Cover by Kris Anka
I still need to buy the Art Adams variant, but I’m glad that Hastings had at least one of the variants that I wanted.
Anka
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Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Art Sara Pichelli, Mahmud Asrar, Stuart Immonen, Kris Anka, Chris Bachalo, David Marquez, Frazer Irving
Inks Wade von Grawbadger, Tim Townsend, Mark Irwin
Color Art Marte Gracia, Jason Keith, Chris Bachalo, Frazer Irving
Cover Art Chris Bachalo
Lettering & Production VC’s Joe Caramagna
Six months after it was suppose to come out, we get Bendis’ final issue of Uncanny X-Men! Though I can’t go on, too much, as this came out in November and I’m now reviewing this in February!
Last time in Uncanny X-Men – Cyclops tried to have a mutant revolution and it went nowhere, after one campus visit. Colossus was mad at his younger sister, as she could have undid Juggolosuss, at any time, but let him keep dmaning himself. Also, Teen Jean Grey forced Teen Iceman to admit to being “full gay.”
Jean Grey School. Storm has asked Beast to come to the cafeteria.
Note Kitty’s sweet space outfit, it will chance from time to time, even though it shouldn’t.
Look how sad or determined people look in this room. Doop doesn’t want to be there.
Iceman announces, like an idiot, that he didn’t want to do this. Kitty, regretting ever making out with the guy, gets the show back on track.
Beast picks up, immediately, that this is an intervention. Which I like how the X-Men finally got around to pointing out to Beast, how off the tracks, he has been. If only Beast had drank, smoked or whatever he means by dating (do people get interventions for dating?) those people can rationalize.
Instead, he has decided to break the laws of – physics, space-time continuum and genetics. One is bad, but one has to be triple threat, to be this ridiculous.
I wish I could tell who did these pages. I can’t distinguish Pichelli or Marquez’s art, for whatever reason. There are seven artists (minus inkers and colorists) but I can tell who the five artists are. Does anyone know which pages were which? I imagine I’m just not telling when they switched, during the intervention.
Beast, only a minute into this, has decided that this is really . . . a trial!
20 Minutes Ago. These pages, are done by Kris Anka.
Colossus, in classic Claremont fashion, destroys a tree! Kitty teases him about it, so that’s pretty great. Also, Kitty is in her classic X-Men outfit.
What does Colossus have on his butt!?!
These two do talk, like they have known each other for years. Like they have gone through some shit together – which they totally have.
Colossus turns the conversation to Kitty’s engagement. She’s surprised the news has made it back to Earth. Which I imagine, it would has Teen Angel came back with a brand new look. Kitty’s engagement would have to be mentioned, as one of the three highlights of Black Vortex.
Kitty hints that Illyana is here to talk to her brother, so he calls her out.
I like how awkward the Rasputin siblings are, it has been too long since they have talked. Illyana, showing some real vulnerability, admits that she has been training with Doctor Strange.
The faces that Colossus and Kitty make, what is that look? Surprised, mixed with disgust? They look, clearly taken back by the revelation.
It is astonishing that Xavier didn’t try to hook Illyana with Doctor Strange or Agatha Harkness, or anyone who is magically inclined. I guess, as there isn’t that many mutants who also use magic, he didn’t know who to reach out too. It isn’t like Amanda Sefton was an expert in the field – at that time. I’m pretty sure Scarlet Witch was still mostly mutant hex powers than sorcery
Colossus tells her to stop.
Bendis really excels with the whole, how people read a comic. As this is a great use of a page flip.
Colossus gives his little snowflake a much deserve hug! Look how happy Magik is!
Kitty announces that Storm is summoning them, and Magik teleports them away. So when did Kitty change outfits? This will happen, one more time.
Illyana joke that Colossus should make a move and stop the wedding, but he’s cool. Is he still dating Domino? I hope he is.
Back at the trial! Storm hints that people have approached Beast about these issues, but he ignores them and keeps on trucking. It was this or have SHIELD arrest him, which I’m sure SHIELD isn’t in the game of arresting Avengers – not with Steve Rogers running the place.
Beast keeps going on about Scott Summers.
Emma steps in, which is smart to have Storm, Emma and Kitty being the ones to do most of the talking. He relates to those three on different levels. Emma likes how this situation should embarrass and shame Beast, maybe the last tactic, will be the one that works.
Beast tries to explain himself. His ideas are so advanced, that he can’t explain himself – which is a bunch of shit. He knew no one would clear his decision to mess up the time stream and bring the Original Five X-Men to the present, so he just goes ahead and does it.
The Icemans (Icemen?) start saying the same thing, at the same time.
Which transitions us to Mahmud Asrar pages. The pages that deal with Teen Bobby talking to his present older self – which Teen Jean, in tow. Iceman makes short work of Cyclops’ new students, they didn’t really get much fighting experience.
Teen Bobby comes out to Iceman (that’s how I’m going to distinguish them). Teen Bobby asks if Iceman is gay too. I do like how Teen Bobby’s motivation to coming out to his older self, is that he doesn’t want to live in the closet, but he realizes how complicated that would make things, for his older self.
Iceman, without missing a beat, tells Jean that this is why no one likes her. Which is completely true! Teen Bobby tries to defend her, saying that people like her too much. Which I imagine is hard to prove. Who would like Teen Jean Grey? She makes poor decision, after poor decision.
Iceman doesn’t understand how his younger self is more put together than he is. Iceman tries to explain he decisions. He was persecuted for being a mutant and an X-Man, he wanted a part of his life that he could just live like a normal person. So he kept himself busy, too busy, to be gay. I guess I can understand that, but it does seem like he went out of his way to get some beards. He dated Opal for like six years! But that does happen.
Irritatingly, Teen Bobby asks Iceman what he is thinking. Instead of giving him a second to answer, Jean goes ahead and reveals what Iceman is thinking – as that worked out so well, before. If he isn’t being selfish to wanting to commit energy into making himself happy, instead of being an X-Man. Which makes sense, as one of the Original Five, he has seen how – once you are an X-Man, that’s pretty much all you are. If you try to do a side project, it will eventually bring you back to the team.
To end on a light note, Teen Bobby asks if Iceman finds Angel cute, which he does. Which is super weird, as the Angel he knows, has gone through the frying pan! I’m sure he hasn’t thought he was cute, since his original Archangel days.
Iceman wants to hug Jean but she doesn’t like how the code makes her front parts. oh Jean, you are the worst. So she gives him a mental hug, which feels nice – apparently. They are summoned to Storm.
Back at the Trial. Storm keeps coming at him. Out of nowhere, he was going to bring up that she married Black Panther, as if that has anything to do with this. Classic deflection! Plus, her decision affected, like no one. Even the people in Wakanda just saw it as an opportunity to have a party and then things were back to normal. Well, besides, Doomwar but that would have happened if Storm wasn’t there.
Beast doesn’t want to be blamed for Future Beast’s issues (from Battle of the Atom and that sequel story), as he also tampered with time and furthering his mutation. He gave himself goat legs, that have only worked for Illyana!
Dazzler, wanting to get involved, points out that Dark Beast tried to kill them, in the X-Men versus SHIELD arc. Which I had forgotten about, already. Probably as that reveal, was essentially “insert any villain” here.
Kitty just wants to be in the conversation, Beast can’t just keep doing whatever.
The New Xavier School. Location Sercret. (Still?) 40 Minutes Ago. (as they have to account for the Icemans segment). These pages are brought to us by Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger and Marte Gracia. Also, Joe Caramagna, but he does all of the lettering and production, for this extra sized issue.
The All New X-Men, including Cosmic Upgrade Angel and X23 (pre-All New Wolverine) are relaxing on the grass. Which last time they tried this, Bobby tried to comment on how attractive Illyana was and Jean told him how full gay he was and determined how he should categorize himself.
Jean wants a break, from being an X-Man. Cyclops got to have his own adventure, and she wants to see how she should define herself. Which is super ironic. Jean wants to train more, and fight less – which makes sense. Angel agrees, he wouldn’t mind some off time. He just wants to date X23, some more – I bet! Bobby wants some of Angel’s money, which I’m pretty sure NuAngel, has squandered all of that money, as he didn’t know how to spend it. Where is that guy, these days?
Hank walks away, realizing that he broke up the X-Men. Jean confronts him and FINALLY has the conversation they should have had, since Battle of the Atom, when the two kissed! Or, in that event, he didn’t want to run away with her, so she took Scott, instead. Hank is worried, about how much they have changed, in only a few months.
Jean has been reading Hank’s mind, she knows that he has been waiting for this moment and now, she is ready for it. Jean and Hank made out and in full view of Scott, who isn’t happy! Did Scott have a space honey? I thought I read somehow that he did meet a space pirate princess, or some such title.
I’m glad these little segments exist, as this non-trial would be hard to read, otherwise.
Back at the trial. Storm tells Beast that she loves him but he tells her that this isn’t love. Which is classic intervention! From what I imagine. Kitty and Illyana both tell him, that this is love. I like to think that Illyana saying it, is what makes him go quiet.
