I had to get the German Peralta New Mutants cover.
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Issue opens with a flashback sequence with Dani and the New Mutants – Magik, Warlock, Warpath, two other people, one being a green lady. Dani is fighting / training with Anole.
Dani’s mind then goes to a battle of the Valkyries. One she wasn’t present for. Turns out she is in the mind of Hildr, someone who died at the blade of Dainsleif, the same blade that Kyron stabbed her with last issue.
Kian is doing his best to keep Dani from dying in the present time.
Dainsleif is taking the form of Hildr to try to get some information from Dani’s subconscious. Thankfully, Dani is a telepath, so she can control this memory road. Dani also keeps referring to herself as an empath, and I’m not sure about that, but sure. Maybe that explains her side of her bond with Wolfsbane?
Dani is now fighting Dainsleif / Hildr at Xavier’s Mansion, so we get an awesome sequence of the original New Mutants fighting the threat. I could have easily gone for an entire issue of this setting.
Hildr finally finds what she is looking for, Dani’s parents location. Dani can now access Kyron’s perspective, as he makes his way to her parents’ house. A real shame these two have been secretly safe for decades, and as soon as we remember they exist, they are in danger. Someone should probably be routinely checking in on Havok’s adoptive parents. But then again, someone would have to think of Havok to then think to threaten them.
Kyron is hoping that Dani leaves his mind soon, as no child should see their parents get murdered.
Kian finally gets Dani to wake up, and he uses a teleportation disk to get them to Colorado. We learn his body isn’t built for magic, but he never expected to live long.
Dani’s parents, of course, are not there, and issue ends with poor Dani having to make a cruel choice, stop Kyron, or save her parents.
Though I imagine her parents are with Kyron, so it isn’t like she has to choose two different locations.
Actually, maybe they are, as Kyron’s map has two locations. One of them being a tablet that we saw in Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man : King’s Ransom, a great editor note from Darren Shan. That is one long title.
Variant Artist Tiago Palma Graymatter Lane Kitty cover
Variant Artist Andrei Bressan & Ceci de la Cruz Magik cover
The Past (or a Reasonable Simulacrum). The Home of Maurice Canfield, Super Soldier Test Subject.
Issue opens with, who now know is, Vernon Weaver, but we don’t learn that until page 14. Weaver fighting Captain America. In a splash page that I can only imagine is a homage to Captain America Annual 8, with Logan vs Cap.
In another time, we get Weaver vs Melee. We get a better image that Weaver has the ability to create, instead of classic Wolverine claws, he has forearm length boards?
In yet another time, Weaver vs The Wolverine, she’s the best at what she does.
Then we get Weaver vs Jitter. Who doesn’t appear to be as scared as she was in the previous issue, so maybe Ewing got the note that Calico is more of the scared one of Calitter?
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Back at Graymatter Lane.
I like that Kitty calls him, Beast. This isn’t her friend, this is 70s Beast that she barely knows. Beast isn’t doing a very good job of fixing the time displacement issue. Magneto is also unimpressed, and Emma is very annoyed.
We get Weaver vs everybody in the same time period, so that’s nice.
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Beast has an idea of how to fix this, and needs to boost Axo’s abilities. I like Kitty having to stop Emma from killing Beast, as that should fix things. Kitty finds Axo funny.
Weaver is getting the edge on Cap, but Laura sneaks up on Weaver.
Jitter uses hypnotherapy, and I do like how she has to announce her abilities. She used negotiation earlier, so that’s cool that she has used her powers more than once in a short span of time, she’s getting stronger all of the time.
We finally get the Weaver name drop as we go to a flashback of his origins. Ewing uses this time to explain how racist Georgia was back in the day. . A white man at a store did not care for Weaver’s father wearing his old uniform. Weaver went to get his marble from a friend, and came back to find his father dead, and their house on fire.
The church gave him some clothes, and a ticket, and he ended up in Philadelphia, being taken in by the Canfields. He got along extremely well with Maurice, who was his age abouts. Maurice was becoming very popular in their community, becoming a leader. Then the war happened, and was recruited to Camp Cathcart. Weaver also enlisted to make sure Maurice wasn’t alone.
Them and their squad were experimented on, trying to create super soldiers. Weaver learned that not only is a he a super soldier, he is a mutant, so that’s pretty cool to get a new black super solider mutant into this franchise. Weaver had to kill his way out of the camp, and poor Maurice didn’t make it
Weaver feels like he is past his expiration date, which there are days when I feel that way.
Cap feels horrible about this, and there is no amending what happened to Weaver and everyone else who was abused.
