Kitty Pryde and the cast of Astonishing X-Men (Volume 3) are confronting Orbis Stellar, one of Sinister’s alts, the spade one. That’s fun seeing a Krakoa villain in an earlier story.
Logan claws right through him, as Orbis isn’t our main villain here. I’m not that familiar with Orbis Stellar, outside of his design.
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I just love how the X-Men are more annoyed with Logan than anything else. Did he have to do that this way? Probably not. Let’s try not to get someone else’s blood all over your teammates.
Kitty is looking for the egg that brough them here. She offers to phase through some doors, but Beast wants a moment to hack the system. If he can’t do it, he’ll place himself back with the Avengers. I miss Kitty and Beast being pals, so much.
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They were looking for Phoenix eggs, which I guess is a thing, and instead,, found some other sort of egg. dun dun DUNNN
Cyclops’ ‘alert,’ would make for such a great final word, but Beast gets to start a “you look inter,’ then we skip a week, so this explains why Kitty isn’t in the solicitations for the rest of the series. At least she gets a great back up feature that we’ll get to below.
One Week Later, Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. The Blackbird is back, and attached to a bigger ship.
Xavier and Multiple Man are watching the duo ship enter the atmosphere.
We get to see our cast for the issue – Storm (who is completely bald, which isn’t her typical look), Rogue, Psylocke, Hope Summers, Jubilee, Cannonball, Gambit, Nightcrawler, and Colossus.
Storm is wishing she had gone on the mission, but Hope tells her that no mission needs two great leaders.
The ships crash, and instead of the X-Men, we get . . . Xenomorphs!
Poor Cannonball, he was saying his classic line of how he is nigh invulnerable when he’s . . . and he gets got.
Xenomophs acid spit is strong enough to melt Colossus’ metal arm, so we now know that.
One of the Xenomorphs has adamantium claws, so that’s happening. I wonder if we can tell which one Kitty birthed?
One of the Xenomorphs grabs Madrox, because of course they do, his mutant power really is perfect for villains.
We see the Xenomorphs have brought Madrox to Logan, who is also a perfect vessel for more eggs. Logan offers to put Madrox out of his misery, but right before he knows he is in misery, so he hesitated. Which is the greatest commandment, Thou Shall Not Hesitate.
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Ugh, we see Kitty’s dead body, so unfortunately, she is done with the main story. But don’t worry, dear readers, we still have that backup.
Because of Emma is Mother, we see there is a Queen Xenomorph, who also has diamond powers, so good luck there.
Logan births another baby Alien.
Xavier and Storm talk about how these are not the Brood, so that’s nice to address that. They are knockoffs of the Brood, and more feral.
Beast left a recording, and thought he had taken care of the threat.
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Turns out, there is a Xenomorph that is worst than one with adamantium claws or diamond skin, one who can phase through walls. There is no escaping that one.
And now that we think about it, the Mansion is locked down, but not to one that can phase through walls.
This segment ends with a new team arriving – Deadpool, Sage (maybe?), Cable (with a beard), Bishop, and Abigail Brand, who should be doubly invested in stopping this as they killed Hank.
. . .
Writer Chris Claremont
Artist Dave Messina
Color Artist Rain Beredo
Letterer VC’s Travis Lanham
I was really really hoping that someone would remember that Lockheed is the Brood’s greatest nightmare, so he should be involved in a story involving Brood knockoffs.
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Of course, Chris Claremont would remember that. This story takes place during the time Kate Pryde was attending the University of Chicago, working on her doctoral thesis. She is a bartender at Belles of Hell, and sometimes Lockheed is with her at college, and sometimes, he isn’t, and this time . . . he is!
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Kate is surprised by a visit of a Brood Queen Angel. The Brood Queen claims Lockheed trusts her, but I’m not sure of that.
The Brood Queen wants to work with Kate to deal with a greater threat.
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The Brood Queen is very impress with Kate, she has great skills, and of course, in the right place, and right time, and has great instincts. Plus, Kate has a reputation, and hope.
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Kate needs Rachel, as this is written by Claremont.
The Brood Queen teleports them to the Danger Room, where we see Gambit (I imagine so someone, me, will tell people to check out Claremont’s Gambit Wanted), Gambit has a face hugger on his . . . face. Rachel, no facehugger, and Logan, who does have a facehugger.
I looked it up, facehuggers are the second step in the Xenomorph life cycle, and are called, Ovomorphs.
We hear Magik’s voice, and we see that she turned Lockheed into a gauntlet, which seems very rude. Though he does make for an interesting looking gauntlet.
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I can’t believe we are given a backup story, written by Chris Claremont, that features Kate Pryde, Lockheed, and Magik! Plus, Rachel!
Illyana claims Lockheed is her dragon, and transformed him like she will transform Kate.
Illyana even changed Kate’s outfit to be her yellow and blue suit, instead of her X-Treme X-Men suit.
Kate is very much looking forward to turning evil with Illyana.
This entire page is very charged.
Plus, now my mind is racing about how this places Rachel into the role of good girl to Illyana’s bad, and Kitty having to choose between them. While the entire time, Lockheed is a gauntlet, for some reason. Let him be a dragon!
Oh, and Illyana mentions how her new friends have done something to her, so more on that later, as she’s definitely not showing any signs of becoming a Xenomorph.
In an experiment to really get into what I didn’t connect to the second volume of Marauders, I’m going to read the series again, and see f I can narrow it down.
Annual One
Necessary reading the second volume! Closes out volume one, but mostly sets up volume two.
I sort of like how simple this outfit for Akihiro is. I don’t like how he’s burn to a crisp, but still alive. He was investigating a giant gravesite, filled with mutant bones.
I do love the art of Creees Lee here.
Kate Pryde and Bishop have such a fun friendship. I really want to see this continued to future comics.
Kate wants to be out of the shipping business, especially as the old Marauder ship is totaled, and wants to be more in the mutant rescue business.
Bishop volunteers to pick the new crew, but Kate wants that responsibility.
First Recruit : Psylocke! She tells us Kate drags her feet, a fun detail. Kwannon losing her daughter, sad detail.
This art really is gorgeous.
