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Uncanny X-Men 449

Posted by John Klein III on July 14, 2020
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men 449

By Chris Claremont & Olivier Coipel

Inker Scott Hanna

Colors Chris Chuckry

Letters VC’s Rus Wooton

Cover Dated November 2004

Who know VC was active way back in 2004?

At first, I was confused why I bought this for Father’s Day 2015.  I thought one of my three favorite websites tricked me.  Then I came across the scene with Nightcrawler and Storm, at the Purity Rally.  This was the only issue I was missing of Alice Tremaine’s 13 appearances.  So now I own all of her appearances.

http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=37337

She is in all six issues of Mekanix (a great miniseries!) and then her final appearance is this issue.  Then Claremont brings her back in X-Men The End, Book Two – issues 1, 5 and 6.  He continues to use her in X-Men The End, Book Three – issues 3, 5 and 6.

Another interesting note about Alice Tremaine, that I just discovered with this post.  If you Google “Alice Tremaine” you will see the stepmother (the wicked one) that harrasses Cinderella.  That step-family of Cinderella’s last name is . . . . Tremaine!  That has to be done on purpose, right?  Claremont would know the most famous usage of “Tremaine” So Claremont, amongst all of the other kudos he deserves, deserves a few more points for the naming of this character.

In my collection, I own issues 448 and 452.  I’ll review those, some day.

Inside front cover ad is for the Thomas Jane’s Punisher DVD.  Such a good movie!

Uncanny X-Men 449 Recap Page

Previously in the title.  The current team (think a Pre-X-Treme X-Men) are Storm, Bishop, Sage, Rachel Grey, Nightcrawler and Wolverine.  This team is called, X-Treme Sanctions Executive (XSE).  That’s the mission statement.  Last issue, Viper (one of Wolverine’s ex-wife’s) is back on the scene, looking for some sweet revenge on Sage.  Viper takes the team to a modified MurderWorld, she has also taken away their powers.  As bait, she has taken the Queen of England hostage.  Last issue ended, apparently, with her shooting Sage – to the head!

The Tower of London.  Viper is bragging, over Sage’s dying body, no one insults Viper, and gets away with it.  Rachel shows up and punches Viper to her silly face.  Viper gives back, as good as she can take it, which confused me until I reread the recap page.  I’m so use to skipping those, that the fight made sense.

There is an ad for Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, I still haven’t seen it.

Bishop gets into the action and Viper teleports away.  Sage stands up and reveals that Wolverine has been using an image inducer, this whole team.  Wouldn’t the bullet have just passed through her head?

Uncanny X-Men 449 Alice Tremaine 1

A flatscan introduces Alice Tremaine, of University of Chicago fame.  They are hoping to turn a college movement, Purity, into a global party.  Chicago to London, does seem like a major step.

Kurt and Storm are stuck in the room, and the only way out is through hateful crowd.  Storm uses her African knowledge, that one doesn’t run from jackals, also, the flatscans don’t know that the two mutants don’t have their powers.

Uncanny X-Men 449 Alice Tremaine 2

Alice Tremaine starts her hate speech as Storm and Kurt start walking towards the stage.  If I know Alice Tremaine, this is her best case scenario.

Uncanny X-Men 449 Alice Tremaine 3

Some dumb jerk throws a chair at Storm but Kurt’s tail catches it.  Kurt, and me, don’t care for the term – mutie.  Kurt confronts the idiot and that fool passes out.

Uncanny X-Men 449 Alice Tremaine 4

Alice Tremaine confronts Storm.  Earth is for humans and they will defend it.  Storm whips out her XSE badge, they are sworn to protect a world that hates and fears them.  Kurt steps between the ladies and tells Storm that they are done here.  Some dumb face wants to shoot them, as they leave, but another guy (a smarter one) is worried about the backlash from their fellow mutant brothers.

Once they are far enough away, Storm shows off that her powers have return.  Storm wanted to fight Alice Tremaine, so much!

Meanwhile.  Old School Excalibur ally, Courtney Ross, wants to be the new London White Queen of the Hellfire Club.  She wants Viper, who has a gun at her head, to be the Lord Imperial.

The London Eye.  XSE gets to the giant Ferris Wheel.  A taped message from “Arcade” (I’m not sure if it really is him or just a picture of him) reveals that it isn’t the Queen, in the upper car.  Which I’m curious where the real Queen is, if this was ever a credible threat.  I imagine, the X-Men are simply told the Queen has been captured, they believe it – that is the life they live.

In the top ar is Mrs. Ella Thurlough, one of the Queen’s housemaids.  If nothing is done, a simple bomb will explode, only killing her.  If there is a rescue attempt, even the slightest, a small nuke will go off.

Alistaire Stuart, old friend of Nightcrawler’s and Rachel, is there to confirm that what the message states, is true.  Rachel can’t believe that Alistaire can be so cold hearted, or practical.  I misread the page, I thought it read like – one bomb over the housemaid and a small nuke, somewhere else in the city.  Instead, the two bombs are located in the car, atop of the housemaid.