Some time later. We see that Weaver created the Maurice Canfield Freedom School, which is being very well financed. I like that he’s surrounded by a lot of young people, and they have so much money to spend on scholarships. This is a very nice direction this went in.
I like that we see the school is getting deliveries from E-Wing Deliveries. That’s fun. Tiago is doing some fun background work.
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Epilogue
Steve Rogers took Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost out for lunch, which is the least he could do.. Axo didn’t come along as he has an aversion to militarized authority. Cap, I believe, jokes that he won’t take that seriously, but I’m not sure. After that adventure, he should get that.
Cap orders a club sandwich, which I rarely ever get, as I’m not a big fan of turkey. But maybe next time I will? Probably worth trying.
Kitty wasn’t ready to order as she got a text from Nina. So that is nice that Nina is still around. What isn’t nice is that Cap asks if Kitty is having romantic problems, and Kitty says, “uh . . . yeah.” Poor Nina, might be time to move along.
Emma orders the lobster bisque, which I have never had, but sounds delicious. I like paying extra at Red Lobster to get the lobster mash potatoes when we’re in Billings. The only city in Montana that can get daily fish deliveries. Shame it is four hours away, so it is a real commitment to get there.
Emma is getting calls from Lourdes Chantel, so that’s nice that she’s no longer dead like she was at the end of Hellfire Gala 2023.
I got my 12th letter published!
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You know me, I had to ask about Lockheed, and Tom Brevoort, responded that he isn’t entirely sure where Lockheed is at the moment, but he’ll turn up at some point. So, we should be looking out for that, true believer!
A pretty solid issue.
Though, once again, Marigold introduced in the first issue, and two issues later, still haven’t been seen. So she is clearly living up to Lockheed’s legacy. Unfortunately.
Graymalkin Prison. Scurvy dies, as Warden Ellis gives us some more of his back story. He’s only 24 years old, which calls into question how old is she? A doctor, a podcaster, a warden? At least 30?
As soon as Scurvy dies, Prisoner X takes over his body. Prisoner X is Ellis’ brother, Oscar, but he wants to be known as . . . Perimeter. Sure. He has the mutant ability to warp reality, just like Proteus and Jamie Braddock.
Monet has been waiting for this moment to happen. Nice that we got to see Siryn, Fawn, Fred Dukes, and Sarah Grunt again.
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Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters Somewhere. Somewhen.
Magikolossus and Mr. S’s X-Men are fighting off the Zombie Sentinels.
Which is cool, but my favorite part is that Jitter’s love for Calico comes through, so their real personalities are coming through. Poor Becca, she must have been so confused why these new emotions felt so strong.
Calitter is just simply the best.
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Mutina, who if they sold her All Different All New Mutants outfit, with cat ears, I would totally buy this as a jacket.
Jitter is epileptic, as we learn when she’s having a Jacksonian March, a seizure. Does that explain her stutter? I just figured it was due to the child abuse.
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Becca is told Jitter needs a med bay, and starts clearing the way. Probably smart not to take Jitter along with her, as Ember and her are on fire. This horse is on fire. Alicia Keys is the best.
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This is such a cool image. Vecchio is slaying it with this arc.
Ransom tells Deathdream that they have to get Jitter to safety, whatever it takes. Which, ever since Avengers Endgame, I love it when people repeat “whatever it takes,” once they hear it.
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Mutina figures out the X-Men are fake, more like Ex-Men then, right?
Cute that we see Ember and Calico fighting off Zombie Sentinels in the distance.
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Mutina stabs Nightcrawler as he’s not real.
Referencing things that are not real, Ellis starts giving us Perimeter’s backstory. He’s been torturing her since she was eight, and he was ten. That’s just what happens when someone has reality wrapping powers. He also killed their parents. So, she does have a reason to hate mutants. Well, a reason to hate one mutant in particular, being racist about it, is a second choice.
Monet shows up, ready to fight Perimeter. I guess the name is because he has no perimeter? I get the sense that these two have fought before. Probably how they got him in the prison to begin with.
Though, it is odd they had to turn this into a prison. Couldn’t this have gone the X-Factor route, and Ellis have a mutant team prepared to attack her brother, if he ever got out? Provide them with room and board, and treat them like actual people? Imprisoning them is another choice. Also, where is Dazzler?
It is at thist point that I’m wondering if Perimeter is the reason the Outliers are in this weird alt place, but Mutina states they are AI later, so maybe that doesn’t add up?
Haven House. Rogue is trying to talk to the New Mutants about their history together. Rogue has been training them for a year to kill the Avengers. They are getting tired of all of the questions.
Gambit is on his way home, if Vic finds out anything, he’ll let Gambit know.
