Unfortunately not. The high quality of the stories are the giveaway.

I can't even bring to words my Loeb-hate. He is a Ruiner, a Spoiler! At least Frank Miller and Chris Claremont used to be good for a long enough stretch to earn the chops they have - even if they suck now. But what was Loeb's Masterpiece? A few well-written (but not masterpiece-worthy) Batman stories and Marvel hands this guy the keys to their kingdom? WTF?!?!?

I have never joined in on the Quesada-hate that I read online... while there have been some ups and downs, overall I like Marvel under his direction. But allowing Loeb to handle such PRIORITY properties is INSANE!!! THIS will be his downfall.

Argh! I wanna write a 52-issue weekly series, each page filled with ways to stop Loeb from writing my favorite books... PERMANENTLY!!

Keys to the kingdom? Loeb is writing Red Hulk and Ultimates. That's it, right? I wouldn't exactly call that "keys to the kingdom." Those are two titles that are pretty easy to ignore, considering the loads of other great comics Marvel is putting out.

Personally, I like to save "keys to the kingdom" comments to writers whose prolific output and central standing are pretty undeniable, like Bendis at Marvel and Johns at DC.

I stopped reading Rulk last issue, I just couldn't take it anymore. Rulk beating down the Watcher for no reason expect to serve as some kind of lame characterization was just so silly. This whole run has been about "who can we have Red Hulk beat down next so we can show the readers how cool and hardcore he is?" I figured the Thor fight would be absurd, and it far exceeded that expectation from what I hear. Does Loeb know there's a difference between lifting the hammer and weilding the hammer? Red Hulk isn't worth to weild Mjolnir, in space or not, gravity or not. How does this stuff get past Marvel editorial? Probably the same way Frank Miller gets to trash the Batman mythos anytime he pleases. When writers become more important than the story and the characters then the comics suffer for it.

Anyway, major props to Hellcat and Mary Jane this week. Both comics are really among the best Marvel is offering right now.

I'd like to see Frank Miller do an Ultimate book of Captain America.

Just a limited series, maybe four issues? I'm not saying it'd be great, but it'd be interesting.

I'd love a good Ultimate Captain America title. He was the main reason I read the Ultimates. I loved his over the top John Wayne style.

If you'd love a good Ultimate Cap title... why use Frank Miller?

I didn't mean to use Frank Millar, just that I'd like an Ultimate Cap title.

Mark Waid is still my favorite Cap author.

OK, Loeb sucks, and, since he's never done anything good, it's baffling why he even works in the industry. But c'mon, Frank Miller gets to trash Batman?!?!?!?!?!?! Frank Miller is responsible for 2 of the 3 most influential Batman stories in recent history. Even All-Star isn't that bad, especially considering what it is.

That's exactly my point. Loeb has done some good stuff, Hulk: Grey, Superman For All Seasons, The Long Halloween, but that Loeb seems long gone and in his place is this guy who I could only describe as a hack at best. But because of his sales and previous works, he's not getting put in the bridle by editorial, they're letting him do whatever he wants. The same thing is happening with Frank Miller at DC. Miller is more important to DC than the stories he's telling or they wouldn't allow what he's doing. He wrote some amazing Batman with Year One and Dark Knight Returns. So what the heck happened with Dark Knight Strikes Again and All Star Batman? The characters are not even recognizable anymore. Batman killing Robin by throwing him into an active volcano that's apparently under the Batcave or Batman slapping around Robin and having sex with Black Canary with the burning bodies of Gotham City cops all around them qualifies as trashing the character in my book.

Agreed. Better that Batman is killed off than allow this type of drivel to go on.

Keys to the Kingdom may have been a little strong, but not entirely untrue. Loeb is Doing Ultimates and Ultimatum - which pretty much covers the entire flow of the Ultimate Universe (How long can Bendis hold off the Storm of Stupidity in Ult Spidey?).

As for the regular Marvel Universe, it seems that Loeb is encroaching more and more. Side projects, Spin-Offs, Collaborations. Bendis may have the keys, but Brubaker should be the number two guy and it's starting to feel like Loeb is jockeying for that spot.

I haven't read whatever you're talking about here, but I am intrigued...

The Thor in Rulk is obviously a Skrull and the hammer is Skrull-tech, not Odin-magic.

I'm intrigued as well. Batman having sex with Canary? About time. Those fishnet stockings are pretty hard to overcome. Wonder if Ollie knows? What book is this? I do disagree with a volcano under the Batcave and Batman slapping around and killing robin.