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All posts for the month June, 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Three Issue 14

Posted by John Klein III on June 21, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils Nick Bradshaw with Jason Masters & Todd Nauck

Inks Nick Bradshaw, Walden Wong, Jason Masters & Todd Nauck

Colorist Justin Ponsor with Jason Keith

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

I like how Flash Thompson, Agent Venom, is added to the team via the recap page.  Or does it happen in a side comic I didn’t read.  He is there because the Avengers wanted to keep in touch with the Guardians.  That must have went over well.

Issue opens with Peter Quill, Star Lord, not being able to sleep.  He thinks about calling Kitty Pryde – hence, I now own this issue.

Guardians of the Galaxy 14 Quill thinks Kitty Pryde

Peter wonders why he can’t have a nice girl as a girlfriend.  Maybe he can settle down, get a proper job and live a good life.

Rocket wakes Peter up.  They are under attack by Peter’s father’s forces.  Also on their ship, us Groot.  The rest of the team are on their own adventures.

Planet Spartax.  J-Son, Peter’s father, the King of the planet.  He is being told that his son’s ship is being attacked.  He is asked if he wants the Guardians to either be killed or brought in for crimes and punishment.

Gamora, wherever she is, is being chased by a bounty hunter.  The same bounty hunter that was hunting her, apparently, earlier in the series.  The hunter’s dialogue reveals that Gamora is Thanos’ daughter.  Which I didn’t know.  She is captured.

Knowhere.  A port of call near the end of the universe.  Don’t eat the street vendor glorkin.  I really like the location captions in this series.

Drax and Agent Venom are heading to a vendor.  I’m not aware of what is going on with Thompson, except that he is the current owner of the Venom symbiote.

Flash can’t believe he is off Earth and on another planet.  Drax doesn’t care for Flash’s enthusiasm, he is a little embarrass by it.

Drax tells him to present himself with an air of authority.  Flash repeats the request, I should act cool.  Drax doesn’t know what that means, but if it means the opposite of what Flash is acting, then yes.

They enter a shop.  The vendor starts shouting that he doesn’t serve, their kind.  He doesn’t serve parasites.  Venom is confused, he doesn’t know anything about his suit.

Drax reveals the vendor’s name is Crakili.  They are in the store to get Venom an actual weapon.  His current gun is an embarrassment.

Crakili thinks Flash is funny with his ignorance.

Venom loves his gun.  They leave the store.  Venom keeps asking about his suit’s origins.  Drax is about to reveal some answers when they are attacked.  Drax is captured.  They fry Venom’s suit, revealing that Flash doesn’t have his legs below the knees.  Which sounds familiar.

Flash starts shooting his new energy gun, but the blasts have no effect on the fleeing ships.

The Venom suit reforms, and now he is stranded on a planet he knows nothing about.

The bounty hunter takes Gamora to those who hired him, the Badoons.

Peter Quill wakes up.  His father is sitting on the edge of the bed.  He wants to have a chat with his son.  He hopes they can exchange how they see the galaxy.  Peter doesn’t take the request seriously, being quite sarcastic.  J-Son wants him to take this serious.

Peter opens up.  He hates his father for coming to Earth, impregnated his mother.  Completely abandoned them.  When the Badoon came to kill his mother and himself, J-Son was nowhere to be found.  His father was off building his empire.

Actually, he isn’t mad about that.  He is mad that his father is a conniving warlord who wants the galaxy to answer to him.  Peter wants the galaxy to be free.

J-Son makes some great points about how all intergalactic races want to rule all the other races.  He, in turn, is disappointed that his son doesn’t follow in his birthright, of ruler of Spartax.

J-son also tells his son that the only way he was able to make peace with all of the enemies that the Guardians was to let each of their enemies take out one of the team.

There is no one who will be able to safe them.  Story ends with Captain Marvel on her way, she is the second new member of the Guardians that was promised.

X-Force Annual 1

Posted by John Klein III on June 20, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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Writer Fabian Nicieza

Penciler Greg Capullo

Inker Harry Candelario

Letterer Chris Eliopoulos

Colorist Mike Thomas

Shattershot Part Four

Cover Dated 1992

Inside front cover ad is for the video game tie ins for Terminator 2, on NES and Game Boy.

This is the only part of the story that I own.  Luckily it takes place 100 years in the future, Mojoverse time and ten years in the Marvel Universe time, from the previous part.

Issue opens up with an arena scene of spineless ones (Mojo-types) versus bipeds (human types) and they are fighting each other.  The bipeds get the upper hand and the main guy looks up to see if he should kill the Mojo looking fella.  Shatterstar is the new man in charge, having dethrone Mojo V.  The crowds are chanting for cancellation, because they still use television terms.

The irony, of course, is that humans finally overthrew the old regime and now are just doing the exact same thing.  Shatterstar’s inner monologue reveals that he knows it is wrong but his people deserve this with how long they were slaves to Mojo.

Shatterstar gives the nod and off goes one of the spineless’ head.

I imagine that if they wanted the spineless ones to live, they would chant – renew! renew!

Meanwhile, it is winter time on Earth.  The Xavier School has been shut down, as it is more fortress than school.

From a portal comes, Arize (a human) and two spineless ones.  This is where we learn the time difference.  Arize thinks to himself that if he knew the new face of the revolution was going to behave like the old, he wouldn’t have tried to even change anything.  What was the point?  How much revenge killing is necessary?  The two spineless companions are – Shecky and Milton.

Their scanner reveals that something fast is coming their way as we are introduced to the latest X-Force!

Cannonball, Powerpax, Illyana, Siryn, Cyberlock and Sunspot.

Francine Power is Powerpax, has all the powers of Power Pack, combined.  We don’t learn anything about if she is the daughter of a member of Power Pack (most likely Alex or with the hair style that matches Julie).  Cypherlock is such a better name than Douglock.  The Illyana here is a proper version of her, meaning that Inferno happened, she was de-aged to be seven again and now ten years later, she’s a proper 17 year old.

I like the idea of this Illyana, and surprised more alternate timelines don’t play with the concept of a Post-Inferno Illyana, who I can only imagine would be extremely strong and with the heroes surrounding her, would inform her of her power levels and her potential.

Essentially, this current X-Force members see spineless ones, two to one, with a human and just assume that they are holding the human prisoner and attack in full force.  Which is pretty racist of these mutants but I get the impression the years that have passed on Earth, have not been the kindest.  Still, no excuse for racism!

X-Force Annual 1 Magik

Arize tries to stop the attacks.  Magik, who is going by Darkchild – so I suppose I should call her that – is teleporting around the second spineless one, Milton and taunting him.  Powerpax already took out Shecky.  Is Shecky and Milton a combo of names or something, I get Milton but Shecky?

Darkchild refers to Sam as Uncle Sam, he doesn’t care for the name.  It is a nice way to show that they are not quite teammates, there is an age difference so she views him differently.

Arize wonders if this gal he sees is Banshee, and Cypherlock corrects him that the young lady is Siryn.  Also, that Banshee died, August 27, 1998.  Good for him, he didn’t die that year.

Arize finally gets everybody to stop.  He explains how he needs their help, as Shatterstar wasn’t the solution Mojoverse needed.

Meanwhile, in Mojoverse, we see that Shatterstar is being given bad advice from Schedular (they keep things simple in Mojoverse).

Back on Earth, Arize is seeing the change that has occurred over the years.  The X-Force that helped the last rebellion was – Cable, Cannonball, Siryn, Warpath, Shatterstar and Cypherlock.  Xavier had gotten more Shi’ar technology infused with the mansion.  Xavier is dead, he gave the school over to Cable, who is also dead.

Arize explains what has been happening on Mojoverse.  I imagine it is a recap of the previous three chapters.  Essentially, Longshot finally got the revolution he wanted.  We get the origin that has made Mojoverse the confusing mess that it is.  So they make this video that should teach the spineless ones about respect and to be kind to people who don’t look like yourself.  Then they sent that message back in time, instead of teaching them things, it sends them insane.  Now they are back at the time when they are about to send that message back and they have realized that it was the bipeds that have been the problem the entire time.  Or worst, that they are in a time loop of disaster!

During the Longshot section of the story, Capullo gets to draw the Outback Era X-Men.

Cannonball realizes that neither bipeds or spineless ones should be in charge of Mojoverse.  Arize has a solution to that, democracy!

Over at Mojoverse, the Schedular is up to no good, complicating the plot.  I have to be honest, when Illyana isn’t on the page, the story really does seem overly complicated and unnecessary.

