You can’t make people love you by lobotomizing them, or traumatizing them, or manipulating them. Thanks, Jan!
I wasn’t thrilled with this issue, until the final page got me back in. Issue opens with Jan talking to Korvac. He’s in love with Carina, but he’s worried she won’t love him back, because of all of the horrible things he’s done. So, he’s tempted to just rewrite history, and erase her memory of the old timeline, and we get Jan’s helpful quote above.
Korvac kills / erases Jan, which upsets Pym, naturally. Bucky and Britainicus Rex, who isn’t used nearly enough, neither is Days of Future Past Storm, but more on that later, show up to help DoFP Storm, and others. Too late to do anything else, really.
Pym & Korvac yell at each other. Hank has the “brilliant” idea to force Carol to trauma dump with Korvac. She doesn’t love the idea, why would she?, but agrees to it. We do get an awesome page of her history, including The Brood Saga, where she turns into Binary. We also get Rogue stealing her powers, and of course, ugh, the Marcus of it all. But The Brood Saga, that’s cool.
Korvac recognizes how cool Carol is, and brings Jan back, and we’re all good now. With a few pages left, I start thinking this was a bit of a waste, a decent enough story, but underwhelming, and does kill my buzz for 2099 The End.
Then everyone is set back to their respected realities. EXCEPT! DoFP Storm is about to commit to her, and the X-Men’s end, and we learn Earth-811 is, well at least this version, is now Earth-813! Korvac is going to help sort this timeline out! That’s pretty cool! Kate Pryde is not seen or mentioned, so this isn’t needed for the collection.
Do we get a fun “The End…?” caption, and I’ll definitely buy a Days of Future Past miniseries, I’m a sucker for those. Kate Pryde has to be seen in that, right?
I did look it up. Earth-812, was established by legends Johnathan Hickman and Tini Howard in X of Swords : Destruction, as one of the Earth’s Liz Braddock is from. She is in a giant group shot of other Captains Britain, but we learn on a text page that she’s from Earth-812. So that is why this Earth is Earth-813.
The potential of future stories does make this mini fun, but also, I’m okay with we don’t get a sequel series. This one would just get summarized in a caption box, or a dialogue exchange.
I love Peach Momoko. I haven’t been keeping up with Sai, as I didn’t have a way to play Marvel Rivals, so I was being butt hurt about anything connected to that game. I can play Marvel Rivals now, and so I’m hoping to all of the opportunities now. I like seeing Beast, and Galactako, who must be a play on Galacta. I like the editorial page in the back, stating this is a five issue series. It isn’t an anthology, it is one complete story, just told in an artistic round robin sort of way. Which is fun, I would have liked that page of explanation closer to the front. I also like Stan Sakai, the legend, Usagi Yojimbo creator himself, doing a few pages.
For these alternative takes, I’m mostly looking for characters I recognize, I got that with Beast, and a fun story to escape to, which I got fully heartly. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series, and I should check out Demon Days, but I know there are no references to Kitty, Lockheed, or Magik, but I should just read it as it is Peach Momoko, doing what she wants to do, freely.
Spider-Man / Superman 1, and I’m actually legit interested in a few covers. Walker D wants the Kaare Andrews cover, and I want the Erik Larsen cover. I just love that it is both Cyborg Superman and Cyborg Spider-Man, such a fun concept!
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With me getting two Spider-Man / Superman covers, I’ll have to keep that in mind as I do my order this month, as I do want to try to stay under $50. I definitely want the regular cover of Ultimate Wolverine 16, for Ultimate Sprite, but Hanna’s variant cover has Magik on it, so maybe I’ll get both?
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The Ultimates is ending with 24.
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Ultimate Endgame 5, hopefully Magik is on one of the four variant covers not shown.
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Ultimate Universe Finale 1, be nice if one of the eight variant covers has Sprite & Magik on it.
I wonder how I read Spider-Man solicits is the way some people read X-Men solicits? There’s just so many books, and I have zero interest in them.
Captain Marvel : Dark Past 1, written by Paul Jenkins, sounds interesting.
Wonder Man 2, hard pass.
Sentry 2, hard pass.
Eternals 50th Anniversary, written by Fallout Boy.
