Sandman Overture #3: A Roundabout Review

Sandman Overture #3

By Neil Gaiman and 

J. H. Williams III

What is in a Dream?

When I was first introduced to Morpheus, it was thirty-two issues into Neil Gaiman's vast story. As each issue progressed forward, I also searched the back issues, buying each one and enjoying the story he weaved that much more. After seventy-five issues, the song was done and now after two decades, the melody lingers on. 

I visited a comic shop in Virginia while taking a few days off from work and there on the new release rack was Neil Gaiman's latest. The first issue was a great opening salvo and the second issue took off running; but the third issue gives us Hope. Dream of the Endless is off to see the City of Stars and in doing so, he intends to find his killer and to make sure he doesn't do murder him again.

J.H. Williams III has never illustrated a comic book better than this one. The panels are vibrant, the colors are rich, and the detail steals the story away to new heights. Dream travels with Dream; one is the version we knew and the other is the Dream we don't. Also, for the first time we see Dream laugh...and in the very end we see the stars are coming out. 

As dreams are lucid after we awake, they slip away much like this issue describes. I am left with a feeling of nostalgia after only moments of closing the comic. I can't wait until the next issue and wish the series was limited like the first one, for seventy-five issues, not the six that are already scheduled.

4 out of 5 Stars

Amazing Spider-Man #4: a Roundabout Review

Amazing Spider-Man #4

Written by Dan Slott

Pencilled by Humberto Ramos

Spoilers spoilers spoilers

The Long of it...

I always loved the romance between MJ Watson and Peter Parker. I grew up with the flirtations and was rewarded with issue #290, when Peter proposed. Annual #21 was a jackpot issue, with two covers to choose from. I never thought about buying both. 

Joe Quesada changed all that, treating decades of continuity with wild abandon, giving Peter a Brand New Day.  And ever since Dan Slott took over, I've truly enjoyed the title. Superior Spider-Man was exceptional, but having Mr. Parker back is like wearing comfortable shoes. 

Issue #4 of the Amazing Spider-Man never made it home unread. On my public transit commute, I realized I couldn't wait. I pulled the comic out of the brown paper bag and engulfed myself. I was finally getting more than a few pages of a character rumored to change Peter's life forever. I was expecting Silk to be another Speedball or Alpha, but Dan made her so much more. Here was a character who was built right into Peter's origin as Spider-Man. The story was even mixed with another tale from years ago with Ezekiel and Morlun, but don't tell Marvel that, they might start over again with a number one.

Cindy Moon was a classmate of Peter Parker,  and before you ask, "Why are we just hearing about her in 2014 and not 1963?", I will tell you it is because of Original Sin. If Thor could have a sister, why couldn't the radioactive spider bite one more person?

Ezekiel hid Cindy away from Morlun. She practiced her abilities in secret as Peter used his in public. She's stronger, faster, and has even developed a more advanced power set, including barbs in her webs; yes,"her" webs, but it doesn't stop there. Peter's Spider sense reacts to Cindy in a whole different manner; it attracts him to her, much like I imagine his spider tracers do after flicking them on his prey (super-villains). 

I'm going to skip the part about the Black Cat and the part where we find out Morlun is alive. I'm even going to skip where Silk freaks out as Peter mentions that Morlun was killed...and killed again. Silk is so enraged with this news that she quickly lands one on Peter...twice; once with her hand, and on the final page with the final panel, once with her lips!

Suffice it to say, not only was this the best Spider-Man comic I have read in a while, it was the best comic book I have read in a long time, period! I think once I get done at work I'm going to read it again.

The Short of it...

Buy it.

5 out of 5 stars 

 

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Soaring as Captain America

It isn't breaking news, it's everywhere and it started on the Colbert Report.  The Falcon has been announced as the next Captain America. He isn't the first to take the mantle over and I'm sure Steve Rogers will be back. After all, the Winter Soldier more recently accepted the shield after the "death" of Rogers, and in the eighties when Steve was "fired", the US Agent had the title and the shield and yet Steve still returned, but what makes Sam Wilson worthy this time around? 

The Falcon was first introduced in Captain America #117 (Sept. of '69), which makes him slightly older than me, becoming the first (Marvel) black "American Super Hero" (remember the Black Panther is African). It wasn't until the following issue that we found out The Falcon was Sam Wilson. Throughout the years Sam was a trusted partner of Steve Rogers, and his portrayal by Anthony Mackie was nothing short of phenomenal in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The Falcon wasn't some sidekick. He was a partner and a friend, which makes me wonder, was this the reasoning behind Marvel's recent decision to update their Golden Age creation?

In the eighties, Marvel tested the waters with a mini-series by Jim Owsley starring Captain America's most trusted sidekick. This was originally their way to get feedback on whether a regular series should start. If the four-issue limited sold out then the Falcon would fly solo. This never happened and the Falcon continued to be a B-list hero. Sam has proven over and over again that he is true and loyal. Not since Bucky in World War II did someone have Steve Rogers back as well as Sam did. 

In the Ultimate Universe his credentials rival the smartest of Marvel's characters, but back in the 616 universe, Marvel Now started Captain America all over again with new creative teams; beginning with issue one. I tried collecting the title after this new beginning and I quit reading after issue #2. I felt uninspired to continue reading. And now, a few years later, we have Captain America, a 70+ year iconic creation that needs new life. 

I can not think of any character other than Sam Wilson more worthy of the mantle, but I question how able he is. No one can throw a shield better than Steve and catch it after knocking out his enemy. There is a certain Je' ne sais quoi about reverberating an adamantium shield off of someone's skull and having it return to sender. 

Of course, some questions remain. Why is Marvel changing the guard? Are they so desperate for new readers that they hope changing Thor into being a woman will garnish more new readers than alienate old ones? Do they think throngs of little girls will decide to pick up a comic book? With Sam Wilson becoming Captain America, will a larger black audience walk into comic shops asking to read the latest adventures? And now I'm waiting for Jean Paul from Alpha Flight to join the pages of Iron Man so we can find out Tony is bisexual for a larger gay audience. 

My biggest beef with Marvel is not the changing of iconic characters. I'm ok with that. I'm even looking forward to seeing them move in this direction, provided each title is story driven. What I don't like is that even though Sam Wilson is taking over as Captain America, he's not taking over the title. We will have to wait until November 2014 before the "All New Captain America" #1 is released, which is way different than when Tales of Suspense was changed to Captain America with issue #100 instead of issue #1 way back in 1968.

I don't plan on asking how Sam Wilson is worthy of being Captain America because I can't think of any other character who is. But I will ask this....

Who is worthy of being The Falcon?

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