Inferno 2

Posted by John Klein III on January 23, 2016
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Inferno 2

Writer Dennis Hopeless

Art Javier Garron

Colors Chris Sotomayor

Letters VC’s Joe Sabino

The Streets of Inferno.

Issue opens with a Morlock looking dude dragging Meltdown’s almost dead body to his master.  Who is a scientist.

Inferno 2 Magik mention 1

Goblin District, Inferno.  Maddie Pryor has summoned the bulk of her horde.  She introduces Colossus to them and then throws him down at them. I love her insults about Colossus, and his tiny red shorts.

S’ym and Havok have a quick discussion, explaining (to us, I imagine) what the Goblin Queen’s true intentions are.  She is hoping to incite a riot and force Colossus to fight back the masses and earn their respect.

One of the demons, riding a giant green T-Rex like demon, takes the first shot at Colossus.  The goblin has the ability to possess anything demonic – so he is able to control Colossus’ right arm that Darkchild twisted and corrupted.

Colossus has already spent six of his allotted twenty four hours.  I don’t quite recall what happens at the twenty four hour period, besides Cyclops getting to say, I told you so.   Colossus gets mad enough to drop the goblin.

Inferno 2 Magik Mention 2

Maddie Pryor is happy that her scheme is working.  Colossus discovered Illyana’s soulsword and grabs it.  His Rasputin blood makes it so that he can wield it.  It helps that he uses his demon enchanted hand.  It makes him radically stronger (and cooler).  The horde now both fear and respect him.  He can be the leader now.

The Goblin Queen’s Prision.  Meanwhile .  . . Domino runs into young Nate Summers, whose Techno-Organic virus is running rampant over his left side of his body.  They are getting along nicely, which is an awesome call back to their friendship in the former Marvel Universe.  They bond over their mutual love for armory.

Inferno 2 Darkchild 1

The Darkchild’s Base of Operations.  We see what Darkchild is up to with Nightcrawler, it isn’t good.

Darkchild has been torturing her former friend (it has been five years so the friendship is probably waning).  as another demon watches and enjoys the show.  The demon’s name is, N’astirh.  Kurt makes the mistake of referring to his soul, which Darkchild is attempting to break.

Inferno 2 Darkchild 2

Poor poor Kurt.  He gets his soul ripped out of him!  This title just got even more intense!

Inferno 2 Magik Mention 3

Colossus wants to know where Maddie got his sister’s sword.  Illyana, apparently, got cocky and dropped it and never came back for it.  Colossus starts to have a running commentary in his head but Pryor can read his mind, which is new.

The Goblin Queen suggests a partnership, as they both want the same thing – Illyana Rasputin, back to the way she was.

Inferno 2 Magik Mention 4

Colossus wants Illyana alive and Pyror doesn’t necessarily need that to be the case.  She explains that the soulsword, used against the Darkchild, should save her.

A grenade is dropped into the room and Colossus takes the blunt of it.  Domino comes in, armed and Nate can’t believe what his new friend is attempting to do.  Nathan is upset as he doesn’t want his mother to be harmed.  Colossus strikes Nathan, which is harsh as he is a man and Nathan is barely a teenager.

Inferno 2 Magik Mention 5

This may be my favorite page of the issue.  I sort of love seeing Maddie being a mother to Nathaniel, we barely got to see that in the proper issues.

Nathan wants to be called, Cable and the look on Maddie’s face is awesome and priceless.

Colossus is reunited with his girlfriend, Domino, so he only needs to find Kurt and Meltdown now.

Inferno 2 Darkchild 3

Gagzee, a spy – I imagine – quickly tells Darkchild that her brother not only has her souldsword but has aligned himself with the Goblin Queen.

Darkchild isn’t even breaking a sweat.

Inferno 2 Darkchild 4

The issue ends with Darkchild revealing Nightcrawler’s current state, which looks like an awesome dragon thing.  It most likely resembles a proper nightcrawler, but larger.  Shit is getting real, yo!

It isn’t that as a nightcrawler is a worm, which I forget that.

I can’t wait for the third issue!

Marvel 2016 April Solicitations

Posted by John Klein III on January 22, 2016
Posted in: Solicitations. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

http://www.newsarama.com/27576-marvel-comics-april-2016-solicitations.html

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #8
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • MIKE DEODATo (A/C)
“THE WAR MACHINES” PART 3!
• Spider-Man, War Machine and Iron Man team up to stop a brand new threat to the Marvel Universe… like only they can. All this plus more hints to next summer’s insane Marvel blockbuster event.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

            Makes sense that Spider-Man will show up in this title, with Mary Jane being around now.

 BLACK PANTHER #1
TA-NEHISI COATES (W) • BRIAN STELFREEZE (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY ALEX ROSS
VARIANT COVER BY OLIVIER COIPEL
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY BRIAN STELFREEZE
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER A BY SANFORD GREENE
DESIGN VARIANT COVER BY BRIAN STELFREEZE
BLACK PANTHER 50TH ANNIVERSARY VARIANT COVER BY FELIPE SMITH
VARIANT COVER BY RYAN SOOK
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
GAME VARIANT COVER BY KABAM
BLANK COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
A new era for the Black Panther starts here!
Written by MacArthur Genius and National Book Award winner TA-NEHISI COATES (Between the World and Me) and illustrated by living legend BRIAN STELFREEZE, “A Nation Under Our Feet” is a story about dramatic upheaval in Wakanda and the Black Panther’s struggle to do right by his people as their ruler. The indomitable will of Wakanda — the famed African nation known for its vast wealth, advanced technology and warrior traditions — has long been reflected in the will of its monarchs, the Black Panthers. But now the current Black Panther, T’Challa, finds that will tested by a superhuman terrorist group called The People that has sparked a violent uprising among the citizens of Wakanda. T’Challa knows the country must change to survive — the question is, will the Black Panther survive the change?
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

This title makes sense too, and I’ll be skipping it for the time being.

GWENPOOL #1
CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS (W) • GURIHIRU (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY FRANCISCO HERRERA
VARIANT COVER BY STACEY LEE
hip-hop variant COVER by WOO DAE SHIM
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
BLANK COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
2015’s overnight internet sensation takes center stage in her own ongoing series! Gwen Poole used to be a comic book reader just like you…until she woke up in a world where the characters she read about seemed to be real! But they can’t be, right? This must all be fake, or a dream or something, right? And you know what that means…NO CONSEQUENCES! Could Gwenpool truly be Marvel’s least responsible and least role-modely character to date? She can if she tries!
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

Well, this is another non-surprised but I’ll be skipping this fad until I have a reason to pay attention to it.

MOON KNIGHT #1
JEFF LEMIRE (W) • GREG SMALLWOOD (A/C)
Variant Cover by ERIC POWELL
Hip-hop variant cover by RICARDO LOPEZ ORTIZ
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
THE BOOK YOU’D BE INSANE TO MISS!
Marc Spector (a.k.a. Moon Knight/Jake Lockley/Steven Grant) has been fighting criminals and keeping New York City safe for years… or has he? When he wakes up in an insane asylum with no powers and a lifetime’s worth of medical records, his whole identity (indentities) are called into question. Something is wrong, but is that something Marc Spector himself? Jeff Lemire (EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN) and rising star Greg Smallwood are calling everything you know about Moon Knight into question.
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

Another kooky Moon Knight title that I’ll be passing on.

