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IGN’s Top 25 Best Marvel Superheroes

Posted by John Klein III on October 3, 2014
Posted in: Lists, Websites. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/10/top-25-best-marvel-superheroes

In time for Marvel’s 75th anniversary, Joshua Yehl and Jeff Lake made their list of the Top 25 Best Marvel Characters

25. Jessica Jones
24. Blade
23. Ghost Rider
22. Captain Marvel
21. Luke Cage
20. Spider-Woman
19. Silver Surfer
18. Beast
17. Thing
16. Kitty Pryde
15. Dr. Strange
14. Black Panther
13. Invisible Woman
12. Nick Fury
11. Storm
10. Iron Man
9. Professor X
8. Hulk
7. Cyclops
6. Thor
5. Jean Grey
4. Wolverine
3. Daredevil
2. Captain America
1. Spider-man

As happy as I am that Kitty Pryde made the list, I am confused by those who ranked higher than her.

Dr. Strange and Black Panther, are cool and all but what have they done lately?

Their criteria was :

We looked at Marvel’s entire roster to decide who is the most noble, who has the finest stories of self-sacrifice, and who looks best in spandex. Check out our list, then let us know your favorite Marvel heroes in the comments!

Which is fine and all but most of these characters either have movies or have movies in Production so I’m not sure how, at this time, they rank higher.

Invisible Woman and Daredevil would make more sense once their movie / television series comes out next year.

Jean Grey, the original, is dead and good being there.  Teen Jean isn’t mentioned their write up so its just the concept of the original that is being counted here.

As per usual with these things, it is a popularity contest but at least Kitty made the list and really, that’s what is important.  Sure she’s at 16 but she is Top 16 over thousands of other characters.  Probably just a coincidence that they went from Thing to Kitty, right?  It wasn’t like they had one thought and just followed it with another.  Probably not.

I do like how they went with Robert Atkin’s drawn Kitty Pryde and Lockheed, plus its his own original art not used for any official work.

IGN Top 16 Character Kitty Pryde Atkins

Few young X-characters have been as instantly engaging as Kitty Pryde. A mutant born with the ability to phase through solid objects, Kitty’s rise from student to heroine has been one to watch. She inspires Xavier’s dream in a way few have, both as a proven team member and a gifted teacher, eventually serving as Headmistress for the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning. Her resolve also proves above reproach, once sacrificing herself for the good of the planet by merging her phasing abilities with a giant space bullet, allowing it to pass harmlessly through the Earth. It was a moment of pure, genuine heroism, and from Kitty Pryde we’d expect nothing less.

People need to be constantly reminded that Kitty did save the entire planet, our planet, all by herself and it cost her three years of publication life.  That’s a huge achievement plus sacrifice.

 

 

X-Men Legacy 22

Posted by John Klein III on January 25, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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Writer Simon Spurrier

Artist Khoi Pham

Color Artist Rachelle Rosenberg

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

David is still fighting the combination of Luca and the Gold Xavier Fiend.  The fiend turns into a giant concrete monster and sets off all of these missiles.  Actually, the fiend takes control of a near by battleship and then uses that to transform into a giant monster.

X-Men Legacy 22 Magik 1a X-Men Legacy 22 Magik 1b

Apparently, David at some point called for reinforcements.  Those who showed up – Pixie, Chamber, Lila Cheney, Agent Brand, Frenzy, Beast, Storm, Wolverine, Doop, Psylocke, Magneto, Sydren, Goldballs, Tempus, Triage, Emma, the Cockoos and Magik.

David is impressed that they are all heroes.  The heroes start taking out missiles.  I do enjoy seeing Cyclops’ current display of his optic blasts, with the circle flare at the base.

Once the missiles are taken care of, the fiend is all that is left.  He is in the form of a man again.  Both Wolverine and Cyclops come to David to know what to do next.  David says “to me my X-Men” it is cool how it is broken over three panels.

There is a narly splash page of the heroes attacking something to the right.  Was this suppose to be a double page spread?  The narration captions of David are reflecting his quote of the year winner, I rule me.

The fiend is back to the battleship monster form.

Sydren detects a change in David, of course having to say it aloud. Brand is running at him and takes a blast.  All that is left is a green glove or a hand in the glove.  Could Spurrier really kill off Brand?  I know she hasn’t been used as much, so she could be on an okay to kill off list.  Nice touch having Beast nearby to witness her death.  Were they still dating?  I really like how Pham draws Beast as he takes in her death, he looks like a nice mixture of cat face and gorilla head.

Magneto tries to compliment David, and he quickly dismisses him – stating he is not his father, even though he quoted Xavier’s ‘to me my X-Men.’

Karasu Tengui was another hero who showed up, but I don’t know her.  She is straight up smashed to death.  David makes it a mantra that he is not his father.  Even though he just sent a child to her death.

David asks Wolverine and Cyclops if they can work together.  They hesitate, he takes it has a yes, and tells them to keep the monster busy.  David is taking the fight inside his mind.

Chamber gets killed by a blast.  Are these characters really dead, or is David going to bring them back once this story is over?  I can see Chamber being allowed to be killed, Brand seems okay if it is done shockingly – which it was and I believe Spurrier created Karasu so he can kill her anytime.

The heroes destroy Luca’s monster body and he dies.  Once he is dead, Blindfold is healed.  She no longer is broken and has her full power for the first time.

The heroes catch their breath.  Frenzy is sad over Chamber’s death.  They were close during Age of X, which she was one of the few to keep those memories.  That story turned out to be a Legion story.  Nice touch, as that was a Mike Carey story so Spurrier didn’t have to reference that story.

Blindfold’s astra form appears at the battlefield.  She explains what happened.  Also, she takes off her blindfold, she has eyes now.  Also, she is going to go by Destiny now, her mother’s name.  She is on her way, she can project herself for the time being.

Inside David’s mind, he is fighting the Gold Xavier.  He beats him to the point when he can’t maintain the Xavier appearance, now he looks like a gold goblin.

David comes back to the battlefield but turns into the World Worm, that the series has been building to.  Ruth is going to have to deal with David, which has also been foretold.

Can only imagine I will get the next issue, as they have to still be at the scene so Magik should still be there.

. . .

My new Top Ten is for 2014 is :

1.  X-Men Legacy 22

2.  Uncanny X-Men 16

3.  Savage Wolverine 13

4.  All New X-Men 21

5.  Wolverine 13

6.  Cataclysm 3

I need to buy buy four more comics to make ten.  I am slated to buy two comics, All New X-Men 22 and Marvel Knights X-Men 3.

2013 X-Boards Awards, The Results!

Posted by John Klein III on January 19, 2014
Posted in: Lists. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?481660-2013-X-Book-Awards-THE-RESULTS!

Thanks to WorstBlogEver for doing all of the tallies and taking on this task and the wonderful write ups!  The link above as pictures as well.

The results without my comments are below :

FINAL RESULTS:

Best Onomatopoeia
Honorable Mention: SHWUNK
Honorable Mention: BOOM
3rd Runner Up: KLANG
2nd Runner-up: BYUH!
1st Runner-up: BAMF
Winner: POINK!

