Shadow and Flame with Magik

Ultimate Spider-Man 93

Posted by John Klein III on February 27, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Bagley, Bendis, Deadpool, Isanove, Miki - Danny, Petit - Cory, Ultimate, Ultimate Spider-Man. Leave a comment

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Penciler Mark Bagley

Inker Danny Miki

Colorist Richard Isanove

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Dated June 2006

Deadpool, Part Three of Four

Unlike the previous two issues, we finally get Deadpool and Shadowcat on the same page – so finally, Ultimate Deadpool is on the S&FwM!

The issue opens with Augustus Beezer, the Ryan Seacrest of Krakoa. He’s providing even more story points from Ultimate X-Men’s Most Dangerous Game (issues 54 – 57). I really should review those issues, one of these days.

Twelve different countries are broadcasting this race crime.

As if, in anticipation, Bendis has Ultimate Deadpool’s caption boxes be in yellow text.

Deadpool name checks, the Reavers. Deadpool is going to give beers to the one who collects the most mutant heads. Spider-Man starts a running thread of stating that he isn’t a mutant.

Cyclops tells the X-Men to go for higher ground.

On the bottom of the pages, we get a pre-taped Deadpool interview. I’m surprised Bendis had Deadpool be super racist. Probably explains why Ultimate Deadpool only appears in Ultimate Secrets 1 as well as Deadpool Kills Deadpool 4.

The X-Men didn’t retreat fast enough for Cyclops’ taste, so he tells them again to not fight.

Nightcrawler decides he won’t give in to Deadpool’s hate but he gets chocked out. Spider-Man kicks Deadpool to his face and that frees Nightcrawler.

We see that Spider-Man and Shadowcat run off in the same direction.

Beezer can’t believe that Spider-Man is on the island. Deadpool doesn’t know much about him, so he states how he came across Spider-Man at the mansion.

Cameras have caught up to Spider-Man and Shadowcat. She is about to say his real name but he stops her. He suspects there are cameras and microphones, everywhere. She’s worried that he’s going to break up with her, over this. She has no control here, and he knows that. Plus, one doesn’t break up with Kitty for foolish reasons. He’s worried she will break up with him, as he is going to be grounded for a long time. Which I like, as she come have come off as a typical girl but since he’s talking about her breaking up with him – they are on the same level.

Shadowcat realizes the only person she hasn’t seen yet, is Xavier.

Spider-sense goes off and Spider-Man gets himself and Shadowcat out of there, before the explosions can get them.

We catch up with Cyclops, as Deadpool straight cold knocks him out, with a big ol’ punch to the face!

A helicopter has Angel in their sights but Nightcrawler teleports into the helicopter, punching the pilots. Kurt finds a camera angle and tells the X-Men he has a helicopter. Which is odd, as none of the X-Men would be in front of a television set.

There is a two page ad for Marvel Legends action figures. The Build-A-Mojo is featured, sadly, no X-Babies – which I was really looking forward to buying Shadowkitty.

Deadpool has changed his mission, he really only wants to kill Spider-Man now. Beezer and the production team show some clips of who Spider-Man is. They do confirm that Spider-Man and Shadowcat are dating. So there goes the plan from Part One, wherein Kitty was hoping to date Peter Parker.

Spider-Man and Shadowcat are heading towards the mansion. On the way, Spider-Man spots a camera and starts freaking out. He wants one of the viewers to call Nick Fury or the Kingpin, anyone who can do something about this. Shadowcat tells him to calm down, as freaking out is exactly what production wants.

Spider-Man makes the mistake of repeating that he isn’t a mutant, to which Shadowcat tells him to stop saying that. She doesn’t like how that belittles her and her people. Spider-Man doesn’t like that Shadowcat starts fighting with him over this. She’s totally in the right, though.

Shadowcat holds Spider-Man and phases the two of them, through all of the gun fire. Since they were so close to production, so they feel the explosions.

Storm arrives on the scene, and whips up a tornado. Spider-Man gets swept up and punches a camera.

Since Cyclops is knocked out, the X-Men decide that they can fight the Reavers and they do so in uncanny style!

Deadpool calls Shadowcat, a mutant shank, which sends Spider-Man off the deep end. He starts straight wailing on Deadpool and rips off his mask.

Issue ends with the awesome reveal that Deadpool is really . . . Professor Xavier! Look at that face Kitty is making!

Excalibur 102

Posted by John Klein III on February 26, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Ellis, Excalibur, Haynes - Rob, Jones - Casey, Koblish, Lenshoek - Ariane, Lockheed. Leave a comment

Writer Warren Ellis

Penciler Casey Jones

Inkers Rob Haynes / Jason Martin / Scott Koblish

Letters RS & Comicraft

Colors Ariane Lenshoek

Enhancements Malibu

Cover Dated October 1996

Look at Lockheed, maybe his second cover of this spotlight month? It is, as he is on the back cover of issue 100. Not too bad.

This is the Post-Onslaught issue. The news reports that – The Fantastic Four, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and other members of the Avengers (those poor no-namers!) – are all presumed dead. The news makes a big point of stating that the X-Men have been untouched. ooof! That is going to play well to the flatscans’ fears!

Kurt can’t believe that these heroes are gone and Moira repeats, that the world needs Excalibur, more than ever now.

The Chalk & Cheese. Pryde and Wisdom’s favorite place to go. Wisdom can’t believe that the Prime Minister is going back to only giving Excalibur “some credit” to the events of issue 100. Now that the world may be angry at mutants, he doesn’t want to come off pro-mutant. Or “pro-racism” as I like to think of it. The Labour Leader, on the other hand, is all for Excalibur – which is nice. Kitty isn’t quite a fan of being a political football.

