Issue 2
Issue 6
Issue 7
Issue 11
Issue 12
Milla
All posts tagged Milla
In an experiment to really get into what I didn’t connect to the second volume of Marauders, I’m going to read the series again, and see f I can narrow it down.
Annual One
Necessary reading the second volume! Closes out volume one, but mostly sets up volume two.
I sort of like how simple this outfit for Akihiro is. I don’t like how he’s burn to a crisp, but still alive. He was investigating a giant gravesite, filled with mutant bones.
I do love the art of Creees Lee here.
Kate Pryde and Bishop have such a fun friendship. I really want to see this continued to future comics.
Kate wants to be out of the shipping business, especially as the old Marauder ship is totaled, and wants to be more in the mutant rescue business.
Bishop volunteers to pick the new crew, but Kate wants that responsibility.
First Recruit : Psylocke! She tells us Kate drags her feet, a fun detail. Kwannon losing her daughter, sad detail.
This art really is gorgeous.
Second Recruit : Tempo, who is being broken up by Bouncer. Tempo gave Pryde a, maybe, but Bishop wants the answer to be, yes.
I should buy this comic, I do really enjoy it. I’ll add it to my Wishlist.
Third Recruit : Akihiro. He’s missing, so Kate is making him Mission One.
We watch up to Aurora, who just killed a dude. Bishop and Tempo want her to help find Akihiro.
A datapage I’m going to skip.
We see Iceman and Christian Frost dancing, they are fun together inside Somnus’ dreamworld.
Aurora has joined up with Kate & Psylocke to greet Somnus at The Broken Baths. I’m not sure which title has the Akihiro / Somnus relationship, or the Aki/Aurora relationship. Maybe X-Factor?
South Salem, New York, where it all started, as we are introduced to Brimstone Love, and his Theater of Pain. He does look cool. He’s an Xavier purist, so he hates the idea of Krakoa.
We catch up to the Marauders, minus Captain Pryde as she’s getting the new ship. They are investigation Akihiro’s last known location, and the gravesite has been filled up again.
The Morlock, Carver, who I’m not familiar with, tricked Akihiro, and now the Marauders, to come to this location. He’s upset about Krakoa as well. And with this group using the Marauders name. Which I never mind the reminder, as Mutant Massacre, the first one, should never be forgotten.
Brimstone Love makes solid points, it is just the way he goes about it that I’m not a huge fan of, but that’s also the point.
The Marauders arrive, we see in the background, they have a new air ship, but it looks like a classic UFO.
Brimstone Love calls Kate a delivery girl, so we already don’t like him even more.
A big fight breaks out.
Aurora takes out Carver.
Tempo pauses Brimstone Love.
Akihiro is in full berserker mode, and slices off one of Brimstone Love’s horns – the right one.
A giant crater is left where Brimstone Love’s city was.
Kate explains the new ship is a spaceship.
A datapage I’m not reading.
Kate Pryde has modified Emma’s Mercury spaceship into the new Marauders ship.
Everyone is on board to be part of the new Marauders.
To handle the Krakoa stuff, Pryde has named Christian Frost as the new Red Monarch.
Emma Frost gives Kate a two billion year old puzzle box with Kate’s name on it, and a note within in Kate’s handwriting, “the first blood spilled” and a map.
Such a great launch!
Issue One
I like Kate Pryde, Bishop, and Psylocke saving Fever Pitch. Great opening!
Kate starts investigating the mysterium puzzle box, leading her to Cassandra Nova, a character I don’t super enjoy. She was great under Morrison, then Whedon used her in a fun way, then she just kept coming back.
I do like a reference to Xavier being a Jerk. Always a good time, and always true.
I forgot we get Kate referencing how Cassandra Nova killed Pryde’s father, Carmen, during the attack on Genosha – another reason to not like that character. I thought it was only called back at the end of the series.
A datapage I still won’t read.
I like Psylocke and Tempo training together, that’s fun.
Bishop and Aurora are hanging out, she’s joining the team as that is where Akihiro is, and X-Factor wasn’t doing it for her.
Somnus is a new character to me, one I like, how I how the triangle of Somnus – Akihiro – Aurora, they’re fun together.
We continue the story beat of Brimestone Love hurting Akihiro.
People are shock to see Cassandra Nova is joining the team, everyone but Bishop who knew it was coming, he’s still not on board with the decision.
Another datapage I’m skipping
Cassandra Nova purposely annoying the team isn’t as much as fun as it should be.
We set up that we’re going to Shi’ar space as Step Two in the First Mutants Mystery.
The new Spaceship Marauder is a fun re-design.
I’m reminded Xandra, is leading the Shi’ar, with Gladiator at her side.
Delphos dismisses everyone.
Kin Crimson is introduced, they want to guide Xandra, and set up the conflict for us readers.
The First Blood Spilled.
All we know is that something bad happened, but Xandra got the actual information.
Aurora and Tempo are eating boost fruits to make the Marauder go faster. Silly but in a fun way.
We get a spaceship battle. Bishop & Psylocke go out into space with space rifles to lend extra fire power.
Shi’ar ship has a force field that is hard to break through.
Erik the Red sets foot onto the Marauder, as he has defeated Bishop and Psylocke – the two big guns.
Solid first issue.
I’m not the biggest fan of X-Men in space, but I’m always willing to give it a try.
No Lockheed, so that’s always disappointing.
Current Rankings : Annual, 1
Issue Two
Newark. New Jersey. The Lockheed subplot begins! Already off to a great start.
Chandilar. The Shi’ar Throneworld. And that was that. Delphos is consulting Xandra that the Marauders can’t ever be allow the answers they seek. Deathstar isn’t around, as she is in Secret X-Men 1 – a title I don’t even remember was an option.
Shi’ar Space. The Marauders stand off against Eric the Red in a very cool half splash page. Eric the Red talks very highly of himself, and lowly of mutants.
Akihiro is ready for a fight, and we get a very cute moment with Aurora asking if he was this way with Somnus – he wasn’t. She’s been in a good influence.
Kate is under the impression the first mutants are being held prisoner by the Shi’ar. I do like how she recognizes Cassandra Nova isn’t great, but the rest of her squad is.
Eric the Red has the Marauders fight red hard skin versions of themselves, but in New Mutants style outfits. Marauders defeat the fakes pretty easily.
Get another cute moment of Akihiro telling Aurora the next time she does something sexy, to slow down. Something he’s apparently been telling her to do since they met.
Tempo is trying to use her powers in a different way, as she can’t simply age up the constructs, but can control the blasts.
I like Kate fighting Eric the Red solo, she’s the leader, so she should be the one fighting the big bad.
Bishop recognizes the constructs are energy, so he simply absorbs them, which overcharges himself.
Datapage I have no interest in.
Gladiator tries to explain to Xandra why the Crimson Kin should be respected, they hold dark secrets that the leader shouldn’t be burden with.
Another datapage
Xandra commits to keeping the first blood secret a secret.
Cassandra Nova makes a fun comment about how Xavier in the womb choked her harder and better than Eric the Red currently is choking her. She can be fun, she just has a lot of baggage to get moved aside.
Eric the Red explains more about the Crimson Kin’s history, then drops the bubble that was keeping all of the atmosphere in the Marauder. Sucking all of the mutants out.
We get an excellent mutant circuit. Tempo is slowing down all of the breathable air. Aurora is trying to blast Eric the Red. Psylocke is trying to get everyone spacesuits. Cassandra Nova is gone.
Kate Pryde gives us the danger countdown, as they only have seven minutes to breathe.
Eric the Red has the puzzle box.
Somnus has a brilliant idea to get Psylocke to put everyone into one of his dreamscape. Space problems require Space solutions.
Meanwhile out in space, Cassandra Nova is fighting Eric the Red.
Aurora and Somnus keep sharing a similar taste in men, which is fun.
Somnus has the ability to monitor what is happening in the real world. Seven seconds in the real world s seven days in the dreamscape, so they have plenty of time to organized.
Cliffhanger is Xandra has to decide what to do with the Marauders sleeping bodies as she arrives to their location.
Not a bad issue at all. I’m still connecting everything, and feeling good about the story beats.
Ranking : Annual, 2, 1 – which makes sense as each issue should be better than the last. Annual gets points for being set on Earth, and looking amazing. I should write that Carlini has been doing a great job with the ongoing issues.
Issue Three
Issue opens with Eric and Delphos chatting about the mission. Secret X-Men 1 seems to be a story told just to keep Deathbird out of this arc, which is a clever writing exercise, and to keep Xandra’s most trusted advisor away from her.
Apparently Cassandra Nova has been fighting Betel this whole time, okay.
Upper Orbit. the sleeping Marauders have been taken to Xandra’s ship, under Gladiator’s watch.
Cassandra Nova kills Betel, and has to now fight a dragon person, Pr!z the Dragon. Who gets a trip to their personal black bug room.
Apparently Pr!z red skin was a mutant, Zzxz, and once removed, Pr!z is green. I might have skipped these pages previously.
Somnus updates the team, it has been three minutes outside, and they are in a ship.
Aurora wants Psylocke to link all of their minds, and then use Tempo’s powers together to have light speed thoughts to create a winning plan. Mutant circuit!
Two Shi’ar goons have a chat about how the Crimson Red shouldn’t hold any authority.
I like how the mind meld was to come up with a plan that didn’t involve a full on assault, but as the Marauders wake up, they get caught, so end up just assaulting goons anyway. That’s fun.
One of the goons gets half a warning out to Gladiator, and to show how fast he is, Gladiator is immediately there. He’s super that way, man.
Gladiator doesn’t want to fight the Marauders, but will. Tempo ages Gladiator’s arm to old man arm, which stops him for a moment.
