I’ve read the first issue and now, I’ll be reviewing the last issue. Let’s see what we’ve missed!
Magneto has lost his powers, just when Quicksilver and the Humans, have decided to attack him and his throne. Quicksilver, working with Namor, announce Magneto’s death and Quicksilver as the new King. Being King, means that Quicksilver now has the command of SHIELD. Last issue, I imagine, Magneto has joined with his greatest enemy – humanity! Along with his daughter, Polaris, they have teamed up with Death Locket, Misty Knight, Black Cat and Hawkeye, are staging a prison break – as if they were Michael Scofield.
Monarchy of M. Human Relocation Center. Magneto, Polaris and the humans, are sneaking out, through the tunnels. Black Cat is impress with Polaris, and her abilities to be sneaky. Magneto is powerless but he has truckloads of fight within him. His grandchild, Wiccan and Speedy arrive. Once they learned that grandpapa is powerless, Wiccan attempts to restore his powers. It doesn’t work, they need their mommy.
So happy that the creative team remembered that Magik was in training to become a SHIELD agent. Looks like she made the grade.
We get a huge stand off of the mutants versus the humans. Race war style!
Meanwhile, in Magneto’s throne room. Quicksilver is trying to get himself prepared to even sit on his father’s throne. Quicksilver is technically, the king but he doesn’t feel like he has earned it yet. His father comes into the room, shouting and yelling at his silly son. Quicksilver notices that his father’s yelling isn’t causing all of the metal, in the room, to shiver.
Polaris comes in, to try to even the playing field. Namor comes in, right after her, and harpoons her! In her dying moments, Quicksilver kicks her, to her face! Namor starts to choke Quicksilver but Magneto attempts to fight the sea king. Since he is depowered, Namor makes short work of the (former) Master of Magnetism.
Meanwhile, Wanda’s twins knock out the harpies, that are keeping their mother in a coma. Wiccan can’t wake his mother up, so they head back upstairs, Namor doesn’t miss a beat, taking out Speed then turning his attention to Wiccan. Before Wiccan is knocked out, he successfully restores Magneto’s powers. Before that page ends, Namor is super dead.
Magneto takes his throne, Shaw reports to him that the humans have been arrested. Magneto explains that the Atlanteans were the true enemy. Magneto releases the humans, who are now spared reeducation. Always a good thing. Oh that Magneto, he isn’t quite that different from those he despises.
In private, Magneto tells his grandchildren that he was just paying a debt, he still views humans as the enemy.
I’m glad that Polaris wasn’t killed. Quicksilver can’t believe he has been forgiven by his father. Polaris still holds a grudge, as she hits him with her right elbow.
Magneto’s Private Chambers. I like how this final page, bookends the first pages of the first issue. Magneto was bored, and now that he has survived a three day battle – he’s happy to just sit back and enjoy being king.
Not a bad issue, I will just go ahead and assume that Wanda wakes up.
Special thanks to our friends, Tina & Damian for watching Walker Dennis for nearly four hours before we made it back to pick him up. Without them, we’ll never watch movies in the theater.
This film is an absolute blast!
We are going for full spoilers here.
In 1991, we see Winter Soldier being sent on a mission to kill two targets.
In Largos. The film puts the year and the countries’ names in giant white text, which feels like a bold choice. I really like how we first see Captain America leading his team of Avengers – Falcon, Black Widow and Wanda. They are chasing Crossbones and we see some great team dynamics. Everyone gets a moment to shine. Unfortunately, one of Wanda’s moments is that Crossbones tries to kill himself (and Cap) and she starts floating him to the sky. He doesn’t quite make it there and explodes, taking out an entire floor.. Seven Wakandans were in the building, and are now dead.
At MIT, Tony gives a speech and a demonstration of a new therapy tool. It lets you essentially have a holodeck session from Star Trek Next Generation. He relives a moment with his father (returning John Slattery) and his mother, played by the beautiful and elegant Hope Davis! I’ve liked Hope Davis ever since I saw Mumford – one of my all time favorite films! We see a young CGI Robert Downy Jr. that looks like it could have been from one of his earliest films. Though the scene lasts too long and I start thinking about how it is only slightly better than the face lifts that Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan received in X3. We get the first hints that Tony and Pepper are no longer a couple.
Jim Rash, of Community fame – who the Russo Brothers directed this film (and Winter Solider AND the next two Avengers films) also directed Rash in several episodes of Community.
General Ross, now the Secretary of Defense, has come to the Avengers Compound with news. I like how William Hurt came back to reprise his role. He is there to tell them about the Sokovia Accords. Cap is not a fan of the Accords. The UN is run by dudes, and dudes have agendas. What if they don’t approve of a mission that the Avengers really want to go on or are told to go on a mission that they don’t want to be involved with.
I’m not sure how anyone can be Team Tony but I’m definitely Team Cap, I was back in the original comic storyline and I’m still committed.
Vision makes a few good points but he’s wrong as he is on Team Tony. Vision makes an argument about escalation, buy does his best not to use that word as that is how Batman Begins ended with that incredible speech of Commissioner Gordon’s.
I do like Vision and Wanda together, I wish it had more romantic undertones, instead of me reading too much into their moments.
Him wearing that sweater is pretty great too.
If they don’t sign the Accords, those members will no longer be Avengers.
The character who will later be revealed to be Baron Zemo – played amazingly by Daniel Bruhl, torments a retired Russian general. I sort of recognize him from Inglourious Basterds, at least, I can visualize him from it. I need to watch Rush to see him with Chris Hemsworth. I’ve never seen this before but he hangs the general upside down, so that his head is in the sink. The sink continues to fill so that, ideally, the water will rise to the point that it goes above his nose. Seems like a truly gruesome way to torture someone and to die. He really wants to know where Winter Soldier was kept in 1991. Oh, we saw earlier that Winter Solider can be controlled by repeating 12 words in a certain sequence.
Cap gets a message that Peggy Carter died in her sleep. We go to LONDON for her funeral. We see the lovely Emily Vancamp from Winter Solider and ABC’s Revenge. She’s back as Sharon Carter. She recites the amazing speech from Amazing Spider-Man 537 –
Such a great speech and Emily really nails it. We can see that Cap likes her too, she’s Peggy’s niece.
We never see her wear this –
but bravo someone tricky her to get into this outfit and getting photographed.
Vancamp and Chris Evans have great chemistry together. There is a moment where the two kiss and Falcon & Winter Solider totally see it and give Cap thumbs up, like jerk best friends. We don’t get enough of this but whenever Falcon and Winter Solider are together, their rivalry is so fun to watch. They are both best friends of Steve’s and they know it and hate it.
Vision is alone with Wanda, she doesn’t know it yet but she’s not allowed to leave. She likes Vision and we can tell he likes her, but there isn’t enough romantic tension for my taste. Wanda is playing the role of Nitro in this but is then quickly forgotten about, for a sizeable chuck of the film. I guess that happened to Nitro too, in the first quarter, he was mentioned a bunch but then the story moves away from him and he’s forgotten. Outside of the Wolverine tie-in issues, of course.
VIENNA. The Accords are being signed by like 119 countries. We meet T’Chaka, the current King of Wakanda. So we know something horrible is going to happen to him. He seems very friendly. T’Challa is standing by a window and sees an oddly parked white van. The van explodes and T’Chaka dies. The world suspects that Winter Soldier was the cause of the explosion. Cap and Falcon go off to bring him in, ahead of the military and police. Black Widow tells them not to as they are not signed Avengers.
T’Challa is played by Chadwick Boseman who was Jackie Robinson in 42. A film I still need to watch. I know him from a nonhit NBC show, Persons Unknown, that we watched on Hulu or Netflix, years later and I still think about to this day, like three years later. He was also on Lincoln Heights, a show my wife started watching, as she watched nearly everything on ABC Family but not so much now that it is Free Foam. At first, T’Challa is bad arse but it isn’t until the final scenes of the film when I became all about Black Panther. I do like the character, especially written by Christopher Priest and his “Sturm und Drang,” Black Panther Volume Three Issues 26 – 29. Such a great storyline that involves all of the Kings of Marvel – Black Panther, Magneto, Namor and Doctor Doom. So great!
We are introduced to Everett Ross, played by Martin Freeman, Bilbo Baggins from the Hobbit films. I wish we got a scene with Everett Ross and T’Challa, that would have been fun for this Christopher Priest fan. I really need to watch BBC’s Sherlock, especially now that Freeman (Watson) and Benedict Cumberpatch (Sherlock) are now in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Also, Doctor Who’s Steven Moffat is heavily involved in the series. Plus, the seasons are way short so I should be able to do so. I’m working my way through X-Men Evolution Season Two (expect to see that post one of these days) and the OC (a show I’ve been wanting to watch for a long time and Hulu now has) then maybe I can watch Sherlock then. If my wife doesn’t want to watch it as well. We like Elementary so she might want to see Sherlock, same characters but that’s all they have in common.
The chase sequence with Winter Solider being chased by Captain America, who is being chased by Black Panther who is being followed by Falcon, is so great! Black Panther, in action, is a real treat to see. That stairway sequence that starts it, and how Cap doesn’t want to fight the German police but he has to protect his friend Bucky, is so much fun.
