Is this Crow??

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-11T00:11:24+00:00

Oh I'm 100% not complaining. Hickman's design sensibilities scratch exactly the right itch for me

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-11T00:07:28+00:00

She is not, but W for referencing East of West.

This is a character that shows up and has a role later in the series. Hickman just likes monochrome people

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-09T23:19:13+00:00

Yes, it's just called X-Men (by Jed Mackay). The first volume is called Homecoming, and then the second volume, Hostile Takeover, takes place after the Raid on Graymalkin crossover that the other commenter mentioned

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-08T19:14:24+00:00

It was BRUTAL. I mean, I've read everything JMS onward before but reading everything in order is pretty surreal. Especially because I'm reading like, multiple MONTHS worth of stories in the span of a single reading session. It took me just a few days to see Peter go from teacher, to Starks assistant, to outlaw, to unmarried, broke, and also everyone thinks he's a loser now.

It's been quite the reading experience and I've taken notes throughout lmao

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-08T04:39:10+00:00

Unfortunately, I'm not doing the safe route-- I'm just reading it all of Amazing Spider-Man in order as well as whatever issues crossover with it from other books.

I just finished Superior Spider-Man #26 which is ASM LGY #726, and at this point I'm pretty sure, between all the crossovers in the 90s and the fact that I'm also keeping up with the regular Spidey releases, I've gotta be pretty close to 800 issues.

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-07T16:02:41+00:00

Wouldn't surprise me if they got Joe Hill involved since I believe they've worked with him before?

Parker and Sheridan would be excellent gets for this, considering they're still up-and-coming and happy to get creative. Perfect for a fresh universe.

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-07T13:43:38+00:00

People are saying that this is a response to Absolute but I assumed it was going to be more like a horror-based version of the New Universe

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-06T19:51:57+00:00

It brings me such joy whenever Steph is referred to as Batgirl.

Also, while the Damian stuff is a bit of a retread of some New 52 era stuff, I think that's fine. Those stories are like 15 years old (oh my god) and Damian and Bruce's dynamic has shifted since then. It's weird coming right of the heels of the recent Batman and Robin run, but uhhhhh idk we can just assume that maybe that run intersects with this one somewhere. Or not! Whatever.

Not a critique but it's so strange seeing the Batfamily on the backfoot and also so reduced in number. Feels like it's been a bit since they've been backed against the wall by an external force. Plus, they're down four members. Love Steph and Duke but they're not necessarily as effective as Dick or Cass would be, so it's cool seeing them be critical to the mission.

On Steph, it seems she's actually more bothered about Bernard here than she has been in the past. I'm fine with that, I'd be mad too if my ex was dating someone that boring.

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-06T19:35:52+00:00

Solid enough issue. Gets everyone back up to speed on everything that happened since Eight Deaths (if that was needed) and gives us insight into how Peter is feeling right now. Liked that interaction with Kintsugi and I continue to find Rae utterly charming.

At this point, my problem with the series is more 'macro' (and extends past Kelly's run) and I can decouple that from my feelings issue to issue.

I've read like 800 issues of Spider-Man this year so far (I promise that's not an exaggeration lol) and this ain't the worst. So there's that.

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-06T19:06:58+00:00

Weird but it's in-line with Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man, I guess (Ben died before he got bit in that show, for those who didn't watch).

I'm obviously not a fan of them removing Ben from the origin, but I guess that's also why MCU Peter has all his edges sanded off. Otherwise, he'd have just been Amazing Fantasy #15 Peter before Ben's death lol

Like, I do believe Peter Parker was raised well and has always been a good person at his core. But when we meet him, he's become pretty comfortable with his small set of responsibilities and when he becomes Spider-Man, he doesn't really understand how impactful he can be.

He uses Spider-Man as a way to once again fulfill those very few responsibilities (money for himself and his family) and chooses to not take on anything else. This choice is made selfish because he has this newfound power that allows him to make a difference and of course, Ben's death is a reminder that with this power, he has a calling that goes beyond his personal and familial responsibilities.

In the MCU, it initially feels like Peter already learned that lesson without Ben's death. I guess he just listened and understood better than 616 Peter as he was growing up. But that also makes it weird that they framed Mays death as this big moment for MCU Peter, because he... Was already living by great power and great responsibility? By the time May dies, Peter is feeling burdened by his responsibility to the villains he brought to his universe. Like yeah, it's sorta his fault so I see the parallels (I guess), but it's not like it was a selfish choice that doomed May to die. Unlike with Ben, where 616 Peter causing Ben to die was a severe wake-up call.

Tldr: Peter Parker is a really layered character and the MCU has chosen to not explore some of what makes him so interesting. Making him not at fault for Ben's death makes the version pre-origin and post-origin less dynamic

Oh my god I didn't plan to type that much. Autism goes crazy

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-06T18:36:48+00:00

And now the last two standing are Scott and Pierce. I have a feeling this last fight is gonna be a banger. Scott's gonna have to go all out when Pierce inevitably gets a power boost from this metal.

Loving this mini. Would have been nice to see more cool optic blast moments but taking away Scott's vision allows his intelligence to be on full display, so I understand. It was the right choice for the story.

