Thor 428

Posted by John Klein III on November 6, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

27362_20060421165716_large

Plot, Pencils & Words Tom DeFalco & Ron Frenz

Finished Art Joe Sinnott

Lettering Mike Heisler

Coloring Mike Rockwitz

Cover promises a four way battle.  Of which, I haven’t seen the likes since Wrestlemania 2000 with the Rock, HHH, Mick Foley and the Big Show.

This comic gives us Thor v. Excalibur v. Wrecking Crew v. Code : Blue.

Thor 428 Lockheed 1

Opening page is great use of only two panels.  One depicting the illusion of Juggernaut and the below with the actual victim, Thor.

Kitty utterly defeated and caused Thor so much pain.

Also depicted is Kitty and Lockheed!

Thor 428 Lockheed 2

Great double splash page with all 16 characters.  Only ones missing are Enchantress and Ulik, which makes sense as they are invisible at the moment.

One of the Code : Blue refers to Excalibur as the British Avengers or X-Factor.

Kitty is thinking they might think she went too far with merging Thor with the dock.

Thor 428 Lockheed 3

Kitty fights Jock Jackson.  She finds him cute with a nice butt.

I miss the classic blue sweater costume of her’s.  She really is due for a new costume design.

Thor escapes his predicament by using Mjolnir.

Kitty starts realizing that Juggernaut is acting strange and mumbles all of his words.

Rachel throws a fireball at Thor, he bounces it right back at her.

Nightcrawler saves her from falling into the water.

Thor 428 Lockheed flame

Meggan fights Wrecker on her own, then Lockheed swoops in for the assist.  Enchantress puts Wrecker’s hands and feet in rocks.

Lockheed notices the invisible Enchantress and Ulik, in a very cute panel.

Captain Britain fights Thor, one on one for most of the issue.

Lockheed breathes fire at Enchantress and Ulik.

Kitty is about to assist Captain Britain when Bulldozer charges at her.  Thor notices and throws his mighty hammer.

Wrecker teleports the crew, minus Bulldozer.  Once they are gone, Excalibur sees Thor as he really is.

Code : Blue gathers Bulldozer and Captain Britain tells Thor that they still need to know what happened to the Juggernaut.

For his part, Thor is pretty cool with the entire misunderstanding.

Thor teleports Excalibur, minus Rachel and Kurt, to the asteroid where he left Juggernaut, back in Thor 412.

Once they land, they all get zapped.  Kitty fakes being unconscious.

Turns out, the aliens who carted the heroes away, work for their new king . . . The Juggernaut!

I looked Eric Masterson up on Wikipedia, and it reads like his time as Thor, is super complicated.  Like, it is Thor’s mind in Eric’s head and then he became Thor outright.  I don’t know, it doesn’t sound like a great era for Thor.  Super complicated, and isn’t acknowledged at all now.

The popular idea is to tell the story of Kevin, Eric’s son, becoming the new Thunderstrike.  Which is the identity Eric adopts once he is no longer Thor.

Next issue promises to be exciting, with the Juggernaut being a king.  Why would he ever leave, once you rule all?

Thor 427

Posted by John Klein III on November 5, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

27360_20060421165657_large

Plot, Pencils & Words Ron Frenz & Tom DeFalco

Finished Art Joe Sinnott

Lettering Heisler & Co.

Coloring Yomtov & Rockwitz

The cover is a homage of Uncanny X-Men’s first issue.  Kitty is in the Iceman position.  Captain Britain is Cyclops.  Meggan is Jean.  Nightcrawler is Beast.  Rachel is Angel.

Thor / Juggernaut is, of course, Magneto.

This is during that awkward era when Thor was also Eric Masterson.  The only good thing about him is that he is an architect.

Is he suppose to be two separate beings, sharing one body?  Seems like he is a different Thor.

Apparently, last issue, Thor saved the universe.

Eric is on the losing side of a custody case with his ex-wife.  He can’t have his son full time, or part time, and be the thunder god.

Eric wants to spend time with his lady friend, Jackie.  There is a fantastic sight gag with her brother.

They walk by a newspaper stand, the Daily Bugle, the headline being that the Wrecker is on a rampage.

