X-Men Classic 82

Posted by John Klein III on January 18, 2014
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

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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.

X-Men Classic 82 Kitty 1

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

X-Men Classic 82 Kitty 2

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.

X-Men Classic 82 Kitty 3

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: , . Leave a comment

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

ORIGINAL SIN #0
MARK WAID (W) • 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 (W) • Giuseppe Camuncoli (A/C)

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1
Dan Slott (W) • 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 (W)
KAARE ANDREWS (A/C)

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

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

INHUMAN #1
CHARLES SOULE (W)
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 (W) • 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 (W)
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 (W)
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 (W) JAVIER RODRIGUEZ (A)

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

UNCANNY AVENGERS #19
RICK REMENDER (W) • 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 (W) • 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 (W) • 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 (W)
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 (w) • 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 (w)
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 (w)
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 (w)
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 (w)
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 (W)
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 (W) • 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 (W) • 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 (W)
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: Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , . 2 Comments

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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, Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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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.

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Wolverine V4 13 Kitty 2

Wolverine V4 13 Kitty 3

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: , . 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.

ROM Spaceknight 32

Posted by John Klein III on January 13, 2014
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , . 2 Comments

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Writer Bill Mantlo

Penciler Sal Buscema

Inker Joe Sinnott

Letterer Rick Parker

Colorist Ben Sean

Cover Dated July 1982

What is happening to Rogue, and what is she doing on the cover?

Issue opens in a cabin with Mystique, Destiny and Rogue meeting Hybrid.  This is during Rogue’s old lady phase, though she only looks like she is in her late 30s now.

This issue takes place after Avengers Annual 10, and last issue, this may be Rogue’s third appearance.  Using comicbookdb, I confirm it is her third.  Her fourth appearance is Uncanny X-Men 158.  This is her second adventure, and her first two parter.

Rogue attacks Hybrid,he is too strong for her.  Mystique knows she will be useless against him, but she has to do something.  She jumps at him, and somehow when their heads touch, it unleashes Hybrid’s back story.

He is half human on his mom’s side, and his father was a Dire Wraith – ROM’s archfoes. For some reason, Marvel doesn’t own the rights to ROM, but they do own the rights to the Spaceknights concept and to the concept of the Dire Wraiths.  Must be a solely appearance and name issue, due to ROM starting out as a toy.

Then we get to part of the issue that I bought it for :

ROM 32 Kitty Pryde 1

ROM 32 Kitty Pryde 2

The Hybrid Origin from issues 17 & 18 that we will review, eventually.

So Jimmy Marks started out looking like a young.  Other Dire Wraiths showed up, and showed him his true form.  He then killed both of his parents.  The X-Men showed up, and it took Kitty using ROM’s neutralizer to take Hybrid down.  That gun sends Dire Wraiths back to their dimension.  The problen is, is that they can change their appearance to look human.  So from time to time, it looks like a seven foot tall robot just shot and killed a human.  Thus, ROM gets blamed for lots of murders.

Hybrid back hands Mystique.  Rogue charges at him.  Destiny states they need to move on and find their actual foe, ROM.  This causes Hybrid to state he also hates ROM.  They decide a little enemy of my enemy works sometimes, and make an alliance.  I have to say, Hybrid’s design makes for a great villain but as a fourth person in a room, just standing around and talking?  He is very unsettling to look at.

We cut to ROM and his human allies.  ROM reveals that he mistakenly let some convicts escape last issue.  We see Brandy, who ROM use to have a relationship with.  Apparently, he started out as a man inside the suit but now he is just the suir.  His fellow spaceknight also reveals that he ran into Hybrid near a cabin.

Cut to that cabin.  The convicts show up.  Hybrid comes outside and straight up kills them.  This disgusts the ladies.  They get it together in time for ROM to show up.

ROM sees Mystique in distress.  Her costume is torn and her hair is a mess.  In a fantastic use of her powers, she instantly reverts back to her classic look.  This startles ROM to open himself up to an attack from Rogue.

ROM is much stronger than her.  She decides to kiss him.  This awakens human emotions again in ROM, that he thought were gone.  This also causes Rogue to experience feelings of nobility and righteousness.

