Wolverine: First Class #7 - Marvel

What I like about this story, as opposed to what I just wrote about the Secret Invasion story-line . . is that while were dealing with untold stories earlier in a characters career . . these stories actually support what's already been written. With a character like Wolverine . . missing memory and all . . there's lots of room for stories that we've never heard before. Plus with his time spent with the X-Men, he wasn't the focal character of every story-line. Hell, some of them he didn't even take part in. So consequently, there's quite a bit of his time that's unaccounted for. Which, in essence, is what this book is about . . stories from between the stories. Which I think is a good thing. Nothing that's been previously written is being undermined or 'tweaked' to fit. Like I said, these stories actually support and fill in the gaps of the other stories that we've already read. Which is my mind is a legitimate use of the story-telling process. Plus I like seeing the interaction between Logan and Kitty. Although technically Kitty didn't take part much in this story . . other than being the motivation for the current predicament that he's found himself in . . she's still a factor. Plus Wolverine is in his natural element here . . saving lives and taking names . . or something like that. I enjoyed this book, and I thought Fred Van Lente and Steven Cummings did a respectable job here. I'm just sad that they cancelled the X-Men First Class book already.

the New Avengers #45 - Marvel

This is a classic example of why I'm refusing to follow this whole story. Someone wrote in that they thought that this whole Secret Invasion thing may be Marvel's way of undoing what was done during the whole Civil War thing. I think he may be on to something. Personally . . I was thinking that it was aiming at undoing Captain America's death, but . . my scope may not have been broad enough. Part of the reason I'm changing my mind is because of all these flash-back issue . . or 'previous history' issues . . whatever they want to call them. I understand that were going back and seeing previous events with insight that we previously didn't have . . specifically that the Skrulls played a part in pretty much every major event for like the last 10 years . . but, I think it's an easy way out. I'm not saying that Brian Bendis is taking it easy. If anything he's more involved than ever, because he's the one that has to coordinate all of this and put in the Skrull influence on these historic events, without changing what's already been written. No, I think it's the easy way out because there's enough room out there for some creative license that it would be pretty easy to change what we thought . . or the heroes of the Marvel Universe, for that matter . . of what the motivations or goals of these events actually were. One one hand I think it's brilliant. Comics have always been written in a linear fashion creating the continuity that we all so love and enjoy. But, at the same time, there's always been room in the stories . . or in-between them . . for, what I call, 'retroactive history'. It's presented as history . . or a legitimate view of a previous story . . that we didn't know about, or even believe existed. It's something that's been popping up more and more over the last 10 to 20 years of comics, but it's really being taken to the extreme with this Secret Invasion thing. The problem, or pitfall, in all of this is that what was once a ground-breaking story, because of what happened or who was killed, can all be negated with a rather simple twist of perspective. Also, as it appears is happening now at Marvel, all the 'earth-shattering' stories from the last 5 to 10 years can be explained away because of a previously unknown alien influence. Which is really sad for the readers and collectors of comics because now . . all the various story-lines that they've been following . . they found out are now all wrong . . or skewed. Like I said . . on one hand I think it's brilliant, while on the other . . I don't think it's fair to the readers or collectors . . or fans. Plus, the way story-telling was previously done . . sometimes the characters dictated the path of the story. A writer would start out a story, but then as it went along his intentions may change a bit because of the various character's personalities or motivations. I've heard more than once, a writer talk about how the story ended up writing itself, basically, because all he had to do was follow the natural occurrence of events as unfolded by the characters or situations. Which, in turn, made them more believable or accepting by the reader. With this 'retroactive history', all of that's thrown to the way-side. Anything can change, at any time, for any reason. Honestly . . it's not a lot of fun to try to follow.

Avengers: the Initiative #17 - Marvel

First of all let me say that I have the utmost respect for the story-telling abilities of Dan Slott and Christos Gage. I think that with what they have to work with here, they've both done an incredible job. And, despite what I'm going to say about the rest of this book, I thought that Harvey Tolibao did a fantastic job on the pencils this issue. There are actually some very sharp looking panels in this book. Unfortunately . . all the above creators are another casualty of the Secret Invasion now. As the ads say . . 'Embrace change!'. My ass! The only thing I liked about this issue was seeing the 3 crews that have been assembled to take on this Skrull problem. We met the one team and issue or 2 ago . . Skrull Kill Crew. They aren't actually part of the Initiative, but 3-D man has hooked up with them to help them out with his unique gift. We find out this issue that the Initiative had also taken the 'initiative' to put together it's own espionage unit, which is made up entirely of Initiative members . . including Mutant Zero. Who coincidentally kind of looks like Jean Grey from the back. But really . . that's all we know about her. And finally there's the team of legacy heroes that Nick Fury has scrambled together because he can't trust anyone else. Anyways, besides these 3 unique groups . . the rest of the comic actually kind of pissed me off. I read this book a week ago, or so, but haven't written anything down because I couldn't quite figure out how to put it in words. So I'm going to put it like this . . the 'Embrace Change' add that's in the center of the book . . it shows a young Skrull girl with 2 other girls eating ice-cream. Skrulls change shape. That's the nature of their being. So while the ad is supposed to show 3 cute girls, of various nationalities, playing together . . I see a Skrull who could be anyone, including a child molester, playing with 2 of your neighbor's kids. I mean, since they shape-change, who's to say that this isn't actually a full-grown Skrull posing as an innocent child? Anyways, that's how I kind of feel about the whole issue. I've actually enjoyed this series so far, but now . . it seems like they've sold-out to the Secret Invasion megalith. And this book is probably within it's final issues, or at least it's final story-arc. Like I said, the whole thing just really left a bitter taste in my mouth. Which is really . . . sad!

Secret Invasion: the Amazing Spider-man #2 - Marvel

Spider-man is stuck in the Savage Land, but the Skrull . . that's hot on Jackpot's tail . . really, only wants Spider-man. I've gone on before about how I don't want to get all caught up in this Secret Invasion thing . . it's spilling over into all of the regular titles anyways . . I kind of have to follow it by default. As far as the mini-series go . . I just consider these to be a Spider-man book . . or in this case Jackpot. The same as with the X-Men. But now I'm starting to run into a bit of a problem. As I'm reading through some of these books, I feel like I'm missing pieces. It's frustrating, but my assuagement is that a few months from now none of this will make a bit of difference anyways. I mean . . what are the ramifications of the Infinity Gauntlet mini-series? Is there something that came out of that which had a lasting affect on the Marvel Universe? Does anyone even remember the Infinity Gauntlet mini-series? What about the Secret Wars and the Beyonder? Other than Spider-mans black costume . . which turned out to be a symbiote . . which later turned evil because it felt rejected by it's host, Peter Parker . . which then evolved into numerous other parasitic evil villains . . Venom, Carnage, Anti-Venom . . other than that, what really came out of that mini-series? Anyways, my point is, it's rare and far between that any of these series has any lasting affects. We still feel the ramifications of the Civil War mini-series . . for now. But 3 to 5 years from now . . that'll all be gone. And Cap will be back. I just haven't quite figured out how they're going to do that, yet. Which in a nutshell is why I refuse to follow this latest chapter. And don't even get me started on this Marvel Apes thing. I'm not discounting the work of Brian Reed and Marco Santucci on this series. I mean creatively they really only have so much free-will. There's really only so much Brian can do with this simple-minded Skrull who thinks that everything smells like Spider-man. And I think Marco's work has actually improved since the first issue. But why not name this book for what it is . . Secret Invasion: Jackpot? At least let's be accurate about that.

