Cosmo's Treats.

AJ’s Readathon

428. Fantastic Four #66
“…Big Stuff, Part 2”

April 2003 Part 8/14

Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Mark Buckingham

Plot: Johnny helps Jian flee the building as everything starts to melt into nothing, Johnny reveals it is going to destory everything in the world if it is not stopped. Meanwhile, Ben and Reed try to stop the bug that has infiltrated their building  and eventually succeed though Ben is left at a larger size than normal in trying to fix it, shrinks himself again! Johnny finds Sue and convinces her to use a forcefield to stop the spread and she manages to. In the epilogue, Johnny manages to convince Sue to let him keep his job at FF Inc.

Buy Pile Rating: Trade (2.5)
Story: Nice ending to the trade but nothing majorly relevant. And the title being Big Stuff Part 2 annoys me as Part 1 was Small Stuff.
Art: Good.

New To My Readathon:

• None

Next: April 2003 Part 9/14

Last FF til JMS!

AJ’s Readathon

427. Exiles #22
“Legacy: Part 3”

April 2003 Part 7/14

Writer: Judd Winnick
Artist: Jim Calafiore

Plot: The heroes struggle to save Blink as the Vi-Lock virus corrupts her. They manage to slow the infection but that’s all. Pym talks to Mimic about their reasons for destorying the Earth and Pym talks him into it. Meanwhile Morph has the native Rachel Summers working on a backup plan. The heroes plan to send a ship in to blow up a nuclear base and Nocturne volunteers to be the suicide pilot. Mimic says farewell to Blink, knowing what is to happen and heads off to see Nocturne away. Mimic steals the ship from Nocturne so she isnt injured and she is outraged. As Mimic heads to his death, Rachel Summers succeeds in her calls to the Asgardians who have the cure to the vi-lock plague. Mimic makes his way to the bombing point unaware of the news but Blink awakens and saves the day. As they celebrate the timebroker arrives and says a mission is complete and Blink is going home, Mimic is made the new leader and Magik joins the team.

Buy Pile Rating: Trade (2.5)
Story: Good story with a sad twist ending.
Art: Great.

New To My Readathon:

• Magik (Exiles)

Next: April 2003 Part 8/14

AJ’s Readathon

426. Daredeil #44
“Lowlife: Part 4”

April 2003 Part 6/14

Writer: Brian Bendis
Artist: Alex Maleev

Plot: Matt and Milla’s date goes really well until they return to Matt’s office where the police are waiting and take them both in for questioning regarding the death of the owner of the Globe. They are taken in for information but are clearly innocent and the police chief apologises and sends them on their way. Murdock leaves in front of a crowd of reporters and once more the media stirs. Owl reveals to his henchman that he is the true murdered and wanted as much attention on Murdock as possible and that his empire has now truly begun.

Buy Pile Rating: Trade (2)
Story: A good if slow issue.
Art: Good.

New To My Readathon:

• None

Next: April 2003 Part 7/14

AJ’s Readathon

425. Avengers #64
“Sight Unseen”

April 2003 Part 5/14

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ivan Reis

Plot: Falcon stalks Henry Peter Gyrich from the sky. Eventually Gyrich notices him and Falcon reveals he wasn’t hiding and lands and they talk about Gyrich’s second chance on the Avengers despite Falcon’s protests. Gyrich yells at Falcon and he punches him. Falcon, knowing about Gyrich’s secret deals with Secretary Rusk, tries to make him come forward and as they get to serious talk they are interrupted by a crowd with a hysterical woman who says her daughters were just kidnapped. Gyrich, despite knowing the woman, sadly says the Avengers cannot help but he ignores Gyrich and does anyway, he connects with the birds of the city and tracks the kidnapper, the Scarecrow. He tells Gyrich if he wants to talk to meet him later. He attacks the Scarecrow as he taunts his captives, he quicly defeats him and saves the kids. That night, Gyrich turns up to see him. However later the same night he hands over confidential information to Rusk as a bird flies overhead.

Buy Pile Rating: Trade (2.5)
Story: A really good issue but this feels more like a bonus story made long, it really could have used the Avengers in some way. Still good though.
Art: Great bar a few bits here and there.

New To My Readathon:

• Scarecrow

Next: April 2003 Part 6/14

AJ’s Readathon

424. Amazing Spider-Man #50
“Doomed Affairs”

April 2003 Part 4/14

Writer: JMS
Artist: John Romita Jr.

