Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows Vol. 1 - Brawl in the Family

This weekend gone, I decided to try something a little different.

Somewhat forced to take a 30 day prime trial in order to purchase a Christmas gift (although 'forced' is maybe too strong a word), I decided to take advantage of this by utilising Comixology Unlimited.

First up under this new experiment, I decided to check out Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows Vol. 1 - Brawl in the Family by Gerry Conway and Ryan Stegman. This series focused on the Parker family from one of the many tie-in's to Hickman's Secret Wars as Peter and Mary-Jane, now married parents of Annie, juggle parental responsibility and Spider-power as a superhero family.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this comic prior to reading it, knowing only that I'd heard good things about this series and the cover looked enticing. However, after reading the first volume, I have to admit that I'm still not sure.

Conway writes and fun and relatable Spider-family, with none of the characters feeling too perfect or too annoying (a difficult balance in my opinion, especially with child characters). However, the plot itself feels a little broken for my tastes, vibing like a Tarantino movie as the focus darts back and forth through time. That said, the specifics of those various focuses are cute and really help sell the individual members of Spider-family as well as some of the supporting cast they interact with (except maybe a really creepy Normie Osborn. I have a theory about him).

As for the art, I have to admit that I absolutely loved Ryan Stegman's work here. I thought that he offered up a style reminiscent of J. Scott Campbell look within his pencils, giving it a rough but otherwise very a realness and wholesome look. His style also gave the villains who appear (Scorpion, Sandman, Mole Man) this very off kilter look which really stuck then with a more monstrous vibe. Then there is the Spinneret costume which I thought was a terrific design, as it nicely contrasted Spidey's own look.

Added to that were the colours by Sonia Oback, which had a varied look, seemingly utilising the whole spectrum; as it seemed to look both light and dark in equal measure throughout the Parkers' adventure.

All in all, I thought that Renew Your Vows' first trade was a bit of a mess, but a fun, gorgeous looking mess. It wasn't compelling literature but it was a fun waste of time and it's convinced me to check out the next volume sometime soon.

Sensational She-Hulk #2

My pull list backlog had finally been completed (not that I expected it to take too long) yesterday with the reading of Sensational She-Hulk #2.

This issue picked up right where the last one left off, with Jade Giantess visited by her bigger, crankier cousin, who seems to have a bone to pick with Jen.

I have to admit, this series has gone from strength to strength in my eyes. From the beginning of 'She-Hulk' all the way to its finale and straight into its reincarnation with Sensational issue 1, Rainbow Rowell and Andrés Genolet's She-Hulk has maybe become my favourite Comic on a month-by-month basis.

Which is why it was a little upsetting for issue 2 to be such a let down.

Well, let down is a strong choice of words, as is upsetting, because the more accurate term would be it was frustrating to see and instalment go nowhere. And 'nowhere' is a very literal term as the end occurs in the same place as the beginning, as the issue seems to just fly by as it is no more than a single scene filled to fit 23 pages.

Of course, it has some interesting points. The reaction by Joe Public to the Hulk's appearance was humorous to the point of disbelieving (there can't be people that stupid in real life, can there?) As well as the return of a duo of characters from the last run, to prove their journey isn't over just yet.

Meanwhile, Andrés Genolet's art continues to just scream style, as it continues to have this eighties inspired vibe with a dreamlike aspect thanks to the pastel like colours.

Now, don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad issue, but it is just OK. It felt like fourth issue of a five issue story; there to set up the finale but having very little to offer on its own merits. That said, like any part of a bigger story, I have no doubt that it'll read so much better when combined to make the whole.

Fantastic Four #13

Next up on my reading list was last week's release from my pull list; Fantastic Four #13

This issue closed out the story which began from issue 12 as the Quartet found themselves swapping places with their prehistoric counterparts. However, that becomes the least of their problems when they are all forced to face off against two Doctor Dooms, both eager to increase the size of the universe that they want to conquer.

I have to admit, after reading the latest instalment of Fire and Ice, I found myself hesitant to pick this issue up, fearful of a similar let down.

Fortunately, my concerns were unfounded as Ryan North round out yet another fun and light-hearted tale. What I enjoyed most about this how North resolved the plot in this issue, as Ben Grimm got to get the win not with his Fists but by outsmarted Dr Doom. Speaking of which, it was nice to see Doom taken down a peg or two, especially given how the last few years it's looked like he's been positioned as a far more heroic character than he should be.

Meanwhile, Iban Coello's artwork continues to exhibit this new age style which seems similar to the work done by Sean Izaakse, Paco Medina and a few others towards the tail-end of the Slott run. Otherwise, it's a solidly drawn issue, made better by the Fantastic look of the Fantastic Four as Dinosaurs.