Storm has a plan.  Rachel is going to keep the housemaid calm, as Storm creates very intense winds Bishop is there to absorb the blast.  Rachel brags that Storm’s winds are stronger than those found on Jupiter.  Which seems too much, for such a small section.  Of course, XSE saves the day.  I do like how Wolverine has nothing to do, but watch from below.

Later.  The team assumes that Arcade’s message is just pre-recorded and he wasn’t involved, at all.

Elsewhere.  Sebastian Shaw arrives, to make a deal with Courtney Ross – who has to really be Sat-rr-9, right?  As we saw original Courtney Ross die, pay back in the day,  As they, Viper is there too, toast, their new pact – Sage has Shaw in her gunsight.

Other titles coming out in September 2004 –

Uncanny X-Men 448 & 449 – The X-Men trapped in Murderworld!  By Chris Claremont & guest artist, Oliver Coipel!
Exiles 52 – Worlds Collide!  Literally!
Alpha Flight 7 – The end of Alpha Flight?!
Gambit 1 &  2 – New ongoing series!  The Ragin’ Cajun is back!  By John Layman & Georges Jeanty!
X-Men The End 3 – The final story of the X-Men continues!
Starjammers 4 – Will Tolo exact his revenge?
District X 5 – Tragedy strikes as the hunt for Mr. M continues!
X-Force 2 – The coming of Jon Spectre!
Emma Frost 15 – Who is Astrid Bloom?  And what does she know about Emma?
Weapon X 28 – The Series Finale!  Sabretooth v Mister Sinister!
X-Men 161 & 162 – The Brotherhood of Mutants are back!
New X-Men 5 – New penciler Michael Ryan debuts!
Rogue 3 – Rogue and Gambit no more!?!
Cable / Deadpool 7 – The Burnt Offering begins here!
Jubilee 1 – New Series! By Robert Kirkman & Derec Donovan!
Wolverine 19 – Greg Rucka’s final issue!  Guest-starring Nightcrawler!
Astonishing X-Men 5 – You’ll have to read it to find out!
Excalibur 5 – Food Fight begins!
Mystique 19 – The prelude to Quiet, the story where everything changes!
Nightcrawler 1 – New Series!  By Robert Aguirre-Sacasa & Darick Robertson!

I imagine I’ve read the Uncanny X-Men issues.  I must have read Exiles and Alpha Flight.  Gambit, I own that first issue, still.  X-Men The End, must be the first book.  I would have also been reading Cable / Deadpool. Jubilee by Kirkman, I imagine that was him just trying to make a name for himself.  Astonishing X-Men 5 is dealing with the after shocks of Colossus’ return.  I should have dropped Excalibur after the third issue but I read all 24 of those.  If Mystique was still being written by Sean McKeaver, at that point, it was still such a good title.  Nightcrawler, now that was a series that could have lasted longer but I really enjoyed it.

X-Mail, with letters from – Nadav Millman of Israel and James Hunter of Newbury, England.

Next Issue, X23 joins the title!  But she has already appeared in NYX.

X-Men Return of Magik

Posted by John Klein III on December 4, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Return of Magik

Cover Artist Olivier Coipel

Cover Dated November 2008

To promote X-Infernus, Marvel released this one shot, collecting –

https://shadowandflamewithmagik.com/2016/12/02/x-men-unlimited-volume-two-issue-14/

https://shadowandflamewithmagik.com/2014/04/20/new-x-men-37/

X-Men Divided We Stand 2

New Avengers Finale

Posted by John Klein III on November 10, 2015
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

New Avengers Finale

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Pencilers Bryan Hitch with Stuart Immonen

Inkers Butch Guice with Andrew Currie & Karl Story

Colorists Paul Mounts with Justin Ponsor & Rain Beredo

Letterer Chris Eliopoulos

Flashback Artists – David Finch, Danny Miki, Frank d’Armata, Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines, Morry Hollowell, Olivier Coipel, John Dell, Mike Deodato Jr., Joe Pimental, Dave Stewart, Leinil Yu, Mark Morales, Laura Martin, Bryan Hitch, Rain Beredo, Billy Tan, Matt Banning, Justin Ponsor

Cover Dated June 2010

Jessica got the cover treatment!  Looking at the credits, I’m not sure which other pages Immonen and his team did, besides the very last page.  I suspect he may did any pages with Jessica (as she isn’t part of the action) but those pages still look like Hitch.  Maybe it is the inkers throwing me off but I’m not sure.  The final two page splash are the only pages that look like Immonen.

This issue starts with a warning, to read Siege 4, prior to this issue.  This issue ends the, Dark Reign of Norman Osborn.  Well, Siege 4 did that, but this has the aftermath.

Issue opens with everyone’s favorite villainous father daughter pair, Count Nefaria (of Uncanny X-Cast fame) and his lovely daughter, Whitney, Madame Masque.  She is seeking help from her father as her boyfriend, The Hood, and her are on the run.  This is one of the few appearances of the Count’s that I’ve actually read and it is hard not to read his voice in the classic vampire fashion.

