Ramos – Humberto

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Extraordinary X-Men 10

Posted by John Klein III on September 11, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Apocalypse, Apocalypse Wars, Caramagna - Joe, Delgado - Edgar, Extraordinary X-Men, Lemire - Jeff, Magik, Olazaba, Ramos - Humberto. Leave a comment

Writer Jeff Lemire

Penciler Humberto Ramos

Inker Victor Olazaba

Color Artist Edgar Delgado

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

I had to add Reilly Brown & Jim Charalampidis’ Apocalypse Horsemen variant to my Wishlist.

After taking an issue off, we are back!

It seems like nothing happened in issue nine that I already didn’t know at the end of issue eight.

Omega World, 3167 AD. Horseman Colossus is choking Storm, as Old Man Logan tries to free her from his grip. Cerebro has to fight Colossus off but he wrecks her. Colossus grabs the ark, that contains 600 mutant embryos. He and the other Horsemen leave.

Limbo, Now. Illyana and Sapna are training, Sapna is getting better with magic.

I like Sapna’s little friend over there in the corner. Lockheed should be hanging out with Lockheed and so these two could become friends.

We get a good look of Sapna in her X-Trainee uniform.

It reminded me of Negasonic Teenage Warhead’s trainee uniform from the Deadpool film –

But it isn’t very similar but I really enjoyed that take of the basic X-uniform from that film.

Illyana wants to really start pushing Sapna but Sapna quotes Doctor Strange, who doesn’t want her going to hard. Magik tells Sapna a secret, Doctor Strange can be a stick in the mud. These two are very fun together. They need a spin off!

Illyana suspects that Sapna can reanimate the dead, which isn’t something I would want to do. Sapna agrees that it would be gross. The two of them want to explore the doorways that Sapna can create within Limbo but they want to wait until someone else can defend X-Haven.

Illyana, showing a tender side, gives Sapna a gift. The gift is Magik’s old New Mutants uniform, which Sapna really enjoys! Look at the two of them hugging, so sweet! I also like Illyana’s headdress things being not too tall, sort of like Batman’s bat ears, not too long and on the shorter side, is how I prefer them.

3167 AD. Cerebra can’t teleport or travel through time, so now the X-Men are stranded. Jean hopes Magik and Forge can save them, now that Cerebra can’t contact them. Storm doesn’t even know if it is worth fighting as every future she’s ever seen (and there has been plenty!) turn out for the worst.

Iceman tries to rally her together, to keep on fighting. They are being tested, like they always are. This could be a fresh start, something he is currently experiencing himself.

Through dialogue, we learn that Colossus and his group of students have been here for a year. As the team travels over Galactus’ dead body, Anole starts trying to get Glob Herman to talk to Jean, as she has a crush on her. I’ll be all for those two dating. She does seem nice enough to talk to him but as they talk, Mole Man’s people grab them from below. Iceman and Old Man Logan start fighting the Morloids off, and Old Man Logan is going crazy nuts to try to get back to Jean. That guy needs to calm down about her.

Below, Jean has taken out her would-be captors. Glob Herman is very impress with Teen Jean.

X-Haven, Now. Forge tells Magik that he allowed Sunfire to leave, as he wanted to leave and X-Haven isn’t X-Prison.

Forge is upset that Storm takes him for granted. Magik gives him some talk, proving that she’s still herself.

Forge realizes he lost contact with Cerebra and Magik takes off to the future – how she is going to get to their exact point, I’m not that sure.

3167 AD. The X-Men are heading towards the Horsemen’s lair. Colossus fastball specials Venom toward the X-Men. Venom lands on Old Man Logan, and the issue ends with Old Man Venom!

Extraordinary X-Men 8

Posted by John Klein III on August 23, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Apocalypse, Apocalypse Wars, Caramagna - Joe, Delgado - Edgar, Extraordinary X-Men, Ibanez - Victor, Lemire - Jeff, Magik, Olazaba, Ramos - Humberto, Sotocolors. Leave a comment

Omega World

Writer Jeff Lemire

Penciler Humberto Ramos

Inker Victor Olazaba

Color Artist Edgar Delgado

I had to add three of the variants to my Wishlist.

Issue opens Storm reflecting on what got her to this point. Old Man Logan comes into her office and she opens up about her concerns. There is a slight chemistry between the two, even with the age difference. Forge walks into the room and clearly interrupts something. He has news, Cerebra has located new mutants, lots of them.

Over 600 of them, all in Tokyo. Storm explains where the rest of the team is. Magik and Nightcrawler are in Mexico. Iceman and Jean are in Toronto, so the X-Men present are the options. Colossus wonders if they should enlist Sunspot but Old Man Logan isn’t trusting him.

Old Man Logan volunteers to take Colossus and go find these mutants. Colossus dismisses this suggestion as he wants to take his crew of students and give them some field experience. Storm agrees.

Colossus’ students are – Glob Herman, Ernst, Martha and Anole.

Cerebra doesn’t like that they are attracting a crowd. As we all know, nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. She gathers these group of young X-Men (and their mentor) to where the 600 mutants are suppose to be.

Colossus rips the door apart and reveals Sugar Man. Which I like, as it reminds me of Generation Next. Which also worries me as that probably means Colossus is going to leave these students to die, at some point. Sugar Man should totally reference this, as he was there for all of that.

I like the idea of Cerebra being there, to give us a quick two paragraphs of who Sugar Man is. Sugar Man shows a skill I didn’t know he had, as he grows to Sentinel size. I knew he could shrink but when could he grow? Those two fight and that activates Sugar Man’s machines. Turns out, he has 600 mutant embryos, that have been spared being affected by the Terrigen Mists.

Cerebra gets back in the fight and tells Colossus to protect the Ark. Since Colossus is an idiot, he can’t stop the machine, he needs Forge. Cerebra has sent a distress call so hopefully Magik can get there soon.

The Art starts to spark, freezing the students in place. Colossus tries to free them from the electricity.

All of these sparks are due to an emergency measure, as the Ark begins to fade away, Sugar Man shrinks and runs into the light.

Before he can get there, Magik and the X-Men arrive to break up his cabbage patch. Illyana is worried as she sees her older brother behind a giant glass door.

Old Man Logan does something that should have happened before now, he slices Sugar Man’s extra long tongue down to size.

The Ark is gone and Magik becomes very annoyed. He can’t talk but Jean tries to read his gross mind. Jean learns that the B-Team have gone to the future. Old Man Logan echos my thoughts exactly, that the X-Men being in yet another time travel story is so silly. Didn’t Secret Wars 2015 was suppose to fix this?

Forge can recreate the time machine, and it sounds like he can do it rather easily.

Storm needs Illyana to stay behind, so that she can guard X-Haven. Which makes sense but also tells me that Magik is probably not going to be in Apocalypse Wars.

The X-Men are torn into the future. While there, they are confronted by adult versions of the youngsters. So Colossus hasn’t killed them but it does appear like he abandoned them. Ernst looks even older but not much, she’s taller now. Martha is in body armor, we can still see her brain but also a lady face too. Glob looks buffer and Anole is also bigger and scalier. Clearly more than a few minutes have passed.

This chapter ends with the new horsemen – Colossus, Deadpool, Moon Knight and I’ve been told, a Venom stand-in. Moon Knight is a surprised entrant.

. . .

Strange Magik

Writer Jeff Lemire

Artist Victor Ibanez

Color Artist Sotocolor

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

So last issue, I thought Ibanez was Olazaba, I got my Victors confused.

Greenwich Village. Manhattan. Five Days Earlier. Magik brings Sapna to New York City. Illyana is bringing her new friend to see a doctor.

With a knock on a doctor, we see Doctor Strange, now with battle axe! If you are not reading Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo’s Doctor Strange series, you are really missing out. I also like seeing Strange and Illyana still hanging out.

Magik recaps that Strange, Brother Voodoo, Shaman and Wanda all helped in protecting and moving the Jean Grey School to Limbo. Strange isn’t taking a side in the silly Inhumans v Mutants controversy.

Strange casts a cursory detection spell on Sapna, as there is more to her power than we’ve been let on. Which the only thing we’ve seen so far is that she can command demons, while in Limbo.

Strange hints that Sapna’s powers are not magical but linguistic in nature. She’s a high functioning Doug Ramsey – she can absorb, translate and fully understand languages of anything and anyone around her. Which, Doug was pretty power upped when he came back from Necrosha.

Ironically, Sapna doesn’t quite understand what that means. Magik further breaks it down. Sapna was in Limbo so she absorbed all of the magical knowledge that the dimension had to offer.

I like Sapna trying to process the information. If she was in a math classroom, she would have absorbed all of math, making Marcus du Sautoy very proud.

Strange explain that she may still have that chance but her body is still shifting through the knowledge, so once her body and mind settles down, she can absorb more languages.

Strange noticed something else in Sapna’s mind but Magik missed it. Strange takes the two ladies back inside Sapna’s mind.

Once there, Strange is lightning bolted out of commission. Magik prevents a second bolt from hurting her, as we see it come from a dark Starro.

Magik and Doctor Strange are slashing at Starro and Sapna tells it to go away, which it does.

Sapna wants to go home, that was pretty scary. Illyana tries to assure Sapna that Starro is not coming back for her. Strange lets Magik know that she is right. Dark Starro wasn’t after Sapna, but for Illyana! I wish it stated where or when this story will be continued in.

Extraordinary X-Men 5

Posted by John Klein III on August 2, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Caramagna - Joe, Delgado - Edgar, Extraordinary X-Men, Lemire - Jeff, Magik, Olazaba, Ramos - Humberto. Leave a comment

Writer Jeff Lemire

Penciler Humberto Ramos

Inker Victor Olazaba

Colorist Edgar Delgado

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

Issue opens where the last one ended. The Sinister created Cyclops (a mixed of Summers’ DNA and some unknown Inhuman DNA) stands before the X-Men. Jean reads its mind and conforms that isn’t the real Cyclops. That’s all Old Man Logan needed to hear, as he charges at NotCyclops, Notclops.

Notclops blasts Old Man Logan through the sewers and out onto the streets. Sinister doesn’t want Notclops to be hurt, but the X-Men don’t care what Sinister wants. Storm tells Iceman to deep freeze Notclops.

It doesn’t take long for the Inhuman DNA to take over and Notclops grows even more scales and loses control. Sinister gets lost in this dramatic transformation and while he is distracted, Colossus straight punches him in the back. Colossus does it so hard that we get to see a Gwen Stacy inspired “SNAP!” So Sinister’s back is way broken.

Storm checks in on Jean. Iceman gives chase after Notclyops. Colossus has to stay behind to watch over Illyana. Iceman tries to confine Notclops in a ice ring.

Jean can’t shut Notclops down, as it doesn’t have a brain. Storm tells Jean to look after Old Man Logan. Storm will take on Notclops and Iceman starts saving civilians.

