• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Crushing Krisis

The Newest Oldest Blog In New Zealand

  • DC Guides
    • DC Events
    • DC New 52
    • DC Rebirth
    • Batman Guide
    • The Sandman Universe
  • Marvel Guides
    • Marvel Events
    • Spider-Man Guide (1963-2018)
    • X-Men Reading Order
  • Indie & Licensed Comics
    • Spawn
    • Star Wars Guide
      • Expanded Universe Comics (2015 – present)
      • Legends Comics (1977 – 2014)
    • Valiant Guides
  • Drag
    • Canada’s Drag Race
    • Drag Race Down Under
    • Drag Race France
    • Drag Race Philippines
    • Dragula
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars
  • Archive
  • Contact!
You are here: Home / consume / comic books / Marvel Hardcover & Trade Paperback Review, October 2011 Edition

Marvel Hardcover & Trade Paperback Review, October 2011 Edition

November 15, 2011 by krisis

I’m here with my weekly peek at Marvel’s collected editions, packing recent and classic comic storylines into handy hardcovers and trade paperbacks.

Since I’m still at a bit of a lag, this week we’re taking a lot at all of October – and there were a slew of great collections that month! Read on for capsule reviews of the X-Men books out in October, plus the skinny on all of Marvel’s other new collected editions from last month.

If you’re looking for more X-Men books, head over to my Definitive Guide to Collecting X-Men Graphic Novels. Or, some X-background, read my Intro to X-Men (on a budget). Trying to decide where to jump in? Check out Where to Start Reading X-Men.

xXx

Marvel X-Men Collection of the Month:
Daken: Dark Wolverine – Big Break Hardcover
Collects issues #10-14 and 9.1

Note: This is not the cover of the collection, though the issue does appear inside of it.

CK Says: Buy it! This isn’t the first time I’ve featured Daken as my top pick, and it won’t be the last. There’s something about the dastardly, amoral, bisexual, pheromone-exuding, tattooed, illegitimate son of Wolverine that I find delightfully subversive when written well, and a year into his solo outing Rob Williams has him down pat.

This collection finds Daken trying to take control of LA the only way he knows how – putting the screws to the existing bad-guys a la Joker in Dark Knight, and sleeping his way into secrets of the scene with a young up-and-coming actor.

The twist? Daken samples the street drug du jour and is both terrified and thrilled to find it shuts off his healing factor! The result are some bloodier-than-usual fights as Daken enjoys handicapping himself while tripping out in Ralph Steadman-esque illustrations. (PS: The interiors are not quite so froggy as the front cover.) Available for pre-order as a TPB.

xXx

Marvel Non-X Collection of the Month:
Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman Vol. 4 TPB
Collects Fantastic Four #583-588 

CK Says: Buy it. Writer Jonathan Hickman has re-made a Fantastic Four fan out of me with his operatic two-year run leading up to the issues in this collection. He divides comics’ first family with a war on multiple fronts against traditional foes like Galactus, Namor, and Annihilus as well as by their hard feelings at home, but this story is anything but old school.

Though the big build-up was for the death of a team-member, what’s really worth witnessing here is the rebirth of the FF franchise as one of Marvel’s hottest titles. Interior artist Steve Epting draws such stately, beautiful characters you’ll swear you’re reading Superman.

You may want to pick up Volumes 1, 2, and 3 as well – you can score the entire four-volume run for under $50! Also available in hardcover.

xXx

What X-title do I hate with such a passion that I have to abstain from giving it a rating at all? Keep reading to find out, plus get capsule reviews of books from X-Men: Legacy, X-Factor, and X-23 and summaries of the rest of the Marvel Universe.

 

Note: This is not the cover of the collection, though the issue does appear inside of it.

