New Warriors Volume Five Issue 1

Posted by John Klein III on September 6, 2016
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

New Warriors V5 1

Writer Christopher Yost

Art Marcus To

Color Art David Curiel

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover Dated April 2014

I don’t have a faithful history with the New Warriors.  I only read the issues of the first volume that featured the Scarlet Spider.  I do like the team, in concept, as I like Firestar, Justice and Nova.  Speedball too, now that I think of it.  The Big Four!  I read all eleven issues of volume two, that was going to be my era of New Warriors but it didn’t last long.  Volume Three was what set up Civil War.  I didn’t even realize there was a fourth volume before this one.

Thanks to Marvel Database for having that easy reference –

http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/New_Warriors_Comic_Books

I bought this issue, as it is the last appearance of my favorite ROM villain of all time!  Which might not be saying much but after writing my review of ROM Annual 3, I needed only five more issues to own all of the appearance Hybrid made.  Hastings only had this one but at least they had one of them, I put in a request for the other issues but they haven’t arrived yet – or ever will, I imagine.

Issue opens with a bleeding Bova, so I’m already suspicious as I sort of have a soft spot for that lovely talking cow lady.  She’s all heart and she’s definitely the best of High Evolutionary’s crew.  Though it does look like High Evolutionary is the one attempting to murder her – and apparently, has killed some of the other New Men.

Justice and Speedball are the first two New Warriors that we see.  I would say that those two are musts so that the team can be called, The New Warriors.  Though I believe Speedball has been the only veteran a few times, in the past.

New Salem, Colorado.  The two are fighting Salem’s Seven, a villain group I’m not that familiar with.  The two groups are fighting only because Speedball mistook Brutacus for a villain.

Mazatlan, Mexico.  Keeping the one time tradition of having a Scarlet Spider on the team, Kaine – the new Scarlet Spider, is going to join this team.  Kaine also went with the blonde look to separate himself from Peter.  Kaine, who will always be “Kaine” to me.  He has a gal pal, Aracely, who I only really know from those two Scarlet Spider issues I read, issue 17 of his own series.  I would have bought 18 but Hastings didn’t get that issue in.

The two are away from Houston, for supplies and food.  There is a mugging occurring that Kaine doesn’t want to stop as it isn’t his problem.

Like a good Spider person, the Scarlet Spider arrives to stop the mugging.  Aracely is going by, Hummingbird, who didn’t get much play in that one comic.  She’s on the cover, above the Scarlet Spider.

Kaine Scarlet Spider

That costume is a major step up from his original 90s costume but it still doesn’t come close to the original Scarlet Spider, Ben Reilly’s costume.  I’m a huge sucker for that red unitard and blue sweatshirt costume.  If I were to cosplay, I would totally go as the Scarlet Spider.  The costume seems easy to make and I love it, so I just need the excuse.

This must be early in Kaine’s superhero career as Hummingbird appears to be pushing him along the heroic path.  If I recall correctly, he was more of a bounty hunter / gun for hire type of fella.

Kaine needs to work on his bedside manner as he starts yelling at the would be victims for putting themselves in that position.

There is a two page splash for Uncanny X-Men 19 by Bendis / Bachalo, Uncanny Avengers 18 by Remender / Acuna and Avengers 16 by Hickman / Morales.  These came out in March 2014, the biggest creators and the best characters.

New York City.  Sun Girl, a new character from what I can tell.

http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=71623

This was during the great Superior Spider-Man era and she first showed up as a recurring character in SpOck’s Team-Up title.  Then she dd these 12 issues and haven’t been seen since All New Invaders 13, that came out the month after the 12th issue of this series.  So just a year of not being seen, but that could be the last for a while, since Secret Wars 2015 happen.

Sun Girl is chasing down a criminal.  This reminds me that the second volume of New Warriors had a couple of new faces in it as well.  I also like how, with the first volume, it was under the Spider-Umbrella at one point and this team already has three characters from the Spider-Office in it now.

New Salem.  Justice and Speedball are hanging out with Vertigo and Brautacus.  Justice and Vertigo go for a walk as the other two play video games.  New Salem has become a haven for people born of magic.  Justice is down as he is trying to reclaim the New Warriors title, as people still associate the name with the Stamford incident.  So the team name was lent to Iron Man as Volume Four was an Initiative series.

If Vertigo, the daughter of the devil, can build a new reputation, Justice and the New Warriors should be able too.  Having Speedball on the team, probably doesn’t help matters.

A bright light appears ad three robots are on the scene.  They refer to Justice as a half-breed mutant, so he has to be purged.

Mexico.  Aracely is unhappy with Kaine, as they lay on the beach.  She wants him to use his powers responsibly but he tells her that’s Peter’s nonsense.  They notice the ocean is red, with the bodies of Atlantians.  From Atlantis, comes Faira Sar Namora – she’s looking for heroes  Which reminds me, Namorita is one of the founding members of the New Warriors, I take it this new Namora is her substitute.

New York City.  Sun Girl has made it to the subway and sees those robots attempting to kill the Morlocks.  Poor Morlocks, that’s all writers know how to do with them, to massacre them.  We see Sunder and Marrow, along with a few others.