Kitty isn’t comfortable with having the likes of Cyclops and Wolverine being outlaws and her being beloved by the press. Wisdom (I imagine speaking for Ellis, who I read is a lot like him – sort of like John Constantine – who Wisdom is the Marvel counterpart of) goes off about how Cable’s gun is the size of him and that comes off pretty scary. Wisdom goes on to repeat one of the more famous lines about the X-Men – one always knows where they have been, as they leave a trail of destruction, in their wake.

Pryde tries to make the conversation have a lighter tone by pointing out how horrible Wisdom eats, like a man who never knows when his next meal will be or if he will have one.

Muir Island Station. Brian is telling Meggan of a time where he fought beside Captain America. As if Meggan doesn’t recall Excalibur 59 & 60! But Brian’s tale is from before those issues. Brian talks about how America loved Captain America more so than how Britain loved him, as Captain Britain. This doesn’t hurt Brian, as the two countries are vastly different, especially with how they treat their heroes. Meggan hopes that works in the other direction. That Britain will not hate mutants, as much as Americans do. Meggan changes the topic and wants to set a date for their wedding. Which is now, t-minus 23 issues – not like the characters know that.

There is an ad for the film “Alaska” which sounds up my ally. “A missing father. A desperate search. An unforgettable adventure.” A very young Thora Birch (I assume) is in it, as is Charlton Heston! Unfortunately, it isn’t on Netflix. shoot!

On Muir Island. Moira has agreed to release her prisoner to Alistaire. The agency he is now the director of, is called “The Department” – I’m disappointed by the lack of a better title. That mutant is Spoor, and he is very loud. Rory should have stayed away from that fella! He would have had his leg still!

A German Countryside. Amanda has teleported herself, Colossus and Wolfsbane. Amanda is searching for her mother, Margali, and suspects that she returned home. Amanda is going to go inside the house but Wolfsbane takes the lead, as Kurt wants Amanda to stay safe. Once Wolfsbane gets to the door, a siren goes off.

Back at the bar, Wisdom and Pryde are about to leave. As they head outside, they are confronted by four goons. This is such a great scene, as the couple has some real fun banter between each other as they don’t take the threat seriously – as they shouldn’t. Wisdom whispers that Pryde shouldn’t kill any of them. They beat the fools, quick and easy! Wisdom tells Pryde to watch out, as a guy comes from behind her. She is fully aware of that guy, as she’s more of a professional than he is! The two just haven’t worked together, that much.

Pryde goes as far as to say that these fools are a mere workout, and Wisdom only likes to see her get sweaty. She wouldn’t mind some applause and general worshiping. I do like how neither of them needed their powers.

Making this comic hard to read, is two trading cards, one of Reed Richards, drawn by Jim Lee. The other is an Overpower playing card.

The two go to the remaining still conscious guy, for some answers. He is with the American government, he has a message that they are no longer welcome in America. The two head back to Muir Island, they gag him and pretend he is the last prisoner that Alistaire needs. Moira goes along with it, claiming his name is Crimson Goatgouger.

Bullpen Bulletins. Ghost Rider is getting a new costume. Adam Kubert gets a spotlight. There is an Avengers : The Legend, one shot coming out – celebrating 30 years of their history. Not sure why Fantastic Four didn’t get this type of memorial issue.

Checklist for August 28 –

2099 : World of Tomorrow 2
Avengers : The Legend 1
Iron Fist 2 of 2
Marvel Fanfare 2
Silver Surfer 121
Spectacular Spider-Man 239
Venom : The Hunger 3
Wolverine 106
Wolverine ’96
X-Force 59
X-Force / Youngblood
X-Men : Pryde & Wisdom 2 of 3 – Kitty Pryde and Peter Wisdom’s adventure of epic proportations continues! By Warren Ellis and Terry Dodson!
X-Men vs. Brood Day of Wraith 2 of 2

Wisdom claims his power is that he controls people with this voice and he breaths through his fingers. Kitty leaves a note for Alistaire, to let the guy loose, after a bit. Pryde and Wisdom start cracking up, once the plane departs.

What is Colossus doing, putting on his gauntlets while everyone else is relaxing?

Casey likes to draw Lockheed as if he is the size of a dog! I wish we got more scenes of Moira and Kitty together, I feel like they barely talk to each other.

Moira reveals that X-Factor’s current mission is to bring in Xavier. Everyone gets sad, but team morale booster – Pete Wisdom – gets everyone out of the dumps and they head off to a pub, as the issue ends.

SwordStrokes, letters from – Sean Williamson of Freeland, MI and Matt Bib of New Castle, DE.

Next Month : Strange Locales! Surprising Guest Stars!! and a Final Farewell (*sniff sniff*) from Warren Eliis & Carlos Pacheco!!! Not to be messed!!!!

We will be skipping that issue and going to our last issue of Lockheed Month . . . Excalibur 113.

We get preview pages from Heroes Reborn : Fantastic Four and Captain America.

Inside back cover ad is for TNBC shows – Saved by the Bell : The New Class, Hang Time, California Dreams and NBA Inside Stuff. Whenever NBA Inside Stuff came on, I knew it was time to turn off the television and get something to eat.

Excalibur 101

Posted by John Klein III on February 25, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Ellis, Excalibur, Jones - Casey, Lenshoek - Ariane, Lockheed. Leave a comment

Writer Warren Ellis

Artist / Storyteller Casey Jones

Inker Tom Simmons

Letters Richard Starkings & Comicraft

Colors Ariane Lenshoek

Enchancement Malibu

Cover Dated September 1996

This is one of those great down time issues, after a big storyline.

Muir Island, Late Morning. Moira has gone back to the crypt and Xavier had recorded a special message, once she was alone in the room. Did he feel super silly making these videos? His video message is essentially that Moira is now the keeper of the dream, also all of his mutant research.