Iron Age Hardcover
Collects Iron Age #1-3, Alpha, and Omega

CK Says: Consider it! Yes, this is an Iron Man title in the midst of the X-Collections. Why? Check out this insanity: Tony Stark gets sucked back in time to when he was a consummate drunkard, so none of the past Avengers will believe his alcoholic self when he says the Earth is at risk from Dark Phoenix (!!!), so he recruits pretty much my two favorite B-list X-Men to assist him: Captain Britain and Dazzler! I swear, that’s not even an exaggeration in the least. This will surely be a Christmas gift to myself.

xXx

New X-Men Vol. 6: Assault on Weapon Plus Digest
Collects New X-Men #139-145

CK Says: Consider it. While not my favorite of Morrison’s X-Men stories, I’m actually fond of Cyclops and Wolverine team-ups. Add the acerbic wit and constant subterfuge of the still-new Fantomax and the accelerated time environment of The World and you have a tidy little action tale. Also available in New X-Men Ultimate Collection, Vol 3.

xXx

Wolverine: Wolverine’s Revenge Hardcover
Collects Wolverine #10-14

CK Says: $*#! It turns out I am part of a rare 1% of comic fans who despise pretty much every concept and script from one of comics’ hottest authors, Jason Aaron. This collection, in particular, bothered me to the core by setting up an predictable and utterly cliched climax and then paying off every maudlin ounce of it. Yet, all the fans rejoiced heartily, proclaiming it the best Wolverine story in years, and the art was rather awesome, so what do I know? Available for pre-order as a TPB.

xXx

X-23, Vol. 1: The Killing Dream TPB
Collects issues #1-6, and a brief story from Wolverine Saga

CK Says: Skip it. Wolverine’s teenage girl clone headlines an increasingly fan-favorite series (canceled as of today!), but it had a slow start. That was made all the more obvious by comparison to her spectacular past headlining gigs, as on her introductory mini-series and the stellar (and back-to-print!) Target X. Here we pick up Gambit as a supporting character, a simpering Ms. Sinister as a villain, and strong art from Will Conrad, but it will take until the next collection for writer Marjorie Liu to strike the right tone on this title.  Also available in hardcover.

xXx

X-Factor: Hard Labor Hardcover
Collects X-Factor #219-224

CK Says: Consider it. I just re-read this story last week, and it is a bit of an empty-calorie meal. While there are some amusing bits (Shatterstar’s discovery of musicals is hilarious), on the whole it largely depends on your connection to former New Mutant wolfgirl Rahne, who is pregnant with the spawn of a wolf god. With the rest of the cast mostly on the sidelines, this continues X-Factor’s slower burn after some phenomenal stories heading into the 210s. Available for pre-order as a TPB.

xXx

X-Men Legacy: Lost Legions
Collects X-Men Legacy #250-253

CK Says: Consider it (presently 40% off at Amazon!). This slow, almost somber mission to recapture escaped multiple identities of Xavier’s son Legion features one of the oddest X-teams ever: Magneto and Xavier, Rogue and Gambit, Legion, and former-villain strong-woman Frenzy.

We don’t get to see Erik or Charles do anything especially excellent, but Rogue is the star of the show and Frenzy’s every line is sheer nasty – even when she’s saving the day. Rogue fans would be better off with earlier storylines Emplate or Collision, but longterm Legacy readers will appreciate her continued development here as author Mike Carey stretches the bounds of what her powers can do now that she is in full control of them. Available to pre-order as a TPB.

xXx

Wow – October had a lot of X! And now, for the rest of Marvel’s offerings this month…

Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures Ultimate Collection TPB – Collects a 12-issue series of the same name. Available in hardcover as “The Complete Edition.”

Captain America: Red Glare Hardcover – A Marvel Premiere Classic Hardcover collecting Captain America (1998) #14-19 and material from Captain America Spotlight.

Captain America: The Trial of Captain America TPB – Continue Ed Brubaker’s acclaimed run on Captain America, this paperback collects #611-615 and #615.1. Also available in hardcover.

Dark Tower: The Fall of Gilead TPB – Collects Dark Tower: Sorcerer and Dark Tower: The Fall of Gilead #1-6. Also available in hardcover.

Fantastic Four by Waid & Wieringo Ultimate Collection Book 3 TPB – Waid mines some interesting topics but ultimate goes a bit off the rails in this collection of Fantastic Four #503-513.

