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Uncanny X-Men 472

Posted by John Klein III on August 10, 2020
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men 472

By Chris Claremont & Chris Bachalo

Dialogue Tony Bedard

Inks Bachalo, Holdredge, Irwin, Mendoza, Orlazaba, Parsons, Townsend & Vey

Colors Studio F’s Antonio Fabela

Lettering VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover Dated June 2006

The First Forsaken, Part One of Three

I own issues 470, 471 and now this issue, because Kitty Pryde’s therapist from University of Chicago – Dr. Maureen Lynsinski, appears in this issue.  I now own all ten of her appearances –

http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=38858

She is in all six issues of Mekanix, X-Treme X-Men 25 and those three Uncanny X-Men Issues.  I will review these, someday but right now, we have issue 472.  My next issue of Uncanny is issue 496, so who knows what happens in the next twenty issues.

Uncanny X-Men 472 Recap Page

Previously, Psylocke is back from the dead.  Her insane older brother, Jamie, may have something to do with her resurrection.  In Africa, Storm is doing some soul searching.  This is after M-Day, and there are some killers that are going around, killing depowered mutants, in Africa.

Rift Valley Province, Northwest Kenya.  A goon is about to kill a man, the goon wants the man’s children to join their army of children soldiers.  Storm arrives and knocks some sense into the goon.  She is running around with a tiger, which is pretty cool.  Storm tells the tribe, that she defended, that it may be time to take the fight to the source, but they are worried that would mean war.  Storm tells them that they are already at war.

The Xavier Institute, NY.  Office of National Emergency, Mobile Operations Command Center.  Since this is Post-M-Day, the government (in their brillance) want Sentinels to protect the remaining mutants of the world.  These Sentinels, will never actually protect the mutants.  The school will be constantly attack and the Sentinels are dealt with, so easily – every single time.

I do like that Valerie Cooper is running the show, she’s always been a great mutant government liaison.  Colonel Reyes, the brother of X-Man, Cecilia – is the military representative.

Uncanny X-Men 472 Dr Maureen Lynsinski

They go around, checking in on the X-Men.

Rachel is in a mental therapy session with Kitty Pryde’s therapist, Dr. Maureen Lysinski.  In the previous storyline, the Shi’ar straight killed all of the remaining Greys.  It was rather intense!  I’m surprised that doesn’t come up, every single time.

Bishop is visiting a wounded, Detective Charlotte Jones – I’m not sure who that is, I imagine someone from his District X days.  Reyes hints that Cooper and Bishop have had a relationship – I must have missed that, too.

Cannonball and Husk are aiding the mutant refugees, as the school is housing every mutant that wanted to be safe.

Psylocke and Nightcrawler are in the Danger Room.  The power shuts down, which isn’t suppose to happen.  On the scene, is Jamie Braddock, who – instead of wearing tighty whities – he has graduated to boxers with gold hearts on them.  Jamie takes care of the Sentinels.

Kurt and Rachel, who have plenty of experience against Jamie, are the first wave of attackers.

There is an ad for Marvel Legends, the Build a Figure is for Mojo.  Shame the idea for the X-Babies didn’t go through.  The action figures are – Baron Zemo (the father, and he has a maskless variant), Longshot (which makes sense), Falcon (with a modern variant), Original Iron Man (with gold variant), Psylocke and original Luke Cage action figure.

Psylocke and Cannonball join the fight but are taken care of.  Bishop puts a gun to Jamie’s head, he laughs at the attempt.  Bishop was merely the distraction, as Psylocke has used her focused totality of her telepathic powers, to put a psychic sword through Jamie’s head.  I miss that she doesn’t talk like that, anymore.

Jamie convinces his sister to put her sword away.  There is a bigger threat, that is coming.  Uatu, the Watcher, arrives, as this could go horribly wrong.

Jamie explains how he brought Betsy back.  Now she is no longer acceptable to being manipulated by beings likes Proteus and Shadow King – which I don’t think writers remember this being the case.

Once Jamie is done speaking, a hand brings him into a portal and Betsy knows that a being that is stronger than her brother – is a serious threat.

I can only imagine that everyone survives and the threat is dealt with.

Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 6

Posted by John Klein III on September 19, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Doctor Strange V4 6

Writer Jason Aaron

Pencils Chris Bachalo

Colors Chris Bachalo with Java Tartaglia

Inks Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Mark Irwin, John Livesay, Wayne Faucher, Victor Olazaba and Jaime Mendoza

Letters VC’s Cory Petit

Last Days of Magic, Chapter One

Hastings finally got this issue as a back issue for me.  If I had known about Kris Anka’s Story Thus Far variant, I would have held out for that one.

Doctor Strange V4 6 Recap Page

We skipped issue five so this is what happened.  So this issue claims to be Chapter One but then what was the Last Days of Magic oneshot, a prologue?  Now that I typed that word, I’m pretty sure that is how it was billed.  The Empirikul has arrived in front of Doctor Strange, as they have killed several Sorcerer Surpremes on their way to him.  Killed several sorcerers and magic landmarks and items.

South of New Zealand, the island of Aringoo.  Doctor Strange gets his first real taste of the Empirkuls.  Doctor Strange is so in touch with magic that he feels the effects of magic dying, all around the world.

177A Bleecker Street.  Greenwich Village, New York.  The Sanctum Sanctorum of Doctor Strange.  I guess the fight from the beginning of the issue (the previous page) was actually in New York City, the whole time.  Strange is getting a beat down that he isn’t accustom to.

