and it is going to be very hard to beat this comic this year for Comic of the Year!
Gerry Duggan, Phil Noto, and Clayton Cowles finally reunites the Shadow, the Flame, and the Magik!
Plus, Joshua Cassara and Marte Gracia treated us to such a fantastic cover.
I thought it was two years since Kate and Lockheed were together, but it has been a full year to the month since Marauders Volume 2 Issue 12. Which is still way too long for my taste.
Then immediately after the third Hellfire Gala, in X-Men V6 25, we get Kate Pryde’s concern for Lockheed :
Which clearly was Duggan setting up that we as Lockheed fans, can expect Lockheed to return . . . eventually.
Well, that eventually, turned out to be seven long long months.
Issue 32 has my favorite cast of characters :
So much so that I’m reorganizing my top ten X-Men to move Emma way up the list.
Kate Pryde with Lockheed
Magik
Nightcrawler
Emma Frost
Storm
Rachel Summers
Cyclops
ForgetMeNot
Wolverine
Rogue
Which I’m still not too thrilled with my last three there, but I think its a solid list. I almost had Emma at three, but I still have to keep my love for Kurt pretty high. Thankfully Uncanny Spider-Man was a delight.
Emma was at a solid six, then I swapped Storm and Rachel around.
Issue opens with exactly where Lockheed has been staying safe :
Lighthouse Keeper Bill (as I’ve been referring to him as) makes a terrific stealth Excalibur reference which I adored.
Next, we catch up with Magik who is invading an Orchis stronghold, looking for a scientist that infected her with nannobots which prevent her from using her powers. Which I did not read X-Men 24, but I read all of Realm of X, including those datapages / lore journals, and not once did they referenced Magik having nannobots inside her – they implied it was the Asgardian land / Saturnyne’s doing that was preventing Magik from using her powers. So I guess it was both?
So Magik finds the scientist, who wants to just kill her instead of helping so. Magik looks exhausted and in so much pain, so she isn’t quick enough to stop him.
Thankfully someone else is!
We get the first of two hugs, which I share twitter friend @GraysonMaximoff’s desire for the Katyana ship to move up to the kissing phase, but that hug is so well earned. The two of them have been separated since the Hellfire Gala.
Polaris comes in for the grand rescue, she removes the nannobots from Magik, and a Stark Sentinel arrives, and the trio has to destroy it.
Emma Frost arrives, and tells them that there is so much to do, but first, she has a gift for Kate :
Which I adore not only this page, and I would love a poster of this page as well, but that Lockheed was able to find Emma, or that he sought her out first, as she would know where Kate is – as they grew extremely close during Marauders Volume One – by far my favorite ongoing series of the Krakoan Era. X-Men Volume Six would probably be my second favorite, I’ll have to think about that, but I can’t think of what would come close.
So that would be the second hug of the issue as well.
There isn’t enough hugging in comics.
I also covered this on the podcast, if you want to hear how much I loved this comic :
Thank you, dear reader, for reading, and listening, and for watching.
I started playing Midnight Suns, and been uploading my progress, as of this writing, I have 13 episodes to be enjoyed.
It has been such an enjoyable game, and I’ve been loving hanging out with Illyana, and she even considers my Hunter to be friends, which thrills me beyond belief.
Besties with bloody blades! Kate Pryde and Illyana Rasputin have been best friends for a long time. They’ve had good times, and they’ve had bad times. One thing they can always agree on? Stomping anti-mutant bigots’ heads.
. . .
If you’re going to own one comic of 2024, make it X-Men V6 32!
The Shadow, The Flame, and Magik are reuniting!!!
Kate Pryde, Lockheed, and Magik, I didn’t think we’ll ever get them back together
I think, going forward, as I’m 41 issues away from owning all of Lockheed’s appearances, I’m going to buy current books from eBay, and see how that works out.
Deadpool is lot of things these days – Avenger, Assassin, Superstar, Smelly and a Husband. He is also a mercenary and now has a group of mercenaries of his own, that he has been neglecting. These other folks make up the team that appear in Mercs for Money – a title I still don’t get. Are there mercenaries that do what they do as volunteers? Mercenaries are all about that sweet cash. Or they are undercover cops posing as guns for hire. Currently, these Mercs for Money have not been happy with Deadpool as he’s been very busy being a beloved hero. So money isn’t coming in.
This issue opens with Deadpool trying to sexually satisfied his wife, Shiklah. She’s not quite there yet. I do like these two together, they should still be newlyweds, except for the whole eight month gap. There is a subplot about how there are odd hairs in their bed. I’m not sure what that is about
Deadpool is trying to get Shiklah to commit her monsters of Monster Metropolis to helping with the coming threat. Before Shiklah can commit, she wants him to watch their shows together.
