This is our last visit to the Civil War tie-ins that I own.
This is the only X-Factor issue I own of this volume, so lets learn about what has been happening for the past eleven years.
The villain of the series, Singularity Investigations (a bad detective agency to counter X-Factor Investigations – the good detective agency) is still present. Madrox and Strong Guy have learn that Damian Trip,, the head of Singularity, shares the same DNA as his son. I like how everyone is astonished in this recap. A little tease of who may be appearing in this issue. Spider-Man has told Siryn that the X-Men and key Avengers know the secret of M-Day, and that news hasn’t made it to X-Factor, until now. Monet, Rictor and Wolfsbane has learn that a Madrox duplicate is not only a SHIELD member but also a registered hero. Layla (who is still a great character at this point) had a run in with Quicksilver but wasn’t that astonished as she saw it coming.
The team is upset with Quicksilver as they know he was critical in the House of M event. He cost Rictor his powers, and countless others. Quicksilver tries to explain that his love for his sister, Wanda, and the Avengers were going to kill her. Strong Man grabs Quicksilver by the throat, I guess I also hadn’t thought about how Pietro was choosing one live over millions but he too didn’t know that was going to be the outcome.
Quicksilver brags about how his new ability, thanks to the Inhumans’ Terrigen Mists, can give depowered mutants a version of their powers back. He threatens to try his powers on Strong Guy, as he doesn’t know what would happen if he touched a mutant who still has his powers. This makes Strong Guy put Quicksilver down.
Quicksilver wants them to be united as they fight a common foe. Monet cites that the former population of Mutant Town would say that Pietro was the common enemy. Quicksilver likes Monet, she reminds him of himself in his younger days.
Everyone turns to Madrox to get his opinion. Should they reveal the truth about M-Day, should they let Quicksilver join the team and should they register? He can’t take the pressures and leaves.
Madrox walks down the steps and runs into Layla. She knew the truth about M-Day as she was the new character find of House of M. Madrox is upset as she is clearly holding information back, he threatens to do something to her. She questions if he is going to send her back to the orphanage, as a cab is coming up in a few minutes. This quiets him.
There is three panels of quiet. Madrox isn’t good at making decisions, hence why he is a good team leader. Layla is there to provide some direction. She tells him to go North, and to buy a certain hat, gloves and a scarf – it’ll come in handy. She hints that they will be arguing for a long time, he asks what makes her say that. Because they will be married, eventually. Going in this direction, should give him some insight on the registration issue.
Madrox is thinking about how Quicksilver’s plot is making him forget about Tryps. Is the son really the younger version of the father? Tryps is like time trips, right? Madrox thinks Tryps could be a clone, that is another option. This train of thought makes him think about how Spider-Man must be a clone, as he is everywhere. Madrox does eventually buy a hat, gloves and a scarf.
Madrox runs into Aegis, who was a member of New Warriors, when I last read of him. Aegis is running as SHIELD is after him, as he isn’t going to register. Aegis is under the impression, that once you register, the government can make a super group of whichever needed heroes and send them on missions. Which is sort of what the Initiative does, but they stay in one state. Madrox is going to stick around with Aegis, as heroes should hang together.
SHIELD stands down a street, waiting for Aegis. Little did they expect, a crowd of folks are storming down that same street. Naturally, it really is Madrox, times a hundred. Aegis is also dressed like how Madrox is, so he is able to sneak in the middle of the crowd. That’s who the extra set of clothes was for.
Madrox offers Aegis a spot on X-Factor but he rather go through the sewers and hope to run into Captain America.
Once alone, Madrox summons his dupes back to him. Once he has everyone, he gets dizzy and falls backwards down the subway tunnel that Aegis just went down.
Quicksilver is trying to rent a storefront from a lady. Someone shouts that Pietro should come outside.
It is the Astonishing X-Men! Wolverine can smell Quicksilver but Kitty is quick to point out that only Wolverine can smell him. Calero does a great job of handling these legendary characters.
Quicksilver tells the team that he is letting the lady exit stage left, so don’t harm her.
Beast can’t believe the lady doesn’t know the X-Men are the good guys, in this scenario. Layla arrives, and Cyclops and Wolverine recognize her. Kitty should too, but she doesn’t get a moment with Layla. Layla mentions that X-Factor knows the truth about M-Day. Layla explains further about how she had parents in the House of M timeline but here, she doesn’t have parents.
X-Factor arrives and Siryn speaks first. Cyclops’ team should have shown some respect for X-Factor by telling them that they were arriving. Rictor is the reason they are there, as he called them as he thought this was the only way to force the confrontation. X-Factor really doesn’t like that they were not informed about M-Day, I reckon it is because it makes them feel like a satellite team or a C-Team – which they were at this point, so removed from the X-Circle.
Colossus begins to make a move but Siryn shuts him down. Cyclops blasts Madrox, which instantly creates ten of him. Madrox stands up to Cyclops, daring him to blast him a few more times.
Scott tries to explain their reasons but Madrox points out that those reasons were already present, people will always fear and hate mutants.
Cyclops tells them how Emma promised Stark that the X-Men are staying neutral during Civil War. Also, they don’t need to register, they don’t have secret identities and they work and live at a school, so training has never been an issue with the X-Men.
Kitty doesn’t like that Quicksilver and enter and exit scenes,, as he pleases.
Madrox is going to call a press conference and declare that X-Factor stands against registration.
Since Cyclops won’t stand with Madrox, he tells them that they can get the heck out of Mutant Town. Cyclops tells his team that they are leaving. He also warns that once Quicksilver steps out of Mutant Town, the Astonishing X-Men will be back for him.
Issue ends with Wolfsbane wondering if they won but Madrox isn’t sure.
Special thanks to our friends, Tina & Damian for watching Walker Dennis for nearly four hours before we made it back to pick him up. Without them, we’ll never watch movies in the theater.
This film is an absolute blast!
We are going for full spoilers here.
In 1991, we see Winter Soldier being sent on a mission to kill two targets.
In Largos. The film puts the year and the countries’ names in giant white text, which feels like a bold choice. I really like how we first see Captain America leading his team of Avengers – Falcon, Black Widow and Wanda. They are chasing Crossbones and we see some great team dynamics. Everyone gets a moment to shine. Unfortunately, one of Wanda’s moments is that Crossbones tries to kill himself (and Cap) and she starts floating him to the sky. He doesn’t quite make it there and explodes, taking out an entire floor.. Seven Wakandans were in the building, and are now dead.
