Nova #35, Guardians of the Galaxy #24, & Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #5 - Discuss! [Archive]

Expletive Deleted

03-17-2010, 03:15 PM

Since there's a triple dose of Abnett & Lanning cosmic books this week, I thought a triple thread might work.

So . . .

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NOVA #34 (art by Asrar, Hanna, and Hang) - Nova and pals take on a powered-up Sphinx in the Fault, trying to stop him from leaving the Fault and altering reality. Nova uses the full Nova Force to protect himself from Sphinx's attack, getting close enough to short-circuit Sphinx's power with a strategically placed stargate (I'm simplifying - there's a lot of technobabble to the full explanation). Everyone gets returned to their home time period . . . except for Namorita! Rich manages to save her, although she's currently comatose. If you've liked the Realm of Kings crossover thus far, I think this works well as an ending. If you haven't, I can't see this issue changing your mind. Still, I liked it.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #24 (art by Craig, LaPointe, and Fairbairn) - The "not dead!" team takes on the Universal Church of Truth, while the rest of the team deals with politics and the Galactic Council. Maelstrom messes with Phyla's head and convinces her to open the UCT's cocoon. If you know what the next event is, you can probably guess who's in it. Hint: He's purple and very, very angry to be alive. It's a fun issue, overall. I loved Crystal and Star Lord's tactic to get circumvent Blastaar's power play on the Galactic Council, and I like Abnett and Lanning's take on Maelstrom. Also, it's nice to see Vance Astro finally get a moment to shine. The Thanos thing could go either way, depending on what's revealed next issue, but I'm hopeful.

REALM OF KINGS: IMPERIAL GUARD #5 (art by Walker and Fairbairn) - Fight scene! The Imperial Guard and Starjammers, with an assist from Gladiator, Quasar, and the Raptors, take on the Cancerverse's quasi-Lovecraftian X-Men. Imperial Guardsmen live and die, and the whole thing's a lot of fun. I don't know if one exciting issue justifies the four largely inert issues that preceded it, but . . . judged on its own merits, I think it works.

Anyone else?

XPac

03-17-2010, 03:46 PM

Shyft

03-17-2010, 03:48 PM

Sod thanos bring back genis.

XPac

03-17-2010, 03:50 PM

Sod thanos bring back genis.

Technically Genis isn't dead if I recall correctly... he's just chopped up into a lot of pieces in the darkforce dimension. So in theory someone could bring him back, if they wanted to risk him blowing up the universe.

ColdFury

03-17-2010, 04:08 PM

Wait, so Quasar showed up in the Imperial Guard mini?? Is this his first appearance? I haven't been really paying attention to that one, but if Quasar is in it, I'll pick up his issues...

What is his status, anyway? His one shot left it REALLY ambiguous.

CMBMOOL

03-17-2010, 05:21 PM

Hold it Nova saves Namorita, wouldn't that just cause a massive rip in the Space time thing?

Especially with her mother revealed recently alive ? :eek:

Comet Man

03-17-2010, 05:29 PM

Expletive Deleted

03-17-2010, 05:30 PM

Hold it Nova saves Namorita, wouldn't that just cause a massive rip in the Space time thing?Darkhawk makes roughly that same observation. Rich doesn't care.

XPac

03-17-2010, 05:41 PM

Darkhawk makes roughly that same observation. Rich doesn't care.

Tsk tsk. I guess they don't give lectures about disrupting the space time continuum in Novas school.

I doubt it'll effect anything, but I'm almost curious to see how it would effect the time frame in a what if kind of way. No Namorita in Stamford possibly means no Civil War.

Expletive Deleted

03-17-2010, 05:49 PM

He's been in the last 2 or 3 issues.He's had cameos. He didn't really do much until this issue.

You're missing out on a good story.Eh . . . it's been okay. I think the first four issues could've been tightened up quite a bit, and I don't think they made the most of the Lovecraftiness set up in the Realm of Kings one-shot.

Expletive Deleted

03-17-2010, 05:52 PM

I doubt it'll effect anything, but I'm almost curious to see how it would effect the time frame in a what if kind of way. No Namorita in Stamford possibly means no Civil War.I'm guessing the general rule-breaking nature of the Fault will help out in that respect.

drwho

03-17-2010, 05:54 PM

ok

i love namorita and thought it was a waste to see her go for that abomination called civil war. But with namorita back does that mean namora is going to be forgotten again. Marvel tends to do this with characters that are similar. Kind of like with jean and phoenix. Cable and X-Man. I know she used to be rich's girl I think back in the new warriors. What is she going to bring to this book.

Also I paged through gotg and i cant stand the art at all. also Thanos returns and zaps phyla. Is she now dead? I kind of wish there was a longer break from thanos. I dont feel like enough has happened within the gotg because it always feels event driven. I mean Vance is still there and I love the guy, but i would rather see him go back to the original team which were last seen trapped in a wormhole. Im thinking the cast for this title is way too large. I was hoping for more like a sheriff out in cowboys day feeling for this book. where the team goes out mainly seeking danger to save the universe.

Series5Ranger

03-17-2010, 06:01 PM

The Namorita thing is kind of interesting.

I wonder if this will screw up the time stream, or if just creates an alternate reality so we don't have to worry about it.

Either way, I wonder if she'll stick around or return to earth. I suppose any good book needs a supporting cast, and a love interest never hurts... but on paper at least she seems out of place in a cosmic book.

Actually it's possible that Namorita's from an alternate Parallel timeline. By bringing her into 616 proper. Her past / future is altered in her Universe. It's actually the same tactic Vance Astro used to alter Justice's future so he'd never become an Astronaut or join the Guardians of the Galaxy in the 30th Century. Didn't change his own situation though. With Namorita back and Gamora not deceased, it will be interesting to see how the 3 of them interact when Rich brings Nita up to speed on current events in the MU.

The Cool Thatguy

03-17-2010, 07:13 PM

Hold it Nova saves Namorita, wouldn't that just cause a massive rip in the Space time thing?

Especially with her mother revealed recently alive ? :eek:

Why would it? We've been beaten over the head a million times with the rule that one cannot alter the past, but instead create an alternate timeline.

XPac

03-17-2010, 07:19 PM

Expletive Deleted

03-17-2010, 07:21 PM

We've been beaten over the head a million times with the rule that one cannot alter the past, but instead create an alternate timeline.Except when you can. You're right that branching timelines are the general rule for the MU, but there are always exceptions. A fairly recent FF story (McDuffie's last before Millar took over) established the possibility of making small alterations to the past without creating an alternate timeline.

That isn't to say I think this case is such an exception. I just wanted to nitpick.

The Cool Thatguy

03-17-2010, 07:36 PM

Except when you can. You're right that branching timelines are the general rule for the MU, but there are always exceptions. A fairly recent FF story (McDuffie's last before Millar took over) established the possibility of making small alterations to the past without creating an alternate timeline.

That isn't to say I think this case is such an exception. I just wanted to nitpick.

McDuffie's was about minor changes though. The only real major alternation that I recall was Age of Appoccy, and that was because of the M'Kaan Crystal and what happened inside.