Second Recruit : Tempo, who is being broken up by Bouncer. Tempo gave Pryde a, maybe, but Bishop wants the answer to be, yes.
I should buy this comic, I do really enjoy it. I’ll add it to my Wishlist.
Third Recruit : Akihiro. He’s missing, so Kate is making him Mission One.
We watch up to Aurora, who just killed a dude. Bishop and Tempo want her to help find Akihiro.
A datapage I’m going to skip.
We see Iceman and Christian Frost dancing, they are fun together inside Somnus’ dreamworld.
Aurora has joined up with Kate & Psylocke to greet Somnus at The Broken Baths. I’m not sure which title has the Akihiro / Somnus relationship, or the Aki/Aurora relationship. Maybe X-Factor?
South Salem, New York, where it all started, as we are introduced to Brimstone Love, and his Theater of Pain. He does look cool. He’s an Xavier purist, so he hates the idea of Krakoa.
We catch up to the Marauders, minus Captain Pryde as she’s getting the new ship. They are investigation Akihiro’s last known location, and the gravesite has been filled up again.
The Morlock, Carver, who I’m not familiar with, tricked Akihiro, and now the Marauders, to come to this location. He’s upset about Krakoa as well. And with this group using the Marauders name. Which I never mind the reminder, as Mutant Massacre, the first one, should never be forgotten.
Brimstone Love makes solid points, it is just the way he goes about it that I’m not a huge fan of, but that’s also the point.
The Marauders arrive, we see in the background, they have a new air ship, but it looks like a classic UFO.
Brimstone Love calls Kate a delivery girl, so we already don’t like him even more.
A big fight breaks out.
Aurora takes out Carver.
Tempo pauses Brimstone Love.
Akihiro is in full berserker mode, and slices off one of Brimstone Love’s horns – the right one.
A giant crater is left where Brimstone Love’s city was.
Kate explains the new ship is a spaceship.
A datapage I’m not reading.
Kate Pryde has modified Emma’s Mercury spaceship into the new Marauders ship.
Everyone is on board to be part of the new Marauders.
To handle the Krakoa stuff, Pryde has named Christian Frost as the new Red Monarch.
Emma Frost gives Kate a two billion year old puzzle box with Kate’s name on it, and a note within in Kate’s handwriting, “the first blood spilled” and a map.
Such a great launch!
Issue One
I like Kate Pryde, Bishop, and Psylocke saving Fever Pitch. Great opening!
Kate starts investigating the mysterium puzzle box, leading her to Cassandra Nova, a character I don’t super enjoy. She was great under Morrison, then Whedon used her in a fun way, then she just kept coming back.
I do like a reference to Xavier being a Jerk. Always a good time, and always true.
I forgot we get Kate referencing how Cassandra Nova killed Pryde’s father, Carmen, during the attack on Genosha – another reason to not like that character. I thought it was only called back at the end of the series.
A datapage I still won’t read.
I like Psylocke and Tempo training together, that’s fun.
Bishop and Aurora are hanging out, she’s joining the team as that is where Akihiro is, and X-Factor wasn’t doing it for her.
Somnus is a new character to me, one I like, how I how the triangle of Somnus – Akihiro – Aurora, they’re fun together.
We continue the story beat of Brimestone Love hurting Akihiro.
People are shock to see Cassandra Nova is joining the team, everyone but Bishop who knew it was coming, he’s still not on board with the decision.
Another datapage I’m skipping
Cassandra Nova purposely annoying the team isn’t as much as fun as it should be.
We set up that we’re going to Shi’ar space as Step Two in the First Mutants Mystery.
The new Spaceship Marauder is a fun re-design.
I’m reminded Xandra, is leading the Shi’ar, with Gladiator at her side.
Delphos dismisses everyone.
Kin Crimson is introduced, they want to guide Xandra, and set up the conflict for us readers.
The First Blood Spilled.
All we know is that something bad happened, but Xandra got the actual information.
Aurora and Tempo are eating boost fruits to make the Marauder go faster. Silly but in a fun way.
We get a spaceship battle. Bishop & Psylocke go out into space with space rifles to lend extra fire power.
Shi’ar ship has a force field that is hard to break through.
Erik the Red sets foot onto the Marauder, as he has defeated Bishop and Psylocke – the two big guns.
Solid first issue.
I’m not the biggest fan of X-Men in space, but I’m always willing to give it a try.
No Lockheed, so that’s always disappointing.
Current Rankings : Annual, 1
Issue Two
Newark. New Jersey. The Lockheed subplot begins! Already off to a great start.
Chandilar. The Shi’ar Throneworld. And that was that. Delphos is consulting Xandra that the Marauders can’t ever be allow the answers they seek. Deathstar isn’t around, as she is in Secret X-Men 1 – a title I don’t even remember was an option.
Shi’ar Space. The Marauders stand off against Eric the Red in a very cool half splash page. Eric the Red talks very highly of himself, and lowly of mutants.
Akihiro is ready for a fight, and we get a very cute moment with Aurora asking if he was this way with Somnus – he wasn’t. She’s been in a good influence.
Kate is under the impression the first mutants are being held prisoner by the Shi’ar. I do like how she recognizes Cassandra Nova isn’t great, but the rest of her squad is.
Eric the Red has the Marauders fight red hard skin versions of themselves, but in New Mutants style outfits. Marauders defeat the fakes pretty easily.
Get another cute moment of Akihiro telling Aurora the next time she does something sexy, to slow down. Something he’s apparently been telling her to do since they met.
Tempo is trying to use her powers in a different way, as she can’t simply age up the constructs, but can control the blasts.
I like Kate fighting Eric the Red solo, she’s the leader, so she should be the one fighting the big bad.
Bishop recognizes the constructs are energy, so he simply absorbs them, which overcharges himself.
Datapage I have no interest in.
Gladiator tries to explain to Xandra why the Crimson Kin should be respected, they hold dark secrets that the leader shouldn’t be burden with.
Another datapage
Xandra commits to keeping the first blood secret a secret.
Cassandra Nova makes a fun comment about how Xavier in the womb choked her harder and better than Eric the Red currently is choking her. She can be fun, she just has a lot of baggage to get moved aside.
