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Post by Shiryu on Feb 20, 2009 17:40:40 GMT -5
As Dlw's and others have suggested, to decrease the workload on the servers and avoid burying old topics too quickly, we should compress all the web reviews (IGN, Newsarama etc) in a single topic in each section. So from now on, we should post all the ones about Ms Marvel here only, ok?  EDIT: To help everyone find what he wants when this topics became big, a good index is in order. Page 1: MM 36 review (IGN) |
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Post by goldenfist on Feb 26, 2009 10:21:33 GMT -5
Here is Ign's review of Ms.Marvel #36
Dark Reign offers the potential to reinvigorate just about every book in Marvel's lineup. That's why it's disappointing to see certain books not improve one iota following Secret Invasion. I hoped Ms. marvel might finally climb out of the rut it's been locked in and become something I look forward to each month. Instead, it feels like the same old story yet again.
Part of the problem here stems from Carol's involvement in New Avengers. I don't get the impression anything of consequence can happen to her, and I never see any evidence to the contrary. Yes, there's her struggle against Norman Osborn and the loss of her very superhero name, but that's been documented in the Avengers books. What Brian Reed has left to work with is a mishmash of old and semi-old plotlines. Her powers are still in flux thanks to her time spent bonded with the alien Cru. Despite her inability to rely on these powers, she continues to race against Osborn to track down the mysterious device known as Ascension. All this, and she's still having boy troubles.
This current arc is nowhere near as new-reader friendly as it probably should be. If you haven't been reading Ms. Marvel for the past year or so, I'm not sure there will be much to hook you. The high point of the previous issue for me was seeing Carol deal with the fall of the Church of Hala and Noh-Varr's role as the new Captain Marvel. Sadly, this plotline is no longer a part of the book. It's all about Ascension now. This magical wonder substance strikes me as a poor man's version of Extremis. The similarities to Warren Ellis' Extremis storyline in Iron Man are numerous, but I'd be lying if I said this story arc compares well to that one.
A sleek set of pencils might have helped spruce up the proceedings, but Patrick Olliffe fails to bring much to the table. Compared to Aaron Lopresti and some of the other former artists, his work is too dark and too overworked. Despite the excess of detail and line in some panels, his characters display surprisingly little emotion. Maybe the reason I'm so bored is that Carol appears so constantly devoid of emotion.
From all indications, it sounds that next month may finally bring the shake-up I've been waiting for. I'll believe it when I see it. With scant few issues of this series that have truly entertained me, it's going to take something massive indeed to finally kindle my love for Ms. Marvel.
Review Score: 5.6 Mediocre
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Post by goldenfist on Mar 25, 2009 9:22:42 GMT -5
MS. MARVEL #40 Cover Written by BRIAN REED Penciled by SANA TAKEDA & LUKE ROSS Cover by SANA TAKEDA The Dark Reign continues! What is the secret A.I.M. project that Karla Sofen has stumbled into...and what does it have to do with Carol Danvers? Special guest stars Spider-Man, Wolverine, Luke Cage...and Deadpool?! i.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/june09/79_ms__marvel_40.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Mar 25, 2009 9:38:52 GMT -5
MS. MARVEL VOL. 6: ASCENSION TPB Written by BRIAN REED Penciled by MARCOS MARZ, PAULO SIQUEIRA, ADRIANA MELO, GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI & MARK ROBINSON Cover by FRANK MARTIN JR. Delve into the history of one of the Marvel Universe’s greatest heroines! Carol Danvers has played many roles in her life: daughter, sister, Air Force intelligence agent and Avenger. Convinced she has not lived up to her potential, she is determined to become the best of the best. Though she has made great strides, Danvers knows she can be better. But before she can embrace her future as the world’s greatest super hero, she must confront her past. Collecting MS. MARVEL #31-34, MS. MARVEL STORYTELLER and MS. MARVEL 2008 ANNUAL i.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/june09/80_ms__marvel__ascension.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Apr 21, 2009 11:14:51 GMT -5
MS. MARVEL #41 Written by BRIAN REED Pencils & Covers by SANA TAKEDA Ms. Marvel #41 60s DECADE VARIANT by TBA In MS MARVEL #41, not only does new Ms. Marvel Karla Sofen have to deal with Deadpool, now she's got the New Avengers coming at her in full force. Prelude to this summer's epic WAR OF THE MARVELS! www.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/july2009/94_ms__marvel_41.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on May 20, 2009 11:36:32 GMT -5
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Post by goldenfist on Jun 2, 2009 20:41:04 GMT -5
Brian Reed on 'War of the Marvels'
If Carol Danvers is dead, who's that on the cover of July's Ms. Marvel?