Beast turns to Young Hank, and asks how he is just standing there. Hank doesn’t like it, the Original Five X-Men were brought here, based on a lie. There was no mutant genocide. Beast tries to say that there would have been, but he stopped it by bringing the Original Five X-Men to the present. Which seems silly.
Beast goes on about Scott Summers, again.
Everyone is so tired of Beast and his breakup with Scott Summers. Beast starts walking away, he is done.
Kitty volunteers to follow Beast but Benjamin gets paged. Cerebro has picked up a unique signature, which seems weird as who it is, shouldn’t be a new detection. Unless it got a new setting or was doing a search for him, but we don’t get any additional information on that front.
This mutant is in Washington DC. Illyana teleports the entire school to the capital.
So Cyclops is in Washington DC! Also there, Kitty, back in her classic X-Men costume. What is she doing!?!
Cyclops makes a point of saying that the X-Men are the last mutants to arrive. He has gathered all of these mutants, to one location. I’m not sure he forced Mystique or Sabretooth, to be there or any of the other villains.
Look how cute Doop is!
Oh, these pages are brought to us by Chris Bachalo, Tim Townsend and Mark Irwin. I imagine Jason Keith, like Caramagna, colors the rest of the issue – outside of Immonen, Bachalo and Irving’s part (which is the last pages).
Cyclops has to explain, that he misused the word – revolution – or that he simply failed at having a unified vision.
Cyclops has clearly lost it, as he states how Washington DC is the heart f everything democratic and good. Maybe democratic, but good? That seems silly.
The real revolution is that all the mutants can be in one location and not be fighting. Just then, Magneto arrives and people are worried that this will spark a race riot. He lands and says how crazy this plan is, but Xavier would have loved it. Which makes Cyclops smile.
The last two pages, are brought to us by Frazer Irving. Tempus talks to Beast, wondering if this is the Trial of Henry McCoy, as she has been foretold about it, three times. I’m not sure what she means with this – because if this was it . . . what do you do with what happened today?” Like, there are too many words or too few words. I’m not sure what she also means “and if this wasn’t it . . . ” I get that she is trying to indicate that things are going to get much worst,
What I’m getting at, is this – the issue ends on not a great note but the rest of it, was pretty good.
There is a nice letter by Bendis. He teases that Goldballs is going to show up in Miles Morales’ Spider-Man title, that I didn’t know, and that Bendis is taking Kitty Pryde, with him, to Guardians of the Galaxy, which I did know about.
For some reason, the Iceman story from Bizarre Adventures 27 is reprinted. There isn’t anything, that I can see, that tells you where that story is originally printed or why it was included, but that’s what that story is.
Bleeding Cool News believes that the story was reprinted due to Iceman commenting on how pretty Angel is. So it is canon, I suppose. Still weird that there wasn’t an introduction page to set up the backup story.
Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Art Kris Anka
Color Art Marte Gracia
Lettering & Produciton VC’s Joe Caramagna
Delhi, India. Cyclops is confronting Mystique, who is on a bit of a vacation from herself. She is enjoying being a Bollywood star. Mystique starts playing mind games, to try to seduce him. She takes the forms of Emma, Dark Phoenix and Wolverine. Scott has had sex with two of those three.
Scott wants to know why Mystique has been so all over the place, since Xavier’s death. There was a time when she was the villain of four different titles – all at the same time. Get it together, Mystique! She would be committing minor crimes in one title and these massive month long plans.
SHIELD Hellicarrier. Maria Hill and Dazzler are having a nice chat. Dazzler never technically quit and Hill never technically fired Dazzler, so she is still a member of SHIELD in good standing.
The first of two pull out house ads for Secret Wars 2015 3 – of the titles featured, I’m only excited about Star Lord and AoA Kitty Pryde!
Dazzler wants help in seeking out Mystique. Dazzler will help but she wants full clean records for the New Xavier School students.
Mystique and Cyclops. Mystique asks Scott why he hasn’t brought up their affair together, which caused me to pause. He says it is because he wanted to keep this conversation on point but this is all she needed to know that this is not Cyclops.
Scott has been Dazzler, this entire issue! The New Xavier Students and Dazzler make short work of Mystique.
Mystique is pushed through the window and will surely die. Dazzler asks Magik to save the foe. Poor Magik, this is Bendis’ only role he uses her for.
The second pull out house ad for Secret Wars 3, has several more titles that I’m interested in – Giant Size Little Marvel : AvX, Years of Future Past and X-Tinction Agenda.
Magik keeps her word but makes sure that Mystique has a rough drop. Mystique recognizes that Dazzler is better than her as she would have let Dazzler die.
Dazzler gets on a stage, later, and sings. Maria Hill, after the show, admits to being a huge fan of hers. Dazzler needs to be the mutant liaison as she is better suited for it than anyone.
Greenvich Village, New York City. The former students of Cyclops are all outside. Celeste reads Hijack’s mind and wants him to reveal his thoughts to the group. He has an idea that they don’t need to be the X-Men but they need to do something.
The answer will be in Uncanny X-Men 600, which is strangely going to come out after Secret Wars 2015’s final issue instead of properly being done before the event. Which is so odd as Marvel should be going with a fresh start with the X-Titles instead, they are going to launch with the final issue of Bendis’ X-run and that is all he will be contributing to the line. Seems so dd to me.
Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Art Kris Anka
Color Art Antonio Fabela
Lettering & Production VC’s Joe Caramagna
I know I jokingly keep track of the Top Ten Best Comics of 2015, but only until I’ve read eleven comics for the year (we all enjoy it – I hope) but this issue, right here – is by far my favorite issue of the year. I can’t imagine too many will surpass it. Well, if we get another comic that has Kitty and Illyana, on every single page, but with Lockheed – even if he is on the one page – that comic, would surpass this one. I can’t recommend this issue enough! Go seek it out!
This issue takes place moments after the last issue’s flashback sequence. Scott told the team that he is dissolving the school and Magik grabbed Kitty and off they went. Kitty, against her will.
Kitty grabs Illyana’s . . .. shirt? top? Yeah, top, and Illyana states, simply, “touching” and that signals to Kitty to let go.
I like Kitty asking Illyana “what is wrong with you?”and without missing a beat, she states that she “was raised in a hellish dimension by a demon.” She was in Limbo for seven years, that isn’t something that one gets over, if ever.
Kitty wants to know where she is, she guesses the Savage Land. Though, I’m not aware of any bad times Kitty has had in the Savage Land. She was there in Uncanny Annual 7, but she had a decent time there.
Magik and Shadowcat are at . . . Monster Island! That is way cool! So, we now know that this isn’t the hinted at, Demon Hunters storyline, teased in All New X-Men 25 – like I thought it was going to be. This is still great but these two characters (with Lockheed) need a buddy book! I could make it last 50 issues, just give me a chance! I just need a decent short story concept that I can write, to give me some of that sweet credibility.
Illyana starts fighting the monsters, while Kitty isn’t engaging. They are simple creatures, giant creatures but they are reacting to Illyana’s aggressive actions. I do enjoy seeing Magik hold her own against creatures.
Kitty guesses that the reason why they are there is either there is an In-N-Out Burger or a record store. I like Kitty still holding onto vinyl. Also, I miss In-N-Out Burger, I didn’t appreciate them while I was in Yuma but they are a higher quality cheese burger. I had to finally stop getting animal style as I enjoyed the burgers more.
Illyana finally gets around to the real reason, there is a mutant for them to engage with.
Illyana is trying to get the monsters respect, until the thunder happens.
The thunder chases the monsters away, so Kitty was right – as usual. Illyana wants Kitty to follow her, Kitty states that she doesn’t like her anymore and Illyana states that she is lying. I miss these two so much!
Illyana shows off her portal Cerebro.
We get them finally talking about the tension in their friendship. Kitty says that Illyana didn’t have to bring her all the way out here to kill her. Illyana states that she could kill Kitty anywhere, super scary! Kitty tells Illyana that it is only funny when Kitty jokes about how crazy and mysterious Illyana is.
Illyana, in a real moment, tells Kitty that it isn’t funny when Kitty makes those jokes, it actually hurts Illyan’s feelings.
That last panel is such a real moment, with Kitty reflecting on all the times that she has made such jokes and the regret that now exists.
Illyana reveals that, whenever there is in-fighting with the X-Men, she leaves to go find a new mutant. I want an ongoing of this, so much! She doesn’t even need a special school. Just saving new mutants, being a positive influence and moving on. Kitty jokes that this has to be a full time job for Illyana, as that is all the X-Men do, these days.
Kitty is all about that mission and would have loved to be invited for those missions. They finally get to the cave where the new mutant is hiding.
There is an ad for A-Force, that I’m hoping that Shadowcat gets some play in, if not her, then Magik has to be involved! I suspect that Rogue is the mutant representative, though at this point, she is more an Avenger. This is part of a pull out ad. Of those advertised, I am getting Secret Wars 2015, Ultimate End, Master of Kung-Fu and Inferno. Maybes are only – Battleword and Journal with Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars.
