Shadow and Flame with Magik

Wolverines 16

Posted by John Klein III on December 3, 2015

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2015, Anindito - Ario, Oback - Sonia, Ogun, Petit - Cory, Soule - Charles, Wolverines. Leave a comment

Writer Charles Soule

Enhanced Pencils Ario Anindito

Enhanced Colors Sonia Oback

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

The road to the finale begins here!

The Changeling. Six Miles Above the Atlantic Ocean. Two Hundred Miles West of the Azores. Issue opens with Shogun spitting blood into a sink.

Shogun is spitting blood, as the Paradise folks’ expiration date is coming upon them. Junk reveals that he is a little further along the path, as he now has tar like veins on his arms, and they are spreading. Neither Junk or Shogun are thrilled that their time seems to be shorter than they had expected.

Junk is now learning more about his powers, he just learn he has chameleon abilities. Junk really was hoping to join the side of the heroes and maybe one day, being an Avenger. Shogun calling Junk, brother, seems odd to me. Maybe the real Sharp is coming out now that Ogun may be completely out of his system. Shogun is curious about Mystique’s plan but they can’t wait for her time table.

Junk can’t believe how far off course the Paradise team has come. They keep getting distracted by the Wolverines nonsense. Though he makes a point of liking Fang’s adventures, which I can only imagine is a meta message, as fans have to be like me, right? In that Fang was the detour from the book proper?

Junk calls the Wolverines, all of them, monsters, as X23 walks into the room. Which is bad timing as she is the best one there.

Rome, Italy. The Arcadians, the ones the Paradise folks were being experimented on for so that the Arcadians can get the good material. They are attacking Endo (who is not dead, apparently), Skel and Neuro – which a handy editorial note that we first met this group in Weapon X Project 5. Neuro and his crew seem to be beating back the Arcadians, rather easily. Some more Arcadians show up and Neuro surrenders.

Epsilon, the field leader, goes on television and announces who The Arcadians are. On the Changeling, they are watching the news coverage. Junk really doesn’t want to leave his former allies behind in the hands of the clear enemies.

The Changeling Deck E — Detention. Mystique is checking in on Portal, who looks a tad by Wolverine – out of costume. Portal and Mystique don’t have any history together. She doesn’t want him as an enemy but she wants to save a friend, which I’m sure we haven’t had Destiny hinted or mention since issue two or three. Siphon is sleeping in the next cell.

Junk wants to go save his friends. Shogun has to explain who the Arcadians are, to Sabretooth, even though Sabretooth was in the room when the news was being aired. Daken brings up the good point that Neuro wouldn’t go save Junk and Shogun, so maybe they shouldn’t go after them. Shogun has to agree with Daken but Junk doesn’t care – Neuro may be horrible but he liked Endo and Skel.

X23 offers to help Junk save Endo and Skel, as they did seem like nice people. With X23 on board, Shogun is happy to go through with the mission. Which makes sense, he doesn’t want to be the sole fighter so that he has to do all of the fighting and still watch out for Junk.

Mystique comes in and does the one thing one shouldn’t do with this group. Mystique tells Junk and Shogun that they can go, but she still needs X23 for her primary mission. So X23 is definitely going now and Sabretooth and Daken are now a go for the mission to, as screw Mystique! Which I really like that turn of events.

Daken is definitely growing his hair out, so he is now going to look like a tall (Dark) Wolverine with a missing arm and eye.

The Gulf of Mexico. Arcadia. Later. Lady Deathstrike has also joined the team, Shogun tries to talk to Lady Deathstrike but she has no interest in him now that Ogun is no longer around. The team makes very short work of the Arcadians. It helps that the Arcadians are fake, as they are weak shells of people, filled with foam (or something).

The team opens the door and sees the real Arcadians but they are all dead. Mystique warns them to get out of there but they continue on. That Mystique, she doesn’t take any hints.

Neuro shows up and reveals that Mister Sinister is behind all of this. He wanted to get the team out into the open. Some light blue bald Mister Sinsiter cronies show up and pop two claws each, per hand – so Sinister really used Daken’s arm to beneficial results. The issue ends with Sinister on deck.

Uncanny X-Cast 172

Posted by John Klein III on December 2, 2015

Posted in: Podcasts. Tagged: Uncanny X-Cast. Leave a comment

http://www.uncannyxcast.com/main/2015/11/26/episode-172-its-just-a-smoke-bomb.html

The Uncanny X-Cast aired my eighth voicemail. Mine airs between 9:53 – 10:30, I sound like I have low energy but I was mostly trying to be quiet – while at work. Brian sounded like he was going to add something but Rob cut him off. I am pretty glad that my expensive hobby is taking a bit of a price cut. Brian said that the next Marvel space opera has already been confirmed, but I haven’t heard of that but I knew it was coming.

Uncanny X-Men 536

Posted by John Klein III on December 1, 2015

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Breaking Point, Caramagna - Joe, Dodson - Rachel, Dodson - Terry, Gillen, Ponsor, Uncanny. Leave a comment

Writer Kieron Gillen

Penciler Terry Dodson

Inker Rachel Dodson

Colorist Justin Ponsor

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover Dated June 2011

Breaking Point, Part Two of Four

This is the final back issue I was able to buy from Kelly’s Komix in Great Falls, Montana, I had a twenty dollar budget, as I couldn’t tell if my wife was going to give me more of budget. Our son, Walker Dennis, was pretty much running around the store, he was only sixteen months at the time and always looking for a chance to run about any location. So I had a pretty tight timeframe of searching for comics. With this issue, I now own all four chapters of this storyline.

That’s a pretty great cast of characters above – plus there are only seven so that rule of thumb is still respected. Kitty Pryde, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Wolverine, Namor, Magneto and even, Colossus. That’s pretty A-List there.