The monsters start moving out, Shiklah is leading the Howling Commandos so they are joining the fight too.
We catch up to the Mercenaries and the opening fight from Civil War II. The Mercenaries are – Masacre, Terror, Stingray, Foolkiller, Solo and Slapstick. I’m not that familiar with Masacre or Foolkiller. Masacre looks knew, he’s a Spanish Deadpool – is what I can tell. They are way out of their league, as they see the Celestial.
Stingray takes the time to proposition Solo about breaking away from Deadpool, he isn’t earning them any money. The other mercenaries are saving civilians.
Solo and Foolkiller seem to be wearing the same uniform. I remember when Solo’s color scheme was green, now it is maroon. Solo is rocking one of those 90s Cyclops head socks so his hair can breathe.
Solo and Stingray playfully save a lady and her baby. Solo teleports the mother and she throws up on him – he’s use to it. I like how, nearly off panel, she grabs her baby from Stingray.
We get to Magik’s moment during Civil War II! Deadpool refers to this team as “Doctor Strange and the Avengers of the Supernatural” a title I would buy today if it was on the stands! I like how Hawthorne draws Magik’s costume, as it really covers her.
The citizens of New York City are happy that the day is saved. High fives are all over the place. Shiklah kisses Deadpool, as she walks away, he comments again on how she has a new dog. Where is this leading to? I hope not a divorce!
Deadpool gets a text that there is a party at Stark Tower. The Mercs For Money are excited but Deadpool is only bringing Shiklah. I’m sure Tony would have allowed more people but I guess they do work for Deadpool so it is his call.
Once Deadpool is gone, the Mercs plan a mutiny. This splash page shows that Solo is in a maroon costume and Foolkiller is in a purple costume. Similar design but definitely different color schemes.
The Mercs get back to base and Foolkiller asks if Cable is going to the after party. Cable wouldn’t be caught dead in Avengers Tower. Foolkiller doesn’t like Cable and how he’s a hard arse.
Avengers Tower. Deadpool is chatting with Vision. They are discussing Ulysses as he walks up. Deadpool doesn’t buy into the Inhuman’s powers.
J. Jonah Jameson is flying his own news helicopter and it states “Fact Channel News” whatever happened to the Daily Bugle? Peter starts Parker Industries (well, Doctor Octopus did, right?) and the Daily Bugle ceases to exist? I know Jameson became the major of the city at some point but that’s about all I know. Apparently Jameson is a big fan of Deadpool (does that make any sense?) and he still doesn’t like Deadpool.
Jameson refers to the Mercs as hirelings which upsets the hirelings. Terror (Inc) breaks the television. Agent Adsit (who I remember from the previous volume) is going back to SHIELD as he doesn’t want to be Deadpool’s agent any more.
Solo brings up how they should own their own business.
A little while later. Solo has created a website, as I guess mercenaries are okay to have websites promoting their illegal activities – in the Marvel Universe. Maybe it is on the Dark Internet.
Stingray mentions how they need to get start up capital. Cable walks in with an armful of money. Apparently Cable just goes back in time with the little amount of money he has and redeposits it into his banking account and lives off of the interest. He’s finally down to his last millions, in 2016.
Issue ends on a very funny note of Stingray offering to become Cable’s new Six Pack or New New Mutants. Cable wants nothing to do with these goons.
I’m still not sure if I should have bought this issue, even if Marvel Database says I should have. We’ll get to that dialogue further down this post.
That’s right, another issue of this series that I just wanted the back up story for.
So, after Secret Wars 2015 – the world believes Reed and Sue are dead (or missing or something). Johnny joined the Inhumans and Grimm joined Guardians – so one of them made out like a loon. Then again, Johnny gets to bed Medusa, so that is a tad weird after his relationship with Crystal.
Johnny and Grimm apparently had a bad falling out. Johnny borrowed a spaceship from Carol. He got sandwiches from Tuliebitz, which is a made up sandwich place.
At a space station, Torch docks and reintroducs himself to Agent Venom. Grimm is too upset (and angry) to meet Johnny – which really puts him in a bad light. It took a few hours to get there and to go back, make the time. I get that some Marvel editor wanted the first moment with these two Fantastic pals to share panel time together.
The Infamous Black Market of Oblitus. Later. Flash is showing Johnny around. Flash tells Johnny that he is from Queens, and would like those sandwiches. Flash is doing more than showing him around, they are on a mission together.
