Age of X-Man: X-Tremists #1: This issue is bizarre mostly because I just don't understand what we're supposed to believe about Bobby. He seems either seriously mentally ill or intellectually limited here. He has a running gag with Jubilee about whether wax paper is the same as a baking sheet, and I can't for the life of me figure out why Williams included it. Is it because he himself has been reprogrammed so many times it's broken him? Plus, he's pretty chummy with Jubilee, which seems like a no-no. Also, why are they baking "thank-you cookies" for the X-Men? Isn't saying thanks a form of intimacy? I can't tell if this issue is supposed to be this bizarre or if Williams is just throwing random stuff at us to see if it sticks. The main tension of this mini-series appears to be the fact one of the "'grades" the X-Tremists capture is pregnant, presenting them with a moral conundrum they've never previously faced. But, if the next four issues are like this one, I'm not sure I can enough to see how they resolved it.
Captain America #8: This issue couldn't be better. First, Coates uses Steve's narration to let us know we're in the dark before the dawn. I didn't realize we needed that, but we did. Coates is telling us to have faith in Steve, at a time when no one has faith in Steve. It feels conspiratorial, a reminder we, the fans, will be rewarded for our faith. America may have turned its back on Steve, but damn if we will. Sharon also hasn't turned her back on Steve, and she's as masterful here as she always is. She shakes down the Kingpin for information, wisely intuiting that Kingpin might've allowed Alexa to knock off Ross in his New York but he wouldn't be happy about sharing the stage with a new upstart villain. He provides her the information she wants, that the Foreigner killed Ross. Meanwhile, Steve sits in von Strucker's prison, with the Wrecking Crew telling him to take his moralizing and shove it. Sure, they killed people but Steve did, too, with all his inspirational speeches. Steve insists inspiring people isn't murder, but Piledriver tells him to ask Rick Jones about that. (Ouch.) While Steve realizes he needs a new name, Alexa secures a presidential pardon for Other Steve. It's a particularly clever moment, because it's the third leg of the stool of corruption Coates is building her: Kingpin as mayor of New York, a pardoned von Strucker running a prison, a pardoned Other Steve in the wild. Coates is pretty openly commenting on our era of the grift, and he does so perfectly. But, he also reminds us the villains might've overplayed their hand, and it feels like we see that when Alexa and Selene do something to turn Other Steve into a monster. At first, I thought they would just use his face to make things worse for Steve. Deciding to turn him into a monster seems a bad call. I can't wait to see how it all unfolds. I don't know if "Captain America" has ever been better, and that's a high bar considering how amazing it's been since Remender's days.
Detective Comics #999: It's pretty fucking ballsy for Tomasi to reveal the last few issues have all been a simulation Batman runs every year on his birthday, a way of forcing himself to be the best he can be by sending his own self to try to kill him. But, you know what? I kind of buy it. I normally hate these sorts of issues, but Tomasi sells through the dialogue, as Bruce's doppelgänger reminds him how he sacrificed himself so other children could have the childhood he didn't. Tomasi even goes one better as Bruce takes out his surrogate parents, Leslie and Alfred, for dinner. It follows the theme of "Batman Annual #3 (the "Father's Day" issue), turning a terribly brutal arc into a somewhat uplifting one.
The Flash #65: Ugh. Williamson had a good thing going when he focused on Bruce's relationship with Gotham Girl, but he jettisons that quickly here, presumably forced by management to focus on Barry and Bruce's "Heroes in Crisis" conflict. It goes...poorly. I don't for a minute believe Bruce would raise to Barry's bait as quickly as he does here, and I definitely don't believe he'd criticize him so cruelly for forgetting Wally existed. But, "Heroes in Crisis" is apparently all about overwrought melodrama, so I'm at least glad I haven't subjected myself to it. Along the way to this moment, Batman and Flash somehow miraculously save Claire, resurrecting her after she dies from the "super Venom" overloading her system. You'd figure she'd be dead-dead, given she burns up her life energy every time she uses her power. Instead, they just administer super-powered CPR, which somehow does the trick. Also, she conveniently doesn't remember who gave her the "super Venom."
The Realm #11: This issue is one of the most interesting of the series despite nothing really happening.
In terms of the main two storylines, we the start the issue with a trio of scarred humanoids escorting Redjaw and his companion back to Johnny. (Haun only vaguely shows their faces, so I can't tell if they're actually human.) One of the humanoids keeps running his mouth about how injured Redjaw looks. While Redjaw's companion tells him to drop it, the humanoid hypothesizes Redjaw's too wounded to take back a portal, which is why Johnny sent the trio to collect them. Redjaw has enough, leaps off his horse, and beats the humanoid to death. I assume the remaining two humanoids will be quiet for the trip. Meanwhile, we see Ben is in pursuit of the party. Turning our attention to our party, Eli informs Will and Molly they're running low on supplies, and Will says he knows a guy near where they'll meet Rook who runs a farm where they can restock and trade. Molly suggests Will tells them about his arm then, suggesting they put all their cards on the table. Will responds by suggesting they tell him what David is carrying, to which Molly simply replies, "Fair enough." Later, David discovers the symbol on the amulet the master used to restrain the monster inside Will is in one of the spellbooks that they swiped; he gives Will a curious look. Elsewhere, Rook kills a pair of goblins who kidnapped a fairy, freeing it, before reuniting with the party.
But, the issue really gets interesting at this point, because Peck starts showing us other events happening in this world. Mac and his party kill a bar full of patrons, arranging them in a circle so Mac can summon Johnny in one of the dead bodies. Meanwhile, the Red Queen vomits all sorts of red fluid into a man, and he turns completely red like she is. In his wanderings, he then infects another man, and they go their separate ways. According to the Comixology intro to this issue, they're hunting for Will. Interesting, they looked very normal, like you could've easily found them in a coffee shop in Williamsburg.
This issue and issue #10 are perfect examples of pet peeve #1: their covers don't show what happens inside. But, interestingly, the elephant-like creature that appeared on the cover of last issue appears briefly here, in one panel, though it seems like the rest of the party can't see him (despite looking in his direction).
West Coast Avengers #8: I know I say it every month, but "West Coast, Best Coast!" I love that the Skrulls are really vampires. I mean, it's so old-school "West Coast Avengers." That's exactly the sort of thing I'd expect to happen to them. Also, they're not just vampires, but vampires using a Scientology-esque "religion" as a front. It's so Los Angeles! Man, I love this series.
