The Weekly Pull Review - Secret Wars #1

The Weekly Pull Review - Secret Wars #1

The Marvel Comics event of the year is finally upon us as Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic’s 8-issue Secret Wars event officially launched the beginning of the end for the Marvel Universe this week. This massive saga is a HUGE payoff to those, like me, who have collected Hickman’s work through Avengers (Vol. 5) and New Avengers (Vol. 3) totalling a whopping 77 issues, which together weaved an intricate story of how Earth’s Mightiest Heroes failed to not only protect their world, but the entire multiverse.

Although the premise seems daunting for those who aren’t up to speed, IGN has put together a fantastic recap of the events that have led up to Secret Wars, which you can find here. Take note that Hickman’s work isn’t for the faint of heart and tells a much darker and complex tale for such a mainstream title, clearly aimed at an older and more mature demographic.  

The Secret Wars event begins right where the Avengers finale concludes, with the final two worlds in the Marvel multiverse facing the incursion and imminent destruction. Earth-616, better known as the Prime continuity, and Earth-1610, the Ultimate Universe. As the worlds collide, beloved heroes fall in battle, lives are lost to scientific miscalculations and a Battleworld is formed, which will forever change the landscape of the Marvel Universe.

Worlds Collide

The scope and significance of this story also marks a historical event for Marvel Comics, as this is the first time in franchise history that the publisher has rebooted. With the exception of it's Star Wars titles, every Marvel book will see its final issue during the event, replaced by Secret Wars tie-in titles that will follow the incursion survivors. Very little is known at this point regarding how the Marvel Universe will unfold after the event reaches its conclusion. Some signs point toward a jump in time, while others suggest that some tie-in stories will evolve into mainstream ongoing titles.

Secret Wars is the must-read event of the year, and comes highly recommended by the NGP team. This is one of the boldest and most well-written story events to ever come from the House of Ideas and if every issue is as strong as the debut, we're in for a treat.

4/5 Toast Rating

This is the big leagues, and everything we know about the current Marvel Universe will never be the same.    

Questions or Comments? Sound off below, or find me on Twitter as @ArchangelEZE and for more exciting news and reviews, follow NGP on Facebook!  

Until next time True Believers,

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The Weekly Pull : Star Wars - Kanan : The Last Padawan

The Weekly Pull : Star Wars - Kanan : The Last Padawan

Kanan : The Last Padawan is the fourth Star Wars title released by Marvel Comics in conjunction with Disney/Lucasfilm, chronicling the history of Kanan Jarrus from Star Wars: Rebels and the story of his survival as a young padawan in the Clone Wars during the fall of the Republic, when Chancellor Palpatine gave Order 66 - wiping out the Jedi Order.

Taking place snugly in between the events of Revenge of the Sith and the first novel in the New Star Wars Canon(link), A New Dawn, Kanan’s story begins on the battleground during the last days of the war in the battle of Kaller, where he and his master, Depa Billaba find themselves and their clone army pitted against Separatist forces.

Successful in their endeavor, the young apprentice and his master move to rest in the fields under the stars with the remainder of their Clone battalion, where Kanan is given a holocron by his mentor in which to “study the role of questions” and “peaceful dissent” of the Jedi Order just as a fateful command is issued to the Clone army …

Currently in the midst of A New Dawn myself (Chapter 20, to be exact), there are already bits and pieces, character reveals and revelations occurring just within this single issue that tie into both the novel and TV series in such an intricate way that was never achieved under the Legends Expanded Universe.

With that being said, for those unfamiliar or not up-to-date on previously aired or released content, there are some major spoilers present in the book.

Although not the strongest Star Wars comic title on the shelves (that honor goes to Jason Aaron and John Cassaday’s flagship book) Kanan : The Last Padawan is no pushover and is a great addition to the line-up.

If you are anyway interested or invested in these characters, I truly believe there has never been a better time or jumping on point for a Star Wars fan.

4/5 Toast Rating

As of 4/3/15, Kanan : The Last Padawan has sold out of its first print run at Diamond Comic Distributors and has gone to a second printing. If you can secure yourself a first edition, don't hesitate to pick it up!

