The X-men Thread (spoilers)

[Previsionary]

X-men: Original Sin [1shot]

The lead-ins have already happened and we finally got what we wanted: An event featuring Wolverine, Xavier, Daken, and the past. OMGAH, I wanted this so badly. So badly that I can barely write this opening...so I won't. Not like you'll miss it, right? :P

[spoiler]The book opens with Wolverine in modern day China town. Logan is having a flashback to the first meeting between the "All new, all different" X-men before their first mission. Wolverine notes that out of all the new X-men, he was the only one to know why he was there. Logan notes that Xavier was different back then. He was cocky.

In present day, Logan is meeting with a Tibetan Monk named Tso Ren Wu. Wolverine asks the man, his old friend, to keep his son safe and calm. One more thing, if he doesn't return in an hour...take the kid off the grid. Wolverine, in costume, then heads off while thinking about Emma as the most powerful psychic around now that Chuck is gone. He asks her to help with his son--she surprised he has a son--and then catches a whiff of Xavier on Cyclops who has just busted into the room. This places the series just after the last issue of Legacy. I wrote a review on that, go check it out.


Back to the story, Wolverine smells Xavier's scent and is upset that he wasn't told. Cyclops claims he doesn't know what Logan is talking about (odd), and Wolverine rushes at him. Emma is tries to stop Wolverine using her telepathy (which shouldnt *easily* work on Wolverine) and she's too late. Cyclops is punched...again. His poor jaw.With how powerful Emma is lately, Im surprised she didn't stop Wolvie like she has everyone else...though she should know Wolvie is resistant. Anyway, Emma is surprised and WOlverine lays into Cyclops and taunts him. He points out that Cykes has been getting others to do his dirty work a lot lately. Cyclops tells Emma to move out of the way and Emma refuses and mentally tells Cyclops just to walk away. Cyclops warns her to be careful as Wolverine is unpredictable in his current state. The warning came a little too late as Wolverine back hands Emma across the room--THANK YOU! Wolvie, you're a few points higher than you were, buddy--and she's visibly upset. Wolverine thought he could trust her...he should've known better than to trust the WHITE QUEEN.

Chapter one ends with WOlverine back in China town thinking about Charles. On the final page of the chapter, Wolverine passes a diner where Ms. Sinister is sitting having a cup of...tea or coffee. A cup of whatever.[/spoiler]

Chapter 2:

[spoiler]The chapter picks up directly after last chapter. Wolverine finds Charles having a glass of...something and the two get to talking. Back with Daken, he's in a room with a woman and the monk. He feels like he's in prison since he can't leave. The woman and the monk take their leave and seconds later, Daken is contacted by a telepath known as Claudine. She urges him to come up to the roof so they can talk. Claudine, as it turns out, is Ms. Sinister. She's meditating on the roof when Daken arrives. She tells Daken that his memories were stolen by Wolverine and that she can restore them. Daken doesn't immediately believe her. Sinister then tells Shaw to try his hand as Daken takes his leave.

*ahem* Charles looks so weird in this book.

Like Emma before him, Charles is shocked that Wolverine has a son. Wolverine asks Chuck to do for Daken what he did for him...erase the ingrained conditioning inside of his head. Chuck says he's done that too much and Wolverine asks when he suddenly got a conscience. Xavier continues to refuse and Wolverine says, "who said I was askin'?"

Over at Daken, a group of helicopters are flying overhead. Ms. Sinister is there too. The planes drop napalms and everyone is burned to death minus Daken. Daken kills them and runs into Sinister again. She tells him she did it and if it reminds Daken of old times, he should follow her.

Back with Charles/Logan, Logan demands that Xavier read his mind to get the full story. Xavier eventually does and we go back to the day Wolverine first came to the X-men. We learn he was sent to kill Xavier (oh...like Ultimate then?). That's where the book ends. It's continued in X-men Legacy.[/spoiler]

I think it was a good showing for a crossover involving Wolverine and Logan. It's nice to see Ms. Sinister put to work every issue since her introduction and here we get her name and a indication of her powers. Hopefully, we'll get a bit more on her over the next few issues as she's showing up quite a bit in the X-verse. Oh, I'm glad they lowered Emma's power level a bit here. Someone did their homework when it comes to resistances. So, I'll say it again...Daniel Way impressed me and Mike Carey kept me entertained. Way, keep the momentum and apply it to Deadpool. The art and colors were also pretty good for the most part. Though, I will say that this crossover retcons a bit of the story and I guess that will get mixed results depending on what you like. Most people probably will dislike it since it's already been done in another universe and I don't know why it was added here. Overall, it's a 3. "Take it or leave it," type of thing.

[Podmark]

Didn't pick any of them up. Am kinda interested in Manifest Destiny and Original Sin though.

[Previsionary]

Didn't pick any of them up. Am kinda interested in Manifest Destiny and Original Sin though.

MD...um...sumview!

Manifest Destiny #2:

Ok, this will get confusing as far as Wolverine and Emma go. If you read my last sumview, you'll notice that Wolverine and Emma were on rocky ground. Granted, MD comes before that in the timeline, I suppose, but still...conflicting scenes and personalities in the same week is a bit hard to swallow. In simple terms, this is what happened in each part of the story:

Iceman:

[spoiler]-Following last issue, Bobby is in the hospital suffering from hypothermia.
-He flashes back to kissing Mystique (Carey's issue...Rogue's run)
-He wakes up and lands on the floor at the feet of...a nurse he's mistaken for mystique!
-Mystique arrives in the room disguised as a doctor and knocks out the nurse
-The two fight. This series clearly takes place after "Get Mystique".
-Mystique injects Bobby with nerve killers.
[/spoiler]

Juggernaut:

[spoiler]-Juggy is at a bar talking to a guy. The people are scared, but they are all asked for their opinions. I've no idea why Juggy is in costume.
-Juggernaut is debating on whether he should be good or evil (you already made that decision, Juggy.)
-Juggernaut somehow knows where the X-men are (San Fran)
-police arrive and shoot at Juggernaut as he leaves
-Juggernaut decides he's "good with the bad"[/spoiler]

Emma:

*I promise to be objective*

[spoiler]-Emma is talking about new chances and new beginnings, but knows the X-men won't forgive her past
-She doesn't feel she deserves any of the things she now has (Cyclops, forgiveness)
-She's still bitter towards Jean and notes that Cyclops isn't completely open with her like he was with Jean (that took years, Emma. Literally years.)
-She knows he'll never completely trust her and she forces herself not to read his mind
-She knows Henry is judging her even though they talk so openly
-Cassandra Nova, Mojo, and other references are made in regards to Emma and tv stations...and babies. Kitty is as well
-She knows that Storm and Angel are too loyal to Jean and Xavier (no...not really) to ever forget her hell fire days
-She notes that all the students keep their distance from her
-At dinner, Emma continues to feel left out and she finally just snaps and tells everyone to judge and hate her.
-Everyone is shocked and Emma goes outside. Wolverine follows.
-Wolverine basically tells her to get over her past as everyone else has...in so many words.
-Emma takes this in and realizes that she forced herself to become so cold and began to cry. This is what forgiveness feels like.[/spoiler]


Ok, Manifest Destiny feels like a complete throwaway to me. The Wolverine/Emma thing is weird as this probably shouldn't have come out during the one shot. It's conflicting to think about. It's nice to see Emma worked on a bit and that was probably my favorite story even though it doesn't completely fit her current character. The Iceman story just has pacing issues and the Juggernaut story was almost completely pointless. I mean...I feel like every writer is ignoring the end of Newcalibur...maybe that's a good thing. Um, I can't recommend this. I give it a 2.

[Podmark]

Thanks Prev.

The Iceman story HAD to take place after Get Mystique because it's a straight shot through Carey's Blinded by the Light to Messiah Complex and Cable showed us that Wolverine went after Mystique in the immediate aftermath of the crossover.  Actually continuities been fairly clear lately.

[Previsionary]

Thanks Prev.

The Iceman story HAD to take place after Get Mystique because it's a straight shot through Carey's Blinded by the Light to Messiah Complex and Cable showed us that Wolverine went after Mystique in the immediate aftermath of the crossover.  Actually continuities been fairly clear lately.

wasn't disputing it or saying it was a continuity flub. I was clarifying that it clearly did. I still think it came about too early as I don't care to see Mystique running around this soon. I'd feel the same way if it were Sinister. :P I will say I have literally no interest in Iceman since MC. Not even his appearances in Astonishing and SI:X have made me care for him lately. :(

[Podmark]

Give it time. I'm sure when Legacy evolves Iceman will be there, along with Rogue and Cannonballs.

[Previsionary]

Next arc of Legacy goes to Rogue, iirc. I think Cannonball(s?) is off the market for right now, but I don't know.

Magneto Testament #2:

Last issue introduced us to Magneto just as Hitler began his war on Jews. This issue moves us forward in time. No recap or remarks here. I can't really think of anything. -_-

[spoiler]1936, Eric and his pa are on a train looking at a picture. His pa reveals that he saved a man who happens to be in the gov't. He hopes he can return the favor. Switching the attention to Max (Eric/Magneto), his pa finds out that Max has a crush on a girl. His pa wants to know one thing, is the girl Jewish.

On the streets, we find out that the olympics are happening in Berlin, so all the signs are being taken down. After a long wait, Max's father's friends finally shows up, but he's oulled away by some higher up nazis and Max + Pa take their leave. The Nazis are not pleased and a soldier is ordered to stop the jews. Max's pa is tackled to the ground and is beaten for "resisting" arrest. Max rushes to his father's aid, but he is knocked out by his pa's friend to keep him safe, I assume.

Some undisclosed time later, MAx's father is pushed down the stairs, bloody and bruised, and his friend says they are even now because he's still alive. The two get back on the train and Max's father tries to remain optomistic.

in a Detention Camp, Magda is asking her mother when they can go home. She's told to be patient and that ends that quick section.

1938, Max is digging through the trash for money and he manages to find a coin. Seconds later, he comes across some old school chums he pick on him and mock him with money. Max is less than impressed and slams one of the guys into the mud, takes the coin, and runs off and hides. As he hides behind a corner, he notices that an innocent man is being beaten because of what he did. He calls out to them and gets beaten instead (off screen).

Back at home, he lies to his family and tells them he tripped trying to reach for coins.His uncle comes in and tells them they have to leave for Poland. Max's father tells them they are staying in germany since they already know the devil there. He then goes over the rules. That night, Nazis try to break into Max's home. He warns his family and they take to the streets. As they run, they see the temple explode.

1939, the book ends here with Max and his family arriving in Poland...just as the germans invade![/spoiler]

I skipped a few parts near the end...I skipped a few parts in general. It's still an interesting story and it referenced at least four years in 20+ pages. It's not an action book, so if you want that, skip this book. I'm deciding on where I stand on this book and because I can't do that right now, I'll settle on 3.5.


Deadpool #3:

Well, at least this book has come out relatively quickly. Can issue 3 finally get it right? Probably not. Last issue Deadpool trained the skrull army and got them to off the super skrulls. Nick Fury also made an appearance.

[spoiler]Pool-O-Vision, Nicky is like a little kid that is telling Deadpool that only he can save them from the skrulls. DP imagines a bunch honeys on a bed and says he might be too busy. Nick interrupts and tells DP to look behind him to reveal...FROSTY...the fireman. Yeah...sure. Skrull calls him a traitor and DP agrees, he is a traitor to the skrullpire. He then runs away...

