Reading the recap page, and I had no idea MODOK created Jeff the Land Shark.
Mojo is looking for some talent. He went the Spider-route, then the Wolverine-route, and landed on Jeff Coast Avengers!
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DazzleStorm
Elsa Strange
Kate Locke, a mix with Psylocke.
Wolverine-Man, part man, and part machine, all Wolverine.
Rambit
Jeff
And my favorite, Magikshot, she’s scorching hot, it is in her name.
We learn this isn’t actually Jeff.
Jeff is on Earth, and a giant tentacle monster is attacking. Jeff is being me right now when I’m trying to work from home, and watching some TV, and the lawn mower guy shows up, and makes all of the sound.
The X-Men arrive, consisting of both Wolverines, Storm, Armor, and Psylocke.
Logan hits the window, and threatens if Jeff doesn’t help soon, Logan will personally come get him to help. Which is odd, as what can Jeff do? But as we soon see, he can do so much.
Ken, the new purple squid pal, wants to come, but Gwenpool left a note stating Ken is too young for this business. Jeff resists, but eventually brings Ken along.
I like how once the fight is over, Gwenpool repeats the note.
We get Spiral during the Mojo pages, which is fun, and the issue ends with her grabbing the real Jeff.
Variant Cover Erik Larsen & Edgar Delgado, Cyborgs Spider-Man & Superman
I have to say, this is exactly what I want in these crossovers. Good main story, and the backups have a fun mix of characters. Nothing, besides the main story, overstays its welcome, and even that, maybe just be three pages shorter so we can get another backup?
Our Kryptonite
Spider-Man & Superman
Writer Brad Meltzer
Artist Pepe Larraz
Color Artist Matthew Wilson
Letterer Clayton Cowles
This comic looks gorgeous, and how could it not be drawn and colored by Larraz and Wilson?
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Spider-Man & Superman wake up together. Superman isn’t at the top of his game, as he’s being poisoned by Kryptonite. Spider-Man doesn’t know what that is, maybe it is like adamantium? Which is cute.
Superman wastes no time x-raying Spider-Man’s waist area to discover an old watch Spider-Man keeps on his belt. Which seems like the worst place for that, with how often Spider-Man is thrown through buildings. But sure.
Spider-Man and Superman exchange some opening jokes which is fun. Superman isn’t great at it, but he’s also poisoned.
They are fighting Lex Luthor and Green Goblin. We get a terrific Spider-Man holding up rubble sequence that we love to see. Spider-Man needs a distraction, which Superman isn’t great with, so asks about motivation. Spider-Man is racked with guilt, that’s what keeps him going.
The Venom symboite is there, for some reason, and Superman and Spider-Man exchange some memories. Then we get Venom-man, which is cool. We also see that Brianiac, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Parasite, Doomsday, and Rhino are there. So, a Sinister Six, plus two, situation.
Still bugs me we didn’t get Michael Keaton in Spider-Man No Way Home, the one chance we had at a live action Sinister Six, and we didn’t get it.
I like Superman using his own heat vision to start the process of getting the symbiote off of him. Then a Hulk inspired thunder clap, and Superman is fully back.
The day is saved.
Queens, New York. Three Weeks Later. Peter Parker is at Uncle Ben’s grave, and gets a visit there by Clark Kent. He keeps a pair of his father’s glasses with him at all times. Which also seems like a bad place for it, with how often he’s thrown through a building.
That Evening. Peter and Aunt May are invited to Smallville? Seems like expensive tickets, but they get a meal with the Kents, so Jonathan is alive, but I guess it is an old pair of glasses.
Ma Kent and May Parker arm wrestle, so that’s fun.
“Metropolis Marvels” Spider-Man Noir & Superman Dan Slot (A) Marcos Martin (CA) Muntsa Vicente (L) VC’s Joe Caramagna
I really like the idea of 30s Spider-Man teaming up with 30s Superman, that’s a fun idea. They are fighting businessman Lex Luthor, who has framed J. Jonah Jameson as the kingpin of crime.
We are treated to a very fun Amazing Fantasy 15 homage, with Superman holding Lex Luthor.
No one lifted a car in this segment.
“Sweethearts”
Gwen Stacy & Lana Lang
Writer Joe Kelly
Artist Humberto Ramos
Color Artist Edgar Delgado
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
Gwen Stacy & Lana Lang at Empire State University, New York. They are talking about their similarities and differences, as well as those things about the men in their lives, Peter Parker and Clark Kent.