Rory Campbell calls Moira, Excalibur is landing. Moira heads out, to greet them. Rahne is holding Douglock. Meggan is holding Brian. Colossus is carrying Wisdom from his belt, with Shadowcat enjoying this and Wisdom hating it. Kurt is in front of everyone. Wisdom, apparently, hurt his leg but I didn’t notice that, last issue. Moira is overly concern with Brian being shot and that something is clearly wrong with Wisdom’s leg. Kurt asks her to calm down and Moira breaks down – Xavier has gone insane and he is trying to kill all of the American superheroes, including the X-Men.

Everyone wants to get back on the plane and get to America. Moira tells them that they are not going, they are exhausted and wounded – they will be no help to the America teams. Which must have been really awkward, for Ellis, to write his team out of the big crossover. Though, I have to wonder, why he didn’t just set 101 right after the battle in Central Park, instead of writing it as if they could have gone to help but chose to just sit it out because their lady doctor friend told them they couldn’t go.

In a lighter moment, Moira puts her jacket over Douglock, to cover him up as he is only wearing pants.

Excalibur is watching the news and this is how we get caught up on what is happening, in the main event. An EMP is set off, shutting down all electronics on the East Coast. Another reason why Excalibur can’t go, as they would be flying in blind. I like how one newscast shows the logos of the X-Men (X), Fantastic Four (4) and the Avengers (A). Good thing that they have iconography for such purposes. The last newscast implies that a mutant of Magneto level portions may behind the EMP, so one station is already spinning the hate / fear mutant manifesto.

Brian wants to take the Moonlight Flint, as it is a medical vessel and could be of use. Kitty is in plain shock of the situation. Kurt, in all of the excitement of issue 100, hasn’t had a chance to explain what happened to the Flint – it is in the ocean, at the moment. This is fun as Kitty chooses this moment to go get coffee. Meggan sticks around, as she likes Brian’s big Captain Britain voice. Kurt tries to explain what happen.

Actually the Flint only has one engine so it couldn’t make the trip in a timely matter. Also, they couldn’t put the supplies in the Midnight Runner, as there wouldn’t be room for the team.

Meggan takes Brian to the MedLab, so Moira can treat his bullet caused wounds. Cut to the MedLab, and we see that Wisdom’s left leg is torn up. He has a lot of scratches, caused by Scratch. Wisdom explains to Moira and Rory (the future Ahab) that Black Air has been shut down.

Kitty actually did go for some coffee and Colossus has joined her. Colossus is upset, as he spoke harshly to Xavier, when they spoke last. Kitty can relate, as before he showed up on Muir Island – she had tricked him to come to her, so that they could fix his mental trauma. She asks if Colossus is happy here. He’s pretty happy, they saved London and he enjoys seeing Pryde happy with Wisdom. He’s heard them “laugh at night” which seems like code. He recognizes that Kitty is in an adult relationship, something these two never had together. This scene ends on a fun note, with Colossus promising to note beat up anymore of her boyfriends. A promise he has kept, thus far. Whatever happened to this Ellis? He went and gone hard science fiction writer, or something.

Everyone is pairing off, as Rahne and Douglock are walking around the island. Douglock is wearing one of Wisdom’s suits, of which he has fifteen sets of the same outfit. Wisdom has also promised to teach Douglock how to – smoke, drink and say disgusting things. Rahne accepts this, with a nice smile. Rahne recognizes that Douglock is his own person now – no longer a techno-version of Doug Ramsey but also not another member of the Phalanx.

Rory Campbell is in his (borrowed) office. He is reflecting on the glimpse of the future that he saw, wherein he will become Ahab. Rory has already lost his leg, trying to confront his fear of mutants. He wonders if this Onslaught business will further his fear of mutants, and fear leads to hatred which leads to the dark side. Alistaire is going to become the director of whatever comes of WHO / Black Air / Related Paranormal Activities – he offers Rory a position. Rory accepts, as this will only help mutants and his relationship with them.

Moira, in the MedLab, is happy – she may be on the brink of a breakthrough with her Legacy Virus – which is slowly killing her.

Kurt puts his shirt on, in front of Amanda. He, lightly, confronts her about not telling him about her mother. Amanda was trying to fix the mess she caused. They don’t know where Margali (I always want to spell it, Magrali – is that just me?) is. I really do enjoy these two as a couple.

Also in the MedLab, Brian (with Meggan) tells Wisdom of the events from Excalibur 94 –

Excalibur 94

He explains to Wisdom how he was in a wheelchair, in fifteen years. They all lost that battle but Brian thinks that they won, yesterday, because Wisdom was part of the team. Brian hasn’t had any more flashforwards since yesterday. Brian wants Wisdom to tell Pryde, that he loves her. I feel like Brian and Kurt will both (together) confront Wisdom to do this. Which seems cruel, as they break up, like an issue later (or some short time later).

So that is how Excalibur avoids Onslaught.

British news state that a half a million are dead, but it would have been worst – if Excalibur wasn’t there.

Look how great Jones’ draws Lockheed, watching Pryde and Wisdom. Such a perfect moment!

The news turns to America, where there is still a media black out (as well as a regular black out). Kurt still regrets that they are not there. Kitty is ready to go, right now! Brian says that if they can’t provide medical aid, they can be additional muscle.

Moira tells them to all shut up, with that sexy Scottish flair that we all loved from her. If everyone dies (and most will) then all Excalibur will be doing, is adding to the body count. The mutants of the world, need Excalibur on this side of the ocean. Which ends the issue.

Bullpen Bulletins. The 2099 line is becoming a single title – 2099 : World of Tomorrow, it will not last much longer. Iron Fist is getting a new mini by James Felder, Robert Brown and Rey Garcia. The Internet must now be becoming a thing as there is a link to http://www.Onslaught.com (which is no longer a website) but they make a big deal about calling it, the WorldWide Web. Marvel Fanfare is also coming back, for a brief run.

