Shadow and Flame with Magik

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist Andrea Sorrentino

Colorist Marcelo Maiolo

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Black Vortex, Chapter 5

I had to add Faith Erin Hick’s Women of Marvel variant to my Wishlist.

I decided that I will reveal All New X-Men 37, after the Black Vortex crossover issues that I got in my DCBS shipment, which I got the next five chapters coming out in the next few days.

Issue opens with the powered-up Angel confronting X23.

X23 wakes up with Cyclops sitting next to her, just like in All New 20.  X23 is surprised to see Cyclops again, it has been twelve issues of his ongoing (well eleven, I suppose) so almost a year’s worth of publishing so maybe a month or three, Marvel time.  Cyclops is surprised to learn that everyone is mad at him for abandoning the team.  Scott didn’t abandon the team, he went to spend time with his father.

Outside the room – Pryde, Quill, Groot and Rocket (a team I would buy monthly adventures of, especially if you ditched Quill!) – are giving the team some space.

X23 wants to know where Jean is, Bobby states that she is avoiding Scott.  X23 tells Scott to make this right with Jean.  Scott thought the team would be happy that he got to spend some time with his father.  X23 tells him that they can be both happy and mad at him, mappy.

Scott goes to Jean.

Mr. Knife’s Flying Fortress.  Thane doesn’t know why he is still with J-Son, as he doesn’t have the Black Vortex, so he can’t hold his end of the deal with Thane.  Thane’s invisible white head friend, wants Thane to kill J-Son.  Thane leaves to rejoin his flock, J-Son states that this is a huge mistake on Thane’s part.  Not sure who he is telling that too.

The Moon of Spartax.  The Slaughter Lords are happy that they may have killed the mutants and space adventurers.  They don’t have the Black Vortex but they feel like they have a victory under their belt.  If the good guys are not dead, then the Slaughter Lords will just finish them off,  next time.

Scott and Jean.  I know Jean isn’t drawn with freckles all the time but either do it every time or don’t.  Seems like an odd thing to have disappear with every other appearance.  Jean, like an idiot, reads Scott’s mind as he enters the room.

Scott tells Jean that she looks great. Jean is constantly reading people’s minds and hearing their thoughts regarding her.  The thoughts are rarely flattering, most are disgusting.  Jean says that Scott is looking good to her, as well.  Scott’s been missing Earth food, like crazy.

Jean tells him that neither owes the other any explanations, just because they grow up together and get married.  They are about to kiss but Hank stops them, as a plan has formed.

Hala, the Crown Jewel of the Kree empire.  Which is just that description but through the words, we can see the destruction.  Gamora, Beast and Warren have destroyed the city.

Quill and Corsair are stating that they are overpowered and outnumbered.  Drax doesn’t care about such details, he wants to take the fight to someone.  Scott wants to know what they are missing.  Quill summarizes that they need their cosmic-powered trio and to get the Black Vortex back.

We then get the easy way to split the titles and make up the second act of this crossover.  The classic, split up the teams and have them reunite at the end of the act.

Scott wants to take a small team back to the Spartax moon, to try to get the Black Vortex back.  The rest will go get the Cosmic Trio, back under control.  Groot volunteers to be part of Scott’s team, as does Bobby.

Jean says she will join Quill and the others, as she can talk to Beast.

Just then, a distress call happens and it is Ma Savage of Quill’s Orphanage.  Spartax is being attacked.  Quill states that they are gong to go there first, then talk to the trio.

Kitty tells Quill that his team need to go to the trio and Pryde and her team will go save Spartax.

Another distress call and the heroes learn where the Cosmic Trio are.

Pryde’s team is going down to the planet while Scott’s team will be on the moon.  Quill’s team will be leaving these teams.  Pryde needs a pilot so Corsair joins her, which means that Quill and Pryde are not on the same team – so they exchange a look of concern.  Scott and Jean are also not on the same team.

I really like this page and I’ve stared at it for a while.

Pryde’s Team – Corsair / X23 / Hank / Agent Venom

Quill’s Team – Nova / Magik / Captain Marvel / Jean / Rocket / Storm and a dude with a Robin domino mask.

Scott’s Team – Groot / Iceman, which doesn’t seem like the right team to go after the Black Vortex, that is protected by the Slaughter Lords – for as much as they know.

Which, of course, happens, as Scott, Bobby and Groot land and the Slaughter Lords roll over them.

The story continues into Guardians Team-Up 3, in part six.  Cyclops 12 should be part ten, which is the first part of the third arc, so we will most likely get back to this team before his title comes around.