Strange talks a big game but he has already taken some serious blows.

Lord Imperator, who is ruled by science like how Strange is with magic – comes into the scene.  He’s the Big Bad of this arc.  I do like how Imperator talks as if he has already won this battle and is ready for the clean up to the rest of the war.  Like most alien invasions, he’ll soon learn that Earth doesn’t just buckle before a tyrant.

Doctor Strange V4 6 Magik 1

We catch up with several of the mystical heroes of the Marvel Universe.  Including Count Kaoz and Magik in Valley of the Kings.  Though in the Last Days of Magic oneshot, Kaoz was in Egypt but with Magik, they could have teleported to Japan.  Or rather, the one shot takes place after this one panel.  This issue sort of is the mirror to the one shot, instead of following all of these heroes, we follow Strange and get a sample of these other adventures.  I rechecked the one shot, Magik isn’t in any of the pages Kaoz is, except for that last one (her only).

In New York City.  We see Monako taking out one of the Empirikul and runs off to help Doctor Strange.  Good thing he does as without him, in issue seven, there wouldn’t be much hope for the rest of the arc.

Imperator starts a villain monologue while Strange tries to summon all of the magic of the world.  The monologue lasts three pages.  Doctor Strange’s “Abracadabra,you son of a bitch!” may be the quote of the year.

Doctor Strange V4 6 Magik 2

Strange punches and punches, in the end, the only result is that Strange didn’t just use all of the magic but he exhausted himself, as well.

Poor Magik is tied to a pyre!

Like on the last page of the one shot, Imperator rips Strange’s Cloak of Levitation.

Like the one shot, we are treated to eight bonus pages of seeing what the world is like now that there is no more magic in it.

Mistress Miraculous was an escape artist who used magic in her performances.  Unfortunately, and of course, she was in the middle of an act and dies mid-performance.

Mr. and Mrs. Feedle made three wishes and became the ruling royalty of the island their cruise took them to.  Now that genie is no longer both their slave and a concept, the villager end their time as vassals.

George, of a more mystical version of the Microverse, as it seemed.  With no more magic, he grows back to proper man size and is arrested for being crazy.

We get a page of four panels, each telling a tragic tale.  I wouldn’t feel safe on a flying carpet.

Issue ends with a little girl and her talking animal friends.  Now that there is no more magic, they are transformed back to their original plush forms.

 

Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 7

Posted by John Klein III on September 5, 2016
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Doctor Strange V4 7

Writer Jason Aaron

Pencils & Colors Chris Bachalo

Inks Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Mark Irwin, John Livesay, Victor Olazaba & Jaime Mendoza

Letters Cory Petit

Last Days of Magic, Part Two

Years Ago.  And Very Far Away.  We are given the leader of the Empirikul’s origins.  His parents were scientists in a land of magic.  They put their son and the eyebots into a ship and sent him away – Superman style.  I do like how his parents’ home is all in white (and they wear white too) and then the mages start coming in and all of this red is in the scene.

They worship Shuma-Gorath, who I recognize as an established character – he has a giant eye.  He was the threat in Wolverine First Class 12.  Such a great comic, he has mostly dealt with Doctor Strange and the Fantastic Four.

http://comicbookdb.com/character_chron.php?ID=8665

I must have read him in Marvel Knights 4, Marvel’s hardest series to do a search for.

Now, New York City. The leader, does he get name checked, I don’t believe so.  The eyebots refer to him as, The Imperator, in the Last Days of Magic oneshot.  I’ll start calling him that then.

Imperator is haunting the tied up magicians.  Strange is familiar with Shuma-Gorath, he has fought it several times.  Imperator doesn’t care about Shuma-Gorath, he cares about the type of people who would worship that sort of thing.  Imperator reinforces how much he wants to rid the universe of magic.  Strange saves some brave words but Imperator is going to burn him last.

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 1

Who will Imperator burn first?  Magik!  Makes sense to start with the biggest threat.  Bachalo draws the heck out of Illyana.  Imperator finds her attractive but that doesn’t impress Magik much.

Before fire can be set to her boots, Monako arrives – who strikes me as the magic world’s Puck but with a top hat.  He wasn’t taken captive and Imperator underestimates him.  Strange wants him to run but Monako has a plan.  Monako reveals that magic isn’t dead, it is merely hiding.

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 2

Monako uses the last of his magic to teleport the captured heroes away.  Imperator, a word I just can’t keep in my head.  It usually means a great general or emperor – an empire’s commander.  Imperator is going to give Monako a world of hurt!

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 3

Strange is adamant about getting back to Monako, Magik seems to be in shock.

Imperator tells the eyebots to search the entire planet for the mages.  Smart to go to Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum.  Zelma hears the droids and goes into the cellar to hide.  Even though the door to the cellar is clearly marked “NEVER ENTER” she does it.  I imagine she didn’t read the door.

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 4

Damion Hellstrom wants to honor Monako’s memory by moving forward.  Magik wants to go back to save Monako.  Strange is all for going back, but no one hasn’t a teleportation spell they can cast.  Which is insane!  Magik’s teleporting has nothing to do with magic, that relates to her mutant powers – she has never had to say a mystic word to port around the place.  Why doesn’t she left her soulsword and teleport out of there?  Bachalo should have told Aaron that, or maybe an editor?  Maybe that’s why Illyana is never involved in these situations or crossover, she’s to powerful.  Everything turns to Strange for guidance.