Angel #5 - Marvel

This is the last issue of this mini-series, and I gotta' say . . I really enjoyed it. I thought that Roberto Aquirre-Sacasa did a great job putting this story together and presenting it to us across these 5 issues. It doesn't really explain the 'whys' or 'hows' of Warren's transformation, but . . it does give us a good sense of what he was going through . . as a person . . when all of this was thrust upon him. We start out with him as an over-privileged jock, attending a private school, and dealing with the ambiguous attention of his jet-setting parents. He was the typical teen-age boy, always doing something to attract attention to himself. Then he begins changing. At first he draws into himself, thinking that no one is going to understand what he's going through, but . . he finds out that people are a lot more accepting that we necessarily give them credit for. Well . . maybe not all people, but the people close to him . . if they're his true friends . . will stick by his side no matter what . . and they do. By the end of this issue, through a series of events, Warren is forced to fully embrace what he's become and his potential. He knows that he'll always have to play it safe and be careful who he exposes his secret to, but . . he also knows who his true friends are. Warren comes into contact with Charles this issue, but . . he really doesn't know who he is. At first he thinks it's the voice of god talking to him. So this story takes place before he joins . . or even knows of . . the X-Men. Right now I think he's just glad that he doesn't have to carry the burden of this secret alone. As much as I enjoyed the story here . . I enjoyed the art equally if not more. I've been a fan of Adam Pollina for quite a while now. He changed his style a little bit for this book . . and it really worked. The feel and the flow of the story, I think, was just accentuated by the work that Adam presented here. The art on the cover is really what the inside looks like also. The cover's a little more detailed, but . . it's basically the same. So next time, Adam, please don't make us wait so long between books. I thought this was a fantastic mini-series, and it really did the character justice. Thanks!

Fantastic Four #560 - Marvel

I've really been enjoying this title the last couple of years, but . . I gotta' say . . ever since Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch came on board . . this book has been 'off the hook'. Honestly, the title Fantastic doesn't even begin to do this book justice. It's phenomenal . . it's brilliant . . it's without compare . . needless to say, I still like it quite a lot. Last issue Johnny got abducted. Come to find out it was his recent ex-girlfriend's group that did it. He told Psionics last issue that they were done. It was a conflict of interest for him to go out with a super-villain. Does Johnny know what a conflict of interest is? Anyways, he thinks she's just going off because of the bad news, but actually the group she belongs to, the New Defenders, wanted him anyways. They just thought if she cuddled up to him it would make the process a little easier. They're from the year 2509, the end of the Earth, and they want to bring the 8 billion survivors back in time. This is a bit complicated but this all started in Mark and Bryan's first story-arc in which Reed's old girlfriend, Alyssa, approached him with their project in which they were creating a new Earth. I don't really understand why, but rather than pool their resources into fixing this one, they decided to build a new one . . an exact replica . . and move all the deserving people there. Apparently what they really meant was a certain 'class' or 'wealth' of people. The leader of this group is Robert Bruce Banner Junior . . the last surviving son of Bruce Banner's. This is how he explains it, "The good news is, the Earth didn't die in the early part of the 21st century. But, when the end times came, it was worse than we imagined. 12 billion people starved to death, half the world's cities drowned in the seas and cancer and disease affected almost every living creature. The rich and the powerful disappeared overnight, leaving behind a lawless mess that the world's remaining super heroes bound together to protect." So what's not said, but I'm assuming, is that all the 'fortunate' people went to Nu-world. But apparently not every one knew about it. Anyways, the New Defenders plan is to saddle Galactus, and plug into Johnny, and draw the power necessary to bring the 8 million people back. But we know that's not going to work because it would severely over-tax our resources. I'm thinking they're going to have to find out about Nu-World from Reed. The problem is, the nanny that Sue recently hired, Tabitha Deneuve, is actually Sue from the future. Actually she's been sent to the Baxter Building to retrieve the one last piece they need to complete their time device. She makes pretty short work of the rest of the Fantastic Four. Mark has really introduce some 'fantastic' ideas into this title. This is actually his second story-arc, but it's only now that we're seeing how it all ties together. And Bryan Hitch's artwork is frikkin' fabulous. Together they've really taken this book to an all new level. And they aren't even done yet. Right now things look pretty bleak, but, really, the Fantastic Four haven't even really gotten involved yet. When Mark puts Reed, Ben and Sue into action . . I think we're going to see things get turned around pretty fast. I know eventually this will all be in TPB form, but . . I'm a purist. I want to see it as it was meant to be presented. If you have the opportunity, you really need to go out and get these issues . . #554 on up. You definitely won't regret it.

HULK #6 - Marvel

This is another fantastic story-line by Jeph Loeb. I can't believe that we're 6 issues into this series and we still don't know who the Red Hulk is. But, we do find out a little more this issue. We already know that it's not Rick, Tony or Jennifer. This issue we find out that we can also rule out Thor, General Ross and . . Doc Samson. But I thought he was the leading contender? Well with this issue, he's ruled . . out, by default. So who does that leave? I'm not sure, but . . Rick knows. After the Hulk's big fight with the Red Hulk, Rick transforms back from his A-Bomb persona and immediately wants to tell Bruce what's going on. But, before he can do that . . Doc Samson shoots him. "You can't be telling secrets, Rick. It's not your future. It's not your destiny. We're going to have to fix that." . . and he drags him off by his hair. Apparently General Ross knows who it is also, because he made him. But because of his failure in beating the Hulk . . he's giving up on him. Oh yeah . . we also find out that while the Hulk gets stronger as he gets madder . . the Red Hulk gets hotter as he gets madder. Eventually that's how the Hulk beats him . . he gets him so mad that his body can't take the heat and it overloads. "GREEN HULK STOPS RED HULK HERE! THERE IS ONLY ONE HULK. AND HE IS GREEN! I also really enjoyed Ed McGuinness' take on this character. I thought all 6 issues were fan-frikkin-tastic. I've always been a big fan, but I personally thought he was perfect on this series. Jeph Loeb will be continuing on the scripts but the next story-arc will be drawn by Arthur Adams. That should be an interesting arc. So far I've been really thrilled with this series. I just hope they can keep up the pace.

