Front Lines - Mini-Reviews (Week of August 10) - DC Rebirth and Civil War II

Agents of SHIELD #8 by Marc Guggenheim and German Peralta

Summary: Last issue, Coulson was removed from his position on SHIELD.  This issue, he’s breaking into top secret government facilities to try and figure out if there is a third option between Stark and Danvers’ ideas on what to do with Ulysses gift to see the future.  He sees a file suggesting that the Wrecking Crew will be responsible for Daredevil’s death, so he heads to Hell’s Kitchen.  May is waiting for him.  Danvers arrives soon after, pissed that Coulson has been breaking into her files.  Danvers says that the Wrecking Crew are already in custody, so Daredevil is safe.  

There is an explosion nearby.  Carol goes to check it out.  Coulson convinces May to go with him.   The Wrecking Crew have escaped custody.  Daredevil arrives on the scene.  Coulson saves Daredevil’s life.  

Meanwhile, in order to save Jemma’s life, the team is considering turning her into a Deathlok.  We also find out that Fitz is a traitor working for a General Strakofksy.  Elektra is hired as Coulson’s replacement, and she takes out Fitz revealing he’s a traitor.

Mike: As much as I like the TV series, the comic continues to just kind of be there.  There is nothing wrong with this comic, it’s just not particularly exciting or “must buy.”  I do like Coulson’s attempt at finding a “third option” but to be honest, Stark’s position in Civil War II hasn’t ever really been articulated in a way that makes me understand why there is even a fight here.  Civil War II has often felt like “the characters are angry with each other because the plot dictates it.”  

And who would hire Elektra to run a SHIELD team?  That is just bizarre and random.  Glad to see Elektra getting used, but it seems like there were far better choices to assume this role.  And it’s hard to care that much about this version of Fitz being a traitor.  He hasn’t been established all that well here.  None of the “made for TV” characters have been.  

All-New All-Different Avengers #13 by Mark Waid and Adam Kubert

Summary: After being manipulated by Kang, Vision decides it’s time to do something about Kang’s constant threats to the timeline.  He breaks into Parker Industrie (formerly the Baxter Building) and uses Doom’s time machine to head to the Ancient Egypt where Kang was first encountered.  He is being stalked by a shadowy creature.  In Rama Tut’s temple, he finds the date October 22, 3022.  He heads to the future Kang’s lab looking for clues on where Kang came from.  He takes Kang’s helmet and manages to get the info he needs.

He travels back to Kang’s childhood, debating whether or not to kill Kang as a baby.  The shadow has a secret to tell Vision.  He whispers in Vision’s ear.  Vision decides to steal the baby, not kill it.

Mike: It was a real stretch to call this a Civil War II crossover.  Vision goes to talk to Ulysses about the idea of “killing Hitler” at one point, but it really could have been any other character.  That said, I really enjoyed this comic.  Vision definitely has some reasons to be pissed at Kang’s manipulations.  I am very curious who the shadowy figure it manipulating events.  I am thinking it is some future version of Kang causing Vision to create the very future that he’s trying to prevent.  

Deathstroke Rebirth #1 by Priest and Carlo Pagulayan

Summary: The issue starts with a flashback.  Slade is taking his sons (Grant and Joey) out into the woods when the battery on their truck goes dead.  Slade threatens to beat Grant for running the heater all night.  Grant runs off into the woods.  Slade shrugs and lets him run off.  Grant is almost killed by a bear, but Slade arrives to kill the bear. Wintergreen arrives to pull Slade into a mission.  And criticize Slade’s parenting skills.

In the present, Deathstroke is doing mercenary work in a warzone.  He is brokering a deal for the corrupt leader of an African country (Ja Zaki, the Red Lion) to pay 9 millions to various US politicians to ensure the US ignores the atrocities he is committing against Muslims.  In return, Slade wants access to a man who was granted asylum by the Red Lion.  Red Lion agrees to turn a blind eye, as long as no one knows about it.  

Slade arrives at the man’s lair….It’s the Clock King.  His victims hired Slade to kill him.  Clock King is sick and dying.  He offers Slade info on “a loved one of the world’s greatest assassin” if he lets him die naturally.  Slade goes a nearby camp to rescue Wintergreen.

Mike: Deathstroke is a great character, but I hate when DC tries to give him his own book.   This wasn’t a bad comic at all.  Priest is a great writer and the art was perfect. BUT, it’s just not a comic I would bring myself to read regularly.  It’s like Constantine, I am sure there are fans for this, but it’s just not for me.

Scarlet Witch #9 by James Robinson and Joelle Jones

Summary: Quicksilver goes to see his sister to recruit her to fight in the Civil War.  She says she has been staying out of the hero community lately.  He tries to boss her around, and this leads to a bitter argument.  She insists that she will remain neutral in this conflict.  They end up having a brief battle, which ends in a draw.  He tries to apologize, but she sends him on his way saying to stay away from her.  

Mike: This was a strong way to show the personal impact Civil War II is causing, even among heroes who say “I am not getting involved.” This fight between Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver has been a long time coming. I appreciate that Robinson really gave the whole thing so much depth (even if Pietro does come off as a huge douche).  These characters really do feel like brother and sister with all the good and bad that can come along with that.  The end with Scarlet Witch sending him away, and then mourning that loss was absolutely crushing.

Spider-Man 2099 #13 by Peter David and Will Sliney

Summary: Captain America 2099 has decided to return to her time to try and find her family.  Though with the timeline shift, they are not in the same apartment.  A group of police try to arrest her as powers seem to have become banned in the future. She is rescued by Ravage.

Meanwhile, Ulysses has seen a vision of problems in the far future (a crucified Captain America), and has Medusa call Peter Parker to warn him.  Peter passes the message on to Miguel, who heads to the future to catch up with Captain America.  Once there, he is shocked and knocked unconscious by Jake Gallows (Punisher 2099), who is still a cop in this version of the future.

Mike: I totally fanboyed during this book.  I read every issue of every 2099 comic when they came out, so seeing Ravage and Punisher was damn awesome.  Again, it was a stretch to call this one a Civil War II crossover, but the comic itself was great.  Real curious what caused this Civil War in the future, other than Miguel’s constant attempts to “fix” the timeline making things even crazier. I hope we get to see more 2099 characters in this arc. X-MEN NOW!!!