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All posts for the month December, 2013

2014 in Film

Posted by John Klein III on December 31, 2013
Posted in: Film. Tagged: . 4 Comments

One thing I loved doing, back when I was addicted to the American Film Institute’s Top 100 lists was at the end of the year or the beginning of the next, was look back at the movies of yesterday, in five year intervals.  Remember the days when studios would release anniversary DVDs?  Those days seem to be gone now, or they wait for the 25 or 50 year milestones.  We also are not buying as many DVDs or BluRays as we use too, which I suppose Netflix hurt that.  In my opinion, what really hurt those sales were all of those bare bone DVDs.  I, myself, love a commentary track, and won’t even buy a new disc unless that is on it or at least two or three other features.   I also like to look at the year ahead to see what movies I am going to be interested on, just based off of who is making it or if it is a sequel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_in_film

I should say here, that I list a bunch of these films, and will probably only be able to watch a quarter of them, or lose (or gain) interest as actual promotion comes out.

January

I am very interested in Aaron Eckhart’s I, Frankenstein.  Been reading some good buzz about it and it has been quite some time since the last adaption.

February

The LEGO Movie, there was a time when they were announcing which characters were showing up in it and it sounds awesome.  I know we are going to be getting LEGO Batman and Superman in it.

RoboCop with Michael Keaton and Gary Oldman, and a slew of others.

Pompeii, I want to see, ever since our Italy honeymoon, I’ve been trying to relive it through other means.

March

Mr. Peabody & Sherman, may have been my favorite segment of Bullwinkle and Rocky.  Haven’t seen any footage, hopefully it isn’t like the Smurfs or the Chipmunks live action films.

Need for Speed, looks like Keaton is coming back, yo!

Veronica Mars, we still haven’t made great headway with the series but this might just do it to motivate us.

Bad Words, Jason Bateman directing and starring, after the rough year he had in 2013, this might just turn things around.

Muppets Most Wanted, hopefully Jaosn Segel can show up for just a bit in this one.  Glad Nicholas Stoller is still around as writer.

April

Captain America : Winter Soldier, so excited!  April will be Captain America month like how November was Thor Month here at S&FwM.  I am hoping we start seeing footage of Emily VanCamp soon!  Looking at this, I bet Alan Dale is an evil business man!

Walk of Shame, I do enjoy James Marsden.  Also has Elizabeth Banks and Gillian Jacobs!  Ethan Suplee for good measure as well.

May

Amazing Spider-Man 2, movie gets better and better the more I hear about it.  Chris Cooper is going to own this film!

Legends of Oz : Dorothy’s Return, oooof!  This must be trying to make up for Oz the Great and Wonderful.  Though I already have seen the sequel of Wizard of Oz, and if this one doesn’t have the Pumpkin Prince, then I am passing.  Plus, it has modern day Martin Short, and I can’t handle that guy.

Chef, just the talent alone perks my interest.  Jon Favreau directing and playing.  Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, Jonny Legs (John Leguizamo), RDJ (Robert Downey Jr.), Dustin Hoffman and Oliver Platt.

Neighbors, Nicholas Stoller stepping into directing now!  Good for him.  Jake Johnson, Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Lisa Kudrow, Craig Roberts, this looks to be pretty funny.

Godzilla, I have heard good things but I haven’t seen the trailer yet.

Blended, ha Joel McHale, so I will be on the look out.  Most likely it is a Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore reunion, so I am weary of that.

X-Men Days of Future Past, oh yeah!  I have some good plans for May here.

Maleficent, this is the first I’ve heard that Paul Dini co-wrote the screenplay.

A Million Ways to Die in the West, Seth MacFarlane’s follow up to Ted.  Has NPH (Neil Patrick Harris) and Sarah Silverman.

June

The Fault of Our Stars, my wife will be interested due to Shailene Woodley being in it.

Jersey Boys, with Clint Eastwood directing and Christopher Walken as one of the cast?  To whom do I give my money to?

Purge 2, didn’t know it made enough money for that but that’s interesting.

July

Deliver Us from Evil has Eric Bana and Olivia Munn with Joel McHale.

Tammy, directed and starring Melissa McCarthy.  Could go one way or another.  Harrison Ford and Dan Aykroyd, I like them.

Two Hercules films in one year?  Oh boy

They are going by Wachowskis now?  That makes sense.

August

Basic Math, Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz, I can do with one and can lose the other.

Looks like Dan Aykroyd is coming back too!