New Avengers Finale Jessica Jones 1

I do like how, under the Iron Patriot helmet, Norman would still paint his face green to represent his Goblin side.  So kooky!  Siege took place on the Asgard portion of Oklahoma.

Poor Jessica Jones is watching the news, looking for any sign of her husband, Luke Cage.  Danielle is happy, sucking down some milk or formula.

New Avengers Finale Jessica Jones 2

Jessica gets a call from the US Army, Luke borrowed a phone.  Which is nice as my wife would not answer her phone from a number she didn’t recognize.  Luke is telling her that he is okay but there is a mess.

Cut to an awesome and what Hitch does best, double page splash.  The pages are full of debris and so much detailed destruction.

New Avengers Finale Jessica Jones 3

Jessica wants him to come home but he can’t as the New Avengers are still fugitives of the law – due to the Superhero Registration Act.  Their phones get disconnected.

The team make sure that they are all okay.  Ronin wants to take a moment to appreciate their win.  After that moment, the team wants to leave as, if they help the police, they will get arrested.  Most likely, after the damage has been cleaned up.  Captain America, the real one, is summoned by the President.  Most likely, Obama, but Bendis doesn’t like dating his comics, like that.

Spider-Woman looks over and sees the fallen villains that Norman had en massed, including the Wrecking Crew.  Ronin wants to know where the Hood is, but none of the thugs know.  So this whole issue is about finding the Hood.  Someone gives up the name of Hood’s cousin, John King.  They find him, he calls Hood and arranges a meeting.

The team gets to where Hood, Madame Masque and Count Nefaria are.  Cage is told about who Nefaria is.  Carol explains his powerset.  He has the combined power of Living Laser, Atlas of the Thunderbolts and either Whirlwind or Whizzer (it is Whirlwind)’s speed.  So energy projection from Living Laser and strength from Atlas.  Also, he is essentially immortal.  Cage makes a phone call, they need some additional power.

Inside, Nefaria is willing to help Hood but only for all of his money.  With the power upgrade that Nefaria promises, the Hood can make up all of that money, rather quickly.  He is not impressed with the Hood,at all.

The Avengers crash through the window and the fight begins.  Carol is the first to confront Nefaria, she’s going by Ms. Marvel at this point.  She starts taking a beating from him, but only so she can absorb his energy – a powerset people forget that she has.  I didn’t even know she had it!  Is that a left over from her Binary days?

So she hits him with his own power which weakens him to merely “not so powerful” but still.  He takes down Carol and shouts that he is immortal.  Just then, Wolverine shows up to start ripping into Nefaria.  This is who Cage called.  Carol starts back into Nefaria, taking more of his energy.  He is immortal but a tad less so, so Wolverine’s attacks are mostly weakening him.

Wolverine was on the West Coast, as the X-Men are on Utopia.

Asgard, Oklahoma.  The Avengers drop – Hood, Madame Masque, Count Nefaria and John King.

Cage asks Hill what the Avengers are, and she tells him that they need to watch the news.

New York.  The Next Day.  Superhuman Registration Act Thrown Out.  Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, replaces Norman Osborn as America’s Top Cop.  So this issue sets up the Heroic Age, a more back to basics approach Marvel branded the titles with.

New Avengers Finale Jessica Jones 4

Rogers, out of his star spangled suit, informs the team that the President has appointed him, The Director of SHIELD.  Which lasts a decent amount of time.  Rogers reveals that Count Nefaria was one of the responsible parties from the original first issue of New Avengers, volume one.

New Avengers Finale Jessica Jones 6

Mockingbird brings up the question of what they do now.  This, somehow, sets up Cage to provide a giant monologue, which is mostly an excuse to reprint art from previous storylines.

We get a glimpse from the original Ronin storyline, that had Echo under the hood.

New Avengers Finale Kitty Pryde

Yes, I own this just because of this page, that I already own once, during the original Sentry storyline.

Cage has been honored to be counted among these New Avengers.

New Avengers V1 8 Kitty Pryde

Which is taken directly from New Avengers 8 with art by David Finch.

I guess the House of M counts as it was a Bendis penned crossover and this title would have had tie-in issues.

We get the storyline reminder, and the mess that it was, with the essence of the lost mutant powers, reappearing on Earth and killing Alpha Flight and eventually ending up with Weapon Omega.  It also was Bendis doing what Marvel needed so that they can use Magneto again after Morrison’s attempted to shelf the character with the Xorn business.

Double splash page (they all have been, thus far) of Secret Invasion, another Bendis written crossover.

Double splash from when Doctor Strange was looking for the new Sorcerer Supreme.

New Avengers v Dark Avengers!

The final one of these is when Rogers, as Captain America, got to throw his mighty shield into Iron Patriot, Norman Osborn’s face.

New Avengers Finale Jessica Jones 5

I really like this final page, clearly done by Immonen – with all of the characters, out of costume.  My only problem, with it?  Shouldn’t Bucky’s arm be metallic?  It is definitely flesh colored.

The next issue is Bendis’ first Avengers 1, with a very complicated time adventure.

