X-Men Ultra Collection 2

Posted by John Klein III on June 28, 2015
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . 1 Comment

X-Men Ultra Collection 2

Cover Dated January 1995

Cover by Joe Phillips

http://www.newsarama.com/24887-earl-norem-passes-away-at-91.html

On June 19, 2015, we lost Earl Norem, he was 91 years old.  Unfortunately, this is the only comic that I own, that features his work.  Norem was born on April 17, 1924 and this is the type of work he did.

This five issue series was the comic form of the 1994 Fleer Ultra X-Men Collection.  Which I can only imagine the artist really like this idea.  Instead of their art being barely seen on a trading card, it is on a nice glossy 8×11 sheet of paper.

Earl Norem contributed with a pretty awesome Omega Red image.

X-Men Ultra Collection 2 Earl Norem Omega Red

There are two other pages that are worth noting.

Bo Hampton’s spectacular Cypher –

X-Men Ultra Collection 2 Bo Hampton Cypher

The other one is Brian Stelfreeze’s Shadowcat –

X-Men Ultra Collection 2 Brian Stelfreeze Shadowcat

Finally, Joe Phillips’ cover is actually a pull out cover for Excalibur, with the front cover being of Rachel Grey and the back cover being Nightcrawler –

X-Men Ultra Collection 2 Joe Phillips Nightcrawler

and Shadowcat being the pull out –

X-Men Ultra Collection 2 Joe Phillips Shadowcat

I also really like how the comic itself, on the reverse of the Shadowcat image, that has the artist breakdown and the character they drew – that made this post so much easier to do.

It makes sense that these would make up the cover as they form one complete image –

X-Men Ultra Collection 2 Joe Phillips Shadowcat X-Men Ultra Collection 2 Joe Phillips Nightcrawler X-Men Ultra Collection 2 Joe Phillips Rachel

Which is pretty awesome!

Thanks to Comic Collector for having the images of the trading cards so readily available!

http://www.comiccollectorlive.com/LiveData/CoverTitle_Grid.aspx?id=02f096ec-9c61-4789-9751-90b6da0e13c5

Earl Norem, you will be missed.

I own this issue and the fifth issue is on my Wishlist.  I’m pretty sure I owned this cards (or some of them) back in the day as I was crazy for Marvel superhero trading cards in the 90s.

Father’s Day 2015 Present

Posted by John Klein III on June 27, 2015
Posted in: Bragging Rights, Purchases. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

My wife was nice enough to let me buy back issues for Father’s Day, this year.

Thanks to the great Mile High Comics, I was able to spend $50.16.  The code word was, SANDIEGO, which gave me 20% off.  Also, due to the upcoming convention, the prices were all slashed, as well.

Like always, I went to my Wishlist over at comicbookdb.com.  I looked at my 14 pages, seeking out the issues that are in the upper left corner and the bottom right corner – because I may be crazy.

I was going to buy Marvel Zombies Halloween, but Mile High Comics didn’t have a copy.  Next, I was going to buy the variant cover to Wolverine and the X-Men 25, with Kitty Pryde and Iceman’s son but it was $25, more than I was hoping for.  I need those two for my Pryde’s Pride collection.

So here are the comics I bought –

Superboy (1993) 27 $6.75
Avengers Academy (2010) 3 Women Variant $7.50
Classic X-Men 46 $1.45
Classic X-Men 48 $1
New Avengers (2010) 3 Women Variant $3
Official Index to the Marvel Universe 9 $1.50
Official Index to the Marvel Universe 10 $1.50
Uncanny X-Men (2011) 1 Keown Variant $3.75
X-Men (1963) 544 2nd Printing Variant $2.40
X-Men Schism (2011) 2 $2.75

So that takes care of the corners, that were available as well as what was under ten dollars.  That gave me ten comics for $31.60, so I was still under the fifty dollars gift.

So I went and looked at what series I had a lot of issues listed in my Wishlist.

I had fifteen issues listed under the original volume of Uncanny X-Men, including the 544 2nd Printing.  I added these –

X-Men (1963) 176 $3.50
X-Men (1963) 205 $2.90
X-Men (1963) 449 $1.75
X-Men (1963) 452 $1.50
X-Men (1963) 472 $5.25

I was able to add five issues, for a total of 15 comics for $46.50, still under fifty.  Which now means I have nine issues left, so that is nice.

My second most series, in need of attention, was the third volume of New Mutants, with twelve issues.

New Mutants (2009) 1 Benjamin Variant $2.05
New Mutants (2009) 4 70th Anniversary Variant $3.25
New Mutants (2009) 6 Zombie Variant $3.75
New Mutants (2009) 17 $1.50

Now, I only need eight issues of that series.  This brought my total to $56.55 and nineteen comics.  I typed the code word and my total became $45.24, so I could add a few more.

My third series was the third volume of Uncanny X-Men, with nine issues.

Uncanny X-Men Special (2014) 1 Brooks Variant
Uncanny X-Men (2013) 7 $3.75

Which was nice as that issue seven, should have came to Hastings but they never got that box.  I’m pretty sure that I am only missing Scarlet Spider 19 now. Which brought my total to$62.70, saving $12.54 with SANDIEGO and my real total being, $50.16, which is amazing it worked out that way.

I only have seven issues of Uncanny X-Men Volume Three, so we are chipping away at that list.  I went that direction, as I often default to going after series that only have one issue, that I want.  It was time for a change.

I’m very pleased that I got so many variants in this batch.  Eight, in total!

I know I’m still not done releasing my reviews from Christmas and my birthday but they are typed.  Expect them at some point in the future.

Thanks again to my lovely wife for the gift and thanks to Walker Dennis for being the greatest gift.

Big Brother 17 – Thursday – June 25, 2015

Posted by John Klein III on June 26, 2015
Posted in: Reality Television. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

So we get the Thursday episode at 10pm, like the Wednesday episode as it must be because it is midnight on the East Coast.

oh Chenbot, that flower dress is horrible!

I missed Da’vonne lying about her job.  2nd grade teacher instead of poker dealer.

Julie doesn’t have time for a, but first!  She won me back!

Liz, Miami and pretty attractive.  She’s also the twin. Boob-tastic, too.  More on that, later.

Jason, stock boy in Massachusetts.  Lives in his mother’s basement.  He watches the feeds and seems like an actual superfan.

Vanessa, professional poker player.

John is a rock star dentist, a thing, I guess.  From Pennsylvania.  Seems high energy but also, an arse.

Becky, from Denver, Colorado.  An attractive brunette.  28.

Steve, from New York – likes music and is a huge nerd.  He may be my favorite, thus far.

Vanessa is one of those, lesbian, types.

Becky seems like the girl for guys who feel attracted to Audrey, but feel weird about it.

Liz’s dress is awfully short!

Julie explains the two twists to the second six.

First three – Liz, Becky and Steve – my favorites thus far – to get into the house.

Steve seems to be a nice super fan too.

Becky Burgess and Liz Nolan, for the image searches.

Jace comes on to Becky, way too hard.  Meg and Steve have a nice moment.

The final three – Jason (who is short), Vanessa, and John (sadly, I forgot his name)

I hope Vanessa doesn’t go too much into, game theory, though I do find it interesting but it can get old on the edit shows.

Round Table introductions.

So many people around the table.  Da’vonne thinks John is lying so she’s not that smart.  Liz wants to hook up in the house.  Jace is way interested.  Steve reminds me of Freddie Prinze Jr.’s character from Boys and Girls.

Vanessa lies about being a poker player, she’s a DJ now.  Da’vonne doesn’t’ recognize her.

Jason is gay, to put it out there.

Audrey tells the whole house.  Super supportive!

James says smokebombs for Becky, Liz and Vanessa, I sort of like the term.

There are two empty chairs.

BB Takeover is coming up next.

