Post by adamwarlock2099 on Sept 10, 2016 12:37:35 GMT -5
Okay Secret Defenders is some of what I read last night. The story concerning Thanos and some other villains and heroes in #9-14 was easily the highlight of the series, of the issues that I have.
#4 was a first time read. This was one of the less than stellar issues. Most of the rest of the series outside of the above mentioned, is weak in art more so than story. A lot of the art outside of 9-14, was done by Andre Coates, someone who I still don't know much of any outside of this. He's kind of like the Don Perlin of the latter "New" Defenders issues. The stories aren't all bad, but the art is either rushed or just not really well done.
#9-14 are issues I already had. 9-10, is by Ron Marz and Tom Grindberg. I wasn't much of a fan of Grindberg the first time I saw his art. Either in an issue of Silver Surfer or the Cosmic Powers mini series (in which I will read again and post here too). But I kind of warmed up to it in a way. This one is pretty awesome with Silver Surfer coming to Dr Strange for help in apprehending Nebula. Dr Strange sends Thunderstrike and War Machine to help. Silver Surfer is defeated by Nebula and it is left up to War Machine and Thunderstrike. Great story for the setup for which is to come in the next part of the story.
11 is still Marz and Grindberg, and features a story of Nova is after something called the Starband, which travels faster than he himself can catch it. It has to do with Quasar's girl Kayla who a group of space pirates called Starblasters were after. There are not specific issue comic references in this as there had been in the previous issues or the following ones, to give the reader anything backstory. So I don't know if this history was made specifically for this issue or if it actually happened in comics. (I might look through the Quasar issues I do have and see if I can figure it out.
At any rate Dr Strange sends Northstar at first to help Nova capture the Starband. But they run into a unnamed robot that neither of them has the power to defeat. Until Strange drops the Hulk into the battle and he easily defeats the robot. This was a pretty uneventful issue, outside of the end interlude leading into the final story arc in 12-14. And probably not the best of what Grindberg has done in the other ones. It really felt like a filler issue, and the interlude being the only thing to connect it to the previous issues and the following. Nova, Northstar and Hulk all leave the scene and nothing is said of catching the Starband or who or what the robot was.
Secret Defenders #12 cause prismatic foil covers were all the rage :-)
#12-14 has Thanos snatching Nebula's captain Geatar (well technically that was shown at the end of #11, just not that it was Thanos) as well as Rhino, Titanium Man, Nitro and Super Skrull from their respective planets and tasking them with a mission. By manipulating each of their weakness; threatening Geatar with killing him again, Rhino and Nitro with the riches that the mission will reap, Titanium Man with the knowledge available to help his people, and appealing so Super Skrull's sense of honor. A master manipulator indeed. The mission is to bring back a holy man of ancient origins that has the knowledge of the universe and bringing it back to Thanos. Anything else they find, is theirs for the taking. Except Thanos is a double crossing SOB and leaves the team in a lurch when he gets what he wants. These events lead into the Cosmic Powers, a mini series I have as well. What these guys retrieved for Thanos is what he uses to gain what he wants in Cosmic Powers.
There's a lot of pretty good action and seeing these villains work together to a common goal once they realized Thanos dumped them stranded on the planet they were on. Particularly the meeting of Nitro and Legacy, where Nitro just drips with feigned adoration of Legacy, no doubt a reference to him being responsible for Captain Marvel's death. (And I think Cosmic Powers is where Legacy finds this out.)
#18-20, to be honest I tried to read but by the last issue skimmed. It seemed like a good issue but like #4 Coates art just takes to much from wanting to read the story. Though most of the characters were fairly unfamiliar to me; Dr Druid, Cadaver and Shadowoman, there were guest stars I was familiar with like Iron Fist, Giant Man, Archangel and Iceman. From what I skimmed and read the villain was mostly Swarm, someone I know little about too. This was an example of what people probably say is wrong with the 90's.
In looking at Lone Star #15-17 I will probably snag if I find them at a decent price or in a $1 bin for no other reason than the Deadpool appearance in those issues, as Lone Star has already inflated the price.
Because of some of the references in #9-14, regarding some of Nebula's history I am reading some issues of Silver Surfer right now, and will share them when I get through with the ones I set aside. Then maybe Cosmic Powers since I forgot how closely it ties to these Secret Defenders issues.
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Two unrelated issues to the above....
R.E.B.E.L.S #0, which I really liked the concept. Story seemed pretty solid and the art was nice. It was written by Tom Peyer, with art and cover by Arnie Jorgensen, neither of who I am familiar with. But I liked the space team rebelling against the tyrant much like Dreadstar. I have never read any L.E.G.I.O.N which after Zero Hour, I guess is what this came from. I have not read Zero Hour either. I recognize some of the names from the various JLA cartoons, but only know Lobo by sight, from other comics.
Manhunter #0 which was the pinnacle of the 90's stereotype. From the art, to the story, to the violence. Besides that the story started out with not much indication as to why the characters were in the situation they were, to the ending being pretty anti-climatic and still not giving the reader much to go on. I guess this was to get people to buy further issues. But I don't think I am going to. Felt like a DC Spawn mixed with the gore of Preacher. No. Thanks.