This is only part two, so the previous issue mainly dealt with setting up the overall plot. There was a warship from Breakworld, coming to Earth – Agent Brand of SWORD (whatever happened to her, she was all over the place, for quite some time) called the X-Men to intercept the ship. That issue ended with Kruun, the former warlord of Breakword – and who Colossus in an awesome scene, ripped off his arm, has come to Earth, asking for Asylum for the rest of the refugees of the planet.

There is an ad for Thor, coming to theaters on June 6, 2011. Can’t believe it has been four years since that film came out.

I want to say that this was an odd time for me, like I barely remember reading the issues and I was in a weird headspace, like I was reading but not super enjoying it and the issues were not leaving much of an impression on me.

Decomissioned Breakword Flagship Resplendent Celestial Slaughter. Docked. The Peak. Orbital Headquarters of SWORD. Peak Meeting Room XIV. Topic : Breakworld Refugees. In the meeting room is – Agent Brand / Sydren / Cyclops / Emma Frost / Kruun / Haleena. Kruun doesn’t know how to go about being a diplomat. It is a new language to them. They came in a warship, as they don’t have anything else, and they didn’t signal their arrival, as they didn’t know that was necessary. Haleena isn’t any more skilled. Kruun suspects that Brand wants them to beg, but he refuses.

Haleena had a vision that Earth would take them in, and apparently, she and Kruun are a couple. Cyclops asks the question, what happened to Breakworld. Kruun explains that there is constant fighting and the planet is no longer what it use to be. Brand makes some flippant comments and Kruun doesn’t care for her tone, he wants, no – he demands – refuge.

Cyclops asks the other important question, why is he there? The United Nations are still divided on if Utopia is a proper nation, or not, which is silly. Brand has some leeway, so if Cyclops wants the refugees, he can have them. If the Breakworlders revolt, she will just wipe the entire island out. There is a great moment when Emma mocks Sydren, which is great. That poor guy can’t catch a break. In one panel, Cyclops decides to test out the peace idea.

Utopia. Island Home of the X-Men. Emma mocks Scott, she wonders if he fed the stray cats of Anchorage, Alaska. Magneto, also isn’t thrilled, Utopia is for mutants, by mutants.

There is an house ad for Fear Itself, Book Two – Blitzkrieg USA, it came out in May 2011. All I really remember of the main event, is that Winter Soldier was killed in one of the first issues and then, was back alive by the end of it.

Scott feels responsible, as they are refugees because of the X-Men. Well, like Emma states, they did fire a moon-sized bullet at Earth. Good thing Shadowcat was there to save all of us! Not only that, but they brought the X-Men to them. Scott isn’t sure what they even eat. Probably rocks, as they are hardcore!

Kitty isn’t thrilled to have this many Breakworlders around her. Kitty decides the best way to start building a community, is to be interested and listening. Oh, Shadowcat, you truly are the heir to Xavier’s dream!

They listen to several stories.

The last one calls Colossus, Powerlord. The person is willing to rip off his own arm, if that is what the Russian wants.

Kruun shows up, he calls Kitty “Colossus’ mate” which is going too far! Kruun suspects the true power couple have plans to parade his people around the island and laughing at them. Kitty has no plans to laugh at anyone, she only wants to help. Kruun tells her that helping is the same as laughing.

Haleena reveals the rest of her vision, that they were taken in but they have no future on the planet. Which is, essentially, true – as I don’t believe they have been seen since.

Kitty tries to explain how there is always hope. Colossus is fine with the refugees being on Utopia, he hates Kruun, and how he benefited from all of the death and breaking of wills.

Kruun explains how they brought Colossus back from the dead. Which is a story that Whedon didn’t even really hint at. Kruun keeps making a point that “they didn’t have hospitals” which seems to be the line from the Whedon run, that really stuck with Gillen.

See that only left panel on the image above? Try reading that again? Is it me, or is that some not great explaining of a concept? To bring back Colossus, five slaves had to give their lives. Or rather, their life energy, so you could survive the process but these five didn’t, as they didn’t want to live with the shame. Being part of the process, at all, is to be one of the lowest of the low.

A would be hero decides to do a sneak attack – assassin style – but Kruun prevents the attack.

There is an ad for four collectible Slurpee cups featuring Thor characters. Two are decent – Thor & Loki – and I imagine those who got the Destroyer & Lorelei cups. Did Natalie Portman decline on the invitation? These were only available at a 7 Eleven, which I don’t believe I’ve ever lived in a city that had one of those. Sort of like how Circle K isn’t in Montana, at all.

Kruun is mostly upset with the younger guy, because of the sneak attack from behind. Heleena, and apparently this is her first appearance – which is pretty cool – is proud of Kruun for saying “I’m sorry” to Colossus for the attempted assassination.

Kitty and Colossus walk away, as they can only listen to so much nonsense.

Kruun does recognize that Colossus was the death nail in Breakworld but it was his own actions that brought them to Earth.

There is a house ad for X-Men Legacy 250 – featuring the cast of Magneto, Rogue, Gambit, Frenzy, Xavier and David Haller.

Heleena, and those like her, are called – Augurs. Heleena and Kruun would never have met before, as he would never have looked at a lowly augur before.

Magneto approaches the couple, he wants to know how the metal of Breakworld works. Afterall, it was Magneto who brought Kitty back to Earth, and he has been (apparently) trying to figure out the metal.

The X-Labs, Utopia. Madison Jeffries hints that Doctor Nemesis wouldn’t like a stranger being in his lab. He calls Magneto “Mags” which Magneto doesn’t miss a second to inform him that Magneto is not amused with that nickname.

Magneto asks if technology or magic is the trick to working with the metal. Kruun reveals that “magic” isn’t a word they know – which is odd as I thought they had placed magical protection against the bullet, so they must know about it. Instead, they just call working with the metal as “weapons” such as, making weapons, I imagine.

