Welcome one and all! Welcome to the latest issue of Your Comic Relief presents. This time? Your top 6 comics to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! Please take the time to comment and leave me some feedback! It is much appreciated.
6. Incredible Hercules
A title that I am quite partial to, as I am a huge fan of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythology, Incredible Hercules took over from the Incredible Hulk after World War Hulk ended. This issue has been faily reliable in terms of quality. Hercules, accompanied by Amadeus Cho, has set off destroying just about anything in their path, and while much of this has been Cho’s conniving, it has also been Herc’s unpredictability that serves as the catalyst for their antics. In fact, watching their interactions is one of the many joys this title offers.
5. Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men had some problems with messiah Complex, it really was just OK. Not as awesome as it should have been or really as we were promised it would be. However, the last 6-8 issues of Uncanny have been absolutely fantastic. Another product of Brubaker’s undeniable, and often simply unbelievable contributions to Marvel. Now co-authored by Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker as of issue 502 My favourite part of the last 3 or so issues have been the (re)introductions of each of the characters in each issue, which the authors have taken as an opportunity to make some much appreciated jokes. Of the jokes, I think the best one has to be calling Wolverine “ubiquitous,” meaning everywhere at once. I have to assume this is a reference to Wolverine appearing in so many Marvel publications, I remember over the summer there was a week where he was in every single release, and I’m sure that can’t be the only time – just the time I noticed. Another aspect of this that I have greatly appreciated is the expansion of Pixie as a character; previously a side character in the x-men B-team, but she is now turning into an actual relatable character. This, mixed with the recent storyline, allows Uncanny X-Men to make the cut into the Your Comic Relief Thanksgiving Top 6.
4. Cable & Deadpool and Deadpool
I have included both titles in this, because in my mind, the star of C&D really was Deadpool, with Cable serving to create meaningful plot devices and serve as a rational figure by which we could appreciate how utterly absurd Deadpool is. The last several issues of Cable & Deadpool, the “X and Deadpool” run, while we were supposed to believe Cable was dead. Did anyone raelly think that? The new Deadpool series features Deadpool still actively ambiguous about his allegiances, and whether this is a function of his dubious (at best) mental compas, or his ever blossoming psychosis, I don’t think even Marvel Knows.
3. Wolverine Origins
Written by Daniel Way, and illustrated by Steve Dillon, Wolverine Origins has delivered unique story arcs to us all year. With guest appearances from Deadpool, Captain America, and most recently Daken (Wolverine’s Son). Probably one of the best arcs of the year in my opinion was the confrontation between Wolverine and Deadpool. A matchup that people had been waiting for for years; while they did meet up in Cable & Deadpool, it was overhyped and anticlimactic at best. This time, it went on for several issues, and really delivered. This title has had the ability to run the gamut of emotional possibilities, from the more serious aspect of the Cap’s storyline to the sheer ridiculousness of Deadpool. It didn’t stop there however, the story right now of Wolverine and Daken is a reminder to the seriousness of Wolverine’s past, the decisions he has had to make, and stands in stark juxtaposition to the humor of seeing the Wolverine-Deadpool confrontation through the warped mind and eyes of Deadpool.
2. Iron Man
This title has had its ups and downs as of late. Back when it was Iron Man: Director of Shield, which was before 2008 if I’m not mistaken but bear with me, it was very hit or miss. There was some subplot of “Iron Man might be Crazy!!!” Very hit or miss unfortunately. However, with the most recent story arc of nuclear threat (which as an aside, reminds me of the Ultimate Iron Man II series of 4), Tony Stark has had the opportunity to return to his self-sacrificing…. self. If you get right down to it, I firmly believe that this is why the Director of Shield thing didn’t work out so well. he had too much responsibility that he couldn’t afford to do something that everyone else saw as incredibly stupid. More often than not, his decisions have been incredibly reckless, but he saw that it had to be done, and he was the only one who could do it, such as defusing a nuclear weapon about to go off. As with Uncanny X-Men, the most recent story arc really makes this much more of a contender than it previously would have been, not to say that before this arc has been bad mind you! Also, Warmachine is totally badass, and anyone who disagrees has to answer to giant space robot. They should pay me to love Ironman and the Number One pick this much, am I right? Now for the number one reason to thank marvel this Thanksgiving!
1. Captain America
Captain America has been Ed Brubaker’s work this year, and damn does he do good work. In my opinion, this has been THE title to read this year. Every issue has just been stellar. I’m not even sure to begin, and am a little ashamed that this paragraph is so much shorter than the others, but honestly, it’s just all good. It is always the first comic I read whenever I get it home, bar none. Bucky is shaping up to be a fantastic new Cap, ant the interplay between Faustis and the Red Skull has been fantastic, with plots within plots. Agent 13 and Falcon have been well developed, but really, the best part has been how in each issue a little more of the Skull’s plot has been revealed to us.
Well, that’s that. Those of you that know me may have noticed something. Where’s Thor? Thor this year has been rather lackluster this year, and much to my chagrin (I’m trying to use that word more often, as I always have to look it up). And this makes Thor sad:
While there have been some cool Thor tie ins, the Secret Invasion was entertaining if nothing else, the bit that happened about Egypt was pretty cool too, and was a cool insight into how the Marvel universe allows for seperate sets of deities, especially if you read the Incredible Hercules as well, issues like 114-117 or something like that. But I decided to limit myself to regular titles, and not consider limited series such as Logan by Marvel Knights (which is beyond fantastic by the way), or the numerous Thor extra releases recently. Once again, let me know what you think of my list, and, if any comic bloggers who are big DC fans would like to do a DC version, I would be honored to publish it, and of course link to it. Just in the spirit of fairness, I would like to have a DC version, but in the spirit of honesty I don’t know much about DC. That’s it for YCR Presents, have a happy thanksgiving!
Your Comic Relief 