Astonishing X-Men : Dangerous Motion Comic DVD

Posted by John Klein III on August 7, 2016
Posted in: Film. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Astonishing-X-Men-Dangerous-DVD-post

While rewatching this DVD, I noticed something.  It does a great job of crediting Joss Whedon and John Cassaday, as it should – it doesn’t mention Laura Martin, at all.

That got me thinking about how Chris Eliopoulos gets completely screwed with these DVDs.  Since the dialogue and sound effects are now spoken or heard, does he not get anything from the success of the comic, that made these motion comic DVDs possible?  Does anyone know?  It isn’t right that these two don’t get any credit, but to shut out Eliopoulos completely?  That is not cool.

I commented on how I thought Kitty did the least amount in this arc, out of the four.  I was pleasantly surprised that Kitty probably does just about the same amount here as the other arcs.

Kitty and Lockheed get spotlighted when all the psychics are taken, but these two can still communicate via their empathic ability.

Kitty first confronts the Danger Room, pre new body.

Kitty names Danger.

Kitty saves the team on Genosha from the initial blast from the giant Sentinel that originally killed everyone on the island.

Kitty gets to experience her first fastball special.  Also, a major wedgie.

Plus, other situations.  I really like the motion comic but the credit business bothered me.

 

Howard the Duck Volume Six Issue 3

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

Howard the Duck V6 3

Writer Chip Zdarsky

Penciler, Colorist Joe Quinones

Inker Joe Rivera

Lettterer Travis Lanham

I haven’t read an issue of Howard the Duck’s previous volume’s fourth issue.  I thought I had checked on Marvel Comics Database when this issue first came out and didn’t see Kitty listed as a character.  Then at Hastings, I remembered the Guardians were going to appear in this title and I thought I might as well check the last page of this issue to see if they were teased, at all.

What I found was a Gwenpool back-up feature, so now I’ve read an appearance of that character BUT the important thing was that the last page of Howard’s main story, was a real winner.  Glad I double checked, but now I’m worried that I may have missed some appearances of Kitty Pryde.

Howard the Duck V6 3 Recap

Here is what has been happening in the title, thus far.  Linda, a female duck like how Howard is a male duck and Shocket (a female Rocket Raccoon) are on an adventure.  The recap page implies that these two dames have a sad origin story.  These two ladies are after Howard.  Apparently he and Rocket caused these two ladies to be on the other side of the universe and now they are after him.   Also, Howard is now the living Nexus of all Realities, which I have to wonder what that means for Man-Thing.  Nice reference to co-creator, Steve Gerber, at the end.

The issue opens with Howard the Duck, riding a cosmic surf board and cast in all chrome – like from the cover.  He’s worried that the universe is after him.

One week earlier, the majestic swamps of Citrusville, FL.  Shocket and Linda have guns aimed at Howard and his female companion, Tara.  Tara implies she is a superhero now, with a fun editor note stating that we can expect to see the “Captain Tara, the Last Avenger” film in 2032.

Shocket shoots Tara, which Linda isn’t happy with that choice.  Linda is about to touch Howard, to plead with him to come with them but Shocket tells her to not to touch him.  They are not sure what could happen.

Somehow, the Wizard (of Frightful Four fame) arrives and takes Howard hostage.  As he touches Howard, there is a flash of light and the Wizard is gone.  Howard freaks out, as he believes he has absorbed the Wizard.  Linda explains the situation.  Howard can now teleport people, or they can teleport him.

Howard asks who Linda is, she says that it is a long story.  An awesome editorial note hips us that this happened in issue two.  Not the previous issue two but the one from the previous volume but not the original volume from 1976 but the early 2015 volume not the late 2015 volume (which this one is, technically).  Which is a fun jab at how silly relaunching this title, as often as Marvel has done.

Actually I got my asterisks backwards.  Linda references how Howard and Rocket were prisoners of the Collector, which was from the early 2015 volume and Linda and Shocket’s story is found in the previous issue of this volume.

Linda, thankfully, explains the situation.  Linda and Shocket are gender-altered clones that the Collector made, so that they would mate with Howard and Rocket (respectfully, I assume) so that their species will continue.  Linda and Shocket, traveled back in time to avoid the Collector’s schemes but here they are now.  I did check and I didn’t see any previous issues of this series at Hastings.  I like Tara pausing the story so that she can process this.  A lot has happened over two pages.

Linda and Shocket want Howard’s help to free the Collector’s other prisoners.  Tara isn’t sure about the plan but Howard is still haunted by the prisoners.  This wasn’t referenced in the later issue that I read.

The four of them are flying towards the Collector.  Tara is excited about being in space.  Howard isn’t that impressed, as space is full of nothing.  Shocket takes offense to his attitude as space is their home.  They have been on the run, for so long.  Linda can’t wait to have a home and not just be on the run.  She’s pretty excited about owning a couch that isn’t connected to a ship.  So the two ladies match the personalities of their male counterparts.

Their ship, the Thundertrek, gets bombarded by one of the Collector’s ships.  Right after that, a Skrull ship comes on top of them.  Howard blames his involvement as to why everyone is after them.  This gives Linda an idea.

Shocket expects that they are able to track Howard’s new cosmic signature.  Linda knows that the other crews are only after Howard.

Tara keeps wanting to contact Doctor Weird (I imagine she really means, Doctor Strange, close enough!) to separate Howard from the Nexus of Realities.

Howard starts getting into flux, as the people on the ships are trying to teleport Howard off of them.  This gives Howard an idea.

Howard is teleported to the bigger ship, that belongs to the Stranger.  Neither one is impressed with the other.  Howard wants answers from the Stranger.  People want Howard as instead of using fancy technology (that could be chancy) Howard is a done-in-one trip.  You think of the location, Howard makes it happen – super simple.  Strange further explains that Howard has the ability to create new universes as well.

Stranger, as a scientist, would love to create a new universe that he can study and be a “god scientist” of.  Howard agrees to be the gateway to this new universe, he only wants his friends to be set free.  Stranger doesn’t like Howard having friends, that could be distracting, so Stranger blows up their ship.

Five minutes earlier, elsewhere.  Tara, Linda and Shocket are teleported into a cargo bay.  They are not sure where they are, they only know that Howard sent them someplace that they can get help at.  They turn a corner to see . . .

Howard the Duck V6 3 Kitty Pryde

The Guardians of the Galaxy!  This is the first part of three issues guest starring the Guardians!

Feather Regions, no letters but some fun plugs and segues.  This is written by Wil Moss, who is a Kitty Pryde fanboy so now I follow him on Twitter.  @Wil_Moss, good guy.

Mostly the page has promotions for Gwenpool and her special that is coming out.

Then we got the final back-up that teams up Gwenpool and Howard the Duck.

Ms. Poole if You’re Nasty
Part Three of Three

Writer Christopher Hastings

Artist Danilo S. Beyruth

Color Artist Tamra Bonvillain

Letterer Travis Lantham

Issue opens with Howard giving Black Cat a box.  Then the next page, starts the tale of how he got the box.

Howard and Gwenpool are crash landing into a Hydra base.  Gwenpool, who seems more like Deadpool than Gwen Stacy – so a lady Deadpool who shows off her legs – something that Spider-Gwen doesn’t do in her costume, she’s covered from head to toe.  Howard is also in a Deadpool-esque story.

There is a female head of Hydra, who isn’t Viper.  She is working on that classic villain scheme of creating a disease and providing the cure afterwards.

Apparently, Gwenpool sold Hydra the disease and now is trying to get it back.  I could have really used a recap page PLUS a page of what Gwenpool’s deal is.

Gwenpool calls the lady, Madame Hydra, but that isn’t her name.  She and Viper are brunettes (though I always prefer Viper as a green haired beauty) but they are not the same person.  Gwenpool references that she read an old Nick Fury story involving Madame Hydra’s weakness which reminds me that I believe Gwenpool is from our reality, somehow in a comic book – probably Marvel’s way of explaining her ability to fourth wall breakage.

Gwenpool grabs the box and drinks the virus.  NotViper tells everyone to evacuate.

Howard stops NotViper by throwing a table at her.  Gwenpool thought the guy, who was affected by the virus, and that he had super-mumps.  She was vaccinated for mumps in her universe, so she thought she wouldn’t have to worry about it.  Howard shouts at her that they have the mumps vaccine in the Marvel Universe too.  Just then, the effects of the virus hit Gwenpool.  Lady Hydra offers the cure, so that she doesn’t get sick and Gwenpool injects herself with it.

The Present.  Black Cat as the box but now the people who first sold it to her want it back.  I take it, there has been several double crosses here.  They offer Felicia double the money and she takes the new deal.

Turns out, it wasn’t the person who sold Black Cat the virus but Gwenpool in disguise.

A decent nine page story, I’m sure I’m suppose to wikipedia “Gwenpool” and I may one day but not today.

I’m super excited about the next two issues of this title though, I can’t wait!

Big Brother 18 : Episode 21 – August 4, 2016

Posted by John Klein III on August 5, 2016
Posted in: Reality Television. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Who goes home, Da’vonne or Bridgette?  Does one of them have a round trip ticket back into the house?  If not, they become the first member of the jury.  Who wins HoH?

Because of the Live Feeds, we already know who went home as it was an endurance competition.  We also already know who HoH is.

I sort of forgot about the round trip ticket.

Live Show is Day 51.  Julie Chen said PP so slowly.

Veto Ceremony was Day 48.  Da’vonne is not happy to be on the block.  I’m not going to miss Da’vonne, at all.

Paulie tells Bridgette that the only votes for her to leave should come from Michelle and Zakiyah.

Paul makes a “no pun intended” with Bridgette burning bridges that I didn’t get at first.

Corey gets out of the hammock and Nicole falls onto the back of her neck.