What makes me think that he is a different Thor or that Thor is a time share, is that early, he thinks Lady Sif is more attractive when he is Thor.  The other time, is with Captain America at Avengers Mansion.  They are doing a training session, and then Thor just destroys the modules.  Why the hell would he do that?  Thor comes off like an idiot.  To the point where Captain America has no other choice but to face palm.  This is December 1990.

The British government sends Excalibur to America to track down Thor.  Juggernaut escaped his prison in Thor 412.

The awkward thing with this trip is that three fifths of the team has close ties with the East Coast.  They will make no attempt to reach out to those friends.

 This issue is very guest star cameo heavy.

The Wrecking Crew are stealing groceries.

For whatever reason, Loki and Enchantress are in business attire and working out of a skyscraper.  Even Ulik is in a suit!

There is a two page ad for Tiger Electronics.  Never own on of those

I like the idea of Code : Blue, a squad of New York City Police Officers who are train to fight super villains.

Loki gave Enchantress and Ulik an item to trap Wrecker.  When they set it off, it gets the attentions of : Dr. Strange, Spider-Man and Quasar.

Fun moment when Wrecker gives Thunderball a new wrecking ball and tells him to not plan any more take overs.  As soon as he says that, Thunderball immediately thinks about taking over the crew.

Rachel also hears the trap, and with Excalibur, blasts through the ceiling of Kennedy Airport.

Kitty is a tad disappointed that Rachel can’t control her impulses.

Eric reunites with his son.  He hears the siren from the trap, andd ignores it.

We get an Excalibur vs. Wrecking Crew fight.

Bulldozer tries to run down Kitty, she lets him go right through her.

Thor shows up to the fight, he is having a mental monologue about how his priorities are wrong.  Another example of how I am sure that he just happens to be Thor, in name only.  When he is around people who knew Thor, he is faking it as best as he can.

The Wrecker tricks Excalibur to believe when they see Thor, they are really seeing Juggernaut.  Even though they still hear him speak like an Asgardian.  They are heroes, so of course, they just start punching away.

Issue ends with Kitty showing everybody, that she can beat Thor, if ahe doesn’t give a damn about his well being.

He is phased into the ground, and let go.  It looks as painful as one would imagine.

Kitty defeated Thor.

Ultimate Comics X-Men 33

Posted by John Klein III on November 4, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

287926_20131030200737_large

Writer Brian Wood

Penciler Alvaro Martinez

Inker John Lucas

Colorist Chris Sotomayor

Lettering VC’s Joe Sabino

World War X Conclusion

Ultimate Comics X-Men 33 Shadowcat 1

Issue opens up wih Pixie continuing to teleport Tian mutants to Utopia.

Blackheath and Zero confirm the Sentient Seed is alive, but brain dead.  This devastates Rogue.

We get to see Kitty and Jean fight.  Pretty cool to see Kitty hold her own.

Turns out Jimmy did not die.  Kitty takes the time to hug him and Jean brain zaps the two of them.

Colossus sends out the order. Pixie teleports Kitty and Jimmy out.

Poor Pixie gets the task of doing a poor Watchmen “thirty minutes ago” rip.

Kitty’s main goal / plan?  If there is no physical Tian, then mutants have no choice but go to Utopia.

Dtorm saves Jean, which is unfortunate.

Watching Tian sink is amazingly drawn and quite the moment.

Two weeks later, Jean has agreed to have some mental blocks on her powers.

Get the impression that Kitty has spent two weeks trying to turn herself in.  Sgt. Wolman tells Kitty, in probably the best page of the issue, that no one wants to punish Kitty for destroying Tian.  Kitty probably could live and eat  freely in Southeast Asia.

That ends the second volume of Ultimate X-Men.

Next, Cataclysm.  Will the Ultimate Universe survive Galactus?  Will the X-Men?  I am set to get the X-Men mini and the proper miniseries.  Won’t actually buy them unless Kitty is in the issues.

I would actually like to see them end the Ultimate Universe, has that would be a pretty bold move.

But something tells me this is Ultimatum Part Two, and the solicitations next month will spoil the true ending to Cataclysm.

. . .

Shoot!  This was my 129th post.  Should have done something at least proper Kitty Pryde related instead of Ultimate.  That is on me.