the Ultimates 3 - #5 - Marvel

The little picture on the right is what the actual fold-out cover looks like. It's 3 panels. But this picture is so small, I wanted to get a better picture so you can see what the actual art looks like. The alternate cover is an image of what actually has taken place in this book. Apparently, through this whole mini-series, we haven't actually been dealing with the actual Ultimates, but rather replacement robots that were built and substituted by Ultron. Hank and Jan have shrunk down and are hiding in Tony's mansion, spying on Ultron, which is how we learn about his whole master plan. Basically, we don't know for sure, but we're assuming that somehow Wanda changed his programming a bit . . he ends up falling in love with her. He was also the one that shot her when he thought that he would never be able to have her because of Pietro. Anyways, long story short, everybody ends up in the Savage Land and that's where the whole plan of Ultron's comes apart . . mostly because of Magneto. He's really pissed because both his kids are dead now. You know how Hawkeye has this death wish? Well Magneto is prattling on and on and he just wants him to shut up. So he shoots him with his cross-bow, but Pietro jumps in front of the arrow to save his father. Unfortunately he may have just brought about the end of the Ultimate Universe because now Magneto has gone off the deep end . . or rather pulled up a chunk of the Earth and has flown off into space . . and is ready to take it all apart. We also find out, on the very last page, that it was actually Doom that was the orchestrator of Hank's monumental #&ck up! I thought Jeph Loeb did a masterful job with this mini-series. The story was fantastic. The feel, and subject matter, was perfect for the Ultimate Universe. And it looks like this book, along with Ultimate Secrets, is going to lead directly into the March on Ultimatum story-line. Of course Joe Madureira's pencils were equally magnificent. It's hard to believe that the Ultimates have been around for what? . . about 8 years now? In that time they've had 3 different series, with a total of . . I think . . 32 books. That's really not a lot . . especially considering the time period. But . . each of those titles has brought something different to this franchise. And each title, I think, was better than it's predecessor. I'm sure everybody has their favorite Ultimate story through this time period, but, for me, it's this last mini-series. Between story and art, I thought it was near-perfect. From what I understand this March on Ultimatum story-line is going to redefine, and redesign, the Ultimate Universe. On the other side of it, hopefully, there will be another Ultimate title. I can't wait to see what that one brings us.

Project Superpowers #6 - Dynamite Entertainment

I appreciate what Alex Ross and Jim Krueger are trying to do here, but . . there are just entirely to many characters here to keep track of. I assume that's why we seem to be focusing on 2 0r 3 each issue. We're up to issue #6 here and they've introduced 12 to 15 new characters every issue. That's insane. I don't know how these guys thought up all of this stuff. Plus now, the Black Terror is spinning off into his own book. I assume it'll be a mini-series like this . . but still. Also, last issue we found out that #7 will be the finale for this first installment. It'll be back in a short period of time . . but I'm just wondering how they're going to integrate the stories. There's a lot of cool ideas and concepts that have been presented in this book so far. I really enjoy reading about the various directions that these characters have gone in, and are going. On top of creating these characters . . their histories, and powers . . now we find out that because of all the time they've spent in the urn, that their powers are changing or they're developing secondary mutations. Oh wait . . that's the X-Men. But they are all being changed after we've just been introduced to them. And it looks like the Fighting Yank may be going through the biggest change of all. Of course he's the one with the most to lose . . or gain . . depending on how you look at it. Anyways, so far I'm really enjoying this world that these guys have created here. I think they may be pushing their artist, Carlos Paul, a little bit to hard though. There's some big problems with some of the panels in this book. Basically it looks like there was some work that was rushed. Don't get me wrong, I think Carlos has incredible talent and potential, but . . not everyone can put out the work like Alex and Jim can. Overall I'm sure this series . . and all it's various spin-offs and chapters . . will become classics. Right now there's just an awful lot to swallow. But, really, they've only just begun. Please fasten your seat-belts and keep your arms in the ride at all times. And thank you for visiting Dynamite.

WildCATS #3 - WildStorm

I'm enjoying this book. I always have liked the WildCATS. But we're only a couple of months into the aftermath of Armageddon and already there are some inconsistencies and questions. From what I've understood from our 3 books . . WildCATS, the Authority, and StormWatch . . there's really no technology or anything left on Earth. I assume everything was pretty much wiped out from all the EMP pulses from the bombs. Correct? I also assume that's why StormWatch is still working because they're working out of their orbital station. I mean in Authority even Angela, the Engineer, is having problems getting her systems, or the Carrier's back on line. However, in this series we actually have 2 mechanical characters, Hadrian and Maxine, whom both are not only working fine, but they've rigged up a MIRV craft to run off of power that they use from both of them. I mean, first of all they should both be inert. Right? Secondly, even if somehow they were working, wouldn't the last thing they'd want to do would be to share their power knowing that it might be near impossible to 'recharge'? I mean, I'm just askin'! Anyways, we'll put those inconsistencies behind and talk about the forest that they've found in Nevada. They decide to head inland, from California, and see how the rest of the country has fared. But it's only Warblade, Hadrian and Maxine on board when they find it, so they decide to head back to the HALO building and pool their resources. Voodoo can't sense anything from the Earth, so they assume that it's part of the Nevada Garden project. "The Nevada Garden used advanced nanotechnology to create whatever people wished for. It was removed by StormWatch . . And presumably destroyed with their old satellite. But if a piece was left, all it would take is someone nearby wishing for paradise, and it would appear." Assuming that implausible reason is actually the case . . how is the nanotechnology working in this post-apocalyptic society? So in my eyes, so far, this whole story is based on a series of inconsistent assumptions. Which is sad, because when they finally make it back to the forest they find that it's inhabited with all manner of beast, and it's protector is . . Paris, from StormWatch PHD.. Apparently somehow he's made it there and has decided to protect all of the animals. But he has the help of some old WildCAT members also . . Graymalkin and Sheba, to name a few. In the back-up story, Director Stayton got caught in an I/O research facility in New Mexico when everything went down. Now all the people that were being experimented on have broken out of their cages and he has to figure out how to get out before they kill him. I assume he's going to be another member of Team7 when his story is done here. Now don't get me wrong . . I'm enjoying Christos Gage's story here. But there are some inconsistencies. Basically all I'm asking for is for them to be addressed. Or at least explained briefly. The other thing I enjoy about this book is the art. Neil Googe is one of my favorite artists out there. I really enjoy his style, and he can create some very moody scenes. I enjoyed his work on Tranquility, and even way back on Bazooka Jules. Like I said he has a unique style, and I really think he's gotten better as he's gone along. We also get some great work by Mike McKone in the Slayton story. I enjoy this book, and I would like to see the WildStorm Universe get back on it's feet after this devastation. But, I think we need to make sure that everybody is following the same set of ground rules. I really hope they sort it out, but I'm starting to think that they've may have bitten off more than they could chew with this new direction in these books. Please, Please . . pull it all together.

