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Uncanny X-Men 472

Posted by John Klein III on August 10, 2020
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men 472

By Chris Claremont & Chris Bachalo

Dialogue Tony Bedard

Inks Bachalo, Holdredge, Irwin, Mendoza, Orlazaba, Parsons, Townsend & Vey

Colors Studio F’s Antonio Fabela

Lettering VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover Dated June 2006

The First Forsaken, Part One of Three

I own issues 470, 471 and now this issue, because Kitty Pryde’s therapist from University of Chicago – Dr. Maureen Lynsinski, appears in this issue.  I now own all ten of her appearances –

http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=38858

She is in all six issues of Mekanix, X-Treme X-Men 25 and those three Uncanny X-Men Issues.  I will review these, someday but right now, we have issue 472.  My next issue of Uncanny is issue 496, so who knows what happens in the next twenty issues.

Uncanny X-Men 472 Recap Page

Previously, Psylocke is back from the dead.  Her insane older brother, Jamie, may have something to do with her resurrection.  In Africa, Storm is doing some soul searching.  This is after M-Day, and there are some killers that are going around, killing depowered mutants, in Africa.

Rift Valley Province, Northwest Kenya.  A goon is about to kill a man, the goon wants the man’s children to join their army of children soldiers.  Storm arrives and knocks some sense into the goon.  She is running around with a tiger, which is pretty cool.  Storm tells the tribe, that she defended, that it may be time to take the fight to the source, but they are worried that would mean war.  Storm tells them that they are already at war.

The Xavier Institute, NY.  Office of National Emergency, Mobile Operations Command Center.  Since this is Post-M-Day, the government (in their brillance) want Sentinels to protect the remaining mutants of the world.  These Sentinels, will never actually protect the mutants.  The school will be constantly attack and the Sentinels are dealt with, so easily – every single time.

I do like that Valerie Cooper is running the show, she’s always been a great mutant government liaison.  Colonel Reyes, the brother of X-Man, Cecilia – is the military representative.

Uncanny X-Men 472 Dr Maureen Lynsinski

They go around, checking in on the X-Men.

Rachel is in a mental therapy session with Kitty Pryde’s therapist, Dr. Maureen Lysinski.  In the previous storyline, the Shi’ar straight killed all of the remaining Greys.  It was rather intense!  I’m surprised that doesn’t come up, every single time.

Bishop is visiting a wounded, Detective Charlotte Jones – I’m not sure who that is, I imagine someone from his District X days.  Reyes hints that Cooper and Bishop have had a relationship – I must have missed that, too.

Cannonball and Husk are aiding the mutant refugees, as the school is housing every mutant that wanted to be safe.

Psylocke and Nightcrawler are in the Danger Room.  The power shuts down, which isn’t suppose to happen.  On the scene, is Jamie Braddock, who – instead of wearing tighty whities – he has graduated to boxers with gold hearts on them.  Jamie takes care of the Sentinels.

Kurt and Rachel, who have plenty of experience against Jamie, are the first wave of attackers.

There is an ad for Marvel Legends, the Build a Figure is for Mojo.  Shame the idea for the X-Babies didn’t go through.  The action figures are – Baron Zemo (the father, and he has a maskless variant), Longshot (which makes sense), Falcon (with a modern variant), Original Iron Man (with gold variant), Psylocke and original Luke Cage action figure.

Psylocke and Cannonball join the fight but are taken care of.  Bishop puts a gun to Jamie’s head, he laughs at the attempt.  Bishop was merely the distraction, as Psylocke has used her focused totality of her telepathic powers, to put a psychic sword through Jamie’s head.  I miss that she doesn’t talk like that, anymore.

Jamie convinces his sister to put her sword away.  There is a bigger threat, that is coming.  Uatu, the Watcher, arrives, as this could go horribly wrong.

Jamie explains how he brought Betsy back.  Now she is no longer acceptable to being manipulated by beings likes Proteus and Shadow King – which I don’t think writers remember this being the case.

Once Jamie is done speaking, a hand brings him into a portal and Betsy knows that a being that is stronger than her brother – is a serious threat.

I can only imagine that everyone survives and the threat is dealt with.

Comixology Free Comics 3-13-2019

Posted by John Klein III on March 15, 2019
Posted in: Free Comics. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

https://www.comixology.com/free-comics

Comixology has three new comics to enjoy for free this week!

Spider-Man / Deadpool (2016 – ) # 1
X-Men : Age of Apocalypse # 1
X-Men (2004 – 2007) # 188

A savings of $5.97!

I heard good things about the Spider-Man / Deadpool comic, mostly two funny characters being funny.

I didn’t review the first issue of Age of Apocalypse but I did review issues three and four of the series.

X-Men Age of Apocalypse Volume One Issue 3

X-Men Age of Apocalypse Volume One Issue 4

Now that my comics are in the same building I live in, I’m super tempted to get back into reviewing comics again, I even found my scanner but I’m not sure it still works.  I do miss comics, especially new ones but I’ve been so out of the game that I’m not sure if I’ve been out for too long.  Comic Book Queers Legacy still gets me hyped for current X-Men comics so I know Marvel is still producing quality there but it has been so many years that it’ll take a lot to catch up.  But maybe I’ll just not catch up and just review old comics.  Something to think about at least.

X-Men 188, I reviewed the heck out of!

X-Men Volume One 188

I loved the Mike Carey / Chris Bachalo run so much!  Such a great run and amazing creative team!

 

 

Chris Bachalo

Posted by John Klein III on February 27, 2017
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Bachalo is one of my favorite artists.  There is simply something about the way the gentleman draws boots and gloves that I really enjoy and appreciate.  Maybe it goes back to hearing how artists do not like to draw feet.  Which is silly, as how can you show a guy being kicked in the face, and not draw a foot (as well as a face)?  One would think it is impossible.  I know one of his biggest criticisms is that it can be hard to follow what he is showing.  I will admit that there are times when I have to look at it twice, or just read the speech bubble and move on to the next panel, but for the most part, I just like seeing his art.  He may have a team of inkers with him at all times, but he does his own coloring, which I like, as you get the exact image he had in his head, or in the very least, we see the image he wants us to see.  Inkers add depth, shading and mood.  They probably do so much more, but that’s what I’ve always been told what inkers do and what I recognize them doing.

