Shadow and Flame with Magik

All New X-Men 21

Posted by John Klein III on January 23, 2014

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2014, All New, Anderson - Brent, Bendis, Peterson - Brandon, Petit - Cory. 5 Comments

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist Brandon Peterson

Color Artist Israel Silva

Flashback Art Brent Anderson with James Campbell

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

I simply adore that Marvel brought Anderson back to recreate the atmosphere of X-Men : God Loves, Man Kills. Such a genius move and so great to see that he hasn’t lost a step. My only problem is, it only lasts four pages.

I still maintain that if you have anyone quote from the Bible, outside of church, and it comes off both creepy and menacing.

We return to the present day, with the X-Men of the past, Kitty and X23.

Stryker Junior wants to kill the past X-Men. Luckily, a few of his Purifiers think this is a bad idea and want a second opinion.

While they wait, X23 is woken up. I like how she is chained, so her claws are not angled to slice the chains. Turns out, the events of Avengers Arena were broadcast around the world. I am not sure if this is correct, or if only villains and subscribers had access to it. I didn’t read that series but from the shown footage, X23 had to do horrible acts to survive.

Styker moves on to Scott, who makes jokes. I like how him knowing his future lightens him up. He doesn’t need to be so serious, all of the hard work and decisions have been made already.

Dr. Monica Rappaccini of AIM is the second opinion. I know her from Uncanny X-Men 15, she is conducting experiments on the new Inhumans. She wants the Purifiers to release the past X-Men, as she wants to not damage time – nice that someone doesn’t.

The floating X belt buckles are not very good, what are they holding up? Do they serve a purpose?

I like Jean waking up and getting in touch with the team, telepathically. I even like Bobby screwing it up.

Dr. Rappaccini reveals she can help Styker with his headaches, also that AIM and the Purifiers have a long history of working together.

Dr. Rappaccini states they can kill Kitty, as she is from the present. She tries to cut her and phases through. Then Scott does his thing and the X-Men are loose. Chris Sims must be happy as Hank kicks a fool to the face!

The X-Men are escaping. Scott runs across X23, she hugs him.

Issue ends with Stryker telling the X-Men, that the whole world will know about the past X-Men.

Which he doesn’t know the half of it, the universe will know as we enter the four part crossover with the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Trial of Jean Grey.

Bendis shared a page on his Twitter account, of Kitty being in space so I figure I am getting at least the first part for sure.

Magik

Posted by John Klein III on January 22, 2014

Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: Magik, Wishlist. Leave a comment

I apparently have plenty of time on my hands, so I did some more research. Just using comicbookdb.com’s character file just for Magik, so not Illyana Rasputin or the alternate Magiks of the multi-verse, just pure Magik, of her 296 appearances, I am only missing 25 of them. Which brings me to a 0.08% missing rate.

I did a quick search on the pure Illyana Rasputin, and I didn’t notice I was missing any of there.

I had to add All-New Wolverine Saga, Doctor Strange (1988) 2, Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural (2009) 5 and The Marvel Tarot.

Which is frustrating as I had bought Doctor Strange (1988) 1 a while back and could have sworn that she was not listed as part of issue two or three.

I had already added Doctor Voodoo 4 to my list, and would have sworn that I looked at the other issues to make sure she wasn’t involved in them but I must have missed that as well.

That Hot Shots : X-Men shows up again for her as it did Nightcrawler. He is also shows up in Marvel Collectible Classics : X-Men 5, and X-Men : Hellbound 1.

What I am looking forward to getting eventually is X-Club 3, 4, 5 as I heard many great things regarding that series. How funny it is and how likeable it makes Dr. Nemesis.

Other versions of her include the Exiles version, who is dead now so I doubt we will get anymore appearances of her, unless they bring that title back for the third time (not counting the second X-Treme X-Men, which was sort of the same thing – without the rules, from what I remember – I only flipped through the pages at the store. I have issue 7.1 on my Wishlist though. But if they ever bring Exiles back, I’m sure at one point, they will look back and show previous members, that’s just what happens.

Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 16

Posted by John Klein III on January 21, 2014

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2014, Bachalo, Bendis, Uncanny. 2 Comments

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils & Colors Chris Bachalo

Inks Tim Townsend with Al Vey, Mark Irwin & Victor Olazara

Lettering & Production VC’s Joe Caramagna

This issue serves as Magneto’s exist and back door pilot for Magneto’s new ongoing – of which, I can only imagine I will get a few issues of if they do any flashbacks or references to Magik.

Magneto gets a pretty grand exist.

Issue picks up right where we left off before Battle of the Atom, back at the college at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Instead of majority of students being pro-mutant or anti-bigots, now the ground is mixed.

Magneto meets with Agent Dazzler, who are both double agents in a way, as Mystique is still posing as Dazzler.

Mystique instructs Magneto to check out Madripoor, as it is becoming a save haven for mutants. A New Vegas for Mutants, which I’m not sure is better.

Magneto gets there, now sporting a goatee. In a scene that looks very much inspired for the awesome scene in X-Men : First Class, Magneto goes to a bar. There is something about the coloring that makes the scene feel gritty. Magneto discovers that someone is selling mutant growth hormones. He takes out three thugs.

Magneto goes to a the headquarters of the new queen of Madripoor. On his way there, he runs across the Blob. Who looks much bigger than his last appearance that I remember, which would have been the Generation M miniseries. I am under the impression that he is still powerless but maybe he has gained his powers again. Blob is flattered that Magneto believes he could be in charge of the country.

I like to think that Jimenez’s two parter over in Savage Wolverine 12 and 13 is the reason why Tiger Tyger is no longer the head of the country. There is nothing that implies that but that’s what I’m going with here.

Magneto meets the new Silver Samurai and Sabretooth. In an awesome reveal, Sabreooth tells Magneto that there is a new queen. Then we see Dazzler come out of a plane. In right in front of Magneto, Dazzler transforms into Mystique.

I like, with the inclusion of Blob, that we have a nice mixture of old and new Brotherhood of Mutants here, except I am not sure if Sabretooth has ever been a member of that group. I imagine at this point, he has to have been.

The quarter page of Mystique, she has never looked so good. I like the shade of blue used here, it looks fantastic with the white outfit. Bachalo sure does draw himself an amazing Mystique.

She reveals the entire plan. Dazzler is somewhere resting, I’m really not going to be happy until we find out where she is. Hopefully is she at a resort, a prisoner, but comfortable. I fear she is in a closet somewhere, not getting any proper meals.

Magneto straight up loses his mind, taking control and forcing Silver Samurai to attack Mystique. She inherited the mutant growth hormone operation but she didn’t stop it as it makes money for her. Also, she has been using SHIELD to send her here and been using their money to established the country as a safe haven.

Magneto teaches Sabreooth why you never wear metal around Magneto. Magneto leaves the country but not before destroying her headquarters.

Last page shows Kitty asking Cyclops where Magneto is. Emma reveals that he never knows where he goes or when he will come back. I really do adore that Kitty is in Cyclops’ inner circle, even if she isn’t on the team officially. It would be silly to not use her as a resource.

Next issue implies that the focus will be on the students as they are in the middle of nowhere.

X-Force Volume One Issue 32

Posted by John Klein III on January 20, 2014

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Child's Play, Daniel, Eliopoulos, Magik, Nicieza, X-Force. Leave a comment

Writer Fabian Nicieza

Penciler Tony Daniel

Inker Jon Holdredge

Letters Chris Eliopoulos

Colorist Marie Javins

Child’s Play Part One of Four

Cover Dated March 1994

There is a special thanks to Scott Lobdell and Chris Bachalo, for some reason. It is not explained anywhere. I wonder if it is due to Husk getting some panel time this issue, as she is a major member of Generation X.

Issue opens with Magma in Nova Roma. Which has been revealed to be a lie of Selene. Don’t worry, Marvel will reverse this again so that it is a hidden city of the Roman Empire, that time forgot.

I wonder if Javins could do this over, if she would color Magma differently. I imagine the goal is to make her look not like the Human Torch.

She gets attacked by the Fenris Twins. Like Northstar and his sister, Aurora, when they hold hands, their power is fully realized.

They are attacking Magma, as they want to be members of the Upstarts. The Upstarts include : Signa Blaze, who I don’t know. Graydon Creed, dead now, Sabretooth and Mystique’s son. Shinobi Shaw, dead now, Sebastian’s son. Trevor Fitzroy, from Bishop’s future, unless that was just from the FOX cartoon. They are having a friendly competition, wherein they are capturing former members of the New Mutants and Hellions. The Gamemaster is overseeing the competition, called the Younghunt.

The cast of X-Force is – Cable, Rictor, Shatterstar, Siryn, Warpath and Domino.

Fenris does capture Magma, but Empath eludes them and they chase after him.

We cut to a Hellfire Club party. Shinobi is hosting and speaking to Vance. As soon as I see that name, I know it is Justice, of the New Warriors. We see Psylocke and Angel, we get an editor’s note stating this plot point can be followed in X-Men 29. Justice talks to his teammate, Night Trasher, they are trying to figure out what Shinobi is up to. Shinobi knows Justice’s full name, but we don’t know if he knows Vance’s super hero name.

We then move to Cumberland County, Kentucky, where Cannonball’s family live. The first scene will see is Warpath and Siryn at Sam’s father’s grave. They make a reference that, to me, makes it seem like Sam’s father recently passed. With the sliding time scale, that could be true but from New Mutants 1 (really Marvel Graphic Novel 4 is the first appearance of Sam) I imagine it has to be years between new Mutants 1 and X-Force 32, which would essentially be New Mutants 132.

Either way, apparently Siryn’s mother passed away a week ago. Which I didn’t even know that, or given her mother much thought. I know at one point, she travels with her uncle Black Tom Cassidy. Apparently Black Tom is hurt or something and Siryn is missing him. I like how he is clearly a villain but we forget that she was raised by him or has at least spent several years with him. I forget the cover story he used for her, was she under the impression both parents were dead? I know she is caught by surprised to know that her father is alive and then double surprised to learn he is the X-Men’s Banshee.

Warpath mentions how his brother died and his entire tribe has been massacred recently at Camp Verde.

Maybe Siryn meant, the death of her mother and then the death of Warpath’s clan. Now that they are in Kentucky, they are reminded of Sam’s father’s passing. Just trying to make it work.

Rictor and Shatterstar are the duo investigating the disappearance of Cannonball and Boomer. Which I prefer this name of hers over both Boom Boom and Meltdown. Tabitha works within a theme but Boomer seems to be the least offensive. This often pairing of Rictor and Shatterstar is what is used by future writers to show them a a couple in Peter David’s X-Factor run.

