This great website is keeping track of Michelangelo’s Pieta Comic Covers. I’m going to post the ones I own.
http://www.comiccollectorlive.com/LiveData/StoryArc.aspx?id=569c572f-fdb0-4c36-bd21-e44ead5cf6a1
Wolverine and the X-Men Volume Two Issue 11, by Mahmud Asrar and Marte Gracia
Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Art Sara Pichelli, Mahmud Asrar, Stuart Immonen, Kris Anka, Chris Bachalo, David Marquez, Frazer Irving
Inks Wade von Grawbadger, Tim Townsend, Mark Irwin
Color Art Marte Gracia, Jason Keith, Chris Bachalo, Frazer Irving
Cover Art Chris Bachalo
Lettering & Production VC’s Joe Caramagna
Six months after it was suppose to come out, we get Bendis’ final issue of Uncanny X-Men! Though I can’t go on, too much, as this came out in November and I’m now reviewing this in February!
Last time in Uncanny X-Men – Cyclops tried to have a mutant revolution and it went nowhere, after one campus visit. Colossus was mad at his younger sister, as she could have undid Juggolosuss, at any time, but let him keep dmaning himself. Also, Teen Jean Grey forced Teen Iceman to admit to being “full gay.”
Jean Grey School. Storm has asked Beast to come to the cafeteria.
Note Kitty’s sweet space outfit, it will chance from time to time, even though it shouldn’t.
Look how sad or determined people look in this room. Doop doesn’t want to be there.
Iceman announces, like an idiot, that he didn’t want to do this. Kitty, regretting ever making out with the guy, gets the show back on track.
Beast picks up, immediately, that this is an intervention. Which I like how the X-Men finally got around to pointing out to Beast, how off the tracks, he has been. If only Beast had drank, smoked or whatever he means by dating (do people get interventions for dating?) those people can rationalize.
Instead, he has decided to break the laws of – physics, space-time continuum and genetics. One is bad, but one has to be triple threat, to be this ridiculous.
I wish I could tell who did these pages. I can’t distinguish Pichelli or Marquez’s art, for whatever reason. There are seven artists (minus inkers and colorists) but I can tell who the five artists are. Does anyone know which pages were which? I imagine I’m just not telling when they switched, during the intervention.
Beast, only a minute into this, has decided that this is really . . . a trial!
20 Minutes Ago. These pages, are done by Kris Anka.
Colossus, in classic Claremont fashion, destroys a tree! Kitty teases him about it, so that’s pretty great. Also, Kitty is in her classic X-Men outfit.
What does Colossus have on his butt!?!
These two do talk, like they have known each other for years. Like they have gone through some shit together – which they totally have.
Colossus turns the conversation to Kitty’s engagement. She’s surprised the news has made it back to Earth. Which I imagine, it would has Teen Angel came back with a brand new look. Kitty’s engagement would have to be mentioned, as one of the three highlights of Black Vortex.
Kitty hints that Illyana is here to talk to her brother, so he calls her out.
I like how awkward the Rasputin siblings are, it has been too long since they have talked. Illyana, showing some real vulnerability, admits that she has been training with Doctor Strange.
The faces that Colossus and Kitty make, what is that look? Surprised, mixed with disgust? They look, clearly taken back by the revelation.
It is astonishing that Xavier didn’t try to hook Illyana with Doctor Strange or Agatha Harkness, or anyone who is magically inclined. I guess, as there isn’t that many mutants who also use magic, he didn’t know who to reach out too. It isn’t like Amanda Sefton was an expert in the field – at that time. I’m pretty sure Scarlet Witch was still mostly mutant hex powers than sorcery
Colossus tells her to stop.
Bendis really excels with the whole, how people read a comic. As this is a great use of a page flip.
Colossus gives his little snowflake a much deserve hug! Look how happy Magik is!
Kitty announces that Storm is summoning them, and Magik teleports them away. So when did Kitty change outfits? This will happen, one more time.
Illyana joke that Colossus should make a move and stop the wedding, but he’s cool. Is he still dating Domino? I hope he is.
Back at the trial! Storm hints that people have approached Beast about these issues, but he ignores them and keeps on trucking. It was this or have SHIELD arrest him, which I’m sure SHIELD isn’t in the game of arresting Avengers – not with Steve Rogers running the place.
Beast keeps going on about Scott Summers.
Emma steps in, which is smart to have Storm, Emma and Kitty being the ones to do most of the talking. He relates to those three on different levels. Emma likes how this situation should embarrass and shame Beast, maybe the last tactic, will be the one that works.
Beast tries to explain himself. His ideas are so advanced, that he can’t explain himself – which is a bunch of shit. He knew no one would clear his decision to mess up the time stream and bring the Original Five X-Men to the present, so he just goes ahead and does it.
The Icemans (Icemen?) start saying the same thing, at the same time.
Which transitions us to Mahmud Asrar pages. The pages that deal with Teen Bobby talking to his present older self – which Teen Jean, in tow. Iceman makes short work of Cyclops’ new students, they didn’t really get much fighting experience.
Teen Bobby comes out to Iceman (that’s how I’m going to distinguish them). Teen Bobby asks if Iceman is gay too. I do like how Teen Bobby’s motivation to coming out to his older self, is that he doesn’t want to live in the closet, but he realizes how complicated that would make things, for his older self.
Iceman, without missing a beat, tells Jean that this is why no one likes her. Which is completely true! Teen Bobby tries to defend her, saying that people like her too much. Which I imagine is hard to prove. Who would like Teen Jean Grey? She makes poor decision, after poor decision.
Iceman doesn’t understand how his younger self is more put together than he is. Iceman tries to explain he decisions. He was persecuted for being a mutant and an X-Man, he wanted a part of his life that he could just live like a normal person. So he kept himself busy, too busy, to be gay. I guess I can understand that, but it does seem like he went out of his way to get some beards. He dated Opal for like six years! But that does happen.
