Excalibur 125

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

Excalibur 125

Writer Ben Raab

Penciler Dale Eaglesham

Inker Scott Hanna

Colorist Kevin Tinsley

Lettering RS & Comicraft

In honor of my fifth wedding anniversary to the love of my life, I give you the wedding of Captain Britain and Meggan!

This issue also has one of those fold out cast / recap pages that I love.

This comic came out in cover dated October 1998.

Ben Raab had two goals with Excalibur, break up Kitty Pryde and Pete Wisdom, and end Excalibur.  This works as a perfect send off to the title.  Issue opens with Douglock hung over after the Bachelor Party, which works on a level of his memory being wiped so characters and events have to be explained to him.  Which has to happen as wedding issues, as well as final issues, are attractions so new readers will show up.   The humanoid version of Widget shows up to announce today is the day.   Odd choice as this Widget is the spirit of Kate Pryde from Days of Future Past, haywired into a robot.

Nightcrawler dresses Douglock, who we find out much later – like years, is really Warlock.  Wolfsbane shows up and is not happy with him.

The wedding is taking place on Otherworld, which is the nexus of realities of sorts and where the Captain Britain Corps head quarter.  The wedding attendants are a who’s who of past Excalibur cast, friends and foes.

Great ad that brings back memories.  I adore the 35th Anniversary era of the X-Men so much.  Steve Seagle and Chris Bachalo on Uncanny, Joe Kelly and Brandon Peterson on x-Men and Mutant X was premiering by Howard Mackie and Tom Raney.  Such a good time to be a fan of the X-Men.  Also, Summer Slam 1998, this was my first foray into the WWE.  My favorite era would be the Kurt Angle years but it all starts with 1998.

Wolfsbane and Douglock are the first down the aisle.  Brain, the groom, is already at the alter.

Excalibur 125 Lockheed Kitty Aisle

Kitty with Colossus are next down the aisle.  Arab comments to Alstaire that he let Kitty go.  She crushed on Alstaire but he only was interested in Rachel.  So weird to see Arab here, he doesn’t have one leg and is working for the Hellfire Club, he is slowly leading to becoming the Arab of Days of Future Past, having Rachel become a Hound and kill mutants.  It was a very interesting concept, to see him fall from grace.

So great to see Moira MacTaggert again, alive and well – well she has the Legacy Virus so there’s that.  She is sitting next to Lockheed.

Colossus is afraid as while Brian was away, stuck in the time stream, Meggan started having feelings for Colossus but Colossus lied to Brian and said it was he who had feeling Kylun, who feel asleep.  Cercise comments that Kurt looks good and Amanda Sefton quickly tells her to back off.

Finally, Meggan comes down the aisle and she looks amazingly beautiful in her dress.

We get a flashback to Brian revealing that he knows it was Meggan who had feelings for Colossus but only because she thought Brian was dead or lost forever and will never see him again.  Brian promises to never leave her side again, which he does keep his word.  It is Meggan that gets lost from him during House of M, that was another whole thing.

In attendance, the Nazi Excalibur shows up.  Always sad to see that version of Shadowcat.  Also, microMAX and some guy from the original Captain Britain series.

There is an ad for the first Blade movie, that’s how long ago that this issue came out.

Brian and Meggan say their “I Dos” and Kurt has forgotten the rings and teleports away and back with them.  Oh that Nightcrawler.

Great splash page of the kiss!

Now the ceremony of the bouquet and garter catching.

Kitty doesn’t want to participate in the ritual.  Meggan throws it.  Gatecrasher tries for it.  Betsy kicks her in the face!  Yap keeps calling Gatecrasher “mom” and that annoys her.  Amanda reaches for it.  Cercise tries her best as well.  Moira also tries for it and falls over, Wolfsbane actually grabs it.  Then the Red Queen hits her over the head and it lands in the arms of the one person who didn’t want it … Kitty Pryde!  All she has to say for it is “figures.”

Now the boys’ turn.  Colossus also doesn’t want to participate in it, and Kurt is all for that, one less dude around.  Colossus asks him if he is ready for the commitment but Kurt wants it.  Angel flies for the garter once Brian tosses it.  Kurt covers his eyes,   Technet members fall over themselves for it.

Excalibur 125 Lockheed Thinking

Ahab has a hard time as he has the clutches.  Lockheed get an idea of his own.  Kurt catches it!

Excalibur 125 Lockheed Garter

But Lockheed snatches it away and lands it into Colossus’ hand.  Moira tells him he has to slip it onto the lass who caught the bouquet.  Kitty’s response “oh, like none of you saw this coming” and it is so true!