I have enjoyed his runs on Uncanny X-Men (the first and third volumes), Generation X (which he co-created with Scott Lobdell), Wolverine and the X-Men, New X-Men, I haven’t read his Spider-work as I was not following the character at that point, but I am interested in seeing what he did over there.  Generation Next is probably the title I saw of his first and really dug his style, really stood out there in the 90s.  Though his style hasn’t changed, but has improved, he is very daring these days.

I like that Marvel used him to open both Wolverine and the X-Men and the third volume of Uncanny X-Men.  He really set the tone and style of those titles. Especially with redesigns that are still being used today.   Not so much in terms of costumes in Wolverine and the X-Men, but the school’s overall design is the lasting impact.  The Uncanny costume changes are still very present and used in every appearance that team makes.  Which is in several different titles.

His Ultimate War is an interesting use of his, it looks better on the Motion DVD than it does in print.

It wasn’t until Grey’s End in Uncanny 466, 467 and 468 that I realized the name of that artist that I really liked.  He rarely ever has more than four issues in him but what he gives in that short amount of time is stunning.

He also did Death: The High Cost of Living, which is a quieter book and I couldn’t believe that was him then, but that is a very nice read.

He has started writing now as well, writing a very nice Black Widow and Rogue short in A+X 2.  He wrote it and drew the story.  He could be the next Walt Simonson if he isn’t careful!  Also, the second story in that issue is Peter David’s Kitty Pryde, Lockheed and Iron Man short story, which is very funny and awesome.

I haven’t gotten around to reading his creator own work, Steampunk, but one of these days.  Written by Joe Kelly, so it has to be wonderful.

 

 

 

Ultimate X-Men 18

Posted by John Klein III on February 24, 2017
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Ultimate X-Men 18

Story Mark Millar

Artist Chris Bachalo

Colors Dave Stewart

Letters Chris Eliopoulos

World Tour, Part Three of Four

Cover Dated July 2002

I found a reason to buy an issue of Ultimate X-Men prior to issue 21, Shadowcat’s first appearance.  Marvel Database states that this is Illyana’s first and only appearance.  On her page, it states that Colossus mentions her but she doesn’t really appear.  This issue shows Colossus having a blonde sister and a brunette brother; so I would understand the assumption that the blonde must be Illyana.  I rechecked Marvel Database for the bulk of Ultimate X-Men issues and I don’t see her being mentioned in any of the issues that I don’t own.  He also doesn’t name her in this issue.  Another point, in issue 32, Colossus’ family is flown to the mansion and there, he has several siblings and I don’t recall seeing a blonde amongst them.  Regardless, I’m counting it as well, until otherwise told.

If you would like to follow along, this website has the entire issue :

http://www.spumonte.com/files/pdfs/_Ultimate%20X-Men%20%5BSeries%201%5D%20Vol%201%20(01-100)_/Ultimate%20X-Men%20%5BSeries%201%5D%20Vol%201%20-%20Issue%2018/

I read this originally in a trade, when it first came out, 13 years ago, so my memory is a bit faded – hence how I barely recall Illyana being in it.  I was probably looking for her name, to make it official.  So the non Colossus parts, I’m going to just use the context of the issue, to guide me through it.

Prior to this, the World Tour title comes from Xavier’s book tour that half of the team is with him – Storm, Wolverine, Iceman and Beast.  Cyclops and Jean are in Russia, trying to get Colossus back on the team.  Xavier is on Muir Island, spending time with his ex-wife Moira MacTaggert.  In the Ultimate Universe, Proteus is also Xavier’s son, which makes sense as an Ultimatation of a character.  Proteus, being who he is, is body jumping about.  STRIKE agent Betsy Braddock has been enlisted to aid the X-Men, helping her is Dai Thomas – who I must not have recognize the name of the old inspector who was annoyed by Excalibur, that is uncanny research on Millar’s part!  Apparently, last issue, Proteus jumped into Wolverine’s body.

Saint Petersburg : Scott and Jean are bugging Piotr, at work.  69 Russian sailors are stuck in a submarine.  If Colossus isn’t willing to rejoin the X-Men, these two are trying to get him to at least save the sailors.

Piotr makes the excellent point of it not being his problem.  They live in the world of governments and the Ultimates, clearly Iron Man can fix the problem.  Piotr is 19 years old and very practical.  Stupid and jerkwad Scott throws in Piotr’s face that he only makes three dollars a week in a car factor – what a jerk!

Pitor tries to make Jean and Scott feel bad by explaining to them how badly they need Xavier’s school.  Jean is on the verge of going insane and Scott needs the glasses and visor that Xavier created to see.  Colossus is a power that he can turn on, at will, and when he doesn’t want it, he can turn it off and look like everybody else.  In London, people actually spat on them, and that was too much for Piotr.  Jean tries to make an analogy about how their mutant powers are like a bird choosing not to fly.  Piotr, in maybe my favorite thing any Colossus has ever said, spins the analogy around and says, “No, it is like a skunk that refuses to stink.”    I wish a fourth character was there to shout, oh snap!  Rasputin leaves so that he can eat dinner with his family.

Berlin.  Storm wishes they were sunbathing instead of chasing Xavier’s crazy son.  They are at the airport to meet the new super team that Nick Fury is sending.  Betsy Braddock is the psychic on the team, and she is able to track Proteus.  Xavier isn’t able to as Proteus has already been inside his mind and can block him.  Braddock is spending a lot of time with Xavier.