At MIT, Tony gives a speech and a demonstration of a new therapy tool. It lets you essentially have a holodeck session from Star Trek Next Generation. He relives a moment with his father (returning John Slattery) and his mother, played by the beautiful and elegant Hope Davis! I’ve liked Hope Davis ever since I saw Mumford – one of my all time favorite films! We see a young CGI Robert Downy Jr. that looks like it could have been from one of his earliest films. Though the scene lasts too long and I start thinking about how it is only slightly better than the face lifts that Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan received in X3. We get the first hints that Tony and Pepper are no longer a couple.
Jim Rash, of Community fame – who the Russo Brothers directed this film (and Winter Solider AND the next two Avengers films) also directed Rash in several episodes of Community.
General Ross, now the Secretary of Defense, has come to the Avengers Compound with news. I like how William Hurt came back to reprise his role. He is there to tell them about the Sokovia Accords. Cap is not a fan of the Accords. The UN is run by dudes, and dudes have agendas. What if they don’t approve of a mission that the Avengers really want to go on or are told to go on a mission that they don’t want to be involved with.
I’m not sure how anyone can be Team Tony but I’m definitely Team Cap, I was back in the original comic storyline and I’m still committed.
Vision makes a few good points but he’s wrong as he is on Team Tony. Vision makes an argument about escalation, buy does his best not to use that word as that is how Batman Begins ended with that incredible speech of Commissioner Gordon’s.
I do like Vision and Wanda together, I wish it had more romantic undertones, instead of me reading too much into their moments.
Him wearing that sweater is pretty great too.
If they don’t sign the Accords, those members will no longer be Avengers.
The character who will later be revealed to be Baron Zemo – played amazingly by Daniel Bruhl, torments a retired Russian general. I sort of recognize him from Inglourious Basterds, at least, I can visualize him from it. I need to watch Rush to see him with Chris Hemsworth. I’ve never seen this before but he hangs the general upside down, so that his head is in the sink. The sink continues to fill so that, ideally, the water will rise to the point that it goes above his nose. Seems like a truly gruesome way to torture someone and to die. He really wants to know where Winter Soldier was kept in 1991. Oh, we saw earlier that Winter Solider can be controlled by repeating 12 words in a certain sequence.
Cap gets a message that Peggy Carter died in her sleep. We go to LONDON for her funeral. We see the lovely Emily Vancamp from Winter Solider and ABC’s Revenge. She’s back as Sharon Carter. She recites the amazing speech from Amazing Spider-Man 537 –
Such a great speech and Emily really nails it. We can see that Cap likes her too, she’s Peggy’s niece.
We never see her wear this –
but bravo someone tricky her to get into this outfit and getting photographed.
Vancamp and Chris Evans have great chemistry together. There is a moment where the two kiss and Falcon & Winter Solider totally see it and give Cap thumbs up, like jerk best friends. We don’t get enough of this but whenever Falcon and Winter Solider are together, their rivalry is so fun to watch. They are both best friends of Steve’s and they know it and hate it.
Vision is alone with Wanda, she doesn’t know it yet but she’s not allowed to leave. She likes Vision and we can tell he likes her, but there isn’t enough romantic tension for my taste. Wanda is playing the role of Nitro in this but is then quickly forgotten about, for a sizeable chuck of the film. I guess that happened to Nitro too, in the first quarter, he was mentioned a bunch but then the story moves away from him and he’s forgotten. Outside of the Wolverine tie-in issues, of course.
VIENNA. The Accords are being signed by like 119 countries. We meet T’Chaka, the current King of Wakanda. So we know something horrible is going to happen to him. He seems very friendly. T’Challa is standing by a window and sees an oddly parked white van. The van explodes and T’Chaka dies. The world suspects that Winter Soldier was the cause of the explosion. Cap and Falcon go off to bring him in, ahead of the military and police. Black Widow tells them not to as they are not signed Avengers.
T’Challa is played by Chadwick Boseman who was Jackie Robinson in 42. A film I still need to watch. I know him from a nonhit NBC show, Persons Unknown, that we watched on Hulu or Netflix, years later and I still think about to this day, like three years later. He was also on Lincoln Heights, a show my wife started watching, as she watched nearly everything on ABC Family but not so much now that it is Free Foam. At first, T’Challa is bad arse but it isn’t until the final scenes of the film when I became all about Black Panther. I do like the character, especially written by Christopher Priest and his “Sturm und Drang,” Black Panther Volume Three Issues 26 – 29. Such a great storyline that involves all of the Kings of Marvel – Black Panther, Magneto, Namor and Doctor Doom. So great!
We are introduced to Everett Ross, played by Martin Freeman, Bilbo Baggins from the Hobbit films. I wish we got a scene with Everett Ross and T’Challa, that would have been fun for this Christopher Priest fan. I really need to watch BBC’s Sherlock, especially now that Freeman (Watson) and Benedict Cumberpatch (Sherlock) are now in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Also, Doctor Who’s Steven Moffat is heavily involved in the series. Plus, the seasons are way short so I should be able to do so. I’m working my way through X-Men Evolution Season Two (expect to see that post one of these days) and the OC (a show I’ve been wanting to watch for a long time and Hulu now has) then maybe I can watch Sherlock then. If my wife doesn’t want to watch it as well. We like Elementary so she might want to see Sherlock, same characters but that’s all they have in common.
The chase sequence with Winter Solider being chased by Captain America, who is being chased by Black Panther who is being followed by Falcon, is so great! Black Panther, in action, is a real treat to see. That stairway sequence that starts it, and how Cap doesn’t want to fight the German police but he has to protect his friend Bucky, is so much fun.
BERLIN. Cap and Tony are arguing about what to do. Zemo reads the twelve words and now the Winter Soldier is his. I like how Cap and Tony are about to reach an agreement but Tony says one wrong thing and Cap backs out of the deal. Tony’s dad mentioned a bunch over the years, how he knew Captain America, in his younger days. The government has taken Cap and Falcon’s equipment. Steve chases Winter Solider and has this great moment, on the roof, when he grabs a rail and the helicopter that Winter Solider is using to escape and Steve actually prevents the helicopter from taking off. He’s so strong!
Bucky, finally under his own control, reveals that Zemo wants the other five would-be Winter Soldiers.
We begin the sequence of heroes recruiting heroes to fight their friends.
Sharon Carter gives back Cap and Falcon’s weapons. Cap recruits Hawkeye, who recruits Wanda. She takes out Vision, at the Avengers Compound. Hawkeye also recruits Scott Lang, Ant-Man and Paul Rudd’s first minutes are instantly classic. The film really takes a depature here as we lead up to one of the best scenes in a film, possibly ever. We’ll get to that in a few paragraphs. Ant-Man shakes Captain America’s hand, way to long. Lots of jokes here and I want another Ant-Man film, so quickly.