So the wording there in the fourth panel – “Star Lord’s message said something about a dangerous job.” Then in the fifth panel, Venom says “A guy named Monlo got a message to Peter Quill. I guess he’s one of Quill’s old fences.”
First, it is weird that Johnny gives that line of dialogue, right? It should come from Venom, like it is explaining why they are there. Why would the guest be telling the Guardian of the mission, clearly Venom told Torch about it, prior to arriving there.
The main thing is this though. So is Torch using the out dated “Star Lord” title to refer to Quill, as Venom mentions Quill by name – as a subtle hint that Quill is no longer Star Lord, perhaps? Or is the “Star Lord” Torch mentions, Kitty Pryde, and then Venom talks about how the message originally came Quill. Which would make sense, Quill gets some news, he tells Kitty about it and she relays it to whoever is at the station.
I don’t know, it seems murky to me but then again, I do own this issue.
The shop keep, Monlo, use to sell items to Reed Richards. They go into the store and find Monlo knocked out. Some folks stole a space egg . . . that could destroy the universe!
Turns out the thieves were still in the store! They are the Disavowed of Galadoria. Johnny jumps into action, not caring about his flame fearing symbiote companion pal. The symbiote bolts, leaving Flash awkwardly behind and Johnny totally uncooly freaks out at Flash’s lack of legs!
Agent Venom tries to match “Flame On” and Grimm’s multiple catch phrases with his lackluster “symbiote on!” It won’t catch on like Spider-Man’s “webs away!”
The Galadorians are defeated but not without exploding the cosmic egg on Johnny. He freaks out until everyone leaves the scene then he burns off the gunk. The two New Yorkers say their farewells. Flash decides he will eat one of the sandwiches and gets a pie to the face! Classic Torch being a jerk to Grimm action! The worst!
Not a bad story, especially considering who the leads are.
This 45 page comic is broken down to two other parts. I spent so much time reading this comic at Hastings. Marvel Database said Magik was in it so I kept looking for her, I was looking for her soulsword and maybe her black glove holding it, I could not find her. They should have called this comic, Last Page of Magik, then I would have been able to zero in on her. Basically, I’m only attached to the framing sequence now. Actually, from what I can tell, the above art team handled everything but the Doctor Voodoo pages and The Wu pages.
Doctor Voodoo
Writer Gerry Duggan
Artist Danilo Beyruth
Colors Dan Brown
The Wu
Writer James Robinson
Artist Mike Perkins
Colors Andy Troy
Jason Aaron has come a long way since his Wolverine and the X-Men days.
I own issue four and I’ve added issue six to my Wishlist, which works as a prologue to this storyline that kicks off with this issue. So here is what happened since issue four, I believe. We get only the one recap sentence. The Empirikul are killing masters of magic and magical landmarks.
Eight Days Ago. The Sanctum Sanctorum. Doctor Strange’s librarian, Zelma Stanton, isn’t enjoying her task of organizing the library. One of the books melts her gloves and another one gives her a rash. She finds a book about Doctor Mystical, which transitions us to –
Now. Deep in the Lacandon Jungle of Mexico. We see an army of Empirikul, who look like short cute Stromtroopers, but with big round balls instead of proper helmets. Their name is suppose to evoke “Empire Kill” right? That’s what they do? I’m sure that is on purpose. Doctor Mystical causes a rain of sharks, which seems to kill some of the Empirikul. I like how Doctor Mystical’s Spanish isn’t translated.
Then. Zelma does the weakest transition I’ve ever seen with her just smelling gumbo and thinking of Doctor Voodoo.
Now. Nice that Jericho didn’t have to give up his “Doctor” title when he was no longer the Sorcerer Supreme. He lives New York to go protect his armory in New Orleans. I guess his brother no longer haunts him as Mr. Marguandi does now. Voodoo corrects the ghost that he isn’t Mister but Doctor now. Voodoo narrates how Strange’s magic is otherworldly, so that’s why he isn’t as strong these days. Voodoo’s magic comes from the Earth so he’s still in the fight. Voodoo is restocking as someone taunts him outside.
The Empirikul have found Doctor Voodoo. He actually does pretty well until his powers begin to fade. The Empirikul has finally weaken the Earth based magic. Voodoo is on his knees, read for death. Before they can kill him, they optic magic blast Doctor Voodoo’s armory – which he was kneeling right next to. Voodoo feels pretty badly that all of those items are gone. They turn their attention to him and do the trick again. They believe they kill him but he used Pym Particles and was out of sight. This section ends with him not knowing how they are going to defeat the Empirikul.