A voice tells them not to approach. Kitty tries to get the person to reveal themselves. Who is comforted with being told that the X-Men are outside of the cave that you are hiding in?
We meet sweet little, Bo. Bo speaks broken English but like Kitty says, she is pretty good with the language. Bo likes that Shadowcat’s name is “Kitty cat” it is a pleasant name. Bo is very hungry. Kitty offers to take Bo to food and safety.
I’m not sure why Illyana opts for her hero name but Bo likes it. Magic and Kitty cat, not a great name for a title but I do enjoy it.
Kitty keeps asking about how many days she has been out here. Magik rephases it “how many sleeps” and this question, has stuck with me and I have kept working it into conversations, as there is something about it that I can’t shake.
This is heart breaking, Bo ha been out there for seven nights. Worst, her father abandoned her out there.
Poor poor Bo, and I’m sure it is because I have a sixteen month old that makes me so sensitive to this but poor Bo woke up here. She knows it was her father’s doing. Bo starts crying and I want to find her father and punch him to his dumb face. In a story that we will never get and I’m not sure is actually necessary, Bo hurt her mother. Hopefully she isn’t dead, but she must be as no matter the injury, I would like to think a mother wouldn’t allow her husband to abandon their daughter on an island full of monsters – where she will mostly die. That is what is happening here, she is not meant to survive this experience. She didn’t have a week’s worth of food.
A monster, that I imagine has been protecting Bo (or treating her as a pet), wakes up.
Bo’s powers kick in, harshly.
Kitty wakes up, first. Bo has been watching the sunset. Bo is still freaking out.
Kitty tries to assure Bo that everything is okay, no one is hurt. Kitty offers to take Bo to the Jean Grey School, as she has powers that make her special. Bo asks if she is like the Mighty Thor – which is awesome. Kitty is amused, as well.
Monsters start coming at them, and Magik teleports them away. How sad is it that Bo finally realizes that her father left her to die? So horrible!
I sort of adore how much this is common for Storm and Nightcrawler. Storm is so used to walking the grounds and seeing sudden teleportations.
Bo’s strings can hurt Kitty, while she is in her phased state. Bo’s powers may be that she can paralyze folks. Kurt greets Bo, all smiles but Bo is a tad terrified.
Is that second to last panel, the best Storm panel in ten years? Such a fun exchange. Bo finds Storm to be so beautiful and now she is Storm’s favorite student.
Bo coming back for that last hug? So fantastic! I love this issue so much!
Magik attempts to say the famous “Welcome to the X-Men, I hope you survive the experience” but she doesn’t want to scare Bo.
Those last three panels, I love them so much! Illyana misses their friendship, Kitty tells her she doesn’t and that Illyana is a goofball. Illyana is also missing her brother, so she must still be recovering from her injuries.
Kitty wants to help Illyana reconnect with Colossus, so now we know what some pages of Uncanny X-Men’s 600’s forty pages are going to be made up of. Let’s hope that they get at least ten pages!
Writer Charles Soule
Art Kris Anka
Colorist Matthew Wilson
Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Art Alex Garner, which looks amazing!
I didn’t realize that I was going to upload nearly the entire issue. If there are problems with that, are there?, I will take down the non-Ogun speaking pages. Let me know. I’m not sure, the few websites I use to get the images from, I notice they try to limit it to eight or ten pages, which I guess is nearly half the issue – which seems like a fair limit.
The Oort Cloud. 465 Billion Miles from Earth, a comet is coming.
The Changeling. Five Miles Above Finland. Mystique is still in a huge blue Hulk like form, she is blocking everyone’s attempt to jump off the plane. Lady Deathstrike points out that they all know that because she is in a larger form, it isn’t like she is that much stronger.
Mystique was only doing that for dramatic effect. X23 refers to Wolverine’s body as a statue, so now I feel like – if Soule is happy with that term, I am too. I only worried that it was implying (for anyone that wasn’t reading along) that someone made a Wolverine statue as oppose to Wolverine being an adamantium statue.
X23 stating that they lost the statue to the X-Men is odd, as she is one of the X-Men. She isn’t sure why they are going to stick around with the Weapon X Program rejects much less these fellow villains.
Shogun reminds her that the rejects still know the codewords. They no longer have Wolverine but Shogun still wants to use the Wolverines’ healing factor to cure the Paradise folks’ death clock.
Sabretooth isn’t going to tolerate much more of Shogun’s nonsense. Of the Paradise folks, only Shogun and Junk are still around. Shogun can hold his own but Junk is way out of his league.
Mystique claims the leadership role of the team, she defeated the Wrecking Crew – which must have happened in the second issue, which I don’t own. For some reason, Mystique shifts her head into the head of Cobra Commander. Lady Deathstrike states that is the head of her father, but I’m not sure how she pieced that together.
Mystique shifts into Angel, to taunt X23. Mystique knows that those two had sex, but I get the impression that relationship was more of a one night stand type of situation. Mystique takes it as far as to put the thought in X23’s head that the next time she had sex with Angel, it may be Mystique. Proving that she can always go farther, she tells X23 that she may take her form and have sex with Warren, doing all of the things he is too afraid to ask her to do. Further salt on the wound, she hints that she knows X23’s sexual past. Marvel really isn’t going to let X23’s prostitution disappear.
Mystique promises everyone’s heart’s desire, if they stick with her.
Junk is trying to get along with Shogun. Junk is still on the plane as he never left it, which I don’t even think I noticed. He was taking care of Daken.
Shogun brings up the excellent point, Mystique should kill these two, while they sleep, and have two less worries in the world.
Daken interrupts the conversation to tell Shogun that Mystique wants to talk to him.
If I had my arm and eye rip off, I will be pretty depressed.
Shogun tells Junk about how much Neuro messed up, and that Lady Deathstrike wants to kill all of these Paradise fools.
Passing Neptune. 2.8 Billin Miles From Earth. This comet better be awesome.
Mystique needs Shogun’s skills.
The first page where we get Ogun’s voice!
Skel and Neuro are working for Sinister, if he is smart, he has those two dead already. Shogun is surprised about Mystique’s gentleness. Betrayal is common in this line of work.
Mystique tells Shogun that Lady Deathstrike may be attracted to him. She wants him dead but wants to have her fun too. Ogun warns Sharp that Mystique is manipulating him, he claims he knows but we all know he is going to be manipulated so much.
Mystique wants him to steal the Zhulong (Sun Dragon) from the National Museum in Taipei.
Taipei. Ogun is fully supporting Sharp in this en devour as he wants to fight all night long.
How confident is Sharp’s “Hey!” that is a baller move!
An old military man is looking at the sword and he is killed by a younger man.
Shogun gets so caught up in the fight, he starts to slice dudes in half.
Mystique shouts at Shogun and he comes a running.
As they are waiting for the plane, Mystique wants to discuss her Erase word. Betrayal is quite common in this business.
After negotiating, Shogun states Mystique’s Erase word – melanistic.
250 Thousand Miles From Earth. The comet keeps on coming.
Uotsuri Island. 50 Miles Northwest of Taiwan. Mystique is looking over her check list.
- Neuro, Skel, Endo with Sinister
- No one can trust Creed
- Retrieve the Dragon
- Deathstrike and Shogun
- Prepare the Portal
The last one is not checked yet. She starts a holo-simulation, that looks like it is on a cassette tape.
In a private moment, Ogun tries to get Sharp to join Sinister, as he may be able to cure their mutual decaying issue.
Lady Deathstrike enters the room and Ogun would like to take advantage of her attraction while Sharp seems to be a tad scared of her.
One of the cool things about the character of Destiny, is that she is a writer’s character. She knows the future, so a great writer can use her to set up what is to come and pull everything off in a very compelling way. Here is hoping that Soule can do that.
Destiny, apparently, made a slew of tapes as well as her diaries – which I may be one of the last hundred or so who still remembers those. Wolverine’s death kick started a sequence of events. Now that Mystique has the Dragon, things will move quickly. Destiny wants to be restored to life and she loves Mystique.
Ogun takes control over Sharp’s body and counters Lady Deathstrike’s move.
They kiss and Shogun’s silly mask is so sharp, that it cuts into Lady Deathstrike’s face. No one ever worries about kiss-ability when developing a mask.
That is nice that Destiny always loved Mystique and that she can now say that in a modern comic instead of having it be hinted years after her death.
Mystique cries and Lady Deathstrike is amused as something hits the plane. Most likely, the comet.
It isn’t a comet but some dude in a Wolverine mask, if it was made for a baby. I guess we will find out in a week, as Marvel Database doesn’t take a guess at who this is. Who does Wolverine know, in space, that would call him his best friend. Well, Wolverine is his best friend, I doubt Wolverine would consider him his.