Just then, Cassandra Nova arrives, having to wipe away the two Reds off her outfit. Gladiator doesn’t want to fight her, as she’s a member of Krakoa, but she waives that claim, so they can fight now. Which is also fun. Cassandra Nova rakes Gladiator’s eyes, but then Xandra shows up to calm things down.
Kate Pryde tries to scold Cassnadra Nova from killing two Reds, but she is quick to correct the record, that they died by themselves, she just assisted in a way.
Xandra and Kate Pryde finally get a moment to talk (be nice if we get a reference to Mr. and Mrs. X 1, where Kitty sent Rogue & Gambit to ensure Xandra hatched). Kate wants to free the first mutants. Cassandra Nova reveals she has known the secret since she invaded Xavier’s mind during the Morrison arc.
Kate references the puzzle box, and Delphos notes she doesn’t have it now, as if that changes anything Kate is saying.
Another datapage
Delphos, somehow can update the rest of the Crimson Kin without Xandra or Cassandra Nova noticing.
Xandra offers to reveal the secret of the first generation of mutants. Delphos tries to stop her, but Xandra shuts Delphos right down onto her knees. Xandra agrees to lead the Marauders to where the secrets are. Xandra is also impressed with Kate Pryde, as of course she is.
Another datapage.
They are headed to The Krag, that keeps the Chronicle, which is the book of secrets.
We get an eerie warning from Cassandra Nova to Somnus to keep watching.
Issue ends with Xandra being blasted, and Kate asking Bishop if he bought enough guns for everyone.
Issue Four
Neal Adams died 😦
Deathbird returns to the throneworld, and is not happy that Xandra isn’t there.
Marauders vs more hard light constructs. The constructs / guards destroyed Xandra’s ship, so they’ll have to figure out how to get home later.
Kate Pryde takes a hit for Bishop that takes the wind out of her. More than the wind, she’s dead. Jim
Maybe this is where I start losing the plot. Kate Pryde died twice during the Krakoa era – once at Shaw’s hands, and now here in Shi’ar space? Doesn’t seem worthy enough.
I love how angry Psylocke is that Kate is dead, so now she is going to cut loose. Bishop is right there with her, not holding back anymore. Cassandra Nova is messing with their bird brains, as they have located the book’s location.
Tempo would like a nap, a boost fruit, or a beer. She’s fun.
They find a chamber of liquid, so it isn’t a book necessarily. More like a chamber of secrets, if you will.
The chamber holds within it a Lupak, something each Imperial Guard has, so it can be retrieved, and re-uploaded, similar to the Krakoa Resurrection Procedure. This Lupak belonged to Fang, who Logan stole his outfit years ago, and Akihiro borrowed his name for a bit.
Psylocke jumps on Fang’s back, so that Akihiro doesn’t just fight him, they can talk now.
If I understand Cassandra Nova correctly, she took all of Fang’s knowledge, put it in a mental box, and then placed that box inside Somnus’ dreamscape for future investigating.
Psylocke doesn’t like Cassandra Nova claiming the leader position, so with a twist of her focus totality, sees inside Fang’s mind, and witnesses the first blood. Before it was spilled. The Threshold.
We see what they looked like, how they lived, three faces that we will grow to know more later. When Fang woke up, he commented on how Akihiro stinks of his kin, so maybe this is not Fang, but ancient Fang relative.
We see the Shi’ar invading, attacking Threshold. I do recall skipping these pages in the trade. Five mutants rose up to be guards, which of course, makes us think about The Five of Krakoa.
Both sides took major loses. The first blood spilled was many.
A data page I’m skipping.
The Kin Crimson, I guess I’ve been reading it wrong this whole time, were created. The early Shi’ar recognized which genes were inferior, and started breeding themselves to be stronger.
Took eons for mutants to start to grow in number. Okkara rose, and split. We see the original Eric the Red attack the All New All Different X-Men.
Fang shouts at Psylocke to stop with the retelling, which is a fun comic way to explaining who was providing those narration boxes. Fang references how no one from Threshold survived. Cassandra Nova tells Bishop that Fang is lying, some DNA was saved and recorded in timedrives.
With a fruit boost, Tempo shuts Cassandra Nova down, so she can talk to the team.
Seems like they jump to talking about going back in time, where did that idea come from? Oh no, is it already happening, am I losing interest in this?
Bishop is ready to travel back in time, but Tempo is quick to mention how he’s just a tourist, she’s the one who has to do the traveling.
Datapage, an email from Tempo to Bishop. It is so many words.
Tempo shares her concerns, Aurora says she can Akihiro can stay behind to protect during the time heist.
Apparently the way The Kragg is shaped, they can use the resources to space jump, but time jumping is tricky.
Tempo takes them to Avalon, Magneto’s hold space base, that is using Shi’ar tech.
Issue ends with Nemesis showing up, how is that possible?
Yeah, I do fear this is where I started losing the plot. I just feel the disinterest growing.
Ranking : Annual, 2, 3, 1, 4
Issue Five
Andrea Broccardo takes over art duties, he has a more traditional art style which is a pleasant surprised. I guess the jump back to the 90s makes sense to have a different artist?
Krakoa. Xandra has been resurrected, and we get a nice father / daughter moment with her and Xavier.
Aurora and Akihiro are fighting off Fang and other goons.
We get a great editors note setting the time period, X-Men V2 42
Nemesis vs Exodus, fun to be reminded how far Exodus has come.
Tempo with the reminder to not to change anything too much.
I do like Nemesis talking in paragraph long word balloons.
Somnus has questions, and I do like Psylocke stating that all of this becomes normal at some point. It helps to quit questioning it.
Were fruit boosts this common during Krakoa? I feel like this volume is the only title that made this much out of them? Also, where are they keeping these, in the top of their boots?
Cassandra Nova is being looked over by a symbiote, when did that happened? Or is that the Kin Crimson’s wet skin? I think that’s the same thing. Oh yeah, that’s Zzxz and Cassandra Nova, making a Venom design – for some reason. Weird whenever people refer to her as Nova, that’s a different dude.
I do like, haircut, for an insult for a person. So silly
Psylocke is getting closer to the DNA, and can sense it is just one mutant from Threshold.
When did Nemesis hit her, I don’t remember this, and it was only three minutes between issues.
oh, when the Marauders went back in time, they were separated from Cassandra Nova, so when he was shouting about Age of Nemesis, it was due to the power upgrade he got from biting Cassandra Nova.
Fang puts his fist through Akihiro’s chest, so Akihiro removes Fang’s arm.
Aurora makes a Storm reference, as she lights up the room.
Akihiro notices the gland, which I thought Fang grew out of, but apparently it is separate, so he claws his way to the gland, and kills Fang. Akihiro quotes Brimstone Love’s pain is only a challenge. Interesting.
Bishop is absorbing Nemesis’ extra power, bringing him back to jump normal levels of high power.
Cassandra Nova makes a fun joke about how Zzxz can’t feed on Nemesis’ brain, as he doesn’t have much of one, but Bishop throws a wet blanket over the situation, as Nemesis can’t be killed back then.
Psylocke updates the team that she has the timedrive, and it seems to only have data. Tempo is quick to mention how it might be more like teleporter’s pattern buffer, like how they got Scotty on Star Trek The Next Generation.
Tempo freezes time to get the Marauders back together. I see now that Cassandra Nova’s symbiote design is all black with a white Phoenix pattern, so that’s fun.
Cassandra Nova proposes a mutant circuit – herself, Zzxz, Tempo, and Psylocke who can focus her totality into anything, it doesn’t have to be a knife shape.
Marauders back in the present, Psylocke recalls she still has her memories, but wouldn’t they have been outside the time change?
Cassandra Nova comments how of course no one remembers anything from the past, she erased their memories, which does seem to be the obvious solution.
Psylocke notices the Chronicle is destroyed, which means the evidence of the Shi’ar’s crimes is now gone.
Dramatic page turn, and Deathbird and Gladiator have arrived, all the evidence they need is with their new prisoner, Delphos.
Psylocke informs Deathbird that they have the timeslip, and Xandra said they could keep it. Deathbird tells her that she’ll find her niece, and be told what the terms of the agreement were. To which, Delphos updates her that Xandra is super dead.
So Deathbird, of course, kills Delphos, so there goes that evidence. Deathbird agrees to the vow.
A datapage.
Awkward, Xandra is back on the throne, but the Marauders are there too. So they waited for her to come all the way back? One would think they would have met in the middle somewhere.
Present Day Fang arrives Akihiro the name, Fang. So that’s fun. I believe I did skip all of this issue in my original read, and then my Aurora reread.
We see Warbird from the Jason Aaron Wolverine and the X-Men run, so that’s fun. She was also part of Marjorie Lu’s Astonishing X-Men run. Zzxz bonds with Warbird.
Xandra gives Psylocke the knowledge of the first blood spilled. We see Psylocke has been updating Greycrow with the story, which is a fun story reveal. I do love KwanJohn. She wishes they can go through one Hellfire Gala without a scandal, sadly she’ll never get that wish fulfilled.
Datapage of an email from Bishop to Kate, that I did read.
Days later. Kate Pryde has been resurrected! YAY!
Issue ends with Cerebra being resurrected, and with a new outfit styled by Jumbo Carnation.
I really did enjoy this issue a lot.
Rankings : Annual, 5, 2, 3, 1, 4
Issue Six
Full Disclosure, I didn’t quite click with the AXE Judgment Day crossover event.
Issue opens with another page in the Lockheed subplot, he’s doing some sort of investigation.
Kate Pryde is explaining to Fabian Cortez (and us) what has been happening.
Datapage, a message from Aurora to Kate Pryde
Birdy, a character I’m not familiar with, is interviewing the Marauders as the judging celestial as passed its judgment. She been helping Aurora, so she must be from the X-Factor title. Context clues!