Kitty and Colossus have this great conversation about how this doesn’t mean they have to get back together.  They are not fated to get back together, or are destined to be forever linked.  Colossus asks if they should pursue this, she responds with a “don’t even go there!” and he says “whew.”  Though he would be lucky if she did take him back but she is so much better than that metal idiot.

At the reception, Kurt gives his speech, which is very nice.  Lila Cheney is the musical guest, which is awesome.

Ahab, and really, he is going by Rory Campbell but we can never forget the threat he represents.  Especially as he throws in Moira’s face that she only is interested in his Legacy Virus cure due to her having the disease.

Amanda is dancing with Kurt.  Cercise cuts in, or slices in as she calls it, I really like Cerise.  She and him shared many a lip massage.  She asks him if he misses her, and when he says yes, of course, she slaps his entire whole stupid face!  Throws in his face that she was stranded on that prison planet in Excalibur 70 and if it wasn’t for Empress Lilandra, she would still be there.  Oh Kurt, you screwed up.

Alistaire asks Kitty where Pete Wisdom is, and he is drinking in a pub.

It is a rare instance when a comic will give an actual date, and the wedding invite does that.  August 19, 1998 is Brian and Meggan’s wedding date.  They have been married for 15 years now, pretty impressive!

Douglock is still hung over and making a fool of himself.  We get some congratulations from Captain America, Black Knight and Spider-Man.   Spider-Man reminds Brian that he still owes Peter a month’s rent from the time they were roommates in college.

microMAX and Kylun catch up a bit.  Brian turns down Saturnyne’s advances.  Brian kisses Meggan passionately and Betsy tells her brother she didn’t know he could do that.  They talk about their dead brother, Jamie.  Actually the editor’s note tells us that he is in a coma since Excalibur Annual 2.  Also, Betsy almost didn’t make it due to the Psi-War, that happen in X-Men 79.  Angel shows up to hang out.

Kurt, Kitty and Colossus show up to announce something.  By the time the new Braddocks come back from their honeymoon, those three will be gone.  They are rejoining the X-Men.  After ten years apart, Kurt and Kitty are coming back to the team proper.  The story reason is so they can help in the search for Xavier, who has been missing since Operation : Zero Tolerance.  A bunch of hugging happens and Kurt gives Brian permission to keep using the name Excalibur, which it takes some time for Brian’s miniseries titled that happens.

Warren asks if the New X-Men are ready for these three and Betsy is quick to counter with, if these three are ready for the New X-Men.  That team consists of Kitty, Kurt, Wolverine, Storm, Marrow and Colossus.

Issue ends with a quarter page drawing of the Original Excalibur.  Kurt, Rachel, Kitty (in her blue outfit), Meggan and Captain Britain.

The final letters’ page has comments from Ben Raab, Warren Ellis and Alan Davis.

Thus ends the run that is Excalibur, 125 issues.  What a ride, two years ago, I read all 125 issues (mostly I was interested in Kitty’s fighting style or what she does in fights – turns out, she disappears in most fights – which is odd).  They mostly hold up rather well.  There are some fill ins and a moment when Scott Lobdell was plotting some issues that are rough but we will run the gauntlet one of these days and do more reveals of this title.

. . .

On a personal note, and if you would excuse me for a moment, I really want to say thank you to my wife.  Without her support, I wouldn’t be able to even do this blog, each and every day, 154 days in a row without missing a single one, is pretty impressive and I didn’t think I would be able to do it.  But I love this lady so much and these last five years have been a real joy and here is too many more!

Power Pack 19

Posted by John Klein III on November 28, 2013
Posted in: Reviews, Websites. Tagged: , , , , . 2 Comments

Power Pack 19

Writer Louise Simonson

Pencils Brent Anderson & Scott Williams

Inks Terry Austin, Scott Williams and Sam De La Rosa

Letters Joe Rosen

Colors Janet Jackson

Look at that sweet Kitty Pryde logo!  Shame she doesn’t get to use it more often!

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

Celebrating this year, we get a giant size issue of Power Pack!

You can follow along, thanks to this great website!

http://amocat.net/kiotr/KIOTR-Gallery/Power-Pack-19-Guess-Whos-Coming-To-Dinner

Issue opens with a Morlock about to attack Katie Power, the youngest of the Pack.  Turns out Erg is just training her in her powers.  Erg informs Katie at the end that Annalee and Leech will be at Thanksgiving dinner.  Katie confirms Kitty, Wolverine, Franklin Richards and Beta Ray Bill are going to be there as well.  Beta Ray Bill seems to be the odd choice but who doesn’t like Beta Ray Bill?  This is also going to be a surprise Thanksgiving dinner.

Julie scolds Katie for running off on her.  They are trying to get home in a hurry to see their father before he goes to the hospital.  They activate their powers so they can get home fast, in order not to miss the Macy’s Parade.

