Issue opens with Jean and Storm inside Kurt’s head. Of course, it looks like his old German town, Winzeldorf, Germany. Jean is taking this mission to debut a new costume – as her priorities are completely right and she is the worst. Of course, the villagers are chasing Kurt. Jean should fit right in.
Storm tries to fight the mob, but her powers don’t work. Jean’s powers work, so that she can show off and try to appear better than Storm. Inside his head, we see the world collapsing upon itself. Outside, Jean and Storm are clearly in pain and Forge isn’t happy with Kurt, who is cowering in the corner – not saying anything.
Weirdworld. Sunfire has been keeping the fires burning, so that he can protect his fellow Asian mutants. The Anti-Mutant bigot rallies have swept through Japan and the rest of Asia. Sunfire is exhausted, he’s been keeping the fire wall up for a week, as Weirdworld has inhabitants that one doesn’t want to encounter.
Magik has heard enough from this traitor and plans on ending the fool. I wonder what Sunfire did that got her so mad?
Ibanez does draw a pretty great Magik!
Iceman and the other horrible member of the team, Colossus, tries to keep Magik away from Sunfire. Sunfire is one of those characters that I know his history but don’t really have much reading experience with.
Apparently, Sunfire is up there with Cyclops, in terms of villains of mutantkind.
Some warrior ghosts, I guess, arrive. Old Man Logan believes he’s getting too old for this – Iceman is already tired of hearing him say that. I could go for some more of that, as who doesn’t love Roger Murtaugh?
One of the ghosts takes out Colossus and Magik and I try to give two shits about it.
X-Haven. Inside Kurt’s mind. Jean and Storm are heading towards a pirate ship. Everything is upside down. Caramagna should have put the words upside down too, that’s a missed opportunity – but Caramagna is one of the best so I’m sure there is a reason. Probably that it is more convenient for the reader. Inconvenient is one of those words I can never spell, even though, at a law office – it is one of the words I type the most. Been that way since I worked at Northern Arizona University – Yuma Campus. Gosh, that was ten years ago.
Kurt is in full Errol Fynn mode. Jean and Storm follow Kurt off the ship. Now they are heading towards a giant Cyclops.
Weirdworld. Magik, for appearance’s sake, defends Colossus. They are powered by weak magic and the source is close. Magik teleports to the source.
She sees an old man sorcerer. He knows she is from Limbo. Magik confront him for all of the mutants he has taken captive. I thought they are just prisoners and not dead souls, at this point. He goes all crazy on her, claiming he sees her future.
Magik straight stabs the old sorcerer with her soulsword, as she doesn’t give a fuck. As he dies, he hints that a war is coming and the lattice will break. Which I had to look that word up, it seems to mean wood being crisscrossed and in a square pattern.
So that’s going to fall and it is super intimidating.
Kingdoms will fall and Sapna will be no help. So she’s going to be a bigger character in this title. That makes sense as she’s clearly going to be the breakout star of this title.
Magik teleports back, with the rest of the Asian mutants. Once she killed the sorcerer, the ghosts disappeared. Poor Magik, she’s clearly upset about killing the old man, but not that upset.
Cerebra will take Sunfire and the other refugees and Magik is going to teleport the team back to X-Haven.
Old Man Logan says that Sunfire will come with the team. Sunfire says that Old Man Logan use to look better. So Old Man Logan’s existence must still be a close secret.
They teleport back and the students are glad to see them, as Kurt isn’t doing so well.
At the Giant Cyclops, Jean and Storm crawl into his ruby quartz visor. IT is the old school 80s visor. They have to hurry as a wave of Sentinels are on their way.
They are back in the village, but now they see that mutants are being pushed into the woods. The M-Pox riots started in Europe, only a few weeks ago. This is a current memory. One of mutants promises to leave Germany, as long as they are allowed to escape.
Kurt shows up to fight the lousy European flatscans. All of Germany is under his protection. The one mutant wants to show Kurt what happens in the deep woods.
It is a disgusting mass grave, ya’ll! Fucking humans.
The disgust snaps Storm and Jean out of Kurt’s head. Jean heads over to comfort Kurt, who is finally not taking in scripture. So that’s an improvement.
Issue ends with Jean hugging Kurt, as the team watches. They are that type of group.
Not a bad issue, next issue begins . . . Apocalypse Wars!
Spartax. The capital city will probably never be the same again, after Hala’s visit.
Yotat is monologuing. The Guardians are knocked out. Their fight with Hala has required that they take a little nap.
Quill finally wakes up first, asking that Yotat not kill his friends. It is the least he can do. Quill asks Yotat to wait to kill them, until after Spartax is safe. Grudge matches can wait, after all.
Yotat points out how Spartax, supposedly a big deal in the universe, should have had neighboring planets coming to aid them, by now. No one respects Spartax, with Quill on the throne.
Quill really wasn’t begging, he was distracting. Agent Venom attacks from behind while Rocket has a new gun to try out.
That is a great top panel, the team having their second wind. Quill is trying to help Drax up, but Drax doesn’t want the help. Pryde isn’t impressed with Drax turning down help.
Rocket checks in on Groot, who is in little pieces. Drax punches Yotat, to his dumb face!
Quill starts trying to help the survivors. One lady isn’t pleased that her king allowed this nonsense to happen. Pryde tries to defend him but the couple runs away. Drax continues punching. Grimm is helping children get to safety. Good ol’ Grimm!
Yotat, is good at taking a beating but has had enough and turns the tables on Drax.
Luckily, Drax is on the same team with Grimm (who I really enjoy reading about on a monthly basis) as Grimm punches Yotat off his feet. Drax gets in on the handicap match.
Quill and Pryde are happy to see reinforcements are on their way.
Agent Venom takes away Yotat’s weapon.