Best Quote
Honorable Mention: “Galactus should eat this place.” – Emma Frost
Honorable Mention: “I don’t care what you dress my brother up as, and I don’t care what flag you wrap yourself in. My people need help and they need it all over the world.” – Cyclops
3rd Runner Up: “Space Justice!” – S.W.O.R.D. Robot
2nd Runner-up: “Captain America… Avengers… Go to hell.” – Cyclops
1st Runner-up: “The Avengers can go f*** themselves.” – Psylocke
Winner: “I rule me.” – Legion

Most Bizarre Moment (Rouge Mort Trophy)
Honorable Mention: Vampire Jubilee can Adopt a Kid? – This is weird, and I hadn’t thought about it until people started commenting on it. 
Honorable Mention: Rachel Grey Flirts With Sublime?
3rd Runner Up: Dazzler is the Future President of the United States?
2nd Runner-up: Lunchlady Husk at the Hellfire Academy?
1st Runner-up: Kitty Switches Schools? – I liked this but I can see it coming out of nowhere
Winner: Longshot is his own Grandfather?

Most Shocking Moment
Honorable Mention: Mystique Replaces Dazzler – I still worry that someone is going to forget about the switch and we will lose Dazzler forever! 
Honorable Mention: Death of the Scarlet Witch – Can’t believe people really think she is dead. 
3rd Runner Up: Xorna Revealed
2nd Runner-up: Magik Absorbs Limbo Inside Herself – Still frustrated that the two weeks of comics that I missed, that this moment is one of those!  So frustrating! 
1st Runner-up: Grim Reaper Kills Rogue – I know she isn’t showing up anywhere else during this time but once this storyline is over, we will get Rogue back. 
Winner: Strong Guy Kills Tier! – Tier is the son of Wolfsbane and her wolf prince from Asgard. 

Funniest Moment
Honorable Mention: Cyclops and his BBQ Apron
Honorable Mention: Space Justice!
3rd Runner Up: Mystique Gives Gambit Kittens – I don’t recall this happening in Astonishing X-Men, so it must have been the one issue of Frozen I didn’t get. 
2nd Runner-up: Gambit Loves a Catfight
1st Runner-up: Teen Iceman Hits Thor with a Snowball – I voted for this one. 
Winner: Ilyana’s Plans for Avengers Tower – This is one of those, that I read it and it didn’t stick with me but it is funny.  I like this new Illyana, she is so fun. 

Best Fight/Battle
Honorable Mention: Legion & Friends vs. Red Skull
Honorable Mention: Emma & the Stepford Cuckoos vs. Xorna – To me, this was disappointing, the few panels of the actual battle didn’t hold much, should have just stuck to not showing us anything but the ladies standing around. 
3rd Runner Up: Astonishing X-Men & Thor vs. Ice-Pocalypse – This was pretty epic, Iceman took out Thor. 
2nd Runner-up: Magik & Uncanny X-Men vs. Dormammu & the Mindless Ones – Another case of really needing that issue! 
1st Runner-up: X-Women vs. Arkea & Omega Sentinel – This was the beginning of my noticing that I don’t care for modern Storm, she isn’t the leader of that team, should be Rachel as if not for her, Omega Sentinel would be dead. 
Winner: Legion vs. Cyclops – So awesome, glad one of my votes won the category! 

Best Death Scene
Honorable Mention: Darkholme
Honorable Mention: Kurt Waggoner
3rd Runner Up: Tier
2nd Runner-up: Gabrielle Haller – Of course, this would happen in the one issue I didn’t buy. 
1st Runner-up: Scarlet Witch – Still don’t believe she is dead.  Like someone else said, even if she is dead, she will be back for Avengers 2. 
Winner: Rogue – I also won’t believe this one until it is super official. 

Best Kiss:
Honorable Mention: Storm & Wolverine
Honorable Mention: Scott & Jean – I had this under funny moment, where Scott kisses the adult version of the teen Jean that came to the present. 
3rd Runner Up: Prodigy & Hulkling
2nd Runner-up:  Colossus & Domino – I am all for this relationship becoming the new one people remember Colossus for.  I hate the idea that there are fans out there just waiting for him and Kitty to get back together.  That ship as sailed, folks! 
1st Runner-up:  Psylocke & Cluster
Winner: Legion & Blindfold – I really like this couple, and them being destined to take each other, so sweet with how they believe they are above it. 

Best Crossover
Honorable Mention: Age of Ultron – Own one issue of this.
3rd Runner Up:  Infinity – Own two issues!  The first two. 
2nd Runner-up:  Arms of the Octopus – Somehow they had the Original Five but no Kitty, not even a reference to her, could have taken my money if they wanted it. 
1st Runner-up:  Battle of the Atom – Own all of these. 
Winner: X-Termination – Missed out on this entire story.   

Low Point of the Year
Dishonorable Mention: End of X-Factor
Dishonorable Mention: 05 Stuck in the Future
3rd Runner Up: Death of Scarlet Witch – Honestly, people are all types of hurt over this
2nd Runner-up:  Death of Rogue – And this!  Seriously, they are not dead.  I do like how no one gives a damn about Wonder Man being dead, and he’s the one that will stay dead for a while after this. 
1st Runner-up: Battle of the Atom – Started off so strongly but then it lost steam.
Winner:  Havok’s Speech – This issue I have only read about, had no reason to buy it.  I know the entire thing is online, so I don’t feel like I missed out. 

High Point of the Year
Honorable Mention: 05 in the present – I liked it, but also, thought it would be over by now.  I mostly like it as it has given Kitty an awesome new role. 
Honorable Mention: Legion & Blindfold – These two do make the title what it is. 
3rd Runner Up: Rogue can’t stand / kills Wanda – That was pretty awesome, hopefully once their deaths are reversed, they remember what they did. 
2nd Runner-up:  Kitty switches schools – It was time and really, do you want to work and live around your ex-boyfriend when there are better places to work and live? 
1st Runner-up: Kitty’s Rebuttal of Havok’s speech – This is also an issue I missed due to Hastings not getting their comics for two weeks.  Super frustrating!
Winner: Nightcrawler is back! – I am in complete agreement over this!  Now put him in a comic I actually buy, please!

Most Missed Character
Honorable Mention: Unit – He is a fun character. 
Honorable Mention: Hepzibah
3rd Runner Up: Elixir
2nd Runner-up: Jean Grey – Honestly, I get that Teen Jean isn’t the same but she is filling the hole I didn’t have in my heart. 
1st Runner-up:  Professor X – Here is another one, I feel like he is still being mentioned, like all the time, so I’m okay with the memory of him now.  He didn’t do much prior to his death, and now his death is motivating so many more. 
Winner:  Warpath

Best Debut Character
Honorable Mention: Santi Sardina
Honorable Mention: Hijack
3rd Runner Up: Goldballs
2nd Runner-up:  Apocalypse Twins – I do find myself liking these two as of late. 
1st Runner-up: Shogo Lee – Now that I have a son, I can relate to how precious Shogo is!  Now if I can only get my son to say “byuh” 
Winner: Benjamin Deeds – That solo issue really did wonders for this guy. 

Breakthrough Character
Honorable Mention: Blindfold – I have liked her more than ever before. 
Honorable Mention: Stepford Cuckoos – I feel like this should be for 2014 as this past year was setting them up. 
3rd Runner Up: Boom Boom
2nd Runner-up:  Teen Jean
1st Runner-up: Jubilee
Winner: Legion – Definitely agree with this.  Going to miss X-Men Legacy once it ends. 

