Once again, true believers are welcome to the Marvel Compendium. Get out your guitar and hit the heaviest riffs, because our main review is the first installment of the latest Hellverine series. We’ll also take a look at the latest installment of Ultimate Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the premiere of a new TVA series…and a holiday visit from Loki the Crocodile?
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Hellfire #1
writer: Benjamin Percy
artist: Raphael Ioneco
Colorist: Brian Valenza
Writer: VC’s Travis Lanham
first one Helvelin The miniseries, which launched earlier this year, is one of Marvel’s more surprising releases. Few Marvel books are more pure than the one in which the flaming Wolverine (actually Daken) battles a horde of demonic robots. The subplot about Logan trying to make up for being a terrible father seemed to have a lot of depth. But honestly, you read a book Helvelin arrive Watch a mashup of Wolverine and Ghost Rider slicing up demonic robots.
The previous mini-series ended with Daken deciding to lead the Pentagon’s secretive mystery unit. So one might expect writers Benjamin Percy The story continues from there. Instead, the issue focuses on Daken pouting that he’s neither dead nor alive right now. The demon that made him Hellverine, Bagra-Ghul, like Ghost Rider, mostly appears to punish evil people. But Helvelin killed them and turned them into decorative sculptures.
This follow-up drummed up more plot for a character with a flaming skull and Wolverine claws. Sigh, this episode was another exploration into the character’s origins. Look, there could be a rich story behind a fiery demonic figure with flaming claws. But honestly, Helvelin More of a concept than a deep character. Creating an overly complex mythology for such a simple concept seems like overkill. Even the character of Daken is far more interesting as a jerk antihero than a brooding antihero. Who needs a complicated story or a sullen protagonist in a comic Helvelin?
artist Raphael Ioneco replace Julius Ohta for this series. Horta’s job in the previous series was full-throttle action. They are very ruthless. Ineco’s approach to things is a little more serious, though. His work appears to have been influenced by British artists such as Gary Frank and Steve Dillonconducive to quiet moments. It’s very creepy when Daken encounters ghosts and later the bodies of serial killer victims. It suits the more reflective tone of the issue. It will be interesting to see how they handle the action hinted at at the end of this issue.
Still for a movie called Helvelin A hunger for action and horrific violence rather than quiet introspection. It won’t necessarily be a repeat of the previous story, but Hellbeast’s fight against humanity and the evil within isn’t necessarily as exciting as Demonbot’s. There may be more in the next issue, but for a debut issue, this looks like embers rather than a blazing inferno.
judgment: Browse
Destroyed quickly!
- Ultimate Spider-Man #12
- Since we didn’t talk enough about the Ultimate Universe last week, this week brings the final installment of the universe’s first year – the launch spider man from writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Marco Cecchetto. As I’ve said before in this column, I’ve been slow to fully embrace this title, but the last few issues have given us a comprehensive look at what makes this version of Peter Parker unique. At the end of this issue, it really kicks back, with one of the best fake-out and twist endings I’ve read in a superhero book in a long time. It all culminates in this small-scale family drama with Peter’s absence from the larger narrative of his own story, though the issue mostly involves the story of a crazy Mary Jane coping with the stress of the holidays. The little decisions Hickman and Cecchetto make throughout, like Gwen’s constant phone calls, Peter’s silence, and Mary Jane’s nervous energy, plant the seeds of tense moments that leave you waiting for the other shoe fall down. Until it doesn’t, you get a brief moment of relief, and then you get a thump in the stomach. Matthew WilsonColor choice is just as important as the tone, which will lure you in with the rich, warm tones of a cozy Christmas party, lulling you into a sense of coziness and then stripping them all away with the turn of a page. Cory Petit of VC word balloon Dancing around the art, working with the artwork, despite the heavy, Bendis-esque rhythm, without overpowering it. After reading 12 issues, I finally fully embraced the book, and as I wrapped up my first installment of the year, the last page of issue 11 was echoing in my head. Peter Parker may feel like he’s sleepwalking his entire life – but he has more than just himself to care for or lose. What started out as a fun diversion has now turned into a dangerous reality.
- Fantastic Four #27
- and Fantastic Four #27, We find out that the Fantastic Four are preoccupied with the Mad Thinker, so we see the Fantastic Four kids trying to fend off a mole attack on their school, but more specifically how about the Thing and Alicia’s Skrull daughter Nikki Adapting to life on Earth. writer Ryan North Excellent job on this issue. Nikki’s story is about trying to feel normal and not a villain as she sees her classmates and culture in general demonize shapeshifters like her. This can be a really heavy topic, as Marvel often depicts the Skrulls as “others” – a group of people, usually immigrants, trying to trick people and assimilate into society. North and Nikki did a great job with this. Her story is about someone who is different from other kids, who doesn’t want to pretend to be someone she’s not. She doesn’t want to be seen as a monster, but she doesn’t hide herself either. North inserts humor into the story, with Nikki using her powers to do silly kid things, but there are some truly serious heartwarming moments in this issue. The most important thing happens between Nikki and Ben, as he struggles to find the best way to explain to her that it’s not always right to imitate others while trying to realize the cultural importance of shape-shifting. Steve Cummings He did a lot of interesting things in how he presented Nikki as the various members of the Fantastic Four. Lots of subtle facial expressions and body language cues that are fun to read. The only criticism I have of art comes from artists of color Jesus AbtovI found the color a bit muddy for my personal taste. There were attempts to use gradients and tints to give shape and form, but the results were less than ideal. It doesn’t ruin the caricature, but it looks less sharp. -JJ
- TVA – The Time Difference Authority #1
- The Time Variation Administration (TVA) has been around in the Marvel Universe for a while, and in Loki, what if? and Deadpool and Wolverine. After these events, TVA assembled a diverse team of recruits whose timeline no longer exists. writer Catherine Blair and artist Father Perez are the creatives who helped redefine TVA’s mission to protect time, and they do a fantastic job of bringing together this disparate team of misfits tasked with defending the sacred timeline and beyond. Included are outcast characters like Captain Carter, Gambit and Jimmy Hudson, as well as Spider-Gwen, who has a secret backstory as to why she’s there. all in all, TVA is a solid comic with some cool easter eggs and interesting concepts, but I’m sure I’ve written about how IP owners miss the opportunity to create corporate synergies between any movie, toys, games, and comics , which is what I wrote felt like would cheapen the book and take it away from its original niche. –GC3
- Crocodile Rocky Holiday Special
- This is a new holiday themed Crocodile Loki story that also collects some Crocodile Loki Unlimited Comics within this week Rocky Crocodile’s Holiday Special #1. If you’re unfamiliar with the Loki Crocodile comics, they were originally published online as a series of short stories on Marvel Unlimited, detailing the various adventures of Loki Crocodile in his mischievous ways. The stories are largely silent, with an emphasis on visual jokes and body language. writer Alyssa Huang and artist Bob Quinn Excellent performance in these short clips filled with humor and mischief. New Story “Yule Be On Ye!” A fun story about the Marvel heroes’ tree-trimming party that goes awry due to the machinations of Loki and Loki the Crocodile. The selection of Crocodile Loki stories included with it does go a bit beyond the concept of a holiday special (there’s Independence Day or Memorial Day cooking here), but given the nature of comic book printing, this is probably the best way to print these stories. One of the best times. Minor issues with naming conventions aside, this is a fun comic for kids. I know my sons love it It’s Jeff! Comics, I’m sure they’d love Loki the Crocodile too. -JJ
We’re off next week, but we’ll be back in the first week of 2025 with the Top 10 Marvel Books of 2024!