I will make it up tomorrow with both Thor and Kitty.

Thor 373

Posted by John Klein III on November 3, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

23144_20060108132230_large

Writing Walt Simonson

Art Sal Buscema

Lettering John Workman

Coloring Max Scheele

What is not to love with this issue.  Simonson packs so much into it!

Speaking of, look at that cover by Simonson.

This was due to Marvel celebrating their 25th anniversary.

Look at that border, I own all but three of these.

Spider-Man, Hulk, Iron Man, Captain Marvel (Monica), Dr. Strange, Namor, Captain America, Wasp, Ant Man, Puck, Shadowcat, Rogue, Wolverine, Colossus, Storm, Rachel Summers, Nightcrawler, Iceman, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Daredevil, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Hawkeye, Luke Cage, Thing, She-Hulk, Invisible Woman, Reed Richards, Human Torch and Thor

This one comic makes a bunch of references to previous stories, and it is nice that we are given those issue numbers.

Also, art by my favorite Buscema brother, Sal.  Sal Buscema is one of my top three Spider-artist of all time.  Of course, the majority of fans won’t agree with me, but that is on them.

Apparently, Thor has been away from Earth for quite some time.

He is missing his father, Odin, whom is lost along with Surtur from a battle those two had.

Odin’s battle was in issue 353, that is such a long time.

Thor is being barred from Surtur’s realm, Muspelheim.

Thor had a civilian identity, Sigurd Jarlson, which was pretty much just Thor with a ponytail and glasses.  He was a construction worker.

He did not do much with this identity’s apartment, as we see nothing on the walls or floor, except for a bare mattress.

Imagine being a mugger then you get Mjolnir placed in front of your face?  I would give up too.

Asgardians are trying to hide Surtur’s sword, but it is gigantic.

Volstagg has two Earth boys in his home.  He is watching over them, as their mother died in 371.  He has to break the news to them.

The boys don’t believe him.  Feel so bad for them, and they first thought he was Santa.  Those two cannot catch a break.

Thor hasn’t worked construction since issue 341, that is a long time.

Thor’s apartment is bare, and he didn’t want the Avengers’ companionship but he finds his old boss, Jerry.

Jerry is a great guy, invites Thor home for dinner.

Jerry and his wife Tina, are raising six kids, Ernesto, Pietro, Giovanna, Maria, Rosa and Gabriella.  Six kids, sounds insane to me.

Ernesto takes a shine to Thor, and wants to hang out with Thor for the rest of the night.

Thor loves dinner, and even washes the dishes.

He is too tired for a bedtime story, but will take the kids to the park the next day.

In Odin’s absence, Balder the Brave is in charge of Asgard.  He gets a misson, leaving Heimdall to watch over Asgard.

Thor tells the kids about a time Odin was ib disguise and taught a young Thor a lesson.

Then these frogs come up and tell Thor about the Mutant Massacre.  He became friends with the frogs when he himself was a frog, back in issue 364 / 365.

Puddlegulp will eventually become Throg, of the Pet Avengers.

This talking to frogs business confirms to the kids that he is Thor.

Hela has plans for Thor.

Thor goes to the Morlock Tunnels and runs into Blockbuster and Harpoon, after walking pass a bunch of dead bodies.

I wish Thor killed Harpoon, for what he did to Kitty.

We get a “I say thee nay!” proving this issue has it all!

He fights the Marauders off, they scatter off.

Seeing Angel pinned to the wall is horrible!

Thor hears some footsteps and turns to face his would be attackers.

Most likely, it is only the rest of the Original Five X-Men, as X-Factor.

X-Men Battle of the Atom 2

Posted by John Klein III on November 2, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

287891_20131030200415_large

Writer Jason Aaron

Art Esad Ribic w/ Giuseppe Camuncoli (pencils)

     and Andrew Currie and Tom Palmer (finishes)

Colorists Ive Svorcina w/ Andres Mossa & Guru eFX

Battle of the Atom Part Ten of Ten

X-Men Battle of the Atom 2 Kitty 1

Issue opens with the missiles raining down.

Not sure if Teen Scott is suppose to ask about Magneto as well as direct Rachel and Emma to link minds.  Pretty bold of him..