Also Read: Amazing Spider-Man #16; Avengers: No Road Home #3; X-Force #3
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Monday, April 8, 2019
Not-Very-New Comics: The February 20 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Avengers: No Road Home #2: I was perfectly OK with this series not serving as a sequel to "Avengers: No Surrender." After all, the first series was a fun romp, so I was totally down with Marvel get the band back together for another one. But, the authors do actually make it a sequel in an unexpected way. In a flashback to Nyx and her children murdering the Olympian gods, we learn Zeus imprisoned Nyx somewhere until the sun disappeared. Well, the Challenge and the Gamemaster managed that when they moved Earth during their challenge, freeing Nyx to seek out her revenge. The authors then rely on a similar format as the first series, as Voyager sends three teams of Avengers to beat Nyx's children in capturing the shards of her soul that Zeus scattered around the Universe. But, the authors go one better here, as it isn't all about the action. Clint provides an increasingly dramatic narration throughout the issue, as he talks about how people often ask him how he does what he does, fighting alongside and against gods. He admits he's just lucky, but his luck seems to have hit a wall: he awakens in a hospital room missing the thumb on his right hand. Clint barely has time to process that when the Hulk reveals himself, ready to exact his vengeance. It shows the authors are working multiple stories on multiple levels, just like the first series. I'm definitely happy I picked up this one.
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #3: OMG, this issue was awesome. It turns out Leilani -- the mother of the two orange-skinned kids -- is the daughter of the dictator of Under York, an underground version of New York accessible by a magic elevator. We learn Under York used to interact with our New York, but the dictator cut off ties, forcing Under York to stagnate. (Apparently all our best ideas -- like the Empire State Building -- come from Under York.) Peter and the Rumor manage to break into the dictator's penthouse and nab Leilani. Peter gets shot in the process, but he manages to scale the miles-deep elevator staff with the two women after the Under Yorkers cut the power. The Rumor warns Peter to prepare for a small war. I know it sounds insane, but Taylor's script really sells it; I could read Peter and the Rumor bantering all day. Taylor manages to capture the spark of a Spider-Man story without weighing down the issue with all of Peter's usual bullshit. This issue really carries on the great tradition of Zdarsky's work in "Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man." I can't wait to see where we go from here.
Guardians of the Galaxy #2: OK, this issue is really good. Like, really good. First, Cates makes it clear that Peter is spiraling into alcoholism and depression because he can't get over the fact Gamora killed him. That's...sound. (To be honest, I barely remember her killing him, and I definitely don't remember how he got resurrected. Oh, "Infinity Wars." You were such a bullshit event.) Cates does a great job of not telling us this information, but showing it to us, through Peter's late-night call to Kitty. Phyla-Vell even tells him he looks terrible when he delivers some uniforms to her and Moondragon. But, Peter doesn't just get to sleep the sleep of the drunk, as he has to break up a fight between Ghost Rider and Groot. This part of the issue is the only part I disliked. I'm still struggling with the characterization of Groot as an adolescent surfer, and Ghost Rider doesn't really sound the way Frank Castle sounds. That said, their fight is hilarious, as Ghost Rider inadvertently creates an army of mini-Groots by cutting off parts of him. They're fighting as Ghost Rider learned Beta Ray Bill and Groot plan on saving Gamora. Peter invites him to leave if he wants, notably telling Beta Ray Bill and Groot to do the same, showing he has no intention of saving Gamora. Castle leaves, leading us to realize just how big of a story Cates is telling. The Shi'ar have rescued a now-scarred Starfox and some other "heroes" who fell into the vortex, and Castle joins their crusade to find Gamora. Also in this group is Nebula, who suggests they'll find Gamora through the "stupid boy she loves:" Nova. Peter might be upset about that, particularly since he thinks he and Groot are the only ones who know where Gamora is. We also see Hela and the Black Order in action here, as they shake down the Collector to discover Thanos' head is in the Negative Zone. Does no one burn a body anymore?
Nightwing #57: Although Lobdell's plot is fine here, it's Kaplan who really makes this issue sing. It's the first one in the Ric Grayson era where Ric feels like a character in and of himself. Kaplan makes it clear that Ric's moral compass is essentially the same as Dick's: he's moved beyond words when he accompanies Bea to a community meeting with a councilman eager to destroy a homeless shelter to build a parking lot for a new stadium. Bea reveals she grew up homeless, and it's a clever move on Lobdell's part. It would feel ridiculous to watch Dick Grayson, ward of wealth, try even to comprehend that, but Ric is another story altogether. Kaplan also really sells Ric finding himself agreeing to work with the Nightwings, particularly in playing up the hilarity of Detective Sapienza exerting such a sense of ownership over the identity. Despite the jumble of authors who've worked on this story, they've carefully built each supporting character piece by piece; no revelation has felt forced. At this point, they all feel like fully fleshed out characters at this point, and, regardless if Ric recovers his memory, I hope they all stay. But, it isn't all about the perfect tone Kaplan is able to strike. Lobdell using the Joker's Daughter in a war against elites doesn't feel over the top. She kidnaps the councilman and sends him into a fancy restaurant as a suicide bomber, interrupting all the conversations praising gentrification happening at the moment. If that isn't a 2019 plot device, I don't know what is.
Return of Wolverine #5: Honestly, I'm still not entirely sure what happened here. Like, sure, I get Persephone's evil plan to kill all of humanity and then resurrect them as her mindless slaves. But, I'm still not sure how Wolverine himself was resurrected. If I had to guess, his fire claws were some sort of secondary mutation that activated once he was encapsulated in the adamantium, allowing him to claw his way to freedom. Or maybe Persephone gave him that power? I honestly don't know. Soule does manage to wrap up the primary story about Persephone in a believable way (Logan destroy the space station, natch), but I'm surprised after all the preceding mini-series and then this series I'm still not clear on how we got to this point in the first place.
Uncanny X-Men #12: Man, you put Scott and Logan together and they can really find themselves some trouble. Logan somehow knows O.N.E. is keeping a group of mutants hostage, and he and Scott pretty roughly break into the relevant base. Logan tries for subtlety by posing as a O.N.E. solider and kidnapping another, but the plan goes hilariously awry when the kidnapped soldier yells out Logan is trying to break in the base. Once they deal with the soldiers, they encounter the en-Warlock-ed New Mutants, who O.N.E. has tried to turn into living Sentinels. We learn Magik and Rahne have managed to emerge from the techno-organic virus, with Rahne positing because they're also shapeshifters they have a certain immunity. They also discover a few Jamies as well as Havok, who O.N.E. is using to power the base. Magik is unable to use her powers to teleport, and O.N.E. soldiers pounce on them all as they try to escape. Someone at O.N.E. has implanted bombs in the Madri, and Strong Guy sacrifices himself to take the brunt of the blast. Thankfully, said blast knocks out the field disrupting Illyana's powers, and the team manages to escape, with O.N.E. Director Callaghan now aware the X-Men have returned. I have to say, Scott and Logan find themselves with a helluva team. Even if the New Mutants have to stay on the sidelines, an X-Men team of Cyclops, Havok, Wolverine, Rahne, and Magik is no freaking joke. As I mentioned in my last review, Rosenberg really imbues this issue with a "What If...?" sense, as if we're reading "Days of Future Present" come to life. You really have no idea where we're going next.
