Comic Review 245 // Marvel Universe: Wolverine

Had to break up the Batman comics for a bit with this Wolverine - kid-friendly collection. We found it at the library and were instantly interested. I had a quick flick through to ensure it wasn't too violent and chose to go ahead with it for this week's reading.

Title: Marvel Universe: Wolverine

Team: Fred Van Lente, Len Wein, Peter David

Blurb: Four classic all-ages Wolverine tales! Before he joined the X-Men, Wolverine was a secret agent, skilled in espionage and highly trained in combat. But when he's ordered to deal with a town being slowly covered by metal, Wolverine must use his greatest weapon to survive: his brain! Then, thrill to Wolverine's first appearance ever, as he battles the Incredible Hulk...but who or what is the Wendigo? Plus: Kitty Pryde's got a crush, and she's depending on Wolvie to help her get the hook-up. But what happens when that crush is Thor, God of Thunder? Finally: all Spider-Man has to do is follow Wolverine for one day and report what he does. What could go wrong? We're glad you asked... COLLECTING: Free Comic Book Day 2009 (Wolverine : Origin of an X-Man ), Incredible Hulk 181, Wolverine: First Class 15, Spider -Man (2010) 3

Format: 94 pages, library hardback.

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Review

Let's start with the good stuff. It is a fun, kid-friendly graphic novel. It stays focused on Wolverine throughout, which is good, as other titles have very much drifted in the past into other characters, and overall is super easy to read. The range of stories is well thought out, and the spread of themes and titles is enough to excite a younger audience and possibly hook them into reading more.

Of course, the best strip in the book is the Wendigo vs Hulk vs Wolverine. With a line-up like that, how could I pick anything else? Overall for a young reader, this is a solid B+.

As a slightly older reader, the stories are too simplified or dumbed down. Wolverine has lost his edginess in my opinion, and the drawings in some of the stories are just too basic. Very enjoyable to read to the kids but lacked the punch I want from a Wolverine book.

Got kids, grab it, read it with them and have fun. Looking for Wolverine action go elsewhere.

Cheers for reading!

Comic Review 230 // Thor and the Warriors Four

I struggle with Thor in the same way, that I struggle with Superman. They lack threat. They are demi-gods and can withstand most things a villain can throw at them unless it is a God-level villain. This is why I am drawn in more by Iron Man, Spiderman or Batman. They are ultimately human and can be easily put down by the bad guy if they are not careful. But the kids enjoy Avengers, and Thor is a part of that, so we had to grab at least one book with him.

Title: Thor and the Warriors Four (collects Thor and the Warriors Four #1-4)

Author: Alex Zalben

Art: Gurihiru, Colleen Coover

Blurb: It's Power Pack's biggest adventure ever as they desperately search for the only other person who can save the life of their grandmother--THE MIGHTY THOR! But first, they're going to need to get to Asgard, and that means joining forces with Frog Thor...And THE PET AVENGERS! This is a journey into mystery that will leave Power Pack changed--forever! COLLECTING: Thor and the Warriors Four #1-4

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Format: 104 pages, Paperback Library.

Review

Okay, this was a cute, fun read. Very easy to follow along and read, especially for younger kids. You also find yourself grinning away as you read it. So a bit of a win for me. 

But ultimately, it is like many books in this style. We have a quest to save the day/someone. As they travel, they meet friends and overcome obstacles. Gaining life lessons and learning new skills along the way. This can get a bit repetitive but I get it. Talking repetitively the kid called Alex, really started to annoy me with the whole - "This can be explained by Science", you live in a world of Superheroes! Why can't magic exist? The humour is easygoing and childish which is funny at times and the pet avengers were a highlight.

Got kids? Read this to them, enjoy it for the evening and move along. Love silly Thor stories add it to the collection, it is a worthwhile read.

Comic Review 216 // Super Hero Adventures: Captain Marvel by Sholly Finch

I'm continuing my trend of library comic book reads that my children have picked.