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Magikolossus is ready to kill Mutina, and Ransom isn’t too fond of her at the moment. Mutina reveals her mutant powers, she has the ability to read people’s emotions. Which is fine, as long a she isn’t controlling those emotions, as that’s always a gross power.
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Mutina vs Cologik. This is where she reveals they are AI, so is Arcade behind this?
Gambit makes it home just in time for the New Mutants to attack.
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Ransom vs Magikolossus.
Mutina vs Cologik, I like how they both have giant swords. That’s cool.
Calico and Ember finally make it to the mansion and Doctor MacTaggert, but she doesn’t have a face. I imagine they got their too quickly, so MacTaggert’s programming hadn’t caught up to it yet.
Rogue vs Cannonball, she doesn’t know how to fight him as he’s nigh invulnerable while he’s blasting. Though I did expect her to have the thought that he’s only nigh invulnerable, leaving her some wiggle room.
Gambit grows vampire wings to catch up to Rogue, so that’s where the cover image comes from.
Issue ends with Monet vs Perimeter, but she’s not alone, she’s brought reinforcements. Like, okay, is her backup just going to be Fawn, Fred Dukes, and Sarah Grunt? Maybe with Dazzler? Or, OR! Are we getting a Generation X team up? Well, minus Jubilee.
W Ashley Allen / A German Peralta / CA Arthur Helsi / L VC’s Ariana Maher / V Nogi San
I got the Nogi San variant cover, as it was the solo Magik cover. I’m that guy.
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The Rasputin Household. UST-Ordynsky Collective. Russia. Then.
Illyana has returned from the events of Uncanny X-Men 160, and the heartbreaking events of the original Magik miniseries. Piotr has brought her to re-introduce her to their parents.
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Their parents are naturally confused to see a teenage Illyana, as I can only imagine less than a week or month ago, they probably talked to her on the phone and she was barely eight.
I can only imagine, Piotr has NOT kept them updated on all of his zany adventures, as yes, this is super shocking, but also, his life is crazy. Now, could he have called them ahead of time? Yes. Should he have called them ahead of time? Also, yes. It IS fun to answer questions. If you have any questions, ask them below.
I imagine this takes place after Magik V1 4, when she tries to meet her parents a second time. They must have forgotten this first attempt, OR! This current (?) scene reinforces the original scene.
“Baba Yaga’s” House. West Siberian Taiga, Russia. Now.
I really do like how they address that Lada is not actually Baba Yaga, as anyone who also read Wiccan Witch’s Road 5, out two weeks ago (maybe?), Baba Yaga showed up there, so we thought there this was the beginning of a huge comeback for the character. Turns out, Kaoz just likes calling her that, as that’s what the children called her, as she’s a witch who lives in the woods. Not the most original of nicknames.
Lada is, however, the sister of Korschei, the big bad of this miniseries, and who we fully met last issue. Nice how this miniseries is dealing with siblings, it is a theme, everybody.
Naturally, Lada is annoyed with Kaoz, and the was caught off guard by the Rasputin siblings, so a fight breaks out.
I like seeing Lada open her own portal to deal with Magik, though it is triggering as Illyana has a lousy history of dealing with other people’s portals.
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Colossus gets a cool moment of depowering, so that he can use Lada’s transformed size against her, and flips her over. He has strategies.
I like how annoyed he is Magik mentions how her and Cyclops dealt with a situation similar to this, so she is trying to take charge of the situation. These two really do have a lot of issues to work out, so they don’t have great communication skills. Also, they are rarely on the same team together, so they don’t have battle experience together. There is no field trust.
Kaoz finally calms things down with Lada.
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Honestly, the entire miniseries could just be Illyana and Piotr talking about everyone they know in common. I guess we have to stop referring to Illyana and Scott as siblings, as she doesn’t view it that way. They’re best friends. Which I simply love Illyana saying that about Scott, as they really are. Ever since the Bendis era of Uncanny (V3) they have been written as best friends. Gillen got them on the same Uncanny team (V2), Cyclops’ Extinction Team, but Bendis really made them pals. They have been best friends ever since, really.
Piotr is still dealing with his guilt over killing Kayla, though it was his body that did it, not his mind, but he’ll still have guilt about it. Nice to see him dealing with grief, and anything relating to the Krakoa era.
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I love Allen and Peralta so much for crafting this story that we get the best hug of 2026!
Helsi and Maher color and letter, respectfully, the heck out of this page.
Seeing the hug triggers Lada to think about her growing up with Koschei. He’s a bad dude. He is also like a Russian Voldemort, in that he’s breaking up his soul into random items. One of those items is Lada’s necklace. She’s keeping a piece of his soul, so that he can’t ever become too powerful.