House of M 1

Posted by John Klein III on July 4, 2014
Posted in: Reality Television, Review. Tagged: , , , , , , . 1 Comment

House of M 1 Coipel

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Penciler Olivier Coipel

Inker Tim Townsend

Colorist Frank D’Armata

Letterer Chris Eliopoulos

Gatefold Cover by Olivier Coipel

House of M Part One of Eight

Cover Dated August 2005

Of House of M, I own all the issues except for parts three and four.  Of issue one, I own this cover, the regular cover by Esad Ribic and the Director’s Cut.

This was my first real exposure to the wonder that is Olivier Coipel’s art.  I’ve seen it before but this was the first time I was able to follow him on a series.  I still say a huge credit needs to go to D’Armata’s work with the coloring, as it looks amazing!

The Gatefold is a work of art!  Also, a fun way to just let Coipel draw a bunch of characters.

On the Left Side of the Gatefold – Havok, Dazzler (in an outfit she hasn’t worn in decades), She-Hulk, Cloak, Daredevil, Hank Pym as Yellow Jacket, Storm, Doctor Strange, Falcon, Gambit, Sentry and Wolverine.

The middle and the actual cover – Mockingbird (right?), Emma Frost, Nightcrawler, Wasp, Luke Cage, Cyclops, not sure who that cat lady is above Cannonball, Spider-Woman, the idiot that is Wonder Man and Xavier in the middle.  Kitty (making a face I rather she wasn’t) and she is next to Captain America!  Look how much bigger he is than her!  I know people don’t like the way Coipel draws characters with pudgy faces but it works for me for whatever reason.

Right side of the cover – Forge (maybe?), Bishop, Beast, Moon Knight, Mystique, Rogue, Iron Fist, the worst that is Colossus, Warbird, Iron Man and Spider-Man.

Not bad, I just can’t name one character outfit.

On the inside of the gatefold is an ad for the Man-Thing film, which I still haven’t seen.

Issue opens with Wanda giving birth.  Now that I’ve experience this (via watching one happen inches away from me) her first son coming out belly down, isn’t great but he is colored paler than the second son, so that’s a nice touch on D’Armata’s part.  Second son is coming out, back down and head first so that’s the preferred way.

Wanda loves her sons, Vision is happy that they are healthy and there are smiles all around.

Then Xavier comes into the room, demanding that she reset reality to what it really is.  For some reason, Cyclops is also part of the newborn party.

Wanda resets and remembers that she killed the Avengers (her husband, Hawkeye and Jack of Hearts back in Avengers Disassembled).  That was six months ago.

Later, Magneto (wearing his pajamas) and Xavier are discussing Magneto’s daughter, Wanda.  She is sleeping again but only because Xavier made her do so with his mind magic.  Xavier informs her father that he can’t keep doing this to her.  She is losing more and more of his ability to stay in this actual reality.  Magneto mostly just feels bad for himself as he is the worst father in the Marvel Universe.

These two scenes take place on Genosha – or what’s left of it after Grant Morrison had Cassandra Nova destroy it.

In New York City.  Carol Danvers, Wonder Man and Falcon are on their way to Stark Tower, they are wearing their uniforms under jackets and trench coats.  Under the words, New York City, eagle eyed readers can see Quicksilver (he’s under the N) – that will pay off later.

Carol isn’t thrilled with not being invited to join the ‘New’ Avengers.  The team had only recently been formed.  The general public doesn’t know that Stark Tower is the headquarters to the new team.  Also, the message was that no fly ups, everyone has to use the elevator.

Before getting onto the elevator, they have to identify themselves with real names and hero names.  Carol calls herself Ms. Marvel.  Falcon asks her about it but the word balloon response comes from Wonder Man, oops!

The Astonishing X-Men land the Blackbird on Stark.  The panel of them coming out of their plane, feels like the first time we saw them wear their uniforms in the first issue of Astonishing X-Men Volume Three.

House of M X-Men Astonishing X-Men X-Men

Now that I see them side by side, I’m not sure why I thought that.   (or included it here!)

Cyclops is getting impatient with while they were asked to come.  Also, he calls them, Wolverine’s Avengers, which if it was spoken aloud, must be said with a sneer.  Wolverine wants him to just wait four more seconds.

There is an ad for the Fantastic Four game for the first movie (I played it on the PS2).  It wasn’t horrible but I only got as far as the Diablo level then the game started not loading correctly.

The X-Men enter the room to see the assembled Avengers –

House of M Avengers

From left to right – Hank Pym as Yellow Jacket, Captain America, Wasp, Carol “Warbird” Danvers, Wonder Man, Xavier, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Falcon, Spider-Man, She-Hulk, Luke Cage and Sentry.

I really like the poses the heroes are in.  I wonder if they look at Luke Cage with jealousy, as he gets to be comfortable.  Though by now, I bet they love wearing spandex and that is more comfortable to them than wearing jeans.  Imagine living that type of live?

Kitty gives Xavier a big ol’ hug.  This is after Astonishing X-Men 12 (the final issue of the Danger arc) so the X-Men had turn their back on Xavier for his abuse of Danger.