Moira has realized why Proteus picked Berlin.  This was the site of where Glasgow Rangers drew with Borrusia Dortmund in the European Cup in 1995 which was also the last Xavier Family Holiday.  Betsy and Xavier are having a psychic conversation.  She can’t believe how shaken up Wolverine is.  Xavier is planning to rehabilitate his son, which surprises Betsy as she figured he was grooming his son to be an X-Man.  Xavier reveals that poor Proteus has spent seven years of his nineteen years tied to a bed, which would drive anyone bonkers – to use the medical term.

Xavier tells Betsy (and us) of his and Moira’s history.  They were madly in love and young.  After knowing each other for only three weeks, they got married.  He respected her enough to get married in a kilt.  Moira and him wrote the book on post-human medicine.  Moira created the prototype of the giant Cerebro machine.

Magneto eventually learn of their research and wanted in.  Xavier grew to have a man crush on Magneto.  Their human wives couldn’t compete with each other’s bright eyes and fast minds.  They would talk on the phone for 72 hours on the phone.  Which sounds maddening to me.  I barely want to talk to people for five minutes on the phone.  Magneto’s twins, who are older than Proteus – so their mutant gene kicked in before his – had no interest in talking to a flatscan.  Xavier couldn’t keep watching television at night with his human family so he left to join Magneto in the South Sea.

On the island, Utopia, Magneto crippled Xavier over an argument.  After that, Xavier received secret funding for his school and he hired his ex-wife.  She is the second best mind in genetics and he also wanted to provide for his ill son.  Betsy wonders if Xavier ever feels guilty for abandoning Proteus, whose real name is David – like Legion’s – so they really are an amalgam of each other.  The day after Xavier left, David’s power kicked in.  Xavier doesn’t feel guilty about that, but he does regret not guiding him when he needed it most.  This page ends on the worst note a father can say about a son.  Xavier does love David but that love is more akin to an owner’s love for pet.  It is still love but ooof, that isn’t nearly enough.  Betsy just stares at him.

Ultimate X-Men 18 Illyana 1

Jean and Scott, who I can only imagine invited themselves to the Rasputin home OR just creepily followed him home.  Jean updates Piotr about how the Russian government failed with the submarine and now it is up to Iron Man to save the navy men.

I imagine that must be Illyana who is sucking on her thumb.  Scott can’t believe Piotr isn’t more grateful for all that Xavier did for him, as he got him out of the Russian mafia.  Piotr feels like they are even as he has helped Xavier plenty.  Plus, he only knew Xavier for a year.  It isn’t like he is Scott, who has been with him since he was a child.  If Ultimate Cyclops has the same origin story, he may not.

Piotr disagrees with Xavier’s decision to not kill Magneto but try to rehabilitate him.  All he wants, is to stay here with his family.

Ultimate X-Men 18 Illyana 2

Scott throws in Piotr’s face, he really is a grade A jerk in these scenes, that he hasn’t spent time with his family since he was twelve – so seven years.  Jean tells Piotr that the X-Men are his family now, so the X-Men have the same policy as the Proper X-Men, join the team and forget your old family and friends – the X-Men are a gang.

The two semesters Piotr spent at Xavier’s were the lonely of his life.  He didn’t train with anyone and no one invited him to hang out, either.  He quizzes the two on what his favorite show is – Jean is quick to say it is Will & Grace.  Piotr doesn’t appreciate that the team telepath took the guess.  I like Karen as much as the next guy, but that show really fell apart at the end.  I remember being all types of angry when they cast Harry Connick Jr as Grace’s husband, as I knew even then, that he wasn’t going to join the show so the characters’ divorce was already written.  Which wouldn’t happened in today’s television culture, they would have filmed all of his scenes at one moment or sign a contract to film around his schedule.

Piotr doesn’t want to be a superhero, he wants to be a normal person.  Jean takes this opportunity to be really inappropriate and an arse, and takes a “guess” that another reason why he doesn’t want to come back to the school is that he has a crush on a teammate who will never return his affections.  He sternly tells them to leave, good for him.

Ultimate X-Men 18 Illyana 3

The news updates on the submarine situation.  Iron Man is no longer available to assist as he has been called elsewhere.  The newscaster essentially reports that all hope is lost.

The Barents Sea : Colossus suits up, I feel bad that he doesn’t have a non-X-uniform, so he has to represent the school.  He dives down and brings up the submarine.

There is an ad for the various Ultimate titles.  Spider-Man 22 – Green Goblin returns.  Spider-Man Special 1 – All Star Artist Jam.  Ultimates 5 – first mission.  Marvel Team-Up 16 – Shang Chi.  18 – Colossus’ Home Turf.

 Russia loves Colossus now.

Last three pages of the issue is Xavier and Betsy talking.  Colossus is back on the team and the team is meeting him at the airport.  We learn that Xavier’s line about how he loves his son, was only to get a rise out of him as David is in Betsy’s mind.  David is excited to have the X-Men all in one place, so he can kill Xavier’s second family.

David has killed Inspector Thomas and the Ultimates were never called.  Also not coming, is the other superhero team Betsy was the leader of.

The issue ends with Xavier and Betsy / David knowing each other’s plan.  As I don’t own the next issue but I do know that Colossus apologizes for this in issue 32 – Colossus kills Betsy / Proteus, just like how the Proper Colossus does.

There is a back up feature starring Jay Leno & Spider-Man.

Ultimate X-Men Volume 5 – Ultimate War DVD

Posted by John Klein III on January 23, 2017
Posted in: Film, Review. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Ultimate War DVD

Writer Mark Millar

Artist Chris Bachalo

I really like seeing Bachalo’s art in quasi-motion.  We get all four issues of the miniseries here.  As well as X-Men 1 (the comic that started it all way back in 1963!) and Giant Size X-Men 1 that gave the X-Men a new lease on life.

The worst part of this is Ken O’Brien as the voice of Iceman.  Not as bad here as he isn’t a main part of it but X-Men 1, ooof, that is hard to listen too.

