Wolverine and the X-Men 37

Posted by John Klein III on October 27, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . 2 Comments

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Writer Jason Aaron

Penciler Giuseppe Camuncoli

Finisher Andrew Currie

Colorist Matt Milla

Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles

Battle of the Atom Part Nine of Ten

The penultimate issue!

Issue starts in Cyclops’ head, he gets to kiss Lady Xorn, she is a better kisser than his Jean.  Which must be horrible, as his Jean has been dead for almost ten years (our time).  You would think his memory would be making her a great kisser.  Though he has been with Emma, so he probably knows how to kiss now too.

Wolverine and the X-Men 37 Magik 1

Future Quentin Quire, whois also a Phoenix, states “You Summers boys and your redheads.”  Scott had both Jean and Madelyn.  Havok dated Madelyn, not sure if that ever became physical, it definitely was in the Mutant X universe.  Cable raised Hope.

Great moment with Cyclops taking charge and telling Magneto and Emma what to do, and then Wolverine telling Beast and Rachel to do those things.

Wolverine and the X-Men 37 Kitty no trust Magik

We finally get to distinguish the two groups of Future X-Men.  Lady Xorn is with the Brotherhood, and Jubilee is leading the Future X-Men.

In all of this, they have not taken off the power dampeners, that would have been my first priority.  There is enough if them, you could do exposition and dampener removal.

The harshest thing that has happened this entire storyline, Kitty telling Magik, “Yeah, but trusts you?”  So harsh!  Poor Illyana is taken some emotional beatings these past two chapters.

Wolverine makes a joke about never having sex again, as he now has a son with Mystique in the multiverse.  Also, he killed so many of his children in the past year.

Kymera confims Future Deadpool is dead.  I feel like this may be Magik’s first human kill, or at least, one of her first five kills.

I don’t get how Xavier was crippled, if Bruiser isn’t crippled.  Maybe Magik knows how to run someone through with a soulsword  and Future Colossus doesn’t.  Or it is her soulsword so she can do it.

We finally get the Original Five awake and helpless.

Young Jean keeps her future knowledge super vague.

Odd seeing Angel and Beast with cowls on.

We get Maria Hill’s reactions to this whole mess, the parts she can tell.

Wolverine and the X-Men 37 Kitty Military Code

We get Present and Future Quentin Quire meeting.  Glad we get the impression that Quentin has matured.

Cyclops come off very well, whereas Wolverine and Storm come off whiney.

Could the code for mutant-related assault on a military base not be X-51?  Who is an actual Marvel character.

The X-Men are heading to Cape Citadel, where the X-Men first fought Magneto in their first appearance and where the the 35th Anniversary celebration took place as well.

We get three squads of X-Men v. Brotherhood, then Future Quentin unleashes the Original Five, so it is four squads now.

We get some fun matchups.

Four Icemans fighting.

Three Hank McCoys fighting.

Wolverine and Raze fighting.

Storm is an idiot for being surprised Kymera is her daughter.  She is walking around with a black panther and she has white hair.

Magik tells Colossus that he grows up to be awesome.  Once this storyline is over, she needs to reconnect with Present Colossus.

Lady Xorn sets all of the Hellicarrier’s missiles set to kill  all the mutants on the ground.

Issue ends with Xorn saying, “Welcome to your future, X-Men.  Hope you survive the experience.”

So cheesy but they are throwing in everything they can.

Have no idea how this ends, I feel like they have so much to set up to end this properly.

Marvel’s Top 50 X-Men

Posted by John Klein III on October 26, 2013
Posted in: Lists. Leave a comment

In honor of the X-Men’s 50th Anniversary, Marvel has ranked the Top 50 X-Men list!

http://marvel.com/news/story/21418/the_50_greatest_x-men_of_all-time_pt_5

I’ve been following the list, fingers cross that Kitty would rank high and yesterday, they announced the top ten!  I could not be happier!

50.  Sabretooth – Barely an X-Man, on MIke Carey’s/Rogue’s team, and that was awesome.  He’s mostly X-Factor in my mind.

49.  Joseph – Magneto’s clone, served with Kitty during the 35th Anniversary Team.

48.  Husk, Wolverine and the X-Men represent!  Plus Generation X

First Tie!

46.  Armor, Astonishing X-Men, who knows what she is up to these days, at the Jean Grey School

46. Darwin, more X-Factor than anything else, was part of the Missing Team, so I guess that counts?  Should be 50 then, one would think.

45.  Marrow, also part of the 35th Anniversary Team

44.  Pixie, part of Cyclops’ Everyone is an X-Man/Fraction era

43.  Sage, people say she is Original Six X-Men, but I have no idea why.  More New Excalibur and X-Treme X-Men

42.  Mimic, one of the original recruits, also more Excalibur

41.  Juggernaut, also more New Excalibur but was part of Chuck Austen’s X-Men run.

40.  Fantomex, part of the Cyclops’ Everyone era and X-Force.

39.  Warpath, Hellions and X-Force

Second Tie!

37.  Thunderbird, first fallen X-Man, if not counting Changeling.

37.  Danger, Gillen’s’s Uncanny X-Men

Third Tie!

35. Hope, more X-Force now, and Generation Hope, she was one of Gillen’s Uncanny X-Men now that I think of it.

35.  Cecilia Reyes, part of the 35th Anniversary team.

34.  Namor, the first mutant!

33.  Polaris, more X-Factor

32.  Chamber, Generation X represent!  Also part of Wolverine and the X-Men, when he shows up.

31.  Sunfire, served as an official X-Man once, swore never again, only really helped twice more since then.  Uncanny Avenger though.