Superman fights Sandman, and Spider-Man fights Metallo. I think.
Lana redeems all red heads for Gwen, which is cute.
Clark shows up, covered in sand, and Peter shows up all wet. Which is funny.
“Identity War”
Mysterio vs Superman featuring The Thing (and more)
Writer Geoff Johns
Artist Gary Frank
Color Artist Brad Anderson
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
Mysterio and Saturn Queen are making everybody angry with a rage-powered red lantern.
I like that we get a segment with the ever loving blue eye Thing! He has to fight off the Legion of Superheroes.
Spider-Man & Jessica Drew Spider-Woman fight off the Legionnaires.
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Grimm says Cloak & Dagger are X-Force, fighting in Gotham. I’ll chalk this to either (1) Thing doesn’t know who X-Force is, or who Cloak or Dagger are, or (2) Gary Frank doesn’t know, and no one caught it, or (3), the captions and art are not supposed together, as having the Legion of Superheroes and Legionnaires, doesn’t make sense either.
But we also get Power Pack at titans Tower, and we see Miles Morales Spider-Man fighting maybe Rewind and Reel?
Of course, you can’t have a story about people getting angry, and not feature the Hulk.
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Superboy punches Fred Dukes, but doesn’t move him, I like that.
The gathered heroes are – Captain America, Stargirl, Superman, She-Hulk, Hal Jordan Green Lantern, and Thing. So a great group of heroes.
They all fight the Hulk, except for Superman, who is trying to calm Hulk down. The sun is getting real low.
Superman tells Thing that it isn’t always clobbering time, which feels like a real jerk thing to say. Now Ben has to think about that every time before he says it?
I do like the story ending with Ben and Banner eating doughnuts.
“Ghosting”
Hobgoblin vs Steel
Writer Louise Simonson
Artist Todd Nauck
Color Artist Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
I love whenever Todd Nauck and Rachelle Rosenberg work together, so you know this story looks perfect.
For anyone who might thing Steel is just a guy with a hammer, he’s super smart too, as Hobgoblin keeps trying, but failing, to outsmart him with the tech he’s trying to steal. Or steel.
There is another guy known for a hammer, and we get Thor to help out, which was quite the surprise.
They click hammers like hammer bros do.
“Remarkable”
Ghost Spider & Supergirl
Writer Stephanie Phillips
Artist Phil Noto
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
This was very fun. Is Ghost Spider the type of person to want autographs? That seems more like a Ms. Marvel thing, but Stephanie Phillips would know. She is hoping to see Superman, but gets Supergirl in Metropolis. They don’t get along, which as a reader, I just figure this is how it starts, but we’ll see at the end, them being friends.
They fight Livewire, who seems like a fun villain to pick. Reminds me of the animated series with Supergirl and Batgirl.
Noto does a great drawing everybody, as he does.
Story ends with Supergirl signing the autograph book in a fun callback to the story.
“The One Thing”
Miles Morales & Superman
Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Artist Sara Pichelli
Color Artist Federico Blee
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
This was also a fun story. Miles is bored, then sees a giant explosion. Superman asks for his name, he gives his real name, and oh, Miles. Brianiac is attacking the city, and Superman teaches Miles the most important lesson, showing up is the right thing to do.
This was very short, but tells the full story in like three pages.
“The Wondrous & The Worthy” Symbiotes in Metropolis Jason Aaron (A) Russell Dauterman (CA) Matthew Wilson (L) VC’s Joe Caramagna
Jane Thorster, who must be early in her career as the new Thor, is fighting off symbiotes. Wonder Woman shows up to help. I like Jane having the thought of “say something cool,” and all that comes out is “you’re Wonder Woman.” Which I imagine she gets a lot.
Darkseid has a mix of symbiotes and his cronies.
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Dauterman gets the chance of draw some of his favorites, is what I imagine the script called for. We get – Batman (with packed in sword), Ghost Spider, Superman, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man (the Peter one), Supergirl, John Stewart Green Lantern, and Wolverine, the boy one.
“One of Those Days”
Spider-Man & Superman
Writer Jeph Loeb
Artist Jim Cheung
Color Artist Jay David Ramos
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
This was an interesting choice to end on. Must be days after Gwen’s death, and Spider-Man is having “one of those days.” Superman shows up, and offers some Pa Kent observations. You are born, and you die, neither are up to you. It is what you do that matters.