Hybrid takes this moment of distraction to attack ROM.  Since Hybrid is focus on the attack, Destiny can now see his future.  Hybrid plans on using female mutants as his personal breeding ground.  This naturally upsets and disgusts the ladies.

Rogue attacks Hybrid.  He counters and eventually touches her face, giving her his telepathic powers.  She gets sick and ROM comforts her.  ROM attacks Hybrid again and eventually shots him with his gun.  It takes a lot of shots, like three pages of shooting him and Rogue absorbing more power from Hybrid.

Issue ends with ROM stating that mutants are just humans with powers from birth.  Which we already know.  The ladies go their own way, Rogue thinking of trying to be good.

Cataclysm Ultimates’ Last Stand 3

Posted by John Klein III on January 12, 2014
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Cataclysm Ultimates Last Stand 3

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Penciler Mark Bagley

Inker Andrew Hennessy

Colorist Jason Keith

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Last issue ended with the X-Men having to decide if they were going to the East Coast.  That is not followed up in this issue at all.  The X-Men only show up for this cover and that is it.  Pretty disappointing.

Also disappointing?  Miles Morales and Reed Richards go to the Proper Marvel Universe and they don’t meet anybody except for Val, Reed and Sue’s daughter.

Before that, there is a moment, still in the Ultimate Universe, where Sue uses a force field to choke Reed, which I’m pretty sure they made a big point to show that Reed has no internal organs or anything at all inside.  Iron Man takes Spider-Man to the roof and gives him a repulsor ray, in case Reed goes crazy on the other side.

Once on the other side, we get a pretty awesome splash page of the two of them looking at a framed wall size picture of the Fantastic Four family.  Great to see Bagley drawing the Fantastic Four.  Franklin is wearing a shirt with a five and Val has a shirt with a six, very cute.

I like how our Reed’s only real defense mechanism is that, to get inside of his lab, you have to be able to stretch your arms, that Reed is a genius.

The two of them mention “purple planet eater guy” and the get a complete dossier on Galactus.  You would think that they would have taken a few more minutes to figure out how to defeat him and grab the Ultimate Nullifier, which you would think would be the perfect item for this miniseries.

They are stopped by Valeria Richards, who has mistaken Reed for her daddy.  Until he turns around, and then she is very angry.  She unleashes an army of HERBIEs and they chase Spider-Man outside.  He takes a fast turn and the robots see the Superior Spider-Man and chase him.  Cool to see Bagley draw the current proper Spider-Man.

Miles gets back to the Ultimate Universe.  Reed soon follows, he apologizes to Sue for screwing everything up.

Next issue’s cover promises a death but one would have thought this issue promised the X-Men, so who can trust anyone in the Ultimate editorial pool.

New X-Men 32

Posted by John Klein III on January 11, 2014
Posted in: Lists, Reviews. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

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Writers Craig Yost & Chris Yost

Penciler Mike Norton

Inker Dave Meikis

Colors Brian Reber

Letterer Dave Sharpe

Cover Dated January 2007

I really never understood why comics have advertisements for cars.  Who is enjoying a comic and is in the mood for a new 2007 Chevy Aveo.

Wither thought he had lost his powers after M-Day.  He ran to his lady friend, Laurie, grabbed her arm and withered it.  He ran from the school soon after.

After that, Laurie and other depowered mutants got on a bus and that bus was destroyed by Reverend Styker and his Purifiers.  Wither doesn’t know any of this.

Wither now lives in a shelter in Mutant Town along with an old lady.  He is also having recurring nightmares.

Mercury wants Emma to inform Wither about the deaths.   Emma tells her that she has Wither being observed.

There is an ad for the miniseries, Bullet Points.  A miniseries I had no interest in, until I found out the X-Men show up in issue five.  Including both Kitty and Lockheed.

Elixer killed Styker and now has black spots on his golden skin.  During that battle, Cannonball and Husk’s younger brother, Icarus, was killed.  His sister, Melodie, lost her powers on M-Day and is there for his funeral.

Cyclops and Rogue meet Mrs. Guthrie at the door.