Then. Zelma sees tow books – Xu is burning and Doomveor is humming.
Now. A secret monastery of mystic monks trained a young man in their arts and ways. He would later return to murder them all. All but one of them, Mahatma Doom – the nega-Doom. Doctor Doom, naturally, was the one who killed all of the monks. Professor Xu arrives to provide support against the invading Empirikul.
Then. Zelma is becoming exhausted in her task. Wong recognizes the book, the Medico Mistico. This reminds him of an earlier adventure of Doctor Strange’s.
Past. Strange is chasing any leads he can to find Dormammu. Strange meets August Wu of the Coral Shore, Hong Kong’s magical guardian. Strange seems taken with her. She takes him to her home and introduces him to her husband (who is a police officer) and her daughter, Alice Gulliver. Alice is full of attitude and teenage angst. Strange later found Dormammu and found that fight. Unfortunately Wu found the demon she was chasing and didn’t fare as well. When she died, her daughter’s hair changed from brunette to pink.
Now. Alice Gulliver is a police detective who uses magic to fuel her bullets. Her captain is aware of her magic abilities, which is smart. She’s chasing some non-Empirikul villains and takes them out pretty easily. I imagine she’ll be pretty important later in this event.
Then. Zelma finds a book that stinks of Vodka, with “Kaoz” on the cover.
Now. Egypt. The Empirikul have taken Kaoz captive. I sort of like this guy. When he was nine, he ate a bear. Turns out, it was a magic bear. Oh, he’s a brand new character, appearing in issues 4, 6 and 7 of Doctor Strange’s current series. So I own all but the sixth issue, I’ve requested Hastings to find me a copy of it but it isn’t working out.
Once, Kaoz killed 20 Croatian Devil boards with only his spit. He has a magic plate in his head. His section ends with him going face first into a crowd of the Empirikuls.
Then. Zelma can’t believe there is this much magic in the world.
Now Zelma feels magic being eliminated in the universe.
Some guy, I imagine he leads the Empirikuls, is ripping Doctor Strange’s red cloak, the Cloak of Levitation.
Zelma believes that magic just died, with that act.
We see that the Empirikuls have the following mages tied to stakes – Mahatma Doom, Kaoz, Professor Xu and El Medico Mistico. Somehow, between Kaoz and Xu is Magik! How did she get taken!?! They went to Limbo and got her, I imagine?
Pretty good issue and the stakes are at an all time high! I’m sure issue seven explains how Magik was take.
Or issue 250 of Volume One, pending on who you ask. Since the Indicia states, 45, that’s the one I’m going with. I own this for
Deadpool Roasts the Marvel Universe
An Infinity Gauntlet Tie-In
Words Gerry Duggan & Brian Posehn
Lines Scott Koblish
Hues Val Staples
Balloons VC’s Joe Sabino
Special Thanks to David Mandell
How great is it that 24 years later, we are getting an Infinity Gauntlet tie-in!?! So great!
You can tell that we are about to begin a twenty page awesome story with just that title page above! I’m surprised the entire thing isn’t on the Internet yet (as oppose to other stories being fully available, maybe it is the length of it?)
“The writers chose to write bizarre versions of current characters and to include characters that had never been seen before. . . . wait 24 years” so great.
Then. Deadpool has just successfully stolen something. Inferno is coming, Spider-Man is a clone, Phoenix is dead – pretty much tells us where we are in the world of Marvel. Gosh, from 1991 to 2015, so much has happened!
Deadpool’s client is . . . Thanos, in his legendary Thanos-copter (of course). Thanos had Deadpool steal him a cosmic cube. Turns out, Deadpool didn’t give Thanos the real cube, he used it to snatch the Infinity Gauntlet from Thanos.
What does Deadpool do with the most powerful item in the universe? One Night One : Deadpool Roasts the Marvel Universe. This will be my second most favorite Marvel Roast. Deadpool does this so that he can get back at everybody that has kept him down. A lady mistakes him for Spider-Man, so he erases her from continuity. Before he can start, Howard the Duck arrives. Howard changes the marquee, as it is in his rider to – Deadpool Roasts the Marvel Universe Special, Guest MC : Howard the Duck.
Deadpool’s dais consists of – Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor and Nick Fury.
I own this entire $9.99 comic due to the one panel that Magik appears in above! Emma gets a line later in the comic and Illyana isn’t even in that panel!
