True Believers : House of M 1

Posted by John Klein III on October 30, 2015
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

True Believers House of M 1

Reprints House of M 1, naturally

I reviewed the issue here :

House of M 1

I mostly wanted to discuss the True Believers program.  I like the idea of reprinting the first issues of remembered series that are going to be revisited during Secret Wars 2015.  Speaking of which, main event artist, Esad Ribic did the cover above.

These were only a dollar, so I ordered most of them that Kitty had some role to play.  She only had an actual role to play in this issue.  Age of Apocalypse Shadowcat is mentioned in X-Men Alpha, that was reprinted as True Believers : Age of Apocalypse, but they only reprinted the first half of that issue.  Which makes sense, as Marvel wouldn’t reprint a twenty year old comic, fully, that was originally printed as a 48 page comic.  Having half the story should make people at least seek out that one issue.

Unfortunately, that meant I wasn’t keeping two of these issues.  Over at Lonestar Comics, you can sell back these for twenty cents (cash) or forty cents (store credit) so I’ve already added them to my Sell List.

Kelly’s Komix, in Great Falls, was selling X-Men Alpha for ten dollars, which isn’t too bad but I was trying to get the most I could under twenty so I went five four dollar comics instead of three comics for eighteen.  One day, I will own X-Men Alpha, then my collection of AoA Shadowcat appearances will be complete.

I also thought, besides reprinting the first issues, that there would be bonus features, like interviews from creators or possibly, preview pages of the upcoming Secret Wars 2015 revisits to these timelines, but there is none of that.  Which I think is a real missed opportunity.

But, again, for only a dollar, it isn’t to bad.  They all end with “buy the trade, that is now available” so that’s pretty nice that some of these are being placed back into circulation.

Tim Curry – Worst Witch – Halloween Song

Posted by John Klein III on October 29, 2015
Posted in: Film, Fun With YouTube, Songs. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Every year, I get this need to listen to this song but I get around to it, maybe every three years or so.

Thanks to Youtuber harrypottersdaddy for hosting the video.

The visuals for this song are completely bonkers.

Worst Witch came out in 1986, but I must have watched it when it aired on television or something.

Thanks to Jen Wolford for hosting this video.  The film is barely an hour and ten minutes.

 

Wolverines 15

Posted by John Klein III on October 28, 2015
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Wolverines 15

Writer Ray Fawkes

Art Juan Doe

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Death Valley.  Siphon has X23 by the throat.  Daken, who Doe tries his best to model-fix Daken from Larroca’s attempt.  The mutton chops are still there but now Daken’s full head of hair is a narly Mohawk type of cartoon samurai sort of thing.

Daken wants Siphon to turn his attention back onto him.  It wasn’t Siphon that got X23 involved, she wanted the fight to end and now Siphon will attempt to end her.  I really like how bored with all of this, Blade is.  Blade does like X23’s style, but that is it.  Siphon keeps taking hits, making him dumber and Daken keeps getting bones broken.

Wolverines 15 Shogun 1

36,000 Feet Above.  Another great plot in this issue?  Shogun just plain being done with Mystique and her silly secretive plans.  Mystique keeps playing dumb, which is the wrong move.  She should just reveal the next step in her plan and gain a little credibility.

Wolverines 15 Shogun 2

Mystique does hint what the plan is, that it is risky but it will solve all sorts of problems.

Siphon knocks Blade outside, which causes Blade to drop his s-word.  Siphon tries to pick up the sword but loses all of his fingers on his left hand.  That Blade, he really likes to keep his swords.  X23 starts taking petty on Siphon, as his brain has been reduced to only being able to make grunts.  Daken has the chance to kill Siphon but chooses not to, Blade takes his sword back.

The Changling arrives to pick everyone, but Blade, up.

Wolverines 15 Shogun 3

Daken gets on the plane and wants to know how they knew where they were.  They had jumped out of the plane and then stole a semitruck, and got to their final destination.

Shogun tries to explain that it is the tracking devices that they have that lead them there.  Daken knows that Mystique had a hand in it.  Shogun is excited about Siphon being on board, they could learn more about healing factors.

Wolverines 15 Shogun 4

I like how Sabretooth is under the impression that Junk is the resident tech guy, but all Junk knows how to do is press the computer buttons.

Daken suspects they are all lying to him.

Two Hours Later.  Daken comes into X23’s room.  X23 instantly recognizes Daken as Mystique, she feints shock but doesn’t change shape.  X23 states that Mystique is clearly close to her timetable but threatens to ruin it by leaving.  Once X23 leaves the room, Mystique shifts back to her proper form.

I do like how X23 tells Mystique that she will never tell how she knew it was Mystique the hold time.  I wonder if she has known for a while, as in the first few issues, Mystique posed as Daken.  I believe she didn’t do it to X23, so that’s why she is probably confident in her Daken impression.

Next issue promises to have Mister Sinister back!  Probably find out if Endo actually died, in an earlier issue.

Amazing X-Men 19

Posted by John Klein III on October 27, 2015
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Amazing X-Men 19

Writer Christopher Yost

Artist Jorge Fornes

Colorist Rachelle Rosenberg

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

One and Future Juggernaut, Epilogue

So the answer to my question, how you name a fifth part of a four part storyline is to title it, Epilogue.  I guess I would have still numbered them, 1 of 5, though.

Amazing X-Men 19 Magik

Since this is the final chapter, I sort of like how we get a revisit to the characters’ early days.

That isn’t the most girlish panel of Illyana that I have ever seen but that has to be her, right?  That is clearly a tractor behind Colossus.  If not, I didn’t need to buy this issue.

I like how Fornes keeps the same pattern.  Top Left – Cyttorak, Top Right – Cain Marko; Bottom Left – Colossus; Bottom Right – Charles Xavier. The placement makes sense, as Cyttorak’s story leads to Cain, I suppose it would make more sense to switch Xavier and Colossus, as Marko leads to Xavier easier and Xavier transitions to Colossus, easily as well.  Though I do like how the corners work together.  Cyttorak and Xavier have been both destructive, through their avatars or students.  Marko and Colossus just been the front line.

It is a nice four page sequence.

Southeast Asia.  Now.  Colossus is trying to hold off Juggernaut.  Cyttorak granted Colossus’ wish, to be given more power than ever before, power enough to kill Cyttorak.  Cyttorak choose, instead, to give it to Marko.  Cain wants to avenge his brother (I’m glad someone picked up this plot point.  It was nice when Carey remembered it for David in Legacy) by killing Cyclops.

Since Juggernaut isn’t going to be convinced, with words, to not kill Cyclops – Storm instructs the team to take off Juggernaut’s helmet.

Marko takes off the helmet, and his head sort of looks like Neuro’s head, so even without the helmet, he is resistant to telepaths.  In fact, Juggernaut has no weaknesses.

Juggernaut puts the helmet back on, all of the X-Men let Xavier die so they are all targets of his.  Colossus stands before him and starts wailing on him.  He is pretty sure that he breaks his hands.  Oddly, he narrates that he is one of the strongest beings on the planet.  I’m pretty sure that he is on the weaker end of that scale.  I doubt he is even in the top ten.

One punch later from Juggernaut, Colossus is regretting his decision, even more.  Colossus searches for another strategy, and he things “what would Logan do?”  Wolverine would have cheated.  Apparently they were on a cliff and Colossus breaks the ground under their feet and Juggernaut goes into the ocean.  They both end up in the ocean but Colossus comes to the shore first.  The X-Men joke about last issue’s reveal that Colossus likes to make the self-sacrifice.