New Warriors V5 1 Hybrid 1

Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The New Nova, Sam Alexander, is taking on Hybrid.  Nova isn’t doing well, mostly as looking directly at Hybrid, is unsettling.  Hybrid reverts back to his James Marks human persona.

New Warriors V5 1 Hybrid 2

With Nova’s guard down, Hybrid goes for the kill but gets attacked from behind!  Those robots arrive here, claiming Hybrid’s blood is tainted.  He’s half Dire Wraith and Human.

Nova is attacked from behind.

New Warriors V5 1 Hybrid 3

Once Nova is knocked out, High Evolutionary starts talking – which is the way to do it.  First knock out your opponent, then start your monologue.  That way, you get to say your peace and you don’t have to worry about a fight after talking so much.

He has named the robots, the Evolutionaries – for such a smart guy, it isn’t that clever of a name.

The Evolutionaries only say they “got Hybrid” so he could not be dead but he hasn’t been used since.

I’ve checked Marvel Database for the rest of the eleven issues and Hybrid isn’t seen nor mentioned again.

Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 7

Posted by John Klein III on September 5, 2016
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Doctor Strange V4 7

Writer Jason Aaron

Pencils & Colors Chris Bachalo

Inks Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Mark Irwin, John Livesay, Victor Olazaba & Jaime Mendoza

Letters Cory Petit

Last Days of Magic, Part Two

Years Ago.  And Very Far Away.  We are given the leader of the Empirikul’s origins.  His parents were scientists in a land of magic.  They put their son and the eyebots into a ship and sent him away – Superman style.  I do like how his parents’ home is all in white (and they wear white too) and then the mages start coming in and all of this red is in the scene.

They worship Shuma-Gorath, who I recognize as an established character – he has a giant eye.  He was the threat in Wolverine First Class 12.  Such a great comic, he has mostly dealt with Doctor Strange and the Fantastic Four.

http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=8665

I must have read him in Marvel Knights 4, Marvel’s hardest series to do a search for.

Now, New York City. The leader, does he get name checked, I don’t believe so.  The eyebots refer to him as, The Imperator, in the Last Days of Magic oneshot.  I’ll start calling him that then.

Imperator is haunting the tied up magicians.  Strange is familiar with Shuma-Gorath, he has fought it several times.  Imperator doesn’t care about Shuma-Gorath, he cares about the type of people who would worship that sort of thing.  Imperator reinforces how much he wants to rid the universe of magic.  Strange saves some brave words but Imperator is going to burn him last.

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 1

Who will Imperator burn first?  Magik!  Makes sense to start with the biggest threat.  Bachalo draws the heck out of Illyana.  Imperator finds her attractive but that doesn’t impress Magik much.

Before fire can be set to her boots, Monako arrives – who strikes me as the magic world’s Puck but with a top hat.  He wasn’t taken captive and Imperator underestimates him.  Strange wants him to run but Monako has a plan.  Monako reveals that magic isn’t dead, it is merely hiding.

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 2

Monako uses the last of his magic to teleport the captured heroes away.  Imperator, a word I just can’t keep in my head.  It usually means a great general or emperor – an empire’s commander.  Imperator is going to give Monako a world of hurt!

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 3

Strange is adamant about getting back to Monako, Magik seems to be in shock.

Imperator tells the eyebots to search the entire planet for the mages.  Smart to go to Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum.  Zelma hears the droids and goes into the cellar to hide.  Even though the door to the cellar is clearly marked “NEVER ENTER” she does it.  I imagine she didn’t read the door.

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 4

Damion Hellstrom wants to honor Monako’s memory by moving forward.  Magik wants to go back to save Monako.  Strange is all for going back, but no one hasn’t a teleportation spell they can cast.  Which is insane!  Magik’s teleporting has nothing to do with magic, that relates to her mutant powers – she has never had to say a mystic word to port around the place.  Why doesn’t she left her soulsword and teleport out of there?  Bachalo should have told Aaron that, or maybe an editor?  Maybe that’s why Illyana is never involved in these situations or crossover, she’s to powerful.  Everything turns to Strange for guidance.

Meanwhile, Monako is putting on a brave face to Imperator, who has tied Monako to one of those trees of his.

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 5

Strange jumps off a ledge and lands on a hidden platform, which confirms that magic is still around.  He wants everyone to split up and find as many mystical items as possible.

Magik, who can be a downer from time to time – she had a rough childhood, doesn’t believe they stand a chance.  Maybe she could call in the X-Men and the Guardians to save the day?  What are they doing where they can’t help out?

Issue ends with Monako burning on the stake.

Hopefully Magik keeps appearing in this storyline, as it is getting good.  I may have to read issue eight, even if she isn’t in it.