Guardians of the Galaxy, so excited, now that I know Karen Gillan is in it, I am all set for this.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, really hoping that this will be good and we don’t have to go several more years before another Turtle film.

The Giver, I love the novel so much!  Hopefully they don’t screw this up!  Good cast though, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgard, Katie Holms.  Not sure who will play Jonas, but the movie rests on that young man’s shoulders.  Taylor Swift is in it too.

Sin City : A Dame to Kill For, been waiting for this one!

Jane Got a Gun, I feel like I just read something about this the other day that sounded good.  Natalie Portman, will see this eventually.

The Loft, apparently a Thriller.  James Marsden.  Wentworth Miller, haven’t seen him since that episode of SVU he was in.  Eric Stonestreet, I do enjoy the films he chooses, definitely doesn’t want to be type casted.

September

No Good Deed, probably won’t see this but I do enjoy Taraji P. Henson from Person of Interest.

Search Party, has Alison Brie!

This is Where I Leave You, Tina Fey and Jason Bateman! Sold!

October

Gone Girl, NPH in a Thriller!  With Ben Affleck and Tyler Perry in a non Tyler Perry film, so brave David Fincher!

The Interview, Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg writing and directing again.  This one has Lizzy Caplan!

November

Big Hero 6, still can’t believe Disney went with this as their first animated feature from Marvel.  Hopefully the lack of sales don’t turn them off from making a Pet Avengers film.

Interstellar, Christopher Nolan’s next film!  Excited from that alone.  Huge cast!

Dumb and Dumber To, they finally decided to make this.

The Hunger Games : Mockingjay – Part 1, oof,, that is quite the title.

Horrible Bosses 2, still not sure how they can pull this off.

December

Exodus, Christan Bale as Moses!

The Hobbit : There and Back Again.  Final part of the Hobbit Trilogy.

Annie, hopefully this doesn’t ruin Annie for an entire generation.

No Luke Wilson films unfortunately.  This Luke Evans guy is blowing up though.  No Ryan Reynolds either.

2009

They never did make another Die Hard in a Mall comedy did they?  Shoot!

Already own Dark Knight, Fanboys, Watchmen, I Love You Man, Wolverien Origins, 500 Days of Summer, and Paper Heart

Race to Witch Mountain, wish it was a better film.

Would not mind owning Adventureland, Angels & Demons – had Warrior Pope!  Still need to see Terminator Salvation.  With the way the Hangover movies went, probably never own the first one.  Hurt Locker will be nice to have on the shelf.  Still need Public Enemies for my Bale collection, along with Terminator Salvation.

I still want to see I Love You, Beth Cooper.

One of these days, I will treat my wife to owning all of the Harry Potter films.  That one gorgeous set is like 400 dollars!?!

Cove, such a good documentary, I still think about it.  Should buy it.

Still need to watch Time Traveler’s Wife.  Still need to own Donald Glover’s Mystery Team, such a fun movie.  Still need to watch Extract.  Still need to watch Whiteout too, I’m further behind on my comic book movies than I thought.  I did enjoy the trade.  I remember wanting to watch Love Happens with Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston.  Still need to own Whip It.

Couples Retreat, should have been so much better with that cast.

Still need to watch The Box with James Marsden.  I have almost bought it on several occasions.  Still need to watch The Men Who Stare at Goats.  Brothers was so good with Jake Gyllenhall and Tobey Maguire.  I liked Natalie Portman in it as well.  If the DVD has good features, I could be tempted to own it.  I really liked Up in the Air, I need to start an Anna Kendrick collection.

2004

I wouldn’t mind owning Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, such a fun movie.  Probably lose some street cred but I liked it.  If asked who I would want to star as me in a movie, I go to choice has been Topher Grace.  If he an Erica Christensen can do a movie together, that would be awesome.  That’s who I would get to play my wife.  They both have cute noses.  I’m that guy, I guess.

I need to reown Perfect Score, such a fun movie as well.  Sold it as my wife thought it was a dumb movie on premise alone.

I already own : EuroTrip, Passion of the Christ, Club Dredd (I was a big Broken Lizard fan at one time), Scooby Doo 2 (should not be the last live action film with that cast but I can see why it has been), Jersey Girl, Hellboy (still need to own the sequel with that 3 disc set), The Punisher (the Tom Jane one), Napoleon Dynamite, The Notebook, Spider-Man 2 (still the best one), Anchorman, Garden State (sequel should be out one of these days), Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (still need to own the other two films), Without a Paddle, Cellular, Team America : World Police, Sideways, and Blade : Trinity.