The Wild Storm #20: This issue is really more about letting Davis-Hunt and Buccellato run wild as they depict Midnighter and Apollo make short work of a Skywatch team sent to capture (or kill) them. But, we do learn some interesting things along the way. First, Miles is under obvious strain and asks Ben Santini, the leader of the Razors Alpha CAT, for advice. He suggests Miles uses IO's resources to engage in violence to distract people from the evils of "dark capitalism," implying IO has been behind civil wars, school shootings, terrorist attacks, and other violent acts. Miles listens to his advice and then dispatches Ben to give Ivana and Jackie their "pension plans." Meanwhile, Skywatch's spaceships arrive at Midnighter and Apollo's farm, and they annihilate them before they can hurt anyone in town. Along the way, based on a sketch of Apollo's eyes, it seems like he's actually some sort of android. One of the spaceship's pilots panics and hails Skywatch on an open line, allowing Jennie Sparks to travel to Skywatch HQ. Once Midnighter confirms no one in the town was hurt, the two of them depart.
Also Read: Avengers #15; Batman #65
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #3: OMG, this issue was awesome. It turns out Leilani -- the mother of the two orange-skinned kids -- is the daughter of the dictator of Under York, an underground version of New York accessible by a magic elevator. We learn Under York used to interact with our New York, but the dictator cut off ties, forcing Under York to stagnate. (Apparently all our best ideas -- like the Empire State Building -- come from Under York.) Peter and the Rumor manage to break into the dictator's penthouse and nab Leilani. Peter gets shot in the process, but he manages to scale the miles-deep elevator staff with the two women after the Under Yorkers cut the power. The Rumor warns Peter to prepare for a small war. I know it sounds insane, but Taylor's script really sells it; I could read Peter and the Rumor bantering all day. Taylor manages to capture the spark of a Spider-Man story without weighing down the issue with all of Peter's usual bullshit. This issue really carries on the great tradition of Zdarsky's work in "Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man." I can't wait to see where we go from here.
Guardians of the Galaxy #2: OK, this issue is really good. Like, really good. First, Cates makes it clear that Peter is spiraling into alcoholism and depression because he can't get over the fact Gamora killed him. That's...sound. (To be honest, I barely remember her killing him, and I definitely don't remember how he got resurrected. Oh, "Infinity Wars." You were such a bullshit event.) Cates does a great job of not telling us this information, but showing it to us, through Peter's late-night call to Kitty. Phyla-Vell even tells him he looks terrible when he delivers some uniforms to her and Moondragon. But, Peter doesn't just get to sleep the sleep of the drunk, as he has to break up a fight between Ghost Rider and Groot. This part of the issue is the only part I disliked. I'm still struggling with the characterization of Groot as an adolescent surfer, and Ghost Rider doesn't really sound the way Frank Castle sounds. That said, their fight is hilarious, as Ghost Rider inadvertently creates an army of mini-Groots by cutting off parts of him. They're fighting as Ghost Rider learned Beta Ray Bill and Groot plan on saving Gamora. Peter invites him to leave if he wants, notably telling Beta Ray Bill and Groot to do the same, showing he has no intention of saving Gamora. Castle leaves, leading us to realize just how big of a story Cates is telling. The Shi'ar have rescued a now-scarred Starfox and some other "heroes" who fell into the vortex, and Castle joins their crusade to find Gamora. Also in this group is Nebula, who suggests they'll find Gamora through the "stupid boy she loves:" Nova. Peter might be upset about that, particularly since he thinks he and Groot are the only ones who know where Gamora is. We also see Hela and the Black Order in action here, as they shake down the Collector to discover Thanos' head is in the Negative Zone. Does no one burn a body anymore?
Nightwing #57: Although Lobdell's plot is fine here, it's Kaplan who really makes this issue sing. It's the first one in the Ric Grayson era where Ric feels like a character in and of himself. Kaplan makes it clear that Ric's moral compass is essentially the same as Dick's: he's moved beyond words when he accompanies Bea to a community meeting with a councilman eager to destroy a homeless shelter to build a parking lot for a new stadium. Bea reveals she grew up homeless, and it's a clever move on Lobdell's part. It would feel ridiculous to watch Dick Grayson, ward of wealth, try even to comprehend that, but Ric is another story altogether. Kaplan also really sells Ric finding himself agreeing to work with the Nightwings, particularly in playing up the hilarity of Detective Sapienza exerting such a sense of ownership over the identity. Despite the jumble of authors who've worked on this story, they've carefully built each supporting character piece by piece; no revelation has felt forced. At this point, they all feel like fully fleshed out characters at this point, and, regardless if Ric recovers his memory, I hope they all stay. But, it isn't all about the perfect tone Kaplan is able to strike. Lobdell using the Joker's Daughter in a war against elites doesn't feel over the top. She kidnaps the councilman and sends him into a fancy restaurant as a suicide bomber, interrupting all the conversations praising gentrification happening at the moment. If that isn't a 2019 plot device, I don't know what is.
Return of Wolverine #5: Honestly, I'm still not entirely sure what happened here. Like, sure, I get Persephone's evil plan to kill all of humanity and then resurrect them as her mindless slaves. But, I'm still not sure how Wolverine himself was resurrected. If I had to guess, his fire claws were some sort of secondary mutation that activated once he was encapsulated in the adamantium, allowing him to claw his way to freedom. Or maybe Persephone gave him that power? I honestly don't know. Soule does manage to wrap up the primary story about Persephone in a believable way (Logan destroy the space station, natch), but I'm surprised after all the preceding mini-series and then this series I'm still not clear on how we got to this point in the first place.
