Avengers vs. X-Men 3

Posted by John Klein III on April 13, 2014
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

248100_20120503235312_large

Story John Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman and Matt Fraction

Script Ed Brubaker

Penciler John Romita Jr.

Inker Scott Hanna

Colorist Laura Martin, so you know this is a big event

Letterer Chris Eliopoulos, solidifying that this is a big event

Cover Date July 2012

Look at that great cover of Captain America and Wolverine by Jim Cheung!

What Came Before :

The cosmic Phoenix Force is returning to Earth.  To the Avengers, it heralds the end of the world.  To the X-Men, it represents the rebirth of their species.

As both teams fought for custody of Hope Summers, the Phoenix’s choosen host, her connection with the Phoenix manifested in fire, and neither group of heroes was able to prevent Hope’s escape.

The Avengers are :

Captain America, Iron Man, Doctor Stange, Spider-Man, Iron Fist, Thing, Dardevil, Giant Man, Hawkeye, Luke Cage, Mockingbird, Red Hulk, Black Widow, Spider-Woman, Black Panther and Sharon Carter

Wolverine is in the middle, but not really

The X-Men are :

Cyclops, Namor, Emma Frost, Colossus, Magneto, Domino, Warpath, Magma, Magik, Storm, Pixie, Danger, Blindfold, Oya, Kid Omega, Angel, Genesis, Rachel Summers, Madison Jeffries, Velocidad, Loa, Surge, Sunspot and Hope Summers

I really like this opening credits page as it does tell you everything you need to know.  This was the first event, I believe, where they start putting the cast up on front street like this, which made it super easy to decide if I needed to buy an issue or not.

Which of the twelve, I only not own issues 1 and 11 (I know!  I reread that thing at least five times in the store to make sure that Magik or Kitty didn’t appear or were mention but they weren’t).  Issue one is basically a set up issue with the Avengers, Nova and the Phoenix Force that is coming to earth.

For Captain America month, we are reviewing issues three and seven.

I do like how, knowing John Romita Jr. is doing pencils, that they don’t waste any time giving us him drawing Spider-Man and Wolverine.  Wolverine was fried last issue and Spider-Man went ahead and created a web swing for himself so that he can watch Logan heal.  It is a disgusting process, he says.

Spider-Man gives Wolverine a generic black spandex suit, that must have been sitting around Utopia or the Avengers brought it in their Quinjet.

I really like the Wolverine healing process, as he regrows his skin, then his hair starts coming in.  Though it does beg the question of how his body knows when to stop with the regrowing of the hair.  His head, I get, but how does it know to only give him the mutton chops, and not a full beard?  Maybe he is able to control it on a purely preference level.

Spider-Man tells Wolverine that Cyclops has surrendered to the Avengers, Wolverine knows that can’t be right and starts running outside.  He also informs him that while he was healing, that a couple hours has passed, as well as Hope has escaped.

There is an ad for Honda Civic, starting at $15,605 MSRP / 39 mpg hwy.

We see all of the Avengers and all the X-Men gathered in groups.  Iron Man is telling Captain America, that they can’t just lock up the X-Men.  For two reasons, they have no real crime to lock them up for and there isn’t a location that can house all of the X-Men.  I like how Iron Man gives Cyclops the benefit of doubt and that this may have been why he surrendered so easily, to prove that the Avengers don’t know what they are doing.

Iron Man makes an awesome reference to the Civil War, and how he is now taking the stance Cap had there, and Cap is now in the Iron Man position of wanting to lock everyone up – for their own good, naturally.

Dr. Strange comes over to the X-Men side, holding Magik, he confirms that she is okay, only knocked out.  Wolverine shouts to the Avengers, are you blind!?!  Wolverine comes at the X-Men, claws popped.  Cap has to restrain him, as it makes no sense.  Avengers don’t kill their own prisoners.  With this, and a smirk, Cyclops gives the command and they all teleport away.

AvX 3 Magik defeats Doctor Strange

Then Dr. Strange is revealed to be Magik, and she opens a stepping disc and teleports the X-Men away.  Leaving behind Magik slowing turning into Dr. Strange.  It is awesome!

I love how Magik was becoming popular before this, becoming part of the big team but this series really put her on the map.

Dr. Strange has to confess that Magik beat him, as she teleported the two of them into her realm, Limbo and showed him who is the real master.  I wonder if he brought this up when she came to him for training – or did she go farther into his past?

Now Cyclops has a head start on finding Hope.

From here, the comic and the series, for a time, really opens up.

At Long Beach, the X-Men arrive.  Cyclops tells Emma to hide them from the onlookers, which of course Emma has already done so.  I so miss Cyclops and Emma as a couple, they really were the ideal fictional couple – two great characters, that once paired, both bring out different aspects of each other and both become better characters in their own right.

Cyclops has to tell Magneto that he is playing this as it goes.  Namor states that they clearly need Cereberus, which is both funny and awesome.  Namor goes to those senior staff meetings that Cyclops has, but why would he pay attention or learn the name of the tracking device.  It clearly has a silly name and calling it what it is, isn’t the worst thing.  Danger still corrects him, Cerebra – which might be the last remaining Morrison contribution that is still around, that we refer to it as Cerebra instead of Cerebro – but I’m not sure when was the last time someone needed it.  Currently, Cyclops uses the news to locate new mutants and Wolverine has the school, so new mutants come to him.

The only Cerebra not at Utopia, is at the Jean Grey School, and Wolverine isn’t going to hand it over.  They know where his loyalty lies now.

The problem is that Hope is destined to host the Phoenix.  The X-Men know dman well what could happen if and when the Phoenix takes a human host (and a red headed lady, at that).  Cyclops is hoping that the Phoenix will not destroy Earth but reignite the mutant gene that Wanda did away with at the end of House of M (which this series works as a conclusion of that story – vague spoilers!).

The Avengers problem is that the Phoenix has destroyed several planets on its way to Earth so that doesn’t make them happy, so they believe the Phoenix is a threat.

Emma wonders if there are any X-Men at the Jean Grey School who would help them out.  Cyclops believes he has one that would work.

San Francisco, which is close to my heart as my wife lived there for a while  – seven years!  When the X-Men were based in San Francisco proper, I would show her the establishing shots and the artists did a good job of making those locations look like the Bay Area.  Then they moved to Utopia, off the coast of San Francisco, and the establishing shots stopped.

In San Francisco, Hope is on the run.  She finds some supplies for her wrist gauntlet – that looks like the Pip Boy from Fallout 3.  Hope comments to herself that her training with Cable should start paying off.  She looks at a glass and her reflection is that of the Phoenix bird and she runs off.  She is now looking for something that flies.  We don’t see it this issue, as this her only scene but she finds a jetpack that Cyclops used during the Dark Avengers / Utopia creation crossover, and it is the best thing Hope Summers ever does.

In New York City, at Avengers Tower – I can’t recall what makes them stop using the tower but it is still the headquarters of the Avengers.  Wolverine and Captain America are talking to Rachel through a video monitor.  Poor Rachel, this entire series deals with the Phoenix, and she is treated as an afterthought.  She was able to host the Phoenix for a decade with very little issues or concerns.  Though this adds to my ongoing theory that Marvel likes to pretend the entire 125 issue run of Excalibur never happened.

Rachel tells the two of them that Hope has no one location, but five locations.  Which is clever as the number five and Hope and this series will play a factor soon.  Wolverine tries to talk down to her, and she tells him she knows how to use Cerebra.  Captain America tells Wolverine to drop it, now is the time for action.

Rachel then telepathically tells Cyclops, that she has given Wolverine some false information.  Which is nice, as Cyclops and Rachel, even by 2012, still haven’t had much interaction.  I wouldn’t mind having seen the scene where those two actually talk – as that is an actual moment.  Did she need much convincing, did he hesitate when asking her a favor – and to betray her side of the Schism?

Another character JRJR is known for is Daredevil, who here unfortunately, has his walking cane out, in another panel, he still is walking around with it.  At least it is in the upright position, but it is clearly a cane and not his billy club.

Captain America tells them where the teams are being split –

Iron Man is staying at the Tower to work on his Phoenix Solution (it makes things worst)

Wundagore Mountain – Hawkeye, Red Hulk and Doctor Strange is heading there (where Wanda and Quicksilver were raised, for a time).

Tabula Rasa – Luke Cage and his team are heading to Montana!

Wakanda – Black Panther and Iron Fist are heading there (makes sense as it is Black Panther’s kingdom)

Latveria – Spider-Man and Spider-Woman (Team Arachnid! – no one calls them that) are heading to Doctor Doom’s country, which is he super cool with visitors, as long as you are not there to bother him?

