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Post by D. Golightly on Oct 27, 2018 10:49:09 GMT -5
marvel2k.weebly.com/new-releases.htmlThe latest and greatest from M2K. We'll have yet another release soon, quickly followed by our Halloween special! This release features: Avengers VS X-Men #2 Marvel Fanfare #95 Nero & Hannigan #5 New Warriors 2018 Annual Serpent Society #1 X-Men: Mutant Underground #3 Young Avengers #12
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Post by DD Doyle on Oct 27, 2018 12:24:22 GMT -5
Just when I was trying to knoc myself out of my stupor to write some reviews for the previous release... lol, I'll never catch up now! Can't wait to dig in tho
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Post by DD Doyle on Oct 28, 2018 18:09:58 GMT -5
Okay to make a dent in my review log I'll start with two gents who have been kindly putting out review after review for everyone else. Gavin's Mutant Underground was enthralling. You very much follow these characters every step. Dreamer is fast becoming a favorite for me in particular. I has suspected Louisa was her, well actually that's not quite right, I had noticed a similarity in powers but never really though that's where you were going and then it was revealed as such and I thought it was such a great depth to add to the character. I also loved how the is the one who is trying to reach out to and be kind towards Toad. I love "scary" Warren and I hope we see more of the artist formerly known as the horseman of death Marrow's scene with Spyke was touching, especially considering not only their shared morlock history but their similar power-sets. Ashton's interest in Kitty seemed to be hinting at something more than friendly, not sure if that was on purpose and not sure if the subtext I was reading was sinister, romantic or both... but it bears watching. All in all, I can't wait to read more! John's Nero and Hannigan is continually a favorite even if I don't always have the time to say so. Magic, folklore and Mythology being a favorite of mine since before I can remember. The beginning was haunting and perfect counterpoint to more frantic action in the main story. Senor Magico may be a silly name, on purpose no doubt, but I like him and hope he continues as a side character as he proved here again to work well in the most serious of times no less. The blend of myths is fantastic as is the very Neil Gaiman effect of "all stories are true" in the many Merlins remark. The Wild Hunt, Black Hounds, all great stuff, used to great effect (even sometimes comedic effect as in the image of a dog's head coming from a rearview mirror, lol). Great cliffhanger, let's see where it goes next!
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Post by johncheese on Oct 29, 2018 2:02:22 GMT -5
Okay to make a dent in my review log I'll start with two gents who have been kindly putting out review after review for everyone else. John's Nero and Hannigan is continually a favorite even if I don't always have the time to say so. Magic, folklore and Mythology being a favorite of mine since before I can remember. The beginning was haunting and perfect counterpoint to more frantic action in the main story. Senor Magico may be a silly name, on purpose no doubt, but I like him and hope he continues as a side character as he proved here again to work well in the most serious of times no less. The blend of myths is fantastic as is the very Neil Gaiman effect of "all stories are true" in the many Merlins remark. The Wild Hunt, Black Hounds, all great stuff, used to great effect (even sometimes comedic effect as in the image of a dog's head coming from a rearview mirror, lol). Great cliffhanger, let's see where it goes next! First of all thanks for the review, as always they are appreciated very much. As a fan of mythology myself I'm glad that you're enjoying this series. I was a little worried about the beginning because it had little context with the first part of the arc, but I'm glad that nobody (yet) has had an issue with it. Belive it or not Senor Magico is an actual Marvel character, and when I discovered him, I knew he had to be here, he's awesome (and will also be part of the supporting cast). Once again thank you, I'm just about to write the next part of the arc, and you review is a much needed boost to be sure.
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Post by Gavin McMahon on Oct 29, 2018 6:48:41 GMT -5
Okay to make a dent in my review log I'll start with two gents who have been kindly putting out review after review for everyone else. Gavin's Mutant Underground was enthralling. You very much follow these characters every step. Dreamer is fast becoming a favorite for me in particular. I has suspected Louisa was her, well actually that's not quite right, I had noticed a similarity in powers but never really though that's where you were going and then it was revealed as such and I thought it was such a great depth to add to the character. I also loved how the is the one who is trying to reach out to and be kind towards Toad. I love "scary" Warren and I hope we see more of the artist formerly known as the horseman of death Marrow's scene with Spyke was touching, especially considering not only their shared morlock history but their similar power-sets. Ashton's interest in Kitty seemed to be hinting at something more than friendly, not sure if that was on purpose and not sure if the subtext I was reading was sinister, romantic or both... but it bears watching. All in all, I can't wait to read more! I'm so glad you're continuing to enjoy the series Dan because I'm definitely enjoying writing it! Dreamer's reveal, and the darkness inside her, was pushed back and back to this issue. I had Colossus hint it at her in issue one and this is the immediate pay off but the storyline isn't done. Only the reader and Colossus know her truth so far. Warren is very much going to be a force to be reckoned with and I'm excited to bring that to the table! I feel, particularly in fan fiction, Marrow is too abrasive. She's hostile and dislikable. I wanted to show that anger and hostility but juxtapose it against her compassion and sadness. So, Marrow is going to be going through a lot and it will hopefully be fun for the reader at least. Ashton ... You'll have to wait and see, but you won't have to wait for long. Ashton and Kitty get their first proper interaction next issue, on a road trip, in Chicago! Thanks for the review!