Phil of Amazing Race is the first BB Takeover guest!  Julie is the wife of Phil’s boss.  Phil looks so different.  So the rumor is right, the last two guests are Amazing Race alums.  These two are – Jeff and Jackie, who didn’t know each other before the race.  They have stayed dating, after that show.  Jackie is pretty boob-tastic, as well.  Jackie Ibarra.  They are close but not dating.

Phil should host Big Brother!!!

I much rather be on Big Brother than Amazing Race but I would love to be on Amazing Race.  I have no interest in being on Survivor.

We have the full 16 houseguests now.

Jackie is a professional dancer.

Vanessa is going to sit out of the second HoH competition.  So both poker related peeps sat out and Clay offered up the same deal, that they can’t be nominated.

HoH is alien farmer competition.

Liz is wearing twice as much clothes now that she is wearing overalls.  UFOhNo.  They have to hold onto their stakes, if not, they get sucked up into the UFO.

John isn’t good with puns.  Jace references the tomato sauce and the contestants get peed on with green slime, you can’t do that on television, style.

It must be giving them wedgies.

Where did Steve go!?!  oh good, he was dropped into the hay.  I hope he doesn’t get nominated.

I get the Pee Wee Herman impression from Jason now.

Jeff is second out.  John is third out.  Becky, fourth.

Liz / Jackie and Jason – are the last three.  Liz has quite the accent, like a Scarlet Johannason accent.  Liz and Jackie are close to losing.

Phil isn’t done with his take over!

Liz is fifth out.  Two left.

I suspect Jason is going to need a new job, once he is out.  Jason makes a deal with Jackie, to not put her up.  I like these two together.  No time stamp for how long that lasted?

Jason and James, both HoH.

Sunday is Battle of the Block, Wednesday’s episode is PoV.  No official twin reveal.  It is Liz.

Phil isn’t done with his Takeover.  Phil reveals that there is an award for Da’vonne and Vanessa for sitting out.

I’m a fan of this cast, thus far.

Julia and Liz Nolan –

Liz and Julia Nolan twins

Liz Nolan –

Liz Nolan

Becky Burgess –

Becky Burgess bikini

Big Brother 17 – Wednesday – June 24, 2015

Posted by John Klein III on June 25, 2015
Posted in: Reality Television. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Part One of the Two Part Premiere!

Julie Chen looked pretty nice in her black outfit.

For those curious, the Roku’s CBS All Access has the episodes aired same day but at 10pm. Which is midnight on the East Coast, I reckon.

Three twists!  One American secret, One Fan Favorite and BB Takeover.

BUT FIRST!!!

First eight house guests –

James, South Carolina.  Super country.

Meg, New York City.  Always on the move.  Gusbend!?!

Jace, Venice, California.  Skateboard.

Audrey, Georgia.  Girly girl.

Austin, Professional Wrestler – Judas, but barely.  Master degree in Medieval Literature.

Da’Vonne – Inglewood.  Freeland poker dealer.  Has a baby.  Single parent.

Clay, farmer.  My wife thinks he is cute.  apparently

Shelli, 33, Atlanta, GA.  Home decorator.  Divorce, newly single.  Puma is a 30 year old cougar.

I’m not sure if I could have left Walker Dennis at that young age.  I feel bad as she isn’t going to still be in the house, come August.

98 days!

First four – Da’Vonne, Shelli, Clay and Austin are in the house!

The Dairy Room reminds me of season two.  Which I’m currently watching.

The next four go in.

Audrey hints that she has a secret.

Beach house theme.

Clay plays Texas football.  Keeping secrets already.

Clay and Shelli are attracted to each other.  Heart Murmurs, first alliance!  So fun

James likes Meg.  James has a three year old daughter.

Audrey.  First Transgender Person on Big Brother!  Gets some compliments.  Completely transition three years ago, so that’s out there.  She doesn’t look that bad, probably due to being so far along on her path.

Fan favorite twist, coming up!

Trying to find pictures of Julie Chen from this episode, online, but it is too early.  Anyone know of any websites that are stating that they will be on top of this?  Never really did find a reliable one, last season.

The plan, right now, is to stay up these nights and type them so that I can stay current.  But we may be a day late, sometimes.

All lady alliance?  Has to happen once.  Crazy eyes abound and head nods.

I say, ya’ll, but mostly online.  So I type it.

Audrey’s family are conservative which is a shame as she should have been supportive.  They are cool now.

First twist!  Two twists!  Fan Favorite – Battle of the Block, not that great of a twist but it gave the show a decent structure.

HoH competition!  I do like the idea of using the two night premiere to introduce the cast slowly.  Though it does cause early alliances but that part settles down after the third day.

Da’vonne volunteers to sit it out.

Third secret twist!

I wish CBS All Access had three more commercials in circulation, the same four are super annoying!

We’re wondering if the Thursday episode will go online at 11pm instead f 10pm.  Which would mean that I can do the Wednesday and Sunday posts, no problem but the Thursdays may be watched on Friday and posted on Sunday.  We’ll figure that out when it happens.

ET’s Kevin Frasier!?!  That isn’t great, but I wonder how many hosts of the week, will be actors pimping their summer movies.

HoH Competition is the plank competition.  Flying Tomatoes.  Plank but where you have to catch the ball, like the baseball comp last year that determined the returning castmate.

Tomatoes are hackey sacks, that are being thrown at them pretty quickly and hard.

Clay the first to drop

Meg and Austin dropped, as well.  Jace caught himself from falling.

James in the lead with three

Austin tore the set!

Audrey and Jace come back and tie with James, with five.  Shelli has three.

James, six then seven – so quickly.  Eight!  Ten is the goal.

Everyone drops.  The replay will determine who dropped last.  They should go with the most balls, but I thought I saw Jace save himself the third time but still fall.

Shelli, Audrey, Jace and James dropped last.

The right person won!

I thought James lives in Texas, I guess he is from South Carolina and now lives in Texas?

Second Twist!  New twist is – a new twist will occur, every week.  BB Takeover, is the name.  “Get Ready For A Takeover” sound cue.  A person or a thing will be the twist.

There will be no preparing for this!

Third twist will have us seeing double.

I wish I could write to Roku and say “we will never use Aflac” so we don’t have to see this ad anymore.  Or Olay Regenerist with Katie Holmes.  I’m glad she is taking beauty into her own hands.  Sprint Family plan, it is good for families of three, four or five.  Families of six?  You did it wrong, I’m sorry.

Twin Twist, one of the hosueguests have an identical twin, so a repeat of season five’s twist.  They have to survive five weeks, by not being discovered.

We get the next eight house guests teased.

Two of them do seem boob-tastic but time will tell.

Great first episode!  Thursday episodes may be posted on Sunday, Sunday episodes on Monday and Wednesdays on Thursday, is the current plan.

So excited!

. . .

I want to wish my beautiful wife a happy birthday!  I love you, ladybug!

Big Brother 17

Posted by John Klein III on June 24, 2015
Posted in: Reality Television, Websites. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

I haven’t wanted to talk too much about Big Brother 17, for a couple reasons.  It looked like, for the first time ever, that we were not going to be able to watch it.  This was due to us dropping cable and switching over to HuluPlus, which naturally doesn’t have CBS – which is completely lame!

This year, the live feeds, done through CBS, so now (for the low price of six dollars per month) we get like 6,500 episodes including every one of Big Brother – past and present!  So we haven’t been able to see if the first episode comes out live or do we have to wait but for anyone who was a fan of the Big Brother posts last year, they are coming back!  If not just slightly delayed!

I really enjoy them and they caused a nice spike in visitors to this blog, so I’m going to try it again.

The three best websites to find Big Brother news are –

http://big-brother-17-blog.blogspot.com/

http://www.hamsterwatch.com/

http://bigbrothernetwork.com/

I’ve decided to follow all three on Twitter, so my feed is going to be all #BB17 for three months.

If you like charts and such (I know I do!) the official Wikipedia page will be pretty handy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Brother_17_%28U.S.%29

I could never be counted amongst these, but can you imagine?  I like to think that I do pretty good summaries and have decent reactions to events.

