A-Next #3

Down 'n' Dirty With the Defenders

Doctor Strange has found out information that shows the fate of the world is at stake due to the research of Doctor Jennifer Bissette. The new mystic supreme, Doc Magus, astral projects into Strange's workshop and tells him to watch his business. Strange banishes him from the room. Magus confers with his friend Deacon, who suggests that if Strange is organizing a group then Magus should get the new Avengers. Strange is then shown tracking down the Sub-Mariner, Namor, who has secluded due to the destruction of his kingdom by Doctor Doom. At the Avengers mansion, Edwin Jarvis is showing around a new technician, Shannon Carter, when Magus pops in and requests the assistance of the Avengers. Strange is then shown finding Bruce Banner in Colorado where he has kept the Hulk at bay and has started a new life, including having a son. Strange uses a spell to bring out the Hulk and put him under Strange's control.

The Avengers all are assembled at the mansion when Jarvis makes a startling revelation that Scott Lang, Cassandra's father, would be joining the group as head technician. Before Cassandra can protest too much, Mainframe draws everyones attention to Doc Magus' problem. Magus and Strange both tell there respective teams that Dr. Bissette's research deals with harnessing the power of the Earth's core. This would eventually lead to catastrophic shifting of the Earth's mantle. The Avengers vow to stop the senseless death and try to find another way to stop her. They show up at the lab in Arizona just as Strange, Hulk, and Namor are about to lay siege. The two groups fight. J2 thinks he was able to take the Hulk down too easily after Stinger disoriented him, but the Hulk comes back and humbles J2. As Thunderstrike is about to confront Strange, Magus steps in and transports Strange with him to a temporary zone. Magus is able to subdue him there and uses the Eye of Agamotto to find out Strange's true intentions.

Back at the fight, Namor and Hulk tear Mainframe in two. Scared, J2 runs away while Thunderstrike assaults Namor, asking him is this the type person he wants to be. As J2 is running away, he is confronted by Mainframe, who reveals the other Mainframe was a robot. With renewed vigor, J2 takes on the Hulk again to get him away from Stinger. Namor stops the two from fighting then because he has seen his errors, saying he will be giving money to Bissette to safeguard the planet if Strange's prediction does come true. Back in the magic zone, Magus finds out Strange had orchestrated this to give the Avengers something to test on, to snap Namor out of his self-deprecating stupor, and Strange says that the Hulk has a destiny to fulfill. The issue ends with the Avengers congratulating themselves while their new assistant Shannon leaves to meet a mysterious group of people in her apartment.

This was a pretty good issue with an interesting story line. I know little about Strange, but what I did see of Doc Magus, I enjoyed and hope he will pop in again. We see a little bit about J2 still being young, since he becomes easily frightened when they think Mainframe is dead. The addition of Scott is interesting, as is Shannon, since she is trying to do something sneaky.

Score: 3 / 5

Doktor Sleepless 2

Tesla Boy Gangsta
Written by Warren Ellis

The first page of the comic seems to be a satirical look at possible future medical advancements ... or a way to keep check on people. At the Heavenside Police Department, Commissioner Stoker is worried about the new character Doktor Sleepless broadcasting on the airwaves, saying he is John Reinhardt. The reason he is worried is because Reinhardt is suppose to be locked up. We are next shown Sleepless dictating on the air waves about his trip to the Amazon. He was lead to believe he would be communing with a shaman, but actually the shaman is as well off technologically then just about anyone else. Even though he berates Reinhardt, he agrees to hear him out when Reinhardt says he wants to change his mind, since it isn't big enough. Sing is at the bookstore with her boyfriend talking about how she fears it might be Reinhardt. She is worried he is still as crazy as he was when he left ten years previously. Sleepless is then shown talking to Nurse Igor about her agenda, which is still kept a secret. He then describes how he made the Shrieker Girls, a hivemind-like group of women who feel everything every other Shrieker Girl feels. He also reveals to Nurse Igor that he created Clatter, the IM eye communication enhancement, before being secretive about various H signs around Heavenside. At Saint Thomas, Commissioner Stroker and Mayor Mingozzi arrive to see for themselves that Reinhardt is indeed still in his cell, where he has been for the past three years. At a local club, Sleepless has a conversation with himself about his various "Reinhardts", including the one in the mental institution. He starts to remember something about his parents and what he saw one night. He commences to go ballistic and smashes the mirror. Nurse Igor comes in and hurries him out of the club, wanting no one to see him in a panicked state. Before he gets in his car, though, he and Sing make eye contact.

I am now starting to get the comic a bit more and I am certainly intrigued by what may or may not be going on. Reinhardt/Sleepless is a very mysterious character and I find very interesting, especially since I want to see what he is planning. How will Sing be connected? He has now seen her, so it will be interesting to see his reaction in the next issue, if he has one. The multiple Reinhardt angle is something else ... perhaps he is doing something like astral projection. Perhaps the man in cell 23 is a stand-in. Looking forward to where this may be going.

Score: 3 / 5

Plague of the Living Dead 3

Issue #3
Written by John Russo

We begin by seeing a dream sequence with Private Terry Ellis and his wife Kelly making love. He is summarily awoken by Corporal Todd Clark, since he had been resting in a drain pipe with him and Private Steve Green after they "escaped" the MP's transferring them to Fort Sill. The guys then notice someone coming up the pipe and see a zombie at the other end. At the same time in Stone Mountain, Jessica and Darlene are still fending off the zombies in the Price basement when Jessica suggests they try to get out through the storm cellar door. Jessica tries to open it, but hears someone outside trying to open it as well. Her and Darlene decide to open it anyway and Jessica is shown unlatching the door as the scene switches back to the Army men fighting the two zombies. They are able to incapacitate both and make their way out of the pipe. As they walk along the road towards town, Terry talks about how he is worried about Kelly possibly being unfaithful. They are unawares that the MP's are not far away from them and have decided to use lethal force instead of reporting to their superiors that the men escaped. The final panel shows the Stone Mountain men in a cross hair.