Every issue of this newest Fantastic Four series has been a gem so far under North's direction, being fun and light-hearted and a complete antidote the darker real world. While I do hope for something a little more memorable to come soon, I'm still as hooked now to this comic as I was when I first picked it up.

Fire and Ice: Welcome to Smallville #3

With Gideon Falls finally completed after a two week splurge, I decided to catch up on the pull list comics which I had neglected in favour of it (not that there was many, to be fair).

Deciding to read them in release order, first up was the third issue of Fire and Ice: Welcome to Smallville, which saw the eponymous superheroines continue to adjust to the quiet life in Smallville. However, quiet isn't the word when Jimmy Olsen shows up at their door, causing the duo's newly hired staff of z-list superheroes to bring a load of ensuing hilarity in a bid to impress.

Unfortunately, this issue felt like it lost the charm from the prior two as the chaos contained within felt somewhat tiresome. This issue really felt like a pit stop within Joanne Starer's overall story with no progression seemingly found (save for hints of the second half of the series' direction), instead focusing on a sort of 'three stooges' level of slapstick.

Still, there are moments of promise, especially in the quiet moment between Tora and Bea as they find common ground and the latter has something of an epiphany. Also, the final page does leave me with some intrigue as to what's happening next.

Fortunately, the art by Natacha Bustos continues to be a main asset for this comic in my eyes. Bustos' style continues to have this Babs Tarr/She-Hulk vibe to it while also displaying similarity to Terry and Rachel Dodson's work (which I can't believe I didn't realise before, especially given they are producing the covers). This, of course, is greatly helped by Tamra Bonvillain's colours, which really help the art pop with incredibly Vibrancy.

As I reflect on what I've just written, I can't help but wonder if the exhausted state I was in when I read this hindered my enjoyment, or if the nostalgia about this two lead characters from the late Keith Giffen/Judd Winick Justice League: Generation Lost series gave me rose tinted glasses with the prior instalments.

Either way, this midway issue felt like a bump in the road, as if the series has been billed as one issue too long. Hopefully though, its just this issue and next month there is a return to form.

Gideon Falls (In it's entirety)

Well, I did it!! After nearly a year since I acquired volume 2, I've finally gotten around to reading the entire of Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino's Gideon Falls.

Less than two years since I first started reading this series (I received the Deluxe Vol. 1 for Christmas 2021), I had planned to return to this horror comic ever since I received the second deluxe volume just a year later.

However, with other comics and books in the queue before it and time moving ever onwards, it got to a point that the only way to truly enjoy this second part would be to read the whole series in its entirety.

Well, with the new winter approaching and the trips to and from work shrouded in darkness, I was able to return to the bus to work and, with it, the opportunity to finally read Gideon Falls in one large go.

As I reiterated when I read the first volume (a long time ago now), this series, set (mostly) in the titular town of Gideon Falls follows Father Fred, a priest haunted by the actions of his past, and Norton Sinclair, a troubled young man from a city a world away. However, despite their differing situations, both of these men have something on common; a reoccurring dream of a hauntingly eerie Black Barn.

I have to confess, Gideon Falls, as a concept, is not really my cup of tea. However, the work of Lemire and Sorrentino together that I've read in the past was sublime enough to warrant them my trust. And it was certainly this trust which was only enhanced when I read the first volume.

But could this dream team stick the landing with this series? Or would it all fall apart and leave me immensely disappointed? It was a fear of this latter option that maybe had me stay my hand when it came to picking this series up.

Fortunately, this worry proved to be unfounded as Lemire and Sorrentino finish this story as wonderfully as they started it.

The story begins slowly enough but it perfectly increases the tone, tempo and intrigue at the right gradient as it continues. For me, what started as a morbidly intriguing tale became a terrifyingly captivating and addictive one as Fred, Norton and their respective allies attempted to learn the truth behind the Black Barn and save the worlds they'd built themselves.

There is an opening foreword which compares this series to Twin Peaks and, while I've never seen that series, I certainly can believe it as Gideon Falls feels so in keeping with Alan Wake video game (which itself is a homage to David Lynch's TV series) with its dramatic supernatural/horror-esque tone.

Meanwhile, Andrea Sorrentino's art has this gritty taste to it, based on my thoughts when he drew Green Arrow. However, here, his work looks peerless and is pitch perfect for the world of Gideon Falls. Providing the story a realistic vibe to ground itself in, but then also beautifully providing us with the more horrific aspects as well as something truly mind bending towards the end which I couldn't help but drop my jaw to see.

I'm not sure what else I can say about this comic? Probably 10 times what I have but then I'd be pushing into spoiler territory and this is something which has to be seen to be believed. Nevertheless, Gideon Falls was a tremendous read over its two Deluxe Editions with an ending that, while feeling finite, also seems to leave the door open for a return visit. Whether more stories came from this universe or not though, this two tomes are definitely staying on my shelves to travel back to in the future.