30.  Mystique, X-Factor and part of Rogue’s Response team

29.  Domino, definitely more X-Force

28.  Magik, wish she was higher but the work of Fraction and Gillen got her as far as she could go.  Hopefully Bendis keeps giving her the limelight.  Rather she was in the Top 25!

27.  Forge, more X-Factor

26.  Longshot, Outback Era!

25.  Banshee, All New All Different and Generation X

24.  Northstar, later Astonishing, Alpha Flight representation

23.  Cannonball, the first New Mutant to graduate to the big team!

22. Bishop, crazy went after Hope and killed so many people, now on Storm’s Uncanny X-Force, was an X-Man back in the 90s and after that, X-Treme X-Men.

21.  Havok, part of the original era and Outback era, X-Factor and Uncanny Avenger leader

20.  Rachel Grey, glad she made the list, top 20 so that isn’t bad.  She should also be higher!  And Magik should be closer to this number too!

19.  Dazzler, appeared right after Kitty did in Uncanny X-Men 130.  Part of the Outback era, and New Excalibur

18.  Jubilee, the next Kitty Pryde, now on X-Men with current Kitty Pryde!

17.  Angel, Original Five, the lowest on the list!

16.  Emma Frost, probably should be higher but Astonishing X-Men was amazing and Morrison’s X-Men, now on Uncanny where she has been for quite some time.

15.  Gambit, 90s X-Man.

14.  Professor X, glad he isn’t top ten, barely a member.

13.  Cable, served twice, once after Cyclops died and on Rogue’s team.

12.  Iceman, Original Five!

11.  Psylocke, on X-Men and Storm’s Uncanny X-Force.

10.  Magneto, served during the 200s of Uncanny and has been on Uncanny for quite sometime too, since Fraction’s run.

9.  Jean Grey, Original Five!

8.  Colossus, boo!  I would have swapped him with his sister.

7.  Rogue, got to like her.

Fourth Tie!  and a bit of a cop out so that both camps are not upset.

5.  Cyclops, Original Five and I do like this guy, more than I realize now.

5.  Wolverine, liking him slightly less

4. Storm, also liking less, probably due to Wolverine and leading Uncanny X-Force and maybe leading X-Men.  I don’t know.

3. Beast, the highest ranked Original Five, I would have swapped him and Cyclops.

2.  Nightcrawler, due to him coming back right?

1.  Kitty Pryde!

One would think I made this list and paid Marvel to run it, I wonder if Kitty is going to be getting the largest push since joining Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men run in 2004?

I love this list so much

28. Magik

20. Rachel Grey

5. Cyclops

2. Nightcrawler

1. Kitty Pryde

That’s pretty awesome!

Great job Marvel!

Here’s the list without my comments :

50. SABRETOOTH

49. JOSEPH

48. HUSK

46. ARMOR

46. DARWIN

45. MARROW

44. PIXIE

43. SAGE

42. MIMIC

41. JUGGERNAUT

40. FANTOMEX

39. WARPATH

37. THUNDERBIRD

37. DANGER

35. HOPE

35. CECILIA REYES

34. NAMOR

33. POLARIS

32. CHAMBER

31. SUNFIRE

30. MYSTIQUE

29. DOMINO

28. MAGIK

27. FORGE

26. LONGSHOT

25. BANSHEE

24. NORTHSTAR

23. CANNONBALL

22. BISHOP

21. HAVOK

20. RACHEL GREY

19. DAZZLER

18. JUBILEE

17. ANGEL

16. EMMA FROST

15. GAMBIT

14. PROFESSOR X

13. CABLE

12. ICEMAN

11. PSYLOCKE

10.  MAGNETO

9.  JEAN GREY

8.  COLOSSUS

7.  ROGUE

5. CYCLOPS

5. WOLVERINE

4. STORM

3. BEAST

2. NIGHTCRAWLER

1.  KITTY PRYDE

Doug Ramsey, Cypher

Posted by John Klein III on October 25, 2013
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: . Leave a comment

While doing some goofing around on the ol’ Internet, I came across Doug Ramsey.  Here is another character, this time largely due to Magik, that I own so many of his appearances but have not committed to owning all of his.  There was a time, when both he and Illyana were dead; that whenever one of them was mentioned or referenced (are they two different concepts?) the other was also regarded.  Then Doug came back, shortly after Illyana did and joined New Mutants in their third volume.  Then Illyana got promoted to Cyclops’ Extinction Team (Uncanny Vol 2) – as she totally deserves to be on the main team – and I had no reason to keep reading New Mutants Volume Three.  From what Brian and Rob said over on Uncanny X-Cast, that series quickly took a nosedive.

Though I do enjoy Doug, and he has a fascinating power, that forces the creative team to come up with great ways to use him.  Though usually they just forget about him or make him the crucial part of the plan.  The Aquaman Effect, if you would.  Either unnecessary or crucial.  Luckily, once he came back from the dead, they aged him to the age of the current team, and gave him a bit of a power upgrade.  Now he can understand body language with the same skill he could verbal and written communication.  Thus, he is now an awesome fighter.

I am not even sure what his current status is, is he going around doing hero business, is he getting a college degree, what is he up to?  Issue 50 is on my wishlist and I’m sure that one day I will know.  Cannonball and Sunspot have joined the Avengers, Magik is on Cyclops’ new Uncanny Team, Wolfsbane is over on X-Factor (as long as that lasted), Karma is over on Astonishing (as long as that lasts) , not sure what Warlock is up too these days or Magma.  I heard he may be at the Jean Grey School but have yet to see that confirmed.