I am surprised at how pleased I am with this series. While I am sure some people would find the diversion to the men as taking away from time spent more on the zombies, it gives the story a very human nature. I like where the script for them is going. As for the two surviving women, I pretty sure that is Patrick on the outside of the storm door. It should be interesting to see what his reaction towards the women is and if he will leave them in the cellar to die. Very good issue.

Score: 4 / 5

Plague of the Living Dead 2

Issue #2
Written by John Russo

We pick up the story of the zombie invasion in Stone Mountain in the Army truck that is transporting Corporal Todd Clark and Privates Terry Ellis and Steve Green to Fort Sill for psychiatric help. Todd starts to talk with one of the sentries watching over them, an MP named Terry, who they knew prior to going to war. He tries to sympathize with him about the crap they saw with zombies in Vietnam while Terry was able to stay home in Stone Mountain. Terry makes the drivers stop the vehicle and tells the men they have to take a piss. The men think that Terry is now under orders to execute them in the woods. Back at the Price household, Jessica is still in disbelief seeing her zombie father in the doorway. Darlene has to ax him in the head and closes the door again. Jessica is in denial, but when the zombie's burst through the door, she finds the key in her fathers pocket for the gun case. While Darlene fends off the zombies, Jessica tries to open the case, but the key snaps off in it. In the Stone Mountain woods, Terry doesn't kill the men, but instead lets them go after telling them to knock him around a bit. When Terry stumbles back to the vehicle, the others don't believe him but don't care either, since they know the three men are going head for the town where the Army knows the zombies have overrun.

I still feel like the issues are over way too fast and I am little sad, especially when I believe these are great ones. It was interesting to see how the men got there exit from the Army truck. I am glad they got help instead of having to kill/harm any of the "innocent" other troops. As for the survivors of Darlene and Jessica, hahaha! That has to suck when you see that key break. Where is Patrick? I guess maybe we will see him next issue, either dead, alive or zombie'd.

Score: 4 / 5

Spider-Man / Red Sonja 1

Issue 1 of 5
Written by Michael Avon Oeming

Everything seems ordinary in New York City as Spider-Man swings around town and fights a group of bad guys ... all while talking on his cell phone to MJ! At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Senator Thomas is attending a major art exhibit while battling his conscience over some shady dealings with his confidant, Reilly. J Jonah Jameson welcomes the Senator to the exhibit with kind words, hoping to score an interview. Thomas agrees to it, but his eyes are drawn to a unique necklace on display. Though the curator, Professor Jones protests, Thomas puts on the necklace. This in turn releases the imprisoned spirit of the sorcerer Kulan Gath. Using his vast powers, he reshapes New York City into his own medieval/Hyborian version of itself. Spider-Man seems to be the only one unaffected by the spell.

People are still in need of help, though, so he springs to action to save the commoners. As he does so, Gath wishes Professor Jones to be his scribe. Refusing, Gath kills him and then requests Jameson to take over the duties. Gath then conjures up a sword and tells about how Spider-Man and Red Sonja foiled his plans before when they teamed up. This time he wishes to pit them against each other so they will be occupied. He calls forth Mary Jane to claim the sword and become Red Sonja. Spider-Man continues to fight his assailants, who have somehow become goblins in the meantime. Even though he saves the people, they fear Spider-Man as a demon. Getting away, he sees what used to be the Met and a strange glow. He goes to it to investigate and sees Mary Jane climbing the walls to get to the sword on the roof. Confronting her after she grabs it, he is instead face with Red Sonja.

I must say that I really enjoyed the artwork for this issue as well as the scripting for Spider-Man. He felt spot on, even though he wasn't in Marvel's hands. Makes me want to check out Red Sonja comics or other works by these staff to see what I am missing. As for the rest of the store, it really is a primer for things to come, but I still have high hopes, especially whenever Venom shows up. The only thing that really irked me was the manner of Jameson ... he allows himself to be bossed by Kulan to easily. Granted, he saw what happens when someone protests, but I still think he would be a bit more defiant. Looking forward to issue two.

Score: 3 / 5

Plague of the Living Dead 1

Written by Joe Russo
April 2007

Picking up where the Plague of the Living Dead Special left off, the survivors in the Price household try to get a grip on what is happening. They try to phone the police to no avail and Jessica sees the zombies eating Kelly. Zombie Greg busts through the door and Mr. Price is taken. As he is, he yells for Larry to get the women to the basement where his guns are. They watch Mr. Price get eaten. The women head for the basement, but Larry doesn't want to be stuck down there and wishes to stay above ground. Jessica and Darlene go down and leave him upstairs. On the Stone Mountain military base, Major Henry is having Corporal Todd Clark and Privates Terry Ellis and Steve Green transferred to Fort Sill. Todd hears gunfire in the distance, but Major Henry shrugs it off, telling their guards to use lethal force if necessary. Back at the Price residence, Darlene is trying to open the gun cabinet, but Jessica says her father must have the key. In shock, Jessica goes to open the door to the basement, thinking it is her father. The startling fact is that when she opens it, it is him, only now a zombie.

Now reading this after knowing the back story from the PotLD Special issue, I enjoyed this more. While it short (16 pages), they are able to show the crazed desperation that takes over. Mr. Price bits it and comes back in zombie form at the end. I am sure Larry got out alive somehow and will show up in an issue or two. The story with the troops is interesting, especially since the Major seems to know something. I am sure that their convoy will be stopped somehow by zombies. The art is top-notch again and is a pleasure to see the evilness, hah. Still, the comic is a bit to short to get an above average score for me.

