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Uncanny X-Men 472

Posted by John Klein III on August 10, 2020

Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: Bachalo, Bedard, Caramagna - Joe, Claremont, comicbookdb, Dr Maureen Lyszinski, Fabela - Antonio, First Forsaken, Irwin, Townsend, Uncanny. Leave a comment

By Chris Claremont & Chris Bachalo

Dialogue Tony Bedard

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

Colors Studio F’s Antonio Fabela

Lettering VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover Dated June 2006

The First Forsaken, Part One of Three

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

X-Men Regenesis

Posted by John Klein III on November 28, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Bachalo, Gillen, Regenesis, Tan - Billy, Townsend. Leave a comment

Writer Kieron Gillen

Artist Billy Tan

Colorist Andres Mossa

Letterer Rob Steen

Cover Dated December 2011

Cover by Chris Bachalo and Tim Townsend

The issue that directly follows the end of Schism. Who goes with Cyclops? Who went with Wolverine?

At this point, I was already super turn as the covers of the next issues were already being teased. I already knew that Kitty and Lockheed were joining Wolverine at the Jean Grey School in the pages of Wolverine and the X-Men. I also knew that Magik was joining Cyclops’ team in Uncanny X-Men.

It was all just a fancy way of bringing back the Gold Team / Blue Team that people just love to reference of the 90s.

Besides Kitty, I don’t believe there are that many others who have switched sides. Which is pretty impressive after three years.

Nick Bradshaw did the covers for the Gold Side and Dale Keown did the Blue Side. Shame those are all variant covers.

This is also known as the Caveman issue as that’s how the story is told. There is the conversations and then we see people as cavemen, to show how primal the story is, perhaps?

Cavepeople : Cyclops and Wolverine are circling each other around a fire.

Utopia, island home of the X-Men. Wolverine goes to Iceman first. Bobby is honored by that.

Next, Psylocke and Wolverine have a mental conversation, as they practice fight. She will remain with him in X-Force but isn’t following him to the East Coast. Which must be awkward, but I have no clue where X-Force met up at. I want to say they met in a secret cave base.

Cyclops enters the room and offers Psylocke to lead his Security Team. She starts talking about being a spy for him, he doesn’t understand why she is talking about that. She is meant to be the first line of defense, not really a secret mission. Of course, we know that her thought process is that she’s going to end up telling Wolverine some hot Utopian gossip.

It is important to remember that, at this time, Colossus has the power of the Juggernaut, on top of his power. It is driving him a tad mad. He doesn’t feel like he should be around children.

Colossus will stay on Utopia, where his sister is still being held as a prisoner / on probation.

I like how Gillen sets up the Kitty / Iceman relationship. Jason Aaron must have asked him to subtly hint at that.

Kitty is heading to the school to be the Headmistress. I also like how we don’t have to see the scene of Wolverine asking her to join him.

Beast, maybe at Agent Brand’s apartment?, gets an email. While Brand is telling him to come back to bed, she wants more loving. I really miss Brand.

Beast makes two calls. First to Wolverine accepting a position and the second to Cyclops which is essentially him continually what he has been doing to Scott for the past four years – just being a jerk.

Beast finally makes it back to Brand. He updates her about his new position. She asks if this means he isn’t going to whine about Cyclops, as much. He tells her that it will probably be the opposite. I imagine listening to complaints about Cyclops, gets old real fast.

Magneto and Rogue. There is no question, Magneto is staying on Utopia as Rogue debated going to the school, but that is where she is going.

I really like the trust Gillen has with Tan to . . . actually, is it Steen’s decision? There are two silent panels, after Rogue asks if Magneto will consider leaving Utopia, where the two of them just burst out in laughter. There are no ha ha has or heh heh hehs or even a good ol’ fashion har har har. I like that we don’t have to see the laughter, they are clearly laughing. Plus, do we really want to see how Magneto’s laugh looks like? I bet its more of a, ho ho ho, situation.

Wolverine, being the busy guy that he is, has made a lunch appointment with Havok and Polaris, who just got back (along with Rachel) from space where Ed Brubaker left them. The two of them don’t really want to pick a side, they just got back. Wolverine tips them to X-Factor Investigations, which is Madrox’s team. Which seems super awkward, to suggest they go join a third person’s group. Just because Havok and Polaris have X-Factor experience but no real detective experience.

Cut to Generation Hope. Hope doesn’t want to lose Oya. Oya had to kill people to protect Utopia. She’s the entire reason Wolverine wants to make students and not soldiers.

Transonic puts a gun to Hope’s head. Hope begins telling her about her father, Cable – not caring about the gun, at all.

Afterwards, Hope accepts the decision to lose Oya.

Outside, Husk is ending a conversation with her brother, Cannonball. Both of them are going to the school. Her powers are flaky and he still hasn’t come around after the events of Fall and Rise of the New Mutants.

Dani Moonstar walks up to Sam as Husk walks away. She is about to sit down where Husk was sitting but Sam stops her. Husk is losing control over her powers and is literally leaving flakes where ever she goes or sits.

Sam tells Dani that both Guthries are heading out East (not an expression) and this surprises Dani. Dani doesn’t want to go back to school, there are a bunch of butts that still need to be kicked. She kisses him and walks off.

Cyclops is trying to recruit Dazzler. Dazzler makes a great point about how she doesn’t really feel like a solider but she doesn’t really feel like a teacher either. Which is a great point of how silly this is. Are those really the only options for X-Men, in this scenario. They could just go off on their own and be completely forgotten about in a year. Soldiers or Teachers? Frontlines or a Classroom? It just begs for a third choice.