Emma has read Xavier’s mind and knows why they are there.  I really like Emma in this scene.

Xavier wants the combined heroes to judge the fate of Wanda Maximoff.

There is an ad for the Batman Begins video game.  I never got to play it but I heard some people really like it.  I’m under the impression it is like an entire game of Predator missions from Arkham Asylum, so if that is true – I would imagine I would like that game.

Quicksilver has rushed back to his sister’s side.  His father comes into the room.  Pietro knows that the Avengers are coming to kill Wanda.  He has sworn to protect her, first from their father and now from the Avengers.  Magneto is quiet but his son knows that Magneto has made peace with his daughter being killed.  He does have that other daughter in reserve – but I’m sure it doesn’t work like that.

Back in Stark Tower.  Emma is so cold with her decision that Wanda needs to be killed.  Cap and Wonder Man won’t hear of it.  Wolverine is all for killing Wanda as well.

Emma confirms that Xavier can no longer help Wanda.  She turns to Doctor Strange, he also has not found any solutions to help but he is still looking.  This gives Cap hope and so he repeats that they will not be killing Wanda this day.

Kitty is very surprised by Emma’s continued push for death.

Emma wants to vote on it and Cap won’t allow that at all.  Plus, he makes a point of stating this is an Avengers issue and not an X-Men issue.   Emma tells him that Wanda is a mutant threat and that’s what the X-Men deal with.  Kitty speaks up that they deal with threats to mutants and not mutant threats.  Emma tells her that they do both.  Which really, I hate to take a side that Kitty isn’t on but they do both.  That is their bag.  I think Kitty was just waiting for a chance to disagree with Emma and took the first low hanging fruit that she could.

Emma goes on to why Wanda is no goodskees.  If the world found out that a mutant with reality warping abilities killed the Avengers, forced them to disband and is now even crazier, mutant relations will be thrown back to the stone age.

Wolverine wonders how many more Avengers have to die before they are willing to put two in the back of Wanda’s head.  Or one to the neck.

Spider-Man is worried that if his powers ever got out of control, that they would kill him.  Wolverine hopes that is exactly what would happen if that ever happen to Wolverine.  Which is odd as it has happen at least four times by this point and one time after this and they still didn’t kill him.

Wasp and Warbird both want to talk to Wanda, and see what she wants.  As if Wanda will be told the pros and cons and be like “oh sure, that makes sense – suicide by Avenger, please go ahead.”

They decide to go, hoping that Xavier and Doctor Strange can keep them safe.  Page ends with Spider-Man commenting that he won’t be home for dinner this day.

House of M 1 Kitty Pryde Genosha

On the plane ride to Genosha, Kitty hates the site of the island nation.  She goes on to comment that it is a reminder what humans will do to mutants.  Even though the attack was done on a mutant’s orders.

House of M 1 Shadowcat Spider-Man exchange

The heroes get to Wanda’s room and it is empty.  Emma and Xavier can’t detect her, nor can Doctor Strange.

Kitty states that they should get out of there, to which Spider-Man says “no duh.”  This is the interaction that the Proper Marvel Universe Spider-Man and Kitty Pryde have under Bendis’ pen.  Ultimate Spider-Man Annual 1 is still a year away.

Spider-Man notices Xavier is gone.  Then Emma gets a signal.

On the way to the church.  Iron Man is holding Cyclops arms up as they fly together, that can’t be comfortable.  Warbird is carrying Emma, only sightly better with the classic one hand under the legs the other supporting the back.

The church is empty and no one can detect anything.  Spider-Man tells everyone how his Spider-sense works.  He then gets a signal, leading people around.

Then a giant white aura happens, leading to a full page of the effect.

The final page is Peter Parker waking up to a cry of a baby.  His wife tells him it is his turn.  He gets up.

The last panel, we see Peter and Gwen’s wedding photo and her blonde hair sticking out of the sheets.

. . .

So with this, let me say, happy July 4th everybody!  Please be careful out there on the roads and around any fireworks.

. . .

Big Brother 16 – Joey being Alex, was sort of fun.

Was Chenbot wearing blue due to Joey’s hair and Pao Pao wearing a blue dress?

Wish the two gals’ speeches were funner but Pao Pao’s was better as Joey set her up well.

Caleb, I may not know ladies well, but I know you can’t walk up to a lady and tell her that she likes you.  Amber handled it has well as one can expect.

Joey is gone from the house.

I am glad that there were some fun interactions in the hallway prior to their votes.  Chenbot’s little sentence description prior to the houseguests’ votes are still horrible.  The writers need to give her some better material.

Chenbot’s interview with Joey, was not bad.

1st HoH – Amber

2nd HoH – Devin

I don’t care for production forcing gender heads of household.  This is going to get out of hand.

Poor Hayden, dropping at the wrong moment!  That is twice now!

Also, poor Cody, being dethrone on a technicality.

Another week of safety for the Bomb Squad.

Feel so bad for Donny being Team America.  Hopefully the curse stops at Joey.  My wife and I are Team Donny!

. . .