Best Guest Star in an X-Book
2nd Runner-up: Transonic
1st Runner-up:  Chamber – Chamber has been on a rotating cast in X-Men Legacy
Winner: Pete Wisdom – Apparently Gambit Volume 5 has had Wisdom as much as Legacy has. 

Best Mutant Appearing Outside an X-book
Honorable Mention:  Sunspot
Honorable Mention: Namor
3rd Runner Up: Prodigy
2nd Runner-up: Dani Moonstar
1st Runner-up:  Cannonball
Winner:  X-23

Least Favorite Villain(s)
Dishonorable Mention: Mystique – My problem with Mystique this past year was she was the villain in four titles I collected and none of her schemes seem to be connected.  It was almost as if four writers wanted to use her and chose not to talk to each other. 
Dishonorable Mention: Raze
3rd Runner Up: Xorna
2nd Runner-up:  Dog Logan
1st Runner-up:  Battle of the Atom’s Brotherhood
Winner: Kade Kilgore and his Hellfire Club

Best Villain(s)
Honorable Mention: Red Skull
Honorable Mention: Luca Aldine
3rd Runner Up: Arkea
2nd Runner-up: Gold Xavier Fiend
1st Runner-up: Mystique
Winner: Apocalypse Twins – They are pretty grand

Least Favorite Hero
Dishonorable Mention: Cyclops            – Wolverine fans, I don’t get them
Dishonorable Mention: Fantomex
3rd Runner Up: Scarlet Witch – This I completely understand, I still haven’t forgiven her for the attempted genocide of the mutant race. 
2nd Runner-up:  Beast
1st Runner-up:  Wolverine – Really surprised he didn’t nab the title but people really didn’t care for the winner in Uncanny Avengers. 
Winner:  Havok

Best Hero
Honorable Mention: Storm – Really, I wonder what comics I am missing that she is awesome in?  I am convinced that we were not meant to like her at all last year. 
Honorable Mention: Psylocke
3rd Runner Up: Shadowcat  – She doesn’t get to stand on the pedestal!  Outrageous! 
2nd Runner-up: Legion  – I like Legion but I would have swapped him with Kitty. 
1st Runner-up: Magik – Illyana was so much fun this past year, Marvel has been doing a great job with her these past two years. 
Winner:  Cyclops – I get him being the top hero, he’s leading the successful as well as most interesting side. 

Least Favorite Cover

Dishonorable Mention: Wolverine & the X-Men #37
Dishonorable Mention: Wolverine & the X-Men #31
3rd Runner Up: Wolverine & the X-Men #30
2nd Runner-up: X-Termination #2
1st Runner-up: Uncanny Avengers #14
Winner: Wolverine & the X-Men #27

Best Cover
Honorable Mention: X-Men: Legacy (vol. 2) #12
Honorable Mention: X-Men: Legacy (vol. 2) #15
3rd Runner Up: X-Men: Legacy (vol. 2) #10
X-Men Legacy 14
2nd Runner-up: X-Men: Legacy (vol. 2) #14  – Makes complete sense why Legacy dominated the list!  Those covers were amazing!  I would be curious what the next four would have been. 
Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 14
1st Runner-up: Uncanny X-Men (vol. 3) #14
Winner: X-Men (vol. 4) #1- Coipel Variant

Best One-Shot
2nd Runner-up: Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) Annual #1
1st Runner-up: All New X-Men Special #1
Winner: X-Men: Gold #1 – Claremont writing the X-Men with Kitty in a main role, how could this not won? 

Least Favorite Miniseries
Dishonorable Mention: X-Termination
Dishonorable Mention: Deadpool Kills Deadpool
3rd Runner Up: Infinity: The Hunt
2nd Runner-up: Fantomex MAX
1st Runner-up: X-Men: Battle of the Atom – A real shame that this was the main event of the year and it wasn’t liked.  It is telling that so many titles are repeated, either the same ones were good typically or the same ones were never better than lackluster.  Nothing was in the middle and if it was, it was forgotten. 
Winner: What if… AvX? – I have two issues on my Wishlist, not excited about getting them eventually. 

Best Miniseries
Honorable Mention: Infinity : The Hunt
Honorable Mention: Origin II – Only one issue came out but people seem to love it. 
3rd Runner Up: Longshot Saves the Marvel Universe
2nd Runner-up: X-Men : Battle of the Atom
1st Runner-up:  X-Termination
Winner:  Marvel Knights : X-Men – So glad this made the list but to be the winner?  That is fantastic!  Wish Darla still made the list of debuted characters but you can’t have everything. 

Least Favorite Story from a Single X-Title
Dishonorable Mention: Yesterday’s X-Men (All New X-Men)
Dishonorable Mention: End of X-Factor (X-Factor)
3rd Runner Up: Ragnarok Now (Uncanny Avengers)
2nd Runner-up:  Let it Bleed (Uncanny X-Force Vol 2)
1st Runner-up:  The Hellfire Saga (Wolverine and the X-Men)  – I thought it was okay, missing one issue of it, so that’s irritating.  Having a 14 year old Oya in Hellfire attire was too much. 
Winner:  Savage Learning (Wolverine and the X-Men) – I only own one issue of this storyline, and I liked it but the rest was Wolverine versus his brother while students were left to watch. 

Best Story from a Single X-Title
Honorable Mention: Invasive Exotic (X-Men Legacy)
Honorable Mention: Frozen (Astonishing X-Men Vol 3) – I really liked this, Iceman at his full potential, shame it won’t be referenced again any time soon. 
3rd Runner Up: Yesterday’s X-Men (All New X-Men)
2nd Runner-up: Wear the Grudge Like a Crown (X-Men Legacy) – I liked this storyline so much.  The moment of David challenging Cyclops to a no powers fight is ballsy.  Scott is a certified martial artist and David, is plain crazy. 
1st Runner-up: Primer (X-Men Vol 4) – I really liked this, Kitty and Rachel shined.  Rogue and Psylocke did their parts and Storm proved she shouldn’t assumed she was the leader.  Also Jubilee and Shogo stole the show. 
Winner: Avengers Vs. Uncanny X-Men : GO! (Uncanny X-Men Vol 3 # 3) – I really need to revisit this issue again as it left a huge impression on people.  I only remember that Tempus froze the Avengers while she was only trying to visit her mother.  I don’t recall it being overly funny or anything dramatic happening.  Also, Benjamin Deeds checking out Illyana, her noticing, and telling him that she would break him.  He was not dissuaded, though nothing came of it. 

Least Favorite Ongoing
Dishonorable Mention: Astonishing X-Men Volume 3 – Being lower on the list is a good thing.  Frozen was great, but that two part squid alien thing was no good.  The actual final issue didn’t blow me away, it stated Kitty was in the cast but she doesn’t show up or was referenced, I didn’t buy it. 
Dishonorable Mention: A+X – I only bought three issues of this series last year and I can’t defend the larger majority of it.  I liked what I read though. 
3rd Runner Up: All New X-Men
2nd Runner-up:  Uncanny Avengers – This ended on a higher note but I haven’t been following from the beginning. 
1st Runner-up: Uncanny X-Force Vol 2
Winner: Wolverine and the X-Men – I liked it pre-BotA but once Kitty was gone, I lost all interest.  I will miss Broo but that’s about it.  The upcoming relaunch, I have no interest in. 

