Nakayama – David

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Magik V2 1

Posted by John Klein III on January 10, 2025
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Magik’s first issue of her first ongoing came out on January 8, 2025.

Writer : Ashley Allen

Artist German Peralta

Color Artist : Arthur Helsi

Letterer : VC’s Ariana Maher

I treated myself to the David Nakayama cover.

Ashley Allen wrote the incredible Blood Hunt : Magik ongoing (thus, earned the right to write Magik’s ongoing).

German Peralta drew the Age of X-Man : Prisoner X is where I recognize his work from, and Cable 155 – 159.

Issue opens with someone chasing someone else down a street in Juneau, Alaska.

We see Magik was having a nightmare. I love that Kitty Pryde and Dani Moonstar are there. I imagine Beast is there as he’s currently on X-MEN with her. Cyclops and her are best buds, so that makes sense too. Illyana has a closer tie to the Storm who existed with her from her origin mini series, Magik & Storm. Events that occur there are the main reasons I like to think of why Magik & Storm are not that close. Even though they served together on Kieron GIllen’s Uncanny X-Men Volume Two, as part of Cyclops’ Extinction Team. Cannonball represents the boys of New Mutants.

Illyana wakes up, and I absolutely love that she is wearing a, Magneto Was Right shirt. He is her greatest teacher from her original New Mutants days. I also like how she could have easily worn a, Cyclops Was Right shirt but this is a more fun option.

I also adore how she has a New Mutants, original recipe, class photo, and a photo of her and Kitty. So we get that Kitty and her are still close. I thought the picture of Kitty came from Uncanny X-Men 600, because of the gray in her suit, but I think that is something else now.

Be nice if Kitty had a picture of Illyana in her room, but she barely has an origami Lockheed on her shelf, so she’s not decorating her current room with pieces of her past – which is a real shame.

That is further added by the fact that Kitty had called Cyclops to tell him that today is Magik’s birthday.

I also love how this is her birthday, Kid Omega implies she is having a quarter life crisis, so if she’s about 25, that feels right to me. Though Exceptional X-Men Kitty Pryde strikes me as a gal into her 30s, but Illyana could easily be in the 25-28 age range.

Comics disclosure is complicated, but also, Illyana has been de-aged and aged, that she could be floating anywhere from mid-twenties to early-thirties.

So it is her birthday, but also 2025 marks her 50th year in publication, so it works on a meta level as well.

This surprise party goes over better than the one Nico throws her in Midnight Suns.
(Starts around the 18 minute mark)

All of the attention is too much for Illyana, and she overhears a news report about missing kids, and like we learned from one of my favorite Uncanny X-Men Volume 3 stories, issue 33, Magik likes to rescue mutants when she’s not busy saving the world.

I do love how quick Cyclops is to explain her quick exit. He completely gets Illyana, and her intimacy issues.

In Juneau, we are introduced to Cal and Ren Isaacs, and their grandmother, Anges – the perfect grandmother name. Someone is hunting mutants, and there are jerk protestors who want these two mutants to leave the city.

Magik arrives, and any new readers are immediately shown Magik’s public persona, as well as get an explanation for her soulword.

Magik deals with the demons, and introduces herself to the Isaacs family. She gets her mission statement to protect the other mutants, and deal with the protesters.

Magik misses one of the students, who turns out to be our big bad, the Crow Demon. Who actually is working for the Liminal – a mysterious new organization.

Allen has set up so many threads to pull for future stories that it is bonkers.

The Crow Demon and Magik get into an intense fight, that we see Magik use her other magical skills, and not just swats at him with her appropriately sized sword.

Unfortunately, while Magik is trying to get her bearings, Crow Demon kills Ren. Agnes is trying her best to create a protection spell.

Unfortunately, we lose Agnes as well.

Magik and Cal have Agnes’ spellbook, and they are going to pursue the Demon Crow.

I like how Cal is aware of his grandmother’s abilities, so it isn’t like Magik has to explain to him how mutants and magic work, separately or together. Magik tells him she will pursue the threat, but he insists on coming along.

And that is the first outstanding issue of Magik’s first ongoing.

I’m excited to see Cal be part of, hopefully, her ever growing supporting cast.

Issue ends with someone prophesizing about Magik’s Darkchild persona, that is on the edge’s of Illyana’s mind.

I can’t wait for issue two. I treated myself to the Mark Brooks cover.

as bitter of a pill as it is 😀

. . .

My only goals for this series is that we get 50 issues of it (at least), and a crossover with Exceptional X-Men, that doesn’t necessarily have to also crossover with X-MEN. Though I can only imagine we will get a Magik – X-MEN – Psylocke crossover eventually, as those are three easy enough books to crossover as they share the same cast members.

All New Ultimates 12

Posted by John Klein III on May 16, 2015
Posted in: Homage, Lists, Review. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

All New Ultimates 12

Writer Michel Fiffe

Pencils Amilcar Pinna

Inks Amilcar Pinna, Terry Pallot, Lorenzo Ruggiero, Le Beau Underwood

Color Artist Nolan Woodard

Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles

No Gods, No Masters Part Three of Three

The final issue!

Cover Artist David Nakayama, great homage cover to the Where’s Waldo books!

All New Ultimates 12 Shadowcat 0

Such a fun character chart!  Black Widow has a crush on Shadowcat, that was stated in issue four but that was all that was made out of it until now.