Though yeah, The Fault may change things.

XPac

03-17-2010, 09:20 PM

McDuffie's was about minor changes though. The only real major alternation that I recall was Age of Appoccy, and that was because of the M'Kaan Crystal and what happened inside.

Though yeah, The Fault may change things.

There was also Young Avengers.

I think Gruenwald once upon a time tried to establish set rules for how time travel works... but ultimately writers will do whatever they want. Which is understandable.

I did sort of dislike how McDuffies book was trying to establish the rules, which obviously conflicted with previously established ones though.

Either way, I'm assuming this is one of those times where it won't matter.

Bigmike

03-17-2010, 10:23 PM

Also, Dr. Doom can change the past / future without creating another time line as per X-Factor's last arc.

Chiasm

03-17-2010, 10:48 PM

I bought all three but have only read Guardians and Nova so far.

Guardians - great story and by far the best art that Craig has done on a single issue so far. Still not great but it doesn't make me cringe like last issues did. I'm very meh about the Thanos reveal since I'm not really a Thanos groupie.

Nova - I'm glad the Sphinx story is over. I'm not at all thrilled that he's going back to Earth.

ColdFury

03-18-2010, 01:10 AM

Hrm, am I going to have to pick up all the Imperial guard series to follow Quasar's story?

gogs

03-18-2010, 01:55 AM

what happened to the phyla in the issue?

stingerman

03-18-2010, 01:58 AM

Hrm, am I going to have to pick up all the Imperial guard series to follow Quasar's story?

Just having Quasar in these, you should! :biggrin:

But, no - basically this is the way they get Quasar "home." They kinda wrote him off as being beat up and tired from escaping The Fault etc etc. There was some psychic mind control type of stuff going on this issue -which Quasar is protected from (they didn't show Qster though) which I thought was weak but...I wasn't a fan of Imperial Guard #5....

Be sure to pick up Nova #36 as Rich, Wendell and Chris head back to Earth to warn them of the coming invasion.

GoTg #24 was awesome. Marvel sucks for canceling..err..putting this on a 7 month "hiatus." Really, really going to miss this.

Nova was good, better than its been.

Same thing though, Marvel promotes Spidey and all the X-stuff like its gold (which it is for them), but I would argue since it is gold, you don't need to promote it as much.

And if you want to increase the bottom line - why not try to make more gold instead of making sure the pile you sit on stays the same.

Jason Abbadon

03-18-2010, 02:31 AM

Nova managed to spin a lackluster storyarc into something good with Namorita's rescue...maybe her return could get Robbie Baldwin out of crazyland.
The art went from pretty good to "pretty bad" from panel to panel.

GotG was great when they focused on Mantis' team fighting for their lives- kinda dull when it centered on Starlord's bunch.
Groot not talking is getting pretty old for me- his dialogue when the team first got together was great and now it's down to "I am GROOT" as a punchline.
I was a bit suprised that Thanos was in the cocoon- I guess Magus was keeping him bottled up there as a safety measure...or he brought him back to recruit him!

Imperial Guard has been a great suprise for me- the story was really nicely handled.
Two more Raptors get released- one a female!
The art...I think it's penciled very nicely but DAMN DOES THIS NEED AN INKER and not this awful treatment that looks like it's done with a magic marker- all the lines are the same thickness, giving it a cheap, unprofessional look.
It's not quite as glaraing as say, the Ronan miniseries, but it's bad.

jackolover

03-18-2010, 04:14 AM

One thing that does happen in this is that an incident occurs at the end of the issue, where the Magestor arrives late to a meeting he called with the Queen, on the Kree Homeworld, Medusa. Majestor explains that a cancer is escaping the Fault and all the worlds will have to fight it, then Medusa and Majestor shake hands, with Medusa saying that an alliance will HAVE to made now between the Kree and the Shi'Ar if they are to fight this thing off. Gladiator had an opportunity to rebel against the Inhumans, now that Black Bolt is gone, but he now chooses the Inhuman/Kree to devote himself too. Even though Gladiator had agreed to be Majistor for the Shi'Ar as a placement by the Kree, this new showing of support to the Kree, (with the handshake), cements Gladiator to their cause, as he imparts his own sign of conciliation to this new amalgamation. I see this as a stronger signal, than the Inhumans just handing power to Gladiator. Here, Gladiator uses that power, and volentarily places himself at their disposal.

This will also mean that Maximus now becomes a very important part of power structure. Because with Maximus, and all his toys, it is he that will be the driving force that will be the power to confront this new threat. And when Maximus has shown that he is this Master of Weapons that he is known for, his standing in the universe will be elevated even further than after the Inhuman-Kree War. Maximus looks to be approaching replacement of King of the Kree, his brother Black Bolt. Especially if Black Bolt is indispossed for a year or two.

I'd like to see the look on BB's face when he sees his wife married to his brother, and Maximus the real power of the royal family, now, not because of mind control, but because of Honor. It's one thing to displace Maximus the Mad. It would be another thing to displace Maximus the Great, the savior of the Universe.

CyberCoyote

03-18-2010, 04:19 AM

I'll have to get the the IGuard issues in trade, sounds like it was better than I expected.

I really liked Guardians, although the art yeah yeah.. I know.. was distracting. I was defending it last issue, but the splash pages suffered for the style.. he's not a plash page kinda guy and there were more than a couple in this book. Phyla Phyla.. she finally started looking good last issue then this happens. I'm seriously depressed over the 'Hiatus' thing, it's about as positive looking as your Spouse saying maybe your marriage should go on hiatus for a while. It's the wimpy way to try and say it's over with a smidgeon of a chance to return.

Nova: Some folks weren't digging this arc, but I was loving it. And c'mon, my man Mr Fantastic gets to prove his name isn't just a meaningless adjective by pulling off quantum calculations usually left to the worldmind? SWEET! I hope Namorita can be back for good, but even through the dialog that doesn't seem guaranteed. Her death was one of the stupidest plot forced things in recent comics history to me.

gogs

03-18-2010, 06:14 AM

Phyla killed again?:confused:

agrich

03-18-2010, 06:20 AM

I thought Guardians was pretty good. The first half of the book focusing on Gamora et al kicking ass was awesome, some of Craig's best work. I agree the pages of Star-Lord's team -- at least after the excellent splash of Star-Lord -- weren't as good. As noted in the other thread, the art looked different to me, particularly those two pages of Groot speaking and Moondragon recovering. I dunno.

As for the reveal, it was pretty cool albeit unsurprising...by the end we knew Thanos was going to show up. I did think it was a bit odd that The Magus wasn't even in the issue.

Not the best cover ever, but next month's makes up for it.

Yes hiatus probably means cancelled, but I'll say again that if Thanos Imperative sells like hotcakes, something involving these characters will follow it up. I'll buy my two copies and give one to the local library or something and hope.

Chiasm

03-18-2010, 06:23 AM

Re: Quasar

Isn't the Quasar in Imperial Guard evil? Wasn't it shown or implied that it was the nightmare universe version of him that came back in some other Realm of Kings book only no one knew it?

