Shadow and Flame with Magik

Ultimate Spider-Man 91

Posted by John Klein III on February 20, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Bagley, Bendis, Deadpool, Dell - John, Petit - Cory, Ponsor, Ultimate, Ultimate Spider-Man. Leave a comment

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Penciler Mark Bagley

Inker John Dell

Colorist Justin Ponsor

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Dated May 2006

Deadpool, Part One of Four

We’re ending Deadpool with all four parts of the introduction of . . . Ultimate Deadpool!

I need to settle on which nine images to use but I want to use them all! Probably go with the last eight issues of the issue as those deal with Deadpool but the first half of the issue are so great!

Previously, Peter Parker broke up with Mary Jane and super upgraded to Kitty Pryde.

Spider-Man is trapped within a few rings of . . . The Ringer!

The Ringer has some attitude, that I really enjoy. He’s from Waldorf, Maryland – so he’s pretty cool. What isn’t cool, is that he makes some anti-mutant comments. Spider-Man, is stuck on the whole Maryland comment. So Kitty Pryde, in a sweet new outfit (designed by Bagley) has to call the Ringer on his racist comments.

Pryde right hooks the Ringer. Meanwhile, Spider-Man is being squeezed tight by the rings. Pryde keeps fighting The Ringer.

Pryde keeps patting down Ringer, as she keeps trying to shut down his gizmo that allows him to fire off his rings.

Pryde takes note of Spider-Man being constricted to death.

Pryde phases Spider-Man through the rings, costing him a shirt.

I do enjoy these two’s romantic banter. She likes him shirtless and he learns that she can phase other people.

The Ringer took off a while ago but Spider-Man catches him, just like a fly.

While Ringer tries to break through the webs, Pryde notes the mechanism on his back. With one swipe, it explodes!

Spider-Man freaks out, saying her real name and everything. She has to, again, mention how she is safe and can take care of himself.

Spider-Man puts on his shirt and Pryde asks him to check out the Ringer’s butt. This page is so fun! The Ringer having his wallet with him, has really stuck with him. Do criminals not take their wallets with them, on heists? I was worried about leaving my wallet on my wedding day. My buddy Greg got married for him, and as his best man, I held his wallet for him, that day. He returned the favor for me but I wasn’t really sure what to do with it.

Pryde starts shouting that The Ringer’s real name is – Anthony Davis from Medina County, Ohio. Ohio, I get, as Bendis is from there, but I wonder if the name is somebody.

The police arrive and Spider-Man tells Pryde that they have to go. Pryde keeps shouting Davis’ name. Spider-Man grabs her and the two swing away.

Pryde gives Spider-Man some shit for having lame villains. Pryde agrees that Ringer is a step up from Shocker. Spider-Man tries to defend his rogues gallery by saying his are better than the Ultimates. Pryde is quick to point out that the Ultimates only fight each other.

I’m probably going to try to keep this page too as it is such a great showing of these two’s budding relationship.

Peter finally gets around to asking Kitty about her new costume. She wants “Kitty Pryde” to start dating “Peter Parker” so that they can go around and be a real couple – not hiding from his Aunt May and others. She doesn’t want any confusion with Shadowcat dating Peter Parker and being best buds with Spider-Man. People will be quick to add the situation together.

Kitty wants Peter to come up with a new name for her new costume identity. It is a shame that we never got more of this costume. All he can come up with is “Spider-Girl” typical dumb dude.

Kitty does enjoy webslinging across the city.

Kitty is afraid that she put too much thought into this costume and situation. Peter is worried about his aunt and how she will take the news. Kitty brings up the awesome point that, if he had a girlfriend, it gives him a better excuse to give his aunt – besides having to come up with a lame excuse every time.

Kitty simply wants to go to the movies and hold Peter’s hand.

They joke about lame villains and how the X-Men have cool news. She lists Magneto, Hellfire Club (which is pretty lame in the Ultimate Universe), the Brotherhood and ends with Mojo. Peter hasn’t heard of Mojo before – which he is going to hear the name a bunch, in this arc.

Kitty will tell Aunt May that she is a mutant, Kitty doesn’t hide that from anyone. She would also mention the X-Men, as anyone in this modern age – would end up googling “Kitty Pryde” so might as well get out in front of it. Peter wonders how he would explain how he is dating a world famous superhero. Kitty offers that they met at the mall, or some such place. Celebrities date non-celebrities, all the time.

The X-Plane arrives to pick up Kitty.

The X-Men got tired of flying to the city to retrieve her, so the plane is on autopilot now. Peter wishes he had a robot plane, he barely has anything.

Peter still likes Kitty and she refuses to take back the comment about his lame villains.

Look how cute they are!

Kitty gets sweep up in the moment and phases her face through Peter’s face. It is quite the mood breaker.

Peter wants Kitty to call him, once she is safely at home.

Now we begin the whole Deadpool & the X-Men pages, so I’m definitely keeping these images to the end. If you see the images above, I’m still debating which ones to keep. I know I want the one with Kitty taking off her mask and the two page spread but those opening pages with The Ringer are such a delight to share!

Poor Kitty, she’s pleased that she made big moves but worried that she is moving too fast or taking the relationship too seriously. Apparently she isn’t talking to her teammates about her relationship and creating a new superhero identity. She is purposely keeping her relationship private, from her team, as she doesn’t want them to ruin it.

Kitty enjoys Lays Sour Cream and Onion, which I do too.

She has doubts about Peter’s commitment to the relationship.

Kitty goes back to an empty mansion – which must be unsettling. She runs into Wolverine.

Kitty is happy to see Wolverine, that is until he pulls a nice on her. Kitty starts phases through a wall when she takes a lightning bolt to the back.

The bolt actually hurt her, which confuses her. Storm checks in on Kitty but doesn’t recognize the name, Ororo. Which is an odd name to hear, when one doesn’t expect to hear it. Kitty starts phasing again, as Storm fires a gun at her.

Clearly Xavier has planned for this as Kitty knows where to go. Her first thought is to call the Ultimates as Nick Fury would know what to do. In her rush, she touches the computer while in her phased state – so it short circuits.

The autopilot does get activated in the X-Plane.

The group that has taken the X-Men, have caught up to Kitty and knock her out.

We get two pages of non-Kitty (for a total of three in this issue – as the first page also was Pryde-less). Peter is being caught off guard that Aunt May has a date. As she drives off, he sees the X-Plane and takes off to follow it. He sees the plane is empty and as soon as his feet land on the floor, it takes off for Westchester. We find out that it is only a twenty minute flight, so that seems reasonable.

The joke about “Hello Kitty” I’m reminded about, every time I’m at Hastings. We have an endcap that features Hello Kitty merchandise, which as far as I know – we never actually sell. Is there anything that keeps Hello Kitty on the top of mind for Montanans? I’m pretty sure there is no new cartoon series or celebrities keeping Hello Kitty in the minds of common folk.

Spider-Man comes across Kitty Pryde, but she doesn’t say anything and instead, zaps him.

I’m wrong, there are four pages that Kitty doesn’t appear on. The final page shows Deadpool and the Reavers. Ultimate Deadpool doesn’t talk in yellow word balloons – which is disappointing.

There is a Letters Page with letters from – Nekolas Martin of South Boston, VA / Onsy “Scorpy” Al Hagrassy of Dubai, UAE / Phillip Tallman / Stuart West of the United Kingdom / Xalibar / Mark H. and Jacob Silvers from Warren, OH.

Next issue box has – “Who is – what is – Deadpool!?! And what does he plan to do with Spidey and Kitty? Here’s a hint : “Kill them.” Be here next issue, when Peter wakes up in . . . Krakoa? That’s “Deadpool,” part 2!

It is going to be a fun ride!

Excalibur 96

Posted by John Klein III on February 19, 2016

Posted in: Fun With YouTube, Lists, Review, Websites. Tagged: Ellis, Excalibur, Lockheed, Pacheco, uncannyxmen.net, Wiacek, YouTube. Leave a comment

Writer Warren Ellis

Penciler Carlos Pacheco

Inker Bob Wiacek

Colorist Ariane Lenshock

Lettering Richard Starkings and Comicraft

Cover Dated April 1996

Legendary Inker Bob Wiacek worked his magic this issue! Pacheco’s art is amazing, as per usual, but there is something that makes this issue pop out.

While checking to see if Bob Wiacek was on Twitter, he isn’t, but I found this link to a commercial that he did – way back in 2003 – with 50 Cent and G-Unit

Thanks to YouTuber and Marvel Legend, Bob Wiacek for hosting his own video! I subscribed so hard to his channel.

How cool is that!?! Pretty darn, I say!

Warren Ellis, one of my Top Five favorite Kitty Pryde writers – Claremont, Humphries, Davis and Byrne. Ellis started his run with issue 83 and went until 103. We will be reviewing five of his issues, this month. This issue, Ellis brings Lockheed back after a two year absence, ever since issue 76!

The very first page is the villain, Mountjoy’s face as he says it’s a tasty world.” We’ll learn more about him later.

The second page has, this issue moves pretty fast and is pretty awesome – Jean Grey, at the Xavier School, picking up the mail. Alistaire Stuart has some to the X-Men, trying to get in touch with Excalibur. Talk about being on the wrong side of the pond!

At the same time, 7am, in an expensive chunk of New York real Estate – Shinobi Shaw, the Black King, is still awake. Shaw isn’t happy, as the London branch is up to something but he has no connections to the Inner Circle there. Martine, his assistant, is bored. Shaw has to reach out to Brian Braddock, as he has a standing seat at the table.

If it is 7am in New York, then it is noon on Muir Island Medical Research Station. Which four hours doesn’t seem like Excalibur should be that out of touch with what is happening, state side.

Nightcrawler is bouncing a soccer ball off of his own head. He is debuting a new look, shaved head and a goatee. I like this era of a fun swashbuckler Nightcrawler. It was Amanda’s idea, for the makeover. Colossus and Kitty are hanging out with him.

Picking up on a thread, from way back in Excalibur 76! Kitty is still wanting to check on her father. Which was twenty issues ago, so nearly two years have passed – in our time.

Kurt whiptails the ball to Kitty (hard!) and she tosses it to Colossus, who bounces it off of his own head.

There is no chance of Kitty’s parents ever getting back together.

Kitty doesn’t like loose ends, and that reminds Kurt that Amanda has been bugged by a loose end for some time now. Kurt kicks the ball back.

Mile High Comics is having a giant X-Men & Spider-Man sale! Uncanny X-Men 122 -128, 130 – 139, are $13.00. They must have been out of 129.

Colossus catches the ball, no hands mister! Colossus advises Kurt that he should be direct with Amanda.