Back at the deadskrulls (DP/skrull), they've killed all the superskrulls and turn on each other. Two of them blow off each other's head and the skrull scientist tells the rest of the deadskrulls that the guy that did this to them is getting away.

Back at Deadpool and the superskrull...they continue to fight. It ends with Deadpool using the skrull's powers against him and he (skrull) ends up frozen.

The scientist skrull + deadskrull then appear behind him. The scientist is on a high horse and tell the Deadskrulls to get DP. DP welcomes the challenge, but nothing happens. DP then gloats that clones never work because he wasn't born with a healing factor, but he did have cancer. So, he therorizes that because of his healing factor and the way it works, the skrulls would become full of unneeded cells and explode....which happens. DP also kills the scientist.

DP then returns to the room with the holographic image of Nick and begins to input a sequence to upload something for Nick. Nick reveals that the info being uploaded is information on how to kill a queen. DP finishes and Nick says he's not getting anything. The data is being downloaded...but by Norman Osbourne! End.[/spoiler]

If you can't tell by my short sumview, I skipped a lot of stuff. This issue is...I don't even really know where I stand with it really. Murs, go review it! This tie-in felt so unnecessary to me. So incredibly unnecessary, but I guess the end puts a certain Spider-man character in a better position even though it wasn't referenced anywhere else...but then again, that character isn't even in SI right now. Anyway, compared to issue one, it's a 3. Somewhere on the same level of issue 2. I'll admit that Way is riding a high right now, but I dont know how long that'll last. So overall, we learn what DP's mission was and how it really ties into SI...it just felt unnecessary, to me, to cater three issues around its premise.  I could accept it so much better if the series was being set up, the status quo, or at least a subplot instead of three straight issues that focus only on an A-plot for 20+ pages.

[Podmark]

I suspect the reason Cannonball and Iceman aren't on rosters right now is that they're being saved for when Carey is ready to make Legacy back into a team book. Of course that's never been confirmed, but it's been said a few times that Legacy will change at some point in the future.

[Talavar]

Just a point: Emma's not surprised that Wolverine has a son in Original Sin - she's the one who told him he had a son in the first place.

[murs47]

Deadpool #3 Review:

So far Way has provided us with 66 pages of Deadpool. Two of those pages I enjoyed. Two pages for $8.97 plus tax. Money well spent! :thumbup: Much to my delight the latest issue contained those two enjoyable pages (only semi-sarcasm in that sentence.) The opening scene was pretty humorous I thought. Not "lol" funny, but my innards chuckled. The second page I liked was a very informative scientific explanation of Deadpool's regenerative powers. Take notes public education system, this is how you make science fun!
With that said, there's a small chance this series could work. And by small I mean microscopic.

I can admit to being rough on my critiques of Way and his handling of Deadpool. He is trying, for what it's worth. He can script a Deadpool story. It had direction, good pace, and it was absurd(perfect for a DP story). He just can't pull out those laugh out loud moments like Nicieza, Brown, Simone, Tieri, and Kelly. I really think he should take the Yost-Kyle approach and co-write this with someone.

So to sum up issue 3. Two pages were worth reading, the rest moved the plot to it's finish while being tied up with poor humor. Standard Prev-O-Meter Rating: 1.2 out of 5. 1 for art, 0.2 for the 2 pages I liked.

[murs47]

Magneto Testament #2:

Last issue introduced us to Magneto just as Hitler began his war on Jews. This issue moves us forward in time. No recap or remarks here. I can't really think of anything. -_-

I skipped a few parts near the end...I skipped a few parts in general. It's still an interesting story and it referenced at least four years in 20+ pages. It's not an action book, so if you want that, skip this book. I'm deciding on where I stand on this book and because I can't do that right now, I'll settle on 3.5.

I really liked the 1st issue. I thought it was a great set-up for things to come. By the end of it I had some emotional investment with a couple characters. But like you, I'm not sure about the 2nd issue. If it was more set-up then I'm fine with it. But if it's going to be a history timeline then I'm done with this series. Seriously, the invasion of Poland as your cliffhanger. What kind of reaction were you hoping to get out of your readers? "omg, I can't beleive this is how it happened!" Thanks for the reminder on important historical events.
Pak's got 3 issues to turn an innocent boy into a human hating super powered mutant. I'm not expecting him to become Magneto by series end. Just a hate filled adolescent boy that gives us a glimpse of what he'll become.

[Previsionary]

You're tougher than I am, Murs, heh.

Uncanny X-men #503:

Last time, The X-men found themselves chasing down a leathered up dominatrix that resembled Jean/Maddie but took on the form of Emma. They also found themselves chasing down an older student who's name I keep forgetting. What will happen this week?

[spoiler]The book opens with Sam Guthrie in a bar getting carded. He offended an African American bar tender and got a nice history lesson from them. He then meets up with Karma and Dani Moonstar. Cannonball notes that he's surprised that they all survived considering how messed up their childhood is. He expands on that and everyone thinks about Doug. All Sam and the others want now is for no one else to die. Tough luck, Sammy, with your very large cheese-tastic smile.

Scene shift, Empath is riding on a motorcycle through town. Storm, who keeps shooting lightning everytime I see her lately, is following on his trail. Wolverine and NC take a car to cut him off and Angel flies overhead. Cyclops and Emma remain back at Empath's hideout and "sweep" through the base. Angel comes close to catching Empath, but Empath's...empathic abilities give him the upper hand.

Flip over to Pixie who is still riding a moped for w/e reason. She's heading back towards the X-men and calls Hank to get the 411 on the sitch. She gets the location of the mutant the X-men are chasing and rushes off. Hank warns her not to and we get this awkward closeup of his face.