And you’ll eventually feel better, better is good, but there will be good days, and bad days.
I think I’m just not a X-Force guy. There are parts of the issue I really enjoy, and then other parts I just gloss over. I like the MLF being a thing again. I like seeing Akihiro and Angel training together. I like Boom Boom saying they are X-Force on a budget. So, there is humor here for me to hold onto.
Cable can’t get his memories clear enough to figure out which of these teammates is the one who kills President Kamala Khan. Which is a big stumbling block I have, as I rather they drop this, and this was a comic abut Ms. Marvel trying to make X-Force better. We get the vision of what each scenario would be for them each to kill her, but they’re all in such drastically different ways, that one would think (or remember) that’s how she was killed. A hell claw, an exploding heart, or dagger through the heart. Actually, that does seem like it wouldn’t be Boom Boom, the other two are very similar.
Ms. Marvel can join them for the day’s mission, as it is a teacher in-service day, which as a father of a sixth grader, I can tell you this happens quite a bunch, maybe four times a school year?
My favorite parts of the issue is Domino’s growing friendship with a squirrel. I truly am a sucker for an animal companion.
X-Force is heading to Blasphemy Cartel, which does sound like a band Boom Boom would wear a black miniskirt to see. I’m not sure if that was supposed to be that cutting of Ms. Marvel, but Boom Boom plays it off as it DOES sound like band she’ll wear a black miniskirt to.
Ms. Marvel doesn’t love Hellverine just killing goons. Lots of fighting.
I do like Ms. Marvel trying to be a bright example to follow. She even stands between Hellverine and a goon to prevent the goon’s death. Ms. Marvel uses her new powers, which I’m not sure how or what she did. She brighten up, and force came out of her? Maybe?
Cable gets the intel he was looking for, and takes Ms. Marvel’s side, she is supposed to be the inspiration for the team, and for humans, and for the world.
Like most team books, I’m here for the team dynamics, and not quite the fighting, but this issue has plenty of team interactions, which I really like.
Magik and Quinten Quire start out throwing up as a jerk AIM agent change their biological make up to only breathe sulfur dioxide. Cyclops comes in, optic blasts everybody, so we see how cool he is.
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I don’t love that he chastises Magik & Quire, nor that he is looking for soldiers, that doesn’t seem to be his relationship with Magik or Quire. He must be just hyper focused right now.
I love so much Juggernaut barging into the room, and wanting to make sure Magik is okay. They really are the best of friends.
70s Beast confronts Cyclops about the solider remark. I like to think Illyana and Scott had a chat off panel about it as well, as he was being overly performative. Cyclops gets a message, and is off to Nebraska. He is going to take a Quinjet, which I thought was a mistake, but makes off wonderfully later.
Roxxon is changing Mister Sinister’s Orphanage into a new data center. Dr. Robin Honover reveals some information about Scott’s first days here. He was protecting Alex so fiercely he bit a few guards. I love that we get some editor boxes, always handy. Classic X-Men 41 & 42 are the stories to check out.
I thought Alex was adopted immediately, but it would make sense that he would have stayed here for a few days until the adoption was finalized. Scott leaves, giving Alex a call, which I appreciate that he would want to call his brother after this. We get another editor box referencing X-Factor V5 8, so they haven’t talked since then. We are reminded that Alex blew up the orphanage in Hellions 4.
Meanwhile, Donald Pierce is creating new Reavers, but he has a new plan to make them more loyal, and not as hateful, so that’s progress. Two Reavers see a Quinjet, and immediately shoot it down, thinking they are going to take some lame Avengers captive. Fun to see that get paid off so quickly. Instead, they get one of the more dangerous X-Men, Cyclops! I do like how Donald Pierce recognizes the danger they are in.
What they don’t know, is that Scott hit his head on the way down, so he doesn’t have control over his optic blasts. A mutant the Reavers were hunting finds Scott, so at least he isn’t alone, nor is she now.
Since we’re having editorial boxes, I wonder if we’ll get a reference to X-Men Unlimited V1 31, where Scott was blinded, and has to use all of the skills his fellow X-Men taught him. Kitty taught him some defense moves that are referenced in that issue.
I’m not usually a X-Force type of guy. Usually none of my favorite characters make the team. Sometimes they show up to lend commentary or teleport the team somewhere else.