They have announced the cast –

http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_brother/cast/

They seem like decent enough people.  There are a few stunt castings but I don’t recognize any of the three.  Austin Matelson is a professional wrestler but a quick Google search reveals that he is barely one, working in the WWE through their NXT subdivision, so he will probably be given a quick shot at something, once this is over.  I’m sure that depends on him and how much he promotes the company.  Hopefully he remembers that there are hundreds of cameras on him and doesn’t say anything negative about the company.

Here is the Wikipedia page for anyone who might want quick summaries on the rest of the cast –

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Big_Brother_17_HouseGuests_%28U.S.%29

Vanessa Rousso is another stunt casting, as she is (apparently) a world famous poker player.  Another house guest is, Da’Vonne, who is a poker dealer, which I imagine is Production’s way of forcing a quick alliance or some tension.  Though, if I was Vanessa, I would just tell people that she’s famous, up front as no one likes a liar.  Especially at the beginning.

The third stunt casting, as CBS is always on the cutting edge, is – Audrey, who is the first transgender houseguest in the American Big Brother franchise.  Which I’m completely cool and supportive, I wouldn’t blame her for not coming out about that, right off the bat but I can see Production instructing slash guiding her to do so.

Here is hoping that these houseguests are fun and can keep the drama at a cool simmer.

Audrey, Jason and Steve are all super fans, so hopefully their fandom leads to calculated game moves and some caution at the offset of the game.  Don’t play too hard at the beginning.

One of the big twists this week, is that guests will be coming – once a week – to provide the new twist, each week.  Which is merely Productions way of having fan favorites return, in an oh so clever way.  Hopefully they get Britney Hayes to return!  I’m sure they will get her and Rachel and Jeff is always around.

Another twist?  There are 14 known houseguests but 16 keys and such, so two are a mystery.

The season is to last from June 24th to September 23rd, the longest season, by one day!  That’s 98 days!  Which doesn’t mess up my summer plans for S&FwM that much, except for July but I should know the schedule and how we’re going to be watching it, by then.

While waiting for the first full cast photo, Entertainment Weekly had some nice full body shots of the houseguests –

http://www.ew.com/gallery/big-brother-cast-portraits-2015?hootPostID=ef92bcb2de390a6e09e6db47ec673fac

None seem to be boob-tastic so that’s unfortunate but one never knows which lady will be fond of bikinis and laying about the pool.

One fun consequence of having the CBS All Access channel, on the Roku, is that we have the ability to watch all of the previous episodes of Big Brother.  My goal is to watch seasons two through seven – the ones I haven’t seen.

Jason Mraz – I Won’t Give Up

Posted by John Klein III on June 23, 2015
Posted in: Fun With YouTube, Songs. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Thanks to YouTuber Jason Mraz for hosting his own video!

I really adore this song, especially that middle section that sounds like Mraz must have incredible lung control to hold his breath that long.  Are there other songs with that type of speed or tempo change?

Gavin DeGraw’s Best I Ever Had doesn’t quite have that same moment but I do like how it does speed up in its own way –

Thanks to YouTuber GavinDeGrawVEVO for hosting this video.

Which this song seems like it shares the same tempo, sort of, with Train’s 50 Ways to Say Goodbye

Thanks to TrainVEVO for hosting this video.

or maybe I just like listening to all three songs in a row.  That’s probably it.

. . .

Post 725!

Uncanny X-Men 525

Posted by John Klein III on June 22, 2015
Posted in: Homage, Podcasts, Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men 525

Written by Matt Fraction

Penciled by Terry Dodson

Inked by Rachel Dodson

Colored by Justin Ponsor

Lettered by VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover Dated August 2010

Cover by Adi Granov

Second Coming, Part Ten of Fourteen

I had originally own this issue and then sold it to Lonestar Comics.  While listening to Uncanny X-Cast 89, where Rob and Brian review this issue.

http://www.uncannyxcast.com/main/2010/6/23/episode-89-the-pasta-crumb-incident.html

Brian comments on a double page spread that is a clear homage to Uncanny X-Men 141,with the giant wall of slain or captured X-Men.  The podcast covers Second Coming, Chapters 8 – 11.  The review for 525 starts at 1:12:14 and ends at 1:15:21.

So I quickly checked to make sure I owned the issue, and sadly, I didn’t so I quickly went to my online list of comics I’m hoping to sell to Lonestar Comics and it wasn’t on that list.  Luckily, Hastings had a copy of it and now I own this again.

Previously, and this is nearly a solid page of a recap but I feel like it is pretty necessary as this is part ten of fourteen.  Hope and Cable are back from the future.  Bastion has been prepared for this day and has started an all out war on the X-Men.  The teleporters have been taken out as has the X-Jets.  Utopia and the surrounding area of San Francisco, are stuck in a pink bubble.  A team of X-Men are locating the energy source of the bubble and it turns out it is a portal to a possible future – of course.  Nimrods come out and the X-Men win this battle but some take severe injury.  Cyclops sends X-Force, Cable and Doug into the future to stop the onslaught of Nimrods.  Cable has given Hope a final goodbye.

Onto the issue!

Issue opens with Hope yelling at Cyclops as he just sent her father off to die in a suicide mission.  The worst thing about this is that, mentally, poor Scott is having to quietly deal with the fact that he sent his son, Cable, on a suicide mission.  As she is yelling at him, her eyes start to glow red, so this may be the first sign that Hope’s mutant power is power mimicry.

There is an ad for the Honda Insight, so go out and buy one of those!

The Dome.  San Francisco, CA.  The Fantastic Four arrive and I do enjoy seeing the Dodsons take on Marvel’s First Family.  Referring to the art, as much as I enjoy the Dodsons on art – and I do – but the trade for this crossover must read like it is all over the place with how every three issues, the art is more in a clean cartoony style.  The other artists have a more . . . realistic, isn’t the right word but it works for this point.

Speaking of my history with Second Coming, this storyline came out while Kitty was stuck in the space bullet so I got this due to Magik having various appearances in the story, which was great to see her having a larger role in a major crossover.  Of course, she spent most of her time as a prisoner in Limbo – so my issues are scattered.

I own Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10 and the Second Coming Prepare (two New Mutants issues, all three Uncanny X-Men issues, one X-Force issue, no X-Men Legacy issues – X-Factor was barely involved in this crossover).  I don’t own the Blind Science one shot but do own all three issues of Hellbound, that deals with Magik’s capture and eventful escape.  Of the bookend issues of the crossover, I only own the first issue of it.  Now that I have it written out, that isn’t to bad – I guess it goes to show that it starts off very strong and I missed out on the last four issues.

The Fantastic Four meet up with Thor, Iron Man and Bucky Cap.  Iron Man isn’t sure what the Dome is made out of.  Doctor Nemesis arrives with his fellow X-Club,  minus his trademark hat and mask – which I miss.  Nemesis doesn’t hide the fact that there is a genocide occurring inside of the dome.  Bucky Cap addresses the situation and takes charge.  He sends the brains, and I like how he makes a point of calling them Doctors Nemesis and Richards and has to address Stark separately.  That guy needs to get his doctorate.  For Thing and Thor, he tells them to keep hitting the dome, to see if it does have a weakness.

Utopia.  Cyclops is hooked up to Cerebro and Emma is helping him get the message out.  He reports that there are five more Nimrods to deal with, one is bad enough but five is high stakes.  Cyclops ends with stating that they are on their home turf, so they have to start fighting like it.  Which really, how smart was it to set the entire mutant race (or the bulk of it) in one specific and very public place.

Chinatown.  Storm and Surge are trying to save civilians.  Storm can’t make it rain inside of the dome but she does have her lightening powers.  Psylocke and Fantomex are inside a building.  Fantomex takes the time to make the famous Watchmen quote “I’m not trapped in here with you, you’re trapped in here with me” which maybe appears elsewhere before Alan Moore wrote it.  Fantomex comments on it being a stupid movie – for some reason.  Namor is holding his own against several Nimrods but requests help as five more just arrived.