Since Juggernaut is unstoppable, he is still sinking to the bottom of the ocean.

Issue ends with the gathered X-Men choosing to not warn Cyclops and Juggernaut punches his way through the rock bottom.

Pretty good arc, I would say!  Who knows if I will get the next issue.

Meghan Trainor – Guest Edition

Posted by John Klein III on October 26, 2015
Posted in: Fun With YouTube, Songs. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Post 850!!!

Meghan Trainor has treated us to two songs, wherein she either appeared on someone’s track or got someone one her track.

She guests on Charlie Puth’s Marvin Gaye –

Thanks to Charlie Puth for hosting his own video.

She got Oscar winner, John Legend, to guest on her song, Like I’m Gonna Lose You –

Thanks to MeganTrainorVEVO for hosting her video.

Both are such good songs!

Drawing Crazy Patterns – Kitty Pryde Speeches

Posted by John Klein III on October 25, 2015
Posted in: Websites. Tagged: . Leave a comment

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/12/13/drawing-crazy-patterns-kitty-pryde-gives-an-impassioned-speech/

Brian Cronin has done a post regarding Kitty’s top five speeches.  The issues covered are –

God Loves, Man Kills

New Mutants Volume One Issue 45

Mekanix 5

Astonishing X-Men 22

All New X-Men 13

Still bugs me so much that I don’t own All New X-Men 13!

Can’t believe I haven’t reviewed any of these issues for this blog.  If I can get my hands on a copy of All New 13, I’ll make a point of doing the rest of these issues.

I keep thinking that there is a big speech of hers that isn’t represented but none of the commentators offered any.

Two issues have received special shoutouts – Excalibur 34 (her pep talk in School Girls from Heck – which I will be covering in February) and Uncanny X-Men 210, that I should be posting soon.

Wolverines 14

Posted by John Klein III on October 24, 2015
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Wolverines 14

Writer Ray Fawkes

Artist Salvador Larroca

Colorist Sonia Oback

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Now that the silliness of the pure Deadpool issue is behind us, we can get back on track as this series ends with issue twenty and I imagine these last six issues are going to be fruitful.  Now that Ogun may be completely out of Shogun’s head, I’m not even sure I should be buying this?  I’m sure he will bounce back, it is Ogun, that is what he do!

36,000 Feet Above Neveda.  Mystique is trying to get all of her players where she needs to have them.  I like that we get her To Do List.

  • Daken must be ready to
  • Siphon must be brought
  • X23 needs to go to De
  • Portal is Essential
  • Deathstrike must f
  • Neuro cannot retu
  • Sinister will br

Deathstrike and Sinister is purposely vague but the rest makes sense with the reading of this issue.

Mystique calls Daken, using a fake identity.  We get to the main problem with this issue.  Larroca draws Daken as if he is Wolverine.  He has a full head of hair and even worst, mutton chops.  That isn’t Daken in they very least!  The point that other characters call him, Daken, and that he is missing his left eye and arm, prevents this from being another character.  How did an editor not catch that?  Also, does Larroca think that Daken looks just like Wolverine?  I suspect that Daken has never looked like Wolverine, like ever.  Well, except for when he was Dark Wolverine but that was merely a costume choice.

Mystique tells Daken where Siphon (the green fella that stole his healing factor) is located, he jumps out of the Changling.  Mystique, as Mystique, tells X23 what is happening.

Wolverines 14 Shogun Mention

X23 jumps out of the plane.

Mystique calls Sabretooth, Shogun, Deathstrike to the bridge.

For some reason, both Daken and X23 crash hard onto the ground.  Even with their parachutes deployed, they don’t land like they’ve jumped from planes for years.  A big rig truck comes by and Daken throws the driver out, via the window.  They head to a deserted gas station.  Once inside, they see both Siphon and Blade.

I do like X23 quickly trying to get Blade to recognize her from the X-Men Volume Two relaunch with Victor Gischler’s Curse of the Mutants storyline.  Blade remembers her, not like it really matters.

Blade was hoping to kill Siphon but is okay with Daken softening him up.

Wolverines 14 Shogun 1

Sabretooth notices that two of their number are missing.  Mystique simply states they stepped out.  She has an announcement to make.  Just then, Portal (who owns a similar mask to Darkhawk) portals in and attacks Mystique.  Sabretooth punches Portal to the back of his dumb head.

Wolverines 14 Shogun 2

I really like how casually Shogun knocks Portal out.  Shogun isn’t impress at all.  He can tell Mystique was manipulating the entire situation, he sees right through her.

Mystique hints that Portal is going to be a huge help to them.

In the middle of their fight, Siphon starts quoting Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Five_Rings

“Know your enemy, know his sword”

Blade asks who Siphon is, and I like how Siphon speaks up, revealing the origin that he knows.  He is another Paradise reject.  When he hungers, that is all he can do is feed.  Once he feds, though, he starts remembering who he use to be.  He may have been a teacher.  Siphon apologizes for stealing Daken’s healing factor, he was told that Daken was better off dead – as he is a mass murderer.  Siphon isn’t wrong on that front.

With each new cut, Siphon warns, that he uses up the healing factor power that he . . . siphoned.  When that happens, he will hunger again and be simply a monster – once again.  Blade knows monsters and commits to taking out whoever wins between Daken and Siphon.  X23 would rather that the fighting just stopped.

Siphon, now that he can be a gentleman, agrees to Daken’s duel.

“The only reason a warrior is alive is to fight.  The only reason a warrior fights is to win.”

Siphon appears to break Daken’s one arm (or make it go numb) at the elbow.

Just then, the floor breaks apart as vampires come rushing out of the ground.  Of course

Daken is on the floor, crawling back to Siphon, when X23 has had enough.  It is a sad sight.  She comes at Siphon, cuts him deeply.  He (somehow) grabs her by the throat and is about to siphon her healing factor.

The issue ends with Daken, getting to his feet, he isn’t ready to go down yet.

“Do not fear death”

I can only imagine that come issue fifteen, Daken looks back on model.

Marvel January 2016 Solicitations

Posted by John Klein III on October 23, 2015
Posted in: Solicitations. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

http://www.newsarama.com/26413-marvel-comics-january-2016-solicitations.html

We are still getting brand new number ones, so I’ll be stating if I’m passing on them, or not.

OLD MAN LOGAN #1
JEFF LEMIRE (w) • ANDREA SORRENTINO (a/C)
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TIM BRADSTREET
VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY TBA
Fifty years from now, Logan — the man who no longer calls himself Wolverine — will have endured many atrocities: The Marvel Universe’s villains will have banded together and rid the world of its heroes. Logan’s closest friend, Hawkeye, will have been murdered in cold blood right before his eyes. And driven mad by the same radiation that gave him his superhuman strength, Bruce Banner will have fathered a family of hillbilly Hulks…that eventually went on to slaughter Logan’s wife and two children. But now, in the present, Old Man Logan wakes up to discover himself in a world before these atrocities, before the Wasteland. And he’s going to seize this opportunity and change history to ensure that his future never comes to pass…
40 PGS./Parental Advisory …$4.99

I’ll add this to my pull is but I imagine I won’t be buying any issues. That is, until it mentions Magik or gets caught up in the eventful Inhumans / X-Men crossover.