BERLIN. Cap and Tony are arguing about what to do. Zemo reads the twelve words and now the Winter Soldier is his. I like how Cap and Tony are about to reach an agreement but Tony says one wrong thing and Cap backs out of the deal. Tony’s dad mentioned a bunch over the years, how he knew Captain America, in his younger days. The government has taken Cap and Falcon’s equipment. Steve chases Winter Solider and has this great moment, on the roof, when he grabs a rail and the helicopter that Winter Solider is using to escape and Steve actually prevents the helicopter from taking off. He’s so strong!
Bucky, finally under his own control, reveals that Zemo wants the other five would-be Winter Soldiers.
We begin the sequence of heroes recruiting heroes to fight their friends.
Sharon Carter gives back Cap and Falcon’s weapons. Cap recruits Hawkeye, who recruits Wanda. She takes out Vision, at the Avengers Compound. Hawkeye also recruits Scott Lang, Ant-Man and Paul Rudd’s first minutes are instantly classic. The film really takes a depature here as we lead up to one of the best scenes in a film, possibly ever. We’ll get to that in a few paragraphs. Ant-Man shakes Captain America’s hand, way to long. Lots of jokes here and I want another Ant-Man film, so quickly.
Meanwhile, Natasha and Tony chat. She wants to recruit Black Panther and Tony wants to recruit someone else. QUEENS. In a very small apartment, we see Marisa Tomei as Aunt May. I honestly thought we weren’t going to see the character outside of the airport scene so this entire scene (and how long it lasted) was a very pleasant surprise. We of course, meet Tom Holland, the third actor to play Peter Parker, in fifteen years. He sort of looks like a young Tobey Maguire – they both have wide faces. Maybe I’m crazy.
Turns out, RDJ and Tomei dated back in their early acting days. Both were together for films “Only You” and “Chaplin” which I’ve seen the second one but don’t quite remember Tomei being in it. I’ve liked Marisa Tomei but when I look at her films, I haven’t seen that many of them so I’m not sure where I really like her from. I didn’t care for My Cousin Vinny, not when it came out (I was too young) and I couldn’t get into it a few years ago either. Too much that Joe Pesci, I like mine a little more controlled like in JFK or in smaller doses like in the Lethal Weapon films. What Women Want, The Guru and Anger Management, I’ve seen her in, not large parts but she’s the aspect in those films. I don’t quite remember her from both Wild Hogs or Loverboy but I’ve seen those. She was interesting in Lincoln Lawyer, a film I couldn’t get into. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is a good film, while she’s on screen. She was great in Crazy, Stupid, Love. I still want to watch the Wrestler. She had a small part in the great, The Big Short, film too.
Tom Holland is a new face to me, he’s great as Peter Parker and sign me up for that upcoming Marvel / Sony Spider-Man film. He tries his best to not repeat “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility” when Tony asks him why he fights the good fight. Have to save that for his solo film, I suppose. I like how small their apartment is and how Peter had to build everything he wanted. Tony has great chemistry with Peter too, I’m glad RDJ is signed on for Spider-Man : Homecoming. I imagine at some point, that film will have a dancing scene in it.
The Airport Scene. So many great scenes leading up to this and out of this but this scene, I just want to watch again, if that’s possible without spending twenty dollars.
Thanks to Tumblr user, ageofsuperheroes, for the following images.
We get Team Cap –
vs Team Tony –
Plenty of images of Team Cap but it was so hard to find an image of Team Tony, I imagine due to Spider-Man.
It really is a great costume redesign –
I really like how they kept the white eyes, that’s crucial ever since Amazing Spider-Man did it right. I like the bold reds and the blues and how separate they look. I know there are smaller details that might bug me but overall, it is a costume I can approve of. I’m hoping that we don’t get too much of the make-shift outfit in his own film – I”m also hoping we don’t get an hour of origin story either – and so his solo film takes place 30 minutes before Civil War and the rest of his film takes place after the film.
We get some great matchups here. Spider-Man gets plenty of time to banter. Falcon has to tell him to stop at some point. Ant-Man gets flung from one of Hawkeye’s arrows into Iron Man’s suit. Black Widow fights Hawkeye. Black Panther gets to fight Winter Soldier. Falcon v War Machine. Ant-Man turns into Giant-Man, as there is an ant in every giant. That’s a WordWorld reference for you folks that don’t young children.
Thanks to YouTuber Abdoukarim Bonitzer for hosting that video!
Vision phases through Giant-Man, and Scott Lang freaks the heck out. I wish Kitty got to fight this much, like Vision does, in the X-Men films.
Captain America and Winter Solider steal the Avengers Quinjet, after Black Widow lets them do it. In the chase, Vision misses Falcon and hits War Machine, knocking him out of the sky. Poor Rhodey is nearly crippled by this action. Tony is sad that his friend is hurt.
I kept waiting for this meme to take place in the film, but that would have been too much fun in a film that is already pretty fun.
Black Widow knows she’s going to be in trouble and leaves. Spider-Man’s mask is lifted, providing a reason to have Holland on set, as he clearly could have been CGI-ed up to that last part, but clearly he was present as he has such a presence.
Bucky tells Cap, in the Quinjet, that he remembers all of his kills.
Tony, in his own jet – and this reminds me that I do sort of like Iron Man’s new armor. Mostly red with yellow highlights. He learns that Bucky was set up and that it was Zemo, dressed as Bucky, that blew up the United Nations. Tony goes to The Raft, where Hawkeye, Ant-Man, Wanda and Falcon are being kept prisoner. Falcon reveals where Cap and Bucky went but only if Tony promises to go there as a friend and ally. Tony is all committed to this. Which I have to remember that we have yet to get the Cap/Bucky shield fight with Iron Man, which I can’t imagine how they get to that point. When they do, it is spectacular!
All the heroes, including Black Panther following Iron Man in a jet, make it to the snow base that Zemo has been trying to get all movie long. He killed the five would-be Winter Soldiers, he never wanted them. Behind a glass plated door, he starts a devastating film. We see the beginning of the tape from the beginning of the film, but now we see who Winter Soldier killed. Winter Soldier straight up killed Tony’s parents! Including Hope Davis!
If Cap was a good friend, he would let Tony beat on Bucky for like ten minutes and then break up the fight. Tony realizes that Bucky was under mind controlled but Winter Solider killed his mother so a beating must be thrown down.
Zemo, not a German (which is a real shame) is from Sokovia and has been listening to voicemails throughout the film of his wife about their son. They died, and by the time he got back to his family (he was on a mission) the Avengers were gone and his father were holding Zemo’s wife and son’s dead bodies. He thought they were safe living so far out of the city but since the entire country was air lifted, no one was safe. Zemo wanted to take the Avengers out from within. Which may not have completely worked but the Avengers have definitely said and done things that no one will be forgetting anytime soon.
Since Cap won’t let a rightful beating happen, he prolongs the fight by getting involved. At the end, Tony wants his dad’s invented shield back and Cap drops it. Iron Man took off Winter Soldier’s cybernetic arm.
Zemo is about to kill himself but Black Panther stops him and it is this moment that I really dig the character. His fight was never with Bucky so he changes to the proper target. Something Tony tried to do but his mother’s murderer is standing in front of him so justice must be beaten out.
Everett Ross has Zemo (who I also wish had some sort of purple fabric on) in the same prison cell that Winter Solider was in earlier. Zemo’s plans may have been stopped but he hints that he may have additional plans that are still playing out.
At the Avengers Compound, Tony got Rhodes some cybernetic leg braces. Stan Lee, as a FedEx carrier, asks Tony if he is “Tony Stank” which I and Rhodes enjoys. In the box, is an old school phone from Steve and a letter. Whenever Tony needs these (Secret) Avengers (that’s what I’m calling Cap’s team, in my mind) they will be there. As Cap is breaking out the Avengers from The Raft.
Credits start to roll and we get the mid-credit sequence wherein Black Panther agrees to put Bucky on ice until they can find that red Russian notebook with the twelve words. Cap’s cool with it but it seems an odd choice.
So then two minutes of credits and I have to use the bathroom so we missed the after credits scene.
Thanks to YouTuber Closery for hosting this video so that I could pee with peace of mind This would have been fun to have seen in proper quality and sound.
I forgot how Spider-Man and Cap shared that fun exchange about Queens / Brooklyn, that was a nice touch. Spider-Man also got to make a Empire Strikes Back reference too.
This was such a great film, lots of humor and great characterization. Everyone got a moment to shine and clearly the Russos know how to handle this many characters so we don’t have to fear for the space Avengers films.
I believe that captures all of my thoughts on the film. I’m not sure if I’ll get to watch X-Men Apocalypse, but who knows at this point.
In 2005, for the Tenth Anniversary of Age of Apocalypse, Marvel released a handbook, a one shot and a sequel series. This is how we are ending our Apocalypse visit with these issues.
Spotlights in this handbook are –
The Age of Apcolyse
Apocalypse, a name i misspell every fifth time.
Abyss
Dark Beast
Holocaust
Mikhail
Sinister
Sugar Man
The X-Men! Sadly, Shadowcat is deceased. Her art is provided by Alvin Lee. We’ll see more of that in our next review.