X-Force shows up in the Mojoverse.  Darkchild makes a reference to how this is nothing more than the Roman Arena.

X-Force runs towards the ruling box and Arize, Shecky and Milton attack the gladiators in the arena.  Then Arize gives the cue and all the bipeds are paralyzed in place.  Shatterstar orders the fights to end.

The Bipeds took on the name of – Freeman Armed Network, thought that should be mentioned somewhere here.

Arize is wearing a helmet so that no one would recognize him.  Not sure why he needs that.  So that he can appear to be one of the people?

Shatterstar asks him to take off his helmet, he does and he thanks Arize for reminding him of his original goals on this planet.

Arize is the guy who created the biped race.  The spineless ones must have been the original inhabitants and wanted entertainment and mimicked what they found on Earth.

There is some fighting with Pro-Shatterstar supporters and the people who are convinced that the Schedular and the old ways are the way to keep going.  Of course, all these fights take place in the arena, where else would they be?

The Schedular reveals some of Shatterstar’s origin.  They sent him to Earth, like what happen with Longshot, so that Shatterstar could may be killed on Earth but really, they just needed him to be gone so that they can build this reputation for him on Mojoverse.  Which they used to make him king when he came back.

Shatterstar finally defeats Schedular.  He spares his life, the change begins now.

Arize is going to find all the spineless ones and cure their insanity.

X-Force was really only there to be a distraction or an extra force for the latest rebellion.  It could have been anyone really.

This story ends with a cloak figure taking off his hood to reveal an aged Longshot, happy to finally see peace brought to his home world.

The March CoolMeter from Cool to Uncool –

Nomad

Christopher Columbus

Ski trips with the gang

Bad hair days

Death by bee stings

Valentines from enemies

The Chunnel

Justice League Archives

Aliens 3

Soviet Dissolution

Operation : Galactic Storm

Gas pancake galaxies

Holiday decorations still up

Bad time shots for good shows

Michel Jackson

19-part crossovers

Sri Lanka

Hook, line and sinker

Dissing fellow pros in print

Inside back cover ad is for Three Musketeers chocolate bars, my favorite chocolate bar.

 

Covers – Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual 1

Posted by John Klein III on June 19, 2014
Posted in: Covers. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

UXM UFF Annual 1 vs. 141396_20080929131653_large

Both covers by Brandon Peterson

Marvel September 2014 Solicitations

Posted by John Klein III on June 18, 2014
Posted in: Solicitations. Tagged: , . 1 Comment

http://www.newsarama.com/21369-marvel-comics-full-september-2014-solicitations.html

UNCANNY AVENGERS #24
RICK REMENDER (W) • SALVADOR LARROCA (A)
The MARCH to AXIS continues!
• Havok and his team defeated at the hands of the sinister S-Men!
• A dark secret in Genosha!
• The Red Skull’s revenge is now unstoppable.

From everything that I’m reading about AXIS, I am pretty sure that I am skipping out on that event as Cyclops’ side is not going to be represented.

 

DEATH OF WOLVERINE #1-4
CHARLES SOULE (W) • STEVE McNiven (A/C)
*Issue #1 only
IT’S THE BEGINNING OF THE END – 3 MONTHS TO DIE ENDS HERE!
• The beginning of the end is now here … THE DEATH OF WOLVERINE!
• THREE MONTHS TO DIE, the loss of Wolverine’s healing factor–all led to this, the single most important X-Men event of the decade.
• Logan has spent over a century being the best there is at what he does…but even the best fade away eventually.
• Over the years, Logan has been a warrior, a hero, a renegade, a samurai, a teacher—and so much more. But now, the greatest X-Men hero will play a role he’s never played before in this special weekly event brought to you by industry superstars Charles Soule and Steve McNiven.
Issue #1 – 48 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
Issue #2-4 – 40 PGS. (EACH)/Rated T+…$4.99 (EACH)

 

I’m also going to let the Internet tell me if I have to buy any of these issues.  The Internet has spoken with Kitty being on the cover to issue three.  So I’m tempted to only get that issue and call it good.  My instincts tell me that I should get issues two and four but I’ll see how expensive that entire ordeal will be.  Also, if I’m willing to get two and four, then I might as well get the first issue so I can follow it.  Five dollars each is silly though.

 

EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE #1 (of 5)
David Hine with Fabrice Sapolsky (W) RICHARD ISANOVE (A/C)
SPIDER-MAN NOIR RETURNS!
• The Peter Parker of the 1930’s finds himself not only up against Mysterio, but knee-deep in the Spider-Man event of 2014!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

I am super interested in Spider-Verse but ooof, does it look like a commitment that I am not ready to make. Maybe I will get the trade later down the road.

 

THE SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #15
NICK SPENCER (w) • STEVE LIEBER (A/c)
Still not CANCELLED!
• GANG WAR begins here. You know it’s a big deal because we put it in caps!
• Everyone gets in a big fight over the head of Silvio Silvermane. Lives are lost, feelings are hurt, and car keys get misplaced!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

That is a fun solict with the “still not cancelled” line.

 

MILES MORALES: THE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #5
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • DAVE MARQUEZ (A/C)
REVIVAL!
• One of the most defining stories in the ULTIMATE UNIVERSE explodes in a way no one saw coming!
• Only one of the two ULTIMATE SPIDER-MANS shall rise!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

Is Ultimate Peter Parker really returning? Or is it a clone? Or someone else completely? Curious.

 

ALL-NEW ULTIMATES #8
MICHEL FIFFE (W) • GIANNIS MILONOGIANNIS (A)
• The ALL-NEW ULTIMATES face off with super-powered mercenary crew the FEMME FATALES!
• Is this the end of CLOAK & DAGGER as a couple and a crime fighting duo?
• The team’s ultimate nemesis makes his first deadly play and Miles & Co. won’t be the same when it hits!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

A female dominated team fighting a female group of villains? Seems a little close to Brian Wood’s X-MEN but I do like the concept. Are Cloak and Dagger dating? I had not picked up on that.

 

LEGENDARY STAR-LORD #3
SAM HUMPHRIES (W) • PACO MEDINA (A/C)
• The Badoon have captured the Star-Lord!
• Sharing a jail cell with a Spartax criminal and a Badoon child aren’t exactly Peter’s idea of a good time…
• Luckily, Peter’s got an ace up his sleeve—an ace named Kitty Pryde!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

 

See? This is how you write a solict that has a guest appearance by Kitty Pryde! You put her on the cover and you put it in the solict. Which is nice as the way I type these, I have to delete the image as soon as it comes up in my Word document. Secret style!

 

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #19
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • ED MCGUINNESS (A/C)
AN ORIGINAL SIN TIE-IN!
• Last we checked, Star-Lord, Thanos, and Nova were trapped in the Cancerverse…
• But Star-Lord and Thanos seem to be running around just fine.
• So what exactly happened to Richard Rider?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

 

I have decided to give up on Kitty ever showing up in this title again now that Star Lord has his own ongoing. Though how awesome would it be if she was in both?

 

ROCKET RACCOON #3
SKOTTIE YOUNG (W/A/C)
• Everyone’s favorite pistol-packin’ procyon* finally finds himself face-to-face with the intergalactic imposter.
• It’s macho ado about everything as Macho Gomez guest-stars and the Ex-Terminators are hot on Rocket’s tail!
*Procyon is the scientific term for raccoon, obviously.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

 

Another fun solict!

 

 

 

FANTASTIC FOUR #10
JAMES ROBINSON (W) • MARC LAMING (A)
THE FALL OF REED RICHARDS!!!
• A savage and strategic attack on REED RICHARDS!
• Can WYATT WINGFOOT save a self-destructive JOHNNY STORM?
• SUE RICHARDS goes to Latveria to reclaim her daughter…and she’ll take on DR. DOOM if she has to (continuing straight into this month’s FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL)!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

 

FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1
JAMES ROBINSON (W) • TOM GRUMMETT (A)
• SUE RICHARDS goes to Latveria to confront DR. DOOM for the safety and welfare of her daughter VALERIA.
• See the majesty of Dr. Doom’s sovereign country blown apart as he and the Invisible Woman turn Latveria into a battlefield in one of the most savage battles in FF history!
• And when it’s over and the smoke has cleared whose side will Valeria be on?
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

 

I like the idea of the annual coming out of the ongoing proper and using the extra pages to tell an epic story. Sue v Doom, now that is awesome!