Doctor Strange : Last Days of Magic 1

Posted by John Klein III on September 4, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

Doctor Strange Last Days of Magic 1

Zelma Stanton Framing Sequence

Writer Jason Aaron

Artist Leonardo Romero

Colors Jordie Bellaire

Letters Cory Petit

Spanish Translation by Veronica Worrells

This 45 page comic is broken down to two other parts.  I spent so much time reading this comic at Hastings.  Marvel Database said Magik was in it so I kept looking for her, I was looking for her soulsword and maybe her black glove holding it, I could not find her.  They should have called this comic, Last Page of Magik, then I would have been able to zero in on her.  Basically, I’m only attached to the framing sequence now.  Actually, from what I can tell, the above art team handled everything but the Doctor Voodoo pages and The Wu pages.

Doctor Voodoo

Writer Gerry Duggan

Artist Danilo Beyruth

Colors Dan Brown

The Wu

Writer James Robinson

Artist Mike Perkins

Colors Andy Troy

Jason Aaron has come a long way since his Wolverine and the X-Men days.

Doctor Strange Last Days of Magic 1 Recap Page

I own issue four and I’ve added issue six to my Wishlist, which works as a prologue to this storyline that kicks off with this issue.  So here is what happened since issue four, I believe.  We get only the one recap sentence.  The Empirikul are killing masters of magic and magical landmarks.

Eight Days Ago.  The Sanctum Sanctorum.  Doctor Strange’s librarian, Zelma Stanton, isn’t enjoying her task of organizing the library.  One of the books melts her gloves and another one gives her a rash.  She finds a book about Doctor Mystical, which transitions us to –

Now.  Deep in the Lacandon Jungle of Mexico.  We see an army of Empirikul, who look like short cute Stromtroopers, but with big round balls instead of proper helmets.  Their name is suppose to evoke “Empire Kill” right?  That’s what they do?  I’m sure that is on purpose.  Doctor Mystical causes a rain of sharks, which seems to kill some of the Empirikul.  I like how Doctor Mystical’s Spanish isn’t translated.

Then.  Zelma does the weakest transition I’ve ever seen with her just smelling gumbo and thinking of Doctor Voodoo.

Now.  Nice that Jericho didn’t have to give up his “Doctor” title when he was no longer the Sorcerer Supreme.  He lives New York to go protect his armory in New Orleans.  I guess his brother no longer haunts him as Mr. Marguandi does now.  Voodoo corrects the ghost that he isn’t Mister but Doctor now.  Voodoo narrates how Strange’s magic is otherworldly, so that’s why he isn’t as strong these days.  Voodoo’s magic comes from the Earth so he’s still in the fight.  Voodoo is restocking as someone taunts him outside.

The Empirikul have found Doctor Voodoo.  He actually does pretty well until his powers begin to fade.  The Empirikul has finally weaken the Earth based magic.  Voodoo is on his knees, read for death.  Before they can kill him, they optic magic blast Doctor Voodoo’s armory – which he was kneeling right next to.  Voodoo feels pretty badly that all of those items are gone.  They turn their attention to him and do the trick again.  They believe they kill him but he used Pym Particles and was out of sight.  This section ends with him not knowing how they are going to defeat the Empirikul.

Then.  Zelma sees tow books – Xu is burning and Doomveor is humming.

Now.  A secret monastery of mystic monks trained a young man in their arts and ways.  He would later return to murder them all.  All but one of them, Mahatma Doom – the nega-Doom.  Doctor Doom, naturally, was the one who killed all of the monks.  Professor Xu arrives to provide support against the invading Empirikul.

Then.  Zelma is becoming exhausted in her task.  Wong recognizes the book, the Medico Mistico.  This reminds him of an earlier adventure of Doctor Strange’s.

Past.  Strange is chasing any leads he can to find Dormammu.  Strange meets August Wu of the Coral Shore, Hong Kong’s magical guardian.  Strange seems taken with her.  She takes him to her home and introduces him to her husband (who is a police officer) and her daughter, Alice Gulliver.  Alice is full of attitude and teenage angst.  Strange later found Dormammu and found that fight.  Unfortunately Wu found the demon she was chasing and didn’t fare as well.  When she died, her daughter’s hair changed from brunette to pink.

Now.  Alice Gulliver is a police detective who uses magic to fuel her bullets.  Her captain is aware of her magic abilities, which is smart.  She’s chasing some non-Empirikul villains and takes them out pretty easily.  I imagine she’ll be pretty important later in this event.

Then.  Zelma finds a book that stinks of Vodka, with “Kaoz” on the cover.

Now.  Egypt.  The Empirikul have taken Kaoz captive.  I sort of like this guy.  When he was nine, he ate a bear.  Turns out, it was a magic bear.  Oh, he’s a brand new character, appearing in issues 4, 6 and 7 of Doctor Strange’s current series.  So I own all but the sixth issue, I’ve requested Hastings to find me a copy of it but it isn’t working out.

Once, Kaoz killed 20 Croatian Devil boards with only his spit.  He has a magic plate in his head.  His section ends with him going face first into a crowd of the Empirikuls.

Then.  Zelma can’t believe there is this much magic in the world.

Now  Zelma feels magic being eliminated in the universe.

Doctor Strange Last Days of Magic 1 Last Page of Magik

Some guy, I imagine he leads the Empirikuls, is ripping Doctor Strange’s red cloak, the Cloak of Levitation.