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Kaoz has a very cool chat with Colossus. Kaoz really respects Magik, as he should. They chat about the concept of putting a piece of one’s soul in an item. Colossus would never do that to Magik to control or stop her. Kaoz mentions how he would never need to do that, as Magik doesn’t trust him with a piece of her soul, she rather put it inside of a weapon. Which is such a powerful line.
Though looking at this panel now, I’m pretty sure this is when the Koschei swap takes place. I didn’t think so because of Kaoz’s love of referring to himself in the third person.
I really do love how both Magik & Colossus are still covered in mud from their earlier fight.
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The Rasputins truly are always taking one step back. Piotr ponders what if Limbo didn’t happen, if they were not mutants. Illyana is so bored with this conversation. I imagine Kitty probably attempted it once, and never again, whereas, I feel like I’ve seen Piotr attempt this conversation multiple times. Illyana is Magik. Illyana is the Darkchild. Limbo did happen. I’m sure the idea of What If grew old during her first year of Limbo, and the abuse she suffered at the hands of S’ym and Belasco. She doesn’t ever have to wonder about that question.
We get the Koschei was Kaoz reveal. Magik tries to attack him, but he overpowers her. I’m sure it was because of the shock of the situation. Koschei takes Lada’s powers, as he does that.
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Issue ends with Koschei attacking the Rasputins.
Is the final issue goes to just be a battle sequence?
We open with WARDEN Ellis and dying Phillip in the Graymalkin Prison, the former Xavier Institute. A good reminder that this plot is still around. Once Phillip dies, Inmate X is going to get out, and Ellis is going to be next. We do get Monet for a panel, so that’s nice. She has a picture of Quicksilver, which, not to beat this drum again, why isn’t he trying to break her out? Though this does seem more like a resort, that one just can’t get away from, unless you sign a contract to attend a concert. Would have been nice to see Dazzler here.
They found Xavier’s hover chair, which is fun to see. That thing is a very bright yellow.
Elsewhen. The All Different New Mutants are getting their first Danger Room fight. In a very fun page turn reveal, they are going to fight . . . Moon Boy and Devil Dinosaur!
Haven House. Rogue, Logan, Nightcrawler, and Jubilee are looking for the Outliers. Rogue says, “Okay. I don’t think ah need ta say this, bur them kids . . . they gotta be brought back, even if it means hidin” which does that make sense? Repeating it for the sixth time, I think it means if they are hiding from the X-Men, they need to be brought back. Which Nightcrawler must have immediately understood what his sister meant, as he’s not sure if she means it.
St. Thomas Abbey. Abandoned. Mostly. Gambit makes a deal with Vig, who we’re not getting rid of any time soon. 20% of the Thivs Guild profits will go to Vig, just to help find the kids. Gambit says, “I belong to you again.” and he’s sad, which I get, but does he belong to him? Seems like Gambit is going to write him a check every month, and there isn’t much drama there. I mean, should Remy have put an end date on that? Yeah, probably, as even a year’s worth is pretty solid. Plus, what happens when Gambit doesn’t pay? Vig takes the Outliers? Actually, that might be what happens.
Louisiana X-Men arrive home and we see the New Mutants – Moonstar, Karma, Cannonball, Sunspot, and Wolfsbane.
Elsewhen. I’m on record of being a huge fan of Vecchio’s art. But sometimes it is hard to tell Jitter and Deathdream apart, when they are both wearing New Mutants uniforms. They both have short black hair, and are very slender.
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Becca says Ember looks very dowdy, and he does!
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Ransom wants Calico to “Valley of Gwangi” Devil Dinosaur, a movie that is fully available on YouTube, thanks Adam of ComicsXF, for cluing me onto this! Will I watch it? Could be fun, but I’m three Daredevil episodes behind, and barely started the Punisher second season, but I’ll add it to my list.
Ember does continue to look dowdy here.
Moon Boy attacks Jitter. She tries translates Moon Boy’s language to English, which is handy.
Unfortunately, Mutina is also too handy, and cuts off Moon Boy’s head. Yikes!
So they did survive the experience, which is nice.
Beast tells them that they usually don’t destroy / kill their opponents, but good job.
Nightcrawler alerts everyone Sentinels are at the door, and we get even more twists!
Sentinels hunt mutants . . . to eat them! We have Zombie Sentinels, ya’ll! They’re inmates that the Trasks turned into robots who eat mutants. Imagine the blue prints for these guys?!
Nightcrawler teleports Deathdream and Jitter, and we learn he has two extra, but short, arms. So we are definitely in a different time line.