Now that they have a pause, Quill wants to know Yotat’s story so Pryde indulges. I do want more Quill-less stories of the missing eight months.
Knowhere. The Edge of the Universe. Located Inside the Decapitated Head of a Celestial. Three Months Ago. Kitty Pryde Narrated Flashback. Historically, she is an unreliable narrator. (I’m not so sure about that).
They were there to get supplies and show Grimm what it is like to be a Guardian.
Pryde has been forced to take showers with steam instead of water, which probably makes sense on a ragtag ship. Grimm sort of likes the steam, Pryde can understand.
Pryde calls Yotat a gangster. He’s fine with trafficking of lower species as long as he gets a cut. Yotat is trying to choke out a nice green person but Pryde phases the person to safety.
Back to the Present. Drax side kicks Yotat. I see Groot standing there, so maybe he lost pieces but isn’t completely in pieces. Grimm wants his turn but Rocket pulls seniority. I do like a main villain that the entire team needs to work together to take out, instead of a group of villains versus a group of heroes. Easier to focus, I suppose.
Back to the Flashback. We are introduced to the Knowhere Corps. I recognize Moon Dragon, Micronaut’s Bug and Cosmo the Dog. The green lady and bald guy, I need to be told who they are. I like how Moon Dragon’s costume upgrade is that her shoulders are covered – somehow.
The Knowhere Corps take over the fight and arrest Yotat. Moon Dragon, who is wearing a brown cape, invites the Guardians to dinner.
Grimm refers to the Knowhere Corps as “space cops” which apparently, he must be doing a lot lately as Rocket says he doesn’t need to prefix everything with “space.” Yotat swears to get his revenge on Drax and his friends.
Pryde wishes she let Drax finish off Yotat, as he is clearly a horrible person.
Flashback Over. Grimm gives us all a “It’s Clobbering Time!!!” and Drax joins in with a sweet kick. Drax isn’t a fan of the sweet catchphrase. Grimm promises that the battlecry will grow on Drax.
The Royal Guard, finally, arrives to get Quill to safety. Quill can’t believe that they wait until two threats are taken care of, before getting him off the battlefield. Quill wants Yotat to be arrested, and he wants Hala to be arrested too.
Quill and Pryde turn to where Hala should be, still stuck in the ground, but she’s no longer there. Few have survived being phased through the ground. I know Thor was able to do it. Quill wants Hala found, and now!
We catch up with Hala, who is dragging her body through the city, leaving so much blood behind her.
Quill and Pryde find Gamora, who Pryde has so much respect for. I can’t wait to get scenes of these two dames together!
Quill demands a medic for Gamora.
Later. Gamora wakes up in a hospital room, with baby tree Groot at her bedside. I like these two together.
Quill is being told that he is no longer going to be President. He doesn’t quite pick up on that, so Pryde has to explain it to him. I guess that means we are never going to get Queen Pryde, like I always wanted. I do like Quill calling them jerks.
Pryde phases Quill and herself through the wall, outside and to the ground. I don’t like how the green consult hates on Pryde, screw that jerk!
Look how happy the team is in that middle panel! Gosh, I really do enjoy this creative team and this entire team! I miss enjoying a monthly title like this.
Grimm makes an awesome Hichhiker’s Guide to the Universe, but he’s the only Earth person who gets the reference. I like to think that Pryde got it. Thompson and Quill don’t get the reference, they don’t read.
The Negative Zone. We’re Full Circle. It’s Just Rock-Solid Storytelling. The Brood Queen took no effort in having Spartax denounce their king. Annihilus is very impress.
The Guardians are back to being outlaws.
Next issue promises to focus on Pryde and Quill! Which makes me pretty happy!
Helpful editor note stating that this issue takes place before Ultimates (volume four or five, right?) as in that issue, Galactus gets a reverse makeover and becomes a being of rebirth.
One Year Ago. Two scientists, Roberta and Mister Wiebe are observers with a giant telescope. He’s interested in looking for life in the universe. I like Roberta, she points out how often Earth is invaded by aliens. There definitely is life out there beyond the stars. Through the telescope lens, Roberta sees Galactus. There is an editor note stating that this is from Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Volume One Issue 4.
Now. The title was this issue was “Fowl Movement!” but they changed it to “Duck! Duck! Loose!” as the other one was too silly.
Howard is trying to convince The Stranger to free him, as Howard makes a terrible prisoner. Stranger wants to speed up the process of using Howard to open portals as Stranger knows people are going to try to either rescue Howard or steal him for themselves.
The new Herald of Galactus, Scout, has come for Howard. I imagine this is Roberta. Stranger has eaten free-range asteroids with Galactus. Stranger dismisses Scout, with a wave. Roberta grabs Howard and surfs out of there.
Once they have gone a distance, Scout stops talking like a cosmic Stan Lee character, which she was pretending to do, as it felt like the thing to do. Howard makes it super clear that he isn’t a cosmic person. He just keeps ending up in these cosmic situations. Fun little comment box of the writer saying he’s sorry.
Scout offers Howard to Galactus, but he is tired of all of these pursuits of Scout’s. Galactus goes on to say that Scout is not his herald.
Once Scout has explained that Howard is the Living Nexus of Realities so she can open portals to a vast number of planets that Galactus can dine on. This intrigues Galactus. Howard stands up for himself and Galactus is tempted to to make Howard his new herald. This upsets Scout.
Just then, Silver Suffer arrives. Howard isn’t a gift to be given away. Galactus points out that Dawn isn’t around, she doesn’t like the world devourer. Roberta tells Surfer that she is a huge fan, which catches him off guard. . Surfer asks how she got some of his power.
Five Months Ago. Roberta, who’s nickname is Scout, meets Alicia Masters. Roberta finds a small statue that Alicia made from a speck of Silver Surfer’s power, that she shaped into Ben Grimm. The page ends with Roberta hitting Alicia with the statue, from behind, to her head!