Like any good roast, there is a common easy joke that everyone can make, in Deadpool’s case, it is his face. His face is pretty tore back, due to his cancer, which is pretty messed up to make fun of him for it.
Howard makes a great joke about how everyone only likes Deadpool when he graces their comic cover, as that is a boost to their sales.
There is a great panel of how the blind characters got horrible seats. There is Stick, Shroud, Daredevil, Blindfold, her mother, Destiny, Madame Web, Echo and Blind Al. I thought Echo was deaf and not blind.
The first roaster is Wolverine, wearing a Goblin Queen outfit, but he doesn’t know it. Elektra is enjoying herself. Sabretooth is not happy that he is trying to be the new Wolverine.
Storm is up next, she is surprised to see that Hitler is in attendance. Magneto isn’t happy to discovery that Hitler is sitting at the table behind his. Hitler gleefully says that he was the star of issue 26, the issue prior to Deadpool and Shiklah’s wedding.
Deadpool starts to grow tired of Howard’s antics and makes a reference to Howard’s after credits scene in Guardians of the Galaxy.
Thanks to YouTuber Eczavier Chaff for hosting this video.
Emma is tired of this silly business. I wish Magik got to be appear in that panel! Poor Phoebe, she still can’t get colorist to color her hair red, outside of Uncanny and All New.
Cable is up next and he is extremely tired of being paired with Deadpool. There is a second theme of the roast, that people are just plain tired of Deadpool.
Thor states that no one likes Deadpool, god or mortal. Deadpool’s face looks like Heidrun the Goat’s backside, which looks like Mangog’s backside. Magog does not appreciate that and makes fun of Thor via a Thunderstrike reference.
Spider-Man gets on the mic and bombs. He references seeing Gwen’s dead and her father, George Stacey’s death. He discusses the Venom symbiote, Agent Venom states that Spider-Man likes it. Spider-Man tries to fake that Doctor Octopus has controlled again. Doctor Octopus chimes in, that he is the superior joke teller.
Daredevil jokes that he has heard back things. Howard the Duck makes fun of the lame joke and Blind Al swears at him, again.
Kim, who has had forced surgery to look like a purple Nightcrawler (I reviewed an issue he was appeared in issue 38 of Volume Three). He compliments Deadpool, so Howard pushes him off the stage. Kurt, the real Nightcrawler, takes the stage and claims that being dead is funnier than listening to Deadpool.
Agent Adsit takes the stage. He chooses to not make any jokes about Deadpool’s face – instead, going after Little Deadpool. He describes it as being a hot dog that has been microwaved too long. Shiklah laughs so hard, as it is so true.
Michael the Necromancer states that he is no hero but neither is Deadpool, which isn’t the most untruthful thing to say.
Hulk is next. He starts strong, with stating that he is the strongest there is. Except in stink, Deadpool wins that. When the jokes don’t go over well, he smashes his way out of the room.
Nick Fury Jr. is next but he doesn’t know what to say, so his father steps in. Proper Nick (not the old guy from Original Sin, so this must be a LMD) states that Deadpool is the worst guy in the universe. Which, funny enough, insults Hitler.
Captain America (but also not old) states that he doesn’t get a lot of Deadpool’s jokes but ends with a cheesy joke about how Deadpool and Red Skull must share a dermatologist.
Doctor Strange says that Deadpool covers his pain with jokes and wishes that no one had to be present for this.
A giant lizard dude shows up but isn’t name checked, I was hoping he would be. Deadpool and Thor tore him a new one and now he shits in a bag, which he offers to show people. I wish we got the name and the issue number that happened in.
The Ghost of Benjamin Franklin gets a turn. He comments on how horrible Deadpool’s face is that people are ignoring the fact that he is a horrible friend and pretty shallow.
Shiklah (I can’t seem to remember how to spell her name) takes the microphone. She agrees that his face isn’t great, vampires even feel bad for him but he is the hottest man she has ever met. They have a rule, no matter how much they battle, their love making is that much more intense.
Agent Preston gets her turn, her son – Jeff – wrote the jokes. The jokes are all poop jokes but funny poop jokes. “Your face looks like a doody took a doody on it. Your face looks like a sewer farted on it. Your face caught on fire and someone tried to put it out with poop. You face looks like a wizard made a poop sword and a young knight pulled it out of a poop stone and stabbed your face with it.” Deadpool is very proud.