Irritatingly, Teen Bobby asks Iceman what he is thinking. Instead of giving him a second to answer, Jean goes ahead and reveals what Iceman is thinking – as that worked out so well, before. If he isn’t being selfish to wanting to commit energy into making himself happy, instead of being an X-Man. Which makes sense, as one of the Original Five, he has seen how – once you are an X-Man, that’s pretty much all you are. If you try to do a side project, it will eventually bring you back to the team.
To end on a light note, Teen Bobby asks if Iceman finds Angel cute, which he does. Which is super weird, as the Angel he knows, has gone through the frying pan! I’m sure he hasn’t thought he was cute, since his original Archangel days.
Iceman wants to hug Jean but she doesn’t like how the code makes her front parts. oh Jean, you are the worst. So she gives him a mental hug, which feels nice – apparently. They are summoned to Storm.
Back at the Trial. Storm keeps coming at him. Out of nowhere, he was going to bring up that she married Black Panther, as if that has anything to do with this. Classic deflection! Plus, her decision affected, like no one. Even the people in Wakanda just saw it as an opportunity to have a party and then things were back to normal. Well, besides, Doomwar but that would have happened if Storm wasn’t there.
Beast doesn’t want to be blamed for Future Beast’s issues (from Battle of the Atom and that sequel story), as he also tampered with time and furthering his mutation. He gave himself goat legs, that have only worked for Illyana!
Dazzler, wanting to get involved, points out that Dark Beast tried to kill them, in the X-Men versus SHIELD arc. Which I had forgotten about, already. Probably as that reveal, was essentially “insert any villain” here.
Kitty just wants to be in the conversation, Beast can’t just keep doing whatever.
The New Xavier School. Location Sercret. (Still?) 40 Minutes Ago. (as they have to account for the Icemans segment). These pages are brought to us by Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger and Marte Gracia. Also, Joe Caramagna, but he does all of the lettering and production, for this extra sized issue.
The All New X-Men, including Cosmic Upgrade Angel and X23 (pre-All New Wolverine) are relaxing on the grass. Which last time they tried this, Bobby tried to comment on how attractive Illyana was and Jean told him how full gay he was and determined how he should categorize himself.
Jean wants a break, from being an X-Man. Cyclops got to have his own adventure, and she wants to see how she should define herself. Which is super ironic. Jean wants to train more, and fight less – which makes sense. Angel agrees, he wouldn’t mind some off time. He just wants to date X23, some more – I bet! Bobby wants some of Angel’s money, which I’m pretty sure NuAngel, has squandered all of that money, as he didn’t know how to spend it. Where is that guy, these days?
Hank walks away, realizing that he broke up the X-Men. Jean confronts him and FINALLY has the conversation they should have had, since Battle of the Atom, when the two kissed! Or, in that event, he didn’t want to run away with her, so she took Scott, instead. Hank is worried, about how much they have changed, in only a few months.
Jean has been reading Hank’s mind, she knows that he has been waiting for this moment and now, she is ready for it. Jean and Hank made out and in full view of Scott, who isn’t happy! Did Scott have a space honey? I thought I read somehow that he did meet a space pirate princess, or some such title.
I’m glad these little segments exist, as this non-trial would be hard to read, otherwise.
Back at the trial. Storm tells Beast that she loves him but he tells her that this isn’t love. Which is classic intervention! From what I imagine. Kitty and Illyana both tell him, that this is love. I like to think that Illyana saying it, is what makes him go quiet.
Beast turns to Young Hank, and asks how he is just standing there. Hank doesn’t like it, the Original Five X-Men were brought here, based on a lie. There was no mutant genocide. Beast tries to say that there would have been, but he stopped it by bringing the Original Five X-Men to the present. Which seems silly.
Beast goes on about Scott Summers, again.
Everyone is so tired of Beast and his breakup with Scott Summers. Beast starts walking away, he is done.
Kitty volunteers to follow Beast but Benjamin gets paged. Cerebro has picked up a unique signature, which seems weird as who it is, shouldn’t be a new detection. Unless it got a new setting or was doing a search for him, but we don’t get any additional information on that front.
This mutant is in Washington DC. Illyana teleports the entire school to the capital.
So Cyclops is in Washington DC! Also there, Kitty, back in her classic X-Men costume. What is she doing!?!
Cyclops makes a point of saying that the X-Men are the last mutants to arrive. He has gathered all of these mutants, to one location. I’m not sure he forced Mystique or Sabretooth, to be there or any of the other villains.
Look how cute Doop is!
Oh, these pages are brought to us by Chris Bachalo, Tim Townsend and Mark Irwin. I imagine Jason Keith, like Caramagna, colors the rest of the issue – outside of Immonen, Bachalo and Irving’s part (which is the last pages).
Cyclops has to explain, that he misused the word – revolution – or that he simply failed at having a unified vision.
Cyclops has clearly lost it, as he states how Washington DC is the heart f everything democratic and good. Maybe democratic, but good? That seems silly.
The real revolution is that all the mutants can be in one location and not be fighting. Just then, Magneto arrives and people are worried that this will spark a race riot. He lands and says how crazy this plan is, but Xavier would have loved it. Which makes Cyclops smile.
The last two pages, are brought to us by Frazer Irving. Tempus talks to Beast, wondering if this is the Trial of Henry McCoy, as she has been foretold about it, three times. I’m not sure what she means with this – because if this was it . . . what do you do with what happened today?” Like, there are too many words or too few words. I’m not sure what she also means “and if this wasn’t it . . . ” I get that she is trying to indicate that things are going to get much worst,
What I’m getting at, is this – the issue ends on not a great note but the rest of it, was pretty good.
There is a nice letter by Bendis. He teases that Goldballs is going to show up in Miles Morales’ Spider-Man title, that I didn’t know, and that Bendis is taking Kitty Pryde, with him, to Guardians of the Galaxy, which I did know about.