Meanwhile, Monako is putting on a brave face to Imperator, who has tied Monako to one of those trees of his.

Doctor Strange V4 7 Magik 5

Strange jumps off a ledge and lands on a hidden platform, which confirms that magic is still around.  He wants everyone to split up and find as many mystical items as possible.

Magik, who can be a downer from time to time – she had a rough childhood, doesn’t believe they stand a chance.  Maybe she could call in the X-Men and the Guardians to save the day?  What are they doing where they can’t help out?

Issue ends with Monako burning on the stake.

Hopefully Magik keeps appearing in this storyline, as it is getting good.  I may have to read issue eight, even if she isn’t in it.

Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 4

Posted by John Klein III on July 12, 2016
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Doctor Strange V4 4

Writer Jason Aaron

Pencils & Colors Chris Bachalo

Inks Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Mark Irwin, John Livesay, Wayne Faucher, Victor Olazaba & Jaime Mendoza

Letters VC’s Cory Petit

My first comic of 2016!

John Livesay and Wayne Faucher are new inkers to Team Bachalo.  I wonder how that studio actually works.

I’ve been, unofficially, following this series – as I do enjoy the creative team.  Glad to finally have a reason to buy this title.  I figured I would, eventually, as Doctor Strange has been keeping a posse of magicians with him.  That isn’t all he’s been doing for three issues.

Doctor Strange V4 4 Recap

More and more, each day, supernatural forces are coming to New York City.  Magic beings are running from their original locations to our world.  Someone is killing Sorcerer Supremes.  I didn’t even know there were other Sorcerer Supremes.  I suppose, Brother Voodoo would still be considered a Sorcerer Supreme – even if he isn’t the current fellow.

Years Ago.  We’re getting a training session with Strange and the Ancient One.  We didn’t get scenes like that, in the early issues – so it is nice to see these scenes.  Strange doesn’t want to punch the Ancient One, for one – his hands are still crippled.  Plus, he’s trying to learn sorcery from him.

I do like how the flashbacks are in black and white – that’s a nice touch.

Strange throws the punch and hurts his hand.  The most important lesson of being a sorcerer is – the harder you punch, the more it hurts you.  Which sort of makes sense, that’s how head butting works.

I also like seeing a young Strange, not knowing the names of spells and not really taking it seriously.  Even though he is successfully levitating a yak, so he knows there is magic in the world – but he doesn’t quite have a handle on it.  Apparently, every spell comes at a price – sort of like on Once Upon A Time – all magic has a price.  Strange has been casting spells for a week, and now is throwing up.

Doctor Strange V4 4 Magik 1A Doctor Strange V4 4 Magik 1B

Now.  Strange is throwing up.  Which is embarrassing, as he is throwing a party.  Chondu, the other Wong, isn’t thrilled about the throwing up.  It took a lot of stronger magic, to clean up the mess.  So we’re to believe that Strange has been throwing up for fifty years?  That isn’t a great idea.  Throwing up is the worst.

The Bar With No Door.  So glad that Magik has made it to this series!  I knew she had to, as the solicts have stated that Strange was going to be keeping in touch with his magical friends.  Plus, Bachalo drawing Magik again, is always a good thing.  I would have liked, her in her current outfit but I understand Bachalo wanting to keep her in his own design outfit.

The magical inclined heroes are here to hear the bad news that they know Strange has.  I wish I recognized more of these characters.  Damian Hellstom, I know from Facebook : Avengers Alliance.  Alpha Flight’s Shaman has been in this series thus far – plus, as a X-Fan, I know who Alpha Flight is.  Looks like a guy with Cloak’s . . . cloak but with a messed up jaw, is in attendance.  Who is that next to Magik?  I imagine that is Wanda (who has also been in this series, thus far) is sitting next to Shaman.

Doctor Strange V4 4 Magik 2

Strange has buried seventeen Sorcerer Supremes.  They were the top sorcerer of their respected dimensions.  Each was killed, horribly – hours of torture that ended with being burned alive.  Not only are they dead, but their dimensions have been cut off.  Their bodies were hidden away so that someone like Strange, would have to look for them.  This threat is now coming to Earth.

Brother Voodoo asks how many Sorcerer Supremes are there.  Strange doesn’t know and the Ancient One never revealed it.  Strange sent out a call to the rest of them.  He stood around, for hours and no one answered the summons.

Doctor Strange V4 4 Magik 3

I like how Count Kaoz name checks himself.  Plus, he seems very interesting with that bear attack story.

Magik, being as great as she is, volunteers to invest in Limbo and see if anyone is taking credit for the murders.

Damian Hellstom is going to investigate Hell, which seems like a place to get some answers.

The Cloak cloak borrower is either Professor Xu or Mahatma Doom, suggests that they all mindlink so that they can be better informed.

El Merico Mistico, in Spanish, is willing to fight to the death.

Monako (none of these people are familiar to me) is under the impression that Strange brought this on himself (and them) for not being more active.  Which seems silly, to me.

Strange doesn’t believe any of his rogue gallery is responsible for this.

Wong calls the bar, there has been another murder.

Zelma Stanton, the character that brought this threat to Strange’s attention, is found the book that hit her.  When it hit her head, she had a little creature forming in her hair – it looks like Strange dealt with that.  Now she is hanging around.

marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Zelma_Stanton_(Earth-616)

 I looked it up and she is now Strange’s librarian.