Turns out, Wolfsbane is the one watching Wither.  She is being blackmailed into because while she taught at Xavier’s, she had a bit of a relationship with Elixer, a student.

A second car ad, two page spread, for a Nissan Sentra.  I mean, really, who even sits on their couch, sees a car ad on television, and goes to a dealership the next day?  Who?  Typically, something bad happens, you need a new car pronto, you go to dealership, and try to find a car within your predetermined price ranged.

We find out with the old lady friend of Wither, that someone has killed nineteen people in three weeks.  Someone is draining the bodies of their life.

X23 shows up in Hellion’s room.  The credit page states that she was created by Craig Kyle.  I checked All New X-Men 20, and he is credited there so maybe it only showed for the first year or something.  Anyways, Hellion has been sleeping for 34 hours.  In his sleep, he mutters, Sofia, this does not amuse her.  I am not sure when this takes place in their relationship, I know they become a real couple at one point.

We cut to Rickslide talking to Anole and Match along with Dust.  He is bragging about how he has died once already.  This takes place before Anole lost his arm and regrew a bigger one.  Dust is still upset, apparently she was there when Icarus died.  She feels responsible for some reason.

We cut to Mrs. Guthrie, making a speech and making people cry.  Dust takes iff her face shroud and begs for forgiveness.  Mrs. Guthrie tells her no forgiveness is necessary.

A third ad fir a vehicle, this time a Honda Element SC.  They use a cut out picture of a dog.  Even if my son walked up to me with this ad, and wanted the car, I would, at best, say maybe one day.

The old lady tells Wither what happen to his former classmates.  He calls Mercury to confirm.  She just wants him to come home.

For whatever reason, police show up to the place Wither and the lady are.  She stands up, she absorbs a few of them.  One of the remaining ones shoot her.  Wither kills the last two.

Turns out the old lady is . . . Selene!  And in her classic Black Queen outfit.  So of course, the teenage Wither wants to do whatever she wants.  How could he think otherwise?  She kisses him and that seals the deal.  He would do anything for her after that.

If my time line is right, we don’t see Selene for a couple years after this, for her X-Necrosha plot.

We get another speech by Mrs. Guthrie.  Her two eldest children start crying.

New X-Men 32 Kitty Pryde Funeral 1

New X-Men 32 Kitty Pryde Funeral 2

New X-Men 32 Kitty Pryde Funeral 3

Issue ends with Kitty reading the names of fallen X-Men, both old and new.  She mentions both Doug and Illyana.  She stops the list to say she misses them.  Then continues the list.

Not sure what Carol Danvers is doing there, was she near by already?

Here is the list :

John Proudstar, Thunderbird, still dead

Sean Cassidy, Banshee, resurrected Horseman of Apocalypse

Jean Grey, still dead

Sarah Vale ?

Max Jordan ?

Mark Sheppard ?

Andrea Marguiles ?

Floyd Carter ?

Callie Betto ?

Brian Cruz ?

Sammy Pare ?

Jeffrey Garrett ?

Esme and Sophia Cuckoo, did not know that was their actual last name.  Those poor gals never had a chance.

Doug Ramsey, Cipher, alive

Illyana Rasputin, Magik, alive

Joshua “Jay” Guthrie, Icarus, dead

Laurie Collins, Wallflower, dead

The names I don’t recognize must be those depowered mutants.

New X-Men has the same titled letters page as New Mutants Volume One, Report Cards.  The column promoting the other comics out that month is actually funny.

   Astonishing X-Men 18 : It’s the end of Torn!  An ending so amazing you won’t believe your eyes!  Plus, it should come out this month!  For truth!

   Uncanny X-Men 480 : Vulcan continues his Jerk Tour ’06.  This month’s stop, The Imperial Guard!

   Cable / Deadpool 34 : It’s Cable and Deadpool vs. Six Pack!  Vs. Six Pack?  Leave my stomach alone!

   New Excalibur 13 : Juggernaut is weakening!  What could be the cause?  My money is on the fact that he spends all of his time eating chocolates and watching Caroline in the City reruns.

   X-Men : Phoenix Warsong 3 : Who are the parents of the Cuckoos?!

