Comic Book Case

Unworthy Thor #3 (Lowest point leading to growth)

The Odinson finds himself in a cell by the Collector, after having tried and failed to escape to get to the Hammer. With only a Hel Hound named Deathripper (though Loki called him Thor) as his company, Odinson feels more lost than ever as Gorr the God Butcher and the Collector plague his mind. As he tries to get out, Beta Ray Bill finds his way in, defeats the guards and frees Odinson and talks about them claiming the hammer and Odinson goes all Smeagol on Beta Ray Bill. Meanwhile, Proxima Midnight and Black Swan lead the Unseen to but they stop to break up and fight Odinson and Beta Ray Bill but the Unseen stops their fight, saying that this isn't the right hammer (referring to Beta Ray's hammer) and they leave. At the sight of the hammer, the hammer is growing out of control and they don't know how long they can control it but the Collector says it's fine as he would trade everything for the hammer, for with it he could collect entire worlds. He is brought out of his thoughts by the arrival of Proxima Midnight and Black Swan who want the hammer and the two sides engage in a fight before the hammer unleashes more it's power, it senses Odinson coming. Odinson, now having come to his senses and cleaned himself up a bit, apologizes to Beta Ray for attacking him earlier and says that he will claim that hammer as his own regardless of who he has to cut down to get to it, so swears Unworthy Thor and roll credits.

I really feel like this issue may be my favorite though this is honestly the most excited I've been for Thor in a while, not that I don't enjoy Jane Foster Thor but this story was always going to be a bit more interesting. Odinson has hit rock bottom in this issue, not only has he lost his hammer and his name but it gets to the point where he attacks his own friend. His obsession with the hammer drove him to a dark place but it seems he's back now and even sports a new hairdo to prove it, and even has a Hel Hound to accompany his giant flying goat. The voices in his head of the Collector, Odin, and even Gorr were great but I wonder if wouldn't have been better if we saw them standing beside him like Rita was for Tommy in Power Rangers. Really looking forward to seeing how the last two issues of this plays out.

Captain America: Steve Rogers #9 (Building a Wall)

So the Chithuari are invading Earth and while Captain Marvel are able to fight them off for a while the help of Alpha Flight and others, it is only with the intervention of Quasar that they are able to fight off a totally large wave of them. Steve is upset by this and thinks either Carol or Maria called Quasar in which he mentions they agreed they wouldn't do until she finished training and brings up the events of Pleasant Hill and Civil War 2 and how they are both getting in over their heads. Steve then goes to Quasar and asks her to help him find Bucky and Kobik (the living Cosmic Cube). It turns out that the reason the Chithuari are attacking the planet is because they are heading for a farm where a farmer is growing a queen on the orders of Steve Rogers.

Issue 9 is about the trial of Maria Hill, something we'd heard happening earlier on and it seems the prosecution is having trouble. While they bring in credible witnesses, Maria brings in people, who she's helped with all of her decisions. The vote is close but Maria brings in something that will more than likely help her, her plan to create a giant force field around the planet which will keep anyone from entering or leaving the planet without permission from S.H.I.E.L.D. (so they are making teleporters pay for the wall). Things look good for her, the prosecution going so far as to say that it will come down to one vote but fortunately, the UK's representative of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been killed under mysterious circumstances (or rather, because of Steve Rogers). The vote is about to be taken as the comic ends.

Issue 8 was honestly a bit too boring for my taste, so I wanted to wait and see if the next issue had anything to spice it up and it turns out, not really because issue 9 is a totally different story. With the events of Civil War 2 being done (for the most part, we have one special issue coming out soon) we have seen exactly what role Steve has been playing in escalating it as he plans to destroy everything. Issue 9 feels more like we are getting back to the overall story, with Maria's position being in jeopardy, and the growing threat of HYDRA. The flashbacks we got this time were also really great as Steve meets Helmut Zemo's father Heinrich Zemo and the finding out that HYDRA plans to unite with Hitler but Elisa is unsure and points out that Hitler isn't someone they can trust but she is outvoted. Elisa and Daniel (Kraken) later talk in private as Daniel asks Elisa if she will see the children but says that she is needed elsewhere and that Hitler is not the one they've been searching for, but that it is Steven. These flashbacks all serve to help us answer the question of exactly why Steve was fighting the Nazis if HYDRA sided with them as Steve has been set on a mission to America, his target: Abraham Erskine, the creator of the Super Soldier Serum.

