Marvel Penguin Picks: December 2023
Above-the-Board Recommendation:
Venom by Ewing (& Gronbekk) vol. 5: Predestination
The solicitations just have Al Ewing’s name in the title, but it’s been clear from the last few solicitations that Torunn Gronbekk is now filling the co-writing role that Ram V was at the start of this series. While she did a decent job of picking up from where Donny Cates left off in “Thor,” the main reason this volume gets the top slot this month is because it’s coming off of a superb fourth volume. Just when it looked like things couldn’t get any worse for Eddie Brock, he finds out that something has been waiting for him at the bottom of the universe to give him a hand. Or rather, enlightenment as to his role in the universe. What followed was an involving explanation as to what a King in Black actually is and how it comports with Ewing’s interpretation of the Marvel Universe. Some of this explanation may have been a bit too esoteric for its own good, but it still captured the feeling of a grand plan coming together. Better still was that it ultimately left Eddie in a much better place, physically and psychologically, and me wanting to see what he does with a time machine in this volume.
Timeless #1: This is the third such “Timeless” one-shot that Marvel has published in as many years. They should probably find some way to differentiate them, like calling this one “Timeless ‘24” since it, like the previous ones, promise a look into the coming year of stories at Marvel. This one comes to us from the writing team of Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly with art from Juann Cabal and promises yet another apocalyptic future. The difference here is that this one is ruled over by the Moon Knight Unending and the only man standing in his way is the Power Man (who is apparently not an elderly Luke Cage). While I don’t doubt that Lanzing and Kelly are passionate about what they write, they have yet to deliver something that has knocked my socks off. What’s here sounds perfectly fine, and likely to be a great showcase for Cabal’s skills, but not like anything I’d go out of my way to read. While we’re on the subject of the Fist of Khonshu…
Moon Knight #30 & Vengeance of the Moon Knight #1: One Jed MacKay-written and Alessandro Cappuccio-illustrated series ends, only to be replaced by another one in the same month. Still one to file under “They Must be Doing Something Right” as it’s been a long time since a “Moon Knight” series lasted this long only to be renumbered to keep the story going. I mean, the last time they did it was for the run that was started by Charlie Huston and David Finch, and both were long gone by the time that series wrapped up at #30, only to be relaunched by a completely different team from the one who wound up ending it. So kudos to MacKay and Capuccio for making it this far. Maybe I’ll get around to reading this run one of these days.
Thunderbolts #1 (of 4): Lanzing and Kelly again, this time with artist Geraldo Borges. This time the premise for the “Thunderbolts” involves Bucky Barnes getting his hands on a load of classified intel that will allow him to take down A-list villains like the Red Skull, Kingpin, and Doctor Doom. All he needs is a team and the Countess Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is more than willing to provide one. There’s this nagging feeling that the tail is wagging the dog here as the upcoming “Thunderbolts” movie is said to involve Bucky heading up a team put together by the Countess. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; however, I’m generally skeptical of any series that promises to showcase A-list villains being taken down. Unless this is a house-cleaning opportunity, in which case I’ll just say so long Johann and Wilson, you’re terrible people and you deserve whatever awful fate is coming to you.
Star Wars: Revelations #1: Not to be left out of the foreshadowing what’s going to be coming to the line business, we have this one-shot from writers currently writing “Star Wars” comics (Charles Soule, Greg Pak, Cavan Scott), a writer who currently isn’t writing them (Marc Bernardin), and one who’s likely in between writing gigs at the publisher (Marc Guggenheim). We’re promised that a lot of characters will be showing up here, but it’s dubious as to how many of them will actually be showing up in the comics next year. Just sayin’ that I think Lucasfilm has definite plans for Grand Admiral Thrawn that I don’t think they’re going to let an anthology comic like this derail.
Amazing Spider-Man by Nick Spencer Omnibus vol. 2: If you bought the first one and were wondering if it gets any better, let me tell you this: No. It doesn’t.
Daredevil by Frank Miller Companion HC: Collecting “Spectacular Spider-Man #’s 27-28, “Daredevil” #’s 219, and 226-233, the “Daredevil: The Man Without Fear” miniseries, and the “Daredevil: Love & War” graphic novel. I already own most of this stuff, but I’m tempted to pick this up anyway for the few things in here I don’t have, and to free up some space on my shelves by donating all of the duplicate collections. So yes, I do think this companion hardcover is worth a spot on anyone’s shelves if you’re a fan of Miller’s work on Ol’ Hornhead.
X-Men: Hellfire Gala – Fall of X: At least this has a title differentiating it from the previous “Hellfire Gala” one-shots. Unfortunately, it’s still lacking in the “event” status that the first one had as its gimmick of showing the event through the lens of every other ongoing title at the time was quite clever. This time out the issue is here to tee off “Fall of X” and, without getting into specifics, this is going to be a Gala that the mutant community is going to want to forget. Those who live through it will want to, at any rate.
Sabretooth and the Exiles: Following up from the previous “Sabretooth” miniseries that showed what the title character got up to after being thrown in The Pit at the start of “House of X.” That miniseries from writer Victor LaValle and artist Leonard Kirk was reportedly quite good, and now we’re getting this follow up that shows us what Sabretooth and his former inmates are up to now that they’re out of The Pit. Inmates who include Orphan-Maker, so if you’re wondering what happened to him after he and Nanny were thrown in there at the end of “Hellions” you’ll likely want to check this out. I’ll likely do so at some point, in addition to the fact that LaValle will be co-writing the upcoming “Sabretooth War” arc of “Wolverine” with its regular writer Benjamin Percy. Which is another sign that he’s Clearly Doing Something Right here.