Invincible Iron Man #6

Writer – Brian Michael Bendis
Artist – Mike Deodato
Colours – Frank Martin
Letters – VC’s Clayton Cowles

Tony is still mulling over the actions of Madame Masque and so, as Rhodey is a whole lot closer, he has his dearest friend investigate Stark Tower in Japan to find out just what it was she was doing there.  This is where Brian Michael Bendis begins to shine in this issue, and where he has done so for the past five issues as well, with the start of the banter between Tony and Rhodey.  It then continues through the book between Tony and Amara, Tony and Doom – who shows up again, and finally tapers off with Rhodey closing out the book in a dangerous situation.  You cannot doubt Bendis’ ability to deliver sharp, cracking dialogue in any given situation.  When he is off his game, you know it and when he is on it, like in this very book, he can make you forget about everything else as you find yourself immersed in the conversations on the page.  In actuality, very little happens in this issue and you hardly notice because of the fast-paced nature of the words that flow between the characters from start to finish.  Essentially, War Machine does a little investigating, gets a lead and the book ends.  In-between that, Tony has just spent what was probably a wonderful night with Amara, goes for breakfast and chats with Doom for a bit.  The fact is, despite the lack of action or of anything really going on, you do not mind in the least – the book is that good.  We do get a little bit of info though, and it mainly has to do with characterization more than anything else.  For one, Doom seems serious about turning over a new leaf, even if he has given no cause for anyone to believe him, including Tony.  Secondly, Tony’s relationship with Amara seems to be doing really well and he genuinely seems to care for.  Also, Tony likes waffles.  The artwork by Mike Deodato is as gorgeous as ever and he and Bendis have always made a great team on any particular title they happen to be on together.  It would be nice to see Deodato as a permanent penciller on a book at some point instead of being the fill-in guy, no matter how high-profile a fill-guy he is.  At the end of the day though, the book was highly entertaining and that is what matters most above all.

4 out of 5

Amazing Spider-Man #7

Writer – Dan Slott
Artist – Matteo Buffagni
Colours – Marte Gracia
Letters – VC’s Joe Caramagna

When we last left-off, it seemed like Pete was under the control of Mister Negative when as it turns out, he really is not.  It turns out that once you have been under Mister Negative’s control once, his powers fail to work on you a second time.  So good for Spider-Man, bad for Mister Negative.  Spidey still has some problems though including the villain himself, Cloak and Dagger who are currently under his influence and trying to create an antidote while also trying to run a global company.  All in a day’s work for someone like Tony Stark, but still a little new for one Peter Parker.  The problem with running a company that spans the globe is the fact that Peter cannot be in all places at once and has to trust others to do the right thing in his absence and Dan Slott paints the perfect picture of our hero who has had a newfound confidence of late yet still retaining some of that old worry deep underneath.  While Spidey is trying to deal with Mister Negative, as well as Cloak and Dagger, there is quite a bit going on with the new supporting cast.  Anna Maria finds herself busier than ever since Sajani was let go, Mr. Chang is a little impatient about the unveiling of his Green Fuel, Lian is trying to save her mother from the cancer that ravages her and Harry Osborn is having a family night when Regent makes an appearance by way of being a hero, though if people read Spider-Man’s Secret Wars miniseries, they know that the man is bad news.  Though Slott may have a million things going on at once in the book, he never makes it seem crowded or rushed with everything having a place and the time to do it in.  With Giuseppe Camuncoli taking a break for this arc, Matteo Buffagni has come in to take a run on the book and his pencils are just as sharp as the formers with some really eye-popping colour courtesy of Marte Gracia.  So not only does the book read well, it looks amazing too.  One of the more interesting facets of the book right now has been the return of Cloak and Dagger and the reversal of their powers.  It will be great to see them remain in the book on a permanent basis and if their powers should stay reversed, it is likely that not too many people would complain as it adds a little something different to their little corner of the Marvel Universe.  As always, Amazing Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s best books and will remain so if the quality keeps up like it has been over the past few years.

4 out of 5