Casey Blue: Beyond Tomorrow #5 - WildStorm

We get a lot more of the story this issue, but then we had to . . there's only 1 issue left. The only thing I'm not really sure of is . . who's the good guys, and who's the bad guys? I assume that Casey and Angela are on the side of the angels because they're trying to stop the take-over of the Earth in the future. At least that's what Angela's told her . . so far. The story that she's relayed this issue is that she's come back from the future to try to get Casey ready for the trials she has coming up. Basically, she says in the future that there are people that are 'seeded'. But she considers it more of an infection. "In the future, an advanced form of this . . infection . . will spread, leading to the emergence of a new class. We call them the Hybrid." What she doesn't reveal is the source of the infection, or what brought it about in the first place. All Casey really knows is that she gets a buzzing in her head whenever she's near one of these 'seeded' people. And then they become the target of her . . insomniac skill set. Now she's going through her daily routine, trying to act normal, but knowing at any time the buzzing could start and she may end up killing a class-mate. At the same time the opposite side seems to be developing their guy . . Casey's antithesis . . on the final page he shoots Angela. Obviously this story takes place in a different reality than the WildStorm Universe. Casey hasn't had to deal with Armageddon or anything, so I assume that this either takes place in the past, or . . it's an alternate universe. That part's never really explained. B Clay Moore's story is . . ok. But it's a little slow to unravel. Also I think a lot of stuff is left unexplained. I know we're trying to build tension . . and a cliff-hanger ending for the end of this mini-series . . they have to keep the interest up for the next one . . but it's the introduction of this character and her special problems. Just put it all out there so the readers buy into the character and concept. Although now that I think about it, it's almost exactly like the Terminator story. You know, except the robots are replaced by these 'seeded' people. At least that's what it kind of feels like to me. The bright spot of this book though is Carlo Barberi's art. I like the way he draws the characters, and I think he has a good feel to his frames and flow. I can also feel a Humberto Ramos influence in there. Just a little . . but it's there. Overall, I've enjoyed the story so far. I just don't know how much of a future it has.

Madame Xanadu #4 - Vertigo

Well . . last issue, our main character moved forward in time, and we found her in the great halls of Xanadu . . the palace of Kublai Khan. But then some visitors arrived. Some seen . . Marco Polo . . and some not . . the Phantom Stranger. Before their arrival, Madame Xanadu had a dream about Marco and the Stranger. She felt that Marco was there as a hero, but the Stranger's motives were unseen. So she warned Khan, and the Stranger became a prisoner. This issue it appears that a move is being made against Khan, and some of his advisers seem to be in the habit of raping his consorts. Madame Xanadu and Marco bring both instances to a stop and expose them to Khan. In his gratitude he offers Marco a prize from his grand chest. In with all the gold and precious stones is a emerald lantern. That is what Marco chooses. And apparently that was the Strangers mission . . to free the lamp. I'm guessing from what the Stranger says, that it's a predecessor of one of the Green Lantern lamps. But that's just a hunch I have. Anyways, the Stranger frees himself but Khans guards see him with Madame Xanadu, implicating her. Therefore when the Stranger leaves she too must also . . for her safety . . leave the grand halls of Xanadu behind her. But I have a feeling that she's only just begun her journey. I really enjoy Matt Wagner's story here. I like the way he's bringing this character from being a forest imp, during the time of Camelot, into the future and a grand mystical character in the DC Universe. I'm just wondering where her adventure is going to take her next. I'm also impressed with the artwork of Amy Reeder Hadley. It's very impressive. She draws with crisp clean lines, and I think she has a unique interpretation of these characters. I think she's improved already, just in these 4 issues, and I can't wait to see what the future holds in store for her.

Jack of Fables #26 - Vertigo

To tell you the truth . . I'm not really sure why I continue to read this book. I mean . . it's ok. It's a pleasant distraction from the rest of the super-hero genre. But the way that Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges write it . . I feel like they just basically 'wing-it' every issue. Some of them are interesting . . some of them are funny . . but then sometimes, it feels like they just bull-shit their way along until they fill up the 22 pages. We did make some headway in the story though this issue. Bookburner is on his way to the Golden Boughs and Revise is treating it like the invasion of Normandy . . or Pearl Harbor, or something. Somehow though, I think, these Page sisters are going to be the key to the whole thing. They just don't know it yet. Last issue we focused on Robin, and now this issue it's her sister Priscilla. I'm not sure how they can affect things, but Kevin comes to talk to Pris this issue and he informs her that the reason Revise is so upset is because Bookburner has Hillary, and Hillary is his daughter. That confuses Pris because she says they never knew their father. That's when Kevin informs her that Revise is indeed Hillary's father, but Pris and Robin have a different father. It turns out their father is . . . Bookburner. The final revelation of the book is that Humpty Dumpty is back . . they put him back together again . . but now, he's Deviled Egg. I know. It's not as climactic as I thought it would be. But . . that's how these stories go. I want to like them. But sometimes after I read them, I just think . . what's the point?

Superman #680 - DC

I liked this issue. I enjoy a good story about a man and his dog. But this dog . . this dog is something special. However, this issue does raise some questions also. We don't know the whole story yet, but apparantly some military group or another used some magic, maybe, to bring Atlas forward in time from the past. The 'hows' and 'whys' are a little vague right now. But the controller, who seems to be this guy watching all the action from a nearby roof-top . . actually hovering above the roof-top . . has access to what looks like a spaceship, far above Metropolis. Atlas, it turns out, is a magical being. So, the longer Clark fights him, the weaker he gets. When it looks like all is lost, Krypto comes to his rescue. I don't think he's quite strong enough to actually take Atlas down, but . . he's tenacious as hell. What he lacks in raw strength he more than makes up for in determination. Anyways, the controller guy tries to use the same things they used to weaken Superman on Krypto. But none of them are working. So is Krypto all-together something different than Superman? It appears that he doesn't have the same weakness'. Plus Atlas' magical aura doesn't affect him much either. Anyways, during the fight, Superman has an epiphany that there may be magic involved. He goes to find Zatanna, but ends up with her cousin Zachary Zatara instead. He whips up something to help Superman with the sun, but it'll only last for a minute. But apparently that's all the time he needs to take Atlas down. The rest of this story, I guess, is supposed to be sorted out in the Jimmy Olsen Special coming out shortly. So far I like the feel that James Robinson has brought to this book. He's raised some questions and shined some light on a few character's feelings. Other than that . . it's been a slug-fest for the last couple of issues. I'm interested to see how he handles these characters when he gets in to some more 'meaty' stories. I'm still disappointed that Renato Guedes is the artist on this series. The guy has talent, obviously, but I just don't think he's right for this book. I've enjoyed this title for quite a while now . . years, actually decades even. All I'm asking is . . can we please, please, please get a different artist? I'm just not feeling it.

