Giant-Size X-Men: Fantomex #1 (August 5): This issue picks up the thread from "Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost" #1, which revealed that the Children of the Vault have done something to Storm that will kill her in one month's time. Apparently, Krakoa's brain trust has determined that the best way to heal her is in the World, thus Fantomex. But, before we get there, we're treated to Fantomex returning to the World every decade with a new team of bait - the Howling Commandos, the Hellfire Club Inner Circle - to distract the World while he visits later generations of himself. In typical Hickman fashion, it makes no sense. I was hoping for an answer to the question of how Fantomex exists in the same world as Professor X, given that he donated his body to Professor X so he could return to life in "Astonishing X-Men" #6. At the time, Soule was implying that "X," as he was then known, was something more than Xavier, and I don't think that we've ever resolved that issue. This issue doesn't address it at all, so I feel like it's just going to be one of those loose ends that we're supposed to forget, like Ian Roger's existence in "Captain America."
Guardians of the Galaxy #5 (August 5): I'll be honest: I feel like this arc wrapped up too easily. I thought that Ewing was hinting that we had some multiverse shenanigans happening with all the team members or, at least, Drax, Moondragon, Peter, and Rocket. But in the end it appears that just Moondragon was engaged with said shenanigans, and Ewings resolves them as the Moondragons merge. The two teams also merge after Groot tips off Rocket that Gnawbarque wants him dead. Herc and Marvel Boy manage to manipulate the other Guardians into destroying Gnawbarque's Galactus-inspired, planet-draining engine. I think if I re-read the arc, it would make sense given what I now know. Instead, I just feel kind of confused. At any rate, I'm really here for next issue, as Nova confronts the demons that he's facing.
Amazing Spider-Man #46 (August 12): Spencer levels up Sin-Eater in an extremely interesting way here, as he reveals that Sin-Eater's bullets steals the victim's powers and renders them onto him. Or, at least, sometimes? It happened with Count Nefaria (who asks Norah to beg his victims' families for forgiveness for him), the Grey Gargoyle, and Whirlwind. But, it did nothing to Spidey, and Overdrive is comatose in the hospital after his resurrection. Spencer also complicates matters for Spidey when the audience on hand for the demonstration that the Lethal Legion crashed applauded after Sin-Eater took out the Legion. Notably, the audience thought they were dead, and they still applauded. When the world finds out Sin-Eater purged them of their powers and rendered them guilty, well, as someone says, they see him as a more effective Punisher. Spidey has a tough road ahead.
Hawkeye: Freefall #5 (August 12): After he discovers a nearly dead Bryce at the Fortress of Solid Dudes, Clint plays the recording that Bullseye left for him, which walks through the crimes Clint has committed: robbing S.H.I.E.L.D., stabbing people, paying off cops, threatening elected officials, and laundering stolen drug money through a charity. It's quite a list. Although Linda gives an impassioned speech about how Cap and Spidey should trust Clint, she later acknowledges that it was a lie: they shouldn't trust Clint. Rosenberg is doing a great job showing how Clint's ego and righteousness lead to disasters: Hood is blowing up warehouses and killing rival criminals, Bullseye killed the Skrull from last issue and brutalizes Bryce, Linda ends their relationship. Clint is being Clint, and Rosenberg reminds us how sad that is.
Marauders #11 (August 12): I had hoped that we didn't drag out Kate's death for too many issues, and I'm thrilled that Duggan didn't do so. The Red Queen is back, and Sebastian Shaw should be concerned.
Duggan wisely decided to focus on Emma as he's done in previous issues. Caseli draws out the moment when we realize that she's dressed in black for Kate's funeral, and it's as impactful as you'd think it would be. Also impactful? An exhausted Lockheed appearing in Emma's room. Emma reads Lockheed's thought and realizes that Shaw killed Kate. She's ready to storm Blackstone but decides against it. After all, Emma above all other people knows that revenge is a dish best served cold.
But, Lockheed's arrivals feels like an omen, and Charles agrees to Emma and Kurt's request to have the Five try again. With Lockheed perched on Emma's shoulder, they do. Emma observes that they've been waiting her to break through the egg but realizes that Kate doesn't break through boundaries - she ignores them. Emma calls to Kate, and she simply phases through the egg. Ha! Kate ecstatically greets a still tired-looking Lockheed, and then she and Emma make it clear that they're going to go to work on Shaw.
Interestingly, one of my favorite parts of this issue is when Storm meets the X-Desk analyst! As someone who once lived near the Foggy Bottom Metro station, this moment was exciting for me. I loved Dolores telling Storm that she recognized her because she looked like a model and DC doesn't have many models. Ha! Storm is there to thank Dolores for tipping off Krakoa that Verendi poisoned the medicine. Dolores asks for an update, and Storm confirms that they swapped out the tainted medicine for the clean ones, meaning that Verendi gave away perfectly good medicine and sold the poisoned medicine on the black market. Dolores is delighted. She thanks Storm for the miracle of her mother's return, and, based on a comment in her report, I'm hoping that Emma invites Dolores to the Hellfire Ball!
Amazing Spider-Man #47 (August 26): I used to hate comics that portrayed characters' motivations as "evil." As a comic-reading public, I felt like we had moved past the point where the world is divided into good- and evil-doers. Sure, you had some exceptions. For example, I have no problem with authors portraying Joker as evil: he has no problem embracing evil means to promote his goals and his goals themselves were evil. But, Magneto is a good example of someone who embraced evil means means to promote his goals, which were grounded in a more morally acceptable premise than Joker's goals. However, the last few years have shown me that I'm wrong. Some people have no problem doing evil things to get evil outcomes.
I mention all that here because Carlie asks Peter to consider the fact that the people who respond to Sin-Eater's appeal to join him aren't just brainwashed: they're excited someone's offering them the power to take out their hate and hurt on the world. Period. End of story. It's Spencer at his "Captain America" best, taking the political moment where we find ourselves and using it to imbue this arc with real-world meaning. I have no problem believes this moment could happen in the "real" world. Spencer underlines this point when he reveals that Sin-Eater's bullet didn't kill Overdrive: just like the Lethal Legion, he woke up powerless and begging to confess his sins. But, when Carlie called in the detectives, they almost beat him to death.
Spidey later prevents Sin-Eater from cleansing someone who appears at his gathering of followers and asks for Sin-Eater to cleanse him/er. By this point, it's hard to understand why Spidey does so. After all, the man - whose face is hidden so I'm sure it's significant - asked Sin-Easter to do it. Spidey suspects that there's more to Sin-Easter's powers than just helping people, and he's probably right. But, what if he isn't? What if he is denying these people a chance at penance just because he can't get past his own hang-ups? Spencer makes it clear that we might be going in that direction and, man, I'd be excited to read that story.
Also Read: Captain America #21 (August 5) and #22 (August 19)
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