For some reason, the Iceman story from Bizarre Adventures 27 is reprinted. There isn’t anything, that I can see, that tells you where that story is originally printed or why it was included, but that’s what that story is.
Bleeding Cool News believes that the story was reprinted due to Iceman commenting on how pretty Angel is. So it is canon, I suppose. Still weird that there wasn’t an introduction page to set up the backup story.
Writer Daniel Way
Penciler Paco Medina
Inker Juan Vlasco
Colorist Marte Gracia
Letterer VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover Dated December 2009
Cover Artist Jason Pearson
Want You to Want Me : Part Two of Four
I must have been reading this series, but I don’t recall much about it.
Here is what happened in Part One. Essentially, it tied up anything from the previous storyline and ended with Deadpool watching Cyclops’ big speech that all mutants are welcomed on Utopia. Deadpool wants to be an X-Man!
Right off the bat, with the first page, we have the reason why I bought it and maybe the reason why I shouldn’t. This goes back to my issue with how Magma and Magik look similar, from a distance. Typically, Magik has bangs and Magma doesn’t. Magma usually has basketball sized breasts and Magik . . . doesn’t. The Blonde, in the New Mutants costume, looks like the confusing combination of both, that we get from time to time. She doesn’t appear later, so this is one of those, take it or leave it, situations.
http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=181455
http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Deadpool_Vol_2_16
comicbookdb agrees with me but Marvel Database believes it is Magma. Now, to be honest, I was probably the guy who listed Magik, on the comicbookdb but no one has corrected that, so I still stand by it.
Deadpool asks Cyclops if he can stay on Utopia. Cyclops says “hello no” which is super understandable.
Later That Day. Wolverine tells Cyclops that wasn’t the way to handle Deadpool. Dagger is there, as this is after the Dark X-Men. Has her costume always been that revealing? I know it has been but Medina has drawn her with larger breasts so it seems even more mature.
Deadpool is too volatile to be trusted on a small island nation but he is too dangerous to not be contained on a small island. Dagger, who doesn’t know of Deadpool, wonders what is so bad about him. Cyclops and Wolverine, in a fun moment, say at the same time “everything.” I missed these days of Cyclops and Wolverine.
Dagger, proving how much of an outsider she is, says that people say the same thing about Wolverine. How she is even in the same room with these two, I’m not even sure. Dagger further points out that isn’t this the point of Utopia, to take in those who the world doesn’t want. Dagger, looking outside, states that most mutants (at this point) have checkered pasts, and they are accepted here.
Meanwhile. Deadpool is upset as the X-Men are hypocrites. I’m reminded of why I didn’t like Way’s run. Deadpool has his classic yellow narration boxes but now he has this second white narration box, running commentary as well.
Brian Cronin explains what that was all about –
which seems confusing to me but I’m not aware of who Madcap is.
Deadpool decides he’ll show Cyclops some of his sweet moves. Just then, Mercury’s father – Ellis Kincaid – goes on live television and declares that the X-Men are keeping him away from his daughter. The United States government are powerless to do anything, so he is trying to bring media awareness.
Cyclops is watching this, standing behind a sitting Prodigy. Prodigy explains how Mr. Kincaid has been on financial hard times. That is, until Norman Osborn bought out his businesses. So Kincaid is working for Osborn, who is still upset about losing to Cyclops. Cyclops doesn’t recognize the last name, Kincaid. Luckily, Mercury comes into the room, apologizing for her father. Turns out, Ellis has been the definition of a deadbeat father and barely has any connection to Mercury. She’s afraid of being kicked off Utopia but Cyclops isn’t going to play that game. It is a simple matter of having Mercury emancipated. He’s going to call Angel’s lawyers and get them working on that. A couple exchanges of paperwork and this shouldn’t be a story, after a few days.
There is an ad for Halo 3 ODST, I only played a little bit of it – I didn’t see the big attraction to the game franchise.
Deadpool has found an abandon warehouse and starts preparing to take out Mr. Kincaid.
Cyclops and Wolverine enlist Domino to seek out Deadpool. These Domino pages, the bulk of the rest of the issue, are delightful! Domino is confused, as she has bad history with Deadpool but Wolverine believes that makes her perfect candidate.
Deadpool is sitting up his sniper post and completely ignores Domino, as she tries to offer him a place on Utopia.
Utopia, later that day. Domino is telling Cyclops the story of what happened next – as we see the events unfold. Deadpool takes note of Domino, finally, and threatens to kill her. He is under the impression that she was sent here to kill him.
There is a half page ad for Sentry’s guest spot in Moon Knight 2, by Gregg Hurwitz and Jerome Opena. Coming in October 2009. There is a full page ad for Wolverine : Weapon X 6 by Jason Aaron and Yanick Paquette.
Early that morning. We see Deadpool is making 372,944 pancakes. Back to Domino, Deadpool forces her to walk on top of a sky light. He breaks the glass under her feet and we see her land on the pancakes. To which, she slaps Cyclops for making her even go through any of this nonsense.
Domino asks about the motivation of the pancakes. Either, Deadpool would have ate pancakes with an old friend or he would have killed an old friend and ate pancakes afterwards. I like how they both do end up eating pancakes together.
One of Deadpool’s conditions of joining the X-Men, is that he wants to be able to wear his own X-Uniform. Essentially it is one of the New Mutants costumes, but with Deadpool’s name on the back – like a jersey.
Deadpool still wants to show Cyclops his moves, so he reveals to Domino that he still plans on killing Mr. Kincaid.
There is a full page ad for Incredible Hulk 603, by Greg Pak and Ariel Olivetti – which has Bruce Banner, Hulk’s son Skaar, Wolverine and his son, Daken.
Either the next issue or the conclusion has this fun moment when Deadpool makes a reference that Domino completely gets and this frightens her because she is getting a glimpse of how his brain works. I no longer own that issue but this was a fun arc.