Best Ongoing
Honorable Mention: X-Factor
Honorable Mention: Cable and X-Force – Only read the one issue, number six, and thought it was okay. 
3rd Runner Up: X-Men Vol 4 – I liked the first four, then BotA happened, it lost both Kitty and Rogue and my interest. 
2nd Runner-up: All New X-Men – Really like this, as well as the other top two positions. 
1st Runner-up:  X-Men Legacy
Winner:  Uncanny X-Men Volume 3

Best Artist
Honorable Mention: Daniel Acuna (Uncanny Avengers)
Honorable Mention: Frank Cho (Savage Wolverine & X-Men Battle of the Atom 1)
Honorable Mention: Adrian Alphona (Uncanny X-Force Vol 1)
Honorable Mention: Gabriel Hernandez Walta (Astonishing X-Men Vol 3)
Honorable Mention: Ed McGuiness (Amazing X-Men)
Honorable Mention: Salvador Larroca (Cable and X-Force)
Honorable Mention: Kris Anka (Uncanny X-Men Vol 3 # 15)
Honorable Mention: Clay Mann (Gambit Vol 5)
3rd Runner Up: Frazer Irving (Uncanny X-Men Vol 3)
2nd Runner-up: Chris Bachalo (Uncanny X-men Vol 3) – Can’t complain about the top three at all!
1st Runner-up: Oliver Coipel (X-Men Vol 4)
Winner: Stuart Immonen (All New X-Men)

Best Writer:
Honorable Mention: Jason Aaron (Wolverine and the X-Men & Amazing X-Men)
Honorable Mention: Peter David (X-Factor)
Honorable Mention: Majorie Liu (Astonishing X-Men Vol 3)
Honorable Mention: James Asmus (Gambit Vol 5)
Honorable Mention: Dennis Hopeless (Cable and X-Force)
3rd Runner Up: Rick Remender (Uncanny Avengers)
2nd Runner-up: Brian Wood (X-Men Vol 4)
1st Runner-up: Brian Michael Bendis (All New X-Men & Uncanny X-Men)
Winner: Simon Spurrier (X-Men Legacy) – Really surprised that Spurrier won this, it makes perfect sense as he wrote the best comic and made every issue something people wanted to discuss.  I figured Bendis being Bendis, would own the top spot so this was a very pleasant surprised. 

Thanks again, to WorstBlogEver for doing all of the tallies and taking on this task!

 

THE RESULTS!!!

1/13/2012
Best Onomatopoeia
Honorable Mention: SHWUNK
Honorable Mention: BOOM
3rd Runner Up: KLANG
2nd Runner-up: BYUH!
1st Runner-up: BAMF
Winner: POINK!

Best Quote
Honorable Mention: “Galactus should eat this place.” – Emma Frost
Honorable Mention: “I don’t care what you dress my brother up as, and I don’t care what flag you wrap yourself in. My people need help and they need it all over the world.” – Cyclops
3rd Runner Up: “Space Justice!” – S.W.O.R.D. Robot
2nd Runner-up: “Captain America… Avengers… Go to hell.” – Cyclops
1st Runner-up: “The Avengers can go f*** themselves.” – Psylocke
Winner: “I rule me.” – Legion

Most Bizarre Moment (Rouge Mort Trophy)
Honorable Mention: Vampire Jubilee can Adopt a Kid?
Honorable Mention: Rachel Grey Flirts With Sublime?
3rd Runner Up: Dazzler is the Future President of the United States?
2nd Runner-up: Lunchlady Husk at the Hellfire Academy?
1st Runner-up: Kitty Switches Schools?
Winner: Longshot is his own Grandfather?

Most Shocking Moment
Honorable Mention: Mystique Replaces Dazzler
Honorable Mention: Death of the Scarlet Witch
3rd Runner Up: Xorna Revealed
2nd Runner-up: Magik Absorbs Limbo Inside Herself
1st Runner-up: Grim Reaper Kills Rogue
Winner: Strong Guy Kills Tier!

Funniest Moment
Honorable Mention: Cyclops and his BBQ Apron
Honorable Mention: Space Justice!
3rd Runner Up: Mystique Gives Gambit Kittens
2nd Runner-up: Gambit Loves a Catfight
1st Runner-up: Teen Iceman Hits Thor with a Snowball
Winner: Ilyana’s Plans for Avengers Tower

Best Fight/Battle
Honorable Mention: Legion & Friends vs. Red Skull
Honorable Mention: Emma & the Stepford Cuckoos vs. Xorna
3rd Runner Up: Astonishing X-Men & Thor vs. Ice-Pocalypse
2nd Runner-up: Magik & Uncanny X-Men vs. Dormammu & the Mindless Ones
1st Runner-up: X-Women vs. Arkea & Omega Sentinel
Winner: Legion vs. Cyclops

Best Death Scene
Honorable Mention: Darkholme
Honorable Mention: Kurt Waggoner
3rd Runner Up: Tier
2nd Runner-up: Gabrielle Haller
1st Runner-up: Scarlet Witch
Winner: Rogue

1/14/2012
Best Kiss:
Honorable Mention: Storm & Wolverine
Honorable Mention: Scott & Jean
3rd Runner Up: Prodigy & Hulkling
2nd Runner-up:  Colossus & Domino
1st Runner-up:  Psylocke & Cluster
Winner: Legion & Blindfold

Best Crossover
Honorable Mention: Age of Ultron
3rd Runner Up:  Infinity
2nd Runner-up:  Arms of the Octopus
1st Runner-up:  Battle of the Atom
Winner: X-Termination

Low Point of the Year
Dishonorable Mention: End of X-Factor
Dishonorable Mention: 05 Stuck in the Future
3rd Runner Up: Death of Scarlet Witch
2nd Runner-up:  Death of Rogue
1st Runner-up: Battle of the Atom
Winner:  Havok’s Speech

High Point of the Year
Honorable Mention: 05 in the present
Honorable Mention: Legion & Blindfold
3rd Runner Up: Rogue can’t stand / kills Wanda
2nd Runner-up:  Kitty switches schools
1st Runner-up: Kitty’s Rebuttal of Havok’s speech
Winner: Nightcrawler is back!

Most Missed Character
Honorable Mention: Unit
Honorable Mention: Hepzibah
3rd Runner Up: Elixir
2nd Runner-up: Jean Grey
1st Runner-up:  Professor X
Winner:  Warpath

Best Debut Character
Honorable Mention: Santi Sardina
Honorable Mention: Hiack
3rd Runner Up: Goldballs
2nd Runner-up:  Apocalypse Twins
1st Runner-up: Shogo Lee
Winner: Benjamin Deeds

Breakthrough Character
Honorable Mention: Blindfold
Honorable Mention: Stepford Cuckoos
3rd Runner Up: Boom Boom
2nd Runner-up:  Teen Jean
1st Runner-up: Jubilee
Winner: Legion

1/15/2012
Best Guest Star in an X-Book
2nd Runner-up: Transonic
1st Runner-up:  Chamber
Winner: Pete Wisdom

Best Mutant Appearing Outside an X-book
Honorable Mention:  Sunspot
Honorable Mention: Namor
3rd Runner Up: Prodigy
2nd Runner-up: Dani Moonstar
1st Runner-up:  Cannonball
Winner:  X-23