It sure looks like Carol Danvers.
"It certainly looks that way," series writer Brian Reed said coyly. "But it's not as obvious as it might seem looking at the art."
"Looks that way" is putting it mildly. All the signs are pointing toward something big happening this summer in Ms. Marvel. Not only is the next storyline called "War of the Marvels," but the Ms. Marvel title begins shipping twice a month in July. And already, the build-up to War of the Marvels is guest starring everyone from Spider-Man to Luke Cage to Deadpool.
"We start involving the Avengers, and the Dark Avengers, and Deadpool and A.I.M., and it all very quickly goes out of control," Reed said. "As to who that other woman is on the cover, that's a few issues away. As we build up to it, there are clues in the next three issues."
For readers of the Ms. Marvel title, it's been a roller coaster over the last few months as not only did the lead character lose her powers, but she lost her life at the hands of a villain working for Norman Osborn. Despite Carol's declaration several issues earlier that she intended to kill Osborn, the character died from a power overload within the pages of Ms. Marvel #37.
As Osborn's "Dark Reign" has taken over much of the Marvel Universe, he also took the title of Ms. Marvel and gave it to Karla Sofen, who was formerly known as Moonstone. Beginning with Ms. Marvel #38, Karla is playing the role of Ms. Marvel and stars in the hero's title, dishing out her own brand of twisted justice as part of Dark Reign.
For example, in May's issue, Sofen uses her role as Ms. Marvel to save the citizens of New York City, stopping a meteor that a faction of A.I.M. had sent hurling toward the metropolis.
But does she toss the meteor back into space where it would do no harm?
"No, she uses it to hit the guy who threw it," Reed said with a laugh, "and kills a couple of hundred other people in the process. And of course, she flat-out lies to the press about it."
The title character is more like a "dark" Ms. Marvel, but her job will be more of a challenge over the next few issues.
"Life for Karla Sofen is not going to be super simple. It's not just putting on the costume and Boom! you're Ms. Marvel. It's something you have to earn," Reed said.
"Right now, for the next three issues, it's a prelude to the 'War of the Marvels.' And you'll see her trying to pick up where Carol left off," Reed said. "She's saying, 'You know what? Carol Danvers is an idiot. She never took care of A.I.M. I can do that!' And it's getting her right in the middle of trouble."
In June's Ms. Marvel #40, readers will see Spider-Man and Luke Cage get involved, as well as everyone's favorite comedic relief, Deadpool. Then the New Avengers show up in issue #41, followed by a cover that features a slew of Dark Avengers in #42.
Where it's all leading is anyone's guess, because this title has been anything but predictable since last year's Secret Invasion, when Danvers disappeared for awhile and soon after shocked readers with her "kill Norman Osborn" revelation -- months before anyone understood why.
Now there are clues being dropped again, like the sudden appearance of a former SHIELD agent posing as a reporter, who questioned Karla about Carol Danvers' whereabouts.
"That was something I put in there for long-time readers who would recognize Agent Sum and realize now that SHIELD's gone, he's out on his own," Reed said, adding that readers "could very potentially" see him again. "He's up to something, and it clearly involves looking for Carol. As to where that goes, we'll find out."