Eric the Red explains more about the Crimson Kin’s history, then drops the bubble that was keeping all of the atmosphere in the Marauder. Sucking all of the mutants out.
We get an excellent mutant circuit. Tempo is slowing down all of the breathable air. Aurora is trying to blast Eric the Red. Psylocke is trying to get everyone spacesuits. Cassandra Nova is gone.
Kate Pryde gives us the danger countdown, as they only have seven minutes to breathe.
Eric the Red has the puzzle box.
Somnus has a brilliant idea to get Psylocke to put everyone into one of his dreamscape. Space problems require Space solutions.
Meanwhile out in space, Cassandra Nova is fighting Eric the Red.
Aurora and Somnus keep sharing a similar taste in men, which is fun.
Somnus has the ability to monitor what is happening in the real world. Seven seconds in the real world s seven days in the dreamscape, so they have plenty of time to organized.
Cliffhanger is Xandra has to decide what to do with the Marauders sleeping bodies as she arrives to their location.
Not a bad issue at all. I’m still connecting everything, and feeling good about the story beats.
Ranking : Annual, 2, 1 – which makes sense as each issue should be better than the last. Annual gets points for being set on Earth, and looking amazing. I should write that Carlini has been doing a great job with the ongoing issues.
Issue Three
Issue opens with Eric and Delphos chatting about the mission. Secret X-Men 1 seems to be a story told just to keep Deathbird out of this arc, which is a clever writing exercise, and to keep Xandra’s most trusted advisor away from her.
Apparently Cassandra Nova has been fighting Betel this whole time, okay.
Upper Orbit. the sleeping Marauders have been taken to Xandra’s ship, under Gladiator’s watch.
Cassandra Nova kills Betel, and has to now fight a dragon person, Pr!z the Dragon. Who gets a trip to their personal black bug room.
Apparently Pr!z red skin was a mutant, Zzxz, and once removed, Pr!z is green. I might have skipped these pages previously.
Somnus updates the team, it has been three minutes outside, and they are in a ship.
Aurora wants Psylocke to link all of their minds, and then use Tempo’s powers together to have light speed thoughts to create a winning plan. Mutant circuit!
Two Shi’ar goons have a chat about how the Crimson Red shouldn’t hold any authority.
I like how the mind meld was to come up with a plan that didn’t involve a full on assault, but as the Marauders wake up, they get caught, so end up just assaulting goons anyway. That’s fun.
One of the goons gets half a warning out to Gladiator, and to show how fast he is, Gladiator is immediately there. He’s super that way, man.
Gladiator doesn’t want to fight the Marauders, but will. Tempo ages Gladiator’s arm to old man arm, which stops him for a moment.
Just then, Cassandra Nova arrives, having to wipe away the two Reds off her outfit. Gladiator doesn’t want to fight her, as she’s a member of Krakoa, but she waives that claim, so they can fight now. Which is also fun. Cassandra Nova rakes Gladiator’s eyes, but then Xandra shows up to calm things down.
Kate Pryde tries to scold Cassnadra Nova from killing two Reds, but she is quick to correct the record, that they died by themselves, she just assisted in a way.
Xandra and Kate Pryde finally get a moment to talk (be nice if we get a reference to Mr. and Mrs. X 1, where Kitty sent Rogue & Gambit to ensure Xandra hatched). Kate wants to free the first mutants. Cassandra Nova reveals she has known the secret since she invaded Xavier’s mind during the Morrison arc.
Kate references the puzzle box, and Delphos notes she doesn’t have it now, as if that changes anything Kate is saying.
Another datapage
Delphos, somehow can update the rest of the Crimson Kin without Xandra or Cassandra Nova noticing.
Xandra offers to reveal the secret of the first generation of mutants. Delphos tries to stop her, but Xandra shuts Delphos right down onto her knees. Xandra agrees to lead the Marauders to where the secrets are. Xandra is also impressed with Kate Pryde, as of course she is.
Another datapage.
They are headed to The Krag, that keeps the Chronicle, which is the book of secrets.
We get an eerie warning from Cassandra Nova to Somnus to keep watching.
Issue ends with Xandra being blasted, and Kate asking Bishop if he bought enough guns for everyone.
Issue Four
Neal Adams died 😦
Deathbird returns to the throneworld, and is not happy that Xandra isn’t there.
Marauders vs more hard light constructs. The constructs / guards destroyed Xandra’s ship, so they’ll have to figure out how to get home later.
Kate Pryde takes a hit for Bishop that takes the wind out of her. More than the wind, she’s dead. Jim
Maybe this is where I start losing the plot. Kate Pryde died twice during the Krakoa era – once at Shaw’s hands, and now here in Shi’ar space? Doesn’t seem worthy enough.
I love how angry Psylocke is that Kate is dead, so now she is going to cut loose. Bishop is right there with her, not holding back anymore. Cassandra Nova is messing with their bird brains, as they have located the book’s location.
Tempo would like a nap, a boost fruit, or a beer. She’s fun.
They find a chamber of liquid, so it isn’t a book necessarily. More like a chamber of secrets, if you will.
The chamber holds within it a Lupak, something each Imperial Guard has, so it can be retrieved, and re-uploaded, similar to the Krakoa Resurrection Procedure. This Lupak belonged to Fang, who Logan stole his outfit years ago, and Akihiro borrowed his name for a bit.
Psylocke jumps on Fang’s back, so that Akihiro doesn’t just fight him, they can talk now.
If I understand Cassandra Nova correctly, she took all of Fang’s knowledge, put it in a mental box, and then placed that box inside Somnus’ dreamscape for future investigating.
Psylocke doesn’t like Cassandra Nova claiming the leader position, so with a twist of her focus totality, sees inside Fang’s mind, and witnesses the first blood. Before it was spilled. The Threshold.
We see what they looked like, how they lived, three faces that we will grow to know more later. When Fang woke up, he commented on how Akihiro stinks of his kin, so maybe this is not Fang, but ancient Fang relative.
We see the Shi’ar invading, attacking Threshold. I do recall skipping these pages in the trade. Five mutants rose up to be guards, which of course, makes us think about The Five of Krakoa.