We finally get to a page where we see Scout’s character design.
Roberta, wisely, just hints that she found the power – somewhere. All she wants to do is help, she thought she could cure Galactus’ hunger. Surfer understands Scout’s earth based desire to help but one can’t give people away like items. Howard appreciates the slick nudist for standing up for him. Howard also misses his pantless days. Which that line made me realize that he is wearing shorts.
We finally get to the reason why I’m buying this issue and the next one. Kitty Pryde and the Guardians are getting closer to Howard’s location. Linda is with them. Kitty takes note of Galactus, but Grimm isn’t that concern. Rocket points out that others are also in pursuit of Howard.
Galactus silences his two chrome guests. Galactus will study Howard and see if he is capable of opening portals. Grimm arrives, surprising Surfer. Grimm wants to take Howard and leave. Surfer likes the idea of Galactus being gone, and no more massive amount of deaths. Grimm lays down the facts about how Reed use to say that Galactus is a balancing force. Without Galactus, things would get worst.
The writer, Chip Zdarsky, wants to know what happened to Reed Richards – he hasn’t been told how Secret Wars 2015 ended.
There is an ad for the Deadpool game’s rerelease, now on PS4 and XBox One.
Galactus is fired upon by a Kree fool and he turns his attention and shoots his laser eyes, destroying the silly ship.
Groot is holding onto Grimm, but he wants Groot to stop, so he can reach out and grab Howard.
Meanwhile, we see Silver Surfer . . . surfing away with Howard. Surfer is going to find Howard a safe place to hide. In case they get separated, Surfer gives Howard a piece of the Power Cosmic.
As Howard is trying to use to the cosmic surfboard, he goes straight through a space ship.
We see Kitty’s butt there, in that panel. So that counts! Don’t worry, she appears properly in the issue too.
Tara can’t believe this team doesn’t have a telepath, one would think that is a mandatory requirement.
Grimm puts on a space helmet and he is going old fashion with his approach. He opens the hatch and just shouts at a passing Howard. He didn’t need to shout, with the power cosmic, Howard hears pretty well.
Tara and Howard hug, they both have had quite the day.
We get to see Pryde’s butt again, it is an interesting angle to take. Pryde asks if Howard is always like this, Tara says that he isn’t typically so naked and shiny.
The ships engines are dead but Howard is powering their ship with the surfboard.
Quinones finally draws Pryde properly.
This must be the first time Pryde and Howard have met, as they don’t know each other. He thinks, very funnily, that this is Quill, but now a woman. Pryde quickly recaps how Quill is out and she’s replacing him and the team hasn’t been happier.
So funny the exchanges of Agent Venom, Pryde and Rocket. No one knows how Rocket became leader but they are living with it.
Howard is sending them straight for Collecton, one would think The Collector would have a better name for his house. Tara can’t believe that they are heading into danger. Howard, having a sad revelation that he will always be chased and will always get caught up in weirdness.
Tara doesn’t know who Bev is. Howard refers to Beverly in the past tense, so I would like to know what happened there with her and Howard.
Now that they are minutes away, Howard gets dragged away by a green chord.
Issue ends with Howard vs The Collector!
Feather Regions, letters from – Jason Greenly of Champaign, IL / John Rule of Manchester, England / Steve McSheffrey / Osvaldo Oyola of The Middle Spaces.
I would send an e-mail but I’m crazy behind on my current books as I was way late in getting the May special issues I wanted to cover out.
Since Bachalo has to skip every other arc, we are treated to Victor Ibbanez’s art.
Cerebra has dropped the X-Men off in a mysterious location. We know it must be dangerous if Illyana is excited about the prospects of the place.
Iceman has named the threat, Rhinosaurs! WeirdWorld is one crazy place.
Colossus is trying to get into the fun with Old Man Logan, but the older man isn’t giving in.
X-Haven. Five Hours Earlier. Old Man Logan is enjoying real beer but Iceman doesn’t know if he should be drinking in front of the students. Which is silly as the students are living in a demon infested realm. The two are with Storm, Forge and Teen Jean as they look in on Colossus talking to Nightcrawler. Forge reveals that he was able to reattach Kurt’s tail but his mind isn’t back yet. Jean hasn’t invaded Kurt’s mind, which is crazy mature of her. Storm wants to try the friendship route with Colossus, first. Kurt looks so haggard. Tired and haggard.
Anole, Glob Herman and Ernst arrive to see how beloved X-Man, Nightcrawler, is dong. Glob greets Jean but she walks away, Old Man Logan has his non-transparent eyes on Glob. Colossus comes out of the room and tells Storm that Kurt is completely lost. Storm recommends he give up on his oldest friend and take on a new student to watch over. Seems overly harsh to me.
This segues us to Illyana guiding a new student. Magik is checking on Sapna, the Demon Whisperer. Her parents are a tad scared of her, which comes at the price of having powers that help you commune with demons. It isn’t a family friendly power. Her parents are gone now, as bigots are not allowed at X-Haven, I hope. Illyana can relate to Sapna, as their powers could put them in the evil category but they rise above that noise.
Illyana gets to make a pretty nice speech, telling Sapna that she is a hero not a damned person. Sapna has a friend in Illyana but also an awesome new demon pet she named, Boogers. He’s snotty, which could be overly cute but I sort of dig it. This sets up repeating what Sapna’s power is. Magik teleports the three of them to Limbo proper, which Sapna feels pretty comfortable with.
I really like Illyana making a new friend, she’s due for another one. Plus, her other friend is guarding the universe so they are not keeping in touch as much these days.
Sapna apparently can see the doors to the other realms. Illyana is the master of this realm but not the others – which this would be pretty great if this series broadens Magik’s power base.
