Welcome back to the MC2, Multiversity’s panel of noted Marvel experts. The three of us (MC3 sounded weird) are covering Marvel’s straight up CALVACADE of “Secret Wars” tie-ins! This week, we tackle “Civil War”, “Siege” and more whilst giving up our own thoughts! Feel free to join in the conversation in the comments and let us know what you think about Marvel’s latest crossover. Spoilers below!
Micro-Reviews
Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #5
Written by Dan Slott
Illustrated by Adam Kubert & Scott Hanna
Reviewed by James Johnston
So this retread of “One More Day” ended up being one of the better “Secret Wars” tie-ins. Who’da thunk?
Well, okay, “Renew Your Vows” wasn’t much of a “One More Day” retreat. Instead, it focused on what would happen if Peter Parker still kept his family and also fought some crazy god dude named Regent or something. Really, it brought the optimism from Dan Slott’s work with the wall crawler to a dystopian world like (but not the same as) James Stokoe’s “Reign” and made a really compelling story about how to raise a child in a world that went to shit. Crazy, I know.
I think a few years from now, Slott is really going to be remembered as a great voice for Peter Parker. He captures the goodness that inspires so many people to say that Spider-Man is their favorite superhero and is able to expertly apply it to a crazy situation like the one in “Renew Your Vows.” Really, for a comic that initially felt like it came completely out of left field, “Renew Your Vows” felt utterly sure of itself. I will say that the art for this book felt a little uneven, especially Kubert’s parts which felt rather uneven and scrunchy. He still choreographs an impressive fight scene, but I felt that Scott Hanna’s contributions, consisting mostly of flashbacks and scenes of Parker trapped in Regent’s feeding tube (don’t ask) had a more emotional impact that sold what the story was all about.
Final Verdict: 7.8 – Occasionally iffy art aside, “Renew Your Vows” was among my favorite “Secret Wars” tie-ins and one that really encapsulated what Peter Parker was about.
Secret Wars 2099
Written by Peter David
Illustrated by Will Sliney
Reviewed by James Johnston
I want to give this comic a 10.1 just for the scene where Miguel throws his dad out the window and solemnly says “Send me a holomemo.” WHAT THE HELL IS A HOLOMEMO?! There’s one thing I wanted “Secret Wars 2099” to do more of and it’s say future nonsense phrases at all times. “You shocking son of a laser rifle. Prepare to get cyberdeleted.”
Ugh, but I digress. “Secret Wars 2099” #5 wraps up with an intense battle with an Elder One. No I didn’t expect that either, but the giant tentacle monster does provide a nice change of pace against Nueva York’s Blade Runner background. Though as much as I love a good Lovecraft Cyberpunk mashup, the conflict with New Baron Mordo felt like an incredibly convenient way to get the Defenders and Avengers to become friends. It’s like if “Saga” ended with all the Landfall and the other planet joining up to fight Cthulu and becoming best friends. That’s not a satisfying ending at all. Also, why does Black Widow have to hunt down a guy who killed his girlfriend by banging him. You’re Black Widow. Just kill him. They should make the next Hitman game with that modus operandi.
Final Verdict: 6.5 – Save a couple huge leaps in logic, I enjoyed “SJW 2099” quite a bit. It’s not the must-read tie-in of “Secret Wars” but it’s still a passable little story nonetheless.
Red Skull #3
Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Luca Pizzari
Reviewed by Alice W. Castle
There’s a line three pages into this issue that exemplifies everything I think is wrong about “Secret Wars”. And he has a Magneto with him!. Notice that? Notice how the character doesn’t say “he has Magneto with him”, but he has a Magneto with him? The idea that characters within Battleworld have doubles across realms is something I’ve given out about before, but characters knowing that there are multiple versions of the same person? That just immediately took me right out of the story.
Continued belowAnyway, onto the issue itself: it plays out in the most tie-in way it possibly can. While the idea of Magneto and the Red Skull destroying the wall and invading the rest of the Battleworld with the Annihilation Wave was lofty, it was pretty much a given that it wouldn’t succeed. What’s a major bummer is how not was nothing accomplished here by any of the characters, but the story itself tells you why it doesn’t even matter. Magneto and Red Skull both die in the end (whoops, spoiler alert, but also this issue isn’t one I was recommending anyway), but the issue has already established that they’re just one of many versions of themselves in Battleworld.