Illyana is starting to wake up. She directs her brother to turn around. A body of Sinister picks up the head of the broken back Sinister and puts it into its neck. This body is suppose to be more durable than the last one. Colossus is ready for Round Two.

Jean checks in on Old Man Logan, I like how slow his healing factor is now. That was one of the biggest issues with Present Day Wolverine.

Iceman saves a dude whose legs are stuck under a bus. Iceman creates a giant Abominable Snowman to lift the bus.

Storm tries to talk Notclops down but he can only growl. Old Man Logan gets a few slices in but gets blasted back.

Colossus keeps beating on Sinister. Sinister makes the point that Colossus wrecks and he builds. With that, Sinister slams Colossus into the ground.

Sinister’s experiments has revealed that mutants are dying (again). Mutants are no long Homo Superior, they have become Inferior.

Meanwhile, Jean has been keeping Notclops’ body from exploding and is trying to raise it into the air to cut down on the blast radius.

Illyana has gotten into the fight, with the bold move of slicing Sinister’s head off.

Magik doesn’t think the X-Men are the last of their kind but the first. I like the phase “Children of Xavier” it just rings true and I really dig Illyana making with a monologue. She’s typically more of a doer than a talker.

Notclops explodes in the sky, so he isn’t coming back anytime soon.

Illyana looks to be drawn taller now, but I’m sure that’s just an artistic choice.

Poor Kurt, he has clearly been through some things but he does recognize one of his oldest friends, and her brother.

The X-Men are finally reunited, for the first time this series. Jean wants to go home but Storm has a speech she wants to make. She tells everybody in attendance, and the world around them (via the news crew) that the mutant race is dying.

The X-Men will no longer be hiding. They will continue to protect and serve those who would fear and hate them. They will also be gathering any mutants that are not already at X-Haven. If anyone tries to hurt them, the X-Men will squash that fool.

Storm is still seeing Xavier’s ghost.

With a classic “to me, my X-Men” Storm asks Magik to send them home.

Cerebra likes Storm’s speech. Forge informs Storm that Maria Hill wants to have a meeting, so that they can get on the same page. Magik doesn’t trust SHIELD but Storm wants to give them a chance.

Magik notices that a fight occurred in Limbo, which I’m sure causes some conflict within her. She’ll have to tell those demons to leave the mutants alone.

Issue ends with Old Man Logan not wanting to go into the school. Jean thinks Glob Herman is a little cute and she tells Old Man Logan that there is a teenage Scott Summers, which doesn’t thrill him.

Next issue starts the Search and Rescue storyline, that Magik is involved in, so we’ll be definitely be buying it.

. . .

Top Ten List of 2016

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Four Issue 4
Extraordinary X-Men 5
Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 4

That’s the year, thus far

Marvel October 2016 Solicitations

Posted by John Klein III on July 30, 2016

Posted in: Solicitations. Tagged: Adams - Art, Kuder - Aaron, Newsarama, Ramos - Humberto, Solicitations. Leave a comment

Marvel is releasing another slew of number one issues so I’ll comment if I have any interest with these new series – so this may be a longer post than it is normally.

CHAMPIONS #1
MARK WAID • HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)
Variant cover by ALEX ROSS
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
MARVEL NOW! ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
CLASSIC ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
CAPTAIN AMERICA 75th ANNIVERSARY VARIANT COVER BY TBA
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY RAHZZAH
PARTY VARIANT COVER BY JAY FOSGITT
PREMIERE VARIANT COVER BY TBA
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
Following the fallout of CIVIL WAR II, Avengers Ms. Marvel, Nova and Spider-Man strike out on their own — joined by Cyclops, Viv Vision and the Totally Awesome Hulk! Six young heroes determined to change the world — and they’re only the beginning!
48 PGS./Rated T …$4.99

I do enjoy the Champions title, shame no representative from the original series is in this – yet. Teen Cyclops being in it means I should be tracking it. I’m hoping the five dollar price tag is only for the first and double sized issue.

CHAMPIONS: NO TIME FOR LOSERS #1
Written by TONY ISABELLA & BILL MANTLO
Penciled by DON HECK, GEORGE TUSKA & JOHN BYRNE
When fate calls, a sensational super-team answers! The avenging Angel! Hercules, Prince of Power! The deadly Black Widow! Ghost Rider, Spirit of Vengeance! And the amazing Iceman! When the Champions come together, it is legendary! So much so they’ll face the mythological might of Cerberus, harpies, Amazons and Greek gods — all culminating in a wedding-stopping assault on Olympus! This mixed-up band might just be the heroes Los Angeles needs. And with the best headquarters Warren Worthington III’s money can buy, and Darkstar added to the ranks, they’ll be ready for the most uncanny of evils — like Swarm, Nazi scientist turned lord of killer bees! Only one group can stop the City of Angels from feeling his sting. They are the Champions — and they’ll keep on fighting ‘til the end! Collecting CHAMPIONS #1-3 and #14-15.
96 PGS./Rated T …$7.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90857-7

Five issues for eight dollars isn’t too bad. If they released an omnibus for the series, I’ll be more tempted by that than the beginning ending of the original series.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #20
DAN SLOTT & CHRISTOS GAGE • GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (A)
Cover by ALEX ROSS
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
“CLONE CONSPIRACY” TIE-IN!
•Death is no more, and DOCTOR OCTOPUS HAS RETURNED!!!
•How is he back? And what does he have to do with The Jackal?
32 PGS./Rated T …$3 .99

Every fight between Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man must be super awkward going forward, right?

PROWLER #1
SEAN RYAN • JAMAL CAMPBELL (A)
Cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN
Variant Cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
“CLONE CONSPIRACY” TIE-IN!
Even a super hero’s life can get boring. Double-check your gear. Patrol the city. Save the innocent. Report back to your boss, The Jackal. Wait, what? Why is Prowler working for The Jackal? What does the resurrected Madame Web have to do with him? And what has Prowler already done that may have compromised him?!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Did the Prowler die? I always liked the character, Hobbie Brown, back in the day – he helped Peter create the Hornet suit back in the Spider-Man : Identity Crisis storyline, that’s the last I heard of him. I did hear that Ultimate Prowler was Miles Morales’ father or uncle, so that’s cool that the name got Ultimatized. I’ll be passing on this series through. Bringing back an eighty year old woman doesn’t sound great, it reminds me too much of bringing Aunt May back to life. I do miss the Slingers series, if they relaunched that, I would actually buy every issue!

INFAMOUS IRON MAN #1
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • ALEX MALEEV (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY ESAD RIBIC
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY ANTHONY PIPER
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
There is a new Iron Man in town and his name is VICTOR VON DOOM. The greatest villain of the Marvel Universe will try something new. Where Tony Stark failed, Doom will succeed. What is Doom’s Master Plan?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I still don’t see why Doom would take on Iron Man’s name or legacy, for the fresh start? I’ll be passing on this one too. I see there these number one issues are getting plenty of variants too.

BLACK PANTHER #7
TA-NEHISI COATES • CHRIS SPROUSE (A)
COVER BY BRIAN STELFREEZE
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY BILL SIENKIEWICZ
VARIANT COVER BY MARGUERITE SAUVAGE
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER C BY ESAD RIBIC
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
COSPLAY VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
“THE CREW” STARTS NOW!
With no one left to trust, T’Challa leans on his day ones: Luke Cage. Misty Knight. Storm. But Wakanda may be too far gone for this all-new, all different CREW…
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

His day ones? I do like Storm and Black Panther being in a title again. Shame editorial didn’t know what to do with them as a married couple. Luke Cage and Misty Knight are there for the Netflix show sweet synergy.

GREAT LAKES AVENGERS #1
ZAC GORMAN • WILL ROBSON (A/C)
Cover by WILL ROBSON
Variant cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY Dale Keown
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
“All New, All Different?” No, thank you! New things are bad and different things are scary! Instead, why not join everybody’s least favorite super-hero team, the Great Lakes Avengers in their brand new — but not too brand new — ongoing series, Same Old, Same Old, Great Lakes Avengers! When the team gets reinstated as permanent members of the Avengers and uprooted to Detroit, the GLA has one more shot at super hero glory…but can they answer the call? Do they even have 4G coverage here? Find out!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Everybody’s least favorite super-hero team? Ouch! I’ve always liked the GLA and glad they are getting another chance at glory. Hopefully this title gets some good buzz.

SOLO #1
GERRY DUGGAN & GEOFFREY THORNE • PACO DIAZ (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY ROB LIEFELD
SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY ROB LIEFELD
VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
The “One Man War on Terror” will get the job done! That’s right — James Bourne, A.K.A. Solo, is on his own, right where he belongs! Deadly alien weapons are making their way into the hands of ordinary thugs – and Solo is going undercover to locate the source. Things are heating up, and Solo might just wish he had some backup! Deadpool was just the beginning. You haven’t seen anything till you’ve met Solo!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

As a Spider-Man fan in the 90s, I am glad that Solo is back to having monthly adventures. I read Deadpool 14 and it didn’t seem like he has changed too much so this could be interesting. I imagine he’s better in a team environment, like Thor or Superman. I’ll be passing on this. All of these Deadpool spinoff titles must be leading up to a big crossover. Then again, I thought that with the Guardians of the Galaxy spinoffs but we never got that crossover either – which was pretty nice.

DOCTOR STRANGE & THE SORCERERS SUPREME #1
ROBBIE THOMPSON • JAVIER RODRIGUEZ (A)
Cover by Rafael Albuquerque
VARIANT COVER BY JAVIER RODRIGUEZ
DESIGN VARIANT COVER BY JAVIER RODRIGUEZ
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
YOUNG VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY Jamal Campbell
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
An ancient evil threatens to unravel the fabric of reality, and one Sorcerer Supreme may not be enough. Doctor Strange must unite past, present and future Sorcerers Supremes to stem the coming darkness – Merlin, the Ancient One, Wiccan, and more! But Strange should watch his back, not all of these Sorcerers have his best interests in mind…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I guess this is Marvel’s way of getting the Ancient One back in a monthly title for the big release of Doctor Strange’s film out the next month. I’m super excited that this includes “past, present and future Sorcerers Supremes” as Magik is a future Sorcerer Supreme and she was awesome in that annual! First hinted in All New X-Men 25 but seen in Uncanny X-Men Annual 1 (2015)

PATSY WALKER, A.K.A. HELLCAT! #11
KATE LETH • BRITTNEY L. WILLIAMS (A/C)
VARIANT COVER BY SANDY JARRELL
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
COSPLAY VARIANT ALSO AVAILABLE
“DON’T STOP ME-OW” STARTS NOW!
Who’s ready for a knock-down, drag-out, no-holds-barred CAT-FIGHT? Literally! Okay, it’s kind of figurative because they’re not *actually* cats, but it’s pretty close. Felicia Hardy is on a collision course with Patsy Walker. You know what that means? It’s Hellcat vs. Black Cat y’all! Featuring everyone’s favorite teenage vampire Jubilee! But who’s side is she on? Sharpen your claws because it’s going to be a feline fiasco for the ages!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

I like how odd Jubilee is in this three-way match, also they could have undone Jubilee’s vampire status quo with Secret Wars 2015 but someone thought it must have really added to her character, instead of being a gimmick. Black Cat v Hellcat does sound promising.

