Black Panther Volume Four Issue 18

Posted by John Klein III on November 29, 2015
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Black Panther V4 18

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

Black Panther V4 18 Kitty 1

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.

Black Panther V4 18 Lockheed 1

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.

Black Panther V4 18 Lockheed 2

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.

Black Panther V4 18 Storm's Dress

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.

Black Panther V4 18 Kitty 2

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: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

X-Men Legacy 231

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.

Necrosha Checklist

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.

X-Men Legacy 231 Illyana Funeral Mention

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: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Black Panther V4 17

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?

Black Panther Volume Four Issue 17 Jessica Jones

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.

Black Panther V4 17 Kitty 1

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.

Black Panther V4 17 Kitty 2

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.

Black Panther V4 17 Kitty 3

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.

Black Panther V4 17 Kitty 4

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: , . Leave a comment

All New X-Men 39 Hicks Variant

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: , , , , . Leave a comment

Black Panther V4 16

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.

Black Panther V4 16 Kitty 1

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: , , , , . Leave a comment

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28

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.

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28 Kitty 1

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.

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28 Kitty 2

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.

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28 Kitty 3

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.

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28 Kitty 4

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.

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28 Shadowcat mention

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.

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28 Kitty 5

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.

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28 Kitty 6

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.

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28 Kitty 7

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.

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28 Kitty 8

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.

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28 Kitty 9

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

Ultimate Comics X-Men 28 Kitty 10

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.

Laptop Issues

Posted by John Klein III on November 23, 2015
Posted in: Uncategorized. Leave a comment

Laptop

So this is the laptop that I use, to make all of these great posts.  My wife bought this laptop with her student loan, maybe in 2008 or 2009.  It has lasted us for longer than it should have.  Just like her 2003 Pontiac Sunfire, it made several trips from Yuma, Arizona to Helena, Montana – and back, but it finally died on us, earlier this year.  Now I’m driving a 2008 Chevy Uplander, we were suppose to buy a second car with this year’s tax refund but we didn’t have enough to get a second reliable car.  Not that the van is that reliable as the gas gauge already needs repair and the back latch door needs to be fixed, as it doesn’t stay open anymore.

The laptop has its own problems as well.  The battery is all but dead, we have to keep it plugged in, whenever we want it to use it.  I keep writing ‘we’ but my wife gave up on it and refuses to use it now.  Recently, the track pad started not working, and I like to use the keyboard, whenever possible, but sometimes, one needs the cursor and that sweet sweet right clicking option.  Which leads us to this post.  Now the right click doesn’t work, I read that buying a mouse will fix that.  I’m hoping to be able to buy a cheap mouse at Hastings, next time I’m there but the laptop may die before I get that chance.

Before the trackpad started giving up, the monitor doesn’t work, every time.  I’m in the process of constantly pushing it backwards and forwards, as well as trying to put it against the bottom frame.  This that doesn’t work, a rotating it back and forth will jiggle it to work again.  The monitor not constantly working, was my wife’s last straw.  Now she just uses her iPad for everything.

So I have 372 drafted posts, so you dear reader, shouldn’t see a lack of output for quite some time but it is getting harder to write on a machine that doesn’t want to work.

I’m not saying that in 372 days, I’ll quit the blog but it is a concern to me – if I can’t write successfully.

My wife has told me not to expect a new laptop for Christmas or my birthday, in January – so I’m not sure what my next step is going to be.

I keep thinking about it and hoping this posts makes it so that I can clear my head of the subject.

I did buy a mouse and it seems, for now, to have given the laptop new life.  So that is a relief!

CSBG – Vote for Deadpool’s Greatest Stories

Posted by John Klein III on November 22, 2015
Posted in: Voting. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2015/11/18/vote-for-deadpools-25-greatest-stories/

Brian Cronin is at it again!  He is also doing a Captain America 75 Greatest Stories but I don’t really own ten comics that feature him, that much.  Deadpool, I barely have a list of ten so I can make this with confidence.