Angel follows suit, wanting to let her know he loves her.  Something about being the only girl at school, will do that.

Present day Beast announces, if they survive this battle, no one is allow to time travel again.

Kitty tells Future Colossus to start teleporting people.  Can he do that, just because he has Magik’s soulsword?

Battle of the Atom 2 Shadowcat 1

I like seeing Kitty and Emma together again, they have great chemistry.

Turns out SHIELD has their own Sentinels, and they are protected by magic!

The first casualty is Future Beast.  Young Hank is the only one to care.

Battle of the Atom 2 Shadowcat 2

Psylocke and Kitty have a nice moment.  Probably their third of all time, as they barely know each other, outside of their current time on Wood’s X-Men title.

 Psylocke “why do we still fight?” Kitty “not to die” it is as simple as that.

Ice Hulk fastball specials Raze at Shogo.  Colossus counters by fastball specials Future Jubilee.  Which is no good as a Sentinel kills her.

Xavier Jr. takes this moment to kill Colossus, via melting his brain.  Makes you wonder why this isn’t his first move, every time.

Xavier Jr. looks like he was walking again, hopefully he enjoyed it as it lasted, as Magik slices his back with her soulsword.  She is screaming “what have you done, little man?”  Powerful stuff!  Others around her are afraid she will go full darkchilde.

Storm tries to order Emma, of all people, and Emma puts her in her dumb place.  Going as far as to ask her how her marriage is doing.  Boy, do I like Emma!

Then we enter the Lady Xorn part of the story.

She is yelling at Wolverine and Cyclops, about how those two ruin the X-Men, and they ruin her.

Wolverine says they have to put her down, she isn’t their Jean.  Cyclops is super quick to say she was never Wolverine’s Jean.

Lady Xorn corfirms Wolverine is dead in their future.

She also states the Jean we all knew, never existed as Young Jean never goes back in time, as becomes the Jean we know.

She takes Cyclops and Wolverine.  Up next … The Original Five!

Great homage to Uncanny X-Men’s first cover.

Lady Xorn explodes, she is officially dead.  Xavier Jr. shouts, “to me, my brotherhood” a twist on a classic line.

The only people to die are Future peeps : Beast, Jubilee, Colossus and Jean.

Epilogue One

Jason Aaron, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Andrew Currie & Matt Milla

Magik teleported everybody back to the Jean Grey School, except the Brotherhood.  So they still exist in our proper timeline.  At least we know that future will never happen as Jubilee will live her life differently.  Beast should too, but who knows with that guy?

Present day Iceman already has an ice beard.

Wolverine wants to keep trying to send the Original X-Men back in time.  Warren does too, Young Scott tells him to shut up.

Cyclops and Wolverine do agree that SHIELD has to pay for creating their own Sentinels.  But that is all they agree on.

Wolverine is mad as Cyclops killed one man, whereas Cyclops has always turned a blind eye to all the killing Logan has done.  Or sanctioned it with X-Force.

Wolverine accepts the Professor title.

We now know Wolverine and the X-Men will be dealing with SHIELD.

Epilogue Two

Brian Wood, Kristopher Anka & Matt Milla

Kymera is going to stick in the present to hunt down the Brotherhood.  I guess she is also going to be in the X-Men title and editorial will forget why she stayed.  Until the next crossover, of course.

We get a truly lovely scene with Jubilee and Future Shogo.  It is beautifully written, drawn and colored.

Epilogue Three

Jason Aaron, Chris Bachalo, Mark Irwin, Victor Olazaba & Matt Milla

Bachalo art!  This issue has everything!

Battle of the Atom 2 Magik 1

Bobby makes a joke about how Rachel came to the present, and never left.

Illyana requests that they lay Colossus to rest in Russia.  Just like Kitty did with his ashes.

Future Iceman goes by Ice Master, knowing that earlier would have been nice.

I suppose this wasca teaser for Amazing X-Men, but Bachalo isn’t drawing that title.  Ice Master instructs them to keep an eye on the Bamfs.

The Future X-Men are now back to the future.

Epilogue Four

Brian Michael Bendis, Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger & Matt Milla

This section, is the game changer.

Kitty appears to have summon everyone to the quad.