Zelma is telling Strange that the book that hit her on the head – The Grimoire of Watoomb – is now blank.  She says the book died, which surprises Strange as well.  Which isn’t good, if Strange is in uncertain waters, don’t follow that guy, too closely.

Since the pages are empty, that must mean that something horrible has happened at the Temple of Watoomb.  Strange plans on investigating.  Before he can do that, he collapses.  Wong brings him to the table, so he can eat lunch.  Wong lets Zelma know, that after these years of being who he is, Strange has a very special diet.  Strange tells her not to watch him eat, once she does, she can never unsee it.  She describes the dish as, culinary afterbirth.  Which, really, is all I need to know.  Jason Aaron seems to be really getting into the day-to-day of what it is like to be Doctor Strange.  Hopefully Brother Voodoo was warn of all of this, when Strange was making him the next Sorcerer Supreme.  The food would kill a normal man and it should kill Strange, eventually.

Later, Zelma is worried about books being murdered, or if magic is being murdered.  Strange wouldn’t have thought it was possible to murder magic but someone is doing a fine job of doing just that.

Strange opens a portal, that appears to be to the ocean floor.  He instructs her to go home, as he enters the ocean.  The Temple of Watoomb is deep beneath the Indian Ocean.  Watoomb, seems like such a familiar word, I’m sure it is one of his go-to spells.  Strange is able to simply swim pass defenses, so clearly something is wrong.  A machine that disrupts sorcery stops him.  Apparently, that shouldn’t be a thing.

This reminds me of Waid / Wiering’s run on Fantastic Four.  When Reed had to fight Doctor Doom.  Reed doesn’t know magic so Strange gave him some simple spells, I believe that all Reed had to do, was repeat one phrase and had some simple spells at his disposal.  I wonder if he threw up after that?

Zelma calls Strange, via the spell he cast on her phone.  She tells him that all of the books are dying.  Her phone gets disconnected, I’m not sure how he was talking to her.  Maybe the call just appears near his head?

Issue ends with Strange, triumphant over the machine.  He makes a conference call to all mystical beings.  He was wrong, the enemy isn’t coming – they are already here! dun dun DUN!!!

Such a great issue!  I should be reading this series properly.

. . .

I’m writing this on January 9, 2016 – let’s see how long it is before it is published!

This is being published on July 12, 2016.  So seven months to see the first comic of 2016.

Like I do every year, I keep track of what the best comics were of 2016 – typically, it is always my first ten comics.

  1. Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 4

One down, nine more to go!

Uncanny X-Men 600

Posted by John Klein III on June 6, 2016
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men 600 Bachalo Cover

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!

Uncanny X-Men 600 Recap

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 01 Kitty Magik 1

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 02 Kitty 1

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 03 Kitty Magik 2

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!

Uncanny X-Men 600 04 Kitty 2

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!?!

Uncanny X-Men 600 05 Kitty 3

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 06 Kitty Magik 3

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 07 Magik 1

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 08 Kitty Magik 4

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 09 Kitty Magik 5

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 10 Kitty Magik 6

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 11 Kitty Magik 7

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 12 Kitty Magik 8

Everyone is so tired of Beast and his breakup with Scott Summers.  Beast starts walking away, he is done.

Uncanny X-Men 600 13 Kitty Magik 9

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 14 Kitty Magik 10

This mutant is in Washington DC.  Illyana teleports the entire school to the capital.

Uncanny X-Men 600 15 Kitty Magik 11

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.

Uncanny X-Men 600 Bendis Goodbye

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.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/11/03/is-this-why-uncanny-x-men-600-reprints-bizarre-adventures-27-from-1981/

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.

X-Men Age of Apocalypse Volume One Issue 4

Posted by John Klein III on May 31, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

X-Men Age of Apocalypse 2005 4

Writer Akira Yoshida

Penciler Chris Bachalo

Inkers Irwin, Leisten, Mendoza, Sowd & Vey

Colorist Studio F

Letterer Chris Eliopoulos

Cover Date May 2005

Storm doesn’t blink, she wants Charles back.  Husk is perfectly intent to rip out the X-Men’s heart so she’s going to keep Charles.

X-Men Age of Apocalypse V1 4 Generation Next 1

To make sure that nobody mistakes Husk for not being properly motivated, she retells her origins.  Generation Next risked their very lives in order to get Illyana and no one could be bothered to regroup and come back to the Core and make sure their families had bodies to be buried.

Her team – Chamber, Skin and Vincente – are all dead.  The goons in the Portland Core (I’m sure it switches back and forth from Portland to Seattle) didn’t know what to do with prisoners.

Once word came down that Apocalypse was defeated, everyone abandoned the Cores.  The Gurthries apparently heard a rumor where Paige’s body could be found and they followed it.  Her real family (who she turned her back on, so she could become an X-Man) found her when the X-Man abandoned her.

X-Men Age of Apocalypse V1 4 Generation Next 2

Storm tries to explain how Colossus (the worst) told the X-Men how only Illyana and Kate survived.

Husk doesn’t need excuses, the X-Men went to check on Bishop, they should have gone back for everyone.  Weapon X sneaks up to Husk but doesn’t get Charles.  In fact, everyone is standing pretty close to each other, not sure why no one just grabs Charles.  Kurt should just teleport in and out.  Dash and grab, as it were.