Weirdworld. Now. Magik is still having a blast. She wants to come back, which I would totally buy an issue of that series, if she appeared in an issue.
Colossus, who clearly has been wanting to throw Old Man Logan, for a while. I can see him constantly bringing it up in situations that don’t quite match. It really is the only thing the two have in common.
Old Man Logan finally gives in and I imagine gets a headache and a nose bleed. They have been fighting blue fellas.
Two Hours Ago. Ernst, Martha, Anole and Glob are not pleased. Colossus tells them to shape up but seriously, there are not malls and they only have the school buildings. Unless they want to venture out into Limbo but that doesn’t seem like a good idea. Especially with Anole, who probably hates being in Limbo as a constant reminder of how he lost his one arm. They want to go on real missions, so Colossus is going to start training them.
If they want to go on the Search and Rescue missions, they need to be properly trained. Iceman arrives, wanting to talk to Anole. As the two gay characters would have to have a moment. Where is Northstar at, these days?
Anole has heard of Teen Bobby coming out of the closest but he hasn’t heard about adult Iceman’s coming out. Iceman came out to his younger self and teen Jean but now he’s telling Anole. Anole is so comfortable with who he is, so it makes sense. I do like the younger Anole helping the older Iceman – hopefully future scenes don’t feel forced.
Sapna can feel the energies of the realms on the other side of the portals. Some are good but more are bad, real bad. Magik wants to enlist Doctor Strange, another series I would like to own more issues of. Storm breaks up the momentum by summoning the X-Men.
I want to learn more about these other realms. Could this branch out to a Magik ongoing? That would be great.
Now. Old Man Logan smells smoke.
Iceman isn’t thrilled to be facing fire – he’s fine with Rhinosaurs and goblins.
One Hour Ago. Storm is explaining how a plane from Asia got lost and landed in Weirdworld. Old Man Logan has heard of this place. Jean isn’t on the mission, as she is going to help Kurt. Storm and Jean are going to do that ol’ enter the brain trick – which is typically fun. Old Man Logan isn’t thrilled with all of Iceman’s elderly jokes. He’s probably wishing he can slice into him but he knows he won’t stop at just Iceman.
Does Old Man Logan and Miles Morales know what happened during Secret Wars 2015? They have to answer that question eventually, right?
Storm pulls Old Man Logan aside. Storm doesn’t want Forge to hear the conversation and tells him to leave. Storm not so subtly tells Forge that they are not going to be like how they use to be. Storm knows who they are going after and warns Old Man Logan. This person is very dangerous and sided with Cyclops when Cyclops did the thing that he did that got himself killed.
Storm won’t turn any mutants away but she won’t trust any of them, blindly. That mutant is . . . Sunfire! Who Wolverine was a teammate alongside with during his tenure on Uncanny Avengers.
Storm pretty much tells Old Man Logan to kill Sunfire, if he steps out of line, he is to end Sunfire. Which seems cruel, as Old Man Logan is super worried about murdering mutants and downward spiraling into a murder train of mutants.
Next issue’s cover hints at Nightcrawler crying – which makes me sad.
I haven’t read an issue of Howard the Duck’s previous volume’s fourth issue. I thought I had checked on Marvel Comics Database when this issue first came out and didn’t see Kitty listed as a character. Then at Hastings, I remembered the Guardians were going to appear in this title and I thought I might as well check the last page of this issue to see if they were teased, at all.
What I found was a Gwenpool back-up feature, so now I’ve read an appearance of that character BUT the important thing was that the last page of Howard’s main story, was a real winner. Glad I double checked, but now I’m worried that I may have missed some appearances of Kitty Pryde.
Here is what has been happening in the title, thus far. Linda, a female duck like how Howard is a male duck and Shocket (a female Rocket Raccoon) are on an adventure. The recap page implies that these two dames have a sad origin story. These two ladies are after Howard. Apparently he and Rocket caused these two ladies to be on the other side of the universe and now they are after him. Also, Howard is now the living Nexus of all Realities, which I have to wonder what that means for Man-Thing. Nice reference to co-creator, Steve Gerber, at the end.
The issue opens with Howard the Duck, riding a cosmic surf board and cast in all chrome – like from the cover. He’s worried that the universe is after him.
One week earlier, the majestic swamps of Citrusville, FL. Shocket and Linda have guns aimed at Howard and his female companion, Tara. Tara implies she is a superhero now, with a fun editor note stating that we can expect to see the “Captain Tara, the Last Avenger” film in 2032.
Shocket shoots Tara, which Linda isn’t happy with that choice. Linda is about to touch Howard, to plead with him to come with them but Shocket tells her to not to touch him. They are not sure what could happen.
Somehow, the Wizard (of Frightful Four fame) arrives and takes Howard hostage. As he touches Howard, there is a flash of light and the Wizard is gone. Howard freaks out, as he believes he has absorbed the Wizard. Linda explains the situation. Howard can now teleport people, or they can teleport him.
Howard asks who Linda is, she says that it is a long story. An awesome editorial note hips us that this happened in issue two. Not the previous issue two but the one from the previous volume but not the original volume from 1976 but the early 2015 volume not the late 2015 volume (which this one is, technically). Which is a fun jab at how silly relaunching this title, as often as Marvel has done.
Actually I got my asterisks backwards. Linda references how Howard and Rocket were prisoners of the Collector, which was from the early 2015 volume and Linda and Shocket’s story is found in the previous issue of this volume.
Linda, thankfully, explains the situation. Linda and Shocket are gender-altered clones that the Collector made, so that they would mate with Howard and Rocket (respectfully, I assume) so that their species will continue. Linda and Shocket, traveled back in time to avoid the Collector’s schemes but here they are now. I did check and I didn’t see any previous issues of this series at Hastings. I like Tara pausing the story so that she can process this. A lot has happened over two pages.