I’ll go into the individual issues once I review the actual comics but as a DVD, this is a good story.  The story is that Magneto has escaped and this is worst as the world thought he was dead but instead, Xavier just tricked everybody with his disgusting mind powers in believing that so the world’s guard was down.  SHIELD has the Ultimates go after the X-Men as they are as bad as Magneto’s crew.

I don’t own issue one as Kitty doesn’t appear in it so the entire first part was a surprised.  I had read it in the trade version (as that’s how I was reading Ultimate X-Men for the first ten or so trades until I started buying back issues) but that was a while ago.

This DVD only cost me $1.99 but most times, if you try to search for it, people want like $50 to $100 for this item.  Who would pay more than ten dollars for this, is beyond me.

I wish there was more to this collection but the run stops here, the first five trades were converted to motion comic.

I’m not sure why they went with solely Ultimate X-Men and not bothered with Ultimate Spider-Man as I would have bought those as they were being released.

This DVD came out in October 12, 2004 – so the first one would have been out to tie in with the X2 at the time. Though Spider-Man 2 was around that same time but who knows why they went one direction and not the other.

X-Men Regenesis

Posted by John Klein III on November 28, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

X-Men Regenesis

Writer Kieron Gillen

Artist Billy Tan

Colorist Andres Mossa

Letterer Rob Steen

Cover Dated December 2011

Cover by Chris Bachalo and Tim Townsend

The issue that directly follows the end of Schism.  Who goes with Cyclops?  Who went with Wolverine?

X-Men Regenesis Gold Team

X-Men Regenesis Blue Team

At this point, I was already super turn as the covers of the next issues were already being teased.  I already knew that Kitty and Lockheed were joining Wolverine at the Jean Grey School in the pages of Wolverine and the X-Men.  I also knew that Magik was joining Cyclops’ team in Uncanny X-Men.

It was all just a fancy way of bringing back the Gold Team / Blue Team that people just love to reference of the 90s.

Besides Kitty, I don’t believe there are that many others who have switched sides.  Which is pretty impressive after three years.

Nick Bradshaw did the covers for the Gold Side and Dale Keown did the Blue Side.  Shame those are all variant covers.

This is also known as the Caveman issue as that’s how the story is told.  There is the conversations and then we see people as cavemen, to show how primal the story is, perhaps?

Cavepeople : Cyclops and Wolverine are circling each other around a fire.

Utopia, island home of the X-Men.  Wolverine goes to Iceman first.  Bobby is honored by that.

Next, Psylocke and Wolverine have a mental conversation, as they practice fight.  She will remain with him in X-Force but isn’t following him to the East Coast.  Which must be awkward, but I have no clue where X-Force met up at.  I want to say they met in a secret cave base.

Cyclops enters the room and offers Psylocke to lead his Security Team.  She starts talking about being a spy for him, he doesn’t understand why she is talking about that.  She is meant to be the first line of defense, not really a secret mission.  Of course, we know that her thought process is that she’s going to end up telling Wolverine some hot Utopian gossip.

X-Men Regenesis Kitty page

It is important to remember that, at this time, Colossus has the power of the Juggernaut, on top of his power.  It is driving him a tad mad.  He doesn’t feel like he should be around children.

X-Men Regenesis Kitty Sad

X-Men Regenesis Kitty Cavelady

Colossus will stay on Utopia, where his sister is still being held as a prisoner / on probation.

I like how Gillen sets up the Kitty / Iceman relationship.  Jason Aaron must have asked him to subtly hint at that.

Kitty is heading to the school to be the Headmistress.  I also like how we don’t have to see the scene of Wolverine asking her to join him.

Beast, maybe at Agent Brand’s apartment?, gets an email.  While Brand is telling him to come back to bed, she wants more loving.  I really miss Brand.

Beast makes two calls.  First to Wolverine accepting a position and the second to Cyclops which is essentially him continually what he has been doing to Scott for the past four years – just being a jerk.

Beast finally makes it back to Brand.  He updates her about his new position.  She asks if this means he isn’t going to whine about Cyclops, as much.  He tells her that it will probably be the opposite.  I imagine listening to complaints about Cyclops, gets old real fast.

Magneto and Rogue.  There is no question, Magneto is staying on Utopia as Rogue debated going to the school, but that is where she is going.

I really like the trust Gillen has with Tan to . . . actually, is it Steen’s decision?  There are two silent panels, after Rogue asks if Magneto will consider leaving Utopia, where the two of them just burst out in laughter.  There are no ha ha has or heh heh hehs or even a good ol’ fashion har har har.  I like that we don’t have to see the laughter, they are clearly laughing.  Plus, do we really want to see how Magneto’s laugh looks like?  I bet its more of a, ho ho ho, situation.

Wolverine, being the busy guy that he is, has made a lunch appointment with Havok and Polaris, who just got back (along with Rachel) from space where Ed Brubaker left them.  The two of them don’t really want to pick a side, they just got back.  Wolverine tips them to X-Factor Investigations, which is Madrox’s team.  Which seems super awkward, to suggest they go join a third person’s group.  Just because Havok and Polaris have X-Factor experience but no real detective experience.

Cut to Generation Hope.  Hope doesn’t want to lose Oya.  Oya had to kill people to protect Utopia.  She’s the entire reason Wolverine wants to make students and not soldiers.

Transonic puts a gun to Hope’s head.  Hope begins telling her about her father, Cable – not caring about the gun, at all.

Afterwards, Hope accepts the decision to lose Oya.

Outside, Husk is ending a conversation with her brother, Cannonball.  Both of them are going to the school.  Her powers are flaky and he still hasn’t come around after the events of Fall and Rise of the New Mutants.

Dani Moonstar walks up to Sam as Husk walks away.  She is about to sit down where Husk was sitting but Sam stops her.  Husk is losing control over her powers and is literally leaving flakes where ever she goes or sits.