In the Future.  X-Force plus Doug and Cable – see a future that is overrun with Sentinels.  Doug notices something to his right.

Uncanny X-Men 525 Magik Days of Future Past Homage

If finally dawns on Archangel that this future, the mutant race is nothing more than an ugly nightmare.  How great is it to see a massive wall homage of Uncanny X-Men 141’s cover?

Marvel Database is under the impression that Magik is the one that is below Havok, middle of Beast and Cable and above Professor Xavier.  Which is enough for me to seek this issue out.  If not, Second Coming would have ended with Chapter Seven.

Archangel is starting to lose his mind and Wolverine tries to keep him calm.  X23 is motivated by seeing that she is dead in this future and decides that everyone must die.

There is an ad for Ultimate X, which I own the first issue.

I like how Doug got an X-Force black and gray costume, that’s a nice touch.

Wolverine thinks that, since they are all dead, the future fools wouldn’t know how to fight them.  X-Force makes short work of the first wave of robots that are manned by humans.  Doug comments that all of the heavy duty machines are being sent to the present, so that’s why they shouldn’t have to worry about heavy artillery.

Cable wants everyone to commit to killing everyone that they come across until they are done with the situation.

Present Day.  Xavier, someone remembered to dust him off, confronts Cyclops – he never wanted Scott to have to deal with stuff like this.  Xavier wants to help and Cyclops tells him to work with Legion, his son.  Which is pretty rich Scott telling Xavier to spend time with his son as he is off sending his own son off to die.

Cyclops sends Rogue off to work with Hope, as Rogue was one of the first people to meet Hope.  In fact, Mystique forced a baby Hope’s head against Rogue’s sleeping lips and this cured Rogue of having all of the memories of The Children – the characters from Mike Carey’s opening storyline of his X-MEN run (that became Legacy).  Supernovas, was the name of the storyline.  Rogue crosses her heart, which is under her very open shirt with the zipper nearly down all the way down.  Oh Rogue, get it together!  Also, why so many Xs on her shirt?

Outside of the Dome.  Thor and Thing are giving the dome all that they have.  Reed tells them to stop, it has only gone down by 15 percent.  Iron Man states that they are one day away from getting inside.  Doctor Nemesis states that everyone inside will be dead within hours which is how we end the issue.

 

Uncanny X-Men 165

Posted by John Klein III on June 21, 2015
Posted in: Paul Smith, Review. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men 165

Writer Chris Claremont

Penciler Paul Smith

Inker Bob Wiacek

Colorist L. Varley

Letterer Tom Orzechowski

Cover Dated January 1983

The issue that gave us Paul Smith, everybody!  On the X-Men, I should say.

We start right where Dave Cockrum left us at the end of last issue, with the wall of their spaceship being breached and the X-Men are in danger of being sucked out of space.

Such an exciting way to start a run, right in the middle of life and death.  The stakes are pretty high.

Uncanny X-Men 165 Kitty 1

You have to like that caption, possibly the last stand of the Uncanny X-Men.  The Brood Saga must have blown people’s minds way back in 1983.  I would have been one years old, if the cover date was the actual date.  The X-Men really are at a all time low, in terms of emotions.  They are closer to death than they are to home.

So there is a hole in the ship. Cyclops quickly takes charge.  He has Colossus let go of whatever he’s holding and block anyone else from falling out into space.  Which is pretty smart, as worst case scenario, Colossus dies and best case, no one else does.

Kurt teleports Lilandra to the bridge, where she pumps in more oxygen.  Why Kurt doesn’t just keep making round trips, is beyond me.  I guess because it tires him when he teleports multiple people over multiple ports.

Cyclops has Wolverine cut up some floorboard.

Uncanny X-Men 165 Kitty 1

Wolverine collides into Colossus.  Both feel pain as it is metal on metal.

Cyclops’ plan is coming together.  He blasts the floorboard towards the hole.  Colossus moves himself and Wolverine out of the way.  Once the hole is sealed, gravity kicks in and the two X-Men drop to the ground.

Kitty runs over to them, more concern for Colossus.  Wolverine, without missing a beat, tells her that the Russian is okay and that he is too.

Wolverine doesn’t let a moment pass, they may have been saved here but their deaths are still coming. They all have a Brood egg inside of them that is slowing absorbing all of their memories and abilities.  Once it hatches, it will kill them.  Wolverine’s egg already hatched last issue and his healing factor barely kept him alive and to survive the ordeal.

Uncanny X-Men 165 Magik 1

Now we get to the section where Claremont gives Smith a chance to draw the rest of the characters who are on Earth.  Which is pretty great, as within six pages, he got to draw everybody and we get to see his takes on the characters.

See Illyana way up there on the high board?  That’s the only time we see her in the issue, but still, Paul Smith drawn Illyana!  That’s pretty nice.

I really like the idea of Stevie Hunter and Moira MacTaggert getting along.  The only thing they really have in common is that they are friends with the X-Men.  But Xavier has a pool, so why not enjoy themselves.  Smith draws the best Moira MacTaggert!  She looks like a real woman there.

Stevie feels bad for enjoying herself as the X-Men could be dead for all they know.

Xavier is off on his own, as moody as ever.  He doesn’t like the idea of not knowing where his team is.  Also, they are fighting a fight that he should be involved in.  He’s having a bit of a survivor’s guilt situation.

Poor Stevie, her injured knee gets a painful spasm and she has to sit down.  The knee is practically good as new, except she can’t dance professionally due to the strain of it.

Moira finds Xavier in his study.  Reed Richards sent a letter, telling him about a new mutants named Karma.  This is in reference to Marvel Team-Up 100.

Moira mentions how if Xavier doesn’t go, Karma will get help from elsewhere.  Such as from Magneto or Emma Frost.  Xavier doesn’t like how he is the only good option.

Storm is alone on her private ship.  Her Broodling egg is the second one to hatch.  Storm’s transformation begins.  She doesn’t want to kill the egg, as that is wrong but she also doesn’t want to kill herself.  Both go against her nature.  This is the beginning of 80s Storm coming to light.  Storm realizes there is a third option, kill both of them.

Scott and Lilandra are bonding as they try to fix the ship.  Wolverine continues to kill every jovial moment.  Wolverine comes across Kurt, who is praying.  Logan doesn’t believe in anything that he can’t sense.  I adore these two being friends.

Thanks to the excellent Kiotr website for these images.  The site goes down from time to time (for some reason) and I worry that eventually it will disappear forever so this is my way of ensuring that these images are not forever lost.

Uncanny X-Men 165 Kitty 2

Kitty is having a nightmare, brought on by the Brood seedling.

With this page, we get the amazing Paul Smith hairstyle with Kitty.  Look at all of those curls!  That must be a great shampoo they have on their ship.  Or would that be conditioner?  I’m not sure.  I wonder what the real world equivalent of that hair would look like?

I’m weird about Paul Smith’s hairstyles but they all look so realistic, even Wolverine’s!  Which is pretty impressive.

Kitty is dreaming about her would-be funeral.  Nice that the Brood brought their bodies to Earth, I suppose they would have to so that they can conquer it.

Kitty’s parents being at her funeral, is what makes this comic eligible for Father’s Day.  Carmen Pryde’s only appearance in the issue.  A tad dark, but that’s how we do things here at S&FwM.

Poor Kitty, she only wakes up once her nightmare turns to how the Broodling starts chewing on her back.  That would be a terrifying

For some odd reason, Colossus was just standing right over her.  Talk about going from scared to horrified!  Kitty probably feels even worse as she’s dressed in an old lady’s pajamas.

Uncanny X-Men 165 Kitty 3

Piotr tries to comfort Kitty.  She’s not afraid.  She is angry, as she is far too young to die.  And in such a horribly slow way!