Uncanny X-Men #12: Man, you put Scott and Logan together and they can really find themselves some trouble. Logan somehow knows O.N.E. is keeping a group of mutants hostage, and he and Scott pretty roughly break into the relevant base. Logan tries for subtlety by posing as a O.N.E. solider and kidnapping another, but the plan goes hilariously awry when the kidnapped soldier yells out Logan is trying to break in the base. Once they deal with the soldiers, they encounter the en-Warlock-ed New Mutants, who O.N.E. has tried to turn into living Sentinels. We learn Magik and Rahne have managed to emerge from the techno-organic virus, with Rahne positing because they're also shapeshifters they have a certain immunity. They also discover a few Jamies as well as Havok, who O.N.E. is using to power the base. Magik is unable to use her powers to teleport, and O.N.E. soldiers pounce on them all as they try to escape. Someone at O.N.E. has implanted bombs in the Madri, and Strong Guy sacrifices himself to take the brunt of the blast. Thankfully, said blast knocks out the field disrupting Illyana's powers, and the team manages to escape, with O.N.E. Director Callaghan now aware the X-Men have returned. I have to say, Scott and Logan find themselves with a helluva team. Even if the New Mutants have to stay on the sidelines, an X-Men team of Cyclops, Havok, Wolverine, Rahne, and Magik is no freaking joke. As I mentioned in my last review, Rosenberg really imbues this issue with a "What If...?" sense, as if we're reading "Days of Future Present" come to life. You really have no idea where we're going next.
The Wild Storm #20: This issue is really more about letting Davis-Hunt and Buccellato run wild as they depict Midnighter and Apollo make short work of a Skywatch team sent to capture (or kill) them. But, we do learn some interesting things along the way. First, Miles is under obvious strain and asks Ben Santini, the leader of the Razors Alpha CAT, for advice. He suggests Miles uses IO's resources to engage in violence to distract people from the evils of "dark capitalism," implying IO has been behind civil wars, school shootings, terrorist attacks, and other violent acts. Miles listens to his advice and then dispatches Ben to give Ivana and Jackie their "pension plans." Meanwhile, Skywatch's spaceships arrive at Midnighter and Apollo's farm, and they annihilate them before they can hurt anyone in town. Along the way, based on a sketch of Apollo's eyes, it seems like he's actually some sort of android. One of the spaceship's pilots panics and hails Skywatch on an open line, allowing Jennie Sparks to travel to Skywatch HQ. Once Midnighter confirms no one in the town was hurt, the two of them depart.
Also Read: Avengers #15; Batman #65
Friday, April 5, 2019
Not-Very-New Comics: The February 13 Non-Avengers Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Amazing Spider-Man #15: Spencer continues to undo some of the more ill-advised aspects of Slott's run here by killing off the newly resurrected Ned Leeds. It turns out Ned is the homeless guy May invited to dinner last issue; he sacrifices himself to save her in this one. But, Spencer doesn't just pop Ned for shits and giggles; Ned warns Spider-Man that Betty is in trouble. She's in Europe on assignment, so it's pretty clear we won't get to that story until we get through whatever Sinister Six reunion Spencer is planning next. In the meantime, Ned's death inspires May to reopen F.E.A.S.T., and it's an excellent call on Spencer's part. Aunt May's at her best as a character when she has something to do other than worry about Peter, and this development brings her a little more closely in line with her depiction in the "Marvel's Spider-Man" videogame. Showing how Spencer has a lot of pots on a lot of burners right now, I also wonder what horrible thing is going to happen to Billy Connors by trusting his mysterious friend. Time will tell.
The Flash #64: I'm not reading "Heroes in Crisis" in part because I don't believe DC would really kill Wally West so soon after he returned to the land of the living. If you don't accept that part as truth, then you don't accept why everyone is so angry at Batman. (I don't totally understand what responsibility Batman had for "Sanctuary" and whatever it was that happened there. But, again, I don't care.) As such, I spent most of this issue just rolling my eyes whenever the narrative veered towards Barry or Iris' anger at Bruce over Wally's "death." Williamson is at his best when he focuses on Gotham Girl. Barry proves Bruce's point that he may be the better detective when he posits that someone had to help Gotham and Gotham Girl with their costumes, just like Bruce (well, Alfred) did with the Robins and Barry did with Wally. Given the amount of Venom they find in the compound they're investigating, it seems like Bane is the answer. The more we can focus on this mystery and not "Heroes in Crisis," the better.
Shatterstar #5: What a weird but delightful miniseries this one was. Seeley really delivered a great cast of supporting characters while also managing to streamline Shatterstar's history. He lost a purpose -- death and destruction -- and found a purpose -- friends and belonging. Do I totally understand how Rictor uses his seismic powers to reach across the galaxy and pluck Ben from space because his powers are (allegedly) sonic in nature? No, no, I don't. But, was it worth that confusion for the great line about how he and Rictor have always been on the same wavelength? Yes, yes, it was. Also, Shatterstar bringing Grandmaster to Tina's god- and hero-less Universe so he could negate his godhood and wound him was remarkably clever, like a well timed stand-up comedy call back. Of the various five-issue mini-series we've been getting lately, this one is the best candidate for an ongoing series in my opinion.
Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider #5: At long last, McGuire returns Gwen to her life. I feel like it's been years since we had a story focused on Gwen just trying to balance her personal life and her superhero career, and it's a welcome relief when McGuire does so here. Moreover, McGuire makes it clear we're not going to be jaunting to Madripoor or an alternate Universe anytime soon, as Gwen's got a more local foe to defeat: Man-Wolf! I've enjoyed all the places we've gone with Gwen, but I'm possibly most excited about her just spending some time with her in New York for a while.
Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet #4: Thompson continues his strong run here, as Han and company decide to defy orders (surprising, I know) to save Valence after he crashed during a mission. By this point, no one should be surprised Han is willing to risk reprimand for a guy he doesn't even like: his sense of loyalty is beyond question. But, Thompson makes it interesting by using the predicament as a way to show how cold the Empire really is. Although Valence crashed, Han's pretty sure he's still alive. He only resorts to breaking orders after he's repeatedly denied resources to save Valence. His commander's indifference to Valence's plight makes it pretty clear why the Empire eventually falls.
Also Read: Detective Comics #998; Mr. and Mrs. X #8
The Flash #64: I'm not reading "Heroes in Crisis" in part because I don't believe DC would really kill Wally West so soon after he returned to the land of the living. If you don't accept that part as truth, then you don't accept why everyone is so angry at Batman. (I don't totally understand what responsibility Batman had for "Sanctuary" and whatever it was that happened there. But, again, I don't care.) As such, I spent most of this issue just rolling my eyes whenever the narrative veered towards Barry or Iris' anger at Bruce over Wally's "death." Williamson is at his best when he focuses on Gotham Girl. Barry proves Bruce's point that he may be the better detective when he posits that someone had to help Gotham and Gotham Girl with their costumes, just like Bruce (well, Alfred) did with the Robins and Barry did with Wally. Given the amount of Venom they find in the compound they're investigating, it seems like Bane is the answer. The more we can focus on this mystery and not "Heroes in Crisis," the better.