 SPIDER-WOMEN ALPHA #1
Story by JASON LATOUR, DENNIS HOPELESS & ROBBIE THOMPSON
ROBBIE THOMPSON (W) • VANESA DEL REY (A)
Cover by YASMINE PUTRI
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER A BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
VARIANT COVER BY STACEY LEE
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
SPIDER-WOMEN PART 1!
The Spider-Event of 2016 is here, bringing SPIDER-GWEN, SILK and SPIDER-WOMAN together for a story too big for any one of their books! Spider-Woman is taking a mentor-role with Silk and Spider-Gwen, and the three spider-heroes take a brunch break on Gwen’s Earth-65. But when the nefarious spy organization S.I.L.K. and their leader (Earth-65’s Cindy Moon) notice the interdimensional interlopers, all of Jessica Drew’s plans go wrong.
40 PGS./One-Shot/Rated T+ …$4.99

SPIDER-WOMEN CHECKLIST
MARCH:
PART ONE – SPIDER-WOMEN ALPHA #1
PART TWO – SPIDER-GWEN #7
PART THREE – SILK #7
PART FOUR – SPIDER-WOMAN #6
APRIL:
PART FIVE – SPIDER-GWEN #8
PART SIX – SILK #8
PART SEVEN – SPIDER-WOMAN #7
PART EIGHT – SPIDER-WOMEN OMEGA #1

            I like this, conceptually, but I won’t be buying any of these.

SPIDER-MAN & SILK: THE SPIDER(FLY) EFFECT #2 (OF 4)
ROBBIE THOMPSON (W)
TODD NAUCK & TOM GRUMMETT (A)
COVER BY Stacey Lee
• Spider-Man & Silk have gone back in time…
• …and accidentally stopped their own origins from happening!
• Thankfully, a friendly Forest Hills local is there to help out…
• …A nice man named BEN.
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

             This does sound like a fun miniseries and it could be a nice emotional moment with this moment

 NEW AVENGERS #9
AL EWING (W) • Marcus To (A)
Cover By Leinil Yu
A STANDOFF tie-in!
• Up from the depths! Thirty stories high! He salutes the flag and eats apple pie!
• Corporal Todd Ziller is the AMERICAN KAIJU – America’s ultimate weapon against renegade super-science!
• And he’s going to get the Whisperer back in custody – if he has to break Avengers Island in two!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

            I was enjoying reading this but then the actual plotpoint cropped up and now I’m back to not being interested.

NEW AVENGERS #10
AL EWING (W) • Marcus To (A)
Cover by Declan Shalvey
A STANDOFF tie-in!
• What could possibly hold its own against the American Kaiju? None other than – AVENGER FIVE!
• Five New Avengers in the ultimate ultra-vehicle – fighting to save A.I.M.! But are they giving up their freedom – or their lives?
• Plus: The traitor revealed! Sunspot’s secret schemes! And the guest-star reveal you’ve been waiting for!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Could this be Kitty Pryde finally joining the Avengers? I doubt it.

AVENGERS STANDOFF:
ASSAULT ON PLEASANT HILL OMEGA #1
NICK SPENCER (W) • DANIEL ACUñA (A/C)
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER B BY ART ADAMS
WRAPAROUND VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
A STANDOFF tie-in!
• This is it! The explosive finale to the spring’s blockbuster Avengers event!
• Lost heroes return, new threats emerge, and the stage is set for major upheavals all throughout the Marvel Universe!
40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99

Many of these tie-ins don’t sound good at all.

HYPERION #2
CHUCK WENDIG (W) • Nik Virella (A)
Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
IT’S HYPERION VERSUS THE CARNIVAL!
• Hyperion has shown his true atomic hero self to the hitchhiker, Doll, and now he and her are right in the crosshairs of a crew of hell-powered freaks and deviants.
• Throw in a murder mystery, a crime syndicate and a stray dog and it all adds up to an unholy heap of trucker trouble.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I wonder how crucial the stray dog is.

 A-FORCE #4
G. WILLOW WILSON & KELLY THOMPSON (W) • JORGE MOLINA (A/C)
• Does defeating Antimatter mean the end of Singularity? As Singularity faces Antimatter on her own, prepared to sacrifice her own existence, A-Force rallies behind her. With Tempest Bell’s help, SHE-HULK, CAPTAIN MARVEL, MEDUSA, and NICO MINORU make a final bid to save Singularity from destruction while still saving the world from Antimatter’s ever-growing threat. But every action has a cost, and what will these actions cost A-Force?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

The stakes do seem rather high with this!

 THE ASTONISHING ANT-MAN #7
NICK SPENCER (W) • RAMON ROSANAS (A)
COVER BY MARK BROOKS
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
STORY THUS FAR VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS SAMNEE
CIVIL WAR VARIANT COVER BY GREG HORN
“Small Time Criminal” STARTS NOW!
When The Power Broker hits Ant-Man where he’s most vulnerable, he’ll respond the only way he knows how: That’s right. By breaking the law. Lots of laws, actually. The secret of how Scott landed back in jail is revealed here. (Because that’s what happens when you break a bunch of laws, genius.)
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

            That’s a pretty funny final line there.

AMADEUS CHO: GENIUS AT WORK
GREG PAK & FRED VAN LENTE (W) • TAKESHI MIYAZAWA, GARY FRANK & RODNEY BUCHEMI (A)
Cover by GARY FRANK
• Get to know Cho! That’s teen genius Amadeus Cho, the seventh smartest person in the world — but who’s counting?
• When Cho is declared “Mastermind Excello” by an intelligence contest, his life suddenly spins out of control — and now he’ll need all his smarts just to stay alive!
• Luckily, Cho — and his adorable coyote pup, Kirby — quickly meet and befriend two of the Marvel Universe’s strongest powerhouses: Hercules and the Incredible Hulk!
• When Cho investigates his sister’s fate, a complex web begins to unravel. Who has been manipulating him? And why?
• Can the seventh smartest person on the planet solve the riddle of his own past and future?
• Collecting material from AMAZING FANTASY (2004) #15; INCREDIBLE HULK (2000) #100; and INCREDIBLE HERCULES #126, #133, #135 and #137.
104 PGS./ One-Shot/Rated T+ …$7.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90101-1

            Pretty smart to release this, not sure why it didn’t come out when issue one of Totally Awesome Hulk did, that would have been the time to do it.

Marvel April 2016 Solicitations Star Lord 6 Dave Johnson cover
Art by Dave Johnson

 STAR-LORD #6
SAM HUMPHRIES (W) • JAVIER GARRON (A)
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
STORY THUS FAR VARIANT COVER BY TBA
STAR-KITTY ‘TIL THE END OF THE UNIVERSE! (OH, WAIT, THAT HAPPENED…)
The engagement of the galaxy is over! But Peter Quill and Kitty Pryde still have to share a ship, and work, and friends, and…yeesh. This is going to get awkward, isn’t it? Well, fortunately they’re surrounded by caring, communicative teammates like…Drax…and Groot…and Rocket…Hoo boy. This is going to be VERY awkward.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Finally, finally we are going to get this story! So they are no longer together – that’s a huge shame! Super awkward, indeed!

GUARDIANS OF INFINITY #5
DAN ABNETT & JEFF KING (W) • CARLO BARBERI & FLAVIANO ARMENTARO (A)
Cover by GARY CHOO
CALLING ALL GUARDIANS!
• Hermetikus’s evil ambitions are tremendous—you could say they’re GALACTIC in scale!
• Does this villain hold a strange connection to the Guardians 1000?
• Even though Rocket, Drax and Groot have joined a GUARDIANS SUPERGROUP, they might be in over their heads!
• Plus! Writer JEFF KING (White Collar) and artist FLAVIANO ARMENTERO show you what happens when Rocket and Kitty act as bodyguards for an interplanetary whistleblower!
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

           Someone finally heard me! Kitty (and Rocket) is spotlighted in the backup! Wish this wasn’t a five dollar comic but these things happen. Hopefully not a new trend.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #7
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • VALERIO SCHITI (A)
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
CIVIL WAR VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• BEN GRIMM: SPACE BARBARIAN!
• The Thing might miss some things about Earth, but he does admit that space has its perks. Riding alien horses into epic battles is one of them!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

            From the description, I don’t think that is Kitty on the cover. Looks like we’re getting a Thing solo adventure.

