Editorial: What Comics I Read This Week

This is a quick, to the point section on what I picked up in comics in the last couple days and what I think of them.  I might of picked some of them up last week.  

Angel and Faith #19
Writer: Christos Gage Artist: Rebekah Isaacs	Spike joins the team this issue to deliver some humor and other than that is quite frankly a let down, especially after the build up.  We get another snippet of old Ripper in his glory days and everyone has a shown down with Eyghon.  Probably the weakest issue in the series so far, but more weak in that its a transition issue.  No idea what the next issue is going to bring but we’re getting really close to the culmination of the plot point that’s been driving the entire series.  The big questions remain, can they and will they do what they set out to do?
Avengers Arena #5
Writer: Dennis Hopeless Artist: Kev Walker	Avengers Arena is still a tough nut to crack!  I have no idea where this is going or why.  I still suspect at the end of the series they might go, fooled ya everyone’s still alive!  This issue we follow a giant pick named Kid Briton who is some kind of parallel universe Captain Briton.  If you didn’t know from the off set on what a giant prick he is, they give us plenty of flashbacks of him beating up the fat kid and then trying to bone the blue Atlantean (who also seems to live in the prick department) in front of said beat up kid.  Arcade advances the stakes in an incredibly predictable manor to anyone whose seen Battle Royale or The Hunger Games.  And we find out some unfortunate news about my favorite little girl, Death Locket.
Guardians of the Galaxy #0.1
Writer: Brian Bendis Artist: Steve McNiven	Truth be told, I don’t know who was right and in a way I don’t care.  Star Lord is a freakin’ brunette!  What the hell is with this blonde crap?  This issue is Bendis revisiting the origin of Star Lord which I have never read so I cannot attest to its accuracy.  It is very entertaining and the art is good.  It seems to be a longer comic than normal as well.  This is also a great jumping on point for cosmic Marvel.  I also cannot tell you what a relief it is to see most of the old team on the last page.  Now lets just hope they work Bug, Adam Warlock, Cosmo, and Mantis back on the rooster and kick out Iron Man!   According to Bendis though the whole point of the new Guardians is to protect Earth which…  well we’ll just have to see how the aliens on the team feel about that.
Nova #1
Writer: Jeph Loeb Artist: Ed McGuinness	This series has an uphill battle, with me in particular.  Jeph Loeb single handedly ruined the Ultimate Marvel Universe.  He craps on what I love.  And now he’s helming a book starring not Richard Rider Nova with a section of the Nova Corps that makes fun of the “gold helmets”.  I can’t pretend to understand why Marvel doesn’t seem to be bringing Richard Rider back when everyone else who died with Richard Rider is miraculously back.  I also can’t pretend to understand why Marvel has continuously spit in the face of fans by not even making the characters who knew Richard Rider give a crap that he’s gone.  Now we’re supposed to jump in the boat with Sam Alexander, a character Marvel obviously cares about but no one else does?  Well I’ve read issue #1.  Its okay.  Its not great, its not bad, and its not what I want but its here.  It exists and I will read it for at least 6 issues.
Ultimate Comics X-Men #23
Writer: Brian Wood Artist: Carlo Baberi	So Storm and Colossus are out on the country side camping out because what?  Wait a second let me recap.  Storm is promoting piece a few issues ago in a concentration camp.  Colossus goes against her ideals and kills the leader of the camp.  Colossus in the Ultimate verse is incredibly gay.  He dates Northwind for a rather long time.  Colossus and Storm are at odds ideal wise for almost the entire series.  Now the two are camping out in the woods together with Storm making googly eyes at him?  Did Wood even read the measly 100 or so issues it would take him to catch up on these characters?  God I hate this series.
Uncanny X-Men #2
Writer: Brian Bendis Artist: Chris Bachalo	A lot of interesting character development with Emma Frost in this one.  The kids that have been recruited to be the first class in the new Xavier school all seem to be likeable and interesting characters on their own which is basically unheard of for a normal continuum comic (new characters that is).  Magik continues to be creepy and Magneto continues the role of traitor.  Next issue the Avengers show up to inevitable beat up Cyclops and his new group of youngsters.  I am fascinated enough to keep going.