Silver Samurai tells Weapon X to stand down as help has finally arrived.  Psylocke has arrived and somehow, has become Asian in this timeline!  She hands Charles to Weapon X.

Weapon X tells Nightcrawler to teleport away with Charles, he takes offense to Weapon X giving out orders but he follows them.

The X-Men have a quick fight with the Guthries but then Magneto arrives.  Magneto has Sunfire burn the Guthries.  The two make short work of the youngsters.

Quicksilver is about to punch Husk but Rogue tells her son-in-law to stop.  Stepson, right?  Rogue tries to explain how, once Apocalypse was dead, the X-Men decided to start anew with the living and not worry about the dead.  I guess that is harsh but that’s a decision winners can make.

Rogue won’t kill Husk, just lock her away in a cell.  I guess for attempted child capture?  After giving that threat Kirika kills Husk, so that was a waste of a page.

With Paige’s dying words she reveals that Charles was bait and Sinister has larger plans for Magneto.  Rogue asks Magneto what he knows about Sinister being alive.  Magneto reveals that he didn’t save the day, when the bombs were dropping.  The issue ends with the reveal that Jean stopped the bombs, even though we saw her super die at the hands of Havok.  Also, Sinister has Jean.

I imagine the X-Men free Jean and Sinister gets his butt kicked.

. . .

With this, we end our visit to the Age of Apocalypse.

X-Men Age of Apocalypse Volume One Issue 3

Posted by John Klein III on May 29, 2016
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

X-Men Age of Apocalypse 2005 3

Writer Akira Yoshida

Penciler Chris Bachalo

Inkers Irwin, Leisten, Mendoza, Sowd & Vey

Colorist Studio F

Letterer Chris Eliopoulos

Cover Date May 2005

It took ten years but Bachalo has become the leader of an army of inkers.

Yoshida is the writer of the excellent, Kitty Pryde & Lockheed – Shadow & Flame miniseries featuring Paul Smith on pencils.

X-Men Age of Apocalypse V1 3 Recap

In the previous issues, Magneto and his X-Men are the protectors of the populace.  Their main mission is to hunt down the rest of Apocalypse’s goons.  The X-Men are no longer the ragtag group but are now a large team.

The X-Men have met a group of young mutants.  Magneto, Sunfire, Gambit and Quicksilver are on a separate mission.  Weapon X and a new mutant, Kirika have defeated Northstar & Aurora and are now on their way to rejoin the X-Men.

This issue opens with a classic X-Men playing football scene.  Weapon X and Silver Samurai let old scores surface but Storm tells them to calm down.  Like anytime anyone is told is clam down, it doesn’t work.  The two keep fighting as Kirika keeps trying to break it up and protect Weapon X.

After the game, the X-Men are watching news coverage of the Guthrie clan making a very public appearance.  Which will be the reason why I own this issue and the next.

The Guthries are Cannonball, Icarus and a blonde sister.  It can’t be Husk as she was part of Generation Next, and is believed dead.

Cannonball blasts Weapon X out of the fight and Kirika calls Weapon X “dad!” so that’s a thing now.  I’m pretty sure she’s suppose to be AoA’s X23.

The sister has the ability to grow to Giant Man height, if not bigger, so she’s a new one.  She’s able to make short work of this B-Team of X-Men.

Kurt teleports Dazzler up to the giant’s ear and she dazzles the giant.  Storm finally knocks her off of her large feet.

The Xavier Institute.  Monitor Room.  Xorn comes in to relief Rogue.  Xorn, who looks like a lady or a dude in a mask with long hair.  Xorn doesn’t like hearing that the Guthries are losing the fight and side kicks Rogue.  Xorn takes off her mask, and Rogue claims that she had died.  Xorn corrects her, it was more like “left to die.”

Meanwhile.  Cannonball is doing better in any fight that he would ever have against a Wolverine.  Weapon X tries to soak Cannonball but in the distraction, the Guthries all motor off.

The Mansion.  The B-Team comes home (it is what the giant Guthrie called them) and they get worried as clearly a fight broke out.  Storm asks where Rogue and Charles are.

With a “Welcome Home, X-Men.  Hope You’ll Survive the Experience.”  –

X-Men Age of Apocalypse V1 3 Generation Next Reference Husk

Husk is back and she is (rightfully) pissed!

Dazzler thought she died in the Seattle Core.  Husk has to correct yet another X-Fool, and state that she was left for dead.  She’s pretty upset that no X-Man ever came back, clearly years have gone by (maybe just the one) and someone should have gone to the Cores and check on them.

Issue ends with the four empowered Guthries reunited.

Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 32

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

Uncanny X-Men V3 32

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils Chris Bachalo

Inks Tim Townsend, Wayne Faucher, Mark Irwin, Victor Olazaba & Al Vey

Colors Chris Bachalo & Rain Beredo

I could go for more covers of one character with multiple costumes.  That is an awesome gimmick!

We get Uncanny back on track with this issue, hopefully!

The Xavier School, Location, secret.  Today.  Scott comes outside and sees his brother, Havok, standing about.  Havok’s face is all scarred from AXIS.  One of maybe three consequences from that event. They hug, which is nice to see.  The base is empty.

Three hours ago.  Scott is breaking the news that the Jean Grey School is going to be taking the students.  No one wants to go, why would they?  They have been told for months how horrible that school is and the teaching staff.  Hijack seems to be taking this the hardest.  It is simply nice to be reading about the students again.