Bishop reveals he always knows where he is, place and time. Just a skill of his. We’re not told how he was judged.
Aurora and her personalities were trying to be tricked, but she couldn’t be. I like how this is pretty much my impression of AXE Judgment Day. None of the characters seem to care, and I’m right there with them.
Tempo is visited the a face of an old friend, but not his attitude. She also didn’t care about the result.
Psylocke, she immediately kills the Progenitor who was Mister Sinister shaped. She also didn’t care about the result. I should really look into what happened with her daughter.
Somnus is visited by a form of Northstar, who tries to harrass Somnus about not coming out in his first life.
Akihiro, looking great in his Fang outfit, but it doesn’t feel right referring to him as Fang. Such a short term name. He also doesn’t care about his judgment.
The Marauders reunite to tackle whatever is next, and I don’t think they appear in the crossover proper.
Issue ends with Spider-Man villain, Judas Traveller arriving, and I want to say nothing comes of this either?
Kate reveals that she passed, in Immortal X-Men, I believe?
Ranking : Annual, 6, 5, 2, 3, 1, 4
Issue Seven
Carlini is back as we start the second arc of the series.
Mike Pasciullo died 😦
Lockheed gets another page into his investigation
Kate Pryde and Cerebra continue their chat, as if the previous two issues didn’t happen, but they address those issues.
Cerebra is from X-Men 2099, thanks for that reminder, I needed that. She plants a Krakoan gate onto the New Marauder, which is very handy. Cerebra is will to help with the timeslip device, but doesn’t want to be on the official team.
Somnus – Akihiro – Aurora, and Psylocke being the fourth wheel, go to Captain America, Nebraska. They’re there to protect mutants from The Watchdogs. Actually, looks like they’re there to protect the watchdogs from Horsepower, a mutant who is wrecking some racists faces.
Datapage ForgetMeNot transcribed a chat between Kate Pryde and Doctor Nemesis about Cerebra, of course I read this.
I like Cerebra and Bishop chatting. Both mutants out of time, he invites her to a drinkup with Rachel and Cable. So fun.
Cerebra believes there are three life forces in the time drive, not one like Psylocke thinks.
There is an egg, one mutant crawls out, and Psylocke congratulates herself for guessing correctly. Exception, just then, two more mutants pop out of the first one, and we get a fun moment of Akihiro and Aurora teasing Psylocke.
Kate Pryde makes some introduces, the three Thresholders learn English pretty quickly. They don’t care for the sound of it.
Amass, Crave, and Theia, who is their leader, and she explains Threshold from her perspective.
Datapage, Bishop and Psylocke email to the other two War Captains, Cyclops and Magik. Another must read.
Thresholders are shocked to learn the Shi’ar have grown so large.
Akihiro wonders how there was no sign of Threshold existing, but two billion years is a long time to leave a trace anywhere. I do like how the Marauders are using the Trust but Verify method.
Crave can eat anything, so X-Men finally have someone to combat the Legion’s Matter Eater Boy.
Theia keeps sharing their history, and I’ll admit I don’t have much interest in it, but I appreciate the world building, and it doesn’t take away from the quality of the issue. It is an important story to tell. It is four pages that if it doesn’t attract, its just words and images waiting until a familiar face shows up again.
I immediately love that Theia and Tempo start flirting. Kate’s face is a delight.
Amass is very immature, but also notices Theia is connecting well with Tempo.
Theia tells them that they want to rescue more, and I immediately start to wonder if we’re going to try to bring an entire populace to the present day. Which doesn’t make that much sense, where will they go? Out of a thousand new characters, we’ll get to know maybe 10? What’s the point of this?
Also, those people are dead, buried, and forgotten – even with Resurrection Protocols, should they be brought back just because we can? two billion years seems like long enough to leave them there.
Cassandra Nova wants to reveal the truth, but Kate stops her, but I’m not sure what is the harm in telling them that they’re all dead. Of course they are, it is two billion years. Even if it was 50 years, everyone but the very youngest would be dead. Which is a haunting thought.
Cassandra Nova is about to reveal her truth, but instead, reveals that Kate is about to volunteer everyone to their deaths.
Issue ends with Cassandra Nova revealing that the bacteria weapons are the siblings – Arkea and Sublime.
Rankings : Annual, 6, 5, 7, 2, 3, 1, 4
Loses some points as the arc being set up, I’m not sure why we’re bothering.
Issue Eight
Tom Palmer died 😦
Issue opens with Threshold being destroyed.
Dramatic page turn, and we see the Marauders in the Broken Baths of Krakoa. The team is being very unguarded. Kate has trust in her team, because of their hearts.
I do appreciate the team asking what is the point, as that is my question. So they are going to save Threshold from Sublime and his sister, just so they can still all be dead in two billion years? I guess Kate is playing the numbers that maybe they’ll be some civilization left in the present day? But like Tempo said, wouldn’t that change the present day? What is the point of this?
Bishop sort of ruins the discussion by pointing out that all of the mutants of today are lost in his time, but he still fights for the present day ones as it is a fight worth having. But I feel like that isn’t the same thing, and maybe that’s because I live in the now, and can’t help the people of yesterday, but even with a time machine, I still feel like I wouldn’t or couldn’t help much, unless it creates an alternate timeline – which it usually does according to Marvel rules, but I think Tempo changes that as she has real control over time? Maybe?
We get KwanJohn as he tempts her to take over leadership, which is a bold move, and she doesn’t want that position.
Crave is eating all the food, and he’s sitting next to Maggot AND Eanie and Meanie. I love those two.
Cassandra Nova and Amass are hanging out, so that tells you a lot about Amass.
Theia and Tempo are on a date at the beach, and it is very sweet. It is odd that humanity is the majority, but also it is a numbers game, and we did lose millions at Genosha.
Tempo doesn’t like the water, which is a cute character trait.
Theia on time
Aurora on speed
Tempo on time
Amass merging everybody
A fruit boost
and a leap of faith that it all works
The White Palace. Kate, Bishop, and Psylocke – I do like how these are the main three of the Marauders. I really need to treat myself to the Psylocke Funko, I am a bigger than I thought I was. They are trying to rush Jumbo Carnation to make their new suits – suits I’m going to hate as it is going to be very hard for me to identify who is talking, and thus, feel very disconnected from the events I’m not going to be enjoying.
Bishop ponders if they do need to rush him, as they’re jumping back in time, it isn’t like the more time spent in the now, changes when they arrive then.
Stitch is also working on the suits, giving credit where it is deserved. One of the main features is keeping today’s germs from harming the old germs, even though they are going to be fighting humanoid germs.
The Thresholders are not getting suits, as they haven’t been in the present long enough to absorb the new germs, which doesn’t seem right, as are they not in new bodies?
I feel like I’m punching holes into something that is already very unstable.
Akihiro makes an awesome reference to how he thought Tempo was already breaking into Theia’s body down at the beach. oh my
So Threshold was on Earth, and not somewhere deep into Shi’ar space? I must have missed that as the Marauders land on Cooterman’s Creek.
Amass assembles everyone together, into a giant blue monster, with one each of everyone’s eyes. Everyone has a role to play.
Tempo. Chronokinetics.
Pryde. Intagibility.
Theia. Gravity Shield.
Fang. Healing.
Bishop. Compound Energy.
Psylocke. Psychic Backup.
Aurora. Lightspeed.
Cassandra Nova. Threshold Langauge.
Somnus. Hypersleep.
Amass. Amassing.
Datapage I’m skipping
Two Billion Years Ago. A battle is happening. Arkea and Sublime are already attacking. Marauders separate and join the fight. Fight Fight Fight. Akihiro’s suit rips, and he begins being infected. Why are they doing this?
Issue ends as Sublime has a new host body, Akihiro’s.
Rankings : Annual, 6, 5, 7, 8, 2, 3, 1, 4
Issue Nine
Stan Lee would have been 100 if he had lived to see this issue be printed.
Issue opens with the enemies of Threshold chatting. There is a war between Threshold and the Unbreathing, and Arkea & Sublime are influencing both sides.
Sublime-Akihiro attacks the Marauders.
They kept using the term, Livery, and I finally had to look it up. Just means special uniform.
Somnus brings Akihio into his dreamscape to say goodbye.
Marauders blow up Sublime, and we’re reminded that no one will stay dead, as long as someone makes it back to Krakoa.
Arkea is there, was she there the whole time, or just arrived?
Marauders are using telepathy to secretly plan, but Arkea can hear their thoughts, so there’s no point to secrets.
Unbreathing shows up, and Marauders need to leave as there’s too many enemies.
It is cute that they’re wearing their superhero suits under their liveries.
Amass gets pulled into the ground. They want to save him, but believe Crave will know how.
Datapage from Crave stating Amass is dead.
Marauders regroup as we catch up to them hours later. It is hard to tell who is talking as not everyone is easily identifiable. Crave isn’t there, nor is Kate Pryde. Tempo repeats how this was a bad idea, and it really was!
We meet Grove, the leader of Threshold. They go to the home base, and see the puzzle box in its early days, it actually is a seed.
Datapage I’m skipping.
We’re introduced to the weapon, Daymight. No Pryde on any of these pages, and they’re talking about a battle that has been over for billions years, I feel my interest weening.
Cassandra Nova doesn’t love their main weapons manufacture is a human, but Grove states humans and mutants have a great working relationship. Psylocke states she “trusts her trust” which seems super silly.
Every 20 years, the previous generation births the next, and Arkea has tainted the process. Tempo wonders if the process is like how fish do it, but Theia states it is more like how Tempo does it, which Tempo likes the way Theia implies the intimacy.
Psylocke is prepared to do whatever it takes to defeat Arkea.
Bishop has a plan to eat a fruit boost, and absorb the bacteria.