All New Ultimates 12 Shadowcat 1

Bombshell narrates this issue.  The Ultimates, what is left of the Serpent Skulls and the newly form, Terror Inc are all against the giant Mr. Jip.

Deladier Tower, Uptown.  Bombshell is regretting donning her costume.

Cloak tries to get the civilians out of harm’s way.  Poor Bombshell, realizes that Poey wasn’t that great of a boyfriend.

Crossbones takes this opportunity to smack Ecstasy around, which Black Widow dropkicks him.  Ecstasy suggests that Black Widow kill Crossbones, poor Jessica has to tell her that isn’t what they do.  Fun how these two ladies don’t know each, even though they have been up in each other’s business for a while now.  O’Reilly doesn’t have such qualms.

Sidwinder starts fighting Crippler but Crippler is stronger.  Poor Bomshell, she believes that she only really grew in love with him with his death.

All New Ultimates 12 Shadowcat 2

A guy in a self made costume (are they all not that?) with sais (cool that someone besides Raphael and Elektra use those) and he attempts to attack Taskmaster.  He isn’t named, so I’m not sure who he is.  How come he isn’t on the character list, is beyond me.  He isn’t named on the first page, as well.

Spider-Man and Shadowcat take Taskmaster down.  A lot of non-fighting-the-giant-giant going on.

Bombshell gets to fight Diamondback, and knocks her out.

Giant-Jip wants help, he would like Ecstasy to cure him.

Ultimate Terror Inc (or just Terror, here) wants Bombshell to blow a hole into Jip’s chest – who seems okay with that.  Dagger goes in after him, as Bombshell needs to recharge.

All New Ultimates 12 Shadowcat 3

Dagger is accessing all of her power and Shadowcat is providing some assistance.  Black Widow tries to save Crossbones.

Terror is trying to get Jip to calm down.  For some odd, strange and weird reason, Jip’s heart has a Jip head.  How does that work?  He has his giant head and a head on the top of his heart?

Terror mental links with Jip and he starts calming down.

All New Ultimates 12 Shadowcat 4

Dagger’s healing glow seems to be also calming down Jip.  Terror is spitted out.  Jip is dead, which makes sense, I’m not even sure how Pym survives the enlarging and shrinking ability.

All New Ultimates 12 Shadowcat 5

Crossbones isn’t dead, just barely alive.  Spider-Man notices that three of their opponents have skull masks – Taskmaster / Crossbones / Scourge.  I like Shadowcat’s guess – that they are Misfits fans.

Bombshell is not thrilled that Diamondback is still alive.

Weeks Later.  Abandoned SHIELD Facility.  Downtown Brooklyn.  Black Widow meets with Monica Chang, the former SHIELD director.  Crossbones was a former SHIELD agent who went rogue after becoming the head of the Serpent Skulls.  Ecstasy was a mid-priority, she had bought O’Reilly’s commanding officer so that’s why the police were never hot on her trail.  She also has connections with Hydra, which is what SHIELD is really interested in.  Chang wanted the new Ultimates to get Crossbones out of hiding and bring him down.  I imagine this is leading into Spider-Man’s own comic having him fight Hydra.

Unfortunately, the threats were taken down but Ecstasy is still free to go.  Black Widow wonders if Terror can testify to bring down Roxxon.

All New Ultimates 12 Shadowcat 6

13th St & Broadway, NYC.  Jessica Drew’s Temporary Residence.  Jessica has updated Kitty with what she knew.  Kitty is officially moved out.  Jessica apologizes for any awkwardness, Kitty isn’t sure what she is referring to.  Jessica is, of course, referring to issue four.  Kitty was only pretending to be upset or jealous, it was very flattering.  Imagine if these two actually dated?

Dagger’s head is in Cloak’s lap, so I guess those two are okay now.

Nice to see Spider-Man out of costume, typically, he wears it during these relaxed times.

All New Ultimates 12 Shadowcat 7

Jessica gives a classic Shadowcat speech.  The Skull Serpents are all in jail.  She spends an entire page essentially saying that with great power comes great responsibility.

Gruenwald’s Bodega.  O’Reilly is trying to make her CI (Criminal Informant) her new assistant.  O’Relly is going to open her own private inspector firm.

All New Ultimates 12 Shadowcat 8

Apparently, even after her speech, Black Widow states that the team is breaking up.  I guess they don’t want to stick around as there is no more title.  How they know that, is beyond me?

The Ultimates are not just a team, they are family.  So they are going their own ways but they will keep in touch.  Spider-Man is going back to his own ongoing series.  Shadowcat asks if the team will help out with the X-Men, so I imagine they are going to appear in All New X-Men soon.  Which is a tad awkward, as Spider-Man has been on that mission, that entire time.

I like Bombshell making her ‘lame’ X-puns – X-cellent and X-press, I do that and it is way fun.

All New Ultimates 12 Shadowcat 9

That Michel Fiffe, is one classy guy with his farewell and thanks page.

. . .

The Top Six Comics of 2015, we are on our way to 10!

  1. Legendary Star Lord 7
  2. All Ne Ultimates 12
  3. X-Force 14
  4. Weapon X Program 5
  5. Wolverines 1
  6. Amazing X-Men 15

. . .