Zelma believes that magic just died, with that act.

We see that the Empirikuls have the following mages tied to stakes – Mahatma Doom, Kaoz, Professor Xu and El Medico Mistico.  Somehow, between Kaoz and Xu is Magik!  How did she get taken!?!  They went to Limbo and got her, I imagine?

Pretty good issue and the stakes are at an all time high!  I’m sure issue seven explains how Magik was take.

Angela Queen of Hel 7

Posted by John Klein III on September 3, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Angela Queen of Hel 7

Writer Marguerite Bennett

Main Story Artist & Color Artist Kim Jacinto & Israel Silva

Substory Artist Stephanie Hans

Letterer & Production VC’s Clayton Cowles

Cover Artist Stephanie Hans

Recap Page Artist Julian Totino Tedesco

Part Two of Two

This is the continuation of the following series – Angela : Asgard’s Assassin & 1602 Witch Hunter.  This would be the 17th issue, if it wasn’t for reboots.

Angela Queen of Hel 7 Recap Page

Angela and Sera present the recap page, though Sera does all of the talking.  The two of them conquered Hel, dethroning Hela.  They even took the extra step to create a new afterlife for the slave angels.  They have a daughter, Leah, who I met during Secret World 2015’s Siege.  That will come into play later.  Sera goes meta and states that this series hasn’t been super well received, I get the impression it has a super loyal fanbase but that fanbase isn’t large.  Secret Wars 2015’s series, 1602 Witch Hunter, had its own Angela – who has now crossover to the All New All Different Marvel.  So that makes Contest of Champions and this issue as issues that have dealt with Secret Wars 2015 directly, or at all.  That Angela is now, Faustia, probably so characters could talk without having to distinguish between the two Angelas.

New York City.  Central Park, Now.  Faustia has Angela, Sera, Leah and Thor captives.  Faustia was promised certain things from God Doom but he didn’t deliver.  She wants to rule a kingdom.

Angela Queen of Hel 7 Magik hinted at

Leah will make a deal, she wants seven years and after that, she will give Faustia a kingdom.  Faustia has her own Sera but it is spelt, Lady Serah.  If Leah fails, Faustia can have Leah’s soul.  Leah has nothing to live for as she once knew love and can’t find it in this new world.  Faustia accepts the dea.

Year One, New York City.  Leah hasn’t changed much and is still going to school.  To be honest, I’m not really sure what these seven years are suppose to represent.  It just sees like Leah made a deal and then forgot about it.  Leah likes Sera to read her stories.  I do like the commitment to make Angela a lesbian, that I believe was strongly hinted in Bendis’ Guardians of the Galaxy – I’m not sure if it was hinted at over in the pages of Spawn.

Year Two, Los Angeles.  Sera makes a “City of Angels” joke, that she’s been wanting to do for 17 issues – a fun meta reference!  Leah clearly takes after Sera, especially with the green outfits – starts singing a song that ends with “get the Hel out.”  These ladies are pretty clever.

Angela Queen of Hel 7 Magik Mention 1

Year Three, New York City.  Leah is sad as she still can’t find the Magik she fell in love with from Secret War 2015’s Siege.  I’ve checked all 17 issues, as far as I can tell, this has been the only reference to Magik in the past seven issues and the 1602 series.  If I missed a reference, like the hint from two images above, please let me know.

I wonder and hope if Leah can still meet our Magik – as who knows, maybe Leah can sway Illyana.  As a woman’s sexuality is a moving target.

HIMYM 5x3 Robin 101 Lilly Womans Sexuality is a Moving Target

Thanks to Pinterest user, Karlee Butler for having the above image.  Oh Lily, she really is perfect.

How I Met Your Mother, was such a great show.

They were such a great couple i in Siege, they flipping saved the flipping day, they did!

Year Four, the depths of space.  The family meets the future Guardians – Kitty doesn’t appear, which is a huge missed opportunity.  Groot is there as is Drax, Quill and Gamora.  Apparently, in an upcoming adventure, Sera loses her wings to save Leah, to the Collector.

When will Kitty and Angela finally meet?  We need an issue with Pryde, Gamora and Angela.  I know Angela will be in an upcoming issue of Guardians of the Galaxy.  Which for me, would be an issue after seven for that series.

Year Five, New York City.  So are we five years into the All New All Different Marvel Universe?  Also does it even matter, I imagine nothing is really altered or prophesied in this issue.

Leah meets male Loki, and they make references to how Leah wishes this was girl Loki.  Loki knows a Leah, but not this one.  Leah makes another meta reference about tie-ins.  Which I’m all for.

Year Six, the Invasion of Heven.  As Angela and Sera invaded Hel, now they invade Heven.  It isn’t working out for them.  There is talk of a Hierophants engine but these pages are sort of a lost to me, they look good though.  They do win the day and Heven gets some new residents.

Year Seven, New York City.  Christmas time.  Sera gives Angela a new song and Angela gives Sera a flute – they get each other.  Angela really isn’t the focus of this issue.  Neither does it feel like plotlines are being tied up.