Meanwhile, Natasha and Tony chat. She wants to recruit Black Panther and Tony wants to recruit someone else. QUEENS. In a very small apartment, we see Marisa Tomei as Aunt May. I honestly thought we weren’t going to see the character outside of the airport scene so this entire scene (and how long it lasted) was a very pleasant surprise. We of course, meet Tom Holland, the third actor to play Peter Parker, in fifteen years. He sort of looks like a young Tobey Maguire – they both have wide faces. Maybe I’m crazy.
Turns out, RDJ and Tomei dated back in their early acting days. Both were together for films “Only You” and “Chaplin” which I’ve seen the second one but don’t quite remember Tomei being in it. I’ve liked Marisa Tomei but when I look at her films, I haven’t seen that many of them so I’m not sure where I really like her from. I didn’t care for My Cousin Vinny, not when it came out (I was too young) and I couldn’t get into it a few years ago either. Too much that Joe Pesci, I like mine a little more controlled like in JFK or in smaller doses like in the Lethal Weapon films. What Women Want, The Guru and Anger Management, I’ve seen her in, not large parts but she’s the aspect in those films. I don’t quite remember her from both Wild Hogs or Loverboy but I’ve seen those. She was interesting in Lincoln Lawyer, a film I couldn’t get into. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is a good film, while she’s on screen. She was great in Crazy, Stupid, Love. I still want to watch the Wrestler. She had a small part in the great, The Big Short, film too.
Tom Holland is a new face to me, he’s great as Peter Parker and sign me up for that upcoming Marvel / Sony Spider-Man film. He tries his best to not repeat “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility” when Tony asks him why he fights the good fight. Have to save that for his solo film, I suppose. I like how small their apartment is and how Peter had to build everything he wanted. Tony has great chemistry with Peter too, I’m glad RDJ is signed on for Spider-Man : Homecoming. I imagine at some point, that film will have a dancing scene in it.
The Airport Scene. So many great scenes leading up to this and out of this but this scene, I just want to watch again, if that’s possible without spending twenty dollars.
Thanks to Tumblr user, ageofsuperheroes, for the following images.
We get Team Cap –
vs Team Tony –
Plenty of images of Team Cap but it was so hard to find an image of Team Tony, I imagine due to Spider-Man.
It really is a great costume redesign –
I really like how they kept the white eyes, that’s crucial ever since Amazing Spider-Man did it right. I like the bold reds and the blues and how separate they look. I know there are smaller details that might bug me but overall, it is a costume I can approve of. I’m hoping that we don’t get too much of the make-shift outfit in his own film – I”m also hoping we don’t get an hour of origin story either – and so his solo film takes place 30 minutes before Civil War and the rest of his film takes place after the film.
We get some great matchups here. Spider-Man gets plenty of time to banter. Falcon has to tell him to stop at some point. Ant-Man gets flung from one of Hawkeye’s arrows into Iron Man’s suit. Black Widow fights Hawkeye. Black Panther gets to fight Winter Soldier. Falcon v War Machine. Ant-Man turns into Giant-Man, as there is an ant in every giant. That’s a WordWorld reference for you folks that don’t young children.
Thanks to YouTuber Abdoukarim Bonitzer for hosting that video!
Vision phases through Giant-Man, and Scott Lang freaks the heck out. I wish Kitty got to fight this much, like Vision does, in the X-Men films.
Captain America and Winter Solider steal the Avengers Quinjet, after Black Widow lets them do it. In the chase, Vision misses Falcon and hits War Machine, knocking him out of the sky. Poor Rhodey is nearly crippled by this action. Tony is sad that his friend is hurt.
I kept waiting for this meme to take place in the film, but that would have been too much fun in a film that is already pretty fun.
Black Widow knows she’s going to be in trouble and leaves. Spider-Man’s mask is lifted, providing a reason to have Holland on set, as he clearly could have been CGI-ed up to that last part, but clearly he was present as he has such a presence.
Bucky tells Cap, in the Quinjet, that he remembers all of his kills.
Tony, in his own jet – and this reminds me that I do sort of like Iron Man’s new armor. Mostly red with yellow highlights. He learns that Bucky was set up and that it was Zemo, dressed as Bucky, that blew up the United Nations. Tony goes to The Raft, where Hawkeye, Ant-Man, Wanda and Falcon are being kept prisoner. Falcon reveals where Cap and Bucky went but only if Tony promises to go there as a friend and ally. Tony is all committed to this. Which I have to remember that we have yet to get the Cap/Bucky shield fight with Iron Man, which I can’t imagine how they get to that point. When they do, it is spectacular!
All the heroes, including Black Panther following Iron Man in a jet, make it to the snow base that Zemo has been trying to get all movie long. He killed the five would-be Winter Soldiers, he never wanted them. Behind a glass plated door, he starts a devastating film. We see the beginning of the tape from the beginning of the film, but now we see who Winter Soldier killed. Winter Soldier straight up killed Tony’s parents! Including Hope Davis!
If Cap was a good friend, he would let Tony beat on Bucky for like ten minutes and then break up the fight. Tony realizes that Bucky was under mind controlled but Winter Solider killed his mother so a beating must be thrown down.
Zemo, not a German (which is a real shame) is from Sokovia and has been listening to voicemails throughout the film of his wife about their son. They died, and by the time he got back to his family (he was on a mission) the Avengers were gone and his father were holding Zemo’s wife and son’s dead bodies. He thought they were safe living so far out of the city but since the entire country was air lifted, no one was safe. Zemo wanted to take the Avengers out from within. Which may not have completely worked but the Avengers have definitely said and done things that no one will be forgetting anytime soon.
Since Cap won’t let a rightful beating happen, he prolongs the fight by getting involved. At the end, Tony wants his dad’s invented shield back and Cap drops it. Iron Man took off Winter Soldier’s cybernetic arm.
Zemo is about to kill himself but Black Panther stops him and it is this moment that I really dig the character. His fight was never with Bucky so he changes to the proper target. Something Tony tried to do but his mother’s murderer is standing in front of him so justice must be beaten out.
Everett Ross has Zemo (who I also wish had some sort of purple fabric on) in the same prison cell that Winter Solider was in earlier. Zemo’s plans may have been stopped but he hints that he may have additional plans that are still playing out.
At the Avengers Compound, Tony got Rhodes some cybernetic leg braces. Stan Lee, as a FedEx carrier, asks Tony if he is “Tony Stank” which I and Rhodes enjoys. In the box, is an old school phone from Steve and a letter. Whenever Tony needs these (Secret) Avengers (that’s what I’m calling Cap’s team, in my mind) they will be there. As Cap is breaking out the Avengers from The Raft.