Yesterday we got our 100th WordPress follower to the blog! Thanks everybody who made that possible!

All New Ultimates 7

Posted by John Klein III on October 28, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

All New Ultimates 7

Writer Michel Fiffe

Artist Giannis Milonogiannes

Color Artist Jordie Bellaire

Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles

Cover by David Nakayama

How great is that cover?  Kitty should be on all of these!

All New Ultimates Kitty 1

NYC Westside Sewer.  The Ultimates meet Ultimate Vermin!

I like proper Vermin, he’s a little lame but he serves his role fine.  Most people might think of him as a Captain America villain as that is where the legendary JM DeMatteis created him.  I always think of him as a Spider-Man villain.  He was used well in DeMatteis’ amazing Kraven’s Last Hunt.  What I think of first is how DeMatteis used him in his proper Spectacular Spider-Man run, especially in the Child Within storyline.  That whole run is drawn by equally legendary Sal Buscema.  If Marvel ever released an Essential trade of that three year run, I would totally buy that.

I like how Fiffe uses the caption boxes to introduce each character and a fun trivia note.  Reminds me of Fraction’s Uncanny X-Men run.  Black Widow aka Jessica Drew – team leader with proportionate strength of a Spider-Man clone.

Vermin is a tank in the Ultimate Universe.

All New Ultimates 7 Kitty phased

Is Spider-Man this weak, or is the team fighting stronger opponents?  First Crossbones gives him some gruff and now Vermin still stands.  Great layout with how Vermin punches Spider-Man to the face but look at the bottom right side of the panel.  A little hand phasing Spider-Man out of the punch.

All New Ultimates Kitty 2

 How Kitty isn’t the leader is beyond me.  She’s the best.  Kitty Pryde – Phasing / Intangibility powers, hyper-densing, and can even walk on water if she so chooses.

All New Ultimates 7 Shadowcat A

Cloak hits Vermin with a blast of something, it isn’t dark matter.  What is that?

Vermin runs off after taking a full blast from Dagger.  It only fazed him but just barely.

All New Ultimates 7 Shadowcat B

Spider-Man makes a reference to how the team doesn’t wear face masks besides himself.  Bombshell isn’t on this mission, she’s home being sad.

Great use of Dagger being their beacon of light as they go deeper into the sewers.  Cloak believes he’s been hearing Vermin’s howls for a while now.

Midtown South Precinct.  The cops have Scourge in custody.  His name is Charles Delazny, he’s a high school janitor who is super racist.

All New Ultimates 7 Shadowcat C

NYC Westside Sewer.  Kitty believes she stepped into something gross.  I bet she did!  Dagger makes an awesome reference to how wearing an all white uniform really doesn’t work.  Which I’ve been saying that since Ultimate Shadowcat made that her default color and she was living in the desert Utopia.

The team follows Crossbone’s blood trail to a fancy underground palace.

All New Ultimates 7 Kitty Wait What How

They come across that police officer from earlier in the series that had the experimental drug tested on.  Somehow Spider-Man recognizes him, even though he’s green, he has no nose, no hair and one eye.  He must be really good at recognizing groans.

All New Ultimates 7 Shadowcat D

The Ultimates meet Vermin’s master, Agent Crock, who has some type of technology as part of his head.  Black Widow tries the peaceful introduction approach but that doesn’t work.

All New Ultimates 7 Shadowcat E

Kitty phases her hand through Crock’s head (is his name meant to remind us of Killer Croc?)  and in the confusion, Crock strikes Vermin.  For his thanks, Vermin rips off Crock’s hand.  Pretty drastic response!

Black Widow takes down Vermin with Crock’s weapon.

The police officer now has the ability to merge minds or something and we get a data dump of Crock being former SHIELD.  Experiment were done on him and Vermin.  Now they live in the sewer and don’t steal as often as one would think.

All New Ultimates 7 Shadowcat F

I should type, lived, as I’m sure Crock is dead.

East Village, that lady cop makes her way home.

All New Ultimates 7 Shadowcat G

There is a knock on the door and we get the Ultimates and the green officer guy.  One would think one of them would have knocked on the door so that the first thing O’Reilly saw wasn’t her former friend as he slowly decomposes.

Next issue, Femme Fatales – so like Wood’s X-MEN run, a female dominated team will be fighting a female dominated villain team.

Marvel January 2015 Solicitations

Posted by John Klein III on October 23, 2014
Posted in: Solicitations. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

http://www.newsarama.com/22505-marvel-comics-january-2015-solicitations.html

UNCANNY AVENGERS #1
RICK REMENDER (w) • DANIEL ACUñA (a/C)
COUNTER-EVOLUTIONARY PART 1
• From the ashes of AXIS an all-new, all different Avengers assemble!
• The tragedy at the end of AXIS has left the Uncanny Avengers vulnerable, and someone is taking advantage of it.
• One of the Avengers oldest foes returns with a terrible secret that will, all hyperbole aside, shatter the lives of two members of the squad.
• What is Counter-Earth? What terrible secrets does it house?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

 

           I like most of the cast – Vision, Sabretooth (dressed as Wolverine), Brother Voodoo, FalCap, Wanda, Rogue and Quicksilver. Seems like Polaris could have been on this team.