What Cyclops would like, as Dazzler is still planning to live in San Francisco, is to have a team that just protects their adopted home. So his plan is to lead the Global Team. Have Psylocke protect the island nation and have Dazzler on shore, protecting the city proper. Dazzler’s team will be more street and with a younger stand, Dazzler and the X-Kids, a title I would have considered buying over X-Treme X-Men Volume Two.

Cyclops really should have came up with a better name than the one he did. He’s not the most creative fella.

Meanwhile, in an awkward scene, a bunch of students are talking. Seems like they are divided, to go off and learn or to stay and live. Sure they have to get in fights from time to time but really, is Cyclops going to make any of them main team members? No, they will be off with Dazzler trying to be stars. Might as well stay.

If it was up to me, I would be patiently waiting to see which X-Men made up the staff and then make my decision. I would be a total fanboy student.

The two squads are lead by Prodigy and Hellion. Prodigy is for staying with Utopia, along with Pixie, Surge, Armor, Crosta, Primal and Zero. Pixie will later go to the School. Hellion has behind him – Anole, Mercury, Dust, Rockslide, Blindfold, Bling!, Match, Graymalkin, Trance, Indra and Glob Herman. I know Glob goes to the school and eventually heads to the Hellfire Academy. I’m pretty sure all of them eventually make it to be background characters of the Jean Grey School. (thanks to UncannyXMen.net for knowing which students are which – I know a few of them but I’m never a hundred percent sure. Mostly, I recognize their faces but I’m suppose to really remember Indra?)

Hellion makes a great point, by lifting a bat with his metal hands (he lost his real ones during Second Coming, the same event where Karma lost her leg. He wouldn’t have lost his hands if he was at a school. Prodigy counters that argument with, even if you are at a school, the world won’t let you just learn.

Then we get a fun two page spread of various characters expressing where they are going. I’ve included the second one for obvious reasons.

Namor is staying

Rachel is going, as she just came back from space and didn’t even know they left the school. Which is very amazing and telling of how long they were just left in space for. Shame Nightcrawler was too popular to stay in space as he would still be alive right now.

Danger is staying, her job is to look over the prisoners of the X-Brig, so she has to stay where the prisoners are. Plus, she was a prisoner of the Xavier School for decades, why would she even want to go back there?

Quentin Quire wants to stay but is being carted off to the school. Where Marvel will keep trying to make him happen but he will never be streets ahead.

Doctor Nemesis is staying and he’s not sure why he’s even being asked as he’s busy. I love his “science stalks the night” oh if only he wasn’t given over to Cable and the X-Force after AvX.

X23 states, is there any other choice? She ends up going to the Avengers Academy (everyone was starting schools back then, the Fantastic Four even had the Future Foundation).

Magik makes an appearance! She’s staying but because she’s a prisoner. But even if she wasn’t, she would probably still stay.

Martha Johannson continues to be voiceless. It isn’t easy being a brain in a box.

The Cuckoos were split, or at least, Phoebe and Irma were. Celeste has to make the deciding vote. It was probably Irma who wanted to go, as she’s always trying to break away. Also, Celeste was the known Cuckoo at this time, so it makes sense to have her be the face of the group.

Frenzy is leaving as she can’t have a relationship with Cyclops as Emma is still around, so she heads East. This was Post-Age of X.

Gambit has gotten into all the trouble he could on the West Coast, so he’s willing to go to the East Coast now. Which is silly as he was based on the East Coast for years, and barely has gotten comfortable in San Francisco. Unless he heard that Rogue was leaving and Magneto wasn’t, so he might as well stay wherever Rogue is.

Avalanche, poor Avalanche, decides to stay as his bar is in San Francisco. If only he left, he would not have been around to have Red Skull take out his brain and use his body to commit murders and mass destruction.

Toad really wants to leave, Wolverine doesn’t want him. Toad is even willing to be a janitor, which gives Wolverine pause. Oh Toad, if only you had a third choice as well.

Scott comes to Storm and she quickly tells him to not embarrass himself. Storm’s upset over Cyclops’ decision to have X-Force be a hit squad. I’m sure she didn’t give Wolverine any grief about this once she came around to joining the school.

Cyclops tells her that he needs her. Storm corrects him, that he only wants her power.

Poor Scott has to make an awesome but insulting observation. He’s align himself with Magneto, Namor, Danger, Doctor Nemesis, Emma, even Colossus and his sister – not the traditional good guy faces people assoriate the X-Men with. In fact, almost all of them are known for being villains. Colossus is heading that way and Magik was always on that fun line of being a bad girl surrounded by good teenagers.

He wants, no needs Storm to be on his side to balance that. There is an awesome image from Gillen’s first issue of Uncanny X-Men Volume Two, where Storm asks who hasn’t been known to be a villain. Cyclops raises his hands and Storm asks if he should be. Emma states that Scott is working on his villain turn. At the time, it was awesome but now I feel like Marvel has been trying to cast him in the role for a while.

I forgot that Hope raises her hand as well, so cute!

I also like how casual the others are about not having their hands raised. There is no shame in that room. Nor should there be.

I can completely understand Cyclops’ side of the issue. Especially after he mentions who Wolverine was able to get on his side – Beast, Kitty and Iceman. I mean, Beast and Iceman are pretty lousy but Kitty is pretty much a steal for whichever side. Since, when Kitty joins Cyclops’ side, that smirk on his face, so awesome.

Cyclops tells Storm that Wolverine doesn’t need her, Cyclops needs her. Such a real and honest moment.

Cyclops finally gets around to talking to Emma. Emma is insulted that he just took for granted that she was going to join him. She loves teaching, she would be a perfect fit over at the new school. Cyclops tries to tell her that they teach at the island. Emma corrects him that they mostly train here.

Cyclops gets a whiff of Emma maybe leaving him and the island and starts preparing to grovel. She can tell that’s where he is heading and tells him to stop.