Batman: Gotham After Midnight #5 - DC

We're up to issue 5 here . . and for some reason I'm still having a hard time getting a grasp of just what exactly is going on. It seems that we have this new Midnight character who apparantly is making his way through Batman's rogues gallery. This time Man-bat has come after Midnight because he says that he's betrayed him. It happens at one of Bruce's galas so he can't switch to Batman. But luckily he keeps a tranquilizer dart loaded into his cuff-links . . for just such an occasion. He takes down the Man-bat without anyone getting hurt, but . . this is the part I don't understand . . Midnight is terrorizing the room . . Man-bat comes flying in screaming at Midnight for betraying him . . Bruce shoots Man-bat with his handy-dandy cuff-link dart . . next thing we know Man-bat's down, and so is Midnight? I'm not sure how Midnight got taken down. It doesn't make a lot of sense. But then, it's all rather moot because it's not actually Midnight, but a police office drugged, gagged, and dressed in his costume. Later when Man-bat's taken to Arkham, Batman gets him to revert back to Kirk to find out what he knows. But apparently Midnight anticipated Batman doing this because when Bruce goes the next night to confront him . . Midnight is prepared for his arrival. What he really wants to show Batman is the Gotham limits sign that he's recently decorated with 4 fresh corpses. On the last couple pages of the book we see the Joker buying . . or rather, obtaining . . some condemned property on the outskirts of Gotham. Is this also a ploy by Midnight, or . . dare I say it . . could Midnight actually be the Joker? I like the story . . although it's a bit ambiguous . . but, it's a typical Batman story. And apparently next issue we're going to cross-over with the Halloween theme. I'm not sure why . . other than the date. I'm just having a hard time getting a read on where this series is heading. Luckily Kelley Jones is doing the art so we more than make up for any short-comings in the story-telling department . . Steve Niles. The problem is we have 7 more issues to go. And, unfortunately, most of that will be minutia.

Reign in Hell #3 - DC

Like I've said so far this series . . . Keith Giffen has really pumped a lot of information into this little book. He's got to have this huge map, or chart or something, on his office wall showing the hierarchy of everything that he's developing here. It's tremendous . . and ominous . . and a little intimidating. But we're in Hell. What more would you expect? Last issue we spent a lot of time with Neron . . listening to his plans and ideas, and watching the destruction unfold. This issue we spend the majority of our time with Satanus and Lady Blaze. We also get a glimpse of the legion of magic-based beings from Earth down here who are trying to figure out which side to fight on, or against. There's not much of a choice right now, it's pretty much Satanus or Neron. The first to throw his hat into the ring is Danny, Blue Devil. Since Neron is the one who cursed him, he's hoping that if he curry's Satanus' favor, by helping him against Etrigan, that he can lift the curse for him at a later time. It's a 'pipe-dream' at best, but right now it's the only hope he's got. The other characters roaming around include . . Zatanna and Sargon who came in with Danny . . Eve, June and Rory, although I'm not sure yet what they're trying to accomplish . . the Creeper who's appearing in multiple formats and is acting as a brush-beater for Neron's forces . . Black Alice and Ibis . . . Doctor Occult . . and Fate, who hasn't really made a move yet but seems to be watching and taking in all of the drama. Like I said before, I definitely think that this series is going to serve as the blue-print for this corner of the DC Universe in the future. I also think that a lot of these characters are going to come out the other end of this changed . . or at the least, their alliances will be in question. Right now this is all taking place in the bowels of Hell. It'll be interesting to see what the ramifications are, back on Earth, when this is done. But, I don't see a clean ending happening here, so . . . I think this is going to be an influence for some time to come. On a bright note . . Tom Derenick and Bill Sienkiewicz artwork is amazing. They've really captured the feel and torment of this region. I love the dark colors and shadows that they use for everything. Justiniano is also the perfect artist for the Doctor Occult series. Overall I thought it was a fantastic book with huge aspirations. The way they're going . . I think they'll get there.

Legion of Super-heroes #46 - DC

I like the treatment that Jim Shooter's giving this book. The thing I like the most is that he's got them acting like kids. I mean, they're all teen-agers . . or 'twenty somethings' . . so they shouldn't necessarily be acting like seasoned veterans. Well, maybe a few of them. They have been through an awful lot of skraggs after-all. But, the majority of them, are learning as they go. Still, even the most seasoned of them is, basically, an adolescent. So they're going to let their guard down and give in to feelings like loneliness, or depression . . or lust. That's what happened at the end of last issue between Saturn Girl and Ultra Boy. But then Invisible Kid . . who has the Image icon on his chest . . happened to walk in on them. Which then begs the question, which of the 3 is going to be the first to tell Lightning Lad? I also think it's interesting the way he has this new kid, M'rissey, running the business and financial aspects of the Legion. First of all he's a smart kid. He says he's good at operational calculus and other business stuff. But, honestly, who's to say that everyone's 'power' will be so overt. I mean, not all of the kids around the United Planets would develop powers that are flashy or in the 'Superman' league. Stone Boy and Infectious Lass come to mind. So who's to say this kid, although not in the same league with Brainiac, isn't 'super' smart. And even if he is 'super' smart, maybe his knowledge is specific to business matters . . . general management, financial acuity, marketing skills, goal and threat management . . just to name a few. Or maybe he just has 'super' instincts. This is all hyperbole and conjecture on my part. Maybe he's just a problem solver. Anyways, the way Jim writes this leaves a lot of space for interpretation. At least until he tells us what the 'nuts and bolts' of the situation are. Also with this threat from the Alien Destroyers looming on the horizon, it looks like the Legion may be holding try-outs soon . . to try to beef up their strength. That's always interesting and fun. I'm also enjoying Francis Manapul's pencils on this series. I wasn't sure at first . . during the whole creative change . . but the more I see him, the more I like his stuff. He's definitely creating a feel and look to this book that, I think, fits it perfectly. I'm still wondering how this whole Legion of 3 Worlds story is going to affect things here, but for now I'm definitely looking forward to both books.