Fantastic Four: 1234 Hardcover – I always sing “Senses Working Overtime” when I see the title of this HC! It collects an out-of-continuity take on the FF by comics wunderkind Grant Morrison with perennial stunner Jae Lee on pencils. Collects Fantastic Four: 1234 #1-4 and a Morrison Nick Fury story from Marvel Knights Double Shot #2.

From the Marvel Vault – An intriguing concept: printing stories that never saw light when they were originally written or illustrated. Sadly, none of these are clamored for fan favorites, though they do involve some classic creators. Includes stories from Dr. Strange, Nomad and Thunderbolts, Gambit and the Champions, and Human Torch.

Note: This is not the cover of the collection, though the issue does appear inside of it, and this art is representative of the interiors.

Red Hulk: Planet Red Hulk TPB – Collects Hulk 31-36, 30.1, and material from 30.

Invaders Now! TPB – Collects the Invaders five-issue reunion mini-series. Also available in hardcover.

Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 7: My Monsters TPB – Collects a paltry array of Iron Man filler – #500, 500.1, Annual 1, and material from #503. Also available in hardcover.

Thor: Trials of Loki TPB – Collects a four-issue Loki limited series. Also available in hardcover.

Marvel Firsts: The 1960s TPB – Want to revel in the glory of dime-a-dozen good ideas, the majority of which turned into multi-million dollar franchises 50 years later? Beyold this collection of Marvel 1960s debuts, which is a great value for $20! Collects Rawhide Kid (1955) #17; material from Amazing Adventures (1961) #1; Fantastic Four (1961) #1; material from Tales to Astonish (1959) #27, #51 and #70; Incredible Hulk (1962) #1; material from Amazing Fantasy #15 (Spider-Man’s debut); material from Journey Into Mystery #83 (Thor); material from Strange Tales (1951) #101, #110 (Dr. Strange), & #135; Two-Gun Kid #60; material from Tales of Suspense (1959) #39 (Iron Man), #49 and #59; Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1; Avengers (1963) #1; X-Men (1963) #1; Daredevil (1964) #1; Ghost Rider (1967) #1; Marvel Super-Heroes (1967) #12 and #19-20, Captain Savage #1; and material from Silver Surfer (1968) #1.

Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 6 TPB – Collects classic issues Amazing Spider-Man #51-61 and Annual 4.

Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Strange Tales, Vol 5 Hardcover – Collects Strange Tales #40-48.

Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 7 TPB – Collects classic stories including the Inhumans and the Negative Zone! I just picked this up in hardcover and I can’t wait to read it. Collects #61-71 and Annual 5.

Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk, Vol. 6 Hardcover – Collects The Incredible Hulk #122-134.

New Warriors Classic Vol. 3 TPB – Marvel’s hopelessly uncool, non-mutant teen team of the 90s. Collects New Warriors (1990) #11-17 and Avengers (1963) #341-342.

Punishermax: Frank Hardcover – Collects Jason Aaron’s Punishermax #12-16, and I’m sure you can guess how I feel about that. Available for pre-order as a TPB.

S.H.I.E.L.D. TPB – I found this series a bit off-putting, but if you dug Da Vinci Code or the Rimbaldi bits of Alias this book looking at Reed Richard’s father’s escapades as a SHIELD agent is definitely for you. Collects the five issue mini-series (but not the “Infinity” issue that followed). Also available in oversize hardcover.

Spider-Man: Deadly Foes of Spider-Man TPB – A spotlight on Spidey’s villains, collecting the early-90s mini-series Deadly Foes of Spider-Man #1-4 and Lethal Foes of Spider-Man #1-4.

Spider-Man: The Complete Ben Reilly Epic Book 2 TPB – Another chapter of when Spider-Man wasn’t Peter Parker! Marvel does a great job of summing these 90s mega-storylines up coherently in multi-volume sets.  Collects a massive haul of Amazing Spider-Man (1962) #407-408,  New Warriors (1990) #67, Sensational Spider-Man (1996) #1, Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #230, Spider-Man (1990) #64-65, Spider-Man/Punisher: Family Plot #1-2, Web of the Scarlet Spider #3-4, and material from Spider-Man Holiday Special and Venom: Along Came a Spider #1-4. You can backtrack to Book 1, or pre-order Book 3!