Emma, for some fans out there I suppose, reveals that Warren is gone and so Utopia needs some funding. She sold most of her holdings, so she can fund their efforts for quite some time. She just hopes that they don’t crash too many X-Jets. Some fans worry about where all the money comes from. I mean, after the X-Mansion was destroyed the third time, how rich could Xavier really be after those rebuilds?

Scott owes Emna many back rubs.

So the sides are shown as the cavefolk.

I sort of wish that the two sides were switched so it was Wolverine’s side coming toward us, the reader.

So the two sides are –

Cyclops’ Side

Colossus / Hope Summers / Madison Jeffries / Namor / Dazzler / Magik / Storm / Domino / Magma / Emma Frost / Warpath / Sunspot / Magneto / Dr. Nemesis / X-Man / Psylocke / Cypher / Dani Moonstar

Wolverine’s Side

Gambit / Toad / Iceman / Cannonball / Kitty Pryde / Chamber / Beast / Husk / Rachel Summers / Dust

Not sure how they picked the order to list them.

Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 6

Posted by John Klein III on September 19, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Aaron, Bachalo, Doctor Strange, Faucher - Wayne, Irwin, Last Days of Magic, Livesay - John, Magik, Mendoza - Jaime, Olazaba, Petit - Cory, Tartaglia - Java, Townsend, Vey - Al. Leave a comment

Writer Jason Aaron

Pencils Chris Bachalo

Colors Chris Bachalo with Java Tartaglia

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

Letters VC’s Cory Petit

Last Days of Magic, Chapter One

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Poor Magik is tied to a pyre!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 7

Posted by John Klein III on September 5, 2016

Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: 2016, Aaron, Bachalo, comicbookdb, Doctor Strange, Irwin, Last Days of Magic, Livesay - John, Magik, Mendoza - Jaime, Olazaba, Petit - Cory, Townsend, Vey - Al. Leave a comment

Writer Jason Aaron

Pencils & Colors Chris Bachalo

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

Letters Cory Petit

Last Days of Magic, Part Two

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Issue ends with Monako burning on the stake.

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

Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 4

Posted by John Klein III on July 12, 2016

Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: 2016, Aaron, Bachalo, Doctor Strange, Faucher - Wayne, Irwin, Livesay - John, Magik, Marvel Comics Database, Mendoza - Jaime, Olazaba, Petit - Cory, Townsend, Vey - Al. Leave a comment

Writer Jason Aaron

Pencils & Colors Chris Bachalo

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

Letters VC’s Cory Petit

My first comic of 2016!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wong calls the bar, there has been another murder.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

. . .

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

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

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

Doctor Strange Volume Four Issue 4

One down, nine more to go!

Uncanny X-Men 600

Posted by John Klein III on June 6, 2016

Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: 2015, Anka, Asrar, Bachalo, Bendis, Bleeding Cool, Caramagna - Joe, Gracia - Marte, Immonen - Stuart, Irving, Irwin, Keith - Jason, Marquez, Pichelli, Townsend, Uncanny, Von Grawbadger. Leave a comment

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Art Sara Pichelli, Mahmud Asrar, Stuart Immonen, Kris Anka, Chris Bachalo, David Marquez, Frazer Irving

Inks Wade von Grawbadger, Tim Townsend, Mark Irwin

Color Art Marte Gracia, Jason Keith, Chris Bachalo, Frazer Irving

Cover Art Chris Bachalo

Lettering & Production VC’s Joe Caramagna

Six months after it was suppose to come out, we get Bendis’ final issue of Uncanny X-Men! Though I can’t go on, too much, as this came out in November and I’m now reviewing this in February!

Last time in Uncanny X-Men – Cyclops tried to have a mutant revolution and it went nowhere, after one campus visit. Colossus was mad at his younger sister, as she could have undid Juggolosuss, at any time, but let him keep dmaning himself. Also, Teen Jean Grey forced Teen Iceman to admit to being “full gay.”

Jean Grey School. Storm has asked Beast to come to the cafeteria.

Note Kitty’s sweet space outfit, it will chance from time to time, even though it shouldn’t.

Look how sad or determined people look in this room. Doop doesn’t want to be there.

Iceman announces, like an idiot, that he didn’t want to do this. Kitty, regretting ever making out with the guy, gets the show back on track.

Beast picks up, immediately, that this is an intervention. Which I like how the X-Men finally got around to pointing out to Beast, how off the tracks, he has been. If only Beast had drank, smoked or whatever he means by dating (do people get interventions for dating?) those people can rationalize.

Instead, he has decided to break the laws of – physics, space-time continuum and genetics. One is bad, but one has to be triple threat, to be this ridiculous.

I wish I could tell who did these pages. I can’t distinguish Pichelli or Marquez’s art, for whatever reason. There are seven artists (minus inkers and colorists) but I can tell who the five artists are. Does anyone know which pages were which? I imagine I’m just not telling when they switched, during the intervention.

Beast, only a minute into this, has decided that this is really . . . a trial!

20 Minutes Ago. These pages, are done by Kris Anka.

Colossus, in classic Claremont fashion, destroys a tree! Kitty teases him about it, so that’s pretty great. Also, Kitty is in her classic X-Men outfit.

What does Colossus have on his butt!?!

These two do talk, like they have known each other for years. Like they have gone through some shit together – which they totally have.

Colossus turns the conversation to Kitty’s engagement. She’s surprised the news has made it back to Earth. Which I imagine, it would has Teen Angel came back with a brand new look. Kitty’s engagement would have to be mentioned, as one of the three highlights of Black Vortex.

Kitty hints that Illyana is here to talk to her brother, so he calls her out.

I like how awkward the Rasputin siblings are, it has been too long since they have talked. Illyana, showing some real vulnerability, admits that she has been training with Doctor Strange.