Another clue that will thrill fans of MODOK are a group that showed up in the last issue -- creepy, fetus-like babies whose minds are enhanced with M.O.D.O.C. technology and whose huge heads swell within their jars.
"The babies are a big part of an A.I.M. project, and by the end of the issue, you see that they have their hooks in Karla somehow. They're talking to her, and they've convinced her to take them away. And we realize that's part of why she threw the meteor at A.I.M., was to get these baby things away from them."
Readers are also shown an energy entity that is interested in the strange babies -- a ruthless female-shaped being.
"The babies a very big part of what's coming up in the next few issues," Reed said. "They're tied in very closely to that weird energy being that we saw out in the desert killing people."
And for fans of artist Sana Takeda, she's sticking around on the book -- something Reed thinks gives Ms. Marvel a unique look. "I wasn't sure she was going to work on this last issue because I had already written the script before I knew she was on the book, and I hadn't written anything for her," he said. "And I was thinking, uh oh... will she have to draw something she isn't comfortable doing? And she just knocked it out of the ballpark. And I thought, I'm a fool for doubting Sana Takeda. And she's continuing to just impress me as we work together."
Until "War of the Marvels" begins in July, Reed said readers will have to continue looking for clues to what the Ms. Marvel event really means -- but in the meantime, he hopes they'll at least enjoy all the Marvel costumed characters who are getting involved in the story.
"I asked the editors if I could have this big list of characters, and I was really glad when they said yes to everyone," he said. "It all comes together over the next few issues, and with Deadpool in it, it's even crazier than it could be."
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Post by goldenfist on Jun 17, 2009 9:08:00 GMT -5
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Post by goldenfist on Jun 17, 2009 9:19:10 GMT -5
MS. MARVEL #45 Written by BRIAN REED Pencils & Cover by SANA TAKEDA 70th Anniversary Variant by MARKO DJURDJEVIC WAR OF THE MARVELS CONTINUES! The only woman who can hope to defeat Norman Osborn refuses to fight, and the Dark Reign takes permanent hold of the Marvel Universe--it's Moonstone triumphant as War of the Marvels reaches its penultimate episode! i.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/sept09/74_ms__marvel_45.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Jul 2, 2009 15:50:20 GMT -5
Exclusive Marvel Preview: Ms. Marvel #41 - A Return? In MS MARVEL #41, not only does new Ms. Marvel Karla Sofen have to deal with Deadpool, now she's got the New Avengers coming at her in full force. Prelude to this summer's epic WAR OF THE MARVELS! Then in MS. MARVEL #42, WAR OF THE MARVELS begins here! Karla Sofen battles for her life in the streets of Los Angeles as an exciting new chapter in the history of Ms. Marvel begins! Guest starring the New Avengers and...someone we can't tell you about! Click on the link to see the previews www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=1158 |
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Post by goldenfist on Jul 16, 2009 14:09:11 GMT -5
Exclusive Marvel Preview: Ms. Marvel #42 - It's War! In MS MARVEL #41, not only does new Ms. Marvel Karla Sofen have to deal with Deadpool, now she's got the New Avengers coming at her in full force. Prelude to this summer's epic WAR OF THE MARVELS! Then in MS. MARVEL #42, WAR OF THE MARVELS begins here! Karla Sofen battles for her life in the streets of Los Angeles as an exciting new chapter in the history of Ms. Marvel begins! Guest starring the New Avengers and...someone we can't tell you about! Click on the link to see the previews www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=1187 |
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Post by goldenfist on Jul 22, 2009 10:01:14 GMT -5
MS. MARVEL #46 Written by BRIAN REED Pencils & Cover by SANA TAKEDA Zombie Variant by TBA WAR OF THE MARVELS: THE FINAL CHAPTER There’s only room for one Ms. Marvel, and both Carol Danvers and Karla Sofen will kill to take the mantle. It’s the ultimate showdown of Dark Reign as the lines between good and evil are blurred...and the last Ms. Marvel standing will face the surprise ending of the year! i.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/oct09/72_ms__marvel_46.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Aug 18, 2009 12:43:37 GMT -5