– 
41 issues, all written by Brian Michael Bendis! It should be stated that Cory Petit lettered every issue as well, which is pretty impressive to keep the same letterer for an entire series.
The series ran from, cover dated, January 2013 to August 2015
Since this was the main flagship title, sharing the honor with Uncanny – a lot took place in this series. This is the series where the time misplaced Original Five X-Men starred. Crossover overs storylines were – Battle of the Atom / Trial of Jean Grey / Black Vortex. Other storylines include the much demanded sequel to Battle of the Atom, the Ultimate Adventure and the Utopians arc.
Art Teams were –
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29 – Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, Colorist Marte Gracia and VC’s Cory Petit
Issue five, Inker Von Grawbadger had help from Craig Yeung and Gracia had help from Jason Keith. Issues nine & ten, Gracia had help from Rain Beredo. Issue twenty-nine, Gracia had help from Jason Keith.
6, 7, 8 – David Marquez on both pencils and inks, Gracia and Petit
12, 13 – Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, Colorist Rain Beredo and VC’s Cory Petit
15 – David Lafuente on both pencils and inks, Colorist Jim Campbell and VC’s Cory Petit
19 – Brandon Peterson on both pencils and inks, Colorist Israel Silva and VC’s Cory Petit
20 – Brandon Peterson and Mahmud Asrar shared art duties, Colorist Gracia returned and helped Silva and VC’s Cory Petit stuck around as well
21 – Brandon Peterson and legend Brent Anderson (did a few pages on his own) Silva colored Petersn’s pages and Campbell did the Anderson pages, VC’s Cory Petit did all of his own lettering
25 – The All Star Jam Issue! Artists David Marquez with Justin Ponsor on colors for the Framing Device, VC’s Cory Petit on lettering duties – the other artistic talents of :
Bruce Timm & Laura Martin, Arthur Adams & Justin Ponsor, David Mack, Skottie Young & Jason Keith, Robbi Rodriquez & Justin Ponsor, Lee Bermejo & Marte Gracia, Kent Williams, JG Jones, Ronnie Del Carmen, J. Scott Campbell & Nei Ruffino, Maris Wicks, Jason Shiga, Dan Hipp, Max Wittert, Jake Parker & Matthew Wilson, Jill Thompson and Paul Smith & Bob Wiacek & Jordie Bellaire
30 – Sara Pichelli, Colorist Marte Gracia and VC’s Cory Petit
31, 32, 33, 34, 36 – Mahmud Asrar on both pencils and inks, Colorist Marte Gracia and Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
Issue 31 Gracia had helped from Jason Keith. Issue 34, Gracia received some support from Marcelo Maiolo.
35 – Mahmud Asrar on both pencils and inks, Colorist Marcelo Maiolo and Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
37 – Mike Del Mundo on pencils, inks and colors, though Marco D’Alfonso helped with the coloring and VC’s Cory Petit on lettering
38, 39 – Andrea Sorrentino on pencils and inks, Colorist Marcelo Maiolo and Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
40 – Mahmud Asrar on both pencils and inks, Colorist Rain Beredo and Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
41 – Mahmud Asrar on both pencils and inks, Colorist Marte Gracia and Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
There was a whole host of variant covers with this series so I’m not listing cover artists – not that I do but in case you were wondering.
Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Artist Mahmud Asrar
Colorist Marte Gracia
Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
Bendis’ final issue of All New X-Men and he doesn’t send them back in time. Also, this doesn’t feel like a final issue to an almost three year run.
The New Xavier School. Location : Secret. Today. The team, minus X23 and Angel, are just relaxing on the grass as Maria Hill’s SHIELD Hellcarrier approaches.
Magik teleports inf ront of the teenagers. She gets to say the classic, “To Me, My X-Men” which is awesome!
Maria Hill stops Magik before Magik can teleport everyone away. Hill wants the team to help her with a situation.
I like how Hill explains how she knew where to find them. It is the reason why cloaking never really works. Wouldn’t all you ever need to do is look for the absence inside an area? Sonar would be the anti-cloaking device.
Hill tells the team that there is an issue with the X-Men’s former home, Utopia.
A group of SHIELD agents went to Utopia and were confronted by a band of mutants. The agents have not been heard from since. Hill wants mutants to solve or investigate a mutant problem.
X23 and Angel fly back down and get a quick recap. Magik teleports the team.
Utopia Island. Former Home of the X-Men. San Francisco. Has Magik been back since losing her Phoenix portion, back in AvX? Has anyone?
I’m surprised Magik isn’t placing all of the blame on the Avengers, if they hadn’t gotten involved, the Phoenix Force’s return to Earth would have ended without much conflict.
The All New X-Men meet the Utopians – Random, Masque, Elixir, Boom, Karma and Madison Jeffries. I like how Karma is the leader of this group and she chooses to speak directly to Magik, who has to be the leader of this group. I would have loved a New Mutants reference between the two of them.
I do like Bobby and Hank enjoying saying, Boom Boom. Such a silly name, that’s what I always like to call Tabitha, Meltdown.
I like how Random is a realist and knew that they needed to have a policy about fools who would bother them.
Tensions are getting high so Jean shuts the Utopians down.
How great is that page above, great composition!
Jean really is tired of fighting mutants. Just then, Cyclops starts blasting dudes, Jean is taken down first. Magik dodges, for the most part. Cyclops starts shouting for someone to take him out and Beast is super glad to do so.
Then the worst case happens, X23 turns on the team.
The teenagers don’t really know to take down one of their own. Magik has to tell them that this is Karma who is up to no good.
Jean confronts Karma. I do like how X23 is willing to kill any and all who have tried to control her.
Meltdown starts throwing bombs.