Ultimate Doug was cool, he wasn’t a mutant, he was extremely smart and “gifted” but with all of Doug’s powers.  A Jeopardy winner, and he died during Ultimatum.

He was super cool in New Mutants Forever, seem to be Claremont’s whole purpose of that title was to make Doug cool.  He also made him a Junior Red Skull, so a sequel to that miniseries would be very interesting.

I bet I own like 90 percent of his stories, it isn’t much.  He started off in New Mutants, but showed up in Uncanny plenty of time as Kitty’s new big friend and fellow dance partner.  He even got Colossus to be jealous, as Doug was a better match for Kitty, as they are both great with computers and very smart.  We never did get Doug’s reaction to that jealousy.

Doug is another character that never got to reunite with Kitty as she was in deep space when he was back and I am not even sure if those two even know they are both back on the planet.

. . .

I did the math!  Of Doug’s 144 appearances, I am missing 40 of them, making my percentage 72%.

What hurts me is that Magik was depowered shortly before his death, so he has a few extra appearances in New Mutants than she does.  She also wasn’t involved in the initial Legion storyline.  Illyana was also in Uncanny X-Men while Doug had a short stint in the second volume of X-Men in 2010.  Then of course, there was New Mutants volume three, where Magik had the good sense to jump out and join the big leagues and he stuck around for 26 through 50. I only own 28, 29 and 30 of that title after the initial 25.   Thus, he was part of the crossover with Journey into Mystery that I heard wonderful things about.

On my wishlist, I got New Mutants 32, 47, and 50, which will raise my percentage just a tad.  Also X-Men (2010) 7 and 11 – and these two, I just want the variants so it isn’t even about Doug.  And Journey into Mystery 637.

The percentage will not rise that much but of the 40, I am willing to get six of those.

What I Bought 2013.10.24

Posted by John Klein III on October 24, 2013
Posted in: Purchases. Leave a comment

Wolverine and the X-Men 37

Uncanny Avengers 13

Back Issues

X-Men 188

Wolverine and the X-Men 10

Uncanny X-Men Volume Two Issue 6

X-Men Legacy 18

Posted by John Klein III on October 23, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

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Writer Simon Spurrier

Penciler Khoi Pham

Inker Jay Leisten

Color Artist Rachelle Rosenberg

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Wear the Grudge Like a Crown Part Three

The credit page, not sure if Pham did some inks with Leisten, or if it was a bad copy and paste job from the previous issue, but it lists Pham with Inkers, and only lists the one Inker.

Wouldn’t even notice that if not for this blog.  I hope the list of credits above is correct.

Turns out, the past two issues have all been a trap to lure Luca, Blindfold’s brother, out if hiding.  There was no girl with out of control powers, there was no sponge like creature.  David was using Cyclops’ popularity to get some news coverage.

I like the Channel 7 reporter calling Emma, “Miss empowered bikini lady, ma’am?”  That’s fun.

X-Men Legacy 18 Magik 1

Magik doesn’t do much this issue, just asks for clarification and states she wasn’t absorbed into a blob like thing.

Pham draws a nice David looking so smug while having to explain the plan.

The splash page of Cyclops punching David, gorgeous!

David is very pragmatic, that is the best description of who he is.  He has given up on trying to get people to view him differently from his villain /  out of control muntant hay day, now he uses the perception.

Great pacing and facial expressions on David slowly losing focus.

David calls Illyana a bloody Hogwarts reject, seems harsh.  Also, she is nothing like one of those students, and not because she was rejected.  Plus, poor Magik, I bet she had to ask what that meant after this adventure was over.

How much down time do you think X-Men get?  Some issues take place right after one another, like these three issues, but typically, each new storyline starts on a new day.  They probably have time to read a book or devour some TV on DVD.  Unless you’re Cyclops or Wolverine, where you have to keep planning or appearing everywhere, those two don’t get much down time.

Emma and the Cuckoos had a secret  plan as well, the Pyrrhic.  Destroys you with your own self-doubt.

Unfortunately, David has a reservoir of self-doubt.

It manifests itself as Professor Xavier, of course.  Also gives the Evil Xavier a chance to escape David’s mindscape.

Not sure if I am getting the next issue, one would think the Uncanny team will stick around to follow up on this plan.  Abigail Brand is on the next issue’s cover, haven’t seen her in a while.

Not even sure if she knows Hank had another transformation.  Or that he has both a younger and older version running around.

Lockheed

Posted by John Klein III on October 22, 2013
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

I can tell you right now, that I am already thinking of making February, Lockheed Month.  I envision it being new issue reviews when I do those, and between those, more reviews!

Onto my collection :

Adding Lockheed’s one appearance in Mutant X and his one appearance in the X-Men Animation Special, comicbookdb only has three listed characters under Lockheed.  So I threw those other two appearances into his total.

The little purple alien who just so happens to resemble one of our dragons, has 277 appearances!  I am missing … only six of them!

Which is super annoying!

Those missing issues are :

Venom : Dark Origin 3

Captain Britain and MI13 Annual 1

Avengers vs. Pet Avengers 3

Avengers vs. Pet Avengers 4

Wolverine and the X-Men 3

Wolverine and the X-Men 32

That’s it!  If I ever get a chance to do another back issue spurge, I will make a point of just getting these.  I can only imagine it wouldn’t cost much.  The problem in the past has been that they were not available at the website I was given a gift certificate too.  Which my former employer and my mother-in-law have both gotten me cards from Mile High Comics, which was extremely nice of them.

I was really thinking, before I got on this quest, that he had at least 300 appearances.  Poor guy just doesn’t show up as often as I am under the impression of.  You would think he would be an artist’s favorite as how often do they get to draw dragons?