We cut to Beta Ray Bill bringing Franklin to the park.  We also discover that if Bill was given an enchantment by Odin that he can make himself look like a human – which must be insulting.  Franklin makes a reference to Thor 363, where Franklin, Bill and Thor saved the day from Kurse – along with Power Pack, going as far as saying if his dad, Reed Richards, was there, he would have saved the day on his own.  Which is nice, as we never really see Franklin liking his father, besides the few times it is forcibly shown.  This must have been during the time when Reed and Sue were members of the Avengers as Bill references Jarvis letting Bill bring Franklin to dinner.

We cut to the Powers’ home, and see the brothers, Alex and Jack.  Alex is in a sour mood, as their father is going to the hospital to visit their mother who is a patient.  Apparently, their mother was hurt by Kurse while buying science project materials for Alex, so he is feeling guilt from that.

We cut over to Cloak and Dagger.  Cloak eases up on a punk as it is Thanksgiving and they are missing their families.  They only have the two of them.

The daughters run into their father as he is heading out.  Julie really hopes their mother gets better.

Annalee and Leech are preparing a sweet potato casserole.  Yum!  This is after Mutant Massacre as Annalee’s children are dead.  In Uncanny X-Men 195, Katie made Annalee her special grandmother.  Must have been to make her feel better.  I forget how much of a ripe bastard Annalee is.  She says horrible things to Leech and then stuffs him into a closet and locks it so he can’t ruin her time with Katie.  Leech’s cat looks so sad outside of the closet.  Poor Leech.

Back at the Powers’ apartment, the phone rings and Katie dashes over to it.  Only she has been allowed to answer the phone for a week now.  Kitty confirms they will be there after the parade.  Alex is getting suspicious.  On top of Alex’s guilt, he was mean to his would be girlfriend Allison and she has not tried calling him back.

Power Pack 19 Kitty 1

We transition to outside where Logan and Kitty are heading to the apartment.  Kitty lets us know what has been happening to the X-Men.  Xavier is gone.  Magneto is leading the team (so we are definitely after issue 200).  Scott betrayed Madelyne.  This is after Kitty Pryde and Wolverine miniseries as she has forgiven her father but every time she sees him, she remembers what happen to her in Japan, which was a lot!  Her parents are definitely divorced at this point.  This reminds me that we haven’t seen Theresa in forever, at this point and definitely present day.  Haven’t seen her, or really heard from her, since that one late issue of Excalibur where Kitty was on her way to visit her and had to cancel to save a family.  Especially now that Carmen is dead, you would think she would have seeked out her mother at one point.

Back with Leech, I have forgotten that he speaks in broken word balloons.  Luckily, Ape comes along and notices the cat and frees Leech.  Go Leech, save Thanksgiving from Annalee!

The phone rings and of course, Alex ruins everything with answering it and over reacting!  Katie confesses her goals and how she tried to get Cloak and Dagger as well as Spider-Man to come as well.  Julie joins in on raining on Katie’s plans.  Katie runs off crying,m Alex runs off because he can’t handle his emotions.

We cut to outer space.  A horse alien, Kofi, flying a ship, Friday that can speak!  Kofi is from the alien race that gave the Powers children their … uh, powers.

Alex in his temper tantrum, runs into Cloak and Dagger.  They make Alex realize that he is one silly kid and it really Cloak and Dagger that have real problems, both in their past and their current state.

Katie runs into Franklin and Bill as the Smokey the Bear float.  Only you can prevent fires!  and me!

We see the Kermit the Frog float.  Once thing I will never understand about that frog, is what is he holding out for?  Why won’t he just marry Miss Piggy?  He will never find another lady like her, she’s everything one would want in a lady.  Sassy, demanding, and full of confidence.  She rates off the Sassuality Chart.  Which of course is a woman’s Sassiness mixed with her Sensuality.

Leech gets scared by the Kermit balloon and runs into Annalee.  The Kermit float gets tangled with the Smokey the Bear float.  Jack and Julie save a small boy who is tangled in one of the balloon chords.

Power Pack 19 Kitty 2

Kitty runs over to the boy as well, and really saves him.  Wolverine cuts the balloon chords to try to save the parade.

We see the Tasmanian Devil float.  We cut to Snark World, the Snarks (they look like crocodile people) are one of Power Pack’s arch foes.  They may be the horse people’s greatest enemy, I don’t know.

We see the Mighty Mouse float.  At this point, the parade is way out of control.  Now it is Beta Ray Bill’s turn to save the parade.  Alex with Cloak and Dagger notice the panic from the ground.  Power Pack reunites.

Power Pack 19 Kitty 3

Everyone heads over to the Powers’ apartment.