Both sides took major loses. The first blood spilled was many.
A data page I’m skipping.
The Kin Crimson, I guess I’ve been reading it wrong this whole time, were created. The early Shi’ar recognized which genes were inferior, and started breeding themselves to be stronger.
Took eons for mutants to start to grow in number. Okkara rose, and split. We see the original Eric the Red attack the All New All Different X-Men.
Fang shouts at Psylocke to stop with the retelling, which is a fun comic way to explaining who was providing those narration boxes. Fang references how no one from Threshold survived. Cassandra Nova tells Bishop that Fang is lying, some DNA was saved and recorded in timedrives.
With a fruit boost, Tempo shuts Cassandra Nova down, so she can talk to the team.
Seems like they jump to talking about going back in time, where did that idea come from? Oh no, is it already happening, am I losing interest in this?
Bishop is ready to travel back in time, but Tempo is quick to mention how he’s just a tourist, she’s the one who has to do the traveling.
Datapage, an email from Tempo to Bishop. It is so many words.
Tempo shares her concerns, Aurora says she can Akihiro can stay behind to protect during the time heist.
Apparently the way The Kragg is shaped, they can use the resources to space jump, but time jumping is tricky.
Tempo takes them to Avalon, Magneto’s hold space base, that is using Shi’ar tech.
Issue ends with Nemesis showing up, how is that possible?
Yeah, I do fear this is where I started losing the plot. I just feel the disinterest growing.
Ranking : Annual, 2, 3, 1, 4
Issue Five
Andrea Broccardo takes over art duties, he has a more traditional art style which is a pleasant surprised. I guess the jump back to the 90s makes sense to have a different artist?
Krakoa. Xandra has been resurrected, and we get a nice father / daughter moment with her and Xavier.
Aurora and Akihiro are fighting off Fang and other goons.
We get a great editors note setting the time period, X-Men V2 42
Nemesis vs Exodus, fun to be reminded how far Exodus has come.
Tempo with the reminder to not to change anything too much.
I do like Nemesis talking in paragraph long word balloons.
Somnus has questions, and I do like Psylocke stating that all of this becomes normal at some point. It helps to quit questioning it.
Were fruit boosts this common during Krakoa? I feel like this volume is the only title that made this much out of them? Also, where are they keeping these, in the top of their boots?
Cassandra Nova is being looked over by a symbiote, when did that happened? Or is that the Kin Crimson’s wet skin? I think that’s the same thing. Oh yeah, that’s Zzxz and Cassandra Nova, making a Venom design – for some reason. Weird whenever people refer to her as Nova, that’s a different dude.
I do like, haircut, for an insult for a person. So silly
Psylocke is getting closer to the DNA, and can sense it is just one mutant from Threshold.
When did Nemesis hit her, I don’t remember this, and it was only three minutes between issues.
oh, when the Marauders went back in time, they were separated from Cassandra Nova, so when he was shouting about Age of Nemesis, it was due to the power upgrade he got from biting Cassandra Nova.
Fang puts his fist through Akihiro’s chest, so Akihiro removes Fang’s arm.
Aurora makes a Storm reference, as she lights up the room.
Akihiro notices the gland, which I thought Fang grew out of, but apparently it is separate, so he claws his way to the gland, and kills Fang. Akihiro quotes Brimstone Love’s pain is only a challenge. Interesting.
Bishop is absorbing Nemesis’ extra power, bringing him back to jump normal levels of high power.
Cassandra Nova makes a fun joke about how Zzxz can’t feed on Nemesis’ brain, as he doesn’t have much of one, but Bishop throws a wet blanket over the situation, as Nemesis can’t be killed back then.
Psylocke updates the team that she has the timedrive, and it seems to only have data. Tempo is quick to mention how it might be more like teleporter’s pattern buffer, like how they got Scotty on Star Trek The Next Generation.
Tempo freezes time to get the Marauders back together. I see now that Cassandra Nova’s symbiote design is all black with a white Phoenix pattern, so that’s fun.
Cassandra Nova proposes a mutant circuit – herself, Zzxz, Tempo, and Psylocke who can focus her totality into anything, it doesn’t have to be a knife shape.
Marauders back in the present, Psylocke recalls she still has her memories, but wouldn’t they have been outside the time change?
Cassandra Nova comments how of course no one remembers anything from the past, she erased their memories, which does seem to be the obvious solution.
Psylocke notices the Chronicle is destroyed, which means the evidence of the Shi’ar’s crimes is now gone.
Dramatic page turn, and Deathbird and Gladiator have arrived, all the evidence they need is with their new prisoner, Delphos.
Psylocke informs Deathbird that they have the timeslip, and Xandra said they could keep it. Deathbird tells her that she’ll find her niece, and be told what the terms of the agreement were. To which, Delphos updates her that Xandra is super dead.
So Deathbird, of course, kills Delphos, so there goes that evidence. Deathbird agrees to the vow.
A datapage.
Awkward, Xandra is back on the throne, but the Marauders are there too. So they waited for her to come all the way back? One would think they would have met in the middle somewhere.
Present Day Fang arrives Akihiro the name, Fang. So that’s fun. I believe I did skip all of this issue in my original read, and then my Aurora reread.
We see Warbird from the Jason Aaron Wolverine and the X-Men run, so that’s fun. She was also part of Marjorie Lu’s Astonishing X-Men run. Zzxz bonds with Warbird.
Xandra gives Psylocke the knowledge of the first blood spilled. We see Psylocke has been updating Greycrow with the story, which is a fun story reveal. I do love KwanJohn. She wishes they can go through one Hellfire Gala without a scandal, sadly she’ll never get that wish fulfilled.
Datapage of an email from Bishop to Kate, that I did read.
Days later. Kate Pryde has been resurrected! YAY!
Issue ends with Cerebra being resurrected, and with a new outfit styled by Jumbo Carnation.
I really did enjoy this issue a lot.
Rankings : Annual, 5, 2, 3, 1, 4
Issue Six
Full Disclosure, I didn’t quite click with the AXE Judgment Day crossover event.