Leah gets a box that glows from within, it is what she wanted but who knows what it is.  Is it Siege Magik?  I hope so!

New York City, Central Park.  Now.  So the past seven years, all happened inside the ladies’ minds from the beginning of the issue.

Elysium, the afterlife of the angels.  Leah gives Elysium to Faustia, so she can be the fallen angels’ new queen – so everyone is happy.  It seems all very low stakes to me but maybe that’s the point.  But what was the point of those seven years pages?

New York City.  Thor leaves as Angela realizes Leah had a plan the entire time  Leah gets a car and takes off for an epic road trip.

Three Days Later, The Brooklyn Bridge.  Angela and Sera seem happy to relive the next seven years together, it worked out so well the last time.  They might try to recreate those future adventures and find jobs to pay for their homes.  Though I imagine Stark could buy his former Guardian a home.

Angela Queen of Hel 7 Marguerite Bennett Letter

With that, this series comes to an end.  Marguerite Bennett wrote a nice letter to the readership on March 30, 2016 while in Los Angeles.  I wasn’t going to post it but it really is very sweet.  I should try to get these trades, to send Marvel a message that this series was good.  Plus, I want Leah and Magik together!

Star Lord 6

Posted by John Klein III on September 2, 2016
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Star Lord 6

Writer Sam Humphries

Artist Javier Garron

Color Artist Antonio Fabela

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover by Dave Johnson

Out of Orbit, Chapter One

After wasting five issues and months, Sam Humphries gets back to writing who he writes best!

Star Lord 6 Recap Page

That isn’t fair, I’m sure Marvel told him that he had to spend five issues reexamining Peter Quill’s origins, even though no other All New All Different Marvel title spent five issues retelling anyone’s origins.  Did Marvel want StarKat to be over?  Did Bendis want it?  If Bendis wanted them broken up, did he not want to deal with the heavy lifting of examining that plot in his Guardians title?  Both Bendis and Humphries write a terrific Kitty Pryde so last long as both get to keep doing it, I’m okay with her being out of the relationship.

I really enjoyed Garron’s work on Secret Wars 2015’s Inferno miniseries, his Nightcrawler redesign (if that’s even the word for it, transformation might be better) and how delightfully evil Darkchylde was, he got to handle some twisted material.  I”m glad he got this opportunity to do some lighter fare.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 01

Issue opens with Pryde and Quill evoking Kitty’s classic “Xavier is a Jerk” phrase.  We also begin a nine page sequence where we get both of these character’s point of view.  It climaxes in an awfully fun way.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 02

Quill is talking to Gamora, who has no sympathy for him.  Pryde is talking to Rocket, who really need a buddy book!  Garron does a great job of staging with these mirrored pages.

Humphries gets crazy amount of points for having Pryde be on the planet of the Kymellians, the horse race that gave Power Pack their powers.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 03

Rocket mostly wants Pryde back as she has made game nights so much better.  I want an issue of those, or at least, the ending scenes of those.  I do like the tight continuity of Pryde’s complaints about the weird steam shower that they have to use on the Guardians’ ship.  Grimm enjoys it.

She doesn’t want to live on the same ship as Quill but he has moved to his own ship, to avoid her.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 04

Pryde implies that she was the one that was dumped, which surprises both Rocket and myself.  I would always imagine that she just came to her senses.

Gamora is right, that Quill is the jerk in this situation.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 05

Both Quill and Pryde evoke Taylor Swift’s “we’re never ever ever getting back together again.”  Both of the other Guardians recommend the other talk to the other.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 06

We get the highlight reel of StarKat.  Quill proposing to Pryde during Black Vortex.  Holographic Pryde breaking Quill out of prison during Legendary Star Lord 3 and one of their later dates (issue 6).  They finished with Quill apologizing to Pryde, in snow -from Legendary Star Lord 4.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 07

One of the Kymellians invites Pryde to the Twilight Festival but she’s exhausted.  I do like her in her outfit there.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 08

Kitty is watching James Stewart’s Oscar-winning performance in The Philadelphia Story – an amazing film!  Humphries is continuing proving how big of a Katherine Hepburn fan Kitty is.  She can’t sleep and decides to text Quill.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 09

This begins a bit of a textng-athon.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 10

This climaxes in the two of them coming together, which is a pretty sensational way of bringing the mirroring to an end.  I like how both of them instantly regret doing this, which feels super real.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 11

The two try to begin an awkward conversation, they finish an old joke –

Heart of a Lion Lifetime Ban from Zoo

A joke that I’ve never heard of before and had to look it up as I wasn’t sure if it was from a movie or not.  Took me a  second longer than I care to admit for me to get it.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 12

Quill, proving he is the worst, really is upset that Pryde took the name “Star Lord” while he was King of Spartax.  Of all of the childish shit to be upset over.  I’m glad she didn’t change the moniker to something silly like “Star Lass” or some other knock off of a Legion of Superheroes name.  I also don’t think she really needed to take the name either but in a very short time, she proved his superior – again.

Pryde is right that Quill abandoned his job, his team and her.  He’s right that she is in fact the galaxy’s sweetheart.  They both get calls and part ways.