This whole next section, I am mostly typing so that I can reference the numbers when I need too.  It doesn’t read as the most exciting information, but I find it interesting.

His first appearance is in Uncanny X-Men 166, and then he doesn’t show up again until 168.  He gets back to back appearances but then is missing from 170 and 171.  Two issues.

He is there from 172 – 175.

He appears in the first and last issue of X-Men and the Micronaunts, so two on and two off.

Missing from 176 – 179.  Four issues.

He is lucky enough to be included in the Secret Wars story, but only for parts 1, 2, and 12 (thankfully, someone remembered to bring him back!)  So ten issues of missing time.

He is missing in 182 but is in 181 and 183.

He is missing from 184 – 188, five issues.

He guest appears in New Mutants 18 and 21, so he isn’t really missing from those in-between issues.

Appears in 189, but goes missing from 190 and 191, two issues.  Then has a nice run 192, 193, 194.

He practically guest stars in Nightcrawler’s first miniseries, as he is in all four issues of that.

From 195 to 209, he is missing before showing up again in 210.  That’s 15 issues!  His longest break!  At least he is in Mutant Massacre, 210 and 211, and missing 212 and back for the conclusion in 213.  He leaves when Kitty leaves Uncanny.

Of his first run (and only true run) on Uncanny, he is missing :

1+2+2+1+5+2+15 = 28 missing appearances!

He has 18 proper appearances in Uncanny, more off than on!

He misses out on the first two issues of Fantastic Four vs. X-Men, but shows up in the final two issues.

He appears in New Mutants 46, 63, and 65.

Then we come to his second title, Excalibur.

He is in the original Sword is Drawn graphic novel but then misses out on the first two issues!  2 issues.

Nice run from 3 – 6, four issues but misses out on 7 and 8, two issues.

Appears in 9, but not 10.  One issue.

Nice run 11 – 22, 12 issues!  Missing in 23, one issue.

Within there, he appears in Marvel Comics Presents issues 31, 32, and 37, 38.

He appears in Excalibur 24 through 30,  7 issues.

Missing in 31 and 32, two issues.

He appears in all three issues of Thor with Excalibur, 427, 428 and 429.

He appears in Excalibur 33 and 34, and is missing in 35 and 36.  Two more issues – both ways.

He appears in Sensational She-Hulk 26 with the rest of Excalibur.

He appears in 37 but not 38, one issue both ways.

He appears in 39 – 41, three issues.  Missing in 42, one issue.

Appears in 43 – 45, three issues.  Missing in 46 and 47, two issues.

Appears in issues 48 – 51, four issues.  Then Missing in 52 and 53, two issues.

Appears in 54 – 56, three issues.  Missing for 57 and 58, two issues.  Starting to notice a trend.

Appears in 59 – 61, three issues.  Missing in 62 and 63, two issues.

Appears in 64, but not 65, but in 66 – 68.  Four issues and missing in one.

Then he has a break from 69 – 73, five issues!  His biggest yet but not the longest.

Between this time, he has been in two swimsuit specials (Marvel and Amazing Heroes) and a Marvel Holiday Special in 1992.

He appears in Excalibur 74, not 75, but in 76. Two issues on, one off.

Then he is missing from 77 – 95, 19 issues!  They at least have the good sense to explain it away with the Bamfs have kidnapped him but not why no one else noticed.  I suppose we are led to believe in hindsight that he disappears from time to time and having his own adventures that we don’t get to see.  That’s the in-story reason.

He then appears in 96 and 97, so two issues.  Missing from 98 and 99, so two issues off again.

Appears in 100 – 102, three issues.  Missing from 103 to 112, 10 issues.

Appears in 113 and 114, two issues.  Missing in 115 and 116, so two issues.

He shows up for the last two parts of Kitty Pryde : Agent of SHIELD, but misses out on the first.

Appears in Excalibur 117 – 120, four issues.

He appears in both parts of the X-Men / Alpha Flight back in 1985 and the quasi-sequel in 1998.

He also appears in Wolverine 125 and 126.

He is missing from Excalibur issues 121 – 123, three issues.

Then he is around for the final two issues of Excalibur.

Of the 125 issues of Excalibur :

He is missing from 63 issues and appears in 62 of them.

Nowhere close to the numbers I was expecting to see!

Excalibur 125 comes out in October 1998 and no one sees the guy, at all, until November 1999 when he shows up in Mutant X as one of Cyclops’ Starjammers.  But that’s not even the real Lockheed.

He shows up in a memory in the second Excalibur title (a miniseries for Captain Britain, essentially) and that is in February 2001.  So from Oct 1998 to Feb 01, that is over two years.  And that’s not even a real adventure!

He shows up in X-Men Unlimited 35, showing what happen to him after Excalibur 125, in July 2002.  So between his two actual adventures, it is three and a half years for him.  And during this entire time, Kitty is enjoying her second term on that team, and not even one line of dialogue about where he is at all.  Apparently, there was suppose to be a story between the two issues where you find out that the other believes the other is dead but that never got printed.

Then he shows up in X-Men Unlimited 43 in April 2003, and that is the story after Colossus dies and Kitty spreads his ashes, this is the first time they have been reunited.  With no dialogue about when they finally met up.  From Oct 98 to April 03, that is five years for the two characters to be separated and I can see why Marvel was just like, hey, let’s not address that at all.

He then shows up for X-Treme X-Men’s final issue, 46 (june 2004), he does not go to college with Kitty, or at least, we don’t see him.  He appears in two issues of X-Men, Uncanny 444 and X-Men 157.  Both issues pretty much catch up with several characters, and in the same month, July 2004.