The faces that Colossus and Kitty make, what is that look? Surprised, mixed with disgust? They look, clearly taken back by the revelation.

It is astonishing that Xavier didn’t try to hook Illyana with Doctor Strange or Agatha Harkness, or anyone who is magically inclined. I guess, as there isn’t that many mutants who also use magic, he didn’t know who to reach out too. It isn’t like Amanda Sefton was an expert in the field – at that time. I’m pretty sure Scarlet Witch was still mostly mutant hex powers than sorcery

Colossus tells her to stop.

Bendis really excels with the whole, how people read a comic. As this is a great use of a page flip.

Colossus gives his little snowflake a much deserve hug! Look how happy Magik is!

Kitty announces that Storm is summoning them, and Magik teleports them away. So when did Kitty change outfits? This will happen, one more time.

Illyana joke that Colossus should make a move and stop the wedding, but he’s cool. Is he still dating Domino? I hope he is.

Back at the trial! Storm hints that people have approached Beast about these issues, but he ignores them and keeps on trucking. It was this or have SHIELD arrest him, which I’m sure SHIELD isn’t in the game of arresting Avengers – not with Steve Rogers running the place.

Beast keeps going on about Scott Summers.

Emma steps in, which is smart to have Storm, Emma and Kitty being the ones to do most of the talking. He relates to those three on different levels. Emma likes how this situation should embarrass and shame Beast, maybe the last tactic, will be the one that works.

Beast tries to explain himself. His ideas are so advanced, that he can’t explain himself – which is a bunch of shit. He knew no one would clear his decision to mess up the time stream and bring the Original Five X-Men to the present, so he just goes ahead and does it.

The Icemans (Icemen?) start saying the same thing, at the same time.

Which transitions us to Mahmud Asrar pages. The pages that deal with Teen Bobby talking to his present older self – which Teen Jean, in tow. Iceman makes short work of Cyclops’ new students, they didn’t really get much fighting experience.

Teen Bobby comes out to Iceman (that’s how I’m going to distinguish them). Teen Bobby asks if Iceman is gay too. I do like how Teen Bobby’s motivation to coming out to his older self, is that he doesn’t want to live in the closet, but he realizes how complicated that would make things, for his older self.

Iceman, without missing a beat, tells Jean that this is why no one likes her. Which is completely true! Teen Bobby tries to defend her, saying that people like her too much. Which I imagine is hard to prove. Who would like Teen Jean Grey? She makes poor decision, after poor decision.

Iceman doesn’t understand how his younger self is more put together than he is. Iceman tries to explain he decisions. He was persecuted for being a mutant and an X-Man, he wanted a part of his life that he could just live like a normal person. So he kept himself busy, too busy, to be gay. I guess I can understand that, but it does seem like he went out of his way to get some beards. He dated Opal for like six years! But that does happen.

Irritatingly, Teen Bobby asks Iceman what he is thinking. Instead of giving him a second to answer, Jean goes ahead and reveals what Iceman is thinking – as that worked out so well, before. If he isn’t being selfish to wanting to commit energy into making himself happy, instead of being an X-Man. Which makes sense, as one of the Original Five, he has seen how – once you are an X-Man, that’s pretty much all you are. If you try to do a side project, it will eventually bring you back to the team.

To end on a light note, Teen Bobby asks if Iceman finds Angel cute, which he does. Which is super weird, as the Angel he knows, has gone through the frying pan! I’m sure he hasn’t thought he was cute, since his original Archangel days.

Iceman wants to hug Jean but she doesn’t like how the code makes her front parts. oh Jean, you are the worst. So she gives him a mental hug, which feels nice – apparently. They are summoned to Storm.

Back at the Trial. Storm keeps coming at him. Out of nowhere, he was going to bring up that she married Black Panther, as if that has anything to do with this. Classic deflection! Plus, her decision affected, like no one. Even the people in Wakanda just saw it as an opportunity to have a party and then things were back to normal. Well, besides, Doomwar but that would have happened if Storm wasn’t there.

Beast doesn’t want to be blamed for Future Beast’s issues (from Battle of the Atom and that sequel story), as he also tampered with time and furthering his mutation. He gave himself goat legs, that have only worked for Illyana!

Dazzler, wanting to get involved, points out that Dark Beast tried to kill them, in the X-Men versus SHIELD arc. Which I had forgotten about, already. Probably as that reveal, was essentially “insert any villain” here.

Kitty just wants to be in the conversation, Beast can’t just keep doing whatever.

The New Xavier School. Location Sercret. (Still?) 40 Minutes Ago. (as they have to account for the Icemans segment). These pages are brought to us by Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger and Marte Gracia. Also, Joe Caramagna, but he does all of the lettering and production, for this extra sized issue.

The All New X-Men, including Cosmic Upgrade Angel and X23 (pre-All New Wolverine) are relaxing on the grass. Which last time they tried this, Bobby tried to comment on how attractive Illyana was and Jean told him how full gay he was and determined how he should categorize himself.

Jean wants a break, from being an X-Man. Cyclops got to have his own adventure, and she wants to see how she should define herself. Which is super ironic. Jean wants to train more, and fight less – which makes sense. Angel agrees, he wouldn’t mind some off time. He just wants to date X23, some more – I bet! Bobby wants some of Angel’s money, which I’m pretty sure NuAngel, has squandered all of that money, as he didn’t know how to spend it. Where is that guy, these days?

Hank walks away, realizing that he broke up the X-Men. Jean confronts him and FINALLY has the conversation they should have had, since Battle of the Atom, when the two kissed! Or, in that event, he didn’t want to run away with her, so she took Scott, instead. Hank is worried, about how much they have changed, in only a few months.

