This Week In Comics: Feb. 21, 2007

Amazing Spider-Man #538
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Ron Garney

"The War at Home" finally comes to an end, and it sure does end with a bang! Well, not really.

I wish I could honestly say that this issue was the perfect ending to this story arc, but frankly, it wasn't. While I understand that the events portrayed on the last page will greatly impact Peter's life, I feel that it could have been handled better. ASM #537 ended with a cliffhanger, which was fine for that issue. But to have another issue, the final issue of the arc, end in a cliffhanger just doesn't sit well with me.

With that out of the way, I can get to where JMS truly succeeds. This issue acts as a perfect companion piece to the ending of Civil War. In an excellent soliloquy, we get a chance to see how Peter feels about the recent events, and JMS doesn't disappoint. Now on the the art side of things, Garney is doing a sufficient job, but there is something about the art that I find distracting. I can't really but my finger on it, but this isn't going to stop me from continuing with this series, especially since "Back in Black" has officially kicked off.

Civil War #7
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Steve McNiven

Well, the end is finally here. After ten long months, the long awaited finale to Civil War has been shipped.

This issue might not be what a majority of fans are expecting. While there is fighting, and McNiven does make it look incredible, some may be disappointed in what may seem to be a tame ending. This is not a problem for me. After sticking with this series, I don't think Millar could have crafted a more suitable ending without compromising that the nature of the characters involved. This ending works because it's believable. Some may find the ending to be too sappy, but I think it's refreshing to see an optimistic future looming ahead.

As I said before, McNiven's art plays just as big a role as the characters in the story. Seeing characters like Spider-Man bouncing around and completely kicking ass in front of the beautiful backgrounds is a joy to behold.

I really enjoyed this series. While delays and over-hyping have plagued Civil War, this really is one of the best events I have ever read. Mark Millar and company really crafted a well written story that will have impact on future books in the Marvel Universe for years to come. But when all is said and done, the ball is in Marvel's court. They can either produce follow-up books that honor the ideals instilled by this series, or it can resort to a return to the status quo, cheapening the impact of these seven issues. Personally, I can't wait to see what Marvel has in store for us, because if it's anything like Civil War, it's going to be phenomenal.

Immortal Iron Fist #3
Writers: Ed Brubaker & Matt Fraction
Artist: David Aja

This series is amazing, especially considering that Iron Fist was practically a C-list character since he was created in the 70s. But Brubaker and Fraction have managed to turn Iron Fist into one of the most interesting characters in the Marvel Universe. This book isn't dealing with any world changing events, or grandiose plots, but that doesn't mean this isn't an excellent read.

There are essentially two major plots in this series: the legacy of the Iron Fist, and the story of Danny dealing with the future of his father's company, the threat of Hydra, and the man who trained his father. These two plots are slowly becoming intertwined, mixing in a very interesting way. While this book is in no way necessary to understand the future of the MU, add this one to your pull list, you won't be disappointed.

New Avengers Illuminati #2
Writers: Brian Michael Bendis & Brian Reed
Artist: Jim Cheung

Simply amazing. Instead of writing a book that focuses on the here and now, Bendis and Reed take the opportunity to tell the story of how six of the most important men in the Marvel Universe have impacted six events. With a focus on Mr. Fantastic, Iron Man, Professor X, Dr. Strange, the Sub-Mariner, and Black Bolt, you would think that these men could do no wrong, but they make mistakes, and more importantly, actually seem human.

The action is there, but the attitude of these men is what sells the story, along with the dialogue and witty banter. It's fun to see Namor, one of the biggest pricks in the MU, actually scared of the ramifications of having the Infinity Gems. We also see some great character moments, my favorite being the Thing and Torch's reactions to Reed's "zany" experiment.

Punisher War Journal #4
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Mike Deodato, Jr.

The Punisher is back in the Marvel Universe, and he has been missed.

After Stilt-Man was aced by the Punisher back in issue 1, his friends decide to gather in his honor, reminiscing about the "good ol' days," where good guys were good guys, bad guys were bad guys, and most importantly, it was all about "good, clean fun." We get to see a huge number of "classic" villains, trading war stories in honor of their fallen comrade.

I thought this book was absolutely hilarious. The laughs start early on and they don't let up until the explosive ending. Here we get to see the Punisher that we know and love in action and trust me, it's just as cold-blooded as you would expect. I was worried that this series would fail in the wake of Civil War, but it hasn't, and hopefully, Fraction keeps up the pace. Deodato serves as the artist for this issue, and it's different than Olivetti's regular artwork, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Silent War #2
Writer: David Hine
Artist: Frazier Irving

You'd think that this series would have come and gone by now, considering it deals with fallout from Son of M, which ended at least a year ago. But that doesn't make it any less impactful.

Now that the Inhumans have retaliated against the United States for their confiscation of the Terrigen Mists, it's clear that Black Bolt wasn't prepared for the ramifications. As a result we witness a chilling scene between Black Bolt and his brother Maximus, and we finally get to see the Sentry do something besides brood and look pretty. We are also treated to a rather creepy ending featuring none other than resident jerkwad, Quicksilver. I can't wait for the next issue.

The writing is excellent, the art really stands out. Irving's dark and dreary artwork perfectly captures Black Bolt's emotions, which is essential because Bolt is a silent character. Great stuff.