He is part of a training procedure in New X-Men 3 and 4.

Then he starts his would be third title, Astonishing X-Men.

He makes an awesome entrance in Astonishing X-Men 2 (missing out on the first issue), and misses out on the 3rd as well.

He is there for 4, 6, 8 but not 5 and 7.

He appears in the Christmas issue, X-Men 165.

We get Future Lockheed in X-Men: The End: Book 2: Heroes & Martyers 1 – 3, missing out on the last three.

His Astonishing appearances next are 9 and 11, so not 10 or 12.

He journeys with Kitty to Japan in X-Men: Kitty Pryde – Shadow and Flame (the series that sparked the name for this here blog!), appearing in all five issues.

He appears in the first three issues of New Excalibur along with Kitty and Rachel.

Future Lockheed continues to appear in X-Men: The End: Book 3: Men and X-Men for issues 1 and 6.  So his luck has not changed at all.

He misses out on the first two issues of X-Men: The 198 but shows up for the final three issues.

Astonishing X-Men, is there for 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22 – 24, and Giant Sized.

Missing out on issues 14, 16, 19 and 21.

Of the 25 issues of Astonishing X-Men :

In 15 and Missing from 10

His best to date!

He was in the first issue of Deadly Genesis, was in the Decimation aftermath (missed out completely on House of M – now I realize), Nightcrawler issue 12, Uncanny X-Men 468, Marvel Team-Up 21, he is there to see Storm get married in Black Panther 18.  Also there for the first issue of Civil War : X-Men and all three issues of World War Hulk : X-Men.

He did a decent job of appearing in X-Men Forever, Claremont’s second chance with the X-Men.

Of the first 25 issues, he has 11 appearances and missing out on 14!

His issues are 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 19, 20, 22, 24 and Giant Size.

He joins the Pet Avengers!  He is one of the bigger names in it, definitely the big three of the team.  I wish it was called Lockheed and the Pet Avengers, we do get a new side of him here as well.  When he isn’t being seen, we might assume that he is having adventures with his new team.  Or this other team :

He gets his own miniseries in SWORD, appearing in all five issues.  This is where we see him grieve for Kitty and a pretty awesome side of him.  Also, now that he is a member of SWORD, when you don’t see him, he is probably having awesome adventures there.  That’s what I tell myself.

Then he shows up in three of the four issues of the sequel to the first Pet Avengers mini.  The second issue is a Throg solo issue.

He also appears in Thor and the Warriors Four, a Power Pack mini, the Pet Avengers show up for the first and last issue.

X-Men Forever was given a sequel series, X-Men Forever 2 (that’s right! – not X-Men More Forever, or something silly like that).

Of that series’ 16 issues, Lockheed shows up in 9 issues, missing out on 7.  His track record remains!

His issues are 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, and 16.  He is lucky enough to become friends with ‘Ro, as this second volume is mostly a love letter to Storm.

He then is a bit of a star to the third Pet Avengers mini : Avengers vs. Pet Avengers, where dragons are taking over.

He had a three issue arc in Astonishing, 38, 40 and 42 (that’s how they published it) teaming up with Kitty on a SWORD adventure involving the Brood.  Which I love that the Brood fear Lockheed so much!  We need some Pre Uncanny X-Men 166 adventures!

Wolverine and the X-Men would technically be his four ongoing but he is rarely in that as well, plus it is still ongoing.  As of the most recent issue, issue 36.

He is in 13 issues, thus being not included in 23 issues.  His worst stats yet.

Lockheed is in issues : 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 14, 17, 18, 29, 30 and 32.  You would think with his actual history with the Bamfs, that there would be a scene with him and all of the Bamfs running around the Jean Grey School, but we don’t get any of that either (unless it is issue three, that I am missing).  Then again, it has always appeared to be Marvel’s policy to completely ignore everything that has happen in Excalibur, including Nightcrawler’s leadership abilities, Rachel’s complete control over the Phoenix force and Alan Davis’ additions to the Days of Future Past.

While not showing up in that series, he has been in Wolverine 306, X-Men Legacy 266, Astonishing X-Men 51 (Norhtstar’s wedding),  AvX: VS 6 (he doesn’t find anyone, just standing next to Ant-Man riding an ant).  He has been in A+X issues 2 and 8, All-New X-Men 5 and 6 – you would think he would have a higher chance of being in this title as that has becoming Professor Pryde and the Original Five.  Avenging Spider-Man 16, X-Men Legacy 6 and his latest appearance, Infinity 1.  He has not appeared in issues 2 through 4.

I have plans to review some of these in the next three months, but expect several in February.

I am missing .02 percent of his appearances, that’s pretty dman impressive, I think.  To whom, may be a different matter.

As luck and time will have it, Lockheed made it to the Comic Geek Speak Top Five Animals list!

http://www.comicgeekspeak.com/episodes/comic_geek_speak-1742.php

Good job!  Thanks to Murd – who may be my favorite host over there.  He is very knowledgeable and is also a huge Kitty Pryde fan.  And a huge Lockheed fan!  Sometimes, the two don’t go hand in hand, which I don’t get how that is possible.

Speaking of Comic Geek Speak, I downloaded their app (as the Kindle wouldn’t let me download the episodes) and they only go as far back as episode 735, or some silly number like that.  I was hoping to get their Dark Phoenix Saga Book of the Month, their Top Five Couples, Footnotes for both JLAvengers and Watchmen episodes.  I sent an e-mail but who knows when I will hear back about process on that front.