I didn’t even know they made a sequel to Agent Cody Banks.  Can’t believe (or can really believe) that Hilary Duff didn’t come back for it.  Has Frankie Muniz worked since then?

Secret Window, hated.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I want to still see.

Remember Anne Hathaway’s Ella Enchanted era of films?  Boy did she break and not break from that mold.  She has had quite the career.  Princess Diaries 2 came out that year too.

Been tempted to watch The Girl Next Door.  Still need to own Shaun of the Dead.  13 Going on 30 is a cute film.

My favorite Harry Potter film, Prisoner of Azkaban came out.  I’ve been told I would like Dodgeball, still haven’t seen it.  The Terminal was a cute movie.

I, Robot, is like my thesis statement on why I hate robots so much.  Should own this but then I will own a robot film.

Halle Bery’s Catwoman, ooof, that movie is turning ten!  That’s the thing about movies, no matter how bad they are, they do get older.  One day Warner Brothers will release an anniversary edition of it one day.

I’ve read something regarding Tom Cruise’s Collateral that made me want to watch this.   Apparently, he is quite bad ass in it.

Little Black Book, I have forgotten that Brittany Murphy passed away.

Alien vs. Predator, would have been better without the humans in it.  I would love to see that movie.  Whatever happen to Sanaa Lathan?  Loved her in Love & Basketball.

Still need to watch Layer Cake.  Heard good things.

Suspect Zero, now that was a truly horrible film.

First Daughter with Katie Holmes and Michael Keaton, was this his last live action film until 2014?  He was awesome as Ken in Toy Story 3.

Saw, I need to own this one and whichever ones has Donnie Walhberg.  The ending to Saw is still one of my favorite endings.

Still not sure why I don’t own The Incredibles, so odd.

Flight of the Phoenix, I still think about this film, should get it one of these days.  Spanglish, my wife really likes.

I remember really liking Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, not sure why others didn’t.  In Good Company, I need to watch one of these days, fully.  I feel like I’ve seen it on television from time to time but never committed to the whole film.  Remember this phase of Scarlet Johansson’s career?  Now she is a megastar.

It never fails, I will almost always own more films from the ten years ago category than the five years ago.  Once we got married, my movie buying ways had to be cleared and most don’t hold make the cut.  Now with Netflix, it is hard to even try to keep the ones we do own, but I like special features and will get rid of bare bone DVDs in a heartbeat.  Still cant’ believe they make bare bone BluRays.  Seems to have completely missed the point of a bigger storage space capacity.  We do live in an era where you can get five dollar BluRays so they are not the Criterion medium like they started off as.

Everyone, thanks for reading!  Not just this post but for the past months!  2014 should be pretty exciting and be safe out there tonight if you are traveling!  Also, be safe if you are indoors!  There are crazies out there!   

Book Report : Super Graphic

Posted by John Klein III on December 30, 2013
Posted in: Books. 1 Comment

SuperGraphic02

I saw a couple sample pages of this book, by Tim Leong and knew I should buy it.  I read it on the Kindle Fire, so my page numbers might be off.

I was pleasantly surprised that Kitty Pryde made many graphs, and even more surprised when Lockheed and Magik was represented, at least once.

Page 22 – Character Line Up, has Lockheed around two and a half feet tall and Kitty at five and a quarter.

Super Graphic Many Affiliations of the Marvel Universe Kitty Pryde

Page 87 & 88 – The Many Affiliations of the Marvel Universe, Kitty is associated with three : The X-Men, Excalibur and The New Mutants.

Page 100 & 101 – Battle Breakdown.  Now I am not sure how accurate this one is, it keeps track of how many battles characters have won, tied or list.  Kitty has been in 201 fights, won 55 percent, tied ten percent and lost 35 percent.  Lockheed, 166 fights, won 55, tied 15 and lost 30 percent.  This is a two page graph, so it wasn’t the easiest to read on the Kindle.

Super Graphic Character Kingdom

Page 139 – Character Kingdom, under Mammals, then Feline, we find Shadowcat.

Page 147 – To The Grave and Back, tracking how long characters have stayed dead.  Magik, from 1993 to 2009.  A very long sixteen years.

Page 191 – A Peek Inside the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.  Kitty is Headmistress, and teaches Ethics 101 – Forgetting Everything You Ever Learned from Emma Frost.

Page 215 & 219 – Ranking the Characters in the Marvel Comics Universe, Kitty is on page 219.