Venom: Lethal Protector TPB – Not to be confused with Rick Remender’s recent Venom ongoing starring Flash Thompson, this six-issue mini-series focused on the original Venom, Eddie Brock!

Warriors Three: Dog Day Afternoon – Collects the four-issue mini-series of Asgardian supporting characters, plus a Hulk story from Tales to Astonish #101 and Incredible Hulk (1968) #102. Also available in hardcover.

xXx

Finally, here are the October books from Marvel’s Ultimate Comics line, which is a separate continuity from the main universe (and, generally, has more in common with their films).

Ultimate Comics Avengers 3 AKA Blade vs. The Avengers TPB – Collects Ultimate Avengers 3 #1-6. Also available in hardcover.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man: Death of Spider-Man Hardcover – This story saw lots of major media hype, and in the Ultimate Universe, dead really means dead! Hype aside, it was met largely with fan praise for both story and art. Collects Ultimate Comics #156-160.

Ultimate Comics X: Origins Hardcover -Beware, X-Fans – the community at large seems to truly despite any Ultimate-X tale penned by writer Jeph Loeb. Collects Ultimate X #1-5. Also available for pre-order as a TPB.

xXx

That’s the wide world of Marvel collections for October. How many did you pick up? How many remain on your wishlist? What totally new-to-you book or character do you want to try?

Related posts:

  1. New Collecting Guide: Ultimate Marvel Comics
  2. Mile Morales, Spider-Man – The Definitive Reading Order and Collecting Guide
  3. Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan – The Definitive Reading Order and Collecting Guide

Filed Under: comic books Tagged With: Fantastic Four, New Releases, X-Men

Previous Post: « #MusicMonday: “If I Could Turn Back Time” – Cher
Next Post: Arcati Crisis @ Studio Luloo »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erich says

    November 15, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    Sounds like you weren’t alone on X-23, Marvel just canceled that. I’m really enjoying Hickman’s FF too.

  2. krisis says

    November 15, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    WHOA, canceled? The first arc was weak, but it’s been really great since then.

    Daken can’t be far behind. Both have been flirting with the 20k mark on sales, as has GenHope – but that benefits from being the driver of their next big event (sadly, few people are interested).

Trackbacks

  1. Crushing Krisis › Top 12 X-Men Collections of 2011 – New Material says:
    January 10, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    […] 7. & 8. Daken/X-23: Collision & Daken: Big Break Collecting Daken #5-9 and X-23 #7-9 & Daken #9.1 and #10-13, respectively. It’s no secret that I am in love with both of Wolverine’s errant progeny (actually, X-23 is a clone, but who’s counting?), but it’s Daken who I obsessed over throughout 2010. I’ve written about both volumes already, but the upshot is that Daken is intent on ruling the world of crime one city at a time by both planning their downfalls and saving their days. That he happens to be Wolverine sans the rage and morals just makes things more intriging. Collision, particularly, includes some sumptuous art and – let’s get real here – a vaguely homoerotic Daken vs. Gambit squareoff. (Read my original Collision and Big Break reviews.) […]

Primary Sidebar


Support Crushing Krisis on Patreon
Support CK
on Patreon


Follow me on Twitter Contact me Watch me on Youtube Subscribe to the CK RSS Feed

About CK

About Crushing Krisis
About My Music
About Your Author
Blog Archive
Comics Blogs Only
Contact Krisis
Terms & Conditions