Writer Sam Humphries
Penciler Ed McGuinness
Additional Pencils Kris Anka
Inkers Kris Anka, Mark Farmer, Jay Leisten & Mark Morales
Colorists Marte Gracia & Marcelo Maiolo
Letterer VC’s Travis Lanham
Black Vortex, Chapter 1 (obviously)
Look, VC got another letterer!
I’m glad this official cover covers up McGuinness’ poor choice in putting Magik in that position that is impossible unless she broke her back.
Why would she be so hunched over? Stand up straight, young lady!
After months of build up and hype, Black Vortex begins!
Issue opens with Quill wondering if anyone wants to try the Black Vortex? Did they steal it in an issue that I missed? I remember issue eight of his series with Kitty wanting to steal it.
Twelve Billion Years Ago. Planet Viscardi. A rocket ship is blasting off in front of a Celestrial. Apparently, the aliens of the planet have been trying to get pass the Celestrial as it keeps eye blasting the ships. Gara, of the Viscardi, shouts at the Celestrial – that she calls, Godhead. Within four generations, they went from the caves to the sky. Nine rockets later, she is losing her mind, a little. She wants to live out in the stars, and she doesn’t understand why their god isn’t impress with their efforts. The Godhead turns its head, for the first time in forever, and creates the Black Vortex right in front of her. She sees her reflection, and older version of herself.
The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. Storm wants Beast to fix what he broke, she wants him to return the Original X-Men back to their proper time period. I bet that once they left the school, he hasn’t given them much thought.
I like how every character gets a quick introduction caption, that was so great and useful when Fraction was on the books. Magik’s caption reads “Illyana Rasputin aka Magik, Demon-Witch Teleporter” which pretty much sums her up.
Magik teleports the All New X-Men in front of Storm and Beast. Magik tells Beast that Professor K is summoning him to outer space.
Bobby is way to excited to see these two fallen X-Men. Such a great exchange between Magik and Bobby, she wants him to recite what she told him about his attitude. “Be the terror you wish to be in the world.” I can see her saying that and I can see him repeating that to himself, constantly.
I really like Magik ignoring Storm, as she should. Beast wants to know why Kitty is in outer space. Magik doesn’t approve of Quill, for some reason – I imagine it is because she doesn’t want to lose her best friend to outer space. Magik tells him that Kitty will explain herself.
The Guardians of the Galaxy, minus Quill but including Agent Venom and Captain Marvel – are playing a universal version of Dungeons and Dragons. Rocket is the Dungeon Master, for copyright purposes, he is called – The Game Master.
Quill interrupts the game with a phone call, which annoys them all. I like how the Guardians have a Game Night, that seems pretty awesome.
Quill is in big big trouble and needs his team. We begin the sequence of how they came about having the Black Vortex. They snuck back onto his father’s floating base through the laundry – which apparently smells worst after it is clean than it did when it was dirty
Kitty’s character caption reads “Kitty Pryde, Intangible, X-Genius. Good Girl, Usually” which also sums her up rather well.
Kitty points a gun at the laundry folks and they steal their uniforms. Quill informs the Guardians that Mr. Knife is his own father. Quill admits that if he had her powers, he would never stop stealing, which she kisses him. This whole adventure is pretty exciting, I suppose.
They phase their faces through a wall to see . . . J-Son, Thane and someone about to touch the Black Vortex, the last remaining Blood Brother. Blood Brother stare into the Black Vortex.
He becomes a massive version of himself! He joins the rest of the Slaughter Squad, who are now called – Slaughter Lords! Which I appreciiate having the characters renamed, as I still can’t keep their names in my head. Father Diablo, Delphina, Czar Doon and Misa the Hunter. They have all stared deeply into the Black Vortex and received massive power upgrades. Why J-Son hasn’t powered himself up yet, is beyond me.
Kitty recognizes the villains.
Quill wants to escape and forget this galaxy ever existed. Kitty, being a hero, needs to do something about the new threat.
J-Son explains to Thane, if he wants the power, he has to submit to the cosmos and to his true potential. He begins to submit.
Just then, StarKat surprises J-Son and Thane and phases the Black Vortex through the floor.
I like Misa the Hunter stating her own name, that saves me having to flip back a page. Misa knows where they are heading, so J-Son can take his time following.
There is an ad for Spider-Woman 5, with Jessica Drew’s new costume – which I’m not really loving. Seems like someone really wanted to give her a Spider-Man style shirt.
Planet Spartax. Quill is not happy that no one is paying him attention as the others are taking the time to catch up.
Gamora, X23 and Flash are comparing sharpness of weapons.
Storm makes fun of Kitty for dating yet another Peter. Illyana refers to how Kitty’s hamster growing up was named, Peter. It is all related.
Bobby tries to make fun of Groot.
Beast and Carol hug as it has been far too long, I like how she lifts him.
Beast wants to inspect the Black Vortex and Quill takes the time to make a Disney’s Beauty and the Beast reference. As oppose to the awesome Ron Perlman / Linda Hamilton Beauty and the Beast. Such a great theme song!
The children of the orphanage come out to see what all of the superhero types are doing on their front lawn.
Kitty calls him, Dr. McCoy and Beast calls her, Space Commander Kitty – in a very cute exchange.
Rocket wants to see what his Black Vortex version would look like.
One of the kids is staring deeply into the Black Vortex, Storm takes a look and sees her version. She apparently has desires to destroy planets.
Planet Viscardi. One Year After the Advent of the Black Vortex. Gara has killed the last of her species, after they all got turned. After she kills him, she turns to Godhead who is not impressed and leaves.
Back on Spartax. Gamora wants to try the mirror but Storm says no. I like how Gamora doesn’t know who Storm is, and doesn’t feel the need to take anything she says seriously. Bobby isn’t taking this seriously.
I like these first hints that those in live in space know how important true power is and those who live on Earth, want to shut down this power source.
Carol wants to consider keeping the Black Vortex around, in just case.
The Slaughter Lords appear and they want their mirror back. I adore Kitty not backing down. Carol puts on her Captain Marvel helmet, one must always think – safety first!
Ma Savage takes a gun out and threatens to shoot them all, and Quill tries to get her to wrangle all the children back inside.
Gamora, being the smart one of the group, grabs the Black Vortex.
Kitty gives the command to keep the Slaughter Lords away from the mirror.
Look how happy X23 is!
Quill instructs Lydia to call for help. I’m not sure who else is out there in space? Oh, Cyclops & the Starjammers and Nova are, that makes sense. I saw that Silver Surfer has a title now, I’m not sure why he didn’t get involved in this. He’s the one hold out of the cosmic titles. I guess Marvel didn’t want to force all of the cosmic readers to take part in a crossover, so Silver Surfer is there for those who don’t want a massive story to follow.
Issue ends with Gamora having been powered up by the Black Vortex and she looks awesome, now that she has a cloak and galaxy styled clothes.
From the checklist, this looks to be a 13 part story.
We are off to a great start with this storyline.
Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils Chris Bachalo
Inks Tim Townsend, Mark Irwin, Jaime Mendoza, Victor Olazaba & Al Vey
Colors Chris Bachalo & Antonio Fabela
Cover by Kris Anka, though he isn’t credited anywhere besides his own signature on the cover. I like how it is a similar concept to issue 15 of this volume. It also features all of the X-Ladies of the title, which Kitty is the only one who is missing from this one. Luckily, not from this issue.
Newberry, South Carolina. Maria Hill wants the soldiers to confirm what they just said.
Devil’s Tower. The soldiers are confirming three dead. Poor Magik’s head garb . . . thingies are still on her head. I hope someone picks up the Eye of Agamotto as Doctor Strange is going to want that back.
Maria Hill wants a triple confirmation, she isn’t sure if she is about to be made a hero or mutant kind’s worst enemy.
Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Years Ago. Xavier doesn’t seem to be embarrassed that he is both wearing a green bathroom by the pool and that his Original Five X-Men, are not to be found. Tempus tries to walk a very thin line of not wanting to review too much. She is there to get Xavier to change his approach to Matthew Malloy. Xavier hasn’t really read her mind, only got her name and that he shouldn’t pry too much.
Jean Grey School. Today. The X-Men don’t know about poor Scott and Illyana being dead – yet. Beast explains what they all already to know, that Scott wants to recruit Matty M.
Storm is about to talk, and Kitty wants to know what she was about to say when Beast gets a phone call.
Look how cute Doop is at that desk, just trying to follow along with the silliness.
It isn’t a phone call but his portable Cerebro going off. The world has lost two very strong and long lasting energy signatures – Cyclops and Magik.
The Black Vortex double page ad is shown again. It isn’t until I’ve seen it again that I noticed that Howard the Duck may appear in Guardians of the Galaxy 24. With how ladies are all draped over Quill, I imagine this is only a fun concept cover.
Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Years Ago. Xavier resists reading Tempus’ mind, as he is super worried about his legacy being upended. She really wants him to rethink his approach to Malloy. Xavier figures out that he isn’t alive in the future.