The Checklist for July 23 –

2099 : World of Tomorrow 1
Avengers 402
Fantastic Four 416
Marvel Fanfare 1
Spectacular Spider-Man 238
Iron Fist, 1 of 2
Uncanny X-Men ’96
Wolverine 105
X-Force 58
X-Men 56
X-Men : Pryde & Wisdom – (I’m glad I remembered their order, correctly) – Kitty and Pete leap from the pages of EXCALIBUR into their wildest adventure yet! By Warren Ellis and Terry Dodson! (Such a great mini!)
X-Men Unlimited 12 – A tale of the Juggernaut, trapped in the world of teh Cytorrak Gem, following his confrontation with Onslaught! By John Francis Moore and Ariel Olivetti! There is some fun bonus pages in the back, that involves Kitty, so that’s why I own this issue.

SwordStrokes, letters are from – Wade Boger of Pottsville, PA / Janet Winters / Trevor Bibic of Oxford, England / Brandon Bennett of Port Orange, FL / Jessica Linker of Kensington, CT / Matthew Davidson of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada / Sara Ching of Brooklyn, NY / Richard Denningham III of Cranston, RI / Camilla Shaumburg-Muller of Vedbaek, Denmark and Olav Beemer of the Netherlands, Europe.

Next Month : In the wake of Onslaught, what will become of our favorite UK Mutants, PLUS, there’s a menace on the horizon. Who could it be? Find out in thirty!

Which we actually will, but in two days!

There is a Rise of Apocalypse Preview page. An ad for the upcoming Star Trek titles – Unlimited, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Starfleet Academy. There are pages from the upcoming Heroes Reborn titles – Iron Man & Avengers. I forgot that Swordsman was used in that title. Did that make any sense, at the time?

Ultimate Spider-Man 92

Posted by John Klein III on February 24, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Bagley, Bendis, Deadpool, Dell - John, Isanove, Martin - Laura, McKenna - Mark, Petit - Cory, Ultimate, Ultimate Spider-Man. Leave a comment

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Penciler Mark Bagley

Inker John Dell with Mark McKenna

Colorists Laura Martin and Richard Isanove

Letterer VC’s CoryPetit

Cover Dated May 2006

Deadpool, Part Two of Four

Such a good way to open a comic, with the main character waking up. How does Spider-Man ever see as much as he does, can he even see directly in front of him? That’s quite the blind spot!

Spider-Man sees Kitty Pryde and starts to freak out.

One of the Reavers wants to hit Spider-Man and Deadpool gives the go-ahead. Another one wants to take off his mask, as if they would even recognize him. Deadpool wants the mask to stay on, one has to respect masks. The Reavers kick everyone out of the plane. They left Spider-Man’s webshooters on, so he is able to control his descent.

Cyclops can be seen blasting the ground, to slow his fall.

Spider-Man thinks he may be in Central Park – he will learn how wrong he is.

Once Spider-Man lands, he notices he is missing a boot. So funny and embarrassing! Out of the woods, comes a bulky Reaver and he seems more startled than Spider-Man. Spider-Man quickly learns to aim for the fleshy parts and not hit the metal parts. After punching him out, Spider-Man takes off. He runs into a metal wall.

Turns out, that metal wall is Colossus! These two have some fun exchanges. Colossus is hurt that Spider-Man doesn’t recognize him, from the brief times they’ve met before. Spider-Man’s “Aunt May” guess, makes me smile.

Even funnier, is Spider-Man’s actual guess – Big giant Russian metal man! Colossus says his proper hero name and Spider-Man honestly thought his guess was right.

Colossus takes off the metal braces that were keeping Spider-Man’s hands bound. Spider-Man and Colossus don’t know where they are. Spider-Man starts shouting for Kitty. Last he remembers, Kitty attacked him.

Colossus, like a good teammate, he defends Kitty. I really do prefer Ultimate Colossus.

Colossus recalls that Storm attacked him. Spider-Man doesn’t recognize who “Ororo” is. “African one with the weather powers” is a pretty apt description. Colossus adds the clues together, and figures there must be a shapeshifter. Which I really appreciate, as that bugs me on shows – wherein the characters are forced to play dumb and can’t figure out what is happening. Even though they have all of this experience and nothing like a shapeshifter should surprise them.

Spider-Man thinks that, instead of a shapeshifter – women may be finally raising up to take control the world. He always suspected this day would come. They see Cyclops’ signature blast and head in that direction.

We catch up with Cyclops, ahead of the newly made friends. He is fighting four of the Reavers, on his own. I can’t help but read Cyclops’ “what are you doing here?” question to Spider-Man as him being annoyed that a non-X-Man is present.

Cyclops was attacked Wolverine, which confirms Colossus’ theory. Spider-Man has made a reference to Soul Caliber Three and now, Bionicles. The cyborgs smell like biology class. Which I get the reference but I didn’t have that style of biology class – no dissections for this guy. In junior college, we almost dissected a pig.

Cyclops wants to know where Jean is, which reminds Spider-Man that he wants to find Kitty. Cyclops also doesn’t want Spider-Man shouting.

Cyclops can feel that they are being hunted, which Spider-Man now feels that sensation too.

Another Reaver pops up, hinting that he is talking to someone and someone may be watching him. His name is, Bonebreaker. Glad someone is being name checked. Bonebreaker is talking in English but what he is saying, falls flat as the heroes don’t understand the context. In mid-monologue, he is electrocuted. Storm is not pleased.

Cyclops asks if Storm recognizes this place and she sweeps them all up and Cyclops recognizes where they are. Krakoa. Spider-Man hopes that they are off the coast of Long Island. Cyclops confirms that they are off the coast of Genosha in the South Pacific. This startles and worries Spider-Man, as he is clearly not getting home by dinner time.

Some jets are on there to way to attack the X-Men.

The heroes land on the ground and one of the helicopters crash.

