Shadow and Flame with Magik

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All New All Different Marvel Universe

Posted by John Klein III on August 27, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Bowen - Jay, Byrd, Carter - Madison, Christiansen, Cotilletta - Anthony, Fichera, Handbook, Jensen - Daron, London, Marquez, McCarver - Chris, O'Sullivan - Mike, Ott - Roger, Raymond, Riemer - Marc, Rougemont - Jacob, Vandal, Wasser - Kevin, Wilson - Matthew. Leave a comment

All New All Different Marvel Universe

Head Writer / Coordinator / Image Refurbishment / Production Mike O’Sullivan

Production Assistance Anthony Cotilletta, Mike Fichera, Daron Jensen and Chris McCarver

Writers Ronald Byrd, Madison Carter, Anthony Cotielletta, Daron Jensen, Rob London, Chris McCarver, Roger Ott, Markus Raymond, Marc Riemer, Jacob Rougemont, Stuart Vandal and Kevin Wasser

Overseer Jeff Christiansen

Cover Art David Marquez and Matthew Wilson

Design Mike O’Sullivan and Jay Bowen

A helpful handbook for people who skipped Secret Wars 2015 but want a quick guide to what happened.

Profiles in this issue are –

Agents of SHIELD

Ant-Man Update

Battleworld, with the regions all getting a paragraph.

All New All Different Marvel Universe Handbook 1 Limbo Seen

Limbo from the Inferno series, Manhattan from Ultimate End and Marville of Giant Size Little Marvels are seen.

All New All Different Marvel Universe Handbook 2 Limbo Text

This page has the paragraphs regarding Limbo and Manhattan.

All New All Different Marvel Universe Handbook 3 Sentinel Territory Seen

Sentinel Territory of Years of Future Past and The SHIELD from The SHIELD are seen.

This page also has Marville’s paragraph.

All New All Different Marvel Universe Handbook 4 Sentinel Territory Text

This page has paragraphs for Sentinel Territories, The SHIELD, Wastelands and X-Topia – Genosha and X-City from X-Tinction Agenda.

Back to regular spotlights –

Bettle

Darren Cross

Doctor Strange Update

Ghost Rider

Dawn Greenwood

Inhumans Update

Iron Man Update

Lash

Ms. Marvel

Parker Industries

Phantom Eagle

Silk

Singularity

Spider-Woman (Spider-Gwen)

Thor Update

Vision Update

All New All Different Marvel Universe Handbook 5 Vision Update Kitty Pryde Text

Vision and Kitty’s adventure from A+X 18 is summarized.

All New All Different Marvel Universe Handbook 6 Vision Update Kitty Pryde Seen

We see Kitty and Vision, in only his eighth costume.

Warbringer

Wolverine (X23 Update) gets the final profile.

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Uncanny X-Men Volume Four Issue 5

Posted by John Klein III on August 26, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Bunn - Cullen, Caramagna - Joe, Hope You Survive The Experience, Land, Leisten - Jay, Magik, Uncanny, Woodard - Nolan. Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men V4 5

Writer Cullen Bunn

Penciler Greg Land

Inker Jay Leisten

Color Artist Nolan Woodard

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

So this is my first issue of the fourth volume, which will clearly be relaunched with whoever is going to write the series next.  Which is a shame, especially as Uncanny X-Men was the longest title Marvel had without a relaunch and now it has made up for that.  But that’s the old 34 year old comic book fan in me.

Uncanny X-Men V4 5 Recap Page

The Uncanny X-Men are – Magneto, Psylocke, Sabretooth, M and Archangel.  Apocalypse’s Dark Riders are behind a string of murders of mutant healers.  After Magneto and Psylocke saved Triage, Magneto sent the team to the Dark Riders’ home base.  Magneto and Triage are in Genosha.  Meanwhile, Mystique and Fanotmex are up to something.

Nice that triage hasn’t been forgotten and the Dark Riders’ subplot is clearly setting up the Apocalypse Wars.

Egypt.  M and Psylocke are breaking their way out of the Dark Riders’ page.

Genosha, Magneto is holding his own against the Dark Riders.  They offer to let Magneto flee, they only want to kill Triage.

One of the Dark Riders, Gauntlet, looks just like –

Doctor Doomsday Analagm Comics

Doctor Doomsday, of Amalgam Comics.

Uncanny X-Men V4 5 Gauntlet Triage Stabbed

While looking up Dark Riders Gauntlet, turns out he has always looked like that so maybe Doctor Doomsday looks like him.  Except that Doctor Doomsday is basically just Doomsday with a sweet green cloak.

Triage gets stabbed and is out of the action.

Magneto starts getting tired, from all of the attacks but still holds his own.  With perfect timing, his team arrives and start taking out the Dark Riders.  Triage heals himself, which I didn’t know he could do that.  Triage suspects that Magneto didn’t know that either.

Magneto sets off a bomb that sinks Genosha and kills the Dark Riders.  I can’t believe Genosha just got destroyed!

Archangel doesn’t fly in the Blackbird, so I guess the team has to update him on everything they talked about, when they land.

Sabretooth doesn’t like not being included in all of Magneto’s plans, but Magneto doesn’t have the time to explains things to the idiot.

Uncanny X-Men V4 5 Magik 1

X-Haven.  Triage thinks he is in hell but Magik jokes that he is in the same zip code.  Illyana, wanting to continue the fun, is about to say the famous “hope you survive the experience” but M (like the total bitch that she is) stops her.  M and the team have had some experiences that they didn’t survive.  I’m not sure who they lost and I’m really not sure why Magik doesn’t care for M, do they have they spent any time together?

Uncanny X-Men V4 5 Magik 2

Storm and Psylocke hug, these two have loads of panel time together, over the years.  Magik is going to show Triage around the place.  Magneto and Storm have panel time together, in the 80s as a team and during the Utopia era of Cyclops’ team. Storm gives Psylocke some advice about not following Magneto blindly.  M has no time for Storm’s kindness.

The Savage Land, Magneto’s War Room X.  Why he would have a base with an “X” in the title, I’m not sure.  Psylocke relays Storm’s advice.  I do like how Magneto laughs at the idea of this team being considered an X–Men team, as they are not really following Xavier’s dream.

Los Angeles.  Mystique and Fantomex are chatting about their powers as the issue ends with Magneto wanting to speak with them.

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Contest of Champions Volume Two Issue 6

Posted by John Klein III on August 25, 2016
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: 2016, Contest of Champions, Curiel - David, Ewing - Al, Magik, Medina - Paco, Sabino - Joe, Vlasco - Juan. Leave a comment

Contest of Champions V2 6

Script Al Ewing

Pencils Paco Medina

Inks Juan Vlasco

Colors David Curiel

Letters VC’s Joe Sabino

Contest of Champions V2 6 Recap Page

This series is the sole title that bridges Secret Wars 2015 with the All New All Different Marvel.  As in, it makes reference to Secret Wars 2015 that no other title is bothering with.

This issue promises to have The Collector and The Grandmaster versus Maestro and Punisher 2099 – Jake Gallows.

I’m not quite sure what happened in the other five issues as this issue reads like an origin story – which probably would have been good prior to the sixth issue but dems the breaks, I guess.

Will this issue finally reveal that the soulsword on Maestro’s back is Illyana’s?  Let’s find out!

The Battlerealm.  After the Secret Wars.  Before the Contest.  Maestro wakes up, he was left behind after Battleworld crumbled.  He was confronted by The Elders of the Universe.  They are – The Collector, The Runner, The Gardener, Father Time, The Explorer, The Trade, The Obliterator, the Astronomer and The Judicator. There are also – The Professor, The Champion and The Grandmaster.  The only ones I recognize are The Collector, The Champion and The Collector.  I suspect the other ones are madeup.  The Judicator looks like Kid Gladiator.

The mutliverse did indeed die and was reborn.  Now this new omniverse is full of potential.   No one is sure how to divide the power.  Typically, The Grandmaster proposes a Contest of Champions.  I like how the Professor predicted that and is unimpressed with the suggestion.  Each will pick a champion and whoever wins, gets all of the power.

Maestro promises to kill them all, so Collector picks him for his champion.

Contest of Champions V2 6 Magik 1

Mark is her Darkchylde persona but since she isn’t all red, I doubt she’s from the Inferno Secret Wars 2015 series.  Though that would have made sense, if she was pulled from before she died.  The contests were not “to the death” but that’s just how Maestro fights.

These fights only take place in these flashbacks, the fights prior to this issue are all overseen by Maestro.  Punisher 2099 also fought to the death.  On top of that, these two made it to the finals.  The two start forming a plan.  Grandmaster’s champion is Punisher 2099.  The two final champions finally face off but Maestro refuses to fight.  So now these two are going to pick their own champions and this apparently goes on and on until we get to the beginning of this series.

Maestro teleports to Grandmaster’s headquarters and four-and-a-half minutes later, has beaten the elder utterly.  Now he has the bulk of the power, which they call ISO-sphere.  Which is what they call the energy in Avengers Alliance, so is this a game related comic?  I feel like I’ve seen Contest of Champions in the Google Play store.

http://marvel-contestofchampions.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Champions

I had no interest in it until I saw that Magik is a playable character.  Since I stopped playing Avegners Alliance, I’ve been sort of looking for a new game to play.  Does anyone know the fastest route to recruiting her?  The game is 375MB and my phone is lousy with data, I really need to buy a SD card or something.  Maybe one of these days.

Anyway, Maestro teleports to The Collector and defeats him.  Now with the ISO-sphere complete, he becomes the God-King that Doctor Doom was during Secret Wars 2015.

Punisher 2099 starts getting the heroes in line, I guess he’s cool with being Deputy God-King.

Earth.  The Triskelion.  New York City.  Issue ends with Black Panther’s Ultimates team now taking notice of Maestro.  I imagine that this is leading to a crossover but I’m out until Magik gets another appearance or namechecked.