Score: 3 / 5

Plague of the Living Dead Special

Written by Joe Russo
February 2007

In this special issue of Plague of the Living Dead running up until the series begins in Issue #1, we learn (sorta) what is happening in the quiet little town of Stone Mountain, Virginia in August of 1971. We start at the Stone Mountain bridge where teenage lovers Katie and Robbie talk about their futures; her going to college and he heading to Vietnam. As she begins to fellatio him, his brother Greg shows up to interupt them, telling them about the peace rally going-ons at the Price residence before leaving again. Katie and Robbie go to Katie's fathers store to get condoms. At the Price home, we meet the other youngsters getting posters and such ready for the peace rally. It turns out three of the women have fiances/husbands in Vietnam their are trying to get returned home. Mr. Price, a veteran of the Korean War, comes downstairs due to the noise, but doesn't mind since he agrees with the young adults to a degree. Elsewhere, the reader is shown those men from Vietnam just discussed: Privates Terry Ellis and Steve Green and Corporal Todd Clark.

These men are under military psychiatric evaluation due to problems in Vietnam. They told a story about how they were shadowing a troop and burning these troops' tracks. When they accidentally catch up to them, they witness the carnage the troops reek on a Vietnamese village. They are zombies unleashed by the American Army. Now, their superiors tell them there is completely no record of any of this. Back with Katie and Robbie, they have arrived at her father store, they are ambushed by zombies, and are killed. Back at the Price household, Sandy finds out Greg is having sex with Kelly, her brothers wife. As she runs out of the house, she is attacked by zombies, as is Greg and Kelly. The zombie then begin to siege the home while the other panic. Back with the Terry, Steve, and Todd, they find out to their surprise that they are actually at the base in Stone Mountain.

I first began to read the initial issue of Plague of the Living Dead and felt I was missing something. Reading some stuff on the internet, I find out that this special issue came out first. Having now read this and the first one to completion, I am glad I got to read this because it gave almost all of the background information. It introduced all of the major characters and what happened when the plague hit Stone Mountain. Overall, I think this zombie story is pretty interesting, especially the army side of things with these three men actually being in the town when it goes to shit. The art is great and really fills the comic with dread for the living people.

Score: 4 / 5

Doktor Sleepless 1

Issue 1
Written by Warren Ellis

John Reinhardt has returned to Heavenside ... a bit different. He hasn't slept in a year and his angst has reached a peak. He has become the "character" Doktor Sleepless and he wishes to bring salvation to those he feel jipped of a future. DJ Amun is confronted by a former lover who has kept his aborted child/fetus with her in a vial around her neck. He freaks out, Sleepless takes his Pronoia, and he ends up killing himself. His friend, Sing, finds out the next morning while Sleepless begins to size up Heavenside with his nurse. At Sing's bookstore, a shipment shows up unsolicited from Reinhardt and Sing wonders it Johnny is back in town when she sees his address, but Doktor Sleepless' name. Sleepless pays visit to a local grinder bar where he revives a man everyone thinks is gone for good. Doing so, he proclaims him self the "Future Science Jesus". Back at Sing's bookstore, she and her friends enjoy a drink in DJ Amun's honor, putting on his radio show hoping a pre-taped show would be playing. Instead, Sleepless has taken over the airwaves, proclaiming what is on everyone's minds: "Where is our future? The one we deserve."

I wasn't really sure about this comic at the start. I started to read it and stopped after the first couple pages, thinking I was completely lost or missing something, an inside look. Today, I read some preview stuff on the internet about what this is "suppose to be" and, reading it right now, I came to a better understanding. If nothing else, this is a primer for things to come. A quick read through again before reviewing, I started to see things coming together, especially how Sing is somehow connected to Sleepless/Reinhardt. To me, this first issue was intriguing, but nothing spectacular. I will, however, read the next issue or two to see where this might be going and then decide if I will continue to get/read it.

Score: 2 / 5 first impression, 3 / 5 second read through

Captain America: The Chosen 1

Now You See Me, Now You Don't
September 5, 2007
Written by David Morrell

In Afghanistan, an outfit of the United States Marine Corps is fighting insurgents and operatives of Al Qaeda. The story itself focuses on Corporal James Newman and his inner struggles. Newman's unit has been dispatched to a nearby village where smoke has been spotted. His thoughts show his opinions on why he is fighting and also his confusion as to who it is that are targets. His mind is also occupied with thoughts about his wife, Lori, and his five-month-old son, Brad, in San Francisco. His convoy is ultimately attacked in town, with Newman fighting a fierce gun battle with the residents. Entering a home after taking out a gun-totting man, he encounters a native couple and he begins to let his fears almost get the better of him. It is at this time of indecision that, out of nowhere, Captain America show up to impart some words of wisdom. Bolstering Newman's courage, the two men spring to action and save two fellow troops.

After the skirmish, Newman is a bit dismayed to find out no one else had seen Captain America helping him. In fact, several of the men said it was Newman who single-handedly did the saving. Newman, now a bit shaken from this revelation, begins to wonder if fighting for so long has begun to take a toll on his sanity. The issue ends with a shot of Captain America on a sort of respirator, being attended to by a woman and a mysterious man (Nick Fury) while a monitor behind Captain America shows Newman on the battlefield.

Now about a day after reading this comic, I am still a bit at odds. One plus for the comic is that the art is masterful. Mitch Breitweiser is an excellent artist and will most likely be the reason I continue to read the following issues. As far as the story goes, I enjoyed it for the most part, but felt a bit at odds with the overly patriotic slant of it. Of course, being a Captain America focused limited series about war, I figured it would. The writer was able to convey the inner turmoil of Newman well. The ending has me asking questions, not doubt what it is suppose to do. Knowing very little of the Civil War proceedings beyond the fact that Cap was assassinated, I found myself wondering "Is this really Cap? Is Nick Fury keeping him alive? To save him?"