We see Amass is not dead, but held prisoner. A prisoner of Nightfount, a defector. Looks interesting, but I feel like this is far too many new people to start caring about or latching onto. Turns out that Nightfount is . . . Stryfe! Which feels like the first time I looked at this page. So the plot is getting more complicated.
Rankings : Annual, 6, 5, 7, 8, 9, 2, 3, 1, 4
There were a lot of pages that I just don’t find interesting, but I am noticing I’m ranking all of these over the original arc, but I think that’s just exposure to the characters more than liking one over the other.
Issue Ten
Styrfe has big BIG plans to become King.
Kate Pryde phases out of Amass, and starts attacking Stryfe. Is this the first time these two interacted? It feels like it is. I have no memory of these pages.
Amass starts trying to absorb Stryfe, so Pryde can escape back to the others.
Datapage I have no interest in
As Pryde escapes, she’s hoping someone can hear her thoughts, as she gives a sit-rep of what has been happening.
Everyone is fighting in Threshold with Psylocke assisting. Grove is injured.
Marauders are at the birthing section, but Sublime attacks them.
I get they are going for an epic war feel, with characters everywhere and chaotic battlegrounds, but it all just leaves me cold.
Bishop did what he could, but his livery is destroyed, but he took out large portions of both Arkea and Sublime. We’re told this, as I’m not sure I would believe it or know it if it wasn’t from the dialogue.
Cassandra Nova opens her livery to take on Arkea and Sublime. Cassandra Nova’s body is now the prize to be had, so the siblings solely focus on claiming the new body. The siblings are in lots of different bodies, but all sharing the same goal.
Pryde has joined Psylocke, and if you do look at legs, we are given just enough information to figure out who it is, or who it couldn’t be based on what little we are shown.
Cassandra Nova goes full supernova mode, killing both bacteria. I imagine just enough of both gets away to regrow.
The next morning. Theia and Tempo are together. Amass is still a prisoner of the Unbreathing.
Kate Pryde recognizes she can’t save everybody. Grove looks like Groot, and if you’re not reading all of the word bubbles, you’ll miss that information. Or you don’t care, see a Groot, and keep turning the page.
Kate Pryde and Cassandra Nova finally confront each other. But this is just a distraction to have Somnus attack Cassandra Nova with a gun, the Chokestick.
I do like how Cassandra Nova called Kate, Sprite, it is meant to be insulting, but also, it is a silly name to mock someone with.
Kate tells Cassandra Nova that Emma says hi, then reminds her that she killed Kate’s father, Carmen.
There was a shared dream, but what all was the dream, just the last few panels?
Krakoans are getting ready to go home. Theia and Tempo say their goodbyes.
Grove wants to be called, Okkara, so now we have that answer. I had to look up what the question is. She will become an island, which will eventually break into two pieces – Krakoa and Arakko. So big stuff here.
Datapage, a little from Kitty Pryde to her father, Carmen Pryde.
Present Day. Green Lagoon. Anole is making drinks. Kate checks in with Tempo, who has had better days. Tempo and Theia’s relationship lasted a long weekend, but left an impact.
Since they still have the time drive, Theia, Crave, and Amass are reborn – something I missed when I first read this, I imagine they got that battle version of their memories back.
Rankings : Annual, 6, 5, 7, 8, 10, 9, 2, 3, 1, 4
Slight improvement over the previous issue. 9 & 10’s opening and concluding are nice, but there is a full issue of content that I rather not read for a fourth time.
Issue Eleven
Datapage of the 3 Rules of Krakoa, this time with a fun post-it note from Kate Pryde to Nightcrawler.
Kate and Kurt chat, and I love it so much. She is upset that they left Threshold to defend itself, but – again – what was she going to do, bring thousands of mutants from two billion years ago to the present day? And put them where?!
Kurt gives her some perspective, and some inspiration to try something new.
After far too many issues without him, we catch up to Detective Lockheed in Boston. He brought some backup, Akihiro and a baseball bat. Casey Jones style!
Kate Pryde, wearing her old training uniform, has an idea she wants Theia’s opinion on. Theia is wearing a similar outfit, so they’re bonding.
Santo Marco. Psylocke and Aurora are trying to save people. This is in reference to Armageddon (Nature) Girl’s actions in X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic 44. Which is nice that the digital comics are having an affect on the printed comics. Triage from the Bendis Uncanny volume (3) makes an appearance, always nice to see one of those mutants around.
The mutant, Feedback, was being held prisoner here, and exploded.
Kate believes that Krakoa was the first mutants, and going back in time, making Threshold survive, made mutants survive billions of years later. Which feels 1) complicated, and 2) why even tell this story?
I do like the idea that the previous issue ended with Kate making the note or the map, so she knows she still has to do that to close the loop.
Hammer Bay, Genosha. Cassandra Nova is locked away in the past. But what if the cage was rebuilt here? Which does go to my question of, where do you put an entire civilization?
Lockheed and Akihiro have been investigating Scratch and his recruitment schemes. Scratch has been recruiting for Brimetone Love, and these two are shutting it all down. To give him some credit, Scratch keeps talking throughout his beatdown.
Kid Crimson’s attack on Threshold was the first blood spilled. But Cassandra Nova’s attack on Genosha can be considered her first blood spilled. We might be taking this metaphor too far, but we’re also having to connect these dots.
Bishop starts to smile as in his era, he’s heard of this legend. He’s getting ahead of Kate here.
Kate wants to bring back Threshold, but wouldn’t all of these misplaced new but very old mutants really wreck the world if they ever leave the border?
Kate has a theory that Genosha was built where Threshold was, but that’s not where they stood to go back in time, so I’m not sure. Polaris shows up to assist, so that’s nice of her.
Okay, let me write this plan as I don’t think I get the steps
Polaris shapes it
Cerebra scans the DNA in the ground, and does a lot more
Box is filled with the found DNA
Tempo sends the box back in time
Time Nature, and Evolution do the rest
Tempo thinks it is crazy enough to work.
Wicked, a mutant I have no knowledge of, shows up to help with the spirts. Apparently her first appearance is in Excalibur V3, the Xavier & Magneto volume that deals with the aftermath of Genosha, so that’s a fun loop to include here.
I do not recognize this outfit Psylocke is wearing with the big pink coat. Psylocke and Aurora are going to San Francisco to retrieve Cerebra.
Wicked points out that Pryde is clearly doing this without Council approval. It does seem like a big task to not get cleared.
During Kate’s entire speech, Wicked’s spirits have been moving about, and we finally get Carmen Pryde’s ghost to appear.
Madripoor. Akihiro and Lockheed have located Brimstone Love! They brought along Mister Dee who I know from X-Men 198, with the squid gut situation. He appears to have been de-aged at some point.
We get a fun datapage that breaks down how each mutant is going to bring Threshold to the present.
Rankings : Annual, 11, 6, 5, 7, 8, 10, 9, 2, 3, 1, 4
We’re fully in the present, but haven’t shaken off the final arc yet, but there’s only one issue to go.
Huge points for having Lockheed back in the title, and on more than one page.
Issue Twelve
Madripoor. Issue opens with Lockheed, Akihiro, and Mister Dee attacks Brimstone Brother.
Genosha. Polaris is at working on a new puzzle box.
San Francisco. Theia is wondering what gives her the right to be existing now, and to bring back Threshold. Tempo tells her that they exist, so they have all of the rights. Then they kiss.
We get a beautiful call back to Mekanix, where Carmen repeats he loves Kate, as his final words before the attack on Genosha.
Carmen sees the map and handwriting, and realizes it is both Pryde’s handwriting. So everything is slowly coming together.
I guess I’m confused why Kate needs the Genosha spirits’ permission? Because we’re going to get billions of new (but very old) life in Genosha? Even though The Five are slowly trying to bring those lost in Genosha back. Where will they go?
Can’t just bring back a billion people, and expect them to live and die only in Genosha.
Datapage featuring Magik and the War Captains discussing Cerebra.
San Francisco. We see Cerebra is making sure her 2099 friends are born.
We get a fun splash page of the X-Men 2099, with current members thanks to the few 2099 miniseries that had come out around this time.
Cable brought Cerebra here, for this Threshold mission, is what people are thinking. She can never go back to 2099, for some reason.
Madripoor. Akihiro and Brimstone Love are fighting. Mister Dee creates a doll of Brimstone Love to torment. Lockheed burns the doll, ending the fight.
Genosha. Ladies are all hard at work. Akihiro finally arrives with Lockheed. Kate has been missing him so much!
There is a pretty cool giant structure now in Hammer Bay. The structure is in a shape of a Double Helix, like the name of Threshold’s capitol.
Kate gets the puzzle box ready, and once done, Tempo and her go back in time.
The Proterozoic Era. Kate plans the box, reciting the three rules of Krakoa (I do like a bookend). We see a slew of new (but very old) mutants launch.
Some time later. Kate and Emma are having a few drinks. I love these two together. Emma quotes Magneto’s new gods speech. Kate says Mystique is the one who found the vessel for Emma. Emma knew that Kate would see the vision, she just needed a slight push.
The Quiet Counsel sits in The Grove, who we have now met. So this volume, especially the second half, really matters to set up the Krakoan Era. I just breeze through it to fast to appreciate or notice that.
Final splash page is essentially everyone who showed up in this volume for the big party.
And it all ends with Lockheed on Kate Pryde’s shoulder, my favorites, with Magik at the top of the structure.
There is a datapage that explains everything, that I would have remembered if I actually read it. All of those mutant who jumped out of the box, are going to create Threshold, so they were the second generation of mutants, created by the first generation, billions of years later. It is a pretty large time loop.
Rankings : Annual, 12, 11, 6, 5, 7, 8, 10, 9, 2, 3, 1, 4
Lockheed and Kate Pryde are back together, so I give this issue so much more love.