Credits start to roll and we get the mid-credit sequence wherein Black Panther agrees to put Bucky on ice until they can find that red Russian notebook with the twelve words. Cap’s cool with it but it seems an odd choice.
So then two minutes of credits and I have to use the bathroom so we missed the after credits scene.
Thanks to YouTuber Closery for hosting this video so that I could pee with peace of mind This would have been fun to have seen in proper quality and sound.
I forgot how Spider-Man and Cap shared that fun exchange about Queens / Brooklyn, that was a nice touch. Spider-Man also got to make a Empire Strikes Back reference too.
This was such a great film, lots of humor and great characterization. Everyone got a moment to shine and clearly the Russos know how to handle this many characters so we don’t have to fear for the space Avengers films.
I believe that captures all of my thoughts on the film. I’m not sure if I’ll get to watch X-Men Apocalypse, but who knows at this point.
We pick up with this series where we left off, back in November, from issue 18 to now 22. Let’s find out what has happened in the meantime.
Inside front cover is an ad for the 2007 Chevy Aveo.
Since marrying Storm, Black Panther has had to go around, shoring up allies and making sure Wakanda is still a viable first world country. They have visited Doctor Doom in Latveria. They went to the Moon to visit the Inhumans. Last issue, they went to Atlantis to pal around with Namor. Three issues, three visits.
Issue opens with Jim Rhodes, of War Machine fame. Currently, he is leading the O*N*E program, as a favor to Tony Stark and because General Lazer asked him too.
Rhodes isn’t happy about the Sentinels keeping watch over the X-Men, at their own home. As Tony’s friend, Rhodes is Pro-Registration. He likes how it doesn’t just focus on mutants or superhumans, if you want to be bigger than yourself and help the world in the big leagues, you have to get registered.
London, England – on the Thames. Storm and Black Panther are visiting Captain Britain. Black Panther is asking Brian about his stance on the Civil War. T’Challa wants to openly come out against the Act. Storm mentions how Brian has worked alongside mutants in the past, and should know how quickly the government can turn on a group of people.
Brian isn’t going to go along with them, on this quest. Even though he isn’t giving the newlyweds what they want, he asks if he can get the Ebony Blade back. Since an assassins tried to kill him with it, Black Panther isn’t quick to give it back.
Gears of War is coming to XBox 360. I played it but wasn’t that thrilled by it.
Next, they go to Rwanda to give artificial limbs to maimed children. We see Everett Ross, who must be working for Stark. I really liked him from Christopher Priest’s run. The newlyweds’ next stop is America so they can visit with Oprah and President Obama.
Casino Royale is coming to theaters.
T’Challa explains his plan to Ororo. They are building public support and their lobbyist will state how the registration is more big government intrusion into the lives of Americans. Thirdly, and this one is silly – he has brokers trying to buy a majority share of Stark Enterprises, which there is NO WAY Stark doesn’t have it so that he can never lose majority share. T’Challa knows this and expects Tony has a point pill style defense.
He asks how her call with the X-Men went.
It didn’t go well. Emma breaks the news to Storm, the X-Men have promised Stark that they are going to stay neutral during this war. The war is a distraction from the whole Decimation fallout. Emma makes the perfect argument that almost all of the X-Men don’t have secret identities, so registering isn’t a big deal. Kitty overhears this and isn’t thrilled.
Meanwhile, at the White House. A crowd of both supporters and naysayers have gathered.
There is a half page ad for the miniseries, Bullet Points, that I have to buy the fifth issue. The other half is to promote Speed Racer Volume Five.
That is followed by a double page ad for the Nissan Sentra.
Meanwhile, at the Sentinel Command Center. Rhodes is talking to some other guy. Rhodes is here to help Tony, he doesn’t have an opinion on Black Panther. Rhodes doesn’t have any problems taking down Captain America.
At the White House. Before Black Panther and Storm can meet the president, his staff wants Storm to register. T’Challa doesn’t have to sign as he isn’t an America but Obama can’t meet with superpowered folks until they are registered.
Panther addresses Stark, through a camera, which confuses the lower level staff members. The new power couple decide to turn and leave. Two Wakanda guards come down on flying chariots. The no-fly zone over the White House, prevents a proper plane from picking them up.
The supporters at the gate can’t believe Black Panther was enraged so quickly. A riot breaks out, and Black Panther tries to quiet the noise.
Since Black Panther is making an “aggressive” move, this gives the military their excuse to open fire on him. This annoys Storm and she throws down the lightning.
Now that Storm used her mutant abilities, that gives O*N*E their excuse to engage.
Now a fight has broken out.
There is a page with two ads, the top half is X-23 : Target X 1 by Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost and Mike Choi. The other half is Star Trek The Animated Series, coming to DVD. Not a bad show, from my memory, classic episodes given the animated treatment. 22 episodes on 4 DVDs.
There is also a double page ad for the Honda Element SC.
In a brief calm, we see that Rhodes has fallen out of his Sentinel. These Sentinels do look like they were given some Wakandian flair.
There is a three quarter page ad for Immortal Iron Man 1 by Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction and David Aja. The ad on the far right of it is the Honda Element SC, so they must have spent some money for all of this space.
The supporters were about to attack Rhodes when Black Panther saved him. Rhodes recognizes the irony of being saved by the man he is there to arrest from the people he was there to protect.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas gets an ad, coming to Playstaton 3 and XBox 360.
Iron Man arrives, not thrilled that his friend is beaten in front of his enemy. Panther tries to explain that he is helping but Iron Man doesn’t need any royal help. The two of them get into some heated words.
Panther flies away on one of those chariots and Iron Man takes off after him.
Iron Man is about to punch Storm and Black Panther, in the outfit that would be his alternate uniform in Ultimate Alliance 2, jumps out of the plane with the Ebony Sword. The sword makes short work of Iron Man.
Back on the ground, Iron Man is ready to end this but Rhodes speaks up about how everyone should just walk away. Iron Man agrees, as Panther has a country to go back too. Except he isn’t going back there, he and Storm will be staying in America.
Mail to the King! Letters from – Jackie Williams of Louisville, NY / Veronica Rodriguez / Andre Clark of Brooklyn, NY / Jordan Hofter of Monmouth, OR.
Inside back cover ad is for Thomas Jane’s Punisher, now on DVD. Such a good film!
I use to tell people, back in my message board days, that all they had to do was read the first two pages on Comixology and be done with this miniseries. Then while rereading it this time, I realized how much more times does Kitty and Lockheed appear in this issue. Which I’m all for.