Not a bad issue but definitely feels like an outlier of the series instead of a typical issue.  Of course, I could be wrong about that.

Correspondence with Champions, letters are from – Andrew J. Shaw, Challenger, Alex Martin, Joseph D. Urbick, Fernando Valencia, Chris Velayo of Manilla Philippines, Dan Tandarich and Naiajah.  I do like this issue having two pages of letters.  There is also a Marvel Games Team Spotlight, which is really worth reading as well.

So this is definitely a game tie-in comic and we still don’t the deal with the soulsword that Maestro has.

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Marvel Comics November 2016 Solicitations

Posted by John Klein III on August 24, 2016
Posted in: Solicitations. Tagged: Davis, Lashley - Ken, Newsarama, Solicitations. Leave a comment

http://www.newsarama.com/30738-marvel-comics-november-2016-solicitations.html

Marvel November 2016 Solicitations IVX Alan Davis Lockheed v Lockjaw
Art by Alan Davis

IVX #0
CHARLES SOULE (W) • KENNETH ROCAFORT (A/C)
Variant Cover by ALAN DAVIS
Variant Cover by RON LIM
This issue sets the stage for the upcoming Inhumans vs. X-Men mega-event! Learn who the major players will be, plus the seeds of the incredible plan that will unfold in IVX #1. Beast and Iso travel the world to learn a desperate truth, the X-Men assemble their ranks and the Inhumans prepare for the war to come. It all begins with one choice — see it here.
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

The big event is IVX 0 which I was immediately dismissive of but then I saw one of the variant covers.  Now I’m all in!  Well, as much as Lockheed and Magik are in this.  Which, of course, Magik was pretty huge in AvX but I can see her taking a back seat here.

AVENGERS #1
MARK WAID (W) • MIKE DEL MUNDO (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
Variant Cover by ADAM KUBERT
Variant Cover by TBA
Captain America 75th Anniversary Variant Cover by TBA
Hip-Hop Variant Cover by TBA
Action Figure Vision Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Divided We Stand Variant Cover by TBA
Blank Variant Cover Also Available
The time has come! Their ranks shattered by Civil War, their spirits weighted down by
a toll both personal and spiritual, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes must find the resolve to stand united one final time against their greatest foe! Captain America! Thor! The Vision! The Wasp! Spider-Man! Hercules! When the dust settles, not a one of these valiant heroes will make it to the final page alive! This is KANG WAR ONE!
48 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

Like, that is a ballsy sentence about the heroes dying but then you read Kang and you know it is a time travel story so yeah, the stakes are high but not high, all at the same time.  Didn’t Bendis’ Official Avengers opening arc deal with travel travel Kang-ness?  I “get” that this is a way to tell an epic story but oooof, it has been done and with Avengers 1, at that.  I’ll be passing on this.  Also, Mark Waid ended one Avengers title to start another one?  I know I’m an old dinosaur who cares about issue numbers but that isn’t great.  Marvel Database will be letting me know which volume of straight “Avengers” this is.

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • STEFANO CASELLI (A/C)
Variant Cover by JEFF DEKAL
Variant Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Hip-Hop Variant Cover by TBA
Steam Variant Cover by TBA
Action Figure Riri Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Divided We Stand Variant Cover by TBA
From the violent streets of Chicago, a new armored hero rises! Clad in her very own Iron Man armor, Riri Williams is ready to show the Marvel Universe what she can do as the self-made hero of tomorrow. But is she ready for all the problems that come with stepping into Iron Man’s jet boots? Where’s a genius billionaire playboy philanthropist when you need one?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I read somewhere that she’s going to eventually be called “Iron Heart” which isn’t amazing but at least she will have her own hero name.  I’ll be passing on this as well.

THE UNWORTHY THOR #1 (OF 5)
Jason Aaron (W) • Olivier Coipel (A/C)
Variant Cover by BRYAN HITCH
Variant Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
Hip-Hop Variant Cover by TBA
Action Figure Odinson Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Divided We Stand Variant Cover by TBA
Blank Variant Cover Also Available
Odinson’s desperate search to regain his worthiness has taken him out into the cosmos, where he’s learned of the existence of a mysterious other Mjolnir. This weapon of unimaginable power, a relic from a dead universe, is the key to Odinson’s redemption — but some of the greatest villains of the Marvel Universe are now anxious to get their hands on it as well. Can The Odinson reclaim his honor, or will the power of thunder be wielded for evil? The quest for the hammer begins here.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Ultimate Mjolnir is coming back!  I had forgotten that.  I do like Jason Aaron telling this story and Olivier Coipel means that this story shouldn’t be missed.  It isn’t a B-Team, at all.  Though I’ll still be skipping it but maybe I’ll read the trade, if a store ever opens around me.

THANOS #1
JEFF LEMIRE (W) • MIKE DEODATO (A/C)
Variant Cover by RON LIM
Variant Cover by JEFF DEKAL
Toy Variant Cover by ALEX KROPINAK
HIP-HOP VARIANT BY MIKE DEL MUNDO
EVIL HAS BEEN UNLEASHED ON THE UNIVERSE.
Thanos, possibly the most evil individual in the Marvel Universe, is back…and he’s out for vengeance on all who would oppose him. Unfortunately for the Mad Titan, he’s also heading for an unexpected reckoning…with his family. Take an ongoing walk on the dark side of the galaxy, following the deadly trail of destruction left in the wake of…THANOS!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

Nice way to work the word “ongoing” into the solicitation!  I’ll be skipping this series too.

BLACK PANTHER: WORLD OF WAKANDA #1
TA-NEHISI COATES, ROXANE GAY & YONA HARVEY (W)
ALITHA E. MARTINEZ & AFUA RICHARDSON (A)
Cover by AFUA RICHARDSON
Variant Cover by BRIAN STELFREEZE
Variant Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
HIP-HOP VARIANT BY ALITHA E. MARTINEZ
BLACK PANTHER 50TH ANNIVERSARY VARIANT BY NATACHA BUSTOS
Action Figure Black Panther Variant by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Divided We Stand Variant Cover by TBA
Blank Variant Cover Also Available
“YOU DESERVED SO MUCH MORE, LITTLE FLOWER. YOU DESERVED A WAKANDA THAT CHERISHED YOU.”
Writer ROXANE GAY (Bad Feminst, Hunger) spins a Wakandan love story — its tenderness matched only by its brutality. You know them now as The Midnight Angels, but in this story they are just Ayo and Aneka, young women recruited to become Dora Milaje, an elite task force trained to protect the crown at all costs. What happens when your nation needs your hearts and minds, but you already gave them to each other? Illustrated by industry veteran ALITHA E. MARTINEZ (Iron Man, Black Panther).
And in a special backup story, acclaimed poet YONA HARVEY (Hemming the Water) explores the true origins of The People’s mysterious leader Zenzi. Black Panther thinks he knows who Zenzi is and how she got her powers, but he only knows part of the story… Illustrated by rising star AFUA RICHARDSON (Genius).
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

I’m sure this all makes sense, I may flip through the trade when the movie comes out but until then, I’ll be passing on this.

AVENGERS #1.1
MARK WAID (W) • BARRY KITSON (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY ALAN DAVIS
VARIANT COVER BY ALEX MALEEV
ACTION FIGURE QUICKSILVER VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
The Old Order Changeth – more than you ever suspected! For the first time ever, learn what really happened all those years ago when the founding Avengers turned their membership over to a set of new recruits. The recently thawed Captain America is joined by three reformed super villains – Hawkeye, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch – and a new group of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes takes shape – in a story that has direct ramifications for the Avengers of today!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Shouldn’t this be Avengers 16.1 and not 1.1?  16 is when Hawkeye, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch joined the Avengers, originally.   Mark Waid writing this means it will have ramifications in the ongoing.  Does seem like a weak way to established importance to fake the information in a new miniseries about past events.  Just tell new stories and quit relying on diving deeper into the mythos – those origins have been picked clean.  We don’t want another JMS Spider-Totem fiasco on our hands.

POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #10
DAVID F. WALKER (W) • SANFORD GREENE (A/C)
Variant Cover by ERIC CANETE
Divided We Stand Variant Cover by TBA
“HARLEM BURNS” STARTS NOW!
The battle for Harlem begins here! As Luke and Danny struggle to pick up the pieces of Civil War II, the ultimate turf war erupts right under their noses! Tombstone, Mr. Fish, Piranha, Cottonmouth, Black Cat, and a mysterious new player are all vying for a piece of the pie – and the citizens of New York are caught in the crossfire! Can Power Man and Iron Fist help former prisoners and protect the innocent all at the same time?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Hey, I was just thinking about Tombstone and Robbie Robertson the other day.  I wonder what these two are up to.  This issue only promises to reveal Tombstone but whatever happened to good ol’ Robbie?

OCCUPY AVENGERS #1
DAVID F. WALKER (W) • CARLOS PACHECO (A)
Cover by AGUSTIN ALESSIO
Variant Cover by MICHAEL CHO
Hip-Hop Variant Cover by TBA
Action Figure Hawkeye Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Divided We Stand Variant Cover by TBA
Super heroes – they’re a privileged class. Doing what they want, when they want and suffering no consequences. They have no regard for the ordinary people who are left behind to suffer in their wake. Who will stand up for the little guy? There is a man. If you can find him, and if he believes in your story, he and his friends will put things right. Some call them outlaws, rebels, Robin Hoods. To others, they are heroes. No powers to speak of – just skills, smarts and a burning drive to do the right thing. His name is Hawkeye. Occupy Avengers: It’s time to “Take Back Justice”!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

So Hawkeye isn’t being imprisoned for murdering Bruce Banner?  Probably due to the Hulk being on a domestic terror list for decades, right?  I’ll be skipping this.