MS. MARVEL #47 Written by BRIAN REED Penciled by MARK ROBINSON Cover by PASQUAL FERRY The War of The Marvels is over, but before Carol Danvers can deal with it’s aftermath, she must brace herself as she faces down the biggest mistake she made before her apparent death...promising Spider-Man she’d go out with him. Brian Reed teams with Mark Robinson (SKRULL KILL KREW) to bring you THE AMAZING SPIDER-DATE! i.newsarama.com/marvelnew/Nov09/75_ms__marvel_47.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Aug 30, 2009 22:15:00 GMT -5
Someone from Newsarama.com writes a letter to Ms.Marvel
Ms. Marvel #44
Written by: Brian Reed
Art by: Sana Takeda
From: Marvel Comics
Review By: Brian Andersen
Dear Ms. Marvel,
You know that I love ya, girl. Right? I mean, how can any self respecting fanboy/girl worth his/her mylar bag not have a soft spot for you? You’re the ultimate survivor! You’ve had two solo starring series, been a member of the Avengers, an unofficial part of the X-Men, had various different power sets, numerous code names, got pregnant by your otherworldly boyfriend and than gave birth to the same otherworldly boyfriend (something you, nor your writers/editors talk about much), and had your entire identity and powers stolen. What a storied life. Yet somehow, despite all the odds, you’re still here, still fighting for relevance. If you ask me, that’s something to be admired.
So let me get to the point of this letter. It concerns your latest adventure, Ms. Marvel #44. The whole “War of the Marvels” multi-part, mega-story pitting you (I think?) against the current usurper of your Ms. Marvel title - the villain formerly knows as Moonstone. Honestly, I don’t much care for the Moonstone-y Ms. Marvel, and, I hate to say, I have a very difficult time finding the energy to care about you nowadays. Despite my earlier assurance that I love you and your character, the honest truth is, I don’t much like you. I love you but I’m not in love with you. I love the concept of you but not so much the current execution of who you are in your current book. And I really and truly want to love your book. I want nothing more than to see you, and it, succeed. To do something few (none?) Marvel heroines have accomplished - big time sales success. Alas, I don’t see top selling status in the cards for you with this issue.
Here’s why: I have no idea what the frack is going on. And I have read every issue of your book and frankly I’m not sure that I care to know. From what I’ve gathered there’s now two versions of you, one superpowered and one, boringly, not. So after you supposedly died a few issues back - which was met with zero response from the Marvel readers (which I think speaks volumes about the status of your current book) - you came back split into two separate beings? A heroically crazy version and a mild-mannered writer? I get it that having these various versions of you running around is supposed to be all mysterious and stuff, the storyline is supposed to be filled with oodles of twists and turns and intrigue, but all I find myself thinking is – blah. This book should be a nail-biter, there are lots of great elements in it; like a sociopathic co-star, all those Dark Avengers running around (to help sell books), the whole Dark Reign emblem on your front cover (to boost sales); so on paper it all sounds totally fab! But in reality everything just falls flat.
For me it’s the lack of characterization. Who is Carol Danvers anymore? Why should I still love you much as I used too? Where’s the spice and the excitement in your character that I used to enjoy so much? Your book has bounced around from one Marvel event to the next, with subplots getting tossed to the wayside along the way, leaving me feeling confused and empty. There’s no emotional weight to your stories anymore. It’s just “Charge” all the time. Charge headlong into the fray here, spring boarding from one event story arch to the next there, with no time sit back and develop your character. I want to know more about you. Not the Ms. Marvel side but the beautiful, confident, person behind the mask. Peter Parker is a much-loved character because the readers get to know him outside his Spider-Man costume. We care because he has a supporting cast we get to know and love, he has a job, he has romantic problems, money problems, he’s identifiably human. Peter Parker is someone people can relate too. Ms. Marvel? Not so much. I don’t know anything about your personal life anymore. I just see the empty, endless, hero battles, and I get none of the nutritional interpersonal stories I so crave and depend on to keep me interested in you and your book.