Score: 3 / 5

Spider-Girl Vol 1 #3

Fun 'n' Games with the Fantastic Five
December 1998
Written by Tom DeFalco

Peter is up for an award directly from the Mayor, which is the topic of discussion at breakfast. May vows to be at the ceremony in time. At school, May is talking with Davida Kirby when Jimmy Yama breaks into the conversation. He asks May if she would like to go the new Fantastic Five showing at their base. Before May can answer, Moose Mansfield shows up with Brad Miller to mock him. However, Brad convinces Moose to back off and says how both groups of May's friends should go after school. They all do make it there after school and things seem to be going fine enough until a portal shows up in the middle of the room. Out of this dimensional doorway swaggers Spyral. It turns out he is looking for a Negative Zone device so he can get back to his right dimension. As May begins to engage him as Spider-Girl, the Fantastic Five shows up and jumps the gun by assuming she is working with Spyral. Before things can get straightened out, Spyral puts the public in danger and is able to get away as Reed Richards saves the crowd. May is also able to change back into her normal clothes before the Fantastic Five can capture her.

As she makes her way home, she is stopped by Phil Urich, he fathers partner as Midtown South Police Station. They have a conversation where he reveals to her that he once tried to be a superhero. May contemplates why he may have told her this a bit later as she watches for the Fantastic Five to go after Spyral. When they finally do, she follows them to the seedy warehouse 317 and assist them in their fight. Spyral is able to get the upper hand and May, along with Franklin Richards, are sent into another dimension, but with the Negative Zone technology. They try to fend of the creatures there as they wait for the rest of the team to bring them back, which they do. With Spyral in custody, The Thing and Johnny Storm want to hold May, but Franklin vouches for her, allowing her to leave with no questions asked. May hastily makes her way to her fathers ceremony, but she is already too late. The comic ends with Mary Jane and May walking away from each other in frustration.

This was a very well down issue, I believe. I like May's character more and more each issue and has a progression that I feel the other solo title, J2, is lacking. She is really starting to mature into the Power/Responsibility theme and she is becoming her father's daughter. The inclusion of the Fantastic Five didn't feel tacked on but felt like a natural part of the story. I am glad they are least gave a passing explanation as to what happened to Reed, because I didn't know that was him to begin with. It will be interesting in the next issue how May handles her parents, as well as Phil, who seems to know it is her who is the Spider-Girl.

Score: 4 / 5

A-Next #2

Suddenly ... the Sentry!
November 1998
Written by Tom DeFalco

As the second issue of this Earth-982 series begins, Mainframe, J2, and Thunderstrike are waiting for Stinger to come to an meeting. She is late because she is getting a stern talking to be her father, the former Ant-Man, about putting herself in jeopardy. She arrives shortly after and Mainframe tells the team that Earth's space defense satellites, put into orbit years ago after a major Skrull invasion, shot at something that then broke into two pieces, landing in Washington Park National Forest. Dr. William Foster and his son John Foster are in the area working with the Maria Stark Foundation (also a backer of the Avengers), and sends its own people to check on the crash. Their two people, Carol and Walt, are blasted by some creature though. On the flight in the Quinjet to the Forest, the group learns J2's identity since he reverts back after a time. Thunderstrike in particular becomes angered that a kid is part of his Avengers. They decide to continue the conversation after the mission as they land and are briefed by Dr. Foster. The Avengers and Fosters then break into two groups to investigate the crashes. Mainframe and Thunderstrike find the two researchers, set them free, and then begin a battle with Intergalactic Sentry 666. Stinger, J2, and the Fosters find the ship and infiltrate it, finding the pilot dead. As the battle gets closer to the craft, Stinger and J2 join the fight, but a misplaced hit by J2 sends the Sentry towards the ship. Panicking and wishing to save his father, John Foster tries to the Kree controls and becomes a human/Kree Sentry! He comes out of the ship with his father and joins the battle. He lures the Sentry into the ship, which falls into a ravine, and activates the ships self-destruct. The issue ends with John proclaiming himself the Earth Sentry and telling the Avengers he knows the Kree are going to try something eventually.

This issue was a bit better than even the first one, since it didn't get bogged down by trying to explain how they all got together in the first place. Once thing that I was a little perturbed by was the amount of exposition during the fight scenes ... it was like Shakespeare during a Jackie Chan movie! Other then that, I enjoyed the conflict of interest between Thunderstrike and J2, since I find J2 a bit unnerving, especially in his series. I think it is funny that he continually thinks he is doing good when it turns out very bad. John Foster seems like he will be an interesting character, but I almost thought he would become evil by the way he was first presented. Overall, a good issue, but still a bit below of 4.

Score: 3 / 5

J2 #2

Secrets and Lies / Alone Against the X-People
November 1998
Written by Tom DeFalco

In the first story, Zane is dealing with the aftermath of being admitted into the Avengers. His mother, A.D.A. Yama, is concerned this new Juggernaut may have had contact with Cain Marko and explains this to her son. Zane leaves for school worrying about what this may all mean for him if his mother finds out he is actually J2. In school, Miller is still gloating about "helping" J2 in the previous issue and Zane becomes angry. J2 calls to check in with the Avengers and Jarvis tells him A.D.A. Yama would like a meeting with J2. Miller shows up and demands the phone. Vowing to "diss" Miller, he changes into J2 later but ends up responding to a bank robbery. There, he meets and fights with Buffer Zone, a shield-protected bad guy. In the end, it is Miller again who helps Zane by taking the guy out when his force field was down. Zane slinks away in shame and meets with his mother at the Avengers headquarters. She demands to know who he is and how he got his powers, but he doesn't relent and she leave in a huff. In the end, Zane's high school classmates are talking about how Miller is partners with J2 and Zane begins to feel even worse.