CAPTAIN MARVEL #1
Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters (w) • KRIS ANKA (a/C)
Hip-hop Variant Cover by Marguerite Sauvage
ARTIST VARIANT BY TBA
DESIGN VARIANT BY KRIS ANKA
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY TBA
COSPLAY VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
BLANK VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
Face front, true believers! The Captain has made her return and oh, how mighty it is. It’s a bold new frontier for Carol Danvers as she soars to new heights in her greatest mission yet—leader of the all-new Alpha Flight space program. Yup, Alpha Flight. As earth’s first line of defense, Carol and her team aim to protect the planet from extraterrestrial threats. But can Carol be a soldier and a diplomat? Especially when an unknown enemy emerges that Carol can’t quite punch. The superstar team behind Marvel’s Agent Carter television series, Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas, make their comics debut alongside the awesomely-talented Kris Anka.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

They are going to use Carol to get Alpha Flight back into the spotlight? If that doesn’t work, I’m not sure what will. I’ll be passing on this.

ROCKET RACCOON & GROOT #1
SKOTTIE YOUNG (w) • FILIPE ANDRADE (a)
Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
VARIANT COVER BY SUPERLOG
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY KHARY RANDOLPH
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY TBA
COSPLAY VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
ROCKET RACCOON BREAKS BAD!
There’s a new criminal mastermind in the galaxy, and it’s…ROCKET RACCOON?! How did this happen? SERIOUSLY, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN, YOU GUYS??? Groot knows, but he’s not talking! Well, he is talking, but all he’s saying is…oh, you know. Diabolical danger, madcap mysteries and astonishing adventure abound as SKOTTIE YOUNG and FILIPE ANDRADE return to tell tall tail tales of Rocket Raccoon, now with the adorable, arboreal Groot along for the ride! If you love adventure, animals, outer space and just about anything in between, this is the book for you!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I do love me some Skottie Young but I will be passing on this, unless it is involved in the eventful Guardians of the Galaxy crossover.

SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL #1
JOE KELLY (w) • ED MCGUINNESS (a/C)
Hip-hop Variant Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY TBA
VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEL MUNDO
ACTION FIGURE PHOTO VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT!
The Webbed Wonder and the Merc with a Mouth are teaming up for their first ongoing series EVER! It’s action, adventure and just a smattering of (b) romance in this episodic epic featuring the WORLD’S GREATEST SUPER HERO and the star of the WORLD’S GREATEST COMICS MAGAZINE. Talk about a REAL dynamic duo!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

This is suppose to be an ongoing!?! I do like how Marvel is reuniting the original Deadpool ongoing creative team with Kelly / McGuinness. A permanent Marvel Team-Up duo or a replacement of Cable in Cable and Deadpool. I’ll be passing on this, unless one of their adventures involves the X-Men or the Guardians of the Galaxy.

SILVER SURFER #1
DAN SLOTT (w) • MICHAEL ALLRED (a/C)
Variant Cover by Marco Rudy
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY CLIFF CHIANG
“BABY” HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY CLIFF CHIANG
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY WIL SLINEY
“Fantastic Planet”
The Surfer has taken Dawn Greenwood to the end of the universe, and now he’s going to show her the most fantastic planet of them all: Earth! It’s your homeworld like you’ve never seen it before: with monsters, magic and…a secret that will change everything! The perfect jumping-on point for the book everyone’s talking about!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I did like the previous volume but I’ll be skipping this volume, for the time being.

 AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
MARC GUGGENHEIM (w) • GERMAN PERALTA (a)
Cover by MIKE NORTON
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY DAVE JOHNSON
MAOS VARIANT COVER BY JIM CHEUNG
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY TBA
It’s high-stakes espionage in the Marvel Universe in this brand-new series inspired by the hit television show Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Tony Stark guest-stars in the beginning of “THE COULSON PROTOCOLS.”
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

This makes sense, that SHIELD will get relaunched, unless Howard the Duck mentions Magik, again, I doubt I’ll be buying an issue.

ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT AVENGERS #4
MARK WAID (W) • MAHMUD ASRAR (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
CAPTAIN AMERICA 75th ANNIVERSARY VARIANT BY MARK BROOKS
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• You thought the origin of the All-New, All-Different Avengers was surprising? You haven’t seen anything yet!
• When passions flare between Captain America and Thor, they lead to Earth’s Mightiest Kiss!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

They finally found a way for Thor and Captain America to kiss, and not get too many people in an uproar!

GUIDEBOOK TO THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE – MARVEL’S CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
Written by MIKE O’SULLIVAN
& THE OHOTMU TEAM
Cover by MIKE DEL MUNDO
Captain America takes center stage as the MCU Guidebooks’ comprehensive coverage of the fan-favorite Marvel Studios films and Marvel TV shows continues! Look back on the dark days of World War II as we declassify the secrets of Project Rebirth! Featuring fact sheets, movie-to-comic comparisons and production stills, this issue is packed with profiles of Steve “Captain America” Rogers himself; patriotic allies including Bucky Barnes, Peggy Carter, Dr. Abraham Erskine and the Howling Commandos; enemies of liberty including Hydra, Arnim Zola and the Red Skull; and updates on Howard Stark and Nick Fury! Plus: Cap’s mighty shield! The Tesseract!
Yggdrasil the World-Tree! And more! Relive the big-screen thrills of Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger right here, and continue building your indispensable library of Cinematic Universe reference books!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Another handbook that I’m not sure is super necessary. The Iron Man one, the first in the series, should be out soon, and that will help sell these other ones.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #4
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • VALERIO SCHITI (A)
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• A new threat to the galaxy has emerged.
• His name is Yotat the Destroyer and he will have blood.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Shame Kitty isn’t on the official cover. Maybe she will be on the Deadpool variant. Once again, it takes so many comics before I finally get down to the first one I’ll be buying.

SPIDEY #2
ROBBIE THOMPSON (W) • NICK BRADSHAW (A/C)
Variant is by OLIVIER COIPEL
• Spidey and Sandman square off in a titanic tale that’ll knock you out!
• Get it? Knock you out? Because Sandman.
• The book has better jokes than the solicits, we swear!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I appreciate the funny joke in the solict. They’re trying.

TRUE BELIEVERS:
DEADPOOL #1
Reprinting NEW MUTANTS #98.
32 PGS./Rated T …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS:
DEADPOOL ORIGINS #1
Reprinting WOLVERINE ORIGINS #25.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS:
DETECTIVE DEAPOOL #1
Reprinting CABLE & DEADPOOL #13.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS:
UNCANNY DEADPOOL #1
Reprinting CABLE & DEADPOOL #38.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS:
THE GROOVY DEADPOOL #1
Reprinting DEADPOOL (2012) #13.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS:
THE MEATY DEADPOOL #1
Reprinting DEADPOOL (2008) #11.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS:
THE WEDDING OF DEADPOOL #1
Reprinting material from DEADPOOL (2012) #27.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS:
DEADPOOL THE
MUSICAL #1
Reprinting DEADPOOL (2008) #49.1
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS:
DEADPOOL VARIANTS #1
Reprinting all your favorite Deadpool variants.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$1.00

TRUE BELIEVERS:
EVIL DEADPOOL #1
Reprinting Deadpool (2008) #45.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$1.00

            Pretty smart to offer these up. I’ll be tempted to get the Wedding of Deadpool 1, for a dollar. Hastings, though, did not carry any of the Women of Marvel issues – which is a real shame AND seems to be missing the point of this initiative.

