A Few Thoughts on Comics from this week

A number of books I enjoyed this week but no big 'wow!' book or moment really.

Ultimatum: Spider-Man: Requiem #1 gives us what appears to be an older Ultimate Team-Up book that wasn't printed. The bulk of the issue is in flashback but the framework is set the day after the Ultimatum wave hit. Spidey is missing. The book works because it shows people in shock after a major tragedy and just doing what they need to do. There's a creepy honesty, a lack of false hope, to the characters. Still not sure if I want to leap onto the books when they revive as 'Ultimate Comics'. If I don't, this is turning out to be a fine coda to the series I was following.

The Mighty Avengers #26 completes the scuffle with between the team and the Fantastic Four. Whatever Hank Pym has up his sleeve is apparently enough to impress a lot of people. I'm looking forward to seeing what it is! They keep teasing us with it. Hank also gets points for noting that his 'sonic extractor' makes for a 'heck of a screwdriver'.

A year or two ago in 'Avengers: The Initiative' we saw that James Rhodes had become some sort of weird cyborg that can absorb random equipment into a functioning whole. It was a surprise revelation but what happened to him wasn't explained, at least until now in War Machine #7. What happened isn't pretty at all. It does go a long way to explaining why he's been acting the way he's been. It's a good issue.

Punisher #6 spends most of its story identifying the rules for what occurred at the end of the last issue. The upside is that this is interesting and the 'villains' clash well. The downside is that we don't see much of Frank.

Marvel Adventures - Avengers #37 features a 'clash' between the Avengers and the heroes of 1954 (they're referred to as the 'Invaders' but they'd probably be the 'All Winners Squad', which is referenced in the story title as 'Doll Winners Squad'). While there's a plot to resolve and things to do, the more interesting storyline revolves around Captain America's reaction to seeing his old friends. He has grown comfortable in the present but does miss the Invaders. If given the chance to go back, would he?

Transformers Spotlight: Cliffjumper tells a story that's not unfamiliar. The entertainment comes from Cliffjumper, 'small' as he is, being this frighteningly effective assassin. When the Decepticon reenforcements realize who they've been called in to help against and they freak out, it's a great moment.

Simpsons Comics #155 starts a three part 'event'. The story here parodies recent comic book events and how complicated comics have become. Change is coming to Radioactive Man comics but whatever that change is remains a secret for the moment. Funny stuff as usual.