Fred Van Lente’s Wolverine First Class

Posted by John Klein III on June 13, 2024
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

in under 240 characters

Van Lente treated us to an amazing 12 issue run of Wolverine : First Class, then Peter David picked up the series for the other half.

https://twitter.com/JackalsIII/status/1800573714586583088

I have no idea why 9 refuses to embed)

Such a great Kitty Pryde ongoing series.

Battle of the Atom – The Sequel

Posted by John Klein III on June 10, 2024
Posted in: Review. Tagged: . Leave a comment

The Future Brotherhood from Battle of the Atom return to finish what they started

but first, Raze shows up in No More Humans

Then the whole gang returns in All New X-Men

Last Will and Testament of Charles Xavier in under 240 characters

Posted by John Klein III on June 3, 2024
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

I recall Last Will of Testament leaving me cold, and thinking this was one of the lesser stories of Brian Michael Bendis’ X-Men run, so I thought a second read through years later might change my opinion.

Let’s see if it does!

It improved slightly, but it still feels like two chapters too long with the reset button being pressed at the end.

Best X Issues of 2024 – May

Posted by John Klein III on May 29, 2024
Posted in: Best Of X Issues. Leave a comment

As of May 29, 2024

  1. X-Men V6 32
  2. Fall of the House of X 5
  3. Dead X-Men 1
  4. Fall of the House of X 3
  5. X-Men V6 34
  6. X-Men V6 33
  7. Ultimate X-Men V2 3
  8. Rise of the Powers of X 4
  9. X-Men Forever 3
  10. X-Men Forever 2

Compared to April 24, 2024

1. X-Men V6 32

2. Dead X-Men 1

3. Fall of the House of X 3

4. X-Men V6 33

5. Rise of the Powers of X 4

6. X-Men Forever 2

7. Spider-Gwen Smash 2

8. Cable V5 1

9. Resurrection of Magneto 2

10. Women of Marvel V5 1

. . .

Compared to March 27 –

1. X-Men V6 32

2. Dead X-Men 1

3. Fall of the House of X 3

4. Spider-Gwen Smash 2

5. Cable V5 1

6. Resurrection of Magneto 2

7. Women of Marvel V5 1

8. Resurrection of Magneto 1

9. Ultimate X-Men V2 1

10. Fall of the House of X 1

. . .

Compared to February 28 –

1. Dead X-Men 1
2. Spider-Gwen Smash 2
3. Cable V5 1
4. Resurrection of Magneto 2
5. Women of Marvel V5 1
6. Resurrection of Magneto 1
7. Fall of the House of X 1
8. Fall of the House of X 2
9. Invincible Iron Man V5 15
10. Dead X-Men 2

. . .

Compared to January 31 –

  1. Dead X-Men 1
  2. Spider-Gwen Smash 2
  3. Resurrection of Magneto 1
  4. Cable V5 1
  5. Fall of House of X 1
  6. Invincible Iron Man V5 14
  7. Rise of the Powers of X 1
  8. X-Men V6 30

Magik – Savage Avenger

Posted by John Klein III on May 28, 2024
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

I believe Magik’s time as a member of the Savage Avengers counts as her being an Avenger, right?

I think it does

I might have to treat myself to the Savage Avengers omnibus – if it wasn’t $100

Also, three out of the six on that cover don’t make up the best parts of the series.

Magik Appearances in Captain Marvel Volume Ten

Posted by John Klein III on May 24, 2024
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Kelly Thompson’s Captain Marvel run (Volume Ten) is so fantastic, and one of the best parts of it, is that Magik appears so regularly throughout it!

Another reason the run is so terrific is because Carmen Carnero, future artist of Exceptional X-Men, was the artist for many of the early issues.

Marvel August 2024 Solicitations

Posted by John Klein III on May 23, 2024
Posted in: Solicitations. Leave a comment

Let’s see what we’re excited for in August 2024!

Which is a lot as its the launch of the X-Men : From the Ashes era!

Full August 2024 Marvel Comics solicitations: X-Men relaunch!

