Daredevil # 103
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Michael Lark, Paul Azaceta & Stefano Guidano
Published by Marvel Comics
The first thing that should be mentioned is that all my choices looked like super-hero comic books, except for Hellblazer. (And I know how the regular comics team feels about Hellblazer, so I figured i'd let that one slide.) So, I picked based on cover art. It seems I like sweeping lines, sleekness and bold art; which is also how I like my wedding flowers, which are roses and calla lilies.
It looks like I picked up Daredevil at a good point--if i'm reading the recap correctly, a big story has been completed, and i'm coming board at the close of a new arc. Yay! What I like about Daredevil, the character, is that he has super-developed senses because of his blindness--it seems like an almost realistic way to make somebody a super-hero. I don't have a lot to say about the comic though. I found it enjoyable, and it seemed like a television episode that's setting the stage for more episodes to come. The one weird art thing I found was that Milla and Daredevil were wearing sunglasses at home. Don't blind people usually wear sunglasses to shield their eyes from others? Why would they wear them at home?
I enjoyed that his senses help him hear, and sense danger and all that, but what was really interesting was how Daredevil really understood Milla (his wife's) mind and it's fragile state. His love for her was written in a way that comes across as very realistic and believable. I can appreciate that he didn't want to get sidetracked by his usual (what I assume is his usual) "save-the-day" rituals so that he could focus on getting to Mr. Fear and help save Milla.
I realize that all I'm doing is just regurgitating what I read, but there's not a lot more to comment on. It was certainly enjoyable, but it wasn't some kind of amazing trip into comic land. It's not that it wasn't deep, it's just that not a lot happened in this issue. Decent writing, decent art, if I'm even the person to say such things.
I'd read this series again, but next time I think I'll pick something a little more to the left or to the right.
Does that "to the left or to the right" mean anything? I think I just made that up.
The Amazing Spider-Man # 545
Written by J. Michael Stracynski & Joe Quesada
Art by Joe Quesada & Danny Miki
Published by Marvel Comics
I've been told before about this issue of Amazing Spider-Man, the whole "your marraige or your aunt's life" thing. I was told that it's all the rage in comic reviews this week, even though the Spider-Man's that the Factual Opinion acknowledges seem to only be the Ultimate ones. (The difference is, as I understand, different stories and the Ultimate one is a younger Peter Parker. And I guess the Ultimate one is never Amazing? That seems unfair.) I'm looking forward to reading the Ultimate Spider-Man one of these days, because I hear it's pretty good...my history with the Amazing Spider-Man? The Electric Company, circa 1975.
This is my first "assigned" comic, meaning I didn't pick it. (Just call me "Scoop.") I was "assigned" it because the regular comics people here didn't even want to touch this issue with a ten foot pole, and they thought it would be interesting if fresh-eyed Nina (that's what they called me before I told them to call me "Scoop") gave this controversial bad boy a gander.
So here goes nothing.
And I mean nothing.
First off, I can't go on another minute without commenting about how the Devil gets a Red Gothic Font. Do all the characters in Amazing Spider-Man get their own fonts? I felt like I might go to Hell just for looking at it. Anyway, to the point: the big choice. For those of you who don't read this comic, here's a little recap--which, by the way, this comic doesn't even have. Aunt May took a bullet meant for Peter. She's near death. The Devil is pissed off at God and would like to fuck God over. Who knew? The Devil, mad? At God?
Genius.
So the Devil sees this Aunt May predicament as a perfect opportunity to really twist God's panties, cause she's a woman you know. (I don't really think God is a woman, but let's not start that discussion. Wait, just one thing: God has no gender. Grow up.) The Devil tells Peter that he can have Aunt May live, as if nothing happened, but in order to do so he has to give the Devil his marriage. What?
Yes, you read that right.
The Devil knows that what Peter and Mary Jane have is So Perfect, and So One Of A Kind, that taking it away from the world will really break God's tender heart. Ahh, decisions, decisions. What will they do? MJ presents the argument that probably everybody who read this did: Aunt May is like, ancient, and will probably die soon anyway, so...What's the diff? Well, I'll tell you what the difference is. Peter is so guilt stricken that May took the bullet for him that if she dies, it would tear him apart to know he had a chance to save her, and didn't. Without much more ado, MJ offers the Devil their marriage--and possibly her body, hell, i don't know what she whispered to old Red Font anyway.
Okay, that's your recap. What did I think? That's why you're here, anyway.
Well, I think this makes absolutely no sense. I understand that the guy feels guilty but, and I don't mean to be cold, "Shit Happens." Nobody gets to plan "how" or "why" anyone dies, and we certainly never get any Choose Your Own Adventure option to our lives anyway. So when the Devil comes a-knocking with some weird bargain, and he makes no bones about this being a straight up "fuck with God" maneuver--RUN AWAY. The fact that MJ presents the argument, the sane argument, and then gives it up, without a fight? THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. (I'm raising my voice right now. That's how strongly I think this DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.)
And now that the big decision has been made, what, dear reader, should one expect? Hell, I'll tell you...because I saw Made In Heaven, starring Timothy Hutton and Kelly McGillis. (You know, it's the one where Timothy Hutton dies and goes to Heaven, and he falls in love with Kelly, and then she goes back to Earth, and Timothy Hutton makes a bargain that he can go back to Earth to be with her, but they both won't have any memory of each other and they have to hook up by the time they both hit 30 or they'll never be together again, like ever, not even in Heaven.)
Oh you do remember? Good.
Here's what's coming. Issues of lingering looks, fleeting memories and, since this is comic books, I mean actual "Issues" because they're going to stretch this shit out. For a long ass time, probably. Eventually though, Love Will Conquer All. And I bet Spider-Man's Super-Spider-Love is stronger than the Devil. Oh yeah.
Oh but what about the art? I'm not digging this Warholesque Peter/MJ expose on every page. Over and over again, I GET IT. Seriously. I got it. They love each other.
That's why it's STUPID THAT THEY'RE GIVING UP THEIR MARRIAGE. Why does the devil want a marriage? You can't put that shit on a wall. You can't make a rug out of it. You can't re-gift it on Christmas.
Oh, one final thing. Will I read this again?
I might check in next June to see if I'm right. (Unless I have to go to the comic store myself. Which is like way down on my list of things to do next June.)
-Nina Miller, 2008 Hell, I can get back on schedule. I haven't seen Tucker in days. Maybe dead? He's definitely not sitting next to me right now though. That's for sure.
"The one weird art thing I found when Milla and Daredevil where wearing sunglasses at home. Don't blind people usually wear sunglasses to shield their eyes from others? Why would they wear them at home?"
Heh. That's a really smart observation. Thanks, Virgin Read!
Posted by: Sharif | 2008.01.03 at 21:31