Meanwhile, Cyclops wonders why a mutant is running an anti hate group. We then get a scene with Emma in leather gear with even more awkward art. It turns Cyclops on and he talks about it being kinky...Emma convinces him to take advantage of the situation. *SIGH*

Pixie is still on her way with that darn moped. Beast tells her to pull back and let the X-men handle it (we get a shot of his teeth...). Pixie, of course, ignores this and drops her phone on the road while driving. Meanwhile, Wolverine, NC, and Cannonball catchup with Empath. Empath easily takes down Sam by stirring up his feelings about his dead brother, Jay. NC eventually gets Empath off his motorcycle and realizes his powers work through eye contact. Wolverine plans to go blind to take out Empath whose powers are flaring out of control. Instead, Pixie arrives on the scene and completely owns Empath with her fist and soul dagger.

Skip to a concert. Not just any concert, Dazzler's concert. Pixie is dancing on stage and a cheesetastic Cyclops is hugging onto Emma. He tells Emma he had fun and Emma seems confused. The book ends with Cyclops seeing his dead ex-wife. No, not Jean...the other one...Maddie![/spoiler]

Well, I dunno, this book was OK. I'm so tired of writers making Cyclops into a complete sex fiend. It's annoying. Pixie got some type of redemption, but I don't know why she drove a moped everywhere...she can teleport. Storm and Angel once again just flew around doing mostly nothing and this also extended to Cannonball. It's just ok. 2 out of 5.


I'll add Astonishing in a bit. Maybe it won't disappoint me like it has the last two issues.

[thanoson]

Ok, I picked up Uncanny and browsed through it. This story may be super, but I look at the art and want to wretch. This guy is horrible with his stupid porn faces and cheesy smiles. It's almost as bad as Liefelds' all grimace, all the time stuff. I'll come back to that book after he's gone.

[Previsionary]

Ok, I picked up Uncanny and browsed through it. This story may be super, but I look at the art and want to wretch. This guy is horrible with his stupid porn faces and cheesy smiles. It's almost as bad as Liefelds' all grimace, all the time stuff. I'll come back to that book after he's gone.

I agree, the awkward shots, uber wide grins from random characters, and the shots of beast, his face, and his teeth are major turn offs for me. The story doesn't do much either. I haven't been psyched on Uncanny for awhile actually. The lead up to #500 and up to now have just been mediocre.

Astonishing X-men #27:

Something happened last issue. I really don't remember much as that was at least two months ago and I wasn't all too interested then. The things that stick out in my mind are the following: Storm couldn't carry Wolverine for some "scientific" reason, Everyone was drawn very blah like, the team landed in a ship graveyard, and I think the fire "mutate" killed himself.

[spoiler]The story starts with the X-jet taking off and Cyclops giving Beast some contraption they found last issue. Cyclops wants Beast to tell them what it is, what it does, and all that good jazz. Cyclops hands over a blood sample and Beast wonders how he obtained it and wonders if Wolverine had a part in it. Cyclops tells Beast that the guy offed himself and Beast understands why, Subject X, as they call him, didn't want to reveal his helpers. He equates the situation to...a "Secret War".

As beast experiments, he notices something odd about Subject X's blood. He IS a mutant, but his X-gene is on the wrong chromosome which is why the X-men couldn't pick him up with cerebra. Beast wants to call in Abigail and Cyclops begrudgingly agrees...as long as he sees none of their "experiments". Oh Scott, that's so Emma of you.

Some skipped pages, and one sex joke later, Abigail is on the scene and reveals what a ghost box is. It's a device that allows gates to be opened to parallel earths. Beast then concludes that Subject X was from another dimension.  Brand wants it to be S.W.O.R.D business because that's her field, but Cyclops basically tells her he'll cut her head off and hide the "freaking" body if he has to. How sweet. The word is then repeated by Brand, Beast, then Beast again. It's official, Brand and Beast are dating. Wolverine tells Cyclops to not do it again. Anyway, Wolverine explains that the map they grabbed off Subject X points to a secret area in China that is cloaked. The team set up a plan and Cyclops tells Brand she can commit crimes of nature with Beast. Oh Cyclops, you're like a male Emma these days. All about sex at the most awkward times. Brand likes that idea.

Flashforward, the team is on route to the deadzone. Emma and Cyclops talk about codenames and how Cyclops should change it to "darling". They did come onto a scene of beauty and we learn "tian" means "heaven". This scene is unintentionally funny because of Cykes giant "O" mouth. Literal O.

Emma scans the area and senses nothing. Cykes orders her and Storm (who's been mostly absent in both personality and the book in general) to check out the area just to make sure. Skipping a few parts, the team lands in a super computer like area and they come across a dead body. Beast is unsure on how long it's been there, but what worries him is that the corpse is a post M-day mutant who lost his powers. The book ends with Beast telling everyone that they're in the home of a bunch of Chinese mutants that remained cloaked for year. They were left alone and able to think, research, and whatever else...well...until M-day. END.[/spoiler]

Where to begin...Im very close to dropping Astonishing all together. There're so many things I don't like compared to what I actually do. I'm tired of Emma and Cyclops and their lovey dovey, random sex talk that's beginning to extend to other characters like Beast and Brand. I'm tired of Storm being wallpaper along with Armor. I'm tired of this shotty character art. And reading Uncanny and then reading this, the characters don't read the same at all. One of these creative teams are off their game and I'm gonna say Astonishing is doing a worse job as of now. I guess I'm just not interested in this arc at all. I mean, the astonishing team basically consists of the same team I just saw in Uncanny. Could they not focus on Storm and Beast a bit more and leave Emma and Cyclops to the background until needed? Could they let Storm, Beast, and Armor do something more than be a carrier, a smart guy, and a shield/tank respectively? I just think this book could be much better than it is. I mean, Whedon didn't have a perfect run, but his stories and the art kept me much more entertained. I'm still pulling for this book, but for right now, it's a 2 as well for me.