Savage Land – Captain America, Wolverine, Giant Man and Sharon Carter (when has she been an Avenger?) are heading there.

None of them are heading anywhere close to San Francisco.

Captain America tells them to break and that he wants updates every hour.  Odd that so few members of the teams are actually going to places.  Wakanda and Latveria are small countries, sure, but they are still bigger than Delaware.  Right?  It isn’t like a small one stop sign, two bars type of small town.

Captain America and Wolverine are on their way to their Quinjet.  Cap states Wolverine is with him, and the panel showing that just has his face.  Wolverine states that is fine with him.

I point that out as Wolverine, once aboard, asks what that was about, the look between Cap and Sharon – but there is no panel, nor a look – that I can see that look.  JRJR is a great artist but one would think he would have shown that panel – unless it is to show how paranoid Wolverine is being.  Which I would believe except – in a few panels, he will be shown that he is correct, something is definitely up.

Captain America asks Wolverine to come with him, and we enter my favorite scene of the issue.  These six pages are bathed in the coler red, the the color of the lights on the Quinjet.  I guess they are like Star Trek Next Generation, and are on Red Alert.  Laura Martin’s color choice here is both stunning and amazing!

This great website has the battle if you want to follow along :

http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/3744904.html

Captain America confronts Wolverine, about how he scared Hope into running away.  Wolverine wants to kill her as that’s the only way to stop the Phoenix – deny her a host.  Cap doesn’t like that Wolverine isn’t willing to follow orders – simple ones like, hey, don’t kill any young ladies.  So Cap isn’t sure he can trust him to follow orders on this leg of the mission.

Wolverine tries to defend his position, he saw the Phoenix kill the woman he loves, Jean.  He knows that no hidden location will be able to stop the Phoenix from finding Hope.

Cap states that he isn’t going to stand by and let Wolverine kill a young woman.  Wolverine then states that they all die if Hope lives.  Captain America realizes then, that Wolverine is a savage animal that needs to be put down.  He tells Wolverine “I didn’t want it to come to this” and thus, the sequence that I reread twice the day I bought it, and then reread a couple more times for this review, begins!

As much as I thought the Cyclops vs. Wolverine fight towards the end of Schism was silly (Wolverine can gut Cyclops so easily) for some reason, Captain America vs. Wolverine, sounds like an awesome idea plus the fight does not disappoint.  I think it is due to Cap having a shield, so at least he can keep the claws away for a time.  Cyclops’ entire strategy has to be that somewhere in the back of Wolverine’s mind, he won’t kill Scott but take him as far as he is willing to do – and not do any permanent damage.

Captain America punches Wolverine in the face, telling him that he is going to be sitting this mission out.  Wolverine claws back, striking Cap’s shield, stating the hell he will.

Captain America punches Wolverine again, in the face – as it worked so well last time.  Wolverine asks if Cap really believes he can beat him.  Cap has no doubts – proving why he is one of the best characters Marvel has!

Then this spectacular thing happens, Wolverine shouts that Cap has no clue, then as Cap makes a move on Wolverine, Wolverine slashes the straps on the shield.  Has that ever been done before?  I find it so much more interesting of a thing to do to the shield itself, than be a character that either tears it apart or dents it.  The straps, are the weakpoint of the shield.  It feels like an obvious thing to do and yet, unique at the same time.

Wolverine then continues the assault, kicking Cap to the stomach.  Cap dodges Wolverine’s next attack, causing Wolverine’s claws to get stuck in the jet’s walls.

Captain America, moving fast, grabs his shield and throws it at Wolverine’s head.  Wolverine, trying to be a tough guy, asks if that is all he has.

Cap, in a rare moment of being witty and clever – states that he isn’t even close.  He has the Avengers too, and with that, Giant Man big slaps Wolverine to the ground.  Before that, we get a nice drawing of the cost the fight has had.  Cap is bleeding from the stomach where the three claws swiped at him.  He’s been through something, that’s for sure.  Wolverine looks like he is getting a second wind.

Captain America shouts at Sharon, she opens the quinjet’s door and Cap hits Wolverine upside his face with the shield.  I guess that was Sharon’s main role, he couldn’t have a fellow Avenger do it, he needed SHIELD’s help.  Just looked it up, she is a member of the Secret Avengers.  But don’t tell anyone.

Finally, Giant Man big boots Wolverine and he goes out of the door.  I wonder if Wolverine thought back on this when he had to go back in time to kill Hank Pym in Age of Ultron.  That Wolverine, he is all about the long play.

Wolverine lands in snow.  Which could mean he is in Antarctica, as they were headed to the Savage Land, or that they purposely went someone with a snow landscape and now they are heading to the Savage Land.  I suspect that he is in Antarctica.

Sharon is concern for Cap, he tells her that he is only winded, he doesn’t need to go to the medical bay like she wants.

Issue ends with Wolverine stating aloud (and to himself, probably) that Captain America is an old fashion fool and that it is all up to himself now, as he tries to make way through the snow that is up to his knees.  Could thing he has that healing factor, as that seems like Captain America left him for dead.  But that’s what the X-Men did to Gambit at the end of Uncanny X-Men 350, leaving him in the snow of Antarctica, so maybe its a comic book thing.

There is a notice of a new app by Marvel, Marvel AR.  We just got newer phones.  I now have a LG Optimus Zone, which is not compatible with this app.  The entire reason I wanted an Android, was to finally experience the Marvel AR.  Maybe next year’s phone.

Robin Williams

Posted by John Klein III on April 12, 2014
Posted in: Retrospective. Leave a comment

If asked, I would say I prefer dramatic Robin Williams to comedy Robin Williams. I know that might be a bold statement but I would marathon Dead Poets Society, Awakenings and Good Will Hunting all day than some of his comedies.

Also, I can’t stand him on interview shows. If he could just sit in his chair and have a conversation, it would be a different matter all together. It makes my stomach turn. Jim Carrey also did this a bunch in his beginning days.

Inside the Actor’s Studio had a countdown to the fans favorite epsidoes. They kept featuring five of the episodes. Whenever they cut to Robin Williams’ episode, he was barely in his seat. Some people must really like it but I’m not a fan.

There is one film of his that I can’t stand and I thought I’ll finally express my thoughs on it and then I can stop thinking about it completely going forward.

At the same time, I thought I’ll just do a complete career retrospective and then I can see if I really do prefer one over the other.

If you want to play along :

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000245/

Popeye – the first movie my mother told me I slept through as a baby. Saw it as a young child and thought it was okay. As a fictional character, I like Popeye. Olive Oil on the other hand, I can never understand why Popeye and Brut would fight over such a skinny woman.

Only seen a few episodes of Mork & Mindy, and it seemed dated by the time I saw it in reruns.

Good Morning, Vietnam – now that’s comedy gold there!

Adventures of Baron Munchausen – I saw this when I was much younger, and only for Uma Thurman so I don’t recall him in it as much.

Dead Poets Society – so many memorable moments. So many great lines too.

Awakenings – I’m not even sure what made me watch it but I’m glad I did. I think I was in a watching everything Robert De Niro was in phase and fell in love with it. It was on a movie channel so I saw it a bunch that month.

Hook – Has to be my first Robin Williams film I saw. Love the concept of it; love how it all comes together. I’m a fan. I’ll say more action adventure than comedy.

Aladdin – He is the voice of Genie. He is amazing at it but when they announced he wouldn’t be back for the sequel, I wasn’t upset by it or anything. They got the guy who did the voice from the Aladdin animated series and of course, he was good. Robin Williams voices him in the third Aladdin feature, I wasn’t sure if it was necessary but if you get Robin Williams to agree to do your movie, you don’t turn him down afterwards.

Mrs. Doubtfire – hated as a child but now I’ve gotten an appriciation for it. I think Pierce Brosnan being James Bond later, has made me like this movie more.

He played himself twice on the Larry Sanders Show, a show I really liked growing up.

Apparently he is in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, a film I’ve wanted to see just to see Patrick Swayze and Wesley Snipes in drag. Johnny Legs is in it too. Also, not dying to see it either. Came out in 1995, and I’m not sure if it as ever really crossed my path.

Jumanji – Another fun action adventure. Kirsten Dunst is the young girl in it so how old much Robin Williams be?

The Birdcage – the commercials were enough for me. I’m not the biggest Nathan Lane fan, whenever he is on Modern Family is enough for me.

Jack – the first movie of his, that I remember thinking was a dumb concept and why would one even make that movie? He plays a boy with a growth hormone that makes him age to look like Robin Williams. ooof!

Aladdin and the King of Thieves – the sequel he did show up for.