Least Favorite Villain(s)
Dishonorable Mention: Mystique
Dishonorable Mention: Raze
3rd Runner Up: Xorna
2nd Runner-up:  Dog Logan
1st Runner-up:  Battle of the Atom’s Brotherhood
Winner: Kade Kilgore and his Hellfire Club

Best Villain(s)
Honorable Mention: Red Skull
Honorable Mention: Luca Aldine
3rd Runner Up: Arkea
2nd Runner-up: Gold Xavier Fiend
1st Runner-up: Mystique
Winner: Apocalypse Twins

Least Favorite Hero
Dishonorable Mention: Cyclops
Dishonorable Mention: Fantomex
3rd Runner Up: Scarlet Witch
2nd Runner-up:  Beast
1st Runner-up:  Wolverine
Winner:  Havok

Best Hero
Honorable Mention: Storm
Honorable Mention: Psylocke
3rd Runner Up: Shadowcat
2nd Runner-up: Legion
1st Runner-up: Magik
Winner:  Cyclops

1/16/2012
Least Favorite Cover
Dishonorable Mention: Wolverine & the X-Men #37
Dishonorable Mention: Wolverine & the X-Men #31
3rd Runner Up: Wolverine & the X-Men #30
2nd Runner-up: X-Termination #2
1st Runner-up: Uncanny Avengers #14
Winner: Wolverine & the X-Men #27

Best Cover
Honorable Mention: X-Men: Legacy (vol. 2) #12
Honorable Mention: X-Men: Legacy (vol. 2) #15
3rd Runner Up: X-Men: Legacy (vol. 2) #10
2nd Runner-up: X-Men: Legacy (vol. 2) #14
1st Runner-up: Uncanny X-Men (vol. 3) #14
Winner: X-Men (vol. 4) #1- Coipel Variant

Best One-Shot
2nd Runner-up: Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) Annual #1
1st Runner-up: All New X-Men Special #1
Winner: X-Men: Gold #1

Least Favorite Miniseries
Dishonorable Mention: X-Termination
Dishonorable Mention: Deadpool Kills Deadpool
3rd Runner Up: Infinity: The Hunt
2nd Runner-up: Fantomex MAX
1st Runner-up: X-Men: Battle of the Atom
Winner: What if… AvX?

Best Miniseries
Honorable Mention: Infinity : The Hunt
Honorable Mention: Origin II
3rd Runner Up: Longshot Saves the Marvel Universe
2nd Runner-up: X-Men : Battle of the Atom
1st Runner-up:  X-Termination
Winner:  Marvel Knights : X-Men

1/17/2012
Least Favorite Story from a Single X-Title
Dishonorable Mention: Yesterday’s X-Men (All New X-Men)
Dishonorable Mention: End of X-Factor (X-Factor)
3rd Runner Up: Ragnarok Now (Uncanny Avengers)
2nd Runner-up:  Let it Bleed (Uncanny X-Force Vol 2)
1st Runner-up:  The Hellfire Saga (Wolverine and the X-Men)
Winner:  Savage Learning (Wolverine and the X-Men)

Best Story from a Single X-Title
Honorable Mention: Invasive Exotic (X-Men Legacy)
Honorable Mention: Frozen (Astonishing X-Men Vol 3)
3rd Runner Up: Yesterday’s X-Men (All New X-Men)
2nd Runner-up: Wear the Grudge Like a Crown (X-Men Legacy)
1st Runner-up: Primer (X-Men Vol 4)
Winner: Avengers Vs. Uncanny X-Men : GO! (Uncanny X-Men Vol 3 # 3)

Least Favorite Ongoing
Dishonorable Mention: Astonishing X-Men Volume 3
Dishonorable Mention: A+X
3rd Runner Up: All New X-Men
2nd Runner-up:  Uncanny Avengers
1st Runner-up: Uncanny X-Force Vol 2
Winner: Wolverine and the X-Men

Best Ongoing
Honorable Mention: X-Factor
Honorable Mention: Cable and X-Force
3rd Runner Up: X-Men Vol 4
2nd Runner-up: All New X-Men
1st Runner-up:  X-Men Legacy
Winner:  Uncanny X-Men Volume 3

Best Artist
Honorable Mention: Daniel Acuna (Uncanny Avengers)
Honorable Mention: Frank Cho (Savage Wolverine & X-Men Battle of the Atom 1)
Honorable Mention: Adrian Alphona (Uncanny X-Force Vol 1)
Honorable Mention: Gabriel Hernandez Walta (Astonishing X-Men Vol 3)
Honorable Mention: Ed McGuiness (Amazing X-Men)
Honorable Mention: Salvador Larroca (Cable and X-Force)
Honorable Mention: Kris Anka (Uncanny X-Men Vol 3 # 15)
Honorable Mention: Clay Mann (Gambit Vol 5)
3rd Runner Up: Frazer Irving (Uncanny X-Men Vol 3)
2nd Runner-up: Chris Bachalo (Uncanny X-men Vol 3)
1st Runner-up: Oliver Coipel (X-Men Vol 4)
Winner: Stuart Immonen (All New X-Men)

Best Writer:
Honorable Mention: Jason Aaron (Wolverine and the X-Men & Amazing X-Men)
Honorable Mention: Peter David (X-Factor)
Honorable Mention: Majorie Liu (Astonishing X-Men Vol 3)
Honorable Mention: James Asmus (Gambit Vol 5)
Honorable Mention: Dennis Hopeless (Cable and X-Force)
3rd Runner Up: Rick Remender (Uncanny Avengers)
2nd Runner-up: Brian Wood (X-Men Vol 4)
1st Runner-up: Brian Michael Bendis (All New X-Men & Uncanny X-Men)
Winner: Simon Spurrier (X-Men Legacy)

Thanks to WorstBlogEver for doing all of the tallies and taking on this task!

CSBG’s Greatest Kitty Pryde Stories

Posted by John Klein III on September 6, 2013
Posted in: Lists, Paul Smith. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Really wished I voted for this list.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2013/04/22/the-greatest-kitty-pryde-stories-ever-told/

10. Gifted.  Astonishing X-Men 1 – 6     Whedon / Cassaday’s opening arc, put Kitty back into the spotlight, also gave us back Colossus.  You win some

9. God Loves, Man Kills.    Marvel Graphic Novel 5     Amazing story, the Kitty haters use this to show how Kitty has a potty mouth, which gets old

8.  Mekanix 1 – 6     Kitty goes to college.  I will nevet forget looking through Previews, seeing the dumb title and moving on to the next page.  Luckily, I was able to get the first issue and the rest of the series added to my pull box.  Stuff like that doesn’t happen in this new modern age we are in with the Internet.

7.  God Spare the Child.     Uncanny X-Men 129 – 131     Kitty’s first appearance, along with Emma Frost, my favorite section of The Dark Phoenix Saga.

6.  Kitty’s Fairy Tale.     Uncanny X-Men 153     Kitty tells a young Illyana a bed time story.  A pretty decent Nightcrawler mini out of this, and the concept for Bamfs and Lockheed too.

5.  Unstoppable.  Astonishing X-Men 19 – 24, Giant Size 1    So odd this made the list, as we lose Kitty for three years, but once she came back, I was able to reread this and enjoy it more.  Kitty saves the entire world, single handily.