In the other story, Zane is on his way to visit the X-People in Saddle River, New Jersey when he notices their gate is broken. Changing into J2, he rushes in to offer aid, but is mistaken for someone else; Enthralla, niece to the Mastermind. He is able to fight off the various X-People, but is ultimate faced with Enthralla herself, who uses her powers to enthrall J2. Zane's helmet is impervious to mental and psonic attacks, though, and he is able use a shockwave to disorient her. His splash wave from the pool he used to knock out the X-People also brought them to their senses and they proceed to take care of Enthralla. The story ends with J2 being accepted as a good guy by the X-People.

While not as bad as the first issue, I was still hoping this would be a one story issue. However, both stories were decent enough, even if they had some cheese exposition. I don't like the side-story about Miller being J2's helper very much, but I do like the mystery with A.D.A. Yama trying to figure out who J2 is. The X-People story reminded me a lot of the old comics from the 50's and 60's, with the action and the comments. Overall, a better issue then that first, but still only average.

Score: 3 / 5

Spider-Girl Vol 1 #2

Bedeviled?
November 1998
Written by Tom DeFalco

This issue begins a few weeks after the first one. May is fighting some thugs when Spider sense goes a little wonky as she notices a figure on a rooftop. Before she could find out who/what it is, she is attacked by Crazy Eight. May begins to worry because she didn't think she would be facing off against a real super villain. Still not up to superhero standards yet, May decides retreating would be her best shot. While recovering on the rooftops as the thugs get away, May is waylaid by Darkdevil, a strange new version of the Daredevil.

He does identify himself as a vigilante like May, but says the streets are not for the faint of heart and finds May lacking as a superhero. He then proceeds to attack her. He leaves her with an invitation to met him at Pier 87 the next night if she truly thinks herself ready to be a hero. Racing back home, she starts to feel more and more self-doubt. Peter and Mary Jane both lie awake in their room thinking about what is happening with May. The next morning, she overhears them talking about Peter mentioning something at their lunch date. At school, May's friend Jimmy is accosted by the jock Moose Mansfield right as Jimmy was about to ask May something. When Coach Flash Thompson breaks up the two, Jimmy just walks away. May goes to meet her father at Midtown South Police Department, but only finds Phil Urich instead. He tells her about the webbing he found at the scene from the first issue. May asks him not to tell her father and he agrees for some reason. May and Peter then go to an awkward and silent lunch together.

Back at MHS, Jimmy had agreed to fight Moose while May was gone. May takes matters into her own hands and shoves Moose into a locker so he will miss the fight. Jimmy becomes perturbed again, since he thinks May did something. That evening, May makes her way to Pier 87 to see that Darkdevil's test is actually Crazy Eight and his thugs from the previous evening. She takes him on and holds her own for awhile before he uses a sonic ball, which disrupts her equilibrium. May seems to retreat, which puts Crazy Eight at ease, but she comes from behind him and knocks him out. May gloats a bit over his unconscious body before the Darkdevil shows up, stating that he wants to save her from a funeral before leaving. The issue ends with May contemplating all of the complications no facing her, including having to fill her fathers tights and namesake.

This second issue of the series is a slight step up from the previous issue, but not by much. I like the direction it is taking in a bit of a more serious sense (unlike J2). May has some serious issues she has to address. I like the constant struggle she is in with how to talk with Peter. The only thing that irks me about the series being all about May is that she somehow is able to narrate about what Peter and Mary Jane are feeling. I think it wouldn't hurt the writers to give them their own narration, if only shortly/slightly. Though the character of Crazy Eight was a bit cheesy (having never read him before in the Marvel Universe), I do like the mystery surrounding the Darkdevil. So far, I like the direction this series is taking.

Score: 4 / 5

J2 #1

Call the Kid ... J2! / Decisions, Decisions! / Rocked by Rollerblast!
October 1998
Written by Tom DeFalco

Call the Kid ... J2!
This first issue is about the origin of Juggernaut's son, Zana Yama. It begins with Zane having the nightmare he has had since he was young, which is being chased by a "big, mean unstoppable" monster. The next morning, his mother, Assistant District Attorney Sachi Zama, reassures her son that his father, Cain Marko, won't be coming back to Earth anytime soon. Zane narrates that his mother had met Cain before he became the Juggernaut, but afterwards reverted back to her maiden name of Yama. He tries to impress the beautiful girl Talia Zamora, but strikes out when he thinks their math homework would be a good topic of conversation. The jocks Curtis and Miller make fun of Zane, but the enigmatic tomboyish Montana yells at them about how Zane is going to surpass them by so much once high school is over. Upset by her intrusion, Miller later threatens Zane and follows him all day in the school. When the final bell rings, Miller hunts down Zane like a cat and mouse. Zane unexpectedly gets a wicked headache though and is somehow transformed into a hulking man that is a shadow of his former body. Visibly upset, Zane stampedes (naked) through and out of the school, stopping momentarily only to smash Miller's motorcycle. The story ends up Zane huddled in an alley corner, calming down. When he does so, he reverts to his normal state for reasons he doesn't understand.

Decisions, Decisions!
This second story is short and sweet. It shows Zane going through the motions of trying to find a suitable costume to wear when he is transformed. He first tries to sew something, like Spider-Man did, but fails. He then goes to the local costume shop, but all they have is the more popular heroes and nothing on the original Juggernaut. He even tries a big and tall store, but doesn't find what he is looking for. In the basement of his house, however, he finds some memento's that his mother kept from his father. Using silver spray paint on select pieces of Juggernaut armor and tying a flannel shirt around his waist, Zane official gives himself the name J2.

Rocked by Rollerblast
Zane is at the amusement park with Montana, hoping to be able to talk to Talia. Miller is also there and becomes agitated when Curtis tries to convince him Zane was talking with Talia. Before Miller can do anything, the purple costumed thief Rollerblast and his cohorts announce that they are robbing the park and everyone inside. Changing into J2, Zane defends Montana, who was being accosted by the men. He and Rollerblast face off until Rollerblast starts to try to make a break for it. It is then that Zane throws something in his path that he can't avoid and goes flying. When Zane reverts back, he is bewildered to see everyone is congratulating Miller for helping J2 take down Rollerblast. The story and issue ends with the X-People, lead by Jubilee, forming in order to investigate rumors that the Juggernaut had returned.

