The Wry’s Rants for Apr 7 released comics

Howdy and/or doody, and welcome back to The Wry’s rants! This week we’ll look at 5 different titles. There’s World War Hulks #1, Deadpool Corps #1, The Flash Secret Files #1, S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, and Cable #1, er… #25. (sorry, didn’t realize how many #1 issues I’d be covering) No rant this week as nothing came out that made me want to vent. Maybe next time.



World War Hulks #1
This one-shot issue has a heart-stopping six (that’s right, SIX) stories in it. Mind you, they’re only 8 pages each, and none of them really need to be read to follow the Hulk storyline, but six stories! That’s like six second features with no main feature! (actually, that’s exactly what it is) We have an A-Bomb story by Jeff Parker and Zach Howard (which was okay), a Glenn Talbot (??) story by Harrison Wilcox and Ben Oliver (which wasn’t necessary), a Cosmic Hulk story by Scott Reed and Aluir Amancio (which REALLY wasn’t necessary). Also there’s a Samson story by Paul Tobin and Ramon Rosanas (which I liked), a Red She-Hulk story Harrison Wilcox and Ryan Stegman (which was okay) and finally a Deadpool story by Jeff Parker and Iguana, er… Ig Guara (sorry).
Overall, a solid ‘meh’. Nothing offensive about it, but not mandatory reading if you want to follow what’s going on in Hulk.



Deadpool Corps #1
Speaking of a Deadpool story, here’s Deadpool Corps # 1 by Victor Gischler and Rob Liefeld. This picks up where the prelude story left off, with the Deadpools currently in space with Comtemplator (sounds like the name of a Decepticon). He tells the ‘pools of this sentient negative energy space thingy and that they have to go stop it. Along the way they run across The Champion (that’s right, THE Champion) and fun and chaos ensues.
But wait, there’s more! There’s also a back-up story by Frank Tieri (Yay! He’s like the best villain writer ever) and Matteo Scalera that gives a nice little summary of Deadpool’s psyche (as bizarre as it is). Overall this issue is okay, having Deadpool in space is an interesting change, although I don’t know how well this will turn out in the end.



The Flash Secret Files #1
The issue is basically two parts, a Barry Allen Flash story (by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins) and then the Secret Files. Since Johns and Kolins did this, you know the rogues would be in it (and they are at the end). Basically the entire issue, secret files and all, is setup to give people an intro into the Flash in case they were planning on getting the ongoing series. At this I think they did a pretty good job. Anyone that’s planning on picking up the ongoing should get this issue as well. It covers all the basics and the need-to-know info so you’ll know what’s going on once the series starts.



Cable #25
Final issue! Usually I don’t get Cable, but this issue has Deadpool in it, and it actually takes place at the beginning of Messiah Complex, when Cable first gets Hope as an infant. This story, by Duane Swierczynski and Paco Medina, does a pretty good job at re-creating the chemistry between Cable and Deadpool as they battle the Purifiers and even a Sentinel while Cable protects Hope. This also happens after the Cable & Deadpool ongoing, but it’s before Deadpool restarting his series, so it’s like Cable & Deadpool issue 51 (the series ended after issue 50). Duane also makes fun of Deadpool having about 14 titles now, so overall I enjoyed this issue for these two being together one more time if nothing else.



S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
Okay, first of all, this issue is not for casual reading. You’ll need to pay attention to this in order to follow it (I know I had to, but then again, I’m a Deadpool fan so definitely a different flavor here). It’s by Jonathan Hickman and Dustin Weaver, and even though it’s a Marvel comic, it feels like Hickman back when he was doing independent stuff. It’s a neat idea, instead of SHIELD starting with Nick Fury, this has them originating with Imhotep back in 2620 BC when he was fighting the Brood (!!), continued on to 114 AD with the Han Dynasty and the dealing with a Celestial, to 1495 with Da Vinci, and 1582 with Galileo confronting Galactus. The main story takes place during 1953 and someone name Leonid being taken to Rome, where a quarter mile below Rome is the Immortal City, where the High Council of the Shield reside. They tell Leonid they must join them in protecting the world and he agrees, with his father showing up 3 years later to take him to a part of the building that hasn’t been opened for centuries. This is a must-read for Hickman fans out there, and also for those who want to try a title that’s a little different (okay, a lot different, but in a good way).