Cable arrives in the present, with a mission to save the future first mutant president. I immediately think we are making a President Dazzler reference, and I’m all on board for this team.
Cable arrives, but in very rough shape, and has Swiss cheese memory. He has left himself a note, to recruit Archangel, Hellverine, Boom Boom (who I always like to think of her as Meltdown, just to date myself).
Worthington Industries. Warren is having to deal with his board of directors. I love so much thinking about how frustrated they have been with Warren, since . . . forever? Maybe once he was a blank slate, and they could run the business they wanted to? You know, in a professional matter? They reference X-Corp and X-Factor, and how Warren keeps embarrassing them. Stock is low, but what does Worthington Industries even produce?
Cable talks to Warren later, and Warren comments on how they don’t have much history together. I mean, Warren was around for Baby Nathan, and then they were on different X-Force squads, so it does make sense. I immediately whack my brain for any memorable times together, and I’m pretty sure they don’t have much history together. I always do appreciate new X-Pairings.
Cable recruits Hellverine, who doesn’t have a solo title, so he has free time.
Cable recruits Tabitha, who I really appreciate being on this team, as I’m not much for gritty high violence titles, that’s just not my thing. She is bored, classic Boom Boom, and doesn’t even need to pack a bag, she knows Cable has whatever she needs at his base.
I do appreciate that this is a reunion title, and not a retro mini. I rather stories be set in the now with flashbacks to the old, it just feels current. Unless, of course, we’re getting a retro Kitty Pryde, Lockheed, and Magik series, then I’m all on board, variant covers, and all.
The three villains of the issue – Unveil, Speedburn, and DePop, seem interesting. Not too interesting where we’ll miss them once they are brutally killed, but interesting enough to be subjects of plots.
They are attacking Ms. Marvel, who I really like. Inglorious X-Force arrives to help her out.
Ms. Marvel is so me with this team. Heroes can kick, punch, chop, but they shouldn’t be stabbing everybody with flame swords. Or claws. X-Force isn’t really a team meant to inspire. They are the creepers of the dark, sometimes as nutty as their foes. They use force but not The Force.
Ms. Marvel recognizes Cable and X-Force, neither is really her scene.
Cable reveals Ms. Marvel’s future, she will be the first mutant president. Dazzler truly can’t have anything. I am also reminded that Kitty Pryde is meant to be a future president as well. But it hasn’t felt like we have been moving in that direction for some time. Kitty is tired, so I get that.
I do like the idea that Ms. Marvel, being a late teenager, is already looking forward to the four or eight years of not crime fighting. She’ll help the team out, but isn’t willing to join full time.
I like how in the fight, Warren wasn’t using kill blades, but paralyzing darts. Which I can only imagine still hurt like crazy.
Issue ends with Domino having Cable in her crosshairs. I like how she is looking at Leg Party and Housekeeping magazines. Oh, Domino, you are the best.
I’m not sure if she is joining the team, but I would like another lady or two on this team. This is one of the reasons why I wasn’t into the second volume of Weapon X-Men, as it was all dudes.
They got me with Magik being on the cover. Magik does not appear in this comic! But it is a cool cover.
Luna Snow is about to put on a concert for the nice folks of Seoul. Some in the audience haven’t forgotten her time on Doom’s Division. But they’re more upset she turned on Doom to side with Sunfire. She didn’t know he was a bad guy, but Sunfire rightfully points out, much later in the comic, that the name should have been a clue.
The record label is done with her, immediately, and hires Vibe, who isn’t as talented, but the manager has particular set of skills to get her over. Let’s get this out of the way now. The manager is secretly Starfox, who is the absolute worst. Should be a warning that he is in this comic. So, this is that warning.
There was also parts where I kept thinking, so we’re doing the Dazzler down slope part of her career for Luna Snow? Where she has to build herself back up, or at least, back in some people’s good graces? Shame she can’t be loved, and we get a fun one shot of her being a huge success with personal drawbacks, or something. People do like an underdog. I just would have liked to see a woman succeed.
Tokyo, one month later. Some guy is harassing her, she asks if his mom cuts his hair, he admits she does, and Luna softens. I really like that moment.
Did you know they have released five KPOP songs for Luna Snow? That’s fun. She’s had two different singers to be her, Hyungseo, and Krysta Youngs. The songs seem good. I haven’t bought them.