Shatterstar #5: What a weird but delightful miniseries this one was. Seeley really delivered a great cast of supporting characters while also managing to streamline Shatterstar's history. He lost a purpose -- death and destruction -- and found a purpose -- friends and belonging. Do I totally understand how Rictor uses his seismic powers to reach across the galaxy and pluck Ben from space because his powers are (allegedly) sonic in nature? No, no, I don't. But, was it worth that confusion for the great line about how he and Rictor have always been on the same wavelength? Yes, yes, it was. Also, Shatterstar bringing Grandmaster to Tina's god- and hero-less Universe so he could negate his godhood and wound him was remarkably clever, like a well timed stand-up comedy call back. Of the various five-issue mini-series we've been getting lately, this one is the best candidate for an ongoing series in my opinion.
Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider #5: At long last, McGuire returns Gwen to her life. I feel like it's been years since we had a story focused on Gwen just trying to balance her personal life and her superhero career, and it's a welcome relief when McGuire does so here. Moreover, McGuire makes it clear we're not going to be jaunting to Madripoor or an alternate Universe anytime soon, as Gwen's got a more local foe to defeat: Man-Wolf! I've enjoyed all the places we've gone with Gwen, but I'm possibly most excited about her just spending some time with her in New York for a while.
Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet #4: Thompson continues his strong run here, as Han and company decide to defy orders (surprising, I know) to save Valence after he crashed during a mission. By this point, no one should be surprised Han is willing to risk reprimand for a guy he doesn't even like: his sense of loyalty is beyond question. But, Thompson makes it interesting by using the predicament as a way to show how cold the Empire really is. Although Valence crashed, Han's pretty sure he's still alive. He only resorts to breaking orders after he's repeatedly denied resources to save Valence. His commander's indifference to Valence's plight makes it pretty clear why the Empire eventually falls.
Also Read: Detective Comics #998; Mr. and Mrs. X #8
Not-Very-New Comics: The February 13 Avengers Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Avengers: No Road Home #1: I really enjoyed "Avengers: No Surrender," so I was perfectly happy to return for this sequel. The authors do a really solid job of setting the stage for the event here. In fact, they might've done too good of a job. In the first series, the mystery of Valerie Vector kept us guessing for the first several issues. Here, we know right off the bat that Nyx has murdered the gods of Olympus and stolen all light in the Universe. Even if her motives aren't yet clear, I'm surprised by how quickly the authors revealed she's the culprit (at least, as far we know). Maybe it's a sign of just how much ground they plan on covering. (Rocket does seem to be plotting something...) Plus, Paco Medina takes on the art duties, giving it the true feel of event-dom. It wasn't quite the debut "Avengers: No Surrender" #1 was, but it was a solid start nonetheless. An Avengers story featuring the Olympic gods (dead though they may now be)? I'm definitely there.
Winter Soldier #3: Higgins does a great job here. Although I'm still not quite sure how exactly Bucky's souped-up arm helped him defeat The Spot, the requisite super-villain fight really takes a back seat to the psychological struggles both Bucky and RJ are having. Bucky throws himself full tilt into helping RJ start healing from his time under Hydra's care, and Higgins does a good job throughout the issue of foreshadowing how desperate Bucky is to believe RJ can be healed. When RJ reveals he's read Bucky's diary and knows he himself questions whether he himself can be healed, Higgins shows just how much he understands Bucky. Bucky admits to RJ that he's struggling with the idea that he can be redeemed, and this moment of authenticity breaks down some of RJ's walls as he tearfully admits to Bucky he doesn't want to be a killer anymore. As happy as I am with the script, the art just really doesn't fit for me. Reis' artistic use of watercolors certainly allows for whole new depths when it comes to depicting bruises, but it doesn't translate well for emotions. Given this issue is all about emotions, Reis' style spoiled certain moments, where I wound up more focused on the odd art choices than the emotions I was supposed to be feeling. (For example, the characters often have random white spots on their faces that aren't tears. For a while I thought they were laser pointers Reis forgot to color red.) At any rate, Higgins is at least doing a bang-up job and I can't wait to see where we go from here.
Also Read: Thor #10
Winter Soldier #3: Higgins does a great job here. Although I'm still not quite sure how exactly Bucky's souped-up arm helped him defeat The Spot, the requisite super-villain fight really takes a back seat to the psychological struggles both Bucky and RJ are having. Bucky throws himself full tilt into helping RJ start healing from his time under Hydra's care, and Higgins does a good job throughout the issue of foreshadowing how desperate Bucky is to believe RJ can be healed. When RJ reveals he's read Bucky's diary and knows he himself questions whether he himself can be healed, Higgins shows just how much he understands Bucky. Bucky admits to RJ that he's struggling with the idea that he can be redeemed, and this moment of authenticity breaks down some of RJ's walls as he tearfully admits to Bucky he doesn't want to be a killer anymore. As happy as I am with the script, the art just really doesn't fit for me. Reis' artistic use of watercolors certainly allows for whole new depths when it comes to depicting bruises, but it doesn't translate well for emotions. Given this issue is all about emotions, Reis' style spoiled certain moments, where I wound up more focused on the odd art choices than the emotions I was supposed to be feeling. (For example, the characters often have random white spots on their faces that aren't tears. For a while I thought they were laser pointers Reis forgot to color red.) At any rate, Higgins is at least doing a bang-up job and I can't wait to see where we go from here.
Also Read: Thor #10
Not-Very-New Comics: The February 6 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Age of X-Man: The Marvelous X-Men #1: Nadler and Thompson do a solid job here as we get a better sense of the rules that Nate has imposed on this reality. In a serious wink to continuity nerds like me, the authors reveal that a fateful meeting with an alternate Universe version of himself (as depicted in an issue of his self-titled series from 2000) inspired Nate to build his all-mutant Utopia around his own take on "rugged individualism." His alternate self apparently sacrificed himself to save his own Universe, inspiring Nate to do what he had to do to save his Universe. In his conversations with Nate, alterNate (see what I did there?) repeatedly expressed a philosophy that held each individual was essentially his own god. Nate has now taken this concept to the extreme: for example, the X-Men all live in separate houses divided by fences. It's also why he's outlawed sex: he doesn't want people to develop connections to each other.