[Podmark]

I hate Land. But the good news is Dodson takes over for the next arc, and I like Dodson. He does the covers to Young X-Men...which I read today:

[spoiler]One member of the team isn't a mutant, Rockslide is convinced it's Ink, everyone else probably figures it's Ink, Pierce and Dani know it's Ink, even the reader should know it's Ink. This book is really bad with mysteries.

The issue has the team going to save some construction workers on a mysterious island. THe island turns out to be a Krakoa (like Giant Size X-Men #1, Guggenheim apparently loves that book. Also don't ask me why there's a new Krakoa, it's probably a bad idea). The plot is really more a backdrop for two main conversations: one between Dani and Santo, and the other between the captive Pierce and Sooraya.

Dani wants to know why Santo is on the team, fearing he's just there to bug the former baddie Ink, and Sooraya wants to know who the non-mutant is and hopes it's her. Dust reveals that she's dying (it's not expanded on in this issue) and this is why she hopes she's not the mutant because it would mean she'd have an excuse to leave the X-Men. It's actually an interesting setup for a character arc.

Anyway, Ink finds the construction workers and the fact that he's not attacked by Krakoa confirms to everyone that he's not a mutant, and Pierce reveals to Dust that it's Ink's tattoo artist that is in fact the mutant (a common theory on X-Boards). [/spoiler]

Honestly...this was a decent issue. Probably my favorite of the series and I didn't have any major problems with it, unlike most of the other issues. Art's unspectacular but otherwise fine, story's simple character building stuff with a little action thrown in. It builds well off a horribly executed first arc and is developing Santo and Sooraya pretty well. Rockslide had a slow but well done development to this point, but Dust had stalled pretty badly in Yost and Kyle's New X-Men. She's a tough character to right without taking some risks like they do here.

It's an average read, but I love Rockslide an Anole so thats enough for now. I wouldn't mind a more exciting artist though. I guess I'm spoiled from Michael Ryan, Clay Henry, Mark Brooks, Paco Medina, Mike Norton, Skottie Young, Huberto Ramos (yes even Ramos), Chris Bachalo, and Scott Eaton - I think that's everyone.

I'd give this issue a 3/5

Also reading it really made me want to skin. Must find some time...

[Previsionary]

New pod skins...don't toy with me!

CB&MI13 #6:

Last issue, Faiza was officially added to the roster, Blade came to London, and we ended on a cliffhanger with Spitfire being stabbed. I guess you guys notice I'm keeping this short this week...I'm tired and I've been let down twice. :P

[spoiler]Opening shot, Capt Britain in some place with giant, red energy flowing around. It's a building that's...not really on fire, but it is covered in red flames. Capt will take care of it, but some woman tells him not to interfere.

Over with Spitfire, Faiza tries to help her, but she discovers that she is Magic and gets a nasty feedback that sends her off of Black Knight's flying steed. She's caught by Dane, of course. Spitfire is fine, but Blade is upset. He jumps out the plane because he refuses to be associated with a vampire. The team must now find Blade and deal with their current crisis. The team finally lands where Brian was, but notice he is nowhere to be found. Spitfire realizes the fire can't hurt her and rushes into it to help the people in need.

Back to Brian, he's in the dream corridor with the old woman from before. He asks about captain Midlands, but the woman says he could spoil everything! Dream Corridor turns out to be a gateway of some sort that grants everyone their fondest wish. As the woman begins to explain this, Brian begins to feel odd. Outside with Wisdom and the gang, the building explodes or flashes or enrages. Choose a verb that fits the word 'flammmmm' and go with that. This sends Wisdom, Faiza (with Excalibur) and Dane into the building to help out.

Elsewhere, in the same building, Blade catches up with Spitfire and the two share a few words. Blade tells Spitfire she was drawn to the hellfire and that she lusts for blood. He theorizes that maybe the skrull blood did something to her. Spitfire shows her fangs and the fight is on! They're pretty stalemated, so Blade makes a proposal. If Spitfire can control her lust, then let him stake her. In the hallway, Wisdom, Faiza, and Dane continue to push past the people holed up in the building. Back with brian, he finally comes across Dr. plotka...the source of the dream corridor. He's a lord that escaped from hell.

Flipping over to Wisdom again, the team finds Sid in the basement and break him free. He explains what happened to the others. Sid was tracking down a crack house  that the coppers couldn't get to because it moved when they got too near. Sid took direct action and that's when he came across Plotka. Sid was overpowered and Plotka wanted him to join their...club. Plotka can give you whatever you want at the cost of your soul. Back with Spitfire and Blade...Spitfire gets to Blade's neck. Over with Brian, he's about to attack Plotka, but he's stopped. Plotka can tell he's a being of merlin's power, but asks Brian to see what he was going to tempt him with....MEGGAN![/spoiler]

I...I'm glad Cornell is on this book. He's finally addressing points Claremont should have gotten to AGES ago. I loved the cliffhanger and you know...Psylocke needs to be in this book. I will say that this is quite interesting with all the wishing and demons going around in Marvel right now. The art had a few issues as I'm not sure what happened in some scenes. Plotka, the villain, is something I don't have much of a problem with right now and he could easily fit into Brian and Dr. Strange's rogue gallery. So, this is my pick of the week so far and, minus so minor errors, it's a good read. 3.2.

Now...off to Origins.

[murs47]

Can't say I disagree with a lot of the sentiments on the x-titles recently. The fallout from MC has not been kind, despite how good the event was. So far X-Force and X-Factor are the only ones I'm enjoying. Maybe Manifest Destiny will turn things around.

[Previsionary]

Ultimate Origins #5

Final book before Ultimatum kicks off. Last issue, the watchers were officially named and took over Sue or something. That's all I remember. I wish I were kidding, but I really don't remember much this week. Ha. Oh wait, something about Hulk killing Pete's parents happened too.