Deconstructing Harry – I don’t quite remember him in it but I really like Julia Louis-Dreyfus in it.

Flubber – I also had no interest in this film. Passed on conception.

Good Will Hunting – I saw as I’m a bit of a Ben Affleck fan and Robin Williams really open my eyes on what type of an actor he could be. I must have watched Awakenings after this film, now that I think of it. Same for Dead Poets Society. Career defining and he got Best Supporting Oscar for it too, richly deserved! Shame we don’t get this Robin Williams more.

Patch Adams – here we go. Patch Adams is horrible!  I haven’t been so angry at a film since this one. Not even sure why I watched it, I know I was at home. I may have been under the impression we were getting dramatic Robin Williams. What we got was offensive.   Now, I should say this rage is from the 1998 version of me who is almost 17. I probably should rewatch the film but the idea sends me into another rage so I don’t think I can give it a second chance. So the film is based on the true story of Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams, and the book he wrote with another person. So it is suppose to be a first person telling of his life.

So this doctor figures out that humor is the best medicine and decides to open a hospital that is purely based on treating all cases with the highest dose of humor possible. Who takes their family member to this hospital, is beyond me. So he gets married to this nice lady, who I now learn is played by Monica Potter, who I really like from Con Air but mostly from Parenthood.

So Monica Potter’s character goes to this crazy guy’s house. There are all of these scenes and moments that clearly indicate, she shouldn’t go over there. Now, I recognize that is actually happened to the real girlfriend of Patch Adams, so I apologize ahead of time. This would be easier if this was a completely fictional story. Except, the scene in question, is completely fictional so I feel like I have some room to do this here. The screenplay is written by Steve Oedekerk, of Kung Power : Enter the Fist fame. So my problem is mostly with him, unfortunately.

Enough build up already, so the scene is Potter and the crazy guy, and they start off by having some wine and jokes and then it builds to the guy getting his gun out, confessing his love for her and he then kills her when she rejects him and then kills himself, murder suicide. Here’s my problem, the scene lasts maybe five minutes (maybe longer or shorter – my memory of it is it lasts a while) but the entire scene is fictional. No one survives the encounter. The police show up and maybe there is wine on the table and assumptions are made but the story is from Adams’ perspective, so it is how he wants the story to be known as but who is to say what really happened that night before the deaths. It could have been an affair, I doubt it, but it should have just been a scene of Adams telling her not to go, then him getting a phone call and going over there and getting the bad news. The scene is unnecessary on all levels. I get the whole “show don’t tell” aspect of movie making but depict the film as true events and then completely make up an entire scene.

Oh wow, so I’m reading the Wikipedia page right now and getting even more angry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_Adams_%28film%29

“The film has several major departures from Adams’ real history. One is that the character of Carin is fictional, but is analogous to a real life friend of Adams (a man) who was murdered under similar circumstances. Another difference is the then-47 year old Robin Williams portrays Adams as enrolling in medical school very late in his life, his older age even being brought up in dialogue. In reality, Adams started medical school immediately and his educational progress was quite normal for a physician: He graduated high school at 18, college at 22, and medical school at 26.”

Wow, so that entire scene isn’t even about a real lady (though I do feel bad about the guy dying” why even make that choice and have this be a plot point. Oh and it is a plot point as it steers the movie for quite some time afterwards.

Also, apparently this movie got horrible reviews so I’m not the first person to not like it. Also on the page is the reaction from the real Patch Adams, who didn’t like the film either. Which must be even worst for him. Imagine watching it the first time, the Monica Potter character comes onto screen, he’s all like “who is that suppose to be” and then the murder suicide scene happens and he is like “is this even necessary!?!” It isn’t.

Turns out, the hospital is one of those ‘free hospitals’ which is great cause! I will not be making a point to rewatching this. Robin Williams made 21 million dollars of it and he didn’t even give ten dollars to the Patch Adams’ hospital. Not like he has to but ooof, that isn’t good. Apparently also, the film promised to give or donate money to the hospital and never did even though it was a box office success. What a mess! Glad I decided to do this post, as I wouldn’t have known any of this.

On a lighter note, apparently Robin Williams has voiced the Genie in several other places. Disney’s Math Quest with Aladdin video game, the television series Great Minds Think for Themselves and Aladdin on Ice a TV Movie. That has to burn that he didn’t do the second sequel or the television series. I want to say James Woods did the voice of Hades on the Hercules television series, I could be wrong.   No, he did, he’s like Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel the Little Mermaid, and he has done the voice of Hades whenever there was need to do so. Which I really like that type of ownership of an animated role.

Bicentennial Man- another film I passed on. I’m not a big fan of robots.

One Hour Photo – seemed to creepy for me.

Death to Smoochy – now this film, I really do love. I would place it more in the fun but dramatic column. Came out in 2002, so I may have had a mad on for Robin Williams that lasted for five years, that sounds like something I would do, so this movie put Robin Williams back in a positive light for me. Such a great film.

Insomnia – I remember not getting through it. I should revisit as it is a film by Christopher Nolan and I do like those Batman films of his.

RV – I, like most people, passed hard on this movie. The commercials confused me over who would watch it.

Man of the Year – I like the concept of a popular celebrity running for President and winning but Robin Williams doing what he does and the way the story is told (from the commercials) wasn’t my type of film.

Happy Feet – haven’t seen any of these

Night at the Museum – Took me forever to watch it, I’m sure I saw it on FX or something. I liked him in it as Teddy Roosevelt, it isn’t a big role. Not seen any of the sequels.

License to Wed – Also not have seen it but I remember thinking that it was the start of a new direction in his career, supporting character roles instead of leading man.

I’m pretty sure I saw his episode of Law & Order : SVU, Authority. That show, I can only stomach so much of. Not sure how anyone can watch four hours of it, everyday on USA. Seems like a waste of programming to me.

Wilfred – that’s right, he was on an episode of that, Progress. We love that show but the last season was a little hit or miss.

The Big Wedding – I should watch it as I’m a sucker for giant ensemble films.

Lee Daniels’ The Butler – a film I want to see, James Marsden as JFK sounds good. Robin Williams plays Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The Crazy Ones – As much as I like Sarah Michelle Gellar (I’m a bigger Freddie Prince Jr. fan – though it has been harder lately to be) I don’t watch nearly anything she is in but the commercials seem to show Robin Williams restrain a little. My wife liked the few episodes she saw at the beginning. I’m not sure why Sarah Michelle Gellar never did How I Met Your Mother, she’s the most notable absence from all of the Buffy / Angel guest stars. But that also failed to get Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams (even when she was dating Jason Segel – the whole reason I thought he was dating her during that short window) but maybe they never sought them out either.

That’s Robin Williams career from my perspective.

Patch Adams though, still super frustrating!

I’ve only ever seen one of his HBO stand up specials, I don’t recall watching the entire thing.

He also was uncredited on an episode of Friends, The One With the Ultimate Fighting Champion. I like Jon Favreau’s little run he had on the show as Monica’s millionaire boyfriend. I don’t remember Robin Willians or Billy Crystal being in the episode’s opening but TBS and Nick at Nite seem to air the episodes constantly so I’ll pay attention to any reairings. Apparently they were there to promote (quietly) their film Fathers’ Day which I saw listed but couldn’t remember at all.

I also didn’t see the film with him and John Travolta as new fathers in their 50s. That also didn’t look good.

 

X-Babies Reborn

Posted by John Klein III on April 11, 2014
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

24819_20060315060112_large

Written by Ruben Diaz

Color Illustrations by Juvaun J. Kirby

Ink Art by Caleb Salstrom

Cover Inks by Edwin Rosell

Calligraphy by AS & Comicraft / AD

Cover Dated January 2000

Look how cute that cover is!  I don’t own every X-Babies appearance but the ones I do own, I do enjoy.

At one point, ToyBiz announced that the X-Babies were going to be made into toys for the Marvel Legends Wave 14 in 2006.

xbabiessc6

Jason R. Mink, who is the Man in the Anthill over at Fwoosh wrote a great article regarding what happened along with these two images

The Ones That Got Away! Unreleased Marvel Legends

legends14

ex

They did go ahead with the Mojo Build-A-Figure, but he looked lonely without the X-Babies present.  I would have bought that First Appearance Daredevil just to get Shadowkitty.

The X-Babies are – Shower, Wolvie, Sugah, Creepy Crawler, Psychilde, Colossusus, The Prof (aka Boy X) and the adorable Shadowkitty.

You can read along with the comic, thanks to this nice website :

http://amocat.net/kiotr/KIOTR-Gallery/X-Babies-Reborn-1-Beware-The-Babymaker

The X-Babies are playing in the Danger Playpen.  There are two teams – Shower / Wolvie / Sugah and Creepy Crawler / Psychilde Colossusus.  They are trying to capture a ball.