DOCTOR STRANGE #4
JASON AARON (W) • CHRIS BACHALO (A)
Cover by KEVIN NOWLAN
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• Doctor Strange has gathered a circle of magic-using friends to try and best monitor magic in the Marvel Universe.
• But this tactic is too late as forces are destroying all magical objects and beings in the multiverse and they are turning their sights on our dimension.
• At least Strange won’t have to die alone…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Magik isn’t part of the group, but imagine if she was? That would be awesome!

ANGELA: QUEEN OF HEL #4
MARGUERITE BENNETT (W)
KIM JACINTO & STEPHANIE HANS (A)
Cover by STEPHANIE HANS
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• Angela, Sera, and Leah lead the rebellion in the underworld to overthrow Hela, while simultaneously racing to escape the ghosts of their past!
• Aaaand we’re pretty much upending the toybox that is Hel and shaking out all the cool characters — and ANGELA AND SERA ARE GONNA FIGHT ‘EM!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I should buy this series, every solict is great.

CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS #4
AL EWING (W) • PACO MEDINA (A)
Cover by VICTOR IBAÑEZ
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER D BY RON LIM
CLASSIC ARTIST VARIANT BY TBA
VARIANT COVER BY PASQUAL FERRY
KABAM CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS GAME VARIANT
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY BOBBY RUBIO
THE MAN WHO TRAINED DAREDEVIL VS. THE WOMAN WHO LOVED DAREDEVIL!
• Can the blind martial arts master known as Stick beat a Bullseye who’s also his greatest student?
• Venom-Hulk vs Guillotines… plural?
• Plus! White Fox gets close to the truth as the enemy Summoner makes his move!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

They keep writing the characters, which is great for me. Unfortunately, none capture my attention.

THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #4
RYAN NORTH (W) • ERICA HENDERSON (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
PREVIOUSLY ON “THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL”:
• Squirrel Girl is trapped in the past, and friend Nancy has gone back to rescue her!
• But Nancy didn’t have a time machine, so she hitched a ride with DOCTOR DOOM!!
• So now it’s Squirrel Girl versus Doctor Doom in the 1960s, fighting for the fate of the very planet!! What could possibly go wrong, right??
• Well anyway, in this issue EVERYTHING GOES WRONG FOREVER
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I sort of want to read how some gal Nancy convinces Doom to let her tag along. That sounds like a lot of fun! Plus, 60s Doom is a hoot!

ALL-NEW X-MEN #4
DENNIS HOPELESS (W) MARK BAGLEY (A/C)
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• Reunited at last, the All-New X-Men hit the road on a mission to write their own futures and be the heroes they believe mutantkind needs most.
• But it’s awfully hard to forge ahead when the immovable BLOB is standing in the way!
• And he’s not the only one with his sights set on the young X-Men…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I like Bagley’s version of X23, er, Wolverina, um, ANAD Wolverine.

Marvel January 2016 Solict Extraordinary X-Men 6 Ramos Cover
Art by Humberto Ramos

EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #6
JEFF LEMIRE (W) VICTOR IBANEZ (A)
Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS
• This month, it’s mutants, monsters and…RHINOSAURS?!
• With the doors of X-Haven thrown open wide to mutantkind, the Extraordinary X-Men continue their mission of providing relief and rescue to any mutant in need.
• But when they respond to a distress call originating in WEIRDWORLD, are the X-Men in over their heads…or worse, about to lose them?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Another tiny Iceman on the cover. So far, I’m two comics in January – I’m really hoping this lasts for another few months. I wonder where X-Haven is situated at. Rhinosaurs, sound fun.

UNCANNY X-MEN #3
CULLEN BUNN (W) GREG LAND (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY GREG LAND
• With mutantkind in extinction’s crosshairs once more, Magneto leads a team of the deadliest X-Men to fight for the fate of their species!
• But can the Master of Magnetism curb his killer instincts long enough to find out who’s trying to speed up mutantkind’s descent into the grave?
• Plus: Fantomex! Triage! And an X-Man you probably thought you’d never see again…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I wonder who the mystery X-Man is?  Probably the most innocent of characters.

ALL-NEW WOLVERINE #4
TOM TAYLOR (W) DAVID LOPEZ (A)
Cover by BENGAL
DEADPOOL VARIANT COVER BY TBA
VARIANT COVER BY RYAN SOOK
THE DOCTOR IS IN!
• Things get truly STRANGE when Wolverine turns to the Sorcerer Supreme in the next mystical chapter of the mystery of the three sisters.
• But will the supernatural efforts of Stephen Strange combined with the raw power of THE WOLVERINE be enough to combat the evils of Alchemax?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

Why would X23 got o Doctor Strange, when Magik is a phone call away?

DEADPOOL #6
GERRY DUGGAN (W) SCOTT KOBLISH (A/C)
SECRET COMIC VARIANT BY SCOTT KOBLISH
• INTRODUCING: DEADPOOL 2099!
• Jump 84 years into the future for an all-new adventure with an all-new Deadpool!
• Who is this sci-fi Mouthy-Merc-Lady?
• And what’s her connection to Wade Wilson?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

Is 2099 really only 84 years away? There is no way I’m going to live to see what Marvel is like, at that point. Surprised it took this long to get to Deadpool 2099.

FIGMENT 2 #5 (of 5)
JIM ZUB (w) • RAMON BACHS (a)
Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
DREAMS DON’T DIE!
• Dreamfinder, Capri, Spark, & Figment are back in our world…but danger still lurks at the Academy Lucidus!
• Will the imaginative team be able to save the school and free their friends, or will the world fall into the darkness of doubt for all eternity?!
• The epic conclusion to FIGMENT 2!
32 PGS./All Ages …$3.99
Elements based on Figment © Disney

Finally this series will come to an end! Then, Lockheed can finally start appearing in comics again!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE HC
Written by JEPH LOEB
Penciled by TIM SALE
Cover by TIM SALE
Journey back to the Big One as Captain America recalls one of his most incredible missions. It’s 1941, and the Howling Commandos are enjoying a respite from the ordeal of World War II — until Cap and his faithful partner, Bucky, lead them into the hands of the enemy! As the Nazis unleash their latest deadly soldiers, an old ally lends a hand — but an even older enemy will threaten America’s greatest hero like never before. Will the Sentinel of Liberty gain his freedom in time to rescue Paris from the clutches of a monster? The Eisner Award-winning creative team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale (DAREDEVIL: YELLOW, HULK: GRAY, SPIDER-MAN: BLUE) reunites to deliver another colorful exploration of the early days of a Marvel icon! Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE #0-5.
152 PGS./Rated T+ …$29.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9419-4
Trim size: oversized

Can’t believe I’ve reached the trade section already, is Marvel not printing as many comics? Surprised by the quick turn around on this trade, as the first issue has barely come out. Maybe the second one has, as well.

