Rating System: 0 to 1.5 stars = save your money unless you are just mindlessly collecting the title. 2 to 3.5 = worth a shot if you are up to trying something new or wanting to get back into a title. 4 to 5 = a must buy for any comic reader.

THE BOYS #37 - I guess we can consider these issues down time for the team as Wee Hughie talks to each member about their past and how they came to join Billy Butcher’s team. The last two issues showed us the origins of Mother’s Milk (holy $h!t – you have to read those…) and this issue contains the story of The Frenchman. Coming home after a few tours with La Legion, Frenchie returns to his small village in France to find the love of his life has become lovers with his hated childhood rival, Black Pierre. Not wanting violence in his life anymore, Frenchie ignores the slight to his honor – but his father cannot. Challenging Pierre during a village festival, Frenchie father is killed by Pierre’s treachery and Frenchie still will not face him. The pain of losing Frenchie’s father and the slight to the family’s honor drives his mother to an early grave. This finally forces Frenchie to permanently deal with Pierre and then give the finger (literally) to his one time lover. Empty and directionless, Butcher encounter Frenchie in a bar fighting Americans and recruits him and he is with the The Boys “to the bitter end.” Once finished with the story, Frechie leaps out of the windows leaving Hughie to exclaim, “Jesus! That’s the maddest f-ing thing I’ve ever heard in my life. D’you think it’s true?” To which Billy replies, “Last line’s the bit that counts, mate.” – leaving us all to wonder if they are truly telling Hughie their past or just feeding him a line to satisfy his curiosity. Next month, the guys tackle the origin of The Female. Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson must have a great time producing each issue and you can tell that they are truly crafting an epic story with characters that are plausible and over the top images that make you laugh out loud each month. I hope Columbia does something with this property soon… it should be better than half the crap out there. (especially anything with vampires…)

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DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 – What’s this? Another comic fully drawn by Chris Bachalo (just off of Dark Reign: The Sinister Spider-Man…) and inked by his long-time partner in crime, Tim Townsend? Wow. Maybe they do want to do a monthly book again. In this annual written by Brian Michael Bendis, we get to find out what Marvel Boy has been doing since he found out that Osborn’s Dark Avengers were the bad guys and bailed. Hiding out in various seedy locations, he’s been trying repeatedly to make contact with the Kree Supreme Intelligence to find out what he should do next. Unfortunately, each time he fires up his “E.T. cell phone,” Osborn and the Dark Avengers pick up the signal and he’s forced to run before making contact. The Sentry finally manages to confront him and is just about to get the advantage when a newly made friend helps by using a weapon that Marvel Boy was carrying. Marvel Boy is able to escape, but now is desperate to find out what his mission and purpose on Earth is. Finally able to make contact with the Kree S.I., Noh-Varr is named Protector of Earth and given new, more powerful Nega-Bands and a new costume. But that’s not the cool part. When he revisits the site of his confrontation with The Sentry, he sees the rest of the Dark Avengers and his new friend still looking for him. After a brief conversation with his friend, he changes costumes in the blink of an eye and teleports away. We then find out that Steve Rogers is back, partnered with Cap-Bucky… both were watching to see whose side he’s on. Looks like they are recruiting heroes to bring Osborn’s empire down. Guess we know what happens at the end of Captain America: Reborn, huh? Way to manage that continuity Marvel. Seriously, how hard is it to make sure that one book doesn’t come out before another, spoiling a storyline? Microsoft OneNote would be easy to install and then anyone who’s working on character “X” is put in a project list. It’s not hard. That complaint aside, Bendis did a great job delving into the psyche of Noh-Varr and then amping up his powers to cosmic levels was a surprise. Bachalo’s art really suits this character and I’m hoping that when he next appears, Chris and Tim are handling it. I’m rating this one high mostly because it was great to see Steve Rogers back on the last page…

Undercover Fanboy Rating:  

TERRY MOORE’S ECHO #17 – I have yet to find anyone that has read this book and hasn’t become hooked. Moore gives us a deep and well plotted story each and every issue. I’m at the point now that I can’t decide whether to continue the torture waiting for a new issue each month or to just wait until the next trade comes out so I can read them all at once.  Last ish, we saw Julie gaining more control over the suit’s powers and in this one, we find out that Dillon and his friend, Dan Backer, have tracked down one of the scientist from Henri. Dr. Dumfries tells them the full origins of the metal, Annie (Dillon didn’t ask much about what she did… way to play up a stereotype…) and how Julie wound up with the suit. There is so much real science and physics in this issue that it sparked my interest to do some research online. And then I sent my teenage daughter to do the same when she asked what the heck they were talking about. Annie basically turned the world of physics on its head and was then able to use her theories to create the Beta Suit. Her theories stated that if we used the “phi Theory” instead of our “base10 system” of thinking the universe’s secrets would instantly unlock. (1.618 = phi or phi is equal to the ratio of A to segment B when B is the same ratio as C… it’s also used by artists – whether consciously or unconsciously…). Usually, whenever hears the name “Terry Moore,” they associate him with Strangers in Paradise. Once this series is over, everyone will think Terry Moore=Echo first. The sheer amount of planning, plotting and research that he is putting into this title is breathtaking. And he draws it too! And draws it well! I imagine that if this was a full color interior title, that more readers would give it a shot. As it is, only those readers that can manage to pull themselves away from the multitude of superhero comics on the shelves can find it. Just wait. After the movie hits, Echo will be a huge draw and the back issues will go through the roof. …how many more days until the next issue?

Undercover Fanboy Rating:  

SIEGE: THE CABAL - This is the fuse that will blow up the current status quo of the Marvel U. Osborn has called a meeting of his Cabal to discuss how to deal with Namor and Nation X. When Doom finally arrives, he tells Osborn that Namor is off limits and if he has Namor held that Osborn should hand him over to Doom. Half is issue becomes a pissing contest between Doom and Osborn to the point of explosion. When the Cabal members attack Doom, they discover that he’s sent a robot in his place. They easily beat the duplicate Doom, but then it releases tiny robotic insects that begin to attack the Cabal as well as any and all people in Avengers Tower – almost managing to destroy the building in the process. After the battle, Osborn asks the president permission to invade Asgard to take care of the “alien menace” on American soil. When he’s denied, Osborn and Loki begin planning an “incident” to ignite action by the American government to expel/takeover Asgard. What was creepy, was the conversation between Norman Osborn and…. himself – or, to say, the Green Goblin mask. Brian Michael Bendis has officially begun the fall of Osborn’s Dark Siege. Artist Michael Lark needs to do some more Marvel books. His stuff in this book was amazing. I’m still geeking over the return of Steve Rogers. Will he be Cap again or will Bucky keep the shield? Don’t care, long as Steve Rogers is back among the heroes of the Marvel U.

Undercover Fanboy Rating:  

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