From the ashes, someone comes . . .

Kitty Pryde, the best X-Man! That is a sweet hug Spider-Man and Shadowcat give each other. The stakes are pretty high and they know it. Shadowcat likes that Spider-Man got on the plane and came to help her. Spider-Man wonders if Shadowcat is currently the shapeshifter but she isn’t. Someone had to ask the question. She confirms she isn’t by telling him something that he would know.

Nightcrawler bamfs in, and he’s the first to recall the storyline in Ultimate X-Men 54 – 57 – The Most Dangerous Game. Not a bad trade. The X-Men that were present on Krakoa were – Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Jean Grey, Iceman, Dazzler, Colossus and of course, Shadowcat.

If I wake up on a strange island, I’ll imagine it is the same strange island from the previous time I was there. So I’m not sure why Colossus nor Cyclops had that thought before Kurt had to say it.

Angel, holding a knocked out Jean, and Rogue float down. Cyclops mentally shouts at Jean, forcing her awake.

I do like how thick Nightcrawler’s accent is in the Ultimate Universe.

Great use of making the lettering lighter, to imply whispering. Shadowcat gives Spider-Man a quick rundown of what happened. Now Spider-Man knows that people are watching this adventure, like sick jerks. Shadowcat reveals that it has been a month since that storyline.

As Spider-Man is realizing how disgusting this entire thing is, Deadpool and the Reavers arrive. Deadpool tries to justify the act, by saying that the X-Men are terrorist, so why not kill them.

Excalibur 100

Posted by John Klein III on February 23, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Ellis, Excalibur, Green - Randy, Haynes - Rob, Jones - Casey, Ketcham - Rick, Lenshoek - Ariane, Lockheed, Onslaught. Leave a comment

Writer Warren Ellis

Storytellers Casey Jones, Randy Green and Rob Haynes

Pencils Casey Jones (pages 1 – 14, 17 – 28, 31, 32, 35, 36)
Randy Green (pages 15, 16, 33, 34, 37 – 40)
Rob Haynes (pages 29, 30)

Inks Tom Simmons (pages 1 – 14, 17 – 28, 31, 32, 35, 36)
Jason Martin (pages 15, 16, 33, 34, 37, 38)
Rick Ketcham (pages 39, 40)
Rob Haynes (pages 29, 30)

Lettering Richard Starkings and Comicraft

Colors Ariane Lenshoek & Jim Hoston

Enhancement Malibu

Editor Suzanne Gaffney

Chief Bob Harris

Cover Dated August 1996

Onslaught Impact 1

This issue, when I read this the first time, felt like a real mess. The double size issue is split from the conclusion of the London Hellfire Club / Black Air subplot that the title has been building to, for quite some time. The other half of the story, centers around Onslaught, there is a lot of bouncing back and forth. Let’s see if it reads any better, now that we are twenty years from its publication.

Inside front cover ad is for the film, The Frighteners, a film I only saw like one commercial for. The film stars Michael J. Fox, it was presented by Robert Zemeciks and directed by Peter Jackson. Music by Danny Elfman, Jackson also co-wrote and co-produced the film.

A recap page in the middle of the 90s! I feel like that was a rarity back in the day. Black Air and the Hellfire Club are working together. They have Douglock as a captive and Excalibur are on their way to save him. Brian Braddock is closer to Douglock’s location as he has agreed to become the Red Bishop. A mysterious mutant named, Mountjoy, is disguised as a member of the club. The two evil groups’ plans have been executed.

Under the streets of London, is a devil, who is just now waking up after multiple centuries of a deep sleep. Margali Szardos, birth mother of Amanda Sefton and foster mother of Nightcrawler – its cool. She was posing as the Red Queen – that’s right, there are now two people masquerading as Hellfire Club members. That’s not too complicated.

The Red King, none of these characters get name checked, is walking around in a daze. When the devil first stirred, it sent all of the flatscans into a murderous panic.

In the Midnight Runner, above the city – Excalibur gets their first glimpse at the chaos below. I’m so glad that Lockheed was able to make it to the mission.

Even with all of this destruction, Wisdom takes time out to harass Lockheed. This is the first time that Kitty has witness the hostility between the man and the legend. Lockheed totally plays into the fact that Kitty will believe him over her boyfriend. Kitty will ride and die with Lockheed, and he for her.

They get to the building in the middle of the chaos and it belongs to Black Air. Even from this distance, Wisdom recognizes the guy running away from the spire.

There is an ad for the Die Hard Trilogy, coming to Windows 95 CD-Rom, Sony Playstation and Sega Saturn. On the left page of this ad, is an ad for Marvel Subscriptions. The X-Men line is made of – Cable, Excalibur, Generation X, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, X-Factor, X-Force, X-Man and X-Men. I do like how they have a note stating that it is okay to photocopy this coupon page. $21.97 for your first subscription, $20.97 each for two titles and $19.97 each for three or more titles.

The man running away, is Scratch, a man that Wisdom use to work alongside of. With a kiss to Pryde, Wisdom jumps out of the plane and uses his hot knives power to slow his descent. This will become the theme of the team splitting off to take out the individual threats.

Kurt isn’t going to wait for Wisdom to come back, so the rest of the team is going to enter the building. He stresses that everyone needs to be safe but that they do need to find Douglock and Brian.

On Muir Island. Moira is taking a stroll, as Amanda Sefton teleports nearby. She’s looking for Kurt as her mother is up to bad news in London. Moira has to tell her that Amanda is a day late and a dollar short. Amanda starts the long process of teleporting from Scotland to London. This storyline has been building since Excalibur 83 – 85, the Soulsword Trilogy. Wherein Kitty Pryde gave Magik’s soulsword to Kurt, who gave it to Amanda – who in turn, gave it to her mother. Margali got a new body and starting killing the sorcerers ahead of her, on the Winding Way – growing stronger with each new kill.