Jean has been reading Hank’s mind, she knows that he has been waiting for this moment and now, she is ready for it. Jean and Hank made out and in full view of Scott, who isn’t happy! Did Scott have a space honey? I thought I read somehow that he did meet a space pirate princess, or some such title.

I’m glad these little segments exist, as this non-trial would be hard to read, otherwise.

Back at the trial. Storm tells Beast that she loves him but he tells her that this isn’t love. Which is classic intervention! From what I imagine. Kitty and Illyana both tell him, that this is love. I like to think that Illyana saying it, is what makes him go quiet.

Beast turns to Young Hank, and asks how he is just standing there. Hank doesn’t like it, the Original Five X-Men were brought here, based on a lie. There was no mutant genocide. Beast tries to say that there would have been, but he stopped it by bringing the Original Five X-Men to the present. Which seems silly.

Beast goes on about Scott Summers, again.

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

Kitty volunteers to follow Beast but Benjamin gets paged. Cerebro has picked up a unique signature, which seems weird as who it is, shouldn’t be a new detection. Unless it got a new setting or was doing a search for him, but we don’t get any additional information on that front.

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

So Cyclops is in Washington DC! Also there, Kitty, back in her classic X-Men costume. What is she doing!?!

Cyclops makes a point of saying that the X-Men are the last mutants to arrive. He has gathered all of these mutants, to one location. I’m not sure he forced Mystique or Sabretooth, to be there or any of the other villains.

Look how cute Doop is!

Oh, these pages are brought to us by Chris Bachalo, Tim Townsend and Mark Irwin. I imagine Jason Keith, like Caramagna, colors the rest of the issue – outside of Immonen, Bachalo and Irving’s part (which is the last pages).

Cyclops has to explain, that he misused the word – revolution – or that he simply failed at having a unified vision.

Cyclops has clearly lost it, as he states how Washington DC is the heart f everything democratic and good. Maybe democratic, but good? That seems silly.

The real revolution is that all the mutants can be in one location and not be fighting. Just then, Magneto arrives and people are worried that this will spark a race riot. He lands and says how crazy this plan is, but Xavier would have loved it. Which makes Cyclops smile.

The last two pages, are brought to us by Frazer Irving. Tempus talks to Beast, wondering if this is the Trial of Henry McCoy, as she has been foretold about it, three times. I’m not sure what she means with this – because if this was it . . . what do you do with what happened today?” Like, there are too many words or too few words. I’m not sure what she also means “and if this wasn’t it . . . ” I get that she is trying to indicate that things are going to get much worst,

What I’m getting at, is this – the issue ends on not a great note but the rest of it, was pretty good.

There is a nice letter by Bendis. He teases that Goldballs is going to show up in Miles Morales’ Spider-Man title, that I didn’t know, and that Bendis is taking Kitty Pryde, with him, to Guardians of the Galaxy, which I did know about.

For some reason, the Iceman story from Bizarre Adventures 27 is reprinted. There isn’t anything, that I can see, that tells you where that story is originally printed or why it was included, but that’s what that story is.

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

Bleeding Cool News believes that the story was reprinted due to Iceman commenting on how pretty Angel is. So it is canon, I suppose. Still weird that there wasn’t an introduction page to set up the backup story.

X-Men Omega

Posted by John Klein III on May 19, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Age of Apocalypse, Buccellato - Steve, Candelario - Harry, Cruz - Roger, Hanna - Scott, Kesel - Karl, LaRosa - Bud, Lobdell, Milgrom - Al, Starkings - Richard, Townsend, Waid - Mark. Leave a comment

Story Scott Lobdell

Dialogue Mark Waid

Pencils Roger Cruz

Inks LaRosa, Townsend, Kesel, Candelario, Hanna, Milgrom

Letters Richard Starkings with te ComiCraftsmen

COlors Steve Buccellato with the Electric Crayons

Cover Dated 1995

One day, I’ll own X-Men Alpha. I should review X-Men Prime, which takes place two weeks after this issue but that issue essentially just ensures all of the pieces are back in their proper place, after this e-mail so I’ll just review that at some other time. This issue, is the end of the official crossover, which is why I wanted to end with this issue, and did the Chosen handbook prior to it. I have a few more issues I’m planning on doing, so we’re not quite done with Age of Apocalypse here at S&FwM.

This issue, also, had me pretty confused as I only read one miniseries, a handbook and one additional comic of the proper event. This issue ties everything together but hopefully, taking it one page at a time, it all starts to make place.

Issue opens with Magneto, who looks like he should have fallen to his knees – hours ago. He’s still standing as he’s the greatest of pimps. Magneto has been fighting Holocaust – the son of Apocalypse. The two are . . . I’m going to be generous to Magneto and say they are fighting – though it seems pretty one sided. They are fighting in front of Apocalypse who is straight up sitting in a throne. He reveals that there is a trap set below, as he has lured the X-Men to them, so that Magneto and the X-Men can die together.

Apocalypse reveals that he knows all of Bishop’s secrets. He knows that the timeline was changed and he wants this one to remain. Magneto knows that the only way to prevent time being rewritten is with the M’Kraan Crystal, and that’s exactly what Apocalypse has. So how disappointing is Gambit and the X-Ternals, if that series just ends with Gambit failing in spectacular fashion? I know I’ll never read it nor seek out a review of it – except if someone tipped me to a review of it. The X-Men need the M’Kraan Crystal to rewrite time.

Cut to outside of Apocalypse’s stronghold. Angel is about to land in front of some goons. He isn’t happy that his partner, Karma, was taken from him. That happened in Amazing X-Men 2 – which wasn’t hinted at all in the fourth issue. It looks like he lands on a goon, gomba style. He finds Karma in the very next panel. She dies in his arms, she was helping Apocalypse. I’m not sure what were her motivations but from Angel’s reaction, he seems like he understood and forgives her. I imagine she was simply trying to survive. Angel is going to make Apocalypse pay for this.