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We get Calico, Ember, and Mutina team up! Mutina was willing to be Becca’s friend, but Becca wants to help out, which is a turn off, which is fun.
Doctor Moira MacTaggert mentions the Professor, and it is around here, that I’m remembering that she keeps saying Professor, but I don’t think she ever said X. Though we do know it is the Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.
Jitter takes out a Sentinel thanks to field testing the shock gloves that Spider-Man gave her. That feels weird, right? So the Outliers are in the bodies of their counterparts here? I do wish they had their memories of their time together, but it is fun to see their friendships get reestablish here as Random and Deathdream seem to be getting along like brothers.
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Mutina decided to stick around, so that’s nice. Ember doesn’t look as dowdy now that he’s lit up again. Becca continues to be a delight, calling the Sentinels “doodyheads.” She’s the best.
Just in time, we get the reinforcements!
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Professor S, Sauron, is here with his X-Men! Magikossus, Cologik, Siryn, and Warpath.
Magik has Colossus powers, and Colossus has Magik powers, so there’s a whole backstory there I want to see. Siryn is a prisoner of Graymalkin, I’m sure we’re supposed to be reminded of that. I imagine this is Warpath to go with Siryn’s inclusion. Sauron is always a fun pull.
Where is Xavier? Does it matter?
Haven House. Rogue almost touches Cannonball’s hand, and this makes the New Mutants freak out, as her touch is death to men. Rogue tries to reassure them, but they don’t need it.
They’re cool with Rogue and her mission . . . to KILL THE AVENGERS!
So so many twists this issue.
Is this a three or four parter? It seems like we need an explanation issue before we get a concluding issue. We are only getting wilder from here.
Variant Cover Erik Larsen & Edgar Delgado, Cyborgs Spider-Man & Superman
I have to say, this is exactly what I want in these crossovers. Good main story, and the backups have a fun mix of characters. Nothing, besides the main story, overstays its welcome, and even that, maybe just be three pages shorter so we can get another backup?
Our Kryptonite
Spider-Man & Superman
Writer Brad Meltzer
Artist Pepe Larraz
Color Artist Matthew Wilson
Letterer Clayton Cowles
This comic looks gorgeous, and how could it not be drawn and colored by Larraz and Wilson?
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Spider-Man & Superman wake up together. Superman isn’t at the top of his game, as he’s being poisoned by Kryptonite. Spider-Man doesn’t know what that is, maybe it is like adamantium? Which is cute.
Superman wastes no time x-raying Spider-Man’s waist area to discover an old watch Spider-Man keeps on his belt. Which seems like the worst place for that, with how often Spider-Man is thrown through buildings. But sure.
Spider-Man and Superman exchange some opening jokes which is fun. Superman isn’t great at it, but he’s also poisoned.
They are fighting Lex Luthor and Green Goblin. We get a terrific Spider-Man holding up rubble sequence that we love to see. Spider-Man needs a distraction, which Superman isn’t great with, so asks about motivation. Spider-Man is racked with guilt, that’s what keeps him going.
The Venom symboite is there, for some reason, and Superman and Spider-Man exchange some memories. Then we get Venom-man, which is cool. We also see that Brianiac, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Parasite, Doomsday, and Rhino are there. So, a Sinister Six, plus two, situation.
Still bugs me we didn’t get Michael Keaton in Spider-Man No Way Home, the one chance we had at a live action Sinister Six, and we didn’t get it.
I like Superman using his own heat vision to start the process of getting the symbiote off of him. Then a Hulk inspired thunder clap, and Superman is fully back.
The day is saved.
Queens, New York. Three Weeks Later. Peter Parker is at Uncle Ben’s grave, and gets a visit there by Clark Kent. He keeps a pair of his father’s glasses with him at all times. Which also seems like a bad place for it, with how often he’s thrown through a building.
That Evening. Peter and Aunt May are invited to Smallville? Seems like expensive tickets, but they get a meal with the Kents, so Jonathan is alive, but I guess it is an old pair of glasses.
Ma Kent and May Parker arm wrestle, so that’s fun.
“Metropolis Marvels” Spider-Man Noir & Superman Dan Slot (A) Marcos Martin (CA) Muntsa Vicente (L) VC’s Joe Caramagna
I really like the idea of 30s Spider-Man teaming up with 30s Superman, that’s a fun idea. They are fighting businessman Lex Luthor, who has framed J. Jonah Jameson as the kingpin of crime.
We are treated to a very fun Amazing Fantasy 15 homage, with Superman holding Lex Luthor.
No one lifted a car in this segment.