GROOT PREMIERE HC
Written by JEFF LOVENESS
Penciled by BRIAN KESINGER
Cover by DECLAN SHALVEY
I am Groot. I AM Groot. I am GROOT. I AM GROOT!!! Translation: For the first time ever, the most famous talking-tree-thing in the Marvel Universe stars in his own series! Life is good for Rocket and Groot, your two favorite Guardians of the Galaxy. They’re having a heck of a time on a well-deserved celestial road trip — until Rocket gets raccoon-napped! Taking a leaf out of his feisty, furry friend’s book, Groot will have to uproot, branch out alone and em-bark on a cosmic odyssey. He’ll face an adventure filled with aliens, sharks, explosions and the Silver Surfer. Far out! Along the way, a world needs saving, and a ship full of mercenaries is cruising for a bruising. Is he the right tree for the job? Well, he is Groot! Collecting GROOT #1-6.
136 PGS./Rated T …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9552-8
Trim size: standard

Such a great series! I’ve read and owned issues two, three and four and really enjoying it, thus far.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY BY ABNETT & LANNING OMNIBUS HC
Written by DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING
Penciled by PAUL PELLETIER, BRAD WALKER,
CARLOS MAGNO, WES CRAIG, MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
& TIMOTHY GREEN II
Cover by ALEX GARNER
All that stands in the way of universal disaster is an unlikely band of cosmic misfits: the Guardians of the Galaxy, retooled for the 21st century! Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Adam Warlock, Mantis and the all-new Quasar — together with Cosmo the telepathic space dog — take on the universe’s most dangerous menaces and have a little fun along the way! The ragtag team must contend with Guardians from the future, a Skrull Secret Invasion and the Church of Universal Truth before the celestial stakes get even higher when an Inhuman/Shi’ar War opens up a Fault in space that may destroy everything! And the return of Thanos could spell doom for the Guardians! Plus: The solo adventures of breakout stars Rocket and Groot! Collecting GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2008) #1-25; THANOS IMPERATIVE: IGNITION #1, #1-6 and DEVASTATION #1; and material from ANNIHILATORS #1-4 and ANNIHILATORS: EARTHFALL #1-4.
936 PGS./Rated T+ …$99.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9834-5
Trim size: oversized

People keep telling I should seek out the Abnett Lanning Guardians titles. Maybe one day, this trade will not be a hundred dollars.

ALL-NEW X-MEN VOL. 4 HC
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by MAHMUD ASRAR, MICHAEL DEL MUNDO & ANDREA SORRENTINO
Cover by SARA PICHELLI
Dimension-hopping and intergalactic adventure are mutant rites of passage, and it’s high time the All-New X-Men took the plunge! First, they’re off to a world like their own, but oddly different, to meet Miles Morales, the Ultimate Spider-Man — and their own counterparts! Welcome to the Ultimate Universe, gang, hope you survive the experience! And in the wake of that encounter, the time-tossed teens get caught up in a cosmic caper over an object of great power. When some of the team are kidnapped by the vicious Mister Knife, the rest must unite with the Guardians of the Galaxy to discover the secrets of the Black Vortex. Will its dark reflections transform the young heroes forever? Action! Adventure! Romance! And a mystery, too, back on Earth: Who — or what — are the Utopians? Collecting ALL-NEW X-MEN (2012) #31-41.
240 PGS./Rated T+ …$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9989-2
Trim size: oversized

The final All-New X-Men hardcover, well before the relaunch anyways. It definitely didn’t end on an upswing but the beginning of this trade was still pretty good.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC (NEW PRINTING)
Written by STAN LEE & STEVE DITKO
Penciled by STEVE DITKO with JACK KIRBY
Cover by JACK KIRBY & STEVE DITKO
In 1962, in the pages of a comic book slated for cancellation, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko gave birth to one of the most enduring icons in American popular media: the one and only Amazing Spider-Man! Turning the concept of a super hero on its head, they imbued the young, guilt-ridden Peter Parker with the fantastic powers of an arachnid and the fantastic pressures of an everyday teenager. The combination was pure magic. During the course of 40 issues of web-slinging, wisecracking wonderment, Lee and Ditko built the foundation for 45 years of Spidey spectaculars — girl trouble; bill trouble; bully trouble; the Daily Bugle; and a cast of friends, family and, of course, super villains unlike any other! Completing the entire Stan Lee/Steve Ditko Spider-Man run in one massive volume including every page, every pinup and every letters column. Not to mention unused covers, critical essays and bonuses galore! Collecting AMAZING FANTASY #15, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1-38 and ANNUAL #1-2, STRANGE TALES ANNUAL #2 and FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1.
1088 PGS./All Ages …$99.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90082-3
Trim size: oversized

I always like the concept of having all of the Ditko issues in one place. That just makes spider-sense. One day, I wouldn’t mind owning this.

THE UNCANNY X-MEN OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC (NEW PRINTING)
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT & LEN WEIN
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE & DAVE COCKRUM
Cover by GIL KANE & DAVE COCKRUM
When a young writer named Chris Claremont took over X-MEN in 1976, few fans could predict the incredible impact he would have on the Marvel Comics series. With a flair for realistic dialogue, heartfelt storylines and hard-hitting action, Claremont’s writing breathed life into the characters. In collaboration with artists Dave Cockrum and John Byrne, Claremont crafted a run still heralded as a definitive era on the book. X-MEN became more than just another super-hero title: This diverse cast of mutants fighting against prejudice and intolerance has resonated in the hearts of millions of devoted readers. Now, the first five years of their landmark run on Uncanny X-Men are collected in one oversized volume. This keepsake edition also includes all original letters pages and other uncanny extras! Collecting X-MEN #94-131 and ANNUAL #3, and GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1.
848 PGS./Rated T …$99.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90083-0
Trim size: oversized

            This also sounds sweet! I’m surprised these type of trades were not scheduled for a December release, so that comic fans could have gotten them under their Christmas trees. I sort of wish this volume stopped at 128, so that I could be really tempted to get Volume Two.

GIANT-SIZE LITTLE MARVEL: AVX HC
Written by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Penciled by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Skottie Young brings out the big guns…and the little Marvels…in the series fans have been waiting for! In the Battleworld zone known as Marville, playtime is serious business — and Marville’s pint-sized heroes are working overtime to prove to their new neighbors which crew is toughest! With super-powered dodgeball, high-tech hideouts and eye-puns aplenty, Marvel’s most adorable heroes aren’t pulling any punches in this larger-than-life, fun-sized adventure. Featuring all your favorites (just, you know, shorter) including Cyclops, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Wolverine and more as the toughest, funniest, craziest and most adorable Marvel heroes throw down in a battle of the fittest! The smaller they are, the harder they brawl — this is Battleworld, after all! Collecting GIANT-SIZE LITTLE MARVEL: AVX #1-4, A-BABIES VS. X-BABIES #1.
120 PGS./Rated T …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9870-3
Trim size: oversized

One of the best miniseries to come out of Secret Wars 2015. I would highly recommend the hardcover.

SECRET WARS JOURNAL/BATTLEWORLD TPB
Written by PRUDENCE SHEN, MICHAEL ROSENBERG, KEVIN MAURER, SI SPURRIER, FRANK TIERI, SCOTT AUKERMAN,
MIKE BENSON, SINA GRACE, JEN SOSKA, SYLVIA SOSKA,
AARON ALEXOVICH, JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, ED BRISSON,
DAVID WALKER, DONNY CATES, IVAN BRANDON, RYAN FERRIER, JAMES STOKOE, PETER DAVID, SKOTTIE YOUNG & TOM TAYLOR
Penciled by RAMON BACHS, LUCA PIZZARI, CORY SMITH,
JONATHAN MARKS, RICHARD ISANOVE, RB SILVA,
LAURA BRAGA, KEN LASHLEY, ALEC MORGAN, DIOGO SAITO, MIKE HENDERSON, SCOTT HEPBURN, JJ KIRBY, MARCO TURINI, AARON CONLEY, LOGAN FAERBER, JAMES STOKOE,
DANIEL VALADEZ, JIM MAHFOOD & STEVE PUGH
Cover by PACO MEDINA
Tales from across the landscape of SECRET WARS! Is Lady Kate of 1602 the notorious Hawkeye Bandit? Can enslaved mutants overthrow Khonshu? Kraven hunts, Matt Murdock cooks, Wolverine investigates and Doc Samson tries to bring sanity to a land of Hulks! The Punisher and Iron Fist! Night Nurse! MILL-E: the model citizen! Plus: Fights, fights, fights! A Doctor Strange-possessed Frank Castle against the New Fantastic Four! Cowboy Deadpool and Devil Dinosaur! Silver Surfer vs. Maestro! Wolverine vs. Wolverines! All the M.O.D.O.K.s! The Agents of Atlas rebel against Baron Zemo! And pity poor Howard the Human, trapped in an
anthropomorphic animal realm he never made! Collecting SECRET WARS JOURNAL #1-5, SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD #1-4, HOWARD THE HUMAN #1 and SECRET WARS: AGENTS OF ATLAS #1.
240 PGS./Rated T+ …$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9580-1

Makes sense to put the two anthology series in one trade. I wonder how well these sell, as trades. I only own a few of the issues of Journal but they were pretty good. The first and fourth issues.