Lord S

03-18-2010, 06:35 AM

Interesting stuff. Didn't read it yet. Still have to read GOTG 21-23. Was planning on reading them all in one shot last night, but fell asleep early. I'll get to them tonight. I DID skip to the last page of 24 and was thoroughly pleased.

Same thing with Nova...gotta get through 32-34 before I touch 35.

I've really been behind...but now's a good time to get back into it with the Thanos Imperative right around the corner.

Not reading Imperial Guard at all.

Sean Walsh

03-18-2010, 06:37 AM

Regarding the Namorita thing.......who's to say that she didn't return to whence she was pulled from by the Sphinx?

Perhaps Nova, in his attempt to grab onto her and bring her back to his time, managed to force the creation of 2 Namoritas? One goes on to mutate and later die in Stamford, the other is in the present day alive & well.

Regarding Wes Craig (ALWAYS a popular subject 'round here :tongue:), it looked like he was inked in this issue by 2 people....and the 2nd person, who I think it the same fella who inked Kev Walker over in IMPERIAL GUARD (oddly enough), made Wes' art look a lot better than its usual good self.

agrich

03-18-2010, 06:48 AM

Regarding Wes Craig (ALWAYS a popular subject 'round here :tongue:), it looked like he was inked in this issue by 2 people....and the 2nd person, who I think it the same fella who inked Kev Walker over in IMPERIAL GUARD (oddly enough), made Wes' art look a lot better than its usual good self.

I'm relieved to discover I wasn't totally insane in thinking there was a noticeable different in some pages than others (even though I was wrong to think it wasn't all drawn by Craig).

nathanfairbairn

03-18-2010, 07:33 AM

Regarding Wes Craig (ALWAYS a popular subject 'round here :tongue:), it looked like he was inked in this issue by 2 people....and the 2nd person, who I think it the same fella who inked Kev Walker over in IMPERIAL GUARD (oddly enough), made Wes' art look a lot better than its usual good self.

Except for one or two pages that Wes inked himself to help out on the deadline, this issue was inked by Serge Lapointe, who also inked the previous 3 or 4 issues that Wes drew. Kev Walker always inks himself.

Comet Man

03-18-2010, 08:13 AM

He's had cameos. He didn't really do much until this issue..

True, but he was still in them. As big a Quasar fan as I am, I'm glad seeing him active again, cameo or big part.

Eh . . . it's been okay. I think the first four issues could've been tightened up quite a bit, and I don't think they made the most of the Lovecraftiness set up in the Realm of Kings one-shot.

Hey, I've loved this series from the very beginning. It's been tight enough for me, and it's been a great set up for the finale.

Expletive Deleted

03-18-2010, 08:15 AM

Re: Quasar

Isn't the Quasar in Imperial Guard evil? Wasn't it shown or implied that it was the nightmare universe version of him that came back in some other Realm of Kings book only no one knew it?

In the Realm of Kings one-shot, the evil Quasar showed up on Earth at Project Pegasus. That hasn't been followed up on, yet.

streator

03-18-2010, 08:25 AM

does nova 34 have a story title? i browsed through it this morning and couldn't find anything. i think the other parts were called "riddle of the sphinx" with issue chapters.

i hate when issues don't have individual titles or only story titles for some chapters and not others.

XPac

03-18-2010, 08:27 AM

In the Realm of Kings one-shot, the evil Quasar showed up on Earth at Project Pegasus. That hasn't been followed up on, yet.

Oh, so that was a second evil Quasar afterall?

I wasn't sure if it was a different Quasar, or the 616 version that just got possessed or something.

Expletive Deleted

03-18-2010, 08:31 AM

Oh, so that was a second evil Quasar afterall?That's how I read it, and the presence of "our" Quasar in the Fault helping out the Imperial Guard would seem to back up the idea.

That said . . . I dunno. The one-shot wasn't super-clear on the issue.

ImmortalIronFist

03-18-2010, 08:32 AM

Oh, so that was a second evil Quasar afterall?

I wasn't sure if it was a different Quasar, or the 616 version that just got possessed or something.

Yeah, the one that showed up at Project PEGASUS was the Quasar the Lovecraftian Avengers sent out. The 616 Quasar escaped and was being chased through the fault by the Cancer X-Men when he found the Imperial Guard and the Starjammers.

Sean Walsh

03-18-2010, 08:51 AM

Except for one or two pages that Wes inked himself to help out on the deadline, this issue was inked by Serge Lapointe, who also inked the previous 3 or 4 issues that Wes drew. Kev Walker always inks himself.

So Wes inking his own stuff looks a little better...........good to know. :smile:

....so this person who worked on both issues (last name...Fairborn, I think?), was he the colorist?

nathanfairbairn

03-18-2010, 09:36 AM

Yep, I colored both of those books.

XPac

03-18-2010, 09:47 AM

Yeah, the one that showed up at Project PEGASUS was the Quasar the Lovecraftian Avengers sent out. The 616 Quasar escaped and was being chased through the fault by the Cancer X-Men when he found the Imperial Guard and the Starjammers.

Kind of interesting that the Lovecraftian Quasar is just sort of chilling off to the side on earth. I wonder if that will be addressed in Reign of Kings, or if that's something they're saving for later.

FanboyStranger

03-18-2010, 12:45 PM

Another fantastic issue of GotG. One of the things I love about this title is that they keep coming up with novel ways to use Groot that are clever and funny at the same time. His big moment this issue was up there with his team-up with Maximus the Mad in issue 17.

TOAA

03-18-2010, 01:29 PM

Kind of interesting that the Lovecraftian Quasar is just sort of chilling off to the side on earth. I wonder if that will be addressed in Reign of Kings, or if that's something they're saving for later.

Project Pegasus has some data on the Fault. Maybe he`s influencing them to do some "experiments" so that lovecraftian nightmares could move into our universe at full strenght?

Mysterio's Helmet

03-18-2010, 02:30 PM

Kind of interesting that the Lovecraftian Quasar is just sort of chilling off to the side on earth. I wonder if that will be addressed in Reign of Kings, or if that's something they're saving for later.

I believe, if the solicits hold, that you're going to get that answer in the next issue of NOVA!

And I really hope the heroes let "it" have "it".

And I dont' know about you guys and gals but I thoroughly enjoyed all of my Cosmic Marvel books this week! And if you didn't like it, God doesn't like you and wants you to pound sand.

Seriously. Just had a chat with Him. Loved GotG, Nova, and I.G. #5. ;)

Comet Man

03-18-2010, 04:00 PM

Seriously. Just had a chat with Him. Loved GotG, Nova, and I.G. #5. ;)

He's called Warlock now. :wink:

And you're correct, Mysterio's Helmet. There are definitely 2 Quasars running around now - our hero helping out the Imperial Guard, and the bad guy who is going to cause some trouble according to the solicits.

Comet Man

03-18-2010, 04:20 PM

So Wes inking his own stuff looks a little better...........good to know. :smile:

It does look better when he inks himself - sometimes. I thought his best art was issues 11 and 12, when Phyla went to Oblivion and became Martyr. I thought he was inked by somebody else in those issues, until I re-checked yesterday. His art in the issues where the Guardians did some time travelling wasn't as good to me. Then in this last issue, those last few pages he inked himself were really good. So he can be kind of inconsistent, but I never think his art is bad.