With Amanda gone, the X-Men arrive. At this point, the X-Men are – Archangel, Cannonball, Cyclops, Jean Grey and Psylocke. Poor Cannonball is the only one without a pair. Jean is there to inform Moira – and get Excalibur onto the mere cusp of Onslaught – that Xavier is indeed, Onslaught. They are there for the Xavier Protocols, that are buried deep inside Muir Island.

London. The Black King is lying dead on the floor, his murderer – the Black Queen, stands above him. Captain Britain, in the classic shirt, with mask but in a pair of black slacks. The Black Queen fully admits to killing the Black King. The Red members are behind the plot but she helped.

Brian, the scientist that he is, modified his original costume, so that it has a slight force field – which kept the madness effects at bay. The Black Queen reveals that she is a mutant, who are not affected by the madness – so Brian assumes she is Mountjoy. Turns out, the Scribe is Mountjoy! Pretty smart of him to become the guy in the background of all scenes but in every scene, so that he is kept up with events.

By the River in Flames. Excalibur enters through the front door. Meggan guides them, as she is able to track the energy. They come across some goons, who look like they are going to eat a fellow goon’s face. Colossus offers to hang back and keep the goons back so that the team and go ahead. No one regrets leaving him behind.

Beneath Muir. Moira brings Cyclops and Jean open the door into the crypt. The computer recognizes the three’s brainwaves and unlocks Xavier Protocol, Zero Zero Zero. Xavier comes onto the screen, revealing that he spends a lot of his nights, thinking of ways to kill the X-Men (and himself). Since that is why he suspects they are there, he gives them a schematic on how to create this armor that should put him down. Lucky, for him, Xavier being evil, isn’t just him – Onslaught is a mixture of Magneto, Nate Grey (X-Man) and Franklin Richards. That and I’m pretty sure this Anti-Psionic Armor, doesn’t come into play at the climax of the crossover.

Angel walks in, this activates Xavier Protocol Zero Two One – with Jean and Scott.

London. Wisdom and Scratch are fighting and chasing each other through the streets. Wisdom use to be like Scratch – maybe even better – but then Wisdom grew a conscious

Amanda keeps teleporting, growing more tired – with each jump.

The Hellfire Club. The Black Queen is trying to psionic skin Brian but his force field is protecting him. Mountjoy is trying his best to breach the forcefield but he is having a hard time keeping a grip on Brian. Brian has, like Invisible Woman, found a way to make his defensive forcefield into an offensive weapon – knocking the Black Queen backwards.

Muir Island. Xavier Protocol Zero Two One is a how to kill Wolverine. Essentially, you have to chop off his head, and get it as far away from the body – as possible. This is an adamantium-less Wolverine. Jean is shock that Xavier recorded all of these and went as far as to great graphics – then she telepathically summons Psycloke and Cannonball into the room.

In the guts of Black Air. The team comes across techno-organic Broods and Meggan volunteers to fight them off.

They cross a corner and run into the Red King, who has a sword. So, naturally, Kurt agrees to fight him. So the team is now Wolfsbane and Shadowcat.

London on Fire. Wisdom and Scratch crash into a department stores. Scratch gets the upper hand on Wisdom.

Kurt v Red King, Kurt isn’t that impress with the Red King’s sword skills.

Brian v Mountjoy, Mountjoy pulls out a gun. He brags that it is loaded with anti-mutant ammunition that Brian’s father created. Apparently, when you become a Bishop, that act is called – bishopric. The Hellfire Club sold these bullets to Genosha and this caused his father to step down. Mountjoy wanted to join the Hellfire Club so that he could control the British government. Mountjoy fires several bullets at Brian and jumps out of the window. Unfortunately, the bullets are able to get through Brian’s forcefield.

Xavier Protocol One Nine Three – not sure who actually activated this one. The trick is to overwhelmed Cable’s telepathy so that he loses control over the techno-organic disease. Moira doesn’t want to watch any more of this and downloads the protocols and the schematics onto a giant drawer. Jean and Moira cry and hug.

Kurt catches up to Kitty and Rahne and sees his foster-mother, Margail, stuck holding Douglock’s head. It looks like she is frozen in place, as well as aged to her nineties. Douglock’s head is lifeless. Kitty has an idea that she can help Douglock, if she can get a laptop. Rahne is upset, as the Hellfire Club has unraveled him. I guess they had a laptop on them, as Kitty hocks it up directly into Douglock. He is the power source connecting the building to the demon below. Amanda finally teleports into the room. She catches them up on what they already know Kitty deletes the last program on Douglock’s root directory.

Mountjoy is running away, when Brian crash lands into him, with a powerful punch. So this villain that had so much build up, is taken out after essentially doing nothing. Brian is holding his side, as he is bleeding.

Scratch is about to end Wisdom when Lockheed comes in for the super safe! They still hate each other but Lockheed isn’t going to let Pryde’s boyfriend die.

Douglock comes back online, still only a head but in good spirits. Kitty is a computer genius, something I haven’t really read about her, in a while. Douglock is still plugged into the building so Wolfsbane is going to cut him lose, with her claws. Throughout all of this, Margail hasn’t moved – at all.

London’s devil is about to break free but Amanda is able to cast another containment spell. She’s ready to pass out, afterwards.

Outside, the team is fully reunited. Look at Lockheed, so big in Kitty’s arms. I guess Brian isn’t there. so not completely. The police show up and they are happy that Excalibur saved the day. Not a bad ending for this big story, it did feel epic but it felt too fast, too.

Bullpen Bulletins. Venom is getting another miniseries and George Perez is going to write Silver Surfer. Excalibur editor, Suzanne Gaffney go married to Kirk Beason. Carlos Pacheco, Salvador Laarroca and John Royle, all attended.