HOWARD THE DUCK #6
CHIP ZDARSKY & RYAN NORTH (W) • JOE QUINONES & ERICA HENDERSON (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY JOE QUINONES & PAOLO RIVERA
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER B BY TRADD MOORE
THE CONCLUSION OF “ANIMAL HOUSE,” A CROSSOVER WITH THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL!
• WATCH! Howard show Squirrel Girl how to be a REAL hero for a change, for which she is eternally grateful!
• LEARN! what happened in last month’s UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #6 from the recap page!
• LISTEN! to a nice audio file of nature sounds made by Chip & Ryan while you read this VERY good story!
• LOVE! all the guest stars! Like one of the blue guys from X-MEN! And a pretty cool van!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

            This solicts are always fun! I hope it is a guest appearance by Nightcrawler and not Beast.

SILVER SURFER #4
DAN SLOTT (W) • MIKE ALLRED (A/C)
• Massive fallout from the events of Silver Surfer’s 50th Anniversary issue.
• There is a price to pay for what Norrin Radd has done.
• Some actions can never be taken back…or forgiven.
• Will any of Earth’s heroes stand by the Silver Surfer’s side in this, his greatest moment of need?
• A mythic tale in the Mighty Marvel Manner! Guest starring The Avengers, The Thing and major characters from around the Marvel Universe.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

            Looks like Kitty didn’t get involved in last issue’s hijinks from those who appear on the cover. Also from that cover, Silver Surfer may need a few more pillows. That board can’t be comfortable to lay on, or stand on for long periods of time.

DOCTOR STRANGE #7
JASON AARON (W) • CHRIS BACHALO (A)
CIVIL WAR VARIANT COVER BY TBA
LAST DAYS OF MAGIC, PART 2
• As all of his magic dissipates, Doctor Strange is at the mercy of THE IMPERATOR!
• The powerless sorcerer is no longer supreme and can’t possibly best a super-powered foe hell-bent on his destruction.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

He should probably call former student, Magik, for help!

 DOCTOR STRANGE: LAST DAYS OF MAGIC #1
JASON AARON, GERRY DUGGAN & JAMES ROBINSON (W)
MIKE PERKINS, DANILO BEYRUTH and AFU CHAN (A)
Cover by MIKE PERKINS
VARIANT COVER BY KEVIN MAGUIRE
VARIANT COVER BY SHANE DAVIS
This companion to the “LAST DAYS OF MAGIC” epic! THE EMPIRIKUL, led by The Imperator, are destroying all magic and magic users in the Marvel Universe. Jason Aaron brings you Doctor Strange and Wong’s secret history and the ultimate sacrifice that Wong makes! Gerry Duggan shows Brother Voodoo’s stand against the evil magic-eaters. James Robinson introduces a new magic figure in the Marvel U just in time for her last stand!
56 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$5.99

            This also seems like something that should have come out at the beginning of the arc. It wasn’t like Marvel was afraid of too many number ones.

A YEAR OF MARVELS: THE AMAZING #1
RYAN NORTH, AMY CHU (W) • DANILO BEYRUTH, RYAN BROWNE (A)
COVER BY JAMAL CAMPBELL
• Join us in a brand new Marvel comics adventure as your favorite heroes journey through the calendar year one month at a time!
• It’s February and Peter Parker’s got a hot date, but the old Parker luck hits hard…and so does the bank-robbing villain The Vulture! It’s a tale of romance, adventure, and punching! From Ryan North (SQUIRREL GIRL) and Danilo Beyruth!
• When business is down in March, Scott Lang’s Ant-Man Security Solutions will take just about any job offered to them – including stealing back stolen goods! But all is not as it seems! Join writer Amy Chu (Poison Ivy) and artist Ryan Browne (SECRET WARS TOO) as they team together for this Spring Break themed heist!
40 PGS./One-Shot/Rated T+ …$4.99

            Hopefully the X-Men get a month or the new Guardians of the Galazy!

PATSY WALKER, A.K.A. HELLCAT! #5
KATE LETH (W) • BRITTNEY L. WILLIAMS (A/C)
• Hellcat’s out of the bag! I guess she was never in one, but she IS trapped, along with her
favorite shieldmaiden, VALKYRIE! Not only that, but she’s late for a very important meeting with
the infamous HEDY WOLFE.
• Can Patsy and friends make it out of this one? Answer: NO! They all die and the series is over.
• APRIL FOOLS!
•…Or is it?!?!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

            Another fun write-up, it must be the same person, right?

CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS #7
AL EWING (W) • Rhoald Marcellius (A)
Cover by Paco Medina
VARIANT COVER BY Ron Lim
“Ultimate Fighting” STARTS NOW!
After the cataclysmic events of last issue — Battlerealm will never be the same! But Earth’s ultimate superteam has discovered the Contest — and they don’t like it at all! Is this the end of Maestro’s dream of power? Or the start of a whole new Contest of Champions? Fan-fave writer Al Ewing combines two of his new series into one can’t-miss epic!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

            What is the other title? He isn’t writing Hulk and I can’t think of what it could be. Odd ot not promote it here.

THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #7
RYAN NORTH (W) • ERICA HENDERSON (A/C)
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY COLLEEN DORAN
VARIANT COVER BY SIYA OUM
STORY THUS FAR VARIANT BY DAN HIPP
a) This special issue, called “BE THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL,” puts YOU in control of THE MOST POWERFUL CHARACTER IN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE. Will you fight crime and save the day? Or will you be a complete jerk and use her powers to tell everyone off?
b) I’m serious: these are actual choices, and you have to make them RIGHT NOW? To be Squirrel Girl and fight crime, turn to c). To be Squirrel Girl and be a jerk instead, turn to e).
c) Well, you’re in luck vis-a-vis crime-fighting, because Squirrel Girl is going to be facing off against SWARM, a bad guy made out of bees! And that’s not all. To learn more about the other bad guys she can face, turn to d)! But if INSTEAD you’d like to stop reading this and get excited about this book and maybe order it, please: feel free!
d) Nice try, but we’ve got to keep SOME surprises for the book! You decide to definitely buy this comic and see who they are. THE END.
e) What? No, why would you even want to be a jerk? Geez, man, maybe this ISN’T the comic for you. Turn to b) and answer better this time!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

      I wonder how this is going to work with only 22 pages of story. I’ll have to check it out as I’m a big fan of CYOA books.

 POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #3
DAVID WALKER (W) • SANFORD GREENE (A/C)
Variant COVER by KERON GRANT
BROMANCING THE STONE!
• POWER MAN and IRON FIST are swimming through New York City’s currents of crime trying to retrieve the SUPERSOUL STONE. Beware the underworld undertow!
• Meanwhile, JENNIE and BLACK MARIAH’s nefarious plans begin to bear fruit.
• With a magic-fueled crisis at its tipping point and all of New York hanging in the balance it’s the perfect atmosphere to rekindle a smoldering friendship, so GET IT TOGETHER ALREADY, LUKE AND DANNY!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

            I do like telling people “to get it together” or “come on!” “Be better” is another Klein househould favorite.

