relaunch. I guess all that background superhero creating radiation is catching up to the Marvel U.

Thor: God of Thunder #5 - I love this series and just realized that most of the things that frustrate me about the Captain America series are being done here too (time-skips, not much involvement from the rest of the Marvel U, not on Earth for the most part, etc.). Just better. At least in my Thor loving opinion. lol. Anyway, I love how character focused this story is and how much we get to see about Thor in all stages of his life. I particularly like seeing past!Thor's flaws and how he has grown in the present. That being said, the parts that focus on the God Butcher's story aren't exactly riveting to me so I am not exactly thrilled about him getting a whole comic devoted to his history next month. That aside this series is one of my favorites in the Marvel Now and I am glad that at least one of my two favorite characters is getting a good relaunch. *cries quiet tears of Iron Man mediocrity and bad art*

Deadpool #5 - Deadpool has been one of my most fun reads in the Marvel Now. I mean what's not to like about Wade killing the zombiefied former presidents? But ultimately the books have a lot of jokes being thrown out to see what sticks and so it was bound to hit an issue that didn't work for me. In my opinion this issue didn't work as well as the prior four, however Wade is still love and it is setting up some potentially interesting things. I wasn't too thrilled with Agent Preston getting killed because, well, how many black women are there in comics? But to be fair she is a SHIELD agent so life can be dangerous. Also with the Necromancer there I am not sure if the death will stick fully anyway. Just please don't make her a zombie that Wade will have to kill.

I suppose the one thing I liked about the whole thing was that we saw Wade's deadly serious side for a moment. The side that says: hey, I don't have many friends and I won't let you kill them. I love Wade for his light-hearted nature, however the dark edge and touch of angst that peeks through sometimes makes me LOVE him. I'm glad this creative team hasn't forgotten that that side exists.

Avengers #6 - Let me start off by saying that I enjoyed the quieter tone of this issue where we got to see a bit of the in-between missions time. I also love that we are getting an Avengers team where the majority of the issue was a conversation between Shang-Chi, a Chinese man, and Captain Universe, currently an African-American woman. Diversity is good people. Anyway, this issue was a welcome relief from all the action, although...

( cut for spoilers and discussion of Avengers #6 )

What do you all think? What are you reading?