Wait, only Katie was reunited with her siblings.  Alex reunites with Leech and Annalee – who is still being horrible to Leech.  Leech proves he is better than her by caring about her, but it wouldn’t take much to be better than Annalee.  Cloak and Dagger look disgusted by Annalee’s actions.

Power Pack 19 Kitty 4

Power Pack 19 Kitty 5

Now everyone, minus Spider-Man is at the party.  Katie gives a great speech about being miserable and lonely and how being miserable and lonely and being with other like minded people is better than being miserable and alone by yourself.

Power Pack 19 Kitty 6

We skip out on the actual eating, as who needs to see that.  Beta Ray Bill is the first to leave the party.  Next, Kitty and Wolverine.  Kitty made rolls.  Kitty gives Katie some advice about parents.  Then Cloak and Dagger, after Dagger gives Alex a healing kiss on the cheek.  Leech gets a nice outfit and he and Annalee leave.  I believe we see Leech wearing that same outfit like a bunch of times after this.

Mr. Powers comes home.  His wife isn’t doing any better.  The kids are just happy to see him home again.  Their uncle is coming from Japan tomorrow.

Next issue, promises the New Mutants.  I don’t own that issue so Magik must not have been there.  I just checked comicbookdb and only Cannonball, Wolfsbane and Dani show up.  Which is three members so that’s enough to bill it as an appearance of the team.

The back cover shows that Secret Wars II issue 8 is coming out, so that is happening.  Uncanny X-Men 203 is the tie in that month.  So it is before Mutant Massacre, so clearly I don’t know when Annalee’s children are killed off.  From the checklist on the inside back cover, X-Factor one is coming out so the Original Five X-Men are going to be reunited again.  Also tying into Secret Wars II issue 8 : Defenders 152, Avengers 265, Fantastic Four 288, New Mutants 37, and Amazing Spider-Man 274.  I just own issue 8, Uncanny 205 and New Mutants 37 of this lot.  One day we will get to these issues.

. . .

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!  Hope you all have a nice and safe holiday!

Uncanny Avengers 1

Posted by John Klein III on November 27, 2013
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Uncanny Avengers 1

Writer Rick Remender

Artist John Cassaday

Color Art Laura Martin

Letterer VC’s Chris Eliopoulos

Cover Dated December 2012

This is the first I’ve ever seen Chris Eliopoulos associated with VC.

Issue opens with Avalanche’s brain being operated on.

Uncanny Avengers V1 1 Kitty 1

We cut to Wolverine, he is going to give the eulogy at Professor Xavier’s funeral.  In attendance is Kitty Pryde, hence why I bought this issue.

We cut to Captain America, wanting to do more to fix the tension with humans and mutants.  We see him looking at Havok’s stats.  Poor Captain America, it looks like he must be looking at the mutant version of himself.  Blonde, 6′ foot, 175 lbs, with Blue Eyes.

Cyclops is still in prison at this point, surrendering at the end of AvX, he killed Xavier but while under the influence of Dark Phoenix.  We see that Magneto is sadden at the loss of his friend.

Havok visits Cyclops in prison.  He lets him know that they buried Xavier that day.  We get Cassaday drawing the Original Five for a panel.  Shame this is the first time we see the brothers together since poor Alex had to find his own way back to Earth after the Fall and Rise of the Shi’Ar Empire storyline.

Once Alex leaves Scott, we see Captain America approach Alex to lead his Unity Squad.  A team of Avengers with X-Men to show the populace that mutants are okay.  Never thinking the opposite will happen, instead of lifting mutants to the Avengers level, but this might bring the Avengers down to the mutant level.  He offers Alex to get coffee with he and Thor, Thor offers Alex can get a latter if he prefers.  The idea of Thor preferring a latte is interesting.  He’s been on Earth too long.

We get a scene of why Avalanche was having his brain operated on.  His powers have been increased and he has gone insane.  He starts tearing up down town New York City.  Thor shows up to save civilians.  Captain America confronts Avalanche and Avalanche jumps off his self made cliff and dies.  Havok destroys some debris to save some more folks.  First mission out, and already some dead along with a dead villain.

Also on this team,  Scarlet Witch and Rogue.  They have a complicated relationship, not even including the time Wanda decimated the mutant race.  What complicates their relationship is that Rogue has had two important relationships, Gambit and Magneto.  Magneto is Wanda’s father.  It isn’t cool.  Rogue’s other two important relationships are with Carol Danvers and her first boyfriend, Cory but they are not romantic relationships.

I don’t care too much for Captain America’s new uniform costume, suppose to be more realistic but that chin strap is a little too Ultimate for my taste, plus it is a chin strap.  Wanda’s outfit is pretty decent and simple, still has that weird M head piece.  I really like Rogue’s outfit, seems like a more realized outfit, like this is what she has been leading up too.  Also, it may have already been her established outfit, but now she actually wears the hood.  While Rogue is confronting Wanda, there is a giant explosion.  The S-Men confront these two, and they have shut down Rogue’s powers.  We find out that when Rogue goes to grip Wanda’s face, she doesn’t absorb her powers (or her craziness).