Uncanny X-Men V3 32 Magik 1

Scott has decided to turn himself over to the authorites, due to his actions that lead to Xavier’s death.  Mostly, that Scott told Xavier to walk away and Xavier, instead, chose to keep playing with fire.  I imagine the authorities are going to do a quick Google search and see that Xavier has ‘died’ at least four times and shrug their shoulders.

This is the first Magik has heard about this part of the plan.

Goldballs loses control of his balls and slaps them against Scott’s face.

Now.  Havok is taking a nap and Scott is in the room, doing some packing.  This wakes up Alex, who has been sleeping for fourteen years.  Apparently this happens a lot, after a major super-power event, which is as decent of a name for crossovers, in-universe.  Poor Scott, all that he owns, can fit into a few bags and boxes.

Havok wants to tag along with Cyclops.  Cyclops is trying to take back the public perception of him.  Xavier leaving everything to Cyclops, blew his mind.  He wasn’t the guy’s son, he actually had one of those (before Legion wrote himself out of continuity) and Cyclops killed his adopted father.

I like Scott’s answers to Alex’s “what’s wrong with us?”  Parents captured and mother killed by aliens.  They had powers in a world that hates and fears them.

Then.  Scott is knocked out by Goldball’s balls.

Uncanny X-Men V3 32 Kitty Magik 1

Kitty wants all of this tomfoolery to just stop.  Magik wants Kitty to come with her, Kitty just got back from space with her boyfriend.  So is this Post-Black Vortex?  Kitty wants a shower but Illyana grabs her arm and the two ladies are off to what will most likely be my favorite arc of this series!

Emma tells Triage to heal Scott.  Just let the guy take a tad nap.

Emma isn’t going to the Jean Grey School, why would she, she should totally go back to the Hellfire Club.  Someone should make that group, important again.

Now.  Alex asks the question most of us had this entire volume, when is this Revolution going to start?  I like how Bachalo clearly doesn’t want to draw Alex’s scarred face, so he keeps picking angles that only hint at his left side.

Then.  Emma and Scott are finally have the conversation they should have had prior to this volume.  Their break up has never really been addressed.  Emma apparently asked Scott about the revolution too.

Nothing Cyclops did, has ever worked, in terms of mutant and human relations.  The X-Men fought for the dumb flatscans and they were feared.  They fought alongside them, and mutant children died.  They moved to an island and it was attacked in full force.  All Cyclops had, was threats.

Emma was willing to start over with Scott, she knew all of his motivations already.  Emma implies that she is willing to get back with him, but he tells her that he wouldn’t touch her with Namor’s trident.  Which goes to show how much he paid attention to Namor.  Why did they break up?  Was that ever really addressed?  They sort of where together under Kieron Gillen and Bendis had them broken up by the time his first issue came along.

Emma diamond forms up.  Emma has had full use of her powers for a while now.  He keeps wanting to know when her powers came back, and she keeps talking about how much she has been on his side.  I really did enjoy the Emma Scott relationship.  She has let Scott in like none before him, and they were the best of teams.

Alex is way to excited about Emma being out of Scott’s life.

People made a big deal of last issue’s cover, with Havok and Cyclops fighting, not being reflective of that issue but it isn’t reflective of this issue too.  It should have been them hugging but I guess that would have tipped the emotion of the issue.

Alex has a plan to get Scott back on track.  Scott takes a guess that it is a, Summers Brothers Pizza Parlor, and Alex wishes that was what he came up with.  There is a What If, I sort of what to read!

Next issue, Monsters!  Which has Magik and Shadowcat, being Demon Hunters, which was hinted at way back in All New X-Men 25!  The only hinted at story that people wanted to see and now it comes!  I hope it isn’t disappointing nor just one issue.  I also wish that Lockheed will be involved!  I’ms o excited!

Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 31

Posted by John Klein III on June 14, 2015
Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men V3 31

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils Chris Bachalo

Inks Tim Townsend, Marc Deering, Wayne Faucher, Mark Irwin, Jaime Mendoza, Victor Olazaba & Al Vey

Colors Chris Bachalo & Antonio Fabela

Lettering & Production VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover by Chris Bachalo & Tim Townsend

In case you were wondering about Havok being on the cover, Bendis answers that question here :

http://brianmichaelbendis.tumblr.com/post/111448922547/so-i-was-quite-thrown-off-the-cover-for-the-later

So Bendis had to stretch one full issue into this storyline.  I wonder which pages were filler?  Probably the ones that I didn’t post in previous issue reviews for this title.

The New Xavier School.  Location Secret.  Today.  The Cuckoos each take a word of – oh my god, as they can’t believe that Professor Charles Francis Xavier is alive and in front of them.  Celeste is not happy with Tempus for bringing Xavier into the future.

Xavier tries to calm the students but is interrupted by a sound.

Uncanny X-Men V3 31 Magik mention

The sound is a hologram of Cyclops, as he apparently recorded several messages one night.  This one is to be played in case all three professors are dead – Cyclops, Emma and Magik.  I suppose he had to update several of them, once Magneto left the team.  It is weird that he says his own real name, right?  Who would be present, and not know his name or would need some sort introduction to this fellow?