Sunfire shows up to help Luna Snow. They go to Vibe’s concert. Her song has something to it, that people can tell it isn’t good, but it is very catchy. Wave is part of Vibe’s security detail. I don’t know Wave that well, besides people like her in Marvel Snap. Wave has special ear plugs, so she can hear, just not the music.
We get the Starfox reveal, ugh. I imagine Thanos rather him not name drop him in his name reveal. The Titan of Desire, double ugh. I just hate emotion manipulators. In comics, and in life. They’re gross. Especially when they lean into the grossness.
Rick Jones shows up. Luna Snow calls him the greatest superhero musician of his generation. He correctly corrects her that Dazzler has that title, so I like that.
It is a good comic, I wanted more from it, but it isn’t an X-Men comic featuring Luna Snow, this is her one shot, so we got Sunfire, that’s the X-Content, with Dazzler references. That should be enough.
I finally own this issue! It was one of five issues that Hastings never received, in a three week period.
Cyclops, Emma and Magneto’s powers are broken. Magik’s are broken, but not in the same way. She has grown stronger. Doctor Strange’s long time foe, Dormammu, has attempted to take over Limbo. Magik has recently transformed into Darkchild.
Issue opens with Illyana, speaking to a second party. The other person recognizes the name, Rasputin. The voice does not recognize Illyana. The voice is . . . Doctor Strange! So she must have gone back to way before she ever joined the team, so prior to the original New Mutants run. Strange is willing to listen to her. I love, so much, that Bendis has paired these two characters.
Illyana narrates the issue. She spends most of the story, as her Darkchild persona. Except, Irving draws her with a giant dose of Dormammu. At least, that’s how I see it.
Dormammu’s resident realm is, the Dark Dimension. Illyana’s big thing with Limbo, is that she takes it for granted. Even after all the times that S’ym has attempted to take it, she is under the impression that all she would have to do, is appear and shut down any rebellion.
I like the idea of Illyana referencing her parents, have we ever dealt with her lost of her parents? I know she was a seven year old (the second time), so the emotions were not the same. Plus, she, herself, died soon after that. She doesn’t have much experience with her oldest brother, Mikhail. I know he was in New Mutants : Truth or Dare, and is responsible for her getting the Legacy Virus, in the first place, but that hasn’t been retreaded either.
Dormammu does have Darkchild, held as a captive.
The Cuckoos had manipulated the other young students, to be brave and courageous.
Dormammu taunts Darkchild. Goldballs, tries his best to defend the realm, unfortunately, Limbo is falling apart, all around them. Darkchild realizes that Limbo isn’t much more than empty space.
This train of thought, leads Darkchild to a plan and she starts to realize it. Her power comes from Limbo, and that was destroying the realm.
That Limbo starts to crumble, gives Scott courage to order the team to press the attack.
Such a fun sight gag there, by Irving, that Phoebe asks Benjamin, if all he does is vaguely resemble the person next to him. As he tries to defend himself, a giant rock falls on his head.
Oh, this is when the Cuckoos were all blondes, so glad we have passed this phase.
Goldballs starts to lose it and starts POINK!ing all over the place.
Darkchild starts to overload, Scott can tell that it isn’t an ideal situation.
There is an house ad for Guardians of the Galaxy 5, by Bendis, Neil Gaiman (mostly in spirit) and Sarah Pichelli. This is after Age of Ultorn, as Angela has left the Spawn portion of the Image Universe, and joined the Marvel Universe.
Magik straight up, absorbed Limbo! That is intense! Which is why it annoyed me so much, that I couldn’t buy this issue. It was a defining moment and I had to read about it, online and in the comics.
Magik teleports the team back home, and they all fall into the snow. Bendis really likes the idea of, at least one person, falling face first into the snow. That would be Goldballs, in this issue. He will have Cyclops and Magneto do it, in two different upcoming faces.
Benjamin isn’t getting up and one of the Cuckoos asks for help. Triage has to head over, even though he doesn’t think he can do it.
In what is left of Limbo (which is massive!) is empty space. Magik is back to her regular self. She thinks about Belasco, and her own origins in Limbo. She must be looking fierce, as Dormammu looks scared. He is on his kneeds and it looks like he is begging for his life. It is nice to see that Magik is on the same level as these other lords of their realms. That is how it should have always been, she is the Queen of Limbo, she should be sitting at those tables. Instead, writers would like to have her combat her Limbo duties, but there is a wealth of story potential there.