Thanks to Blink, the X-Men are within Apocalypse’s stronghold – I guess that’s the name of it as that’s the description everyone keeps using. I like how everyone gets name checked – Iceman Rogue, Colossus, Illyana, Destiny, Nightcrawler, Jubilee, Gambit, Blink, Quicksilver, Bishop and Shadowcat. I’m not usually a fan of teams with more than seven or eight characters but 12 seems like a decent number. This team seems pretty ripe, the only downer is Destiny’s inclusion but I’m not that familiar without her after issue 142 of Uncanny X-Men.

Rogue doesn’t like how easy this is being. Colossus wants the mission to keep being easy as he doesn’t want to risk his sister’s life on a fool’s errand. Shadowcat is still mean eyeing him.

Gambit finds a hairy dude, with two hands – so it isn’t Wolverine but they never name check him. He’s blind and has teeth like Sabretooth but seems on the small side.

Meanwhile, Cyclops and Jean Grey are leading a horde of former prisoners to freedom. They are heading to New Jersey, away from the fight – which is smart. One of the prisoners isn’t really what they appear to be.

Angel, now strapped with bombs, nose dives into Apocalypse’s force field generator. He’s dead but now the heroes can get inside the stronghold. The first to make a move, is X-Man.

Some two headed dude comes screaming about how Apocalypse’s southwest kingdom is wrong. The two headed fellow is the Shadow King. Rex, one of Apocalypse’s advisors, confirms that nuclear bombs have gone off and the Midwest is no longer a thing. Apocalypse wants to retaliate, and take his anger out on Magneto but before he can make a move, he is knocked down.

X-Man is standing there, like a champion. Magneto recognizes him as, The One, the one that Forge promised to deliver. Magneto wants a team up to try to make the most of these last precious seconds.

Meanwhile, in the crystal chamber below. The X-Men are now within the stronghold. Quicksilver calls the hairy fellow “that beast” so could it have been Dark Beast? But he’s blind, but I guess he could have restored his sight later, he does have twenty years to develop that skill. Shadowcat wants to keep an eye on him.

The M’Kraan Crystal responds to the new bodies in the room. Visions of the Proper Marvel Universe come to light, too many visions that it throws Destiny off. Destiny now knows that they have to succeed, her and Illyana. Quicksilver wants to give them an escort but Destiny turns him down. Destiny, Illyana and Bishop doesn’t have counterparts, so they must go. Colossus is sadden to hear this news.

X-Man is fighting Holocaust. Rogue tries to get X-Man to stand down. Magneto tells Rogue to get out of X-Man’s head, and she’s just so happy to see her husband is still alive and goes to him. While there is a very distracting battle, Magneto wants to go back tot he original plan of saving the original timeline. Magneto takes a knee and asks Illyana to aid them – which I like him taking the time to do and respectfully asks Illyana for help.

Illyana asks if there is a Sugar Man in this other timeline, Magneto doesn’t believe so, and she’s all in. Bishop further explains her importance. I wonder if there was a plan to have AoA Illyana and Destiny in the Proper Marvel Universe? Why stop at Dark Beast, Sugar Man (sadly) and X-Man for showing up?

The stronghold starts falling apart. Destiny wants the trio to head towards the M’Kraan Crystal.

Colossus threatens to kill Magneto, if this doesn’t work.

Shadowcat is part of the team trying to keep the crystal safe.

Back with Jean and Scott. Jean feels the deaths of the Midwest and knows that bombs are coming their way. From the skies, One-Hand-Wolverine is parachuting down. He’s the reason why bombs are coming down on Apocalypse.

X-Man is getting the upper hand against Holocaust.

Armageddon Minus Thirty Minutes. The X-Men are fighting goons. Sugar Man knows it is a losing fight and jumps into the M’Kraan Crystal. Colossus isn’t going to allow his sister to die, not without him standing by her side. Iceman attempts to stand his way but Colossus runs right through him. If only Shadowcat saw this, things might be a tad different. Looks like Gambit blasts Colossus to his back and puts him down – for a time.

The trio are standing in front of the M’Kraan Crystal. They are treated to visions of the Proper Marvel Universe. They finally answer the question I’ve been having – if Illyana is barely ten years old, her powers shouldn’t be activated just yet. Destiny tells her to envision the powers she is going to have and the crystal is going to gift her with those powers. Seems pretty convenient to me but they have to wrap up the story somehow. Illyana opens a portal so that Bishop can step through.

Armageddon, Minus Twenty-Five Minutes. a couple of flatscans are sad as they see Apocalypse’s nuclear missiles being fired at Europe. Apocalypse is pretty proud of himself,, that his actions lead to both mutants and humans having equal strength. So now, the strongest will survive.

Armageddon, Minus Twenty Minutes. Apocalypse doesn’t get long to gloat as Magneto puts him down. Magneto goes from a simple black outfit to a supped up red armor suit. From there, he starts punching Apocalypse’s dumb face. While he is doing that, Magneto mentions how when he was a boy, a Berlin house painter tried this same thing. The weak won that war too.

Apocalypse turns Magneto’s attention to Strong Guy, who is holding little Charles.

Armageddon, Minus Fifteen Minutes. Weapon X is trying to get to Jean, he will die by her side. Jean is shot in the back by . . . Havok! Havok is also attracted to Jean, because why not? I’ll never get the whole everyone-is-attracted-to-Jean story. Unless she was forcing dudes to like her.