ULTIMATES 2 #1
AL EWING (W) • TRAVEL FOREMAN (A/C)
Variant Cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY Risa Hulett
Action Figure Gold Galactus Wraparound
Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Who – or what – is the Cosmic Jailer? What being is powerful enough to chain Eternity itself? That is the mystery Galactus must solve – before it’s too late. Ultimate problems require ultimate solutions, and Galactus will call on those who helped cure his insatiable hunger. Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Blue Marvel, Spectrum and Ms. America! Together they are the Ultimates, protectors of the Omniverse. But now they are something more – the newest heralds of Galactus, the Lifebringer!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Makes sense this series will renumber post-Civil War II as Carol is now in a new place in her life.  I imagine.  Like the previous volume and most volumes titled “Ultimates” I’ll be skipping this.  Unless they are going to work in the All New Ultimates, then I’ll be all for this.

THUNDERBOLTS #7
JIM ZUB (W) • SEAN IZAAKSE (A)
COVER BY KRIS ANKA
VARIANT COVER BY MARCO CHECCHETTO
VARIANT COVER BY TREVOR VON EEDEN
STORY THUS FAR VARIANT BY DAN PANOSIAN
“CAUGHT RED-HANDED” STARTS NOW!
Operate in the shadows long enough, someone is going to shine a light on you. Bucky didn’t think that person would be his best friend, Steve Rogers. Captured and separated from his team, Bucky is on his own. Where do his loyalties lie? Steve wants to know. Only Steve has secrets of his own. Plus, an original Thunderbolt returns! How will Songbird react to the reunion of her former team?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Which original Thunderbolt is coming back?  I thought Songbird, Atlas and Mach-Whatever were already on the team.  That leaves Fixer and Moonstone, right?  Oh and Jolt, could it be Jolt?  What is Baron Zemo up to these days? I know Fixer and Zemo were in that Avengers Pleasant Hill storyline.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #1
GERRY CONWAY (W) • RYAN STEGMAN (A/C)
Variant Cover by ADAM KUBERT
HIP-HOP Variant Cover by TBA
Action Figure Mary Jane & ANNIE Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Divided We Stand Variant Cover by TBA
The Parker family is web-slinging and wall-crawling their way into your hearts and into comic shops later this year! Life is good for Peter Parker and Mary Jane; their daughter Annie is their pride and joy, they’re both working and (barely) making ends meet, they’re keeping the streets of New York City safe from super villains…you know, normal family stuff. Oh, did we mention MJ and Annie have Spider-Powers –– just like Peter?! Being Spider-Man just became a family affair…
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Makes sense the Parker daughter can’t be named “May” as there is already one Amazing Spider-Woman named that.  Annie is nice, after MJ’s mother.  I like how this series is for those who gave up on Spider-Man way back in 2008.  Wow, I gave up on Spider-Man eight years ago!

VENOM #1
MIKE COSTA (W) • GERARDO SANDOVAL (A/C)
Variant Cover by RON LIM
Variant Cover by RICK LEONARDI
Hip-Hop Variant Cover by TBA
Action Figure Venom Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Blank Variant Cover Also Available
Venom is back and badder than ever!
The symbiote you know and love has returned to New York City. No more “Agent of the Cosmos.” No more “Lethal Protector.” It’s time for a new Venom, and it’s great to be bad.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

What happened to Flash Thompson?  Was that symbiote just faking it for the past several years being a hero?  I’ll be skipping this series.

SPIDER-WOMAN #13
DENNIS HOPELESS (W) • VERONICA FISH (A)
Cover by JAVIER RODRIGUEZ
Variant Cover by Francesco Francavilla
“Scare Tactics” STARTS NOW!
Jessica Drew has tangled with some of the worst and toughest criminals the Marvel Universe has to offer, and she’s done it while learning to be a mom, to boot. But even motherhood couldn’t have prepared her for her toughest challenge yet – against THE HOBGOBLIN! And just who’s under that mask?!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Who is the new Hobgoblin?  Will this character ever escape that question?  Is this series any good?  Last I heard, the father was a sperm donor so there isn’t much story there, on that front.

GHOST RIDER #1
FELIPE SMITH (W) • DANILO BEYRUTH & TRADD MOORE (A)
COVER BY MARCO CHECCHETTO
VARIANT COVER BY FELIPE SMITH
Variant Cover by TRADD MOORE
Young Variant Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
HIP-HOP VARIANT BY FELIPE SMITH
Action Figure Variant Ghost Rider w/Car Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Blank Variant Cover Also Available
TV PHOTO COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
ROBBIE REYES IS BACK!
It’s hell on wheels as the Spirit of Vengeance makes his roaring return! A mysterious object from space crash-lands in southern California, drawing some of the brightest minds in the Marvel Universe to Ghost Rider’s backyard – including Amadeus Cho, the Totally Awesome Hulk! What mayhem will be unleashed as the High-octane Hothead comes face-to-face with the Jade Genius? And with Robbie still possessed by the ghost of his evil uncle Eli…who’s really in the driver’s seat? Then, meet the newest speed trap in Ghost Rider’s life as his original creators Felipe Smith and Tradd Moore reunite for a special backup story and the debut of an all-new villain. Strap in and start your engines, True Believer, this one’s gonna be a scorcher!
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

Hey, two of the New Fantastic Four members (but not with the original characters in those roles) will be appearing in this comic!  Just in time for Ghost Rider being on Agents of SHIELD, he’s getting his own series!  That’s good timing!  If he’s amazing on the show, I may be tempted to pick this up.  I imagine that show has a lot riding on it (pun intended!) if this doesn’t work, no more “famous” Marvel characters and if it does work, maybe Nick Fury will come back for another two minutes.

FOOLKILLER #1
MAX BEMIS (W) • DALIBOR TALAJIC (A)
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
Variant Cover by RON LIM
Variant Cover by ROB LIEFELD
Sketch Variant Cover by ROB LIEFELD
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
Divided We Stand Variant Cover by TBA
Greg Salinger was just your typical merc for hire – FOOLKILLER – killing those that he deemed to be “foolish.” And for money. But that life is behind him now. Today, he’s a psychiatrist, trying to help others. But now S.H.I.E.L.D. wants him to try to rehabilitate super villains. The catch? If these “patients” don’t make enough progress, they’re dead!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

Another Merc for Money gets his own series!  I’ll be passing on it but I do like the idea of SHIELD trying another idea since Pleasant Hill didn’t work.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #21
DAN SLOTT & CHRISTOS GAGE (W) • GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
Variant Cover by TBA
CLONE CONSPIRACY TIE-IN!
• THE RETURN OF CARRION puts the Scarlet Spider in BIG TROUBLE!
• Where has Kaine been since SPIDER-VERSE and what does he have to do with the Jackal’s plan?!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Makes sense that with the Jackal back, Kaine will be there.  I do like mainstay of Maximum Carnage, Carrion, being back too.  Especially since he’s a clone of Warran Miles as well.

SILK #14
ROBBIE THOMPSON (W) • IRENE STRYCHALSKI (A)
Cover by YASMINE PUTRI
Variant Cover by HELEN CHEN
CLONE CONSPIRACY TIE-IN!
• Silk isn’t the first Spider-Woman J. Jonah Jameson has known.
• MATTIE FRANKLIN is back from the dead, but Silk isn’t sure it’s a good thing.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

When did Mattie Franklin die!?!

INFAMOUS IRON MAN #2
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W)
ALEX MALEEV (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
DIVIDED WE STAND VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• The secrets that propel Victor Von Doom’s new quest as a hero start to reveal themselves, but that is nothing compared to the who’s who of heroes AND villains looking for a piece of revenge for his past sins — beginning with Ben Grimm!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I do like Grimm being in this series!  Johnny Storm should be coming for Doctor Doom too.

CIVIL WAR II #8 (OF 8)
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • DAVID MARQUEZ (A)
VARIANT COVER A BY TBA
VARIANT COVER B BY TBA
VARIANT COVER C BY TBA
VARIANT COVER D BY TBA
classified
48 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

Shouldn’t this read 8 of 9 now?   I really thought this was over and November was a fresh new month.  So they are literally not stopping between big events, not even for a month?  That isn’t great.

CHAMPIONS #2
MARK WAID (W) • HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY MICHAEL CHOI
Steam Variant Cover by TBA
Classic Action Figure Angel Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Marvel NOW! Action Figure MILES & HULK Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Divided We Stand Variant Cover by TBA
• Welcome to the CHAMPIONS, Cyclops! Unfortunately, not all of your new would-be teammates feel the same way!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Why can’t people be nice to Cyclops?  He’s a good kid!

 NEW AVENGERS #18
AL EWING (W) • Carlo Barberi (A)
Cover by JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO
• At the funeral of Roberto Da Costa, Advanced Idea Mechanics is declared officially dead.
• In the wake of their ultimate mission, the New Avengers reassess their lives…and one of them hangs up their costume for good.
• What could possibly follow this?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Did Sunspot die!?!  I won’t miss him but they should do another New Mutants Reunion miniseries, as that would be a great series!  Who retires, I wonder?  Hulking and Wiccan, would be my guess.

GREAT LAKES AVENGERS #2
ZAC GORMAN (W) • WILL ROBSON (A/C)
Variant Cover by CHIP ZDARSKY
• The Great Lakes Avengers are back together — almost! With their former leader Mr. Immortal still buried alive out in the middle of nowhere, the group struggles to find their footing under the uncertain guidance of Flatman.
• And after a confrontation with some noisy super villain neighbors lands the entire team in jail, it’s all he can do to keep them together!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Why would they ever bury Mr. Immortal?  Those silly gooses!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SAM WILSON #15
NICK SPENCER (W) • PAUL RENAUD (A/C)
• Because you (okay, a very small percentage of you) demanded it — D-Man gets his moment in the sun!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Hey, D-Man gets the spotlight!  That’s pretty awesome!