Well, it is sad to say, but this is my least liked comic I have read recently. I think perhaps this one perhaps more than Spider-Girl 1 and A-Next 1 felt totally geared towards a younger readership. I understand that was the whole point of the MC2/Earth-982 universe, but this comic seems to have embraced this concept the most. I generally enjoy only one story per issue. Perhaps since this one was the first and showed J2's origin, it was meant to be broken up. Overall, I hope they make this a one story comic. Otherwise, as with the other two books, the art work is top notch, and the transformed Zane skates the ice of almost looking like the Hulk, but still pulls it off. I think I can like Zane more in the future, but right now, I think there is something right on the surface that is stopping me from enjoying him totally. I am not sure what made Marvel choose this character over other possible ones in the universe, such as the Fantastic Five, but I hope later issues show why they did by making this a more complete book.

Score: 2 / 5

A-Next #1

Second Coming!
October 1998
Written by Tom DeFalco

In this spin-off of What If Volume 2 #105 and the series Spider-Girl, this is Earth-982's take on who are Avengers now fifteen years after the current timeline of Marvel comics. The issue begins with the group, consisting of Kevin Masterson (Thunderstrike), Cassandra Lang (The Stinger), Helen Takahama (Jolt), Mainframe, Zane Yama (J2), Robert Baldwin (Speedball), and Jubilation Lee fighting some denizens Asgard for some reason. The narration focuses on Kevin as he begins to reminisce about how this was all his fault.

Flashing back several hours ago, Kevin had shown up at the Avengers Mansion at the request of Edwin Jarvis, the mansions chief of staff. The Mansion is currently managed by the Maria Stark Foundation, since the Avengers disassembled years previously. At Thor's request, Jarvis gave Kevin the weapon Thunderstrike, which Kevin's now deceased father, Edwin Masterson, wielded during his time as hero and Avenger. Kevin leaves the Avengers Mansion only to be attacked by troll-men while still in the compound. While the mansions security measures leap to action, Jarvis sends out the Avengers beacon. It is only recieved by Jubilation Lee, now leader of the X-People, and Helen Takahama, now a mother. Cassandra Lang, daughter of former Ant-Man Scott Lang, picks up the signal on her Wasp antenna while out testing modifications for her father and also responds. As Kevin is running through the streets, he also catches the attention of Speedball and J2. Kevin is cornered and at the last second is saved by the mechanical Iron Man-looking Mainframe. As the other heroes show up, they begin to fight the troll-men.

The heroes are shortly subdued by Loki and taken away shackled to Asgard. Loki tells them that he plans to "recharge" Thunderstrike and use it against Thor. Trying to provide a distraction for the heroes, Kevin goes and leaps for the floating mace. Somehow he fuses with the mace and becomes a more powerful version of his human self. The heroes, now freed, fight with all of their might, but the battle is turning against them. Kevin then sends up a beacon and Loki sounds a retreat. The others are stupefied as to why they did, but figure it out when Thor shows up. Upon returning to Earth, Mainframe brooches the subject of recreating the Avengers. Speedball, Jubilee, and Jolt decline due to personal matters but are always willing to lend a hand. J2, Stinger, and Thunderstrike agree and the issue closes with Jarvis and others looking on at "history being made again."

Knowing zero about the history of Eric Masterson prior to this, I must say that I really enjoyed this issue. It was a good origin story for Kevin/Thunderstrike and it was cool to see characters that have "moved on", such as Jubilee and Jolt. The art direction was on par with Spider-Girl and I enjoyed it. While the story near the end felt a bit cramped, they got what they need to out in the open. I enjoyed the small cameo by Thor and hope to see him again in the future, though I am not much of a fan of Loki.

Score: 4 / 5

Spider-Girl Volume 1 Issue 1

Choices
October 1998
Written by Tom DeFalco

May "Mayday" Parker is still trying to reason with her new found powers and whether or not she should continue to use them in a superhero capacity. She begins to "research" Spider-Man and ends up talking to her fathers assistant, Phil Urich. Phil informs her the legacy of Spider-Man as some speculate, about how a freak accident lead to his creation and how he was first in entertainment until a burglar he let go killed someone close to him. Before long, Peter shows up and, as he, May, and Captain Ruiz are leaving the precinct, Peter and May feel their spider-sense tingling. A suspicious man begins to follow Peter and Captain Muiz, but May ambushes the man into an alley. Scurrying up a wall, she avoids letting the man see her as she tails him as he goes into a clothing store. She decides to leave the man be since he didn't commit any crime that she saw. Back at school, her friend Davida Kirby tries to get her to loosen up by going to the mall after basketball practice, but May is down because she starts to feel using her powers on the court is too much of an advantage to exploit.

At home over dinner, Peter talks about how he is working on a case with mobsters dealing with the fashion industry. May begins to think there may be a connection with the man since he went into a clothing store. Donning a make-shift black costume and using some web shooters she kept hidden, she takes to the city. Infiltrating the clothing store, she finds her man, Shaky, being grilled by his employer, the masked Mr. Nobody. She takes them on until Captain Ruiz and the police show up. May makes it out the window and Mr. Nobody is able to teleport out as well. Mr. Nobody then shows up in the prison cell of none other than the Kingpin to tell him about what happened. Back at the Parkers, May waits in her room, pretending to be asleep, for Peter to come and talk to her. He doesn't and over the next few days, she begins work on her very own costume as the issue comes to an end.