“Sweethearts”
Gwen Stacy & Lana Lang
Writer Joe Kelly
Artist Humberto Ramos
Color Artist Edgar Delgado
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
Gwen Stacy & Lana Lang at Empire State University, New York. They are talking about their similarities and differences, as well as those things about the men in their lives, Peter Parker and Clark Kent.
Superman fights Sandman, and Spider-Man fights Metallo. I think.
Lana redeems all red heads for Gwen, which is cute.
Clark shows up, covered in sand, and Peter shows up all wet. Which is funny.
“Identity War”
Mysterio vs Superman featuring The Thing (and more)
Writer Geoff Johns
Artist Gary Frank
Color Artist Brad Anderson
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
Mysterio and Saturn Queen are making everybody angry with a rage-powered red lantern.
I like that we get a segment with the ever loving blue eye Thing! He has to fight off the Legion of Superheroes.
Spider-Man & Jessica Drew Spider-Woman fight off the Legionnaires.
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Grimm says Cloak & Dagger are X-Force, fighting in Gotham. I’ll chalk this to either (1) Thing doesn’t know who X-Force is, or who Cloak or Dagger are, or (2) Gary Frank doesn’t know, and no one caught it, or (3), the captions and art are not supposed together, as having the Legion of Superheroes and Legionnaires, doesn’t make sense either.
But we also get Power Pack at titans Tower, and we see Miles Morales Spider-Man fighting maybe Rewind and Reel?
Of course, you can’t have a story about people getting angry, and not feature the Hulk.
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Superboy punches Fred Dukes, but doesn’t move him, I like that.
The gathered heroes are – Captain America, Stargirl, Superman, She-Hulk, Hal Jordan Green Lantern, and Thing. So a great group of heroes.
They all fight the Hulk, except for Superman, who is trying to calm Hulk down. The sun is getting real low.
Superman tells Thing that it isn’t always clobbering time, which feels like a real jerk thing to say. Now Ben has to think about that every time before he says it?
I do like the story ending with Ben and Banner eating doughnuts.
“Ghosting”
Hobgoblin vs Steel
Writer Louise Simonson
Artist Todd Nauck
Color Artist Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
I love whenever Todd Nauck and Rachelle Rosenberg work together, so you know this story looks perfect.
For anyone who might thing Steel is just a guy with a hammer, he’s super smart too, as Hobgoblin keeps trying, but failing, to outsmart him with the tech he’s trying to steal. Or steel.
There is another guy known for a hammer, and we get Thor to help out, which was quite the surprise.
They click hammers like hammer bros do.
“Remarkable”
Ghost Spider & Supergirl
Writer Stephanie Phillips
Artist Phil Noto
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
This was very fun. Is Ghost Spider the type of person to want autographs? That seems more like a Ms. Marvel thing, but Stephanie Phillips would know. She is hoping to see Superman, but gets Supergirl in Metropolis. They don’t get along, which as a reader, I just figure this is how it starts, but we’ll see at the end, them being friends.
They fight Livewire, who seems like a fun villain to pick. Reminds me of the animated series with Supergirl and Batgirl.
Noto does a great drawing everybody, as he does.
Story ends with Supergirl signing the autograph book in a fun callback to the story.
“The One Thing”
Miles Morales & Superman
Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Artist Sara Pichelli
Color Artist Federico Blee
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
This was also a fun story. Miles is bored, then sees a giant explosion. Superman asks for his name, he gives his real name, and oh, Miles. Brianiac is attacking the city, and Superman teaches Miles the most important lesson, showing up is the right thing to do.
This was very short, but tells the full story in like three pages.
“The Wondrous & The Worthy” Symbiotes in Metropolis Jason Aaron (A) Russell Dauterman (CA) Matthew Wilson (L) VC’s Joe Caramagna
Jane Thorster, who must be early in her career as the new Thor, is fighting off symbiotes. Wonder Woman shows up to help. I like Jane having the thought of “say something cool,” and all that comes out is “you’re Wonder Woman.” Which I imagine she gets a lot.
Darkseid has a mix of symbiotes and his cronies.
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Dauterman gets the chance of draw some of his favorites, is what I imagine the script called for. We get – Batman (with packed in sword), Ghost Spider, Superman, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man (the Peter one), Supergirl, John Stewart Green Lantern, and Wolverine, the boy one.
“One of Those Days”
Spider-Man & Superman
Writer Jeph Loeb
Artist Jim Cheung
Color Artist Jay David Ramos
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
This was an interesting choice to end on. Must be days after Gwen’s death, and Spider-Man is having “one of those days.” Superman shows up, and offers some Pa Kent observations. You are born, and you die, neither are up to you. It is what you do that matters.
And you’ll eventually feel better, better is good, but there will be good days, and bad days.