MOSAIC #1
GEOFFREY THORNE • KHARY RANDOLPH (A)
Cover by STUART IMMONEN
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY MARCO D’ALFONSO
VARIANT COVER BY KHARY RANDOLPH
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
SPECIAL OVER-SIZED ISSUE!
Professional basketball player and world renowned celebrity, Morris Sackett, gains extraordinary abilities, at the grave cost of his own mortal body. Imbued with the ability to jump from person to person like a ghost, he controls the bodies and memories of those he inhabits. With his own body destroyed, the one-time superstar athlete must rely on others to survive. The saga of the newest Marvel Inhuman MOSAIC begins here!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

Another Inhuman spinoff? I’ll be passing on this, thank you.

MS. MARVEL #12
G. WILLOW WILSON
Takeshi Miyazawa (A)
Cover by Cameron Stewart
RED WIDOW VARIANT COVER BY Alessandro Taini
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
VARIANT COVER BY JOELLE JONES
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
Ms. Marvel goes global! After the events of Civil War, Kamala goes on a much-needed road trip.
But will she be an international sensation or menace? Bonus 10-page Red Widow story!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4 .99

Who is Red Widow? I guess having three Black Widows would have been a tad much.

DOCTOR STRANGE #12 & 13
JASON AARON • CHRIS BACHALO (A/C)
Issue #12 – DEFENDERS VARIANT COVER BY Butch Guice
Issue #12 – CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY STEVE MCNIVEN
Issue #12 – STORY THUS FAR VARIANT COVER BY TBA
Issue #12 – CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
“BLOOD IN THE AETHER” STARTS NOW!
Doctor Strange is on the brink of death, his magic nearly depleted. Sensing the Sorcerer Supreme at his weakest, his greatest foes will return from the shadows, ready to strike. Behold the return Doctor Strange’s classic rogues gallery starting with…BARON MORDO!
32 PGS. (EACH)/Rated T+ …$3.99 (EACH)
Previously solicited Doctor Strange #12 orders have been canceled.

I guess magic wasn’t completely destroyed by Impetrator and the Empirikul – so that’s a good thing. I wonder if there is any chance that Magik keeps appearing in this series?

DEADPOOL #21
GERRY DUGGAN & IAN DOESCHER • MATTEO LOLLI & TBA (A)
Cover by MIKE HAWTHORNE
Shakespeare VARIANT cover by MIKE MAYHEW
SECRET COMIC VARIANT COVER BY SCOTT KOBLISH
VARIANT COVER BY JANET LEE
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
“IT’S NOT A TUMOR” STARTS NOW!
You can’t keep a good Madcap down! First, this massively oversized issue brings you the return of Deadpool’s greatest nemesis. He’s back (in the most horrific way possible) and he’s out for revenge! Then, say hello to SHAKESPOOL, THE MERCENARY OF VENICE as Deadpool goes Shakespeare for an all-new 60-page tale by Ian Doescher (William Shakespeare’s Star Wars series). Those old plays you were supposed to read in English class just got a lot more interesting. Don’t say we never taught you anything!
96 PGS./Parental Advisory …$9.99

60 pages for ten dollars sounds like a great deal! Shakespool on the other hand, I’m not sure about. Madcap use to be Deadpool’s second caption boxes, for a long time.

JESSICA JONES #1
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • MICHAEL GAYDOS (A)
Cover by DAVID MACK
Variant cover by ALEX Maleev
VARIANT COVER BY David Aja
ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
BLACK PANTHER 50th ANNIVERSARY VARIANT COVER BY JEFFREY VEREGGE
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY TBA
She is back after a decade! A lot has changed in the Marvel Universe and there are still many secrets hiding in the shadows. Secrets only a special woman like Jessica Jones can hope to uncover. Discover the haunting secrets from Jessica’s past in this blistering new series. Alias Investigations is open for business.
32 PGS./Rated PARENTAL ADVISORY …$3.99

You know, during the time we were watching the Netflix show, I was tempted to read the trades again, it would have been nice to be tempted by a new ongoing series. I guess it must not have timed out right for Bendis and Gaydos. I wonder if Cage and Danielle will be appearing in this, Danielle still exists right? Are the Cages still married? So many questions!

DEADPOOL & THE MERCS FOR MONEY #4
CULLEN BUNN • IBAN COELLO (A/C)
Cover by Iban Coello
VARIANT COVER BY MIKE MCKONE
STORY THUS FAR VARIANT COVER BY TBA
MERCS FOR MONEY CHARACTER VARIANT COVER BY TBA
“Go Bananas” STARTS NOW!
Meet the new Mercs! Wait, a new team…ALREADY? You bet! It’s not because the old team quit, we promise. But you’re going to go bananas for the All-New Mercs for Money! And not just because there are two different Monkeys on the team. Yes, we know Gorilla-Man is technically an Ape. You can stop writing us letters. Hey, why is Domino leading the team? Isn’t Deadpool’s name in the title? Wade’s not going to like this…
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

This is a fun written solicit!

CAGE! #1 (of 4)
GENNDY TARTAKOVSKY • GENNDY TARTAKOVSKY (A/C)
HIP-HOP VARIANT COVER BY MARCO D’ALFONSO
RUN THE JEWELS VARIANT COVER BY DAMION SCOTT
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
From the Award-Winning creator of Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack and Hotel Transylvania! On the mean streets of Harlem, shoes are big, shirts are large, bottoms are belled and crime is rampant! But in the heart of the city, the world’s hardest-working, smack-talking, chain-wearing super hero is on the street and on the case! And his rates are reasonable! He’s CAGE! and he’ll save your behind. Dig it!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Was Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack created by the same person? That’s insane! Samurai Jack was such a great show, Dexter was good to but I didn’t follow it that closely.

UNCANNY AVENGERS #15
GERRY DUGGAN • PEPE LARRAZ (A)
Cover by MEGHAN HETRICK
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY WHILCE PORTACIO
“GOING ROGUE” STARTS NOW!
CIVIL WAR II AFTERMATH!
The Uncanny Avengers have been betrayed! The team stand fractured and disavowed! The Hand has acquired the corpse of “The Fallen” hero! Now, what remains of the Unity Squad travels to Tokyo to smash ninjas and steal back a hero’s remains. Can they get there in time, before the Hand revives “The Fallen”?!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Marvel knows that the Fallen is the Hulk, right? Like that news was pretty much everywhere in the land of comics? I guess they are trying to hype it for the new reader who didn’t read Civil War II 3 but also still reads solicitations. That one very specific person.

BLACK WIDOW #7
CHRIS SAMNEE & MARK WAID • CHRIS SAMNEE (A/C)
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY PHIL NOTO
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
STORY THUS FAR VARIANT COVER BY YASMINE PUTRI
“LION TAMER” STARTS NOW!
• Now that Natasha knows the Weeping Lion’s secret, she’s in control of his very particular set of skills.
• Natasha plans to use him to destroy the Red Room’s reincarnation, the DARK ROOM.
• But she’ll have to face RECLUSE, the daughter of the Red Room’s headmistress, who’s fixated on killing Natasha to prove her worth.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Shouldn’t that Red Widow backup take place in Black Widow’s monthly title? Or is she a way younger character?

CIVIL WAR II #7 (of 7)
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • DAVID MARQUEZ (A)
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Variant cover by MICHAEL CHO
B&W VIRGIN CONNECTING VARIANT H COVER BY KIM JONG GI
B&W CAPTAIN AMERICA VARIANT COVER BY JIM STERANKO
MILES MORALES VS. SAM WILSON VARIANT COVER BY PHIL NOTO
BATTLE VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS SPROUSE
THE WAR ENDS…
56 PGS./RATED T+ …$5.99

Oh wow, this wasn’t even towards the top. Sort of like Secret Wars 2015 all over again with the relaunches taking place right as the last issue of the previous crossover comes out. Hopefully issue seven isn’t the lackluster event that Secret Wars 2015’s final issue.

by Art Adams

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #13
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • VALERIO SCHITI(A)
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• As the Guardians’ internal conflicts reach a boiling point, some outsiders throw more fuel to the fire!
• One teammate with deep roots on Earth will struggle to hold onto their galactic connections!
• The Guardians may survive Civil War II, but the team will NEVER be the same!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Now that I no longer work at Hastings, paying cover price for comics doesn’t seem great. Hopefully I’m not getting too many of these. Sounds like this is the issue Kitty Pryde is no longer part of the team, hopefully she leaves on good terms. It was a fun ride for me with this series.

POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #9
DAVID WALKER • SANFORD GREENE and FLAVIANO (A)
Cover by SANFORD GREENE
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• Luke and Danny tried to stick together, but CIVIL WAR II tore them apart!
• How far will Luke go to get his friend back?
• It’s EVERYTHING you want in an event tie-in! Moral conundrums! Devastating consequences! More super-powered sparring than you can count on four fists for hire!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I guess it would make sense to pit co-stars against each other for a crossover event. I imagine they should just shrug their differences off by good bros do.

SPIDER-MAN #9
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • NICO LEON (A)
Cover by SARA PICHELLI
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• What did the Profiler see about Miles?
• Whatever it is, it’s made him the Marvel Universe’s most wanted!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Is Profiler the Inhuman Ulysses’ hero name? It isn’t a bad one. Reminds me of that awesome 90s NBC show.

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #14
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • MIKE DEODATO (A)
Cover by Dale Keown
CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• A blistering new chapter in the Iron Man mythos. After the shocking conclusion of CIVIL WAR II, a young woman answers the call and takes the mantle of Iron Man. And her surprising relationship to Tony Stark will define the book for years to come. Meet Riri Williams…she is Iron Man.
• Well, for now. She’s still working on the name. But the Marvel Universe WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Does Doom taking on the Iron Man name undermine Riri Williams’ also taking up Iron Man’s name? Like, is Doom there for the dudes out there who don’t want a girl Iron Man? I hope that isn’t the reason for there being two Iron Mans. Iron Men?

CIVIL WAR II: THE OATH #1
NICK SPENCER • Rod Reis (A)
COVER BY JEFF DEKAL
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
The epilogue to the blockbuster event CIVIL WAR II!
• In the aftermath of war, Tony Stark and Carol Danvers both turn to the one person they can trust…Steve Rogers, Captain America.
• Uh-oh…
40 PGS./ one-shot /Rated T+ …$4.99

That makes sense that Civil War II’s main characters will need their own one-shot to tie up any issues as only one of them has a monthly title. I like Nick Spencer writing this issue, as he’s writing Steve Rogers’ Captain America series.

