Book of the Week

3-17-10

The penultimate issue of this book is another reason why I hate events. Like many of these things, The Siege book itself has been kind of, "OK. This is happening." I haven't been reading many of the spinoffs, but Dark Avengers has had some really cool stuff going on. It seems like this story really could have happened in Bendis' Avengers books and been a pretty strong story. On a similar note, I probably would have really enjoyed Blackest Night if it was just a four or five issue Green Lantern arc. Now, I understand that Marvel and DC are businesses and that profits do take precedence over storytelling, so I'll stop complaining. Anyway, you should read this book, even if you're not buying The Siege. I think it stands up pretty well on its own.

Book of the Week

2-17-10

I'm really happy that they're finally doing something cool with the Sentry in the Avengers books. For years, he's kind of been this Deus Ex Machina-type character:

"[Powerful villain] is attacking!"
"Get Bob!"
"He's crying in a corner somewhere!"

Flash to end of battle.

"Bob, pull yourself together. We need you."
"OK."

Sentry ends fight.

Since Norman Osborne's formed his Avengers in this title, he's been manipulating the mentally unbalanced Bob Reynolds (Sentry) to further his purpose. Now his chickens are coming home to roost as Reynolds learns that Osborne's intentions may not be as noble as he's made them out to be. Now, Osborne has to deal with a hostile (and still loony) Sentry.

Although I feel that The Siege has been a little drawn out (it seems like the story could have been told in an over-sized one-shot), the character-developing tie-in issues have been very good. I'm looking forward to seeing Osborne's team dismantled.