Natalie leaves the bathroom and Michelle, Da’vonne and Zakiyah start talking game.  Natalie comes back into the bathroom and is asked how she is going to vote.  Bridgette is one of her friends in the house but she isn’t certain.

James doesn’t want to vote for Da’vonne to leave but he also doesn’t want her in the house.  Corey has crazy eyes!

They are talking about Double Eviction #Oops indeed!  Da’vonne comes in and they try to include her in the conversation.  James mistakenly says that Bridgette will be an option but why would she be if Da’vonne is still in the house.  Da’vonne instantly knows that there is a plot to get her out of the house.  Now Da’vonne is forcing people to have awkward conversations with her.

Natalie does look great in that orange top.  Even with that face cream on.

Production goes to Paul’s home, he isn’t necessarily our boy. Julie Chen says that Paul is a momma’s boy.  His parents’ house looks like a mini-White House!  I sort of love his father, they are friendship.

Julie Chen announces that whoever goes home, will be part of the Jury.

Speeches.  Bridgette reminds people that she had an alliance with Frank, giving him a super big shoutout.  Da’vonne mentions all of her family and friends.  She’s hoping no one is voting her out.

The Votes. 

Paulie – Da’vonne (he shaved!)
Zakiyah – Bridgette
Nicole – Da’vonne
Michelle – Bridgette (who still uses Frenemy?)
Victor – Da’vonne
Corey – Da’vonne
James – Da’vonne
It is official, Da’vonne is gone!
Natalie – Da’vonne

We haven’t had a vote like this i a while.

6-2, Da’vonne is gone – she knew once she heard the numbers.  Back to back Vets evicted.  Da’vonne whispered something long in Victor’s ear.  She tells Julie Chen that she told Victor that he’s the target of a double eviction.

Da’vonne doesn’t have the round trip ticket.

HoH is the endurance comp where they stand on a tiny platform and are swung around the backyard, it is a Big Brother Endurance Classic.

It will come down to Natalie and Victor and Victor wins it!

 

Big Brother 18 : Episode 20 – August 3, 2016

Posted by John Klein III on August 4, 2016
Posted in: Reality Television, Websites. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Who wins Veto?  Will they use the Power of Veto?  Who will be the replacement nominee?

I’ve heard the news of Big Brother 19, like the new Star Trek series, will be completely on All Access.  We do know that it is going to be only ten weeks (down from twelve or the thirteen weeks).  That is pretty much is everything we know about the upcoming season.  Oh and it starts almost as soon as this season ends.  I’m not sure if I’m going to be covering it like I’m covering this season.  That seems like a lot of Big Brother posts to me.  To be honest, I don’t really have that many special posts planned, so I have an open blogging agenda so I could very well review season 19.  November may be tight, with my planned Doctor Strange Month and my Wedding Anniversary posts but July was tight and we got through that one.  I can make it work.

The last thing we do know is that next summer, Big Brother 20 will be on broadcast television, like a traditional season.

Hey, this episode came on like thirty minutes early!  That’s terrific!  Apparently there will be fights this episode, as tempers rise.

Did Michelle just punch Paul in the back, while crying?  If she was a man, Production would have kicked her out of there!

Da’vonne wasn’t aware that Paulie was going to be a pawn.  PP is becoming quite the duo! Zakiyah calls Paulie a homie, that seems like an odd choice for a showmance partner.

Bridgette is leaderless so Da’vonne tries to take her under her wing.  Bridgette is fully aware of Da’vonne’s scheme.

Paul tells Bridgette the plan, if Veto is used, Da’vonne is being backdoored.

The boyz are in the spa, having a great time in their undies.  Nicole comes out, she had a dream about Derrick.  The boyz start teasing her.  She tells them that Derrick’s wife was there too, so it is even sexier!  Cody was in the dream too!  The boyz are – James, Victor, Corey and Paulie.  Zakiyah was not impress with the boyz’ reaction.

The houseguests are talking about room assignments.  Zakiyah and Paulie have been sleeping in the same bed, until Paul won HoH.  Looks like their showmance may be done.  She tries to talk to him but he is pretty dismissive of her.

Michelle states that the showmance partners have hanged.  Michelle is now with Zakiyah and Paulie is with Paul.  Paul wants Paulie to keep Zakiyah happy so she doesn’t try to blow up everyone’s game.  She knows a lot.

Paul and Zakiyah get real.  It is odd that PP are sleeping in the same bed, right?  Paulie is concentrating on Veto, as he’s a nominee.  Zakiyah isn’t happy that they are being so uncomfortable with each other.  Look at Zakiyah getting television time!  She starts to cry so they are not being productive and walks away.

My wife thinks that Paulie needs to go as he’s a big arse dick with a small dick, most likely.

Paul has put shaving cream in someone’s cup.  That cup belonged to Michelle, I guess she drank from it.  Michelle kidney punched Paul!  Michelle starts crying as she left a bruise.  #SadMeech

Is Michelle going to pull an Audrey?  She doesn’t want to be seen as mean, but he is HoH and it is before Veto so it isn’t timing.

Veto Players.

Paul – Corey
Paulie – House Guest Choice – Victor
Bridgette – Natalie (Spy Girls!)

PP. Friendship.  Plan is still on. Da’vonne joins them as it probably isn’t a good idea to let these two keep talking to just each other.  She’s worried that she’s going to get back doored.  Like usual, she walks into a conversation, talks a quick game and leaves.

Corey is wearing Tiffany’s glasses, they should give those back to her!  How did she not take those with her?

Nicole, Corey and Paulie want to put Da’vonne up.  Paulie wants to put Zakiyah up, as she is drama! The plan is to get rid of Da’vonne first.

Kevin James doing television again seems like a major step back, right?

Veto Comp.

Nicole is the host.  It is a track lane theme.

There will be five races, this is the one James did decently at but Austin won – from last year.  They have to wait until they see “Go” and have to hit the button.  Let’s hope this is better than last season when people kept falling off the starting buttons.

Corey – Bridgette  – Victor – Paulie – Natalie – Paul

Race One : Corey is out first, as he falls over.  He won track.
Race Two : Paulie wins, as they all waited until GO.  Bridgette is out!
Race Three : Paulie wins and Natalie is way behind!  She’s out.
Race Four : Paulie wins again. Paul is out!
Race Five : Victor v Paulie –   Paulie wins it!

Paul is a big Sound of Music fan – I’m not.  He apparently is rather quick in the bedroom too.

Victor’s hair is in pigtails, as he’s super confident.

Da’vonne wants Nicole to be the replacement nominee but she’s the only one.

Zakiyah tries to make up to Paulie, the Veto winner.  Paul confirms with Bridgette that Da’vonne is the target.  Paulie makes a giant mistake of telling Zakiyah that Paul is going to put up Da’vonne!  That isn’t going to work out well for them.  Zakiyah thinks that the target really is Bridgette then they need to get Paul out.  Wow, she is way out of the loop.  She’s most likely jealous of PP.  Paulie is going to tell Paul and I bet Zakiyah is going to tell Da’vonne.

Looks like we have a giant boy alliance (of course) with Natalie being the sole gal in it.  Paul may want to get Zakiyah out.

Production isn’t revealing what the Care Package will be but they revealed it last week.

http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_brother/americas-care-package/

My wife says that I should be a full service blogger and reveal what the Care Package is.  Turns out, the above website has all five weeks already revealed.

Week One – Never Not Pass
Week Two – Eliminate Two Eviction Votes
Week Three – Super Safety (the House Guest is safe but has to wear a “Super Safety” costume for the week)
Week Four – Co-HoH (gets all the perks of being HoH AND gets to pick one of the nominees)
Week Five – BB Bribe (gets $5,000.00 to give to a second house guest, for one action, for this one week)

The website even has More Info on each of the Care Packages.

Da’vonne comes to the HoH room to talk to Paul, who is committing to getting rid of her. He’s trying to sell Da’vonne on her being the replacement nominee.

Veto Meeting. 

Paulie uses the Veto on himself.  Paul nominations . . . Da’vonne!  She be going home!

. . .

My sister-in-law, Teri Cole, passed away this morning.  It has been a very hard day.

Uncanny X-Cast 180

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

http://www.uncannyxcast.com/main/2016/7/14/episode-180-rachel-summers-process-server-from-phoenix.html

Rob and Brian aired my tenth voicemail!  Also, I was given the honor of the episode title!  That’s pretty awesome!

My voicemail is from the 43 minute mark to 44:22, with the discussion picking up from there and ending around 45:30.

Such a great episode!

The Uncanny X-Cast turns ten years old in August, I have to leave another voicemail, thanking them for ten uncanny years!

Extraordinary X-Men 5

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

Extraordinary X-Men 5

Writer Jeff Lemire

Penciler Humberto Ramos

Inker Victor Olazaba

Colorist Edgar Delgado

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

Issue opens where the last one ended.  The Sinister created Cyclops (a mixed of Summers’ DNA and some unknown Inhuman DNA) stands before the X-Men.  Jean reads its mind and conforms that isn’t the real Cyclops.  That’s all Old Man Logan needed to hear, as he charges at NotCyclops, Notclops.

Extraordinary X-Men 5 Magik 1

Notclops blasts Old Man Logan through the sewers and out onto the streets.  Sinister doesn’t want Notclops to be hurt, but the X-Men don’t care what Sinister wants.  Storm tells Iceman to deep freeze Notclops.

It doesn’t take long for the Inhuman DNA to take over and Notclops grows even more scales and loses control.  Sinister gets lost in this dramatic transformation and while he is distracted, Colossus straight punches him in the back.  Colossus does it so hard that we get to see a Gwen Stacy inspired “SNAP!”  So Sinister’s back is way broken.