UNCANNY X-MEN #1

GAIL SIMONE (W) • DAVID MARQUEZ (A/C)

VARIANT COVER BY ANDY KUBERT • VARIANT COVER BY STEPHEN SEGOVIA

NEGATIVE SPACE VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

VARIANT COVER BY MR GARCIN • VARIANT COVER BY LEINIL FRANCIS YUEzoic

WRAPAROUND CONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY SCOTT KOBLISH

DISCO DAZZLER VARIANT COVER BY PABLO VILLALOBOS

HIDDEN GEM VARIANT COVER BY JIM LEE

CHARACTER VARIANT COVER BY LUCIANO VECCHIO

CHARACTER VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY LUCIANO VECCHIO

VARIANT COVER BY DAVID MARQUEZ • VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY DAVID MARQUEZ

PROFESSOR X…IS GONE!

A core group of essential X-Men rise FROM THE ASHES to face a world without a home – and without Professor X!Ezoic

All bonds among the mutant community seem to be slipping away, and ROGUE reluctantly finds herself as the hero designated to bring them back together…but a fearless, malignant power is out there hunting mutants, and it has a terrible secret that may destroy what remains of the X-Men!

40 PGS./Rated T+ …$5.99

I am excited about the family dynamics with Gambit, Rogue, and Nightcrawler. Jubilee & Logan are nice to round the cast out.

I’m already committed to the first issue as I’m getting the Scott Koblish wrap around cover.

. . .

Wolverine : Revenge 1 of 5 by Jonathan Hickman & Greg Capullo, is a pass for me, but I’ve heard Dani Moonstar is in this, so I’m at least intrigued by it.

. . .

X-FACTOR #1

Mark Russell (W) • Bob quinn (A) • Cover by GREG LAND

The team has Havok, Frenzy, Pyro, Feral, and Dr. Celicia Reyes, so I’m interested in it.

. . .

X-MEN #2

JED MACKAY (W) • RYAN STEGMAN (A/C)

MAGIK VARIANT COVER BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL

MAGIK VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL

DISCO DAZZLER VARIANT COVER BY OLIVIER VATINE • VARIANT COVER BY TAURIN CLARKE

MARVEL MULTIVERSE RPG VARIANT COVER BY RUAIRÍ COLEMAN

INVASION!

The X-Men fly to the rescue of a mutant in crisis in San Francisco. The problem? Alien invaders seem to have a similar idea. Six X-Men vs. an invading alien fleet? Sounds about right. PLUS: THE CONCLUSION OF DEADPOOL/WOLVERINE: WEAPON X-TRACTION!

X-MEN #3Ezoic

JED MACKAY (W) • RYAN STEGMAN (A/C)

ROGUE VARIANT COVER BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL

ROGUE VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELLEzoic

VARIANT COVER BY GREG LAND • VARIANT COVER BY MAHMUD ASRAR

SCOTT SUMMERS VS. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

How did the X-Men come to possess their HQ, the Factory, and how difficult a position does that put them in? As Cyclops meets the implacable Agent Lundqvist, the X-Men come to find that their new home may not be as secure as they had thought…

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

X-Men is double shipping, and Magik is on the team, so I’m locked in for this.

. . .

AVENGERS #17Ezoic

JED MACKAY (W) • VALERIO SCHITI (A) • Cover by JOSHUA CASSARA

VARIANT COVER BY SAM DE LA ROSA • HOMAGE VARIANT COVER BY LUCIANO VECCHIO

STORM VARIANT COVER BY PABLO VILLALOBOS

STORM VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY PABLO VILLALOBOS

DISCO DAZZLER VARIANT COVER BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE WEAPON X-TRACTION VARIANT COVER BY CAFUEzoic

STORM JOINS THE AVENGERS!

• New arc starts here! Superstar artist Valerio Schiti (G.O.D.S.) takes the helm as series artist!

• In the aftermath of Blood Hunt and Fall of the House of X, where does that leave the Avengers?Ezoic

• The team’s roster won’t be the only thing shaken up when a deadly threat sets its vengeful sights on Earth!