Emma walks Triage to heal Benjamin. Tempus says “crikey” which I like to pepper my own speech with. Scott isn’t happy that the students had to go to one of the worst places the X-Men have ever been too. They’ve never really had a good time, in Limbo. Scott wants everyone to start training, again. Faculty and students, alike. I do like Angel and Scott having a conversation. Those two have never really been close.
Goldballs really wants to go home, which he will do, in the next issue. Well, attempt to do.
Magik has come to Strange, to become stronger and to control her powers. Magik has gotten this far, with only the seven years of training that she received from both Belasco and (Limbo) Storm. Which is a long time, but it isn’t like she is studying spells. It has been like, she knows six spells, and has been using them regularly. Those days are over, she is going to become a true magician.
Strange is impress, that Magik has the entirety of Limbo, within her. Anyone else, would have exploded.
Strange quickly pieces it together – well, maybe not too quickly, he was listening to a very interesting story. There is an unspoken question, of why not ask his current self for help. Illyana couldn’t go to the Avengers, which Strange figures out that he is now an Avenger – and he can’t fathom the sequence of events that would make that a reality. Probably because it is still 20 years (our time) into the future.
I do like how Illyana doesn’t want to burden Strange, as she repeats it. It isn’t a burden, this is what he does. He rarely gets a proper student, though we have seen him with a few, over the years.
There is a house ad for World War X, by Brian Wood and Alvaro Martinez, starting in Ultimate Comics X-Men 29. Pretty great storyline, there!
Other titles on sale in June –
A+X 9 – Captain America + Wolverine! Doctor Strange + Gambit!
All New X-Men 12 & 13 – The Uncanny Avengers come to investigate the trouble Mystique caused in the X-Men’s name!
Astonishing X-Men 63 – Iceman takes a frightening turn as global winter settles in
Cable & X-Force 9 & 10 – A showdown between X-Force and the Uncanny Avengers, with Hope caught in the middle
Deadpool 11 & 12 – Deadpool finishes up his soul hunting gig, and has to deal with teh powerful demon at the other end
Gambit 14 – Gambit brings his thieving ways to the land of fairies! Guest starring Pete Wisdom!
Savage Wolverine 6 – Spidey and Elektra and Ninjas, oh my!
Uncanny X-Force 6 & 7 – As old demons return to haunt X-Force, the Fantomex-Psylocke love rhombus explodes!
Uncanny X-Men 7 – X-Men vs Dormammu for the fate of Limbo!
Wolverine 4 & 5 – Hunting season draws to a close, but Logan is still drowning in trouble
Wolverine and the X-Men 31 & 32 – The Hellfire Saga begins as the Hellfire Academy steals students from the Jean Grey School
X-Factor 257 & 258 – The end of X-Factor begins here!
X-Men 2 – The Jean Grey School is on lockdown as Areka attacks!
x-Men Legacy 12 – Legion is determined to take the Red Skull’s mutant cure – but at what cost!
I own the All New X-Men issues, Astonishing X-Men, Uncanny (naturally), the Wolverine and the X-men issues and X-Men 2.
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 –
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.
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.
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.
The flashbacks are over and now we build towards, The Wolverines!
So cool that Ogun is respecting Sharpe by incorporating his name into his identity, so now they are Shogun. Which makes sense due to how Sharpe is still conscious and has his own thoughts. At least, as of Weapon X Program 4.
This will be my last New Mutants review, for a while. This storyline was the New Mutants portion of the fallout from Second Comings. At the end of that crossover, Magik was sent to Limbo – against her will and she barely escaped.
In order to relax, Cannonball took the team out to the desert to relax. General Ulysses and his squad have also finally come out of Limbo, after being in there for twenty six years. They were not alone, the babies from Inferno, now grown adults, are with them – and all of them have a special power of their own. This group, Project Purgatory, has captured Pixie.
Three Hours Ago. Dani and Sam are having some drinks. Sam is claiming that Lila Cheney, the rock goddess, was not a good kisser. Dani claims that maybe it was Sam that wasn’t the good kisser. Then we get the moment that was twenty seven years in the making! Dani and Sam make out!
Amara, as she is the worst, breaks up the kissing. Illyana’s soulsword goes wild and Illyana’s goat legs come out! Which is always a good time! Usually, for nobody but maybe for the readers as things always get exciting, once the goat legs come out. Illyana knows that Pixie has been captured.