UNCANNY AVENGERS #16
GERRY DUGGAN (W) • PEPE LARRAZ (A)
COVER BY STEVE MCNIVEN
CIVIL WAR II AFTERMATH!
• The Hand has resurrected the Hulk, and the only ones standing in the way of the undead rampaging brute are the former Avengers of the Unity Squad.
• The first bullet point of this solicit is so damn compelling that a second selling point is completely superfluous.
• Steve Rogers gave an order that the Avengers did not follow. We’ll find out how that works out for everyone!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I guess that explains why Hawkeye isn’t in prison, Banner Hulk is a zombie.  I can see the laws in the Marvel Universe having a clause regarding reanimations.  Unless it is Cyclops related, then he has to be harassed for all time.  Even his younger time displaced self!

SPIDER-GWEN #14
JASON LATOUR (w) • ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (a/C)
DIVIDED WE STAND VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• Happy Thanksgiving from Spider-Gwen and crew!
• But what should crimelord Matt Murdock and his ninjas bring to dinner?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Matt Murdock being a crimelord is a fun twist.  Hey, the Thanksgiving comic, not enough of those in the world!

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #14
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • KEVIN MAGUIRE (A/C)
SPIDERS! IN! SPACE!
• A flashback from Flash Thompson’s early days as a Guardian, co-starring SPIDER-MAN!
• Will VENOM endanger his new team to save his old friend?!
• Find out why Spidey’s one of the reasons Rocket hates Earth!
32 PGS./RATED T …$3.99

Why couldn’t Grimm and Pryde be in this series with this is the type of tale we’ll be getting?  Maybe they are there but not on the cover.  That’s what I’m hoping!

THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #14
RYAN NORTH (W) • ERICA HENDERSON (A/C)
• Squirrel Girl and Ant-Man! It’s the team-up you probably NEVER thought you’d see!
• Although, if you thought about it for a bit, you probably WOULD expect to see it at some point, since they both hang out with tiny animals and are both super heroes.
• Honestly, I’m a little surprised it hasn’t happened sooner.
• Anyway, besides squirrels (adorable) and ants (so tiny, so bitey), this issue also includes wrestling AND philosophy. YES. Finally, am I right??
• I am prepared to say this is the #1 BEST COMIC you can buy that features squirrels, ants, wrestling and philosophy!!
• I am also prepared to say that this is the ONLY comic you can buy that features these four things, but heck, we all have to be the change we want to see in the world, right?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I really should be buying the trades of this series.  It sounds like so much fun!

SCARLET WITCH #12
JAMES ROBINSON (W)
Annapaola Martello (A)
Cover by DAVID AJA
• In the place where she was born, WANDA continues to unravel the tangled web of her past!
• But there are those that lurk in the shadows that don’t want her to find answers…
• …And they’ll do anything to stop her!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Magik was in issue ten of this series, maybe she’ll make another guest appearance.

DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE SORCERERS SUPREME #2
ROBBIE THOMPSON (W) • JAVIER RODRIGUEZ (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY Frazer Irving
• The Forgotten is here and is such a threat that it’ll take a whole team of Sorcerers Supreme to take him down!
• Doctor Strange! The Ancient One! Merlin! Wiccan! Sir Isaac Newton! A Ghost Rider from the 1800s! And who is Nina?
• And can Strange risk the life of the young Ancient One without affecting his own future?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

A Ghost Rider from 1800s and Wiccan are in this but not Magik!?!  Insanity!!!

PATSY WALKER, A.K.A. HELLCAT! #12
KATE LETH (W) • BRITTNEY L. WILLIAMS (A/C)
• No cat puns here, I promise: Hellcat and Black Cat face off as our heroine and friends fight to save the city from cat-astrophe! • They — oh, wait. I did it, didn’t I? I cat-punned. Dangit! Okay, okay, hear me out: Patsy puts Felicia’s schemes on paws when she — WAIT, I SWEAR I CAN DO THIS. DON’T PRINT.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

This is fun too!

Marvel November 2016 Solicitations Extraordinary X-Men 16 Ken Lashley cover
Art by Ken Lashley

EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #16
JEFF LEMIRE (W) • VICTOR IBANEZ (A)
Cover by KEN LASHLEY
The epic conclusion of “KINGDOMS FALL”!
• Magik’s protégé, Sapna, has become possessed by THE WORLD-EATER, an extradimensional entity whose sole purpose is to live up to its name.
• And Magik’s brother, Colossus, is under the thrall of one of the X-Men’s greatest adversaries, APOCALYPSE.
• As the World-Eater bears down on Limbo, everything Magik cares about is on the line – her ward, her brother and the world’s surviving mutants.
• What will it cost to save them all?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Magik’s storyline comes to an end!  Sounds like it is intense too!

DEATH OF X #3 (of 4)
CHARLES SOULE (W)
AARON KUDER (A/C)
Classic Variant Cover by TBA
Connecting Variant Cover C by TBA
• Cyclops and Emma Frost start to hatch their plan.
• The Inhumans cross a line with the mutants.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

DEATH OF X #4 (of 4)
JEFF LEMIRE (W)
AARON KUDER (A/C)
Classic Variant Cover by TBA
Connecting Variant Cover D by TBA
• The first true battle in the Inhumans/X-Men war!
• Cyclops isn’t the only one who doesn’t make it out alive…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

However this ends, it has to still end in a way where mutants and Inhumans were not directly warring until IvX (so awkward looking).  I can see the death of Cyclops giving everyone pause for a year.

ALL-NEW X-MEN #15
DENNIS HOPELESS (W) • MARK BAGLEY (A/C)
• The All-New X-Men have been keeping secrets from one another…
• But when the GOBLIN QUEEN comes calling, they’ll have to confront their demons…LITERALLY!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I wonder if we’ll get any Illyana references (or Darkchild references) if this is the same Goblin Queen from the Secret Wars 2015 Inferno miniseries.

ALL-NEW X-MEN ANNUAL #1
SINA GRACE & REX OGLE (W) • CORY SMITH & MORE (A)
Cover by CORY SMITH
VARIANT COVER BY RAHZZAH
VARIANT COVER BY AFU CHAN
• Young X-Man Idie Okonkwo has come a long way since she left her home in Nigeria to attend Xavier’s School.
• But has her time with the X-Men prepared her for her biggest adventure yet: DATE NIGHT?!
• Plus: Dani Moonstar returns!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

The return of Dani Moonstar, that’s so awesome!  Comic Book Resources released a list of mutants who haven’t been seen since Secret Wars 2015 and she was on the list.  So was Wolfsbane and Havok so I could see that list being a giant checklist for a writer out there.
Who would date Oya?  Is her date not with Quentin Quire?  Has he been seen?

UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL #1
CULLEN BUNN & ANTHONY PIPER (W)
KEN LASHLEY & ANTHONY PIPER (A)
Cover by ACO
VARIANT COVER BY KEN LASHLEY
VARIANT COVER BY RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
• Caught in the crossfire between the Uncanny X-Men and the Dark Riders, Young X-Man ELIXIR was a casualty of war. But can a mutant whose power deals in life and death stay gone for long?
• Elixir is BACK and he’s come to take revenge…on BOTH parties!
• Plus: Domino stages her own strike against the deadly Terrigen Mists!
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

Wait, Elixir supposedly died again?  Good grief!  I get that his power can provide a simple return but can we at least quit proclaiming him dead?

X-MEN ‘92 #9
CHAD BOWERS & CHRIS SIMS (W)
ALTI FIRMANSYAH (A)
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
• Apocalypse is back – and he’s got big plans!
• How will the X-Men survive their biggest enemy yet?
• And more so, how will they get back to Lilapalooza?!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Oops, looks like Chris Sims missed the Apocalypse tie in window for the film.  At this point, maybe it’ll be out on BluRay.

DEADPOOL: TOO SOON? #2 (OF 4)
JOSHUA CORIN (W) • TODD NAUCK (A)
Cover by PEPE LARRAZ
Variant Cover by TBA
• Can any stand against the might of…SQUIRRELPOOL?!?
• Then…Deadpool & Ant-man hit the beaches!
• Plus: Hey, people keep getting killed!
40 PGS./Parental Advisory …$4.99

Oh man, if this comic has philosophy and wrestling, it’ll be directly competing with Squirrel Girl 14!

ALL-NEW WOLVERINE #14
TOM TAYLOR (W) • NIK VIRELLA (A)
Cover by DAVID LOPEZ
Variant Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Connecting Variant Cover B by BENGAL
DIVIDED WE STAND Variant Cover by TBA
“ENEMY OF THE STATE II” CONTINUES: WOLVERINE ON THE RUN!
• The TRIGGER SCENT! A tragic event! A vow broken?
• LAURA KINNEY: Wanted for MURDER!!!
• Guest-starring NICK FURY!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

How this only guest-starring one person?  Also, is Nick Fury still super old from Original Sin or is he back to his classic look?

DEADPOOL & THE MERCS FOR MONEY #5
CULLEN BUNN (W) • IBAN COELLO (A/C)
Variant Cover by TBA
Character Variant Cover by TBA
Divided We Stand Variant Cover by TBA
• A new team means new rules!
• It’s now Domino’s Mercs for Money and she’s in charge!
• Sorry, Wade!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

They should change the title to Domino & The Mercs for Money!  At least on the cover, that’ll be fun!

DEADPOOL: BACK IN BLACK #3 & 4 (of 5)
CULLEN BUNN (W) • SALVADOR ESPIN (A/C)
Issue #3 – Variant Cover by RON LIM
ISSUE #4 – VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
• Deadpool’s 1980s adventures in the Venom symbiote continue!
• First up — seduced by the semi-criminal wiles of The Black Cat!
• Then — Kraven’s Second-to-Last Hunt!
32 PGS (EACH) /Parental Advisory …$3.99 (EACH)

This sounds like so much fun that it is delicious!

MARVEL TSUM TSUM #4 (OF 4)
JACOB CHABOT (W) • DAVID BALDEON (A)
Cover by CHRIS SAMNEE
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
Classified Connecting Variant Cover D by TBA
HERE COMES THE TSUM!
• The worldwide phenomenon comes to a close with a bang! Will the Tsum Tsum make it out of their trip to Earth?!
• And! What will be the fate of the children living in THE BLOCK when Ultron returns?!
32 PGS./All Ages …$3.99

Star-Kitty was in the first issue so we need her to keep appearing in this!

