PICKS OF THE WEEK – Dec. 30, 2020:

• AVENGERS #40: The Phoenix force returns to earth for a contest of champions unlike anything we’ve seen before. In the aftermath of Khonshu’s world tour, the phoenix force leaves the body of Moon Knight and seeks out another host. This time though it is making its fiery judgment in a trial by combat, winner take all. Jason Aaron has taken his cues from animes like Dragonball Z and placed a rag tag group of Marvel’s heroes to fight to the “death” and be reborn as the phoenix. First round up is Cap vs. Dr. Doom and boy does it deliver. Power levels are elevated and the stakes raised when you see how each fighter could utilize the small portion of the phoenix force they are imbued with to gain the upper hand. Javier Garron’s art does this in fantastic fashion with splashes, set pieces, and smackdowns, as the game is set and the players revealed. Aaron’s run on Avengers has been nothing if not exciting, taking so much of Marvel lore and remixing it to fit in just about every character and team imaginable. This arc is looking to be no exception and with the tried a true method of ‘last man standing’ story telling playing out over the next round of issues, You won’t want to miss who ends up victorious in this explosive tournament of strength and stamina. 

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• THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #55: The finale of the ‘Last Remains’ storyline is here and writer Nick Spencer has walloped a dozy of a comic book in this incredible showdown between the Spider clan and Kindred, the long-gamed villain teased oh so long ago. This build up culminates into the most disastrous dinner party that would give the cast from Clue a run for their money, as all the Spider—heroes are tied up, while Peter is forced to watch helplessly as MJ tries to reason with Kindred and a shaky alliance between villains on the outside try to break through and save the day. Nick Spencer is finally pulling all the strings he’s laid out together and delivers a fantastic issue about friendship, family and how for all the good Spidey is trying to do, even with his great power, the responsibility falls on him. Patrick Gleason’s art really helps aid the issue in its delivery, from the stunning webbed cover, to the pulse pounding final moments leaving you a gasp and on the edge of your seat for a cliffhanger you won’t see coming. The payoff is finally here if you’ve been reading the Amazing Spider-Man and if not, try to track down the last couple of back issues to hop on the hype train for this epic climactic conclusion.

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• JINNY HEX SPECIAL #1: Spinning right out the pages of Young Justice, Jonah Hex’s great, great, great, (as many greats as you have to put in here) granddaughter takes center stage in an oversized issue touching upon her origin. Weeks after her Mom Passes, Jinny and company have taken up shop, literally, at her family’s mechanic garage. All seems calm until a smooth-talking character strolls into town claiming to be Jinny’s father. Seeming too good to be true, Jinny’s past is uncovered as she learns the truth behind her lineage and fights to save the past, present and future from a nefarious neophyte from the NetherRealm. Writer Magdalene VIsaggio finds a good groove for Jinny as she puts her experience with the Super heroes and the supernatural into practice when left to her own devices. The story plots out a like a good episode of an animated series and Artist Gleb Melnikov uses a nice mix of eastern and western styles of comic art to tell the tale with influences from an old school Weird Western style mixed with the modern horror influences of Junji Ito. If you like westerns or have been reading Young Justice and have taken a like to Jinny then pick this up for time travelling good time.

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