See how old fashion her sleepwear is!  Even in the 80s, that was old timey.

Colossus tries to tell her that once they are born, that they are going to die.  Which is true but dying on one’s own terms and having an alien essentially take over your body / essence, is two completely difference things.

Kitty doesn’t want to die like that.

Uncanny X-Men 165 Kitty 4

Kitty worries that, what if they don’t die during the transformation but become just mental witnesses to everything the Brood does as a combined entity.  Man, the Brood are disgusting villains.

Some time passes, and as they hold each other, Kitty’s thoughts turn to the romantic.  She wishes she could be older, and Piotr super agrees.  He is really wants to take Kitty but he knows she is only a child at this point.  It wouldn’t be right to take advantage of the situation.

Next, they kiss like lovers.  Pretty is pretty mature content for a Marvel comic and for the times.  But the stakes are super high.

It appears like Kitty starts making a defense for why they should just have sex.  Just then, Storm appears before them.  But it is Vampire Storm!  Also, she appears to be a ghost.  She vanishes as quickly as she appears.

Cut to Logan and Kurt, as they are trying to get a buzz on.  The liquor is not very good for that purpose.

I like how Logan just greets African Storm, as it dawns on him that Storm shouldn’t be with them at all.  They get out of their chairs to see if they can figure it out.

 Uncanny X-Men 165 Kitty 2

Next, they see child Storm.  I hope they are protecting their wallets!

Storm doesn’t act like a child, she is still Storm, she is just trying to find the right body form for her to appear as.

I’ve read this issue several times but I believe this is the first time that I ‘got’ Kurt’s hand being run through Storm’s ghost image.  I must have thought it was her form falling apart but it is his fingers that are causing the odd shape.

Kurt and Logan make their way to the rest of the team.  They all have been seeing images of Storm in various states and outfits.

Kitty sees another one, a huntress Storm, perhaps?

I like how Kitty has settled on a bathroom instead of being seen in her English nightgown.

 Uncanny X-Men 165 Kitty 3

Wolverine senses that Storm is becoming real.

Storm is still in transition but she is able to explain what is happening to her.  Just then, a giant space whale swallows their ship whole.

See how Cyclops’ hair is blue there?  I only really ever associate that with DC comics with how, when I was growing up, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson’s hair was always blue with black tints.  It just bugs me when  I read older comics but rarely have I seen it in a Marvel comic.  Makes Scott look so old.

Cyclops wants to bust their way out.

Uncanny X-Men 165 Kitty 4

Lillianda tells them it is too late.  Storm, finally in her classic Cockrum outfit, explains the situation.   The space whale is called, Acanti.

Kitty is able to hug Storm, they haven’t seen each other in a bit and Storm has been teasing her appearance throughout the ship, it is a good way to build expectations.

Scott wants to know how Storm knows the Acanti is harmless.  She ends the issue with the revelation that she and the Acanti are one.

There is an awesome promo, promising the debut of . . . THE NEW MUTANTS!!!

With this issue, we only have Uncanny X-Men 167 & 170 left to review of the Paul Smith era.  One of these days, we’ll get around to those two.

. . .

Happy Father’s Day, Everybody!  This is my second one where I am the father.  It has been a real pleasure and super rewarding.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume Two Issue 15

Posted by John Klein III on June 20, 2015
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Ultimate Spider-Man V2 15

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist Sara Pichelli

Colorist Justin Ponsor

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Dated December 2010

I’m not sure why this isn’t titled, Tainted Love Part Seven of Seven; as it deals with the direct fallout of the previous storyline plus this is the final issue of Ultimate Spider-Man Volume Two.

In the previous issues, the Chameleon twins have taken over and ruined Peter Parker’s life.  They mess up his relationships with both Mary Jane and Gwen.  Apparently what they did to Gwen was pretty awful, it is only stated that it was worst for her than Mary Jane but I couldn’t find any reviews online that states what exactly happened to Gwen.  Iceman and Human Torch rescued Peter and J. Jonah Jameson, who n ow knows that Peter is Spider-Man.

The Tirskelion-SHIELD Headquarters.  Last Night.  Carol Danvers, Director of SHIELD>  I like how the first four pages have Peter in a bed, while Carol here, and Aunt May in the next scene, tell him how sorry they are that his life has been ruined and he needs time to recover.  Danvers isn’t sure why Fury kept Parker around, he should stop being Spider-Man, graduate high school – and maybe go back to being Spider-Man once he is ready for college.  Danvers suspects that Peter suffered enough.

The Home of Peter Parker.  Aunt May.  Now Peter is in his own bed.  She is telling her nephew that he doesn’t have to go to school today but Peter wants to get back into his life.  Aunt May tells Peter to talk to Gwen.

Midtown High School, Study Hall.  Mary Jane Watson.  Mary Jane seems to be in a daze state.  Gwen is behind her, wanting to talk to her but decides against it.  She walks back and Mary Jane finally notices someone is behind her.  They are awkwardly talking about how they now know that the Peter who hurt them, was not really Peter.  Mary Jane wonders if they know who the fake Peter was.  Gwen confirms that it was a man, so I’m not sure what physically happened to these two ladies.  Gwen reveals that she did kiss fake Peter, so did Mary Jane.

Gwen feels horrible, as she forced Peter to be her boyfriend.  She knew he loves Mary Jane but she was selfish.  Gwen doesn’t want to live in the same house as her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend.  She also really wants her father to be alive, she needs someone to talk to.  Gwen is mad at Peter and Mary Jane tells her to talk to him.  Gwen mentions how fake Peter used both of them, and I start really wanting to know what the extent of the abuse was.  I can only imagine that it was strictly kissing.  Gwen recognizes that Mary Jane is the perfect girl for Peter, as she can hear that it was a supervillain and instantly forgive Peter.

Gwen is done with all of this nonsense.  She likes that she is friends with Mary Jane but she can’t really be friends with a girl who is in love with the same boy that she is.  That is pretty awkward.  Gwen knows, now, that if Mary Jane was given a chance with Peter, she would take it.  Gwen hugs Mary Jane and she is out of there.

St. Mary’s Hospital.  J. Jonah Jameson, Publisher of the Daily Bugle.  Jameson is recovering from his near fatal gunshot, he brings in Ben Urich and Robbie Robertson.  Jameson wants to run a story about what really happened, that there were twin Chameleons and he knows who Spider-Man really is.  He isn’t going to reveal that information to the world, but he wants the world to know that he knows who Spider-Man is.  He wants to clear Spider-Man’s good name.

Back at Midtown High School.  Peter is in the classroom with both Mary Jane and Gwen, no one is talking to each other.  Their teacher is asking if anyone read, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 – which I still haven’t.  Apparently no one else has either, in the classroom, as no one is answering the questions and it was assigned to them at the beginning of the year.  Their teacher’s name is Miss Langraff.  They are welcoming a new student today.

Ultimate Spider-Man V2 15 Shadowcat mention

Miss Langraff tells Lana Baumgartner that she can sit at Kitty Pryde’s old seat, hence, I bought this issue.  I’m glad that Hastings had two of the issues I had on my wishlist so there are two comics off the list.  Lana has read Fahrenheit 451, as it was assigned last year at her school.  She is already ahead of the class.  Miss Langraff asks for her opinion on the book and Lana starts swearing up a storm – which in a very clever sequence, Peter instantly recognizes her as the younger Bombshell.

There is a double page ad for the Honda CR-Z, sport hybrid, so go out and buy one of those.

Johnny and Bobby are catching up with Peter.  Peter tells them about how the younger Bombshell is now at their school.  Bobby thinks a mother daughter criminal duo is hot and Peter doesn’t know how that could be.  Johnny remembers that he had a run in with the Bombshells, which happened in issue nine of this volume.  Bobby would like to date Lana.  Peter, instead, is going to be the one that talks to her, to make sure she doesn’t blow up the school.