Cyclops yells at his younger brother, now that Jean is knocked out, the missiles are falling faster. Havok starts a monologue but Weapon X snikts him and Havok dies. Weapon X goes to Jean, who dies in his arms. Logan recalls a legend he heard once, long ago about a fiery bird that could be reborn. Unfortunately, Jean is no Phoenix – as of course, they got to work that into this as well.

Armageddon, Minus Ten Minutes. Bishop is back in time, as Legion is about to kill Magneto. Xavier shouts to his son to not hurt his friend. Bishop is about to do something about it but 90s Bishop stops him.

Armageddon, Minus Eight Minutes. Dark Beast slashes Morph, and tries to teleport away. Quicksilver messes with the controls, fouling up Beast’s schemes. Quicksilver wasn’t trying to do anything in particular, he was just trying to screw Beast over. Beast’s plan was to teleport into the heart of the M’Kraan Crystal.

Armageddon, Minus Five Minutes. Colossus has gotten up and is still madly running towards Illyana. Gambit wants Shadowcat to get out of the way, but she knows Colossus won’t hurt her. So she doesn’t phase and we get the beginnings of my hating Colossus. Age of Apocalypse Colossus just killed his wife, via running right through her. Is it s a dumb way to kill off a far greater character with an extremely lesser character? Yes, she should have just phased, it is what she does. It doesn’t even take much of a thought for her to do it. Especially as she’s spent five other issues knowing that he is insane.

Proving he isn’t a waste of a character, Gambit blasts Colossus to the back, again.

This was a death blow, as it turns out. Colossus reverts to human form, which may be the first time we’ve seen him in the flesh. Illyana has come to her brother, to tell him of their success. Instead,, she finds her brother dead and her sister-in-law murdered. Illyana is about to grab her brother’s hand but Quicksilver snatches her as goons were about to attack her.

Armageddon, Minus Four Minutes. I do like how the death clock wasn’t sped up with Jean’s death, the clock had taken that into consideration. We catch up to Rogue who is about to straight murder Strong Man. Which she does, and her son just wants to hang out with her afterwards.

Off panel, Magneto took a dive and Apocalypse is escaping. At first, I thought he was talking to X-Man about how his plan is to join the Proper Marvel Universe but he was only talking to himself, aloud. X-Man arrives and stabs Apocalypse. X-Man is angry, the main reason is that Forge is dead.

Armageddon, Minus Three Minutes. AoA Bishop sucker punches 90s Bishop. Yes, I recognize AoA Bishop is pretty 90s himself. Ponytail Bishop, I guess would work and Bald Bishop. I guess this is how our Bishop doesn’t know about this other timeline. Hence why he isn’t talking about it all of the time.

Legion is about to murder Magneto and Xavier is about to foolishly take the hit but Baldy Bishop shouts “David” and this surprises Legion. As no one should know his real name, at this point. I’m not sure why Xavier didn’t read David’s mind when he first arrived.

The two are fighting and Bishop forces David to see the future his actions are about to cause. Though, he could still kill Xavier (accidentally) but tell Magneto to find Apocalypse (early) and kill that fool. Is there a What If? that handles that possibility?

David is exhausted after seeing the possible timeline. David starts to fade away, as does Bald Bishop. Not sure how Ponytail Bishop gets back to the present. Our Storm and Iceman are standing around, as well, so this must be where Legion Quest ended. With David being gone, a super plot hole appears and takes Iceman, Storm and Bishop back to the present.

Left behind, is Gabrielle Haller, Xavier and Magneto. Haller could have sworn a dude said he was her son but now there isn’t anyone around and the bros just shrug their shoulders and move on.

Armageddon,, Minus Two Minutes. X-Man and Magneto have team-up again and are taking the fight to Apocalypse. Holocaust arrives to pick up his fight with X-Man. X-Man stabs Holocaust with the shard of the M’Kraan Crystal and a strange backlash occurs.

During this distraction, Apocalypse grabs Magneto by his throat. Except that Magneto wasn’t the one that was distracted.

Magneto just kills Apocalypse!

Armageddon, Minus One Minute. Magneto gathers his wife an child to him. Apocalypse is dead and soon, his world will be dead too. Magneto looks forward to not even being a memory. I do like seeing Magneto and Rogue together, they do make a nice couple. As long as you don’t think too much about the age difference.

In his last moments, he remembers his old friend, his son’s name sake. Charles Xavier had a dream. With his final words, Magneto thanks Xavier for changing his life. As the world of Age of Apocalypse comes to an end.

Or does it? We’ll be coming back to it, in four days. Before that, we take a fun detour.

New Avengers 51

Posted by John Klein III on November 5, 2015

Posted in: Review. Tagged: Bachalo, Banning - Matt, Bendis, Dark Reign, Fabela - Antonio, Magik, Mounts - Paul, New Avengers, Tan - Billy, Townsend. 1 Comment

Script Brian Michael Bendis

Art Billy Tan, Matt Banning and Justice Ponsor & Chris Bachalo, Tim Townsend and Antonio Fabela

Lettering RS & Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne

Cover Art Billy Tan, Matt Banning and Paul Mounts

Cover Dated May 2009

I only own this issue for the Magik appearance on the cover. I will eventually review issues 53 and 54 of this series but Jessica Jones only appears in this issue.

This issue is broken down into two stories, the Doctor Strange portion and the New Avengers section. So that is how the two art teams break down, which is pretty smart. Tan gets the New Avengers and Bachalo gets Doctor Strange.

Here is a quick recap of what has been going on. Secret Invasion happened, Norman Osborn killed the Skrull Queen and became Director of SHIELD, which he renamed to HAMMER – for reasons. Due to the World War Hulk, Doctor Strange tapped into some dark magic and became overpowered and had to leave for a time.

The Hood’s Penthouse. The Hood has summoned Dormammu, so that he can have even more power.