Blue Beetle #31 - DC

When this book first started, I was one of it's biggest opponents. First of all I didn't like the art. Secondly, after having been a Justice League fan for such a long time, I just didn't like this interpretation after having seen what Ted Kord did with his career. This title just seemed sophomoric at best. On top of all that, I didn't believe that this kid, Jamie Reyes, had it in him to live up to the Blue Beetle heritage as it's been chronicled through the DC, and Charlton, Universe. Basically, I just wasn't buying it. In the early issues I predicted that it would probably only make to issue #20 . . maybe #25. I was wrong. On all accounts, really. Except, I think I'll stick with my opinion of the art. I don't feel that it ever really did the book justice. But that's just me. As far as Jamie, and Blue Beetle . . I think that the character has grown dramatically. Yes this was all kind of thrust upon him, but . . Kyle Raynor was in pretty much the same position, and look how he turned out. And he didn't even have the family or emotional ties that this kid has. Plus now . . he's starting to interact more and more with the rest of the DC Universe. He's been popping up pretty regularly over in Teen Titans . . I think he and Red Devil may just be the next Blue & . . er, Red? Anyways, they kind of have a love / hate relationship. This issue he makes some contact with the Justice Society . . specifically Doc Mid-Nite. I've also enjoyed some of the twists and turns that have occurred throughout this series. This issue he gets played by a politician with aspirations for Governor . . " . . Blue Beetle has been officially Deputized by the DA's office and the US Border Patrol. Our city's own hero will be the point man for all border protection activities in this sector!" Afterwards Jamie has the typical teen-age response, "I have no idea what I just got signed up for. But I'm pretty sure it's gonna' suck." Anyways, I'm not trying to sell you on this series. It's one of those books, either you like it . . or you don't. But, after reading all of these issues, I do feel that this character, and this title, still has some huge untapped potential. Whether it reaches it or not is really all up to it's creative team . . currently, Matthew Sturges and Andre Coelho. But, the ride is half the fun . . right?

Superman/Batman #52 - DC

First of all, this book comes with a fantastic Ryan Sook cover. I also think that Rafael Albuquerque, whom I was never overly impressed with on Blue Beetle, did a great job with this story-arc. His take on all these 'lil' heroes & villains from the fifth-dimension were flawless. And everything is wrapped around a pretty cool take on Mxyzptk's yearly visit to Superman, by Michael Green. I think he did a great job of infusing some fresh ideas into their annual encounter. Plus it was kind of neat to see Bat-Mite there also. I liked all the humor he infused into the story by keeping the 'lil' heroes and villains in character, but giving them the outlook of a 5 or 6 year old kid. 'Lil' Batman wants to go out into the world and fight crime, but 'lil' Superman has to remind him that if he doesn't take his nap he going to run out of energy. By the end of the story you actually start caring about these 'lil' dudes. As a little twist, when Mxyzptlk decides to head home and take all the 'lil' characters with him . . 'lil' Joker slips aways. At the end of the book we find him slipping into Joker's cell at Arkham. "Whatsamatter? Aren't you glad to see you?" This could turn in to an interesting development down the road. Keep your eyes peeled.

Teen Titans #63 - DC

As the cover suggests . . Bombshell is back. But I don't think that she's necessarily the traitor that everybody seems to think she is. Unfortunately . . or fortunately, depending on how you look at it . . she's a victim of circumstances. But, no matter what, the Titans cracked the shell off of her, and then, while in Belle Reve she was killed. Right? Well, I guess she was Bombshell long enough that the Quantum energy is infused into the very cells of her body. So now . . I don't even know if she can be killed. So now she's looking for Project Quantum so that she can get some retribution. The problem is . . what she didn't know before . . her father is actually the head of the Project. Also Cassie is dealing with some power issues. Actually she's been dealing with them for a while now, but it's getting to the point that she can no longer hide it from her team-mates. They take her to see Doc Mid-nite, but he suggest that her problems may be mystical in nature . . much like the source of her powers. The question is . . is it Zeus . . or Ares? I think Sean McKeever is doing a great job with this team, and this book. He does a good job of spreading the story around and checks in with all of the characters this issue. Also it was pretty action packed . . with Bombshell going around and pounding her way through everything . . and everyone. I would also like to give huge props to the art team. I think Eddy Barrows is doing a fantastic job with the pencils. His work has really gotten very polished. Allan Goldman helped him out with a couple pages this issue, and his stuff looks equally as impressive. Ruy Jose and Julio Ferreira do the inks and this is the perfect example of an artist and inker meshing their styles together seamlessly. They compliment each other tremendously and the result is some very nice looking pages. My favorites are page 19, which has a full page spread showing Cassie in all of her fury coming after Bombshell. This would make a great poster. And then on the final page, Bombshell is amped up because she's mad at what her dad's done to her. I was worried that with the new creative team that this book may lose a little of it's edge. But now . . it was just needless worrying. This book is in great hands. Keep it up, guys!

All*Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder #10 - DC

Finally, we get issue #10 of this incredible series. And, hey . . it's only been about 7 months since issue #9 came out. But . . I guess you can't rush perfection. Right? I'm not going to complain though . . as long as Frank Miller and Jim Lee stay on this series. Thanks to them . . it's all worth the wait. This issue also features a very cool alternate cover by Frank Quitely. It seems like Batman's city of Gotham is being over-run by women . . women of varied intentions. First there's Catwoman who straddles the fence between 'right' and 'wrong'. She's been beaten up pretty badly and the Batman's pretty worried about her because of their 'unique' relationship. "I want to say more. I want to say words I've never said to anyone. Not anyone." Next there's Bat-girl. She's self appointed . . I'm not sure if Batman even knows about her yet. She's made herself a costume, in homage to Batman, but I think she's into it more for the thrill than anything else. She does have her father's sense of 'right' and 'wrong', but . . she's also a risk taker. And she's only 15 . . she's just been arrested for inciting a riot. And then we have the Black Canary. She's . . complicated, to say the least. When it comes down to it, really . . she's a bar-room brawler. She fancies herself a type of Robin-hood, but she's got an incredible mean-streak in her. She's also a thrill seeker. But then . . I guess they all have to be to be in this line of work. When it comes down to it, this really is their jobs. I mean who would have this much time to spend on a hobby. Frank Miller has really put a lot into this story. His descriptions of Gotham are like prose. He can take you right in to what these characters are thinking and feeling. And of course Jim Lee's art is superb. When all of this comes out in a TPB, or a hard-cover edition, it's really not going to make a bit of difference whether these books came out on time. Hell, do you remember how long we waited for the last issue of Camelot 3000? It doesn't make a bit of difference now . . does it? The point I'm trying to make is that this book . . these chapters of the Batman mythos . . are destined to be classics and I'm sure will be reprinted in various formats. If you're lucky enough to have them all . . just be happy with that.