 

DAREDEVIL #8
MARK WAID (W) • CHRIS SAMNEE (A/C)
• Matt Murdock takes on his first big case in his new hometown–and the opposition is killer!
• Daredevil is faced with a menace he has no idea how to fight–the Purple Children!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

I wonder where Murdock is calling home, these days? Also, how he is going to explain him living there and how Daredevil shows up too? As a simple Google search in the Marvel Universe must have Matt Murdock and Daredevil rumors and press coverage all over the Internet.

 

NEW WARRIORS #9 & 10
CHRISTOPHER YOST (W) • MARCUS TO (A)
Issue #9 – SPECIAL ISSUE!
• It’s the anti-buddy movie as odd couple JUSTICE and SCARLET SPIDER hit the road together, heading for HOUSTON, TEXAS.
• Scarlet Spider never wanted to be on a team, with… people. And this issue, he shocks no one by QUITTING!
•Can Justice convince him to stay? No! Can they dude-bond by fighting a hundred foot tall guy in a bear suit? Probably not!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Issue #10 – “ALWAYS AND FOREVER” PART 1 (of 3)
• The New Warriors take the fight to the High Evolutionary! For the fate of all things not human, the war is on!
• But wait! Who is behind the High Evolutionary’s plans? Can anyone trust the Evolutionaries?
• The biggest arc in the All-New New Warriors begins here, and not everyone will survive it.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

Whoever is writing these needs to get their name out there! I heard once that it is the writer of the comic that does it, which may be true from time to time. Issue nine sounds like a bunch of fun.

 

FIGMENT #4 (OF 5)
JIM ZUB (W) • FILIPE ANDRADE (A)
REVEALING THE ORIGINS OF ONE OF DISNEY’S MOST IMAGINATIVE CHARACTERS!
• An all-new steampunk fantasy story exploring the never-before-revealed first adventure of the inventor known as Dreamfinder and his famous dragon Figment!
• Clockwork Control invades London while Blair and Figment are trapped within the Nightmare Nation! Our intrepid explorers must find the power to escape or be lost inside their deepest fears forever!
• Acclaimed creators Jim Zub (Skullkickers) and Filipe Andrade (CAPTAIN MARVEL) give a Marvel spin to the mind-expanding attraction Journey Into Imagination!
32 PGS./All Ages …$3.99
Elements based on Figment © Disney

 

When will this title finally come to an end!?! One more issue, I suppose.

 

UNCANNY X-MEN #26
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • CHRIS BACHALO (A/C)
• Scott Summers has swiftly become one of the world’s most wanted men.
• With one simple act, he destroyed the life he knew and must now remain constantly vigilant in case of attack.
• But is the greatest threat to his safety lurking within the dark recesses of his own mind?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

Buying this for sure!

 

ALL-NEW X-MEN #32
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • MAHMUD ASRAR (A)
• Dimension-hopping is something of an X-Men rite of passage and it’s about time the All-New X-Men took the plunge!
• I guess you don’t always have to travel Miles away to visit a new place…
• But will the web they find themselves tangled in Ultimately bring about their end?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

 

Really excited to see how this plays out with Kitty meeting Miles, he has to tell her about the ultimate version of herself and her relationship with that world’s Peter Parker. Which, of course, he would have to tell her Spider-Man’s real name. So disappointed that Proper Peter Parker didn’t immediately seek out Kitty once he came back to his universe but he had a lot going on shortly after that with dying and all.

 

 

SAVAGE WOLVERINE #23
DAVID MORRELL (W) • JONATHAN MARKS (A)
• Wolverine versus the Wild West!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

 

ooof, this title’s go to story idea is to just show Logan in the past. Give me some present day stories to at least tempt me buy.

 

 

X-MEN #19
MARC GUGGENHEIM (W) • HARVEY TOLIBAO (A)
• With S.W.O.R.D.’s orbital headquarters, the Peak, literally hanging in the balance, the X-Men race into deep space to find the source of the new threat that’s emerged from the abyss.
• But little do they suspect that lurking in the shadows of the Acanti Skunkworks, a conspiracy is waiting to entangle them…
• And what’s worse is that it’s a conspiracy that has connections to the deaths of Rachel Grey’s family!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

How cool would it be, when the X-Men showed up at SWORD, that Lockheed would be in the background or something like that.

 

ORIGINAL SIN COMPANION HC
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN, GERRY DUGGAN, BRIAN POSEHN, AL EWING, JAMES ROBINSON, MARK WAID, KIERON GILLEN, JASON AARON, DAN SLOTT, BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS & ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by LEINIL FRANCIS YU, JOHN LUCAS, GREG LAND, MARC LAMING, STEVE PUGH, DAVID BALDEON, PACO MEDINA, MARK BAGLEY, LUKE ROSS, SIMONE BIANCHI, LEE GARBETT, LEONARD KIRK, JAVIER RODRIGUEZ, HUMBERTO RAMOS, KRIS ANKA, CHRIS BACHALO, FRANK CHO & JAVIER PULIDO
Cover by The shockwaves from the release of the Watcher’s secrets are felt across the Marvel Universe! The Avengers face their future as the Invaders struggle with their past! Deadpool has a daughter! Luke Cage investigates the Mighty Avengers from 1972! Learn truths about Nova’s father and Daredevil’s mother! How is Iron Man connected to the Hulk’s origin? How is Angela connected to Thor and Loki? Can the Thing handle the truth about the Human Torch? Can Spider-Man cope with Silk? And could Professor X’s will destroy the X-Men? Collecting AVENGERS (2012) #29-34, DEADPOOL (2012) #29-34, MIGHTY AVENGERS (2013) #10-12, ALL-NEW INVADERS #6-7, NOVA (2013) #18-20, ORIGINAL SIN #3.1-3.4 and #5.1-5.5, FANTASTIC FOUR (2014) #6-8, DAREDEVIL (2014) #6-7, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2014) #4-5, UNCANNY X-MEN (2013) #23-25, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY ANNUAL (2014) #1, and material from POINT ONE #1.
856 PGS./Parental Advisory …$125
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9212-1

I do wonder if they purposely make these modern crossovers with so many tie ins just for these extremely expensive trades? $125 seems way way to much!

 

DEADPOOL & CABLE OMNIBUS HC
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA, REILLY BROWN & DAN SLOTT
Penciled by MARK BROOKS, PATRICK ZIRCHER, LAN MEDINA, REILLY BROWN, RON LIM, STAZ JOHNSON & NELSON DECASTRO
Cover by MARK BROOKS
Wade Wilson is Deadpool, the mentally disturbed Merc with a Mouth and a healing factor that just won’t quit! Nathan Summers is Cable, the messianic mutant from the future who plans to save us all — whether we want him to or not! And now, this disparate duo has just become Marvel’s oddest couple — because they’re stuck with one another! Can two grown men armed to the teeth with high-tech weaponry coexist without driving each other crazy?! It’s action, adventure, time travel, dimension-hopping, black humor, black ops, Bea Arthur, chimichangas — yes, that whole thing started here — and lots of gunfire as two of Marvel’s fan-favorite antiheroes take on each other and everyone else! Guest-starring the X-Men, Spider-Man, Captain America, the Fantastic Four…and the Great Lakes Avengers! Collecting CABLE & DEADPOOL #1-50 and DEADPOOL/GLI SUMMER FUN SPECTACULAR.
1272 PGS./Rated T+ …$125
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9276-3
Trim size: oversized

 

Such a fun series but at $125, who is going to buy this? At least at DCBS’s In-Stock Trades sister site, it is half off on initial release.

 

X-MEN: INFERNO PROLOGUE HC
Written by LOUISE SIMONSON, CHRIS CLAREMONT, TOM DEFALCO & MARK GRUENWALD
Penciled by WALTER SIMONSON, STEVE LIGHTLE, TERRY SHOEMAKER, RICK LEONARDI, MARC SILVESTRI, ARTHUR ADAMS, JON J MUTH, BO HAMPTON, BRET BLEVINS & JUNE BRIGMAN
Cover by MARC SILVESTRI
The X-Men are dead! At least that’s what the world thinks — but Marvel’s mightiest mutants are secretly alive and well in the Australian Outback! How long will the X-Men’s self-imposed exile last when the Brood and the mutant-exploiting nation of Genosha come calling? Meanwhile, the New Mutants battle Freedom Force as they deal with Doug Ramsey’s shocking death, and X-Factor befriends Apocalypse’s Celestial ship and faces Infectia! But as all three teams fight the Evolutionary War, Limbo’s demons begin to pursue a sinister agenda — on Earth! A spark has been lit — and if the X-Men aren’t careful, the flames will fan into an all-out inferno! Collecting X-FACTOR (1986) #27-32 and ANNUAL #3, UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) #228-238, NEW MUTANTS (1983) #62-70 and ANNUAL #4, X-MEN ANNUAL (1970) #12, and material from MARVEL AGE ANNUAL #4 and MARVEL FANFARE (1982) #40.
824 PGS./Rated T …$125
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9273-2
Trim size: oversized

 

I didn’t realize Inferno had a Prologue. I suppose the title of “The Time Right Before Inferno” wouldn’t have worked. We lost Doug just recently in New Mutants and soon, Illyana. It was a tough few years there at Marvel.