Hanging out with them is Josh Guthrie, who would one day be the New X-Men Icarus. Who I just covered died in New X-Men prior to their issue 32, funny how these things work out like that. He doesn’t have his mutation of flying yet, and editorially, I doubt they even are planning on making him a mutant anytime soon. Especially as we find out that a second Guthrie has had her mutation be revealed.

That would be Paige Guthrie, who will become the Generation X member, Husk. Probably my favorite of the two Guthrie siblings, there are ten total but only three famous ones. Cannonball is okay but I only really like him when he is paired with other characters.

Paige is being questioned as she saw what happened to Cannonball and Boomer. Josh doesn’t believe her as she is always daydreaming of wanting a more exciting life. Doesn’t get more exciting than being interviewed by both Cable and Domino. Apparently Paige was watching them as she was hoping to see them necking again, which is odd for a younger sibling to want to see an older sibling make out but maybe that’s what they do in Kentucky during the early 90s. Paige calls Cable, Mr. Cable. She calls Domino, Ms. Domino and she corrects her that it is Mrs. Though I’m not sure what the story is there. Is Domino married at this point? I know at some point, it is revealed that this Domino is really Copycat, but I am not sure when that swap happens.

Paige retells the story of what happened. Boomer and Cannonball have been on the farm for a while as it took several days to convince Boomer to even put her foot in the swimming pond. The two of them have been making out for days, and not caring who can see them. Then a lightning strike happens. In the moment, Paige gets real excited as she thinks this may lead to an adventure. Sam has for years, been writing to his family, with tales of Asgard and Outer Space. Imagine what those letters were like? Probably mind blowing! I wonder what he didn’t tell them about. The source of the lighting was a young woman, Sam’s age. She references the point system. We, the readers, know this is Gamemaster related but this is the first X-Force knows about this.

Paige states she started running towards the lady, willing herself to change into something good and all she could muster was a bird. Which is odd as I thought she could only shred her skin into a mineral but this is like her second appearance with her powers, so Nicieza is still trying to figure it out. I wonder how they explain the bird power manifestation away later. Or do they ignore it and hope no one would ever reread Child’s Play again.

Cable and Domino head outside to discuss this turn of events. Domino asks him what he thinks. He wishes he had based X-Force somewhere like this, in the wilderness instead of a desert camp. She gets him back on topic, the scans that Rictor and Shatterstar completed, don’t register as any known energy waves. Which I like the idea that at some point, after battles, it is someone’s job to go back to the battlefield and record all of the energy signatures so that they can have a database for times like these.

Cable states that Sam and Tabitha are either dead or off planet. How crazy that those are options? My wife never wonders, if I don’t answer my phone fast enough, if either I am dead or off planet. I am most likely driving and can’t feel my phone vibrate as I haven’t changed it from that option to ringer. I don’t live that exciting a life in comparison.

Luckily, we are shown where the two of them are. The two of them, with Magma are in a strange stasis field. This stasis field is the total embodiment of all the thoughts of the human race. Which is also crazy! How does one stumble onto the ability to even place people inside such a thing?

The mysterious woman is Siena Blaze, member of the Upstarts. This is the first we see the group in this issue. Gamemaster is explaining the rules and that placements. Shinobi states that he should still be the highest as he killed his father. Gamemaster is not impressed as this is the last and only kill Shinobi has, he hasn’t done anything else. Apparently the rule with the Younghunt, is that the New Mutants and Hellions are meant to be brought in alive and once they are all gathered, then they will be disposed of. This is probably the rule so that we don’t just kill off characters that we have come to love by characters that we have only been recently brought into the mythos.

I should mention that Graydon Creed is dressed in a blue suit with a pair of sunglasses that are clear and way to big for his head. The 90s.

Which I have stated that twice, the artwork by Daniel is good. It isn’t 90s good or anything, his style fits the story. This page of the Gamemaster and the Upstarts, you have to turn lenghwise to read, which is frustrating but that was how comics were done at the time.

We cut back to Empath being chased by Fenris. He chooses to not manipulate the Nova Roma citizens to fight his fight. Sunspot’s mother is there, helping the transition to get those citizens out and into the real world. Fenris and their soldiers are about to attack the citizens to get to Empath when some psychic arrows render everyone unconscious. Turns out Dani Moonstar was in Nova Roma! She is in a truly horrible costume, but she saved Fenris from scoring any additional points. Sort of like how Child’s Play is an opportunity to check in on some old familiar faces.

We cut back to Cable and Mrs. Guthrie. I like that she knows she is going to lose Paige to this ‘war’ that her son was drafted into. You can only imagine that she is looking at her other eight children, doing the math, and figuring at least three more of them are going to be mutants. I believe Josh was the only other one. Cable tells her what every parent already knows, once your child has made up their mind, they are going to do it anyways, consequences be damned.

Domino calls Cable to come to their make shift base. Fitzroy has arrived and is introducing himself to the team. He tells them that he wants to get ahead of Siena is the Indian (Warpath) and the Mexican (Rictor). He mentions he doesn’t want to stay long as he doesn’t want to get his face fractured.

This had just happened to him by Colossus in Uncanny X-Men 302. Colossus at the time was so full of rage, his parents were just murdered by Omega Red and his sister was dying of the Legacy Virus. Colossus beat Fitzroy pretty badly. So this is one of those comics that I bought because UncannyXMen.net mentioned Illyana in the comic, gave the context but not the actual conversation. So I buy the comic, and get to his conversation and all he states is he is mad at the X-Men. So I own this issue and this is why. The nice thing about the X-Force comic is that from time to time, Sam will pair with a fellow New Mutant and they will discuss or remember their fallen allies, like Illyana and Doug. If it was Illyana, I bought that comic. Thus, the course of fandom goes.

Cable and X-Force prepare themselves to fight Fitzroy.

Issue ends with Shinobi and Justice in costume, so he clearly does know Vance is Justice. Shinobi wants to get some additional points, so he wants to enlist Justice in bringing to Shinobi, Firestar. Firestar, at this point is Justice’s girlfriend. Shinobi tells Justice that if Shinobi has to bring her in himself, it isn’t going to be as nice as if Justice volunteers to do it.

Part Two takes place in New Warriors and comes back to X-Force for Part Three. I don’t own the New Warriors issues nor X-Force 33. So this is where the adventure ends for us.

. . .

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, ya’ll!

2013 X-Boards Awards, The Results!

Posted by John Klein III on January 19, 2014

Posted in: Lists. Tagged: Lists, Results. Leave a comment

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?481660-2013-X-Book-Awards-THE-RESULTS!

Thanks to WorstBlogEver for doing all of the tallies and taking on this task and the wonderful write ups! The link above as pictures as well.

The results without my comments are below :

FINAL RESULTS:

Best Onomatopoeia
Honorable Mention: SHWUNK
Honorable Mention: BOOM
3rd Runner Up: KLANG
2nd Runner-up: BYUH!
1st Runner-up: BAMF
Winner: POINK!

Best Quote
Honorable Mention: “Galactus should eat this place.” – Emma Frost
Honorable Mention: “I don’t care what you dress my brother up as, and I don’t care what flag you wrap yourself in. My people need help and they need it all over the world.” – Cyclops
3rd Runner Up: “Space Justice!” – S.W.O.R.D. Robot
2nd Runner-up: “Captain America… Avengers… Go to hell.” – Cyclops
1st Runner-up: “The Avengers can go f*** themselves.” – Psylocke
Winner: “I rule me.” – Legion

Most Bizarre Moment (Rouge Mort Trophy)
Honorable Mention: Vampire Jubilee can Adopt a Kid? – This is weird, and I hadn’t thought about it until people started commenting on it.
Honorable Mention: Rachel Grey Flirts With Sublime?
3rd Runner Up: Dazzler is the Future President of the United States?
2nd Runner-up: Lunchlady Husk at the Hellfire Academy?
1st Runner-up: Kitty Switches Schools? – I liked this but I can see it coming out of nowhere
Winner: Longshot is his own Grandfather?

Most Shocking Moment
Honorable Mention: Mystique Replaces Dazzler – I still worry that someone is going to forget about the switch and we will lose Dazzler forever!
Honorable Mention: Death of the Scarlet Witch – Can’t believe people really think she is dead.
3rd Runner Up: Xorna Revealed
2nd Runner-up: Magik Absorbs Limbo Inside Herself – Still frustrated that the two weeks of comics that I missed, that this moment is one of those! So frustrating!
1st Runner-up: Grim Reaper Kills Rogue – I know she isn’t showing up anywhere else during this time but once this storyline is over, we will get Rogue back.
Winner: Strong Guy Kills Tier! – Tier is the son of Wolfsbane and her wolf prince from Asgard.

Funniest Moment
Honorable Mention: Cyclops and his BBQ Apron
Honorable Mention: Space Justice!
3rd Runner Up: Mystique Gives Gambit Kittens – I don’t recall this happening in Astonishing X-Men, so it must have been the one issue of Frozen I didn’t get.
2nd Runner-up: Gambit Loves a Catfight
1st Runner-up: Teen Iceman Hits Thor with a Snowball – I voted for this one.
Winner: Ilyana’s Plans for Avengers Tower – This is one of those, that I read it and it didn’t stick with me but it is funny. I like this new Illyana, she is so fun.

Best Fight/Battle
Honorable Mention: Legion & Friends vs. Red Skull
Honorable Mention: Emma & the Stepford Cuckoos vs. Xorna – To me, this was disappointing, the few panels of the actual battle didn’t hold much, should have just stuck to not showing us anything but the ladies standing around.
3rd Runner Up: Astonishing X-Men & Thor vs. Ice-Pocalypse – This was pretty epic, Iceman took out Thor.
2nd Runner-up: Magik & Uncanny X-Men vs. Dormammu & the Mindless Ones – Another case of really needing that issue!
1st Runner-up: X-Women vs. Arkea & Omega Sentinel – This was the beginning of my noticing that I don’t care for modern Storm, she isn’t the leader of that team, should be Rachel as if not for her, Omega Sentinel would be dead.
Winner: Legion vs. Cyclops – So awesome, glad one of my votes won the category!

Best Death Scene
Honorable Mention: Darkholme
Honorable Mention: Kurt Waggoner
3rd Runner Up: Tier
2nd Runner-up: Gabrielle Haller – Of course, this would happen in the one issue I didn’t buy.
1st Runner-up: Scarlet Witch – Still don’t believe she is dead. Like someone else said, even if she is dead, she will be back for Avengers 2.
Winner: Rogue – I also won’t believe this one until it is super official.

