This entire run feels like Thor is merely Loki's puppet on a string to fulfill Loki's ambitions which are as yet unrevealed but possibly something like free all the realms from the chains and machinations of fate.
Sorry if this isn't allowed here but I was reading up on both of the others and wonder how Zatanna compares to them.
Her ass was fresh meat if you've seen the Absolute Cheetah design.
With Absolute Superman 21 out I have to ask - King Shazam can solo the JL right?
It feels like Greg Rucka had to put the arc on pause for the Bad Seeds event. Bethwoman just submits to the cult lady then doesn't. It's an underwhelming finish to the first arc.
Issue 12 is written by Chip Zdarsky with art by Valerio Schiti and is the first issue of the Captain America and DOOM in hell arc. Did you read it? What'd you think about it? Personally I enjoyed this issue. Despite being out of his depth, Steve is arguably more himself than ever and sets about working with DOOM to lead a hell-revolution to overthrow Mephisto. I thought it was a great change of pace given the past two arcs were all about Latveria and even though the run's insistence on DOOM is wearing away at me, this new arc seems promising enough that I'm happy to give it a shot. Please Valerio don't go away again. Stay until the arc ends.
What sort of stories at the earth and space levels does Carol Danvers need to really push her character forward and hopefully tell a great (ongoing) run while the creatives are at it?
Random encounter on an empty island, both in character and about to fight over a macguffin
This is just an idea that came to mind but I have a feeling that near the climax of the story Bane will be fully regenerated and choose to face Joker in battle. He'll die of course but we'll get fully venomized Bane (I'm assuming he'll find someway to juice himself on venom again if he can't immediately access it) vs demon clown Joker which will be insane even if its a losing battle for Bane.
Scott and Nick if you're here and see this just pretend you didn't.
Same as up above ^
For comics that means no Vision, Wonder Man, Doctor Voodoo.
For movies that means no Vision.
If Rocks and Harald are on the same level as prime Garp, Roger and Whitebeard, how strong were their Imu enhanced versions? Domi reversi Rocks was beaten by Roger and Garp who didn't yet seem to be at their prime but on the verge of it. High yonko tier bordering on pirate king tier. So was Domi reversi Rocks only around 1.5 to 2 times his regular strength? That seems like a believable buff for two powerful pirates who weren't yet their best selves to overcome by working together.
God's Knight Harald is harder to measure. He never fights anyone that weaker than him who feels like they could believably take him down on a regular day in a one on one or two on one (see: Garp and Roger vs Rocks - I can personally see god valley Garp or Roger pushing Rocks to a high diff fight even if they'd lose or maybe even achieving a serious extreme difficulty win). Harald in his God's Knight era only faces Gaban, no longer in his prime years but still strong and Shanks, also strong but not yet at his peak. Then Loki gains the Nidhogg fruit and gets an incredible buff before managing to beat Harald senseless and inflict what would have likely been killing blows if not for the regeneration. However this also allowed Harald to regain his senses for a moment which gave Loki the opening to finish him off.
I believe Harald as a god knight gained greater power than Rocks did when he was domi reversed. Rocks being domi reversed was more of a spiteful screw you from Imu to make Rocks slaughter his loved ones. He became stronger, but not by much. It was about warping him into someone who'd gleefully (on the surface) kill his family. Imu didn't need to grant him much greater power. With Harald, Imu explicitly was allowing him entry among the god's knights order (with the hidden goal of weaponizing the giants of Elbaf into another mighty army for the world government). Imu would naturally bestow greater power on someone he wants to be one of his direct servants than he would an enemy he wanted erased. And because I think the power gifted by Imu is proportional to one's own strength, Harald who was already a pirate king tier warrior grew much stronger when enhanced by Imu than Rocks did. The gorosei comment on his increase in strength and Imu himself referred to Harald as nothing less than a monster while being shocked that anyone achieved killing him.
So if Rocks got an enhancement between one and a half to twice his power, I think Harald's enhancement would have been somewhere around two to four times his own power. This would elevate him from an already mighty ancient giant to someone in a class of his own fit to lead the giant army for Imu. That Loki bested him so clearly and quickly carries frightening implications for how strong he's become since eating the Nidhogg fruit.
In this issue Scarlet Witch protects Wiccan and Somnus from the predations of Nightmare and two of his eldest spawn.
Unfortunately it follows a pattern of a strong foe appears, Wanda manages to deal with it easily even if there is some struggle beforehand and we move on. It's as unsatisfying to me as the Griever storyline where Wanda faces down multiple powerful threats in quick succession.
This issue alone, much like each issue of the Griever story, could have been spread across two issues for Steve Orlando to at least pretend he's not just feeding Wanda powerful foes for her to demolish in his quest to elevate her standing as a cosmic tier powerhouse (because thanks to Al Ewing everyone wants to try their hand at Marvel cosmic, thanks, Al, love ya but you really opened the gates for inferior writers to push their way into the grandest parts of Marvel cosmology). I will say that I actually, for a moment, felt like Wanda was threatened here which I didn't even feel when she faced Oshtur in issue four so kudos to Orlando for that? We'll see how it holds up.
I do like the new children of Nightmare, they've got incredible designs. And the guest artist? Great work. I hope we see more of him since I haven't enjoyed Bernard Chang's work. He's better than the ones who replaced Sara Pichelli but his art style isn't for me.
I was in a meeting with Oda yesterday and he told me that Shanks scar from Blackbeard is because they were lovers but eventually Blackbeard wanted to break up. Shanks was clingy and kept trying to get him to stay then attacked him out of heartbreak so Teach had to defend himself with the triple claw weapon he used to wield.
It'll make you sad how much Luffy feels like an actual character.
Absolute Batman faces the villains of Absolute Wonder Woman & Superman:
Tetracide, Hades arena challenge, Doctor Poison, the maze and queen Clea, the anti Wonder Woman, Zatanna, the Suicide Squad, and Zatara.
Or
Peacemaker, Ra's Al Ghul, Brainiac, Hawkman, Parasite, King Shazam
Absolute Wonder Woman faces the villains of Absolute Batman & Superman:
Black Mask and the Party Animals, Mr. Freeze, Bane, Ark M's monsters, Poison Ivy (Scarecrow & the Robins are optional)
Or
Peacemaker, Ra's Al Ghul, Brainiac, Hawkman, Parasite, King Shazam
Absolute Superman faces the villains of Absolute Batman & Wonder Woman:
Black Mask and the Party Animals, Mr. Freeze, Bane, Ark M's monsters, Poison Ivy (Scarecrow & the Robins are optional)
Or
Tetracide, Hades arena challenge, Doctor Poison, the maze and queen Clea, the anti Wonder Woman, Zatanna, the Suicide Squad, and Zatara.