4.  Professor X is a Jerk!   Uncanny X-Men 168     So glad a Paul Smith issue made the list.  Kitty fights and earns her place on the X-Men.  Lockheed on Earth too

3.  Kitty Pryde and Wolverine 1 – 6    The sequel to the original Wolverine miniseries, and Kitty becomes Shadowcat here.  Such a defining character moment.

2.  Days of Future Past.     Uncanny X-Men 141 – 142     Kitty is so crucial to this storyline, that any adaptation without her has been terrible, hopefully the movie is better than the FOX episode.

1.  Demon.  Uncanny X-Men 143     Kitty gets her trial by fire here.  When people count the times the mansion has been destroyed, one of those was due to Kitty trying to survive one Christmas Eve.

Pretty cool that Bryne / Austin’s final three issues made the list, back to back.  Wish Shadow  and Flame made the list, also at least one Excalibur arc.

CSBG’s 50 Greatest X-Family Stories

Posted by John Klein III on September 2, 2013
Posted in: Lists. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Brian Cronin has done it again and has completed another list!

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2013/08/21/50-greatest-x-family-stories-master-list/

I end this countdown at 4/10 of my votes, but I knew I was throwing votes away.  Once I see people are keeping track, I always think I should try harder on these lists but I also just want to see my favorites rank.  I’ll probably go forward making my 8, 9, 10 slots be what I imagine are going to be on the list and that gives me seven slots for my own choices.

50. “The Good and the Famous”      X-Statix 21 – 25
X-Statix vs Avengers, I did not read this

49. “Days of Future Yet to Come”   Excalibur 66 – 67
Alan Davis and Mark Farmers’ final Excalibur story.  The best follow up on the Days of Future Past story and we finally found out what happen to Kate Pryde and we get the origins of Widget.  Battle of the Atom will not hint about this story at all, I can only imagine.  This was my first entry onto the list.

48. “Road Trip”        X-Force Volume One 71 – 75
I read this back in the day, remember liking it mostly as it was a reunion of New Mutants and they were a team of young mutants not looking for fights every issue

47. “A World Apart”            Exiles 8 – 10
I didn’t start following Exiles until a little later when they had an alternate Illyana joint the team.

46. “Renewal”           Marvel Graphic Novel 4
New Mutants’ origin story!

45. “Good Omens”   X-Statix 1 – 5
I didn’t read any of the X-Statix stories but I know they got good buzz

44. “Multiple Issues”            X-Factor Volume Two 14 – 17
I read the second volume of X-Factor for quite some time before dropping it, the first 25 issues were all very good

43. “Longshot”         Longshot 1 – 6
Have not read this, Longshot really isn’t in my wheelhouse

42. “Pawns of the White Queen”     New Mutants Volume One 38 – 40
Such an amazing story, the only good thing to come out of Secret Wars II.  Magik is in this storyline as well, so I own all of these issues.

41. “Angels and Demons”    X-Force Volume Two 1 – 6
I may have read this opening arc but its Kyle/Yost so it has to be good

40. “Judgment War”           X-Factor Volume One 43 – 50
Have not read it, Paul Smith art, so I should get around to it someday.  Also have to give Leave It To Chance a try too if I can ever find it.

39. “The Open Hand, The Closed Fist”        X-Force Volume One 19
From the cover, I know that I owned it at some point but couldn’t remember ever actually reading it.  I was probably just confused by all the new characters

38. “Old Man Logan”           Wolverine Volume Three 66 – 72, Wolverine: Old Man Logan Giant-Sized 1
I only own issue 70 of this.  That is the issue where you find out why Logan is no longer Wolverine.  Pretty amazing story that I’m surprised hasn’t happen before.  Well, it couldn’t because of the reason.

37. “Multiple Problems”       X-Factor Volume One 71 – 75
This is the story that gave us Peter David on the original X-Factor and changed the title from the  Original Five to a new group of mutants.

36. “The Shiva Scenario”      Wolverine Volume One 48 – 50
I only own issue 50, which has a pretty cool enhance cover.  This storyline introduced the concept of “false memories” into the Wolverine mythos.

35. “Slumber Party!”             New Mutants Volume One 21
Such a great done in one story and with Warlock’s introduction the main cast of New Mutants is complete!  I own this one as well.

34. “Re-X-aminations”         X-Factor Volume Two 13
I’m sure I bought this one as, like everybody, I enjoyed the original story.

33. “Magneto Testament”     X-Men: Magneto Testament 1 – 5
Heard so many amazing reviews for this and I know it was well researched but I’m not sure I could read it.

32. “The Black Sword Saga”            Wolverine Volume One 1 – 3
Wolverine’s opening arc on his very first ongoing.  I only own the first issue of these three.

31. “The Quest for Magik”   New X-Men 38 – 41
Of course, I own all of these, we got Magik back with this story!

30. “The Sword is Drawn”   Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn, Excalibur 1 – 2
I definitely own these and Claremont and Davis before Cross Time Caper started, you can’t go wrong!

29. “Final Execution”           Uncanny X-Force Volume One 25 – 35
I own issues 25, 26, 27, 30 and 31, those issues were pretty intense

28. The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix 1 – 4
I’ve only ever read reviews for this story, but its essentially Cyclops raising his son in the future with Jean

27. “The Necrom Saga”        Excalibur 42 – 50
Alan Davis return to the title with Mark Farmer and after cleaning up the mess others made, they created this storyline that is pretty fun and introduced new aspects of the Phoenix mythos, that of course was completely ignored later. Like most things that happen in Excalibur, other writers could not be bothered to read even recaps of this series.  I own all of these issues.

26. Generation Next 1 – 4
This was my second entry into the list.  When I think of Age of Apocalypse, I think of Generation Next.  By far the best thing about AoA.  Bachalo was starting his height with this and he is still amazing today.  This is probably my favorite Alternate Kitty, or at least number two behind Ultimate Kitty but in four issues, you really get a bunch of her character.  Also get to see her with an Illyana who never went to Limbo too.  I definitely own all of these.

25. “24 Hours”          Wolverine Volume One 10
The story that introduced Sabretooth fighting Wolverine on Logan’s birthday, every year.  Works better as a previous story as you can’t have Sabretooth fighting him every four years nowadays.

24. “Multiple Choice”           Madrox 1 – 5
With how much I enjoyed the second volume of X-Factor, you would think I would have read this but never got around to it.

23. “We Were Only Foolin’”            New Mutants Volume One 45
Now this story I also own.  Kitty does this amazing speech in this issue.  It is a story that more people should be exposed too.

22. “Magik” Uncanny X-Men 160 / Storm and Illyana: Magik 1 – 4
I thought maybe this story wouldn’t count as 160 was on the other list, it was ranked at 47 so it is ranked higher on this list, which is better overall.  I definitely own these issues.

21. “Third Genesis” Generation X 1 – 3
I definitely read these back in the day, but it wasn’t until this list when I realized the high hopes they had for this team and the tile with the title of this storyline.  Second Genesis, of course, is the title to All New All Different’s first appearance in Giant Size X-Men 1.  Real shame that most of the cast is dead now with Jubilee, M and Emma being the only survivors, also Husk is around still.

20. “Why Do We Do the Things We Do?” New Mutants Annual 2 / X-Men Annual 10
I own both of these and it was nice seeing why this cast could New Mutants could be the next X-Men.