Magneto
Insane Murderer Colossus
Dazzler
Gambit
Jean Grey
Nightcrawler
Quicksilver
Rogue & Charles Lensherr
Art by Mark Brooks
Poor Kate Pryde, has had a rough life.
Storm
Sunfire
Weapon X, one hand Logan
Wild Child
New Mutants
The Exiles, who visited the timeline during 2005. Also, Blink, Mortph and Sabretooth come from Age of Apocalypse.
Beak
Blink
Art by Randy Green
The Exiles’ Magik also had a rough life but I love how much she enjoyed being rough around the edges.
Magnus
Mimic
Morph
Namora
Nocturne, this handbook is working as an AoA / Exiles handbook, with all of them getting entries
Sabretooth
Sasquatch
Sunfire
T-Bird
Timebroker
Weapon X (the evil Exiles)
There is an Age of Apocalypse Checklist in the back, which includes the 2005 titles. Nice that they added Exles 60 & 61, so now we all know those issues as well. I don’t own either of those as Magik was no longer in those issues.
This is my first Post Secret Wars 2015 Marvel issue!
We begin the first of two All New All Different Marvel titles (the other is Extraordinary X-Men) that I am guarantee to be buying. So fun to start on the ground floor with something like this.
The Negative Zone. If you know anyone from here, you’ve made a huge life mistake somewhere. Annihilus and the Brood Queen are having a meeting, more were expected to join – the rest of the Kings and Queens of the Galaxy. Even though eight months have passed, it seems like none of the power vacuums have been filled. J’Son is out of power (and Peter Quill didn’t get the invite, I suppose), Supreme Intelligence hasn’t recovered from Black Vortex, Gladiator seems to be ignoring the invitation and the Chitauri were not invited. So of the entire galaxy, there are only six people to make up the Space Cabal. Without missing a beat, the Brood Queen wants to split the galaxy in two.
The Milky Way Galaxy. Home to a lot of things. Including you . . . and all of your stuff. Totally worth guarding. Bendis shows up, right away, that he totally gets Ben Grimm – formally of the Fantastic Four. He always wanted to be an astronaut. Sure, Reed took him to alternate dimensions and timeless, even space on an occasion – but Grimm has never had an etensive stay in space. Well, on the original Battleworld – Post Original Secret Wars.
Grimm is fighting a Chitauri horde.
When he needs them, his new team arrives – The Guardians of the Galaxy! I love how classic Marvel this page feels, with all of the heroes getting their logos shown. I wish Kitty as Star Lord, got a different font or something. She does look great, in the new (old) gear. Schiti just plain slays this issue.
Grimm calls her, Kit – which I’m cool with. These two being on the same time, feels like a long time in the making. She calls him, Mr. Grimm, which I sort of like. I remember, as a youngster, calling him, The Thing, and my mother telling me how that is a horrible name.
Groot looks like he still has his power upgrade from Black Vortex, even though he gave that power up.
Grimm is in one of Rocket’s rocket packs – one of the good ones, which upsets Rocket.
Rocket, who is the leader of the group now- from what all of press and interviews stated – asks if they are going to do the thing. Kitty is fine with that plan. So there is a story of Kitty joining the team, prior to Thing joining, that I really want to read about.
Kitty phases through the energy attack, forcing it to be rerouted.
I love seeing what Kitty can do, if she is given the opportunity to do so! Kitty is now playing on a larger scale, and she has the power to do so.
Venom, is still learning what Pryde can do – so they couldn’t have been together for that long. Or his solo series, is keeping him from the title, for periods at a time. Flash is curious why she doesn’t phase through her clothes. Rocket, quickly, points out how Flash is wearing alien goo and he doesn’t question that (to his face).
Drax, like everyone should be, is very impressed with Pryde. Rocket really likes this new Star Lord. Drax wonders how the old one fares, whom Rocket calls “the fancy boy king.” Rocket isn’t that impress with Quill.
Planet Spartax. It’s Damn Nice. Quill is in yet another board meeting, losing his mind with boredom. Quill starts to stand, when his main adviser asks where he is going, he doesn’t have a good answer. The adviser knows what is happening and assures Quill that the meeting is almost over. If a few hours, can be translated as almost. This probably explains why his own ongoing, is a flashback story.
The Guardians’ Ship. Nicer than it looks. I’m hoping this series has plenty of these scenes. The team has an alien artifact and don’t know how to open it.
Grimm brings up a thought, that I’m sure he has been wanting a share. If there is an Infinity Gauntlet, shouldn’t there be an Infinity Armor?
Schiti does great action sequences but can make a page of team dynamics swing, as well!
I’m not all that aware of what the Chitauri do. I know in the Ultimate Universe, that is what the Skrulls were called – and “Skrulls” being a racial slur. They are also the alien threat in the first Avengers film – that sums up what I know. So I also don’t know what’s in the box. WHAT’S IN THE BOX!?!
Great use of two silent panels, the team having the same thought an same reaction – to hide behind the furniture.
Rocket wants to open the box. They don’t have any experts, on call – so Drax’s idea doesn’t work. Flash wants to call the Avengers, like he always does (apparently). If Rocket doesn’t want to go to Earth, Kitty has a planet they can go to.
I sort of want these few pages to be acted out. I never have that desire, with any other writer – besides with Bendis.
What they are not saying, speaks volumes.
Planet Spartax. Again. President Quill is having a meeting with a pink alien queen (who is all neck). She wants to procreate with him, it makes sense, to bridge their two planets. She licks his face, as company arrives.
Quill confirms that Kitty is still his fiance – but they do seem strained. Look how excited Rocket is to point out that Kitty sees Quill and the other alien, together.
Quill hints that Rocket and him had a falling out.
Pryde is clearly angry or annoyed with Quill.
Rocket doesn’t want to share any details with Quill. Flash explains why they are there. Grimm is still going on about Infinity Jockstraps.
Quill’s adviser doesn’t like the idea of helping the Guardians.
It appears that the Guardians were followed. The red hot light crashes down to the planet’s surface. Quill seems to have a suspicious of what or who it is.
Gamora is back! She, like Kitty, doesn’t appear to have kept her Black Vortex upgrade. Gamora mutters that it took all of her power to escape, to escape from the destroyer of worlds.
The final page reveal, is that it isn’t Galactus but Hala, and she is here to destroy Spartax.
Such a great first issue! I have so many questions but I’m sure they will be explained, eventually.
There are several stories in this humorous take on Age of Apocalypse. We’ll be focusing on three of the stories.
This issue goes through the entire crossover, roughly in order (From what I can tell) so it goes from X-Men Alpha to Omega.
The first story we’ll covering is the Generation Next story, “Hitcher Doth the Sugar Man Take His Lumps.”
Writers Hilary Barta & Scott Lobdell
Artist Hilary Barta
Colorist Mike Worley
Letterer Richard Starkings and ComiCraft
The title is so large that Colossus barely has room to set up the four page story.
Colossus continues to update Husk about what has been going on during the event. He tells his students how difficult their part of the mission is going to be. He, on the other hand, will just float down, at some point.
We see the scenes of Husk and Vicente becoming Quietus and being confrotned by Sugar Man.
Husk is confronting Sugar Man, as we see Shadowcat, Illyana and Colossus are sneaking out the back.
This story implies that Colossus really wanted to save the students, but he really didn’t.
The third story deals with X-Man.
The fourth story deals with Admonishing X-Men.
The second story we’re covering is The Age of Apocalypse The Speed Search Version, by Steve Bunche. Bunche read the entire 38 part crossover, in one sitting and is now retelling the tale.
Bunche recaps where the other characters are at. Nightcrawler is looking for Destiny. Logan and Jean are fighting Sentinels. Storm is rescuing Bishop. Cyclops is working for Apocalypse. Gambit is searching for the M’Kraan Crystal.
Colossus and Katya are training students and are common-law married. Katya points out how silly it is that Colossus is wearing a mask, who is he hiding his identity from?
X-Man is sad that he isn’t nearly as cool as Cable.
Holocaust is the son of Apocalypse and may be the break out new character of the event.
Bunche is committed to an insane asylum.
The final story recaps X-Men Uh-Omega.
comics.org is the only place that lists the creative team –
Not Marvel Comics Database nor comicbookdb lists the creative teams. MCD does list them for every other story in the issue though. UncannyXMen.net doesn’t even list this issue.
Script Scott Lobdell, Hilary Barta and Rurik Tyler
Pencils Hilary Barta
Inks Rurik Tyler
Colors Mike Worley
Lettering Richard Starkings and ComiCraft
This pretty closely follows the actual story. The art is pretty top notch for a humor comic.
Magneto is the prisoner of Apocalypse.
To save Magneto, Colossus and Shadowcat bust in, which sadly didn’t happen in the issue.
Apocalypse beats down Magneto some more and then does a page long monologue.
Illyana walks up to a defeated Magneto and promises to sacrifice herself to save the day.
Somewhere else. Cyclops and Jean are escaping to New Jersey. Havok tries to stop them, as Logan glides down. Before Logan can finish Havok, all of these other characters show up to try to end the crossover as they have stories that they want to have attention paid to. I recognize Spider-Man, Captain America, Archie Andrews, Spawn and Batman.