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Post by Gavin McMahon on Oct 29, 2018 18:11:20 GMT -5
Beware these are reviews so obviously there are SPOILERS. Once again, any negatives are just my opinion and are intended to be taken as constructive criticism.
Avengers vs X-Men #2 – “Part Two”: As I have Sunspot in a series that takes place in the aftermath of this, it’s a series I need to keep an eye on. I really enjoyed the opening segment, it was a fresh take on storytelling and it was nice to see the Phoenix as a character rather than witnessed through Jean Grey. I also liked your Iceman, he’s very rarely played as an effective hero and so this was refreshing. I particularly liked the Avengers in this series: Stingray is normally so underused but he was utilised well here, I’m always excited to see Espirita (although, I’ll always prefer her Firebird alias), and I was interested to see who this new Binary was. I think the portions were skewed a little more towards the Avengers than the X-Men, and this isn’t my favourite version of Carol but I’m very much here for this series.
Marvel Fanfare #95 – “Avengers 2 1/2”: So, this is an old flashback, like almost the foundations of the team old, so I liked that concept. Giant-Man and Iron Man, capitalising is important in their codenames. I do want to say though that I think you got their voices and eccentricities from this period really spot on. I found each of them to be incredibly in character and not at all influenced by the evolutions their characters have undergone throughout the years, especially Wasp. I just felt that it could have gone a little deeper, a touch more prose to get in their heads, because sometimes it was a little bit like talking heads. They were all well written, but a little description would have made this one-shot a standout.
Nero & Hannigan #5 – “The Phantom Hound”, Part Two: It goes without saying that John is one of M2K and DC2K’s most prolific writers and he constantly turns out excellent work. He’s taken Zombie Master and the Enforcer and shown us time and time again that minor characters can be transformed into a figurehead worth reading about. He deserves a lot of credit for that. His work is great, and I can still see an improvement from month to month. Your knowledge of mythological concepts really shines through here, and I mean the entire series not just this issue. It sets it apart from every other series currently on the site. I love that Señor Mágico is getting some attention because, honestly, he’s another of Marvel’s forgotten and ignored. The plot is moving at a pretty good pace. Also, credit where it’s due, this is one of the issues were missed edits didn’t appear. Everyone’s name was correct and there were no major grammatical errors.
New Warriors 2018 Annual: I’m not going to go back into the Franklin Fatigue debate again, I promise, but can I just say that how stoked I was to have an issue based around another character? I would’ve taken any character, so this is already a great start. I’ve been involved in the sphere of fan fiction for approximately twelve years and I have never seen anyone use a Guthrie grandparent so kudos for Zachery and it’s the perfect choice for someone to raise Josiah so that he still has that Guthrie upbringing when he inevitably returns. I believed Josiah’s grief over Zachery’s death and I liked his interactions with Icarus and Cannonball, he’s angry and bitter and that’s a very real reaction. Not to get back into Franklin Fatigue, but this is further proof this series is much more interesting when it focuses on your other characters because you can do something fresh with them. There are at least seven other characters on the New Warriors roster at this point and the time has come for them to shine!
Serpent Society #1 – “Ouroboros”: Woo! New series. It was a hell of a start, an answer to what villains are doing when they’re not actively terrorising something. The thing I liked was that there was a lot going on in this issue but the factions seemed clear. Ophiuchus is clearly the big bad but there is dissent amongst his ranks that I’m looking forward to seeing unravel. How far will these serpents go for self-preservation? I liked Black Mamba reaching out to Hawkeye (although, I was confused about Young Avengers: West being his remit since it seems he’s going to be on the East Coast?) and Bushmaster’s interaction with Black Mariah (obviously a shout out to Luke Cage). I think for the most part these ideas came together and, although some editing would fix confusing lines, it was enjoyable as a beginning.
Young Avengers #12 – “The House of Today,” Part Three: Tommy has always felt a bit underused in this series and I’m glad that he’s finally get some spotlight. I’m even gladder that Will was finally called out on his self-absorbedness. The thing that I’m wondering though, are Will and Tommy’s powers the same? Or is Tommy gonna actually be speed. So far, I’ve felt like they’re pretty much the same character – probably because they’re more identical than the comics. Riri . . . I already like her more in the few issues under your hand than I ever have at Marvel Comics. It was solid issue and I got the sense that this was an issue of closure and streamlining at the end so I’m excited to see where this series going in the future and just what Thrud is up to.