Extraordinary X-Men 5 Magik 2

Storm checks in on Jean.  Iceman gives chase after Notclyops.  Colossus has to stay behind to watch over Illyana.  Iceman tries to confine Notclops in a ice ring.

Jean can’t shut Notclops down, as it doesn’t have a brain.  Storm tells Jean to look after Old Man Logan.  Storm will take on Notclops and Iceman starts saving civilians.

Extraordinary X-Men 5 Magik 3

Illyana is starting to wake up.  She directs her brother to turn around.  A body of Sinister picks up the head of the broken back Sinister and puts it into its neck.  This body is suppose to be more durable than the last one.  Colossus is ready for Round Two.

Jean checks in on Old Man Logan, I like how slow his healing factor is now.  That was one of the biggest issues with Present Day Wolverine.

Iceman saves a dude whose legs are stuck under a bus.  Iceman creates a giant Abominable Snowman to lift the bus.

Storm tries to talk Notclops down but he can only growl.  Old Man Logan gets a few slices in but gets blasted back.

Colossus keeps beating on Sinister.  Sinister makes the point that Colossus wrecks and he builds.  With that, Sinister slams Colossus into the ground.

Extraordinary X-Men 5 Magik 4

Sinister’s experiments has revealed that mutants are dying (again).  Mutants are no long Homo Superior, they have become Inferior.

Meanwhile, Jean has been keeping Notclops’ body from exploding and is trying to raise it into the air to cut down on the blast radius.

Illyana has gotten into the fight, with the bold move of slicing Sinister’s head off.

Extraordinary X-Men 5 Magik 5

Magik doesn’t think the X-Men are the last of their kind but the first.  I like the phase “Children of Xavier” it just rings true and I really dig Illyana making with a monologue.  She’s typically more of a doer than a talker.

Notclops explodes in the sky, so he isn’t coming back anytime soon.

a

Extraordinary X-Men 5 Magik 6

Illyana looks to be drawn taller now, but I’m sure that’s just an artistic choice.

Poor Kurt, he has clearly been through some things but he does recognize one of his oldest friends, and her brother.

Extraordinary X-Men 5 Magik 7

The X-Men are finally reunited, for the first time this series.  Jean wants to go home but Storm has a speech she wants to make.  She tells everybody in attendance, and the world around them (via the news crew) that the mutant race is dying.

Extraordinary X-Men 5 Magik 8

The X-Men will no longer be hiding.  They will continue to protect and serve those who would fear and hate them.  They will also be gathering any mutants that are not already at X-Haven.  If anyone tries to hurt them, the X-Men will squash that fool.

Extraordinary X-Men 5 Magik 9

Storm is still seeing Xavier’s ghost.

With a classic “to me, my X-Men” Storm asks Magik to send them home.

Extraordinary X-Men 5 Magik 10

Cerebra likes Storm’s speech.  Forge informs Storm that Maria Hill wants to have a meeting, so that they can get on the same page.  Magik doesn’t trust SHIELD but Storm wants to give them a chance.

Magik notices that a fight occurred in Limbo, which I’m sure causes some conflict within her.  She’ll have to tell those demons to leave the mutants alone.

Issue ends with Old Man Logan not wanting to go into the school.  Jean thinks Glob Herman is a little cute and she tells Old Man Logan that there is a teenage Scott Summers, which doesn’t thrill him.

Next issue starts the Search and Rescue storyline, that Magik is involved in, so we’ll be definitely be buying it.

. . .

Top Ten List of 2016

  1. Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Four Issue 4
  2. Extraordinary X-Men 5
  3. Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 4

That’s the year, thus far

Big Brother 18 : Episode 19 – July 31, 2016

Posted by John Klein III on August 1, 2016
Posted in: Reality Television. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Who is the new HoH?  Who is nominated?  Who gets the first Care Package?

The HoH is them trying to roll a ball into a target.  The four lowest scorers are going to be the have nots.

Paulie rolls a 6
Victor rolls a 14
Paul rolls a 21
Bridgette rolls a 10
Natalie rolls a 2
Corey rolls a 0 (it went all the way down the ramp but then fell off the course)
Nicole rolls a 19
Zakiyah rolls a 0 (like Corey, she threw it pass the course)
Michelle rolls a 16
Da’vonne rolls a 19

Natalie gets lots of perfect shots with the yellow ball, did not have any luck when it mattered the most.

Paul is HoH! He won it like an hour earlier!

Have nots are – Corey / Zakiyah / Natalie and Paulie

Paul intends to nominate Bridgette.

Paul talks to both Corey and Victor about one of them being a pawn this week.

Nicole tries to start a new communication with Da’vonne.  She wants Da’vonne nominated.  In another room, Paulie talks to James about getting Paul to nominate Da’vonne, sa well. James isn’t sure if that is the best move.  Paul doesn’t seem against the idea.

Paul’s HoH room.  It has already been way too many “your boy” and “friendship.”  Paul’s mom wrote him a very lovely letter.

Zakiyah misses her mother.  She best be winning a HoH then!

Later – Paul has Victor, James, Nicole and Zakiyah to choose amongst themselves to pawn themselves.  Da’vonne and Paulie join the conversation.

Nicole finally agrees to go on the block.  She had two rules – don’t throw a competition and don’t volunteer to be a pawn.  Not being in a showmance was one of the rules too but she broke that one.

Nicole tells Corey that she adopted a cat, he adopted a dog.  They have so much in common! Look at Corey getting screen time!  Production is doing a montage about him having crazy distant eyes.

Bridgette talks to the two Pauls.  She doesn’t want to be nominated and offers up Da’vonne and Nicole.  Sounds like the plan is to have the nominees be Bridgette and Nicole with a plan to backdoor Da’vonne.  I would not miss any of these three ladies.

Paul has been enjoying Paulie being inspired to start looking like Paul.

Five weeks of Care Packages.  They have to open the package in front of everyone.  Whoever gets the first one must be in the running for America’s Favorite.

My wife totally called this, as the package is parachuted in – just like in the Hunger Games!

Natalie gets the first package!  She got socks!  She got the Never Not Pass!  She can not be named a Have Not.  No more slop and horrible sleeping situations.

Nicole regrets volunteering and almost convinces Corey to volunteer himself.  Zakiyah and Corey come into the room, Paulie is already there.  Paul can’t trust her and her weak backbone so Paulie volunteers.  PP is their duo name.

Nominations.

Paul has nominated . . . Bridgette and Paulie.

For getting the first care package, here are some more images of Natalie –

BB18 Natalie cleavage pink top

BB18 Natalie September 2013 New York Jets

BB18 Natalie top

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Four Issue 4

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

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 4

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist Valerio Schiti

Color Artist Richard Isanove

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover by Arthur Adams & Jason Keith

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 4 StarKat 1

The Guardians are regrouping.  Drax and Quill really want to go back to Spartax and save Gamora.  Rocket wants to do that too, but only once they have an actual plan.

Quill is also motivated by not wanting the planet he is in charge of to be destroyed.  Drax doesn’t want to live a friend behind, on a live battlefield.  I get the impression that Pryde is on Rocket’s side.

Spartax.  Where Gamora was Left to Die.  (Depending on your point of view.)  Gamora, to her credit, stands and prepares to fight Hala for a third round.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 4 StarKat 2

The team are making arguments of why they should go back and save Gamora.  Rocket has to repeat, that they need a plan first.  That is all he is trying to convey.

Grimm, who wasn’t around during Black Vortex, has to ask the question.  Did they destroy Hala?  I love how angry the dudes get over the question.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 4 StarKat 3

Quill taking the pause, before fully explaining the situation.  They didn’t destroy the planet, they just didn’t save it.  Quill’s father pressed a button and Hala (the planet, and thorneworld of the Kree) was destroyed.

Pryde tries to relieve the guilt Quill is feeling.  I do like how Quill, though he may hate the administrative tasks of being the president of a student, he actually cares for his citizens.  Is this what happened between the eight months?  Quill pushing her away to get more involved with the planet?  She didn’t want to be seen as First-Lady-In-Wait so started hanging out with the Guardians?  I could see that being the issue, or the beginning of the issues.  I suspect we are never going to find out what happened during the missing eight months.  Or, all of the Marvel titles are going to have their third or fifth storylines, deal with the missing months.

Quill whispers that Earth is next on Hala’s hit list.  This makes Pryde, Grimm and Venom committed to stopping Hala, even more.

Finally, the entire team tells Rocket that they are going back to Spartax.

On Spartax, Hala is beating Gamora even beyond the beating from before.  Hala keeps asking where is King Peter Quill.  King Quill finally states that he is there.  Quill tries to charm Hala, to no effect.

Rocket is wearing a cute hoodie, that has room for his ears.

Quill tells Hala that it was his father who destroyed her planet.  She understands this new information but it doesn’t change anything.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 4 StarKat 4

See how cute that hoodie is?

Quill tries to further explain that J-Son wouldn’t care if the planet that rejected him, was destroyed.  She’s committed to her plan.

Quill gives Pryde the command and Pryde strikes!

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 4 StarKat 5

Pryde pulls the same trick she did to Thor in Thor 427 / 428, where she phases a person into the ground.  Which I’m surprised this doesn’t straight kills the person but we can’t be having Pryde murdering people using a planet.

To Hala’s credit, she doesn’t seem that wounded.  It isn’t until the combined might of Drax and Grimm start slugging her, that she starts to bleed.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 4 StarKat 6

Hala explodes the ground around her.  Everyone is knocked back.  Is it me or is Quill overly concerned for Gamora’s health?  Is that what happened between him and Pryde?  Maybe I’m just looking for clues everywhere I can find them.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 4 StarKat 7

Gamora isn’t dead.  Everyone is so glad to see her breathing.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 4 StarKat 8

Grimm has been spending this time, punching Hala’s face.

Quill wants to get the planet back in order, which seems to upset Pryde.  I do like how Quill already has a plan to get the military back up on their feet.