Best Kiss:
Honorable Mention: Storm & Wolverine
Honorable Mention: Scott & Jean – I had this under funny moment, where Scott kisses the adult version of the teen Jean that came to the present.
3rd Runner Up: Prodigy & Hulkling
2nd Runner-up: Colossus & Domino – I am all for this relationship becoming the new one people remember Colossus for. I hate the idea that there are fans out there just waiting for him and Kitty to get back together. That ship as sailed, folks!
1st Runner-up: Psylocke & Cluster
Winner: Legion & Blindfold – I really like this couple, and them being destined to take each other, so sweet with how they believe they are above it.

Best Crossover
Honorable Mention: Age of Ultron – Own one issue of this.
3rd Runner Up: Infinity – Own two issues! The first two.
2nd Runner-up: Arms of the Octopus – Somehow they had the Original Five but no Kitty, not even a reference to her, could have taken my money if they wanted it.
1st Runner-up: Battle of the Atom – Own all of these.
Winner: X-Termination – Missed out on this entire story.

Low Point of the Year
Dishonorable Mention: End of X-Factor
Dishonorable Mention: 05 Stuck in the Future
3rd Runner Up: Death of Scarlet Witch – Honestly, people are all types of hurt over this
2nd Runner-up: Death of Rogue – And this! Seriously, they are not dead. I do like how no one gives a damn about Wonder Man being dead, and he’s the one that will stay dead for a while after this.
1st Runner-up: Battle of the Atom – Started off so strongly but then it lost steam.
Winner: Havok’s Speech – This issue I have only read about, had no reason to buy it. I know the entire thing is online, so I don’t feel like I missed out.

High Point of the Year
Honorable Mention: 05 in the present – I liked it, but also, thought it would be over by now. I mostly like it as it has given Kitty an awesome new role.
Honorable Mention: Legion & Blindfold – These two do make the title what it is.
3rd Runner Up: Rogue can’t stand / kills Wanda – That was pretty awesome, hopefully once their deaths are reversed, they remember what they did.
2nd Runner-up: Kitty switches schools – It was time and really, do you want to work and live around your ex-boyfriend when there are better places to work and live?
1st Runner-up: Kitty’s Rebuttal of Havok’s speech – This is also an issue I missed due to Hastings not getting their comics for two weeks. Super frustrating!
Winner: Nightcrawler is back! – I am in complete agreement over this! Now put him in a comic I actually buy, please!

Most Missed Character
Honorable Mention: Unit – He is a fun character.
Honorable Mention: Hepzibah
3rd Runner Up: Elixir
2nd Runner-up: Jean Grey – Honestly, I get that Teen Jean isn’t the same but she is filling the hole I didn’t have in my heart.
1st Runner-up: Professor X – Here is another one, I feel like he is still being mentioned, like all the time, so I’m okay with the memory of him now. He didn’t do much prior to his death, and now his death is motivating so many more.
Winner: Warpath

Best Debut Character
Honorable Mention: Santi Sardina
Honorable Mention: Hijack
3rd Runner Up: Goldballs
2nd Runner-up: Apocalypse Twins – I do find myself liking these two as of late.
1st Runner-up: Shogo Lee – Now that I have a son, I can relate to how precious Shogo is! Now if I can only get my son to say “byuh”
Winner: Benjamin Deeds – That solo issue really did wonders for this guy.

Breakthrough Character
Honorable Mention: Blindfold – I have liked her more than ever before.
Honorable Mention: Stepford Cuckoos – I feel like this should be for 2014 as this past year was setting them up.
3rd Runner Up: Boom Boom
2nd Runner-up: Teen Jean
1st Runner-up: Jubilee
Winner: Legion – Definitely agree with this. Going to miss X-Men Legacy once it ends.

Best Guest Star in an X-Book
2nd Runner-up: Transonic
1st Runner-up: Chamber – Chamber has been on a rotating cast in X-Men Legacy
Winner: Pete Wisdom – Apparently Gambit Volume 5 has had Wisdom as much as Legacy has.

Best Mutant Appearing Outside an X-book
Honorable Mention: Sunspot
Honorable Mention: Namor
3rd Runner Up: Prodigy
2nd Runner-up: Dani Moonstar
1st Runner-up: Cannonball
Winner: X-23

Least Favorite Villain(s)
Dishonorable Mention: Mystique – My problem with Mystique this past year was she was the villain in four titles I collected and none of her schemes seem to be connected. It was almost as if four writers wanted to use her and chose not to talk to each other.
Dishonorable Mention: Raze
3rd Runner Up: Xorna
2nd Runner-up: Dog Logan
1st Runner-up: Battle of the Atom’s Brotherhood
Winner: Kade Kilgore and his Hellfire Club

Best Villain(s)
Honorable Mention: Red Skull
Honorable Mention: Luca Aldine
3rd Runner Up: Arkea
2nd Runner-up: Gold Xavier Fiend
1st Runner-up: Mystique
Winner: Apocalypse Twins – They are pretty grand

Least Favorite Hero
Dishonorable Mention: Cyclops – Wolverine fans, I don’t get them
Dishonorable Mention: Fantomex
3rd Runner Up: Scarlet Witch – This I completely understand, I still haven’t forgiven her for the attempted genocide of the mutant race.
2nd Runner-up: Beast
1st Runner-up: Wolverine – Really surprised he didn’t nab the title but people really didn’t care for the winner in Uncanny Avengers.
Winner: Havok

Best Hero
Honorable Mention: Storm – Really, I wonder what comics I am missing that she is awesome in? I am convinced that we were not meant to like her at all last year.
Honorable Mention: Psylocke
3rd Runner Up: Shadowcat – She doesn’t get to stand on the pedestal! Outrageous!
2nd Runner-up: Legion – I like Legion but I would have swapped him with Kitty.
1st Runner-up: Magik – Illyana was so much fun this past year, Marvel has been doing a great job with her these past two years.
Winner: Cyclops – I get him being the top hero, he’s leading the successful as well as most interesting side.

Least Favorite Cover

Dishonorable Mention: Wolverine & the X-Men #37
Dishonorable Mention: Wolverine & the X-Men #31
3rd Runner Up: Wolverine & the X-Men #30
2nd Runner-up: X-Termination #2
1st Runner-up: Uncanny Avengers #14
Winner: Wolverine & the X-Men #27

Best Cover
Honorable Mention: X-Men: Legacy (vol. 2) #12
Honorable Mention: X-Men: Legacy (vol. 2) #15
3rd Runner Up: X-Men: Legacy (vol. 2) #10

2nd Runner-up: X-Men: Legacy (vol. 2) #14 – Makes complete sense why Legacy dominated the list! Those covers were amazing! I would be curious what the next four would have been.

1st Runner-up: Uncanny X-Men (vol. 3) #14
Winner: X-Men (vol. 4) #1- Coipel Variant

Best One-Shot
2nd Runner-up: Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) Annual #1
1st Runner-up: All New X-Men Special #1
Winner: X-Men: Gold #1 – Claremont writing the X-Men with Kitty in a main role, how could this not won?

Least Favorite Miniseries
Dishonorable Mention: X-Termination
Dishonorable Mention: Deadpool Kills Deadpool
3rd Runner Up: Infinity: The Hunt
2nd Runner-up: Fantomex MAX
1st Runner-up: X-Men: Battle of the Atom – A real shame that this was the main event of the year and it wasn’t liked. It is telling that so many titles are repeated, either the same ones were good typically or the same ones were never better than lackluster. Nothing was in the middle and if it was, it was forgotten.
Winner: What if… AvX? – I have two issues on my Wishlist, not excited about getting them eventually.

Best Miniseries
Honorable Mention: Infinity : The Hunt
Honorable Mention: Origin II – Only one issue came out but people seem to love it.
3rd Runner Up: Longshot Saves the Marvel Universe
2nd Runner-up: X-Men : Battle of the Atom
1st Runner-up: X-Termination
Winner: Marvel Knights : X-Men – So glad this made the list but to be the winner? That is fantastic! Wish Darla still made the list of debuted characters but you can’t have everything.

Least Favorite Story from a Single X-Title
Dishonorable Mention: Yesterday’s X-Men (All New X-Men)
Dishonorable Mention: End of X-Factor (X-Factor)
3rd Runner Up: Ragnarok Now (Uncanny Avengers)
2nd Runner-up: Let it Bleed (Uncanny X-Force Vol 2)
1st Runner-up: The Hellfire Saga (Wolverine and the X-Men) – I thought it was okay, missing one issue of it, so that’s irritating. Having a 14 year old Oya in Hellfire attire was too much.
Winner: Savage Learning (Wolverine and the X-Men) – I only own one issue of this storyline, and I liked it but the rest was Wolverine versus his brother while students were left to watch.

Best Story from a Single X-Title
Honorable Mention: Invasive Exotic (X-Men Legacy)
Honorable Mention: Frozen (Astonishing X-Men Vol 3) – I really liked this, Iceman at his full potential, shame it won’t be referenced again any time soon.
3rd Runner Up: Yesterday’s X-Men (All New X-Men)
2nd Runner-up: Wear the Grudge Like a Crown (X-Men Legacy) – I liked this storyline so much. The moment of David challenging Cyclops to a no powers fight is ballsy. Scott is a certified martial artist and David, is plain crazy.
1st Runner-up: Primer (X-Men Vol 4) – I really liked this, Kitty and Rachel shined. Rogue and Psylocke did their parts and Storm proved she shouldn’t assumed she was the leader. Also Jubilee and Shogo stole the show.
Winner: Avengers Vs. Uncanny X-Men : GO! (Uncanny X-Men Vol 3 # 3) – I really need to revisit this issue again as it left a huge impression on people. I only remember that Tempus froze the Avengers while she was only trying to visit her mother. I don’t recall it being overly funny or anything dramatic happening. Also, Benjamin Deeds checking out Illyana, her noticing, and telling him that she would break him. He was not dissuaded, though nothing came of it.

Least Favorite Ongoing
Dishonorable Mention: Astonishing X-Men Volume 3 – Being lower on the list is a good thing. Frozen was great, but that two part squid alien thing was no good. The actual final issue didn’t blow me away, it stated Kitty was in the cast but she doesn’t show up or was referenced, I didn’t buy it.
Dishonorable Mention: A+X – I only bought three issues of this series last year and I can’t defend the larger majority of it. I liked what I read though.
3rd Runner Up: All New X-Men
2nd Runner-up: Uncanny Avengers – This ended on a higher note but I haven’t been following from the beginning.
1st Runner-up: Uncanny X-Force Vol 2
Winner: Wolverine and the X-Men – I liked it pre-BotA but once Kitty was gone, I lost all interest. I will miss Broo but that’s about it. The upcoming relaunch, I have no interest in.