Look how amazing that page is! Kirk outdid himself! The entire art team did!
Illyana starts talking like a character of old. There is no time to inform the X-Men. That is, until Warlock starts crying and Magik chooses to both – cut the lame characters and inform the X-Men, at the same time. Warlock had a bad influence on the demons of Limbo, a long time ago, and he really shouldn’t be there.
Sam, the idiot, tries to tell Magik that he is in charge. Not where they are going, which is awesome!
This storyline, has been what Wells has been leading up to, since the first issue.
Cannonball does not want to be in Limbo. Poor Cannonball, doesn’t he know that the New Mutants have three storylines that they MUST repeat! Limbo, David Haller and Asgard – with maybe a Hellions story in there, when they were not dead. Oh, and the Demon Bear. They have five stories that get recycled.
Sam huffs his way to Magik but demons stand between him and her, one does not speak harshly to the Queen, in her own domain.
Cannonball really continues to misread the situation. The demons of Limbo are Magik’s subordinates, not her friends.
Magma wants to skip the next silly dialogue exchanges and wants to know what the plan is. Magik explains that, soon, Pixie’s soulgem will be taken and the Bloodstone Amulet will be complete. Which I’m not sure in thirty years, has ever happened, but we have always been told that nothing good will ever come of it. Magik further explains that, on Earth, there is only one more hour to get prepared but in Limbo, they have weeks to prepare – for war!
We get implications that this storyline is when Magik left, from the first issue. Originally, Sam lead his team, straight to their deaths. Magik wants to keep them safe, and out of the action.
Magik doesn’t know where Pixie is, but her horde of demons can take them to someone who does know. Magik is hoping, that her being in Limbo, will bring out her enemies.
Project Purgatory. They know that Magik is in Limbo. The Inferno Babies are ready for a massive battle.
The New Mutants get to a village, it has taken them two weeks to get there so almost a full hour on Earth, must have passed.
I like how, up to this point, Magik and the demons have been speaking in a foreign tongue – but only now does Doug feel the need to decipher the language, out-loud. I’m sure Illyana would have told them, if they asked. Maybe, in those two weeks, Doug finally got a handle on the language.
The horde brings out Witchfire – the main villain of X-Infernus.
Witchfire gave the soldiers the bloodstone amulet, but not quite as willingly as Magik implies. Either way, her weakness has brought Limbo into chaos. More chaos. Witchfire offers the helpful advice, that if they follow the blood soaked roads, they will find the soldiers. Magik is tired of her, and tells her demons to make Witchfire suffer.
Project Purgatory. They have a plan to use Pixie’s gem to get access to the full power of her soul.
There is an ad for Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions, such a great game! I could have used more of the Spider-Man Noir levels.
Two Weeks Later, so four total. The team has made it to Project Purgatory’s base in Limbo, but the soldiers are not there. The soldiers have lost their access to Limbo, and are having to find a second way back. They went through a portal in the desert, and Magik knows where they must have done it, so they ride again.
Project Purgatory. General Ulysses is losing his mind, well, more of it. Just then, a doorway to Limbo opens.
There is an ad for New York Comic Con, 2010 by both Romita Legends. I love the Romitas BUT what the hell is going on there with Spider-Man? Both of his arms look like they are disconnected!
Look how battle worn the New Mutants look! And they haven’t even fought anyone yet, they have been merely surviving in Limbo for a month. Illyana is angry and wants Pixie back. Some of the soldiers are not thrilled that the white devil has come into their home.
The Inferno Babies get the first attack. The leader of the Inferno Babies tells, Toko, to get Illyana’s soulsword.
There is a house ad for Thor 615 by Matt Fraction and Pasqual Ferry.
Illyana’s swordsoul doesn’t even pass through Toko and she knocks the sword out of Magik’s hand, which gets her off her guard. The leader gets four hits later and Illyana is down.
Issue ends with the Inferno Babies about to turn their attention to the New Mutants.
There is a house ad for the Wolverine Goes to Hell storyline. Wolverine 1, X23 1 and Daken, Dark Wolverine 1 – are the new titles.
The back cover ad is for the Mazda 3, looks like they are still making 3s but they aslo had a 6, which I found with a simple Google search and I’m not sure if that means anything.
Dan Slot (A) Marcos Martin (CA) Muntsa Vicente (L) VC’s Joe Caramagna
Shadow and Flame with Magik 