Great issue, too. I sure hope Martyr isn't dead. Poor Mar-Vell family. Reminds me of the Kennedys. Full of tragedy and death.

XPac

03-18-2010, 04:27 PM

It does look better when he inks himself - sometimes. I thought his best art was issues 11 and 12, when Phyla went to Oblivion and became Martyr. I thought he was inked by somebody else in those issues, until I re-checked yesterday. His art in the issues where the Guardians did some time travelling wasn't as good to me. Then in this last issue, those last few pages he inked himself were really good. So he can be kind of inconsistent, but I never think his art is bad.

Great issue, too. I sure hope Martyr isn't dead. Poor Mar-Vell family. Reminds me of the Kennedys. Full of tragedy and death.

Not to sound mean, but I almost think they should just put the Vells out of their misery. They really just keep dying. It's getting tough to watch.

agrich

03-18-2010, 04:41 PM

I think if Phylla were meant to be dead there she'd have been shown all skeletal and stuff. Instead it just looks like she got blasted pretty good. Course I'm just speculating. Death appears to be short-lived (so to speak) in DnA storylines anyway.

Comet Man

03-18-2010, 04:42 PM

Not to sound mean, but I almost think they should just put the Vells out of their misery. They really just keep dying. It's getting tough to watch.

Sad but true, XPac, sad but true.

I hope you're right, agrich.

Brother Zag

03-18-2010, 06:22 PM

Good stuff in all three of the titles referenced!

Gotta think that those who want to see RR do his thing as NOVA had to be thrilled - this issue leaned a little heavy on the biff-bang-pow for me, but I did like the clever way that RR and Mr.Fantastic worked together to defeat the Sphinx. Brain and brawn... and beauty brought back to life... maybe? Nice.

I've always been a fan of Wes Craig's art. It's never a detraction from the Guardians of the Galaxy stories for me. Thought his battle scenes were great! Another nice balancing act of brains and brawn here, with half battling the church and half cleverly insinuating themselves into the Council. Interesting that this ends (almost) where the Imperial Guard mini does. Then of course, we have Thanos. As Magus revealed he'd been here all along once he'd altered the timeline back to make himself possible, I'm thinking he imprisoned the body of Thanos in the cocoon "Just in case" but that's pure speculation. I don't think Phyla was killed (again), but that's an "Oh, please, not again" hope.

I agree with others who thought the Imperial Guard mini took a while to get going, but it has been kind of interesting. I usually like Kevin Walker's work, but I think you can tell when he's rushing - and some of this issue looks like he was rushing. Hell, still better than i could draw! This mini's story got better with each issue, thought it ended pretty well, even if it all was a bit muddled.

Raker616

03-18-2010, 10:58 PM

Very weak ending to the arc in Nova aside from Namorita returning it was a very forgettable issue.

timelord

03-18-2010, 11:01 PM

FanboyStranger

03-18-2010, 11:04 PM

Very weak ending to the arc in Nova aside from Namorita returning it was a very forgettable issue.

I agree. Nova has been off its game for the last few months. Compared to what's been going on in GotG, it's been treading water. Still a good title, but after the Project Pegasus/Nova Corps/Ego storyline, kinda a letdown.

Master of Sound

03-19-2010, 08:18 AM

So, did I get it right that Plutonia and Mentor are now Raptors for life and the ones we saw at the end are replacements? Or do they stay themselves, but can be reactivated. It got me confused.

Imperial Guard mini taste like MORE!

GotG was bad art, it starts to bother me now. It ruins the story!

Nova was cool and I look forward to the next issue.

Sean Walsh

03-19-2010, 09:05 AM

So, did I get it right that Plutonia and Mentor are now Raptors for life and the ones we saw at the end are replacements? Or do they stay themselves, but can be reactivated. It got me confused.

Correct on your first try. Raptor said that the transformation would be permanent; you'll notice the Mentor on the last page is a lady. So those were their replacements at the end of the issue.

Master of Sound

03-19-2010, 09:12 AM

Correct on your first try. Raptor said that the transformation would be permanent; you'll notice the Mentor on the last page is a lady. So those were their replacements at the end of the issue.

Wow, that's cool.

Thanks for your rapid response dude.

doublewhiskeycokenoice

03-19-2010, 12:24 PM

there was some Raptor action in the Imperial Guard mini? Dang. I might have to go grab that this weekend.

At the risk of sounding like a New X-Men fan, scans anyone?

Somebody

03-19-2010, 12:54 PM

Got two right and an "I'd hope/but expect otherwise" coming true (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showpost.php?p=10488890&postcount=6). Happy with that (The solicit writer has a modicum of restraint? Who knew?)

The question is, of course, with only one issue remaining in the series* and only a limited amount of space in Thanos Imperative to pay off Nova-specific plots... how are DnA going to tie everything up? I can't for a minute imagine that they would have pulled a Namorita from the past (and isn't the conversation when she wakes up and needs to be brought up to speed going to be awkward...) if they'd known when they plotted it out that #36 was going to be the last issue.

I also really, really wish they'd picked up the pace earlier in the Realm of Kings arcs - every single one of the four books took at least two and sometimes three issues to get going. That must have helped kill them.

[There's also the minor glitch of Robbie suddenly being a Denarian, but hell, I don't think there's been a single issue since the Corps came back when everyone - Rich, Ko-Mind, Philo, etc - have all had their rank indicators correct, and I've just about given up caring].

*If a single one of these "hiatuses" for miniseries had proven to be temporary, I might believe it. If we get lucky, we'll get something like a new Quasar, Surfer or team book spinning out of TI - I don't see Nova or GotG coming back for another run.

Oddly, Amazon have the Nova v6 and GotG v4 TPBs *not* including the last issues. I suppose we'll see them with TI: Ignition in a "Road to Thanos Imperative"-type TPB.

ArachnidAvenger

03-19-2010, 01:20 PM

Does Imperial Guard #5 take place after Guardians #24? In Guardians, it's said that the meeting of the Galactic Council is first one after the reestablishment yet in IG Gladiator goes to the council to present the creature from the Fault. Assuming that Guardians #25 leads right into Thanos Imperative: Ignition, how is this possible? Is it the same meeting, just the IG part happening after the Guardians leave?

Brother Zag

03-19-2010, 02:03 PM

I'm thinking Guard comes after Guardians, as in GOTG 24 there is, as yet, no big dead lump of Lovecraftian horror sitting in the middle of things...

Somebody

03-19-2010, 02:27 PM

I think GotG 24 (which is untitled as far as I can see) should be called "A Study In Why They're Called Spoilers".

The artwork's getting better - I've preferred Craig to Walker since #11-12, and he's really getting good in his own right now rather than just better than the rather staid alternative - the book's well paced, but the whole thing is just killed by the fact that Marvel have spent months screaming from the rooftops that "Thanos is coming back". When the book is structured around a shock ending, and that shock is negated by prior knowledge... well... it's like being given a sherbert lolly only to find that the manufacturer dunked it in water. There's just no fizz.