I like this one a bit more than the What If for some reason. I think maybe because the issue was able to work with the fact that it is a series now and doesn't have to contain itself to one issue. I like to see the inner struggle that May is going through, but sometimes the narration bugs me with using the term "You"; why can't she just say "I". I don't want to be her, I want her to be her. I think the Kingpin is certainly an interesting choice to have as her first baddie in the series, and can see Mr. Nobody being more interesting, especially if he is somebody from the Marvel past. Again, I like the art style a lot and actually enjoyed her first self-created costume; sort of a sexy black-and-white Spidey suit. Again, the conversations with Davida (changed from Roberta, I guess) feel weird with the "girlfriend" slang, since this is apparently fifteen years after the 1990's, when that speech was popular. Now, in 2007, you don't hear that kind of talk. Overall, an enjoyable first issue

Score: 4 / 5

What If ... ? - Vol 2 #105

Legacy ... In Black and White
February 1998

... What if Mary Jane had never lost the baby, and Spider-Man had a Spider-girl?

In normal Marvel continuity (Earth-616), Mary Jane had apparently miscarried May, though the baby was secretly smuggled by Alison Mongrain to Norman Osborn (see Clone Saga#Act 3 in the Books for more information). This issue of "What If ... ?" asks what may have happen had she not been taken.

Now at the age of fifteen, May "Mayday" Parker is the captain of her highschool girls basketball team at Midtown High School in Queens, New York (where her father had gone as well). Exhibiting some wowing abilities on the court, Mary Jane and Peter begin to worry she may have inherited some of Peter's Spider-Man abilities. As the congratulate her, a shadowy figure (the Green Goblin) looks on from the windows. May then blows off the jocks to hang out with her "nerdy" friends. Mary Jane and Peter walk home and Peter recounts how he no longer is Spider-Man because he had a large confrontation with Norman two years after May was born where Norman died and Peter lost the will to continue as Spider-Man. Without having to be Spider-Man, they never revealed to May who he had been. Elsewhere, May, Jimmy, and Courtney are attacked by the Green Goblin. He wants May to pass on the message to Peter that he will be waiting at the bridge the next night.

Peter decides to try to contact Normie Osborn, Norman's grandson. He gets through to Normie's stepfather who tells Peter he hasn't seen Normie since his mother grew ill. He relates this information to Mary Jane and May, in the process, overhears them talking about him being Spider-Man. The next day while Peter tries to get the help of first the Fantastic Five and then the Avengers, May starts to experiment with her new powers. She later confronts Mary Jane about the conversation from the previous night and MJ explains everything to her. That evening, Peter shows up at the bridge to face Normie, who is miffed Peter wasn't wearing his Spider-Man suit. Mary Jane shows up to try and reason with Normie, but May shows up as well, wearing Ben Reilly/Scarlet Spiders old suit. Fighting ensues and May is able to stop Normie with one of his own pumpkin bombs. Though he is about to then be hit, and possibly killed, by an oncoming truck, May saves him anyway. As the cops take him away, he raves on and on about Spider-Girl, but no one believes him. The Parkers then later burn Peter's old costumes and assorted gear, but an open-ended conclusion shows May's designs for her own suit an a titulating "The End?"

I found this to be a very enjoyable read, if somewhat sketchy at parts. There was a tacked on conversation between May and her friend Roberta that was a little cringe worthy ("Like forever, girlfriend!" ... ech). I like the look of Spider-Girl, but I felt that May looked a little like Jubliation Lee (who also made an appearance in this issue), but I do like how Peter looks now. I also like how they explained him giving up the mantle of Spider-Man as well as how he know works at a crime lab. I like the harder-edged art style as well.

Score: 4 / 5

Monte Cook's Ptolus - City by the Spire 6 of 6

Issue 6
Written by Monte Cook

This issue picks up right where five left off with the Iron Mage and Sheva Callister trying to figure out what to do now. Apparently, the Hound was killed in the battle and the Iron Mage shows his gratitude to Sheva for helping him with Kervis. It is around this time that Sheva notices her hungersword is missing, taken by Gattara Vladaam back to her father as a birthday present. The Iron Mage offers Sheva his assistance in retrieving the blade. Before long, the infiltrate the Vladaam mansion and face off against the siblings Gattara, Aliaster and Godfred. While Sheva duels with Godfred, the Iron Mage makes little work of Aliaster and Gattara. Ultimately, the Iron Mage holds them at bay and threatens that if they ever go against Sheva again, he will personally see them at an end.

The Iron Mage then transports himself and Sheva to his home, which is halfway across the world. He takes the Book of Whispering Souls from Sheva to study while Sheva wanders his compound. Eventually, he summons her and she is finally reunited with Parnell, he ghost friend. It turns out that Aliaster had used a spell that had trapped Parnell's soul, so he remembers nothing since trying to escape the Vladaam compound in issue one. With his debt seemingly paid, the Iron Mage transports Sheva and Parnell back to Ptolus. In the Dark Sanctuary, Lilith is fuming over the failed attempt by the Hound. One of her major demons (or is she his worker?) finds the resolution favorable, since now they know the Iron Mage can be subdued. If it had not been for Sheva, he would be gone. They make plans to make sure she isn't around when they try to "take the city" so Sheva and the Iron Mage can team up again.

At the Ptolus tavern, Sheva reunites with a healthy Brusselt and Daersidian, who then proceed to liven up their adventures for Parnell. They leave the tavern later and are stopped by Lord Dorant Khatru, the main reason they were in Ptolus. He wanted to know if, after two weeks, Sheva had gotten the Brooch of Khatru from House Vladaam. She in fact had and hands it over to him in return for a scroll. Sheva tells Parnell that Kervis Killraven had the Brooch and that their reward was a map to a temple that apparently held the secrets of bringing a ghost back to life. The series ends with Sheva asking Parnell "Ready for another adventure?"