Shadowkitty wants in the fun but Prof X states she is too young.

Sugah grabs Crawler’s tail and takes his power – thus teleporting to the ball easier.

X-Babies Reborn Shadowkitty tampering

Shadowkitty wants a closer look, but doing so tampers with the Playpen.  All the safety protocols are turned off – revealing the true dangers under the soft and plush equipment.

In Sugah’s zeal to win, she makes a dash for the ball.  Prof X wants them to stop the exercise.  Psychilde also wants to win, and dives for the ball.  Sugah grabs the ball, Psychilde grabs Sugah’s exposed arm.  The psychic backlash knocks them both for a loop.

Sugah has a memory of her and Kid Britain, that isn’t her own.  Psychilde’s mind is separated from her body – temporarily.

There is an ad for the Pierce Brosnon Bond film – The World Is Not Enough.  His third of four Bond films.  That is the one with Denise Richards.

X-Babies Reborn Shadowkitty sad

There is a sad half page panel of the X-Babies around a sleeping Psychilde.  Shadowkitty looks to be on the verge of tears, and Sugah is crying.

Meanwhile, Mojo – the creator of the X-Babies – needs a new attraction to air on his network.  His staff figure they can redo the process that created the X-Babies, and create something new.

There is a house ad for November 1999.  Uncanny X-Men 376 – At last, the Twelve revealed!  (It is okay, marks the ending to the 35th Anniversary era – after this, the crossovers begin anew.)  Captain Marvel 1, a new series from the pages of Avengers Forever!  (I love Avengers Forever, and am still waiting for Songbird to join the team – as she wasn’t really part of the Dark Avengers.  Captain Marvel was fun, I am not a big Rick Jones fan – outside of his original appearances.  Written by Peter David.)  Captain America 25, The Falcon!  Nick Fury!  Dan Jurgens!  Andy Kubert!  (I must have read this issue and beyond but don’t recall anything.)  Fantastic Four 25, Mr. Fantastic vs. Doctor Doom!  ‘Nuff Said!  (I will add just a little, this is Chris Claremont writing and Salvador Laccora on pencils – such a fun run and some great stories come out of this.  He wrote volume three of that series, from issue 4 to 32.  Issue 27’s cover, is what I picture when I think of that series.  One day, I will get around to reviewing issues 6, 7 and 8.)

Psychilde screams so loud, it wakes everyone up.  She is sadly melting away.  They out her in a pot, which reminds me of Kitty Pryde when she was stuck in phase mode after Mutant Massacre and once she came out of the bullet, to a much lesser degree.

X-Babies Reborn Kitty tag along

They have to go to Mojoworld proper, they live on the very outskirts.  Sugah is going to carry the tank.  Shadowkitty is allowed to tag along.

Sugah and Shower fly on their own, the others take the Blackbird – which is only a glider, powered by Shower and her generated winds.

Eventually, the Blackbird crashes.  Shower asks if everyone is okay.  Creepy Crawler states that he is walking funny.  Which is a fun sight gag, as he is walking on his hands.

The X-Babies are trying to get to Dazzler and Longshot, as they have aided them in the past and they are the leaders of the renegades against Mojo.

Spiral finds the X-Babies, and tries to steal away with the tank containing Psychilde.  She wants the material to create the next batch of creatues, as the material is hard to come by.

There is a screen with a turtle with a red bandanna and a gun.

The X-Babies fight Spiral.

Then we get eight pages of Fast Lane part two of four.  An anti-drug story involving Spider-Man.  It is not very good.  I never read the other parts, as they were online and part two was not good at all.  The very first time I read this, it was in a Spider-Man comic, so that was confusing.  It is only six pages and Mysterio was the villain.  This appeared in every Marvel comic that month, so I was one annoyed 18 year old.  Once you skip it once, you keep skipping it, the opposite intention Marvel wanted, I’m sure.

X-Babies Reborn Shadowkitty delighted

Spiral is about to teleport away with the tank, when Creepy Crawler teleports in at the last second, and snatches the tank back.  Spiral can’t stop her spell, so she teleports way.

The X-Babies continue their quest.  Colossusus is told to hold Shadowkitty’s hand, which delights her.

They finally get to Dazzler’s home.  Longshot is missing, and she is trying to bring him back.  She recommends they visit the Textbook Sisters.

Mojo is told about Spiral’s defeat.  He wants to fight fire with fire.

In Mojoworld, whete television is king – libraries are ghost towns.  The Textbook Sisters attempt to cast a spell.  They are interrupted by the new threat.

The Mitey ‘Vengers – Iron Ace, Big Boy, Wisp, Thunderson, Captain Amerikid and Hawkey.

All cute versions of the Avengers – Iron Man, Giant Man, Wasp, Thor, Captain America and Hawkeye.  Also, as classic of an Avengers roster as you can get.

Of course, they fight.

Hawkey shoots an arrow, grabbing the tank.  It is on!

X-Babies Reborn X-Babies v Vengers

Wolvie vs. Captain Amerikid.  Shadowkitty vs. Hawkey.  Sugah vs. Iron Ace.  Creepy Crawler vs. Wisp.  Colossusus vs. Big Boy.  Shower vs. Thunderson.

Of course, Shower would fight Thunderson and Wolvie would fight Captain Amerikid, the other match ups are fun.  Colossus tobbles Big Boy.  Creepy Crawler grabs Wisp, then hits picked up by Big Boy.

Sugah punches Iron Ace.  Mojo reminds Iron Ace, of his true objective.  Shadowkitty distracts Hawkey, and Sugah knocks him to the ground, asking him where babies come from.

Shower and Thunderson finally knock each other out, after three pages.

X-Babies Reborn Shadowkitty distracts

Hawkey tells the two ladies all the work Mojo put into them, all the training.  This angers Sugah and she takes off.

Iron Ace has brought the tank to Mojo, while the fighting was going on.  He asks if what Mojo has plan, is the right thing to do.  Mojo doesn’t like back talk, threatens to back hand Iron Ace when Sugah and Shadowkitty show up.

Captain Amerikid punches Wolvie’s head, hurting his hand as Wolvie’s head is coated in metal – which I always like that attention to detail.

Mojo is on television, revealing how far he is willing to go for his goals.   He doesn’t come off well.

Spiral has the tank now.  Sugah goes after her.  She tells Shadowkitty, to not to take her eye off of Mojo.  Shadowkitty takes out this giant eye telescope.

Iron Ace starts to fight Mojo.

X-Babies Reborn Shadowkitty caught

Sugah absorbs Spiral’s power, thus she grows four extra arms.  Those extra arms grab the tank.  But due to the fight, one of these two fumbles and the tank falls into the remaining neoplasm.  Iron Ace starts trying to fix the situation, as Sugah panics.

We get two pages of suspense, and a giant explosion.

Then we get the entire purpose of this one shot – to turn the British Psychilde and turn her into Japanese Psychilde, which is a clever twist, and not at all as complicated as what happened to Psylocke.

The combined babies all stand up to Mojo and declare and declare their independence from him.

Mojo isn’t going without a fight.  He gets into a giant battle tank.  He is about to blast the heroes, when the machine falls apart.

X-Babies Reborn Shadowkitty final page

Shadowkitty phases through the cannon and they win the day.

The Mitey ‘Vengers and X-Babies create an alliance.  The Mitey ‘Vengers base was an old Motivation Factory.

Issue ends with Mojo revealing to us, his latest babies – villains!  Lizard, Kraven, Punisher, Thanos, Kingpin, Mister Sinister, Red Skull, Apocalypse, Brood, Doctor Doom, Green Goblin, Venom and Bullseye.  It is an awesome panel.

There is a caption – Tune in Next Time for Another Uncanny Adventure with the X-Babies!

Which will be in nine years when the X-Babies and the Star Comics characters unite, it is pretty good.  I own all four issues, so one day, I will review those.

The X-Babies do appear in one comic before that series.  That would be 2005’s Uncanny X-Men 461.  Which I do own, so that will come one day as well.

Back cover is a Got Milk ad with Spider-Man, remember those?

A+X

Posted by John Klein III on April 10, 2014
Posted in: Retrospective. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Of the 18 issues, I only own five issues – 1, 2, 8, 11 and 18

On my Wishlist are – the Del Mundo variant of issue 2, McGuinness Variants for both issues 2 and 4. Yes, I only want the fourth issue one because Lockheed and Kitty’s feet are dangling on the top of it. But it would make an awesome connecting cover once I get both of them.

