Jimmy Attempts To Read All Of Secret Wars XXXVII (Infinity Gauntlet Edition)

The Secret Wars version of Infinity Gauntlet has pretty much nothing to do with the original series from 1991.  It has Thanos and Infinity Stones and multiple Infinity Gauntlets, but that is where the similarities end.  Not that that is a bad thing, just a public service message that you don’t need to read the original to read this.  (Though you should, as it is a classic.)

The Secret Wars version of Infinity Gauntlet also has pretty much nothing to do with Secret Wars.  I know Ryan, in particular, really dug the disconnected, What If?-ness of most of the tie-ins, but as a sucker for chronology, they really bugged me.  Why couldn’t this series tie into the main book?  Thanos is one of the key characters there…this book takes place South of The Shield…where Thanos is banished to at one point, etc.

Ah well, I need to let it go.  That said, this is a great stand alone little mini-series.  I previously looked at issues #1 and #2, so after the cut I will finish my look at this series with Infinity Gauntlet #3, Infinity Gauntlet #4 and Infinity Gauntlet #5.

Be sure to check out our latest Secret Wars Power Rankings, which also features links to the other parts of my read through.

Spider-Man Complete Chronology Update 5

The web of continuity is getting a bit tangled now with the introduction of Spider-Man’s third regular monthly book The Spectacular Spider-Man.  After the cut the chronology slowly continues as I wiggle out from under the share volume of Secret Wars.  Covered in this update are issues falling between Amazing Spider-Man 163 and Spectacular Spider-Man 10.

There are some spoilers if you’ve missed out on the last 50 years of Spider-Man and are just getting started.

Jimmy Attempts To Read All Of Secret Wars Part Twenty

Much like my trip through DC’s Convergence, I’ve fallen woefully behind schedule.  At the very least I am caught up on reading everything.  Writing about them is another story.  I’ve also been pretty busy with our latest pet project: The Secret Wars Power Rankings.

After the break I’ll take a look at Infinity Gauntlet #2, Weirdworld #1, Weirdworld #2, Red Skull #1, Ultimate End #3 and very briefly touch on Giant Size Little Marvel AVX #1, Giant Size Little Marvel AVX #2 and Giant Size Little Marvel AVX #3.

Some other important links:
Tom’s Road To Secret Wars: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7.
The other parts of this series: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

DC and Marvel Character “Similarities”

Marvel and DC both have many characters that share strong similarities with their cross-company rival.  Sometimes it is a coincidence.  Two people have the same idea, no matter how novel, independent of each other.  Sometimes it is just because there are only so many archetypes.  Of course there is going to be some nearly identical characters.  Sometimes they aren’t even that similar.  We just want to make this list longer.  Other times, they are 100%, complete rip offs.  When DC/Marvel did the Amalgamation back in the 90’s, they could have just used the original.

See what you think after the break.

Jimmy Attempts To Read All Of Secret Wars Part Six

Editor’s Note: Jimmy, not that Secret Wars 3!!!

Secret Wars continues to build momentum and the tie-ins that I’ve read have mostly been interesting so far.  Most of them feature titles you will likely be familiar with from Marvel crossover events of the past.  It’s interesting to see how Marvel is handling these tie-ins as some seem to be direct sequels (eg. X-Tinction Agenda, Civil War (I’m assuming)) while others just seem to build off the name and aspects of those original events but are really not related (eg. Planet Hulk, Armor Wars).

After the break we’ll look at the latest and best issue of the main mini-series so far, issue three.  Two tie-in series that seem to be in the “related in name only” department in Armor Wars #1 and Infinity Gauntlet #1.  And then take a trip to a slightly skewed version of the future than we’ve seen previously in Secret Wars 2099 #1.  As usual, spoilers will be prevalent.

Also, if you are like me and haven’t read all of Johnathon Hickman’s Avengers run leading up to Secret Wars, be sure to take Tom’s Road To Secret Wars course at gabbinggeekuniversity.com.  The reading materials are online here: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six and Part Seven.

And that course is a prerequisite to the other parts of this series: Part One, Part Two, Part Three,Part Four, Part Five

How Things Can Be Different: The Death And Life Of Captain Mar-vell

I wrote last week in my unofficial “comic book character who died and sometimes got better” weekly column about Drax the Destoryer.  I mentioned that Drax died in a place called “the Cancerverse” but didn’t go into great detail on what that was.

You know what?  That storyline provides some good fodder for one of the few deaths Marvel Comics just will not reverse:  Mar-vell, Kree captain and champion of the living and the original opponent to all things Thanos.

Pretty Much Official, Miles Morales Joining The Avengers

If it wasn’t official before, just highly rumored, it sure seems like it is a done deal now.  After a few days of teasing, Marvel has revealed the cover to one of their Free Comic Book Day offerings, The All-New, All-Different Avengers.  While their other FCBD drop will be Secret Wars #0, which of course leads into this summers mega event, this new Avengers book supposedly takes place after Secret Wars.

Super Sad: 33 Marvel Titles Ending Post Secret Wars

Noooooooooooo!!! Marvel set to retire 33 titles after Secret Wars is over. What is this wacky world we live in? What crimes against humanity have we incurred to suffer through this kind of news? What lies have they fed us to bring us to this point? Stick a fork in me, because I’m done, I just can’t handle it. Can you? See what titles they are talking about ending, and come have a big cry with me afterwards.

The Problems With Marvel’s Civil War

Those guys in the back probably want to back away from this right now.

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe were fairly excited to learn the third Captain America movie would be an adaptation of Civil War, a mini-series where the various Marvel heroes lined up on two sides over a law that required superheroes to register with the American government or go to prison.  The series dealt with issues regarding national security and the American reaction to terrorist attacks on our soil.

It also had some huge problems that almost guarantee the movie version will be better, if only by default.

The End Of Marvel Universe Is Only The Beginning (Read: We’re All In A Time Loop)

HULK SMASH TIME LOOP. Hulk smash Marvel Universe. Actually, Hulk smash nothing, since we’re about to reboot the entire Marvel Universe. Yep, you read that correctly… the whole Marvel Universe is about to be rebooted. System failure? Nope, this is not your standard reboot.