Meanwhile, in the past. David Haller is about to kill Magneto and Xavier is about to foolishly sacrifice himself. Bishop tackles Xavier and Illyana tackles David, which she should have done in the original storyline but not disappeared. David is about to fight Bishop but Magneto jumps into the fight.
At that moment. Magneto rips Apocalypse in half. After that, the world comes to an end.
CIVIL WAR II #5 (OF 7)
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • DAVID MARQUEZ (A)
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
B&W VIRGIN CONNECTING VARIANT F COVER BY KIM JONG GI
VARIANT COVER BY MICHAEL CHO
CHARACTER VARIANT COVER BY PHIL NOTO
The devastating fallout from the first half of this event is enormous and being felt in every corner of the Marvel Universe. The truth about Ulysses’ future-seeing power is revealed and it is a game changer. Sides are irrevocably drawn and the gauntlet is thrown for the biggest battle in Marvel Universe history. And that’s just the stuff we can tell you. All this, and the story goes galactic!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
Drax and Grimm are on the cover so could the rest of the Guardians be in this? Who died, isn’t that shocking but I do like an issue of celebrating that person
CIVIL WAR II: CHOOSING SIDES #4 (of 6)
DECLAN SHALVEY, JOHN ALLISON AND DEREK LANDY
DECLAN SHALVEY, ROSI KAMPE AND MORE (A)
COVER BY JIM CHEUNG AND DECLAN SHALVEY
VARIANT COVER BY GURIHIRU
• The battle is heating up, but nothing’s hotter than the limelight! When the media starts muckraking, how far will heroes go to stay out of the public eye?
• Featuring Nick Fury, Power Pack and jolly J. Jonah Jameson himself!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
CIVIL WAR II: CHOOSING SIDES #5 (of 6)
Declan Shalvey, Chip Zdarsky and ENRIQUE CARRION
Declan Shalvey, Ramón Pérez and ANNAPAOLA MARTELLO (A)
COVER BY CAMERON STEWART AND DECLAN SHALVEY
VARIANT COVER BY Ramón Pérez
• As the body count rises, no one expected the biggest casualty of them all: Friendship. Will these Avengers betray their closest confidants to stay true to themselves?
• Featuring Nick Fury, Colleen Wing and Alpha Flight!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Five doesn’t have much going for it but Four has Power Pack, that’s pretty cool.
CIVIL WAR II: X-MEN #3 (of 4)
CULLEN BUNN • ANDREA BROCCARDO (A)
Cover by DAVID YARDIN
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• An Inhuman with the ability to profile the future has emerged, upsetting the delicate balance of power between the Inhuman and Mutant nations.
• Refusing to let his people fall by the wayside, the mutant master of magnetism, MAGNETO, gathers those who sympathize with his cause to aid him in his crusade: an assault on Attilan to take the new Inhuman off the board!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Magik isn’t on the cover to this issue, so that’s disappointing but I’m sure she’s still in this issue.
CAPTAIN MARVEL #8
Ruth and Chris Gage • KRIS ANKA (A/C)
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• No time for second-guessing, Captain Marvel is determined to change the future to protect the present.
• With wins on her side, Carol knows her mission is the right thing to do, but does everyone else?
• Sensational writing team Ruth and Chris Gage (Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix) bring you a Civil War II story that will change everything for Captain Marvel.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
I like how the solicits are being coy and smart about not hinting at what is really going on but providing an illusion of information. I’ve decided I’m on Team Carol but I could be swayed if Kitty is on Team Tony but I can’t imagine she would be – just based on characters. That’s another fun element, we know what the sides are but not who Is leading which side. At least, I don’t know but I’m not really following this event’s press releases.
MOCKINGBIRD #6
CHELSEA CAIN • KATE NIEMCZYK (A)
Cover by JOËLLE JONES
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• A top secret mission on behalf of an old friend, a tropical cruise. What could go wrong? Turns out it’s a theme cruise – super-hero themed, naturally – a floating comic con. Now Bobbi is trapped on a boat with a thousand cosplayers, caped colleagues she was trying to avoid, an ex-boyfriend who keeps showing up at inopportune times and a rampaging herd of corgis.
• When a passenger is murdered, Bobbi must play Hercule Poirot to find the killer and confront some uncomfortable truths from her past in the process.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
I wonder if the cosplayers in the issue will all be Mockingbird related or will there be other heroes? I know Marvel Database didn’t list costumes for that one Wolverine and the X-Men issue, Issue nine of volume two.
Art by Art Adams
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #11
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • VALERIO SCHITI (A)
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
MARVEL TSUM TSUM TAKEOVER VARIANT COVER BY TBA
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• When things get rough for CAPTAIN MARVEL she calls in some friends from out of town.
• WAY out of town…
• Iron Man doesn’t stand a chance!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Look how gorgeous Art Adam’s cover is there! He needs to do a Guardians title, I wish Pryde had a bigger spot in it but she’s on Team Carol, so that feels right. I can only imagine that Magik is also on Team Carol, along with the bulk of the X-Men. Those Tsum Tsums are pretty cute, I want to get my wife the Little Mermaid ones and I want to get the Dumbo ones for me.
ROCKET RACCOON & GROOT #8
NICK KOCHER • Michael Walsh (A)
Cover by DAVID LOPEZ
MARVEL TSUM TSUM TAKEOVER VARIANT BY BRIAN KESINGER
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• CAPTAIN MARVEL has called for backup, and ROCKET and GROOT are here to turn the tide!
• But as CIVIL WAR pits PARTNER against PARTNER, can Rocket and Groot’s friendship survive a TRENCHANT DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES AT HAND?!?!
• Probably! But can THEY survive a confrontation with GWENPOOL?!?!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Shame that the Guardians story isn’t just spreading out to the other titles under the umbrella but that is nicer on the ol’ wallet. Gwenpool is starting to appear in other titles, so that’s interesting.
VENOM: SPACE KNIGHT #11
ROBBIE THOMPSON • GERARDO SANDOVAL (A)
Cover by ZACH HOWARD
Variant cover by Gerardo Sandoval
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• Venom versus the Amazing Spider-Man!
• Secrets, symbiotes and superiority! Flash and his hero have enough to fight about
without the conflict that’s tearing the Marvel Universe apart!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Looks like the Guardians are on Earth for Civil War II so they could appear in several titles, or backgrounds of titles. I do like Flash and Peter having a lively discussion.
CIVIL WAR II: ULYSSES #1 (OF 3)
AL EWING • Jefte Palo (A)
Cover by Francesco Francavilla
VARIANT COVER BY STEFANO CASSELLI
A CIVIL WAR II PREQUEL!
• How did Ulysses join the Inhumans?
• What difficult journey did he have to go through to master his powers?
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
This does seem like it should be an important to the event, as Ulysses is the Inhuman in the center of the entire event. I’m not sure who Al Ewing is but it makes me think that is isn’t going to be as pivotal as I would think it is.
MARVEL TSUM TSUM #1 (of 4)
Jacob Chabot • DAVID BALDEON (A)
COVER BY CHRIS SAMNEE
VARIANT Cover by GURIHIRU
PHOTO VARIANT AVAILABLE
MARVEL TSUM TSUM 1 CLASSIFIED CONNECTING VARIANT A AVAILABLE
JAPANESE GAME VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
In case you’ve been living under a rock, Tsum Tsums are HUGE! Well, not LITERALLY (they’re actually pretty tiny) but these seemingly cute and cuddly creatures are sweeping the globe! So what happens when these pint-sized piles of fur find their way into the Marvel Universe? After a crate of them falls to Earth en route to THE COLLECTOR, one small group of Brooklyn teenagers will find out! Featuring all of your favorite Marvel heroes and villains, this is sure to be TSUM-thing you won’t want to miss!
32 PGS./All Ages …$3.99
I feel like this series should have been $2.99, right? I’ll track this to see if Kitty, Lockheed or Magik appear in it. Lockheed would be so gosh darn cute in it! Four issues does seem to be a bit much but ideally, the trade should be under ten dollars, right? Probably not as the series itself will cost sixteen, monthly.
INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN #6
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • ALEX MALEEV (A/C)
BLACK PANTHER VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS VISIONS
• Tony is reeling from the reveal of who his biological parents are as his past and present collide in ways that will define his character for years to come.
• But will any of this change Tony’s tune as relates to the monumental events of CIVIL WAR II?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
They can’t make Tony’s parents already established characters, can they? I thought it was dumb to even make Tony be adoptive but I get that when one runs out of times, a writer has to go back to the character’s origins and tweak it. I understand that Bendis didn’t introduce this element but he could have done what the next writer will do and just ignore this development.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #17
DAN SLOTT • GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
BLACK PANTHER VARIANT COVER BY AFUA RICHARDSON
BEFORE “DEAD NO MORE”!
• The Prowler (and our readers) meet the new Electro!
• Who is this woman and what does she have to do with the Man in Red?!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
A female Electro, could this be Electra? Or would that be to on the nose?
