Captain America #26 - How does one follow up the death of Captain America? Ed Brubaker and crew have had several months to figure that out, finally releasing issue #26 after a several month delay. After reading through the issue, I'm not quite sure what warranted the delay, as none of the events hinge or spoil other issues in the Marvel Universe.  In this issue, we start to see the after-effects of Cap's assassination playing out through those closest to him: Sharon Carter (dealing with the fact that she killed him), Falcon (straddling the line between pro and anti-superhero registration), the New Avengers (trying to deal with the loss of their leader), his enemies (Red Skull and company), and ultimately Bucky (ending on a vow to kill Tony Stark).  The emotion of the issue is somewhat strange, as we've already had several months to digest and move on after Captain America's death.  To be thrown back into that, just seems like the Marvel Universe is a step behind the real world.  The alluded arc of Bucky hunting down Tony Stark is interesting, but seems somewhat meaningless, as we know he won't kill him. (Yes, one could very well point out that we didn't think Cap would die either.)  The unfolding of events after Cap's death is just getting started and should bloom wonderfully under Brubaker's care; it's just very early in the process.  As a result, we have to start out with an issue that is somewhat of a let down, but necessary to hopefully get us to a better place.  Grade: B-

Fantastic Four #546 - For kicks, I jumped back into FF with the introduction of the Black Panther and Storm as temporary replacements for Reed and Sue, somewhat curious of the adventure in outer space battling the Silver Surfer and Galactus.  Now after three issues, I'm pretty sure I'm ready to drop the title.  The space romp wasn't a complete disaster, but there just isn't enough here to keep me willing to drop money every month for it.  In this issue, we have the conclusion of the battle against Galactus and his heralds.  Black Panther bailed on the fight last month and we see him heading back to his country to pick up some secret weapons, including some frog statues that can instantly teleport people when they are arranged to do the nasty - real classy stuff.  Returning to the battle, the newcomer Gravity joins the FF to ultimately defeat the heralds and energize Galactus enough to move elsewhere for his next meal and once again the FF save the universe.  Elsewhere, Reed and Sue get a distress call, which is alluded to be due to the introduction of the FF zombies into this world.  Up until that last point, I was pretty ready to drop this title with no qualms, due to the barely average plots and dialog and subpar art.  The dangling of some zombie action however, made me hesitate slightly.  Marvel seems to be milking the zombie franchise quite a bit lately, which somewhat bothers me that they're possibly showing up here, but I have to admit that I find them to be dumb fun.  So will I continue to read this book?  Game time decision next month, I guess.  Grade: C-

Spirit #6 - Let's start with the best thing of this issue: the art and layouts.  On my second reading of this, I fell in love with the way Darwyn Cooke set his panels and how the scenes got laid out.  The two page spread of the opening credits seems almost straight out of a movie.  I've liked Cooke's art in general, but it seemed to really stand out here. The one let down here is the story itself, which fortunately somehow manages to avoid becoming a punk stereotype trainwreck, but has too much focus on the Almost Blue character, enough so that the Spirit isn't really seen much in this issue and he seems actually very tangential to the whole story.  I didn't find myself sympathetic to Almost Blue, so I wasn't very invested in his eventual ending.  Other than that, a great issue this week.  Grade: B+

Countdown #49 - Have I said how much I'm enjoying this weekly series so far?  It's pretty funny I have that feeling even though I really don't know too much about the characters.  Here we see the resolution of the Jimmy Olsen / Killer Croc battle (of which I hope they explain Olsen's sudden super powers), the Trickster and Piper trying to prove that they're "rogues," the Monitors giving us more backdrop on their mission, and the surprising return of Black Adam.  The Black Adam storyline was one of my favorites in 52, and I have a mixture of excitement for his return and hesitance that they he may quickly become stale due to overexposure.  During its short life so far, Countdown hasn't quite cracked that upper echelon of books I am super excited about coming out that week, but has definitely been one I'm glad to get to read every week.  I know there will ultimately be a lull in the series sometime during the year, but I love it so far. Grade: A-

Had the great opportunity to be the guest blogger for Wil Eslinger this week. Check it out!

The Office Finale. Only one blog without a social life ready to comment on the episode minute by minute. Here we go…

0:02 Jim has his “sexy-hot haircut�…ready to promote his next movie, License to Wed. I look forward to seeing the plethora of commercials. First Pam / Jim awkward moment.

0:03 Pam’s wearing blue. Is that part of the new wild Pam?

0:04 Dwight’s crying now? I’m ready for Bizarro Superman to show up now. Oh wait. First Pam / Karen confrontation of the night. Oh, don’t hold back Karen…and you didn’t.