Devil’s Tower. Now. One guy wants to bag and tag the skeletons but another instructs that Maria Hill wants nothing to be touched. The first guy, I wish they had names, thinks that there really is no difference between her and Nick Fury. The second guy has the sad duty of explaining that everything that they say is recorded and heard – while they are wearing their armors.
Malloy rebuilds himself, which freaks out the SHIELD soldiers. They open fire and he rebuilds himself again.
Matty M is tired of all of these death attempts and erases the SHIELD agents. He tries to bring back Magik and Cyclops, but besides making their skeletons dance for him – they are not brought back to life.
I like Matt realizing how far his life has gone in 24 hours, he is upset that he has limits – he can’t bring back the dead, that isn’t him. He is able to bring his body to full health. He vows to avenge Cyclops.
Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Years Ago. I like how Tempus respects and fears Cyclops and Xavier isn’t thrilled that Scott sounds more like Magneto.
I really like the way Bachalo shows him reading Tempus’ mind. The beginning panel shows Xavier’s side of his face on the left and Tempus’ face on the right. It ends with Tempus’ face on the left side of the panel and Xavier’s on the right – which is a great way to show that.
Xavier will not kill Malloy and he is getting angry that Tempus has ruined his future and his confidence. Xavier hints at what many think he will do with the Original X-Men when they come back, that he will simply mind wipe them and act like their months long adventure never happened. Though with Secret Wars 2015 happening, that whole situation isn’t really going to matter.
How great is Tempus calling on Xavier’s one true status quo. Teach one thing and then disregard that when it becomes inconvenient.
Jean Grey School. Today. Emma leaves the school, as her ex-boyfriend is dead. Rachel wants to force her to take a chill pill, so those two are clearly not friends.
Man, I love Kitty thinking of Magik – someone has to think of her. She isn’t an also ran.
Emma shouts, AAGGH! and everyone is forced to repeat it as her mental powers are great. Why is Quentin Quire shirtless with Glob and Doop? In what way can Thanos be right? That Death is one special type of lady?
The X-Men are trying to get themselves back on their feet.
Matty M is naked in front of Emma, no easy feat to do. Bachalo doesn’t do Matty M any favors with how little and thin those lightning bolts are.
I like Bendis handling that Emma doesn’t know who this guy is. I doubt Storm has got to describing him to the team.
I don’t get why him being there when Scott died justifies punching him in the face. At least she wasn’t diamond form up. He responds by breaking her neck, which is super harsh!
No one is happy with Matthew Malloy, who tries to explain that he can’t undo what he just did.
The New Xavier School. Today. Goldballs wants to know if anyone has seen Tempus. Hijack wants to know what is going on, none of the grown ups are around to explain anything. I like Bendis trying to remind us that the All New X-Men in the Ultimate Universe adventure is happening at the same time. Apparently, Cyclops only owns the one plane.
The Cuckoos lose their respected minds, as they sense Emma’s death. Good on the Marketing Department not putting one of those “One of These Mutants Dies This Issue” caption on the cover. Nice restraint!
Issue ends with Tempus bringing Xavier to the present and he gives us “To Me, My X-Men” which seems silly but I guess from his perspective, he sees youngsters wearing similar outfits and assumes they are the X-Men.
Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Artist Kris Anka
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramanga
Newberry, South Carolina. Cyclops and Magik are trying to chat with Matthew Mallory. Matty M is worried of killing them but Cyclops is confident that he won’t. Which is pretty brave of him, as the guy has barely any control over his powers. One stray thought and those two are no longer concepts.
Maria Hill is not happy with Cyclops making time with the most powerful mutant find of the week.
Cyclops offers Matthew breakfast, Magik has a place in mind.
How eye popping is that blue panel in a sea of brown?
Once again, SHIELD has no business being the leading anything in the Marvel Universe.
Over at the Jean Grey School. Beast is losing his ever loving mind. Cyclops Was Right, the humans want nothing to do with the mutants. Beast can not find any human allies. The Avengers are off Earth, yet again. Storm also has to recognize that Cyclops Was Right.
At Monument Valley, Utah – that isn’t referenced, Cyclops is trying to get Matthew Malloy to join his side. One of the perks of being a mutant, is that you get to go wherever you want.
Cyclops and Matthew are waiting for Magik to come back with breakfast.
Cyclops gives Matty M his origin story. We get a pretty cool page of Cyclops leading three different teams of X-Men, Shadowcat nor Magik make this page.
Matthew suspects Cyclops has an ulterior motive but he just wants to keep Matt calm and relaxed.
Cyclops is willing to forgive Matty M for all of the people he killed in his quest to control his powers.
Cyclops references other mutants with high level power sets that all went mad and killed people – Apocalypse, Dark Phoenix OG, Franklin Richards / Onslaught / Maddie Pryor / Goblin Queen, Legion (who shouldn’t exist post X-Men Legacy 24), Magneto, Scarlet Witch and himself when he went Dark Phoenix.
Cyclops is trying to teach Matthew how to focus his powers. Cyclops trying to align himself to Matthew with familiar words like friend and brother.
He has a codeword for instant teleportation, boomerang. That’s Magik using her sweet magical skills.
Hopefully Mallory will put back Monument Valley so that Utah’s tourism doesn’t go way down.
Cyclops is really committed to saving Matthew. Illyana is starting to have doubts. He also wants to do it on his own.
Magik only wants to hear that Scott has a plan, and this isn’t a silly suicide attempt.
Is Cyclops jealous that Magik is making herself better with Doctor Strange’s assistance? Like, Cyclops still isn’t at one hundred percent, so he likes to mention Strange as much as possible.
I really do enjoy how Illyana has naturally become Scott’s second in command. She stands up for herself and he tells him what he needs to hear. Also, her line about how he keeps saying, brother, reminds her of, Brotherhood, is dead on!
Scott, in a moment of levity, asks about breakfast. She’s not a waitress. I wonder where they go in New Orelans for thirty dollar pancakes and what is on those pancakes.
Magik recognizes how important it is for Cyclops to do this on his own and simply teleports him back on top of the mountain and leaves.
Cyclops promises to train and guide Matthew. I also like how we get his mission statement, the poor guy hasn’t had to recruit a new mutant in several issues.
Issue ends with Magneto wanting his voice to be heard.
http://www.newsarama.com/23544-marvel-comics-full-may-2015-solicitations.html
Let’s see how expensive Secret Wars is going to be! I already had to add the first issue to my April DCBS order.
SECRET WARS #1 (OF 8)
JONATHAN HICKMAN• ESAD RIBIC (a)
Cover by ALEX ROSS (FEB150650)
• THE FINAL INCURSION IS HAPPENING!
• THE MARVEL UNIVERSE IS COLLIDING WITH THE ULTIMATE UNIVERSE!
• AND NEITHER WILL SURVIVE!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
SECRET WARS #2 (OF 8)
JONATHAN HICKMAN
Cover by ALEX ROSS
• WHEN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE IS GONE, ALL THAT REMAINS IS BATTLEWORLD!
• LEARN THE SECRETS OF THIS BRAVE NEW REALM IN THIS SPECIAL OVERSIZED ISSUE!
56 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99
After months of hype, this is finally happening! With loads of variants too! Some titles are having tie-ins and others are continuing like an entire universe ending storyline isn’t happening.
Cover by Mark Bagley
ULTIMATE END #1 (OF 5)
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Variant Cover by DAVID MARQUEZ
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
• MILES MORALES and the rest of the heroes of the ULTIMATE U face final extinction
• As the end of their world becomes inevitable, will the heroes’ heartbreaking sacrifices make any difference?
• The dramatic end of an era begins here!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
The storyline in New Avengers, with all of the Incursions – which the Facebook, Avengers Alliance game starting incorporating in Season Two, has finally lead to this. The Proper Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe are blending and neither will survive! Here is hoping that Ultimate Shadowcat makes it out alive! Also, Proper Kitty Pryde! Magik and Lockheed would be pretty nice too!
MASTER OF KUNG FU #1 (of 4)
Haden Blackman
KICK-BUTT KUNG-FU ACTION!
• Welcome to the mystical land of K’UN LUN, where the study of martial arts reigns supreme!
• In a world where everyone is well-trained in at least some form of deadly combat, what becomes of a drunken, drop-out failure?
• If anyone speaks out against Emperor Zu, the price is their head! Good thing Shang-Chi’s a man of discretion and…oh, who are we kidding. This is going to get nasty.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
So, I’m buying this as there will be X-Men involved, specifically Kitty and Lockheed! Look at these character designs!
Lockheed being a snake is fun and Kitty being bald is a surprised.
Looks pretty fun! Now that I work at Hastings again, part time, I’m tempted to not order them through DCBS or use my Associate Discount at Hastings. The discount is still like twenty cents more, so I might as well stick with DCBS.