Title: Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Captain Marvel

Author: Sholly Finch

Blurb: Carol Danvers is one of the most powerful super heroes on Earth. She's led Alpha Flight and the Avengers, and prevented more alien invasions than you can count. But she's about to hit big trouble - and even the mightiest heroes need help sometimes! These action-packed, exciting stories explore Captain Marvel teaming up with fan-favorite characters like Spider-Man and more!

COLLECTING: MARVEL SUPER HERO ADVENTURES: CAPTAIN MARVEL 1-4

 

Format: 112 pages, Paperback BUY via Amazon or support your local Library!

Review

So Captain Marvel is a character I know very little about so I was hoping to learn something with this title. Unfortunately it is instead a bunch of random short stories with the Marvel characters all drawn in the same cartoony style as the cover.

Ultimately the stories are short, fun and cute. Perfect for little ones or young readers. There is nothing new here, but it does avoid all the series themes of the graphic novels aimed at an older reader. Mainly filled with light hearted action I would say this is more comical/humorous than action packed.

But it does have some faults. Firstly Captain Marvel is missing from a lot of the stories, what gives? It's named after her. Shame to have her as the title character and not actually 100% focus on her. Maybe there isn't enough stories for her? Then the stories are painfully predictable, my five year old could see the plot ending coming, it needed some surprise ending for sure. We follow up this with the jokes, there is a lot of inside references that new fans wouldn't get or kids in general might not understand. Also some of the jokes seemed very dated like the newspaper style comics, I personally haven't bought a newspaper is so long, my kids didn't get the reference at all. And finally the lack of imagination when it came to the stories. Being predictable is one thing but I am starting to feel like I have read the same stories multiple times not, just with the characters or villains swapped out for a different one. This maybe just me as I've read a lot of comics of late.

Final thoughts for this title. Its a solid okay. Fun, but not special. A little misleading with the title, felt a little bit like a filler comic. But at the end of the day it is meant to entertain the kids, and I can confirm it did just that.

Cheers for reading.

Comic Review 215 // Avengers: The Avengers Initiative

Continuing my new series, it seems, of reading and reviewing my kid's comics. I've been struggling lately will multiple colds/flu/who knows what. It's been rough, and I have struggled to read for myself for about a month. Luckily the kids don't care (ha), and I am still reading some stories. Here is this week's offering.

Title: Marvel's The Avengers: The Avengers Initiative

Author: Fred Van Lente

Art: Ron Lim

Blurb: The perfect introduction to Marvel's The Avengers movie! All your favorite characters from the film packed into one digest! Meet the incredible cast of the Avengers Initiative: Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye! The perfect introduction to Marvel's The Avengers movie! All your favorite characters from the film packed into one digest! Meet the incredible cast of the Avengers Initiative: Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye! Collecting MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS: THE AVENGERS INITIATIVE, CAPTAIN AMERICA & THOR!: AVENGERS.

Format: 88 pages, Paperback (Buy via Kindle on Amazon)

Review

This was a hard one. The stories within the pages of this book are all set with the MCU but were seemingly written before most of the movies, as it is no longer canon. Luckily the kids have not seen the movies and most likely wouldn't care anyways, so for the curious collectors out there, maybe treat yourself or go buy something else.

The collection definitely has its faults. Somehow, we go from good artwork to pretty crap, which is so weird to see collected in this manner? Why Marvel you have so much money do your comics some justice. The book is three stories long, consisting of the title piece, which is a way to a quick intro to the characters (which we already know) and comes across as pure filler. Then a Captain America tale, followed by a Thor tale. Both of these were fine, but ultimately this is so middle of the road that it is dull. But this is also me as an adult reviewing it.

On the other hand, my sprogs enjoyed the adventures and pointing out the superheroes, so for their enjoyment, I would give it a 3 out of 5. As an adult, this is a 2 out of 5. I have warned you!