 

STAR WARS #1
JASON AARON (W) • JOHN CASSADAY (A/C)
THE GREATEST SPACE ADVENTURE OF ALL TIME RETURNS TO MARVEL!
Luke Skywalker and the ragtag band of rebels fighting against the Galactic Empire are fresh off their biggest victory yet—the destruction of the massive battle station known as the Death Star. But the Empire’s not toppled yet! Join Luke along with Princess Leia, smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca, droids C-3PO and R2-D2 and the rest of the Rebel Alliance as they strike out for freedom against the evil forces of Darth Vader and his master, the Emperor. Written by Jason Aaron (Original Sin, Thor: God of Thunder) and with art by John Cassaday (Astonishing X-Men, Uncanny Avengers), this is the Star Wars saga as only Marvel Comics could make it!
48 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

 

            Wow, Disney isn’t wasting much time with this relaunch with the film coming out next year.

 

ANT-MAN #1
NICK SPENCER (w) • RAMON ROSANAS (a)
Cover by Mark Brooks
• Scott Lang has never exactly been the world’s best super hero. Heck, most people don’t even think he’s been the best ANT-MAN — and the last guy invented Ultron and joined the Masters of Evil, so that’s saying something.
• But when the SUPERIOR IRON MAN calls with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Scott’s going to get a chance to turn it all around and be the hero he’s always dreamed of being.
• Sure he’s been to prison! Sure he’s been through a messy divorce! Sure he’s been, um… dead. But this time is different! This time nothing is gonna stop the astonishing ANT-MAN!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

            What’s with these “Welcome Home” Variants? Another movie tie-in ongoing.

 

THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #1
RYAN NORTH (W) • ERICA HENDERSON (A/C)
• Wolverine, Deadpool, Doctor Doom, Thanos: There’s one hero that’s beaten them all—and now she’s got her own ongoing series! (Not that she’s bragging.)
• That’s right, you asked for it, you got it, it’s SQUIRREL GIRL! (She’s also starting college this semester.)
• It’s the start of a brand-new series of adventures starring the nuttiest and most upbeat super hero in the world!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

            It states that we asked for, and I did several years ago but now I feel like I’ve moved on.  

 

 WOLVERINES #1
CHARLES SOULE (W) • NICK BRADSHAW (A/C)
From the pages of DEATH OF WOLVERINE, THE LOGAN LEGACY and the WEAPON X PROGRAM!
Wolverine may be dead…but what will happen to his mortal remains, encased in something as rare and powerful as Adamantium? The battle for control of this valuable artifact has begun! But why does it matter so much… and why is a war brewing in Logan’s name? Death is on the books for a dozen heroes and villains, and Mystique is playing chess with them all, including X-23, Sabretooth, Daken, Lady Deathstrike and more! Murder, mutilation, betrayal and trauma…none will be spared!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

 

WOLVERINES #2
RAY FAWKES (W)
NICK BRADSHAW (A/C)
Sinister strikes! As Daken lies crippled and fading, and Shogun sees death looming for himself and his entire Weapon X crew, only Wolverine’s legacy–X-23, Sabretooth, Mystique and Lady Deathstrike–can save them all. But none of them can be trusted!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

 

WOLVERINES #3
CHARLES SOULE (W)
NICK BRADSHAW (A)
When there’s an impossible heist to be carried out, only one person in the world can do the job: introducing Fantomelle, the world’s most unstoppable thief, engineered to perfection! But will she be destroyed before the Wolverines can recruit her?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

 

WOLVERINES #4
RAY FAWKES (W) andy Clarke (A/C)
Everyone’s blood is on the line in a desperate battle to defend Fantomelle from a nightmarish monster–and even if the Wolverines can save her, they’re going to have to figure out a way to keep her around! The linchpin of their plan has a mind of her own, and that’s a real problem…
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

 

            The ‘and more’ makes me wonder if Ogun’s new body will be in this. I believe this is suppose to be a weekly series. Let’s see how long that lasts. I do like Nick Bradshaw.

 

NEW AVENGERS #29
JONATHAN HICKMAN (W) • KEV WALKER (A)
IN 4 MONTHS…TIME RUNS OUT!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

AVENGERS #40
JONATHAN HICKMAN (W) • STEFANO CASELLI (A)
IN 4 MONTHS…TIME RUNS OUT!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

 

            Still no real X-Men presence in any of these issues.

 

 

MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS #2 (of 2)
WILL CORONA PILGRIM (W) JOE BENNETT (A)
GET READY FOR MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON WITH THIS OFFICIAL
ADAPTATION OF THE FIRST BLOCKBUSTER FILM!
• Iron Man! Thor! Captain America! Black Widow! Hawkeye! The Hulk! They’re all here…and so is Loki!
• When the trickster god makes a play for the mighty Tesseract, it’ll take a historic assemblage of heroes to save the day…that is, if they don’t kill each other first!
• Witness the Battle for Manhattan via the powerful pencils of Joe Bennett!
32 PGS./Rated T …$2.99

 

This comic still confuses me. So the trade is going to $6 or it will most likely just be thrown into the back of another trade.