Questions or Comments? Sound off below, or find me on Twitter as @ArchangelEZE and for more exciting news and reviews, follow NGP on Facebook!  

Until next time True Believers,

-ArchangelEZE

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The Weekly Pull : Darth Vader

The Weekly Pull : Darth Vader

Star Wars makes it’s return to The Weekly Pull this week as the galaxy’s most iconic villain received his first ongoing series (ever!) under the Marvel banner!  Last month, Jason Aaron and John Cassaday kicked off the Marvel Star Wars line to the tune of over one million copies sold and universal acclaim, sparking new life into the franchise throughout the comic medium.

Taking place immediately following the events of Star Wars : Episode IV - A New Hope (and in tandem with Aaron and Cassaday’s title), Star Wars: Darth Vader follows the Sith Lord through the events which occur after the destruction of the Death Star, where Vader was last seen losing control of his TIE fighter, pummeling into deep space. No longer controlling the Senate under the force of the Death Star, and their greatest weapon against the Rebel Alliance gone, Vader must confront his failure to the Emperor head on as the isolated survivor of the greatest military disaster under Palpatine's Imperial reign.   

Quite frankly, this story has me giddy, and it shocks me that we haven’t had a take on these particular events in the past thirty-eight years (canon or not). In addition, we are also re-introduced to familiar characters such as Jabba the Hutt, Tusken Raiders and a certain Bounty Hunter as we learn how their roles originate and tie together prior to the events of Empire and Jedi.   

Writer Kieron Gillen does a fantastic job channeling the character of Darth Vader to the page, and it's a difficult task considering that we all know the characters end game. The cinematic henchman relationship we have grown accustomed to between Vader and Palpatine is further explored and expanded here as well within Gillen's writing as the thoughts and actions of a broken man are seen from a new perspective as we, the reader, are introduced to wheels within wheels of the core story. Artist Salvador Larocca also brings his A game to series, and masterfully handles the task of depicting Vader's emotions, who's iconic helmet masks the majority of his emotional state.

If these two opening acts of Star Wars and Star Wars: Darth Vader are any indication of how Star Wars : Episode VII - The Force Awakens will perform under Disney and Marvel's reign,  we're in for a treat. If you're a Star Wars fan of any degree, make a plan to visit your local comic shop and grab a copy before it's too late. The Force is strong in this one.

5/5 Toast Rating

Do you have a comic, graphic novel, comic event or storyline you’re itching to read or learn more about? Sound off in the comments below, find me on Twitter or let us know on the New Geek Protocol Facebook page!

Until next time True Believers,

-ArchangelEZE

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The Weekly Pull : Marvel Collector Corps

The Weekly Pull : Marvel Collector Corps

Back when we first began New Geek Protocol, one of our monthly staples was to review a monthly subscription box service. Arcade Block, Loot Crate and Nerd Block services all made appearances over the course of the year, but each month was hit or miss for our team and ultimately fell short of earning our hard earned cash for a renewal.

However, a new subscription service contender has entered the ring this week as Funko and Marvel have collaborated to bring us Marvel Collector Corps. Featuring 100% completely exclusive collectables, t-shirts and accessories, each box will focus on a current event taking place in the Marvel Universe beginning with Avengers : Age Of Ultron in this bi-monthly service.

The debut box is scheduled to ship April 2015, and promises an exclusive 6" Hulkbuster Iron Man Pop! Vinyl collectable only available through Marvel Collector Corps! Additionally, one of four exclusive t-shirt designs, an additional vinyl collectable and two premium accessories are also listed as the swag to expect representing over a $50 value.

The second box, scheduled for June 2015, will feature an Ant-Man theme and for my money is the most promising and exciting subscription service to date. Two subscription levels are available for purchase, Founder and Collector, with the Founder level promising an exclusive figure on the anniversary of your subscription when a year (six boxes) are paid in full up front.

Each subscription runs $25 per box, and you know my pre-order has already been placed! To learn more, or to join the service yourself head over to www.collectorcorps.com!