We get Magik continuing her origin story. One day on Earth equals one week in Ultimate Limbo. When she went missing, her father was utterly broken. Colossus, on the other hand, was determined to find her. When he couldn’t, he assumed she was taken by dark forces.
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Magik had become a Dark Child, which is just cool to work all of her monikers into this story.
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I love so much that Colossus took care of her, she wasn’t a monster to him, but his sister. Also, sleeping is such a great cure for so many ails.
Balga Castle, E.R.
Logan and Jean Grey are trying to find a way into Limbo. A find a person who can open and they both enter it. They locate the missing people, and Jean starts getting them all to safety. Logan is going to head off by himself to confront Magik. He comes across a dreamscape, and sees Colossus chopping wood.
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Logan finds Magik sleeping on her bed, with her giant souldsword out. A younger Illyana shows up with her little teddy bear.
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Little Yana wants Logan to read her a story, just one story. My heart is breaking reading these pages.
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I love so much that Logan, the killer that he is, still read her a story. There’s always time for one last story.
But! He didn’t forget what Magik did to him, with the mind control, turning him into the Ultimate Winter Soldier. Logan kills Magik.
Jean rescues Logan, and they are ready now for Ultimate Endgame 5.
So this new Ultimate Universe killed both Katherine Pryde and Magik. We never got Lockheed introduced, or even teased. I would love to say this is me being done with the Ultimate Universe, but I can’t as I already preordered Ultimate Endgame 4 & 5, and I’ve been searching every panel for Magik, but that’s not going to be necessary anymore.
I imagine we might see them as characters we lost along the way. I also preordered Ultimate Finale, and the first issue of the Miles Morales Ultimate Reborn miniseries, but I am definitely done with this Ultimate Universe. All of my enthusiasm for it is gone.
It is nice that with four bonus issues, we got Magik’s origin story, and also, her last story.
The Rasputin Household. UST-Ordynsky Collective. Russia. Then.
Young Piotr is getting super bullied, which I don’t care for. Mama Rasputina, who we never really got much of before, needs to toughen up her middle child.
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Possibly the youngest we have ever seen Illyana?
Now.
Illyana is in an arena, being run by Koschei, who is trying to absorb magik.
I like how smart Illyana is, that she knows that’s the plan, so she’s just punching and kicking goons, and doing quite well for herself.
Then Magik has to fight . . . Count Kaoz, who seemed very familiar with me, and I wasn’t sure if we were going to get an editor note telling us where we know him from. He made his first appearance in Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo’s Doctor Strange V4 7, part of the Last Days of Magic arc, that I own many issues of. Which I’m sure whenever we get Doctor Strange 3, would be the storyline I’ll cover on the pod.
The Lucky Bear. St. Petersburg, Russia. Piotr is hassling some goons in hopes they’ll lead him to where Illyana is. I like that we get a Mikail reference here, that’s how Piotr knows who to talk to in the Russian criminal underground.
Colossus, one of the few guys who can headbutt a fool, and not also take damage doing so.
I love Magik & Kaoz’s chemistry so much! They are in danger, but they’re not in serious danger, so they are having fun.
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Colossus breaks through the barrier, and starts helping out. Did I need four pages of Colossus getting closer to Magik? No, show us that he’s on the right track, and then surprise us with the reveal. That’s such great pacing.
Colossus rips off a demon cow’s head, that’s pretty intense. Anyone start watching Primate now on Paramount Plus? We thought the trailer looked good, and been eager for it to start streaming somewhere. We got to the first scare, a gorilla ripping off some dude’s face, and Walker D noped out. I should try to go back, but it is hard to watch a movie by myself. The demon cow wasn’t as intense as that.
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Magik does not want to end up back in Florida.
The trio leaves, and Koschei takes it pretty well.
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I love so much the three pages we get of Illyana and Piotr sharing their feelings, I just love them communicating. It was worth the effort.
I also love so much that Illyana takes after her mother. If this entire miniseries was to make us love Mama Rasputina, then mission accomplish!
Count Kaoz is leading the Rasputins to his ex-girlfriend’s house. His ex-girlfriend being . . . Baba Yaga. Who is NOT happy to see Kaoz.
I got both the regular cover by Stefano Caselli & Federico Blee, and the Mahmud Asrar variant with Kitty & Lockheed (who doesn’t appear this issue, nor does Marigold, so she’s already living up his legacy).
Graymatter Lane. A Mind Palace Situated on the Psychic Plane.
Ben Liu, who is getting more page time in these two issues than he’s gotten in X-MEN, is trying not to get burned alive.