Issue opens with another page in the Lockheed subplot, he’s doing some sort of investigation.
Kate Pryde is explaining to Fabian Cortez (and us) what has been happening.
Datapage, a message from Aurora to Kate Pryde
Birdy, a character I’m not familiar with, is interviewing the Marauders as the judging celestial as passed its judgment. She been helping Aurora, so she must be from the X-Factor title. Context clues!
Bishop reveals he always knows where he is, place and time. Just a skill of his. We’re not told how he was judged.
Aurora and her personalities were trying to be tricked, but she couldn’t be. I like how this is pretty much my impression of AXE Judgment Day. None of the characters seem to care, and I’m right there with them.
Tempo is visited the a face of an old friend, but not his attitude. She also didn’t care about the result.
Psylocke, she immediately kills the Progenitor who was Mister Sinister shaped. She also didn’t care about the result. I should really look into what happened with her daughter.
Somnus is visited by a form of Northstar, who tries to harrass Somnus about not coming out in his first life.
Akihiro, looking great in his Fang outfit, but it doesn’t feel right referring to him as Fang. Such a short term name. He also doesn’t care about his judgment.
The Marauders reunite to tackle whatever is next, and I don’t think they appear in the crossover proper.
Issue ends with Spider-Man villain, Judas Traveller arriving, and I want to say nothing comes of this either?
Kate reveals that she passed, in Immortal X-Men, I believe?
Ranking : Annual, 6, 5, 2, 3, 1, 4
Issue Seven
Carlini is back as we start the second arc of the series.
Mike Pasciullo died 😦
Lockheed gets another page into his investigation
Kate Pryde and Cerebra continue their chat, as if the previous two issues didn’t happen, but they address those issues.
Cerebra is from X-Men 2099, thanks for that reminder, I needed that. She plants a Krakoan gate onto the New Marauder, which is very handy. Cerebra is will to help with the timeslip device, but doesn’t want to be on the official team.
Somnus – Akihiro – Aurora, and Psylocke being the fourth wheel, go to Captain America, Nebraska. They’re there to protect mutants from The Watchdogs. Actually, looks like they’re there to protect the watchdogs from Horsepower, a mutant who is wrecking some racists faces.
Datapage ForgetMeNot transcribed a chat between Kate Pryde and Doctor Nemesis about Cerebra, of course I read this.
I like Cerebra and Bishop chatting. Both mutants out of time, he invites her to a drinkup with Rachel and Cable. So fun.
Cerebra believes there are three life forces in the time drive, not one like Psylocke thinks.
There is an egg, one mutant crawls out, and Psylocke congratulates herself for guessing correctly. Exception, just then, two more mutants pop out of the first one, and we get a fun moment of Akihiro and Aurora teasing Psylocke.
Kate Pryde makes some introduces, the three Thresholders learn English pretty quickly. They don’t care for the sound of it.
Amass, Crave, and Theia, who is their leader, and she explains Threshold from her perspective.
Datapage, Bishop and Psylocke email to the other two War Captains, Cyclops and Magik. Another must read.
Thresholders are shocked to learn the Shi’ar have grown so large.
Akihiro wonders how there was no sign of Threshold existing, but two billion years is a long time to leave a trace anywhere. I do like how the Marauders are using the Trust but Verify method.
Crave can eat anything, so X-Men finally have someone to combat the Legion’s Matter Eater Boy.
Theia keeps sharing their history, and I’ll admit I don’t have much interest in it, but I appreciate the world building, and it doesn’t take away from the quality of the issue. It is an important story to tell. It is four pages that if it doesn’t attract, its just words and images waiting until a familiar face shows up again.
I immediately love that Theia and Tempo start flirting. Kate’s face is a delight.
Amass is very immature, but also notices Theia is connecting well with Tempo.
Theia tells them that they want to rescue more, and I immediately start to wonder if we’re going to try to bring an entire populace to the present day. Which doesn’t make that much sense, where will they go? Out of a thousand new characters, we’ll get to know maybe 10? What’s the point of this?
Also, those people are dead, buried, and forgotten – even with Resurrection Protocols, should they be brought back just because we can? two billion years seems like long enough to leave them there.
Cassandra Nova wants to reveal the truth, but Kate stops her, but I’m not sure what is the harm in telling them that they’re all dead. Of course they are, it is two billion years. Even if it was 50 years, everyone but the very youngest would be dead. Which is a haunting thought.
Cassandra Nova is about to reveal her truth, but instead, reveals that Kate is about to volunteer everyone to their deaths.
Issue ends with Cassandra Nova revealing that the bacteria weapons are the siblings – Arkea and Sublime.
Rankings : Annual, 6, 5, 7, 2, 3, 1, 4
Loses some points as the arc being set up, I’m not sure why we’re bothering.
Issue Eight
Tom Palmer died 😦
Issue opens with Threshold being destroyed.
Dramatic page turn, and we see the Marauders in the Broken Baths of Krakoa. The team is being very unguarded. Kate has trust in her team, because of their hearts.
I do appreciate the team asking what is the point, as that is my question. So they are going to save Threshold from Sublime and his sister, just so they can still all be dead in two billion years? I guess Kate is playing the numbers that maybe they’ll be some civilization left in the present day? But like Tempo said, wouldn’t that change the present day? What is the point of this?
Bishop sort of ruins the discussion by pointing out that all of the mutants of today are lost in his time, but he still fights for the present day ones as it is a fight worth having. But I feel like that isn’t the same thing, and maybe that’s because I live in the now, and can’t help the people of yesterday, but even with a time machine, I still feel like I wouldn’t or couldn’t help much, unless it creates an alternate timeline – which it usually does according to Marvel rules, but I think Tempo changes that as she has real control over time? Maybe?
We get KwanJohn as he tempts her to take over leadership, which is a bold move, and she doesn’t want that position.
Crave is eating all the food, and he’s sitting next to Maggot AND Eanie and Meanie. I love those two.
Cassandra Nova and Amass are hanging out, so that tells you a lot about Amass.
Theia and Tempo are on a date at the beach, and it is very sweet. It is odd that humanity is the majority, but also it is a numbers game, and we did lose millions at Genosha.