Avengers Tower. Mockingbird watches as her boyfriend, Ronin – secretly Hawkeye (to the world at large) as he goes on television to review Norman Osborn for the villain that he is. The news media is skeptical.

Dover, New Jersey. Wiccan, of Young Avengers fame (and possible son of Scarlet Witch) uses his magic to prevent a car crash. Doctor Strange interviews Wiccan – as he is waiting for the Eye of Agamotto to reveal who the new Sorcerer Supreme will be.

It is a real shame that Bendis didn’t make the cut to be the Sorcerer Supreme, though Bendis would sort of correct this in the Uncanny X-Men Annual 1 2014.

There is a house ad for Exiles 1, the third attempt at the series, this time with Jeff Parker and Salvador Espin, it was pretty good for the six issues it lasted.

Doctor Strange is approached by the suped up Hood.

Th second issue of War of Kings is coming out.

Avengers Hideout. The Bronx, really it is Bucky Cap’s safe house. These are my favorite pages of the issue, with one being very fun.

Ronin wants to conduct their meetings in the classic Avengers fashion. There will be a leader and a deputy leader, even a handbook. Cage is surprised to learn that he has been the acting leader. No one wants the leadership role.

Secret Warriors 3 is coming out. Blair Butler of G4 TV’s Fresh Ink Online states “Hickman is the next Warren Ellis, the next Alan Moore.” Which seems pretty bold back in 2009.

Spider-Man offers that Bucky Cap has the military experience but he counters that he doesn’t have the Avengers experience. Jessica offers up that her friend, Carol, has military training. Carol turns it down. Since no one else wants it, Ronin will lead. Ronin makes Carol the deputy leader.

Ronin has an issue, and it is with Spider-Man.

Thor 601 by Straczynski and Djurdjevic start the concept of Asgard in Oklahoma.

Look at that first image above, notice how all of the Avengers are maskless? Except for the one, not at the table. That is an issue for Ronin. Wolverine vouches for Spider-Man but since he couldn’t tell Skrulls from the genuine article, so he can be tricked. Of the Skrull big reveals, only one of importance is that Mockingbird is back in the world of the living.

That panel of Danielle Cage (named after Luke’s best friend, Iron Fist – which I love!) eating sloppily with her hands? So true to life!

Ronin wants no secrets, so he wants Spider-Man to unmask. Spider-Man is cautious as he doesn’t want to risk his family’s safety. This is Post-Civil War, where he had unmasked in front of the world – but it is also Post-One More Day, where he made a deal with the Devil (Mephisto) and rewrote time and his identity back into the hands of a few.

Peter Parker unmasks and introduces himself. Jessica Jones recognizes him, immediately. They went to high school together. All of this was revealed in the awesome two part origin story of Jessica’s over in Alias 22 & 23.

Poor Jessica, she was even more invisible than Peter was! Peter had, at least, bullies in Flash and the popular kids, razzing him on a daily basis. Jessica was just in the background, so even Peter didn’t see her.

Jessica reveals she had a massive crush on Peter, which shocks Peter AND Luke Cage!

I love this page so much! Jessica knows she has to give Peter some additional information. She repeats her origin (briefly) about how she was doused by radiation and was in a coma forever. Apparently students at Midtown High School called her, Coma Girl, as they were pretty clever. She is not happy with the nickname.

Luke’s running commentary is a delight. He can’t believe she had a crush on Peter, who is pretty much the opposite of, in every way.

Jessica, in full flirtation mode (look at that classic hair pull!) she claims it was a billion years ago but she sure does want to keep talking to Peter. I like how the rest of the team is merely watching in silence. I imagine this is more along the lines of two friends from high school, catching up after years apart. Then she says she use to love Peter and Cage starts losing his mind.

Apparently they spoke to each other in ninth and tenth grade, but he barely noticed her. Cage wants to know if it was a crush or love, which at sixteen, I’m not sure if there is a difference.

Peter wishes she was up front with her feelings, as he was just stuck at home with his test tubes and eating flapjacks. Which I adore that, as a Spider-fan, that it is a term that I just know and recognize but Mockingbird and Ronin have no clue that Peter is talking about pancakes.

So I believe you are suppose to read the top row, then the right panel and then move to the middle row. Those panels do seem out of place, as she just leaves and they were talking. I guess she is thinking about how life would have been different. Now that would have been a decent What If, right there!

Wolverine is very pleased that reunion happened, as it was fun to watch.

Peter reveals that his best friend’s father is Norman Osborn, they have a history. He leaves out that his blonde girlfriend cheated on him with his best friend’s father and flew to Paris and birthed his twin babies and then Norman threw her off a bridge and Peter broke her neck with his web. I suppose I would have left that part out too.

There is a hug crash and we get Luke saying, Sweet Christmas, which I totally say too!

Issue ends with Doctor Strange beaten and weakly asking for help.

I read every issue of Alias and the short lived sequel series, Pulse, and I became a huge Jessica Jones fan. It was a sad day when I started selling those issues. Such a great original series.

Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 32

Posted by John Klein III on October 10, 2015

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2015, Bachalo, Bendis, Irwin, Olazaba, Townsend, Uncanny. Leave a comment

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils Chris Bachalo

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

Colors Chris Bachalo & Rain Beredo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Uncanny X-Men Volume Three Issue 31

Posted by John Klein III on June 14, 2015

Posted in: Review, Websites. Tagged: 2015, Bachalo, Bendis, Caramagna - Joe, Deering - Marc, Irwin, Olazaba, Townsend, Uncanny. Leave a comment

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils Chris Bachalo

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

Colors Chris Bachalo & Antonio Fabela

Lettering & Production VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover by Chris Bachalo & Tim Townsend

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

	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

Shadow and Flame with Magik

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