Sam tells Dani that both Guthries are heading out East (not an expression) and this surprises Dani.  Dani doesn’t want to go back to school, there are a bunch of butts that still need to be kicked.  She kisses him and walks off.

Cyclops is trying to recruit Dazzler.  Dazzler makes a great point about how she doesn’t really feel like a solider but she doesn’t really feel like a teacher either.  Which is a great point of how silly this is.  Are those really the only options for X-Men, in this scenario.  They could just go off on their own and be completely forgotten about in a year.  Soldiers or Teachers?  Frontlines or a Classroom?  It just begs for a third choice.

What Cyclops would like, as Dazzler is still planning to live in San Francisco, is to have a team that just protects their adopted home.  So his plan is to lead the Global Team.  Have Psylocke protect the island nation and have Dazzler on shore, protecting the city proper.  Dazzler’s team will be more street and with a younger stand, Dazzler and the X-Kids, a title I would have considered buying over X-Treme X-Men Volume Two.

Cyclops really should have came up with a better name than the one he did.  He’s not the most creative fella.

 Meanwhile, in an awkward scene, a bunch of students are talking.  Seems like they are divided, to go off and learn or to stay and live.  Sure they have to get in fights from time to time but really, is Cyclops going to make any of them main team members?  No, they will be off with Dazzler trying to be stars.  Might as well stay.

If it was up to me, I would be patiently waiting to see which X-Men made up the staff and then make my decision.  I would be a total fanboy student.

The two squads are lead by Prodigy and Hellion.  Prodigy is for staying with Utopia, along with Pixie, Surge, Armor, Crosta, Primal and Zero.  Pixie will later go to the School.  Hellion has behind him – Anole, Mercury, Dust, Rockslide, Blindfold, Bling!, Match, Graymalkin, Trance, Indra and Glob Herman.  I know Glob goes to the school and eventually heads to the Hellfire Academy.  I’m pretty sure all of them eventually make it to be background characters of the Jean Grey School.  (thanks to UncannyXMen.net for knowing which students are which – I know a few of them but I’m never a hundred percent sure.  Mostly, I recognize their faces but I’m suppose to really remember Indra?)

Hellion makes a great point, by lifting a bat with his metal hands (he lost his real ones during Second Coming, the same event where Karma lost her leg.  He wouldn’t have lost his hands if he was at a school.  Prodigy counters that argument with, even if you are at a school, the world won’t let you just learn.

Then we get a fun two page spread of various characters expressing where they are going.  I’ve included the second one for obvious reasons.

Namor is staying

Rachel is going, as she just came back from space and didn’t even know they left the school.  Which is very amazing and telling of how long they were just left in space for.  Shame Nightcrawler was too popular to stay in space as he would still be alive right now.

Danger is staying, her job is to look over the prisoners of the X-Brig, so she has to stay where the prisoners are.  Plus, she was a prisoner of the Xavier School for decades, why would she even want to go back there?

Quentin Quire wants to stay but is being carted off to the school.  Where Marvel will keep trying to make him happen but he will never be streets ahead.

Doctor Nemesis is staying and he’s not sure why he’s even being asked as he’s busy.  I love his “science stalks the night” oh if only he wasn’t given over to Cable and the X-Force after AvX.

X23 states, is there any other choice?  She ends up going to the Avengers Academy (everyone was starting schools back then, the Fantastic Four even had the Future Foundation).

X-Men Regenesis Magik

Magik makes an appearance!  She’s staying but because she’s a prisoner.  But even if she wasn’t, she would probably still stay.

Martha Johannson continues to be voiceless.  It isn’t easy being a brain in a box.

The Cuckoos were split, or at least, Phoebe and Irma were.  Celeste has to make the deciding vote.  It was probably Irma who wanted to go, as she’s always trying to break away.  Also, Celeste was the known Cuckoo at this time, so it makes sense to have her be the face of the group.

Frenzy is leaving as she can’t have a relationship with Cyclops as Emma is still around, so she heads East.  This was Post-Age of X.

Gambit has gotten into all the trouble he could on the West Coast, so he’s willing to go to the East Coast now.  Which is silly as he was based on the East Coast for years, and barely has gotten comfortable in San Francisco.  Unless he heard that Rogue was leaving and Magneto wasn’t, so he might as well stay wherever Rogue is.

Avalanche, poor Avalanche, decides to stay as his bar is in San Francisco.  If only he left, he would not have been around to have Red Skull take out his brain and use his body to commit murders and mass destruction.

Toad really wants to leave, Wolverine doesn’t want him.  Toad is even willing to be a janitor, which gives Wolverine pause.  Oh Toad, if only you had a third choice as well.

Scott comes to Storm and she quickly tells him to not embarrass himself.  Storm’s upset over Cyclops’ decision to have X-Force be a hit squad.  I’m sure she didn’t give Wolverine any grief about this once she came around to joining the school.

Cyclops tells her that he needs her.  Storm corrects him, that he only wants her power.

X-Men Regenesis Storm

Poor Scott has to make an awesome but insulting observation.  He’s align himself with Magneto, Namor, Danger, Doctor Nemesis, Emma, even Colossus and his sister – not the traditional good guy faces people assoriate the X-Men with.  In fact, almost all of them are known for being villains.  Colossus is heading that way and Magik was always on that fun line of being a bad girl surrounded by good teenagers.

He wants, no needs Storm to be on his side to balance that.  There is an awesome image from Gillen’s first issue of Uncanny X-Men Volume Two, where Storm asks who hasn’t been known to be a villain.  Cyclops raises his hands and Storm asks if he should be.  Emma states that Scott is working on his villain turn.  At the time, it was awesome but now I feel like Marvel has been trying to cast him in the role for a while.

Uncanny X-Men V2 1 Cyclops Raised Hand Storm Question

I forgot that Hope raises her hand as well, so cute!

