Here are the top 300 comics as reported by Diamond Comics, Places 36-300 are after the page break.
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Archive for ‘Secret Invasion’
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Calliope’s Quick Fire Reviews Marvel Extended Edition
on December 30th, 2008Posted In: Avengers, Comic Books, Dark Reign, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Marvel, Secret Invasion, Spider-Man
A little more in depth reviews of this past week’s books from Marvel, rather than the usual 2-3 line quick fire format:
Featured Book :
New Avengers #48
The beginning of Dark Reign brings about another status quo change for the New Avengers as the team adds the new Captain America to their ranks, and Iron Fist takes a leave of absence. Bendis wrote a very intriguing tale this time around. Normally not much happens in this book as we are usually stuck with a bunch of talking heads, or flashbacks or side stories. This was a very enjoyable read with some nice artwork as well. Their is one other major story point and the is that Luke Cage is now ready to work for Norman Osborn in order to find his missing child. This could be a very intriguing storyline if played correctly. Overall this book earns 4 out of 5 New Avengers.
This issue starts us off with Emma Frost receiving a letter inviting her to Avengers Mansion for a meeting with Norman Osborn. Dr. Doom is already there once she arrives and then we have the obligatory solo entrance where everyone has their own introduction. For a moment I thought I was watching the WWE. Osborn then comes in and monologues his way through
In keeping with the new format I have split the Quick Fires into Marvel, DC, and Indie books.
Amazing Spider-Man #579
Mark Waid finishes up the two part Shocker tale with a team-up, a betrayal, and the almost reunion of J. Jonah Jameson and his father. Much better artwork in this issue. 4 out of 5 Spider-Villains.
Cable #9
Cable Versus the Cockroach Humans and Bishop takes out the X-Men. Nice pacing, very smooth artwork. 3 out of 5 X-Villains.
COVER BY: GABRIELLE DELL’OTTO
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: LEINIL FRANCIS YU
INKS: MARK MORALES
COLORED BY: LAURA MARTIN
LETTERED BY: CHRIS ELIOPOULOS
The final chapter in Secret Invasion picks up where issue 7 left off. The Wasp is about to explode and she sacrifices herself to save everyone else. This aggravates the heroes and villains and they mount a final offensive against the Skrulls. Wolverine is about to go in for the kill on the Skrull Queen, when Norman Osborn fires a shot that takes her head off. Luckily for him there were news cameras everywhere that captured this.
Calliope’s Quick Fire Reviews Round 2
on November 23rd, 2008Posted In: Batman, Comic Books, DC, Fantastic Four, Marvel, Reviews, Robin, Secret Invasion, Supergirl, Superman
Looks like there will be a round 3 as well, maybe even a round 4.
Fantastic Four # 561
The Galactus Engine saves the future and Dr. Doom Kills the Invisible Woman, just not the one you think. 4 out of 5 FF-ers.
Iron Man Director of Shield #35 Secret Invasion
War Machine and The Crimson Dynamo demolish a bunch of Skrull ships. Lots of explosions. 2 out of 5 New Avengers.
Robin # 180 Battle for The Cowl
Red Robin is unmasked and Anarky reigns by the end of the issue. Solid Writing and Art. 4 out of 5 Batmen.
Andy Diggle ART BY Roberto De La Torre COLORS BY Frank Martin
COVER BY Francesco Mattina
This issue really spoils the ending of Secret Invasion by revealing that Norman Osbourne saves the Earth from the Skrull Invasion and is now adored by the public. The issue sets about the deconstruction of the team by taking out several members in various ways. Penance is drugged and will be sent off to a mental institution. The Radioactive Man is sent back to China and Songbird appears to be one second away from death at the hands of Bullseye. Norman Osbourne appears before a Congressional committee and blames them for the Skrull invasion. He also resigns as head of the Thunderbolts and says that he is disbanding the team. He also states that he has a meeting with the President to discuss a new role for himself. This will probably be as the head of SHIELD or another organization which will tie into the Dark Reign storyline as he will effectively be in charge of all heroes. The story pacing and artwork are phenomenal. Marvel should have held this issue until after SI #8 since it spoils the ending but it is a great issue. It gets 5 out of 5 Spider-Villains. 
Its that time again, a sentence or two review and a rating.
Amazing Spider-Man #575
I have hated most of the post OMD stories, but this one was fun. Great new take on an old villain.
3 out of 5 Spider-Villains.
Avengers The Initiative #18
A lot of Skrull reveals and a well told Secret Invasion Tie In. 4 out of 5 New Avengers.
Final Crisis Rage of the Red Lanterns #1
Awesome story introducing not one but two new colors of Lanterns. Great artwork as well. 5 out of 5 Green Lanterns.
COVER BY: ALEKSI BRICLOT
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: BILLY TAN
LETTERED BY: COMICRAFT
It is amazing how much the quality of a crossover book can vary. In some of the Secret Invasion crossovers there is no coherence with the main event, or in some cases (SI Amazing Spider-Man) reason for the characters name to even be on the book. This issue of New Avengers however, shows exactly what all crossover books should aspire to be: a great story on its own that actually enhances the event. The Hood is rounding up the villains in an attempt to figure out what happened to Madame Masque when she was captured by SHIELD. He ended up rescuing her but after killing some agents, they noticed that they had changed into Skrulls. They then capture a Skrull agent to show the assembled villains what they are up against. After killing the agent and the spy that infiltrated the group, the Hood goes home to do some "soul searching" to figure out how and why he has new powers. It is revealed that the Dormammu is his benefactor in the cliffhanger ending. The artwork is very clean and moves the story along very well. The writing is top notch by Bendis and it would make sense that the best SI crossovers would come from him since he is writing the main title.
Overall it rates a 4 Marvel Zombies out of 5.
When we last left this series the Marvel Heroes were mounting an all out assault on the Skrull Queen. This issue pick ups with several pages of all out battle between the two groups. The Hood and his group of villains arrive to help repel the Skrulls. Iron Man has to leave to fix his programming which is infected with a virus(Which seems to play into the theory that Norman Osbourne will take over SHIELD when this series is over).. Ronin ends up apparently killing the Skrull Queen with an arrow to the head and it also appears that the Yellowjacket Skrull was killed as well. There must be a requirement in all Marvel crossovers that a giant figure dies in a large battle. Jessica Jones leaves her child with Jarvis to join the fight and it is then revealed that this is Skrull-Jarvis. The final scene ends with the Wasp remembering Yellowjacket gave her a serum that supposedly allowed her to grow into Giant Woman. It turns out this was some kind of explosive toxin as the final page shows the Wasp about to go nuclear. Overall not too bad of an issue as the pace definitely picked up, but with only one issue left it seems hard to believe this will all be wrapped up.Yu’s artwork is solid through most of the issue, but at points it is a little disjointed and hard to follow.
Not a horrible issue but just over average, garnering a 3 out of 5 Marvel Zombies.
