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Post by DiscipleofBob on Jun 3, 2015 11:24:18 GMT -5
Amusing typo of the day: "How much father?" Clearly the smell is causing Doctor Reyes to hallucinate family members. Either that or this is a VERY unexpected reveal for Ben. Or maybe she's from Boston.
To be completely honest, while I understand the absolute necessity in Ben meeting Peter and coming to terms with his origins, I'm glad that's over for now. Ben and the Morlocks is much more interesting for me. I like Dr. Cecilia Reyes. Good job working her exposition in in a way that doesn't break up the story. Ben's fight is wonderful to read. Admittedly after reading Shocker: Legit there's a special place in my heart for that particular C-list villain.
For all my griping about Xanatos earlier, I have to admit you nailed him perfectly in the short time that he gets this chapter. Looking forward to more.
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Post by Stardrifter on Jun 3, 2015 13:26:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the reviews. Thanks for pointing out the spoile...er...typo. I fixed it.
I'm glad you liked Xanatos so far. There's gonna be more coming up. I enjoy writing him. I like to imagine a young Jonathan Frakes in my head. He so could have played him live action back in the day.
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Post by Stardrifter on Jun 9, 2015 21:09:26 GMT -5
#7 is up!
We're slowly but surely moving toward the status quo. I originally intended to introduce the characters at the end earlier, but felt the issue was getting too long and moved the scene into the next issue. I think it makes the end a little punchier as well.
Let me know what you think!
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Post by Drake on Jun 15, 2015 11:04:09 GMT -5
I really enjoyed this issue! Great job developing the plot, the characters, and introducing a few new players!
I love reading about Ben's story because, in many ways, it's tonally similar to Peter's with the main difference being that Ben has--as mentioned--less than nothing. He has no legal identity. He has no home, no money (well, before this issue anyway). I mean, that's just the start of the list. However, despite Ben's loss, he continues to act as a hero first and foremost.
Xanatos rocks. You've got his voice down pat, and he provides a whole new type of businessman in a universe full of 'em. It's interesting, actually. I think he certainly falls on one end of the spectrum, with Kingsley on the opposite end and Norman somewhere in between. Doom's probably in the middle with Norman. I'll be curious to see the inevitable introduction of Tony Stark in our universe, and how he fits into that spectrum.
THE PACK!! I don't even give a shit about them outside of this site, but damn, I've been excited to see them introduced! Can't wait for more!
8.5/10 only because there wasn't a mind blowing reveal, an epic fight, or a huge, emotional climax.
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Post by Stardrifter on Aug 23, 2015 21:54:21 GMT -5
#8 is up!
I originally thought this was going to be a single issue, but I found as I was writing it it was going to be way too long. So I broke it up into two. So after the conclusion next issue, #10 will finally set up the heroic status quo and the unveiling of NYC's newest hero!
Let me know what you think!
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Post by thejellyfish on Aug 28, 2015 14:51:31 GMT -5
So, I spent this entire title waiting for Power Pack to show up. That obviously didn't happen, I am dumb. Whoops.
An enjoyable issue, your take on Ben continues to be one of the greatest parts of the title. Can't really remember too much, because I read it a couple days ago. Can't wait for #10 if it is indeed the grand unveiling you say it is.
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Post by Drake on Aug 29, 2015 11:18:43 GMT -5
Like, jelly, I read this a while ago, so I'm rereading the issue as I review it. For that reason, I'll just be doing notes of it.
-Nice intro scene to the Pack. It allows us to meet them, absorb their personalities and relationships, and get a feel for what they're about without giving too much away. -They....kill superheroes for fun? Ok. Unless this is on TV, in which case yuck. That's some nasty social commentary right there. -Ben's characterization is as great as ever, but the jokes aren't as funny as usual. -Interesting take on Murderworld, but honestly because it's so mundane (which is odd to say in reference to a school filled with killer dog-people and machines) in comparison to the MU version, I was left a little disappointed. There's something so magical in a fucked up way about a theme park with a theme of murder. -Arcade's announcing stuff....so it is on TV? Or is he just crazy? -Really solid action here. Creative, brutal, and fun. -I like how you ended it with Arcade's line. It was a nice touch.
So, this was a fun issue. However, it was slightly less entertaining than the last, primarily because it was mostly just one scene. Still, nice job! I can't wait for #10!!
8.25/10
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Post by DiscipleofBob on Aug 30, 2015 9:45:53 GMT -5
I had to stop myself from reading this until I finished another chapter, but oh man, you have no idea how much I've been looking forward to Murderworld.
That being said, I think that my own personal overhype left me a little disappointed this chapter. That's not to say your Pack and Arcade aren't absolutely spot on. They are. I can practically hear their voices when they speak. But your Pack is the same as in their first appearance of Gargoyles, which is fine, but since my inner 8-year old remembers when they got the cool power upgrades, cybernetic enhancements, gene splicing, etcetera and remembers them being a lot more interesting at that point.