Civil War was the event that followed House of M and M-Day. With the mutant population under two hundred, Cyclops invited all of them to the Xavier Institute. I forget why the government decided that they must protect this endangered species, as I can’t imagine that it is due to their number being so limited. Anyways, O*N*E (Office of National Emergency) are there with five Sentinels, that are operated by humans. By the start of this miniseries, Emma has met with Tony Stark, the X-Men are going to stay neutral during the Civil War.
This issue opens with Kitty and Lockheed watching “This is the Hour” which is a very clunky title for a show. Valerie Cooper is being interviewed about how mutants don’t have the same civil rights now that they are extinct.
When I write my silly fan fiction (mostly in my head) I almost always start with the Kitty on a couch, reading a book while Lockheed is either on her lap or on the back of the couch. I hadn’t realized I got that idea from this issue.
I really do enjoy Kitty and Beast together, they have such interesting chemistry. Probably due to them sharing the same role on a team, in the past, so they haven’t had much time to spend with each other – before Whedon / Cassaday / Martin brought them together.
Look how happy Lockheed is there on her lap!
Those two joking around is so fun, Beast got fleas one time and she won’t let it go.
The 198 are having a bit of an uprising.
Callistro and Caliban are trying to draw the Sentinels out. Looks like Mammomax is still alive too.
Domino and Shatterstar are fighting off the soldiers.
Val Cooper, on the news, is trying to sell the idea of protecting mutants and not imprisoning them at their own home. Well, the X-Men’s home. Domino is reminding Shatterstar that they agreed to disarming and disabling, as he seems overly kill happy. The soldiers are using rubber bullets, which I feel like in 2006, rubber bullets was all of the rage. Domino is doing all of this so that those mutants who don’t want to be there anymore can leave. Which is weird, as those mutants volunteered to be there, in the first place.
Bishop and Colonel Reyes arrive, Reyes believes Domino and Shatterstar are terrorists for blowing a whole in the barrier wall. I guess since the X-Men have allowed government manned Sentinels to flank their mansion, so their home is now government property.
A Sentinel references that the 198 are on a list, so they have to use low energy blasts on them since Domino and Shatterstar are not on the list, they can fire at full blast.
Reyes wants the X-Men to help, Bishop called them.
The Daily Bugle half page bullpen (it shares the other half with Avatar Last Air Bender Chapters 13 – 16 DVD has the following news –
The Adventure Starts Here! (New Number 1’s)
Annihilation 1 of 6
Heroes for Hire 1 – which I read as Black Cat was on the team but I couldn’t keep reading it
Agents of Atlas 1 of 6
Claws 1 of 3, which i read all three issues as Joe Linsner drawing and writing Black Cat and Arcade, I’m all in! New Beginnings! (New Arcs – Not including Number 1’s)
Sensational Spider-Man 29
Runaways 19
X-Factor 10, I own issue nine and eleven
Black Panther 19, I own issues 16 – 18 and then, 22 and finally 31
Domino apparently can now control the weather with her probability powers. I’m sure she’s never displayed this power set since.
There is a full page ad having Hulk promote the Dodge Caliber.
Caliban is growing stronger with all of the emotions that are around him. When did that become part of his power set? That must be from the Apocalypse upgrade, right?
There is a full page ad for Monster House, which I’m pretty sure we watched because it was Oscar nominated.
Caliban spits sorrow or regret at Bishop, who immediately falls to his knees with remorse for failing his sister, Shard. Shatterstar wastes no time to tell Caliban that move was without honor. Domino’s plane finally arrives.
Talladega Nights gets a full page, which I still recall the ending’s race with fondness. Is ten years long enough to spoil that, I was going to type “foot race” but thought better of it.
The X-Men finally arrive! Kitty took the time to put on her uniform, Lockheed is with her. Along with her is Beast, Cyclops, Iceman and Angel – who couldn’t find a shirt, apparently. As I type this, I’m just now realizing that the Original Four X-Men are already in this title. I’m all for Kitty replacing Jean in the Original Five. Or just in general.
Kitty doesn’t like being part of this fight, mutants should be able to live their lives like the human beings that they are.
Cyclops wants Domino to stand down but she isn’t going to let people who don’t want to be there be force to stay there.
Emma arrives and starts calming everyone down. Bishop things it was her who messed with his head but he’s told it was Caliban. Emma fixes Bishop’s head, as the 198 are escaping on their plane.
There is an ad for the Incredible Hulk Season One, which I’m pretty sure you can buy now at ten dollars at Hastings. Which I’ve been meaning to do, as I own the Best of Incredible Hulk set, but I would like to own the entire series eventually.
Bishop is upset as Cyclops let the 198 leave. Bishop tries to insult Scott by claiming that Emma is his boss. As if that truth would hurt Scott’s feelings. Scott counters with his own truth about Bishop, that he’s taking orders from O*N*E, which also doesn’t insult him as he likes O*N*E. I do like Cyclops’ reminder that Bishop’s future was overrun by Sentinels and this very well could be the start of that.
Bishop is trying to avoid that future by having mutants police themselves, but not really addressing the whole Sentinel guard issue. Bishop claims Scott doesn’t know what real oppression is, and when Scott starts to counter that he does know real oppression. Bishop, in a very intimate move, covers Scott’s mouth and walks away. It is weird.
There is an ad for Ultimate Avengers 2, which isn’t even an attempt to adapt an Ultimates storyline. I recently started Dark Knight Returns Part One and I was commenting on how great DC is at adapting their comic stories to animation and having those be good and how Marvel doesn’t really do that and most of their direct-to-dvds are not that well received.
Avengers Tower. Tony Stark, in his Iron Man armor sans helmet is hosting a meeting with Val Cooper and Bishop. He informs them that not all of the 198 fled, only half of them. Stark is worried about them joining up with Captain America. General Lazer is also in attendance. Tony says that the White House wants him personally to oversee making sure mutants are not seen as a menace. Tony wants Sentinels and mutants to work together. Bishop has recruited microMAX and Sabra, who I don’t quite recognize the lady. I know the name but that’s about it. Tony is going to have Bishop lead this mission.
David Hine gets to show off his familiarity with Bishop’s character history. He has experience with XSE and being a sheriff of Mutant Town. Which is no longer a thing now. General Lazer isn’t cool with being overshadowed. Lazer leaves, making some racist comments.
The Xavier Mansion. The issue ends with setting up the rest of the miniseries. The male members of the Original Five are going to go rogue and aid the escaped 198. Which I really enjoyed that aspect of this series, as those four barely spend any time together, on panel. I imagine they get together off panel, all of the time.