TEN GREATEST DEADPOOL STORIES

1.  Deadpool Volume One 27
2. Deadpool Volume Two “Want You To Want Me” issue 16, in particular
3. Deadpool Volume Three 27 “Wedding of Deadpool”
4. Deadpool Volume Three 38 “Zenpool AXIS tie in”
5. Ultimate Deadpool (Ultimate Spider-Man 91 – 94)
6. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
7. Cable and Deadpool 30 Civil War Tie-In
8. Deadpool Art of War
9. Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars
10.New Mutants 98

You have until November 30th, to get your votes in.  I don’t really have an order, so I went with the order I have already for February’s Deadpool Month, well, I’m squeezing in some of his issues, while also doing my annual Lockheed Month.  I still can’t decide if I want to call it Deadheed Month or Lockpool Month, or just keep using both names – which is what I’m sort of settling on.

I actually had to stop at 9 as I didn’t have a tenth.  The rest of the issues I own are Handbooks or Uncanny X-Force but Cronin states that we are not to nominate that title.  I had to just throw his origin story into the mix, which I did own at one point but sold – like years ago – for almost nothing, I’m sure or maybe ten dollars.

I’m definitely sure that most of my list won’t make the final cut, but I like to throw in my votes, as one never knows.  I should put more Joe Kelly issues in there or even Christopher Priest, as those two wrote my favorite Deadpool, though Posehn and Duggan are up there now.  Probably say Gail Simone, so that I can have a top five list.

I would like to vote for the Captain America one, just so my issues 323 and 609, are eligible but I also suspect, that they wouldn’t make the cut anyways.  I’m tempted to make those my one and two and then do the famous Captain America stories, for the rest of my list but those stories are making it (especially as it is a list of 75 stories – so the highlights will be there).  I just don’t own that many appearances of his that count as pure Captain America and not just him as a team member of the Avengers.  He’s on the cover to lots of my comics (hence why I still have years of material for Memorial Day, July 4th and Veterans Day) but none of those are starring Captain America, that I know of.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2015/11/17/vote-for-captain-americas-75-greatest-stories/

I figure I might as well include the link for that voting too.  Voting also stops on November 30th.

  1.  Captain America 323
  2.  Captain America 609
  3. Excalibur 59 & 60
  4. Marvel Fanfare 18
  5. New Mutants Volume One 40
  6. Uncanny X-Men 268
  7. Avengers Volume One 4
  8. Captain America 193
  9. Avengers Under Siege
  10. Captain America 276 – 279

The first five are from my collection and the last five are my lame “going to be listed, no matter what” which I don’t like doing, just so that I can brag that 5 of my 10 picks made the list, at the end.  It means more, when I’m invested in the list.  We bought Walker Dennis a Captain America poster, which is just Captain America 193, in a nice frame, and then I made a point of buying it as it was both affordable (like $20 or something) and it would be cool for him to point to the issue and the poster.  Plus, Jack Kirby writing and penciling, so that’s always good.

I do own the War & Remembrance trade (thanks to Wizard’s Top 100 Trades) but that one doesn’t count.

A commenter, Jamie, wants some JM DeMatteis love on the list, so I voted for the one he listed as I do love me some JM DeMatteis!

Actually, my bottom five isn’t too bad, so I can stand by this.  The only comic I haven’t read is the DeMatteis run, unless I have but it doesn’t look or sound familiar.

Wolverine Volume Three Issue 7

Posted by John Klein III on November 21, 2015
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Wolverine V3 7

Writer Jason Aaron

Artist Daniel Acuna

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Art by Jae Lee with June Chung

Whose heads are on the spikes?  Storm, Magneto, Cyclops, Namor, who are the other two?  Colossus, maybe?

Wolverine vs The X-Men, Part Two of Three

Cover Dated May 2011

With this issue, I now own all three issues of this storyline.  So thanks to my wife for taking me to Kelly’s Komix in Great Falls in Montana.  A great store, if you happen to be in the area.

In the previous issue, the Red Right Hand killed Wolverine and sent his soul to hell.  Demons took over his body, and fans called this Wolverine, Hellverine, which is pretty clever.  That issue ended with the X-Men about to take down Hellverine, in protocols that they had at the ready.  As this day, was clearly going to come again.

Inside Wolverine’s mindscape, he heads to the giant palace where he keeps the wall around his heart.  There, he finds reinforcements for the horde of demons that are trying to snuff out the last of his soul.  We see various Wolverines – Weapon X, Patch and Horsemen Death, amongst others.

Meanwhile. Magneto is fighting Hellverine.  Hellverine recognizes Magneto from somewhere, he thinks about it as Magneto keeps throwing metal objects at his target.  Hellverine recognizes Magneto from when he was a boy at the concentration camps.  This issue came out in 2011, so Marvel is still holding onto the idea that it isn’t weird that Magneto is still walking around, making World War II references seventy years later.