19. “Origin” Wolverine: The Origin 1 – 6
I really liked the third issue of this series, seems to be the only one you would have to read.  I read that they are going to make a sequel to it, which I have no interest in as I rather not read six issues of naked Logan running around the Canadian wilderness.  It probably won’t be that at all.

18. “Endgame”         X-Factor Volume One 65 – 68
I have only read reviews and recaps of this story, which is baby Nathan being thrown into the future.

17. “Soulwar”           New Mutants Volume One 26 – 28
I only own issue 28 of this, the Legion origin story.

16. “Final Chapter”   X-Force Volume One 125 – 129
Should go back and read this if I ever want more Allred, which I typically do.

15. “Enemy of the State”      Wolverine Volume Three 20 – 31
This brings me to my third entry on the list.  I own issues 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31.  The issue numbers should read as Enemy of the State / Agent of SHIELD or Mark Millar’s first Wolverine story.  This would have made an awesome movie back when FOX owned the Daredevil movie rights as now they can only do the Fantastic Four portions.  Though this would never be a PG-13 movie so it is all for the best.

14. “The Longest Night”      X-Factor Volume Two 1 – 6
I remember liking seeing the team come together in this.

13. “Chilhood’s End”           New X-Men 20 – 31
I own issues 21, 23, 24, 26 and 31 of this.  Kyle and Yost first foray onto this title introduced killing off students in big and crazy ways.

12. Kitty Pryde and Wolverine 1 – 6
This was my final entry on the list, 4/10, not horrible.  I own these of course.  I adore this miniseries so much.  It annoys me when writers want to go back to the essence of Kitty and they go further back than this storyline as this changed Kitty Pryde, for the better.

11. “Time and a Half/Overtime”       X-Factor Volume Two 39 – 50
I want to read this as I like the concept of Ruby Summers.

10. “New Beginning”           X-Force Volume One 116 – 120
I read this when it first came out and I was not ready for the break from the norm that this story was.

9 “Fall of the Mutants”         X-Factor Volume One 24 – 26
I have only read recaps of this story, we gain Archangel in this, thus forever changing Warren’s character.

8 “The Cross-Time Caper”    Excalibur 12 – 24
I own all of these.  Really surprised that people voted for this, it is issues 12 through 24 but there is at least two fill ins that do not follow that story at all.  It is so long and we lose Alan Davis at some point in it.  What annoys me about this is that people wave off Excalibur because when they think of this title, they think of Cross Time and lose all interest.  It is pretty fun and we get some great character work but of its 125 issues, it is barely even ten percent of the title.  People should really read beyond this arc.

7 “The Apocalypse Solution”           Uncanny X-Force Volume One 1 – 4
I should read this as I really liked the last arc of this title and it all starts with these.

6. “Home is Where the Heart Is”      New Mutants Special Edition 1 / X-Men Annual 9
New Mutants in Asgard, it was always a good idea until it became one of the three go to story ideas, along with Legion and Demon Bear.

5. “Weapon X”         Marvel Comics Presents 72 – 84
I couldn’t remember if I read this for sure or just plenty of recaps and reviews but I’m pretty sure I have.  Amazing it took this long before we got that crucial aspect of Wolverine’s history.

4. “The Dark Angel Saga”    Uncanny X-Force  Volume One 8, 10-18
I should read this as I was super curious as to what happen to Warren to get him to his current “clean slate” persona.  It took me to recently release due to a thread on the X-Books’ forums to realize that this has the same title as the Dark Phoenix Saga, in that they are both The Dark __________ Saga with insert the character’s name in the line provided.  Surprised there has not been like twenty of those.  Hopefully the next one is at least ten years away.

3. “The Demon Bear Saga”   New Mutants Volume One 18-20
I own these and I knew this was going to be on this list, I thought it would be ranked at number two.  Dani Moonstar’s origins are revealed and we get Sharon and Tom Corsi (two humans) added to the supporting cast as supporting crew members.  Such an amazingly drawn story by Bill Sienkiewicz written by legend Chris Claremont.

2. “X-Aminations”    X-Factor Volume One 87
When I was first getting into the X-Men and buying a bunch of back issues, I made sure this was one of those issues.  It was practically legend by the time it was first printed.  Quicksilver became instantly likeable after this too.

1. Wolverine 1 – 4
Now this, I knew for sure was going to be number one.  I know some people wanted Wolverine to have his own split list, but if this was not the ranked at number one, this entire list would need an asterisk next to it.  This was the first X-Miniseries and it the set for all else to come.  I only own the fourth issue as that is the one that leads into the Japanese Adventure over in Uncanny X-Men.

. . .

So of the list, I own out right, 15 of the stories.  I own seven practically, making a total of 21 of the 50, that isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

I knew Kitty wasn’t going to be on the list too much but glad she and Illyana are represented.  I knew that Illyana was going to be on the list as besides the Marvel Graphic Novel, she is there for all of the important New Mutants stories.

The list breaks down as:

Excalibur       4 stories

Exiles                        1 story

Generation Next       1 Story

Generation X            1 story

Solo Heroes   4 stories (Longshot / Magik / Cyclops & Jean / Kitty)

New Mutants            7 stories

New X-Men 2 stories

Wolverine      8 stories

X-Factor (1st)            3 stories (Original Five)

X-Factor (2nd)            3 stories (Havok’s Team)

X-Factor (3rd)            3 stories (Madox’s Team)

X-Force (1st)  2 stories

X-Force (2nd) 2 stories (Wolverine’s First Team)

X-Force (3rd) 3 stories (Wolverine’s Uncanny Team)

X-Statix        4 stories

Wolverine has the most at 8 but the New Mutants are close with 7.  Which is only 15 entries so that works out the way I thought it would be.

I just want to say thanks again to Brian Cronin as I can only imagine this takes so much work to get everything done.  Took me like two hours to do this entire post so it must take him days.

Infinity 1

Posted by John Klein III on August 22, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

280742_20130814134638_large

Written by Jonathan Hickman

Penciled by Jim Cheung

Inked by Mark Morales with John Livesay, David Meikis and Jim Cheung

Colored by Justin Ponsor

Part One of Six

Infinity 1 Cast List

To get it out of the way, I must admit that I was pretty excited when I turned to the list of characters and saw there was an X-Men roster.

Infinity 1 Kitty 1

Then I was disappointed that Kitty, Storm and Wolverine’s one page was a reprinted material from the Free Comic Book Day issue.  It holds promise that the X-Men might, at least, be appearing in this series.

Really like Cheung’s art, it is very clean and nice.  I bet that if I look it up, every time I’ve seen it, Ponsor has colored it.

I like how Beast is the X-Men substitute for Xavier in the Marvel Illuminati.

I like looking at the list of characters, for these big crossovers, and seeing who I don’t know:

Black Swan

The Builders

The Spaceknights (If Rom isn’t there, do they matter?)

This version of Captain Universe

Ex Nihilo

Nightmask

Starbrand

Manifold

Not to bad.  Took me til I was looking at the list to notice Iron Man is listed twice, for Illuminati and Avengers.  Different suits for each.  Do not like the Avengers helmet at all, looks silly or something.

Nice seeing Abigail Brand again, been a fan since her first appearance.

Black Bolt has five wives!?!   Oooof, I wonder how Medusa felt about that?  And which story did all of that happened in?  Miss those little editor’s boxes at times like these.  Or a note in the back.  This is my first exposure to Hickman, so it was probably in his previous work.