Now when I look back at this volume, it isn’t the real mess I think it is.
Sure it starts with a space opera I don’t care for, then we get a crossover tie-in in the middle, then the Threshold arc, that connects to the first.
I mean, I’ll still forever wonder why we were given these stories instead of just more pirate goodness. I imagine it was to keep Kate Pryde off the board during the ending of Krakoa, until she got involved in the Fall of X.
I also guess it answers questions about how Okkara got started, Kate did that.
Which means Kate Pryde is the most important mutant.
I should have been loving this from the start.
Writer Jason Aaron
Penciler Nick Bradshaw
Inker Walden Wong
Colorists Laura Martin & Matt Milla
Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Dated August 2013
Hellfire Saga Part Two of Five
Corporate Headquaters of Kilgore Arms. Midtown Manhattan. Kitty and Iceman have broke into the place.
Iceman created the creature from The Thing. Iceman points out that Kitty was the one that tripped the alarm. Now Kitty owes him a plate of pork buns from Momofuku.
Kitty states that the security was impressive, it almost took her a full minute to hack into it. They cannot locate Kilgore.
To make this not a complete bust, Iceman destroys the top fifty floors of the building! People probably were not in it.
Chaparanga Beach, Indoesia. Doop and Warbird are at a spaceship graveyard, looking for clues.
Somewhere Above the Atlantic Ocean. Beast is determine to locate this 12 year old who is harassing him so much. Angel isn’t thrilled that he didn’t get to the newly located heroes in time.
30,000 Feet Above New York. Poor Rachel is trying to read the mind of everyone on Earth. The numbers she is coming up with are horrible –
2,789,567,282 people sleeping
8855,499 making love
198,062 dying
0 who know where the new Hellfire Club is located
79,477 dancing
23,556 plotting murder
3,999 screaming
Storm is with her, just nagging at Rachel and stopping all progress.
Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.
I love Bradshaw’s Lockheed, he looks awesome! Also, Aaron writes him as great as I would say Kieron Gillen. That’s right folks, I’m apparently keeping track of people who write Lockheed well.
So jarrod from the Comic Book Resources’ X-Books thread keeps referring to Lockheed as Headmaster Lockheed and like a good fellow poster – I just go with it, not really knowing or getting the reference. But liking the idea of Lockheed running a school. Then I finally own this issue thanks to MileHighComics.com and my wife getting me the gift of comics for Father’s Day and now I totally get the reference.
This Lockheed is a Lockheed that deserves to rule er, I mean, run a school. He’s totally bad arse and in charge.
Lockheed was given a collar that translate his words to English. He’s a dragon from space. Friend of Lady Pryde. Sometime special agent of SWORD. Slayer of untold brood – may they burn in the fires of the black sun for all eternity. He’s also the working headmaster and sole instructor in all aspects of life.
If I read this comic within the last two years, I would have been clamoring for an Arron / Bradhsaw Lockheed ongoing or at least miniseries. I may just start doing that, regardless!
Today’s assignment? Do not anger Lockheed. He breathes fire and is carnivorous. So do the math, seriously do your math! Such fun and great dialogue!
Wolverine is going around just slashing the walls. He sees that the Bamfs like his whiskey and starts forming a plan.
Meanwhile, at the Hellfire Academy. Master Pandemonium is torturing Quentin Quire. Philistine comes in to relief the other villain, who has demons for hands. That has to be awkward.
We get Philistine’s origin. He’s really into the Siege Perilous.
The Teacher’s Lounge. Mystique is trying to get an update from everyone. Sauron is there, Dog Logan, a lady Mojo, the space alien who likes to collect Broods.
Toad thinks they should let the captured Jean Grey students go, so they can maybe lead regular lives. This embarrasses Husk.
Wolverine has made a deal, the Bamfs can drink his whiskey but they have to take him along the trail the Hellfire Academy left behind.
Sabretooth and Kilgore are talking. Sabretooth is being paid very handsomely. Kilgore wants him to be the Headmaster.
Lord Deathsike is also a member of the teaching staff.
Issue ends as Wolverine and the Bamfs have located Lord Deathstrike, so Wolverine is getting closer!
Writer Zeb Wells
Penciler Angel Medina
Inker Scott Hanna
Colorist Avalong’s Matt Milla
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Dated December 2008
I like Spider-Man but I always found Venom to be only okay. Maybe as I was a Spider-Man fan in the 90s, so there was plenty of opportunities to see Venom that I never grew to miss the character.
In the previous issue, we saw (apparently) Eddie Brock ruin his career with the Sin-Eater fiasco. Which if you haven’t read Peter David and Rich Buckler’s excellent Death of Jean DeWolfe, do so as soon as possible! Slight spoilers, at one point, there is the real Sin-Eater and a guy who claimed he was the Sin-Eater. (Everytime I type Sin-Eater, I keep typing Sin-Easter) Eddie has the unfortunate experience of interviewing the fake one and didn’t do enough fact checking that embarrassed the newspaper and he was ruined.
Essentially, issue three, is the issue that anyone who knows Venom, or saw Spider-Man 3, is familiar with.
Eddie Brock is in the church, contemplating suicide. He looks up to the heavens, and for his thanks, gets a symbiote in his face and eyes.
The symbiote, of course, is the same one from Secret Wars, otherwise known as Spider-Man’s black costume.
Which leads to the reason why I bought this comic :
Lockheed’s involvement in Secret Wars, keeps paying off! See him on the bottom right corner? Looks like he is fighting the Lizard there!
With Eddie’s screaming of these new memories, and for being attacked by black goo, the priest and cops start coming into the church. The police take a beating.
I really like the image of a body builder in the black costume. We haven’t gotten the classic Venom with the mouth and the tongue, he still has the close face mask like Spider-Man do.
Here are some ads here. Like the two page embracechange.org website (that sadly doesn’t work any longer) to promote Secret Invasion. An ad for Astonishing X-Men Ghost Boxes part one of two, the second issue is the one to buy. But just barely. Also, Marvel Zombies 3 was about to come out. As well as Spider-Man Noir – which I haven’t read but he was my favorite sections of Spider-Man : Shattered Dimensions.
Back to the issue. Venom has the priest forgive him for his recent actions.
Eddie quickly learns that the symbiote costume can change its appearances and he now has a fancy suit. He signs his divorce papers to Ann with the ink from the symbiote.
Ann looks quite different here than she does in her first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man 375. Maybe she is suppose to very very tan here. Maybe?
Eddie, as Venom, looks himself in the mirror and starts laughing at the possibly of finally being able to get his revenge on Spider-Man. His laughter is so much that it makes the symbiote laugh as well as we get the famous Venom with Teeth and Tongue face that we all know from Amazing Spider-Man 300 and on.
It took this series three issues to finally unite Eddie and the symbiote, I wonder what the next two issues do as pretty much, this is the only issue you need to know about the two characters.
Writers CM Punk & Cullen Bunn
Artist Scott Hepburn
Color Artist Matt Milla
Letterer & Production VC’s Clayton Cowles
I figured I would be buying a few issues of these Guardians of the Galaxy spinoff titles but I wasn’t expecting to be buying a first issue, that’s pretty quick.
I’m surprised that CM Punk is using his wrestling monikers. I recall reading an article, way back in the day, that whenever Dwayne Johnson is credited as “The Rock” that Vince McMahon gets a cut of some of the movie’s revenue.
CM Punk, retired, and isn’t associated with WWE – at all – so I’m not even sure how that works. He probably has been using “CM Punk” for the past fifteen years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CM_Punk
He’s with UFC now.
Like most of the Guardians, I don’t really have much connection to them, until Bendis started writing the title. Which I know annoys the Abnett Lanning crowd. Batista, another WWE wrestler, did a great job portraying the character, in the film – as far as I know. I know Drax isn’t that dumb of a character, but it felt right.
Issue opens with the Guardians fighting some aliens, which is how I imagine I’m going to get treated to these issues.
The entire creative team does a great job of handling the new Star Lord, Kitty Pryde.
I do like how, in eight months, Agent Venom is already tired of hearing Ben Grimm shout “It’s Clobbering Time!” Makes me wonder how much Johnny Storm got tired of it. But, if he didn’t say it, I’m sure the members of the Fantastic Four would either miss it or wonder why he didn’t say it.
Groot’s “I am Groot” quickly followed by Flash’s “This is hell, isn’t it” must be how television characters feel when they are surrounded by multiple other characters, that have catch phrases.
Rocket is about to ambushed, and with a page turn, we get what will most likely be the tone for this title – Drax just rips the alien in two. Blood and entrails scatter about the room. Which isn’t what I read comics for but I know there is an audience for it. Rocket brings up the great point, about how blood is hard to get out of fur.
The Guardians are there, to prevent a bomb from exploding.
The rest of the aliens turn to Drax, as he is permanently taking out their elk, and he starts tearing into them, as well.
Look at the disgust on the faces of his fellow teammates!
They get to the bomb, Rocket and Groot know a place where they can dismantle it.
We get the scene that makes me wonder if the Guardians are spread too thin. Like the logistics are throwing me off. Will their main title, be only for the big adventures that forces them to come back as a team? Which makes sense but does that mean some of them, won’t make it to the big adventure? Or will their main title have to have throw away lines regarding their solo titles?
Grimm and Venom are going to get a drink from a space station that has Irish liquor, proving how much influence Earthlings are having in outer space.
Kitty just gives the “until next time,” leaving Drax without a friend.
Not hearing what Kitty is up to, Drax tries to join her with her plans. She is doing “girl stuff” which makes me realize that she’s the only member that doesn’t have a solo title announced. That seems sexist to me, but also, she’s the best character of the batch, so it makes some sense to keep her isolated to the big title and guest appearances in the spin off titles. Now that I wrote that, Grimm doesn’t have a solo title, so maybe racist is the term to throw about? Probably more a Bendis call than scheduling, but who knows.