There is a house ad for Uncanny X-Force 11, the team going up against Age of Apocalypse characters! They keep referecing “MMXI” the year of the X-Men – which I feel like it really wasn’t.

With the little amount of the metal, Kruun makes a weapon that hones reflexes – mostly, used by children. With more metal, he could make more impressive items. Magneto states that there is so much debris all over the state, he just needs thirty minutes. Since he open the bullet on Utopia, wouldn’t most of the metal be on the island? Or just he just fling the bullet away once Kitty was out?

Magneto leaves and Kruun quickly takes out Madison Jeffries, from behind! Kruun throws up a bag and inside are five vials. Magneto came back in twenty eight minutes. While fighting Magneto, we learn that the vials have the mutant cure in them.

On Breakworld, they have an expression “revenge is a dish best served, swift” as he ties Magneto up, next to Madison Jeffries. The issue ends with Kruun brandishing a decent sized dagger.

Pretty good issue!

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume Two Issue 6

Posted by John Klein III on November 30, 2015

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Bendis, Lafuente, New World According to Peter Parker, Petit - Cory, Ponsor, Ultimate Spider-Man. Leave a comment

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist David Lafuente

Colorist Justin Ponsor

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Dated March 2010

New World According to Peter Parker, Part Six of Six

According to the recap page for issue five, the only thing of note that happened was that Iceman got kicked out of his parents’ home and went to Kitty Pryde for him. She introduced him to Aunt May and now he lives there, as well.

That is one crowded table! Good thing Kitty is only visiting! Now the cast of the title is complete! !

Gwen, always never awkward, stands up and announces that she is Peter’s girlfriend. Gwen doesn’t want the two new boys to be chasing her, where she sleeps.

Aunt May restates the no hanky panky rule, she emphases it to Johnny. She kept up with the gossip websites, which surprises Peter. It makes sense, in this more grounded world, that the news would cover Johnny Storm like he was a regular celebrity.

Peter wonders how the boys are going to go undetected, Aunt May has a scheme.

There is an ad for the Honda Civic.

First up, Johnny dyes his hair black – the ladies help him. In the shower, Peter is assisting Bobby with shaving his head.

The big plan is to have Johnny and Bobby pose as Peter’s cousins. Over at Midtown High, the principal isn’t buying it. He suspects Peter is Spider-Man, so he can sort of guess who these other two are. Good thing Aunt May has a slight history of taking in nephews. The Principal, now that we are Post Ultimatum, is a huge fan of Spider-Man. He still rather the school wasn’t targeted to just get to Spider-Man.

Captain America : Reborn 6 is coming out, so this will bring Steve Rogers back to the land of the living – in the present day.

Midtown High School. Next Morning. Mary Jane can’t believe that the Parkers are even going to attempt to pass Johnny off as a high school student. He is age appropriate but he clearly looks like the Human Torch.

Peter’s spider sense starts to go off. I like Bobby having to learn about Peter and his abilities, I can see him not really paying attention when Kitty was going on about dating Spider-Man.

Peter eyes a female student going through a set of double doors, next, a giant explosion occurs. Then the three eye robot from the cover arrives on the scene.

Peter tells everybody to get out. Johnny really wants to help but Peter tells him not too. Which is smart, one can’t simply have Spider-Man, the X-Men’s Iceman and the Fantastic Four’s Human Torch, all suit up all at once.

There is an house ad for X-Necrosha that is starting soon.

Peter suits up.

See Jessica Jones in that second panel on the top row? That’s what got me to review this issue for this event month.

Spider-Man starts fighting the robot and saves the principal.

The Shroud shows up on the scene. Spider-Man now knows that the Shroud is not the principal, which is a clear joke.

While he was joking, the Shroud disabled the robot – proving who is the better hero. Human Torch, the idiot, arrives and burns the robot. Which, with the time difference, people are probably going to assume it took him a while to get there – so he doesn’t go to the school. Plus, the Shroud being there, they will probably imagine that this is a new team of young heroes.

Human Torch has to be told that he just ruined any evidence, thus any leads. So now he knows he is a rookie and needs to be schooled.

Spider-Man and the Human Torch leave the scene. We see the Shroud is also getting away but taking off their hood.

There is an ad for Fantastic Four 575, by Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham.

The Shroud is really . . . Kitty Pryde! So issue four is the very first issue that Kitty ever has had in her Ultimate career.

The issue ends with Mysterio being all proud of himself. He notices the police are getting close and blows up his headquarters.

. . .

With this, we conclude Jessica Jones Month! I really need to work on ending these in a better fashion.

Black Panther Volume Four Issue 18

Posted by John Klein III on November 29, 2015

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Andrews - Kaare, Black Panther, Bride of the Panther, Cho, Civil War, Eaton - Scot, Hudlin - Reginald, Janson - Klaus, Lockheed. Leave a comment

Writer Reginald Hudlin

Pencils Scot Eaton and Kaare Andrews, for pages 21 – 24

Inks Klaus Janson

Colors Dean White

Letters VC’s Randy Gentile

Cover Frank Cho

Cover Dated September 2006

From BET, Toure and Ananda are the wedding commentators. Black Panther and Storm are the ultimate power couple, and for good reason. Toure comments on how the Superhuman Registration Act is being hotly debated, back in America. By hotly debated, I mean that costumed folks are punching and kicking other costumed folks.

Luke Cage is surprised that Spider-Man is on Iron Man’s side so much. This is after issue two of Civil War. Spider-Man is in his Iron-Spider costume.

Susan is still standing with her husband, Reed. Thing is already showing signs of wanting to be neutral.

Kitty and Lockheed seem super excited, to the point where Emma feels the need to calm her down. Eaton draws one awesome Lockheed!

Cyclops wonders what the X-Men will be like without Storm, they will be okay and her absence will only really be noticeable by her hardcore fans. For the Maid of Honor, Kitty seems to be pretty relaxed.