Brother Zag

03-19-2010, 02:33 PM

the whole thing is just killed by the fact that Marvel have spent months screaming from the rooftops that "Thanos is coming back". When the book is structured around a shock ending, and that shock is negated by prior knowledge... well...

Bothered by the anti-climactic climax, huh?

I don't know... kinda hard to keep Thanos under your hat when you're soliciting a book called The Thanos Imperative.

'Course, they could have listed it as The Imperative (Name Not Final) or something...

I think they just wanted to appease cosmic fans who otherwise would have freaked out when the cosmic titles went on "hiatus" - throw us the Thanos "bone" so we don't bark as much about NOVA and GotG...

Mysticc

03-19-2010, 02:39 PM

Very weak ending to the arc in Nova aside from Namorita returning it was a very forgettable issue.

You must not be a Nova fan. Rich and Reed Richards thinking out a strategy then implementing it? Nova, being the only being there powerful enough to take care of the situation, holding off the power of a god? Dude, if that didn't pump you up a little, I don't know what will.

The one thing this issue delivered on was something we bucket head fans have wanted to see for years now; Nova getting the chance to show how powerful he can really be.

The review that Nova #35 was given was truly unfair. It comes down to, 'I really don't understand what happens, so I'm going to take a crap on it'. It's easy: taking advantage of the time the Sphinx needed to re-align the universe to accept two Ka stones, Nova forced him into the un-aligned universe. Since two Ka stones cannot exist at the same time, the universe expelled the sphinx. Ain't hard pal.

The art was good. The action was at the correct level for the conclusion of an action story, and the ending could be considered a cliff-hanger: if the universe erased an impossible Sphinx, what will it do to a live Namorita?

And I really don't think that the Thanos series is going to be used to wrap up hanging story lines in Nova. I really can't see how it can include Garthan Saal, and not have it be an incumbrance to the story. Maybe the missing issues from vol 6 means more Nova after Thanos? Let's hope.

Somebody

03-19-2010, 03:10 PM

Bothered by the anti-climactic climax, huh?
Yeah and no - I don't often feel "cheated" by spoilers. Very rarely do books manage to build stuff in such a way that the build AND the payoff are worth it - it happened with the Conquest Prologue for me (where, as I read it, I started suspecting the Phalanx, and then I saw the Babel Spire and it all clicked shortly before the reveal). I got the feeling from this that it might have had the same effect... *IF* I hadn't known Thanos was due.

I'd certainly be a lot more excited for TI if I'd found out about him from this issue and not the front page of CBR.

I think they just wanted to appease cosmic fans who otherwise would have freaked out when the cosmic titles went on "hiatus" - throw us the Thanos "bone" so we don't bark as much about NOVA and GotG...
Just the opposite, I think - none of the promo has been aimed at those who were already reading the books. Everything's about trying to bring back lapsed readers, not about maintaining the suspense for those already reading.

Brother Zag

03-19-2010, 03:21 PM

Would it kill CBR reviewers to give a fair review to a cosmic comic?

"No style" is an overly harsh assessment for Nova #35. So, Rich stepping up and taking down a god lacks style? Please explain in detail how this issue could have been better.

Disagree about Asrar's art as well. I thought he did a great job.

I don't think the reviewer understood what was going on and so dismissed it as "typical". Weird assessment - I didn't understand what they did, but it was ordinary. What? Actually, what he wrote was:

What follows is pretty typical take down of the Sphinx with Nova as the focus and Reed Richards backing him up. Nova shows a lot of guts and skill in the process, but the manner in which the Sphinx is defeated is a little confusing. Abnett and Lanning throw some big ideas out there, but don’t hang them on anything.

Now... I didn't find anything confusing, and I thought it was a rather ingenious idea. The Sphinx has just swallowed his younger self. He holds two Ka stones, and is trying to attain some kind of stability with them - both these things are impossible paradoxes. He can only do this inside his "bubble" inside the Fault, conditions which allow for things to happen which, in the regular universe, are impossible. Rich, Robbie and Richards come up with the idea of and then the math for opening a stargate on the Sphinx, exposing him to the real universe.

Because the Sphinx hasn't attained stability, and can't get away from his younger self (burp?), the combined paradoxes cause him to collapse inward on himself, imploding.

At least, that's how I read it. Neither typical nor unhinged (unhung?), but rather clever and well thought out. And I'd rather have to put the pieces together as I read, rather than have it all over explained to me. It's actually something I like about DnA.

Nothing personal against the reviewer, certainly... but he doesn't seem suited to the book. Makes the review more an opinion piece and less an assessment on the merits.

Lord S

03-19-2010, 03:57 PM

I finally got around to reading GotG 21-24 and Nova 32-35 and will say I found them mostly entertaining.

First Guardians, I wasn't bothered as much as other people by Craig's artwork. It was kind of distracting in 23, but looked a little better in 24. I found the "dead" team's jail-break to be energetic and upbeat, and Phyla's (apparent) curtain-call to be highly satisfying. "You're fired!" LOL...Maelstrom takes a page out of Vince McMahon's book. Thanos looked menacing. Can't wait for 25!

Nova was ok for me. The Sphinx story as a whole wasn't particularly strong for me - it had its moments, but overall felt like a filler story, to be honest. I'm glad he was able to save his girlfriend, but didn't really care for the rest. I do wonder what's next for Darkhawk.

stewart48

03-19-2010, 04:02 PM

Hopefully gamora wasn't too serious about the relationship continuing when Nova got her to join Guardians of the galaxy. Otherwise I don't envy Nova's next meeting with her.

Also Reed did say the normal rules of space and time didn't apply in the realm they were in so I'm guessing Namorita is back until marvel decides to ignore her or kill her off again.

Captain Clarkie

03-19-2010, 04:05 PM

Just the opposite, I think - none of the promo has been aimed at those who were already reading the books. Everything's about trying to bring back lapsed readers, not about maintaining the suspense for those already reading.

Which, frankly, worked on me. I bought annihilation tpb and conquest single issue, but I mainly wait and get cosmic tpbs. Bought Gotg24 cause I knew who'd turn up at the end.

Somebody

03-19-2010, 04:17 PM

Hopefully gamora wasn't too serious about the relationship continuing when Nova got her to join Guardians of the galaxy. Otherwise I don't envy Nova's next meeting with her.
Meh, she prepositioned Vance Astro this issue, and it sure looked like she was looking at Adam Warlock that way back in #7. She's got no leg to stand on (and if she was to bypass niceties, it ain't as if she managed to gut Rich LAST time she tried ;)).

On Namorita's side though - she's just been pulled, what, five years or so forward in time? To a point after her death and where she's been a hate figure in MU-America. That first conversation after she wakes up is going to be a DOOZY, even if Rich *doesn't* know about her mum's resurrection, Atlantis' latest destruction, etc *and* skips over the Kymaera thing that she presumably hasn't been through, but could end up being a future threat to her well-being. Add those in, and, well... I think she could use "a little time", even if it doesn't send her screaming to the nearest time machine...