Grimm and Thompson’s side ship doesn’t have room for a third, so Drax can’t join them.
Drax, defaulting to his main goal – decides he will go kill Thanos. Rocket is going to lend Drax a barely functioning spaceship. Whiling flying, who knows if he even knows where to start looking for Thanos – another ship tries to board his ship. They see that the ship is barely held together by string, so they keep flying away.
The ship starts falling apart so Drax has to crash land on a moon. Space problems. After trekking for some time, on a desert looking planet, he comes across a bar. He’s looking for a mechanic. Who he does find, is Terrax! Who I mostly only know from his time as a Herald of Galactus.
Not a bad issue, and I’m super cool with just buying the first issue of storylines but I doubt I’ll be following this series. Unless Drax wishes he had a teammate with him (and name checks Kitty) but I doubt the spinoffs titles are going to have storylines that end with the team showing up and resolving the situation.
Writer Reginald Hudlin
Pencils Manuel Garcia
Inks Jay Leisten with Sean Parsons
Colors Matt Milla
Letters VC’s Randy Gentile
World Tour, Part Four of Four
Cover Dated January 2007
We pick up with this series where we left off, back in November, from issue 18 to now 22. Let’s find out what has happened in the meantime.
Inside front cover is an ad for the 2007 Chevy Aveo.
Since marrying Storm, Black Panther has had to go around, shoring up allies and making sure Wakanda is still a viable first world country. They have visited Doctor Doom in Latveria. They went to the Moon to visit the Inhumans. Last issue, they went to Atlantis to pal around with Namor. Three issues, three visits.
Issue opens with Jim Rhodes, of War Machine fame. Currently, he is leading the O*N*E program, as a favor to Tony Stark and because General Lazer asked him too.
Rhodes isn’t happy about the Sentinels keeping watch over the X-Men, at their own home. As Tony’s friend, Rhodes is Pro-Registration. He likes how it doesn’t just focus on mutants or superhumans, if you want to be bigger than yourself and help the world in the big leagues, you have to get registered.
London, England – on the Thames. Storm and Black Panther are visiting Captain Britain. Black Panther is asking Brian about his stance on the Civil War. T’Challa wants to openly come out against the Act. Storm mentions how Brian has worked alongside mutants in the past, and should know how quickly the government can turn on a group of people.
Brian isn’t going to go along with them, on this quest. Even though he isn’t giving the newlyweds what they want, he asks if he can get the Ebony Blade back. Since an assassins tried to kill him with it, Black Panther isn’t quick to give it back.
Gears of War is coming to XBox 360. I played it but wasn’t that thrilled by it.
Next, they go to Rwanda to give artificial limbs to maimed children. We see Everett Ross, who must be working for Stark. I really liked him from Christopher Priest’s run. The newlyweds’ next stop is America so they can visit with Oprah and President Obama.
Casino Royale is coming to theaters.
T’Challa explains his plan to Ororo. They are building public support and their lobbyist will state how the registration is more big government intrusion into the lives of Americans. Thirdly, and this one is silly – he has brokers trying to buy a majority share of Stark Enterprises, which there is NO WAY Stark doesn’t have it so that he can never lose majority share. T’Challa knows this and expects Tony has a point pill style defense.
He asks how her call with the X-Men went.
It didn’t go well. Emma breaks the news to Storm, the X-Men have promised Stark that they are going to stay neutral during this war. The war is a distraction from the whole Decimation fallout. Emma makes the perfect argument that almost all of the X-Men don’t have secret identities, so registering isn’t a big deal. Kitty overhears this and isn’t thrilled.
Meanwhile, at the White House. A crowd of both supporters and naysayers have gathered.
There is a half page ad for the miniseries, Bullet Points, that I have to buy the fifth issue. The other half is to promote Speed Racer Volume Five.
That is followed by a double page ad for the Nissan Sentra.
Meanwhile, at the Sentinel Command Center. Rhodes is talking to some other guy. Rhodes is here to help Tony, he doesn’t have an opinion on Black Panther. Rhodes doesn’t have any problems taking down Captain America.
At the White House. Before Black Panther and Storm can meet the president, his staff wants Storm to register. T’Challa doesn’t have to sign as he isn’t an America but Obama can’t meet with superpowered folks until they are registered.
Panther addresses Stark, through a camera, which confuses the lower level staff members. The new power couple decide to turn and leave. Two Wakanda guards come down on flying chariots. The no-fly zone over the White House, prevents a proper plane from picking them up.
The supporters at the gate can’t believe Black Panther was enraged so quickly. A riot breaks out, and Black Panther tries to quiet the noise.
Since Black Panther is making an “aggressive” move, this gives the military their excuse to open fire on him. This annoys Storm and she throws down the lightning.
Now that Storm used her mutant abilities, that gives O*N*E their excuse to engage.
Now a fight has broken out.
There is a page with two ads, the top half is X-23 : Target X 1 by Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost and Mike Choi. The other half is Star Trek The Animated Series, coming to DVD. Not a bad show, from my memory, classic episodes given the animated treatment. 22 episodes on 4 DVDs.
There is also a double page ad for the Honda Element SC.
In a brief calm, we see that Rhodes has fallen out of his Sentinel. These Sentinels do look like they were given some Wakandian flair.
There is a three quarter page ad for Immortal Iron Man 1 by Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction and David Aja. The ad on the far right of it is the Honda Element SC, so they must have spent some money for all of this space.
The supporters were about to attack Rhodes when Black Panther saved him. Rhodes recognizes the irony of being saved by the man he is there to arrest from the people he was there to protect.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas gets an ad, coming to Playstaton 3 and XBox 360.
Iron Man arrives, not thrilled that his friend is beaten in front of his enemy. Panther tries to explain that he is helping but Iron Man doesn’t need any royal help. The two of them get into some heated words.
Panther flies away on one of those chariots and Iron Man takes off after him.
Iron Man is about to punch Storm and Black Panther, in the outfit that would be his alternate uniform in Ultimate Alliance 2, jumps out of the plane with the Ebony Sword. The sword makes short work of Iron Man.
Back on the ground, Iron Man is ready to end this but Rhodes speaks up about how everyone should just walk away. Iron Man agrees, as Panther has a country to go back too. Except he isn’t going back there, he and Storm will be staying in America.
Mail to the King! Letters from – Jackie Williams of Louisville, NY / Veronica Rodriguez / Andre Clark of Brooklyn, NY / Jordan Hofter of Monmouth, OR.
Inside back cover ad is for Thomas Jane’s Punisher, now on DVD. Such a good film!
Back cover ad is for the Dodge Caliber.
Writer Rick Remender
Penciler Leinil Francis Yu
Inker Gerry Alanguilan
Colorists Matt Milla, Laura Martin & Edgar Delgado
Letterer Chris Eliopoulus
Book One : Red Supremacy – Chapter Three
Okay, this one took a lot of work to figure out if I needed to keep this one. Marvel Database stated Kitty was in this issue but comicbookdb stated she didn’t. I looked and looked and couldn’t see her. Then my pal, Kaiolino, pointed out where she was on the final page and now I see where she is on the page. Right between Havok and Apocalypse.
All this after I had my dear amigo, a0040pc, delete her off of the Marvel Database. I readded her, as it was my fault and misunderstanding. It was quite the day.
So before all of that happens, these events occurred :
So the heroes failed. Leaving Magneto to create a new Brotherhood – Jack O’Lantern, Doctor Doom, Loki, Mystique, Deadpool, Sabretooth and Enchrantress. Those made the cover but these folks are also in the group – Carnage, Hobgoblin and Absorbing Man. Which is a bit awkward as Carnage and Hobgoblin got side miniseries.
Remender writes all the villains with bantering amongst each other, which I like. I wouldn’t mind him having a go on a Super Villain Team-Up title.
The issue actually opens with Deadpool dragging Iron Man to safety. I like Deadpool’s wartime narration, it only lasts the first page. It reminded me of that Community episode – Pillows and Blankets.
Deadpool is explaining that he came with the villains but he is a hero. Iron Man just wants to know where he is being dragged to.
The Hobgoblin is like the Green Goblin but more, Hob – great observation Deadpool / Remender.
Is Carnage from the South or a redneck? I don’t believe I read him before in that voice.
Most of the villains want to go back to killing once they are done saving the world.
Enchantress makes a quip about fondue parties. What happened to the Asgardians? Too much time on Earth? But that is where they are most interesting.
Off to the side, Doctor Doom and Loki watch. Carnage ripped out one of Red Onslaught’s eyes, the left one.
Loki tells Magneto that he is a hugger now.
With Iron Man out of commission, Quentin Quire is blocking Red Onslaught’s telepathic powers. Genesis is trying to encourage Quire.
Captain America appears and distracts Red Onslaught. Turns out it is only Mystique in disguise. She must be really mad that Red Skull took half of her late husband’s brain.
Speaking of which, Quentin Quire and Genesis huddled together reminded me of when Nate Grey and Franklin Richards were inside Onslaught, in the original story. Maybe its just me.
Enchantress makes Red Onslaught fall in love with her. He is pure hate so now with love added to him, he’s all love now.
Meanwhile, Absorbing Man becomes adamantium (because of the Sentinels) and tears them apart. Doing so releases Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch. Now they can recreate their spell to reverse who controls Red Onslaught and put Xavier back in charge. As the last time he was in charge of an Onslaught, it worked out perfectly. Not
For some reason, this undoes Enchantress’ spell and Red Onslaught is back to being pure rage.
Quire can’t take it anymore and passes out. Now Red Onslaught has access to all of his powers.
