because Batman Inc would sue you, duh.

"I was gonna say 'BatMite', dude!"

aligned moon

drive-by readings

Vengeance of the Moon Knight #10 (Marvel) "Team Player" Gregg Hurwitz Juan Jose Ryp Andres Mossa Joe Caramagna Francesco Mattina (cover)

its great to see Juan Jose Ryp in a non-Warren Ellis blood-and-gore-raining Avatar-published work. it may not fit his style in the long run, but he does a good job here - the level of detail and line work can be dazzling. thumbs up.

so, what do we make of 616's resident loony hero? well, there was a time when he wasn't that loony, and Gregg Hurwitz thankfully brings that part of him back. maybe its just luck that he got over the hump by himself, just in time for Captain America Steve Rogers to offer him (Secret) Avenger membership. last couple of times this happened, Moon Knight spurned Iron Man and escaped a lopsided battle with Norman Osborn.

now we see him becoming a team player for Rogers' weird bunch (how long is this thing going to be a secret?), and reining in his murderous urges for the most part. he's like the Hulk, since you're not sure if he's gonna snap sometime soon (Rogers could have implanted him with nanotech failsafes for all we know). although it seems MK is the wild card or odd man out here, i don't think Hank is suited for fighting pirates, or deep sea creatures (experience with S.W.O.R.D. notwithstanding). i don't know, it just seems really ... off. he's the science guy, sure he'll get his licks in once in a while, but generally his best work is figuring out how to save lives without breaking bones or sweat. also, seriously, its Moon Knight who figures out a way off a sinking ship? not Hank? not War Machine carrying the whole piece of ship deck where they're standing?

as for Moon Knight, i have high hopes for this gig working for him this time. he may be a low-rent Batman (hey, look, Daredevil has a white haired cop with a moustache for a supporting character now), but he'll have his spots and roles. right now, its to be an Avenger. welcome to the big leagues, Marc. let's just say WCA, no matter how kooky & lovable it was, doesn't count.

Luke he's ugly

and how the hell did Jessica Jones fall in love with this hunky pile of bullet holes? and don't you dare say "once you go black ..". shut it! shut it!!

why you hate Brand New Day

... because it gives you numerous throat-gagging scenes like this:

so far the only rule left in the Marvel Universe is that Uncle Ben stays dead. but people keep forgetting the corollary to that rule: Aunt May stays alive. always. and she's getting a lot more nookie than you, faithful reader!!

drive-by readings: Dark Reign: Mr Negative #3

Dark Reign: Mr Negative #3 (Marvel) "Negative Reinforcement" Fred Van Lente Gianluca Gugliotta Ronda Pattison Andres Mossa Antonio Fabela Dave Lanphear Jae Lee/June Chung (cover)

the prolific Mr. Van Lente wraps up the Mr. Negative origin story, and the best of all, it all starts from my very first Spectacular Spider-Man issue (#64, the origin of Cloak and Dagger). it positions Mr. Negative in an ambiguous light, as he neither totally is with the good or the bad guys (although you would think he'd pick a better name, no?). the art is a bit lacking compared to the story, though i must admit i stared a lot longer at those panels with Betty Brant in fragrante delicto - umm, well you know. now imagine those panels in the hands of Frank Cho or Terry Dodson. that's all positive!

oh, baby, you're pretty ... ugly.

blame Norman Osborn for your ghastly Valentine!


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Amazing Spider-Man #586

escape clause

uh oh. with the Scarlet Witch out of the picture, this kid Gavin (who has the same reality warping powers like Wanda) will be Quesada/Marvel's Easy Button for future fixes.



so what's gonna happen? Steve Rogers comes back? more mutants? another House of M type event? that's right, screw with the fans a lot more!

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Ms Marvel: Storyteller one shot