Reviews: Strong Second Issues from Princess Leia and Silk

A few weeks ago I reviewed the first issues of Darth Vader and Spider-Gwen. Both were really strong debuts, leaving me excited for what was to come, and both have since released second issues that were, well, not as good. That's not to say they were bad – certainly there were superb moments in both – but it felt like both series hit a lull in their second parts. Everything that was great about Darth Vader was present in issue two, but it felt like a detour rather than the continuation of the story set in motion in the first issue. The same can be said about Spider-Gwen. That book seems like its still trying to decide what it's about. It hasn't found a distinct trajectory to carry it forward, or, at least, it hasn't gotten to it yet.

Again, neither of these were bad books, and in the case of Spider-Gwen, Letour and company have a whole alternate universe to set up, so I can understand if it's taking their story a little longer to get moving. It was just interesting to see that two books whose intro issues I really enjoyed seemed to lag on their second outings.

This week sees two more second issues from titles I really enjoyed upon their respective releases, Princess Leia and Silk. Unlike the titles mentioned above, though, these books managed to avoid the second issue slump.

Read more after the jump.

Review: Spider-Gwen #1 – The Spider-Character We Didn't Realize We Needed

It's one of those ideas that, once you hear it, you're forced to wonder, Why the hell hadn't anyone done this before? An alternate reality take on the Spider-Man story in which it's Gwen Stacy – the first, great, and ultimately tragic love of Peter Parker's life – who gets bit by the fateful spider. Brilliant. Add to that a simple, but stunning, character design and Marvel had a sure-fire hit on its hands.

Now, Spider-Gwen #1, spinning out the ultra-popular Spider-Verse story, has arrived, giving readers a further look into the world of Gwen Stacy, Spider-Woman.

Read more, with one minor, but marked, spoiler after the jump.

Review: Uncanny X-Men #31 – How Scott Summers (Potentially) Gets His Groove Back

Uncanny X-Men hit the shelves today, and if you follow Brian Michael Bendis on Tumblr (as you should), you know there’s a jaw-dropping ending to this issue. I won’t spoil it here, or after the jump, but suffice it to say it marks a serious turning point for the book.

Read more about it, spoiler-free, after the jump.

3 Reasons Miles Morales should be the MCU Spider-Man

Last week the bomb dropped that Marvel Studios had finally negotiated a deal with Sony Pictures that would allow Marvel to use Spider-Man in their shared cinematic universe. There was at the time of the announcement, however, some suspiciously absent details. Spider-Man was mentioned. Peter Parker was not. Nor was Amazing Spider-Man star, Andrew Garfield. What did this mean? Was Garfield out? If the role of Peter Parker was to be recast, who would take over the webs?

Or could Marvel have something completely different in mind? There was a very vocal contingent, including myself, who speculated, or perhaps we simply hoped, that Marvel would bring in a Spider-Man we haven't seen before – Miles Morales, the Ultimate Spider-Man. It has since come out that Marvel is indeed sticking with Peter Parker, but without Andrew Garfield. Those of us who cried out for a bold, new direction can only lament what could have been.

After the jump, read three reasons why Marvel should have chosen Miles Morales to be the MCU Spider-Man.

Marvel Announces "A-Force," First All-Female Avengers Team

It has been quite an amazing few days for representation in the world of comics as Marvel announced today their plans to launch a brand-new, all-female team of Avengers in a new title, "A-Force." The book will be co-written by G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel) and Marguerite K. Bennett (Angela: Asgard's Assassin) with pencils by Jorge Molina. The book, which ties into the company's massive "Secret Wars" summer event, will launch in May.

Read more about this new team, which includes not only a number of fan-favorites, but a very important new character as well, after the jump.