Meggan arrives, also sporting a new look! – which I like. Kurt has a phone call. Jean is on the phone. Meggan also points to Lockheed, who is no longer sulking about. Lockheed has been protesting the Pryde & Wisdom relationship. He has taken measures to letting his protest be known, as he is chewing on Wisdom’s pants.

The Inner Circle of the London Hellfire Club. Instead of Black and White houses, they have Black and Red, they must be checkers fans. Black is mad at Red, as the events of Excalibur 88 – 90 (the always helpful editor, Suze, lets us know) regarding the Dream Nails storyline, have tampered with the Hellfire Club’s goals. Now they have to move up their plans, and in a hurry.

The Red King mentions that Wisdom has killed a lot of people. The Black King (I wish they would name check each other) wants to make sure that the final steps of the plan, are done correctly. Black Air, the British version of SHIELD, in a way, needs to be tighten up, as Dream Nails, was one of their operations. This lady, with long finger nails, does magic and she is getting inpatient.

There is an ad for Generation X, the made-for-television film, which is set to premiere February 1996, to FOX.

Kurt, Kitty and Colossus take the call and Jean and Scott are on the other line, they are talking through a fancy big screen television phone.

Cyclops warmingly greets Kurt and Kitty, leaving out Colossus. Jean starts with wanting them to tell Brian that his sister, Psylocke, is still in a coma.

http://uncannyxmen.net/comics/issue/excalibur-1st-series-96

Thanks to the always helpful, uncannyxmen.net, Psylocke is in a coma, thanks to Sabretooth. Uncanny X-Men 328 – 330.

Kurt realizes the two X-Men didn’t greet Colossus and asks Colossus to come into view of the camera. Cyclops and Colossus reference that Colossus was experiencing head trauma, when he joined Magneto and now that has been fixed.

Jean turns the camera around, to reveal Alistaire Stuart. Which is weird that he stood by, silently, as these peeps exchanged pleasantries.

Stuart and Colossus are wearing pretty much the same outfit. So they are both, brunettes wearing brown trenchcoats, which is an odd choice for Pacheco to make.

Kitty asks Alistaire to explain why he is in America. Like an idiot, Colossus, asks who this guy is. Like really? I get that you don’t know him, but clearly Kurt and Kitty do, so maybe just stand there, listen and soak in the information. If you have questions, ask afterwards. You dummy.

Alistaire explains that Black Air, the sinister product of the peaceful WHO agency.

Great scene of the three Excalibur teammates whispering if they should believe him.

Kurt states that he is on his way. Kitty is seen stating that she is going to ask Brian for the Midnight Runner and that she is going to bring Meggan along. I’m sure the speech balloon tail should be pointing towards Kurt.

Muir Island gets a second call and Kitty takes it. Shinobi Shaw wants to talk to Brian.

Eastern England. Sebastian Shaw, who isn’t dead (but Shinobi thinks he is, as that is how he became a member of the Upstarts) and he is meeting with Scratch, with Black Air. In exchange for a box, Shaw receives some files. What is in the box, is what Black Air needs and wants. Shaw and Tessa (Sage) leaves and we could follow their adventure in X-Man 15. I own issues 12, 13, 16, 26 and 60 – so I won’t be taking that trip. With Onslaught looming, the titles are going to start crossing over.

Back at Muir Island. Kurt leaves with Meggan, in the Moonlight Flit. Now, uncannyxmen.net points out that this is an error. As earlier, Kurt states that he will ask for the Midnight Runner and now is flying the Flit. My No Prize solution, as Brian will leave, next issue in the Runner – is that Brian didn’t want lend Kurt the Runner and gave him the Flit.

The Flit is a complete medical plane, it has no weapons and is completely voice operated, as sometimes, you can’t be saving someone and flying a plane. Just read X-Men 25, and how hard it is to fly a plane with a wounded Wolverine and bad weather. The Flit doesn’t have weapons as Brian doesn’t want to fight anymore.

Brian has a videoconference with the younger Shaw. Psylocke was always more into the Hellfire Club – for the parties and their father liked it for business reasons, Brian was never really into it. Shaw mentions how one of the Inner Circle isn’t who they say they are. Back in a Bishop miniseries (I know!) a character, Mountjoy, was introduced. He is a shape-stealer, instead of a shape-shifter. He takes on the shape of a person, as he digests that person. Sort of like a Warwolf, but with a longer process, I guess?

I like how the footnote states that it happened in the pages of a Bishop series but a page turn, you get everything you sort of need about the character. Also great is the transition of Shaw telling Brian about Mountjoy to Kitty telling Brian about Mountjoy.

Brian decides that he will join the Inner Circle. I wonder what happens to the current Bishop, once Brian arrives?

Meanwhile, Wisdom and Lockheed are having a disagreement. Wisdom wants his clothes back and Lockheed wants Wisdom gone. This is so great!

Douglock is still trying to find his place in the world. He tried to view it through the lens of logic but now he is going to give chaos a shot.

On the way back to Muir Island, the Moonlight Flit is attacked. I wouldn’t have minded seeing the scene of Meggan meeting Cyclops and Jean Grey. The issue ends with the Flit, falling out of the sky.

X-Facts, the current version of Bullpen Bulletins. Wolverine’s title reaches the 100th issue mark. Will he get his adamantium back? The second wave of Analagam are coming. Spider-Boy is the issue I remember the most. Cable and Nate Grey meet up. Those are the featured stories. Issues coming out in February –

Uncanny X-Men 331
Cable 30
Generation X 14
Wolverine 100
X-Factor 121
X-Man 14
Excalibur 96 – When the malicious Mountjoy inflitrates the newly-established HELLFIRE CLUB in London. Shinobi Shaw comes to EXCALIBUR for help! By Warren Ellis & Carlos Pachaco!
X-Men 51
X-Force 53
Storm 3
Professor X & the X-Men 6
Magneto & the Metal Men 1
X-Patrol 1

I own only one of these. Now I wish I was keeping track, of all of these past Wish List.

Swordstokes, the letters page. Letters are from – Mark Shakespeare / Jon Prive of Bucks County, PA / Chris Wright of Moody, ME / Robert Jones / Rockwell N. Greene of Overland Park, KS / James Binnington of Coloma, MI / Catherine D. Kobasiuk of Mastic Beach, NY / Tom Malinowski of Bloomingdale, IL / Doud Ohmer of Covington, KY / Steven J. Wolfe of Mexico City, Mexico. Three pages of letters!

Next Issue : Join Us for Harpoons, Dogfights and Turncoats.

For once, we are actually going to read the next issue! Please, come back in two days!

Marvel May 2016 Solicitations

Posted by John Klein III on February 18, 2016

Posted in: Solicitations. Tagged: Hawthorne, Newsarama, Solicitations. Leave a comment

http://www.newsarama.com/27984-marvel-comics-full-may-2016-solicitations.html

CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS #1
NICK SPENCER • JESUS SAIZ (A/C)
Cover by JESUS SAIZ
VARIANT COVER BY STEVE EPTING
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY Paul Renaud
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
CAPTAIN AMERICA 75TH ANNIVERSARY VARIANT COVER BY TBA
He’s back! The original Sentinel of Liberty returns, with a new shield, a new team, and a new mission! And he’s not the only one who’s back! Like the saying goes– cut off one LIMB, two more will take its place! HAIL HYDRA!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

Well this was bound to happen and it at least takes advantage of the : setting up that anyone’s name could follow. I’ll be passing on this.

THE PUNISHER #1
BECKY CLOONAN • STEVE DILLON (A)
Cover by Declan Shalvey
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TIM BRADSTREET
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
VARIANT COVER BY ALEX MALEEV
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY Chris Stevens
BLACK PANTHER 50TH ANNIVERSARY VARIANT BY PHIL NOTO
CAPTAIN AMERICA 75TH ANNIVERSARY VARIANT COVER BY TBA
FRANK CASTLE LOSES CONTROL!
A by-the-numbers drug bust is about to take Frank Castle by surprise…and he HATES surprises. The horrible fallout threatens to send The Punisher into the heart of darkness, but Castle won’t make that journey alone: A DEA agent is on his trail and attempting to get into his head…but what horrors will she find there, and will she survive the experience? First-time Punisher writer Becky Cloonan and quintessential Punisher artist Steve Dillon are forcing Frank Castle out of his comfort zone and taking him to the edge of the world he thought he knew!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

This is another one that makes sense with Punisher being the main adversary in the Netflix Daredevil series. I’ll also be passing on this series.

THUNDERBOLTS #1
Jim Zub • Jon Malin (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY MARK BAGLEY
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY TBA
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TONY PIPER
FROM THE ASHES OF AVENGERS: STANDOFF!
They’re a renegade team rampaging across the Marvel Universe under the direction of the Winter Soldier! But are the Thunderbolts heroes or villains—and do even they know for sure?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

I do like that homage cover to the original and great series cover. I’ll be passing on this series as well.

NIGHTHAWK #1
DAVID WALKER • RAMON VILLALOBOS (A)
Cover by DENYS COWAN and BILL SIENKIEWICZ
VARIANT COVER BY Rafael Albuquerque
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY BILL SIENKIEWICZ
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
Straight from the pages of SQUADRON SUPREME comes one of the most brutal super heroes of the Marvel Universe. Nighthawk is Chicago’s dark protector, dispensing swift, decisive justice to those that truly deserve it. When the city’s shadiest power brokers turn up murdered in gristly ways, the apparent work of an inventive serial killer, Nighthawk must ask himself, Does this predator deserve to be caught? Who is the killer? What is he after? What does he want from Nighthawk? To answer these questions, Nighthawk must first look in the mirror.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I didn’t know that there were going to be all of these number ones, that I wouldn’t be interested in.

CIVIL WAR II #0
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • OLIVIER COIPEL (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY ESAD RIBIC
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER A BY KIM JUNG JI
CHARACTER VARIANT COVER BY PHIL NOTO
From the creative team that brought you House of M and Siege comes a blistering first chapter in Marvel’s new explosive event. Watch as the players are introduced and the table is set for a storyline that fans will be talking about for years.
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

So if these crossovers get worst – House of M, then the very missable Siege, does that mean that Civil War II will be even more passable? Here is hoping the X-Men have some reason to be involved in this, if they want me to buy this series.

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #9
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • MIKE DEODATo (A/C)
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• Tony and Rhodey are best friends on and off the battlefield but their friendship is tested in ways it never was before as the new power players in the Marvel Universe reveal themselves in a bloody and dangerous fashion that threatens everything they stand for. A Civil War II prologue story!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I like Mary Jane Watson being in the Iron Man armor, always fun when she was in a Spider-Man costume.

ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT AVENGERS #9
MARK WAID • MAHMUD ASRAR (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
VARIANT COVER BY ALEX ROSS
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY Khoi Pham
New Story Starts NOW!
• Introducing the all-new Wasp! Who is she? What is she? And what does she intend to do about Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I wonder who is the new Wasp? Also, whatever happened to Jan?

THE VISION #7
TOM KING • MICHAEL WALSH (A)
COVER BY MIKE DEL MUNDO
A NEW STORY STARTS NOW!
• Once upon a time a robot and a witch fell in love. What followed was a tale of the dead and the dying, of the hopeful and the lost, of the wronged and the avenged. And in the end, after both had fallen, the witch and the robot rose from their dirt and eyed each other across a field of blood and bone.
• Forty-five years in the making, this is the story of Scarlet Witch and the Vision. Before family, there was love. And war.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I am a sucker for the Vision / Wanda relationship, I may have to give this issue a read.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #12
DAN SLOTT • GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY Jamal Campbell
• POWER PLAY begins here!
• The Amazing Spider-Man, Iron Man, Spider-Man and the rest of the All-New All-Different Avengers come together for this huge story!
• The most dangerous foe from SECRET WARS, REGENT makes his true intentions known – and it will take the greatest heroes of the Marvel Universe to stop him.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I must not have read Secret Wars 2015 that closely as I don’t recall seeing the name, Regent, anywhere.

SPIDER-WOMAN #7
DENNIS HOPELESS • JOELLE JONES (A)
Cover by YASMINE PUTRI
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
VARIANT COVER BY Javier RODRIGUEZ
SPIDER-WOMEN: PART 7!
• What’s happened in the Marvel Universe during Jessica’s time on Earth-65?
• What’s happened in HER HOME?!
• WHO’S THAT WITH HER BABY?!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

This is part of the Spider-Women crossover but I didn’t know she had her baby. Has the baby daddy’s identity been revealed? I can only imagine Newsarama would spoil that for me but they haven’t yet.

SPIDER-MAN #4
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • SARA PICHELLI (A/C)
• Miles is just finding his feet in the all new marvel universe; the media is growing obsessed with his skin color and now he has to share his own book with a hot new mutant who goes by the name of… wait for it…
• All this and the Queenpin of New York, the Black Cat, has set her sights on this new Spider-Man. She has put out a hit on his head and now no one is safe!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

The mutant must be Goldballs, right? Bendis hinted at that letter he wrote in Uncanny X-Men 600’s letter. When did the Black Cat become the Queenpin of Crime? What happened to Fisk, or did she realize that there was a title that she could claim and took it?

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. #5
MARC GUGGENHEIM • GERMAN PERALTA (A)
Cover by MIKE NORTON
• Coulson captive! Simmons dying! The Amazing Spider-Man marked for death! And if that wasn’t enough… the Marvel Comics Universe debut of GRANT WARD.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Great, the worst character on Agents of SHIELD is now in the comic!

Art by Mike Hawhtorne

STAR-LORD #7
SAM HUMPHRIES • JAVIER GARRON (a)
Cover by MIKE HAWTHORNE
NO FIGHTING ON A MISSION, YOU GUYS!
• STAR-LORD VS. STAR-LADY!
• Turns out working with your ex might not go super smooth. Who knew?
• Will Peter and Kitty be able to make it out of this mission alive? Who is more dangerous, their enemy…or each other???
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Kitty clearly wears that outfit better! So glad to see her in this title, finally! Even if they are broken up now.

GUARDIANS OF INFINITY #6
DAN ABNETT AND ERIC PALICKI • CARLO BARBERI & PAOLO VILLANELLI (A)
Cover by GARY CHOO
ONE GUARDIAN, INFINITE TROUBLE
• Newcomer god Hermetikus has captured all the Guardians, possibly to turn them into unwilling brain donors!
• Just one hero manages to slip away: Nikki Gold must find her way through the Structure, with nothing but her wits and her guns.
• AND ERIC PALICKI (writer FAKE EMPIRE, ORPHANS) and artist PAOLO VILLANELLI (G.I. JOE, CLIVE BARKER’S HELLRAISER) team up Kitty Pryde and Gamora to figure out if there’s more than ONE Most Dangerous Woman in the Universe!
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

Kitty gets her second backup feature! So great and her teaming up with Gamora has to be fun!

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #8
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • VALERIO SCHITI (A)
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY Dale Keown
VENOM AND GROOT VERSUS: SKRULLS!
• Venom and Groot get in WAY over their heads fighting against SKRULLS!
• Last time this writer wrote those aliens it changed the Marvel Universe. This time he’s thinking even bigger!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Hopefully Kitty still has a role in this issue!

ULTIMATES #7
AL EWING
KENNETH ROCAFORT (A/C)
– On the road to CIVIL WAR II!
– The Ultimates deal with the fallout from their journey Outside – and the return of the Anti-Man!
– Meanwhile, Project: Pegasus holds the key to humanity’s survival… or destruction…
– …and THANOS is coming for it!

Is there a third unaccounted for Ant-Man? I guess there is the Irredeemable one.

HOWARD THE DUCK #7
CHIP ZDARSKY • KEVIN MAGUIRE (A)
COVER BY KEVIN MAGUIRE & JOE QUINONES
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY Bobby Rubio
• When a case takes Howard and Tara to the SAVAGE LAND, they need all the help they can get! But instead, they make do with SPIDER-MAN, SHE-HULK, DAREDEVIL and STEVE ROGERS!
• Join Chip and special guest artist KEVIN MAGUIRE (!!!!) for an issue we like to call “Howard the Duck Volume Six, Issue Seven!”
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Such a fun solict ending!

GWENPOOL #0
CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS
DANILO BEYRUTH & GURIHIRU (A)
Cover by DANILO BEYRUTH
VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS BACHALO
• “Who is Gwenpool, and where did she come from?” Ever since she made a splash in her first cover appearance, those have been the questions on everyone’s lips as they lounge about, sipping from a tropical beverage!
• Now, get all three of the original Gwenpool backup stories from HOWARD THE DUCK #1-3 featuring Ms. Poole’s first appearance and her battle alongside our favorite private duck in one convenient package!
• Plus: See Gwen’s first Xmas in the Marvel Universe, and the guy she killed to mark the occasion!
48 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

This would be helpful for any questions I have, after reading the third chapter of her backup story. But I’m sure I will forget this is coming out, once it does come out.

DAREDEVIL/PUNISHER #1 (OF 4)
CHARLES SOULE
SZYMON KUDRANSKI (A)
Cover by REILLY BROWN
A simple change of venues for one of Matt Murdock’s cases becomes more complicated when THE PUNISHER attempts to send the defendant away…permanently! If DAREDEVIL and BLINDSPOT want to get this mobster his day in court, it will take every ounce of wit and wile they have. All Frank needs to get what he wants is a bullet. The race is on!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

Another clever miniseries to tie in with the second season of Daredevil.

DAREDEVIL #7
CHARLES SOULE • Matteo Buffagni (A)
Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• Marvel’s most deadly assassin is back in the Big Apple and has just dropped a bombshell of secret.
• Now, Matt Murdock is forced to consider the true cost of being the Man Without Fear.
• And now, with Elektra raising hell in Hell’s Kitchen, Daredevil may have to give up his biggest secret…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

This makes sense too, with Elektra being in season two of Daredevil. I imagine she gets her own ongoing soon, as well.

ILLUMINATI #7
JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Shawn Crystal (A/C)
AVENGERS: STAND-OFF AFTERMATH!
• It’s recruitment day! The villains of the Marvel Universe are pissed off after the events of Stand-Off, so naturally the Hood sees a perfect opportunity to enlist them into the Illuminati. But what he has planned next could sicken even the most hardened of criminals…
• But will Titania continue working with The Hood or focus on saving her marriage to Absorbing Man?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Hey, there actually is fallout from non-event crossover, Avengers Stand Off – that’s pretty impressive.

DOCTOR STRANGE #8
JASON AARON • CHRIS BACHALO (A/C)
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY TBA
THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC STORY CONTINUES!
• All of Doctor Strange’s magic has been destroyed and our world is on the edge of disaster.
• What on Earth can Stephen do?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Strange should recruit Magik! That’s what he should do!

CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS #8
AL EWING • RHOALD MARCELLIUS (A)
COVER BY PACO MEDINA
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
ULTIMATE FIGHTING” continues!
• Here come… THE SYMBIOIDS! Half Venom – half Void – and all deadly!
• Are the Ultimates a match for the cosmic critters? And can they knock the Maestro off his throne?
• Plus – Battleworld breakout! Which contestant returns to Earth – and which one leaves in a box?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I wish I knew the characters better to take a guess but I imagine it will be the one that doesn’t have a proper counterpart, who is already in the limelight.

THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #8
RYAN NORTH • ERICA HENDERSON (A/C)
NEW STORY STARTS NOW!
• In this story, Squirrel Girl faces off against a giant monster, AND a gross old man, AND goes on some dates!
• So that’s three challenges right there
• Whether you’re a fan of seeing a squirrel lady punch someone OR a fan of seeing a squirrel lady struggle to make an online dating profile that isn’t weird and embarrassing, this is an excellent comic for you to purchase!
• EVERYONE IS ONE OF THOSE TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE — search your heart and you will find it is true
• Oh P.S., the story is called “I KISSED A SQUIRREL AND I LIKED IT” — how amazing is that?
• Answer: very
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

So silly but I do like the energy of her solicts.

ALL-NEW X-MEN #9
DENNIS HOPELESS • MARK BAGLEY (A/C)
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER C BY KEN LASHLEY
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY Pasqual Ferry
“APOCALYPSE WARS” CONTINUES!
The ALL-NEW X-MEN’s entry into “APOCALYPSE WARS” starts here! The ALL-NEW X-MEN are on a mission to step out of the shadows of their predecessors and write their own futures. And none are more determined to forge their own way than Evan Sabahnur, who is allegedly destined to one day become the genocidal villain APOCALYPSE. But now, by way of an unintentional intervention by his teammate Beast, Evan is brought face-to-face with Apocalypse himself…and also brought face-to-face with the question he’s been running from: Can you escape your destiny?
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

UNCANNY X-MEN #7
CULLEN BUNN • KEN LASHLEY (A)
Cover by Greg Land
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY Ryan Sook
“APOCALYPSE WARS” CONTINUES!
• Fearing their teammate Archangel has once more fallen under the sway of the villainous Apocalypse, Psylocke and Magneto have embarked on a mission to save his life.
• But they’re about to make a discovery that will make them doubt everything they thought they knew!
• Meanwhile, Sabretooth and M make a horrifying discovery of their own in the Morlock Tunnels beneath New York City…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #10
JEFF LEMIRE • HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)
AGE OF APOCALYPSE VARIANT COVER BY Reilly Brown
“APOCALYPSE WARS” continues here in “OMEGA WORLD”: Part 3!
• Trapped a thousand years in the future, the X-Men are literally mutantkind’s last hope!
• Not only has Apocalypse deemed the mutant race obselete, but he’s also claimed one of the X-Men as his newest Horseman.
• Can the X-Men survive a trip across the perilous landscape of Omega World to restore mutantkind’s future and rescue their teammate?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I’m getting the impression, from the covers, that I won’t be following this crossover that closely as Magik has yet to appear in these three solicts or on the covers. I imagine she will be in the background of at least two of these titles and really be in the issue of Extraordinary X-Men.