Doom 2099 : Rage of Doom 1, versus Ultron. What are we even doing?
Wolverine : Weapons of Armageddon 2, still looks pretty contained.
Jubilee : Deadly Reunion 1, I do like Jubilee getting a one shot finally. She was the last of the X-Ladies who got solos or minis after Blood Hunt. Hopefully her lost family member isn’t a gangster or a ninja.
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X-Men United 2, the cover that showed us that Kitty Pryde was officially on the team! There’s five variant covers, and I’ll probably buy whichever ones have Kitty on them. I believe I’m getting four covers of issue one? That might be right.
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Magik and Colossus 3, the regular cover does look pretty cool, but if one of the four variant covers is purely Illyana, I’ll get that one. I am going to stay committed to getting Magik comics that I am aware of, but I do think I’m going to focus on only ensuring that I’m keeping up with my Kitty Pryde and Lockheed collection.
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Rogue 4, issue one was amazing.
Cyclops 3, sounds cool.
Inglorious X-Force 4, first issue was pretty solid.
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Moonstar 2, I have to support both Dani, and Ashley Allen. Maybe a Magik appearance on one of the three other variant covers?
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Storm : Earth’s Mightiest Mutant 3, she is having a multiverse story, so maybe some cool characters will appear?
Generation X-23 3, this does sound interesting.
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This feels like I’m screen capping so many comics! I wonder if Magik appears on one of the other four variant covers for X-Men 28?
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Wolverine 18 & 19, this title is double shipping?! Why?! 18 ends Silver Sable, which I liked the first part, and 19 starts a Hercules arc, so that’s probably why, but no comic needs to double ship. At least it isn’t a title I’m buying.
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Is that Kitty Pryde on the regular cover of Uncanny X-Men 26? Maybe it is Mutina in a trainee uniform?
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Uncanny X-Men 27, doesn’t hint at who is on the cover of 26. Also, this is double shipping?!
Uncanny X-Men Annual, is dealing with the aftermath of the Dark Artery arc.
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Deadpool : April Pool’s Day, written by Gail Simone, and is hinting at having a slew of guest stars. We’ll have to wait and see if I need this for my collection.
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Imperial Guardians 2, for that sweet Dark Hawk content.
Sorcerer Supreme 5, I completely missed out on knowing Madelyne Pryor was in issue 3, so I have to pay more attention to this title.
Psylocke : Ninja 4, the first issue was okay.
Sai : Dimensional Rivals 4, the first issue was good.
Marvel Rivals : Duel of Kings 1, Namor vs Black Panther, I’ll have to see if Magik appears in this, or on the variant cover.
The End 2099 5, I’ll have to see if any characters I like show up in this.
Iron Man 4, still with Carmen Carnero on art. So, it will look delicious. I man, gorgorous.
Fantastic Four 10, I saw a slew of fallen heroes on the regular cover, but Logan was the only mutant.
Logan : Black, White, and Blood 4, none of the stories seem to guest star any X-Men. Odd this is listed so far away from the X-Titles.
Hulk : Smash Everything 5, two issues have been out, and it has not been a hero cameo fest like I thought it was going to be.
Godzilla : Infinity Roar 3, this does seem committed to only be space based, so I feel like I can skip this.
Planet of the Apes / Fantastic Four 3, one of these days, the X-Men will star in one of these fun crossovers.
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Alright, let’s see how much damage this is.
Spider-Man / Superman, times two! Andrews and Larsen covers, unless one of the other 20 has a mutant on it.
Ultimate Wolverine 16, at least the regular cover, maybe the Hanna cover as well?
Ultimate Endgame 5, one of the variant covers.
Ultimate Universe Finale 1, one of the variant covers.
X-Men United 2, the regular cover for sure, check for Kitty Pryde variant covers.
Magik and Colossus 3, regular cover would be fine, but check variants.
Moonstar 2, check for a variant cover.
X-Men 28, check for a variant cover.
Uncanny X-Men 26, regular cover for sure.
Deadpool : April Pool’s Day 1, probably have to pass on this one as I’m looking a ten comics, with possibly a few more. I know DCBS gives a better discount with more comics, and the shipping goes down, I believe? Maybe?