We find out that these new foes are called S-Men because their boss is … The Red Skull – now with Xavier’s brain!  It is completely bonkers!

Even more crazy, that they don’t protect Xavier’s body and Red Skull can just straight up walk up and snatch his body hours after the funeral.  Surprised this hadn’t happen more with that giant grave site the X-Men have at the mansion.  Like they didn’t learn anything from Fraction’s Sisterhood arc of Uncanny, when those dames went after Jean’s body.

. . .

With this, Thor Month comes to a close.  Thanks everybody!  This was S&FwM’s first theme month and hopefully the next one works out as well, if not better.  December, I am going to try to do some Christmas reviews.  We are expecting our first born hopefully on the 11th of December, so December might be a bit touch and go but bare with me and I will get back onto some sort of schedule.  I have a couple Plan Bs ready, as it should be a fun and exciting month.

Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 14

Posted by John Klein III on November 26, 2013
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , . 2 Comments

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Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils & Colors Chris Bachalo

Inks Tim Townsend, Jaime Mendoza, Al Vey, Mark Irwin and Victor Olazara

Lettering & Production VC’s Joe Caramagna

I know I state this every time, but I do enjoy Bachalo’s art.

Uncanny X-Men V3 14 Magik 1a Uncanny X-Men V3 14 Magik 1b

Cyclops is having his students climb a steep mountain, without using their powers.

We find out through Angel’s dialogue, that this issue takes place before the All New team and Kitty join Cyclops’ side.  They are coming, just not there yet.

Magik thinks teaching a young Jean Grey will be hilarious.  Funny double take from Emma and Scott.

This issue is essentially the Benjamin Deeds spotlight issue.

Cyclops asks Benjamin to throw a punch.  Cyclops throws the first one, Benjamin goes down hard.  He eventually tries and Cyclops takes him down again.

Nice panel transition from Benjamin getting rain on outside, to showering inside.  Triage tries to make him feel better.  Benjamin is heading to his room, when Emma surprises him and he drops his towel.  She comments on it, matter of factly.

Emma is wearing a type of sexy lady Punisher shirt / dress.  I enjoy Emma the most, when she is teaching and mentoring.  She is going to figure out how his power works and make him full.  Instead of him using his power as a reflex, he should control it.

Emma figures out that his power is not just shape shifting, he does something on a chemical level.  Making the person he is with, comfortable with him, no matter what he looks like or with.

Emma and Magik teleport Benjamin to Atlantic City.  I sort of love the dresses Illyana and Emma are wearing.  Illyana needs a stylish friend.  As much as I love Kitty, she isn’t quite the fashionista – she is the type of dame who just likes to be comfortable.  Their dresses look simple, short black dresses, but also very sleek.

Emma finds Benjamin’s first target and task.  She may have made up the word ‘transmorph’ though it sounds familiar.

Benjamin reveals he is gay, but it comes across as just one of his excuses to get out of the mission.  He tries it and fails miserably.

He finds a lady Kubrick fan, Gemma, and via his powers, turns her from turned off to friendly.  It is nice to see him grow in confidence.

We get a bigger panel of the blondes in their nice dresses.  I hate to draw attention to this type of detail, especially of Bachalo, but in showing tone in Emma’s legs, it looks like you can see Emma’s vagina, which is unfortunate.

We get a great montage on Benjamin using his powers and getting stronger.  Cyclops gets a real mission for Benjamin to complete.  Benjamin enters a building to deliver a letter.  Turns out his power also works on electronics.  We find out that this is a SHIELD office building and Benjamin’s mission is to give Dum Dum Dugan a letter from Cyclops.

We get one of those unfortunate things where in a comic, we get to see the letter Cyclops wrote.  But we actually see the words of the letter and if you think about it, it makes no sense.  We get what must be words on a page, but if it was really typed out, there would be so much white space on that page.  Dugan would surely think Cyclops was a fool.  Scott’s letter is about telling SHIELD to stop their own Sentinel program or SHIELD will be at work with the X-Men.

We find out that once Benjamin is out of vicinity, his powers don’t leave a permanent mark, people figure out something was not right.  SHIELD agents are about to take Benjamin down and Magik teleports him out.

Uncanny X-Men V3 14 Magik final page

Issue ends with Benjamin needing a codename, Emma tries out Morph.  We will have to see if it takes off or not.  I like seeing Cyclops with the red glasses and no cowl.  He should use that look more, maybe I just like seeing his hair.