MIGHTY THOR #12
JASON AARON • RUSSELL DAUTERMAN (A/C)
• Forged from the mystical metal known as Uru, Thor’s Hammer is the key to a power that only the worthy can wield.
• But what makes one worthy to carry this weapon? Is it destiny? Or does the hammer choose its partner?
• Discover the storied history of Thor’s greatest ally — The MIGHTY MJOLNIR!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

This is way fun that Mjolnir is getting a spotlight, I may have to check this out. Just to see how they handle the time Captain America lifted it, plus we should get some Beta Ray Bill too!

THUNDERBOLTS #6
JIM ZUB • JON MALIN (A/C)
• With security agencies and super-hero teams around the world the world gunning for the Thunderbolts, MACH-X and ATLAS will risk it all for what they believe in.
• You won’t soon forget this story of friendship and foolishness we call…“The Beer Run.”
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Was there actually a Mach-VI, VII, VIII and VIX? Or did they jump from five to ten?

VISION #12
TOM KING
GABRIEL HERNANDEZ WALTA (A)
Cover by MIKE DEL MUNDO
• A while ago, a robot created a family. And all was good. For a while. Then came the murders. The lies. The betrayals. The battles fought. The battles lost. The family lost.
• And now, at the end, Vision stands alone. He must decide how he will go on, if he will go on, if he can go on. And that decision will shape the Marvel Universe for quite a while.
• The epic, stunning conclusion to the most highly praised series of the year. Simply put, this is the issue everyone will be talking about.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

When they release the full collection, I may have to pick it up as I’ve heard great things regarding this series.

SCARLET WITCH #11
JAMES ROBINSON
LEILA DEL DUCA (a)
COVER BY DAVID AJA
• The SCARLET WITCH travels to SERBIA to dive deep into her Romany roots!
• Who were her parents? Where does she come from? Wanda will discover the answers…
• and seek her revenge!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Oh wow, have we still not learn who Scarlet Witch’s (and Quicksilver too) parents are? It’ll be awesome if the reveal is still Magneto but he was using an alias or something. Why undo such a pivotal character moment like that? Oh yeah, so they are not mutants. Dumb.

THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #13
RYAN NORTH
ERICA HENDERSON (A/C)
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• SOMEONE is taking over the continental United States, but Squirrel Girl is stuck in boring ol’ Canada! UH-OH.
• Canada’s not actually that boring, though: Did you know we have the world’s longest covered bridge, in Hartland, New Brunswick? It’s true! I’ve seen it!
• It’s pretty long, I GUESS.
• Anyway enough about Canada, we’re here to find out why you should buy this comic! REASONS INCLUDE: fights, teamwork, continental USA domination and a special guest star who you’ll find a TINY bit familiar? Everyone is at least a LITTLE bit into this guy and I cAN’T imagine you not being excited to discover who it is!
• Anyway, yeah, it’s Ant-Man.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

Canadian facts! Another fun solicit for this series!

THE PUNISHER ANNUAL #1
GERRY CONWAY • FELIX RUIZ (A)
COVER BY RAHZZAH
VARIANT COVER A BY TBA
VARIANT COVER B BY TBA
OUR TREAT: FRANK’S UP TO HIS OLD TRICKS!
• There are ghouls everywhere on Halloween night, but real monsters don’t wear costumes!
• The Punisher is searching for a killer, but he’s also being watched…
• Let’s hope Frank’s quarry doesn’t put costumed civvies in the line of fire!
40 PGS./Parental Advisory …$4.99

Marvel’s Halloween Issue!

DOCTOR STRANGE: MYSTIC APPRENTICE #1
WILL CORONA PILGRIM • ANDREA DI VITO (A)
Cover by MICHAEL RYAN
Variant cover by RON LIM
Variant cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
BEFORE HE WAS THE SORCERER SUPREME…STRANGE MASTERED THE MYSTIC ARTS!
• A master of delicate surgery, DR. STEPHEN STRANGE had no equal…until a freak accident shattered his hands!
• Now a student of the MYSTIC ARTS, Strange must find a way to master his magical assignment…or throw in his cape and robes for good!
• Don’t miss this all-new story, as Strange finds that the road to Sorcerer Supreme can be a real pain in the…astral form!
• ALSO: reprinting the original first appearance and origin stories of Doctor Strange from STRANGE TALES #110 and #115!
40 PGS./ One-Shot /Rated T+ …$3.99

That’s a tad awkward to have a retelling of an established origin then reprint that origin on the very next page, right? Like, I would just read the first half, then the second half and reread the first half and then have to judge how well of an adaption it was. Which it wouldn’t be that much better at the original was done by Lee / Ditko, a hard team to improve upon.

DAREDEVIL #12
CHARLES SOULE • RON GARNEY (A/C)
“DARK ART” CONTINUES!
• Who is MUSE? And what bloody scene will be his next masterpiece?
• Used to working alone, how will DD handle his new INHUMAN partner on the case?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Daredevil’s teen sidekick has been an Inhuman this entire time? That’s not great.

A YEAR OF MARVELS: THE UNBEATABLE #1
CHAD BOWERS, CHRIS SIMS
and NILAH MAGRUDER
BRIAN LEVEL & Siya Oum (A)
Cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
• It’s August, and Nick Fury is just in time to attend Japan’s Bon Festival…but he’s not here to celebrate. Not when an illegal weapons auction is about to begin! From Chad Bowers & Chris Sims (X-MEN ’92) and Brian Level!
• And in September, TIPPY-TOE is flying SOLO (until Squirrel Girl is done studying)! But when a villain threatens Central Park, she’s gotta call in the big guns. Enormous guns, relatively speaking (because Tippy and ROCKET RACCOON are small)! It’s the team-up — written by Nilah Magruder (M.F.K.) — you would have demanded if you knew your worth! You’re wonderful, and you deserve beautiful things!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

I do like Tippy-Toe and Rocket having a team-up, shame the Pet Avengers couldn’t appear in this. Then again, Lockheed wasn’t a member of that group the last time we saw them so forget them! Where is Lockheed, he has yet to appear Post-Secret Wars 2015. Disappointing.

DEATH OF X #1 (of 4)
JEFF LEMIRE & CHARLES SOULE • AARON KUDER (A/C)
Wraparound Variant COVER by AARON KUDER
SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY AARON KUDER
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER A BY TBA
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
BLANK VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
• What happened eight months ago that set the Inhumans and X-Men on a collision course? Find out here!
• The Inhumans travel to Japan where one of the Terrigen Clouds creates a shocking new Inhuman.
• The X-Men travel to Muir Island where the second Terrigen Cloud causes something truly terrible.
• When these two events collide, a war of catastrophic proportions explodes!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$4.99

I can only imagine that Magik will be all over this series, especially as it features both Scott and Emma, Illyana was to those two. But maybe she wasn’t and that’s why Storm has Magik on the Extraordinary X-Men? I imagine we’ll find out here. I imagine Kitty won’t be part of this as we’ve had hints that she was with the Guardians during those missing eight months. I want that Guardians miniseries too! I imagine we don’t get it though.

By Aaron Kuder

DEATH OF X #2 (of 4)
JEFF LEMIRE & CHARLES SOULE • AARON KUDER (A/C)
CONNECTING VARIANT COVER B BY TBA
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• After the events on Muir Island, Cyclops and Emma Frost put their plans into motion.
• Storm and Medusa come together to find a solution for the deadly effects the Terrigen has on mutants.
• One of the clouds heads to Madrid, the site of the first skirmish between mutants and Inhumans.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Magik is on the cover to the second issue, so that’s already a great sign!

DEADPOOL: BACK IN BLACK #1 & 2 (OF 5)
CULLEN BUNN • SALVADOR ESPIN (A/C)
ISSUE #1 – VARIANT COVER BY ROB LIEFELD
ISSUE #1 – SKETCH VARIANT COVER BY ROB LIEFELD
ISSUE #1 – VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
ISSUE #1 – KABAM CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS GAME VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
ISSUE #2 – VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
During 1984’s SECRET WARS, Deadpool was introduced to an alien symbiote who went on to become Spider-Man’s black costume and, eventually, Venom. Okay, okay, maybe that really happened in DEADPOOL’S SECRET SECRET WARS. Point is, did you know that after Spider-Man rejected the costume…it went slinking back to Deadpool on the rebound? And they went on adventures together? You didn’t? Well, you will, now, thanks to this series by Cullen Bunn (The DEADPOOL KILLOGY) & Salva Espin (DEADPOOL & THE MERCS FOR MONEY)!
32 PGS. (each)/Parental Advisory …$3.99 (each)

Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars was such a fun miniseries, I can only imagine this would will be too! I like Power Pack being in it too, at least the second issue.

OLD MAN LOGAN #12
JEFF LEMIRE • ANDREA SORRENTINO (A/C)
THE SILENT ORDER, PART FOUR: The Old Man and the Boy
• In the penultimate chapter of the “SILENT ORDER” epic, LOGAN will face his toughest adversary yet—his own past!
• SOHEI and his order of Silent Monks have Logan’s back against a wall. But when the leader of the monks is revealed, will Logan have the strength to defeat him?
• And in the Wastelands, Logan faces the same Order, only centuries older and stronger. Will he be able to defeat these warrior monks without popping his claws and revealing the truth of who he is to his one true love?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

Wait, is this series doing Pre-Original-Old-Man-Logan stories too? That could be interesting. I mean, at one point, his one true love must learn that he was the X-Men’s Wolverine, how long can that last?

DEADPOOL: TOO SOON? #1 (OF 4)
JOSHUA CORIN • TODD NAUCK (A)
Cover by PEPE LARRAZ
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
• SOMEONE HAS MURDERED FORBUSH MAN! Could someone be targeting all of Marvel’s funniest characters for death?
• That’s what Deadpool thinks, and now he’s gotta act before someone bumps off SQUIRREL GIRL, ROCKET RACCOON, GROOT, ANT-MAN, HOWARD THE DUCK and THE PUNISHER! (Like we said, the funny characters.)
• Good thing Deadpool is renowned for his investigative skills!
40 PGS./Parental Advisory …$4.99

I do appreciate the cast of this title getting name checked.