Meanwhile, the psychic parasite known as the Cannibal prepares his trap. Cannibal is who I didn’t know from the previous two issues, who I referred to has Not-Malice. How many villains fall under this body-less category?

Cannibal wants to take advantage of the situation and take any number of heroes but keeps his non-eyes on his prize, Black Panther.

Black Goliath (a horrible name) is impress when he sees Falcon wheel Isaiah Bradley. Triathlon (who I know from Buisek’s legendary Avengers run) and Captain Marvel (Monica) come over to greet Isaiah. We get an editor note to check out – Truth : Red, White & Black, for the full story. Hudlin must have really liked that series, as he didn’t write it, Robert Morales did.

Elsewhere in the Place. T’Challa and Ororo are talking. He tells her that the Panther God will judge Ororo to see if she is worthy of marrying him. Ororo isn’t thrilled with this and wonders what happens if she isn’t worthy of the test. I would imagine that, this portion of the ceremony, probably should have done prior to the wedding invites. T’Challa would give up his kingdom to stay married to Ororo, so the wedding will continue, no matter what.

Daily Bugle (what they used to call, Bullpen Bulletin – I like the in-comic universe name change). I like them promoting New Adventures and New Number Ones. New Number Ones – Annihilation / Heroes for Hire / Agents of Atlas / Claws. New Adventures – Sensational Spider-Man 29 / Runaways 19 / X-Factor 10, a team member betrays the team. I own issues nine and eleven, so that’s funny (and issue 23) / Black Panther 19, attacked by DOOM!

Xavier shows up as he will be walking her down the aisle. This comes as a surprised to her, also a surprise to her, is that he is able to walk. I like that he waves this off, like this happens from time to time – as it does.

Elsewhere in the Palace. Black Panther stages a meeting between Captain America and Iron Man, neither of whom, are impressed with each other. They both leave the wedding, both of them making sure that Black Panther apologizes for each of them, to Storm.

Meanwhile. Doctor Strange, Brother Voodoo and Blade stop their conversation to take note that Uatu, the Watcher has arrived. I like that a guidebook has been handed out. Would it have been more awesome, if it was called – a handbook? Perhaps

Back to the party guests. President Bush 43 arrives, along with Fidel Castro and the late Nelson Mandela. A huge wave of applause erupts as Oprah arrives. Ororo’s grandparents arrive, the idiot that is her grandfather, tries to start saying that Bush doesn’t care about black people, which is still a ridiculous statement. Luckily, his wife stops him before he can say those words.

Her grandparents get to sit with Ororo’s mother’s family.

Meanwhile. Kitty really wants to see Storm’s dress, which wasn’t she there when Storm bought it? I guess we didn’t see her buy it. Lockheed is flying about.

The whole “Storm loved Black Panther for years” doesn’t quite worked for me, as we had decades of those two not having any panel time together but I get that he was her first crush (and her, his – maybe?) back in her African days, but that seems like an odd thing a carry well into someone’s thirties. Am I still crushing on Katie O’Connor and Jennifer Fuller? No, as when I think about to them, my mind stops at them being first and second graders, respectfully, so I don’t romanticism them, at all. Though I do wonder if they are on Facebook but I don’t believe they are. To be fair, if they grew up to be female versions of a handsome, rich and heroic King, I guess they would still be on the top of my mind.

Kitty finally gets to see the dress and instantly wants to wear it. I wish we got to see Kitty visit Storm, even just once, while she was a Queen.

See that second to last panel, on the bottom? Lockheed wants to eat those birds! Nice touch, Eaton!

Black Panther, now in costume, wonders why Uatu is present. He’s not going to be interfering, I know that much. His uncle is excited about the children that will come from this union.

Black Panther gets to the alter, wondering where his wife-to-be is. If he is anything like me, and we do have so much in common, he is going to have to wait for an intense fifteen minutes.

Storm arrives in the dress, that gets its own back up feature. The credits page thanks the following folks for the design of the dress – Procter & Gamble, CBS Daytime (the two parent companies of), Guiding Light, Alan Locher, Ellen Wheeler, Maria Aguero, Alyson Hui and Shawn Dudley.

Poor Kitty, doesn’t do anything for the ceremony.

Once the ceremony begins, the Karee Andrews pages kick in. They both are in the spirit world, they first see the Ape God. They run from that one, right into the Panther God. Panther God and Ororo have a stare off. The Panther God roars and Ororo is deemed worthy.

They bounce back and Eaton takes over. That must have been very exciting to those in attendance. Did the invitations state to not be surprised when the bride and groom just stood around, starring into nothing. Oh, it only lasted five seconds, so it wasn’t as awkward as I thought. Reading is important.

The two are officially married!

Later, a huge party is had by all. Prince is proving the music! Cannibal’s essence is spotted by Doctor Strange, so the host body sneaks closer to Storm. Doctor Strange and Brother Voodoo catch up to the host, who is laying on the floor. Cannibal could be in anybody.

Cage asks Jessica if she would want to stay in Wakanda, T’Challa gave them an open invitation. He goes on to say that Falcon and Photon (Monica’s codename – poor gal, that’s why you never want to be a legacy character!). Jessica laughs at him, as he has been wanting to create a Black Avengers team, for years.

Spider-Man is enjoying a drink and introduces himself to, Man-Ape. Man-Ape came to ruin the wedding but it turns out, he was on the invite list, so he is happy. So issue 16’s cliffhanger, was for not. Man-Ape has been drinking Scotch, as he should! Spider-Man tries to be helpful, about how he can get more respect if he didn’t dress so silly. Of course, this offends Man-Ape, as that is his royal garb. Spider-Man keeps burying himself, as he named himself after an unpopular creature – people do seem to hate spiders – for some reason. Man-Ape attacks Spider-Man, who wishes these gatherings didn’t always involve a fight of some sort.