Doc Goblin

03-19-2010, 07:52 PM

Holy crap, DnA. Stop bringing characters back to life. Namorita? Really? I could kind of forgive Quasar, because hey... that was a nice gesture to Wendell's fans, even if it did trainwreck Phyla's character. I'm can forgive Thanos, because the cosmic books are struggling and something big has got to be done. I... haven't really forgiven Moondragon, but at least she's been interesting to have around. But... Namorita?! I liked the character, but... no. Just no.

Seriously, I'm beginning to care less and less if this cosmic hiatus turns out ot be permanent or not.

megaman x

03-20-2010, 12:04 AM

You must not be a Nova fan. Rich and Reed Richards thinking out a strategy then implementing it? Nova, being the only being there powerful enough to take care of the situation, holding off the power of a god? Dude, if that didn't pump you up a little, I don't know what will.

The one thing this issue delivered on was something we bucket head fans have wanted to see for years now; Nova getting the chance to show how powerful he can really be.

The review that Nova #35 was given was truly unfair. It comes down to, 'I really don't understand what happens, so I'm going to take a crap on it'. It's easy: taking advantage of the time the Sphinx needed to re-align the universe to accept two Ka stones, Nova forced him into the un-aligned universe. Since two Ka stones cannot exist at the same time, the universe expelled the sphinx. Ain't hard pal.

The art was good. The action was at the correct level for the conclusion of an action story, and the ending could be considered a cliff-hanger: if the universe erased an impossible Sphinx, what will it do to a live Namorita?

And I really don't think that the Thanos series is going to be used to wrap up hanging story lines in Nova. I really can't see how it can include Garthan Saal, and not have it be an incumbrance to the story. Maybe the missing issues from vol 6 means more Nova after Thanos? Let's hope.

The issue was good. Asrar's art is good, but i still think they should have let DiVito finish the story arc.

Jason Abbadon

03-20-2010, 01:13 AM

He's called Warlock now. :wink:

And you're correct, Mysterio's Helmet. There are definitely 2 Quasars running around now - our hero helping out the Imperial Guard, and the bad guy who is going to cause some trouble according to the solicits.

So...when they kill off the Evil Quasar, what will happen to his Quantum Bands? Maybe Wendell will use them to ressurect Phyla (as they have some connection from her time wearing the bands).

Or they might be corrupted somehow being from the Lovecraftiverse.
Maybe "Craftyverse" works better?

ShadowDemon

03-20-2010, 01:42 AM

I doubt it'll effect anything, but I'm almost curious to see how it would effect the time frame in a what if kind of way. No Namorita in Stamford possibly means no Civil War.

We can only hope...

I don't care either way: Nita's back and back with Rich and that's all that matters!

TOAA

03-20-2010, 04:20 AM

Now... I didn't find anything confusing, and I thought it was a rather ingenious idea. The Sphinx has just swallowed his younger self. He holds two Ka stones, and is trying to attain some kind of stability with them - both these things are impossible paradoxes. He can only do this inside his "bubble" inside the Fault, conditions which allow for things to happen which, in the regular universe, are impossible. Rich, Robbie and Richards come up with the idea of and then the math for opening a stargate on the Sphinx, exposing him to the real universe.

Because the Sphinx hasn't attained stability, and can't get away from his younger self (burp?), the combined paradoxes cause him to collapse inward on himself, imploding.

At least, that's how I read it. Neither typical nor unhinged (unhung?), but rather clever and well thought out. And I'd rather have to put the pieces together as I read, rather than have it all over explained to me. It's actually something I like about DnA.

Nothing personal against the reviewer, certainly... but he doesn't seem suited to the book. Makes the review more an opinion piece and less an assessment on the merits.

I agree with everything you said. While reading it i was a bit afraid that DnA will waste a page explaining what was already obvious. I was glad that they didn`t.

I think that this review shows why cosmic super-heroes aren`t that popular or are often downgraded into "punching things in space!". Regular comic readers simply don`t understand what is happening if it`s not about punching in the face or isn`t explained by characters themselves next page which screws up the flow of the issue.

I saw few scans of Siege #3. Why it`s #1 Marvel`s title and THE event instead of Thanos Imperative? Because art is good and it clearly shows what is happening and on top of that Bendis is explaining with words what is happening in the same fcking page/panel. And the back-up was once again about character explaining what happened in the issue.

Recently i saw a preview of The Complete Dracula`s HC and i noticed that one user commented that he found preview difficult to understand because characters weren`t introduced. In other words it was hard to understand because adaptation didn`t have inner monologues with crap like "I`m Harker, i sell houses" or "I`m Lucy, you could call me a popular girl". Pathetic.

I doubt it'll effect anything, but I'm almost curious to see how it would effect the time frame in a what if kind of way. No Namorita in Stamford possibly means no Civil War.

It was said 2 or 3 times that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, BB being alive "10 years ago" reinforces that idea. It`s not THAT hard to understand.

Ratwedge

03-20-2010, 05:15 AM

What I was suprised was his comment about never using that much power before.

Perhaps it has something to do with World Mind not channeling it at those heights but shrugging off a GodBlast? That def means his power creep is going back up into the A++ levels.

nova64

03-20-2010, 08:04 AM

I don't think the reviewer understood what was going on and so dismissed it as "typical". Weird assessment - I didn't understand what they did, but it was ordinary. What? Actually, what he wrote was:

Now... I didn't find anything confusing, and I thought it was a rather ingenious idea. The Sphinx has just swallowed his younger self. He holds two Ka stones, and is trying to attain some kind of stability with them - both these things are impossible paradoxes. He can only do this inside his "bubble" inside the Fault, conditions which allow for things to happen which, in the regular universe, are impossible. Rich, Robbie and Richards come up with the idea of and then the math for opening a stargate on the Sphinx, exposing him to the real universe.

Because the Sphinx hasn't attained stability, and can't get away from his younger self (burp?), the combined paradoxes cause him to collapse inward on himself, imploding.

At least, that's how I read it. Neither typical nor unhinged (unhung?), but rather clever and well thought out. And I'd rather have to put the pieces together as I read, rather than have it all over explained to me. It's actually something I like about DnA.

Nothing personal against the reviewer, certainly... but he doesn't seem suited to the book. Makes the review more an opinion piece and less an assessment on the merits.

Well said! I completely agree. This issue shows what Rich is capable of and the solution (and how it was implemented) between Rich and Reed was fantastic. And, as was mentioned previously, it wasn't hard to follow.

stelok

03-20-2010, 09:54 AM

Sanity or Madness?

03-20-2010, 01:20 PM

I could kind of forgive Quasar, because hey... that was a nice gesture to Wendell's fans, even if it did trainwreck Phyla's character.

I think it did a lot to SALVAGE Phyla, actually. When she got the Q-bands, she suddenly became a sweetness'n'lighter for her mini, as did Moondragon.

Which was annoying - she was introed as a petulant jerk, and in her limited screentime in Annihilation, there were still traces of that. Then, for Conquest: Quasar, her & Moondragon suddenly became That Couple who can't go a sentence without expressing how much they wuv each other, and while killing off Moondragon at least removed that, she was ultimately a very, very bland character as "Quasar" that bore no resemblence to what had gone before.