 

ALL-NEW DOOP TPB
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Penciled by DAVID LAFUENTE
Cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
Living in the margins, Doop has freaked out X-Men and readers alike. But when he gets deeply involved in X-Men business — and Kitty Pryde’s personal life! — Doop will be thrust into the spotlight! Behind the scenes of BATTLE FOR THE ATOM, Doop’s unrequited love for Kitty forces him to drag Iceman into Doopspace for some highly unusual questioning. Doop soon discovers the shapeshifting Raze isn’t really Kitty Pryde from the future — but Raze has a dark secret that just might stop Doop from telling the other X-Men his true identity! Now, Doop must struggle to halt the craziness corrupting the real world! As Kitty and Doop find themselves in the middle of the scariest moment of their lives with no one to turn to, will Kitty finally accept Doop’s proposal of…marriage? Collecting ALL-NEW DOOP #1-5.
112 PGS./Rated T+ …$16.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9042-4

 

I would recommend buying it. If you haven’t bought the individual issues – 5 issues at four dollars a piece, you are saving money waiting for the trade. 20 > 17

 

MARVELS COMPANION TPB
Written by MIKE BARON, MARIANO NICIEZA, DAN ABNETT, ANDY LANNING, CHUCK DIXON & WARREN ELLIS
Penciled by SHAWN MARTINBROUGH, BOB WAKELIN, IGOR KORDEY, BRAD PARKER, TRISTAN SHANE, VINCE EVANS, CLIFF NIELSSEN, TERESA NIELSSEN & MORE
Cover by CLIFF NIELSSEN & TERESA NIELSSEN
Delve deeper into the universe of Marvels as six fully painted masterpieces reveal the ordinary lives in the shadow of the extraordinary. What happens to innocents caught in the crossfire of a blockbuster Silver Surfer battle? Can a fish out of water, the amnesiac Sub-Mariner, conquer his inner demons among Manhattan’s homeless? Experience the wonder of Wonder Man through the eyes of his greatest fan, learn how one of New York’s Finest protects and serves in a city of miracles, and join a Daily Bugle reporter as he uncovers the conspiracy at the heart of…everything! And on another Earth, see how the Age of Marvels could so easily have gone wrong! Collecting TALES OF THE MARVELS: BLOCKBUSTER, TALES OF THE MARVELS: INNER DEMONS, TALES OF THE MARVELS: WONDER YEARS #1-2, CODE OF HONOR #1-4, CONSPIRACY #1-2 and RUINS #1-2.
512 PGS./Rated T+ …$39.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9059-2

 

I would say buy this just for Ruins 1 & 2, but they released a combine comic not that many years ago, so that is probably more affordable. I liked Code of Honor back in the day as well. Not as good as Marvels but that is a pretty high bar to try to reach for. I have not heard of these other storylines. I don’t see Kurt Buisk’s name on any of this, so be cautious!

 

NEW MUTANTS/X-FORCE: DEMON BEAR TPB
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT, JOHN FRANCIS MOORE, CRAIG KYLE & CHRIS YOST
Penciled by BILL SIENKIEWICZ, JIM CHEUNG & MIKE CHOI
Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
The visionary talents of legendary illustrator Bill Sienkiewicz bring the Demon Bear that has haunted Danielle Moonstar’s dreams to horrifying life! It took her parents, and now it has returned for Dani — and only the combined efforts of her fellow New Mutants can stop it from finishing the job! Sink your teeth into a true classic! Then, Dani’s nightmare returns years later as San Francisco — and her new team, X-Force — come under attack from a similarly unholy ursine! And when the Apache mutant Warpath faces his own Demon Bear, he must forge an unlikely alliance with Ghost Rider — and embrace his birthright — to discover the truth. It’s a trilogy of terror, featuring a threat far scarier than the average bear! Collecting NEW MUTANTS (1983) #18-20, X-FORCE (1991) #99 and material from X-FORCE (2008) #7-10.
144 PGS./Parental Advisory …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9001-1

 

I do like how this collects all things Demon Bear, that is a pretty cool trade. If you haven’t read it, $25 seems quite reasonable! Such an amazing arc!

 

 

MARVEL ZOMBIES: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 3 TPB
Written by KARL KESEL, FRED VAN LENTE, FRANK MARRAFFINO & PETER DAVID
Penciled by TODD NAUCK, ADAM DEKRAKER, ROBERTO DISALVO, KANO, FERNANDO BLANCO, MIRCO PIERFEDERICI, AL BARRIONUEVO, ALESSANDRO VITTI & MORE
Cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
Zombies on infinite earths! First, it’s monkey on the menu as the original Marvel Zombies invade the dimension of the Marvel Apes! Then, to uncover an antidote to the zombie plague, Machine Man and Howard the Duck set out across the multiverse — battling zombies in the Wild West, Camelot, a future megacity, during a Martian invasion, and on a world suspiciously similar to our own! But back home, undead clones of the Squadron Supreme have overrun Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., and only a long-dead former Avenger can stop them! And when the Marvel Universe is targeted by a dimension of Nazi zombies, Howard the Duck must assemble a brigade of misfits to beat them back! Collecting MARVEL APES: PRIME EIGHT #1, MARVEL ZOMBIES: EVIL EVOLUTION #1, MARVEL ZOMBIES 5 #1-5, MARVEL ZOMBIES SUPREME #1-5, MARVEL ZOMBIES DESTROY #1-5 and MARVEL ZOMBIES HALLOWEEN #1.
464 PGS./Parental Advisory …$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-8899-5

 

This may be the only way I read that Marvel Zombies Halloween story as I can’t find a copy to buy anywhere! Though I would never buy this trade – to be fair.

 

. . .

So September is going to be a pretty light month for me!

All New Ultimates 8 $4
Legendary Star Lord 3 $4
Uncanny X-Men 26 $4
All New X-Men 32 $4

$16.00 which with shipping and everything, shouldn’t be too bad – over at DCBS.

Not even really that tempted by anything this time.

I’m tempted to just do monthly shipping already as one comic a week, seems silly to me.

. . .

UPDATE July 9, 2014 –

So I placed my order, and this is what I have :

I had to e-mail DCBS to add Death of Wolverine 3 to my order for the previous month.  I must have missed it on their ordering form.  Dang it!

So with weekly shipping and with the four titles above (all for $2.39 each!) my grand total is $29.94!  I need more four comics only months!

Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 20

Posted by John Klein III on June 17, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

301410_20140416190623_large

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils Chris Bachalo

Inks Tim Townsend, Wayne Faucher, Jon Holdredge, Jaime Mendoza, Victor Olazaba & Al Vey

Colors Chris Bachalo

Great cover!  Magik should be on every cover.

Maria Hill is still trying to get Cyclops’ whereabouts from Hijack.  Hijack has a frame Howard the Duck cover on his wall.  What is that about?

One of Hill’s agents tells her that they have a positive Cyclops sighting in Chicago.  Also that he and his X-Men are having to fight another batch of Sentinels.  Which surprises Hill.

The SHIELD Hellicarrier is over Akron, Ohio.  Which I know Bendis either is from Cleveland or lived there, so that probably explains the location.

I like the use of black and white coloring to show that Cyclops and the Cuckoos are in Maria Hill’s mind.

Cyclops confronts Hill about the Sentinels.  The Cuckoos confirm that Hill believes SHIELD has nothing to do with them.  They also reveal that Hill is attracted to Cyclops.  I could be cool with this pairing.  Scott deserves to date a non-telepath.

While the five of them were having this psychic conversation, the other agents on-board were unconscious.

Madipoor.  Blob is trying to get some more of the mutant growth hormone drug, that he is clearly addicted to.  He discovers that Dazzler is the source.  Without the drug, he won’t have his powers.