A Few Hours Later. We see some gifts that the newlyweds were given. Kitty gave Storm a holographic representation of the X-Men, which would be cool and I want one.

Ororo hands T’Challa a package with the Latveria seal on it. T’Challa opens it, revealing a visual message from Doctor Doom. Doom was not invited to the wedding, which does not seem right, from a political viewpoint. Doom chalks it up to Black Panther believing that Doom was still in Hell. Doom provides a warning, regarding Civil War, his friends may not be who he use to think of them as. So Doom offers that Black Panther’s enemies, may also need to be reconsider. He would like to have a conversation, once the newlyweds are settled.

Issue ends with some kissing!

Mail to the King! Letters from – Tony K of Sydney, Australia / Paco Taylor / Regis Zoula and Christopher Smitho f Jacksonville, Florida.

Next issue, DOOM!

. . .

With this, we end our celebration of my wife and my seventh anniversary of our wedding! Time sure does fly!

X-Men Legacy 231

Posted by John Klein III on November 28, 2015

Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: Carey, Earth Give Up Your Dead, Granov - Adi, Legacy, Magik, Mann, Necrosha, Petit - Cory, Reber - Brian. Leave a comment

Written by Mike Carey

Penciled by Clay Mann

Inked by Danny Miki with Allen Martinez & Walden Wong

Colored by Brian Reber

Lettered by VC’s Cory Petit

Cover by Adi Granov

Special Thanks to Russell Jackson

Cover Dated February 2010

Earth Give Up Your Dead, Part One of Three

I own this issue and the next issue but not the third part. As I like to do, whenever I first dip into an older crossover, is to give a quick overview of the issues involved and how involved I was with the crossover. With this one, I feel like I was pretty involved with it, with how Cypher came back in the pages of new Mutants but let’s see if my memory matches the event itself.

While looking for a website that lists the reading order, I came across this website, that has a pretty decent overview of the event.

X-Necrosha Overview

One of the nice things, in this modern age of comics, is that there was a handy checklist in the back of the title, of the issues and when they came out.

So the issues I own, in order are – Necrosha One-Shot / New Mutants 6 / New Mutants 7 / New Mutants 8 / X-Men Legacy 231 (naturally) / X-Men Legacy 232 /

I skipped Chapter Two (X-Force 21), The Gathering (which is mostly an issue to remind people of the characters), X-Force 22, Chapter Four (X-Force 23), Chapter Five (X-Force 24) and the Finale (X-Force 25).

So 13 issues, and I own six so just under half of the crossover. Once I was looking over the issues involved, I figured I didn’t actually own the main issues involved, which is typical me. Essentially, my need to collect all of Magik’s appearances, made me take an interest in this crossover.

Onto the issue itself. The issue is printed around the midway point. At this point, Selene’s army of undead characters, have invaded Utopia.

Four miles off the US Coast. The Dead Rise. Utopia Burns. Cyclops, Colossus and Psylocke are finding off the undead as the Cuckoos provide mental assistance. One of the undead, is Maggot – Cyclops makes short work of him. Blindfold shows up, and Cyclops is not that pleased or impress. Blindfold wants a private moment with Cyclops, which he has this great reaction of – we’re in the middle of a war, there are no timeouts. The Cuckoos get Cyclops inside Blindfold’s mindscape – I really like the choice of making the room light blue with the objects in the room, only white outlines. Blindfold has been blind, since she was a baby, so everything looks only like how it felt to her. Cyclops does a decent job of keeping his cool as Blindfold relates a story of what Destiny told her in a previous issue.

There is an ad for the Honda Civic, so go out and buy one of those!

Destiny told Blindfold about how Selene is on Genosha (now called, Necrosha) but there are serious threats on Muir Island.

Necrosha. The Palace of Selene. And its Dungeons. Destiny is in a cell, as Stonewall guards her. She offers to tell him his fortune, if he releases her.

The North Atlantic. International Airspace. Three Hours Later. Cyclops has picked his away team, lead by Nightcrawler, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Blindfold, Rogue, Trance and Husk. Pretty random sort of characters, because it is Legacy, we knew Rogue would be on the team. I like her and Nightcrawler on the same team, Magneto makes sense, as the next page will show. Carey will use Trance later.

Trance implies that Blindfold is rarely correct, also I like how Trance doesn’t like Blindfold, or at the very least – they don’t get along. I imagine Blindfold is the freak amongst the freaks.

Magneto takes the opportunity, that he is sitting next to Rogue, to talk to her. They have a very rocky relationship. Rogue likes that Magneto is back on the side of heroes, he likes that he is being reminded of their intimate time in the Savage Land. Rogue reminds him that she lost interest again, when he started killing flatscans again.

http://uncannyxmen.net/comics/issue/x-men-legacy-1st-series-231

Actually, he killed Zaladane – I guess that explains why we are not constantly getting stories about Polaris trying to prove if they were sisters or not.

Magneto tries to counter that they did share another kiss, in the middle of Uncanny X-Men 304 – Illyana Rasputin’s funeral after she died in 303. Which, really, is all that it takes for me to buy a comic.

Rogue reveals that she only kissed him so that she can weaken him.

The team lands on Muir Island and Kurt asks Trance to check the island for any threats. I like Magneto trying to offer advice and Kurt shooting it down as it is the obvious choice.

There is an house ad for Siege, an event seven years in the making. I read it, just the main event, and possibly one tie-in, the New Mutants issue. I like that tag line, as I feel like most events during this era could have just swapped the number of how many years.

Colossus decides to make some time with Psylocke but chooses to insult her, as he regrets that she only has her telepathy powers instead of her telekinesis. If she had the lather, she would be a heavy hitter, in response to this silly insult, she knocks him down on his back and stands on top of him. What a moron.

Rogue wants Blindfold to repeat everything Destiny told her. Blindfold reveals that Destiny was hoping to have spoken to Rogue instead of her would-be granddaughter.