If the above doesn’t tempt you, then the below graph may, as it is the first one I saw, and I knew then, that I had to see the rest.

Vamers-Infographics-Super-Graphic-A-Visual-Guide-to-the-Comic-Book-Universe-by-Tim-Leong-What-Would-

X-Men Legacy 21

Posted by John Klein III on December 29, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

X-Men Legacy 21

Writer Simon Spurrier

Penciler Khoi Pham

Inkers Khoi Pham with Jay Leisten

Color Artist Rachelle Rosenberg

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

I couldn’t get my hands on a copy of X-Men Legacy 20, I see from comicbookdb.com that Magik shows up in that issue, though I have my suspicions that whoever copied the character list from issue 19, didn’t edit characters out but I can’t get confirmation one way or another.

Thus, I have no idea what happen in the previous issue.  From the recap page, Shadow Phoenix (there is probably a better name for the entity) lay seize to David’s mind and he merged several of his personalities into his main one.  Turns out, there never was a Shadow Phoenix, Aarkus the Aetheric tricked him into taking control of his own mind.

Issue opens with the merged entity consisting of Blindfold’s brother and the Xavier personality from David’s mind that escaped.

We see David losing a fight to this merged entity.  The entity is punching David over and over again.  We see characters in the background, such as Iron Man and Captain Marvel.

Inner David looks bad arse with how he is multi-colored and fiery hair.  He is gathering the smaller personalities easily but the bigger ones are keeping to their own.   Ruth tries to encourage David, but she wants to work with him.  He is distracted with trying to become whole.

Pixie comes by Ruth’s room and try to check out on her.  We see that David is at Ruth’s bedside.  Then he goes back to his fight.

Then we get this great moment when the entity reveals that due to the way it was created, that he sort of works as David’s son.  Except that he doesn’t have any daddy issues that hold him back.  He also doesn’t care about those he hurts in this adventure.  So not only does he not have daddy issues, he isn’t trying to redeem himself either.  He is pure power.

X-Men Legacy 21 Magik

David’s ‘son’ punches him in the head, and we get the panel that got me to buy the issue.  Within this character bubble, we get : Magik , Abigail Brand, Beast, Magneto, Doop, Cyclops, Storm, Emma Chamber, and Wolverine.

“Son’ doesn’t have any master plan or anything silly like that, he just wants to kill as many as possible before it ends.  That’s a villain that can only be stopped by death.

X:DoFP – Kitty Pryde’s Time Phasing Powers

Posted by John Klein III on December 28, 2013
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

So Bryan Singer has confirmed that in X-Men : Days of Future Past, Kitty will be sending Wolverine back in time using her time phasing powers.

http://www.newsarama.com/19436-bryan-singer-s-own-x-men-days-of-future-past-trailer-annotations.html

Which of course, is not one of her powers, in the comics.

I wanted to see if anyone else was annoyed by this, as much as I am.  All I found online was this person :

http://www.stfuandplay.com/story/content/hollywood-just-doesnt-understand-comic-books-does-it#.Urdj73_n_mx

At least, in this film, Kitty will play a crucial role in the plot.  I wonder if she will get this power in the comics?  Also, why wouldn’t she just time phase all of the foes through time, like a Weeping Angel.

Once she has this power, why would she stop using it?  Just keep going back and fixing the problem.  Also, why would she time phase a second person, and not take herself along.  How did she even discover she could even send people back through time.

I am sure the pivotal scene is action pack so there won’t be time to explain or answer any of these questions.

Also, if she is time phasing people through time, how does that person come back to the present?  I’m sure that has to be handled in the film but that sure seems like a big problem.  Especially with it being Wolverine back in time.  Unless there is a sort of default, after 48 hours, you come back to whatever future you created.  Which is pretty risky.

Cataclysm : The Ultimates Last Stand 2

Posted by John Klein III on December 27, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Cataclysm Ultimates Last Stand 2

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Penciler Mark Bagley

Inker Andrew Hennessy

Colorist Jason Keith

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Issue opens with Miles Morales’ Spider-Man wondering what he can do against the threat that is Galactus.

Galactus has already scored one victory, he has completely destroyed New Jersey.

The Ultimates and Fantastic Four pick Spider-Man up as landing on Galactus did not accomplish anything.  Tony realizes that Galactus is made up of cosmic energy.  So throwing more energy at him, isn’t gong to work.  The heroes resort to saving lives on the ground as they can’t do anything about the actual threat.