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Post by Tobias Christopher on Oct 29, 2018 18:15:06 GMT -5
Avengers vs X-Men #2 - Not being as familiar with this group of Avengers, I was better able to follow the X-Men side of things in terms of characters. The story itself was written very well and I was able to keep up with what was happening even though, like I said, I'm not familiar with these particular characters. But the story was engaging and I look forward to the upcoming clash of these two classic teams.
Marvel Fanfare #95 - A nice little glimpse into the beginnings of one M2K's brightest talents. I loved the banter between the four leads, and it felt like a nice little one-shot story that one might have found in a 1960's Avengers cartoon, only, you know, better scripted (and possibly better animated). If you have more of these, bring them to the site.
Nero & Hannigan #2 - Stellar storytelling, and it honestly felt like watching a movie, particularly the chase scene with the shadowy black dogs. The magic/mythology angle was fun and I hope to see more of this series.
Serpent Society #1 - Like DC2K has it's Legion of Doom to take on the heroes, now M2K has it's rising squad of baddies to take on the heroes. I liked the formation of this new group, and they seem like they'll be a powerful threat for whatever heroes they come across in the near future.
Since it's getting late and I've been up since 3 a.m. this morning, expect reviews for Mutant Underground either tomorrow or Wednesday evening.
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Post by Tobias Christopher on Oct 29, 2018 18:22:14 GMT -5
Beware these are reviews so obviously there are SPOILERS. Once again, any negatives are just my opinion and are intended to be taken as constructive criticism.
New Warriors 2018 Annual: I’m not going to go back into the Franklin Fatigue debate again, I promise, but can I just say that how stoked I was to have an issue based around another character? I would’ve taken any character, so this is already a great start. I’ve been involved in the sphere of fan fiction for approximately twelve years and I have never seen anyone use a Guthrie grandparent so kudos for Zachery and it’s the perfect choice for someone to raise Josiah so that he still has that Guthrie upbringing when he inevitably returns. I believed Josiah’s grief over Zachery’s death and I liked his interactions with Icarus and Cannonball, he’s angry and bitter and that’s a very real reaction. Not to get back into Franklin Fatigue, but this is further proof this series is much more interesting when it focuses on your other characters because you can do something fresh with them. There are at least seven other characters on the New Warriors roster at this point and the time has come for them to shine!
Oh, I agree, it's far past time for the others to get their due, with the fun starting in #37. Franklin himself will be taking a backset in this series as he'll be popping up in another mini-series (as well as F4 when I can get Jason to start working on outlines again). I'm loving the character of Josiah as he's basically a total blank slate in terms of M2K lore, and I'm looking forward to building him throughout the series. Not that Franklin won't get anymore screentime, he'll just be taking a backseat at least until the arc leading up to #50. In the meantime, look forward to seeing an all girls adventure; Alpha confronting his deepest fears; The Rawhide Kid's origin; and Juston's journey to climb out of his worsening depression over his new condition.
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Post by DD Doyle on Oct 29, 2018 19:17:13 GMT -5
Beware these are reviews so obviously there are SPOILERS. Once again, any negatives are just my opinion and are intended to be taken as constructive criticism.
Serpent Society #1 – “Ouroboros”: Woo! New series. It was a hell of a start, an answer to what villains are doing when they’re not actively terrorising something. The thing I liked was that there was a lot going on in this issue but the factions seemed clear. Ophiuchus is clearly the big bad but there is dissent amongst his ranks that I’m looking forward to seeing unravel. How far will these serpents go for self-preservation? I liked Black Mamba reaching out to Hawkeye (although, I was confused about Young Avengers: West being his remit since it seems he’s going to be on the East Coast?) and Bushmaster’s interaction with Black Mariah (obviously a shout out to Luke Cage). I think for the most part these ideas came together and, although some editing would fix confusing lines, it was enjoyable as a beginning.
Young Avengers #12 – “The House of Today,” Part Three: Tommy has always felt a bit underused in this series and I’m glad that he’s finally get some spotlight. I’m even gladder that Will was finally called out on his self-absorbedness. The thing that I’m wondering though, are Will and Tommy’s powers the same? Or is Tommy gonna actually be speed. So far, I’ve felt like they’re pretty much the same character – probably because they’re more identical than the comics. Riri . . . I already like her more in the few issues under your hand than I ever have at Marvel Comics. It was solid issue and I got the sense that this was an issue of closure and streamlining at the end so I’m excited to see where this series going in the future and just what Thrud is up to.