X-TINCTION AGENDA: WARZONES! TPB
Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM with
CHRIS CLAREMONT
Penciled by CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO
with JIM LEE
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
Mutantkind teeters on the brink of oblivion in a Battleworld realm shaped by the events of the landmark first X-crossover of the 1990s! Now, ten years after the fall of Cameron Hodge and his fascist regime, Havok and Wolfsbane have labored hard to rebuild Genosha. But their work may be for naught as a mutant-killing plague begins spreading across their nation. The island is quarantined and abandoned by the rest of the world — including the X-Men! And when Havok and Wolfsbane reach out to their old friends, they risk all-out war! Even if their species can survive the conflict, a shadow from their past may return to usher Homo superior into extinction. Plus: Relive the incendiary opening salvo of the original epic! Collecting X-TINCTION AGENDA #1-4 and UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) #270.
112 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9550-4

I only got the second issue of this series, but it was good. I don’t quite get the reason of throwing in the first issue of the original event, unless those are still in print but I would make sure they were, before adding them.

 S.H.I.E.L.D. VOL. 2: THE MAN CALLED D.E.A.T.H. TPB
Written by MARK WAID, AL EWING & STAN LEE
Penciled by GREG SMALLWOOD, PACO MEDINA, LEE FERGUSON, JACK KIRBY, JIM STERANKO,
EVAN “DOC” SHANER, HOWARD CHAYKIN & MIKE PERKINS
Cover by JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO
Your favorite agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in action across the Marvel Universe! Daisy Johnson — A.K.A. Skye, A.K.A. Quake — faces a seismic family reunion! Agent May and Mockingbird face an army of super-powered monstrosities! And — in a celebration of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s 50th anniversary featuring a never-before-printed art sequence by Jack Kirby and Jim Steranko — Phil Coulson and Nick Fury Sr. share a cross-time riddle: Who is the Man Called D.E.A.T.H.? Plus: S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits two charming new friends — Howard the Duck and Dominic Fortune! But when Earth falls to the Scarlet Centurion, Coulson and the gang have one chance to save it — by waging war on Asgard in the past! Collecting S.H.I.E.L.D. (2014) #7-12.
160 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9363-0

Issue ten was pretty good but that’s all I can say about the series.

COLOR YOUR OWN DEADPOOL
Penciled by ED McGUINNESS, TONY MOORE & MORE!
Cover by ED McGUINNESS
What’s black and white and red all over? The Deadpool Coloring Book when you’ve finished with it! Say goodbye to your scarlet pens and crimson pencils as you bring to life page after page of pinups featuring the claret-clad clown who’s one-in-a-vermilion! Or if you’re feeling anarchic, why not conduct your own Crayon X experiment and take an all-hue, all-different approach? Whether you’re embellishing a Jade Wilson or a Merc With the Mauve, you have the power to usher Deadpool into a bold new fuchsia. With 60 pages of line art by some of the finest illustrators ever to regenerate your favorite degenerate, hours of fun await. Grab yourself a chimichanga in one hand, a coloring implement in the other, and go wild!
120 PGS./Parental Advisory …$9.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90051-9

This sounds like it would be fun. McGuinness’ art style does lend itself to coloring books – high quality coloring books. I just learned about the cocnept of adult coloring books, only a month ago, but there are a ton of options out there.

FALLEN SON: THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA TPB
(NEW PRINTING)
Written by JEPH LOEB
Penciled by LEINIL FRANCIS YU, ED MCGUINNESS, JOHN ROMITA JR., DAVID FINCH & JOHN CASSADAY
Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Where were you when you heard that Captain America died? You were probably shocked, most likely thinking, “How could they? How could this happen to Cap?” And for a moment, perhaps you thought about everything the Super-Soldier meant to you. FALLEN SON follows the reaction of the legendary hero’s best friends and closest comrades as they struggle to work through the stages of grief stirred by the loss of their ally. Wolverine. The Avengers. Hawkeye. Spider-Man. Iron Man. This is their story. This is Cap’s story. This is our story. The story of a fallen son and the world he helped make a better place. Collecting FALLEN SON: THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA — WOLVERINE #1, AVENGERS #1, CAPTAIN AMERICA #1, SPIDER-MAN #1 and IRON MAN #1.
128 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9859-8
(JUN150840)

I would not rerelease this trade, as it goes and shows how silly comics can be – in that bad way.

BLACK WIDOW: THE ITSY-BITSY SPIDER TPB
Written by DEVIN GRAYSON & GREG RUCKA
Penciled by J.G. JONES & SCOTT HAMPTON
Cover by J.G. JONES
Natasha Romanov has always led a life of adventure. First, she was a Soviet spy, fighting on the Cold War front line. She then defected to the West, eventually becoming a super hero and an Avenger. Natasha has earned a reputation as a consummate professional, coldly efficient and as deadly as her namesake. But now, her time as Black Widow may be running out. Yelena Belova, the new Black Widow, seeks to claim the mantle she feels was stolen from her Motherland. Anxious to prove herself by eliminating her counterpart, Belova will stop at nothing to achieve her goal. The battle of the two Widows rages from the deserts of the Middle East to New York’s Upper West Side. And when the smoke clears, will either be left standing? Collecting BLACK WIDOW (1999) #1-3 and BLACK WIDOW (2001) #1-3.
152 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9602-0

I really enjoyed these, when the miniseries first came out.

X-MEN: GAMBIT — THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 1 TPB
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA, TOM DEFALCO
Penciled by PASQUAL FERRY, STEVE SKROCE,
MAT BROOME, WALTER MCDANIEL & MARCELO FRUSIN
Cover by STEVE SKROCE
Gambit plays his cards right and vaults into his own kinetically charged solo adventures! He’s a lover and a thief, but what else does ragin’ Cajun Remy LeBeau get up to when he isn’t hangin’ wit’ de X-Men? Would you believe raiding lost temples of Doom? Clashing with the deadly X-Cutioner? Or teaming up with Sabretooth? Still, there’s always time for the ladies — like old friend Storm and his favorite cherie, Rogue. But who is Gambit’s gaseous green guardian? Look into the past with teen Gambit, and go even farther back to watch Remy’s dad in action with Sgt. Fury’s Howling Commandos! Plus: Rarely seen adventures, including a splashdown with Hydro-Man! Anyt’ing is possible wit’ Gambit, mon ami! Collecting GAMBIT (1999) #1/2, #1-11 and ANNUAL ’99; MARVEL AUTHENTIX: GAMBIT; and material from X-MEN UNLIMITED (1993) #18.
432 PGS./Rated T …$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9685-3

I own issues one, five and the 2000 annual, from this series. I don’t recall much from them, but I know I plan on reviewing a few of these when the film comes out.