Peter engages with Lana, who can’t believe someone is going to hit on her on her first day.  Lana is pretty funny here.  She wants Peter to keep his puberty off of her and his motivates are strictly to learn if the new girl puts out or not.  She starts to walk away from him, and he tells her that he knows she is Bombshell, which halts her.

She can’t believe he knows about her criminal past.  He tells her it was due to her potty mouth.  Lana explains that her mother is in jail and she was given this form of probation and she lives with her grandmother, who apparently smells like sardines.  Peter asks her to not to blow up the school, which she was never going to do.  She is using this second chance for all that it is worth.

Mary Jane and Gwen are spying on Peter as he talks to this new girl.  They are rightfully upset that he is taking the time to talk to this new broad and he hasn’t taken the chance to speak with them.

Bobby can’t believe that Peter is getting yet another girl.

Later, in the student newspaper room; Peter finally talks to Mary Jane.  She is reading Jameson’s exclusive.  Peter reads it and can’t believe Jameson doesn’t out him.  Peter confirms to Mary Jane that the article explains everything that actually happened.

Mary Jane can’t believe yet another person knows that he is Spider-Man.  Mary Jane tells him that she isn’t mad at him but she wants him to talk to Gwen.  He wanted to go in the order of who was less mad at him.  Mary Jane states that Fake Peter hit on her only because he could tell how much she liked him and he went for it.  She shut it down, as it didn’t feel right.

At the Parker Home, Gwen Stacy is packed and is moving out.  Peter really should have spoken with her sooner.

Issue ends with promoting that Ultimate Spider-Man 150 is coming next.

Inside back cover ad is for Wolverine and the X-Men, such a great complete series box set.  I’ve listened to those commentary tracks so many times!  Craig Kyle and Chris Yost is so funny on them!

Back cover ad is for the 2011 Mazda3 which tries to incorporate Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus and Peter and Mary Jane, which at least tries to tie in comic book characters in a comic book ad.

Marvel September 2015 Solicitations

Posted by John Klein III on June 19, 2015
Posted in: Solicitations. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

http://www.newsarama.com/24829-marvel-comics-full-september-2015-solicitations.html

CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE #1 & 2 (of 5)
JEPH LOEB (w) • TIM SALE (A/C)
ISSUE #1 – Variant cover by TIM SALE
ISSUE #2 – Variant Cover by TBA
THE SUPERSTAR CREATIVE TEAM OF SPIDER-MAN: BLUE, HULK: GRAY, AND DAREDEVIL: YELLOW BRING THEIR MAGIC TO AMERICA’S #1 HERO

ISSUE #1 –
• From his re-awakening in the present day to his days on the battlefield during World War II, follow CAPTAIN AMERICA as he recalls a special mission during THE BIG ONE!
• It’s 1941 and the HOWLING COMMANDOS are just looking to kick back and relax….
• But CAP and BUCKY are about to make their night a whole lot worse!
• The EISNER AWARD-WINNING team of JEPH LOEB and TIM SALE reunite to tell a shocking story of CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY!
• Extra-sized issue featuring CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE #0
64 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
ISSUE #2 –
BULLETS! BOMBS! EXPLOSIVE REVELATIONS!
• CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY are ready to lead the HOWLING COMMANDOS, but are the HOWLING COMMANDOS ready to follow?
• Things go from bad to worse and only Bucky can save the day!
• Will a shocking appearance from an old ally turn the tide of battle?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I can’t believe that I was just thinking about this the other day and now it is here! Also, I can’t believe that Marvel listed this above the Secret Wars 2015 solicts! I’ve been wanting some new Tim Sale work but if it isn’t Batman, I’m going to pass. Unless they want to do an X-Men story.

SECRET WARS #7 (OF 8)
JONATHAN HICKMAN (w) • ESAD RIBIC (a)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
THE GREATEST SACRIFICE!
56 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

Of course, someone is going to die in this – and most likely be present in one of the 60 titles that are going to launch in November! Though, with all of the splintered regions, are not a lot of characters going to see their ends?

ULTIMATE END #5 (of 5)
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (a) • MARK BAGLEY (a/C)
ULTIMATE NO MORE!
• 2000 – 2015
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Since, of the first two issues, I’ve only collected one of them, I’m not sure how many more I can expect. The Ultimate Universe will continue, at least with Miles Morales, in his thoughts.

HOUSE OF M #3
DENNIS HOPELESS & Cullen Bunn (w)
ARIO ANINDITO (a)
COVER BY KRIS ANKA
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• In order to retake everything he has lost, MAGNETO, the rightful patriarch of the House of Magnus, must ally himself with those he has sworn to rule—LUKE CAGE and the rest of the human resistance!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

This definitely seems like this will be strictly about Magneto and the humans, with some various mutants.

AGE OF APOCALYPSE #4
FABIAN NICIEZA (w) • Iban Coello (a)
Cover by GERARDO SANDOVAL
• The philosophy of Apocalypse has always been “let the fittest survive,” but by its ultimate extension, that would only leave one person standing! As mutants fall from the shocking release of a devastating plague, who will live and who will die? And if Apocalypse falls, who will rule in his place…?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
*SECRET WARS SERIES

Here is hoping for some Shadowcat in this, as the Star Lord & Kitty Pryde series doesn’t seem to be on the docket anymore.

Marvel September 2015 Solicts Giant Size Little Marvel AvX 4 Magik Soulsword Skottie Young
Art by Skottie Young

 GIANT-SIZE LITTLE MARVEL: AVX #4
SKOTTIE YOUNG (w) • SKOTTIE YOUNG (a/C)
• Avengers vs. X-Men vs. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY!?
• Marvel’s most mini heroes are pulling out all their toys to compete for the ultimate honor – whose crew is coolest!
• It’s a bombastic backyard brawl like you’ve never seen before!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
*SECRET WARS SERIES

Been loving Magik’s Soulsword making the rounds on these covers! The X-Men have to be the winners of who is the coolest.

 E IS FOR EXTINCTION #4
Chris Burnham & Dennis Culver (w) • RAMON VILLALOBOS (a)
Cover by IAN BERTRAM
• CYCLOPS and his OLD – ahem, CLASSIC – X-MEN continue to resist the idea that they are outclassed in every way by MAGNETO and his newer, younger, and more attractive team of X-MEN.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
*SECRET WARS SERIES

I imagine Cyclops’ classic team is still Morrison’s team, which I’m not sure actually fits the ‘classic’ definition. Though seeing Cyclops and Emma together, again, will be nice.

X-TINCTION AGENDA #4
MARC GUGGENHEIM (w) • CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO (a)
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
•Everything comes to a head in this Secret Wars sequel to the classic X-Tinction Agenda!
•With the emergence of a repowered Cameron Hodge all the X-Men must band together to take down their resurgent foe.
•But even with their combined might, not everyone may be walking away from this fight.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
*SECRET WARS SERIES

            Kitty Pryde and Lockheed were in the first issue, so I imagine they will be part of any battle that involves all of the X-Men.

 X-MEN ‘92 #4
CHRIS SIMS & CHAD BOWERS (w) • SCOTT KOBLISH (a)
Cover by PEPE LARRAZ
Variant cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
• Professor X—Face to faces with the X-Sentinel!
• Can the X-Men overcome Cassandra Nova’s “rehabilitations”?
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99
*SECRET WARS SERIES

Seems odd that the X-Men 92 series will go out of their way to include Morrison motifs as I would imagine the E is for Extinction does that already. I’m sure Chris Sims is just looking for an excuse to play in that sandbox.

 Marvel September 2015 Solicts Years of Future Past 5 Art Adams
Art by Art Adams

 YEARS OF FUTURE PAST #5
MARGUERITE BENNETT (w) • MIKE NORTON (a)
Cover by ART ADAMS
• The hour of judgment crashes down with the ruins of New York City as the traitor is revealed
• The last hope of mutantkind must survive the humans, the Sentinels–and the rage of the X-Men
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
*SECRET WARS SERIES

You know me, I love any and all homages to Uncanny X-Men 141! Great use of the children of Howlett and Pryde!  I should have known to expect a homage cover but it caught me by complete surprised.  Hopefully the final cover doesn’t state Kate Pryde is dead, she’s avoided that fate on every one of these!