 

OPERATION S.I.N. #1 (OF 5)
KATHRYN IMMONEN (W) • RICH ELLIS (A)
• Tying into the explosive events of ORIGINAL SIN, see an untold story from the origins of the Marvel Universe!
• After an alien energy source is discovered in Russia in the early 1950’s, it’s up to Peggy Carter and Howard Stark to find out what happened.
• But a newly-risen terrorist group going by the name Hydra also happens to be on the hunt for their own nefarious purposes!
• It’s only when a mysterious operative going by the name of Woodrow McCord enters the picture to aid Peggy and Howard that they realize just how far some people are willing to go to keep the Earth safe!
• Megawatt writer Kathryn Immonen (JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY) is joined by rising star artist Rich Ellis (SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN) to tell an all-new tale featuring AGENT CARTER!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

 

        I like Kathryn Immonen and I will be watching Agent Carter when it comes to ABC but I have no interest in the comic. Too bad it doesn’t have Carter’s name in the title. Operation SIN looks like Original Sin, so the Agent Carter would have broken that up.

 

 ANGELA: ASGARD’S ASSASSIN #2
KIERON GILLEN & Marguerite Bennett (W)
PHIL JIMENEZ & STEPHANIE HANS (A)
• What on Earth has made runaway Angela return to grimy old Earth?
• Is it fighting? It’s probably fighting. It’s usually fighting. You know what she’s like.
• (Spoilers: It’s not fighting. More spoilers: it does involve fighting, but she honestly wasn’t planning it, no, really, honest.)
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

            That’s a fun solict. Just because the character doesn’t lend itself to comedy, doesn’t mean the brief write-up can’t be fun.

 

SUPERIOR IRON MAN #4
TOM TAYLOR (W) • YILDIRAY ÇINAR (A)
DAREDEVIL ON THE ROCKS!
• DAREDEVIL discovers the secret to TONY’S success!
• How far will Tony go to stop MATT MURDOCK from revealing this shocking secret to the world?
• As Tony’s actions become even more questionable, who will conspire to take him down, leading up to the battle you thought you’d never see?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

            It dawns on me that I wonder if the Daredevil guest spot is to tie in with May’s Avengers 2 and Netflix’s Daredevil series, both coming out in the same month. That must be what it is.

 

Legendary Starlord 7 Jan 15 Solict
Cover by Paco Media

 

LEGENDARY STAR-LORD #7 & 8
SAM HUMPHRIES (W)
Issue #7 – FREDDIE WILLIAMS II (A)
ISSUE #8 – Paco Medina (A)
CoverS by PACO MEDINA
ISSUE #7 – WELCOME HOME VARIANT COVER BY TBA
Issue #7 – • Peter comes face to face with Mr. Knife! And you won’t believe who’s behind that snazzy mask.
• And all this craziness seems to have put a little strain on Peter and Kitty’s relationship.
• You know what’ll fix that right up? SPACE DATE! Or rather…SPACE PRISON BREAK! Peter Quill, what a catch.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
Issue #8 – • Couples fight. We all know they do. Especially when one half of the couple is Peter Quill.
• You know what we find often helps a rough patch? Space mischief and scoundreling! That’s a word, right?
• Of course, it can also distract you from the whole…guarding the galaxy thing. Relationships, am I right?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

 

            So excited about this comic! I’m sort of okay with the double shipping as I really want to see more StarKat!

 

INHUMAN #11
CHARLES SOULE (W) • RYAN STEGMAN (A)
Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
WELCOME HOME VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• Reader and Iso are back and in horrible danger!
• The throne of Attilan is empty!
• Who will rise?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

        Inhumans are 50 years old this year, how crazy is that! I just read that Flash is turning 75. Amazing how fast time flies!

 

FANTASTIC FOUR #642
JAMES ROBINSON (W) • LEONARD KIRK (A/C)
THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS
• THE INVADERS meet the FANTASTIC FOUR as the hunt for REED RICHARDS and the missing kids of the FUTURE FOUNDATION continues.
• Meanwhile the mastermind behind everything unveils his ultimate plan.
• But how does FRANKLIN RICHARDS factor in?
• Guest starring JIM HAMMOND, NAMOR, THE NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA and…DOC GREEN?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

        Still can’t believe they are cancelling Fantastic Four with no word of a relaunch. I give it two months before we get the new number one.

 

THE PUNISHER #14
NATHAN EDMONDSON (W)
Mitch Gerads (A/C)
HOTEL HELL!
• The Howling Commandos have Frank Castle’s only remaining family sequestered in a swanky Los Angeles hotel.
• As L.A. erupts in chaos, Frank brings the fight, and most of L.A.’s gangs, to them.
• That hotel is about to get a lot less swanky.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

 

            This brings up an interesting idea of how Frank Castle probably has other family members out there in the world, like cousins and such. I remember a story dealing with Bruce Wayne’s Irish family members.

 

HULK #10
GERRY DUGGAN (W) • MARK BAGLEY (A/C)
OMEGA HULK + RED HULK = MASS SMASH DESTRUCTION!
• MATT MURDOCK VERSUS DOC GREEN in an oral argument.
• RED HULK VERSUS DOC GREEN in the opposite of the first disagreement.
• Something bad happens at the BEEHIVE. (Hint: see above)
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

 

            Shoot, I was hoping Kitty was going to be in multiple issues of this series. I guess we are only getting issue nine. I wonder what Volume of Hulk is this? I’ll have to look that up by the time issue nine comes out.