DRAX #10
CM PUNK & CULLEN BUNN • SCOTT HEPBURN (A/C)
HERE BE DRAGONS!
• A COUNCIL OF DRAGONS comes looking for a newly hatched baby dragon. BABY! DRAGON!
• But scarier than DRAGONS is KILLER THRILL — loose on Drax’s ship and looking for the hatchling!
• Luckily, some powerful FRIENDS are stopping by as backup!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Dragons? And powerful friends are stopping by? Could this be Lockheed’s first appearance in the All New All Different Marvel? That would be truly great.
HOWARD THE DUCK #10
CHIP ZDARSKY • JOE QUINONES (A/C)
• The person behind all of Howard’s troubles is revealed! Who could it be? Is it Spider-Man? Wolverine? Thor? Ms. Marvel? Am I just mentioning these characters on the off chance that some retailers will just skim the catalogue looking for character names and will accidentally order this?
• Who knows???
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Grimm and Rocket are on the cover, could Kitty be within the pages?
DOCTOR STRANGE #11
JASON AARON
KEVIN NOWLAN & LEONARDO ROMERO (A)
COVER BY KEVIN NOWLAN
VARIANT COVER BY ADAM HUGHES
MARVEL TSUM TSUM TAKEOVER VARIANT COVER BY RYAN STEGMAN
“Last Days of Magic” aftermath!
• How did Stephen Strange become the Sorcerer Supreme?
• And how has he lost it all?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Wait, has this all been leading up to a retelling of Strange’s origins? Magik has been active in the beginning of this arc so I’m hoping that she keeps appearing in it.
THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #11
RYAN NORTH • ERICA HENDERSON (A/C)
• This special one-off issue promises two amazing things: SUPER HEROICS and COMPUTER SCIENCE.
• Yes! By the end of this issue, you will know both how Squirrel Girl can take down COUNT NEFARIA and also a few really fundamental concepts in computer science!
• Have we found a way to express CS concepts through the medium of super hero fights? YOU’LL HAVE TO ORDER THE ISSUE TO FIND OUT!
• But yeah, we totally did.
• Featuring all the greatest Squirrel Girl tropes you love! Including fights, jokes and COLD, HARD LOGIC.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Count Nefaria? That’s going to be pretty awesome when they talk about this on the Uncanny X-Cast!
A YEAR OF MARVELS: THE UNSTOPPABLE #1
PAUL ALLOR & CHUCK WENDIG
DIEGO OLORTEGUI
& JUANAN RAMIREZ (A)
Cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
• Sam Alexander’s finding it hard to cope with the fact that his dad is M.I.A. in the far reaches of space. Luckily, this Father’s Day, Nova’s got the chance to help former New Warrior Midnight’s Fire put his family back together. But when Iron Man shows up to inform his young teammate he’s backing the wrong horse, will Nova cool his jets?
• Celebrating the Fourth of July is complicated enough for a patriotic symbol turned soviet assassin, but then Hydra agents had to go and rob the Winter Soldier’s
secret storage locker. Who sent them? What do they want? Bucky doesn’t care — he just wants his #$%& back.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
These have looked amazing, in the store but I haven’t had a reason to really read one yet.
ALL-NEW X-MEN #12
DENNIS HOPELESS • MARK BAGLEY (A/C)
BLACK PANTHER VARIANT COVER BY WILFRED SANTIAGO
NEW STORY ARC STARTS NOW!
• One is a time-displaced cosmically powered angel from the ‘60s.
• The other is a homicidal clone struggling to fulfill her dead father’s legacy.
• But who says Angel and Wolverine can’t make their relationship work?
• Also: Another burgeoning romance may place one of the All-New X-Men at odds with the rest of their team…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
I do like Angel and X23 together.
EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #13
JEFF LEMIRE • Victor Ibañez (A)
COVER BY HUMBERTO RAMOS
MARVEL TSUM TSUM TAKEOVER VARIANT COVER BY DAVE JOHNSON
“KINGDOMS FALL”STARTS NOW!
• An ancient evil stirs in the periphery of Limbo, consuming mystical realms…
• …and little does Magik suspect that the X-Men’s newest charge is drawing it straight to X-Haven!
• Meanwhile, Colossus is rampaging across Earth…as a Horseman of Apocalypse. Can Nightcrawler and Iceman stop their longtime friend and teammate and wrest him from Apocalypse’s grasp?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
So is Apocalypse Wars over? Did they leave Colossus as a Horseman as an afterthought? I like Magik taking mostly center stage in this title.
X-MEN ‘92 #6
CHRIS SIMS & CHAD BOWERS • ALTI FIRMANSYAH (A)
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
VARIANT COVER BY AARON KUDER
• The X-Men are working security at LILAPALOOZA – Westchester’s biggest festival!
• But just because they’re security, doesn’t mean they stop being TARGETS!
• Guest-starring: THE FLAMING LIPS, TOADIES AND LILA CHENEY!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Lila Cheney totally deserves to have her own palooza!
So this is suppose to be the final issue of Darth Vader, is that right? I suspect he survives this ordeal and probably end up meeting a young man and just getting to know him.
THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL BEATS UP THE MARVEL UNIVERSE OGN-HC
Written by RYAN NORTH
Penciled by ERICA HENDERSON
Cover by ERICA HENDERSON
Proof that we’re living in the best of all possible worlds: Marvel is publishing a Squirrel Girl graphic novel! It’s a standalone adventure that’s great for both old fans and new readers! It’s a story so huge it demanded an original graphic novel! It’s a story so nuts it incorporates both senses of that word (insanity and squirrel food)! And it’s the best! Squirrel Girl kicks butts, eats nuts, talks to squirrels and also punches really well. She has defeated Thanos, Galactus and Doctor Doom (twice!). But now she’ll encounter her most dangerous, most powerful, most unbeatable enemy yet: herself! Specifically, an evil duplicate made possible through mad science (both computer and regular) as well as some bad decisions. In other words, Squirrel Girl beats up the Marvel Universe! YES!
120 PGS./Rated T …$24.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90303-9
Trim size: standard
This does sound like a lot of fun.
UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 2 HC
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by CHRIS BACHALO, KRIS ANKA, VALERIO SCHITI, ANDREA SORRENTINO & MORE
Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
Brian Michael Bendis concludes his Uncanny X-Men era! After relentless persecution and a near-fatal attack, Cyclops and his revolutionaries are targeting S.H.I.E.L.D.! But is the spy organization really responsible for the return of the mutant-killing Sentinels? Sins and secrets will be revealed as warring X-Men gather to hear the reading of Charles Xavier’s last will and testament — but its contents may lead to the team’s ultimate undoing! With the end fast approaching, Scott Summers finds himself driven ever closer to the precipice of disaster. Will Cyclops save himself from ruin or leap off the edge? Plus: Life-changing events rock Dazzler, Iceman, the young mutant Eva Bell and more! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (2013) #19-35, #600 and ANNUAL #1; and ALL-NEW X-MEN ANNUAL #1.
488 PGS./Rated T+ …$50.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90171-4
Trim size: oversized
Bendis’ run doesn’t end on the highest notes but that Kitty and Illyana done-in-one was simply amazing! $50 is too much.
DEADPOOL BY POSEHN & DUGGAN OMNIBUS HC
Written by BRIAN POSEHN, GERRY DUGGAN & MORE
Penciled by TONY MOORE, SCOTT KOBLISH, MIKE HAWTHORNE, DECLAN SHALVEY, JOHN LUCAS, SALVA ESPIN, REILLY BROWN, SCOTT KOLINS & MORE
Cover by PHIL NOTO
Births, deaths and marriages — they’re all here in Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn’s hilarious take on the Merc with a Mouth. But mainly deaths — and in the case of a zombified horde of U.S. presidents, undeaths! Meet the daughter Wade Wilson never knew he had, the voice in his head he never wanted and the monstrous Mrs. he should never cross — the succubus queen Shiklah! Enjoy Deadpool’s newfound bromance with Wolverine and Captain America before it ends in tragedy, and head deep inside the darkest recesses of his mind to learn his Original Sin. With uproarious flashback tales revealing Wade’s hidden history across the Marvel Universe, Posehn and Duggan work their magic on Deadpool’s past and present — but will they leave him any future? Collecting DEADPOOL (2012) #1-45, DEADPOOL: DRACULA’S GAUNTLET #1-7 and DEATH OF WOLVERINE: DEADPOOL & CAPTAIN AMERICA #1.
1344 PGS./Parental Advisory …$100.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90228-5
Trim size: oversized
Does this really collect their entire run? 45 issues alone is well worth $100 and some of these were so very grand!