We get to see how this philosophy works in everyday life when X-23 fleetingly remembers Gabby. She tells Nate about the memory, and he confesses he shared a similar past as she did: they were both clones bred as weapons. X-23 expresses surprise that she never heard that story previously, and Nate informs her it's because it would've led to an emotional connection. Just like she can't remember Gabby, X-23 can't feel a bond with Nate. Nate erases her memory just as Laura realizes what he's doing and unsuccessfully tries to stop him.
This rest of the issue's plot is just as interesting. The X-Men try to stop a wildfire around Los Angeles that is destroying Cerebro West. Given Nate's seemingly total control over this reality, Nadler and Thompson's decision not to show how the fire started raises all sorts of questions. After all, it seems like the fire wiped out pods full of unhatched children; Nate hurriedly (and unconvincingly) tells the X-Men he managed to save the pods. The only part of this issue that made me raise an eyebrow is the depictions of just how powerful the X-Men are: Jean reading four books at a time, Magneto making dinner while reading a book, etc. It implies a casual use of pretty significant powers that we don't normally see, but that may be intentional on the authors' part. All in all, it's a solid debut that answers just enough questions and leaves us with all the right questions.
Avengers #14: This issue is pretty great, to be honest. After the fizzled "war" with Atlantis and non sequitur paleolithic Iron Fist issue, I was starting to feel disillusioned with this series. Aaron had too many irons (heh) in the fire, and it was hard to tell what story he was telling from issue to issue. But, he wisely focuses on one story in this issue, and it's a doozy: someone named the Shadow Colonel and his Legion of Unliving announce the start of a vampire civil war when they raze Dracula's castle to the ground. The Avengers spread across the globe trying to mitigate the war's impact on civilians, and they're surprised when the Shadow Colonel seems to surrender to Cap and Thor. But, it's really because he wanted access to Ghost Rider, who he can somehow control. Meanwhile, Dracula seeks asylum in Russia from the Winter Guard, and I'm totally sure that's going to go over well. Aaron should stick to these sorts of issues, particularly ones that allow for a relevant guest star (like Blade, here). It was super fun and didn't feel like filler (like the paleolithic Iron Fist issue) or unnecessary (like the Agents of Wakanda issue).
Batman #64: I'm happy to say this issue is much better than many recent ones. Gotham and Gotham Girl were great characters, and I'm glad to see them used here. The tension between Bruce and Barry is also great. I haven't been following "Heroes in Crisis," but Williamson does a good job of showing both men at the brink of exhaustion and behaving accordingly. After King's often nonsensical ramblings, Williamson is a breath of fresh air: everyone here acts like actual human beings and not just poetry-spouting automatons. I'll even get "The Flash" issues! But, OMFG, I can't believe it just extends the amount of time we have to deal with "Knightmares." They need to fire whoever the Batman editor is, because it's absurd that the already absurd delay in addressing Thomas Wayne's appearance is getting extended even longer.
Die #3: This issue is one of the most brilliant issues I've ever read, and it has little to do with Dungeons & Dragons. Oh, Kieron Gillen. Is there anything you can't do?
We start in media res as the party faces a pretty fierce looking dragon. We learn Angela accidentally attracted the attention of the Prussian forces (and said dragon) when she left to party to find some Fair. The party hoped they took out the Prussians before they could alert command, but they obviously failed as they're now face-to-face with a Prussian steel dragon. The dragon billows poisonous gas, and Isabelle is able to get a warning from one of her gods just in time to get everyone to scatter. (Well, except Chuck, whose power is apparently extreme luck.) Ash stumbles off the battlefield into a foxhole, encountering a British solider holding the hand of his dying comrade. Stephanie Hans doesn't flinch here in showing the terribleness of the war: the gas melted the dying soldier's eyes as he kept returning to the battlefield to save his comrades.
At this stage, it's clear "Eternal Prussia" is 1914 every day. The soldier dies, and the remaining soldier knows he's never going home, just like his various great-grandfathers. (The reference to a long line of male ancestors who died in the war really underlines the "Eternal" part.) His lungs are full of the gas, and he expresses surprise, because he had been pretty sure he'd survive "the curse." He manages to dictate a letter to his family to Ash before he dies. In possibly one of the most unexpected developments I've ever read in a comic, an unnamed J.R.R. Tolkein then appears. He's the master of this realm, a title that clearly has significance in Die. He and Ash talk about his experience in the "Great War" (and how the hobbit chapters, and not action ones, were always Ash's favorite), and Tolkein uses one of his giant eagles to send the soldier's letter to his wife. But, even this development isn't a win: a British commander slays the eagle. When one of his soldiers asks what the eagle was carrying, the commander burns the letter and dismisses it as propaganda. Gillen implies that the commander knew damn well what the letter was and that it wasn't the first one he burned. But, the greatest question this issue poses is whether Tolkein knew as well. Gillen lets us sit with that unresolved question and all the implications about wars and commanders it raises.
Back in the trenches (literally), Matt arrives, and Ash tells him that only he can stop the dragon. Matt threatens Ash when it seems like he's going to use his powers on Matt again, but Ash demurs, saying he doesn't have to do so -- he simply points out the horror around them. It's enough: Matt goes full Grief Knight and defeats the dragon. As they leave Eternal Prussia, Matt notes that they thought being trapped in Die at 16 years old was the most terrible thing that could happen to anyone. But, he now wonders what it would've been like to have been 16 years old in 1914. That, my friend, is the sort of brilliant insight that shows why Gillen is such a great writer. He manages to turn this issue into a reverie on the fruitlessness of war and not "just" a fantasy comic. As Ash and Tolkein note, you may know a dragon is just flesh and bone, but then you face a dragon and it becomes something else again. It's all brilliant, brilliant stuff.
(In re-reading this issue, I noticed the next set of soldiers the commander sends into the field are hobbit-sized and the commander tells them they can walk where they're going. Seriously, this series is effing amazing.)
Star Wars #61: The best part about this issue is Gillen (again!) doesn't even let us get unreservedly excited about Leia's plan to decimate Shu-Torun, as one of the members of Scar Squadron on Hubin unexpectedly stumbles upon her plans. This development adds a whole new layer of tension, as Leia is unaware that the clock is ticking on her mission. Will she get her revenge before Scar Squadron escapes Hubin? We'll see!