Mortis, Dagger’s half-sister, is informing Selene that Stonewall has let Destiny escape. An unconscious Warpath is dragged into the room, with an editorial note stating to read X-Force 22, to learn more.

The X-Men have a clear path to Moira’s lab. They get inside the lab and don’t see any signs of anything. There have been two notable deaths on Muir Island – one, was Destiny at the hands of David Haller and the other, was killed by Colossus – Proteus!

Blindfold runs into Destiny and touches her hands, this is all Proteus needed to transfer bodies, from one undead to one very alive body. Rogue shows up, doesn’t notice that Blindfold isn’t speaking in that broken English way of talking, Protifold takes down Rogue, as the issue ends.

Black Panther Volume Four Issue 17

Posted by John Klein III on November 27, 2015

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Black Panther, Bride of the Panther, Eaton - Scot, Hudlin - Reginald, Janson - Klaus, Linsner - Joseph Michael. Leave a comment

Writer Reginald Hudlin

Penciler Scot Eaton

Inks Klaus Janson

Colors Dean White

Letterers VC’s Randy Gentile

Cover Dated August 2006

Bride of the Panther, Part Four of Five

Cover by Joseph Michael Linsner, is it wrong or amazing that I recognized the cover was done by Linsner, simply based off of Storm’s eyes?

The Apartment of Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. We sneak in a Jessica Jones issue! Cage is setting up an epic Bachelor Party. I like Cage’s desk – especially that he keeps a picture of his old school Heroes for Hire with his pal Iron Fist, and how the photo is nice, front and center. Jessica enters the room with their baby and he quickly pretends that he is doing personal business.

Midtown Manhattan. T’Challa and Storm are at a press conference – it isn’t really his style but he recognizes the media need for it. Someone asks about Storm’s ring, it isn’t a Wakandan custom but he presents Storm with an engagement ring. Someone else asks about Black Panther’s opinion on the Superhero Civil War. It is his policy to not comment on American politics.

Storm takes this opportunity to express her thoughts on the Civil War. Storm has faced discrimination as – An African, a Woman and a Mutant, enough is enough. She promotes how Wakanda doesn’t waste time with discrimination – that is why they are the world leaders in technological advances and human rights. With that, T’Challa ends the press conference.

In their limbo, T’Challa and Ororo (I finally remembered her name!) make out as he is quite happy with her.

Avengers Tower. Wolverine wants to help Cage with the party plans. T’Challa does not want a Bachelor Party. He isn’t a fan of the tradition and he doesn’t want his wedding to be the excuse that Cage gets to party hard.

Fifth Avenue Manhattan. I really like how Storm and Kitty are shopping and Susan is along for the ride. If only Susan and Storm had an established friendship. For some reason, Susan finds the need to wear a Fantastic Four button, is there not a more fashionable way to show that she is a member of that team slash family. They are shopping for Storm’s dress. I wish this storyline sparked Kitty and Susan having a closer friendship, or any sort of friendship.

Susan asks if Storm blow dries her hair, it is the only way she can keep it that long. You know, girl talk. Is “Retail Therapy” a thing? Apparently my wife does it and my gal pal, Valerie does as well – but I’m not familiar with the term. I guess that means, that I don’t do it.

Kitty references “O” Magazine and Storm doesn’t know what that is. Which seems silly. Kitty doesn’t just keep her copy of O on the coffee table in the main lobby or in another common place? Though I do like the idea of how the X-Men don’t have time for magazines.

The three ladies enter a store. Susan asks the manager to lock the door. He makes a comment about how thrilled he is that Storm has come back to his store, though this is her first time. The always race conscious Kitty isn’t happy with the manager. The man defends that he recognizes Storm, when he sees her. He reveals that Other-Storm paid with cash, which forces the ladies to think of who it could have been. How many tall African women with long white hair, cold there be? Also with blue eyes?

Later. Ororo and T’Challa chase each other in their apartment – it is pretty fun.

Falcon meets with Black Panther’s cousin, who works in the state department. Falcon is there to ensure that Captain America will be at the wedding, as he is – at the moment – an enemy of the state.

Meanwhile, Somewhere in Africa. Man-Ape is trying to build an army. Man-Ape is the leader of the other Wakandan tribe, the minority. He would have liked Black Panther to marry someone of their tribe, to bring peace between the factions.

The Next Morning, after some love making. T’Challa wants to know what Ororo wants to do this Friday night. They can have dinner at the White House or Prince’s house. If you get invited to Prince’s house, you drop everything and go go go! She has plans, which surprises him. She has a Bachelorette Party to get to! We get the first hint that T’Challa does not care for the X-Men, as he insults that Rogue would hire Eros as a stripper. No one would invite Eros to any function, if they wanted to have a good time. Ororo tells him that he should have his party on Friday.

On a Quinjet, Cage is trying to get T’Challa to lighten up but he is not looking forward to this. Wolverine wishes they were going to Madripoor but Cage is taking them to Brazil.

That flashback of T’Challa’s cousin, that didn’t make any sense – apparently a Malice type of character has taken over the cousin’s body. Malice wants to take over Storm’s body to then jump to T’Challa’s body. Maybe she needs to jump between genders, or something?

At the strip club, we are treated to three character’s catch phrases. Thing’s My Sweet Aunt Petuna. Luke Cage’s Sweet Christmas (my personal favorite). Namor’s Imperius Rex.

The cousin’s name is, T’Shan, I’m glad someone finally name checked him. Thanks Hudlin slash Cage.

I’m not a fan of strip clubs. I do think I could run one, rather well. Mine would specialized in ladies who don’t have any tattoos, or one that doesn’t allow stripes that have giant body part tattoos. I think it would be a real hit.

Midtown Manhattan. Storm, Kitty and Susan discover that it is Princess Zanda, who is impersonating her. I like Storm calling Zanda, the Paris Hilton of Africa.