This is a lot of comics for me, but this is also the last of the announced Marvel DC crossovers, until they announce another one. Hopefully that one would focus on a mutant. That’ll be nice.
They got me with Magik being on the cover. Magik does not appear in this comic! But it is a cool cover.
Luna Snow is about to put on a concert for the nice folks of Seoul. Some in the audience haven’t forgotten her time on Doom’s Division. But they’re more upset she turned on Doom to side with Sunfire. She didn’t know he was a bad guy, but Sunfire rightfully points out, much later in the comic, that the name should have been a clue.
The record label is done with her, immediately, and hires Vibe, who isn’t as talented, but the manager has particular set of skills to get her over. Let’s get this out of the way now. The manager is secretly Starfox, who is the absolute worst. Should be a warning that he is in this comic. So, this is that warning.
There was also parts where I kept thinking, so we’re doing the Dazzler down slope part of her career for Luna Snow? Where she has to build herself back up, or at least, back in some people’s good graces? Shame she can’t be loved, and we get a fun one shot of her being a huge success with personal drawbacks, or something. People do like an underdog. I just would have liked to see a woman succeed.
Tokyo, one month later. Some guy is harassing her, she asks if his mom cuts his hair, he admits she does, and Luna softens. I really like that moment.
Did you know they have released five KPOP songs for Luna Snow? That’s fun. She’s had two different singers to be her, Hyungseo, and Krysta Youngs. The songs seem good. I haven’t bought them.
Sunfire shows up to help Luna Snow. They go to Vibe’s concert. Her song has something to it, that people can tell it isn’t good, but it is very catchy. Wave is part of Vibe’s security detail. I don’t know Wave that well, besides people like her in Marvel Snap. Wave has special ear plugs, so she can hear, just not the music.
We get the Starfox reveal, ugh. I imagine Thanos rather him not name drop him in his name reveal. The Titan of Desire, double ugh. I just hate emotion manipulators. In comics, and in life. They’re gross. Especially when they lean into the grossness.
Rick Jones shows up. Luna Snow calls him the greatest superhero musician of his generation. He correctly corrects her that Dazzler has that title, so I like that.
It is a good comic, I wanted more from it, but it isn’t an X-Men comic featuring Luna Snow, this is her one shot, so we got Sunfire, that’s the X-Content, with Dazzler references. That should be enough.
We’re back! Issue opens with MacKenzie and Kurt, who I really like together. In a lot of relationships, that first kiss is something to really anticipate. But imagine waiting to be bamfed? And four times?! She wasn’t ready for that.
Kurt wasn’t ready for his surprise birthday! I have to remember this issue come November 11, Kurt and Dave Cockrum’s birthday. That splash page is perfect for that post.
I like all of the love Kurt gets this issue.
Logan notices someone at the door, it is Mutina, who wants to join the X-Men. Logan isn’t having it, and they fight. He thinks she is all talk, that she hasn’t killed anyone, but even if that is true, she’s getting closer to finally killing. She has definitely cut some fools, as she gets two clean hits on Logan. Does she have a Nightcrawler like shadow power? She keeps fading into the darkness. Was she born in the darkness, molded by it? Or has she merely adopted the dark? Do the shadows belong to her?
Mutina has done her homework on the Uncanny X-Men.
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As Logan is confronting her, nearly the full cast of The X-Pets comes out. Ember, the dog shaped Sentinel, all of Gambit’s cats. Mutina tries to feed good boy, Ember, but he doesn’t want her food. The cats literally eat up the cat food she brought for them.
Mutina discloses information about The Outliers. She implies Calico burned her family home down, but I feel like that was heavily implied before.
Ransom threw four kidnappers out a window, which we also knew.
Jitter hurt a girl so badly, she can barely walk. I feel like this may have been a bully, which you shouldn’t beat a bully until they can’t walk, but you have to stand up to bullies. Or tell someone at your school, as there should be zero tolerance for that. Or she hurt someone who shouldn’t have been hurt, and there’s a story there.
Where there is a story is Deathdream. He apparently has a brother, and the story is awful. We do know that he is almost on the verge of tears whenever Ransom calls him, brother, so there’s a story there that I want to be told about.
What was in her box? Cupcake or thumbs? It was cupcake!