Uncanny X-Men #11: Rosenberg does great stuff here with this introductory story. By the end of the issue, it feels like Cyclops' stumbling efforts to protect the last of Earth's mutants is an entirely separate event unto itself, as much a "What If...?" as "Age of X-Man" is. It just happens to be the one that won't be ret-conned.
Over the course of the issue, Rosenberg takes us on a tour of the X-Men's and Scott's failures. We start with Scott struggling with his denial that the X-Men are truly dead while governments around the world are mandating that people take the anti-mutant vaccine. Rosenberg uses these two realities to underline just how much mutantkind is closer to extinction than it ever has been, maybe ever more than when Wanda decimated the mutant population. Both Blindfold and Phil Ulrich encourage Scott to accept the X-Men are gone, but he can't. Scott is also struggling to accept his role in creating this status quo. In other words, not only did the X-Men -- the team that he led for most of his adult life -- fail to prevent this outcome, but he personally failed to do so. In fact, he made everything worse, as Chamber reminds him when Scott goes looking for Morlock support. Chamber accuses, not unjustly, Scott of being responsible for fanning the anti-mutant flames in his wars against the Avengers and the Inhumans, and Scott doesn't really have a rejoinder to this accusation. How could he? Rosenberg makes it clear that it's one more blow Scott struggles to take. After all, he's sacrificed everything -- even his life -- for the X-Men, and all it did was get mutants to the brink of extinction.
Rosenberg's at his best when he takes a deteriorating Scott to an anti-mutant rally headlined by a woman trying to unseat Senator Allen. She celebrates the anti-mutant vaccine for removing the "genetically abnormal," a phrase that struck fear into my gay, gay heart. Not surprisingly, Scott gets into a fight with a group of anti-mutant protesters, and he's only saved when Captain America intervenes. It's here where Rosenberg shines. Scott rails against Cap for failing to do more to help the mutants, as he once promised he'd do. Cap asks Scott what exactly he thought he was going to accomplish, taking on a crowd by himself. Scott amazingly responds that he thought "standing up to fascism" was something Cap would understand. Noticing a camera on him, Scott invites all remaining mutants to meet him at Salem Center. Not surprisingly, the Reavers, the Sapien League, and other enemies appear, and Rosenberg makes it seem like Scott is actually suicidal at this point. But, then Logan also appears, and away we go.
The back-up stories flesh out these dynamics a little more. For his part, Logan goes further than Scott when confronting Black Widow and Bucky on the rally's margins. He wonders why they're protecting a bunch of fascists from the MLF when they could be protecting mutants from the fascists. (Natasha and Bucky don't really have an answer to that.) Callisto fleshes out the precariousness of mutantkind's situation when she tells Logan that the X-Men's disappearance means O.N.E. and other government agencies are no longer kept in check by fear the X-Men will intervene. As such, they felt free to mandate the anti-mutant vaccine. One question left unanswered here is why O.N.E. was trying to find Blindfold; Rosenberg never really tells us what O.N.E. thought Blindfold knew. She commits suicide at the end of the issue, so it's clear we're not going to know anytime soon.
Perhaps the best part about this issue is that Rosenberg actually makes this story feel like the event. Forget "Age of X-Man." Cyclops and Wolverine as the last two X-Men on Earth, racing to stop the total extermination of the human race (possibly by Logan stopping Scott from doing something stupid)? That's the event, to me.
Also Read: Conan the Barbarian #3
We get to see how this philosophy works in everyday life when X-23 fleetingly remembers Gabby. She tells Nate about the memory, and he confesses he shared a similar past as she did: they were both clones bred as weapons. X-23 expresses surprise that she never heard that story previously, and Nate informs her it's because it would've led to an emotional connection. Just like she can't remember Gabby, X-23 can't feel a bond with Nate. Nate erases her memory just as Laura realizes what he's doing and unsuccessfully tries to stop him.
This rest of the issue's plot is just as interesting. The X-Men try to stop a wildfire around Los Angeles that is destroying Cerebro West. Given Nate's seemingly total control over this reality, Nadler and Thompson's decision not to show how the fire started raises all sorts of questions. After all, it seems like the fire wiped out pods full of unhatched children; Nate hurriedly (and unconvincingly) tells the X-Men he managed to save the pods. The only part of this issue that made me raise an eyebrow is the depictions of just how powerful the X-Men are: Jean reading four books at a time, Magneto making dinner while reading a book, etc. It implies a casual use of pretty significant powers that we don't normally see, but that may be intentional on the authors' part. All in all, it's a solid debut that answers just enough questions and leaves us with all the right questions.
Avengers #14: This issue is pretty great, to be honest. After the fizzled "war" with Atlantis and non sequitur paleolithic Iron Fist issue, I was starting to feel disillusioned with this series. Aaron had too many irons (heh) in the fire, and it was hard to tell what story he was telling from issue to issue. But, he wisely focuses on one story in this issue, and it's a doozy: someone named the Shadow Colonel and his Legion of Unliving announce the start of a vampire civil war when they raze Dracula's castle to the ground. The Avengers spread across the globe trying to mitigate the war's impact on civilians, and they're surprised when the Shadow Colonel seems to surrender to Cap and Thor. But, it's really because he wanted access to Ghost Rider, who he can somehow control. Meanwhile, Dracula seeks asylum in Russia from the Winter Guard, and I'm totally sure that's going to go over well. Aaron should stick to these sorts of issues, particularly ones that allow for a relevant guest star (like Blade, here). It was super fun and didn't feel like filler (like the paleolithic Iron Fist issue) or unnecessary (like the Agents of Wakanda issue).
Batman #64: I'm happy to say this issue is much better than many recent ones. Gotham and Gotham Girl were great characters, and I'm glad to see them used here. The tension between Bruce and Barry is also great. I haven't been following "Heroes in Crisis," but Williamson does a good job of showing both men at the brink of exhaustion and behaving accordingly. After King's often nonsensical ramblings, Williamson is a breath of fresh air: everyone here acts like actual human beings and not just poetry-spouting automatons. I'll even get "The Flash" issues! But, OMFG, I can't believe it just extends the amount of time we have to deal with "Knightmares." They need to fire whoever the Batman editor is, because it's absurd that the already absurd delay in addressing Thomas Wayne's appearance is getting extended even longer.
Die #3: This issue is one of the most brilliant issues I've ever read, and it has little to do with Dungeons & Dragons. Oh, Kieron Gillen. Is there anything you can't do?
