BillyBat's Profile

An event With characters I haven't spent enough time with to be invested in. I'm still trying to understand what they were going for with this Ultimate universe, and why it became irrelevant so quickly.

I never thought I'd say this, but Superman Prime might be one of DC's biggest successes among their new heroes. Everything will depend on how they handle him going forward, but if managed well, they've got a hit on their hands on par with Deadpool.

When the second issue is better that the first, I'm very hopeful for the future.
The art is so amazing, can't wait for more!!

While the Earth parts are interesting, well-paced, and engaging, everything happening on Asgard is mind-numbingly boring.

I'm sorry to say that Hickman, one of my favorite authors, managed to squander an incredibly strong concept with brilliant characters and a compelling premise. I don't know if there was editorial meddling or if Hickman simply lost interest in his original vision.

Either way, it remains a massive disapointment. To be clear, it's not bad, it's actually quite decent, but on every page you can feel the wasted potential. What a mistake to end it this way.more

The only reason I'm not giving this issue the highest rating: I think crossovers are a bad idea for this type of series.

Crossovers are what's killing American comics. Part of Absolute Batman's success, like Invincible or manga series, is that you don't need to read twelve parallel series to understand the plot: the main series stands on its own. It's a slippery slope, as the Ultimate universe showed in the past, potentially leading to the same problems that made the main continuity too complicated for young and new readers.

Otherwise, on the merits: excellent issue that deepens this Bruce Wayne's psyche, with a perfectly written Absolute Wonder Woman (for those who read Absolute Wonder Woman).more

Honestly, what has been going on at Marvel these past few years? On the art side, we are here bordering on an almost amateur level, and Straczynski, who has proven time and again that he can be an excellent writer, is delivering the bare minimum, and that's me being generous.

I didn't even make it through the title. Sometimes you really wonder who these comics are supposed to be written for.

Best issue of Superman I've read in a long time.

I used to be one of the biggest Amazing haters back in the Zeb Wells era, but honestly I don't get the criticism this time. This arc's really good.

Wow, I can't find a single Reddit thread or review about it: that really shows how everyone feels a bit uncomfortable with this comic. Yet another legacy character born from an author's ego (and probably Marvel's push for synergy) that we'll never see again. She's going to join the new Sentry, Quasar, Ghost Rider, and the rest. (Honestly, Silver Surfer should have been a DC character. Marvel just doesn't know how to write that kind of allegorical, larger-than-life figure. Not their DNA.)more

This comic feels like everything one shouldn't be when making a story with set ending in mind.

And that is: it tells, it doesn't show.

I can always praise art here. I do love it. But the timeskip we got, was way too major. What is left is us being told multiple things without us actually seeing them. We are given implication that they happened and that's it.

Otto is now Spider-Man. One can think how, when, why and who taught him, how did Peter and Harry react to it but those kinds of questions are just ignored. We are told that and should just accept it. I also don't know how he got so close to the Parker family, but focusing on that would require some kind of writing for characters which is a big no in this book. Better to just tell us it happened.

Otto also suddenly has keen interest in the Maker, someone who hasn't been mentioned at all or very little during this run. Which is odd because the whole thing is Hickman's idea.

The cast seemingly survived Negative's attack (as expected) and moved to Savage Land. So of course, we can add that cliffhanger to the list of "never actually established the aftermath". They also now have alliance with the Mole Man. One could think how that happened, when and what was needed. But again, all ignored.

Oh yeah and of course Richard going full Venom last issue while Peter sees it is ignored. Why would we want to see how he reacts his former suit with an AI based on him going berserk.

Gwen is dead. One could think we would see how the main character, Harry Osborn, reacts to it and how he handles it. But we are told he didn't take it well and last pages try to give something. But again, we are mostly told that it was bad for Harry, nothing else. No funeral, no seeing the first reaction, no Peter and MJ learning about it, nothing.

This issue could and should be a masterpiece. If this was issue 40 and all these things were established and shown that I criticize, I would love it. But instead, we are left with an issue that is pretty, but just tells us bunch of stuff happened.

And that's what his book is about. It just tells "more interesting stuff happened off-screen, don't worry about it". It's like reading a recap issue every month instead of actual issues of the comic.

But hey, MJ and Pete banged in this comic, so I guess it's an automatic 10/10.more