Best Ongoing
Honorable Mention: X-Factor
Honorable Mention: Cable and X-Force – Only read the one issue, number six, and thought it was okay.
3rd Runner Up: X-Men Vol 4 – I liked the first four, then BotA happened, it lost both Kitty and Rogue and my interest.
2nd Runner-up: All New X-Men – Really like this, as well as the other top two positions.
1st Runner-up: X-Men Legacy
Winner: Uncanny X-Men Volume 3

Best Artist
Honorable Mention: Daniel Acuna (Uncanny Avengers)
Honorable Mention: Frank Cho (Savage Wolverine & X-Men Battle of the Atom 1)
Honorable Mention: Adrian Alphona (Uncanny X-Force Vol 1)
Honorable Mention: Gabriel Hernandez Walta (Astonishing X-Men Vol 3)
Honorable Mention: Ed McGuiness (Amazing X-Men)
Honorable Mention: Salvador Larroca (Cable and X-Force)
Honorable Mention: Kris Anka (Uncanny X-Men Vol 3 # 15)
Honorable Mention: Clay Mann (Gambit Vol 5)
3rd Runner Up: Frazer Irving (Uncanny X-Men Vol 3)
2nd Runner-up: Chris Bachalo (Uncanny X-men Vol 3) – Can’t complain about the top three at all!
1st Runner-up: Oliver Coipel (X-Men Vol 4)
Winner: Stuart Immonen (All New X-Men)

Best Writer:
Honorable Mention: Jason Aaron (Wolverine and the X-Men & Amazing X-Men)
Honorable Mention: Peter David (X-Factor)
Honorable Mention: Majorie Liu (Astonishing X-Men Vol 3)
Honorable Mention: James Asmus (Gambit Vol 5)
Honorable Mention: Dennis Hopeless (Cable and X-Force)
3rd Runner Up: Rick Remender (Uncanny Avengers)
2nd Runner-up: Brian Wood (X-Men Vol 4)
1st Runner-up: Brian Michael Bendis (All New X-Men & Uncanny X-Men)
Winner: Simon Spurrier (X-Men Legacy) – Really surprised that Spurrier won this, it makes perfect sense as he wrote the best comic and made every issue something people wanted to discuss. I figured Bendis being Bendis, would own the top spot so this was a very pleasant surprised.

Thanks again, to WorstBlogEver for doing all of the tallies and taking on this task!

THE RESULTS!!!

1/13/2012
Best Onomatopoeia
Honorable Mention: SHWUNK
Honorable Mention: BOOM
3rd Runner Up: KLANG
2nd Runner-up: BYUH!
1st Runner-up: BAMF
Winner: POINK!

Most Bizarre Moment (Rouge Mort Trophy)
Honorable Mention: Vampire Jubilee can Adopt a Kid?
Honorable Mention: Rachel Grey Flirts With Sublime?
3rd Runner Up: Dazzler is the Future President of the United States?
2nd Runner-up: Lunchlady Husk at the Hellfire Academy?
1st Runner-up: Kitty Switches Schools?
Winner: Longshot is his own Grandfather?

Most Shocking Moment
Honorable Mention: Mystique Replaces Dazzler
Honorable Mention: Death of the Scarlet Witch
3rd Runner Up: Xorna Revealed
2nd Runner-up: Magik Absorbs Limbo Inside Herself
1st Runner-up: Grim Reaper Kills Rogue
Winner: Strong Guy Kills Tier!

Funniest Moment
Honorable Mention: Cyclops and his BBQ Apron
Honorable Mention: Space Justice!
3rd Runner Up: Mystique Gives Gambit Kittens
2nd Runner-up: Gambit Loves a Catfight
1st Runner-up: Teen Iceman Hits Thor with a Snowball
Winner: Ilyana’s Plans for Avengers Tower

Best Fight/Battle
Honorable Mention: Legion & Friends vs. Red Skull
Honorable Mention: Emma & the Stepford Cuckoos vs. Xorna
3rd Runner Up: Astonishing X-Men & Thor vs. Ice-Pocalypse
2nd Runner-up: Magik & Uncanny X-Men vs. Dormammu & the Mindless Ones
1st Runner-up: X-Women vs. Arkea & Omega Sentinel
Winner: Legion vs. Cyclops

Best Death Scene
Honorable Mention: Darkholme
Honorable Mention: Kurt Waggoner
3rd Runner Up: Tier
2nd Runner-up: Gabrielle Haller
1st Runner-up: Scarlet Witch
Winner: Rogue

1/14/2012
Best Kiss:
Honorable Mention: Storm & Wolverine
Honorable Mention: Scott & Jean
3rd Runner Up: Prodigy & Hulkling
2nd Runner-up: Colossus & Domino
1st Runner-up: Psylocke & Cluster
Winner: Legion & Blindfold

Best Crossover
Honorable Mention: Age of Ultron
3rd Runner Up: Infinity
2nd Runner-up: Arms of the Octopus
1st Runner-up: Battle of the Atom
Winner: X-Termination

Low Point of the Year
Dishonorable Mention: End of X-Factor
Dishonorable Mention: 05 Stuck in the Future
3rd Runner Up: Death of Scarlet Witch
2nd Runner-up: Death of Rogue
1st Runner-up: Battle of the Atom
Winner: Havok’s Speech

High Point of the Year
Honorable Mention: 05 in the present
Honorable Mention: Legion & Blindfold
3rd Runner Up: Rogue can’t stand / kills Wanda
2nd Runner-up: Kitty switches schools
1st Runner-up: Kitty’s Rebuttal of Havok’s speech
Winner: Nightcrawler is back!

Most Missed Character
Honorable Mention: Unit
Honorable Mention: Hepzibah
3rd Runner Up: Elixir
2nd Runner-up: Jean Grey
1st Runner-up: Professor X
Winner: Warpath

Best Debut Character
Honorable Mention: Santi Sardina
Honorable Mention: Hiack
3rd Runner Up: Goldballs
2nd Runner-up: Apocalypse Twins
1st Runner-up: Shogo Lee
Winner: Benjamin Deeds

Breakthrough Character
Honorable Mention: Blindfold
Honorable Mention: Stepford Cuckoos
3rd Runner Up: Boom Boom
2nd Runner-up: Teen Jean
1st Runner-up: Jubilee
Winner: Legion

1/15/2012
Best Guest Star in an X-Book
2nd Runner-up: Transonic
1st Runner-up: Chamber
Winner: Pete Wisdom

Least Favorite Villain(s)
Dishonorable Mention: Mystique
Dishonorable Mention: Raze
3rd Runner Up: Xorna
2nd Runner-up: Dog Logan
1st Runner-up: Battle of the Atom’s Brotherhood
Winner: Kade Kilgore and his Hellfire Club

Least Favorite Hero
Dishonorable Mention: Cyclops
Dishonorable Mention: Fantomex
3rd Runner Up: Scarlet Witch
2nd Runner-up: Beast
1st Runner-up: Wolverine
Winner: Havok

Best Hero
Honorable Mention: Storm
Honorable Mention: Psylocke
3rd Runner Up: Shadowcat
2nd Runner-up: Legion
1st Runner-up: Magik
Winner: Cyclops

1/16/2012
Least Favorite Cover
Dishonorable Mention: Wolverine & the X-Men #37
Dishonorable Mention: Wolverine & the X-Men #31
3rd Runner Up: Wolverine & the X-Men #30
2nd Runner-up: X-Termination #2
1st Runner-up: Uncanny Avengers #14
Winner: Wolverine & the X-Men #27

Best One-Shot
2nd Runner-up: Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) Annual #1
1st Runner-up: All New X-Men Special #1
Winner: X-Men: Gold #1

Best Miniseries
Honorable Mention: Infinity : The Hunt
Honorable Mention: Origin II
3rd Runner Up: Longshot Saves the Marvel Universe
2nd Runner-up: X-Men : Battle of the Atom
1st Runner-up: X-Termination
Winner: Marvel Knights : X-Men

1/17/2012
Least Favorite Story from a Single X-Title
Dishonorable Mention: Yesterday’s X-Men (All New X-Men)
Dishonorable Mention: End of X-Factor (X-Factor)
3rd Runner Up: Ragnarok Now (Uncanny Avengers)
2nd Runner-up: Let it Bleed (Uncanny X-Force Vol 2)
1st Runner-up: The Hellfire Saga (Wolverine and the X-Men)
Winner: Savage Learning (Wolverine and the X-Men)

Best Story from a Single X-Title
Honorable Mention: Invasive Exotic (X-Men Legacy)
Honorable Mention: Frozen (Astonishing X-Men Vol 3)
3rd Runner Up: Yesterday’s X-Men (All New X-Men)
2nd Runner-up: Wear the Grudge Like a Crown (X-Men Legacy)
1st Runner-up: Primer (X-Men Vol 4)
Winner: Avengers Vs. Uncanny X-Men : GO! (Uncanny X-Men Vol 3 # 3)

Least Favorite Ongoing
Dishonorable Mention: Astonishing X-Men Volume 3
Dishonorable Mention: A+X
3rd Runner Up: All New X-Men
2nd Runner-up: Uncanny Avengers
1st Runner-up: Uncanny X-Force Vol 2
Winner: Wolverine and the X-Men

Best Ongoing
Honorable Mention: X-Factor
Honorable Mention: Cable and X-Force
3rd Runner Up: X-Men Vol 4
2nd Runner-up: All New X-Men
1st Runner-up: X-Men Legacy
Winner: Uncanny X-Men Volume 3

Best Artist
Honorable Mention: Daniel Acuna (Uncanny Avengers)
Honorable Mention: Frank Cho (Savage Wolverine & X-Men Battle of the Atom 1)
Honorable Mention: Adrian Alphona (Uncanny X-Force Vol 1)
Honorable Mention: Gabriel Hernandez Walta (Astonishing X-Men Vol 3)
Honorable Mention: Ed McGuiness (Amazing X-Men)
Honorable Mention: Salvador Larroca (Cable and X-Force)
Honorable Mention: Kris Anka (Uncanny X-Men Vol 3 # 15)
Honorable Mention: Clay Mann (Gambit Vol 5)
3rd Runner Up: Frazer Irving (Uncanny X-Men Vol 3)
2nd Runner-up: Chris Bachalo (Uncanny X-men Vol 3)
1st Runner-up: Oliver Coipel (X-Men Vol 4)
Winner: Stuart Immonen (All New X-Men)

Thanks to WorstBlogEver for doing all of the tallies and taking on this task!