So please, Ms. Marvel, Carol, or whatever your two selves wants to call themselves, please take the time to develop who you are. The non-super-sash side of you. That is something I want to read about. That is something that will help rekindle my dying love. After all, great solo books have a rich supporting cast; they have terrific quite moments, everyday human interactions, everyday trails and tribulations, on top of their cosmic battles and costume adventures. I believe in you, girl. You haven’t come this far to fail now! So get it together!
Yours truly,
Brian Andersen
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Post by starfoxxx on Aug 31, 2009 14:57:38 GMT -5
This "letter to Ms. Marvel" actually sums up how I feel about the current state of several Marvel characters, including Hercules, Luke Cage, Hawkeye, Namor, Hank Pym,and the Vision.
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Post by goldenfist on Sept 22, 2009 13:38:19 GMT -5
MS. MARVEL #48 Written by BRIAN REED Pencils by SANA TAKEDA Cover by PAUL RENAUD Ms. Marvel vs. Mystique! She raised Rogue, the woman who stole Carol’s powers and memories, and now the sinister shape-shifter is coming for Ms. Marvel herself! Yes, the collision readers have demanded since issue #1 is here as the march to the momentous issue #50 begins now! i.newsarama.com/marvelnew/dec09/76_ms__marvel_48.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Oct 19, 2009 13:56:33 GMT -5
MS. MARVEL #49 Written by BRIAN REED Pencils & Cover by SANA TAKEDA Ms. Marvel vs...Captain Marvel? What is behind the latest shocking twist in the life of Carol Danvers? It all leads to next month's huge 50th issue! i.newsarama.com/marvelnew/jan2010/msmarv49.jpg |
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Post by goldenfist on Nov 17, 2009 14:01:45 GMT -5
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Post by goldenfist on Dec 7, 2009 10:34:19 GMT -5
Newsarama.com interviews Brain Reed about Ms.Marvel's Finale.
In 2006, a fairly new comics writer named Brian Reed launched a new series about female superhero Ms. Marvel.
Although she wasn't exactly one of Marvel's more popular characters -- and a few recent name changes didn't help -- Reed ended up keeping the series interesting and relevant enough to the Marvel Universe to keep Ms. Marvel going for more than three years.
And earlier this year, the title saw the lead character facing death and being replaced as part Dark Reign, with Karla Sofen taking the title for several months before the return of Carol Danvers.
Now the ongoing title will come to an end in an oversized issue in February with Ms. Marvel #50. Newsarama talked about the end of the series and why Reed chose to spend the final chapter of the title on exploring Ms. Marvel's relationship with Mystique.
Newsarama: Brian, how long have you known about the fact that the series was ending? Have you had to scramble, or was it a case of you being given time to prepare?
Brian Reed: Like any writer, I half expected it to be canceled way back on Issue #6 or something. I feel lucky that I've gotten to write a single superhero in her own comic for 50 issues. But they told me, I think, around Issue #40 that the end of the series was coming with Issue #50.
Nrama: You know, it's a good point that this series is a single hero, because outside Spider-Man, Daredevil, Punisher, and maybe two or three other heroes, it's rare for a Marvel hero to get this long of a run. Particularly a female hero. Why do you think this run caught on so well with readers?
Reed: Well, I think that's what attracted some people to the series is what you mentioned, that she's a female hero, because I've heard a lot of people mention this is a comic they get for their girlfriend. But you know, what fans seem to have responded to the most is that she's trying to be the best she can be, and she doesn't always succeed. I think that's something everyone can understand.
I know there was one time I had this reader say he was going to drop out of college, but he read Ms. Marvel and how she strives to always do her best, and he ended up going back to college. And he said, "and now I'm doing great." And I thought, "Holy God! What have I done?" [laughs] I hope that's what that person needed!