Storm goes to hug Kitty, and Kitty stops her.  She doesn’t need to calm down, she has an announcement to make.  Storm really is being written poorly, and it has to be on purpose.

Besides Nightcrawler, being dead, I am noticing that the All New, All Different members, I am not caring for lately.

X-Men Battle of the Atom 2 KItty quiting the school

Kitty is quitting the Jean Grey School.  No one wanted to listen to her, when it really mattered, and she could have fixed or avoided this whole mess.

X-Men Battle of the Atom 2 Kitty no trust

Iceman has the nerve, the ever loving nerve, to call her out on her hypocrisy.  Iceman?  The guy who single handily killed thousands, only a few short months ago?  Leaving hundreds more crippled and at least a million, ruin financially and homeless.

I wish Kitty had announced that not only is she leaving, but she is taking the Original Five with her.

Instead, it seems like she is leaving, then Jean states they are also leaving.  Would have  greater moment if it was more of a plan.

X-Men Battle of the Atom 2 Cyclops Smirk Magik Teleport Kitty Gone

Magik and Cyclops teleport to the school.

Kitty and Illyana hug, which is wonderful.

But not as nice to see than Cyclops’ smirk.  He just beat Wolverine where it matters most.

Kitty Pryde and the Original X-Men are now … Team Cyclops!

I am very happy with this.  I will still be getting Uncanny and All New X-Men.  Probably the next issues of X-Men and Wolverine and the X-Men, to see how the fallout of Kirty being gone goes.

Rachel and Kitty is nice, but I rather see Kitty and Illyana together, especially as those two have a lot to make up.

Hopefully someone realized that Lockheed is still at the school!

What I Bought 2013.11.1

Posted by John Klein III on November 1, 2013
Posted in: Purchases. Tagged: . Leave a comment

X-Men Battle of the Atom 2

Ultimate Comics X-Men 33

Back Issue

Ultimate Comics X-Men 20

Wishlist

X-Men Battle of the Atom 2, Esad Ribic variant

. . .

Just to let you all know, I am going to make November Thor Month!

I will do the new issues as I do them now, but instead of working through my recently bought back issues, I am going to do Thor specific back issues.

Which turns out, Thor has made several appearances in my comics.  More than I possibly could get to in one month.

Also in full disclosure, we probably won’t be able to see Thor : Dark World, so this isn’t building towards that, but we did end up watching The Wolverine, so who knows.

Fun with YouTube : X-Men Days of Future Past Trailer # 1

Posted by John Klein III on October 31, 2013
Posted in: Film, Fun With YouTube. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

125th Post!

Thanks to YouTuber X-Men Movies for hosting the video!

Kitty Pryde shows up at the 00:24 mark.  Wish they were not continuing the Kitty / Bobby relationship.

Great narration by Patrick Stewart’s Professor Xavier.

I really dig the Future (present day) X-Men costumes, look really dark and practical.

I saw several new mutant faces such as Bishop and Blink.

At 00:55, they found a one sentence plot summary good job!  Wolverine is going to wake up in his younger body and have to convince young Xavier and Magneto to shape up.  Thus changing the future!

James McAvoy’s Xavier blowing dust off of Cerebro.

As a President fan, I really like the idea of the Oval Office’s Seal of the President being a door to a bunker.  Very clever.

Hugh Jackman, gets in better shape with each one of these movies.  That is not easy to do!

Was that President Nixon?

Peter Dinklage looks bad arse!

My absolute favorite part is James McAvoy’s line reading of :

“I don’t want your suffering … I don’t want your future!”

It is at the 1:47 mark.  It is so amazing!

The two Xaviers face off!  Must be a mental projection that Stewart puts in Wolverine’s head.  That must be unsettling for McAvoy.

“We need you to hope again” such a nice line as well.

Bryan Singer is back ya’ll and he is returning the X-Men to an uncanny level of greatness!

I read that this is just the footage they showed at San Diego Comic Con, makes you wonder why they waited so long if that’s all there was to it.

I also read that Carl’s Jr. / Hardee’s is going to make a special burger for this movie as their tie-in.  Their Man of Steel Super Bacon Burger (bacon in every bite) was very tasty.

…

Also, have a safe and happy Halloween everybody!