I do wish this series was a $2.99 title, but I don’t think Marvel has those. I just did a quick search of the solicts and they do have $2.99 titles, so is an option for titles that I don’t buy, apparently. I might get an issue of Ms. Marvel, one of these days. I was hoping that some of these Secret Wars 2015 tie-ins would just be one issue or so. The nice thing about ordering through Hastings, is that I only have to buy the issue that I want instead of committing the money to the series at the offset. I suppose it is an easy way to keep my order under $35. Ms. Marvel and the Marvel Cartoon tie in books are $2.99, which I like them trying to make their comics price right for children. Three dollars may still be too much.
Here is the link to the Comic Vine interview with the writer, Haden Blackman.
http://www.comicvine.com/articles/exclusive-haden-blackman-jumps-into-secret-wars-wi/1100-151191/
SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD #1 (OF 4)
JOSH WILLIAMSON & ED BRISSON
MIKE HENDERSON & SCOTT HEPBURN (a)
Cover by PACO MEDINA
Variant Cover by JAMES STOKOE
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
• When the Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe collide, there is only…Battleworld!
• Featuring the fights, battles and blow-ups that are just TOO BIG for Secret Wars!
• When a Dr. Strange-possessed Punisher goes on the run, only Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk and Ghost Rider can track him down!
• Question: What happens when M.O.D.O.K. recruits every single M.O.D.O.K. ever for his evil schemes? Answer: M.O.D.O.K. M.A.D.N.E.S.S.!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
See, this would be one of those series that I wouldn’t mind being put on a list for and not have to buy every issue of. Though this issue promises to have the New Fantastic Four, and I’m a huge sucker for any time Marvel gets those four characters back together. I wonder what the Action Figure variant means?
SECRET WARS JOURNAL #1 (OF 5)
Prudence Shen & Michael Rosenberg
Ramon Bachs & Luca Pizzari (a)
WITNESS THE STRANGE TALES OF BATTLEWORLD! TWO SCINTILLATING STORIES OF SECRET WARS!
• Is LADY KATE of 1602 the nefarious HAWKEYE BANDIT who robs from the rich and gives to the poor?
• Can an enslaved band of MUTANTS in EGYPTIA overthrow their overlord, KHONSHU?
• Can YOU afford not to read the coolest, hippest, most continuity-important book in all of SECRET WARS??? Because this is TOTALLY THAT BOOK. But don’t tell anyone. It’ll be our little Secret…Wars Journal.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
This is a very fun write up! I wonder which mutants will be featured? I think I will, with these Secret Wars tie ins, that I will have Hastings pull the issues for me and I will buy them as I desire them.
DEADPOOL’S SECRET SECRET WARS #1 (OF 4)
CULLEN BUNN
Cover by TONY HARRIS
• NOT A SECRET WARS TIE-IN!
• Well…it is…but not THAT Secret Wars.
• Remember the original Secret Wars from 1984? And remember how Deadpool played a huge important role in it? Wait…you DON’T? Then you need to read this series immediately and be educated! From the team that brought you DEADPOOL KILLUSTRATED comes the most Secretest War of all!
• Plus: a bonus Deadpool Contest of Champions tale!
40 PGS./Parental Advisory …$4.99
Another fun write up! I’ll be getting Hastings to pull this for me as Lockheed may appear! One never knows! He was in the first two issues of Spider-Man & Secret Wars.
by Javier Garron
by Adi Granov
INFERNO #1
DENNIS HOPELESS • JAVIER GARRON (a/C)
VARIANT COVER BY ADI GRANOV
• Spinning out of the universe-shattering events of Secret Wars comes a new twist on the X-Men classic that’s a whole hell of a lot hotter than you remember
• 5 years ago a band of demons rose up out of the fiery depths and turned Manhattan into Hell on Earth. The X-Men fought to vanquish the demon horde and… The X-Men failed.
• Welcome back to the Inferno.
• On this the fifth anniversary of Manhattan’s fall, Piotr Rasputin is leading a small band of mutants back into the Inferno. Colossus doesn’t know what they’ll find on the other side of those flames but he knows for certain… They’re not coming back without his sister.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
I like how some of these are not titled, Secret Wars : New Twist on an Old Idea (especially as that is one clunky title!). Hopefully this is only a one shot but I sure do want it!
I haven’t seen Granov since he did those X-Men Second Coming covers.
INFINITY GAUNTLET #1
GERRY DUGGAN & DUSTIN WEAVER
Think your life is hard? Anwen Bakian’s family lives in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, scrounging for food and avoiding giant bugs intent on eating them. Mom left years ago to join the Nova force and never came back. So it’s just Anwen, her dad, her sister and her grandpa against the huge insects. That is, until she finds a mysterious stone that may or may not hold incredible cosmic power. Don’t miss this incredible new series by DEADPOOL writer Gerry Duggan and EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE writer/artist Dustin Weaver that will set the cosmic table for the Marvel Universe for years to come!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Is it just me, or is this nothing like Infinity Gauntlet?
OLD MAN LOGAN #1
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
• Enter the Wastelands…a realm where all heroes have been murdered by their arch-enemies, villains who now rule over the land with an iron fist. In the midst of this dystopian chaos, one man may make a difference…a reluctant warrior who was once the greatest mutant of all…a man known as OLD MAN LOGAN.
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99
Since Kitty is dead in this future timeline, I imagine I’m passing on this.
SECRET WARS 2099 #1 (of 5)
PETER DAVID
Cover by Dave Rapoza
• When everything ends, it’s time to go back to the future. Revisit the world of 2099 and see it a whole new light, as characters who have never been seen before make their first appearances – including the AVENGERS 2099. Can the ideal of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes survive in a world where megacorporations rule with an iron fist?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
I wonder if the characters from Marvel Knights 2099 will make it into this?
A-FORCE #1
G. WILLOW WILSON & MARGUERITE BENNETT
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
• Marvel’s Mightiest Women finally get their own explosive series!
• In a secluded corner of the Battleworld, an island nation is fiercely protected by a team of Avengers the likes of which has only ever been glimpsed before…
• Fighting to protect the small sliver of their world that’s left, the Amazing A-FORCE stands shoulder-to-shoulder, ready to take on the horde!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
I like the idea of this, from the three covers they show, Kitty isn’t on any of them, nor is Magik so this will be another series to have Hastings pull for me. It feels a bit freeing to have the pressure off of having to prepay a comic.
PLANET HULK #1
SAM HUMPHRIES
Cover by MICHAEL DEL MUNDO
Variant Cover by MUKESH SINGH
BLANK COVER VARIANT
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
• A forbidden zone of wild HULKS
• A battle-worn gladiator named STEVE ROGERS
• A journey that could break the spirit of a world’s greatest freedom fighter.
• PLUS: A back up story by a surprise creative team!
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99
Kitty only showed up in a side issue of Planet Hulk, so this will be a pass for me but I do like Humphries so if you like Hulk, I would recommend this to you.
SPIDER-VERSE #1
MIKE COSTA
Cover by NICK BRADSHAW
• Spinning out of the SPIDER-VERSE event, a team of Spiders finds themselves face-to-face with Battleworld! Starring SPIDER-GWEN, SPIDER-MAN NOIR, SPIDER-MAN: INDIA, MAYDAY PARKER, SPIDER-UK and SPIDER-HAM!
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99
Spider-Man Noir, Mayday Parker and Spider-Ham – all in one book! That would have excited me five years ago!
AVENGERS WORLD #21
FRANK BARBIERE
Cover by JEFF DEKAL
• The last stand of A.I.M. … in the Savage Land!
• Thor and Hyperion unleashed!
• Can Namor survive The Cabal?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
I know Magik appears in issue 17, so I’m not sure if she is going to keep appearing in this title.
UNCANNY AVENGERS #5
RICK REMENDER
Cover by KRIS ANKA
NYC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• The truth that will shatter the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.
• War between the Low and High Evolutionary.
• An Avenger has to choose between his friends and a perfect future.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
There is a Low Evolutionary? There has to be a better name, right? Would you refer to yourself as the Low Kevin or the Lesser Kevin? Do I know any Kevins? Maybe one or two.
SILK #4
ROBBIE THOMPSON
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
• Silk and Johnny Storm’s first date! Nuff’ said?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
So Marvel made a new female character and in her fourth issue, she is already dating the Human Torch? I guess that keeps the Fantastic Four in our minds. So I guess Marvel really is going to let some titles keep on trucking, eh? I guess all series have eight months to wrap up before the Post Secret Wars 2015 Marvel starts.
ANT-MAN #5
NICK SPENCER
Cover by MARK BROOKS
NYC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• The explosive first arc finale! There aren’t actually any explosions – but there IS a big showdown with our poorly lit villain, and plenty of heartbreak to go around.
• Nothing will be the same again! Except you’re still aging. That’s not going anywhere.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Who writes these? That person is getting pretty bold! But still funny!
THOR #8
JASON AARON
• The final battle with the Destroyer!
• Guest stars galore!
• A shocking return!
• And oh yeah…Thor’s secret identity revealed at last!!!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Eight issues and we still don’t who Thor really is? Does any Thor really need a secret identity? I heard that it is pretty obvilous that it is Angela. Time will tell, I suppose. Well, we know it will be revealed this issue, so in four months, we will know.