There is a page ad for V for Vendetta, now on DVD. A film that I watched before reading the trade. That scene where Natalie Portman’s character is being held prisoner, I suspected who might be holding her hostage. I told my wife, if it is who I think it is, we’re heading straight to Hastings and buying the DVD (we must have been watching it on some cable channel, and we had missed the first couple minutes) and I’ll be buying the trade. The trade was a tad hard to read but I did enjoy the film.
The Original Four are wearing new black stealth outfits, so Emma (clad all in white) really stands out in the room. Emma isn’t allowed to come along, even though she would also make a great addition to this four. Kitty, Emma or even Firestar would make great additions, possibly even Dazzler!
Issue ends with the boys taking off and a Sentinel confronts Emma.
Writers Stuart Vandal, Ronald Byrd, Madison Carter, Michael Hoskin, Chris Biggs, Mark O’English & Mike Fichera
Cover Artists Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines & Morry Hollowell
Cover Dated 2006
This handbook is written from Iron Man’s perspective, which is a fun take on a handbook. Marvel will repeat this for the Heroic Age handbook, which was from Captain America’s perspective. Both of them are the Director of SHIELD, when they write their handbooks.
Iron Man, above, tells the origins of the United States government and the costumed community.
Before we get too far along, my wife owns this cover but as a shirt!
My wife is pretty awesome about, if I buy her a comic book related shirt, she’ll wear it. Most likely, only to bed, but that works for me.
Other profiles in this handbook are –
Arachne, who I always think of as the second Spider-Woman, Julia Carpenter. She sides with her fellow Force Works leader, Iron Man.
The Avengers, who are – Luke Cage, Captain America, Iron Man (himself), Spider-Man, Spider-Woman (who isn’t who she says she is), Sentry and Wolverine.
Bishop, who will break ranks from the X-Men and join Iron Man’s side
Cable, who takes Captain America’s side
Luke Cage, who will be Captain America’s deputy leader
Captain America, leading the right side of the Civil War
Daredevil, who isn’t who he says he is
Deadpool, who is on Iron Man’s side
Falcon, who is naturally on Cap’s side
Goliath, who will not make it out of this event
Green Goblin, who is two events away from being the Director of SHIELD . . . or HAMMER in his case. Now that I think of it, I’m pretty sure Osborn got his own handbook too. It was called “Dark Reign Files” and it featured nothing but villains, so I didn’t keep it. Cap got two handbooks, Heroic Age : Heroes and Heroic Age : Villains.
Hercules, who was on Cap’s side
Human Torch, I imagine all four members got their own profiles as they were pretty divided during Civil War. Johnny went to Cap’s side
Invisible Woman, stuck with her husband, Reed but eventually went to Cap’s side
Iron Man, lead the wrong side of the Civil War
Reed Richards, who was Iron Man’s deputy leader
Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers, was on Iron Man’s side
Moon Knight, who I don’t recall which side he went on. His profile ends with Iron Man not knowing which side he will end up on.
New Warriors, who foolishly set up the beginning of Civil War with their silly reality show antics
Nitro, who also setup the beginning of Civil War
O*N*E who had the simple job of standing in giant Sentinels that were operated by flatscans, in front of the Xavier Institute. Not to protect the X-Men, mind you, or mutants but to be a presence and to block the view.
The 198, the non X-Men mutants, who came to the school after the events of House of M, better known as M-Day
Punisher, who was on Cap’s side
Quicksilver, it is this profile that I finally noticed that Cap’s side got Wanted posters and Iron Man’s side get registration cards. Moon Knight was on the wanted side, as is Quicksilver.
Runaways, who are – Chase, Karolina, Molly, Nico, Old Lace (!), Victor and Xavin. I think they were mutual
Sentry, who was on Iron Man’s side
SHIELD, who were naturally on Iron Man’s side
She-Hulk, who was on Iron Man’s side – now I fee like my memory isn’t being tested now that I know the secret to this handbook
Speedball, who directly lead to this event along with his New Warriors
Spider-Man, who started on Iron Man’s side but switched to Cap’s
Thing, who stayed mutual
Thunderbolts, who were on Iron Man’s side
Wolverine, who hunted Nitro and was on Iron Man’s side
X-Factor Investigations, who all registered
Lockheed gets an image! His powers are Empath, Flight and Fire Breath
Shadowcat (Katherine “Kitty” Pryde) gets one too! If you look closely, Lockheed is in her picture too! Her powers are transforms her body into intangible state.
The X-Men stay pretty neutral during the event
Yellowjacket, Hank Pym, was on Iron Man’s side
Young Avengers, who were – Hawkeye, Hulkling, Patriot, Speed, Stature, Vision and Wiccan. Their spotlight reads like they also stayed neutral
. . .
This is how we’re kicking off our Civil War portion of this month! I already reviewed Cable and Deadpool 30 but I have a few more titles with the traditional Civil War quarter cover design.
A slight preview of my few Civil War tie-ins that I own that I’ll be reviewing in May. This is the Cable & Deadpool tie-in issue to the big event of 2006.
Fun recap of the American Civil War. Marvel’s Civil War gets recapped with one sentence, that the New Warriors caused an explosion at a school in Stamford and now heroes are fighting each other. Deadpool mentions how Spider-Man’s identity became known and how that will screw with his continuity for years. I feel like they are still dealing with the fallout of that, in a way.
Deadpool is Pro-Registration. His job, during the Civil War, is to get others to register – by fighting them, of course.
Deadpool decides to go after the Great Lakes Champions (at this point in time). Deadpool is using his first person narration boxes but the GLC can hear him, which confuses him. Present are Mister Immortal, Big Bertha, Flatman and Doorman. Flatman is proud how they won the poker game, to earn the right to use the Champions name.
Deadpool beheads Mister Immortal. Big Bertha brings Deadpool inside her folds, which he likes. Which disgusts her, as she doesn’t care for chubby chasers. She’s not happy with people finding her skinny form attractive or her plus size form – so I’m not sure what she wants. People to like her for herself, which is a reasonable request.
Before he lost his head, Mister Immortal tries to explain to Deadpool, that they have registered already.
Deadpool is about to lose this fight and sets a concussion grenade off. Squirrel Girl shows up and hands him a decisive victory – in classic Squirrel Girl fashion.
A fun moment with the police, who don’t know what to do as the Great Lakes Champions have never brought anyone to the Milwaukee Police Station before. They don’t have protocols in place, not even jokingly.
Deadpool quickly tries to explain that he shouldn’t be processed – like criminal scum. He was trying to get the GLC to register. The caption informs the merc with a mouth that the heroes are already registered. As soon as the Superhuman Registration Act was passed, the team were first in line to sign.