Independence Day film, just because I keeping wondering.  The running times are –

July 2nd – 54 minutes / Blast Ray Aftermath

July 3rd – 47 minutes / First Lady’s Death

July 4th – 50 minutes / Plus Credits

Another year of no Margaret Colin major appearances

AvX Program Guide

Posted by John Klein III on June 28, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

AvX Program Guide

They don’t list who wrote these so I’m not sure who to credit.

So AvX was happening but right before it, this free comic came out.

Heading into the event, Avenges 25, New Avengers 24 & 25 were the upcoming issues.

Uncanny X-Men was on issue 11 of its second volume

AvX Program Magik

Magik

Role : Hit-and-Run

Powers : Teleportation and Magik

Secret Avengers was on issue 26

Wolverine and the X-Men was on issue 9

AvX Program Kitty Lockheed

Kitty Pryde

Role : Headmistress

Powers : Phasing

The Brain Trust were

Jason “X-Men” Aaron

Brian “Avengers” Bendis

Ed “Captain America” Brubaker

Matt “Invincible Iron Man” Fraction

Jonathan “Fantastic Four” Hickman

The Artists were

John “Amazing Spider-Man” Romita Jr.

Olivier “Thor” Coipel

Adam “Schism” Kubert

There are previews for both issue 0 and issue 1 of the crossover.

Recommended books that I would also recommend are :

X-Men : Dark Phoenix Saga

House of M

Uncanny X-Men : Birth of Generation Hope

X-Men : Schism

Avengers vs. X-Men : It’s Coming

AvX : Vs was a fun series.

 

Avengers vs. X-Men 7

Posted by John Klein III on April 15, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

AvX 7

Story Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction and Jonathan Hickman

Script Matt Fraction

Pencils Olivier Coipel

Inks Mark Morales

Colors Laura Martin

Letters Chris Eliopoulos

Cover by Jim Cheung

Cover Dated September 2012

What Came Before :

The Phoenix Force has arrived!  Tony Stark built a “Phoenix Killer” suit of armor to stop the potentially cataclysmic cosmic entity, instead he fragmented it, causing portions of the force to inhabit in X-Men Cyclops, Magik, Colossus, Emma Frost and Namor!

In the days since, the Phoenix Five have been on a mission to reshape the world, destroying armaments, raising crops, purifying water.  However, there are still those who don’t trust the all-consuming nature of the Phoenix Force.  The Avengers launch a mission to kidnap Hope, believing that she still holds the secret to the Phoenix Force’s power.

The X-Men disrupt their plans, and just as it looks like the war will start anew, the Scarlet Witch appears, speaking of visions of a terrible future and then leaving with Hope and the Avengers.  Believing the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will never allow mutants to live in peace, Cyclops makes a vow : “No More Avengers.”

The Avengers are –

Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Vision, Valkyrie, Doctor Strange, Spider-Woman, Red Hulk, Luke Cage, Mockingbird, Daredevil, Thing Giant Man, Iron Fist, Black Panther, Wolverine, Beast, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Falcon, She-Hulk and Sharon Carter

With them are –

Hope Summers, Lei Kung and Black Panther (Shuri)

The Phoenix Five are –

Cyclops, Emma Frost, Colossus, Magik and Namor

The X-Men are –

Magneto, Warpath, Domino, Sunspot, Magma, X-Man (Madison Jeffries’ picture), Psylocke, Dr. Nemesis, Danger, Boom Boom, Velocidad, Transonic, Surge, Armor, Gambit, Iceman, Angel, Havok and Polaris.

While doing the review for issue three, I saw that Captain America is on the cover to issues four and eight as well.  To let you in on the process for picking which 14 comics to do for these Event Months, at least one aspect.  I go to my cover gallery of my collection, over at comicbookdb, and I look for all covers that I can clearly see Cap on.  Also, which covers had the shield, as then, if you see that, Cap isn’t that far behind.  If you ever see your cover gallery, they are done in a four by five grid, so not the largest images.  In this case, I overlooked them, thus, they are not on the list.  The list is plenty long enough, so I won’t be adding to it with those.  There are other steps to the process, but that is the biggest step, after choosing the character.

AvX 7 Magik 1

The Phoenix Five are all powerful and super intimidating, with how their word balloons don’t leak cosmic fire, they explode with it!

The Avengers are hiding, which Cyclops enjoys but Scarlet Witch showed up last issue, and her power somehow hurts the Phoenix Five.  So now Cyclops wants to seek her out and take her off the board.  Plus, she undid the mutant race with a sentence fragment – which is an awesome line, I wonder how long Fraction sat on that one.

Magik has located the Avengers.  She along with Warpath, Nate Grey, Gambit, Havok and Polaris are on their way.

Colossus does nothing with his Phoenix powers, he sits around and watches.

Captain America throws his mighty shield but Polaris reflects it.

Captain America shouts, Avengers — Scramble!  Which is another good line, which makes sense with Fraction on script.

Gambit tries to talk to Iron Fist and gets a shut up in return.  Danny can probably take that accent for only so long.

Spider-Woman venom blasts Warpath.