 

All New Ultimates 12 Jan 2015 Solict
Cover by David Nakayama

 

ALL-NEW ULTIMATES #12
MICHEL FIFFE (w)
AMILCAR PINNA (a)
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
THE SHOCKING CONCLUSION!
• The climactic, life changing conclusion for the rawest, grittiest new team on the block. Their fate hangs in the balance!
• Can THE ULTIMATES save the city from catastrophe yet again and survive the process?
• Monsters, mayhem, and super powered fisticuffs! If this isn’t the MARVEL COMIC TO END ALL MARVEL COMICS, we don’t know what is!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

            I really like the Where’s Waldo homage cover! It doesn’t state it is the final issue, so that’s something.

 

MILES MORALES: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #9
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (w)
DAVID MARQUEZ (a/C)
MILES MORALES: AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D.?
• ‘Nuff said!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

         I like how now Miles Morales Ultimate Spider-Man matches the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon, with both Spider-Mans being agents of SHIELD. Pretty clever.  

 

DEATH OF WOLVERINE: THE WEAPON X PROGRAM #5 (of 5)
CHARLES SOULE (W) • SALVADOR LARROCA (A/C)
• After Sharp and his fellow Weapon X teammates uncover startling new secrets regarding the organization that created them, additional experiments of the Program make an unexpected entrance!
• It all leads to the debut of this month’s all-new Marvel weekly comic, WOLVERINES!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

 

            I see the mask of Ogun on the cover to this, so I wonder if I’m going to have to go back and back some of these other issues. Turns out my quest to own all of the appearances of Ogun is about to backfire on me!

 

UNCANNY X-MEN #30 & 31
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • Chris Bachalo (A)
Issue #30 – In the fallout from AXIS, the Uncanny X-Men return to the Xavier school to lick their battle wounds. But for some, the events that transpired may have left a deeper wound than anyone realizes. Wounds heal, but sometimes the scars become too much to bear, and the ruby glasses come off.
Issue #31 – As the fallout from AXIS continues, the Uncanny X-Men seem to be searching for an identity. Viewed as terrorists by some…as revolutionaries by others…as teachers by their students. If odd ones at that. But some don’t see the grey. For those whose world is black and white, the wrongs will add up…and they will see RED.
32 PGS. (EACH)/Rated T+ …$3.99 (EACH)

 

            Finally, an issue that deals with AXIS’ fallout! Silver Surfer does as well but not any of the issues that had tie-ins prior to the event. I guess the X-Men Schism is still active after AXIS.

 

ALL-NEW X-MEN #37
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (W) • Mahmud Asrar (A)
• You know your friends from growing up? The ones you went to high school with, and are to-this-day some of the people who know you best?
• Well, imagine there are only five kids in your high school, and you’re all hated and feared by the world around you.
• Sometimes, it’s nice to take a step back and realize that what you’ve been told is your “team” is really something much better—your best friends.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

 

            As issue of friendship? That makes sense right after a big crossover. I like down time issues.

 

ALL-NEW X-FACTOR #19 & 20
PETER DAVID (w)
ISSUE #19 – CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO (a) ISSUE #20 – Alex Garner (A)
Issue #20 – FINAL ISSUE
ISSUE #19 – • It was supposed to be a straightforward mission for the team: go into a foreign country at war with its neighbor, discover the tunnels that the enemy had created and get rid of them.
• Unfortunately things have gone extremely wrong and now a vengeful Egyptian goddess has been set free, and the first people she’s targeting are X-Factor.
ISSUE #20 – • At last – the revelation behind the secret of Harrison Snow. Guest starring: Spider-Man 2099.
• Final issue!
32 PGS.(EACH)/Rated T+ …$3.99 (EACH)

 

            All New X-Factor comes to an end. I like how PAD has worked Spider-Man 2099 into the final issue.

 

AMAZING X-MEN #15 & 16
CHRIS YOST(W) • JORGE FORNES (A)
ISSUE #15 – THE ONCE AND FUTURE JUGGERNAUT 1 of 4
• We’ve all heard the phrase “those are big shoes to fill.”
• That’s especially true when those are the massive boots of the unstoppable Juggernaut.
• So when the Gem of Cyttorak reappears, the X-Men must ask themselves: Who’s going to wear those boots?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
ISSUE #16 – THE ONCE AND FUTURE JUGGERNAUT 2 of 4
• Attempting to create a new Juggernaut, the Gem of Cyttorak is calling out.
• And none hears the call more than those who have previously housed the power of Cyttorak, Cain Marko and Colossus.
• But they aren’t the only ones out to find the Gem. Can the X-Men uncover its location before it’s too late? And can Colossus resist the temptation of the power of Cyttorak?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

            I’m tracking this as I suspect we’ll get a few flashback panels with Magik from Colossus’ time as the Juggernaut.