Linda and Shocket want Howard’s help to free the Collector’s other prisoners. Tara isn’t sure about the plan but Howard is still haunted by the prisoners. This wasn’t referenced in the later issue that I read.
The four of them are flying towards the Collector. Tara is excited about being in space. Howard isn’t that impressed, as space is full of nothing. Shocket takes offense to his attitude as space is their home. They have been on the run, for so long. Linda can’t wait to have a home and not just be on the run. She’s pretty excited about owning a couch that isn’t connected to a ship. So the two ladies match the personalities of their male counterparts.
Their ship, the Thundertrek, gets bombarded by one of the Collector’s ships. Right after that, a Skrull ship comes on top of them. Howard blames his involvement as to why everyone is after them. This gives Linda an idea.
Shocket expects that they are able to track Howard’s new cosmic signature. Linda knows that the other crews are only after Howard.
Tara keeps wanting to contact Doctor Weird (I imagine she really means, Doctor Strange, close enough!) to separate Howard from the Nexus of Realities.
Howard starts getting into flux, as the people on the ships are trying to teleport Howard off of them. This gives Howard an idea.
Howard is teleported to the bigger ship, that belongs to the Stranger. Neither one is impressed with the other. Howard wants answers from the Stranger. People want Howard as instead of using fancy technology (that could be chancy) Howard is a done-in-one trip. You think of the location, Howard makes it happen – super simple. Strange further explains that Howard has the ability to create new universes as well.
Stranger, as a scientist, would love to create a new universe that he can study and be a “god scientist” of. Howard agrees to be the gateway to this new universe, he only wants his friends to be set free. Stranger doesn’t like Howard having friends, that could be distracting, so Stranger blows up their ship.
Five minutes earlier, elsewhere. Tara, Linda and Shocket are teleported into a cargo bay. They are not sure where they are, they only know that Howard sent them someplace that they can get help at. They turn a corner to see . . .
The Guardians of the Galaxy! This is the first part of three issues guest starring the Guardians!
Feather Regions, no letters but some fun plugs and segues. This is written by Wil Moss, who is a Kitty Pryde fanboy so now I follow him on Twitter. @Wil_Moss, good guy.
Mostly the page has promotions for Gwenpool and her special that is coming out.
Then we got the final back-up that teams up Gwenpool and Howard the Duck.
Ms. Poole if You’re Nasty
Part Three of Three
Writer Christopher Hastings
Artist Danilo S. Beyruth
Color Artist Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer Travis Lantham
Issue opens with Howard giving Black Cat a box. Then the next page, starts the tale of how he got the box.
Howard and Gwenpool are crash landing into a Hydra base. Gwenpool, who seems more like Deadpool than Gwen Stacy – so a lady Deadpool who shows off her legs – something that Spider-Gwen doesn’t do in her costume, she’s covered from head to toe. Howard is also in a Deadpool-esque story.
There is a female head of Hydra, who isn’t Viper. She is working on that classic villain scheme of creating a disease and providing the cure afterwards.
Apparently, Gwenpool sold Hydra the disease and now is trying to get it back. I could have really used a recap page PLUS a page of what Gwenpool’s deal is.
Gwenpool calls the lady, Madame Hydra, but that isn’t her name. She and Viper are brunettes (though I always prefer Viper as a green haired beauty) but they are not the same person. Gwenpool references that she read an old Nick Fury story involving Madame Hydra’s weakness which reminds me that I believe Gwenpool is from our reality, somehow in a comic book – probably Marvel’s way of explaining her ability to fourth wall breakage.
Gwenpool grabs the box and drinks the virus. NotViper tells everyone to evacuate.
Howard stops NotViper by throwing a table at her. Gwenpool thought the guy, who was affected by the virus, and that he had super-mumps. She was vaccinated for mumps in her universe, so she thought she wouldn’t have to worry about it. Howard shouts at her that they have the mumps vaccine in the Marvel Universe too. Just then, the effects of the virus hit Gwenpool. Lady Hydra offers the cure, so that she doesn’t get sick and Gwenpool injects herself with it.
The Present. Black Cat as the box but now the people who first sold it to her want it back. I take it, there has been several double crosses here. They offer Felicia double the money and she takes the new deal.
Turns out, it wasn’t the person who sold Black Cat the virus but Gwenpool in disguise.
A decent nine page story, I’m sure I’m suppose to wikipedia “Gwenpool” and I may one day but not today.
I’m super excited about the next two issues of this title though, I can’t wait!
Issue opens where the last one ended. The Sinister created Cyclops (a mixed of Summers’ DNA and some unknown Inhuman DNA) stands before the X-Men. Jean reads its mind and conforms that isn’t the real Cyclops. That’s all Old Man Logan needed to hear, as he charges at NotCyclops, Notclops.
Notclops blasts Old Man Logan through the sewers and out onto the streets. Sinister doesn’t want Notclops to be hurt, but the X-Men don’t care what Sinister wants. Storm tells Iceman to deep freeze Notclops.
It doesn’t take long for the Inhuman DNA to take over and Notclops grows even more scales and loses control. Sinister gets lost in this dramatic transformation and while he is distracted, Colossus straight punches him in the back. Colossus does it so hard that we get to see a Gwen Stacy inspired “SNAP!” So Sinister’s back is way broken.
Storm checks in on Jean. Iceman gives chase after Notclyops. Colossus has to stay behind to watch over Illyana. Iceman tries to confine Notclops in a ice ring.
Jean can’t shut Notclops down, as it doesn’t have a brain. Storm tells Jean to look after Old Man Logan. Storm will take on Notclops and Iceman starts saving civilians.
Illyana is starting to wake up. She directs her brother to turn around. A body of Sinister picks up the head of the broken back Sinister and puts it into its neck. This body is suppose to be more durable than the last one. Colossus is ready for Round Two.