Fun With YouTube : Super Hero Squad 1×1

Posted by John Klein III on November 25, 2013
Posted in: Cartoon, Fun With YouTube. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

150th Post!

And Lo . .  A Pilot Shall Come

This is the first episode.  It has so many cameos.  The best is from 4:17-20, Kitty Pryde being given a lady civilian from Captain America.

Thanks to YouTuber Super Hero Squad Online for hosting the video.

X-Men Gold 1

Posted by John Klein III on November 24, 2013
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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Now this is how you celebrate the X-Men’s 50th Anniversary.

Look at that gorgeous cover by Olivier Coipel.  That would be a pretty good lineup as well – Kitty, Lockheed, Gambit, Angel, Jean, Bishop, Cyclops, Jubilee, Wolverine and Storm. Someone for everyone.

This issue has five stories, but only one of them has Kitty and Lockheed, and that is the main attraction.

First Story

Writer Chris Claremont

Art Bob McLeod

Letterer Tom Orzechowski

Colorist Israel Silva

This story takes place between Uncanny X-Men 173 and 174.  Bob McLeod is a legend – he gave us The New Mutants, after all.  But how much better would this story have been with Paul Smith on art?  After all, he was that era’s original artist.

This story also proves that if you give an older artist a modern colorist, their style still holds up.

X-Men Gold Lockheed 1

Lockheed is sleeping on Kitty’s shoulders while she is doing homework.  She is also feeling bad about Logan’s failed wedding.  She starts talking aloud about it and this is when Logan sneaks up on her.

X-Men Gold Lockheed 2a X-Men Gold Lockheed 2b

A warning alert happens, Sentinels in China and they wake the team.  The two spread where she informs the team, looks as if Steve Dillon drew it.

Since this is takes place after the wedding, the Starjammers were in attendance and are giving the team a lift to China.  Scott still is deciding if he wants to join his father in space.

Kitty is wearing that blue and white unitard, with that exta white cloth around her shoulders, not sure what you call that item.  She is talking to Rogue and was about to touch her, when Rogue warns her not too.  Kitty isn’t wearing gloves, but Rogue is fully covered besides her head, nothing to worry about.

In China, there is a giant Sentinel.  So giant, that it is capable of manufacturing proper size Sentinels – which are giants themselves.  It is like an action Master Mold.  The Sentinels it creates, can adapt to the situation.

Colossus and Wolverine are too small, so their punches have hardly no effect.  Rogue flies in and tears off an arm.  That arm targets the Starjammers.  The Starjammers are now busy defending themselves against a group of Sentinels, in space.  Lilandra is quick to don her battle armor.  Even Madelyne gets into the action and starts firing a turret.

Kitty remembers her power ruins machines, as Cyclops put her on civilian duty, he doesn’t have much experience with her at this point.  I can see her not speaking up.  She starts fighting Sentinels, as does Lockheed.  His flames look amazing!

Kitty comes up with a plan – daring but also odd.  She is going to phase into Wolverine, Colossus is going to twirl the combination, Lockheed is  going to burn all three of them.

It looks cool, all three are in extreme pain, but it works.

Storm sets off a massive lightning storm and this fries all of the Sentinels.  The team heads back to the Starjammers for drinks.

Second Story

Script Stan Lee

Plot Louise Simonson

Pencils Walter Simonson

Inks Bob Wiacek

Colors Andres Mossa

Letters Tom Orzechowski

Cute story about Beast, Iceman and Angel making fools of themselves to try to win a date with Jean.  Cyclops, at Xavier’s demand, shuts that party down.

Third Story

Writer Roy Thomas

Penciler Pat Olliffe

Digital Inks / Colors Chris Sotomayor

Letterer Tom Orzechowski

Story about Banshee and Sunfire in Memphis.  The story would be better if it didn’t imply it took place two days before Giant Size X-Men 1.  That seems silly, but it leads into the next story.

Fourth Story

Writer Len Wein

Artist Jorge Molina

Letterer Tom Orzechowski

This takes place right after Cyclops is introduced to the All New All Different X-Men team, during Giant Size X-Men 1.  The story is essentially, how would Wolverine kill all of these characters.  The answer is, with his claws.  You also get his first impressions of the team members.  Funny caption about how Thunderbird is Wolverine without the cool powers.

Fifth Story

Writer Fabian Nicieza

Artist Salvador Larroca

Letterer Tom Orzechowski

Colorist David Ocampo

This story takes place within Magneto’s mind as Xavier shuts it down in X-Men 25.  Pretty cool how Xavier wants to give him one last happy thought, even after Magneto has ripped out all of Wolverine’s adamantium.  Reed Richards is there for some reason.  Bastion is in the audience, hinting at Onslaught is coming.

Tom Orzechowski was very busy putting the words into this issue.

