Latest Comic Book Reviews (06.24.2011): X-Men Prelude To Schism #3 & Ultimate Spider-Man #160 (Death of Spider-Man)

Two pretty good books from the House of Ideas yesterday.

The dragging Prelude to Jason Aaron's "Schism" event finally shakes up a little bit thanks to Cyclops finally coming up with his decision, and then the death of the one of the most important characters in the Marvel Ultimate Universe finally bites the dust - for good.

All of my reviews after the jump.

The Death Of "Ultimate" Spider-Man

"You did good, kid" - Uncle Ben to Peter

I think this is pretty much all over the news now and every other comic book related site that I have visited.

Peter Parker is going to die tomorrow and meet his maker in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #160. 

I truly believe that nobody dies in the comic books for a very long time - but based from the images that USA Today released a couple of hours ago - it looks like Marvel and Brian Michael Bendis is doing it FOR REAL this time around.

And I believe that they will really kill him... for good. Its the Ultimate Universe anyway.

I'm sure to read this "monumental" moment in Spider-Man's history. Be sure that you do too.

P.S - That image showing Peter finally meeting Uncle Ben? It breaks my heart yet I love it. Powerful stuff.

Graphic Novel Review: Alias (Issues 1-5)

Alias #1-5
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Michael Gaydos
Published by Marvel Comics

**Note: NOT CONNECTED TO THE JENNIFER GARNER TV SHOW**

Let's go back to 2003. Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos teamed up to create a one-of-a kind comic book series featuring Jessica Jones (aka the wife of Luke Cage) - superhero turned private investigator - who thinks her superpowers are "low-level" unlike the other popular masked heroes. 

Agitated and alone, Jessica also struggles to find and understand herself and the people around her, making her one hell of a wrecked woman trying to solve other people's problems.

And as Jessica tries to solve of what is supposed to be just one of those missing sibling cases from one of her clients, she finds herself sinking into a quicksand of a big government conspiracy that threatens to destroy the reputation of a familiar superhero and the President of the United States himself. The events that would follow are nothing but compelling, smart and sometimes funny filled with a lot of profanity.

Bendis' mystery plot thread creates a thrilling story that will keep readers turning the pages until the smoke clears. His characters are depicted in a realistic way by making them vulnerable and victims of their own reckless behaviors. 

Comic Book Review: Scarlet

Scarlet

Written by Brian Michael Bendis

Art by Alex Maleev

Published by Marvel Comics (under the Icon Imprint)

Why is corruption everywhere? Why do the good guys get killed and jailed, while the bad guys become the heroes? Why isn't anyone doing anything about it? Why?

Those questions get answered in Brian Michael Bendis' bi-monthly comic book series Scarlet, and boy, this is one simple graphic novel that totally hits your brain with a speeding bullet and sends it spinning around like nuts.

As the opening of the comic book says: "This is a story of a girl whose life is destroyed by violence and corruption. And this is the story of how she FIGHTS BACK." Simple as that. Period.

Scarlett is an ordinary girl living in Portland, Oregon, living a normal life, she has a family that cares for her, and a boyfriend that cares for her, but a police frame up shatters her whole life and makes her realize that the world is big piece of trash. Broken. Desolated. Going to hell. And nobody is taking any responsibility for it. Nobody is taking any action to stop the injustice and corruption. Nobody... until her. She is no superhero. No military brat. But she's talking on the world and all its evil with just swagger, courage, guns, and the determination to do what she thinks is right.