Updated June 11, 2014 –

I made this list for easier reference :

Claremont’s X-Men (from 166 to 213) – He’s in 18 and out of 28

Excalibur (he does a better job in this) – in 62 out 63

Whedon / Cassaday’s Astonishing X-Men – in 15 out 10

X-Men Forever 1 – in 11 out 14
X-Men Forever 2- in 9 out 7
So Claremont at least tried to correct his original mistake

Wolverine and the X-Men (the first 36 issues) – in 13 out 23

As it is a little hard to read above.

X-Men Classic 62

Posted by John Klein III on October 21, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

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Writer Chris Claremont

Penciler Dave Cockrum

Inker Bob Wiacek

Colorist Glynis Oliver

Letterer Joe Rosen

Reprint Uncanny X-Men 158

Cover by Mike Mignola

Colossus turns out, did not die last issue.

X-Men Classic 62 Kitty 1

This awakens all types of emotions in Kitty, who is only fourteen, and hating it.

Illyana is still only a sweet little Russian girl, she is so happy.

Cockrum, legend that he is, sure draws an unattractive Kitty.

Senator Kelly is interviewed, he wants more information on the X-Men.

This makes the X-Men wary, and they come up with a plan.

It is essentially the same plan they used for the pilot of the FOX X-Men cartoon.

Havok gets to meet his dad, as does Polaris.  It is nice that the Summers’ family gets to be whole again.

On the mission, that Kitty made possible with her open ended computer virus, is Wolverine, Storm and Carol Danvers.

We find out that Carol is a colonel in the Air Force.  We also find out how Logan gets pass metal detectors, his ID has a note that states his body contains metal.

Carol bumps into Rogue, who looks like she is well into her fifties or even sixties.

Wolverine tries to fight Rogue, she makes out with him.

We find out that Raven Darkholme is Mystique, which we may have already known.

Mystique shoots Carol, she goes down.

Carol gets up and succeeds at erasing all of the information on the X-Men.  She also erases all the information on herself.

Next issue, Dracula!

Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 13

Posted by John Klein III on October 20, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Penciler Chris Bachalo

Inkers Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Mark Irwin, Jaime Mendoza and Victor Olazaba

Colorist Marte Gracia

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

Battle of the Atom Part Eight of Ten

Can’t believe we only have two more parts left.  Doesn’t feel like we are building to anything yet.

Uncanny X-Men V3 13 Magik 1

Issue opens with Cyclops wanting to make a plan, and stick with it.

Future Jubilee looks awesome drawn by Bachalo.

Uncanny X-Men V3 13 Magik 2

Turns out the guy with Dr. Strange’s cloak is Wiccan grown up.  That makes sense, I’m just disappointed.

Last issue Psylocke was really Raze, the son of Mystique and Wolverine.  I imagine Logan impregnated her, dies ir doesn’t know he did, and names Raze after herself.  Raven -> Raze, that is my guess.

I wonder what Kurt would think of this coupling.  Doesn’t feel right, with how close Logan and Kurt are.  Maybe Mystique was impersonating another lady at the time?  I highly doubt that though.

Surprised how easy Raze was able to capture young Bobby and Hank.

Magik and Future Colossus go into the school.

Magik finally brings up that current day Colossus and her do not speak to each other.

Uncanny X-Men V3 13 Magik 3

They get into a fight with Bruiser and Future Deadpool.

Magik takes Deadpool outside.

Bruiser reveals that there was a Stark Tower / Baxter Building Wars.  As it is the names of buildings, I take it was more than just Avengers v. Fantastic Four, but most likely, it got all the heroes involved, split by loyalties.

I like that the fights were not paired by gender, though I did take notice that Colossus punched Bruiser hard to the face.

The panel with Magik running her soulsword through Bruiser, is beautifully drawn.  There is just something about it.

Cyclops. Team has to fight Krakoa, being controlled by Xavier.  Apparently, something happens to Krakoa, as Xavier has only ever heard of him.

Raze does take awhile to get to Future Hank and Jean, he comments on it.

Uncanny X-Men V3 13 Magik 4

Future Jean reveals that Illyana eventually will kill herself.  Which is the saddest fate, I have ever heard!  Hopefully hearing that, sparks a change for her and she tries to find something she can start enjoying.

Colossus stabs Xavier with his borrowed soulsword.

Magik hearing her fate teleports out of there, it is a horrible thing to have had to hear, much less have thrown in your face.  Stupid Jean, sge is the worst.

The Time Cube is not letting the Original Five go back in time.

Uncanny X-Men V3 13 Raze Xavier drinking tea

Raze can go back in time, he claims that he saw Professor Xavier reading in the garden, but he wasn’t in the mansion during Uncanny issue eight of the first volume, he was hiding / preparing himself to fight some aliens.

Unless Raze made that up, but why would he?

If they can’t send the Original Five back with the cube, could Magik do it?

The Original Five have spent this entire issue sleeping.

Issue ends with Cyclops’ team coming into the lab.

Will they all fight in that room or will Future Beast have to explain some additional theories on why they can’t send the Original Five back with the cube.  Or use various other means of time travel.

They have to go back in time eventually, those early adventures need to happen.

Would Xavier really be reading in the garden if he knew his students were missing?  I was imaging the past was sort of on hold until they got back.  Like they were going to show up mere seconds after leaving.