Jean checks in on Old Man Logan, I like how slow his healing factor is now. That was one of the biggest issues with Present Day Wolverine.
Iceman saves a dude whose legs are stuck under a bus. Iceman creates a giant Abominable Snowman to lift the bus.
Storm tries to talk Notclops down but he can only growl. Old Man Logan gets a few slices in but gets blasted back.
Colossus keeps beating on Sinister. Sinister makes the point that Colossus wrecks and he builds. With that, Sinister slams Colossus into the ground.
Sinister’s experiments has revealed that mutants are dying (again). Mutants are no long Homo Superior, they have become Inferior.
Meanwhile, Jean has been keeping Notclops’ body from exploding and is trying to raise it into the air to cut down on the blast radius.
Illyana has gotten into the fight, with the bold move of slicing Sinister’s head off.
Magik doesn’t think the X-Men are the last of their kind but the first. I like the phase “Children of Xavier” it just rings true and I really dig Illyana making with a monologue. She’s typically more of a doer than a talker.
Notclops explodes in the sky, so he isn’t coming back anytime soon.
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Illyana looks to be drawn taller now, but I’m sure that’s just an artistic choice.
Poor Kurt, he has clearly been through some things but he does recognize one of his oldest friends, and her brother.
The X-Men are finally reunited, for the first time this series. Jean wants to go home but Storm has a speech she wants to make. She tells everybody in attendance, and the world around them (via the news crew) that the mutant race is dying.
The X-Men will no longer be hiding. They will continue to protect and serve those who would fear and hate them. They will also be gathering any mutants that are not already at X-Haven. If anyone tries to hurt them, the X-Men will squash that fool.
Storm is still seeing Xavier’s ghost.
With a classic “to me, my X-Men” Storm asks Magik to send them home.
Cerebra likes Storm’s speech. Forge informs Storm that Maria Hill wants to have a meeting, so that they can get on the same page. Magik doesn’t trust SHIELD but Storm wants to give them a chance.
Magik notices that a fight occurred in Limbo, which I’m sure causes some conflict within her. She’ll have to tell those demons to leave the mutants alone.
Issue ends with Old Man Logan not wanting to go into the school. Jean thinks Glob Herman is a little cute and she tells Old Man Logan that there is a teenage Scott Summers, which doesn’t thrill him.
Next issue starts the Search and Rescue storyline, that Magik is involved in, so we’ll be definitely be buying it.
The Guardians are regrouping. Drax and Quill really want to go back to Spartax and save Gamora. Rocket wants to do that too, but only once they have an actual plan.
Quill is also motivated by not wanting the planet he is in charge of to be destroyed. Drax doesn’t want to live a friend behind, on a live battlefield. I get the impression that Pryde is on Rocket’s side.
Spartax. Where Gamora was Left to Die. (Depending on your point of view.) Gamora, to her credit, stands and prepares to fight Hala for a third round.
The team are making arguments of why they should go back and save Gamora. Rocket has to repeat, that they need a plan first. That is all he is trying to convey.
Grimm, who wasn’t around during Black Vortex, has to ask the question. Did they destroy Hala? I love how angry the dudes get over the question.
Quill taking the pause, before fully explaining the situation. They didn’t destroy the planet, they just didn’t save it. Quill’s father pressed a button and Hala (the planet, and thorneworld of the Kree) was destroyed.
Pryde tries to relieve the guilt Quill is feeling. I do like how Quill, though he may hate the administrative tasks of being the president of a student, he actually cares for his citizens. Is this what happened between the eight months? Quill pushing her away to get more involved with the planet? She didn’t want to be seen as First-Lady-In-Wait so started hanging out with the Guardians? I could see that being the issue, or the beginning of the issues. I suspect we are never going to find out what happened during the missing eight months. Or, all of the Marvel titles are going to have their third or fifth storylines, deal with the missing months.
Quill whispers that Earth is next on Hala’s hit list. This makes Pryde, Grimm and Venom committed to stopping Hala, even more.
Finally, the entire team tells Rocket that they are going back to Spartax.
On Spartax, Hala is beating Gamora even beyond the beating from before. Hala keeps asking where is King Peter Quill. King Quill finally states that he is there. Quill tries to charm Hala, to no effect.
Rocket is wearing a cute hoodie, that has room for his ears.
Quill tells Hala that it was his father who destroyed her planet. She understands this new information but it doesn’t change anything.
See how cute that hoodie is?
Quill tries to further explain that J-Son wouldn’t care if the planet that rejected him, was destroyed. She’s committed to her plan.
Quill gives Pryde the command and Pryde strikes!
Pryde pulls the same trick she did to Thor in Thor 427 / 428, where she phases a person into the ground. Which I’m surprised this doesn’t straight kills the person but we can’t be having Pryde murdering people using a planet.
To Hala’s credit, she doesn’t seem that wounded. It isn’t until the combined might of Drax and Grimm start slugging her, that she starts to bleed.
Hala explodes the ground around her. Everyone is knocked back. Is it me or is Quill overly concerned for Gamora’s health? Is that what happened between him and Pryde? Maybe I’m just looking for clues everywhere I can find them.
Gamora isn’t dead. Everyone is so glad to see her breathing.
Grimm has been spending this time, punching Hala’s face.
Quill wants to get the planet back in order, which seems to upset Pryde. I do like how Quill already has a plan to get the military back up on their feet.
I do like that panel of Pryde and Quill getting close, so those two are still sweet on each other.
As soon as one threat is down, Yotat, the Destroyer of Destroyers arrives. Rocket opens fire on Yotat, thinking the threat is taken care of.
Yotat still stands and it is his turn to unload his gun. The Guardians are knocked back, yet again.
Pretty good conclusion to the first arc. Though I imagine Yotat and Hala team-up and this storyline isn’t over yet.