Mystique is disappointed in Blob.  Clearly he was going to steal the drugs.  She tells him that she would have given him more.

Mystique as Dazzler, looking good too, is on the Hellicarrier.  She updates Hill that Magneto was just at Madipoor.  Hill approves Dazzique’s plan to follow the Magneto trail.

We see that the NotMysterio person has a live video feed from the Hellicarrier as he continues to work on Sentinels.

Hijack leaves his house, he finally put on some pants.  SHIELD has a man tracking him.

Uncanny X-Men V3 20 Magik 1

Cyclops is having a team meeting, all members are present.  Fabio is out of his hero uniform – not sure if that was a one time appearance.

Cyclops is wondering how they are being tracked.  He figures it has to be through Cerebro.  They all list the suspects – Magneto, Xavier, Stark and Richards.

Emma and Magik, at the same time, name Hank McCoy.

Tempus offers that they should turn off Cerebro.  Cyclops tells her that is a good idea.

Cyclops and Magik teleport to the Jean Grey School.  Emma is surprised she wasn’t included.

Emma tells the team that is no longer a revolution, they are at war.

Uncanny X-Men V3 20 Magik JGS

At the School.  Storm comes immediately to tell the two to leave.  Iceman, Rachel and Beast come out to repeat the sentiment.

Storm makes a rare witty comment, that Cyclops has his own Beast to talk to.

Cyclops confronts Beast.  Beast doesn’t want to prove his innocence.  He hates Cyclops so much.

Cyclops stops talking, as he gets a massive migraine.

Uncanny X-Men V3 20 Magik Final Page

On the final page, it looks like Cyclops full on optic blasts Beast on a major scale.

Issue ends with SHIELD knowing that Cyclops is at the Jean Grey School.

 

Mile High Comics Sweetheart Sale

Posted by John Klein III on June 16, 2014
Posted in: Purchases, Websites. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

http://www.milehighcomics.com

My wife gave me permission to buy $75 worth of back issues for Father’s Day!

Mile High Comics is still doing their awesome 50% Sweetheart sale so this is what I like to do.

I like to go up to my budget, then enter the discount word and then keep going from there!

So I made sure the first comic I added was Captain America 193 as Walker Dennis has that cover as a poster and we thought it would be cute to have the issue itself.  Plus, Jack Kirby written and drawn Captain America for $9.98 – that’s a deal!

Then I went to comicbookdb.com and did a cover gallery of my Wishlist, going with the upper left corner and the bottom right corner and added those.  As my brain likes that idea.

So that brought my total to $80.10

Marvel AVENGERS (2012) #24 ALLRED NearMint  @ $7.50 = $ 7.50
Marvel CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #193 VeryGood  @ $9.35 = $ 9.35
Marvel CAPTAIN MARVEL (1999) #6 VeryFine  @ $2.50 = $ 2.50
Marvel CLASSIC X-MEN (1986) #63 VeryFine  @ $3.60 = $ 3.60
Marvel CLASSIC X-MEN (1986) #64 Fine  @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel DOCTOR STRANGE (1988) #2 NEWSSTAND Fine  @ $5.80 = $ 5.80
Marvel DOCTOR VOODOO: AVENGER OF THE SUPERNATURAL (2009) #4 NearMint  @ $3.00 = $ 3.00
Marvel JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY (2011) (#622-UP) #637 NearMint  @ $4.20 = $ 4.20
Marvel LOCKJAW & PET AVENGERS (2009) #1 2ND PRINT Fine  @ $4.35 = $ 4.35
Marvel MARVEL: THE YEAR IN REVIEW #5 1993 Fine  @ $2.60 = $ 2.60
Marvel MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #4 Fine  @ $9.00 = $ 9.00
Marvel NEW MUTANTS (2009) #47 NearMint  @ $4.80 = $ 4.80
Marvel NEW MUTANTS (2009) #50 NearMint  @ $3.00 = $ 6.00
Marvel SECRET WARS II (1985) #3 Fine  @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel ULTIMATE FALLOUT (2011) #1 Good  @ $1.25 = $ 1.25
Marvel ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #90 VeryGood  @ $1.60 = $ 1.60
Marvel WHAT THE..?! (1988) #1 Fine  @ $2.30 = $ 2.30
Marvel WHAT THE..?! (1988) #2 Fine  @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel X-MEN: EVOLUTION (2001) #7 Fine  @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel X-MEN: EVOLUTION (2001) #8 Fine  @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel X-MEN: SECOND COMING – PREPARE (2010) #1 FREE Good  @ $1.25 = $ 1.25
Marvel YOUNG X-MEN (2008) #5 Fair  @ $1.00 = $ 1.00
Subtotal $ 80.10

$45.80!

So then I grabbed my priority list and started working on that!

I wish there was a way on that site to just keep the code word activated like how LoneStar Comics does it but that’s okay.  Its just a bit of work to keep doing it this way.

So that brought up my total $110.50 to $62.00 so I kept adding comics!

Marvel AVENGERS (2012) #24 ALLRED NearMint 1 @ $7.50 = $ 7.50
Marvel AVENGERS VS. X-MEN PROGRAM (MARVEL GIVEAWAY) (2012) #1 NearMint 1 @ $3.00 = $ 3.00
Marvel CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #193 VeryGood 1 @ $9.35 = $ 9.35
Marvel CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 ANNUAL (2009) #1 Fine 1 @ $2.30 = $ 2.30
Marvel CAPTAIN MARVEL (1999) #6 VeryFine 1 @ $2.50 = $ 2.50
Marvel CLASSIC X-MEN (1986) #49 Good 1 @ $1.25 = $ 1.25
Marvel CLASSIC X-MEN (1986) #63 VeryFine 1 @ $3.60 = $ 3.60
Marvel CLASSIC X-MEN (1986) #64 Fine 1 @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel DOCTOR STRANGE (1988) #2 NEWSSTAND Fine 1 @ $5.80 = $ 5.80
Marvel DOCTOR VOODOO: AVENGER OF THE SUPERNATURAL (2009) #4 NearMint 1 @ $3.00 = $ 3.00
Marvel HOT SHOTS: X-MEN #1 NearMint 1 @ $5.00 = $ 5.00
Marvel JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY (2011) (#622-UP) #637 NearMint 1 @ $4.20 = $ 4.20
Marvel LOCKJAW & PET AVENGERS (2009) #1 2ND PRINT Fine 1 @ $4.35 = $ 4.35
Marvel MARVEL TAROT (2007) #1 Fair 1 @ $1.00 = $ 1.00
Marvel MARVEL: THE YEAR IN REVIEW #5 1993 Fine 1 @ $2.60 = $ 2.60
Marvel MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #4 Fine 1 @ $9.00 = $ 9.00
Marvel NEW MUTANTS (2009) #47 NearMint 1 @ $4.80 = $ 4.80
Marvel NEW MUTANTS (2009) #50 NearMint 2 @ $3.00 = $ 6.00
Marvel SECRET WARS II (1985) #3 Fine 1 @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel ULTIMATE FALLOUT (2011) #1 Good 1 @ $1.25 = $ 1.25
Marvel ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #90 VeryGood 1 @ $1.60 = $ 1.60
Marvel WHAT THE..?! (1988) #1 Fine 1 @ $2.30 = $ 2.30
Marvel WHAT THE..?! (1988) #2 Fine 1 @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN (2011) #32 NearMint 1 @ $5.20 = $ 5.20
Marvel WOLVERINE SAGA (1989) #1 NEWSSTAND Fair 1 @ $1.00 = $ 1.00
Marvel WOLVERINE SAGA (1989) #2 NEWSSTAND Fair 1 @ $1.00 = $ 1.00
Marvel WOLVERINE SAGA (1989) #3 Good 1 @ $1.25 = $ 1.25
Marvel WOLVERINE SAGA (1989) #4 Fine 1 @ $3.60 = $ 3.60
Marvel X-MEN: EVOLUTION (2001) #7 Fine 1 @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel X-MEN: EVOLUTION (2001) #8 Fine 1 @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel X-MEN: HELLBOUND (2010) #1 VeryGood 1 @ $2.60 = $ 2.60
Marvel X-MEN: REGENESIS (2011) #1 VeryGood 1 @ $3.20 = $ 3.20
Marvel X-MEN: SECOND COMING – PREPARE (2010) #1 FREE Good 1 @ $1.25 = $ 1.25
Marvel YOUNG X-MEN (2008) #5 Fair 1 @ $1.00 = $ 1.00

Then finally I went through my Lockheed / Arcade / Amanda Sefton / Doug Ramsey / Rachel Grey / Magik / Nightcrawler list.