Magneto is down but Namor flies and punches Hellverine into the ocean.  On the shore, Cyclops and Emma are watching to see if this works.  The ocean boils as Hellverine comes out of the water.  Two down.

Cyclops gets ready for his role in the next events.  Emma telepathically checks in on Doctor Nemesis and Fantomex, who are on their way.  Melita, Logan’s girlfriend at the time, puts a special gun to Emma’s head.  Which is completely unnecessary.

Wolverine V3 7 Kitty 1

Oh, that’s right.  This is before Gillen fixes Kitty’s fishbowl slash retread of Fantastic Four vs X-Men status quo.  So silly that this was a thing and that it lasted a while.  From Uncanny X-Men 522 to 538, sixteen issues so a tad over a year.  It was a long time.

Along with Shadowcat, Jubilee, Storm and Rogue are on the scene.  Which, if you are going to pick four of X-Ladies, those are the four to go with.  Domino could have made it five but Melita is going to fill that fifth slot.

Emma isn’t interested in these ladies, she just wants to help Scott survive what is coming next..

Cyclops starts optic blasting Hellverine but it isn’t slowing the demon down.

Wolverine V3 7 Kitty 2

Rogue punches Hellverine and once he is in the air, Storm controls the winds and carries Hellverine to Angel Island.  My wife informs me that it use to be a military base and it shouldn’t be that populated.  She is currently me now and believes it could have been Treasure Island and Angel Island is more like the Ellis Island of the West Coast.  It is one or the other.

Emma informs Scott that they are going to do one more desperate brain raid.  She didn’t think she could do it on her own but with the others, there is a chance.  Emma has Scott promise to pull her plug, if she comes back brain dead, before her looks start to fade – it is the important things to discuss before a big fight.

Shadowcat informs Cyclops that they are not going to give up on Logan, as he wouldn’t give up on them.

There is a page, that shows all of the ladies, minus the one important one.  This page also has an image of the full island.  After showing my wife, she confirms that Angel Island is the Ellis Island, as the Bay Bridge would have been shown in the image, if it was Treasure Island.  So Treasure Island is the military island and Angel Island was very popular during the twenties.  Both are not that well populated, so we are still okay.

Once they land, Emma tells Storm that Hellverine needs to stay close to Emma’s body, as she needs the connection to be as strong as possible.  Melita wonders if they have to hold hands and Emma laughs at her, they are not starting a pagan commune.  Emma just needs them to close their eyes and clear their minds.  Full full, clear eyes, can’t lose!

In Wovlerine’s mindscape, Weapon X is taking demons out, James Howlett, in a giant nightgown, is even in the fight.  Demons are being snikt-ed all over.  During this, Logan has been wearing samurai armor.

Wolverine V3 7 Kitty 3

Acuna keeps to that style for the ladies’ mindscape armor.  I like how the general individual’s color scheme is respected.  Emma is in white, Jubilee in yellow, Rogue in green, Kitty is in purple.  Which makes sense, oddly, but typically, blue is her go to color, especially if Jubilee already has claimed yellow.  For some reason, purple and Shadowcat makes sense, even though she hasn’t really worn the color, that much.  Melita is in red.

There is a house ad for Uncanny X-Men 535 & 536, Gillen and the Dodsons are bringing back Breakworld, so Kitty’s fishbowl days are now numbered in months.

Wolverine V3 7 Kitty 4

Laying on their backs, in the sand, that can’t be comfortable.  Jubilee is on her side, and that makes sense to me.  Storm has Hellverine floating about in the sky and Doctor Nemesis & Fantomex are still on their way.

Wolverine V3 7 Kitty 5

How excited must Kitty be, finally being out of the suit and no fishbowl head garb?

Nightcrawler, who is dead, so is able to dance around Logan’s mindscape.

There is a two page house ad for Fear Itself, which Matt Fraction was given the crossover keys to do.  The only portion of the crossover I read, was the Uncanny X-Men issues that gave us Juggerlossus.  It starts in April 2011, and the cover has a corner dedicated to the upcoming crossover.  The tie-in issues that are promoted are – Fear Itself : The Home Front 1 / Invincible Iron Man 503 / Journey Into Mystery 622 / Avengers 13 / Secret Avengers 13 / Iron Man 2.0 5.