HOWARD THE DUCK #3
CHIP ZDARSKY
JOE QUINONES (a/C)
• Howard’s big first case goes off the rails as he’s pulled into investigating a NYC crime spree!
• But this spree features a Very Special Guest Star!
• We’ll only give you one hint: they’re a Marvel Comics character who has “died” before! Hope that narrows it down for you, True Believer!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Could it be Magik or Doug Ramsey? I highly doubt it, it is mostly a joke about how many people have died. I suppose that Kitty has died once too, for maybe a few seconds. In that respect, Magik and Doug died during Secret Wars II. Or was that only Magik?
GUARDIANS 3000 #8
DAN ABNETT
Cover by Gerardo Sandoval
• Stranded on 21st century Earth, the 31st century Guardians finally have a chance to locate the anomaly that is ripping the past, present and future of the Universal Time-stream apart.
• But locating it is one thing…preventing it is something else altogether. Shocking twists and end-of-the-World action!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Wait, are the Guardians 3000 going to fix a Universal Time-Stream while at the same time, the entire Marvel Universe is being torn about by a universal time and space stream? So silly
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #27
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
• Guardians no more?
• Following the Black Vortex, the Guardians have come into conflict with one another more and more.
• With rifts forming between them, will their friendship and history be enough to hold the team together?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
I wonder if Kitty still has a chance at appearing in this title? What are NYC variants?
By Humberto Ramos
GUARDIANS TEAM-UP #5
ANDY LANNING & ANDY SCHMIDT
GUSTAVO DUARTE (A)
Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS
• The universe’s most powerful cabal of villainy has formed right under the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ noses–and they never noticed! This group of fowl (get it!) villains, is the Pets of Evil Masters!
• And they’re after world domination! Rocket must team-up with The Pet Avengers (much to his dismay) to face down the foes that no one else can (or will bother with) in this Earth-Shattering adventure that can only be told in the Mighty Marvel Manner!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
oh man, the Pet Avengers are coming back! Also, they have arch enemies in Pets of Evil Masters, which I can’t even think of Evil Pets outside of Red Ghost and his three super-apes. I can see Rocket not liking to be considered a ‘pet.’
LEGENDARY STAR-LORD #12
SAM HUMPHRIES
• So, yeah…things have definitely be interesting for Peter lately.
• After that whole deal with the Black Vortex, he could definitely use some rest.
• But when you’re the Legendary Star-Lord, and you’ve got bloodthirsty aliens on your tail, each nap could potentially be your last…
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Should I be concern that Kitty isn’t mention in the write up nor seen on the cover?
ROCKET RACCOON #11
SKOTTIE YOUNG
Cover by Skottie Young
• Does the book of Half-World actually exist? Or was it all just one big HOAX?
• And finally, is Rocket really alone in the world?
• You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll wish you were a raccoon! (I mean a gun-wielding, smack-talking tough
guy who happens to be covered in fur!)
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
I wouldn’t have mind if Guardians Team-Up was a two part crossover with this title, that could have been pretty awesome.
NOVA #31
GERRY DUGGAN
Cover by ORPHANS CHEEPS
• The world is under threat and it’s up to Sam Alexander, A.K.A. Nova, and his friends Beta Ray Bill, Doc Green, the Guardians of the Galaxy and Cosmo to save the planet.
• You won’t believe the end of this issue!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Again, they are going to save the world while the world is also under threat of Secret Wars 2015? I really thought that the stories leading up to Secret Wars 2015 were going to be smaller more personal stories, I guess those are coming.
HULK #16
GERRY DUGGAN
HULK–SIZED GRAND FINALE TO “THE OMEGA HULK” EPIC!!!
• The HULK confrontation you’ve been waiting for: DOC GREEN VS JEN WALTERS
• What is Doc Green’s startling confession???
• And…the return of BETTY ROSS?!?
• PLUS: the reveal of LYRA THE SAVAGE SHE-HULK’S fate!
40 PGS./Rated T …$4.99
16 issues does make for an epic! Could Kitty return in this finale? I doubt it.
By Kris Anka
By Chris Bachalo
UNCANNY X-MEN #600
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
CHRIS BACHALO, STUART IMMONEN, MAHMUD ASRAR, KRIS ANKA and FRAZER IRVING (a)
Cover by CHRIS BACHALO
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER A BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER B BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER C BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
VARIANT COVER BY KRIS ANKA
VARIANT COVER BY PAUL SMITH
VARIANT COVER BY OLIVIER COIPEL
VARIANT COVER BY ED MCGUINNESS
VARIANT COVER BY ARTHUR ADAMS
VARIANT COVER BY LEINIL YU
VARIANT COVER BY RICK LEONARDI
• The final explosive issue in Brian Michael Bendis’ epic X-Men saga!
• Scott Summers – savior or destroyer? Questions will be answered!
• The Jean Grey School, the New Xavier School – it’s all going to change.
• The X-Men are at a crossroads. And not everyone will make it through in one piece.
• Featuring 40 pages of a host of popular X-Men creators!
56 PGS./Rated T+ …$5.99
Now that is how you celebrate a 600th issue! Look at all of those variants! I’m going to miss Bendis’ time on the titles. Here is hoping that there is an X-Men title after Secret Wars 2015.
I’m really hoping the Paul Smith variant has Kitty and Lockheed, it would have to, right?
I’m hoping Kitty on the cover means she makes it out of Black Vortex okay. Not like covers mean anything – except that I will buy a cover with Kitty on it rather than if she wasn’t on it.
UNCANNY X-MEN #35
Brian Michael Bendis
Cover by KRIS ANKA
• Mystique returns to the pages of UNCANNY X-MEN—and she’s out for vengeance!
• Will Magik’s soulsword be enough to halt the shapeshifter’s wrath?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Oops, I’m sure that Newsarama (and Marvel) meant to place this issue before issue 600 but that’s how these things work out.
I like that Magik for sure has a role in the issue.
WOLVERINES #17-20
CHARLES SOULE & RAY FAWKES
Issue #17 – Juan Cabal (a
Issue #18 – JONATHAN MARKS (a)
Issue #19 – Ariela Kristantina (a)
Issue #20 – Juan Doe(a)
Issue #17-19 covers by Juan Doe
Issue #20 cover by Zach Howard
Issue #17 – Revenge of Mr. Sinister! See what heroes remain after Mr. Sinister’s had his way with them, and who managed to stay alive (or which parts of them!).
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
Issue #18 – Depowered? What is the aftermath of the battle with Mr. Sinister, and has Mystique been betting on the results? The final pieces of the puzzle fall into place.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
Issue #19 – Mystique’s endgame is now in final swing – everything is exactly how she planned in this penultimate issue!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
Issue #20 – Mystique’s full plan is revealed – and she’s not just aiming to bring back her long lost love, Destiny…but an old friend…and where does this leave the Wolverines?!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
I’ve already made myself a pull list at Hastings with this series so I’m no longer fritting about it. Shogun wasn’t on the cover that they shown and he isn’t refered to in any of the write ups so I’m not prebuying any of these. Though I’m certain he will appear in at least one of them.
I guess there is no issues of All New X-Men, so the Utopians story is the last.
ULTIMATE MARVEL OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, BILL JEMAS & MARK MILLAR
Penciled by MARK BAGLEY, ADAM KUBERT, ANDY KUBERT & BRYAN HITCH
Cover by VARIOUS
Witness the birth of a new world, in which the heroes you know are reinvented for the modern era! The bite of a genetically engineered spider gives Peter Parker great power, but a harsh lesson will teach him responsibility. To prevent war, Charles Xavier recruits his X-Men — but Magneto’s Brotherhood reaches Wolverine first. Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man, Wasp and the Hulk — these are not the Avengers. They’re Nick Fury’s Ultimates. Young genius Reed Richards’ efforts to reach the N-Zone will forever change the lives of his fantastic friends. In a single volume, watch the Ultimate Universe — which helped make superstars of its architects, Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Millar — take shape through the opening acts of its core titles. Collecting ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN (2000) #1-7, ULTIMATE X-MEN (2001) #1-6, ULTIMATES (2002) #1-6 and ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #1-6.
768 PGS./Parental Advisory …$99.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9750-8
Trim size: oversized
I like the idea of the opening arcs for initial four Ultimate titles being collected, that is pretty handy. Once again, one hundred dollars is way too much!