Which took my total to $127.80 with the code word was $70.65 so I then just added some Ultimate X-Men comics.

So after I added like six more of those issues my total was $138.90 with the codeword $76.20

I’ll have to count the comics later but what an awesome deal and a better present!

Marvel AVENGERS (2012) #24 ALLRED NearMint 1 @ $7.50 = $ 7.50
Marvel AVENGERS VS. X-MEN PROGRAM (MARVEL GIVEAWAY) (2012) #1 NearMint 1 @ $3.00 = $ 3.00
Marvel CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #193 VeryGood 1 @ $9.35 = $ 9.35
Marvel CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 ANNUAL (2009) #1 Fine 1 @ $2.30 = $ 2.30
Marvel CAPTAIN MARVEL (1999) #6 VeryFine 1 @ $2.50 = $ 2.50
Marvel CLASSIC X-MEN (1986) #49 Good 1 @ $1.25 = $ 1.25
Marvel CLASSIC X-MEN (1986) #63 VeryFine 1 @ $3.60 = $ 3.60
Marvel CLASSIC X-MEN (1986) #64 Fine 1 @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel CLASSIC X-MEN (1986) #107 Good 1 @ $1.60 = $ 1.60
Marvel DOCTOR STRANGE (1988) #2 NEWSSTAND Fine 1 @ $5.80 = $ 5.80
Marvel DOCTOR VOODOO: AVENGER OF THE SUPERNATURAL (2009) #4 NearMint 1 @ $3.00 = $ 3.00
Marvel HOT SHOTS: X-MEN #1 NearMint 1 @ $5.00 = $ 5.00
Marvel JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY (2011) (#622-UP) #637 NearMint 1 @ $4.20 = $ 4.20
Marvel LOCKJAW & PET AVENGERS (2009) #1 2ND PRINT Fine 1 @ $4.35 = $ 4.35
Marvel MARVEL TAROT (2007) #1 Fair 1 @ $1.00 = $ 1.00
Marvel MARVEL: THE YEAR IN REVIEW #5 1993 Fine 1 @ $2.60 = $ 2.60
Marvel MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #4 Fine 1 @ $9.00 = $ 9.00
Marvel NEW MUTANTS (2009) #47 NearMint 1 @ $4.80 = $ 4.80
Marvel NEW MUTANTS (2009) #50 NearMint 2 @ $3.00 = $ 6.00
Marvel SECRET WARS II (1985) #3 Fine 1 @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel ULTIMATE FALLOUT (2011) #1 Good 1 @ $1.25 = $ 1.25
Marvel ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #29 VeryGood 1 @ $1.60 = $ 1.60
Marvel ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #30 VeryGood 1 @ $1.50 = $ 1.50
Marvel ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #31 VeryGood 1 @ $1.50 = $ 1.50
Marvel ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #32 VeryGood 1 @ $1.50 = $ 1.50
Marvel ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #37 VeryGood 1 @ $1.50 = $ 1.50
Marvel ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #38 VeryGood 1 @ $1.50 = $ 1.50
Marvel ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #39 Fine 1 @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel ULTIMATE X-MEN (2000) #90 VeryGood 1 @ $1.60 = $ 1.60
Marvel VENOM: DARK ORIGIN (2008) #3 Fine 1 @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel WHAT THE..?! (1988) #1 Fine 1 @ $2.30 = $ 2.30
Marvel WHAT THE..?! (1988) #2 Fine 1 @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN (2011) #32 NearMint 1 @ $5.20 = $ 5.20
Marvel WOLVERINE SAGA (1989) #1 NEWSSTAND Fair 1 @ $1.00 = $ 1.00
Marvel WOLVERINE SAGA (1989) #2 NEWSSTAND Fair 1 @ $1.00 = $ 1.00
Marvel WOLVERINE SAGA (1989) #3 Good 1 @ $1.25 = $ 1.25
Marvel WOLVERINE SAGA (1989) #4 Fine 1 @ $3.60 = $ 3.60
Marvel X-CLUB (2011) #5 Fine 1 @ $2.70 = $ 2.70
Marvel X-MEN (1991) #269 NearMint 1 @ $3.00 = $ 3.00
Marvel X-MEN (2010) #32 Fine 1 @ $3.60 = $ 3.60
Marvel X-MEN: EVOLUTION (2001) #7 Fine 1 @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel X-MEN: EVOLUTION (2001) #8 Fine 1 @ $2.00 = $ 2.00
Marvel X-MEN: HELLBOUND (2010) #1 VeryGood 1 @ $2.60 = $ 2.60
Marvel X-MEN: REGENESIS (2011) #1 VeryGood 1 @ $3.20 = $ 3.20
Marvel X-MEN: RETURN OF MAGIK (2008) #1 VeryFine 1 @ $4.40 = $ 4.40
Marvel X-MEN: SECOND COMING – PREPARE (2010) #1 FREE Good 1 @ $1.25 = $ 1.25
Marvel YOUNG X-MEN (2008) #5 Fair 1 @ $1.00 = $ 1.00

Total amount of comics – 47!

I even got some variant covers, which is pretty awesome!

2 Variants
1 Marvel 25 Cover
9 Variant Covers
Several Lockheed comics!  Now I am only missing three of his appearances!
4 Reprint Titles
2 Free Comics
7 Recap Titles
2 Adaption Comics
Several Magik appearances!
I now have all of the Arcade appearances that Kitty shows up in as well – quite the subcategory!
I now also have all of Ogun’s appearances!

I am really looking forward to these comics!  Should put quite the dent into my Wishlist!  I’ll do a post with the before and after numbers and such after I get the comics.

I’m not sure if this is how everybody uses the website but it is how I do it.

I can’t wait for these comics and getting to review them for this blog.

The nice thing about this present is that I now freed up some head space with no longer desiring back issues.  Now I can just be all types of casual and add to my Wishlist.  There was something about hitting 300 comics on that list that was driving me a bit insane and distracting me to the point of distraction!

UPDATE June 18, 2014 –

So I was finally able to go through my wishlist and was able to see what is left off of my priority list –

Lockheed is down to three appearances – Avengers vs. Pet Avengers 3 & 4 and Wolverine and the X-Men 3.

I am completely done with the issues that Arcade and Amanda Sefton appear in.

Doug Ramsey, I’m down to three appearances – X-Men Volume Two variants for issues 7 and 1 and New Mutants 32.

Rachel Grey, is seven.  I’m not pushing that hard on Rachel at the moment.

Magik is down to seven appearances.

Nightcrawler is at 21 but I wasn’t even looking for him as he was on the back page and I didn’t realize I had printed this duplex style so that was on me.

I keep thinking about how I actually had a budget of $78 and I could have added at least three or four more one dollar comics.  That’s okay though.

Uncanny X-Men 130

Posted by John Klein III on June 15, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men 130

Writer Chris Claremont

Penciler / co-plotter John Byrne

Inker Terry Austin

Letterer Tom Orzechowski

Colorist Glynis Wein

Cover Dated February 1980

What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than with the first appearance of Dazzler!  My first official Father’s Day.  Carmen Pryde appears in this issue as part of Kitty’s flashback / origin rcap.  When s character only has 15 appearances, they all count.

The issue opens with Scott, Phoenix and Kurt parking Xavier’s Rolls Royce outside of what appears to be an abandoned building.  They are tracking the second mutant Cerebro detected.  I wonder what would have happened if the two teams were switched?  I keep coming up with various What If? scenarios for these early issues.  Enough for an ongoing X-Men specific What If? title.  Now that Uatu is dead, I’m not sure who would host that series.

As the X-Men get out of their car, the Hellfire Club is watching them.  We see that they have dossiers on these three X-Men.

Scott tells Kurt that he has to stay behind, due to society not being ready for someone as awesome as Nightcrawler.

As Jean and Scott go inside the building, Jean asks Scott about why he is on edge.  He isn’t thrilled with Xavier being back and immediately taking over the position of leadership.  Scott was finally getting the team together and listening to him.  Xavier shows up, starts treating the team of adults like they are new teenagers.

They get to what is clearly a fancy disco set up inside of an abandon building.  Scott has a mini-Cerebro on his watch, tuned to the new mutant’s signature.  Scott tells Phoenix to scan the room.  Which is easier said than done.  She has to hear all the thoughts of the room, most of them are vile.  There is something inside of her that likes it.