Kitty makes a “Flavor of Love” reference, Hudlin writes Kitty pretty hip, and I like that.

Zanda gets to counter Storm’s earlier comment and calls Storm a, street urchin.

Storm lightning strikes Zanda’s dumb face. Zanda stands ready for round two. Kitty is ready to start punching fools but Storm tells her to stand down, as they are above this. Storm punches her out, Batman style.

Ororo and T’Challa meet up again, he came home early. He is glad to report that Thing and Namor never traded blows. Issue ends with both of them stating that they are ready for the big wedding.

Mail to the King! Letters page. Ed Francis of St. Louis, MO / Guido Cuadros F.A. of Lima, Peru / Lakethius Johnson.

All New X-Men 39 – Faith Erin Hicks Variant

Posted by John Klein III on November 26, 2015

Posted in: Review. Tagged: All New, Hicks - Faith Erin. Leave a comment

Cover Faith Erin Hicks

Thanks to the great comic book store, Kelly’s Komix, in Great Falls – I was able to get this variant for cover price! Pretty awesome, thanks!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kellys-Komix/101867169919242

Such a great store! I liked that store more than Bozeman’s Rook’s Comics and Games, which is largely games at this point.

My review for the issue proper, can be found here –

All New X-Men 39

. . .

Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody!

Black Panther Volume Four Issue 16

Posted by John Klein III on November 25, 2015

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Black Panther, Bride of the Panther, Eaton - Scot, Hudlin - Reginald, Janson - Klaus. Leave a comment

Writer Reginald Hudlin

Penciler Scot Eaton

Inks Klaus Janson

Colors Dean White

Letterers VC’s Randy Gentile

Cover Dated July 2006

Bride of the Panther, Part Three of Five

We will be reviewing parts three, four and five – I only own those ones. The first two parts deal with T’Challa wanting a wife and looking for a wife in the superhero community. He proposed to Storm and she accepted, now they are going to make their big announcement to the world.

Wakanda. In a barber shop, one guy is upset that Black Panther isn’t marrying a Wakandan woman. In a beauty salon, a few women wonder if Storm can produce heirs for the kingdom. Two Wakandan scientists would like to run some DNA tests on Storm, to learn more about mutations. This page ends with more traditional Wakandans wondering if their king is moving too fast, as he hasn’t dated Storm, at all.

Avengers Tower. Spider-Man calls out to his wife, Mary Jane – so in the Post-Brand New Day era, the Avengers let his serious girlfriend live in Avengers Tower? That makes sense, right?

Black Panther and Storm have sent the Avengers a holographic message, inviting the team to their wedding. The Avengers are – Luke Cage, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America and Spider-Woman. Captain America is super supportive of the couple, T’Challa is a close friend of Cap’s. Luke Cage is excited about the prospect of a Bachelor Party.

Westchester, New York. The X-Men gather around the announcement. They are – Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Wolverine, Cyclops and Emma Frost – if only this was an official line up, of any X-Title. The X-Men have a very drastic opinion of the couple. Kurt can’t believe Storm is going to stay in Africa. Wolverine comments that none of the X-Boys had a shot with Storm. Cyclops is sad that the team has lost one of their best leaders.

Kitty, being a great friend of Storm’s, is upset with her teammates. Kitty is super supportive of Storm. The boys quickly turn around on their opinions.

There is a Got Milk? ad with Brandon Routh as Superman.

The Baxter Building. Thing wonders what the dress code is going to be. Sue seems to be jealous that she isn’t getting to marry T’Challa, that Storm is one lucky lady.

The South of France. Princess Zanda, who I can only imagine is Black Panther’s Catwoman – in that she fights him but she also loves him. She is not thrilled that he isn’t marrying her and sets out to do something about it.

SHIELD Helicarrier. SHIELD is preparing for the security detail that is going to be massive and a huge headache.

The Bronx, New York. The Captain America from Truth : Red, White & Black – one of the many guys who was ‘tested’ on prior to Steve Rogers got the proper treatment. Captain America villain, Protocide, essentially has the same origin. This Captain America, Isaiah Bradley, is the grandfather of Young Avengers’ Patriot, and is one of the government’s best kept secrets.

Back in Wakanda. Security is also concern with all of the costumed types and political figures, being in the country. Though they consider Storm to be the biggest risk to the country.

Washington DC. T’Challa’s last girlfriend, Monica Lynne – who broke up with him, is upset that he is getting married.

Dallas, Texas. I really do like how detailed Hudlin gets with all of these pages, he really did his research. Forge seems okay with the wedding announcement, as his time with Storm is history, at this point.

The United Nations. T’Challa’s cousin is making peace with his rivalry but also has a dark secret that I’m not that interested in.

There is a double page ad for the Honda Civic.

Somewhere over the Atlantic. Black Panther is trying to locate Storm’s family, on her father’s side. In X-Men Annual 1 (2006), she located her mother’s African side. Black Panther and his cracked research team, has located her grandparents and a grand-nephew.

New Jersey. Hydra has also located them, and they defend themselves rather well. Their last names are Munroe, so did Storm not do even a courtesy Ancestry.com search? It makes sense that they don’t know that Storm is related to them, as I imagine the general public, doesn’t track the X-Men and they don’t know the X-Men’s real names. The Munroes believe that Hydra comes a-knocking, due to their revolutionary days.

Issue ends, Somewhere in Africa. Man-Ape, a Black Panther villain, has decided that he will be the villain that crashes the wedding. He feels compelled to do so, as Red Skull is dead / Magneto is missing and the Green Goblin is in jail.

. . .

With this issue, we start the celebration leading to my wife and mine sixth anniversary of our wedding. Oh how fast time goes by!