GUIDEBOOK TO THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE — MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. SEASON THREE/ MARVEL’S AGENT CARTER SEASON TWO #1
Written by MIKE O’SULLIVAN & THE OHOTMU TEAM
Covers by MIKE DEL MUNDO & DAVE JOHNSON
Agent Peggy Carter and S.H.I.E.L.D. return for new adventures, and the MCU Guidebooks follow every step of the way! Our comprehensive coverage of the fan-favorite Marvel Studios films and Marvel Television shows continues as we profile Director Phil Coulson’s team — and Agent Carter’s 1940s precursor, the SSR! With fact sheets, show-to-comic comparisons and behind-the-scenes production art and stills, this fantastic flipbook is packed with profiles and updates on Director Coulson, Agent Daisy Johnson, Agent Melinda May, Agent Leo Fitz, Agent Jemma Simmons, Lance Hunter, Agent Bobbi Morse, Agent Alphonso Mackenzie, Lincoln Campbell, “Yo-Yo” Rodriguez, Grant Ward, Hive, Gideon Malick and Lash! And on the flip side: Agent Peggy Carter, Edwin Jarvis, Chief Daniel Sousa, Chief Jack Thompson, Jason Wilkes, Whitney Frost and Dottie Underwood! And more! Relive the thrills of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 3 and Marvel’s Agent Carter Season 2 right here, and continue building your indispensable library of Cinematic Universe reference books!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

This reminds me, we still have the final episode of Agent Carter to watch.  The penultimate episode started off so well with that dance sequence.  Shame it didn’t keep that energy going.

DEADPOOL: THE ADAMANTIUM COLLECTION HC SLIPCASE
Written by ROB LIEFELD, FABIAN NICIEZA, JOE KELLY, CHRISTOPHER PRIEST, GAIL SIMONE, DANIEL WAY,
CULLEN BUNN, GERRY DUGGAN & BRIAN POSEHN
Penciled by ROB LIEFELD, JOE MADUREIRA, ED MCGUINNESS, BERNARD CHANG, JIM CALAFIORE, SAL VELLUTO, UDON, PATRICK ZIRCHER, PACO MEDINA, DALIBOR TALAJIC, DECLAN SHALVEY, SCOTT KOBLISH & MORE
Cover by SCOTT ELMER
Presenting the Merc-iest, Mouth-iest Deadpool collection of all time! From his dynamic debut in 1991 to a story that unfolded across 2016’s variant covers, celebrate 25 years of Wade Wilson wackiness by the finest creators to ever regenerate the degenerate! Deadpool will try to stop the Juggernaut, cross the Black Panther’s path, and lock horns with Daredevil and Typhoid Mary! He’ll have an explosive encounter with Black Swan, and try to join the X-Men! He’ll enjoy team-ups with Cable, Wolverine and Captain America — and then kill the entire Marvel Universe! In this titanic tome, anything can happen! Collecting NEW MUTANTS (1983) #98; DEADPOOL: THE CIRCLE CHASE #1-4; DEADPOOL (1997) #6-8, #44 and #65-69; DAREDEVIL/DEADPOOL ANNUAL ’97; BLACK PANTHER (1998) #23; CABLE & DEADPOOL #20-23; DEADPOOL (2008) #16-18; DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #1-4; DEADPOOL (2012) #15-19; and the DEADPOOL SECRET COMIC VARIANTS.
784 PGS./Parental Advisory …$200.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90467-8
Trim size: Adamantium-sized

25 years of Deadpool, amazing how the time flew.  $200 is way too much but you are getting like 32 comics.  Doesn’t seem to add up plus the size of the collection.

DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by MARK WAID & GREG RUCKA
Penciled by PAOLO RIVERA, MARCOS MARTIN, KANO, KHOI PHAM, MARCO CHECCHETTO,
CHRIS SAMNEE, MIKE ALLRED & EMMA RîOS
Cover by MIKE ALLRED
The devil is reborn — and his adventures will leave you gasping for air! The Man Without Fear visits his unique blend of blind justice on Klaw, the Megacrime cartel and the Mole Man, while the hotly contested battle to secure the Omega Drive will require Daredevil to team up with Spider-Man and not one but two Punishers! But as size-changing scientist Hank Pym enters Matt Murdock’s head to destroy nanobots implanted by Doctor Doom, will saving Daredevil’s brain cost Matt his mind? Ghosts from the past will haunt DD, while Matt faces a life-or-death drama of his own. With new enemies, new friends and a “grinnin’ in the face of hell” attitude, Mark Waid delivers an Eisner Award-winning run like no other! Collecting DAREDEVIL (2011) #1-27 and #10.1, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1999) #677, AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #6 and PUNISHER (2011) #10.
728 PGS./Rated T+ …$100.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90426-5
Trim size: oversized

I heard amazing things about Mark Waid’s tenure on Daredevil, if the price ever came down, I’ll be tempted by this.

WOMEN OF POWER STANDEE PUNCH-OUT BOOK
Penciled by VARIOUS
Cover by DAVID MARQUEZ
Marvel’s powerful super-women have never had a problem making a stand, and that sure is the case with this sensational collection of heroic standees! With nine sturdy pages filled with die-cut characters, you can assemble your own mighty A-Force! Whether your favorite is Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Hellcat, Gamora, Medusa, Silk or Spider-Woman (Jessica or Gwen), we’ve got you covered — and they’re joined by plenty more of Marvel’s most fantastic females, all depicted by some of the Bullpen’s most talented artists! Whether for play or display, your Women of Power standees are just waiting to be freed from the page. So make like She-Hulk, and get punching!
18 PGS./Rated T+ …$24.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90456-2
Trim size: oversized

All of those ladies on the cover and Kitty nor Magik could make the cut?  Storm shouldn’t have to represent all of X-Women kind!  This reminds me, I’m pretty sure Hastings never got the Little Marvels punch book.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: NEW GUARD VOL. 1 — EMPEROR QUILL TPB
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by VALERIO SCHITI
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
Peter Quill has abandoned the Guardians and his role as Star-Lord to be emperor of the Spartax, and Rocket has grabbed the reins as team leader — backed by Drax, Venom, Groot, Kitty Pryde and brand-new Guardian Ben Grimm, the ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing! But what could put the team in the crosshairs of Emperor Quill and his Imperial Guard? Another old face is back, too, but is it a welcome return for Gamora, or have things changed in the eight months she’s been away? When friends like these cause complications for Rocket and the gang, who needs enemies? They don’t, but they seem to attract them anyway. And the newest threat to the galaxy is a doozy. His name is Yotat the Destroyer — and he will have blood. Collecting GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2015) #1-5.
136 PGS./Rated T …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9950-2

Such a great series!  I would highly recommend this!

DOCTOR STRANGE VOL. 1: THE WAY OF THE WEIRD TPB
Written by JASON AARON
Penciled by CHRIS BACHALO & KEVIN NOWLAN
Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
Only Doctor Strange can protect our world from the darkness beyond — now witness the full toll that constant struggle takes on Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme! Every spell cast comes at a cost, but what happens when Strange falls behind on his tab? Find out as the good Doctor wakes up somewhere very odd, nearly naked, with no spellbooks, no weapons and no memory of how he got there — or why all the monsters are chasing him! And as a new visitor to Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum learns that one wrong door can lead to oblivion, Strange’s friends and allies are about to face their greatest threat. Dark forces are destroying everything mystical in the Multiverse, and their sights are set on this dimension. Magic’s days are numbered — and Doctor Strange is not ready! Collecting DOCTOR STRANGE (2015) #1-5.
136 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9932-8

Magik showed up in a few of these early issues, $20 isn’t too bad and the story is very very good.

DEADPOOL: WORLD’S GREATEST VOL. 5 — CIVIL WAR II TPB
Written by GERRY DUGGAN
Penciled by MIKE HAWTHORNE & SCOTT KOBLISH
Cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Deadpool and the Mercs for Money are clearly the best super-group in the Marvel Universe. So naturally when there’s a cosmic-level threat, they’ll be there. This entire book is all about teamwork and getting along! Oh, no, wait, it’s CIVIL WAR II — heroes falling out is the order of the day! So it’s a good thing the Mercs all hate their boss and want out! At least Deadpool is popular with everybody who doesn’t work for him — but how exactly did that happen? Prepare to find out! Then, the former voice inside DP’s head known as Madcap makes his return — with a mad-on for revenge! It won’t be pretty! Plus: In the far-off future, Wade’s two daughters fight for the right to be Deadpool 2099! Whatever the era, it ain’t easy being Deadpool! Collecting DEADPOOL (2015) #14-19.
136 PGS./Parental Advisory …$17.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90148-6

Magik was in issue 14 of this so I’ll recommend that one issue.

GIANT-SIZE LITTLE MARVEL: AVX TPB
Written by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Penciled by SKOTTIE YOUNG & GURIHIRU
Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Skottie Young brings out the big guns — and the little Marvels — in the series fans have been waiting for! In the Battleworld zone known as Marville, playtime is serious business — and Marville’s pint-sized heroes are working overtime to prove to their new neighbors which crew is toughest! With super-powered dodgeball, high-tech hideouts and eye-puns aplenty, Marvel’s most adorable heroes aren’t pulling any punches. This larger-than-life, fun-sized adventure features all your favorites — just, you know, shorter — including Cyclops, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Wolverine and more as the toughest, funniest, craziest and most adorable Marvel heroes throw down in a battle of the fittest! The smaller they are, the harder they brawl — this is Battleworld, after all! Collecting GIANT-SIZE LITTLE MARVEL: AVX #1-4 and A-BABIES VS. X-BABIES #1.
120 PGS./Rated T …$15.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9579-5

Skottie Young doing long form story telling is always worthy of a buy.  A-Babies v X-Babies is also fantastic.  $16 too!

