Nerd Alert #13 - Rick Remender = Awesome

Rick Remender is currently writing for Marvel and Image. He's an awesome writer. He has a mix of Grant Morrison, Jason Aaron, Brian Azzarello and I'll throw Geoff Johns in just for the sake of how he just gets all his characters voice and has great way of connecting continuity with new and interesting ideas and just make them work incredibly well. I've only read is Marvel work (most of it), so this is what this post will focus on. I do plan on checking out his book Fear Agent which I hear is amazing.

On a side note, while I was typing this I saw a trailer for Jobs and have to ask, "Who the fuck thought it was a good idea to cast Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs?"

The Punisher: Dark Reign, Dead End, Franken-Castle, and In the Blood

Rick Remender first started with co-writing with Matt Fraction on Punisher War Journal, but fuck that book, Remender's run for me started with volume 8 issue 1. Dark Reign had taken hold on all of Marvel's books and Norman Osborn was the new Nick Fury. The Punisher takes it upon himself to wipe out Osborn and his H.A.M.M.E.R. organization. The first act of the run involves Frank against the Hood and Osborn and Wolverine's bad guy son Daken. The second act of the run explains the photo that you see above which is the Franken-castle story. Yes it sounds silly, but Remender makes immensely entertaining and a must read. The third and final act leads to an intense confrontation between Frank and Hammerhead. The run is great even if you aren't a big Punisher fan. It takes chances and tries to new and original things with the Punisher. And it succeeds.

Venom: By Remender v. 1, Spider-Island, Circle of Four, The Savage Six

So Venom.... great Spidey villain, but never cared for any of his mini-series or his regular series. This new volume takes a new spin on Venom. In Remender's book (spinning out of Amazing Spider-man) has Flash Thompson (Spidey's biggest fan and an Iraq war hero who lost his legs saving his platoon) has been recruited by the government to be part of secret black ops devision where Thompson wears the venom symbiote to go on missions for the military. This book really does a great job with Thompson with making a hero to root for, specially when Jack-o-Lantern gets involved in his life and pushes him to his limits. Like most of Remender's books supernatural elements get brought in with the Circle of Four story arc and the explosive conclusion of his run with, Savage Six. Definitely a must read and puts a great new light on Flash Thompson.

Uncanny X-Force: The Apocalypse Solution, Deathlok Nation, The Dark Angel Saga v. 1 & 2, Otherworld, Final Execution v. 1 & 2

Uncanny X-Force is Rick Remender's masterpiece. Starring a clandestine assassin squad led by Wolverine, whose mission is to eliminate any threats to mutants and the entire world permanently. Not only is this a massive epic story arc, but it really examines what people are really to go to save the world and if it's worth the cost of their soul or their convictions. Each member of the team goes through these dilemmas and wondering if killing is the only answer they have to protecting the world. Every character has challenging moments in this series and everyone is changed by the events of the book.

Secret Avengers: By Rick Remender v. 1, 2, 3

The Avengers version of Uncanny X-Force, cept you know, minus all the killing. Remender's run picks the plot thread from the previous writers involving Nick Fury's rogue Life Model Decoy drone (which wasn't that interesting) and takes into a more interesting direction by picking up a plot thread from the Deathlok Nation story arc from Uncanny X-Force. The books uses Hawkeye great as the team leader and his banter with Captain Britain. Also the character development he does with Valkyrie, Ant-Man and the original Human Torch are fantastic.

Uncanny Avengers: The Red Shadow, Ragnarok Now

Uncanny Avengers is the flagship book of Marvel's Marvel Now initiative and the follow-up to Uncanny X-Force and Avengers vs X-Men. The book is about uniting Humans and Mutants into a peaceful co-existince. Professor X is dead as a result of Avengers vs X-Men by a Dark Phoenix possessed Cyclops. Now members of the Avengers and the X-Men come together to be part of the Avengers Unity Squad and try to co-exists with each other. This is one of his Current series along with Captain America and you tell by the first issue that Remender is building an epic to rival Uncanny X-Force. Featuring the Red Skull, Apocalypse and Kang the Conqueror, this series takes what's great about both franchises and makes for an amazing read.

Captain America: Castaway in Dimension Z v. 1 & 2

Captain America in a truly entertaining dystopian sci-fi epic. In the vein of Mad Max, Escape from New York, and hell, I'll throw in Dune as well, this story literally pushes Cap to his limits and leaves lasting repercussions for him as well. From you Cap getting a son and the all out war, both physical and psychological, against Arnim Zola this story will literally leave you wanting more and this is just the story arc of Remender's run!