Tempo doesn’t like the water, which is a cute character trait. Theia on time Aurora on speed Tempo on time Amass merging everybody A fruit boost and a leap of faith that it all works
The White Palace. Kate, Bishop, and Psylocke – I do like how these are the main three of the Marauders. I really need to treat myself to the Psylocke Funko, I am a bigger than I thought I was. They are trying to rush Jumbo Carnation to make their new suits – suits I’m going to hate as it is going to be very hard for me to identify who is talking, and thus, feel very disconnected from the events I’m not going to be enjoying.
Bishop ponders if they do need to rush him, as they’re jumping back in time, it isn’t like the more time spent in the now, changes when they arrive then.
Stitch is also working on the suits, giving credit where it is deserved. One of the main features is keeping today’s germs from harming the old germs, even though they are going to be fighting humanoid germs.
The Thresholders are not getting suits, as they haven’t been in the present long enough to absorb the new germs, which doesn’t seem right, as are they not in new bodies?
I feel like I’m punching holes into something that is already very unstable.
Akihiro makes an awesome reference to how he thought Tempo was already breaking into Theia’s body down at the beach. oh my
So Threshold was on Earth, and not somewhere deep into Shi’ar space? I must have missed that as the Marauders land on Cooterman’s Creek.
Amass assembles everyone together, into a giant blue monster, with one each of everyone’s eyes. Everyone has a role to play. Tempo. Chronokinetics. Pryde. Intagibility. Theia. Gravity Shield. Fang. Healing. Bishop. Compound Energy. Psylocke. Psychic Backup. Aurora. Lightspeed. Cassandra Nova. Threshold Langauge. Somnus. Hypersleep. Amass. Amassing.
Datapage I’m skipping
Two Billion Years Ago. A battle is happening. Arkea and Sublime are already attacking. Marauders separate and join the fight. Fight Fight Fight. Akihiro’s suit rips, and he begins being infected. Why are they doing this?
Issue ends as Sublime has a new host body, Akihiro’s.
Rankings : Annual, 6, 5, 7, 8, 2, 3, 1, 4
Issue Nine
Stan Lee would have been 100 if he had lived to see this issue be printed.
Issue opens with the enemies of Threshold chatting. There is a war between Threshold and the Unbreathing, and Arkea & Sublime are influencing both sides.
Sublime-Akihiro attacks the Marauders.
They kept using the term, Livery, and I finally had to look it up. Just means special uniform.
Somnus brings Akihio into his dreamscape to say goodbye.
Marauders blow up Sublime, and we’re reminded that no one will stay dead, as long as someone makes it back to Krakoa.
Arkea is there, was she there the whole time, or just arrived?
Marauders are using telepathy to secretly plan, but Arkea can hear their thoughts, so there’s no point to secrets.
Unbreathing shows up, and Marauders need to leave as there’s too many enemies.
It is cute that they’re wearing their superhero suits under their liveries.
Amass gets pulled into the ground. They want to save him, but believe Crave will know how.
Datapage from Crave stating Amass is dead.
Marauders regroup as we catch up to them hours later. It is hard to tell who is talking as not everyone is easily identifiable. Crave isn’t there, nor is Kate Pryde. Tempo repeats how this was a bad idea, and it really was!
We meet Grove, the leader of Threshold. They go to the home base, and see the puzzle box in its early days, it actually is a seed.
Datapage I’m skipping.
We’re introduced to the weapon, Daymight. No Pryde on any of these pages, and they’re talking about a battle that has been over for billions years, I feel my interest weening.
Cassandra Nova doesn’t love their main weapons manufacture is a human, but Grove states humans and mutants have a great working relationship. Psylocke states she “trusts her trust” which seems super silly.
Every 20 years, the previous generation births the next, and Arkea has tainted the process. Tempo wonders if the process is like how fish do it, but Theia states it is more like how Tempo does it, which Tempo likes the way Theia implies the intimacy.
Psylocke is prepared to do whatever it takes to defeat Arkea.
Bishop has a plan to eat a fruit boost, and absorb the bacteria.
We see Amass is not dead, but held prisoner. A prisoner of Nightfount, a defector. Looks interesting, but I feel like this is far too many new people to start caring about or latching onto. Turns out that Nightfount is . . . Stryfe! Which feels like the first time I looked at this page. So the plot is getting more complicated.
Rankings : Annual, 6, 5, 7, 8, 9, 2, 3, 1, 4
There were a lot of pages that I just don’t find interesting, but I am noticing I’m ranking all of these over the original arc, but I think that’s just exposure to the characters more than liking one over the other.
Issue Ten
Styrfe has big BIG plans to become King.
Kate Pryde phases out of Amass, and starts attacking Stryfe. Is this the first time these two interacted? It feels like it is. I have no memory of these pages.
Amass starts trying to absorb Stryfe, so Pryde can escape back to the others.
Datapage I have no interest in
As Pryde escapes, she’s hoping someone can hear her thoughts, as she gives a sit-rep of what has been happening.
Everyone is fighting in Threshold with Psylocke assisting. Grove is injured.
Marauders are at the birthing section, but Sublime attacks them.
I get they are going for an epic war feel, with characters everywhere and chaotic battlegrounds, but it all just leaves me cold.
Bishop did what he could, but his livery is destroyed, but he took out large portions of both Arkea and Sublime. We’re told this, as I’m not sure I would believe it or know it if it wasn’t from the dialogue.
Cassandra Nova opens her livery to take on Arkea and Sublime. Cassandra Nova’s body is now the prize to be had, so the siblings solely focus on claiming the new body. The siblings are in lots of different bodies, but all sharing the same goal.
Pryde has joined Psylocke, and if you do look at legs, we are given just enough information to figure out who it is, or who it couldn’t be based on what little we are shown.
Cassandra Nova goes full supernova mode, killing both bacteria. I imagine just enough of both gets away to regrow.
The next morning. Theia and Tempo are together. Amass is still a prisoner of the Unbreathing.
Kate Pryde recognizes she can’t save everybody. Grove looks like Groot, and if you’re not reading all of the word bubbles, you’ll miss that information. Or you don’t care, see a Groot, and keep turning the page.