Meanwhile, in the Hellfire Club, Sebastian Shaw and Jason Wyngarde are talking.  Wyngarde doesn’t have much faith in Shaw’s ability to capture and then keep the X-Men as prisoners.  He’ll believe it when he sees it.  Shaw turns the conversation to Wyngarde being able to keep Phoenix under control.  Wyngarde claims that it is already being done, to which Shaw gets to repeat, that he will believe it when he sees it.  The Hellfire Club, all about competition.

Jason leaves the room as Shaw calls Emma Frost, the White Queen.

Uncanny X-Men 130 Kitty 0

Emma informs that she has been mostly successful on her mission.  Only Kitty Pryde escapes, and Emma’s Plan B is pretty awesome.  She’s just going to convince Kitty’s parents to enroll their daughter into her school and then she wins.

Uncanny X-Men 130 Kitty 2

Speaking of which, Kitty Pryde phases even closer to where the captured X-Men are.  They are hanging in man sized bird cages.  I like how the X-Men look without their costumes.  Colossus is wearing a giant pair of white underwear.  Wolverine is hunched over, but he is so hairy!  Storm appears to still be in her outfit, just minus the accessories.  I suppose she doesn’t wear anything under her uniform.

Uncanny X-Men 130 Kitty 1

Kitty replays the day’s events (last issue).  We see her parents in a panel, so that’s how we got this review.  Carmen Pryde, just standing around.

Kitty gets close to Storm, who is groggy from the inhibitor field – which is why the X-Men are not breaking out.  Storm’s surprised to see Kitty is too loud so Kitty has to snap at her, which is awesome that even this Kitty doesn’t take no gruff from no one.  She had a plan and wants to see it through.

Storm tears off a label from her suit which has the telephone number of the X-Men.  Which is odd, does Xavier sew those into every outfit?  How often does it come in use?  Grant it, the one time they needed it, it is already there, so that’s nice.

One guard notices Kitty is standing there by the cages.  Emma tells her men to grab Kitty.  Kitty takes off and leads down a hallway with a dead end and phases through the ground.  The guards are confused and Emma still doesn’t know what Kitty’s powers are.  Just that she is crafty.

Back at the disco.  Jean is making a second walk around.  So far, the night as been a bust besides the few guys who have hit on her.  Next, Jason Wyngarde grabs her hand, after introducing himself.  Then she finds herself in the past again.  She is getting married to Jason.  Once she says, I do, he swirls her around revealing the first Black Queen outfit we’ll get to see.  Phoenix looks good in it, but it is quite a shock!  Since they are married, they kiss.

As they kiss, Phoenix’s vision comes back and is both shock and embarrass to see Scott’s face.  He plays it cool, they are only dating and it is still the late 70s, so she’s her own woman.  He just has to hope that he can win her back.

Then comic book history is made!  Some dude announces the main attraction – Dazzler!  She starts singing.  Scott thinks to himself how he doesn’t know anything about disco music but he likes what he hears.  Being an X-Man, one doesn’t have time to keep up with trends.

Outside, not enjoying the show.  Kurt is getting bored, then a phone call happens.  Kitty quickly blurts out everything she can as fast as she can to Kurt.  She hangs up and Kurt is left with a slew of unanswered questions.  Such as, where was she calling from?  Besides her name, who is that gal?  Can you please repeat that?

Just then, a Mandroid rips off the door to the car and Kurt teleports to higher ground.  The Mandroid blasts a sonic cannon at Kurt.  Kurt notes how this is exactly like a Danger Room session.  Which makes sense as that’s where the Hellfire Club has their hidden cameras.

Kurt is off balance and can’t teleport or fight.  He tries to scurry away.

Back inside.  Phoenix wants to talk to Scott, but he’s all about the mission and he wants to talk to her in private.  Just then, two more Mandroids come barging through the walls.

With barely a thought, Phoenix transforms their night out clothes with their superhero uniforms.  Scott is amazed and a little scared with how limitless her powers are.  Maybe not limitless but she sure does use cosmic power to do simple feats.

Phoenix charges at one of the Mandroids and he blasts her with a beam that forces Phoenix to the ground.  Scott also notes that this is straight out of a Danger Room session.  What he doesn’t expect next, is to have red paste thrown into his face.  Now his powers don’t work!

Dazzler tries her powers for the first time in an offensive way and knocks out one of the Mandroids.  Phoenix takes advantage of the distraction and clears the paste from Cyclops’ visor.  Cyclops then shoots both Mandroids, knocking them both out.

Before high fives can be slapped out, Kurt and his Mandroid come crashing from the ceiling.  Phoenix takes care of this one.

The X-Men regroup now that the threat has passed.  Kurt gets this awesome line, when asked how he is doing from Scott, he tells him – black and blue all over, but I’m that way anyway.  Even in pain, he is a funny guy!

Cyclops explains to Dazzler that she is a mutant.  She hadn’t really thought about how she got her powers, she just found a practical way to use them.  Which really, is Xavier’s dream.  Not mutant on mutant violence but just finding your own way in the world.

There is a Hostess ad starring Reed Richards in A Passion For Gold..

The X-Men get their car, with Dazzler and begin to drive off.  Phoenix reveals that the Mandroid’s thoughts have been silenced – meaning they are dead like the ones who failed in the Ice Cream Shoppe in Chicago.

As the car drives by, I like how Byrne remembered to draw the car minus the right side door.  Scott sees the dude Phoenix kissed.  Then notices that his shadow is a familiar shape but can’t place it just yet.  Eagle eye readers will recognize the outside as … Mastermind!  But I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have notice that until the next issue reveal.

Not sure when I will review issue 131, maybe not until next Mother’s Day but maybe sooner – who knows?  I don’t own Uncanny X-Men 132, the earliest issue on my Wishlist.  I’m hoping to own it one day.

. . .

So to all the fathers on this day, Happy Father’s Day!  Thank you to my lovely wife, Kristie, who made this day have new meaning for me.  Without you, Walker Dennis Klein, I wouldn’t be as happy as I am.  Thank you.

Ultimate Fantastic Four / Ultimate X-Men Annual 1

Posted by John Klein III on June 14, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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Writers Aron E. Coleite & Joe Pokaski

Artists Brandon Peterson (pages 1 – 5, 28 – 32) & Eric Nguyen (pages 6 – 27)

Colorists John Rauch with Antonio Fabela

Letterer Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne

Cover Dated 2008

Peterson draws the present day scenes.

Really surprised that these two issues didn’t have some sort of clever Days Of … type of title, as I am convinced that the two writers were influenced by Days of Future Past.

When I originally read these issues, I felt like I was confused by the story, but now I can’t tell that was.  Maybe I read this one before the other one?  Or I read them to fast?

Issue opens with Thing piloting a plane Reed invented.  On board is Liz, Wolverine and Future Kitty.

Their destination has Pym Particles, which Sue needs to power their time machine.

The location : The SHIELD Hellicarrier over the North Atlantic.

Future Kitty asks why Liz has been so distant.  She doesn’t know how to address her.  Kitty doesn’t like being referred as Future Kitty, so I will stop that, as Present Kitty doesn’t appear in the issue.

Wolverine smells Hank Pym, himself, and Thing punches the door open.

Ultimate Fantastic Four X-Men Annual 1 Kitty 1

Next scene is at the Baxter Building, as the time machine is operational.  There is no dialogue implying if they had any trouble with Pym.

Sue tells the Future X-Men, that they are not coming.  Which is silly, as they might as well go, and hold them prisoner there as they have to go back eventually.

There is an ad for the DVD Avengers Heroes of Tomorrow, a cartoon about the future children of some Avengers.  I have never been interested in it.  Maybe if it wasn’t the last Avengers animated feature.  No wonder no one watched it, we want animated adaptations like what DC does.  At least, I do.  Or shows like Wolverine and the X-Men.

Ultimate Fantastic Four X-Men Annual 1 Kitty 2

All the present day heroes agree.

Kitty talks about how mutants were being systematically eliminated.  Franklin was hoping to get the heroes of today, to help break out the captive mutants.  Also, to help overthrow a despot.  Thing jokes that is all they had to say from the beginning, that is sort of the Fantastic Four’s thing.

Kitty reveals that Sue is the despot.

Which transitions us to the future.  Sue wants Reed to say something.  He tells her she looks gorgeous – to which we already know that adult Sue is hotter than teenage Sue.  She is lucky like that.

Sue tells Reed that Johnny is dead.  Reed is angry with the older Namor.  I don’t quite know what the deal with Ultimate Namor is.