Oh Cyclops, he isn’t that great at naming of things.  “If All of the Teachers of Our School have Died” but he did name his competing school “The New Xavier School.”  Apparently, there is even a protocol, if the X-Jet is gone, that there is a second X-Jet that will fly the remaining students to the Jean Grey School.  Xavier will like to know where this, Jean Grey School, is.  Oh, he is in for a surprise.

Uncanny X-Men V3 31 Kitty 1

Jean Grey School.  Now.  I guess Bendis really likes his telepaths to say, oh my god.  She and the rest of the X-Men (including Kitty Pryde) can’t believe they just watched Matthew Malloy kill Emma Frost on the front yard.

Rachel sends the students a telepathic command to go through the underground tunnels to safety.  Those have to be the Morlock Tunnels, right?  I’m glad they are not putting the students in the Danger Room, as that has been shown to not be a safe haven.

Storm and Dazzler get Matty M to admit to killing Scott, Illyana and Emma.  He tries to explain how it isn’t his fault but it isn’t like he killed some C-Level mutants that one has to have read a handbook to know them, as they haven’t seen print in years.  I’m looking at you, Exodus.

Uncanny X-Men V3 31 Kitty 2

Some students charge at Malloy.  Storm unleashes some lightning bolts.  We are shown a page of Malloy essentially destroying the school – I think.

Tempus has taken Xavier to where Matthew’s parents meet for the first time.  Xavier makes it so that she doesn’t give him a flyer and they meet at the rally.  Xavier also makes the young Mister Malloy want to change schools and become a doctor.  Tempus wants to make sure that Matthew isn’t ever born.

Austin, Texas.  Years Ago . . . Xavier and Tempus go to Matthew’s house on the day that Xavier originally met Matthew and another family lives in the house.

Xavier’s School for Gifted Younsters.  Years Ago . . . Tempus asks if Xavier is worried about the Butterfly Effect, and I’m glad someone finally is concern about that.  Xavier isn’t that worried, as the world should still be spinning.  The main change should be all of those that Matthew’s father has saved, now that he is a doctor.

Great exchange between Xavier and Tempus, calling her either the best or worst mutant in the history of mutants.  Her quick response to him that he could also have those labels, reminds me that I really dug her as a character way back in the first issue of All New X-Men.

Xavier tells her that he is going to mind wipe himself, he believes he has done it before – which is a fun aside.

Xavier doesn’t want to know any of his new found knowledge of the future.  She goes on about how he should be proud of his major accomplishments.  Magneto is a good guy and there are two mutant schools.  Xavier is curious where he goes wrong with Scott, Tempus assures him that she is going to fix Scott.

This sequence ends with Xavier, maybe, erasing his powers.  Back in this days, he was mind wiping all types of fools.

Uncanny X-Men V3 31 Kitty 3

Jean Grey School.  Today.  She-Hulk goes back to reading the Last Will & Testament of Xavier’s.  He has given the school over to Scott Summers.  No one is shock.  If Scott isn’t around, the school goes to Storm.

Since he doesn’t start with the confession that he is married to Mystique, then the time line has been changed.  So Xavier Junior is not born so Battle of the Atom didn’t happen, nor does the sequel story.  Also, Exodus shouldn’t be dead.

Emma is disappointed as she was hoping to learn that he had a strange secret marriage.

Uncanny X-Men V3 31 Magik mention 2

Cyclops walks out of the room, in disbelief.  He sees Tempus standing outside and goes out there to talk to her.  She tells him that she changed the timeline as he, Miss Frost and Magik were all killed today.

Tempus gets some nice digs at Cyclops.  Calling his mutant revolution actually his nervous breakdown.  She tells Cyclops that she will be watching him, going forward.  She threatens to make sure his parents don’t ever meet up, which would change all types of history.

Hey, since Battle of the Atom didn’t happened, does that mean the All New X-Men can go back in time?  Like, the reason they couldn’t was before that present wasn’t the right one.  Perhaps?  I’m sure that isn’t the case and it all sort of builds to Secret Wars 2015.

Cyclops tells Tempus that she is out of the school.  She isn’t shocked as graduates don’t stay in school.  Man, Tempus is rocking all types of butt now.  Tempus walks out after dropping the mic in front of Cyclops.

Uncanny X-Men V3 31 Kitty Magik 1

Iceman wants to challenge the will, as wants to call Matt Murdock.  She-Hulk wants to know why him, he is the only other attorney that Iceman knows.  Which is pretty clever.

Cyclops comes back into the room and says that he gives Storm the Jean Grey School, on one condition.  She takes in the New Xavier School students.  Magik is pretty shocked to hear this.  Cyclops needs to figure out his next step.

Uncanny X-Men V3 31 Kitty 4

Issue ends with Kitty needing some clarification and Emma spells it out, Cyclops has closed the school.  So the Schism, if AXIS didn’t do it, has closed the school.

Next issue promises to be the Kitty Pryde and Magik, Demon Hunters storyline, so that must take place prior to Black Vortex.  I’m so excited!

Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 30

Posted by John Klein III on May 19, 2015
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Uncanny X-Men V3 30

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils Chris Bachalo

Inks Tim Townsend, Mark Irwin, Jaime Mendoza, Victor Olazaba & Al Vey

Colors Chris Bachalo & Antonio Fabela

Cover by Kris Anka, though he isn’t credited anywhere besides his own signature on the cover.  I like how it is a similar concept to issue 15 of this volume.  It also features all of the X-Ladies of the title, which Kitty is the only one who is missing from this one.  Luckily, not from this issue.