I do like that panel of Pryde and Quill getting close, so those two are still sweet on each other.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 4 StarKat 9

As soon as one threat is down, Yotat, the Destroyer of Destroyers arrives.  Rocket opens fire on Yotat, thinking the threat is taken care of.

Guardians of the Galaxy V4 4 StarKat 10

Yotat still stands and it is his turn to unload his gun.  The Guardians are knocked back, yet again.

Pretty good conclusion to the first arc.  Though I imagine Yotat and Hala team-up and this storyline isn’t over yet.

Marvel October 2016 Solicitations

Posted by John Klein III on July 30, 2016
Posted in: Solicitations. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Marvel is releasing another slew of number one issues so I’ll comment if I have any interest with these new series – so this may be a longer post than it is normally.

CHAMPIONS #1
MARK WAID (W) • HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)
Variant cover by ALEX ROSS
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
MARVEL NOW! ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
CLASSIC ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
CAPTAIN AMERICA 75th ANNIVERSARY VARIANT COVER BY TBA
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY RAHZZAH
PARTY VARIANT COVER BY JAY FOSGITT
PREMIERE VARIANT COVER BY TBA
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
Following the fallout of CIVIL WAR II, Avengers Ms. Marvel, Nova and Spider-Man strike out on their own — joined by Cyclops, Viv Vision and the Totally Awesome Hulk! Six young heroes determined to change the world — and they’re only the beginning!
48 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

I do enjoy the Champions title, shame no representative from the original series is in this – yet.  Teen Cyclops being in it means I should be tracking it.  I’m hoping the five dollar price tag is only for the first and double sized issue. 

CHAMPIONS: NO TIME FOR LOSERS #1
Written by TONY ISABELLA & BILL MANTLO
Penciled by DON HECK, GEORGE TUSKA & JOHN BYRNE
When fate calls, a sensational super-team answers! The avenging Angel! Hercules, Prince of Power! The deadly Black Widow! Ghost Rider, Spirit of Vengeance! And the amazing Iceman! When the Champions come together, it is legendary! So much so they’ll face the mythological might of Cerberus, harpies, Amazons and Greek gods — all culminating in a wedding-stopping assault on Olympus! This mixed-up band might just be the heroes Los Angeles needs. And with the best headquarters Warren Worthington III’s money can buy, and Darkstar added to the ranks, they’ll be ready for the most uncanny of evils — like Swarm, Nazi scientist turned lord of killer bees! Only one group can stop the City of Angels from feeling his sting. They are the Champions — and they’ll keep on fighting ‘til the end! Collecting CHAMPIONS #1-3 and #14-15.
96 PGS./Rated T …$7.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90857-7

Five issues for eight dollars isn’t too bad.  If they released an omnibus for the series, I’ll be more tempted by that than the beginning ending of the original series. 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #20
DAN SLOTT & CHRISTOS GAGE (W) • GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
“CLONE CONSPIRACY” TIE-IN!
•Death is no more, and DOCTOR OCTOPUS HAS RETURNED!!!
•How is he back? And what does he have to do with The Jackal?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3 .99

Every fight between Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man must be super awkward going forward, right?

PROWLER #1
SEAN RYAN (W) • JAMAL CAMPBELL (A)
Cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN
Variant Cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
“CLONE CONSPIRACY” TIE-IN!
Even a super hero’s life can get boring. Double-check your gear. Patrol the city. Save the innocent. Report back to your boss, The Jackal. Wait, what? Why is Prowler working for The Jackal? What does the resurrected Madame Web have to do with him? And what has Prowler already done that may have compromised him?!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Did the Prowler die?  I always liked the character, Hobbie Brown, back in the day – he helped Peter create the Hornet suit back in the Spider-Man : Identity Crisis storyline, that’s the last I heard of him.  I did hear that Ultimate Prowler was Miles Morales’ father or uncle, so that’s cool that the name got Ultimatized.  I’ll be passing on this series through.  Bringing back an eighty year old woman doesn’t sound great, it reminds me too much of bringing Aunt May back to life.  I do miss the Slingers series, if they relaunched that, I would actually buy every issue! 

INFAMOUS IRON MAN #1
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • ALEX MALEEV (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY ESAD RIBIC
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY ANTHONY PIPER
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
There is a new Iron Man in town and his name is VICTOR VON DOOM. The greatest villain of the Marvel Universe will try something new. Where Tony Stark failed, Doom will succeed. What is Doom’s Master Plan?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I still don’t see why Doom would take on Iron Man’s name or legacy, for the fresh start?  I’ll be passing on this one too.  I see there these number one issues are getting plenty of variants too. 

BLACK PANTHER #7
TA-NEHISI COATES (W) • CHRIS SPROUSE (A)
COVER BY BRIAN STELFREEZE
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY BILL SIENKIEWICZ
VARIANT COVER BY MARGUERITE SAUVAGE
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER C BY ESAD RIBIC
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
COSPLAY VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
“THE CREW” STARTS NOW!
With no one left to trust, T’Challa leans on his day ones: Luke Cage. Misty Knight. Storm. But Wakanda may be too far gone for this all-new, all different CREW…
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

His day ones?  I do like Storm and Black Panther being in a title again.  Shame editorial didn’t know what to do with them as a married couple.  Luke Cage and Misty Knight are there for the Netflix show sweet synergy. 

 GREAT LAKES AVENGERS #1
ZAC GORMAN (W) • WILL ROBSON (A/C)
Cover by WILL ROBSON
Variant cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY Dale Keown
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
“All New, All Different?” No, thank you! New things are bad and different things are scary! Instead, why not join everybody’s least favorite super-hero team, the Great Lakes Avengers in their brand new — but not too brand new — ongoing series, Same Old, Same Old, Great Lakes Avengers! When the team gets reinstated as permanent members of the Avengers and uprooted to Detroit, the GLA has one more shot at super hero glory…but can they answer the call? Do they even have 4G coverage here? Find out!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Everybody’s least favorite super-hero team?  Ouch!  I’ve always liked the GLA and glad they are getting another chance at glory.  Hopefully this title gets some good buzz. 

 SOLO #1
GERRY DUGGAN & GEOFFREY THORNE (W) • PACO DIAZ (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY ROB LIEFELD
SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY ROB LIEFELD
VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
The “One Man War on Terror” will get the job done! That’s right — James Bourne, A.K.A. Solo, is on his own, right where he belongs! Deadly alien weapons are making their way into the hands of ordinary thugs – and Solo is going undercover to locate the source. Things are heating up, and Solo might just wish he had some backup! Deadpool was just the beginning. You haven’t seen anything till you’ve met Solo!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

As a Spider-Man fan in the 90s, I am glad that Solo is back to having monthly adventures.  I read Deadpool 14 and it didn’t seem like he has changed too much so this could be interesting.  I imagine he’s better in a team environment, like Thor or Superman.  I’ll be passing on this.  All of these Deadpool spinoff titles must be leading up to a big crossover.  Then again, I thought that with the Guardians of the Galaxy spinoffs but we never got that crossover either – which was pretty nice. 

DOCTOR STRANGE & THE SORCERERS SUPREME #1
ROBBIE THOMPSON (W) • JAVIER RODRIGUEZ (A)
Cover by Rafael Albuquerque
VARIANT COVER BY JAVIER RODRIGUEZ
DESIGN VARIANT COVER BY JAVIER RODRIGUEZ
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY Jamal Campbell
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
An ancient evil threatens to unravel the fabric of reality, and one Sorcerer Supreme may not be enough. Doctor Strange must unite past, present and future Sorcerers Supremes to stem the coming darkness – Merlin, the Ancient One, Wiccan, and more! But Strange should watch his back, not all of these Sorcerers have his best interests in mind…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I guess this is Marvel’s way of getting the Ancient One back in a monthly title for the big release of Doctor Strange’s film out the next month.  I’m super excited that this includes “past, present and future Sorcerers Supremes” as Magik is a future Sorcerer Supreme and she was awesome in that annual!  First hinted in All New X-Men 25 but seen in Uncanny X-Men Annual 1 (2015)

PATSY WALKER, A.K.A. HELLCAT! #11
KATE LETH (W) • BRITTNEY L. WILLIAMS (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY SANDY JARRELL
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
COSPLAY VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
“DON’T STOP ME-OW” STARTS NOW!
Who’s ready for a knock-down, drag-out, no-holds-barred CAT-FIGHT? Literally! Okay, it’s kind of figurative because they’re not *actually* cats, but it’s pretty close. Felicia Hardy is on a collision course with Patsy Walker. You know what that means? It’s Hellcat vs. Black Cat y’all! Featuring everyone’s favorite teenage vampire Jubilee! But who’s side is she on? Sharpen your claws because it’s going to be a feline fiasco for the ages!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I like how odd Jubilee is in this three-way match, also they could have undone Jubilee’s vampire status quo with Secret Wars 2015 but someone thought it must have really added to her character, instead of being a gimmick.  Black Cat v Hellcat does sound promising. 

MOSAIC #1
GEOFFREY THORNE (W) • KHARY RANDOLPH (A)
Cover by STUART IMMONEN
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY MARCO D’ALFONSO
VARIANT COVER BY KHARY RANDOLPH
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
SPECIAL OVER-SIZED ISSUE!
Professional basketball player and world renowned celebrity, Morris Sackett, gains extraordinary abilities, at the grave cost of his own mortal body. Imbued with the ability to jump from person to person like a ghost, he controls the bodies and memories of those he inhabits. With his own body destroyed, the one-time superstar athlete must rely on others to survive. The saga of the newest Marvel Inhuman MOSAIC begins here!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

Another Inhuman spinoff?  I’ll be passing on this, thank you. 