Kate Pryde and Cassandra Nova finally confront each other. But this is just a distraction to have Somnus attack Cassandra Nova with a gun, the Chokestick.
I do like how Cassandra Nova called Kate, Sprite, it is meant to be insulting, but also, it is a silly name to mock someone with.
Kate tells Cassandra Nova that Emma says hi, then reminds her that she killed Kate’s father, Carmen.
There was a shared dream, but what all was the dream, just the last few panels?
Krakoans are getting ready to go home. Theia and Tempo say their goodbyes.
Grove wants to be called, Okkara, so now we have that answer. I had to look up what the question is. She will become an island, which will eventually break into two pieces – Krakoa and Arakko. So big stuff here.
Datapage, a little from Kitty Pryde to her father, Carmen Pryde.
Present Day. Green Lagoon. Anole is making drinks. Kate checks in with Tempo, who has had better days. Tempo and Theia’s relationship lasted a long weekend, but left an impact.
Since they still have the time drive, Theia, Crave, and Amass are reborn – something I missed when I first read this, I imagine they got that battle version of their memories back.
Rankings : Annual, 6, 5, 7, 8, 10, 9, 2, 3, 1, 4
Slight improvement over the previous issue. 9 & 10’s opening and concluding are nice, but there is a full issue of content that I rather not read for a fourth time.
Issue Eleven
Datapage of the 3 Rules of Krakoa, this time with a fun post-it note from Kate Pryde to Nightcrawler.
Kate and Kurt chat, and I love it so much. She is upset that they left Threshold to defend itself, but – again – what was she going to do, bring thousands of mutants from two billion years ago to the present day? And put them where?!
Kurt gives her some perspective, and some inspiration to try something new.
After far too many issues without him, we catch up to Detective Lockheed in Boston. He brought some backup, Akihiro and a baseball bat. Casey Jones style!
Kate Pryde, wearing her old training uniform, has an idea she wants Theia’s opinion on. Theia is wearing a similar outfit, so they’re bonding.
Santo Marco. Psylocke and Aurora are trying to save people. This is in reference to Armageddon (Nature) Girl’s actions in X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic 44. Which is nice that the digital comics are having an affect on the printed comics. Triage from the Bendis Uncanny volume (3) makes an appearance, always nice to see one of those mutants around.
The mutant, Feedback, was being held prisoner here, and exploded.
Kate believes that Krakoa was the first mutants, and going back in time, making Threshold survive, made mutants survive billions of years later. Which feels 1) complicated, and 2) why even tell this story?
I do like the idea that the previous issue ended with Kate making the note or the map, so she knows she still has to do that to close the loop.
Hammer Bay, Genosha. Cassandra Nova is locked away in the past. But what if the cage was rebuilt here? Which does go to my question of, where do you put an entire civilization?
Lockheed and Akihiro have been investigating Scratch and his recruitment schemes. Scratch has been recruiting for Brimetone Love, and these two are shutting it all down. To give him some credit, Scratch keeps talking throughout his beatdown.
Kid Crimson’s attack on Threshold was the first blood spilled. But Cassandra Nova’s attack on Genosha can be considered her first blood spilled. We might be taking this metaphor too far, but we’re also having to connect these dots.
Bishop starts to smile as in his era, he’s heard of this legend. He’s getting ahead of Kate here.
Kate wants to bring back Threshold, but wouldn’t all of these misplaced new but very old mutants really wreck the world if they ever leave the border?
Kate has a theory that Genosha was built where Threshold was, but that’s not where they stood to go back in time, so I’m not sure. Polaris shows up to assist, so that’s nice of her.
Okay, let me write this plan as I don’t think I get the steps Polaris shapes it Cerebra scans the DNA in the ground, and does a lot more Box is filled with the found DNA Tempo sends the box back in time Time Nature, and Evolution do the rest
Tempo thinks it is crazy enough to work.
Wicked, a mutant I have no knowledge of, shows up to help with the spirts. Apparently her first appearance is in Excalibur V3, the Xavier & Magneto volume that deals with the aftermath of Genosha, so that’s a fun loop to include here.
I do not recognize this outfit Psylocke is wearing with the big pink coat. Psylocke and Aurora are going to San Francisco to retrieve Cerebra.
Wicked points out that Pryde is clearly doing this without Council approval. It does seem like a big task to not get cleared.
During Kate’s entire speech, Wicked’s spirits have been moving about, and we finally get Carmen Pryde’s ghost to appear.
Madripoor. Akihiro and Lockheed have located Brimstone Love! They brought along Mister Dee who I know from X-Men 198, with the squid gut situation. He appears to have been de-aged at some point.
We get a fun datapage that breaks down how each mutant is going to bring Threshold to the present.
We’re fully in the present, but haven’t shaken off the final arc yet, but there’s only one issue to go.
Huge points for having Lockheed back in the title, and on more than one page.
Issue Twelve
Madripoor. Issue opens with Lockheed, Akihiro, and Mister Dee attacks Brimstone Brother.
Genosha. Polaris is at working on a new puzzle box.
San Francisco. Theia is wondering what gives her the right to be existing now, and to bring back Threshold. Tempo tells her that they exist, so they have all of the rights. Then they kiss.
We get a beautiful call back to Mekanix, where Carmen repeats he loves Kate, as his final words before the attack on Genosha.
Carmen sees the map and handwriting, and realizes it is both Pryde’s handwriting. So everything is slowly coming together.
I guess I’m confused why Kate needs the Genosha spirits’ permission? Because we’re going to get billions of new (but very old) life in Genosha? Even though The Five are slowly trying to bring those lost in Genosha back. Where will they go?
Can’t just bring back a billion people, and expect them to live and die only in Genosha.
Datapage featuring Magik and the War Captains discussing Cerebra.
San Francisco. We see Cerebra is making sure her 2099 friends are born.
We get a fun splash page of the X-Men 2099, with current members thanks to the few 2099 miniseries that had come out around this time.
Cable brought Cerebra here, for this Threshold mission, is what people are thinking. She can never go back to 2099, for some reason.