Do you have a comic, graphic novel, comic event or storyline you’re itching to read or learn more about? Sound off in the comments below, find me on Twitter or let us know on the New Geek Protocol Facebook page!

Until next time True Believers,

-ArchangelEZE

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The Weekly Pull : Star Wars

The Weekly Pull : Star Wars

After 24 years under the Dark Horse publishing banner, Star Wars finally returns home to Marvel. Although a seasoned Star Wars fan from a very early age, I didn’t begin following the comic series until January 2006, with the release of Knights of the Old Republic. From there, Rebellion, Legacy, Dark Times and Invasion all became staples on my pull list, expanding my knowledge of the Star Wars mythos from 3948 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) to 130 ABY. However, in the fall of 2010, all five ongoing series came to an end, and for a time, I once again became disconnected from the Star Wars comic medium.  

Although countless Star Wars ongoing titles, miniseries and one-shots have been published over the years, nothing has quite been able to regain my attention … until now. It’s no secret that Disney is a powerhouse when it comes to entertainment, and snatching up both Marvel and Lucasfilm is probably the most genius takeover of our generation. Star Wars trailers will release with Marvel movies and vice versa to create the perfect storm as one beloved franchise feeds the other, and it all begins here, with Jason Aaron and John Cassaday in Star Wars #1.

Taking place shortly after the events of Episode IV : A New Hope, and only a single issue in, this is one for the ages. In just a matter of days, Star Wars has already exceeded over one million copies sold in the direct market, making in the hottest selling title of the past 20 years. Numbers like that just don’t happen. But is the story good, you ask? It’s phenomenal.  

Keeping things spoiler free, Aaron nails the personalities and dialogue of each character to the point where you can hear the actors voice in your head reciting the lines as if it were playing out directly in front of you. The dialogue that takes place between Han and 3PO alone is a prime example :: 

  

Cassaday’s art is also incredibly accurate as he visually depicts these beloved characters just as beautifully as he did with the X-Men in Joss Whedon’s equally fantastic Astonishing X-Men run. I also found it incredibly clever to see Luke wearing the yellow ceremonial jacket, pinpointing the timeline of the story (be it cannon or not) without distracting from the plot ::

One of my favorite points in the entire book are the first four opening pages, which play out like the classic Star Wars cinematic film sequence we have grown to know and love. Marvel doesn’t miss a beat from the iconic text scroll to the mimed starship cinematography as the first glimpse of this new and exciting adventure enters the readers field of vision ::

If Marvel can keep this momentum, we’re all in for an extraordinary ride. If you’re a Star Wars fan of any age, I can’t recommend this one enough. These first 30 pages are worth every cent of your hard earned cash, and I can’t recommend it enough.

5/5 Toast Rating

Both Darth Vader and Princess Leia have their own series debuting in the months to come, so stay tuned for my thoughts and don't forget lot sound off in the comments below, find me on Twitter or let us know your thoughts on the New Geek Protocol Facebook page!

Until next time True Believers,

-ArchangelEZE

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The Weekly Pull : The Astonishing Ant-Man

The Weekly Pull : The Astonishing Ant-Man

Much like the Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man has never been a huge power player in the Marvel Universe. At least not before getting the cinematic treatment and the best writing teams in the business. I love that Marvel has the courage to branch out and give their lesser known heroes a chance to shine in the spotlight, and the risk has shown significant reward. Characters like Rocket Raccoon, Falcon, Groot and The Inhumans are rapidly gaining popularity, and with the recent release of the Ant-Man trailer starring Paul Rudd, alongside his new ongoing series by Nick Spencer and Ramon Rosanas, I have a feeling Scott Lang will be no exception.

Marvel does a great job recapping events and setting the stage for the future of Ant-Man in this first relaunch issue, briefly covering the bases outlined in the cinematic trailer regarding Lang's criminal past, daughters health, broken marriage and acquisition of the hero mantle - all without spoiling any of the backstory. From a readers perspective, and unfamiliar with the character myself, this was huge. I was given just enough information to get me pumped to learn all of the backstory details, while jumping into a new adventure with a character written in such a way that made Paul Rudd a believable choice when I was originally apprehensive of the casting.