At least as Martyr some of her original character reappeared.

Zero Hunter

03-20-2010, 04:21 PM

I just read the first four issues of Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard

Let's see who is in charge of the Sh'iar empire.

1. Queen Medusa
2. Ambassadors Karnak and Gorgon
3. Majestor Gladiator
4. female Chancellor Araki
5. Praetor Mentor
6. Grand Admiral Ka'ardum

I think Gladiator should not be lapping the Inhumans' boots. I hope he will stand up to the Inhumans and declare Shi'ar independence sooner or later.

Why? Gladitor is used to being a lap dog. He licks the boots of whoever is in charge be they noble or complete and utter psychos. Plus they lost the war. He is lucky the Inhumans and the Kree didn't come down on them like a hammer.

Doc Goblin

03-20-2010, 04:30 PM

I think it did a lot to SALVAGE Phyla, actually. When she got the Q-bands, she suddenly became a sweetness'n'lighter for her mini, as did Moondragon.

Which was annoying - she was introed as a petulant jerk, and in her limited screentime in Annihilation, there were still traces of that. Then, for Conquest: Quasar, her & Moondragon suddenly became That Couple who can't go a sentence without expressing how much they wuv each other, and while killing off Moondragon at least removed that, she was ultimately a very, very bland character as "Quasar" that bore no resemblence to what had gone before.

At least as Martyr some of her original character reappeared.

Sorry, I just really don't agree here. Phyla was a petulant punk who wanted to take on her daddy's legacy. Then she got it in full and realized it was a lot more than she understood. That was interesting. Taking Moondragon away from her, her main source of support, made it more interesting. Plus, her with the quantum bands and glowing sword was just visually awesome. DnA ran her character into the ground bringing Wendell back and saddling her with this weak avatar of death concept that really just makes her another angry chick with the sword on a team where we already have Gamora.

doublewhiskeycokenoice

03-24-2010, 06:49 AM

"Nova was ok for me. The Sphinx story as a whole wasn't particularly strong for me - it had its moments, but overall felt like a filler story, to be honest. I'm glad he was able to save his girlfriend, but didn't really care for the rest. I do wonder what's next for Darkhawk."

General awesomeness, as usual. But I could be biased.

comicfoil

03-27-2010, 01:41 PM

See now NOVA 34 was poor for me because the battles were so weak, I didn't mind the riff on classic storylines from the 60s and 70s where two comic beings pulled in heroes from different eras to battle but they really should have been more interesting.

NOVA 35 totally made up for it though. Great battle, strong imagery, funny dialogue, and a clever resolution spotlighting out hero's powers, determination, and intelligence. (He deferred to Mr Fantastic. Smart!)

And I love, love, love the return of Namorita but don't want her hanging around for the cosmic storylines. We can have their great romance when Nova's on Earth, enjoy his flirtations while in space, and look forward to Namorita and Gamora meeting at some point in the future with Rich stuck in the awkward middle.

What's all this talk about the hiatus being a possible cancellation? They damn well better bring NOVA back. GotG too, though the art really hasn't been able to support the dramatic storyline that's been going on there recently. It's not bad, just not suited to the book.

40yearoldnovafan

04-01-2010, 12:21 PM

The issue was good. Asrar's art is good, but i still think they should have let DiVito finish the story arc.

Yeah - I have found this strange, also. Usually, the fill-in artist does not complete the last issue in the arc. But this has not been the case with Nova. DiVito begins the arc, someone else completes it, and DiVito begins the next story.

I liked the issue and have read it and looked at it a number of times.
Did any of you see Aliens: Resurrection. At the end of the movie, the baby Alien-human hybrid got sucked out of a pinhole and you saw his organs come out of his skin. I think that would have made a better representation of what happened to the Sphinx. That would have been an explosive decompression.

I really liked that Rich saved Nita. This usually does not happen in these time-paradox stories. The last time I saw something like this happen was there being two Spocks in the new Star Trek film.

I would have loved to see Rich punch a hole through the Sphinx, even if the Sphinx reformed himself. I love a balance in how Rich displays his power. I want to see him use his brawn and his Gravimetric pulses. As one astute fan mentioned somewhere online, Rich has been using his g-pulse powers more then his fists. In the original series, it was just the opposite - Rich never used power projection, he only used his fist. I want to see him use both.

I also would have loved to see Rich blast into the Sphinx's face, as a homage to the battle in the classic Fantastic Four issue.

As a whole, I enjoyed the issue, I would have liked to see Rich strike the Sphinx at least once. But, I how do you deal with a god except the way Rich did?

Jimmy

Will.S

04-01-2010, 01:48 PM

Yeah - I have found this strange, also. Usually, the fill-in artist does not complete the last issue in the arc. But this has not been the case with Nova. DiVito begins the arc, someone else completes it, and DiVito begins the next story.

I liked the issue and have read it and looked at it a number of times.
Did any of you see Aliens: Resurrection. At the end of the movie, the baby Alien-human hybrid got sucked out of a pinhole and you saw his organs come out of his skin. I think that would have made a better representation of what happened to the Sphinx. That would have been an explosive decompression.

I really liked that Rich saved Nita. This usually does not happen in these time-paradox stories. The last time I saw something like this happen was there being two Spocks in the new Star Trek film.

I would have loved to see Rich punch a hole through the Sphinx, even if the Sphinx reformed himself. I love a balance in how Rich displays his power. I want to see him use his brawn and his Gravimetric pulses. As one astute fan mentioned somewhere online, Rich has been using his g-pulse powers more then his fists. In the original series, it was just the opposite - Rich never used power projection, he only used his fist. I want to see him use both.

I also would have loved to see Rich blast into the Sphinx's face, as a homage to the battle in the classic Fantastic Four issue.

As a whole, I enjoyed the issue, I would have liked to see Rich strike the Sphinx at least once. But, I how do you deal with a god except the way Rich did?

Jimmy
At first I wasn't liking the Nova story as much since it almost felt like an inconsequential side story but upon re-reading the arc I had a lot of fun with it. I especially liked Nova's interaction with Namorita and Reed Richards and how much respect Rich has for Reed. It very much felt like a fun old school story with some wacky time travel and dimension altering. I also liked seeing a classic Nova foe come back in such a big way and I couldn't help but grin at the characters that the Sphinx brought to fight this eclectic bunch.

As for Imperial Guard and Guardians I liked both although Imperial did take a little longer than I would have wanted it to wrap up. I never would have imagined having an interest in the Imperial Guard let alone LIKE them since I've always seen them as a-holes given that they're always pitted against my favorite characters.

But Abnett and Lanning were able to make it work for me by adding the Starjammers in the mix along with the Darkhawk/Raptor stuff as well. I'm hoping there's more done with that as having those Imperial Guard members as additions are big moves. And I loved that little sad ending with Fang, he became a pretty likable character as the book went on.

