MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #4
Ross Hutchinson
Recap
Wolverine: The Vigil Part 4
It's the early 1970's and the Vigil continues as a grown-up sorceress Sophie and Wolverine face off against the demon, this time during the horrific Bhola cyclone in Bangladesh. The demon has learned and forces the two allies to make a deadly choice...
Spider-Man: May the 25th be with you
It's May 25, 1977, and Peter Parker like so many other people that day only has one thing on his mind...see Star Wars but as usual, nothing is that simple in the life of the Amazing Spider-Man
Moon Knight: The book of Dreams
Spurred on by visions, Moon Knight investigates a series of murders which will lead him to confront an ancient Egyptian evil in a dark and melancholy tale.
Review
Wolverine: The Vigil Part 4:
This is another strong chapter. Soule balances the action and introspection very well and we get caught up with insight into what has happened in the characters lives in the last ten years as well as a great action scene. The art and paneling are strong from artists Paulo Siqueira and Oren Junior and I am really enjoying the coloring from Rosenberg in this series which complements the art. Soule steps it up in terms of the storytelling by having this installment end really badly for the heroes and I am really keen to see how Wolverine will deal with the consequences of what has happened.
Spider-Man: May the 25th be with you:
When Peter Parker has to lose his place in the line to see Star Wars to stop a movie prop store from being robbed by The Gibbon (too soon after that recent ASM issue Marvel) and his partner. It seems like Spidey’s opportunity to go to a galaxy far far away is lost but as he learns, doing the right thing can sometimes payback in unexpected and great ways. The art is very clean and brightly colored from Perez and Rosenberg and it evokes a feeling of Spider stories of yesteryear. The dialogue is good from writer Daniel Kibblesmith and he gets Spideys “voice” right which is something I always look for. As a Star Wars fan, it’s a fun idea to think of Spidey being one too.
Moon Knight: The Book of Dreams:
My favorite story of the three. Juan Ferreyra’s art is darkly moody and atmospheric as Benjamin Percy spins a tragic tale of possession and murder which sees the Moon knight come face to face with an unfortunate man possessed by an evil he sought to study. It’s a psychological horror thriller that’s superbly written and illustrated as Moon Knight must stop an evil spirit using the body of a helpless person. There is an absolutely glorious double splash in the story that has to be seen to be believed. The story has a dark melancholy about it that is perfectly suited to the character.
Final Thoughts
Another impressive installment in the series. Anthology short stories can be very hit and miss and can often feel like throwaway pieces ie; story for the sake of the story but Marvel seems to have found the formula and all three chapters are engaging and well executed by the writers and artists involved. This issue provides three interesting chapters in this series and I am happy to recommend it.
MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #4: 'Demons Learn', 'When Doing the Right Thing Pays', and 'A Knight in the Darkness'
- Writing - 7/107/10
- Storyline - 7/107/10
- Art - 8/108/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 7/107/10