 

The premise of the story finds Lang out of a job and looking for work amongst Marvel’s elite and finds himself applying for a position in San Francisco as the bodyguard of The Superior Iron Man, Tony Stark (heroes have bills to pay too, you know). Despite his lack of bodyguard experience and underwhelming power set, Lang is given the opportunity to compete against the other younger, faster and stronger candidates in a training gauntlet in attempt to earn the position. Clearly outgunned, Lang resorts to skills from his criminal past to outwit and cheat the competition, earning him the favor and proving his eagerness to succeed despite his methods.

Although one of the largest arguments toward Marvel is their pricing structure, it becomes a point of importance if you’re looking to follow key story arcs and cinematic tie-ins. This initial Ant-Man #1 is priced at a hefty $4.99, however it’s importance to the universe is far greater than the $3.99 Ghost Rider or Deathlok books that (currently) hold no footing in the big picture. If you’re looking to wet your palate before the cinematic release of Ant-Man this summer, give this book a try.

4/5 Toast Rating 

We’ll see you next week for my review of Jason Aaron and John Cassaday’s Star Wars!

Do you have a comic, graphic novel, comic event or storyline you’re itching to read or learn more about? Sound off in the comments below, find me on Twitter or let us know on the New Geek Protocol Facebook page!

Until next time True Believers,

-ArchangelEZE

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The Weekly Pull : The Superior Iron Man

The Weekly Pull : The Superior Iron Man

My initial post for this weeks edition of 'The Weekly Pull' was a review on Marvel's newly resurrected Ant-Man series. However, upon reading, I discovered that there was a strong underlying connection to Tom Taylor and Yildiray Cinar's Superior Iron Man run and felt a little back tracking was necessary this week for both myself and the loyal readers into the life of Tony Stark ...

I'll be the first to admit that I've never really seen the appeal of Iron Man pre-cinematic universe. He's always been a B-list character in my mind alongside the likes of Daredevil, Luke Cage and Black Panther and I never truly understood why he was such a power player and considered one of "The Big 3" in the Marvel Universe. I know the guy has money, I get that, but he's such a pretentious prick that I've always felt that he was only a member of the Avengers thanks to his cash flow, which just happens to be one of the reasons I'm really digging the vibe in Taylor and Cinar's, The Superior Iron Man run.

With this fall’s AXIS event coming to an end, (check out my review of The Red Supremacy & Inversion) The Superior Iron Man follows an inverted Tony Stark to San Francisco where his inner darkness is being unleashed upon the unsuspecting citizens in the same vein as 1979’s “Demon in a Bottle.” Currently three issues into it’s rebranded Avengers Now title, we find Tony invested in his ego as he releases a new version of his Extremis technology (created by Warren Ellis in 2005 that ran for a six-issue arc, and cinematically portrayed in Iron Man 3) to the San Francisco population via a free mobile app promising "beauty, perfection ... and possibly immortality."

However, all good things must come to an end and when the free app trial period ends, Stark's true motives are revealed to the tune of $99.99 per day to retain the benefits. Marvel editor-in-chief, Axel Alonso explains :

"What you're seeing in Superior Iron Man is a Tony Stark who’s seen both his worst and best impulses all let loose. It is Tony, but he’s going to be in a zone now where he’s never been. He's more ambitious, cunning, egotistical ... all of those quantities are unharnessed. He has a vision for the world. I like to think his position is defensible — controversial, but defensible."

This is the Tony Stark of Avengers Now, and I for one couldn't be happier. I can't wait to see how the actions of this Superior Iron Man will ripple across the Marvel U, beginning with the astonishing Ant-Man ...

Stay tuned True Believers!

Do you have a comic, graphic novel, comic event or storyline you’re itching to read or learn more about? Sound off in the comments below, find me on Twitter or let us know on the New Geek Protocol Facebook page!

-ArchangelEZE

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