Trinity #17 - DC

Well it appears that with this issue all of creation has been changed . . or at least all of creation in the DC Universe. Last issue we saw that Despero had tagged Batman. So now Morgaine can finish her spell. When she's going through the motions, I kind of thought that she was going to have the 3 of them trade places with Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. But I think it was more about a transfer of power. Not necessarily the power of the heroes, but of the power that they represent . . as the Trinity. It's all about the 'keystones' that we found out about back in issue #8. This universe is the 'keystone' to the multi-verse. Earth is the 'keystone' to this universe, and the Trinity is the 'keystone' to Earth. And all they needed to transfer all of that power to themselves was to brand the Trinity to put them under their control, and . . . the cosmic egg. Yes the same cosmic egg that Krona is trapped inside of. I'm kind of wondering how Krona is going to feel about all of this. He's a pretty ambitious guy himself . . I think he may see these 3 as a threat. At the end of the main story we see their power unleashed across the globe. It looks like it's ripping it apart at the seams. However, as we find out in the back-up story, I think they've just remade the world in their image. Or, at the very least, what the world would be like without the influence of the Trinity. This was another fantastic chapter in this great story by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley. These guys have got to be in heaven. To be given the chance to write and draw such an important story in the DC Universe . . the most important, right now . . . it's got to be every comic fans dream. Also, they're both doing a fantastic job. I also enjoyed Kurt, Fabian and Scott McDaniel's story of Honor and Justice in the back-up tale. Konvict is back. Not that he ever went away, but now . . he's no longer a prisoner. He's gets out just in time to see the world remade. Next issue should be very interesting.

Echo #6 - Abstract Studios

Terry Moore is just a fantastic story teller. We've come into this title completely cold . . a brand new character on a brand new adventure . . but Terry's really brought us into this girls life real fast. The story revolves around Julie, but Dillon is fast becoming as important a part of it. I think he's going to be the key to her figuring out just what's going on with this 'suit'. This issue they finally start to tell each other what they know about Moon Lake. Julie tells him the story about the explosion and the suit. And he tells her that his fiance, Annie, may be the one responsible for this whole thing. "Annie is . . was . . a physicist at HeNRI. Yesterday, they told me Annie died in an accident. I think it had something to do with the explosion at Moon Lake. For the last five years, Annie's been working on something called the Phi project. The symbol on your chest . . that's the Greek letter Phi. That's Annie's work." They're slowly starting to put the pieces together. However, they may have to get on the stick because as they're talking, a private contractor, Ivy, is back at Julie's house rummaging through her stuff. She's trying to figure out what makes her tick so she can find her . . for the military . . or at least HeNRI. But I don't think they really care whether they get her dead or alive, because all they want is the suit . . whether it's attached to her or not. I really like the way that Terry is gradually unfolding this story. It wouldn't be realistic if she just jumped in the suit and starting playing around with the powers. Plus, I don't think Julie thinks like that. I don't think she's even starting thinking about the opportunities, because right now all she's worried about it how this thing has changed her life . . and how she's going to get rid of it. I really appreciate the quality of this book. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who asks.

Moon Knight #22 - Marvel

This is another guy who's got it coming at him from all sides. But, really . . it's his own fault. Well, maybe not entirely . . but it's not like he doesn't deserve it. After the debacle with the Black Spectre Marc didn't have much choice but to take him out. However, the problem is, he didn't get to clear up his name first. SHIELD, and the public, still blame him for all 47 of the murders. What's he gonna' do? It's his word against a dead man's now. However, the government isn't happy with the way SHIELD, or more specifically Tony Stark, has handled things so far. So . . they've tasked the Thunderbolts with apprehending the vigilante. Normie seems just a little to enthusiastic about going after Marc. You can almost see him drooling while he's explaining the ops. Meanwhile, Crawley is out there trying to round up all of Marc's old associates, but . . he's burned a lot of bridges behind him. None of them want anything to do with helping Marc. Bet even with all of this going on, Marc's still out there 'kicking ass and taking names'. He kind of looks like the Black Panther in his new costume. I think Mike Benson is doing a great job with this story. However, it's starting to look like he's got Marc painted into a corner and I don't quite know how he's going to get him out of this mess. This story-arc is called 'the Death of Marc Spector', but . . I don't think they mean that literally. Do they? After looking at the last page . . he just may be. Anyways, Mark Texeira and Javier Saltares handle the art and it looks fantastic. I really like it when these 2 work together. I'm sad that they aren't on the Ghost Rider anymore, but . . if they gotta' move somewhere else, I'm glad it's here. Their style fit's perfectly with this book.

Ghost Rider #27 - Marvel

This is the second part of our story where Danny Ketch has come back to find his brother . . or maybe just to try to distract him from finding his way to Zadkiel. Recently Johnny found out that he was actually given his powers by the Angel Zadkiel. Therefore he's actually a weapon of Heaven . . not hell. But the important thing, at least to Johnny, is that now he knows who's responsible for making his life the mess that it is. So . . he's been on a quest to go face to face with the Angel. However, he's come across a lot of twists and turns along the way. This time, when he tries to hook up with his old friend Caretaker . . he's hoping that he may have some of the answers for him . . Danny gets there first and is trying to destroy everything the Caretaker has gathered. I think Danny is also in service of Zadkiel, but I think his is by choice. What Danny doesn't know is that Caretaker has set up contingencies for just such an occasion. He's summoned his estranged grand-daughter, Sara, from a local convent. Since she's the last of his blood-line she can absorb all of the knowledge he's gathered and become the new Caretaker. But she's got to do it fast before Danny destroys everything. The issue ends with Johnny and Sara, now the new Caretaker, heading out one of the doors in the caves below the Caretaker's shack into the mountains of Tibet. Johnny is still trying to find Zadkiel. Sara's advice . . "That's easy enough . . . just follow your brother." I think Jason Aaron is doing a decent job with this book. Depending on how this story-arc turns out . . I let you know whether I think he hit the mark or not. I like Tan Eng Huat's art also. I didn't know how his style would take with this book . . and character. It's different, but . . that's ok. I think it's ok to experiment now and then . . as long as the finished product still looks good . . even if it's not what we're used to.

the Amazing Spider-man #572 - Marvel

Even though Dan Slott has been in the mix with the writing rotation since this Brand New Day storyline began, I'm telling you . . this book has improved 100% since John Romita Jr. came on board. I know I keep saying that I think the story is more important than the art . . so, I'm guessing that John's involvement has sparked a little fire under Dan. I'm not sure what Dan's doing differently, but . . the whole book has a better feel to it right now. At least that's what I think. And poor Peter just has it coming at him from all sides right now. The only love he's getting . . maybe it's just a little sympathy . . is actually from Eddie Brock, Anti-Venom. That's an interesting turn of events. The only problem with that is Eddie wants to cure Peter. If he does so he may remove his Spider powers. But Peter has the Thunderbolts coming after him and their leader, Normie, has figured out that Spider-man had a tracer built into his costume so that his camera would always put him in the center of the shot. It wasn't to hard for him to reverse engineer that and use the same tracking system in some smart bullets. And on top of all of that . . . Bullseye! I've been reading this book through this whole switch of format . . and schedule . . but I really think that this is the best it's been in about 2 years. I would like to see Peter get a little breather for a minute, but . . I don't think that's going to happen any time soon.