UNCANNY X-MEN #6
CULLEN BUNN (W) • Ken Lashley (A)
COVER BY GREG LAND
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER B BY KEN LASHLEY
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
STORY THUS FAR VARIANT COVER BY TBA
“APOCALYPSE WARS” CONTINUES!
The first time original X-Man Archangel met Apocalypse, he was transformed into the homicidal Horseman of Death. Breaking free of Apocalypse’s grasp, Archangel eventually returned to the X-Men and formed a relationship with his teammate, Psylocke. Now, years later, Psylocke has found a vacant, drone-like Archangel in the guise of Death once more. Fearing he’s again fallen under Apocalypse’s sway, Psylocke and her team of X-Men embark on a mission to save Archangel’s life. But little do they know that they are about to discover a far more horrifying truth than they could have imagined…
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #9
JEFF LEMIRE (W) • HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)
CIVIL WAR VARIANT COVER BY TBA
“APOCALYPSE WARS” PART TWO!
• Trapped in the distant future, Colossus and his team of Young X-Men race across a dying Earth to protect the key to mutantkind’s survival!
• But Apocalypse and his new horsemen are in hot pursuit, eager to take it from them.
• Will the Extraordinary X-Men arrive in time to save the future of their species AND their friends?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Hopefully Magik appears in this crossover, at some point. Time travel, I’m not crazy about as Apoclypase should be big enough of a story to tackle. I wonder who Apocalypse’s new horsemen are. Could be the movie peeps – Magneto, Storm, Caliban and Psylocke.

OLD MAN LOGAN #4
JEFF LEMIRE (W) • ANDREA SORRENTINO (A/C)
CIVIL WAR VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• Hellbent on keeping his future from coming to pass, Old Man Logan is on a one-man mission of MURDER across the
Marvel Universe.
• But hoping to end his friend’s rampage, Logan’s OLDEST friend comes to his aid…
• That’s right, it’s OLD MAN LOGAN vs. OLD MAN ROGERS!
• Here’s hoping this fight isn’t decided by natural causes…
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

            Future Old Wolverine and Current Old Captain America is a fun story idea.

ALL-NEW WOLVERINE #7
Tom Taylor (W) • Marcio Takara (A)
Cover by Bengal
• The battle has been fought, and won—but at what cost? As Laura and Gabby attempt to move on with their lives, Wolverine’s past seems destined to catch up with her, and wreak havoc.
• Logan’s legacy has cast a long shadow, how can Laura hope to step out of it?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

            People seem to be upset over at the X-Books Forum of CBR, that the cover is a major spoiler. I suppose they thought all of X23’s clones were going to end up dead. Instead, the youngest one (and fan favorite) is going to be All New Wolverine’s new teen girl sidekick – which is a fun twist on an old formula.

X-MEN: WORST X-MAN EVER #3 (OF 5)
MAX BEMIS (W) • MICHAEL WALSH (A/C)
• Bailey struggles to fit in among his hated and fear compatriates.
• PLUS: Meet possibly the most powerful X-Man ever…Miranda?
• Max Bemis’s Mutant Masterpiece continues here!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

   For some odd reason, Hastings’ copies of the first two issues have been delayed like crazy. I know I need the first issue for sure.

 MIRACLEMAN BY GAIMAN & BUCKINGHAM: THE SILVER AGE #3
NEIL GAIMAN (W) • MARK BUCKINGHAM (A/C)
Variant Cover by CARLOS PACHECO
Variant Cover by DAVID AJA
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
Hip-Hop Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
• The wait is over!
• Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham present the story you’ve waited decades for — the first ALL-NEW chapter in
“The Silver Age!”
• High atop the Himalayas, Dicky Dauntless searches to find his place in the Age of Miracles. He’ll make new friends and encounter a frightening, familiar face — Johnny Bates!
• It’s Young Miracleman and Kid Miracleman face-to-face!
48 PGS./Mature …$4.99

            I still wonder how Marvel is suppose to earn all of their money back from this purchase. $5 is a start, per issue, but that is going to take forever to equal the first million.

 LITTLE MARVEL STANDEE PUNCH-OUT BOOK
Penciled by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Always thought Skottie Young’s incredible artwork leaps off the page? Well, now it does — with a little help — in this colorful collection of punch-out Marvel heroes! Featuring nine sturdy pages filled with die-cut characters just waiting to be popped free, you can build yourself an army of Skottie’s small-fry super-type standees that will serve as an adorable adornment to any home — or place of work! Enliven your living room! Ornament your office! Fashion a mini Marvel chess set! Or just sit down and play Secret Wars with ’em to your heart’s content! From Spider-Man to the Guardians of the Galaxy, they’re all here — and they’ve never looked cuter. Now, make like the junior Avengers and X-Men every time they get together — start punching, and make a stand(ee)!
18 PGS./All Ages …$24.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90202-5

            I wonder how I’m suppose to order this through Hastings. Nine characters for $25 seems a bit much but if one of those is Magik, I’m all over this!

DOCTOR STRANGE VOL. 1: THE WAY OF THE WEIRD PREMIERE HC
Written by JASON AARON
Penciled by CHRIS BACHALO
Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
Only Doctor Strange can protect our world from the darkness beyond — now, witness the full toll that constant struggle takes on Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme! Every spell cast comes at a cost, but what happens when Strange falls behind on his tab? Find out as the good doctor wakes up somewhere very odd, nearly naked — with no spell books, no weapons and no memory of how he got there…or why all the monsters are chasing him! And as a new visitor to Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum learns one wrong door can lead to oblivion, a magic circle of Strange’s friends and allies are about to face their greatest threat. Dark forces are destroying everything mystical in the multiverse, and their sights are set on this dimension. Magic’s days are numbered, and Doctor Strange is not ready! Collecting DOCTOR STRANGE (2015) #1-5.
136 PGS./Rated T+ …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9516-0
Trim size: standard

            Magik is in the fourth issue of this trade, maybe not worth the $25 alone but it has been a good story, thus far.

SPIDER-MAN BY TODD MCFARLANE OMNIBUS HC
Written by TODD MCFARLANE, ROB LIEFELD & FABIAN NICIEZA
Penciled by TODD MCFARLANE & ROB LIEFELD
Cover by TODD MCFARLANE
Todd McFarlane became a superstar illustrating AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, but he changed the industry forever with his next project: the “adjectiveless” SPIDER-MAN! Taking on both writing and art duties, McFarlane ushered Peter Parker into a gritty new era — and it began with “Torment”! When the Big Apple’s streets run red with blood, the web-slinger heads into the sewers to stop the Lizard’s homicidal rampage. But what is driving his old friend and foe? Plus: Ghost Rider lends a bony hand when the deranged Hobgoblin returns, the wall-crawler finds himself at the center of a clash of claws between Wolverine and Wendigo, and Pete goes back in black to face Morbius the Living Vampire! And in the ultimate nineties team-up, Spidey joins X-Force to battle the unstoppable Juggernaut! Collecting SPIDER-MAN (1990) #1-14 and #16, and X-FORCE (1991) #4.
440 PGS./Rated T …$75
ISBN: 978-1-302-90073-1
Trim size: oversized

            Does this mean that McFarlane and Marvel are on speaking terms? Or is the money from this suppose to help bridge the gap. I wonder why his Amazing Spider-Man issues didn’t make this trade, as they came first. That Torment arc is so good and more people should read the Wolverine storyline, that isn’t referenced enough.

ALL-NEW X-MEN: INEVITABLE VOL. 1 – GHOSTS OF CLYCLOPS TPB
Written by DENNIS HOPELESS
Penciled by MARK BAGLEY
Cover by MARK BAGLEY
More than ever, hatred and fear have made the world a dangerous place for mutants. But as the few remaining X-Men retreat into seclusion, a handful of mutant teenagers refuse to allow their destiny to be decided for them! And no one is more concerned about their fate than Scott Summers, whose young shoulders must bear the heavy weight of the terrible acts committed by his adult counterpart. Cyclops is joined by three of his time-torn teammates — Beast, Iceman and Angel — as well as the All-New Wolverine, Kid Apocalypse and Oya. Together, they’re heading out on the highway, looking for adventure, intent on writing their own futures! But when they encounter the baleful Blob, their road trip may end before it begins! Collecting ALL-NEW X-MEN (2015) #1-6.
136 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9630-3

            I guess double shipping means an entire wave of these trades are coming out at the same time. The first issue was pretty decent.

EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN VOL. 1: X-HAVEN TPB
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Penciled by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS
With the fate of mutantkind in the balance, it’s an All-New, All-Different beginning for the X-Men! Staring down a threat to her race like nothing seen before, Storm pulls together the group she’ll need to ensure mutants’ survival — including Iceman, Jean Grey, Colossus and Magik! But can Storm and Iceman protect the last remaining mutants from a demonic attack? As a new child of the atom discovers her terrifying power, an old foe compounds the horror: Mister Sinister will bring the team face-to-face with their greatest fear. But can anyone be ready for the very first meeting of Old Man Logan and young Jean Grey? Bring all the hate and fear you want, they will fight to their last breath to survive the experience. They’re the X-Men, they’re facing down extinction, and they will be Extraordinary! Collecting EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #1-5.
112 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9934-2

            This has been such a good series, even with the Mister Sinister appearance. This is the flagship title, so I highly recommend jumping on board with this trade.

 PUNISHER: BORN TPB
(NEW PRINTING)
Written by GARTH ENNIS
Penciled by DARICK ROBERTSON
Cover by WIESLAW WALKUSKI
In the waning days of the Vietnam War…the Punisher is born. The year is 1971. With mounting casualties and a rising anti-war sentiment, America’s time in Vietnam is coming to a close. Yet in the isolated Valley Forge Firebase on the Cambodian border, Captain Frank Castle is one of the few soldiers still committed to the fight against the enemy. With dwindling reserves, Castle must stand against an impending Viet Cong attack that threatens to wipe out the entire American platoon. To survive the battle, what grim decision must he make that will forever alter the course of his life? In this acclaimed tale, superstar Garth Ennis reveals the never-before-told story of the horrors Castle was forced to face to come home from Vietnam alive — ending in a shocking twist that will forever change how readers see Marvel Comics’ most famous urban vigilante. Collecting BORN #1-4.
112 PGS./Explicit Content …$13.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90173-8

            I predicted the ending of this series, after the second issue and was super disappointed that Ennis actually took the character in that direction. There is a reason why there is no lame sequel to this series.

AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION: UNDER SIEGE TPB
Volume #16 in the Avengers Epic Collections
Written by ROGER STERN, BILL MANTLO, DANNY FINGEROTH & STEVE ENGLEHART
Penciled by JOHN BUSCEMA, DAVE ROSS, STEVE DITKO & MARK BRIGHT
Cover by JOHN BUSCEMA
The Masters of Evil take Avengers Mansion! In one of the greatest comic-book epics of all time, Baron Zemo strikes at the very heart of the Avengers as he leads a revamped and larger-than-ever Masters of Evil in an attack on the team’s home — and wins! And as if that wasn’t enough, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes must survive the climax of SECRET WARS II, and a battle for the ages between Kang and Immortus! The Sub-Mariner’s membership leads to public protests, but that won’t stop the Avengers and Alpha Flight from lending a hand during Attuma’s assault on Atlantis. Meanwhile an old friend turns enemy: What’s gotten into Quicksilver? Two teams of Avengers will assemble to find out! Collecting AVENGERS (1963) #264-277, ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) #39, AVENGERS ANNUAL #15 and WEST COAST AVENGERS ANNUAL #1.
456 PGS./Rated T …$39.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9539-9

            Under Siege is such a must-read Avengers storyline!

X-MEN: MUTANT GENESIS 2.0 TPB
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT, JIM LEE, JOHN BYRNE & SCOTT LOBDELL
Penciled by JIM LEE
Cover by JIM LEE
A fresh take on a classic saga! Magneto’s future, Wolverine’s past — and the X-Men in between! Magneto acquires a new army, the Hand revives an old enemy, and it’s up to the newly reunited and rejuvenated X-Men to stop both! But from Asteroid M to Weapon X, Marvel’s mightiest mutants are getting brainwashed wherever they go! Featuring mysteries from Wolverine’s history and the first flashback appearance of Team X — plus Acolytes, ninjas and more! Omega Red! Maverick! Sabretooth! And the debut of the classic Blue and Gold X-Men teams! It’s the opening issues of 1991’s blockbuster “adjectiveless” X-MEN series like you’ve never seen them before — remastered and fully recolored in modern style! Collecting X-MEN (1991) #1-7.
200 PGS./Rated T …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9512-2

            The end of Claremont’s first tenure and Jim Lee plots. I don’t quite recall issues four through seven. The first three are high octane though!

X-FACTOR: GENESIS & APOCALYPSE TPB
Written by ROGER STERN, JOHN BYRNE, BOB LAYTON, LOUISE SIMONSON & CHRIS CLAREMONT
Penciled by JOHN BUSCEMA, JOHN BYRNE,
JACKSON GUICE, KEITH POLLARD, MARC SILVESTRI,
TERRY SHOEMAKER, BOB LAYTON & MORE
Cover by RON FRENZ
As one of the greatest X-Men of all makes her triumphant return, and one of mutantkind’s deadliest threats debuts! When Jean Grey is found alive — with a little help from the Avengers and Fantastic Four — she reunites with the rest of Xavier’s original class to form X-Factor! But as Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Angel and Iceman face new enemies Tower and Frenzy, little do they know the villains are part of an Alliance of Evil led by…Apocalypse! They’ll encounter uncanny new foes like Bulk and Glow Worm, and old sparring partners in Freedom Force, but there’s no question who will rise to the role of their arch-nemesis. The story of En Sabah Nur begins here! Collecting AVENGERS (1963) #263, FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #286, X-FACTOR (1986) #1-9 and ANNUAL #1, and material from CLASSIC X-MEN #8 and #43.
384 PGS./Rated T …$34.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90068-7

            Makes sense to get as many Apocalypse trades out into the world, a month before the movie comes out.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST PROSE NOVEL MASS MARKET PAPERBACK
Written by ALEX IRVINE
Cover by JOHN BYRNE
In a dark and dangerous future, the mutant-hunting machines known as the Sentinels rule America with an iron fist. Almost all mutants and superhumans have been exterminated. Only a handful of imprisoned mutants remain to fight against their oppressive robotic overseers. Now Kate Pryde, former X-Man, must travel back in time and warn her present-day teammates of the coming danger — and hopefully prevent this horrible future from ever taking place. Experience the classic, genre-defining X-Men event like never before in this new adaptation!
352 PGS./No Rating …$7.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-8976-3

     I’ve had this special ordered for such a long time now. Glad it is finally coming out!

. . .

So April 2016 still isn’t that expensive, so that’s nice!
What I’m getting for sure –

Star Lord 6            $4
Guardians of Infinity 5            $5
X-Men Days of Future Past Prose Novel            $8

Maybes –

Guardians of the Galaxy 7            $4
X-Men : Worst X-Man Ever 3            $4
Uncanny X-Men 6            $5
Extraordinary X-Men 9            $4
Little Marvels Standee Punch Out Book            $25

Taking out the two books, that leaves me with six total comics. $26, for all six. I’m sure Magik is in Extraordinary X-Men and Kitty is in the proper Guardians title, as well. Six comics is a dollar off per title, so I’m looking at $20 for the entire month. That’s how I like it!

. . .

I have to add Little Marvels Standee Punch Out Book to my order and double check to make sure Guardians of the Infinity is on my list. I’m sure I’ve put issues of it back, already, like I’ve done for Star Lord but now these titles are getting good.