DEADPOOL & THE MERCS FOR MONEY #4 (OF 5)
CULLEN BUNN • SALVADOR ESPIN (A)
Cover by DECLAN SHALVEY
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
DESIGN VARIANT COVER BY MIKE HAWTHORNE
• Ever wanna see Deadpool and company on a long haul in a big rig?
• How about if it’s driven by an immortal, demonic trucker?
• I cannot hear your response — but I hope it was a yes.
• Because that happens in this issue!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

Another fun solict!

DEADPOOL: LAST DAYS OF MAGIC #1
GERRY DUGGAN • SCOTT KOBLISH (A)
COVER BY HUMBERTO RAMOS
VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
From the pages of Doctor Strange…the Empirikul are waging a war on magic with the goal of wiping the fantastical from the pages of existence. This concerns Deadpool, because some of his best friends are magic. As the Empirikul forces batter the defenses of the Monster Metropolis ruled by his demonic wife, Deadpool wades into battle alongside his most spell-casting-est friends. And you know the old saying “Nothing ever goes wrong in a war.” That’s a saying, right?
40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/PARENTAL ADVISORY…$4.99

Look at Doctor Strange’s comic getting a Deadpool oneshot! That seems impressive! Especially has Duggan is writing it.

X-MEN: WORST X-MAN EVER #4 (OF 5)
MAX BEMIS • MICHAEL WALSH (A/C)
• Bailey has never fit in with the X-Men…
• …but Magneto wants him for a very special mission.
• The X-citing X-mini from Say Anything frontman Max Bemis continues!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I have heard that the first few issues were fun but I haven’t received any and the character list on issue three hasn’t been updated. I guess the title has had some delays though, if issue four is just now being promoted.

BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS: CRIME NOIR OMNIBUS HC
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS & MARC ANDREYKO
Penciled by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Cover by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
A compendium of classic, character-driven drama written and drawn by the king of crime, Brian Michael Bendis! What brings David Goldfish, an enigmatic grifter with a heart of gold, back to his old haunts — where his old flame practically runs the city’s underbelly, and his ex-partner-in-crime is now a police detective? Who is the bounty hunter Jinx Alameda, and what treasure is she hunting? How will she get drawn into Eliot Ness’s real-life pursuit of one of America’s most notorious serial killers? Plus: Bendis draws from real life in a compelling exploration of the complex world of international intelligence! For fans of powerful, modern takes on pulp fiction and true-world crime stories, it doesn’t come any better than Bendis! Collecting AKA GOLDFISH: ACE, JACK, QUEEN, KING and JOKER; JINX #1-5; FIRE #1-2; and JINX: TORSO #1-6.
1152 PGS./Mature …$125.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90159-2
Trim size: oversized

Goldfish, Jinx and Torso are such great comics!

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 HC
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by ED MCGUINNESS, VALERIO SCHITI, DAVID LOPEZ & FRANK CHO
Cover by ALEX ROSS
The Guardians continue their cosmic odyssey in a volume filled with revelations and recriminations! Discover how Star-Lord, Drax and Thanos really escaped the Cancerverse — and learn the true fate of former Nova, Richard Rider! After Venom leads the team to an entire world teeming with alien symbiotes, will they ever trust Flash Thompson again? Then, the Guardians and the X-Men are caught in the pull of the Black Vortex! With the Slaughter Squad hot on their tails, the two groups have to find somewhere to stash their precious cargo…but will the temptation of the Vortex’s unknown power be too much for this band of misfits? Rocket leaps into action! Gamora is more deadly than ever! Ronan is deposed! And Peter Quill meets his destiny — but does he want it? Collecting GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2013) #18-27 and ANNUAL #1.
264 PGS./Rated T+ …$34.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90008-3
Trim size: oversized

Kitty Pryde is in this volume, so that should be all that needs to be written for the sale!

DEADPOOL MINIBUS HC (NEW PRINTING)
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Penciled by DALIBOR TALAJIC, MATTEO LOLLI, SALVA ESPIN
& RAMON ROSANAS
Cover by MICHAEL DEL MUNDO
Deadpool’s wildest adventures, collected in one blood-soaked volume! What if Deadpool decided to kill everyone and everything that makes up the Marvel Universe? What if he followed that up by slaughtering the most famous fictional characters in classic literature? And what if he finally took aim at the ultimate target: himself? You’d have the fan-favorite “Deadpool Killogy,” that’s what! But when Deadpool battles Deadpool, will he win or perish? Yes! Then: Deadpool wakes up from a food coma to find…the zombie apocalypse has occurred! Can the Merc with a Mouth avoid becoming the Merc in their Mouths?! And when Deadpool takes on Carnage, good-crazy battles bad-crazy, blood will flow — and Deadpool will literally go to pieces! Collecting DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #1-4, DEADPOOL KILLUSTRATED #1-4, DEADPOOL KILLS DEADPOOL #1-4, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEADPOOL #1-4 and DEADPOOL VS. CARNAGE #1-4.
480 PGS./Parental Advisory …$75.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90192-9
Trim size: oversized

Minibus is a clever turn of a phrase!

NEW X-MEN OMNIBUS HC (NEW PRINTING)
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Penciled by FRANK QUITELY, ETHAN VAN SCIVER, LEINIL FRANCIS YU, IGOR KORDEY, JOHN PAUL LEON, PHIL JIMENEZ, KERON GRANT, CHRIS BACHALO & MARC SILVESTRI
Cover by FRANK QUITELY
Grant Morrison’s wildly innovative X-Men saga returns! The X-Men, re-imagined with a new look and a new mission, must face weird new threats including evil twins, organ harvesters, sentient bacteria, rebellious mutant youth, power-enhancing street drugs and living weapons! Joined by wicked telepath Emma Frost and mysterious powerhouse Xorn, the X-Men go public — expanding Xavier’s school to train a new generation of mutants including the insect-like Angel, the bird-boy Beak, the living sandstorm Dust and eerie telepathic quintuplets the Stepford Cuckoos. And as secondary mutations alter familiar mutants, the team is tested when Emma Frost sets her seductive sights on Cyclops, the all-consuming Phoenix threatens to rise again, and shocking traitors plot the destruction of everything the X-Men have accomplished! Featuring the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, the X-Corporation, Fantomex and more! Collecting NEW X-MEN (2001) #114-154 and ANNUAL 2001
1120 PGS./Rated T+ …$125.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90196-7
Trim size: oversized

I own the first version of this. The stories are pretty good.

DEADPOOL MINIBUS 2 HC
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI, GERRY DUGGAN, PETER DAVID & CULLEN BUNN
Penciled by PEPE LARRAZ, MATTEO LOLLI, JACOPO CAMAGNI, SCOTT KOBLISH & NIK VIRELLA
Cover by SHANE DAVIS
Back up the minibus, it’s time for a second trip into the crazy world of the Deadpool limited series, where anything can happen — and probably will! Everything you knew about Deadpool and Cable was wrong — find out why in a time-hopping showdown with the original X-Force! When Wade crosses paths with the avenging archer Hawkeye, it’s merc against marksman! Sun Tzu? Sun who?! DEADPOOL’S ART OF WAR is the only masterwork of military strategy Loki needs to conquer Earth! What’s worse than a plague of the walking dead? A plague of walking Deadpools! And three decades after SECRET WARS, discover how Deadpool waged the most secretive warfare of all on the original Battleworld! Collecting DEADPOOL VS. X-FORCE #1-4, HAWKEYE VS. DEADPOOL #0-4, DEADPOOL’S ART OF WAR #1-4, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEADPOOL #1-4 and DEADPOOL’S SECRET SECRET WARS #1-4.
512 PGS./Parental Advisory …$59.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90197-4
Trim size: oversized

A tad awkward that this isn’t listed right after the previous one above. The other one is only a new printing but still, they should be right next to each other.

DOCTOR STRANGE OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by STAN LEE & STEVE DITKO with ROY THOMAS & DENNIS O’NEIL
Penciled by STEVE DITKO
Cover by ALEX ROSS
Direct Market Cover by STEVE DITKO
Vain, greedy and prideful, Dr. Stephen Strange was a world-renowned surgeon until a car accident crippled his hands. Broken and destitute, he journeyed to Tibet in search of a legendary healer. He found not a man of medicine, but the venerable Ancient One — and the path to the mystic arts! From Doctor Strange’s eerie house on a Greenwich Village corner, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko unleashed new dimensions and otherworldly terrors — stories that remain as influential today as they were on 1960s counter-culture. Now, Marvel is proud to offer this Omnibus collection of the complete Lee/Ditko Doctor Strange run! In one beautifully restored hardcover volume, experience the iconic first appearances of Baron Mordo, Eternity, Dormammu and the Mindless Ones, as well as Wong and the lovely Clea! Collecting material from STRANGE TALES (1951) #110-111 and #114-146, and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #2.
456 PGS./All Ages …$75.00
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9924-3
Trim size: oversized

DOCTOR STRANGE OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC VARIANT (DM ONLY)
456 PGS./All Ages …$75.00
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9925-0
Trim size: oversized

Ditko on Strange is mind-blowing! $75 is a bit much but not really for the high production value that I’m hoping this has. Is this all of the Ditko issues, I wonder?

MARVEL: THE HIP-HOP COVERS VOL. 1 HC
Watch creative worlds collide like never before in the ultimate fusion of hip-hop and the House of Ideas! With an introduction by award-winning author Ta-Nehisi Coates — a National Book Award winner, a recent MacArthur Genius Grant recipient and the writer of Marvel’s BLACK PANTHER — this stunning volume showcases 70 comic-book covers inspired by some of the most iconic albums in music history. Experience page after page of incredible artwork featuring the heroes of the All-New, All-Different Marvel Universe — from A-Force to the X-Men — by an unbelievable roster of talent including Adam Hughes, Brian Stelfreeze, Jim Cheung, Mike Del Mundo, Sanford Greene, Jenny Frison, Phil Noto, Mahmud Asrar, Damion Scott, Tim Bradstreet, Keron Grant and Ed Piskor. Their finished covers sit side-by-side with behind-the-scenes sketches, showing the process of rendering some of the most famous images in hip-hop, Marvel style. Straight outta comics — and on to your bookshelf!
168 PGS./Rated T+ …$34.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90233-9

How is this $35 for 70 pages of material? Shouldn’t that be somewhere between $15 and $25?