Deadpool finally gets to defend himself. He gets a swipe at Alpha Flight. Because he is wearing the Infinity Gauntlet, his jokes are super funny to those who hear them and everyone starts laughing. He starts taking shots at the guests. Man Thing’s table is giant size. Deadpool has never killed anyone in a wheelchair, unlike Cyclops. Though Xavier wasn’t in a wheelchair at that time. Deadpool says that once Domino is done with her guest panel, she will go back to obscurity. Nightcrawler isn’t able to teleport away, as people start noticing something is wrong.
Deadpool was making people laugh as nothing matter, as he thinks about his origins retold in five panels (the lights of the Infinity Gems). Due to him wearing the Infinity Gauntlet, he can see us, the reader. Deadpool is depress as he knows he isn’t real and his torments are due to us needing to be entertain. Howard the Duck knows who Deadpool is talking too, as Howard the Duck was breaking the fourth wall decades before Deadpool came out of Rob Liefeld’s pen.
Issue ends with Thanos, still in the Thanos-copter. Deadpool gives Thanos the Infinity Gauntlet and is kicked out of the copter.
The other stories in the issue are –
The main story, which is pretty fun.
Thanks to the Recap page, we learn that Deadpool has a daughter, Ellie, and Agent Preston has been raising her.
U.L.T.I.M.A.T.I.U.M. is going after Deadpool’s friends and family but they are being killed as they make their attempts. Agent Adsit is shot though. Flag Smasher suspects Deadpool is going to go the traditional route of over reacting and barge at them with the full fury of an animated wounded animal. Instead. Deadpool has a plan that pretty much goes as he planned it. Deadpool has everything finalized, including buying a farm in Kansas and he invites U.L.T.I.M.A.T.I.U.M. to attack him. Deadpool starts killing everyone of these foolish fools. He makes a AXIS reference by referring to his Zenpool identity. Deadpool saves Flag Smasher for last. Wade Wilson kills Deadpool, so that he can keep his friends safe and that he can spend time with his wife and child.
Six Days Later. Everyone is on a stolen yacht. Agent Adsit is in a wheelchair, so he lives.
The final Incursion between the Proper Marvel Earth and the Ultimate Earth. Wade thought all of this Incursion silliness was Avengers nonsense, which I thought so as well. Wade hugs his daughter one last time.
The main story ends with the Death of Deadpool but also, of everyone else as the Incursion of the Proper Marvel Earth and the Ultimate Earth begins.
There is a section of stories regarding Deadpool’s Pals ‘N’ Gals
Shiklah in Shiklah’s Catching Up (this credit page is what I kept referring back to so that I spelled her name right)
Agent Preston in The Family S.H.I.E.L.D.
Evan Sabahnur in What Do We Want? Apocalypse! When Do We Want It? Now!
Agent Scott Adsit in The Thwipster and the Quipster Battel the Hipsters!
Benjamin Franklin in All About the Benjamins
Michael the Necromancer in Parents : The Meeting
Then came the Roast
There is a three pages of #RIPdeadpool reprints that I wish I had known about so that I could have gotten involved.
Finally, a fun page of Clark Gregg yelling at editor Jordan D. White for killing off Deadpool.
CBR News was nice enough to ask my two questions to Gerry Duggan!
JackalsIII has some praise for “Deadpool” cover artist Mark Brooks.
Was it your idea to homage “Uncanny X-Men” #210 for “Deadpool” #38, or was that Mark Brooks? Such a great cover!
All Brooks, though I have to say that he’s working with [Editors] Jordan D. White & Charles Beacham, and they may offer input and notes on covers. The only cover I ever kinda sorta art-directed was the cover to “Deadpool” #7 and the upcoming “Deadpool” #40. At the time I jotted down my thoughts for that cover, I wanted it to land hard to send a message that we were going back to “Demon In A Bottle,” and I had no idea [Kevin] Maguire was going to be the one to draw #7 or I would have been a bit less detailed. I never thought I’d live to see a Maguire cover on a book that had my name. Most times covers show up in my email, and I just get to sit back and be amazed. Mark Brooks has done some wonderful and iconic work on this run and we’re thrilled. There’s a threat of a very special Mark Brooks cover to come, that will make people laugh, I hope.
JackalsIII also has a question about two fan-favorite X-Men.
Thanks for using Shadowcat and Magik in “Hulk,” that was pretty awesome! Can we expect one or both of them in future issues of either series?
Thanks. The two chances I’ve had to write Kitty I’ve had a lot of fun. Comics can be a lot of things, but I do believe that comics have to be fun. Seeing her prod around as an amateur surgeon [in “Hulk”] was fun. As for when or where Magik and Kitty show up again in something I write? Who knows? [Sam] Humphries has some fun plans for Kitty in [2015’s] “The Black Vortex.”