 

Inferno 1 – Tom Raney Variant

Posted by John Klein III on January 21, 2016
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Inferno 1 Tom Raney Variant

Cover by Tom Raney

This was a Hastings Exclusive Variant

All New X-Men

Posted by John Klein III on January 20, 2016
Posted in: Retrospective. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

All New X-Men 1 – All New X-Men 41

41 issues, all written by Brian Michael Bendis!  It should be stated that Cory Petit lettered every issue as well, which is pretty impressive to keep the same letterer for an entire series.

The series ran from, cover dated, January 2013 to August 2015

Since this was the main flagship title, sharing the honor with Uncanny – a lot took place in this series.  This is the series where the time misplaced Original Five X-Men starred.  Crossover overs storylines were – Battle of the Atom / Trial of Jean Grey / Black Vortex.  Other storylines include the much demanded sequel to Battle of the Atom, the Ultimate Adventure and the Utopians arc.

Art Teams were –

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29 – Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, Colorist Marte Gracia and VC’s Cory Petit

Issue five, Inker Von Grawbadger had help from Craig Yeung and Gracia had help from Jason Keith.  Issues nine & ten, Gracia had help from Rain Beredo.  Issue twenty-nine, Gracia had help from Jason Keith.

6, 7, 8 – David Marquez on both pencils and inks, Gracia and Petit

12, 13 – Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, Colorist Rain Beredo and VC’s Cory Petit

15 – David Lafuente on both pencils and inks, Colorist Jim Campbell and VC’s Cory Petit

19 – Brandon Peterson on both pencils and inks, Colorist Israel Silva and VC’s Cory Petit

20 – Brandon Peterson and Mahmud Asrar shared art duties, Colorist Gracia returned and helped Silva and VC’s Cory Petit stuck around as well

21 – Brandon Peterson and legend Brent Anderson (did a few pages on his own) Silva colored Petersn’s pages and Campbell did the Anderson pages, VC’s Cory Petit did all of his own lettering

25 – The All Star Jam Issue! Artists David Marquez with Justin Ponsor on colors for the Framing Device, VC’s Cory Petit on lettering duties – the other artistic talents of :

Bruce Timm & Laura Martin, Arthur Adams & Justin Ponsor, David Mack, Skottie Young & Jason Keith, Robbi Rodriquez & Justin Ponsor, Lee Bermejo & Marte Gracia, Kent Williams, JG Jones, Ronnie Del Carmen, J. Scott Campbell & Nei Ruffino, Maris Wicks, Jason Shiga, Dan Hipp, Max Wittert, Jake Parker & Matthew Wilson, Jill Thompson and Paul Smith & Bob Wiacek & Jordie Bellaire

30 – Sara Pichelli, Colorist Marte Gracia and VC’s Cory Petit

31, 32, 33, 34, 36 – Mahmud Asrar on both pencils and inks, Colorist Marte Gracia and Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Issue 31 Gracia had helped from Jason Keith.  Issue 34, Gracia received some support from Marcelo Maiolo.

35 – Mahmud Asrar on both pencils and inks, Colorist Marcelo Maiolo and Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

37 – Mike Del Mundo on pencils, inks and colors, though Marco D’Alfonso helped with the coloring and VC’s Cory Petit on lettering

38, 39 – Andrea Sorrentino on pencils and inks, Colorist Marcelo Maiolo and Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

40 – Mahmud Asrar on both pencils and inks, Colorist Rain Beredo and Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

41 – Mahmud Asrar on both pencils and inks, Colorist Marte Gracia and Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

There was a whole host of variant covers with this series so I’m not listing cover artists – not that I do but in case you were wondering.

 

All New X-Men 41

Posted by John Klein III on January 19, 2016
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , , . 4 Comments

All New X-Men 41

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist Mahmud Asrar

Colorist Marte Gracia

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Bendis’ final issue of All New X-Men and he doesn’t send them back in time.  Also, this doesn’t feel like a final issue to an almost three year run.

The New Xavier School.  Location : Secret.  Today.  The team, minus X23 and Angel, are just relaxing on the grass as Maria Hill’s SHIELD Hellcarrier approaches.

All New X-Men 41 Magik 1

Magik teleports inf ront of the teenagers.  She gets to say the classic, “To Me, My X-Men” which is awesome!

Maria Hill stops Magik before Magik can teleport everyone away.  Hill wants the team to help her with a situation.

All New X-Men 41 Magik 2

I like how Hill explains how she knew where to find them.  It is the reason why cloaking never really works.  Wouldn’t all you ever need to do is look for the absence inside an area?  Sonar would be the anti-cloaking device.

Hill tells the team that there is an issue with the X-Men’s former home, Utopia.

All New X-Men 41 Magik 3

A group of SHIELD agents went to Utopia and were confronted by a band of mutants.  The agents have not been heard from since.  Hill wants mutants to solve or investigate a mutant problem.

X23 and Angel fly back down and get a quick recap.  Magik teleports the team.

Utopia Island.  Former Home of the X-Men.  San Francisco.  Has Magik been back since losing her Phoenix portion, back in AvX?  Has anyone?

I’m surprised Magik isn’t placing all of the blame on the Avengers, if they hadn’t gotten involved, the Phoenix Force’s return to Earth would have ended without much conflict.

All New X-Men 41 Magik 4

The All New X-Men meet the Utopians – Random, Masque, Elixir, Boom, Karma and Madison Jeffries.  I like how Karma is the leader of this group and she chooses to speak directly to Magik, who has to be the leader of this group.  I would have loved a New Mutants reference between the two of them.

I do like Bobby and Hank enjoying saying, Boom Boom.  Such a silly name, that’s what I always like to call Tabitha, Meltdown.

I like how Random is a realist and knew that they needed to have a policy about fools who would bother them.

Tensions are getting high so Jean shuts the Utopians down.

How great is that page above, great composition!

Jean really is tired of fighting mutants.  Just then, Cyclops starts blasting dudes, Jean is taken down first.  Magik dodges, for the most part.  Cyclops starts shouting for someone to take him out and Beast is super glad to do so.

Then the worst case happens, X23 turns on the team.

All New X-Men 41 Magik 5

The teenagers don’t really know to take down one of their own.  Magik has to tell them that this is Karma who is up to no good.

Jean confronts Karma.  I do like how X23 is willing to kill any and all who have tried to control her.

Meltdown starts throwing bombs.

Jean causes Karma to wake up in a mindscape.  This is the first page that I notice that Asrar is still drawing boobs weirdly.  Up to this point, Magik and the Utopians ladies’ costumes are more supportive to the gals so it isn’t noticeable at all but Jean’s costume is skin tight (or some nonsense) and her boobs just seem, I don’t know, artificially placed, isn’t the right word.  Like he has to draw them and draws them to do it but they seem fake or some such thing.

Jean really wants to see life through Karma’s eyes.

We get that awesome effect seen in both All New X-Men issues 5 & 32, but with Karma!

All New X-Men 41 Karma Flashback

We wish some of these panels were more specific.  I like her origin and being part of the original line up of the New Mutants, the two Shadow King.  Then we get four panels that are essentially pretty generic.  Karma as a teacher, makes sense.  Her training with Emma, did that happen?  Is it crucial to her story?  It is one of three panels featuring her robotic leg.  One would think that one of these three panels would be during Second Coming but I don’t think that is represented.  I was going to say her time on Astonishing X-Men isn’t but that’s what the panel with her hand is showing.  Those are ice walls.  Could that be Kitty Pryde in the dark shirt?  I’m surprised there isn’t a panel showing her with a special lady friend.  The bottom two are the formation of the Utopians.

Still, I do like the technique being used again.