0:05 How does one choose between Pam and Karen? Millions of nerdy men all over the internet are spending too much time debating that. Including me.

0:06 Creed’s blog gets 10 million hits right now.  The first man to register that site is rolling in cash right about now.

0:11 “Welcome to the hotel hell. Check in time is not, check out time is never.� Another Dwight quote I can use along with however many other million people that watch this show.

0:12 Pam has the best “crap why am I hearing this� faces. I would pick Pam, definitely, at least for this minute.

0:13 Jan’s in jeans. What’s up with that business casual crap? She’s really falling apart after Michael.

0:15 Wait, hold on, did Jan just completely change outfits?

0:16 Oh…that’s why. Yikes. The boobs are even red for that “fresh out of surgery� look. Gross.

0:17 First commercial for License to Wed (John Krasinski’s upcoming movie with Robin Williams and Mandy Moore). I predict three more before the night is over

0:20 Is Jan’s new boob job what Power Girl would look like in real life?

0:21 Second awkward glance between Pam and Jim.

0:23 Michael’s cupping Jan’s boobs. America’s censors are start picking up their phones.

0:24 Jim’s nose looks a lot bigger without the slacker hair

0:25 Man, Karen is short. I would definitely pick Karen.

0:26 Did Jim change clothes again? Seriously, where are the continuity police?

0:30 Michael made some more boob jokes. That’s all I could write this minute, because they weren’t really funny.

0:32 Pam’s back in pink. It’s like her kryptonite.

0:33 Who will go to corporate, Jim or Michael? That’s more predictable that the guess that there will be two more Pam / Jim interactions, one Angela smarmy joke, and one Creed theft by the end of this episode.

0:37 Wait, that’s two commercial breaks without another ad for License to Wed.  Did it already get cancelled?

0:38 Pam asserts herself again. Pam retakes #1. Karen better step it up.

0:39 Where’s Toby?

0:40 Jan’s chest area just got a little pixilated on my HDTV. Wow, those censors sure act fast. Or maybe, I just need to get better component cables.

0:41 I forgot to place my bet on having a Jan mental breakdown in the episode.

0:43 Local news talks about Jenna Fisher’s recent accident. Pam gets another sympathy vote, she’s up on Karen by two now.

0:48 Awkard Jan mental breakdown. My dog needs to go outside now, seems like a good time to let him out. Probably didn’t miss too much.

0:50 “I’m going no where,â€? says Michael.  Same thing could be said for this…ok, that was too easy.

0:51 The Dwight / Pam friendship is somewhat fun. Better not be a Dwight / Jim / Pam triangle next season, else I’m turning in my “I love Pam Beesley� membership.

0:52 Pam love note. I should have seen that coming. I’m off my game.

0:55 Pam: “I’m sure we’ll stay friends.� Cue Biz Markie song…

0:55 OHHHHHHHH SNAAPPPPPP! I paused it right when he asked her out to dinner. Shades of the ending of the British version flooding into my mind. I’m scared to press play.

0:55 (Jaw agape, minor tear of happiness coming to my eye. Holding it down…be a man, be a man…)

0:58 Evan Almighty, I’m intrigued…

0:59 What? Ryan’s leaving. Haha. Take that Kelly.

0:60 Oh well, not super awesome, but still enjoyed the episode. See you in the fall! I’m sure I’ll have been sued by the Sports Guy on ESPN by then.

Is that the sound of joy coming a day early? Or maybe it's just spiders in your ear. Since I'll be on the road tomorrow, enjoy the early release of episode #59. Reviews of Bright Eyes' Cassadaga, Amazons Attack #1, Marvel Zombies - Dead Days, Jetpac Refueled and Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia for xbox360, and the dumbest way to earn some spare cash.
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Question of the week: Would you rather be in a world taken over by Amazons or zombies?
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Louis' 5 stages of reading comic books

Excitement: Countdown #50 - Having just finished 52, I'm even more excited to be participating in Countdown. So far I haven't been disappointed and was happy to get the Jimmy Olsen / Joker meeting so quickly. I don't really know much about Mary Marvel or the Rogues, but I'm strapped in for the ride. Grade: A-

Confusion: JLA #9 - I've just hopped on for the lightening saga and after JSA and the previous JLA, I thought I somewhat understood what was going on. After this issue, I realize I really don't. Talking apes, a lady with her head cut off, Power Girl making out wth Hawkman, Dawnstar's crazily impossible costume. At least the art was pretty. Grade: C