What I Bought 2013.10.19

Posted by John Klein III on October 19, 2013
Posted in: Purchases. Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 13

X-Men Legacy 18

Back Issues

Wolverine and the X-Men 6

X-Men Forever 2 12

X-Men Forever 2 13

Marvel January 2014 Solicitations

Posted by John Klein III on October 18, 2013
Posted in: Solicitations. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

http://www.newsarama.com/19290-marvel-comics-january-2014-solicitations.html

ALL-NEW MARVEL NOW! POINT ONE #1

INHUMAN #1

ALL-NEW INVADERS #1

AVENGERS WORLD #1

BLACK WIDOW #1

MIRACLEMAN #1

     Looks like I am not that interested in the next wave of Marvel Now. 

ALL-NEW X-MEN #22.NOW
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W)
STUART IMMONEN (A/C)
“The Trial of Jean Grey”
The arrival of the original X-Men in the present sent shockwaves through the Marvel Universe, but we’ve only seen the effects on Earth. When alien races learn that Jean Grey, host of the destructive Phoenix Force, is back on earth, they do something about it. Now it’s up to the rest of the All-New X-Men and the Guardians of the Galaxy to save Jean Grey from twisted intergalactic justice! Don’t miss two of Marvel’s biggest franchises crossing over for the first time!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #11.NOW
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • SARA PICHELLI (A/C)
“The Trial of Jean Grey”
The Guardians of the Galaxy get a reminder of Earth when they cross paths with the All-New X-Men during the TRIAL OF JEAN GREY! When an alien race discovers that the original Jean Grey is back on Earth, they decide to hold her accountable for the acts of the Dark Phoenix, and it’s up to the Guardians to help the X-Men save her. You won’t want to miss the first encounter between two of the biggest franchises in the Marvel U!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

     Pending on how close Kitty is still with the Original Five, I will be picking this up. 

ALL-NEW X-FACTOR #1 & 2
PETER DAVID (W) CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO (A)
CoverS by JARED FLETCHER
ISSUE #1 –
ISSUE #2 –
“NOT BRAND X” Parts 1 & 2
X-FACTOR IS BACK…LIKE NEVER BEFORE! Serval Industries, one of the world’s most trusted names in electronics and leader in cutting-edge internet and weapons technology, has just unveiled their newest contribution to society…the All-New X-Factor. Led by mutant mistress of magnetism, Polaris, the team uses its corporate backing for the betterment of society. With her half-brother Quicksilver, notorious thief, Gambit, and more by her side, can Polaris trust that her corporate masters really have good intentions?
32 PGS. (EACH)/Rated T+ …$3.99 (EACH)

     I am curious who the secret other three members are, hopefully that is revealed in the first issue.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR: ALPHA #1
ANDY LANNING AND ALAN COWSILL (W) • RICH ELSON (A)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
Variant Cover by TBD
Part 1 of “Revolutionary War”
• Marvel UK’s greatest heroes come together for the first time in 20 years to face a threat that could destroy the world.
• Featuring Captain Britain, Pete Wisdom, Death’s Head II, Motormouth and Killpower, the Warheads and a host of British heroes.
32 PGS./ ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$3.99

     I like the concept of this, but I am not sure if I will be following it.  Too bad they are not enlisting Kitty, Nightcrawler and Rachel, as they are all available now.  At least no one forgot about Dark Angel.  The only real Marvel UK title I have a few issues of.    That and the MYS-TECH.

A+X #16
GERRY DUGGAN & JEFF LOVENESS (W)
DAVID YARDIN & PACO DIAZ (A)
Cover by PACO DIAZ
• Emmy-Nominated writer Jeff Loveness from the JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! show makes his Marvel debut! Paco Diaz (WOLVERINE: JAPAN’S MOST WANTED) joins Jeff for a story pairing Iron Man and the fan-favorite X-Student Broo!
• Gerry Duggan and David Yardin bring you the fourth part of the blockbuster Captain America + Cyclops story! With Cap hell bent on arresting Cyke, defeating a horde of menacing Skrulls will only be half of this duo’s problem!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I do like Broo, and this looks like it should be funny.  Hopefully Jeff Loveness knows that Iron Man is suppose to set Broo up with his favorite hero, Nova.  I don’t ’think that story has been told yet.

UNCANNY AVENGERS #16
RICK REMENDER (W) • STEVE MCNIVEN (A/C)
The main event!
• Thor vs Uriel! Feral and vengeful after the death of a teammate, Thor is a mad God out for blood!
• The heroes of Earth rally to stop the unimaginable evil the Twins have released!
• In order to stop the Twins, The Wasp must do something that will curse her evermore!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I wonder if Kitty or Magik will keep making appearances in this title!  Here’s hoping!

CATACLYSM: ULTIMATE X-MEN #3 (of 3)
JOSH HALE FIALKOV (W)
ALVARO MARTINEZ (A)
• The future of the X-Men and all mutantkind rests on ROGUE’S SHOULDERS!
• To return home, a sacrifice must be made.
• Will there be a world for them to come back to?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

     The February Solicts will be where we find out if Ultimate Universe is over or not.  Ultimate Rogue, no telling what decision she will make.

CATACLYSM: THE ULTIMATES’ LAST STAND #4 (of 5)
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) MARK BAGLEY (A/C)
• To save a universe, a hero must die!!!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Could be any of the heroes!  As long as it isn’t Kitty.  Who I want to say was on the cover to one of the X-Men ones, so she survives her fight with Jean.

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #26
Dan Slott (W) • Pascual Ferry (A)
Cover by Ryan Stegman
GOBLIN NATION PRELUDE
• The stage is set for the biggest SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN story of them all!
• And it starts here with a goblin fight like no other: The Green Goblin vs. The Original Hobgoblin!
• Plus: That thing that happened at the end of #25… That thing that raised all of those questions… You don’t have to wait any longer. You’ll get your answers THIS ISSUE! Honest.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I do like seeing a Green Goblin fight a Hobgoblin (and the original one too!) as it rarely has happened.  This may be only the second time it has happen, I know the Roderick v. Norman battle wasn’t all that I was expecting it to be, but it was still a great issue.  