Ben speaks up from within the armor.  He takes off his face mask, revealing that Reed finally cured him.  It did take a while.  This makes Reed happy.

Sue tells Reed that the X-Men are terrorists.  Sue wants Reed to do what his future self did for Ben, but for all mutants.

The present day heroes come up with a plan.  Human Torch, Thing, Liz, Iceman and Kitty will go free Reed.  Jean, Wolverine, Rogue, the head of the Sentinel that has been helping them, Franklin and Sue will free the mutants.

I guess Future Rogue died when Future Cyclops did from the Sentinel attacks.

The Sentinel head tells the heroes that the Sentinels’ weakness is in their spines.

As these heroes prepare for the prison break, Nihil shows up.  Nihil is the Ultimate Annihilus.

Over at the Baxter Building.  Thing’s voiceprint still opens doors.  Johnny is upset that he is dead in the future.  Thing asks if Liz plays video games, she doesn’t.  Johnny makes fun of Ben’s sad attempts.  Also, he asks if Ben isn’t just transferring his feelings for Johnny onto Liz.

They come across the Future Fantastic Four, minus Sue.  Kitty tells Ben and Liz to confront their future selves, the rest of them will fight Namor.

Sue shows Reed the machine that cured Ben, it is called, the promise.  Reed likes the name.  He doesn’t like Namor being around.  Sue tells him that she misses him every nano-day.

Back in the N-Zone, which of course, is the Ultimate Negative Zone.

Nihil takes off his helmet, revealing Reed – now with beard.  He tells Sue, that once Johnny died, she changed.

Baxter Building.  Future Firestar and Ben have found a secret place, and start making out.  Firestar doesn’t turn off her power to do this.  This surprises their present day versions.

Icrman, Johnny and Kitty see Namor throw adult Iceman into a room.

I like seeing these three together, as they become a bit of a trio in the Spider-Man comic.

There is an ad showing a John Romita Jr. drawn Green Goblin, which would have been an instant sell for me.

They then see Reed zap Iceman with a mobile version of the promise, and Iceman no longer has his powers.  This freaks out young Iceman and reveals where they were hiding.  Sue puts Reed into a force field bubble and gets him out of the room.

Both Grimms shout, It’s Clobbering Time!

Firestar tells Liz that she really likes Ben.  Liz thinks adult Ben looks as good as George Clooney.

The N-Zone.  Sue notices Reed doesn’t have his powers.  He lost them the same day that Captain America, Cyclops, Jean and Thing did.

Reed reveals to Sue that Franklin is their son.  Reed also tells her that a thing called, Ultimatum, is coming and they will be tested.

There is an ad for Ultimate Origins, which I only own the fifth issue of.  This is where the reveal that the American government created mutants.

An army of Wolverine Sentinels start running out of the prison.  The heroes begin to fight.

Soon into the fight, Franklin knocks Jean out and takes her Phoenix powers.  Sue calls him a traitor.  He tells her that he is merely a mommy’s boy.  Just then, a door opens – revealing Namor, Sue and an unconscious Reed.

There is an ad for the Death of the Invisible Woman arc of Fantastic Four by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch.  Don’t worry, it is an alternate Sue.

Future Sue threatens to kill past Reed if past Sue doesn’t stand down.

Wolverine and Rogue find the Master Mold, which is the real Future Wolverine.  Logan can’t believe he looks even younger in the future.  Future Wolverine whispers something and past Wolverine kills him.  Which shuts down all the Sentinels.

Momma Sue orders Franklin to kill them all.  There must be a door in the Baxter Building that leads to the N-Zone as Johnny shows up.  He wants to know if he should be killed, as well.

This distraction is all past Reed needed and he zaps Sue and her son’s powers away.

Future Spider-Man is given his web shooters back from Kitty, who I like with a shield.

Ben tells Thing to just keep hanging in there.

There is an ad for Astonishing X-Men Ghost Boxes, it isn’t very good.  I own the second issue.

The heroes come back to the present.  The two teams say their farewells.

Johnny asks Liz out, and she accepts.  Right in front of Thing, the jerks!

Wolverine and Rogue are going to be okay.

Sue and Reed are kissing and she leaves the room.  Reed shows us (?) that he has an engagement ring as the issue ends.

 

Fun With YouTube : An Ounce of Prevention

Posted by John Klein III on June 13, 2014
Posted in: Fun With YouTube. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

For Post 350, another music video!

From the group – …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead.

Kitty is mention in their song An Ounce of Prevention

Thanks to YouTuber Ekeau Zamd, for hosting the video!

What I like about this video is that Ellen Page is dancing to it!  What serendipity!  Apparently it is from the movie – The Tracey Fragments, a film that I need to see it.

Kitty’s name is heard at the 00:26 mark.

For the record, the film came out in 1998, a full eight years before 2006’s X-Men 3 : The Last Stand.

Once you know the lyrcis, it is easier to hear :

One last thing that you regretted,
Before it fell apart,
Despite your powers you hated being,
A stupid rock star,
Kitty Pryde so sweet and innocent,
You’re all we talk about,
We know you’d rather raise another demon,
Than sooth your own faults.

And I can see your demon burning in me,
Little chief, pull out your teeth and,
When it burns, the words inside,
Ounce of prevention that scars my eyes.
And I can feel the human I had once been,
Screaming for your mercy,
When it burns the words inside,
Ounce of prevention, its scars that make you civilised!

And everything that you didn’t want, came true!

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Dear-Maria-Count-Me-In-lyrics-And-You-Will-Know-Us-by-the-Trail-of-Dead/7919692A5D1A20ED48256C480023152D

Looking at the lyrics, seems more like a song for Illyana than Kitty or a song from Illyana’s perspective about Kitty.  I may be reading into it.

X-Men Volume Three Issue 10

Posted by John Klein III on June 12, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

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Writer Brian Wood

Artists Kris Anka (pages 1 – 15) Clay Mann (pages 16 – 20)

Colorists Jason Keith (pages 1 – 15) Paul Mounts (pages 16 – 20)

Lettering VC’s Joe Caramagna

Ghosts Part One

I haven’t read an issue of this title since issue six, during Battle of the Atom.  Which feels like forever ago.

Kitty is only mentioned in this comic.  Before she is, this happened :

We get a nice recap of the formation of the new Sisterhood of Mutants – which I needed.  That giant one on the cover indicates that this should be super new reader friendly, which I found it to be.

The Sisterhood are – Lady Deathstrike (new body, two minds), Typhoid Mary (Daredevil villain, not sure if she is a mutant), Enchantress (Thor villain, definitely not a mutant) and Arkea (the title’s opening villain and also in a new body).

Last issue, poor M went toe to toe with Enchantress, and lost.  This happened in Dubai.  A guy named, Gabriel Shepherd, helps M to her feet.  I don’t know who he is, but he is a superhero with the ability to send out electromagnetic shockwaves.  Also, he wears a cape and he is friends with Sabra.

In the Blackbird, Psylocke is using the mobile Cerebro that Xavier’s grandson used during Battle of the Atom.  Also on the plane is Storm and Omega Sentinel.

Somewhere, the caption states.  In the desert, I will add.  The Sisterhood find a plane.  They are seeking additional members.

Orbit.  Here we go.  Pixie and Rockslide are in space.  Locating any rocks that have portions of Arkea still on or in them.

Pixie mentions how Kitty had barcoded everything last year.  Pixie makes a joke about Pryde being afraid someone was going to steal her tampons.

X-Men Vol 3 10 Pixie Rockslide Kitty rig

At the Jean Grey School.  Beast is examining John Sublime, the brother to Arkea.  She is the technological bacteria to his biological bacteria.  Also, Rachel and he ended their relationship.

I guess Rachel has stopped wearing her turkey coat.

M and Psylocke jump out of the Blackbird and dive into the water.  They board Lady Deathstrike’s boat.

Over with the Sisterhood, Ankea wants to recruit Madelyne Pryor and Selene.  Which would really make a team that is pretty formidable, into a giant force of trouble.

Clay Mann section.  Sentinels come out of the water.  Bling!, Pixie, Hellion and Jubilee are at the Catalina Island.  Hellion thought they were going to the beach to be at the beach, so he is wearing short shorts.  Pixie likes the look on him.

Omega Sentinel, Quentin Quire, Mercury and Oya are flying in as back up.

Issue ends with Pixie and Bling! about to fight the Sentinels.

I am interested in knowing if Madelyne Pryor has return from the dead and if she has stayed alive.