Well, apparently Caanan White wasn't around for this issue either, but it didn't show as much as with issue four's changes. I am still a bit unsure about how I feel about the final issue. I think I was expecting more of big climactic ending. I was thinking perhaps Lilith and her demons would play a part, but I guess they were just a lead into what would possibly come in any further series, though I don't think there will be any (at least not with Marvel). I also had pegged Parnell as being in on this, but that was not the case. I was also hoping for an appearance by the Vladaam patriarch, but that didn't happen either. The highest point of the issue was again the great artwork, though it did venture a bit into the cartoon-ish look. Overall, I think I would give the series a 6 / 10. For this issue, though, I would give:

Score: 3 / 5

Monte Cook's Ptolus - City by the Spire 5 of 6

Issue 5
February 2007
Written by Monte Cook

The Iron Mage is a legendary figure in the realm of Ptolus, an enigmatic character who works for his own interests and sides with whomever he likes. This concerns Sheva Callister, who has temporarily allied herself with him as she continues her unwinding quest to recover a brooch and to extract revenge on the mysterious figure who set her up and killed her ghostly partner. But is the Iron Mage truly on her side. or does he have some hidden agenda?

The issue beings with the Iron Mage still asking for the book from Sheva (man, does he look different) while the Hound runs amok in the compound below. The Iron Mage states that he believes the Hound is there for the book. He explains to Sheva that the Book of Whispering Souls, which she hopes can help her ghost friend Parnell, is actually also a Hound that has been trapped into book form. They watch as Kervis Killraven charges at the creature on horseback. The Iron Mage joins her after warning Sheva he will be back for the book. Not wishing to give it over, Sheva begins to sneak away and instead finds Gattara Vladaam doing the same. Sheva confronts her and states she knows the Vladaam's wish for her hungersword. Because she does not want his help, Killraven leaves the Hound to the Iron Mage and returns inside where she encounters a dazed Sheva who had been fighting Gattara. With ease, Killraven is able to subdue Sheva and take the Book. She then contemplates killing the Iron Mage while he is distracted fighting the Hound.

Acting on this impulse, Killraven knocks the Iron Mage down and gloats a bit before going for the killing blow. Sheva, however, steps in and strikes at Killraven long enough for Iron Mage to recover some senses. He uses a spell and Killraven and her stallion disappear. While the two contemplate what to do, the Hound seems to slink off, as does Gattara. She doesn't leave empty-handed, though, since she was able to swipe Sheva's hungersword when Killraven had Sheva winded. The issue ends with Gattara gloating over the sword.

Curious. Apparenly, Caanan White returned for the issue and one can easily tell from the first page that a different artist was working on this title. The Iron Mage looked NOTHING like he did in the previous issue (say, perhaps an hour before hand) and neither did Killraven. Sheva and Gattara stayed the same. Now, I could care less about Killraven, but when the Iron Mage was introduced, I really liked his look and demeanor. It seemed like both of those were thrown out for the fifth issue. The change was jarring to say the least. As for the rest of the issue, a couple of other small things. The Hound, who seemed unabashedly evil and headstrong (which I figured) became a puppy when Killraven apparently knocked out Iron Mage. It also made no moves to take back the book while Iron Mage and Sheva contemplated what to do with it at the end. Another quick drastic change I found not good. Finally, Gattara made off with the hungersword way too easily. I think the most interesting part of the issue was when Iron Mage revealed that the Book of Whispering Souls was actually another Hound bound to the book. Otherwise, art withstanding, I found the issue below average. A steady decline in the book is frightening and I can only hope the finally issue will go out with a bang and not a whimper.

Score: 2 / 5

Monte Cook's Ptolus - City by the Spire 4 of 6

Issue 4
January 2007
Written by Monte Cook

Sheva Callister, a retired treasure hunter who’s come back for one last job, is painfully aware of this as she stumbles into the underground tomb of Narros, the Lich King, a powerful undead creature who does not appreciate her intrusion. But if she and her companions can escape, they’ll only be plunged into more excitement and deception as various nobles from the city above use her in a pawn in a strange game of their own. That is, of course, unless the legendary “Iron Mage” appears and lends her a hand…

This issue begins in the Necropolis where the enigmatic Lilith (introduced in issue 1) is shown conversing with one of her demons about the Hound who entered into Ptolus (during issue 2). She begins to wonder if Killraven is the Hounds prey. Back in the Crypt of Narros beneath Ptolus, Sheva, Brusselt and Daersidian are meeting Narros face-to-face. Despite Brusselts honest plea that they are just passing through, Narros turns his necomatic ways on them and summons four skeleton snakes. Narros tries to use spells against Daersidian, the elf battlemage, but he is able to counter his spells, much to Narros' suprise. Before he could try any further actions, Sheva cleaves one of the skeleton snakes onto him. Brusselt is hurt bad in the impact and Daersidian uses a spell to take them both to the surface while Sheva continues on.

Not soon after, Sheva meets the Iron Mage, the most powerful mage in the world. The Iron Mage is in the sewers tracking the Hound and knows nothing of the apparent meeting between Gattara Vladaam and Kevris Killraven. The Iron Mage suggest that the book Kevris may have could be the Book of Whispering Souls. He leaves before the conversation can go further and Sheva continues on to her destination. Making her way through the cellar, she infiltrates Killraven's meeting place and overhears her and Gattara talking about obtaining Sheva's hungersword. Sheva goes through the place and ultimately finds the Book. However, as she tries to leave, The Iron Mage shows up and demands she hand the book over in the final scene.

I was kind of interested to see that Canaan White's name wasn't in this issue, unlike previous ones. The artwork was instead handled by Luis Lara, but it was almost unnoticeable in the difference. In fact, it was way better than the second half of the previous issue that I didn't enjoy. I liked the action scene with Narros and thought the skeleton snakes were really cool looking. Also, the Iron Mage seems like a very cool character and I look forward to seeing what he has to deal with the Hound. I don't think he is threatening Sheva at the end, but securing the books since it holds incredible necromatic spells. I am still looking forward to the final two issues of this series.

Score: 4 / 5