As if I wouldn’t know about Black Vortex but that’s nice of him to promote a crossover he has nothing to do with.
I really only bought this for the last page of the main comic (there is a cute one page comic strip, in the back). In classic Annual goodness, Duggan has taken the opportunity to pair up his two ongoings – so fans of one can try out the other. That’s pretty smart! Surprised he didn’t try to work Deadpool into it! I’m glad he didn’t as that would have made this something else entirely.
Once again, the Previously page is pretty essential reading. I forget that Sam (Nova) is only 15 years old. I thought Sam’s father was dead but apparently he is stranded in space. That could have came out of Original Sin. I read Duggan’s Hulk 9 (and really enjoyed it) but I barely remember Hulk in AXIS, besides when he turned into Kulh, the Hulk’s Hulk. Poor Duggan, hopefully that series of his didn’t have to get sidelined too much due to that silly crossover. During the Kulh situation, he goes to Carefree, Arizona and Nova fights him. As a reward, he is made an Avenger but his helmet is beyond repair.
Nova has gone to see if Reed Richards could fix his helmet. Reed is out but Doc Green (as I have to remember to refer to him) is there – for some reason. He apologizes for his actions in Carefree. Doc Green offers to fix Nova’s helmet, he is afraid of his secret identity becoming known.
Doc Green gives Nova a brown paper back (just like Spider-Man had to do in Amazing 258, for the same reasons. As he didn’t want the Fantastic Four to learn his identity, once he lost the black symbiotic costume). In both circumstances, the extra step feels silly. What are the chances, even in New York City, that they would even recognize Nova or Spider-Man in their civilian identities? The chances are pretty low, plus the characters would be more careful once they see the Fantastic Four and Doc Green, the next time they come across them.
Doc Green reveals that nothing on Earth can fix the helmet. Nova believes he knows a location that has the spare parts. Doc Green states that he isn’t going to space, as nothing good happens up there (the same with Shadowcat!).
Doc Green offers to loan Nova a spaceship but Nova is only use to propelling himself through space, he doesn’t know how to fly an actual ship. Nova (playfully) threatens to have She-Hulk sue Doc Green, as he does owe Nova for the helmet breaking in the first place.
In one of the many great pages in this comic, Doc Green agrees to go with Nova. Sam takes off the bag over his head and Doc Green, in a truly funny scene – grabs the sides of his face, in shock that he now knows Nova’s secret identity. Sam is confused as he shouldn’t know him, and Doc Green states that he doesn’t. Proving how silly a brown paper bag, over one’s head, is.
Nova makes some small talk by telling Doc Green some of his accomplishments. He met a cool girl, he beat up a space pirate, blew away a Chitauri fleet. His father has been captured, somewhere in space – so that wasn’t good.
Light years from Earth. Nova’s helmet picks up a distress signal, but only that it registers one. Sam believes it could be his father but we will learn more about that later. For anyone who reads this blog, on a regular basis, and knows the timing of this issue, it may be obvious but we will get there.
In a handy editor note, we learn that the bunker these two heroes are going to, was discovered back in Nova 20, he found it with Rocket. They get to the bunker, and none of the three helmets have the missing parts. Nova puts on one of the broken helmets and asks it to locate another Black Nova helmet. Which I’ve noticed that he doesn’t wear a yellow one like Richard Rider did, but I thought maybe the change was only cosmetic.
The helmet quickly shows a location but Nova wanted more time with the map but Doc Green knows where they are going. Which is, Xandar, the home of the Nova Corps – which has seen better days.
Nova and Doc Green come across a salvager, Zarihs Didisiqui, and his family. They tell the duo that the current overlord, Gron, has a black helmet – and that he is horrible. Nova offers their space ship for the location of Gron – which doesn’t make Doc Green happy, as it is his ship.
We see Gron, who is electric whipping Xandarians. Gron is excited about the prospect of getting a second black Nova helmet. Doc Green recognizes Gron as being of the race, Darkamite. After confirming a Darkamite’s power set, Doc Green uppercuts Gron across
Nova asks if that is how hard Doc Green punched him but Doc Green doesn’t keep track of how hard he punches fools. It would be fun, if he did. Doc Green examines the helmet and it has the missing part that Nova has. Doc Green doesn’t want to tell the family about the helmet but as he says that, Nova sees their spaceship fly away. Another great page and excellent pacing!
Doc Green gets to fixing the helmet, Sam takes a nap. He wakes up and tries out the helmet. It works perfectly, as he flies into space and blasts rocks. As thanks, and after he asks how long Doc Green can hold his breath, Nova grabs his new buddy and they fly into space. Doc Green loves the experience.
