Posted By on October 25, 2012 at 12:10 pm in Take It Or Leave It

Take It Or Leave It – October 24, 2012

Take It Or Leave It October 24, 2012
This weeks Take It Or Leave It sees some of the final issues of Marvel’s big titles prior to Marvel NOW, the return of an icon, and an issue one for a new DC hero.

Chris
This was a pretty awesome week, I didn’t read anything bad! Not to say there weren’t some less than stellar books out there just not in my pile. Marvel is wrapping up a lot of their books this week in preparation for Marvel NOW next month. You’ve got people that have been doing some of these books for years, and now it’s time for them to say their goodbyes and move over to the next project. Every ‘Final Issue’ I read this week was superb and showcased what made the runs these guys did so much fun. I don’t talk about all of them below, but you’ll get the idea of it.
Talon number 1 Talon 1
Like pretty much every other person who read it, I loved the Night Of Owls event in the Batman comics. The Court of Owls and their Talon assassins are just an ingenious addition to the ranks of Batman’s rogues gallery. They’ve got such a huge history to be expanded upon and an even more gripping future. So enter James Tynion IV, who was the responsible for the really interesting backup tales in during Night of Owls in Batman. Tynion is now writing a book all about a former Talon and his desire to be free from the hunting Court. Last months’ issue 0 was decent, but I felt it left something to be desired. It was a good way to introduce us to this character and learn why he was chosen by The Court, but now with issue 1 we’re seeing where this story is going. From here on out this is the story of Calvin Rose, chosen to be a Talon, but deciding that humanity was more important for him. This issue gives us fun little fight with one of The Courts Talon’s and we get our first supporting character. A true enemy of The Court of Owls, someone who like Batman wants to see them become just a piece of history. Plus I can’t wait to see the first confrontation between Batman and Calvin that should be pretty awesome.

Verdict: Take It
The Amazing Spider-Man 696 Amazing Spider-Man 696
I thought last issue was pretty good, Pete having his Spider-Sense going nuts, seeing some of the old supporting characters at the Bugle, it was just a good setup for a new story arc. Issue 696, while good, wasn’t really anything special. It was fun seeing Max get to do something and show his smarts, and it was a little exciting seeing Kingsley slip on the goblin mask again. But nothing really went down, it was all just Pete tied to a chair trying to come up with a way out followed by a Hobgoblin vs. Hobgoblin battle. I believe issue 697 is the end of this story, as after that it’s time for the final story of The Amazing Spider-Man. So hopefully we see an awesome closing chapter, since this story does have a lot of potential.

The funny thing is you’ll probably expect me to give this one a Leave It, but in fact it’s worth picking up if you’ve read the previous issues, and especially if you’re reading the future ones. This is exactly what you could expect from the middle of any story, I’ve just grown to expect a little more from our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

Verdict: Take It
The Avengers 32 Avengers 32
Oh man, there are going to be some really happy people, and some really angry people after reading Avengers 32. Brian Bendis is pulling out some big guns for his final Avengers issues. If you read last issue, you know that we followed a unknown person through an alien world and at the end she got a hold of an Avengers id card and sent out a distress signal with it. So this issue we finally find out who the mystery person is, and I can bet a lot of people will have already guessed it. Actually during Baltimore Comic-Con a question during the Marvel NOW! panel was about this character making a return to comics and was given a positive response. So good to know they were just blowing smoke up our asses during that Q&A.

Anyway, it’s not a super exciting issue as far as action goes, but in traditional Bendis style the dialogue is great, he’s been writing these characters so long that nothing he puts down ever really seems out of character for them. Obviously though the big draw for the issue is the reveal, and though it wasn’t a huge surprise for the reader or the Avengers it was still a really great upbeat moment met almost immediately after with destruction and turmoil, because that’s how you do it!

Verdict: Take It
Captain America 19 (Final Issue)
Ed Brubaker has done an amazing job on Captain America, I’ve mentioned before that I started reading Cap back during The Trail of Captain America story arc and have been following it ever since. I’m not going to lie to you and say it’s my favorite book, or the best book on the rack. But it has been probably the most consistently good book I’ve read in a long time. Even if I wasn’t totally into the story being told in a particular issue the writing and art were at such a level that I wanted to see how it played out regardless. Now as far as this issue goes, not a whole lot happens, last issue was the conclusion to the big fighting and action this issue was just a good bye. Steve goes to visit one of the men who took up the mantel of Captain America while he was frozen. This former cap was laid up in the hospital, had been for a while. I don’t want to say who it was, but the story Steve tells, looking back on his past and what keeps him going as Captain America was great and I loved the reference to Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Honestly whether you read any of the recent Captain America book or not, this is one worth getting, you don’t need any back story for it it’s just a good book.

Verdict: Take It
The Invincible Iron Man 527 Invincible Iron Man 527
Matt Fraction is one hell of a writer, and his run on Invicible Iron Man has been an interesting one. It was a slow read I’ll give you that, ever issue building upon a bigger plot and usually ending on a down note for Tony. And Salvador Larroca was there the whole time giving 120% on every issue. Like most of these ‘Final Issues’ the real story wrapped up last issue, this is the farewell. And that’s exactly what this is, a farewell for the characters and the creators. Considering the book will be picking back up next month with a new creative team, this is probably one of the better ways to end it. We won’t go in having these crazy expectation of what may or may not happen, and just enough is left unfinished that maybe we’ll see resolved later on down the line but if not, no big deal..

Verdict: Take It
The Punisher War Zone 1 Punisher War Zone 1
I’m really not a Punisher fan, it’s not that I dislike the character or anything I just never got it his books. I’ve heard amazing things about the recent Greg Ruka run though and I’ll probably check that out sometime in trade, but for now I’ve decided to see just what’s going on with Punisher War Zone. For an opening issue it was pretty good, Ruka did a great job of sorta filling the reader in on what I’m assuming happened in the final issues of Punisher. That said, I’m not sure if this is the best book to read without going back and seeing what all the build up was. I have no connection or sympathy for Frank, and this is obviously something the reader should have. He’s in a bad place hunted by the authorities for something he may not have done. It’s right out of an action movie. . . Only you know, the Avengers are looking for him too. Still I had fun reading it, and I’ll probably pick up issue 2 and see if it keeps going well.

Verdict: Take It
Grimm Fairy Tales Myths and Legends 21 Grimm Fairy Tales Myths & Legends 21
The first issue of Grimm Fairy Tales Myths & Legends I read was issue 20, so I figured I should follow it up with 21. This is the final part of the Hansel and Grettel story and it was actually a lot of fun. Last issue everyone pretty much died, this issue we get some magic, a witch, a devil, an angry mob, and death by fire. Seriously what else could you want from a story? Obviously being the final issue of the story arc means it’s probably not a good jumping on point but if you read the rest of them it’s a fun read and leave a bit of a cliffhanger at the end.

Verdict: Take It


talks a bunch on PodQuest each week. He's also been known to write about stuff from time to time.

You can Email Chris or follow Chris on Twitter @Just_Cobb or Facebook

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