Issue One, I only own for the Skottie Young Baby Variant that had Kitty and Lockheed on the cover.

The Team Ups and Creative Teams in the issues I own are :

1A – Captain America & Bucky + Cable by Dan Slott and Ron Garney

1B – Incredible Hulk + Wolverine by Jeph Loeb and Dale Keown

2A – Black Widow + Rogue by Chris Bachalo

2B – Iron Man + Kitty Pryde with Lockheed by Peter David and Mike Del Mundo

8A – Spider-Woman + Kitty Pryde with Lockheed by Gerry Duggan and Salvador Larroca

8B – Hawkeye + Deadpool by Christopher Hastings and Reilly Brown

11A – Thor + Magik by Mike Benson and Mark Texeira

11B – Superior Spider-Man + Cyclops by Jim Krueger and Ron Lim

18A – Vision + Kitty Pryde by Jim Krueger and Will Sliney

18B – Captain America + Cyclops by Gerry Duggan and Matteo Lolli and David Yardin

Once I own issue four it would be

4A – Beast + Amazing Spider-Man by Kaare Andrews

4B – Captain America + Quentin Quire by Jason Latour and David Lopez

Overall, I like the concept of the title as I was always a fan of Marvel Team-Up, especially once the second and third volumes got away with the mandatory Spider-Man starring role.

Avengers vs. Pet Avengers 1

Posted by John Klein III on April 9, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

213876_20101027133018_large

Writer Chris Eliopoulos

Artist Ig Guara

Colorists Chris Sotomayor & J.Roberts

Letterer & Production VC’s Joe Sabino

Cover Dated December 2010

Now, I’m not sure what I was doing at the end of 2010 that I didn’t get this series initially as if the words “Pet Avengers” was in the title, I would have instantly ordered it.  So I only have the first two issues, that I had to buy through back issue.  There are four parts, and sadly, I don’t know what happens after the second issue.  One of these days, I’ll buy the last two issues.  For reviewing sake, I will only be reviewing issue one.

This is the third part of what I suppose is the Pet Avengers trilogy.  I imagine that Pet Avengers Unleashed didn’t do the numbers they were hoping for so this miniseries stars the Avengers proper along with the Pets.

Which I like as now the Avengers cannot deny that they have a pet division in their monthly team board meetings (that I can only imagine a businessman like Stark would enforce).  One would hope Lockheed would be the official representative but it most likely has to be Throg as he’s the one people can understand.

This is the third miniseries for Eliopoulos but they do show up in Alex Zalben’s Thor and Warriors Four (a Thor / Power Pack miniseries, that I’ve covered issues one and four already – the only issues the Pet Avengers showed up in).

Sadly, there has been no other Pet Avengers miniseries, to the chagrin of all of us here at S&FwM.

Issue opens 4500 years ago, give or take a decade.  Humans annd dragons lived at the same time.  Until humans went and fouled it up.  So the dragons started being killed.  Which holds up with Claremont’s New Excalibur adventure when the team went back in time.  All but one dragon was killed.

A kind man tricked Fin Fang Foom into drinking a portion, causing him to sleep for thousands of years.  I haven’t read every Fin Fang Foom tale, buy I do enjoy the character.  I like how even 4500 years ago, he wore his purple shorts.

prv6747_pg6

Today, we find the Pet Avengers stopping a robber.  The Pet Avengers are – Lockheed, Zabu, Redwing, Hairball, Ms. Lion, Throg and Lockjaw.

Throg has to do the talking.  The guy is surprised he can talk, opening Throg for an awesome response.  “I can do more than talk, base villain . . . I canst call down the lightning.”  I am sure it is the usage of ‘base villain’ that I like so much.

The shop owner is so happy to get his money back, that he gives them a bag of candy.  The police officer can’t believe there are superhero animals.  The shop owner has been in business in New York City for fifty years, he isn’t surprised at all.

Hairball tries to get Ms. Lion to eat some chocolate.  He really wants it but Lockheed has heard chocolate is bad for dogs. Lockheed talking to Hairball, this whole sequence – really amazing how Guara really gets into drawing these animals.  He doesn’t half arse it, like one might think an artist working on a title like this, might do.  A great amount of detail is placed in every panel and each animal is distinct.  Guara knows this is an awesome comic, that he is spectacular with the art.

I know the target demographic is probably far younger than 32, and even if Lockheed wasn’t part of the team – it really works as an all ages title.

Throg takes the chocolate from Ms. Lion.

Redwing wants them to leave the park, as their presence is upsetting the humans.  Redwing also wants to get back to Falcon, as they have a special bond.  This annoys Hairball as Redwing can’t go too many minutes without mentioning how he works with the Falcon.

Then Throg gets summon by Thor to go help him, Iron Man and Captain America.  Once Redwing hears Cap’s name, he instantly mentions how he knows him from when Falcon teams up with him.  It is a very fun running gag, especially with how mad Hairball gets.  But when your human partner is the New Warriors’ Speedball, you don’t get to brag as much.  Especially after Stanford.

The Pet Avengers are heading to an island in the South Pacific.

Once the Pet Avengers meet up with the Big Three Avengers, we see they have been turned into frogs!

I like how Bucky Cap has a metal arm even as a frog.  Thor as a frog is mostly standing, which is the only way to tell him apart from Iron Man as a frog.

If it wasn’t for the cover, we would never see the human Avengers as their proper forms.

Fing Fang Foom and his army of dragons start attacking.  Throg gets to shout Avengers and Pet Avengers … Assemble!”  So there is no denying to the Avengers that they definitely have an animal division.

The army of dragons starts swallowing the Pet Avengers.

Fing Fang Foom recognizes Lockheed as being from the race known as the Flock.  Which is pretty cool as outside of handbooks and Excalibur 40, Lockheed’s race is never mentioned or named.

Issue ends with Lockheed standing up to Fing Fang Foom, which looks like a cat standing next to the Empire State Building.

Fing Fang Foom annouces that the Age of Dragons has begun anew!

A+X 18

Posted by John Klein III on April 8, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , . 2 Comments

A+X 18

Vision + Kitty Pryde

Writer Jim Krueger

Artist Will Sliney

Color Artist Andrews Mossa

Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles

There is also a Cyclops and Captain America story, it is nice but the first story is the only important one.

I thought Bendis was suppose to have written this story?  What happened there?  He probably doesn’t have time to write a ten page story.  I like Krueger from Earth X so I welcome him here.

Lockheed only appears on the cover, which Sliney gives him a wicked smile!  Maybe he didn’t do the cover, as both characters are not wearing their current uniforms like they are doing in the story proper.

I wish the Intern who wrote the caption page got a credit, that is funny and kicks off a pretty fun final issue.

I miss reading about Vision.  I haven’t followed the character since Avengers Disassemble.  The character was replaced with a younger model in Young Avengers, I remember looking up the newer character, and his origin seemed overly complicated.   Not sure when proper Vision came back.  One would think being a Classic Avenger, his return would have been promoted.

A+X 18 Kitty 1

Vision and Kitty wake up on two tables.  Vision refers to her as, Kitty Pryde with both names being said.

Kitty wakes with a splitting headache.

Kitty looks around and instantly recognizes MurderWorld.  Which thrills me, as I am a pretty big Arcade fan.  He may be my favorite X-Men villain.  I will have to think about that.  I do know that whenever he appears, I know I am in for a good time.

Vision wonders why both of them are here at the same time. Kitty wonders if it is because they both can become intangible.

Which might be why I liked Vision initially, he could be the Avengers’ Shadowcat.  I am an opponent of robots, I do not like them, but I would state that Vision is the best robot.

A+X 18 Kitty 2

Kitty sees robots of Xavier, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Douglock and the fool that is Colossus.

Douglock punches Kitty, and we learn that neither Kitty nor Vision can turn intangible.

Vision starts to download everything he can on MurderWorld, so the WiFi still works.

Kitty notices there are robot versions of Vision people – Scarlet Witch and Ultron – who is already a robot.

After the fifth ‘Kitty Pryde,’ she offers that he can call her, Kitty.

A+X 18 Kitty 3

Vision’s plan is to switch familiar opponents.  Kitty likes that idea, but first she wants to take out the Emma Frost robot.

This whole story reminds me why you will hardly see Kitty or Vision in a game.  Developers don’t like having to create reasons for why they can’t walk through all the walls and defeat the level in no time.  Which my agrument to that is, then we the player won’t receive any of the experience points needed to level up.

Vision notices the mirrors are the source of the power, so the two of them start throwing the robots into the mirrors and that works.

Kitty calls him a genius, and self brags that she’s usually the genius.