Thank you very much for your reviews! As for Serpent Society: Thank you for saying who's who seemed clear as that was definitely something I was worried about, as for Hawkeye and the Young Avengers: West, that nomme de plume is really just an in-joke from their crossover with the official team used to differentiate them as well as a shout out to them being what little remains of the West Coast branch of the main Avengers roster. And As for Young Avengers: Yes I definitely wanted Tommy and Riri to play a big part in the finale for just that reason, I felt they'd been given a bit of a short shrift. Will and Tommy's powers are the same more or less but Will's power is naturally drawn to "bad luck" where Tommy's power is more about "good luck". The only resemblance they have to Wiccan and Speed are that they are both ideas of what Wanda's twins would be like grown up, two very different ideas. As for their similarities to each other I feel I've done pretty well of showing those run only about skin deep with Will being extroverted, confident with a tendency to be a bit rude and Tommy being introverted to the point of nigh selective mutism. Definitely streamlining the large roster was just for the Zodiac storyline, it's gotten smaller and with both Thrud and Victor showing possibly villainous sides... may get smaller still lol 3:)
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Post by DD Doyle on Oct 29, 2018 19:18:06 GMT -5
Serpent Society #1 - Like DC2K has it's Legion of Doom to take on the heroes, now M2K has it's rising squad of baddies to take on the heroes. I liked the formation of this new group, and they seem like they'll be a powerful threat for whatever heroes they come across in the near future. Since it's getting late and I've been up since 3 a.m. this morning, expect reviews for Mutant Underground either tomorrow or Wednesday evening. Thank you for your review! Villain protagonists have always been a favorite of mine 3:)
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Post by travis on Oct 29, 2018 20:41:38 GMT -5
Avengers 1 and 1/2: glad people had fun with it, as I love the original Avengers line up and had fun writing it.
It is a tiny bit shallow in characterization because 1) I wanted to capture that time period and B) I wrote this eons ago and while was tempted to do some fixing, wanted to keep this as a time capsule of not just the team but of me as a writer. So, any editing I did was basic stuff.
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Post by travis on Oct 31, 2018 12:24:25 GMT -5
Serpent Society: Well, sorry, but I'm going to be the bad guy here. There's a new version, and it's dark and edgy and look at how sad and feeble the old version is, just doesn't do much for me. It's a trope in comics that I've never been a fan of.
and to be honest, all the various little side teams were more fun to read about then the title characters. Hawkeye trying to be a leader to the Avengers leftovers while having a mid-life and the Harlem gang scrambling for power or one last big score were cool and looked interesting.
Heck, the loser Serpents trying to be villains for hire were cool to see, even though I knew they were likely to get their butts kicked.
The new Serpent Society was just smug and 'We are evil".
They have a plan and they have secrets, but they didn't have any personality that hooked me.
There's an interesting idea here, but I may just be too old school to appreciate the execution.
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Post by DD Doyle on Oct 31, 2018 20:06:52 GMT -5
Well then, I'm beginning to suspect you weren't a fan lol. Thanks for reading anyways 😉
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Post by travis on Oct 31, 2018 20:30:25 GMT -5
Well then, I'm beginning to suspect you weren't a fan lol. Thanks for reading anyways 😉 I hope I didn't sound too mean. Never feel good giving a critical review. I like most of the issue. Shame the the bit I didn't like is the title characters...
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Post by DD Doyle on Nov 2, 2018 7:35:11 GMT -5
Well then, I'm beginning to suspect you weren't a fan lol. Thanks for reading anyways 😉 I hope I didn't sound too mean. Never feel good giving a critical review. I like most of the issue. Shame the the bit I didn't like is the title characters... No it's fine. You were honest and that's what I want from reviews not just a bunch of gladhanding lol. Not everyone's gonna love every story and that's okay, I'm glad you liked parts of it at least and who knows maybe as things go along you might change your mind (though it's fine if you don't heh ) More reviews (though I know full well I'll never catch up, lol) Travis' Marvel Fanfare Avengers 2 1/2 was a lot of fun. I can see what some mean about the lack of characterization but I also agree that it befits the story. This definitely felt pulled directly right out of the good old days and frankly there were times were I could almost see the panels come to life in my head in retro old timey style and all. Part of the wonder of having a small cast is having time to spotlight each character and you did a great job at that and of course I love the nod to the King himself Tobias' New Warriors annual was very good, very emotional. The relationship between Josiah and Grandpa Guthrie was very sweet and I liked the whole Island of the Blue Dolphins vibe of the kid growing up in the wild and making a way for himself. He should prove to add an interesting dynamic to the New Warriors. Josh could have been a little more delicate in how he talked to him but hey he's young himself but still... read the room Icarus, lol. Can't wait to see how the family reunion works out.
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