I also like how casual the others are about not having their hands raised.  There is no shame in that room.  Nor should there be.

I can completely understand Cyclops’ side of the issue.  Especially after he mentions who Wolverine was able to get on his side – Beast, Kitty and Iceman.  I mean, Beast and Iceman are pretty lousy but Kitty is pretty much a steal for whichever side.  Since, when Kitty joins Cyclops’ side, that smirk on his face, so awesome.

X-Men Battle of the Atom 2 Cyclops Smirk Magik Teleport Kitty Gone

Cyclops tells Storm that Wolverine doesn’t need her, Cyclops needs her.  Such a real and honest moment.

Cyclops finally gets around to talking to Emma.  Emma is insulted that he just took for granted that she was going to join him.  She loves teaching, she would be a perfect fit over at the new school.  Cyclops tries to tell her that they teach at the island.  Emma corrects him that they mostly train here.

Cyclops gets a whiff of Emma maybe leaving him and the island and starts preparing to grovel.  She can tell that’s where he is heading and tells him to stop.

Emma, for some fans out there I suppose, reveals that Warren is gone and so Utopia needs some funding. She sold most of her holdings, so she can fund their efforts for quite some time. She just hopes that they don’t crash too many X-Jets.  Some fans worry about where all the money comes from.  I mean, after the X-Mansion was destroyed the third time, how rich could Xavier really be after those rebuilds?

Scott owes Emna many back rubs.

So the sides are shown as the cavefolk.

X-Men Regenesis Caveman Sides

I sort of wish that the two sides were switched so it was Wolverine’s side coming toward us, the reader.

So the two sides are –

Cyclops’ Side

Colossus / Hope Summers / Madison Jeffries / Namor / Dazzler / Magik / Storm / Domino / Magma / Emma Frost / Warpath / Sunspot / Magneto / Dr. Nemesis / X-Man / Psylocke / Cypher / Dani Moonstar

Wolverine’s Side

Gambit / Toad / Iceman / Cannonball / Kitty Pryde / Chamber / Beast / Husk / Rachel Summers / Dust

Not sure how they picked the order to list them.

Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 6

Posted by John Klein III on September 19, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Doctor Strange V4 6

Writer Jason Aaron

Pencils Chris Bachalo

Colors Chris Bachalo with Java Tartaglia

Inks Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Mark Irwin, John Livesay, Wayne Faucher, Victor Olazaba and Jaime Mendoza

Letters VC’s Cory Petit

Last Days of Magic, Chapter One

Hastings finally got this issue as a back issue for me.  If I had known about Kris Anka’s Story Thus Far variant, I would have held out for that one.

Doctor Strange V4 6 Recap Page

We skipped issue five so this is what happened.  So this issue claims to be Chapter One but then what was the Last Days of Magic oneshot, a prologue?  Now that I typed that word, I’m pretty sure that is how it was billed.  The Empirikul has arrived in front of Doctor Strange, as they have killed several Sorcerer Surpremes on their way to him.  Killed several sorcerers and magic landmarks and items.

South of New Zealand, the island of Aringoo.  Doctor Strange gets his first real taste of the Empirkuls.  Doctor Strange is so in touch with magic that he feels the effects of magic dying, all around the world.

177A Bleecker Street.  Greenwich Village, New York.  The Sanctum Sanctorum of Doctor Strange.  I guess the fight from the beginning of the issue (the previous page) was actually in New York City, the whole time.  Strange is getting a beat down that he isn’t accustom to.

Strange talks a big game but he has already taken some serious blows.

Lord Imperator, who is ruled by science like how Strange is with magic – comes into the scene.  He’s the Big Bad of this arc.  I do like how Imperator talks as if he has already won this battle and is ready for the clean up to the rest of the war.  Like most alien invasions, he’ll soon learn that Earth doesn’t just buckle before a tyrant.

Doctor Strange V4 6 Magik 1

We catch up with several of the mystical heroes of the Marvel Universe.  Including Count Kaoz and Magik in Valley of the Kings.  Though in the Last Days of Magic oneshot, Kaoz was in Egypt but with Magik, they could have teleported to Japan.  Or rather, the one shot takes place after this one panel.  This issue sort of is the mirror to the one shot, instead of following all of these heroes, we follow Strange and get a sample of these other adventures.  I rechecked the one shot, Magik isn’t in any of the pages Kaoz is, except for that last one (her only).

In New York City.  We see Monako taking out one of the Empirikul and runs off to help Doctor Strange.  Good thing he does as without him, in issue seven, there wouldn’t be much hope for the rest of the arc.

Imperator starts a villain monologue while Strange tries to summon all of the magic of the world.  The monologue lasts three pages.  Doctor Strange’s “Abracadabra,you son of a bitch!” may be the quote of the year.

Doctor Strange V4 6 Magik 2

Strange punches and punches, in the end, the only result is that Strange didn’t just use all of the magic but he exhausted himself, as well.

Poor Magik is tied to a pyre!

Like on the last page of the one shot, Imperator rips Strange’s Cloak of Levitation.

Like the one shot, we are treated to eight bonus pages of seeing what the world is like now that there is no more magic in it.

Mistress Miraculous was an escape artist who used magic in her performances.  Unfortunately, and of course, she was in the middle of an act and dies mid-performance.

Mr. and Mrs. Feedle made three wishes and became the ruling royalty of the island their cruise took them to.  Now that genie is no longer both their slave and a concept, the villager end their time as vassals.

George, of a more mystical version of the Microverse, as it seemed.  With no more magic, he grows back to proper man size and is arrested for being crazy.

We get a page of four panels, each telling a tragic tale.  I wouldn’t feel safe on a flying carpet.

Issue ends with a little girl and her talking animal friends.  Now that there is no more magic, they are transformed back to their original plush forms.