All New X-Men 41 Magik 6

The team goes to Maria Hill and they have brought the missing SHIELD agents.  They do not sell out the Utopians.  They call Hill on her nonsense about how she’s cool with the Avengers setting up base anywhere but apparently the X-Men need to be accounted for.

All New X-Men 41 Magik A

The team have brought the Utopians to the old New Xavier School, as no one is using it.

All New X-Men 41 Magik 7

The Utopians are not thrilled about staying at a former Weapon X facility but it is abandoned and there some attempt to make it more of a home.

Issue ends setting up Teen Jean Grey’s portion of Uncanny X-Men 600 – Jean is going to try to figure out why the X-Men are always being persecuted and hated.  I guess we will learn in twenty weeks.

Essential X-Men Volume Four

Posted by John Klein III on January 18, 2016
Posted in: Paul Smith, Reviews. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Essential X-Men Volume Four

Collecting Uncanny X-Men 162 – 179, plus Annual 6

So far, it is the only collection that has the entire Paul Smith run.  There is the trade, From the Ashes, but it starts at 168 and ends at 175.  It is in color, which is nice but it lacks the first three issues of Smith’s run.

Essential X-Men Volume Four is in black and white but the art really stands out.

This is Chris Claremont running on all cylinders and the stories are simply the best.

Whenever I can recommend a trade, this is always on the top of my list.  I read somewhere that the Essential trades are going out of print so this may become an expensive trade but until Marvel releases a Paul Smith Visionaries, this is as good as it gets.  And it is pretty grand.

Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 34

Posted by John Klein III on January 17, 2016
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men V3 34

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Art Kris Anka

Color Art Marte Gracia

Lettering & Produciton VC’s Joe Caramagna

Delhi, India.  Cyclops is confronting Mystique, who is on a bit of a vacation from herself.  She is enjoying being a Bollywood star.  Mystique starts playing mind games, to try to seduce him.  She takes the forms of Emma, Dark Phoenix and Wolverine.  Scott has had sex with two of those three.

Scott wants to know why Mystique has been so all over the place, since Xavier’s death.  There was a time when she was the villain of four different titles – all at the same time.  Get it together, Mystique!  She would be committing minor crimes in one title and these massive month long plans.

SHIELD Hellicarrier.  Maria Hill and Dazzler are having a nice chat.  Dazzler never technically quit and Hill never technically fired Dazzler, so she is still a member of SHIELD in good standing.

The first of two pull out house ads for Secret Wars 2015 3 – of the titles featured, I’m only excited about Star Lord and AoA Kitty Pryde!

Dazzler wants help in seeking out Mystique.  Dazzler will help but she wants full clean records for the New Xavier School students.

Mystique and Cyclops.  Mystique asks Scott why he hasn’t brought up their affair together, which caused me to pause.  He says it is because he wanted to keep this conversation on point but this is all she needed to know that this is not Cyclops.

Scott has been Dazzler, this entire issue!  The New Xavier Students and Dazzler make short work of Mystique.

Uncanny X-Men V3 34 Magik 1

Mystique is pushed through the window and will surely die.  Dazzler asks Magik to save the foe.  Poor Magik, this is Bendis’ only role he uses her for.

The second pull out house ad for Secret Wars 3, has several more titles that I’m interested in – Giant Size Little Marvel : AvX, Years of Future Past and X-Tinction Agenda.

Uncanny X-Men V3 34 Magik 2

Magik keeps her word but makes sure that Mystique has a rough drop.  Mystique recognizes that Dazzler is better than her as she would have let Dazzler die.

Dazzler gets on a stage, later, and sings.  Maria Hill, after the show, admits to being a huge fan of hers.  Dazzler needs to be the mutant liaison as she is better suited for it than anyone.

Greenvich Village, New York City.  The former students of Cyclops are all outside.  Celeste reads Hijack’s mind and wants him to reveal his thoughts to the group.  He has an idea that they don’t need to be the X-Men but they need to do something.

The answer will be in Uncanny X-Men 600, which is strangely going to come out after Secret Wars 2015’s final issue instead of properly being done before the event.  Which is so odd as Marvel should be going with a fresh start with the X-Titles instead, they are going to launch with the final issue of Bendis’ X-run and that is all he will be contributing to the line.  Seems so dd to me.

Marvel Microheroes

Posted by John Klein III on January 16, 2016
Posted in: Websites. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Fair warning, this is a website that can suck all of your day away!

http://marvel-microheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Marvel-Microheroes_Wiki

The reason I looked them up was for how many different outfits Ultimate Shadowcat has had :

http://marvel-microheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Shadowcat_%28Ultimate%29

Which I do like how this site keeps track of even the slightest change.

Here is Lockheed’s Page :

http://marvel-microheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Lockheed

Shadowcat’s Page

http://marvel-microheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Shadowcat_%28Katherine_%22Kitty%22_Anne_Pryde%29

Ariel’s Page

http://marvel-microheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Ariel_%28Kitty_Pryde%29

Sprite’s Page

http://marvel-microheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Sprite_%28Kitty_Pryde%29

Magik’s Page

http://marvel-microheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Magik_%28Illyana_Nikolievna_Rasputina%29

Doing a search reveals that they have separate pages for alternate universe ones, which is pretty cool but ooof, that must be time consuming!

Darkchild’s Page

http://marvel-microheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Darkchild_%28Illyana_Rasputina%29

Phoenix Five Page

http://marvel-microheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Phoenix_%28Illyana_Nikolievna/Phoenix_Force%29

They even have the evil Ogun!

http://marvel-microheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Ogun_Ryu

I really do like looking at Magik’s page – for instance – how if they wore any different variation or plain clothes outfit – they have a Micro-version of it!  That is commitment!

 

Master of Kung Fu Volume Two Issue 2

Posted by John Klein III on January 15, 2016
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Master of Kung Fu 2

Writer Haden Blackman

Penciler Dalibor Talajic

Inker Goran Sudzuka

Colorist Miroslav Mrva

Letterer VC’s Travis Lanham

This series keeps getting better and better!

This issue opens with the origin of the name, Red Hand.  As the Master of the Red Hand laid dying and the Iron Fist Master held her, her hand was red.  The Master of the Red Hand clan, has never been the ruler of K’un Lun.

The story proper starts with Iron First, Laughing Skull and the third guy (Red Hood?) are interrogating a thug, Lester.  Lester’s old job was to track Shang Chi, he wasn’t very good at it.

We see Shang Chi is with the X-Men, in their underground base.  Which should make them Morlocks, especially with Callisto leading them – so I will try to call them that, going forward.  Though the story does refer to them as, Outcasts – but that name isn’t so great.

Shang Chi is still super drunk but he takes out Caliban, Wolfsbane and Doug Ramsey.

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Callisto, the best fighter of the bunch, gets a few hits off of Shang Chi – not like they even really connect – and is taken down.

Shang Chi is curious who trained these outcasts.

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Callisto tells him that they don’t have a Master, they were hoping to have him train them.

Shadowcat, the ever introductory character, goes around explaining why the Morlocks are outcasts.  Sarah needs to learn the Morrow technique, as her bones are just sticking out of her body.  Caliban is an idiot but is great at trivial facts, an idiot savant – if you will.

Wolfsbane was part of the Wolf Clan but fell for Cypher before she can learn to shift to different forms.  They are called, the Wolf Clan, so I wonder what other forms there would have been?  I imagine reverting back to human, is one of them.  Doug lost his left arm while defending Wolfsbane.  I do like these two, finally having a chance at romance.

Master of Kung Fu 2 Lockheed 1

Kitty’s aliment is that she tried to master a skill that is way outside of her comfort level.  Lockheed is next to her, but she doesn’t give any reasoning to why an awesome lengthy green dragon is with the team.