So, I’m liking Mutina, until I don’t. Logan goes inside, and we see she has a knife up to MacKenzie’s throat. Poor MacKenzie is in tears. Kurt talks Mutina into a duel. Mutina gets a cut on Kurt. He tells her she’ll never be an X-Man, but there is a path, which is odd. So, she could be an X-Man?
I’m glad Jed MacKay doesn’t write the X-Men this way, but then again, his Age of Revelation was a pretty epic story, told over multiple pages, and issues. This issue is the Avengers talking at Kang, as he’s up to one of his classic Kang attacks. I think, I was looking for Storm, and any X-Men appearing. Storm gets a cool, “What is the meaning of anything, Kang,” with her hands on her hips. Kang, you are so lucky she isn’t stabbing you with all of her knives.
Scarlet Witch brings up friendships.
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We see Juggernaut and Quentin Quire playing baseball, and jerk me, immediately asks, “these two are who you show for the X-Men?!” But right below that panel, we see Magik talking to FalCap, and the rest of the X-Men and Avengers. I want to know more about those two talking? Does Magik keep bringing up his “boy / girl thing” that he said to her in Civil War II? Then she teleported him to Hollywood, and out of the fight? I bet she brings it up.
Avengers appear to defeat Kang, but then he asks which one of them will survive the death of this universe, so we’re still rocking Kang stories for the next two issues.
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Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler Mark Bagley
Inker Scott Hanna & John Dell
Colorist Frank D’Armata
Letterer Cory Petit
For this big anniversary issue, Brian Michael Bendis, and Mark Bagley, one of my all time favorite creative teams, came back for a fun little backup story. We get the Big Three – Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor, chatting it up. Fighting Viper, who I’ve liked ever since she married Logan, that one time. My one problematic fave. Hulk shows up. Captain Marvel shows up. Beast, having a big start to the year. Scarlet Witch, and Wasp. We get just the best final page ever, as it is the Avengers Anniversary, in-universe, and everyone shows up!
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Including Kitty Pryde, asking Logan, “uh, Logan? Is this an X-Men thing, or an Avengers things?” She’s the best, and we get our first Kitty Pryde of 2026!
X-Men I see : Sunfire, Sunspot, Namor, Cannonball, Logan, Kitty Pryde (not an Avenger, yet, maybe?), Quicksilver,
The People’s Princess, Crystal, is there, Tigra too. Moon Knight, She-Hulk, Monica Rambeau.
Peach Momoko, Zach Daivsson, and Travis Lanham give us such a compelling penultimate issue! I believe we only have one more after this.
We are introduced to Makoto Amano, who I feel is very Doug Ramsey coded, but I may be completely off base here.
Issue opens with Akihiro still being tortured, so we shouldn’t forget that is happening.
Every couple pages, like chapter breaks, we get this very intriguing hand written information.
# 0 Amano, who is the escaped 256.
# 1 March 2024, Hisako. 256 is telling Mei that Armor is still around. But he’s like a ghost?
# 4 June 2024, Nico. Nico gets a warning from a pair of floating red eyes.
# 5 July 2024, Secret Society X-Men, I want this spin off!
# 5 July 2024, Natsu. Amano taunts Natsu, which isn’t very nice.
# 8 October 2024, Meat case. Good reminder that Kanon’s brother was one of the first characters introduced.
# 9 November 2024, Kanon. Amano helps Kanon channel her ancestors through her stick.
# 9 November 2024, friend. Mei hasn’t given up on Armor yet. Didn’t issue 22 end with Christmas? Interesting that we have gone back to fill that skipped time.
# 11 January 2025, New Home. Natsu is taken back in with the Children of the Atom. Who Amano hates as much as he does the X-Men it seems.
# 12 February 2025, Purpose. Mei is told Armor is still out there.
# 13 March 2025, Crew. Natsu isn’t sure if she deserves to be part of the team. She should be part of the team!
# 22 December 2025, Result. Did Mei get merc-ed? We see her face, with what appears to be blood coming at her, from her? I’m not sure. Such a crucial page to not know what is happening?! Amano clearly did something to her, as he floats into the sky, and appears to be another shadow like being?
What the heck is going on?!
Issue ends with Hi-Chan, maybe? Seeing Iron Lad’s big speech.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 