And while Arcade and the Pack seem like a perfect match, I have to echo Drake in that Arcade and Murderworld could and should be a LOT more fun and even wacky with his tricks and traps. Right now Murderworld seems a bit bland, and his entire role is something I think you didn't even really need a name like Arcade for. Just a guy who was the Pack's announcer could probably have been fine. Maybe you'll step up Murderworld's potential in the future, but this is just where I'm at right now.
I think most of my complaints stem not from anything you did or necessarily could have done better, but from a personal sense of nostalgia from two cult classic names. Like if Drake claimed the Firefly cast for GotG or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for Daredevil or something, as much as I loved both I'd almost certainly be disappointed even if he got them perfect.
One other minor issue is that Spider-Hobo (that's his name in my head) resorting straight to insults and quips instead of trying to maybe talk down the Pack until he figures out more seems strange. After all, he's a fan, right? It makes sense for him to antagonize and annoy obvious supervillains, but in the beginning at least, it seems like he's too quick on fighting these TV stars he's a personal fan on rather than at least get an idea of why they're after him before giving them more reasons.
For all my complaints, this is a solid issue with perfect characterization of cult classic characters, that only suffers from having to compete with a crap load of personal nostalgia.
Oh. V.I.P.E.R. I GET IT!
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Post by Stardrifter on Aug 30, 2015 9:58:00 GMT -5
-They....kill superheroes for fun? Ok. Unless this is on TV, in which case yuck. That's some nasty social commentary right there. They hunt people. Not necessarily super heroes. After all, Ben ISN'T a super hero right now. Not really. You could say he's a vigilante. Maybe that's splitting hairs, but he doesn't have a costume or a name or any kind of presence. It's mentioned that Arcade and the Pack had to throw this together. They live in LA. This was a very short term notice Murderworld. It's not televised. I never even hint at it. Arcade's announcing is for the sake of the Pack, to annoy the prey, and because he likes it.
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Post by Stardrifter on Aug 30, 2015 10:02:55 GMT -5
That being said, I think that my own personal overhype left me a little disappointed this chapter. That's not to say your Pack and Arcade aren't absolutely spot on. They are. I can practically hear their voices when they speak. But your Pack is the same as in their first appearance of Gargoyles, which is fine, but since my inner 8-year old remembers when they got the cool power upgrades, cybernetic enhancements, gene splicing, etcetera and remembers them being a lot more interesting at that point. Did you really expect me to start with the Pack all geared up? They've got to have an arc too. See my reply to Drake. I can definitely see why it would be a disappointment that it's a thrown together Murderworld that I introduce with. I hadn't considered that. But this won't be the last we see of Arcade. I can see that, but Ben's been run ragged for days if not weeks now and they did try to set him up the bomb. They're straight up trying to kill him. I don't see him being in the mood to reason at that point.
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Post by Stardrifter on Oct 8, 2015 21:16:35 GMT -5
Issue #9 is up!
So this arc kinda got away from me a bit. I'm not completely satisfied with it, but there are things I like. But now that it's done we have some big changes coming soon. Expect to finally see the costume, Ben's life begin to take shape, the supporting cast expand, oh and we can't forget about Mojo!
Let me know what ya think.
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Post by thejellyfish on Oct 31, 2015 22:46:22 GMT -5
Nine chapters for everything to come together is a little long, but it's been a fun ride nonetheless.
I can't wait for the things you have planned, especially Mojo and Ben's life getting crazier.
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Post by Drake on Nov 1, 2015 10:10:47 GMT -5
I swear I reviewed this. Like, I'm 99% sure about this. Maybe I closed the page before it had loaded. Well, anyway, I'm definitely getting to it now.
This was a fun issue. I love how Ben completely outplays the Pack and Arcade in every way. The scene with Xanatos and Osborn was fun too (even if I had seen it prior to this issue's publication). I love how Xanatos is orchestrating this entire situation.
Honestly, I read this issue long enough ago that I only remember the positives (which is a good sign in and of itself), so I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt.
9/10. Can't wait for #10!
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Post by Stardrifter on Nov 1, 2015 12:14:01 GMT -5
Nine chapters for everything to come together is a little long, but it's been a fun ride nonetheless. I can't wait for the things you have planned, especially Mojo and Ben's life getting crazier. I've been criticized before for long origins(my Ultimate Aquaman comes to mind), but I enjoy origins. And as long as the ride is fun and not stagnant, I don't see the problem. In UA as well as here, there was still action and character. It just took some time for the characters to become "heroes" officially. I recognize it does bother some people though. Next issue Ben officially becomes a hero and we set up the next chapter of his life. Everything up to this point is kind of a prologue to what comes next.
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