We start in media res as the party faces a pretty fierce looking dragon. We learn Angela accidentally attracted the attention of the Prussian forces (and said dragon) when she left to party to find some Fair. The party hoped they took out the Prussians before they could alert command, but they obviously failed as they're now face-to-face with a Prussian steel dragon. The dragon billows poisonous gas, and Isabelle is able to get a warning from one of her gods just in time to get everyone to scatter. (Well, except Chuck, whose power is apparently extreme luck.) Ash stumbles off the battlefield into a foxhole, encountering a British solider holding the hand of his dying comrade. Stephanie Hans doesn't flinch here in showing the terribleness of the war: the gas melted the dying soldier's eyes as he kept returning to the battlefield to save his comrades.
At this stage, it's clear "Eternal Prussia" is 1914 every day. The soldier dies, and the remaining soldier knows he's never going home, just like his various great-grandfathers. (The reference to a long line of male ancestors who died in the war really underlines the "Eternal" part.) His lungs are full of the gas, and he expresses surprise, because he had been pretty sure he'd survive "the curse." He manages to dictate a letter to his family to Ash before he dies. In possibly one of the most unexpected developments I've ever read in a comic, an unnamed J.R.R. Tolkein then appears. He's the master of this realm, a title that clearly has significance in Die. He and Ash talk about his experience in the "Great War" (and how the hobbit chapters, and not action ones, were always Ash's favorite), and Tolkein uses one of his giant eagles to send the soldier's letter to his wife. But, even this development isn't a win: a British commander slays the eagle. When one of his soldiers asks what the eagle was carrying, the commander burns the letter and dismisses it as propaganda. Gillen implies that the commander knew damn well what the letter was and that it wasn't the first one he burned. But, the greatest question this issue poses is whether Tolkein knew as well. Gillen lets us sit with that unresolved question and all the implications about wars and commanders it raises.
Back in the trenches (literally), Matt arrives, and Ash tells him that only he can stop the dragon. Matt threatens Ash when it seems like he's going to use his powers on Matt again, but Ash demurs, saying he doesn't have to do so -- he simply points out the horror around them. It's enough: Matt goes full Grief Knight and defeats the dragon. As they leave Eternal Prussia, Matt notes that they thought being trapped in Die at 16 years old was the most terrible thing that could happen to anyone. But, he now wonders what it would've been like to have been 16 years old in 1914. That, my friend, is the sort of brilliant insight that shows why Gillen is such a great writer. He manages to turn this issue into a reverie on the fruitlessness of war and not "just" a fantasy comic. As Ash and Tolkein note, you may know a dragon is just flesh and bone, but then you face a dragon and it becomes something else again. It's all brilliant, brilliant stuff.
(In re-reading this issue, I noticed the next set of soldiers the commander sends into the field are hobbit-sized and the commander tells them they can walk where they're going. Seriously, this series is effing amazing.)
Star Wars #61: The best part about this issue is Gillen (again!) doesn't even let us get unreservedly excited about Leia's plan to decimate Shu-Torun, as one of the members of Scar Squadron on Hubin unexpectedly stumbles upon her plans. This development adds a whole new layer of tension, as Leia is unaware that the clock is ticking on her mission. Will she get her revenge before Scar Squadron escapes Hubin? We'll see!
Uncanny X-Men #11: Rosenberg does great stuff here with this introductory story. By the end of the issue, it feels like Cyclops' stumbling efforts to protect the last of Earth's mutants is an entirely separate event unto itself, as much a "What If...?" as "Age of X-Man" is. It just happens to be the one that won't be ret-conned.
Over the course of the issue, Rosenberg takes us on a tour of the X-Men's and Scott's failures. We start with Scott struggling with his denial that the X-Men are truly dead while governments around the world are mandating that people take the anti-mutant vaccine. Rosenberg uses these two realities to underline just how much mutantkind is closer to extinction than it ever has been, maybe ever more than when Wanda decimated the mutant population. Both Blindfold and Phil Ulrich encourage Scott to accept the X-Men are gone, but he can't. Scott is also struggling to accept his role in creating this status quo. In other words, not only did the X-Men -- the team that he led for most of his adult life -- fail to prevent this outcome, but he personally failed to do so. In fact, he made everything worse, as Chamber reminds him when Scott goes looking for Morlock support. Chamber accuses, not unjustly, Scott of being responsible for fanning the anti-mutant flames in his wars against the Avengers and the Inhumans, and Scott doesn't really have a rejoinder to this accusation. How could he? Rosenberg makes it clear that it's one more blow Scott struggles to take. After all, he's sacrificed everything -- even his life -- for the X-Men, and all it did was get mutants to the brink of extinction.
Rosenberg's at his best when he takes a deteriorating Scott to an anti-mutant rally headlined by a woman trying to unseat Senator Allen. She celebrates the anti-mutant vaccine for removing the "genetically abnormal," a phrase that struck fear into my gay, gay heart. Not surprisingly, Scott gets into a fight with a group of anti-mutant protesters, and he's only saved when Captain America intervenes. It's here where Rosenberg shines. Scott rails against Cap for failing to do more to help the mutants, as he once promised he'd do. Cap asks Scott what exactly he thought he was going to accomplish, taking on a crowd by himself. Scott amazingly responds that he thought "standing up to fascism" was something Cap would understand. Noticing a camera on him, Scott invites all remaining mutants to meet him at Salem Center. Not surprisingly, the Reavers, the Sapien League, and other enemies appear, and Rosenberg makes it seem like Scott is actually suicidal at this point. But, then Logan also appears, and away we go.
The back-up stories flesh out these dynamics a little more. For his part, Logan goes further than Scott when confronting Black Widow and Bucky on the rally's margins. He wonders why they're protecting a bunch of fascists from the MLF when they could be protecting mutants from the fascists. (Natasha and Bucky don't really have an answer to that.) Callisto fleshes out the precariousness of mutantkind's situation when she tells Logan that the X-Men's disappearance means O.N.E. and other government agencies are no longer kept in check by fear the X-Men will intervene. As such, they felt free to mandate the anti-mutant vaccine. One question left unanswered here is why O.N.E. was trying to find Blindfold; Rosenberg never really tells us what O.N.E. thought Blindfold knew. She commits suicide at the end of the issue, so it's clear we're not going to know anytime soon.
Perhaps the best part about this issue is that Rosenberg actually makes this story feel like the event. Forget "Age of X-Man." Cyclops and Wolverine as the last two X-Men on Earth, racing to stop the total extermination of the human race (possibly by Logan stopping Scott from doing something stupid)? That's the event, to me.
Also Read: Conan the Barbarian #3
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