The New Mutants: Dead Souls #4: This issue is great. I was pretty sure Rictor wasn’t dead, but the revelation that Illyana's dream sequence was Tran manipulating her into revealing Xi’an’s plans was brilliant. At this stage, we still don’t really know what those plans are, and it’s pretty clear Illyana is also getting impatient for them. But, Rosenberg is drawing back the curtain a bit for us, as Prodigy asks Xi’an if she wants to activate the second team as they look for the missing plane. Xi’an also seems to suspect Illyana might not totally be on her side anymore, making for an interesting conversation next issue. As Illyana points out here in her dream sequence, the places Tran has appeared seem random, so it’ll be interesting to see what the connection (presumably) is in the end. At any rate, as someone who just read the first few issues of the original “New Mutants” series, it’s hard to believe it’s taken this long for Tran to assert himself against Xi’an. I’m totally game for this ride.
Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #305: I love this series. It lost its way a little there, but it rebounds here, as younger Peter realizes it’s time he stops hiding. As Doom activates the time platform to send back JJJ, Jr., our Peter, and Tessa, younger Peter joins Gwen in trying to hold back the Sinister Six. When our Peter realizes what’s happening outside the building, he joins the fray, and the Avengers and Tessa later follow suit. Cap is killed during the fray, another moment that underscores for younger Peter that he can’t hide any longer. Our Peter is reluctant to leave with Osborn still out there, but he finally realizes everything can't be about his guilt. Happy to see younger Peter take up his role as Spider-Man again (and kiss Gwen), our Peter leaves with JJJ, Jr. and Tessa. It’s hard not to draw parallels to the Trump administration here, as Zdarsky shows Osborn as the lunatic he’s always been. But, our Peter tells Osborn he defeats him in every world in every way, and it inspires younger Peter to have the faith he can do the same. It's a helluva lesson for us all.
Thor #1: I honestly don't have a lot to say here, despite this expanded issue relaunching Odinson as Thor. Aaron is great as he always is, and del Mundo is an excellent successor (though not replacement) for Dauterman. He imbues the story with a cinematic sensibility; you can hear the seagulls calling as Thor returns to his boat. Thori and Toothgrinder make for excellent comic relief as always, and Loki’s presence adds the expected level of intrigue, as he offers to serve as Thor’s own Bifrost bridge...for an as-yet-unrevealed price. Thor wisely pulls Loki with him as Loki opens a portal to the heart of the war, and they find Balder greeting them in Hel/Niflheim. Aaron has been carrying on the War of the Realms for a long time at this point, and it definitely feels like it’s time for Thor to handle it directly. But, hopefully it won't be over too quickly.
X-Men: Blue #29: You’d be forgiven for thinking you missed a dozen or so issues picking up this one. Only a brief footnote lets us know that, in “Venomized” #5, all the Poisons were destroyed except the one inhabiting Jimmy. (I thought they were indestructible, which is why Scott had all the sads for Jean?) You’d also be forgiven for not caring. This storyline was maybe interesting for two or three issues, but it’s always been a forced cross-over event driven by the fact Bunn happened to write both series. Neither Venom nor the Poisons bring out anything particularly interesting in the team. It’s time to put this one to bed.
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