X-Men Classic 82

Posted by John Klein III on January 18, 2014

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Claremont, Classic, JRJR, Madureira, Wein - Glynis, Wiacek. Leave a comment

Writer Chris Claremont

Penciler John Romita Jr.

Inkers Bob Wiacek & Brett Breeding

Colorist Glynis Wein

Cover Dated April 1993

Reprinted from Uncanny X-Men 178

Cover by Joe Madureira, I like how he took the original cover and turn the perspective around to make Wolverine the center of the cover.

I never heard of the Burt Reynolds’ vehicle “Cop and a Half.” I see Henry Winkler directed, so that’s cool.

Last issue ended with the Brotherhood turning Colossus into a statue.

This freaks Kitty out and she mentally calls out to Xavier.

Poor Xavier is reading a card from Scott. Somehow he got a picture taken of him and Maddie in their honeymoon suite. Then he sent that photo to Xavier. So weird.

Storm and Wolverine are in the Danger Room. Xavier sends those two off to rescue the rest of the team. Storm is holding Wolverine in her arms and he is not thrilled about it. Pretty impressive on Storm’s part, as he must be three times her weight, even with the wind at their back.

Xavier doesn’t tell Rogue, as he doesn’t want to test her loyalty with her new family against her old family.

Kitty is staring at Colossus. She wants to help, she just doesn’t know how. Then she remembers an article regarding a device Reed Richards created that should help Colossus. She calls the Fantastic Four, they are of course out on an adventure. She decides to steal the device and apologize later.

Kitty phases through a taxi and the driver thinks to himself, that no one is going to believe him at the garage. Which is weird, as he is a New York City taxi driver. The city that has Galactus showing up every couple years to eat the planet and constant threats from Dr. Doom. I am sure the guys at the garage will be curious and believe that a young lady phased through your cab and paid for her fare.

We cut to three Morlocks – Sunder, Callisto and Masque as they stand over a young lady who died from drugs. Just don’t do them kids! Masque starts messing with the lady’s face, as nothing is scared to him. Apparently they have a plan that involves Kitty.

Meanwhile, Kurt and Amanda are making out at the fountain. They completely forgot about the show, and the young couple they came to see it with. They are attacked by a giant fire dragon. Kurt teleports them away, unfortunately, Avalanche is there waiting for them. Xavier mentally warns Kurt of an attack as Kurt figures out that he is up against the Brotherhood. Amanda remembers that she isn’t a damsel in distress and starts helping, she fights back against Pyro’s fire dragon.

Blob lands behind them, and chokes Amanda. How they don’t hear Blob falling to the ground, or the giant shadow he creates, I don’t know, heat of battle, I suppose. Kurt teleports away but comes back and now Blob is choking both of them.

Storm shows up, blasting lightning and tells Wolverine that she will direct him to where she thinks he can be used best. Kurt teleports himself and Amanda away. Blog shouts to Destiny why she didn’t forsee this happening. We get Destiny thinking to herself that Kurt’s safety should make Mystique happy.

We cut back to Kitty in the Baxter Building. She is thinking about how she would love to intern for Reed but breaking into his place wasn’t the best choice for a first impression. Lucky for her, all of the Fantastic Four’s defense mechanisms (and their receptionist) are robotic, so Kitty has no problem getting through all of those, thanks to her power. Too bad Reed wasn’t doing the Future Foundation at this point, as it makes total sense to have Kitty be one of his students. I know Claremont was trying to get Kitty over to the Fantastic Four for a while, when he was the writer of that series. That would have been awesome. Not sure why Kitty has never been an Avenger or replacement member of the Fantastic Four. Once she joined Excalibur, one would think she could have joined any number of groups afterwards.

Kitty finds the tool she was looking for and proceeds to the roof. Once up there, she is getting herself ready to airwalk down when all of a sudden, she notices someone is behind her. The next panel of her being pushed off the roof is a moment that when this was first published, I would have lost my mind in anticipation of the next issue. I’m not sure if the next issue reveals how the person who pushed her off got pass all the defenses.

The X-Men fight the Brotherhood for a couple pages, Storm starts wondering if this fight is too easy, the Brotherhood seem to be not pushing the attack. Blob hints that there may be a larger plan in place.

We discover why Xavier is having such migraines. He remembers the last time he felt this sensation, Mystique was trying to block his powers. Right then, Rogue pulls out a gun and shoots Xavier. Luckily, he had that thought a mere moment ago and slightly dodges the attack. Not fully, as he is knocked out but he could be dead.

Rogue enters the room as Mystique morphs back to her traditional look. Rogue is upset, and Mystique is shocked to learn that Xavier isn’t brainwashing her adopted daughter. Rogue needs help with her powers and Mystique was not helping with that, she was just using Rogue for her own goals. Mystique is pretty embarrassed by this whole affair and promises to leave Rogue be.

Mystique sends a message to the Brotherhood to stand down. They do, and Destiny warns the X-Men that they might want to go check on their youngest member. That final page of Kitty dead on the ground, is horrible. Just imagine falling from a giant skyscraper. Poor poor Kitty.

Marvel April 2014 Solicitations

Posted by John Klein III on January 17, 2014

Posted in: Solicitations. Tagged: Newsarama, Solicitations. Leave a comment

http://www.newsarama.com/20046-marvel-comics-april-2014-solicitations.html

ORIGINAL SIN #0
MARK WAID • JIM CHEUNG (A/C)
ARTIST VARIANT COVER BY PAOLO RIVERA
IT’S THE PROLOGUE TO THE BIGGEST MARVEL SERIES OF THE SUMMER!
WHO IS THE WATCHER? That’s what Nova is wondering after his latest brush with the moon- dwelling enigma he’s encountered before! But what he discovers will have a profound effect on the young hero, as well as priming the pump for the most cataclysmic event in Marvel history! WHAT DID HE SEE?
40 PGS./ONE SHOT/Rated T+ …3.99

I do like how Emma is becoming the X-Men representative for these crossovers. Takes a little bit more than that to get me to commit to a crossover.

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #31
Dan Slott • Giuseppe Camuncoli (A/C)

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1
Dan Slott • Humberto Ramos (A/C)
The Greatest Super Hero of All Time RETURNS!
The world may have changed since Spidey’s been gone, but so has Peter Parker. This is a man with a second chance at life, and he’s not wasting a moment of it. Same Parker Luck, new Parker attitude. Putting the “friendly” back in the neighborhood, the “hero” back into “super hero,” and the “amazing” back into “Spider-Man!” Also returning: The recharged and reenergized ELECTRO!
64 PGS./Rated T+ …$5.99

IRON FIST: LIVING WEAPON #1
KAARE ANDREWS
KAARE ANDREWS (A/C)

ELEKTRA #1
Haden Blackman
Michael Del Mundo (A/C)

HULK #1 & 2
MARK WAID • MARK BAGLEY (A)

INHUMAN #1
CHARLES SOULE
JOE MADUREIRA (A/C)

Peter is back! But I’m still not interested. I’m sure once see Amazing Spider-Man 2, I will be jonesing for some Spider-Man action but until then, I’ll just wait for reviews.

I like Kaare Andrews, but Iron Fist, I probably wouldn’t get interested in until the Netflix show comes on. Plus, no Luke Cage, I can’t get overly excited.

I guess what I am getting at is that Marvel is releasing another slew of new number ones and not interested in any of these, again.

I do like Bagley, and glad he is putting his foot down that he doesn’t have to do just Spider-Man work and I like Waid but it would take a lot for me to read Hulk on a monthly basis.

I thought Matt Fraction was going to do an Inhuman series, I wonder how long Joe Madureira is set to be on this?

NIGHTCRAWLER #1
CHRIS CLAREMONT • TODD NAUCK (A)
NIGHTCRAWLER IS BACK!
Newly- returned from the afterlife, veteran X- Man Kurt Wagner finds himself in a world that’s a far cry from the one he left: Professor Xavier is dead, Cyclops is on the run, and the X- Men are divided. But determined not to let his new lease on life go to waste, Nightcrawler hits the road alongside Wolverine, eager to right some wrongs and safeguard the future mutantkind…and he’s going to do it by the means he loves most: swashbuckling, lady- charming and—of course—BAMFing!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …2.99

Now this is what I’ve been waiting for! I thought Jason Aaron would be the one to get me super excited about Kurt’s return but I read an interview with Claremont stating that this ongoing is where we will be seeing Kurt and Kitty’s reunion! Not sure if I will be buying the first issue but once the Kitty issue happens, I will be all over it!

INHUMAN #1
CHARLES SOULE
JOE MADUREIRA (A/C)

I thought Matt Fraction was going to do an Inhuman series, I wonder how long Joe Madureira is set to be on this?

ALL-NEW DOOP #1 (of 5)
Peter Milligan
INTERIOR ART BY DAVID LAFUENTE WITH LAURA ALLRED (A)
Cover by Michael Allred
Living in the margins of the X- Men, Doop has freaked out X- Men and readers alike. However, when he gets deeply involved in X- Men business (and in the personal life of Kitty Pryde!), Doop will be thrust into the spotlight. This adventure will prove that Doop is, in fact, the most powerful X- Man! Written by co- creator Peter Milligan (X- FORCE), covers by co- creator Mike Allred (X- FORCE, FF) and innovative interior art by David Lafuente (AVENGERS, ULTIMATE SPIDER- MAN)!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I had no interest in this but now that I know that Kitty is at least in the first issue, I’m sold! Glad Allred is at least doing the covers. Wouldn’t be Doop without him.

DAREDEVIL #1.50
MARK WAID JAVIER RODRIGUEZ (A)

I didn’t even know Daredevil was turning 50 this year!

UNCANNY AVENGERS #19
RICK REMENDER • DANIEL ACUñA (A/C)
• AVENGE THE EARTH Continues!
• Kang’s Chronos Corps arrives on Planet X with a terrible offer!
• The former members of the Uncanny Avengers must reunite to save the Earth!
• Magneto’s all-new X- Force are out for the blood of a Summers!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Hopefully Magik or Kitty keeps showing up in this!