Callisto wants Shang Chi to train them, as he was his father’s greatest student.  He has mastered nine of the ten techniques.

Master of Kung Fu 2 Lockheed 2

This may be the most brutal page of the issue, perhaps the series.  Shang Chi straight up cuts the team up, with his words and they sting!

If Shang Chi was to teach the outcasts – like how his father, Zheng Zu, would – this is what he would do :

Zheng Zu would flay Sarah alive, making her look at her bones
Caliban would fight even simpler creatures, like donkeys, for Zu’s enjoyment
Wolfsbane and Cypher would be tortured, together, until one of them would denounce their love for the other.  Shang Chi suspects it would be Doug.
Callisto, he would completely blind her – as if she can’t defend one eye, she doesn’t deserve either.
We see that Shadowcat is in permanent phase (of course) and she will be forced to watch her friends die

I like how he drops the bottle, like it was a microphone.  Shang Chi out!

The Citadel of Emperor Zheng Zu.  Zu punishes Razor Fist (the leader of the small gang from the first issue) by slicing off Razor Fist’s hands – intense!

Iron Fist, Laughing Skull and the still not renamed guy come before Zu.  A guard, Norrin (who I imagine is Silver Surfer, with the silver word balloons.  Norrin is about to express how much they failed at their task to find Shang Chi but Iron Fist wants to tell his own woes.

Iron Fist is going to challenge Zu in the Thirteen Chambers tournament.  Laughing Skull reveals that Iron First is the sheriff of this region.

Callisto is brought before Zu, she is willing to reveal where Shang Chi is but she wants to become a member of the Ten Rings.

Master of Kung Fu 2 Shadowcat 3

Shadowcat comes and wakes up a very drunk Shang Chi.

Master of Kung Fu 2 Shadowcat 4

Iron Fist is leading the charge in the Morlock tunnel.  He straights threatening Wolfsbane, Shang Chi knows that Iron First is a man of peace, so he is merely bluffing.

Cypher comes running at Iron First, as poor Doug doesn’t know that Iron Fist is bluffing.

Master of Kung Fu 2 Shadowcat 5

Classic Doug, once again, dies trying to save Wolfsbane – bonus points for once again, that she wasn’t in any danger, this time either.  Oh poor dead Doug.

Laughing Skull turns his attention to Caliban next.

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Shang Chi prevents this attack and tells the Morlocks to escape.

Shang Chi uses the technique, Nightbringer, to cloud the room in mist and they all escape.

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Later.  Kitten is disappointed in Shang Chi’s lack of action earlier.  Shang Chi is still broken from killing a master.

Master of Kung Fu 2 Lockheed 5

Shang Chi will become a master, he will make the Morlocks his students so that he can have his own school, that way he can enter the Thirteen Chambers.

I can only imagine the tournament issue is going to be pretty intense!

Top 75 Captain America Stories!

Posted by John Klein III on January 14, 2016
Posted in: Lists, Voting. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Brian Cronin compiled the Top 75 Captain America stories!

75 Celluloid Heroes Captain America 261 – 263
74 When Free Men Shall Stand Captain America : Sentinel of Liberty 6 – 7
73 Super-Patriot is Here Captain America 323 1
72 Fear Grows in Brooklyn Captain America 241
71 Power to the People Captain America 143
70 I Am Legend Captain America 383
69 Arnim Zola – The Bio-Fanatic! Captain America 206 – 212
68 Cap’s Night Out Captain America 371
67 When Wakes the Sleeper Captain America 101 – 102
66 Someone Who Cares Captain America 270
65 Reborn Captain America 600, Reborn 1 – 6
64 By the Dawn’s Early Light Captain America 247 – 248
63 Mean Stress Captain America 272
62 What If the Invaders Had Stayed Together After World War II? What If . . . ? 4
61 Tess-One Captain America Annual 8
60 The Burden of Dreams Captain America 31 – 36
59 The Adaptoid Tales of Suspense 82 – 84
58 The Anti-Cap Captain America and Falcon 1 – 14
57 Sanctuary Captain America 454
56 If A Hostage Should Die Tales of Suspense 77
55 Hero That Was Captain America 109
54 Grand Director Saga Captain America 231 – 236
53 Exiles Captain America 103 – 105
52 Red Menance Captain America Volume Five Issues 15 – 17
51 Truth Red, White and Black 1 – 7
50 Gladiator, The Girl and The Glory Tales of Suspense 75 – 76
49 Hope and Glory Captain America 444
48 Man Who Bought America Captain America Volume Five Issues 37 – 42
47 Madripoor Night Uncanny X-Men 268 6
46 Two Americas Captain America 602 – 605
45 If this Be . . . MODOK! Tales of Suspense 92 – 94
44 Streets of Poison Captain America 372 – 378
43 Sentinel of Liberty Adventures of Captain America 1 -4
42 Patriot Captain America : Patriot 1 – 4
41 Now, By My Hand, Shall Die a Villain Avengers Volume One Issues 15 – 16
40 Ultimatum Captain America 321 – 322
39 Origin of the Red Skull Tales of Suspense 66
38 Death Be Not Proud Avengers Volume One Issue 56
37 America the Cursed Captain America 281 – 283
36 Riddle of the Red Skull Captain America Comics 1
35 Justice is Served Captain America 318 – 320
34 What If Captain America Were Revivied Today What If . . . ? 44
33 Serpents of the World Unite Captain America 310 – 315
32 Return of Baron Zemo Captain America 275 – 279 10
31 God and Country Daredevil 232 – 233
30 Mercenary and the Madman Captain America 251 – 252
29 Castaway in Dimension Z Captain America Volume Seven 1 – 10
28 Batman and Captain America Batman and Captain America
27 Red Glare Captain America Volume Three Issues 14 – 19
26 Under Siege Avengers 273 – 277 9
25 Man Who Lived Twice Tales of Suspense 97 – 99 / Captain America 100
24 Home Fires Marvel Fanfare 18 4
23 Bloodstone Hunt Captain America 357 – 362
22 Armageddon 1983 Captain America 286 – 288
21 Man Out of Time Captain America : Man Out of Time 1 – 5
20 Sleeper Shall Awake Tales of Suspense 72 – 74
19 Man Without a Country Captain America 450 – 453
18 Bicentennial Battles Marvel Treasury Special Featuring Captain America’s Bicentennial Battles
17 Coming of the Falcon Captain America 114 -119
16 Meet Captain America Captain America Comics 1
15 Nomad Captain America 176 – 183
14 Madbomb Captain America 193 – 200 8
13 Living Legend Captain America 255
12 Cap for President Captain America 250
11 Two Into One Won’t Go Captain America 153 – 156
10 He Who Holds the Cosmic Cube! Tales of Suspense 79 – 81
9 Death of a Dream Captain America Volume Five Issues 25 – 30
8 Death of the Red Skull Captain America 293 – 300
7 Blood on the Moors Captain America 253 – 254
6 Captain America No More Captain America 332 – 350
5 Project Rebirth Captain America 445 – 448
4 Captain America Joins . . . The Avengers! Avengers Volume One Issue 4 7
3 Secret Empire Captain America 169 – 175
2 Strange Death of Captain Ameirca Captain America 110 – 111, 113
1 The Winter Soldier Captain America Volume Five Issues 1 – 6, 8 – 9 & 11 – 14

I really should check out those JM DeMatteis issues as he is, by far, my favorite Spider-Writer and clearly, he is also a legendary Captain America writer.

Only three of my votes didn’t make the list.  Which makes sense, as I had a higher chance of getting more on the list with 75 options.  Plus, I knew the three that didn’t make the list, wouldn’t make the list.