Deadpool wonders, since he saved Iron Man, if he can be an Avenger. Iron Man turns him down, which seems harsh. He’s a very much alive Wolverine and he’s funny, why not add him? Deadpool dragged Iron Man somewhere so he can recharge. I like that Deadpool gets to call Iron Man a jerk. That’s one word for him.
While Strange and Wanda are casting their Inversion spell, It leaves them defenseless but Genesis is there to protect them. Or try too. All of the united villains are now under Red Onslaught’s sway. Sabretooth is about to kill Genesis when Deadpool saves him, just in time. An awesome callback to Remender’s Uncanny X-Force arc, Final Execution.
Iron Man is now on the scene so he is able to go back to blocking Red Onslaught’s telepathic powers.
Doctor Strange gets knocked out, so it is up to Doom to assist with Wanda’s spell. The spell is successful and minutes go by. The villains are gone and the heroes are waking up.
Iron Man states it was five minutes of missing time. He calls Deadpool an annoyance, even though he help save the day plus he is right behind Iron Man. So ungrateful!
Havok is holding Red Skull’s human body. The threat of Red Onslaught is gone. Now the question is, is Xavier controlling the body. The X-Men want to take him to their school. The Avengers want to lock him up. Havok sides with the X-Men. Captain Falcon wants Red Skull to stand trial for his crimes, as if that has ever happened after one of these events.
Havok wants to wait until Steve Rogers shows up. Rogers lost his Super Soldier Serum and now he is a very fit 80 year old man. Rogers wants to take Red Skull to prison, surprising everyone that he took the Avengers’ side. Not
Havok splits with the Avengers, Rogers can now find some other mutant figurehead.
Genesis is now Young Apocalypse. He tells the gathered heroes that there is no sign of Xavier in the Red Skull’s body. Somehow he knows this. Deadpool hugs Apocalypse. Evan tells him not to do it again.
Havok agrees to let the Avengers take Red Skull’s unconscious body. Wasp doesn’t want Havok to leave.
See Kitty between Havok and Apocalypse? I didn’t at first.
Harsh of Havok speaking to Wasp like that!
Looks like the X-Men and the Avengers are back at odds, again.
Poor Wasp and Havok though but I only really know them from their flirting days of Uncanny Avengers, their marriage and child are only plots I’ve read summaries of.
Next issue has Apocalypse teaming with the X-Men and Hulk being inverted to Kulh (get it?)
I’m not set to get any of these item in titles – Magneto 11, All New X-Factor 15, Loki Agent of Asgard 7, Deadpool 36, AXIS Hobgolbin and AXIS Carnage 1.
Hopefully Kitty keeps showing up in this crossover.
Writer Rick Remender
Artist Adam Kubert
Color Artists Laura Martin & Matt Milla
Letterer Chris Eliopoulus
Book One : Red Supremacy – Chapter One
So Glad Kitty Pryde showed up in this, felt so silly preordering these! So rare for her to have a part in these mega crossovers. Hopefully she keeps showing up!
I see people are referring to this as, Avengers & X-Men : AXIS but that seems overly cumbersome and silly.
What I didn’t know that happened was that Red Skull took over Genosha, and made it a mutant concentration camp. No one seemed to notice that the country went back to its old ways. Magneto showed up and killed Red Skull. Once he did that, there was an explosion of psychic energy and now we have . . . Red Onslaught.
Feel proud that I know all of these characters, but there are also no newer characters involved.
Kitty made it to the cast page, that’s pretty cool! She made it to the cast page of Original Sin 3 but I couldn’t make out which character she was on those two pages but if Marvel says she was there, she must have been one of those unidentifiable bodies.
Onto the issue. Right off the bat, these first few pages’ border has the AXIS logo repeated. What is up with that?
Los Angeles. There is an over growth of planet life. Apparently Black Widow watches the Real Housewives reality series. I don’t quite believe that but she said it, so it must be true. I do like the idea of what shows heroes make a point to watch with their busy schedules. Like when I read that President Obama watched True Detective. At this point, Steve Rogers is super old (he lost the super soldier serum) and now Falcon is the new Captain America. Not sure if this is the sole reason why he is leading the team, it doesn’t seem like a good enough reason. Vision uses the word smidgen and Tony makes fun of him for it. But then proceeds to use the term for the rest of the issue.
Turns out, X-Men old timey villain . . . Plantman, is causing all of the plant chaos! CapFalcon orders Thor to hit things and Thor takes offense to being given orders. Which makes perfect sense. Who is Falcon to be giving orders?
We start seeing that Red Onslaught is tampering with people’s minds. Mostly, he takes the smallest negative thought and makes the person only focus on that one thought. Even Vision is affected. Plant Man can’t believe the heroes are fighting each other, it isn’t like the only thing they have been doing since 2006. Iron Man isn’t affected.
Unfortunately, Hulk is and he double stomps Iron Man. Iron Man has built a telepathic inhibitor into his helmet. I get the impression this is suppose to be new information but I know that it was revealed in Thunderbolts 12 when Baron Zemo / Citizen V used mind control to get all of the heroes to do what he wanted. It didn’t work on Iron Man because of the telepathic inhibitor. Iron Man is lucky enough to be able to increase the radius of his telepathic inhibitor, so the Avengers calm down. He is able to do this as he was able to locate the negative frequency and he just reversed it.
Avengers Mansion. Steve Rogers is leading the superhero community. The whole world is breaking out into hate riots. Elsewhere, Havok wakes up. Wasp and their daughter, Katie, are in bed with him. He sees an image of Xavier minus the top of his head, which wakes him up. He isn’t lucky as he is in Genosha.
We get a double page spread of Red Onslaught, who looks like Onslaught but with Red Skull’s head and tentacles. Not sure why he has tentacles, to be more evil, I suppose? The AXIS border stops with this sequence, as well. Red Onslaught wants to bring about, the Reich Eternal. Magneto is trying to fight Red Onslaught.
Scarlet Witch and Rogue are also trying to fight the giant villain. Red Onslaught takes over Wanda’s mind, so fast! Havok shows up and attacks Magneto as he is still upset Magneto started this mess. Which is odd, if everyone is trying to attack one threat, why would you attack one of your fellow temporary teammates? Makes no sense but that’s Havok for you.
Magneto is knocked into a room and sees some prisoners. Quentin Quire, Cyclops and Genesis are the prisoners. Magneto calls Genesis, Child Apocalypse, which I sort of like. Poor Cyclops has to bend his knees, as the shackles are built for younger people. The camps are actually reeducation camps, which I guess sounds better? Havok attacks Cyclops, as he is the worst. The two are bickering over who is following Xavier’s dream. Genesis hits both of them, as neither is living up to Xavier’s dreams.
Ahab stabs Genesis through the chest with a harpoon, get it?
Avengers Tower. Steve Rogers is not happy with the state of the world. He has various heroes out there, trying to calm things down. Iron Man reveals it will take days to create a global frequency block. Why Rogers doesn’t tell him to get started on this task, is beyond me. Iron Man sees Wasp is sad. Wasp tells Tony that over in Uncanny Avengers, when they were in the future, she and Havok had a daughter. They gave her up to save all of the children in the world. She is sad as the heroes always have to make the great sacrifices.
Wanda starts throwing chaos magic across Genosha. Rogue absorbs a little of Red Onslaught’s powers. Which gives her telepathic powers. She is able to go into Red Onslaught’s mind and we see that Mental Xavier is trying to attack from within. Xavier also gives Rogue a pep talk.
Rogue attacks Wanda, snapping her out of it. Ahab loves hurting Summers peeps. He throws a harpoon at Havok and Cyclops takes it to the arm.
Rogue tries to give Wanda a pep talk.
The Avengers finally get to Genosha. They start attacking Red Onslaught.
The Jean Grey Staff shows up and helps the Summers Bros – Storm, Colossus and Nightcrawler. They all say some odd things. Kurt implies that the Summers family variety show is heartwarming. Storm goes with it, stating that Cable does a spectacular mime routine and Rachel does face painting. Colossus adds that Corsair does a fabulous spaceman spiff dance. Kurt tells Cyclops that they showed up as they are family. Cyclops and Havok shake hands,
Look, Kitty joined the fight! That’s awesome!
Iron Man starts bragging for shutting down the negative frequency. Red Onslaught knocks Tony off of that high chair of his. He has been secretly manipulating him to create all types of weapons for him. Red Onslaught was able to access Tony’s lost memories of all of the secrets he learn from Civil War.
Issue ends with Red Onslaught’s newest weapons – two adamantium Stark Sentinels. Also, the AXIS border came back for one last moment.
I already know that Kitty nor Magik show up in issue two so maybe they will be in issue three. Let’s hope!
Writer Mike Carey
Artist Salvador Larroca
Color Artists Justin Ponsor with Matt Milla, Jeromy Cox and Guru-eFX
Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
This is billed as the first Original Graphic Novel since X-Men Gods Love Man Kills – but is that accurate? Wouldn’t Dazzler the Movie be the last one?
I know I’ve stated this with Larroca before but his work, with the right colorists, is amazing and he got four of the best right here!
Issue opens with Autolycus Corporation being invaded by a little girl. She gets locked up and starts taunting the security staff. They claim their building can’t get breached, to which she makes the awesome comment that she breached it and super easy as they just let her in. The locked door makes her laugh.
We learn that this day is March 8, and that the girl has future knowledge. Which makes sense as she shifts into … Raze! Mystique and Wolverine’s son from Battle of the Atom!
Over at the Jean Grey School. An empty 747 begins to fall towards the school. The X-Men faculty go out and try to stop the plane’s descent. Once they get it to land safely, they discover that the plane is empty.
Rachel turns on Cerebra and confirms that there are No More Humans.
Wolverine takes the faculty to New York City’s Times Square. They confirm that there is No More Humans.