MARVEL FIRSTS: THE 1990S OMNIBUS HC
Written by HOWARD MACKIE, GREGORY WRIGHT, FABIAN NICIEZA, PETER DAVID, DAN ABNETT, DG CHICHESTER, CHRISTIAN COOPER, TOM DEFALCO, JOHN OSTRANDER, JORGE GONZALES, TOM PEYER & MORE
Penciled by JAVIER SALTARES, JACKSON GUICE, MARK BAGLEY, ANGEL MEDINA, STEVEN BUTLER, RICHARD CASE, RON GARNEY, ART THIBERT, RON FRENZ, GABRIEL GECKO, TOM TENNEY, SCOTT MCDANIEL, PASQUAL FERRY, JIM CHEUNG & MORE
Cover by VARIOUS
Revisit comics’ most divisive decade with a giant-sized compendium of daring debuts! All your favorites are here: Deadpool! Nomad! X-Force! Scarlet Spider! Quicksilver! ClanDestine! Venom! Nightwatch! Gambit! Vengeance! Spider-Man 2099! The Thunderbolts! Plus: Ghost Rider and Deathlok, reinvented for the ’90s! Guns! Swords! Leather! Clones! Pouches! Don’t dis the ’90s, they’re totally dope! Collecting GHOST RIDER (1990) #1, DEATHLOK (1990) #1, NEW WARRIORS (1990) #1, FOOLKILLER (1990) #1, DARKHAWK #1, SLEEPWALKER #1, X-FORCE (1991) #1, X-FACTOR (1986) #71, WARLOCK AND THE INFINITY WATCH #2, DEATH’S HEAD II (1992A) #1, SILVER SABLE AND THE WILD PACK #1, TERROR INC. (1992) #1, NIGHT THRASHER: FOUR CONTROL #1, DARKHOLD: PAGES FROM THE BOOK OF SINS #1, NIGHTSTALKERS #1, SPIDER-MAN 2099 (1992) #1, VENOM: LETHAL PROTECTOR #1, CABLE (1993) #1, DEADPOOL: THE CIRCLE CHASE #1, THUNDERSTRIKE (1993) #1, GAMBIT (1993) #1, WAR MACHINE (1994) #1, BLACKWULF #1, FORCE WORKS #1, BLADE THE VAMPIRE-HUNTER (1994) #1, GENERATION X SAN DIEGO PREVIEW, FANTASTIC FORCE (1994) #1, WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) #118, BISHOP #1, X-MAN #1, ELEKTRA: ROOT OF EVIL #1, GREEN GOBLIN #1, CAPTAIN MARVEL (1995) #1, HEROES FOR HIRE (1997) #1, MAVERICK #1, QUICKSILVER #1, SPIDER-GIRL (1998) #1, SLINGERS #0, SPIDER-WOMAN (1999) #1, DEATHLOK (1999) #1 and WARLOCK (1999) #1; and material from CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL #9, WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) #100, MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS (1988) #147 and #158, and TALES OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE.
1288 PGS./Rated T …$125
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9816-1
Trim size: oversized
I really like the concept of these trades, but seeing how the 80s one doesn’t continue after the second volume, I believe, how are people suppose to continue the fun? It isn’t like there is a slew of Essentials that are coming.
Web of Spider-Man 118 is Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider’s first appearance. I’m a huge fan of most of these 1999 series – Green Goblin, Captain Marvel (Jen-is), Heroes for Hire, Quicksilver, Slingers, Spider-Girl, Warlock. Suprrised Alpha Flight didn’t make the cut nor Thunderbolts.
This is what, the fifth time they have reprinted Spider-Man 2099 1 in two years?
There is an Ant-Man movie coming as nearly every story that ever saw Ant-Man spotlighted in, is seeing print. Well, not really.
ALL-NEW X-MEN VOL. 7: THE UTOPIANS PREMIERE HC
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by MAHMUD ASRAR
Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
The time-tossed All-New X-Men are more than teammates, more than best friends — they have become a close-knit family. But the mysterious Black Vortex may sunder their family ties permanently! As the young mutants venture back into space to deal with a galaxy in chaos, they must decipher the Vortex’s secrets — and fast, because the villainous Mr. Knife has kidnapped some of their team! Beast and Kitty travel to Spartax to study the Vortex Book as Storm formulates a plan to break into Mr. Knife’s fortress. But will the Vortex’s cosmic power transform the young mutants into something unrecognizable? Meanwhile, back on Earth, the Utopians hold a secret that will change the future of mutantkind — but who are the Utopians? The All-New X-Men may regret finding out! Collecting ALL-NEW X-MEN #37-41.
136 PGS./Rated T …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9240-4
Trim size: standard
I thought, reading the title of the trade, that the solict was going to spoil who the Utopians are. I’m surprised they are printing the Black Vortex tie-in issues in this trade, as Marvel typically doesn’t do that, those issues appear in the proper Black Vortex trade – once that comes out. Though, I’m all for it as those who only collect All New X-Men, in trade, don’t want a hole in their series. Those people exist, right?
X-MEN: THE HUNT FOR PROFESSOR X TPB
Written by STEVE SEAGLE, JOE KELLY, TODD DEZAGO & BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
Penciled by CHRIS BACHALO, STEVE SKROCE, LEINIL FRANCIS YU, BRANDON PETERSON, ADAM KUBERT, MIKE WIERINGO & PATRICK GLEASON
Cover by CARLOS PACHECO
Missing for months, Professor X seemingly returns — and debuts an newer, even more different team of X-Men! But when this new group kidnaps Shadowcat, something seems off to the real X-Men. The truth will spark a globetrotting hunt for Charles Xavier, leading to a showdown with the re-formed — but far from reformed — Brotherhood of Evil Mutants…and revealing the menace of Cerebro! But for the Children of the Atom to survive, must Professor X die? Plus: Gambit’s back! But so is the Juggernaut! Meanwhile, Colossus has a ghostly Christmas, Kitty Pryde and Marrow play cat and mouse with the terrorist Flag-Smasher, and the X-Men find themselves trapped in a land of epic fantasy! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) #360-365, X-MEN (1991) #80-84 and #1/2, and X-MEN UNLIMITED (1993) #22.
368 PGS./Rated T …$39.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9720-1
Oh man, the storyline that got me buying Uncanny and X-MEN again! When I refer to the X-Men 35th Anniversary era, it begins here. So weird that this is being collected. The title doesn’t imply we can expect more of this era to see print. I hope so, as that would be great on the shelf. Forty dollars though, still pretty pricey but 14 issues is $2.86, so that does seem like a deal if you didn’t want to buy the back issues.
. . .
So my math for the month of May is –
Secret Wars 2 – $5
Ultimate End 1 – $4
Inferno 1 – $4
Guardians Team Up 5 – $4
Legendary Star Lord 12 – $4
Uncanny X-Men 600 – $6
Uncanny X-Men 35 – $4
I am really glad Uncanny X-Men 600 isn’t ten dollars like I thought it may have been. I reckon it isn’t going to be 600 pages like how Bendis joked about.
So the rough total is – $31 so that isn’t too bad.
Add that to my Hastings list of –
BattleWorld (buying one issue, for sure)
Master of Kung Fu (that I’m buying at least one issue of)
Journal
Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars
A-Force
Could get pretty expensive, but only eight dollars at one time, isn’t too bad.
. . .
Edit on May 3, 2015 –
Clearly, I am having to buy Guardians of the Galaxy 27 (and the rest of the series) so that adds another $3.99 to my list. Still under forty, so that’s what matters to me.
Eulogy, Part One of Two prepared by Jason Latour
Artists paying their respects
Robbi Rodriguez & Israel Silva
Ian Bertram & Ian Herring
Kris Anka
Jim Rugg
Declan Shalvey & Matthew Wilson
Ronald Wimberly & Sasha Kimiatek
Ariela Kristantina & Sonia Oback
James Harren & Matthew Wilson
Lettering & Production VC’s Clayton Cowles
The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. Storm looks at her pocket watch, it is 12:30pm. Wolverine’s ex-girlfriend, Melita Garner, is still writing his book. She has finally got to the point where she can interview various X-Men and students. She starts with Beast. This issue is mostly not very good, in terms of her goals, as no one really gives her any stories or insight. Beast is decent. Iceman gets a joke about karaoke.
Later, Melita is interviewing Armor. For some reason, Armor is Marvel’s go-to brunette, who will be mourning Wolverine. Which is so frustrating. Armor is working on her armor, piecing it back together. I’m not why she even has to do that, is that new?
I got this for the Wolverine and Lockheed photo!
Essentially, Eyeboy tells Melita that Wolverine always said he was the best there was. Lockheed likes it when Logan jams.
Melita interviews Fantomex. Next was Genesis. Then Oya, who does tell a story about picture day. People joke about how much Logan worried about being attacked by ninja. Oya’s story involves when he was attacked by ninjas. Broo also tells a story.
Issue ends with Kurt taking Melita to Harry’s Hideaway. Kurt and the patrons are all drinking to Logan’s honor.
The final page has her on the phone with someone, maybe her editor? She is mostly done with interviews. she has Quire to still interview. She has one last big name to interview, as Storm lands in front of her. Which is so odd as if you are going to tell Wolverine’s story, you have to interview Jubilee, Kitty Pryde and Cyclops. That just makes sense.
I’m set to own issue 11 but if that’s not Kitty on the cover or she doesn’t appear in the issue itself, then no issue for me.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 