 

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY/ALL-NEW X-MEN: THE TRIAL OF JEAN GREY TPB
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by SARA PICHELLI, STUART IMMONEN & DAVID MARQUEZ
Cover by SARA PICHELLI
Space and time collide! The arrival of the original X-Men in the present sent shockwaves through the Marvel Universe, but we’ve only seen the effects on Earth — until now! When an alien race discovers that Jean Grey — once (or perhaps future) host of the destructive Phoenix Force — is back on Earth, they decide to hold her accountable for the genocide committed by Dark Phoenix! Now, it’s up to the spacefaring Guardians of the Galaxy to help the All-New X-Men save Jean from twisted intergalactic justice. A surprise ally from one character’s past arrives to help, but will that be enough against the most powerful army in the universe? Don’t miss the first encounter between two of Marvel’s biggest franchises! Collecting GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2013) #11-13 and ALL-NEW X-MEN #22-24.
144 PGS./Rated T …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-6609-2

 

           If you want to see the beginnings of Marvel’s hottest new couple – Kitty Pryde and Peter Quill / Shadowcat and Starlord, this is the trade for you! There is also some business regarding Jean Grey. That section is okay.

 

CATACLYSM: THE ULTIMATES’ LAST STAND TPB
Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV & BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by LEONARD KIRK, MARK BAGLEY, DAVID MARQUEZ, ALVARO MARTINEZ, JOHN LUCAS, CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO & JOE QUINONES
Cover by MARK BAGLEY
The dreaded Galactus has arrived in the Ultimate Universe! With a whole dimension of new planets for him to devour, the Ultimate heroes must stop Galactus from destroying their entire universe! Unstoppable and insatiable, he decimates the Chitauri, the Kree — and then heads for Earth. As Rick Jones and Vision make desperate last-ditch attempts to deter Galactus, the Ultimates face the Devourer head-on! And while Nick Fury plots, Reed Richards fights for redemption, M.O.D.O.K. prepares for the end, and the X-Men deal with a lethal secret weapon, Miles Morales heads to Galactus’ birthplace — the Marvel Universe — hoping for clues to save his world! Is this the Ultimate heroes’ last stand? Collecting HUNGER #1-4, CATACLYSM #0.1, CATACLYSM: THE ULTIMATES’ LAST STAND #1-5, CATACLYSM: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1-3, CATACLYSM: ULTIMATE X-MEN #1-3, CATACLYSM: ULTIMATES #1-3 and SURVIVE!
432 PGS./Rated T+ …$39.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-8920-6

 

            If you want to see Ultimate Kitty Pryde grow to Galactus size and then punch Galactus in his stupid purple hat wearing face, this is the trade for you! I can only vouch for Ultimate X-Men’s first issue and Survive. I guess Ultimate Captain America did die, as he hasn’t shown up anywhere in the year. Though I still believe he jumped out of the plane in time.

 

SAVAGE WOLVERINE VOL. 3: WRATH TPB
Written by PHIL JIMENEZ & RICHARD ISANOVE
Penciled by PHIL JIMENEZ & RICHARD ISANOVE
Cover by RICHARD ISANOVE
Two savage tales by industry superstars! First, Wolverine encounters a brutal killer on an African safari — one that will take him halfway across the world, back to his old stomping grounds of Madripoor. But all is not as he left it. And as Wolverine tends to family business, he makes a shocking discovery! Guest-starring Kitty Pryde! Then, during the 1930s, Logan was a bootlegger — until he found himself the accidental caretaker of a group of orphans whose family was targeted by the mob. Now, Logan must choose between the anonymous life he meticulously built or stepping into the spotlight again to defend the innocent. Corrupt cops, a cross-country chase and a mysterious conspiracy stand against him — and as a vicious dust storms bears down, Logan learns the brutal secret of Grand Rapids! Collecting SAVAGE WOLVERINE #12-17.
136 PGS./Parental Advisory …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-8964-0

 

I thought issues 12 and 13 were good, they have Kitty in them, but the other four issues might not make this worth $20.

 

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN VOL. 2: DEATH OF WOLVERINE TPB
Written by JASON LATOUR
Penciled by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ, JASON LATOUR, JIM RUGG, JAMES HARREN, KRIS ANKA, JORGE JIMENEZ & MORE
Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
Melita Garner returns — and she’s got something on Logan that throws the entire school into uproar. But little does Melita know she’s also drawn the attention of the Red Right Hand! Meanwhile, Logan and Storm go on a long-overdue date — but when the headmasters are away, villains come out to play! And when Quentin Quire celebrates his birthday, party crasher Wolverine gets more than he bargained for — but how does Quentin’s return mark the beginning of AXIS, and big changes for the Jean Grey School? Then, in the aftermath of tragedy, the school must mourn Wolverine’s death. As Wolverine’s will is read and a reporter digs further into his century-long past, new truths will be uncovered as the X-Men retell their favorite personal adventures and Wolverine stories, bidding farewell to a legend. Collecting WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN (2014) #7-12.
136 PGS./Rated T+ …$17.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-8993-0

 

            Right now, I own issues 7, 9 and 10, the art is all over the place and I find myself having a hard time enjoying it but that’s just me.

 

ULTIMATE X-MEN ULTIMATE COLLECTION BOOK 5 TPB
Written by BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
Penciled by BRANDON PETERSON, ANDY KUBERT & STUART IMMONEN
Cover by ANDY KUBERT
The X-Men struggle to deal with the death of one of their own — but before even a moment of silence can pass, the mysterious Mr. Sinister arrives, intent on giving the X-Men a lot more to mourn! Then, Gambit returns — but what does he want? The Fenris twins threaten to expose the Ragin’ Cajun’s past sins unless he obeys them. But with Rogue on the other side, to whom will Remy finally lend his loyalty? And what decision does Rogue make that will affect her budding relationship with Iceman? The X-Men soon discover that mutants are being hunted for sport on the island of Krakoa — but can they pull off the rescue of without becoming part of the game, or will malevolent media mogul Mojo make “stars” of them all? Collecting ULTIMATE X-MEN (2001) #46-57.
312 PGS./Rated T …$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9292-3

 

            I liked the Brian K. Vaughan era of Ultimate X-Men,s o I would recommend this. The price tag makes me believe that it collections two trades worth of stories so that seems reasonable.