Back on Quill’s ship, his computer Lydia, is giving him a hard time for being a colossus idiot.  He gets a call to meet Tony Stark, a previous member of the Guardians – under Bendis’ tenure.  Quill thinks Stark is super kewl, so they are both idiots.  Stark needs Quill for a mission but not just Quill.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 13

Tony needs two Star Lords!  Pryde even looks better in that outfit than he does!

Star Lord 6 StarKat 14

Neither one can believe the other is tagging along.  How did Stark even convince her to go on this mission?  Once they are gone, we see that he was really Raksor the Skrull.

http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=20564

Raksor has eight appearances to his credit.  His first appearance was in Uncanny X-Men 137, Phoenix 1 is in my wishlist.  He was part of a Fantastic Four (Annual 19) and Avengers (Annual 14) crossover.  He naturally was in the Skrulls 1 one-shot in 2008, which I own and is a complete history handbook style book, so he first appeared in 1980, showed up in an issue that explains the background of the Dark Phoenix Saga and then appeared in a comic properly four years later for those two annuals.  He took off for 23 years for that one shot retrospective and isn’t seen again in an official capacity until Humphries brought him back in Legendary Star Lord 5 & 6 in 2015, another seven years later but a full 30 years after his last in-story appearance.  That’s some deep backlog searching and I’m all for it.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 15

On a frog shaped space ship.  The two Star Lords are bickering as this is clearly a fool’s errand.  While investigating the ship, they end up fighting alternate outfits of themselves.  We see classic X-uniform Kitty, Excalibur blue sweater Kitty, the classic roller skater outfit from Uncanny X-Men 149 and her green Ariel outfit.

I’ve seen these previous outfits of Quill’s before and I’m not impress.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 16

Both Star Lords enjoy punching the Quill outfits, they have to be Skrulls, right?

Star Lord 6 StarKat 17

Both Star Lords are knocked out and wake up strapped to chairs.  Pryde lets us know that the chairs are comfy.

Star Lord 6 StarKat 18

The Collector, who Howard the Duck recently took care of (and Kitty was part of that adventure, in a smaller role) is back hosting the galaxy’s hottest talk show – Kiss and Tell!

We’re for sure getting next issue, these are exciting times for this title!

Old Man Logan Volume Two Issue 5

Posted by John Klein III on September 1, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Old Man Logan V2 5

Writer Jeff Lemire

Artist Andrea Sorrentino

Color Artist Marcelo Maiolo

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Bordertown, Part One of Three

Once again, I don’t have much connection with Old Man Logan.  I’ve read issue 71, issue five of his first volume and now this fifth issue of his second volume.  Oh, and his appearances in Extraordinary X-Men.

Here is what has been happening in the previous issues –

Old Man Logan V2 5 Recap Page

Now that Old Man Logan finds himself in the present, he wants to ensure that his future can never come to pass.  Though why he doesn’t just keep disappearing and staying the heck away from the X-Men, is beyond me.  If a group of villains attack the school, Old Man Logan just needs to make sure he walks out the back door and everyone should be okay.  I guess in the previous four issues, Old Man Logan has had a sequence of guest appearances.

X-Haven.  Refuge for Mutantkind and Headquarters of the X-Men.  Located in the Limbo dimension.  Storm is hanging out with some students but Old Man Logan wants to ask her something.  He wants a leave of absence.

Old Man Logan V2 5 Magik mention

Storm is okay with him leaving, as long as he takes a mini-Cerebras.  He doesn’t want any support from the X-Men but Storm wants him to have it, in case they need him.

Storm offers to have Cerebra or Magik teleport him someplace, which is enough for me to buy this issue.  He just needs to leave Limbo, he can take care of the rest.

Old Man Logan travels to Killhorn Falls, Northwest Territory of Canada.  This is where he lived his later years from his timeline.

He meets a young Maureen, a teenage version of his future wife.  This guy, can’t stop finding younger versions of women he loves.  Maureen welcomes him into their community, after he scares off some bullies.  He is going to try to settle down here and be a part time X-Man, I guess.

Issue ends with Lady Deathstrike, her first appearance since Wolverines and Secret Wars 2015 and a new gang of Reavers.  Hopefully Maureen makes it out of this stroyline alive.

Guardians of Infinity 5

Posted by John Klein III on August 31, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Guardians of Infinity 5

Inside Man

Writer Jeff King

Artist Jorge Fornes

Colorist Jesus Aburtov

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Guardians of Infinity 5 Recap Page

So there is an ongoing story that leads this issue but I skipped that to get to the good stuff!  I want Rocket and Kitty to get more panel time together.  They have great chemistry.

Spaceport City.  Knowhere You’d Rather Be . . . Seriously.

Guardians of Infinity 5 Inside Man Kitty Pryde 01

Pryde and Rocket are enjoying some drinks.  Pryde is hoping to get some one-on-one with Rocket to further their working relationship.  Rocket doesn’t see the point in this exercise, as they have each others back during a fight and that is all that matters.