X-Men Classic 80

Posted by John Klein III on October 30, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , . 4 Comments

48857_20060705155331_large

Writer Chris Claremont

Penciler John Romita Jr.

Inker Bob Wiacek

Colorist Glynis Wein

Letterer Tom Orzechowski

Reprints Uncanny X-Men 176

It is a rare event when the original artist did the cover as well for the Classic line.  Instead of Cyclops and tenacles, JRJR went the girl and sharks route, not as iconic but pretty good.

This is part of the era that Kitty wasn’t in the latter end of the series as much, but she is represented in the character box on the cover (original and the reprinted) so I own both.  It is part of Claremont’s original legendary run, so I made the exception.

I like seeing Scott and Madelyne happily married.  We join them as they are flying themselves to their honeymoon in Boragora.

I wonder what would happen if X-Factor didn’t happen, if editorial never wanted the Original Five back together?  Jean would have stayed dead, and Scott would have stayed retired and we would only ever see him on special occasions.

Scott is newly married, and can’t keep his hands off of Madelyne.  That panel where he says “but what a way to go” he looks so happy!  Not sure when the last time we saw Scott smile.

Another What If, what if Scott and Madelyne did join the Starjammers?  That way, he has a story reason for not being on Earth and X-Factor probably doesn’t happen.  Let him retire that way.  Probably would have had annual Starjammers annuals, for at least three years, then they would have stopped.

The couple hit some bad weather.

We cut to Mariko and Wolverine in Japan.  Some amazing work with shadows and lighting for these scene.

Mariko has to prove that she is as honorable as Logan, so she can marry him.  Now this guy, editorial would never let get married and retire.  They would let Scott go, but not Wolverine.

Scott is trying to make repairs, but it isn’t eady with Madelyne wearing that black bikini and all of these sharks around.

We get to witness a government security meeting regarding Magneto and dangerous mutants.  Both Henry Gyrich and Dr. Valerie Cooper.  They want their own mutant team to fight mutant criminals.

X-Men Classic 80 Morlocks 1

X-Men Classic 80 Kitty Pryde Picture

X-Men Classic 80 Morlocks 2

I was wrong, the Morlock scene I sort if skipped over last night, along with the government scene, I did not notice Caliban’s picture of Kitty – so that counts.  I like how that was a picture she clearly gave to him but you think she would have put it in a frame for him.

I like how Caliban is never with the Morlocks, he just lives in one of their apartments and doesn’t go to their meetings.

Callisto reminds Caliban of Kitty’s promise to stay with him if he helped the X-Men escape.  Which he did, so she should have at least, have visited once she was feeling better.

Giant tentacles are now attacking Madelyne and Scott.  Scott isn’t quite laying the beat down, until he dons his cowl-visor and ruins that sea monster’s day.

Madelyne also packed a white bikini too, no wonder she gets pregnant as fast as she does.

The plane works again  and they are off!

Uncanny Avengers 13

Posted by John Klein III on October 29, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

287176_20131023120555_large

Writer Rick Remender

Artist Daniel Acuna

Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles

I don’t care for how Havok’s caption boxes and Banshee’s word balloons are the same color.  I know one is square and the other is round but both are white text on black background.  Could be better.

Uncanny Avengers 13 Kitty mention

Havok narrates that some of the nicest people he knows have been corrupted.  Kitty, by Ogun.  Colossus, by the Phoenix Force.  Storm, not exactly sure, maybe when she was just about to go full Mohawk?

He also narrates that Cyclops killed Banshee, but did not tell him to jump out of a plane to stop the Blackbird, and fail miserably at that.  Banshee did that on his own terms.

Wasp goes down Banshee’s throat and rips back out through his vocal cords.  That is fighting dirty as it gets.

Captain America is now hard of hearing, due to taking a full blast from Banshee last issue.  Deaf Captain America is the new character find of the year, so funny.

Some fun moments like Havok stating the guards came from over there, then Cap screaming the same thing.

Wasp volunteers to split from the group, the budding relationship between her and Havok is nice to see.

Cap yells that Wasp likes Havok, Alex’s facial expression is classic.

Thor transports another planet’s ocean onto the current planet he is on, to stop the green lava.

