The Vengeance/War Machine serial concludes here, after only three parts? That doesn't seem like enough; and I had thought the artist had changed as well, since Vengeance's imitators the Revengers now look more formidable and Vengeance less so. With his armor not in tip-top shape, Rhodey worries he may accidentally kill someone if he fights it out hand-to-hand; but some supporting cast members I don't recognize were working on a countermeasure to shut down the drugs the Revengers used to gain super-strength. Vengeance himself talks them down, seemingly fed up with killing and well, vengeance. While War Machine doesn't think stopping the Revengers lets Vengeance off the hook for his crimes, Vengeance agrees, but isn't going to be stopped, either, as he decides to put things right. Meanwhile, a TV preacher and an obvious CIA spook-type lament the loss of Vengeance as a public relations weapon against superhumans, and plot to correct that...("Fallen Idols" Written by Chris Cooper, breakdowns by Reggie Jones, finishes by Fred Harper.)
Next...hey, what's that scraping noise? The bottom of the barrel? Ah, I don't know that anybody was clamoring for an It, the Living Colossus story; but it's hardly the worst story I've ever seen in MCP. Special effects guy Bob O'Bryan had built a new version of It himself; but found that a former assistant was stealing his work with his own robot. A giant robot throwdown ensues, although the main blow landed is that O'Bryan's early work was pretty derivative itself, and that's just Hollywood: everybody steals, and only the box office will judge them. I don't know if that's the best lesson for a strip obviously intended to keep that copyright, but okay. ("Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots" Written by Barry Dutter, art by Jose Fonteriz.)
The flipside of the issue is crossover territory, with what is ostensibly a Force Works serial but is really the first of a Mandarin two-parter, setting up the Hands of the Mandarin crossover. I had to go check my bookshelf, since I knew I had the trade (cheap, from my dearly departed Hastings) and didn't remember this. The Mandarin doesn't even get on the cover of the trade, either; but why should he? Here, an inner voice that may not be his own tries to guide him to a new destiny, but man, hasn't Iron Man crushed you, and a lot? ("In the Hands of the Mandarin, part 1 of 2" Written by Len Kaminiski and Scott Benson, pencils by Patrick Rolo, inks by Reggie Jones.)
The second chapter is more Force Works, a Century chapter: while fighting mysterious monsters in Hong Kong, the enigmatic alien regains a piece of his missing memory--then splits, seemingly leaving Spider-Woman to die! That was actually in that trade as well; I may have to re-read the whole thing, then. (Written by Dan Abnett, art by Lawrence Brown.)
Jesus Century, way to show that good ol' team spirit. No wonder Force Works quit...working.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Mandy did "conquer" demons only to get jobbed out for 40 millionth time.
He should be treated as reverently and capable as (what I would consider his DC counterpart) Ra's Al Guhl and he's clearly not.
And are we not going to talk about that one time he grew/re-grew his 10 power rings out his back like a prized pumpkin?