Marc Diefenderfer Comic Reviews

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man is in a great place right now. The latest issue is a true showcase of Kelly's talents, and the writer gives us a lot to think about as the book rockets even closer to a major milestone in its publishing history. While it's harder than ever to say what's in store for Peter, Harry, and all the rest as this issue comes to a close, we can be sure of one thing: whatever it is, it's going to be one exciting ride.

The operative word in that last sentence, of course, is "almost." That's because, thanks to books like Secret Six and Thunderbolts, we already have several excellent comics filling the role that Lethal Legion aspires to. And not only that, but quite frankly, they're a lot better than Lethal Legion. While the series may be above average among the countless miniseries Marvel has launched to tie in with Dark Reign, the fact is that it just isn't up to par with the best series in its own genre – and in a world where comics cost as much as four dollars apiece, that's really all that matters.

Bryan's Score: 8.4

It's hard to tell exactly where Casey and Fox are going with Zodiac, but one thing is clear: it's unlike any of Marvel's other Dark Reign tie-ins, and you're not likely to see anything very much like it – at least, not in the world of mainstream comics – anytime soon. The series still has yet to establish itself as something truly great, but for the time being, it's at least worth a look.

It says a lot about the comic-reading world that the first issue of Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers has apparently sold so well, and that's definitely a good thing. It goes to show that "all-ages" doesn't necessarily mean "just for kids," and that the words "entertaining" and "gripping" don't always have to mean "dark" and "edgy." We get enough darkness from other comics (not to mention the real world) that there should be more than enough room in our lives for something fun every once in a while, especially when it's as well done as Pet Avengers.

All of this ignores the comic's biggest offense, though, which is that there's really no reason for it to exist at all. It picks up a story that began in Skaar's own title and that will be continued there in a few weeks – so why the need for a separate comic? And, on top of that, why pad it out with "director's cut" material if nothing significant even happens? The answer, of course, is that this one-shot will attract more customers than just another issue of Skaar: Son of Hulk, and that more pages means Marvel can charge more money for the final product. Trust me, even if you're someone who's been following Skaar's adventures from the beginning, it's just not worth it.

The issue is more than just a string of gags, though, and what makes it all work is the surprisingly human story of Fumes. He clearly has doubts about being a criminal, and it's tough not to hope he finds a way out of the psychopathic (although funny) team of bad guys he's joined up with. This, more than anything else, sets The Short Halloween apart from the typical attempt at creating a "funny" Spider-Man story. It would have been easy for Meyers and Hader to start their comic book careers with something as simple as Spider-Man tossing out one-liners while beating up a particularly stupid villain. It probably still would have been entertaining, too. But instead, they've come up with something better: an off-kilter story that has not just action and humor, but heart too.

Mark Millar's foray into the character's possible future aside, it's safe to say that there hasn't been a Wolverine story this good since Aaron's last outing with the character. While there haven't been many answers to the questions raised by the first issue so far, a solid glimpse into Logan's mind combined with a healthy dose of action is preferable any day, in my book – it's all a part of the ride, and I'm excited to see where Aaron takes us next.