DRAX VOL. 1: THE GALAXY’S BEST DETECTIVE TPB
Written by CM PUNK & CULLEN BUNN
Penciled by SCOTT HEPBURN
Cover by SCOTT HEPBURN
You know him as the heavily tattooed muscle for everybody’s favorite spacefaring super-team, but what does Drax do when he’s not Guarding the Galaxy? Pursue his own bloodthirsty quest to achieve his destiny and slay Thanos, of course! Determined to find and kill the Titan once and for all, Drax is ready to take on the universe, one heavy hitter at a time! When Drax the Destroyer and Terrax the Tamer walk into a space cantina, it’s no joke. Then there’s the Temple of Foom! Fin Fang Foom, that is. But you know Drax’s motto: The bigger they are, the harder they die screaming. It’s Drax the Destroyer, rampaging through the cosmos on a starship named the Space Sucker. You just know, whatever happens, this one is gonna be epic! Collecting DRAX #1-5.
112 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9662-4

The first issue was pretty good and I’ve flipped through the other issues at Hastings.

STAR-LORD VOL. 1: FIRST FLIGHT TPB
Written by SAM HUMPHRIES
Penciled by JAVIER GARRÓN
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
The stirring story of Star-Lord begins here! Before Peter Quill traversed the universe, before he was a Guardian, before he was legendary, he was…an astronaut! Well, he wanted to be, at least. But as NASA’s biggest washout, it looked like the future Star-Lord was destined to stay grounded on Earth forever. Now, discover how Marvel’s scoundrel of the spaceways finally journeyed out into the galaxy, with a death to avenge! But getting off-world is one thing — surviving is another. When Yondu’s crew finds him, Peter will have to get on board with their pillaging lifestyle — yes, it’s a space pirate’s life for him! But will he be so merciless as to betray his species and steal the mysterious Asterion One? Witness the unlikely origins of a legendary hero! Collecting STAR-LORD (2015) #1-5.
112 PGS./Rated T …$15.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9624-2

The second trade should be spectacular!

BLACK KNIGHT: THE FALL OF DANE WHITMAN TPB
Written by FRANK TIERI
Penciled by RAFFAELE IENCO, LUCA PIZZARI & KEV WALKER
Cover by JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO
What do you do when it’s your destiny to be damned? For centuries, thats the grave question that has plagued each wielder of the Ebony Blade — and all of them ultimately succumbed to the sword’s curse. Now, as his own addiction to the weapon grows ever stronger, this shocking truth is laid bare to its current owner, the former Avenger Dane Whitman. Will this revelation be the reason he ends up in the strange and dangerous realm known as Weirdworld? Or are there other forces at work? When the Uncanny Avengers hunt him down, will Dane’s past actions finally catch up with him? And in the ensuing battle, will his stay in Weirdworld come to a premature end? It’s swords, sorcery and one man’s struggle to not lose his soul! Collecting BLACK KNIGHT (2015) #1-5 and material from ORIGINAL SINS #2.
120 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90031-1

This was the first ANAD Marvel title to be cancelled so I’m not sure how good this trade could be. I did like Frank Tieri being back at Marvel though.

COLOR YOUR OWN LITTLE MARVEL BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
Penciled by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Grab your pencils, crayons and pens, and go to town on Eisner Award-winner Skottie Young’s ever-adorable artwork! Loads of “Little Marvel” covers — together with indelible imagery featuring Rocket Raccoon, Young’s Avengers and plenty more — have been stripped down and rendered in crisp black-and-white, ready for your imagination to take over! Chaos or order, it’s up to you! You want an orange-and-purple Spidey? You got it! You’re turning Black Bolt pink? Fine! You like your Hulks green and red, only both at the same time? Polka-dot yourself out! But swapping Cap’s red, white and blues for yellow, indigo and ceruleans? Why, that’s downright un-American! Rediscover the pure, unadulterated joy of coloring — Marvel-style!
120 PGS./All Ages …$9.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9555-9

I may have to order this to see which covers are reprinted here. I bet they look great in black and white! $10 is worth the investment. Hastings leads me to believe that adult coloring books are selling like hot cakes as the store is lousy with them.

SPIDER-MAN: TOMBSTONE VOL. 1 TPB
Written by GERRY CONWAY
Penciled by SAL BUSCEMA & MARK BAGLEY
Cover by SAL BUSCEMA
Spider-Man’s life takes a grave turn! He’s about to encounter Tombstone — the highest-priced killer in the business — and the whispering hitman will make a big noise in the wall-crawler’s life. Who is Tombstone? Why is Joe Robertson investigating him? What devastating action will Tombstone take to put a stop to that? And how will it all end with Joe on trial?! Whatever the answers, the albino assassin is about to get Spider-Man’s attention — and the Punisher’s, too! Meanwhile, Boomerang makes his comeback, “Evolutionary War” breaks out, “Inferno” rages, and the Hobgoblin goes demonic. Carrion is spooky enough, but which face from Spidey’s past makes a ghoulish return? And when the wall-crawler faces Tarantula, whose side will Captain America choose? Collecting SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) #137-150 and material from ANNUAL #8.
368 PGS./Rated T …$34.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90064-9

Why are they printing this? If Sal Buscema is on art for Spectacular Spider-Man, then you know that you are in for a great read!

X-MEN: INFERNO VOL. 2 TPB
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT, LOUISE SIMONSON, TERRY AUSTIN, JULIANNA JONES
& MARK GRUENWALD
Penciled by MARC SILVESTRI, ALAN DAVIS,
WALTER SIMONSON, ROB LIEFELD, BRET BLEVINS,
MIKE VOSBURG, JON BOGDANOVE & JIM FERN
Cover by MARC SILVESTRI
As Manhattan burns, S’ym, N’astirh and the Goblin Queen fan the flames! But the manipulative Mister Sinister may be the most incendiary threat of all! Madelyne Pryor’s secrets are revealed, while Colossus and the New Mutants learn the truth about Illyana Rasputin! While X-Factor hunts Cyclops’s baby son, Excalibur is drawn into the fray! One by one, his teammates fall, but Longshot’s luck holds out — will anyone else survive to join him in a last stand against Sinister? Meanwhile, Power Pack and Cloak & Dagger struggle with demons of their own! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) #241-243, EXCALIBUR (1988) #6-7, X-FACTOR (1986) #37-40, NEW MUTANTS (1983) #73, CLOAK & DAGGER (1988) #4, POWER PACK (1984) #44 and material from X-FACTOR ANNUAL #4.
368 PGS./Rated T …$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9544-3

This should complete the Inferno epic. I would be tempted by a proper Omnibus.

. . .

So I’ll be buying –

Star Lord 7 $4
Guardians of Infinity 6 $5

Maybes –

Guardians of the Galaxy 8                  $4
All New X-Men 9                  $4
Uncanny X-Men 7                  $4
Extraordinary X-Men 10                  $4

Six comics for a total of $25 minus six dollars for my total of $19, which is pretty great! I was worried the crossover issues would add up but that’s still not too bad.

No new titles to add except for the Color Your Own Little Marvels by Skottie Young, that I will probably end up ordering and maybe buying.

Sovereign Seven 3

Posted by John Klein III on February 17, 2016

Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: Claremont, DC, Lockheed, Orzechowski - Tom, Robot 6, Sovereign Seven, Turner - Dwayne. Leave a comment

By Chris Claremont & Dwayne Turner

Inkers Jerome K. Moore & Dwayne Turner

Letters Task Force 7 + 1

Colorist Gloria Vasquez

Color Separations Olyoptics

Cover Dated December 1995

This is the first and only issue of Sovereign Seven that I have own, and read. Luckily, this is written by Chris Claremont, so the characters are clearly defined and properly introduced.

Thanks to this great website –

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2009/09/what-it-did-wasnt-pretty-a-look-back-at-sovereign-seven/

I know a lot more about this series than I did prior to reading this issue. This series was created by Claremont and Turner, but Claremont is the one that owns these characters. That’s right, DC gave Claremont his very own creator-owned title, that exists in the Proper DC Universe.

I own this issue, for only two panels but we will get to that in a moment.

So I was reading this issue, trying to figure out how we got here. I got to the letters page, and I find a very helpful Previously box. The team works at a bar called, Crossroads, which is also the Nexus of Realities, for the DC Universe. So that is how the cameo that got me to buy this issue, happens. The team’s leader, Cascade, was investigating the basement and was taken over by an entity, now she is known as – Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory. Since she is a Clarmeont character, Nike likes to dress in very revealing outfits, as she is a bad girl.

Inside front cover ad is for Bon Jovi’s These Days, featuring the single, This Aint’ A Love Song.

The issue opens with Finale, falling off a cliff. To be honest, this issue is a pretty big fight issue of the Seven versus Nike, well, the six versus Nike. Nike throws Rampart towards a door.

Elsewhere. On the other side of the door, is Maitresse and Morgrin. Maitresses is Cascade’s mother, and they have a very dicy relationship. Morgrin is Maitresse’s advisory and oldest friend.

Meanwhile. Network and Indigo are watching over Cascade’s body, as Nike is her spirit – twisted and given form. Network is the team’s telepath, so she establishes a mind link to the rest of the team. Cruiser is the team’s muscle, he has to eat to maintain his strength, and his life. Reflex, the team’s speedster, tries to assist Cruiser, as he holds the team’s lives in his hands.

Zelus, a tiny little guy, punches Network and she goes over the edge that Finale did, but she is able to catch herself on the ledge.

There is an ad for Batman Forever trading cards, so that film must be coming out. I’m pretty sure I had a full set of these cards.

Meanwhile, back at Crossroads. The two ladies who run the place, Violet and Pansey, are upset with the Sovereign Seven. When the Seven came to Earth, they wrecked the bar and are now working off the damage. It worked for Doc Hollywood. It is this scene that I finally get what Cruiser is doing. He is on the main level, and is holding onto the team. Reflex is fast but he is also a giant of a man, so he isn’t able to go down to the cavern slash basement. Which reminds me of Excalibur’s Lighthouse.

Referring to Excalibur, Claremont used the nature of Crossroads to sneak in fun cameos. This issue gives us Kitty Pryde, Illyana and Lockheed! Lockheed orders a latte! Illyana and Kitty are worried about their homework.