 

Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 7

Posted by John Klein III on September 5, 2016
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Doctor Strange V4 7

Writer Jason Aaron

Pencils & Colors Chris Bachalo

Inks Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Mark Irwin, John Livesay, Victor Olazaba & Jaime Mendoza

Letters Cory Petit

Last Days of Magic, Part Two

Years Ago.  And Very Far Away.  We are given the leader of the Empirikul’s origins.  His parents were scientists in a land of magic.  They put their son and the eyebots into a ship and sent him away – Superman style.  I do like how his parents’ home is all in white (and they wear white too) and then the mages start coming in and all of this red is in the scene.

They worship Shuma-Gorath, who I recognize as an established character – he has a giant eye.  He was the threat in Wolverine First Class 12.  Such a great comic, he has mostly dealt with Doctor Strange and the Fantastic Four.

http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=8665

I must have read him in Marvel Knights 4, Marvel’s hardest series to do a search for.

Now, New York City. The leader, does he get name checked, I don’t believe so.  The eyebots refer to him as, The Imperator, in the Last Days of Magic oneshot.  I’ll start calling him that then.

Imperator is haunting the tied up magicians.  Strange is familiar with Shuma-Gorath, he has fought it several times.  Imperator doesn’t care about Shuma-Gorath, he cares about the type of people who would worship that sort of thing.  Imperator reinforces how much he wants to rid the universe of magic.  Strange saves some brave words but Imperator is going to burn him last.

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 1

Who will Imperator burn first?  Magik!  Makes sense to start with the biggest threat.  Bachalo draws the heck out of Illyana.  Imperator finds her attractive but that doesn’t impress Magik much.

Before fire can be set to her boots, Monako arrives – who strikes me as the magic world’s Puck but with a top hat.  He wasn’t taken captive and Imperator underestimates him.  Strange wants him to run but Monako has a plan.  Monako reveals that magic isn’t dead, it is merely hiding.

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 2

Monako uses the last of his magic to teleport the captured heroes away.  Imperator, a word I just can’t keep in my head.  It usually means a great general or emperor – an empire’s commander.  Imperator is going to give Monako a world of hurt!

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 3

Strange is adamant about getting back to Monako, Magik seems to be in shock.

Imperator tells the eyebots to search the entire planet for the mages.  Smart to go to Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum.  Zelma hears the droids and goes into the cellar to hide.  Even though the door to the cellar is clearly marked “NEVER ENTER” she does it.  I imagine she didn’t read the door.

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 4

Damion Hellstrom wants to honor Monako’s memory by moving forward.  Magik wants to go back to save Monako.  Strange is all for going back, but no one hasn’t a teleportation spell they can cast.  Which is insane!  Magik’s teleporting has nothing to do with magic, that relates to her mutant powers – she has never had to say a mystic word to port around the place.  Why doesn’t she left her soulsword and teleport out of there?  Bachalo should have told Aaron that, or maybe an editor?  Maybe that’s why Illyana is never involved in these situations or crossover, she’s to powerful.  Everything turns to Strange for guidance.

Meanwhile, Monako is putting on a brave face to Imperator, who has tied Monako to one of those trees of his.

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 5

Strange jumps off a ledge and lands on a hidden platform, which confirms that magic is still around.  He wants everyone to split up and find as many mystical items as possible.

Magik, who can be a downer from time to time – she had a rough childhood, doesn’t believe they stand a chance.  Maybe she could call in the X-Men and the Guardians to save the day?  What are they doing where they can’t help out?

Issue ends with Monako burning on the stake.

Hopefully Magik keeps appearing in this storyline, as it is getting good.  I may have to read issue eight, even if she isn’t in it.

Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 4

Posted by John Klein III on July 12, 2016
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Doctor Strange V4 4

Writer Jason Aaron

Pencils & Colors Chris Bachalo

Inks Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Mark Irwin, John Livesay, Wayne Faucher, Victor Olazaba & Jaime Mendoza

Letters VC’s Cory Petit

My first comic of 2016!

John Livesay and Wayne Faucher are new inkers to Team Bachalo.  I wonder how that studio actually works.

I’ve been, unofficially, following this series – as I do enjoy the creative team.  Glad to finally have a reason to buy this title.  I figured I would, eventually, as Doctor Strange has been keeping a posse of magicians with him.  That isn’t all he’s been doing for three issues.

Doctor Strange V4 4 Recap

More and more, each day, supernatural forces are coming to New York City.  Magic beings are running from their original locations to our world.  Someone is killing Sorcerer Supremes.  I didn’t even know there were other Sorcerer Supremes.  I suppose, Brother Voodoo would still be considered a Sorcerer Supreme – even if he isn’t the current fellow.

Years Ago.  We’re getting a training session with Strange and the Ancient One.  We didn’t get scenes like that, in the early issues – so it is nice to see these scenes.  Strange doesn’t want to punch the Ancient One, for one – his hands are still crippled.  Plus, he’s trying to learn sorcery from him.

I do like how the flashbacks are in black and white – that’s a nice touch.

Strange throws the punch and hurts his hand.  The most important lesson of being a sorcerer is – the harder you punch, the more it hurts you.  Which sort of makes sense, that’s how head butting works.

I also like seeing a young Strange, not knowing the names of spells and not really taking it seriously.  Even though he is successfully levitating a yak, so he knows there is magic in the world – but he doesn’t quite have a handle on it.  Apparently, every spell comes at a price – sort of like on Once Upon A Time – all magic has a price.  Strange has been casting spells for a week, and now is throwing up.

Doctor Strange V4 4 Magik 1A Doctor Strange V4 4 Magik 1B

Now.  Strange is throwing up.  Which is embarrassing, as he is throwing a party.  Chondu, the other Wong, isn’t thrilled about the throwing up.  It took a lot of stronger magic, to clean up the mess.  So we’re to believe that Strange has been throwing up for fifty years?  That isn’t a great idea.  Throwing up is the worst.