Guardians of the Galaxy has been wavering a bit for me, sometimes it's interesting as heck and sometimes it falls in the above average area. This issue had somewhat annoying narration and I was sad to see Phyla get killed off in such a fashion but the Thanos reveal was pretty cool. It's just too bad that the Thanos Imperative spoiled that but I figure the cosmic books need a lot of promotion for this event since a lot rides on it.

ShadowDemon

04-01-2010, 05:12 PM

I really liked that Rich saved Nita. This usually does not happen in these time-paradox stories.

Yeah. Timeline be damned, we got Nita back! Of course it WOULD be just in time for cancellation...er..."hiatus"...

As one astute fan mentioned somewhere online, Rich has been using his g-pulse powers more then his fists. In the original series, it was just the opposite - Rich never used power projection, he only used his fist. I want to see him use both.

The G-pulse was part of his "refit" for Vol 2, IIRC. He never HAD it before then.

40yearoldnovafan

04-01-2010, 07:36 PM

Yeah. Timeline be damned, we got Nita back! Of course it WOULD be just in time for cancellation...er..."hiatus"...

The G-pulse was part of his "refit" for Vol 2, IIRC. He never HAD it before then.
You're right, to a degree. It was never called a gravimetric pulse. However, Rich did project power blasts from his eyes in the very first issue of volume one. It was when he first sat up in the hospital, waking from his coma. We never saw it after that.

In volume one the Sphinx alluded to Rich not being at his potential.

Jimmy

Libaax

04-02-2010, 04:55 PM

Have Rich and Namorita being together for a long time before ? I havent seen him having a girl, feels very interesting. Dont kill her off too fast.....

Issue 35 was a great ending and made up for weaker issues before it. Great battle.

Oh how i loved seeing Nova fight a God with enormous powers of the force. It was like Annhilation and what drew me to Nova. Fantastic space battles and great hero.

Its been too long since Nova fought such a powerful enemy.

Ferago

04-03-2010, 10:05 PM

I thought that Imperial Guard series was great, wish it was an ongoing.

My favorite part in the whole thing was when Fang was paying his respects to Neutron, and it showed the monument to an infinite amount of guardsmen.

infernohara

04-04-2010, 10:46 AM

All the books were good, but I'm confused on a few things:

1. Is Raptor still playing as Gladiator's advisor? She seems to be her own person and he was just 'playing' her for the timebeing.

2. Now that Raptor has unlocked 2 more raptors will they take over? He said that they couldn't go back once tranformed, but the 2 gurad were back in their original clothes by the end of the series. I think it may be obvious that they will be lost to the raptor conversion at some point, but I'm just waiting on when.

All books were pretty sweet, but lackluster compared to Annihilation and Conquest. I do have a feeling that the new Thanos arc will be good.

FlyingFox

04-04-2010, 03:05 PM

2. Now that Raptor has unlocked 2 more raptors will they take over? He said that they couldn't go back once tranformed, but the 2 gurad were back in their original clothes by the end of the series. I think it may be obvious that they will be lost to the raptor conversion at some point, but I'm just waiting on when.

The guardsmen are replaced whenever they are killed so I'm pretty sure those were new people. The new Mentor even looked female.

I thought that Imperial Guard series was great, wish it was an ongoing.

I thought it was great too, and underrated. I'm angry they killed off Starbolt though.

FlyingFox

04-04-2010, 03:08 PM

Double post

theflyingfrogunderdog

04-06-2010, 03:40 PM

Marvel is not the company it used to be. If Marvel knew how to put out books, they'd have taken Craig off Guardians asap because his art style has been obviously hurting sales and is part of the reason why the title is being cancelled. You can't tell me there are no other artists out there looking for work. Marvel's bottom line is about making a profit, not driving titles into the ground. :confused:

And i said it before, but can't say it enough...the Magus' dialogue is sub par to the point of being cringingly terrible! Warlock may as well be from an alternate reality, because his Magus self acts nothing like the real Magus. What an insult to the long time fans, to write a character that has no relation whatsoever, to the original Magus in the old Warlock comics. The Magus is NOT the Joker. If i want to read about the Joker, i'll buy a Batman comic! :mad: I haven't bought the last two issues of gotg because of the terrible dialogue. As far as i'm concerned, i won't miss it if it is cancelled.

Marvel needs new management. Quesada has been a disaster. Bring back Jim Shooter and an editorial staff that gave us good comics. It seems like Marvel editors don't have a clue how to do their jobs, and it certainly shows. When was the last time you could say that you were "excited" about Marvel overall? I can tell you it's been a long time...years, actually. Marvel is boring.

If Craig art is too cartoony, then so is DnA dialogue. Put DnA and Craig on a Marvel Adventures title and their styles will actually be perfect because DnA dialogue is similar to the cartoons on the Cartoon Network, it seems to me. Guardians had a lot of potential, but Marvel blew it with the artist choice and the "Cartoon Network" type dialogue. What could have been great was only good at best, and sub par if you're a long time fan like me. I'm disappointed. :frown:

Brother Zag

04-06-2010, 03:48 PM

theflyingfrogunderdog

04-06-2010, 03:56 PM

Wow, theflyingfrogunderdog...

We must never meet. There will be a massive explosion - you're like the Anti-Me! The Me from the Spock's Beard Universe or somethin'! I disagree with you on most every point.

Though I suppose we both hope the Cosmic titles don't get canceled...

I tried to like this title, but i just had to vent. Actually, i haven't been to my LCS lately, but i'm definitely 50-50 on whether i'll buy another issue of gotg. I expect more from Marvel...a good story and good characterization. Is that too much to ask? :confused:

Brother Zag

04-06-2010, 04:10 PM

I tried to like this title, but i just had to vent. Actually, i haven't been to my LCS lately, but i'm definitely 50-50 on whether i'll buy another issue of gotg. I expect more from Marvel...a good story and good characterization. Is that too much to ask? :confused:
Of course not :)

But it shows you how subjective all this is... I'm enjoying the story, and for me the characterization of the Magus is spot-on and similar to Starlin's version, which I love.

Brother Zag

04-06-2010, 04:18 PM

Of course not :)

But it shows you how subjective all this is... I'm enjoying the story, and for me the characterization of the Magus is spot-on and similar to Starlin's version, which I love.
You know, my avatar might be a giveaway as to my attitude, i suppose....

Ratstar

04-08-2010, 02:38 AM

I wasn't familiar with Warlock and Magus before GOTG, but the dialogue is as good as it's always been.
Have to agree the artist was a mistake. Especially when they used him for what should have been some of the most dramatic and poignant moments of the series.
Seriously, they complain all the time about getting so many new artists that they turn down, and they don't accept new applicants who don't already have a history, and they still employ people like Stroman and Land... When surely there are new artists out there who would probably be happy to work at a lower rate or even for free as a way to kickstart their career.

It's just a shame that that's it though. After they got forced into this big event and had to put so much effort into build up leaving less space for character development, things were finally brewing to the brim with the set up of a few Cosmic antagonists- bad Quasar, Magus, Blastaar, Annihilus regrowing, Thanos returning, and the guy who fecked Phyla up, and now the two monthlies get put on hold...