Top Picks: Volume 1 Issue 5

Before I get started, I just want to point out that this entry will be a little different. If you have read any of my other posts, you'll notice that I normally do a top five review of my favorite comics that I purchased during the week. However, due a small pull list this week, I have whittled down the competition to four.



4. Avenging Spider-Man #15.1
Written By: Chris Yost
Art By: Paco Medina

Avenging Spider-Man 15.1

NOTE: THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW

This follows the events of Amazing Spider-Man #700. So before you read this, scroll down to see what happens, then come back...


Now that you know what happens, we get our first glimpse of Otto Octavius in his new role as Spider-Man in this issue.

A five-day period is laid out from this point. I'll give a brief overview of what goes down.

Day One: Otto realizes what has happened and how he can make Spider-Man better.

Day Two: Otto discovers some of the powers that Peter possessed.

Day Three: Otto begins work on a new costume and gets a phone call from Mary Jane, prompting some old images from Peter's mind.

Day Four: Otto pulls off his first "heroic act," and comes face to face with who he use to be.

Day Five: Superior Spider-Man is born.

Avenging Spider-Man 15.1 is the epilogue to Amazing Spider-Man #700 and the prologue to Superior Spider-Man #1. I see it as a necessary issue to have if you want to follow this story properly.



3. Justice League #15

Written By: Geoff Johns

Art By: Ivan Reis & Joe Prado

BACKUP STORY: SHAZAM

Written By: Geoff Johns

Art By: Gary Frank

 NOTE: THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW

This issue begins the "Throne of Atlantis" storyline that will crossover between the Justice League and Aquaman. It also marks the debut of former Aquaman penciler, Ivan Reis, to the title.

The "Throne of Atlantis" story is shaping up to be pretty interesting. By the end of this issue we know that Aquaman's brother has initiated the first strike of the Atlantean War Plan which consists of flooding the most heavily populated areas. Next up, according to Aquaman, is a ground assault. How does he know this you ask? because he wrote the plan. We learn more about this plan and how it came about, in Aquaman #15

Everything about this issue solidifies why the Justice League is the flagship book for DC. Geoff Johns continues to be one of the best writers for the company. Ivan Reis also delivers top-notch work, especially in panels involving water. It seems as though he has become one with the ocean after his stint on Aquaman.

If your mind wasn't already blown from the feature story, we get another fantastic installment of Geoff Johns' backup-- Shazam. I did find it kind of odd that the character was featured on the front cover, despite not being involved at all in the main story. Regardless, Johns and backup artist, Gary Frank, continue to craft a story that is worthy of it's own book.

Pick this up, and do yourself a favor and keep up with the story in Aquaman #15. You see my review for that issue, next.

2. Aquaman #15

Written By: Geoff Johns
Art By: Paul Pelletier

Aquaman #15

NOTE: THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW

As I mentioned in my Justice League #15 review, the "Throne of Atlantis" story continues here.

When you open up this issue to its first page, you are immediately taken to where the Justice League left off: Heavily populated areas such as Gotham and Metropolis are under attack by Atlantis, the result of missile test gone horribly wrong.

After Aquaman saves Commissioner Gordan and Detective Bullock from drowning, he hops in the Batplane. It is here that we learn more about the threat that is being posed, as Aquaman opens up to Batman.

Meanwhile, we learn more about the man who saved Lois Lane in issue #15 of the Justice League (read it to see what I'm talking about). It turns out that he is the first Atlantean that Aquaman ever met. He was also Aquman's and his mother's royal advisor.

From here we are taken to Boston, which is the latest city to be attacked. It is here that Orm, Aquaman's brother, surfaces and his finally confronted.

Newcomer to the Aquaman title, Paul Pelletier, knocked it out of the park with his art. From the opening panels (which gave me chills,) to the splash page at the end, Pelletier has shown me that he can stand toe-to-toe with the big guns.

I can't wait until Next month's Justice League and Aquaman to see where this story goes.



1. Amazing Spider-Man #700
Written By: Dan Slott
Art By: Humberto Ramos

Amazing Spider-Man #700

NOTE: THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW

I desperately tried to avoid any and all spoliers related to this issue. I actually did a pretty good job. It wasn't until I'd say about an hour or so before I picked up #700 that my eyes finally caught up with countless readers who indulged their curiosity.

I had an idea of what was going to happen, so reading the spoilers didn't take too much steam out of my excitement.

I got to my local comic book store bright and early Wednesday, eager to pick up a piece of history.

There were a handful of really nice variants available for purchase. If the cover price wasn't $7.99 I might have picked up a couple of them. I ended up deciding on the mosaic-like cover which you can see to the left. For me, it was a nice symbol for what the past 50 years has brought fans.

It's after those 50 years that we get a new Spider-Man-- a Superior Spider-Man. Peter Parker is in fact dead. As many suspected, he met his demise inside the body of a dying Otto Octavius, who in turn finds new life inside Peter.

The final confrontation between the two will leave you breathless. It is in this moment that Otto realizes the full extent of what it means to become Spider-Man. He realizes that he can no longer be the villain, and that with great power does in fact come great responsibility.

You should definitely pick this up. Even if you have negative feelings towards the plot, it is a collector's item and a part of Marvel history.

--Eric Follow Me on Twitter