Crushing Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Events Guide

Spider-Man Guide

DC Comics

  • Guide to Emma Frost, The White QueenPatron’s Choice: Guide to Emma Frost, White Frost
    It's my brand new Guide to Emma Frost - The White Queen. Learn how Emma is defined by tragedy and her vow that it's all "For The Children." […]
  • Marvel United Multiverse World War Hulk Expansion BoxMarvel United: Multiverse wages World War Hulk as their final expansion! (Plus: a BIG all-in pledge reward)
    Marvel United Multiverse World War Hulk is the final expansion box in the Marvel United: Multiverse Kickstarter, and it's packed with muscle - plus, an ever BIGGER surprise for the All-In pledge. […]
  • Drag Race Belgique Season 1 Episode 00 - Promo SquareDrag Race Belgique Season 1 – Pre-Season “Meet The Queens” Power Ranking
    It's time to meet the queens of a whole new Drag Race franchise - Drag Race Belgique, hosted by alien actress Rita Baga! […]
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15, Episode 6 – “Old Friends Gold” Girl Groups Challenge, Review & Power Ranking
    The drag queens of RuPauls' Drag Race Season 15 take on a golden oldies Girl Group challenge with unlikely musical genres in Old Friends Gold. […]
  • Marvel United Multiverse Kickstarter - Maximum Carnage Expansion BoxMarvel United: Multiverse adds Maximum Carnage to the campaign! (Plus, the High Evolutionary!)
    Marvel United Multiverse Maximum Carnage unleashed an unexpected group of villains onto the campaign in the from of a (very) New Sinister Six! Plus, High Evolutionary, and my predictions for the final expansion box(es). […]
  • New Mutants (2019) #7Updated: Guide to New Mutants, Generation X, Academy X, & other Young X-Men
    My Guide to New Mutants now covers every new class of X-Men, from the "3rd Class" of New Mutants through Generation X, Academy X, Generation Hope, & The Age of Krakoa - plus the return of the 1st Class of All-New X-Men! […]
  • Cable Math & Maps: Collected Issue Counting and Future Omnibus Mapping
    it's time for mathing and mapping Cable! How much of Cable has been collected from his 1990 debut onward, including his pre-history? And, how could it all fit into Omnibus? […]
  • Marvel United Multiverse Kickstarter - Annihilation BoxMarvel United: Multiverse adds Annihilation (plus, 20 potential Marvel Event expansions and their predicted contents)
    I perfectly predicted this new Marvel United Multiverse expansion box and all its contents, so what do my psychic powers say about the remainder of the campaign? […]
  • Guide to Spider-Man comics from 2018 to present day – now available to the public!
    Peter Parker has had a massive 5 years in comics, from Nick Spencer's Amazing Spider-Man run to Zeb Wells spinning Dark Web and the Summer of Symbiotes. Find every issue from 2018 to present day in this new guide! […]
  • X-Men Vote 2023 - Polls Are Open NowElect your favorite mutant with Marvel’s annual X-Men Vote! #xmenvote
    It's time for the third annual X-Men Vote to determine one new permanent member of the flagship X-Men team. Let's meet the six candidates and discuss the pros and cons of each one. […]
  • Marvel United Multiverse Secret Invasion Box KickstarterMarvel United: Multiverse adds a Secret Invasion expansion (plus, 20 events that could be expansion boxes!)
    CMON announced a surprising Marvel United Multiverse Secret Invasion expansion, which raises a question: What other events are still to come? I've got 20 suggestions for them. […]
  • New for Patrons: Guide to Wasp, Janet van Dyne
    This Guide to Wasp follows Janet van Dyne through her 60-year Marvel Comics history, from founding Avenger to finally getting own own series! […]
  • my weighted blanket is hungry
    Me getting 8hrs of fitful sleep doesn't seem to be enough to satiate the hunger of my new 10kg beast of a weighted blanket. […]
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15, Episode 5 – House of Fashion, Review & Power Ranking
    It's Drag Race Fashion Week in this unconventional materials design challenge with a twist: the queens are split into three groups and have to present cohesive runway collections. […]

Layout copyright © 2017 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

Links from Crushing Krisis to retailer websites may be in the form of affiliate links. If you purchase through an affiliate link I will receive a minor credit as your referrer. My credit does not affect your purchase price. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program (in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain), eBay Partner Network, and iTunes Affiliate Program.