[spoiler]We pick up where the last book left off. The watcher is able to talk through Sue with her permission and it tells them that it won't hurt them. It's Uatu and he informs the fan4 + shield that they lack the capacity to understand the watchers' true meaning and many of his species have been destroyed by humes. He notes that devestation is coming, he doesn't know what it is, and the watchers know this because of the events they've observed.

Years ago, Canada, Weapon X facility. Fury (who seems to be colored fairly light here) and Dugan are attacking the base because of it's status as an assassin training camp. Nick is surprised by what he finds and it's revealed that the scientist of this facility created mutants. Fury shoots the head scientist and orders that the building be burned to the ground. The mutants can't find out that "man" created them. Fury then comes across T'Challa laying on a medical bed. Fury has a flashback of his past when he was experimented on and contemplates putting T'Challa out of his misery. Instead, he takes T'Challa with him.

Next scene opens immediately with a spear going through Charles's back. It's done by Magneto and we get a lot of his thoughts. I won't recite them, I'll just post a pic for those that care. *scans* It's basically typically Magneto blabber.



Back with Sue, the watcher informs the team that a herald has been chosen. We then switch to Midwestern USA with a woman calling out for Rick Jones. The book ends with Rick naked and glowing in a small crater in his backyard.[/spoiler]

Um...What? I mean, it cleared up a lot of things...but I feel like I missed something. Wasn't Hulk in this book at one point? I wanted a follow up on Spider-man and Hulk...but I guess Bendis will get to that in USM. We found out how mutants were created (did someone forget about Namor?), got a typical Maggy speech, got more info on the Watchers, met two or three new ultimate characters—one of whom will play a big part in Ultimatum, I'm sure...I'm just...why pad it out if you're going to end two major books? The fan4 stood around for Five whole issues, I don't remember what happened to the Hulk, and I feel like bendis added more questions we won't get answers to. It's...ok, for now it's a 2. I might change my mind later when I'm in a better mood. For a series that was supposed to answer questions and set up an event, I just felt let down...a theme this week.

And just to complete my let down week, I just found out Spider-girl will be canceled next year. That's the last trace of MJ/Pete marriage. Why must everything I like disappoint me?! WHY?! *dramatic*

*sigh* This only confirms that I'll need to get back to script writing a certain idea I was working on.

[Podmark]

Yeah I'm really disappointed about Spider-Girl. And surprised, up until issue 25 I thought the book was doing ok. It's been saved countless times but this time I think it will be the end. I hope not and I'll do what I can though. There's still the fact that it may continue as a 16 page story in Spider-Man Family.

[Previsionary]

X-men: Worlds Apart #1

This is the Storm event of the fall! Ok, overstatement, but it's one of the books I've been looking forward to because it gives Storm something to do and it defines her relationship with the X-men and BP. Also, you New X-men fans will be happy to know that Gentle is a main character in the book as well. Anyway, the book is written by supastar Chris Yost, and because of that, I have high hopes. Well, I have more hopes for it than I did with Astonishing (which people on other boards seemed to like even though Uncanny is getting more talk) and Uncanny (which continues to lower my opinion on its existence). Let's take a look at the story for those that don't have 4 dollars to spend -_-:

[spoiler]In Wakanda, a shaman is sitting around a fire. He can sense someone there and he's full of anger. He asks the child to come forward and...he's suddenly in pain as something causes him, I guess, mental anguish and kills him off panel.

In a sewer under New York, Storm and Cyclops are looking for the morlocks to offer them a home in San Fran. Storm wonders why Emma isn't there and Scott informs her that Emma doesn't do sewers...in so many words. Storm flashes back to the time she took leadership of the morlocks and considers her leadership a failure because she could never really be there for them. She was worlds apart.

Cyclops asks Storm if she's "here or in Wakanda" and Storm questions his position. They get into a discussion about the roles they play and we learn that Cyclops learned he couldn't commit to fatherhood and being an X-man. He sees the values of Storm being a queen and Logan being an avengers (yay, acknowledgment), but how many missions did Logan miss being on the Avengers? I'd think Zero...none...zip. How many did she missed? Storm instantly thinks back to Kitty (she wasn't on the team). Cyclops says no, but he tells her that one day she'll have to answer the question of what she's more dedicated to. Scott knows how Storm would answer, but he's unsure of the BP's wife's answer.

Just as the conversation ends, Storm receives a call from Wakanda. BP is away and there has been a death; she's needed. Storm has to go, so Cyclops tells her to leave. She can handle her kingdom, and he'll handle his. Storm takes off and she thinks to herself that she never thought about siccing the Wakandan army on anyone until now, but even though she's upset with Scott, she agrees with him.

Storm arrives in Wakanda and is told that there is a death. Storm is sure that the King and Queen don't see to every death and it is explained to her that it wasn't just a death, but a murder. While it may be common in America, it's rare in Wakanda. More importantly, Storm knows the murderer...GENTLE.

-Side note, Storm described Nezhno as being as strong as Colossus

Storm knows Nezhno is not a killer and explains some of his traits that make him a hero. It's revealed that the murder was caught on tape and Storm goes to watch it. On the tape, we see Nehzno in the Shaman's location and he looks back at the camera just before the shaman is killed. The camera operator suggests that maybe Gentle snapped because of his heritage and Storm takes offence. She then tells the guy to rewind the tape to the twenty two mark because she noticed something: Storm realizes that Nezhno winked at the camera and she knows something is wrong about that...so she goes to question him herself.