X-MEN: COLOSSUS — GOD’S COUNTRY TPB
Written by CHRIS YOST, CHRIS CLAREMONT,
ANN NOCENTI, CULLY HAMNER & NEIL KLEID
Penciled by TREVOR HAIRSINE, JOHN BOLTON,
JUNE BRIGMAN, RICK LEONARDI, CULLY HAMNER & MICHAEL AVON OEMING
Cover by RICK LEONARDI
Face front, tovarisch, for a spotlight on Marvel’s steel-skinned mutant, the artistic X-Man Colossus! Head back to Mother Russia to discover the uncanny origins of Piotr Rasputin and his little sister, Illyana, then journey with him to America in classic tales looking back at his early days at the Xavier School. In addition to his formidable strength, these stories of tragedy and triumph showcase Colossus’s gentle soul, stout heart and tremendous courage — qualities that make him a true hero! He’ll confront the Cold Warriors, battle dinosaurs, fall in love, grieve and be forced to choose between the land of his birth and his adopted home. But the greatest enemy of all awaits: artist’s block! Collecting X-MEN ORIGINS: COLOSSUS — plus material from CLASSIC X-MEN #5, #21 and #29; MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS (1988) #10-17; X-MEN UNLIMITED (1993) #29; and X-MEN UNLIMITED (2004) #14.
168 PGS./Rated T+ …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9525-2

Now if this was Magik’s – God’s Country, this would probably sell a million copies!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EPIC COLLECTION: RETURN OF THE SINISTER SIX TPB
Volume #21 in the Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection
Written by DAVID MICHELINIE & CHARLES VESS
Penciled by ERIK LARSEN, MARK BAGLEY & CHARLES VESS
Cover by ERIK LARSEN
Doctor Octopus is putting the band back together! But who will join master planner Otto Octavius in the most Sinister Six of all? Spidey is about to find out, but defeating this sextet of his most ruthless foes will test him like never before — and in the aftermath, Peter’s tremendous sense of responsibility will lead him to give up his powers! Is this Spider-Man no more? Normal life isn’t so great when the Scorpion attacks, and the Black Cat must leap to the rescue. Fingers crossed that the web-slinger will be back in action by the time Venom returns, the Avengers assemble and Doctor Doom arrives in town! Plus: Peter and Mary Jane’s romantic getaway in Scotland turns into a haunted second honeymoon! Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #334-350 and SPIDER-MAN: SPIRITS OF THE EARTH.
504 PGS./Rated T+ …$39.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9691-4

I must have reread my copy of this trade, back in the day, so many times. I loved the team-ups in it and how fun the entire story was.

. . .

So, again, I’m only getting two titles –

Guardians of the Galaxy 4            $4

Extraordinary X-Men 6            $4

For a total of eight dollars, but with the Hastings discount, will be six dollars. That’s how I like my comics, few and inexpensive!

. . .

I also have to add Old Man Logan to my pulllist.

Thus far, I’m all for this direction for the All New All Different Marvel!

Deadpool Volume Three Issue 45

Posted by John Klein III on October 22, 2015
Posted in: Fun With YouTube, Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Deadpool V3 45

Or issue 250 of Volume One, pending on who you ask.  Since the Indicia states, 45, that’s the one I’m going with.  I own this for

Deadpool Roasts the Marvel Universe
An Infinity Gauntlet Tie-In

Words Gerry Duggan & Brian Posehn

Lines Scott Koblish

Hues Val Staples

Balloons VC’s Joe Sabino

Special Thanks to David Mandell

How great is it that 24 years later, we are getting an Infinity Gauntlet tie-in!?!  So great!

Deadpool V3 45 Infinity Gaunthlet Roast Title Page

You can tell that we are about to begin a twenty page awesome story with just that title page above!  I’m surprised the entire thing isn’t on the Internet yet (as oppose to other stories being fully available, maybe it is the length of it?)

“The writers chose to write bizarre versions of current characters and to include characters that had never been seen before.  . . . wait 24 years” so great.

Then.  Deadpool has just successfully stolen something.  Inferno is coming, Spider-Man is a clone, Phoenix is dead – pretty much tells us where we are in the world of Marvel.  Gosh, from 1991 to 2015, so much has happened!

Deadpool’s client is . . . Thanos, in his legendary Thanos-copter (of course).  Thanos had Deadpool steal him a cosmic cube.  Turns out, Deadpool didn’t give Thanos the real cube, he used it to snatch the Infinity Gauntlet from Thanos.

What does Deadpool do with the most powerful item in the universe?  One Night One : Deadpool Roasts the Marvel Universe.  This will be my second most favorite Marvel Roast.  Deadpool does this so that he can get back at everybody that has kept him down.  A lady mistakes him for Spider-Man, so he erases her from continuity.  Before he can start, Howard the Duck arrives.  Howard changes the marquee, as it is in his rider to – Deadpool Roasts the Marvel Universe Special, Guest MC : Howard the Duck.

Deadpool’s dais consists of – Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor and Nick Fury.

Deadpool V3 45 Infinity Gaunthlet Roast Magik

I own this entire $9.99 comic due to the one panel that Magik appears in above!  Emma gets a line later in the comic and Illyana isn’t even in that panel!

Like any good roast, there is a common easy joke that everyone can make, in Deadpool’s case, it is his face.  His face is pretty tore back, due to his cancer, which is pretty messed up to make fun of him for it.

Howard makes a great joke about how everyone only likes Deadpool when he graces their comic cover, as that is a boost to their sales.

There is a great panel of how the blind characters got horrible seats.  There is Stick, Shroud, Daredevil, Blindfold, her mother, Destiny, Madame Web, Echo and Blind Al.  I thought Echo was deaf and not blind.

The first roaster is Wolverine, wearing a Goblin Queen outfit, but he doesn’t know it.  Elektra is enjoying herself.  Sabretooth is not happy that he is trying to be the new Wolverine.

Storm is up next, she is surprised to see that Hitler is in attendance.  Magneto isn’t happy to discovery that Hitler is sitting at the table behind his.  Hitler gleefully says that he was the star of issue 26, the issue prior to Deadpool and Shiklah’s wedding.

Deadpool V3 45 Roast Emma 2

Deadpool starts to grow tired of Howard’s antics and makes a reference to Howard’s after credits scene in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Thanks to YouTuber Eczavier Chaff for hosting this video.

Emma is tired of this silly business.  I wish Magik got to be appear in that panel!  Poor Phoebe, she still can’t get colorist to color her hair red, outside of Uncanny and All New.

Cable is up next and he is extremely tired of being paired with Deadpool.  There is a second theme of the roast, that people are just plain tired of Deadpool.

Thor states that no one likes Deadpool, god or mortal.  Deadpool’s face looks like Heidrun the Goat’s backside, which looks like Mangog’s backside.  Magog does not appreciate that and makes fun of Thor via a Thunderstrike reference.

Spider-Man gets on the mic and bombs.  He references seeing Gwen’s dead and her father, George Stacey’s death.  He discusses the Venom symbiote, Agent Venom states that Spider-Man likes it.  Spider-Man tries to fake that Doctor Octopus has controlled again.  Doctor Octopus chimes in, that he is the superior joke teller.

Daredevil jokes that he has heard back things.  Howard the Duck makes fun of the lame joke and Blind Al swears at him, again.