So, in the end, while this series could have been interesting, it’s nature as a self-contained tie-in to a much larger event curtailed its scope so much that it feels a little pointless looking back on it. Oh, well.
Final Verdict: 5.1 – This issue wasn’t technically bad as the writing and artwork was enjoyable, it’s just one of many victims of circumstance that have had the aspirations of the story nullified by the rest of the event.
Planet Hulk #5
Written by Sam Humphries
Illustrated by Marc Laming
Reviewed by Alice W. Castle
I’ve made it no secret (heh) that unlike my fellow Secret Warriors, I was never all that taken by “Planet Hulk”. The decision to follow Steve Rogers instead of, I don’t know, literally any Hulk character confused me at first and as the series went on, it never really felt like it lived up to the name other than having Hulked out stuff for Steve Rogers fight on his quest to find Bucky.
This final issue, though… it didn’t turn me around. In fact, I’d go so far as to say this is one of the “Secret Wars” tie-ins that I’ve liked the least. While there are others I’m not a fan of largely because they’re just nothing tie-ins, I feel like this had a lot of potential, but it was too focused on this Steve Rogers story and kind of forgot it was supposed to be “Planet Hulk”. Sam Humphries and Marc Laming do a great job in telling the story and this issue does create a solid emotional climax, but it’s one that couldn’t turn me around on the series which is a shame. I really wish I could have liked this series, but it just did nothing for me.
Final Verdict: 5.5 – Not the worst thing I’ve ever read, but I think this story would have worked a lot better if it hadn’t been touted as “Planet Hulk”.
Mrs. Deadpool and the Howling Commandos #4
Written by Gerry Duggan
Illustrated by Salva Espin
Reviewed by Jess Camacho
“Mrs. Deadpool and the Howling Commandos” is a miniseries I wouldn’t have read if I weren’t a part of this column. I won’t harp on my Deadpool feelings anymore but this miniseries has been hit or miss. This is another miniseries concluding this week and it wasn’t as strong an ending as a couple of other series but the problem is, I don’t know if it could have ended any other way. A lot of humor fades away in this issue but Espin’s art is still just as fun and expressive. It’s a nice comic book to look at but it ultimately falls flat and underwhelming.
Final Verdict: 5.5 – This wasn’t necessarily the worst tie-in miniseries but this issue didn’t do anything to turn the experience into something super enjoyable for this non-Deadpool fan.
The Korvac Saga #4
Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Otto Schmidt
Reviewed by James Johnston
So uh, talk about sticking the landing. When I agreed to do a review of “The Korvac Saga” this week, I had a pit of dread in my stomach. It’s a title that felt extraneous in a crossover that had a “Howard the Human” one-shot. But “Korvac Saga” #4 blew away all my expectations by really following through on its tragic concept and going balls to the walls with its finale.
Continued belowGone was the semi-political dealings of Korvac and Simon Williams, his guest from Holy Wood. Now, Korvac is awake, has seen what Battleworld really is, and can do nothing to save his friends from Doom. It’s a great use of the character and one that should have been more apparent earlier in the series. Speaking got things that should have been done earlier, I really have to praise Otto Schmidt’s art here. The world-shattering fight with the Thors is as brutal as “Secret Wars” gets. It’s chaotic in every sense of the word.
Final Verdict: 8.3 – Where was this book three months ago?
Giant Size Little Marvel AvX #4
Written and Illustrated by Skottie Young
Reviewed by Jess Camacho
“Little Marvel” by Skottie Young ends with this week’s issue and with it all said and done, this proved to be one of my favorite tie-ins of the entire event. “Little Marvel” #4 finally sees Zoe and Zachary choosing a side to be a part of. The finale reads like the ending of an animated series. Everything ends neat and tidy with a high level of silliness and open ended ending. This wasn’t a tie-in that wanted or needed to be a part of the major events of “Secret Wars”. It added some much needed fun to this whole thing. Young’s art in this issue is balls to the wall crazy with tons of huge superhero action with the playfulness of kids on a playground. When collected, this would be great for younger kids.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – One of my favorite minis of the event. Ended just right but it wasn’t necessarily “required” for the event.