Detective Comics #948

Kate remembers one of her earlier days tracking down Batman with her father as she looks at him from the monitor room as Batman contacts her for an investigation at the quarantined part of Gotham City. They find the biggest monster from the Monster Men attack that is monsterizing the seagulls that pick at it's innards. It is then they meet Doctor Victoria October who works with ARGUS in studying the Monster Men and how the biggest one carries toxins in it's body that can turn people into monsters and that some of it was stolen. Batman identifies the theft on video as a member of the Colony. Batman and Batwoman arrive at the Belfry just in time to see the same armored figure trying to break Kane out. He says that Colony doesn't send armies for the most dangerous missions; they send him.

This issue reminded me a bit of when I read the first few issues of Batwoman way back in New 52's early days. It has a nice blend of monster movie and mystery and it does sort of feel like we may be getting close to something big in regards to the Colony and the League of Shadows. Doctor October is a rather interesting character, or at least that's what people think. She is a transwoman as confirmed by the writers and she does seem to have a history with Batman, we apparently will be seeing more of her later on. I like this new guys costume design a bit, he looks like a diet can of Deathstroke fused with the Arkham Knight, and Azrael a bit. Another good issue and a good way to start a new story.

Wonder Woman #14 (Face to face with war)

Diana comes face to face with Ares, god of war and the two are on a rather rocky ground as he tries to get a hold of Steve Trevor saying that he is a special person because he is the first man to set foot on Themyscira (though as revealed in Darkseid War that may/may not be true). Diana asks him to leave Steve in peace but Ares agrees only if she can tell him where Themyscira is but it turns out she doesn't know because that was the sacrifice she made when she won the right to leave and try to help the world. Ares says that his very nature has become the natural state of the world, war is what the world of man lives for, raises it's children for, and prepares for and Diana says that they will just have to take it back from him. Diana attacks Ares but this time with the help of her animal patrons and with a good final Lasso Punch, Ares dissipates. One of the patrons, an owl (for Athena) takes Doctor Minerva's phone and hands it to Steve and the phone shows all the locations of the SEAR Groups next attacks to release a poison gas to make everyone fight one another. Steve and Diana opt to fly to the locations while Etta contacts all the places, having them evacuate, all the while people see Diana saving the day and getting it on her phone, the news media naming her Wonder Woman when it's over.

Issue 14 was honestly really fun and we got some interesting information in regards to Diana's memory of Themyscira. Last issue (that I forgot to review but long story short Diana has undergone a total mental breakdown over realizing she's never been home and to keep her safe, Steve has her committed) told us a lot but this honestly reaffirms what that issue told us on a bigger level, Diana never knew the way back home. So a big question is, why didn't she know that to begin with? Ares I'm sad to say was almost a weak point though I'd say the back and forth between Etta and Doctor Minerva was the real weak point. Ares felt very much like what I didn't want in a god of war. Total Darth Vader appearance and in just radiating a kind of evil. I know that's what he's always been but still it's the current year and the gods are rarely as straight forward. It is interesting that he is looking for his daughters who he says are on Themyscira, I wonder who they are and if this was a subtle nod Brian Azzarello's run in the book and instead of Diana having a special connection to the gods it is one of the other Amazons? I also one to point out the art because bare minimum it shows how young Diana is at this stage in her life, she isn't really the warrior we know her as here and she just looks so cute with Steve.