   Wolverine : Origins 7 : Omega Red and Wolverine meet up in Berlin!  Boys, you’re late!  It’s not called Novemberfest!

   New X-Men 32 : Hey Wither, where you at?  Hanging out with an older woman?  Nice!

   Exiles 88 : Honey, the Imperial Guard are dead.  The Silver Surfer and your incessant nagging killed them.

   X-Men First Class 3 : Professor X needs his students’ help!  Could it be…the dreaded spiral-staircase?!

   Wolverine 48 : A Civil War Epilogue!  Epilogue!

   X-Factor 13 : It’s back to the therapists’ couch for X-Factor!  Sound familiar?  It is!  Added bonus : Layla Miller!

   Nextwave : Agents of H.A T.E. 10 : Nextwave is not an X-Book.  It’s in this on-sale column.  Just buy Nextwave.

   X-Men 193 : The X-Men have their final battle with the Children!  But don’t the X-Men know the Children are our future?

Some fun energy there.

I almost forgot!  The back cover is an ad for a 2007 Dodge Caliber.  This time it has Green Goblin on the car with him about to be attacked by Reed Richards, Iceman, Spider-Man and Iron Man.  Like adding those characters would add to my interest in the car.  I guess, even if they only sold ten cars based on the ad, that must at least pay for the ad.

Savage Wolverine 13

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

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Writers Phil Jimenez & Scott Lope

Breakdowns Phil Jimenez

Finished Art Jimenez, Palmer, Florea, Olliffe & Green

Colorist Rachelle Rosenberg

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Come Conquer The Beasts Part Two

Issue opens in the past with a Russian hunter named, Sergei.  Which, as a long time Spider-Man, I instantly though it was Kraven the Hunter.  I like how you have to turn the page before Logan confirms that he is Kraven.

I wonder which of the two writers don’t like Kraven, has he really comes down hard on Kraven’s character.

Savage Wolverine 13 Kitty 1

In the present, Doug is explaining to Kitty how elephants communicate.

We cut to Tyger Tiger explaining to Wolverine why she is okay with poaching.  It is only murder of animals.  She rather have that than child prostitution or adult prostitution.  She makes references to how Viper and Draken, both, dealt with poaching.

Savage Wolverine 13 Kitty 2

We cut back to Doug and Kitty, and I wish we got character work with these two.  I enjoy what we got, but I want more now.  Doug now shows Kitty what the world of elephant communication looks like.  Page ends with Quentin Quire overhearing the plight of the elephants.

Cut to Wolverine yelling about how people view him as an animal.  He then starts to scalp himself.  Good thing he has that healing factor.  Tyger Tiger can’t handle it, I imagine due to getting a bunch of his blood on her.

Doug tells Kitty how one African elephant is killed every fifteen minutes.

Wolverine burns the three warehouses with the poached by products.

Quentin Quire walks to Kitty, confessing he overheard her and Doug.  He has a plan to help.

We now see Logan back, and he has found his elephant.  He is very old and tired now.

Two days later, Kitty and the gang show up to deliver extra guns, vests and supplies to the good rangers.

Good job on Rosenberg’s part, remembering that at this time, Kitty was always shown wearing pink when out of her uniform.  That’s some tight continuity!

By default of this being the first new comic of 2014, this is my my favorite comic of the year.  Let’s see how long I can remember that I was keeping track of this.  This will help when at the end of the year, when I can’t recall the good comics of January through March as I can the end of the year comics.

Will not be getting the next issue has it takes place during 1930s Chicago.

New Mutants Volume One Issue 32

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

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Writer Chris Claremont

Artist Steve Leialoha

Colorist Glynis Oliver

Letterer L. Lois Buhalis

Cover Dated October 1985

Back around issue ten or so, the team lost Karma and presumed she was dead.  The team never got over it, especially Sunspot.  He had to make a choice between Karma or Cannonball, and he chose Sam.

Now, they located Karma, she is large and in charge of Madripoor.

On the plane to Madripoor, Doug is explaining what they can expect to find there.  Warlock, Doug and Magik were not on that mission when Karma went missing, neither was Magma.  Only Dani and Wolfsbane and the boys were there that fateful day.