Jean causes Karma to wake up in a mindscape. This is the first page that I notice that Asrar is still drawing boobs weirdly. Up to this point, Magik and the Utopians ladies’ costumes are more supportive to the gals so it isn’t noticeable at all but Jean’s costume is skin tight (or some nonsense) and her boobs just seem, I don’t know, artificially placed, isn’t the right word. Like he has to draw them and draws them to do it but they seem fake or some such thing.
Jean really wants to see life through Karma’s eyes.
We get that awesome effect seen in both All New X-Men issues 5 & 32, but with Karma!
We wish some of these panels were more specific. I like her origin and being part of the original line up of the New Mutants, the two Shadow King. Then we get four panels that are essentially pretty generic. Karma as a teacher, makes sense. Her training with Emma, did that happen? Is it crucial to her story? It is one of three panels featuring her robotic leg. One would think that one of these three panels would be during Second Coming but I don’t think that is represented. I was going to say her time on Astonishing X-Men isn’t but that’s what the panel with her hand is showing. Those are ice walls. Could that be Kitty Pryde in the dark shirt? I’m surprised there isn’t a panel showing her with a special lady friend. The bottom two are the formation of the Utopians.
Still, I do like the technique being used again.
The team goes to Maria Hill and they have brought the missing SHIELD agents. They do not sell out the Utopians. They call Hill on her nonsense about how she’s cool with the Avengers setting up base anywhere but apparently the X-Men need to be accounted for.
The team have brought the Utopians to the old New Xavier School, as no one is using it.
The Utopians are not thrilled about staying at a former Weapon X facility but it is abandoned and there some attempt to make it more of a home.
Issue ends setting up Teen Jean Grey’s portion of Uncanny X-Men 600 – Jean is going to try to figure out why the X-Men are always being persecuted and hated. I guess we will learn in twenty weeks.
Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Art Kris Anka
Color Art Marte Gracia
Lettering & Produciton VC’s Joe Caramagna
Delhi, India. Cyclops is confronting Mystique, who is on a bit of a vacation from herself. She is enjoying being a Bollywood star. Mystique starts playing mind games, to try to seduce him. She takes the forms of Emma, Dark Phoenix and Wolverine. Scott has had sex with two of those three.
Scott wants to know why Mystique has been so all over the place, since Xavier’s death. There was a time when she was the villain of four different titles – all at the same time. Get it together, Mystique! She would be committing minor crimes in one title and these massive month long plans.
SHIELD Hellicarrier. Maria Hill and Dazzler are having a nice chat. Dazzler never technically quit and Hill never technically fired Dazzler, so she is still a member of SHIELD in good standing.
The first of two pull out house ads for Secret Wars 2015 3 – of the titles featured, I’m only excited about Star Lord and AoA Kitty Pryde!
Dazzler wants help in seeking out Mystique. Dazzler will help but she wants full clean records for the New Xavier School students.
Mystique and Cyclops. Mystique asks Scott why he hasn’t brought up their affair together, which caused me to pause. He says it is because he wanted to keep this conversation on point but this is all she needed to know that this is not Cyclops.
Scott has been Dazzler, this entire issue! The New Xavier Students and Dazzler make short work of Mystique.
Mystique is pushed through the window and will surely die. Dazzler asks Magik to save the foe. Poor Magik, this is Bendis’ only role he uses her for.
The second pull out house ad for Secret Wars 3, has several more titles that I’m interested in – Giant Size Little Marvel : AvX, Years of Future Past and X-Tinction Agenda.
Magik keeps her word but makes sure that Mystique has a rough drop. Mystique recognizes that Dazzler is better than her as she would have let Dazzler die.
Dazzler gets on a stage, later, and sings. Maria Hill, after the show, admits to being a huge fan of hers. Dazzler needs to be the mutant liaison as she is better suited for it than anyone.
Greenvich Village, New York City. The former students of Cyclops are all outside. Celeste reads Hijack’s mind and wants him to reveal his thoughts to the group. He has an idea that they don’t need to be the X-Men but they need to do something.
The answer will be in Uncanny X-Men 600, which is strangely going to come out after Secret Wars 2015’s final issue instead of properly being done before the event. Which is so odd as Marvel should be going with a fresh start with the X-Titles instead, they are going to launch with the final issue of Bendis’ X-run and that is all he will be contributing to the line. Seems so dd to me.
Writer Sam Humphries
Pencils Ed McGuinness and Javier Garron
Inkers Mark Farmer, Javier Garron and Ed McGuinness
Colors Marte Garcia
Letterer Travis Lanham (without VC?)
Black Vortex, Chapter Thirteen
The Final Chapter!
Shadowcat narrates the entire issue, for us. Kitty has been given a cosmic upgrade but has also disappeared in front of everybody.
The combined heroes are fighting off the Slaughter Lords.
We get our first look at, Cosmic Shadowcat! I like Humphries’ reveal of what Kitty likes to do on a Saturday night. She likes to drink tea, under a blanket and watching Katherine Hepburn films. My favorites are – Philadelphia Story, Adam’s Rib, African Queen, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and On Golden Pond.
I’m glad I looked her up, as my mind read it as “Audrey Hepburn” instead of Katherine.
Cosmic Shadowcat has a different outlook on space now, all the things she hated before, seem to have disappeared.
She sees the remains of Hala, Breakworld and Earth. She reaches out and touches alternate realities of Kitty Prydes. The two famous ones are Kate Pryde and Shadowcat of Lighting Force. With Humphries writing “Star Lord and Kitty Pryde” starring the Shadowcat of Age of Apocalypse, I’m surprised that Shadowcat wasn’t on the list. Especially as the other three are just Kitty Prydes over the eyar, from her Original X-Men Uniform, to her Blue Excalibur Costume to Current one, plus the even more current Cosmic Kitty Pryde. I would have included Age of Apocalypse and Ultimate Kitty Pryde, but I can see them not wanting to include Ultimate Shadowcat this close to Secret Wars 2015. If the X-Men Forever Shadowcat had a distinctive look (or was more popular) she could have been included. Cat from Exiles is dead, so that one wouldn’t work.