Here is a higher quality of the cameo –

Conal Savoy, a waiter, delivers sandwiches to Reflex who gives them to Cruiser.

The rest of the issue isn’t as great as the cameo but let’s keep going. Everything reads and looks fine but my interest isn’t really there.

Network saves Finale, who was still falling! As the team tries to reunite, Nike is still whacking away at the door. Finale is back, and wants a fight and tackles Finale.

There is a two page ad for The Adventures of Batman & Robin, on Sega’s two systems – Game Gear & Genesis. I had a Genesis but I don’t think I owned this game.

Finale loses the sword fight with Nike, but Nike doesn’t kill Finale. Instead, she uses the sword to breach the door.

The team tricks Nike into re-entering Cascade’s body. Cascade doesn’t want her mother freed, so she closes the door again. Her mother, Maitresse, is a great evil force, so it is a good thing that she is locked behind a door again. Cruiser pulls the team back up.

There is an ad for The Adventures of Batman & Robin, with four villain spotlight VHS Tapes, each for $9.95! The Riddler, Two-Face, Joker and even Robin got his own tape.

The Letters Page, there is a contest to name it (classic comics!) has letters from – Michael Sheridan of Merchanicville, NY, John D’Ugo of Staten Island, NY, Joe Kucharski III of Haddon Heights, NJ, Andy Boudreau of Rose Bud, AR and James Hannum of Pleasantville, TN.

We also learn that Task Force 7 + 1 is the umbrella credit for Tom Orzechowski, L. Lois Buhalis and Clem Robins.

Next issue, team keeps getting use to Earth. There is a killer on his way, with a grudge against one of the seven.

. . .

We go back to Excalibur with issue 96!

X-Tinction Agenda 2

Posted by John Klein III on February 16, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2015, Di Giandomenico, Guggenheim - Marc, Lockheed, Petit - Cory, Secret Wars 2015, Woodard - Nolan, X-Tinction Agenda. Leave a comment

Writer Marc Guggenheim

Artist Carmine Di Giandomenico

Colorist Nolan Woodard

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

X-City. Genosha Attack Minus Five Minutes. Rachel and Beast talking about their new recruits. Apparently, Beast has gone back in time and taken – Thunderbird, Wolverine and Banshee – all before their deaths in Giant Size X-Men, which is a weird place to state when they could have died. Beast wanted to prove that it was possible, which really seems to lower the stakes, for this series. If people die, then Beast can just bring them back. I get that the ones with the extinction virus, that wouldn’t be an option for them, as they would just die again, from the virus. It is an odd inclusion. Why even bring it up, it must be important later but it is teased here.

The attack happens, like it did last issue. We get Kitty and Lockheed(!) in the fight! It was a pretty good week for Lockheed, appearing in this title and in Years of Future Past 2.

Rictor and Meltdown do end up confronting each other.

Rachel summons her X-Men to the baseball field.

Poor Kitty AND Lockheed take a direct hit of Havok’s cosmic blast – but no one mentions Lockheed again. I hope the little guy is okay! Rogue tells Nightcrawler to get Kitty to the Infirmary.

X-City. Scott Summers Memorial Hospital. Kurt asks Dr. Reyes to heal Kitty. Dr. Reyes does a scan and reveals that Kitty has a punctured lung, pneumothorax and a ton of internal bleeding. Reyes needs Kurt to bring her, Triage. Which makes sense.

Rogue fastballs Wolverine, which he isn’t familiar with the term. If he’s been dead for the past twenty years of publication history, would the X-Men even have come up with the, fastball special? Wolverine being gone from all of those storylines, is too big of a deal to just add to this title. So many implications that will never be addressed – most likely.

Havok and his team have lost their quinjet and scramble to come up with a new plan. Rachel tries to harass Havok and Rahne but they get Wicked to have ghosts from Rachel’s past haunt her. Rachel freaks out from seeing the ghosts of her parents and grandparents.

Karma is on Havok’s side and starts taking control of peeps – first up, is Rogue. Rogue absorbs Rachel’s powers.

Kurt arrives, and I can’t find Kitty anywhere on the page so I’m not including it. Dr. Reyes confirms that Triage is who he says he is, which surprises him. What really surprises both Triage and Nightcrawler, is that Dr. Reyes knocks both of them out. Dr. Reyes is really . . . Mystique! dun dun DUN!

Havok tells Mystique that she has to come to them. Rogue starts taking out fools, and Karma also takes over Beast. Mystique arrives on the baseball (battle) field and Tempus (who is also on Team Havok) teleports everyone back to Genosha. Wolverine jumps into the portal energy so he is gone, as well.

Everyone who is back, feels pretty bad about having to attack their friends, but if they were real friends, they would have not forced their hands.

The Genengineer hooks Triage to the machines, to see how the best way to use his powers. But what he really wants, is to use Triage’s power to cure a virus but not the extinction virus – but the virus called, mutants!!! dun dun DUN!!!

Back at the X-City. Rachel and Beast are regrouping. Beast is worried as, if anyone was infected, they could have infected some of the mutants in the city.

Issue ends with Beast revealing there were no serious injuries. Even Kitty only has a concussion, so I’m going to assume Lockheed is okay too.

Next issue should deal with the team of volunteers that Rachel is going to use to go to Genosha and get their friends back – Bombshell, Graymalkin and Wolveine (also those Karma was controlling). So now the story is going to repeat some of the original X-Tinction Agenda, with the X-Men having to go to Genosha and get their friends back.

Will Kitty be on this new away team? Will we see Lockheed with a bandage on his wing? Time will tell!

Marvel Comics Presents 174

Posted by John Klein III on February 15, 2016

Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: Babcock - Jon, Dietz - Skip, Excalibur, Lockheed, Luque - Paco, Marvel Comics Database, Marvel Comics Presents, Posella - Ashley. Leave a comment

Excalibur

“Cross Time Critters”

Writer Skip Dietz

Art Paco Diaz Luque

Letters Jon Babcock

Colors Ashley Posella

Cover Dated Late February 1995

This was the second to last issue of Marvel Comics Presents, so that is why the stories were either solo adventures or second to last chapters. Though, I do suspect that they were getting rid of all of their inventory stories, as the series end was nearing.

This story takes place just before Excalibur 42, which came out in October 1991. This issue and Excalibur 86 came out in February 1995

http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Category:1995,_February

So this story was sitting in a vault for almost three and a half years.

The Technet have invaded the Excalibur Lighthouse base. The only one in the basement, is Lockheed.

Lockheed holds his own against Ferro.

I like Posella’s choice to darken Lockheed, right before he spits hot fire.

Lockheed also torches Gatecrasher’s hair. Which caused me to flip back a page but I still couldn’t tell what hair was burnt.

For this, Gatecrusher opens a portal and Lockheed and Devil Dinosaur trades places.

I’ve been a fan of Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy since I first read Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1998. Such a fun comic and the pair of Kirby characters, are even more fun.

The Technet have no defense against Devil Dinosaur as he makes very short work of them.

Moon Boy is more than happy to make friends with a smaller purple dragon. He doesn’t quite understand where his buddy went.

I wish the Technet were better introduced, so I didn’t have to keep looking up the characters. Ringtoss gets a ring around Devil Dinosaur’s mouth. Now Gatecrasher can switch the two reptiles again.

Lockheed gives away Kitty’s sunglasses so that Moon Boy will give him a delicious meal. Moon Boy thinks he now looks like Boom Boom, who he met during the Fallen Angels miniseries. Really glad that someone is keeping that miniseries alive . . . not!

I like that now that Moon Boy has Devil Dinosaur back, he now misses his new found friend.

Kitty phases into the basement and sees that Lockheed has taken out the Technet. They are getting back to their feet and she challenges them to another round. They leave, as they are pretty smart.

Kitty isn’t sure where Lockheed got rid of her sunglasses, but that’s okay. I wouldn’t mind an extra page of Kitty telling Kurt the adventure and him being proud of Lockheed.

This was a fun eight page story.

. . .

There are three other stories, in this issue.

Vengeance, that is on its penultimate chapter – though I can’t tell how many chapters it had

On the flip side, of this issue –

Lunatik, also on a penultimate chapter.

Nick Fury also had a story.

Excalibur 95

Posted by John Klein III on February 14, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Ellis, Excalibur, Gaffney - Suzanne, Harras - Bob, Pacheco, Rosas - Joe, Starkings - Richard, V-Day, Wiacek. Leave a comment

The Writer, Warren Ellis,

is pleased to announce that

Pencil Artist Carlos Pacheco and

Ink Artist Bob Wiacek

join him as Excalibur’s creative team

oh, and

Colorist Joe Rosas

Color Seps Malibu’s Hues

Lettering Richard Starkings and Comicraft

Editor Suzanne Gaffney

and

Our Fearless Leader, Bob Harris, is still here, too.

Cover Dated March 1996

Issue Title – Amplified Heart

We continue our tradition of spotlighting comics with the word “Heart” in their issue title, on Valentine’s Day.

Issue opens with Moira MacTaggert recapping the history of the X-Men.

Moira introduces the team, to us, the reader. Nightcrawler, Amanda Sefton, Shadowcat, Pete Wisdom, Wolfsbane, Meggan, Non-Captain Britain, lousy Colossus, Douglock and even, Rory Campbell.

This issue must take place after Age of Apocalypse. X-Man is now in the Proper Marvel Universe and we are getting a full page of recap of where he comes from. Apparently, once he got here, he fought Xavier and won. I imagine that Xavier didn’t appreciate this loss and will get his sweet revenge during the Onslaught storyline. After this, Nate Grey has come to Muir Island to learn more about himself.

Moira was speaking with Xavier. Nate has done a brief scan of her memories.

Muir Island, in the Dead of Night. Pete Wisdom, who has made a full recovery from the beating that Colossus gave him, three weeks ago. Colossus didn’t like his Katya dating a new man. Amazingly, Excalibur didn’t kick him off the island the minute the beating stopped. Kitty, here, is trying to explain what Colossus has been through. As they walk, the island starts to rumble.

At the same time, Kurt and Colossus are chatting. Colossus is sad, as no one is talking to him. For good reason, three weeks ago, he dman near killed Pete Wisdom. People should be unease around him. They are close enough to see the explosion, that caused the island to shake.

The Communications Suite. Nate looks like he wants to kill Moira!

Widom is under the impression that Moira has purposely blown up the Communications Suite, with one of her experiments. Pryde is phasing them through floors, to get there faster.

Brian and Meggan are woken up, with all of this ruckus.