Back with Nezzy, Storm asks him if he did it. Nezzy explains how he felt and that maybe he was overcome with anger from always being treated as an outsider, but the shaman knew how tainted he was. This, he argues, probably set off a nightmare that didn't end until the shaman was dead. Storm asks Nezhno to wink at her and this confuses him. He doesn't know what a wink is. This is the evidence Storm needed and she demands her guards open the cell. Nezhno is released, but as soon as they head outside, they run into guards.
Storm questions the captain and he says Nezzy (who surrendered) is guilty and this isn't America where the guilty run free. He's an outsider like Storm and their filth shouldn't be allowed in Wakanda. The captain then strikes Storm with a gun. This greatly upsets Storm and we get quite the power show. She controls the wind and disallows the guards from breathing saying my favorite line: "You breathe when I allow it!"

Seconds later, BP is on the scene. He's upset with what Storm has done. He addresses his people and basically calls Nezzy a plague because of his actions. Storm tries to get him to talk to her, but BP calls their union not one of love. Storm was Wakanda's queen, but she never stopped being an X-man. BP then re-addresses his people and tells them his union with Storm was a mistake. Storm is visibly upset, but then BP winks at her and she knows something is wrong. Shadow King is back (again?) and Storm relates to us that he's the strongest TP in the world behind Charles, and he's gone. Psylocke is gone (acknowledgment!), Emma is a world away, and in the words of Kitty, "I have a bad feeling about this".[/spoiler]

There you go. Honestly, it was a very good read that addressed a lot of issues the main books continue to gloss over. For the first time in awhile, Storm has a personality and isn't just sitting back making blah jokes and being a yes man or a carrier/lightning bolt shooter. The rush up to the marriage is actually worked into the story and the Cyclops/Storm talk was much better than the other few attempts where Cyclops talked/Storm listened.  I like that they used Gentle in this story and maybe he'll be back with the X-men soonish. The villain is not one of my favorites and I once again have to wonder how he got back, but as of this issue, he was completely tolerable. I also like how side events were finally mentioned like Psylocke's disappearance, Wolverine's Avenger status, and Gentle's relationship with the Wakandans. Overall, I rank it a 4.

In other news...Havok, Rachel, and Lorna will be back soon. Oh joy joy joy.  <_<

[Talavar]

I disagree about Uncanny: I'm not a big art guy, so the terrible art by Land bothers me less than others I think.  I don't think the book is great right now, but it's got it's moments.  Astonishing, however, has gone way downhill since Whedon left the title, though I suppose it does ship a little more often.

Regarding CB&MI13: since when is Spitfire a vampire?

[Previsionary]

I disagree about Uncanny: I'm not a big art guy, so the terrible art by Land bothers me less than others I think.  I don't think the book is great right now, but it's got it's moments.  Astonishing, however, has gone way downhill since Whedon left the title, though I suppose it does ship a little more often.

It wouldn't bother me if it just wasn't so static and he weren't working with so many "emotional" scenes. Last issue had a bunch of sex based stuff...which ironically fits him considering the things said about him. I just find a bunch of his current works awkward and very similar across every title he's worked on in the past few years. I mean, there're only so many large smiles and weird facial screams I can take. :P

Also the appearance of a certain character (not gonna question her re-emergence right now) and what's happening in Astonishing makes me think Nate might reappear. But overall, I think Astonishing and Uncanny are getting lower scores from me because I'm tired of certain characters appearing so much and I'm tired of certain traits said characters now have. It also disappointed me that so many characters were seen, but basically just stood around (New Mutants, Angel, Storm).

Regarding CB&MI13: since when is Spitfire a vampire?

Um, I assume she always was one since she was bitten by a vampire in Invaders #7. But to fully answer your question, she just began to show her vampyric traits in CB&MI13. Paul Cornell explained it and I'll just quote him:

In recent years she's realized that she has actually started to be able to use certain vampiric abilities, and that the fangs appear when she gets angry. But she feels no blood lust, and has no need to drink it, and it's all completely under her control.

Click the link for full details.

[Podmark]

I like that Nezhno is playing such a large role in the Storm series. I'm kinda interested, not really a Storm fan, but I like Yost's work. Something I'll keep in mind for a trade maybe.

[Podmark]

Oh I forgot that it loses points for including Shadow King, who I dislike.
... ... Also Marvel loses points in general for employing Greg Land.

[Previsionary]

LOL, pod. In honesty, as a person that dislikes shadow king as Storm's arch-rival, he's barely in issue 1, but he plays a big part. He's written effectively and the way he's written makes Storm look better at least in the detective department.

[Previsionary]

http://mbreitweiser.deviantart.com/art/An-Uncanny-Announcement-101399552

Look what I found. ^^ Uncanny X-men annual two page. Only problem...written by Matt Fraction. Not that he's a bad writer, I just haven't been interested or intrigued by his X-work yet.

[Podmark]

hmmm Namor, I think I can guess what the Annual is about. The cover shows Emma btw.

[Previsionary]

X-factor #36

I'm not gonna complain about the art. Yes, I started out with that. Last issue, Longshot arrived on the scene and offered his services after he found out about the skrull confusion. Darwin was taken by someone associated with his father and his...father was shot in the head and left at the hospital. Here's the continuation of that story...like the sand in an hour glass...

Before I even start the review...the recap page is cute. Ben10 rocks. No comments on Alien force.

[spoiler]We start the story with a buffed out, unrecognizable Darwin trying to bust out of captivity (he's being held in a tube). He's being held against his will and some guy he won't escape and he'll be used to prove some naysayers of evolution wrong. The guys seems secure in his position and beliefs until Darwin actually breaks through the glass. In the next few scenes, we learn that Darwin was given away for 500k and that Darwin cares about his father enough to cry and go into a rage when he hears his father is probably dead. Unfortunately, the guy has a concoction made of Darwin's DNA that stops him dead in his tracks.