SECRET WARS TOO TPB
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN, BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, MARK MILLAR, BRIAN K. VAUGHAN, J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI, JASON AARON, MATT FRACTION, STUART MOORE, ELLIOT KALAN, WYATT CENAC, PAUL JENKINS & MORE
Penciled by JIM MAHFOOD, MIRCO PIERFEDERICI, BRENDAN MCCARTHY, JOE QUINONES, COLLEEN COOVER, JACOB CHABOT, CHRIS MORENO & MORE
Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Because Hugh demanded it! Who’s Hugh? The guy who loves side-splitting super-hero satire as only Marvel can deliver it! Prepare for hilarity in the ultimate parody of 2015’s epic SECRET WARS — starring D-Man, Jessica Jones: Herald of Galactus and…Jonathan Hickman?! Plus: more sideways looks at CIVIL WAR, FEAR ITSELF, Marvel NOW! and more funny-book funnies. And Forbush Man returns as creators pose the greatest “What If?”s ever asked. Not a hoax! Not an imaginary trade paperback! (Though it probably should be.) Who says this isn’t the Mighty Marvel Age of Mocking Ourselves? Collecting SECRET WARS, TOO; WHA…HUH?; ULTIMATE CIVIL WAR: SPIDER-HAM; CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHO WON’T WIELD THE SHIELD; SHAME ITSELF; and MARVEL NOW WHAT?! — plus material from WORLD WAR HULK: FRONT LINE #2-5, ORIGINAL SINS #5 and MARVEL 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
208 PGS./Rated T+ …$17.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90211-7
This is such a fun collection of stories!
SECRET WARS TPB
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Penciled by ESAD RIBIC & PAUL RENAUD
Cover by ALEX ROSS
The Marvel Universe is no more! The interdimensional Incursions have eliminated each and every alternate universe one by one. And now — despite the best efforts of scientists, sages and superhumans — the Marvel Universe and Ultimate Universe have collided…and been destroyed! All that exists in the vast empty cosmos is a single, titanic patchwork planet made of the fragmented remains of hundreds of devastated dimensions: Battleworld! And the survivors of this multiversal catastrophe all bend their knee to Battleworld’s master: Doctor Doom! What strange creatures inhabit this world? Which familiar faces will return? And what happens when Battleworld’s domains go to war? The Marvel Universe is dead — and the victors of the Secret Wars will determine what comes next! Collecting SECRET WARS (2015) #1-9 and material from FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2015 (SECRET WARS) #0.
224 PGS./Rated T+ …$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9895-6
I’ll be curious how well this sells as it is completely missable. I liked the first issue but the rest didn’t do much for me.
X-MEN: WORST X-MAN EVER TPB
Written by MAX BEMIS
Penciled by MICHAEL WALSH
Cover by MICHAEL WALSH
Bailey Hoskins has just discovered he’s a mutant. For someone who’s never been special, never stood out, this could be his big moment. But as he gains entry into the halls of Xavier’s School for Gifted Children, what, exactly, is his gift? He’s used to being hated, but is he anything to be feared? Bailey struggles to find a place alongside his fellow students, but the X-universe is a big one — perhaps Mystique will see his potential. Could Magneto have just the mission for him? Or maybe the magic of time travel will reveal days of future glory. (Don’t get your hopes up). Max Bemis, frontman of the band Say Anything, makes his Marvel debut with the story of a misfit among misfits, just trying to fit in. Bailey Hoskins? Worst. X-Man. Ever. Collecting X-MEN: WORST X-MAN EVER #1-5.
112 PGS./Rated T+ …$16.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9354-8
I need someone to tell me if Kitty or Magik appear in issues two through five as Marvel Database isn’t updating those issues and comicbookdb just repeats the cast from the first issue for the rest of the series.
DEFENDERS EPIC COLLECTION: THE SIX-FINGERED HAND SAGA TPB
Volume 6 in the Defenders Epic Collections
Written by J.M. DEMATTEIS with MIKE W. BARR & MARK GRUENWALD
Penciled by DON PERLIN with JERRY BINGHAM, STEVE DITKO & MIKE ZECK
Cover by MICHAEL GOLDEN
The greatest non-team in comics gets the Epic treatment! J.M. DeMatteis and Don Perlin take Doctor Strange, the Hulk, Nighthawk, Hellcat and the Son of Satan on wild adventures into the occult — and against each other! These weird tales begin with a broken Eternity; evolve to include demons, Dracula and the Devil-Slayer; and culminate in a double-sized issue #100 extravaganza! If the Defenders can’t prevail, it’ll be hell on Earth — literally! Known as “The Six-Fingered Hand Saga,” this is one of the most compelling Defenders adventures of all time. Plus: Captain America teams up with the non-team in hopes of staving off the beginning of World War III. And witness the shocking death of a Defender! Collecting DEFENDERS (1972) #92-109, MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #101 and CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #268.
480 PGS./Rated T …$39.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9599-3
I’ve never heard of the Six-Fingered Hand Saga but JM DeMatteis writing this proves that it is worthy of reading.
MINI MARVELS: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION TPB
(NEW PRINTING)
Written by CHRIS GIARRUSSO,
SEAN MCKEEVER, MARC SUMERAK,
PAUL TOBIN & AUDREY LOEB
Penciled by CHRIS GIARRUSSO
Cover by CHRIS GIARRUSSO
All-ages fun, featuring the wild and crazy kid counterparts to Marvel’s greatest heroes! All of your favorite hilarious, action-packed Mini Marvels adventures collected in one complete volume! Spidey gets the paperboy blues, Wolverine embarks on a cereal quest, Hulk goes on a date, and alien Skrulls impersonate the Fantastic Four! Iceman and Firestar help Spidey deliver his newspapers while he babysits Power Pack! Thor returns, Iron Man builds armor for the Avengers, and Hawkeye squares off against Galactus! And where did Red Hulk and Blue Hulk come from, anyway? Plus: Hawkeye battles the Curse of the Crimson Crown! And who is Elephant Steve?! All this, and a complete run of Mini Marvels comic strips!
216 PGS./All Ages …$24.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90322-0
This is such a great collection of stories!
X-MEN: FATAL ATTRACTIONS TPB
(NEW PRINTING)
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL, J.M. DEMATTEIS,
FABIAN NICIEZA & LARRY HAMA
Penciled by BRANDON PETERSON, JOHN ROMITA JR., RICHARD BENNETT, ROGER CRUZ, JOE QUESADA,
GREG CAPULLO, JAN DUURSEMA, ANDY KUBERT, ADAM KUBERT, KEN LASHLEY & MORE
Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
The thrilling saga that commemorated the X-Men’s 30th anniversary! As Magneto’s Acolytes amp up their attacks on Homo sapiens everywhere, the X-teams join forces to put an end to the villainous zealots’ mad crusade against humanity once and for all. But has their leader, messianic madman Magneto, returned from the dead? And as a mysterious disease begins creeping through the mutant community, claiming the lives of hated foe and dear friend alike, which X-Man will buckle under the strain? Matters come to a head in the most shocking way possible, culminating in a devastating attack on Wolverine — and a showdown between Professor X and Magneto that must be seen to be believed! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) #298-300, #303-304 and #315; X-FACTOR (1986) #92; X-FORCE (1991) #25; X-MEN UNLIMITED (1993) #2; X-MEN (1991) #25; WOLVERINE (1988) #75; and EXCALIBUR (1988) #71.
504 PGS./Rated T …$39.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90105-9
X-MEN: X-TINCTION AGENDA TPB
(NEW PRINTING)
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT & LOUISE SIMONSON
Penciled by JIM LEE, ROB LIEFELD, JON BOGDANOVE & GUANG YAP
Cover by JIM LEE
The X-Men, the New Mutants and X-Factor are targeted for X-Tinction! To rescue a friend, the X-Men must invade the mutant-enslaving island nation of Genosha — but the Genoshans’ memories are long, and their revenge will be terrifying! As the Magistrates strike, X-Factor and the New Mutants are drawn into the conflict — and soon discover old foe Cameron Hodge powered up and pulling the strings! The three X-teams are kidnapped, brainwashed, stripped of their powers, forced into combat — and at least one among them will die! Old friends return, minds are controlled, and mutants are transformed. Can the powerless X-Men triumph over the military might of an entire nation? And when the dust settles on this classic crossover, will the X-universe be changed forever? Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) #235-238 and #270-272, NEW MUTANTS (1983) #95-97 and X-FACTOR (1986) #60-62.
328 PGS./Rated T …$34.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90100-4
I do like these famous X-Men sagas being kept in print, that’s a good call.
. . .
So August is a super light month for me, which makes sense when an epic crossover that I’m not involved in is occurring. So I’m getting –
Civil War X-Men 3 $4
Guardians of the Galaxy 11 $4
Marvel Tsum Tusm 1 of 4 $4
Extraordinary X-Men 13 $4
So I’m getting four titles at $16 with four dollars off makes my total $12 for the month. That makes me feel safe that I can at least plan on getting five other titles without it breaking my budget.
. . .
Probably silly and I won’t be buying the series for sure but I have to add Tsum Tsum to my pull list. I will also have to check all of these variant covers to make sure none of my favorites are on any of them.
One day, I’ll own X-Men Alpha. I should review X-Men Prime, which takes place two weeks after this issue but that issue essentially just ensures all of the pieces are back in their proper place, after this e-mail so I’ll just review that at some other time. This issue, is the end of the official crossover, which is why I wanted to end with this issue, and did the Chosen handbook prior to it. I have a few more issues I’m planning on doing, so we’re not quite done with Age of Apocalypse here at S&FwM.
This issue, also, had me pretty confused as I only read one miniseries, a handbook and one additional comic of the proper event. This issue ties everything together but hopefully, taking it one page at a time, it all starts to make place.