Madripoor. Akihiro and Brimstone Love are fighting. Mister Dee creates a doll of Brimstone Love to torment. Lockheed burns the doll, ending the fight.
Genosha. Ladies are all hard at work. Akihiro finally arrives with Lockheed. Kate has been missing him so much!
There is a pretty cool giant structure now in Hammer Bay. The structure is in a shape of a Double Helix, like the name of Threshold’s capitol.
Kate gets the puzzle box ready, and once done, Tempo and her go back in time.
The Proterozoic Era. Kate plans the box, reciting the three rules of Krakoa (I do like a bookend). We see a slew of new (but very old) mutants launch.
Some time later. Kate and Emma are having a few drinks. I love these two together. Emma quotes Magneto’s new gods speech. Kate says Mystique is the one who found the vessel for Emma. Emma knew that Kate would see the vision, she just needed a slight push.
The Quiet Counsel sits in The Grove, who we have now met. So this volume, especially the second half, really matters to set up the Krakoan Era. I just breeze through it to fast to appreciate or notice that.
Final splash page is essentially everyone who showed up in this volume for the big party.
And it all ends with Lockheed on Kate Pryde’s shoulder, my favorites, with Magik at the top of the structure.
There is a datapage that explains everything, that I would have remembered if I actually read it. All of those mutant who jumped out of the box, are going to create Threshold, so they were the second generation of mutants, created by the first generation, billions of years later. It is a pretty large time loop.
Lockheed and Kate Pryde are back together, so I give this issue so much more love.
Now when I look back at this volume, it isn’t the real mess I think it is.
Sure it starts with a space opera I don’t care for, then we get a crossover tie-in in the middle, then the Threshold arc, that connects to the first.
I mean, I’ll still forever wonder why we were given these stories instead of just more pirate goodness. I imagine it was to keep Kate Pryde off the board during the ending of Krakoa, until she got involved in the Fall of X.
I also guess it answers questions about how Okkara got started, Kate did that.
Which means Kate Pryde is the most important mutant.
Another issue of Guardians of Infinity and another issue that I only care about the backup story.
Knowhere. Formerly attached to a celestial. Currently an interdimensional port of call and sometimes home to the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Gamora is trying to get to Maveth and some dumb jerk isn’t giving her his ship. He calls her the most dangerous woman in the universe.
Gamora punches D’Clan and takes his ship. We get Pryde, still as Star Lord. This story treats us to the ladies of the Guardians of the Galaxy and I’m all for it! D’clan’s head is upside down, it was like that before. His chin is on top, then mouth and eyes closer to his neck. That raises a lot of questions! Does he worry about digesting foods and having food fall into his nose?
Pryde ovehears how Gamora is heading to Maveth.
Pryde somehow got on D’Clan’s ship in time. Pryde is confused as the Guardians have a ship already. Gamora suspects a lecture is coming, as Pryde has spent a lot of time schooling children.
Gamora was hoping to spare Pryde this mission.
Gamora has taken Pryde to Maveth. Pryde comments on the intense sandstorm, Gamora tries to correct her that it is a glass storm. Pryde, being the genius that she is, double corrects Gamora that glass is sand. So Gamora is the dummy there!
I like that repeating the panel sequence, but not going lame with it. Gamora was here, once before, with adopted daddy – Thanos.
Gamora tells the tale of Maveth, They were a warrior race, that pride themselves on killing each other with better technique – then the bomb came. Now there are no more of them. This occurred a thousand years ago, no one has known the location of the planet. Which is odd as Gamora just said she was here once before.
Gamora, after Black Vortex, sensed there was a second bomb on the planet and that sense memory is what she followed this day.
The two dames are heading into the structure where their king was buried.
Pryde references how kings or emperors would bury items with them, so that they can use it in the afterlife, she suspects that’s what the intention was here. Gamora doesn’t know anything about that, as I imagine she hasn’t taken much interest in Earth. Has she been there often? Not from the year’s worth of stories I’ve read. I don’t believe she was there during Secret Wars 2015’s first issue.
The two ladies move the top of the coffin.
The emperor is holding onto a canister with the Phoenix Force logo on it. This is why Gamora didn’t want to bring Pryde, as she has a history of overreacting to the Phoenix Force. For perfectly natural and justly reasons.
Pryde is offended by that comment. She also doesn’t like that the bomb didn’t speak to her until Gamora was the universe’s perfect killer. Gamora corrects Pryde, she was the universe’s perfect warrior. These two need to spend more time together.
I like, I didn’t pick it up until this late into the story – Gamora always calls her “Kitty Pryde” as if the whole name is her name – which it is.
Gamora wants the bomb, to use against the likes of Thanos or Annihilus.
The Chitauri followed the two Guardians. For some reason, D’Clan came along – actually, from the art – I’m sure he was forced to come but I’m not sure why. It isn’t like D’Clan knew the location of the planet, he just knew the name of the planet that Gamora was heading towards.
Pryde assists in getting these three to safety by phasing through everything.
The shooting stops and Gamora pulls out two swords. Pryde wants one of those – which is awesome!
More awesome is that Gamora does give up a sword and the two start attacking the Chitauri. The three of them are going to head for D’Clan’s ship.
Pryde sees that there are too many Chitauri outside. D’Clan has an autopilot feature but the sand is interfering with it. Gamora corrects him – proving she didn’t learn anything earlier – that it is glass. D’Clan has to tell her that glass is sand. Pryde, I read it as a sarcastic “right?”
They need to get to higher ground, Pryde has a plan.
Pryde grabs a gun and starts blasting holes. Pryde is going to skywalk with D’Clan and Gamora has to hold off the Chitauri until the ship comes back. I like how Gamora is totally up to the task.
The ship is on the way but it is taking too long. While touching the canister, it starts making a wheezing sound. Pryde drops it and shouts to Gamora to retreat – which she does.
The canister turns from green to red (of course it does!) and explodes. Pryde just blew up a planet and killed so many Chitauri. She choose to kill hundreds to protect billions. That’s the right call.
Gamora has so much respect for Pryde’s warrior instincts. I do feel like that is a giant moment for Pryde and should be referenced again as lives were lost there and she wouldn’t take it lightly.