Issue ends with short reprints from both Amazing X-Men 1 and All New X-Men 18.  How anyone who reads that snippet from 18 and not buys that issue is insane.

Avengers Volume Three Issue 10

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

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Invincible Writer Kurt Busiek

Living Legend George Perez

Inks Al Vey

Colors Tom Smith

Letters Dave Lanphear

This comic is cover dated November 1998.

Look at that cover.  Cap with his energy shield.  Firestar in her horrible 90s costume.  At this point, Busiek was writing both Avengers and Iron Man.  This issue works as a time capsule of that era.  Also has one of those fold out covers with a previous issue recap and cast of characters.  I loved this feature, it didn’t last but modern Marvel uses this technique on some issues.

In story, New York City is celebrating The Avengers’ return, they have been back from the Heroes Reborn Counter Earth for a year.

Justice and Firestar have graduated from the New Warriors to the Avengers.  Justice is still star struck, Firestar is worried about her power is killing her.

Captain America is worried about this celebration, as he had just finished his own adventure involving hero worship.  Busiek was way tune in with the continuity of the say.

Spider-Man watches from above, knowing that if he got involved with the celebration, something will go wrong.

Vision is in the parade as a hologram, as he is still recovering from injuries if the previous adventure.

Hank Pym causally mentions to Firestar, that he can help her with her power issue.  He will make a new suit for her.  An issue she has had for quite some time and he can just fix it like it was just another thing to do on a list.

Via the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade homage, we get a history of the Avengers.  Followed by an awesome splash page of Perez drawing every Avenger up to that point in time.

Avengers 1998 10 Kitty Pryde

Followed by the whole reason I own this issue.  The X-Men are watching this footage.  Kitty, in her latter day Excalibur outfit, is mad that the X-Men don’t get a parade as they formed around the same time.  The exact year actually, they are both 50 this year, along with Doctor Who and the Kennedy assassination.

A reference to Beast being a member of both teams.  Wolverine, Storm and Rogue are present, they will join the Avengers eventually.  Colossus, Kitty, Nightcrawler, Gambit and Marrow have not yet.

Bruce Banner is also watching the footage from the road.

Hawkeye is bring written out of the title, so that he can join and lead The Thunderbolts.

Scarlet Witch is seeking information from her mentor, Agatha Harkness.  Wanda is gaining stronger strength and power.

We get another splash page of all of the Avengers’ foes.

Daredevil is watching the parade, as well as he can.  He wonders if he will ever join.  He comes up with a lame excuse about too many people around him will throw off his senses.  I believe he did eventually join the New Avengers.

We get a history of Wanda.  I have always been a fan of the Maximoff / Pym family tree.  Magneto, his three children – Wanda, Quicksilver and Polaris.  Hank Pym married Wasp, he creates Ultron, who then creates the Vision.  Vision marries Wanda.  Their children eventually become Young Avengers’ members Wiccan and Speed.  Quicksilver marries Crystal of the Inhumans, their child, Luna, is pure human.

The Fantastic Four are also watching the parade when a bright light overcomes the celebration.  Odd how Human Torch is still the only member to not join the Avengers, he is a family man, I guess.

The bright light was The Grim Reaper, Wonder Man’s brother (I can’t stand Wonder Man – he is essentially the Avengers’ Colossus, in my mind.  He tried to get involved in Wanda and Vision’s marriage.).

Grim Reaper brings back some dead Avengers – Captain Marvel, Doctor Druid, Hellcat, Mockingbird, Swordsman and Thunderstrike.  Of these, only Hellcat and Mockingbird are alive again, that’s pretty impressive.

Also, Wonder Man is back and alive, fully ion now.  I prefer my Wonder Man dead.  He is currently alive as well.

Living Avengers vs. Dead Avengers.

Issue ends with the Dead Avengers winning round one.

Wolverine Volume Four Issue 11

Posted by John Klein III on November 22, 2013
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , . 1 Comment

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Writer Paul Cornell

Penciler Alan Davis

Inker Mark Farmer

Colorist Matt Hollingsworth

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Killable Part Four of Six

First, how great is that cover!  I do enjoy Davis and Farmer.  I even like their take on Wolverine, like how his mask’s ears and how small they are.  Makes him look sleeker.

I missed out on issue ten, but what I can tell, Kitty and Wolverine get trapped in a mall with Sabretooth’s new brand of the Hand, and a slew of mall cops and customers.

Wolverine V4 11 Kitty 1

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Kitty fights these Hand ninjas pretty well.  Wolverine is still trying to get a handle on not having his healing factor.

One of the ninjas straight up kills one of the guards.  Turns out, one of the guards isca stupid mutie hater.  Kitty calms everybody calm.

The Hand was prepared for Kitty, as they rigged the walls with a type of electricity current that blocks her escape.   Wolverine’s senses have also been dampened.