MS. MARVEL #12
G. WILLOW WILSON (W)
Takeshi Miyazawa (A)
Cover by Cameron Stewart
RED WIDOW VARIANT COVER BY Alessandro Taini
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
VARIANT COVER BY JOELLE JONES
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
Ms. Marvel goes global! After the events of Civil War, Kamala goes on a much-needed road trip.
But will she be an international sensation or menace? Bonus 10-page Red Widow story!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4 .99

Who is Red Widow?  I guess having three Black Widows would have been a tad much. 

DOCTOR STRANGE #12 & 13
JASON AARON (W) • CHRIS BACHALO (A/C)
Issue #12 – DEFENDERS VARIANT COVER BY Butch Guice
Issue #12 – CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY STEVE MCNIVEN
Issue #12 – STORY THUS FAR VARIANT COVER BY TBA
Issue #12 – CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
“BLOOD IN THE AETHER” STARTS NOW!
Doctor Strange is on the brink of death, his magic nearly depleted. Sensing the Sorcerer Supreme at his weakest, his greatest foes will return from the shadows, ready to strike. Behold the return Doctor Strange’s classic rogues gallery starting with…BARON MORDO!
32 PGS. (EACH)/Rated T+ …$3.99 (EACH)
Previously solicited Doctor Strange #12 orders have been canceled.

I guess magic wasn’t completely destroyed by Impetrator and the Empirikul – so that’s a good thing.  I wonder if there is any chance that Magik keeps appearing in this series? 

DEADPOOL #21
GERRY DUGGAN & IAN DOESCHER (W) • MATTEO LOLLI & TBA (A)
Cover by MIKE HAWTHORNE
Shakespeare VARIANT cover by MIKE MAYHEW
SECRET COMIC VARIANT COVER BY SCOTT KOBLISH
VARIANT COVER BY JANET LEE
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
“IT’S NOT A TUMOR” STARTS NOW!
You can’t keep a good Madcap down! First, this massively oversized issue brings you the return of Deadpool’s greatest nemesis. He’s back (in the most horrific way possible) and he’s out for revenge! Then, say hello to SHAKESPOOL, THE MERCENARY OF VENICE as Deadpool goes Shakespeare for an all-new 60-page tale by Ian Doescher (William Shakespeare’s Star Wars series). Those old plays you were supposed to read in English class just got a lot more interesting. Don’t say we never taught you anything!
96 PGS./Parental Advisory …$9.99

60 pages for ten dollars sounds like a great deal!  Shakespool on the other hand, I’m not sure about.  Madcap use to be Deadpool’s second caption boxes, for a long time. 

 JESSICA JONES #1
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • MICHAEL GAYDOS (A)
Cover by DAVID MACK
Variant cover by ALEX Maleev
VARIANT COVER BY David Aja
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
BLACK PANTHER 50th ANNIVERSARY VARIANT COVER BY JEFFREY VEREGGE
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
She is back after a decade! A lot has changed in the Marvel Universe and there are still many secrets hiding in the shadows. Secrets only a special woman like Jessica Jones can hope to uncover. Discover the haunting secrets from Jessica’s past in this blistering new series. Alias Investigations is open for business.
32 PGS./Rated PARENTAL ADVISORY …$3.99

You know, during the time we were watching the Netflix show, I was tempted to read the trades again, it would have been nice to be tempted by a new ongoing series.  I guess it must not have timed out right for Bendis and Gaydos.  I wonder if Cage and Danielle will be appearing in this, Danielle still exists right?  Are the Cages still married?  So many questions! 

 DEADPOOL & THE MERCS FOR MONEY #4
CULLEN BUNN (W) • IBAN COELLO (A/C)
Cover by Iban Coello
VARIANT COVER BY MIKE MCKONE
STORY THUS FAR VARIANT COVER BY TBA
MERCS FOR MONEY CHARACTER VARIANT COVER BY TBA
“Go Bananas” STARTS NOW!
Meet the new Mercs! Wait, a new team…ALREADY? You bet! It’s not because the old team quit, we promise. But you’re going to go bananas for the All-New Mercs for Money! And not just because there are two different Monkeys on the team. Yes, we know Gorilla-Man is technically an Ape. You can stop writing us letters. Hey, why is Domino leading the team? Isn’t Deadpool’s name in the title? Wade’s not going to like this…
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

This is a fun written solicit! 

CAGE! #1 (of 4)
GENNDY TARTAKOVSKY (W) • GENNDY TARTAKOVSKY (A/C)
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY MARCO D’ALFONSO
RUN THE JEWELS VARIANT COVER BY DAMION SCOTT
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
From the Award-Winning creator of Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack and Hotel Transylvania! On the mean streets of Harlem, shoes are big, shirts are large, bottoms are belled and crime is rampant! But in the heart of the city, the world’s hardest-working, smack-talking, chain-wearing super hero is on the street and on the case! And his rates are reasonable! He’s CAGE! and he’ll save your behind. Dig it!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Was Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack created by the same person?  That’s insane! Samurai Jack was such a great show, Dexter was good to but I didn’t follow it that closely. 

UNCANNY AVENGERS #15
GERRY DUGGAN (W) • PEPE LARRAZ (A)
Cover by MEGHAN HETRICK
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY WHILCE PORTACIO
“GOING ROGUE” STARTS NOW!
CIVIL WAR II AFTERMATH!
The Uncanny Avengers have been betrayed! The team stand fractured and disavowed! The Hand has acquired the corpse of “The Fallen” hero! Now, what remains of the Unity Squad travels to Tokyo to smash ninjas and steal back a hero’s remains. Can they get there in time, before the Hand revives “The Fallen”?!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Marvel knows that the Fallen is the Hulk, right?  Like that news was pretty much everywhere in the land of comics?  I guess they are trying to hype it for the new reader who didn’t read Civil War II 3 but also still reads solicitations.  That one very specific person. 

BLACK WIDOW #7
CHRIS SAMNEE & MARK WAID (W) • CHRIS SAMNEE (A/C)
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY PHIL NOTO
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
STORY THUS FAR VARIANT COVER BY YASMINE PUTRI
“LION TAMER” STARTS NOW!
• Now that Natasha knows the Weeping Lion’s secret, she’s in control of his very particular set of skills.
• Natasha plans to use him to destroy the Red Room’s reincarnation, the DARK ROOM.
• But she’ll have to face RECLUSE, the daughter of the Red Room’s headmistress, who’s fixated on killing Natasha to prove her worth.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Shouldn’t that Red Widow backup take place in Black Widow’s monthly title?  Or is she a way younger character? 

CIVIL WAR II #7 (of 7)
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • DAVID MARQUEZ (A)
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Variant cover by MICHAEL CHO
B&W VIRGIN CONNECTING VARIANT H COVER BY KIM JONG GI
B&W CAPTAIN AMERICA VARIANT COVER BY JIM STERANKO
MILES MORALES VS. SAM WILSON VARIANT COVER BY PHIL NOTO
BATTLE VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS SPROUSE
THE WAR ENDS…
56 PGS./RATED T+ …$5.99

Oh wow, this wasn’t even towards the top.  Sort of like Secret Wars 2015 all over again with the relaunches taking place right as the last issue of the previous crossover comes out.  Hopefully issue seven isn’t the lackluster event that Secret Wars 2015’s final issue. 

Marvel October 2016 Solicitations Guardians of the Galaxy 13 Art Adams cover
by Art Adams

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #13
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • VALERIO SCHITI(A)
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• As the Guardians’ internal conflicts reach a boiling point, some outsiders throw more fuel to the fire!
• One teammate with deep roots on Earth will struggle to hold onto their galactic connections!
• The Guardians may survive Civil War II, but the team will NEVER be the same!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Now that I no longer work at Hastings, paying cover price for comics doesn’t seem great.  Hopefully I’m not getting too many of these.  Sounds like this is the issue Kitty Pryde is no longer part of the team, hopefully she leaves on good terms.  It was a fun ride for me with this series. 

POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #9
DAVID WALKER (W) • SANFORD GREENE and FLAVIANO (A)
Cover by SANFORD GREENE
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• Luke and Danny tried to stick together, but CIVIL WAR II tore them apart!
• How far will Luke go to get his friend back?
• It’s EVERYTHING you want in an event tie-in! Moral conundrums! Devastating consequences! More super-powered sparring than you can count on four fists for hire!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I guess it would make sense to pit co-stars against each other for a crossover event.  I imagine they should just shrug their differences off by good bros do. 

SPIDER-MAN #9
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • NICO LEON (A)
Cover by SARA PICHELLI
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• What did the Profiler see about Miles?
• Whatever it is, it’s made him the Marvel Universe’s most wanted!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Is Profiler the Inhuman Ulysses’ hero name?  It isn’t a bad one.  Reminds me of that awesome 90s NBC show. 

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #14
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • MIKE DEODATO (A)
Cover by Dale Keown
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• A blistering new chapter in the Iron Man mythos. After the shocking conclusion of CIVIL WAR II, a young woman answers the call and takes the mantle of Iron Man. And her surprising relationship to Tony Stark will define the book for years to come. Meet Riri Williams…she is Iron Man.
• Well, for now. She’s still working on the name. But the Marvel Universe WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Does Doom taking on the Iron Man name undermine Riri Williams’ also taking up Iron Man’s name?  Like, is Doom there for the dudes out there who don’t want a girl Iron Man?  I hope that isn’t the reason for there being two Iron Mans.  Iron Men? 

CIVIL WAR II: THE OATH #1
NICK SPENCER (W) • Rod Reis (A)
COVER BY JEFF DEKAL
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
The epilogue to the blockbuster event CIVIL WAR II!
• In the aftermath of war, Tony Stark and Carol Danvers both turn to the one person they can trust…Steve Rogers, Captain America.
• Uh-oh…
40 PGS./ one-shot /Rated T+ …$4.99

That makes sense that Civil War II’s main characters will need their own one-shot to tie up any issues as only one of them has a monthly title.  I like Nick Spencer writing this issue, as he’s writing Steve Rogers’ Captain America series. 