LUKE CAGE, IRON FIST & THE HEROES FOR HIRE VOL. 1 TPB
Written by JAMES FELDER, JAIMIE CAMPOS & JOHN OSTRANDER
Penciled by JOE BENNETT, PASQUAL FERRY & MORE
Cover by PASQUAL FERRY
Luke Cage and Danny Rand reunite in team-ups with Spider-Man and…Sabretooth?! And they’re just in time to relaunch the expanded Heroes for Hire! A super-villain prison break inspires Iron Fist to fill the void left by the Avengers and Fantastic Four — but his ex-partner Luke will take some convincing. Hercules and White Tiger are eager recruits, but is Hulk a joiner? Maybe She-Hulk would be a better fit. A transformed Black Knight rides in, and the Master of the World twists Luke’s arm. But will he stay after Power Man battles Iron Fist? The team will face Deviants, Punisher and the Thunderbolts — there must be a little room left for Ant-Man to help out. Collecting SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED (1993) #13, MARVEL FANFARE (1996) #6 and HEROES FOR HIRE (1997) #1-9.
312 PGS./Rated T …$24.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90229-2

I’m pretty sure that Spider-Man Unlimited 13 issue was the first time I read Luke Cage and Iron Fist and was hooked!   That 1997 series (like most series that started that year) is amazing!  $25 might be a tad much so special order it from a site that gives a discount for preleases like Amazon or Discount Comic Book Service and get that price closer to what it should be.

VENOM: SEPARATION ANXIETY TPB (NEW PRINTING)
Written by CARL POTTS, HOWARD MACKIE & TERRY KAVANAGH
Penciled by LIAM SHARP, RON LIM, STEVEN BUTLER, TOM LYLE & RON RANDALL
Cover by TOM LYLE
The lethal protector continues his symbiotic crusade as the most fearsome antihero in comics! But the bounty hunter Mace and the Sunrise Society may well bring an end to Eddie Brock’s new dawn! If not, perhaps the demonic vigilante Vengeance will be Venom’s undoing when the two dark warriors are targeted by the Stalkers! Then again, Venom might end up caught in the familiar yet different web of the amazing, spectacular…Scarlet Spider? One way or another, Eddie and his other half are heading for some separation anxiety. But while the alien parasite begins a quest to reunite with Brock, five symbiotic spawns of Venom get to him first! Is this the end of a fearsome friendship? Collecting VENOM: THE MACE #1-3, VENOM: NIGHTS OF VENGEANCE #1-4, WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) #118-119, SPIDER-MAN (1990) #52-53 and VENOM: SEPARATION ANXIETY #1-4.
352 PGS./Rated T …$34.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90172-1

Ben Rielly’s Scarlet Spider is in this!  I would love to revisit this series again.  $35 is way too much though. This was also the basis of a very fun video game.  I still wish I could have played Maximum Carnage but it sounds like Separation Anxiety was only a rehash of Maximum Carnage’s game.

X-MEN: INFERNO CROSSOVERS TPB
Written by WALTER SIMONSON, STEVE ENGLEHART, DAVID MICHELINIE, GERRY CONWAY & ANN NOCENTI
Penciled by JOHN BUSCEMA, KEITH POLLARD, TODD MCFARLANE, SAL BUSCEMA, ALEX SAVIUK & JOHN ROMITA JR.
Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
As the X-Men’s Inferno rages, the Marvel Universe feels the heat! The Avengers have disbanded — but when New York’s inanimate objects come to horrific life, Jarvis assembles a surprising new lineup! While the Fantastic Four fights fires, Kang the Conqueror seizes his moment to strike! Spider-Man blames Mysterio for Inferno’s weirdness, but soon finds himself battling demons, the Lizard…and his own possessed Thanksgiving Day parade balloon! Meanwhile, Hobgoblin faces a returned Green Goblin — and N’astirh will transform one of them into Demogoblin! And as Hell’s Kitchen looks more aptly named than ever, Typhoid Mary is in her element — and that’s bad news for Daredevil! Collecting AVENGERS (1963) #298-300, FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #322-324, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #311-313, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) #146-148, WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) #47-48, and DAREDEVIL (1964) #262-263 and #265.
432 PGS./Rated T …$39.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9551-1

This is a fun concept collection, all of the side adventures of Inferno.  I read all of the Spider-Man ones and those were pretty grand.  That’s how I first read of Inferno.

X-MEN: X-CUTIONER’S SONG TPB (NEW PRINTING)
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL, PETER DAVID & FABIAN NICIEZA
Penciled by BRANDON PETERSON, JAE LEE, ANDY KUBERT & GREG CAPULLO
Cover by ANDY KUBERT
The X-Men story so big it took four books to contain it! When Cyclops and Phoenix are kidnapped — and Cable seemingly assassinates Professor X — the X-Men, X-Factor and X-Force go to war…with each other! Witness epic battles around the globe and on the moon as Mister Sinister’s subtle plan of vengeance on Apocalypse unfolds and major revelations are made about the true identities of Cable and his twisted doppelganger Stryfe! Featuring blood, angst, sacrifice and great big guns as Marvel’s mutant families dance to the villains’ twisted tune! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) #294-297, X-FACTOR (1986) #84-86, X-MEN (1991) #14-16, X-FORCE (1991) #16-18 and STRYFE’S STRIKE FILE.
368 PGS./Rated T …$39.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90030-4

Uncanny X-Cast just finished reviewing these 14 issues.  Seemed like it didn’t hold up quick as much but I bet it reads better in one sitting, instead of over four months.

X-MEN/ALPHA FLIGHT TPB
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT, BEN RAAB & JOHN CASSADAY
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE, PAUL SMITH & JOHN CASSADAY
Cover by JOHN BYRNE
The X-Men and Alpha Flight have always had Wolverine in common, even when they’re fighting over him! But when the stakes get too high, the mighty mutants and the defenders of Canada can set aside their differences and join forces to save the world! In an all-time classic, Alpha Flight and the X-Men face the mythical might of Loki — and it’s a transformative experience! And in a blast from the past, Alpha Flight must ride to the rescue when the X-Men fall victim to Hydra! Plus: Alpha Flight’s legendary first appearances — from the X-Men’s furious encounter with Weapon Alpha (a.k.a. Guardian), to the public debut of Canada’s premier super-team, to a savage showdown with the wicked Wendigo! Collecting X-MEN (1963) #109, #120-121 and #139-140; X-MEN AND ALPHA FLIGHT (1985) #1-2; and X-MEN/ALPHA FLIGHT (1998) #1-2.
280 PGS./Rated T …$29.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90025-0

We get the legendary Paul Smith two parter and the Casaday modern day classic two parter in this, that’s awesome!  I own both of those and it would be nice to have them one in place.  I mean, for me, they are technically in my “A” box so they are already in the same place but in one collection – I meant.

. . .

November seems to be another potentially inexpensive month for me!

IvX 0   $5
Guardians of the Galaxy 14    $4
Extraordinary X-Men 16        $4
Death of X 3 & 4        $8

$21 for five comics, these funny books are getting a tad expensive – especially at full price!  I imagine I’m not really going to buy Guardians and Death of X is on the maybe list too.  IvX and Extraordinary may end up being my only monthly titles.

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Extraordinary X-Men 8

Posted by John Klein III on August 23, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Apocalypse, Apocalypse Wars, Caramagna - Joe, Delgado - Edgar, Extraordinary X-Men, Ibanez - Victor, Lemire - Jeff, Magik, Olazaba, Ramos - Humberto, Sotocolors. Leave a comment

Extraordinary X-Men 8

Omega World

Writer Jeff Lemire

Penciler Humberto Ramos

Inker Victor Olazaba

Color Artist Edgar Delgado

I had to add three of the variants to my Wishlist.

Issue opens Storm reflecting on what got her to this point.  Old Man Logan comes into her office and she opens up about her concerns.  There is a slight chemistry between the two, even with the age difference.  Forge walks into the room and clearly interrupts something.  He has news, Cerebra has located new mutants, lots of them.

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik A

Over 600 of them, all in Tokyo.  Storm explains where the rest of the team is.  Magik and Nightcrawler are in Mexico.  Iceman and Jean are in Toronto, so the X-Men present are the options.  Colossus wonders if they should enlist Sunspot but Old Man Logan isn’t trusting him.

Old Man Logan volunteers to take Colossus and go find these mutants.  Colossus dismisses this suggestion as he wants to take his crew of students and give them some field experience.  Storm agrees.

Colossus’ students are – Glob Herman, Ernst, Martha and Anole.

Cerebra doesn’t like that they are attracting a crowd.  As we all know, nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd.  She gathers these group of young X-Men (and their mentor) to where the 600 mutants are suppose to be.

Colossus rips the door apart and reveals Sugar Man.  Which I like, as it reminds me of Generation Next.  Which also worries me as that probably means Colossus is going to leave these students to die, at some point.  Sugar Man should totally reference this, as he was there for all of that.

I like the idea of Cerebra being there, to give us a quick two paragraphs of who Sugar Man is.  Sugar Man shows a skill I didn’t know he had, as he grows to Sentinel size.  I knew he could shrink but when could he grow?  Those two fight and that activates Sugar Man’s machines.  Turns out, he has 600 mutant embryos, that have been spared being affected by the Terrigen Mists.

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik B

Cerebra gets back in the fight and tells Colossus to protect the Ark.  Since Colossus is an idiot, he can’t stop the machine, he needs Forge.  Cerebra has sent a distress call so hopefully Magik can get there soon.

The Art starts to spark, freezing the students in place.  Colossus tries to free them from the electricity.

All of these sparks are due to an emergency measure, as the Ark begins to fade away, Sugar Man shrinks and runs into the light.

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik 1

Before he can get there, Magik and the X-Men arrive to break up his cabbage patch.  Illyana is worried as she sees her older brother behind a giant glass door.

Old Man Logan does something that should have happened before now, he slices Sugar Man’s extra long tongue down to size.