We get a great sight gag, very Scooby Doo-esque, with them going through one door and out another, but in the same hallway.

Hollingsworth does an uncanny job on colors, with a constant blue tone throughout the issue.

The deal with Sabretooth’s new Hand, is that each finger is an elite ninja.

Wolverine pops his claws, and is committed to not sheath them again, until this adventure is done.

Issue ends with the new Silver Samurai attacking Wolverine.

Hopefully Kitty is still involved in the next issue.

What I Bought 2013.11.21

Posted by John Klein III on November 21, 2013
Posted in: Purchases. Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 14

Back Issue

Age of Ultron 8

Exiles 84

What If Volume Two Issue 19

What If Volume Two Issue 12

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

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Storyteller Jim Valentino

Inker Sam Delarosa

Letterer Phil Felix

Colorist Tom Vincent

What If the X-Men Had Stayed In Asgard?

Based off of Uncanny X-Men Annual 9 and New Mutants Special 1

At the end of the the original story, Loki makes the mutants decide to stay in Asgard or return to Earth.   The catch is, the decision must be unanimous.  They all, of course, chose Earth, though it broke some hearts.

This time, Rahne chooses to not leave her wolf prince.  With Dani’s help, some come to realize it is better in Asgard than it is on Earth.

The vote breaks down as :

Staying               Leaving

Rahne                 Cyclops

Dani                    Karma

Sunspot             Wolverine

Doug                   Warlock

Rogue                  Kitty

Cannonball        Colossus

Nightcrawler     Magma

Magik                  Rachel

Storm

Loki decides, that he will let those who want to leave, to go home.  Which is awesome, as if they knew that going in, they may have voted differently.  This way, we know what was in their hearts.

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We get just one panel of what the X-Men look like now.  If I had my way, we would get at least one story with this expanded team.

Cyclops, in a shirt to big for him, that belt is essential

Iceman

Beast, human form

Angel

Rachel, in a black and yellow costume design we will never see again.  It isn’t that bad.

Karma, also in a never used since outfit.

Wolverine

Jean, in an outfit she would never wear

Shadowcat, in an outfit very close to her Evolution  outfit, plus a white mask.

Colossus, armor power but minus his face.  Which is the one spot he really should have armor, that is where he keeps his brain!

Magma, pretty much still has the New Mutants uniform.

What If V2 12 Magik 1

The Asgard mutants, all have a nice space to be :

Rahne, will be in wolf form most likely forever, but with her wolf prince.

Doug is the first official Librarian of Asgard.

Cannonball marries the Drawf King’s daughter.

Sunspot and Nightcrawler become warriors of the land.

Rogue dates Fandrall the Dashing.

Dani stays a Valkyrie.

Magik is the new Enchantress.

Storm is made the official new Goddess of Thunder.

Hela and Karnilla make an alliance to ruin the nine worlds.

Volstagg is trying to cure his ailing daughter, Hildy.  He is looking for the Sword of Surtur.

Magik senses the new alliance, and the trouble it will bring.

While Loki is making a speech, this giant six foot six inch frog tackles him!  Loki makes it so Frog Thor can’t speak, and makes Storm  battle hungry.  This is shown, artistically, via Loki’s bald bald.  Which I haven’t thought of him as being bald.  Also, we see the reverse of the cover’s image.

A giant battle ensues.

Sunspot is the first to die.

Back at the Sword of Surtur, Volstagg falters and pushes a bunch of rocks onto the sword.  This breaks Loki’s spell and Thor is human looking again.

Hela is on the battlefield with her forces and now with Thor, the heroes are united.

Balder the Brave shows up to Karnilla, and promises to marry her and become her king.  Which is all she ever wanted.

The Drawf King is the next known hero to die.  Quickly followed by the wolf prince.

Then the Valkyries kill Hela, Dani delivering the death blow.

There is a time cut.

Thor announces Storm will be the new Queen of Asgard, so that he can pal around with the Avengers.  Which is Namor, She-Hulk, Captain America and Thor.  Pretty decent line up.

Storm rules Asgard according to the old laws Doug finds.

Nightcrawler joins the Warriors Three, since Fandrall has decided to retire and marry Rogue.

Cannonball has a newborn on the way.  I forgot to mention that Sam is drawn very unattractively.

Rahne gives birth to two wolves and a human baby.

They Who Sit Above In Shadow, trick and reward Loki, for his part of bringing peace to the nine worlds and give him complete rule over the nine worlds.  Of course, he rules the nine worlds minutes before the worlds are swallowed by a black hole.

It is nice to read a What If where not everyone dies or the world isn’t completely ruin.

. . .

With this post, I hit my target for Thor month but I am going to try to get a few more added.