The Mutant X slash Black Queen Kitty could have been fun. This may be the biggest problem, if you choose two, do you not go with a fuller page with additional ones? With Spider-Verse behind us, I imagine Marvel also wants to avoid that too. Shadowkitty would also have been a cute choice.
Cosmic Shadowcat becomes one with the entire universe. Thus, she is far better than Mastermind, when he had this same experience. I suppose that his was forced on him, and he didn’t have the cosmic power to support it.
Ronan the Accuser, still cosmically powered, has entered the fray. He is seeking revenge for Hala, which he should just be mad at everybody present. Cosmic Gamora, Beast and Warren for destroying so much of Hala and Slaughter Lords as they work for J’Son and he gave the order to rip Hala in half. Which Ronan is clearly mad at them all.
Before more fighting can happen, the astonishing happens.
Spartax and its amber coated top layer, are phased apart. Add Spartax to the list of planets that Kitty Pryde has single handedly saved by herself – the other planet, Earth. Look at that image on the bottom, how awesome that Kitty just straight up phases on a planetary scale.
We will just have to overlook or plain forget that Kitty just killed an entire species of Brood babies.
So great how the people of Spartax will know, forever, the name “Kitty Pryde.”
Look at the . . . how proud, Quill is over his lady love.
Kitty just holds Spartax like it is a basketball.
The Slaughter Lords decide now that is the time to be getting out of there.
Cosmic Kitty is now human size.
I like the possible friendship between Magik and Nova, she could use a friend that isn’t related to the X-Men.
Gara prepares to destroy the Black Vortex, she gives those who were enhanced to undo the procedure. There is a risk though, the repercussions are unpredictable.
Gamora and Warren are going to keep their power upgrades. Scott, Bobby, Groot and Beast – all agree to risk the changes and get depowered. Beast reverts back to his latest blue ape form. Bobby, instead of having his default ice form being mostly snow, is now ice. Groot seems to be bulkier.
Scott doesn’t feel any differences. Jean, being the nosy bitch that she is, reads his mind and sees that it his heart that is different.
Kitty offers Gara to join them. Kitty feels pretty comfortable offering positions in the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Look! Someone remembered to include Lockheed! This is already a great issue! He looks pretty soft there. This appears to be a Garron drawn page, I would reckon.
Corsair remains the only member of the Starjammers to be seen. In that Black Vortex trailer, they make a point of naming the Starjammers as being involved but they were barely on four pages. They may be tied with Lockheed for involvement.
Nova and Magik are still chatting about. Is Drax and Storm dancing? Rocket explains that the X-Men are taking the Hot Rod back to Earth, as he doesn’t want to get anywhere near that planet. Corsair is talking to the younger version of his former daughter-in-law. What could Lockheed, Scott and Carol be talking about? Lockheed seems to be very interested in the conversation.
Two people are clearly missing.
Pryde and Quill are floating about space, he is attempting to serenade her. The song he is singing, is “Once Upon a Dream” – which is famously from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
Thanks to YouTuber CurlySVT for hosting the video!
Kitty, even after all of her comments and thoughts about hating space and how it isn’t her jam, she has decided to maintain her cosmic powers. Which seems crazy to me! Then again, I wouldn’t have wanted to risk what would have happened if she gave it up. Especially as she was one with the universe. Kitty does have doubts about not giving it up.
Quill doesn’t care about any of that, as he plain loves her.
Quill starts explaining how much he loves Pryde. Pryde loves the dumb lug.
Bobby, who is the worst, shouts that everyone should come to the window and watch.
Quill straight up proposes to Pryde!
The Collector . . . collects J’Son. Ronan arrives on some Kree planet, I figure, and swears his vengeance!
Thane and the Ebony Maw, plan on tracking down the Black Vortex. Which Secret Wars 2015 coming around the way, I doubt we will actually get any of these unresolved threads will be tied up.
Pryde and Quill are crying. Look at that weird middle panel with all of the headshots, those look so odd.
They see the couple hugging and take that as a ‘yes’!
Look how big Lockheed is there!
Storm asks Rocket if he will be her date for the wedding. Are we going to get a wedding issue prior to Secret Wars 2015?
StarKat make out as the issue ends.
This was such a fantastic crossover! Such a nice ending and it seems like it will have major ramifications for the two series.
Writer Sam Humphries
Penciler Ed McGuinness
Additional Pencils Kris Anka
Inkers Kris Anka, Mark Farmer, Jay Leisten & Mark Morales
Colorists Marte Gracia & Marcelo Maiolo
Letterer VC’s Travis Lanham
Black Vortex, Chapter 1 (obviously)
Look, VC got another letterer!
I’m glad this official cover covers up McGuinness’ poor choice in putting Magik in that position that is impossible unless she broke her back.
Why would she be so hunched over? Stand up straight, young lady!
After months of build up and hype, Black Vortex begins!
Issue opens with Quill wondering if anyone wants to try the Black Vortex? Did they steal it in an issue that I missed? I remember issue eight of his series with Kitty wanting to steal it.
Twelve Billion Years Ago. Planet Viscardi. A rocket ship is blasting off in front of a Celestrial. Apparently, the aliens of the planet have been trying to get pass the Celestrial as it keeps eye blasting the ships. Gara, of the Viscardi, shouts at the Celestrial – that she calls, Godhead. Within four generations, they went from the caves to the sky. Nine rockets later, she is losing her mind, a little. She wants to live out in the stars, and she doesn’t understand why their god isn’t impress with their efforts. The Godhead turns its head, for the first time in forever, and creates the Black Vortex right in front of her. She sees her reflection, and older version of herself.
The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. Storm wants Beast to fix what he broke, she wants him to return the Original X-Men back to their proper time period. I bet that once they left the school, he hasn’t given them much thought.