Just then, Cyclops’ Uncanny X-Men and Kitty’s All New X-Men teleport feet away. It is an awesome splash page. I wish there was a third Cyclops side, Blue Team, title so we can get more of this combined team.
In what I can only imagine is a perfect metaphor to the differences between Blue and Gold – Cyclops reveals that they have already been to several world capitals and confirm that there are No More Humans.
The metaphor being that Cyclops works on a global scale, whereas Wolverine deals with, largely, threats at home – a very narrow scale.
Now is as decent as any time to comment on the time period of this Original Graphic Novel. Nightcrawler is alive and at the school. Also alive, are Rogue and Scarlet Witch. So this takes place, at least, after Amazing X-Men 6 and whenever Rick Remender’s current Uncanny Avengers storyline ends. As clearly it ends with a major time reset, leaving both Rogue and Scarlet Witch alive and most likely Wonder Man being the only dead Avenger – again.
Kitty being part of the splash page is the extent of her contribution to this hardcover.
Magik, though, is featured throughout.
Wolverine believes Cyclops is responsible for the missing human race. They start bickering like the exes that we have seen them to be portrayed as for the past couple years.
Magneto shows up and tells them to stop. He brought with him, the twins – Wanda and Quicksilver. Quicksilver is wearing his All New X-Factor uniform, which is awkward. So Magneto approached All New X-Factor, grabbed his son but left his other daughter, Polaris, behind? Ooof, she isn’t going to like that.
Her name is Polaris and she is bipolar, get it? Seems to obvious to me.
Magneto, his children, and all of the X-Men go back to the Jean Grey School to figure their next step. Magneto believes that they are done, the human problem has finally been solved and now Earth is ready for the mutants to inherit.
Old Beast makes a fun comment regarding Cerebra being a machine that is built to locate needles in haystacks. He sets Cerebra to locate humans, and finds only one – in Texas.
The mutants pick a squad to represent the X-Men this day, consisting of – Wolverine, Beast, Jean, Stoem, Emma, Cyclops and Magneto.
Once there, they discover a dying Mr. Sale, tied to a stake. Emma, with Jean’s help, pulls the image of Raza from Sale’s mind. Then a machine appears and a fup later, this field team is gone.
Over at the Jean Grey School. For some reason, the students (of both schools) are dressd like Grant Morrison era X-Men. Which isn’t uncommon for the New Xavier School students.
The students want to play a game of baseball, which I would be all for another game of baseball. Just then, odd looking muants show up at the door. They don’t want a fight. Instead, they want sanctuary.
Somwhere else entirely. The field team are in a sort of other-universe. Beast aids Magneto to reverse the machine to get them back home. They get back and Sale is dead. Rachel beckons them back home.
Turns out that these new mutants are from alternate timelines and such. Since this planet is nearly empty, this is the perfect time.
Nightcrawler is chosen to go investigate in Elliot Bay, Seattle. Once there, he meets his half brother, Raze, and it is actually pretty cool.
Kurt is taken hostage. Magik teleports a group of X-Men there to rescue him.
Raze takes this opportunity to reveal his master plan.
The X-Men take Kurt back, and Raze takes this as a victory. The X-Men can’t do anything at this moment.
There is a scene with Raze and Mystique. It isn’t until now that I notice their mutual character designs. Both wear mainly white, both wear white belts with skulls, they have red hair and blue skin.
There is a moment when Mystique wonders if Raze really is her son. Is he just using his shape shifting abilities to appear like Mystique.
Tempus overhears Raze tell his mother that the humans may not be dead. He isn’t that familiar with the technology that he used to send the humans away.
The X-Men retrieve Tempus and learn there is a chance the human race can be saved. Magneto doesn’t like that idea and leaves.
Cyclops convinces Triage to heal the dead Mr. Sale. He is hesitant at first but agrees. Doing so makes Sale a zombie.
Back in Seattle. Mystique and Magneto are talking. This feels like a special scene to me as I’m not sure if these two have ever spoken to each other before. It feels unique.
The X-Men show up. They fight Raze’s Brotherhood. They do so, so that they can get inside and make the machine bring back the humans.
The two Doctor McCoys are working on the machine.
Mystique and Iceman go a round together.
There are pages of pages of the Phoenix from an alternate timeline and young Jean that goes on. I guess that Carey and Larocca really wanted to use the Phoenix Force.
The Hanks reverse the machine so all mutants are teleported to that empty quasi-universe. They left the zombie Sale behind. It is up to the zombie to bring everyone back.
Once humans and mutants are returned, the Alter-Phoenix makes it so that all the other alternate timeline mutants can live in that weird purple universe.
Story ends with Cyclops telling Jean she did good. The final page is Beast being an idiot and being worried about dumb things.
. . .
Also, anyone keeping track – today is July 2, so if you are going to watch the film, Independence Day, today is the first of the three days to do so. I’m going to try my best to squeeze it in but my parents are in town for the next few days and if they don’t want to do the marathon, then I may have to miss it this year.
But don’t worry, I have some posts prepared so feel free to come on coming back.
Writer Jason Aaron
Artists Nick Bradshaw, Pepe Larraz, Ramon Perez, Shawn Crystal, Steve Sanders, Nuno Alves, Tim Townsend & Chris Bachalo
Color Artists Matt Milla & Lee Loughridge
Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles
No Kitty or Lockheed this issue, but I am a sucker for Uncanny X-Men 141 homages. Also, I adore the throw back character box with Doop.
Issue opens with Wolverine and Oya in the future. She has to be in her late twenties, so it is at least ten years in the future but Wolverine looks like he is in his eighties. The two of them are getting ready to close the Jean Grey School as it hasn’t had a student in years.
During the present day, the Jean Grey School is celebrating its first graduation. I really like that you see some parents show up as I worry about how the X-Men sort of force its members to abandon their families.
I like how both of Eyeboy’s parents wear glasses.
Quentin Quire is hating his life. He use to be the next big mutant threat and now he hasn’t threatened anyone in months. Oya shows up to be with her boyfriend and try to cheer him up.
In the background, Krakoa is throwing kids in the air, so fun.
Fantomax is there to be Genesis’ parent, which he sort of is. Brand is there to be Broo’s parent. Fantomax would like swap parenting tips with Brand, she wisely turns him down.
Quire confirms Oya’s family is dead, which is a mood killer. Hope, in a very nice dress that resembles her hero uniform. Hope and Oya hug, and now Quire is alone again.
Once you graduate, you becomr an official X-Man. Those who graduate this day are – Pixie, Armor and Anole.
Quire hates how this day is unfolding. Captain America shows up to chat with Quire. Quire hopes that he is there to arrest him. Instead, Cap is there to hang out and be Quire’s parent for the day. Quire has fallen even farther than he thought.
Logan calls Quire to the stage. On stage along with him are Rachel and Storm. Quire is graduating today as well.
In the future, Logan is shutting down the Danger Room. He informs us readers that Beast died, but after losing the rest of his marbles – which makes perfect sense. Oya asks what are his plans for the Bamfs, who are also old. They are apparently quite rich with Wall Street jobs. Krakoa left the school some time ago, he fell in love and now has a family of small islands in the Caribbean.
Oya starts telling him while some X-Men couldn’t make it. Broo is the head of SWORD, and Mars is invading Venus. Kid Gladiator is now Super Gladiator, and punching Thanos. Sprite and Rockslide are on duty in Subterranea.
Then we get confirmation that this is the Battle of the Atom future, with a reference to Iceman having his ice castle. Storm apparently does something that the world witnessed. There is a hint that Genesis doesn’t turn out well.
Logan tells Oya that they were the only odd school at one point. Now the Fantastic Four’s Future Foundation started a school in the Negative Zone with four billion students.
Oya gets a phone call from Eye Man and Shark Woman, they need her to join them as they are fighting a new Brotherhood led by the terror that is Snot – he with the toxic nose excursions. One of the Bamfs teleports her to the battle after she kisses Logan on the cheek.
Now Logan is alone with only the Bamfs, there is only one last thing to do. In his office, he is doing whiskey shots with the Bamfs. Then a giant DOOM sets off the alarms. Logan starts popping his claws. We get a sad, sni, as it takes a while to get the claws all the way out.
Quire is there, and he still has the powers of the Phoenix.
In the present day, Quire is still upset that he is now a graduate. Logan finds him and tells him that now that Quire is an adult and responsible – the world will fear him again.
Oya catches up to Quire, she wants to see his diploma, he claims he burned it. Then he starts to get harrassed by his student body.
Logan starts sneaking away and Storm stops him. He isn’t going to be sneaking away this day. She tells him he is no longer Weapon X, he is now Professor Logan.
In the future, Quire snaps his fingers and tells Logan that he enrolled the mutants of the Negative Zone and now the Jean Grey School now has two million students. I like how it is a next page reveal, and we see that the students are actual Negative Zone inhabitants. I had thought Reed had open a school in the Negative Zone, due to lack of space on Earth, like Prison 42 during Civil War.
Logan fakes anger, then Quire leaves and Logan is happy to be teaching again.
In the present, Master Pandemonium and Swarm are getting ready to invade the school the next day. I don’t know Master Pandemonium but Swarm is an awesome Spider-Man villain – a scientist whose body is now consisted of bees. Before they can begin their attack, Doop shows up with a guitar. He fights them off with the sweet sounds of funk. I like how Master Pandemonium doesn’t recognize the sound but Swarm does.
Issue ends properly with two pages done by Chris Bachalo, the artist who started the title. Turns out, Quire did not burn his diploma. Logan pops his claws, as he didn’t do it at all the other day.
Then we are ‘treated’ to things to come in the second volume that comes out immediately after this issue. I do like how Aaron got to write every issue of this volume, so it makes sense to end it with his last issue. I don’t see myself buying any of the initial issues of volume two, but time will tell.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 