ALL-NEW X-MEN #14
DENNIS HOPELESS • MARK BAGLEY (A/C)
• A wheelchair-bound CYCLOPS is stuck in the X-Men’s mobile headquarters while all of his teammates jet off across the world on fantastic adventures.
• Well, almost all of his teammates…BEAST has sequestered himself in his lab, feverishly working on some mysterious new project.
• In his own version of Rear Window, will Cyclops discover that Hank is meddling with forces that should be left alone, or is he just driving himself mad out of boredom? Or worse — BOTH?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I do appreciate a good Rear Window homage (there are not that many, that I know of – mostly animated). This must be hard to pull off in a comic though, with all of the technology and such.

by Humberto Ramos

EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #15
JEFF LEMIRE • VICTOR IBAÑEZ (A)
Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS
• The X-Men’s newest charge has become possessed by THE WORLD-EATER, an extradimensional entity whose sole purpose is to live up to its name.
• And it has its sights set on LIMBO next! Can Storm and Magik prevent it from reaching mutantkind’s last refuge?
• Meanwhile, Iceman and Nightcrawler learn that saving Colossus from the clutches of Apocalypse comes at a price!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I’m all for Magik starring in this title, more storylines need to be centered around her!

ALL-NEW WOLVERINE #13
TOM TAYLOR • NIK VIRELLA (A)
Cover by DAVID LOPEZ
Connecting variant COVER by BENGAL
CLASSIC VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVER BY Arthur Adams
“ENEMY OF THE STATE II” STARTS NOW!
WOLVERINE: MURDERER!!! Laura has fought so hard to be something other than what she was created to be, but the fight is over. Wolverine has blood on her hands. In the wake of an unspeakable tragedy, dark forces have Laura’s life under their control. Will Laura be able to defeat demons on the outside and from within? Or will she be forced to give up the hero’s life she’s built for herself?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

I’m curious which heroes actually show up to stop her? Also, will she have the baggage of her deaths to carry like Cyclops had to deal with or will she be given the Wolverine-shrug-that’s-what-Wolverines-do treatment? Also, who will be her Northstar in this?

MARVEL TSUM TSUM #3 (OF 4)
JACOB CHABOT • DAVID BALDEON (A)
Cover by CHRIS SAMNEE
VARIANT COVER BY TBA
MARVEL TSUM TSUM CLASSIFIED CONNECTING COVER C AVAILABLE
TSUM TSUM CIVIL WAR?!
• The Tsum Tsums square off with foes you’d never expect — including each other!
32 PGS./All Ages …$3.99

From the covers, I suspect we won’t be getting any X-Men in this, besides Wolverine.

DAREDEVIL OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by STAN LEE with WALLACE WOOD & DENNIS O’NEIL
Penciled by WALLACE WOOD, JOHN ROMITA SR. & GENE COLAN with BILL EVERETT, JOE ORLANDO, BOB POWELL & JACK KIRBY
Cover by ALEX ROSS
Born to a past-his-prime prizefighter, Matt Murdock’s luck always ran a step behind his good intentions. When a daring act to save a man’s life blinds young Murdock, he finds that the same accident has enhanced his remaining senses to superhuman levels! He becomes Daredevil, a gritty hero born from murder, but tempered with the desire to protect the downtrodden. In this oversized Omnibus collection featuring every classic story and original letters page, writer Stan Lee and artists Bill Everett, Joe Orlando, Wallace Wood, John Romita Sr. and Gene Colan lay the foundation for Marvel’s Man Without Fear! Including the first appearances of core characters Foggy Nelson and Karen Page, and classic villains the Owl, the Purple Man, Stilt-Man, Gladiator and more! Collecting DAREDEVIL (1964) #1-41 and ANNUAL #1, FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #73 and material from NOT BRAND ECHH #4.
1088 PGS./All Ages …$125.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90427-2
Trim size: oversized
DAREDEVIL OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC KIRBY COVER (DM ONLY)
1088 PGS./All Ages …$125.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90518-7
Trim size: oversized

Dman, 42 comics for $125 and these are classics – that’s impressive!

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: NEW GUARD VOL. 2 — WANTED PREMIERE HC
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by VALERIO SCHITI
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord, returns to the fold! But what does that mean for Kitty Pryde, a.k.a. Star-Lord? Is the Marvel Universe big enough for two Star-Lords? Find out as the Guardians face a new Galactic order! The Thing might miss some things about Earth, but he does admit that space has its perks. Like riding alien horses into action as Ben Grimm: Space Barbarian! Venom and Groot get in way over their heads fighting Skrulls — and everyone knows when Bendis writes Skrulls, it’s bad news! The galaxy’s two deadliest warriors, Gamora and Drax, take the fight to the Badoon! And Angela makes her dramatic return! They’re the galaxy’s most wanted, but they’ll still guard it all the same! Collecting GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2015) #6-10.
112 PGS./Rated T …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-9519-1
Trim size: standard

I will highly recommend this trade, such a great story!

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 10 HC
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT
Penciled by JOHN ROMITA JR. with BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH, JOHN BUSCEMA, SAL BUSCEMA,
RON FRENZ & CRAIG HAMILTON
Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
John Romita Jr. joins Chris Claremont as the Uncanny X-Men’s chart-topping adventures continue! Drama abounds as Cyclops heads off on his honeymoon with Madelyne Pryor, Wolverine’s relationship with Mariko takes a turn for the worse and Kitty Pryde is kidnapped and forced to marry the Morlock Caliban. Meanwhile, Rogue is Public Enemy No. 1, and anti-mutant sentiment threatens the passage of a law that will strip all mutants in the United States of their rights. There’s no shortage of action, either: Colossus battles Juggernaut, Mystique and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants return and Rachel Summers arrives on the scene! Topped off by Claremont and Barry Windsor-Smith’s stunning classic story “Lifedeath” and the Magik limited series, there’s no shortage of mutant masterworks! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) #176-188, MAGIK (1983) #1-4 and material from MARVEL FANFARE (1982) #40.
456 PGS./Rated T …$100.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90360-2
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE UNCANNY X-MEN VOL. 10 HC — VARIANT EDITION VOL. 241 (DM ONLY)
456 PGS./Rated T …$100.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90461-6

I need to relook at which issues volume nine covered as it looks like that one should contain the bulk of Paul Smith’s run. Now that I’ve typed this, I feel like it left like three issues (the ending of the Brood Saga) and started at 168. Which is fine but I want a Brood Saga / Paul Smith complete trade.

ALPHA FLIGHT BY JOHN BYRNE OMNIBUS HC
Written by JOHN BYRNE, CHRIS CLAREMONT, ROGER STERN, TOM DEFALCO, BILL MANTLO, JOHN CASSADAY, BEN RAAB & LOUISE SIMONSON
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE, SAL BUSCEMA, STEVE DITKO, RON WILSON, MIKE MIGNOLA, PAUL SMITH,
JOHN CASSADAY & PAUL NEARY
Cover by JOHN BYRNE
Legendary writer/artist John Byrne steers one of his greatest creations to glory! Exploding from the pages of X-MEN, Canada’s premier super-team Alpha Flight takes the Marvel Universe by storm before starring in its own Byrne-helmed series! Guardian, Shaman, Snowbird, Sasquatch, Aurora, Northstar, Puck and Marrina fight to protect Canada from injustice and evil — including Master of the World, the maniacal alchemist Diablo and the terrifying Great Beasts! But they’ll face their darkest defeat at the hands of rival Omega Flight. And when an Alphan falls, can the team fight on? Plus: Loki! The Hulk! And more! Collecting X-MEN (1963) #109, #120-121 and #139-140; MACHINE MAN (1978) #18; MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE (1974) #83-84; INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #272, #313 and ANNUAL #8; ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) #1-29; X-MEN AND ALPHA FLIGHT (1985) #1-2; X-MEN/ALPHA FLIGHT (1998) #1-2; and material from MARVEL TEAM-UP ANNUAL #7.
1248 PGS./Rated T …$100.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-90405-0
Trim size: oversized

Oh man, this does look great too!

WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN HC (NEW PRINTING)
Written by MARK MILLAR
Penciled by STEVE MCNIVEN
Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
A future world savaged and sundered by super villains, the United States ain’t what it used to be. In California, now a wasteland controlled by the evil Hulk Gang, the former Wolverine seeks to live in peace. He’s retired, finally free from the violence of his former existence as an X-Man, and he wants to keep it that way. If only they’d let him. Now, Logan and an aged, blind Hawkeye are forced into a cross-country jaunt through villain-ruled lands, on a collision course with the worst of them all! Can Old Man Logan maintain his pacifist vow and make his last stand without doing what he does best? Mark Millar and Steve McNiven unite for a riotous romp through a future world of death, despair and dynamic action! Collecting WOLVERINE (2003) #66-72 and WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN GIANT-SIZE.
224 PGS./Parental Advisory …$34.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90463-0
Trim size: oversized

This will get another printing too, whenever Wolverine 3 comes out.

CIVIL WAR II: X-MEN TPB
Written by CULLEN BUNN with GERRY CONWAY
Penciled by ANDREA BROCCARDO with MIKE SEKOWSKY
Cover by DAVID YARDIN
The X-Men enter the fray of CIVIL WAR II! As Terrigen Mist circles the globe — igniting the Inhuman race while crippling mutantkind — tensions have been rising between the two races. And when a new Inhuman who can see the future emerges, the X-Men fear he may tip the scales and spell doom for their kind. Now, one mutant is willing to wage war with the Inhumans and his own people to prevent that from coming to pass — and that mutant is Magneto! But as the Master of Magnetism takes fate into his own hands, who will join him in an assault on Attilan? What side will the X-Men take? And could it be that Magneto’s actions only serve to bring about the outcome he fears? Collecting CIVIL WAR II: X-MEN #1-4, plus the classic AMAZING ADVENTURES (1970) #9.
112 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90254-4

The first two issues have been pretty decent, probably worth the sixteen dollars.

X-MEN: WOLVERINE/GAMBIT TPB (NEW PRINTING)
Written by JEPH LOEB
Penciled by TIM SALE
Cover by TIM SALE
The titanic team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale (SPIDER-MAN: BLUE, CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE, HULK: GRAY) take on the X-Men’s two most dangerous mutants in this international thriller that brings Wolverine and Gambit to the shores of England! There’s a serial killer tearing through London, leaving beautiful young women as his victims. Do these brutal slayings mark the return of the 19th-century Jack the Ripper? Or could one of the X-Men be the real killer?! Wolverine is the prime suspect — and Gambit is out to prove him guilty! Now they’re grudgingly forced to work together to find the truth — without killing each other! It’s a fast-paced murder mystery that will keep you guessing right up until the last page. Plus: A bonus Loeb/Sale X-Men tale! Collecting WOLVERINE/GAMBIT: VICTIMS #1-4 and material from UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL (1992) #18.
120 PGS./ Rated T+ …$15.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90246-9

When I was looking for this trade, years ago when Loeb/Sale’s Batman : Dark Knight came out, it would have been nice if it was in print then. This was one of their earlier gigs together so it’ll be nice to see how it compares to their more polish work they’ve done since. I am of the camp that their DC work is above their Marvel work.