Guardians of Infinity 5 Inside Man Kitty Pryde 02

A Kree member comes bursting into the bar, wanting help.  After Rocket convinces Durgan the Deadly to bow out, the two Guardians get the job.  That job is to stop a new Kree coalition from massacring another group of states.

Guardians of Infinity 5 Inside Man Kitty Pryde 03

Rocket wants the job as their day job doesn’t bring in any money.  The Kree fellow’s name is Maxor.  Rocket knows they are being followed.  I like that he thinks they are amateurs until he mentions how, if they were not, they would have people on rooftops.  When he points to the roof, there are folks up there.  That’s good pacing.

I also like how gritty the art is and the colors really add that texture too.

Guardians of Infinity 5 Inside Man Kitty Pryde 04

The two Guardians and Maxor get ambushed and Pryde tackles and phases herself and Maxor through a wall.  She doesn’t believe any of this makes sense as it is Kree police officers that are firing on them.

Guardians of Infinity 5 Inside Man Kitty Pryde 05

Pryde realizes that Maxor is really a Skrull.  He killed Maxor a long while ago and has been in deep undercover since then.  The Kree officers are secretly Skrull officers.  NuMaxor has gone native.

Pryde uses “toss your trout” as a substitution for throwing up, is that really an expression?  Maybe it is a Jewish expression?  I’m not sure, it doesn’t sound great.

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Rocket is able to keep the Skrulls back as Pryde comes back into the room.

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Rocket follows Pryde to discover there are two of them!  We get some classic “proof you are who you say you are” comedy.

They want Rocket to shoot the other one and Rocket is tempted to just shoot both of them.

Guardians of Infinity 5 Inside Man Kitty Pryde 08

One says their ex-boyfriend was Peter, and the other says Peter Quill.  Both give the answer to why they broke up as they drifted apart.

Pryde opens up about how there was no real reason for the breakup, she wanted it to work but it isn’t working so they are not together now.  She calls Rocket a jerk for making her say all of that, aloud.  Rocket calls her, Kit, which I’m not sure how I feel about that but it shows that they do actually have a bond.

NuMaxor is touched by Pryde’s honest answer and shifts back to his Skrull form.

Guardians of Infinity 5 Inside Man Kitty Pryde 09

Rocket gets caught up, he respects the Skrulls plans as it sounds like it would work.

That is a great panel with the spotlight, Kitty has always looked great in a spotlight.  If only there was time to put up wanted posters.

Rocket has a plan, he always does.

Guardians of Infinity 5 Inside Man Kitty Pryde 10

Pryde has an awesome two part plan!  Phase their tech and then kick some arse!  That works for me!

Guardians of Infinity 5 Inside Man Kitty Pryde 11

Pryde catches up to Rocket and finds two of them!  Now it is time for Rocket to prove he is who he says he is.  Sounds like the one on our left is the real one, as the bonding thing is new information, right?

Guardians of Infinity 5 Inside Man Kitty Pryde 12

The Rocket that gives up first, is the fake one and Kitty knows that.  Turns out the two of them have bonded after all.

Pryde gives Rocket a kiss, on the cheek and he only objects that she did it in front of the Skrull.

Guardians of Infinity 5 Inside Man Kitty Pryde 13

Rocket tells Maxor the new plan, he’ll go to the Kree and reveal that he is a Skrull that will stop the other Skulls.

Such a fun back up and this team should really get another chance with these characters!

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Four Issue 7

Posted by John Klein III on August 30, 2016
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Guardians of the Galaxy V4 7

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist Valerio Schiti

Color Artist Richard Isanove

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Last issue, we dealt with the two Star Lords.  This issue we follow the adventures of Rocket and Grimm.

Rocket has been taken prisoner by the Badoons.  Grimm comes crashing down, in a ship and takes out all sorts of Badoonian goons.  For once, Rocket wants to hear Grimm say his main catchphrase but Grimm puts a nice spin on it.

I’m going to be pretty thrilled once these two page Pop Secret Avengers Quantum Quest ads are over.  Popcorn is barely seen on the right page.  The two Guardians are here to free the slaves.  Rocket doesn’t know what a rodeo is.  The Badoons don’t speak English so most of Grimm’s quips go unrecognized.

In the fight, Grimm knocked over their escape ship.  Rocket is going to fix it as Grimm hangs out with a tall blue alien lady.  Luckily, a short green alien kid can translate so the two adults can chat.  I like Grimm getting some romance in outer space.

Badoon reinforcements arrive and Grimm has to fight them back.  Grimm and the lady kiss, as a blue glow emits around them.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 7 Kitty Pryde mention

Grimm believes he is married now and Rocket gets to quote Pryde with a “Mazel Tov!” which is super fun.  Rocket wishes he can meet a nice space lady, as he is long overdue.

Issue ends with Rocket and Grimm seeing how last issue ended, with Quill being a prisoner of the Badoon, on their home planet.

That’s right, I own this issue for one sentence but it wasn’t a bad issue.  Hopefully we see more of that space lady.