But that's really amazing, to know people are reading this thing and taking that kind of message away from it, when at the end of the day, I'm just having fun writing about superheroes punching each other.
Nrama: We've talked about this before, but looking back at Ms. Marvel's growth since issue #1, and there has been a lot of growth for this character through all her ordeals during Civil War and Secret Invasion and everything, do you think you grew as a writer along with her?
Reed: Oh yeah. I stumbled backwards into getting Ms. Marvel, and I thank Andy Schmidt for that to no end. And with every issue, I've learned something else about my job. I'm to the point where, when I write other series, everything I'm putting in those books, I learned from Carol Danvers. Those first half dozen to a dozen issues were just, how do you write a script and get it out the door on time every month? Then, once I got that down, it was how to make that story work better visually and structurally. It was on-the-job training, and I couldn't be more thankful that Marvel paid me for it. But yeah, it's a much better book now than it was then.
Nrama: What's your favorite scene you wrote in Ms. Marvel over these 50 issues?
Reed: My favorite beat in the series to write was when Carol stood up at the start of 25 and decided being a super hero wasn't going to cut it with the Skrulls. She needed to be a soldier if she, and the Earth, were going to survive. That was where the series had been heading--Carol waking up and realizing the power and the potential she had, and not doubting herself. Since that moment in the series she's been surprised, she hasn't known what to do, but she's never doubted she could save the day.
Nrama: This ending of Ms. Marvel doesn't tie into Siege, does it?
Reed: No. This is a story about Carol and her oldest enemy, Mystique. There was so much to play with there, that there wasn't any need to tie it into Siege as well. What we get are two women who have been at one another's throats for years having one more go round--and we're given one more look at what makes Carol a hero.
Nrama: Most Marvel readers know the history between those characters, but just to kind of give us a refresher course, what emotions exist between these characters? And how will you be exploring with those?
Reed: It's just like how nowadays, people see Kingpin as being a Punisher character or a Daredevil character, he was a Spider-Man character originally and showed up first as a Spider-Man nemesis. Mystique is the same way. Everyone thinks of Mystique as an X-Men character, but she showed up in the pages of Ms. Marvel first.
When she showed up, she was trying to get Rogue to kill Carol. And this set in motion 20 years of Rogue and Carol and the relationship of the X-Men and everything.
And that's something we haven't really had a chance to go back and look at yet. Mystique and Carol don't bump into each other that often, and what happens if they do now, with Carol being the person she is, and Mystique doing the things she's doing? And that's what we get to do.
Nrama: I remember about a year ago when I got a really surprising "yes" to this question, so I have to ask it again. Is Ms. Marvel going to die?
Reed: Let’s just say the series ends with something important to the story of Carol Danvers.
Nrama: And the reason this series is ending is just a matter of sales, right?
Reed: Yeah. But you know, we sure had a good run, like I said, for a single hero to go 50 issues.
Nrama: Where are you going next? What are we going to see from you once Ms. Marvel is no longer on your plate?
Reed: First up is Siege: Imbedded, which is the Frontline-type series for Siege, but it's not the traditional Frontline, and we didn't want to keep using that name but changing the theme every time. So we realized "Imbedded" is really what this one is about. Imbedded journalists, and how they're used not just by the news organizations but by the government, to get the story out that the government wants, which is something that happens even in our country that we don't necessarily acknowledge all the time.
And what happens when you put Ben Urich in that situation when someone wants a particular story out, and he knows that's not the real story?
That's going to be a mini-series that starts the same time as Siege.
There's also something Spider-Man approved that I can't talk about that should start up in summer or fall. And there are a few other things bubbling that I can't talk about yet because of Siege.
Nrama: Anything else you want to say to fans who have been around for your 50-issue run on Ms. Marvel?
Reed: I thank them to no end. They will never know how thankful I am to have had the opportunity to tell them those stories, and to learn that craft, and to get into the industry with that book the way I did. And those are the people I owe for it.
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Post by goldenfist on Jan 22, 2010 2:23:27 GMT -5
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