Nate is screaming at Moira, thinking that she wants him dead by the time he is twenty-one. Moira, being the brave woman that she is, stands up to him. She doesn’t want him dead at twenty-one, his powers should kill be him by the time he is that age.

Doctor Rory Campbell is shaking, hugging his knees. He knows he is destined to turn into Ahab, the Mutant Hunter. So he is scared of doing anything, at this moment, that might lead him down that path. Wolfsbane is on her way to her adopted mother.

I’m not sure how much of this issue is a continuation of last issue, so I’m playing catch up. Nate read Spoor’s mind, which was a mistake as Spoor is a villain. One of these days, I’ll have to read these issues to figure out what Spoor’s deal is as I don’t recall him, at all.

Douglock is on his way to the Communications Suite.

Kurt is the first one there, so Nate has time to bury Kurt under some rubble. Pryde and Wisdom show up, Nate throws a mind bolt, which Pryde phases so Wisdom takes the direct hit. Wisdom’s ribs are broken, again.

Pryde asks Moira to come closer but Moira tells her to stay put. Moira, full of Scottish temper and sass, dares Nate to read her mind.

Colossus is running towards the Suite. Wolfsbane tells him to stop, as Moira needs to teach Nate Grey a lesson. Pryde is super impressed that this plan is working. Nate is like a superpowered teenager, that has never had any oversight.

Nate sees Colossus kill Moira’s son, Proteus. Which must have been terrible for Moira, to have her son’s killer on the team. Him drinking her juice and eating her eggs. I imagine she must have relived that moment, over and over again. Everything he joked or laugh at a joke, she must have been so annoyed.

Moira and Nate are able to finally talk, now that he has calmed down. Moira wants Nate to believe her. To help, Colossus offers to let Nate read his mind.

This sparks a Spartacus moment, as Pryde would allow him to read her mind, as well. As would Wisdom, Braddock and Meggan. Wisdom says it in his usual charm. Nate can’t handle all of these different minds, around him. Douglock, not reading the room, offers for Nate to read his cortex.

Campbell shows up, and offers Nate to read his very terrified mind. Colossus shows up, suggests Nate learn things the hard way as that worked for him.

Nate, probably just wanting to move on, finally opens his mind to everyone. He learns that Pryde is here as this is the only fight (Xavier’s dream) that is worth fighting for. Wisdom is there, as the job needs doing.

Morning over Muir. Issue ends with Nate flying away – more confused than he was at the beginning.

Swordstrokes, letters from – John Smith / Doug Tennant / Bobby Johnson / Craig Langrall / Emily Hu (so many people not wanting their addresses published) / Tom Johnson of Butlayo, MA / Vivien Collins of Colchester, Essex, England / Tina Kemp / Misha Syeed of San Diego, CA and Mark Hager of Ransomville, NY.

Next issue – Nightcrawler and Meggan get caught up in a deadly mid-air dogfight — while the villainous Mountjoy hooks up with London’s Hellfire Club — and Shinobi Shaw turns to Brian Braddock for help! Be there . .. or be sorry!

We’ve reviewed issue 96 already this month.

Bullpen Bulletin. X-Men publishes its 50th issue. Storm is getting her own miniseries. Colossus joins Excalibur.

Issues coming out in January –

Uncanny X-Men 330
Cable 29
Generation X 13
Wolverine 99
X-Factor 120
X-Man 13 – Could love be in the air for young Nate? Perhaps . . . but first he’s going to have to survive an encounter with Sinister’s cloned Marauders if he’s going to help the beautiful Threnody! By John Ostrander and Luke Ross!
Excalibur 95 – It has to happen sometime, The X-Man comes to Muir Island and meets Excalibur! But is he there as friend . . . or foe? By Warren Ellis and Carlos Pachaco!
X-Men 50
X-Force 52
Storm, 2 of 4
Askani’son, 2 of 4
Professor X and the X-Men 5

These numbers are very hard to read, 3s look like 8s, 5s look like 6s. Not great.

Inside back cover is for two USA Network shows, Weird Science – which I enjoyed and Campus Cops, which I don’t remember at all.

Excalibur 76

Posted by John Klein III on February 13, 2016

Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: Ashford - Richard, comicbookdb, DeFalco, Elliott - Randy, Excalibur, Hope You Survive The Experience, Lashley - Ken, Lockheed. Leave a comment

Words Richard Ashford

Pictures Ken Lashley & Randy Elliott

Letters Pat Brosseau

Colors Chris Mattys & Pat Garrahy

Edits Suzanne Gaffney

Bigger Edits Bob Harras

Biggest Edits Tom DeFalco

Cover Dated April 1994

Cover has a fun spin on the “Hope You Survive the Experience” tagline.

Inside front cover ad is for Naked Gun 33 1/3, the Final Insult. It was mostly okay.

Cottbus, Germany, 1994. This issue is super dated. It has been nearly a half of a century since the death of Hitler. Ten years after Orwell’s Big Brother failed to appear. Four years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Two years after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

People are fighting in the streets. This is all due to D’Spayre and his lady companion, Margali (Amanda Sefton’s mother, who is green at the moment). I feel like this is the fourth comic I own with D’Spayre, and as silly as his name is, I sort of dig him. He’s causing all types of despair (get it?) to the good Germans. We haven’t seen D’Spayre in these pages since Excalibur 35.

Excalibur 35

It has been 41 issues, so that’s so nearly three and a half years.

During the events of Issue 75, Nightcrawler got hurt. He’s in the hospital, amusing the nurses. Amanda shows up and asks for his help. They kiss, they get their superhero uniforms on, and they are out.

Actually, Nightcrawler is hurt from the events of X-Men Unlimited 4, that just came out. Two decades later, the worst kept secret is finally canon – Mystique is Nightcrawler’s mother.

There is a two page ad for the game I never got to play but wanted to, SO MUCH! – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tournament Fighters.

Amanda tells Kurt that their mother (Margali is Kurt’s adopted mother) is in trouble. Since Kurt believes Mystique is dead (she sacrificed herself so that he can save Rogue), he wants to protect his other mother. We do get a fun moment when Kurt realizes who is in his family tree now. Rogue, his adopted stepsister. Graydon Creed, his half brother. Sabretooth, is a technical stepfather. That’s up there with the Maximoff / Pym family tree that I’m such a huge fan of.

Since the last time Shadowcat saw Nightcrawler, he was jumping into a jet and flying to America – so she has been waiting for any sign that he is okay. Look at that sweet looking Lockheed, by Lashley & Elliott. His shade of purple is pretty nice as well, good job Matthys & Garrahy! Makes him look a little grim.

Look, also, at how sweet Lockheed is! He’s putting a blanket over his best friend! That guy is the best!

Kitty has been through an emotional roller coaster. Illyana has died, Rachel is lost in the timestream, Captain Britain is back but with a few screws loose, thus Meggan has received a power upgrade as he has, as well.

Carmen Pryde calls his daughter but she sleeps through his message. Poor Carmen, doesn’t look so good there. He tells her that he loves her, like a good father. Kitty mutters that she loves him too, which wakes her up.

I’m not really sure where this story is going.

http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=10329

We don’t see him again until Excalibur 14 (the Magneto / Xavier not-so-buddy book) and that’s only in a flashback that we learn that Xavier and Mr. Pryde were old war buddies. That’s in 2005, so that is 11 years later. Mekanix, in 2002, is when we learn he dies in the Genosha genocide, New X-Men 115. Which I just now realized that I don’t own and should add it, just for that connection.

Kitty tries to answer the phone. In her rush, she phases through the computer, causing it to go haywire. We’ll have to see if this subplot ever comes up again. Not during this month, but maybe some other day.

Kitty hears a sound and goes to investigate it.

In the MedLab, Dr. Rory Campbell is trying to hold Brian back. Brian is calling himself, Britanic, and wants to leave. Rory notes that Brian has some clear memory issues. Since this is only the next issue, the scientists don’t know enough about his time spent in the timestream, to allow him to travel about.

Britanic is being summoned and he wants to go.

Kitty and Meggan agree to follow, to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself or anything else.

Poor Campbell learned, last issue, that he will one day turn into Ahab, of the Days of Future Past. Which is pretty heady. Now knowing that, he is unsure of any moves that he should make, as it may trigger that future becoming a reality. Why he just doesn’t leave and spend no time with mutants, is beyond me.

Issue ends with Kurt and Amanda, in Germany. They start trying to quiet the riots. Kurt takes a brick to the head! Proving that he is a mighty X-Man! Kurt goes down and D’spayre loves it! We’ll have to find out what happens, some other time.

On Sale, Then –

Beavis & Butthead 3
Doom 2099 17
Excalibur 77 – Concluding Nightcrawler’s origin! With Captain Britain
Ghost Rider 2099 1 – which is also spotlighted in the Hype Box
GI Joe 148
Marvel Age 136
Sabretooth Classics 1
What If 61 – Spidey flips out when the unthinkable happens to Mary Jane
X-Factor Annual 9 – Professor X finds there’s no safe place to hide from Haven
X-Men 32 – Are you hungry for Revanche? Read this issue!
X-Men 2099 8 – Say — that couldn’t be the original X-Men in this issue — could it?

Sword Strokes, letters from – Courtney Knapton of Manchester, CT / Tue Sorenson c/o Waage of Denmark / Robert Smith / Stephen Strawn of Little Rock, AR / Chris Stempie of Canada / Dharma Aymara Arthur of Panama City, FL and Joey Marchese of Union, NJ.

Next issue – Conclusion of the D’Spayre storyline, the beginning of The Douglock Chronicles and Zero from X-Force and the first Deadpool Limited Series.

. . .

We’re taking a break from Excalibur to review Marvel Comics Presents 174 and DC’s Sovereign Seven 3. Then we come back around for Excalibur 96 – Lockheed is missing from nearly 25 issues, that’s two years! Marvel must have gotten so many letters!

Cable and Deadpool 30

Posted by John Klein III on February 12, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Cable and Deadpool, Civil War, Deadpool, Gotham, Janson - Klaus, Johnson - Staz, Nicieza, Sharpe - Dave. Leave a comment

Writer Fabian Nicieza

Penciler Staz Johnson

Inker Klaus Janson

Colorist Gotham

Letterer Dave Sharpe

Cover Dated September 2006

A slight preview of my few Civil War tie-ins that I own that I’ll be reviewing in May. This is the Cable & Deadpool tie-in issue to the big event of 2006.

Fun recap of the American Civil War. Marvel’s Civil War gets recapped with one sentence, that the New Warriors caused an explosion at a school in Stamford and now heroes are fighting each other. Deadpool mentions how Spider-Man’s identity became known and how that will screw with his continuity for years. I feel like they are still dealing with the fallout of that, in a way.