MIGHTY THOR #12
JASON AARON (W) • RUSSELL DAUTERMAN (A/C)
• Forged from the mystical metal known as Uru, Thor’s Hammer is the key to a power that only the worthy can wield.
• But what makes one worthy to carry this weapon? Is it destiny? Or does the hammer choose its partner?
• Discover the storied history of Thor’s greatest ally — The MIGHTY MJOLNIR!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

This is way fun that Mjolnir is getting a spotlight, I may have to check this out.  Just to see how they handle the time Captain America lifted it, plus we should get some Beta Ray Bill too!

THUNDERBOLTS #6
JIM ZUB (W) • JON MALIN (A/C)
• With security agencies and super-hero teams around the world the world gunning for the Thunderbolts, MACH-X and ATLAS will risk it all for what they believe in.
• You won’t soon forget this story of friendship and foolishness we call…“The Beer Run.”
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Was there actually a Mach-VI, VII, VIII and VIX?  Or did they jump from five to ten? 

VISION #12
TOM KING (W)
GABRIEL HERNANDEZ WALTA (A)
Cover by MIKE DEL MUNDO
• A while ago, a robot created a family. And all was good. For a while. Then came the murders. The lies. The betrayals. The battles fought. The battles lost. The family lost.
• And now, at the end, Vision stands alone. He must decide how he will go on, if he will go on, if he can go on. And that decision will shape the Marvel Universe for quite a while.
• The epic, stunning conclusion to the most highly praised series of the year. Simply put, this is the issue everyone will be talking about.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

When they release the full collection, I may have to pick it up as I’ve heard great things regarding this series. 

SCARLET WITCH #11
JAMES ROBINSON (w)
LEILA DEL DUCA (a)
COVER BY DAVID AJA
• The SCARLET WITCH travels to SERBIA to dive deep into her Romany roots!
• Who were her parents? Where does she come from? Wanda will discover the answers…
• and seek her revenge!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Oh wow, have we still not learn who Scarlet Witch’s (and Quicksilver too) parents are?  It’ll be awesome if the reveal is still Magneto but he was using an alias or something.  Why undo such a pivotal character moment like that?  Oh yeah, so they are not mutants.  Dumb.

THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #13
RYAN NORTH (W)
ERICA HENDERSON (A/C)
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• SOMEONE is taking over the continental United States, but Squirrel Girl is stuck in boring ol’ Canada! UH-OH.
• Canada’s not actually that boring, though: Did you know we have the world’s longest covered bridge, in Hartland, New Brunswick? It’s true! I’ve seen it!
• It’s pretty long, I GUESS.
• Anyway enough about Canada, we’re here to find out why you should buy this comic! REASONS INCLUDE: fights, teamwork, continental USA domination and a special guest star who you’ll find a TINY bit familiar? Everyone is at least a LITTLE bit into this guy and I cAN’T imagine you not being excited to discover who it is!
• Anyway, yeah, it’s Ant-Man.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Canadian facts!  Another fun solicit for this series! 

THE PUNISHER ANNUAL #1
GERRY CONWAY (W) • FELIX RUIZ (A)
COVER BY RAHZZAH
VARIANT COVER A BY TBA
VARIANT COVER B BY TBA
OUR TREAT: FRANK’S UP TO HIS OLD TRICKS!
• There are ghouls everywhere on Halloween night, but real monsters don’t wear costumes!
• The Punisher is searching for a killer, but he’s also being watched…
• Let’s hope Frank’s quarry doesn’t put costumed civvies in the line of fire!
40 PGS./Parental Advisory …$4.99

Marvel’s Halloween Issue! 

DOCTOR STRANGE: MYSTIC APPRENTICE #1
WILL CORONA PILGRIM (W) • ANDREA DI VITO (A)
Cover by MICHAEL RYAN
Variant cover by RON LIM
Variant cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
BEFORE HE WAS THE SORCERER SUPREME…STRANGE MASTERED THE MYSTIC ARTS!
• A master of delicate surgery, DR. STEPHEN STRANGE had no equal…until a freak accident shattered his hands!
• Now a student of the MYSTIC ARTS, Strange must find a way to master his magical assignment…or throw in his cape and robes for good!
• Don’t miss this all-new story, as Strange finds that the road to Sorcerer Supreme can be a real pain in the…astral form!
• ALSO: reprinting the original first appearance and origin stories of Doctor Strange from STRANGE TALES #110 and #115!
40 PGS./ One-Shot /Rated T+ …$3.99

That’s a tad awkward to have a retelling of an established origin then reprint that origin on the very next page, right?  Like, I would just read the first half, then the second half and reread the first half and then have to judge how well of an adaption it was.  Which it wouldn’t be that much better at the original was done by Lee / Ditko, a hard team to improve upon. 

DAREDEVIL #12
CHARLES SOULE (W) • RON GARNEY (A/C)
“DARK ART” CONTINUES!
• Who is MUSE? And what bloody scene will be his next masterpiece?
• Used to working alone, how will DD handle his new INHUMAN partner on the case?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Daredevil’s teen sidekick has been an Inhuman this entire time?  That’s not great. 

A YEAR OF MARVELS: THE UNBEATABLE #1
CHAD BOWERS, CHRIS SIMS
and NILAH MAGRUDER (W)
BRIAN LEVEL & Siya Oum (A)
Cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
• It’s August, and Nick Fury is just in time to attend Japan’s Bon Festival…but he’s not here to celebrate. Not when an illegal weapons auction is about to begin! From Chad Bowers & Chris Sims (X-MEN ’92) and Brian Level!
• And in September, TIPPY-TOE is flying SOLO (until Squirrel Girl is done studying)! But when a villain threatens Central Park, she’s gotta call in the big guns. Enormous guns, relatively speaking (because Tippy and ROCKET RACCOON are small)! It’s the team-up — written by Nilah Magruder (M.F.K.) — you would have demanded if you knew your worth! You’re wonderful, and you deserve beautiful things!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

I do like Tippy-Toe and Rocket having a team-up, shame the Pet Avengers couldn’t appear in this.  Then again, Lockheed wasn’t a member of that group the last time we saw them so forget them!  Where is Lockheed, he has yet to appear Post-Secret Wars 2015.  Disappointing. 

DEATH OF X #1 (of 4)
JEFF LEMIRE & CHARLES SOULE (W) • AARON KUDER (A/C)
Wraparound Variant COVER by AARON KUDER
SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY AARON KUDER
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER A BY TBA
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
• What happened eight months ago that set the Inhumans and X-Men on a collision course? Find out here!
• The Inhumans travel to Japan where one of the Terrigen Clouds creates a shocking new Inhuman.
• The X-Men travel to Muir Island where the second Terrigen Cloud causes something truly terrible.
• When these two events collide, a war of catastrophic proportions explodes!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

I can only imagine that Magik will be all over this series, especially as it features both Scott and Emma, Illyana was to those two.  But maybe she wasn’t and that’s why Storm has Magik on the Extraordinary X-Men?  I imagine we’ll find out here.  I imagine Kitty won’t be part of this as we’ve had hints that she was with the Guardians during those missing eight months.  I want that Guardians miniseries too!  I imagine we don’t get it though.

Marvel October 2016 Solicitations Death of X 2 Aaron Kuder cover
By Aaron Kuder

DEATH OF X #2 (of 4)
JEFF LEMIRE & CHARLES SOULE (W) • AARON KUDER (A/C)
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER B BY TBA
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• After the events on Muir Island, Cyclops and Emma Frost put their plans into motion.
• Storm and Medusa come together to find a solution for the deadly effects the Terrigen has on mutants.
• One of the clouds heads to Madrid, the site of the first skirmish between mutants and Inhumans.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Magik is on the cover to the second issue, so that’s already a great sign! 

DEADPOOL: BACK IN BLACK #1 & 2 (OF 5)
CULLEN BUNN (W) • SALVADOR ESPIN (A/C)
ISSUE #1 – VARIANT COVER BY ROB LIEFELD
ISSUE #1 – SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY ROB LIEFELD
ISSUE #1 – VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
ISSUE #1 – KABAM CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS GAME VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
ISSUE #2 – VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
During 1984’s SECRET WARS, Deadpool was introduced to an alien symbiote who went on to become Spider-Man’s black costume and, eventually, Venom. Okay, okay, maybe that really happened in DEADPOOL’S SECRET SECRET WARS. Point is, did you know that after Spider-Man rejected the costume…it went slinking back to Deadpool on the rebound? And they went on adventures together? You didn’t? Well, you will, now, thanks to this series by Cullen Bunn (The DEADPOOL KILLOGY) & Salva Espin (DEADPOOL & THE MERCS FOR MONEY)!
32 PGS. (each)/Parental Advisory …$3.99 (each)

Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars was such a fun miniseries, I can only imagine this would will be too!  I like Power Pack being in it too, at least the second issue. 

OLD MAN LOGAN #12
JEFF LEMIRE (W) • ANDREA SORRENTINO (A/C)
THE SILENT ORDER, PART FOUR: The Old Man and the Boy
• In the penultimate chapter of the “SILENT ORDER” epic, LOGAN will face his toughest adversary yet—his own past!
• SOHEI and his order of Silent Monks have Logan’s back against a wall. But when the leader of the monks is revealed, will Logan have the strength to defeat him?
• And in the Wastelands, Logan faces the same Order, only centuries older and stronger. Will he be able to defeat these warrior monks without popping his claws and revealing the truth of who he is to his one true love?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

Wait, is this series doing Pre-Original-Old-Man-Logan stories too?  That could be interesting.  I mean, at one point, his one true love must learn that he was the X-Men’s Wolverine, how long can that last? 