Plot: Peter and Mary Jane are over the moon to have found each other at the airport, unfortunately their reunion is cut short as Doctor Doom is escorted through the airport by security. In the middle of the airport he is attacked by a suicide bomber and knocked out inside his own armour. Peter rushes to help those around the explosion and finds a man in the rubble that turns out to be Captain America. He puts on his mask and the two fight off Doctor Doom’s attackers and defeat them all. Afterwards Peter is talking to MJ when Doom awakens and says he owes Spider-Man a debt and leaves. Before Cap leaves, Spider-Man introduces him to MJ and he wishes them the best before leaving. Peter and MJ leave, ready to face the world as a couple once more.

Buy Pile Rating: Buy (3)
Story: For a 50th issue this is great, a nice significant event with some action that is worked well into the story. Love it.
Art: Amazing.

New To My Readathon:

• None

Next: April 2003 Part 5/14

AJ’s Readathon

423. Alias #19
“The Underneath - Part 4”

April 2003 Part 3/14

Writer: Brian Bendis
Artist: Michael Gaydos

Plot: Jessica tries to get information from the club owner boyfriend of Mattie Franklin and when he learns he is using like an object and keeping her high she gets enraged but the owner has taken a power giving pill and beats her down and she is thrown outside. Ben Urich finds her and tries to figure out what she is doing and tells her the drug is MGH. She forces herself to go to the hospital where she is humiliated and the police question her. In a terrible mood she returns home and is jumped by Jessica Drew who believes she is responsible for Mattie being missing.

Buy Pile Rating: Trade (2)
Story: Good ending but this arc is very draggy, and Spider dominated.
Art: Good.

New To My Readathon:

• Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)

Next: April 2003 Part 4/14

AJ’s Readathon

422. Ultimate War #4 (of #4)
“”

April 2003 Part 2/14

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Chris Bachalo

Plot: As the Ultimates descend on the X-Men the military attack Wolverine and he easily escapes. The SHIELD technology is activated causing the telepathic abilities of the X-Men to be rendered useless. Iron Man charges at the group and is stopped dead in his path by impacting Colossus. Storm holds off the SHIELD re-enforcements with lightning until Thor arrives and takes her on. Beast tries to carry Xavier to the jet and detours through the training room and turns on the defences to attack Hawkeye and his squad. Black Widow pursues them and blows up the jet causing the two to eject. Iron Man captures them but Wolverine ambushes him and takes him down. Shadowcat and Jean are ambushed by bloodthirsty SHIELD troops and saved by Wolverine. Captain America confronts Wolverine and they fight. Hawkeye shoots a localised nuke at Colossus and the X-Men seem doomed. Suddenly everybody freezes as Iceman has arrived. He shatters the anti-psychic devices and Jean shuts them down. When the psychic freeze is lifted the Ultimates are confused to find the X-Men bar Xavier have escaped. Later, the Ultimates monitor Xavier in his cell unaware he is not alone and believe the war to be over. In the cell Magneto is blocking his appearance on the cameras and mocks Xavier, he says without his leadership the X-Men will soon join the Brotherhood.

Buy Pile Rating: Trade (2)
Story: Good ending and glad it was a mini.
Art: Not good, some of Bachalo’s weakest work.

New To My Readathon:

• None

Next: April 2003 Part 3/14

AJ’s Readathon

421. Daredevil #43
“Lowlife: Part 3”

April 2003 Part 1/14

Writer: Brian Bendis
Artist: Alex Maleev

Plot: The police explore the murder of the owner of the Globe and think Murdock is a suspect. In his office, Matt meets Milla and though she sees through his Daredevil disguise and he tries to deny it she tries to make him date her and he is very interested. Foggy argues that he shouldnt date her but Matt ignores him. Matt and Foggy discuss the situation with the Owl and it worries them. Foggy advises he get someone else to bring in the Owl and suggests Luke Cage but he is dodging Matt’s calls. Matt gets the address from Jessica Jones and visits him and learns Cage is upset about playing down his Daredevil identity and Cage refuses him saying to leave the Owl to the feds and Matt goes on patrol enraged before calming and going on a date with Milla. The police arrive at the law office and find only Foggy but they have a warrant to arrest Matt.

Buy Pile Rating: Trade (2)
Story: Good but alot of sidetracking.
Art: Good.

New To My Readathon:

• None

Next: April 2003 Part 2/14