Also this week:

GIANT-SIZE SPIDER-WOMAN #1 - Because Brian Bendis demanded it!  Actually, though, this is kind of fun.  What we get here is Spider-Woman's first appearance in Marvel Spotlight #32, the first issue of her solo series, and issues #37-38 (which were written by Chris Claremont, guest starred the X-Men, and introduced Siryn).  The first two are a bit clunky as they try to disentangle the character's origin, but you've got to love a 1970s story set in London where not only are the usual cliches in full effect, but the villains are thwarted by failing to take account of decimalisation.  The Claremont two-parter is genuinely good stuff, and actually leaves me wanting to see more of his run on the book.  Oh, and there's also eight pages of Bendis and Rick Mays plugging some continuity holes, which is perfectly okay for what it is.  A lot better than I was expecting, at any rate.  B+

HULK: DESTRUCTION #1 - Another Peter David Hulk story, although really the focus here is on revising the origin of the Abomination.  If you're wondering why it needs revised in the first place, he's one of those characters who's tied to the Cold War in a way that now poses serious timeline problems.  The writing's not bad, with some interesting ideas for the character.  But Jim Muniz' art is ropey - he really can't do muscles, which is deeply unfortunate considering that he's drawing a Hulk story.  B

There's a new Article 10 on Monday at Ninth Art.

Next week, House of M continues in Uncanny X-Men #463, along with the second issues of Fantastic Four: House of M and Iron Man: House of M.  Back in the real world, X-Men Unlimited #10 stars the Beast.  And that's it for new material.  There's also a second X-Men Vignettes trade paperback, collecting more back-up strips from Classic X-Men - some of which are well worth having.

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