Dani is the leader of the team at this point.  Cannonball and her usually share leadership but she is typically the go to leader.

There is a picture of the original five New Mutants, Cannonball’s head us cropped out if the picture.  He is one lanky guy.

There us an ad for the film, The Heavenly Kid.  I never even heard of it before.  Jane Kaczmarek is in it, she is the mom from Malcolm in the Middle.  Jason Gedrick from Boomtown is the young kid in it.  One great show, and one not as good show.

Once in Madripoor, the team does some scouting and plan formation.  Doug is upset that he has to stay behind on the mission.  He is back up with Warlock.

Do they even make Nestle Quik any more?   They use to make va Banana flavor, I used to love that.

On the mission, I have forgotten how often they referenced that Dani is Wolfsbane’s soul mate, and that is why they can communicate with each other when Rahne is in her wolf form.

Illyana offers to just teleport the team to Karma’s estate. Dani states it is too risky.

Back at the beach, Doug and Warlock get captured.  Karma has been recording their moves since landing.  She knows their entire plan.

The team beeaks into the estate, and Wolfsbane runs up the stairs.

This breaks the team’s concentration, and Karma possesses their minds, rather quickly.  Dani is knocked out, so she avoids the initial attempt.  We see Karma, and she has to be 500 pounds.

Magik teleports Dani to Limbo.  Professor X can’t read Illyana’s mind, thus Karma can’t take it over.

The two ladies, and probably my favorite New Mutants members plus Doug, regroup.  They come back to the estate, with Magik’s second in command, Sym.  The police are already there, and the ladies see dead guards everywhere.  What is worst, is that their teammates killed the guards.  Karma had no need for them, now that she has super powered teenagers.

The police spot Magik, and open fire.  She teleports the new team back to Limbo.  Doug told the team that Karma has a second base in Cairo, Egypt.  Magik doesn’t want to teleport there as her powers are risky at long distances.  Even the last jump, they were a week later.  Which I love this about early Magik, she had only a decent control over her teleporting powers.  She was great with a sword and a fantastic ruler of Limbo, but no guarantees with the when aspect of her stepping discs.

There is an ad for Tootsie Rolls, a product that I don’t even see anywhere outside of Halloween.  I use to love the other flavor packs.  There was Vanilla that was in a blue and white wrapper.  I remember a green wrapper and a yellow wrapper, both of those were good too.

Magik teleports the two of them to Cairo.  Of course it is many generations ago Cairo.  The ladies are spotted, and they run to hide.  Magik is out of juice, so they can’t try a second teleport just yet.  They hear someone in English tell them to come over here, so they do.  They see an African lady with white hair and blue eyes, and assume it is Storm.  Xavier only teaches them about racism, so what do you expect?  She is an ancestor of Storm, her name is Ashake.  She is a sorcerer.  She felt Magik’s presence and wanted to help.

She gives them a place to rest.  During this time, Magik’s tie in issue of Mystic Arcana takes place.  I will have to review that issue one of these days.  I haven’t reread this issue, so I have been curious if there was a time gap for that adventure to take place.

Magik gets some rest, and teleports her and Dani to the present.  Well, she tries.  She misses the present by maybe three decades. We see old, crazy and super evil versions of Sunspot, Magma. Cannonball and Wolfsbane.  Through their rapport, Dani knows these are her former friends.  Dani says aloud, The New Mutants.  I didn’t think or recall them actually referring to themselves as that name.  Pretty sure they don’t in the third volume.  I always took it as the name we call them here in RL, and they call themselves something else past the first few issues.  At one point, they are not ‘new’ anymore.  It is a marketing name for the group at this point.

Magik teleports the two of them again.  She believes she got it right this time.  Before they can check, Dani has herself a good cry.  Poor Illyana, she doesn’t have it in her to console Dan, plus there was a part of her that wanted to stay in that future.

Dani pulls herself together, wondering if they can even change the future.  This has happened before, when the team saw themselves as members of Emna Frost’s Hellions.

While they bicker, Warlock shows up with Storm.  This is after she lost her powers due to Forge.  She is in Egypt due to taking some time off after Life Death.