Glad this title is getting the five issue treatment. I imagine they all can’t be eight issues but six seems to be a decent enough length, it will fill a trade nicely but it will leave Marvel with nothing really else coming out by the time Secret Wars 2015 8 comes out.   Unless 8 came out and then Marvel starts releasing the 60 new titles, starting the week after that. Hopefully they are all titled “All New All Different” as that is a lot of words!

FUTURE IMPERFECT #5
PETER DAVID (w) • GREG LAND (a/C)
ARE YOU A GOD?
• With all things conquered and every foe crushed, MAESTRO attempts the only challenge left: “Deicide” the killing of a god!
• Finally… MAESTRO VERSUS DOOM …
• But will there be anything left of BATTLEWORLD to rule?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
*SECRET WARS SERIES

I like the idea of someone going after Doom, outside of the proper Secret Wars 2015 title, that just makes sense. Especially as we’ve seen, like in X-Tinction Agenda 1, that it apparently is easy to get to him.

OLD MAN LOGAN #5
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (w) • ANDREA SORRENTINO (a/C)
• Logan has climbed the walls and broken the barriers between the domains of Battleworld.
• He has seen the horrors of the Post-Apocalypse world. Been hounded by this worlds thundering police force.
• But his ignorance of this world’s laws will not protect him from its justice.
• This Old Man is haunted by the dead. Let us see how he fairs with the “un” variety.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
*SECRET WARS SERIES

            I also like the idea of people learning of the true nature of Battleworld. It also makes sense, now that we know some things about Post Secret Wars 2015 Marvel, that Old Man Logan makes it to what will be the Proper Marvel Earth.

 Marvel September 2015 Solicts Inferno 5 Javier Garron
Art by Javier Garron

 INFERNO #5
DENNIS HOPELESS (w) • JAVIER GARRON (a/C)
• Darkchild’s Demon Horde, The Goblin Court and Sinister’s Boom Clones all battle for power!
• Who will rule the new Inferno?!
• The city is lost, but can Colossus defeat the Darkchild in single combat?
• Illyana’s soul hangs in the balance!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
*SECRET WARS SERIES

I know the Uncanny X-Cast posed this question before but how long could a fight with Magik and Colossus actually last? I say, barely a page. I can’t wait to see her take out her silly older brother. Though, I imagine it ends with him stabbing her with her own soulsword and reverting back to her eight year old self.

TRUE BELIEVERS
The Women of Marvel are taking over in September! That’s right, Marvel’s blockbuster female-led titles are returning to comic shops this month for ten new TRUE BELIEVERS titles. Specially priced at $1, these can’t miss introductory issues provide the perfect window into some of Marvel’s critically acclaimed female-led titles! From the high stakes espionage action of Black Widow to the out of this world adventure of Princess Leia. From the larger than life Ms. Marvel to the irresistible charm of Spider-Gwen – these fan-favorite premiere issues offer perfect entry points into the Marvel Universe. Hang on tight and see what you’ve been missing with these exciting TRUE BELIEVERS titles coming to comic shops in September!
TRUE BELIEVERS: THOR #1
JASON AARON • RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
Collecting THOR (2014) #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS: SPIDER-GWEN #1
JASON LATOUR • ROBBI RODRIGUEZ
Collecting SPIDER-GWEN #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS: BLACK WIDOW #1
NATHAN EDMONDSON • PHIL NOTO
Collecting BLACK WIDOW (2014) #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS: CAPTAIN MARVEL #1
KELLY SUE DeCONNICK • DAVID LOPEZ
Collecting CAPTAIN MARVEL (2014) #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS: MS. MARVEL #1
G. WILLOW WILSON • ADRIAN ALPHONA
Collecting MS. MARVEL (2014) #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS: SHE-HULK #1
CHARLES SOULE • JAVIER PULIDO
Collecting SHE-HULK (2014) #1.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS: SILK #1
ROBBIE THOMPSON • STACEY LEE
Collecting SILK #1.
32 PGS./Rated T …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS: PRINCESS LEIA #1
MARK WAID • TERRY DODSON
Collecting PRINCESS LEIA #1.
32 PGS./Rated T …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS: SPIDER-WOMAN #1
DENNIS HOPELESS • JAVIER RODRIGUEZ
Collecting SPIDER-WOMAN (2014) #5.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS:
THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #1
RYAN NORTH • ERICA HENDERSON
Collecting UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #1.
32 PGS./Rated T …$1.00

I really like the idea of the True Believers initiative and I may end up buying these, just to support it. Now that we know what these look like, I know that Kitty Pryde, Lockheed nor Magik appear in any of these titles. But still, ten dollars for ten comics, that is an unbeatable deal! Who knows how much the Hastings discount will be, probably not as low as DCBS’ sixty cents per issue.    I’ve read some of Squirrel Girl and that title is very fun. I also like these True Believers months having a theme. This one is more focused than the various Battleworld Regions, but that makes sense. I wonder what the next one will be? I am surprised that they are doing another one so close to the previous one. Marvel must have seen a real jump in trade sales. Curious about how this helps the Post Secret Wars 2015 Marvel, but some of these trades shouldn’t be all that complicated by the big event, as most were done by the time it started.

DAREDEVIL #18
MARK WAID (W) • CHRIS SAMNEE (A/C)
• The final chapter in the Autobiography of Matt Murdock is written by someone who may surprise you.
• Not everyone survives this phase in Daredevil’s life.
• Find out who lives, who dies…and who is changed forever.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

If I’m keeping track correctly, this is one of those Pre-Secret Wars 2015 titles, so everybody dies at one point. Just months later.

DEADPOOL VS. THANOS #1 & 2 (of 4)
TIM SEELEY (W) • ELMO BONDOC (A)
Covers by TRADD MOORE
• We all know Thanos—the man who single-handedly made bejeweled gloves into THE deadly weapon of choice for mass murder. But did you know he shares an ex with Deadpool? No, not Vanessa—I refer to the cosmic “lady” known as DEATH.
• And when everyone in the universe stops dying, both of her former beaus take an interest. Can the pair overcome one’s overwhelming hatred of and annoyance by the other? Or will Thanos finally let Deadpool die once and for all?
32 PGS. (each)/Parental Advisory …$3.99 (each)

            So this title must be replacing Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars, a series I really dug the first issue of. I do like the idea of Thanos giving Deadpool a beat down for distracting Death.

 FIGMENT 2 #1 (of 5)
JIM ZUB (w) • RAMON BACHS (a)
Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Action Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
CLASSIC DISNEY IMAGE VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
THE LEGENDARY DREAMFINDER AND FIGMENT RETURN IN AN ALL-NEW ADVENTURE!
• Figment and Dreamfinder have saved the world…but now find themselves in a time and place not their own!
• Out of time for over 100 years…old friends reunite, new challenges are met, and a brand new mystery unfolds.
• Dreamfinder’s greatest challenge lies ahead…but will his own legacy be his undoing?
• Don’t miss the sequel to the fan-favorite, sold-out Figment miniseries based on Walt Disney World’s beloved ‘Journey Into Imagination’ attraction.
32 PGS./All Ages …$3.99
Elements based on Figment © Disney

So, again, a Figment miniseries comes out and I imagine Lockheed will be nowhere to be found.   Boycott this title, fellow space faring purple alien that resembles a dragon fans! Boycott, I say! I can’t imagine that the previous miniseries sold that well but it must have. Probably triple the sales of all of Lockheed’s appearances for the past few years.