MARVEL KNIGHTS: X-MEN #3 (of 5)
BRAHM REVEL (W)
BRAHM REVEL (A/C)
The Haunting & The Hunted!
• As the past comes raging back to take down the X-Men, two new mutants struggle with their newfound powers.
• Infighting threatens to pit X-Man vs X-Man in a battle to the death!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Kitty knows how to fight Wolverine and Rogue, so if it is her, she will win.  Rogue has a victory over Wolverine from X-Men 103, so she will win that one too.  I don’t see Wolverine winning at all.

FANTASTIC FOUR #16
MATT FRACTION & KARL KESEL (W) • RAFF IENCO (A)
Cover by MARK BAGLEY
FINAL ISSUE!
The Fantastic Four are… DOOMED! Dr. Doom has taken on the power of Kang and Annihilus and is supreme ruler of the entire world. Good News: this is in the Doomed Universe. Bad News: our universe is next. The only ones in his way are the Fantastic Four and… the Fantastic Four! The Elemental Eight face off against Doom the Annihilating Conqueror with the fate of infinite realities in the balance! Plus the fate of Old John Storm! All in the fiery finish to the most mind-bending F4 adventure ever!
40 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Cover promises a bunch of cameos!

ORIGIN II #2 (OF 5)
KIERON GILLEN (W) • ADAM KUBERT (A/C)
• Without his family, Logan struggles to continue on
• Meanwhile, word of a clawed wild man in the woods has reached civilization and the hunt to capture him first begins!
• And enter…CREED
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

Ooooof, Sabretooth is showing up this early in his origin sequel?  At least he is still in the wild, but this is good?

AMAZING X-MEN #3
JASON AARON (W) • ED MCGUINNESS (A/C)
• BEAST UNLEASHED! Dr. McCoy is pushed over the edge and gives into his savage side like never before!
• The X-Men, split between heaven and hell, are in way over their heads!
• Can they get to Nightcrawler before evil Azazel does?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Still no Kitty and now Beast is getting spotlighted?  Makes sense as it is an X-Men title.  No Kitty might mean that she is clearly not on the Wolverine side of books anymore.  Too bad Cyclops only has the one title.

WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #40
Jason Aaron (W) • Pepe Larraz (A)
• Battle of the Atom is over — but the battle for the future of mutankind has just begun!
• For months, S.H.I.E.L.D. has had designs on the Jean Grey school — now they make their presence known!
• All this, and Cyclops vs. Wolverine as Jason Aaron (THOR) and Pepe Larraz (ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN) bring you the action!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

If Cyclops and Wolverine are still fighting, we might still have Kitty in this title.

ALL-NEW X-MEN #21
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • BRANDON PETERSON (A/C)
• X-23 is back, joining the ALL-NEW X-MEN and kissing Cyclops? What does this mean to Jean Grey?
• Jean and X-23 are forced to team up against a mysterious force, so she better figure it out
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Jean kissed Hank so Laura and Scott should be allowed to do what they want, kissing wise.

X-MEN #9
BRIAN WOOD (W) • TERRY DODSON (A/C)
MUERTAS PART 3!
• Lady Deathstrike’s new Sisterhood set their sights on the X-Men, and Psylocke is in the crosshairs!
• A foe awakens…and neither team might be able to handle her!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Hopefully Kitty is still in this title post-BotA!

X-MEN LEGACY #22 & 23
SIMON SPURRIER (W) • Issue #22 – KHOI PHAM (A)
Issue #23 – TAN ENG HUAT (A)
• War and death, nations turning against nations…the demonic shade of the deceased Professor Xavier that has been plaguing Legion’s psyche has escaped into the real world. What price will Legion pay to stop him from razing the Earth?
• And prophesied to stop Legion and imbued with the power she needs to do so, will Young X-Man Blindfold take matters into her own hands and extinguish her first love?
• One thing’s for sure: as this groundbreaking series races to its conclusion, anything is possible!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

I will miss this title if the race to its conclusion means it is coming to an end.

UNCANNY X-MEN #16
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • CHRIS BACHALO (A/C)
• Magneto reaches a crossroads. Everything he’s fought for is called into question and he’s forced to make a decision that will change him forever!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Hopefully Magik is still around for this too!  I doubt it will be an entire Magneto issue, though it could easily be.

WOLVERINE #13
PAUL CORNELL (W) • ALAN DAVIS (A/C)
IT ALL ENDS HERE! THE FINAL CHAPTER OF KILLABLE!
• Logan’s last stand against Sabretooth
• The Microverse virus offers Logan a trade: his healing factor for his help in evading S.H.I.E.L.D. –
can he afford to say no?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

     Hopefully Kitty is still along for the ride.

The only two I know for sure I will be buying is Marvel Knights X-Men 3 and Cataclysm : Ultimate X-Men 3.  The rest, seven!, are maybe at best.

Which I rather spend six dollars than thirty dollars.  There is no denying that! 

Also, some of the bigger releases have “Animal Variants” what is that about?  Maybe a sign that the Pet Avengers are coming back?  That would be exciting!

Boy, do I use the word “hopefully” a bunch, but that’s me for you, a guy full of hopeful wishes.  Things would be so much easier to guess if covers had cast members on them or announcements of team lineups.  Though they probably don’t want to ruin any surprises, besides that the entire point of BotA was that the Original Five were going back to their proper timeline.  Though maybe that is just what the fanbase expected to have happened.