PLUS: PART 6 OF DEADPOOL/WOLVERINE: WEAPON X-TRACTION!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Storm joining the Avengers makes me interested in the Avengers for the first time in years. Hopefully she’s there for more than three issues.

. . .

X-FORCE #2

GEOFFREY THORNE (W) • MARCUS TO (A) • Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIAEzoic

RACHEL SUMMERS VARIANT COVER BY CLAYTON CRAIN

RACHEL SUMMERS VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY CLAYTON CRAIN

VARIANT COVER BY TODD HARRIS • VARIANT COVER BY ALAN QUAHEzoic

DISCO DAZZLER VARIANT COVER BY PHIL NOTO

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE WEAPON X-TRACTION VARIANT COVER BY DAVID NAKAYAMA

MARVEL MULTIVERSE RPG VARIANT COVER BY RUAIRÍ COLEMANEzoic

WARFARE IN WAKANDA!

FORGE leads X-FORCE in their new, custom BLACKBIRD to the next world fracture in WAKANDA. But as the ground literally changes under their feet, the team will have to stop…the BLACK PANTHER?! That can’t be right, can it?! And what secret is bubbling under the surface that just might tear the X-Force team asunder? The new X-FORCE ongoing hits its stride in this issue – don’t miss jumping on early!

32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

X-Force is giving me my Rachel Summers content, so another lock for me.

. . .

NYX 2 is dealing with some secret agency capturing mutants, so hopefully our young heroes put an end to that.

. . .

Phoenix 2, Jean Grey so deep in space, she comes across the Starjammers – so I went from no interest, to seeing Jean with Corsair and Hepzibah.

. . .

Deadpool Team-Up 1 of 5, Rob Liefeld’s last Deadpool story, and we’re promised a team-up with Crystar, so that’s cool.

. . .

Predator v Black Panther 1 of 4 sounds interesting, but I haven’t even looked at the Aliens v Wolverine comic, and I’m a bigger Alien fan than Predator. But I like that this is an option.

. . .

Venom War, and all of its tie-ins, are a hard pass for me, dawg.

. . .

After reading Dark Web, I am somewhat interested in following Chasm’s story in Chasm Curse of Kaine 1 of 4 – plus there’s no denying how cool that cover looks!

. . .

ULTIMATE X-MEN #6

PEACH MOMOKO (W) • PEACH MOMOKO (A/C)

ULTIMATE SPECIAL VARIANT COVER BY MEGHAN HETRICK

VARIANT COVER BY STEPHANIE HANS • VARIANT COVER BY TRADD MOORE

THE ACTION-PACKED FINALE OF THE FIRST ARC!

• Armor, Maystorm and the rest of the team hunt down the mysterious shadow!

• But is this group of scrappy teens prepared to face true darkness?

• And don’t miss the reveal of the final member of the group on the last page!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

We’re going to get a seven person team, which is the perfect number for the X-Men.

. . .

so many titles I’m just scrolling through with no interest in.

. . .

MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

RYAN NORTH, ALAN DAVIS, CHRISTOPHER PRIEST, IMAN VELLANI, SABIR PIRZADA, STEVE SKROCE & MORE (W) • ALAN DAVIS, STEVE SKROCE, JOSH CASSARA, STEPHEN BYRNE, KAKU YUJI, & CARLO PAGULAYAN (A)

COVER BY KAARE ANDREWS • WRAPAROUND VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG

VARIANT COVER BY IBAN COELLO • VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY IBAN COELLO

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS VARIANT COVER BY TBA

STORMBREAKERS JAM VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE

CELEBRATE MARVEL’S 85TH ANNIVERSARY!

In the far future of the 85th Century, the exploits of the heroes of the Marvel Age are the stuff of legend, half remembered but still celebrated! Come with us now on a tour of the greatest museum in all the cosmos, in which the few surviving relics of those bygone days have been assembled. Each piece tells a unique story – about the Contest of Champions and how it wrought an end to the Age of Heroes, about the greatest triumph of Ms. Marvel and the final, secret exploit of Excalibur! And more! Marvel’s greatest storytellers gather to commemorate the whole of Marvel history in a once-in-a-lifetime celebration!