CAPTAIN BRITAIN: LEGACY OF A LEGEND TPB
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT, STEVE PARKHOUSE, DAVE THORPE, ALAN MOORE & JAMIE DELANO
Penciled by HERB TRIMPE, JOHN BYRNE,
JOHN STOKES, STEVE PARKHOUSE & ALAN DAVIS
Cover by ALAN DAVIS
Honor four decades of myth and majesty with the United Kingdom’s greatest hero! Follow Brian Braddock — handpicked for greatness by the sorcerer Merlyn — from the fateful decision that imbues him with the might of right on the path to glory that will make him protector of the Omniverse! Along the way, he’ll make a splash stateside in a team-up with Spider-Man and fight alongside the Black Knight in the name of King Arthur! Things go from fantasy to far-out as Brian goes Multiversal — facing Slaymaster, the Crazy Gang, Mad Jim Jaspers and the Fury! He’s Britain’s champion — now and forever! Collecting CAPTAIN BRITAIN (1976) #1-2; MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #65-66; and material from HULK COMIC #1 and #3-5, INCREDIBLE HULK WEEKLY #57-59, MARVEL SUPER-HEROES (UK) #377-384 and #386, DAREDEVILS #3-4, MIGHTY WORLD OF MARVEL (1983) #8-12 and CAPTAIN BRITAIN (1985) #14.
208 PGS./Rated T+ …$24.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-90654-2

I see Marvel is back to using Alan Moore’s actual name instead of simply referring to him as “The Writer.”

. . .

So October looks to be another light month.

Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme 1      $4
Guardians of the Galaxy 13          $4
Death of X 1 & 2                $9
Extraordinary X-Men 15                $4

So five comics for twenty one dollars, not too bad.

Extraordinary X-Men 4

Posted by John Klein III on July 10, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2015, Caramagna - Joe, Delgado - Edgar, Extraordinary X-Men, Lemire - Jeff, Magik, Olazaba, Ramos - Humberto. Leave a comment

Writer Jeff Lemire

Penciler Humberto Ramos

Inker Victor Olazaba

Colorist Edgar Delgado

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramanga

Issue opens with Colossus having a flashback to when he was a kid. Except that Kurt is there and Colossus is looking for his sister. Kurt hints that the Inhumans and Cyclops are ruining the mutant race.

Colossus wakes from that dream state, into a nightmare. His precious sister is in one of those Inhumanity eggs.

Colossus gets terrified by the sight of an Inhuman-induced Illyana. Luckily, she is still in her original form. Well, her form since Belasco changed her course.

Colossus finally gets out of all of these dreams. He’s hanging upside down in Mister Sinister’s lair. Sinister is trying to make Home Superior, even more Superior. He is currently experimenting on a purple version of Mammomax.

The new Marauders start getting name checked. The old guy with the horns is Aries – which makes sense with the horns and all.

Sinister points to Kurt, who has lost his mind – only speaking in bible verses or with a biblical flair.

Sinister gives the elephant mutant a giant dose of Terrigen Mist. I guess everyone has access to it now. Typically, no one survives the process – mutant DNA and Inhuman DNA doesn’t mix well.

Sinister hints that Magik will be experimented on next, as she is made of sterner material.

X-Haven, Limbo. Storm is happy to see Old Man Logan, he’s happy to be laying into demons.

Iceman saves Anole, who would like a moment to talk to Bobby, now that he has admitted to being gay. Iceman starts trying to joke around with Old Man Logan. Forge gets the shield ready to go but he wants the demons to be pushed back, so that none of them are inside the force field. Jean starts pushing the demons back, with her mind.

Iceman and Old Man Logan are happy to see each other.

Cerebra reminds Storm that they should probably look for Illyana and Kurt. She can’t track them but Old Man Logan offers to do that. He refuses to work with Cerebra, which seems odd to me as this is the guy who killed all of the X-Men, so who is he to judge things.

Forge offers up Kurt’s tail, so that Old Man Logan can get the scent.

Manhattan. The X-Men teleport in and this guy immediately overreacts to their presence. He doesn’t want his children to be affected by M-Pox. Old Man Logan and Jean exchange a few words. Iceman tries to joke about them, but takes it too far. He mocks them for having a grandfather – daughter relationship but hints at the original versions chemistry.

Chimera, the lady Marauder, wants to just kill Illyana. Colossus protests that plan, but he is powerless to do anything about that. Sinister has pumped Colossus with a lot of power-dampening serum.

Sinister believes Illyana is a threat, due to her magic – it separates her from the others. That’s not the only thing that puts her out of everyone else’s league.

Before Sinister can do anything, he gets three claws through his back – which I love how the X-Men arriving, isn’t hinted at, at all. It works so well as a next page turn.

Storm announces that the team should kick some aarse, which I like this take on Storm – she’s so much more fun now.

Old Man Logan skips the fight, as freeing Colossus is a higher priority.

Jean takes out Chimera, who has a black hole in her head. So she’s like Xorn, I suppose.

Colossus frees Illyana. She is still knocked out.

Old Man Logan and Iceman notice that Kurt is out of sorts.

Sinister is able to get back to his feet, he picks up where he left off. All of his experiments have ended in failure, except for one. The issue ends with the reveal that Cyclops is alive! But with some form of Inhuman scales. I’m sure it is only a clone of Cyclops but who knows. This is the flagship title so this could be the real Cyclops.

For a Sinister story, this one isn’t horrible – thus far.

Extraordinary X-Men 3

Posted by John Klein III on June 26, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2015, Caramagna - Joe, Delgado - Edgar, Extraordinary X-Men, Lemire - Jeff, Magik, Olazaba, Ramos - Humberto. Leave a comment

Writer Jeff Lemire

Penciler Humberto Ramos

Inker Victor Olazaba

Colorist Edgar Delgado

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

I had to add Clay Mann’s variant to my Wishlist.

Magik doesn’t appear in this issue, hopefully the last time that happens – but she’s mentioned twice.

Neepawwa, Monitoba, Canada. Jean sees the sad trailer that Old Man Logan has been living in. They both share their mutual awkward timelineness. She’s from the past, he’s from the future – she’s supposed to be from the real past and he’s from a future that isn’t this current universe’s future. They know this as Wolverine didn’t die via Professor Cornelius’s plotting.

X-Haven, Limbo. Iceman really wants Magik to come back, as they are not doing well against the demons. Why the demons are not just listening to Illyana’s demand to just hang back, I’m not sure. Maybe they know she is missing, only because of the X-Men.

Storm checks in with Forge, Illyana’s radio silence hasn’t broken yet. Storm really should have sent a B-Team, at the end of this issue. She’s the leader of the X-Men, by default instead of earning her current position. I do like how no one needs Colossus.

Storm wants the backup security system to go online but Forge believes it is a week out still. Forge is going to try to get it online, now. He can’t work miracles as they are in hell. Cebebra corrects him, the dumb robot that she is – and states that Limbo isn’t Hell, it is a different realm. Forge sends her to die the demons, and possibly, be destroyed out there.

Anole and Glob Herman are trying their best against demons. Iceman tells them to chill out, and is disappointed that no one laughed. It isn’t funny and Iceman is the worst.

Iceman, has gone back to what Jason Aaron tried to established in the original Wolverine and the X-Men series. He has been working on a Cold Locker, an Iceman army. He has to sit and concentrate – to control them – so he’s still working on that aspect.

Canada. Jean confirms that Cyclops is dead, this is the first that Old Man Logan has heard of the news. Sounds like the whole Terrigen Mist business is new to him, as well. We learned that Cyclops died, during a fight with the Inhumans. She keeps the bad news coming with how the mists have sterilized mutants.

Old Man Logan doesn’t want to rejoin the X-Men, as he is afraid of his future coming true. Jean is so horrible, that’ she’s cool that Old Man Logan killed all of the X-Men. Jean forces more future memories out of Old Man Logan. She sees that the Hulk’s grandchildren killed Old Man Logan’s family. She seems more upset about the villains winning and his family being slaughtered – instead of the man before her, killing all of her friends and colleagues.

I like how Old Man Logan doesn’t see this as a new start – he is still haunted by his past and what Mysterio tricked him into doing.

Limbo. The demons are clearly winning. Forge’s security system is a mere shield. Iceman is running out of resources.

Storm calls Anole and Glob, X-Men, and this motivates them to fight harder.

Iceman needs a second to recharge, which sickens Storm.

Cerebra, scoring points with me – is concern that Ms. Rasputin may not be doing well.

Sapna, from the first issue, is protecting her family. Sapna, apparently, can speak and control the demons. This comes as a surprise to her.

Canada. The two time-displaced mutants, talk about destiny – which is pretty nice. Jean hadn’t thought about destinies. Old Man Logan worries about killing the X-Men, like how she should be worried about how she should be starting to die and be reborn – in a constant cycle. This angers Jean, as she is going to make sure she never dies, she is going to break the cycle.

Jean promises to watch over Old Man Logan – to make sure he doesn’t kill any of the X-Men. Since this is Jean, Old Man Logan can’t deny what she wants. She knows where the X-Men are, and calls them to get them to pick the two up.

Sapna is doing a great job of calming the demons. Iceman wonders if this is why Illyana sought her out. Glob saves Iceman, as he was distracted. Glob is all sorts of motivated, now that Storm considers him an X-Man.

Storm has most of the refugees inside the school but Forge hasn’t raised the shields yet. A demon knocks Storm down and the ghost of Xavier gets her to stand back on her feet. With a giant lightning bolt, the demons stand back. Storm gets to say the classic “to me, my X-Men” which must feel great – every single time.

Storm tries to motivate Forge, but he isn’t the mutant inventor that his reputation would have everyone believe. Forge tries to trick her into remembering the good old days. Which I imagine he thinks about, a bunch – when Storm and him were lovers. Though, wasn’t that just for a handful of issues? It wasn’t like a multi-years relationship.

Jean calls into Forge, and he knows how much Storm needs Jean and Old Man Logan – so he sends Cerebra to gather them. Cerebra teleports to Canada, and back to Limbo – in no time at all.

Great last page – these are the X-Men! (minus Magik, Nightcrawler and Colossus – but add Supna). Even Anole and Glob made the group shot. That is a pretty great mixture of teams and classes.

I can’t wait for the official first group shot of everyone together!

Next issue has the team, shown as a reflection in Mister Sinister’s head gem thing.

Extraordinary X-Men 2

Posted by John Klein III on June 16, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2015, Caramagna - Joe, Delgado - Edgar, Extraordinary X-Men, Lemire - Jeff, Magik, Olazaba, Ramos - Humberto. Leave a comment

Writer Jeff Lemire

Penciler Humberto Ramos

Inker Victor Olazaba

Colorist Edgar Delgado

Letter VC’s Joe Caramagna

I had to add Kevin Wada’s variant cover to my Wishlist.

Amsterdam. Cerebra confirmed that this is where the Rasputins can find Nightcrawler. I like their fun banter, also the explanation of why Illyana never teleports people to the exact location (or makes a second teleport, once they know where they need to be). They see a puddle of blood and knock the door down.

