What You're Missing: Shields Up!

I started a post about this topic a week or two ago, but somehow Blogger ate it.  Fingers crossed for a better result this time!

The guys at my comic shop are pretty awesome.  Since I live 2 hours away, I am unable to pick up my comics as frequently as I used to (which is why I do not attempt to do reviews of the latest comics!).  Often when I do pick up my books I now have a baby waiting in the car (with his mother, not by himself!) and have to move pretty quickly, so I don't have time to browse very much.  Fortunately, when a book comes out the guys think I'll like, they put it in my box for me to take a look at.

When I discovered Captain America corps in my slot, I almost put it back on the shelf.  I try to avoid starting a lot of new titles and mini-series because of the cost of comics these days, and this looked like something out of continuity anyway, which is sometimes a bonus and sometimes not.  As I gave it a quick flip though, I decided to give it a try.

The book had some good things going for it.  The art looked pretty good.  Roger Stern was the writer, a huge check mark in the plus column.  But in the end, the reason I got the book was because it just looked like fun.


The basic concept is similar to that of the Thor Corps, written by Tom DeFalco years ago; take the characters that have either been the title character, or continue their legacy, and throw them together for an adventure.  In this case, we have Steve Rogers (as a rookie Captain America), Bucky Barnes (as Captain America), John Walker (USAgent), Shannon Carter (American Dream from the MC2 universe), and a new character from the far future, Commander A.  I would've bought this book if it was just Steve, Bucky, and Walker running around, having American Dream was a real bonus.

The book is just plain fun, something comics seem to be afraid to be these days.  In my mind, one single line summed up how much fun this book is; while retreating from an attack from an alternate-reality police force, some of which were pursuing our heroes from the air, the USAgent shouts to his teammates "Shields up!".  Now how fun a line is that when you've got 5 different Captain America's wielding four different types of shields?  Eat your heart out Star Trek.

I'm 3 issues into this 5 part mini and cannot wait to pick up the last two parts.  It's been a really fun read and I highly recommend you check it out.

What You're Missing - Thor, the Mighty Avenger

The comic book business can be a cruel one. While we'd love to believe that quality will win out, unfortunately, no matter how critically acclaimed a series may be, it's the amount of money the book brings in that determines its survival.

I am ashamed to say that I waited too long to try out what turned out to be one of my favourite titles ever.

Thor, the Mighty Avenger, is not only one of the best Thor comics I've ever read, it's one of the best comics I've read, period.  The book is not set in continuity, but rather is a stand-alone re-telling of Thor's first days on earth.  Some details have changed; for example, Jane Foster is not a nurse-turned-doctor, but works as a museum curator.  But other things stay the same; Thor is banished from Asgard by his father and cannot return, as has been the case before.

The action is secondary in this title, though it is certainly there, as the main crux of the story is about the relationship between Jane and Thor.  This is perhaps the most charming and happiest Thor I've ever seen, and it is very refreshing.

In solicitations, the art was a turn-off for me.  But once I actually read a single issue I was completely turned around on that front.  Is is the kind of art I would want on the main Thor title, or any other front-and-center title?  No, it's not.  But I don't know if I've ever seen such a perfect blend of art and story as this.

So why did such an awesome book die?  It was a multitude of factors, and I pretty much blame Marvel for all of them.

The book was advertised as a second Thor on-going tittle, but a quick look at the previews for it left readers wondering if it was in continuity or not.  Maybe an interview somewhere cleared that up, but readers should not have to do research to find out something this simple.

At the time this book launched, Marvel was launching a multitude of Thor mini-series and special projects to have an ample supply of trade paperbacks available when the movie came out earlier  this year.  As a Thor fan, I was forced to pick and choose what I would pick up because I did not want to spend the cash on so many books.  Even projects that I really wanted to pick up, like the Warriors Three mini-series, I had to leave on the shelf (though I will get it as a tpb at some point).  Therefore, a new on-going with clearly not "mainstream" art was bumped down a lot of Thor fans lists.

Finally, Marvel didn't really give the book a chance.  The book was getting critical acclaim, and it was around the time #6 came out that fans were starting to take notice.  Unfortunately, by the time I got to my store to support the book around #8, it was too late, the plug had been pulled.

I had picked up #1 out of the overstock bins, since it was $1 for the issue.  I had heard how good the series was so I thought I'd finally bite the bullet and check it out.  I went back after reading that one issue and bought the rest of the series, some from the $1 overstock and the rest from the shelf at full price.  I had hoped by picking up #8 I was helping the cause, but it was too late.

The creators had a full 12 issue arc planned out that would have wrapped a lot of things up, and it's a shame that such a wonderful series is left hanging for a conclusion.  Marvel threw readers a bone with the Captain America/Thor, The Mighty Fighting Avengers issue in their Free Comic Book Day 2011 line-up, though in a way it was an odd choice because if you weren't familiar with Thor the Mighty Avenger you were probably pretty confused.

You will be doing yourself a favour if you track this series down in the back issue bins or as tpbs.  Then let Marvel know that you want the final four issues of this landmark series.

Taken from www.weeklycrisis.com