Over with Jamie, the team has found the owner of the van from last issue, Mr. Stefani. Jamie asks about the van and Stefani tells him that his son has it and he hasn't seen it since. Jamie leaves and Stefani rushes to the phone to inform his boss of the happenings. He reveals everything unaware that Monet was in the building the whole time. He's shocked and Monet is shocked he recognizes Madrox (recently skinned by the great poddy podmark) and Strong Guy, but not her. Before she can finish her statement, the guy pulls out a gun and lays fire to her. Monet is down and the guy exits the building and runs into Longshot who...lays a fist into his skull. Monet arises and picks the guy up. Jamie asks her to put him down and she does so...very hard like.

Cue in Longshot who uses his abilities to track where the van went. He's led to a warehouse and shocked that the main baddie can "see" him. Longshot is startled and taken off guard and Monet manages to save him...and they also kiss.

Back with Siryn, Rictor and her are just hanging around the base. The doorbell rings and it turns out to be Val COoper who wants to talk about Siryn's baby.

Back with Longshot + gang, they locate the base. The book ends with the big bad ordering the warehouse to be blown up--and it is. SHOCK![/spoiler]

Hrm, minus the art, I think this is ok. The Longshot thing is getting a bit forced now. I mean, having Monet take out the target so she can't use her powers effectively just to usher in Longshot is stretching, me thinks. But, I guess it works in the story all things considered. The Val part is interesting as I kinda wanna know where they're going with that as several thoughts crossed my mind. I'd give this a 3.5, but the art hurt my eyes...so 3 will do.

X-men Legacy #217

Last issue was the finale to the tension between Cyclops and Xavier and Xavier went off to meet Wolverine. That's all you need to know. On the cover are Daken, Ms. Sinister, and Shaw. WOO. This book picks up directly after the Original Sin one shot, so refer to that review if you're confused.

[spoiler]The book begins with Wolverine slashing at Wolverine. This is a past shot, so don't worry. Xavier hates this memory, but Wolverine finally persuades him to look at the whole thing. Memory picks back up with Xavier in a sling and bandages and Wolverine trapped in a lab. Moira is also there. Xavier only survived thanks to a psi-blast. Xavier theorizes that Wolverine's mind has been broken and reassembled many times before, so why doesn't he do the same?

-really tired of writers adding dirt to Xavier's history

Back in the present, Wolverine and Xavier arrive at the hellfire clube (they were on a jet). Xavier is conerned about attacking them without a plan. Wolverine says he'll scope out the place. He wants his son back--hey, he's already two steps ahead of Cyclops in the parental department!

Daken and Claudine are in the club and are talking to Shaw who is very pleased to meet Daken. Shaw wants a favor and he'll help Daken get his memories back. Shaw, being the generous man that he is, also bought Daken a brand new mansion to recupe in. How sweet.

Skip to Ms. Sinister. She's scanning Daken's mind and she can tell he has some type of feeling for her...or that's how I'm interpreting her odd look. Before she can get too deep in his mind, she runs into a mental block. Daken is confused as he wouldn't have any idea how to do that. Sinister tries to push a bit harder and only ends up frustrating herself. Alone with Shaw, Sinister informs him that Daken has a resitance to telepathy...but deeper in his mind is a trap that kept pulling her in. She barely broke free of it.

Back to Wolverine, he sneaks into a warehouse, clocks a man, and takes his uniform. We then switch back to Daken who's staring at the sunset. Ms. Sinister enters and she and Daken end up in a lip lock...ugh.

Skip skip skip to Sinister and Shaw talking. Shaw has figured out a way to rewrite Daken's memories. Get Xavier to enter his mind first...then Ms. Sinister follows up immediately and overwrites his memories. It's here that we also find out that Shaw set Wolverine up to attack the hellfire club. The book ends with Wolverine surrounded by inner members of the hellfire club.[/spoiler]

I guess I liked this book. I'm not really sure. I'm at the point now where I just want Ms. Sinister to go the heck away. The girl is already good with her telepathy, blah. Other than that...it's a good story so far. Daken hasn't annoyed me yet (outside of his love interest) and Wolverine + Xavier = much better than Cyclops + Xavier of recent times. I just wish people would stop dirtying up Xavier's past. 2.5 out of 5.

Wolverine: manifest Destiny #1:

Nothing to say here other than...actually...nothing. Ok, this is a 4 part story by Jason Aaron who has been getting my praise of late. If he addresses Mystique or anything that needs to be tidied up, I'll love him more.

[spoiler]Moving day. Wolverine is packing the essentials...like his Bettie Page calendar. As he does that, NC appears who's escaped from Beast and his many books. He came to see if Wolverine needed help moving...he clearly doesn't as he only brought like...4 boxes.

Later, Wolverine goes to Chinatown He runs across some people playing with dominos who wonder if Wolverine is the same guy from 50 years ago. Wolverine assures their suspicions and tells them to warn everyone he is back with a dagger or something. This upsets the men and Wolverine walks away telling the men they can tell whomever where to find him.

In a bar, Wolverine drinks as a little kid runs up to him. They chat for a bit and then Wolverine is told that people are waiting for him...which is pretty much the whole town. Basically, the fight is on. The book ends with Wolverine running into his ex GF on the battle field.[/spoiler]

Steven Segovia art hurts me. It actually reminded me of New Avenger art and that's not really a compliment. Other than that, this story was just ok for me. It didn't really grip me or hold my interest, but I guess that's because I'm tired of Wolverine again. I'll give Aaron another chance, but for now, this is also a 2.5.

[AfghanAnt]

Ok, I really love PAD's X-Factor (especially because of Longshot) but the art is really hurting the story.

I'm looking forward to Namor's inclusion in the UXM Annual. I've always thought Marvel's First Mutant should have more interaction with other Mutants.

[Podmark]

Ok, I really love PAD's X-Factor (especially because of Longshot) but the art is really hurting the story.

I'm looking forward to Namor's inclusion in the UXM Annual. I've always thought Marvel's First Mutant should have more interaction with other Mutants.

This was Stroman's last solicited issue. Valentine De Landro comes back for at least the next 3, which makes me happy.