REVIEW: Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider #1

Writer: Peter David
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inker: John Dell
Color Artist: Jason Keith
Review: Madman

Rumor has it something big pertaining to a certain star-spangled guy is going down at Marvel in their new “Mega Event”… I wouldn’t know. I elected to bow out before “it” happened. I’m just so burned out with Marvels reboots, redoes, and “Mega Events”. I could care less about the whole current Secret What-not.
I’m not on either side.

Instead, I’m going to blab on about something I wanted to read even less.
Oh yeah, I hated this book as soon as I saw its first advertisement. I hate its very idea. In my misspent youth I was a Ben Reilly fan but not so much these days. I enjoyed the previous Scarlet Spider run because back in the days of the Clone Saga, Kaine was my favorite thing, so him being the Scarlet Spider was worth checking out. The series was pretty good, definitely got worse as it went, and the ending was pretty meh. So, I don’t know, maybe the novelty wore off… I had no intentions of ever forking over the cash for this book, but the staff of the LCS snuck it into my folder and here we are.  

REVIEW: Spider-Woman #17

Writer: Dennis Hopeless
Artist: Veronica Fish
Color Artist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Review: Madman

I’m not sure how many times I’ve reviewed this title… I’m guessing it’s a few. I can’t say for sure, because I rave about it a lot, mostly with my fellow HCB dudes, myself, and sometimes my dog. I just can’t help it. The book is just that damn good . . . unexplainably good. It has the feel of a reality television program or dare I say a soap opera… Yeah, I don’t know but it’s entertaining as hell.

Jess has gone and fallen in love with Roger Gocking, the reformed D-list super villain we love and know as the Porcupine, and it’s fantastic. Jess has long since left the Avengers, trading in her heavy-hitter status for the lowly life of a P.I. This gives her time to focus on raising her infant son, Gerry, and her newly kindled romance. It’s fun to read about Jess dealing with ordinary and mundane things in life that one does not usually get in a superhero title. No clones, no big baddie trying to take over the world, no Alien invasion, no shitty swamp monster trying to make it in the movie business, no Totally Awesome Hu...you get the idea. In fact the opening few panels are Jess and her bestie Captain Marvel trying to figure out how best to hang the rope lights for the party Jess is throwing. It sounds lame, but I assure you it’s not. Jess just wants to have some fun so she’s throwing a rooftop party and inviting all her super-friends and hilarity ensues.        

REVIEW: Jughead: The Hunger

Script: Frank Tieri
Art: Michael Walsh
Review: Will Dubbeld

Archie Horror, ladies and gentlemen.
I would never had guessed such a thing would ever exist, but here we are.

The Afterlife With Archie comic follows the Riverdale gang as their little slice of Americana lies plagued by the zombie apocalypse. Survival horror through the lens of Archie Andrews; special guest stars Josie and the Pussycats...

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina shows us a side of the beloved teenage witch we never would've dreamed existed. Sacrifice, witch covens, devil worship, and a few lesbian overtones worthy of a Hammer Horror flick are all found within.

These two books are great, albeit disturbing on a few levels. From the Blossom twins and their (alluded to...) dark secret to the balls-to-the-wall insanity Sabrina Spellman deals with, Archie Horror gets my money every time.
Which I never though possible with Archie comics, but hey, see what some diversity can do?!!!