Issue ends with Nightcrawler finding Logan’s Phoenix door, so things are about to pick up for the conclusion.  Which spoilers, Wolverine gets his body back.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume Two Issue 4

Posted by John Klein III on November 20, 2015
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume Two Issue 4

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist David Lafuente

Colorist Justin Ponsor

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Dated January 2010

New World According to Peter Parker, Part Four of Six

I will be reviewing issues four and six of this storyline, as we conclude Jessica Jones month.

Ultimate Spider-Man V2 4 Recap Page

So this volume takes place right after Ultimatum, New York City is quite happy with Peter Parker and it appears everyone is living at his house.  Peter is dating Gwen and the Kingpin was killed by Mysterio.

The Mall, Closing Time.  Mary Jane and Lucy are walking away after a long day at work.  Brad comes running after Mary Jane, Lucy heads off.  Brad is their boss and he decides that it is cool for a freshman in college to date a sophmore in High School (it isn’t).  She starts trying to politely turn him down with this dumb face with a gun strolls up.  He also wants to date Mary Jane (I don’t get it, either) and Brad runs once a gun is brandished.  Mary Jane starts trying to turn this guy down.

There is an ad for Kia Motors The Soul, so go out and get one of those!

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume Two Issue 4 Shroud 1

Just then, the Shroud comes crashing down onto the car.  The gunster opens fire but the Shroud isn’t affected by bullets.  We will learn who the Shroud is in issue six.  The Shroud gets the cover treatment too!

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume Two Issue 4 Shroud 2

The Shroud makes very short work of the gunster.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume Two Issue 4 Shroud 3

The Shroud has a private moment with Mary Jane and decides to open up about how stupid criminals are.

Mary Jane goes into reporter mode, wanting answers.  Mary Jane figures that the Shroud must be her age and most likely, a fellow student at her school.  The Shroud points out that Mary Jane hasn’t said, thanks, so she does.  I do like how Mary Jane gives the Shroud a chance to provide a superhero name.

Peter Parker’s Home, Queens.  Johnny is explaining to Peter that he lives there now.  Peter can’t believe it and has so many questions.  Aunt May loves having a full house.

There is an ad for Nissan’s Cube.

Johnny isn’t thrilled about having to do chores, having to learn what they are.

Midtown High School, the Next Morning.  Mary Jane talks to Peter, telling him there is a new superhero in town, she saw them last night.  Peter mistakes “saw them” as her meaning that she is dating them.  Mary Jane isn’t sure if the Shroud is a boy pretending to be a girl or a girl pretending to be a boy, a fake voice is differently at work.

Peter starts to quiz Mary Jane on what the Shroud’s powers are and such.  It takes him a bit before he comes around and makes sure that Mary Jane is okay.  She is quite shaken up and starts crying that she attracts losers as she is a loser and regrets breaking up with Peter.  Gwen is lucky enough to overhear this.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume Two Issue 4 Jessica Jones 1

Apparently, Mary Jane has been turning boys away, as she has been pinning for Peter.  Gwen is cool and Mary Jane is a mess, so Peter wouldn’t even think about backsliding.  Gwen wants to have some real girl talk with Mary Jane.  Gwen and Peter want to be friend with Mary Jane but she doesn’t return any of their calls.

Another plus in the Gwen column?  She lives under the same roof with Peter, so that’s pretty nice.  Though Aunt May has a no “hanky panky” rule.

Jessica Jones sees her friend, Mary Jane, and starts talking to her.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume Two Issue 4 Jessica Jones 2

Jessica wants Mary Jane to be her reporter, as the Hulk is destroying the Queens-borough Bridge.  Peter tells his ladies that he has to go, and Mary Jane and Gwen say at the same time – Don’t Get Hurt!!  So that’s going to be awkward.

Spider-Man gets to the bridge and tries to calm the Hulk down.

There is an ad for the very excellent Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic, for the Gifted arc.

Spider-Man starts going on the attack, except that the Hulk is only a mere hologram.  There is a huge explosion and we learn that Mysterio was behind the charade.

We will learn later in Spider-Men that this Mysterio is really the Proper Mysterio and this is his avatar, which is fun that isn’t even hinted at here.

The Dark X-Men miniseries is starting around this time, as this is printing around the beginning of the Utopia era of the X-Men.

. . .

Post 875!!!