UNCANNY X- MEN #20
Brian Michael Bendis • Chris Bachalo (A/C)
• Cyclops and his revolutionary X- Men take on SHIELD!
• They get closer to finding those at SHIELD responsible for the Sentinels that nearly killed them, but find themselves in even greater danger!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Bachalo is back!
FANTASTIC FOUR #3
JAMES ROBINSON • LEONARD KIRK (A)
“THE FALL OF THE FANTASTIC FOUR” PART 3
• The FANTASTIC FOUR were victorious defending Manhattan from inter- dimensional invasion but at a terrible cost!!!
• Is this “Flame Off” forever for the HUMAN TORCH?
• Introducing a new stronger, deadlier version of the WRECKING CREW!!!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Marvel wouldn’t kill off the Human Torch again, just two years after he has come back? Would they?

DEADPOOL #27
GERRY DUGGAN, BRIAN POSEHN, FABIAN NICIEZA, MARK WAID,
JOE KELLY, CHRISTOPHER PRIEST, JIMMY PALMIOTTI, FRANK TIERI,
GAIL SIMONE, DANIEL WAY, VICTOR GISCHLER
MIKE HAWTHORNE, SCOTT KOBLISH & MANY MORE (A)
Cover by SCOTT KOBLISH
ISSUE #27 Anniversary Variant by Art Adams
• That’s right—the day you never dreamed would come has finally arrived…Deadpool is getting MARRIED!
• First up in this ENORMOUSLY OVERSIZED ISSUE is our the main feature—the biggest wedding since that one guy married that other guy as Deadpool and his mysterious bride tie the knot in a tale by Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn, & Mike Hawthorne!
• THEN, we’ve rounded up EVERY writer to ever pen Wade’s series to celebrate this magical occasion! No self- respecting Poolophile can miss this one!
• It’s the most important issue 27 in the history of comics!
100 PGS./Parental Advisory …$9.99

I can getting this for that awesome giant whose who cover! Both Kitty and Magik made it! If they make this on a shirt, I will buy that too!

WHAT IF: AGE OF ULTRON #1 (of 5)
JOE KEATINGE • RAFFAELE IENCO (a)
THE ENDLESS AGE OF ULTRON!
• In Age of Ultron, a time- travelling Wolverine killed Hank Pym before he could create the world- conquering Ultron.
• What would the Marvel Universe look like if another founding Avenger had been killed instead?
• A world without the Wasp brings a world where Hank Pym created an Ultron even more heinous than the one we know!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I wonder if this takes place in the timeline that Kitty showed up super briefly during? If it does, I will be buying this one. Wish this wasn’t a month long event but

WHAT IF? AGE OF ULTRON #2
JOE KEATINGE
RAMON VILLALOBOS (a)
THE SECRET ARMOR WARS!
• In a world without Iron Man, the Armor Wars are fought without a victor, scorching the Earth!
• Years later, one of the last remaining superheroes, an aged Amazing Spider- Man, must form a Fantastic Four the likes of which our world has not seen in years!
• Teaming with Ghost Rider, the Incredible Hulk and Wolverine they are in pursuit of the one weapon that could unite the planet — The Forgotten Iron Man!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

WHAT IF? AGE OF ULTRON #3
JOE KEATINGE
MICO SUAYAN (a)
TWILIGHT OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE!
• In a world without Thor, the Norse end times of Ragnarök takes the lives of every super- powered being, leaving only the unpowered heroes of the Marvel Universe behind!
• Assembled under the leadership of Nick Fury, these powerless Defenders are all that remains to defend the planet from the Midgard Serpent!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

WHAT IF? AGE OF ULTRON #4
JOE KEATINGE
PIOTR KOWALSKI (a)
TRI- CENTENNIAL BATTLES!
• In a world without Captain America, the United States has lost its spirit, its inspiration.
• A secret cabal unites to create a new Captain America in the nation’s most trying time.
• The war veteran Frank Castle is transformed into something far more than he ever imagined — but not everyone is Steve Rogers…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

These just seem to be an excuse to do other What Ifs.

WHAT IF? AGE OF ULTRON #5
JOE KEATINGE
MING DOYLE (a)
AVENGERS INFINITY!
• What if Hank Pym never created Ultron at all?
• Could a world without Ultron survive a world without Ultron’s own weapon- turned- Avenger, the Vision?
• Can the very idea of the Avengers survive without each other?
• In the darkest of all realities, can the Avengers ever hope to Assemble?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

This one might be back on track!

ULTIMATE SPIDER- MAN #200
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
DAVE MARQUEZ, MARK BAGLEY, MARK BROOKS,
STUART IMMONEN AND DAVID LAFUENTE (A)
• The world mourns on the anniversary of Peter Parker’s death
• A gathering of Spidey’s friends and foes reveal some shocking truths about Peter and his world
• One of the biggest surprise endings of the year!
48 PGS./ONE SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99

I wonder, since they are talking about Peter’s friends, if Kitty will be in this!

ALL-NEW ULTIMATES #1
MICHEL FIFFE • AMILCAR PINNA (A)
COVER BY DAVID NAKAYAMA
THE NEXT GENERATION OF ULTIMATES IS HERE!!!
• SPIDER- MAN, BLACK WIDOW, KITTY PRYDE, BOMBSHELL, CLOAK & DAGGER officially unite to tackle the vicious, rampant crime wave overtaking Hell’s Kitchen!
• DIAMONDBACK leads the teen gang, the SERPENT SKULLS, as they run West Midtown’s drug and weapons trade & deal in murderous citywide terror!
• Detective Brigid O’Reilly and her anti- gang unit are on the hunt for a serial mask killer called SCOURGE; they get close but not without some casualties!
• Written by Michel Fiffe, the creator of the acclaimed indie series COPRA
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Now this will be my first Ultimates ongoing I will collect! Kitty is going to be on the big team, where she belongs. But it seems like a minor street team. At least we know the Ultimate universe is still around! Be nice to also read a comic with a Spider-Man in it. Never heard of Copra or Fiffe, but I’m sold on the cast. I wonder what happens to the X-Men after Cataclysm.

AMAZING X- MEN #6
JASON AARON • ED MCGUINNESS (A/C)
CAPTAIN AMERICA VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
• Nightcrawler is back at the Jean Grey School!
• But when Mystique comes calling, he may be returning to the afterlife very soon.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Glad they are not holding off on getting Kurt and his mother reunited. She’s not Wolverine, so she shouldn’t be killing her son.

ALL-NEW X- MEN #25 & 26
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
ISSUE #25 – STUART IMMONEN, ART ADAMS, BRUCE TIMM, J. SCOTT CAMPBELL, SKOTTIE YOUNG, RAFAEL GRAMPA AND MORE! (A)
Cover by STUART IMMONEN
ISSUE #26 – STUART IMMONEN (A/C)
ISSUE #25 –
• OVER- SIZED 25th ISSUE!
• Artist Stuart Immonen is joined by a practical comic book artist hall of fame for this special landmark issue!
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99
ISSUE #26 –
• THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE FUTURE IS BACK! And it doesn’t mean good things for the X- Men of the past!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Ooof, I knew we will be getting the Future Brotherhood back but this soon? Should be interesting! Evil Future X-Men versus the Teens of the Past!

INFINITY GAUNTLET OMNIBUS HC
Written by JIM STARLIN, RON MARZ, TERRY KAVANAGH, ANN NOCENTI, PETER DAVID, ROY THOMAS, DANN THOMAS, MARK GRUENWALD & BOB BUDIANSKY
Penciled by RON LIM, GEORGE PEREZ, TODD SMITH, TOM RANEY, DAVE ROSS, RICK LEONARDI, DALE KEOWN, TONY DEZUNIGA, CHRIS MARRINAN, DAN LAWLIS, DAVE HOOVER, GREG CAPULLO & BRET BLEVINS
Covers by GEORGE PEREZ & JIM STARLIN
Death has released Thanos from her cold embrace, and he plans to repay her by murdering half the universe! But even as the Mad Titan gathers the six Infinity Gems from across the galaxy, assembling them into the Infinity Gauntlet and gaining truly godlike powers, a host of heroes gather to oppose him — including the Silver Surfer, Adam Warlock, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Dr. Strange and the Hulk! Even with Dr. Doom, Galactus and the universe’s cosmic powers aiding them, can Marvel’s mightiest possibly prevail against Thanos the all-powerful? At long last, the fan- favorite cosmic event is collected in its entirety! Collecting SILVER SURFER (1987) #34- 38, #40 and #44- 60; THANOS QUEST #1- 2; INFINITY GAUNTLET #1- 6; CLOAK AND DAGGER (1988) #18; SPIDER- MAN (1990) #17; INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #383- 385; DOCTOR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #31- 36; QUASAR #26- 27 and SLEEPWALKER #7.
1248 PGS./Rated T+ …$125

Am I crazy or is $125 high for these types of things? It makes sense and it is an awesome story but this will be half off in less than a year.

X- MEN: NO MORE HUMANS OGN – HC
Written by MIKE CAREY
Penciled by SALVADOR LARROCA
The X- Men awaken to find all the world’s humans gone. From normal everyday folks to the Avengers and Fantastic Four, all homo sapiens have disappeared. It’s up to the disparate sides of the X- Men to come together, get to the bottom of this mystery and find a way to get the humans back. But do all of the mutants want their human brethren to return? From best- selling author and classic X- MEN scribe MIKE CAREY and superstar artist SALVADOR LARROCA comes the first X- MEN OGN since the classic X- MEN: GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS.
128 PGS./Rated T+ …$24.99

They really should have listed this up in the single issues as this is a brand new story, hopefully the majority of people don’t miss out on seeing this. Carey back on the X-Men, that has to be read! I know Magik has been confirmed to be in this. $25 is going to hurt though! I have also read that this is going to get dovetailed into the monthly titles at some point.

X- MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST PROSE NOVEL HC
Written by ALEXANDER IRVINE
Adapted from the graphic novel by CHRIS CLAREMONT & JOHN BYRNE
Cover by JOHN BYRNE
In a dark and dangerous post- apocalyptic future, the mutant- hunting killing machines known as the Sentinels rule America with an iron fist. Almost all mutants, super heroes and villains have been exterminated. Only a handful remain to fight against their oppressive robotic overseers —and most of those are powerless, locked in mutant concentration camps. Now, Kate Pryde must travel back in time and warn the present- day X- Men of the coming danger — and hopefully prevent this horrible future from ever taking place! Experience the classic, genre- defining X- Men event like never before in this new adaptation!
304 PGS./No Rating …$24.99

I’m not sure about the hardcover, but once this goes to softcover and isn’t $25 I will buy this.