Is that really Kurt’s tail on the ground!?! Can he grow another one of those? That’s a major physical change!

Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada. Storm and Iceman confront Old Man Logan. Bobby doesn’t waste any time asking about how Wolverine got so old. Before he will answer that question, he wants to know why these two knuckleheads are flying around in a Sentinel. Storm explains that Forge created Cerebra (inside a Sentinel, for some unexplained reason). Storm hints that the mutant race’s downsizing. Cerebra apparently can talk and has a personality, this could be interesting.

Old Man Logan explains that he was in a few places, before coming here – the only hint of Secret Wars 2015, I imagine we are going to get, for a while. We see flashbacks of dead Storm and Iceman, from Wolverine 70, that made me reread that issue. I was resisting the review for that issue, as I figured it would be the basis of the third Wolverine film but it is now time to review the issue. That’ll come in a few days.

Storm is wearing a classic 80s costume, which is what made me reread Wolverine 70, as I wasn’t sure if she was in that outfit. She’s in something like resembles a one piece black bathing suit, so Ramos got that right, from the very brief glimpse we see of Storm.

We get a pretty decent summary of the original Millar / McNiven Old Man Logan storyline – the villains rose up, took over and left the world a Wasteland. At least, the aspect of the series that I was interested in.

Iceman’s flippant “of course this involves time travel” is pretty funny. We have the Original Five X-Men, from the past, and now, an Old Man Logan, from the future. Are we heading towards another Battle of the Atom? Let’s hope not!

We see a dead Iceman, in a flashforward, who I couldn’t identify in issue 70 of Wolverine. Old Man Logan has never heard of the Terrigen Mist or M-Pox.

Old Man Logan turns down Storm’s offer for help. She states, in no uncertain terms, that Cyclops is dead. Which, is like solving a mystery with another giant mystery.

I completely get Old Man Logan not wanting to explain to these youngsters, why he doesn’t want to stand around them.

Brooklyn. Jean is dating this guy, Chris. She makes light about how Hank and Scott, didn’t work out. She goes as far as to say that kissing Hank was like kissing her brother. Which seems super awkward, as Bendis was setting up the whole Jean and Hank relationship in Uncanny X-Men 600. I suppose it is an easy way to show the passage of time, having the couple break up. Jean likes kissing Chris. They start walking out of the restaurant when Jean hears a psychic yell for help.

These three dumb flatscans are kicking this dude who looks like that Flower Dress gal from Agents of SHIELD, once she was exposed to the mists.

Jean yells at them to get away, but one of the jerks states that he is afraid of his little girl may get the M-Pox disease.

Chris makes the huge mistake of using the “mutie” term and Jean reveals that she is a mutant – in a big way. She knocks the three jerks to the ground and away some distance.

Chris is disgusted that he kissed her, he may get the disease now. In a very great twist, the mutant stands up, also freaked out, as he is an Inhuman and runs away scared. What an interesting take on an old plot. Also, a great way to show that one rather be an Inhuman than a mutant.

X-Haven. The Workshop. We get our first glimpse of X-Haven, at least, Forge’s workshop. He confirms to Illyana, that Nightcrawler should be right below them. He does warn that there are other mutant signatures.

Manhattan. Illyana sends Kurt’s tail to Forge, so that explains how that will be corrected.

In, what I hope continues to be a running gag, Colossus is dismayed as the sewer entrance is too small for him. The big Russian is starting to have size issues.

For once, an X-Man complains about being in the sewers! The smell and the water, must be gross to deal with.

They are attacked by green ghost dragon thingies.

X-Haven. Storm, Iceman and Cerebra return. Storm doesn’t like how Magik hasn’t returned yet. Bobby hints that where they are, it isn’t good for Magik to not be there, for long. Storm’s instincts really should have kicked in and they should have gone right to Manhattan and checked in on the siblings.

Bobby really is the comic relief that this title needs. He notices Kurt’s tail, another signed that clearly what is happening in Manhattan, isn’t ideal. Bobby freezes Kurt’s tail.

Forge checks in on Cerebra, whose feelings are hurt by Old Man Logan’s comment to her, to “zip it.” Forge is also told that there is a Logan, around, there is no time to explain further. So from Forge’s point of view, Storm failed two different recruiting agendas.

Magik can tell the dragons are not real. Colossus and her are doing well against the two mysterious villains, from the last issue.

We get a narration box sequence of Storm talking about how Xavier’s dream may be dead (again).

We see who the mysterious boss of the three sewer peeps . . . Mister Sinister! Who is willing to set aside his obsession with the Summers blood, to experiment with the Rasputin bloodline.

Am I excited to be reading another Sinister storyline? Not really but maybe this will be the time where I find him to be interesting.

I was thinking this may be the first time that Magik has seen Sinister but Gillen’s entire Uncanny run (the second volume) he had fought the Phoenix Five, so she definitely should have shared at least, one panel together. Though I am getting the sense memory of her being outside the castle, so she didn’t actually fight him. It is funny, that, the two of them had major storylines in Inferno, but didn’t crossover in that, er, crossover.

Sinister, the jerk that he is, throws Magik’s flippin’ head into a wall! Causing her to be knocked out.

X-Haven, not coincidentally,starts to shakes. This is, because . . . X-Haven is in Limbo, ya’ll! So in the eight months, Illyana removed Limbo from within herself and have placed the mutants there. Since Magik isn’t keeping the demons at bay, they start hording onto X-Haven.

Manitoba, Canada. Old Man Logan is trying to forget his woes, via drinking and supporting a small business. Jean starts chatting with him, telepathically.

She knows his secret, as of course she would read his mind – without his permission. So Lemire definitely has her character down – she is the worst.

Jean is in front of his trailer, and wants him – as it is cold outside. Old Man Logan is glad that she was already dead, as that meant he didn’t kill her. Our Wolverine, did end up killing our Jean, a couple times – during Morrison’s run, but that was knowing she would come right back from the dead.

A pretty great second issue!

Extraordinary X-Men 1

Posted by John Klein III on June 10, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2015, Caramagna - Joe, Delgado - Edgar, Extraordinary X-Men, Lemire - Jeff, Magik, Olazaba, Ramos - Humberto. 4 Comments

Writer Jeff Lemire

Penciler Humberto Ramos

Inker Victor Olazaba

Colorist Edgar Delgado

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover by Humberto Ramos & Edgar Delgado

The second series that I’m committed to buying (unless Magik ditches it) begins!

We skip eight months, since the end of Secret Wars 2015 9 (or Uncanny X-Men 600).

The issue opens with Storm talking about how she isn’t quite making it, as X-Men leader. She sees a vision of Xavier but (now gay) Iceman, doesn’t see him. Is this just artistic license, or is Storm going a tad crazy? Iceman is telling Storm that Magik is on another away message. This time, she is in New Delhi.

The villagers (like Nightcrawler’s origins in Giant Size X-Men, which this issue has a lot of similarities with) are about to pounce on a poor little girl. They believe she is (or could eventually be) affected with M-Pox, and get them sick.

Like a bad arse, Magik teleports in and takes control of the situation. Thanks to a translation spell, Magik can speak their language. I like her being even more skilled as a sorceress. The villagers want to try to kill her now.

We get a more covered up version of Magik’s outfit, Actually, I’m not sure that is true, it might just be a color scheme changed or something is only slightly modified but I like it.

Magik, as she does make for a scary entrance – has to defend herself but also try to sooth over the girl’s parents.

The girl’s name is Sapna, and she agrees to be taken to safety. Who would turn that offer down?

Magik gets shot at, and she quickly realizes how not armored, she is. One can’t show that much flesh and go into situations where bullets may fly.

Magik, heroically, teleports the family out of there.

Iceman tells Storm how the students are starting to feel fatigue. Storm needs them to keep pushing, as they are not out of the woods yet. Bobby hints that there is further bad news.

Magik and family teleports back, Storm can tell that she is wounded. Illyana puts on a brave face, and says it is only a flesh wound. Which, from my experience, is always said to cover up, a more serious injury.

Magik is the first, in the comic, to state that the Inhumans’ Terrigen Mist, is messing with the mutant race.

These two pages (the above one and the one before that) look like two different artist did it. Would that be something, within, Olazaba or Delgado’s control?

Magik gets to tell Storm (and us) how bad the front line is. The military is now getting involved in trying to stomp out the mutants. Mutants are now being actively, outlawed. Magik hints that Cyclops did something, that made things worst. Which clearly isn’t a reference to Uncanny X-Men 600, as all he did was have a bunch of mutants stand around in America’s capital, doing nothing.

Glob Herman, is the only student that I can recognize, in the backgrounds.

Iceman gives me the impression that the X-Men may be down to these three. Storm, running the school. Iceman running around, doing whatever Storm needs. Illayan doing search and rescue, as well as protection.

So I take it, that the X-Men have been licking their wounds, for eight months.

Hey, Anole is there too!

Storm announces, in classic Storm style – that the war for survival has begun!

Empire State University. Manhattan. Jean Grey is trying to live a normal life, which of course, is not allowed! The X-Men can never just let go of someone, they will come and get you! After class, she has a midterm due next Friday, she is invited to hang out with some classmates but she turns them down. So, best case scenario, she may have had one full course load, for one semester – so four classes, five if she got a good adviser, who understood her situation.

It is raining but then it stops and Jean notices Storm. Do the X-Men really need Jean, or do they just need to account for her? Jean tries to leave, but since Iceman needs to still settle a score, blocks her path, with a wall of ice.

Jean left, also do to whatever Cyclops did. Jean, for once, gets permission to read Storm’s mind. Worldwide, mutants are being hunted. The Terrigen Mists, is killing mutants. Mutations, to make things worst, have stopped. There have not been any additional mutants discovered. Storm explains it further, mutants are sterile.

Lake Baikal, Russia. Formerly the Ust-Ordyneski Collective Farm. Did Colossus buy his family’s home? Or did he inherit it after X-Men 18, when Omega Red killed his parents. A bear tries to intimate Colossus but he doesn’t bow down to the beast.

Magik, coming to her brother (and her family home) just like Xavier did, in Giant Size X-Men 1. Magik likes that her brother, has grown a beard. It is a good look. If my wife would let me grow a beard, I totally would.

I guess Colossus and Domino are not dating, what happened there? Though, I do like that Colossus’ default mode, is to go back to farming.

Look how big Colossus’ smile is there! So big!

Colossus is the first, in the issue, to name – X-Haven. The secret location, of where mutants are going. Colossus doesn’t feel like he should be involved, he brawls and does humanitarian tasks. He must be forgetting the Lovelorn storyline of Uncanny X-Men (504 – 507), wherein he saves some Russian mutant prostitutes. Or maybe they were just Russian mutants, who were about to be forced into prostitution? I’m not sure, it had Emma so that was pretty good. Colossus’ Katya tattoo, has magically disappeared. In the world of the Marvel Universe, tattoo removal, must be super easy.