I also read some of the 1996 6 issue series of Marvel Fanfare which had some good stories, but my fingers are tired. But I will get to them.
#4 was a first time read. This was one of the less than stellar issues. Most of the rest of the series outside of the above mentioned, is weak in art more so than story. A lot of the art outside of 9-14, was done by Andre Coates, someone who I still don't know much of any outside of this. He's kind of like the Don Perlin of the latter "New" Defenders issues. The stories aren't all bad, but the art is either rushed or just not really well done.
#9-14 are issues I already had. 9-10, is by Ron Marz and Tom Grindberg. I wasn't much of a fan of Grindberg the first time I saw his art. Either in an issue of Silver Surfer or the Cosmic Powers mini series (in which I will read again and post here too). But I kind of warmed up to it in a way. This one is pretty awesome with Silver Surfer coming to Dr Strange for help in apprehending Nebula. Dr Strange sends Thunderstrike and War Machine to help. Silver Surfer is defeated by Nebula and it is left up to War Machine and Thunderstrike. Great story for the setup for which is to come in the next part of the story.
11 is still Marz and Grindberg, and features a story of Nova is after something called the Starband, which travels faster than he himself can catch it. It has to do with Quasar's girl Kayla who a group of space pirates called Starblasters were after. There are not specific issue comic references in this as there had been in the previous issues or the following ones, to give the reader anything backstory. So I don't know if this history was made specifically for this issue or if it actually happened in comics. (I might look through the Quasar issues I do have and see if I can figure it out.
At any rate Dr Strange sends Northstar at first to help Nova capture the Starband. But they run into a unnamed robot that neither of them has the power to defeat. Until Strange drops the Hulk into the battle and he easily defeats the robot. This was a pretty uneventful issue, outside of the end interlude leading into the final story arc in 12-14. And probably not the best of what Grindberg has done in the other ones. It really felt like a filler issue, and the interlude being the only thing to connect it to the previous issues and the following. Nova, Northstar and Hulk all leave the scene and nothing is said of catching the Starband or who or what the robot was.
Secret Defenders #12 cause prismatic foil covers were all the rage :-)
#12-14 has Thanos snatching Nebula's captain Geatar (well technically that was shown at the end of #11, just not that it was Thanos) as well as Rhino, Titanium Man, Nitro and Super Skrull from their respective planets and tasking them with a mission. By manipulating each of their weakness; threatening Geatar with killing him again, Rhino and Nitro with the riches that the mission will reap, Titanium Man with the knowledge available to help his people, and appealing so Super Skrull's sense of honor. A master manipulator indeed. The mission is to bring back a holy man of ancient origins that has the knowledge of the universe and bringing it back to Thanos. Anything else they find, is theirs for the taking. Except Thanos is a double crossing SOB and leaves the team in a lurch when he gets what he wants. These events lead into the Cosmic Powers, a mini series I have as well. What these guys retrieved for Thanos is what he uses to gain what he wants in Cosmic Powers.
There's a lot of pretty good action and seeing these villains work together to a common goal once they realized Thanos dumped them stranded on the planet they were on. Particularly the meeting of Nitro and Legacy, where Nitro just drips with feigned adoration of Legacy, no doubt a reference to him being responsible for Captain Marvel's death. (And I think Cosmic Powers is where Legacy finds this out.)
#18-20, to be honest I tried to read but by the last issue skimmed. It seemed like a good issue but like #4 Coates art just takes to much from wanting to read the story. Though most of the characters were fairly unfamiliar to me; Dr Druid, Cadaver and Shadowoman, there were guest stars I was familiar with like Iron Fist, Giant Man, Archangel and Iceman. From what I skimmed and read the villain was mostly Swarm, someone I know little about too. This was an example of what people probably say is wrong with the 90's.
In looking at Lone Star #15-17 I will probably snag if I find them at a decent price or in a $1 bin for no other reason than the Deadpool appearance in those issues, as Lone Star has already inflated the price.
Because of some of the references in #9-14, regarding some of Nebula's history I am reading some issues of Silver Surfer right now, and will share them when I get through with the ones I set aside. Then maybe Cosmic Powers since I forgot how closely it ties to these Secret Defenders issues.
--------
Two unrelated issues to the above....
R.E.B.E.L.S #0, which I really liked the concept. Story seemed pretty solid and the art was nice. It was written by Tom Peyer, with art and cover by Arnie Jorgensen, neither of who I am familiar with. But I liked the space team rebelling against the tyrant much like Dreadstar. I have never read any L.E.G.I.O.N which after Zero Hour, I guess is what this came from. I have not read Zero Hour either. I recognize some of the names from the various JLA cartoons, but only know Lobo by sight, from other comics.
Manhunter #0 which was the pinnacle of the 90's stereotype. From the art, to the story, to the violence. Besides that the story started out with not much indication as to why the characters were in the situation they were, to the ending being pretty anti-climatic and still not giving the reader much to go on. I guess this was to get people to buy further issues. But I don't think I am going to. Felt like a DC Spawn mixed with the gore of Preacher. No. Thanks.
I also read some of the 1996 6 issue series of Marvel Fanfare which had some good stories, but my fingers are tired. But I will get to them.