Tony realizes that Galactus’ energy signature is the same as the Proper Marvel Universe.  He knows this from the time Proper Peter Parker showed up during the Spider-Men miniseries.  Thor states they should send it back to that universe.  Human Torch is quick to mention that maybe that universe sent Galactus to this universe to get rid of it.

I must have missed this but Thing can turn purple plasma instead of orange rock.  I wonder what determines when he does which.  At least he looks like his old self that way, so he must be happy about that.

I must have also missed from Spider-Men, I only read a few issues at the store, but turns out the Mysterio from that mini, is also the Proper Mysterio, I wonder if he was also the Mysterio from the second volume of Ultimate Spider-Man?  I am not sure.  Mysterio states he has no idea how to fight Galactus, he only knows the Fantastic Four and Reed Richards have defeated him.

Now I completely missed this but turns out Ultimate Reed Richards went completely evil at one point.  I really like his new uniform as well, plus the scar that runs vertical over his right eye reminds me of the rumored scar that Proper Dr. Doom had before putting his face plate on his face, thus scarring him further.

 Regardless, Tony and the gang hate Reed Richards.  They do not take his suggestion that they let him go to the Proper Marvel Universe to enlist that universe’s Reed Richard.  Tony wants to go, but his suit will not let him, and they belief they cannot risk losing him.  Spider-Man offers to go, as he at least met that Spider-Man, and was over in that universe for a little bit.

Galactus forms his world eating machine while the heroes bicker amongst themselves.

Cataclysm 2 Shadowcat 1

Then we get the entire reason to buy this issue.  The final page, we see the X-Men on Utopia, wondering if they should get to New York and help out.  Colossus wants too.  Jean really doesn’t want to, as humans wouldn’t help if this was a mutant issue.  Also there is Shola Inkosi, Derek Morgan, Magma and Armor.  Also, their true leader, Kitty Pryde.  Will she lead them into this charge?  I’m just happy that she is finally in this mini.  Next issue’s cover hints that the X-Men are defeated.  Let’s hope not!

Comics Should Be Good’s Top 24 Christmas Stories, The Results

Posted by John Klein III on December 26, 2013
Posted in: Lists. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2013/12/24/2013-comics-should-be-good-advent-calendar-24/

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2013/12/25/the-24-greatest-christmas-stories-ever-told/

The top 24 stories have been revealed, and only two X-Men stories made the list.  Which I find disappointing, but it us nice that there are so many Christmas stories to choose from.

24. Superman’s Christmas Adventure 1

23.  Christmas Parade 7

22.  Tangled Web 21

21.  Teen Titans 1

# 20 Uncanny X-Men 230

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2012/12/05/the-greatest-christmas-stories-ever-told-20/

19.  Hitman 22

18.  Batman 239

17.  Infinite Holiday Special 1

16.  Fables 56

15.  Hellboy Christmas Special 1

14.  JSA 55

13.  Spectacular Spider-Man 112

12.  Four Color Comics 203

11.  Incredible Hulk 378

10.  Marvel Holiday Special 2005

9.  Superman 64

8.  Flash 73

7.  Starman 27

6.  JLA 60

5.  Marvel Team-Up Volume One Issue 1

4.  Four Color Comics 203

# 3 Uncanny X-Men 143

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2012/12/22/the-greatest-christmas-stories-ever-told-3/

2.  Christmas With The Superheroes 2

1.  Batman 219

A slew of DC comics, a couple of Duck comics and various others.

The Santron comic is pretty fun, look for that one.

Thanks again to Brian Cronin for taking the time to create the list.

Marvel Holiday Special 1992

Posted by John Klein III on December 25, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Sweet Christmas, Everybody!!!

Marvel Holiday Special 1992

There are two reasons to hunt this issue down and own it.

The first is this :

SCAN0001

Dave Cockrum drawn Excalibur!  Look how cute Lockheed is!  He does not want to be dressed as Rudolph.

The other is two page, three with an extra credits page and additional covers, Ghosts of Christmas Comics Past by Barry Dutter.

“X-MEN # 143 contained a Christmas classic by the ultimate X-MEN team – Chris Claremont, John Byrne and Terry Austin!  The story was called “Demon,” and any similarity to the movie ALIEN was purely intentional.  The issue found then-X-Man Kitty Pryde alone in the X-Mansion on Christmas Eve, forced to fight a savage N’Garai demon all by her lonesome!  This was Kitty’s first real test in solo action, and she passed with flying colors.  (Since Kitty will eventually grow up to look like Sigourney Weaver, this came as no big suprised!)”