Colossus, there is a lot of world building in this issue, also reveals that Beast is working with the Inhumans, that lousy race traitor! Illyana explains to her brother that they are all sterile now. There will never be another new mutant.

These pages are amazing, like Ramos can’t tame all of his anime influence, but he is trying a new style and I’m totally digging it.

Great flashback (with new material) of Colossus, as a boy, first experiencing his powers. His father shunned him and made him sleep in the barn. Which is crazy aggressive and sad, but it was the 70s, a completely different time. I have never imagine him as a scrawny little boy. I’m pretty sure this information doesn’t contradict anything but it also doesn’t change anything, like it makes sense that he wouldn’t bring this up before. When would he have?

Do you think it is hard for people to talk to Illyana? Like, you try to maintain eye contact but then your eyes keep noticing those head garb thingies. What is keeping those in there? Have we seen her remove those? Anyone know a cosplayer who has dressed in Magik’s current attire (or previous one).

Illyana tries to goad her brother into rejoining the cause, by calling him a coward. Illyana teases the information, that they are trying to prove the world wrong. Cyclops had people thinking mutants are murderers but Illyana wants to prove that they are warriors.

Illyana attempts to attack Colossus, with her soulsword.

Colossus catches the sword, and metals up. Now that he is primed, they are going to go after Nightcrawler.

Nightcrawler is dodging attacks from would-be Asgardians, or some mystical folks. They are quoting the Bible, and Kurt gets in on the action. I’m sure answers will come next issue, and it is good for there to be additional mysteries with the title, but I feel like this one has a lot going for it, already, with it being the clear flagship title.

The big guy, with horns, is called Aries. A mummy fellow and a broad. The broad’s name is, Azimuth, as she can unhook her jaw, like a snake. There is also, a second lady. The mummy guy’s name is Coda. Nightcrawler was trying to escape.

Jean is pretty sad, about all of this. Beast is working with the Inhumans, to try to reverse what is happening. Storm wants Jean, as she is a marquee name. I do like how Jean is pretty up front about her reasons, she is going to die and not just once or twice maybe even not thrice times!

Storm understands and gives Jean a Cerebro. Jean asks the question, where is X-Haven, but since she doesn’t want to join the cause, she doesn’t get to know. Another mystery! I read that over in Uncanny Avengers, volume three, we see what is happening to mutants and maybe a peak at X-Haven, I’m not sure. I don’t have much interest in that title, at this moment. I do like Human Torch being an Avenger, for the first time, in fifty years. But Johnny Storm is also working with the Inhumans, and dating Medusa, so that isn’t cool. Plus, he dated Crystal, her cousin, so that is super awkward. Or is that old fashion of me?

After, whatever happened to Cyclops, Jean did a scan of who else was out there and found someone that Storm may want to check out.

So whatever happened to Cyclops, lots of people were able to see it and not have to be present – Is what I’m imagining.

That person that Storm and Iceman investigate? Old Man Logan! Also, they travel by giant Sentinel.

That is how the issue ends. I can’t imagine a better first issue to launch the X-Men, in this All New All Different Marvel age we are in now. I do want to know what happens next!

Deadpool Corps : Rank and Foul

Posted by John Klein III on February 6, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Biggs, Byrd, Carter - Madison, Christiansen, Deadpool Corps, Delgado - Edgar, Fichera, Gagnon - Mike, Garcia - Kevin, Handbook, Hoskin, London, McQuaid, Moreels, O'Sullivan - Mike, Ramos - Humberto, Raymond, Rougemont - Jacob, Vandal, Wiltfong. Leave a comment

Head Writer / Coordinator Jeff Christiansen

Writing / Coordination Assistants Mike O’Sullivan, Markus Raymond & Mike Fichera

Writers Michael Hoskin, Ronald Byrd, Mike O’Sullivan, Jacob Rougemont, Madison Carter, Markus Raymond, Kevin Garcia, Stuart Vandal, Chris Biggs, Rob London, Sean McQuaid, David Wiltfong, Eric J. Moreels and Mike Gagnon

Cover Artists Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgado

Cover Dated May 2010

I own this for the Kitty Pryde references in two spotlights.

Doctor Bong gets two pages, that reference Deadpool Volume One Issue 27. Deadpool’s entry references this adventure, but only that he fought Wolverine at Doctor Bong’s suggestion.

Weasel’s profile sneaks in there next to Zero. Zero’s Kitty Pryde reference is from Excalibur 77 – 80.

Other entries of note –

Due to Deadpool’s time with the Great Lakes Avengers / X-Men / Champions / Initiative (and formerly, Lightning Rods) many of the members make the handbook! Big Bertha, Dinah Soar (probably my favorite team member, I love the pun of her name), Flatman, Grasshopper (who had a very brief stay as a member and a living person) and Mr. Immortal, their leader.

Blind Al

Bob, Agent of Hydra

GW Bridge, who has a first image of him being very old and overweight, when did that happened?

Zoe Culloden from the Joe Kelly run, and of LL&L.

Deadpool’s own profile is five pages – which makes sense.

Domino gets two pages

Madcap gets two pages, a character I made a reference to that I didn’t know too much about. Still not seeing why he was worth bringing back.

Ilaney Brukner

Montomery, his life ends up being okay

Mercedes Wilson

Not a bad handbook, at all – such a great resource.

Guardians Team-Up 5

Posted by John Klein III on December 5, 2015

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2015, Delgado - Edgar, Duarte - Gustavo, Guardians Team-Up, Lanning, Lockheed, Pet Avengers, Petit - Cory, Ramos - Humberto, Schmidt - Andy. Leave a comment

Writers Andy Lanning & Andy Schmidt

Artist Gustavo Duarte

Colorist Marcelo Maiolo

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Artists Humberto Ramos & Edgar Delgado

The cover is the only place that Lockheed can be found!

The Pet Avengers are – Lockjaw, Zabu, Furball, Ms. Lion, Redwing and Throg! No mention of Lockheed, which is unbelievable! Now I have joked in the past about being one of those X-Men conspiracy theorists but now that Lockheed isn’t considered a member of the team, I think there is something going on with the X-Office!

The Pet Avengers don’t have the Mind Gem, any longer, so they don’t sync up their minds with Rocket or Cosmo, so we don’t hear anything from the non-English speaking members, so we don’t get any reference to them, not talking about Lockheed.

This is a real shame that Lockheed has been kicked off the team. All due to editorial.

Issue opens with Rocket and Cosmo, on monitor duty. Cosmo, to pass the time, starts talking about other animal heroes. Twooatu, the Cosmic Owl. Graavalian Wormatoid.

Starting the running subplot of the issue, Rocket just wants to drink his very illegal beer. Cosmo keeps it away from him. Rocket gives chase and sees that Cosmo teleported off the spaceship so Rocket does the same. I guess at some point, Cosmo joined the Guardians of the Galaxy, or at least, stays with them on their ship.

Cosmo speaks with this interesting accent but it is hard to read sometimes – essentially, anything that ends with -ing ends with -ink. Listenink / shiftink / snoozink – maybe not hard to read but it makes me notice the spelling, thus takes me out of the story.

Somewhere on Earth . . . Rocket catches Cosmo playing poker with the Pet Avengers! Lockjaw / Zabu / Ms. Lion / Throg / Redwing / Hairball. Rocket is mostly upset that Cosmo never told him that the dog knew how to play poker. They could have been playing poker this entire time!

All of a sudden, the wall busts down. We get the Vulture Von Doom and the Pets of Evil Masters! I imagine the name is a take off of the first two minis being titled “Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers” which I always thought was a silly title, just call it “Pet Avengers.”

Good thing we are given who their masters are, as I don’t recognize any of them.

Vulture Von Doom – Doctor Doom
Thori – Loki’s hellhound
Falconia – Lady Falcona’s Familiar (who?)
Mikhol – One of the Red Ghost’s Super Apes – who I totally called as being a member of the team
Tiger Wild – Doctor Doom’s Attack Tiger
Cuddles – Princess Python’s Killer Snake – of Circus of Crime fame – I haven’t heard anything with them in a while
Bitey McSpidey-Bite – Mutant Radioactive Spider – the same spider that bit Peter Parker and Silk – who I also thought was dead.

The Pets of Evil Masters take out the Pet Avengers, rather easily and take off with Lockjaw. Rocket now has to go save them, begrudgingly.

Cosmo can read minds, including animal minds, so that explains how he can play poker with the Pet Avengers. I’m not sure why Cosmo doesn’t link all of their minds.

Latveria. Castle Doom. Vulture Von Doom is evil-monologueingm. eviloguing? He is a vulture who has been hiding in the shadows of the castle. So he isn’t like a secret pet that Doom has been keeping, this entire time.

Editor, Xander the Xandarian Historian, informs us that Vulture Von Doom’s plan references the original Pet Avengers miniseries. He is planning on absorbing the cosmic energy that the Pet Avengers were exposed to, when they had the Infinity Gems as he is planning to create his own cosmic cube.

Rocket and the Pet Avengers get to the castle, rather easily. Rocket still only wants his beer back. The beer has been shaken so Rocket just shoots it and the cans explode. Everything is covered in sticky beer. With this sequence of events, the Pet Avengers take out the Masters of Evil Pets, quickly. It was the element of surprised that was their undoing last time.

Rocket gives the Pet Avengers a back handed compliment. He takes off Vulture Von Doom’s helmet and he freaks out as he believes he is hideous. Rocket informs him that all vultures look that way.

You decide –

I still say turkeys are the more unattractive bird!

Some off model Doombots – actually, Servo Guards – arrive to clean up and take the vulture away. Doom is aware of the vulture and apparently, he gets up to these silly schemes in the past.

Sector QXM78-67EMX. Pleiades Quadrant. Planet Klaatu. Grott, the Man-Slayer has come back to this universe, from somewhere where he didn’t have a body. He will have his revenge. Unfortunately, for him, Rocket, Cosmo and the Pet Avengers are ready for him.

I can only imagine these two pages were added so that Lanning & Schmidt could work in a “I am Grott” gag and Rocket says he already knows a guy with that shtick. I imagine “Grott” and “Groot” sound alike, right? It isn’t just the spelling of their names.

Issue ends with Lockjaw teleporting and giving Rocket a fresh case of his beer. So the Pet Avengers are not that bad, now.

Not a bad story, I just wish Lockheed was involved or at least, mentioned.

	Luke Petersen on Bounce Patrol
	John Klein III on Astonishing X-Men 15
	MoxieMk5 on Astonishing X-Men 15
	Moxiemk5 on SDCC : New Mutants @ Home
	John Klein III on Excalibur 39

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Deadpool Corps : Rank and Foul

Guardians Team-Up 5

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