Tony Stark is in the command center.  He tells Wanda to focus her power, as he needs to collect data on how her power relates to the Phoenix.

The half page of Wanda, reminds me that Coipel drew House of M, so he gets to draw her again here.

On the next page, Magik gets her own half page panel.  She looks magnificent.  Of the Phoenix Five, her new costume is my favorite with Cyclops’ a decent second.  If he wasn’t wearing a red thong over his pants, it would be a closer second.  What’s the alternative?  Red thong, but no pants?

Magik wants to kill the Scarlet Witch, in the name of the mutant race.  It really is something Wanda needs to keep having thrown in her face, no matter how Marvel tries to distance her from the Decimation.

Havok and Polaris take out Vision, Wanda’s former husband, thus she gets unfocused with rage.

Once Magik collapses, Emma arrives.  She calls Wanda, the murderer of the mutant race.  Captain America wants an emergency evacuation.

By the time Doctor Stange arrives, Hawkeye has jumped at Emma.  He fires an arrow with a big explosion.  Emma is not thrilled by this, and straight up sets him on fire!

AvX 7 Magik P5 sitting around

Cyclops is not pleased, the end goal is to work together to make the world better.  Emma states she had no intention to kill Hawkeye.  She immediately started healing him.  Namor believes they should just kill anyone who gets in their way.

Cyclops tells him, that they are shutting the Avengers down at every turn, there is no reason for such measures.

Namor shouts that this isn’t a gang fight, it is war.  This is when I realized that Namor is as outside the X-Men as it gets.  He spent some time with Xavier in the Illuminati, but as an equal.  Xavier was never an ideal or any sort of guidepost.

Magik speaks up.  She is under the impression that they might have this power to take Wanda out as she seems to be the only person who can hurt them.

Cyclops is using the X-Birg to hold prisoners.  He claims this is a rescue mission, not a war.

Wakanda.  Cap is trying to rally.  They need wins to keep morale going.  Tony tries to make a joke, and Cap shuts him down.  If it wasn’t for Tony, the Phoenix Five won’t even be a thing right now.  A fact, I wouldn’t let Tony forget, even three years later.

Though in Gillen’s Uncanny run, he reveals that the Five Lights that will make up Generation Hope, would have been part of the Phoenix along with Hope.  Unit is the character who tells this information.  He already saw happen once, he wanted this time to see what happens when the wrong five out the power.  So Tony is only largely to blame.

Tony needs more data, and Black Panther is there to also analyze the information.  Cap leaves disgusted.

Black Panther looks over Tony’s plans for his next Anti-Phoenix armor.  Who ever pilots it when confronting the Phoenix would surely die.

AvX 7 Black Panther bitch slaps Iron Man like a bitch

Black Panther smacks Tony, like Tony was a bitch.  In the dialogue, Tony implies it was a sucker punch but the art and lettering tells a different story.  SMAK is definitely a smack and Black Panther’s arm after the follow through, is in a slap position instead of a punch position.  It is also pretty limp wristed too. 

Black Panther believes science can only go so far, they might have to mix it with magic. Tony is not happy, but he failed and now the Phoenix Five are terrorizing them, so he should shut up.

Cap gives the rest of the Avengers a set rep.  The plan is to send out Wanda when one of the five shows up.  Doctor Stange brings out Enchantments of Ikonn, who wears this will appear in the form of the Scarlet Witch.  Strange states that they are to be used selectively and only under extreme circumstances.

Cap has a team of Sharon Carter, Luke Cage, Daredevil and Spider-Man.  Colossus, Magma, Sunspot, Psylocke and Danger show up.  Luke Cage gets dragged into a portal, screaming out for Captain America.  The screams will probably haunt Cap’s thoughts for days.  As soon as Luke Cage is in the portal, Cap tells Sharon to wear the enchantment.

Sharon is the worst, as she can’t mirror Wanda’s powers in the least.  The appearance of Wanda is enough to scare Colossus into calling for reinforcements.

The Ukraine, was not familiar with the country having the need for the ‘the’ before it.  Turns out, there is a Scarlet Witch there, too.

The Artic Circle, has one.

The Pacific Ocean, has the real Wanda standing up.

I like the implication that Doctor Stange told them to only use image spell for dire situations, and it seems like everyone pretty much used it as soon as any X-Men showed up.  At least attempt a fight.

Namor fights Wanda.  Doctor Stange, Thing and Mockingbird all teleport back to Wakanda along with Transonic slipping in at the last second.  She will be the Avengers first prisoner.

Wanda powers up, and does the House of M brick separation spell, making Namor break apart.  He makes it back to Utopia, not pleased.

I thought Cyclops’ red thong over the pants was the worst design of the Phoenix Five suits, but Colossus is barely wearing a skirt / loincloth hybrid.  He has always suffered from having suits that only look good once he is armored up.  His suits would look silly on a hanger.

AvX 7 Magik Namor mad

Namor is way out for blood, and has no taste for how slow he is taking things.  Going as far as to claim that Cyclops is a fine leader, but poor ruler.