Deadpool is Pro-Registration. His job, during the Civil War, is to get others to register – by fighting them, of course.

Deadpool decides to go after the Great Lakes Champions (at this point in time). Deadpool is using his first person narration boxes but the GLC can hear him, which confuses him. Present are Mister Immortal, Big Bertha, Flatman and Doorman. Flatman is proud how they won the poker game, to earn the right to use the Champions name.

Deadpool beheads Mister Immortal. Big Bertha brings Deadpool inside her folds, which he likes. Which disgusts her, as she doesn’t care for chubby chasers. She’s not happy with people finding her skinny form attractive or her plus size form – so I’m not sure what she wants. People to like her for herself, which is a reasonable request.

Before he lost his head, Mister Immortal tries to explain to Deadpool, that they have registered already.

Deadpool is about to lose this fight and sets a concussion grenade off. Squirrel Girl shows up and hands him a decisive victory – in classic Squirrel Girl fashion.

A fun moment with the police, who don’t know what to do as the Great Lakes Champions have never brought anyone to the Milwaukee Police Station before. They don’t have protocols in place, not even jokingly.

Deadpool quickly tries to explain that he shouldn’t be processed – like criminal scum. He was trying to get the GLC to register. The caption informs the merc with a mouth that the heroes are already registered. As soon as the Superhuman Registration Act was passed, the team were first in line to sign.

Mister Immortal, while Deadpool is feeling pretty down, tries to make things worst. Pointing out how Deadpool isn’t either an X-Man or a mutant. Deadpool jokes about how he could know that, unless he owns the trading card set. This embarrasses Mister Immortal, as he does own the trading card set. I had a few of those Fleer cards myself.

Daily Bugle.
New Number Ones –
Annihilation 1 of 8
Heroes for Hire 1
Agents of Atlas 1 of 6
Claws 1 of 3
New Arcs –
Sensational Spider-Man 29
Runaways 19
X-Factor 10
Black Panther 19

Mister Immortal tries to make it less embarrassing, stating that the cards are not in mylar or anything. He likes to flip the cards. Deadpool uses that comment to state how he would like to flip Shadowcat – hence why I own this issue.

Squirrel Girl, who I really enjoy, protects Kitty’s reputation and tells him to shut his evil mouth! Good for you, Doreen!

Agent Hafner, with the Commission of Superhuman Activities. He sort of brags about how his jurisdiction covers – Wisconsin (where they are now), Minnesota and the Dakotas. This forces Deadpool to comment about how busy Hafner must be.

Hafner enlists Deadpool to track down non-registered heroes.

Manhattan, Eleven Hours Later. Cable confronts Deadpool, they are now on opposite sides of the war. I do like Cable joking with Deadpool that his singing is going to get him kicked off of American Idol – I imagine that is the reality show Cable is referencing.

This catches Deadpool by surprised, he was given a list but he has lost it. He found it and doesn’t want to fight Captain America or Luke Cage. Well, he’s willing to fight Cage, if he wears his classic yellow silk shirt. I didn’t even know those shirts were silk! So soft and smooth!

Deadpool scans the list for any big-chested women, but is happy to see that the nimble Young Avengers are on the list. A tad odd that the list is on paper and not on a screen, of some sort. I imagine, those are the hard noes that will not be registering and are fully on Cap’s side.

I do like how polite the two’s disagreement with the sides are. They are not going to actually fight each other so they make quips and continue their way. Though Deadpool is under the impression that Cable is just above this fight so he isn’t on any side.

Cable is meeting with Captain America, to offer asylum on Cable’s island country of Providence. Or was it a giant ship? Maybe a combination? I believe I recall it flew at some point. I do like Cable and Captain America chatting, the two have so much in common. Soldiers from different eras, and all that.

Cable is trying to explain the big picture to Cap. Cap is thinking in terms of months and years but Cable is talking about how this is merely the groundwork for decades and centuries. Superhumans will be used as a military force, which the Initiative was sort of used for. Cable also mentions how he is the President Pro Tem of Rumekistan, which I do remember that. This title was pretty great, while it was coming out. Then that whole Cable dying in Second Coming sort of forced this title to become a Deadpool Team-Up book, which was fun in its own way.

Cap and Cable exchange some dry humor. Cable repeats that Cap will lose and renews his offer. He’s willing to give Cap a promotion. Captain America jokes about being “Captain World” but Cable was thinking more along the lines of “Captain Overview.” These two are pretty old.

Deadpool was watching this entire scene. He knew whose side Cable would fall on. Deadpool has decided to take on Daredevil. Now he has to figure out how to get to Long Island.

Long Island, morning. He stole a taxi. He thinks his narration boxes are working again but a lady on the street informs him that he is talking aloud.

Deadpool and Daredevil have a fun four page fight. Lots of red on these pages.

There is a full page ad for the Ultimate Clone Saga, starting in Ultimate Spider-Man 97, by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley.

Deadpool and Daredevil do get to trade their philosophy about what registration means to them, which is nice.

In the next issue, if I remember correctly, Deadpool realizes that this Daredevil is really Danny Rand – Iron Fist! The second to last page of the issue, is a repeat (on purpose) of a previous issue’s fight with the two of them, but with Iron Fist proper. It is a very clever artist hint. Deadpool is starting to realize it but is kicked in the head before he can reveal it out loud. So he is Danny Rand, pretending to be Daredevil, pretending to be a civil engineer as Captain America hooked his main allies with secret secret identities. Cable hinted that these secret identities were already known, before they were taken on, by Iron Man’s side.

I believe that readers of Daredevil’s own title or even Civil War proper, would have known about the whole Iron Fist as Daredevil reveal.

Deadpool comes to and says everyone’s secret cover identities as he sees – Captain America, Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), Hulkling, Wiccan, Hercules and Black Goliath. Deadpool, in another fun moment, states how the Young Avengers are nubile. Goes as far to say that Hulking and Wiccan are looking especially nubile.

Deadpool realizes that, with a Sweet Chrstmas, (another fine hint), that he is about to get a wuppin’!

The Next Issue caption tag states – Deadpool gets a Whuppin’! so it is officially going to happen! Such a fun issue!

Dear Deadpool, letters from – Tammy Suto of Rayland, Ohio / Jason / Joshua Shepard / Dannyboy / Fans from Utopia Comics in Holt, Michigan. I do like Deadpool answering the questions.

Next Issue, Deadpool informs us – I take on more renegade heroes and face off against my own pal, Cable! Whose butt will be kicked first? Find out int he second of three Civil War issues, penciled by Snazzy Staz Johnson, inked by Klaus “in da house” Janson and with a cover by Ace Amanda Connor!

It is a pretty good arc, if you ever want to track it down.

Excalibur 74

Posted by John Klein III on February 11, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Ashford - Richard, Brosseau - Pat, Churchill - Ian, DeFalco, Excalibur, Lockheed. Leave a comment

Title – In The Name Of Love

Written with Love by Richard Ashford

Drawn with Passion by Ian Churchill

Inked with Adoration by Harry Candelario, Cam Smith and Randy Elliott

Lettered with Affection by Pat Brosseau

Colored with Devotion by Garrahy and Matthys

Grouply Edited with Appreciation by Bob Harris

Chiefly Edited with Concern by Tom DeFalco

Cover Dated February 1994

Issue opens with Rachel feeling bad about Brian being stuck in the timestream. He keeps reaching out to her, and she feels the timestream pulling at her. She has the idea that the solution is to swap places with him but she doesn’t want to give up the life she has grown accustom to. What she should be giving up his this hairstyle she is sporting. It looks like Churchill has given her the look of the back of her head being shaved but with some bangs up top with long hair flowing from the base of her head. It looks so silly.

Meanwhile, Moira and Rory Campbell are monitoring Meggan, who is even further into her comastose phase. Shadowcat is also in the room, feeling bad. Meggan also looks more like a demon, she is utterly lost.

Rachel comes into the room, Campbell can tell that there is some awkward tension between Meggan and Rachel – he decides that he will learn more about this.

Poor Kitty is going through a lot with Illyana’s recent death and having to betray Colossus, so that the X-Men could fix his mental state – so now he can convert back to his human form.

Meanwhile, Kurt is checking in on Spoor, a villain with a poisonous power. Spoor wants Kurt to kill him, as he will be killing more. I don’t recall this story, at all.

Outside, Rachel is lost in a thought, when Rory shows up. She confides in him about her suspicious about Brian.

Some Titles that were on sale, this week –

Doom 2009 14
Excalibur 74 – Meet the Russian version of the Sentinels
Gambit 3 of 4 – Gambit goes to Paris!
GI Joe 145
Marvel Age 133 – X-Men, War Machine and Daredevil
NFL Pro Action 1
What If 58 – What if the Punisher killed Spider-Man?
X-Men 29 – Revanche, Gambit and Sabretooth team up to rescue the X-Men
X-Men 2099 5 – The X-Men go to New York to face Avstarr!

Meanwile, Mister Sinister (from the cover) is talking to the Gamemaster. These are pretty missable three pages – I have never been much of a Sinister fan. Siena Blaze, who is in the room with Sinister, was sent on a mission to get some sweet DNA from Moira’s son. She failed with that task but she did get some of Rachel’s blood.

Back with Rachel, she is thinking about Scott and Jean’s upcoming wedding.

Kurt is in his room, thinking about Cerise as well as slightly teasing the upcoming X-Men Unlimited 4 – as he wants to confront Mystique about his origins. Which I can’t believe that, in 1994, we didn’t know that Mystique is Nightcrawler’s mother.

Since we are catching up with characters, we peak in with Kitty and Lockheed. Kitty is sad that Illyana isn’t going to be able to see Jean and Scott’s wedding. Lockheed is poking his head in the boxes. Excalibur is still new to Muir Isle so she hasn’t unpacked yet. She also hasn’t unpacked from her trip to Westchester. Which is awkward timing, that she went for Illyana’s funeral and will have to go back to the wedding but it isn’t like she doesn’t have access to a private plane. It also is helpful that she doesn’t have to answer to a boss, for the additional time off.

Churchill draws a pretty nice Lockheed.

In Kitty’s bag, the bamf doll that she loaned to Jubilee is back in her bag. Jubilee didn’t need it, after all.

Kitty is feeling bad for her betrayal of Colossus but it was for his own good. Plus, he will get over it.

Back in the MedLab, Meggan grabs Rachel by her throat – surprising everyone. Meggan knows that it is Rachel who is keeping her separate from her lover, Brian.

Rory injects Meggan with a drug, to calm her. Rachel is mad, as he shouldn’t have interfered.

Sadly, Lockheed isn’t in the big 75th issue, so the next issue we will review is Excalibur 76.

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