Shock: Ulitmate X-men #82 - I had more hope for the Nightcrawler / Morlocks subplot, but now him and Toad are POWs. Bishop's off creating a new X-men team and the spoiler at the end was not really all that exciting. I really wish the "legendary" mutant was not who it was revealed to be. I wanted a new character, not bringing back a previous one I could care less about. Art was horrible. Looked like Cyclops was wearing a red bra over his eyes. Grade: C-

Disgust: Mighty Avengers #3 - Bendis, why can't I quit you? For every step forward (crazy Sentry slugfest), this issue has one step backwards for me (the horrendous Pym/Tigra scene). I've gone off enough on my issues with Cho. This book has really teetered on the "too campy" line with each issue, and the thought balloons (which I like at times) is pushing it towards that. But...I feel contractually obligated to keep buying a Bendis book. Seriously, what the freak is going on with Iron Man? Grade: C+

Hope: Fallen Son #3 - I really wish this came out before last week's New Avengers. Knowing that Hawkeye is Ronin kind of spoiled this storyline b/c you knew he wasn't going to stay as Cap. I'm digging the small links from each issue, which gives the series some elements of continuity. #1 was ok, liked #2, #3 gave me hope for the remainder of the series. Grade: B+

Kwok Talk episode #59 out tomorrow. Word to your mother!

Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America: The Avengers
This issue marks the second chapter in the Fallen Son mini-series, written by Jeph Loeb and featuring a variety of artists, that takes a closer look at the toll of Captain America’s death on the Marvel Universe.  Loeb takes his cue from the five psychological stages of grief.  Our first issue had Wolverine in DENIAL.  Here, we’ve moved on to the next stage: ANGER.

I found the first issue to be pretty but of little substance; my expectations for this issue were somewhat low, wondering if it was going to be another one-shot that really made no difference. Well…you can’t win them all.

The story still is somewhat isolated, with the Mighty Avengers off fighting Tiger Shark and the New Avengers taking in a game of poker, but elements of the first story play out in the events of this issue. With Iron Man MIA having to deal with Wolverine on the SHIELD Helicarrier, and Wolverine showing up in the New Avengers storyline after his confirmation of Captain America’s death, my previous $3 investment was made a little more tolerable.

Anger has a both subtle and overt corruption of our natures and Loeb utilizes the simultaneous storylines to try and touch various points on the spectrum.  The traditional form of anger shows itself in the Mighty Avengers plot, as Ms. Marvel allows herself to unravel and project her anger onto an unfortunately beaten Tiger Shark.  Namor, sardonically quoted as “the poster boy for anger management,â€? shows up at the end to deliver our school afternoon special by pointing out that beating up all the sea creatures in the world won’t bring back their fallen comrade.  

The New Avengers plotline has a subtler, and hence more effective, examination of anger.  While the Mighty Avengers are off saving the world, the New Avengers are trying to take their mind off the tragedy with a night of poker, joined by the Thing.  Here, their anger over the situation is repressed as the team (except for a despondent Spiderman) tries to ignore the situation, allowing their feelings to seeth into curt and biting remarks at each other. Even with this single issue, the point is conveyed that the team’s chemistry is shot without their leader and the individual members haven’t been able to work out their grief. Spiderman becomes the catalyst in this storyline as he finally breaks down and you see his anger finally work its way out. (The emotional cycle will play out with Spiderman in Chapter 4.)

With the end of both storylines, the issue at hand is not any better. Captain America is dead. The reality of it is finally beginning to set in and it hurts a lot. They are a step closer to the end of the stages of grief, but not quite out of the dark valley.  While I don’t think this series will be a masterpiece by the time we finish chapter 5, Loeb has me optimistic for the remainder of the series. After a lackluster start, Chapter 2 has a little more emotional meat that we were hoping fore. 4 out of 5.

(Oh, I totally forgot to talk about the art. Ed McGuinness (Ultimates) is the artist slated for this issue and I thought he did a great job, having not seen much of his other work before. The two teams have such wildly divergent art styles in their respective books and McGuinness seemed like a fitting compromise.  Bright coloring, cartoony yet clear)

Happy cinco de mayo! Celebrate with a review of Rosie Thomas' album These Friends of Mine, Kingdom Come, a look back at my NBA playoff pics, where not to send sexy pics of yourself, and I suffer through Shrek 3 the videogame.

My NBA 2nd round picks:

Detroit/Chicago - Detroit in 6
Cleveland/winner of Toronto/NJ - Toronto/NJ in 5
Phoenix/San Antonio - Phoenix in 7
Golden State/winner of Houston/Utah - Houston/Utah in 6
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Be sure to check out Will Eslinger's 1up blog, where he writes amazing reviews weekly on all things video games, TV, and comics.
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