QUAKE: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50TH ANNIVERSARY #1
MATTHEW ROSENBERG & PATRICK KINDLON (W)
DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON (A)
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
Variant Cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
• Family reunion!
• Learn why Quake makes the perfect agent for S.H.I.E.L.D….
• When a group of Inhumans get involved, Quake finds out exactly how far she’ll go to finish a mission.
32 PGS./ One-Shot /Rated T+ …$3.99
MOCKINGBIRD: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50TH ANNIVERSARY #1
CHELSEA CAIN (W) • JOELLE JONES (A)
Cover by PAUL RENAUD
Variant Cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
• Mockingbird has always been one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s best agents, but what happens when someone close to her is murdered?
• Forced to take matters into her own hands, someone is bound to pay!
• New York Times Bestselling Author Chelsea Cain joins the Marvel Universe to tell a story of bloody revenge!
• Plus! A special bonus story by superstar young adult author, Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures), writer for the upcoming YA novel, Black Widow: Forever Red!
40 PGS./One-Shot /Rated T+ …$4.99

FURY: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50TH ANNIVERSARY #1
DAVID F. WALKER (W) • SCOTT HEPBURN (A)
Cover by MIKE DEODATO
Variant Cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
• A mission 50 years in the making!
• When a villain from the past shows up in the present day, Nick Fury is forced to team-up with Nick Fury Sr.!
• Will the Nick Fury of the present be able to work alongside his father?
32 PGS./One-Shot /Rated T+ …$3.99
THE CAVALRY: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50TH ANNIVERSARY #1
JODY HOUSER (W) • LUKE ROSS (A)
Cover by DALE KEOWN
Variant Cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
• Discover the explosive secrets that are hiding in Agent May’s past!
• When Agent May leads a team of new recruits on a training mission, will she be able to save the day when everything goes wrong?
• Did someone say “cyber wolves”?
32 PGS./One-Shot /Rated T+ …$3.99
AGENT CARTER: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50TH ANNIVERSARY #1
KATHRYN IMMONEN (W) • RICH ELLIS (A)
Cover by DECLAN SHALVEY
Variant Cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
• Agent Carter is back in an all-new adventure that reveals her secret history with S.H.I.E.L.D.!
• When Dum Dum Dugan attempts to recruit her to S.H.I.E.L.D., will Peggy join up or go her own way?
• Operation S.I.N.’s crackerjack team of Kathryn Immonen and Rich Ellis return to the world of Peggy Carter!
32 PGS./One-Shot /Rated T+ …$3.99

From the covers, like Mockingbird’s, it looks like these take place within the Proper Marvel Universe and are not just comic adaptations. I like Marvel backing the television series, in print, but I’m not getting any of these.

 AGE OF ULTRON COLORING BOOK
Penciled by BRYAN HITCH, BRANDON PETERSON, CARLOS PACHECO & MORE
Cover by BRYAN HITCH
Unleash your inner colorist on page after page of Ultron! The Avengers’ deadliest foe is back like never before — in glorious black and white! The Adamantium menace has ravaged Earth and imposed his ruthless robotic rule. Only a few of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are left standing as they mount a desperate bid to save the day. And it’s up to you to put the hue into humanity’s last hope! The most exciting pages of Age of Ultron — featuring the incredible line art of Bryan Hitch, Brandon Peterson, Carlos Pacheco and more — are assembled here, just waiting for you to decorate with pens, pencils and crayons. Spent your life waiting for a pink Ultron or a purple Hulk? Then feel free to paint the (destroyed) town red! Just be sure to stay within the lines…or perish!
72 PGS./All Ages …$7.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9524-5

I wonder if the one page from Age of Ultron 8, that Kitty is barely on, would make it to the coloring book? Seems like a fun concept but do I really want to throw eight dollars down on a novelty item?

 X-MEN: AGE OF APOCALYPSE VOL. 2 — REIGN TPB
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL, FABIAN NICIEZA, LARRY HAMA, WARREN ELLIS, JOHN FRANCIS MOORE,
JEPH LOEB & TERRY KAVANAGH
Penciled by JOE MADUREIRA, ANDY KUBERT, TONY DANIEL, CHRIS BACHALO, ADAM KUBERT, ROGER CRUZ, KEN LASHLEY, STEVE EPTING, STEVE SKROCE & CARLOS PACHECO
Cover by JOE MADUREIRA
The world groans under the Darwinian conqueror Apocalypse’s rule. Under his thumb, America has become a dark and dangerous dystopia where mutants rule, humankind suffers, and survival of the fittest is all! But in the shadows, the freedom fighters known as the X-Men — following a tenuously thin thread of hope — continue their dangerous and multi-pronged plan to restore the true Marvel Universe. As the X-Men battle Holocaust and the Sentinels, Nightcrawler searches for the seer Destiny, Cyclops and Havok clash in the Dark Beast’s slave pens, and young Nate Grey meets his maker…literally! Collecting ASTONISHING X-MEN (1995) #2-3, AMAZING X-MEN (1995) #2-3, GAMBIT AND THE X-TERNALS #2, GENERATION NEXT #2, WEAPON X (1995) #2, X-CALIBRE #2-3, FACTOR X #2-3, X-MAN #2-3, X-UNIVERSE #1 and material from X-MEN: YEAR OF THE MUTANTS COLLECTORS’ PREVIEW.
408 PGS./Rated T …$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9365-4

Again, if Marvel just printed a Generation Next trade (maybe they will once these collections are done) I would buy that!

 DAMAGE CONTROL: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION TPB
Written by DWAYNE MCDUFFIE
Penciled by ERNIE COLON, KYLE BAKER & SALVA ESPIN
Cover by ERNIE COLON
Galactus ate your apartment building? The S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier crashed on your car? Aliens destroyed Manhattan…again? Call DAMAGE CONTROL! Meet the Marvel Universe’s No. 1 clean-up crew, the guys and gals with the bulldog badge who work tirelessly to put New York back together after every super-hero battle — from giant robots, to the devastation wreaked by ACTS OF VENGEANCE, to the coming of the cosmic clean-freak Edifice Rex! Not disastrous enough? How about their biggest challenges to date: Doctor Doom’s unpaid bill and the aftermath of WORLD WAR HULK! Collecting DAMAGE CONTROL (1989A) #1-4, DAMAGE CONTROL (1989B) #1-4, DAMAGE CONTROL (1991) #1-4 and WWH AFTERSMASH: DAMAGE CONTROL #1-3 — plus material from MARVEL AGE ANNUAL #4, MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS (1988) #19 and IRON MAN ANNUAL #11.
392 PGS./Rated T+ …$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9790-4
 

            I hadn’t realized that there were two Damage Control trades in 1989, I own the fourth issue of the first volume, and I liked it. I do like the concept of, Damage Control, and I wish they made more appearances but we don’t really have Aftermath issues anymore, where the team can show up in the background.

 

Surprised the few pages of Ultimate Spider-Man 86, wherein the Wrecking Crew are the Damage Control of the Ultimate Universe, in a fun twist of their names.  Also missing, were they not involved in that Wolverine arc that tied into Civil War?

 . . .

 

So my totals are –

Secret Wars 2015 7            $4
Ultimate End 5            $4
House of M 3                        $4
Age of Apocalypse 4            $4
Giant Size Little Marvel AvX 4            $4
E is for Extinction 4            $4
X-Tinction Agenda 4            $4
X-Men 92 4            $5
Years of Future Past 5            $4
Old Man Logan 4            $4
True Believers (10 Titles)            $10

Bringing my grand total to $51 and with ten proper titles, at a dollar each, that brings my total down to $41, just a dollar off my budget.

But really, I doubt I’m getting E is for Extinction, House of M, X-Men 92 and Old Man Logan, so my total could be as low as – $34 with the discount of $28, so that works out even better.

Nothing to add to my pull list, except for the individual True Believers titles but I might just wing that and buy whichever ones are on the stands. Heck, Hastings still has several from the first batch of these. Just can’t sell them, even at a dollar. Probably as people don’t know how inexpensive they are but I do my part to tell people about the price point.