Issue opens with Magneto, who looks like he should have fallen to his knees – hours ago. He’s still standing as he’s the greatest of pimps. Magneto has been fighting Holocaust – the son of Apocalypse. The two are . . . I’m going to be generous to Magneto and say they are fighting – though it seems pretty one sided. They are fighting in front of Apocalypse who is straight up sitting in a throne. He reveals that there is a trap set below, as he has lured the X-Men to them, so that Magneto and the X-Men can die together.
Apocalypse reveals that he knows all of Bishop’s secrets. He knows that the timeline was changed and he wants this one to remain. Magneto knows that the only way to prevent time being rewritten is with the M’Kraan Crystal, and that’s exactly what Apocalypse has. So how disappointing is Gambit and the X-Ternals, if that series just ends with Gambit failing in spectacular fashion? I know I’ll never read it nor seek out a review of it – except if someone tipped me to a review of it. The X-Men need the M’Kraan Crystal to rewrite time.
Cut to outside of Apocalypse’s stronghold. Angel is about to land in front of some goons. He isn’t happy that his partner, Karma, was taken from him. That happened in Amazing X-Men 2 – which wasn’t hinted at all in the fourth issue. It looks like he lands on a goon, gomba style. He finds Karma in the very next panel. She dies in his arms, she was helping Apocalypse. I’m not sure what were her motivations but from Angel’s reaction, he seems like he understood and forgives her. I imagine she was simply trying to survive. Angel is going to make Apocalypse pay for this.
Thanks to Blink, the X-Men are within Apocalypse’s stronghold – I guess that’s the name of it as that’s the description everyone keeps using. I like how everyone gets name checked – Iceman Rogue, Colossus, Illyana, Destiny, Nightcrawler, Jubilee, Gambit, Blink, Quicksilver, Bishop and Shadowcat. I’m not usually a fan of teams with more than seven or eight characters but 12 seems like a decent number. This team seems pretty ripe, the only downer is Destiny’s inclusion but I’m not that familiar without her after issue 142 of Uncanny X-Men.
Rogue doesn’t like how easy this is being. Colossus wants the mission to keep being easy as he doesn’t want to risk his sister’s life on a fool’s errand. Shadowcat is still mean eyeing him.
Gambit finds a hairy dude, with two hands – so it isn’t Wolverine but they never name check him. He’s blind and has teeth like Sabretooth but seems on the small side.
Meanwhile, Cyclops and Jean Grey are leading a horde of former prisoners to freedom. They are heading to New Jersey, away from the fight – which is smart. One of the prisoners isn’t really what they appear to be.
Angel, now strapped with bombs, nose dives into Apocalypse’s force field generator. He’s dead but now the heroes can get inside the stronghold. The first to make a move, is X-Man.
Some two headed dude comes screaming about how Apocalypse’s southwest kingdom is wrong. The two headed fellow is the Shadow King. Rex, one of Apocalypse’s advisors, confirms that nuclear bombs have gone off and the Midwest is no longer a thing. Apocalypse wants to retaliate, and take his anger out on Magneto but before he can make a move, he is knocked down.
X-Man is standing there, like a champion. Magneto recognizes him as, The One, the one that Forge promised to deliver. Magneto wants a team up to try to make the most of these last precious seconds.
Meanwhile, in the crystal chamber below. The X-Men are now within the stronghold. Quicksilver calls the hairy fellow “that beast” so could it have been Dark Beast? But he’s blind, but I guess he could have restored his sight later, he does have twenty years to develop that skill. Shadowcat wants to keep an eye on him.
The M’Kraan Crystal responds to the new bodies in the room. Visions of the Proper Marvel Universe come to light, too many visions that it throws Destiny off. Destiny now knows that they have to succeed, her and Illyana. Quicksilver wants to give them an escort but Destiny turns him down. Destiny, Illyana and Bishop doesn’t have counterparts, so they must go. Colossus is sadden to hear this news.
X-Man is fighting Holocaust. Rogue tries to get X-Man to stand down. Magneto tells Rogue to get out of X-Man’s head, and she’s just so happy to see her husband is still alive and goes to him. While there is a very distracting battle, Magneto wants to go back tot he original plan of saving the original timeline. Magneto takes a knee and asks Illyana to aid them – which I like him taking the time to do and respectfully asks Illyana for help.
Illyana asks if there is a Sugar Man in this other timeline, Magneto doesn’t believe so, and she’s all in. Bishop further explains her importance. I wonder if there was a plan to have AoA Illyana and Destiny in the Proper Marvel Universe? Why stop at Dark Beast, Sugar Man (sadly) and X-Man for showing up?
The stronghold starts falling apart. Destiny wants the trio to head towards the M’Kraan Crystal.
Colossus threatens to kill Magneto, if this doesn’t work.
Shadowcat is part of the team trying to keep the crystal safe.
Back with Jean and Scott. Jean feels the deaths of the Midwest and knows that bombs are coming their way. From the skies, One-Hand-Wolverine is parachuting down. He’s the reason why bombs are coming down on Apocalypse.
X-Man is getting the upper hand against Holocaust.
Armageddon Minus Thirty Minutes. The X-Men are fighting goons. Sugar Man knows it is a losing fight and jumps into the M’Kraan Crystal. Colossus isn’t going to allow his sister to die, not without him standing by her side. Iceman attempts to stand his way but Colossus runs right through him. If only Shadowcat saw this, things might be a tad different. Looks like Gambit blasts Colossus to his back and puts him down – for a time.
The trio are standing in front of the M’Kraan Crystal. They are treated to visions of the Proper Marvel Universe. They finally answer the question I’ve been having – if Illyana is barely ten years old, her powers shouldn’t be activated just yet. Destiny tells her to envision the powers she is going to have and the crystal is going to gift her with those powers. Seems pretty convenient to me but they have to wrap up the story somehow. Illyana opens a portal so that Bishop can step through.
Armageddon, Minus Twenty-Five Minutes. a couple of flatscans are sad as they see Apocalypse’s nuclear missiles being fired at Europe. Apocalypse is pretty proud of himself,, that his actions lead to both mutants and humans having equal strength. So now, the strongest will survive.
Armageddon, Minus Twenty Minutes. Apocalypse doesn’t get long to gloat as Magneto puts him down. Magneto goes from a simple black outfit to a supped up red armor suit. From there, he starts punching Apocalypse’s dumb face. While he is doing that, Magneto mentions how when he was a boy, a Berlin house painter tried this same thing. The weak won that war too.
Apocalypse turns Magneto’s attention to Strong Guy, who is holding little Charles.
Armageddon, Minus Fifteen Minutes. Weapon X is trying to get to Jean, he will die by her side. Jean is shot in the back by . . . Havok! Havok is also attracted to Jean, because why not? I’ll never get the whole everyone-is-attracted-to-Jean story. Unless she was forcing dudes to like her.
Cyclops yells at his younger brother, now that Jean is knocked out, the missiles are falling faster. Havok starts a monologue but Weapon X snikts him and Havok dies. Weapon X goes to Jean, who dies in his arms. Logan recalls a legend he heard once, long ago about a fiery bird that could be reborn. Unfortunately, Jean is no Phoenix – as of course, they got to work that into this as well.
Armageddon, Minus Ten Minutes. Bishop is back in time, as Legion is about to kill Magneto. Xavier shouts to his son to not hurt his friend. Bishop is about to do something about it but 90s Bishop stops him.
Armageddon, Minus Eight Minutes. Dark Beast slashes Morph, and tries to teleport away. Quicksilver messes with the controls, fouling up Beast’s schemes. Quicksilver wasn’t trying to do anything in particular, he was just trying to screw Beast over. Beast’s plan was to teleport into the heart of the M’Kraan Crystal.
Armageddon, Minus Five Minutes. Colossus has gotten up and is still madly running towards Illyana. Gambit wants Shadowcat to get out of the way, but she knows Colossus won’t hurt her. So she doesn’t phase and we get the beginnings of my hating Colossus. Age of Apocalypse Colossus just killed his wife, via running right through her. Is it s a dumb way to kill off a far greater character with an extremely lesser character? Yes, she should have just phased, it is what she does. It doesn’t even take much of a thought for her to do it. Especially as she’s spent five other issues knowing that he is insane.
Proving he isn’t a waste of a character, Gambit blasts Colossus to the back, again.
This was a death blow, as it turns out. Colossus reverts to human form, which may be the first time we’ve seen him in the flesh. Illyana has come to her brother, to tell him of their success. Instead,, she finds her brother dead and her sister-in-law murdered. Illyana is about to grab her brother’s hand but Quicksilver snatches her as goons were about to attack her.
Armageddon, Minus Four Minutes. I do like how the death clock wasn’t sped up with Jean’s death, the clock had taken that into consideration. We catch up to Rogue who is about to straight murder Strong Man. Which she does, and her son just wants to hang out with her afterwards.
Off panel, Magneto took a dive and Apocalypse is escaping. At first, I thought he was talking to X-Man about how his plan is to join the Proper Marvel Universe but he was only talking to himself, aloud. X-Man arrives and stabs Apocalypse. X-Man is angry, the main reason is that Forge is dead.