Kitty wants to destroy this deathtrap.  Luckily, Vision carries a techno-virus on him at all times, in case he loses control of his programming again.  It has happened at least twice, causing death each time.

Vision is about to unleash it when something catches his eye.  As they head off to investigate it, he comments that he wasn’t given any obstacles to overcome.

Kitty mentions how a maze appeared around them.  She jokes that with her primary power gone, her secondary power kicks in – stating the obvious.

Kitty really doesn’t like walls.

A ghost appears ahead of them.  The ghost is sporting a gunshot wound to the head.  She comments on this, and Vision agrees with her – her secondary power is in full swing.  These two are funny together.

They enter a room full of ghosts, I recognise a few from Avengers Arena.  I wonder who the others are.  I bet they are not randoms.

Kitty tells Vision that the X-Men defeat Arcade so often that she never views him as a credible threat.  Which is something I’ve wondered about Arcade before, does he have success with regular folk?  I know he uses the killer amusement park angle as he likes the thrill of the deathes.  I also know that he use to rent out MurderWorld to guys like Taskmaster for training purposes.  Sort of like a Danger Room for villains.

Then MurderWorld starts speaking to them, using old recordings of Arcade.  I like the effect of it with the … as pauses between searches.  If you read it right, it really works.

Turns out, like the Danger Room, it has become alive.  Unlike Danger, it feels bad for all the death.  Also unlike Danger, it is only a program, it doesn’t have a robot body.

Kitty states that she doesn’t have much luck with sentient artificial intelligence.  She apologizes to Vision, he isn’t offended.

MurderWorld explains why it choose these two.  Vision understands being a computer, being forced to be used as a mindless killing machine.  It choose Kitty as she knows if a future where killer robots, Sentinels, rule America.  I don’t know where or how MurderWorld got footage from Days of Future Past, but it did.

It was going to allow Vision to infect it with the techno virus.  Kitty is quick to point out that if Vision did, the two heroes would be dead right now.  As MurderWorld has them hooked up to computers at the moment.  That is why they can’t phase, they are inside a program.

The two explain what guily and remorse is.  All the amusement park can do is try to be better as it moves on.  Vision states it is easier with friends.

Story ends with Kitty asking if they can have their bodies back.  Vision repeats she doesn’t like walls.

Nice story, I really like it and I could go for a mini with the two of them.

X-Men Forever 2 Issue 15

Posted by John Klein III on April 7, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

218079_20110117134403_large

Writer Chris Claremont

Penciler Andy Smith

Inker Cory Hamscher

Colorist Wil Quintana

Letterer Tom Orzechowski

Cover Dated March 2011

Issue opens with Dr. Strange trying to combine Ghost Panther Storm with Ro.  It is only one page, will he be able to do it?

Perfect Storm and the Avengers – Captain America, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Woman (Julia), Vision (pale) and Thor are about to take on the X-Men.

Perfect Storm may have been oust from Genosha, but here in Wakanda, she is still Queen.  Due to Black Panther’s membership with the Avengers, that makes the Avengers allies of Perfect Storm.

The Avengers are still mad at the X-Men for faking their death back in issue one of this second volume.  There are some trust issues there.  Plus, they are still reeling that Iron Man and Beast both died during an X-Men mission.

Cyclops tries to tell the Avengers the truth, Jean (whose flesh color top of her outfit makes her look more revealing than she probably intends for it to be) echoes that Storm’s reign is based on lies.  Havok helps Polaris to her feet, who was attacked by Perfect Storm at the end of the previous issue.

Captain America, hearing about lies, throws the fact that the X-Men faked their deaths to get out of having to deal with the Avengers’ questions.  They don’t rehash what the problems were in first time around, and I can’t recall as it was years ago and then plenty of issues before then.  I want to say it was the Consortium-controlled SHIELD wanting to bring the X-Men in for ‘questioning’ and they used the Avengers as their muscle.  Instead of a fight, the X-Men faked their deaths by exploding the mansion.

X-Men Forever, both volumes, have been largely about the Consortium and Evil Storm, especially the second volume.  If it wasn’t the main aspect of the issue it was at least an ongoing plot point.

Perfect Storm comes at Cyclops, with a knife!

Havok is the first to attack Thor, having no effect.  This would have been Avengers circa maybe 1993, if X-Men Forever 1 was suppose to take place in 1991.  24 issues of volume one, makes two years, then another 15 (plus a Giant Size) is another year, so that’s 1994 / 1995.  That’s not my era of Avengers.

Jean and Wanda fight, Jean is about to be overpowered by Wanda, so she sends a telepathic alarm to the rest of the X-Men, who are in the basement – looking for weapons.  Rogue teleports up (as she has Kurt’s powers and he has hers) and grabs Wanda and teleports away.

Poor Kurt, is so afraid of using his powers, as when he does, he has worst control than Rogue, so he doesn’t know how to limit what he takes.  It isn’t a power that you get to practice on people.  Especially as last time he used it, his powers were not simply absorbed but straight transferred between himself and his adopted sister.

Quicksilver, seeing his sister get teleported away, runs off.  All Avengers have a tracking unit on them, so once Wanda comes back, he will be there for her in a matter of seconds.

Now that the X-Men don’t have to worry about two of the Avengers, their fight isn’t any easier as the A-Listers are still on their feet.

Jean moves her target to Spider-Woman.  Who I missed, she was my Spider-Woman from the 90s Iron Man cartoon so I’ve always been partial to her.  Then she went into creative limbo for what seemed like a decade.

Poloris is fighting Hawkeye.  Captain America notices Storm fighting in a way that makes him uneasy.  He throws his mighty shield but someone throws something at the shield to throw it off course

We get a nice splash page of the rest of the X-Men are now present.  Kurt has a gun.  Not even a fancy comic book gun, like a real pistol.  He’s not there to mess around.  Kurt tries to aid Havok against Thor but he’s the God of Thunder, so there isn’t much those two can do to even slow him down.

Lockheed gets in the fight, going after Spider-Woman.  Andy Smith’s Lockheed is a bit long in the peak (if that’s what it is) but ribbed as all get out.

Gambit fights Captain America, spear vs. shield.

Perfect Storm’s fight with Cyclops is interrupted by Kitty.  Kitty scarred Perfect Storm’s face, and is willing to add another one if need be.  X-Men Forever Shadowcat is awesome and ruthless.  Kitty absorbing Wolverine’s adamantium claw, she also got some of his personality – which I’ll have to reread that issue when that time comes as I forget how they explain it away.  Kitty comes at Perfect Storm with a sword and the two of them have a decent sword fight, and with a kick, Kitty is disarmed.  She pops her claws, she is the weapon now!  Bad arse!

Then we get an odd matchup.  Sabretooth comes at Hawkeye.  Clint knows not to go easy on him just because he is blind.  He shoots a net arrow, capture Sabretooth.  He gets in to close, claiming that this is what happens when you go up against the world’s best archer.  With that, Sabretooth rips the net apart and uppercuts him.  What’s the point of being the best archer around if you get too close to someone to effectively pull an arrow back and making your own weapon useless?

In an awesome sequence, Quicksilver finds his twin sister.  As soon as he moves in close, to pick her up, she knocks him out.  Wanda shifts back into Mystique, we get the panel of Rogue hiding behind a shaded corner, with an unconscious Wanda – a nice reveal.  Mystique makes light of how her children and her are a better family than Magneto’s heirs.  I do like how now Rogue has the appearance of Nightcrawler, they all look like a family now.  Rogue resembles her adoptive mother, and Kurt will always be her son.  It was an interesting thing to make Rogue Nightcrawler.   She definitely got more out of the deal, storywise than Kurt got out of his.  He lost what made him awesome and then became like Ben Grimm, whiny all the time but not without good reason.

Cyclops has joined the fight against Thor.  Cyclops tells them to separate Thor from his hammer, and Thor just shrugs the concept off, calling them fools.  Thor isn’t holding back as they are not allies of his anymore, and with that, back hammers them all away from him.  Thor is about to unleash the lightning when Kurt tackles him and absorbs his powers.  Rogue’s first appearance in Avengers Annual 10, she was able to handle it but Kurt is still so new with the power, and unskilled that he is overloaded and Thor is stunned.

Kurt has only one course and unleashes all the power he gain, leaving his exhausted and with Reed Richards’ temples (I have the Fantastic Four on my mind, apparently).  Also, leaving everyone else stunned.  It wasn’t a controlled attack, it was more like he opened a flood gate and let it all out.

Cyclops sees his opportunity and moves in close to Captain America.  He tries to tell him everything that happen with the Consortium, and how they control SHIELD (I forgot the Trask involved is actually named Ziggy – a hard name for a villain to own but when your business is making giant mutant killing robots, you can have a silly name, I suppose).