 . . .

So January 2015 is going to be way inexpensive for me! Which is nice as with Black Vortex on the horizon, and it lasting maybe two or three extra months, February, March and April are going to be expensive!

 

So my titles are –

 

Legendary Star Lord 7 & 8                        $8
Death of Wolverine : Weapon X Program 5            $4
All New X-Men 30 & 31                                    $8
All New Ultimates 12                                 $4

 

So that’s $24! That’s pretty sweet! Now that I know DCBS offers recently released back issues, I’m going to try to take advantage of those extra discounted titles. I know I need Logan Legacy 1 already.

EDIT ON NOVEMBER 17, 2014 –

I wrote All New X-Men 30 & 31 when I meant Uncanny X-Men and then I left off All New X-Men 37!  I can’t believe it took me this long to put my order in!

So 7 Comics over at DCBS is $16.73

I’m sort of missing getting my comics on a weekly basis but to do that for January, the grand total would be $37.47 and if I did twice a month shipping, the grand total is $31.47 so I’m going with that option.

PRODUCT PRICE QTY SUB TOTAL
ALL NEW ULTIMATES #12 $2.39 1 $2.39
ALL NEW X-MEN #37 $2.39 1 $2.39
DEATH OF WOLVERINE WEAPON X PROGRAM #5 (OF 5) $2.39 1 $2.39
LEGENDARY STAR LORD #7 $2.39 1 $2.39
LEGENDARY STAR LORD #8 $2.39 1 $2.39
UNCANNY X-MEN #30 $2.39 1 $2.39
UNCANNY X-MEN #31 $2.39 1 $2.39
Bags and boards per book for November books (with BCW ProBags and New Boards) $0.12 7 $0.84
SUB TOTAL: $17.57
TAX: $0.00
SHIPPING: $6.95**
SHIPPING UPGRADE (Twice a Month Shipping) $6.95
GRAND TOTAL: $31.47

 

All New Ultimates 5

Posted by John Klein III on September 26, 2014
Posted in: Review. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

All New Ultimates 5

Writer Michel Fiffe

Artist Amilcar Pinna

Color Artist Nolan Woodard

Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles

Cover Artist David Nakayama

How great is that over!  Glad the logo and other business doesn’t get in the way.

Speaking of great art, Pinna really stepped it up this issue!

Thanks to ComicVine for these first three pages :

All New Ultimates 5 Page 1

All New Ultimates 5 Page 2

All New Ultimates 5 Page 3

Issue opens in Chelsea, New York City.  Spider-Man, Black Widow and Kitty Pryde are fighting some street crimes.  I like these three together as they are the main stars of the title – the A-Listers.

I like Jessica’s new costume, that brown jacket was getting in the way, now it just looks like the black costume of Spider-Man, which works for me with the half face mask.

Since this is a low level street gang, the heroes can banter and have a good time.

Kitty was fighting in the middle of the street, which one shouldn’t do, but she can phase so the car that comes onto her, just goes right on through.

Abandoned Hell’s Kitchen Cathedral, aka, Ultimates Headquarters.  Last issue, Dagger hinted that her and Cloak have never been sexual together without using their powers.  we get a page that hints at what she meant by that.

Midtown Manhattan.  Diamondback, I really like how the characters are introduced with captions as I can’t keep the Serpent Skulls straight.  Crossbones is with her.  They are having Bombshell withdraw money from her account.  Apparently she doesn’t have much money – how could she?

Poor Bombshell is still under Diamondback’s drugs so she is just going through the motions.

The cops we have been following, show up and talk to the three heroes.  We learn official police policy is to not work with the costumed heroes.  But Detective Bridig O’Reilly isn’t a fool, she knows that the Ultimates are the best chance they have to take down the gangs.

Spider-Man gets summoned to HQ via their pagers.

Kitty puts her arms around Black Widow’s neck so that Jessica can swing them over to the church.

Bart Rozum, who is O’Reilly’s Criminal Informant, is high on the drug but reveals where the heroes are headed.  Apparently, their home base is going to be the worst kept secret.

The three heroes meet up with Cloak and Dagger and they are confused as Bombshell must have summoned them but she is nowhere to be found.

This is, of course, a trap, and the lower ranked members of the Serpent Skull come and a fight starts.  Crossbones jumps into the fight as we see Bombshell and Diamondback are in the rafters.

West Side highway Slum.  Scourge is hiding in a closet and overhears two detectives talking about the fight at the church.

Diamondback wants Bombshell to blast Cloak.

Another gang member, Cobra, shows up and brags about how they didn’t bury Poey, they just threw his dead body into a dumpster.

Diamondback makes the mistake of directing Bombshell to aim for Cloak’s head, just like they did with her dead boyfriend.  This snaps Bombshell out of her trance and she just unleashes all of her potential.  The church is on fire and the issue ends with Bombshell promising to kill all gang members.