There is an Original Trek meets Original X-Men (plus Bishop, Storm and Wolverine – of course) but that one doesn’t involve Kitty so it lacks being in my collection. This one, involves the best series of the Star Trek franchise – The Next Generation. Largely due to them having the best captain, Jean-Luc Picard. Though those first two seasons are hard to watch, largely due to the heavy focus on Wesley Crusher and Data. So the next generation of the Enterprise meets the next generation of the X-Men.
This story takes place a minute after Star Trek : First Contact –
Thanks to YouTuber Nathan Travis for hosting the trailer!
In that film, old nemesis (and possibly the most dangerous) The Borg go back in time to stop humans “first contact” with an alien race. Hence why this is titled, Second Contact. The Enterprise is in back in time, already but not only go further in time but they also go into an alternate universe where the X-Men are.
In fact, this comic starts one minute after the end credits of that film. Which I really need to see if I can find a copy of the film to watch.
The cast of the two teams are –
Star Trek : Next Generation : Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander William T. Rider, Commander Data, Commander Deanna Troi, Dr. Beverly Crusher, Lt. Commander Geordi LaForge, Lt. Commoner Worf and the Borg. X-Men : Wolverine, Storm, Angel, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Colossus, Banshee, Kang, Sentinels and the Thunderbolts.
Captain’s Log. April 5, 2063 – or so. The Enterprise is trying to wade through time to get back to their present. Once out of warp, they notice they are not near their Earth.
Editor “Continuity Chief” Timothy Tuohy lets us know that this issue takes place before X-Men Zero Tolerance, Heroes Return and Thunderbolts 10 – so we know exactly where we are.
Their attempt to go forward in time has caused them to go backwards in time. Geordi informs them that they need to replace their processing core. Crusher tries to explain that this primitive Earth shouldn’t have that type of continuity. Riker corrects her, there is Shi’ar tech that has been located and will work. Little do they know how much alien life has come into contact with this Earth. Picard is going to send two away teams – to the two locations in North America that has the technology they need.
The first team – Worf, Riker and Crusher, come across the Thunderbolts. In the late 90s, in Star Trek time, New York City should be in the Eugenics War. The three have come to the Baxter Building, which is currently the homebase of the Thunderbolts. Their twelfth issue is so great.
Since the first team came across costume folk, they abandon that goal and try a nice country home in Westchester.
Banshee likes that the X-Men have come together, not during a time of crisis, but to just hang out. This really is a decent group of seven X-Men. Angel serves as the Original Five placeholder; Kitty, Kurt and even Colossus represent Excalibur as well as the inclusion of Storm and Wolverine adds to the 35th Anniversary era. Banshee is the lone holdout, except he adds another face from the Second Class of X-Men.
Kitty likes it when they gather too.
The second away team is – Geordi, Data and Troi. Geordi locates the Shi’ar tech behind a panel. Before he can make much progress, Wolverine pops his two outer claws around Geordi’s throat. Data grabs Wolverine by the shoulder and merely flings him across the room. We get a fun match up between Data and Colossus. Colossus throws a punch, Data tries to catch it but ends up on the other side of the room, as well.
Troi gets between the boyz and quickly explains that they are from the Enterprise. Wolverine recognizes the name of the starship from the previous teamup.
Later, Picard can’t believe that he is following in the footsteps of his most illustrious predecessor.
Such a great double splash page of two groups together. The X-Men took the time to get dressed, as did Geordi, Data and Troi.
We get a very quick recap of the previous crossover. Picard also recaps his film, so now everyone knows what happened before they each woke up this morning.
Kitty, as the smartest person in the room, announces that the Enterprise being here is causing a major upset in the timestream.
I love how much Wolf and Wolverine (who are great together) are so over timelines and alternate Earths. A stable of both franchises.
Troi states that an evil presence is is about to arrive.
That force is . . . Kang! An Avengers villain but the X-Men don’t really have a time traveling foe so the villain borrowing makes sense. Always better to use an established character instead of creating a new one.
Is only Banshee facing Kang? That’s not good staging on Kang’s behalf.
Kang doesn’t waste too much time explaining the stakes. There is a grave disruption in the time space continuities, so the two franchises’ histories are about to mix. As fun as it is to read, it isn’t great for the characters. There are two huge anomalies that need intimidate attention.
I do like Picard and Storm having asides with each other.
Riker’s providing a log. Kang gave them eight chronal compass watches, so there will be two groups of four characters. Team One is – Colossus, Picard, Troi and Kurt. Team Two is – Wolverine, Data, Storm and Worf. A bit of an odd grouping for both sets. At least Wolverine and Worf makes sense. Surprised the writers didn’t try to put Colossus and Data on the same teams, or some other fun combo like Picard and Storm on the same team.
That leaves poor Kitty, Angel and Banshee just standing around on the Enterprise-E.
Team One goes to the Days of Future Past timeline – the most famous of the X-Men’s alternate histories. Makes sense that Colossus is on this team as his future self is in the storyline. Storm was too so she really should have been on this team. I guess Wolverine and Kitty could have been there too.
Kurt talks about this as if it makes perfect sense, I guess Rachel probably painted a very visual telling of this future. 2013 is still the far future, in the late 90s. Filthy flatscans begin to throw rocks at the mutants and Starfleet officers. Sentinels arrive on scene and everyone scatters.
Team Two. Data recognizes that they are in the middle of The Battle of Wolf 359 –
This happens during Star Trek Next Generation’s Best of Both Worlds Part II and Deep Space Nine’s pilot, Emissary, during Captain Sisko’s flashback. Picard was assimilated into the Borg fold at this point. The Borg use his knowledge of Starfleet to make short work of the opposition.
The battle from Emissary –
Thanks to YouTuber Psyker Sith for hosting this video.