Rocket Raccoon and Groot Volume Two Issue 4

Posted by John Klein III on August 29, 2016
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Rocket Raccoon Groot V2 4

Writer Skottie Young

Artist Aaron Conley

Color Artist Jean-Francois Beaulieu

Letterer Jeff Eckleberry

Design Manny Mederos

Last issue didn’t end with a cliffhanger, like I thought it did.  Instead, we are treated to a done-in-one issue.

Rocket Raccoon Groot V2 4 Magik 1

The “Hills of Thoron.”  A group of heroes are playing a non-copyright infringement version of Dungeons & Dragons.  I wish we got a page with the in-game character with the comic character, so we know who is who.  Magik is the blonde with the giant sword, so that makes sense.  She’s the only one that matches but Illyana essentially is a sweet D&D character.

Rocket is the main wizard and Tony Stark is the green goblin.  Tony, like the douchebag that he is, is the traitor of the group.

Rocket Raccoon Groot V2 4 Magik 2a Rocket Raccoon Groot V2 4 Magik 2b

Since Tony doesn’t quite get the game, he turns into Giant Iron Goblin and ruins the game.

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They were in a conference room the whole time.  The other heroes are – Deadpool, Rocket, Thor, Magik, Tony, Beta Ray Bill, Pixie, Wanda, maybe Squirrel Girl or Ms. Marvel (she’s the only character I don’t immediately recognize), FalCap, Miles Morales Spider-Man and Groot.

Tony is still trying to defend his traitorous turn but Rocket is upset that he isn’t playing right.

Rocket Raccoon Groot V2 4 Magik 4

They try to start another round of the game but this time, Magik is the traitor!  Instead of ruining it, she’s totally awesome at it!

Rocket Raccoon Groot V2 4 Magik 5

Magik leaves as playing with demons is much preferred to this table top game.  I wouldn’t mind seeing this group of heroes hang out, without Tony being around.

Tony and Rocket get into an argument which ends with Rocket agreeing to join Tony’s Fantasy Football game.

Rocket and Groot are on their way to a planet that is an entire football field.  Rocket has spent most of the day reading up on stats.  Instead, they play football

The Coach, who may be the Character Find of 2016, is all about heart and he is super fun!

Rocket ends up winning the game, which makes sense.  Now Tony has to play the wizard game, Rocket’s way.

Rocket Raccoon Groot V2 4 Magik 6

The same heroes return for another game, this time, Tony is a cute little bunny.

Uncanny X-Men Volume Four Issue 6

Posted by John Klein III on August 28, 2016
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Uncanny X-Men V4 6

Going Public

Writer Cullen Bunn

Penciler Paco Medina

Inker Juan Vlasco

Color Artist Jesus Aburtov

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

There is a main story but I got this for a very silly reason, in the backup.

The backup deals with the fallout from Storm’s very televised speech during Extraordinary X-Men 1.

The Fact Channel.  Sentaor Laclan doesn’t care for Storm’s speech, he’s racist towards mutants.  Valerie Cooper is there for the other side of the debate.  Laclan refers to her as “Ms. Cooper” but I’m pretty sure she’s Doctor Cooper.  Typically, Laclan can point to something Magneto did to prove a point.  Magneto sank Genosha, and he did it to send a message.  So this is humans receiving the message.  Magneto isn’t taking a page from Storm’s book, he’s not wasting time making speeches, he is taking action.

If Storm’s X-Men is the Mutant Freedom Fighters, then Magneto’s X-Men are the Secret Death Squad but they are not hiding in the shadows.

The Hellfire Club Inner Sanctum.  Nice to see Sebastian Shaw back at the head of the Hellfire Club – maybe they can become a threat again.  Shaw is worried that Magneto is going to ruin everything.

The Avengers Unity Squad Headquarters.  Old Man Steve Rogers knows he has to address this.  Rogue isn’t happy with Magneto’s actions.  Deadpool is eating popcorn.  I guess Quicksilver (if that is him in the purple) and Brother Voodoo are just watching the newscast.

Uncanny X-Men V4 6 Going Public Mojoverse Magik on screen

Mojoverse.  Mojo is just happy to have something good on television.

That image that Mojo is looking at –

Extraordinary X-Men 1 Magik 6

is from Extraordinary X-Men 1.

Tibet.  Magneto is talking to Xorn – which seems like that shouldn’t be possible.  This has to be Xorn’s brother, right?  This Xorn watches soap operas and Impractical Jokers, with Brian “Q” Quinn.

I like Magneto owning to what he is doing, it really isn’t different from what he has done before.  Except that he is going after those who will do mutants harm, in a specific way.  He’s not just attacking random military bases.

Not sure if this is new information but Magneto is there so that Xorn can heal him.  Magneto really sunk Genosha, so that he will never try to make it a mutant refuge again.  He had those bombs there for months, it was a case of very good timing.

I’m not sure what the Someday Corporation is but they are a threat on the back burner.  Magneto was declared dead and was defeated, that’s what Magneto is being healed from.

Not a bad backup story, I like the time being taken to tell this story.  It is silly that I kept this issue just because of a tiny reprinted image of Magik but that’s how I’m a super fan.