The Checklist for June 19 –

Avengers 401
FF 2099 8
Over the Edge 10
X-Men 2099 35 – Last issue!
Silver Surfer 119
New Warriors 74
Spectacular Spider-Man 237
Spider-Man Unlimited 13
Venom The Hunger 1 of 4
Wolverine 104 – Wolverine and Electra head over to the Massachusetts Academy to learn Onslaught’s origins.
X-Force 57 – X-Man guest stars as does Mister Sinister.
X-Men 55 – A crucial portion of the Onslaught storyline.

Most titles are dealing with Onslaught and I don’t own any of these but I’m pretty sure I read most of them.

In an odd choice, there is a page ad of how epic Onslaught’s climax is going to be. That’s fine but what is odd – is the interview with Jim Lee about his relaunch of Fantastic Four and Rob Liefeld with his Captain America. Did people know already how Onslaught was going to conclude?

Next review, is going to be for Excalibur 101, in two days!

Years of Future Past 2

Posted by John Klein III on February 22, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2015, Bennett - Marguerite, Caramagna - Joe, Lockheed, Norton, Secret Wars 2015. Leave a comment

Writer Marguerite Bennett

Artist Mike Norton

Colorist Fco Plascencia

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

I had to add the Mike Norton variant to my Wishlist.

Once. The first two pages are a nice way to show the differences between Christina and Cameron. They are pretty much opposites, in the way that one would imagine. Christina, raised by Kate Pryde, Colossus, Rachel and Magneto and Cameron, raised by Wolverine. Christina was read to every night, of nice stories. Cameron was told about war. Christina had a family unit. Cameron wasn’t told who his mother was. I can’t imagine who his mother could be, but I will get to that when we get to the portion where he explains his powers.

Christina was taught science, history, philosophy and art. Cameron was taught – hunting, fighting and survival. Christina grew up in the camps, Cameron, on the streets. Then they met one day. Cameron is a year or two older than Christina.

Now. A Sentinel is attacking the team.

Wolverine finds an escape route, through the sewer, they are aiming for Centrum – which is a mutant safe haven.

Christina takes the time to confront Cameron. He explains his power, merging – he can enter an object and exit the object, at any other point. So if he enters a root, he can exit through a branch. So it isn’t phasing, or it is a practical way of doing it, a narrower way of limiting it. But he couldn’t be Kitty and Wolverine’s kid, right?

Kate has to show up and explain that Christina wasn’t asking “how did you do it” in the way that asks how his powers work (though I’m glad to get that answer) but was asking more along the times of, how could you.

Mystique doesn’t like how Kate has the nerve to take any sort of moral high road. Mystique believes Kate sold her and Blob out but Wolverine states that Kate had nothing to do with that. Wolverine seems to not have liked what Cameron did.

Tensions are at an all time high but Christina is able to cool the room, with her awesome Pryde monologue.

Elsewhere. Rachel is fighting flatscanners, on her way to where Storm is suppose to be. Rachel questions, to herself, that they appear to be living in a land without gasoline or electricity – so how are new Sentinels being made? Turns out, Storm is being used as a living a battery. Once freed, Storm starts electro-shocking fools.

En Route to Centrum. Christina tells Cameron that their parents’ generation caused the world to be the way it is, and it is up to these two, to make the world better. So weird that Cameron views Magneto to be a super villain, wouldn’t Wolverine had buried all of that anger towards Magneto, by now? Magneto is Christina’s uncle, so she doesn’t care what he was like, pre-camp. Cameron mentions how they are the last mutants born, there would not be another generation of mutants.

Angel welcomes the team to Centrum. Wouldn’t these free mutants, have the ability to make babies?

It would have been fifteen years since Angel has seen Kate and Colossus, right? Angel says that they are safe, this far down. Kate introduces Christina and awkwardly states that Cameron belongs to Wolverine, the heck!?! Especially horrible, as Angel clearly knows Cameron and Wolverine.

Christina is scared by the head of a Sentinel, that the mutants are smart enough to use to track Sentinel activity as well as to make sure only mutants come to, Centrum. Does Centrum stand for anything? I know it is an over the counter vitamin supplement – or something along those lines.

I suppose it does sound a tad like, sanctuary, but not really.

Angel hints that Kate gave Centrum a ‘little guard’ and even knowing the cover to issue three, of this series, the final page reveal, still took me for a surprise. Kate, once hearing about the guard, wants some alone time with Angel. She wants to make sure her old pal, is doing okay.

Christina and Cameron are talking. The weight of Christina’s near future is now hitting her. She has to really step up and save President Kelly. Cameron talks about bad jokes and Colossus uses this to start a page long monologue. Which is a pretty good analogy but it is from Colossus, but I like how he picked up one of his wife’s better contributes. Colossus tells the story of how a joke started all of this. A joke such as “there should be a test to be allowed to be a parent.” First it was those who were mentally ill or had criminal records. Next, those with diabetes and cancer. Then the harshest yet – the deaf, the disabled, interracial couples and gay couples. Finally, mutants.

Magneto interrupts this lesson to provide his own. The second rule of warfare – with good editting, you’re the villain of any story. As President Kelly is showing footage of Cameron brutally killing Blob, on television. Christina asks what the first lesson is, and Magneto tells her – pick a good face for your rebellion.

Mystique repairs the Sentinel head, so that it can do more than just alert. It starts expressing feelings, such as lost and confusion – as well as it is blind. Cameron is straight up disgusted that the flatscans treated killing machines better than living mutants.

Kate Pryde is reading about the virus and has discovered that Kelly is behind his own assassination attempt. Which is smart, as that way, you ensure you are not really killed. You probably have to be shot in the shoulder, though.

The Sentinel wants to die, and sends out a distress beacon, via screaming, very loud.

Poor Cameron, Wolverine doesn’t respond to his cries for his father, only to his codename.