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28

Posted by John Klein III on November 24, 2015

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Asrar, Bellaire, Sabino - Joe, Ultimate, Wood. Leave a comment

Writer Brian Wood

Penciler Mahmud Asrar

Inker Juan Vlasco

Colorist Bellaire

Lettering & Production Joe Sabino

Natural Resources, Part Five of Five

Cover Dated August 2013

This is another comic that I got in Great Falls from Kelly’s Komix. With this purchase, I now own all of the regular issues of this series. Now my Wishlist, only has the two variants for the first issue, and the variants for issues 13 and 29.

This the conclusion of the American military invading Utopia (a plot of dead land given to the mutants, in New Mexico – that they turn it around and made into a living and thriving land). It also sets up the next storyline, Utopia (Shadowcat) v Tian (Jean Grey).

No wonder Bendis wanted Asrar for his All New X-Men visiting the Ultimate X-Men storyline.

This issue opens with Rogue, who has always been close to “Utopia” the greenery of the land. She speaks to it and believes it speaks to her, and she sics the foliage onto the invading military. It does so, with ease.

Jean is with a dying Psylocke, or whoever this is suppose to be as Psylocke has died twice already, in the Ultimate Universe. The first time, she switched bodies with a Japanese gal (of course) and then some time again, after that. Before she dies, she tells Jean that her mission was to perverse the end of the mutant race. She entrusts Jean with this mission. Farbird, who is Jean’s right hand flying metal spy fella, is Jean’s companion here.

I do like how Wood, throughout his run on this title, choose to skip big fight scenes and just show the beginning and the tail end of them. We don’t need to waste a page or four, with people throwing punches and kicks. General Ross (that one) calls for a cease fire. With Psylocke’s death, the mutants she was controlling are now free.

Shadowcat, now that the fighting is over, allows Ross to approach her.

I do miss seeing Ultimate Shadowcat, dressed all in white. I still say that it is an odd choice for someone is essentially living out in the desert and on the land, but she rarely gets dirty, so she makes it work. The clothes really make her stand out. Plus, it is always good to have a color scheme. Not sure why that idea was dropped for All New Ultimates, probably because not many people read Ultimate Comics X-Men, especially not those who work for Ultimate Marvel, as nothing in this run is ever referenced in All New Ultimates nor anything that Bendis wrote.

Ross has ordered a full retreat and withdrawal. Ross offers some advice, Shadowcat has won their independence, they own their land and an ideology. His advice is that she should try to not reminding humans how scary mutants can be. Mutants should lay low, which is the opposite of what Jean will be doing next.

Shadowcat informs Ross, that that was never mutants intentions. Mutants are the victims and the “let’s blame the victims” mentality needs to end. Mutants have tried to hide and they are always chased from the shadows. Ross tries to turn it around, saying that they are young and should live life and enjoy life. Shadowcat informs him, and I love how she isn’t just going to allow him to talk in generalities – she tells him that they all wish they could have had childhoods.

Once the military is gone, the X-Men try to rebuild. Mach Two and Shadowcat hug it out, as they no longer need to be fighting over leadership – especially as Mach Two isn’t being mind controlled. Which explains why Mach Two had such a drastic character change from the scared little girl Shadowcat found in the old Morlock tunnels, to being so confident and causing a rift in the mutant community of Utopia.

The mutants have grown, Shadowcat’s ideology was never compromised, they stayed on target. The mutants are proud, pleased and loyal.

Jean and Farbird are discussing their next plans. She orders him to go to Tian, in under two hours (he would prefer three) and access her Operation : Supersonic project. Jean is hoping to not go this far but if she must, she will.

There is an ad for Guardians of the Galaxy 5, Angela (from the pages of Spawn) is joining the title. Brought to us by Bendis, Gaiman and Pichelli – but Gaiman is mostly there for the copyright issue. The issue came out in July 2013, and Angela is in the Marvel Universe due to the events of Age of Ultron.

Shadowcat and Jean are having an official meeting. Shadowcat is pleased to see that Jean is no longer pretending to be “Karen Grant.” Jean can’t believe that Shadowcat could see through that disguise. Shadowcat states it is due to the sentient seed, which I was tempted to refer to the jungle as “the seed” which should teach me to not read the full issue before doing the review for it. But I sort of like reading the comic and writing the review at the same time. Shadowcat was never fooled by the disguise.

I love how Shadowcat crosses the room, with such confidence. She refuses to let Utopia fall under the umbrella of the hateful, Tian. Shadowcat wants Utopia to be a save haven for mutants and humans, to co-exist. Especially as segregated societies have never worked, anywhere nor anytime.

Jean will never understand Utopia and should just leave.

Jean grabs Shadowcat, by the neck, and shouts at her. I’m reminded that Jean and Kitty barely had any real scenes together, so it isn’t like they were ever best friends. Jean was always on the A-Team and Kitty ran with the B-Team, hence why she survived post Ultimatum.

Jean calls Utopia an embarrassment to mutants and Shadowcat just phases Jean’s hand always from her – so great. Shadowcat is not prone to fighting, as it is mostly pointless.

Jean is finally willing to listen to reason. I like how slyly Shadowat hints that Jean doesn’t have her telepathy here, the jungle shuts it down. Shadowcat wouldn’t have minded a Sister Nation partnership between the two communities but she refuses to work with Jean.

I get why Bendis didn’t want to use this Jean in his All New / Ultimate crossover and Wood did try to calm her down at the end of his run on this title, but I can never forget that Ultimate Jean was practically all powerful, at one point in time.

Jean tries to intimidate Shadowcat, by going full Phoenix but Shadowcat doesn’t blink. It is clearly a desperation move.

Kitty tells Jean to go home, which is so great. Jimmy James is impress that Utopia, once again, didn’t have to fight to win the battle.

The issue ends with World War X being teased as Project : Supersonic is brought to ‘stand by status’

I have reviewed, World War X, already, which is pretty handy and not usually how it works here at S&FwM.

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