The issue also has stories starring Wolverine, New Warriors, Spider-Man, Punisher, Doc Samson, Thanos, Iron Man and Daredevil.

Marvel Holiday Special 1991

Posted by John Klein III on December 24, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

 On this Christmas Eve, I present to you :

Marvel Holiday Special 1991

The story that makes this a must buy comic, of course, is this one :

Merry Mutant Melodies II

Story / Pencils / Colors Kelly Corvese

Inks Mike White

SCAN0001

Excalibur is mentioned in Buy Yourself another X-Men Spin-Off

Kitty is mentioned in Twelve Days of X-Men “Nine Kittys phasing, indeed.  Are there any good parody Twelve Days of Christmas songs?  I reckon there isn’t.

Kitty, the members of Excalibur and Alan Davis are said in the Rogue song.

There are also stories featuring the X-Men (the All New All Different team), Sue and Franklin Richards, Punisher, Thor, Captain America, Ghost Rider, Captain ultra and Spider-Man.  Also, several pinups.

Marvel Knights X-Men 2

Posted by John Klein III on December 22, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Marvel Knights X-Men 2

Story and Art Brahm Revel

Color Artist Christiane Peter

Letterer & Production VC’s Joe Sabino

Haunted Two of Five

We find Logan and Sabretooth in the cabin, and they of course start fighting.  Logan sees Silverfox.  Rogue comes in and starts fighting Sabretooth as Logan goes exploring.  Once he is out of the room, Rogue meets some familiar faces.

Rogue sees her Brotherhood of Mutants, Sabretooth shapechanges into Mystique, also Blog and Pyro show up.

Logan enters another room and finds a slew of Hellfire Club Guards.  Kitty is outside with Krystal.  They start running into the cabin.

Rogue is fighting those three, we also see Toad, Avalanche and Sauron are entering the fight.

Logan meets a new gal, we learn her name is Darla.  She has a very interesting and spooky power.  A power that has very tragic and heart breaking ramifications, also the way she has learn to turn her power off?  Also super horrible and tragic.

Darla picks up her pistol, aims it at Logan, and fires.  The bullet goes straight into the floor.  We see a green skinned male, with a red sweater, shouting, please don’t kill me.  He is pleading with his life.  Darla realizes her power has gone completely out of control and cuts herself.  This makes all the illusions go away, including the green mutant.  Who looks like a normal looking Leech, if such a thing exists.

We cut to the Sheriff, who is giving the towns folk drugs, so they give him guns.  They are complaining about those who get the guns, some sort of crazy religious group who stay to themselves and who only want to be left alone and to be well protected.  The sheriff, Jasper, tells them not to worry, as they keep getting their drugs and that should make them happy.  It is a very odd town.

Darla explains how she came to be leaving by herself in the cabin.  Her power is that she can manifest memories.  Her mother was an erotic dancer.  She was reminded about this, every single day, and most likely, multiple times of the day.  She couldn’t take it so she hung herself.  Her father stuck around, but having to witness his wife hang herself every day, and most likely hundreds of times a day,

Then we see that green mutant, pleading for his life again, and then he gets shot in the head.  Logan, naturally thinks Darla shot him, like how she shot at Logan.  She does not quite deny it.  She just wants her life to end.

The X-Men get Darla and Krystal to a local eatery.  Krystal and Darla start chatting, I get the impression they don’t know each other from living in the same town.  The X-Men sit at their own table, the tables are small, so it isn’t like a bigger ‘inclusive’ type of exercise.  Rogue wants to try to learn what Darla’s power is and try to teach her how to live and hone her power.  Logan thinks she is a killer and should be dealt with.

Krystal gives Darla a bunch of drugs and Darla take a giant handful, and her power starts going crazy out of control.  This one guy sees his old dog, and then his old girlfriend – upsetting his current girlfriend.

Wolverine walks away from Rogue and Kitty.  Kitty tries to find a middle ground.  She doesn’t get much to do this issue, hopefully next issue she gets a proper moment to shine.  We don’t even get a glimpse of Ogun or Emma.

Issue ends with Sentinels attacking the eatery.

Revel impresses me again with how clever he is.  He gets this opportunity to work with the X-Men and creates this story and finds a way to draw every thing related to the X-Men that he can ever want to do.  Darla though, is an amazing creation that I would like to see more of, as her power is very interesting and tragic.  I can’t stop thinking about it and its ramifications.

It has been nearly two weeks, and I am still thinking of the potential that is Darla.  Such a good character.