72 PGS./ONE-SHOT?Rated T+ …$7.99

Marvel is old enough where every five years, they should be celebrating!

I can’t wait to read that Excalibur story!

. . .

Trades!

MICRONAUTS: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS VOL. 3 HC MICHAEL GOLDEN COVER

712 PGS./Rated T …$125.00

The price tag is too much for me, but the collector in me would like this before Marvel loses the license again.

DEAD X-MEN TPB

120 PGS./Rated T+ …$17.99

The first issue is in my top ten of the year (thus far), but the rest of the series sort of fell apart for me.

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN BY GERRY DUGGAN VOL. 3: IRON & DIAMONDS TPB

184 PGS./Rated T+ …$24.99

Collecting INVINCIBLE IRON MAN (2022) #13-20.

The Fall of X tie in arc that was pretty legit.

POWER PACK: INTO THE STORM GN-TPB

144 PGS./Ages 10-14 …$13.99

Takes Storm until the second issue to show up in this, but I really enjoyed this miniseries.

. . .

Next Month : Exceptional X-Men!!! Get excited!

Only titles I’m really excited about is X-Men 2 and 3, and the Marvel 85th Anniversary one-shot.

X-Men Battle of the Atom in under 240 characters

Posted by John Klein III on May 20, 2024
Posted in: Review. Tagged: . Leave a comment

I was remembering the brilliant move the X-Office did of moving Kitty Pryde and the Original Five X-Men from Wolverine’s side, to Cyclops’ side, and thought a reread of Battle of the Atom was in order.

But First . . . I also wanted to read the all women X-Men Volume 4, as it has three issues before getting into the crossover.

I think the crossover holds up rather well.

The weakest part to me is still the telepaths battle, and showing us only them standing around – but I also get that’s what it would look like.

Best X Issues of 2024 – April

Posted by John Klein III on May 1, 2024
Posted in: Best Of X Issues. Tagged: . Leave a comment

As of April 24, 2024

1. X-Men V6 32

2. Dead X-Men 1

3. Fall of the House of X 3

4. X-Men V6 33

5. Rise of the Powers of X 4

6. X-Men Forever 2

7. Spider-Gwen Smash 2

8. Cable V5 1

9. Resurrection of Magneto 2

10. Women of Marvel V5 1

. . .

Compared to March 27 –

1. X-Men V6 32

2. Dead X-Men 1

3. Fall of the House of X 3

4. Spider-Gwen Smash 2

5. Cable V5 1

6. Resurrection of Magneto 2

7. Women of Marvel V5 1

8. Resurrection of Magneto 1

9. Ultimate X-Men V2 1

10. Fall of the House of X 1

. . .

Compared to February 28 –

1. Dead X-Men 1
2. Spider-Gwen Smash 2
3. Cable V5 1
4. Resurrection of Magneto 2
5. Women of Marvel V5 1
6. Resurrection of Magneto 1
7. Fall of the House of X 1
8. Fall of the House of X 2
9. Invincible Iron Man V5 15
10. Dead X-Men 2

. . .

Compared to January 31 –

  1. Dead X-Men 1
  2. Spider-Gwen Smash 2
  3. Resurrection of Magneto 1
  4. Cable V5 1
  5. Fall of House of X 1
  6. Invincible Iron Man V5 14
  7. Rise of the Powers of X 1
  8. X-Men V6 30

Wolverine : Enemy of the State in under 240 characters

Posted by John Klein III on April 16, 2024
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

I thought it would be fun to review Wolverine : Enemy of the State, but from a Kitty Pryde perspective. With a bonus Agent of SHIELD issue to conclude it.

Would make a fun two part animated movie.

Here’s a page from What If : Wolverine – Enemy of the State

https://twitter.com/JackalsIII/status/1735343895473733845