Mister Immortal, while Deadpool is feeling pretty down, tries to make things worst. Pointing out how Deadpool isn’t either an X-Man or a mutant. Deadpool jokes about how he could know that, unless he owns the trading card set. This embarrasses Mister Immortal, as he does own the trading card set. I had a few of those Fleer cards myself.
Daily Bugle. New Number Ones –
Annihilation 1 of 8
Heroes for Hire 1
Agents of Atlas 1 of 6
Claws 1 of 3 New Arcs –
Sensational Spider-Man 29
Runaways 19
X-Factor 10
Black Panther 19
Mister Immortal tries to make it less embarrassing, stating that the cards are not in mylar or anything. He likes to flip the cards. Deadpool uses that comment to state how he would like to flip Shadowcat – hence why I own this issue.
Squirrel Girl, who I really enjoy, protects Kitty’s reputation and tells him to shut his evil mouth! Good for you, Doreen!
Agent Hafner, with the Commission of Superhuman Activities. He sort of brags about how his jurisdiction covers – Wisconsin (where they are now), Minnesota and the Dakotas. This forces Deadpool to comment about how busy Hafner must be.
Hafner enlists Deadpool to track down non-registered heroes.
Manhattan, Eleven Hours Later. Cable confronts Deadpool, they are now on opposite sides of the war. I do like Cable joking with Deadpool that his singing is going to get him kicked off of American Idol – I imagine that is the reality show Cable is referencing.
This catches Deadpool by surprised, he was given a list but he has lost it. He found it and doesn’t want to fight Captain America or Luke Cage. Well, he’s willing to fight Cage, if he wears his classic yellow silk shirt. I didn’t even know those shirts were silk! So soft and smooth!
Deadpool scans the list for any big-chested women, but is happy to see that the nimble Young Avengers are on the list. A tad odd that the list is on paper and not on a screen, of some sort. I imagine, those are the hard noes that will not be registering and are fully on Cap’s side.
I do like how polite the two’s disagreement with the sides are. They are not going to actually fight each other so they make quips and continue their way. Though Deadpool is under the impression that Cable is just above this fight so he isn’t on any side.
Cable is meeting with Captain America, to offer asylum on Cable’s island country of Providence. Or was it a giant ship? Maybe a combination? I believe I recall it flew at some point. I do like Cable and Captain America chatting, the two have so much in common. Soldiers from different eras, and all that.
Cable is trying to explain the big picture to Cap. Cap is thinking in terms of months and years but Cable is talking about how this is merely the groundwork for decades and centuries. Superhumans will be used as a military force, which the Initiative was sort of used for. Cable also mentions how he is the President Pro Tem of Rumekistan, which I do remember that. This title was pretty great, while it was coming out. Then that whole Cable dying in Second Coming sort of forced this title to become a Deadpool Team-Up book, which was fun in its own way.
Cap and Cable exchange some dry humor. Cable repeats that Cap will lose and renews his offer. He’s willing to give Cap a promotion. Captain America jokes about being “Captain World” but Cable was thinking more along the lines of “Captain Overview.” These two are pretty old.
Deadpool was watching this entire scene. He knew whose side Cable would fall on. Deadpool has decided to take on Daredevil. Now he has to figure out how to get to Long Island.
Long Island, morning. He stole a taxi. He thinks his narration boxes are working again but a lady on the street informs him that he is talking aloud.
Deadpool and Daredevil have a fun four page fight. Lots of red on these pages.
There is a full page ad for the Ultimate Clone Saga, starting in Ultimate Spider-Man 97, by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley.
Deadpool and Daredevil do get to trade their philosophy about what registration means to them, which is nice.
In the next issue, if I remember correctly, Deadpool realizes that this Daredevil is really Danny Rand – Iron Fist! The second to last page of the issue, is a repeat (on purpose) of a previous issue’s fight with the two of them, but with Iron Fist proper. It is a very clever artist hint. Deadpool is starting to realize it but is kicked in the head before he can reveal it out loud. So he is Danny Rand, pretending to be Daredevil, pretending to be a civil engineer as Captain America hooked his main allies with secret secret identities. Cable hinted that these secret identities were already known, before they were taken on, by Iron Man’s side.
I believe that readers of Daredevil’s own title or even Civil War proper, would have known about the whole Iron Fist as Daredevil reveal.
Deadpool comes to and says everyone’s secret cover identities as he sees – Captain America, Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), Hulkling, Wiccan, Hercules and Black Goliath. Deadpool, in another fun moment, states how the Young Avengers are nubile. Goes as far to say that Hulking and Wiccan are looking especially nubile.
Deadpool realizes that, with a Sweet Chrstmas, (another fine hint), that he is about to get a wuppin’!
The Next Issue caption tag states – Deadpool gets a Whuppin’! so it is officially going to happen! Such a fun issue!
Dear Deadpool, letters from – Tammy Suto of Rayland, Ohio / Jason / Joshua Shepard / Dannyboy / Fans from Utopia Comics in Holt, Michigan. I do like Deadpool answering the questions.
Next Issue, Deadpool informs us – I take on more renegade heroes and face off against my own pal, Cable! Whose butt will be kicked first? Find out int he second of three Civil War issues, penciled by Snazzy Staz Johnson, inked by Klaus “in da house” Janson and with a cover by Ace Amanda Connor!
It is a pretty good arc, if you ever want to track it down.
Pencils Scot Eaton and Kaare Andrews, for pages 21 – 24
Inks Klaus Janson
Colors Dean White
Letters VC’s Randy Gentile
Cover Frank Cho
Cover Dated September 2006
From BET, Toure and Ananda are the wedding commentators. Black Panther and Storm are the ultimate power couple, and for good reason. Toure comments on how the Superhuman Registration Act is being hotly debated, back in America. By hotly debated, I mean that costumed folks are punching and kicking other costumed folks.
Luke Cage is surprised that Spider-Man is on Iron Man’s side so much. This is after issue two of Civil War. Spider-Man is in his Iron-Spider costume.
Susan is still standing with her husband, Reed. Thing is already showing signs of wanting to be neutral.
Kitty and Lockheed seem super excited, to the point where Emma feels the need to calm her down. Eaton draws one awesome Lockheed!
Cyclops wonders what the X-Men will be like without Storm, they will be okay and her absence will only really be noticeable by her hardcore fans. For the Maid of Honor, Kitty seems to be pretty relaxed.
Meanwhile, the psychic parasite known as the Cannibal prepares his trap. Cannibal is who I didn’t know from the previous two issues, who I referred to has Not-Malice. How many villains fall under this body-less category?