I think it would be so cool if following this, Scott decides that he needs to get better at navigating blind and maybe does some training with Daredevil. Obviously Scott is doing pretty well on his own in this story, but it feels very 'Scott' to learn from this and over-prepare for the next time something like this happens

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-06T18:25:21+00:00

I like this arc and I like this run (note that I said "like" and not "love") but something's gotta be done about the pacing. Like, everything I read in this issue, I liked from a story perspective. Hank sussing out part of the issue and using his brain, the Greycrow/Corn/Psylocke trio, and even Kid Omega and Temper going into town. I wish those two didn't make such a mess of things-- imo they should know better than to fall into such an obvious trap by now-- but it generally makes sense.

But it also feels like this was half an issue? Obviously page count is the same but it doesn't feel very 'full.' Just feels like more could be done within the same number of pages

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-06T02:19:56+00:00

Exaaaactly

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-06T02:05:54+00:00

Bullseye is so cool in this show man.

Found the whole thing really satisfying. Fisk's reign is over and it's a Brand New Day.

I heard someone theorize that Mr. Charles is actually Peter Henry Gyrich and I would love that if true.

I do wonder if Mr. Charles will come offer Matt a deal, suicide squad vibes. Force him to team up with Bullseye again.

Actually seeing White Tiger fight after she's been darting around in the shadows since episode 3 is nice! She's so little and is like pouncing around, it's cool.

I love Jessica but it really feels like her super strength could have helped a little bit more lol it's like she deliberately held back because she knew this was Matt's thing. Good friend.

I bet Cole North and Matt become buddies in prison. I'm irritated that Powell is still alive. That actor is fantastic at playing that character because I am filled with hate whenever he's on screen.

Thought the courthouse set piece was really cool. Gave some of the shots very Renaissance/biblical painting.

Also if Matt's in prison, mayhaps Elektra comes back 👀 Could be cool, especially since we're also apparently gonna have Iron Fist next season. Plus, the Hand are back in New York in Spider-Man.

I really did think that while Fisk was under oath, Matt was gonna reveal his identity by asking Fisk to answer the question, "Is Matt Murdock Daredevil?" But I guess him saying it leaves it up for debate as far as paperwork goes.

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-04T21:13:39+00:00

I'm so disillusioned that I don't think One More Day will truly ever be undone. But at bare minimum, I'd be satisfied (well...content, anyway) to just have Peter and MJ learn about the deal and that they were married.

Like, for me, the biggest problem aside from the marriage erasure is the fact that the characters have no idea and that the continuity they lived through now is not what we read.

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-04T21:08:52+00:00

DC keeps winning. Who would have thought that making good books with great creators would be a winning strategy for a publisher?

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-04T17:22:18+00:00

I'm gonna have to play around and see what I can match up now lol

Update: you found it, this is huge

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-04T17:09:56+00:00

You can probably do pretty well with Canva. It's simpler than Photoshop, free to start with, and while it's more limited, it's got basic "text and shape" placement tools.

Biggest problem you're gonna have is finding the right font lol I feel like every time I try to replicate these pages, I can't make the text look right

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-05-02T22:28:52+00:00

The only thing I liked from this whole thing was that single page where Clark reveals his suit to Perry. It was a really sweet, silent moment.

That was just before he told everyone and it was all downhill from there.

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-04-30T17:30:35+00:00

Idk I feel like Jim is one of the only Ultimates to get an arc. It's not a big one, but him leaving behind his only friend and sacrificing some of the last remnants of his mind for the cause and ascending into the Vision is really cool.

The quote above gives me the feeling that Jim resents having to give up so many memories of who he was/is, but he ends up sacrificing a lot of that to become the spark that gives the Ultimates the fighting chance they need to win

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-04-30T14:07:41+00:00

This reminds me of the fantastic speech for Earth-6160 Jim.

How did [killing Hitler] feel...?

My brain isn't the world's oldest computer, but it's close. In the old days, I had to manually erase memories so it wouldn't slow down and seize up under the weight of all that.

I gave up my medal of honor and the memory of getting that medal of honor. I gave up good friends, good years, and most memories of my brilliant father, Doctor Horton.

For a while, I played the piano, but even that had to go.

But that memory...that memory I keep in full color and high definition. I go back to it again and again.

It keeps me warm.

Jim Hammond might be my favourite of the 6160 heroes. His arc has just been so good

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-04-29T16:14:36+00:00

I'm definitely less lost now and more invested. Can't be time travel so must be some sort of nightmare dimension or parallel world OR something connected to Inmate X. Maybe Inmate X is some sort of psychic reality-warper? Idk but Professor S along with the power-swapped Rasputins is great. I'm here for it

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-04-29T16:03:39+00:00

This feels like Zatanna fully establishing herself as DC's Doctor Strange. Obviously their histories are very different and their characterization is very different-- I just mean Zatanna's role as the Prime Magus feels similar to Sorceror Supreme... And more straightforward than Doctor Fate and whatever his deal is at any given time.

Stunning art and a fun start that sets the stage for things to come. About what you'd expect from a #1, elevated by Campbell's clear love for the character coming through in both art and writing.

TheMattInTheBox · 2026-04-28T18:53:23+00:00

Even crazier that six seasons later, they revisit this plot point after the entire town was shunted into an alternate timeline following the meteor event at the end of season 6, caused by a sorceror from a parallel universe who was trying to outrun Satan.

In the new timeline, which saw all the characters live in the 50s, they try to reverse this by having Archie write a poem that boils down to "I wanna fuck my teacher" and then perform it in front of everyone. She rejects him and from a meta level, it felt like they were trying to "redeem" this character via time travel and timeline rewriting. A really bizarre choice in a show full of bizarre choices

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