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik 2

The Ark is gone and Magik becomes very annoyed.  He can’t talk but Jean tries to read his gross mind.  Jean learns that the B-Team have gone to the future.  Old Man Logan echos my thoughts exactly, that the X-Men being in yet another time travel story is so silly.  Didn’t Secret Wars 2015 was suppose to fix this?

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik 3

Forge can recreate the time machine, and it sounds like he can do it rather easily.

Storm needs Illyana to stay behind, so that she can guard X-Haven.  Which makes sense but also tells me that Magik is probably not going to be in Apocalypse Wars.

The X-Men are torn into the future.  While there, they are confronted by adult versions of the youngsters.  So Colossus hasn’t killed them but it does appear like he abandoned them.  Ernst looks even older but not much, she’s taller now.  Martha is in body armor, we can still see her brain but also a lady face too.  Glob looks buffer and Anole is also bigger and scalier.  Clearly more than a few minutes have passed.

This chapter ends with the new horsemen – Colossus, Deadpool, Moon Knight and I’ve been told, a Venom stand-in.  Moon Knight is a surprised entrant.

. . .

Strange Magik

Writer Jeff Lemire

Artist Victor Ibanez

Color Artist Sotocolor

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

So last issue, I thought Ibanez was Olazaba, I got my Victors confused.

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik 4

Greenwich Village.  Manhattan.  Five Days Earlier.  Magik brings Sapna to New York City.  Illyana is bringing her new friend to see a doctor.

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik 5

With a knock on a doctor, we see Doctor Strange, now with battle axe!  If you are not reading Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo’s Doctor Strange series, you are really missing out.  I also like seeing Strange and Illyana still hanging out.

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik 6

Magik recaps that Strange, Brother Voodoo, Shaman and Wanda all helped in protecting and moving the Jean Grey School to Limbo.  Strange isn’t taking a side in the silly Inhumans v Mutants controversy.

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik 7

Strange casts a cursory detection spell on Sapna, as there is more to her power than we’ve been let on.  Which the only thing we’ve seen so far is that she can command demons, while in Limbo.

Strange hints that Sapna’s powers are not magical but linguistic in nature.  She’s a high functioning Doug Ramsey – she can absorb, translate and fully understand languages of anything and anyone around her.  Which, Doug was pretty power upped when he came back from Necrosha.

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik 8

Ironically, Sapna doesn’t quite understand what that means.  Magik further breaks it down.  Sapna was in Limbo so she absorbed all of the magical knowledge that the dimension had to offer.

I like Sapna trying to process the information.  If she was in a math classroom, she would have absorbed all of math, making Marcus du Sautoy very proud.

Strange explain that she may still have that chance but her body is still shifting through the knowledge, so once her body and mind settles down, she can absorb more languages.

Strange noticed something else in Sapna’s mind but Magik missed it.  Strange takes the two ladies back inside Sapna’s mind.

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik 9

Once there, Strange is lightning bolted out of commission.  Magik prevents a second bolt from hurting her, as we see it come from a dark Starro.

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik 10

Magik and Doctor Strange are slashing at Starro and Sapna tells it to go away, which it does.

Extraordinary X-Men 8 Magik 11

Sapna wants to go home, that was pretty scary.  Illyana tries to assure Sapna that Starro is not coming back for her.  Strange lets Magik know that she is right.  Dark Starro wasn’t after Sapna, but for Illyana!  I wish it stated where or when this story will be continued in.

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Howard the Duck Volume Six Issue 5

Posted by John Klein III on August 22, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Guardians of the Galaxy, Howard the Duck, Lanham - Travis, Quinones, Rivera - Joe, Sudzuka - Jordan, Zdarsky - Chip. Leave a comment

Howard the Duck V6 5

Writer Chip Zdarsky

Penciler Joe Quinones

Inkers Joe Rivera and Goran Sudzuka

Colorists Quinones with Jordan Gibson

Letterer Travis Lanham

Howard the Duck V6 5 StarKitty 1

High Over Collection.  Such a fun way to start an issue with Rocket complaining about how he’s already tired of hearing Thing’s catchphrases.  He has three, that immediately spring to time.

Agent Venom is keeping the hole that Howard created last issue, plugged so that no one falls out into space.  I guess Howard doesn’t know how to use the Power Cosmic enough to repair holes in space ships, that he created.

The heroes are about to land on Collection.

Not only does Stan Lee present the comic but so does Chip & Joe and even President Obama!

The Collector is happy to have Howard back in his collection, his collector number is – G5-18-2E18.

Now that Howard has a fraction of Silver Surfer’s power, he is able to stand up against The Collector.  In doing so, Howard uses the last of the borrowed power.

Luckily, Silver Surfer arrives on the scene.  Scout, the would-be Herald of Galactus, tries to get noticed but Collector doesn’t pay her any attention.  I like the two guys calling each other by their whole real names.

Howard the Duck V6 5 StarKitty 2

The heroes crash land.  Kitty immediately starts giving orders.  Kitty is going to free prisoners and Thing & Drax going to are to destroy and punch everything.

Tara wants to help but Thing doesn’t know anything about her so she shows off that she can stretch her legs and transform one of her hands into an anvil.  So she has Ms. Marvel powers, I guess?

Linda, Shocket and Tara are going to find Howard.  One of the prisoners recognizes the lady clones, Taylor, but they look older.  Due to time travel, they’ve been gone for six months but to them, it was 25 years.

While Surfer and Collector are fighting, Tara hugs Howard and they begin to run away.

Howard the Duck V6 5 StarKitty a

The ladies come back with prisoners but no Howard.  Just then, Howard and Tara arrive. He explains that all the prisoners have to do is think where they would rather be and walk into him.  Tara finds Collector to be attractive.

Collector is doing very well against two Surfers.  He breaks away and is about to attack Howard.

Howard the Duck V6 5 StarKitty b

Collector begins to taunt Howard but he tries to draw Collector’s attention to the next prisoner.  Collector tries to grab Howard by the throat but his hand keeps passing through him.

I do like “Lady Star Lord” as a name for Kitty’s era of being Star Lord.

This is a decent page to show off my one complaint of the issue.  Does Kitty and Collector both have to wear red jackets?  Made it hard for me to tell when it was her and him, as I missed scanning two pages because of it.

Pryde is a huge upgrade from Quill, she has a mutant phasing power and she’s smart.  Dude Star Lord has nothing on her.

Howard the Duck V6 5 StarKitty 3

The ladies start shooting Collector, he calls them by their collectible numbers – G5-19-2E30 & G5-19-2E31.

Pryde has airwalked herself and Howard above Collector’s head giving Howard the higher ground.  Howard grabs Collector’s ankles and begins to transport him away.

Howard the Duck V6 5 StarKitty 4

The Collector is gone and Howard is exhausted.  We get Quinones continuing to draw Pryde from behind.

Howard the Duck V6 5 StarKitty 5

Four Hours Later.  Shocket calls her, Pryde, as well – so you know she’s pretty kewl.  Howard sends Shocket and Linda to Mirvos-12.

Howard the Duck V6 5 StarKitty 6

As a next step, Howard is going to join the Guardians as they are clearly allowing anyone to join their ranks.  Something Grimm takes offense too but it is super funny.

Howard and Tara have a nice good bye.  Howard sends Tara to George Clooney, she liked him in Batman & Robin.

Howard the Duck V6 5 StarKitty 7

Howard wants to be separated from the nexus, and I like how easily Silver Surfer separates Howard from the nexus.

Pryde allows Howard to ride with the Guardians, until he can get to where he wants to be.

Scout notices that the nexus is still connected to Howard, just not inside of him anymore.  Silver Surfer seems confused by this turn too.

Howard the Duck V6 5 StarKitty 8

Once Howard walks through it, he should no longer be connected to it.  I like how Howard takes the time to thank the Guardians for their help. He ever thanks the surfers.  He thinks home and walks through the nexus.

Issue ends with Beverley!  Long time lady friend companion of Howard’s.  Looking it up, Beverly’s last appearance was in the fifth issue of the previous volume, that’s pretty fun.

Back cover ad is promoting M&Ms turning 75, so they’re the same age as Captain America.  How zany was the year 1939! I didn’t know Tina Turner was born in 1939.  She’s still amazing.

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Rocket Raccoon and Groot Volume Two Issue 3

Posted by John Klein III on August 21, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Andrade, Beaulieu - Jean-Francois, Eckleberry - Jeff, Groot, Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket Raccoon, Young - Skottie. Leave a comment

Rocket Raccoon Groot V2 3

Writer Skottie Young

Artist Filipe Andrade

Color Artist Jean-Francois Beaulieu

Letterer Jeff Eckleberry

I do like Skottie Young as a writer, this should be fun to see him on writing chores but not also on art.

Rocket Raccoon Groot V2 3 Recap Page

Fun way to do a recap page, with Rocket explaining the story as a campfire tale.  Earlier in the series Rocket and Groot are presumed dead, the Guardians put on a funeral.  Kitty was there, so I now have to track down the first issue of this series.  Hopefully Hastings owns several of those, as it is the first issue, I’ll find out on Saturday.  In reality, they’re back in time and in space.  I guess they were always in space – but are we all not in space?

Last issue, Groot is on an alien planet and becomes the prisoner of Lord Rakzoon, who is Rocket – but without the memory of Groot.  This wouldn’t be so bad, but Rakzoon doesn’t recognize Groot, and his favorite thing to do is sentence folks to death.

The guards are making fun of Groot. Groot says his name, like he always do, but it doesn’t phase Lord Rakzoon.  Rakzoon does recognize Groot’s language.

Rocket goes into what happened, I guess this series spins out of Rocket Raccoon 5 – thanks Jake T, the editor.  I also guess that Rocket recognizes Groot now.  Rocket ousted the old dictator, by tricking the inhabitants that Rocket was worst than the last guy.  While explaining all of this to Groot, the guards don’t take kindly to be tricked.  Rocket and Groot make short work of the guards.  Rocket always has a plan.