Cannibal wants to take advantage of the situation and take any number of heroes but keeps his non-eyes on his prize, Black Panther.
Black Goliath (a horrible name) is impress when he sees Falcon wheel Isaiah Bradley. Triathlon (who I know from Buisek’s legendary Avengers run) and Captain Marvel (Monica) come over to greet Isaiah. We get an editor note to check out – Truth : Red, White & Black, for the full story. Hudlin must have really liked that series, as he didn’t write it, Robert Morales did.
Elsewhere in the Place. T’Challa and Ororo are talking. He tells her that the Panther God will judge Ororo to see if she is worthy of marrying him. Ororo isn’t thrilled with this and wonders what happens if she isn’t worthy of the test. I would imagine that, this portion of the ceremony, probably should have done prior to the wedding invites. T’Challa would give up his kingdom to stay married to Ororo, so the wedding will continue, no matter what.
Daily Bugle (what they used to call, Bullpen Bulletin – I like the in-comic universe name change). I like them promoting New Adventures and New Number Ones. New Number Ones – Annihilation / Heroes for Hire / Agents of Atlas / Claws. New Adventures – Sensational Spider-Man 29 / Runaways 19 / X-Factor 10, a team member betrays the team. I own issues nine and eleven, so that’s funny (and issue 23) / Black Panther 19, attacked by DOOM!
Xavier shows up as he will be walking her down the aisle. This comes as a surprised to her, also a surprise to her, is that he is able to walk. I like that he waves this off, like this happens from time to time – as it does.
Elsewhere in the Palace. Black Panther stages a meeting between Captain America and Iron Man, neither of whom, are impressed with each other. They both leave the wedding, both of them making sure that Black Panther apologizes for each of them, to Storm.
Meanwhile. Doctor Strange, Brother Voodoo and Blade stop their conversation to take note that Uatu, the Watcher has arrived. I like that a guidebook has been handed out. Would it have been more awesome, if it was called – a handbook? Perhaps
Back to the party guests. President Bush 43 arrives, along with Fidel Castro and the late Nelson Mandela. A huge wave of applause erupts as Oprah arrives. Ororo’s grandparents arrive, the idiot that is her grandfather, tries to start saying that Bush doesn’t care about black people, which is still a ridiculous statement. Luckily, his wife stops him before he can say those words.
Her grandparents get to sit with Ororo’s mother’s family.
Meanwhile. Kitty really wants to see Storm’s dress, which wasn’t she there when Storm bought it? I guess we didn’t see her buy it. Lockheed is flying about.
The whole “Storm loved Black Panther for years” doesn’t quite worked for me, as we had decades of those two not having any panel time together but I get that he was her first crush (and her, his – maybe?) back in her African days, but that seems like an odd thing a carry well into someone’s thirties. Am I still crushing on Katie O’Connor and Jennifer Fuller? No, as when I think about to them, my mind stops at them being first and second graders, respectfully, so I don’t romanticism them, at all. Though I do wonder if they are on Facebook but I don’t believe they are. To be fair, if they grew up to be female versions of a handsome, rich and heroic King, I guess they would still be on the top of my mind.
Kitty finally gets to see the dress and instantly wants to wear it. I wish we got to see Kitty visit Storm, even just once, while she was a Queen.
See that second to last panel, on the bottom? Lockheed wants to eat those birds! Nice touch, Eaton!
Black Panther, now in costume, wonders why Uatu is present. He’s not going to be interfering, I know that much. His uncle is excited about the children that will come from this union.
Black Panther gets to the alter, wondering where his wife-to-be is. If he is anything like me, and we do have so much in common, he is going to have to wait for an intense fifteen minutes.
Storm arrives in the dress, that gets its own back up feature. The credits page thanks the following folks for the design of the dress – Procter & Gamble, CBS Daytime (the two parent companies of), Guiding Light, Alan Locher, Ellen Wheeler, Maria Aguero, Alyson Hui and Shawn Dudley.
Poor Kitty, doesn’t do anything for the ceremony.
Once the ceremony begins, the Karee Andrews pages kick in. They both are in the spirit world, they first see the Ape God. They run from that one, right into the Panther God. Panther God and Ororo have a stare off. The Panther God roars and Ororo is deemed worthy.
They bounce back and Eaton takes over. That must have been very exciting to those in attendance. Did the invitations state to not be surprised when the bride and groom just stood around, starring into nothing. Oh, it only lasted five seconds, so it wasn’t as awkward as I thought. Reading is important.
The two are officially married!
Later, a huge party is had by all. Prince is proving the music! Cannibal’s essence is spotted by Doctor Strange, so the host body sneaks closer to Storm. Doctor Strange and Brother Voodoo catch up to the host, who is laying on the floor. Cannibal could be in anybody.
Cage asks Jessica if she would want to stay in Wakanda, T’Challa gave them an open invitation. He goes on to say that Falcon and Photon (Monica’s codename – poor gal, that’s why you never want to be a legacy character!). Jessica laughs at him, as he has been wanting to create a Black Avengers team, for years.
Spider-Man is enjoying a drink and introduces himself to, Man-Ape. Man-Ape came to ruin the wedding but it turns out, he was on the invite list, so he is happy. So issue 16’s cliffhanger, was for not. Man-Ape has been drinking Scotch, as he should! Spider-Man tries to be helpful, about how he can get more respect if he didn’t dress so silly. Of course, this offends Man-Ape, as that is his royal garb. Spider-Man keeps burying himself, as he named himself after an unpopular creature – people do seem to hate spiders – for some reason. Man-Ape attacks Spider-Man, who wishes these gatherings didn’t always involve a fight of some sort.
A Few Hours Later. We see some gifts that the newlyweds were given. Kitty gave Storm a holographic representation of the X-Men, which would be cool and I want one.
Ororo hands T’Challa a package with the Latveria seal on it. T’Challa opens it, revealing a visual message from Doctor Doom. Doom was not invited to the wedding, which does not seem right, from a political viewpoint. Doom chalks it up to Black Panther believing that Doom was still in Hell. Doom provides a warning, regarding Civil War, his friends may not be who he use to think of them as. So Doom offers that Black Panther’s enemies, may also need to be reconsider. He would like to have a conversation, once the newlyweds are settled.
Issue ends with some kissing!
Mail to the King! Letters from – Tony K of Sydney, Australia / Paco Taylor / Regis Zoula and Christopher Smitho f Jacksonville, Florida.
Next issue, DOOM!
. . .
With this, we end our celebration of my wife and my seventh anniversary of our wedding! Time sure does fly!
Shadow and Flame with Magik 