Knowhere, Cosmo’s Crib. Cosmo, the astronaut dog (seen in the Guardians of the Galaxy film), wakes up to two new guests. Nova wants to use Cosmo’s teleporter to get Doc Green back to Earth. Cosmo is more than happy to help, as nothing good happens when the Hulk is in space.
Nova gets back into space and hears that the distress call came from Lydia, Star Lord’s computer system on his new ship.
The Haunted Moon. We get Nova coming into Black Vortex Alpha. Look at Baldeon’s Lockheed, not too bad, as is his Shadowcat!
Nova 28 handles his own issue that we’ve already reviewed already, at this point.
Deep Space, One Week Ago. Gara senses that the Black Vortex is back in play and seeks to destroy the item.
Elsewhere in Deep Space. Today. Nova is flying home. He is remembering when he held the Ultimate Nullifier and actually fired it. That caused a black hole that destroyed a Chitauri fleet. I wish there was an editor note that stated which issue that happened in.
According to that website, it was either issue four or five – though it doesn’t state that he fired it.
Nova looks into the Black Vortex and sees a more confident and bigger version of himself, rich with power.
I really like this issue and it reminds me of how much I enjoyed issue 18 of this series, from the Original Sin crossover. I wanted to try another issue of this series and I’m glad it became part of this crossover.
Nova asks why he should submit to the mirror and is shown – he can save his father, defeat Thanos and be as legendary as Richard Rider
Meanwhile on Mister Knife’s Flying Fortress. Somehow J-Son is able to convince Thane that the heroes slaughtered his flock. Even though J-Son, literally, has a crew named, The Slaughter Lords. Piece it together, man!
Carefree, Arizona, at the apartment of Eva Alexander and her two children. Which is apparently three hours and eleven minutes outside of Yuma, Arizona – according to Google, but I’ve never heard of it. It is north of Phoenix, so that would explain that.
Sam throws a blanket over the Black Vortex, which is on Earth now. He calls the Avengers on his Avengers ID card. He is an honorary member (I imagine from Infinity) but he will be an Avenger in the Post-Secret Wars 2015 All-New All-Different Avengers.
The Free Comic Book Day issue is actually titled that, but who knows if that will be the official name of the title. Could that be the new brand name for the Post-Secret Wars 2015 titles? Instead of “All New” the titles are labeled with the even longer, All New All Different, title? At least, alphabetically, they would follow the previous series -so there is that. I’m scheduled to get the above issue through DCBS, but that lineup is sort of okay. FalCap, Lady Thor, an Iron Man, Vision 3.0 (I believe is the number we are on), Ms. Marvel and I’m excited about Miles Morales joining the Avengers. People are pretty sure that the only thing different with the Marvel Universe after Secret Wars 2015, is that Miles is a Spider-Man webslinging around New York City. Which seems to be a lot of work, to make something that seemed pretty easy to do in both Spider-Men and Cataclysm.
Jarvis answers the call, confirms that the Avengers ID has no cash capabilities (which seems lame of Tony Stark) and tells Sam that Vision is not available. Also, not to refer to Vision as a Droid.
Sam’s mother calls him for dinner. I like how his mother and sister both know that he is Nova, it never made any sense to me for teenagers to constantly lie to their guardians about being superheroes. To try to protect her daughter, she spells out o-u-t-e-r s-p-a-c-e, which, if anyone starts spelling aloud around him, my brain does this thing that it registers every letter and I have the hardest time figuring out the word that is being spelled. Like my brain overly concentrates on the spelling. Even if it is a three letter word like d-o-g.
Someone rings their doorbell. It is the Collector and his associate, Legron, who wants exclusive negotiation rights to the mirror. Meanwhile, his sister is almost accidentally submits to the Black Vortex. Nova grabs it and flies back into space, and the Collector and Legron, give chase.
Spartax. Gara senses the Black Vortex is near and takes off. Look, Kitty and Lockheed made it to this issue, too! So far, we haven’t had to miss an issue due to lack of Kitty or Magik. Kitty still wants to have the mirror destroyed.
In Orbit Above Spartax. Nova runs straight into the Flying Fortress, which isn’t Quill’s ship but his father’s. So that was a huge mistake. Thane punches Nova to his foolish face. It takes very little convincing to get Thane to submit to the Black Vortex.
Thane now looks pretty royal, which is pretty good.
Issue continues in Legendary Star Lord 10 for Part Nine. .
Shadow and Flame with Magik 