Growler on Superhero Fiction!

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Superhero fiction is one of the hottest storytelling genres out there. Here's where I comment on everything you need to know!

See also, Essential Comic Book Links and Growler on Superhero Comic Books.

Ok. So the New Avengers have a brand new line up.

Brought to us in comic book form courtesy of Brian Bendis and Leinil Yu.

Marvel Comics premier superhero team have been re-invigourated.

So step forward, Dr Strange, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Spider-Man, Echo, Spider-Woman, Wolverine and Ronin.

The Avengers have always had line up changes in its history and this one is one of its most radical to date.

Several long standing Marvel characters who have never been members before have joined up.

Namely Dr Strange and Iron Fist.

It'll make for interesting stories for sure as these characters both have their own histories which will now form part of the Avengers legacy.

Echo is a more recent character so I'm looking forward to see how she's developed over time. And Ronin is a complete mystery. No one knows who's behind the armour. Only time will tell.

Brian Bendis is a renowned storyteller and coupled with artist Leinil Yu this will be worth getting your teeth into.

The Avengers have always been my favourite Marvel franchise so this new direction is a welcome one.

Bring it on!

Read more about this new team in Brian Bendis' recent Newsarama interview.

And check out some of Leinil Yu's artwork for the series.

Learn about the history of The Avengers.

Click here to check out Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4 (Marvel Comics) by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and John Romita  

Joss Whedon is off Wonder Woman. What?!

The upcoming movie featuring the most iconic female superhero has lost its director.

Not just any director, the guy who gave us Buffy and Angel. The guy who gave us Firefly and Serenity. The guy who is writing Astonishing X-Men and soon to be writing Runaways for Marvel Comics.

Basically, one of the most qualified and creative people around.

There's no doubt its a big loss but it doesnt have to spell disaster.

This is an opportunity to re-introduce the character to millions. Wonder Woman hasn't been popular since her TV series in the late 70s starring Lynda Carter.

The property of DC Comics, she ranks alongside Batman and Superman in stature but has never attained the heights of those two characters.

So here's a chance to do just that.

I really hope whoever ends up directing this movie helps to make it a quality action piece with the chance of future sequels.

Read Joss Whedon's full explanation on his site.

Click here to check out Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men Volume 2 TPB (Marvel Comics) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby  

Heard recently that Dez Skinn, the creator of Comics International Magazine has sold the publication.

Dez was a stalwart of the UK comic book scene and perhaps its biggest cheerleader. He co-created the V for Vendetta graphic novel which became a major film.

Comics International is a great read and I avidly followed it in its infancy through the 1990s. Comics books were huge and the boom had just arrived.

Wizard Magazine started in the same year if I recall and it was a great time, the beginning of comic book greatness.

Before the internet revolution.

With the online world now having a head of steam, all print publications will have to up their game to compete.

With the foundations laid by Dez Skinn and his team, Comics International will have a bright future.

Wishing him the best for the future.

Click here to check out Marvel Masterworks Invicible Iron Man 1962-63 (Marvel Comics) by Stan Lee  

Format: Graphic Novel

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Reprinting New Avengers issues 1 to 6

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, Penciller: David Finch, Inker: Danny Miki

Colourist: Frank D'Armata, Letterers: Richard Starkings and Comicraft's Albert Deschesne

The old order changeth.

I can't think of a better way to be introduced to the Marvel Universe of characters than through one of my favourite titles. This series features many of Marvel Comics brightest stars. Spiderman, Wolverine, Captain America, Iron Man, Luke Cage, Spiderwoman and The Sentry. Heroes all, and now written under one of the best writers to ever grace the hallowed halls of Marvel Comics. I'm talking about Brian Michael Bendis. The man's dialogue is second to none and would not be out of place in a movie or TV show. This is the life blood of Marvel, the realistic settings and intelligent stories.

It's what has kept me coming back for the last 21 years. And believe it or not, this is my first ever comic book review.

So, onto the story. At The Raft. Several prominent characters are investigating a curious inmate housed in a maximum security prison with some of humanities worst nightmares.

The visitors are Luke Cage, Matt (Daredevil) Murdock and Jessica (Spiderwoman) Drew.

The banter and casual conversations between these characters is a joy to read. Natural, unforced and damn entertaining.

You just get pulled into the story and before you know it the speed picks up and you're feeling the wind on your face as the rollercoaster ride gets in full stride.

Lights out! The power system is ingeniusly shorted out to enable a massive break out by the prison population. Remember, this place houses some of the world's worst nightmares. Supervillains, to put it at it's most crudest. The breakout alerts some of the local superhero talent to urgently get to the location to see the extent of the damage. Spiderman arrives at the devastated scene, to be met by Captain America. And the game is on. This whole piece is stunnily illustrated by David Finch who really conveys the emotional expressions of the characters and the landscapes of the whole story.

Like the Director of Photography or Cinematographer in a movie the Finch really sets the mood of the story and no more so than here. It's a feast for the eyes and I am constantly in awe at the detail and mastery of his craft.

As the story flows from panel to panel and then from page to page, I feel like I'm actually catapulted into the story and am intensely focused on the approaching outcome.

This is actually an origin story, detailing the formation of the team. Trust the genius of writer Bendis, as he has created a multi layered, personal, action packed and dramatic tale of intrigue that is the equivalent of a movie with a 15 rating. A story with mass appeal.

This is well worth your time and the section of story I have described here is not even a sixth of the total feature. I just don't want to spoil it for you. I want you to discover and enjoy this masterpiece the same way I did.

Page by page, panel by panel.

Behold the beauty of comic books.

New Avengers: Breakout, I rate it 8 out of 10.

Click here to check out Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Volume 3 TPB (Marvel Comics) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

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