Armageddon, Minus Three Minutes. AoA Bishop sucker punches 90s Bishop. Yes, I recognize AoA Bishop is pretty 90s himself. Ponytail Bishop, I guess would work and Bald Bishop. I guess this is how our Bishop doesn’t know about this other timeline. Hence why he isn’t talking about it all of the time.
Legion is about to murder Magneto and Xavier is about to foolishly take the hit but Baldy Bishop shouts “David” and this surprises Legion. As no one should know his real name, at this point. I’m not sure why Xavier didn’t read David’s mind when he first arrived.
The two are fighting and Bishop forces David to see the future his actions are about to cause. Though, he could still kill Xavier (accidentally) but tell Magneto to find Apocalypse (early) and kill that fool. Is there a What If? that handles that possibility?
David is exhausted after seeing the possible timeline. David starts to fade away, as does Bald Bishop. Not sure how Ponytail Bishop gets back to the present. Our Storm and Iceman are standing around, as well, so this must be where Legion Quest ended. With David being gone, a super plot hole appears and takes Iceman, Storm and Bishop back to the present.
Left behind, is Gabrielle Haller, Xavier and Magneto. Haller could have sworn a dude said he was her son but now there isn’t anyone around and the bros just shrug their shoulders and move on.
Armageddon,, Minus Two Minutes. X-Man and Magneto have team-up again and are taking the fight to Apocalypse. Holocaust arrives to pick up his fight with X-Man. X-Man stabs Holocaust with the shard of the M’Kraan Crystal and a strange backlash occurs.
During this distraction, Apocalypse grabs Magneto by his throat. Except that Magneto wasn’t the one that was distracted.
Magneto just kills Apocalypse!
Armageddon, Minus One Minute. Magneto gathers his wife an child to him. Apocalypse is dead and soon, his world will be dead too. Magneto looks forward to not even being a memory. I do like seeing Magneto and Rogue together, they do make a nice couple. As long as you don’t think too much about the age difference.
In his last moments, he remembers his old friend, his son’s name sake. Charles Xavier had a dream. With his final words, Magneto thanks Xavier for changing his life. As the world of Age of Apocalypse comes to an end.
Or does it? We’ll be coming back to it, in four days. Before that, we take a fun detour.
Another Secret Wars 2015 series ends, and this is the only issue that I really read. Let’s see how we do.
A-Force cast is – She-Hulk, Dazzler, Captain Marvel, Loki, Nico Minoru and Singularity – who is still a mystery. They live on Arcadia, which is on the border of the Shield (that is mostly, the Fantastic Four’s Thing). Loki, apparently tore a hole into it and now Marvel Zombies are coming through. So this issue is mostly a lot of fighting – which is nice for me, as I missed out on four issues.
I do like this cast though, I was hoping Singularity was going to be Cosmic Kitty Pryde (or that Kitty would be in this title) but she isn’t. I thought that as they both are blue and sparkly. We do get Kitty in this issue, hence why I own this comic.
Issue opens with She-Hulk giving an inspirational speech. Everyone who stands up, and fights, will become a member of A-Force.
I see Winter Solider in attendance, so dudes are on the island. On the zombie side, Green Goblin, Venom, Doctor Octopus, Magneto and Sabretooth.
Hulkling is there, as well as, Namor.
I’m not sure who Sera is but she knows Angela, but that is some fun dialogue. Molly, like Nico – is from Runaways – and she is standing between a brunette with yellow gloves and a blue shirt, as well as Colossus. So I agree with Marvel Database, and that must be Kitty Pryde.
Luke Cage, is holding Danielle, while Jessica fights zombies – I like that.
Spider-Gwen saves Mary Jane, so I’ve now officially read a comic that had Spider-Gwen in it.
On the very next page, I get some Ms. Marvel, so now I’ve read a comic with her in it. So she has, basically, Reed Richards’ powers, right? Stretching powers? She’s fighting along with Spider-Woman and Captain Marvel in the background. On this same double splash page, we get lots of mutants – who haven’t been in this series, to much. Dazzler and Jubilee are present, along with Runaways’ Karolina. X23 is slashing away. We get a SHIELD panel, with Mockingbird and Black Widow. I like how all of the ladies are keeping a light attitude, in the face of the living undead. That’s the way to do it. We also get a ninja panel with Elektra and Psylocke. We see where the zombies are heading, to the Jean Grey School. Dust and Rescue are in front of the school. Jean, Scarlet Witch, Emma and Storm are on the steps of the school.
Black Bolt is losing a fight with the zombies. Which seems silly, even with his dying breath, he can clear the area with a stutter. There is a Zombie Hulk, which seems super scary. Monica, former Captain Marvel, is she Photon now? I can’t keep up with her. She blows a giant hole through Hulk’s chest.
Nico comes across a zombie shark, which sounds awesome! Singularity saves Nico from the shark. Singularity talks in one word sentences or fragments. I guess Nico learns her name, which makes me think that Singularity may be too mysterious. Singularity drops Nico near She-Hulk and Captain Marvel (Carol) and goes to face off with the, now, giant shark.
Maybe I’m not following the art, but it looks like Singularity whirlwinds up all of the zombies and the water and goes into the higher atmopshere and explodes. Everyone is sad, Nico implies that they lost someone else, recently. I haven’t really heard any news about this series, besides that they will be getting a new number one, Post-Secret Wars 2015.
The day is saved! Carol, She-Hulk and Nico are crying. Tigra and Ms. Marvel are happy. Black Cat and Spider-Gwen are high fiving.
She-Hulk brings Loki to Sif, Valkyrie and another green Asgardian lady. Is it racist to think that this lady is a powered up Gamora? I should have read further on the page, it is Gamora.
Two Days Later. The ladies are repairing the damage done to Arcadia. Spider-Gwen has a giant wrecking ball amount of debris – sort of like her move in Avengers Alliance. Captain Marvel has a slightly less bag. Steve Rogers, wearing the outfit from Heroic Age or the Winter Soldier film and Spider-Woman is carrying some pipes.
She-Hulk checks in on Nico, who is crying. She has lost America (who I only know from the Siege series – which may be where she disappeared to), Loki and Singularity. She-Hulk doesn’t believe that Singularity is dead. Apparently, Medusa died but lived on in Singularity, so who knows what that broad can do. She-Hulk goes on to describe how they schooled Singularity and essentially shaped her to be who she was / is.
The last page shows Singularity, floating about in space. Which is hinting at her moving over to the All New All Different Marvel, Post-Secret Wars 2015.
Not a bad series, there is an ad (which is pretty smart) showing the cast of the new title. Nico, Dazzler – still in her Bendis Anka punk look, She-Hulk, Captain Marvel and Medusa. Singularity makes up the background. Which will be a tad awkward, if the ladies don’t recall her at all, if their memories of Secret Wars 2015, don’t survive.
I really should have read this one shot first, as it would have built the world better for me.
The framing device, for this handbook, is that one of the Madri has decided he wants to know all of Apocalypse’s secrets. What he finds is profiles. Each is given either a “Chosen” or “Forgotten” tag.
Magneto & Rogue, Chosen
X-Man, Forgotten
Cyclops, Chosen
Havok, Forgotten
Sinister, Chosen
Storm, who Apocalypse writes, is in love with Quicksilver, so I’m not sure if they are romantically together. Chosen
Quicksilver, they must be a couple. Quicksilver lost his mother and his sister – Polaris, who Rogue absorbed her powers and Magneto was cool with and married and sired a child. A child for a child, I reckon. Chosen
Northstar / Aurora, Forgotten
Beast, Forgotten
Four Horsemen – Odd how they are not name checked in the two paragraphs. I recognize Sinister and Abyss. I believe Holocaust is one and I know Mikhail Rasputin is another. Chosen
X-Calibre, Forgotten
Human High Council, Gwen Stacy was a member of, I believe. Forgotten
Weapon X & Jean Grey, Chosen
Gambit & The Externals – Lily Cheney is a member of the group. Forgotten
Colosssus, Chosen
Art by
Salvador Larroca / Sergio Melia
We learn that Magneto’s school is on Wundagore Mountain. Apocalypse knows that Colossus is married to Katherine Pryde. Apocalypse knows that Illyana is a prisoner in his breeding pens.
Angel, Chosen
Sabretooth & Wild Child, Chosen
Bishop, Chosen
Charles Xavier, Forgotten but Apocalypse wonders what type of world it would be if Xavier wasn’t killed.
Issue ends with the Madri being Chosen but Apocalypse doesn’t like spies and he kills the one Madri and changes their status to, Forgotten.
Bob Wiacek was the inker for the X-Man and the Four Horsemen profiles. Terry Austin was the inker for Quicksilver and The Beast profile. 90s Tim Sale artwork for Sabretooth & Wild Child and Bishop profiles. Sabretooth & Wild Child do look like traditional Tim Sale art.
Larroca / Melia also provide the art for Magneto & Rogue, Cyclops, Storm, Human High Council and Angel profiles.
. . .
Thanks everyone that visited the site yesterday. We outdid our single best day from 275 to 326!
• DAVID MARQUEZ (A)
Shadow and Flame with Magik 