DEADPOOL: TOO SOON? #1 (OF 4)
JOSHUA CORIN (W) • TODD NAUCK (A)
Cover by PEPE LARRAZ
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• SOMEONE HAS MURDERED FORBUSH MAN! Could someone be targeting all of Marvel’s funniest characters for death?
• That’s what Deadpool thinks, and now he’s gotta act before someone bumps off SQUIRREL GIRL, ROCKET RACCOON, GROOT, ANT-MAN, HOWARD THE DUCK and THE PUNISHER! (Like we said, the funny characters.)
• Good thing Deadpool is renowned for his investigative skills!
40 PGS./Parental Advisory …$4.99

I do appreciate the cast of this title getting name checked. 

ALL-NEW X-MEN #14
DENNIS HOPELESS (W) • MARK BAGLEY (A/C)
• A wheelchair-bound CYCLOPS is stuck in the X-Men’s mobile headquarters while all of his teammates jet off across the world on fantastic adventures.
• Well, almost all of his teammates…BEAST has sequestered himself in his lab, feverishly working on some mysterious new project.
• In his own version of Rear Window, will Cyclops discover that Hank is meddling with forces that should be left alone, or is he just driving himself mad out of boredom? Or worse — BOTH?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I do appreciate a good Rear Window homage (there are not that many, that I know of – mostly animated).  This must be hard to pull off in a comic though, with all of the technology and such. 

Marvel October 2016 Solicitations Extraordinary X-Men 15 Humberto Ramos cover
by Humberto Ramos

EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #15
JEFF LEMIRE (W) • VICTOR IBAÑEZ (A)
Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS
• The X-Men’s newest charge has become possessed by THE WORLD-EATER, an extradimensional entity whose sole purpose is to live up to its name.
• And it has its sights set on LIMBO next! Can Storm and Magik prevent it from reaching mutantkind’s last refuge?
• Meanwhile, Iceman and Nightcrawler learn that saving Colossus from the clutches of Apocalypse comes at a price!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I’m all for Magik starring in this title, more storylines need to be centered around her! 

ALL-NEW WOLVERINE #13
TOM TAYLOR (W) • NIK VIRELLA (A)
Cover by DAVID LOPEZ
Connecting variant COVER by BENGAL
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY Arthur Adams
“ENEMY OF THE STATE II” STARTS NOW!
WOLVERINE: MURDERER!!! Laura has fought so hard to be something other than what she was created to be, but the fight is over. Wolverine has blood on her hands. In the wake of an unspeakable tragedy, dark forces have Laura’s life under their control. Will Laura be able to defeat demons on the outside and from within? Or will she be forced to give up the hero’s life she’s built for herself?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I’m curious which heroes actually show up to stop her?  Also, will she have the baggage of her deaths to carry like Cyclops had to deal with or will she be given the Wolverine-shrug-that’s-what-Wolverines-do treatment?  Also, who will be her Northstar in this? 

 MARVEL TSUM TSUM #3 (OF 4)
JACOB CHABOT (W) • DAVID BALDEON (A)
Cover by CHRIS SAMNEE
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
MARVEL TSUM TSUM CLASSIFIED CONNECTING COVER C AVAILABLE
TSUM TSUM CIVIL WAR?!
• The Tsum Tsums square off with foes you’d never expect — including each other!
32 PGS./All Ages …$3.99

From the covers, I suspect we won’t be getting any X-Men in this, besides Wolverine. 

DAREDEVIL OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by STAN LEE with WALLACE WOOD & DENNIS O’NEIL
Penciled by WALLACE WOOD, JOHN ROMITA SR. & GENE COLAN with BILL EVERETT, JOE ORLANDO, BOB POWELL & JACK KIRBY
Cover by ALEX ROSS
Born to a past-his-prime prizefighter, Matt Murdock’s luck always ran a step behind his good intentions. When a daring act to save a man’s life blinds young Murdock, he finds that the same accident has enhanced his remaining senses to superhuman levels! He becomes Daredevil, a gritty hero born from murder, but tempered with the desire to protect the downtrodden. In this oversized Omnibus collection featuring every classic story and original letters page, writer Stan Lee and artists Bill Everett, Joe Orlando, Wallace Wood, John Romita Sr. and Gene Colan lay the foundation for Marvel’s Man Without Fear! Including the first appearances of core characters Foggy Nelson and Karen Page, and classic villains the Owl, the Purple Man, Stilt-Man, Gladiator and more! Collecting DAREDEVIL (1964) #1-41 and ANNUAL #1, FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #73 and material from NOT BRAND ECHH #4.
1088 PGS./All Ages …$125.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90427-2
Trim size: oversized
DAREDEVIL OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC KIRBY COVER (DM ONLY)
1088 PGS./All Ages …$125.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90518-7
Trim size: oversized

Dman, 42 comics for $125 and these are classics – that’s impressive! 

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: NEW GUARD VOL. 2 — WANTED PREMIERE HC
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by VALERIO SCHITI
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord, returns to the fold! But what does that mean for Kitty Pryde, a.k.a. Star-Lord? Is the Marvel Universe big enough for two Star-Lords? Find out as the Guardians face a new Galactic order! The Thing might miss some things about Earth, but he does admit that space has its perks. Like riding alien horses into action as Ben Grimm: Space Barbarian! Venom and Groot get in way over their heads fighting Skrulls — and everyone knows when Bendis writes Skrulls, it’s bad news! The galaxy’s two deadliest warriors, Gamora and Drax, take the fight to the Badoon! And Angela makes her dramatic return! They’re the galaxy’s most wanted, but they’ll still guard it all the same! Collecting GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2015) #6-10.
112 PGS./Rated T …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9519-1
Trim size: standard

I will highly recommend this trade, such a great story! 

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 10 HC
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT
Penciled by JOHN ROMITA JR. with BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH, JOHN BUSCEMA, SAL BUSCEMA,
RON FRENZ & CRAIG HAMILTON
Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
John Romita Jr. joins Chris Claremont as the Uncanny X-Men’s chart-topping adventures continue! Drama abounds as Cyclops heads off on his honeymoon with Madelyne Pryor, Wolverine’s relationship with Mariko takes a turn for the worse and Kitty Pryde is kidnapped and forced to marry the Morlock Caliban. Meanwhile, Rogue is Public Enemy No. 1, and anti-mutant sentiment threatens the passage of a law that will strip all mutants in the United States of their rights. There’s no shortage of action, either: Colossus battles Juggernaut, Mystique and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants return and Rachel Summers arrives on the scene! Topped off by Claremont and Barry Windsor-Smith’s stunning classic story “Lifedeath” and the Magik limited series, there’s no shortage of mutant masterworks! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) #176-188, MAGIK (1983) #1-4 and material from MARVEL FANFARE (1982) #40.
456 PGS./Rated T …$100.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90360-2
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 10 HC — VARIANT EDITION VOL. 241 (DM ONLY)
456 PGS./Rated T …$100.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90461-6

I need to relook at which issues volume nine covered as it looks like that one should contain the bulk of Paul Smith’s run.  Now that I’ve typed this, I feel like it left like three issues (the ending of the Brood Saga) and started at 168.  Which is fine but I want a Brood Saga / Paul Smith complete trade. 

ALPHA FLIGHT BY JOHN BYRNE OMNIBUS HC
Written by JOHN BYRNE, CHRIS CLAREMONT, ROGER STERN, TOM DEFALCO, BILL MANTLO, JOHN CASSADAY, BEN RAAB & LOUISE SIMONSON
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE, SAL BUSCEMA, STEVE DITKO, RON WILSON, MIKE MIGNOLA, PAUL SMITH,
JOHN CASSADAY & PAUL NEARY
Cover by JOHN BYRNE
Legendary writer/artist John Byrne steers one of his greatest creations to glory! Exploding from the pages of X-MEN, Canada’s premier super-team Alpha Flight takes the Marvel Universe by storm before starring in its own Byrne-helmed series! Guardian, Shaman, Snowbird, Sasquatch, Aurora, Northstar, Puck and Marrina fight to protect Canada from injustice and evil — including Master of the World, the maniacal alchemist Diablo and the terrifying Great Beasts! But they’ll face their darkest defeat at the hands of rival Omega Flight. And when an Alphan falls, can the team fight on? Plus: Loki! The Hulk! And more! Collecting X-MEN (1963) #109, #120-121 and #139-140; MACHINE MAN (1978) #18; MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE (1974) #83-84; INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #272, #313 and ANNUAL #8; ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) #1-29; X-MEN AND ALPHA FLIGHT (1985) #1-2; X-MEN/ALPHA FLIGHT (1998) #1-2; and material from MARVEL TEAM-UP ANNUAL #7.
1248 PGS./Rated T …$100.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90405-0
Trim size: oversized

Oh man, this does look great too! 

WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN HC (NEW PRINTING)
Written by MARK MILLAR
Penciled by STEVE MCNIVEN
Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
A future world savaged and sundered by super villains, the United States ain’t what it used to be. In California, now a wasteland controlled by the evil Hulk Gang, the former Wolverine seeks to live in peace. He’s retired, finally free from the violence of his former existence as an X-Man, and he wants to keep it that way. If only they’d let him. Now, Logan and an aged, blind Hawkeye are forced into a cross-country jaunt through villain-ruled lands, on a collision course with the worst of them all! Can Old Man Logan maintain his pacifist vow and make his last stand without doing what he does best? Mark Millar and Steve McNiven unite for a riotous romp through a future world of death, despair and dynamic action! Collecting WOLVERINE (2003) #66-72 and WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN GIANT-SIZE.
224 PGS./Parental Advisory …$34.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90463-0
Trim size: oversized

This will get another printing too, whenever Wolverine 3 comes out. 