Tony believes there is a connection between the Phoenix Force and Wanda’s Chaos Magic.  Iron Fist introduces Tony to his fellow Immortal Weapon, Lei Kung – the Thunderer.  They want to take Hope to K’un Lun and give her Phoenix fighting training there.  Tony wonders if they can all go.

Namor is by himself brooding.  Emma shows up, and we get another glimpse of their on again flirtation that they keep happening into when Cyclops isn’t around and once when he was around.

Emma reminds Namor how Scott is an actual boy scout, so make world changing decisions are new to him.  Emma knows where Transonic is, thus she knows where the Avengers are.  They make out.

Captain America reconfirms that they can travel between the two planes of existence.  Thunderer states they can.  Black Panther is in the process of moving all the equipment to the magical city.

One of the Wakandan soldiers comes with grave news.  The lakes  are rising and a tidal wave approaches.  Cap knows what that means.

Issue ends with a double page splash – literally – has Namor declares WAR! as a tidal wave crashes unto Wakanda.  People are for sure dead.

 

X-Men Volume Three Issue 3

Posted by John Klein III on August 10, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

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Written by Brian Wood

Penciled by Olivier Coipel

Inked by Mark Morales & Olivier Coipel

Colored by Laura Martin

Primer Part Three

The book is broken down in two teams.

Away team is Storm, Psylocke, Rogue, Rachel, Sublime, Jubilee and baby.

X-Men V3 3 Kitty 1

X-Men V3 3 Kitty 2

Home team is Kitty Pryde, Bling, Hellion, Pixie, and Primal.

I completely forgot that Primal was still around, I only own six issues of Generation Hope.  He had that one good scene where he is on trial.

Sublime is hitting on Rachel.  She doesn’t seem put off by it.  She hasn’t really been romantically linked to anyone since her first appearance with Franklin Richards.  In Excalibur, Alistaire Stuart had feelings for her, but she never seemed to notice.

The bomb at the mansion did not explode, it released something into the air.

Not sure what other comic or who would have yelled at Bling for damaging the school, as none of the teachers seem to be the yelling type and the school gets damaged so much already.  But I get not wanting to get yelled at.

Bling should know that if you got Kitty having your back for forever, that you have a friend for life.

Once the away team gets to the hospital, there is a panel with Jubilee and baby where the baby is mimicking Jubilee’s gesture.  So cute!

I like Kitty knowing that while she has to destroy the Danget Room, it is going to be expensive to repair.  That’s what happens when you are on staff.

Seems weird, like we are missing a huge scene wherein Omega Sentinel gets control of herself again and kicks Arkea out of her system.  Like Wood could have used a fourth issue with Coipel.  But that’s okay as I would have summed it up like that anyway.  Looks like Omega Sentinel and Rogue are going to be the X-Men team for a second time.  Hopefully, it goes smoother than the first time.  At least this team now, doesn’t have any active villains on it.

Jubilee’s son’s name is Shogo Lee.  I forgot her last name wad Lee. Jubilation Lee, doesn’t get more 90s than that folks.

The conversation between Rogue and Storm harkens back to that missing scene.  When did it fet dicey?  Probably cut back to it next issue.

Next issue promises an appearance by Wolverine.  It makes sense as Jubilee added a new member to her family and Logan would take an interest in that.

There is a variant cover to this issue that I added to my wishlist.

X-Men Volume Three Issue 2

Posted by John Klein III on June 30, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

275651_20130626101719_large

Written by Brian Wood

Penciled by Olivier Coipel

Inked by Mark Morales, Scott Hanna, Olivier Coipel

Colored by Laura Martin, Matt Milla, Christina Strain

Primer Part Two

This creative team is really knocking it out of the park!  I got the Coipel cover and added the Conner variant to my wishlist.

I have been a fan of Coipel’s since House of M, which was pretty awesome.

Like most people, Laura Martin popped for me during Whedon/Cassaday’s Astonishing X-Men run.

Wood has one more issue to give us a Coipel drawn Lockheed, which hopefully is coming.

Wood is going to go the route of Whedon/Bendis/Aaron and only give their artist the “only every other three issues” rule of letting Lockheed appear.

Coipel is definitely rocking a new style in these issues than I am use too. I really like it, not sure how to describe it.  I want to say it is a more mature style but that isn’t quite it.

Wood gives us one of the first interactions between Kitty and Rachel in a while.  They have been in the same panel panelbefore but they don’t really ever talk to each other.

The Colorists make a decision to make the comic look darker on certain pages that really compliment the art.  Such as the page where Rachel and Psylocke are interviewing Sublime.

Kitty fights Arkea controlled Omega Sentinel.  Love how Kitty’s powers and skillset is used here.

I also like how adding a baby is an easy way to age Jubilee and add a new generation of mutants as we all know that these characters can’t age so we have to give them babies in a different way.

I also like how this isn’t a six part story, as it feels like we are really moving and the stakes are high.

I have no real connection to Omega Sentinel, outside of Carey’s great run on X-Men Volume One and the Facebook game: Marvel Avengers Alliance, in which she is quite impressive.

Hopefully no one dies from the bomb.