After the guards are dealt with, the previous dictator arrives – as Rocket clearly didn’t murder the guy.  He has a mouse companion and a fuzzy green guy.  The previous guy’s name is Nasoj.  The shrub fellow can only say “me are shrub.”  The mouse’s name is Pockets.

We get the face off of Pockets v Rocket and Shrub v Groot.  Pocket, is a possum, it turns out.

Nasoj tells the guards to kill all four of them, which Pocket didn’t see that coming.  Oh I get it, Possum + Rocket = Pocket.  Pretty clever, Young!  Pocket is also known for having a plan.  The four start running away.

Eventually.  They locate Pocket and Shrub’s ship.  Pocket doesn’t want our heroes to come with them but after a fight, Rocket takes their ship and flees.  Pocket swears revenge!

Rocket Raccoon Groot V2 3 StarKitty 1

Shortly after Rocket left Groot on the Desert Planet.  I guess enough time has passed that the Guardians (including Star Lord Kitty Pryde) put on a funeral for Groot.  In comics, I just assume that a full year has to pass before one suspects a person to be dead.  That’s just me, people fall into pocket dimensions all of the time.

Those yellow captions are pretty funny!

Rocket Raccoon Groot V2 3 StarKitty 2

Issue ends with the team being reunited.  Rocket suspects that Quill is in the coffin.

Letters page has letters from – Chuck Lindsey / Andrew J. Shaw / Nathanael Gardiner and Hugh McPeek of Quaker City, Ohio.

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Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Four Issue 6

Posted by John Klein III on August 20, 2016
Posted in: Lists, Review. Tagged: 2016, Adams - Art, Bendis, Guardians of the Galaxy, Isanove, Keith - Jason, Petit - Cory, Schiti - Valerio, StarKat. Leave a comment

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist Valerio Schiti

Color Artist Richard Isanove

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover by Arthur Adams & Jason Keith

I want all three variant covers!  Especially the one by Siya Oum, that has Lockheed!

Such a great cover, I wish we could get an issue with Art Adams doing interior art, or even, if we got to see this costume within the pages.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 01

Instead, we get Schiti doing what I can only imagine would be a costume that Kitty would have worn if she got swept up into the 90s costume designs.  Lots of pouches and a big gun.

Pryde is all action, whereas Quill is in the dumps.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 02

He’s sad as he lost an entire planet.  She can’t believe he’s choosing now to have this chat, after trying to get him to open up about all of this.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 03

Schiti treats us to a six panel grid page, he’s done it a few issues ago for great comedic effect.  Here, we get to enjoy the rich characterization.  Pryde asks if he likes her new outfit.  He starts by saying all the things she is – a teacher, a scholar, a warrior, a Guardian – but she doesn’t know how to dress herself.  I think it is a fun outfit.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 04

Pryde counters that neither blue or Indiana Jones is working for him.  She’s clearly hurt.  Also, she can’t diss much of his outfit as she was wearing it, for a few issues herself.  He brings that up and she mentions how, as Star Lord, she had to keep the brand going.

Pryde mentions how she has been a costume hero since she was 13 and still can’t find a look that works.  Which is insane as her Excalibur Davis Blue Sweater look worked.  Now, besides that look, most of her looks are simply a play on the classic X-uniform yellow and black color scheme.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 05

Pryde took the time for this discussion to get him talking about something besides losing his planet.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 06

I do enjoy not having alien languages translated for us.

Quill rushes in and Pryde snaps at him.  She was going to go all stealth and disarm and knock them all out but he’s distracted and made this harder than it had to be.  Pryde tries to pick up their previous conversation, about how he over-shot, going from Guardian to Planetary King.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 07

Quill was under the impressions he never waned him to take the position but that was never the case.  She was disappointed in him for not being Petr Quill, Star Lord, on the throne, instead he was a follower of a council, taking orders.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 08

Quill wonders if they should run, as they are outnumbered.  Pryde wonders if they should try to talk their way through, since she has more hero experienced than him – he agrees to listen to her.

In an awesome turn of events, Quill gets punched to his dumb face!

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 09

Pryde is glad Quill is knocked out, so he won’t be harping on her and her bad call.  At least she wasn’t punched.  Then again, if the alien tried to punch her, his fist would have gone right through her.  Again, Quill really doesn’t know how to work with her.  Pryde lost her gun and Quill lost a tooth.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 10

Some ships have spotted the pair and start shooting at them.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 11

We finally get to see what the planet looks like.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 12

We see the prisoners and Pryde wants a gun.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 13

Pryde wants to shut this planet down, as they are in a concentration camp!  Which, naturally, upsets her and wants to free all of the prisoners.  Pryde is on the warpath.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 14

I like her getting all intense and rightfully so.  She rarely gets to unleash and these aliens deserve her wrath.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 15

In an amazing sequence, Pryde tricks one ship to explode another.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 16

With her phasing power, she takes out another ship.  Quill, meanwhile, tells the aliens to flee.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 6 StarKat 17

Quill runs into that giant green alien and gets knocked out again.

Planet Moord, Home Planet of the Brotherhood of the Badoon.  Issue ends with Quill waking up inside an arena, on a planet that hates him.

Next issue features Thing, which looks fun.

. . .

The Top Ten Comics of 2016 are –

  1. Guardians of the Galaxy 6
  2. Guardians of the Galaxy 5
  3. Guardians of the Galaxy 4
  4. Doctor Strange 4
  5. Worst X-Man Ever 1
  6. Howard the Duck 4
  7. Howard the Duck 3
  8. Extraordinary X-Men 6
  9. Extraordinary X-Men 5
  10. Extraordinary X-Men 7

Those are also the first ten comics I bought in 2016.

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X-Men : Worst X-Man Ever 1

Posted by John Klein III on August 19, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Bemis - Max, Cowles - Clayton, Redmond - Ruth, Walsh - MIchael, Worst X-Man Ever. 1 Comment

Worst X-Man Ever 1

Words Max Bemis

Pencil & Inks Michael Walsh

Colors Ruth Redmond

Letters VC’s Clayton Cowles

This is a fun little issue, Marvel Database isn’t doing a great job of keeping up with the cast list of the other issues but as far as I can see, Kitty is only in this first issue.  If I’m wrong, please let me know.

Issue opens with Bailey and a friend of his are trying to see which girls are in Bailey’s league.  Turns out, not that many young ladies are in his league.  Or rather, he isn’t in any of their leagues.  Poor Bailey feels like an outcast.  He’s pretty normal of a kid, he likes video game, he’s average at most things he does.

One day, his parents it him down.  They reveal that they are mutants – this excites Bailey as this means he could be a mutant.  I do like this approach, a teenager who embraces the aspect of becoming a mutant.

They go to the Xavier Institute to get Bailey tested.  Beast is going to administer the tests.  Bailey is all types of happy to be meeting Avenger and X-Man, Hank McCoy.  After the tests, Beats informs Bailey that he does have an active X-Gene.  That’s the good news.

The bad news is, Bailey has the ability to explode on demand.  Bailey thinks this means he has relatively the same powers as Gambit but he’s his own playing cards.  It is much worst, he can only use his power once – and then it is gone, as he would be too.  It isn’t like Nova, who can explode and mysteriously reforms his body.

Bailey is a mutant but one with a power he can never use.  He can attend the school, but he’s back to just being a nobody at this school.  Poor kid was excited, this has to be the worst case scenario.

As the family walks away, things get worst.

With a page turn, a giant Sentinel steps on Bailey’s parents!  It is one of those shocking splash pages but also, a complete shock.  I had to turn back the page and flip again, to fully comprehend this situation.

Worst X-Man Ever 1 Shadowcat 1

Look at Kitty phasing through the wall in the second row panel.  She’ll make a proper appearance later.

We get a fast ball special!

Poor Bailey, as the battle continues, he can only cry and hold his head.

A month later, Jubilee decides to check in on Bailey.  He hasn’t left a dorm, so he’s an outcast among outcasts.  He agrees to be shown around the school.

Worst X-Man Ever 1 Shadowcat 2

So far, this could have all been in continuity, or at least, possibly.  Since Kitty is a student, it clearly can’t be a present story and costumes and such imply that this is a fun out-of-continuity miniseries.  That really is the way to handle this.  Jubilee does state that Kitty is available now that she broke up with Colossus.

Jubilee introduces Bailey to Forge, who is working on a suit of armor for Bailey.  Sort of like Doug wearing Warlock so that he can fight.

Issue ends with the school being under attack and Forge and Jubliee head off to confront the intruders.  Bailey is going to take the armor out for a spin.

Such a fun issue, with a narly page turn.

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Top Five Kitty Pryde Speeches

Posted by John Klein III on August 18, 2016
Posted in: Lists, Websites. Tagged: CSBG. Leave a comment

Brian Cronin of Comics Should Be Good fame really out did himself.

Previously, he made a list of all the times Kitty Pryde has made a speech.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/12/13/drawing-crazy-patterns-kitty-pryde-gives-an-impassioned-speech/

This time, he made a list of Kitty Pryde’s Top Five List –

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2016/08/10/top-five-kitty-pryde-speeches/

Not only did he make the list, he gave me a special shout out in the article!  Which after the week I had when this article came out, I really could use the smile seeing my name on his incredible blog.

His list is –

Honorable Mentions

  • Excalibur 34

Excalibur 34

  • Mekanix 5

Top Five

5.  Astonishing X-Men 22

4.  All New X-Men 13

All New X-Men 13

     3.  New Mutants 45

2.  Marvel Graphic Novel 5 “God Loves Man Kills”

1.  Uncanny X-Men 210

Uncanny X-Men 210

I really need to do reviews of these issues that I haven’t gotten around to it.

Oh man, I thought I had reviewed the bulk of these posts but I must have had the same thought that I have now, that I have to get to reviewing these other issues.

This is a pretty great list.  Not great is how many Anti-Shadowcat peeps out there who make up the bulk of the comments of that thread.

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