Fury and his renegade (or good) SHIELD agents are working on the X-Men’s side and can vouched for everything Cyclops is saying.  Ziggy and the Consortium had a plan to kill all the mutants on the planet, but Iron Man and Beast sacrificed their lives to stop that plan.  Which is silly, if you think about, at one point in one of the volumes of X-Men Forever (it may have been the first one) it is revealed the reason why there are not more 50 year old mutants is that there is something in the X-Gene that causes burnout.  The more you use your power, the faster you will burn out and die.  So really, you don’t need to plan an attack to kill them, just to make them use their powers like mad.

Perfect Storm wants to silence Cyclops, and blasts enough lightning to kill him.  Havok, seeing the attack, takes the blast and in an incredible panel, all red with only a hand, Cyclops loses a brother.  Also, Polaris lost a boyfriend and she is not happy about it.  Polaris uses her powers to throw Perfect Storm out of the building and they fight in the air.

Ghost Panther shows up to assist Polaris.  Perfect Storm is surprised to see how well Ghost Panther can control the weather now.  Ghost Panther gives the run down on who Perfect Storm has killed – Logan, Black Panther and Havok – an impressive butcher’s bill (is that even a term?)

Polaris notices the giant metal statue of Perfect Storm (or Queen Storm) and uses the hand of the statue to grab Perfect Storm, taking her out of the fight.  Ghost Panther tells her X-Men don’t kill and so Polaris only subdues Perfect Storm.

Captain America hears Ghost Panther speak and suspects that it is T’Challa back from the grave – so that answers the question of what does it sound like when Ghost Panther speaks.  Ghost Panther takes off her helmet, and instead of a young Ro, we see a more teenage / early twenties Ororo with a mohawk.  Now that she is restored, so now shall the throne of Wakanda.  Oh to be a comic book character and be able to speak like that and have everyone just accept it.

Next issue is the last issue of X-Men Forever 2 and the final entry in this alternate timeline.  One day we’ll cover it but not this month.

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Three Issue 13

Posted by John Klein III on April 6, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Three Issue 13

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Art Sara Pichelli & David Marquez

Color Artist Justin Ponsor

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Trial of Jean Grey Part Six of Six

Issue opens with Jean confronting Gladiator.  No one present could handle being the host of the Phoenix.  She also talks about how silly this entire trial nonsense business.

Gladiator tries to speak up, big mistake.  Calling attention to himself, opens Jean to confront him about how every member of her family are dead.  Unless they are from an alternate timeline or a superhero.

All of this rage opens Jean to a major power upgrade.  Oracle later explains that it is a combination of her psychic powers and her telekinesis powers.  It takes the form of having Jean appear completely in pink, like a pink light version of herself.

So Pink Jean pink laser blasts Gladiator, off his feet in a gorgeous two page splash page.

Everyone is confused.  Rocket is glad they are winning, as they shouldn’t against the Imperial Guard.

Oracle tries to calm Jean by bringing her into Oracle’s mindscape.  The mindscape has a nice green hue.  It contrasts well with all the pink on the right page.

Starlord catches Jean, as she has passed out.  Gladiator is also out.

The X-Men come running to Jean.  Starlord introduces himself to Jean, which is nice as they don’t know each other.

Oracle tries to calm Gladiator as he gets to his feet.  He is not ready to let the fight end.

Good thing Cyclops is there, as he is ready to end this.  Cyclops really proves himself here.  Cyclops announces that they are leaving.  He goes as far as to threaten to kill Gladiator, if he comes after Jean or even come close to Earth.

If Gladiator is foolish enough to try, Cyclops will bring the entire mutant race, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Asgardians, Atlanteans and Hulk monsters onto Gladiator.

Cyclops makes a great point with how he was able to bring the Guardians and the Starjammers with no notice.

Gladiator tries to safe face and Jean starts up a speech about how they are creating All New history.  Nice way to work the X-Men title into actual dialogue.

Starlord further states Earth is under the Guardians’ protection.

Oracle keeps mentally telling Gladiator that this is over.

Gladiator flies away, once he is two miles away (in a total wuss move), shouts – How many wars can you Guardians fight at the same time?

Starlord is quick with, seven.

Rocket lifts his gun, Gamora tells him not to shoot, they won today.

We are treated to an excellent two page spread.  I really like the coloring.  The Guardians are bringing the X-Men home.  Kitty is hanging out with Starlord, he talks about how his father is the worst.  Dudes with daddy issues.

Drax likes X23’s toe claw.

Hank checks in with Jean, probably trying to get a second kiss.

Angela is sharpening her sword.

Jean thanks Hank and Warren for their part in the rescue.  Warren awkwardly states they would do the same for him, right?  Is he making a reference to the numerous times Archangel has fowled up his life?

Gamora confers with Angela.  She doesn’t believe this was worth it.  They have the Shi’ar as enemies now.  The Spartax are mad at them.  Thanos is out there.  It is too much.  It seems like Gamora understands Groot.

Angela’s eyes turn red, as she stares at Jean.  Jean gets the final panel on this page, looking remorseful.

Guardians of the Galaxy V3 13 Kitty Phone

Another incredible two page spread.  I really like the first panel, establishing shot of the two spaceships landing.  There is just something about it.

Bobby is quick to start making snow angels, he missed the snow.  Hank is glad to be on Earth.

Gamora makes an awesome statement regarding how confused she is that people keep fighting over this planet.  Rocket seconds the sentiment.

Groot introduces himself to a tree.  Rocket tries to reel him in.

Jean thanks the Guardians for saving her.  Gamora is tired of it already, as Drax states that Jean has thanked them numerous times already.  This must be Jean’s reaction to overhearing Angela and Gamora’s conversation.  Angela states Jean owes them all a blood debt.

Gamora wants Bobby to stop flirting with her, as instead of a blood debt, they make dinner for them.

The bottom row is the true highlight of the comic.  Starlord gives Kitty a means to call the Guardians, any time.  Kitty implies that she will use the device only for emergencies.  Quill explains that it isn’t a distress beacon, it is a phone.  So she can call and say hi.  I’m glad he did explain that, as I also thought it was a beacon in that exact moment.

Starlord further explains that in all if his adventures, he has met seven cool people.  Five are in his team, I figure.  Kitty is one of the other two.  He would like to keep in touch.

Guardians of the Galaxy V3 13 Kitty Kiss Cheek

Kitty kisses Quill on the cheek.  A moment we all predicted once he told her his name is, Peter.  That lady has a type.

Bendis has found a way to get me to keep buying the Guardians’ title.  I really do hope the covers or solicts clearly state when Kitty is going to appear in that title.  I will have to keep a lookout for any news, on that front.

Kitty runs over to the other heroes, as Starlord rubs his cheek.  I really like the staging of the gathered heroes panel.  We can clearly see Scott talking to his father, Corsair, in the distance.  Setting up the next big moment.

But first, Rocket tries to get Groot away from the trees.  Then two raccoons come out from the bushes.  Groot falls in love these these, which is awkward for Rocket.

Scott draws attention to himself, he announces that he is leaving with his father, for some space time.  I like how he doesn’t ask permission, he is going.  Two days ago, he thought he was an orphan, now he has his dad back.

The X-Men are shocked.  Kitty doesn’t want him to go, but this is an once in a lifetime opportunity.

Scott and Jean have a moment.  He even puts his hand on her face, a thing I never do.  He tells her, that they both know that they don’t end happily ever after.  So maybe this way, they can.

Scott turns, telling them he loves them and to be safe.  He asks X23 to keep them safe.  Poor Laura, no more hugs.  With that, the Starjammers are gone.

Bobby is in disbelief, that was fast.  Warren wants to know what happens if they find a way home, what happens then?

Issue ends with Jean on her knees, with her pink energy coming out of her eyes.  Is this suppose to be tears?

Next issue of Guardians, is their 100th issue.  I had no intentions to buy it, but now I am tempted.

Odd how this issue ends on such an X-Men note, not setting up the Guardians at all besides what Gamora stated earlier.

Overall, not enough trial for my taste.  No real explanation why Gladiator wanted a Jean who clearly never met the Phoenix, to stand trial.

I am interested in seeing where Kitty and Starlord’s relationship goes. Or will it be a simple fling?  Wild space hookups?  What will happen?  I would like to know.