The Bar With No Door.  So glad that Magik has made it to this series!  I knew she had to, as the solicts have stated that Strange was going to be keeping in touch with his magical friends.  Plus, Bachalo drawing Magik again, is always a good thing.  I would have liked, her in her current outfit but I understand Bachalo wanting to keep her in his own design outfit.

The magical inclined heroes are here to hear the bad news that they know Strange has.  I wish I recognized more of these characters.  Damian Hellstom, I know from Facebook : Avengers Alliance.  Alpha Flight’s Shaman has been in this series thus far – plus, as a X-Fan, I know who Alpha Flight is.  Looks like a guy with Cloak’s . . . cloak but with a messed up jaw, is in attendance.  Who is that next to Magik?  I imagine that is Wanda (who has also been in this series, thus far) is sitting next to Shaman.

Doctor Strange V4 4 Magik 2

Strange has buried seventeen Sorcerer Supremes.  They were the top sorcerer of their respected dimensions.  Each was killed, horribly – hours of torture that ended with being burned alive.  Not only are they dead, but their dimensions have been cut off.  Their bodies were hidden away so that someone like Strange, would have to look for them.  This threat is now coming to Earth.

Brother Voodoo asks how many Sorcerer Supremes are there.  Strange doesn’t know and the Ancient One never revealed it.  Strange sent out a call to the rest of them.  He stood around, for hours and no one answered the summons.

Doctor Strange V4 4 Magik 3

I like how Count Kaoz name checks himself.  Plus, he seems very interesting with that bear attack story.

Magik, being as great as she is, volunteers to invest in Limbo and see if anyone is taking credit for the murders.

Damian Hellstom is going to investigate Hell, which seems like a place to get some answers.

The Cloak cloak borrower is either Professor Xu or Mahatma Doom, suggests that they all mindlink so that they can be better informed.

El Merico Mistico, in Spanish, is willing to fight to the death.

Monako (none of these people are familiar to me) is under the impression that Strange brought this on himself (and them) for not being more active.  Which seems silly, to me.

Strange doesn’t believe any of his rogue gallery is responsible for this.

Wong calls the bar, there has been another murder.

Zelma Stanton, the character that brought this threat to Strange’s attention, is found the book that hit her.  When it hit her head, she had a little creature forming in her hair – it looks like Strange dealt with that.  Now she is hanging around.

marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Zelma_Stanton_(Earth-616)

 I looked it up and she is now Strange’s librarian.

Zelma is telling Strange that the book that hit her on the head – The Grimoire of Watoomb – is now blank.  She says the book died, which surprises Strange as well.  Which isn’t good, if Strange is in uncertain waters, don’t follow that guy, too closely.

Since the pages are empty, that must mean that something horrible has happened at the Temple of Watoomb.  Strange plans on investigating.  Before he can do that, he collapses.  Wong brings him to the table, so he can eat lunch.  Wong lets Zelma know, that after these years of being who he is, Strange has a very special diet.  Strange tells her not to watch him eat, once she does, she can never unsee it.  She describes the dish as, culinary afterbirth.  Which, really, is all I need to know.  Jason Aaron seems to be really getting into the day-to-day of what it is like to be Doctor Strange.  Hopefully Brother Voodoo was warn of all of this, when Strange was making him the next Sorcerer Supreme.  The food would kill a normal man and it should kill Strange, eventually.

Later, Zelma is worried about books being murdered, or if magic is being murdered.  Strange wouldn’t have thought it was possible to murder magic but someone is doing a fine job of doing just that.

Strange opens a portal, that appears to be to the ocean floor.  He instructs her to go home, as he enters the ocean.  The Temple of Watoomb is deep beneath the Indian Ocean.  Watoomb, seems like such a familiar word, I’m sure it is one of his go-to spells.  Strange is able to simply swim pass defenses, so clearly something is wrong.  A machine that disrupts sorcery stops him.  Apparently, that shouldn’t be a thing.

This reminds me of Waid / Wiering’s run on Fantastic Four.  When Reed had to fight Doctor Doom.  Reed doesn’t know magic so Strange gave him some simple spells, I believe that all Reed had to do, was repeat one phrase and had some simple spells at his disposal.  I wonder if he threw up after that?

Zelma calls Strange, via the spell he cast on her phone.  She tells him that all of the books are dying.  Her phone gets disconnected, I’m not sure how he was talking to her.  Maybe the call just appears near his head?

Issue ends with Strange, triumphant over the machine.  He makes a conference call to all mystical beings.  He was wrong, the enemy isn’t coming – they are already here! dun dun DUN!!!

Such a great issue!  I should be reading this series properly.

. . .

I’m writing this on January 9, 2016 – let’s see how long it is before it is published!

This is being published on July 12, 2016.  So seven months to see the first comic of 2016.

Like I do every year, I keep track of what the best comics were of 2016 – typically, it is always my first ten comics.

  1. Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 4

One down, nine more to go!

Uncanny X-Men 600

Posted by John Klein III on June 6, 2016
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men 600 Bachalo Cover

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!

Uncanny X-Men 600 Recap

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 01 Kitty Magik 1

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 02 Kitty 1

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 03 Kitty Magik 2

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!

Uncanny X-Men 600 04 Kitty 2

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!?!

Uncanny X-Men 600 05 Kitty 3

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 06 Kitty Magik 3

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 07 Magik 1

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 08 Kitty Magik 4

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 09 Kitty Magik 5

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 10 Kitty Magik 6

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 11 Kitty Magik 7

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 12 Kitty Magik 8

Everyone is so tired of Beast and his breakup with Scott Summers.  Beast starts walking away, he is done.

Uncanny X-Men 600 13 Kitty Magik 9

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 14 Kitty Magik 10

This mutant is in Washington DC.  Illyana teleports the entire school to the capital.

Uncanny X-Men 600 15 Kitty Magik 11

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 Bendis Goodbye

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.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/11/03/is-this-why-uncanny-x-men-600-reprints-bizarre-adventures-27-from-1981/

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.