 Uncanny X-Men V3 30 Magik 1

Newberry, South Carolina.  Maria Hill wants the soldiers to confirm what they just said.

Devil’s Tower.  The soldiers are confirming three dead.  Poor Magik’s head garb . . . thingies are still on her head.  I hope someone picks up the Eye of Agamotto as Doctor Strange is going to want that back.

Maria Hill wants a triple confirmation, she isn’t sure if she is about to be made a hero or mutant kind’s worst enemy.

Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.  Years Ago.  Xavier doesn’t seem to be embarrassed that he is both wearing a green bathroom by the pool and that his Original Five X-Men, are not to be found.  Tempus tries to walk a very thin line of not wanting to review too much.  She is there to get Xavier to change his approach to Matthew Malloy.  Xavier hasn’t really read her mind, only got her name and that he shouldn’t pry too much.

Uncanny X-Men V3 30 Shadowcat 1

Jean Grey School.  Today.  The X-Men don’t know about poor Scott and Illyana being dead – yet.  Beast explains what they all already to know, that Scott wants to recruit Matty M.

Storm is about to talk, and Kitty wants to know what she was about to say when Beast gets a phone call.

Look how cute Doop is at that desk, just trying to follow along with the silliness.

Uncanny X-Men V3 30 Shadowcat 2

It isn’t a phone call but his portable Cerebro going off.  The world has lost two very strong and long lasting energy signatures – Cyclops and Magik.

The Black Vortex double page ad is shown again.  It isn’t until I’ve seen it again that I noticed that Howard the Duck may appear in Guardians of the Galaxy 24.  With how ladies are all draped over Quill, I imagine this is only a fun concept cover.

Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.  Years Ago.  Xavier resists reading Tempus’ mind, as he is super worried about his legacy being upended.  She really wants him to rethink his approach to Malloy.  Xavier figures out that he isn’t alive in the future.

Devil’s Tower.  Now.  One guy wants to bag and tag the skeletons but another instructs that Maria Hill wants nothing to be touched.  The first guy, I wish they had names, thinks that there really is no difference between her and Nick Fury.  The second guy has the sad duty of explaining that everything that they say is recorded and heard – while they are wearing their armors.

Malloy rebuilds himself, which freaks out the SHIELD soldiers.  They open fire and he rebuilds himself again.

Uncanny X-Men V3 30 Magik 2

Matty M is tired of all of these death attempts and erases the SHIELD agents.  He tries to bring back Magik and Cyclops, but besides making their skeletons dance for him – they are not brought back to life.

I like Matt realizing how far his life has gone in 24 hours, he is upset that he has limits – he can’t bring back the dead, that isn’t him.  He is able to bring his body to full health.  He vows to avenge Cyclops.

Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.  Years Ago.  I like how Tempus respects and fears Cyclops and Xavier isn’t thrilled that Scott sounds more like Magneto.

I really like the way Bachalo shows him reading Tempus’ mind.  The beginning panel shows Xavier’s side of his face on the left and Tempus’ face on the right.  It ends with Tempus’ face on the left side of the panel and Xavier’s on the right – which is a great way to show that.

Xavier will not kill Malloy and he is getting angry that Tempus has ruined his future and his confidence.  Xavier hints at what many think he will do with the Original X-Men when they come back, that he will simply mind wipe them and act like their months long adventure never happened.  Though with Secret Wars 2015 happening, that whole situation isn’t really going to matter.

How great is Tempus calling on Xavier’s one true status quo.  Teach one thing and then disregard that when it becomes inconvenient.

Uncanny X-Men V3 30 Shadowcat 3

Jean Grey School.  Today.  Emma leaves the school, as her ex-boyfriend is dead.  Rachel wants to force her to take a chill pill, so those two are clearly not friends.

Man, I love Kitty thinking of Magik – someone has to think of her.  She isn’t an also ran.

Uncanny X-Men V3 30 Shadowcat 4

Emma shouts, AAGGH! and everyone is forced to repeat it as her mental powers are great.  Why is Quentin Quire shirtless with Glob and Doop?  In what way can Thanos be right?  That Death is one special type of lady?

Uncanny X-Men V3 30 Shadowcat 5

The X-Men are trying to get themselves back on their feet.

Matty M is naked in front of Emma, no easy feat to do.  Bachalo doesn’t do Matty M any favors with how little and thin those lightning bolts are.

I like Bendis handling that Emma doesn’t know who this guy is.  I doubt Storm has got to describing him to the team.

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I don’t get why him being there when Scott died justifies punching him in the face.  At least she wasn’t diamond form up.  He responds by breaking her neck, which is super harsh!

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No one is happy with Matthew Malloy, who tries to explain that he can’t undo what he just did.

The New Xavier School.  Today.  Goldballs wants to know if anyone has seen Tempus.  Hijack wants to know what is going on, none of the grown ups are around to explain anything.  I like Bendis trying to remind us that the All New X-Men in the Ultimate Universe adventure is happening at the same time.  Apparently, Cyclops only owns the one plane.

The Cuckoos lose their respected minds, as they sense Emma’s death.  Good on the Marketing Department not putting one of those “One of These Mutants Dies This Issue” caption on the cover.  Nice restraint!

Issue ends with Tempus bringing Xavier to the present and he gives us “To Me, My X-Men” which seems silly but I guess from his perspective, he sees youngsters wearing similar outfits and assumes they are the X-Men.