He loves one, Medusa, and hates one, hopefully not the horse headed one.

I’m a sucker for the whole, look at this panel, now notice the difference in this panel.  It’s a great use of the medium.  The Illuminati, first with their proper faces, then with skulls.

I really like the idea of seeing which word Black Bolt says with his power.  Every time I’ve ever seen it depicted before, you only seen the sound wave, and I’m left wondering what he said.  It’s a very nice touch, hopefully it’s a new policy.  Like in the late 90s, when they decided to actual make Sye Richards really invisible, even to the reader, that was a very awesome touch. It didn’t last long though.

The Earth may not have Avengers, but we still have X-Men, New Warriors, Slingers and The New Fantastic Four as options.  So don’t fret too much ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be okay.

Looking at the tie ins, not slated to get any, I’ll see if I’m getting issue two or not.  I like the break down in the back, makes sense, that if Hickman is writing the main mini, that you should buy his Avengers series, as they tie in. New Avengers 12, looks to be the aftermath issue, which I like those, and most likely sets up the next crossover.  Which might be Cataclysm from the Ultimate Universe.

X-Men Legacy 14

Posted by John Klein III on August 11, 2013
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

279334_20130731125337_large

Written by Simon Spurrier

Penciled by Tan Eng Huat

Inked by Craig Yeung

Colored by Jose Villarrubia

I bought this issue as there is a panel depicting all the people Pete Wisdom has lost, as David Haller, Legion, is making him see it.  In the panel is Nightcrawler, Maureen, his mother, Kitty Pryde, and John Sublime.  Now I know what happened to everyone but Maureen and his mother.  I take it that he lost Maureen some time recently.  His mother, I will have to assume that this is the Marvel Universe and he lost her a while ago.

I have liked Pete Wisdom from very on. I am not one of those guys who despise Wisdom.   No, I fall more into the Can’t Stand Colossus camp.  As far as former boyfriends of Kitty’s go, I would have to rank them as:

Pete Wisdom

Ultimate Peter Parker

Iceman

Ultimate Iceman

Colossus

Earth X Colossus

Age of Apocalypse Colossus

Shame that Alistaire Stuart, Doug Ramsey, heck even Shan Coy Mahn never got off the fround.  This is why you will see Marvel keep throwing her back to Colossus all the time, there is no one else.

Which is something I have never understood about television series where the first dame we see the main male character fall for, we have to cheer him on his quest and once they break up, we want them back  together.  In RL, people date other people all the time, and we don’t pine for former loves when there are other options.  But with television series, it feels like there is only ever the first option we see.  It’s just odd to me that our entertainment wires us like that.

Back to the issue, the comic has two moments I really like and have read a couple times now.

The scene where Haller, he doesn’t like being called Legion anymore as it is pretty insulting to someone with his disease, explains the threat at hand.  There are dozens and he explains it via which characters are located where in Britain and what they are going to do.

The follow up scene where it pays off and you see that these heroes do basically do what Haller said they wouldd do, but with hero twists to them.  As that is what they do, they are heroes.  By doing so, they make England more tolerant to mutants.  Which is nice.

The heroes are: Lila Cheney, Psylocke, Chamber. Pixie, Alchemy, Liam Connaughton (who I don’t know, but he blows things up by just thinking about it), and Pete Wisdom.

Issue ends with David’s mother going to appear next isue.

CSBG’s 50 Greatest X-Family Stories, The Voting

Posted by John Klein III on August 7, 2013
Posted in: Lists, Voting. Tagged: , , . 2 Comments

Brian is back at it with another list opportunity, due to popular demand.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2013/08/06/vote-for-the-50-greatest-x-family-stories/

My list is this:

1. Kitty Pryde: Shadow and Flame 1-5

2. Kitty Pryde and Wolverine 1-6

3. Excalibur 61-67

4. Wolverine (2003) 20-25  Enemy of the State

5. Pryde & Wisdom 1-3

6. Wolverine (1988) 125-128 Viper Wedding

7. X-Men True Friends 1-3

8. Mekanx 1-6

9. Generation Next 1-4

10. Kitty Pryde: Agent of SHIELD 1-3

I should have added the Demon Bear Saga from New Mutants 18 – 21, but that’s okay.  None of mine are going to make the overall list, except for maybe Kitty Pryde and Wolverine.

The results start on August 21.

The list should be all over the place so my heart goes out to Brian Cronin, as he’s going to have a load of work ahead of him.  Voting stops on the 18th of August.

Comparing The Two Lists

Posted by John Klein III on August 3, 2013
Posted in: Lists. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Here is the break down between New Mutants’ list and Brian Cronin’s List

(and I promise this will be my last post on the subject)

Phalanx Covenant dropped from 15th place to 50th

Imperial dropped from 40th place (tied for 38th) to 44th place

Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire stayed at the same rank of 41.

House of M dropped from 14 to 39

Return of the Brood (Earthfall) stayed the same at 38

Rise of the Phoenix dropped from being tied for 45 to 34

Welcome to Genosha (which Brian called “A Green and Pleasant Land – no wonder everyone else calls it the other title) stayed at 33!

Here Comes Tomorrow dropped from 20 to 32

Second Coming dropped from 25 to 31.

X-Tenction Agenda dropped from 9 to 30

Supernovas dropped from 12 to 29

Crossroads jumped from tied at 41 to 28

X-Cutioner’s Song dropped from 11 to 27

Torn stayed the same at 26.

Mutant Genesis dropped from 23 to 25

LifeDeath jumped from tied at 53 to 21!

Planet X dropped from 18 to 20

Riot at Xaviers dropped from 13 to 17

The Brood Saga jumped from 21 to 16

Fatal Attractions jumped from 23 to 15

Fall of the Mutants dropped from 7 to 14

Asgardian Wars jumped from 16 to 13

Messiah Complex dropped from 8 to 12

Inferno dropped from 8 to 11

Preteus Saga jumped from tied at 41 to 10

Mutant Massacre dropped from 2 to 7

Gifted jumped from 21 to 6

From the Ashes would have jumped from 48 to 8, from the collected trade to the highest ranked story.

E is for Extinction stayed at 5

God Loves, Man Kills jumped from 10 to 4

Age of Apocalypse stayed at 3

Days of Future Past jumped from 6 to 2

Dark Phoenix Saga stayed at 1

The stories that did not change were:

Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire at 41

Return of the Brood (EarthFall) at 38

Welcome to Genosha/A Green and Pleasant Land at 33

Torn at 26

E is for Extinction at 5

Age of Apocalypse at 3

Dark Phoenix Saga at 1

In the end though, like any of these lists, it usually just boils down to, these are the 50 best X-Men stories, you may disagree with some of the rankings but just use it as a way to know which stories are worth checking out.  X-Men have a bunch of crossovers so those will always make the list.

21 stories didn’t make the CSBG list so that’s really 71 stories to check out.  Pretty impressive that New Mutants’ compiled list starts has the top 16 making the list.  Some newer stories show up if you don’t want just the best of the 80s and such.  Plus with Paul Smith’s run being made into one entry, it did open the list for five additional stories so there’s that as well.

Seems like the between the two lists, New Mutants’ was about actual storylines whereas CSBG’s list was about storylines and individual issues.