the Mighty Avengers #18 - Marvel

This issue is entirely devoted to Nick Fury and his Secret Warriors. With the Skrull invasion looming, Nick didn't know who he could trust. So, he recruited unknowns . . " . . young recruits of discernible power with legacy ties to the Marvel Universe." They include Hellfire, Stonewall, Phobos, Quake, Yo Yo and the Druid. Once assembled he begins putting them through hell to train them. He even gives them a mission . . "Maria Hill is a Skrull . . find her and bring her to me." The kids are more than a little questionable about this order, but . . in the end, they do what they're told. And in the process we get flash-backs of everything that Nick has put the adolescents through. It isn't pretty. But . . it is effective. And, despite the odds . . they actually complete the assignment. Unfortunately she's a LMD. But this was a just a training exercise anyways, so . . . the kids are pissed. But as Nick so eloquently puts it, "I'm training you. (And I'm training her too, by the way.) Maria Hill, she needs smartening up. And she needs it fast. Everything I say to you is the God's truth. You're a soldier!! If I tell you red is green, RED is GREEN. That's the game we're playing here . . ." But before they can argue about it any more . . all the computer screens are flashing . . Attack of New York . . Invasion! . . Armageddon!! I think any problems they may have had before have all become mute. Of course this book is written by Brian Bendis. He is the leader of the Avengers corner of the Marvel Universe right now, so . . . he's the master-mind behind this whole Skrull invasion thing. The art in this issue is done by Stefano Caselli. I think it looks pretty good. He's the artist from the Avengers: Initiative book. His style has really grown on me. I'm glad this book is back on track. I hope it stays that way.

X-Factor #35 - Marvel

I'm still not thrilled with Larry Stroman's art here, but . . . I am getting used to it. Don't get me wrong, I think he's a talented artist. It's just that he has a very specific style. I didn't know how that was going to fit with this book. At first I didn't like it all that much, but . . it's growing on me. Of course I do enjoy these characters, so . . once again the story is more important to me than the art. Plus I thought it was great to see Longshot back in the mix again. By that . . I mean the real Longshot . . not the Skrull impostor that the team fought last issue. I'd explain to you how they know that he's not a Skrull, but . . it's confusing and convoluted and they went over it like 3 times in this book so I don't want to hear it again. As it turns out Darwin's father was actually looking for him because somebody came to him and offered him a half-mill if he delivered Darwin to them. All they know for sure is that it has something to do with the Karma project. And when he did deliver him . . they shot him in the head. We've been through numerous artists on this series . . numerous . . but, Peter David has been the steady anchor through it all. I've given Peter some grief about some of his stories in the past, but he does a great job with team books. He always has. He does a great job spreading the story around to the different characters, and I enjoy the humor that he injects into . . well, everything. Some people may feel that it's a bit to much, but to me . . I think it's perfect. Of course I'm a sarcastic, optimistic type of guy who often jokes even when it's inappropriate . . or I'm getting on my wife's nerves. It's my way of trying to keep everything loose. Even if I'm the only one that is loose. Anyways, the point is . . I think Peter is doing a great job with this series. And he's even keeping it interesting with the gang living in Detroit. Detroit? Really? Out of all the US cities out there . . they picked Detroit? Well . . we'll see where it goes from here. But I'm sure that Peter will keep it entertaining.

X-Men First Class #16 - Marvel

What the . . ? This is the final issue? Say it isn't so! Ok . . it isn't really, but . . it might as well be. There's going to be a Giant-Sized issue here in a couple of months . . . which means we'll pay $4.99 for a new story and then probably a reprint of something that we all have in our collections . . and then, I guess, there will be a new mini-series coming out in the spring. That's pretty sad! I really enjoyed this series. I thought that Jeff Parker did a great job with the stories throughout this whole run. This issue was drawn by Patrick Scherberger. It looked fantastic. Plus, as you can see from the cover, this issue featured Spidey and Friends. Well, actually . . it's mostly about Bobby and Johnny, but . . Peter does make an appearance. He's around just long enough to pawn off the Scorpion and the Beetle on them so he can run off to one of Gwen's pool parties. And of course the boys friendship only lasts until Johnny, being the horn-dog that he is, makes a move on one of Bobby's love interests. Then . . the friendship is over. In a nutshell . . that's what I loved about this series. First of all we get to see these characters when their young and full of life and hope . . and the basic teen-age necessities. They aren't all serious and down-trodden, with the weight of the world on their shoulders . . like they are now. They're goof-balls, and optimists and flakes. Like every teen-ager. It's a great change of pace from the current X-Men books. Don't get me wrong, I love pretty much all the X-Men titles, but . . it's fun to have a goofy, sarcastic romp through their world sometimes. It doesn't always have to be so serious. And the inclusion of Johnny and Peter just helped to make it that much more fun. But . . au revoir . . Adios! . . Ciao! Any way you say it . . the book is closed . . for now!

Uncanny X-Men #502 - Marvel

I have one complaint about this book, and really . . it's very, very minor. On the inside of the front page there's a Strike File - Active Roster page. It goes through some of the various team-members . . Wolverine, Kurt, Karma, Emma, Pixie and Dazzler. However, I have no idea what it says because it's done with a dark purple ink on a black page. So even when I try to read it under the light, the light reflects off the black page and creates a glare so I still can't read it. Maybe my eyes are getting old. I don't know. It just kind of aggravated me. Anyways, besides that minor detail, I thought it was a great book. Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker are doing an incredible job with these stories. And of course the artwork of Greg Land is just phenomenal. I'm not sure what's up with this chick that seems to be in charge of the Hellfire Cult, but she's the one that actually makes this group a threat. I think without her, the X-men could've easily taken these guys out, but she's the wild-card that turns a disturbance into a situation. When she's working over her pledges she kind of looks like Jean Grey in a dominatrix outfit. Except for her glowing eyes, of course. But after she works on Empath, one of the Hellion kids, she takes off her mask and she looks like Emma. So obviously she's a shape-shifter or something. Plus, from her treatments, she really seems to have Empath's powers amped up. So I would also guess some kind of psychic or suggestive powers also, as her group seems blindly faithful to her. While all of this is going on, Pixie was beaten up last issue. The X-Men took her to Marin but she decided she wanted to be back with her friends in Oakland. But she's changed her mind again, and is heading back to the X-Men . . . "I'm gonna' go crash with some friends. What could possibly go wrong?" Has this girl never heard of 'famous last words'? Anyways, I think this book is in a great place right now. I just really hope that they don't put Pixie through any more crap. The girl could really use a break right now. Unfortunately . . I have a feeling.