We get our first real look at the Doom sentinels. I wonder if the hood material is really cloth or some time of flexible metal?

Kate grabs the children and takes off. Magneto, Angel and Wolverine start attacking the Doom Sentinels.

Kate is taking the children to the next safest location. She loan Angel something, years ago.

I love that sign that says “The Little Guard” sign, as the next page reveal is . . .

A GIANT SLEEPING LOCKHEED!!! So great! I love this reveal, so much!

So that makes two Secret Wars 2015 tie ins that Lockheed is in – X-Tinction Agenda & Years of Future Past! I’m so excited for the third issue!

Excalibur 97

Posted by John Klein III on February 21, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Ellis, Excalibur, Jones - Casey, Lenshoek - Ariane. Leave a comment

Writer Warren Ellis

Pencils Casey Jones

Inks Tom Simmons

Letters RS & Comicraft

Colors Ariane Lenshoek

Enhancement Malibu

Cover Dated May 1996

The Moonlight Flit is going down. Kurt gets the plane to hover, and tells Meggan to fly out and handle business. Kurt teleports to one of the two choppers, and knocks out the pilot. Meggan goes after the second chopper. The second chopper is able to get a few shots off, forcing Kurt to teleport upwards. He shouts out in pain, as his power works better, horizontally. Kurt being hurt, sets Meggan off and she makes sure the second chopper goes down.

London, in the Midnight Runner. Brian, Kitty and Rahne are on their way to meet the Hellfire Club. The ladies will stay in the plane and Brian will be in the meeting, by himself.

X-Facts. The name of the Marvel Bullpen Bulletin. The X-Offices are having some changes. X-Factor penciler, Steve Epting, is moving over to X-Men Unlimited. Taking his place, will be Jeff Matsuda. X-Factor Editor, Kelly Corverse is getting a new assistant, Matt Idelson, as Jaye Gardner got promoted to Associate Editor for X-Man. Onslaught’s secret identity keeps being hinted at. On January 7, 1996 – Joe Madureira married long time sweet heart, Margaret Skeahan.

The Wish List for March

Uncanny X-Men 332
Cable 31
Generation X 15
Wolverine 101
X-Factor 122
X-Man 15
Excalibur 97 – It’s an aerial battle the likes you’ve never seen when Nightcrawler and Meggan go head-to-head with British Intelligence’s Black Air! Plus, Douglock receives an injury that could very well cost him his life! And if that wasn’t enough — Alistaire Stewart actually seek’s Excalibur’s help! By Warren Ellis and Casey Jones!
X-Men 52
X-Force 54
Storm 4
Professor X & the X-Men 7
Askani’son 4

Muir Island. Douglock is beginning the process of merging with the ground. Moira checks in on him.

Moira leaves Douglock’s side and runs into Pete Wisdom. Wisdom is hunting Lockheed and Moira gives up, as she is surrounded by nonsense. Lockheed has taken Wisdom’s cigarettes, the one thing he really needs in his life.

Beneath London. Scratch is in the sewers, carrying the box that Sebastian Shaw gave him, last issue. He is about to open a century’s old door.

London Hellfire Club. Rutledge, the manservant, takes Brian to the Inner Circle. He was a big fan of Brian’s father. Brian steps right into the meeting and takes his father’s seat. The Red and Black Kings are in attendance. The Red Bishoip starts shouting and challenging Brian, as there should only be the one Bishop. I like how Brian and the Black King ignore the Bishop. The Black Queen, no one gets named here, states that they wanted to distance themselves from the American Hellfire Club, and so they changed from White to Red. Brian backhands the Red Bishop and becomes the Black Bishop. Brian can’t tell who could be Mountjoy, which makes sense, as he doesn’t know how any of them acted before today.

Muir Island, at the death of daylight. Must be a British term but I sort of dig it. Alistaire is holding his head in his hand and now he looks like Wisdom, good thing they gave him the Reed Richards temples, so that we can tell them apart.

Look at that nasty look Lockheed is giving to Wisdom, so great!

Alistaire explains, where he has been since the Davis / Farmer run. He was watching over the Warpies and WHO was running itself. Suddenly, Black Air started growing, from within and making changes. They got in charge, by the Hellfire Club’s influence on the government.

Kitty asks if this information matches with what Wisdom knows about Black Air. Wisdom was’t there for the first days but it explains a lot, of what he knows.

With one sentence, the Warpies are brutally killed by Black Air, and Alistaire has been running, ever since. I was’t a big fan of that arc, so I’m okay with this development.

Black Air wants Alistaire and Excalibur dead, as he knows their plans.

Outside, Douglock is still finding himself. A Black Air jet comes out of the clouds and harpoons him! As the issue ends.

Swordstrokes, the letters page. Letters are from – Krista Schneidereit / Catherine D. Kobasiuk of Mastic Beach, NY 11951 / Mike McCullough of Selbyrine, DE / Tody Ingram of Colchester, Essex, England, UK / Olav Beemer of the Netherlands, Europe and Jeff Kozzi of Providence, RI.

Next Month : Carlos Pacheco and Bob Wiacek are back as Excalibur searches for its lost teammate, Brian is seduced by the secrets of the London Hellfire Club, and Nightcrawler takes charge.

We will be skipping 97 and going straight to the big issue 100!

Back cover ad is for Spider-Man cereal, which I’m pretty sure, I ate a bunch of, back in the day.

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.

	Ron on Emily VanCamp
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	MoxieMk5 on Exceptional X-Men 12
	1314sdf657 on Best X Issues of 2025 – M…
	Joyland (2013)… on Heroes For Hope Starring the X…

	Ron on Emily VanCamp
	John Klein III on Exceptional X-Men 12
	MoxieMk5 on Exceptional X-Men 12
	1314sdf657 on Best X Issues of 2025 – M…
	Joyland (2013)… on Heroes For Hope Starring the X…

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