Civil War #4
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by Leinil Yu
Reviewed by Alice W. Castle
“Civil War” #4 is kind of a strange mixed bag. While the idea of extrapolating the moral conflict between superhero factions in the original event into an actual, for real two-nations-going-to-war conflict is something that’s interesting, I feel like it’s kind of fallen flat in terms of feeling like these are the same Marvel characters we know and love. So much has changed in this realm of Battleworld that has impacted these characters, but instead of seeing that play out naturally over the course of the story, we’re dumped into a world where Bucky Barnes is loyal to Tony Stark, Peter Parker’s more of an asshole than usual and She-Hulk and Iron Man are doing the nasty.
That doesn’t make “Civil War” bad, in fact it’s actually one of the more enjoyable tie-ins, it just makes for a strange reading experience. While Soule writes an excellent war comic with grand action which is helped immensely by Leinil Yu and some intense espionage, but the characters and world he writes doesn’t quite feel like the Marvel Universe, you know? Speaking of Leinil Yu, though, his art here is amazing. This series hasn’t been his best work as previous issues have had a distinct lack in detail, but this is stellar work from him as the grand invasion from the Blue is rendered amazingly. If this series can stick the landing next issue then this will likely be a solid look-in for the Fourth Best “Secret Wars” Tie-In.
Final Verdict: 6.4 – Pretty enjoyable, but more enjoyable if you don’t think of it as the Marvel Universe.
1602: Witch Hunter Angela #3
Written by Marguerite Bennett and Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by Stephanie Hans and Frazer Irving
Reviewed by Jess Camacho
“1602: Witch Hunter Angela” #3 is a bit of a mixed bag. Angela and Serah make their way to the third Faustian, the one that The Enchantress has warned them will result in the death of Serah. When they arrive, Coulson introduces them to Anna Maria, a witchbreed turned Faustian who helps them realize where The Enchantress’ power really lies. Stories are the power here and we see a literal definition of this through the Frazer Irving drawn sub story. Hans and Irving both have the same problem in this issue, facial expressions. I love them both for different reasons and they each craft some cool moments. Hans does this amazing double page spread with a clever panel breakdown and Irving (without spoiling) has a gorgeous shot of a pair using their powers. The problem lies with character expressions. With both artists, there are so awkward smiles that don’t fit the situation and some reactions are pretty over done. With that said, “1602: Witch Hunter Angela” is still one of the strongest stories happening in “Secret Wars” thanks to the adorable relationship between Angela and Serah.
Continued belowFinal Verdict: 7.3 – There are some art hiccups but the story remains strong.
Siege #3
Written by Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by
Reviewed by Jess Camacho
“Siege” is absolutely something I should love but instead have found it tough to get through each issue. “Siege” #3 features the literal siege going terribly for Abigail Brand and her soldiers. Thanks to some good luck and return of friends, they are able to win at least this battle. “Siege” just isn’t working and it’s odd because it may be the first thing Gillen has written that I’ve loathed. What makes things worse is the art. I don’t want to constantly repeat myself but I find it really, really tough to follow what’s going on. The coloring is fresh and exciting but the artwork itself is muddled and I can’t make out what some of the characters are doing sometimes. The splash pages, while good looking on their own, actually hurt the book because it just doesn’t fit with the rest of the art.
Final Verdict: 4.0 – There are a couple of funny America Chavez moments and the splash pages are nice. Otherwise, just skip the whole miniseries.
Final Thoughts:
Jess: I don’t have much to add here this week. I’m glad things are winding down but I wish I had liked some of these miniseries more. I think it was Alice who mentioned this last week but knowing what comes next makes a lot of this feel so meaningless. For a long time I’ve said that I hate solicitations being in our faces. Along with the way the direct market works, it makes it so tough to stay in the here and now to enjoy things. I worked at a comic shop for nearly 2 years so I know all too well that this is what we’re stuck with and that preorders help retailers but I do wish there was a fix to this.
Alice: I am so glad stuff is beginning to wrap up, but, yeah, much like Jess I’m finding myself wishing I had liked these series more. Stuff like “Planet Hulk” is a series I would have liked in terms of pure storytelling, but feels too limited by the way this event has been structured and the way the series was marketed (I still don’t know why it was called “Planet Hulk” anyway) for me to have really got into it. Maybe in a couple years time I’ll be able to revisit this event and will be able to appreciate it a little more, but for now I’m counting down the weeks until I can be free of this whole event.
James: Reading “Secret Wars” is like when you’re playing an open world game and there’s just this giant map of things you need to do. And when you do accomplish those things, you’re left with a keen sense of accomplishment. Even though it took you seventeen weeks to do. And then you check again and there’s still months worth of material yet. “Secret Wars” is basically The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