I like how every character gets a quick introduction caption, that was so great and useful when Fraction was on the books. Magik’s caption reads “Illyana Rasputin aka Magik, Demon-Witch Teleporter” which pretty much sums her up.
Magik teleports the All New X-Men in front of Storm and Beast. Magik tells Beast that Professor K is summoning him to outer space.
Bobby is way to excited to see these two fallen X-Men. Such a great exchange between Magik and Bobby, she wants him to recite what she told him about his attitude. “Be the terror you wish to be in the world.” I can see her saying that and I can see him repeating that to himself, constantly.
I really like Magik ignoring Storm, as she should. Beast wants to know why Kitty is in outer space. Magik doesn’t approve of Quill, for some reason – I imagine it is because she doesn’t want to lose her best friend to outer space. Magik tells him that Kitty will explain herself.
The Guardians of the Galaxy, minus Quill but including Agent Venom and Captain Marvel – are playing a universal version of Dungeons and Dragons. Rocket is the Dungeon Master, for copyright purposes, he is called – The Game Master.
Quill interrupts the game with a phone call, which annoys them all. I like how the Guardians have a Game Night, that seems pretty awesome.
Quill is in big big trouble and needs his team. We begin the sequence of how they came about having the Black Vortex. They snuck back onto his father’s floating base through the laundry – which apparently smells worst after it is clean than it did when it was dirty
Kitty’s character caption reads “Kitty Pryde, Intangible, X-Genius. Good Girl, Usually” which also sums her up rather well.
Kitty points a gun at the laundry folks and they steal their uniforms. Quill informs the Guardians that Mr. Knife is his own father. Quill admits that if he had her powers, he would never stop stealing, which she kisses him. This whole adventure is pretty exciting, I suppose.
They phase their faces through a wall to see . . . J-Son, Thane and someone about to touch the Black Vortex, the last remaining Blood Brother. Blood Brother stare into the Black Vortex.
He becomes a massive version of himself! He joins the rest of the Slaughter Squad, who are now called – Slaughter Lords! Which I appreciiate having the characters renamed, as I still can’t keep their names in my head. Father Diablo, Delphina, Czar Doon and Misa the Hunter. They have all stared deeply into the Black Vortex and received massive power upgrades. Why J-Son hasn’t powered himself up yet, is beyond me.
Kitty recognizes the villains.
Quill wants to escape and forget this galaxy ever existed. Kitty, being a hero, needs to do something about the new threat.
J-Son explains to Thane, if he wants the power, he has to submit to the cosmos and to his true potential. He begins to submit.
Just then, StarKat surprises J-Son and Thane and phases the Black Vortex through the floor.
I like Misa the Hunter stating her own name, that saves me having to flip back a page. Misa knows where they are heading, so J-Son can take his time following.
There is an ad for Spider-Woman 5, with Jessica Drew’s new costume – which I’m not really loving. Seems like someone really wanted to give her a Spider-Man style shirt.
Planet Spartax. Quill is not happy that no one is paying him attention as the others are taking the time to catch up.
Gamora, X23 and Flash are comparing sharpness of weapons.
Storm makes fun of Kitty for dating yet another Peter. Illyana refers to how Kitty’s hamster growing up was named, Peter. It is all related.
Bobby tries to make fun of Groot.
Beast and Carol hug as it has been far too long, I like how she lifts him.
Beast wants to inspect the Black Vortex and Quill takes the time to make a Disney’s Beauty and the Beast reference. As oppose to the awesome Ron Perlman / Linda Hamilton Beauty and the Beast. Such a great theme song!
The children of the orphanage come out to see what all of the superhero types are doing on their front lawn.
Kitty calls him, Dr. McCoy and Beast calls her, Space Commander Kitty – in a very cute exchange.
Rocket wants to see what his Black Vortex version would look like.
One of the kids is staring deeply into the Black Vortex, Storm takes a look and sees her version. She apparently has desires to destroy planets.
Planet Viscardi. One Year After the Advent of the Black Vortex. Gara has killed the last of her species, after they all got turned. After she kills him, she turns to Godhead who is not impressed and leaves.
Back on Spartax. Gamora wants to try the mirror but Storm says no. I like how Gamora doesn’t know who Storm is, and doesn’t feel the need to take anything she says seriously. Bobby isn’t taking this seriously.
I like these first hints that those in live in space know how important true power is and those who live on Earth, want to shut down this power source.
Carol wants to consider keeping the Black Vortex around, in just case.
The Slaughter Lords appear and they want their mirror back. I adore Kitty not backing down. Carol puts on her Captain Marvel helmet, one must always think – safety first!
Ma Savage takes a gun out and threatens to shoot them all, and Quill tries to get her to wrangle all the children back inside.
Gamora, being the smart one of the group, grabs the Black Vortex.
Kitty gives the command to keep the Slaughter Lords away from the mirror.
Look how happy X23 is!
Quill instructs Lydia to call for help. I’m not sure who else is out there in space? Oh, Cyclops & the Starjammers and Nova are, that makes sense. I saw that Silver Surfer has a title now, I’m not sure why he didn’t get involved in this. He’s the one hold out of the cosmic titles. I guess Marvel didn’t want to force all of the cosmic readers to take part in a crossover, so Silver Surfer is there for those who don’t want a massive story to follow.
Issue ends with Gamora having been powered up by the Black Vortex and she looks awesome, now that she has a cloak and galaxy styled clothes.
From the checklist, this looks to be a 13 part story.
We are off to a great start with this storyline.
Cover Dated December 2012
By the time this issue came out, AvX was over so this miniseries had a chance to just have fun with itself.
I own it for the very funny – Spider-Woman vs X-Women (Kinda) via Hawkeye’s imagination. Because he was dating her at the time.
Storytellers Jeph Loeb and Arthur Adams
Colors Marte Gracia
Letters ComiCraft’s Albert Deschesne
I own the overall issue because of Lockheed on the bottom right corner there. Who knows why he was included, but I’m glad he was.
