Awesome Comic of the Week: The Irredeemable Ant-Man #10

The Irredeemable Ant-Man #10 was one great comic. I’ll be first to admit this series got off to a slow, somewhat directionless start, but I think it’s finally hit its groove with issue 10.  It’s been a fun, organic kind of ride since then. I’m still saddened to learn of its impending cancellation.

Basically, this issue takes place in the early stages of the World War Hulk storyline, where Hulk has landed in New York City and made his ulimatum. Our hero and resident scumbag, Ant-Man, and his pals at Damage Control decide they’re going to pitch in and fight The Hulk… well, everyone except Abigail, whose powers are kind of lame in “Let’s take on the Hulk” situations. She does the wise thing and takes off to get her kid out of the city before things go nuclear.

There are a lot of reasons to enjoy this issue:

• The Cover - Ant-Man is crawling out of the Hulk’s nose and is waving to the reader. Do they make better covers than this?
• Page 1 - Recap Ant is always cool. A team up with Incredible Hulk Recap Ant? Totally awesome.
• Page 5 - Ant Man makes fun of the Hulk’s tiara. It’s nice to know I’m not alone.
• Page 6 - Potential looting is schemed.
• Page 7 - Mitch hate! Mitch smash!
• Page 7 - Possibly the best sequence in the book… definitely the one that made me laugh out loud the most:

Oh no he didn’t!

• Page 8 - Ant-Man actually does something heroic.
• Page 11 - More heroic action is taken. And looting is schemed. I was shocked by the first part.
• Pages 12 to 16 - Ant-Man attacks the Hulk’s insides by flying into his mouth. Apparently Hulk eats a lot of Old Spice products to keep that minty fresh breath. Seriously, I’m not making it up.
• Page 17 - Hulk is as tough inside as Hulk is on outside. Hulk smash! Ant-Man’s attacks have been largely unsuccessful, so he exits through the Hulk’s nose. The looting plan is engaged.
• Page 18 and 19 - Something bad happens!
• Page 20 - Then something worse happens!

Good, fun comics!

One thing did really bother me about this book though: There seemed to be a ton of product placement for Old Spice in this comic. It made me wonder if comics have finally caved into marketing and now are placing products for additional revenue. Needless to say, I’m not a fan of this. I’ve got nothing against Old Spice products or Marvel trying to get some extra revenue out of a flailing title, but this is ridiculous.

By my count, there are at least 13 references to the Old Spice logo or its products in the comic. I call Weak Sauce on Marvel.

You know they had to be sitting in some meeting going, “We can make some extra cash with product placement. We should at least try it out.”

“Yeah. Let’s do it in Ant-Man. No one reads that.”