Blogs Tagged “Bill Mantlo”

• Distinguished Critique: Invasion! Review—Nathan, 04.27.2025
  This crossover fails to find its footing in determining the kind of story it wants to tell, with not enough "invasion" to justify its title
• (Strand)om Stories: Luke Cage Epic Collection: The Fire This Time Review—Nathan, 03.15.2025
  Luke Cage's second Epic Collection is a mixed bag, some strong storytellers and characterization blended with some cheesy dialogue and weaker writers
• (Strand)om Stories: Deathlok the Demolisher: The Complete Collection Review—Nathan, 08.30.2023
  This volume starts strong before struggling through a messy middle, concluding powerfully as it focuses on a cyborg assassin who was once a man
• (Strand)om Stories: Moon Knight Epic Collection: Bad Moon Rising Review—Nathan, 05.23.2023
  This Epic Collection may stumble in some places, but it's generally a strong introduction to the ever-developing Moon Knight
• Crawling Back: Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions Review—Nathan, 12.27.2022
  Marvel's first limited series/crossover event and its follow up remain narratively frustrating and forced, despite some fantastic art and action sequences
• Spider-view: Power Pack & Cloak and Dagger: Shelter from the Storm (Cloak and Dagger, Part 14)—Nathan, 07.10.2021
  Bill Mantlo's second Cloak and Dagger-focused graphic novel is more intriguing and better balanced than his first
• Spider-view: Predator and Prey (Cloak and Dagger, Part 12)—Nathan, 05.01.2021
  Unbalanced characterization from a few principle players hurts the strong plot developments Bill Mantlo injects into this graphic novel
• Spider-view: Strange Tales (Cloak and Dagger, Part 11)—Nathan, 03.06.2021
  Cloak and Dagger's third series proves their most character-driven outing yet, even if missing plot details obscure some of the narrative
• (Strand)om Stories: Daredevil by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson (vol. 1) Review—Nathan, 02.20.2021
  This first volume collecting Frank Miller's seminal run showcases the start of a very accomplished Daredevil era
• Spider-view: Cloak and Dagger (vol. 2) (Cloak and Dagger, Part 10)—Nathan, 01.30.2021
  Despite a few narrative bobbles, Bill Mantlo crafts a strong overarching story in this second Cloak and Dagger series
• Spider-view: “Such Sweet Sorrow” (Cloak and Dagger, Part 9)—Nathan, 01.08.2021
  Bill Mantlo presents an engaging, somewhat cliche standalone issue, including proper characterizations of Cloak and Dagger
• (Strand)om Stories: The Uncanny X-Men Omnibus (vol. 1) Review—Nathan, 01.03.2021
  Chris Claremont's stunning run on Uncanny X-Men begins strong with this wonderfully entertaining tome
• Spider-view: “Memory Lane” (Alien Costume Saga, Part 17)—Nathan, 11.29.2020
  A fun standalone issue hones in on the hitherto unknown childhood years of one Aunt May
• Spider-view: “The Hunters and the Hunted” (Cloak and Dagger, Part 5)—Nathan, 06.22.2020
  Founded on familiarity, this Marvel Team-Up annual nonetheless dovetails nicely with Cloak and Dagger's limited series
• Spider-view: Cloak and Dagger (vol. 1) (Cloak and Dagger, Part 4)—Nathan, 06.16.2020
  The vigilante duo's first standalone series broadens their world and establishes Cloak and Dagger as people, not just heroes
• Spider-view: “Stalkers in the Shadows” (Cloak and Dagger, Part 3)—Nathan, 06.08.2020
  In a story that nicely develops Cloak and Dagger, the regression of Frank Castle is an unfortunate downside
• Spider-view: “In Darkness Seldom Seen” (Cloak and Dagger, Part 2)—Nathan, 05.30.2020
  Cloak and Dagger return, their characters given more nuance...but not all the new pieces fit perfectly
• Spider-view: “Cloak and Dagger” (Cloak and Dagger, Part 1)—Nathan, 05.15.2020
  Bill Mantlo introduces two important characters to the Spider-Man mythos