Kim, who has had forced surgery to look like a purple Nightcrawler (I reviewed an issue he was appeared in issue 38 of Volume Three).  He compliments Deadpool, so Howard pushes him off the stage.  Kurt, the real Nightcrawler, takes the stage and claims that being dead is funnier than listening to Deadpool.

Agent Adsit takes the stage.  He chooses to not make any jokes about Deadpool’s face – instead, going after Little Deadpool.  He describes it as being a hot dog that has been microwaved too long.  Shiklah laughs so hard, as it is so true.

Michael the Necromancer states that he is no hero but neither is Deadpool, which isn’t the most untruthful thing to say.

Hulk is next.  He starts strong, with stating that he is the strongest there is.  Except in stink, Deadpool wins that.  When the jokes don’t go over well, he smashes his way out of the room.

Nick Fury Jr. is next but he doesn’t know what to say, so his father steps in.  Proper Nick (not the old guy from Original Sin, so this must be a LMD) states that Deadpool is the worst guy in the universe.  Which, funny enough, insults Hitler.

Captain America (but also not old) states that he doesn’t get a lot of Deadpool’s jokes but ends with a cheesy joke about how Deadpool and Red Skull must share a dermatologist.

Doctor Strange says that Deadpool covers his pain with jokes and wishes that no one had to be present for this.

http://marvel.wikia.com/Deadpool_Vol_3_45#Appearing_in_.22Deadpool_Roasts_the_Marvel_Universe.22

A giant lizard dude shows up but isn’t name checked, I was hoping he would be.  Deadpool and Thor tore him a new one and now he shits in a bag, which he offers to show people.  I wish we got the name and the issue number that happened in.

The Ghost of Benjamin Franklin gets a turn.  He comments on how horrible Deadpool’s face is that people are ignoring the fact that he is a horrible friend and pretty shallow.

Shiklah (I can’t seem to remember how to spell her name) takes the microphone.  She agrees that his face isn’t great, vampires even feel bad for him but he is the hottest man she has ever met.  They have a rule, no matter how much they battle, their love making is that much more intense.

Agent Preston gets her turn, her son – Jeff –  wrote the jokes. The jokes are all poop jokes but funny poop jokes.  “Your face looks like a doody took a doody on it.   Your face looks like a sewer farted on it.  Your face caught on fire and someone tried to put it out with poop.  You face looks like a wizard made a poop sword and a young knight pulled it out of a poop stone and stabbed your face with it.”  Deadpool is very proud.

Deadpool finally gets to defend himself.  He gets a swipe at Alpha Flight.  Because he is wearing the Infinity Gauntlet, his jokes are super funny to those who hear them and everyone starts laughing.  He starts taking shots at the guests.  Man Thing’s table is giant size.  Deadpool has never killed anyone in a wheelchair, unlike Cyclops.  Though Xavier wasn’t in a wheelchair at that time.  Deadpool says that once Domino is done with her guest panel, she will go back to obscurity.  Nightcrawler isn’t able to teleport away, as people start noticing something is wrong.

Deadpool was making people laugh as nothing matter, as he thinks about his origins retold in five panels (the lights of the Infinity Gems).  Due to him wearing the Infinity Gauntlet, he can see us, the reader.  Deadpool is depress as he knows he isn’t real and his torments are due to us needing to be entertain.  Howard the Duck knows who Deadpool is talking too, as Howard the Duck was breaking the fourth wall decades before Deadpool came out of Rob Liefeld’s pen.

Issue ends with Thanos, still in the Thanos-copter.  Deadpool gives Thanos the Infinity Gauntlet and is kicked out of the copter.

The other stories in the issue are –

The main story, which is pretty fun.

Thanks to the Recap page, we learn that Deadpool has a daughter, Ellie, and Agent Preston has been raising her.

U.L.T.I.M.A.T.I.U.M. is going after Deadpool’s friends and family but they are being killed as they make their attempts.  Agent Adsit is shot though.  Flag Smasher suspects Deadpool is going to go the traditional route of over reacting and barge at them with the full fury of an animated wounded animal.  Instead. Deadpool has a plan that pretty much goes as he planned it.  Deadpool has everything finalized, including buying a farm in Kansas and he invites U.L.T.I.M.A.T.I.U.M. to attack him.  Deadpool starts killing everyone of these foolish fools.  He makes a AXIS reference by referring to his Zenpool identity.  Deadpool saves Flag Smasher for last.  Wade Wilson kills Deadpool, so that he can keep his friends safe and that he can spend time with his wife and child.

Six Days Later.  Everyone is on a stolen yacht.  Agent Adsit is in a wheelchair, so he lives.

The final Incursion between the Proper Marvel Earth and the Ultimate Earth.  Wade thought all of this Incursion silliness was Avengers nonsense, which I thought so as well.  Wade hugs his daughter one last time.

Deadpool V3 45 Incursion

The main story ends with the Death of Deadpool but also, of everyone else as the Incursion of the Proper Marvel Earth and the Ultimate Earth begins.

There is a section of stories regarding Deadpool’s Pals ‘N’ Gals

Shiklah in Shiklah’s Catching Up (this credit page is what I kept referring back to so that I spelled her name right)

Agent Preston in The Family S.H.I.E.L.D.

Evan Sabahnur in What Do We Want?  Apocalypse!  When Do We Want It?  Now!

Agent Scott Adsit in The Thwipster and the Quipster Battel the Hipsters!

Benjamin Franklin in All About the Benjamins

Michael the Necromancer in Parents : The Meeting

Then came the Roast

There is a three pages of #RIPdeadpool reprints that I wish I had known about so that I could have gotten involved.

Finally, a fun page of Clark Gregg yelling at editor Jordan D. White for killing off Deadpool.

Pretty fantastic send off for a character!

X-Position: Gerry Duggan on Zenpool and the Art of “Deadpool” Maintenance

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

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=57834

CBR News was nice enough to ask my two questions to Gerry Duggan!

JackalsIII has some praise for “Deadpool” cover artist Mark Brooks.

Was it your idea to homage “Uncanny X-Men” #210 for “Deadpool” #38, or was that Mark Brooks? Such a great cover!

All Brooks, though I have to say that he’s working with [Editors] Jordan D. White & Charles Beacham, and they may offer input and notes on covers. The only cover I ever kinda sorta art-directed was the cover to “Deadpool” #7 and the upcoming “Deadpool” #40. At the time I jotted down my thoughts for that cover, I wanted it to land hard to send a message that we were going back to “Demon In A Bottle,” and I had no idea [Kevin] Maguire was going to be the one to draw #7 or I would have been a bit less detailed. I never thought I’d live to see a Maguire cover on a book that had my name. Most times covers show up in my email, and I just get to sit back and be amazed. Mark Brooks has done some wonderful and iconic work on this run and we’re thrilled. There’s a threat of a very special Mark Brooks cover to come, that will make people laugh, I hope.

JackalsIII also has a question about two fan-favorite X-Men.

Thanks for using Shadowcat and Magik in “Hulk,” that was pretty awesome! Can we expect one or both of them in future issues of either series?

Thanks. The two chances I’ve had to write Kitty I’ve had a lot of fun. Comics can be a lot of things, but I do believe that comics have to be fun. Seeing her prod around as an amateur surgeon [in “Hulk”] was fun. As for when or where Magik and Kitty show up again in something I write? Who knows? [Sam] Humphries has some fun plans for Kitty in [2015’s] “The Black Vortex.”

As if I wouldn’t know about Black Vortex but that’s nice of him to promote a crossover he has nothing to do with.