CATACLYSM: THE ULTIMATES’ LAST STAND HC
Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV & BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by LEONARD KIRK, MICO SUAYAN, MIRCO PIERFEDERICI, MARK BAGLEY, DAVID MARQUEZ, ALVARO MARTINEZ & CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO
Cover by MARK BAGLEY
The dreaded Galactus has arrived in the Ultimate Universe! With an whole dimension full of new planets for him to devour, the Ultimate heroes must stop Galactus from destroying their entire universe! Unstoppable and insatiable, he decimates the Chitauri and the Kree Empire — and then heads for Earth. As Rick Jones and Vision make desperate last- ditch attempts to deter Galactus, the Ultimates face the Devourer head- on! And while Nick Fury plots, Reed Richards fights for redemption, M.O.D.O.K. prepares for the end, and the X- Men deal with a lethal secret weapon, Miles Morales heads to Galactus’ birthplace — the Marvel Universe — hoping for clues to save his own world! Is this the last stand of the Ultimate heroes? Collecting HUNGER #1- 4, CATACLYSM #0.1, CATACLYSM: THE ULTIMATES’ LAST STAND #1- 5, CATACLYSM: ULTIMATE SPIDER- MAN #1- 3, CATACLYSM: ULTIMATE X- MEN #1- 3, CATACLYSM: ULTIMATES #1- 3 and ULTIMATE PROLOGUE #1.
432 PGS./Rated T+ …$49.99

Glad they are collecting this all between one cover. Since the Ultimate Universe isn’t ending, I wouldn’t recommend this as any first issues will cover what you need to know. Plus I have seen reviews and the miniseries didn’t hold up.

AGE OF ULTRON TPB
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by BRYAN HITCH, CARLOS PACHECO, BRANDON PETERSON, BUTCH GUICE, ALEX MALEEV, DAVID MARQUEZ & JOE QUESADA
Humanity’s time is over. Submit or perish, because the Age of Ultron has arrived! The artificial intelligence known as Ultron has fought for years to eradicate mankind — and now, it has all but succeeded. The few remaining heroes are battered, broken, almost beaten and left considering desperate measures — some more desperate than others. But when Wolverine breaks ranks and pursues his own plan to defeat Ultron, will his drastic action cause more problems than it solves? Brian Michael Bendis presents the ultimate triumph of the Avengers’ greatest villain in an epic that will shake worlds! Collecting AVENGERS (2010) #12.1 and AGE OF ULTRON #1- 10.
280 PGS./Rated T+ …$34.99

I would also pass on this one too! I wonder how many are going to get tricked into buying this once Avengers 2 : Age of Ultron comes out.

X- MEN VS. HULK TPB
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE, MARC SUMERAK, ALEXANDER ZALBON, CHRIS CLAREMONT, ROGER STERN, JOHN BYRNE & DOUG MOENCH
Penciled by ANDREA DIVITO, SANFORD GREEN, JOYCE CHIN, JEREMY RAAPACK, JOHN BYRNE & WALTER SIMONSON
The Illuminati shot the Hulk into space. Now he’s back, he’s mad, and he’s got some pointed questions for Illuminati member Professor X. But Xavier’s got some very powerful friends looking out for him! Thrill to all-out action as the Hulk battles through every X- Man there is — and then some! Featuring the meanest Hulk/Wolverine battle yet, as well as a rematch against the unstoppable Juggernaut! Plus: The X- Men must track down the Hulk before mysterious earthquakes decimate San Francisco! Dazzler rocks out, and the Hulk’s got a backstage pass! To teach Colossus a lesson, Wolverine orchestrates a clash with the savage Hulk! Iceman, Angel and Hulk battle Sentinels in space! And the Hulk and classic X- Men battle aliens in Europe! Collecting WORLD WAR HULK: X- MEN #1- 3, HULK TEAM- UP #1, X- MEN VS. HULK #1, INCREDIBLE HULK ANNUAL #7 and material from RAMPAGING HULK (1977) #2.
208 PGS./Rated T+ …$24.99

This is an odd collection, for those who are exciting about the X-Men movie in May, but only care if they are paired with the Hulk? I liked WWH: XM and the X-Men Vs. Hulk 1 is a classic tale of the 80s X-Men with the Hulk, essentially is Colossus vs. Hulk with Kitty watching. Hulk Team-Up 1 is on my wishlist.

MARVEL KNIGHTS: X- MEN — HAUNTED TPB
Written by BRAHM REVEL
Penciled by BRAHM REVEL
Cover by BRAHM REVEL
It’s a gritty mutant murder mystery told by talented creator Brahm Revel (Guerillas)! Wolverine, Kitty Pryde and Rogue travel to a backwoods town to save new mutants’ lives. But their help may not be welcome — and the murderer may be closer to them than they think. In a small cabin in the woods, the X- Men find a young mutant learning to control her powers — but she’s not alone! As the X- Men are ambushed by a horde of super villains and two new mutants’ powers begin to spiral out of control, can the heroes save an entire town? Or as infighting threatens to pit teammate against teammate, will the scattered and manipulated X- Men fall to an army of foes ripped from their own minds? What happens when your past comes back…to kill you? Collecting MARVEL KNIGHTS X- MEN #1- 5.
112 PGS./Rated T+ …$16.99

Buy this! I only the monthly comics so I will be passing on it, but you should buy it! Do it! I can’t imagine the quality dips after issue two.

My count is six buys and three maybes. So worst case, 9 titles times three is 18 dollars plus 25 for the original graphic novel, 33 is within my 40 limit so this isn’t too bad.

Going down the list at

http://www.previewsworld.com/Home/1/1/71/979?articleID=144158

A website, I’ve come to really enjoy looking at when the next month is coming.

So here’s what I’ll be buying:

All New Doop 1

All New Ultimates 1

All New X-Men 25

All New X-Men 26

Deadpool 27 (at $9.99!)

Ultimate Spider-Man 200

Uncanny X-Men 20

What If Age of Ultron 2 – which has the New Fantastic Four reuniting! I must have missed this the first time. I’m a sucker for when Spider-Man, Hulk, Wolverine and Ghost Rider team up!

Maybes are Uncanny Avengers 19 and X-Men Legacy 1 (or Nightcrawler 1, pending on who you ask).

Making my grand total $39.91 and $36.92 if I don’t get X-Men Legacy 1. I imagine when Kitty shows up in that series, it will make the solict.

What If Volume Two Issue 32

Posted by John Klein III on January 16, 2014

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Caragonne, Chiang - Janice, Claremont, Ramos - Rod, What If, Witterstaetter - Renee. 2 Comments

Plot Chris Claremont & George Caragonne

Script George Caragonne

Pencils Rod Ramos

Inks Jan Anton Harps

Letters Janice Chiang

Colors Renee Witterstaetter

Cover Dated December 1991

What If Phoenix Had Not Died? Taken off from Uncanny X-Men 137

Most What Ifs only take a full page to set up what came before and how this new alternate path begins. Other times, the title alone is enough to get the ball rolling. For this story, it takes three pages of pure narration from Uatu, the Watcher to get us going.

Instead of Jean sacrificing herself on the moon, the Shi’ar got to her first and took away all of her powers. Leaving her to be just a regular lady.

We are told that Jean and Scott got married, inviting no one to the wedding. Warren, as a wedding present, gifted them with a nice house. Scott is a pilot.

One evening, Scott comes downstairs and finds Jean smoking and watching the news. Senator Kelly died, so the X-Men failed to stop that during Uncanny X-Men 141 & 142. She reveals to him that she can’t sleep due to the Shi’ar taking her powers but not her memories. She remembers absorbing that sun that killed the broccoli people. She knows how many died on that planet, into the millions, the possibilities she stopped and the families that will never be. It haunts her, as it should.

I should state that at this time, she is wearing only a small pink shirt and black underwear. This will be important latter.

Magneto shows up, Scott tries to blast him, but Magneto has held his own against the entire team, so one blast isn’t going to do much. He restrains Scott and takes Jean to Asteroid M.

Once they are settled there, Jean approaches Magneto. He asks her why she hasn’t changed into her provided outfit. State shes it is due to not wanting to appease him, as she isn’t his guest, but his prisoner. I find it odd though. Even if the outfit he provided, we never see it, is like a fancy dress, it is still better than walking around in a shirt that is too small and panties. She is a married woman, and Magneto is her oldest enemy. Put some clothes on! It makes no story sense either, except for Ramos gets to draw Jean in a supposedly sexy outfit.

Magneto reveals to Jean that he can restore her powers. He also reveals that he has cameras recording everything the X-Men do. There are eight television sets, so each X-Man gets their own camera. This is the first we see Kitty, who is going by Sprite at this time.

Scott is heading to Asteroid M with the X-Men, minus Kitty. They didn’t want to risk bringing her. Colossus hasn’t revealed that he loves her, but if they survive this mission, once he gets home, he will confess his love to her. Their blackbird is able to make the trip with rockets loaned by Tony Stark. Which is weird as Iron Man should just give the X-Men rockets, he can afford them. Plus, if he knew the X-Men, he should know that there is a high chance that that plane is going to be destroyed. We never get a scene where they discuss giving back the rockets.

The X-Men start attacking Magneto. Wolverine gets a good slash in. Jean touches the machine that will give her her power back. She starts being able to expand her mind again. She is one with the universe. Then she starts to remember what happen last time. She started as Jean, then Phoenix, and then Dark Phoenix. This sequence of events will repeat again.

The X-Men continue to attack Magneto when Jean comes out of nowhere with a bat and clobbers Magneto. She has chosen to not renew her powers, as it didn’t work out for her last time.

The X-Men, Scott and Jean, all leave Asteroid M. As Jean was the one to chose to not renew her powers, this gives her closure and she can start living her life again. Scott is now a part time X-Man. Jean goes back to college and gets her education degree. Which I am sure she needed as she becomes the New Mutants’ teacher, as Xavier probably really needed her to get that degree before hiring her. In this timeline, for some reason, the New Mutants’ costume instead of pure yellow and black, they have a blue shirt and black & yellow pants. It is not a good look.

Scott and her have a baby girl, Rachel.

During the time the X-Men were gone due to Secret Wars, and the New Mutants are gone as well, one would think they wouldn’t have gone to Emma Frost’s school if Jean was still around. Jean is tending to baby Rachel. Mastermind shows up and starts casting dangerous and painful illusions.

Jean is knocked to the ground, dropping Rachel. This has me concern, as I walk around with my son and sometimes I worry about taking a corner too sharply and falling down. I have this whole plan to ensure falling onto my back and cradling my son in a hold that doesn’t hurt him but secures his safety. We are denied Jean’s mother instincts. We see the torment, and then the next panel is her on the ground with Rachel near by, also on the ground. She doesn’t look like she is crying but a fall from five feet can be lethal for a baby. I am now aware of these things in a way I would have just overlooked it in the past.

