- All New Wolverine #15

All New Wolverine isn’t the only Marvel title to feature clones, cameos from old villains, and a rebooted story arcs this week, but such is par for the course in the current Marvel Universe where what once was old is now new. X-23….errr…..Wolverine, has been set up as public enemy #1 as we get a reboot of the Enemy of the State storyline (touted here as an official sequel, Enemy of the State II). Fulfilling the multiple clone quota, Bellona joins the fun adding another Wolverine clone to the story, with SHIELD hot on the tail of Laura Kinney (for murders she was forced to committing in the previous issue). A cameo by Roughouse, first seen in Claremont’s Wolverine #2, may get a smile from older fanboys, but ultimately brings nothing to a pretty forgettable issue. Take a hard pass on this one.

- Avengers #2

My biggest gripe with Marvel over the last decade (or more) is how reliant they have become on the alternate universe/time travel/multiple realities trope in their storytelling. I often find myself missing “quieter,” more grounded moments, but those tales are few and far between in the current Marvel era, particularly with properties like the Avengers. That said, it all seems appropriate in Avengers #2, as the book builds on an arc featuring the time traveling Kang as its primary antagonist. Long story short, The Vision has traveled back in time to kidnap an infant Kang with the hopes of keeping him from becoming the villainous conqueror we all know - meanwhile, Kang ups the ante by going back in time and killing all of the Avengers as infants. Still with me? It’s not as rocky as it sounds, and the current team of Sam Wilson Cap, Spidey, Vision, Wasp, and Hercules actually have a pretty solid dynamic. The art by Mike del Mundo may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it definitely provides a fresh look to what you see in most superhero books today (which is welcome by your truly).

- Champions #3

Champions comes off as Marvel’s answer to Teen Titans, though in the hand of Waid and Ramos is elevated beyond just a borrowed concept and into something that could potentially be very special. The team - consisting of Kamala Khan, young Cyclops, Viv Vision, Cho Hulk, Miles Morales, and Nova - have a fantastic dynamic that lends for not just great action sequences, but wry humor (an ongoing joke about who should be the team leader with many a rib at Cyclops’ expense works every time). Also refreshing is the fact that the story takes place within a single issue and focuses more on the development of the group itself and the plot, involving the protection of women’s rights in a Middle Eastern terrorist ran country, not only compliments that direction, but also gives the footing in something relevant to the interest of the young adult demographic Marvel is courting here. Definitely worth a look.

- The Clone Conspiracy #3

Few words can invoke eye rolls in a Spider-Man fan like “Clone Wars,” and as much as I love me some Dan Slott, this book has thus far proven to be no different. In fact, it seems to really be going for the gusto as we’re not only treated to the Jackyl once again being up to his cloning shenanigans by bringing back a rogue’s gallery of deceased Spidey villains - including Doctor Octopus, Mysterio, versions of Green Goblin and Hobgoblin, Tarantula, and others - but Gwen Stacy is back too, only it’s really Spider Gwen from the Earth-65 universe. Kaine Parker is here as well, and he’s kidnapped the REAL(ish) Gwen Stacy (who is also a clone) for safe keeping at Parker Industries. Also, there’s a deadly virus all of the clones carry that has already destroyed multiple other realities….and Kingpin…..and a final page reveal which is mind numbingly dumb. If you value your time and intelligence, don’t do it.

- Scarlet Witch #13

Despite her renewed popularity thanks to her inclusion in the Avengers films, Scarlet Witch still feels like an odd choice to anchor an ongoing solo series on. That said, it also happens to be one of the most creative and well done comics at Marvel right now. It’s difficult to really describe what this book is about to anyone that hasn’t actually read it, but in simplest terms it tells the story of a personal journey to find uncover one’s past while making peace with one’s present. Keeping the cast of characters at a bare minimum lends itself well to the personal nature of this book and the rotating stable of artists works appropriately for a book which feels consistently in transition. In this issue, Jonathan Marks-Barraveccia and Rachelle Rosenberg bring visuals that recall Dr. Strange and Vertigo's The Sandman at their trippiest, mixing in various non-traditional graphical elements to form the various layers of Wanda’s metaphysical world.

- Unworthy Thor #2

Few writers in comics are as skilled at characterization that cuts deep to the marrow as Jason Aaron and his previous work on Thor: God of Thunder is one of my favorite comic runs in recent memory. Returning to the story of the Odinson, Aaron teams up with another Thor veteran, Oliver Copiel, for what promises to be one of Marvel’s shining gems. So far, Unworthy Thor is proving to be everything you can want in a cosmic book - big action sequences and larger than life characters, grounded in a well written story that takes priority to the endless scope of the setting. Fellow hammer wielder, Beta Ray Bill, makes an appearance as the Odinson is in search of a hammer which may or may not have fallen on old Asgard. Things end on an interesting note as the final page teases a fan favorite protagonist as coming into the fold.

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And there you have it, folks! Come back next week for another roundup of new releases from Marvel Comics!