AAFES 3rd Edition – New Avengers : Time Trouble

Posted by John Klein III on April 5, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

85385_20070218111456_large

Writer Robert Kirkman

Art UDON

Pencils Scott Hepburn & Alex Chung

Inks M3TH & Alan Tam

Colors Rob Ruffolo

Udon Chief Erik Ko

Letteres VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover Dated April 2006

AAFES stands for Army & Air Force Exchange Service

According to the Wikipedia page :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_and_Air_Force_Exchange_Service

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) is an agency of the United States Department of Defense.  Its dual missions are to provide quality merchandise and services of necessity and convenience to authorized customers at uniform low prices, and to generate reasonable earnings to supplement appropriated funds for the support of United States Army and Air Force Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs.

Marvel, to support the troops, creates and provides an entire free comic to the soldiers.

My mother was in the Army from before I was born to when I was entering junior high school.  Thus, I am partial to that branch of the military.

Inside front cover has an ad for the PSP game, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max.

Issue opens with Spider-Man webbing Boomerang upside down on a skyscraper.  Spider-Man is updating him on how much nicer his life is now that he is an Avenger.  Even though he is fighting global threats now, he always has time for his old Rogues Gallery.

As he swings away, he continues to think how good he has it.  Mary Jane is happy, Aunt May is healthy and he is liked by his teammates – for the most part.

Spider-Man gets to Avengers Tower.  Jarvis has been knocked to the ground, and there is a portal.  Jarvis tells him there was a large fight and the X-Men were involved.

Spider-Man jumps through the portal.  The New Avengers and the Astonishing X-Men are in WWII.

The New Avengers are – Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Iron Man, Luke Cage and Captain America.

Astonishing X-Men are – Emma Frost, Wolverine, Cyclops, Colossus, Beast and Kitty.

Technically, Wolverine is a member of both teams.

Iron Man commits two pages to updating Spider-Man on what was and is still happening.

Kang the Conqueror has attacked the Tower.  Then he attacked minutes later but for Kang, it was four months later.  I do like how Kang doesn’t go farther into the past with each new attack.  He likes the challenge so he picked a moment in time and has rarely gone before it.

During the first attempt, Kang brainwashed the X-Men into attacking the Avengers.  Kang left behind some technology.

Now Kang’s plan is to kill WWII Captain America, thus the Avengers will not be the force they are now.  Which will also be a rough plot to one of the What If Age of Ultron issues.

The heroes used one of the portals to jump back in time.

There is a full page house ad of Marvel heroes supporting the military.  Heroes present are – Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Wolverine, Thing, Sue Richards and Spider-Man.

Instead of Spider-Man, they were hoping the Sentry would have entered the portal.

There is an ad for Rubbermaid – because bright, crisp colors aren’t just for comic books.  Which, even though there are vegetables only shown, took me a few seconds to figure out exactly was meant.

The plan is to fight Kang and his robots until there are no more robots or Kang gives up.  They have WWII Captain America hiding somewhere.  Spider-Man asks the question of why they don’t go farther in time to prevent Kang from attempting this latest plan.  Iron Man tells him that they can’t control the portal, it is dependent on Kang.

There is an ad for Samsung – immerse yourself in the experience.  I like how these ads are clearly some type of partnership so they can’t advertise a specific product – just their brand name.

Cyclops and the X-Men finally makes a proper appearance.  Cyclops tells them that they can’t risk losing any of the brave soldiers, as that could trigger a change in the time stream.  Though, wouldn’t it only create an alternate timeline?  That is typically how time travel works in the Marvel Universe.

Kitty quips about how that doesn’t add any pressure.  Emma is quick to tell Kitty that they are the X-Men, not the New Mutants.  Kitty calls her a cow – such an uncalled for comment from Emma.

Beast is trying to figure out how Kang controls the robots, so that they can skip having to fight them.

There is an ad for the PSP.

There is a pretty nice poster of both the New and Young Avengers teams.  The text in the bottom is – AAEFES has always gonr and will always go where you go as we have for the last 110 years.

Also an ad for Leatherman, which looks like a Swiss Army knife type of tool.  There are ads so you can take out the poster and not lose story pages for the reread.  That’s planning ahead.

Nice splash page of Kang, making his first appearance in the issue.

Colossus fastball specials Wolverine at Kang.  Kang blasts Wolverine away.

The original Howling Commandos parachute in.  Luke Cage is impressed.

Fury tells Cap they can offer a hand.  Spider-Man makes a bad joke that what they need is their guns – I had to read it twice to make sense if it.  Fury shoots him a look, with both eyes!  Spider-Man tells him that he gets that look from Future Fury quite often.

Lego, just imagine.

Kang wants WWII Cap, he threatens to kill them all if they don’t comply.  Spider-Man jokes to Iron Man that Kang should know that the Avengers have beat him before and can again.  Iron Man tells him that the villains never remember that.  Which is a nice observation by Kirkman.

Cap tells Emma, Spider-Man and Iron Man to get the injured soldiers to safety.

Wilson, a true testament to American craftsmanship.  This is the ad that I noticed that the brands had no products specifically shown.

There is an ad for Top-Flite, a brand I am not familiar with.  They make golf products.

WWII Cap shows up, finally.  Spider-Woman was doing her best to hide him.  This Cap confronts Kang.  If the future without him is truly horrible, he will surrender.  So Kang and he go into this alternate future.

Spider-Man wishes Reed Richards was there to explain the ramifications of these actions.  Iron Man is insulted as he is a world class genius, in his own right.  Iron Man echoes my theory that what should happen, is a divergent timeline would be created.

Kang brings Cap back and surrenders.  The future without Cap was okay, the Avengers have a little harder time with challenges but they still overcome.

Young Cap is surprised his older self, isn’t that much older.

The heroes come back to the present.  Wolverine is going to stick with the Avengers for the moment, as they have a bigger TV.  Kitty likes the idea of a bigger TV.

Jarvis is left to clean the mess up, by himself at issue’s end.

Inside back cover ad is fot Igloo, and not a cooler in sight.

Back cover ad for the PS2 24 game, which wasn’t bad.  It takes place between seasons two and three.  Three is my favorite season.  That moment with Jack Bauer, the terrorist’s daughter and the inflicted hotel?  I still reference that as the most bad arse moment of the series.  Jack in body armor in the eighth season, going after the former president, might be the second place holder.  I knew that president was corrupted, simply because the actor resembled Nixon to me.

Women of Marvel Variants

Posted by John Klein III on April 4, 2014
Posted in: Covers. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

209559_20100831214359_large Avengers Volume Four Issue 4

Avengers Academy 3 Tigra Women of Marvel Variant New Avengers V2 3 Woman of Marvel Variant

For the month of August 2010, Marvel released variants with the theme of Women of Marvel.  It was in the same vein of the Marvel 25th Anniversary covers of November 1986 and their 70th Anniversary variants of August 2009.

Stuart Immonen and Laura Martin came up with the layout of the border.

The issues were:

Amazing Spider-Man 641

Avengers Volume Four Issue 4

Avengers Academy 3

Captain America 609

Invincible Iron Man Volume Two Issue 29

New Avengers Volume Two Issue 3

Secret Avengers Volume One Issue 4

Thor 614

Uncanny X-Men 527

X-Men Legacy 239

I own these ones :

Avengers Volume Four Issue 4

Captain America 609

Invincible Iron Man Volume Two Issue 29

Secret Avengers Volume One Issue 4

Uncanny X-Men 527

X-Men Legacy 239

The ones I still need are :

Avengers Academy 3

New Avengers Volume Two Issue 3

Thor 614

Which isn’t too bad.  I wish Kitty would have been featured on a cover instead of being only part of the border.

Mary Jane represents Amazing Spider-Man

Tigra represents Avengers Academy

Ms. Marvel represents New Avengers

Valkeryie represents Secret Avengers

Spider-Woman represents the Avengers

Black Widow represents Captain America

Rescue (Pepper Potts) represents Invincible Iron Man

Sif represents Thor

Emma Frost represents the Uncanny X-Men

Rogue represents X-Men Legacy

Looking over the three Frame Variants, only Susan Richards, the Invisible Woman appears on all three variant frames.  Which is pretty impressive and she deserves to have such an honor.  Also, Storm is on all three frame covers as well.

The ladies that make up the frame are :

Bucky, Valkyrie, Mary Jane, Elektra, X23, Storm

I believe Namora from Agents of Atlas, I could be wrong.

Wasp, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, Molly Hayes, Hellcat, Spider-Girl, Invisible Woman

Emma, Hawkeye, Frankie Human Torch, Miss America, Spider-Woman, Pixie, Moondragon

Kitty Pryde, who when I saw these at first, I didn’t think it was but now I can’t remember why I thought it wasn’t her.

Black Cat, Scarlet Witch, Jean Grey, Mockingbird, Black Widow and Rogue