Review – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Dr Stephen Strange casts a forbidden spell that opens the doorway to the multiverse
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Review: House of M – A World Without Heroes? Publisher: Marvel Comics Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Artist: Olivier Coipel Release Date: June – November 2005 House of M asks a dangerous question. If you could have your heart’s desire, would you take it? Even if it meant living a lie? In this massive 2005 crossover, Brian Michael Bendis explores this existential dilemma. Following the chaos of Avengers: Disassembled, the Avengers and X-Men must decide the fate of the Scarlet Witch. Her breakdown threatens reality itself. But before they can act, the world changes. A Perfect World? The story drops us into an alternate reality. Mutants are the dominant species. Humans are the minority. Everyone has what they always wanted. Peter Parker is a celebrity married to Gwen Stacy. Wolverine is a high-ranking SHIELD agent. Magneto rules the world. Bendis handles this setup brilliantly. He uses the medium to make the reader question their own desires. Would you accept a fake paradise to escape real pain? This concept is fascinating. We see a world where Magneto has won. Yet, in the early panels, he shows striking regret. He repents for dragging his children into his war. This adds depth to a villain who is usually unwavering. Wanda’s Mental State The emotional core of this book is Wanda Maximoff. The slow build-up of her anguish is heartbreaking. She carries the baggage of losing her children and her husband, Vision. Bendis presents these ideas much better here than in Avengers: Disassembled. The execution is less heavy-handed. The narrative flows naturally toward the inevitable conclusion. We know where it is going, but that knowledge makes the journey more somber. The heroes work hard to fix reality, unaware that they are racing toward a tragedy. The Art of Reality Olivier Coipel’s art is a highlight. His pencils capture a phenomenal level of detail. In a story filled with grief, facial expressions matter. Coipel delivers. I also appreciated the costume design. In this alternate universe, the heroes wear different outfits. The attention to detail in these new designs is impressive. It makes the “House of M” world feel lived-in and distinct from the regular Marvel Universe (Earth-616). However, there is one small issue. The cover art often displays costumes that don’t match the interior panels. This is a common issue in comics, but it is distracting here. For a major event from a company like Marvel, you expect better consistency. Why It Matters This story changed everything. It ends with three simple words: “No More Mutants.” This single moment decimated the mutant population. It changed the dynamic of X-Men comics for nearly a decade. Revisiting it now, the stakes feel just as high. It is also fascinating to view this through the lens of the MCU. With WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we see live-action adaptations tackling similar themes of grief and reality warping. Final Verdict I am glad I revisited House of M. It remains one of Brian Michael Bendis’ best works. The artwork complements the story perfectly. The themes of PTSD and trauma add weight to the superhero action. There is a reason fans remember this book so fondly. It is arguably one of Marvel’s best crossover events. If you want to understand the modern history of the X-Men, you must read this book. Score: 5/5 More Reviews from BGCP Review: Avengers Disassembled Review: Watchmen
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Review: Avengers Disassembled – The Day the Heroes Fell Publisher: Marvel Comics Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Penciller: David Finch Release Date: August 2004 – January 2005 Avengers Disassembled is infamous. Written by Brian Michael Bendis in 2004, this story arc ended the classic Avengers era. It also paved the way for the modern “New Avengers” line up. The story remains controversial. Bendis treats fan-favourite characters with brutal indifference. At the time, this caused an uproar. The repercussions shook the entire Marvel Universe. But does it hold up today? A Controversial Classic I missed this arc when it first dropped in 2004. I finally read the trade paperback ten years later. Perhaps that delay helped me enjoy it more. Fans took the destruction of their heroes personally at the time. With the benefit of hindsight, we can view it through a historical lens. We know where the characters end up. However, the book is far from perfect. I generally enjoy Brian Michael Bendis’ work. I appreciate his goal here. He wanted to strip down a bloated history. He wanted to clear the crowded roster. This allows characters to have fresh starts. It is similar to DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, but on a smaller scale. Unfortunately, the execution feels heavy-handed. The intention is rarely subtle. Chaos Erupts I am glad I read the collected edition. If I had waited week-to-week for single issues, I might have quit. The first few chapters offer inexplicable chaos. There is no clear explanation for the madness. However, the main title is “Chaos.” You certainly can’t accuse Marvel of false advertising. Seeing the team thrown into total disarray is fascinating. The Avengers are usually in control. They protect Earth’s citizens with confidence. Seeing them lose that control so quickly is a shock to both the characters and the reader. The problem is the pacing. Crazy events play out consecutively. There is no time to breathe. We never see the heroes process the gravity of their situation. Major characters die, yet the story breezes past them for the next big shock. This makes some of the boldest story beats feel hollow. Not for Beginners A quick word of advice: Do not start here. If you are new to Marvel comics, this is a terrible entry point. I know Marvel’s convoluted continuity well. Even I struggled to follow certain sections of this story. You need a firm grasp of pre-2004 Avengers history to truly understand the impact. The Art: Dark and Gritty I have mixed feelings about the artwork. David Finch’s pencils capture the grand scale of the story brilliantly. He shows the magnitude of destruction perfectly. However, the intimate moments suffer. The way Finch draws faces often feels out of place. It takes away from the emotional gravity of the situation. Frank D’Armata’s colors don’t always help. His style is bright and bold. I think certain scenes needed a muted palette. The garish colours clash with the darker story beats. Issues with Age Revisiting this book in the modern era reveals some flaws. Specifically, the costumes haven’t aged well. This is especially true for the female characters. We have seen shows like The Boys parody the “closet lasciviousness” of comic art. In that light, the impractical leather and spandex designs stick out like a sore thumb. The Highlight The artistic highlight comes in the finale. The surviving Avengers gather to reminisce. We get a beautiful series of two-page spreads. These show a highlight reel of the Avengers’ greatest moments. Different artists draw each flashback. We see Captain America’s revival. We see Wanda and Vision’s wedding. This savvy decision recaptures classic moments for a modern audience. It allows each artist to put their own spin on history. Final Verdict I have given Bendis’ writing a bit of a bashing in this review. Despite that, I still enjoy this book. I can’t fault the unflinching boldness of the writing. It is refreshing to see our favorite heroes out of their depth. This story had to happen. It set up the massive success of New Avengers and House of M. I understand the fan backlash. But I appreciate the guts it took to publish this. If you know your history and want to see the Avengers break, you will enjoy Avengers Disassembled. Score: 4/5
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