CIVIL WAR II: X-MEN TPB
Written by CULLEN BUNN with GERRY CONWAY
Penciled by ANDREA BROCCARDO with MIKE SEKOWSKY
Cover by DAVID YARDIN
The X-Men enter the fray of CIVIL WAR II! As Terrigen Mist circles the globe — igniting the Inhuman race while crippling mutantkind — tensions have been rising between the two races. And when a new Inhuman who can see the future emerges, the X-Men fear he may tip the scales and spell doom for their kind. Now, one mutant is willing to wage war with the Inhumans and his own people to prevent that from coming to pass — and that mutant is Magneto! But as the Master of Magnetism takes fate into his own hands, who will join him in an assault on Attilan? What side will the X-Men take? And could it be that Magneto’s actions only serve to bring about the outcome he fears? Collecting CIVIL WAR II: X-MEN #1-4, plus the classic AMAZING ADVENTURES (1970) #9.
112 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90254-4

The first two issues have been pretty decent, probably worth the sixteen dollars. 

X-MEN: WOLVERINE/GAMBIT TPB (NEW PRINTING)
Written by JEPH LOEB
Penciled by TIM SALE
Cover by TIM SALE
The titanic team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale (SPIDER-MAN: BLUE, CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE, HULK: GRAY) take on the X-Men’s two most dangerous mutants in this international thriller that brings Wolverine and Gambit to the shores of England! There’s a serial killer tearing through London, leaving beautiful young women as his victims. Do these brutal slayings mark the return of the 19th-century Jack the Ripper? Or could one of the X-Men be the real killer?! Wolverine is the prime suspect — and Gambit is out to prove him guilty! Now they’re grudgingly forced to work together to find the truth — without killing each other! It’s a fast-paced murder mystery that will keep you guessing right up until the last page. Plus: A bonus Loeb/Sale X-Men tale! Collecting WOLVERINE/GAMBIT: VICTIMS #1-4 and material from UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL (1992) #18.
120 PGS./ Rated T+ …$15.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90246-9

When I was looking for this trade, years ago when Loeb/Sale’s Batman : Dark Knight came out, it would have been nice if it was in print then.  This was one of their earlier gigs together so it’ll be nice to see how it compares to their more polish work they’ve done since.  I am of the camp that their DC work is above their Marvel work. 

CAPTAIN BRITAIN: LEGACY OF A LEGEND TPB
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT, STEVE PARKHOUSE, DAVE THORPE, ALAN MOORE & JAMIE DELANO
Penciled by HERB TRIMPE, JOHN BYRNE,
JOHN STOKES, STEVE PARKHOUSE & ALAN DAVIS
Cover by ALAN DAVIS
Honor four decades of myth and majesty with the United Kingdom’s greatest hero! Follow Brian Braddock — handpicked for greatness by the sorcerer Merlyn — from the fateful decision that imbues him with the might of right on the path to glory that will make him protector of the Omniverse! Along the way, he’ll make a splash stateside in a team-up with Spider-Man and fight alongside the Black Knight in the name of King Arthur! Things go from fantasy to far-out as Brian goes Multiversal — facing Slaymaster, the Crazy Gang, Mad Jim Jaspers and the Fury! He’s Britain’s champion — now and forever! Collecting CAPTAIN BRITAIN (1976) #1-2; MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #65-66; and material from HULK COMIC #1 and #3-5, INCREDIBLE HULK WEEKLY #57-59, MARVEL SUPER-HEROES (UK) #377-384 and #386, DAREDEVILS #3-4, MIGHTY WORLD OF MARVEL (1983) #8-12 and CAPTAIN BRITAIN (1985) #14.
208 PGS./Rated T+ …$24.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90654-2

I see Marvel is back to using Alan Moore’s actual name instead of simply referring to him as “The Writer.” 

. . .

So October looks to be another light month.

Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme 1      $4
Guardians of the Galaxy 13          $4
Death of X 1 & 2                $9
Extraordinary X-Men 15                $4

So five comics for twenty one dollars, not too bad.

Big Brother 18 : Episode 18 – July 28, 2016

Posted by John Klein III on July 29, 2016
Posted in: Reality Television. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Will goes home – Frank or Bridgette?  How does the secret room play into this?  Who wins HoH?

Is Tallulah a Juno sequel?  I need to watch this I do love me some Ellen Page.

Is Julie Chen wearing a garbage bag?  It is not a flattering green on her.

But First!

Day 41, Veto Ceremony.

Frank isn’t going to campaign against Bridgette. Michelle talks to Natalie, James and Da’vonne about getting rid of Bridgette.  They don’t seem convinced.

Bridgette doesn’t have any true friends in RL but she’ll count Frank as one of those.

Michelle tells Frank she feels bad about not using the Veto on Frank.  Michelle starts to cry, forcing Frank to comfort her.  She should have just used it and hope that Frank and her win HoH. Michelle wanted to hang out with Frank in jury.  Da’vonne can’t believe this is happening.

The Television Set hints that there is a secret around them.  Clues are hidden every where.

Natalie and James see the poser that reads “Secret Tokyo.”  Paul goes to another room and follows the green words “Secret Depature.”  James and Natalie are also noticing the green text.  Secret Destination Departing Now.  Flight 211 to Paris.  is in the living room.  Paul goes to the toy plane and follows the direction and calls Paris on the phone that has been upstairs.  Paul did it!  There is a secret tunnel!  He can’t use it as James and Corey are breathing down his neck.

Paul is trying to enlist them to keep Frank away from the phone, when he goes back up there, Frank is in the phone booth.  There is a tunnel!  The room looks swanky!  There are twelve envelopes.  11 are one way tickets and one round trip.  If he finds the round trip, when he is eliminated he can come right back into the house.  You are limited to one and you can’t exchange it.

Paul isn’t doing a good job of lying to the house.  He wants them to not try to go back there but his answers are super vague.

Victor phones Paris and gets into the tunnel.  It looks like Corey, Paulie and Natalie made it too.  Frank and Bridgette definitely do as well.

No one can open their envelope until Julie Chen tells them that they can.

Meg, Jason, Boogie and Hayden are interviewed, which seems so weird – for a selection.  My wife tells me that this should be awkward as neither Meg and Hayden don’t talk to James or Nicole – apparently due to bad falling outs.  I imagine Meg didn’t want to date James.  Boogie is there for Frank’s perspective.  I guess Jason and Da’vonne were close in the house but it feels like a stretch.  I guess the Secret Destination didn’t provide enough footage for them.

24 Minutes Left.

Da’vonne sets up the segment.  One needs a loyal ally in the house.  Da’vonne had Jason, I don’t miss him.  He still lives in his mother’s basement.  His life hasn’t changed.  He’s still single and still works at the grocery store.  James considered Meg a “very good friend.”  Meg liked James as a friend.  They texted every day then they stopped.  Hayden got a haircut, he has a grown up haircut!  They dated for a year and a half.  He didn’t want to get married or have kids.  It is weird for him to watch Nicole and Corey getting closer.  Mike Boogie!  Boogie doesn’t like Frank’s game this season, Frank needs to stop telling people that he’s winning all the competitions.  Not a bad segment, nothing new was really revealed.

Tallulah isn’t a Juno sequel but it sounds like a decent movie.  Sien Heder wrote and directed it and the story that it is based off of sounds very sad.

Does everyone have an envelope?

19 Minutes Left.  I had a very rough night, my heart burn seems to be getting worst.  Our downstairs neighbor kept his television on and so loud.  Walker Dennis, who has found out he can climb down his bed, kept making sounds that sounded like he was going to coming out here.

Julie Chen explains the envelope.  They expire on August 18th so they are only good for like four minuets.

Speeches.

Frank keeps his respectful to Bridgette, which is nice.  Frank takes the chance to tell the houseguests to not take care and he doesn’t like most of them.  Bridgette just tells Frank how much of a friend he has been.

Frank lies and tells Julie that he hopes her dress is as lovely in person as it is on the screen.  It isn’t.

Votes.

Da’vonne – Frank (she’s excited)
Paul – Frank
Paulie – Frank the Tank
Nicole – Frank
Victor – Frank
It is official, Frank is going home.
Michelle – Stank, she means Frank
Zakiyah – Frank, she’s dress to compete.  They all are.
Corey – Frank
Natalie – Frank

Bridgette should fall back in with Natalie.

Production keeps the envelopes so no one is tempted to open them early.

9 – 0 Votes, Frank is evicted!  Hugs all around.  Da’vonne stayed on the couch.  Michelle jokes that Frank will be back in five minutes.

Julie Chen says Frank really lit the house guests up instead of pleading for a second chance.  It wasn’t all that mean spirited.  Julie Chen will open the envelope so all of the houseguests can see, after the commercial break.  I guess this gives Julie Chen some more screen time, is that what she wants?

Frank’s envelope is . . . One Way Ticket, home in his case.  The others will be to the jury house.  Well that was lackluster.  Frank tried to make a joke of it but it fell flat.

Chenbot has questions for Frank, he’s the first Vet to be going home.

Frank is worried about Bridgette being nominated every week but bigger threats will be seen.  Da’vonne had a funny good bye message and Bridgette had a heartfelt one.

HoH Comp.

Perfect Shot, is a skee ball like competition.

First one who gets the perfect shot, and becomes HoH.  They do this in rounds.  The four lowest scores will be Have Nots for the week.

I doubt we’ll get the winner tonight.

Julie Chen says there is America’s Care Package. My wife likens it to the Hunger Games like package.  The first one is Never-Not pass.

Sunday – we learn the winner and who gets the first care package.
Wednesday – Veto
Thursday – Eviction unless they get the round trip.

My wife tells me that Paul won HoH, so it should be an interesting week.