Eventually Mastermind threatens to kill Jean, the X-Men and her daughter. This snaps Jean out of the illusion and she starts throwing harsh elbows and knocks him out. Turns out, Shadow King has been in possession of Mastermind’s body. Shadow King takes Jean to the Astral Plane. He reveals how he needs a new body and Rachel’s is the perfect capsule. Which is odd, as she is newly born, and thus, not a great capsule. He is going to want to wait, I don’t know, maybe 18 to 20 years. I know he wants the powers that Rachel has and probably wants to take the body over as soon as possible, but at least wait until she is potty train and walking. I know he wants the body before she can get any permanent scars too but I can only imagine puberty for girls is not all that fun, so he might want to wait pass that as well. That’s just my thinking.

Back on the non-Astral Plane, Jean is essentially an empty shell and defenseless. Mastermind kills her, with a gun shot of all things. He takes Rachel and is off.

Jean’s body is dead. The Phoenix Force comes to her, and awakens her. Turns out, this wasn’t Jean but the Phoenix Force as Jean, this entire time, so the events of Uncanny X-Men 100 happen as the way it did in the Proper Marvel Universe.

We get this confirmed as Phoenix goes to Jamaica Bay and sees Jean in that cocoon. Phoenix now knows that Scott, once discovering this, will want his real Jean and not the Phoenix manifestation. Which is odd, as Scott has a baby with Phoenix, so you think he would want to at least think about it. Though, now that I am writing this, we do know with Maddie and baby Nathan, that if real Jean is an option, he will ditch his old family for his high school sweetheart. So it is a good call from the Phoenix. In a horrible twist, Phoenix wishes that Jean would be dead and this isn’t even an option to have it have its heartbreak. Unfortunately, being a force in the universe, this means that Jean is instantly vanished from this world.

This also means, this in this alternate world, that Rachel is the daughter of the Phoenix. Which I am sure this isn’t suppose to be the Days of Future Past timeline origin story. I doubt it, as with Senator Kelly’s death and if Shadow King is successful in taking over Rachel’s body, then she is never around to send Kate Pryde back in time. So this isn’t suppose to dovetail into that timeline.

This is part one of a two part story. Kitty is barely in it, is mentioned once and seen twice but she is there.

. . .

On a personal note, today marks my darling gentleman’s being one month old! You are doing it! So proud of you, Walker Dennis!

Wolverine Volume Four Issue 13

Posted by John Klein III on January 15, 2014

Posted in: Lists, Review. Tagged: 2014, Cornell, Davis, Farmer - Mark, Killable, Petit - Cory, Wolverine. Leave a comment

Writer Paul Cornell

Penciler Alan Davis

Inker Mark Farmer

Colorist Lee Loughridge

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Killable Part Six of Six

This issue boils down to two big speeches. Sabretooth’s disappointed speech and the Virus’ plead.

Sabretooth wants Wolverine to be better, and to stop lying to himself. Makes great points regarding how Avengers and X-Men, typically don’t kill, yet Wolverine does and while as a member of those teams. Sabretooth starts call him Jimmy and such, which is what I did for a long while on message boards – people did not care for it.

Kitty can’t do anything with Mystique and the Hand Elite Guards standing around. There is a panel where you see Wolverine’s mouth agap, and it reminded me of Christian Bale in Batman Begins, when he gets a faceful of Scrawcrow’s gas and is calling out for Alfred.

Once Sabretooth, still in that fine suit, is done with his monologue, I like how he gently places Wolverine’s sword on the ground. Sabretooth and his team teleport away. Kitty hesitates, letting all of that truth set in.

Kathy, the security guard, is possessed by the virus that turned Wolverine’s healing factor off. SHIELD’s plan for destroying it, is working and it is desperate to live. I really like how it goes into why Wolverine should take the deal. Even mentioning why he shouldn’t. This entire time, during the two speeches, Wolverine hasn’t moved from his spot on the floor. If he accepts, he will have his healing factor back.

Wolverine turns the virus down, and it dies. He slowly pulls himself up, while Kitty helps Kathy readjust. Wolverine picks up the sword and breaks it. Uatu the Watcher is seen watching. I don’t feel this was a big enough moment for that, might be the reason I didn’t care for this issue as much. Cool to see Uatu drawn by Davis and Farmer. The two panels of Kitty looking at Wolverine, pretty haunting. Will be interesting to see if we get a slew of What Ifs this year, but I doubt it.

The two of them get back to the mansion, Storm runs to him. He tells her Wolverine is dead.

I guess this was suppose to show why Kitty leaves Wolverine’s side at the end of Battle of the Atom, but coming two months later, does not help matters.

Thus ends Volume Four. Volume Five starts immediately, and with the same writer, so really it should be issue 14 but whatever. Wolverine gets a pair of gauntlets with fake claws, a gun and a new padded costume – which is yellow but mostly black.

. . .

Before buying this issue, I really thought it would knock Savage Wolverine 13 out of its top spot but it didn’t.

Best Comic of 2014

1. Savage Wolverine 13

2. Wolverine 13

3. Cataclysm 3

Expected to buy at least two comics that ship this week, maybe four. We will see what happens to the list then. I probably won’t keep tracking the list on the blog as it probably won’t be that exciting, but I figured I will until I at least have ten comics listed.

Fun With YouTube : X-Men Evolution 3 x 12 and 13

Posted by John Klein III on January 14, 2014

Posted in: Cartoon, Fun With YouTube. Tagged: Evolution, YouTube. Leave a comment

200th Post!!!

Dark Horizon Parts One and Two

EDIT ON APRIL 7, 2015 – Good thing I check on these things somewhat regularly. The original poster has taken down the link so here are the two parts as two different videos so my time stamps are no longer current. Dang it!

Thanks to KID S Cartoons

The wonderful creative team of Chris Yost and Craig Kyke, wrote this episode.

1:53 – 2:04 Plush Lockheed! If only had it been purple. They probably didn’t want to make it purple, as if they did bring in Lockheed, they wouldn’t want people thinking that plush animal turned to life. Or they are cowards, poor little guy can’t get any animation love. He really isn’t to be blamed for the failure of the Pryde of the X-Men cartoon. Also, crazy how Disney hasn’t greenlit a Pet Avengers animated series or feature. They are probably holding out until Big Hero Six in November. Which of all the franchises to take a chance on, they are taking a chance on one that needs to build an audience already. But they are doing the same thing for Guardians of the Galaxy, but at least that is a current ongoing. Big Hero Six, I imagine we will start seeing more of come August / September with the November solicts. I have slated five comics that that team appeared in, and that’s out of nineteen options. Marvel has to have plans for releasing an Omnibus for the team.

Regardless, look plush Lockheed place holder!

Rogue is going around absorbing the X-Men’s powers.

I like that with Season Three, they were able to give the cast second outfits. I like it when a cartoon has a character open a closet and reveal twenty sets of a same outfit. Not many do it but when they do, it makes me smile.

At breakfast, we see several mutants using their powers in practical ways.

On one of the signs in the background while Jean and Scott are talking at the school, there is a giant sign that reads “Congrats Classe.” Did they want classes and changed their mind?

I do like how their principal is Robert Kelly. A bit of a step down from being a senator but at least he doesn’t have to worry about term limits.

At the Brotherhood house, they are watching a Power Puff Girls parody.

Rogue is there to take their powers as well.

9:33 – Colossus, boo!

10:25 – Rogue and Gambit on screen together

11:00 – They kiss! Rogue is in the process of taking Magneto’s elite guard’s powers.

Poor X-Men, they all know something is going to go wrong at graduation.

We see Jean’s family.

Magneto’s entire team shows up, clearing the field.

13:48 – We discover Mesmero is controlling Rogue.

Kitty is taken out by a chair. Why didn’t she just stay phased?

X-Men and Brotherhood working together

15:26 – Wolverine and Sabretooth sniffing a car. Gambit points out the plane overhead.

16:48 – Nice of Mesmero to have establishing shots in his memory.

18:26 – I love Kitty’s sinking to the ground down to her knees. Then she makes this awesome dive underground. She owns the screen time to the 19 minute mark. It is a nice touch of flair for her. Her power isn’t that exciting, but she makes it fun.

21:13 – We start seeing the teams get separated

22:08 – Part Two Begins

Magneto, Xavier and Beast are one team.

Jean, Bobby and Storm are a second team.

Cyclops, Quicksilver and Pyro are a third team. This one makes sense, Xavier’s essential son with Magneto’s actual son.

22:33 – 23:50 – Excalibur! Kitty, Kurt and Colossus.

24:25 – Rama Tut is mentioned, and later seen. That’s Kang the Conqueror.

We get a nice, simple and clean origin for Apocalypse.

26:30 – Two teams reunite, Scott’s and Storm’s.

28:28 – Gambit’s “Let’s just follow the footprints” Wolverine and Sabretooth want to keep sniffing everything.

28:39 – 29:00 – Excalibur again! Kurt doesn’t trust Colossus, Kitty likes how he is quiet. Then Colossus knocks down a wall, he fell behind and got worried.

30:28 – Xavier sees a helmet and puts it on. That is what he do.

Mystique, Rogue and Mesmero are in Tibet.

31:29 – Gambit wants to knock both Wolverine and Sabretooth off the mountain.

31:45 – 31:59 – Kitty and Colossus combo. She phases a giant robot partly into the ground, and Colossus knocks it over.

I forget this show gave Mystique the ability to turn into animals. Not sure if they did it first or Sean McKeever did during his incredible Mystique ongoing.

33:48 – Mystique turns into a statue. She will be that way for a while.

34:58 – Apocalypse wakes

36:18 – Mesmero is taken out by a tackle from Sabretooth

36:28 – Apocalypse absorbs all of the extra powers Rogue had

37:48 – Wolverine proves to be useless

38:19 – Everyone else is useless

39:00 – Magneto tries again, is useless

Shame that Season Four is still not on DVD, some fantastic moments happen in the final season. Maybe in 2016, with the Apocalypse film comes out, they will finally release the final season.

	Ron on Emily VanCamp
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	Joyland (2013)… on Heroes For Hope Starring the X…

	Ron on Emily VanCamp
	John Klein III on Exceptional X-Men 12
	MoxieMk5 on Exceptional X-Men 12
	1314sdf657 on Best X Issues of 2025 – M…
	Joyland (2013)… on Heroes For Hope Starring the X…

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