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I love seeing Magik and Nightcrawler chatting. These two barely have history together, but I immediately remember that time Magik was hoping up portals for Kurt during AXE Judgment Day. That was a great moment.
I looked all over the background here to see if Bronze & Marigold could be found, but nope.
I still like how this is the comic that is going to deliver us match ups we wouldn’t go elsewhere.
Cyclops finally gets to Ben. Emma tells Scott that this was all for nothing, there was no reason to attempt to burn down the school. Plus, how does that even work? Emma states everyone is at lunch, so no one is noticing this fire. Which I thought we would get a panel where Emma immediately shuts down the fire, but it doesn’t seem to be doing any harm.
Quentin Quire is actually the person who started the fire, so his track record of failed school destructions is now 0-2.
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I love seeing the bookcase in the back here. The Weapon X helmet, Jean’s yellow mask, and one of Storm’s tiaras. That’s a fun background detail.
Meanwhile. Prodigy is trying to get Iceman & Kitty Pryde involved in how to teach combat teamwork. Kitty is distracted by Rogue’s comments about internal threats. Which is odd, as half the school is on fire, but I guess she really didn’t notice. Plus, the real threat is from Mister Sinister, unless the X-Office keeps him pretty busy, which I believe they are, but we’ll get to that later. (He’s busy over in Inglorious X-Force 4).
I like Emma talking about whatever did she see in Scott, but also, I love Scemma, but it is fun to poke at the relationship.
Iceman references Scott’s flame war, so what is Kitty distracted by?
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Captain America stops by, as he has a mission for the X-Men. Iceman starts talking like he’s from the 30s, which I imagine Cap doesn’t love.
He wants to use the Empathy Engine to reach out to all of the Weapon Plus people, and make sure they are okay.
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Kitty is surprised that Cap knows about the machine, which does have a pretty cool name. Empathy Engine.
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I don’t love Emma having to try to convince them to get on board here. It is Captain America, asking for help, and it doesn’t even seem like a big ask.
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I do like Kitty and Magneto chatting. I know they were on the Quiet Council together, but it feels like forever since these two actually talked to each other.
I imagine Cap does make Kitty think about WWII, and all that deals with it, and her talking to Magneto, immediately, is there to make us think about those implications.
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I don’t care for the idea that the X-Men have to have a meeting to help Cap out. Maybe if it was to strategize about how to do it, but to vote on it? I’m not sure about.
Emma and Prodigy vote, yes. Iceman votes, no. Kitty abstains, which all of this feels weird.
Prodigy is going to pick the team, so that’s fun.
Prodigy picks Wolverine, as she’s the best, Melee, who I love, and apparently in the 50s, the Bureau of Indian Affairs moved her family to Chicago, so she’s motivated, and Jitter! Quite the trio of brunettes here.
I like how the 50s feels like long enough ago that it doesn’t call into question any sliding timescale stuff. Unlike the 80s, that feels like it would question the sliding timescale.
I also like how one of Laura’s strongest character points is how much she hates people being experimented on, especially against their will.
Jitter is a wild card
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I like how impress Cap is with this team.
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I do like Kitty and Beast being in the same room. Though this isn’t her Beast, so these two need to really connect, and rebuild that relationship.
Now, if the X-Men voted after this scene, that’ll make so much more sense to me.
Beast states it is possible to do the mission, but there are some major issues of gaps and errors to be accounted for. Axo doesn’t want to do it as there are gaps and errors that haven’t been accounted for. As far as we have seen, this will only be the second major test of the Empathy Engine.
I guess in my mind, the thing worked by sending out a pulse, and then the X-Men connect to it, and we go from there. Like, they think “rescue kid,” and the engine links up to the kid. So, to make this work, they send a pulse of “all thoughts involving Weapon Plus,” and anyone having those thoughts and memories, gathers, and links are made. That doesn’t seem to be the case here. Maybe because they are creating a mind palace so they can interact with it? Maybe? This could just be a case of comic book science, and of course, a world of fiction, so a problem has to happen.
So cute the hand holding here. Melee holds Jitter’s hand, who is holding Captain America’s hand, and he is holding Laura’s hand.
Jitter has her stutter here, but she seems overly scared, which makes me think that’s more of a Calico character trait. Jitter recognizes she’s in a haunted house, and is worried about dying.
I do like her wanting to hold Melee’s hands, though I don’t love that for Becca. But this also makes me feel like something Becca would want to do, find a strong lady, and hold her hand, and not necessarily what Jitter would do.
Cap comes across a young Maurice Canfield, but then he immediately turns old and evil.
Dan Slot (A) Marcos Martin (CA) Muntsa Vicente (L) VC’s Joe Caramagna
Shadow and Flame with Magik 