The aftermath (and the lead up) from Best of Both Worlds, Part II –
Thanks to YouTuber Mad Monkey for hosting this video.
So for those folks who are not familiar with Star Trek / Borg canon, that’s the best I can do. I hope it helps.
Worf and Wolverine start tearing into the Borg. Storm whips up a tornado, which may not be the smartest move on a spaceship. With a lightning strike, the Borg are taken out.
Days of Future Past. Picard takes down a Sentinel. As do Colossus and Kurt. Troi feels like something is missing. Kang, talking aloud, to himself. He reveals, to himself, his own plans, that the anomalies are keeping history together, so once the heroes fix those two pieces – history should be for Kang’s taking.
On the bridge of the Enterprise. Two officers are getting restless, as Kitty has to watch on. Just then, Wesley Crusher and the Traveler arrive.
Traveler explains how Kang is tricking them into doing his bidding. The anomalies need to stay in place, as time fixes itself.
I do like the idea of Wesley and Kitty being a pair. Traveler is going to guide the Enterprise to where Kang is. Mr. Crusher and Ms. Pryde are going to warn the teams.
As the two youngsters leave, Banshee and Angel reflect on how Kitty has grown up.
Battle of Wolf 359. Sisko is giving orders to Thunderbird, so we know he is the anomaly. Now we just need Sunfire and all of the Second Class folks would be present. Well, and Cyclops too, I suppose.
Wolverine is about to kill Thunderbird (as he’s better than Count Nefaria, I guess). Luckily, Kitty arrives and hugs Wolverine. Wesley is forced to yell at Data to not do anything that Kang told them to do. Storm wants an explanation, I would have just taken Kitty at her word. I’m good like that.
Just then, Sisko is about to be killed when Proudstar takes the hit – like a champ.
Data suspects that Kang wanted Sisko to die so that he never becomes the Emissary of the Prophets. Wesley tells them to use their watches to go back to the Enterprise. Kitty and him need to catch up to the other team. Worf respects how brave Kitty is.
Kang breaks a monitor, as the Enterprise attacks. Kang isn’t gong to go down quietly.
Days of Future Past. We get to see Tasha Yar filling in for Rachel Grey, as Kate Pryde sleeps. Well, as she’s back in the 80s and it is really Kitty’s mind that is taking the nap.
Kurt is able to work in the phase “Days of Future Past” which can’t be easy to do.
Troi confirms this isn’t their Tasha Yar.
Picard can’t bring himself to kill Yar. Wesley and Kitty arrive to stop what Picard has already decided to not do.
Borg inspired Sentinels break through the walls.
I don’t quite get how Tasha Yar was able to send Kate’s mind back to the past, that isn’t part of her skill set. She was a kick arse Security Chief.
Troi volunteers to replace Yar and get the two Prydes minds back to their rightful bodies.
Colossus and Kitty are taking out SentiBorgs.
Wait, did Colossus fastball special Kitty? He’s been doing that since before Whedon did it, that’s pretty awesome.
Kitty destroys a head of a SentiBorg and lands. She sees Troi syncing Yar and Kate’s minds.
Kitty, for the first time, witnesses the event that has been a pretty pivotal moment in her history. One of the first real defining stories of hers.
Wait, am I reading Troi’s dialogue correctly? Kate’s mind is going back to Tasha Yar’s younger mind? Shouldn’t this have been Rachel doing this to a sleeping Yar? That would have make more sense.
Riker, Banshee and the Traveler are on Kang’s ship. As soon as Traveler is finished tampering with Kang’s ship, the come back to the bridge. Picard and the gang are waiting for him.
The two ships begin a fire fight. The Enterprise ends the duel with a win.
Captain’s Log, Kang’s ship imploded onto itself. Kitty kisses Wesley on the cheek! If only we could get a tad more of that relationship. The two teams say their good byes.
The X-Men return to Earth and one second later, are beginning the adventure of Planet X, which we’ll be reviewing in a few days.
Head Writers / Coordinators Jeff Christiansen & Mike O’Sullivan
Assistant Coordinators Stuart Vandal, Markus Raymond & Mike Fichera
Writers Sean McQuaid, Rob London, Stuart Vandal, Kevin Garcia, Michael Hoskin, Ronald Byrd, Madison Carter, Markus Raymond, David Wiltfong & Chris Biggs
Cover Artists Tom Raney with Frank D’Armata
Cover Dated March 2011
Last year, we lost legend Alan Kupperberg and we are remembering him with this issue.
His art is used in the World War Two section –
He drew Josef Stalin.
Other events featured in this handbook –
Annihilation War
Armor Wars
Atlantis Attacks
Avengers / Defenders War
Battletide
Civil War
Crossing
Dark Reign
Destiny War
Doom Supreme
Evolutionary War
Fall of the Hammer
Forces of Darkness, Forces of Light
Great Cataclysm
Heroes Reborn / Return
House of M / M-Day – Kitty at least played a role in this one
I.T. Plot
Inferno!
Art by Marc Silvestri
Art by Alan Davis
A storyline that ends Magik and only halts Kitty just a tad.
Infinity Gauntlet, Kitty appeared in one panel of this event
Kree-Skrull War
Lost in Space-Time
Maximum Carnage, still one of the greatest Spider-Man stories of all time!
Maximum Security
Midnight Massacre
Mutant Massacre
Art by Gus Vazquez
A storyline that took Kitty out of the X-Men and her into forming Excalibur.
Mys-Tech Wars, Kitty played a small role in this one
Odyssey
Operation : Galactic Storm
Richards-Storm Wedding
Secret Invasion
Secret Wars
Art by Angel Medina
This image is from the Venom Dark Origin miniseries. Kitty and Lockheed both played parts of this one, Kitty in memories but Lockheed was present.