Simon and Wanda are eating with the Twins.  Believe it or not, Wanda looks so weird without the M-piece headgear of hers.

Draken is beating Wolverine to death.

The Twins tell Logan that they plan on opening a school in Wanda’s honor, making it the fourth mutant school.  Nice to have some options.

In the continuing question of who is leading this team, Cap shouts “I don’t follow you” to Havok, based on misunderstanding something Havok said.

Wanda starts talking to Simon, he quickly tells her that the Twins can hear their every word.  Her solution?  To have sex with Simon, that will teach them!

Rogue and Sunfire catch up to Wolverine, and Acuna draws my favorite panel of the issue.  Rogue putting her hands up to her mouth, eyes so big.  It is beautifully drawn.

Logan does the classic close eyes move head to the side death scene, but we all know Logan isn’t dead.

He tells them they have to stop Wanda, Rogue absorbs his claws, they look metal to me, instead of bone.

The thing is, Wanda’s plan is to transport all of the mutants, not into tubes, but awake and well, and have this army attack the Twins en mass.  So Rogue is trying to stop Wanda from winning the day.  Those two have a very complicated relationship.

X-Men Classic 75

Posted by John Klein III on October 28, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

55715_20060824222455_large

Scripter Chris Claremont

Guest Penciler Walt Simonson

Finisher Bob Wiacek

Letterer Tom Orzechowski

Colorist Glynis Wein

Repints Uncanny X-Men 171

Look at that Adam Hughes’ cover!

This is the issue, that if I had the money, I would totally ask Paul Smith to draw as it really breaks up his run on the title.  I would need Claremont’s original script as well.  I wish What If? had an issue that was simply What If Paul Smith Drew Uncanny X-Men 171?  That would have been amazing!  It is a shame that Smith doesn’t get to conclude the Morlock storyline.  Though this is mostly known as the issue Rogue joins the team.

Issue opens with Storm declaring that she is the new leader of the Morlocks, and she lays down the new laws.

Nightcrawler is worried about Storm’s new outlook, she is becoming more aggressive.

Madelyn wakes from a horrible dream, and Scott runs in to check on her. I really like the implied intimacy here with how the couple share one pajama set.  Madelyn gets the top half, and Scott gets the bottom half.  I want to see that more often.  Sounds like a for sure way to get pass the censors, as those two are not married.

We get a seen where Carol Danvers is visiting her parents.  This is the beginning of Walt Simonson not drawing the women attractively.  The men look fine.  I suspect it has to do with being the fill-in artist at the last minute.

Kitty can’t find her floppy disks, remember those?

Illyana is unimpress with Kitty’s outbursts, she was always the more mature of the two.  Growing up in Limbo for seven years, will do that to you.

Xavier is trying to make his new legs work, Llandra is being the supportive girlfriend.

Rogue comes knocking on the mansion’s door.  She needs help.  The cover uses the classice “Welcome … hope you survive the experience” line.

X-Men Classic 75 Kitty 1

X-Men Classic 75 Kitty 2

None of the X-Men want Rogue there.  She stole Carol’s powers and memories and Carol has become a friend to this team.

While Xavier is speaking to Rogue, the X-Men try out a Danger Room sequence run by Illyana.

Unfortunately, the Danger Room sequence is a rehash of Belasco’s realm.

This understandably upsets Illyana.  She loses control and fights Kitty.  Her soulsword cuts Kitty, while she is phased.  Kitty wins this fight.

Illyana cries, remembering her original time in Limbo.

Storm kills her plants, as she over waters them as her powers match her mood and she is very angry.

Xavier has decided to have Rogue join the team.

This upsets the team, right when Carol comes home.

She is Binary at this point, so when she punches Rogue, Rogue goes stellar.

X-Men Classic 75 Kitty 3

X-Men Classic 75 Kitty 4

X-Men Classic 75 Kitty 5

Carol leaves the X-Men, the team agrees to let Rogue on the team on a probationary period.

That image on the third page, John Cassaday would show from a different angle in Uncanny Avengers 2.

Rogue also looks like she isn’t 60 anymore, she will continue to de-age until she looks like she is in her 20s.

Issue ends with Storm wondering if she has to choose, is she Ororo or Storm?