Post by goldenfist on Jan 29, 2009 19:55:03 GMT -5
Ign.com reviews Ms.Marvel #35.
I'm not sure I've tried and failed to keep up to date with a series as many times as I have Ms. Marvel. Every time I jump back into the series, I can only sustain my interest for a few issues before growing bored. It's nice that Machine Man has a vehicle outside of Nextwave, but I need compelling character development out of Carol Danvers herself or the whole thing is moot. With Dark Reign drastically altering Carol's status quo, I figured now was a good chance to check in and see how the series is faring.
The signs are both promising and as depressing as ever. Where Reed really excels is by touching on the same story threads we saw in last year's Captain Marvel mini-series. This book offered the most compelling character development I've seen out of Ms. marvel in years, and certainly from Brian Reed's treatment. With Noh-Varr usurping the Captain Marvel name, Carol is understandably miffed. And when the Church of Hala stages a ritualized suicide, she finds her mentor's memory is growing more tarnished by the day.
So this plot thread lays the foundation for some interesting material. Two problems, though. For one thing, I don't get the impression Reed intends to do much with it. This issue might as well be a done-in-one tale as far as that thread is concerned. For another, the Captain Marvel fiasco is only half the focus. The other half concentrates on Carol's search for the artificial intelligence known as Essential. This seemingly all-powerful entity has ties to Norman Osborn, which means both halves of the issue tie into Dark Reign in their own ways. Frankly, I worry marvel may already be spreading Osborn too thin in the same way Iron man was hugely overexposed following Civil War. If Osborn is meant to play a role in a book, it needs to be for a good reason. This is... just boring.
With only half a compelling storyline and art that neither offends or truly impresses, I find Ms. Marvel in much the same state I left it. I'll stick it out for a while in hopes that Dark Reign eventually grants the series new life. But without even Machine Man to fall back on, I'm not holding my breath that this will be the time that hooks me.
Review Score: 6.5 Passable
I'm not sure I've tried and failed to keep up to date with a series as many times as I have Ms. Marvel. Every time I jump back into the series, I can only sustain my interest for a few issues before growing bored. It's nice that Machine Man has a vehicle outside of Nextwave, but I need compelling character development out of Carol Danvers herself or the whole thing is moot. With Dark Reign drastically altering Carol's status quo, I figured now was a good chance to check in and see how the series is faring.
The signs are both promising and as depressing as ever. Where Reed really excels is by touching on the same story threads we saw in last year's Captain Marvel mini-series. This book offered the most compelling character development I've seen out of Ms. marvel in years, and certainly from Brian Reed's treatment. With Noh-Varr usurping the Captain Marvel name, Carol is understandably miffed. And when the Church of Hala stages a ritualized suicide, she finds her mentor's memory is growing more tarnished by the day.
So this plot thread lays the foundation for some interesting material. Two problems, though. For one thing, I don't get the impression Reed intends to do much with it. This issue might as well be a done-in-one tale as far as that thread is concerned. For another, the Captain Marvel fiasco is only half the focus. The other half concentrates on Carol's search for the artificial intelligence known as Essential. This seemingly all-powerful entity has ties to Norman Osborn, which means both halves of the issue tie into Dark Reign in their own ways. Frankly, I worry marvel may already be spreading Osborn too thin in the same way Iron man was hugely overexposed following Civil War. If Osborn is meant to play a role in a book, it needs to be for a good reason. This is... just boring.
With only half a compelling storyline and art that neither offends or truly impresses, I find Ms. Marvel in much the same state I left it. I'll stick it out for a while in hopes that Dark Reign eventually grants the series new life. But without even Machine Man to fall back on, I'm not holding my breath that this will be the time that hooks me.
Review Score: 6.5 Passable