The winner is us, because of the Lockheed appearance!
Other stories include :
Hope v Scarlet Witch
Cyclops v Captain America, arguing like children, it includes name calling
AvX : Science Battle, which I’m including due to us celebrating Ant-Man Month!
by Kathryn and Stuart Immonen, Marte Gracia and VC’s Joe Caramagna
Captain America v Havok
Red Hulk v Domino
Toad v Jarvis, because Toad was the janitor at the Jean Grey School at this time
The above Spider-Woman v X-Women
Iron Fist v Iceman
Squirrel Girl v Pixie, which is pretty cute
. . .
Yesterday, we passed our Total Views of our Home Page / Archives, from last year! So now all of you great visitors are just adding to making next year’s goal harder to hit! But seriously, thanks to you all for coming to this blog and making it a continued success! I really appreciate it!
Just the other day, I was feeling pretty good with typing away a review post and realizing how much I enjoy doing it. I really should have started this blog months earlier but I’m glad that I have this creative outlook now.
Thanks again!
Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Artist Mahmud Asrar
Colorist Marte Gracia
Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
Issue opens with Doctor Doom standing over the fallen X-Men.
Doom lifts Spider-Man up, he is very impress with Norman Osborn and wants to learn what he knows about genetics. Doom is willing to dissect Spider-Man to learn the secrets, a threat that doesn’t happen in many comics.
All New Jean starts trying to play mind games with Van Damme, sadly, this is the first Doom she has ever met. He starts blasting at her. Van Damme claims he is the Sorcerer and Scientist Supreme of the Ultimate Universe. I believe Hank Pym is the Scientist Supreme of the Proper Marvel Universe and of course, Doctor Strange is the proper Sorcerer Supreme. Neither are alive in the Ultimate Universe. Jean tells him that she isn’t trying to win, she is only trying to distract him.
Jean was waking up the X-Men. The Icemen freeze Van Damme, Storm lightning strikes him and the Jeans psychic hit him. Shadowcat is about to phase him out of his armor.
Instead of being defeated by the greatest X-Man, he blows himself up. The X-Men are not sure if what they saw really happened.
Beast wants his revenge on Van Damme and asks X23 to watch his back. He instructs the others to destroy as many Doombots as possible.
Beast totally blew up Castle Van Damme! That is pretty cool. All New Bobby wants to go home.
Meanwhile, the Ultimate Female Access (she looks much younger here) is viewing the Old Man Logan timeline. Which I imagine Bendis knew he was going to be doing an Old Man Logan tie-in for Secret Wars 2015 and giving us a slight taste of it here. I guess he didn’t write Logan out of character, from what I can tell. Was Thing in that storyline? She shuts it down before the page ends.
She opens another portal and sees Volstagg of Asgard.
All New Jean calls the young mutant, Carmen, and we are all reminded about her name now. Her full name is, Carmen Cruise, I love that alliteration. Which now that I think of it, Bendis does do quite often, makes the characters seem like they are instantly classic.
I like Beast’s “this is not a dream or imaginary story” line. Ultimate Iceman wants the All New X-Men to go back home.
I guess Carmen is like Access, and she is constant in all universes but she was in high school or college, right? She looks like a young kid here.
Jean tells Carmen that is all things; a key, a door and a path.
The Jeans are going to calm and guide her. I like that X23 has a plan for if anything comes out of portals. They are not expecting Carmen to get it right. What are the Jeans looking for exactly, when they open a portal? The X-Men at the Jean Grey School, listening to Xavier’s Last Will and Testament? Spider-Man wants to know what X23 thinks is going to pop out of a portal.
The first portal they open together leads to House of M. I do not see HoM Kitty there, only Rogue, Wolverine and Spider-Man. Kitty should be at that final fight. Is House of M a dimension that one can get to? I guess we have revisited there in this storyline and various other miniseries such as, House of M : Civil War. Makes sense that Bendis would feel comfortable showing one of his few Alternate Universes that he created.
Ultimate Shadowcat swears, she’s been hanging out with Bombshell to much!
I don’t recognize that universe with demons or some such nonsense. Apparently they are the Horsemen of Apocalypse from Bendis’ opening arc on Avengers (Volume Four) with all of the time travel and alternate universes. Apocalypse and his horsepeople are – Red Hulk, Wolverine, Spider-Man (with the arms) and Scarlet Witch.
Poor James Howlett, must be constantly disappointed that he doesn’t have alternate versions of himself, they are all his father.
Beast tries to give some advice and Carmen tries one more time.
All New Jean sees Superior Iron Man and the new Thor. She reads Tony’s mind and confirms that it is disgusting and that is the world she calls home. All New Iceman is all too ready to go home.
The two teams are making their goodbyes. Ultimate Iceman wants All New Iceman to be gone. Shadowcat wants them to listen to her counterpart, as she sounds like a genius. Angel is worried that Kitty is going to kill her young teammates. All New Jean kisses Spider-Man, as he was a good friend.
All New X-Men leave for their world. Jean tells Spider-Man that she isn’t going to kiss him. Redheads, Miles has the same luck as Peter did. Diamondback from All New Ultimates was also kissed him. They all confirm that Iceman is annoying in every world. Which I think is pretty harsh, as Ultimate Iceman isn’t annoying at all. Well, he was with the whole Rogue / Shadowcat love triangle but that was more of a dick move than annoying.
All New X-Men reunite Carmen with her mother, who takes Carmen being a mutant pretty well.
The issue ends with Beast wanting to end mutant bigotry and he is going to use Jean to accomplish it.
| Number One Lockheed… on Star Lord and Kitty Pryde… | |
 | Luke Petersen on Bounce Patrol |
 | John Klein III on Astonishing X-Men 15 |
 | MoxieMk5 on Astonishing X-Men 15 |
| Moxiemk5 on SDCC : New Mutants @ Home |
Shadow and Flame with Magik 